#It's just... Lucy keeps walking without looking behind

[immediatebreakfast]

Dear Lucy, she is so kind. Her first entry since months after those horrible nights in Whitby where dreams, and reality were blurred in a dreaded trance of sleeping in pain.

Seeing Lucy being so eager to help Seward makes me think of how she puts her own well being over the wants, and needs of other people. Yet, this time is different, it even writes different than before, this time we see Lucy step up to the role of a full hostess towards Seward the second she noticed his sleep deprived state. It was a delight to read.

"No sitting up to-night for you. You are worn out. I am quite well again; indeed, I am; and if there is to be any sitting up, it is I who will sit up with you." 

Lucy was commanding, she was asertive, she didn't miss a single beat of how to handle the situation without the help of Mina, or maybe her mother. Lucy instructed Jack what to do as she talked to him with invigorating energy like she had done this a million times, she even prepared a full contingency plan to keep Jack in contact with her even when they are in separate rooms.

It's like Lucy was waiting for an opportunity like this to show up, for her to finally do something with her own hands after being bedridden. This moment of functional planning gave her back the happiness she hasn't felt in weeks.

I feel so happy to-night. I have been so miserably weak, that to be able to think and move about is like feeling sunshine after a long spell of east wind out of a steel sky. Somehow Arthur feels very, very close to me.

Lucy isn't afraid anymore of the dark, nor the flapping by the window, nor her nightmares, or sleeping. She finally feels better after going through hell. It's like Lucy said, she feels in the sky.

I suppose it is that sickness and weakness are selfish things and turn our inner eyes and sympathy on ourselves, whilst health and strength give Love rein, and in thought and feeling he can wander where he wills.

Even the little detail of her mentioning her perspective around how her sickness equals to selfishness is on track with her new energy. Lucy has spent so much trying, and trying to avoid to become a "burden" for other people by worrying them that of course Lucy would feel like her being weak (for an inexplicable reason) is just another way to have unwanted attention towards herself.

There is something changing in the narrative, something is coming for Lucy, whenever it's recovery or doom, only time will tell.

[barcaatthemoon]

jitterbug || barcelona x teen!reader ||

the team helps you navigate through some of your adhd struggles after your cousin leaves.

you were practically sprinting through the parking lot as keira trudged along behind you. it wasn't that she was purposefully dragging her feet, just that she was tired. you had run out of medication a couple of days ago, and the pharmacy was taking their time refilling your perscription. it was hard, but keira reminded herself that she had promised lucy that she'd look after you when the defender moved to chelsea.

"jitterbug is hyper today," aitana said as she fell in step with keira. everybody on the team knew about your adhd, something that lucy had warned them about before you joined the team. you were lucy's younger cousin, who had come all the way from england to join her in playing for barcelona. back in england, you had made quite the name for yourself before joining during january of the last season.

"she's out of medicine, but ona is supposed to pick the pills up. god, i hope she gets here soon. i swear that it feels like i haven't slept in days," keira sighed. she glanced ahead to see you jumping up and hanging on a door frame like you were spiderman. "hey, no! get down from there before you hurt yourself!"

"do a pull up!" cata called out from behind keira. instead of listening to your guardian, you listened to the goalkeeper. she often teased you about being small and weak, despite knowing that you were pretty young. you were barcelona's youngest signing, only having recently turned 16.

"bug, please get down from there," keira said as she stepped beneath you. she had a hold on your legs, one that you knew she wouldn't let go of until you were on the ground. reluctantly, you let go of the top of the frame and let keira set you on the ground.

once you were steady on your feet, you shot off towards the locker room. most of your teammates were quietly trying to get ready, nobody a fan of the early morning practice. unfortunately for them, you were buzzing from an all-nighter. keira had given up trying to get you to sleep around two that morning, and she wished that she would have realized it was a lost cause earlier in the day.

"(y/n), sit down and put your boots on," alexia told you as she pulled you down onto a bench. you were squirming a lot as you sat there, enough so that you could barely tie your boots up. everybody was watching you out of the corner of their eyes, hopeful that you'd calm down before you got out to the pitch.

"bug, come on, let's get some extra laps in," patri said as she reached a hand out towards you. you glanced past patri at keira, silently asking permission. keira just nodded, and you raced off to the pitch with patri. behind the two of you, pina and a few of the other girls walked along.

"has ona said anything about having bug's medicine?" alexia asked keira. she didn't want to come off as mean, but there was no way you'd make it very long in practice without it. you were practically pinging around everywhere and horribly unfocused. alexia knew that you'd get yourself in trouble, and she couldn't stand to see the sad look on your face when it inevitably happened. all you wanted was to make lucy and everybody else proud, and it destroyed you to get reprimanded, especially at practice.

…

"i can't go on," patri huffed as she fell onto the ground. you had yet to notice that your opponent had stopped. there were no signs that you had even begun to get tired yet.

"she just keeps going and going," jana said in awe.

"i think she's even faster than ona," pina mumbled. everything was going fine until you decided to get a little fancy with your running and completely wiped out. immediately, pina and patri were rushing over to check on you. so many of their teammates would have your head if you got injured. you were working your way up to a regular sub, but even more than that, you were like the team baby. everybody loved you, even whenever you were really hyper.

"hey bug," patri said softly. there were no tears, but your nose was definitely bleeding. pina called out for one of the girls to bring a towel over while patri checked you for any serious injuries. you felt fine, and within a couple of minutes of sitting down, you wanted to get up again. luckily for the girls watching you, ona came sprinting over with your medicine and a water bottle.

"why are you so sweaty?" ona asked as she looked at patri with a bit of disgust.

"endurance test," patri answered. she left you alone with ona to get herself a bottle of water and a snack.

"hi oni," you greeted happily. you loved your cousin's girlfriend, she was one of your favorite people on the team. you hoped that lucy was smart enough to lock ona down soon because you doubted the spanish woman was as patient as keira.

"hola jitterbug. i need you to take one of these for me please." ona placed your medicine bottle in your hands. you took your one pill and then handed it back to ona for safe keeping. eventually you'd be the keeper of your own medication, but for now, one bottle stayed with keira and one stayed with ona. you went back and forth between their two apartments, switching every other week.

…

keira was going to kill you for being late. even worse than that, lucy was pissed. she had probably waited forever hoping that you'd get home on time. lucy was busy, and she had set out time specifically to speak with you and keira. it was really to talk to you, but you weren't at ona's this week. besides, lucy could get information about you from keira that she couldn't from you or ona.

"i swear that i meant to get back sooner!" you shouted as you burst through the door. you were absolutely drenched in sweat and more than a bit sunburnt. keira turned around and raised an eyebrow at the state of you. she was on the phone with someone, so you quickly and quietly went to the bathroom to shower.

you took your time getting ready out of it. you didn't want to face keira or keira's wrath. it was really more of a lecture than anything. you had just convinced her to give you more freedom, and the first night you try to exercise it, you fuck it up like this. maybe you should have never left england because you didn't feel like you were doing good at all here.

"hi bug. did you have a good time?" keira asked as she sat down on the edge of your bed. you should have known keira saw through your "i'm going to bed" bit so early. you rarely went to sleep before midnight, and never willingly.

"i did, sorry that i missed lucy's call," you apologized. keira placed her hand under your chin and tilted your head up a bit so that you were looking at her. "i swear that i meant to set an alarm. i swear that i did."

"it's okay. lucy is pouting about you spending time with a girl instead of her, but it's fine. you were with someone that we trust, and you once you realized that you were late, you rushed back home. now, tell me, did you have a good time?" keira asked. you nodded, smiling a bit as a blush rose to your cheeks. "you're being safe, right?"

"keira!" you exclaimed. you tried to turn and bury your face in your pillow as keira cackled. "i can't believe you'd ever insinuate something like that!"

"i think that you forget i was a teenager once, not to mention that you're a bronze. the team might treat you like a little kid, but you're 16. someone should have this talk with you bug, and it's not like lucy sees you as anyone except for the little toddler who followed her everywhere."

"i didn't help that by following her to barcelona," you reasoned. keira just laughed, knowing that lucy never would have stayed as long as she did if you hadn't signed that midseason. as much as you had grown to mean to the team, you were a million times more important to lucy than anything or anyone else. you were practically her child.

[pitchsidestories]

early twenties II Barcelona Femení x Reader

masterlist I word count: 1886

a/n: thanks for your lovely request anon, we hope you all enjoy this one. <3

You laid in your bed, staring up at the ceiling. You could pretend you’re sick. You could just say that you didn’t feel like going out tonight. Maybe fake a university assignment that you didn't have.

You heard the door to your bedroom open a crack. Without looking, you knew it was Alexia standing there.

“Do I really have to go? I’d rather stay in my room tonight.“, you only half-joked towards the ceiling.

“No, you’re coming with us. It’s a team thing.“, Alexia replied firmly.

You sat up: “But…“

“Not wanting to see your crush is no excuse. Come on, we don’t want to be late.“, she interrupted your protests quickly.

For a second you just stared at her. Then you gave in. “Okay, fine. Just let me get ready first.“

“Good.“ Your teammate nodded once, seemingly satisfied with your decision. As if you had a choice.

“See you.“ You looked at her expectantly, hoping that she would take the hint.

Luckily she understood and wordlessly closed the door behind her.

You sighed before crawling out of your bed. Since it was only a team event, you decided to keep it simple. You changed into a pair of dark pants and a thin sweater. You studied yourself in the mirror. You decided that you looked nice but not as if you were trying too hard.

You slipped on your shoes, grabbed your bag and left your room.

Alexia who stood outside and pushed a pair of sunglasses back into her hair in front of the hallway mirror, turned to you and gave you an approving smile: “You look great. Now we’re ready to go.“

She shrugged into her trench coat and took her keys.

“Okay…" you mumbled as you followed her outside.

Since the bar was down the street, you decided to walk. Lost in your own thoughts, you walked alongside Alexia for a while until she suddenly asked: “So, who is it?”

You looked up, surprised by the unexpected question and blinked at her a few times. “Who?”

You could feel the heat rise in your cheeks.

“Your crush.“, Alexia said matter-of-factly, either not noticing or deliberately ignoring your embarrassment.

“I…“, you began. The two of you were already right in front of the bar. You just had to open the door and maybe you could get away without answering.

“Ona, Luce, Mario, hey!”, you beamed at the players already sitting at a table. You could feel Alexias eyes on you, signalling you that sooner or later she would get her answer.

But for now, you took the seat next to Lucy.

“Hi, you look good today.“, she grinned at you.

You laughed: “You’re the second person who said that today. What a weird coincidence.“

“Because it’s true.“, Mariona chimed in.

“Yes, your hair looks so nice.”, Ona added. The loving attention of your teammates made your cheeks only blush harder.  You were grateful for the dimmed lightning, so no one was able to tell that your face turned red from the slight embarrassment you felt when they complimented you.

“Thanks, Oni. We’ll go home when our social battery runs out right?”, you asked the fellow introverted footballer with a half-crooked smile on your lips.

“Right.”, she returned your grin. Her reassurance let you breathe a little easier.

“But first we’ll have some fun.”, Lucy padded encouragingly your back. After a short pause the English defender posed a question smirking. “What do you guys’ think is it too early for a first round of aperitifs?”

“I thought we were here to do shots!”, Mapi protested playfully.

“Yes, but this is classier, Maria.”, the older woman countered.

Accidentally your eyes linked with Claudias who was in a deep conversation with Patri, your cheeks started to burn as you felt her looking intensely back at you.

To the two teammates who were still in a discussion on what drinks were the best to start the night you declared nervously.

“I don’t care what it’s I just need a bit of alcohol.”

“I’ll order us some wine.”, Alexia decided who was sitting opposite to you.

“Sounds good.”, you agreed, you were glad that she helped you with this decision because knowing yourself you would’ve taken forever until you decided on something to drink.

“I’ll make you drink shots with me later.”, Mapi threw in amused at the thought of it.

“Are you trying to get me drunk?”, you asked her chuckling.

“No, that would be irresponsible only slightly tipsy so..”, she begun to explain.

“So I tell you more about my crush?”, you finished the sentence for her.

“That was the plan.”, the heavily tattooed Spaniard admitted sighing.

“I thought the plan was to say goodbye to a few of our favourite teammates.”, you pointed towards Mariona and Lucy who would both leave Barcelona for London. Your heart sank while you thought about their nearing departure both teammates meant a lot to you, they and Alexia were like the big sisters you never had but always wanted.

“That too.”, Alexia revealed as the waiter brought two glasses filled with wine, you clinked them solemnly together before taking a first long sip of the dark-red liquid.

“Aw, we’re your faves?”, the English defender questioned teasingly.

“No, you’re the most annoying and I’m glad you’re leaving Lucia.”, you joked rolling your eyes at her. The wine provided you the ease and confidence you needed to be more chilled around Claudia. But God, why did she had to look so good tonight, you asked yourself.

“Yeah, yeah. Don’t cry too hard when we leave.”, she replied cockily seeing right through your jokes.

Mapi moved closer to you, studying your face: “I think the alcohol is working, girls. It’s Claudia, right? Your crush?”

You almost spilled your drink, a few drops landing on your sweater. You swallowed hard: “Uhm… what?”

“That’s a yes.“, Alexia confirmed with a smirk.

Ona smiled: “Without a doubt.“

You flinched subconsciously and hoped that it was dark enough in the room that the others couldn’t see you blush. Your gaze shifted towards Claudia at the other end of the table, deep in talk with Patri. “Guys, be quiet!”

Alexia deliberately ignored you and called over to her: “Clau?“

“Ale, no!”, you whispered slightly panicked.

“Let’s switch seats.“, Alexia said and got up. Of course, Claudia followed her captains instructions.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.“, you said to no one in particular and then greeted Claudia. “Clau, hello.“

“Hi.“, she beamed. Nothing about her gave you the impression that she would have preferred to stay at her seat, she seamed genuinely happy to talk to you.

You tried to cover up any awkwardness by asking: “Do you have any plans for your free days yet?”

Claudia shook her head: “No, not yet. Do you?”

“No, me neither. Apart from relaxing.“, you bit your lip, wishing you had something more interesting to tell her.

“Me too. Happy for a break after this season.“, she laughed and sighed deeply for emphasis.

“Yes, maybe I’ll go home to Menorca…“, you thought out loud.

Claudia looked at you. “Oh.“

“Maybe.“, you added, unsure about how to interpret her reaction but Claudia shook her head determinedly: “You should go. It’ll be good for you. But if you’re here at one point…“

You waited for her to finish her thought: “Yes?”

The attacking midfielder shrugged, gaze directed towards the table: “Maybe we could go out together at some point.“

“Wait, really? You frowned. “But what about Patri and you… aren’t you two a thing?”

She stared at you for a moment and said nothing but then she burst into laughter: “What? No!”

You suddenly felt hot. Could your cheeks get any redder at this point?

“Sorry, maybe I misread something…“

“You really thought we were dating the whole time? Maybe Patri and I have to reevaluate the boundaries of our friendship.“, Claudia still grinned, wiping a tear of laughter from her cheek.

“No, I didn’t. I just thought… maybe you fancied her.“, you admitted and guiltily bit down on your lower lip.

The young player suddenly turned serious again, searching for your eyes: “I do fancy someone… but it’s not her.“

“So do I…“

“Tell me who it is.“, Claudia begged. She cautiously watched you as she waited for your answer.

There it was, the perfect opportunity. It was now or never. So you took a deep breath and gathered all your courage.

“It’s y-you.“

“Me? I think we should go on a date then.”, much to your surprise the forward beamed at you.  

“Wait, I’m your crush?”, you tried to process what the girl you had feelings for a while just said.

“Yes.”, Claudia affirmed still smiling. Even in the bad lit room you could see her adorable dimple.

“This deserves another shot!”, Mapi yelled excitedly in the background.

“Mapi.”, you wanted her to stay calm and don’t make a big thing out of it, yet over the years you had been this team you got to know her very well the Spanish defender would do as she pleases.

“Too soon?”, Mapi responded sounding innocent.

“Bring the shots anyway.”, Lucy waved it off.

“You had enough, amor.”, Ona stated firmly, resting a hand on her girlfriend’s arm.

“You just didn’t have enough. It’s the last one anyway.”, the older defender reminded the younger one pressing a soft kiss to her lover’s forehead. It genuinely warmed your heart seeing them this openly affectionate around the team. Maybe the young forward and you could have something similar very soon.

Still, something else made you shudder pleasantly. It was Claudias voice near to your ear.

“Let’s go to my place after the shots.”

“Deal., you whispered, before continuing louder for everyone to hear, cheers.”

Pleased how the evening had unfolded Lucy turned around to face Mariona, wearing a satisfied smile on her lips.

“Mario, I guess that means we can safely leave. Everyone here is taken care of.”

The midfielder quickly agreed with her while Ona remembered your talk from earlier reaching out to you with her free hand. “Is your social battery low now, y/n?”

“Yes. I’ll go with Claus to her home though.”, you told her.

“Okay, have fun.”, she winked mischievously at you.

Meanwhile Lucy didn’t let you leave that easy without a big sister remark.

“Claudia if you don’t treat her right I swear..”, she warned the young forward laughing.

“Clau is a good one.”, Alexia interjected.

“She’s and if you don’t treat Clau right, y/n.”, Patri picked up on what the older Englishwoman had said with twinkling eyes.

“Patri we’re talking about sweet y/n here.”, Mariona protested.

“And Claudia isn’t an absolute angel?!”, the other Mallorquin replied promptly.

“Clau, I think it’s time to leave.”, you cleared your throat, pulling her sleeve slightly.

“Please. This is getting embarrassing.”, Claudia muttered.

“Agreed. Good night, guys.”, you waved at your teammates.

“Night girls.”, Alexia answered.

“Do everything I’d do!”, Lucy called after you two grinning. You could hear her girlfriend clicking her tongue reprovingly.

“Let’s just go.”, you pleaded.

“Please before it gets weird.”, Claudia nodded taking your hand in hers as you went into the night together. You both were in your early twenties, everything was still ahead of you and you were excited for what was to come.

[mj0702]

The other Bronze – Pt. 16 🔞

This Chapter contains some adult content

Por mi vida... Te amo a la luna y de vuelta mi hermosa....♥️

“You can keep dreaming because that won't happen” the dark haired woman laughed

“Worth a try” you smirked as you pulled Jennis jersey over your head

“Dear jesus Christ” you gagged lightly after you sniffed the fabric “Sure you only wore that for that game??”

“Actually no... that's the same one we wore at the Euro final” the spaniard deadpanned “We're broke you know... we have to re-use jerseys”

“Seriously??” you asked outraged your eyes wide with shock while Lucy started to snicker behind you

“Of course not... but you and your stupid tactic had me run a lot – sorry that my jersey doesn’t smell like detergent” Jenni rolled her eyes

“I think it was a good tactic” you defended yourself pouting “Lucy you tell her”

“You put me in goal!!!” your sister exclaimed

“Yeah... that was funny.. the way you panicky screamed at Mills to keep “that bloody ball far FAR away” from you....” you chuckled as your sister hit your shoulder

“Y/N... you still have something to do” now Sarina interrupted and you know you still need to come up with an apology to Rubiales

“How believable would it be if I suddenly have a stroke?” you asked the dutch innocently and all players around you snorted

“Not very believable... come on... the sooner you get it over with the sooner I can reward you for your actions” the blonde coach winked

“Hermoso” you looked at Jenni “... it was a pleasure as always... I have to go and fake apologize to your... whatever he is”

“Oh Corazon... I didn't even show you pleasure but okay...” the dark haired winked “and he's the federation president”

“He's a fucking cunt that's what he is” you grumbled not even catching up on Jennis comment

“And THAT'S exactly what we don't say in our apology” Sarina said chuckling

“Do I really have to come up with an apology on the spot without swear words?” you asked in disbelieve

“Yes Bitsy...” Keira rolled her eyes “... and I know you can – you always pull your head out of the sling somehow”

“Okay okay... give me a minute okay” you huffed starting to think of what to say “... Hermoso could you stop drooling over me abs? I know they're fantastic – me girlfriend tells me every time we...”

“STOP talking!” Lucy exclaimed shuddering at the thought of you and Georgia doing anything else than holding hands while Jenni, Keira and Sarina bursted out laughing

“It's distracting!!!” you huffed

“I am distracting you?” Jenni smirked enjoying the little banter which distracted HER from the previous incident

“Not you... you eyes” you grumbled “I need to think quick here”

“Come on Liefje” Sarina suddenly pulled you away “We won't get anywhere if you butterfly with Hermoso all the time”

“I'm NOT butterflying” you huffed annoyed

“Yes you are... now... this is going to happen now... you are going to apologize officially right in front of the crowd and later again at the post-match press” the dutch said and you grimaced

“Really? In front of the crowd?” you whined

“Yes... this is damage control and when everyone sees how “sorry” you are we have a good chance that FIFA won't interfere” Sarina said seriously and you huffed

“But I don't wanna” you whined again but one look from the dutch shut you right off

“You'll do fine Bitsy okay... you're good at that” Keira squeezed your shoulder supporting

“Ugh.... fine” you huffed annoyed as someone handed you a microphone connected to the stadium speakers

You started to walk out of the tunnel and you knew the second the camera caught you and your picture appeared on the big screens since suddenly there was loud cheering and it made you smirk. You walked all the way to the kick off point standing there for a second taking a deep breath before turning around facing the spanish bench where Vida and Rubiales were still standing. You saw how the medics just packed their stuff together and how Rubiales had two tissues hanging out of his nose. You really needed to bite your tongue so you wouldn't start laughing – you were “sorry” after all. At least that's what Sarina told you you were. You saw how all the players – Lionesses and Spanish – were lingering in the tunnel entrance waiting for your speech

“Hi” you started awkwardly looking into the stands after the crowd calmed a little bit which caused a new round of cheering and whistleing. Vida and Rubiales looked at you expectantly and when they saw you wore Jennis Jersey you saw how Rubiales jaw set challenging.

“Okay guys... I'm here to apologize for me actions towards Mr. Rubiales a few minutes ago” you said using your “I'm so so SO sorry”-voice “... I honestly don't know what caused me to act the way I did... I'm in the wrong here because violence is never the answer no matter how disgus... no wait... I'm not allowed to say that... violence is never the answer! Let stop there... I never meant to assault you Mr. Rubiales...” you looked at Rubiales himself trying to sell your apology so hard by talking directly to him “... I never meant to hurt you and I don't have an explanation for what happened. Please believe me when I say I'm sorry from the bottom of my heart”

Even you know you went a little over but you really REALLY tried not to verbally assault him right now

“You did nothing but being polite to me and what happens in your federation is not my business” you said and some people would swear they heard a threatening undertone “I hope you accept me apology and we can forget this... incident”

You walked back towards the tunnel before making a turn towards Rubiales himself offering you your hand to shake it. He grabbed your hand hard his jaw still set when you pulled him a little forward

“If you ever pull off something like that again you fucking cunt I personally will cut off your balls and feed them to you through your asshole and then I make sure that there's no inch of DNA left of your existence...” you growled into his ear covering it up with clapping on his shoulder like both of you made up “... most of them players I consider my friends – family even... I don't take it lightly if they get put in an uncomfortable situation and I always will have their back”

You let go of him smiling sweetly before turning around walking back into the tunnel where everyone stared of it with disbelieving looks. You smirked feeling great pride and satisfaction with yourself.

“I am REALLY proud of you Liefje” Sarina beamed as you reached her letting her pull you into a hug

“I can't believe it... you actually delivered a grown up apology” Leah said her face showed pure shock

“Yeah well...” you shrugged your shoulders

“I can't believe you apologized” Mapí looked at you a little disappointed

“Had to... they made me” you pointed at Sarina, Keira and Lucy

“I'm proud you didn't punch him again – I was worried there for a second when you made a beeline for him” Lucy threw her arm over your shoulder standing next to you proudly “And you didn't threaten him”

“I definitely didn't” you quickly said and your voice was a little high-pitched

“Bitsy” Keira warned you

“Hm?” you looked at her innocently

“Please don't tell me you did...” the blonde looked at you expectantly

“So... my reward” you turned towards Sarina

“Bitsy!” Keira exclaimed

“What? You said to not tell you... so I don't” you defended yourself

“What did you say... I knew that handshake was a cover up... I KNEW IT” Keira said annoyed

“Look... I just let him know how... I consider most of the spanish team me family... and that I'll always will have their back” you said honestly “andhowIwillfeedhimhisballsandthattherewon'tbeanyDNAleftifhepullssomeshitlikethisagain” you mumbled before quickly sprinting behind Alexia and Jenni ducking for cover

“Come again???” Keira looked at you shocked while the spanish players looked at you confused since you spoke to fast for them to understand

“Could you repeat that for the not english speakers please Cariño?” Alexia said confused

“I rather not” you mumble “Keira will have me head”

Luis Rubiales chose that exact moment to walk into the tunnel and you immediately stood up taller again moving in front of Jenni in a protective manner – which looked kind of ridiculous since Jenni was over a head bigger than you. He threw a death glare at you but continued walking as the crowd of english and spanish players parted like the sea for Moses.

“It's kind of cute how you try to protect me little one” Jenni chuckled from behind you

“He's a... Mapí... worst spanish curse word you know” you spat looking at Mapí

“Cojones or Cono” Mapí easily provided earning herself a really hard slap to the head from Irene and a death glare from Alexia

“That... he's both of that...” you growled looking after Rubiales

“Don't teach her that” Irene told Mapí off harshly

“She asked” the blonde tattooed woman defended herself

“And you CHOSE to answer” the Vice-Capitan answered

“I just wanted to helpful...” Mapí mumbled pouting

“Don't push it María León and just keep your mouth shut” Irene grumbled

“Bitsy... come here sweetie” Keira cooed sweetly

“Oh no... not gonna fall for that... it's like the time you told me you wouldn't get angry if I tell you what I did and after I told you you made me do push ups in the pouring rain” you shook your head looking at her scared shuffling backwards

“I promise...” the blonde tried again smiling sweetly but you saw right through it

“No no... I think I'm gonna stay with Ona” you said and the people who knew you could hear the slight fear in your voice

“You still have a pre-match conference to attend” Sarina reminded you smirking

“Aaaawww maaaaan” you whined “I did what you told me to do – why do I have to sit through that as well?”

“Because it was your game today and not mine” the dutch said “So YOU are going to answer all the questions... in a nice civilized manner”

“Ugh” you huffed and turned to walk towards the media room “But I'm not sitting next to that sorry excuse of a human being”

“Good evening Ladies and Gentleman – this is the post-match conference and we have 60 Minutes. We do it the usual way and go 30 minutes each. All question have to remind professional and under no circumstances will private questions answered. You all have one question if you want a follow up you have to talk to the person if they're willing to do one. We start with questions for the representatives of the english Lionesses Head Coach Sarina Wiegman and Y/N Bronze before going to the spanish representatives Jorge Vilda and Luis Rubiales” the coordinator said and you knew the cameras where already on so you pushed the urge down to roll your eyes your face staying stoic “We're starting with Alex Scott”

You exhaled deeply knowing Alex wouldn't ask anything regarding the Rubiales-event and probably would ask something frivolous.

“Alex Scott for BBC Sports” Alex started smiling at you “A question for Y/N Bronze”

“I know your name and where you work... I've known you for years now” you interrupted her confused which lifted the mood in the room since all of the reporters started chuckling

“That's how it goes y/n... we reporters have to introduce ourselves before asking the question” Alex smiled at you

“Oh okay...” you said quickly “... sorry for interrupting”

“No problem... but my question to you... we were all informed beforehand through different social media channels that you joined the Lionesses as a side line analyst – how comes that you basically dictated the game today?”

“I was given the chance by Sarina... Mrs. Wiegman... Coach? What do I call you?” you started then looked at Sarina unsure which caused another round of light laughter

“Sarina is fine...” the dutch smiled encouraging squeezing your knee under the table in a calming manner

“Sarina gave me the chance to work on a tactic for this game – Spain is a hard opponent to play. I got to Camp with Lucy... Bronze... Lucy Bronze my sister” you started but then got all nervous again since you actually never had to do any press stuff before.

Again Sarina jumped in by stroking over your knee calming

“... but you all know that...” you chuckled at your idiocy “... so when we arrived at Camp Sarina pulled me aside telling me she wanted me to watch some of the spanish games and to come up with a play where we at least can annoy them a little bit. I'm pretty sure she just did that to keep me occupied so I wouldn't do some stupid shit...” you said but quickly slapped your hand over your mouth “... I mean so I don't do... stuff... but yeah... after I sat down with her showing her some plays she told me to put a starting XI together.. at this point I still thought it was all like... hypothetical.. so I did... after that she said that she liked what I came up with and that she trusts me and that I'll have the lead on the game...”

“Would you be interested in answering a follow up?” Alex asked quickly knowing that she only had a short time frame before the next reporter would be called up

“For you always... I mean... you did change me diapers – I think it's just fair” you grinned

“And you were so squirmy about it... but my follow up... what made you come up with putting Lucy in Goal?” the short woman asked smiling

“Knew you would pick up on that” you laughed feeling slightly more relaxed “... that was a last second decision – I had four subs planned... two at half time, two around 70th minute... I left one slot for a possible injury sub – I played some players who just came back from an injury and I didn't want to overwork them. That's why I subbed Meado off 73rd minute in... she played outstanding and I didn't want to risk setting her back in her recovery... I quickly talked to her after she came off and she said she felt good but also appreciated getting off. So after I didn't need the left over slot and Lucy was mean to me earlier – and Keira said she would pay to see Lucy in Goal – I thought... why not... and come on... it was funny seeing her panicky waving her arms around like a monkey absolutely losing her plot screaming at Mills to keep the ball far FAR away” you laughed which caused the room to interrupt in laughter

“Okay next question please...” the coordinator said also laughing and called up a reporter you didn't knew who had a question for Sarina so you turned out and started to look around the room with a bored face which ended in a edit about how you and Lucy are so much alike in conferences

“Question for Y/N Bronze...” a young lad said and after you didn't react in the slightest being busy counting the sponsor labels on the wall behind you Sarina flicked your ear

“Huh??” you looked at you confused

“There's a question for you” the dutch gestured towards the room “Attention on the room”

“Sorry...” you said embarrassed

“You got a yellow card... how did that happened?” the young reporter asked

“First of all... that wasn't MY yellow card... THAT was Onas yellow card” you started serious but your lip tugged upwards and everyone noticed that you were joking “... she committed the foul... I just... asked the Ref if she doesn't see the need to card it”

You heard Sarina clear her throat next to you and you looked at her innocently

“What? I did” you defended yourself

“You took my glasses and ask the Ref if she needs them to and I quote “see a foul when it's happening”...” the dutch looked at you unimpressed

“Not my fault she's a blind moron – that WAS a yellow card” you exclaimed before remembering where you are and – again – slapping your hand over your mouth

Sarina exhaled deeply and started to pinch the bridge of her nose shaking her head slightly as the room erupted in laughter again

“Okay next question... Barry... your turn” the coordinator said and you tensed immediately.

Barry O'Connor was a legend under the reporters – he was one of the ones who could make you or break you. He never held back with the uncomfortable questions and he immediately knew when you lie and THAT he would use to break you.

“Thank you Tom... Barry O'Connor for The Guardian...” the older gruff man said and looked straight at you and you just KNEW what was coming “... question for Bronze... there was a slight – let's call it ruffle after the game... any comment on that?”

“Good evening Mr. O'Connor” you said politely “... I'm afraid you have to be more specific – there was a lot going on after the game”

“You punched the president of the spanish federation – the proof is sitting right there” the reporter said pointing at Rubiales

“Yeah... not my best moment is it... I want to apologize again and honestly I can't tell you what happened... I saw how he moved towards Jenni Hermoso and the next thing I know is Sarina yelling at me in the locker room...” you said and everyone in the room knew you told the truth “... I got the great honour to meet most of these players beforehand when I was visiting my sister in Barcelona and they welcomed me with open arms and helped me when I needed help – looked after me when I needed guidance... so I consider them as family... I don't take it likely if someone makes my family uncomfortable – which everyone who knows me can confirm... so I just – acted to protect my family”

“You said you needed help in Barcelona... what happened?” the older man asked

“Barry you had your question and we said from the start...” the coordinator interrupted but then got interrupted by you

“No it's okay... I'm honoured to be interesting enough to get a follow up by a reporter legend” you said and Sarina heard that you were about to get serious “It's not really a secret that I don't play because I suffered quiet early in my career from three ACL's... so even if I wanted to play I simply can't... in Barcelona a... incident happened that left me with a PTSD episode... all of them helped me afterwards – Mapí León right up top.. she went all the way to the airport to get me english chocolate... I got in the honour to get to know a few teams through Lucys career... if it was City, Lyon or now Barcelona... all of the teams have a special place in my heart but Barca now – they are something else... Alexia Putellas is an amazing leader – on and off the pitch... under her lead this team stepped up coming together as a family – no matter which nationality or background...”

You looked back at the reporter who smiled appreciative nodding slightly

“So yes... they helped me a great deal... even when I got overdosed on pain meds and didn't know what I was doing and gave them nicknames and was high as a kite” you winked

“Okay last question for the english side before we're moving on the spanish representatives” the coordinator said and pointed at a young blonde woman

“Thank you... Sarah Mulligan for ITV” the young woman said “Question for both Sarina and y/n... Sarina what made you involve y/n as much and y/n how did feel or managed with the pressure?”

“You first?” you looked at Sarina a little lost which caused the dutch to chuckle

“Thank you for your question” Sarina started and you interrupted her

“We have to thank for questions...” you exclaimed shocked before looked into the room “Thank you?”

This made everyone laugh again before Sarina continued

“It's polite Liefje” the dutch said lovingly “... but back to the question... I got to know y/n when she was recovering from her third surgery. I just took over from Phil Neville trying to get a read on the Team having called up a few young players but also some experienced ones – like Lucy Bronze. Lucy called me two days before Camp would start asking if she could bring her little sister who just got out of hospital. I agreed knowing from former games and also from stories how much Lucy cared for her sister. The moment I saw her for the very first time I knew she was someone special. She was still wearing a leg splint and was still on crutches but that didn't stop her from refusing help even going so far to hit Lucy away with her crutch...” the dutch remembering your first appearance smiling slightly “.... she was so grumpy and angry – a deep anger and I must admit I was unsure for a moment if it was a good idea to have her with the team. I feared she would bring the team spirit down – but I was wrong. So very wrong. The moment she stepped into the Hotel lobby and I saw how many players were happy to see her I knew it was the right decision. At the first training session she sat in the stands just staring down on the pitch – I must admit I kept an eye on her because Lucy asked me too... y/n never moved one muscle just stared down on the session. So I thought I let one of the assistants take over and went up to sit next to her. I sat down and asked how she was doing. Her answer was that I should rethink this formation because it's putting to much pressure on the midfield. Then she just stood up and left. I looked down on the pitch and saw Keira and Jordan Nobbs were struggling to keep up with the pace I tried to put up with the play. That was the moment I decided to get her involved more – one because she has an eye for things no one ever sees and two she needed a task. She needed something to take her mind off her injury and what it meant – what she lost. I got her involved a little bit more every camp and this time she finally accepted my offer to employ her full time which I know is a big step for her. But a big step in the right direction. A big step towards healing” the blonde said lovingly and squeezed your hand

“That got deep Mama Rina” you mumbled getting a little emotional before looking at the young reporter woman “Thank you for your question”

The room chuckled again enjoying your young easy and light way you were handling the situation of getting thrown into a press conference for the first time

“I'm sorry I can't provide such a deep meaningful answer but... I didn't feel any pressure to be honest. As I said before until the very last moment – the moment that Sarina made me explain my tactics to the team to be exact – it was all hypothetical for me. And after that I didn't really have time to feel pressured – I tell ya this team is a handful. Just yesterday Niamh called out Code Red – which means no one is allowed to leave – because she couldn't find her lucky socks... turns out the washed them in the sink and hung them on the balcony and they just fell off onto the balcony of Lottes... that's the shit you guys normally don't get to see” you said shaking your head when you remembered how ridiculously headless Niamh tore her room apart because of a pair of socks.

After the room quiet down from their round of laughter again the whole questioning shifted towards the spanish men and you started to spin with your chair until Sarina stopped you gently putting her hand on your arm to calm you down. You huffed but stayed still trying to listen to the answers of the Vilda and Rubiales but it was no use.

You heard your name a couple of times but since you didn't have any context you chose to ignore it – that was until a fuming Mapí León with an equally fuming Leila Ouahabi hot on her heels came blazing into the room both of them throwing some words at Vilda and Mapí even went so far to crawl onto the table separating the trainers from the reporters. Seconds later an angry looking Alexia entered the room just in time to grab Mapís ankle and pulling her back and away from the spanish national team coach. She tried to get her players under control by pulling both of them back by the hem of their jerseys. Mapí was kicking and screaming like a five year old – of course in spanish so you didn't understand a word – the only thing you understood was when Mapí yelled “mi Nena” - but when you looked at Vildas face it told you everything that you needed to know. You looked flabbergasted to Sarina who looked just as shocked and shrugged her shoulders before you turn towards the reporters where some just shook their head in disbelieve.

The post-match conference was ended pretty quickly after that and you basically jumped over the table sprinting out of the room past Keira and Lucy – who were waiting for you outside the room – towards the spanish locker room. This time you weren't as friendly as before and bolted through the door without knocking even tho you could hear Alexias angry voice half way down the corridor. The second you threw the door open the whole team looked at you and everyone fell silent – even Alexia.

“What the fuck just happened?” you looked at Alexia lost

“Cariño I love you I do... but this is something we have to talk about internally” Alexia said softly

“Mapí was about to strangle that mop in front of thousands and you say this is an internal thing?” you raised an eyebrow

“He called her a “lost little child who wears shoes that are to big for her and she's useless”... mi Nena knows EXACTLY what she's doing... mierda we lost FIVE zero...” Mapí started to rage again and you became big eyes

“Mapí ENOUGH” Alexia scolded her “Everyone SAW what she did and her head coach isn't a useless... culo like ours... there's no need for you to defend her... she has Lucy for that”

“But Lucy didn't do anything...” Mapí said outraged

“Because her spanish is shit and she probably didn't understand” you shrugged accepting the water bottle Ona held out for you “And the way you hesitated at the word “culo” means it's bad and I'll definitely save that down in me brain”

“No you won't Bebita” Ona smiled sweetly but you know just like with Keira it was a warning “Bad word”

“Then Alexia has to do push-ups... that the bad word rule!” you exclaimed and Alexia looked at you unimpressed

“I'm an adult... I can say whatever I want” the blonde spaniard said flatly

“Rule applies for everyone Capi” Jenni now grinned “Down on your hands and knees you go”

“What does culo mean?” you leaned over so you could whisper in Mapís ear

“Asshole” Mapí whispered back

“That'll make 15” you looked at Alexia “That word is an A-grade swear word.. A-grade swear words make 15 push ups...”

“I most definitely won't do any push-ups...” Alexia rolled her eyes

“But I always have to do them” you whined

“And look how much more your arms and shoulders are defined since I last saw you” the spanish capitan smiled and pinched your cheek

“You suck” you grumbled pushing yourself behind Ona to seek cover from her prying hands

“No little one... that's me... she's more the...” Jenni smirked but before she could end the sentence she got punched very hard in the shoulder by Alexia

“Come on Bebita... let's get you back to the Lionesses...” Ona said lovingly already pushing you forward slightly “Say bye-bye”

“Ass-dios” you waved which caused the younger players to explode in laughter – including Jenni – while Alexia threw you a death glare as Ona quickly pushed you out the door

“Keira...” Ona yelled seeing Keira down the corridor

“There you are!!! We where searching the whole place for you!!” Keira exclaimed the second she laid eyes on you “Don't you ever do that again!!!”

“I was just at the spaniards and pretty spaniard taught me a new word” you smiled at the blonde proudly

“Don't even” Ona warned you

“What happened?” Keira turned towards the blonde spaniard

“She suddenly kicked in our locker room door... and didn't except “it's an internally affair” from Alexia” your sisters girlfriend shrugged her shoulders

“Uh Kei...” you pulled on her jacket a little bit “Alexia said an A-grade swear word... and she refused to do push-ups”

“Really now... we can't have that now can we?” Keira mused sensing that you started to get tired and pulled you into her side winking at Ona before turning around slowly leading you back towards the Lioness locker room pulling out her phone to text Lucy and Leah that she “found” you

“You little shite...” Lucy started immediately but got cut off by Keira

“Leave her be... she's dead on her feet” the blond said firmly basically carrying all your weight your head on her shoulder

“Come here Bubs” Lucy exhaled deeply hoisting you away from Kei into her own arms cradling you like you were a three year old again while Keira got all your bags

“How bad is it outside?” your sister asked Leah who sneaked a look outside looking at the crowd waiting for the players to emerge from the stadium walking to the bus

“Nothing we're not used too...” the blonde capitan shrugged

“I'm asking because of her” Lucy nodded towards your sleeping form in her arms slightly drooling on your sisters jacket “If she gets startled half the team won't get an inch of sleep tonight – you remember the drama after the France game?”

“Wait... I get the noise cancelling headphones” Mary said thinking quickly pulling already on Rachels headphones getting them off her and carefully sliding them on your head.

You quickly got startled by the sudden loss of hearing but Lucy had you under control quickly by manoeuvring your head into her neck. The moment you smelled the familiar scent of your sister skin you relaxed again becoming boneless in her arms.

“She's so out” Keira chuckled

“You surprised?” Lucy answered hoisting you up a little more “Fuck me... this was easier when she was 3”

“No shit Sherlock” Millie deadpanned “Gimme... I'll carry her”

“Naah – we're good” your sister said but smiled at her teammate thankfully “I'll just bring her into the bus and then come out to sign some stuff...”

“You don't have to – you're not obligated to do so and you know it” Leah said seriously

“I know... but they waited long enough now and she'll be good once she's inside the bus” your sister answered “Let's get this show on the road”

As soon as the doors opened the fans went wild – as usual and Lucy was so SO thankful for Marys quick thinking of putting the noise cancelling headphones over your ears. Your sister walked quickly with you in her arms towards the bus disappearing inside it. She disposed you into her own seat asking the bus driver if he could have half an eye on you. Of course he agreed quickly being a fan of you himself with all the shenanigans you came up with all the time.

Your eyes fluttered open slowly and you were met with – darkness. Darkness and softness. You bolted upright searching for your phone in the dark. Getting more arrogated which each passing second you knocked over a bottle of water which caused a light to get switched on and you were met with the sleepy looking form of your girlfriend.

“What you doing baby?” Georgia asked her voice raspy

“What are you doing in my room?” you asked confused “Why am I in my room??”

“Firstly... that's my room... secondly... you were out like a light once Keira found you and then YOU wouldn't let go of me shirt and Keira got Lucy to agree to let us room for tonight under the promise that I won't touch you in any “not biblical” form” your girlfriend informed you

“Wait... what day is it???” you looked at her confused

“What?” Georgia asked equally confused

“Day baby... what DAY is it?” you looked at her like you're going to have a mental breakdown any second

“Still Wednesday... game day.. 23:48... why” G answered keeping her voice even to not set you off further

“Oh thank fuck” you sighed “Get ready... come on... take your phone”

You ushered your girlfriend out of her bed – not without ogling her body for a second longer that would go through as “biblical” - and then out of the room up a floor hiding behind a corner taking out our phone.

“23:52... perfect” you grinned

“What have you planned??” your girlfriend whispered in your ear from behind/above you which cause a shiver to run down your spine

“Welcoming Sarinas new year of age” you swallowed hard trying not to think what you could do now with your girlfriend instead of hiding waiting for the pipers to come down the corridor.

“Oh god... WHAT did you do??” G whisper yelled “If I get in trouble for it...”

“Please... as if I let you get in trouble” you snorted spotting the first piper stepping out of the elevator

“Oh god... oh god no... no no no no no” your girlfriend mumbled with wide eyes having spotted the piper as well “You didn't”

“Oh I so did... mi Vida” you grinned evilly

“Me what?” Georgia asked confused

“No idea... Lucy always calls Ona that – probably something dirty turn ons in spanish” you shrugged your shoulder “Where the fuck are Toons and Less?? And Jill... where is Jill?”

The moment you said it you saw your two best friends sprinting down the corridor, little party hats askew on their heads another set in their hands. Less was carrying some glitter bombs and confetti canons.

“We're not late” Toons panted coming to a halt in front of you “What she doing here?”

“I'm her girlfriend??” Georgia said confused

“Still doesn't answer me question... you don't get to bake in our fame” Ella said annoyed holding out a party hat for you which you immediately placed on your head

“Fame? You really think that going down well for you?” your girlfriend snorted nodding towards the piper who just set up their bagpipes.

“Of course... that a birthday she'll never forget” Lessi answered grinning widely “Can we start?”

“No.. we still missing Jill” you pressed taking Georgias phone to look at the clock “23:59... come on Jill”

You heard the “ding” of the elevator and surely enough there came a big three story birthday cake wheeling out with a widely grinning Jill Scott pushing it down the corridor towards you.

“Where were you?” you came out of your hiding – which was useless anyway since Toons and Less stood right in front of you – speed walking towards Jill smashing a party hat on her head.

“Had to think about something to get the room card” your Godaunt and most trusted adult friend – after Keira – said pulling out the little plastic card from her back pocket

“What did you say?” you snorted Jill could come up with the best backstories

“Want to surprise my wife for her birthday” the older woman smirked back “easy in the nights since there are only teenage boys covering Front Desk”

“We'll leave quickly after we delivered our present so you two have some alone time” you smirked

“Thank you Cookie – we very much appreciate it” the dirty blonde laughed “You guys ready?”

All of you nodded and Jill very VERY carefully pushed the card into the electronic lock waiting for the signature “click” before pushing open the door. You had Georgias phone ready and when Jill gave you a thumbs up you started recording. The pipers shuffled into the small hotel room and on a small cough from you they started piping “Auld Lang Syne” and not even five seconds in the light next to the bed got smashed on and a completely demolished Sarina Wiegman sat in her bed, blanket pulled up to her chest, glasses askew from being placed quickly on her nose, hair standing in every direction like she just got electrocuted her eyes wide in shock. The pipers went seamlessly over to “When the Saint go marching in” before finishing with “Scotland the Brave”. The second the little private concert was over Toons and Less let the Glitter bombs and Confetti canons explode right over Sarina – and her bed – all of you yelling “Happy Birthday”.

Your plan was nearly perfect. Get glitter and confetti all over Sarina before bolting. What you DIDN'T think off – pipers where loud. Very loud. Waking up most of the squad in process. Like Leah. And Lucy. And – most dangerously – Keira. So the moment you wanted to bolt you were met with a LOT of Lionesses. Angry looking Lionesses. Angry looking Keira. You locked eyes with her and after a second ducked behind Toons before sinking down on the ground trying to army rob out of the room hoping everyone was too distracted by everything that's going on. Oh boy where you wrong – of COURSE Keira saw you the second you tried to rob out of the room placing herself right in your way. You looked up when you hit her legs with your head which you kept down so it wouldn't been to obvious who was pressed in that room – which was overflowing with players now. Niamh and Toons already got cake in their hands (plates were overrated at this point) as Leah tried to control the chaos. You bumped into Keiras legs and looked up scared to be met with two angry glaring eyes. You tried to quickly rob backwards just to get stuck in Millies legs.

“I don't think so, y/n Bronze” Keira seethed pulling you up by your ear “Are you actually mad? Did you finally lose your plot? Why in gods name...”

“Hey Kei... you want cake... it's chocolate” your sister interrupted Keiras rant holding a hand full of cake right under the blondes nose

Keira just looked at Lucy then to you and back to Lucy who smiled like a happy kid with her handful of cake.

“I don't know if I should yell at both of you or just give up...” the blonde shook her head

“Keep calm and eat cake” Lucy smiled pushing her hand closer to Keiras face who automatically moved her head out of the way

“No thank you... it's in the middle of the night” the blonde said a little disgusted

“And?? You think we ever get away with eating cake in the middle of the night ever again??? Embrace the moment Kei... USE the moment” your sister said before she pushed the handful of cake into her mouth and you listened to what your sister said and used the moment to carefully sneaked away from Keira.

You tugged on Georgias shirt at your swift exit and she followed you just as quickly

“You know you're in big shit tomor... today... today morning... later... in the morning” your girlfriend rambled

“I know... but so worth it” you smiled and the second you two were through the door to the stairs case you pulled her back on her shirt kissing her deeply

“Not that I'm complaining...” Georgia started once you parted again “... but what brought that on?”

“You still had a little frosting..” you smirked pointing at your own lip “... I think I better check for more frosting once we're back in our room... you are a messy eater after all”

“I.. I think I dropped some of the cake...” your girlfriend stuttered a little bit and you could see her eyes darkening

“Yeah... thought so...” you smirked starting to walk up the stairs towards Georgias room when you suddenly feel your feet leave the ground and your girlfriend hoisted you over her shoulder

“What are you doing??” you laughed loudly as Georgia sprinted up the stairs

“You're a slowpoke sometimes” your girlfriend said exiting the staircase sprinting down the corridor on your floor before fumbling with the key card to open the door

“Open you stupid door” your girlfriend grumbled you still hanging over your shoulder snickering

“Let me down... makes it easier” you laughed slightly

“I nearly got it... wait a second” Georgia mumbled but a second later you heard her kicking the door

“Baby come on.... let me down” you laughed louder lightly poking her rips

“But don't run away” your girlfriend said her voice a little whine

“As if” you snorted and felt her scrunch down to put you on the ground before she came up again and you were face to face with each other

Your eyes quickly flickered down to her lips before looking at her eyes again. Before you could make up your mind you felt Georgias lips on yours kissing you deeply and you couldn't suppress a moan which your girlfriend used to slip her tongue into your mouth. She pinned you against the door her hands against your hip she used her whole body to keep you were you currently were. You on the other hand fished the little plastic card out of her hand where it poked into your skin and opened the door behind your back without even looking. The door opened with a small “beep” and you smirked against your girlfriends lips.

“Show off” Georgia mumbled against your lips and pushed you backwards into the hotel room already pulling your shirt over your head

“Fuck” you panted as your back hit the mattress next to your girlfriend a light sheet of sweat covering your body “THAT...”

“Better than the last time?” Georgia smirked smugly her breathing coming out laboured

“Nothing can top last time Babe... but you tried” you chuckled turning your body so you were pressed into the blondes side tucking your head into her neck feeling how her arm sneaked around your back pulling you closer

“I mean... I can try again” you heard the smirk feeling how her hand started to wander again “and again... and again... and again”

“No... please don't... you tried enough for tonight” you chuckled as Georgia stroked lightly over your ribs tickling you slightly before pushing her hand away positioning it on your hip

Georgia showed mercy just rubbing her thumb soothingly over your hipbone pressing a soft kiss to your hair

“You only getter better with training...” your girlfriend smirked then yelped as you poked her side

“You telling me I'm bad at what I'm doing?” you pushed yourself up onto your elbow looking down at her raising your eyebrow

“No no no no...” Georgia quickly said pulling you back down this time on top of her holding you tightly to her chest

“Mhm... that's what I thought” you mumbled closing your eyes relaxing against the blondes chest just enjoying the time you have with your girlfriend without needing to worry about your sister interrupting

You felt Georgia wriggling around under you which caused you to lift your head – again.

“Really? You still want to... again?” you look at your girlfriend expectantly

“No... I actually just tried to get the blanket” Georgia laughed as she finally got the hem of the blanket and pulled it over the two of you “... wouldn't want to deliver you back to your pit bull-like sister with a cold”

“DON'T mention my sister right now... that doesn't.. no.. just no” you grunted

“Sorry...” your girlfriend chuckled

“You're disturbing my post-orgasmic-bliss” you complained whining

“Sorry... I can... I don't know... make you forget that I just said that?” Georgia smiled her hand starting to wander towards your ass again while the other grabbed your breast teasingly

“Gosh... you really are impossible” you rolled your eyes prying her hand off your breast

“I mean... did you see my girlfriend? I can't help meself” the blonde grinned pulling you a little upwards to press a kiss to your lips

“Mhm... I did see her... still don't know how you scored her?” you teased smirking

“I didn't... she's stubborn... but I'm glad she threatened to break me legs if I don't pull my finger out of me ass...” Georgia murmured kissing you softly and smiled

“Did she now? I should talk to her... apparently she knows how to keep you in check – you can be quiet... defying” you grinned letting her kiss you over and over again

“Excuse me?” your girlfriend exclaimed acting upset

“Mhm... didn't my sister told you – multiple times I might add – to keep your hands away from me?” you grinned kissing her this time

“I CAN keep me hands to meself” Georgia smirked “Question is.. would you want that?”

“Such a rebel aren't you...” you smirked kissing along your girlfriends jaw down her to her neck

“Have me moments” Georgias voice betrayed her as she clearly getting turned on again

“Mhm.... Keira told me” you smirked against her neck before biting down slightly

“Keira??” this time it was G who got sober immediately

“It's a turn off isn't it... hearing about them” you grinned sitting up now straddling her waist

“Yes” your girlfriend grumbled “What did that wanna be ginger told you?”

“That you got your first tattoo the day after you turned 18” you smirked the blanket loosely draped around your hip

“SHE roped me into it!” Georgia exclaimed sitting up as well

“Oh really?” you smirked down on her taking her face in your hands kissing her softly “Do tell”

“She just got a new one and because she knew Mama Walsh will have her ass she convinced me to get one too... then after the next england game she hugged her mum and of COURSE Mama Walsh immediately saw it” your girlfriend told you rolling her eyes “And the next thing I know is she pulled me over by me sleeve “Georgia has one too – and she's basically a baby”... then Mama Walsh had me ass too”

“She played you...” you laughed loudly “.... she played you so hard”

“Yeah... I had to stand there for 12 Minutes getting lectured by Mama Walsh about the risks of tattoos...” your girlfriend grumbled

“To be fair... when Mama Walsh has it out for your ass you better find someone who you can distract her with” you shrugged still grinning

“Yeah... she can be scary... but I'm still sure she loves me more than Keira” Georgia grinned straining her neck a little so she could steal a kiss again

“Bet she loves ME more than all of you” you smirked pressing a wet kiss to her lips

“Yeah yeah... you're everyones favourite” your girlfriend rolled her eyes again but the slight smile never leaving her lips

“G... I... have a question” you hesitated a little bit

“What you need, baby?” Georgia asked softly but seriously

“I want a tattoo... I want you to do it” you blurted out

“What?” your girlfriend looked at you dumb folded

“I want you to tattoo me.... I know what I want and where I want it...” you said seriously

“Baby.... I can't do that” Georgia looked up at you as you stare down at her with a little betrayal in your eyes “... first.. I never inked someone and secondly... Lucy and Keira would definitely kill me... and third.. you're 16...”

“Then I'm gonna be your first like you were mine...” you grinned and with each passing second it got wider “... Lucy and Keira never need to know... and my Birthday is in two weeks”

“Which still makes you underage” your girlfriend pointed out and you heard that you slowly wearing her down

“I can get you Lucys signing if you want... like... setting up a document that she's not allowed to kill you” you smiled widely

“I tell you what... If you get that done I'll seriously think about it” Georgia said and you leaned down kissing her softly “... but I'm not doing anything big”

“Don't worry... nothing big...” you promised scratching your girlfriends neck lightly

“And where?” Georgia kissed your neck softly

“Right...” you took her hand laying it on your left side guiding it up to the point where your bra would sit “... here”

“A rib tattoo? Baby... that's a bad idea... that will hurt like a bitch” your girlfriend murmured against your neck kissing her way down to your collarbone

“I can take it... I really want it” you said breathlessly

“Maybe somewhere else?” Georgia mumbled kissing her way further down her destination clear

“That's the only place Luce won't see it immediately” you now outright moaned “Fuck”

“Mhm” your girlfriend hummed sucking your hard nipple into her mouth

“You just can't... fuck...” you started to complain but your voice betrayed you once again and your hip rocked forward on its own accord

“You want something baby??” Georgia asked after she let go of your nipple with a wet pop

“More... please” your head fell onto Gs shoulder your hips still rocking in her lap

“More?” your girlfriend smirked starting to knead your other breast

“Please” you whined

“Fingers or mouth baby?” Georgia basically growled against your skin getting slightly possessive

“Fingers” you whined lifting your hips a bit and Georgia got the hint letting her hand slip in between your legs

“You're gonna be good for me?” your girlfriend growled starting to mark your skin with small bites not enough to leave a constant mark like she'd like to

“Yes... but please” you begged and whined trying to get her fingers inside you but her hand laid still between your legs

“You won't come without permission will you baby? You'll wait until I tell you that you can come, right?” Georgia playfully bit your nipple

“I won't... I promise” you moaned rocking your hips down trying to find some pressure relieve

“Good... and you won't becauseeee...” your girlfriend teased your entrance with one finger

“Yours” you whined desperately

“Mine what?” Georgia nudged the underside of your jaw with her nose

“All yours...” you nearly broke “... G please”

“Ssshh baby... I've got you” your girlfriend soothed you slipping her finger into you

“Fuck” you whimpered feeling Georgias digit enter your heat

“Mhm... so wet... so hot... so desperate” Georgia mumbled against your jaw kissing her way to the point just under your ear “All for me or is there someone else?”

“No one else” you panted against her shoulder

“Are you sure baby? No one...” your girlfriend bit down lightly “... someone spanish maybe... Jenni Hermoso maybe?”

Your hips rocked down hard on her finger your rhythmic movement faltering for a second before it picked up again

“Hmmm...” Georgia hummed pleased “... maybe that could be arranged one day”

“Fuck...” you whimpered

“Bubs??” you heard suddenly through the door loud banging followed

“Fuck” you looked at Georgia shocked her face just as frightened

“BUBS?” Lucy said a little louder

“What??” you yelled back your hand covering your girlfriends mouth

“You okay? You were gone suddenly” your sister spoke loudly

“Yeah... just... didn't wanna wait till Keira recovered from her confusement” you tried

“Can you maybe open the door?? I'm standing here like an idiot” Lucy sneered

“It's... not the best time Luce...” you whined “I'm... about to go shower”

“Well... then let me in and shower then” your sister wasn't giving up and you knew it

“You can also go back to your own room” you said helplessly

“Can't... Less has the key card and I don't know where Less is” Lucy groaned

“Lucy please... just... go somewhere else” you whined back even knowing all mood was gone

“You are my sister... why would I go somewhere... wait a second... where is Georgia?? Is Stanway with you???” your sister exclaimed

“No for god sakes Lucy... I just want to shower in peace... fuck off now” you yelled through the room and suddenly it was quiet

“Fuck me... she really knows how to ruin the mood” you grumbled lifting yourself off your girlfriends lap who was still rooted in her place “Unbelievable”

“That was close” Georgia stammed still a little scared

“Yeah well.. I was too...” you continue to grumble mostly to yourself until... you heard the signature “beep” of the door – your head shot up first to the door then to your girlfriend who spotted the same frightened look as you

You quickly threw on a shirt and gestured to Georgia to hide – which was ridiculous since it was firstly her room and secondly there wasn't really anywhere for her to hide

“Hide” you whisper yelled panicked while you threw a shoe at the door trying to block it

“Where??” Georgia whisper yelled back looking around just as panicked

“I don't know” you pulled on some shorts quickly

“Bubs... you blocking the door?” you heard Lucys voice and already saw the crown of her head trying to make its way inside the room

“Why would I??” you answered and tried to sound annoyed watching your girlfriend ripping open the door of the closet “Really?? You wanna hide in the wardrobe??”

“You have a better idea?” your girlfriend hissed back

“Bath or Balcony?” you looked at her confused

“Bubs... the door is stuck” your sister complained again

“You are stuck you muppet” you shot back pushing your girlfriend outside on the balcony

“Yeah well maybe you open the door then” Lucy said annoyed

You quickly went over ripping the door open looking at her expectantly

“What you want and where did you get that key?” you grunted at her

“Wanted to make sure you okay – you're on Sarinas list now... and key... Leah – as the capitan she has a universal key” your sister shrugged her shoulders “Jesus Christ Bubs... open the windows would you... it seriously stinks in here”

“I will... I just didn't want to come back from me shower into a cold room” you lied weakly “you saw that I'm alright now... so... good night”

“Yeah since I don't know where Less is... can I crash at yours?” Lucy rubbed the back of her neck embarrassed

“No” you exclaimed before clearing your throat “I mean... that's a little inconvenient Luce...”

“I'm your sister” Lucy exclaimed rolling her eyes

“I know and I love you... seriously... but I just want to shower and go to bed.. I...” you said trying to come up with an excuse “... I... have this... woman problem you know....”

“Your period?” your sister asked confused

“Yes...” you nodded slowly

“And? Gosh Bubs you really scared me there for a second... you need anything?” Lucy said lovingly

“Just... peace and quiet... please” you basically begged her at this point

“Geez okay... I'm already leaving...” your sister said and you noticed she got all defensive

“Luce” you whined

“No it's okay... you're a grown up now... you don't need me anymore” Lucy said already half way through the door

“That's not true.... Lucy come on...” you said again trying to calm your sister down

“Keira said I need to let you spread your wings... WINGS Bubs... not your legs okay” your sister said and pointed at you threating

“Okay Ew... that's disgusting” you pulled a face disgusted

“Exactly... sex is disgusting... never take part in it” Lucy said happy with herself

“Yeah...” you said embarrassed “... you're too later for that I'm afraid”

“Good... now go shower and then to bed... Sarina will blast through your door in... four hours” your sister smiled quickly checking her watch

“What does Sarina want?” you ask confused

“You're on her list... you gonna run” Lucy smiled before disappearing into the corridor again

“Fuck me” you exclaimed whining closing the door making your way to the bathroom

You just stepped under the shower when you remembered something important

“FUCK” you quickly jumped out of the shower wrapping yourself in a big fluffy towel before speed walking through the room opening the balcony door again pushing your head outside looking at your girlfriend who was just covered by a thin blanket standing pressed into the corner of the outside space

“Lucys gone” you smiled innocently ushering Georgia inside

“Do you know how cold it is in England this time of the year??” your girlfriend said her teeth chattering slightly

“Yeah I know... I'm sorry... but come on... I already turned on the shower for you” you smiled

“Gosh I love you” Georgia said pressing a kiss to your forehead heading towards the bathroom

“Oh and babe... Sarina will kick our door down in about four hours...” you nonchalantly called after her and you heard a crashing sound

“WHAT??”

[millyh23]

Breaking the Silence

Lucy Bronze x Reader

word count: 6.4k

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

Lucy slipped through the side door of the Chelsea training facility, her eyes darting across the empty hall. She wasn’t meant to be here so late. No one was. But this wasn't about late-night workouts or reviewing match footage. This was about sneaking into a quiet room where no one would think to look for her.

As she reached the physio room, the faint light spilling from under the door made her smile. She eased it open and saw her—the reason Lucy found herself at the training grounds even when she should be home, resting.

The physio, Y/n, had her back turned, organizing the shelves, humming softly to herself. Lucy took a step forward, the click of her cleats on the tiled floor making Y/n freeze.

“Lucy,” she whispered without turning around, that familiar smile evident in her voice. “You’re not supposed to be here.”

Lucy smirked, letting the door fall shut behind her. “Neither are you.”

Y/n finally turned, meeting her gaze, their eyes locking in that electric moment they always shared. “I’m just finishing up,” she said, but the soft blush on her cheeks gave away her real thoughts.

Lucy walked over, her fingers brushing the side of her arm as she leaned in close. “Maybe I was missing you.”

“You see me every day,” Y/n teased, but her voice softened. “You could get in trouble for sneaking in here like this.”

Lucy’s grin widened. “I don’t mind a little risk.” She paused, then added with a glint in her eye, “For you.”

The tension in the room thickened, both of them knowing how important it was to keep things under wraps. Lucy had always been good at keeping her personal life separate from her football career. But ever since she transferred to Chelsea, hiding this relationship had become trickier—and yet, more exciting.

As Y/n turned back to her work, Lucy slipped her arms around her waist from behind, pressing her lips to the back of her neck.

“Lucy…” Y/n’s voice held a warning, but her body relaxed into the embrace.

“We can be careful,” Lucy murmured against her skin, her voice soft but full of meaning. “No one will know.”

“Except for when they do.” she turned in her arms, looking up at her with a mixture of affection and worry. “We can’t keep this up forever.”

Lucy cupped her cheek, brushing a thumb across her lips. “Then let’s enjoy it while we can.”

Y/n sighed, the weight of secrecy pressing between them even as their bodies stayed close. She ran her fingers through Lucy’s hair, pushing back a stray strand, her thumb brushing Lucy’s temple gently.

“I don’t know how you stay so calm about this,” Y/n whispered. “Every time you’re in the locker room, I worry someone’s going to figure it out. One look at you and—”

“—and they’ll think I’m focused on winning,” Lucy cut in with a playful grin. “That’s what I’m known for, right?”

Y/n let out a soft laugh, but her eyes held the unspoken concern. It was easy for Lucy to play it cool, to keep their relationship hidden under layers of professionalism, but for Y/n, every time they met in secret felt like the walls were closing in. Every glance in training sessions, every casual touch during rehab… it all felt like a ticking time bomb.

Lucy, sensing the hesitation, pulled back just enough to look her in the eyes. “You’re worried about us getting caught,” she said softly, understanding in her tone.

“Of course I am. You're Lucy Bronze—every move you make is scrutinized. What if they think I’m abusing my position, or worse, that it affects the way you’re treated on the team?”

The vulnerability in Y/n’s voice tugged at Lucy’s heart. She placed her hands on the smaller girl's shoulders, holding her firmly but gently. “Hey,” she said, her voice low but steady, “what we have is ours. It’s not for anyone else to understand or judge.”

Y/n lowered her gaze, her lips pressing into a tight line. Lucy could feel the tension radiating from her.

“I know it’s hard,” Lucy continued, her thumb tracing soft patterns on Y/n’s arm, “but we’ve been careful, right? No one’s said a word. And even if they did, I’d handle it. No one’s coming between us, I promise.”

There was something in Lucy’s voice, a quiet strength, that made Y/n look up again. Her heart ached in a good way, a way that reminded her why she had fallen for Lucy in the first place. The footballer was relentless on the pitch, but with her, she was tender—always knowing what to say to calm her fears, to make her feel secure.

“I believe you,” Y/n said softly, her fingers tracing the edge of Lucy’s jaw. “I just… don’t want to mess things up for you.”

Lucy leaned in, their foreheads touching. “You could never mess things up for me. You’re the best thing that’s happened since I came to Chelsea.”

The words hung in the air, a quiet affirmation of the bond they shared. And in that moment, the fear seemed to melt away, leaving only the two of them in the quiet stillness of the physio room, where the rest of the world didn’t matter.

Y/n smiled, a soft, real smile. “You’re really bad at being subtle, you know that?”

Lucy chuckled, her lips brushing against Y/n’s. “Good thing I’m not subtle with you.”

Their kiss was slow, gentle, a moment they savored despite the risks. But as their lips parted, Y/n pulled back with a playful glint in her eye. “You’ve got to go, Lucy. If someone finds us here…”

“I’ll just say I needed an extra session with my favorite physio,” Lucy teased, her voice dropping to a whisper as she nuzzled in her girlfriend's neck.

She playfully shoved her away. “You are such a terrible liar.”

Lucy laughed, stepping back with a wink. “I guess I better practice then. Same time tomorrow?”

Y/n rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide the grin tugging at her lips. “You’re impossible.”

“And you love it,” Lucy shot back as she slipped out the door, leaving behind the warmth of their secret but carrying it with her as she stepped into the cold night air.

As the door closed softly behind her, Y/n stood there for a moment, her heart still racing, the weight of their hidden love hanging heavy but sweet. She had no idea how long they could keep it a secret—but for now, she was willing to hold onto it for as long as she could.

The following days felt like a tightrope walk. Every glance, every brush of fingers, every moment where their eyes lingered just a second too long— Y/n could feel the pressure building. The secrecy that once felt thrilling was starting to fray her nerves.

It didn’t help that Chelsea’s training sessions were more intense than ever. Lucy was everywhere, always in motion, her leadership on full display. And Y/n, as the team physio, had to remain professional, pretending not to notice how the sight of Lucy made her heart race, even as she worked on other players.

But today, something felt off.

In the middle of a grueling session, Y/n stood on the sidelines, observing the players, clipboard in hand. Lucy was playing in a small-sided game, her voice ringing out across the pitch, calling orders, demanding more from her teammates. She was focused—too focused, if Y/n was honest. It was as if Lucy was pushing herself harder than usual, and the strain was starting to show.

Suddenly, it happened.

Lucy went in for a challenge, misjudging her footing as her knee twisted awkwardly. She hit the ground with a sharp cry, clutching her leg. The sound of it sent a shockwave of fear through Y/n.

Her heart lurched, instincts taking over as she sprinted onto the field, her medical bag swinging at her side. By the time she reached Lucy, the other players were already crowded around, concern etched on their faces.

"Bronze, you alright?" Sam Kerr’s voice was tense as she knelt beside her teammate.

Y/n shoved her way through, dropping to her knees beside Lucy. Their eyes met for the briefest second—Lucy’s filled with pain, but also something else. A silent message: Stay professional. Don’t let them know.

Y/n swallowed hard, her hands already moving to assess the injury, but her fingers trembled slightly. She could feel the weight of everyone watching, the whole team staring as she worked.

"Can you move it?" she asked, her voice steady despite the panic building in her chest.

Lucy grimaced, shaking her head. “It’s tight—hurts like hell.”

Y/n quickly ran through the motions, checking for serious damage. Her touch was careful, methodical, but inside she was falling apart. If Lucy was seriously injured, if she was out for weeks or months… How could she handle seeing her like this every day, knowing she couldn’t do anything to help?

She forced herself to focus, but every time Lucy winced, she felt a jolt of fear. What if this was more than just a strain? What if—

“Is it bad?” Millie’s voice cut through her thoughts, snapping her back to reality.

Y/n cleared her throat, forcing a calmness she didn’t feel. “It’s hard to say without a full assessment, but it looks like a sprain. We’ll get her back to the physio room for a better look.”

Lucy gave her a tight nod, playing her part perfectly, even though Y/n could see the tension in her jaw, the pain she was trying so hard to mask.

With the help of some teammates, Lucy was helped off the field, and Y/n followed closely, keeping her professional mask firmly in place. But inside, the worry was gnawing at her.

When they finally made it back to the treatment room, Lucy’s face was a mask of frustration as she lay back on the table. The door closed with a soft click, and suddenly, the room felt too small, too quiet.

Y/n turned to face Lucy, the weight of their relationship suddenly crashing down on her.

"You shouldn’t have pushed yourself so hard," she said, her voice sharper than she intended.

Lucy looked at her, eyebrow raised. “I had to. We’ve got games coming up—important ones.”

“You’ve been reckless,” Y/n countered, stepping closer, her emotions bubbling over. “And now look at you.”

Lucy’s expression hardened, her tone clipped. “Don’t make this into something it’s not.”

Y/n flinched at the words, but she couldn’t stop herself. “I’m trying to help you, Lucy, but you’re making it impossible. Do you even care what happens if—”

“If what? If I get hurt? I’ve dealt with worse.”

“That’s not the point!” Y/n snapped, finally letting her frustration break through. “You act like nothing touches you, like we’re fine, but we’re not! You’re playing with fire out there, and it’s only a matter of time before someone notices something’s off. Do you really think we can keep this up?”

Lucy’s eyes flashed with something fierce. “We’ve been fine so far. You’re the one who’s panicking.”

Y/n shook her head, stepping back, her hands trembling now. “Because I care about you. And I hate pretending that I don’t. Every time you get hurt, every time you push too hard, it kills me, Lucy. I can’t keep doing this if—”

“If what?” Lucy sat up, wincing slightly but ignoring the pain. “If we get caught? If someone finds out? I told you, I’ll handle it.”

“But it’s not just about you,” Y/n said, her voice quieter now, the anger giving way to something rawer, more vulnerable. “It’s about us. I don’t know how long I can keep pretending this doesn’t hurt.”

The room fell into a heavy silence, the tension between them thick and unspoken. Lucy’s eyes softened, the fire dimming as she looked at Y/n, really looked at her.

“You’re right,” Lucy said, her voice softer now. “I’ve been reckless. But I can’t let anything get in the way of football. Not now.”

Y/n looked away, her heart aching. “And what about us?”

Lucy reached out, her hand gently closing over Y/n’s. “I don’t know. But I want us. More than anything.”

The confession hung in the air, and for a moment, the tension gave way to something tender, something fragile. But the uncertainty still lingered, and neither of them knew how long they could keep walking this tightrope before everything came crashing down.

Lucy’s hand held onto Y/n’s, the warmth of her touch a stark contrast to the cold weight of their unspoken fears. Y/n wanted to believe her, wanted to cling to the idea that they could navigate the minefield of their secret relationship without it blowing up in their faces. But each passing day felt like they were inching closer to the edge.

“You want us,” Y/n echoed softly, her eyes meeting Lucy’s. “But you want football more.”

It wasn’t an accusation—it was a fact. A fact they both knew but had never put into words. Football was Lucy’s world. It always had been. And as much as Y/n wanted to be a part of that world, she was beginning to wonder if there was room for both her and Lucy’s relentless drive.

Lucy’s jaw tensed, her eyes flashing with frustration again, but this time, there was something deeper in her gaze. Guilt, maybe. Or fear. “Football is my life,” she said, her voice low, almost apologetic. “It’s what I’ve worked for since I was a kid. You knew that when this started.”

“I did,” Y/n admitted, her heart aching. “And I accepted it. But I didn’t realize how hard it would be, watching you put yourself through hell, knowing I have to pretend like you’re just another player.”

Lucy’s eyes softened, and she squeezed Y/n’s hand tighter. “You’re not just anyone to me. You know that.”

Y/n pulled her hand away, stepping back as the walls seemed to close in around her. “But no one else does. I’m supposed to act like this is nothing, like it doesn’t matter. But it does, Lucy. It matters too much.”

The words hung between them, heavy and full of the truth Y/n had been trying to avoid for months. They had fallen into this secret relationship, thinking they could handle it, that they could separate their personal lives from their professional ones. But now, the lines were blurring, and it was becoming harder to ignore the toll it was taking.

Lucy stood up from the table, wincing slightly as her injured leg protested. “I know it’s hard,” she said, her voice tense with the weight of everything unsaid. “But what do you want me to do? Walk away from football? Walk away from us?”

Y/n blinked, the question hitting her like a punch to the gut. She had never asked Lucy to choose—she didn’t want to. But it was becoming clear that something had to give. “I don’t know,” she whispered, her voice breaking slightly. “I don’t know how much longer I can keep doing this.”

Lucy took a step forward, her eyes desperate now. “You don’t mean that.”

“I don’t want to,” Y/n admitted, her heart pounding in her chest. “But every time I see you hurt, every time I have to pretend like you’re just another player, it’s like I’m losing you. Piece by piece.”

“You’re not losing me,” Lucy insisted, her voice firm. “I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”

Y/n shook her head, the frustration boiling over again. “You say that, but what happens when the next injury comes? Or when someone starts asking questions? How long before we slip up and everyone knows?”

Lucy ran a hand through her hair, her expression tightening. “We won’t slip up. We’ve been careful. We can keep this under control.”

“Can we?” Y/n asked, her voice rising in desperation. “Because it doesn’t feel like it. It feels like we’re one mistake away from everything falling apart.”

Lucy clenched her jaw, her hands balling into fists at her sides. “So what are you saying? That we should end this?”

The question hit Y/n like a slap, and she recoiled, her breath catching in her throat. She hadn’t meant to suggest that—not really. But the thought had been gnawing at her, growing stronger with each passing day. Maybe it would be easier if they weren’t together, if they didn’t have to hide, if they didn’t have to pretend.

But the idea of losing Lucy? Of walking away from everything they’d built, even if it was in secret? It felt unbearable.

“I don’t know,” Y/n whispered, her voice cracking. “Maybe that would be better. For both of us.”

Lucy’s eyes darkened, a storm of emotions swirling behind them. “You don’t mean that.”

“I don’t know what I mean anymore,” Y/n admitted, tears welling up in her eyes. “All I know is that I can’t keep pretending this doesn’t hurt. It’s tearing me apart, Lucy.”

Lucy stared at her, her chest rising and falling with the force of her breath. The silence between them was suffocating, filled with all the things they were too afraid to say. Finally, Lucy spoke, her voice low and raw.

“I can’t lose you,” she said, the vulnerability in her tone cracking through her usual confidence. “I don’t care about the risks. I don’t care if people find out. I need you.”

The confession hung in the air, a sharp contrast to the tension that had been building between them. But even as the words washed over her, Y/n couldn’t shake the fear gnawing at her. It wasn’t just about the risks or the secrecy—it was about the reality that Lucy’s world would always come first. And maybe, deep down, Y/n had always known that.

“I need you too,” Y/n said softly, her voice trembling. “But I don’t know if that’s enough anymore.”

Lucy’s face fell, her eyes searching Y/n’s as if she could find some way to fix this, some way to pull them back from the edge. But the truth was, they were standing on the brink, and neither of them knew how to step back.

“I don’t want to lose you,” Lucy whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “But I can’t walk away from football. Not now. Not ever.”

Y/n nodded, tears slipping down her cheeks. “I know. And I’m not asking you to. But I need to know if there’s room for both.”

Lucy looked away, her jaw tight, her eyes clouded with the weight of the decision hanging over them. And for the first time, Y/n realized that maybe, just maybe, there wasn’t room for both. Not the way they needed.

The silence stretched between them, thick and painful, until finally, Lucy spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.

“I don’t know.”

And with those three words, the tension that had been building for so long finally snapped, leaving them standing on opposite sides of the room, the distance between them more than just physical. It was the reality of their situation—the impossibility of their love—and it was slowly tearing them apart.

Lucy’s words echoed in the small room, heavy with the weight of uncertainty. "I don't know." It wasn’t what Y/n wanted to hear. It was like the ground beneath them was slipping, the foundation of their relationship crumbling under the pressure.

The silence stretched, thick and unbearable. Y/n wiped at her tears, trying to keep herself together, but every second that passed only deepened the chasm between them. Lucy was still sitting on the edge of the treatment table, staring at the floor, her fingers digging into the fabric of her shorts as if she was trying to hold onto something solid.

But nothing felt solid anymore.

“You don’t know?” Y/n repeated softly, her voice breaking. She wasn’t even sure why she’d asked—it was clear from Lucy’s expression that this was the truth, that she was struggling with the weight of it just as much as Y/n was.

Lucy looked up, her eyes clouded with frustration and pain. “What do you want me to say?” she asked, her voice rising slightly. “I’m doing the best I can, Y/n. I’m trying to balance everything, but football… it’s who I am. It’s my whole life. I can’t just… I can’t just walk away from it.”

Y/n felt her stomach twist, her heart pounding against her ribs. “I’m not asking you to walk away from it! I would never ask that!” Her voice cracked with the emotion she was trying so hard to control. “But I can’t keep living like this. I can’t keep hiding, pretending like I don’t care when you’re hurt, pretending like we’re not… something real. It’s too much, Lucy.”

Lucy stood up, her movements sharp, full of restless energy. She ran a hand through her hair, pacing the room, clearly torn between her love for football and her feelings for Y/n. The tension in her shoulders was unmistakable, the frustration seeping into every step.

“I don’t know what else to do,” Lucy admitted, stopping in front of her, her eyes pleading for understanding. “If we go public, everything changes. People start talking, the media gets involved, the team dynamics shift… it’s a risk for both of us.”

“And what about us?!” Y/n blurted out, her voice full of desperation. “Are we even a priority for you? Or is this just… something to fill the gaps between your matches?”

The second the words left her mouth, she regretted them. The look on Lucy’s face—shock, hurt, and anger—stabbed Y/n like a knife. But she couldn’t take it back now.

“Is that what you think?” Lucy’s voice was low, dangerous. She stepped closer, her presence commanding. “You think I’m with you just because it’s convenient? That this doesn’t mean everything to me?”

Y/n swallowed hard, feeling cornered but unable to stop herself. “I don’t know, Lucy! Because right now, it feels like I’m just an afterthought. Like football will always come first, and I’m just supposed to be okay with that.”

Lucy stared at her, her chest rising and falling with the force of her emotions. “Of course football comes first. It has to. You knew that when this started. I never hid that from you.”

“And I thought I could handle it,” Y/n whispered, her voice trembling. “But it’s breaking me. Every time you get hurt, I have to pretend like it doesn’t matter more because I’m your physio, and not your—” She stopped herself, choking on the word she hadn’t said yet. She wasn’t sure she even had the right to say it.

Lucy closed the distance between them, her voice softer now, but the tension still crackling in the air. “Not my what?”

Y/n swallowed, tears welling up again. “Not your girlfriend.”

The word hung between them, thick with emotion. Lucy’s face softened, but there was still so much conflict in her eyes.

“You are my girlfriend,” Lucy said quietly, but the words didn’t feel as comforting as they should have.

“Then why doesn’t it feel like it?” Y/n whispered, her voice barely holding together. “Why does it feel like I’m always waiting for scraps of time with you? Like I’m always second place to the game?”

Lucy’s shoulders sagged, and for a moment, it looked like she was going to crumble under the weight of it all. “Because… because football is all I’ve ever known. It’s how I make sense of the world. And yeah, maybe I’ve been shitty at balancing everything, but that doesn’t mean you’re not important to me.”

Y/n shook her head, biting her lip to keep the sob from escaping. “I know that. But I don’t want to just be someone you fit into the gaps between training sessions and matches. I want to feel like we’re in this together. Like we’re both fighting for it.”

Lucy was silent for a long moment, her eyes searching Y/n’s face, as if trying to find the right words to make everything okay. But there were no easy answers. There never had been.

“I don’t know if I can give you that,” Lucy finally said, her voice raw. “Not the way you need me to.”

The admission hit her like a punch to the gut. She had been holding onto hope that Lucy could find a way to balance everything—that somehow, they could make this work. But hearing Lucy admit that she wasn’t sure if she could be the partner Y/n needed was like a cold, harsh reality settling in.

Tears streamed down [Y/N]’s cheeks as she stepped back, putting distance between them. “Then what are we doing, Lucy?” she asked, her voice thick with pain. “What’s the point of this if it’s always going to be like this?”

Lucy looked like she wanted to argue, to tell Y/n that it would be different, that they could make it work. But she didn’t. Because deep down, they both knew the truth. The balance between football and their relationship was fragile, and it was tipping in the wrong direction.

“I don’t want to lose you,” Lucy said softly, her voice breaking with emotion. “But I don’t know how to be with you in a way that doesn’t hurt both of us.”

Y/n wiped at her tears, her heart breaking with every word. “Maybe we can’t.”

Lucy’s eyes filled with sorrow, and for the first time, she didn’t have a response. The silence between them was louder than anything else. It was full of all the things they hadn’t said, all the sacrifices they weren’t sure they could make.

Y/n turned, walking toward the door, her hand trembling as she reached for the handle. “Maybe we need to stop pretending this isn’t tearing us apart,” she whispered, her back to Lucy. “Because I don’t think I can do this anymore.”

And with that, she opened the door, stepping out into the hallway, leaving Lucy behind in the quiet, suffocating stillness of the treatment room.

But even as the door clicked shut behind her, Y/n knew that walking away was the hardest thing she’d ever done. Because leaving Lucy, even if it was the right thing, felt like losing the one thing she’d ever truly wanted.

Y/n barely made it down the hallway before the weight of everything became too much. She leaned against the cold wall, her breath coming in shaky, uneven gasps as the reality of what had just happened sank in. Walking away from Lucy felt like ripping her heart out. But staying? Staying felt like it was breaking her, piece by piece.

She could still feel the echo of Lucy’s words—I don’t know if I can give you that. It played over and over in her mind, like a loop she couldn’t escape. But she had to. She had to let go, hadn’t she?

Before she could make sense of the mess of emotions swirling inside her, she heard the sound of hurried footsteps behind her. She turned just in time to see Lucy limping down the hallway, her face flushed, her eyes wide with panic.

“Y/n, wait,” Lucy called out, her voice breathless, almost frantic.

Y/n swallowed hard, her heart hammering in her chest. She wanted to run, to keep going before Lucy could say anything else. But the look in Lucy’s eyes—the sheer desperation there—rooted her to the spot.

Lucy stopped in front of her, her chest heaving from the short sprint, her eyes locked onto Y/n’s. “I can’t… I can’t let you leave like this.”

Y/n blinked, her throat tightening. “Lucy…”

“No, please, just listen,” Lucy interrupted, her voice thick with emotion. She took a step closer, closing the distance between them. “Y/n, I’ve spent my entire life putting football first. It’s been everything to me. And I thought… I thought I could keep it that way. I thought I could just make everything else fit around it. But I was wrong.”

Y/n felt her pulse quicken, her breath catching in her throat. “What are you saying?”

Lucy took a shaky breath, her eyes searching Y/n’s face with an intensity that made Y/n’s heart ache. “I’m saying that I’ve been a coward. I’ve been afraid to admit how much you mean to me. I’ve been so focused on football that I’ve been too scared to let myself want more. But I want more, Y/n. I want you. I need you.”

Y/n stared at her, her heart pounding so hard it felt like it might burst out of her chest. “But… what about football?”

Lucy’s jaw clenched, but her gaze never wavered. “Football will always be a part of my life. It’s who I am. But it’s not all I am. I don’t want it to be the only thing that matters. Not anymore.”

The vulnerability in Lucy’s voice, the rawness of her confession, hit Y/n harder than anything else. This was Lucy Bronze—strong, determined, unshakeable—finally admitting that she couldn’t do it all alone. That she didn’t want to.

Lucy reached out, her hand trembling slightly as she cupped her face. Her thumb gently wiped away a tear that had slipped down Y/n's cheek. “I love you,” she whispered, the words so soft they were barely audible. “I’ve been too afraid to say it, but it’s true. I love you, and I don’t want to lose you.”

The breath caught in Y/n’s throat, her vision blurring as more tears spilled over. Lucy had said the words she hadn’t even dared to hope for, the words that had been locked between them for far too long. “Lucy…” she whispered, her voice shaking.

“I’m not saying it’s going to be easy,” Lucy continued, her voice steady but filled with emotion. “I know I haven’t been fair to you. I’ve been selfish, and I’ve hurt you by not giving you the attention you deserve. But I want to make it right. I want to fight for us.”

Y/n shook her head, her emotions swirling so violently inside her that she couldn’t keep it together. “How can you say that? How can you be sure?”

“Because I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life,” Lucy said, her voice fierce with conviction. “I know football is important, but I also know that I don’t want to live in a world where I don’t have you by my side. We’ll figure it out. I don’t care if people know, I don’t care if we have to navigate the chaos together. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

Y/n felt her walls crumbling, the tension that had built between them for so long finally breaking. “I don’t want to lose you either,” she whispered, her voice barely holding together. “I love you too, Lucy. But I can’t keep feeling like I’m second place.”

“You won’t be,” Lucy promised, her eyes shining with emotion. “I’m not saying I’ll get it right all the time, but I swear I’ll try. You’re my priority. You’ve always been my priority, even if I didn’t show it. I need you to believe me when I say that.”

Y/n swallowed hard, the lump in her throat making it difficult to speak. But the sincerity in Lucy’s voice, the sheer determination in her eyes, made it impossible not to believe her.

“I believe you,” Y/n whispered, her voice breaking as she leaned into Lucy’s touch.

Lucy exhaled, a shaky, relieved breath escaping her as she pulled Y/n into a tight embrace. The moment their bodies touched, it was like the tension that had been holding them apart for so long finally melted away. They stood there in the hallway, clinging to each other, holding on as if they were afraid to let go.

“I’m sorry,” Lucy murmured into Y/n’s hair, her voice thick with emotion. “I’m so sorry for everything.”

Y/n shook her head, burying her face in Lucy’s chest as the tears came in full force now. “I’m sorry too. I just… I don’t want to lose you.”

“You won’t,” Lucy promised, her arms tightening around her. “You never will.”

For the first time in months, Y/n allowed herself to believe it. They stood there, wrapped in each other, the weight of the last few months finally lifting as they found a sense of peace in each other’s arms.

It wasn’t perfect, and it wouldn’t be easy. But for the first time, they were both willing to fight for it. Together.

Lucy pulled back slightly, tilting Y/n's chin up so their eyes met. “We’ll figure this out,” she said softly, her voice full of determination. “One step at a time.”

Y/n smiled through her tears, a glimmer of hope flickering in her chest. “One step at a time.”

Lucy leaned in, pressing a soft, tender kiss to Y/n’s lips, sealing the promise they’d made to each other.

And for the first time in what felt like forever, it didn’t feel like they were on opposite sides of a battlefield. It felt like they were in this together—finally, truly together.

The kiss lingered for a moment, gentle but full of unspoken promises. When they finally pulled apart, Lucy rested her forehead against Y/n’s, her breath mingling with hers in the quiet of the hallway. It felt like they had broken through the storm and finally found a moment of peace, fragile but real.

“Let’s get out of here,” Lucy whispered, her voice still low but steadier now. “We need time—time away from everything. Just us.”

Y/n nodded, her heart still pounding from the emotional whiplash of the last hour. The idea of being alone with Lucy, no pressure from football, no eyes watching, felt like a lifeline. “Yeah. I think we both need that.”

Lucy smiled softly, a glint of relief in her eyes. “Come on,” she said, taking Y/n’s hand and leading her down the hallway toward the exit. The touch of Lucy’s hand in hers was grounding, the warmth of her skin reassuring. It felt like they were finally moving forward, like they had a chance to rebuild what had nearly been broken.

The walk to the car was quiet, but it wasn’t the strained silence that had been hanging over them for weeks. It was a comfortable quiet, the kind where words weren’t necessary. They were both exhausted—emotionally and physically—but being next to each other, knowing they had made it through, was enough for now.

As they drove away from the training ground, Lucy’s hand stayed resting on Y/n’s thigh, her thumb brushing soothing circles over her skin. Y/n glanced over at her, seeing the tension that had been etched into Lucy’s face for so long starting to ease. There was still so much to work through, but this moment felt like a step in the right direction.

They ended up at Lucy’s flat, the familiar space feeling like a sanctuary after the whirlwind of emotions. As soon as the door closed behind them, Lucy pulled Y/n into her arms again, holding her tightly as if she never wanted to let go. Y/n melted into the embrace, burying her face in Lucy’s neck, breathing in the comforting scent of her.

“I missed you,” Lucy whispered, her voice barely audible. “Even when you were right there, I missed you.”

Y/n’s throat tightened again, but this time it wasn’t from pain—it was from the overwhelming love she felt for this woman, the woman who had been so scared to let herself be vulnerable, but who was finally opening up. “I missed you too,” she whispered back, her voice trembling with emotion.

They stood like that for a while, just holding each other, the weight of everything that had happened slowly starting to fade as they found solace in each other’s arms. Eventually, Lucy pulled back slightly, her eyes searching Y/n’s face.

“I want to do better,” Lucy said softly. “I know it’s not going to be easy, but I’m going to try. For us.”

Y/n smiled, her heart swelling with affection for the woman in front of her. “We’ll figure it out together. We always do.”

Lucy leaned in, pressing another kiss to Y/n’s lips, this one filled with a renewed sense of hope. When they pulled apart, Lucy rested her forehead against Y/n’s again, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

“You know,” Lucy said, her tone lighter now, “I think we’re both pretty terrible at this whole ‘keeping it a secret’ thing.”

Y/n let out a soft laugh, the tension between them finally dissolving completely. “Yeah, I think we’ve been caught more times than we’d like to admit.”

Lucy grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “I don’t think it’s going to stay a secret for much longer.”

“Maybe that’s not such a bad thing,” Y/n said, her smile growing. “I don’t want to hide anymore. I don’t want us to be something we have to keep in the shadows.”

Lucy’s expression softened, the vulnerability she had shown earlier still there, but now tempered with a quiet confidence. “Neither do I,” she admitted. “I’m ready to let people see us for who we are. We deserve that.”

Y/n felt her heart flutter at Lucy’s words. They had been through so much together—fighting to balance their careers and their relationship, struggling to find time for each other in the chaos of their lives—but this felt like the start of something new. Something stronger.

“Okay,” Y/n said, her voice filled with determination. “Then let’s do it. Let’s stop hiding.”

Lucy smiled, a look of pure affection in her eyes. “Together?”

“Together.”

They stood there, wrapped in each other’s arms, the weight of the decision settling over them like a warm blanket. It wouldn’t be easy—there would be questions, media attention, and the inevitable scrutiny that came with being a high-profile couple. But they were ready to face it. For the first time, they were both on the same page, both committed to fighting for their relationship, no matter what came their way.

Lucy pulled Y/n toward the couch, settling down beside her, their fingers still intertwined. “So,” she said, her tone teasing, “how do you think the team’s going to take the news?”

Y/n laughed, her heart feeling lighter than it had in months. “I think they’ve probably already figured it out.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right,” Lucy agreed, her smile widening. “I guess we’ll just have to deal with the teasing.”

“As long as I have you, I can handle it,” Y/n said, her voice soft but filled with certainty.

Lucy leaned in, pressing a kiss to Y/n’s temple. “You’ll always have me.”

And with that, the last remnants of the tension between them finally disappeared, replaced by the quiet, steady certainty of their love. They sat there, side by side, knowing that whatever came next, they would face it together.

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

The End

[woso-dreamzzz]

Illness

Barcelona Femení x Teen!Reader

Summary: You hide an illness

If you weren't delirious with a fever and sweating bullets, you would have described this moment as the most embarrassing moment of your life.

The semi-final El Clásico was one of the most important of the season and it was such bad luck that you had fallen ill the week before. It was most likely the flu but you never went to any doctor to get it checked out. Instead, you hunkered down in your apartment and refused to leave until you got better.

Only, you never did get fully better. Your immune system was as strong as a wall of feathers so you just decided to channel your inner Oscar winner and pretend you were fine.

You arrived at training every day after taking enough painkillers to fell an ox and hydrate yourself to the point that you were sure that your bladder had to force itself to grow.

It paid off though because you were part of the squad going to Madrid and you caught up on sleep during the train ride so could keep up your façade all the way up to the match day.

Your head was pounding as you finally stepped onto the pitch about ten minutes after half time, sliding easily into Lucy's position as the ball went back into play.

Thankfully, football was an instinct rather than a conscious thought at this point and even with a banging headache, achy limbs and a blocked nose, you played without much issue.

"Hey," Irene said as you took a little break from running to walk over to the corner that was being set up," You okay? You're slower than usual today."

You fanned yourself with your jersey. "Just a little hot."

She gave you an odd look. "It isn't that hot. You haven't been on the pitch for long."

You gave her a shrug and lied straight to her face," Really? I guess I'm just running warm today." You picked up the pace and slotted yourself between Athenea and Olga.

It was almost slow motion as Salma sent a cross into the box. Olga tried to push you forward and away while Athenea's elbow stabbed you straight in the eye.

You dropped like a brick backwards into Olga, who surprised by your sudden weight, dropped you on the floor. Your head banged painfully against the grass and you groaned.

There was a slight ringing in your ears but you couldn't focus on anything but the desperate churning of your stomach. You squeezed your eyes tight to try to stem the swirling but it just made stars explode behind your eyelids as your face throbbed from Athenea's elbow.

Your stomach bubbled up and you felt a hand on your shoulder.

"Hey, kid, you okay?" It was Irene and she jostled you slightly.

That was what did it and you rolled over onto your stomach just in time to surrender your dinner.

You burst into tears, sobbing into the grass.

"Holy shit, y/n," Mariona said," You're burning up! Are you sick?"

"You're sick?!"

You continued to cry into the grass. With your usual caretaker (Alexia) out of the team for the rest of the month, it meant Irene was in charge of you.

You couldn't decide if you would rather Alexia at this moment.

"Go away," You cried into the grass.

"Can't do that," Ingrid said as she crouched over you," The medics are coming to get you."

You turned your head to look at her.

"She got you good, huh?" Ingrid said, her fingers ghosting over your swollen eye.

"Ingrid," You croaked out," My head hurts."

"I'm sure. That was a nasty fall."

"Hurt before that too."

She made a sympathetic noise as she helped you sit up for the medics to have a proper look at you.

You were escorted straight off when they checked the dilation of your pupils.

Lucy trailed back with you along with Marta, who looked to already be on the phone with Alexia. You knew your caretaker would be watching the match so it wasn't a surprise that she had already called someone the moment you went down.

"Got quite the shiner there," Lucy commented as she inspected your bruised eye," Trying to look like Mapi?"

"At least it isn't bleeding," You said before descending into a coughing fit, thumping at your chest to try and regain your breath.

Lucy laughed but quietened when Marta held the phone out to you. You tried to ignore the sinking feeling you felt when you saw Alexia's contact picture.

You cleared your throat.

"Hola?"

"I knew it!" Alexia declared.

"Know what?" You tried to play dumb even though your whole body protested.

"When I saw you yesterday and you told me you were back to full health! I knew you were lying to me! You're still sick!"

"Barely." Your defence didn't help when you started coughing again.

"You sound horrible," Alexia said bluntly," You're not playing the final. I'll have you benched."

"I'll be benched anyway. I've got a bruise the size of my fucking country on my eye and a concussion, probably."

"We'll have a talk about hiding illness when you get home," Alexia said," And I'll have to leave a message for your captain."

You would have rolled your eyes if it didn't cause a whole new pain to shoot through your skull. Your nose was all blocked up again so the pressure in your head was only mounting. "You're my captain."

"Your national captain."

"Oh, what? You can't tell Leah! She'll go barmy! I'll be lectured for hours!"

"You're being lectured regardless, by me," Alexia said," Now, rest up, drinks lots and I'll see you in a few days."

You didn't even get the chance to watch the end of the match because Marta forced you back to the hotel and into your room.

"No screens," She said when you moved to turn on the tv.

"Well, what else am I meant to do?" You complained, blowing out your nose.

"Well, for one, you can use the bucket on the floor if you feel like you're going to be sick."

"I'm not going to throw up."

"You threw up on the pitch." Marta just had to remind you of the most embarrassing moment of your life and your cheeks flushed red out of embarrassment now instead of your fever.

"But I won't now."

Marta didn't get time to respond because the door to your room got thrown open and Patri sprawled herself next to you on the bed.

"Welcome back to the land of the living," She teased, dumping some chocolate onto your lap.

"Patri," Marta groaned," She's sick and injured. She needs rest."

"She needs company. She's still human. You can't just lock her in her room like she's Rapunzel."

Marta rolled her eyes and swatted at Patri. "She doesn't need you hindering her recovery. Go on, out with you."

"Nah," Patri said as she got comfortable," I think I'll stay here. Besides, y/n wants me to stay."

You sent Marta your most pathetic and sad look.

"Please, Marta?" You begged," I promise she'll help me. It'll be nice to have some company."

Marta sighed deeply. "Fine but just for now. This all might change by the time Alexia gets her."

You groaned and flopped back to lay against your pillows properly. "Don't remind me."

[bunicate]

⋆⁺₊❅⋆ 𐙚 ₊˚ BOUNDED TO. belphie x fem reader

warnings ꒱ྀི incest. mild dub-con. blowjob. minor hairpulling. jealousy. sis-con belphie. repost / 18+

“luci says you’re not supposed to come in my room anymore.”

you kept your position on the bed. you lay on your slightly exposed belly with your back facing the door. you didn’t see the point in directing your gaze behind you when you were expecting this very moment to happen.

it’s been a few days since your last exchange, and it was only a matter of time before he’d seek you out once more. still, you maintained your weak show of defiance.

belphie chuckles dryly, amused at your attempt.

"well, for one, luci isn’t even here," he sneers.

he recoils at the nickname, annoyed at how sweetly it rolls off your tongue while he spits it out of his. jealousy hangs off the fringes at the mention of his elder brother, and it’s only quelled when he remembers his access to you. it dampens his anger, though only by a bit.

“and why am i not allowed here? did you tell him all the dirty things i did to you?”

you tense up at the words he utters, saturated with taunt, and your face begins to warm.

he watches as you become rigid, knowing that memories from just a mere few nights ago were running around in your head, and he took that as his invitation to keep going.

“did you tell him how i sucked your fat little cunt until you squirted?”

and incoming—you chuck a pillow at him with your demonic strength hoping that it would somehow drive a hole through his head for being so crude.

“shut up! you said you wouldn’t make fun of me for it."

belphie smirks as he catches the pillow with ease and he tucks it under his arm.

regret settles in the pit of your stomach, but more importantly, embarrassment.

you recall that night in such vivid detail. he parted your folds, in awe at the puffy thickness. he sucked at your chubby mound, flicking his tongue against your lips until he delved in deeper, warming your hole with his mouth. he used such sensual descriptors, calling your cunt succulent and sweet until your cream coated not only his tongue but the entire lower half of his face.

you feel ashamed that even recalling the event begins to arouse you. your thighs squish together without your permission, and you hope it snuffs out the remaining desire.

"it's nothing to be embarrassed about. it was sexy—cute even.”

belphie teases, and you audibly groan.

he was different from beel in many ways, and you questioned how he could be the twin of such a sweet and friendly glutton until you realized the extent of belphie's insatiability.

he would never admit it, but he inexplicably craved you. his utter desire to pull you apart and put you back together for his own pleasure. he wanted you all to himself, which struck you as odd.

he’s mean; he teases you, pulls your hair, calls you names, and then, when you’re on precipice of exploding, suddenly you’re his ‘darling little sister.’ he'd whisper praise against your lips, making you forget why you were mad in the first place. he’s mastered riling you up and talking you back down, but it was exhausting—he's exhausting.

you settle on ignoring him, preferring to kick your feet back and forth on the bed while you busied yourself with whatever had your attention.

he lowers his head to peek underneath your oversized shirt and perversely looks between your bare thighs before locking the door behind him.

he walks towards your relaxed frame, remaining a good distance away but close enough to peer over and glance at what had you so occupied.

“are you mad at me?” he questions, tossing the pillow to the side.

“when am i not?”

you shrug off his pathetic attempt to ease your anger, as you are used to his patterns by now. you hum the measly tune playing and tuck a piece of hair behind your ear, refusing to look at him. “what do you want, belphie?”

“who says i want anything? can’t a big brother hang out with his little sister?”

you scoff.

“nice try, but we don't 'hang out' and no, co-napping doesn't count.” you lock your phone and put it on the nightstand.

“just tell me what you want.”

his tongue pokes the inside of his cheek.

“is that any way to talk to your big brother?”

he reels back some of his attitude hoping it comes across as playful. he didn’t want you to be too upset because he wasn’t sure he’d be able to calm you back down. thankfully, you didn’t seem angry—just bothered, and somehow belphie hated that more.

“you’re only older than me by like a month and that’s not anything to brag about.”

he sucked his teeth. always eager to remind him that, while he was older, it was just barely –as if he cared.

“doesn’t matter. i’m still your big brother.”

there’s a brief moment of silence before you sigh. “whatever you say.”

you're appeasing him; it's like you didn’t actually believe it yourself. his annoyance spiked, and you enjoyed it. it was nice to give him a taste of his own medicine for a change, and see him so worked up , especially over something so trivial.

“look at me when i’m talking to you.”

you choose to play coy and ignore his demand until you're suddenly startled.

the bed abruptly dips as he settles on top of you.

you finally turn around to protest, but he barely gives you a chance. your bewildered eyes meets his firm gaze. his mouth connects to the spot just under your ear, his breath fans your skin, and a shock travels down your spine, resting in your lower back.

his hands weaves around you and digs into the sheets, trapping you against the bed.

“don’t be like that.” his voice is much lower and more inviting, but still authoritative.

he takes his other hand to lift up your shirt to your surprise. he admires the cute and skimpy pajamas and how the shape of your slit was visible as you futilely kicked at him.

embarrassed, you reach to pull your shirt down.

“b-belphie! stop !” you shriek.

he snickers at your expression. his lean and languid body drapes over you as he burrows into you. his nose and lips caress your skin, inciting goosebumps. it prods you lightly, making you shift from being abashed to giggly.

you can’t stop the laugh from bubbling up inside; you bite your lips to muffle them, but when he licks at your neck, you can no longer hide it.

“that tickles,”

“yeah?”

the skin around your eyes wrinkle and your body twitches from his teasing.

“if that’s the case . . .”

he moves too quickly for you to process. his knees settle on either side of your hips, his chest to your back, while his hands pin your wrists down. you’re so used to seeing belphie so idle that his agility catches you by surprise.

his mouth latches on the back of your neck and begins to plant spit-covered hickeys on your skin.

“n’more marks . . .” you whine, but he doesn’t listen. he hoped lucifer would see them.

if there was one thing he hated more than lucifer, it was the relationship you had with him.

you were different around each other. the lucifer he knows is cold and calculating, except when he speaks to you. It’s gentle, reassuring, and sickeningly tender—it's disgusting. he babies you, and you lapped up his affection like a puppy.

belphie supposes he shouldn’t be surprised. you’re the youngest and the only girl—the only sister—and you’re lucifer’s favorite. you're docile and soft-spoken around him and lucifer treated you like you were as fragile as a quaint flowers. he’s always careful— worried that if he were too rough, he’d pluck you from the ground and you’d wilt.

you were a demon; you could withstand much more, but the avatar of pride didn't care.

he didn't care that you were spoiled, bratty, and foul-mouthed, and maybe lucifer was blind to it. he couldn’t realize that about his precious sister when he was too busy fucking her.

dinners were especially tortuous. he wonders if you can feel him staring daggers at you when you obediently take your seat next to lucifer and proceed to give him all of your attention.

he hates how you play with your hair and cross and uncross your legs, like you’re nervous. what could you possibly be talking about with him that turns you into a fidgeting mess?

why should he even care? he doesn't care; actually, it didn't matter. you can pretend all you want; he knows what type of girl you are and the naughty things you likes

belphie's teeth scrape and lightly prick your skin to prove a point —it’s not deep enough to bleed but just enough to bruise and hear your mewl. he’s so close that his lashes gently feather your cheek. the smell of your hair and faint perfume lingering cause belphie to become feverish. it annoyed him to see how his body reacted to yours.

his cock pulsates against his pants, and he presses into your behind. you’re soft and pretty and sweet enough to taint.

“I need you to do something for me, baby sis.”

he struggles to ask. he didn't want what you believed to be about him to be true. he's only around you when he needs something, but he swears you are a drug. he can’t help the tent in his pants and how aroused he gets when you’re angry and pissed off at him.

you twist your neck as much as he’d allow to look at the demon behind you.

“w-what?” you stutter, too focused on the way his hips grind against your ass.

your shirt rides up, but this time from his movement. you can feel his eyes burning on the skin of your butt, and you couldn’t pull the fabric back down to hide.

"you know what i want.”

belphie leaves a trail of kisses on your body. tugging down your collar, he nibbles on your shoulder.

“I need your pretty little mouth,” he whispers right by the shell of your ear. his nose digs into you, tracing vertical lines while he inhales your scent. “i want to feel it around my cock.”

you tutted.

"we can’t anymore. we’ll get in trouble.” you wiggle against him, attempting to shut your legs to ease the throb in your lower region.

“we won’t.” he promises. “I just need to cum in my little sister’s throat.” he eyes the length of your neck, eyes hazy like he was imagining it. “i need to fuck it.”

you blush profusely at the demand. “nuh-uh” was your defiant reply.

in response, belphie unpins one of your wrists and instead tangles his fingers in your hair to pull it. your head is thrown back from the force, and you cry out. “hurts..”

yeah, of course it does. he wonders how angry lucifer would be if he saw how he roughhoused you.

your plump lips are slightly parted, and your eyes are glossy. he looks between the two of them.

with an open mouth, his lips find yours to press a sloppy wet kiss. he couldn’t resist you, and he wouldn’t even try to.

“we won’t get in trouble as long as you don’t tell anyone, okay?”

he knew someone would notice the number he did on your nape, but you didn’t need to fret about that, at least not now. he loosens his grip on your strands while his hips still move at a slow pace, cock-humping your backside for his gratification and to encourage you.

“b-but—”

“but nothing. you’re going to suck me off because i’m your big brother and you love me, right?" the exalting feelings you possess for him can’t be questioned, but you remain hesitant. you know it’s wrong, and yet you nod anyway.

“ i love you so much, belphie.”

he smiles at your obedience. you’re always more likely to listen when your cunt is weeping for him. he didn’t have to see it to know that you’re soaked.

“good.” he pats the side of your cheek.

you study him with glossy and affectionate eyes. your lips are pursed and trembling like you want another kiss. he’s learned how to read your silent pleas, and so he grants you another peck.

“love you.” you say it again, but with the innocence that belphie craves. you hope he melts at the sound of your voice, but he doesn’t. he crumbles.

“love you too. i love you so fucking much, you have no idea,” he mumbles it against your soft lips, his orbs staring deep into yours with such desire and fondness. he kisses you once more and then twice, rubbing your chin softly.

“my perfect little sister isn’t that right? you're going to do what your big brother says.”

and his mouth is hot against yours. his tongue, used to such venom, felt sweet for a change and it makes you wet.

your back arches as he continues to kiss you. his tongue caresses the roof of your mouth; it's messy and audible, and you croon at the sensation. you felt sensitive; even your nipples brushing against the cotton of your shirt were enough to draw out tiny squeaks.

“big brother...” you mewl it against his mouth, and belphie fucking groans.

“f-fuck.” he’s zipping down his pants.

“i'm so fucked up. you have no idea how fucking hard that makes me.”

he spanks you on your ass and removes his body from on top of you. he lays on his back, crossing his arms behind his head to rest on your pillows.

he’s relieved when your dainty hands pull down his pants and his cock springs free. slender and long, tilting slightly with thin veins on the sides, a rosy pink tip coated in a thin layer of pearlescent white.

your mouth puckers and sucks on his leaky slit for a few seconds before you bury him in your throat. the friction is familiar, and the burn forces you to produce more spit. your drooling mouth deepthroats him, suctioning around his shaft with your tongue flicking on any vein it comes across.

you keep going even as his cock kisses the back of your throat. when he hears you gag, his hand rests on your head to keep you still.

“I want to feel you choke, baby. cmon suck it.”

bucking into the vice that was your mouth, your hair fans out around his thighs. belphie thinks to tug on it when he wants to fuck your face even harder.

“gonna empty my cum in my little sister’s throat,” he groans gutturally just as soon as your lips touch his coarse hairs. your tears threaten to spill.

he calls out to you, continuing to hump your warm mouth.

“call me big brother again.”

you look up at him with that precious, messy cock-sucking face as you swallow around him.

you try to straighten your back , attempting to remove his length from the slick opening of your throat, but the firm hand on your head keeps you still.

“say it.”

you feel a wave of anxiety. you try to keep the drooling from overwhelming you, but it doesn’t stop. you swallowed around him reactively, aware of how much he was stuffing and stretching your mouth. you’re careful to prevent yourself from choking as you struggle to speak, but you gag a few more times.

“b-bwig b-bwother.”

filthy ribbons of spit and cum drip for your mouth ruining your clothes and sticking to your chest.

your tiny mouth struggles to take him. it’s far from perfect, it’s sloppy and messy, but belphie thinks you never looked more beautiful.

[ghoulfuckersincorporated]

Prewar!Cooper told Barb that one of his favorite things about her was the fact that she always tries to do the right thing. The Ghoul is entertained by Lucy's "goody two-shoes" thing, at first, but is clearly very deeply impacted by the kindness that she shows him outside the Super Duper Mart.

Cooper Howard obviously likes good girls...corruption kink, anyone?

Prewar!Cooper would be sweet about it, even gentlemanly. He'd be respectful, slowly warming you up to all these ideas that you've never even heard of before. Of course, you trust him implicitly, and you're happy to go where he guides you. He would get a sense of the things you're into, what your boundaries are, but once he knew you well enough, he might start to nudge you in certain directions.

Taking you for a drive, his hand on your thigh slowly slipping higher until he's rubbing you through your underwear as you go along, working you up to an orgasm at a red light in full public view, completely aware that everyone can tell what's happening. Going for a long walk in a nice park and pulling you into the bushes for "a few smooches" that turn into you deep-throating his cock until you almost pass out. Pushing you into poorly soundproofed closets at fancy parties to turn you into a squealing mess on the end of his cock, too loud for others to not hear. It's all so addictive and you're powerless to stop yourself from giving into him wherever and whenever, slowly turning you into a little exhibitionist because he thinks it's hot.

"Oh, I know how much you like this, sweetheart...what if I tried this? Does that feel good? Sure seems like it does. You don't have to be embarrassed. I'll take care of you. You trust me, right, baby doll?"

The Ghoul would be...meaner. He's more the "don't ask for permission; beg for forgiveness" type, but without the begging part. He'd just go for things, watching in almost sadistic glee as your face would morph from shock to disgust to ashamed arousal. You would be able to sense something different in the air, but you never see his dirty tricks coming. Does this stop you from continuing to sleep with him as you trek the West together? Of course not. As much as you might hate him a little (or a lot) for it, he knows exactly what makes you tremble and beg for more, even as your face reddens and you struggle to look at him.

Sliding his tongue back to tease your asshole when he's eating you out like a man starved, laughing wickedly and holding your hands away when you try to stop him because 'That's so gross!', but soon your protests turn to wanton moans. Hell, sliding his thumb into your ass as he fucks you from behind, using the leverage to bounce you harder on his hips, the sensation amazing despite how humiliating it feels. The next time he fucks you that way, you whimper out a little plea for him to do it again. Making you beg him to spit in your mouth as you near your orgasm until he no longer has to prompt you, you simply open your mouth. He gets off on getting you to request (or even beg for) disgusting treatment.

"Oh, did you not like that? With the way this greedy little cunt is reacting, I'd say you liked it. I mean...if you didn't, I suppose I can quit. Hmm? You want me to keep doing it? What a nasty little freak, gettin' off on this. Maybe if you ask pretty, darlin'..."

[whotfelsewantedtobelynnyx]

DIHWYF Incorrect Quotes but it's mild Carmine sisters chaos

Because ✨sisters ✨

Clara, staring at newly adopted Vaggie: Um...want a beer?

Odette: She's like...five!

Clara: I DUNNO, WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WITH HER?!

Clara: I'M BREAKING THE WINDOW!

Odette, whispering into her phone: Uh, hi- we locked our baby sister in the car and people are judging us.

Clara, now running around looking for a rock: I SWEAR TO GOD I'M GONNA BREAK IT!

Odette, whirling around: DO NOT BREAK THE WINDOW, YOU'LL GET GLASS ON HER!

Odette: But if you keep making up words, no one will understand you.

Young Vaggie: Clara will. Watch. *tugs on Clara's arm*

Clara: Yeah, squirt?

Vaggie: *complete gibberish*

Clara, immediately playing along: Whoa, are you serious?

Vaggie: *more gibberish*

Clara: I'd never considered that before!

Vaggie: *very serious gibberish*

Clara, patting her head: This changes everything.

Odette, facepalming: You're both crazy.

*Odette, spotting Vaggie trying to sneak out of her bedroom: Oh, not again. Come on, go back to bed before Mamá sees you.

Vaggie: But I don't want to go to bed!

Odette: Too bad, manita.

Vaggie, pouting: Why do I have to go to sleep? Why can't I just stay awake all night?

Odette, sighing and getting up to walk her back bed: Because that's the way the world is.

Vaggie: Well I'm going to make it so that's not how the world is!

Odette, tucking her in: That sounds like a big job. You're gonna need a full night's sleep for that.

Vaggie: Yeah, I will! *triumphantly snuggles in*

Vaggie, ten minutes later: Hey, wait a second-

Vaggie, curled up in front of the fridge: :(

Clara, spotting her: You alright, hermana?

Vaggie, sadly: I just miss Odette**.

Clara, sitting down next to her: Aw, I know.

Vaggie: And the fridge doesn't like me :(

Clara: I...know?

*Odette: Bed. Sleep. Now.

Vaggie, trying to hide behind Clara: But I'm not tired!

Clara: Yeah, 'Dette, she's not tired!

*they're both asleep in Clara's bed in ten minutes later*

Clara, snuggling lil' Vaggie: Big sister's going to drop-kick anyone that touches you 🥰

Odette, without missing a beat: And bigger sister's going to bail big sister out of jail.

Carmilla, cuddling Vaggie after she tripped and fell: I know it's tough, mija. But hey, how many times have you bumped your head or gotten a bruise while you're playing with your sisters?

Vaggie, holding an ice pack on her knee: Um...lots.

Carmilla: Right. And what do they always tell you?

Vaggie: ...don't tell Mamá?

Carmilla, who was fully expecting a different answer: What?!

Clara, who'd walked into the room to check on her little sister: Uh...I'll maybe come back later?

Clara, holding an ice pack to her sister's head: How much do you remember?

Teenage Vaggie, who'd just gotten into her first fight: Just the ambulance ride to the hospital, I think.

Odette: That wasn't an ambulance ride, I drove you.

Vaggie: But I heard sirens?

Clara: That was your girlfriend.

Charlie, clutching the largest teddy bear the hospital sold***: I got nervous!

Charlie, fresh into their relationship: If something happened to Vaggie, I...I couldn't live with myself.

Odette, completely straight faced: You wouldn't have to. Clara and I would kill you.

Vaggie, trying to sneak off with Charlie at a party: Guys, I need your help.

Clara: Oooh, ok. I have an idea.

Odette: Is it a bad idea?

Clara: *darts off in Velvette's direction*

Odette, jumping up to chase after her: CLARA, IS IT A BAD IDEA-****

Vaggie, walking by with a teapot:

Clara: Whatcha doing?

Vaggie: It's for Zestial. I'm planning on making some bad choices tonight and I want him on my side when Mom finds out.

Clara: Oooh, smart. I'll have to remember that.

Odette, not looking up from her laptop: I never realized the forethought that went into raising our mother's blood pressure.

BONUS:

Carmilla, trying to calm Lucifer down after he came to her for advice about Charlie: Look, I've raised three fully functional, well adjusted children and-

Luci, sniffling: You have three kids I don't know about?

Carmilla: ...

BECAUSE I LOVE THEM ALL

Here's a link to the AU!

*these exchanges definitely took place less than an hour apart.

**Odette is fine, she's just on a business trip and her sisters are sad.

***That bear is not for Vaggie. She has a different one for Vaggie. The older Carmines got her that so she would calm the fuck down

****is this a hint as to how Charlie and Vaggie meet? 🤫

[hidden-poet]

Commander Snow; 7

Commander Snow

Summary; Under the advice of Dr Gaul Coriolanus returns back to district 12 where without blinding light of lucy-grey he could see you.

Warnings; dead dove to do not eat, stalking, unrequited love, breeding kink, violence, possessive!Snow, unco/dubco, sexual content, she/her pronouns, explicit, violence, death.

Editor: @hotline-to-hell

chapter one

Chapter two

Chapter three

Chapter four

Chapter five

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

chapter 8

Coriolanus threw himself back into his work upon returning to the compound. It meant he was gone early before you woke up but he made an effort to return home for dinner. He was adamant that at least one meal had to be eaten together. 

You would take walks often together to get some fresh air, leaving the dishes to soak in the sink after dinner. 

There was not much to look at in the Compound. Makeshift tents and metal sheds with big locks. Everything was dull, with the colors matching the small gray rocks that formed the roads amongst it.  

Only the men running around in their light blue peacekeeper uniforms offered a break from the monotone of it all. 

You watched them as Coriolanus led you through the compound by your hand. They would never make eye contact as they went about their work. But it didn't bother you. The isolation imposed by Coriolanus grew on you. You had gotten so used to only ever talking to Coriolanus, that you weren't sure you could hold a conversation with anyone else. 

He pulls you gently out of the way of an oncoming truck and takes you down a quitter path. 

"You never ask about your mother," he comments as the noise quietens.  

You remain quiet as if you didn't hear him. 

''She never visits," he continues, "You never ask to visit her." 

You feel your heart rate rise. Surely that has not tipped him off that your mother was safe out of his reach. 

"Why would she visit? She thinks you want to kill her. And I know she is fine and even if she wasn't, you would lie." 

A loud clanging sound turns his attention behind him, to where a large metal sheet had slipped off a pile onto the ground. 

"Would you let me visit her if I asked?" 

He turns his attention back to you as the embarrassed Peacekeepers scramble to put the metal sheet back on the bed of the truck.  

You wondered if this was your chance to escape. A pass for a day trip to see your mother turning into your disappearance. 

"We could go tonight if you wanted," he offered, but the choice of “we” made you reconsider your plan. He wouldn't let you go alone, and you couldn't let him see the empty house.

"No," you state, "I’m tired tonight." 

He hums in response. "Let's turn back." 

You circle back to your starting place. The walk was halved by your comment. The water in the sink would still be warm. 

As you walk up the steps to the apartment you turn back to gaze at the far bins. Your freedom was just behind them but despite only being half a yard away, you were stuck in your chains. 

With Coriolanus so close and so fast, you enter back into your prison willingly.  

You start the dishes, scrubbing the pans free from their grease while making plans for your escape. Edmund would return tomorrow night if you weren't at the house. But the keys seemed impossible to get. 

Coriolanus was clingy. He seemed hyper-aware of your movements. He somehow knew when you were faking sleep and when you had actually succumbed to it.  The only way he would sleep was when he knew you were. 

You would wake too late to an empty bed and a bedside table void of any keys. Even if you got the keys, it would take ages for you to figure out which one it was. They all looked the same. 

As if he could sense your thoughts, Coriolanus came up behind you, taking your throat into his large hand, keeping you from moving as he grazed and nipped at your neck. 

"I have to do the dishes," you complain. 

''So do them." The hand from your hip reaches between your legs and slides up your dress. 

You jolt but his firm hold keeps you still. 

His hand goes to where you presumed they would, under the elastic band of your underwear. 

"Stop," you command, wrapping your wet hands around his assaulting arm. 

He bites harshly at your neck from your rejection, causing you to wince at the pain. 

"Worry about the dishes." 

He only inserts one finger as he tries to elicit a response from you.

"Dishes," he repeats as you don't move. 

You obey and pick up the sponge again, attempting to distract yourself with them. 

His lips continue to suck and bite as you scrub the cutting board. It's uncomfortable at first as his dry finger intrudes upon your dryness. 

He kicks your feet apart to get better access. The feeling intensifies between your legs and you feel yourself unintentionally getting wet. 

He inserts two fingers, feeling you pool, twisting and curling his fingers inside you. You throw the chopping board on the drying rack and pick up a plate. When his index finger drags your wetness up, it drops from your hands.  

"I think you missed a spot," he taunts. You don't pick it up again, distracted by the tingling sensation, but he reinserts his finger and curls it harshly to tell you to continue. 

Once the plate was clean and you were beginning on your second, he rewards you by coming up and massaging your pearl. 

You yelp, gripping the counter of the sink as you try and move your hips away. 

The hand gripping your throat moved to your wrist forcing them back into the water, before returning to ensure that he still had free access to your throat. The water from his hands dripped down over you. 

You washed the dish but your focus wasn't enough to tell if it was clean enough. 

He stops his circling and uses the two fingers to rub along your wet lips. The lack of friction was an unwelcome change. 

You pick up a kitchen knife, attempting to wash it but it is yanked out of your grip and thrown back onto the counter. His hand returns to your neck with a tightened hold as he focuses on leaving red and sore marks, all while his fingers run up and down. 

"Coriolanus. Stop." You choke out. 

He inserts the two fingers but refuses to move them. 

You cry out as he bites into your flesh, sucking and grazing the spot just where your neck ends and your collarbone begins. 

It gave him a sense of satisfaction as you try and wiggle your neck away. 

Your wet hands wrap around the wrist that encircles your neck. You could feel him hard against you as he took a step back, taking you with him. 

It was a mercy when he moved his fingers once more, pumping in and out. His lips were no longer at your neck but ghosting behind your ear as you stood, locking your own hands around his wrist. 

You could feel your stomach form the same knots that you felt the first night he came for dinner. Half of you didn't want him to stop, knowing the release that was about to occur. 

His fingers push harshly up and with force, he circles your pearl once more. A strangled moan makes its way from your throat as the knots from your stomach loosen out. 

He pushes you back towards the sink and you grip the edges of it as you pulse around his fingers. 

The moment passes and you are left breathing heavily, leaning over the sink. You take the sponge back and begin to wash the same dish as if his actions meant nothing. But your head spun, and you felt so spent the sponge was weak in your hand. 

His fingers intertwine with yours under the water and he presses them against the side of the sink together as he rests his head against your back. 

You were grateful for the moment of silence to collect yourself. 

"I am going to take a shower." He states, releasing you. 

You retain your composure until you hear the bathroom door shut, immediately slumping over the sink.

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

Coriolanus wanted to fuck you, that was no secret. But he hadn't earned it yet.  A woman such as you deserved to be laid in more than just a Commander's bed. It was old and reused from the last Commander. 

He wanted you surrounded by riches, in the comfort of a brand-new Capitol bed. He wanted to be more than a Commander of this scummy district. When he fucked you, he wanted you to have a sense of pride about who was above you. President of Pamen, or just about. 

He had not earned the right in any manner. But one day soon, he would. 

Coriolanus was a man of restraint and strategy. But as he watched you make beds and iron clothes, he yearned for that intimacy that only sex could offer.   

He wanted to lay naked in your arms and be held by you. It felt as if only then would all the thoughts in his head stop. 

You were stingy with your love. Coriolanus had not earned it. But when he became 

President, how could you deny him his reward then? He would have exceeded everyone's expectations of him: Dr. Gaul, Grandma'am, Tigris, all of his Academy classmates. 

The goal was good for him, it motivated him to work harder and longer. It reminds him of his Academy days when the only thing on his mind was the Plinth Prize. 

His mind needed a goal to fixate on. The presidency was all well and good but came with its own problems. The reward laid in the long awaited esteem from those who doubted him, or in your case, ran from him. 

He would prove to them all that Snow always lands on the very top. 

He would prove to you that he is a man worthy of your attention and care.

But he had pressing matters to deal with. He felt as if you teased him all day long. He went to sleep hard as a rock most nights. He offered you release anytime you wanted it, but you never gave him the same courtesy. 

It interfered with his work. He thought about visiting the District call girls but the thought made him sick. Why should he do that when he had you? He had you. Tucked away in his apartment. Ready for him. He just needed to take.

He grabbed the letter that came for you days ago from his desk and made his way back to his apartment. He was self-conscious of his hard-on as he walked through the compound and readjusted his pants. 

The sight of the apartment felt like water after a long day in the sun. He took the steps two at a time before regaining himself at the doorway. He couldn't look desperate. 

You jump up from the couch as he enters, surprised to see him. 

"What are you doing home?" you ask. 

His heart flutters at the usage of 'home'. 

"Delivering mail."

He holds the letter up in the air, tempting you. 

“From your brother.”

You hold your hand out for it but he keeps it high. 

“I’ll trade you for it.” 

You doubted he would want any personal keepsake of yours. You could see the hunger in his eyes. 

You turn back away from him to the couch but he grabs your wrist to keep you. It was an act of desperation that he scolded himself for. 

“We can trade the letter for dinner.” 

He places your caught hand upon his belt. And your hand stills. 

You wondered if you really had a choice. He would just keep taking things away until you submitted. But Edmund would be here tonight to release you. Could you get away with resisting? 

You wondered what the letter would say. You were sure it was full of written anxieties from your brother. Could you use the Commander's desperation to your advantage? Your fingers curl around the belt buckle as you think. 

He leans back against the counter with the letter still in his hand. 

He was desperate. You could see it from the way he clenched the countertop. 

“I want to write a letter back.” You demand as you undo his belt. 

Coriolanus nods hastily. It gave you a thrill of power. 

With the belt unbuckled, you weren't sure what to do next. 

He helps you by pulling his pants down to his ankles. 

"On your knees,” he instructs. 

It gives you a direction on what he wants, so you sink down and open your mouth. 

You pull back at first but will yourself to give it another go.

His taste was nothing new to you. He lets out a shaky breath as you finally put him in your mouth. 

“Go slow,’’ he demands and you try your best to accommodate. 

His length hits the back of your throat causing you to pull off. He grunts in dissatisfaction but allows you to come back at your own pace. His face reads of his annoyance. His features turned to stone, and his jaw locked in place.

But he showed mercy by not forcing you back and keeping his hands wound around the counter. 

Now knowing your limit, you go as far as you can before coming back again. It was enough for Coriolanus, who threw his head back and allowed you to take charge. His hips bucked slightly the more worked up he got, but with free movement of your head, you could adjust to his movements. Compared to your other experiences, this one was slightly bearable. 

Having been pent up for weeks, the feeling of your wet mouth upon him had him coming quickly. He slaps the countertop with his hand as he comes into your mouth, only stopping when you have stopped moving completely, having taken his full load. You spit it out on the ground that you had just washed. 

He remains leaning against the counter as he catches his breath. In no rush to give you what was promised. 

You yank the letter from his hand, seeing that it was already open. It read angry. The pen was pressed harshly into the paper, the ink spilled all over the page. 

The letter was not addressed to you. It opened with “bastard”. 

Archie had promised to kill Snow. You had only called him Coriolanus in your correspondence, so you knew it wasn't only your letter that was delivered. 

‘Don't take anything from him,’ the letter read to you. ‘I am coming home to you. I am so sorry. I never should have left. I'll be there soon, stay hidden with Mum.’ 

You turn to Coriolanus with anger, "What did you do?"

He stood in the kitchen, fully dressed again. 

"I introduced myself." 

"As Commander Snow?" you seethe. 

''As your man. Your letter made it seem as if I was a friendly neighbor."

“You son of a bitch. Archie-"

"He'll kill me, yes I know. I read it." 

"Archie will kill himself! And it will be your fault!" 

"His life or his death, I can't imagine which is worse." 

You slapped him for the way he spoke about your brother and instantly regretted it. 

Within a second, he had you slammed against the fridge with his hands around your throat. The hold presses against the bites from the previous day. 

"Get off of me,” you demand. The bites upon your neck felt like fire as he pressed on them. 

He doesn’t move and you bring your hand across his face once more. He remains unmoved by your action and you attempt again. This time he catches it in a painful hold and twists your wrist away from his face. 

You shout from the pain but he doesn’t release you. 

With a harsh shove against the countertop, the strain on your wrist is gone. 

He looks at you as you nurse your wrist and feels a pang of guilt. He thinks of someone saying something about Tigris. He surely would have killed them.  

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that about your brother. I didn’t mean it.” 

He did mean it, but he loved your devotion to your family. You both shared the same values, he shouldn’t be training you out of them.

It wasn’t Archie’s fault he was born District, but to die District would be beyond pathetic.

Even the Plinths made it out, and when Coriolanus was stripped of his Capitol-born rights, he too fought to make it out of District 12. Archie had only swapped one district for another. It was pitiful at the very least and embarrassing at the most. 

But he was your brother, whom you loved, so Coriolanus will watch his tongue around you. 

“Are you alright? Do you need some ice?” He reaches out to inspect your wrist but you yank yourself away from him. 

“Don’t touch me.” 

“I want to help you.” It was the first time he had hurt you for something that wasn’t your fault. It made him feel terrible. He wasn’t a violent man, only a man capable of violence. He didn’t want you to think he was against you. 

“Go away.” You push past him to get to the bedroom, where you slam the door behind you. 

He goes back to his office to let you cool down. He apologized, what more did you want? 

—------------

You wait by the window for Edmund. You felt foolish that you failed to get the keys. But since the Cabin, Coriolanus has harbored a quiet distrust of you. Every extra precaution was taken. You had learned that a 15-minute window of time opened just before Coriolanus normally finished for the day. Everyone was trying to avoid the path of the Commander as he made his way to his apartment. It was a blessing that he was so avoided, it gave Edmund a chance to appear. 

You saw his shadow approaching with something large in his hands. 

He calls out to you and you are quick to answer. 

"Are you okay?" he asks. 

"I'll be better once you open the door," you admit. Your wrist still hurts from the afternoon. 

He asks you to stand back away from the door, and you take three steps back. 

You hear a loud banging noise, the sound of wood cracking but no spring of the door. 

You felt as if you might throw up from the anxiety. He was causing so much noise, surely someone was going to hear it. 

He curses but tries again. 

You place yourself by the window to see what he was doing. He was trying to pry open the door with a large crowbar. It cracked the wood and left enough damage that the door would jiggle but not open. 

A building light flicks on down the road. You can see a shadow of a man as he searches for something before his body appears in front of the doorway. 

A flash of light jiggled as it made its way across from the Compound. 

"Edmund, someone is coming," you warn. 

He ignores you, continuing with the door. 

"Edmund, you have to leave!"

"We won't get another chance." With more force, he tries to pry open the door. 

You can see the light getting brighter as it approaches. 

"He'll move me. So long as I am not trapped here, I can make my way through the fence". 

"You were wrong last time." 

"Edmund if you die, I'll never get out of here. Wait for me at home. I can make it, I know it". 

He grunts as the crowbar slips from the door. Looking over his shoulder, he realizes that he isn't going to get it open in time. 

"I won't know where you are!" he cries. 

"Don't come back. Just wait for me. There will be an opportunity". 

Edmund could hear the footsteps on the gravel. He had to leave now. 

"Go," you encourage him. 

He climbs down the railing, dropping to his feet and hiding in the darkness before the man reaches the steps. 

A Peacekeeper examines the door before speaking into his communicator. A large siren sounded through the compound filling you with dread. They were locking the place down with Edmund inside. 

"Miss?" the Peacekeeper knocks on the window, "Are you okay?"

You knew as soon as that man spoke into his communicator, Coriolanus knew of the events. 

Could you take cover for Edmund? Tell Coriolanus that it was you who did the damage. No. The damage was on the outside. 

Could you start a fire and tell him that it was a peacekeeper trying to break down the door to release you? But why would the peacekeeper run? He would surely press to find out who it was. 

You wished that sound would stop so you could think. All you could hear was the siren, ringing through your head. 

"Miss?" the Peacekeeper asks again. 

“Yes. Fine.” you dismiss. You could feel your heart in your throat. 

The Peacekeepers were quick on their feet. In two minutes, swarms of them combed through with their guns raised. Coriolanus was close behind, you could hear him running up the steps past the Peacekeeper. 

He unlocks the broken door, leaving the keys in the keyhole as he rushes over to you. 

He takes the back of your neck and presses it into his chest, using the other hand to press against your back. 

"What happened? Are you alright?" 

"She's fine, sir. I was ensuring the assailant didn't come back." the Peacekeeper spoke out of turn. 

Coriolanus let go of you to take hold of the man's shirt and pushed him against the wall. 

"What was he doing here in the first place? Where were you?" 

"I don't know, sir. I was in my office. It's really the patrolls fault." The man looked like all the blood had rushed from his face. 

Coriolanus throws the man out the door by his shirt. He lands harshly on the ground.

"I want him found," he demands. 

The peacekeeper nods his head and rushes to get up and away. 

Coriolanus turns back to you and you expect harsh treatment but his hands softly cup your face. 

"Did you see what he looked like?"

You knew it wouldn't take much for Coriolanus to figure out it was Edmund, so you lie and pray it doesn't get anyone into trouble. 

"He was short. Long dark hair. I don't know, it was dark and I was scared." 

He pulls you back to his chest, resting his cheek on the top of your head. 

"If you're ever in danger, you hide, okay?" 

You had tried that but he found you within days. 

"I didn't know if you were okay, " he spoke softly. You almost didn’t hear him.

Peacekeepers shout and you jump thinking that they have caught Edmund. You tear free of Coriolanus and rush out to see that the men are fighting over a flashlight. 

Your relief came out in a sob. You silently beg for Edmund to be okay. The anxiety of him being found poured out from your eyes in the form of tears. 

It was a good display for Coriolanus, who thought you were crying out of trauma from your supposed break-in. 

He takes you by the shoulders and leads you back inside. 

"You're safe. We'll find him," he promises. 

With his hold, he presses you back against his chest. 

He kisses you and you sob against him.  Your lips part against his as you croak out a cry. 

"Shh, it's okay,", he presses your face back against his shoulder to collect the tears. 

You will yourself to stop. Edmund was safe, they hadn't caught him, he must be beyond the fence line by now. 

You settle with three big breaths and Coriolanus pulls away to look at you. 

"Okay?" he asks softly brushing away your tears. 

"Yeah," you sigh, bringing your hands up to rub your eyes. 

You pull away from Coriolanus as three Peacekeepers arrive at your door. They carried large cases and were dressed in protective gear. 

Coriolanus takes your hand in his and gives a nod to his Peacekeepers, giving them the go-ahead to begin their work. 

“Who are they?” You ask, watching one man run a blue light across the surface. 

“Forensic crew.” 

Panic rushes back up but you shove it down. Edmund hadn’t touched the door. Only the railing as he jumped but many others had covered his prints with their own since then. 

You feel his hand take yours in a possessive hold. 

He leads you down the steps and through the sea of Peacekeepers.

Officers with sniffer dogs pass you. You reassured yourself, it was nothing Edmund couldn’t handle. 

He leads you to his office. It was dark and soulless. 

Closing the door behind you, he turns to you once more, trapping your head between his hands, and forces a kiss upon your lips. 

The kiss spoke of his anxiety; it was needy and possessive. 

You try to pull back but he follows the distance you try to separate. 

You try to speak his name to warn him to get off you, he sees it as an opportunity to capture your tongue. 

When he does pull off, you turn your head quickly.

“You’re okay,” he comments. 

“I am okay.” Wrapping your hands around his wrists you gently pull him off from around your head. 

He goes to kiss you again but you are too quick for him. 

“Do you have any water?” you direct. 

He pauses with his head half-bent to your height. 

“Yes. I’ll go get some.” 

With a gentle touch to your shoulder, he leaves you in his office alone. 

You think about making a run for it while the coast was clear but with the Peacekeepers searching, you wouldn't make it to the fence without detection. Tonight you had little chance of escaping, tomorrow was the better option. 

The large office was eerie. The paper he was working on was thrown to the ground in his hurry. You asked yourself why you were picking it up but your nature just called for it. You looked after people. You never thought it would become your downfall.

He returns as you straighten his desk. The sight causes him to smile. 

“I thought you might be hungry.” He holds up a military packet of savory biscuits. They were used for long journeys where fresh food was hard to come by. 

Unscrewing the lid, he passes you the bottle and places the biscuits on the desk.

“I am not. Thank you.” The anxiety of the night ate away at your stomach. Even if Edmund got beyond the fence you were sure that Peacekeepers had been sent beyond the compound. Still, you had faith. He was smart and knew District 12 well. He would be okay, but only if you could manage not to blow his cover. 

Coriolanus unbuttons his Commander's coat with his long fingers. 

“Of all the places I thought you would have been safe, the Commander's apartment was my first choice.” 

“I was safe,” you contend, “He didn’t get through the door.” 

“How did he get in?” Coriolanus sighs, “Another hole in the fence?” 

He was talking to himself but you felt the need to interject. 

“His clothes looked torn. Maybe he climbed over top.”

He looks at you like you said something incredibly stupid. With the fence being 12 feet tall and wrapped in barbed wire, it properly was.

Coriolanus takes your shoulders into his hands, bending down slightly to your height. 

“I don’t want you to worry about this. It won’t happen again.”

You place the water bottle down on the desk too hard, “I am not worried, and I am not hungry. I am fine.” 

He takes your hand in his and pulls you along to the couch. 

“We’ll sleep here tonight. They won’t be done until late.”

You couldn’t escape anyway. It didn’t matter where you slept. 

You sink into the soft material of the couch. Another one sat directly opposite against the wall. Given the small space, it would be logical that you take one and Coriolanus would take the other but you knew he was going to want to share. 

He bends down and begins to unlace your boots for you.

“Do you often wear boots in the apartment?” He throws the boot over his shoulder, eyeing you suspiciously. You knew the answer was no, you don’t wear your boots in the apartment. They hurt your feet after long periods of use. Coriolanus also knew this. He would trip on them coming home, or accidentally step on your bare toes with his big boots as you maneuvered away from him.

“I wanted to be ready for our walk,’’ you lie. 

He seems to buy it, rising from his spot with no harsh motions. 

Instead, he rubs his hand across his face. 

“I didn’t mean to hurt you this afternoon, and I didn’t mean for you to be bait for zealous rebels.” 

“Coriolanus, I don’t want to talk about this right now.” 

“I want to talk about this. When I got the alert today, all I knew was the door had been broken, I didn’t know if they had gotten in. If you were safe.” 

“Well, I am so…”  

“And if you weren’t?” He pauses for a second before continuing, 

“I’ve lost many things in my life, I won’t lose you.” 

The promise sounded like a threat upon your ears. 

Edmund had emasculated Coriolanus today. Made him feel as if he looked inadequate in your eyes. He was determined to prove himself to you. That he could and would, protect you better from now on. 

“Nothing happened,” you spoke slowly and softly to him. 

“I don’t want you to think I can’t protect you.” 

“I don’t.” 

Coriolanus sits down beside you on the couch. 

“There’s paper on my desk you could use if you wanted to write that letter to your brother. Write one to your mother too.  I’ll mail them tomorrow with a few panems. Would you like that?”

Protecting you meant protecting your family too. 

Nodding your head, you take his invitation and take a blank piece of paper off his desk. He follows you off the couch and offers his office chair to sit in. Several pens were thrown around the desk, you pick up the black pen closest to you and begin to write as Coriolanus puts away files that he was done with. 

The paper had the national Panem letterhead, it distracted you while you penned your letters. You wrote the first one to your brother, telling him to keep a cool head. Everything was under control. He must be grateful to be out of the mines. People disappeared all the time up in the mountains. You heard news that two miners went missing and were yet to be found. You were happy he was in District 8. He must stay there. Your family was always worried when he went to work in the morning, now everyone knew where he was: Safe in District 8. There was no need to come back, only to remain where you knew he was safe. All his friends from the mine wish him well and take turns in looking after mother. You finish by telling him to stop being so stubborn and take the money to look after himself. 

The second letter to your mother was shorter and superficial. She wasn’t home to collect it. It just needed to appear like she was.

Coriolanus reads over your letters before sealing them with an official seal and a few coins. He leaves them on his desk to mail tomorrow. 

You could still hear the Peacekeepers outside the window. Their vans and heavy boots and hard way of talking. 

They still hadn’t found Edmund. You could sleep now knowing they weren’t going to. 

For a few more hours, you remain up with Coriolanus. He talks of his family back home. How Tigris quit her job and now could focus on her designs. She was going to send you a few new dresses. You learned he called his grandma, ‘Grandma’am’ due to her upper-class upbringing. He talked about how she would dress Coriolanus like a doll, pre-war, and show him off to her friends. She grew roses of all colors. He was surprised to learn that you had never seen a rose. 

“I suppose you wouldn’t have.” District 12 was bare and colorless. There was no place for fine roses amongst the suffering. The Snow penthouse is full of them, he says. Replaced daily with fresh ones. 

When there was a lapse in his talking, you suggest that perhaps it was a good idea to catch a few hours of sleep before he was woken with news of the capture. In framing the suggestion for his benefit, he was much more agreeable. 

He takes off his white t-shirt and pants, leaving him in his underwear before joining you on the couch. He needed to feel your warm skin against his after today. Despite not deserving it. 

You are pressed between the back of the couch and Coriolanus. He looked to be sleeping but you could tell from his breathing he wasn’t. 

The silence shared between you was interrupted by your gnawing question.

“Did you find what you were looking for out in the woods?”

“No. But the trip did give me closure.” 

“Will we have to go again?” you wonder. 

“No. It’s in the past now. The future is all that matters.” 

The future for him was the Capitol. Where he would prosper and you would wither. 

“I can’t go to the Capitol, Coriolanus,” you whisper. You were hoping he would realize it and set you free of his own accord. You could part as estranged friends.

His eyes shoot open to look at you. 

“Hey, it’s okay,” he whispers back, “Everything is going to be okay. I’ll take care of you. I promise.”

You could appreciate that his words were supposed to be comforting but what good were his promises? They were nothing you could truly trust. 

His lips hit the bottom of your chin in a quick peck. 

You wondered if he could feel the wetness of your cheeks from where he lay. 

“You’re my girl, I wouldn’t let any harm come to you. You’ll see, you’ll love the Capitol.” 

Your answer was given when he wiped away a running tear from your cheek. 

“We will turn our back on District 12. The Capitol is our future.” 

You nod in the hope of getting him to stop talking. It works, and the silence returns.

He wraps his arms around you as you sleep. You wrap your hand around his dog tags. It felt as if your brother's courage was radiating off it. You would survive Commander Snow. 

 You wake the next day with Coriolanus’s Commander coat on top of you. Coriolanus sat at his desk writing a letter. His ears pick up on your movement. And he rises himself to see you sit up on the couch. 

“Good morning.” he greets, getting up himself. 

He flicks the leftover coffee from his cup into his waste bin and refills it from the streaming pot. 

You watch him walk over to you with it in his hands.

 “Here,” he says, carefully passing you the cup. 

“Did they find him?” You take the cup but not a sip. 

“No. But they are still searching.” 

Your heart bounced up from its anxiety. 

“Honestly, it’s not that big of a deal. It was probably a young boy searching for food. I had dinner ready, he could properly smell it.” 

Coriolanus begins to pace in front of you. 

“I am going to make an example out of him. Make sure everyone in the Districts thinks about starving to death before entering the Compound.”

“A hungry child is no need for alarm.” 

“What if he had gotten through the door? These Districts are animals. He would have hurt you.” 

Coriolanus cringes at his words, “I didn’t mean you. You are not an animal.” 

“Yes, you did.” You rise from the mattress. 

“No. I didn’t.” he grits. 

“You treat me like an animal. Sit, eat, stay.” 

“I don’t want to fight with you.” he dismisses you with a wave of his hand. 

You had no interest in arguing with him either. Time was of the essence. You had to get back before the door was fixed and you were locked back up. 

He returns to sit at his desk. He had work to do.

“I’ll go home and make breakfast. Bring something back for you.” 

Goodbye Coriolanus, you thought. 

“No.” he looked at you like you were crazy and you stared back similarly. 

“No. You’ll stay here with me until he is caught.” He sits back down at his desk but you remain frozen in the middle of the room, “Or maybe you’ll just stay here forever, seeing as no one in this District seems to have a clue where he is.” 

You had thought that the broken door would offer you freedom but it seems to have just caused Coriolanus to tighten his grip. 

“I can’t, I have to, I have to-” your panic interrupted your sentence. 

“You have to do, what? The dishes?” he mocks, “They can wait until we go home.”

He returned to his work, the conversation was over for him. 

“I want to go back and take a shower and-”

He pushes his heavy folder over the edge of his desk. 

“I’ve had a District break into the compound, new of which will makes its way back to the Capitol, I’ve got recruits coming and nowhere to put them, and lieutenants who can’t read. I just need you to be perfect today.”

He shuts his eyes and sighs, pausing for a moment. “Please, I just need to know where you are today. That you're safe. If you’re here, you’re not another thing on my mind.”

You wanted to kick and scream but it would only end with a bruised cheek. He wasn’t asking you to stay, he was telling you. District scum were only animals for him to herd. You just so happen to be his favorite sheep. 

 So you sit back on the couch and he reaches for his work and not your throat. Maybe he would send you to get something. A cup of tea for him, deliver a message, you would take any opportunity. 

You lay down on the couch, back under his coat to keep warm, and he goes back to his work.

An hour later, his receptionist appears holding two metal trays of food. He greets her as she enters, and she offers the same back. You don’t exist. She doesn’t look at you once while she is in the room. You pass her as you make your way to the desk. She deliberately checks her red nails. 

A gray-looking porridge, a slice of jam toast cut in half, and a cup of broth sat on the tray.

“I can see why you glorify my cooking.”

“I used to eat boiled cabbage and potato peels every day back home. When I came to District 12, I thought these meals were just great. Now I have you, and these meals make my stomach turn.” He pokes at the porridge with his spoon, “You’ve spoiled me.” 

“I can still go and make you something.” you offer. The second you were out of view you were going to bolt to the fence. 

He shakes his head ‘no’ and you sink into your chair. He felt clingy today, almost as if he could sense your plan to leave him. 

“I need a reminder of the dangers of complacency.” He shovels a spoonful into his mouth. You choose half of the jam toast. 

“How are you feeling after last night?” he takes the toast from your hand despite having his own in front of him.

“Fine.” You wished he would stop bringing it up. 

“I am sorry he got so close.” 

“These animals are my people. He wouldn’t have hurt me even if he got in.” 

“I told you I wasn’t calling you an animal, and yes, he would have hurt you if he got a chance. You don’t know what people are capable of.” 

The whole world is an arena and you are prey, he wanted to say. 

“People are good.” you refute, although you are unsure if you believe that anymore.

Coriolanus definitely didn’t believe it. People were animals that needed the threat of violence to keep order. He thought back to a day during the war when he had collapsed in the street with swine flu.  No one stopped to help a young child. Only Tigris, sick with the chills herself, picked Coriolanus up and nursed him back to health. He was sure you would too. You had picked up the child with the scraped knee while others walked around him. 

“You are good. You are kind. The people around you were using you for their own benefit.” 

“And you’re not?” you bite. 

“What benefit would that be? A bruised eye? A fight every time I try to connect with you?”

You groan, rubbing your face aggressively with your palms. At this rate, he was likely to throw you in the compound jail. A fight with him would only derail your plans. He said it himself, complacency blinded him. 

“I am sorry,” you sigh, “I didn’t sleep well on that couch. I don’t mean to take it out on you.”

He reaches across the table to intertwine with your hand. 

“It’s okay. Why don’t you finish your breakfast and go lie down again.” 

You do finish your breakfast in a comfortable silence. Coriolanus was happy to be apologized to, and you were happy not to further the conversation that would surely turn into a fight. 

You lay looking at the roof while Coriolanus tries to be as quiet as he can.

You barely hear him as he works. A stroke of a pen here, a shuffle of a paper there. 

You think of Edmund and your mother. They would both be worried sick. But how could you get to them with Coriolanus breathing down your neck? By the time you broke free, would the Peacekeepers have found the hole in the fence? 

The phone rang once before he could get to it. He speaks in a low, hush, tone. Seemingly calm he hangs up. 

You hear his footsteps as he walks over to you causing you to sit up to see him come into view. 

When Coriolanus raises his hand and brings it down upon your cheek with enough force to knock you to the ground, it surprises you. 

“Edmund’s hair was found between the hinges of the door.”

He stood above you tall and angry. 

“He and his family are nowhere to be found, along with your mother. But I suspect you already knew that.” 

He crouches down and takes a harsh hold of your chin, “Where is he?” 

“I don’t know.” Your answer earns you another smack to the face. 

“I don’t know,” you cry, “I honestly don’t know.” 

“Short with long dark hair, you said,” he laughs humorlessly, “I should have known it was him.”

“He came to say goodbye. I wasn’t going to leave, I swear.”  

“Why should I believe you? Every chance you get you betray me.” He shoves your head out of his hold. 

You shake your head ‘no’, and cautiously test how far he was willing to allow you to get up. You managed to a sitting position on the floor before you saw his body flex. You were level with his face. The proximity puts you on edge.

“He broke the door to say goodbye. You honestly expect me to believe that?”

“I meant what I said in the cabin about one more chance. I wasn’t going to leave. I told him I wasn’t going.” 

“Why not tell me that? Why lie?” 

“I didn’t want to upset you. Coriolanus, I didn’t betray you.” 

“You’re a filthy liar.” 

You shake your head ‘no’ frantically. 

“Where has he gone to?” he asks again. 

“Coriolanus, I wasn't going to betray you. I was going to stay!”

“Where is he!” he shouts in your face.

“I don’t know. Please-” 

 Your shaky hands take his face between them. 

“I wasn't leaving you. I swear.”

He looks at you with soft, unsure eyes. You could tell he wanted to believe you. You just had to push him a bit further. 

You bring his head towards your collarbone and he willingly follows, bringing the whole force of his body against you. The weight knocks you down on the floor, where he rests on top. You leave a hand on the back of his neck and the other pressed down on his shoulder blade to keep him there. In this position, you had the power. He positions his body on top of you, his leg over your hip and left arm over your shoulders.

He felt like a little boy pressed against your side. Nevertheless, it was the Commander. 

Your face pounds from earlier assaults as a reminder. 

You eye the door from where you lay on the floor.

“You were going to leave,” he sounded almost to be crying.

“I wasn’t. I was going to stay.” 

“It was a mistake. I am going to find him and hang him up.” 

He goes to get up in his anger but you clamp down on your hold. 

“I didn’t leave you. Don’t leave me. Stay.” 

He breaks free enough to raise his head over you.

“You would have if he got the door open.” 

“No.” 

“The doors open now. You could leave. I wouldn’t stop you.” He rolls his body off yours and onto the floor beside you. 

He seemed earnest. You would at least get a head start. But you couldn’t be fooled by your eagerness. 

“Go.” he offers. 

You sit up beside him and look at the door. His violent temper made him poor company, but you could control it. Manipulate it until the opportunity arises, where you could get more than a 30-second head start. 

“I heard there was a drink in the Capitol that tastes like apple pie.”

“There is,” he replies indifferently. 

“Do you think I could try it when we get there?” 

He turns his head towards you with a curious gaze.

“It can be the first thing you have.” 

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[barcaatthemoon]

brave || lucy bronze x reader ||

lucy must put on a brave face when you go down during a game.

lucy could count on one hand the amount of times that she had ever been truly terrified. the fear that she felt whenever you went down was the greatest by far. it was almost like a sick joke. lucy didn't have time to be bitter about it, not when you obviously needed her to be there for you more. and so, lucy tried her best to swallow it all back to kneel next to you.

"hey bird, that was a nasty hit you took," lucy said. up close, it was so much worse. lucy had seen you go down, and momentarily had just frozen on the opposite side of the field. standing next to you, there was so much blood. that was nothing compared to the dazed look in your eyes.

"lucy, it hurts," you whined. lucy knew that you were about to start crying. she was certain the only reason you weren't yet were all of the younger players on the field. the one who had knocked into you was recently brought up from a youth team, and you didn't want to scar her.

"it's okay. i've got you. shh, just breathe for me," lucy instructed you. the medics came over and took you straight off of the field. lucy was subbed off as well, a decision that sarina made without second thought.

"keep a close eye on her for all of us," millie told your wife. lucy nodded and gave millie a quick hug as the woman went on for lucy. there hadn't been an official sub for lucy, but everybody knew that millie could handle it for a bit. there weren't that many minutes left in the game, and england managed to pull ahead early on.

"look at me bird." lucy gently grabbed onto your chin, forcing you to look up at her. "that's gonna leave a nasty cut, but i think i can get over it for a while."

"what a saint," you huffed. lucy smiled, glad that you could still joke with her. she knew that it was just an expression, but she was glad that the humor hadn't been knocked out of you. lucy could still remember whenever you had gotten a concussion back in college so bad that your career had almost ended. "are you also going to nurse me back to health?"

"of course i am. i'm not letting you out of my sight," lucy mumbled as she pulled you into a hug. lucy was incredibly gentle with you in a way that you knew meant she was terrified. "how are you feeling, really?"

"well, my head hurts like a bitch, but i am okay. i would be a bit better if you didn't look like you'd just seen a ghost. i got up lucy, i walked off of the field. it's not like last time," you told her. lucy swallowed back some tears. the memories of your injury still haunted her. it hadn't been all bad though. lucy had admitted her feelings for you that night at the hospital, even if she thought you were in a coma when you weren't. "you could have stayed and played on."

"nah, someone's got to give bright those pity minutes. she likes riling up the young ones when she's bored." lucy laughed a little, but you could still hear the tears behind it. lucy didn't let go of you until she was certain that she wouldn't just burst into tears. you laid back until the doctor came back to finish up your concussion tests.

you knew that you were concussed, it was just a question of how badly. your facial cut was superficial and didn't need stitches, which you were grateful for. lucy held your hand tightly as it was bandaged up before you went back to the locker room to wash up. the game had ended by the time you were finished, but the team was all seemingly waiting to see how you were. the fact that you hadn't been rushed off to the hospital was a good sign.

"you know, you just about gave bronzey here a heart attack," mary said as she slung her arm around your shoulders. she tried to pull you away from lucy, who did not loosen her grip on you one bit. "scared the rest of us pretty bad too."

"gotta keep you on your toes. as for lucy, she was very brave. kept a calm head with me through my tests." lucy blushed at your praise, but didn't argue.

"what's the verdict?" keira asked. you could see her, georgia, and leah practically shaking with anticipation.

"i'll be out for at least a month, maybe two. i am really sorry guys, i was hoping to see this through, but it's just the luck of the draw," you told them. almost immediately, you felt their bodies crash into yours. lucy was trapped in the hug as well, but you could tell from the way that her body sagged into it that she needed it.

"you can be our mascot. every time that we score, we'll do it for you," georgia promised. you ruffled the shorter woman's hair a bit before you pressed a kiss to the top of her head. the team seemed to be in complete agreement with dedicating the whole tournament to you, which you knew meant trouble for the other teams.

[strangeshoepatrolbandit-alt]

A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing.

Summary: He's a wolf in sheep's clothing. You're the sacrificial lamb. (What it was like.)

Warnings: Wolf and lamb imagery, mentions of sexual interactions, one of them being Non-Con... I think?("Making love", "fucking", "thrusting".), naivety, mentions of murder and blood, killing Lucy Gray Baird, being a Trophy wife, lies, mentions of breeding, being trapped in a marriage, getting hunted, guns, mentions The Hunger Games, mentions hanging(Sejanus' death), rebellion, being a shell of yourself, being tied up, getting rid of a body(Lucy Gray), toxic relationship, controlling!Coryo, Coriolanus' being 'bony'.

Fem!Reader.

I'm trying something new with my writing.

He lured you in.

He was one of the best Academy students and the only power he had was his name.

He spoke with you over open and discarded books, spewing with his charming words.

Sweet naive you.

He pressed soft kisses to your lips and thrusted in a pattern that made you see stars. Cosmic. Making love.

He was kind to your family, he was kind to your friends. He cared for you.

°•°•°

He was a mentor in the tenth Hunger Games, his tribute was Lucy Gray Baird. He helped her win, cheating for her from behind a screen while you supported him without knowing what he's done.

He was caught, and his punishment was becoming a Peacekeeper. Originally for District 8.

You threw a fit in his bedroom, crying and crying over again, begging the universe to not separate the two of you.

Dependent.

His hands held your face as he looked between both of your eyes, his own going back and forth. Left and right.

"No, you wont." He sounded so firm, but his voice still held the softness he could only have for you. "I'm going to 12. I will make sure to see through with it. You will go to 12."

And like a lamb led to the slaughter, you did.

°•°•°

You watched him beat a man, defending Lucy Gray like she was still his responsibility. You swam in the lake with him, holding onto him and laughing without a care in the world. You broke down with him after Sejanus' death. You stayed in the cabin with him and Lucy Gray.

The three of you planned a future that would get you all killed. You spoke the same words that had your dear friend, Sejanus, hung in front of a galore of witnesses.

Murdered.

Martyr.

You were oblivious to the way Coriolanus was cracking, something finally going off in his brain. He broke down.

He revealed what he's done. He told you both about Sejanus. He's why Sejanus Plinth, Bobbin, and Mayfair are dead.

Backstabber.

Murderer.

Lucy played it cool, keeping her calm as to not draw suspicion.

She grabbed your arm and a basket, making it seem innocent as she told him the two of you were going to pick katniss.

"Lucy Gray," He stared as she opened the door, a bright smile on her face as she gripped you tighter. "It's still raining."

"Well, we're not made out of sugar." And with that, she pulled you out. The two of you walked together until you were out of sight from the cabin windows.

And then you heard him.

Screaming, yelling, gunshots, running.

Cat and mouse.

Snake and bird.

Wolf and lamb.

Lucy Gray was dead beside you, and Coriolanus Snow was her killer. You were on the ground, your lover on top of you, tears spilling from your eyes as you stared at your lifeless friend. Coriolanus' hands dug into the plush of your body while he forced you to stand, holding your wrist with one hand while dragging Lucy with the other.

Back at the cabin, you were bound enough to where you couldn't run, but watching as Coriolanus wrapped up Lucy Gray's body and dumped her in the lake you all swam and laughed in just days before.

"No loose ends." He repeated to you as he forced you into the cabin, tying you to the bed the two of you slept on. "Besides you. But you won't tell anyone, will you?" He asked softly, wiping your tears and pushing back your hair.

You shook your head repeatedly, breathing heavily and staring at him with wide eyes.

"Good." He let out a breath as a smile grew on his face, now caressing one of your cheeks. "Good girl."

He leaned in and kissed you, ridding you of your clothes while you cried. He wasnt sweet. He didn't kiss the tears away, they just seemed to egg him on. This was not making love. He was fucking you while you were vulnerable.

×

You didn't get to leave Panem. You didn't get to run off and live a fairytale.

Coriolanus brought you back to the Capitol, solidifying you to him by announcing your engagement to him.

He didn't stop. Not even when he moved in with Sejanus' mourning parents, not even when he killed them.

Not even when he became the president, and you the First Lady.

You were both in your twenties, living better than you used to.

Coriolanus was no longer bony, no longer hungry. He no longer wore the clothes his cousin, Tigris, would make him. His hair was no longer buzzed like it was when he was a Peacekeeper, and his personality was different than when he was eighteen.

You're still intimate. You live, work, eat, sleep together. Your womb is warm for his seed. You're married by Panem and Capitol law. But you are not partners. He is the dictator. You're the trophy First Lady. You dress exactly as he likes. You act exactly as he likes. You move exactly as he likes. His word is law. Yours is nothing. And every moment you are his, you wonder what it would be like to not have to dance to his puppet strings.

He lured you in.

Sacrificial lamb.

[allaboutnayeli]

Hi! Love your writing!

Would you be able to write an aitana bonmati fic? Where the reader and aitana have been together for a while, but the reader is always jokingly flirting with her? Thank you!

lovely jokester ( aitana bonmati x reader )

prompt: your favorite pastime is to make flirty jokes towards your girlfriend

author notes: thank you! i hope you like this and it's what you wanted. tbh this fic is shorter than i wanted it to be but i wanted to post it anyways. enjoy!

you and aitana have been together for almost three years now. being with her has been one of the best relationships you ever had and very fun considering you two both play for barcelona. however you love to keep aitana on her toes. playing harmless pranks on her, saying obviously untrue things to try to trick her, and much more.

your favorite thing is do is definitely make corny flirty jokes towards the spainard. she always acts like she hates it, especially infront of other people, but you and her both know that she loves that part of you.

everyone was changing in the locker room, conversing with each other when you decide to strike once again. smirking as you look at aitana from across the room. she could feel your eyes on her (she knew by heart how you looked at her) but didn't think much of it. you had just pranked her yesterday so it wouldn't make sense to prank her again. you're a prankster, not evil.

good thing you weren't about to prank her. just show your girlfriend some love. you (try to) quietly sneak up behind aitana. she obviously can hear your footsteps even over the conversation between y'all's teammates. still the spainish player continues to slip her jersey on. laughing softly once you hug her from behind. planting a kiss on her cheek. "hola hermosa" you smile mischievously at her. aitana turns her a bit to look at you, with you two's foreheads touching. "hola bebe, what are you doing?" she says quietly.

you smile at her with that little mischievous smile you always do before pulling a prank on her. before she can even react you say (loud enough for the whole locker room to hear), "did it hurt when you fell from heaven?"

aitana bursts out laughing, pushing you away gently. half of your teammates laugh as well and the other half just groan. you see alexia roll her eyes as she walks out. aitana had pushed you right into lucy's arms. "you're so.." your girlfriend roll her eyes in mock displeasure. you would respond with something snarky, but lucy had you in a headlock.

"i'm tired of you and those cringey pick-up lines" lucy says as she messes up your hair. "i am too" claudia says as she pasts by you and lucy to leave the locker room. you gasp out as the rest of your teammates agree. including your girlfriend.

"why is everyone ganging up on me?" you say as lucy lets you go. she also heads out of the locker room. leaving just aitana and you in the room. your girlfriend comes over to you, giving you a short kiss on the lips. smiling once she pulls away, "yes, it did hurt, amor."

you give her a cocky smirk as she lets go of you and leave out of the room. one win for you and those horrible jokes.

you and aitana were enjoying a lazy saturday, cuddling in y'all's bed. aitana has her face nuzzled in your neck with your arms around her waist but of course you had to break up the simple domesticity by making another flirty joke.

"you know, amor..." you say in that tone aitana knows way too well. she groans as she tries to place her hand over your mouth. as an effort to silence you, but to no use as you hold her wrist and stop her. "i'm so glad your father came in your mother. without them i wouldn't have my beautiful girlfriend" you say before bursting out laughing.

your girlfriend gets her wrist out of your grip as you laugh even louder. she punches you in the shoulder, groaning. "just shut up.." the spainish players rolls up off of you and grabs her phone. starting to scroll to find her mother's contact. "and i am totally telling her you said that," she says.

"wait! don't! i'm sorry, please don't tell" you playfully beg as you try to reach for aitana's phone. she slaps your hands away. "c'mon, if you tell than i won't be the favorite girlfriend in law anymore" you whine as you stop trying to be a phone thief.

"should had thought about that before you decided to make that stupid joke" aitana says as she puts her phone up to her ear. very ready to tell her mother exactly what you said.

sometimes your jokes backfire and this is one of those times. one loss for you and one win for aitana.

[wearebarca]

5. Captured // Alexia Putellas x Original character pt. 5

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5

synopsis: Rosalie has never stayed too long at the same place. When the opportunity of a lifetime presents itself critical moment in her life, the photographer decides to once again leave behind what she knows and joins the staff of Europe's best football team.

Word count: 4,6k

18+ (eventually)

A/N: Spanish is from google translate so please be nice. French is my first language so all should be good on that part. Tell me what you think, be nice, enjoy.

The return to Barcelona wasn’t as smooth as their arrival trip. Rosalie had ended up with a seat next to Lucy, which was good because Lucy knew how to handle the younger brunette on a plane, but she couldn’t shake the slight disappointment she felt when she realized that she wouldn’t be sitting with the captain. Nonetheless she was still happy with her flight partner since she hadn’t seen much of the English woman during this trip.

Lucy had shown up at six at the photographer’s door, in full training gear and running shoes in her hand, and had forced the brunette to go out on a run with her to relax a little before the flight. They had ended up in a park with a track that circled a nice football pitch, and Lucy decided that it would be a great idea to challenge the runner on a race. Rosalie might be an experienced runner, but explosive speed was the older woman’s strength and an hour later, they were both lying on the field, panting like dogs, with Lucy undefeated. Running back was a completely different story for the defender who had used most of her energy on beating the younger woman in sprints. She was glad when she could see the hotel in front of us but groaned when the photographer lightly shoved her and yelled “ Race you there!”

At breakfast, Rosalie sat with her usual group, sandwiched between Keira and Ingrid, who made sure the brunette was occupied with conversation the whole time. Their goal was clear to the photographer who knew that they wanted her to focus on anything other than the plane trip ahead. Unbeknown to the pair, the task of keeping her distracted was already being fulfilled by the blonde sitting a few seats away from her.

Rosalie’s perception of the blonde had changed since their dinner the night before. Being able to spend some time with the captain without the pressure of work or football allowed Rosalie to see another side of the blonde that she hadn’t encountered before. Now, Alexia intrigued even more the photographer who wondered just how many sides the footballer keeps hidden.

Her daydreaming was interrupted by Keira who had been trying to get the French-Canadian's attention for the past minute. “ Hey, Frenchy are you still here with us?”

“ Oui, yes I’m sorry I was caught up in my own thoughts.” The brunette said, turning towards her friends.

“ It’s ok really, we just wanted to know if you were coming to team building night with us?” Ingrid said.

“ Isn’t that for players only?” the brunette said confused. Back with Arsenal, she never got invited to this sort of night, even if she was, or she thought, one of the player’s girlfriends.

“ Not necessarily no. It is just a normal night with friends and we’d like for you to come.” Keira said, smiling at the photographer.

“ I’d love to.” Rosalie said, turning towards Ingrid. “ When would that be?”

“ We were thinking about two weeks from now, after the game against Levante. I’m just trying to see how many we’re gonna be so I can make a reservation at the restaurant.” The Norwegian said, picking up her phone to look at options. The rest of the breakfast was spent organizing the supper, allowing the photographer to forget about their approaching departure. Unfortunately, her feeling of dread and anxiety came rushing back as soon as she picked up her luggage from the bus and walked towards the terminal. The flight went relatively well for the brunette, who stayed wide awake this time, leaning against Lucy while a bad comedy was playing on the small screen in front of them.

Alexia, who was a few seats behind the duo, could not help but wonder how the smaller woman was fairing and finally succumbed to her urge to make sure the photographer was alright by getting up and quickly trying to find something to say to justify her presence next to them. As she arrived at their seat, a small smile crept on her face at the sight of the brunette bundled up in her oversized hoodie, with her hood engulfing her head almost entirely. She crouched down next to her and took her hand in her own to give it a light squeeze. Without letting the photographer’s hand go, she turned her attention to the defender. “ Could you remind me again of yours and Keira’s departure dates for international break?” She asked the English woman who seemed surprised by the question.

“ Yeah sure mate,” she said, pulling out her phone to check her emails. “ Why do you need to know so soon? Isn’t it in almost two months?” she asked

“ Uhh, I’m just planning ahead.” She said, hoping that the older woman would not see through the real reason for her presence here. Meanwhile, the photographer had significantly relaxed since the captain had arrived next to her, and was putting all her focus on the way the blonde’s thumb was tracing soothing patterns on the back of her hand.

Too soon for the brunette’s liking, Lucy found the email with the dates she was looking for and gave them to Alexia, who had no more reason to stay with them. She gave one last squeeze to the photographer’s hand and walked back to her seat. Lucy, who was far from dumb, had a good idea of exactly why her captain had come to their row, and it surely wasn’t to know their departure’s dates. She sent a look to the younger woman, who simply answered with one that clearly said, : “Not now Luce.”

It was the middle of the afternoon when the brunette finally stepped in the comfort of her small apartment. She refused to let it show too much during their trip, but she was truly exhausted from the strain two plane rides in such a short amount of time had had on her, and as soon as her body hit the bed, she was gone and did not wake up until the morning after. The rest of her weekend was spent mostly working on the editing of the shots she had taken during their day off and training. She decided to go check out the Olympic pool near her place and swim a few laps to allow her body to recover from the week's intense running sessions.

For the players, the week after a match was always slower than their usual training, but for the rest of the staff, it was when their schedules would be the most hectic. Rosalie started her week by following a few players on a media appearance for a foundation that helps little girls persevere in sports, then it was media day which took by storm the whole training complex. Various interviews and fun videos were being filmed all over the facility and Rosalie’s job was to roam from station to station and capture the girls during their appearances. On top of that, the brunette had her usual training content to shoot and edit.

This week’s workload meant that coffee with her favourite couple wasn’t possible, which saddened them even though they understood why. Rosalie also postponed her night with the English couple who were very eager to bombard the Canadian with all the questions they had so nicely kept to themselves during the trip. It was a relief for the brunette, who knew that sooner or later, she would have to go through her best friend’s interrogation.

Weekend couldn't come soon enough for Rosalie. Friday would be a bittersweet day for the photographer who had to finish and send the media day content tonight at the latest for their release the next day, which most likely meant a late night at the office again. Her hunch turned out to be right as she checked the clock around four and realized that she wasn’t nearly done. The girls had already left and the training facility was dead silent when the photographer left her office. Rosalie almost jumped at the sound of her ringtone echoing in the empty car park. The name that lit up her screen made the brunette’s eyes roll as she picked up the call.

“ Non.”

“ Oui.”

“ Non, je viens de finir de travailler, Je suis complètement brûlée, pas ce soir.” Rosalie said in a whiny tone as she all but threw her bags in the backseat of her small sedan.

“Too late, we're already at your place darling.” Lucy said laughing. Rosalie could hear Keira whine in the background for her to come quickly because she was tired of waiting to eat. “ We brought your favourite, now get your arse here, we’ve got questions that need answering.” The defender didn’t even wait for the younger girl’s answer and hung up.

“Mais quel enfoiré.” Rosalie took all the detours humanly possible, just to annoy the older woman. At the sight of Lucy waiting by the stairs of her apartment, Rosalie felt like a child getting scolded by her mum. She took a deep breath and climbed the few stairs that were left between her and her apartment.

“ Took you long enough.”

“ Traffic, ya know”

“ Fuck off you cunt you did this just to fuck with us.” Lucy said as she followed the Canadian back in her flat.

“ Woah woah votre langage madame Bronze.”

“ You’re lucky we like you Frenchy.” She pulled out the bags of fish and chips she had brought while Rosalie pulled out beers for everyone. She eagerly took the plate that was handed to her and made a face at the first bite.

“ I know, it’s not like back home.” Keira said, stealing a few chips from Rosalie’s plate.

“ It doesn’t taste bad, it just does not deserve the title of fish and chips.” Rosalie said, bringing her plate and beer to the couch. The two women followed her, Keira beside her on the couch and Lucy on the ground, on the other side of the coffee table.

“ Ok I’m done waiting so now, what the hell is going on with you and Alexia.”Rosalie almost choked on her fish at the younger English woman’s question.

“ There’s nothing going on”

“ What do you mean? There’s nothing going on. She keeps staring at you!” Keira said in an animated tone.

“Rosalie, you fell asleep on her shoulder, in the goddamn plane.” Lucy added. The brunette was cornered, she could not lie to these girls, they were her family, they knew her too well.

“ She’s just.. she’s easy company you know. We get along nice.” She said, hoping that would be enough for them, but she knew it definitely would not be.

“ We all saw how you were looking at her on the last morning of the trip. You haven’t looked at anyone like that before, not even…”

“Don’t,” Rosalie quickly interrupted. She didn’t want to compare Alexia, even in the slightest bit, to the Irish defender. “ She’s just very intriguing, you know. I haven’t quite met anyone like her before.”

“ She’s a pure soul, that one,” Lucy said, staring at her best friend who was currently looking everywhere but at the two friends. “ She’s shy and closed off but once she opens up, she is truly one of the most authentic girls I’ve met.” She said with a fond smile playing on her lips.

“ Why are you guys telling me all this?” Rosalie asked. Sure, she understood that these women were her family and they simply wanted to know what was going on but this felt like more than the usual interrogation she would be subjected to. It almost felt like they were encouraging the photographer to pursue whatever was going on between the brunette and the blonde.

“ No reason in particular, we just want you to be happy.” Keira said, trapping the brunette in a hug.

“Ok you can let me go now, you’re crushing me” they stayed silent for a moment, contempt in eating their food and unwinding after their week, until Keira decided to break the silence.

“ She talks about you, you know? With Mapi and some of the Spanish players. They think I’m not good enough in Spanish to understand when they speak fast, but I’m better now, and I can understand some stuff.” Keira said, happily stealing more chips from the photographer’s plate, who was too stunt by the woman’s statement to react. Lucy on the other hand, could not hold back the laugh that came out when she saw the look on the younger woman’s face. A deep blush formed on her cheek as she got off the couch and walked to the kitchen to put away her plate.

“I’m sure it was probably something about the shoot or the most recent post.” Rosalie said, trying to occupy herself until her face would turn back to its original colour.

“ No, no I heard your name, than “guapa” was somewhere in there and then they all agreed.”

“ Kei seriously, that could be about anything.”

“ I’m telling you, they were talking about you.” Keira said with a wide teasing grin on her face. They went back and forth like that for a few minutes while Lucy was laughing at the interaction. The couple ended up staying over until past midnight before finally deciding to make their way home.

“ By the way, you’re coming to the beach tomorrow, I’ll send you the time and address!” Lucy said as she stepped out of the brunette’s apartment and closed the door behind her, not leaving time for her to give an actual answer.

The next day she woke up with a text from Lucy only containing a time and an address for a beach not too far from the city. Rosalie had no idea what to bring for this occasion so she assumed that since they were meeting up around lunch time, she should probably pack some food, a quick call to Keira confirmed her suspicion and allowed her to also add beer to the list of things to bring. She put on her favourite bikini with a pair of linen shorts and a swimsuit cover, grabbed her camera bag and her backpack and hopped in her car.

The Canadian had never gone through this part of the city and decided to go explore it on her next run. Her GPS led her to a small parking area in front of a path in the woods. She parked between Lucy’s Cupra and another car that looked similar to Lucy’s but wasn’t familiar to the brunette. On the other side of the car park, she spotted Mapi and Ingrid’s car as well as other nice vehicles that probably belonged to Barça players. When she arrived on the beach, Rosalie realized that this was more than just a hangout between a few friends. Lucy and Keira were here, along with Mapi and Ingrid, Patri, Pina, Vicky, Jana, Aitana, mariona and finally, Alexia.

Barking was heard along with the sound of rapid little steps coming her way. She was greeted with a small white dog she knew very well, along with a small pomeranian. Narla jumped around at Rosalie’s feet, too excited for the Canadian to pet her, but the small pomeranian kept scratching at her leg. The photographer bent down and picked up the small fluffy dog, who immediately licked her face.

A chorus of “Hola”’s and happy cheers was heard as the French-Canadian made her way towards the group, with the small dog still in her arms. “ Finally! We were starting to think you got lost on your way.” Mapi said, hugging her friend tightly and taking the bags in the brunette’s hands so she could greet the rest of the girls.

“ Blame Lucy, she told me to be here at twelve.”

“ I see you met Nala.” Ingrid said, approaching the photographer, hugging her gently to not crush the ball of fur who was getting comfortable in the brunette’s arms.

“ Oui, she’s a little angel,” She said, kissing the top of the dog’s head, “ Who’s the lucky owner? Gotta know who I need to fight in order to bring her home.” She said laughing.

“She’s Alexia’s.” Mapi said, with a cheeky smile, “ She usually takes a while to warm up to people.” Rosalie could feel the blush that was creeping up her cheeks.

“ Good to know…”

“ Ok, can we eat now? I’m starving.” Mapi said as she turned around, to make her way towards the coolers. Ingrid smiled at her girlfriend’s antics and beckoned the French-Canadian to follow her towards the rest of the group. She helped Ingrid and Aitana set up the little potluck while the rest of the girls were setting up some beach chairs and towels around. The sun was high in the sky and not a single cloud could be seen, the heat was quickly getting to the Canadian who decided that the swimsuit cover was not helping cooling her off. She got up and took off the shirt, her actions not missed by a certain blonde, who was in the middle of a game of touch. The action made Alexia completely miss, which made the little group snicker at their captain.

“Capitán, debería limpiarse la baba de las comisuras de la boca.!” Patri said, laughing at her captain 's flustered face.

“ Oy, callate idiota!” To be fair, Alexia was not the only one staring. The photographer had put on a dark green bikini that complemented perfectly her tanned skin and showed off her athletic figure.

“ Ella es muy caliente.” The comment came from Pina, who received a sharp slap to the back of her head.

“Behave”

“ Si Capitana.”

The food was finally set up and the group was called back by the rest of the girls to come eat. Rosalie mainly stayed with Ingrid and Aitana since she still wasn’t used to being with this many new people at once. She quickly found out that there was absolutely no reason to be shy around the girls. The atmosphere was very playful and the air was filled with laughter and bickering in broken English since they all knew that Rosalie and Keira weren’t completely comfortable in Spanish.

“ Rosie! If you want to make your Spanish better, I know someone who’s a very good teacher.” Patri said with a shit eating grin.

“ Si, si very patient, very good teacher. She would love to teach you, right Capitana?” Pina added, trying to hold back her laugh. The look the captain sent the girls would have scared anyone in their right mind, but the younger players were too busy laughing to notice their captain’s wrath coming their way. A sharp cry and a whine was heard when the football connected with the side of Pina’s head.

“Cállate, te lo merecías.” Alexia said as she pushed the younger girl towards the area they had been playing previously.

“ I don’t know if they were serious or not, but I kinda really do need help with Spanish. The online courses I’ve been taking are little to no help with understanding native speakers.” The brunette said as she set up her towel between Ingrid and another towel.

“I’m sure she would love to help.” Ingrid said with a knowing smile. The light sound of little paws hitting the sand caught the attention of the photographer who turned her head to see Nala strut her way. The little dog came over to the photographer to get a few pets then made a beeline to the towel next to her to pick up a little chew toy. Nalla then turned to make her way back to Rosalie to lay right in the middle of her towel. Rosalie laughed at the little dog’s antics while Ingrid smiled and turned to her friend.

“Now that your spot has been taken, you should go show these children how it’s done.” She said, motioning to the little group playing a game of touch. Mapi’s head shot up at her girlfriend’s words.

“ Yes, yes, let’s go, I want to see what you are capable of.” Rosalie let Mapi drag her up and to the group. She stood between Patri and Mapi and after a few passes, she was just as excited and hyped as the rest of the girls. They played for a while, working up a sweat with the sand sticking to their skin. Even though the brunette was focused on the game, she couldn’t stop herself from glancing at the blonde captain. She looked gorgeous in her light blue bikini, tanned skin glowing in the sunlight. She looked so carefree and genuinely happy. Their eyes met and both the women smiled wildly, until a particularly daring kick sent the ball straight to the ocean.

“ Rosie! You are a runner, si?” Patri said, lightly shoving the brunette to get her attention. “ The first to get to the ball gets to dunk the other one in the ocean!” She yelled, already taking off full speed towards the waves.

“ Hey! Non, that’s not fair!” She said laughing as she took off behind the midfielder who had too great of a head start for the Canadian to be able to catch up to her.

As soon as she reached the ball, she felt hands grab her by the waist and hoist her up only to launch her straight in the water. The photographer let out a loud shriek as she hit the cold refreshing waters. She could hear behind her the cheers of the rest of the girls who had made their way to Patri.

Rosalie walked out of the water, slicking her hair back with a sinister smile as she approached Patri, who was still caught in an uncontrollable laughter. She jumped on the player’s back and dragged her down in the water with her. Alexia saw this as an opportunity to get back at Pina for the teasing and grabbed the younger player, hoisting her on her shoulders and walking off in the water to dump her near the two other women who were busy splashing each other.

They all stay in the water for a while, teaming up against one another in a slashing battle. Patri and Rosalie against Claudia and Alexia. The footballers weren’t playing around and Rosalie quickly realized that she was in over her head. For the second time today, a pair of hands landed on her hips but this time, the touch sent shivers down the brunette’s back. She went still which allowed Alexia to swiftly pick her up as she carried the photographer away from the two other Spanish women, too busy bickering and slashing each other to notice the absence of their friends.

The midfielder set Rosalie down, but her hands on her hips stayed until she decided the woman was stable enough on her feet. “ I am sorry, I thought that you looked a little overwhelmed out there," she said, smiling at the smaller woman.

“They do play a little too rough for me.” she said, following Alexia as she started walking deeper in the sea. She was silent, only looking at the water stretching endlessly in front of her. Rosalie could see that something was bothering the blonde. Her beautiful smile had faded and her eyes held a worried look. “I can sense something is not right.” She said softly to the blonde who turned to look at the photographer.

“ It’s just that, the euros are getting nearer, national camp is in a few weeks and the girls are a little on edge with everything that has been going on lately.” The photographer was aware of the tensions in the national football scene in Spain. She knew that the players were fighting for better conditions and better treatment from the coaches, and she knew that this fight had cost some of the girls their chance to represent their country in some of the most important sports events. It was hard for the girls who had to stay behind . It was also hard for the ones who had decided to stay with the team but were enduring the poor treatment from the staff and management. Seeing these girls today, so happy and carefree, she could not fathom just how much pressure was resting on their shoulders.

“ Days like these are important, you know,” The photographer said, getting closer to the captain. “ They help unwind, allow you to forget about everything you know?”

“ I’m not very good at relaxing.” The blonde said, chuckling.

“ What do you like to do on your days off?”

“ I don’t know, I don’t get a lot of those.”

“ Ok, so what would a perfect day off be for La Reina?” The photographer said with a cheeky smile. Alexia gave the photographer a big eye roll before answering.

“ Probably going to get coffee, walk around the market. Maybe buy supplies to cook a nice supper and relax with a movie. Something simple I guess.” Alexia said with a distant look in her eyes. In this moment, Rosalie wished she could take all the pressure on the blonde’s shoulders and carry it for her for a little while, just so she could catch her breath. Unable to do such a thing, the brunette thought of the next best thing.

“ Tomorrow there’s no training right?”

“ Si, no training.”

“ And you don’t have anything planned?”

“ I was gonna train alone and work on some side projects, why?”

“ No you are not, because tomorrow, you are bringing me to your favourite coffee shop and to that market you talked about. Then you are coming back to my place and I’d like you to show me how to make Paella. I've always wanted to try making it but my cooking skills are horrendous.” Rosaie said in a tone that left no space for arguing. Alexia smiled at the smaller woman, she was surprised by the French-Canadian’s proposition but could not be happier with the turn this conversation took. She took the brunette’s hand and brought it to her lips. The action made Rosalie freeze on the spot as she felt the blonde’s lips graze the back of her hand, which sent a shock wave that traveled her whole body and made her breath hitch.

“ It is a date then.” Alexia said, letting the brunette’s hand go and walking back to the beach with a wide smile plastered on her face. Rosalie on the other hand, was still frozen at the same spot, trying to gather exactly what had happened between them. A deep blush had crept on her face and the woman felt hot all over. She lowered herself in the water, dunking her head to try and cool herself off, or wake up for this dream, but she emerged at the same spot, with the silhouette of the footballer walking in front of her, almost reaching the rest of the group, who was now sunbathing.

Walking back to her towel, she could see that Nala had moved to the top of Alexia's towel, near the blonde’s head. She was laying on her stomach, which allowed the photographer a clear view of the multitude of tattoos on the captain’s back. The photographer got comfortable on her back and shoved one airpod in her ear, leaving the other one free to hear the crash of the waves on the sand. She felt something fluffy brush against her hand and opened her eyes to see Nala had changed spots again, deciding to lay between the two women, making sure she was touching Alexia and Rosalie’s hand at once. With the soft music playing in her ear, the sound of the ocean and Alexia’s calming presence, Rosalies quickly surrendered to the week’s exhaustion and let herself drift to sleep.

[kestisvrse]

bad for business

pairing ⋆ anthony lockwood x gn!reader. fluff with a bit of angst. fake dating.

synopsis ⋆ the three times you found yourself fake dating anthony lockwood.

warnings ⋆ swearing, reader is implied to be shorter than lockwood, being followed, kissing (written by someone without their first kiss send help). | wc: 1.4k

♫ - bad for business by sabrina carpenter

1. a walk home

“ladies first.” you snort at lockwoods comment as he holds the door for you to exit arif’s, a box of donuts secured in your hands.

“wow what a gentleman.” you joke making lockwood laugh a little as you begin your walk towards home, a comfortable silence falling between you two, a minute or so passes.

“someone’s following us.” lockwood says nonchalantly, you furrow your eyebrows looking at him, “he was standing outside arif’s when we went in, he was staring at you the whole time and now he is getting closer.” lockwood says looking over his shoulder, shuffling slightly closer towards you.

“well what do we do?” you ask slightly panicked.

“hold my hand.”

“i’m sorry?” you say, he failed to answer as he grabs the box of donuts out of your hands, using his free hand to intertwine your fingers.

“just trust me okay? maybe if he thinks we are together he will leave us alone.” lockwood clarified.

“o-okay, i guess” you mutter, a light blush painting your cheeks at the feeling of his thumb lightly rubbing your hand.

you were nearing portland row, you and lockwood standing closer together, you freeze up as he places a kiss on the top of your head to nonchalantly glance behind you two, “i see him, he is walking away. just… keeping holding on until we get home… just incase.” you nod, silently agreeing with him.

he didn’t let go of your hand until he placed the box of donuts on the kitchen table.

2. too close for comfort

lockwood had convinced you, lucy and george to go to this ‘ball’, you honestly didn’t know what to call it. it was a fancy building filled with agents dressed up and the adults that exploit their talents for money, celebrating nothing in particular and somehow, lockwood and co. got invites.

lockwood looked like he was at home, while george uncomfortably tugged at the collar of his button up and wandered off with lucy, leaving you and lockwood, standing in the middle of the ballroom.

“why are we here, lockwood?” you pried.

“why not? every agent in london is here.” he responds.

“that doesn’t mean we have to be.” you shot back, annoyed by a man who pushed past you, causing you to knock shoulders with anthony.

“it’s a good opportunity, to meet new people and get our name out there.”

“with our competition? yeah alright. i need something to drink.” you wandered off.

some time had passed, it included you leaning against the wall observing everyone that passed by, you had found george and lucy at one point where george had gave up and went home while lucy decided to investigate around for god knows what. you decided it was time to find lockwood again.

wandering around aimlessly you spotted him in the sea of tuxes, talking to a blonde girl, in a blue 90s like prom dress, inching closer and closer to lockwood.

you rolled your eyes at the sight, lockwoods charming smile seemingly working again, but it didn’t look like he used it on purpose this time.

“there you are, i’ve been looking for you everywhere!” you smoothly entered the conversation, linking your arm with his and his whole face seemed to light up.

“oh.” the blonde commented, squinting her eyes, “who’s this?”

“i’m-“ he cut you off, taking the lead.

“this is my partner.” lockwood replied, you smiled at the girl as she realized she misread the situation, quickly saying goodbyes and walking off.

“i couldn’t tell if you needed saving or not.” you explained, a hidden apology heard beneath your words just incase he was enjoying the girls company.

“no i did, thank you.” he said, making eye contact, “maybe we should head home now?”

“let’s find lucy first.” you suggested, and he sent you a grin.

that damn grin.

3. distraction

you had warned him.

you had told him there had to be a better way to get information that didn’t involve breaking and entering. but as per usual he used his charisma and webbed you into the whole plan.

and now, you two were running down alleyways, after being caught. ‘i told you so’ repeating over and over again in your head as you focused on running, and of course you reached another problem.

“shit!” you whispered, lockwood dragging you back behind a wall, your only escape had multiple body guards roaming the area.

“how the hell did they even get there.” lockwood said to himself.

“what do we do?? there are two other body guards about to block off the way we came from!” you panted out, catching your breath from running.

“i have a crazy idea.” lockwood made eye contact with you, he seemed nervous as he ran his hand through his hair.

“all your ideas are crazy, anthony.” you countered.

“just listen okay?” he whispers, you slowly nod, “if we can make it seem like, we have no idea what’s going on around us and that we accidentally stumbled up here maybe they won’t think it’s us.” you gave him a blank stare.

“what are you even suggesting right now lockwood?!” you grumbled, faintly you heard footsteps approaching.

“we do not have time for this, do you trust me?”

“do i have a choice?” you quipped, but suddenly the conversation was over as he cupped your cheeks and suddenly his lips were on yours. you froze up, you expected his plan to be anything but this, but then you heard the footsteps turn the corner and you needed to act just like him, quickly kissing back.

his lips were chapped, rough against your soft ones. as you brought your hands up to his face, his hands moved down to your waist, pulling you closer. it felt eager, like you had been waiting to do this forever, and it felt right.

“HEY!” you two snapped apart from the loud yell, breathless as you stare at the taller man infront of you “this is private property, you kids can’t be here.” his tone was threatening, making you tense up.

“we are so sorry sir.” you replied sweetly, “we didn’t know, we will leave right away!” you grab lockwood’s hand and hurried towards the exit before the man could question you anymore.

you held hands all the way home, but didn’t mutter a word to each other.

4. overdue confession

it had been around a week since lockwood had kissed you. you hadn’t spoken. the house having an awkward atmosphere as you avoided lockwood like the plague.

you couldn’t avoid the knock on your door, unfortunately.

“come in.” you called out from your spot on the bed, expecting lucy to walk in but were met with lockwood.

he was wearing his usual suit but he looked disheveled, his tie loose, his hair slightly messy and he looked so tired, even more tired than usual, he was a mess.

“hey.” he spoke just above a whisper, scared any louder you would run away from him again.

“oh. hi.” you sat up in your bed, suddenly looking anywhere but him, fiddling with your hands.

“i want to apologize, i shouldn’t have kissed yo-“ he began.

“we wouldn’t have gotten out of there if you hadn’t, it’s okay.” you stated, sniffling slightly. your bed dipped as he sat down.

“then why won’t you talk to me?” you looked up to his eyes, “please talk to me.” he begged, you looked into each others eyes for a moment.

“i was avoiding you because of the fact that i.. i didn’t want the kiss to end.” you confessed, “i like you, lockwood, and i didn’t want to ruin anything so i thought avoiding you would be better..” you trailed off, the air was tense as he stared at you.

“oh thank god.” he laughed out.

“what?” your anxiety kicked in, as you stared at him.

“i was scared to confess, i’m glad you did first.” your eyebrows furrow at his response, “i really like you, i have since i met you. i didn’t want the kiss to end either.”

your eyes widened slightly, studying his voice for any sound of sarcasm.

“can i kiss you again?” he whispered, scared of your rejection, you just slowly nodded looking down at his lips, he lent in.

his lips weren’t chapped this time, they were soft and you took notice of just how well they fit against yours. this kiss was softer than the first, it washed your anxiety away, and the tense air disappeared. he pulled away and laid his forehead against yours.

“i thought i was being dreadfully obvious about my feelings.”

“you were not.” you laughed at him

“oh no i was, you are just oblivious.” he responded

“shut up.” you said, and he did as his lips met yours yet again.

[baby-beelzeburger]

Headcanon: The brothers finding you asleep in their bed [Part One]

➳ Summary: The brothers come home late to find MC sleeping in their bed. When asked, MC admits that they missed them while they were gone.

➳ Content info: MC is gender neutral and uses they/them. Emotionally constipated demons but lots of fluff and sweetness. 

➳ Characters: Lucifer and Mammon

➳ Word Count:  Lucifer- 1,626 // Mammon- 2,425

Part Two

Lucifer had been out all night on buisness. After the student council meeting had concluded that afternoon, he had stayed behind with Diavolo to continue discussion on the topics they went over, then made use of the time by filling out some important paperwork. Afterwards, Diavolo had managed to talk him into returning to the Demon Lord’s Castle for dinner, and had kept him there for quite some time with aimless chatter.

Though it wasn’t that he didn’t enjoy his time (even if he’d never admit that he did,) he was exhausted by the time he returned home. It was late enough that the entire House of Lamentation was still. Not a sound could be heard. Even when that fact made Lucifer feel uneasy, he figured it was just late enough that everyone was keeping to themselves. He stood at the entrance as he briefly considered visiting your room to see if you were in bed already, and to say goodnight if you weren't. Yet, he soon decided against it and turned through the halls to reach his own room instead.

When he arrived at his room, he felt a feeling in his gut telling him that something was off. He interpreted this feeling to mean something was wrong, and so he was immediately on guard, expecting another one of Satan and Belphegor’s lame tricks. He gripped the doorknob carefully, turning it slowly as he peered into the dark room.

His eyes immediately found you, lit by nothing but the candle on his bedside table. His first instinct was to be confused, although his guard was instantly lowered. What were you doing in his room? Was there something wrong with your own that made it uninhabitable? Perhaps Beel went on another one of his hunger-rampages, yet again destroying the kitchen and, consequently, your room as well. But why would you choose his room over anyone else’s to rest in?

Confusion turned into concern as he stood in the doorway, just staring, unsure. He stood there for a moment, not sure if he should disturb you. But eventually his feelings of concern and curiosity won over, and he walked over to kneel at your bedside.

His gloved hand reached out to shake your shoulder, even though he didn’t want to. He couldn’t help but think about how precious you looked, fast asleep, nestled in his bed. Of course, it wasn’t strange to see you relaxed, as time spent between the two of you was often spent in silence. But there was a special kind of feeling in his heart to see you so tranquil, without any sign of the stressors you faced.

Your eyes fluttering open brought him back from his thoughts, although he was distracted again only seconds later by the thought of how cute you were when you were sleepy.

Your half-lidded eyes ridden with fatigue focused on him after a few moments of rubbing them with your fist. Your gaze morphed to match his confusion, before it changed to realization, then embarassment.

“Oh, you're back already?” You asked, eyes darting around the room, “What time is it?"

“Quite late,” He responded, “Why are you sleeping here? Is there something wrong with your room?”

”No, it’s nothing like that. It’s just...” Your voice got quiet as you lowered your head, "’M sorry, Luci, I just missed you.”

In that moment, all Lucifer could do was thank himself for the years of training himself to be more reserved, more stoic. Otherwise it would’ve been utterly embarrasing to show just how flustered that made him feel.

"I was only gone for a few hours.” He responded, voice staying leveled despite the way his heartbeat began picking up, “You just saw me this morning.”

Your only response was to shrug, looking sheepish. He sighed, shaking his head at your strangeness. He wasn’t sure if he’d ever understand you. And yet, with every odd little thing you did, he couldn’t help but become even more endeared to you. Couldn’t help but to fall even deeper in love.

Did you know that you were doing this? Did you know your effect on him? Did you know that you had him so tightly wrapped around your finger? It felt strange, he felt strange. How could he have let his guard down so much to let a human worm their way into his heart? How did you make this happen?

He cleared his throat to dismiss the thoughts from his mind. You looked nervous, like his silence meant that he was going to scold you. Instead, he was so lost in swirling thoughts of affection that, in that moment, he could never dream of doing so. Scolding you meant that you would never pull somehting like this again. And deep, deep down, he knew that he wanted you to. Even every night, if you so wished.

“Very well,” He said, and he heard his own voice waver. He hoped you hadn’t noticed as he got back onto his feet. The movement drew your eyes up to him, and your face changed from nerves to confusion again. “I’ll go sleep in the study. Goodnight, MC.”

He made it one single step away from his bed before your hand reached out to grab at his wrist. His entire body tensed, put off by the sudden contact. He did his best to will his muscles to relax, not wanting to exhibit any weakness. It wasn’t anything against you, just a reflex rooted deep within him. He wanted to be vulnerable with you, but he found it so hard to allow himself that pleasure.

“Wait,” Your voice came from behind him. Lucifer still hadn’t turned around, but he could tell by the sound of your voice that you were pleading with him.

Please don’t, he begged to you within his own thoughts, please don’t make it more difficult then it needs to be.

“Will you stay?”

Your voice sounded so soft. So innocent.

His knees felt weak.

Please don’t tempt me, MC.

He tried to resist the urge to turn around, but very soon he lost that battle. It was an impossible one to win. Your voice was like a siren’s song. Your touch, even through his sleeve, felt irresitable to shun away.

He turned to gaze at you over his shoulder. The moment your eyes met, he knew the war was over. You had won.

“Fine,” Lucifer murmured, his voice filled with surrender, “ I will stay, only until you fall alseep.”

You nodded, a smile spreading across your lips. Pride swelled within him when he realized that he caused that smile. It was one of his favorite things to do, to see you smile, and he wished to see it in his every waking moment. And he always wanted to be the cause of it.

When did that become such a top priority for him?

You scooted over towards the other side of his massive bed, forcing him to sit as you pulled him along with you. Resigning to the force of you dragging him along, Lucifer kicked off his shoes and stretched his legs out in front of him. He rested his back against the headboard of his bed and settled in, though he didn’t plan to be there for long. Just until you fell asleep, then he would slip away to sleep in his study as orginally planned.

Except, he didn’t stop you as you came in closer. Didn’t stop you as you rested your head on his chest. Didn’t stop you from draping your arm over his waist. How could he? If you truly missed him that much, how could he stop you from indulging in this moment?

What’s worse, however, was that Lucifer didn’t stop himself from wrapping an arm around you; from pulling you impossibly closer. Didn’t stop himself from basking in your warmth, or in your weight on top of him. He thought he was strong, one of the strongest demons there was. He took pride in his ability to never crack under pressure. Took pride in how he had no weakness to speak of, or at least that he never showed such a thing. And yet, here you were, and he simply couldn’t resist your gentle urging. Couldn’t resist basking in your affection the moment he had it.

What were you really? Because Lucifer was no longer sure he would take “human” as an answer. You had to be something else. Something more.

He was lost in these thoughts, staring accusatory at the top of your head, when he felt a weight settle on his hand. His eyes darted towards the feeling, and found your hand placed gently atop his. His heart surged again.

“G’night, Luci,” You mumbled, voice muffled and words slurred. Before he could respond, he already knew you had fallen asleep. You’d used your last bit of energy for the day to wish him a pleasant night. And no doubt, it was a good night indeed.

“Goodnight, MC.” He said in response, even despite your unconciousness. Perhaps you could still hear him, deep in the dreamworld you were being sucked into.

Then, and only then, did he let his fingers wrap around your own. Once he was sure you were lost to the waking world. Only then could he bear to respond to such affections. And he didn’t let go, even though you were sleeping. Even though he promised himself he would leave.

Even as his eyes slid closed. And even as he recognized, as he too was drifting to sleep, that his neck would ache come morning due to his position. He didn’t care, though. Not if it meant he would be able to rest there and keep your hand safe in his.

It wasn’t until early, early morning that Mammon had returned to the House of Lamentation. He had been out all night at the casino, and had even won quite a big sum of grimm. This unusual luck even seemed to carry on, as he had managed to slip back into the house without drawing the attention of Lucifer. That was definitely an uncommon occurance.

Now that he thought of it, Mammon remembered his older brother mention something about being out late, but surely he’d be back by now? Maybe he was so tired from whatever boring buisness he had attented to that he was passed out and wouldn’t wake ‘til dawn, not even thinking to check on Mammon and his other brothers’ wareabouts. That was rather uncharacteristic of Lucifer, but Mammon didn’t want to look a gift horse in the mouth. He just won big, and he didn’t want to put a damper on that by seeking out trouble.

Still, Mammon didn’t want to be too loud, so he carefully tip-toed up the old stairs of the main hall and up to his room. He was exhausted after such an exciting night, and was looking forward to crashing. Maybe he’d even skip out on school the next day so he could catch up on his z’s.

As slow as possble, Mammon turned the doorknob to his room and pushed the door open. He held his breath the entire time, keenly aware that the room just beside his was Lucifer’s.

But eventually, he made it inside, and breathed out in relief. He flicked on the lights and welcomed the familiarity of the sight before him. The warming sight of his sanctuary. The place where he could escape from everything, even Lucifer. It was even better when you were there with him.

Speaking of, you looked so cute over there, snuggling your face against his pillows.

With a warm smile, Mammon headed towards his closet to get undressed for the night. He made it halfway across the room before he realized that you in his bed, snuggling his pillows was not a usual familiarity.

His entire body went stiff mid-step, like he was hit with a spell to freeze him in his tracks. His head slowly turned back towards his bed, expecting what he saw to be just a trick of the brain. Except it wasn’t. You were still there, his blanket draped over your hips. Your chest rose and fell slowly, and your face was burried in his pillow, your arms holding it tight to your chest.

Heart beating rapidly within the confines of his chest, he tip-toed once again, over to the bedside. He stared at you with widened eyes, wondering what kind of freaky trick this was. Maybe Lucifer really did find out that he was out and decided to cast some spell on his bed to play a cruel prank on him.

No, no, no, that didn’t make sense. Lucifer doesn’t pull cheap pranks like that. That sounds more like something Belphie and Satan would do. And even though he was often the target of ridicule from those two, he wasn’t often the victim of their tricks. All their best ones were reserved for Lucifer himself.

So then what was this? Surely, if he went downstairs to your room, the real you would be sleeping in your own bed? Maybe one of those cursed witches snuck in and cast a spell to try and trap him?

No, no, no, that doesn’t make sense either.... Lucifer would never let that happen. Mammon was safe here. You and his brothers were safe here too. Lucifer would never let an intruder in. So what was it?

Finally giving in, Mammon reached across the bed to touch your face. He barely let even his fingertips graze your cheek, but you felt so real. So warm. Was this really you after all?

Gently, either in fear that he would wake you, or in fear that whatever trap this was would be triggered, he settled down next to you. He kicked off his shoes and rested his back against the headboard, but he didn’t dare get underneath the covers. It made his heart race even faster, just the thought of sharing covers with you.

Then, he just sat there, unsure what to do. Should he try waking you? Just try and go to sleep? Why is his heart beating so damn fast?

His eyes flickered over to you. He tried to keep his gaze anywhere but you, but it was too hard. Too tempting to look at you resting beside him. In his bed.

He felt like a creep, but he couldn’t help how his eyes eventually became glued to you. Examining every detail of your face. He couldn’t even recall the last time he’d seen you look so... relaxed? Days were always so chaotic around here. Usually you were running around with him and his brothers, excited. Laughing that stupid laugh that made his heart soar, even when it was directed at him. Or you were stressed, worried about a dumb situation that someone got themselves into, or anxious about school.

Now you were just.... Calm. Your expression was quiet, unbothered. It was just precious how the corners of your lips were upturned in the gentlest of smiles. It was addicting to look at. Even more addicting then gambling, more addicting then making money. Somehow a stronger pull then the ever-present urge of greed deeply seeded in his heart.

Mammon swore in that moment that if the only thing he could ever do for the rest of his long life was lay there in bed with you and gaze at how sweet and serene you looked while you rested, he would gladly do it.

Mammon wasn’t really sure how long he sat there, yearning for you. He didn’t have the heart to wake you, and certainly didn’t have the desire to kick you out. So, he just sat there, so lost in it that he didn’t even notice your eyes flutter open. Didn’t notice how, as your blurry vision cleared, a look of confusion started to disturb the peace.

He thought maybe he was just hearing things, when your sleepy voice called out his name. It sounded so sweet to his ears that he figured it was too good to be true. But then he heard it again, and he snapped out of his little daydream to glance up and meet your gaze. Frightened by the realization that your eyes were open, Mammon jumped back and tumbled over the edge of his bed, landing with a thud on the floor.

He heard you gasp, but he was too occupied with the sudden pain in the back of his head, which he definitely hit in the fall. He rubbed his head, groaning in pain, a sense of embarassment washing over him. He could barely muster the courage to open his eyes and face you, but it was an instinctual response to do so the moment he could feel a presence looming over him.

You were leaning over the side of the bed to look at him, worry etched across your face. He scolded himself for ruining your calmness.

Still, he wanted to save face. He had to act cool in front of you. He couldn’t believe he had really just done that, scrambling over the edge of his bed like a moron. Of course, it wasn’t the first time he had made a fool of himself in front of you, and it defintely wouldn’t be the last. But he still couldn’t bare the thought. Maybe he could recover.

“What’re ya doin’ in my room?” Was all he could think to ask, forcing a look of annoyance onto his face. As if it were an inconveinence to have you here, and not the greatest relief.

The grin that replaced your concern made him worry. He didn’t like that face, that mischievious little smile. Lips which unspoken words rested on. “So we’re playing this game?” they seemed to quietly speak. Because even under his facade, you could read him so well.

“What were you doing staring at me?” You countered, only to watch his flustered state worsen. Mammon still tried to get a grip, though he knew he was only grasping at straws. You’d won this back and forth before it even began. You always do.

“Don’t turn this on me. This is my room yer in, ya know. Or did ya get lost?”

You chuckled, letting your shoulders rise and fall in a casual shrug.

“I didn’t get lost. I just missed you, is all.”

With those words, it felt like Cupid’s stupid arrow had just peirced his heart. As if Cupid’s stupid arrow hadn’t found him the moment he laid eyes on you. But at this point, Mammon felt as though an arrow shot him every chance it could, making him fall deeper and deeper with every hit. Every time you smiled, or every time you said something sweet to him. And so casually too. How could you say that so easily?

His eyes avoided yours. He couldn’t stand looking at you while his face warmed and his body trembled.

“Tch, I bet ya did. Probably missin’ me every second yer not with me,” He mocked, even when he knew for sure that it was the other way around.

You shrugged again. He wasn’t prepared for what that simple shrug heralded.

“Yeah, I am missing you all the time,” You confirmed, a sweet smile settling on your face. And even worse, you reached away from the bed to take his hand into yours, “so stop sneaking out without me so much.”

Once more, another arrow. Mammon swore this one almost did him in for real. Was he still breathing?

You laughed at his rigid posture, even as his hand tightened impossibly tight around yours.

“So are you just going to sleep down there, or are you going to come to bed already?”

He tsked again, but he still found it irresistable to say no. Finally he got off the floor, ashamed and avoiding your gaze, but never letting go of your grip.

He flicked off the switch beside his bed, and the room went dark once again. He felt a bit of courage now, not being able to see you as well. And so, he shucked off his jacked and slid back into bed, this time with his legs under the covers.

He cursed all that was sweet and holy when you rested your head on his chest and snuggled in close. Now there was no hiding just how fast you had his heart beating. Even if you knew, and he knew that you knew, he still wanted to hide it from you.

He was pretty sure you fell asleep almost immediately after, having still been half asleep when you coaxed him to join you. But he wasn’t so lucky, cursed to stay awake to feel you next to him. Cursed to listen to your soft breaths, cursed to feel the way you nuzzled against him insead of his pillow this time. Cursed to sit there and wonder just why it seemed so natural to have you in his bed. Cursed to stay up trying to convince himself that this was a curse and not a blessing.

He did eventually manage to sleep, and it was probably the most comforting rest he’d ever gotten, though he tried to deny it. Tried even to deny how happy he felt when he realized your weight was still against him as he woke. And even tried to deny the joy when he opened his eyes again, only to find you to be the one to stare at him this time.

“What’re ya doin’ starin’ at me?” He asked, parroting your words from the hours before. And though he tried to make himself sound upset, he didn’t have the heart to truly pull it off in his sleep addled state. Instead, he only sounded nervous, and his face let slip just how happy he was under your attention.

“Just enjoying the view,” You said, acompanied by yet another cursed shrug.

“Yer gonna be the death of me,” He swore, turning his head to hide his face in the pillows, “Yer gonna kill me one’a these days. Ya know that?”

Your giggle was music to his ears. He was never a morning person, but if that was what he got to wake up to in the mornings, he’d gladly learn to be.

“At least you’d die happy.”

And he would. It would be the sweetest death he could imagine.

You pulled away from Mammon, sitting up and stretching your arms over your head. His eyes dragged back over to follow your movements. He already missed the feeling of you against him. How is it that even now, with you still beside him, he missed your touch? Missed your pressence, missed the feeling of you?

Before you could even push the blanket from your legs he called out to you. Your eyes met, and he tried to keep a brave face as he sat up too.

He wasn’t sure what he was thinking, or if he even was. If you asked his brothers then they would say that Mammon never had a thought. At least not a decent one. And this moment was what convinced him that maybe they were right.

“Hey, uh, MC... How about ya come back tonight? Y’know, so we can do this again.”

The way your eyes widened made panic surge throughout his body, and it jolted him completely awake. What the hell was he doing, why would he ask that!?

Well, it wasn’t like he didn’t want that. But he couldn’t let you know he wanted that! What was wrong with him!?

Desperate to fix it, he backtracked.

“It’s not ‘cause’a what ya think! It’s not like I wanna keep sleepin’ with ya or anythin’! It’s just- it’s to keep ya safe, ya know! So I can make sure nothin’ happens to ya at night.”

Yeah, that’s it. He’s sure that he’s got you fooled, even after the terrible display of stuttered words and averted eye contact. Even after your unconvinced expression, he convinces himself that it worked. Still, he had to add the cherry on top, just to make sure

“I mean it! As your first demon, it’s my job to protect ya. Thats it, so don't go getting any ideas!”

But you knew better. And so did he.