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syoddeye · 4 days ago

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like i'm winning it - 02 wellspring

ghost x f!reader | 3k words | series page | ao3 cw: alcohol, threats of violence, power imbalance, sexual harassment (quid pro quo offer), reader is in over her head, male ocs You've never made it this far. Not on your own.

Win comes around a lot more after your date.

He buys booths, bottles. Slips tips to any of your work friends who so happen to breeze by and drops bills on the host stand. In one month, more money passes through your hands than the last three combined.

You pay off the rent you'd been dodging. Renew the subscriptions to your motorized blinds and water filter. Get your nails done. A balance of necessities and luxuries. Indulgence to feel alive, practicality to stay afloat.

In return, every night you're not working, you accompany him on dates—restaurants, galleries, and shows. Stuff previously out of reach for you. He asks you to read, dead scripts that'll never see the screen, but good practice. You show him your self-tapes. A list of the classes and workshops you want to take. And it's like that first dinner. No jokes, no teasing. Win takes you seriously. Says you got a gift, that you're a little diamond in the rough. Raw potential that only needs polishing.

But as nice as Win is, you're not naïve. His attention is a well that could dry up like Tahoe. You're determined to enjoy it while it lasts, though.

Mal stops you one night, just as you're shrugging your coat off, mid-sentence with Irina. She tilts her head and says there's a 'big guy' waiting for you out front. Your shift's covered, and your pay won't be docked. It doesn't click until she tacks on as an afterthought, "Does he always wear a mask?"

You stop, coat half-off, a cold rush prickling the back of your neck. So. Ghost is here. No big deal—it's probably something for Win. However, when you check your messages, there's nothing recent. Must be a surprise, you think, smiling as Irina jabs her elbow into your ribs, purring out, "Have fun, my little Star."

You pull your coat back on, zipping it to your chin as you bolt out of the dressing room. The club isn't quite to capacity, but you weave through the crowd until you reach the doors. You say goodnight to security as the doors swing open and see him dead ahead.

Ghost pops the door to a sleek red car, but the back seat's empty.

"Where's Win?" You ask as you climb in.

"You see 'im?" The door shuts in your face.

Rude. You don't recognize the car, but Win mentioned owning several. Even curiouser, there's no uniformed driver. Ghost slides into the driver's seat.

You give up on questions. All Ghost does is grunt and answer monosyllabically.

You temporarily lose your ability to speak at all, anyway, when the sidewalks outside get cleaner and the stores trend nicer. You don't want to believe it when he takes a particular turn, heart swelling in your chest, but then yes—he turns again, and the street narrows, feeding into a set of chrome gates reading CynoSure Studios.

You've never made it this far. Not on your own.

The car slows but doesn't stop as the red light of the gate's security sensors wash through the interior, then flick blue. The gates open automatically, and you're on the move again, passing warehouse after warehouse. All locked up and closed. Ghost takes you to the last one tucked in the corner. The car door opens for you, inviting in the breeze, carrying the faint scent of cigarette smoke with it.

"Get out, go in, and give 'im your name."

"Win?"

"No."

"Who, then?"

The look Ghost gives you in the mirror tells you ought to try your luck with the stranger. Not him.

You step out and straighten your skirt, and risk one more question. "Can you at least tell me how long this will take?"

"As long as it needs to."

Helpful bastard.

Your heels click against the pavement, the sound ricocheting down the boulevard of silent studios, the street stretching out, empty but for the murmur of jazz seeping through the warehouse walls. The door gives when you pull the handle, and warm air brushes over you as you step into the dimly lit, cavernous space.

In the center is a small set. Parts of an old school, traditional family home. A kitchen, a bathroom, and a bedroom. A set of speakers on the cement floor. A man leans on the counter, staring at a spread of papers on the table.

"Hello?"

He looks up, a smile slowly forming on his face. "Can I help you?"

You give him your name, eyes darting around, finding no others. "I think my–I think Win Goforth set this up?"

"Senior or Junior?"

"Junior?"

His golden oculars flicker, the faint glow brightening as something shifts behind his pupils—an interface scanning through a list, maybe a calendar. "Right. Come on in, then. You're the last girl of the day."

You laugh a little incredulously, confused, and glance back at the entrance. Ghost would hear if you screamed, right? He'd also…respond. Right?

"I'm the last girl for…?"

"The Lumina Vitae shoot? The skincare line?"

Your steps falter. When you didn't hear back after you'd sent off a dozen self-portraits��your hands lit as best as you could manage with a desk lamp and a timed lens—you prepared yourself for rejection. You knew it was a longshot. No professional help, no proper gear, just hoping beyond hope they were good enough. Yet here you were, apparently in the running.

"Oh, right. That shoot. Of course, thank you. Hard to keep up these days."

He chuckles. "Sure is. I'm Max, by the way. If you'd just…"

Max helps you onto the raised set, immediately positioning you under one of the dangling set lights. He retrieves a small control from amongst the papers, which you realize are printed stills of various hands carefully posed and photographed.

"No paperwork to sign?"

He ignores the question and turns up the music. "Hands out." You do, arms slightly bent, palms facing down—basic stuff, he mentions. No papers necessary since he knows the Goforths. With a tap to his temple, a small photographic drone floats onto set from somewhere unseen. Its lenses adjust automatically.

"Remain still."

Then, it's all too fast, snapping photos at a dizzying speed, its movements fluid. He must take a hundred pictures, peppering you with generic, scripted questions. How long you've known Win, your day job, if you're a local, and your family. That sort of thing.

Suddenly, he stops, humming, dark shapes moving over his irises as he reviews shots.

"I'm afraid this lighting is too severe. Mind if we…?" He walks toward the bedroom. "There's a better lamp in here."

"Of course."

You scurry after, the drone following, and sit on the bed, close to the nightstand where he turns on a gentler lamp. The light's warmer, softer. He instructs you to lay one hand over the other, slightly offset, and you're suddenly thankful for the manicure and the little luxuries Win's generosity affords you.

If this goes well, I could get more than a manicure.

You buzz at the thought, at the domino effect this opportunity might have. You're so caught up in your daydreams that you barely notice Max moving closer, pupils dilating manually. He reaches out, his fingertip pressing gently against your chin, tilting your face toward his.

"Is Win your only agent?"

The question catches you off guard. You're about to correct him, explain that Win isn't your agent, that you wouldn't even call him your boyfriend, but remember your lie. "Yes."

The drone hums past, its tiny turbines leaving a heated wake. It hovers above Max's shoulder, an impersonal observer. "You're not affiliated with any other studio? You've never worked for Echelon? Parallax? You're not, ah, fucking some other big wig?"

You pull back, lips pressing together, but keep your hands in place. After years of trying to wedge a single finger in the door, scrabbling for every chance, you're not about to fold to a sleaze like him. He's not the first, not the last. Still pisses you off, though. "No."

His irises shift from the soft gold to a harsh, ophidian yellow. "No? Good. Then, maybe we can help each other. I'm, ah, inclined to give you this job. Your hands aren't bad. Small, but nothing a shop job couldn't fix. And no mods. No synthetic patchwork. I like that. Makes me curious how much of you is natural."

You wrinkle your nose.

"Problem is, Win's signed to take half of your earnings," He shakes his head. "That doesn't seem right, does it? You're the one putting in the work."

You don't answer.

"Why don't we cut the middle man out?"

Dread and disgust churns your stomach. What he's insinuating, what he's suggesting—you think of calling for Ghost just to see Max wet himself. He must not know the lug's here. "And I'm sure you're offering this out of the goodness of your heart."

He snorts. "Of course not. This lot isn't booked until tomorrow morning, and there's a perfectly good bed here…" His voice trails. "I'm sure you can put two and two together, sweetheart."

Bile, sharp and bitter, rises to the back of your throat. You have half a mind to spit it onto his shoes, but instead, you swallow it down, determined to keep it together.

"Thanks for your time, Max," Hundreds of nights coddling drunk assholes at the club have prepared you for this. "I'll be going."

Max doesn't budge when you stand, forcing you into the narrow gap between him and the nightstand. "You sure about that?" He ducks his head closer, the drone bobbing beside his face. "I'll tell Win you're being difficult, and you know, we actually go way back. Might be difficult to find work on a blacklist."

Your lip curls, Ghost's name tucked behind your teeth as a last resort. "You can tell Win whatever lie you want, I'm not doing this. Not for you, not for anyone. Win's been nothing but kind to me. I don't care who he is, I'm not going to–" You glance at the cheap stock bed, "I'm not going to betray his trust like that."

You don't know where you stand with Win—how serious he is about you, or if anything is even there—but you do know that he's been kind, generous, and this…Fucking some slimeball? Cutting him out for a stupid fancy lotion commercial? You couldn't.

Turning on your heel, you make for the door, fuming, and nearly fall off set.

There, leaning against the far wall beside the door, is Ghost. Arms crossed, relaxed, and looking bored as ever. Has he been inside the whole time?

Behind you, laughter. Max follows, clapping and squeezing an over-familiarly hand on your shoulder. "Oh, Win's got a live one, Ghost. Don't you think?"

What the fuck?

You jerk away from him and trip over your words. "What–I don't–Aren't you with Lumina Vitae?"

Max shakes his head. "Oh, I'm no, not at all. I just work for Mr. Goforth. This," He gestures at the hovering drone. "Is his toy. Feel free to wave. Win will watch this later." He taps his temple twice, and the tiny bot emits a melodic chime before lowering obediently into his hand. "Good job by the way, you passed."

"I…passed?"

Max steps around you. "Win's a high-value individual. The Goforths have enemies. Rivals. He likes to vet his, ah, company before he gets in too deep." He gathers the stills and shrugs. "Next time you see him, he'll probably have you sign an NDA. That's the usual timeline."

Heat floods your skin, blooming over your face and neck. The entire situation is outlandish, bordering on absurd, but that's the point, isn't it? It's a test. Win is the heir-apparent to one of the biggest names in film, his family worth billions. You knew that, of course, but you've spent weeks skating around it, choosing instead to lean into the fantasy, pretending it wasn't reality until now.

Max watches you stumble off the set unassisted. "Congrats again. See you around sometime."

Ghost stares past you as you hurry across the warehouse, desperate to put distance between yourself and the stooge. Your arms fold over your chest, hugging yourself tightly, the pressure a weak attempt to steady the choppiness of your breath. He peels off the wall, following close enough that you half-expect him to grab you, stuff you into the trunk, and kick off another leg of this hazing ritual.

But he doesn't. He doesn't say a word when you leave the CynoSure lot, or when you kick off your heels and curl against the door. You press your forehead to the cool glass, mind buzzing with static. Again, you're the one who breaks the silence.

"Does Win…Does he test everyone?"

"Yeah."

Your eyes snap to the back of his head. "Does everyone pass?"

"No."

"What happens to–"

"Don't ask."

"Can I ask one more?" You lick your lip and ask before he can refuse. "Would you have helped me, if he…if he tried something?"

The car jerks suddenly, swerving as it barely misses a motorbike you blast past. Ghost swears, hands choking the steering wheel. After a moment, his shoulders sag, and he cracks his neck with a grunt. "'Course. Don't want to be out of a job."

Ghost doesn't take you home. He takes you to Win. No message or call is needed. He's expecting you. You try to think of something coherent to say to him, but you keep circling back to fuck you. You can't say that, though, glancing at the man behind the wheel.

You follow Ghost from the car into the building, squeezing past him into the lift, and settle into a rear corner. One arm wraps across your torso, the other bent at the elbow, fingertips hovering near your mouth, the impulse to chew your nails loud. The doors close, and the lift starts, numbers climbing in a muted LED glow. You stare into the middle, at and through your reflection.

The jolt is sudden. The lift grinds to a halt, and you instinctively reach for the bars on either side to keep yourself from falling. White light shifts abruptly to red. Your gaze whips to Ghost, mouth opening at the sight of his hand eclipsing the screen, a thumb pressed firmly to the emergency stop.

"What are you–" The question shrivels when he takes one step and closes the distance. The space between you almost nonexistent, and erased further as he leans closer. His head tilts down, all angles and shadows under the crimson light. His eyes are a dimmer red than usual, earthy, like rust. His hands slip over yours, his weight shifting to apply pressure. You try to ignore their smothering warmth.

"You and I are gonna have an understanding."

Your tongue twists. You nod.

"You passed Junior's stupid test. Good for you." Each word drips with disdain, clipped with irritation, like he can't believe you made it this far. "Doesn't mean your pretty arse belongs in this building, on 'is arm, or anywhere near 'is family. Don't care 'ow much 'e likes you or that cunt of yours. One step out of line, an' you'll be landfill. We clear?"

Landfill. "We're clear."

Ghost grunts and lingers a moment longer, his eyes dropping, and for a second, you think—no, you're sure—he's sneaking a look at your tits. But then one hand lifts, and he plants it against your neck. His thumb settles in the notch above your collarbone, pressing lightly. A scan passes over you, invisible but invasive, crackling in your ears. Then he pulls away with a huff, apparently unimpressed by what he found.

The lift moves before you do. When the doors open, it takes every ounce of willpower to unstick yourself from the corner, legs unsteady beneath you.

The condo is quiet. Ghost disappears ahead without you, before you can toe off one heel in the foyer. Your feet throb, but it's nothing compared to the cement block of stress resting on your shoulders. You should've stayed at the club. Between the 'test' and Ghost's brief, terrifying warning, you think you're close to collapse. You walk as quietly as you can, slow, still at a loss for what to say to Win.

You turn the corner into the living space and flinch at a loud pop, followed by a familiar burst of sparks. A champagne bottle sparkler flares, held aloft by a grinning, dressed-down Win. "There's my beautiful star, my Stella," he calls out, jerking his head. "Get your cute ass over here, and let's celebrate, baby."

This night keeps getting better.

"I look cute, huh?" Win teases as you reluctantly tiptoe closer. "Like I'm you. All I need is a skirt."

You don't know how much longer you can keep playing along. "Win, we need to talk–"

He pours the champagne over two glasses, spilling a bit as he looks between you and the bottle. "I agree. We've got to talk contracts." A wide and knowing grin spreads across his face. "Just got the call—you're in, babe. You're gonna be a Goforth Girl. You got the gig."

You blink. "I what?"

Win chuckles. "Don't look so shocked. I've got a buddy over at Lumina. This one was a gimme. Not all of them will come this easy, but hey, it's your first big one, right?"

You sit before you keel over, swallowing hard as your stomach turns in slow waves. Disbelief, confusion, and the remnants of your indignation tangle together in a knot. Your first gig. A real one. Not some odd job handing out flyers in costume or paid-in-exposure promo modeling. A real commercial for a real company with real reach. Still. You need to say something.

"Yeah, but Win, we need to talk about your friend. Max? The creep at CynoSure? He, um, he told me–"

"We'll cover that, too." He brushes it off with a casual wave as he hands you the flute of champagne. "Got a form or two for you to sign in addition to some business about exclusive representation." He looms over you, ringed fingers twisting the stem of his glass.

You gape up at him, your head a mess from being pulled in so many directions in one night. It would be crazy, right? To say no now. Max's voice echoes in your head, steady and certain: Win's a high-value individual. The Goforths have enemies. You can't blame him for wanting to protect himself, to protect his family. If roles were reversed, wouldn't you? And if you're going to continue your…entanglement, isn't signing papers in your best interest, to protect yourself?

Win extends his drink. "You'll be a star. We'll make it happen."

We'll make it happen. What else can you say to that? To his complete confidence in you?

Your smile is a brittle thing warped into a crescent, and you watch it in the reflection of your glass as you lift it. "Well, to us, then."

The glasses clink, and you swallow a bitter sip. Win draws you back onto your sore feet for a prolonged kiss.

The slap of bare feet against the floor breaks the moment, eyes popping open as you make a noise into Win's mouth. Across the room, in the kitchen, Ghost reappears. Shirtless. He looks even bigger now, his back a hulking mass of muscle, ridiculous in its sheer width. Scars line his skin, some mods, some implants, but the rest speak to his chosen career. Black ink coils up his arm in a cluttered tattoo, and his skin's slick, the dampness of his blond hair suggesting he came from the shower.

Win pulls away, his mouth smudged with your lipstick.

"Ghost! Join us, we're celebrating! Grab a glass."

The behemoth pauses at the refrigerator, glaring. Despite his state of dress, he's taken the time to hook a cloth mask over his ears, one of which looks puffy. His brow furrows and his gaze shifts between you.

"No." He grinds out, voice low, and a shudder runs down your spine. He lumbers off, water in hand, and Win tuts in playful exasperation.

"Such a buzzkill. Now," His mouth skims your cheek, moving to your ear to whisper. "Where were we, baby?"

#like i'm winning it #ghost x reader #simon ghost riley x reader #simon riley x reader #simon ghost riley

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averagetangerineenjoyer · 2 years ago

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Scullery Maid

INFO: Tangerine x feminine!reader, domestic fluff, approx. 1k words

A/N: he has bewitched me!! he's living in my mind rent-free and I can't get him to leave!!! 😩 also YES this was inspired by the "honey where's my super suit?" scene from the incredibles (will gladly write more for tangerine and wife btw)

Find my masterpost here!

Your husband likes to refer to you as his “trophy wife”.

It’s a term of endearment, mostly. He loves nothing more than showing you off any opportunity he gets, not just waxing poetic about how gorgeous you are, but also praising your achievements and your brilliance to the high heavens.

He likes to spoil you as if you were a real trophy wife, too. He’s often away for work, but always comes home with flowers and other gifts. Your walk-in closet has a whole section dedicated to luxury bags that have only been taken out to wear once or twice. You have more jewellery than you know what to do with. Your shoe collection looks like it belongs to a millipede with an expensive taste.

(Sometimes you think your husband is a bit like a bird, bringing home fancy trinkets just to impress his lady.)

With the plush life you’re living, only working because you want to, you might have most people fooled that you were really a trophy wife. But trophy wives don’t spend their Saturdays washing blood out of their husbands’ suits, you think.

You don’t feel like a trophy wife with the sleeves of your sweater rolled up to your elbows. Feet shoved into faded Momonga house slippers. Glasses on and unwashed hair pulled back into a messy bun. Not a “messy-but-cute” bun. No, just messy. You feel more like a glorified maid.

You run the shirt under cold water, but the blood is dark, old, and crusted. Silently you pray that the hydrogen peroxide will do its work. If you can’t manage to get the stain out, you’re going to have to take it to the dry cleaner. You’re always rotating through the ones you visit: you don’t want them to start asking questions if you bring in the fifth bloodstained shirt that month.

From somewhere else in the house, you hear your husband call out your name.

“Over here!”

Padded footsteps on the hardwood floor make their way over. He quickly appears in the doorway to the scullery while fixing the cufflinks on his pristine white shirt. You turn off the faucet, leaning against the edge of the sink with your hip as his soaked button-down lay crumpled within the basin. His hair is wet and slicked back. He just got out of the shower. “Do you know where my red Cesare Attolini suit is?”

You give him a blank stare. “What?”

“The red one, love.”

You rub the bridge of your nose, slightly lifting your glasses, eyes screwing shut with a frown as you try to remember. (As if you even know which suit he’s talking about.) “Uh… I think it’s at the dry cleaner’s?”

He blinks. “Which one?”

“Baby, I’m not keeping track of every suit you own,” you tell him as you fix your glasses on your face, not even trying to hide your exasperation.

He puts his hands up defensively. “Just asking. I’m packing for Tokyo.”

You sigh inwardly. Tokyo. It’s a “business” trip, of course. Crossing your arms, you slightly tilt your head to the side and ask, “What time’s your flight?”

“At ass o’clock in the morning,” he grumbles, mirroring your stance. Your husband still hasn’t crossed the threshold onto the tile floor of the scullery. Likely because he doesn’t want his West Ham socks to get wet. He clears his throat and shakes his head. “It’s at 3.30, I’ll go pick up my brother around 2.”

“Early dinner and early to bed, then?” you ask, crossing the distance between you and meeting him at the doorway instead.

He smiles, the corners of his eyes crinkling. “Sounds perfect.”

You already know that he’s not going to get much sleep before his flight. You’ve seen this routine play out more times than you care to count. But you don’t say anything, instead choosing to enjoy the moment while you can. Reaching out to fix the collar of his shirt, you ask, “Did you settle on names for the job?”

His face lights up. “I did. I’m Tangerine, my brother is Lemon.”

It’s hard to suppress the snort. So you don’t. “What, like the fruit?”

“Yeah. Tangerines are sophisticated. And my brother is sour, like a lemon.”

A recent memory crosses your mind and you place your hands flat on his chest. “Did you pick “Tangerine” because of Lunar New Year?”

He casts his eyes to the side, the way he does when he’s about to lie. “No.”

“Right.” You don’t have the energy to tease him about it, but you take enough satisfaction in knowing that he would get riled up if you did. Instead, you nod and give him a smile. "I like it," you say before leaning in to kiss him. “It’s cute.” You taste the mint toothpaste on his breath and feel his arms wrap around you.

He hums into the kiss. “Always happy to win the approval of my beautiful wife.”

Only your husband — known as Tangerine, for now — would look at you in your current state and still want to carry you off to the bedroom. With a low and sultry voice, you whisper to him, “You know how you could win even more of my approval?”

A hand moves to give your butt a playful squeeze, and he’s already kissing the underside of your jaw. “Enlighten me, love,” he murmurs against your skin.

“Buy me Momonga merch when you’re in Japan.”

Tangerine pulls away with a disappointed look on his face.

“There’s this limited edition plushie that’s sooo cute. They don’t sell it anywhere else, I already checked. Please, baby? Pretty please?”

He sighs. “Yeah. Yeah, sure, of course. Whatever.”

You grin, knowing you’re getting a suitcase full of Momonga merchandise when he’s back. You put your arms around his shoulders. “Good.” You give him a peck on the lips. “Were you done packing? There’s something super important we still have to do.”

“And that is?”

“I think we need to test our new mattress again before you go. You know, just to be sure.”

“You’re right. That is super important.”

While you let Tangerine practically drag you to the bedroom, you vaguely remember that you left his shirt in the sink. Ah well. That’s a problem for later.

#tangerine x reader #bullet train #writing

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onyourhyuck · 2 years ago

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His Healer. | S.JH

— Prologue: “Maybe in my next life I can see you and the world in all the seven colours.”

— Summary: Prince Johnny has an eye condition allowing him to only see black and white. You’re the new maid arrange to clean his chambers you found out his secret illness.

— Genre: Prince!johnny. Royal romance + smut. Maid + prince trope. Super angsty to be honest, this is kinda sad and depressing story.

— Notes:

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The news of a new job becoming open spread fast in your village which made you act on your time. Everyone would die to have a job in the palace where the people work there in luxury. It felt like the best work offer there.

Lucky for you, you ended up becoming recruited fitting to the palace description and the needs they were looking for in a young woman like you. To become a Maid.

Not just any maid however, a maid for the prince. Every royalty has their own section of the palace that belongs to them; they have their own court, where nobles who are friends with those royalties will attend to play games, chat away about god knows what gossip and get self made tea from the maids. For you it was the prince. You were assigned under his name even though he hasn’t quite picked you, the king and the queen thought of you suitable.

They trusted a young girl like you who’s had a pretty face but also a determined outlook to be loyal to your job only. So they set you out to have your very first job to clean the Prince’s chambers where he sleeps. You didn’t think much of it because you heard the prince was out so it’s not like you’re going to get caught cleaning up the living hell’s mess he has on the freaking floor; the clothes were not even his some of them were bunch of dresses belonging to noble ladies. It was an unsatisfying experience picking up the clothes folding them under your hands and then proceeding to grab the hem of the many duvet layers they had on the giant king size bed. You swore this bed was bigger in real life than you could imagine.

Lifting the duvet’s embroidered on the bed puffing them out you crawl on the bed on all fours to go get the pillows. You begin fixing them puffing the material out making them bounce and thick once more. You wouldn’t want the prince to get a stiff neck by having the pillows be uneven and disturbing. Your hands crawl to the front hem of the duvet pushing them into the mattress making it look neater and cleaner giving it a slick texture. Later you came to the night stands were your eyes glimpse of two folded papers revealing names to the assuaged colours you couldn’t help but wonder why did the prince have that? But the minute you’d turn around you saw the door to the left open wide revealing the prince coming out of the bath chamber where a singular large bathtub was with foaming smoke behind him, it was a hot bath because the minute you saw him coming out while you’re on his bed on all fours — he was a smoking silhouette.

Your jaw came undone gaping at the bottom sight of the pelvis growing out into the many abs he has. The only thing covering him was a robe underneath the waist making sure it doesn’t slip out while the other towel was gently ruffling out the hair side to side to dry it quicker. Johnny’s stare went from being there to staring you down on the bed watching your maid dress guessing who you could be, it wasn’t hard to guess, you were doing maid duties. But the position you were in while on his bed made him snicker thinking otherwise.

He definitely came out at the wrong time.

Johnny saw you quickly get off the bed and look down bowing at him to pay a respectful image and apology to the noble man in front of you.

“Your highness. I’m sorry I was just… cleaning your chambers. I wasn’t aware you were here.” You bite your lips together sealing them tight like they were an envelope.

Johnny raised his eyes coming forward chuckling he found you surprisingly amusing and he hasn’t met you yet. He knows every maid of his but you must be new because if you weren’t he’d remember your pretty face that’s for sure.

“It’s quite alright I’d think you were doing your absolute best to make my bed tonight comfortable and war.” He boosts playfully catching you off guard. He was nothing like they said him out to be. He was handsome in person, actually more handsome than words could capture and describe. He was rather sweet and playful something that you found to be interesting considering his parents were strict and stern. They terrified you.

But not their son, he didn’t scare you once. Johnny slips out the blouse putting it on and then seeing you turn around letting him change. Johnny fully knows you wouldn’t peak and even if you did, no harm it in because he has nothing to hide. He’s fit and probably the fittest in the palace. He changed while you weren’t eyeing him, you only faced the wall in front of you so seriously that by the time Johnny was finished long time ago changing he was standing behind you.

You slowly turn around saying. “My prince are you done—“ and while you saw him standing there so close you could feel his chest hit your face nearly, you flinch up staring at how close you were.

Johnny’s twisting smile makes you fold because you’ve never seen someone as beautiful as him so close you could never forget this moment of time. Your memory will be definitely photo-snapping this.

You hush your words down. “I will continue to my duties my prince.” He grins nodding. “Don’t let me keep you from your work miss…?” He said watching you curiously.

You look back at him. “Y/n is my name.”

He smiles. “Miss Y/n. Beautiful name you have there. Tell me when we’re you assigned to my chambers?”

You were busy fixing the shelves that held so many books, brushing them away from the dust growing on them. Johnny was sitting on the bed’s edge watching you reach from the books each and one of them were dust without mercy. You couldn’t allow the prince to have any dust in the sleeping chambers god knows what that could do to him.

“I’ve been assigned today.” You reply with a strained sigh as you push the books in the shelves when they were all done and dusted. You’re turning around walking to the night stands where you saw the dust boiling on there, you sweep with your hands. Johnny hums turning around because his eyes were glued on to you, following you run around to clean. It was nerve wrecking to say the least.

Being watched while you clean wasn’t your favourite activity but he’s the prince you cannot say other wise. Maybe it was nerve wrecking because it’s him watching you.

You pause as you lift out papers with all colours of the rainbow. The seven colours you couldn’t help but wonder why the prince had that there. You turn around with your hands gripping it and the prince turns around fully seeing what you had fun.

“My prince why do you have the colours on the paper?” You couldn’t help but file your curiosity.

His smirk goes down and he slowly stands up but very softly brings the hand to grab it. You let him take it and Johnny stares at you murmuring as if it was something to be ashamed of. But nonetheless he can’t keep a secret from the maids. They always find out but there was a good feeling you would be different if he just told you. You wouldn’t gossip, you know you wouldn’t.

Johnny replies croaking like a broken bookcase. “I cannot see in colour. I have an eye condition that lets me see only in black and white.” Your curiosity dims down when hearing this terrible thing Johnny has. You look down apologetically again, feeling sorry for him. “Oh I’m so… sorry… I was prying on your shoulders.”

He shakes his head smiling. “Oh don’t be. You were bound to find out one way or another Y/n. If only someone taught me honestly. These colours. It’s not like I can go and ask anyone in the castle what they are.” He smiles sitting on the bed again watching the paper intensely.

The people would look down on him if he were to ask anyone what the colours are because this was children knowledge but the truth couldn’t get out anyways. The prince’s parents King and Queen told him to keep it a secret forever. The maids weren’t allowed to gossip and he somehow had a feeling you’d be different from the rest of them. It was a good stomach bug he had about you.

You could tell he was dreaming to be normal but in your eyes there was nothing wrong with him. He was perfect in your eyes even though he couldn’t see in colours. You sit down next to him murmuring, a suggestion that brought his heart to grow warm.

“I can teach you if you’d like.” You say to him.

Johnny smiles suddenly with eyes widen watching you like you were day. “You know how to read?” He was amazed when you nodded. He couldn’t believe it when you said you were self taught. It was rare to know a maid who’s well literate; only the rich could afford to do so. But you’re self taught and it made his respect for you grow ten times more.

You grin. “It’s the least I can offer to do for you my prince.” You were right about him being the most kind soul you’ve met. Maybe he was a little unserious but apart from that he was probably the sweetest soul you’ve encountered.

Johnny nudged you softly eyeing you with practically heart eyes for you. He couldn’t believe you were offering and he didn’t even thought you’d consider it as much as it caught him by surprise, he was glad today he met you.

“You can call me Johnny when we are alone like this. You don’t have to keep up with the honourifics Y/n.”

You never felt so exposed unlike the time he calls your name through his lips so casually, like you could speak to a friend, it somehow felt more natural when Johnny said it but when you try to call him by his name it was such a foreign concept your brain couldn’t handle.’

But he was right. If he wasn’t a prince he would just be Johnny. If he wasn’t who he was right now he’d still be Johnny and by the end of the time he will only be Johnny. It was only a matter of time till you get used to it.

Your eyes follow the prince’s round orbs like they were the sun and you were just a mere small planet following them close. “Okay…Johnny— I mean my prince— i—!” You pause catching your breathe.

To see you lose your head for a whole minute trying to pick an identity what you could call him was an amazing and interesting sight to see you fumble. It’s like seeing two people at war together trying to see who is right and who is wrong.

He chucked at you, finding this relatively amusing. “Y/n I have a feeling we’ll be able to get along very well.”

You smile hearing the prince think so too.

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When no one was around it was your and Johnny’s world no one else’s. No one coifed to the world you and Johnny made when you were together being yourselves absolutely no one. Although it took some time for you to open up to Johnny only seeing as Johnny and no one else when you finally loosen down you and Johnny were able to communicate with one another more than you would with other people. For once the prince felt like he has a friend who isn’t someone who cares for the image, or the status like many other people do. You were there because you enjoyed the company as much as he did and that’s what made Johnny like you.

“Red is this one. It’s like a bright colour. It’s warm and our blood is red.” You explained, knowing Johnny loved you describe the colours.

He could listen for days.

“And this one?” He points at the paper on the rainbow diagram. Your face looks at it softly explaining with a serious face.

“That’s blue. The colour of the ocean.”

He enjoyed seeing you become serious too.

He liked how you’re intellectually speaking. You have your views not many would agree upon you speaking but with him you can say anything and he’d be an unbiased judgement. You think it’s ridiculous that nowadays people are treated differently based on from working classes and what you do for work. Johnny agreed because it’s the exact similar thing with him. People don’t treat him like he was human they treat him like he was a god they worship.

It was both intense different scenarios but from yours it was depriving and from Johnny’s it was enforcing titles.

You’re both very opinionated but you’re always speaking the truth to one another where you’re never hiding anything.

When you aren’t near Johnny because the head of Maid’s who assigned the work to the other maids like yourself were told to help clean the gardens or the different rooms that weren’t in Johnny’s section of the palace he found himself longing to see you and missing you gravely — at one point Johnny was looking for you and saw you cleaning out the kitchens.

He made himself comfortable watching you in the corner which the other workers in the palace, like the chef and the cooks who you were helping would eye him suspiciously wondering why he was here. And then when you left he’d follow you like a lost puppy. You enjoyed his presence so it never weirded you out if anything it made your life better.

The people around the prince would question why he looks way happier than before to you, he found himself wondering why but all that came to his mind that was an answer was: you.

Now you’re both laying on the open field outside the palace where you both escaped to. It was middle of the daylight and the young prince was not feeling doing prince-royal-stuck up duties in the palace so he found you working on the second floor of the palace and dragged you when no one could notice you leaving the group of maids. You were about to clean the carpet today but not anymore because the next minute you knew Johnny said he wants to leave the palace grounds and you’re coming with him.

That’s how you’re now laying on the grassy field with the most handsome man alive next to you laughing and throwing flowers at you that he prickled off the ground. You would turn around and smack the flowers he’s throwing at you away and then you would straddle his arms away but he was far too stronger than your body.

“What if they find out we are here Hm? Will you take responsibility for me losing my job?”

You were teasing him while asking a true and real question that’s been on your head.

“I’ll just make it impossible for them to fire you, you know that.”

The prince responds to your liking but something he was so passionate about as he pulls you down grabbing your legs and sliding you underneath him where he straddles you. The grassy field poofs out some flowers flying out of your way as he was pulled on top of you.

You smile at his words that always creep into your heart making a home in them. Your smile widens on your beautiful face mesmerising Johnny as he looks down at you while being on top where your bodies — especially your chests were touching one another. Through the maid outfit you were everyday when working made your cleavage visible when you lie down thanks to the corset underneath. While his prince royal outfits made him standout-ish. Even though he hates flashy outfit he made them look ten times more better when he wore it.

It’s been a month since the day you both became friends behind everyone in the palace’s backs. You were sneaking off doing all sorts of things so you could chat away from your problems. You both were using one another as an escapism to your loneliness. To Johnny’s loneliness actually. You were the best thing that’s happened when the palace hired you. He couldn’t get enough of you, and only you he was seeking everyday.

If without you there was a moment in space and time where you were not with him he swore that he would be a different person, a different man that he wouldn’t know; he doesn’t want to be that person who doesn’t have you. He needs you to the point he’s trying to never let you go. Whenever you’re needed somewhere else he wants to go there with you, he wants to come and be with your presence even if it was through a little while. It could really make a difference to how he’s been clinging onto you.

Your cheeks grow out when you smile, you were the happiest with him around. You’ve came to an conclusion about it a few nights ago.

Johnny seeing how your happy wide smile was there he slowly leans downwards capturing your smile into a loving soft pecking kiss.

It was only three seconds. Three seconds it was when he gave a small kiss on your lips catching you off guard. He pulled away to see your reflection wondering how your reaction was like but to his face you were watching him so blindly.

Your voice comes out like the softest of sounds. “Please kiss me again.”

Johnny leans closer capturing another kiss to your command. Your mouths were softly press on one another rolling on the ground as you were in your tangled bodies in the meadow fields, kissing outside the palace like your absolute time depended on it. Your hearts were in synch like your own hands were in your each other’s hairs.

The prince pulled away first to solely undress himself taking off the blazer and the trousers instead of you undressing him. He was far too impatient and knowing your lack of time he was going to make this happen, you on the other hand took your dress off and the corset away from your body.

You and the prince roll your naked bodies on another again in which you felt his mouth latch to your neck sucking on it with kissing motions as he grabbed your hips strongly pushing them on his lap where your voice came out as a striking moan loud enough to attract the animals nearby. But thankfully the river down below if you walk for another two minutes was heard rocking against your soft noises he was so wanting to play on repeat. You sounded heavenly.

The way his name rolls off your tongue with your accent it made it so much better when he was going to be inside you. His mouth felt like scorching embers burning your skin from the inside to the outside. He marked you so much but enough that wouldn’t get you caught, further the point he stretched out out with his tongue. Going down giving you kitten licks to your pussy that’s been craving him from day one.

The taste of you on his tongue was indescribable to even think about he was addicted, physically he couldn’t stop sucking on your folds between your pussy making you arch your back on the field or the way you were twisting when he purposely digs his head deeper on your clit rubbing his tongue side to side in another zig zagging motion causing you to feel your fullest muscles work together to contradict your soft moans you were trying to bury down. Johnny made it impossible to be quiet because he didn’t want you to be. He wanted to hear you like it’s your last time.

“Johnny…! I’m going to slip…!” You murmur into nothing stopping you anymore as you shriek. Johnny practically moans against your pussy watching you now come undone on his mouth. He swore you tasted so much better than he could ever imagine and hope.

“You taste so much better than the palace foods.” He mentions boosting, something within you will forever remember that.

You felt yourself pant heavily as the sight of the prince lifting himself up slinging your hips with him where you could feel the growing manhood now push inside your wet hole. You slip in so nicely he lets out a string of long sleeves grunts and you wrap your arms on his chest.

Your breathing became unstable as you rut your hips on his lower body pushing him in fully, Johnny stares at you with half eyelids open filling him with pleasure and lust, but also the need for you.

You were both panting in the next minute when your pussy was stretched out by Johnny’s large cock inside you moving like a canon in and out constantly having you under the pressure of wanting to orgasm once again. Your highs were coming in fast and letting you rot on his cock Johnny couldn’t even remember how many times you came because next thing you know you’re here squirming out your biggest orgasm yet after the other. You’ve been hit on high with his cock pushing up your womb. Johnny’s hands roams your stomach surface like he was so proud of seeing him imprint on your stomach seeing you through him you couldn’t believe your eyes knowing that he was this far inside you.

“How’d you like the prince to finish inside you, my love.” He quotes into your ears and your eyes widen dilating on the pupils, he knew you liked it when he saw that crazy look on your face. Something screams you love getting bred and Johnny would gladly breed a hole like yours for days.

“My prince… please! Finish inside me. Use me to your advantage.” You achingly let out and Johnny couldn’t believe his ears how well you were doing with squeezing his cock. You really wanted him to finish inside you and you’re making it harder for Johnny to last longer than anticipated.

It was unending for you and him. Johnny only seeing him once in your stomach skinned out he came instantly in you filling your hole out with only his name, with only his load something you were screaming for to have and now you have it working inside you.

You could feel the way his warmth cock left its territory in on you and Johnny capturing a few more kisses with your sweet lips groaning out.

“We should do this more often, Y/n.”

Your cheeks grew warm when your eyes met Johnny as he said this. You’re both naked in middle of a field where anyone could see you but you both didn’t care at this point.

You smile kissing his forehead. “I agree.”

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The minute you split apart was the time where you were both scolded for not being around for your duties. Your order was to go to the chambers and clean up the mess the prince made. You knew he made a mess purposely to have you keep coming there because otherwise you wouldn’t be inside his chambers when he needs you.

That explains while you’re in his king size bed laying on the right side with your legs wrapped around and your arms on the side watching you guys stare at your eyes like they were a million stars in them. You smile cheesing when Johnny plays with your hairs twirling them around his fingers or sometimes putting them behind your ears, and occasionally he strokes it back so he could see your eyes.

You were in trouble but that’s all because of the prince you knew it. But you couldn’t care anymore because he made every worry melt away like it was nothing but a bunch of smoke.

He whispers. “Did you get shouted at alot?” He says worrying that you may of gotten punished.

You shake your head humming. “I was only shouted at. I didn’t get the capital punishment.” You joked and Johnny held you tight lowering his eyes. Something definitely wasn’t right.

Your eyebrows furrow seeing the worrying expression on Johnny’s face you couldn’t help but slowly wonder what’s happening to him. Usually he would be the one who’s lighting up the mood but now you’re the one left in the light and he was in the unusual dark cloud mood that’s what makes him standout now so weirdly.

Your voice came out as a surprise, spouting off at him. “Hey, is something wrong?”

Johnny didn’t answer for a whole minute until he pulls his arms away staring up at you. He was in this whole overthinking mess and you don’t know what could be making the young prince so much more absent minded.

This wasn’t the prince you know. The prince you know was the life of the party. In fact he we’re beginning to be bigger than life itself and you seeing him down on energy right now made it even worse because now you’re worried for him.

“My parents said they found a match for me.” He said lowering himself into multiple pieces where your heart sank.

You look away suddenly about to leave because you had the biggest reality check of your life happen to you right now. The man you love was getting married, the man you fell for was never going to be yours because people will talk and people love to talk about things that aren’t following the norm. You and Johnny were doomed from the start and somehow you had lingering hope that he would he yours but he’s ever going to be that.

Johnny grabbed your wrist so you couldn’t leave his bed. He pulled your wrist in his grip and when you turned around with tears in your eyes wanting to snatch it away.

You huff out breaking down. “Let me go Johnny.”

He didn’t let go.

You bit your bottom lip now begging. “Your highness let me go please.”

The unfamiliar name you’ve been calling him now wasn’t for Johnny. It wasn’t for the guy who fell for you it was the prince you work for in his own palace. Johnny looks at you unconvincingly he was struggling to want to let you go.

But the way you were watching him sternly made him pause and let you go. You left the chambers with the door shutting tight. The lingering footsteps dim down and he never wanted to scream so much in his life. It felt like the happiness leaving his life forever, because you were leaving.

The minute he knew when you both returned from outside his parents calling him to the meeting with him to tell him about the upcoming engagement of his to some princess from the east of Korea.

He never wanted marriage. He never intended on marrying ever but that was until he met you.

“You’re my only heir you need to get married and successful claim your lineage to the throne.” His mother tapped on the throne seeing Johnny.

Her son looks away scowling. “I don’t want to get married, Mother, I don’t know the princess either.”

Johnny could remember the moment from the afternoon like it was happening right now. It haunted him.

His father stood up glaring at Johnny for speaking back to his own mother, it was shameful to his father to have a rebelling son.

But for you he’d rebel the entire throne.

“You will marry the princess and you will be meeting her tomorrow. That is end of discussion.”

Johnny never plans to let you go. Even if you’re the first one to do so.

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You’re preparing decorations for the welcoming of the new royal family coming over to the palace, you however weren’t looking as happy as the other maids next to you who gossip about the new princess coming over. It fills your empty stomach with rage and nothing else knowing the man you love so dearly is about to be sweeping off his feet when a nice looking princess comes over.

You were basically feeding the lion in the den by working away. You clench your eyes into a glare fixing the flower bouquet with the ribbon.

One of the maids watch you roughly handle it. “Uhm Y/n you’re supposed to be gently tying the ribbon.”

You look over snapping out of your thoughts and your feelings were disappearing the moment one of your maid colleagues came over.

“Oh…right sorry.” You couldn’t believe you were nearly killing a bunch of flowers knowing damn well she will have Johnny fall for her.

I mean who wouldn’t of? You heard she’s the most beautiful princess in whole of Korea and you know that Johnny was a player in the past. It was clear the first day you came to clean his chamber’s he slept with plenty of women. But some deep part of you hoped he picks you, despite knowing well it’s a slim chance of you ever ending up with Johnny.

You felt betrayed almost. But you knew he can’t go against the throne or his parents because if he did it would be going against the world.

“Ladies the prince is coming!” The head of the maid said making everyone of the girls line up straight to greet the prince who was trotting his way to us.

You were pushed into a line straight up your shoulders and your head low. The minute the prince arrives walking past the maid line he saw each and one of them bow down paying respects to him this early morning on a new brand day.

He stops facing you suddenly and your gaze looks up at him. It was rather cold from you and you felt awkward when the rest of the maids stayed bowed down because they can’t get up until he leaves.

But he was facing you, speaking to you.

“Y/n.” He whispers almost and you widen your eyes looking away avoiding your eye contact.

Your hands push him when they couldn’t see. “Leave.” You say to him and Johnny bites his bottom lip in frustration as you pushed him away, once again. You’re so stubborn sometimes, he can understand why you’re being like this but is it too hard for you to stop and listen to him?

When he had no choice but to walk away with another heartbreak down his sleeve made by you the maids watch him strut away and they go back doing their work. They have to work faster because they will be arriving soon.

But you couldn’t work much when all you’re filled with is envious betrayal on your heart.

It’s like setting up your own lover to be with another. Johnny wasn’t even your lover but it definitely felt like it was that.

The next thing you know the whole palace was decorated in many fine refining decorations and designs. The walls were repainted into a pastel colour to suit fitting for the princesses arrival. It annoyed you at the same time, the idea of the princess coming and staying at the palace. You had no choice but to fake a smile and go along with it. Everyone was pleased by the outcome results and if anything they were happy for the prince who might finally settle down with someone, have children with, carry on the monarchy and lead the country into greatness once more.

But all you saw was heartbreak.

The royal family made their way into the throne room where they were greeted by many palace guards on stand watch patrolling the walls within the palace securing their grounds till they leave to further the work. The maids were pouring the warm tea on the cups resting by the table, the minute you saw the beautiful puff out dress on the young woman you swear you were never starstruck until now. She looked beautiful, beyond anything you’d imagine any else.

The queen and King welcome the princess’ and her family in like they were there own family members. It was cheerful greeting enough to make your thoughts flood back to negativity. You look away when the king turns his sweet attention to his son.

“Johnny what do you say to the princess?” The king saw an opportunity to introduce the two young people, with a sheepish smile.

Johnny couldn’t believe his father was trying to set him up with someone he could care less about. The prince looks at the woman bowing his head. “Hello Princess Haewon.” The young woman smiles bowing her head in return.

“Hello prince Johnny. It’s good to finally see you in person.” She smiles sweetly you could vomit into the teacup and serve it to her, god you try to stay less petty but you cannot help it.

‘I’d like to say likewise but it’s not.’ Johnny’s thoughts mourns in his death knowing that it was meant to be a blessing. But it’s not because this woman wasn’t who he seeks.

You were right there and Johnny felt the tension rise until the parents were soon to discuss dinner plans. Heck they were discussing all sorts of plans at first; starting with horse riding activities, maybe even attending Johnny to hunting which Haewon seemed more than merry to go about.

“Oh you must be tired. How about my servants lead you into your chambers for tonight?” The king encourages chipping the fingers at the servants and few maids to come forward.

“Oh Y/n, you can be assigned to the princess chambers instead.”

You stand by the side when the king called you specifically. Johnny’s eyes widen as he stood up suddenly making everyone in the throne room look at him with their eyes glued in confusion wonder. His voice strikes at the king and protectively coming to Y/n holding the side where he stares at his father in the eyes.

“Father Y/n is my chamber’s maid.” He remarks, the king was stunned looking at his son. “I’m aware but you have many maids who clean for you. Give Y/n to Princess Haewon.”

“She can have any other maid but Y/n.” He stated firmly and the King was left in confusion. “Why is that?”

Johnny looks down at you. “Y/n is the only one who knows the temperature i like my bed at. I will not stand in giving Y/n to anyone.”

Haewon’s eyes were watching you dreadfully. It caught everyone in surprise enough to give the impression that Johnny was possessive of you. You could feel everyone’s eyes simply eating you alive until the king gives up.

“Fine. Haewon you may have another maid assigned to you.” The princess nods at the king’s approval.

Johnny looks away. “If so i’ll be taking my leave.” Without saying anything else the prince leaves and grabs you along with him. The people in the palace room were deeply bizarre about this announcement as soon as you both left the room fell into awkward silence.

Just what on earth was that? They all had this expression that couldn’t possibly be processing the impression of the Prince.

The minute you found yourself running away with Johnny you were pinned by the wall nearing a corridor that’s been empty. No sign of palace guards patrolling leaving only you and a very self conscious prince pinning you by with a heavy pant. You found yourself arching your eyebrows at him huffing out and slapping his shoulders in annoyance. “What the hell was that back there huh?” You couldn’t believe he was there arguing about who you were working for and who you were not. Johnny stares down at you momentarily. “I’m not giving you up.”

He said sternly catching your attention into a prancing contest between staying in or staying out. You watch him in disbelief. “Your highness we can’t be together.” You whisper yelled, trying to get a point across to the stubborn man but he couldn’t budge and listen to your reasoning.

“Oh I’m your highness now?—” He suddenly bursts pulling away with a confused expression and the eyebrows arching at your words leaving the soft lips. You never call him highness, it’s always been Johnny. Always when it was just you two.

You held your breath in and the eye contact. “Yes you are and that is the problem here Johnny! You’re a prince and we will never be together.” — it broke to hear you say this to him when it was in fact a massive reality check to the prince who loves you dearly. But you were right and he couldn’t accept such a realm without you in it.

He lowers his gaze suddenly the legs felt weak like they were melting on the top of the ice berg where you were standing there holding back your tears. “Give me up don’t make this harder than it already is. We have no future together. If they knew — you would’ve been punished. And I would be dead.” You blunt out looking away. “I would be dead in a prison cell and your parents would have punished you.”

There was a sharing silence that kills the both of you quietly like a gas poisoning your insides turning them rotten just like how your love was breaking apart. Johnny can’t handle this breakup, this heartbreak from you he cannot be without you. It physically tore him apart like he was nothing but a piece of paper ready to be scrunched up and thrown into a trash can midway through the air. Your conflicted self was in a war between wanting Johnny but a large part of you self restraining knowing you weren’t able to; the best and better option is for you to run away from your lover, let him have a life he could thrive in unlike the life he would suffer with you.

The prince standing there no longer blocking the way he was just staying there watching your cold and broken eyes crying because he knew, he knew you loved him so why couldn’t you accept him? Johnny could always convince his parents. He could. He’s the heir and no one would say anything about him being with you, at least that’s what he will do no matter what it takes. But you’re being far too realistic in your own head. You had your own take vision on what will happen which left his dream to be crushed, just like how you were crushing his heart in your hand into miniature pieces resembling a broken mirror.

Johnny’s sullen face dimmers like the life leaving him. “Y/n there must be another way… I promise I can protect you from the public—“

“Johnny Suh!” You clench your jaw at him, instantly shutting the prince up watching you get an outburst for the first time at him. “Get it into your head. I don’t want you. Go be with your rightful wife.”’

He balls the fingers into his fist looking down. Your fingers pull themselves rubbing away the tears streaming down your cheeks.

“She’s no wife of mine.” He faintly told. “She’s not the woman I want. The woman I want, breathe, seek and dream claims to not want to be with me. But I find that hard to believe when you were screaming my name few days ago in the field.” He eyes you darkly and you hated how far your cheeks went red. You look away not finding this amusing.

Johnny never wants to let you go because you’re the only thing in his life that matters to him. Matters to him more than the throne itself, he could never replace you with his duty. The duty only hurts him but you, you don’t. You made him feel loved unconditionally and you made life worth while when he found it meek and cruel to survive in. But now instead of being his healer, you’re becoming the one thing that’s making him hurt with unimaginable force and consequences he didn’t sign up for.

You’re His Healer.

Johnny’s breath comes out weakly as he walks back to you making you take your footing back pushing you into the wall softly and your faces leaning together. You tried your best to fight the sudden urge to pull and kiss him right there and then, but you remind yourself it’s not your place to do those things. You told yourself to not give him any false hope. The prince couldn’t get enough of you, so much he caressed your hair behind your ears so he can look you in your eyes. “At least prove to me you don’t want me, Y/n, please.” You knew what he meant. You knew it by the moment he leans closer towards you slowly.

You await the kiss to happen and when it did Johnny felt the same way about kissing you the moment he did it the first time. It felt like the first but it was far by it being your first ever shared kiss, but this time it was much more desperate and filled with despair than the other times you’ve been kissing. You stay there pressed on the wall kissing him harshly enough to leave his lips becoming bright red and swollen like he was hit. Johnny was indeed hit, hit by your undesirable love, you’re kissing him like it’s your last.

He wanted to scream your name and tell you to marry him. He wants you to be by his side as he rules this country because he knows what you’re capable of no matter your status; he doesn’t need you to be wealthy and well respected. He just needs you.

You break away hearing Johnny struggle to pull away from the kiss as if he didn’t want it to end knowing this will be the last thing he will remember with you. You weep gently with your sadness showing currently becoming existing it was getting harder to stay strong.

The kiss broke you down more than you’d ever thought it would.

“Maybe in my next life I can see you and the world in all the seven colours.” Johnny said to you caressing your face, especially the tears rolling down them were caught between his soft nails. His words brought something within you alive as you close your eyes pressing your forehead against his.

“Goodbye Johnny.” Your last words trail to him.

Johnny will find you in this life or the next, you’ll become his and he will see you in all colours. He will witness the colour of your tears, the colour of your soft longing lips he wishes to always remember. Your first reaction when becoming shy or flustered, he wants to look into your eyes as the light reflects the colour in them. He wants to be the first one to see you in your wedding gown down the aisle.

All because you’re the one thing that saved him when no one wanted to. You’re His Healer.

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@onyourhyuck please refer from translating and copyrighting my work thank youu! Reblog this fic and follow me for more updates it helps a girl out! <33

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therealroselovejoy · 11 days ago

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Chapter Two of Run

The group was indeed smaller than I had anticipated. There was Carol, her daughter Sophia, Rick's wife and son, Andrea—though her younger sister had unfortunately passed from an attack before then—Shane, Rick's friend, T-Dog, and Dale. Then there's Jaqui, Jim, and the Morales family. So still a decent size, but the recent attack had taken even more of them out. Right now, they're deciding the fate of Jim, a bit member of the group.

"Is your sister okay?" Carol asks me as we both do the laundry together. We look over at my twin, who's currently watching the kids learn to read under Lori's guidance.

I turn back to the short-haired frail woman. "No, not really. Though I guess none of us are really 'okay'." It's nice to finally be able to wash my clothes, and I wonder if I'll get a chance to bathe, but I don't want to around these strangers.

"That looks like a pretty bad gash," Carol says, pointing at the scratch on my arm after taking my jacket off.

"I cut it on a piece of glass. Probably should've stitched it but not really possible while you're running." I shrug, going back to my task. Carol stands up, leaving then coming back with a first aid kit. I hold still while she tends to my arm, and I thank her.

"It's fine. I've gotten really good at patching things up." It's then I notice all the bruises and scares on her body. Did her husband beat her? I heard no one cared that he died in the attack.

Ashley comes over then, and I wonder if I'll ever get another moment of peace. "Aunt Lilly! Lori is teaching me cursive!"

"That'll really kill those Walkers, huh?" I say, but immediately feel bad when her face falls. "Sorry, Ash. It's good that you're learning things. You deserve a normal childhood."

She nods, her smile not quite genuine this time. Her small body walks away and I still feel guilt at putting her down.

"Is there somewhere you guys bathe? I honestly feel bad making you guys smell me."

Carol smiles, pointing further down the creek, behind a line of trees. "It gets about waist deep down there, and we haven't encountered a Walker there yet. The forest provides privacy but if you run into any trouble, just scream and we'll come to get you."

I thank her again, hanging my clothes up to dry before heading down to the deep part with a towel provided by Carol. She also gave me soap and shampoo, and I'm forever in her debt for these little luxury items.

My clothes peel off of me in a disgusting display of how nasty they've become, between undead guts and sweat. I made fun of Daryl but he was probably cleaner than myself.

The water felt so nice on my body. I dunk myself a few times, laughing a bit at myself. Then I get down to business, putting shampoo in my hair, watching the grime wash out into the water. Then I lather myself in soap, extremely happy at the very moment.

I hear a splash, breaking me out of my euphoria, and I look towards the source. My dark blue eyes connect with his ice ones, neither one of us backing down from each other. Finally, his gaze flicks down my body, making me suddenly aware of my nakedness. With a red face, I sink down into the water, watching his shirtless self wash in the water.

"I won't look, if ye want to finish, Lilly."

His voice startles me and I blush even deeper. How is this just so normal and easy for him? I look across his back, startled by the scars that must've been very painful at the time of affliction. How did he get them? My hands ache to reach out and touch them, but I know I'll get a bolt to the head as soon as I try.

"Ye done yet?" he growls out, his back still to me.

"H-hold on," I stutter, grabbing my towel and wrapping it around myself. "Alright, I'm covered."

"Turn around."

I scoff but turn around nonetheless.

"Okay, you can look now." Daryl has a dark blue towel wrapped low on his hips, and I can see a clear 'v' going down to the pelvic region. I swallow roughly, remembering how long it's been since I've been laid. That must be the reason I can't look away.

"Let's go back." He starts walking ahead before stopping, noticing I'm not following. "Well?" he asks with a raised brow.

"My clothes aren't dry yet."

He sighs, running his face down his face in annoyance. He leaves, and I just stare in shock. Daryl is just going to leave me in the forest by myself? After all, we've been through together? Even my thoughts are sarcastic.

"Here," he says, returning with clothes in hand. "Lori washed these yesterday. She's smaller than you but they should be fine."

I take the jeans, slipping them on, then the purple tank top. I feel awkward for not having a bra on in this, but hopefully, mine will be dry soon.

Daryl turns back around, looking me up and down, and I almost think it's in appreciation. "You definitely are bigger than Lori."

"Rude ass," I mutter, walking passed him.

"I meant in a curvy way," he replies from behind me. I look down at how the tank top is above my belly button due to the size of my breasts pulling it up higher, then the way the jeans hug me tightly. I'm almost afraid sitting down will split the crotch area.

"Whatever, Dixon." I continue back to the camp, noticing a lot of male looks my way, and I shudder in embarrassment. My clothes from the river, I start washing immediately while I wait for my other clothes to dry. When I'm done, I notice that most of the camp is packed up.

Marie is carrying our stuff over to a truck bed, where Ashley and Milly are already sitting. I join her, placing everything but my drying clothes in it. A few of the men are carrying Jim into the RV.

"I haven't seen a Walker take that long to turn," Marie says from beside me, and as harsh as it is, I agree. He's really holding on. The ones I've seen change do so within a day. He's gone longer.

"Your clothes are done," Carol says, bringing my first change of clothes over. I thank her, going to the last remaining tent to change.

"I'm really tired of seeing your naked self."

I groan, finishing putting on my bra as quickly as a can, watching Daryl come into the tent. My light brown thin shirt with 3/4 inch sleeves is quick to go over my torso. He doesn't seem to be paying attention to me, focusing on packing his nest up. Gambling with my luck, I yank down Lori's jeans, putting on my underwear then pants that actually fit my body.

"I should start throwing some singles at ya."

I don't reply, just flipping him off behind me as I go back to the caravan. Hopefully, we will stop somewhere that I can get some clothes. I'm down to two changes.

Shane tells us the protocol, to not junk up the CB and if we lose connection to honk so everyone can stop.

"We aren't going," the older Morales says. "We have family in Birmingham. We want to be with them."

"If you go out alone, you won't have anyone to watch your back," Shane says, trying to reason with the family.

"We'll take the chance. I gotta do what's best for my family."

"You sure?" Rick asks.

He nods. "We talked about it. We're sure."

Rick shrugs. "Alright. Shane?"

"Three fifty seven," Shane whispers and Rick grabs the gun that goes with that bullet type. They go up together to the Morales family. "Ammo box is half full."

Daryl scoffs from behind me, and I can't help but agree. That takes ammo from this group that's decided to stay together, just because the family decided to go out and get themselves killed.

"Thank you all, for everything," Morales' wife says and hugs Lori. The tearful goodbyes continue, and the hardest one to watch is between their daughter and Sophia.

"Come on, let's go. Move out!" Shane says, taking charge. I don't know if I'm biased but I haven't liked Shane since the beginning. He gives me a bad vibe, different than the one Daryl gave me. It's more...dangerous.

I wait, looking around to where I could squeeze in. The car with Milly and Ashley is full, Marie is already in the back on top of bags. The only open seat is in Shane's Jeep, and I really didn't want to do that.

"What the fuck are ye waitin' for, Lilly? Come on," Daryl says, ushering me over to his truck, the bike in the bed of it. I don't enjoy this arrangement, either, but it's better than the douche Shane.

It's not much further before the RV honks and pulls over. When we get up to it, we notice smoke coming out of the hood. Great. Probably something with the radiator. Dale promises to jerryrig it, again, while Rick and Shane go to scout. But before they do, Rick goes into the RV to check on Jim.

"What are they going to do with Jim?" Milly asks quietly. I'm in between her and Daryl as we lean on his truck hood.

"Probably use him as Walker food," Daryl replies to her, and Milly's skin turns a ghostly white.

I glare at him, turning to my sister. "Rick is humane. I don't think they'll do that."

"He left my brother handcuffed up on the roof. He had to cut his own hand off to escape."

"Probably deserved it," I say, spitting into the pavement. He opens his mouth to say something more insulting, but we watch Rick and Shane come into our sight, carrying Jim up a hill and against a tree. None of us move to go up, as my family didn't really know him and Daryl is just a heartless bastard and suggested killing him earlier.

We get back onto the road, leaving Jim against the tree. I guess Daryl was right. He was left as Walker food.

#daryl x oc #fanfiction #fanfic #daryl dixon #daryl fanfiction #twd daryl #the walking dead daryl #twd fanfiction #the walking dead #original character

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leepace · 10 days ago

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Safe In Your Skin ☆ Keeseob

☆ 18+ mdni

☆ keeho x jongseob

☆ wc: 2.2k

warnings: major character death, slight dubcon, depiction of violence, guns, knives, anal sex, hate sex, angst

a/n: this is in collaboration with bff @strawberry-seob ! from a rough draft on frantic fanfic i spruced this fic up to what it is today, while they've got their own posted! <3

There was a lot that came with Keeho’s profession. He could deal with the bulk of it, like the constant late night calls or the weekly dry cleaners run to get the stains off his clothes. There had been a handful of times though where his walls would crumble around him and he could no longer keep on the external coldness he wore. He’d sleep in his bloodied clothes, and there wouldn't be anything he could do to control the hot tears that would fill his eyes whenever he blinked. His shaking exhales displaying the emotions he desperately tried to bury.

This was not one of those times.

Wind blew his hair back in tuffs as he sat on a building’s rooftop that accommodated in his line of fire. Suppressing down the last of his humanity, there wasn't anything distracting Keeho when he pulled the trigger back, his mind free of any previous compassion. With the shot connecting, there wasn't anything else keeping him there as the brisk wind bit at his cheeks. His victim wouldn't wake up tomorrow, but he was free to go home and rest. His job was done.

His breath got caught in his throat when he fell back onto the concrete from an excessive force. Body weight pressed down on him, not allowing him to move from his position on the ground. There was a sudden sharp pain in his side that pierced through his skin. His reaction was delayed enough for the assailant to knock his gun out of his hands, leaving Keeho defenseless.

That didn't stop him from fighting back. Instincts taking over, Keeho used his shoulder to push off his attacker, which was in no way hard to do. He was a lightweight, and no match to his upper body strength. Managing to get back onto his feet, Keeho was able to see who had just stuck a knife into his side.

“Jongseob?” Keeho furrowed his brows. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

Jongseob snickered, showing off his tooth that jutted out from his smile. “Why do you think?”

Keeho felt his pulse quicken, taking over his senses from the dull pain in his hip. Not giving him the luxury to respond, Jongseob swiped his feet out to kick Keeho onto the concrete rooftop. Jongseob’s knife was still sticking out from his side, contorting with his every move. Keeho fell onto his back, allowing Jongseob to get back on top of him.

Throwing most of his weight onto Keeho’s chest, Jongseob sat there with his hand reaching

back to grip the handle of his knife. “I need this back.”

A new pain enveloped his torso as Jongseob removed the knife, blood beginning to soak the skin and clothing surrounding the wound. They both knew he could bleed out like that. Despite this, Keeho was still able to overpower him, using his legs to flip Jongseob off, reversing the roles so that he was now above him. The sound of Jongseob’s knife clanked onto the concrete as it slipped out of his grip, loud and soon forgotten. Lifting himself up and keeping his legs on either side of Jongseob’s hips, Keeho threw his first punch, square in the blonde's jaw.

He wound up his other balled fist to send another punch on the opposite side, hitting Jongseob’s cheek. His smile had faded, but it wasn't completely gone until Keeho’s elbow collided with his throat, knocking the wind out of him.

Gasping for air, Jongseob began to claw at Keeho’s placed arm, begging for another breath. He only let up his hold when his cheeks changed from a bright red to a deep purple, making Jongseob sputter out a cough as his chest rose and fell rapidly. Keeho took it as an opportunity to grab a fistful of Jongseob's shirt, some type of black compression tee that clung to his small frame.

Jongseob’s eyes were wide now, fear creeping into his once smug expression. “What are you going to do? Kill me first? You could never do that,” He spat, blood and saliva landing on Keeho’s face.

Flashes of his past played in Keeho’s head, his knuckles turning white as he stared down Jongseob. He remembered when they were both younger, how baby faced Jongseob once was and the brightness in his eyes. He had shed away all of his childlike features like a butterfly does with its chrysalis, emerging as a man Keeho didn't recognize.

Keeho’s grip tightened. “I won't have to,” He pulled Jongseob closer, their faces mere inches from each other. “You’ll end up doing it yourself.”

Jongseob tried to wiggle free, but Keeho’s grip was too strong. His hold was steady as his eyes settled on the bruise that was forming on Jongseob’s cheekbone. It looked like one of his rings had swiped against the skin, leaving a cut that was slowly oozing blood.

“You’ve become complacent,” Jongseob said, voice thick with disdain. “You’re stuck, doing the same dirty work while I’ve been climbing the ladder. This is the last thing I needed to do to push myself past you.”

Did Keeho even remember the feeling of his lips on Jongseob's? Was there ever a time where he didn't loathe the younger, his once delicate touch becoming vicious and cruel. There wasn't anything stopping him now from ending the boy's misery. Keeho pushed himself away with force, creating a new space between the two of them.

“You were a mistake,” Keeho’s body had become tense once getting back onto his feet. His pain was turning numb. “Always been too fucking greedy.”

Jongseob lunged at him, but Keeho was faster. He sidestepped, sending Jongseob back onto the ground head first. He picked himself up on his hands and knees quickly but not without a groan, blood dripping from his now scuffed face. Keeho didn't give him time to recover by kicking him square in the stomach.

Getting thrown onto his back, Jongseob coughed, followed by a delayed deep breath. Keeho took a step towards him, fists clenched, ready to end this. Staring down at Jongseob’s heaving chest made his vision blur, hesitation settling in his gut. He looked away.

“Do it. I dare you,” Jongseob spat hoarsely.

Keeho could feel blood begin to dry on his chin, not knowing if it was his or Jongseob's. His words rattled in his brain, not having the same power as they once had. The defiance in Jongseob was something Keeho no longer flinched at.

The rooftop felt colder now, the wind biting through to Keeho’s wound, the pain settling deeper into his subconscious. He placed the heel of his foot on top on Jongseob’s chest, keeping him in place.

“You came here in hopes that I killed you,” Keeho ended his sentence with a snicker. “You’re so cute.”

Jongseob had grabbed ahold of Keeho's ankle, trying his best to shove his foot off of him. He was now vulnerable, weakened by the blow to his stomach, and Keeho pressing more and more of his body weight into his chest. There was a moment where he swore he would break through his rib cage, sinking down to squish his organs into a paste. And then it was gone.

Keeho removed his foot to replace his touch with his hands, reaching to turn Jongseob so that he was now on his stomach. Even in his docile state, there was still something dangerous about Jongseob, looking like a cornered snake– ready to strike with whatever venom he had left.

Keeho got down to straddle the back of Jongseob’s thighs. They were both just wearing athletic gear, black joggers that were easy to slip down. Keeho hooked his thumbs around the waistband of his pants and slide them off, taking his briefs along with them.

He didn't waste any time doing the same to Jongseob. Pulling them down as far as he could, Keeho revealed just enough to show off his ass. Meager and pale, Keeho’s palms could cup almost the entirety of each cheek, his hands immediately going to knead at the tender flesh.

“Steph,” Jongseob breathed out. It wasn't a protest or a plea, but maybe something in between. The nickname made Keeho freeze, more flashes of his past running through his head.

It only stalled him for a second, not stopping Keeho from wrapping his hand around his growing cock, dragging it slowly against the shaft. He thrusted his hips forward and down, guiding the head of his cock to the soft cleft of Jongseob’s ass cheeks.

“You’re gonna let me fuck you before killing me, right?” Keeho had begun to burrow himself in between Jongseob’s ass, the wet leakage coming from the tip of his cock acting as lubricant as he began to slide back and forth. He was only rutting against him, using his hands to press the fat of Jongseob’s ass closer together to try and envelope his cock even further.

“Answer me. I know you remember the rules,” Keeho barked, his shallow thrusts refusing to pause.

It was like the venom that had previously been coursing through Jongseob had been drained, leaving him meek, almost gentle underneath Keeho. “Yes.”

“Yes what?” Keeho paused his hips. He left the tip of his cock resting against Jongseob’s hole.

“Fuck me, you annoying piece of shit,” Jongseob bit back, the fire inside of him clearly not completely stomped out.

“You ask so nicely,” Keeho teased, before abruptly sinking his cock inside of the tight heat he was beginning to forget.

“Ah– Go slower, you maniac,” Jongseob winced, reaching back to place the palm of his hand against Keeho’s thigh, as if that would dampen his sudden movement at all.

Keeho wasn't listening. “I know you like it this way. Not too wet, just enough so that I can stick it in. You like feeling me drag inside of you,” he was rolling his hips back only to ram his cock forward at a punishing speed. “Can't have it any other way. You’ll always love being my little sex doll.”

He had Jongseob pinned below him, legs together, his ass spread out by one of Keeho’s hands. Out in the open like this, the sky glaring down at them, Keeho could feel how goosebumps had begun to form on Jongseob’s skin. They were paired with breathy moans escaping his mouth, not being able to hide behind his rough exterior any longer.

Keeho's orgasm pooled in the pit of his stomach when Jongseob finally turned his head, revealing how his bangs had stuck to his forehead from sweat, and how red his cheeks had gotten. His eyes were closed, showing off his long lashes, something Keeho never wanted to admit jealousy over. It made him drive his cock faster, deeper, the sound of slapping skin following his every move.

“Will you just cum in me already?” Jongseob snarkily ordered.

It warranted a laugh from Keeho. “Don't tell me you came already. You’re all sensitive now, is that right?”

“No–, hey, wait!” Jongseob screeched, right before Keeho pulled out, flipping him onto his back.

The new position gave Keeho the ability to see how Jongseob had cum stanned on the front of his black quarter zip and a deflated dick that sat limply at his pelvis. There was no fighting now, with Jongseob only trying to hide his red face with raised forearms.

“Fine,” Keeho started, taking his cock into his hand to guide it back into Jongseob. “I’ll fill you up until you’re full.”

He began his animalistic pace again, this time hitching one of Jongseob’s legs over his shoulder. Keeho’s task was clear, and yet the push he needed to get over the edge seemed far off in the distance. His eyes squeezed shut, he did his best to try and get lost in the feeling of Jongseob around him.

It was different this time. Keeho remembered how they used to fight, but it was never serious, and it always led them to moments like this. There wasn't the same spark of animosity that was once lighthearted, instead becoming much more malicious.

Choking out a cry, Keeho shakily stilled as he came. It was drawn out and messy, completely draining himself inside of Jongseob. White noise filled his ears until it didn't.

When he was dry and spent, Keeho dropped Jongseob's leg, the ecstasy of his cock cocooned inside of him turning into something more… painful?

It was dull at first, like his body had to adjust to the new found feeling. It then grew, starting from his neck, reaching up to his face and down to his chest. There was now a dampness at the collar of his shirt.

Keeho opened his closed eyes to see how he was now staring up at the ceiling. He was on his back, gasping for air that never seemed to fill his lungs. His vision began to blur into hazy static. He could hear Jongseob talking, but he couldn't register any of the words.

Then it was pitch black.

#yoon keeho #jongseob #keeho #p1h keeho #keeho smut #jongseob smut #p1harmony #p1h jongseob #p1h smut

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luxury-leather · 9 months ago

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missoneminute · 1 year ago

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Continuing my journey through combining my two obsessions - perfume and The Libertines. In this edition, fragrances directly linked to the band in various ways.

London by Burberry - Notes of Honeysuckle, Jasmine, Musk and Sandalwood. Released in 2006. This is for lovers - of London. The imagery around this chic and clean little affair has always been a romantic postcard to the city that birthed it, and the iconic checked Burberry fabric wrapped around the bottle itself speaks to the rebirth of that heritage trend made edgy and new - most beautifully showcased in the infamous prison gates photos in 2003, where Peter and Carl each wore a matching Burberry trench and passed a Burberry scarf between them. Fake, probably, but that iconography was the absolute height of indie rock fashion.

Bluebell by Penhaligon's - Notes of Lily-of-the-Valley, Cyclamen, Cloves and Cinnamon. Released in 1978. Widely reported as a favourite perfume of Kate Moss during the time she and Peter were dating. I may not be much of a fan of hers, but who didn't want to know what Pete Doherty's girlfriend smelled like? Earthy, with its crushed flowers and herbs, a tad exclusive, with it's fancy lineage and posh price, but genuinely vintage - this was the exact sort of scent an indie girl in the 2000s picked if she wanted to stand out from the crowd.

Opium Pour Homme by Yves Saint Laurent - Notes of Black Currant, Star Anise, Bourbon Vanilla and Cedar. Released in 1995. Named by Peter as his favourite fragrance in the 2000s. I've never known if he was kidding, given the name - but this is a scent that absolutely suits him, and is my favourite for men of all time. Opening with bright, juicy berries, drying down into sweet vanilla and rich spice, it's an addictive potion that suits its moniker and defies the astringent, bathroom cleaner trend in men's fragrance with a high fashion dazzle that takes some courage to wear.

Bottega Veneta by Bottega Veneta - Notes of Bergamot, Jasmine, Leather and Patchouli. Released in 2011. This is a personal entry, as it's the one perfume that has gotten me a compliment from a Libertine. I am an aggressive over-sprayer, but only this one has elicited a comment, from Carl, after he embraced me following the Sharabang gig in 2018. "You smell amazing!" he said, to which I replied, "I think it's the leather", meaning the leather notes in the fragrance. "Leather?" he replied, completely confused. I didn't get a chance to elaborate, but this is indeed a leather bomb - loud like a brand new jacket, or better yet luxurious heels straight out of their box, with the crisp deliciousness of bergamot making it syrupy and lending a mouth-watering air. Tragically discontinued.

Comme des Garcons 2 Man by Comme des Garcons - Notes of Smoke, Betiver, Saffron, Leather and Incense. Released in 2004. One of the fragrances Carl mentioned wearing in the 2000s. A churchy, waxy, smoky scent that brings to mind a snuffed candle and is very evocative of the year it was released. Makes absolute sense that it's one he'd enjoy, leaning both into an esoteric side with it's midnight potions of nutmeg and mint, and a rock 'n' roll core with it's leather and incense - reminiscent of the intoxicating mix of sweat, tobacco and leather you'll find sticking to a musician fresh off a stage.

Ambre Sultan by Serge Lutens - Notes of Resin, Amber, Myrrh, Benzoin, Sandalwood, Vanilla and Myrtle. Released in 1993. Opulent, gothic and very warm, this unisex fragrance is another Carl listed as a favourite back in the day. If 2 Man is churchy, this one is culty. Again, it suits him - it's like festival hippy oil taken to it's most concentrated conclusion. I don't know if he still wears either of these - he smelled great in Melbourne in 2018, but when I asked what he had on, he joked, "Lynx Africa!" then denied he was wearing anything. Likewise, Peter arrived at the Hackney gig in 2019 smelling deliciously of something very like Tom Ford's Tobacco Vanille, but when I asked him what he had on, he just said, "I smell like a polecat".

#the libertines #perfume #fragrance

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jessicaloons · 1 year ago

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Chapter 25:

The world moves on, another day another drama…

Masterlist - Previous - Next

Charles POV:

"I really love this one. I mean don’t get me wrong. I loved the older buildings, they have so much charme! But this right here? It has everything! It’s not too big! And this beautiful new kitchen that’s open to the living room, with enough space for a little dining area? Look at that balcony! And it has 2 bedrooms! One with an en suite bathroom and then the guest bathroom? It looks all so clean and timeless. I love it. It’s perfect." Lizzie was practically beaming when she stood behind the little kitchen island, looking over the space.

"Yeah, it’s a really nice one! It’s all new. Top security, underground parking garage with two spots, there is a dry cleaner in the building and also a restaurant." Riccardo said and Lizzie smiled even more.

"Was there a bathtub or a shower in the bathroom?" I asked and Lizzie looked at me for a moment.

"Oh umm- I don’t… oh damn! I can’t remember, let me go and check!" she walked away and Riccardo looked at me.

"I could’ve answered that as well…"

"I know… it’s just, this flat is over her budget, right?" I kept an eye on the hallway.

"It is, that’s why I don’t get why you insisted to have a look at it?"

"The only other two flats she liked were the one in that old building! No security, the windows looked like they would be easily to break in and that balcony? That was an invitation to climb up and get inside! And the other flat? No. No. No. No. No parking garage and the security was almost not there. But this one? It’s perfect! Everything! It has the open kitchen like she loves it and a beautiful view, high security and it’s only a ten minutes walk to my flat."

"All true, but it’s over her budget… she was really strict about that." Riccardo cocked an eyebrow.

"I know… but she doesn’t. So I’ll pay up the rest." I said and he shook his head.

"Forget it! I can’t do that! Charles there will be a contract and there needs to be the real price for it to be a binding and legal document! I can’t change that up!"

"Okay… what if I buy the flat? Under my name and everything. And then you sell it to her? Within her budget? You don’t have to state the name of the seller, you can just go by your agency?"

"Charles, I don’t like that… just be honest with her? Tell her why you want her to have this flat?"

"She wouldn’t take it! She’s stubborn! She would never ever accept money from me! And she won’t spend more, because that’s just how she is!" I sighed when I heard Lizzie closing the bathroom door.

"What if she finds out about it?" Riccardo looked at me and I shook my head.

"She won’t! And if she will, than it’s my fault. I’ll take the full blame. But please help me out here! I want her to have the perfect first flat! That is safe and nice and clean not far away from me. So please!" I pleaded right when Lizzie came back.

"The en suite has a huge shower and the guest bathroom has a normal sized shower and a big tub! It’s perfect!" seeing her smile like that made me look at Riccardo with pleading eyes "I can’t believe that this is in my budget? Compared to the other ones, this here is pure luxury?"

"Well the other two were under your budget, this one is slightly over, just a little. But we can make an offer a little under the listing price and then meet in the middle that would be you budget?" Riccardo said.

"Yes! You’re the pro here! If you think I have a chance then let’s do it!" Lizzie said excitedly and Riccardo nodded.

"Let me make a phone call!" he left the room and Lizzie walked around.

"A big and comfy couch here! A beautiful, maybe round, table there? Everything in creamy white beige colours? Tons of cushions and blankets on the couch. A fluffy rug?" she was so happy and excited, I couldn’t help but grab her by the waist, kissing her.

"I’m so happy, that you’re moving here." I whispered against her lips and she smiled at me, her cheeks slightly blushed.

"Me too, Charlie bear! You can come to me! I can come to you! I can go to the beach! I can go see your Mum! It will be amazing!" she snuggled into me and I smiled, right as my phone vibrated and Riccardo walked back in. Lizzie pulled away and looked at him, waiting eagerly for him to say something. I checked my phone and smiled.

"So?" Lizzie asked and Riccardo grinned at her.

"Congratulations on your new flat." he said and Lizzie hugged him fiercely before she turned around and looked at me.

"I’m really moving here, can you believe it?" she whispered and jumped right into my arms.

"I’m so happy for you!" I answered and kissed her cheek.

"I need to take some videos and pictures for mum and dad!" she ran off and Riccardo looked at me.

"I really hope you know what you’re doing." he said and I nodded.

"I am. This will stay between us. It’s our secret." I said determined.

"Yeah, a secret worth 1.4 million Euros."

"I love how much the Tifosi love you!" I said when we drove towards the gates of the hotel, hundreds of fans waiting for Charles "They even have a banner for you!"

"I feel so incredibly honoured and loved by them, it’s unbelievable." he said, a big smile on his face "Is it okay if we stop for a bit? I want to take some pictures and sign stuff."

"Sure! That’s not even a question!" I opened my window and the car was surrounded by Tifosi in an instant, all screaming for Charles.

I tried to grab as much stuff as possible they were shoving my way, patiently handing it over to Charles to sign it and then giving it back to the fans outside the car. It was getting louder with any second and it seemed like the security guys slightly lost control over the crowd. The mood dropped a little, the shouting turned more hysterical. I could hear some people shouting my name, but the way it sounded, they weren’t saying nice things. Charles must’ve heard it too, he tried to calm down the crowd, that started calling me all sorts of names. He got angry and turned to me, his eyes widened in shock and before I could react or ask what was going on I felt something hitting me straight across the face. Charles began to scream, turning the windows up, honking and revving the engine. The security guards were able to part the crowd of people and Charles drove into the courtyard of the hotel. My ears were ringing. And my face stung.

"Cara mia? Look at me? Hey!" Charles voice a muffled whisper in the back of my head "Let’s get out of here. Come on."

What happened next, I didn’t know. I looked around, saw how Charles rushed through the room, yelling at his phone, then a guy in a dark blue suit. All in Italian. My mind wasn’t able to translate it.

"Here, cara mia." he kneeled down in front of me, gently putting an ice pack on my cheek and I flinched. The coldness on my burning skin began to prickle "Can you please say something?"

"Ouch." I breathed out.

"Other than that?" he whispered, cupping my other cheek.

"Did someone slap me?" I asked, still not fully realising what had happened.

"I’m so sorry, Lizzie. I didn’t see it coming! I would’ve stopped them, I swear!"

"Why are you apologising? You didn’t slap me, did you?"

"No! Of course not! But still!"

"They were mad at me, because of Carlos penalty, no?"

"I don’t care. They’re idiots! We leave the hotel! We go to yours." he mumbled and got up.

"No! Charles you can’t leave! This is the hotel you always stay here! All of Ferrari!" I was panicking.

"I don’t care! They hit you! What they were saying about you! We’re leaving. I don’t want you near them."

"Charles only one of them slapped me! Don’t be mad at all of them because one messed up! You know how much they love you! They adore you! I’ll go. I’ll stay at my hotel! It’s fine!" I tried to play it down, tried to convince him to stay.

"No. I don’t leave you alone. Not after that!" he pulled out his phone again and called someone. I got up and looked in the mirror. A faint red hand print on my cheek, nothing too bad, but still visible. Still a little painful. Tear stained face. I walked over to a window and looked outside. Police and security trying to keep the crowd at bay, one guy standing at the side, police officers speaking to him, while others around kept yelling at him.

"Our car is here, come on cara mia." Charles took my hand in his and pulled me away "Keep that ice pack on your cheek, please. I don’t want you to be in pain."

"I’m fine." I mumbled, following him out of the room, down a long hallway.

"Signore Leclerc! Signorina Doetterer! We are so sorry!" the guy from earlier apologised and opened up the doors for us, Joris waiting in front of a SUV. As soon as he saw me he hurried to my side.

"Who did that?" he carefully pulled my hand away to see my cheek "Fucking bastard, I’ll kill him."

"Get in line." Charles seethed and I groaned.

"It was a slap! Nothing more! You should stay here! Try to calm your fans down and the…" I rolled my eyes but Charles interrupted me.

"They are no fan of mine if they hurt you! Carlos’ penalty was his own fault! He turned fully into you! Punishing him was the only right thing to do! And if they don’t understand that, then I don’t care."

"Let’s go." Joris grabbed the suitcases from the hotel employees and packed them into the trunk, then he opened the back door and Charles gently pushed me inside, before climbing in behind me.

The drive to my hotel was quiet, only 20 or maybe 25 fans waiting for any drivers to arrive. They were screaming for Charles and I just walked straight inside with Joris.

"You need to talk to him Joris. He needs to go back to his hotel! The Ferrari drivers always stay there! I don’t want him to be in any trouble." I whispered but Joris shook his head.

"They crossed a line today, Lizzie. It is one thing writing all that disgusting bullshit under each and every post of you or about you, calling you all sorts of names at the track, but today they assaulted you! Nothing I could say would change his mind… and I honestly don’t want to." Joris shook his head, when the elevator door opened, Julie and JK coming out, looking worried at me.

"It’s all over social media! What happened? You got slapped by a fan?" Julie looked at me with wide eyes and when I lowered the ice pack she gasped "Does it hurt? Who did that? What happened?"

"We were in the car, I handed Charles some stuff to sign from his fans when the mood changed, people were getting mad about Carlos penalty and then someone slapped me. Charles got us inside the courtyard and then he insisted on leaving the hotel, staying here." I put the ice pack back and winced a little.

"And I stand by my word." Charles appeared next to us "We stay here. Maybe tomorrow I’ll go back to my hotel. But not tonight. Tonight I can’t see them."

"Joris? You can stay here as well. The rooms for Lizzie’s family are already booked but they will only arrive on Friday." Julie said and Joris nodded.

"Yeah might be better, when I come back alone they won’t stop asking me where Charles is… and I don’t want to be there right now." he said.

"Okay guys! One guy did something bad! Not all of them are bad then, okay?" I said and Charles shook his head but Joris answered.

"I don’t give a fuck. Tonight they all suck. Period."

"I have nothing else to add." Charles said and I sighed, following them into the elevator and then into my hotel room.

"You have a mail with some appointments tomorrow. Rest up now and cool your cheek!" Julie waved goodbye and left.

"Are you okay?" JK asked and I nodded.

"Yeah. I’m fine." I said and he squeezed my shoulder, following Julie.

"I leave you two as well. Good night guys." Joris hugged Charles and whispered something to him, then he hugged me "Keep the ice pack on."

"I will. Thanks for picking us up…" I kissed his cheek and he left.

"I’m exhausted." I mumbled and opened up my suitcase "I’ll take a shower. Care to join in?"

"I’m coming in a minute." Charles said, lifting my chin up to look at my cheek. He inhaled sharply. A new wave of anger making him tremble "I’m so sorry that this happened, cara mia."

"It wasn’t your fault! I’m fine. It’s just a little red, it doesn’t even hurt. I’m really okay!" I reassured him. He nodded a little and kissed my forehead.

After the shower I applied some cooling gel on my cheek and left the bathroom.

"I thought you would join me?" I asked while plopping down next to Charles who was furiously typing away on his phone "What are you doing?"

"I won’t accept it. I don’t care if they treat me like shit. But not you. Especially not when you did nothing wrong! I certainly won’t stay silent if they resort to violence!" he was furious.

"Charles, stop. Please." I put my hand on his phone, cupping his cheek "I understand that you’re mad, I am as well. But whatever you’re feeling right now, whatever you’re writing right now, it won’t change the fact that some idiot slapped me. But you know what it will change? Your relationship with the Tifosi. They love you. They adore you! They don’t call you Il Predestinato for no reason! But when you let all your anger and frustration now out, it will end only in them being hurt and you being hurt. It’s not worth it. I’m fine. I survived way worse than a little slap. Please don’t post it."

"Cara mia, I can’t let them think that it’s okay, treating you like that! Maybe it was only one guy who slapped you, but there were at least a dozen more calling you names! I won’t accept this kind of behaviour!" he gently pulled his phone away and looked over what he wanted to post.

"Do you remember the first time we were here? Watching the race back in 2011? Standing in between all of the Tifosi? How amazing it felt? And when we were waiting after the race outside for the car and that elderly Tifoso bumped into you and smiled? Saying he recognises your face? That he knows you will bring back Ferrari to its old glory? It was weird, we were only in karting, no one knew us, but he said he knows you will do it! That was the night you began to focus on one thing only. Making it into F1 and Ferrari. From that day on you loved the team unconditionally. But not just the team… the fans, the Tifosi. Don’t let one guy ruin that. Don’t let one stupid idiot ruin this connection. Please, Charles." I pleaded and he sighed, closing his eyes, leaning his head back against the headboard. Silence falling over us. After a while Charles began to chuckle, throwing his phone away, turning to look at me.

"I still think he thought I was Jules…"

"He definitely thought so!" I laughed and Charles pinched my side "Can you please delete whatever you posted?"

"I already did. Right when I posted it, I deleted it again… you were right. You always are." he pulled me into his lap, hugging me tight to his body, nuzzling his face into my hair.

"I’m glad that you’re finally admitting it."

"Lizzie, how are you? We all saw the videos. Can you explain us what happened?"

"Umm, I honestly don’t know myself? It all happened so fast. Charles and I arrived at his hotel. We wanted to go out for dinner with some friends, that’s why he didn’t drop me off at my hotel first. There were a lot of Tifosi and I handed Charles stuff to sign, then there was some screaming and shouting and then it already happened." I explained and Nathalie sighed.

"We’ve heard from several sources that some fans where mad because of Carlos penalty last weekend, dropping him right outside the points.?"

"I don’t know. Maybe it was because of that."

"Your team filed a complain after the race."

"Yeah, which they had every right to, considering the fact that almost the entire side of my car had to be replaced, most importantly we needed a new PU, which means I will serve a 10-place grid penalty! Not even talking about the big cut in our budget."

"So you think the penalty is justified?"

"The complaint was justified. What the FIA decides is out of my hands."

"Thank you Lizzie!"

I smiled at her and walked away. My cheek still prickling a little.

"You did good out there. You didn’t throw any shade at Carlos or the Tifosi." Julie said and I nodded slowly.

"Wouldn’t help anyone." I shrugged and she patted my arm "I gotta go to Charles, he has my phone."

"Alright, see you later on!" she walked off and I sighed a little.

Going to Ferrari wasn’t really something I wanted to do after yesterday, but I had to.

I checked my make-up in the reflection of a window, nothing visible, and took a deep breath. I braced myself for the worst, but not even in my darkest nightmares I would’ve expected what happened next.

Charles POV:

I shook the hands of a dozen of men, thanked them for their support of Ferrari and left with Mia.

"How’s Lizzie?" she asked and I sighed.

"She says she’s fine? But I don’t know if I believe her, she was really shocked. I mean I was too, but I didn’t got slapped…"

"She’s tougher than she looks, you know that. Just show her that you’re there for her, no matter what, that’s all you can do."

"Yeah, I hope you’re right." I mumbled as we rounded the corner and I saw Lizzie talking to a girl, her back was turned to us but the way Lizzie stood there, body all tense, shoulders strained, clenched jaw, eyes almost dead and her face paler than a sheet of white paper, I didn’t need to see the girls face to know who it was. And as Lizzie slightly began to tremble I almost sprinted towards her. When she saw me she shook her head and walked away.

"Lizzie! Wait!" I shouted when someone grabbed my arm.

"Charles. Long time no see. You can let her go, she’s a big girl, she can handle herself for a couple of minutes without her knight in shining armour." her voice made my hairs stand up, my insides churning.

"What did you say to her?" I pressed out through clenched teeth and turned around, looking straight at her, a viscous smile on her face.

"I just told her that she looks good, maybe a little less weight would do her good but apart from that. Don’t worry I didn’t hurt your little girlfriend, I mean she already got slapped in the face yesterday…" she sneered.

"What are you doing here?" I asked her, trying my best not to strangle her.

"Oh, you didn’t know? I was invited! By Ferrari!" the triumphant smile on her face made rage surging through my body.

"What?"

"Oh Camille! Here you are! I see you found Charles! Wonderful! Now let’s all get inside to take some pictures!" Sylvia looked at me, a smug smile on her lips.

"No."

"No? What do you mean with no?" Sylvia chuckled a little.

"I mean that I won’t take any pictures with her." my voice was trembling with anger.

"Charles, don’t be ridiculous. This isn’t about you. Be mature about this, please. We have some important guests with us and they want to meet the drivers. Both of them." she rolled her eyes while Camille’s smile only got bigger.

"I’ll meet them. But without her. What is she even doing here?"

"Ah Camille! Here you are!" a voice from behind me said and Camille walked past me "I see you found the other driver."

"I told you that Charles and I know each other from back home in Monaco, no?" her tone of voice now sickeningly sweet.

"Oh yes, you told me all about that. Nice to meet you, Charles." the guy extended his hand and I shook it perplexed. He squeezed my hand tight, as if he was trying to intimidate me, but I didn’t even flinch.

"And you are?" I asked him, not really interested in his answer.

"Charles, this is Santiago Álvarez, son of José Álvarez, who’s the CEO of Santander. You see we have important guests today." Sylvia chimed in and I looked between her and Álvarez.

"Yeah. Very important." I said and took my phone out "Let me make a phone call and then I’ll be inside."

Sylvia nodded with pressed lips and she guided Camille and Álvarez inside.

"Joris? Where are you?"

"Turn around?" he walked up to me, looking worried "What’s going on. You look like you saw a ghost that you want to strangle?"

"You need to look after Lizzie…"

"What happened?"

"Camille is here and she…"

"WHAT?"

"She’s here with her new boyfriend, I think, and he’s the son of the CEO of Santander! I have to play now my part… but Camille talked to Lizzie, when I arrived! You know that evil witch! Lizzie looked… whatever Camille said, she was hurt and she ran away… please find her and take care of her, okay?"

"Alright. But keep that snake away as far as possible from Lizzie!"

"I promise, if she ever comes close to Lizzie again I will…"

"I know. But don’t. Please. Go now. I’ll find Lizzie!" he spurted away and I took one last deep breath, before following Sylvia back inside. Let’s get this over with.

"Lizzie?" I looked up, blinking the tears away "Come here." Joris pulled me into a tight hug and gently stroked my back.

"Camille is here…" I whispered and he nodded.

"I know. All the plants in the Ferrari hospitality died, that was the first omen that she must be around…"

"Yeah? And what was the second one?" I chuckled a little.

"Charles being this close to commit a crime."

"You stopped him before he could do anything stupid right?" I pulled away a little and Joris rolled his eyes.

"Of course! I can’t have my best friend going to jail for something that I wanted to do!"

"Joris!"

"What?" he laughed a little and then wiped away some tears from my cheeks "She doesn’t deserve a single one of your tears, okay?"

"Okay." I nodded slowly, taking a deep breath "How did you find me anyway?"

"You and Charles always were here back in F3 and F2, and also the last years…" he shrugged his shoulders and pulled me with him "Let’s go back. Let’s show her that she can’t break you."

But she did. Again. As much as I hated it. Seeing her being coddled by Sylvia, smiling as if all of Ferrari was here to tend to all her wishes, her high pitched laughter, her words towards me. It brought back all the memories. Everything I worked hard against over the past 1.5 years.

"Hey! Get out of your head!" Joris squeezed my shoulder and I nodded "You know that nothing that she has ever said to you, or will ever say to you is right? She was jealous of you. Always. Even when we were still in school and Charles was around in between races he always talked about you. She always tried to make him stop and give her attention but he didn’t."

"Until he did. He was her boyfriend first." I replied, my voice sounded more hurt than planned.

"Lizzie…" he began but I shook my head.

"I didn’t meant it like that. It’s okay. I know the reasons… it’s just- she knows what to say to push my buttons. But it’s okay. I’m okay. I think with what happened yesterday and seeing her here now- it’s a little too much all at once. But I’m fine." I said and he nodded slowly.

"But you know that it would be okay if it’s not? You don’t have to play pretend. It’s okay…" Joris stopped and looked at me.

"I know! Really! I’m fine." I smiled at him.

"Okay." he sighed and we walked the rest to the Audi hospitality in silence.

"Lizzie! There you are! I called you like a million times! We’re waiting for you!" Julie said and I looked at her, slightly confused, right as I saw Rita waving at me from inside.

"Oh shit! I totally forgot about that! Fuck! I’m so sorry! Charles still has my phone!"

"You go to your meeting, I’ll go and get your phone!" Joris hugged me.

"Thank you. Really!" I whispered and he only smiled while walking away "Okay, let’s go." I followed Julie inside.

"Lizzie! Good to see you! How are you?" Rita hugged me and gently tilted my head to the side, looking at my cheek "Let me sue that asshole."

"It’s okay, Rita, really! Thank you for coming. I know you’re busy. But this is a bit too big for me to attend alone." I said nervously and she waved me off.

"Everything for you, darling. Shall we?" she turned to Julie and we followed her to one of the meeting rooms.

"Lizzie, Rita, these are James Gay-Rees and Paul Martin, executive producers, Sophie Todd, the showrunner and Mike Osborn, representative of Netflix." Julie introduced us and I shook their hands.

"It’s so great to finally meet you in person, Lizzie! Thank you for meeting us." Sophie said as we all sat down and I smiled at her.

"Thank you for being interested in- me? I guess?" I chuckled nervously and they all laughed a little.

"How could we not? You’re defying all odds, being one of the top drivers this season!" Paul sounded impressed and I felt myself blush a little.

"We worked on a concept, here’s a presentation to show you exactly what we’re hoping to do, if you agree." Sophie said and pushed a button on a little remote in her hand. I looked at the screen, excited what they had in mind.

"Three or five part mini series. Three parts with 60-70 minutes each or five parts with 40-50 minutes each. We already filmed a little with you throughout the season. We would now focus a little more on you and your team." Paul said as soon as the presentation was over, handing me a document where all points were listed.

"Of course we would love to film a little bit of your life apart from the track as well, just to see who the person Lizzie is outside of the race suit. See your daily routines. Maybe visiting the places you used to spent most of your time when you were younger. Of course we would love to talk with your family and friends about you. Other drivers who know you. Of course Charles, as he is your best friend, Pierre and maybe Max because you drove against them for quite some time? Valtteri as he is your team mate, Sebastian as he’s your mentor? Maybe even some other big names of F1." Mike said and I looked up.

"My family and friends? As in interviews?" I asked and he nodded.

"Yeah we would love some interviews, where they tell us all about you that we think the world needs to know. But we also would love to film some parts of your private life. How you spent your free time at home with your family and friends."

"Max isn’t really a fan of yours…"

"We reached an agreement with Max, on how we continue to work with him." Sophie stated and I looked at her "Don’t worry. It’s all good."

"We know that a lot of your recovery was filmed, that would be footage we would love to use as well, maybe your family has some old tapes of your early days in karting? Everything that shows the world the person Lizzie." Mike said and I looked at the document in my hand.

"Will I have full control over what will be shown? Like when you film something and I actually don’t want it to be seen, will you edit it out?" I asked and he looked at his team.

"You have the full control of what will be shown. The Final Cut will be shown to you and you decide if it’s ready or needs some change." he answered and I looked at Rita.

"We want that written in the contract. We also want to have 24 hours time to decide. Lizzie wants to talk to her family and friends first." she stated and Mike nodded.

"We prepare the contracts and send them you, you make any additional changes and sent it back. We’ll meet tomorrow after FP2 to finalise everything."

"Okay. But there is one more thing. The compensation. This isn’t like Drive to Survive where you film 90% on track or studio or within team facilities. The drivers only have to film a little interview each individually. It’s not taking away from their time. But this is more. This is a huge invasion of Lizzie’s private life, it’s way more exposure than anything before in DTS." Rita said and Mike looked again at his team.

"250.000 Euro per episode."

"You mean 250.000 for the shorter episodes and how much for the longer ones?"

"350.000 Euro per episode when it’s a three part series; 250.000 Euro per episode when it’s the five part series."

"Alright. Sounds fair. What would you prefer? Just for us to know which way you lean towards?"

"Five parts with 40 minutes each."

"Noted."

"Regardless of the decision, we would film with our second crew Lizzie and her team this weekend, to get a lot of footage. If that’s okay?" Mike asked and I nodded "Deal for now?"

"Yes, deal for now." I shook his hand and Rita and I got up, shaking hands with the rest of the team, who then left the room.

"Well, I guess that was not too bad!" Julie said and Rita nodded.

"Yes, it really wasn’t. If it’s written down in the contract that you have the full control of the content? It couldn’t get any better than this." she said and I sighed.

"It’s still a big thing. I’ve never been this exposed. I have to talk to my family and my friends first if they would be okay with it! And Charles! We already have to be so freaking careful around the paddock! But with Netflix being around? We have to take care even inside our hospitalities."

"Or you could tell them about Charles but say that you want to keep it hidden." Julia suggested.

"With NDA’s they can’t say anything and with you deciding what’s to make the Final Cut? I guess it’s possible." Rita said "Think about it, okay? As soon as I have the contracts I work them through and then we have a talk." she hugged me and Julie and left.

"So, you have a lot of thinking to do. We’re done for today, you can leave." Julie hugged me and I nodded, right as JK came, handing me my phone.

"Here you go."

"Thanks. Have you talked to Joris? Or Charles?" I asked him.

"Joris. He said Charles will be ready in an hour. Which was a couple of minutes ago. Do you wanna wait or go?"

"Go. I’ll text him to stay at his hotel tonight. It will be better for him and Ferrari, the Tifosi." I mumbled and grabbed my bag.

My head was full. Too full. Yesterday. Camille. Netflix. It was too much. My head started to throb and I wanted nothing more than crawl under the blankets and sleep. But I couldn’t. I had to talk to my family, my friends, first. And then I had to do some thinking myself.

"The question is, if you want to do it." Dad said and I sighed.

"Yes? No? I don’t know! It’s just… god I don’t want to be this exposed? But on the other hand, I am already! Just that this time I would be in control of the narrative!"

"Then it’s a yes. I can do an interview or two. And if they want to film us hanging out and doing whatever we’re doing a couple of times? So be it." Mum said and Sissy nodded.

"Are we going to be famous?" Liam asked excitedly.

"Will people start screaming when they see us?" Benji asked.

"I don’t know. Maybe? Maybe not?" I laughed, stretching out on the bed.

"We support you. And if you have the last word what will be shown and what not? I’m not even worried." Sissy said and I had to agree.

"Yeah. I think it could be something good."

"I think it could be something amazing! Do it!" Marcus smiled and I sat up.

"What did the rest of the gang say?" Dad asked and I laughed a little.

"Daniel said he can’t wait to be famous. Shima said she wants to see all the footage of her to make sure she looks good in it. Andrea said as long as I want to do it and Julia said she is on my side no matter what."

"Then it’s decided. You get your own Netflix show." Sissy said and they all started clapping.

"We’re so proud of you!" Mum choked out and I groaned.

"Mum! It’s just a documentary! Nothing big! Stop crying!"

"I’m not crying!" she sniffled a little and I rolled my eyes.

"Okay, whatever! I gotta go now. I need to take a shower and then go to bed."

"Alright! Good night, sweetheart! We see you tomorrow!" Mum said and I nodded, before I ended the call.

I was just about to take a shower when someone knocked on my door.

"What are you doing here?" I asked Charles as he walked in.

"I wanted to see you?" he looked at me intently "I wanted to see if you’re okay."

"I’m fine. You didn’t have to come here. A text would’ve been sufficient, you know?"

"But I can’t look at you through a text." he stepped closer, grabbing my waist "Please talk to me. I know that you’re not fine. I saw the look on your face after she talked to you."

"What do you want me to say?" I sighed and Charles leaned his forehead against mine.

"I want you to be honest. I want you to tell me how you feel. I don’t want you to say you’re fine when you’re quiet obviously aren’t." he whispered and I took a deep breath.

"I felt bad after seeing her, after what she said. But Joris helped me. Really." I replied.

"No. There’s something going on. I can tell…"

"Yeah… there is something going on… I had a meeting with Netflix today." I said slowly and Charles pulled away a little.

"And?" he sounded exited and I led him to the sofa, sitting down, telling him everything.

"So, they all want me to do it…" I ended and waited for Charles’ reaction.

"At the end of the day it’s your decision, Lizzie. But I think it’s a good thing. There are so many false narratives around about you. One more abstruse than the other. All the things people are saying and writing about you? You could set the record straight. You could show the world who you are. What you had to go through to be where you are today. I think it would be amazing." he said and grabbed my hands, stopping me to nervously fiddle with them.

"But there would be a lot of cameras around me…" I looked at him.

"I guess we can handle some more." he shrugged.

"Rita said I could tell them about us, but make it clear that it’s nothing I want to be displayed… she said we could make them sign NDA’s…"

"Whatever you decide, I’m 100% behind you." he kissed my knuckles.

"I hate it sometimes that you’re this perfect." I leaned against him.

"You know now what your family thinks, what your friends think, what I think… but what do you think? That’s the most important thing…"

"I think I want to do it. Tell the world my side of the story." I almost whispered it.

"Then it’s decided?" Charles tilted my head up, looking at me.

"It’s decided." I kissed him.

Charles POV:

I sat alone on the balcony, listening to the Tifosi singing songs for me. What usually would put a big smile on my face, made me feel nothing today. Not after yesterday. Not after today. I was mad. At myself. At the Tifosi. At Camille. But mostly myself. Seeing her talking to Lizzie. Seeing how Lizzie paled in an instant, started trembling, leaving and then not eating anything the entire day. My blood was boiling. Pure rage surging through my body.

"Charles?" Joris stepped out on the balcony, sitting down next to me "Are you okay?"

"I shouldn’t have left her." I sighed.

"Then why did you?" he asked carefully.

"Because she wanted me to leave. Sometimes she’s so stubborn and although I could clearly see that there was a lot going on in her head, I didn’t want to argue with her. She was already exhausted and tired. I didn’t want to add to that."

"I don’t know… maybe it would do her some good to let it all out, even if it’s in an argument."

"Yeah maybe, but you know her! She would feel bad for days if she would’ve let it all out on me and then she’s even more in her head! This is all so fucking frustrating! Yesterday was bad, yeah. But today? Camille? What the actual fuck? I don’t want her near Lizzie ever again. And I don’t want to be near her as well, she makes my blood boil. I can’t believe that I really tried it with her… what was I thinking?"

"I think you weren’t thinking at all. You were reacting. Trying something that was bound to fail, but she’s gone now. You and Lizzie are happy now, that’s all that matters!" Joris tried to calm me down but the guilt I felt since knowing why Lizzie had left so abruptly two years ago, why she had the accident, was nagging at me. Especially after today.

"It’s just… god wouldn’t I start this shit with Camille…" I began but Joris scoffed.

"Charles, you can’t change what Camille did, it’s in the pa.."

"You don’t get it, Joris!" I groaned and leaned back, exhaustion and fatigue taking slightly over "Would I just believe you guys and tell Lizzie that I loved her the moment I felt it the first time? None of this would’ve happened! And if not that, then at least I should’ve noticed how Camille was treating Lizzie and…"

"Then you have to blame all of us as well! What? You want to carry that fault alone? Not gonna happen! We knew how Camille was treating her! Maybe not everything. But we knew at least enough to tell that she’s hurting Lizzie! I knew it for sure! But I kept my mouth shut because Lizzie wanted it like that! So blame me! And if we’re on it, blame Lizzie! Yes! Stop looking at me like that! Why didn’t she tell you earlier that she loved you? Why didn’t she tell you how Camille treated her? Why didn’t she let us tell you the truth? You see? It’s a fucking circle! And the only person to blame is the person who said and did these malicious things! And that’s Camille. You get it? It was her! Not you. Not Lizzie. Not the rest of us. Her. She decided to be an insufferable, horrible bitch. She alone is to blame. And if you don’t get that into your stupid brain. Then I guess I’ll blame myself as well now for everything that has happened… so what is it? Are we sitting here now, should I get us some booze and we get drunk because we both fucked up and are the ones to blame? Or are you accepting that it’s not your fucking fault? And let it be?"

I swallowed hard and looked up in the sky. Thinking about Joris' words. Then I sighed and leaned back in the chair.

"You’re right. It’s in the past…" I said after a while.

"I’m always right." Joris chuckled.

"Oh shut up." I said but smiled at him "Thank you. Really."

"Charlie!" I heard Liam before I could see him and turned around, right as he hugged my legs.

"Hey Bubba!" I bent down, hoisting him up "Where is the rest?" I looked around but couldn’t see anyone "Liam? Did you run away?"

"Technically, yes, I was running… but I said I would go to you." he had a mischievous smirk on his face, that reminded me all too well of Lizzie’s.

"And you said to who that you would come to me?" I asked and he shrugged a little.

"Everyone? I screamed I go to Charles and then I ran…" he looked down and I chuckled, walking to the Audi hospitality.

"And did they hear it? Did they say it’s okay?"

"Umm- well Mummy’s not here, she left a little earlier. Oma was talking with Rita, Lizzie and Pops were talking with the Netflix people." he admitted meekly and I sighed a little.

"Bubba we talked about this before! You can’t just run away!" I looked at his big blue eyes and he nodded.

"I just wanted to see you. You were the best today! You will win on Sunday! I just know it!" he sounded very sure of himself.

"Yeah? You think so?"

"Absolutely! But don’t tell Lizzie…" he almost whispered the last part.

"Don’t tell Lizzie what?" speak of the devil, Lizzie came right out the door, looking at us, both at a loss of words "So? Bubba? What should Charlie not tell me?"

"That he umm- well he ran away again! We wanted to sneak him back in here, pretend like it didn’t happen… but don’t worry! I already told him what he did was wrong!" I said quickly and Liam nodded.

"Well, Liam, Charlie is right! You’re not supposed to run away!" she said and he looked at me a little relieved "Even if you just want to run to Sundays race winner…"

Liam gasped and I had to stop myself from laughing at how Lizzie pretended to be hurt.

"Nooo! Lizzie I didn’t mean it like that!" Liam tried to wriggle out of my arms but I held him closer.

"Hey! So you don’t think I win?" I asked him and his head snapped around.

"Of course you will!" I could clearly see that he was getting upset and began to stroke his back, looking at Lizzie who understood immediately.

"Hey Bubba, we’re just joking!" she cooed and gently stroke his cheek "It’s all good!"

"Yeah, we were just messing with you a little, sorry Liam." I kissed his cheek and he took a deep breath.

"So, you’re not mad at me?" he asked quietly and we both shook our heads.

"But we have to talk about you running away… not cool!" Lizzie tickled him a little and he began to giggle.

"I’ll never run away again! I promise!" he said breathlessly.

"Good!" Lizzie and I said in unison and I put him down.

"I gotta go now, I see you guys later at dinner!" I ruffled Liams hair and side hugged Lizzie, squeezing her waist.

As I walked back I noticed how the people around me were whispering, most of them pointing at their phones and I pulled mine out. I opened Instagram and saw a breaking news post from F1, saying that Netflix just announced a documentary series about Lizzie. I liked the post and looked for Netflix. When I saw the post I smiled proudly, liking it. I typed in a comment, knowing that Lizzie would love it. Then I shared the post. Everyone should see how excited I was about it.

To say it was everywhere, was an understatement. From the moment I entered the paddock on Saturday morning everyone was staring at me, whispering behind my back. I heard a lot of positive things. But also a lot of negative things. Knowing that I had a 10-place grid penalty, after I needed a new PU thanks to Carlos’ little nudge last weekend, the pressure was on. I had to give 200% at today’s qualifying. Seeing how fast the RedBulls but especially Charles were yesterday, I knew that there was no room for mistakes today.

"Nervous?" Paul asked as I fiddled with my bottle in the back of the garage and I looked up.

"No?"

"You seem a little… tense? Are you okay?"

"Yeah. I’m fine."

"Let’s go. Warm up." JK nudged my shoulder and I nodded, following him out the back "This dude really doesn’t give up."

"JK he’s just nice!" I groaned.

"Okay. If you say so."

"I say so."

"Good."

"Good. Can we warm up now?"

"Yes, grumpy cat." he held out his hands with two balls.

"Don’t call me that." I prepared to catch the balls.

"But you are a grumpy cat today." he dropped them, I only caught one.

We did it a couple of times but my head was just not in the game.

"I will fuck up this quali." I mumbled and JK put the balls away.

"What’s going on?" he looked at me intently and I sighed.

"The Netflix thing? I’m not so sure anymore if it was a good idea… did you read the comments underneath the post? All the F1 fan accounts shared their opinion about it and guess what… they now hate me even more."

I expected that some people wouldn’t be happy with my decision. And I honestly thought that by now I was okay with ignoring the sheer outpour of hate towards me. But I wasn’t. It was too much, again. This weekend started out the worst way possible, with lots of people saying they would’ve slapped me harder and that I just got what I deserved. Then Camille showing up, looking at me with utter disgust whenever she saw me and breathed out nasty comments. And now another episode of the internet hates me. It was just all too much.

"Hey, Liz?" JK squeezed my shoulder and I blinked confused.

"What?"

"You spaced out a little. What’s going on?"

"Qualifying. I have to be at my best. With the grid penalty." I said hastily.

"Yeah? And that’s all? You sure?" he cocked an eyebrow and I nodded.

"Yep. I’m fine." Nope. I wasn’t.

"Lizzie. That was a tough quali but you did pretty well in the end! P2! Which means you’re starting from P12 tomorrow. What do you think is possible for you?" Naomi Schiff asked, an encouraging smile on her face.

"Yeah the quali wasn’t looking too good for most parts, but the last lap was pretty good. So yeah P12. Charles is fast this weekend, Ferrari in general looks fast, RedBull also. Valtteri will start from P7 no, P6, he can put the cars in front under pressure. Maybe we can both do that if I make my way fast enough up to him. But you never know. It’s Monza after all."

"Last time you raced in Monza you won both, the sprint and feature race, does that boost your confidence a little?"

"It certainly helps, knowing that I already was able to make it from P17 to P1. But yeah we will see. I’ll do my best. That’s all I can do."

"I need to address it. Netflix. Big thing. It’s a big step into the right direction, I think."

"Well yeah. I was hesitant at first. Knowing that my private life would be overexposed and knowing that me driving in F1 is still a thorn in the side of many people."

"I’m sure it will definitely help people see eye to eye with you? Maybe even stop the criticism you’re facing on a daily basis."

"I honestly don’t care if people like me or not. This is about way more than just me alone. It’s about how hard it is for girls in motorsport and what we have to go through. So that’s what I’m focusing on."

"There has been an uproar that you’re getting an extra documentary instead of some other drivers who contributed to the sport over the years."

"Again. This isn’t just to show me and how great my life as a F1 driver is. It will highlight my way, as a girl who was told more than once from race directors to journalists to other drivers that I won’t make it far anyway and that I should just enjoy the ride as long as possible, to being here today. Of course there are other drivers who would deserve their own spin-off. Lewis of course. He’s the one who would deserve this more than I do, for everything he has done for the sports, given the fact that he’s the only Black driver, facing racism his whole career. Knowing the struggles of how to make it as someone with limited opportunities simply because you’re not like the rest. But this isn’t my decision to make."

"Thank you Lizzie, I am really looking forward to watch it. Good luck in tomorrow’s race!"

Starting from P12 wasn’t the worst position I was in before. But racing in Monza was different. It wasn’t called temple of speed for no reason. So when I made it already onto P7 by lap 4 I thought that maybe a podium was possible after all.

"Valtteri will let you pass him."

"What? No!"

"You have more pace."

I didn’t like that. Passing him without a fight.

"Okay." I sighed and right at the next corner Valtteri left me enough space to slip past him.

The race was uneventful. For the most part. Carlos and I got called into the pits at the same time and my pit crew did an amazing job, resulting in an 2.1 second long stop, whereas Carlos having 2.9 seconds, granting me to pass him in the pits already, putting me in P4 and him in P5. As he exited the pit lane he had Valtteri right at his tail which gave me the chance to create an even bigger gap between us.

"Russel 1.7 ahead."

"Lap times?"

"24.76"

"Me?"

"24.65. Keep pushing."

"Alright."

George defended hard, but I managed to slip past him. Leaving him behind, right as I watched how Charles managed to pass Max. I inwardly cheered. Winning Monza would be amazing for him. I saw George coming closer as the yellow flag was waved.

"Safety car."

"What happened?"

"Ricciardo has to retire."

"No crash?"

"No."

The race ended with Charles winning behind the safety car.

"And P3! Amazing race, Lizzie!" Pete cheered.

"Thank you guys! That was only possible because of that amazing pitstop!"

"That’s another podium, Lizzie!" Felix radioed.

"Where’s Valtteri?"

"P5."

"Amazing! Good job from everyone!"

I parked the car next to Charles and watched him climb out, waiting for me. As soon as I was out I shook my head, tilting it towards his team and he understood, jumping in the awaiting arms of them. I ran up to my team and hugged everyone.

"You did fucking good, Lizzie." Max hugged me as soon as I walked back from my weighing, taking my helmet off.

"Yeah. You too. The safety car was a little unfortunate, though."

"He would’ve won anyways. He had way more pace than I had. And his tyres were better."

"Glad to hear that, Max." Charles chimed in and clapped his back, before he engulfed me in a big hug, picking me up und spinning me around "You were amazing, cara mia." he whispered in my ear.

"I’m so proud of you! You won both your home races in one year." I smiled and he sat me down, right as I was being dragged for my post race interview.

We walked down the stairs and I was talking to Max when I saw how our family proudly cheered for Charles as he stepped in front of them. Charles picked Liam up and he whispered something in his ear, making him laugh out loud, shaking his head.

"But we have to ask Lizzie first." Charles said right as I said my goodbyes to Max and joined them.

"Ask me what?" I looked at them.

"Charlie says he doesn’t want to celebrate tonight. He wants to watch a movie… so can we maybe watch a movie together? You and Charlie and me?" Liam looked up at me with his big puppy eyes and I smiled.

"Just us three? What’s with Mummy? Oma? Pops?" I asked and he turned in Charles’ arms looking at said people.

"I have movie night with you every week! But not with Charlie and Lizzie!"

"If Lizzie and Charlie are ok with it?" Sissy looked at me and Charles.

"Popcorn, ice cream and pizza? How does that sound?" I said and Liam’s eyes lit up.

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" he clapped excitedly and I kissed his cheek.

"Alright. Later on you go with mummy back to the hotel and get bed ready, Lizzie and I try to be done here as fast as possible and then we pick you up and have our little movie night!" Charles said and I nodded.

"Okay!" Liam hugged Charles before he was sat down on the ground "See you later!"

We watched how they walked away and Charles looked at me.

"A movie night with my two favourite people sounds better than any party the team could’ve planned!"

"Are you really sure? You won. If you change your mind we can go later tonight?" I asked but he shook his head.

"Nope. I just want to get back to your hotel and watch a movie. A perfect night." he hugged.

"What my race winner wants, my race winner gets!"

I looked over, Liam snuggled into Charles side, Liams head on his chest, his arm curled around the little boy, keeping him close. Both asleep, soft snores escaping their mouths. I chuckled a little and took the bowl of popcorn, carefully getting up, grabbing my phone and waking into the bathroom.

"Hi, you want me to pick him up?" Sissy asked.

"They fell asleep. All cuddled up together. I let them sleep. Can you just bring some clothes and his bag for tomorrow? Then Charles and I can go to the karting track with him right when we get up. You can sleep in, for a change."

"Sounds amazing, but are you sure? You know he’s an early bird."

"Just like me…"

"Yeah but you had a race today, the last days weren’t easy, it would be okay if you were a little exhausted!" she sounded worried.

"I’m good. Really! I realised something today…"

"And that is?"

"No matter what I’m doing, there always will be people who hate me, have a problem with what I’m doing, how I look, what I wear, how I behave, what I wear… I can’t change their opinion. So I don’t give a fuck anymore. I’m done with feeling bad. I do what I love most. And I do it the way I want to."

"Sounds good to me. I’ll be down in 5."

It was true. After reading all the negative comments, seeing the posts, videos and what not, about the Netflix deal the whole last night I realised that no matter what I did, it was never enough. If someone decided to hate me, then I couldn’t make them change their mind. They had to do that themselves and if they didn’t want to? Then it’s their problem. I wouldn’t let them drag me down again and again for doing what I love so fiercely. I got up when Sissy texted me that she was outside my door.

"Here are fresh clothes, I packed some extra clothes because you never know! If there’s anything, give me a call."

"I will and now order yourself a cocktail and enjoy your night off."

"Don’t worry, I will." she grinned and walked away.

I took Charles rings and watch carefully off and put them on the bedside table. Then I pulled the blanket from underneath them and tucked them gently in, kissing both their cheeks, before climbing in next to them in bed, switching the light off. Scooting a little closer, getting sleepy. Tiredness taking over.

"Cara mia?" Charles whispered after a while and I hummed quietly.

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

"I love you too and now sleep. You need your energy, because today was your only victory in Italy for this week!"

"We’ll see…"

His soft chuckle was the last thing I heard, before I fell asleep.

The whole elevator ride up Liam was chuckling.

"Don’t look at me like it’s my fault!" he said and I groaned.

"Are you kidding me?"

"Hey! You’re the grown up!" he laughed.

"You’re turning 5 in 5 months… sorry that I thought I could give you something to drink without you spilling it all over yourself! Ruining the last set of fresh clothes that I had for you!" I sighed and he chuckled even more as we walked out on the corridor "Can you please help me?" I looked at Charles who held his hands up.

"Nope. You two are doing fine." he said and I shot him a glare, taking the key card out of my bag.

"You’re a traitor!" I whisper shouted and he laughed right as we walked inside the room "Sissy? We need new clothes for Liam, I don’t know if you’ve seen my text…" I said loudly into the room when we heard shuffling and rummaging, rounding the corner. Sissy stood in front of us, covered in only a towel, her hand on the closet door.

"Sorry!" Charles held his hands in front of his eyes and turned around "I didn’t see anything."

"H-Hi? What umm- what are you doing here?" Sissy sounded out of breath "I thought you would take him with you to the karting track?"

"We were in our way when Mr. I won’t spill my juice well spilled his juice all over himself… didn’t you get my text?" I looked around for her phone "Did you just get up?"

"What? No? I took a shower and now I wanted to get ready and meet you at the track!"

"Oh, okay. Charles, help Liam out of his dirty clothes, please." I turned to him and he nodded, Liam already throwing his wet shirt on the floor "We can wait for you and then all go tog-…"

"NO!" she all but shouted and I looked at her "I mean no, you don’t have to wait! You know how long I take to get ready! You guys go and we’ll meet there! All good!"

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah? I mean? Are you?"

"I am…"

"So, see you on track then?" she clapped her hands together.

"Fresh clothes for Liam?" I cocked an eyebrow.

"Umm- right…" she didn’t move.

"Can you give them to me?"

"Sure."

"Okay? Then do it?"

"I will."

"Yeah? Then open the closet and hand them to me?"

"What?"

"Closet? Behind you? Fresh clothes for your son?"

"Umm…"

"Is there a reason why you won’t open that closet?"

"No?" she laughed nervously and the realisation hit me. I looked around and spotted a pair of shoes. And I knew those shoes.

"Okay, then open it?" I grinned and she blushed "Come on! Open the doors, your son needs new clothes…"

She still didn’t move her eyes looking everywhere but at me.

"Charles, can you go with Liam to the bathroom please? He’s probably a little sticky… I’ll bring you the fresh clothes in a minute."

"Sure, come on Bubba. Mum and auntie are in some weird kind of conversation…" he whispered taking Liams hand, leading him in the bathroom.

"Girls are so weird!" Liam giggled and the door closed.

Sissy sighed and I leaned on the table.

"Are you hiding Daniel Ricciardo in your closet?" I laughed.

"What?" Charles voice rang out from the bathroom.

"Oh god. Can this day get any worse?" Sissy mumbled and looked down.

I pushed myself off of the table and walked towards her, her eyes widened.

"Are you decent, Daniel?" I asked and I’ve never seen my sisters face this red.

"Not really, no…" his voice sounded muffled.

"Okay… I turn around and you hand my sister some clothes for Liam, is that alright?"

"Yeah, I guess so."

"Thanks."

As soon as I had the clothes I pushed them in Charles waiting hands at the bathroom door, his face flushed from not laughing out loud.

"Hurry up please!" I said and he nodded, dressing Liam up.

"I’m not a baby! I can do it alone!" he protested but Charles shook his head.

"I love you, Bubba, but we’re in a hurry and you need too long!"

"Unfair." he groaned as Charles picked him up.

"Alright, we’re leaving!" I said as the two boys came out of the bathroom "See you later, then we can have a nice talk?"

"Yeah, whatever." Sissy rolled her eyes

"Wait! I want to give Mummy a kiss!" Liam whined and Charles looked at me with big eyes.

"Okay, a quick one!" she said and crossed the room, as the door of the closet opened slowly.

"Oh shit, no, no, no, no, no!" Daniel exclaimed and tried to grasp the door.

"Okay, bye!" Sissy pecked Liams cheek and pushed him and Charles towards the door. I waved a red headed Daniel, covering his down under region and followed Charles and Liam out.

"Take your time…" I whispered to my sister as she slammed the door shut.

We walked quickly and in total silence to the elevator and as soon as the door closed Charles looked at me, eyes full of tears of suppressed laughter.

"Why was Daniel Ricciardo hiding in Mummy’s closet? Did they play hide and seek?" Liam asked and Charles and I lost it, both laughing out loud, tears streaming down our faces, Liam looking confused at us "Did Mummy lose?"

"Oh no Bubba, I think Mummy won…" I said, breathing heavily.

"Yeah, I think so too." Charles was almost breathless.

"He’s really good!" Max stated as he got out of his kart, together with his nephew "This little one here is not ready yet."

"What did you expect? He’s not even 2!" I laughed, ruffling the little boy’s, a hard copy of Max, hair.

"With 2 I drove my first race."

"Of course." I rolled my eyes and slapped his shoulder, right as I heard a screeching followed by metal crashing on metal. I turned around in horror, seeing how Charles jumped out of his kart, discarding his helmet and running to the little mountain of debris. My heart skipped a beat.

"Liam!" I croaked out, a lump formed in my throat, I didn’t even realise that I was running towards Charles already.

"It’s okay Liam, it’s all okay!" Charles cooed and I fell down on my knees next to him, watching how he gently took off Liams helmet "Is it only your arm? Or somewhere else?"

"Arm only." tears streaming down his face.

"Okay, that’s good! You’re doing amazing!" Charles carefully picked Liam up and stood up. I quickly did the same, looking at the wrecked kart "Hospital. Now." Charles looked at me and I gulped.

"Are you sure we shouldn’t call an ambulance?" I was unsure.

"They take too long! We’re faster! Come on!" Charles nodded towards the exit, starting to walk off.

I looked at the wrecked kart, when I saw what caused the crash.

"Lizzie!" Charles shouted and I flinched, turning around. He said something to Max who only nodded and I followed him outside to the car, where he buckled Liam into his car seat.

"Stay with me, Charlie." he sobbed and Charles nodded, handing me the keys.

"I try to call Sissy!" I already dialled her number, but only got the mailbox. I called her again and again. The whole way to the hospital, following Charles’ instructions. Nothing. I groaned in frustration.

"Are we there yet?" Liam whimpered from the backseat.

"Almost Bubba. Lizzie is driving as fast as she can." Charles held him close, stroking his back and kissing his head.

"I’m so sorry, Liam. It was my fault." I said, blinking tears away. I felt Charles hand on my shoulder, gently squeezing it.

"It was an accident. It wasn’t your fault." he said but I shook my head.

"I should’ve checked the kart first."

"You did! You couldn’t anticipate that the suspension would break!"

"But I… I was taking care of him. He was with me. I didn’t… it’s my fault. He got hurt while I was watching over him…" my voice hoarse.

"It wasn’t your fault! Stop it now! We’re here. Everything will be fine!" Charles unbuckled his seatbelt as soon as I parked the car and jumped out, running around the car getting Liam out, carrying him carefully in. I swallowed hard and followed them.

"… are you the father?" a nurse said and I looked up.

"No, I’m his uncle. This is his aunt. His mother is at the hotel, we couldn’t reach her. But we keep trying! Just take care of him." Charles said to the nurse, while he sat Liam on a stretcher.

"Alright. Then let’s go little man. Sir, you and your wife can come with us." the nurse said and Charles took my hand and pulled me with him.

"He’s in good hands, Lizzie. He will be fine." Charles whispered and I nodded, silent tears streaming down my face.

I watched how a doctor carefully examined Liams arm, silent tears running down his cheek, Charles stood next to him, holding his hand and stroking his back. It was all happening in a blur. I wasn’t even sure if I heard everything correctly that was said.

"I would say it’s a simple and clean break of the radius, I can’t feel any splintering. But to be 100% sure we make an x-ray." the doctor said and Charles nodded "But before that, you’ll get a little cup of magic juice. Then the pain will be gone in no time." and right on cue the nurse from before came in with a tray with a little cup and a big cup on it.

"Here, the magic juice might have a little bitter after taste." she handed Liam the small cup and waited for him to empty it, then handed him the big cup with water "I come back in five minutes and get you to take a nice little picture of your bones, how does that sound?"

"Will you cut open my arm? To see my bones?" Liam made big eyes and Charles chuckled a little.

"No! We have a special camera that can take pictures through your flesh."

"Just like Superman?"

"Exactly!" she smiled and booped his nose "You are a clever one!" Liam blushed a little and began to giggle "You will feel a little funny and maybe even a little tingly because of the magic juice." Liam nodded and she left.

"You’re doing amazing, Bubba." Charles kissed his head, not moving from his side, while I just sat there. Unable to move, to talk, to do anything at all. I was in shock. I was supposed to look after him. And I failed.

"Alright little man! Let’s go. Your aunt and uncle will have to wait here, but don’t worry I will take good care of you!" the nurse helped Liam to sit in a wheelchair and left. I was looking at the closed door and didn’t even realise that Charles sat down next to me.

"Cara mia? Are you okay?" he whispered as he took my hands in his, turning me to look at him.

"I was supposed to take care of him." I mumbled and he sighed, pulling me into him "I failed."

"Stop it. You couldn’t know that this was happening! You took care of him! Like you always do! It’s not your fault, you hear me?" Charles tried to reassure me but I shook my head.

"Look how you took care of him! You held his hand, were by his side while I sat here and did nothing but staring at him. Not even saying anything encouraging to him. Nothing!" a new wave of tears was streaming down my face and Charles cupped my cheeks, wiping them away with his thumbs.

"You were under shock! It’s okay! He is okay! Did you see how he smiled at the nurse? How he pretended to be like a strong boy who wasn’t in pain whenever she came in? The little charmer tried to impress her." Charles chucked and I looked at him.

"I didn’t even realise that. I was so lost in my thoughts." I whispered and he nodded.

"It’s all okay. It’s just a simple break. They will fix it. He will have a cast for a bit and then he will have a cool story to tell back home." Charles stroked my back and I nodded, right as they brought Liam back in.

The doctor looked at the pictures, explaining Liam what he could see and to everyone’s relief it was really just a simple and clean break, that needed no special fixing, only a cast to keep it still.

"Now you have to decide what colour you want. We can make it white, blue or red." the doctor asked Liam and he had a big smile on his face.

"Red!" he said determined and I had to chuckle a little. Red. Just like Ferrari.

"Good choice! Any special reason?"

"Charlie drives for Ferrari and Ferrari is red. And Lizzie drives for Audi, they’re also kinda red. So of course red!" Liam explained proudly and I smiled at him.

"Here is a prescription for some painkillers. Check in with his doctor back home in the next 3-4 weeks. Maybe the cast can be removed by then already." the doctor said and I nodded.

"Thank you so much!" I smiled at him and shook his hand.

"Yeah, thank you." Charles shook his hand as well "Ready to go, Bubba?" Liam nodded, yawning a little.

"The pain medication from earlier will make him a little drowsy, maybe a little nap and enough to drink, then he’ll be fine in no time!" the nurse said and Liam smiled at her "Goodbye, little man! You were so tough!" she gently ruffled his hair and Liam giggled.

"Goodbye, nurse Isabella. You were an amazing nurse!" he said and wiggled his eyebrows.

"Okay, little Casanova, time to go." Charles chuckled, hosting him up and carrying him.

The whole way outside he was waving to nurse Isabella.

"She was pretty." Liam said as I opened the doors.

"She really was." I laughed but then I saw Sissy rushing towards us, closely followed by Mum and Dad. Daniel was waiting a little behind with Max and his nephew.

"What happened?" she asked and kissed Liams cheek, looking at his arm "Lizzie? What happened?" she looked at me and I began to stutter.

"H-He drove- umm suspen- suspension broke and he broke and he’s- he’s umm…" the panic in her eyes made my anxiety shot through the roof. Charles sensed it and stepped closer, rubbing soothing circles with his hand on my waist, pulling me into him, while still holding onto Liam.

"The suspension of his kart broke, we don’t know why. He spun out and crashed into a barrier. He let go of the steering wheel and his arm made contact with the barrier. He’s okay. An easy and clean break of the radius. No surgery needed. He will have the cast for at least 3-4 weeks, then you should see your doctor at home. And it might can come off. Here’s some prescription for painkillers. He’s a little… well yeah kinda high because of something he got earlier. He’s a little tired. Let him sleep, give him enough to drink and he’ll be okay in no time." he said and Sissy nodded, looking at me.

"Lizzie?" she said and I shook my head, Charles stepped away.

"I’m sorry! I swear I checked the kart before! I don’t know how it happened!" I said and she hugged me, I sobbed, apologising over and over again.

"Hey! He’s okay! Right? Nothing bad happened! It’s okay! It’s not your fault!" she whispered but I shook my head.

"I was supposed to take care of him and I fa-…"

"You took care of him. He’s okay! It’s not going to be his first broken bone! At his age you had already broken your arm twice and your leg once! Don’t forget about your elbow on Christmas!” she said and I chuckled through the tears.

"Yeah that was stupid." I sniffled a little.

"It just showed that you would fight for what you want! You didn’t get a bike, we did, you wanted to have one as well so you climbed on mine to steel it… well we know how it ended!"

"I actually didn’t want to steel it… I wanted to break it." I admitted and Sissy laughed.

"Wow! Okay!" she pulled away and wiped my tears off of my cheeks "Are you okay?"

"Yeah… sorry…" I sighed but she shook her head.

"Stop apologising." she looked over at Liam who showed off his cast to Mum, Dad, Daniel, Max and his nephew "Look how happy he is."

"Who? Liam or Daniel…" I asked and she pinched my side.

"Very funny."

"So you and Daniel?" I winked at her.

"Me and Daniel…" she sighed a little.

"I need more than that… but not today. Today was enough. And today isn’t even over yet…" I groaned and she laughed.

"It barely even started…" Sissy took my hand and we walked over to the little group.

I saw how Dad was looking curiously at Daniel who was signing Liam’s cast. Handing the pen to Max who signed right under it.

"You have to sign as well Lizzie! Right after Charlie!" Liam said excitedly and I nodded, right as Dad pulled me to his side, kissing the side of my head.

"Why did Daniel Ricciardo arrive with your sister at the karting track?" he asked and Sissy’s cheeks were turning red, while Daniel’s smile got bigger, although he seemed a little flustered.

But before I could even say anything Liam beat me to it.

"Mummy and Daniel were playing hide and seek in Mummy’s room this morning. He was hiding in her closet. Not the worst hiding spot." he chirped and Charles laughed, trying to cover it up with a cough.

"Oh? Is that so? Interesting. Very interesting." Dad said and looked at Daniel, now blushing as well.

"Why is that interesting? It’s just hide and seek?" Liam asked confused and I laughed.

"Grown up stuff." Charles said.

"Oh? They played a grown up version of hide and seek?" he looked at Charles who almost choked up, trying hard to not laugh.

"Exactly. They played the grown up version of hide and seek!"

"I’m hungry? Is anyone else hungry? Yeah? Let’s have some lunch I’d say, right?" Sissy said hastily and pushed Charles with Liam in his arms towards our car "Come on! Let’s go!"

"Is the difference between kids hide and seek and grown up hide and seek that in the grown up version you have to be naked?" Liam asked and I lost it. Together with Charles and Max we laughed out loud. Sissy and Daniel turning even redder. Mum chuckling quietly. Dad kept looking between Liam, Daniel and Sissy.

"Interesting. Very interesting indeed."

Little Note:

Chapter 25 - MONZA… I just had to let Charles win! And like the title said… DRAMA 😬 I hope you like it!

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