#I’m a little enamored with who Tommy decided to be

[ohnothisisathing]

Thinking about c!Tommy and how he started his four part finale as a paranoid, self destructive addict who was so stuck in the past that he was spiraling to the point that he put his life and his best friend’s life on the line to kill his personal boogeyman.

Thinking about the clear theme of growing up and the repetition that “they aren’t kids anymore” and all the old jokes Tommy used to make about being a minor and how anything he did before could really and truly be excused as him just being a kid because kids are allowed to be selfish and explore because they need to grow and because no matter what they do, adults are the ones with the actual power.

Thinking about how Tommy is this force of nature that changes the world without really trying, by just being himself and loud and friendly and taking up space and how that is one of the very best, most special things about him, and how sad it’s been that he doesn’t like that about himself anymore, but nature is beautiful and necessary and uncaring.

Thinking about processing trauma and growing up at the same time and how sometimes we hold onto it too tightly and don’t have the tools to let it go but part of being an adult is taking responsibility for your actions even if they’re trauma responses and taking responsibility of your own recovery and it’s not fair at all, it’s not, but if Tommy wants to recover, to move forward and away from that tower he has to decide that he’s going to do it.

Thinking about “being adults now” and deciding to launch a nuke and how that is not the same as griefing or selling drugs from a hot dog van and how Tommy and Tubbo’s short sidedness got a lot of people killed and it’s not entirely their fault but it is partially and they’re adults now, they’re adults now.

Thinking about who in the end, with the world ending of his own making, Tommy decided to be because Tommy did not start out brave and understanding. He’d hit someone and talk a big game with clearly false bravado and hide behind those stronger and older than him, but he grew up. He found out through battles that he is strong enough to win and learned understanding and empathy through the unfair pain he suffered and he forgave Wil over and over again and he will continue to do so because love does that and now he has so much practice in it, and he always had the disks and Tubbo and one was a symbol he fought for and one was a person and he loved them both but there was never a choice between which he’d save over the other.

What Tommy chose in his final moments was ironically to move forward. Those were the first steps toward recovery too late. He looked at the person who hurt him the most, who was so big and scary in his mind, and saw that he was actually so small and human and Tommy could choose to not become him. To not become Wil.

And Tommy fucking Innit, force of fucking nature, without really trying because this is who he is as an adult with the accumulation of his experiences and choices, helped someone, out grew them, took their power away, and let them go.

[were-wolverine]

okay okay modern high school au w/ no upside down

steve is a popular jock his freshman year, still best friends with tommy h & carol, kinda an asshole but honestly all freshman boys are

anyway so sophomore year steve meets nancy and befriends her and barb. nancy convinces steve to drop tommy and carol (they’re not good friends) and he nancy and jonathan have a tentative friendship. steve asks nancy out and they date for like 5-6 months before nancy breaks up with him. it’s nothing dramatic and they end on okay terms but steve is kinda heartbroken and when nancy gets with jonathan a week later he distances himself from both of them. him and barb lowkey bond during that time but they’re never best friends.

anyway, after that steve and robin ending up working at the same minimum wage job and robin realizes they actually have a lot in common and that steve is kinda a loser (in the best way). they become close friends really fast because they just like, complete each other. steve feels like he can actually be himself with her, and it’s the first time he’s ever met someone like that (cough cough they’re both autistic and he’s comfortable enough to subconsciously unmask around her).

robin comes out to steve one night when he’s sleeping over. they’re just laying on robins bed listening to music when robin suddenly sits up and faces steve, who does the same. he raises an eyebrow to ask what is it? and robin opens and closed her mouth a few times before shaking off the nerves and saying “i’m a lesbian,” voice coming out as a whisper. without hesitation steve hugs her and they just hold each other for a bit, steve reassuring her that it’s okay, he doesn’t see her any differently, and that he’s actually been thinking maybe he isn’t straight either

robin encourages steve to pursue his nerdy interests and steve drives robin to all the places she’s wanted to go to. steve kinda fades into the background of the school hierarchy. him and robin are losers and they like it that way

enter one (now senior) eddie munson, spotting these two arguing about whether leia or padme is hotter and whether the prequels deserve to be called movies instead of cinematic failures. he is immediately enamored and decides that they will be the newest additions to his herd of little sheep

a few hellfire members hold a grudge against tommy h and by association steve, but when they learn he dropped tommy (and also thinks he’s a dick) they’re fine with steve being around

sidebar- chrissy is a lesbian with comphet and dated jason freshman year until she broke it off the summer before sophomore year. jason is a douchebag and spreads rumors about chrissy but everyone knows chrissy is a sweetheart so they don’t really believe them. also steve once pulls the Harrington card to get jason to stop spreading shit. after that some of chrissy’s “friends” drop her because they value popularity over her friendship which leads to eddie adopting chrissy into his flock

just buckingham and steddie being iconic, and steve and chrissy being loved for their true selves instead of the popular personas they created

(when they all become friends robin and chrissy are sophomores, steve is a junior an eddie is a senior)

[maybanksslut]

Dating Tommy Shelby would include...

Pairing: Tommy Shelby x fem!reader

Warnings: mentions of alcohol and smoking :)

Ok pls watch me drop everything to write this bc I'm married to cillian murphy <3

First of all, how the two of you met

One night, you’d be alone in one of Birmingham’s many pubs, drowning down the sorrow you felt after fighting with your father, who was visibly upset with you for not being married

He’d been talking about marriage with you for weeks and you grew tired of having to tell him the same thing every day

“I don’t want to get married, dad, there’s no one I love!”

Of course, he’d think that was bullshit and tell you marriage wasn’t an act of love, rather a business that was supposed to tie two families together

This angered you, so here you were, drinking your pain away

And just as you’d got seated and ordered some Irish whiskey, a certain Shelby walked into the pub

Perhaps it was fate, perhaps a mere accident, but no matter what it was, it changed your life forever

“May I sit here?”

You were quick to realize he was a peaky Blinder by the way he was dressed

And by the way everyone appeared to shiver when he entered the pub, you concluded that he must be one of the Shelbys as well

“Only if you promise not to get blood on my dress”

To be honest, he was taken aback by your joke, expecting more of a nervous smile or a look filled with lust, like other women seemed to give him

He was immediately intrigued by you and made it his goal to get to know you better by the end of the night

Tommy tried to be a gentleman, he paid for your drinks, offered you cigarettes, and referred to you as “Mrs”

Until you told him you weren’t married, that is

His jaw (his jawline is perfect tho can we talk about that?) practically dropped, because how could such a beautiful woman like you not have a husband?

At the same time, he was happy, because this meant he could have a chance of making you his forever

Which, he realized later, was something he did wish to do

Tommy fell himself falling for you more and more every day, he just adored your smile, your laugh, the way you weren’t afraid of him, but rather treated him as a close friend

Yes, he was entirely enamored with you, and he knew he had to make a move before anyone else did

He often took you on horse rides or to restaurants to hear your voice, and he loved to hear you talk

“What about that horse race you went to last week, eh? Can you tell me more about it? I don’t quite remember”

He didn’t officially ask you to be his lover before you’d known each other for three months

His feelings for you were a big burden when he kept them a secret, and so was keeping your friendship from both of your families

Therefore, one night as you walked through the empty streets of Birmingham, he confessed to you

“The truth is, y/n, I am in love with you and I want you to be mine. What do you say, eh?”

You were stunned when you heard those words come out of his mouth

You’d never expected this coming, even though you had for some time now felt a stronger connection to Tommy than just a friendly one

Furthermore, the way he said it made your breath tremble. You could almost feel the passion burning its way through his confession

You could feel all the atoms in your body craving him and his love, but you couldn’t utter a words

So instead, you gently caressed his cheeks and kissed him, as if you were trying to pour everything you wanted to say into his mind by this sweet embrace

It took the both of you some time to cool down after the kiss, but when you did, the two of you grinned like idiots

“I love you, too, Tommy Shelby”

He’d carry you home and properly introduce himself to your father the second he got the chance

Your father would be so surprised, because of who you’d brought home

But he’d also be so happy (mostly because Tommy is rich, but also because his daughter finally had found someone)

He and Tommy ended up getting along quite nicely, though you saw his jaw (again he can cut me with that jaw) clench a couple of times when he mentioned the word “thugs” about some of his peaky boys

Before he left that night he kissed you so softly and romantically you thought you’d FAINT

Luckily, you didn’t, but you dreamt about him after you went to sleep

Sometime later, Tommy pushed aside his hesitations and decided to introduce you to his family

“Darling, I beg of you, don’t let them scare you away, eh?”

“Why would they scare me away? If they’re anything like you, I’m sure I’ll love them”

You’d be fascinated by all of his family members because they all appeared to be very interesting people

John would be the first one to talk to you, his outgoing personality very evident after even only a few seconds of conversation

You did enjoy his company, though you had to admit, he was kind of intimidating with his strong voice and loud laugh

Next on the list was Polly, the woman you’d heard so much about, yet knew nothing of

She was the one that you’d were afraid to meet the most, a sue she seemed so majestic and proud in her red dress and high eyebrows

Her personality was the complete opposite of what you’d expected

“Oh my god, you must be y/n! You’re gorgeous, my love! Oh, come here for a hug, my dear”

Her friendliness was overwhelming, yet it warmed your heart deeply to see that she cared for you after such little interaction

It was comforting how she took you under her wing, introducing you to the other family members while Tommy went to talk with his brothers

After the night was over, you’d befriended Ada and learned not to get on Arthur’s bad side

It was an evening full of emotions and feelings, but it was one of the best ones in your life, so you were quick to thank Tommy for making you the luckiest woman in England

“Don’t thank me, sweetheart, you’re the one who made my life brighter”

It took Thomas four weeks to propose to you

He loved you and he needed no time to know that you were his true love and he wanted to spend the rest of his life by your side

It was one night you’d spent together in bed, talking about anything and everything, stealing kisses from each other now and then

Suddenly Tommy’s face turned more serious

“I want you to marry me, y/n”

“What?”

“I want you to marry me. I want to show the whole world how much you mean to me. I want to spend the rest of my life in your arms, holding your hand and kissing your lips. I want to start a family with you and I want you, forever.”

You agreed immediately, tears in your eyes as you looked into the eye of your future husband and thought of the life you’d build together

It was perfect.

TAGLIST: @fangirlings-things @runaway-mom-friend @gxtitobxby @amirahiddleston @myloveforluna

[binas-idea-vault]

Hear Me Out: Syndicate Mafia/Casino AU

i came up with a casino au once with Kinoko Kingdom/Quackity as owner of the casino but then my brain went “okay but like, what if the Syndicate had a casino but it was also a mafia and then Kinoko Kingdom as a casino as well and then the Eggpire is also involved and so is fucking Dream” so hear we are.

i chose the Syndicate to have a casino cause of the song “Syndicate” by Derivakat (i’ve been binge listening to it as well-) which has a jazz casino vibe. so what if Reader was the star performer (this is self indulgent because i am very much a theater kid and love to sing-) who starts off every night with a performance of “Syndicate”. reader’s performance is used to kinda establish the Syndicate’s power over the casino and to remind the patrons anything they do will be under the scrutiny of a mafia with literally two of the most renowned mafiosos’ (Philza whose reputation of traveling all over and taking down many a mafia family precedes him and Technoblade who has taken down mafia families singlehandedly) in the city, maybe even the entire country.Just mafioso Technoblade watching reader’s performance and just enamored with how they move and their melodic voice. for some extra spice, protective Technoblade seeing the patrons/customers just as enamored as he is. Philza laughing his ass off in the background at how Technoblade goes up to you and puts his arm around your waist protectively and just glares at anyone who looks at you wrong-

the Eggpire is like a rival mafia that is trying to take control over the city so it isn’t uncommon for them to try and infiltrate the Syndicate casino. so i was thinking, what if the people who are Pro-Omlette (but not in the Syndicate so Puffy, Foolish (since it’s not confirmed he’s part of the Syndicate), Awesamdude and Eret) are staff at the casino. they were each like a lone agent after their mafia family split up/they left and decided to join forces with the Syndicate to make sure the Eggpire didn’t gain total control of the city. Maybe Sam is a bodyguard stationed either outside the casino or manning security cameras switching with Puffy, Eret can be like a stage manager/backstage to aid the performers and make sure no one sneaks into the dressing rooms or the light control area backstage and Foolish is like a bartender keeping an eye out on the main floor of the casino for any activity.

Dream was the former head of the well-renowned Dream Team mafia family until the family split. he’s notorious for breaking apart mafia families before disappearing into the night and traveling to a new city. occasionally he’ll hire some aid but they never last long.

Ponk used to be an on-sight medic for the casino in cause of bar fights or performers getting injured on stage but after many rumors (later confirmed to be true) of him being a member of the Eggpire he was fired and not allowed to enter the premise of the casino again.

Kinoko Kingdom was a rival casino/mafia family to the Syndicate’s but they’ve decided to have a truce to make sure Dream and/or the Eggppire don’t take over their city. Their casinos have different vibes with the Syndicate’s being more of a hub for mafia and business activity with jazzy music on the constant and famous for civilized and tame yet very entertaining entertainment whilst Kinoko’s casino is like more of a rowdy type casino, famous for high stake bets, drinks with high alcohol content and lively music and entertainment that can be seen as a bit too glitzy and tacky. Like you go to Syndicate casino for a night of business deals and building yourself up to the top, the type of casino you would bring your boss to, whilst the Kinoko casino is the type of casino you go to let loss and risk it all with cheap entertainment and even cheaper booze. (and if you really wanted to, you could have the Reader character be a bartender at the Kinoko casino and be the reason the casino is so well-known for their booze in the same au but different continuity)

wilbur had a casino (the L’manburg casino) but he went bankrupt so the casino changed management (to Schlatt) and then Wilbur burned it down, resulting in himself getting severely injured. courts can’t prove he did the fire and many claim he was just in the area when it happened and got severely injured. because of this his memories are very much messed up, but he’s slowly recovering (emphasize on slowly) and is now a performer for the day crowd (which is more relaxed and therefore the best place for more cheerful tunes with acoustic guitar, during the day the casino has more of a classy cafe vibe and they actually serve coffee!) under the name Ghostbur. he can’t remember the name of the nurse who treated him so he just remembers them by the name Friend and has a stress toy that is a blue sheep (given to him by the nurse) that is always in his pocket and he gets really stressed when he loses it so the nurse gave Philza copies of the stress toy to give to Wilbur if/when he loses his. for some more fluff Wilbur’s blue is actually just blue jolly ranchers because when his memories got messed up because of the accident he forgot some things like the names of colors so the nurse that treated him used blue jolly ranchers as an example of the color blue so whenever Wilbur is sad and misses the nurse (who can potentially be a Reader character taking place in the same au but a different continuity) that treated him he likes to eat some jolly ranchers to make himself feel better, and hands it out to make others feel better as well! (just imagine Philza standing behind Wilbur like “if you don’t accept his blue i will personally shove you into a body bag” type beat)

Tubbo is a magician/dealer at the Syndicate Casino for three reasons which are as follows:

A) he needed some quick cash and mans doesn’t have much work experience

B) he’s smart so he knows the little ways he can cheat the games so the casino loses less money/gains more when patrons gamble (i like to imagine in the interview process he actually managed to cheat a game and no one knew he cheated until he admitted it during the interview when asked if he could be able to subtly cheat so the house loses less money. it went like

technoblade: alright final question, do you know anyways to make sure the house doesn’t lose out on much?

tubbo: i’ve been cheating during every single game we’ve played.

everyone: 👁👄👁

ranboo wiping away a tear: that’s my platonic husband

i think that’d be funny)

C) i have decided to make it canon in this au that Tubbo and Ranboo are still platonically married for tax purposes

and for reasons (aka because i can) i’m making Micheal a piglet Tubbo bought for a magic trick that he named Micheal and got attached to. however he didn’t have the space for a piglet so Ranboo and Tubbo decided to move into a large apartment together that Foolish helped them find and named the piglet Micheal. now Micheal can be seen in the staff room just walking around and wearing a nice suit.

i have no role for Tommy but i like to imagine he spends so much time at the Syndicate casino (to hang out with Tubbo and totally not Ranboo nope not at all) that the patrons just assume he works there and ask him questions like drink recommendations and directions to where things are. and the best part is tommy actually knows where everything is- like he’s spent so much time at the casino he knows all the ins and outs. at first he’s really annoyed and mad about it until he realizes how much money he can make on tips. next day he shows up in a nice suit, and a big smile ready to help (and totally not make money).

totally random but Eret, Foolish and Niki are gossip central of the casino. Niki is a member of the Syndicate and knows all about Technoblade and Reader’s pining (in the continuity where Reader is the star performer of the casino), Eret is backstage and hears all the gossip the performer’s share and Foolish overhears all the gossip at the bar. all the staff fears them- 

[uppastthejelliclemoon]

I'D LOVE TO HEAR MORE HEADCANONS ABOUT JELLICLE THOMAS!! More specifically...how he'd get along with Hestia and Jubilee when he returns to the junkyard? What about when he brings Duchess and the kittens? How does the tribe react to seeing Thomas' new family?

THANK YOU MY LOVE YOU KNOW I'M ABOUT TO INFO DUMP

OKAY SO

Some general hcs about this AU/hc/storyline (idk what to call it)

Thomas and Tugger grow up being the best of friends, and joking around with each other. While settling down with a serious family was never something that was at the forefront of their minds, they definitely mentioned it once or twice to each other in a sort of "but if you could, would you?" way.

Macavity's betrayal and banishment, followed by Athena, Demeter, and Bombalurina leaving, and then Thomas leaving for Paris, all coupled with Grizabella being the first to leave him left Tugger with serious abandonment issues. It's one of the reasons he was so hesitant to reconnect with Munkustrap and Old Deuteronomy.

Mistoffelees helped him with through those issues, just as Tugger helped Mistoffelees with his own insecurities and fears about his magic (because we love a healthy relationship where both partners are equally helpful towards each other and don't take advantage of each other's kindness).

Finding out about Athena's death absolutely broke Tugger, because he promised Thomas that he'd look out for his sisters if they ever returned.

Thomas finds out about Athena's death via Roquefort, who brings the news after visiting the Junkyard. That's when Thomas meets Scat Cat and his band in Paris, and decides to group in with them to soothe the pain of his sister's death.

Thomas tells Duchess and their kittens about the Jellicles a few weeks after meeting them. By this time, he knew that Demeter and Bombalurina were back in the Junkyard, and he had been on his way home when he met the little family. The kittens are absolutely ELATED at the idea of having a whole big family, and Duchess is very excited to meet Thomas' parents and sisters.

NOW FOR THE REUNION

Jennyanydots is so excited to meet Duchess and the kittens. She loves each of her grandkittens with all her heart, so adding three new little ones absolutely melts her. And it's been a while since the Junkyard has had kitten kittens, so everyone's just so enamored with the triplets.

Skimbleshanks loves Duchess. She's enthralled by his stories about his travels, since the only adventure she's ever had is when she and her kittens were catnapped.

Thomas sees Tugger's brood of kits and just bursts into laughter, because of course his best friend would go and raise the biggest group of kittens out of the Jellicles.

Hestia knows the most about Thomas out of the siblings, mainly because Tugger's been telling her stories about the two of them since she was little, so she's so excited to finally meet her Uncle Tommy. Thomas also really loves Jubilee, he trades stories with her, and tells her about how he went from London to Paris. He also promises to bring Roquefort during his next visit so they can all have a chat.

Tugger and Thomas sit together and watch their families interact, and can't stop smiling and joking with each other, and Tugger asks Thomas if he's positive that Toulouse isn't really his, and Thomas elbows him and asks if he's positive that Hestia isn't his.

[chandelier-s-notebook]

@the-only-gamer-gost‘s WritingTober Day 20: Reminder to write because all writing is practice and practice is good.

Thank you @ribineran for helping my name a thing, because brain lazy.

And also, for story beat purposes Technoblade’s irl needs to be used. But enlieu of using it, because I am so no comfortable using it and nor is he, I will be using [insert name] to denote. Sorry if that ruins your immersion of the story. And I’m going to preface no ships. It’s just for story purposes.

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

It was the Princess Nihachu of the ßimpa Dynasty’s 21st birthday. The sounds of the lavish party downstairs could be heard through the double doors. She had made her around. Dinner had been served. And she guests where enjoying the after-party while she made a business deal.

Made. She didn’t make it. She was but a babe when this deal was made. A marriage alliance between the ßimpa Dynasty and the Antarctic Empire.

She was to marry the elder brother, Prince Wilbur. She was happy to be marring him. She had known him all her life. She loves spending time with him. Sure, she doesn’t really love him in the way her ladies maids love their beaus, but he wouldn’t trade him for the world. She was content in this arrangement.

The two families convened in the meeting room. One where she, Wilbur, and his little brother Tommy would peek in and spy on their parents, and other royal families. Only to be shooed away by her personal guard’s son Eret.

She looked to her father and her mother. What where they waiting for? The festivities were still going on downstairs. Everyone was here.

- - -

“Where’s [insert name]?” her mother asked the rulers on the opposing side of the table.

Prince Wilbur went still. Faint memories rushing through his head. Queen Kristen folded into herself, brushing off her mother’s concern. Prince Tommy looked just as confused at she felt. Who?

“I doubt he’s comi-”

Click. The sound of a door opening. “Your Majesty, your guards are a bunch of pansies.” He closed to door behind him. “And drunk.” He walked towards the table, and the Princess started to take this intruder in.

Short brown hair. Clean pressed pants. A nice crisp button up. Red roses pinned to his collar. Ink visible through the material of his shirt. Twirling a dagger through his fingers. He paused, seeing Eret come to stand in his way. He nodded at the guard, tucking the blade away in his pocket.

“I believe I am to be married today.”

“Ah, Prince [insert name]. So happy to have you join us.”

The man grimaces at his birth name. Eret turns to look at the Kings. Stepping aside when he sees King Philza nodding his head.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you.”

“About a sesquidecade. But I have no time for small talk your Majesty.” Techno stares at her father He doesn’t look at Wilbur trying to catch his eye. He doesn’t look at Queen Kristen who looks a second away from embracing him in a tight hug. He doesn’t look at King Philza keeping himself in check, one outburst away from a lecture. He doesn’t look at Prince Tommy, his brother he never met. “Let’s talk business.”

“Of course. I believe you have met my daughter? Princess Nihachu.”

She freezes in her seat. She was supposed to marry Wilbur. That was the plan. Who was this? Why were both Kings okay with this intruder walking in? Why was Wilbur not fighting this?

“Niki,” she says, rising from her seat with a little prompting from her mother and extending her hand.

No one misses how he simply shakes it. “Pleasure.” He turns back to her father. “I don’t particularly want to get married.”

“You don’t have a choice.” Her father pulls out a document, sighing it and passing it to her.

Philza opens his mouth to speak. The man beats him to it. “Sure I do. Your head goes for a pretty penny on the bounty boards, King HBomb. And if the rumors are true then your daughter, while perhaps distraught, will be a fine ruler in your place.”

“Threating your allies is not the way to go,” her father causions. King Philza looking ready to murder is apparent-son.

“If you’ve heard the rumor then you’d know I have no affiliation to the Royal family any longer.”

“You’re standing in front of me.”

“I still have a duty. And a broken alliance with you would bring all of my friends to the forefront of war.”

Not what anyone was expecting.

“I propose a swap. Instead of me marring your daughter, Wil can do that.” He didn’t look at his brother. “I think that’s what was understood among them anyways.” He took the quill sitting on the desk in his hand and drew her eyes to the line. That was not Wilbur’s name. It was the one her father had used to address the man. “And if I’m not mistaken. The two Princes where brought up with that idea in mind. Prince Wilbur going to aide the Princess Nihachu here and Prince Tommy taking over the Antarctic empire.”

King Hbomb pondered. “Philza?”

“That's what I was going to discuss with you, yes.”

Wilbur nods his head a little as well. Niki smiles tightly.

The man took the document, scratched out his name, wrote Wilbur’s and slide the paper in front of his brother. Without looking at any of them, he nodded to the Princess. “Pleasure doing business with you,” he said to the King. He then walked out of the room and into the birthday celebration below.

- - -

Wilbur looks down at the paper. Tommy is still wildly confused, but knows not to shout as he normally would. Queen Kristen gracefully gets up from her chair and runs after her son.

King Hbomb and King Philza give each other a look ad decide to shelf those talks. Prince [insert name] has been as good as dead for fifteen years.

The four of them sigh the treaty. The Kings them dismissed the children. They had a few things to talk about.

They went down and make their rounds. Queen Shubble joining them as well. Eret staying close to his Princess. Tommy making sure to stay in Wilbur’s sight. He can read the room. He knows what is needed of him.

After the party ends, they reconvene in Niki’s parlor. “Let me tell you about my big brother.”

- - -

Kristen runs after Techno, following him to the inn he was staying at. He leaves the door to his room open for her.

“[insert name].”

He takes off the wig and hair net, letting his pink hair show though. Using his hands to take the pins out of his bun, putting them in his mouth. His braid falls down the length of his back.

The Queen of the Antarctic Empire finally takes in the room. Battle scythe resting in its sheath hung over a chair. Red coat draped on the stand. Shoe shiner on the counter. An ironing board propped up in the corner.

“I cleaned up pretty nicely wouldn’t you say?”

“Technoblade,” his Mother breathed.

“Yes. And I’d prefer if you called me that instead.” He sat down on the single seater couch, gesturing to the rooms sofa for the Queen to take a seat. “If you’d prefer something more personal, Techno is fine.”

She sat down. “[insert name].”

“Techno. Please.”

She composed herself. “Tech, what happened?”

“I had had enough.”

“You left us.”

“I know.”

“You abandoned your little brother.”

“I left him a note.”

“He was five.”

“I left him a note,” he repeated.

The Queen’s expression froze. “And you didn’t leave one for us.”

“I didn’t want to.” He sighed. “I didn’t even want to leave one for him.”

“Tech!”

“But I did.”

She tries to figure out out to say next.

“Theseus seems to be doing well.”

“Tommy. His name is Tommy. You are his brother.”

“Has he ever heard of me? He looked so confused when I showed up.” He looked her in the eyes. “I’m not giving a nickname to a kid I’ve met only once in passing. No matter blood relations.”

“You met him?”

“He was dueling around the Knight Academy once while I was passing through. He seemed enamored by the legend of Technoblade.”

“He is quite fond of you.” The Queen gave a soft smile.

[c4pricornc4ts]

Who Would Ever Want to be King? Chapter Two

Read chapter one on tumblr here or read both chapters on ao3 here!

Tubbo meets a moobloom, Tommy is kind of an asshole. 

At some point Eret must've dozed off because he wakes up to Tubbo almost on top of him and poking him gently, blue eyes framed by messy brown hair looking down at him.

“Good morning?” He laughs before leaning forward to check on a still sleeping Tommy. The sunrise was starting to fill the room with golden light, he hoped it wouldn’t wake the injured boy. Head injuries always lingered, at least the side effects do.

He replaces the bandages on Tommy’s forehead while Tubbo watches apprehensively. He was bouncing slightly which was shaking the bed.

“That can’t be good for Tommy” Eret murmurs, before deciding he needs to get Tubbo to stop. “What’s on your mind?”

The boy stops bouncing, he freezes like a deer in headlights. “I don’t know?” He tilts his head and looks apologetic about it.

“What do you think about breakfast?”

“What about Tommy?”

“We’ll make him some too.” The king walks over to the door, turning to wait on Tubbo to climb down the bed and join him. Both were still in their pajamas, but that could be fixed later.

They decide on pancakes, Tubbo insisting on getting all the ingredients out himself. Except the eggs. Eret didn’t want to clean up a dropped egg right now. Or ever really.

Tubbo’s watching Eret mix everything together, his head pressed against the wood and his arm laying across the table as far as he could reach. “Where do you get all this? It’s not exactly like you have a market around here.”

“I farm for myself. It’s not too difficult to feed one person.” He puts another pancake on the stack and pours one more.

“Will we make it difficult?” He whispers.

“Not if I put you two to work.” He waits for Tubbo to complain at even the mention of work but the boy seems completely nonchalant and just plays with his sleeve.

By ‘work’ Eret means feeding the cows and collecting eggs from the chickens. And even though the definition of ‘work’ for a kid raised in the middle of a war must be a lot more dangerous and draining, Tubbo doesn’t argue at all.

“I don’t think Tommy can do much yet.” He sits up in his chair as Eret brings over two plates of pancakes and a jar of syrup.

“You’re right. Which is why me and you will go out today, Tommy needs to rest.”

“What will we do?” He’s eating very messily but he supposes they could talk about manners a different day. For now he just hands him a dish towel.

“How do you feel about mooblooms?”

Tubbo drops his fork and yells with excitement. Eret flinches at the noise but smiles nonetheless.

After Tubbo brings Tommy a slightly smaller portion of breakfast, (As Eret was fairly confident he wasn’t going to be up for eating today and just didn’t want to tell Tubbo no to giving his friend something.) They head through the wooden door that leads to the courtyard.

He calls it a courtyard but really it’s much bigger than a courtyard and houses a lot of animals and plants. He tries to keep it at least a little nice, evidenced by the hyacinth hanging from the columns. They were all the same deep blue color, and everywhere he could hang them he did.

Tubbo walks right up to the cows who have free range of the yard. Eret lets him play around with the dandelion covered cow as he knows that she wouldn’t hurt a fly.

“What’s her name?” Tubbo calls to him from where he’s getting water out of the well.

He picks up the bucket, pouring the contents into the watering can. “They don’t have names Tubbo.” He doesn’t mean to sound so blunt but he’s pretty inexperienced with people.

“Well I think she looks like Daisy. Can we name her that? Please? I think she’d really appreciate it if she had a name.” He has his arms wrapped around the cow’s neck, and his head is buried in her side while she eats grass like nothing is happening at all.

Eret decides not to comment on the fact that it’s a bit silly to name a cow covered in dandelions a different flower name. It didn’t matter that much anyways, and he’s gotta admit, she does look like a Daisy. “Sure, I like it, ‘Daisy the Moobloom’. Now can you go get some hay for them? She and her friends need to eat too.”

He points to the bales of hay in the back of the cow’s shelter and Tubbo hurries to get some. Eret finishes watering all the flowers and is moving on to the crops and Tubbo is laughing as all the cows surround him trying to get some hay when they’re interrupted by a door opening.

“What are you two doing without me? I don’t want to be alone anymore. It's really, really boring.” Eret looks up to see Tommy leaning over his bedroom balcony, his blond hair covering most of his face as he looks down.

“Tommy, you fell! You’re supposed to be bored because if something exciting happens and then your head will hurt again!” Tubbo shouts up at him, on his tiptoes as if that’ll help his voice carry.

Eret thinks Tubbo’s voice didn’t need any help, the boy was very polite but he was also very loud. He’s thankful the boy is though, or Eret might not have found them in the woods.

“My head is fine!” He whines dramatically.

“I really don’t think it is Tommy, you were bleeding and shit.”

“Language!”

“Sorry Eret! You were bleeding and STUFF.” He corrects himself.

Tommy runs back inside and moments later is out in the courtyard himself. Eret’s impressed he found the door that quickly, but who knows, maybe Tubbo had explored the castle after Eret went to bed last night.

“You really should rest Tommy, you were out cold last night.”

“I don’t need another adult in my life telling me what to do. If I wanted that I would be with Wilbur still.” He brushes past Eret pointedly knocking into his shoulder.

“Well, if your head starts hurting again you tell me okay?”

“Whatever.” Tommy dismisses him before going and trying to jump the chicken fence, keyword trying. The blond seems to go still and doesn’t even try to finish pulling himself over. Eret drops the watering can and rushes over to catch him.

“Alright that’s it you’re going back to bed.” Eret drags him to his feet and leans over to support the boy’s weight.

“No I-I’m fucking fine y-you bitch.” The king bites back a smile at the boy’s weak attempt at an insult while concussed. He supposes he should be more upset with all the attitude he’s been shown but really, it’s worth having some company.

They keep walking towards the doors back inside, and Tommy keeps digging his heels in the grass and trying to turn back. Looking at Tubbo like he’ll never see the other again. Eret sighs, he wasn’t heartless enough to separate them if Tommy was going to look that broken about it.

“Tubbo, I’ll finish up out here. Can you go sit with Tommy for a bit?” The boy looks so happy with the animals he really hates taking him back inside. But he had a feeling Tommy wasn’t going to stay in the bedroom unless Tubbo’s there too.

He passes Tommy to Tubbo carefully since Tommy was a bit taller than his friend. “I don’t need to go inside. You’re being ridiculous.” He argues the whole way but never once tries to stop Tubbo physically. Eret supposes the arguing was more of a defensive thing.

Eret finishes up with the animals and spends the rest of the day checking the castle over after the storm last night. He goes in before dinner and prepares the room next to the one Tommy and Tubbo have taken over. The whole time he doesn’t hear a word from the other room. Hopefully they’re both resting and haven’t just run off.

It wouldn’t be the first time someone’s done that. And Eret can’t really think of why people do, he’s really just trying to help.

He washes their clothes and tries not to fall asleep when he hangs everything up to dry. The sun had been mostly covered by clouds, making the whole castle overcast. Maybe he should go out and buy some lights. The problem is that would mean finding a market, which means finding a village and villages well, those have people. More people than the king wants to be around.

He starts a fire under the stove, it’s perhaps a little early to start dinner but who’s counting? He reaches for the steak he has stored away but pauses when he remembers how enamored Tubbo was with the mooblooms.

Chicken it is then.

“Don’t you ever get tired of only blue flowers?” Eret jumps and turns around, holding out a wooden spoon. He sets it down on the counter next to him when he sees it’s just Tubbo. He had to get used to extra people. Or Tubbo had to stop coming up behind him. They both make a mental note to work on it.

He turns back around, stirring the contents in the pot. “Do you think they look bad?”

“Well, they look nice really they do! It just feels… sad.”

He wants to just tell the boy that’s the point, they’re supposed to be sad. But he can’t bring himself to talk about it.

“I saw pink flowers in the woods, I could plant them here if you want.” Tubbo sounds hopeful, trying to pass off wanting pink flowers as something for Eret only.

“I’d love that Tubbo. But not tonight alright? If Tommy sees you out there he’ll want to go too.” Tubbo makes an excited noise behind him and climbs the counter to Eret’s right. Leaning over the pot to look inside. Flinching when the steam hits his face.

Eret covers the pot and nudges Tubbo away, worried his hands would get burned. “It’s chicken and vegetables, I hope that’s alright.”

Tubbo nods quickly, and sits further back on the counter. Content to be near the stove fire as it gets colder in the castle. And the king is perfectly happy to have company. Even if said company almost falls off the counter several times before the soup is done.

Tubbo keeps talking about what he wants to name every cow as Eret pulls out a ladle and dishes out three bowls of the chicken soup. Placing them on a plastic tray before interrupting Tubbo’s rant. “We’re going to eat with Tommy, I need you to knock for me okay? My hands are... “ He tilts his head towards the tray in both his hands. “full.”

“Can we eat on the bed?”

Eret nods and laughs and starts walking up the castle steps towards the bedroom. Tubbo knocks on the wooden door. “Tommy? We brought dinner, are you awake?”

“Go away.”

Tubbo exchanges a confused look with Eret and tries to open the door. After a few attempts, they realize it’s locked. Eret didn’t even know his door still did that.

“Tommy please? What about me?” Tubbo sounds a little hurt that his friend would treat him so harshly especially without any reason.

The door unlocks with a click and is opened just enough for tiny hands to grab Tubbo by the collar of his shirt and yank him in the room. Tubbo squeaks in surprise and the door slams right in Eret’s face.

Eret keeps staring at the door, confused at what just happened when the door opens yet again and Tommy grabs two of the bowls before dashing back inside. He hears Tubbo whisper through the door. “He said he doesn’t wanna eat with a grownup. I’m sorry Eret but you fit that criteria I think.”

Well, he guesses he’ll go eat alone. Not like he hasn’t done that before.

Neither boy comes out of the room the rest of the night, so Eret tells them he’s next door before just settling in for the night. His books we’re all in the occupied room so he opts to just go to bed early.

For the second night in a row, he’s woken up by a scream. He watches as someone throws his door open and then slams it closed, leaning their whole body against it and panting heavily. The king sits up and tries to wake up enough for his eyesight to clear. “Tommy?”

“P-please don’t let Wilbur take me. I’m sorry I’m such a-an asshole.” The boy’s voice wobbles, and he sounds like he’s about to cry.

The words prompt Eret to jump out of bed and go pull Tommy away from the door. He wants to say it’s a bad dream but if the blond was this scared, maybe Wilbur really was here.

He remembers Wilbur being a good man, a leader who always had photos of his son and talked about his brothers from a different realm often. He never thought anyone would be closing doors in his face. Though, he never thought he’d betray his country either.

He sets Tommy on his bed and checks the hallway. There’s no one out there. It must have been a nightmare. He feels his arm being grabbed and turns back towards the bedroom to a very nervous Tommy trying to get him back in the room.

He obliges and closes the door, figuring out how to lock it tiredly while Tommy clung to him.

“Tommy, no ones out there. And even if there was, you’re safe here. I wouldn’t let anyone take you.” He’s holding the boy, surprised that he’s not being pushed away or sworn at.

“What about Tubbo?”

“I'll protect him too.” He confirms, gently carding his hands through the boy’s messy hair. Something he remembers people doing to him long ago.

“I’m sorry.” He says between sobs, and Eret just keeps whispering “It’s okay.” back.

They stay standing together like that till Eret is too tired to hold them both up and sits up against the headboard with some difficulty since Tommy does not want to let go.

Tommy is only occasionally sniffling when Eret starts to drift off. Barely even noticing the bed dip when Tubbo goes and curls up next to the pair.

Eret wraps an arm around Tubbo too before finally going back to sleep.

[whirlybirbs]

⋆    —–   CARHOP COOL, 3.

summary: you and steve talk. apologies are exchanged. steve wishes he had friends like you and robin a year ago. you might like steve. robin can tell. pairing: steve harrington x reader, post season three word count: 1.6k a/n: we love some good dialogue work & h.s. regrets/nostalgia, don’t we?  

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If he was being honest, you were the last person he ever thought he’d find himself next to on a summer night, perched on the bumper of your hatchback at the drive-in’s. 

Even more so, you’re the last person he would ever see himself having a big, ol’ honking crush on. 

High school hierarchy had established that you were both very different people and for the sake of keeping the metaphorical crown of Hawkins High King on his head, he’d stuck with what he knew. And that was being a huge dick and having good hair, mostly, but also keeping the chit-chat with the weird kids to a minimum.

Now, Steve’s realizing that you aren’t a weird kid and if anything, he’s the weird one. You seem to humor it, though -- frosty demeanor quickly melting with every passing minute spent in the setting summer sun in the back of your car. 

(Robin’s taking a suspiciously long time getting a bucket of popcorn. She’s been gone for fifteen minutes at least.)

“Okay, sure,” Steve drawls, leaning back on his palms and swinging his legs, “But if you had to pick...”

You grimace, pulling one leg up to your chest and screwing your brows. Steve’s face quirks into an amused smile, leaning to watch the way your thought process plays out on your face. He could care less about your answer to the trivial question, mostly interested and enamored with the fact you’re actually talking to him, never mind laughing at his jokes.

“This is hard.”

“Yeah,” he chirps, hair bouncing as he shakes his head, “See?”

“I dunno,” you lean back against the side of the trunk, turning to eye him critically, “And you said I had to eat it everyday -- but, does that mean every meal?”

“Oh, yeah,” Steve rattles off, raising a finger with each word, “Breakfast, lunch and dinner. All three meals.”

“What about snacks?” 

“-- They have to be smaller bits of the Hawkins High meal of choice.”

You groan and Steve grins to himself. 

“I guess chicken patties,” you huff, giving in to his line of questioning, “That was, like, the best lunch they served, so --”

“Oh, amazing choice.”

“You think?”

“Oh, yeah,” Steve waves, dropping his hand to his jeans and speaking as if he knows what he’s talking out, “Dress it up, dress it down, put it on a salad --”

You snort. You nudge him with the toe of your skate shoe. “What about you?”

“Uh,” Steve shrugs, “I packed my lunches everyday, actually --”

You blink. “Really? Steve Harrington carried a lunchbox around?”

He raises his hands. “I know, cool kid faux pas --”

You laugh at that, dropping your chin to your knee and shrugging a bit. “Who cares. You cool kids weren’t even that cool anyways.”

Steve dramatically blinks at you, laughing a bit as he pretends to be offended. “Uh, says who?”

“Me, the girl who had spitballs in her hair for three periods because of you!”

It’s different this time -- you’re laughing as you say, leaning to flick his ear. Steve makes a surprised sound, dodging the attack and playfully shoving you back.

“Hey! That wasn’t me!”

“You and Tommy H. shared the same brain cell, Steve.”

“Rude.”

Your jaw drops as you laugh, startling another grin out of Steve as you shove his shoulder. He laughs as you do, raising his hands in surrender. 

“I’m kidding -- I know, I... Listen, I was -- I was the worst in high school. Robin’s made that pretty clear,” he says, turning. His converse poke yours, knees pulled to his chest as he leans on the back stereo to face you completely. The Rolling Stone’s song Beast of Burden is playing through the radio, “And I know I was. I’m... I’m sorry. For being the worst. And the spitball --”

You move to open your mouth.

“-- And the perm thing,” Steve raises a finger, eyes gentle, “And, like, every other instance where I was mean.”

Your mouth closes and your lips turn up into a content smirk.

“... Apology accepted.”

Steve blinks.

“... Really?”

You raise a brow. “Yeah...?”

“Wow,” he says, doe-eyes glued to the look on your face, “I thought... Okay. Cool. We’re... We’re cool?”

You exhale quickly, laughing a little before breaking into a wide smile. “Yeah. We’re cool. I’m... I’m not good at holding grunges anyway.”

A lie. Steve calls it.

“Yeah, okay, Frosty.”

Your jaw drops again, spurring Steve to grin and shrug, turning to face the blank screen. More cars have started to congregate now with the sun setting almost entirely. Still, Robin is nowhere to be seen.

You lean around, popping into his field of vision. You look amused.

You are.

“Hold on, ‘Frosty’?” you peel into a laugh, “What, like the snowman?”

“No, like, uh, like the Foreigner song?” he asks, corners of his lips quirking as his voice hikes into a high croon. He’s singing the song, “You’re as cold as ice --”

“Oh, come on --”

“I thought you were gonna punch me in the mouth,” he says, shoulder to shoulder with you, “Seriously -- the other night at Roll-o’s? It was, like, absolutely terrifying.”

“... Really?” you ask, whispering a little.

“Yeah, god -- if looks could kill,” he chirps, “I’d be in a shallow grave.”

“I... Sorry,” you say sheepishly, “I thought -- I thought you were still an asshole.”

Victory fleets across his face. “Does that mean I’m not anymore?”

You shoot him a look in retaliation. “I’m still deciding.”

“Okay,” he grins, “Okay. That works for me.”

You both slip into a comfortable, friendly silence that’s different -- there’s no malice in the way you nudge his shoulder with yours when you spy Robin juggling two huge containers of popcorn, moving quickly towards you both.

You’re about to make a joke about her taking her sweet time when she blurts out:

“I have to go.”

Both you and Steve blink at her as she shoves the popcorn into your lap and Steve’s.

“What?”

She’s wide-eyed, moving to smush herself between the both of you. You and Steve share a look, leaning around her to connect your gazes. She’s zoned out, face contorted into a look of absolute horror. 

What? he mouths.

I dunno, you shrug.

“Tammy Thompson,” Robin breathes, “Works at the convenience stand --”

You both perk up.

“Rob, that’s good --”

You nudge her, beaming. “Did you say hi?”

“Oh, did I -- I made an ass of myself -- she didn’t even remember me.”

Your face falls. And Robin makes a pained noise into her hands. Steve grits his teeth and winces, silence falling across the three of you -- then he speaks.

“I mean, you’re not missing much,” Steve wiggles the popcorn, “She still sings like a muppet.”

Your jaw drops for, like, the upteenth time tonight. “Steve!”

Robin groans. “He’s right!”

“I know he’s right,” you groan, “But --”

“Oooooh, don’t you want me baybee --” it’s not Steve Harrington singing, it’s Kermit.

And you’re laughing. 

It’s not soon before Robin is too, cracking a pained laugh through her internal suffering as he continues to croon in a muppet-styled serenade, aimed at both of you with the kind of theatrics that would have gotten his a lead in the spring musical.

That seems to remedy the moping as she leans into you and scoops up a handful of popcorn. She shoves it entirely into her mouth.

“It was awkward.”

“Seeing people from high school is always awkward,” you say, trying to ease her worry, “Remember when we saw Farrah Goodman when she worked at Kroger’s?”

Steve pulls a face. “She was mean.”

“Vicious,” you correct, “An absolute bulldog.”

“Yeah,” Robin mumbles, “She tried to give us coupons.”

“Coupons?”

“Yeah, for adult diapers,” you supply, “And we were too scared to say no, so we just smiled and laughed and said, ‘oh we will be using these, for sure’, like assholes.”

“She was scary!” Robin cries as Steve descended into a round of laughter, “Did you ever see her deck girls during soccer games? She lived for bloodsport.”

“I can say,” Steve snorts, “I never went to a soccer game.”

“We know,” you groan, “It was our safe space.”

“Safe space?” Robin cries again, “Says you!”

“It was my safe space,” you offer Steve.

Silence settles between the three of you as you begin to munch on the popcorn, ignoring the fading of Robin’s remorse -- Steve breaks the silence with a quiet string of words that catch you by surprise.

“I really wish I was friends with you both in high school.”

When you look over at him, he’s looking at his hands.

Robin watches the exchange, eyes light with a budding curiosity for how you’ll react. She’s pleasantly surprised when your usual hardened demeanor towards Steve seems to be absent. 

“... Really?”

Steve swallows, nodding a bit. He looks up, catching your eyes. 

“Yeah. I mean, maybe then my Senior year wouldn’t have sucked. I would have had... I dunno, I would have had real friends and --” his words trail off, voice splitting into an emotion like regret, “And I woulda been happy, probably.”

It’s like getting punched in the gut.

In a desperate attempt to move past the feelings his words stir in your chest, you speak quickly. 

“... Does that mean we’re cool?”

It makes Steve laugh, if only a little.

Robin feels like she’s watching from the outside, grinning like an idiot.

“Yeah,” he says, finally, brown eyes glued to your blooming smile, “You’re cool.”

Oh, this is good.

[no-no-notorious-writes]

Padiddle - t.h.

Pairing: Tom Holland x reader

Summary: Driving back from a party, you can’t help but start an American game teenagers play with Tom. 

Word Count: 3,807

Warnings: getting undressed in a car, friends-to-lovers, fluffiness

A/N: A padiddle is a car with only one headlight. We played padiddle in high school a lot. Even though there was plenty to do around where we lived, no one ever had enough money and it was honestly, just more fun to drive around with your friends.

Padiddle

“PADIDDLE!” you shouted, over Tom’s obvious groan. How were you spotting them before him? He was driving. “That’s another article of clothing, Tommy boy,” you grinned. 

You and Tom had been driving back from some friends’ engagement party. Tom had been so excited to get there and spend time with the friends he hadn’t seen in awhile. It was a beautiful fall afternoon as you gathered at the soon-to-be-bride’s family home. You both ate finger sandwiches, celebrated with the champagne toast, talked to friends, but more importantly, you two giggled like the children you always were at these types of parties. 

It only took one event like this for you to realize that while Tom was so excited for his friends and family to be moving onto the next stage in their lives, he couldn’t help feeling a little farther behind. He had focused so heavily on his career that he had sort of forgotten to hit all the other milestones – to fall in love. You could see the sadness, regret, and smallest tinge of jealousy in his eyes at that first engagement party for his cousin that you attended with him. It was easy for you to understand what was happening. He was comparing. 

You quickly made it your job to get Tom to forget about the reason for the party and just have fun. At that first party, the soon-to-be-groom’s grandmother had gotten quite drunk and began to ask the young men to dance. Tom was almost one of her victims before you wriggled in impossibly close to him and placed your hand on his chest. He was a bit taken aback but fell in with your ruse quickly. His hand gripped your waist and he planted a sweet kiss on the top of your head. After some friendly, albeit tight-lipped conversation with the old bird, she finally set her sights on another young man across the room. 

The two of you stood on the edge of the party watching it from the outside. You had made a joke about a portly man whose wife kept stealing the hors d'oeuvres on his plate when he wasn’t looking. Then Tom chimed in creating a story about the couple, which made you break out into a full belly laugh. You each had taken turns the rest of the night making up lives for the people in his cousin’s fiancé’s family. 

That’s why you were in the passenger seat tonight giggling while you watch Tom try to slide his boots off quickly at a red light. Honestly, it couldn’t have been a more perfect night to play the American game on the British roadways. You each had multiple layers on, having dressed for the cool breeze of fall (plenty for you each to shed along the long drive home). Tom had looked incredible when he picked you up earlier that day, so much so that you felt like you had under dressed in just a blouse and slacks. But he assured you that you looked perfect and chic (his words, not yours). 

Your heels were in a heap in the footwell of the passenger seat having been one of the first items you pulled off in the heat of the game. The only items you had to remove so far were your shoes and the sweater you had thrown on in case it was cold. Tom, however, was down to his socks, white undershirt, and his trousers. 

“Would you honestly just drive around and look for cars with missing headlights?” Tom asked incredulous. 

“Yes, Tom, we really did,” you couldn’t help but laugh. 

“Why on Earth?”

“Well, let's see. You’re a teenager. You’re not allowed to drink. You don’t have a lot of cash. But you have the car for the night. So you all get in the car thinking that you’ll figure it out once you start driving but then someone sees a car with one headlight out and the game has started. You can’t just not finish it,” you explained. 

“Americans really do have the strangest customs,” he said, putting on his turn signal. 

You and Tom had met by chance as you studied abroad in London during your junior year of college. Tom had just recently found out that he had gotten the role of Spiderman. He and Harrison were planning a night of celebrating as they walked into the corner coffee shop. You were working on a paper, trying to get away from your roommate, who liked to entertain the gentlemen regularly. You had stumbled on this place a few weeks before and it had become a habit to work here when you couldn’t work in your room. You had loved everything about this place. It felt cozy, with a warm fire going on those cold, sodden London afternoons. The barista was sweet and always gave you a friendly smile. There was a constant stream of patrons, but it never felt like anyone was rushing to leave. 

On this particular day, you had snagged one of the squashy armchairs right by the fireplace. You pulled your laptop out and placed it on the arm of the chair and began to read through what you had already written. 

Around your second latte, Tom and Harrison had entered, laughing and planning in hushed voices. You had caught Harrison’s eye, though. (He would later tell you that he had been really drawn in by the studious look at that time.) You could feel eyes on you from behind. And as you turned around to confirm your suspicions, you locked eyes with Harrison. He gave you a knowing smirk. You could feel the light blush creep onto your cheeks as you smiled sweetly and turned back to your laptop. 

When it came time for the boys to find a seat, Harrison pushed Tom to sit in the armchair across from you, while Harrison turned a chair around and leaned on the back to talk with him. They continued their conversation in private tones, not wanting to mention the M word or the S word. You would glance up periodically and catch one of their eyes. Tom would give you that award-winning smile you’ve grown to love so much. While Harrison looked at you like a piece of meat he was ready to devour. 

“Well if you can’t decide, why don’t you ask where this beautiful girl would go on a Friday night and then we’ll know the best place to go,” Harrison said, trying to pull you into the conversation. 

You tried desperately to ignore them. You were not studying in London to meet boys. Granted their accents did drive you crazy. And they were two of the cutest boys you had seen yet. But then Tom tried his hand at getting your attention. 

“Excuse me, sweetheart,” he asked. You finally looked up and met the most beautiful chocolate brown eyes you’d ever seen. “Hi. I’m Tom and this my mate, Harrison.”

“We were just wondering, where a beautiful girl like yourself would head to have a good time on a Friday night?” Harrison asked.

“Um, I uh– I haven’t been here long,” you started. 

“An American!” Harrison exclaimed. 

“Uh, yeah, I’m here for school,” you said, looking back down at the book in your lap. “I haven’t really been out anywhere. I haven’t made many friends yet,” you blushed. 

“Well, darling, we’ll be your friends,” Tom said, reaching forward to touch your knee. 

That was the moment when your whole life changed. Harrison quickly realized that you weren’t his type, and that you were better as friends. But had you not met Tom and Harrison, you never would have asked for an extension on your studies. You never would have applied for those jobs in London. And you certainly never would have moved in with Harrison when you needed somewhere to live. It wasn’t the ideal situation, but you wouldn’t trade it for anything. 

So when Tom and Harrison left again and again as Tom’s fame grew, they kept in constant contact – texting, FaceTime, and these videos Harrison would take of Tom when he wasn’t looking. You sort of felt silly when they both flew to the States for months at a time to film and yet here you were an expat in their country, alone. You shouldn’t say alone. Nikki Holland quickly took you under her wing the first time you were ill and Tom and Harrison had no idea what to do. 

“PADIDDLE!” you heard the Brit yell, as you cursed under your breath. You were trying to find the playlist you had of the music you listened to when you were in high school; with your eyes otherwise occupied, you gave Tom the edge. 

“What should I take off?” you asked, innocently. You could admit that you might have been trying to get a rise out of him. 

Tom could feel the lump in his throat as he tried to swallow. He had never thought he would hear you say that. Unlike Harrison, Tom’s feelings grew for you as the years passed. He was enamored with you. Every moment that you curled into him earlier that night, your warm body pressing against his, your giggle in his ear, your kiss on his cheek, was like that perfect mix of the best thing ever and torture. 

“Uh– the blouse,” Tom said, trying to regain the air in his lungs. 

You made quick work of the buttons and pulled the article of clothing over your head. You threw it behind you where both of your clothes littered the back seat and floor. Had anyone seen that, they would have thought something else was happening. 

Finally you found your playlist and turned it on, letting the music flow through the car’s speakers. You belted out every word to every song – singing into your fake microphone, the car as your stage and Tom as your captivated audience. It was hard to concentrate on the road when you were in front of him, topless and singing to him like he was the only man you could ever want. 

“PADIDDLE” you screeched, as you pointed past Tom to his right. 

“Oh, come on, darlin’, I never would have seen that one!” Tom whined. 

“Too bad, Tommy!” you cackled. “Lose the shirt, movie star.”

At the next red light, Tom pulled his shirt over his head in one swift and easy movement. It was hard to pull your eyes away from Tom’s toned chest and defined abs. You were already struggling to not focus entirely on the way his biceps had been straining against the white t-shirt he had been wearing. You gave yourself exactly the amount of time it took Tom to pull his shirt over his head to rake your eyes down his body. It certainly wasn’t long enough, in your opinion.

You both had tried not to look over at the car next to you when you pulled up to a red light. It was better to not draw attention to the fact that you both were half-naked (or maybe they would think you were totally naked) driving around. But curiosity got the better of both of you and you peaked to see the older woman in the red sedan next to you looking appalled. The light quickly turned green and Tom hit the gas as you both snickered, the snicker turning into big belly laughs. 

“Oh my God, my song!” You threw your hand across the center console and grabbed Tom’s thigh, as you turned up the volume on the stereo. 

You hadn’t really meant to do it, but now your hand was there and neither of you were going to say anything about it. Tom tried not to think about how your fingers pressed into the flesh under his trousers. He willed away the pink rolling up his neck and onto his cheeks. He tried not to let his body react to the heat coming from your hand. Meanwhile, you belted out the lyrics to your favorite song when you were in high school. You could feel Tom’s muscles flex under your hand; you squeezed his thigh as the chorus came up and you sang louder, as if that would take away the red on your cheeks and the fact that you were clenching your own thighs together. 

When the song was over, you pulled your hand off Tom’s leg and turned the volume back down to a respectable level. You closed your eyes for a second, remembering what it was like to be young, carefree, and so touch-starved that you happily played the game, hoping someone would see a little bit of skin and think of you in that way. 

“PADIDDLE” Tom whispered in your ear. 

“Fuck,” you breathed. You undid your slacks and slid them down your legs, thankful that you had shaved that morning. 

Tom struggled to keep his eyes on the road, as every inch of your legs were revealed. He could barely focus with your long, toned legs on display; he was pretty sure he would die if he actually looked at the black lace panties you were wearing. 

You’re eyes were on the prize, because there was no way you could look at Tom now. God, why did you start this? You forgot that you were never really that great at this game. Your reaction time was always just a little bit slower. When you were in a car full of people, it didn’t matter too much; there was always someone slower than you. 

You hunched forward as if getting closer to the windows would give you a better view. You scanned the roads and all the cross streets. You even looked down roads as you drove past them, hoping to see one hidden in plain view. But nothing. You could feel eyes on you, though.

“Eyes on the road, Thomas.”

Tom cleared his throat and responded with a smile on his lips, “I don’t know what you mean, love.”

The silence was deafening. The air was thick and hot. And neither of you could quite look the other in the eye. That didn’t mean you weren’t sneaking glances at each other, though.

“Did you ever think that we would be half-naked in your car together?” Immediately after it left your mouth, you regretted it. “I– uh– you know what, don’t answer that.”

Tom chuckled, “No, darlin’, never in my wildest dreams did I imagine this.” Tom paused thinking of his words carefully, “But if I had, I don’t think I would have come up with this scenario.”

Was that an admission? Does that mean that he had thought of you in that way before? It couldn’t be. He said he had never thought of you, even in his wildest dreams. Right?

Tom wanted so badly to reach over and touch you. He didn’t even want it to be in a sexual way. He would have been totally content holding your hand or pushing hair behind your ear. But friends don’t do that. He had to constantly remind himself of the context of your relationship on the nights where you leaned back against his chest, his arm wrapped around you to watch a movie. You both seemed to do a lot of things that friends didn’t normally do. Friends don’t get undressed in each other’s cars. 

It had taken a while for Tom to realize the gradual change that occurred. But it seemed like either the two of you had grown too comfortable with one another or at least one of you wanted more. Tom knew that he did. But did you? After tonight, it certainly felt like you did. You were always touching him, and when he went to put an arm around you, you had snuggled in close like you do when your trying to help him lose an unwanted lady friend. The two of you knew nearly everyone there, though; you didn’t really have to try to save him from anyone. 

“You know, it’s not the worst place to be, though,” Tom added, looking in your direction. 

You ventured a glance toward Tom, not fully bringing your eyes to his. You didn’t really want to see what was there. But you gave a small smile, hoping that he meant it as a compliment. Honestly, you wouldn’t want to be with anyone else. 

Tom reached over for your hand, lacing your fingers together. He rubbed small circles over the sensitive skin between your thumb and forefinger. “Did I thank you for coming with me tonight?”

“Oh, Tommy, you don’t have to do that,” you said, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. 

You looked at his hand in yours. His hand was strong, but it held yours so softly. You could remember the feeling of his hand resting gently on your hip that night. You knew that you were getting a little too touchy than you should have been. Being near Tom, feeling the warmth of his body pressed up against yours, taking in the scent that you could only explain as perfectly Tom, it all made you so crazy. You just wanted a memory, a soft feeling, to take back to your bed at night when he was back filming. 

“No, darlin’, I don’t think you know how lucky I am to have a date like you,” Tom said gently. “I get to spend the night with this absolutely gorgeous woman on my arm. And not only is she always the most beautiful woman in the room, she is the smartest, kindest, funniest one in the room. That makes me the luckiest guy in the room by default.”

“Tom, I–” How do you respond to that? How do you tell Tom everything that he meant to you? Is this the moment that you have been waiting to present itself. Trying to find the words proved harder than you thought – that was until you saw it just beyond the next traffic light. “PADIDDLE,” you shouted. 

“Oh, God,” Tom threw his hand up and shook his head. He pulled his trousers off and tossed them behind him, leaving him in his Calvin Klein briefs. 

You had about fifteen minutes until you were home and you were tied in the game, but the thick tension in the car was not from the competition. Tom had just called you gorgeous and your head was swimming, because he was sitting right there in his underwear and socks and you could reach right over and touch him. 

But wouldn’t that be crossing a line? Had it already been crossed? Was it so blurry that you can’t even see the line any longer? When had going to parties as friends and meeting for coffee become cuddling on the couch watching movies and being each others’ dates for major life events? Haven’t you both been crossing the line for years now? 

You looked over to take in Tom’s profile. This wasn’t the first time you were seeing it, but maybe it was the first time you were in the position to make a decision, a major decision, which could change everything. You looked over at Tom’s thigh, the pale, creamy flesh; suddenly the only thing you wanted to do was touch it – lines be damned. 

Snaking your hand over the center console, this time it wasn’t a mistake. You lightly placed your hand on Tom’s leg letting it rest just below his briefs. Tom jumped a bit and his muscles tensed under your hand. What were you doing? You both were wondering. You let your fingers skim the soft, sensitive skin of his inner thigh, while your thumb rubbed slow circles where it rested. 

Finally, you let your eyes meet his. You could see the questions you didn’t know if you could answer. But a shy smile crossed your lips, hoping to tell him that the ball was back in his court. 

As Tom pulled up in front of your building, you quickly pulled your hand away, suddenly worried that you had made a mess of everything. You turned toward Tom and stuck your hand out. Desperate to ignore the mistake you had made. 

“Hard fought match, Holland. Draw?”

“Draw,” he copied. 

You each pulled your clothes back on, laughing at how silly the whole thing was. You each didn’t bother to put yourselves back together fully – tucking in shirts, buttoning every button, tugging on sweaters, tying shoes. Tom walked you up to your apartment and stood rocking on his feet as you unlocked the door. 

“Thanks for tonight,” you said opening your front door. “For going along with my silliness. I enjoyed the nostalgia.” 

Tom followed you inside your apartment and closed the door behind him. You tossed your keys on the table by the door and dropped your purse and sweater on a nearby chair. 

“Another perk of being your friend – it’s never boring.”

Friend? When had you fallen from best friend status? Oh right, when you let your fingers caress his inner thigh. 

You forced a laugh, “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

“Always good.”

You each looked at the floor, wondering what to say next. This had never happened before. Internally, you were panicking that this was going to be the end. This would be the last time you heard from Tom. When Harrison would suggest inviting you to something, he’d probably explain how strange you’d become that one night and how he couldn’t bare to see you again. 

“Y/N,” Tom never called you by your name. He always had a term of endearment to call you. Hearing it on his tongue sent a shiver down your spine. “I– uh–”

“Tom, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have done that… back there… in the car.” The words rushed together and the internal panic began to seep out. 

“No, let me finish,” he shook his head. “Those things I said, I meant them. You are incredible. You make my heart race and every touch sets my skin on fire.” He took a few steps closer toward you. “And after tonight, I don’t think we can go back to the way that we were.”

“What do you–”

Tom quickly wrapped his arms around your waist and pulled you into him. “Y/N, I’m totally smitten with you. I have been for three years now,” he said softly, your faces only inches apart. 

“Tom, I–” you started. “I am so glad I started that stupid game,” you smiled. 

Tom took that as his queue to lean in and capture your lips in a sweet, soft kiss. The tension seemed to melt out of both of you. You silently thanked the stupid things American teenagers came up with to pass the time. 

[tommybaholland]

A Natural (Tom Holland x Reader)

(this pic killeddd me and its not even mine)

Summary: the one where you and tom get into some reading together.

Word count: 3.5k of pure fluff for y’all

Warnings: i think there’s like one ‘fuck’ in here

You sat in your favorite spot on Tom’s grey couch in the comfort of his apartment, Tessa lying next to you with her head on your lap. You stayed up late, reading a book while waiting for him to come home. you were reading Beneath a Scarlet Sky, a novel that was going to be made into a film adaption with who other than your favorite boy to star in the lead role. you had only started it tonight, but you were nose-deep in Pino Lella’s compelling story and already almost 50 pages in.

Tessa suddenly shot up and jumped off the couch to go greet whoever was at the door. Tessa’s sudden movements made you jump a bit as well as you were too distracted by the words in front of you to hear the door actually open. you heard Tom greet Tess which followed by his footsteps from the front hall into the living room where you sat. you smiled when you saw him appear. he looked tired, as he had come home from a busy evening at a fashion event with some friends. You chose to stay home, wanting to wind down from your own busy past few days. you didn’t get up to greet him as you were too comfy in the corner seat of the couch.

“Hey,” you said, your smile still present on your face.

Tom didn’t reply but instead took his shoes off by the couch before walking over to where you were sitting and practically collapsing half on top of you, with his head on your shoulder and an arm around your midsection. you ran your hands through his soft, fluffy curls as his eyes closed. He finally spoke with that lovely voice,

“I missed you tonight, love”

“We missed you, too”, referring to you and tess, “his favorite girls”.

You picked up your phone, remembering the pictures you had saved of him earlier from tonight’s event. You found a picture that featured both him and Harrison.

“Aww look how handsome,” you paused to show him the screen, “Harrison looks. Oh, and you’re there too, Tom,” you teased. He scoffed and started to move away from you, showing that he’s a little grumpy from being out all night. You caught the sleeve of his orange hoodie, the same one he was wearing in the pictures.

“I’m only joking, tommy,” you reassured with a smile, “you look really good in this color,” you added, feeling the black stitching in the hem of the collar and hood. He smiled and leaned against you again, your hand immediately going back to his hair.

“Although, I don’t know why you hid this hair in a hat for most of the night. I like your hair like this,” you ran your nails through his scalp, “Free and natural.”

He sighed contently at the feeling of your hands in his hair. “Thanks, love. I dunno, it just looked unruly to me. Better to hide it than to try to fight it.”

You kissed the top of his head in response, breathing in his scent. You both sat in a comfortable silence, just enjoying each other’s company. His breathing slowed a bit, you thought he might’ve fallen asleep. But you were disproven as he broke the silence.

“What’re you reading?” he said, readjusting against you.

“Oh just a book that’s going to be made into, yet, another movie,” you replied, showing him the cover. “I wonder who they’ve casted as the lead?” you joked.

The boy looked up from you shoulder to see the cover and chuckled,

“Hmm i’m not sure but whoever it is, he’s probably very good-looking.”

“But surely not 6’0, as the character is described.”

He laughed again, sitting up and said,

“Well jokes on you because I met the real Pino Lella a little while ago and he said I remind him of himself during that time,” he said with a proud smile.

You rolled your eyes while he laid back down on you but smiled at his rebuttal and mused,

“Well i’m glad it’s you, squish.”

He smiled at the nickname you gave him, which made you reminisce about when you first called him the silly pet name, way back during the press junket for Spider-Man.

You and Tom were laying in bed one night, he was telling about a funny moment from an interview he had that day.

“Wow and they hadn’t asked you once about how you learned you got the role,” you point out, joking about how that question seems to come up in every appearance he’s done so far.

He laughed at your comment, and you looked at him lovingly. Before he could reply, you spoke softly.

“Your laugh is my favorite.”

He pulled you closer and gave you a short but meaningful kiss. When you pulled away, he nuzzled his nose against yours and said,

“You’re my favorite.”

After a few moments of basking in your little love bubble, you spoke up again.

“You’re squishy”

Tom looked at you, puzzled.

“What, love?”

“You know in Finding Nemo where Dory says like- oh what’s the line? ‘He is squishy and he will be mine and he will be my squishy’,” You recited, “You’re my squishy,” You said as you pinched his cheek.

He smiled real big, eyes crinkling, as he chuckled, “Well I’m honored to be your squishy, babe.”

“Will you read it to me?” he suddenly asked, breaking you out of your trance.

“You haven’t read it yet? You did get casted in the movie, Tom”

“Please, darling? I want to hear your pretty voice tell me the story,” he pleaded.

You didn’t really like reading out loud, as you didn’t like how your voice sounded when you read aloud. Or talked in front of a big group, unless you had the words planned out. You hated when you had to participate in large group discussions in school, especially when participation was a big grade. You had gotten better about public speaking in college and could give a ten minute presentation no problem but there was still some insecurity there, even with Tom, despite the fact you knew how he felt about you. Regardless, his encouragement helped, so you sighed and gave in.

“Should I start from the beginning?”

“How far in did you get?”

“Not far. About 50 pages.”

“Why don’t you just recap those pages for me and then start reading where you stopped.”

You agreed and began summarizing the beginning of the book, focusing on Pino’s carefree nature with his search for the perfect girl, falling in love with every girl he saw, but was enamored by one in particular, Anna. You hinted that his attitude would have to change as Nazi Germany was quickly overtaking Italy under Mussolini’s rule while the Italian people were waiting anxiously for the Allies to come and end the war.

You started reading and he attended to every word, even laughing when you tried reading in an Italian accent. you kept on reading until you had read almost another 50 pages with tom practically snoring on your shoulder. you ran your hands through his hair and kissed the top of his head, breathing in his scent.

“Tom. Toooooommmyyy. C’mon it’s time for bed,” You whispered as you gently shook his shoulder.

Tom slowly woke up and yawned but wrapped his arms around you tighter to squish you into his side. You smiled at the gesture but unraveled his arms from around you and took his hand to pull him off the couch and led him into his room. You were already in your pjs so you left him to undress while you went into the bathroom to wash your face and brush your teeth. 

When you returned, Tom was already under the covers almost fast asleep but left space for you to crawl in and snuggle beside him. As you climbed in, he stirred a bit and reached out for you and wrapped an arm around you to rub your back. With one hand on his side and one on his chest you kissed his collar and whispered, “Night, squish”.

*

*

*

After that night, Tom wanted you to read the book to him whenever you both had time. He really enjoyed listening to your voice become more animated as the plot got more exciting. You would even stop at some parts to react to what was happening. One of these reactions was gauged by the blossoming romance between Pino and Anna. You both were captured by Pino and Anna’s love affair, which seemed to almost too convenient and perfect despite the situation they were both in.

“What?? She just offered for him to kiss her out of nowhere! That’s random,” you observed.

“I don’t know, Y/N, I think it’s kinda cute. Pino has been hinting that he still feels the same immense feelings for her as when he first saw her,” Tom replied. He really was paying attention.

“Yeah I guess it’s cute but it’s hard to believe she’s all the sudden so into him when she kinda belittled him for being so young and acting like he was making a difference in the war as a driver.”

You read the sentence to yourself a few times again, pondering the validity of the situation when the brunette boy sitting next to you got your attention.

“Y/N?”

You turned to look at him, “hmm?”

“I was thinking…after we finish this chapter….we could get ready for bed and then…”

You gave him a look to continue.

“You could kiss me,” he recited, verbatim from the book. You rolled your eyes and lightly pushed his shoulder while he said, “It’s what you want, isn’t it?” Again stealing from right off the page.

“I swear if they put that line in the movie, I’ll cringe real hard”

He smirked. “Oh darling I’ll make sure it’s in there.”

You scoffed but finished reading the chapter and decided to call it quits for the night. You both got ready for bed and when you came out of the bathroom, tom was putting on his flannel pj bottoms, his bare back turned to you. You bit your lip and asked,

“Still want that kiss, tommy?”

He turned to look at your smirking face and smiled with his head down, curls falling over his face. When he looked up, he walked over to you, and grabbed your hands.

“More than you can imagine,” he said, taking a line from the book for the third time.

You laughed tilting your head back as he ran his hands up your arms to your shoulders pulling you close and leaning down to kiss you. He moved his hands to your cheeks while yours held onto his hips. It was a short but passionate kiss and you sighed as you pulled away slowly.

“That was how I thought it would be.” It was your turn to recite another line from the chapter.

He smiled and brought his forehead to yours for a moment before quickly leaving a kiss there and hugging you around the shoulders, putting his head on top of yours and swaying you from side to side.

*

*

*

You hadn’t seen Tom for about a month, as you had to travel for work, but luckily your schedules were synced up enough that you could visit him in his cozy London apartment. Your flight was due to arrive late, near midnight, and while you insisted that you could simply take an Uber to his place, Tom refused and wanted to pick you up from the airport himself. You walked out of the gate, trying to contain your excitement as you were about to see your favorite boy after a period of being apart.

You spotted him almost immediately, despite him wearing a baseball cap to cover his infamous curls. He was wearing his comfy, go-to airport outfit which consisted of grey sweatpants and a dark t-shirt. He was looking at his phone, but as if he knew you were there, he looked up and saw you a few moments after you began walking towards him. You picked up your pace a bit once you locked eyes with him and when you were close enough he exclaimed,

“Ahh, there she is!!” He threw his arms around you and squeezed you tight, picking you up off the ground a bit. You breathed in his clean, boyish scent, the one that you missed dearly. He kissed your temple multiple times, making you giggle while finally pulling apart to get a good look at you for the first time in a month.

“I missed you, darling. How was the flight?”

“Aw I missed you too, squish,” you mused while rubbing a hand up and down his side, “And long. I’m ready to see my girl, Tessie!” you exclaimed before yawning. He chuckled, rubbing his hands up and down your arms and replied,

“Well, we better get you home, she’s waiting for you”

He gave you a quick kiss, knowing that you were exhausted from the flight. He took your duffle from you and your hand to lead you out of the airport, where you were welcomed by some flashing lights that belonged to pap cameras. You kept your focus straight ahead, as you always did, quickly trailing behind Tom.

You finally made it to his car, sighing in relief when shutting the passenger door. You loved nighttime car rides, making you doze off into a light sleep but soon you felt a thumb brushing across your cheek. It startled you a bit as you jolted awake.

“It’s alright, love. We’re home,” Tom soothed.

You rubbed your eyes and sighed but gave him a tired smile and nodded. He carried your duffle up to his suite and as soon as he unlocked the door, Tessa came running door the hall and jumping up to greet you. You squatted down to accept her kisses as you cooed,

“Hello, Tess, how’s my lovable staffy doing, huh? Is Tom giving you those treats I got you?” She gave a little whine and continued to beg for your attention.

“As her translator, she says she loves them,” Tom spoke up after watching the adorable interaction between his two favorite girls. You smiled and stood up but yawned again.

“Okay, let’s get you into bed,” he said as he puts his hands on your shoulders to lead you into his bedroom. You tried to grab your duffle that he placed on the ground but he stopped you,

“Don’t worry, love, I got it.” He was so sweet.

Once in his room, he left you in there alone for a moment while he went to get your bag. You didn’t bother digging into your packed clothes for your pjs but just grabbed one of tom’s shirts instead with a pair of your soft shorts you found in his closet. You climbed into your side of the bed when Tom came back in with your bag.

“Sorry, babe, Harrison wanted to know if-”

You spaced out of Tom talking when you saw your copy of Beneath a Scarlet Sky on his nightstand and noticed that the place where you last left off hadn’t been moved. You smiled at the thought of him waiting for you to return to continue reading the book. He was taking his shirt off when he saw you looking at the book and said,

“Why don’t you get some sleep, love, we can pick back up with it tomorrow.”

“You waited for me?”

He looked back and forth between you and the book. “Of course, darling. It’s become sort of a thing for you to read it to me and we can’t break that streak when we’re so far into it,” he replied with a smile, confirming your thoughts.

“Stop, squish, you’re squeezing my heart,” you complained, dramatically putting a hand to your chest as he climbed in next to you.

“That’s my job, isn’t it?” He said while tucking a piece of hair behind your ear.

“Yeah, might as well quit your day job,” you joked as you laid down, snuggling into his side a bit.

“Sounds good to me,” he played along, hugging you into him.

You chortled. “Night, tommy.”

*

*

*

“What...they really just...left us hanging like that?” You commented, referring to the implied intimate scene between Pino and Anna. It was the next morning and after Tom had returned from the gym and you had breakfast, you were back on the couch. You were sitting between his legs in the corner seat with his arms around your shoulders, delving further into the book. And things were getting spicy, but not as spicy as you would’ve liked.

“I mean it was Pino’s first time, it would’ve been nice to have a little more detailed foreplay or something in there. And no offense but they’re living in the middle of a war, like all you could do was fuck and hope you’d see tomorrow,” you ranted.

Tom chuckled. “They’re leaving a spicy sex scene for the movie, babe”. You rolled your eyes when you looked over to see him smirking while wiggling his eyebrows in a suggestive manner.

“Oh right, this’ll be your first on-screen sex scene. Wonder who the lucky girl will be to have some PG-13 sex with Spider-Man,” you teased.

He nuzzled his face into your neck. “Or maybe you should play Anna, and we can just send in a video of us doing it. But the movie would lose its PG-13 rating for sure.” He kissed your neck a few times as you said,

“Oh my god…. anyway.”

You finished the chapter but didn’t get too far into the next one as Anna recounted their night together as “one of the best nights of [her] life”, deeming Pino “a natural”.

“What! ‘A natural’?!! She says it’s one of the best nights of her life but then says he’s ‘a natural’ at sex?? An act that’s already instinctual of most humans?” you ranted again. This book was practically written to be made into a movie. Or a fanfiction canon.

Tom laughed. “Don’t forget that she’s considerably older than him and was previously married,” he explained, “Also it might just be her way of gloating that she was his first.”

“Still, ‘a natural’? I don’t know, it’s just an odd choice of words,” you said, giggling at the end.

Later that night, you and Tom laid in his bed, basking in that post-sex haze. He had a lazy, half lidded smile on his face as you planted soft kisses on his neck leading up to his ear. You moaned quietly into his ear,

“You’re a natural,” you swooned, your voice hushed to an exaggeratedly sexier tone. Tom clapped a hand over his eyes and laughed shamelessly.

“You bet I am,” he retorted, still laughing. You laughed with him, nuzzling into his side.

*

*

*

You finished reading the very last sentence on the very last page of the book, your voice breaking at the final words. You closed the book, letting the first tear fall.

“I’m really glad Pino lived after all of what happened so early on in his life,” you sniffled, wiping your tears.

Tom was just as emotional as you, but tried to hold back tears. “You should’ve met him with me. Such a great guy, really genuine. He was a real laugh too,” he said, referring to when he met the real life Pino.

You looked at the picture of young Pino in the back of the book. “Oh my gosh, you look just like him!” you exclaimed, holding the picture up beside his face to compare and admired Tom’s resemblance to the main character. “Except your ears, they’re quite out there,” you joked. You thought about how the costume crew on the sm:h set wanted to pin his ears back in the Spider-Man suit.

He looked at the picture and laughed. “Yeah, can’t argue with you there.”

“Aww, you’re gonna have your hair cut shorter that’ll make you look so adorable and polished,” you said while pinching his cheek. He smiled big, showing the little crinkles by his eyes that you loved, while looking down shyly. “Aw, baby boy,” you swooned quietly, wrapping your arms around his neck to hug him. You snuggled your head into his shoulder while he rubbed your back, basking in your affection.

“I’m sad you don’t have anything else to read to me,” Tom said, pulling away to look at you with his puppy-like brown eyes.

You gave him a sad smile when you heard the front door shut, your heads turning to see Harrison jog in the room, carrying something in his hands.

“I got the part!” he exclaimed, still pacing around excitedly, "You’re looking at the newest member of the Catch-22 remake!”

You and Tom jumped up to congratulate him as he had worked so hard for this part. “You better start reading Haz,” you noted.

“Oh I already have!” He held up his freshly cracked open copy of Catch-22. “I hope the script does it justice.”

“Ah that’s great, mate!” Tom seemed genuinely excited for his best friend. “Can I see that?” he asked, nodding towards the book.

Harrison nodded and handed it over. “Yeah, course.”

“Thank you,” Tom said in a sing-song voice while walking away, pulling you by the hand. “C’mon Y/N, I found us something else to read!” Tom declared, loud enough for Harrison to hear.

Harrison just smiled as he was used to Tom messing around with him like this. He turned to see that Tom had fully led you into his room, door shut behind you two.

“I am going to need that back so just let me know when you guys are finished…and I’m not talking about the book,” Harrison retorted loudly, hoping you heard every word.

*

A/N: First of all, i’d just like to say a HUGE thank you for the amount of love on Restless. I did not expect such a huge reception, especially as my first one shot, so thank you thank you thank you💘💕

second, welcome to the second one shot of the series! This was actually the first thing I had written for tom but it took a little while to finish it. But anyway, PLEASe read this book, it’s so good!! And I’m so excited for tom to be in the movie, he’s going to kill it. I tried to leave out spoilers and only focused on smaller parts but i hoped you enjoyed nonetheless!!

~tommybaholland 🌺

what did ya think??

[gutterdreams]

Squeeze

Word Count: 1.8k. Warning: Smut. Disclaimer: I don’t own Stranger Things or the GIF used. 

Inspired by my gorg wife, @stevesharrlngtons. Let me know if you guys like it and want more. 

Billy hated drinking games. He would much rather just pound back beers without a second thought until he was a drooling mess with glazed over eyes. Billy also hated being one of the first people at a party, but since you had agreed to do Carol's makeup for her and he was your ride, you two were the very first people at her place. It wasn't until Tommy came in with a keg carried in with the help of Barry Judd that Billy jumped off of the couch and adjusted out of his slouch of self-pity. Once there was seven of you, a game of 'Never Have I Ever' broke out around the table in an effort to pass the time before Carol's place filled up with people. Rolling his eyes at Carol's suggestion of a drinking game, Billy opted out before it was even decided. By himself, he hung out in a corner of the counter with a cold brew in hand.

At first, it was the usual statements. 'Never Have I Ever...heard my parents do it', 'Never Have I ever...gone streaking', 'Never  Have I Ever...gone on a date for a free meal', 'Never Have I Ever...thrown up in public'. It wasn't until Haley Mills, on her third drink of the night, threw out a doozy after taking a sip from 'Never Have I Ever...had a nosebleed during a blowjob', that Billy started paying attention.

After thinking for a moment, Haley smiled to herself and wiggled her brows at a few smiling faces around the table, “Never Have I Ever...” She proclaimed with a little squirm in her seat and shake her plastic cup full of mostly vodka and three seconds of cranberry juice, “faked an orgasm.”

Right away, the guys put their hands up and shook their heads. Carol took of a sip from her drinking, earning a cruel stare from Tommy with the folds of his forehead coming together above his eyes, but a few jeers pierced the air as you took a gulp from your cup. You had barely had anything to drink the whole game, but now, Billy Hargrove's girlfriend was making it obvious that she had put on a show before. Billy's skin began to tenderize a shade of pink that couldn't hide under the unflattering kitchen lights. His jaw tightened as he refused to look at any of the guys who were poking fun of him. He tried to look like he didn't care, but it pierced at his heart like every shitty comment his dad ever hurled at him in an effort to make him feel small. He knew he had been your first, your only, so if you were faking it then it was with him. He crushed his beer as your cheeks swelled pink and you took your turn in the game, offering an innocent: 'Never Have I Ever...pretended someone died to get out of something'.

“Why are you ignoring me?”

“I'm not.” He sniffed and look right over your head.

“Yes, you are, Billy.”

“I didn't know you were actually trying to hang out with me.” Billy shrugged as if it was nothing. “I thought, maybe, you were faking it.”

“It's just a game.” You tried to explain to Billy after, the party in full effect. He was standing with one hand in his pocket, a few steps away from his buddies outside by Carol's parents pool that was closed for the season. He had been cold to you all night, turning his face away when you leaned in for a kiss or ignoring what you added to conversation. It was as if you were invisible. With some force, you had pulled him away by the wrist of his denim jacket to talk.

“Yeah, I know. I don't care.”

“It seems like you do.” You argued back. It was obvious that he cared. Even now, his nostrils flared out with hot breath visible between your faces since the sun had fallen and it was almost January.

Since Billy was staring over you, paying more attention to the fence and the guy puking by it than you, you let out a sigh of defeat and started to walk away, heading back to where your friends had been inside. Billy didn't let you go though. He threw out his arm and caught you by the charm bracelet slipping off your wrist, holding the gold links in his hand as he stared and waited for you to look up at him.

“What time was it?”

“Pardon me?”

“When you were faking?!” He clarified with a spark of anger flashing in his eyes before hissing the clarification at  you. Billy checked from side to side right away to make sure no one else heard.

“Oh, Jesus, Billy, I don't know...” Taking back your hand, you shook your head at him.

“It was more than once?!” If the game had punched Billy in the gut earlier, this admission knocked him flat on his ripe peach butt. He threw his head back and let his tongue slip out, wagging from one side of his mouth to the other while he thought about how badly he wished he had another smoke on him. He had finished his carton a half hour ago and littered it somewhere in Carol's crowded house. “Why did you tell them you faked it? You should have lied. That game is so fucking stupid.” With his embarrassment front and center in his mind, Billy ranted at you.

You were without an answer for him. Truthfully, you felt bad for him since it was evident that the truth was eating away at him from the inside out.

“Let's just get a drink and move on, okay?” It was usually Billy's solution to everything, but the teenager doubted your suggestion would help this time. All he could think about was how he wasn't any good in the sack, he wasn't breaking his gorgeous girl off. He felt like utter shit.

He was drunk when he found you, twenty minutes later, on the top of the stairs consoling your sobbing friend. It wasn't really a party until someone was in tears and waxing poetic about nothing in a hundred words. Billy stood in front of your knees, casting a shadow over you and ignoring the upset girl under your arm.

“I want to talk to you.” Uncharacteristically, he said and nodded over your chin to suggest there was a space to do so on the upstairs level of the house. Billy never wanted to talk. In a way that baffled you, he was always happy to sit in silence with you. As long as your hands were together, your legs on his lap, or your bodies folded together as one, he didn't need for conversation. He felt connected in less verbal ways.

“I'll just be a minute.” Casting your eyes to the side to bring Billy's attention to your friend, you explained.

“Oh my God, I'm fine.” With a huge inward sniffle, your friend told you in a huff. She started to wipe at her sticky face with both hands and send you away. “I'm fine. Go have fun. I'll be fine.”

“Are you sure?” You checked.

“She says she’s fine.” Billy shrugged and took your hand in an effort to move you quickly towards the hall.

He led the way through the brightly lit floor, past the bathroom, a linen closet, and Carol's purple bedroom. Billy didn't knock first. He just shoved the shut door of the master bedroom open and then stood against it, letting you into the dark first.

“Carol will kill us.” She was carefree, for the most part, but she had been explicit that no one was allowed in her parent's room – not even in case of an emergency.

Billy didn't care though, you could tell as he didn't acknowledge what you said as he closed the door.

“Are we friends yet?” You crossed your arms over your chest and asked Billy's back as he hadn't turned around or turned on a light yet.

“We're never going to be friends.” With a little smirk, he growled at you, almost insulted at the suggestion that you two were anything, but the inseparable pair that you were. At first, Billy was full of resent over finding his dream girl in Hawkins, Indiana, but he had come to accept that the universe was full of bad jokes and decided to just be delighted by your existence instead.

He was walking toward you with an agenda in his eyes. They looked a little twisted like how you had seen them change before he charged at a guy who was in his way before. His jaw was sharp and tight and he stretched out all of his fingers at each of his sides.

“What are you up to, huh?” You giggled and stepped back, but Billy was faster and he gripped your hair at the back of your head and turned you around. Once your breath was caught, you saw the floral covered master bed and all it's frilly throw pillows before you as well as you could feel Billy's other hand smoothing slowly over your ass beneath your black skirt, but above your silky underwear.

“You and I both know, I can get you off just fine.” Under fire hot breaths, Billy's words came out stuffed out through a whisper against the side of your face as you felt his chin knock yours. “But thanks to your little game, nobody else knows that.” He pressed you down against the bed, on your stomach, and let go of your hair. He knelt down between your legs, onto his knees, and pushed your skirt all the way. The moon illuminated your body just enough for Billy to devour your body, licking his lips at the sight of the ass he was so enamored with. “So, my girl, I don't care if I have to fuck you until sunrise,” His hands slid up the backs of your legs, making you squirm until he gripped your thighs and held you tight to the bed. “I don't care if I have to lick you from your ears to your perfect little asshole, I'm going to make you cum in a way you will never deny and you,” He stopped as his fingers curled around the top of your underwear and started to pull them down to reveal yourself to him. “you are going to scream my name, so everybody knows Billy Hargrove makes you cum.” He lowered himself to your exposed ass and bit at ��one cheek, just a little nibble before giving you a hard spank in the same spot. He had spent a lot of the night doubting his skill, but Billy knew that you loved to be spanked as much as he knew he loved to be the one with their flat palm on your ass. “Am I clear?” He checked, looking over to see your head was up and watching him, lust cranked up to it's highest level as you watched him focus. He was dead serious.

[imagines-hoarder]

The Older Man *smut*- Thomas Shelby

Request// Can you do a imagine of Tommy where the reader is younger than him? @yomairagotpb

Request// Would you consider doing a Tommy Shelby imagine where the reader is quite a bit younger than Tommy and a family friend that helps with the business killing. The reader doesn't date or anything until Tommy finally professes his feelings and takes her virginity A bit rough Dirty smut pretty please

*You asked for smut and I’m about to hella deliver. Cover your eyes if you can’t handle dirty words! In all honesty, it’s my best attempt after a week of contemplation. Someone please teach me the secret to writing good smut!! I’m going to try to put out at least one more work before Friday because I’m getting my wisdom teeth taken out and no one would want to read anything I right then haha. xoxox*

Masterlist

(Part 2)

Same time every week. Like clockwork. Tommy knew to have your pay ready and on his desk by noon every Wednesday so you could pick it up before going to the market. This had been ‘the usual’ for years, and it seemed you had fooled Thomas into even enjoying your momentary visits. Of course, all the men in the shop had if he were to be honest. There was only one notion that had kept him from lashing out passively in a jealous pique or even pursuing you further when he realized just how enamored he’d become with you: you were younger buy some extent, nearby 10 years.

It didn’t help that your family was one of very little the Shelbys could call friends because if a rendezvous were to come about, all secrets would come to light in the eyes of your mother and father. In truth, your position in the company was no longer what it used to be, though they didn’t need to know that. Your father had served in the war, and while he would never be able to walk again, you thanked the Lord everyday that he even came home, consumed at the time on how his older age than most boys he fought with would not excuse him from enemy fire. Your mother had worked in a factory while your dad was away, but to make ends meet, you took up a position at Shelby Company Ltd. the woman you knew as you own aunt Polly had offered you while her nephews were on the battlefront. When the war had ended and the boys had come home, you were sure you would be unemployed. In truth it had been a surprise to all how useful and imperative you became. The only catch was that you duties became more than just helping keep the books like when you were 14. Tommy had gotten you in on exporting malt whiskey to the United States and even ending a couple of the sad lives of those who fucked over the Peaky Blinders. Not that you would say so, but you liked to think of yourself as the first ‘peaky boy.’ Now you were a lone wolf, only ever stopping in when you were called and for your pay as well as weekly updates.

In those short frames, Tommy had stopped seeing you as the 18 year old kid he came back to Birmingham to find. You’d grown into yourself, becoming an enigma to most all the Blinders. A young beauty in the business who would kill for the family yet rarely been seen or heard from, an impassive look by default, would naturally elicit such curiosities.

They only knew what they needed to: look but don’t touch, and it was best to watch their lips shut if they liked their tongues kept in their mouth. The rules somehow had never applied to Thomas, which made him nearly swell with pride. Behind closed doors and away from the watchful eyes of debauched men, you had a charismatic quality that very few got to see. You could take care of your parents, you could joke with the Shelbys, and attend events in your own family’s name while keeping your uncanny reputation with those who needed to know it.

Tommy was almost caught off guard when you came uninvited into his office, pushing your coat off your shoulder as the warmth of the room stuck to you. “Afternoon Mr.Shelby,” you greeted as you perched on the chair across his desk.

“I’ve told you for years, Y/N, Tommy will do,” He replied as he finished checking the papers in front of him.

“Yes, but I do enjoy formalities at times, Mr.Shelby.”

“Are we to act as if you didn’t barge into my office then?”

You pressed your tongue deep into your cheek, not being able to think up a witty excuse. You decided to change the subject to what the occasion was actually about. “We’ll once I finish my business here, I can make an unceremonial exit as well.”

Tommy took it as a sign to give you your earnings, sliding it into your grasps across the table. “How’s your family nowadays?”

You oddly liked when he asked about things outside of business, it added a softer touch to his rigid demeanor, not that it was out of his own formalities with a lady present you were sure. “As well as they can be, Mum won’t stop griping at me about having yet to settle down.”.

“I’m sure you will in due time.”

“I’m not so sure. She keeps talking about wanting a baby in the family. Could you see me, all domestic with a baby and husband?” The thought actually made you laugh. You had put so much work into earning a spot within the company, you weren’t ready to lose it for a man who wanted you to stay at home all day.

In truth, Tommy could imagine it, and he’d be embarrassed to admit he had before. He would never be a man for the simple life, but in the years past your 20th birthday, he had spent a couple moment imagine you in a more homely way, with him to be specific.

“Business is too ample for marriage and children at the moment, Y/N. Best to put it on the backburner.”

“Like you?” That surely earned you a familiar glare as Tommy lit a cigarette between his lips. You weren’t a fool. Tommy was a stately, handsome man. It wasn’t hard to see, but you knew better than to fawn over a man like him. He probably still saw you as the scrawny kid that barely talked after he came home. Men like him wanted women of experience, didn’t they? So for now, you were stuck in the role of the little girl playing with the big boys. If only you could help your mother see the same way without telling her the truth. She would surely have a heart attack otherwise. “Mum wants you to come over to dinner in the coming weeks, still thinks you’re the good boy you were when you were younger. Don’t have the heart to tell her otherwise.”

Younger. God, he had never been self conscious of his about age and time before, but now it was all he could think about. He raised to help you with your coat, joining you across the desk.“Only me?”

“Well John’s married and Arthur is too old. She still thinks I’ve got a shot with you,” you joked, turning to slip into your coat and hide your blush, missing the sight of a wide-eyed Tommy. “I’m only joking,” you renounced. “The rest of the family is invited too.”

He quickly recollected himself before nodding silently. “I’ll get back to you.”

You gave him a staid nod before taking your leave, knowing that you had more than likely just made a fool of yourself. “I look forward to it Mr. Shelby.”

Same time every week. That’s why Thomas was all the more curious when you showed up in his office after close two days later. He’d rarely see you outside of those half an hour increments, and never in all the years he had known you had he seen you so lachrymose, tears built up in your foggy Y/E/C eyes.

“Y/N, are you alright?” He asked hesitantly. He sat for a moment in silence as you you pulled the pins out of your hair, letting your hair lay down.

“Pour me a drink, would you Thomas.” You small pout deceived you, but your voice remained sturdy.

“By the smell of it you’ve already had a couple. I think you best head home.” He must have been out of his mind, choosing to send you home when he had found himself desiring your company more than ever since you left the shop on Wednesday.

“Please, Tommy.” Your voice cracked under the weight of your words and so did his better judgement. His name sounded like a melody coming off your tongue.

He slowly got up, pouring two glasses of liqueur as you settled into your rightful seat. After he set the glass in front of you, you began to toy with the rim, running the smooth edge across your fingertips. “Are you gonna tell me what’s upset you?”

“I don’t really know.” His eyebrows crunched in confession as you inhaled the drink, enjoying the burn down your throat. “A boy’s expressed his intention to marry me.”

The silence settled in again as his mood soured from skepticism to ire. “A boy?

“Yes. A boy. Nice one down the street. We’ve gone out a couple times, but I thought it was just for fun. Didn’t expect anything to come of it.”

He knew he had no right to be angry, but the the thought of another young man, holding you, having you was not something he could tolerate. But there was no other choice was there? “Well, a Congratulations is in order then. What’ll be the new surname?”

“I said no.”

“You said no?”

“That’s what I just said inn’t?” Never before had your placidness been so maddening.

“You truly do refuse to settle down, don’t you?” He was only joking before when he heeded you to keep from marriage, he just didn’t want anyone else to take you away before he could muster up the courage of wanting a younger woman.

“I’ve done the stupidest thing possible, Tommy. I’ve fucked up.” You played with the ends of your hair, avoiding eye contact at all possible costs as you rallied all your liquid luck. “I’ve become the foolish girl who’s fallen for an older man.”

“And what’s so wrong about that?” He had his suspicions, but it had always been his own mind that got the way. Fear of losing a great worker and even friend. Fear of breaking mends with your family and angering Polly. Fear of even the slightest possibility of taking advantage of your innocence. But you weren’t the little girl you were before.

The tone in his voice, deep and alluring, didn’t fail to give you chills. “Because I can never have him. An older man wouldn’t want some ameteur at best. And because I still want him that makes me foolish.”

“I’m not one to toy with my meal, Y/N.” The truth lied between you, in the air across his desk. He had yet to blatantly reject you like he thought you would, so what was to keep you from pushing any farther? You stood slowly and walked to the opposite side of his desk as he watched you like a predator. You sat back against the desk, resting between his legs.

“Then eat me..”

That was all it took for him to take control and treat you like the woman you’d become. He pushed you back on the desk, not bothering to pay mind to the papers now scattered on the floor. His hardening erection laid against your thigh as he positioned himself further between your legs. “Do you know how long I’ve wanted this moment? To be between your soft, warm legs?”

“Please, Tommy. I need you.”

He didn’t take his time pulling you hot against him, working to removed your undergarments as you planted needy kisses across his sharp jaw. It felt as if he was a young man again, still spontaneous and brazen but with a feral need he hadn’t experienced in years. “Already soaked for me. A good fuck should do you well.”

“I can take it. I’ve craved you for years now. Don’t keep me waiting.” You took your own initiative, tugging at his pants until you were able to free his member, hard and aching just for you.

With nothing between you to stop him any longer, he turned you to face the desk as he pushed in you less than gently, giving you the ecstasy you’d only dreamt of alone after dusk, a yelp falling from your lips. “Has an older man ever fucked you like this before.”

“God no. You're the first man.”

“Ever?” His question drew him out of his unchaste daze.

You looked back at him with wanton eyes and a bashful smile. “Ever.” In the seconds that followed, you had thought you definitely fucked up. You could feel him pulling away behind you and you reached back, trying desperately to make him stay inside you without making more of a fool of yourself. Your smirk fell as you thought that you inexperienced age truly had kept you from having Tommy.

He turned you back to face him, having a softer touch than only moments ago. A warmth rose in his chest at the thought of being the spitfire-in-front-of-him’s first, but he wanted to do this as right as he could in his office. He noticed your doleful expression and moved quickly to reassure you. “I’m not a young boy anymore, Y/N, so I’m not gonna fuck you like one.” Your eyebrows bunched together, not understanding what he was getting at. “No need to be rough and fast when I’ve got the most beautiful girl in all of England right of me. I’ll show you how a man can please you.”

The tension dissolved from the room, a rosy blush on your cheeks while you rested you head on his shoulder. You planted slow kisses upon any exposed skin as your worked to unbutton his shirt. “I quite like this rough Tommy though.” Your voice returned to its cheeky tone as he slid his fingers up the bare skin of your outer thighs.

You soon found yourself pushed back to the desk, completely exposed to the older man you’d had a crush on for years. “Well maybe if you’re a good girl, you can have it both ways.”

Before you could reply, you felt his calloused hand move against your clit, teasing you with the release you so desperately wanted. Small whimpers of need turned into full grown moans as the man of your fantasies edged you closer to your own orgasm. “Thomas, you can’t keep teasing me like that.”

As you moved to push his expert hand away, he gently smacked your hand warning. “You knew what you were getting yourself into, love. Now let me taste you.”

Within seconds you found yourself reaching for the nearest thing to hold onto as his head pushed its way eagerly between you legs. Your fingers tangled themselves into his hair while his fervent tongue lapped at you tight hole, tying knots in your stomach. It didn’t take long to make you cum against his tongue, trying your best to keep your body from squirming away from him.

It was only when your body relaxed that he stood up, positioning himself to finish what you’d collectively started.

You pulled his body to yours, his blue eyes focused solely on you. No words were exchanged as he pushed deep inside of you, but shaky breaths filled the air. Never did you think you would truly see him so vulnerable, his forehead resting against yours as you both lost yourselves to the feeling on the other’s every movement. While he was slow at first, basking in every inch of your warm wet core, he didn’t take long to pump with a pace that took your breath away. He bucked inside you with a tight grip on your hips. Your legs wrapped around him, hoping to make the moments last as long as possible, kissing and nipping at your neck. Time past all to fast before you felt another orgasm wreck through your body. A surprised squeal left your lips as you felt Tommy cum in you, filling you with his warmth.

The room was quiet again, no shaky desk or shaky breaths. Just a comfortable silence as Tommy turned you laid against him, half sitting in is chair. You let your fingers wander over his chest while looking off, his running over your knees and helping to stop the shaking that you found yourself coming to love.

When the heat of the moments cooled, you found yourself collecting your garments. Tommy watched pensively from his chair. “You think I’m going to let you leave so soon?”

You turned your head away from him, biting your bottom lip as butterflies flutter within you. “I’ve never taken you as the sort to want your ‘guest’ sticking around, Tommy.” You laughed in your throat as you heard him scoff at you.

“‘Guest’ are called such because they’re only a one time thing, love.”

“And I’m not?”

A half smirk appears on his face. He stands up and begins to redress himself, a sight you could get use to. You have to stop yourself from letting out a childish grunt of disapproval as he rebuttoned his shirt. “Far from.”

A smile was almost fully formed on your lips when he pulled you into his kiss by the back of your neck. “Haven’t gotten your fill yet, Mr. Shelby?”

For once in the hundreds of time you’d called him by his surname, this had been the first he ever felt proud of it. He had always worked to make the name have meaning, but hearing it so tastefully fall from your lips nearly made him take you again on the office floor. Hearing ‘Mr.Shelby’ made him want to give you the world, give you all of his world. Including his name. “Not quite.” Like clockwork, he helped you slip on your coat before the night air could touch the arms and legs and thighs that he had now claimed as his own. “I’ll take you home for now. Maybe even talk to your mum about setting up that dinner.”

[bushlaboo]

DotN: Chapter 6

Eye of the Beholder (AO3)

11 Months Ago

There was a giddy bounce to her step and a ridiculously wide smile plastered to Felicity’s face as she exited the pop-up costume shop. She had been looking forward to Halloween for weeks, excited for the opportunity for the gargoyles to be out at night and not be afraid of being seen. Though what she been anticipating most was the chance to walk down the street with Oliver at her side. The moment she’d noticed a widow full of various elaborate getups in mid-September Felicity had stopped in to pre-order her own costume – something she hadn’t done in years as she worked most Halloweens – and put in a request for having the holiday off.

 Her selection was frillier than she’d ever went as a kid or teenager, something Felicity knew her mother would approve of, even though Donna Smoak would insist that she could have gone for something slinkier. Though the gown she selected would never be considered historically accurate representation of courtly formal wear, she had selected it with Oliver in mind. Even though it was absolutely pointless trying to wow him, Felicity couldn’t help but relish the thought of the look in his eye when she did – so even though Rory would delight teasing her, tomorrow night she’d be a princess. One of her favorites, Belle had a love for learning she shared and the ability to see beyond surface to the beauty within, not to mention a willingness to stick up to bullies.

 Felicity was making her way to car, with the wrapped dress carefully draped over her arm, when a frightened scream pierced the night air. “No,” she groaned as she spun towards the sounds of distress, catching sight of a clerk running out of a nearby convenience store. The mid-twenties Latino’s face was contorted in fear as he ran past her without a backwards glance, whispering a prayer for protection.

 The cop in her wouldn’t let Felicity walk away. It didn’t matter that she was off duty or that she was trusting that the dress she laid gingerly down on the truck of the car nearest to her might not be there when she got back. Her city needed her. That was all that mattered.

 Drawing her gun, she approached the store with her head on a swivel, keeping a weather eye out for whatever had terrified the clerk. Half the lights were out and the cash register was open with the money from the nightly count strewn all over the counter and floor. Whatever had run the clerk off had surprised him during his closing routine. Felicity cursed what she thought had been her luck arranging a late night pick up of her costume and eased into the store.

 She heard quick, low pants and rooting noises that sounded more animal than human. Steadying herself, Felicity edged beyond the first aisle before jerking to a stop. A lean, furry mass of … something was shoveling whatever it could get its paws – the world’s biggest dog, the thought flashed through her mind – into its mouth. Still in the dim lighting the curve of its spine and breadth of its shoulders made Felicity think the creature could be human. The realization sent a mild sense of panic flooding through her. As far as Felicity knew all the genetically altered humans, hybrids made from mix of gargoyle DNA and various animals, Dr. Anthony Ivo had tested on were living peacefully (and very well protected) outside the city. Rory was very much aware of her predicament. He’d become infatuated with Maggie Reed, one of mutated survivors, who along with her gargoyle wings had taken on feline features and fur. Ivo was dead; his work destroyed, much to the dismay of his victims who had no hope of being returned to their natural state. Felicity could only hope that the lack of wings meant that whatever this creature was, it wasn’t connected to the twisted doctor’s experimentations.

 The creature’s head suddenly snapped up and it turned, its yellow eyes catching sight of her, and snarled. Its features looked like wolf, though the patch of blue fur around its right eye was not a distinguishing feature associated with the species. Thinking of near full moon that had been peeking out from behind the clouds earlier Felicity winced at her wild speculation: werewolf. Given the existence of gargoyles and fairies she couldn’t exactly rule out that possibly. “Nice wolf,” she said, her voice wavering slightly.

 What happened next was a blur of movement colored by spikes of adrenaline. The wolf leapt at her and though Felicity got off a few shots, she only managed to nick the animal once before it plowed into her hip knocking her off balance and to the floor. She landed hard and her weapon skittered from her hands. It was while the creature loomed over her that Felicity noticed an odd necklace tugged tightly around the wolf’s throat.  

 Grabbing for the closest thing she could get her hands on, Felicity felt a little give underneath her fingers when she picked up the heavy object. She hurled it at the wolf, who swiped at it, causing flour to explode in the air.

 In a cloud of white the creature disappeared.

The excited chattering of this brothers reminded Oliver of the night they’d awoken from their long sleep. To be free of their stone skin and together again had been a wonder followed by the marvel of the new world they’d found themselves in. They hadn’t been able to blend their lives with the humans as before, but given the treachery they’d experienced, he’d been in no hurry make their existence known – particularly since after awakening they’d dealt with far more Tommy Merlyns than Felicity Smoaks.

 The members of The Pack: Laurel Lance, Mick Rory, Leonard and Lisa Snart; Chen Na Wei, Macbeth, Anthony Ivo … and so the list went on. Thankfully, most of their human adversaries were either still in jail or deceased, but their work alongside Felicity to protect Starling City only added to their foes. Unfortunately, their list of allies had not kept pace. There was Felicity's brother Rory and the mutated humans they'd befriended recently: Maggie, Claw, and Fang, along with Diggle's blind friend Jeffery Robbins. Oliver would list Felicity’s partner, McKenna Hall, and her captain but neither were aware of their existence; though he was beginning to believe that at least McKenna should be brought into the fold. He could see the toll keeping their secret put on their partnership. Oliver relied on McKenna having Felicity’s back when he couldn’t and he did not want her hesitating over a sense of doubt.

 “What do you think?” Barry asked as he placed a fedora on his head. He'd become enamored of the private investigator from the Maltese Falcon, Sam Spade, and copied of the look of the character - trench coat and hat - for his Halloween costume.

 “Not bad,” Curtis answered adjusting his own hat, a vintage aviator helmet, goggles included. Like Barry, he wore a coat, though his was a brown bomber’s jacket.

 Roy had scoffed at their choices when Felicity brought them a few days ago. He hadn’t want to take the chance of limiting his wings so he wore a loose-fitting vest over frayed pants tied to his waist using the same belt the usually held his loincloth in place. To complete the pirate outfit there was a black patch over his left eye.

 Oliver was puzzled over their choice to wear costumes. He was certain the humans they encountered this evening would think their natural state disguise enough, but his younger brothers had been enthused by the idea. Diggle had counseled him to let them have their fun and with Felicity taking such pleasure in discussing options with them Oliver decided against arguing the frivolity of it. He had, however, put his foot down when it came to donning a costume himself.

 Their preening was interrupted by Felicity calling out as she climbed up into the alcove, “Sorry I’m late! The captain needed me to finalize my statement.”

 “Statement?” Diggle questioned, stopping Felicity to look her over. They had all learned that witnesses gave statements, police filed reports.

 Felicity waved off his concerned as she provided them with a quick rundown of her encounter with the large, wild dog that had been reported citywide over the past few days. Oliver frowned over her recounting; particularly after she got to her speculation about the creature being a werewolf. That she had faced such a threat alone angered him.

 The others took it stride and Oliver’s annoyance grew as the conversation turned to Felicity complimenting the others’ costumes while scratching Longbow’s ear. The beast gazed up happily at her tongue lolling. Even with that all that distraction Felicity caught wind of his displeasure because she shooed the others on, telling them she would only need a few minutes to change. More than ready to explore the city at street level without causing a ruckus they shuffled off quickly, promising not to stray far from the precinct without her.

 When they were alone, save for Longbow sitting dejectedly - since he wouldn’t be joining them - in the corner, Felicity approached him. “That’s an awful big frown there mister.”

 “You could've been hurt,” Oliver replied, understanding the question Felicity asked without saying. “I should've been with you.”

 She left out a small sigh as her hand clasped his forearm, “It doesn’t work that way, Oliver. You can't be with me all night, just like I can’t be here guarding you all day long.”

 “Felicity—” he tried to argue, but she shook her head. “We’re all vulnerable, Oliver, and remember I chose this life.” Her look of determination softened when his hand fell over hers as he nodded his understanding. He would never be comfortable with Felicity being in danger, but he respected and trusted her decisions.

 She smiled up at him, “It does help knowing someone cares though.” They stood there together for a long, quiet moment, staring into each other’s eyes before a strained chuckle escaped her. “Now enough worrying,” Felicity ordered, slipping her hand out from underneath his. “We’ll deal with the wolf tomorrow. Tonight, I finally get to do something I’ve wanted for a long time now -- stroll down the street with you.”

  A bad night was too mild a term for the evening Tommy Merlyn had been experiencing. The empire he’d spent so much time constructing was vast and self-sustaining which allowed him the ability to concentrate on projects that he found interesting. Or in some cases, amusing, such as handpicking The Pack and seeing that their little show became a national sensation. That particular distraction was how he’d first become aware of Laurel Lance.

 During his time watching the dark hair beauty lead the group of oversized egos he’d witnessed her cunning, athletic ability and inherent grace. She outclassed her companions, though that didn’t say much in terms of Mick Rory. The crass, fire obsessed brawler was more muscle than mind. Lisa Snart had beauty and a fair amount of brains, but a tendency to defer to her brother Leonard who had a strategic mind that Tommy admired. The fact that Laurel managed to stay at least a step ahead of him and manage what should have been an unruly crew had piqued his interest.

 He’d seen a possible match for himself and Laurel had proved his hypothesis true. His stomach turned as remembered how he phrased his proposal in practical business-like terms. “We're genetically compatible, highly intelligent, and have the same goals. It makes perfect sense to get married.” Laurel had accepted and donned the necklace, an antique he’d acquired years ago and known as the Eye of Odin, he’d given her in lieu of an engagement ring. He found the necklace refined and unique like the woman he intended to marry and so offering it to her had seemed the perfect gesture. The way Laurel’s eyes had glowed holding it up to the firelight before draping it across her long, lovely neck told Tommy he’d made the right call. They were not traditional people, let alone your average couple – he’d proven his desire for courtship by arranging a jailbreak for the Pack and Laurel earned an early release for refusing to escape when given the opportunity.

 Or so he thought.

 And thinking, instead of feeling, had gotten him—them to this place. Cisco had warned him of the rumors surrounding the piece and even knowing that some legends were true Tommy had dismissed the possibility. Now his spirited, gorgeous Laurel was paying the price.

 It had taken him a few nights to put it together. The story of a wolf in Starling City circulated quickly, but it wasn’t until he viewed the grainy security camera video earlier that afternoon that Tommy believed. The tufts of blue fur around its right eye, the same shade as the fox tattoo that surrounded Laurel’s eye, had him all but certain that wolf was his fiancée. A belief that had been confirmed when he’d gone to see her that evening in hopes of retrieving the necklace. He’d watched both stunned and horrified as Laurel transformed before his eyes.

 He was a man of plans, always ready with some countermove, but there was no plan for this. How to track a magically transform human? If not for Cisco managing to shoot Laurel with a tranq dart laced with nanites, Tommy wouldn’t have a place to start. Not that the sedative had slowed Laurel down even a bit. For as aloof as he’d been, putting on the charming facade of playboy after he’d raised himself up from nothing, Tommy had done the one thing he promised himself he wouldn’t. He watched his father overwhelmed by grief shut down after losing his mother, leaving his son heartbroken and alone – Malcolm had given away his heart and in doing so allowed another to have power over him.

 It was a mistake Tommy had sworn not to repeat. One he thought he had until watching Laurel disappear into the night. He’d been deluding himself that Laurel was his match, when all along she’d been his heart. And based on the information the nanites were reporting the acceleration of Laurel’s metabolism was putting too much stress on her. If he didn’t relieve her of the Eye, and soon, her body would literally burn itself out.

 “There has been a spike,” Cisco reported over the com just as Tommy managed to catch up to Laurel’s location. There was chaos on the street he hovered over in a gargoyle shaped exoskeletal suit. Costumed revelers were fleeing from a snarling battle between beasts.

 Tommy wasn’t certain if the gargoyles stumbling upon a transformed Laurel was a good thing or not. He didn’t like the extra energy Laurel was using in her clash with Oliver, but having her distracted could be just what he needed to extricate the necklace from her.

 He took just a moment more to get a clear lay of the scene beneath him – while Oliver tangled with Laurel, his brothers aided others away from the fray while the good detective tried to get a clear shot at the wolf. Making that his first priority Tommy swooped in, snatching the gun from Felicity’s hands, and crushing it between his metal claws. Paying no heed to her annoyed curse he flipped up and over the dueling creatures. Once behind Laurel, he clasped the necklace and pulled with all his mechanical strength.

 Sparks flew out from the necklace - its magic protesting - blue streaks that reached his suit and sent the electrical system into meltdown. Laurel roared and the spike in magical energy thrust her hard into Oliver which sent the gargoyle flying fifty feet into a brick building. She then kicked back against him sending Tommy skidding down the street. He watched frozen in his suit, waiting for the backup systems to power on, as Laurel leapt and disappeared from sight.

 The telltale whirl of his systems reboot was ringing in his ears when Oliver ripped the gargoyle head helmet – one that perfectly matched his features – from his head. “What is the meaning of your interference Merlyn,” he growled as he tossed the helmet to the ground.

 Tommy reached for helmet and answered with a single word, “Laurel,” as he regained his feet.

 “Laurel?” Felicity questioned as she came to stand next to Oliver, her skepticism rolled off her in waves. Her flouncy yellow ball gown was torn and smudged with dirt.

 “The wolf - it’s Laurel,” he explained. Before they could write off his claim he provided them with a quick summarization about the jewel around the wolf’s neck. The detective maintained her scowl, but conceded that they’d seen magic before – news to Tommy, as he used to be better informed when it came to the gargoyles and their pet police officer, but that was something to contemplate later. Right now he needed help. He’d never been good at asking for it, in fact he loathed having the need. For Laurel, however, to save her – he’d do whatever was necessary.

 Of course, since it had been so long since he made such a request his Tommy’s appeal came off more as a demand. Very much the wrong move when it came to the gargoyle. “I have no more love for Laurel than for you. Even if what you say is true, why should I help her?” Oliver replied.

 “Because,” Tommy sighed, fully humbling himself in front of his nemesis, willingly exposing his vulnerability, “you know what it means to lose some you love.”

 Oliver bristled as his worlds, but before the gargoyle could bite out a rebuke a soft voice filled the air. “We help people,” Felicity reminded him with a gentle touch to Oliver’s wrist to draw the gargoyle’s attention to her. “That’s who you are. And as long as Laurel is,” she paused obviously searching for a term to label Laurel’s transformation, “wolfed out she’s a danger to our city.”

  “Now that’s just rude,” her unlikely, and in any other circumstance unwanted, companion commented as Oliver leapt up, catching a third story fire escape. She caught sight of his rippling muscles in the street light as he pulled himself up. Oliver continued to bound up the escape a few a stories at time until he was high enough to catch a gust of wind that would allow him to continue his pursuit of Laurel via the air.

 The propulsion element of Merlyn’s suit had not come online during its reboot leaving them to follow Oliver’s trail on foot. Since Felicity needed her breath to run she held off on making a possibly witty or very likely rambling retort. The others hadn’t returned from moving the crowd to safety before they’d taken off, leaving her and Oliver alone with Tommy Merlyn. The marginally charming tycoon was the last person Felicity would have picked for backup.

 She perused the gossip column, causally or so she claimed to her mother, making it seemed like she was just keeping up with all the comings and goings of her city. Tommy Merlyn and Laurel Lance, no relation to her Captain -- which he’d repeated gratefully at least once daily during the Pack’s trial -- had been making a splash for months. In fact, ever since Laurel had been released from Iron Heights, she had been the date on the billionaire’s arm at every function he attended. Meaning his claim of engagement hadn’t surprised her, as it clearly had Oliver, but she couldn’t blame the gargoyle for mistrusting any information given by Merlyn. He’d lied to the clan too often for that and yet he kept their secret as well. Even after foiling a number of his schemes, he hadn’t outed their existence.

 One of the reasons Felicity was so slow to let anyone know about the clan was protect them from ending up in lab like Ivo’s. She couldn’t let them be captured, experimented on and possibly dissected. With a phone call or an anonymous video release Tommy Merlyn could endanger the clan and sic the entire world upon them. But he hadn’t … yet.

 The whole thing made Felicity uncomfortable. She couldn’t trust him, but she had to when it came to one important thing – the most important thing in world now. In a way, Tommy asking for their assistance felt as if he was trusting them with what he valued most and up until that moment Felicity would have sworn Laurel Lance wasn’t it. Merlyn cared about himself and what he built, not other people. But hearing the fear in his voice when he told Oliver that the gargoyle knew what is was to lose someone; Felicity knew then Laurel was more to him than just arm candy who happened to be a challenging companion.

 On this, catching Laurel and saving her from the magic that had transformed her, they were on the same page. Allies even. It felt wrong on just about every level, save for one she reminded Oliver of earlier. They helped people, even the ones they didn’t particularly like, because it was the right thing to do.

 Felicity started to feel a pinch at her side. She wasn’t breathing deep enough for the level of exertion she was putting forth. She wasn’t about slow down though. Leaving Oliver alone to deal with a wolfed out Laurel was not an option.

 Two blocks later she skidded to a halt as Oliver dove. She didn’t have his vantage, but when his massive frame collided with something solid she knew he’d caught up to Laurel. Panting she looked over at Tommy, who was winded himself. “I think … I have enough … power for a … jump.”

 Felicity eyed the height and looked down at her ruin skirt. “Hell,” she muttered as she tugged at the fraying seams, disconnecting the wide hoop skirt of the ball gown. Tommy eyed her garter belt clad legs with appreciation. “I wasn’t going to get the deposit back anyhow,” she told him, her voice biting, all but screaming that he was looking places he shouldn’t.

 He grinned at her. “I’m happy to cover the fee.”

 “Just get us to the roof,” she ordered throwing her arms around him.

 The seriousness of what they were about returned him. His jaw hardened as he triggered the suit mechanism that pushed them straight up into the air. The chill of the wind added to the cold of the metal and Felicity shivered. This was why she preferred her gliding to be done with Oliver, his big arms and wide chest kept her warm no matter her outfit.

 They landed on a roof with an awkward clang. The noise drew Laurel’s attention and apparently seeing a scantily clad female in Tommy’s arms was not something she appreciated. She let out a howl and charged them after shaking off Oliver. Both she and Tommy pushed against each other, disentangling themselves, but the charging wolf never made it to them. Oliver caught her tail and hoisted her with all of his might, tossing her into electric billboard mounted on top of the building.

 “Hold her,” Tommy encouraged as he raced forward.

 The electricity pulsing through the sign kept Laurel stunned until Tommy started to yank on the necklace. The blue sparks returned and Laurel snarled and struggled against man and gargoyle for her freedom, but the combined strength of augmented human and gargoyle won out as the golden chain snapped.

 They stepped back in tandem, releasing Laurel from the electrified sign. Free of the necklace she began to metamorph back into her human form. Her naked human form. Laurel released a soft moan of “Tommy,” as she slid to the roof.  Luckily, Oliver kept her from getting an embarrassing eyeful of Laurel Lance as he turned to her, cutting the distance between. His eyes swept over her searching for injury. “She didn’t get near me,” Felicity assured him stepping into his personal space seeking warmth.

 Oliver didn’t hesitate to settle his arms and wings around her. Something she was grateful for when the wind picked up thanks to a Merlyn Global helicopter cresting over the building. The main compartment door was open and Cisco Ramon, a dark trench coat in hand and a neon bright orange tie covered in sparkling cobwebs around his neck, stood at the ready. He tossed the coat to Tommy, who wrapped it lovingly around an unconscious Laurel. He scooped her up with care to carry her over to helicopter.

 Felicity moved in step with Oliver to intercept Merlyn on his path. “The Eye, give it to me,” he demanded.

 Tommy frowned at the jewel still tangled in his clawed gloves. Felicity knew he didn’t want to give up the powerful artifact though it posed a danger to the woman in his arms. “A trade?” he queried as his grey gaze met Oliver’s again.

 “Call it what you will,” Oliver answered with a shrug. “I don’t trust you with it.” With a flick of wrist Tommy flung the piece from his hand and Oliver easily caught it in his own. “Now it seems you know my weakness.”

 Something akin to disappointment flashed in Oliver’s blue eyes. When he spoke, his voice was gravely with it, “Only you would regard love as a weakness.”

[ugly-crying-over-bucky-barnes]

Burned Part 22

Summary:  Alfie Solomons is in need of a secretary. Tommy Shelby mentions a young woman in need of employment. From there the two step into a dangerous dance together.

Part 22: 

(gif isn’t mine) 

          It was as if there had been something muffling Alfie’s hearing all his life. It was faint and he didn’t notice until one unseasonably warm autumn night. They’d left the master bedroom windows open to allow some air in. A metal fan rattled about in the corner, creating a strangely lulling hum. Alfie slept peacefully, just happy to smell the crisp fall scent in the air and have his very pregnant wife curled up in his arms.

The peace wouldn’t last the night. A sharp gasp from Louise woke him up nearly instantly.

“Alfie, my water broke.”

Disoriented and still half asleep, Alfie threw an arm over his face. “What you on ‘bout? What water spilled?”

“My water!” Frantic, Louise shook his shoulder.

“Lou, it’s late, I’m sure you didn’t spill that much fucking water to warrant waking me up.”

“Alfie, I’m going into labor!” She snapped and continued shaking him.

Those were the words that he’d been anxiously waiting for, both with excitement and dread. A sharp jolt of electricity forced him to sit up in bed. “What?”

“I’m going into labor, you need to call the midwife!” She put a hand over her stomach. “It’ll take her least half an hour to get here.”

“Fuck.” Her husband got up. “Just keep breathing, love, everything’s gonna be alright.” The assurance was more for his sake than his wife’s. She’d been prepared for the day much more than Alfie had.

“Wake Evelyn as well.” Louise requested. She needed another level head to offset the panic she anticipated from Alfie.

He had no experience with pregnancy so he couldn’t fathom how long it took to deliver a baby. Seconds? Minutes? Hours? Days? Afraid it would be minutes rather than hours, he banged on Evelyn’s door.

The young woman opened the door with a weary face. “Mr. Solomons? Something the matter?”

“Louise’s gone into labor. I need to call the midwife but she wants you there with her.” He rattled off almost incoherently.

Luckily, Evelyn had been working for the man long enough to understand him even at his most unintelligible moments. “Alright, just calm down.” She instructed carefully. “It’ll be a bit before she actually delivers the baby. There’ll be plenty of time ‘fore the midwife gets here.”

Alfie nodded absent-mindedly, his thoughts whipping up into a frenzy. “Right, right, right…okay. You go stay with her. I’ll go and call.” He repeated again and the two parted ways.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fortunately, the midwife was used to calls during the middle of the night. As she was on her way, Evelyn kept Louise company. The contractions were still far apart so there wasn’t much they could do but wait.

Alfie loathed waiting but the situation was driving him insane with worry. He paced the room, Cyril following at his heels. He checked his pocket watch nearly every minute, watching the small hands tick by. How much longer until he was given the enormous task of being a father?

The midwife and her assistant arrived forty-five minutes later. Sarah was a middle-aged woman who was well respected in Surrey for being the best of the best in her field. She had a naturally calming presence but Alfie had worked himself up far beyond the point of being calmed down.

“She’s in here.” He hurried Sarah upstairs and down the hall. “She’s been timing the contractions, don’t remember what she said they were last.”

They stopped at the door and Sarah put a comforting hand on Alfie’s arm. “I’ll take it from here. Just try to relax, I’ll call you in a bit.” She entered the bedroom and closed the door behind her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alfie didn’t like being closed out of the room but he wanted to give Louise space to focus on the labor instead of him. Still, time passed unbearably slow and he couldn’t get himself to go downstairs or take a walk outside. He hovered around the door, barely walking more than ten feet down the hall. Every worst case scenario flooded his brain. What if something went wrong? What if the baby didn't make it? What if Louise didn't? His stomach was in knots and he was nearly physically sick at the thought of losing either of them. Or both of them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Evelyn poked her head out every so often to tell her boss how Louise was doing. But the longer time passed, the more anxious Alfie got and the louder Louise became.

He had more than enough after hearing his wife scream out in pain. “Fucking hell…” He ran a hand over his mouth before deciding to enter the room.

“Mr. Solomons I would advise you to stay out of the room. Most husbands do so they won’t interfere.” Sarah’s assistant said with a determined look, standing in the way between him and the bed.

“Fucking interfere?” Alfie snapped and pointed over her shoulder. “That’s me wife in there ‘bout to give birth, I sure as hell won’t be sitting out there twiddling me fucking thumbs.” He passed by her.

The midwife looked up from her spot by the end of the bed when she noticed him enter. “Mr. Solomons…”

“I’ll keep outta the way.” He promised gruffly and knelt by Louise’s side. “How’re you doing love?” He patted sweat from her forehead.

“Alfie, you don’t have to stay.” His wife scrunched up her face when another contraction hit. Tears were streaming down her face but she was determined to push through the pain. "Honestly...I'll be okay."

“Not gonna leave you like this.” He replied and kissed her knuckles. “Wouldn’t dream of it. ‘Sides, I’ve seen worse, haven’t I?”

Louise smiled weakly, relieved that he was there and was remaining calmer than she predicted. “Keep talking.” She said between labored breaths. “Helps me relax a bit.”

“Right well…Think you’ve earned a holiday, haven’t you? Been pregnant for ages it seems.”

“Hasn’t been a-ages.” Her voice hitched and she closed her eyes tightly.

“Well, could hardly wait for the day.” He tried to keep levelheaded. It wouldn’t do anyone any good if he kicked off. But seeing his beloved wife in pain was unbearable.

“Alfie…” She tried to hold back a sob and clamped her hand down on his.

He winced slightly, never knowing how strong she could actually be. “I’ve gotcha, love, will be over soon.”

~~~~~~~~~

It was certainly a trial for the both of them. Louise more so than Alfie but he did have to sit there and watch her struggle without being able to help her. But finally, the moment came and the midwife successfully delivered the child. While she delivered the afterbirth and took a moment to breathe, the midwife’s assistant washed and swaddled the baby.

“Mr. and Mrs. Solomons you have a healthy baby boy.” Sarah’s assistant smiled as she walked over with the bundle. She placed the newborn into Louise’s arms.

Alfie watched the little bundle as it passed to Louise. His body was completely frozen in shock. He was a father.

Then, like a strike of lightning, his son began to cry. It broke his heart, shattering it to pieces.

“Oh, Alfie.” Louise became choked up. The look of exhaustion was replaced by overwhelming surprise.

“What? Something wrong?” He leaned over; afraid his son was missing a few fingers or toes.

“No, of course not. He’s perfect.”

The little swaddle squirmed and Alfie set eyes on his son for the very first time. Indeed he was perfect. He screamed like a banshee, but he was perfect. A button nose, round cheeks, bright blue eyes, and a tuft of light brown hair.

Louise and Alfie stared at the newborn for a bit, unsure what else to do. Eventually, Sarah stepped in and helped the new mother begin to nurse for the first time.

It gave Alfie an opportunity to take a step back and breathe. He felt like laughing and crying all at once. The moment was just too surreal to take in and still keep a level head. But through all the shock, he knew he was happy. It was a good day with the sun just starting to peek out above the horizon.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After feeding him, Louise glanced up to her husband. “He’s sleeping now, do you want to hold him?” She asked.

Alfie raised an eyebrow. “Oh, well…” The anxiety about being a father built up again. Surely that little thing was much too fragile to be held by anyone but his mother. “If he’s sleeping, don’t want to wake him.”

“You won’t.” She assured him and beckoned him over. Sheepishly, Alfie walked over and sat on the edge of their bed. Gently, she placed their son in his arms. “Make sure you’re supporting his head.”

Alfie cradled the newborn and looked down at him. His chest tightened just like it did whenever he realized how much he loved Louise. That was it, unconditional love. A million man army couldn’t harm his son as long as Alfie was there to protect him. He let out a quiet chuckle and felt immense pride for the tiny baby in his arms. “S’pose we need to name him now, aye?”

Louise sat up and cozied up to his side, looking over his shoulder to their son. “I was thinking Theodore.” She murmured and ran her thumb over the baby’s rosy pink cheek.

“Yeah? Theodore Solomons?”

“Could call him Teddy.” She smiled.

Alfie grinned and nodded. “Yeah, I like that. Suits him, don’t it?” His heart swelled in happiness. “You’ve done wonderfully, Lou.” He kissed her cheek. “What a gift you’ve given me.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alfie was enamored with Theodore, just as much as Louise was. He could hardly get over the fact that they’d created such a little angel.

“Look at you, little thing ain’t ya?” Alfie’s voice was hushed as he spoke to his son. Louise was sleeping. She wanted to stay awake during her son’s first few hours alive but had finally succumbed to exhaustion and fell asleep.

Theodore opened his blue eyes every so often to look up at his father. His tiny hand jerking about in his swaddle.

“I were small like you once, yeah, so you’ll get bigger, eh? Like your dad?”

Teddy yawned and closed his eyes again.

“Well, no, not exactly like me,” Alfie mumbled. “Can’t have that. S’no life for a bit like you, yeah, an innocent little bit.” He looked up at Louise’s sleeping form. “Wasn’t a life for your mum. Be honest, Teddy, life ‘fore you two were a bit easier wasn’t it? Could be fucking selfish, yeah, only had to keep meself alive. Now?” He sighed. “Now I’ll be up all night worrying. S’alright though, wouldn’t give up any of it up. Just wish I could’ve been a better man. Don’t want my life hurting you or your mum. Isn’t right for you to suffer ‘cause of me. All I can do now is do me best, I s’pose. Keep you two safe.”

Alfie sat down and adjusted Teddy in his arms. That’s when he caught a flash of his hand. The skin cancer was spreading, creeping up towards his tattoo like a parasite. It made the gangster sick to his stomach to see it. He just wanted to ignore it, turn his back to the marks on his skin and forget they were ever there. But as each day passed it was harder and harder to ignore.

“Don’t want you growing up to see me like this.” He muttered under his breath to Teddy. “Ain’t right. Shouldn’t have a father who’s sick.” But there wasn’t anything Alfie could do but curse the war and pray for forgiveness.

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