#Her brother worries about her actively reaches out 2 her and she tells him *no* | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

badbatchposts · 4 months ago

Text

Quiet Corners of the Galaxy, Ch. 27

Relevant tags/content warnings: Crosshair/Original Female Character, Slow Burn, Enemies to Lovers, Periodic Smut, Canon-Typical Violence, Alcohol Use, 18+/Explicit

Read the full fic so far on AO3

Read previous chapters on Tumblr: Ch. 1 l Ch. 2 l Ch. 3 l Ch. 4 l Ch. 5 l Ch. 6 l Ch. 7 l Ch. 8 l Ch. 9 l Ch. 10 l Ch. 11 l Ch. 12 l Ch. 13 l Ch. 14 l Ch. 15 l Ch. 16 l Ch. 17 l Ch. 18 l Ch. 19 l Ch. 20 l Ch. 21 l Ch. 22 l Ch. 23 l Ch. 24 l Ch. 25 l Ch. 26

Chapter 27 summary: Crosshair experiences some uncertainty about his relationship with Dara.

Extra content warnings for this chapter: More smut! PIV sex, fingering, dirty talk, discussion of dom/sub dynamics, light spanking, Crosshair's gun fetish, dom drop

Crosshair was staring. He knew he was staring, but he couldn’t bring himself to care. Not a word—Dara hadn’t said a word to him in two rotations, had barely even shot a glance his way—and he couldn’t stop thinking about her.

For two whole rotations he’d been watching her as she strode across the base, conferring with clones and reaching out to contacts, as efficient and competent as always. While Tech conducted tests on the samples they’d acquired on Xagalus, Dara and a few of the others were hunting down leads on the Empire’s purpose for the drug. As she worked, she was again measured and unemotional, betraying no ongoing signs of the grief and pain that had threatened to overwhelm her. Crosshair didn’t flatter himself to think that he had somehow managed to fix things, but whatever she was feeling, she was now back in control.

He, on the other hand, was being driven slowly insane.

Last time, Dara had kissed him. Sure, he had goaded her into it, but she had turned things physical, she had wanted him, they had even spoken without arguing afterwards. And she was honest with him—no protective walls made of falsely flirtatious charm or even righteous anger, just a little bit of humor, some quiet reflection, and that undercurrent of sadness that, he now knew, must follow her wherever she goes. It had been good, the sex was incredible, and it had helped her.

So why wouldn’t she look at him?

It was because of the end of that conversation afterward, maybe, when he’d asked about her scars. He had worried, even then, that he was delving into too-personal territory, and since then he’d spent not a small amount of time lying awake at night, replaying her hesitation, the tension in her shoulders when he’d asked about the war. It was obvious, now, that she hadn’t wanted to tell him.

It was just—he’d never seen her so open before. Relaxed, and loose, and satisfied, willing to indulge him. And then he had ruined it, and now she had to know that he was watching her, but she wouldn’t even glance his way.

At the moment, she was conversing seriously with Gregor. Her hands must have healed well enough—she’d removed the bandages just this morning, her palms once again smooth and unmarred. Her reading glasses were perched atop her head, and she pulled them on for a moment to consult the datapad she was holding before returning them to their resting place, nestled among the silver strands of her hair. Crosshair could practically still feel the way her soft locks had twisted around his fingers. He wanted to feel it again.

Echo brushed against his shoulder gently with his own. “You alright, vod?”

Crosshair scowled, agitating his toothpick back and forth in his mouth. “Just peachy.”

“Sure.” His brother rolled his eyes. “You, uh… Wanna talk about whatever’s going on between you two?” he asked, gesturing toward Dara with his scomp link.

Yeah, that wasn’t happening. The sniper spun on his heel and strode off. “Going for target practice,” he spat over his shoulder.

Crosshair made his way across base toward an out-of-the-way rooftop that overlooked the long-distance range he and Omega had set up, beginning to feel more relaxed the further he got from the bustling activity. This was all he needed: a quiet place to focus, to calm his mind. To forget about her.

Obviously, Dara didn’t want him. She’d pushed him away after the first time, ignored him after the second, and—as seriously as he’d been considering picking another fight just to see if it would end with him inside of her again—it was time for him to take the hint. So he settled down into the familiar position and certain rhythm of his rifle, and concentrated on what he was best at.

He had been at it for nearly an hour when he heard the crunch of gravel behind him as someone climbed their way onto the roof. Something lurched strangely in his chest, and he hit another target rather than turning to look. He knew who it was, had memorized the pattern of her footfalls without even realizing it.

“Been searching for me, burk’yc?” Crosshair murmured. He squeezed off another shot.

Dara stood next to him, arms crossed, and peered in the direction he was shooting. It was fruitless—she wouldn’t be able to see the targets he was hitting unaided at this distance.

“You’re easy to find,” she retorted. “Just look up and follow the sounds of violence.”

Crosshair snorted. “Hardly any violence today. Just stationary objects.” He sat up and gestured towards his Firepuncher, smirking. He couldn’t help preening a little at the chance to show her the evidence of his skill. “Go ahead and look.”

Dara gave him an unimpressed stare, but still lowered herself to the ground. She laid on her stomach in front of the rifle and sighted through the scope, finding the far-off targets that he had been hammering unflinching holes into with pinpoint accuracy.

“Hmm.” She glanced up at him for a moment before looking back through the scope. “I guess I’ll give you credit for not taking it out on any of those flying fish.”

Crosshair scoffed, but found himself too distracted by the sight of her holding his rifle to come up with a rejoinder. He hungrily eyed the way her fingers curled around the grip and forestock and traced his gaze along her prone form.

Her proper form, he noted with some surprise. Her correct grip.

“Think you can hit something with that?” He posed the question half out of curiosity, half out of a lewd self-interest. He was already memorizing this image for later use—her actually shooting his rifle would be a nice bonus.

Dara looked back up and rolled her eyes at him. “Let me guess—you want to wrap your arms around me and show me how to hold it properly?” she mocked, snorting. “Wouldn��t be the first time a man tried that one on me.”

The sniper crossed his arms and glared. Honestly, he had been considering that, and he was a little annoyed that there was nothing for him to correct.

“Well, shoot it, then,” he huffed impatiently. The Firepuncher was too large for her, and the recoil would hit her hard, but that wasn’t his problem if she wanted to be a brat about it.

Dara shook her head in exasperation, but lined herself up again, angling the rifle toward one of the closer targets. It wasn’t far at all—he had set it up for Omega’s bow practice, since he himself wouldn’t even bother with something at that range—but it was respectable for a non-sniper, especially one without enhanced vision.

She exhaled, and squeezed the trigger. It hit a few centimeters to the left of center.

“That hurt,” she muttered, rubbing her shoulder and rolling it out. “Too much power for me. I’m used to my hunting rifle.” He watched as she adjusted and tried again, then again, getting closer each time.

“You didn’t learn that hunting,” Crosshair countered. She was too familiar with the scope, her fingers making adjustments with the familiarity of practice.

Dara took another shot, finally hitting center. “Nope.”

He huffed when she didn’t elaborate. “Boyfriend teach you?” he asked snidely, certain it would piss her off.

Her shoulders stiffened for a moment before she forced them to relax. “My friend used one during the war.” She settled into a rhythm, hitting a bullseye several more times before moving onto the next furthest target. “She taught me some, but I don’t have the accuracy at distance to be a sniper. Couldn’t forage all my food when I lived off-the-grid, so that’s still where I got the most practice.”

“Fuck,” Crosshair muttered as she shot again, doing better now that she was more familiar with the weapon. It was nothing particularly impressive, he reminded himself—but still, he could practically feel himself salivating. There was something about the methodical way she undertook the task—getting a feel for the rifle, making small but steady improvements until she performed consistently, then moving onto the next challenge—that appealed to him.

She grinned and looked up at him over her shoulder. “What?” she teased. “You like when I look a little dangerous?”

Kriff, she was doing this on purpose, wasn’t she? Suddenly, it didn’t matter that she hadn’t been speaking to him. She knew what she was doing right now. She had come looking for him.

She still wanted him.

Crosshair lowered himself to his knees, straddling either side of Dara’s legs as she lay prone beneath him, and ran his hands along her hips and waist. He took his time, savoring her curves. She shivered, and flexed her grip against the rifle—his rifle.

“I—I told you this wouldn’t work on me. Can’t seduce me this way.” Her voice was already breathy.

Crosshair slipped his hands beneath her to unbutton her trousers, taking time to savor the feel of the soft skin of her belly against his calloused fingertips. “Obviously you’re the one seducing me, mesh’la.” He slid her pants and underwear down so they rested just beneath the knee, then angled her hips up. She obliged, so willingly, shifting so that she was positioned on her hands and knees, clicking the rifle’s safety on and setting it back down as she did so.

“I’m not the one who started this,” Dara shot back.

He sighed contentedly at this new angle, the way her cunt was spread out beneath him like a ripe fruit to devour. Trying to remain patient, to drag this out as long as possible, he pulled his gloves off and slid his palms along the soft curve of her ass, pushing her shirt up to kiss a trail up her spine. She hadn’t worn the poncho today, and he wondered whether she was thinking of this, thinking of him, of giving him easier access, when she’d decided not to.

“Aren’t you?” Crosshair replied. “You came looking for me for a reason.”

Dara murmured in acknowledgment as he let his hands and tongue roam, dedicating himself to making her shiver. He kneaded at her hips, stroked along her inner thighs, slipped beneath her breastband to pinch a nipple.

One hand ghosted so close to her wet heat that he swore he could feel it radiating from her. “So what was the reason?” he whispered against her skin.

She smirked over her shoulder at him. “Wanted to fuck.”

Crosshair grinned wickedly and sank his teeth into the meat of her hip just as he pressed one long finger inside of her. Her moan synced with the flexing of her walls in response as he opened her up and felt her growing wetter by the second.

“That’s what I thought,” he muttered, slipping another digit in. He straightened so that he was kneeling upright behind her, resting his left hand against the scar on her lower back and watching as his fingers disappeared over and over into her tight hole. Dara threw her head back, eyes screwed tight in ecstasy, and thrust her hips back to meet him, fucking herself on his hand, and Crosshair honestly couldn’t manage to conjure up a hotter image at the moment if he had tried.

She had come back for more. She wanted him.

Last time he had given her what she needed immediately, eager to distract her from her grief. Now, he wanted to tease her, to take his time patiently pulling her apart. To watch as she slowly came undone for him, at his mercy.

Even so, he doubted he could get her to beg for him—not yet, at least. She was too resistant to letting him lead, would surely stubbornly suppress anything that might even hint that he was in charge. Still, though, with her here, on all fours in front of him, admitting openly that this is what she desired—well, for now he would take what he could get.

His cock was uncomfortably hard against his codpiece, and Crosshair had to dip into his reserves of patience to stay focused. He shifted his fingers until he was hitting home inside of Dara, wrenching a low cry from her with every thrust. His thumb found her clit and rubbed slow, firm circles, increasing in speed as her moans became more wanton and he felt the fluttering of her cunt around him.

It was a struggle to pull away before she could reach the apex of her pleasure, especially as she practically chased his fingers with her hips—but he was nothing if not disciplined.

“You absolute kriffing bastard!” Dara groaned, fingers clawing at the duracrete. His eyes were glued to the sight of her pussy, dripping and clenching around nothing, but when he glanced up and met her eyes the strength of her glare could have dropped one of the flying fish right out of the sky.

Crosshair smirked. “Hit the next target, and I’ll let you finish.” He tasted his fingers, coated with her slick, not breaking eye contact even as he felt the urge to close his eyes to fully savor the heady, sweet flavor.

Dara’s eyes flashed, jaw working, and he imagined her mind was running through her options—yelling, fighting, finishing herself off—but evidently she decided that it would be quickest to simply do as he asked, and she gripped his rifle again, firing off an impatient blast that missed her objective entirely.

“You can do better than that, burk’yc,” he goaded over her huff of frustration. As Dara calmed herself, making more effort to line her shot up properly this time, he let his codpiece clatter to the ground, palming himself over his blacks. Her second attempt went wide as well, hitting the target but far off-center, and he tutted. When Dara bared her teeth at him over her shoulder once again at the sound, he spanked one round, enticing buttock. “Focus,” he chided.

Dara spewed out a series of words in a language he couldn’t identify but was certain consisted of the most vehement curses she was familiar with as she turned back toward the range. Grinning, he dragged two fingers through her pussy, gathering her wetness and making her shiver, and tugged his cock out of his blacks, needing some sort of relief for himself even as he tormented her. Slow strokes coated his length in her slick, taking a little of the edge off even as her hands on his rifle were riling him up further. Finally, Dara breathed deeply, muscles relaxing, and loosed a bolt that hit true.

“Good fucking girl,” Crosshair groaned, plunging his fingers back inside of her even as the hand fisting his cock sped up.

“You miserable… son of a nerf herding… bantha shit-brained…” Dara’s insults died away as her climax approached, dissolving into moans as Crosshair expertly guided her toward the edge. When she reached it, he couldn’t tear his eyes away, greedily drinking in the way the tension in her muscles loosed all at once, her knees nearly buckling and mouth letting out delicious little whimpers from behind bitten lips. Suddenly, he found himself having to stop his strokes entirely, clenching the base of his shaft, the sight bringing him far too close to finishing for comfort.

Crosshair gave himself just long enough to avert a crisis—there was no possible way he was going to cum before he was sheathed inside her again—but not long enough for Dara to fully recover. He bent over, lips to her ear, rutting his hard length up against her ass.

“You knew what you were doing to me, holding my weapon like that. Is this what you wanted? For me to take you right out in the open like this?”

Dara was still unsteady on her hands and knees, voice breathy, but not so far gone to keep from snarking at him. “Not my fault… that you… have a fetish…”

He chuckled darkly. “I’m sure I’m not the only one. You’re a filthy thing, aren’t you? I’d bet there’s no end to what you’d let me do to you.”

Dara looked over her shoulder at him again, rolling her eyes with a lazy contentment and smiling wryly. “Is that a promise?”

All that meant was that Crosshair could see the exact moment her eyes rolled back into her head when he plunged his cock into her. He straightened, gripping her hips tightly as leverage to pull her back hard onto his length, driving into her at a pace that punched the air out of her lungs in desperate little cries. The plastoid of his thigh guards bit into the flesh of her ass, creating cute dimples that he wanted to bite, to tongue, to suck, to claim as his own. He sent one hand up to grip her by the hair, brushing it aside to get a better glimpse of the pleasure on her face, happy to once again feel the soft, warm strands beneath his calloused fingertips.

Everything about her seemed designed to drive him mad. He wanted more, more, always more, wanted her fully nude below him, to see the sensual curve of her back and her bare tits bouncing with every thrust, to have everything, all of her, to look into her eyes as they went hazy with pleasure—but for now this was all he had. And still, how kriffing good it was, the long minutes he could steal sheathing himself in her heat, reveling in the way just a slight change in angle of his cock had her melting for him.

Then her body suddenly stilled completely, her hips no longer thrusting back to meet him, only rocking gently with his movements, before a shudder passed along her spine and her head was thrown back and he could see she was no longer entirely here, lost in her pleasure, a far-off smile playing along her lips and then her mouth opened wide and she cried out and shuddered even harder beneath him, cumming violently as he kept fucking into her without mercy, muttering filth that he wasn’t even sure she could hear.

“That’s it. Take it. Fuck, you take me so well, squeezing that tight little cunt around my cock. Feels so good when you cum around me. Can barely stand seeing your hot fucking ass like this, bouncing while I take you from behind. Gonna cum in you, gonna fill you up, fuck!”

Crosshair’s vision blurred as he found he couldn’t hold back any longer, barely able to keep his balance as his orgasm overcame him. The feeling of his hot seed spurting impossibly deep inside Dara filled him with satisfaction to match his pleasure, and he bent over to lazily mouth at her neck, knowing that, at least for today, she remained marked by him. He found he didn’t want to withdraw from her even as he felt himself growing softer, wondering how long he could get away with staying just like this, his cock warm and Dara beneath him just a little longer.

It was Dara who took the initiative, edging forward and collapsing onto the duracrete with a satisfied hum. Crosshair replaced his codpiece before laying down next to her, one arm tucked beneath his head, as she rolled over and tugged her pants back up.

He frowned, noticing scrapes along her knees before the bare skin disappeared beneath clothing.

“I hurt you,” he muttered. His contentment leaked out of him, deflating rapidly like air from a balloon.

Dara shrugged, unaffected, looking up into the darkening sky. “It’s just a few scratches.”

“Yes, but—” Crosshair huffed in frustration. She was right, he didn’t understand why he was feeling this way, a strange sort of misery suddenly hovering over him. “Your hands just healed,” he finished lamely, and that didn’t explain anything.

She chuckled, still not looking at him. “Well, what did you expect? Duracrete’s not a forgiving surface.” He was silent, not sure how to articulate anything, because she was right, he should’ve known, hadn’t cared enough to think about her comfort, too occupied with want, with pushing her, with taking her roughly, and—

A hand squeezing his interrupted the spiral. Dara was looking at him, brow furrowed with concern, and he wasn’t sure what she was seeing on his face. A part of him wanted to storm off, push her away and go somewhere quiet to sort through whatever this mess was, but then she was squeezing his hand again and he fought the urge.

“Hey—” Her voice was soft, soothing. “It’s okay. It was worth it. I liked it.”

Crosshair let out a breath he hadn’t known he was holding and nodded, not trusting his voice. Dara let go of his hand and looked back to the sky, giving him a break from scrutiny and a few precious moments to recover before she pressed again.

Her voice was casual, nonjudgmental, when she resumed. “You’ve bruised me before,” she observed, hastily continuing before he could react, “I liked that too. What’s different about this time?”

He popped a toothpick in his mouth, worrying it with his tongue, contemplating for a moment, before muttering, “That was on purpose. This—it was an accident. I didn’t think.” Maybe if he had, he would be equally as pleased with her scraped knees as the other evidence of his roughness, the fading marks from before that still littered her hips and shoulders.

“Ah.” She was looking at him again, too sympathetic and beneath it a little amused, and he didn’t like any of that. “Do you always have to be in control during sex?”

“Don’t psychoanalyze me. I get that enough from Tech,” Crosshair shot back testily. She raised her hands in a gesture of surrender, and he felt a little better, back in the familiar territory of banter. It was okay, he was okay, she liked it and she still wanted him, and he reached toward her to grasp her chin between his thumb and forefinger. Dropping his already gravelly voice even lower, he murmured huskily, “When I hurt you, it will be on purpose, and you’ll be begging me for it.”

Dara shivered and he felt his cock twitch with renewed arousal. He leaned in to steal a kiss, feeling her mold to him and tracing the seam of her lips with his tongue, ready to deepen the contact and spend the rest of the night exploring ways to finally make her beg.

“Crosshair!” He sighed at the familiar, young voice calling to him as he broke away. Dara recovered quickly, smirking in amusement as he hauled himself up and stalked to the edge of the roof. At the bottom of the ladder, Omega was smiling up at him, a ray of sunshine in the fading light of the evening. Behind her, Hunter raised an eyebrow at him knowingly.

“It’s time for late meal!” His sister shouted up.

Sighing again, Crosshair returned to retrieve his rifle. Hesitating a moment, he offered a hand to Dara to help her up, but she waved him away, gaze returning to the slowly appearing stars. Wordlessly, he padded over to the ladder and began his descent, pausing only a moment to take in the languid, satisfied lines of her form before he left her behind.

Tag list: @stardusthuntress @skellymom @megmegalodondon @somewhere-on-kamino @morerandombullshit @zahmaddog @flaming-dumpster

Thanks again to @cloneflo99 for the amazing banner!!!

Next chapter

#the bad batch #star wars #bad batch #clone force 99 #tbb crosshair #the bad batch fanfiction #clone wars fanfiction #the bad batch crosshair #crosshair bad batch #crosshair x oc #tbb wrecker #tbb echo #tbb tech #tbb hunter #tbb omega #the bad batch fanfic #star wars fanfiction

20 notes · View notes

faneliansficaloh · 8 days ago

Text

A Lifetime of Happiness

(Chapter 1) (Chapter 2) (Chapter 3) (Chapter 4) (Chapter 5) (Chapter 6)

This is Chapter 7

Notes

----------

20th November, 1817

Dear Colin,

It is such a relief to have news from you. Letters are such small, light things – how can they take so very long to reach their intended destinations? How can the world be so very vast? To think I felt like I was already at the edge of the world here in Surrey, so far away from the familiar places where I spent my childhood and the friends I cherish so much. My informed mind knows the truth of such enormous distances, of so many far away places and entire separate continents, but my imagination cannot form an idea of such vastness.

I have not heard news from Holsteinborg yet. I try to keep my mind busy to avoid fretting, it would not do good to Abigail to have a mother that is perpetually useless with worry, I need all my attention on her as she has started standing up and grabbing at things. I have plenty to keep me occupied, both with the estate and Eloise’s project and my books and letters. I would love to one day read what you’ve written about your journey across the Ocean.

Colin, Amanda’s determination also comes from you. You dared to take a job and cross an ocean and then some. You have been bold and made your own way already, you took your family with you to actively care for them, not just in feeling, even when it cannot be the easiest and even expected way to do things in your situation. If that is not determination, I don’t know the meaning of the word.

Please hug them for me, tell them I’m thinking about them as I know it’s their birthday today.

Yours truly, Penelope.

1814 – Of Hopes and dreams.

“It’s the not knowing that makes it feel like torment” Eloise said, explaining to Penelope why she needed to talk to Mr. Sharpe, but then went quiet as she saw Marina approaching them, seeking refuge from the sun under the tent where the refreshments were displayed.

“Marina! Has my brother already driven you to seek shelter away from him?”

“It is not your brother I seek shelter from, but the sun. Do you believe this delay will continue much longer? I feel a headache coming up already”

It was a very bright day and all the guests to the Viscount Bridgerton’s wedding had been sent outside to the gardens while the matter of his reluctant bride was being tended to. The day was sizzling with gossip and sun heat.

“Perhaps it’s best if you have something to drink” Penelope offered.

“Well, I shall leave you in the capable hands of your cousin. Excuse me” Eloise could not be bothered to pretend to like Marina for more than two minutes and was not afraid to let it show.

“Eloise!” Protested Penelope, but she had moved away very swiftly.

“That is odd, even for her. Although they have all been acting quite strangely lately, Colin included.”

“What do you mean?”

“He’s been...restless and taciturn. Insufferable, really.” Penelope looked at him in the distance, he seemed to be talking animatedly with a group of gentlemen.

“A lot changed for him in the last year. Colin is normally cheerful and kind, but he does tend to sit a long time with his feelings. He does not move on easily when something rattles him.”

“I have noticed that, believe me. I thought we were already on a more cheerful state, but ever since Sir Phillip showed up at the ball, he’s been in this odd mood. I knew that man would not bring anything good”

Penelope was puzzled at this. She had not been able to find anything too wrong with Sir Phillip and she had not noticed anything amiss between him and Colin, on the contrary she believed they had parted on the friendliest of terms. But she could not focus on that in this moment, she needed to make sure Eloise stayed out of trouble.

“Excuse me, Marina but I need to find Eloise”

“Alright then” She made a note to include Penelope in the list of people acting oddly these days.

Penelope walked down every path of the garden but she could not find Eloise. She did find Colin standing alone, drinking from a flask.

“Are you celebrating already? The wedding is not done, you know?” She gently teased him.

“Can’t say I’m celebrating, unfortunately” He grinned for a fraction of a second, so she had to ask.

“Is everything alright?” She kept looking around for Eloise while she waited for this response.

“Yes, it is” he said without much conviction.

She turned her full attention to him, arching her brows “But?”

“Am I that obvious?” He had thought himself an accomplished stoic at this point.

“Yes, I’m afraid you’re not a master at disguising your emotions, Colin. You’re clearly bothered by something” He looked at her, intrigued. Was he really this transparent to everyone, yet no one else cared enough to ask or was it just Penelope that knew him so well? “Is it Marina?” She sounded concerned.

“Not exactly. I do not wish to burden you with my silly notions, Pen. Do not worry”

“Colin, are we not friends? I promise I will not mock you if it is really a very silly thing” She said jokingly but still with certain tenderness in her tone.

“It is only that I-- I thought that having my own family would fill me with purpose and, in a way it has but” He could not bring himself to tell her how Marina made him feel like a spectator rather than a part of a family, that she seemed to be intent in making it clear that the children were hers and they didn’t need anyone else other than her. She seemed to live in fear that he would suddenly decide to leave and take them from her if she let him get too involved. “I still find myself struggling with a certain feeling of... uselessness. Eloise would just drag me through the mud if she could hear me, I know.”

“I do not think it silly to aspire to a greater purpose, and I am sure you will find yours in due time. Raising a family may be satisfying for many, but everyone is different and what can be fulfilling for one may not be so for another. I rather think my own dreams would not signify anything to most, especially a man!”

“And what is it you dream of, Pen?” He said with true curiosity.

“So you can mock how silly my little dreams are?” She said almost joking.

“I would never” He shook his head and his eyes showed he was serious.

“I want nothing short of the world’s adoration, of course.” She joked again, with an irreverent smirk. He let out a puff of air and rolled his eyes. “If you really want to know about my silly dreams... I only truly wish to be free and brave to lead my own life, on my own terms. I wish to be heard and taken seriously.” Her eyes had filled with a hopeful spark and a lovely smile lifted her slightly parted lips.

“There is nothing silly about any of that, Pen.” How he had wished for himself that he would be taken seriously and to make his own way in the world, maybe what he lacked was the bravery she had mentioned.

“I know some of my dreams will never become true and I may need to let go or alter them” She said, looking deep into his eyes, feeling emboldened for a moment and risking giving away what dream exactly she was referring to. Maybe it was the sun that had started to get to her head, but she caught herself and looked away as she finished her thought “but even if we have to adapt to reality, I believe we still need to allow ourselves to dream of the impossible, to help us face the world armed with hope, even when it all seems lost.” There was Marina, standing under the shadow of a tent, a few yards away.

“Pen --” her tone had shifted from animated to wistful very suddenly, her smile all but vanished. He wanted to understand her fully, to carry on with the conversation because her words had resonated deep inside of him. But she interrupted him, gesturing to the grand wedding cake that was now being cut and served, which clearly indicated there would not be a wedding after all

“You should grab a piece of cake for Marina, before it is all gone. I know she loves cake” and just as suddenly as her tone had changed, she walked away with a little bow.

For all the opportunities that Lady Whistledown afforded her to fulfil what she felt was her purpose, she still dreamed of love, but she couldn’t bring herself to tell him that. One day maybe someone would love her as she loved him, although she didn’t think she would ever be able to stop loving Colin, no matter how it kept breaking her heart. But maybe one day, so she allowed herself to dream of the impossibility of being loved by someone.

She could not find Eloise, but she knew exactly where she was.

***

Eloise was frantically looking for a way out of the conundrum she was currently in. The queen’s men had followed her and seen her at the printer’s shop. This on itself was quite ruinous as Penelope well knew, the rumour would soon spread that she had been visiting a man -a working man that was below her station-, unchaperoned. To make matters worse, her majesty was now convinced that Eloise was Lady Whistledown and seemed to have made threats against her and her family. She could not bear it any longer so she had to admit it.

“Eloise, it is me! I am Lady Whistledown”. Eloise winced.

“Pen, now is not the time to jest! The Queen was serious with her threat!” She responded, removing her friends’ hands from her arms.

“And so am I!” The authoritative tone from Penelope made Eloise freeze and go quiet – what an accomplishment, Penelope thought. “I am Lady Whistledown, El.”

“But… how? Why?” and then processing what she had just heard and clarity hit her “Have you been laughing at me behind my back all this time?” she let out, Indignantly.

“I am sorry I’ve kept this for so long, El, but you surely see how I had no choice, seen as how you are now in this terrible predicament yourself?”

Eloise seemed, miraculously, to be out of words, although her mouth kept moving trying to utter one or another.

“Are you quite serious?” The look of incredulity on her face wounded Penelope a bit. She expected the Queen to be incredulous and doubt her if she were to come forward, she knew she would have to prove herself, after all, no-one really had ever taken the time to get to know her so how could they expect such a feat from a quiet wallflower? But that someone who knew her as intimately and for such a long time as Eloise did could not see it as remotely possible and needed proof to be convinced, well, that plainly stung.

“I can show you. I can take you to the printer, although I don’t think that would be helpful in our current situation. I am sorry that you got caught in this, Eloise, I truly am. I will find a way to get you out of trouble with the queen”

“And Theo”, Eloise was quick to add, and nearly as quickly corrected herself “Mister Sharpe”.

“You most stop your visits, Eloise. Regardless of Whistledown, you’ve been seen already. It is damaging enough on itself. Please, think of your sisters if nothing else”.

A thought occurred to Eloise “Are you lying to me just to protect us from my recklessness, Pen? It is not your job to rescue everyone from trouble, you know?”

“Of course not! Why won’t you believe me? Do you truly find me incapable of such a thing? Do you think so little of me, Eloise?”

“But… all the things she’s written about your own family, about mine, of you!” Eloise clearly was having trouble reconciling all that with her sweet, loyal friend.

“Come to my house, I will show you”

And so they made their way across the square and all the way into Penelope’s room, where she revealed it all to Eloise, until she was thoroughly convinced.

“Nobody ever took notice of me so it was really easy to collect the information. And just recently I’ve found a way to avoid showing up at the printer myself.”

“And no one else in the world knows this?”

“There is one of our coach men that would drive me to the printer shop, and then Madam DelaCroix caught me once but we have since become business partners, and she has proven to be most trustworthy”

“Unlike me, who cannot be trusted!” Eloise was evidently deeply hurt

“You know I didn’t say that, not even close. Eloise, this whole endeavour was all mine, my own little thing separate from everything else. At first I didn’t tell you because I thought you would find it ridiculous and then, when it gained popularity, I was afraid you’d try to direct what I wrote about. I never expected the Queen herself would take such a great interest and by then I knew it was too late to get anyone else involved, it became a risk. As you are well aware now, unfortunately.”

“So, why did you continue, then? Why not just stop when it became such a dangerous endeavour?”

“Because… I needed a voice of my own, and by that time, it had become intoxicating to receive all the attention that had never been given to a word I said. I somehow obtained this great power that came with capturing that attention. Is it not something that you have wished for yourself, Eloise? To have your voice, your opinions heard instead of unjustly dismissed just because you are a woman?”

“I wish, for once, you were not right. I so wish to be mad right now, but we have something more important to take care of” She paused, briefly “How did you get to be so smart considering…?” She gestured broadly around her.

“I think their borderline forgetting all about me has rather worked in my favour” she said, attempting to be humorous.

“It is truly remarkable. I almost wish for total neglect for myself” They both laughed, despite how truly heartbreaking the underlying truth was, and before they knew it they were laughing at nothing in each other’s arms.

After a few minutes they were sitting on the floor, holding hands and staring out the window.

“I’m glad I’ve told you, El. It was horrible keeping such a secret from my best friend”

“After… the Colin thing” She gesticulated as if it was a disgusting idea “I thought you could not keep anything else from me, and oh, did you prove me wrong! Is this it? No more secrets, I hope?”

“No more secrets, I swear”.

“Good, because I am now utterly embarrassed that I have none of my own to make us even” She suddenly straightened herself up and Penelope followed suit, suddenly Eloise had formed an idea she clearly thought brilliant “You must print something about me!”.

“What? Have you lost your senses?”

“No, no, no. Think about it. All we need to do is to convince the queen that I am not Lady Whistledown. There is no need for anything more than that. You have never even mentioned me, not even in passing”

Penelope raked her brain trying to protest, but she had to agree with her, she had never mentioned her specifically in the column before.

“One of the reasons nobody suspects you, and that includes me, is that you have mentioned yourself and your family before, and not in a very kind light, I might add. Nobody suspects the people who are made the subject of the column, Pen. So I must be one of them to get rid of suspicion.”

“But, Eloise, what--? I couldn’t do that to you. I don’t think just mentioning how pale the Bridgerton blue makes you look would be enough to assuage the Queen’s suspicions.” Eloise gave her a dirty side look as she examined her reflection on the large mirror in front of them, trying to asses her paleness.

“I know. It needs to be something truly scandalous. I’m afraid that would be the only way”

“I should just present myself and confess”

“No, Pen. Think about it! I can take it. I’m always talking about how stupid these society rules are, well, here is a clear opportunity to show how truly meaningless they are. You should talk about what the Queen already knows, as she thinks only herself privy to that information. You should talk about my visiting the printers”

“But El, your family is going through so much with your brother’s cancelled wedding already, I can’t possibly bring yet another scandal about”

“You know that it is the best option.” She grabbed her hands “Scandals pass. The ton doesn’t have a very good memory, you know it better than anyone. And if they cast me out entirely, then I hope I will still have you by my side, will I not?”

“Always”

***

“I will always look after you, Pen. You’re special to me” He had rushed her to dance after quickly downing an entire glass of wine all at once.

“As are you, to me.” His hands were pressing hers in an unnecessary, yet terribly comforting manner.

He was so proud of himself and she was so stunned by what had just happened, how he had come to her family’s rescue from cousin Jack’s fraudulent scheme, that neither of them had a thought for propriety in that moment. In that moment he was not Marina’s husband and father of 2 children, he was the sweet, jovial Colin she had known and loved since the moment they met.

It was a moment soon gone, though, as he returned to his wife the moment their dance was over, as if a magic spell had been broken when the music stopped and stark reality took over once again.

She returned to her normal schedule of talking to Eloise and collecting gossip to form her column in her mind. She would have to compliment the fireworks, for as over indulgent as the rest of the event was, the fireworks were really impressive and they did seem, along with the flowing wine, to bring everyone into high spirits. The event truly was Portia’s triumph, even the Queen had been seen enjoying herself.

And then some guests may have enjoyed themselves too much, for afterwards both Colin and Marina seemed to be a bit past their abilities as they descended from the carriage in front of their home, not without some difficulty, laughing about it, like good friends sharing a silly moment, holding to each other for balance.

“I am so hungry right now”

She chuckled “you’re always hungry, Colin. Don’t you... don’t you have a box of something in your study, I saw you take it, you know?”

“Oh yes, I think I do!” He finally managed to open the door “It was fun tonight, wasn’t it?” He was still feeling the rush of having uncovered Lord Featherington.

“It was” She said as she removed her long gloves. She was smiling, which she rarely did so genuinely. She looked like the girl he had asked to be his wife. He felt compelled to kiss her and end this triumphant night on a high note, upstairs. He was moving towards her, when she distractedly and still drunkenly said something that cooled his rising passions immediately.

“’twas interesting, how you were dancing tonight, Colin. You know” She snickered “you should’ve married Penelope” Marina told him, laughing at the thought and perhaps not fully understanding that she had said that out loud and not just in her mind.

“What on earth are you on about?” Colin didn’t know if he was more confused or hurt that once again he had misread her feelings “Marina --” What was this nonsense? Was she suddenly jealous and of Penelope, at that?

“What?” She covered her mouth for a second “Oh, no, I’m sorry. I just-- I don’t know what I was thinking, too much wine” Marina quickly sobered up and immediately regretted bringing it up.

She was not really sure what would happen if he finally opened his eyes and noticed Penelope. She was certain that Penelope was a good, proper girl and cared too much about society to be any risk on her own. But Marina had noticed in the last months that Colin did enjoy Penelope’s company a little too much. He sought her out at every event, would hang on her every word and seemed too pleased at making her laugh with his little jokes, which she always found a bit annoying herself.

If he made up his mind, would he finally decide to leave her? She wasn’t sure she could fare a divorce and lose the protection of this sweet, honourable man entirely. She hated being this weak and selfish but tried to convince herself that maybe if she did try a little harder, she could finally make it work instead.

“Goodnight, then” he climbed the narrow stairs and retired into his room. There in the darkness he removed his waistcoat, took off his shoes and cravat and threw himself on the bed. He had had too much to drink and he felt his head spinning. How could Marina say such an odious thing? Just when he thought things between them might turn around.

He, marrying Penelope instead, what a preposterous idea! How did she get these twisted notions into her head? That strange hatred for Sir Phillip, and now talking about Penelope like that.

One thing was sure – he thought - Penelope at least knew him well enough not to doubt his word and second guess his every move. Penelope would not be hurtful in a different way every day. No, she would encourage him and support him and even make him laugh with a witty remark, or make fun of him but in a light hearted way – Because, didn’t she already do all those things? Pen would advise him if he needed counsel, and gently correct him when he was being an ass. Pen would smile when he came into a room and always make him feel welcome, she would make him feel like he was the only other one in a room full of people, the only one worthy of her full attention. His Pen would kiss him, her lips firm and warm, and her fingers would roam through his hair and the back of his head and he would kiss her neck, tasting the soft skin, he would cup her breasts, filling his hands while hers would dig into his back and he’d sink slowly, deeply into her, making her moan out his name.

He woke up, startled. “Oh Fuck!.” He pressed his hands into his eyes and moved them to his temples, trying to squeeze the dream out. Marina had clearly gotten into his head. He tried closing his eyes but he was assaulted with the memory of Penelope biting her lower lip in her pink gown.

He couldn’t get back to sleep. He got up and lit a candle and sat at his desk. He needed to take these thoughts out of his head and he remembered Hyacinth had given him a journal as a gift when he was making plans to travel, before he married. And again, Penelope came into in his mind, the memory of her reminding him how much he wanted to travel – and the painful realization that it was probably another attempt to steer him away from Marina. He searched for the journal and finally took it out from a drawer, where it had been buried under old letters.

July 1814

I’ve come undone. It is a wretched thing, my thoughts have been infected most viciously. This contradicting loneliness I’m trapped in has made me lose my mind entirely. The mere insinuation of a more joyous possibility has sent me on a spiral and it is robbing me of sleep.

That had to be it. He had become so bereft of true affection in his marriage that his mind had been happy to confuse his friendship with Penelope for something else. He had temporarily lost his mind. He couldn’t want Penelope like that. He wouldn’t. How could he?

Fortunately the Bridgertons were all going to Aubrey Hall, and the Featheringtons were leaving for their own country home in the next couple of days, so he would have some time to compose himself and regain his sanity. It would be mortifying if he were to see her while he still had the memory of that shameful dream floating around in his head, which in fact went on for far longer that he would ever admit.

Chapter 8

13 notes · View notes

pocketramblr · 1 year ago

Note

for the five ask game, how about an alternative universe where Tenya is All Might's secret love child?

1- so Iidamom used to be an active hero at Idaten with her brother and father and their shared engine quirks, but retired after getting pregnant with Tensei. Then, fifteen years later, she has an affair with All Might. Now, All Might was her celebrity free pass so her husband isn't mad, but is a bit uncomfortable because he'd largely been joking, but its not like he communicated that, so.... so begins Tenya's life, and the accelerated decline of the iidas marriage. (you ever think about how the iidad is in the background of like, Tenya's five year old flashbacks but never in the present? and how much he singularly looks up to his older brother? hm)

2- Tenya has blond streaks in his hair, but he dyes them out because he likes the neater, all blue look that matches his family. (Though, one year when he was three, his brother dressed up as All Might for a Halloween costume party, and brought him dressed up as Sir Nighteye). Tenya also has No Idea he's All Might's secret child. (Tensei suspects at least that they're half siblings, but has never asked for confirmation, staying out of the drama between his parents and simply adoring his little brother.)

3- Tenya is also going to grow taller than his brother, though they still look alike mostly due to resembling their mother and the fact that both their fathers are tall and broad, if one more than the other. His eyes are a shade lighter blue then their mother's and Tensei's. Still, no one is going to suspect anything- even All Might has no idea, their mother never told him and never wanted to.

4- After Stain attacks Ingenium, Toshinori feels horrible at hearing the news and cautiously reaches out- he has no intention of repeating the fling, but he is worried for an old acquaintance, and he is Tenya's teacher now. She has a generic response sent to him, more concerned with Tensei's care at the moment. She doesn't think anything if it until a couple weeks later when she's visiting a different son in a different hospital, and as she's walking in, Gran Torino is walking out, talking on the phone, "it took three days and he found trouble, your boy takes a bit too much after you, Toshinori." (Note: Tenya's mother knows Toshinori's given name, due to the whole "sleeping with him" incident) and she's like "He knows??" To which Gran is like "what" and she's like "are you talking about my son?" And, Gran looks over her, says "unless you're Midoriya Inko, no...?" And leaves. So when she walks in and sees Tenya talking to a boy he calls Midoriya she thinks "oh, of course I'm not the only woman to have had All Might's bastard child. They're a bit close in age but I can't judge a fling. Oh no, Tenya has a half brother and doesn't even know it! But... At least they're friends. I'm glad." And she's not going to out the relationships if All Might won't.

5- this just means less trouble now, and now trouble later. Tenya calls from the dorms and talks about Midoriya, and she nervously jokes that it sounds like he has a crush on him- ah, but how are Todoroki and Uraraka doing? Tenya isn't sure how to feel about that, and tells his brother ("hey, is Mom... Homophobic?" / "Uh I hope for both our sakes not, why?") so Tensei just asks "do you have a problem with any of his friends?" And his mom's like "oh, no- I'm just worried he has a crush on his... Probably... Half brother" and Tensei almost breaks his chair's wheel turning sharply. After getting the whole story out and recovering from the psychic damage of the fact that the former number one hero knew his mom like that, Tensei is like "look, you just need to be upfront with All Might, and tell him that Tenya's his, he can take care of the rest. But tell me when you're going to do it so I can text Shouta and tell him to be there, I want him to have both the joy of seeing All Might suffer the reaction, the pain of realizing himself, and to be there in case All Might's heart stops or he coughs on too much blood when he hears."

#pocket talks to people #anon #ask game

43 notes · View notes

hotheadrednecksimmer · 5 months ago

Text

Don't Smile - Struck by Love Legacy Challenge - Season 2, Episode 13

It was the week of Christmas and Naomi hadn't bought any Christmas gifts for her family. Naomi and Bear went to the local shops to see if there was anything left that was good enough for her family.

As she reached the end of her shopping trip, she ran into a familiar face, Leo.

Leo: Oh, hey stranger!

Naomi could feel her cheeks heating up being near this man that she had such a real dream about, of course he couldn't know about the dream, but she felt like he could see right through her. Naomi spoke: Hey, how's it going?

She tried her hardest to sound like she was stressed, or excited that he was here.

Leo smiled at her: Sorry that I ran out without saying anything, I had to get to work and I didn't want to disturb you. You looked so peaceful.

Naomi was shocked by his statement, had he been thinking about how he treated Naomi during the hookup? Naomi: Don't worry about it, didn't hurt my feelings. She lied.

Leo's smile falters for a second, if Naomi wasn't paying attention she could've missed it, Naomi thought this was strange. Leo: I didn't get your number either, I mean if you wanted it.

Naomi's heart picked up, she wasn't expecting him to react like this to her. Naomi: I mean sure yeah, more friends the merrier, am I right?

Leo: Yeah, friends. Here's my number.

Leo and Naomi exchanged phones to put their information in the others. When Naomi received hers back, his name had a little heart next to it, her heart was a traitor and fluttered again.

Leo: I was actually about to head in for a bite to eat, you wanna join me?

Naomi: I was gonna grab dinner here too, they are one of the only places around here that allow dogs inside.

Leo: Really? I didn't know that! Let's grab a table.

The pair plus Bear head inside the restaurant. They grabbed a table and placed their order.

Naomi: So what brings you out here to Del Sol Valley? I thought you lived in the city with your brother?

Leo: Well, I accepted a job out here a few weeks ago and was making the trip, but Rhett, my brother, was able to afford the apartment on his own. With my new job I'd be able to afford a place on my own, so I got one up on the hill. It's about 15 minutes away from your place if I remember correctly.

Naomi shifted in her seat, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks and another body part that was betraying her as she remembered the night that her and Leo shared. Naomi: That's great that you got a new job! I've been pretty busy at my job as of late. My boss is putting pressure on me to learn another instrument other than Piano.

Leo: Is that something that interests you?

Naomi: Not really, but if it makes my boss happy then I'll do it. I'm just trying to make a living.

Leo: What do you want to do?

Naomi pondered his question for a bit, she wasn't sure. All she knew is that she wanted to make music, write songs, but strictly with Piano and her voice. She could not bring herself to learn yet another instrument. As much as she loved piano it didn't come easy to her. Naomi: I don't want to learn another instrument.

Leo: Then don't, tell your boss that. If you don't want to do something, then don't.

Naomi: That's not exactly how it works.

Naomi and Leo got caught up in conversation over their meal.

Leo: You busy after this?

Naomi did finish her shopping for her family, she didn't have anything planned after this and she had this need for him that she didn't understand. Naomi: No, I'm not busy. Just got to take Bear home for his dinner.

Leo: You want company?

Naomi couldn't stop herself before she was agreeing to this man. She seriously had to stop this before she became too attached. She knew that this was only going to end in one way, heartbreak. Yet, she still let him come over.

After some fun activities, Leo and Naomi cuddle in bed together. Something that Naomi didn't let herself do, yet another rule she was breaking for him. And this time he didn't leave.

╭┈◦•◦❥•◦ Season 1 | Season 2 First | Previous | Next

#the sims 4 #ts4 simblr #the sims 4 simblr #the sims 4 legacy #ts4 challenge #ts4 legacy #ts4 legacy challenge #the sims 4 cc #ts4 gameplay #sims 4 #ts4 screenshots #ts4 #simblr #sims 4 story #sims 4 gameplay #sims 4 screenshots #sims 4 legacy #the sims #struckbylovelegacy

10 notes · View notes

totesnothere04 · 2 years ago

Text

Deviant With a Big Defect Pt.2

The Bad Batch x Sister!Reader and Obi-Wan x F!Reader

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the fanart, screenshots, or gifs used with my stories.

Warnings: Mentions of bigotry.

Chapter 1 Part 3

Scientific Minds

You and Tech are sat around your scattered pieces of armor when you felt another pain shoot up your side. You whine and lay your head on the table.

"I do not believe you are okay (Y/n). It would make me feel much better if you go see Mistress Nala Se." Tech says with finality and you sigh as there's nothing you can do to fight him on this.

"Alright. I'll be back in a while." You say as you exit the room. You follow the familiar corridors of Tipoca City to the lab you spent most of your life in. On the way you bump into a clone by accident.

"Oh hey (Y/n)." He says and you take a closer look and realize you know him.

"Commander Garrett!" You say happily and give him a hug which he reciprocates. "How are the boys?" You ask him.

"They're doing alright. We're just ready to finally be out there in the action you know?" He asks and you nod slightly. You wince when another pain shoots up both of your sides this time. "Are you alright?" He asks worriedly.

"Oh yeah. I'm fine. Just some pain in my sides. Don't worry about it I'm going to see Mistress Nala Se about it." You tell him and he nods.

"Alright. You come tell me if it's anything serious. Say hello to Unit 99 for me." Garrett says and you nod.

"Only if you give my regards to the 75th for me." You tell him and he nods. "Bye Garrett!"

"Bye (Y/n)!" He calls back and as you walk away from him you shiver and look back at him. You brush off that feeling again and continue to the lab. It had been months since you felt that air of change. You shake yourself out of your thoughts when you see Nala Se. You catch up to her and stop when you reach her.

"Mistress Nala Se." You get her attention and she looks at you.

"Is something wrong (Y/n)?" She asks.

"Yes I've been dealing with pains running up and down my sides." You tell her and she hauls you into the lift to take you to her lab. The moment you sit on the table she's next to you with her scanner and datapad.

"Have you been experiencing an increase in appetite?" She asks.

"Yes." You say.

"Have you been experiencing these pains for an extended amount of time?" She asks.

"Yes. It started about a year ago, but it's been getting worse as time goes on." You tell her. She scans over you a second time and she chuckles.

"It is nothing to be afraid of. You are going through another growth spurt." She says and you look at her bewildered.

"But I thought standard clone height was 5 foot 11 inches. That's where I am now." You tell her and she shakes her head.

"You are a twin. Your brother is 6 foot 4 inches in height. Does it really seem so odd that you might be the same height, or atleast close to his height?" She asks and you shake your head.

"I guess not. Is that all it is?" You ask her and she nods.

"While you're here I would like to run a cranial scan to make sure this growth spurt is not effecting your brain wave activity." She says and you nod then lay back on the bed. You close your eyes and the flashing white light isn't as bad as it used to be. Time passes quicker than it used to and the bed is pulled out of the scanner. You sit up on the bed and she comes back in. "Your brain wave activity is at optimal levels, and you are free to go." Nala Se says and gestures to the door. You bow you head as you walk past her.

"Thank you Mistress Nala Se. I'll see you around." You say happily as you leave the room, and take the lift back to the main buildings. When you get back you head straight for the barracks. You feel a tap on your shoulder and you turn to see who it is. Your posture straightens almost immediately when you see Cody. "Commander Cody." You salute him and he chuckles.

"At ease soldier." He says and you allow yourself to relax just a little bit. "I'll wall you back to your barracks?" He asks and you nod in appreciation.

"Thank you Commander." You say and he nudges your arm.

"You can just call me Cody. How are you feeling? I know those pains have been getting to you." He says as he looks over at you.

"I went to see Nala Se about them, and she says I'm about to go through another growth spurt." You tell him and he seems shocked.

"But standard clone height is... Well, it's where both of us and Hunter are now." He says to you.

"She said that it's not odd for twins to be close in height." You tell him. "So I'll be somewhere near 6 foot 4 inches tall when I stop growing."

"Damn. I've already got to look up at Wrecker, Crosshair, and Tech. Now I've got to do the same for you?" Cody jokes and you chuckle.

"Sorry Commander. It's genetic... Manufacturing?" You say and he gives a full blown laugh.

"That it is I guess." He says and you stop outside your door.

"Thank you for walking me back to my barracks." You say and he nods.

"It's no problem. I try to be as nice to you guys as I can, because I know the regular clones don't really like you." He says and you shake your head.

"Eh who needs them? I've already got alot of accepting friends. I'll see you around... Commander." You tease him again and he rolls his eyes.

"I'll see you around (Y/n)." Cody says then leaves. You walk into the room and Tech turns to you.

"So? What's the verdict?" Tech asks.

"Well I'm not dying if that's what you're implying." You joke, but those blasted pains shoot up your sides again. "I'm about to go through another growth spurt." You tell him.

"Looks like there's one more that's gonna be taller than Hunter." Crosshair jokes and Hunter pouts.

"I'm not that short! I'm standard clone height!" Hunter says angrily and you chuckle.

"I'm sure I won't be much taller than you Hunter." You say with a smile and he puffs out a breath upset. You take a seat where you were before you left, and pick up your gear. "I'm going to have to wait to finish this until after I finish growing." You say and Hunter snickers.

"That's what you get for being tall." Hunter says and you shoot him a glare.

"Don't worry. It's an easy fix." You tell him and he rolls his eyes. You put your gear into your trunk and lock it.

~6 Months Later~

Nala Se measured you for probably the millionth time that month.

"I believe you are done growing. You have not been experiencing those pains for a few weeks, and your height remains the same." Nala Se says.

"So it's settled... I'm 6 foot 4 inches tall?" You ask her and she nods.

"The Prime Minister wishes to speak with you. Please make your way to his office." She says and you nod.

"Yes Mistress." You say and leave her lab. You follow the sterile corridors to Lama Su's office. You wait for the door to open for you and when it does you step inside.

"(Y/n)." He greets you.

"Hello (Y/n)." Taun We greets and you bow your head to them both.

"Please take a seat." Lama Su says as he gestures to a seat. You sit down and he continues to stare at you. "It has come to our attention that you got into a physical altercation with one of our science staff. May I know the reason?"

"She was trying to steal all my designs. She said that clones don't deserve the right to claim discoveries, or advancements in arms. It was heat of the moment and it won't happen again." You say and look down at your hands.

"And why is that?" He asks.

"Because I've resigned from the science division, and all of my designs will be reserved for my squad." You tell him and he nods.

"I understand you-" He cuts himself off as an alert for an approaching ship sounds. "Taun We please go greet our guest." She stands and bows to him then leaves. "I understand you were upset, but you must understand. You are far stronger than a regular human being, and trained to kill. Our scientists are not practice droids." He says and nod.

"I understand Prime Minister." You say.

"Nala Se has informed me that you have finished growing." He says and you nod once more. "Very good. Please finish designing your armor once our guest leaves."

"You- You want me to stay with you as your guest gets a tour?" You ask him.

"Yes. You are a prime specimen from our ranks, and I hope that you are able to impress him." Lama Su says and you bow your head.

"Yes Prime Minister. I will be on my best behavior." You say and the door opens after a few minutes of silence. The man raises a brow in question at you, but you stand when Lama Su does.

"May I present Lama Su, Prime Minister of Kamino." Taun We introduces him then gestures to the man. "And this is Master Jedi..."

"Obi-Wan Kenobi." He introduces himself and the two bow to eachother.

"I trust you'll enjoy your stay." The seat Taun We had evacuated came back down for Obi-Wan to sit in. They both take a seat and you follow after them. "And now to business. You will be delighted to hear that we are on schedule. 200,000 units are ready with a million more well on the way." Lama Su says, and you sit a bit straighter when you realize this man is a commanding officer. You could feel the confusion from Obi-Wan as he looks between the 3 of you.

"That's good news." Obi-Wan says.

"Please tell your Master, Sifo Diyas, that his order will be met on time." Lama Su says and Obi-Wan looks slightly taken aback.

"I'm sorry. Jedi Master-" Obi-Wan says.

"Hmm. Jedi Master Sifo Diyas is still a leading member of the Jedi Council, is he not?" Lama Su asks and you narrow your eyes at the 'Jedi'.

"Master Sifo Diyas was killed, almost 10 years ago." Obi-Wan says.

"Oh. I'm so sorry to hear that, but I'm sure he would've been proud of the army we've built for him." Lama Su says and gestures to you. You stand for the Jedi to see you well. He looks you up and down then looks back to Lama Su.

"The army?" Obi-Wan asks.

"Yes. A clone army, and I must say one of the finest we've ever created." Lama Su said.

"Tell me, Prime Minister, when my Master first contacted you about the army. Did he say who it was for?" Obi-Wan asks.

"Of course he did." Lama Su said then wiped some lint off of his skirts. "This army is for the Republic, but you must be anxious to inspect the units for yourself." Lama Su says.

"That's why I'm here." Obi-Wan says. Lama Su gets up, and you follow behind him and Obi-Wan with Taun We walking with you. You round a corner and look out over the growth pods. Your future little brothers all in the making, and were all special in their own way. Obi-Wan looked at you over his shoulder then turned to Lama Su.

"They're very impressive." He says and Lama Su nods.

"I'd hoped you would be pleased." Lama Su straightened back up after saying that. "Clones can think creatively you will find that they are immensely superior to droids. We take great pride in our combat education and training programs. This group was created about 5 years ago." Lama Su said as he looked out at a slightly younger group of clones. Obi-Wan turned to look at you.

"You mentioned growth acceleration." Obi-Wan said while continuing to hold eye contact with you.

"Oh yes. It's essential otherwise a mature clone would take a lifetime to grow. Now we can do it in half the time." Lama Su said as he turned back to you. "This is one of our more advanced clones. She is only a standard 8 years old, but looks and acts nearly 20 standard years."

"I see." Obi-Wan said and you all continued on the tour.

"They are totally obedient taking any order without question. We modified their genetic structure to make them less independent than the original host." Lama Su informs the Jedi who continues to observe the clones.

"And who was the original host?" Obi-Wan asks.

"A bounty hunter called Jango Fett." Lama Su says.

"And where is this bounty hunter now?" Obi-Wan asks.

"Oh we keep him here. Apart from his pay, which is considerable, Fett demanded only one thing. An unaltered clone for himself. Curious isn't it?" Lama Su says astonished.

"Unaltered?" Obi-Wan asks.

"Pure genetic replication. No tampering with the structure to make it more docile and no growth acceleration." Lama Su says and Obi-Wan once again turns his gaze back to you.

"I shall very much like to meet this Jango Fett." Obi-Wan says.

"I will be very happy to arrange it for you." Taun We says.

"What is her story? I believe if they're clones she would not be here." Obi-Wan says and Lama Su pats your shoulder.

"She was a happy accident. She is a very rare multiple defect clone." Lama Su says and you look away slightly ashamed.

"Multiple defect?" Obi-Wan asks.

"Yes. She is a twin. Not from multiples made like her, but she sprouted from another clone when he was placed in production. She holds immense levels of intelligence and has one of the best scientific and developmental minds. Any information you feed to her, her mind holds that information and files it away for later use." Lama Su said and Obi-Wan took a step closer to you. He had to look slightly up to be able to still be looking at your face though.

"And she came out a girl?" Obi-Wan asked.

"We did not know she was a girl until we separated them a year after they started to grow. However, it has not hindered her abilities. She is one of our top specimens, and thought it would be wise for you to beable to meet one of the best." Lama Su said.

"If I may, Prime Minister?" You said and he nodded for you to continue. "Why didn't you have him meet Commander Cody? He's the best non-defective clone you have." You ask him.

"I believe it to be prudent to show that even our defective clones are just as good, if not better, than our regular clones." Lama Su says.

"Does she have a name?" Obi-Wan asks.

"We typically assign numbers to our clones, and she is CT-9902-B. However, her unit has taken to calling her (Y/n)." Lama Su answers. "You may return to your normal duties (Y/n)." You bow your head to the Prime Minister and then to Obi-Wan.

"It was nice to meet you (Y/n)." Obi-Wan calls after you.

~Obi-Wan's POV~

I watch her walk away for a moment before the feeling that she gave off left with her. Odd, very odd. Something about her future that I could sense that would be horrific and traumatic.

"If it would be okay with you Prime Minister I would also like to talk to (Y/n) again. The Force was trying to tell me something while she was around." I tell Lama Su.

"I will gladly set that up for you in the future." Taun We said and we headed off to find this 'Jango Fett'.

~Regular POV~

The feeling that was in the air dispersed the further I got from the Jedi. I sat down at the table in our barracks and pulled my armor from my trunk to finish it.

2,760 Words

#sw tbb #obi wan x reader #the bad batch x reader #the bad batch

35 notes · View notes

historicalasiandramas · 2 years ago

Text

CLJ Recaps

PSDs in this post brought to you by @xiaolanhua! Thank you!

A lot of really emotional things happen really quickly in this ep.

DFQC!Orchid bites Changheng's hand when he reaches out and then tries to force Orchid!DFQC to kiss to switch back. She makes him promise not to hurt Changheng, or she'll kill herself and trap him in her body forever.

And while all this is going down, Xunfeng is revealed as the front man to the coolest metal act in Cangyan Sea.

Back in the forest, DFQC uses Orchid's face to ask Changheng the question that separates a hero from a villain:

This entire time the Moon Supreme had no idea why Orchid would want to go back to a place where she was ridiculed and overlooked. And now Changheng can't even promise that he'd protect her from Yunzhong. Even the real Orchid is saddened to hear Changheng's silence.

Changheng will always put his duty above his feelings. That's all the answer DFQC needs. In her hopelessness, Orchid accidentally makes a sound and reveals her hiding spot to CH. Before he can reveal her, Rong Hao appears and blocks CH. He smiles gently down at Orchid in DFQC's body, showing her that he's already aware of the switch.

Meanwhile, XF has stormed Silent Moon Palace and his killing everyone in his path. I actually really liked this scene, because you get to see 1) Xunfeng's power and 2) how his fighting style differs from his brother.

Orchid tells CH that there's no way for him to lift the curse and says that he should leave. CH refuses to give up and comes up with a different plan: extract Orchid's soul and use self-renewing soil to create a new body for her.

But before Rong Hao can deliver the killing blow, Orchid intervenes kisses DFQC, making them switch back. It's amazing how with a few expression & mannerism changes from their actors, I fully believe that these are two different characters!

DFQC is ready to show Orchid that he's willing to destroy those who don't value her, but she reminds him of his promise not to harm CH. His hellfire subsides, but he's not done rubbing salt in CH's wounds yet! He grabs Orchid and kisses her in front of Changheng. Obviously CH is pissed but before he can do anything rash in his state, Rong Hao teleports them away.

Orchid is angry at the forced kiss and runs off. DFQC has bigger things to worry about than following her: such as Xunfeng's coup. He confronts his brother in the throne room and XF can immediately tell from bearing & expression alone that this is actually DFQC.

As a person with brothers, I can confirm that this is possible! Growing up with someone means you also pick up on their mannerisms. Someone once told me that my younger brother and I sound exactly the same, despite the fact that I'm afab.

The music in this scene is exquisite. DFQC's steps match the beat and the choir kicks in as XF flies down to attack.

I'm personally a huge fan of when DFQC's lightning eyes activate! It was also really sexy of him to stop XF in midair and then chokes him. I'm so sorry Xunfeng....

Ronghao manages to get CH back to Shuiyuntian. Unfortunately, no one can know that he disobeyed orders and went to Cangyan Sea. The only option is for Ronghao to give up some of his life. Danyin offered herself, but Ronghao says that she doesn't have enough power. It has to be him. He's willing to sacrifice for CH. As he shares cultivation with CH, Ronghao's hair begins to turn white.

Unless there's a spell to disguise that, I don't think his Lord of Haishi City mask is gonna work anymore! Anyway, I love a man desperate to undo something that was his own fault to begin with!

Here's the golden brown gown with some important questions:

It's funny how flippant he was about Xunfeng wanting to kill him. If you don't have siblings, wanting to kill them is normal even if you're not the leader of a country with super powerful magic!

DFQC astutely comments that if Ronghao wanted dominion over the Moon Tribe, he could've done it at any time while DFQC was locked way. All this talk of usurping has the Moon Supreme curious and he asks Shangque why he didn't kill his master.

DFQC realizes that Orchid was right about SQ and about him not understanding human emotions.

And finally!!! We get to see my Die Yi! Like Shanque, she is loyal and probably at least a little bit in love with Ronghao. She's distraught seeing him weakened.

She tells Ronghao that she wants him to regain his cultivation, but he says that even if she used up her entire life, it wouldn't work.

Die Yi demands to know why she can't use her life for Ronghao when he used his cultivation for Changheng. This literally sounds like a lover's quarrel. "Do you love him more than me?!" Yes. The only person alive Ronghao cares about other than himself is Changheng.

And yet despite showing his weakness to Die Yi, Ronghao refuses to admit that he saved Changheng out of love. "I know you're not heartless!" WELL MAYBE HE WISHES HE WAS! Let him have this villainous moment even if no one is fooled.

Die Yi collects herself to report on Silent Moon Palace. She asks if they should kill Xunfeng, but Ronghao is convinced that DFQC will do it for them. After all, he killed his own father. What's a brother to him? UNFORTUNATELY you miscalculated! DFQC has Orchid with him and while you're settling into your villain arc, Moon Supreme is s l o w l y entering his redemption arc :)

Changheng is awake now and determined to leave, but is stopped by a summons from his brother. Yunzhong has found him out and questions Changheng. Fortunately, Danyin & Ronghao are there to intercede and say that he was merely eager to kill the enemy. CH grudgingly says they're right and YZ seals his power and puts him back under house arrest.

Speaking of house arrest, it seems like Orchid is back in her gilded cage again. Though this time SQ is watching her to report back to DFQC. I absolutely love the image of him in the golden robes, reading in front of the fire. It gives off such a soft and domestic feel, which is new!

While he's wondering why he acted the way he did when the Jade Ring should be suppressing Orchid's emotions, SQ enters.

DFQC notices something strange in Shangque's report: he's started calling her by a more respectful title. It's translated as Fairy Orchid, which doesn't feel right but I don't know Chinese and thus am not sure what he's actually calling her.

Apparently, the servants also respect Orchid and even say that she saved DFQC. And she did! Just not from Xunfeng. The palace maids want to throw a banquet for her, but aren't sure that DFQC will allow it. He lifts her house arrest and says Orchid is allowed to go wherever she wants within his realm. No one is allowed to stop her, be rude to her, or hurt her. Otherwise - you guessed it! - he will kill them :)

SQ thinks that Orchid choosing to save DFQC shows how loyal she is, but DFQC seems to be a bit riled up before that conclusion. What did you think he was gonna say, buddy? ;) He gives leave for the palace maids to throw the banquet but says that a gathering of women is inappropriate for him to attend.

BUT THEN HE GOES AND SPIES ANYWAY! Interestingly, the maids are calling Orchid elegant and pretty even though when she was first brought back, the courtesans said she was rather plain. DFQC creates a breeze to rustle the petals off the trees, knowing that this would make Orchid happy.

And here is where I died: he removes his ring.

You know, the thing that he was so desperate to get before because it isolates the mind and helps him deal with the Heart Curse? THAT ring. He then closes his eyes and basks in Orchid's joy.

If he's already addicted to joy, imagine what he'll be like when he falls for real damn!!

#clj recap #clj #love between fairy and devil #苍兰诀

10 notes · View notes

nehswritesstuffs · 1 year ago

Text

banish every gaslight; let clarity shine - Part 9

Oops I watched OPLA all in one go and I, like much of the fandom, is sobbing at how good we got it. Now I'm actively considering importing some of my fics circa 2006 onto AO3, so I'm curious...

Part 1 [FFN/AO3] - Part 2 [FFN/AO3] - Part 3 [FFN/AO3] - Part 4 [FFN/AO3] - Part 5 [FFN/AO3] - Part 6 [FFN/AO3] - Part 7 [FFN/AO3] - Part 8 [FFN/AO3]

Luffy upholds his end of the bargain, while a toy can't help but lend an ear. [2257 words; AU where there is a Third Corazón, whose existence makes Law’s life hell]

Law and Antonia did their best to not freak out as they flew through the air thanks to Luffy’s insanely springy legs. He landed on a few rooftops and used them as further springboards, taking him further and further away from the palace.

“What the fuck is going on here?!” Antonia gasped. “Put me down, you psychopath!”

“Can’t! Gotta get you away from Mingo!” Luffy kept bouncing, unperturbed by his cargo squirming.

“Strawhat-ya doesn’t seem like the sort of guy you can reason with,” Law stated sourly. It was frankly demeaning being hauled around all over the place as he was, but what choice did he really have? “Mind telling us where we’re going?”

“Not far,” Luffy said. Sure enough, he landed hard in one of the plazas, his feet crumbling the cobblestone underneath them to dust. He put the pair down and grinned at them, only for Antonia to smack his head. “Ow! What’d you do that for?!”

“Warn me next time!” she hissed. Antonia was about to scold him further when someone tackled her in a hug—Baby 5…?! “Whoa! Where’d you come from?”

“Nia, I was so worried!” Baby 5 sniffled. “I was afraid that Doflamingo got you!”

“Wait… don’t you always refer to Uncle Doffy as Young Master…?” Movement caught Antonia’s eye and she saw Viola unlocking Law’s cuffs. Seconds passed and he began to vomit as his Devil Fruit abilities came back. “Violet…? What are you…?”

“He needs time to recover,” the older woman said. She held Law’s shoulders as he retched to keep him steady. “We’ll never get to do anything with him in this state.”

“Torao sure as hell took a beating,” Luffy noted. “Whoever did that must’ve been someone he really didn’t want to fight.”

“That… that was me…” Antonia said, her voice quiet. She watched as Baby 5 crouched down on the other side of Law; he was only able to look at her for one fleeting moment of realization before passing out into Viola’s arms.

“Law-nii?! Law-nii, stay with me!” Baby 5 took her brother and felt the wound on the back of his head, grimacing—it wasn’t looking good. “Fuck… what did you do, Nia?!”

“I was only doing what Uncle Doffy wanted!” Antonia retorted. “…and since when do you call a complete stranger nii? Don’t tell me you’re in on his lies too?!”

“What lies?” Luffy wondered, tilting his head. “Gun Lady said that Torao is important to you both, but also that you’re like her sister. If he’s important to you, then it makes sense to call him nii, right? Why don’t you call Torao that?”

“I don’t know him!” Antonia snapped.

“Then maybe it’s about time to show you the truth,” Viola said grimly. She activated her Devil Fruit and held Antonia’s face gently as she went to press their foreheads together. Instead, Antonia backed out of her reach. “Nena, what is the matter?”

“This is wrong,” Antonia frowned. “You two are acting weird, this man knows about things in my head, and this kid,” she pointed at Luffy, “just punched my uncle through a cinderblock wall! What is going on here?!”

“I’m trying to show you,” Viola said, “now if you will just let me…” She took a step towards Antonia, only for her to take another step back.

“No!” She looked at Viola, at the expressionless Luffy, at Baby 5 cradling Law in her arms next to a puddle of sick, and couldn’t understand a damn bit of it. Another step backwards and she turned on her heel to run, simply wanting to get away from there.

“What are you waiting for?!” Baby 5 scowled. “Go get her!”

“She doesn’t want to be here,” Luffy said with a shrug. “I can’t stop her from that.”

“You got her over here!”

“Yeah, and she was the one who left.” Luffy looked back over towards the palace and grinned manically. “I held up my end of the bargain; now it’s time to kick Mingo’s ass.” He began to run off, only for Viola to shout after him, attempting to chase him down so that she could guide him through the city streets. That left Baby 5 with the unconscious Law, the former doing her best not to cry.

“I did my best, Law-nii,” she whispered. “I tried to keep Lami-chan safe as I could, but Doflamingo made it so hard…” A hiccup escaped her; fuck, it felt embarrassingly childish. “Please… Law-nii… help me save her…” His face crinkled in pain—he was still alive!

“That’s now the plan,” he groaned. Law opened his eyes slightly, the bright sun above almost blinding to his dizzy, ear-ringing, concussed self. “It’s really her, isn’t it?”

Baby 5 nodded, motion shallow and full of tears. “Yeah… it really is. She doesn’t know it, though.”

“…and you didn’t figure out a way to tell me earlier, why…?”

“It was too dangerous. I thought that was obvious.”

“Seas, I forgot the pain of having little sisters,” Law scoffed. “I don’t know if it’s the concussion talking or something else, but I’m ready to kick our uncle’s ass for doing this to us. You in?”

Despite the tears in her eyes and the way she was biting her lip to stay calm, Baby 5 could not remember a time she wanted to laugh in joy harder. She nodded and held up her hand, which Law clapped with his, resealing the bond they both feared had shattered beyond repair long ago.

“Okay, Bee. Let’s go get our kid sister back.”

-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Antonia ran fast as she could through the Dressrosan streets, trying to put as much distance between her and the others as possible. She bumped into all sorts of civilians as she did so; everyone was confused, as seeing their princeseta in such a state wasn’t exactly normal.

‘Shit! I have to figure out a place to be alone!’ She continued to run as she tried to make her way through the streets. When that proved too congested for her, she climbed up to the rooftops and began to jump to and fro, using them as bases on which to easily move about. She eventually found herself at the base of Flower Hill, where she was able to stop for a rest.

Fuck… there was so much swirling in her head and she needed to make it stop. It was bouncing around, screaming, wanting her attention more than anything else. She held her head and shut her eyes, trying to concentrate on getting it to stop. Instead, all she could see was Trafalgar’s face as he stared at her in horror. She leaned against the base of Flower Hill as she tried to steady herself and her nerves.

“Are you alright, Princeseta?”

Antonia pulled a pistol out of her holster and pointed it at the source of the voice, her hands shaky. It was the Thunder Soldier, who was staring at her. He didn’t seem to be ready to move, let alone strike, though she kept her guard up.

“What the fuck do you want?!” she hissed, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Leave me alone!”

“You don’t look like you want to be alone,” he replied. “What brings you out this way?”

“We’ve been chasing after one another for ten years! Don’t pretend that we’re friends!” She allowed herself to sink down to the ground, her body and weapon suddenly too heavy to keep up. “None of it makes any sense…”

“What doesn’t?”

“Lately? Everything.” She watched as he placed his pop-rifle down and sat next to her. “Uncle Doffy wanted me to wring some information out of a man before killing him… yet… there was something about him that I couldn’t place.”

“Curiós…” the toy hummed. “Who is this man?”

“A shitty little Warlord who keeps spouting lies,” she scoffed. Seas… she was really baring her soul to this toy who normally kept avoiding capture, wasn’t she? Well, it was the least he could do for all the trouble he’d been causing the Family… “I don’t know what a hobby like you would know about it.”

“A surprising amount, nena,” he said, chuckling softly. “This Warlord… he claims you as his sister, no?”

She stared at him and blinked. “How did you…?”

“You were a very different child when we first met,” Thunder Soldier explained. He placed his hand on Antonia’s arm, the act disturbingly Human. “I miss that child—she held so much in her heart that she did not yet know how to handle, and yet did not let that keep her down.”

The young woman stared at the toy, her head tilting in confusion. There were so many times when she attempted to capture him, even kill him, and yet… and yet… something calming was settling over her and she could tell it was from him.

“Nena, I do not know what he has told you, or what others have said in his stead, but know that I am not your enemy, and that I want for you what I want for my own daughter.”

“You… have a daughter…?”

“Indeed, and all I want for both of you is to be able to live as yourselves, with people who love you for who you are, not people who enjoy what they can make you do.” He stood and stared at her, his face unblinking. “Did he call you ‘Lami’ by any chance?”

“…yes…?”

“Él és vivo…” Thunder Solider marveled quietly. “It really is him… you and your sister thought he must have been dead…”

“I’ve never met the man before today…”

“The man, yes, but you knew him as a boy, and he is here to right wrongs from long before you arrived here.” He brushed some of the stray hair from her face and Antonia almost felt better. “Did you know there is a way for you to know which of his words are lies and which are the truth?”

She stared at him silently.

“You must unlock your heart,” he continued. “You must reach deep into yourself, Corazón, and you will be able to bring back your memories of him… of what he means to you… then you can decide for yourself.”

“…but… why should I listen to you? All I’ve ever done is try to catch you for disassembly.”

“Of all the Elite Officers, the Corazón is the one that is supposed to love the most, correcte?” He picked up his pop-rifle and turned around, readying to go. “Some people can use Haki to look into their own hearts—I believe you are capable of it.”

“If you think I’m capable of that,” she mused, “then what does yours say?”

“I do not hold that kind of power,” the toy replied sadly. “If I did, then we would be having a very different conversation.” He sighed, which nearly seemed the oddest thing of all about their interaction. “I wish you luck in figuring out who you are, nena. This is day is only going to get worse.”

At that, he used his pop-rifle to push off and skated away, joined by small creatures when he was almost out of sight. Antonia looked at her hands—one empty and the other still gripping her pistol—and scowled.

Use Haki…? To look into her heart…? It was unlike any technique that her uncle had ever taught her… different from anything the other Officers—Elite or otherwise—ever did on a daily basis. Even if she did want to do it, how would she go about figuring how to apply Haki like that? She was left with more questions than answers; everything from the technique itself to Thunder Soldier’s possible motivations. Part of her wanted to call the toy back and question him some more, while another part felt the need to simply run and not stop until she was far, far, far away from Dressrosa.

Then again, whatever she did she needed to decide on quickly—if her uncle had been punched through a wall by some stringy kid, then he was bound to be angry. The last thing that anyone needed was for him to be angry, least of all the idiot who started it all: Trafalgar. Now that she’d had some space away from him to think, then maybe it was time to go back to him with a clear head…

…except it wasn’t going to be just him, was it? Baby 5 and possibly Violet as well… she didn’t like the idea of it. Maybe, possibly, allowing Violet to show her memories could help…? At least now she’d be prepared… and even if Violet’s memories were altered by time, it wouldn’t be as though she could rewrite them…

Antonia stood, brushed off her cloak, holstered her pistol, and began to run.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Doflamingo groaned as he extracted himself from the rubble of the wall he had been unceremoniously punched through. He growled wordlessly as he glared out over the nation—his grip on things was slipping, and he was not going to stand for it. Pulling a transponder snail out of his pocket, he held down the button on the top of the shell and hissed in anger.

“My prodigal nephew and that rubber freak have the Corazón. If I don’t have her back by my side within thirty minutes, then you know what’s going to happen, and you better be prepared for it.”

He threw the Den Den away before anyone could answer.

The King of Dressrosa was done playing games.

#Trafalgar Law #Baby 5 #Riku Viola #Kyros #Trafalgar Lami #yeah I think it's late enough in the game to start putting her above the spoiler line lol #One Piece #fan fiction #I apologize in advance for crimes against Iberian languages #when I said 'unholy union' in the first chapter's author notes i fucking meant it #Trafalgar D. Water Law #Trafalgar D. Water Lami

3 notes · View notes

celestialiron · 6 months ago

Text

Echoes of Courage: Chapter 5

Here's the double update! Sorry for the lateness of it, I was between heading out home & didn't have Wi-Fi! But hope everyone enjoys!

Summary: Oh boy, wonder what craziness is happening...

(Prologue: Ch.1 - Ch.2 - Ch.3 - Ch.4 - Current)

August was around, the summer heat crashing more as if knowing fall is just around the corner. So it would call for either beach days or pool days, right?

Wrong.

“Leooooo, why are we out on a mission in daylight?! In this weather too!” Mikey complained, leaning against Donnie, who had one of his robotic arms from his battle shell hold a portable A.C throughout the whole time they've been outside for this mission. Groaning alongside him, Donnie had to agree with Mikey on this one, “yeah, what gives Leo? There are reasons we do these sorts of missions at night time . We’re overheating in this weather!” Rolling his eyes, Leo swiped the sweat that was forming around his forehead from the heat, “listen, I don’t want to be out here anymore than you guys do, but Raph said there was something suspicious going on around here and we need to check it out! By the way, where even is Raph?!” All three looked around for their older brother around the rooftop, seeing as it was mainly him that wanted to check out the so-called “suspicious spot” he was telling them the other night. Leo turned a corner from the doors that led to the apartments to find Raph on the phone, most likely talking to Alexis. “Are you kidding me right now?! GET OFF THE PHONE!” Flinching, not realizing he got caught talking to Alexis, said his goodbye and hung up the phone. “Raph, let’s remember that YOU’RE the one who said we needed to check this out, so I need you to, I don’t know, NOT TAKE PHONE CALLS WHILE WE’RE OUT!” Leo exclaimed, getting annoyed by the sheer fact of his older brother not listening, the heat not making it any better. “Listen, I had to talk to Lexi, just to be sure she was safe! And to see if she needed me to walk her home when she gets out of work too,” Raph grumbled, shoving Leo’s face out the way before walking past him to show all of them the spot he saw whatever it was the other night. “And keep your jets cooled, it’s not like you have any plans you weirdo!” Swiping his face while rolling his eyes once more, they all went to check out where this unknown activity occurred.

Once they’ve reached the corner of the alleyway close by where the mall was, they walked further in, checking anything that seemed out of the norm. “Look, I found it!” Raph said, standing right next to the wall that also led the yokais to the Hidden City. The three followed suit, now noticing what was on it. What it was, none of them could tell, “ew, what the hell is that?!” Donnie screeched out, saying what they were all thinking. The sticky substance was a darkish green mixed with a purple-black ooze substance, looking like it was just barely melting away from the heat. Trying not to touch it, Leo took a closer look at it, “I don’t know, but whatever it is, looks like it's going away.” Before the sun could melt it more, Donnie took a good chunk of it, with the help from his robot arms doing most of the job, concealing it in a glass container. “Maybe Draxum might know what it is? It does look to be something he might know or messed around with too,” Raph said, noting how much it looked like a horrible mixture of glob and sludge from the grosser part of the dump. “He could, but all I know is that whoever made this,” Leo pointed at the gross substance, “is dangerous enough to use it on others. We have to be more careful now.” “Should we tell the rest of them about this? Shouldn’t they need to worry about this too?” Mikey questioned, not trusting the icky substance that would most likely hurt their friends.

“For now, we check out who it is before telling them anything. At most, we just let them know to be careful and if they don’t feel safe, to just message any of us.” Leo said, in hopes that whatever this is, will go away once they show it to Draxum.

All in agreement, with the substance sealed tightly in the container, they all headed back to the lair, in search of answers for whatever it was they had just discovered.

Little did they know, they were being watched from above.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Why is today the day I choose to go to work, where everything radiates heat, WHILE IT’S OVER 100 DEGREES OUT TODAY?!" Valeria screamed, making both Izra and Kira flinch away from the phone, both deciding to stay at Kira’s apartment, opting for air conditioning rather than going to work. “Well, no one told you to work in a place where you create glass and its art forms too,” Izra responded, laughing at her friend’s painful groaning.

“Well, sorry for having a cooler job than working at a lame ass music store!”

“Hey, you said you liked it! Don’t be hating on it, I never once hated on your job!”

“You’re right, I’m sorry, the heat’s getting to me!”

“You know, I also don’t have it easy guys. Working in a lab that’s constantly on a specific temperature-”

“Oh cry me a river Kira, no one cares about your nerdy lab!”

Both laughing at their friend, Kira exclaimed a “hey!” from the comment, now appreciating Val’s suffering in a heated building. “Weren’t they going to fix the AC in your building too? What happened to that?” Kira questioned, curious as to how a building built on making glass, has no air conditioning for their employees. Groaning once more, not happy about the situation as well, “they were! But the guys never came in and we have to wait another couple days until they actually get here! It sucks!” Shaking her head, pitying her friend from the idiots that seem to never finish the job, Izra noticed she missed a text message from Alexis.

LexiBear: Hey, I finished what you needed from me. Come pick it up when you get some free time! ♥️

Smiling, she responded back with an “okay!” and decided to head out before the day was fully done. “Hey, sorry to cut this short, but I gotta head out to get something from Alexis!” “It’s all good, I’m almost done with my break anyways. I’ll talk to you guys later!” Hanging up, while Izra was getting her backpack, Kira asked her something that had been bothering her for quite some time now.

“Are you sneaking back out for us again Izzie?”

A bit surprised by the sudden question, Izra turned to face Kira, understanding where she was coming from, “no. The thing that Lexi fixed for me happened while I was settling in from when I left home, it’s more of a precautionary thing. I did also say I wasn’t going to keep secrets like that anymore, remember?” Kira nodded, but still couldn’t help the way she was feeling, “I do remember. But it also concerns me that you have to do that still. I mean, we should feel safe here, not having to worry about anything from home… Right?” Silently agreeing with Kira, Izra made her way back to her bed, sitting next to her. “Is that why you’re dating this Roger guy, hon?” Surprised by the statement, Kira was quick with a defense, awkwardly laughing while doing so. “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about! I’m dating him because of who he is as a person, I'll let you know!” With that, she started rambling about whatever it was she could think of for this guy.

“He’s handsome, he’s sweet, has a good job, a great personality, a nice lifestyle, knows how to make a girl feel special.”

Sighing, placing a hand on her shoulder before she could continue her rambling, Kira paused a bit, deciding to let Izra speak before she could come up with any more ( excuses) reasons. “Kira, the amount of times I only ever hear you talk about this man is when either Mikey or Leo asks. And you should already have a huge feeling about that too,” Izra continued before Kira could get a word in once more. “I know you don’t want to talk about it, but I see the way you look at Donnie sometimes and let me tell you. It’s quite noticeable,” giving her a side eye, Kira groaned. Grabbing a pillow to cover her face while laying back on her bed, “But I also see the way he looks at you. Why don’t you give him a shot? I mean, he’s also kind of the perfect match for you, don’t you think-”

“I just can’t Izra, leave it at that!”

Shocked by the muffled outburst she heard through the pillow, Izra sat and waited, letting Kira’s thoughts play through to her head. Sighing, she moved the pillow over so Izra could hear clearly, “whatever it is you think you saw from him, it’s probably not true. I mean come on, do you see how he is?! I’ve waited for any signs coming from him, but I just…” She looked over to the side where her headboard from her bed was. “I’ve liked him for a long time, but I needed to move on, push my feelings aside to get into a good place of job that’s outside my internship. I also didn’t want to put any pressure on him either. We didn’t exactly see eye to eye when we first met, since I was trying to not be more myself so I wouldn’t overwhelm anyone.” “But, we love you for who you are! Who would be overwhelmed by that?!” Exclaimed Izra, not liking where the topic at hand was heading, ready to fight someone.

“Everyone in my department from my internship job.”

“What do you mean, I thought everything was going great there! I mean, they wouldn’t have kept you this long if they didn’t trust and understand you!” Miffed at what Kira was saying, Izra was ready to go on a tangent about it, until Kira cut her off, “my old mentors and boss were great. It’s the newer employees and boss who only trust my skills, my equations and understand my works, if barely. Better than anyone else, might I add,” she said proudly, before continuing off. “When I got a job, because the internship ended up feeling too tiresome, is when I met April at the flower shop. She would come by every now and then to grab some flowers for either her mom or girlfriend. We would enjoy each other’s company when I would arrange her bouquet of flowers. Every time she would come, at that point, it was just to chat while I arranged bouquets of flowers. Talking about everything and anything that came to mind, well at least her mind.” Kira chuckled at that, “I tried to not talk as much in the beginning, thinking about how much my colleagues hated it at the lab, so I just stood, listened, and said a few words here and there. It was how I got by and sure, did it frustrate the hell out of Ruka, Val, and Riku? Of course! But I knew they wouldn’t understand, so they didn’t really say much, upset I was letting these people get the best of me. But…” Kira sat up, looking at her hands while continuing her story. “It was April who suggested I hang out more with her and the guys. When I first met them, it went nice, all saying their pleasantries, until I would say something a little dumb and maybe controversial and Donnie would not have it. Any chance I spoke up, he would shut it down real quick, so I just ended up not talking around him. To which, you probably have a good idea what April might’ve done to him,” giggling softly, Izra was already imagining the ass whooping Donnie received from April.

“It took a month I think for me to actually hang around the lair with everyone involved, I know April tried so hard for all of us to get along, especially Donnie and I. It wasn’t until one night I got a call from my boss at the lab. That day, he was not happy with me at all,” her fist clenched, almost as if wanting to go back in time and punch her boss and colleagues, “something went wrong at the labs that day, someone either got a mixture or chemical wrong, I don’t even remember. All I remember was someone not taking the full blame of incorrect equations and pinning the blame on my work and notes on what to do for whatever it was we were working so hard to make. It had taken months for us to get as close as we did for that lab results and someone messed it up all in one sitting!” Frustrated by that, Kira breathing deeply, calming herself before getting overworked for something that happened almost two years ago. “I was trying to explain what my actual notes were, but my boss was not giving me any chance to explain. He belittled not only my work, but everything I was in that moment, someone who was a burden to them and maybe they wouldn’t keep me around for the job if it ever came up.” Gasping by that statement, sent a fury to Izra’s entire being, “where is he so I could kick his ass, that’s not fair! You’re so much smarter than those jerks! God, no wonder you’re looking at other places, you would be better at any other place than that!” Chuckling softly, Kira patted Izra’s thighs, trying to calm her down, “I know Izzie, it was my breaking point too.”

Remembering more, still telling her story, with her knees up, sitting on her bed looking out her windows, is when she smiled a bit more, “In that moment, he demanded that I fix my notes and whatever it was at the labs that needed to get done before our deadline that night, which at that moment was pretty soon. Not even giving me a chance more to explain myself, he hung up and I was left feeling more like an idiot, like someone who not only couldn’t befriend this one guy who would just shoot me down whenever the chance, but now colleagues who couldn’t stand to be near me, let alone work with me. I was constantly alone, like if maybe I just kept trying hard enough, something would come out of it, but unfortunately… it wasn’t working. So that night, I told April and the guys I couldn’t stay over, needing to go fix my “mistakes” from my internship, to which April suggested that Donnie walk me over there safely. At that point, none of them knew what my internship was, just thinking it had something to do with the flower shop. It was so awkward, knowing that Donnie did not want to be walking me to this place, almost opting to ask Leo to portal me there, but alas, April would not have it,” both laughing and respecting their close friend’s persistence. “It wasn’t until we actually reached the building, I was going to tell him to just go home, until he fully realized I worked at the labs where he had apparently been quote unquote “dying” to sneak into, wanting to see what the people were working on. To this day, I was surprised that he actually came inside with me. I couldn’t forget the look of adoration on his face. At that moment, I’ve never seen him look so happy, it was cute. He couldn’t stop talking about each floor, which one was which, like I still hadn’t known what each of those departments were, but I let him have it. When we reached the biochemistry floor, looking at the hot mess to the other desks and chemicals going on, I almost wanted to punt him across the room for assuming I was “only an assistant, which was still a good internship to have.” I tried so hard to keep my calm, but it wasn’t until I noticed that they had…” she paused, not liking this part of the memory, “these guys had changed my formulas. Everything that was supposed to fit perfectly for this specific lab work my boss wanted, my handwritten notes, all scribbled out, written on top of my own work, to their own formulas to make it look like it was their own work. That they had figured it out all by themselves. To take the credit that none of them deserved. But it failed them and what did they do? Shifted the blame on me. As if wanting to get rid of me faster so they wouldn’t have to compete with me, like I ever cared for that sort of thing anyways,” Kira spatted out, showing just how much she couldn’t stand her colleagues. “All of that, I didn’t even get a chance to hear Donnie, because there I was crying over my notebook, not knowing how I was going to fix it just in time before the deadline. What I did took months for me to finalize and it was all gone, wasted because those guys were so jealous or mad or whatever it is they felt about me, when all I ever cared about was to help others in need. I couldn’t forget the surprised look on his face, from the crying or that I actually knew what I was doing, who knows, but all I remember was just telling him everything. How much this place frustrates me to try to at least get along with anyone in the department to try to fit in. It was why befriending April felt great, because though I haven’t really told her much about the actual internship, she actually listened to me and still chose to be my friend. That night, my emotions were so out of place, I didn’t know what to do. But when he surprisingly hugged me, saying how sorry he was for acting the way he was around me, I knew there was something there. At the time, I was just happy to hear that from him, seeing as I thought I would never be as close to him as I am now.”

Looking over at Izra, who looked to be so invested in the story, not wanting to move at all from where she had laid from, barely moving and not even noticing that she had moved in the first place. “Donnie ended up helping me out that night, which I was so grateful for. We spent the whole night figuring out my old notes while also hanging out, chatting up a storm about anything and everything. It was a surprise that he was the one that told me to not hide who I really am, when there’s so much more to me than any of them would never even dream to know. “It’s their loss. They’re going to regret not befriending you when they had the chance. BUT luckily for you, you’re friends with a genius such as myself to have company for this sort of fun!” God I can hear it again in his voice,” Laughing along with her, Izra silently agreeing with the statement Donnie told her in that moment, “I was surprised, but happy nonetheless. He even helped me figure out how to hide my notebooks from any of those jerks who would try to take my work and credit for it too. It was a night to be remembered.”

Pausing a bit, reaching over to a small keychain that was hanging around her bedside, smiling while holding it. “Though that whole situation was probably the worst day for me, it ended up being one of my favorite nights with Donnie. From then on, we were inseparable. If I wasn’t with Val, Ruka or Riku, I was with him or April or both. I sometimes wish those guys would do it again just to have an excuse to bring him to the labs again.” Looking at the keychain in her hands, Izra asked the question in mind, “if it went so great that the feelings blossomed for you, what made you push them away?” Sadly looking at her keychain before putting it on her desk, Kira answered, “because of what happened back home. Because of this internship. Because of everything. At first, I was trying to get him to notice something from me, even with the help from his brothers and April for crying out loud! But it was like…” Izra sat up, waiting for an answer, “I don’t know, something was blocking it and instead of just telling him, to preserve the friendship, I just hid it away. And yes, April and Valé already yelled at me for it, so don’t even,” giving Izra a hard look, she raised her hands up in defeat. “I know what my choices are and I know it's hurting me, but right now, if I can move on with Roger, it’s fine.”

Grabbing her hands, Izra looks at Kira straight in her multicolored eyes, “but you’re not fine . Mikey and Leo have mentioned that this Roger guy doesn’t even like any of us, especially Val, which she feels the same way which you know should be a problem too. Doesn’t trust you to be around anyone that isn’t him and he doesn’t even want you to work in this field of science at all! He’s encouraging you to go do something like a secretary job which is not to your interests! And I know that’s killing you on the inside!” Wincing at each one, Kira turned her head towards the window again, knowing deep down how much all of what Izra was saying was true. Sighing, grabbing the keychain from her desk, laid it out onto her thighs, making Kira look down. “I know it’s hard, but you need to stop pushing your feelings away and look within yourself Kia. Because maybe when you do decide to tell him everything you’ve been feeling, it might be too late.”

Nodding in agreement, trying so hard not to cry, Kira looked over at Izra, for any signs that maybe she was being an idiot about the whole thing. “...you think he’d listen if I did tell him?” Smiling softly at her friend, Izra hugged her tightly before letting go, “Kia, I know he’ll listen to anything you would have to say to him.” With that in mind, Izra got up from Kira’s bed, making her way back to her apartment. “If you need anything, just text me! I’ll see you later!”

Saying their goodbyes, Kira had a lot to think about, hoping to have an answer sooner than later.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night time hit, the guys started their mission to track down whoever’s oozey substance was and questioned what they were going to do with it. Heading towards one of the not too tall building’s rooftops, making sure they were in a good hiding spot from everyone. “Anything picking up yet Don?” “Not yet,” Donnie responded back to Leo, double scanning the grounds below to check for anything suspicious. Luckily enough for them, nothing too out of the ordinary was happening while hopping around each rooftop. “What do you guys think this new enemy’s powers are? Or science stuff? Whatever that oozey glob is,” Mikey questioned, looking around to find anything out of the norm. “Not sure, but whatever it is that they’re planning, we’ll put a stop to it before anything else can get worse.” Raph answered, making sure to punch a fist against his palm, making true to his promise. “Easy big guy, we’ll make sure everyone is safe. We’ll figure it out before you even know it!” Leo eased Raph, patted the side of his arm before turning back over to Donnie. “You’ve been a bit quiet there Don-Bon, what’s going on?” “Nothing. Nothing at all,” he answered through clenched teeth, almost as if upset at the sight he’s seeing at that moment. Confused, all three looked his way before looking over the rooftop to see Kira hanging out with her current boyfriend Roger.

“Oooooooooh, jealous are we now?”

Eye twitching, turning slightly to look at his dum-dum twin before returning back to scanning the road, “nope, not at all. Going to see someone tomorrow anyways, so am I jealous? Me? Nope. Not at all… jealous of that man down there especially.” Almost venom like finishing his thought, before Leo could retort about his so painfully obvious jealousy of Roger, it clicked through all of them of what he just said.

“YOU’RE SEEING SOMEONE TOMORROW NOW?!”

Wincing at their reactions, Donnie rolled his eyes, dreading the entire conversation already. “Not in that way, dum-dums. It’s just this person who happened to have a couple parts I needed to finish a project of mine.” Eyes still widened, couldn’t believe their own ears, Mikey was happy to ask this question, “so it’s not a date? Sure sounds like one Dee.” Rolling his eyes, Donnie made way to continue scanning the town again, “even if it was I wouldn’t tell any of you. Listen, I know you’ve all been trying to help me with Kira, but it’s clear she doesn’t like me that way, maybe never will, so why not just let me live out whatever social dating advice and cues to myself, got it?” Luckily enough, ending the entire conversation, a notification popped up through his goggles, almost as if knowing the previous conversation needed to be put to an end. “Oh look here, a bad thing is happening, let’s focus on that and continue this conversation never!” With that, he led the way, the brothers quickly following along, all making a mental note to not mess with Donnie about the last topic at hand.

Noting no one at the small park where the locator tracked, they started checking the area out, hoping to catch this new enemy and put a stop to their tactics before it got worse. Scattering around, checking every spot of the park, looking for maybe the same substance they found earlier. Raph and Leo checking around where the small lake was, Donnie checking around the picnic area, Mikey checking if anyone was around the trees. For about five minutes, everything seemed to be fine, maybe thinking the locator was wrong and when the rest reached close by the trees where Mikey was, that’s when they heard a voice.

“Well, well, well, look what I found. Four idiots prancing around! What fun!”

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Next: Ch.6)

#celeste writes #echoes of courage #writers on tumblr #ao3 writer #fanfiction #rottmnt #rottmnt fanfiction #aged up characters #aged up turtles #rottmnt canon x oc #rottmnt x oc #rottmnt x reader #post rottmnt movie #oc x oc #oc x canon #rottmnt leo x oc #rottmnt donnie x oc #rottmnt mikey x oc #rottmnt raph x oc

0 notes

dingusfreakhxrrington · 2 years ago

Text

Please Don’t Go

paring: arthur havisham x m!reader

summary: when arthur thinks he has lost everything important to him, a past love comes back to show him there is still much to live for.

warnings: internalised homophobia, kind of a slow-burn, mentions of death, alcohol consumption, alcoholism, mutual pining, kissing, indications of sexual activity, mentions of injury, mentions of violence, mentions of abuse, mostly angst with some sprinkles of fluff along the way, don’t worry there is a happy ending (kind of)

word count: 8.5k

a/n: this isn’t proofread and i’m ill so excuse any mistakes (or point them out so i can fix them 😉)

part 2 | epilogue (coming soon)

friendly reminder that comments and reblogs are just as (if not more than) important as likes!

Arthur Havisham was a conundrum of a man. He had been the entire time you had known him, even back when you were boys. No one ever quite understood him, no one other than you and his dear sister Amelia.

The three of you had been close friends almost all your lives. You’d been introduced around the ages of five and six. Amelia was a little older, perhaps eight or nine.

When your fathers were in the study discussing business and your mothers gossiping in the drawing room, the three of you often found yourselves getting into ample trouble around the house.

Whether you were visiting the Havisham house or if they were visiting you, there was always fun to be had. Amelia had taken you in under her wing, becoming the older sibling you’d always needed. Having them around so much filled the gap that was left behind from the siblings you’d never had yourself.

You never felt lonely with the two of them by your side but things started to change as you grew older.

When childhood started to make its transition into adulthood you started to experience and feel things that you were not supposed to feel.

All your life you had grown up with the expectation that you would one day marry Amelia. Your parents wanted it and so did hers. Even family friends used to joke about it, telling you that you were far too young to already be courting such a fine young woman.

That was all it would ever be though. Jokes and wishes. You realised that pretty early on in your youth, as had Amelia. She had no intention of marrying you and she knew you had no intention of marrying her.

She wanted to find her own way in life. She didn’t want to marry the first man presented to her. For you, it was a little bit different.

Not once had you ever harboured romantic feelings toward Amelia. She had always been a sister to you and nothing more. Much like how she simply saw you as another younger brother.

You were content with that. No, happy with it. For it wasn’t Amelia you had feelings for but rather her brother, Arthur.

Arthur had always been your closest friend, a companion you knew you wanted by your side until the day you died. You hadn’t realised quite how far your feelings went until you reached around fifteen. That was a common age for boys to start feeling those types of things. Or so you had been told. For one man to feel those types of feelings for another was forbidden, a sin in the eyes of the lord.

Or so you had been told.

At first, it had felt like a sin. You had never seen Arthur in love, you didn’t know what it looked like. If only you had loved before you loved him, then maybe he would have recognised the look in your eye every time the two of you were together.

It would have all happened so much quicker rather than being drawn out into agonising years of your life. Knowing he was so near, yet so far away.

Not until you turned eighteen did you know that he harboured the same feelings for you. He too felt had felt it to be a sin all those years, hiding it from all but himself until one day he simply couldn’t hide it any longer.

The two of you had been on a walk around your garden, long out of sight by the time it started to rain. You lived just out of the city, surrounded by acres of fields and meadows and woodland. At the furthest edge of your family’s property was a tree — your tree. It had always been yours, a secret place for you and him, one you hadn’t even shared with your dear Amelia.

That day, you were standing under that tree. Laughing as the heavens opened up and poured down on you. Arthur’s curls were soaked through, clinging to his face as he tried to take shelter under the largest branch on the tree.

You stood beside him, like-minded in your pursuit for shelter. Although, perhaps it wasn’t shelter you had been seeking that day. It certainly hadn’t been shelter you were seeking when his lips finally fell onto yours, throwing caution to the wind as you held tightly onto his coat.

His lips were wet with rain water but they didn’t slip one inch out of place, slotting against yours as if they had supposed to have been there all along. He held you back, his hands cupping each side of your face as he kissed you.

When reason finally returned to him and he pulled away, you were breathless. His bambi eyes were open wide, shocked at what he had done.

You chuckled, your hands never once moving from where they held onto his coat. When he tried to move away, your fingers held on tighter and you yanked him forward, kissing him again.

It could not have been a sin, not when it felt like that. Not when it felt so right. Something so sweet and heavenly could only come from the hands of God himself.

Arthur Havisham was not a trick planted by the devil to taint your soul. He was not to be the cause of your damnation. No, he was a gift from the angels. He was a piece of your very soul.

“Arthur…”

He shushed you, breath against your lips as he gently pushed you back into the trunk of the tree. It was rough against your back, even through the fabric of your clothes. A stark contrast to the tenderness of his lips against your own.

You pushed back against him, curling your fingers into his hair.

It was a passion you’d never experienced before. Years of longing fading away into nothing now that you finally had him in your arms.

𓆩♡𓆪

For a few more years you continued with your romantic liaisons, keeping your relationship a secret from the rest of the world.

When you were apart it was insufferable. When you were together but could not be together under the watchful eye of others, it was excruciating. But when you were alone, whether out in the gardens or hiding in a dimly lit room, it was bliss. Complete and utter bliss.

Until the day you were caught.

It was foolish, you supposed, to think that you could hide away forever. To think that what you had could last until the end of time.

You did not know if it was worse or better that it was his father who had caught you in Arthur’s bed or if you’d rather it had been one of the servants. No, servants talked. The head of the Havisham estate would take his son’s secret to his grave.

And that was exactly what he did.

Not a single soul heard even a fleeting rumour about the night you were caught. Not a soul saw you leave that night, Mr Havisham made sure of that. He escorted you out personally, after giving you a moment to get dressed.

He had addressed you directly, not once daring to utter a word to Arthur. You had been bold, squeezing Arthur’s hand tight as tears pricked at his eyes. He only pushed you away, muttering quietly for you to leave.

Just leave. His voice had been transient, fading as he all but whispered the final word. He did not really want you to leave. He knew you could never come back once you had.

You didn’t see much of him after that.

His father hadn’t been mad at you. He hadn’t even raised his voice, opting for silence as he shut the gate behind you on your way out. Even in his eyes, you could glimpse no anger.

Still, you didn’t return to the Havisham home after that day, although you wanted to. More than anything you wanted to go back. You wanted to see Arthur, to tell him everything was okay. But you knew you could not.

It was as if you’d made a silent promise that night. You would not return, you’d leave Arthur be, and in return, both of your secrets would be safe.

You saw him briefly in passing, his frame catching your eye at parties and dinners. He always seemed to have a glass in his hand, that you noticed. His eyes lacked the sparkle they had before as he drank his troubles away.

For a while he and his father scarcely spoke but, soon enough things returned to normal again. Back to how they should have been.

𓆩♡𓆪

You stood outside the Havisham home as the carriage arrived. You watched as it pulled up outside, an elegantly decorated coffin inside.

Snow fell all around, covering everything in a deathly white. It was pretty, beautiful even, but not as beautiful as him.

Even in mourning, you yearned for him. Yearned to be by his side, yearned to ease his pain.

His eyes flickered over to you but they only remained for a moment before they were gone again. He knew you would be there because in many ways his father had become a father to you.

Your father had died years ago before the two of you were forced apart. Mr Havisham had taken it upon himself to ensure you and your mother were looked after. He’d come to you, helping show you the ropes of running your family business. He had been nothing but kind to you up until the night he drove you away.

When your father died Arthur had been there to comfort you, to lend you a shoulder to cry on. Now you wanted to be that for him. Even if you could only be there as a friend.

You still loved him and you knew he still loved you, but he was Arthur Havisham, an enigma of a man and, at times, a fool.

Rather than let you back in, he was going to push you further away.

Amelia smiled as they passed you. There was an indescribable sadness to it but she was trying to reassure you that she was well — that she was okay.

You smiled back, hoping to show her that you too were being strong.

When the carriage began to move again, you took your place and walked behind it. You followed it all the way to the end, standing only a short distance from Arthur and Amelia as they buried him.

Still, not once did Arthur so much as look your way.

When the crowd began to disperse, you moved to his side, following along behind him even when he turned away from you.

“Arthur.”

He ignored you, walking on as if he simply hadn’t heard you but he had. You saw the way his grip tightened around the top of his cane at the sound of his name on your lips.

“Arthur!” you called again, this time grabbing onto his wrist to stop him from leaving.

He turned to you with already teary eyes. “Let go.”

“Arthur.”

Your voice was so soft and inviting, and when you said his name for the third time, he finally released some of the weight that had been sitting on his chest with a long, deep breath.

He let you slip your hand down from his wrist and wrap around his own, holding it as if it were the most delicate thing in the world.

It only lasted a moment for he was soon pulling away from you again. “I cannot do this.”

Just like that, he was rushing away again.

“Arthur!” you raised your voice now as you called after him, pulling your hat off in frustration as you watched him leave, now nothing but a trail of footprints in the snow.

𓆩♡𓆪

It had been a few days since the funeral — a few days since you’d last seen Arthur — when you showed up at the Havisham home.

You recognised the servant who answered and it seemed she still recognised you despite it being so long since she’d last seen you at the door. Almost immediately she was ushering you in out of the cold, seeing you into the drawing room before rushing off to inform Arthur of your visit.

Although to your dismay it wasn’t Arthur who came to greet you.

“Y/n, what a pleasant surprise. What brings you here?”

“I, uh, I came to see Arthur. Is he here?”

She seemed almost upset at the mention of his name, her smile quickly falling, and you already knew something must have happened since you last saw them.

“No. He’s, um, he’s left home.”

“Left home?” you asked, voice thick with worry.

She nodded. “Yes. We had a disagreement over father’s will and he left. He said he no longer has a home, y/n.”

You pulled her into your arms, hugging her tight as she began to cry. She had just lost her father, she didn’t need to lose a brother as well.

“I will go find him,” you reassured when you finally let go and grabbed your coat.

She called after you and you turned back, listening as she asked you to bring him back. There was an urgency in her tone, she clearly felt as though she had done him wrong. She just wanted him home.

You knew how Arthur was. He was stubborn and could be so full of spite sometimes. Most of all, however, he was easily hurt. He always had been. He was strong, stronger than even he believed, but his emotions had their way of consuming him at times.

𓆩♡𓆪

Impatient knuckles rapped against the door, your foot tapping against the ground as you waited for him to open the door. You didn’t call out to announce yourself, knowing it would be unlikely that he would answer if you did.

You heard his voice on the other side, calling out to tell you he was coming and, before long, he opened the door.

The moment he saw you he tried to push it shut again but you didn’t let him, firmly pushing your hand against the door to keep it open as you walked inside. He backed inside with a scoff, turning from you as he reached for his glass.

“Drinking again, Arthur? Really?”

“What do you know?” he snapped, his voice as sharp as knives.

You sighed and relaxed, not wanting to sound condescending towards him. “I know you’re refusing to return home. Amelia is worried sick, you know? Not to mention heartbroken.”

“She’s heartbroken? Don’t make me laugh.”

“She is, Arthur. She needs you, she needs her brother. She just wants you to come home.”

He shook his head, dismissing all you had to say. “It didn’t work when she came here herself, it’s not going to work now that she’s sent you. I don’t want your charity or pity, I just want to be left alone.”

“Why? Tell me why you want to be alone so much, Arthur. Why push everyone who cares about you away? First me, now Amelia? For what reason could you hate us both so much.”

His demeanour changed and you could almost see him physically become smaller as he cast his eyes to the ground.

“I don’t hate you,” he said, his voice downtrodden, “I could never hate you.”

“Then why won’t you talk to me? I’m here, Arthur. I’m not going anywhere, just talk to me.” You were begging him as you spoke, desperate for him to confide in you. You just wanted him to know he wasn’t alone, that he had people who loved him.

He buried his sorrow, anger returning to his eyes. “You left me before, you’ll do it again. It’s your fault, you know? All of this is. If you hadn’t-”

“If I hadn’t what, Arthur? And might I remind you that I didn’t choose to leave you, you pushed me away just like you’re doing right now.”

“If I had never met you… If he hadn’t caught us that day he would have never done this! Don’t you see? He took everything from me! Everything! All because I loved you.”

His words cut deep, even when you knew he didn’t mean them. It hurt and it made you angry how he was putting all of the blame on you, making it out like you hadn’t had to endure hardship from being with him too.

“I didn’t force you to fall in love with me, Arthur. No more than you made me fall for you. These kinds of things just happen, we don’t choose them but do not say it was a bad thing. Do you really regret it? Everything we had? Everything we meant to one another? Would you have rather it never happened at all?”

He watched you with an unreadable expression. For once, you couldn’t tell what he was thinking but you knew he was thinking and thinking hard at that. His brows were knitted, his hands curling into balls as you spoke.

“Tell me, Arthur. Tell me it meant nothing to you. Tell me you regret it. Tell me you wish it never happened and I’ll leave right now but know if I do, I won’t be coming back.”

You thought you had him. You thought there was no way he would disregard everything you had together so easily. You were wrong.

“I wish it never happened.”

Your face trembled in anger, your hand clutching your cane so much tighter than before, but then the anger hollowed out into this bitter, empty nothingness.

“Very well. Goodbye, Arthur.”

There was a gaping hole in your heart, the void tearing further open as you marched outside. A stray tear started to run down your cheek but you wiped it away with a gloved finger.

𓆩♡𓆪

The days rolled by slowly and you’d heard little of Arthur. You were not sure what he was doing or what he was planning but you knew he was still sulking, still refusing to meet with his sister. So, Amelia had resorted to other means to talk with him.

You had been waiting for her in the drawing room and, when she finally returned, asked, “So? Will he be there?”

“He will. Although he was not happy about it.”

You hummed, “At least he will be there.”

“Yes, and I hope you will too?”

You crossed your brows, disliking the suggestion. “You want me to come to the new year reception? I don’t think that is a good idea. I fear Arthur will be less happy to see me than he will be simply being there.”

“Please, y/n. I need you by my side for this and you know Arthur can be… well, difficult at times.”

“You want me there to keep an eye on him?”

“And to show your support for me. Our families have always been close. I’m sure just having you there will help cement me in my new position.”

You wanted to say no. To come up with an excuse, any excuse. You weren’t ready to face him, not after what happened the last time you saw him. But you couldn’t leave Amelia on her own.

You knew what it was like to be left alone after the death of a parent, to suddenly have piles of responsibility thrown onto your shoulders. And you weren’t a woman, it was easier for you. You couldn’t leave Amelia to face it alone, you just couldn’t. So, you put your feelings to the side and agreed to attend the reception.

𓆩♡𓆪

There they were, Arthur and Amelia standing side by side with smiles as they greeted every guest as they arrived.

When he caught sight of you, your heart frosted over and burnt up in flames all at once. His smile fell a little but then he looked away, speaking to another guest with that forced smile tainting his features once again.

There was a feeling worse than knowing you could not be by his side. A feeling worse than watching him push you away. A feeling that tore through your very existence like a whirlwind, bringing disarray to your life.

That feeling came from watching the pain he was in. Seeing him so hurt, so broken, it killed you. You just wanted to see him smile like he used to. You wanted nothing more than to hear the brightness in his voice and see the sparkle in his eye. You missed it — missed him.

Amelia saw the interaction between you and rather than speak to you she simply smiled your way with a subtle nod of her head, leaving you to go about your business so that you didn’t have to speak to him when you weren’t ready.

As people chatted away, Arthur stood off to the side. His arms were folded over his chest as he did a meagre job of pretending he was okay. You had spotted him from halfway across the room and still, you could see the unpleasant expression that held his face captive.

You took a deep breath and made your way toward him but, when he spotted you, he turned away, ducking into another room to escape you.

“Ah, Mr y/l/n. I’ve been wanting to speak with you all evening.”

Before you could follow after him, a tall man whom you briefly recognised from your father’s funeral stepped between you and your route to Arthur.

“Mr Barnett, how have you been these days?”

You entertained the conversation, partially glad to have something else to focus on.

After a few minutes, when the music began to play, Arthur was back in the room again. This time accompanied by his sister.

They danced together and, for a moment, he looked happy. His smile was radiating and it was as if nothing had happened between any of you. It felt as though things were back to how they had been not all that long ago. Well, until a gentleman you didn’t recognise cut in, whisking Amelia away to dance.

You saw how Arthur watched them, his eyes narrowing as the gentleman spoke to her. You weren’t sure what they were talking about but you could see Amelia seemed confused or at least somewhat surprised to see him there. Though she seemed to know the man so you decided to keep your questions at bay until later.

Arthur soon turned away, making a dart for the door the moment she was distracted with something else.

That was your chance and you took it, quickly following after him before he could make it out to the street.

“Arthur!”

He sighed, his head turning to look at you with a low, solemn chuckle. “I thought you weren’t coming back?”

“I’m not here for you, Arthur. I’m here for Amelia.”

His laugh grew more patronising. “As if she hadn’t already taken enough from me now she’s taken you too.”

“It’s not like that, you know that. I’m here as her friend, as a brother just like you. She hasn’t taken me, it was you who pushed me away.”

No matter how many times you said it, nothing seemed to go in. He just wasn’t listening to you — didn’t want to listen.

You sighed and pushed your fingers to your forehead, massaging the tight skin there. “For God's sake, Arthur. When will you just stop sulking and come back home? Can’t you see she wants you by her side?”

“Sulking? I simply want what is mine. When she gives it to me, I will come

home.”

He was beginning to get on your nerves, going round and round in circles over and over again until it made you dizzy.

“You know that isn’t going to happen. It’s not what your father wanted.”

“Of course, it’s not! How could my father want me, a stain on his good name, to inherit his riches?” he snapped, his voice growing louder.

You were thankful for the music, thankful that no servants were around, thankful that this conversation was one kept between the two of you.

“Don’t be a fool, Arthur! Don’t throw what you have away over some petty argument. Just make up with your sister and come home. You have more than enough means to make your own way in this world, you are a Havisham after all.”

You appealed to his family pride, hoping it would help to sway him, but it did nothing of the sort.

“Yes! I am a Havisham! That’s why I shouldn’t have to sit idly by while my sister steals what is rightfully mine!”

Although you had tried not to, you were growing angry at him. All you wanted was for him to listen, to finally see what he was missing, but all he cared about was his inheritance and what he believed to be rightfully his.

“Is that all you care about? You just want the money? The power? If so then you can gladly have mine. I’ll sign over my home, my money, my business. Anything you want, you can have. Just come home. Come home to your sister and it’s yours.”

He seemed struck by your words, astonished you could ever think so lowly of him.

“It has never been about the money! It is about what is mine. What should be mine that was given to her! Do you not see what father has done to me? He’s forsaken me even in death, casting me aside for what I am.”

“And what is that, Arthur?” you asked, voice livid as he once again tried to place the blame onto how he felt about you.

He shook his head, fists balling by his sides as the gentle glint of tears began to poll in his eyes. “You know what I am, you made me this way.”

“I did nothing of the sort and you know that. You chose this path as much as I. Do not dare to push all of the blame onto me. Leave if it is what you wish but know you can only push us away for so long. We are your family, like it or not.”

“I have no family.”

With that, he was gone. His coat twirled behind him as he pushed his hat down onto his head, making his way out onto the snowy streets.

You did not have it in you to chase after him again this time, not when you knew you would only be met with the same anger as before.

He said he’d never hate you but you were beginning to think that was a lie. If he well and truly thought you to blame he was an ignorant fool but it meant that he no longer loved you as he once did.

If just the sight of you made his blood boil so much then there was only one conclusion: he did hate you. And that alone broke your heart.

𓆩♡𓆪

Meriwether Compeyson was the name of the gentleman that had approached Amelia at the reception. Apparently, he was looking to invest in the brewery.

There was something off-putting about him but you couldn’t quite place your finger on what. Whether he had ulterior motives or if he simply wanted to make a business investment you were unsure.

What you knew for certain, however, was that you had never heard of him before. The man had popped up as if out of nowhere, breaking into Amelia’s life with stories and tales about himself that seemed almost too well thought out.

No matter how hard you search you could not find anything on the man and, although you had the means to research his background, you did not want to pry without Amelia’s say so and you knew she would never condone such a thing.

On the day of the fair, when Amelia invited you along with her and her closest friend, Honoria Barbary, you came to learn that Mr Compeyson was a friend of Miss Barbary’s suitor, Captain Hawdon.

You knew of Hawdon, although you had not met him before. You knew Honoria, however, and you knew from the way she looked at him alone that he was a good man.

The five of you had walked around the fair, chatting about this and that and, as you got to know Compeyson, he seemed like a decent man. Still, however, there was something about the way he spoke that had you wondering.

“Forgive me if I am too forward but are you perhaps a suitor to Miss Havisham?” he asked with a smile, acting as though he were simply getting to know you.

“No, no I am simply a friend. Amelia is like a sister to me.”

He hummed, looking as though he were storing the information safely in his mind.

𓆩♡𓆪

With business taking you out of London, it was a while before you saw Arthur or Amelia again.

By the time you returned Mr Compeyson had proven to have stuck around. Not only was he now regularly seeing Amelia but Arthur too. It seemed he had managed to worm his way into their lives after all.

Part of you had hoped that meant the two of them had reconciled and put their spat behind them but that hope was diminished when Amelia told you about how Arthur had barged in the night before. How he was drunk and beside himself, spewing out nasty words left and right until Mr Compeyson had to practically throw him out of his own home.

And that was how you found yourself once again banging on that old wooden door outside of Arthur’s lodgings.

The moment Amelia told you of what happened you found yourself on your way back to him. You knew something was wrong because he would never have behaved in such a way if it were not.

“What do you want?” his voice was cynical, although still hurt in its foundation.

“I heard about what you did last night, Arthur.”

He laughed, walking inside without so much of a protest against you following. So you did, shutting the door behind you.

“So you’re here to give me a talking to as well I presume?”

You shook your head, brows knitting. “No. I just want you to talk to me. Please, tell me what is wrong.”

“You know what is wrong,” he spat as he sat down at the end of his bed, lifting a glass of cheap brandy to his lips.

Before you knew what you were doing you were pulling the glass out of his hand to stop him from drowning himself in liquor. This was a conversation you wanted to have while he was sober. Or at least as sober as he could be.

“I know there is more to it. You would have never spoken to Amelia that way otherwise. Last I heard the two of you had made up, what happened?”

His eyes were like daggers piercing through you. Words like venom as he sneered, “It is of no concern to you.”

“No concern to me? You do not truly believe that, do you? I care about you, Arthur and I hate to see you this way.”

He stood back up, pointing a damning finger at you even though he could not bare to look you in the eye. “Don’t pretend you care about me, just give me the lecture and leave.”

You impulsively jerked forward and pulled him to you, sick of listening to him ignore everything you had to say every single time you opened your mouth to speak.

He was surprised but he did not try to move out of your arms. If it had not been for the sharp pain he felt in his back as your hands found their place there he would he leaned into your embrace. Instead, he only winced at your touch.

You stepped back, placing your hands on either side of him as you lowered your head, trying to make him meet your eyes. His head only hung lower, his gaze fixed on the ground.

He let you turn him around and didn’t complain when you began to carefully lift his shirt, your eyes widening at the long, crimson lashes across his pale back.

“Who did this to you?” you slowly dragged your finger across his skin, gently following along underneath one of the wounds, “Does it have anything to do with what happened last night?”

He stepped away, pulling his shirt back down as he moved to sit at the end of his bed again. When his voice finally came out it was in a stutter. “It… It does not matter.”

With a heavy sigh, you sat down beside him. “How did we end up like this, Arthur? Why do you keep pushing me away?”

He unconsciously leaned closer to you, craving your touch after being in your arms again after so long. He’d missed you more than he’d been letting on. He missed having you around, having you close.

“I won’t pry if you do not want to tell me but if someone is hurting you, Arthur, I need to know. When you are hurt, I am hurt. Whatever you’re going through, you don’t have to go through it alone.”

“I… I messed up, y/n. Really messed up. I- I-”

His words caught in his throat, unwilling to surface. Whatever he was going through, he did not want you to know. So, you wouldn’t pry. His business was his own and, if he truly felt as though he were in danger, he would have told you.

You reached over, pulling his hand into your lap as you gently rubbed your thumb across the back of it. “I’m here, Arthur. I know what I said before but I didn’t mean it. I’m here and I’m not going anywhere. Never again.”

His lips curled up into a sad smile and, finally, he turned his eyes to you again. You leaned forward, letting instinct take over as you pressed your lips to his.

It had been so long since you’d last felt their tender touch. So long since you’d last known such a warmth.

“I love you, Arthur. I always will,” you whispered against his lips, smiling against them as you kissed him again, “I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

He hummed against you, finally letting you in after all this time you’d spent apart.

You were careful with him, gentle so as not to hurt his still raw wounds. You cupped his face, one hand moving to twist your fingers into his curly hair.

He leaned into you, pushing you down onto the bed as he climbed over your body, his lips never once leaving yours.

𓆩♡𓆪

“I have to go,” you spoke as your fingers absentmindedly played with Arthur’s hair, running your other hand up and down his arm as he rested against your bare chest.

He only moved closer, if that were even possible, holding onto you tighter to prevent you from leaving. “Stay just a little while longer? I don’t want you to go.”

You pushed his curls back and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead. “Believe me, I wish I could but I have business to attend to. Will you be safe here, Arthur? Tell me and, if you say no, I’ll personally see to it that you are moved somewhere else.”

“I’ll be alright, I just wish you didn’t have to go.”

“I’ll be back soon,” you smiled at him, pressing one last kiss to his lips before you climbed out of bed in search of your clothes.

𓆩♡𓆪

To your dismay, it had been a couple of days since you’d last seen Arthur. You’d tried to find the time to see him but whenever you thought you were finally done with work something else popped up.

It was your own fault, moving things around and filling out all the paperwork needed to become a company shareholder in the Havisham brewery had been a longer task than you had anticipated.

Your father had never taken the dive himself, not wanting to step on his old friend’s toes. As much as your father and Mr Havisham had enjoyed discussing business deals together, neither one wished to be bound by business over friendship.

With Amelia taking charge, however, you felt it best to support her however you could. By purchasing a share in the brewery you would be able to provide more advice to her about the company.

Not to mention, many of the elder men in the company were still unsure of her leadership so becoming a shareholder yourself also meant you could support her and her decisions more officially to help convince the other shareholders that she was more than fit for the job.

You had no doubt that she would prove herself to them on her own but you knew your encouragement and support could help lift the burden on her shoulders at least a little. You would have done the same for Arthur had it been him in her shoes too.

With work taking up so much of your time you hadn’t found it too unusual that the next time you saw Arthur was at a meeting for the Havisham brewery.

He too had shown up to give his support to Amelia, despite whatever disagreements were between them. You doubted he had apologised for how he behaved the last time he saw her but regardless she seemed more than thankful to have him there.

She just wanted her beloved little brother back, after all.

When Arthur walked into the room, taking his place beside his sister, his eyes fell onto you. At first, he seemed surprised to see you but then an ever so faint smile graced his lips.

You smiled back, of course, happy to see him again after your rushed parting the last time you’d spoken.

It hadn’t been quite what you had hoped, finally making up after so long only to leave him once again, but now that work was finally about to start calming down again you hoped to be able to see him more often.

As you’d predicted, Amelia swept the board off their feet, swaying them all into agreement with her proposed changes. The meeting was over not too long after it began and, finally, you were able to speak with Arthur.

“You were brilliant, Amelia. I knew you had it in you.”

Amelia placed her hand on your arm with a gentle smile. “If I’m being completely honest I was worried they were going to reject my proposals.”

“Don’t be silly, Amelia. You had an answer to their every question, you were always a step ahead.” Arthur too agreed, complimenting his sister on her success.

When another gentleman walked over, garnering Amelia’s full attention, you moved closer to Arthur.

“I’ll come find you later,” you whispered into his ear before turning back to Amelia, bidding each of them farewell on your way out.

You walked down the street with a skip in your step, pulling out the gift you had purchased for Arthur the day prior.

It was a silly thing really, just a small token of your affection but he had been through a lot these past few months and you wanted him to have a reminder with him at all times. A reminder that he was loved — that he mattered to someone — because he had made it very clear how alone he had been feeling since his father passed away.

It had grown dark out when you went out in search of him, heading to his lodgings. You hoped to spend the night there if you could. To hold him again as you slept after giving him the gift you had bought.

When you arrived at the pub, however, you found him swaying from side to side ever so slightly as he drank the last of his latest drink, slamming it down on the table before ordering another.

Something had happened in the time since you’d left him earlier that day, something that had him resorting to using liquor to ease his spirits again.

You made your way over to him quickly, calling out to the bartender to halt that last order as you pulled Arthur up out of his chair.

He groaned and complained but followed your gentle tug nonetheless, allowing you to walk him out of the pub onto the quiet street.

“Arthur, what is wrong? Why are you drinking?”

He stumbled slightly as he moved away from you, his words fumbling as they came out of his mouth. “Oh, so I can’t sit and have a quiet drink anymore?”

“This is more than a quiet drink, you can barely stand,” you sighed, manoeuvring to keep him steady.

You didn’t want to get into an argument with him, especially not out on the street so late at night.

“I thought you’d left again, you know? Came back, had your fill and left me behind all over again.”

“That’s not fair, Arthur. You know I had work. I wanted to come and see you. My heart ached that I couldn’t,” you admitted as you tugged him into a nearby ally.

“You did?”

His puppy eyes were boring into yours, searching for the truth in your features. Any trace of the bitterness he once felt was gone, everything about his features now turning soft as he looked at you.

He used to be like this when you were children, always so kind and sweet. One of the most caring people you had ever known to walk the earth. It was only as he grew older, his ears sharpening and picking up on the way people spoke about him and his cook of a mother, that he began to grow cold.

“More than anything,” you reassured him, your tone somehow more telling than the words you spoke.

He smiled and leaned into you. His face came to rest against your shoulder as his arms wrapped around you to hold you close. “Don’t go again, please. I need you.”

You hugged him back, being weary of the wounds on his back as you did so. “I’m not going anywhere.”

This was the Arthur you had fallen in love with, his sweetness unmatched as he clung to you.

The cold air nipped at your ears and you could feel the frost already settling into Arthur’s cheek when you held it in your hand. “Let’s go inside, we’ll catch a chill if we stay out here any longer.”

He stopped you as you went to walk away, his fingers clinging tightly to your coat. “We can’t go inside… I- I have a friend staying in my room.”

You narrowed your eyes at him, wondering who he could mean and why they would need to stay there. You could tell from the look in his eye that he was hiding something from you but you didn’t have it in you to ask him at that moment.

All you wanted was to get him home and warm him up, let the alcohol leave his system so that you could talk with him properly.

𓆩♡𓆪

“A-Are you sure it’s okay I stay here tonight?” he asked as you began to pull his coat off him, hanging it up by the door.

Your maid was already making her way to you, waiting for any instruction you were to give her.

“Emma, run a hot bath for Mr Havisham.”

“Yes, Sir. Shall I prepare the guest room as well?”

Without even turning to Arthur, you shook your head. “That won’t be necessary. Just run the bath and retire for the night.”

Emma nodded with a smile, glancing between you and Arthur before hurrying off to do as you asked.

By the time she was out of the room, Arthur was grabbing onto you yet again, his eyes wide with panic.

“Are you mad? Won’t she know I have stayed here? Won’t she talk of this?”

You smiled softly, reassuring Arthur that he had nothing to worry about. “Emma won’t tell a soul, Arthur. I can assure you of that. She is… of like minds, shall I say. Besides, she has seen us together once before.”

“She has?” his eyes widened further, his chest contracting, suffocating his breaths.

“Yes,” you rested a comforting hand on his shoulder to soothe him, “She spotted us out in the gardens once years ago. You can trust her, Arthur.”

You could see the cogs turning in his head and finally, he realised what you had been getting at. “Of like minds? She prefers the company of women?”

All you did was nod, smiling at him as you took his hand and began to gently lead him through the house.

It had been a while since he’d been in your home, far too long. He hadn’t realised quite how much he’d missed it until now.

As you made your way upstairs he began to think back on your childhood. He remembered the two of you and Amelia running through these very halls, giggling and yelling as you played.

Your parents had told the three of you off for being so loud countless times yet you knew a part of them was always happy to see you indulging in the imagination of childhood.

Amelia had grown out of it first, deciding she was to be a lady before long so she could no longer play silly games with little boys. Still, that didn’t stop her from making you host tea parties with her and your mothers on occasion.

The three of you were always so happy back then. So naïve to the struggles of life.

Everything seemed so different now. His father was gone, his mother too, and although all he had left was you and Amelia he still found himself pushing the two of you away.

Not any more. At least, he wouldn’t push you away again. No, he needed you in his life again. He needed you because he had no one else.

When you reached your bedroom you nudged Arthur toward the fireplace, letting him warm himself through while you searched through your drawers until you found two neatly folded nightshirts.

You rested them on the bed and made your way back over to Arthur, wrapping your arms around him from behind as you tucked your head into the space between his neck and shoulder.

He swayed with you slightly, his hands moving to hold your arms as he eased into the embrace. You held him gently, keeping a small space between your chest and his back. You didn’t want to remind him of his wounds or whoever had given them to him but he leaned back into you softly, his eyes closing as he focused on your warmth.

“You can be yourself when you are here and you are always welcome, Arthur. I hope you know that.”

You pressed your lips to his neck and he hummed, “I’m sorry.”

You moved away to look at him, your expression turning tender as you listened to what he had to say.

“I’m sorry about everything. I shouldn’t have pushed you away… I shouldn’t have put all the blame on you. You never did anything wrong.”

“Neither did you,” your thumb brushed against his cheek as you lifted his head to look at you, “Following your heart is never wrong, Arthur, whether others approve of it or not.”

His lip curled up slightly on one side, a half smile playing on his lips.

“Come, your bath should be ready.”

As you suspected, the bath was run and Emma had retired to her quarters for the night, leaving the house empty save for you and Arthur.

He slumped down into the tub letting the fresh water engulf him, soothing him as you reached for the soap.

You sat on a stool beside the bath, pulling Arthur’s arm out of the water to run the bar of soap along it. When you tapped the back of his shoulder he leaned forward, allowing you to rub the bar across the top of his back.

Your eyes ran across the marks that painted his back. They were starting to heal but they still looked painful. The sight alone angered you, as did the thought of anyone harming Arthur in such a way again.

“Will you not tell me who did this to you?”

He shook his head, his voice quiet as you pressed a kiss to his back. “I can’t…”

“Can’t or won’t?”

A heavy sigh fell from his lips. “I will tell you… I promise I will tell you everything, later.”

“I cannot help you if you won’t tell me what you’ve gotten yourself into,” you reminded as you raised the jug of water, wetting his hair.

“I know, I know. I just need a little more time.”

Your fingers ran delicately through his wet curls and he leaned into your touch as you began to massage his scalp. “For you, I have all the time in the world. Just know that I am always here for you, Arthur. Whether you need a place to stay, an ear to listen or just wish for my company. Whatever it is you need or desire, I am here.”

𓆩♡𓆪

You lied together all night. For a while, you talked, your limbs tangled together as you did what you could to ease whatever burdens he was carrying. When you finished talking, you slept by his side, holding him close until morning.

He only stayed for breakfast, thanking Emma with a smile when she saw the two of you to the door and pushed an extra bread roll into his hands, a snack for later.

“Oh, I almost forgot.”

Arthur turned back to you before Emma could open the door, his brows crossing as he watched you pull something from your coat pocket.

You held the gift out for him and he took it, smiling as he examined the fine fabric in his hands. “A neckerchief?”

“It’s not much but I’d like you to wear it.”

He didn’t move as you began to untie the neckerchief he was wearing, slipping your gift out of his hands to tie it for him. You held out the bottom, running your thumb over the embroidery at the bottom.

“Our initials?” he questioned as he tugged the fabric from your hands for a closer look.

“As I said, it’s not much but it’ll mean a piece of me is with you even when I am not. I meant every word I said, Arthur. I won’t ever leave you again.”

His lips curled, his teeth shining as he smiled so genuinely. “Thank you.”

Once again you were parting far too soon, seeing him out and he climbed into your carriage. He looked out at you as the wheels began to move, waving at you as he left.

“I hope it is not too bold of me to say, Sir but I am glad to see Mr Havisham again. You haven’t seemed this happy in far too long.”

You couldn’t help but smile at Emma. “I couldn’t agree more.”

feel free to let me know if you want to be added to or removed from my taglist!

taglist: @male-reader-reblogs

#—dinguswritings ⌕#arthur havisham #arthur havisham x reader #arthur havisham x male reader #arthur havisham x m!reader #arthur havisham fluff #arthur havisham angst #arthur havisham fanfic #arthur havisham fanfiction #arthur havisham fanfics #arthur havisham dickensian #dickensian arthur havisham #dickensian fanfiction #dickensian fanfic

229 notes · View notes

4townie · 2 years ago

Text

Ok well I only got one request yesterday but I hope you all enjoy it<333

Jesselina Relationship Headcanons

(which are just canon tbh)

1. Q: Who is the most affectionate?

A: Jesse ofc, he’s extremely clingy

2. Q: Big spoon/Little spoon?

A: 90% of the time Jesse is the big spoon but every once in a while Selina will become his little backpack

3. Q: Most common argument?

A: Before kids, it was about dinner (Selina’s picky) but after kids, it has something to do with them (how to do things, whose turn it is for a break, who does house chores and who does parent chores etc.)

4. Q: Favorite couple activity?

A: Cuddling, watching movies with some takeout

5. Q: Who is most likely to carry the other?

A: Jesse carries Selina everywhere

6. Q: What is their favorite feature of their partner’s?

A: Physically speaking, Selina likes Jesse’s moles and beauty marks and also his pretty eyes, and Jesse is. a guy (for lack of a better way to put it)

7. Q: What’s the first thing that changes when they realize they have feelings for the other?

A: Jesse kinda always saw a future with her, but once Selina realizes she’s in deep that’s when she knows he’s The One

8. Q: Nicknames? & if so, how did they originate?

A: They’re basic babe/baby people most of the time, they also have Lina and Jes based on their names (cuz that’s what everyone uses), and then every once in a while when he’s feeling really soft and in love Jesse calls her bunny entirely because he’s a sap

9. Q: Who worries the most?

A: They both do, they care so much

10. Q: Who remembers what the other one always orders at a restaurant?

A: Jesse always (Selina tries but she has a wonky memory)

11. Q: [Redacted]?

A: SKIP

12. Q: Who initiates kisses?

A: They both do, it’s pretty equal

13. Q: Who reaches for the other’s hand first?

A: Mostly Jesse cuz once again he’s clingy, but Selina will too if she’s looking for a little contact

14. Q: Who kisses the hardest?

A: I wanna say skip but idek what this means😭

15. Q: Who wakes up first?

A: Jesse on a normal day, Selina when she’s pregnant

16. Q: Who wants to stay in bed just a little longer?

A: Selina, she likes the warmth of the blanket and her hubby🫶🏾

17. Q: Who says I love you first?

A: Jesse (in a flashback you will soon read😈)

18. Q: Who leaves little notes in the other’s one lunch? (Bonus: what does it usually say?)

A: Selina would, sometimes it’s sweet sometimes it’s flirty and sometimes it’s a reminder for a chore or something

19. Q: Who tells their family/friends about their relationship first?

A: Selina does and it’s a big thing because he’s the first guy she’d ever felt strongly enough about to bring home (Jesse on the other hand mentions her from time to time but avoids it as much as possible😬)

20. Q: What do their family/friends think of their relationship?

A: Selina’s older brother is very overprotective and takes years to warm up to Jesse, her father has some issues with him but overall welcomes him into the family. Jesse’s brothers think of Selina as a sister but the entire rest of his family…🫥

21. Q: Who is more likely to start dancing with the other?

A: Jesse would, Selina is a trained dancer so she does enough dancing at the studio, but Jesse is (say it with me folks) clingy and sappy

22. Q: Who cooks more/who is better at cooking?

A: Jesse isn’t bad at cooking but Selina is better so she does the cooking most of the time

23. Q: Who comes up with cheesy pick up lines?

A: Jesse does, we have all been witness to this

24. Q: Who whispers inappropriate things in the other’s ear during inappropriate times?

A: Jesse because he likes to make Selina laugh

25. Q: Who needs more assurance?

A: Jesse needs it more because he is so convinced Selina is out of his league (he’s right) and he’s terrified she will realize one day that she can do better (she does not)

26. Q: What would be their theme song?

A: 1 True Love because he wrote it for her

27. Q: Who would sing to their child back to sleep?

A: They both do but Selina can’t sing😅 she prefers when Jesse sings to their kids bc he has such a sweet voice but he actually likes hearing her voice

28. Q: What do they do when they’re away from each other?

A: Cry

29. Q: One headcanon about this OTP that breaks your heart

A: Every time 4☆TOWN goes on tour they get separated. that’s time away from her and the kids for Jesse, and phone calls just don’t do it. those tours are rough for everyone

30. Q: One headcanon about this OTP that mends it

A: This is a little sad but it’s important to their relationship (slight angst warning) but Jesse’s father passed about a month or two after he started dating Selina. When she found out and offered to go to the funeral to support him, Jesse begged her not to because he knew what his family would think of her. But she went anyway and she was never not there for him. And although Jesse already knew this girl was special, that’s when he realized she was perfect

———

Thanks for reading, I hope everyone enjoyed! And thanks for the request @hunni-kc (and if anyone is curious, I got the questions right here)

#4town fanfic #4town headcanons #4town jesse #oc #4town robaire #4town taeyoung #4town aaron t #4town z #turning red #turning red 4town #4town #4townie

31 notes · View notes

rafescoke · 3 years ago

Text

Older ; Rafe Cameron (Part 2)

masterlist

#Part 2

#Part 1

Pairing: Rafe Cameron x reader

Summary: Maybe falling in love with a Maybank wouldn’t be too bad.

Warnings: Smut! (Reader is 17, Rafe is 19), substance, swearing, reader being an asshole

A/N: I do not condone doing any sexual activities if you’re underage and everything that I wrote are solely for entertainment purposes. Take care of yourself always <33

p.s; send requests!

“What the fuck!”

“Good, you’re awake,” Rafe groaned, rubbing his eyes with his palm against the bright sunlight. He sat up straight, trying to regain his bearings and sighed.

“I can’t remember anything.”

“You can, you just choose not to,” Rafe replied, walking towards the bathroom. He felt the morning breeze nipping at his skin from the open window, and blamed it on the uncertain weather of Obx. Last night, he would’ve stripped naked if it wasn’t for the girl sleeping right next to him.

“Oh my god, where are we?”

“A hotel,” he mumbled from the bathroom, leaning onto the sink before reaching for the toothbrush. “We didn’t do anything, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“I’m not thinking about that,” she grunted, and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Do you have a phone?”

She grabbed for the red phone by the bedside table when he muttered the answer, dialling her brother’s phone number with trembling fingers. She sucked in a breath, waiting impatiently.

“Hello?”

“JJ! I-”

“Save it. I heard everything. Are you really that fucking stupid, (Y/N)? Rafe fucking Cameron?”

“What?” She sat up straighter, her hair falling down to her shoulders. Rafe watched her from the mirror, his eyebrows raised and his eyes worried.

“Don’t play dumb with me, fuck,” he groaned, “Come back home now, or I won’t talk to you ever again.”

“JJ-”

She sighed when JJ hit the end call, throwing the phone onto the bed exasperatedly. She understood why he was acting berserk at the thought of her and Rafe, but why would he even made this into a huge issue?

“You okay?” Rafe asked, wiping his lips with the towel. “Is it the brother?”

“Yes, it’s the brother, and he wants me home,” she grunted, pulling the covers off of her and standing up. She stumbled backwards, still feeling so light, but put her hand up when Rafe tried to help her. “Can you order an Uber for me? Please? I lost my phone.”

Rafe scoffed, putting the discarded shirt on the floor over him, “Don’t be stupid. Let me drive you home.”

“He’s gonna kill you,” she sighed, biting her lips. Rafe had to look away, pushing away all unwanted thoughts.

“Let him,” he mumbled, grabbing his car keys by the television and fixing his hair without even looking at the mirror. He huffed, thinking it must’ve been better, and waited for her by the door.

“Oh god, I look like we fucked,” she groaned, putting her head down as they walked quickly to the car. Rafe laughed, watching her beside him, and shrugged. “Is that a bad thing?”

“Yes, it’s a bad thing,” she widened her eyes, and waited for him to unlock the car. “We’re not the same, Rafe.”

“Really? I thought you didn’t care about the whole kook and pogues thing,” he asked, half-amused. He watched as she entered the car, not saying anything. He placed a hand on her lap, and watched as she grunted again.

“Don’t.”

“You were begging for it yesterday,” he smiled, igniting the engine before focusing on the rearview mirror. “Rafe! Please, just touch-”

“I did not say that.”

“You did,” he nodded, and laughed again. “Not exactly. But you did wanted me to fuck you.”

“That’s not me, that’s the alcohol.”

“Oh, does daddy know you drink?”

She stiffened, and Rafe cursed silently at the sight of her frown. He completely forgot how she had confessed to him yesterday, and took a glance at her before sighing.

“I’m sorry, I don’t mean it like that.”

“Like what? What are you sorry for?”

“(Y/N), I forgot that-”

“I didn’t say shit to you, Rafe. Can you please shut up and just bring me home?” She yelled, her eyes flaring in anger and her chest heaving. Rafe stayed shut for a second, being caught off guard for just wanting to console her, but he decided to let the calm side of him took over.

“Okay. I’m sorry.”

The drive to the outskirts of The Cut was silent, and Rafe didn’t even bother to turn on the radio. He stopped at the gas station and asked her if she wanted anything, but she stayed silent as ever and looking out of the window at a random bald guy pumping his car.

“Fuck, you’re impossible,” he grunted when he entered the car again, placing a chocolate milk on her lap. She jerked at the cold temperature of the bottle, and gave him a glare.

Rafe couldn’t deny the sudden tug on his heart when he turned into the corner to the small house located at the end of the road, biting his lips and constantly glancing at the girl. He wasn’t scared of JJ, but he was dwelling on the possibility of Luke Maybank hitting (Y/N). He wished he could be with her, but even a crazy man would say that’s beyond impossible.

“Give me a call if you need anything.”

“Thanks,” she muttered, stepping out of the vehicle before flinging the door shut. Rafe grunted at his door shutting roughly against his car, and wondered why girls would even do that when they’re mad.

He watched as the door opened to a furious JJ, his eyes bloodshot red and his hair frenzy. (Y/N) said something to him, and Rafe read the lines of ‘I don’t want to hear it’ and ‘not bringing you to a party anymore’ from his mouth, and before he could read anything else, JJ’s eyes met his.

“Yo, is there a problem, Cameron?” JJ yelled from his front porch, flailing his arms as he walked towards the car. Rafe cursed, fumbling with his break, all while listening to (Y/N) trying to hold her brother off.

He sped away, glancing at the rearview mirror as the small house became even smaller, and let out a tired sigh.

It must be fair, he guessed, for JJ to act like that with him. Rafe went absolutely crazy when he found out that Sarah was with John B, constantly thinking about how he wouldn’t treat her as good as anyone else. JJ must’ve been thinking the same way, but Rafe didn’t know how he could convince JJ that he would never hurt her in any way possible. He shook his head at the thought, thinking how they wouldn’t even be a thing, not when the only proper communication they could have is when she’s drunk.

The next few days were a blur to him. Everytime he went down to the restaurant to catch a glimpse of her, even the tiniest look, she would return back to the kitchen and a different server would come and serve him.

It was like she was trying to ignore him, and Rafe knew something happened. She didn’t have the usual glow with her, that smile she’ll put when she’s talking to the bratty customers, and she was even yelled at by the manager in front of everyone, to which she yelled something back before yelling ‘I quit!’ and running towards the exit.

Rafe wanted to run after her, but knew he would annoy her even more. The good thing from that was he wouldn’t have to spend more money eating the tasteless food now, but he didn’t know where to look for her anymore.

It had been 2 weeks now, and Rafe still hasn't seen her since the day in the restaurant.

“God, you’re fucking hooked.”

“No, I’m not,” Rafe shook his head, attempting to drink the cold drink to ignore his friend. Topper rolled his eyes, patting his back before sighing.

“And she’s a minor, too.”

“It’s just 17,” Rafe shrugged, “And I’m still 18. Technically.”

“19 next month,” Topper reminded him, “There’s a long list of girls who would die for you and you’re after a pogue?”

“Don’t say that,” he groaned, pushing the glass further from the edge of the table. “And I don’t like her. I just think about her.”

“Whatever,” he shook his head, “But tell you what. There’s a party tonight, and it’s going to be huge.”

“Not interested,” Rafe mumbled, thinking of a peaceful night of sleeping instead of out partying. He didn’t feel like meeting Dee too, who had been trying to contact him since the day of the bonfire night.

“Come on,” Topper groaned, “It’s only for a few hours. A few hours to let loose.”

“I’ll think about it,” he lied, wanting to end this conversation already. He didn’t feel like drinking or snorting anything, and he wasn’t even sure why. All his teenage years, Rafe had been a party animal, always there at every party in Obx and just enjoying his life.

He didn’t feel like that Rafe Cameron anymore.

“Maybe (Y/N) would be there.”

His head perked up, “No, she won’t.”

“She will,” Topper shrugged, “Everyone’s going to be there. Are you not desperate to see her or something?”

Rafe thought about the possibility of this, and even if she’s not at the party, he was sure he could find her friends and ask them about her.

He sighed, “Fine.”

“I’ll pick you up at 9. Relax, man. You look like your fucking father.”

Rafe laughed with Topper at that statement, his heart set on one thing; (Y/N).

. . .

The loud music thrummed against his eardrums as he tried to cloud his mind, his head already ringing from the amount of drinks he had tonight.

Topper and Kelce had told him that he was too worried about the uncertainties, and he had dwelled so much on that statement that he decided to down so many drinks one after another.

“I didn’t mean for this to happen,” Topper mumbled to Kelce, watching as Rafe situated himself on the sofa, head back, grunting slightly. “But whatever works, I guess. He’s fucking hooked, I swear.”

“Fuck, is that (Y/N)?”

Topper widened his eyes at the sight of the younger girl with Carter entering the party, his arms around her shoulder as he greeted his friends. He thought about amazing she looked, and how he understood Rafe now, but he didn’t know she would come here with a plus one.

He couldn’t let Rafe see this.

“You wanna go back home?” He laughed awkwardly, placing himself beside Rafe and glancing at a giggling (Y/N) with Carter. He looked at Rafe nervously, and cleared his throat. “I’m tired, man. We should go home.”

“Nah, I’m okay,” Rafe replied, feeling his body relaxing. “You’re right, man. All I need is a party.”

“Ha-ha, yeah, now all you need is your bed.”

“What the fuck?” Rafe laughed, turning sideways to look at the state of Topper. He laughed again, “What’s wrong with you? Is Sarah here or something?”

He looked around, his mind woozing, and what greeted him felt like a smack across his face.

(Y/N) Maybank and fucking Carter.

“Oh, fuck,” Topper said to no one in particular, and grabbed Rafe’s hand before he could stand up. “Chill, man. They’re just talking.”

“He tried to touch her,” Rafe mumbled, his eyes flaring up. Why would (Y/N) even allow herself to be in the same room as that stupid boy? She ignored him for 2 weeks, and now this?

“Don’t do anything stupid,” Topper warned, knowing that this would bound to happen. He didn’t know it would be this quick, though.

“Is killing him stupid?”

“Jesus, Rafe, just don’t do anything, okay? If he tries to touch her again and she looks uncomfortable, then do-”

Rafe stood up before Topper could finish his sentence, walking to the pair with a frown settled on his face.

“Cameron,” Carter greeted, a smirk tugging on his lips as he pulled (Y/N) closer. “What’s the deal?”

“What are you doing?” Rafe hissed, looking straight at (Y/N) as she tried to look away. He turned to Carter again, “The bruise looks a little bit dull. Want me to colour it for you?”

Carter stepped up, to which (Y/N) quickly placed her hand against his chest, rolling her eyes. “Stop it. Carter, let’s just go.”

“Are you serious?”

“Rafe, just go,” she threw him a look before parting away with a smirking Carter, to which he groaned and cursed angrily.

“I need a drink,” he said to Topper, and Topper hesitated before handing him his glass. He watched him downed the remaining content of the glass, placing the bottle next to him before throwing his head back again. He tried to say something, but was halted when he saw Dee walking towards them.

“Hey, Rafe.”

Rafe looked up to her brown eyes and sighed, “What do you want?”

“Do you wanna talk? Like somewhere?”

“We can talk here.”

“I mean like privately.”

A sudden thought occurred to Rafe, and he formed a sly smile; if she could do this to him, he could do it back.

When (Y/N) tried to pull away from Carter, saying she needed the bathroom, she had come across a drunk Rafe flirting mindlessly with the same girl who had asked her to reheat her pasta. She watched from the corner, feeling some kind of an emotion in her, and went back to Carter, who was in the mid of a conversation with his boring friends.

“I need you.”

“Now?” Carter glanced at her, “We just arrived.”

“I need you,” she pulled him again, to which he quickly bid his goodbyes to his friends and following her to the extra rooms upstairs.

It was like a reflex; Rafe saw her pulling that obnoxious guy upstairs, and he didn’t think twice before going after her, leaving Dee alone again, all stressed out.

He felt a wave of anger as she laughed at something he said, his hands balling into a fist. Carter tried to kiss her, to which she flinched quickly that his lips had connected with her cheeks instead, and watched as she giggled.

“I can fuck you right here and right now,” Carter sighed, still so absorbed into the moment and the thought of touching her. (Y/N) laughed, pinning him against the wall, and whispered into his ear.

“In a few minutes.”

Rafe watched as he laughed, his hands around her waist now, and all he felt at the moment was to punch the shit out of that pogue for touching her.

“I need the toilet,” she held a finger up, and placed a soft kiss against Carter’s cheeks as he groaned, muttering a ‘in a minute’ before fleeing to the far end of the floor. Rafe glanced at Carter before walking towards the bathroom, his heart hammering against his chest.

“You’re satisfied now?”

(Y/N) looked up from the sink to the mirror, watching Rafe’s reflection before sighing. Her heart soared, and she felt butterflies in the pit of her stomach at the sight of the angry boy. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I really don’t understand you,” Rafe said, walking closer towards her. “Why are you back with that guy?”

(Y/N) rolled her eyes, turning to look at him, to which he slowly filled the gap in between them. She gulped at him being too close to her, and she could feel the warmth radiating from his body.

“I can do whatever I want, Cameron.”

“So ignoring me for 2 weeks and making me jealous is your plan all along?”

“There’s no plan, and you know it,” she scoffed, and tried to push him away. She yelped when he tightened his fingers around her arms, keeping her in place.

She wasn’t sure if she liked it or not.

“Is this your payback for me not fucking you?” He whispered, his eyes glancing down to his lips, and he thought about biting the pink lips and fucking her until the next morning. “Huh? Is that what you’re mad about?”

“Fuck off, Rafe,” she sighed, “I’m a minor, remember? Isn’t your reason as to you’re not fucking me is because I’m a minor?”

“Oh, I see it now,” he laughed, tilting his head backwards before inching closer to her lips. He could feel her temperature rising, and couldn’t push the amusement in his body for getting her all worked up. “It is because I don’t fuck you. Do you feel rejected?”

“Fuck off,” she said, trying to push him again, but to no avail. She hated how turned on she was in that moment, and wished she had had her priorities straight.

“Do you want me to fuck you now?” He asked slowly, his lips grazing against her cheeks. She held her breath, and watched as he laughed. “Now you won’t speak?”

“Rafe, I-”

“Do you want me to fuck you now?” He repeated, his breath heavy. He looked down to her lips again, noticing her biting it, and cursed silently. “Answer me.”

“Yes.”

“Huh? I can’t hear you.”

“God, yes, yes,” she placed her forehead against his, and she could feel her core begging to be touched. She pushed her thighs together, finding some kind of friction for release.

Rafe trailed his fingers down to under her skirt, his mouth slightly apart and his breathing heavy as he watched her squirm, her eyes closed.

He bit her lips, “Open your eyes. Look at me.”

She opened her eyes, watching him intently as his fingers slipped into her panties, teasing her entrance and sending her in an euphoric state. She moaned lightly, and tugged on his wrist before he could continue.

“We’re still in the bathroom,” she said, her thighs trembling for his touch.

“I’ll fuck you in the living room if I have to,” he grunted, and before she could say anything, he turned her over so she could stare at herself in the big mirror.

She bit her lips, hearing him unbuckling his belt and positioning himself before her. She never imagined it to be like this; but she was sure anyways. She never wanted anyone so bad as much as Rafe.

“Faster.”

“Patience,” he groaned, and looked at her through the mirror. He licked his teeth, “Beg for it.”

“Fucking hell, no,” she rolled her eyes, to which he quickly grabbed her face and forced her to look at him through the mirror again.

“I said beg for it.”

“Please,” she whispered, and pushed herself against him, to which he grunted at the sudden touch. He grabbed her waist, pulling her close, and slowly slid himself into her.

He watched as she closed her eyes as he pounded into her, holding his hand against her mouth to shut her moans. He grunted again, telling her to open her eyes, and she obliged quickly.

“Oh my god,” she moaned against his hand, feeling so good that she didn’t ever want to let go.

“Wrong name,” he muttered, trailing his hands down to her neck now, and watched as she clenched around him, sending him to complete stars.

“Fuck, you’re so good,” he expressed, feeling himself getting sloppier, and his hands dropped to the sink to stabilize himself. Her moans were getting louder now, and he didn’t care, because all of his wet dreams before were coming to life.

“I’m close,” she stuttered, feeling all of him inside her now, and she swore no one had done it the way he did. Her hands grabbed onto his, feeling so close now, and screamed as she released herself.

“Fuck,” he groaned, pulling himself out and turning away from her, feeling all kinds of shocks as he came, his chest heaving and his forehead clammy.

Before he could guess their next move, (Y/N) pushed him against the wall, lowering down to her knees and gazing up at him from her position.

Rafe groaned, feeling himself getting hard at just her look, and bit his lips. “Still so sensitive.”

“So?”

“Oh my god,” he grunted, gripping onto her hair as she wrapped her lips around him, bobbing her head and Rafe had a sudden thought of how amazing she was. He felt the familiar feeling approaching again, and grunted again.

“You’re so good, baby.”

She hummed, sending vibrations throughout his whole body causing him to jerk forward, piling her hair up into a ponytail and helping her hit all of the spots to reach his end. He could feel her teeth grazing him, and he could’ve sworn he felt his heartbeat stopped.

“Fuck. You’re killing me,” he expressed, feeling so close now, and before she could prepare herself, the hot load hit the back of her throat, and she giggled as he pulled himself away.

“Holy fuck, you’re amazing.”

She showed him her tongue, all coated with his seed, and Rafe felt like kissing her and marking her as his forever. He didn’t ever want to let her go, now when she was like a precious gem to him.

She swallowed his load slowly, gazing at him with those eyes again, and Rafe had to turn away to stop himself from getting hard again. He placed a soft kiss against her cheek, pulling his jeans up and helping her dress down.

“We should do that again.”

“Oh, we will,” he smiled, turning the faucet open to wash his hands. He waited for (Y/N)’s turn and turned the faucet off before opening the door.

(Y/N) walked past him into the public, and before he could think of anything else he pulled her against his chest again.

“What?”

“We still haven’t kissed,” he said, and watched as she blushed heavily. “Do you wanna kiss?”

“I don’t kiss older guys,” she huffed, her mouth forming into a smile. “Wait until I’m 18.”

“Are you serious?”

She laughed, pulling herself away from him, “I’ll think about it.”

“You know where to find me, Maybank.”

@okayshoto @joselyn001 @onceuponateenagetrash @dyingsleeping @iwannabeapogue @meaganjm @rafesobxs @flossy2929 @unfortunatekiwitrash @scottybitch @asimpwriter @amaya124 @tommy-tommo @thatshithurted8 @fallincindy @marvelwhor3 @rafeswh0ree @kookap @supernaturallydc-blog @blank-velvet @alaniskauany @kiiim8 @witchywrter @kaitlyn2907 @heyimflo @overcookedpastasause @tsukkiswifeey @spidey-d00d @anonymousobxfan @gotmeinloveagain @chicagoblackhawkslover96 @lexi-writes @classydragonthingknight @belongtoyou-u @badbussylol @savannah-elliott @angelreyesgirl100 @haterpenny @beehappyyy @alwaysclassyeagle @maybankslut @kayleea122 @clearbolts @lovelyxtom @christianaevans @jemimah-b99 @opierdalacz @dangerdolns @wildflowerliv @classygirlything21

#rafe cameron #rafe cameron x reader #rafe cameron smut #rafe cameron imagines #drew starkey #drew starkey x reader #drew starkey imagines #outerbanks #outerbanks x reader #outerbanks imagines #outer banks

592 notes · View notes

astaroth1357 · 4 years ago

Text

Demigod MC Series: Demeter

Have I been using this series to vicariously punish Belphie for the events of Season 1? I cannot confirm nor deny that statement.

Demigod MC Series: Intro, Aphrodite, Hermes, Hades, Dionysus, Demeter

Lucifer

Didn't think too much of the "human" when they popped out of the portal. Sure they had a straw hat and a huge basket full of produce but it wasn’t like they were… Wait… No… Were they…?

Oh no. Oh nonononono, this is not good…!!

Demeter is notoriously doting and protective of her children (see her freakout and breakdown after Hades abducted of Persephone as proof) and they've pretty much done the EXACT. SAME. THING. here!!

It was a mad scramble by him and Diavolo to contact and appease their godly Mother Bear before she came roaring down to Devildom herself to turn them all into barley. Thankfully, Zeus must have intervened at some point because though she was indeed PISSED, she didn't threaten to barge in… yet.

She made one thing very clear. Bend so much as a single hair on her precious child's head and there would be WAR…

The MC received a 24 hour security detail after that. Just Mammon wasn't going to cut it, he needed NO chances. It was a full rotation of Mammon, him and Beel for the entirety of their stay (Asmo and Levi both threw hissy fits at the prospect of babysitting, Satan couldn’t be trusted not to kill them just to irritate him, and Belphie was out for… obvious reasons).

In some ways, it wasn’t so bad. The MC was a very mild sort of person, rather even tempered. He’d dare say they were pleasant, mostly content to just tend to their gardens and be out in the moonlight…

But the problem was, he just could not convince them to stay OUT of nature. Including the forests, which were full of hellish beasts fully intent on gnawing their flesh from their bones… and their specialty was plants, not animals, sooo…

Their habit of sneaking out to wander the woods got so bad that he very nearly considered pulling a Belphie 2 and locking them in the basement for their own good. But Devil knows what damage their mother would do if she found out…

At least they make for pleasant company… And Diavolo seems to like them quite a bit himself so the mortal gets a pass from him. Now if they’d only consider their own safety for a change…

Mammon

They make him a KILLING.

Like, no seriously. Their produce is insane!! He’s never tasted food so good, especially stuff that’s come fresh from the ground! It only took a few berries for Mammon to throw on a straw hat himself and start harvesting! He’s a farmer now, baby!!

Weeellll not quite. He’s still absolutely only in it for the money, but anything he brings to a farmer’s market goes so fast that he can hardly care about the labor! He’s never made this much Grimm in his life!! And it’s totally legit for a change!

He bought himself another car, paid off half of his debt, and even got Levi back that 2 or 3 grand he leant him centuries ago. Really, Mammon’s living his best life and it’s all thanks to MC!

It’s a good thing his blatant grifting doesn’t hurt his relationship with them at all, in fact they seem to enjoy having his help regardless. They bring him drinks on hot days or invite him on picnics and stuff, it’s… it’s really sweet. They’re very nice to him and he appreciates it…

But… COULD YA JUST STAY PUT ALREADY???

It drives him INSANE that they won’t stay out of dangerous places!! After he started caring about them for more than just a meal ticket it only got even worse!!

He’s not usually one for monitoring someone’s every move (that kind of control freak behavior is more a Lucifer thing) but he eventually had to set up familiars around the House just to keep them from sneaking out at night...

What was so interesting out there anyway?? There wasn’t any kind of plant that he could bring them himself! They didn’t have any need to be out there!!

They’d keep telling him they’d be fine but it’s not like he’s going to actually buy that. They were too… nice to be dangerous or anything so why would he believe them?

No more running off, MC! Please, he’s beggin’ ya!!

Leviathan

Wait, gardening? Like, being outdoors and stuff? Ew. No thanks, he’ll pass.

That was more or less his first reaction when they showed up and it never really got much better than that…

He admits that they’re friendly and it’s not like he dislikes them or anything, but their thing so far from his thing that they just don’t have a lot in common… you know?

For starters, they get So. Antsy. when they’re inside for too long! He tried to invite them to a marathon once, but they could hardly keep still and kept looking around like they were searching for a window… He said, “to jump out of.” They insisted just for some fresh air, but he didn’t buy it...

They’re nice enough to listen to his rants, but they’re barely ever inside for him to do so and like HELL is he going to leave his room and stand around out there for that long. Ranting is at least a one to two hour engagement! What if he gets hot out there? And have you SEEN Devildom bees?? Hell no!!

He has, however, asked them on multiple occasions to reproduce flowers he’s seen in different anime, especially ones that have a very unique look and they’ve done some real wonders with that!

He can now claim to be the only person to ever own a Ruby-Jade Vine plant, straight from the pages of TSL when it was used to brew tea for the Lord of Lechery during his brief illness and-is anyone even still listening anymore?

The point is, it’s a flower so rare it was imaginary but now HE has it!... or had it for about a week until his utter incompetence of all things plant killed it…

He begged the MC for another but they were out of the plants they needed to make it and would have to go back to the human world to find more… He’s still mourning his loss… Poor Henry 4.0…

Satan

Well… He’s called this MC “salt of the Earth” and he does truly mean it. Take of that what you will.

He doesn’t get much in the way of intellectual conversation out of this mortal UNLESS he’s talking about plants, farming, or botany… Interesting topics and complex in their own right to be sure, but that’s pretty much their wheelhouse and they like it there.

That being said, the feats that they can perform are genuinely mind-blowing! They are the ONLY person he has ever met who can cultivate the Devildom’s own ultra-rare Phantom Orchid, a plant only blooms when it reaches a perfect state of undeath (i.e. both taken care of and neglected just enough so that it's only barely alive. The balance is so tricky to master that one hasn’t bloomed down there for centuries!)

There’s also something just genuinely relaxing about watching them work or helping them in the gardens… More so than he’d ever expected from such a simple activity.

He admits that he’s taken quite a few strolls through the flower-filled courtyard of the Demon Lord’s Castle just to admire its beauty... But anything that they can grow just blows all of that out of the water!

They even taught him several magic botanical techniques so now he can grow some pretty mad plants himself. Lucifer never expected to find that giant Venus Flytrap in his closet, but one was there regardless. 😏

Just… out of curiosity one day, he asked the MC if they could make him a new kind of catnip. Not for any nefarious reason! You know… just for research purposes…

The nip they made was so effective that the House grounds were FILLED with nipped-up cats for a whole month! He was in Heaven!! (and Lucifer practically wiped those plants from existence so he couldn’t get any more… asshole...)

That must have inspired them because they apparently made a demons-only version that they told him about WELL after the fact. Had he known, he probably would have burned the stuff on principle... Do you know how dangerous demon-nip could be to them? Experiment responsibly, MC!

Asmodeus

Ehhhh, gardening SOUNDS like one of those things that should be super Devilgram-able, but then you realize how sweaty and dirty you get in the process and it’s a huge turn off… Sorry MC.

When they first came down to the Devildom, he thought two things: 1) Such a sweet little flower child, as adorable as they were, would never survive; and 2) even if they could, he would never ever see eye-to-eye with them on the “wonders” of getting all up in the dirt.

Well, he was right about 2, but certainly not 1. Personally, he thinks his brothers worry about them too much, they ARE still a demigod.

At one point he saw a pack of hellhounds almost trample one of their vegetable gardens and they lost it. Word to the wise, never try to take on a child of Demeter in their own garden. Those hounds were wrapped up in rose vines before they could even yelp...

Yeah, the MC would be fine.

That being said, while everybody else clamors over their produce, he thinks that their flowers are really where it’s at!

Taking just five minutes in one of their gardens is something else... He’s never seen blossoms as healthy and immaculate in all the Devildom before! Their beauty could (almost) rivals his own! What they do isn’t just a hobby, it’s an art.

He’s taken multiple pictures with their blossoms and they go viral every time. It’s so rare to actually see gorgeous, petal-filled flowers in the Devildom, most of the native plants are of the man-eating variety.

His only complaint about this MC is that they seem to feel much more at home in work clothes and dirt than they do in any sort of party-look he tries to give them… Cute as they are, they can afford to gussy up sometimes can’t they? Mud and grass stains don’t make for a good look, sorry.

Beelzebub

Beel gardens and the MC gardens as well. Add on that they seem to be able to grow all manner of fruits and veggies and he likes this one. A lot.

They had just finished apple-picking when the portal nabbed them so they had a massive basket of apples at the time. Naturally, Beel more or less stole the thing on sight, but the apples inside were so juicy and good that he almost shook them down for more on the spot!

Imagine his surprise when they, half pleadingly, explained to him that if he got them some seeds they could just grow more… and it wouldn’t even take that long.

To be clear, the formula he saw was this: Get seeds > bring seeds to mortal > mortal grows seeds > mortal makes endless supply of food….

Congratulations MC, you’ve now earned the sixthborn’s eternal loyalty after a grand total of… two minutes. He didn’t even know their name, but he was willing to take a bullet for them (provided he got more of those apples).

The next several months were spent with Beel attached to them to the hip in some way, but honestly? It was just so wholesome anyway…

If he’s helping in the garden, he never complains. He does most of the heavy lifting and actually likes being out there with them (unlike others...)

Many afternoons were spent sitting under fruit trees and talking. Sometimes, they go to the trouble of preparing a picnic or something but it would always inevitably end with Beel plucking the whole tree clean of whatever ripe (or unripe) fruit he can get his hands on with a smile.

The MC never minded though. That’s just another excuse to grow more, right?

His only problem was when the MC would sneak out to the forest… especially when they get too antsy and just go alone.

He HATES it when they do that! How is he supposed to keep them safe if they just wander off?? He knows that they have a special connection to nature and all, but it isn’t safe…

He’s flown in and scooped them back up to the House on numerous occasions and his “talking tos” get sterner after every rescue... Please stay put, MC! He’d have so many reasons to be sad if you were eaten… 😔

Belphegor

Okay, he was looking for a capable, if not gullible, human. Not a shoeless flower hippy!

He honestly wasn't expecting much out of this one... Damn their little heart because they did genuinely believed his lies, it’s just that they weren't… well… They were really good at gardening.

… And it grew kind of hard to keep hating them whenever they'd show up just to give him fresh berries or a bouquet to see him smile… He may claim that his heart is made of nightmares and orphan tears, but who doesn’t enjoy being given a batch of flowers?

Damn their sweetness too… Right to here.

When it came time to kill them he had a heavier heart than he thought he would, but kind of saw it like putting down the sacrificial lamb. Gotta be done to reach better goals... Stiff upper lip and all that.

Unfortunately for him, they had taken to carrying packets of demon-nip with them as a self-defense measure…

He wasn’t exactly sure what he expected when they shouted “Get nipped!” at him mid-attack, but it wasn’t a face full of some smelly herb! Like, really smelly…! Actually, that smelt kind of good… Hold on.

Turns out murderous rage really doesn’t last long after you get what is effectively ultra-strong catnip thrown in your face. They ended up having to go and tell Lucifer what happened themselves because Belphie was way too blissed out on the floor to do anything... They were legitimately worried they might have fried his brain...

He’s told the effects of the demon-nip lasted three days. He doesn’t know, because he hardly remembers any of it... They described him as like he was high on “weed” and “ecstasy” at the same time but he doesn’t know what either of those are either so it wasn’t helpful…

Truthfully, they were so nice to him while he was recovering that he couldn’t even be mad afterwards so all's well that ends well? Either way, he’s sleeping under their orchard trees from now on. It’s peaceful out there...

They burnt all that nip though. It’s some strong stuff...

#obey me #obey me shall we date #shall-we-date-obey-me #obey me lucifer #obey me mammon #obey me leviathan #obey me satan #obey me asmodeus #obey me beelzebub #obey me belphegor #obey me demigods #obey me headcanons #obey me scenarios

1K notes · View notes

harryskalechips · 4 years ago

Text

one and done Part 3

A/N Hey guys so sorry for a late update but here we are!!!! The last part of the series! I really enjoyed writing this one and I hope you guys enjoyed as well! Let me know what you guys think please and also also also thank you for reading!🥰🥰🥰

Side note: I’ll come back and edit my brain hurts

Harry is engaged and having a baby but Y/N is just his best friend’s little sister.

Today’s warning: We are anticipating some heavy smut in this last part. Please prepare for a spitting, spanking, choking, and hair pulling kink, Male receives oral, unprotected sex and just shit like that y’know? I think there is begging in here too LOL OMG they almost had sex outside again but that’s just so inappropriate but yeah... I think that’s all. Oh yes, Y/N rides and just loves being a horny mess hehehe

Word Count: 11k // Masterlist // one and done PLAYLIST / Part 1 / Part 2

If there was one thing Y/N was excited about… it was her last summer of high school. As she reflected on her junior year, she was happy Harry and her were finally in a place where she could just reach out to him and be comfortable. Although they didn’t have labels, it was the last thing on their minds as they spent most of their free time together away from Ryan and any other nosy classmate of theirs. Harry also spoke about long roadtrips. Despite him staying home for college, he was excited to drive his girl to different campuses and check out new destination sites around the many different cities.

They were optimistic they would stay together in the summer yet here they are spending it apart.

Y/N was in her bedroom sitting on the floor wearing Harry’s sweater as she was staring at the pile of scattered clothes on the floor. It was July 6th and even after a month of grieving for her broken heart, she managed to still wear her ex’s sweater… only because it was the sole object that made her feel like what they had was real.

They were so on and off throughout the year and the one time they managed to stick together, it was all washed away. Too many signs telling them they were not meant to be.

But that’s the truth. Y/N thinks to herself as she wipes away a new coming tear falling down her face. Harry and her are not the cliché plot of dating your brother’s best friend. Their relationship was based on lust and ended with unrequited feelings. They are not soulmates. Y/N rests her head against the back of her bed. No matter how much you try to fight it, if you are not meant to be… that’s it.

“Are you okay?” Ryan stops by her doorway with a plate of late dinner. He was also blatantly oblivious to the fact his little sister was wearing a sweater of his best friend’s.

“Yeah, why do you ask?” She stares at him with an unamused expression on her face. Her room was a mess, her head was in places where it shouldn’t be and her heart just felt broken.

“You’ve been in a pissed off mood since last month.” he genuinely states as he walks into his little sister’s room. Maybe before he wouldn’t bother to ask Y/N how she was but the truth is, he is leaving soon and he’s a bit worried with the way Y/N has been taking care of herself.

“Is it that obvious?” Y/N sarcastically laughs as she throws some clothes away for Ryan to sit on her bed. He places his plate on her desk and takes her offer as he looks around the floor.

“You haven’t left the house nor have I seen Ness around.”

“I haven’t really been speaking to her.”

“Oh so you guys fought?”

“No, we didn’t. I just haven’t really been feeling social.”

“Y/N, you know you can talk to me right?”

“I know.” Y/N bites the inside of her cheek knowing full well that she’s lying.

“Will you be coming to the party tomorrow night?” Oh, that’s right. It’s Harry and Carla’s engagement party.

“That’s why I’m cleaning out my closet.” Ryan laughs a bit as he stands up and pats her head.

“You don’t have to impress anyone. You’re not the one getting married.” Y/N feels her throat tighten a bit as she watches him leave her room with his plate. She lets out a sigh before rubbing her face in frustration. If she had the choice, she wouldn’t go but that would also show Harry that she cares more than he thinks. It’s been a month and she had to prove that she was over him and over the deal.

After a couple hours of sulking on her bedroom floor, she finally stands up and takes off his sweater. In the corner of her room is a cardboard box of clothes that were to be packed away and stored in the attic. Without hesitation, she throws the piece of clothing and carries on with her night.

“Y/N, you look beautiful sweetheart.” Her mom waits for her at the bottom of the stairs. The sun was just about to set and it was also time for their family to drive to Carla’s home for the party everyone has been anticipating.

“Thank you.” Y/N musters a smile as she glances at herself in the mirror one more time before heading out to the car. Her mom was honestly surprised her daughter was all dressed up for the party tonight, there was something off about her but today, it felt like she had a piece of her daughter back again. Saying nothing out loud, she locks the front door and walks with the young girl towards the vehicle.

Truth be told last night before Y/N fell asleep, she knew today would be her biggest performance. All she knew is that she couldn’t wait for this day to end so she can go back and hide in her room.

“Hey mate.” Harry smirks as he offers a hug to Ryan. The party had just begun and Harry waited outside the house to wait for his best man to arrive. He was shitting his pants at the moment and the only thing that would make him feel a bit more comfortable at his own party is if Ryan was by his side -like the usual.

“I can’t believe you’re getting married, Haz.” Ryan tries to hide his disappointment in front of his family. Y/N and her parents stood behind him waiting for the duo to greet each other first. “I thought we would enjoy our bachelor era a bit you know… longer.” Harry tries to laugh as he makes eye contact with the pretty girl. Once the two pull away, he awkwardly laughs and greets Ryan’s parents.

“Carla is it for me man.” Harry tucks his hands inside the pockets of his trousers. “We’ve been together since grade school, I guess it’s time I tie her down to me forever.” Y/N’s mom laughs and pats his shoulder. The five began to walk to the backyard as she spoke up.

“Forget Ryan, I think you two make a lovely couple and are honest soulmates.” Harry glances at her and flashes a small smile. He thought having Ryan here would make him feel more comfortable but there was only one thought that was processing in his head as they walked the stoned pathway.

This engagement made him feel ten thousand times much worse knowing his in-law family wouldn’t be Ryan’s because the truth is there wouldn’t be anything much better than to have Y/N and Ryan’s parents as his too.

“Hi.” Carla approaches them with a warm smile on her face. The nude slim dress was impressive on her, especially as it made the diamond on her finger stand out more. She casually wraps her arm around Harry's waist as she takes a sip of the mango smoothie in her other hand. Although the smile on her face seemed genuine, Y/N wanted nothing more than to punch the girl’s face. If Harry was a jealous asshole, Y/N was much worse. Keep it together Y/N, please you don’t care. You don’t care.

That was the whole idea for the night anyway. Y/N has barely spoken a word since her father parked the car on the side of the road. She was even the last one to exit the vehicle because in all honesty, she didn’t want to unbuckle her seatbelt. Now, She stands beside her dad once again, shying away from the hosts of the party. Although her mom made her feel beautiful today, there was nothing more than to stand in front of the prettiest girl who has constantly been chosen over her.

“Thank you guys for coming. I’m so happy to meet you all.” Carla smiles as she turns her attention on Harry. She was happy and excited about their future. This whole night felt like a fever dream. Once more she looks at Ryan’s family and speaks up. “There’s a table for your family and dinner will be served out soon. I hope you guys enjoy” She rests her head on her fiancé but notices Y/N staring at her heels. “Are you okay Y/N? You seem a bit off.” And that statement was coming from a concerned person who was genuinely curious if the acquainted junior she got to know this year was alright. Y/N gulps as she makes eye contact with Carla. She was also very careful not to look at Harry.

“Ignore her. She’s been like that for a couple of weeks.” Ryan laughs as he turns around and glances at his sister. “This is your night but I still am wondering why you guys are getting married next month.”

Carla awkwardly smiles and waits for Harry to respond first yet she notices his eyes stay focused on his best friend’s little sister. “We just thought we should get the wedding out of the way before university starts.” Carla squeezes his palm for him to reply to.

“Don’t worry Ryan. I’m sure we’ll do everything we planned to do.” Harry smirks as he turns his back around to the music that just started to play. “Let’s walk you guys to your table, I believe the party is just about to actually begin.”

Throughout the night, Y/N did nothing more than fake a smile and applaud as speakers came to the mic and talked about Carla and Harry’s relationship. Blah blah blah. It was the same old thing really, and if she had the choice deep inside, she would wish she was the one sitting beside Harry talking about other things.

Dessert was finally available and due to the lack of activities and entertainment this party has brought to her, she waited until the line died down before she could carry her plate towards the table. She internally sighed as some of the choices were gone, leaving her to pick up a red velvet cupcake and two french macaroons on the side. Once she arrived back to her seat, her family that stayed back continued to talk about the two lovebirds. Her father and Ryan seemed to be having an amusing conversation as her mother made a new friend from the table beside them. Compliments after compliments was the only topic tonight, she really needed to take a walk around the unfamiliar neighbourhood after this.

“Guys, I’m just going inside to use the bathroom.” Her mom nods and acknowledges Y/N’s statement before turning her back once more to talk to another attendee of the party. Grabbing her purse, she excuses herself from the table and shyly walks around the party and towards the sliding door. Once she’s inside the home however, she ignores all the signs that gesture her towards the bathroom and instead makes her way to the front door. Carla’s home was pretty but not enough for her to stay.

“That’s not the washroom.” Harry speaks out as he walks down the staircase re-adjusting the sleeves of his polo. She realized the navy blue blazer he was wearing earlier today was now resting on the ottoman by the end of the railing.

“I was actually going to go on a walk.” She fixes her gaze on the painting in front of her instead of the boy casually making his way down.

“It’s a bit late, d-don’t you think.” He scratches his nose and picks up the article of clothing on the chair. He couldn’t help but stutter as his eyes followed the pink dress on the pretty girl.

“The neighbourhood seems really nice and I’m sure none of the rich families here are going to kidnap me and lock me in their basement.”

“Here.” She notices him walk towards her offering his blazer. “I would invite myself to walk with you but uh I think people would notice.” He rubs his palm against his neck and looks back at the door where the party is.

“It’s okay.” She shakes her head as she rejects his considerate offer. She continues to unlock the door before looking back at him. “I’ll be back soon. Ryan and my parents think I’m in the washroom. So if they ask, just say you don’t know. Congratulations, by the way.” She gives him a sad smile and walks out the door. He’s left speechless as he finally realizes this might be the last time things will be normal between them. “Fuck it.” He murmurs to himself as he rests the blazer behind his back and walks out the front door as well.

“Why are you following me?’ Y/N turns around carefully as she crosses her arms over her chest to keep herself warm. She was also trying very hard not to fall. Harry’s been distracting her all night, she didn’t realize she was wearing heels despite her goal to go on a night walk.

“Because I can’t let you walk around this neighbourhood by yourself!” Harry raises his voice as he tries to catch up with her. “God, I told you, you would need this.” He thoughtlessly puts the blazers over her shoulders as they walk down the slope.

“I promise you, I am not your responsibility anymore. You don’t have to be concerned about my whereabouts.” Y/N murmurs as she accepts the fabric and hugs it around her frame. Harry couldn’t help but look away from her as he heard that statement. Before everything went crumbling down, he used to pick her up and know every update from her. He used to watch out for her and just be there for her but even now, it was no longer okay.

“Who’s going to watch over you when I’m gone.” His voice is a bit more quieter now as they exit Carla’s neighbourhood.

“I don’t know. I always expected you were going to stay.” She glances at him before walking ahead of him.

“I know you’re mad and I’m sorry I had to put you through a lot.” He pulls her wrist to make her stop walking.

“How can I not be mad, Harry?” She closes her eyes, trying to not let the new formed tears in her eyes show. “You constantly choose Carla and the moment you finally break up with her. I get you and then you what… ghost me, break up with me? I don’t hear from you for 2 months only to find out you’re engaged! Fuck you.” She quickly wipes away a tear from her face. “God, I- You cheated on me! Didn’t you?”

“Y/N.” His heart beat drops as her voice raises. Never in his life has he seen Y/N this upset.

“No. It makes sense. Carla is barely even showing yet. It’s been three months and you…” She steps away from him and looks around. “I don’t know -you didn’t even have the audacity to tell me you don’t like me anymore.”

“I didn’t know how to react when you told me that.”

“Well you did.. You ignored my calls and continued to see Ryan.” She shrugs her shoulders and sarcastically laughs. “It’s fine. Now that I think about it, maybe I said it in the heat of the moment.”

“I know I messed up.” He bites his lip and runs his hand through his hair. “I don’t know why I reacted like that. Carla has always been so familiar to me… and with you, I don’t think I’ve ever felt like this before.”

“Like what?” The monotone question rolls off the tip of her tongue.

“The fear I guess. I’m scared of losing Ryan, your family and um, you.” He clears his throat. “It’s just there’s so much on the line when it comes to you and me. Maybe if I tried harder, we wouldn’t be here right now but we are.”

“Well if it makes you feel better,” She takes a pause and stares directly at him. “I didn’t really mean what I said that day. You freaked out on something that was a typical post orgasm statement.” She lies.

“Why are you lying?” He shakes his head in disappointment. “Why are you trying to hurt me? You think this hasn’t been difficult enough.”

“No, I’m not lying. It’s true.” She attempts to walk again but his hand grabs her immediately letting her know, their conversation is not over.

“So you’re saying you don’t love me.”

“No, I don’t love you.”

“Bullshit!”

“Harry, I don’t even owe you an explanation!” and sometimes when you force yourself to lie too much, you begin to cry. “Fuck.” He immediately hugs her as she cries on his shoulder. “I don’t think we should do this.”

“I could never leave you alone, you know that right?” He whispers in her ear as he wraps his arms tighter around her frame.

“You have to. We can’t do this.” Y/N repeats herself as she tries to pull away. His scent is just so fucking intoxicating. It was his scent that made her drastically attached to him and now she knew like from the start, it was time to go.

“If my wishes came true, it would’ve been you.” He tries to keep her in his embrace. He was rambling at this point but he had no idea what his goal was. Is he trying to persuade her to stay or to let her go?

“You made your choices, Harry. All you have to do is lie in it.” She pulls away and wipes away her tears. “We’re just these high schoolers that found a loophole in our deal. Carla though, she has always been the one for you.”

“You’re right though. I- I guess I always choose her in the end.”

“Make her happy H.” She gives a sad smile and shrugs her shoulders. Despite wanting to punch her face, Y/N knew the look in her eyes as she watched Harry. Carla was always madly in love with him and forever will be.

Harry and Y/N were just a glitch in the system.

“I hope I see you again. Maybe Christmas huh?” He looks down at his shoes as the girl gives him back his blazer.

“Maybe Christmas.” And without a word, Y/N walks back to the house leaving Harry to walk around the neighbourhood himself.

Harry and Carla had just gotten married and on the night of their reception, they announced their pregnancy. Y/N was there. She witnessed the smile on Ryan’s face, on her parents’ face and on Harry’s. Everyone was happy except for her.

The night left her to play with the food on her plate as it was her only source of entertainment. Broccoli grouped with the carrots suddenly being grouped with the steak. How about we make a snowman? To be honest, moping a bit too much at the event left her clueless to the fact the groom has been watching her all night.

It wasn’t a choice for him. Of course, he looked at other guests and spoke to Carla throughout the night but for some reason as he mindlessly ate his food and restated his vows to his wife, Y/N was the only thing his eyes could focus on. He’s been looking for her face in every room for a year and to be exact, nothing about his feelings has changed -Except tonight was the last day, he would ever feel like this again.

There were only three rules Harry gave himself tonight.

Rule 1: Don’t try and make conversation with Y/N.

Rule 2: Don’t beat the guy who offers her a dance.

Last but not least, Rule 3: Don’t tell her you love her.

And it was a success because he watched her walk out with an unfamiliar guy and come back with a flushed neck and red cheeks. He knew she totally got fucked in the washroom and all he did was take a sip of his glass as the fist on his lap began to form once again.

It’s been a week since and her whole house is a mess. She has been currently helping her brother move his things to the moving truck they rented. Her little grieving process was cut short due to the fact, things around her started to change so quickly. Ryan was on his way out of here. Harry and Carla were probably on an island, trying to make another sub baby and Ness started to come by more often.

The thing about her best friend is that Nessa understands space but she won’t let Y/N peacefully sulk for more than a month. To successfully distract her, the duo have been taking road trips around the cities and visiting different campuses together. Although it was an old plan of her and Harry’s, Y/N couldn’t help but feel delighted to have Ness back once again.

She cleaned out her room and removed all her old soccer trophies because for some odd reason, they reminded her of Harry. She even went to the measures of blocking his number and deleting pictures from their past dates off her phone.

She knew she wasn’t ready to let him go but he was now married, living in a new city with his own family. There was no other choice but to forget this shit happened.

Senior year was just about to begin for Y/N and if there was one thing she needed, it was a fresh start. No love interests, no heartbreaks. Just fun experiences before she leaves this hell hole.

After all, if you never bleed, you’re never going to grow.

3 years later…

“You’re going to be fucking late.” Ness throws a pillow at her best friend as she enters the room. “You have that plane to catch.”

“Fuck, what time is it.” Y/N murmurs as she could feel some drool on her pillow case.

“10:30.”

“Fuck!” She sits up immediately and grabs her phone. Her flight is leaving in an hour and God knows the traffic in Seattle. “Why didn’t you wake me up sooner!”

“Because your lazy ass wouldn’t wake up.” Ness walks out of the room and drinks her coffee. She was totally unfazed about her best friend panicking. “Relax.” Y/N gives her a death glare in return as she brushes her teeth in the kitchen. The two were very used to each other since they’ve not only been best friends for a long time but also roommates after moving to a new city.

“My brother’s wedding is in two days and I’m not even there yet.”

“Tell Ryan to choke for not inviting me, by the way.” Ness scrolls though the news feed on her phone as she casually bites into her bagel.

“Okay, I think I have everything.” Y/N walks out of her room in tights and an oversized sweater. “I really have to go.”

“You’re going to see him again, you know that right?” Ness really didn’t want to be the one to bring him up again but shit, Y/N looked like a dead zombie.

“It’s fine.” Y/N shrugs her shoulders. She couldn’t care less if she sees Harry again. “The last time I saw him, Carla and him were acting like total love birds at my mom and dad’s thanksgiving party.”

“That was like two years ago.” Ness tries to contain her laugh as she remembers their new pet names. Honey bunny and sweet treat. Oh to be in the honeymoon phase once again.

“Don’t think I forgot what you used to call Tom.” Y/N laughs as she rolls her luggage to the door.

“Shut up.” Nessa’s eyes widen as she throws a crumb at her. “That’s why I broke up with him.”

“Yeah, yeah. You better answer my call okay?”

“Yes babe, I know. I love you, take care!”

“Bye!”

And after the long haul of successfully boarding the plane, Y/N had five hours before she could finally see Ryan and his soon to be bride in Boston.

She was definitely nervous. The last wedding she attended was Harry’s and she knew full well how she badly coped with that. Not to mention how she calculated her schedule so she could “accidently” miss Ryan’s engagement party. Truth is, she doesn’t care about Harry but if there was any way she could try and dodge another awkward encounter...that’s what living in another city is for.

He also wasn’t really an ex but just a person in her life who managed to make her happy and sad at the same time. James had no idea who he was since she believed it was best to make that portion of her adolescence a secret. Just buried along with the other dreams she used to have.

After watching two movies and playing a random phone game, the plane finally landed. Y/N managed to brush her teeth and make herself look a bit more presentable after a heated run out of her apartment. Once she was at the pick up centre to grab her luggage, her heart beat began to increase signaling that she failed to neutralize her anxiety. Beads of sweat began to form on her forehead as she walked past the crowd of people. There was a constant voice in her head screaming at her to tell Ryan her flight just got cancelled. Unfortunately, Ryan was on time as she could picture his figure right outside the window of the airport.

“Hey.” Ryan smiles as he gives his little sister a hug. He saw her a couple months ago but time still makes everything different. He’s happy his sister is finally here.

“Hi.” Y/N tucks a piece of hair behind her ear as the wind blows by them. “I see you got a nice haircut.”

“I did.” Ryan laughs as he carries his sister’s suitcase into his trunk.

“I can’t believe you’re getting married Ry! I swear to god, it was only yesterday you were complaining to Harry about his wedding.” Y/N squints her eyes due to the sun shining directly at her. She uses her hand to cover the side of her face as she lets out a joke,“Are you sure about her?”

“Meghan? Absolutely.” Ryan shuts the door as they stand there. “ I didn’t know what Haz was talking about when he told me he wanted to marry Carla but shit, when I met Meghan… I-”

“You’re whipped more than ever.” She smiles as she notices her brother’s cheeks flush. She tried to change the topic immediately after her brother said his name. “I knew Cassidy wasn’t the one.”

“Sure you did.” Ryan rolls his eyes as they sit in his car. “How about you? Any new updates?”

“No not really.” Y/N shrugs her shoulders as she puts on her seatbelt. “James and I have been together for a year now which is crazy-”

“I wish the guy could have come to the wedding, didn’t know how serious you guys were.”

“Honestly, if he didn’t have that internship at the hospital, I would’ve tried and persuaded him some more.”

“It’s okay.” Ryan laughs as he shakes his head. “Meghan found you a date already and I’m sure you’re going to be okay with it.” Y/N eyes widen.

“I was going to go stag.” She looks out the window in disbelief. It wasn’t her fault, her boyfriend was trying to get into medical school.

“Don’t worry sis. It’s a platonic date -that’s all it is going to be.” Ryan reassures her as he drives out of the parking lot.

“Let me tell James. Just in case, he might get jealous.” She pulls out her phone. “Who is this guy anyway?”

“I’m not telling you but who knows, James might fly over here just so you don’t go with a random guy.” Ryan smirks as he exits the highway.

“Who is he?”

“It’s a surprise.” Ryan tries to hide his laugh.

“Does he know you’re setting me up with him.”

“Please.” Her brother scoffs. “The guy is always too nice, he offered first.”

“Well, shit then.”

“You’ll get to know him before the wedding I promise. At least, you have company other than mom and dad.”

“So you’re going to let a random guy just sit at our table?”

“You have no idea.” And truth be told, Y/N wasn’t worried about the date Ryan and Meghan set up for her. Maybe it was one of Meghan’s family members who thought she was still single. It didn’t matter though because this event was for her brother and that’s all that was important.

“Oh my god!” Ryan and Y/N’s mother stood outside the house waiting at the driveway for them to arrive.

“Hi mom!” Y/N gives her a warm hug. “I missed you, where’s dad?”

“He’s inside with-”

“Y/N.” Y/N’s dad steps through the doorframe and meets Y/N at the steps for a hug as well. She knew her father couldn’t walk that much due to his recent hip surgery. What she didn't expect however, was for Harry to be following right behind him. “I missed you darling.”

“Hi dad I missed you more, I didn’t know Harry was here.” Y/N backs away and turns her back to look at Ryan. He didn’t seem surprised at all as he carried her luggage towards them.

“Hey.” Harry offers a small wave, seeming too quiet. He kept his hands behind his back as he observed the girl in front of him. It’s been two years and a lot has changed. Y/N thought he would still have his long hair yet it is very evident, he had a haircut as well. He also seemed much more muscular as well as the new addition of tattoos on his arm. While she stared at him, she didn’t realize Harry was noticing all the different features she had too. Her hair was longer and darker and she carried a different aura than before. She didn't look like the girl whose bedroom he used to sneak into.

“Hi Harry.” Y/N didn’t know how to start a conversation with him.

“I guess you met your date.” Ryan walks ahead of them and laughs as he continues to bring in the bags.

“Harry's my date?” Y/N asks in shock as she follows him behind. Her mom slaps her arm as Harry and their dad follow.

“Don’t act offended, You’ve known Harry since you were a kid.”

“Aren’t you married though.” Y/N turns her back and looks at Harry before facing the front again as she suddenly became distracted by the house’s decorations.

“I actually got divorced.” Harry bites his tongue right after.

“See, now look what you did. You embarrassed the young boy.” Y/N’s mom rubs his back as she murmurs to him. “I’m sorry, Haz.”

“Oh, it’s okay.” He shakes his head, trying to act as if the topic didn’t make him feel uncomfortable.

“I’m sorry too.” Y/N finally looks at him once more. “I had no idea.”

“It’s been a year. That’s what happens when you marry too young.” He laughed it off but everyone ignored that statement as they all knew there was a deeper cut in his heart.

When Carla was around 5 months, she had a miscarriage and although, they claimed they would try again… there was no new announcement after that.

“Y/N, this is your room.” Ryan tries to change the topic as he scratches his head.

“Thank you.” She steps inside for a bit of privacy after a long flight. Ryan and Harry along with her parents went back to the living room to go and continue their movie.

Today is Ryan’s wedding and the house was giving her many little flashbacks of Harry’s. The family was in this foreign home and was still running around getting ready. Her mother was screaming at her dad as he decided last minute to steam his suit. Ryan and Meghan were gone which left Harry and Y/N the only victims to her mother’s loudness. The two kept quiet as her mother ran around the house doing her hair and calling relatives for updates. Y/N managed to be ready on time so it let her sit on the couch looking at the photos in which mehgan has framed around the room.

“Your dad said I should drive you to the venue now. I think they’re definitely running late.” Harry speaks up after two days of ignoring her. The truth is last night when he went to the kitchen he saw Y/N sitting down on one of the counters and maybe if it was three years ago, he would’ve spoken to her but something about now told him to go back to his bedroom. He used to feel comfortable around her but now he’s walking around her as if he was on eggshells. He was so fucking nervous.

“Okay.” She agrees with him. Harry was the best man and she didn’t want him to be late because of her parents. Y/N puts her phone in the purse resting on her shoulder as she follows him out of the house. She would’ve been a bit more calm if she didn’t end her call with James midway through their fight.

“Um A-Are you okay?” He opens the door for her as he tries not to check her out. It was definitely difficult however as the way her long hair was styled and the pretty dress she wore. Luckily for Y/N, while Harry was doing some errands at home, she managed to “observe” him in his suit.

“Yeah, I’m good.” She lets out a small smile as she realizes Harry was still driving his car back from high school. You know the vehicle they had sex i-

“Alright.” The man breaks her out of the thought as he starts the car. “I promise tonight isn’t going to be weird around us.”

“Who said it was?”

“I don’t know I guess I just assumed.” He bites his cheek as he glances at her. That’s when the déjà vu hits and he feels like he’s eighteen years old again. She keeps her eyes on the road yet she had no idea that Harry was picturing her seventeen year old self sitting in the seat beside him. One of his favourite memories to be exact.

Flashback*

“So you’re kidnapping me to go camping in the woods.” Y/N smiles as she watches the unfamiliar road in front of them. Harry takes his shades off and passes it to the girl as he notices the sun is shining much more brighter than before.

“Hey, you got permission from your parents.” He smirks at her as he keeps his hand on the gear stick.

“They think I’m sleeping over at Nessa’s.” Y/N laughs as she puts on the shades and looks at him. His cheeks turn red as he catches the sight of the pretty girl wearing everything of his.

“Is little Y/N scared of the dark?” His hand smoothly travels to her thigh.

“I am not.” Y/N chokes on her breath. It was bad enough Harry looked so hot whilst he was driving.

“I think you are.” He notices her breathing becoming a bit more short. “You and me in a tent alone in the dark.” His hand goes a bit more south, gipping her inner thigh.

“I have a surprise for you.” She blurts out. She was also seconds close to making Harry pull over to the side of the road.

“And what is that?”

“I’ve been wearing a plug and I’m ready.” The speed of the car increases a bit as he mindlessly presses his foot to the sound of her voice. He looks at her one more time before taking over the car in front of them.

“Fuck then. My baby once again proves that she isn’t as innocent as I thought.”

End of flashback*

The venue was beautiful. Ryan and Meghan chose this beautiful garden that had tulips growing everywhere. The white gazebo was obviously where the wedding would take place as the reception was only a stoned pathway ahead. Since Harry was the best man and Y/N was his date, she managed to follow him around the place as he spoke to the event planner and the maid of honour. She had a whole tour of the location as Harry spoke about the party’s process to her. Not only that, but he was an amazing date -he kept his hand on her back and introduced her to people she didn’t know.

Currently, she was sitting on the bench watching Harry talk to some familiar faces. They seemed like a few boys Ryan and he would hang out with back in high school. She was mindlessly watching him laugh and smile throughout the conversation until she didn’t realize he was already staring at her. After excusing himself, he walked back towards her.

“I’m sorry, If I’m boring yeh.” Harry rubs his neck as he sits down beside her. The wedding was about to start in a couple of hours.

“No, you’re not.” Y/N laughs as she keeps her eyes on the lake behind him. She suddenly remembers their camping trip. She shakes her head at the thought and shrugs her shoulders. “How are you feeling?”

“About the wedding?” He pulls down the sleeves of his dark grey suit. She nods her head and waits for him to continue. “I’m happy Ryan is marrying Meghan. It’s funny how he thought he would stay single for long.”

“I remember him telling you that when you were engaged.” She bites the inside of her cheek. She definitely just put her foot in her mouth again. She was definitely known for that but Harry didn’t seem fazed at all about her statement.

“I mean don’t get me wrong, Weddings are a bit difficult to attend at the moment just because I know mine didn’t end well but um…” He clears his throat and faces himself more towards her. “I also got married knowing I wasn’t really in love with the girl.” Y/N finally looks at him as she watches the familiar green eyes say the truth.

“I know.” She nods her head again. “Things are different now and I hope you do find the girl that you are 100% about.”

“Yeah.” He looks at the patch of flowers in front of them. He would tell her what he thinks but he knows she’s dating someone.

“Let’s go check out your brother.” Harry stands up and offers his hand out. “I’m sure he’s wondering where we are.”

And so the event continued. Y/N’s parents arrived and so did the other guests. The beautiful girl in her wedding dress walked down the aisle and Harry couldn’t keep his eyes off the girl sitting in the crowd.

It was simple for him, he knows he’s not over her but he wouldn’t tell her that.

Would he tell her that he started coming home more after Carla’s miscarriage in hope of seeing her? No.

He definitely can’t tell her that he was hurt. He would come over to their house only to find out she wasn’t home or when he found out she was moving to Seattle for college.

After the past two years, Ryan briefly mentions her and James and he felt like he no longer had a chance. At least with her.

So standing beside Ryan as his best man felt like a total shot in the heart because Harry knew he wasted his time and lost the girl as well.

Y/N catches his eyes watching her and just for a moment, she wished things were different too.

When the reception started, Harry and Y/N along with her parents sat at one of the tables close to the bride and groom

The hosts were right however, as Harry fit perfectly with the family. Throughout dinner, he made jokes and started conversing with her parents more than she thought. Although he gave her some attention, he didn’t fail to compliment her mother as well.

The two sat together eating dessert as he leaned over to whisper something in her ear. “I’ll let you have a bite out of my brownie if I can steal a bite from your cake.” Harry smirks as he takes a sip of his glass of tequila. He wasn’t trying to get drunk but a little strong (strong) alcohol should cause no harm. Y/N casually steals the glass from his hand and takes a sip as well.

The two were finally much more comfortable with each other after spending the day side by side. Harry laughs as he takes his fork and steals a bite of her cake. The red velvet flavour melting in his mouth as he watches the girl swallow the rest of his drink.

“Sorry, I’m a bit quenched.” Y/N laughs as she puts the glass down and stabs her fork back into her cake. His fork immediately swats hers away.

“I’m not done with my bite.” He teases her as he pulls the small plate towards him. Y/N mouth drops.

“You guys fight like children.” Her dad speaks up and smiles at the scene in front of them.

“He asked to steal a bite but he stole the whole plate.” She laughs as she watches him shove numerous tiny bites in his mouth. Y/N mom laughs as she smiles at the cheeky boy.

“I said you can have some of my brownie but you proceed to finish my drink.”

“You seem a little drunk anyway.” She lies as she leans forward to take the brownie from his plate.

“Want some shots.” Harry blurts out as he finishes the dessert. “You finished my drink so I’m heading back to the bar… you still might be a bit quenched.”

“Okay.” She laughs as the two excuse themselves from the table.

“Do you remember the scrunchie on my wrist and you called me out on it.” Harry slowly dances with Y/N as the night continues on. The event was almost over but all the attendees were on the dance floor dancing to Kiss Me by Ed Sheeran. As a proper stellar date, Harry didn’t hesitate to ask the girl for a dance as he knew last time he missed out.

“I know you stole it.” Y/N laughs as she unconsciously rests her head on his shoulder. The truth is when in doubt, Y/N always drinks a bit more than usual. It seems whenever Harry is around, she can’t help but be drunk.

“Oh really?” He pulls away and laughs. “I was going to tell you an old story but you already know.” Y/N rolls her eyes as she looks at the people surrounding them. Nobody was shocked to see how close they were dancing. Everyone was in their own little bubble and maybe if Y/N and Harry didn’t break the ice or drink a bit, they would definitely not be as bold as they are right now.

“No! You have to tell me now.” Her eyes widen as she readjusts her hands on her shoulders. Harry smirked at her anticipation as he willingly rests his hands back on her waist.

“It was the first night we made the deal.” He whispers quietly hoping no one would hear them. “It was on your vanity and I took it after you sleepily threw my clothes at me.” They both laugh at the old memory.

“I saw you wearing it during the game.”

“So did you always watch me back then? Probably just wanted to get into my pants.” Y/N cheeks flush as she hides her face away from him.

“You’re acting as if I never caught you staring right back at me.”

“True.” he twirls her around. “Couldn’t keep my eyes off you after that deal you offered.” Y/N immediately pulls away after he hears the statement roll of his tongue.

“Harry, I know tonight has probably been the most normal conversation we had with each other but… We can’t go back there.” She walks off the dance floor, making him follow her without hesitation. Instead of going back to their table however, she makes a b line to the unlighted pathway of the garden.

“Hey, don’t go. I’m sorry I ruined the moment.” He unbuttons the top of his vest seeing his blazer was still on his chair. “I spoke about fight club-”

“You remember that?” Y/N slows down her speed and turns around. “It’s been three years and you still remember it?”

“Why don’t you?” Harry turns his back around to notice the bushes covering them from the rest of the party.

“Of course I do but you got married and moved away. I just thought that would slip your mind.”

“Well it didn’t.” He musters up a small smile and shrugs his shoulders. “Look, can we go back to the party and pretend I didn’t mess this up.”

“It’s not about you messing up H. It’s the fact that I still get flashbacks of you and I -and seeing you here again is making me feel like the past three years didn’t happen.”

“I didn’t see you during Christmas.” He blurts out as he watches her sigh. “Any holiday except thanksgiving to be exact.”

“Well, I moved to Seattle and couldn’t book a flight home every time of the year.”

“Carla is dating someone new.” Y/N nods her head. “And I’m still not able to get you out of my head.”

“You might just ghost me next time around.” She lets out a sarcastic laugh as she tries her best not to trip over herself as she walks a bit further into the pathway.

“I told you I regret doing that.” He continues to follow her. “It’s been three years and you’re still mad about it.”

“I’m not mad. I’m just saying whenever it’s you and I, you tend to ghost me and run back to Carla.”

“If it makes you feel better, I could give a fuck less what Ryan thinks of us. It’s why I asked him if I could be your date.”

“I have a boyfriend Harry! An actual boyfriend who waits for me after work everyday. A boyfriend who actually replies to my calls-”

“He hasn’t even met Ryan or your parents!”

“And-”

“Look Y/N, all I’m saying is I don’t care about this fucking guy!” Harry sternly walks towards her until he backs her up to a wall of vines.

“Then why are you trying to talk about our old memories and shit like that.”

“Because,” He pauses as he thoughtlessly rests his hands on either side of her head. “I fucking care about you. The moment Carla had a miscarriage and she needed me the most, I needed you! I didn’t realize I let you go the moment I went back to her.”

“Harry…”

“So it’s true, you didn’t love me.” He pulls away but Y/N brings her hands up to his face to keep his eyes on her.

“Of course, I did.” Y/N cries as she shakes her head in disbelief. “Why would you think that would be true? You called me out on it before.”

“I came back every couple of months hoping to see you at home with your parents. You were always gone.”

“Did you actually?”

“Fuck.” He pulls away and runs his hand through his short hair. He swore he would never tell her this. Is this how desperate he is now. “Yeah, of course I did. I knew you would leave for college but I wish I knew from you.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s not even your fault.” He laughs as he hugs her. “I want you back.” His arms wrap around her much more tightly than before. “Please.”

“James-”

“Do you love him?”

“Harry, don’t ask that?”

“No, I want to know.”

“Well I don’t know because after what you did-”

“Then you still love me.” He looks up at her in hope she would say yes. Just admit it, please.

“Okay and if I do -what do I do now? I like James and although it hasn’t been long I’m sure something will change.”

“Can’t you see?” He directs her back to the wall of vines. “You were always mine the same way, I was always yours.”

“The loophole of our deal.” She mumbles out loud as her hands mindlessly hold onto his forearms.

“The deal has always meant more to me than it should’ve.” He whispers as the sound of music and distant chatter is the only thing they can hear.

And I want to tell you everything

The words I never got to say the first time around

And I remember everything

From when we were the children playing in this fairground

Wish I was there with you now

If the whole world was watching I'd still dance with you

Drive highways and byways to be there with you

Over and over the only truth

Everything comes back to you

“Just kiss me already.” Y/N watches him as she lets out one more breath. Without hesitation he kisses her as the grip on her waist tightens. Y/N’s hands immediately play with the curls that reach the nape of his neck.

“Fuck, I missed you.” His soft lips rub on her left cheeks as he rubs himself on her. His hands begin to wonder in disbelief that she’s in his arms again. Her scent clouding his thoughts that they haven’t even noticed they’re still at a party.

“I want you.” Her hips raise itself on him as she rests her back on the cement behind her. “Harry, please.”

“We’re going home.” He bites his lip as his eyes darken. Without even thinking of what others would say, he mindlessly holds her hand as they walk out of the secluded space. The two didn’t bother telling anyone they were leaving the party as he basically dragged the poor girl to his car.

“Do you even know how to get inside Ryan’s house.” She giggles as she keeps herself close to his arm. He takes his blazer and rests it on her shoulders back like a few years ago.

“I have my ways.” He smirks as he helps her inside the vehicle.

This whole event felt like déjà vu. The wedding, the car ride, the quick secret escape from a party just to have sex. If there was one thing Y/N and Harry were good at, it’s probably how good they were at keeping themselves as a secret.

“I’ve missed you more than I thought.” Y/N bites her lip as she rests her head on the seat, watching Harry drive.

Him in his suit too focused on driving them home made her want to fuck his brains out. Truly.

Harry’s cheeks flush as he takes her hand into his. “I’m no longer that frat boy you used to know. I’m much nicer.”

“Oh really, in what ways?” she smirks as she eyes the growing bulge in his pants.

“I promise you won’t be able to leave my room tonight that’s for sure.”

“Then I’m happy.”

Moist air, dark night, and bodies clinging to each other as Harry struggled to open the front door. As the groom’s best friend, of course he had keys to his house. Y/N couldn’t help but keep her hands on his slim torso as there was something about just holding them that was driving her crazy.

“Fuck, your parents are going to wonder where we are.”

“I don’t fucking care.” Y/N licks the side of his neck before running inside. She’s trying to laugh quietly as she attempts to take off her heels. Harry being the responsible one, he texts Y/N’s dad they went home. Afterwards, he stops by Y/N’s room to lock it before he follows the girl into his room.

Once he locks the door, he realizes Y/N managed to take all her clothes off as she laid on his bed. “For fuck’s sake.” He mumbles to himself as he forgot how horny and crazy Y/N can be. He rubs the slight stubble on his chin as he watches the girl bite her lip and roll in his sheets. “You’re such a little devil aren’t you?”

“Like I said I missed you.” She fakes her confidence as Harry crawls up to meet her on the mattress. His finger takes the lip out between her teeth as his lips move forward to kiss her once again. His goal was to lay her down and kiss her naked body but it seemed like Y/N had other plans in mind. Her arms push him away as she kneels on the mattress. Keeping her eyes on him, she unbuttons the rest of his vest before spreading her palms over where his heart beat. Harry is speechless but the moment she began to unbuckle his belt he had to say something.

“Oh I see.” He smiles as his hand holds Y/N’s chin to his face. “I thought my girl really did miss me but it seems like she missed my dick a bit more huh? You want it?” He grips her face a bit harder as her hands maintain on his waistline. She nods shyly as she tries to continue her action.

“Fine, do what you want but I’m not done with you yet.” His voice softens as his hand immediately brushes the soft hair away from her face. His green eyes watch her drool over him as she unzips his pants. His hands on the flip side continued to remove the white long sleeve off his body. “Take it in your mouth. I know you’re dying too baby.” Y/N cheeks turn red as her tongue peaks out to kiss his hard cock. The funny thing is, she couldn’t keep her eyes off him despite being a horny mess. Sex was never the same if it wasn’t with harry and that was a fact because the moment she put him in her mouth, he pushed himself harder until he could feel the back of her throat.

The constant humming and gagging sounds wasn’t enough for him because the moment he pulled himself out of her little wet hole. He pulls her hair harder to keep her eyes on him. Without even hesitating, he spits in her mouth and puts his dick back in. From the way Y/N’s eyes rolled back, he knew full well that this was his girl and some things don’t change...especially the way she reacts to him.

“Are you going to let me fuck your mouth baby?” He moans quietly as he softly strokes her scalp. “How many times are you going to make me cum huh?” Y/N chokes a bit as he thrusts himself at a faster rate. “Always so pretty aren’t you dove?” He pulls himself out and slaps her tit. “What do you want me to do?” He whispers as kisses her lips once more. His mouth thoughtlessly kisses down the side of her neck as his hands press and grope on her tits.

“I want you everywhere.” His eyes watch her dilated ones as he slowly pushes her down the mattress.

“Hm, I don’t think you want to as much I thought?” He teases her as one of his fingers pops into his mouth and later into hers.

“You want me to beg?” Her tongue swirls around his digit as she lays helplessly on his pillows. “Never.”

“Never?” Harry laughs as his wet fingers pretended to walk down her body to her heated centre. “When did my baby become such a brat?” The devious smirk plays on his face as his tongue licks the side of his mouth.

“I’ve always been a brat.”

“Oh, so you don’t want me to fuck you is that what you’re saying?” His hands immediately stop teasing her as he begins to jerk himself off -slowly but surely.

“I do.” She tries to sit up but his hand pushes her back down immediately. “Harry, please?”

“Is that you begging me?” He laughs as his thumb wipes a bead of precum on his dick. “I would rate that three out of ten, Extra point because good girls say please.”

“Baby...” Y/N moans out as she tries to reach for him but Harry’s hands immediately grabs them and places them above her head.

“Just beg a bit better and maybe you wouldn’t have to work so hard, love. You said it before so show me you want me.”

“Daddy please fuck me.”

“Like music to my ears.” He spreads her legs open and pushes himself inside her. “Fuck.” It’s always the condom that gets to him.

“No, stay.” She whines as she holds onto his wait. “Please, I’m on birth control and James and I don’t really-”

“What?” His eyes widen as he bites the inside of his cheek. “What did you say?”

“He’s an intern at this hospital so he’s just always been busy.” She whispers in embarrassment. Don’t get her wrong, she has sex just not as much as she thought she should.

“Fucking hell.” He mumbles as he thrusts himself a bit harder into her. “No one has taken care of you in a while huh?” He bends down and kisses her again. The soft wet licks stay longer as he hears the beat of her heart. It was beating fast just like his.

“Mhm. Please Harry just fuck me.” She cries out as she takes his fingers back into her mouth. His thrusts become harder and harder as he watches her face cry in pleasure. “Oh daddy, fuck.”

“So fucking good. You’re such an angel oh shit.” His palm immediately chokes her. He couldn’t help but watch how her tits move up and down due to the force he’s putting into her.

“Let me ride you.” Her hips thrust up and meet him. Her mouth opens wide at the feeling.

“You sure about? Sure you can still take me?” His hand gives her a little slap to the cheek.

“Of course I can.” Y/N smirks. Harry immediately pulls himself off her as he lays down on the mattress himself. “You think I’m going to let you fuck me all night long. I’ve been wanting to fuck your brains out.”

“Y/N,” He smirks as he watches her straddle him. “You think you can fuck my brains out? You seem pretty fucking confident, baby.” He flicks her nipple which makes her press herself deeper onto his dick.

“I can.” She closes her eyes as Harry watches the moonlight shine on her face.

“Yeah, then show me.” He slaps the side of her thigh more harder than before. “Fuck me. Just use me then.”

“Just promise I’ll be a good girl, daddy.” her hands slide down to his waist.

“Promise.” He bites his lip and watches their wet desperate centres meet.

And in that moment, there was nothing but lust in their eyes as they fucked back and forth. Y/N moaning as Harry continued slapping her ass. He couldn’t help but thrust his hips as well due the fact there was nothing better than feeling Y/N’s desperate pussy clenching for more.

“Go on all fours.” He cries out after a few more rounds. Y/N wasn’t lying since she definitely fucked his brain out. There was nothing on their minds other than jumping each other’s bones over and over again.

Once she’s in position, he slaps her ass once again before putting himself back in.

“Oh god, shit baby.” Y/N bites the end of his pillowcase as she keeps her hands on the headboard. “You’re so big, I can’t anymore fuck.”

“I know you have one more in you, come on baby.” He pulls her hair and slaps her ass once more.

“Fuck!” She moans out as she feels his wet spit travel down her pussy. Harry immediately thrusts harder as the sweat on his neck begins to bother him. His thrusts were becoming sloppy but he needed Y/N to cum one more time.

“God, fuck me.” Harry moans out as Y/N finally cums one more time around him. Without even thinking, he releases himself inside of her and pulls her hair harder one more time. She immediately falls down as she can’t feel a thing. Harry felt her clench around him despite his need to pull himself off her.

“Baby, you have to let go.” He kisses the back of her shoulder and grips the side of her waist.

“Please don’t go.” She cries out and wipes her tears on the pillowcase. Harry slowly pulls himself off and lays on the bed beside her. He puts himself back in and wipes her tears away. His arm pulls her closer to him as he whispers one more thing into her ear.

“I love you.”

“Glad to see you two are awake.” Y/N’s mom waits in the kitchen as she makes pancakes on the stove. “Ryan and Meghan left last night right after the reception.” She suspiciously keeps her eyes on the two as they walk together to the breakfast table. “Harry, thank you for leaving the door unlocked. We came home around one last night.” Oh shit did they hear us? Y/N looks at Harry who seems bothered as he takes a sip of the coffee in his mug.

“I didn’t hear you two.” She brings the plate to the table. “If you’re wondering Y/N.”

“Mom, it’s not what-” Her cheeks flush in an embarrassment.

“Oh please, don’t bother lying. I already lied, Harry was the one who opened the door for us.” She laughs and rolls her eyes. “And Harry, don’t bother giving me an excuse. It makes sense.” She sits down with the two of them. “You always kept visiting us back home and the way your eyes watched her when she came here after her flight gave it all away.”

“Not to mention, you answering the door shirtless and Y/N not responding when we knocked on her door last night.” Y/N’s dad appears with a newspaper in hand.

“Does Ryan know?” Harry looks at Y/N and puts a pancake on her plate. Does her parents even know she’s wearing his clothes?

“Ryan saw you two leave together.” Y/N’s mom laughs. “Don’t worry, it was him and Meghan’s idea to also try and pair you guys together.”

“Wait so he’s okay with it.” Y/N speaks up after murmuring a thank you to Harry.

“Of course he is, Y/N. You guys are no longer teenagers right? So make your own choices for Christ’s sake.” Her mom states in disbelief.

“Did you know I’ve been seeing her back in high school?”

“Harry.” Y/N’s dad’s tone changed. Sounded a bit like disappointment.

“Oh god, there is more to the story?” Y/N’s mom rolls her eyes. “Alright, eat up everyone, you two have to tell us everything.”

“So this is it.” Y/N smiles as she sits in his car. The two were currently at the airport. “I had no idea, you relocated to Boston. It makes sense why you had so many things in your room back at Ryan’s house.”

“Yeah, I transferred last year. I’m hoping to finish here, graduate and then see what else I can do.”

“What do you think this means for us?” She puts her shades on as she pulls on the sleeves of her light sweater that she was wearing over her collared shirt.

“It means that this is when I ask you if you would please be my girlfriend.” Y/N’s cheeks flush and she hides her face in her hands.

“Are you for real?” She laughs.

“Yes.” He smirks as he keeps his hands on the steering wheel.

“I will be your girlfriend, Harry.”

“Good. You’re breaking up with James right.” Y/N rolls her eyes and nods.

“I’m ending it with him, the moment I land back in the city.”

“Make some space, I might move there.” He lightly jokes but there was some truth in it. Meghan and Ryan were married, there was no need for him to take up some space in their house.

“Sure, you’ll love Seattle and Ness is there too.”

“I like that. Will you introduce me to your ex?” Y/N laughs as she opens her door.

“No.” but right before she can get out, his hand pulls her back in for a kiss. Once their lips touch, he looks at her once again.

“I love you.” He genuinely states as he watches her eyes melt in happiness.

“I love you too.” She smiles and kisses him once more. “Bye, Harry.” She hugs him across the platform and kisses his cheek too. “I’ll miss you.”

“I’ll miss you more. Call me later tonight when you land yeh?”

“Okay.” She pouts. She had to catch a flight and be away from him for at least one more year.

“I love you okay, baby.” He kisses her forehead. “Bye.”

“Bye.” And with that, Y/N steps out of the car and watches him drive away. She has a plane to catch and he has some sheets to clean but that doesn't change the fact, they are finally together.

And everyone knows it.

Fini!

---------

Taglist: @f-flourishing , @nataliedahlia , @florenceskies , @much-love-tay , @goldenxstyles7 , @sixwyrxstuff , @y0uresogolden , @gucciantidote , @kikisparadise18 , @muffpuff23 , @stylessugarhigh , @f-vasquezp , @alwaysclassyeagle

#harry styles angst #jealous!Harry #Harry Styles #harry styles smut #harry styles one direction #harry styles fanfiction #harry styles stories #harry styles x reader #harry styles blurbs #harry styles one shots #one direction fanfic #one direction one shots #one direction imagines #harry styles imagines #Harry styles fluff #frat boy!harry #solo harry

882 notes · View notes