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haikyuu-library · 4 years ago

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haikyuu fic recs #2

a compilation of all the fics i recced from 17-27 june. you can find part one here. this mainly includes iwaoi, kagehina, kuroken, a couple of bokuaka and satuatsu, and a few extra others. enjoy!!

(note: the ‘others’ section of this rec list will include gen fics, fics that feature multiple ships, and any ships that have less than 1k works solely dedicated to it on ao3. matsuhana is included in this because i’ve only recced like 1 this week and it’d be weird if i gave them a section of their own lmao

also: the rec is rather long, so majority of the fics will be included after the cut.)

Spending all, spending all my time (loving you) by Hyeyu

Completed | G | 3.5k

The fastest speed ever recorded for a volleyball serve is 82 mph by the Bulgarian professional Matey Kaziyski. Bokuto’s own serve is around 75 mph on a good day.

The stranger in the empty concrete lot behind Bokuto’s apartment building receives 72.4 mph of volleyball with the side of his head.

In which Bokuto Koutarou plays volleyball at university, and Akaashi Keiji is a dimension traveller.

Operation BokuAka by kazzydolyn

Completed | T | 5.9k

After spending two whole years watching Bokuto and Akaashi pine for one another, the rest of the Fukuroudani Volleyball Club has had enough. When everyone meets up for a reunion dinner, the team decides to play matchmaker and finally get the two of them together.

Unfortunately, their plan starts to fall apart when they discover that Akaashi is already dating someone. And apparently so is Bokuto. What a strange coincidence.

OR: the fic where the Fukuroudani team tries to play matchmaker because they don’t know that Bokuto and Akaashi are already secretly together.

I'll give a bouquet to these unending days by sparksandsalt

Completed | G | 6.5k

Even so, there is a compartment of his heart where he stashes away the memories he cannot bear to inspect for too long, for fear that his mind, as always, will calculate the very worst outcome. On one shelf: the gray hair he found at his temple a few days ago. In a deeper alcove: the startled look on his grandmother’s face when she had forgotten his name for a moment too long when he last visited her. In a hidden room, maybe even a full annex shut away from the rest of his heart: Keiji’s entire sixteenth year, when a boy with incandescent eyes told him that they were the protagonists of the world, and Keiji had believed it.

Akaashi attends the MSBY Black Jackals - Schweiden Adlers game without informing anyone (other than his long-suffering invitee Tenma Udai)

bitter by silvercistern

Completed | G | 14.0k

He accepted his classmate’s chocolates gracefully, then declared his lack of interest with as much dignity as he could muster. She deserved the courtesy. At least she’d acknowledged that Valentine’s Day was all about her, and not about him in the slightest.

Because if any of these girls had taken the time to actually get to know him, they’d quickly realize something even more important than his lack of interest in girls.

And that was that Akaashi hated sweets.

Winner Takes it All by pancake_surprise

Completed | T | 3.9k

BOB: Are they both on one knee? And yet still wrestling each other somehow?

DICK: Just WHAT is going on between Argentina’s setter and Japan’s athletic trainer?

MIYA ATSUMU: Seriously, guys, is anyone going to tell me what’s going on?

BOKUTO: Shhh, it’s just getting good!

IWAIZUMI: Tooru- Shittykawa I just started! You can’t cry already!

dream a little dream of me by desdemona (starblessed)

Completed | T | 9.8k

“so i accidentally summoned an incubus and you show up with your engine running, but see the problem is i’m actually asexual and this is just sort of awkward for both of us.”

Iwaizumi’s life is hard enough. Accidentally getting contracted to a perpetually horny sex demon who doesn’t know the meaning of sleep and thinks milk bread is humanity’s greatest creation is the worst possible thing that could happen to him. Falling in love with him? Alright – maybe that’s the worst thing.

Puzzleball by carriecmoney

Completed | T | 10.7k

Set in the tiered roof of an Upper Ring family home, framed by forest-green tiles and gutter gilt, is a wide ricepaper window that is never closed.

Avatar!AU set during the 100 Years’ War. Dai Li!Iwaizumi/Earth Kingdom peerage!Oikawa.

Terrarium by sausaged

Completed | T | 11.4k

He’s practically a professional at being proactive (lies, lies, and lies when it comes to Iwaizumi).

At this point, is he really happy with just staying best friends forever? Will he be writing journals and collecting rocks forever (he will, he knows, but that is aside from the point)?

Can he really tag his Instagram photos with #YOLO if he doesn’t actually put that phrase into practice?

A story about Oikawa Tooru, Iwaizumi Hajime, plants, and rocks.

how to let your planets align by tether (tothemoon)

Completed | T | 15.9k

It is the last day on earth, December 2nd, 1985, when you realize you’re in love with him.

They Say it Rains Diamonds on Jupiter by exsao

Completed | T | 35.2k

“You’re in love with him.”

Hajime considers denying it. He considers deliberately choking on his drink to express surprise, to create a distraction by spitting onto the man in front of him’s pristine white shirt and causing a commotion. Instead, he swallows his mouthful of soda and heaves a small sigh once his mouth is free.

“Yeah,” he says instead.

He’s never been good at lying, anyway.

Build A Temple In Me by Authoress

Completed | T | 39.8k

Up the mossy mountain steps, past the komainu guardians and the faded red gate, and beyond the boundaries of the green shrine—that’s where the forest and the spirit world within it lies. That’s were Hajime met him, and where their story began.

But intertwining of destinies can be ugly business, Hajime finds, when their first meeting begins with blood and the too-human eyes of a beast.

[STANDALONE]

the way our horizons meet by skiecas

Completed | T | 43.8k

When Hajime is nineteen, he arrives in California near the trail end of summer, a little bit lost, eager to chase his dreams, and unaware he’s in love with his best friend.

Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life by todxrxki

Completed | T | 3.2k

Kuroo Tetsurou runs a private Twitter account where he's constantly tweeting about how desperately in love he is with Kozume Kenma. Little does he know that Kenma sees all the tweets and keeps referencing the account in an attempt to get Kuroo to confess to him. / Or, five times Kuroo didn't notice Kenma hinting about his private Twitter account, and one time he finally did.

Richer than milk, sweeter than honey by redroseinsanity

Completed | T | 3.6k

Everyone always tells you not to give your name to a faerie, but nobody ever told Tetsurou not to give his heart.

Alternatively: How to bargain with a faerie and accidentally fall in love

the things that get caught in the valves of his heart by ghostpot

Completed | T | 4.0k

Emotional competency is not exactly Kuroo’s strong suit. Kenma finds it quite amusing.

even if you’re ahead for a bit, i will catch up by ghostpot

Completed | G | 4.7k

Kuroo first confesses when they’re sticky-fingered, wide-eyed kids, and subsequently every day after that. Kenma takes a while to come around.

Accidentally In Love by todxrxki

Completed | T | 5.1k

Kuroo frowns, but then slowly, the corners of his mouth lift up into a smirk. “Well, if it’s so unbelievable, why don’t we give it a try?” Kenma glances up at him curiously. “What do you mean?” “Let’s do the 36 questions to fall in love,” Kuroo says, still smirking stupidly. “If we don’t fall in love, then you’re right, it’s bullshit. But if we do somehow…” Kuroo waggles his eyebrows. “Then I win.” / Kuroo decides he and Kenma should do the 36 questions to fall in love as a joke, but they both start to realize they might actually be in love already.

top 10 worst pet names by Eskarina

Completed | T | 9.0k

Kuroo has the decency to look confused, but Yaku seems to have made up his mind. “Tell me you two aren’t actually dating.”

Stunned silence fills the room. Finally, Kenma thinks, he can actually get a word in and clear up the situation. He opens his mouth to speak when he catches Kuroo’s sleazy grin in the corner of his eye, and his blood runs cold.

Alternatively: What if your team was too stupid to tell the difference between a wasp sting and a hickey and your best friend thought that was the perfect prank opportunity?

Show A Little Faith by minijhi

Completed | G | 13.9k

“Why are you sending me a singing Valentine telegram?“ Kenma asks, mouth flattened. "It’s six months until Valentine’s Day.”

“I bought a dwarf over the summer to use as cupid.” Kuroo says. “I figured he could use some practice.”

Presenting Kenma as the Boy-Who-Lived, whose living becomes a lot more interesting when Ravenclaw Prince Kuroo Tetsurou starts sending him singing telegrams about defeating the Dark Lord.

you’re the brake lines failing (as my car swerves off the freeway) by ghostpot

Completed | T | 15.0k

Kenma thinks that Kuroo looks ugly with his head bent against the arm of the couch like that. Then Kenma thinks that he wants to marry him, and is promptly thrown into the 5 stages of grief.

komorebi by moonseul

Completed | G | 16.8k

Against better judgement Kuroo follows Oikawa’s suggestion of getting a summer job and they end up working in a large multistory electronic goods store in bustling Ikebukuro. Oikawa is, not surprisingly, placed in the women’s beauty section, while Kuroo has been relegated to the video game department. So, he spends the rest of his summer trying to convince himself that things will get better. (Spoiler: It does.)

teach me the way home by icespyders

Completed | T | 22.1k

Don’t go far off, not even for a day, because — because — I don’t know how to say it: a day is long and I will be waiting for you, as in an empty station when the trains are parked off somewhere else, asleep.

Kuroo and Kenma grow up in transit.

they don’t know you like i do by murakamism

Completed | T | 3.8k

Team Japan’s oddball duo as seen by the rest of the world

(Or: Kageyama Tobio is bad at interviews, Oikawa’s still out to get him, Hinata is great with fans, and loves jumping onto Kageyama on live TV after winning games. Not that Kageyama minds)

now it seems as though we speak a completely different language (but you’ll always be as beautiful as the moment that we met) by jublis

Completed | NR | 7.7k

It’s hard to find something that belongs only to yourself when you’re a kid. You scrape all your edges to fit into something else’s corners, and then turns out it wasn’t even what you were looking for in the first place. Being a person is such hard, hard work. No one knows that better than children who are too much.

(When a boy is left alone for too long, he hungers.

That’s Shouyou’s first answer.)

Or, Hinata Shouyou learns how to stand on his own two legs. Featuring one too many complicated emotions, Kageyama Tobio, and hunger.

love to lay here lazy by rinpanna

Completed | M | 8.8k

“So, apparently Twitter has a thing called ‘Kagehina Day’ where a bunch of our fans share writing and art and whatever of us, and it’s today,” Shouyou says, scrolling down the tag’s feed. He finds a particular thread that caught his eye earlier, holding his phone up for Tobio to see. “Stuff like this.”

Tobio squints at the screen, brows furrowing. “‘Every time Kageyama and Hinata Smiled At Each Other During the Schedwein Adlers vs MSBY Black Jackals Match, November 2018’,” Tobio reads aloud, face contorting into that endearing constipated look he often wears when he’s confused. Fingers wrapping around Shouyou’s wrist, he brings the phone closer to his face. “These are real?”

Shouyou breaks into a smile. “I don’t know, they could be fake. Hard to believe you smiled this much, Scowly-yama.”

Meta AU where Shouyou and Tobio are together on Kagehina Day when Shouyou finds the Twitter tag. Shouyou gets a fandom-curated time capsule. Tobio gets a lesson in internet culture. #itsverysilly #theyreveryinlove

said you’re coming back home, boy, don’t feel so alone by jublis

Completed | T | 9.0k

The ball rolls gently on the ground, all the way to Tobio’s feet. He bends down to pick it up, and something in his blood sizzles like lightning. He looks at the leathery surface, then at his sister’s wild smile and neat hair; looks back at the court and the net, where the boys are running a spiking practice. Everyone else seems focused on the attackers, but Tobio’s eyes are zeroed on the one tossing. Set, connect, spike. Bang-bang-bang.

No one wins without the setter.

Tobio tosses the ball to Miwa and says, “Again.”

Or, Kageyama Tobio grows up, older, and not that much wiser at all. Featuring brothers and sisters, anger, connection, and that moment when someone finally catches up with you.

jellyfish by mysterytwin

Completed | G | 31.0k

At the beginning of his last year at Karasuno High School, Hinata Shouyou starts a list and calls it THINGS TO DO BEFORE GRADUATION, all with high hopes that he’ll be able to complete it before his time runs out.

Chaotic Neutral by akaraka (orphan_account)

Completed | T | 33.7k

Who’s this Kageyama person on twitter and is he gay? 1: Anonymous see title 2: Anonymous curry king 3: Anonymous >> 1 It’s the curry king, obviously. Have you been using his memes this whole time without knowing who he was? 4: Anonymous 1) Hinata Shouyou’s boyfriend 2) See above

Nocturnal Creature by MONANIK

WIP | M | 41.5k

“There, on the ground by his feet, covered by the thick bushes, lay the biggest werewolf Shoyou had ever seen in his entire life. It was massive, stretched out to a baffling five or so meters in length and at least three to four in height. The werewolf was laying stretched out on its side, mouth agape, panting heavily. Six arrows poked out of its abdomen and Shoyou could tell by the blood and bruises on his gums that someone had tried to yank or break off one of his huge, sharp fangs. He wasn’t sure whether human blood was involved in the mixture or not but froze up all the same; could do nothing but stare at the wounded creature splayed out before him.

Six arrows and this thing was nowhere near dead. Six poisonous arrows.”

Hinata is a young apprentice to an old nightchaser, Ukai, out one night on his first mission to hunt down a werewolf that’s been terrorizing the village for quite some time. However, when he stumbles upon a tattered, beaten and dying werewolf he is immediately swept up by the humanity he finds in its eyes and decides then and there to defy the first and foremost rule of being a nightchaser: never let a werewolf walk free.

Vren by Icandigelvis

Completed | M | 100.3k

It was the boots that caught Shoyo's attention. They looked new and expensive sticking up from the tall grass, visible from the small trail he was walking on. He cautiously trudged closer, almost against his will. What Shoyo didn't notice, however, was the creature watching him; blue eyes following the oblivious human.

3 Miyas on the Court (+1 at the Onigiri Stand) by pancake_surprise

Completed | G | 6.1k

BOB: It’s the Black Jackals taking home the win tonight! What a game, Dick, what a game!

DICK: It looks like we aren’t the only ones who think so. What’s that going on down on the sidelines?

BOB: Now Dick, correct me if I’m wrong but is that a fourth Miya?

DICK: If you’re talking about the man who just slam-dunked an onigiri into the floor, then yes, that is indeed another Miya.

BOB: Wow, three Miyas on the court and a fourth at the onigiri stand!? Never seen this before!

love could be labeled poison and we'd drink it anyways by myhopeisjhope

Completed | NR | 21.3k

"Huh?" is Atsumu's response, and it's seemingly the only thing the man could think of after the minute-long silence that stretched between them.

"We should break up," Kiyoomi repeats, more clearly now. He doesn't let any emotion seep into his voice, keeping it neutral and detached, as if breaking up with Atsumu was the easiest thing ever, while in fact it's the complete opposite.

The Story of Us by thesweetestnerd

Completed | M | 98.2k

Atsumu has spent the last year falling in love with Sakusa Kiyoomi, but it’s a secret they’ve never told anybody else.

When a car accident snatches Omi’s memories from the past two years away, Atsumu is left as the only one in the world who ever knew their relationship existed.

Gen || Number One by dgalerab

Completed | G | 1.5k

Kuroo gets rated as the number one most attractive high school volleyball player. Oikawa doesn’t handle it well.

Gen || Enigma (A love letter to Bokuto Koutarou) by Mari_Writes

Completed | T | 2.5k

Fans of Udai Tenma and his manga discover Bokuto and collectively lose their minds.

Meanwhile, Bokuto's friends show their appreciation in different ways.

This is my love letter to Bokuto Koutarou 🖤

Gen || kageyama tobio’s accidental first year harem by onceandforall

Completed | T | 8.6k

“Just spend more time with them at practice,” Yamaguchi says. “The first years probably want to know you too.”

Kageyama frowns. It’s not as if Kageyama doesn’t know them at all. On the court, he knows what type of ball they prefer hitting. He knows roughly how high they are able to jump. He knows their numbers. He knows all the important things.

But the more Kageyama thinks about, he doesn’t really know them, does he?

three times the new karasuno first years are intimidated by vice captain kageyama and one time they all want to get to know him

IwaOi & UshiTen || Tending to a Wounded Heart by Minnievet

WIP | T | 56.3k

“Now, Iwaizumi-san, while I am flattered by your interest and must admit you’re very attractive, I must inform you my heart belongs to another, and I’m not sure your dear captain Oikaw-” Satori wasn’t even able to finish his jest, as a fuming Iwaizumi interrupted him. A blush blooming from his hairline down to his neck.

“I’M NOT HITTING ON YOU, DUMBASS!”

…

After being discovered in the midst of breakdown in the bathroom of Seijoh, Tendou Satori strikes up an unusual friendship with Iwaizumi who seems keen on helping Tendou navigate his own unrequited feelings, despite ignoring his own.

All the while Tendou’s teammates are becoming more and more concerned with their blocker’s new behavior and mysterious texting buddy.

AranKita || First and Last Love by ghermez

Completed | M | 6.9k

“What changed?”

“Nothing. Everything. I woke up one day, alone as usual, ate my food, went into the field, stood there, and, like every morning before it, I thought of you.”

MatsuHana || that’s what you get (for waking up in vegas) by skittidyne

Completed | T | 4.2k

“There was an Elvis?” Hajime asks.

“He was the officiator. It’s the cliché, right?”

“…Officiator of what?” Tooru asks with a look down at Takahiro’s hand.

“You can borrow my phone to pull pictures from for our wedding album.” Issei reaches over and grasps the hand with the ring on it. Everyone is staring at their clasped hands like a three-headed lobster just crawled onto the table. “You were both the best men and I was very, deeply touched by how affected you both were at the ceremony,” he says in a perfect deadpan.

(( or: iwaizumi does not want to be the responsible one, and thus they suffer the consequences, or, perhaps, ‘suffer’ is a bit too strong of a word ))

YakuLev || Among Giants by SportsAnimeRuinedMyLife (KnightOfRage)

Completed | T | 11.7k

Morisuke is surrounded by tall people.

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georgiapeach30513 · 3 years ago

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ICY & ARLO ! Pleaaassseeee 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺

So I wasn’t sure which age you were referring to...so I went with teenagers 😂 just because they seriously are the sweetest. They’re besties first, and have been their whole life. It wasn’t until much later in their life...14 for Arlo, and 17 for Iclynn that they developed a crush...

🖤🖤🖤🖤

I Don’t Want You To

Summary: Arlo gets suspended

Pairings: Arlo Adler X Iclynn Baizen

Rating: mild

Warnings: language, fighting, John Walker being a pig, 18+ ONLY

Word Count: 1.5K

Desperate Lives AU Masterlist

Iclynn Baizen Masterlist

Arlo Adler Masterlist

“So how was it?” a boy pushes at John Walker’s shoulder as Arlo walks into the locker room. Not even paying the usual football team any mind. Always talking about girls. Always talking about taking what they want and leaving. He hates having this class with them.

“It was so fucking easy,” John gives his buddies a laugh.

One pokes up from tying his shoes, “Which one?”

“Everyone knows Illiana is a slut and will fuck anything with a dick,” John laughs, and Arlo finally glances up at him scowling, and none of them pay him any mind. “But I like the ice princess. Completely virginal. Had her crying on just one finger,” he lifts up his finger and wiggles it around. “Not even that thick. Can you imagine how she choked my cock. Daddy’s little princess, she’s not so sweet anymore. Made a mess in my truck. I couldn’t help it I stretched her so much she bled.”

“Say her fucking name, you dipshit,” Arlo peers up at John through his lashes. Every word spitting out at him.

“Oh, you mad you didn’t get to split that shit open farm boy? Just got her fucking ready for you, if you ever have the balls to take the plunge. Course, if you just wanna get your dick wet, I’m sure the sister will suck you off.”

Arlo charges towards John, shoving him up against the locker, “Say her name!”

“Your best friend. What’s her name? I forgot. Didn’t care past her cunt. You should have seen her crying and begging me to stop and then to keep going,” Arlo punches him in the face, and watches his body fall to the floor. Moving over him to pound into him over and over again.

The other boys yell and try to get him off of John to no avail, until the coach gets in there. “Adler!” Arlo steps back, but still glares at John’s bloodied body. “What’s going on?”

“He started it!” John screams, as Arlo turns and walks to the headmasters office. Sitting and waiting on his punishment. Even when his mom comes into the office, he’s silent and solemn. Offering no explanation.

“Arlo!” Arleigh rushes after her son as he stomps through the parking lot. “Arlo Everett Adler, what happened?”

“Nothing,” his eyes fixed on the ground, hand on the door. “Can I go home now?”

“We’re talking about this later. Me, your dad, and you. You don’t do this. This isn’t you.”

“I’ll see you at home,” his voice flat and with no emotion as he jumps into his old Ford. Getting home, and he goes straight to barn to saddle up Jack. Never speaking to his horse like he normally does, just jumps on and rides through the property.

————————————

Iclynn pulls into the Adler homestead in her baby blue Ford Falcon. Her hoodie hanging over her hands, holding it nervously with her fingers, and she’s thankful she sees Arlo’s truck, but with a look into the barn, she knows he’s not here.

She walks over to their tree swing, sitting on the old wood, and barely rocks it around. Sage and Clover staring at her through the fence, while Tulip pushes his ball over to her, “Not today buddy.”

She sits a moment staring at them, and tries to laugh through her tears. “I really screwed up. Arlo told me not to go on a date with that asshole. It was just nice having someone pay attention to me, instead of Ills.”

Continuing her conversation with the animals, Arlo and Jack return and he stares at the back of his best friend. Her head pointing to the ground, and looking completely defeated. In that moment, he decided everything that John said must be true, and she needs him. Clicking his tongue he rides behind the house, slightly tying Jack up, making sure he has water and sweet feed, “I’ll put you up in a minute, buddy.”

He walks up behind Iclynn, and gives the swing a little push.

“Ari,” her voice whispers out, unable to look at him. “You shouldn’t have done that.”

“I’d do it again.”

“Why?”

He pushes her over on the wood, and squeezes himself beside her. Facing the opposite direction, so he can look at her. “You not going to look at me?”

“You hate me.”

“No I don’t. I hate what you did, but…”

“What I did?” she looks up at him, her big blue eyes rimmed in red, and she looks confused. “What did I do?”

“John is talking all about it. Bragging. That disgusting piece of shit. He got what was coming to him. And if bragging about you wasn’t enough, he started in on Illiana.”

“Bragging about what?”

“Princess, he took your virginity,” she shakes her quickly. Repeating no over and over again.

“No, he tried. He wouldn’t get off of me. Shoved his hands down my pants and I punched him. Bastard grabbed ahold of his nose cussing me. I made him bleed,” she huffs out a laugh, and then starts crying again. “He said we had sex?”

“He was disgusting.”

“Ari, I promise, we didn’t. He…he tried. He wasn’t going to stop, so I had to stop him. And…oh my god,” she starts hyperventilating, and then remembers what else he said. “What did he say about Illiana?”

“That she was easy.”

“I’ll kill him.”

“Princess, stop. I��that’s why I did what I did. Asshole can’t…he touched you?” she nods her head, having to look away. “Bastard. I’ll,” her arm wraps around his waist and she lays her head on his shoulder.

“Come on. Let’s get in the lake,” standing up, he takes off his shirt, throwing it on the ground, and Iclynn takes a gulp, looking away. Thinking she shouldn’t find her best friend as attractive as she does. “Come on.”

“I don’t have a bathing suit.”

“You wearing panties and a bra? They black like they always are?” she tilts her head to the side, and gives him a weak smile, “I know they are. How many times have you bought underwear with me? Come on.”

“Ari,” her voice whines out. Without asking he picks her up, throwing her over his shoulder, and starts the walk to the dock. “Arlo Adler, you put me down right now. Arlo!”

“Nope. You’re swimming.”

“It’s gonna be cold.”

“Who cares,” placing her off his shoulder, he kicks his boots off. Undoing his belt, he jerks his pants down, and Iclynn inadvertently licks her lips. He had begun to get thick. Tall like his dad, but built like Curtis. Broad shoulders, and the prettiest v line on his hips. “Iclynn Blade Baizen, either you take that baggy hoodie off, and jump in, or I’ll throw you in with all your clothes on.”

She finally begins to undress. And when she’s just down to her underwear, he grabs her up, jumping in the lake with her. The two swim and splash around, waiting until they’re winded before stopping. “Thanks, Ari.”

“You’re welcome, princess,” the only person besides her brother Otto, and her dad that gets away with using that name, is Arlo. Bashfully she looks away. Her mouth constantly going under the water, as she tries to stay afloat.

“Come here,” pulling at her arm, he holds her on him, “You know for someone who has traveled the world, been to all these countries with water. You suck at swimming.”

“Or maybe,” she brings a hand to rest on his chest. Taking a deep inhale, and chickening out. “Never mind.”

“Icy, what is it?”

“You’re my best friend.”

“That’s never going to change.”

The two wade in the water silently, contemplating what Arlo had just said. “Never?” she asks, her eyes darting down to look at his lips, inching closer to him.

“Never.”

“We can’t go back from this,” she whispers, and he shivers at the thought. He’s never wanted anything more than this. The years of falling asleep outside on a blanket. ‘Camping’ in her parents front yard while they told ghost stories. Riding around and listening to classic rock. Arlo always the one that could make her smile when she hated having her last name.

“I know,” he tells her. “I don’t want to,” she quickly slots her lips against his, the two of them moaning into the other. He swims over to the dock, before lifting them both up. Laying over top of her, and feeling her the way he’s wanted to for years.

She pushes up on his chest, smiling when his hair drips down on her face. “Can we…I wanna have a sleep over in the treehouse.”

“We’re not in a rush.”

“We’ve just had eighteen years to prepare for this, Ari.”

“I’m pretty sure I’m grounded.”

“I’m pretty sure you know how to sneak off. You have before.”

“Icy, this slumber party is different,” she bites at her lip, and he leans over to kiss her kiss swollen pout.

“I promise, nothing happened with me and John.”

“That wouldn’t stop me, princess. Can I at least take you on a date?”

“A date?” she giggles up at him, her hands holding on to his hips, and she yearns to pull him closer to her. “I’ve been staying in the treehouse. It’s quieter there. No one would ever know. Please.”

“Let me see what kind of trouble I’m in first. Maybe.”

“You didn’t say no.”

“I won’t be able to stop.”

“I don’t want you to.”

Masterlist

#desperate lives #desperate lives AU #desperate verse #da au #dau #da au request #iclynn baizen #arlo adler #arlo x iclynn

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aroaessidhe · 4 years ago

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Hello beaujester fans I made a little list of f/f book recs for no reason other than i love beaujes and i love sapphic books

(the last two are bonus vexleth + some of my general fave f/f books by authors of colour)

more info and transcript below the cut;

these are a range of genres & are based on various tropes & things that might appeal to beaujes/ cr fans!

pls don't treat them like beaujes fanfic or anything, they're all great books on their own!!!

check goodreads reviews for trigger warnings if you might need them :)

oh also! if you have a library card, download the libby app! you can borrow ebooks for free!

transcript:

The Never Tilting World by Rin Chupeco

cool fantasy world split into day & night, with asian characters & author

bodyguard + princess who’s lived in a tower her whole life

they met in a bookstore & one loves silly romance novels

(& there’s a m/f pair too)

a duology, complete

The Mermaid, The Witch & The Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall

this is actually f/nb (one MC is genderfluid)

a rich sheltered girl travelling to meet a husband she’s never met gets taken by pirates, and one of them helps her escape

fairytale-like, pirates, mermaids, & magic!

Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova

a girl who accidentally sent her family to a kind of Latinx fairyland must travel to get them back

best friends to lovers!

a bi love triangle

(start of a trilogy based around 3 bruja sisters)

We Set The Dark On Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia

two girls (forced to be) married to

the same man in a Latinx dystopian fantasy world fall in love with each other

& become involved in the revolution

friends to rivals to friends to lovers!

a duology, complete

The Falling In Love Montage by Ciara Smyth

grumpy + sunshine girl ya contemporary romance

girl who doesn’t believe in romance or happy endings meets a girl who

loves romcoms & they plan to date

just for the summer

their dynamic reminds me a lot of bj tbh

The Last True Poets of the Sea by Julia Drake

sapphic retelling of Twelfth Night

shipwreck hunting & family mysteries

honestly i’m partly putting this here just bc there’s a chapter called ‘sapphire of the sea’

Under The Lights by Dahlia Adler

lesbian korean-american actress in a new teen tv show falls for her bi coworker

(dual pov w a straight guy who’s kinda a dick but they end up friends in the end)

The Weight of The Stars by K. Ancrum

two girls bonding over their love of space

scrappy teens in a small town

found family

rivals to friends to lovers

The Scorpion Rules by Erin Bow

dystopian future ruled by an AI by keeping children of world leaders as ‘hostages’ in isolated schools

slow burn best friends to lovers And oh my god they were roommates....

(there’s a love triangle w a boy but she ends up with the girl)

Crier’s War by Nina Varela

fantasy world where automae rule over humans

human rebel / sheltered automae princess

lots of yearning, enemies to lovers

a duology, complete

A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine

adult sci-fi with an ambassador from a small station travelling to the empire

interesting alien cultures, court intrigue, politics (if u like that side of CR)

slow burn allies to friends to lovers

Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers

new adult contemporary novel where two women get drunk married in vegas

smart girl + creative girl

queer found family

coming of age & dealing with family expectations

[i have not read this one yet!]

BONUS: VEXLETH

Ash & Huntress by Malinda Lo

two seperate books set in a chinese inpisred fantasy world

a cinderella retelling where she ends up with the huntress instead of the mysterious fae man

and two women on a quest to save the world from a fairy queen freezing it

Of Fire And Stars by Audrey Coulthurst

a princess goes to another kingdom to marry a prince, but falls for his horseriding sister instead

one has fire magic, the other loves animals (their hair colours are swapped from vexleth too 😂)

magic, fantasy world, dragons

a duology, complete (with a prequel too)

Breaking Legacies by Zoe Reed

a huntress gets tasked with finding runaway princess but falls for her instead

dragons, wolves, magic & found family

[I have not read this one yet]

These Feathered Flames by Alexandra Overy

awkward redhaired lesbian who can turn into a giant flaming monster bird

& a swordfighting dark haired palace guard

sister relationships & politics

MC has a pet bear that she rides...

[have not read this one, I don’t think it’s out quite yet]

BONUS: some fave f/f books by authors of colour because half of the above are by white authors

Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust (ya persin fairytale fantasy)

The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson (adult sci-fi)

Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan (YA asian high fantasy trilogy)

Each of us a Desert by Mark Oshiro (YA latinx fantasy)

Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

Tell Me How You Really Feel by Aaminah Mae Safi (YA contemporary romance) You Should See Me In A Crown by Leah Johnson (YA contemporary romance)

The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar (YA contemporary romance)

Not Your Sidekick by C.B. Lee (YA contemporary/superhero/dystopia)

In The Vanisher’s Palace by Aliette de Bodard (adult beauty & the beast retelling w a dragon)

#beaujester #beaujes #critical role #long post #this is exactly what i should be doing with my time right now #posting this on my book blog bc. u know. books. but i am layahimalaya/layaart #laya talks

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madamskk · 4 years ago

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You know what I love? The idea of Kageyama using that scary smile of his during sex

Sure it’s not the soft smile he gives when you give him a kiss when you get home, or when you gift him a date night in.

Sure it’s not great when you’re trying to give him flowers after a good game with the Adlers, or when you try to take a selfie with him at the aquarium with the blue lights glowing,

But when you’re a mess below him, ass in the air and back fully bent while he ruts into your wet cunt, and you can hear how he pants from the exertion of pulling your hips against him over and over and over-

And you look back, meet his eyes, and then suddenly he’s got that demonic smile on his lips

I bet you’d cream on the spot

And he’d run his fingers lightly around where you’re stretched over him while you twitch and cry, watching your lips tug on his dick, knowing what he did.

#kageyama smut #kageyama thirst #haikyuu smut #kageyama x reader

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littleforksuperiority · 3 years ago

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Unbelievable Chapter VII (Sherlock x Reader fanfic)

Links to Chapter I and Chapter VIII

TRIGGER WARNING - VIOLENCE AND GUNS If you want to skip this part, skip to chapter X <3

1387 words

Chapter VII

As I walked out of the building, I realised I had forgotten to take my work keys with me, so I had to go and get them. I quickly walked into my flat and got my keys, but when I walked out again three men stood at my door. One of them pointed his gun at me, while another kicked me in my knees, causing me to fall over. The men then dragged me upstairs, while the third still was aiming at me. I punched and kicked and scraped the walls, but they were too strong. ‘SHERLOCK!!’ I screamed, but there was no answer. ‘Stay quiet darling,’ the man with the gun said, but I then shouted ‘MRS HUDSON?’ again no answer. Despite my struggles, they managed to drag me up the stairs and sat me down on a chair. I screamed as they tied my hands and feet to the chair. Then I heard muffled sobs to my left. Mrs Hudson sat tied to another chair with a sock looking object strapped in her hair

‘You might as well be quiet darling; we wouldn’t want this to hurt.’ The gunman said with a grin. Fuck. I tried to get out of the ropes, but they were tied so tight, and so thin, that I could feel them cut into my hands. Apparently, the men saw my grimacing expression because they all started chuckling. My eyes started watering from the pain.

‘Okay, pretty lady. You know what we want.’ The gunman said.

I breathed in sharply. ‘I really don’t!’

The man punched me with his fist. His ring hit me right above the cheekbone. A drop of blood landed on my skirt as I dropped my head in response to the pain.

‘Irene Adler. We want her phone.’ He put my head in his hand, lifting it took look at him. I retracted. ‘You’re such a gorgeous girl. I really wouldn’t like to ruin it.’ He bowed down and kissed my cheekbone wound. Disgusting. ‘We know that Sherlock has the phone. And you, if anyone, would know where it is.’ He dropped my head and walked a step back.

‘Why would I know, sir?’ God, my head was throbbing from the punch.

‘Stop it with the games Miss L/N,’ he shouted as he kicked my chair, almost making me fall over.

‘It’s not a game. I don’t know anything about Irene’s phone. And why would I? Sherlock does not care for me. I am just his neighbour. The person he cares the most about is John, and he would never even dare admit that!’

‘STOP LYING!’ He kicked my chair again, making me fall to the ground. My head hit the floor like a stone. For a moment my vision went black. As I regained my vision, coloured dots showed the man’s face. His face was no more than five centimetres from mine. ‘Don’t you get it? I will make you go through hell if you don’t tell me right now!’ he shouted. ‘And don’t give me that “I am just his neighbour”; we know that you two are dating.’ Then he put his foot on my neck and pressed it down. My vision went blurry yet again as I tried to breathe. My head felt like it was exploding. Then he stepped away. ‘Get it now?’

‘I know nothing of Sherlock, you bastards. He doesn’t give a shit about me. You can torture me all you want; he’s not going to care. I only met him days ago. Yes, I may be fond of him, but that feeling is not returned, and never will be. And yes, that hurts, but it doesn’t matter. He doesn’t care. Never will. When you like Sherlock it’s like liking the starts. You don’t expect them to like you back! And for God’s sake, I am not his girlfriend you idiots!’

The man kicked my head, and then stood on my throat again. Just as I felt like I was going to die, the sound of an ‘ahem’ appeared. The man stepped away from me, and there was Sherlock. How long had he been there? Please say he had just arrived. If not, then he was a dick. A massive one.

‘Please step away from my girlfriend.’ Oh, that dick. I was going to punch him so hard. ‘And don’t snivel Mrs Hudson. It’ll do nothing to impede the flight of a bullet. What a tender world that would be.’

I stared at Shercock, why couldn’t he just help her instead of being a cock.

‘I believe you have something that we want, Mr Holmes,’ said the man.

‘Then why don’t you ask for it?’ He finally walked over to Mrs Hudson, although I couldn’t really see what he was doing as I was facing the other way.

‘I’ve been asking this one. She doesn’t seem to know anything.’ Said the man. ‘But you know what I’m asking for, don’t you, Mr Holmes?’

‘I believe I do.’

‘Oh, please, Sherlock.’ I heard Mrs Hudson say.

‘First, get rid of your boys.’

‘Why?’

‘I dislike being outnumbered. It makes for too much stupid in the room.’

I chuckled, which made for an awkward silence in the room. Then the man said, ‘you two, go to the car.’

Sherlock continued: ‘Then get into the car and drive away. Don’t try to trick me. You know who I am. It doesn’t work. Next, you can stop pointing that gun at me.’

‘So you can point a gun at me?’

‘I’m unarmed,’ he said, putting his arms out ready for a pat-down.

‘Mind if I check?’

‘Oh, I insist.’

The man walked over to him and patted him down. Sherlock rolled his eyes dramatically, as he began patting his back. Then, quickly, he pulled out a sanitiser spray can, twisted around, and sprayed the man directly in the face. He screamed loudly, blinking more than I thought humanely possible. Then Sherlock headbutted him in the face, making him fall unconsciously back onto the coffee table. Sherlock flipped the can in the air triumphally. ‘Moron.’

‘Yeah, you are. Go untie Mrs Hudson,’ I cried, making Sherlock sigh and run to untie her.

‘Oh, thank you,’ she said tearfully

‘You’re all right now, you’re all right.’ He responded. Then he came rushing over to me and raised my chair so that I finally sat upright again. My head was spinning violently, and I almost fell over again, but he caught me.

‘Jesus Christ Y/N, what did they do to you!?’

‘You probably saw it all, didn’t you, darling?’

He chuckled. ‘The stars?’

‘Oh, shut up you dick!’ I couldn’t help but smile. Sherlock untied my feet and hands. Seeing the wounds from the ropes, he took my hands into his.

‘Sherlock you’re getting blood on your hands.’

‘Y/N for God’s sake.’ He turned my hands multiple times to observe the damage.

‘Sherlock, it’s fine. I’m fine.’ I looked him in his eyes.

‘You’re not fine, you’re bleeding from at least three places.’ His eyes scanned me quickly. I stood up wanting to go over to Mrs Hudson, but as I walked over there, I noticed how badly I was hurt.

‘Do you have any bandages?’ I asked Sherlock, and he went to get some. Soon he was back, and I patched myself up. When I was done, I walked over to Mrs Hudson and helped her onto the sofa with a blanket over her. Sherlock looked at me weirdly.

‘What? She’s in shock. They do this in movies.’ And then I bandaged her up.

‘Y/N, you’re even more hurt than her, you should rest.’

‘Yeah, right.’ I walked over to the man and dragged him over to my chair. The pain in my wrists overwhelmed me, and for a split second everything went dark again, and I was falling. Then, I regained my composure and lifted him up into the chair. I then tied him to the chair and strapped the sock thingy into his mouth. Then I took his gun and pointed it at him. ‘Call the cops Sherlock.’ My hand was shaking. Shit, these wounds were killing me.

‘Y/N…’ He said and put his hand on my wrist to bring the gun down. I inhaled sharply and then fell over. Everything went dark.

#bbc sherlock #sherlock x reader #sherlock bbc #sherlock fanfic #sherlock holmes #sherlock x y/n #sherlock fandom #sherlock has feelings #sherlock rp #sherlockian

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wiypt-writes · 4 years ago

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Riding High

Ch10: Hustle

Chapter Summary: It’s date time!!! Woohoo!! The slow burn has FINALLY burst into flames”

Chapter Warnings: Bad Language words. SMUT (NSFW, no under 18s thanks!)

Chapter Pairings: Frank Adler x OFC Fliss Gallagher

Disclaimer: This is a pure work of fiction and classified as 18+. Please respect this and do not read if you are underage. I do not own any characters in this series bar Fliss Gallagher and the other OCs. By reading beyond this point you understand and accept the terms of this disclaimer.

Riding High Masterlist // Main Masterlist

Chapter 9

“And there is no, no song I could sing, and there is no combination of words I could say, but I will still tell you one thing…we’re better together.”

Fliss checked herself over again in the mirror and bit her lip. Frank had told her to dress casually, and bring a sweater as it could get a bit chili on the water at this time of year. She’d opted for a pair jeans with ripped knees, a sleeveless black top with white lace detailing in the shape of daisies and a pair of high-top pink converse. Her hair was pulled back into a loose bun and her make-up was heavier than she normally wore but not too obvious. That said, she still felt…

Actually what was it she felt?

“That’s what you’re wearing?” John looked her up and down as she emerged from the walk-in closet. Fliss felt her heart sink, she’d spent ages picking this outfit for the night out John had said they were going on.

“What, is it not…” she asked and trailed off.

“No, wear a dress, for fucks sake Felicity, we’re going to an up-scale restaurant, not a goddamned diner.”

At that point she heard her mum calling, jerking her back out of the memory. She took a deep breath and grabbed her long black cardigan. Frank wasn’t John, and she wasn’t fucking Felicity. With a final check of her appearance she headed down the stairs to find her mum waiting in the living room of the annex.

“Oh you look lovely!” Verity gushed and Fliss smiled.

“Thanks mum, you okay?”

“Yeah, just came by to ask if you wanted us to take Thor for the night or,” there was a glint in her mother’s eye and Fliss gave a snort.

“I’m coming home.” she shook her head “This is a first date. What do you take me for?” “Well it’s been a while.” Verity shrugged, nonchalantly and Fliss picked up a cushion off the sofa and threw it at her.

“You’re terrible.”

Verity caught the cushion and tossed it back, smiling. “Ok, honestly, I just wanted to see how you were, that’s all.”

“Big girl mum, sure I can handle a date. Besides, it’s Frank.” she shrugged.

“I know.” Verity replied, and studied her daughter for a second, a softness on her face, but before Fliss could reassure her some more, she heard Frank’s truck pull up outside.

Fliss moved round her mum and opened the door, ushering her out.

“Okay, I get the message!” Verity held her hands up, calling Thor. He obediently trotted after her. “I’ll put him back in later.”

“Thanks mum.” she smiled as she waved at Frank who had cut the engine and was just climbing out.

“Bill let me in.” He said by way of explanation as Fliss looked at him. “Hi V.” He nodded to the woman and she gave him a warm smile back.

“Hi Frank.” she said, turning back to Fliss, looking over her shoulder as she walked “Have fun kids, don’t do anything that I wouldn’t do.”

“That leaves a lot…” Fliss said sarcastically, rolling her eyes as her mum laughed and disappeared up the drive to the main house. She turned to look at Frank who smiled at her as he walked round the back of the truck. He was dressed in a pair of dark jeans, dark blue sneakers and a light blue button down.

“You look great.” He smiled at her and she flushed a little, all her earlier trepidation vanishing as there was nothing but softness on his face.

“Don’t look too bad yourself, Sailor.” she replied a little shyly, and he grinned, pushing his sunglasses up onto his head as he followed her into the house “Although I was kinda hoping you’d wear one of those hideous Hawaiian shirts.”

“You literally just called them hideous.” He rolled his eyes

“Hideous and endearing.” She quipped, grabbing her purse before she retrieved her cardigan from where she had tossed it onto the sofa.

“Ready?” he asked.

She nodded.

With a smile he offered her his hand and she took it without a second thought, and allowed him to lead her to the truck.

******

Frank parked his truck outside his house and led Fliss down the path towards the docks. They chatted comfortably as he made his way to the boat he’d borrowed for the evening and before long he’d fired it up and was steering them out of the harbour and into the bay. Fliss sat down on one of the benches, her legs resting on the wooden step in front of her, sunglasses covering her eyes as she glanced out over the water, the wind gently catching the loose strands of her hair and her sweeping bangs. Frank glanced at her every so often, simply drinking her in.

Eventually he picked up the speed ever so slightly and then called to Fliss, nodding to a cool box on the side that Dave, the owner, had left for him when he’d told him why he wanted to borrow it. He liked Dave, often swung a fair bit of work his way and he was a good man, always tipped Frank well.

Fliss retrieved two bottles and flipped the tops off before handing him one.

“Are you allowed to drink and be in charge of a boat?” she asked.

He shrugged “Never been stopped yet.” She smiled and took a drink, moving to stand besides him.

“Can I have a drive?" Fliss looked at him

"Thought you sailed a boat?" Frank said, teasingly as he took a mouthful of Bud.

"You're a dick, Adler" Fliss deadpanned back.

Frank laughed "Whatever, and no you can’t."

"Why?" she pouted.

"Because I don’t fancy having to call Mary from Puerto Rico"

"Hmmm." Fliss pondered, swallowing her beer. "Are we even on the open ocean yet?"

"No"

"Well how the fuck would we end up in Puerta Rico?" She laughed "And, according to that compass," she pointed to the dial in front of them on the cockpit of the boat, "we're heading South West so we would hit Havana or Cancun first anyway. That is once we've actually made it out of the bay of course."

"You know it's no wonder you and Mary get on so well.” He shook his head. "Both smart asses."

She chuckled as she stood beside him and they made their way at a reasonable pace across the water, Frank keeping his eyes peeled for what he was hoping to find, and after five minutes or so he spotted the tell-tale ripples on the surface of the bay and grinned. He changed course slightly, heading towards his target and was just about to finally tell Fliss what he was heading towards when one of the dolphins broke surface. It was a small leap but Fliss gripped his arm and gave an excited gasp.

"Is that...are they dolphins?"

"Yup." he grinned at her. She looked at him in amazement and he smiled as they sped forward towards them, watching as another leapt out of the water, this time far higher as they continued to follow the pod, Fliss making her way to the stern for a closer look. To Frank they were a common sight but for Fliss, who had never seen them in the wild so close, it was amazing, and the smile never faded from her face for the entire time. She glanced back at him every so often, beaming, and it made his chest flutter every goddamned time she did. Eventually after about twenty minutes or so the pod dived and then emerged a little way ahead of them and Frank slowed down a touch, allowing them to pull away.

"Wow." Fliss breathed as she made her way back towards him and Frank took her empty bottle and tossed it into a garbage bag along with his own. "Frankie, that was..." she sighed unable to express what she was feeling. Frank chuckled softly watching her before he reached for her arm, gently pulling her in front of him as he stepped back.

"Take the wheel." He said softly into her ear.

"Fuck, what?" She stiffened slightly

"You wanted a go."

"I was only joking...I can't sail this thing!"

He laughed. "Come on its easy, I'll show you look.” he moved closer to her, his chest brushing her back as his hands gently fell over hers on the wheel. He steered with her for a moment before he gradually let go and his fingers softly traced up her arms.

Fliss felt the goose-bumps spring forth at his touch and at the same time Frank noticed her breathing changing slightly and he suddenly worried he had overstepped the mark. But, as his hands stopped at her elbows, she turned her head slightly, her face inches from his as she looked up at him over her shoulder. Her eyes flicked down to his mouth and he took the initiative and leaned down pressing his lips to hers in a soft kiss which, although fleeting, sent shivers down his spine. They both pulled back for a second or two before their lips were back together, this time the kiss a little stronger and Frank's right hand felt for the key in the ignition of the boat and he turned it cutting the engine. Fliss chuckled against his lips as she turned round to face him.

"Just out of interest, what happens if the boat doesn't start again?" She asked, pushing his sunglasses up onto his head so she could see his eyes.

He arched an eyebrow at her. "Are you doubting my handy-work, Cowgirl"

"Wouldn't dream of it, Sailor." she murmured as he closed the distance between them, his hands falling to her hips before he kissed her again.

Frank already knew he was an utter gonner for this woman and the feeling of her mouth on his and her body pressed against him simply solidified that fact. It was as if this was what he had been holding out for, like it was just meant to be. Her arms snaked round his neck, and when one of her hands fisted gently in his hair, he gripped her hips ever so slightly tighter and his tongue skated along her bottom lip, seeking permission. She obliged, opening her mouth slightly and he took the lead, his hands sliding round to her back pulling her closer. It was passionate, deep, the two totally wrapped up in one another, no regard for the fact they were on a boat, merely drifting across the bay.

It was only when a loud cheer hit their ears that they broke apart and both turned their heads to see a larger boat floating last with a group of four men passing, all raising beer bottles at them in a toast, shouting and hollering various cat calls. "Friends of yours?" Fliss asked, Frank's hands gently rubbing at the base of her spine. "I have absolutely no idea who they are" he gave a chuckle as the boat full of guys headed off past them into the setting sun.

The moment broken, Frank gently moved round Fliss and started the boat back up, grabbed another two beers whilst she shrugged on her cardigan, before he stood back and let Fliss pilot the boat for a little longer, using the excuse of straightening up their direction to touch her in some form or way as often as he could, until the light started getting dim and he reluctantly suggested they should probably be making their way back. Fliss moved to let him take the wheel and, to his delight, as he moved to steer, he felt her hands link round his waist and her cheek press into his back. They stayed like that until she needed to move so he could move the boat back into its allocated spot before bringing it to a stop.

He stepped off the boat, gave directions to Fliss as she remained on the deck and the two of them ensured the boat was moored properly. Frank hopped back on board, made sure everything was locked down and then stepped onto the jetty again, offering his hand to Fliss. She took it and stepped onto the wooden platform besides him and he smiled as she adjusted her hold so her fingers were laced between his. They walked in silence back towards the main area of the harbour, the lights twinkling on the water as they walked down the wooden planks.

"So Mary's staying at Roberta's." Frank broke the silence. "What do you say we take this date to Ferg's?"

"You wanna take me to Ferg's on our first date?" She asked, her hands sliding up over his chest to his shoulders and he bit back the moan that had arisen in his throat at her touch. "How romantic..."

"Come on cut me some slack" he chuckled as his hands fell to her hips again "I took you out chasing dolphins in the sunset!"

"Hmmm, well, I suppose when you put it like that." she grinned, reaching up to close the distance between them once more in a soft, sweet kiss "I'm just kidding, Sailor. I like Ferg’s...it has character."

"One way of describing it." He chuckled as he places and arm round her shoulder. “You alright to walk, it’s only ten minutes or so from here.”

“Walking’s good.” she nodded, leaning into him. ***** "He Joe, can I get an eight bucket?" Frank looked at the bar tender, hanging him a twenty "And can you make sure there's change for the pool table?" "No worries..."

As Fliss came back from the restroom, Frank smiled at her, and then suddenly cursed himself as he realised he hadn’t asked her what she wanted.

“I ordered beer. Is that ok or did you want something else?” “No, beers great.” she beamed at him, “But thank you for asking.”

Frank didn’t press the fact that she didn’t need to be so grateful at common courtesy, he figured that was another hang up from her asshole ex and he had no intentions of bringing that fucker up in any way, shape or form tonight.

Joe set the bucket down, handed Frank his change and Frank tipped him before he handed Fliss a beer and picked the bucket up with one hand, gently steering her away from the bar, towards the pool table at the back with his other, fingers gently splaying at the lower part of her back. He set the beer bucket down on a table to the right and then fished in his pocket for some change. “Wanna make this more interesting?” He asked as he slid the coins into the shot.

“I'm not playing strip pool, not in the middle of a bar anyway.” Fliss shook her head, taking a mouthful from her bottle.

“So you would in private?” he grinned as the balls rolled down and he bent down to retrieve them and started to place them on the table.

She smirked

“Okay, filing that for future reference.” he said, pointing his bottle at her as he straightened up.

“You don’t have a pool table.”

“I’ll get one.” he deadpanned, causing her to laugh. “But no, I was talking about a wager.

She groaned “I'm really shit at pool.”

“Ok, we’ll do best outta three, .and I'll even give you a four ball head start on the first game.” he coaxed.

“What's the bet?” she narrowed her eyes.

“Loser buys the shots?”

"You know it’s probably easier if I just go buy em now."

“Ah, c’mon!” he said, his Boston drawl slipping out slightly stronger than normal. “Don’t be a baby.”

“Fine.” she said, with a heavy sigh. “But I’m buying Tequila. I can’t stand Sambucca and straight vodka makes me want to hurl”

“Whatever you say sweetheart.”

It turns out Fliss wasn’t exaggerating. On their first game she really was terrible. Frank laughed as she pouted at him and told him he was mean as he pulled another two beers from the bucket, handing her one, before racking the balls up again before he chalked up his cue.

“You’re break.” He smiled and she rolled her eyes as he positioned the white ball on the spot. She took her cue and bent over the table.

“Ok, move your hand,” he said, reaching over and repositioning her hold, “little more accuracy…but you need to put some power behind it too.” He moved her right elbow back and guided her arm through the shot and it broke the pack with a satisfying clack, sending a striped into the top pocket.

“Guess I’m stripes.” she shrugged, standing up, her back brushing against his chest. He dropped a kiss to her cheek and moved so she could take the next shot. The game continued in this vein, Frank helping her, showing her where to aim so she hit the balls in the right spot, continually correcting her elbows and guiding her hands so that she didn’t hit anything too hard. There was an intimate quality to it too, being pressed behind or over her and at one point he certainly had a twitch in the groin area and had to back away, leaving her to it.

After he deliberately fouled up on the final shot, Fliss ended up winning and she stood straight and looked at him.

“You did that on purpose.”

He shrugged, grinning. “Makes it interesting for the final. Tie break.”

“Can I break again?” she asked as he racked the balls up.

He nodded, strictly speaking it was his turn but, well, like it mattered. He was going to win anyway.

Fliss broke and potted a solid this time. And then she proceeded to pot shot after shot. Frank’s mouth fell open as she moved to her next ball, then the next and she looked up at him, smirking as she nominated the pocket just in front of him and then sank her last ball without him even getting a single turn. He could do nothing but stare at her for a moment before he snapped his mouth shut.

"You just eight balled me." he looked at her.

She shrugged

"Wait, did I just get hustled?" he asked, realisation washing over him. The corner of her mouth twitched up in a grin and he groaned as he shook his head. “Fuck me.”

“Think you owe me some shots.” She teased, pulling the last two bottles of beer from the bucket and handing him one.

“Where did you learn to play pool like that?” he asked, shaking his head.

“Well when I was competing I was on the road a lot with the team.” She smiled. “We socialised in the evenings, guess I just picked it up. That’s also where I learned how to hustle.”

“I don’t know if I should be pissed off or impressed.” He teased, picking up the bucket which was loaded with their empties as they made their way back to the bar.

Or turned on…

“Can’t you be both?” she looked at him and he laughed.

“Tequila was it?”

Three shots each later they were both definitely feeling the buzz and at that point Fliss insisted she needed to switch to water, explaining she was still up early in the morning for lessons, reminding him that Mary had one at two.

“So I get to see you tomorrow as well?” he smiled and she grinned.

“Must be your lucky weekend.” she smirked.

“Clearly.”

The soft flirting continued for another half an hour before Fliss reluctantly groaned and said she needed to get home. Frank didn’t want the evening to end but he got it, it was past midnight and she was up at seven.

As he walked her out to her cab, she declined the offer of him riding with her and smiled, turning to face him.

“I had a really great night.” she said, shyly as she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her hear. “Thank you.” “Me too.” he said, honestly. He smiled at her, before he moved towards her, his arm circling her waist before he dipped his head to catch her lips in a soft kiss.

“See you tomorrow.” she smiled, her head resting against his before he grinned again and opened the door for her.

“Yeah, you will.”

**** Fliss groaned as her alarm went off, blinking and grimacing at the light. Her head was fuzzy, that tequila really hadn’t been a great idea. Then the memory of the rest of the date came back and she smiled to herself, laying her head back on the pillow. Allowing herself five minutes of dozing and basking in the memory and warm feeling she had, she eventually knew she had to get up and headed for the shower.

Thankfully she was up too early to encounter her mother, who she knew would want the gossip. She had half been expecting her to be waiting when she got back but suspected that her dad had probably forbidden her from doing so. After a coffee and some headache tablets she felt ready to face the day and grabbing a bottle of water she headed out to her jeep. Just as she climbed in her mobile went and she opened the message smiling as it was from Frank. A simple “Good morning” with a kiss at the end. Biting her lip, she sent him a reply before she climbed into her car.

She hardly had time to think about anything once she arrived at work. She opened up, checked her diary, indulged in a little bit more text flirting to and fro with Frank before her nine am class arrived and then it was none stop until lunch. Joanne was gently drilling her for information on her date but she was giving nothing away, other than the fact she’d enjoyed herself, before she threatened to sack the woman if she didn’t stop asking. Joanne merely smirked knowingly and shrugged before she changed the subject.

It was about half one when Frank and Mary walked onto the yard, Mary barrelling straight for Fliss before she headed into the barn to see Monty.

“Hey.” Frank smiled at Fliss and she beamed back, suddenly a little shy, for what reason she had no idea. He looked good though, faded jeans and a white polo shirt with a red horizontal stripe running across his chest.

“Hi.” she smiled at him. “She’s keen!” she gestured to the direction Mary had gone in.

“She’s been dressed and ready since eleven.” he groaned “Kept badgering me to bring her earlier.”

“You should have done.” Fliss smiled as she headed back to the office, Frank taking the opportunity to eye up her ass in those damned fine riding breeches before he hastily averted his gaze as she looked over her shoulder at him. “I’ve told you, I’m not averse to child labour.”

Frank chuckled and followed her into the tack room, pushing his shades up onto his head, and she gave a small yelp of surprise as his hands fell to her hips and he spun her round.

“C’mere.” he said softly, pulling her to him, his lips meeting hers. She eagerly kissed him back as his right hand slid up to cup her cheek, and then the door to the tack room flew open and they both jumped slightly, Frank turning round to see Mary and Joanne stood there. Joanne looked at Fliss, smirking slightly and Mary paused for a moment before she put her hands on her hips and eyed Frank.

“About damned time.” she said, with a very Roberta-esque air.

Frank groaned as Fliss giggled, her cheeks burning slightly before Mary looked at her, then to Frank before she grinned and shook her head.

“Roberta’s gonna love this…” **** “Oh come on!” Frank groaned as Fliss scored another strike, turning to hi-five Mary. “This is nothing but a fix up.” “Oh quit your fuss.” Fliss teased “Not my fault you decided you could take us both on. Did you not learn anything from Friday night?”

“Yeah, not to trust innocent little British girls who claim they’re crap at something.” He said, his hands on his hips.

“Who said anything about being innocent?” She winked at him and, damned, if that didn’t stir something in his belly. Shaking his head, and glad it was his turn, he moved to pick up a bowling ball making his way to the aisle. He took aim and then staggered back as Mary was swinging off his arm, cackling.

“Ok, now this is sabotage.” He said, raising his arm slightly before his other moved to tickle at her waist. She let go hastily, dropping onto her feet, her laughter loud as she moved backwards. “Did you tell her to do that?” he looked at Fliss.

“Hey you brought her up, don’t blame me.” Fliss smirked at him, and he rolled his eyes, taking his shot.

They had another few games as on Wednesday it was half price before they left, Frank in a pretend sulk after he had basically had his ass handed to him for the second time that week by Fliss and they drove a few minutes down the road to the Ice Cream parlour.

As they sat enjoying their treats, their talk turned to Thanksgiving which was the following week and Fliss asked them both what they were doing.

“We went to Roberta’s last year but this time it’s her year for going to her sisters.” Mary said.

“They alternate.” Frank explains. “Every other year her sister comes here and we join them, and then the others she goes there.” “Which means this year,” Mary grinned at Frank, “I get to pick dinner. And I want Chicken nuggets!”

“Woah, hang on.” Fliss said in a horrified voice. “Chicken nuggets on thanksgiving? You can’t do that!”

“Sure we can!” Frank scoffed. “It’s thanksgiving, we can eat whatever we want, ain’t that right Stack?”

Mary nodded gleefully. “Yup, we always have fun!” She said, shovelling more ice cream into her mouth “We watch the parade, have candy for breakfast, and always remember we have stuff to be thankful for, right Frank?”

“Even more so this year.” He smiled and Fliss grinned back. “So, what do you do?”

“Oh, we don’t do the sit down dinner, it’s not a British thing.” Fliss shrugged. “I’ll be doing the horses that day to let everyone have the time off and then Mum and Dad throw a party in the evenings for their friends who all come round.” She looked at him. “I’m assuming you two are gonna join us this year?

“Is that an invite?” Frank asked, his hand falling to her knee under the table.

“Dur.” She smiled at him. “Besides, my mum would cry if you didn’t show up. Think she prefers you to me now.”

They stayed where they were, ordering more ice cream just because, well, for no reason other than they could, before they headed back to drop Fliss home and Frank told Mary to wait in the truck.

“You gonna kiss again?” She asked and Fliss let out a laugh whilst Frank simply shook his head as he climbed out.

“Can I take you out again on Friday?” He asked as Fliss opened her door.

“I’ll have to check my really busy social calendar.” she said, pausing “Nope, I’m free.”

“Good, I was talking to Greg before and he told me about a really nice bistro in town…so I thought…”

Fliss wrinkled her nose. “Can we not just grab some food and go and sit by the sea?”

Frank hesitated. “Well yeah but, I thought…” “Look, fancy dinners are great every now and then but,” she sighed, “it’s all he-who-shall-not-be-named ever did.”

“He-who-shall-not-be-named?” Frank arched an eyebrow.

“Yeah, kind of reduces him to an evil, fictional twat, it suits him.” Fliss shrugged. “Anyway, he persistently took me to the most expensive places, paraded me around like some kind of fucking trophy, putting on this illusion that he was this great guy and,” she shrugged, “I had so much fun last Friday and tonight, I just…” she trailed off and groaned, wrinkling her face up, her hand pinching the bridge of her nose before she looked at him apologetically “Sorry, that sounds really ungrateful.”

Frank stepped forward and cut her off with a soft kiss “No, it doesn’t.” he assured her with a smile. “And as it happens, I know just the place we can go.”

*****

“Oh my God!” Fliss grinned, eyeing up the Mexican street food wagon by the beach in St Paul’s which was lit up by dozens of rows of fairy lights. “This is perfect!”

“Well I figured seeing as last week we didn’t go to Mexico, I’d bring Mexico to you.” Frank grinned, inwardly purring at the fact she was so pleased.

“What’s good?” She asked.

“Honestly, all of it.” Frank smiled “But the pork and chicken burrito is my favourite. Oh, and the nachos.”

“Okay, I’ll go with that.” She smiled as they joined the queue. It wasn’t long before they reached the front and Frank placed their order, pulling out his wallet. Fliss caught his hand.

“Let me.” “No.” he shook his head.

“Please Frank.” She looked at him. “You paid last Friday and Wednesday.”

He looked at her, ready to argue but there was something in her eyes. And he found himself wondering again if this was some kind of independence thing, one she hadn’t been allowed before.

“Alright.” He shrugged “But I’m buying the drinks later.” “Deal.” She smiled, handing over the cash.

They took their food and sat down at one of the plastic tables, which was illuminated by a small candle in a jar. Fliss enthusiastically picked up her food from the basket, digging in and nodding in appreciation.

“This is so good.” She said with a mouthful, and Frank laughed as she nearly dropped half of it down the front of her pink top “Shit.”

“How did you miss?” He asked and she flicked him the finger as she continued to eat, chatting about their day.

“Greg called.” He suddenly remembered he hadn’t told her and at his words she looked at him “He’s got a date for the court hearing.” “Oh?”

“Twelth of December.” Frank leaned back. As he did so his right leg stretched forward and brushed against her left, which she gently moved closer so that their ankles were almost tangled together.

“That’s good.” she smiled “So by Christmas it’ll all be done?” “Yup.” he nodded, with a sigh “I’ll be glad with it’s finally closed.” “Have you heard anything from Evelyn?”

He shook his head. “I’m not dismissing her just yet. I have a feeling she’s gonna apply for access but if she does then that’s up to Mary. It’ll be her decision.”

Fliss nodded and then leaned back, her food now gone.

“Wanna grab a few beers and go sit on the beach?” Frank asked.

She grinned and he stood up, offering her his hand and he led her over to the truck. A couple of minutes later, both clutching a Desperado they headed down the lamp lit steps and onto the soft shore of the Public Access area of St Pete’s, making their way over to a bout of flat rocks which lay against the shore wall. Frank sat on one and Fliss perched next to him, gently leaning her head against his shoulder as he dropped a kiss to her head, dropping his arm round her.

They sat in a comfortable silence, watching as the moonlight bounced off the calm sea, the sounds of the gentle waves all they could hear.

“You okay?” Frank broke the silence, pulling her closer as she shivered slightly “Cold?”

“I shouldn’t be.” She chuckled. “It’s tropical compared to Boston.” “Yeah but you get acclimatised.” he smiled.

“Do you ever miss it?” Fliss asked suddenly. “You know, the seasons, big city living?”

“Sometimes.” He nodded. “But then I remembered why I moved and…”

“I know that feeling.” Fliss mumbled. “But, I still wish we got snow at Christmas.”

“Mary’s never seen snow.” Frank shook his head.

“We should go back sometime.” Fliss mused. “I mean, maybe not to Boston but New York perhaps. I always wanted to go in December time but I never got round to it.”

“Any particular reason or…” Frank asked, with a feeling he already knew the answer.

She looked at him “What do you think?”

Frank shook his head “I know I’ve said this before but I really would love to get sometime in a room with him, one on one.”

Fliss laughed “Yeah, you’ll be behind my Dad and Steve in the queue I’m afraid.” Frank snorted and then turned to look at her “Okay, then next year we’ll do it. We’ll go to New York. In the winter.”

“Already making plans with me for next year huh, Sailor?” she teased, and he shrugged and looked down at his feet for a moment before he turned back to her.

“Yeah.” he said simply “Yeah, I am.”

Fliss smiled and bit her lip slightly, the significance of what he was saying didn’t pass her by. He wanted this to work, he wanted this to be something more, but then she knew that already. She’d known for weeks that there was something deeper there than a little bit of dating fun. “Well, I can run with that.” She swallowed, her eyes shining. “But only if we can have a snowball fight, I can kick your ass at that too.”

He tilted his head to look at her and snorted “You’re a little aggressive on the sly, aint you?”

“Frankie, I competed for a living, you got no idea.” she grinned at him.

With a chuckle he studied her pretty face for a moment before he shifted slightly, finger tilting her chin up before he pressed his lips to hers, his fingers gently caressing her neck as the kiss deepened. A soft moan escaped her mouth and fuck, that noise went straight to his groin.

Things were quickly getting heated as her hand slid into his hair, keeping their mouths locked together, his tongue dominating hers before he eventually pulled away and pressed their foreheads together.

“Carry on like that and I’m not gonna be able to stop.” he whispered to her as she let out a soft sigh, and he tucked her hair behind her ears. She smirked back slightly, her eyes locked onto his.

“Did I say I wanted you to?”

Oh.Jesus.Christ.

He looked at her before she smiled and stood up, offering him her hand this time. Without a word he took it, and they walked back the way they had come little more than an hour earlier.

***** How Frank drove back to hers without crashing he had no idea, his mind was as far from being on the road as it should be, but he had, and here they were, stumbling into her bed room, heated kisses being shared as he kicked the door shut, his lips still fiercely on hers. Her fingers were now on the hem of his grey T-shirt and she gave it a tug, and he moved so she could pull it up over his head, tossing it to the floor somewhere and her hands moved up his sides and over his shoulders, nails scratching at the back of his neck, causing him to groan softly into her mouth as his hands gently slid under her top at the back, his touch sending shivers up her spine. His lips moved from her mouth across her jaw line, and then down her neck and she tipped her head back, giving him more access, relishing the feel of his soft mouth and the delectable gentle scratching of his beard on her skin.

Taking the lead, Frank backed her towards the bed as his hands strayed to the bottom of her top. She nodded eagerly and in a flash he pulled it over her head, before his hands gently smoothed back her hair that had flown over her face before he stole a glance at her and groaned at the soft pink lace trimmed bra that she was wearing. As the back of her knees hit her bed, he gently lowered her down, positioning himself over her, caging her with his arms and his legs as his mouth continued trailing soft kisses down her neck and her jawline, the soft noises she was making were turning him on even more and he moved back to claim her mouth in another searing kiss. She pulled away from him this time and he watched as her eyes followed her hands downwards.

Frank was toned, Fliss could see that. His shoulders and arms were ridiculously defined on account of his physical job, and she had always been able to see that with the t-shirts and tops he wore, but to her delight his abs weren’t ridiculously hard. There was a soft quality to him, even though he was still ridiculously trim, and as she followed the strip of hair down to the waistband of his pants she couldn’t help the smirk that crossed her face.

“Like something you see?” He quipped, and she looked back up at him, her fingers gently grazing his stomach, lingering there before moving down to the button on his jeans.

“Yup.” she said, popping the P loudly causing him to laugh before he smoothed her hair back softly, his mouth pressing back to hers again, as she worked the button on his jeans loose. As her nails gently scraped the sensitive span of his Adonis belt, he couldn’t help another groan and then his hands moved down between them and he worked his jeans down over his hips, almost sighing at the fact he was free from the restrictive denim. His fingers then flew to her jeans as her hands gently danced up his back, over the broad muscles of his shoulders before he slid down the bed, taking her jeans with him, before shucking his own completely off. He glanced down and saw her underwear was matching and with a teasing eyebrow he smirked at her.

“You planning for this?”

She shook her head, “hoping,” before her hand snaked round his neck, pulling him back down to her, his mouth hungrily claiming hers again as his hands trailed up the outside of her bare, soft thighs, to her hips, up the side of her body. She arched her back slightly, and he made quick work of the clasp on her bra, sliding it down her arms before he stole a glance down at her, the soft, supple lines of her breasts a complete contrast to her toned shoulders. She bit her lip shyly and as he looked back up at her, that long, auburn hair splayed across her pillow, and he knew there and then that he’d never seen anyone as beautiful as she was. He gently leaned down, rubbing his nose against hers before he kissed her softly, his lips tracing a track down her sternum before he softly took a nipple in his mouth, his tongue gently teasing, eyes flicking to her face to watch her reaction. She groaned, rolling her head back on the pillow at the sensation, her hips bucking upwards and Frank moaned at the feel of her pressing up against him. She dragged her fingers up his spine, and her touch, her feel, her smell, the little noises of pleasure and cooing of his name all combined had him absolutely rock solid, aching for her, in a way he couldn’t ever remember aching for anyone before.

Her hips moved again and his hand trailed down, sliding into the waistband of her panties making her gasp as his fingers worked her. Her hips began to move in time with his motions, groans falling from her lips at the sensation as he nipped slightly at her neck.

“Good?” He asked as she gasped and it was all she could to do whimper softly, her head falling back further as her mouth fell open, her entire body shuddering softly. She reached down, grabbed his wrist and he looked at her, as her brown eyes locked on to his.

“Want you.” She whispered softly, and boy was he happy to oblige. He hopped off the bed, retrieving his wallet from his jeans pocket, pulling out the little foil square he always kept in there, just in case, and when he turned back he saw her led, her elbows propping her up slightly, hair falling over her shoulders. And holy shit, what a sight she was.

“Planning for this?” She raised an eyebrow, repeating his earlier words back to him and he laughed, shaking his head as he made his way back over to her.

“Hoping.” He replied softly, as she took it from him. His fingers hooked into the top of her panties, gently sliding them down before he rid himself of his boxers. Fliss tore the packet open and he groaned softly as her hands gently wrapped around his cock before she slid the condom down and that really shouldn’t been as arousing as it was but he was almost ready to blow before he’d even started. He moved over her again, his thighs gently parting hers a little further and with a steady motion he slid into her, the sensation caused both of them to groan, Fliss leaning back against the pillows as he stretched her, his girth and length filling her completely.

"Liss, fuck.” Frank breathed out, his word little more than a whisper as moved his hands to snake his fingers through hers, gently pinning her hands by the side of her head as he began to gently move his hips. Slowly at first, picking up the speed slightly as she keened underneath him. Their hips rubbed together with every thrust he made and with each rock into her, her moans of delight and pure pleasure filled his ear as his head rest in the crook of her neck, every inch of their bodies pressed as close as they could get.

Frank couldn’t get enough of her, every single one of his senses was on fire. His fingers tightened around hers as she gave a particularly long purr of delight, and he raised his head to capture her lips, plunging his tongue into her mouth. He released her hands, his own reaching up to cup her face as he continued to move, and her hands flew to his back, the tips of her nails digging into his skin causing him to groan loudly, his head tipping backwards.

“Frankie,” she murmured, and that damned pet name was like a fucking hot wire to his groin and he felt the tell-tale heat striking across his lower stomach.

“You feel so good.” he managed to stutter out, his voice noting but a whine, and at his praise she gave another long, low, sultry gasp, her breath now coming in ragged gasps.

“God, Lissy,” Frank moaned loudly as she titled her hips, pushing back up against him, his head dropping slightly as he struggled to fight his brewing orgasm, his abdomen was tightening in pleasure. “You close?” he gasped and she nodded softly, her lips falling open and once again he kissed her, hard, speeding up ever so slightly.

“Don’t stop.” She begged, her eyes closing, before they opened again to look at him “Please, so good.”

He felt her shudder underneath him and a few thrusts later her back arched and a soft cry escaped her mouth as her eyes fluttered shut, and her head tilted back, mouth open in a now silent scream. He felt her tightening, pulsing around him and that was it, enough to tip him straight over the edge behind her, the surge and ecstasy of his relief causing his whole body to stiffen before he collapsed forward, his head burrowing into her neck.

They lay still for a moment, before he regained enough composure to prop himself up, placing a soft kiss to her lips before he pulled away slightly to find her looking up at him, lips swollen from his kisses, cheeks tinged with pink, and he smiled at the fact she was wearing that just fucked look so damned well.

“You okay?” he asked softly and she nodded, a smile playing on her lips before she kissed him again.

“More than okay.” She grinned, her nails gently scratching at the nape of his neck. “You got moves, Sailor.”

He let out a chuckle as he kissed her again, his lips hovering over hers. “Well you weren’t so bad yourself.”

She laughed and with final kiss he moved to pull out of her. With an apologetic look, as he really didn’t want to move, but, well, he had to, he disappeared into the bathroom and whilst he was gone Fliss smoothed her hair down and got comfortable in the bed. A minute later he returned and slid in besides her and she shuffled slightly to lay her head on his chest, her hand gently raking through the smattering of dark hair which spanned the upper part of her body, and he gave a contented sigh, kissing the top of her head.

Right there and then Frank knew, and he had no idea how or why, but he just knew that if he never held another woman bar Fliss in his arms again in his life, he wouldn’t give a shit.

And what surprised him more, was that the thought of it being that way didn’t scare him in the slightest.

******

Fliss blinked, and reached over to turn her alarm off, stretching slightly before she glanced at Frank who was asleep on his stomach, his head turned towards her, hair all over the place. With a smile she ran a finger over his jaw before she sat up, and made to get out of bed.

“Where you going?” Frank’s voice was deep and thick with sleep as he reached out to grab her arm. He cracked an eye open and she looked at him, utterly confused.

“Don’t you want a coffee?”

There was a pause as he frowned, because honestly, the last thing on his mind was coffee, and then he watched as a pink flush spread across her cheeks and she looked down, her hand gently fiddling with the pale blue and yellow bed spread which was clutched around her torso. In that split second he realised, this was clearly something that again, that fucker had obviously expected her to do.

“How about,” he sat up, the sheets pooling around his waist as he placed an arm round her waist, gently pulling her back down, “you just stay the fuck in bed…”

She smiled as he bent down to kiss her, his hands tangling in her hair, before she groaned and looked up at him “I gotta get to work.”

“How long?” he asked.

“I need to leave in like an hour.”

“Plenty of time.” he grinned, before he shifted so she was led fully under him, gently nipping at her jaw. And pretty soon coffee was the last thing on her mind as well.

Forty minutes later, Fliss was showered and headed back into her bedroom where Frank was pulling on his jeans. He smiled at her and dropped a kiss to her cheek before he headed into the bathroom himself, quipping that it had been a while since he borrowed a girl’s toothbrush. By the time he emerged, Fliss was pulling on one of her work Polo Shirts and Frank simply took the time to admire her as she bent over to pull a pair of britches out of her dresser, the shirt doing absolutely nothing to hide her pantie clad ass.

And then he saw the lines, little faded silver threads marring her skin and he felt himself grow hot at the sight of the scars.

Fliss tuned to face him and saw the flicker of anger in his eyes and she dropped her gaze. “That’s what I got for having some drunk guy grope me in a bar. Not a pretty sight is it?”

“Hey.” He said, a little sternly as he crossed the room. He tilted her face up to look at him and he locked his eyes onto hers. “Stop.”

She swallowed before he dropped a kiss to her lips and pulled her into a hug. She pressed her cheek to his chest and sighed.

“What if this drunk guy gropes you in a bar?” he asked, in an attempt to break the tension. She laughed and looked up at him.

“If this drunk guy makes me feel like I did last night and this morning, he can grope me whenever the hell he wants.”

Frank tipped his head back and laughed, before she moved back and smiled “You want breakfast?”

“I seem to have worked up an appetite so yeah, sounds good. I’ll be down in a second.” He nodded.

She smiled at him, called Thor to her who had been lazing on the bed and left the room.

Once she was gone Frank let out a breath, anger still coursing through his veins. If he ever got the chance he’d beat that fucker black and blue. He pulled his T-shirt on, found his socks and then made his way down into the kitchen. Fliss was shoving bread into the toaster as he moved behind her for the mugs before asking her where the coffee was.

Just as she answered, the door to the annex opened and Bill shouted a hello into the house. Frank stiffened slightly, and glanced at Fliss, a little nervous if truth be told that her dad was about to discover he’d spent the night but Fliss simply shook her head at him and smiled.

“Hey Pops, you want coffee?”

“No it’s ok Titch.” Bill’s voice grew nearer. “Was just gonna tell you to leave the back gate unbolted on your side as the pool guy’s coming and he’ll do your tub.” He stopped in the kitchen and smiled, completely unsurprised. “Hey Frank.” “Hi Bill.” Frank nodded, hoping he didn’t look as flustered as he felt.

“No problem Dad, I’ll unlock it before I leave.” Fliss smiled. “Sure you don’t want a drink?”

“No your mum wants to head into Tampa so we’ll be leaving soon.” He said, and then with a wry smile he chuckled. “If you don’t want the third degree I’d wait about fifiteen minutes before you both leave.”

Fliss shook her head with a laugh. “Take it she’s been down spying?”

“Oh yeah. Told me about half an hour ago Frank’s truck was here, and she doubted very much it was simply an early morning call.”

Frank felt his ears growing warm as he looked down at the floor before Fliss nudged him and nodded to the coffee. Thankful for the distraction, he set about pouring them both a mug as Fliss continued chatting to her Dad before Bill made his excuses.

“We’ll be back late tonight.” He said, as he turned to go. “Don’t know what time.”

“Yeah no problems.”

“Have a good day, kids.” He smiled and Frank nodded to him as he left.

“You’ve gone all shy Sailor.” Fliss teased and he groaned.

“Well it’s been a long time since I encountered parents on the morning after.” He shrugged as Fliss handed him a piece of toast. “In fact the last time it happened I was twenty-two…I think.”

“Well, I wouldn’t worry.” She took a bite of her toast. “Dad isn’t the type to chase you down the drive with a pitch fork.” She swallowed her food and a wicked glint flashed in her eyes. “It’s his shot-gun you need to look out for.”

**** Chapter 11

#riding high #frank adler #frank adler x ofc #frank adler x original female character #gifted #gifted fan fic

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snowgoldwaylon · 4 years ago

Note

Could you please do Woods falling falling in love with a soviet and introducing them to the team? Hos would they react?

Omg, this is such a great request. Thank you nonnie for sending this is! Hope you enjoy!

No Matter What - Frank Woods x Soviet!Reader

Frank Woods had a big heart. But truth is, he was lonely. He never really focused on trying to find somebody to love. He was a solider, a trained killer. He couldn't love....

Frank, being a Pisces of course, couldn't help but fall in love so quick, and with a great amount of compassion, and burning, fierce protectiveness.

He believes that something lead him to the street where you both first met, back in his hometown of Pennsylvania. It was a pure, and almost freaky encounter.

Flashback

While Frank wandered the streets of the town he grew up in, he was feeling a bit depressed. He hadn't had any luck with finding someone to hold close.

So, he was heading to the bar for a cold beer, cigarettes, and a game of pool. This was also his last week before he was to be sent off with Russell Adler and Alex Mason for the Hunt of Perseus.

He rounded the familiar corner, and he got smacked right in the chest by something hard. And it just so happen to exclaim "FUCK!" on it's way down. Frank regained his footing and looked down.

He quickly realized that he knocked a woman to her ass. He wasn't paying attention, but instead was caught up in his own thoughts and walked right by the damn door.

Frank quickly scrambled to pick up the bag of groceries he also knocked over in the process. He felt like a dick when he saw you on the ground.

"Oh shit, Miss I'm so sorry. I wasn't watchin' my damn step and slammed right into ya."

You both locked eyes, and you felt your face heat up quickly.

"No no, it's fine. I was on my way home from store, no worries here." You spoke, with a heavy Russian accent.

Frank wasn't taken back by it, he didn't want to judge. He held out a hand for you, and you took it. He stood you right up.

"Thank you sir, sorry for bump. I am clutz!" You exclaimed.

"It's no problem. Hey, why don't you come to the bar with me? It'll be my way of saying sorry. You won't regret it!" Frank asked.

End flashback

And that is how Frank Woods won you over that night. No funny business, just a bar date that ended with you winning several hands of poker, darts, pool, and even blackjack.

Frank knew you were a Soviet. He knew what roots you carried, but you decided years ago to abandon that title and come to America.

Frank loved you the way you are, no matter what. But you both knew that you had people who discriminated and picked on you for just about anything.

You learned to ignore it. Frank on the other hand, did not. He was always in attack mode just for that reason. You were the one for him, the one he was going to pop the question to.

Now came time to meet all of Frank's friends. Not many took too kindly to people with Soviet blood, especially Russell Adler. You heared the stories, and you were scared.

Frank set up a casual dinner for everyone so it wouldn't he awkward with bosses and higher ups there. Frank chose a sports bar, and you were the last to show due to traffic.

You looked over at Frank in the drivers seat, and grabbed his hand. He looked back at you and smiled.

"You excited?" He asked.

You sighed a bit, and squeezed his hand.

"I am, but I'm also nervous. I'm not from here.....They won't like me...." You whimpered out.

Frank parked the car in a spot the entrance and turned to you.

"Y/N, everything will work out. They all will love you! Plus, I got your back." He said, kissing your hand.

You felt slight relief and opened the door. You opened the car door and got out. You waited for Frank to come to your side, and you took his arm.

He held the door open for you and lead the way inside. It was loud, full of cigarette smoke, smelled like beer, and had the most recent game on.

Frank lead you over to a tall standing table with a lot of men, and one woman. As soon as they saw Frank, they went wild.

"Hey hey hey! There's my good ol' boy Frank!" The man with brown hair exclaimed.

"Hey Woods. So, is this who you've been seeing?" The blonde with sunglasses asked.

"Yes sir! Adler, this is Y/N. And everyone! Meet Y/N!" Frank exclaimed.

"Hey there guys. How are you today?" You asked.

Everyone's eyes at the table went wide.

"Wait, so Y/N are you a Soviet?" Adler asked.

"Not anymore. I chose a different life." You said.

Adler shook his head in approval. He stuck his hand out for a shake and you gladly accepted.

"Well, then welcome Y/N. This is Sims, Mason, Park, and Lazar. And I'm Adler." He said.

"It's nice to meet everyone!" You said. They all smiled and cheer.

Frank smiled, whipping out change.

"Who is ready for a game of pool???" Frank shouted.

The whole table stood up and quickly took over the pool tables. You laughed like old friends with all of them, while Frank stood back and admired your gorgeous, stunning smile.

#black ops cold war #cold war #frank woods #russell adler #helen park #one shot #eleazar azoulay

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my-emotional-self · 5 years ago

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In Control - Frank Adler x Reader

Pairings: Frank Adler x Reader

Warnings: Swearing, Smut, Fluff

Request: Ok, I cave…Can I get some kinky Frank and Reader action? Maybe Mary is at Roberta’s so you have the chance to have a little fun yourself? If not that’s ok but the idea of Frank being at my mercy is tempting

Requested By: @princess-evans-addict

A/N- This is LONG overdue! I have a lot of requests still waiting to be uploaded from last year and I’m going to finally start getting them posted!

It had been a long Friday at work and all you wanted to do was to get home to see Frank and Mary. You and Frank had been dating for a little over six months and you practically lived with him and Mary. Almost every night you were there for dinner and doing karaoke with Mary.

As you got to your home, an idea formed in your mind; a glint in your eyes as you went through your drawers to find what you were looking for; a pair of handcuffs.

Usually Mary spent every Saturday night with Roberta, but tonight, you wanted to take matters into your own hands. Knowing Frank was still at work, you headed over to the college to pick up Mary from school. The two of you made quick work of chatting about her day on the drive back.

Once there, you asked Mary if she would like to stay at Roberta’s house tonight as well and she happily agreed. “She has the new karaoke game and it’s so much fun!” Mary gushed with enthusiasm.

Taking your phone, you gave Roberta a call. “Hey Y/N,” Roberta answered.

“I have a favor to ask. I was wondering if you wanted to have Mary over tonight with you.”

Roberta scoffed, “Do you really need to ask? Any night you want me to have Mary is fine with me. Bring her on over whenever.”

You and Mary packed her bag and you walked her to Roberta’s; thanking her for taking Mary.

Getting back to Frank’s, you took out a beer and waited for him to get home. You heard his truck pull up next to the house and you smiled in anticipation.

Frank waltzed into the house, tossing his keys on the table as you took him by surprise by claiming his lips with yours. Your hand came up to his head, keeping him close to you as you parted your mouth for him. His tongue invaded your mouth, making you moan as you gripped his hair.

“Wait wait wait,” he stated out of breath, looking around the small house. “Where’s Mary?”

“She’s with Roberta for the night. I hope you don’t mind,” came your reply.

Frank smiled, shaking his head before his lips connected with yours again. Slowly, you moved to the bedroom; your hands on his shirt pulling him with you.

Making quick work on the buttons of Frank’s shirt, you tore it off him before grasping the hem of his undershirt and pulling it over his head.

“On the bed,” you demanded with a sultry tone; your hand at his chest as you playfully pushed him onto the bed. With a smirk, you pulled the handcuffs out from your back pocket and clasped them around his writs. He gave you a look of confusion but you only winked at him before tying the restraints to the headboard, making sure it was nice and tight.

“I’m in control tonight baby,” you cooed as you raked your nails down his bare chest and torso. His hips bucked up into you and you could feel him growing hard beneath you. “You like when I do this?” you asked, continuing to slowly torture him.

His head lay back on the pillow as he began to take deep breaths. “Fuck,” he growled as you pinched one of his nipples.

“I asked you a question,” you growled as you pinched his other nipple making him buck his hips yet again; this time you could feel how fully hard he was.

“Yes,” he breathed out, “Yes I fucking love this.” Truth be told, Frank was always in control in the bedroom and tonight, you wanted him at your mercy.

Darting your tongue out, you swirled around one of his hardened nipples earning a guttural moan from Frank. Teasing his other nipple with your tongue, you used your hands to unbuckle his belt and jeans before sliding them down his legs.

You stood before him, admiring his gorgeously toned body, fully naked and at your mercy. His cock was hard and thick, lying across his abdomen, begging to be touched.

Licking your lips, you settled yourself in between his legs and took a gentle hold of his cock. Your thumb ran up and down the vein on the back as you kissed and lapped at his balls. Frank was a panting mess as his eyes were focused on everything you were doing.

Opening your mouth, you teased his tip with your tongue, tasting his salty pre-cum in your mouth. With a devilish smile, you took him fully into your mouth as deep as you could go, moaning around his silky length.

“Jesus fuck!” Frank bellowed. Your right hand scratched up and down his thigh lightly and you could feel him breaking out in goosebumps from your touch. Bobbing your head, you began to fuck him with your mouth, loving the sounds he was making. So much saliva was coating his dick so you swallowed around him, earning another moan of appreciation from Frank. With your free hand, you pumped him at the base until you heard him call out. “Stop! Stop baby I’m not going to last.”

Pulling him from your mouth with a pop, you stood to the side of the bed. Slowly, you took off your jeans, turning so your back was facing him as you wiggled your ass. Bending down, you took your time taking your pants off of each leg and you could hear Frank struggling against his restraints behind you.

With a low chuckle, you turned back to him and took your shirt and bra off, then your panties. His gaze roamed over your naked body standing in front of him. He pulled at his restraints again, a frown on his face.

��Baby please,” he begged, “Let me touch you. I need to touch you!”

With a smirk, you climbed onto the bed and straddled his legs. Taking his cock in your hands, you gave him a few pumps before aligning him at your dripping core. Teasing your folds with his cock, you got him wet with your juices before slowly sinking down onto him.

“Oh fuck,” you cried out, heading whipping back as he filled you up. You gave yourself a minute to adjust, teasing him by squeezing around his length, making him squirm beneath you. His lips were parted as his gaze was fixated on you, waiting your next move.

Placing your hands on his chest, you used your thighs to begin riding him. Your eyes locked with his as you chewed on your lower lip; loving the way you felt so full with him inside of you. Gyrating your hips, you shuddered, stretching yourself out, but there was still something missing; his touch.

“Please let me touch you,” Frank begged again, his eyes pleading. Reaching forwards, you unclasped the tie so his arms were free before undoing the lock on the cuffs. He quickly shed the metal from his wrists as his hot hands trailed every inch of your body. His touch sent your body ablaze.

Leaning back, you placed your hands on his thighs; your hips grinding up and down on him. You were so worked up, you just wanted your release and Frank knew exactly how to make you come.

He got up into a sitting position and you put your hands on his shoulders; your hips never ceasing their movements. Frank’s hand came between your bodies, his thumb at your clit causing you to cry out.

“Come with me baby,” he encouraged as his thumb circled your sensitive bud while your thighs worked overtime, beginning to burn.

You were teetering on the edge, your breathing coming in short pants as you pleaded with Frank. His free arm wrapped around your back, pulling you closer as his thumb pressed harder on your nub, sending you over the edge.

It felt as if the earth stopped spinning as you threw your head back, a strangled cry coming from your lips; your body tensing as the shockwaves rocked your core. Frank stilled beneath you; your walls clenching around him throwing him over the edge as well. His hot seed shot through you as you felt his cock twitching inside of you.

Frank collapsed back onto the bed with you on top of him; your breath mixing with his as the two of you lay there together.

“That was unexpected,” Frank spoke, making you giggle while he was still inside of you. “But in the best way possible.”

You laughed, shaking your head before placing your lips to his. The two of you shared a slow passionate kiss before you finally rolled off of Frank. He made his way to the bathroom, grabbed a wet cloth, and came to clean the two of you up.

Once back in the room, you snuggled into bed with him, a smile on your face. The two of you talked about your days as the soft hum of crickets outside lulled you two to a peaceful night’s sleep.

#frank adler #frank adler smut #frank adler fanfiction #frank adler fanfic #frank adler x reader #chris evans #chris evans smut #chris evans fanfiction #chris evans fanfi #chris evans x reader

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forasecondtherewedwon · 4 years ago

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Scuffed Souls

Pairing: Midge Maisel/Lenny Bruce Rating: M Word Count: 2769

Summary: Despite her declared intention to go get herself a taxi, Midge can't seem to leave Lenny's hotel. Parts of it aren't so bad—the ocean view, the pool, Lenny. She could be persuaded into a little recklessness.

It’s the way he says it—“before I’m dead”—that has her twisting on the soles of her new shoes to turn back towards him with an equally twisted smile that can’t fully perk up to the uncomplicated amusement she usually feels when Lenny cracks a joke. It just didn’t sound like one.

And now she’s probably scuffed the black soles on the wretched, fine-pebbled stone of these slabs surrounding the pool of what’s otherwise a really rather sad hotel. He knows it, she knows it, and she can’t blame him for wanting her to come into his room, if only to liven it up for a few minutes. She wonders if anybody’s ever died here. Wait, she thinks, of course they have. It’s a gracelessly aging Floridian hotel. The count for patrons who’ve left unscathed is probably lower.

“Is that a long list?” Midge calls back to him.

Like the melancholy, reluctant romantic he is, Lenny’s still leaning in his doorway, watching her depart. Until a moment ago. Now he’s watching her stand here in kind of a weird realm: the post-date, non-overnight stay who issued a spoken plan to find herself a taxi like a big girl. She’s loitering. Then again, unlike at home in New York, you can do that here. Loiter your heart out. Cross that heart and hope not to die before you’ve slept with the woman whose martial status changes from minute to minute. Roll the dice! No, that’s Vegas.

Even from this distance, she can see Lenny cock his head in that way he has—playfully subservient as a child and publicly tactful as a monied, middled-aged woman. Some days, he could mirror her mother. What a gag that would be.

“Things you wanna do before you’re dead,” Midge explains with a tight gesture of her arm. Just the elbow down. God, is she nervous? She seems to be suddenly doing an imitation of Susie meeting Lenny for the first time.

“Not really. I think of somethin’ good from time to time and, of course, when I do, I can’t find the paper I started the list on and I have to get a new one… so it never really gets that long.”

“I just wondered. You know, how much time I have.”

“The length of the list determines my distance from death? This I did not know. Powerful,” Lenny notes emphatically, producing the same noncommittal smile from Midge. “I guess I better look harder for the next one I lose. Handy thing to refer to.”

“There’s that,” she agrees, “but also…” She takes a step back in the direction of his open doorway. The pool shimmers at her side. He’s right about the pool. Somehow, a pool at night looks glamorous no matter the courtyard. She hopes she looks half as good. “I wonder if there’s sort of an implication in there that—” Midge rolls a modest hand over the crassness she’d have no trouble blurting out on stage, no matter which of her relatives were in the audience. “—the quality of it would extend your life.”

He’s smiling wickedly at her. She’s gotten away with nothing and has no option remaining but to clutch primly at the handle of her purse with both hands.

“If anybody else told me that,” Lenny warns, “I wouldn’t believe them, but you I know to have been engaged to a doctor, and so I assume that any medical information you may have to offer vis-à-vis sex—” Spoken in a harsh stage whisper that nearly makes her (her) blush. “—comes certified by some type of professional board.”

“I didn’t say it was the truth, I said I wondered whether it were what you were implying.”

“Me? Well, you can’t trust that guy. Still, worth chancing, wouldn’t you say?”

Midge’s scuffed soles have brought her many steps nearer to Lenny than she remembers being in lucid command of. She’s slow-tongued as she stares at his impish expression. Flat-out flustered when he tips his head back with a smile to rest it on the doorframe.

“In there?” she asks with eyebrows arching like the next stop on this tour is St. Louis. She points sideways, where his bedside lamp glows. “On one hand, eternal life—on the other, whatever diseases are living in those sheets.”

“Oh, they’re very well mannered,” Lenny assures her with a casual brushing aside motion. “We split the rent fifty-fifty.”

“Hmm, then I’m not sure there’s room for me in that scenario.”

“The shower’s not bad,” he counters.

“Water pressure?”

“No, cleanliness. Haven’t you ever—” He employs the hand roll she should patent if it looks like that when she does it. Elegant. Prudent. Half what she wants to be and the other half what she has no hope of becoming. “—in a shower?”

Because Lenny’s looking at her like she’ll either sidestep (metaphorically—the shoes have suffered enough these past few minutes without risking anything more than a regular forward walk) or say no, she takes very great pleasure in smiling devilishly back at him.

“A shower sounds luxurious. Never done it in a bathroom with a shower before. You look scandalized,” Midge notes. “Do the diners in your neighbourhood have showers in their ladies’ rooms?”

“You had sex in a diner bathroom? I’m impressed,” he allows.

“Thank you. I needed that. I carry every compliment about the encounter back to my closet and console my wedding dress with it. Poor thing never did look the same after rubbing up against those walls.”

“Is this in your act?” Lenny demands, leaning towards her earnestly. “Why haven’t I heard this?”

“Put it in my act? Lenny, please. I’m a lady.”

“Hence the ladies’ room, I suppose.”

She giggles lightly with her lips pressed together. He earned that last line. Set her face on fire to get there, so she’ll let him have it. Speaking of letting him have it. Midge finds herself dropping her eyes so they don’t get into their second intense staring contest of the night. Can’t look straight ahead, can’t look to the right because that’s where his room is and the bed is highly prominent. Almost too eager. The bed is the bump in the front of a virgin’s pants on prom night when his date’s skirt brushes a little too close as they dance. Those crazy kids. Oh, to be young.

Midge looks left.

“The ocean,” she observes, and says, like an idiot. She even does another fucking gesture towards it, like he’d miss it somehow. “It’s… big.” Clever. Real sharp.

“Bigger than in New York? I think so too. Alligators though.”

“It’s ok, you’re talking to a fellow New Yorker. You can use the real term. Pre-handbags,” she prompts when Lenny gives her an inquisitive look.

He lets her have the wrap joke this time, but he’s more persistent about trying to catch her eye. She gets it. She is still standing here making alligator jokes when she was supposed to be in a car on her way back to the type of hotel it would be kinder not to tell this hotel exists. A hotel containing her parents, Shy Baldwin and his entourage, the boxer shorts Susie sleeps in and forgot to pack when she went to save Sophie’s ass. Hopefully Susie doesn’t need to cover that famous, demanding ass because she left the best equipment behind.

Lenny tosses his coat into his room and pulls the door shut, startling Midge.

“How ‘bout the pool?” he asks as he steps around her, arm extended to point. She swivels (damn, damn, damn, her shoes) and chases him. “You ever done it in a pool?”

“Actually, no.”

“I heard the pause and, trust me, I’m enthralled that you even had to think about it.”

“Did I mention I hit my head doing it in the bathroom? Pretty hard. All my memories before that day are hazy, so it’s really anybody’s guess.”

He gifts her an indulgent little smile and stops at the side of the pool. As she looks on, he removes his shoes and socks. Midge hears herself make the noise she makes when she denies Ethan a cookie only to see Zelda handing one over when she returns to the kitchen. The noise says, Is that wise? when her adult mommy brain knows for damn sure that it’s not. Lenny wets his foot and flicks water at her. The mommy noise had no effect on him at all.

“It’s nice,” he says, clasping his hands behind his back. “Warm.”

“Of course it’s warm. The air’s warm. Everything here is warm.”

“I hadn’t noticed.” When Lenny frowns, it’s tragic. The most tragic thing you’ve ever witnessed. “You see, I’ve been so cold since the end of our dance. I really may die if I can’t hold you against me.”

Midge tilts her head back and laughs.

“You’re worse than the guy I tried to scare off at the bar by mentioning dick jokes. And you’ll die? Really? All of a sudden, I’m the cause of your death rather than the agent of its postponement?”

Though he smiles, his eyes remain soulful. There really is something tricky about trying to be funny when he’s looking at her a certain way. She’s probably returning the look.

“Take a dip with me.”

“Why?” she asks, smiling.

“Because I want to admire you with that rose in your hair without the rest of it to distract me.” He nods down at her dress.

“My outfit is distracting? Terrific. Now I know I wore a distracting outfit on Brye Adler.”

Self-deprecating thoughts trickle away, accompanied by the gentle slosh of the ocean behind them. A rambling, improvised bit about what she’s wearing won’t change the fact that Lenny said what he said and she heard it.

“Are you going to call me a taxi if I keep standing here?” Midge asks.

“I had no intention of reminding you of that plan.” He rests a thoughtful forefinger against his upper lip. “But you do seem to be stuck. You won’t brave the room, but you also haven’t left.”

As though demonstrating how to do it, Lenny crouches and trails his fingers through the water of the pool.

“Still warm.”

He gazes up at her with needful brown eyes. The need feels equal to hers. She’s tired of being the only one needing.

“You have neighbours.” It’s between a question and a statement.

“Ah, they’re all either young and stoned or old and asleep.”

Midge makes a decision.

“Gimme your key. I’m going to change in your room.”

“Change into what? Do you have a bikini in your purse?”

She leans close to snatch the key he’s withdrawn from his pocket for the second time tonight and grins.

“Into nothing.”

Lenny takes a visibly shaky breath, not trying to hide it from her.

“Well, I’ll be here performing the role of guinea pig by stripping for any neighbours who may be watching. Should you hear wolf-whistles…”

“I’ll run right back out and join the audience,” Midge promises.

They smile at each other until Lenny tests the tension by loosening his tie. Her eyes drop to watch and she realizes she’d better go do what she said before he’s naked enough to make her lose her nerve. She hurries, high heels clapping on the stone.

His room isn’t quite as bad as anything she and Susie experienced on their first road tour, but it definitely isn’t anything to write home about. Not that he’d need to, seeing as this is his home ‘til Friday and likely beyond. Standing beside Lenny’s bed, Midge unfastens her dress. For the first time since Joel, she does it quickly. For the first time since splitting up with Benjamin, she does it alone. Beneath the dress, she’s cinched in pretty damn tight and she rubs at the red lines in her skin as she takes deep breaths that she lies to herself about—telling herself it’s the relief of being free of her undergarments. She lays her dress on his coral bedding. She positions her purse on his nightstand. Adjusting the rose in her hair, she slips her feet back into her shoes and dons Lenny’s carelessly-discarded suit jacket. Though it’s no beach coverup, it hides enough to get from here to the pool.

She spots the pile of his clothes before she sees him, head bobbing up through the surface as he slicks his wet hair back and swipes water from his eyes.

“Don’t worry,” Midge teases to his stunned expression as he locks onto her approaching figure. “The shoes are coming off momentarily. I know they’re distracting.”

As if he’s even aware that she’s wearing shoes; his eyes are fixed on her legs as though she’s an exotic species of butterfly and his gaze is a mounting pin.

“That’s all I see when I look at you,” Lenny says, arms thrusting to propel himself backwards across the width of the pool. He halts at the far side and rests his arms on the stones, chest above the line of the water. “One big pair of shoes.”

Midge shoots him a coy smile as she steps out of them, wary to avoid treading on his watch. That’s what gets her: his watch. She stares down at it, resting there, the glass face catching the light, second hand ticking away. Before they’re dead.

“Aren’t you going to close your eyes or something?” she asks, standing in bare feet, Lenny’s jacket, and a rose. “Or are you only a gentleman when it comes to sharing a cigarette?”

“For you, I will go through the charade.”

He places a hand over his eyes. His mouth smiles below it.

Watching him, she swiftly sits on the side, dangling her legs in the water. With tentative fingers, she undoes the first button on the jacket. His hand doesn’t move. She undoes the second. Nothing from Lenny. Jacket open, Midge shrugs it from her shoulders. As she pushes off the wall, dropping into the pool, he lowers his hand.

“Hey!” she complains, spluttering on water, but he raises both hands helplessly, then goes back to holding himself up at the opposite side of the pool. “That was a dirty trick.”

“I would repent if I could find it in my heart to do so, but I just don’t regret it.”

Midge laughs, shaking her head and treading water.

“By the way,” Lenny adds. “The rose looks wonderful.”

She managed to keep all but the very bottom of her hair dry and can feel the flower still tucked between the strands. Fleetingly, she thinks of where she’s supposed to be tonight. What would Carole have to say about a situation like this? Maybe Midge can be the one who knows how a situation goes for once, without warnings or tips. Just… living it. That’s how she gets the material for her act, which what’s happening tonight could never be part of. ‘So,’ she imagines telling a crowd, ‘I finally fucked Lenny Bruce. Plenty of people already thought I had, so I doubt anybody’s still betting on it, but if you had money on it happening in a swimming pool in Florida, happy days!’

“Can you see it from way over there?” she asks coquettishly.

“A little.”

“Seeing a rose ‘a little’ won’t do. Do you think Shakespeare only bothered to see a rose ‘a little’ before writing that line about how sweet it smells?”

Lenny shoves away from the side and swims lazily in her direction.

“What does yours smell like?”

“Pool chemicals, probably.”

“An underrated scent.”

Midge’s heart surges and her throat seizes up, tongue awkward in her mouth as he draws nearer. With the glow and distortive properties of the water, his body’s nothing but a blur below the surface, as she’s sure hers is as well.

“It’s like a forcefield,” he notes. “I get close enough to you and, it’s not that the world stops being funny, it’s…”

“It’s that it becomes somebody else’s job to make the joke.”

“That’s it,” Lenny agrees softly as they begin to slowly circle each other.

Gradually, they work their way over to where it’s shallow. Midge’s toes skim the bottom when she begins to uncurl her legs. Her body gets used to the weightless feeling of the water, muscles relaxing, but her heart beats harder and harder. Finally, she cuts across their circle and wraps her arm behind Lenny’s neck as she presses her mouth to his. His hand cups her cheek, then shifts, knocking the rose from her hair.

#my writing #The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel #tmmm #Midge Maisel #Lenny Bruce #Midge x Lenny #the ongoing dick-measuring contest between me and the Palladinos #so what if they aren't aware of it? does that matter?#as a writer I'm really just here to fix the unsatisfying plot points of the Palladinoverse

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