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puckinghischier · 10 months ago

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Tentastrophe

Nico Hischier x Fem!reader

summary: reader and nico are in a secret relationship while on a camping trip together

notes: hi lovies! i got this request from my dear 🏔️ anon so i had to get right on it!! this was so fun to write and even more fun to play out in my head while i was writing it 🤭. also i had no clue what to name it so i quite literally just made up a word 🫣. i hope you enjoy!! happy reading! 🫶🏼

request: We’re camping and my tent ripped, can I please share yours?

[5.1k]

You hated the outdoors. Truly, you despised being outside.

You hated bugs, you were scared of wild animals, you hated the heat, you hated dirt, grass made you itchy, and you really hate the lack of indoor plumbing.

Literally, how do people enjoy spending a week out in the middle of nowhere, no signal for miles, no air conditioning, and eating the same four types of canned food? Not to mention your dislike of sleeping bags.

Who wants to sleep on a flimsy piece of material on the hard ground for days at a time? It’s just simply not appealing.

You continue to list off the things in your head you hate about camping and the outdoors in general while watching yourself be driven farther and farther away from the city through the windshield of Jack’s SUV.

“Oh c’mon, Y/N, don’t look like someone just kicked a puppy in front of you,” you hear from the front seat, Jack looking at you through his rear-view mirror.

You roll your eyes at him.

“Jack, I’m being taken to a remote location against my will with no access to a bathroom or civilization for seven whole days. At least if someone kicked a puppy in front of me, it’d be over sooner.”

“Woah, so you’re advocating for puppy kickers now, are you?” A new voice rings out, this one belonging to Dawson, who occupies the seat against the window beside of you.

“She’s not advocating for it, Dawson, she’s just saying she’d prefer it to being stuck in the woods with you for a week straight,” Holtzy responds from your other side, having been sandwiched between the two in the backseat of Jack’s car for the hour and a half ride to your unfortunate destination.

Dawson reaches behind your head to smack Alex’s. Alex tries to retaliate, and suddenly you have two hockey players trying to fight each other on either side of your body.

“Hey! Cut it out before you hurt Y/N! Coach needs her to get good footage this weekend,” Luke yells at the two forwards.

“Wow, thanks for showing me where my worth lies, Luke,” you deadpan.

Luke flashes you a grin before turning back around in his seat. “You’re welcome.”

You stick your tongue out at him, knowing he’s just teasing you.

When you applied for a marketing internship at the Prudential Center a year ago, you had no idea that you would become so invested in this world. After the initial six month period of your internship was over, you were making plans to find work elsewhere when you were approached by the team’s GM and asked if you were interested in staying on full time as the new social media manager.

You immediately agreed, knowing you had found your passion with working in sports and wanted to stick with it for as long as you could. It didn’t hurt that you had become such good friends with a handful of the players close to your age, four of which were in the same car as you right now.

You and Jack were the closest, though. The two of you bonded over your shared love of country music, a rare find outside of your southern hometown. You had found other interests in common, too, but becoming each other’s country music concert buddy is to credit for much of your friendship.

You grew close to Luke simply because of your proximity to Jack, but found that he’s become a little brother to you. People always assumed there was more than friendship going on between you and Jack, but both of the Hughes boys had become the brothers you never had, no feelings beyond that ever surfacing.

As your job continued to cause you to spend time with the team, you found yourself growing closer to other players as well.

Nico was another player you found yourself talking to long after your work duties were done for the day. Whether it was chatting before practice, pulling him a little too frequently to do interviews or make videos, or grabbing a bite to eat after practice and games because neither one of you wanted to end your conversations, you found the Swiss captain occupying a large chunk of your time both at work and outside of work.

Which doesn’t make it all that surprising that he asked you to be his girlfriend three months ago.

After a huge win over the Islanders at home, the entire team had decided to go out to celebrate. You had caught a ride with Jack that morning, but when you were searching for him so you could leave, he was nowhere to be found, already gone to whatever bar everyone had agreed on.

Nico had stayed behind to do a few extra post-game interviews, so when you bumped into him outside of the locker rooms on your search for Jack, he offered you a ride. You had mentioned how hungry you were, telling him you should probably go home and grab something to eat and change before getting an uber to the bar, but Nico had pulled into the first late-night diner he saw after you mentioned your lack of eating dinner.

The two of you sat in the 50’s themed diner for hours, ignoring all the calls and texts asking where you were and why you didn’t come out to celebrate. You didn’t even realize how late it was until you received a text from Jack, asking that you call him when you got up so he knew you made it home safe, apologizing for forgetting you at the arena.

Nico walked you up to your apartment after driving you home that night, despite the fact it was after three in the morning and they had a mid-day practice the next day. You still don’t know if it was the high of winning or the late hour, but he decided to kiss you at your doorstep that night. Three days later, he asked you to be his girlfriend because he told you he couldn’t stand not being exclusive with you for a second longer.

No one knew, though. You kept on acting as if nothing had changed at work, and no one caught on otherwise. You decided it was fun to keep it to yourselves, enjoying being each other’s secret. You didn’t know the policy on dating your coworkers, either, so you didn’t want to risk anything by outing the relationship this early.

You felt bad lying and sneaking around Jack and Luke, especially, but you’ll tell them eventually. You enjoyed having no eyes on you, your relationship being simply between you and Nico right now. When you tell your friends and the rest of the team, it’ll be out there for good. Fans will find out, your boss will find out, and then your small bubble of Nico will burst.

That’s another reason you dread this weekend. Not only do you just hate camping and being outside for long periods of time, you’re going to be stuck being around Nico for a week straight with no chance to be his girlfriend instead of his coworker.

The trip is the team’s pre-season bonding activity, so you’re tagging along to capture material for future videos and pictures for the various social media pages and website. You had tried to send one of the other members of your media team, not thrilled at the idea of a camping retreat, but the head coach had requested you, specifically, because of your ability to convince the players to participate in various trends and videos.

You owe some of that to Nico, of course. After the two of you formed a friendship, he started telling his teammates they had to participate in whatever silly tasks you asked of them or he’d start reporting them to coach for making your job harder. Since his forceful request, you rarely had to fight to get any of the players to do the latest trending dance, or answer silly questions as they get on the ice before practice.

Unfortunately for you, this means the higher ups see your success and suddenly you’re volunteered to do things like this. And really, what kind of social media content can you create when you won’t even have cell service?

Tuning back into your surroundings, you notice you’re almost to the campground you’ll call home this week. You were so lost in your own head that you barely even noticed the four (grown) men in this car with you singing loudly to the F.U.N. song from none other than Spongebob Squarepants.

Jack and Luke were duetting the song, Jack taking the sponge’s part and Luke singing Plankton’s lines. Dawson and Alex were simply adding harmonies.

You were in for a long week.

———————————————————————————

“Who in their right mind would put a twenty-four year old teenage girl in charge of putting together her own tent?” you whine out as Curtis walks over to see you trying to read the directions for putting together the tent laid out in front of you.

“Honey, I think you’re a little too old to be calling yourself a teenage girl,” he chuckles as he kneels beside you, taking the instructions out of your hands.

“I’m just a girl, Lazar. I will always be a teenage girl at my core, no matter what age I am. Therefore, I’m a twenty-four year old teenage girl. And I’m extremely incapable of building a fucking tent,” you cry out, crossing your arms and huffing.

Curtis just shakes his head and laughs, grabbing the rods that go inside of the tent to give it structure, putting it together for you.

You sit back and watch, trying to help where you can, but ultimately being reverted back to the role of ‘holding the flashlight for dad’, but instead you’re ‘holding the mallet for Curtis’.

Halfway through putting your tent up, you see Nico start walking in your direction. You admire your boyfriend, his tan skin showing due to his green t-shirt being stuck in the pocket of his athletic shorts instead of on his torso. His black hat sits backwards on his head, hiding what you’re sure is sweaty hair. His favorite pair of sunglasses rest on his nose.

“Already making the guys do your dirty work, how dare you, Y/N,” Nico teases as he stops to stand in front of where you’re sitting on the ground.

“Listen, one perk of being a woman in sports is the fact that I’m always surrounded by men just waiting to save the damsel in distress,” you put your hand across your forehead to hide the sun from your eyes, squinting your eyes as you look up at him.

He rolls his eyes at you, flashing you a smile.

“Need any help, Curtis?” Nico calls out, but keeps his eyes on you.

“I think I’m nearly done, but if you want to start hammering the stakes in the ground that’d be great,” Curtis replies, not even looking up from the tent that had now taken shape.

“Sure thing. The mallet, please,” he reaches his hand out to you.

You hand Nico the mallet, looking up at him with an amused grin. “Get to it, time to do manly stuff and go pound on something .”

You start to stand and Nico shoots his other hand out for you to grab onto, helping you heave yourself off the ground.

Once you’re stood in front of Nico, he pulls your hand toward him so you’re standing dangerously close to him, your chests nearly touching. You look around, making sure no one sees the position the two of you are in right now.

Nico leans down, lips grazing your ear as he whispers “Unless you want me to drag you behind a tree and do extremely un-coworker type things to you with the entire team right here, I suggest you don’t talk about pounding anymore this weekend.”

A shiver makes it way down your spine as Nico steps back, walking over to where Curtis is now standing, turning to face the two of you.

You hope he assumes the redness on your face is because of the warm sun, and not because his captain just threatened to do R rated things to you behind a tree.

Ten minutes later, your tent is fully assembled and you’re blowing up your air mattress with a battery powered pump that’s seen better days.

Jack had laughed at your for bringing an air mattress, claiming it’s not really camping if you don’t sleep in a sleeping bag. You told him you refused to sleep on the ground with just a thin bag underneath you for the whole week. If you had to be here, you were going to make yourself as comfortable as you could.

You even brought a battery powered fan to sit in front of your bed incase you got hot at night, but you learned very quickly that even though it’s hot and humid during the day, the night is chilly and dark.

After everyone had settled in and the sun had set, Timo had managed to start a fire, placing hot dogs on a small grate he placed next to the fire while Jesper worked on opening cans of various types of vegetables to heat along side the sausages.

You laughed to yourself, knowing the team nutritionist would develop an eye twitch seeing what foods will be consumed by the players this week. The amount of sodium and carbs in the containers of food for the week were definitely not in line with the meal plan.

Finding a spot next to Jack, you go sit on one of the various logs around the fire, needing the heat to warm your chilled skin. Music played out of a speaker sitting on the picnic table behind the logs, one of your favorite country songs filling the space.

“Nice choice, it’s one of my favorites,” you nudge Jack’s shoulder as you sat down, assuming he had control of the music.

“Yeah it’s a good one, but don’t look at me. Cap’s the one with the aux right now,” he says, pointing to where Nico is standing by a tree, red solo cup in his hand.

You turn your head and make eye contact with him, his eyes having already found you. The raise of his cup and tilt of his head telling you he played this song specifically for you. Your face heats and you smile at the ground, trying to keep the grin from stretching too wide, not wanting to raise suspicion from the brunette to your right.

“Y’know, I wonder why Cap has any country music in his playlist at all, because last I checked, his phone was full of rap and Swiss music and he told me country was his least favorite genre,” Jack starts, leaning closer so you can hear him over the music and chatter. “But then I remembered, I see you and him talking an awful lot after practice, before practice, and everywhere in-between.” You feel like someone has dumped a bucket of ice water on your head, worried Jack’s figured the two of you out. “You’re not cheating on your music buddy, are you?” he asks, looking at you suspiciously.

Relief washes over you. He just thinks you’re sharing music with Nico. Not that you’re seeing Nico behind everyone’s back.

“I might have mentioned a few good artists to him. But don’t worry, concerts are still reserved for you,” you bump his shoulder again.

“Mhmmm. Must have taken a lot of convincing to make a rap loving Swiss man convert to Zach Bryan,” Jack hums, still looking at you suspiciously.

“Just a few links sent is all,” you tell him, noticing he’s just staring at you. “What?” you ask, leaning back a bit.

“Nothing,” Jack shakes his head, his eyes gleaming with an idea. “Just thinking…have you ever thought about going out with Cap?”

You choke on air. You try to recover with a cough, claiming you swallowed the wrong way. “What, what do you mean?”

“You know, like you and Cap. Going on a date. Dating. I think you two would be good together. You guys already seem friendly enough, and he’s a great guy. Plus, I can see the way you look at him, Y/N. You definitely have a crush on the guy,” Jack teases.

You start laughing. Jack is confused by your reaction, not thinking his suggestion was funny at all, but you can’t stop the laughs from escaping.

“Oh, Jack. You’re funny,” you tell him once you calm yourself down. “That’s nice, but nah. I don’t think Nico and I should go there. Too many things could go wrong, y’know? Plus, who even knows if I’m allowed to date any of you guys. Workplace romances are frowned upon in most jobs, you know.”

“Okay, it wasn’t that comical of a suggestion. I was being serious, I think you guys would be great together. To hell with the rules. I can tell when two people are into each other,” Jack says with a hint of annoyance, not appreciating your little laughing outburst.

A look of surprise makes its way onto your face at his comment that he thinks Nico is into you, too. Maybe the two of you weren’t doing such a good job at acting normal around the team. You succeed at suppressing the laughter this time, figuring a second outburst would really make Jack upset. “Oh, you think he’s into me, do you?”

Jack looks at you like you just asked him if the sky was blue.

“Are you kidding me? Y/N, he literally jumps at the chance to be in any of your tik tok videos and he threatened the whole team so they would quit, and I quote, ‘making your job harder and just fucking do what you ask’ or he’d report us to coach.”

You can’t help but giggle this time, of course knowing all of this, Nico having told you himself after he did it, but you can’t let Jack know that.

“I don’t know, Jack, that doesn’t exactly sound like something he’d do. What does he get out of it? More interruptions during practice? More attention on social media? Doesn’t sound like Nico if you ask me,” you tell him, trying to play dumb.

“Oh, I don’t know, maybe he gets to spend more time with you. He gets on your good side, helps make your job easier while making ours harder. Earns brownie points to butter you up so you say yes to a date one of these days,” Jack leans his head towards yours, looking up at you like he’s just proven his point.

You steal a glance over at Nico, his head cocked, silently asking what you and Jack are talking about. You shake your head with a smile, telling him its unimportant with the roll of your eyes.

“I don’t know, Jack. We’ll see, I guess,” you sing song, earning a sigh from the boy to your right.

“You’re hopeless, both of you. I need another beer,” he gets up, leaving you on the bench by yourself, chuckling at just how right your best friend is.

After all of the burnt hot dogs and lukewarm veggies were eaten, it was time to for everyone to retire to their tents.

All of the players had to double up on tents, you and the coach being the only two people with their own. The players that were sharing tents on this trip would be sharing hotel rooms all season, so the bonding began with them being able to exist in the same space for an extended period of time.

Your tent sat about 50 feet from Jack and Luke’s. Nico’s tent was in the row of tents in front of yours, three tents separating the two of you.

You quickly made your way to your own tent and started getting ready for bed. Not being able to wash your face or do you proper skincare routine, you settled for brushing your teeth with a warm bottle of water and applying lotion to your face before crawling into your make-shift bed for the week. You hadn’t packed nearly enough blankets, seeing as you assumed it would be warm inside your tent, but you were chilled to the bone. You kept your sweatshirt on, opting for a pair of sweatpants instead of the skimpy sleeping shorts you brought.

You settled into your bed, switching off the small lantern you had been provided.

You laid there for what felt like ages trying to fall asleep. Every little snap of a twig or rustle of leaves made you scared a bear was about to claw its way through your tent.

You thought you had imagined it at first, assuming the wind was blowing and causing your tent to slightly ruffle in the wind. But when it happened a second time, this time the sound of something fiddling with the zipper of your tent following the ruffling, you were starting to panic.

You sat up, pulling the blanket to your chin as you saw a hand push on the door of your tent, a quiet yelp making its way out of you.

“Shhh, it’s just me, let me in,” you hear the familiar, accented voice of your boyfriend ring out, huffing while walking over and unzipping your tent just enough for him to slip through.

You walk back over to your air mattress, turning on the small lantern, looking at Nico standing in the middle of your tent. He was wearing a tan sherpa fleece with plaid pajama bottoms. He had to hunch over slightly, his height being too tall for your small tent.

“What the hell are you doing in here? You scared the hell out of me, you know that?” you whisper yelled at him, careful to not raise your voice too high as to not wake any of his teammates.

“My tent ripped, can I please share yours?” Nico asks with a smirk on his face.

“Oh, yeah? If your tent ripped then where’s Jesper sleeping, huh?” you raise your eyebrow and cross your arms.

“I just left him to fend for himself. Didn’t exactly want to invite him to sleep in here with us. Never know what he might see,” he walks towards you, placing his arms around your waist and pulling you close to him.

He looks down at you, your position mirroring earlier when this exact tent was being assembled, but you had no fear of anyone seeing you now.

“Hi, Schatz.”

You giggle up at him, unraveling your arms and placing them on his shoulders. “Hi Neeks.”

“I’ve been waiting all day to do this,” he mumbles before bringing his face down to yours.

You lean up on your tip toes to meet his lips, sighing contently into the kiss.

Nico pulls you closer, no space left between your bodies as his sucks your bottom lip into his mouth. You tangle your fingers in his hair, pushing against him into the kiss.

His tongue swipes across your lips, asking for entrance, and who are you to deny his wish? His tongue slips into your mouth, effectively deepening the kiss.

Nico walks you backwards until you plop down onto your air mattress, bringing his knee to rest in-between your legs, his forearms on either side of your head to support his weight.

You tug on his hair slightly, earning a groan in response. He starts grinding his pelvis against your thigh, which was your sign to stop this before it got too out of hand.

You pull back, pushing him up off of you slightly. He looks down at you with blown pupils and swollen lips. “Alright, tiger, slow down. We’re not having sex with several tents full of your entire team a few feet away.”

Nico deflates and brings his forehead to rest against your shoulder. “You couldn’t have told me that before I got a stiffie?”

“Sorry, shouldn’t have let yourself get so worked up. Should’ve known I wasn’t going to go there with this many people around,” you laugh at his whiney tone.

He rolls off of you onto his back, slinging his arm over his eyes.

“What are you doing? Quit being so dramatic,” you roll your eyes, trying to grab his arm and remove it from his face.

“Stop, trying to think of sad puppies to make my boner go away,” he swats your hand off of his arm.

You bust out laughing for the second time tonight, but this time you throw a hand over your mouth to stop the noise. The conversation about puppies in the car on the way here earlier making its way to your mind, making you laugh even harder.

“Okay, I think I’m good now,” Nico finally says, sitting up.

“Good. Don’t even think about getting handsy, either. This,” you gesture between you and Nico, “is not happening tonight. Or any night this week, for that matter.”

“Got it. You don’t want any of my teammates to hear you scream my name while my tongue is ins-“ you slap a hand over Nico’s mouth, not letting him finish that sentence.

His eyes shine with amusement at you, seeing your own wide in surprise. “Can I trust you to take my hand off of your mouth?” you ask him.

Nico shakes his head, but not before he darts his tongue out and licks a stripe up the palm of your hand, causing it to fly off of his mouth.

“Okay, you’re disgusting,” you scold him, wiping you hand on the blanket you’re both sitting on top of.

Nico just laughs at you in response, finding your annoyed expression amusing.

“C’mon, let’s go to bed. I’m already sick of you and the week hasn’t even started yet,” you tell him, pulling the blanket back so you can settle under it.

Nico follows your lead and places himself under the blanket at well, pulling your body close to his.

You lay your head on one end of your pillow while Nico places his on the other end, not having brought his own from his tent. The two of you just lay there facing each other for awhile before you remember to reach over and turn off the lantern once again.

You’re appreciative of the new warmth Nico brings to your bed, finally feeling yourself get sleepy.

“Wait, how are you going to know when to wake up before everyone else and go back to your tent?” you ask him, knowing his phone was in his vehicle, none of the players allowed their devices with them. You and coach were the only ones with phone privileges this week, even though they didn’t even work out here.

“Don’t worry, I will. First time I wake up I’ll sneak out, don’t worry,” he assures you, kissing you on the forehead before pulling your body flush to his, resting his chin on the top of your head.

Neither one of you must have woken up at all during the night, though, because when you wake up the next morning to the screams of “I knew it! I knew they were into each other! I told you so!” from your best friend as he stood inside your tent at the end of your bed with not only Luke, but with half of the team standing outside the wide open door of your tent, you were confused until you felt the weight of a body against yours. You open your eyes to see Nico’s scrunched face, the noise waking him up as well.

You both roll over and open your eyes, noticing your audience.

“I called it! I knew there was something going on here! How long have you two been together?” Jack bombards the two of you with questions despite you having literally just woke up.

“Get the hell out of this tent before I get coach to make everyone run three miles today,” Nico grumbles, his voice gravely from the early hour.

“No way, we need an explanation,” Dawson speaks this time, his expression matching Jack’s pleased one.

“You’ll get your explanation, but for right now, get out. Let us actually wake up without fifty people in our fucking tent. Now go, get out,” Nico pulls you closer to him, hiding your face in his chest and slinging a leg over your own.

“But-“ Jack starts again, but Nico removes an arm from around you and points at the door, “OUT!” he says sternly, his captain voice making an appearance.

The group of men start grumbling, but ultimately leaving your tent, zipping your door back up so you and Nico could have a bit of privacy again.

“Nico, you didn’t wake up,” you say, your voice muffled because of how close he’s holding you to his body.

“Sorry, Schatz. Was sleeping too good, I guess. Always happens when I’m sleeping with you. You’re like my own personal melatonin.”

You chuckle at him, not really mad that everyone found out, just wishing they hadn’t found you asleep together on a tiny air mattress.

“At least the boys know now. Now I don’t have to keep sneaking around at practice. I can stare at your ass loud and proud now,” Nico says, detaching himself from you and rolling over onto his back, rubbing his eyes.

You reach over and hit him in the chest. “This doesn’t give you permission to say innapropriate things to me while we’re at work.”

He rolls his head to look over at you, “Wouldn’t dream of it,” he smiles innocently, causing your to roll your own eyes and sigh at him.

“Hey! You guys better not be having sex in there! I’m implementing a no bone zone when I’m within a hundred feet of you two! Get your asses out here and get to explaining!” you heard Jack shout once again, beating his fist on the side of the tent.

You bring your hands up to cover your face, embarrassment flooding your veins.

“Jack! Suit up, you’re coming with me on a little run,” you hear coach shout, earning a “Shit, Nico this is your fault!” from Jack.

You burst into a fit of giggles.

You can’t help but feel like a weight has been lifted off of your chest, not having to lie to some of your closest friends anymore. You also foresee your week of no time with Nico changing slightly, figuring Jesper will be down a roommate for the remainder of the week.

Nothing, though, not even sharing a tent with Nico, or sneaking off to find open areas to gaze at the stars at night, could make you like camping.

You almost change your mind the night Nico takes you to a clearing, laying a blanket on the soft grass to stare up at the sky before he gifts you a necklace with his initial on it, the engraving on the back echoing the small “I love you” he whispers in your ear as he clasps the jewelry onto your neck.

You almost thought you liked camping then, until you walked back to you tent to find Nico had left it unzipped and a possum had made a home in the corner, hissing at him as you screamed loud enough to wake the whole team.

Yeah, you hate camping.

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lxvvie · 2 years ago

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More goofball shit featuring your faves. This time it revolves around this scenario: your lover is away, you're winding down for the day, and it's that time of the week when you do your face mask. They FaceTime you (or you them, depending), you answer with the mask on, and... reactions may vary. Or something like that.

Capt. John Price - The old man is actually nonplussed about it, if only because you got him the first time he talked to you with your mask on and he damn near had a heart attack. Dropped his cigar in his lap and everything.

Gaz - "Hey, love—oh, shit—!" The call disconnects and you're laughing your ass off. You got him back for pranking you and made damn well sure you were in the dark before you answered him.

Alex Keller - He was tired and wanted to send his love before he got some shut-eye for a bit. Then he saw you and was jolted back awake. Kinda. What really happened was that he spent the next couple of seconds looking crazy as shit and wondering if that was really you. Got his confirmation when he heard your voice. Hell yeah, his ass needs some sleep.

Soap - Kinda sulks in Golden Retriever because he would really like to partake in the goodness that is skincare with you because he really needs to de-stress, his skin isn't doing too good this time around, and you're wearing one of his shirts—how could you tease him like that?! Sulks even more when he finds out you're using the Aloe Vera mask this time, too.

Ghost - You know that one person who you FaceTime and y'all just spend a few minutes looking at each other? That's you and Ghost. His mask is up past his lips so you see the stubble—god, you miss the way it brushes against your inner thigh—and he's just... staring at you. Placidly. And you're staring at his lips him. Not-so-placidly. "Nice mask, lovie," Ghost breaks the silence, and you: "Better than yours, Simon?" He snorts good-naturedly, "Not even close." Cheeky bastard.

Alejandro - Has one of the most anti-climatic reactions ever. Doesn't even miss a beat with whatever it is he's doing and tells you to get some much-needed rest. Also mentally makes a note to take you up on your offer of getting a face mask once he gets home.

Rudy - Stops himself mid-laughter. Tries to hold it in. Busts out laughing. This was after he was startled because how else was he supposed to deal with the nervous energy? "What's so funny, Rodolfo?" Oh, shit, he knows that tone—

König - König.exe is in overdrive because you're using the sheet mask he bought for you. You can't see the goofy smile but you see the way his eyes crinkle. He'll be riding this high for a couple days, give or take. You'd give a smile in return but with the way the mask is practically plastered to your face...

Horangi - He's the one who bets that you'll fall asleep with it on. Bullshit. You were just resting your eyes because you had to keep it on for 20-30 minutes.

Graves - Doesn't even bother to react because he's seen you with a face mask on more often than not. Does pull this stunt though: "Say hey to the guys, darlin'. Wish 'em luck." And there you are in all of your skin-care glory for them to see. You awkwardly say hey and one sweet soul awkwardly waves back. Go to hell, Phillip.

Valeria - Turns out she loves her some face masks as well and y'all could be twinning, babes. And then she finds out which one you're using. "Huh. Sounds familiar. That wouldn't happen to be one of the ones I purchased, would it?" Oh, look at the time, gotta run—

Roach - Hits you with the thumbs up. Until you tell him you got one just for him, too. Uh...

Keegan - Spends the better part of your conversation wondering if you're okay (if the way he keeps staring intensely is any indication) because there can only be one masked mess in this relationship and it sure as hell shouldn't be you. You then had to give him a crash course in skin care.

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simonrileysfavteacup · 1 year ago

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Ok so, maybe this is gonna be a bit further into the future when Tommy’s a bit grown up (teenage maybe).

So your doing laundry and see that your son hasn’t been doing his chores and you go up to his room and see him playing his video games as usual, and you softly chastise him about his chores.

And he surprises you with his outburst, and he actually swears at you. And you flinch at the sound, astounded that your own son, your baby boy talked you into that manner.

Simon. Is. Pissed. He loves Tommy, but he will never tolerate him disrespecting you. Simon knows how much work you put into being a mother. Simon goes full on stern dad mode.

Imma let you decide what happens next 🤭🤭

THIS IS SUCH A GOOD IDEA WTFFFFF

Run through here for anyone confused about all the characters

***

Sundays were your favourite days. You loved the relaxation, the peace, the days off. Simon had been home for a few days. Your kids, Tommy, Emma, Lilah, and Alex, were ecstatic. Atleast, the twins were. The second Simon walked through the door, they wanted to play games and go outside and all that. Emma was just happy her dad was home and safe. She had been her father’s daughter from the moment she came out of the womb.

Tommy, however, your eldest, was a bit closed off. He practically sat in his room all day and never came out, It was starting to get on your nerves.

You were doing Simon’s laundry when you notice Tommy’s dirty clothes that you had asked him to wash still sitting by the laundry machine. You roll your eyes, heading into his room. “Bubby?”

“What?” he doesn’t turn to look at you, still focused on his PC.

“You didn’t do your laundry.”

“So what?”

“You need those clothes for school.”

“So you wash them. I’m busy.”

“Bubby, you’re old enough to wash them yourself.”

“Don’t call me that and isn’t it your job? It’s not like you work or anything. Dad does all of that. All you do is cook and clean and-”

“Thomas Riley!” His words hit deep in your chest.

“What? God, why do you always have to be such a bitch?”

That was it. He hit a nerve. You turn, walking out of his room, tears stinging the corners of your eyes. You head into your room, holding a pillow to your chest. His words hung in the air.

Simon walks in moments later, covered in mud after a football game with the twins. “HI lovie,” he smiles before noticing the tears on your cheeks. “What happened?”

“Nothing,” you turn away from him.

“You can’t lie to me, lovie.”

“Tommy yelled at me and he called me a bitch…said my only job was to cook and clean…”

“He what?” Simon is fuming.

“Please, don’t say anything to him…”

“He’s getting grounded. You stay here,” Simon walks out, running into Lilah. “Oi. Go to mom. She’s sad.”

The little girl nods and pads off to see you.

Simon walks to his eldest son’s room. Tommy turns in his gaming chair. “What?”

“Off the game or I unplug it,” Tommy rolls his eyes but turns off his game. “What did you say to your mom?”

“Nothing.”

“You lie just like her,” Simon holds back a chuckle. “She’s crying and it’s because of you. You know how much she does for you? And you swore at her. Go apologise. You’re grounded. No games for a month.”

Tommy looks down at his feet, guilty. He walks off to your room, where Lilah curls into you. You look up as Tommy sits on the edge of your bed. “Ma?”

You look at him.

“Ma, I’m sorry. I kinda let my emotions get the better of me. Didn’t mean to yell at you…just…I found out Lizzie was cheating and I’ve had a real bad week and I took it out on you. Please forgive me?”

A moment passes.

You open your arms, letting him curl into you. “She cheated?”

“With Neil,” he sighs. “I’m never dating again.”

“That’s what we all say, bubby.”

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leclercsluvs · 1 year ago

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CL16 | Already Over | smau

part 1 | masterlist

an: this is my first time writing something like this, so please be nice :,) also this will include sort of cheating (not really sure what to classify it as), and for that i am going to be using pics of charles and alex, however do i see any alex hate you are blocked or something, thank you very much) fc: sabrina carpenter pairing: charles leclerc x fem!reader inspired by: vicious by @azulpitlane and the album 'emails i can't send' by sabrina carpenter

yourusername

liked by charles_leclerc, landonorris and 2.047.489 others yourusername me and my baby <3 tagged: charles_leclerc

charles_leclerc can we stay like this forever?

yourusername always <3

yourusername

liked by charles_leclerc, carlossainz55 and 2.790.487 others yourusername looks good in photographs tagged: charles_leclerc

charles_leclerc you're the one looking good in photographs. why do you think i have the camera out?

yourusername

liked by charles_leclerc, yourbff and 2.047.489 others yourusername done with touring for now, gonna focus on writing some more music for all of you. see u soon <3

charles_leclerc beautiful

yourusername <3

charles_leclerc

liked by yourusername, pierregasly and 948.302 others charles_leclerc you're my only one <3 tagged: yourusername

yourusername love uuu <33

yourbff woah isnt that a little early-? yourusername love works in mysterious ways

yourusername

liked by charles_leclerc, yourfriend and 1.409.867 others yourusername never been so glad to be this tired. (thank you lando for the teddy bear, it was really comfortable) tagged: landonorris

charles_leclerc glad to be of help ;)

alex_albon wow i did not need this information

landonorris i want it back >:(

yourusername sorry not happening, too comfy landonorris please i said you could borrow it 😭 charles_leclerc sorry mate, it's hers now

yourusername

liked by charles_leclerc, danielricciardo and 1.409.867 others yourusername i might be mad for him (dont tell him, it'll go to his head) tagged: charles_leclerc

charles_leclerc wonder who

yourusername shush

yourbff girllll whattt??? since whennn?

yourfriend i think she may be a little crazy yourusername i told youuuu 😭

f1wagsupdates

liked by f1updates, sharllover and 375 others f1wagsupdates charles was spotted with a woman today at the beach. we have also seen him being flirty with y/n l/n on instagram, and this most certainly is not y/n. what's going on? tagged: charles_leclerc

sharllover you think y/n cheated?

f1editor i wouldn't even doubt it 🙄 luvy/n now why would you start a rumor like that? scfty/n *man hangs out with another woman* *first woman didn't do shit* people: SHE MUST HAVE DONE SOMETHING WRONG!! y/n.aep now why is it charles is spotted with a different woman and y/n is being accused of cheating? 😭

cl_lover damn and i thought he was such a nice man 😭

f1updates i guess it is all men 💔

charles_leclerc

liked by yourusername, olliebearman and 1.199.750 others charles_leclerc i'm too late to be your first love, but i'll always be your favorite tagged: yourusername

yourusername favorite forever <33

yourfriend girl that's wild y/n.aep girl did you not see the photos? 😭 y/nsfav we need her to see fr

leclerslove ew

cl_wife i dont know but i feel like she's with him for the fame

lovy/n she literally has a successful career on her own, what are you on about? 😭

lechair she gives pick me vibes idk

leclerclvr idk him and charlotte were better IDC WHAT YALL SAY

clarkeysbog posting this right after the photos of him and the other girl leaked??? kinda sus ngl

norris.vfx no literally what is he thinking??? 😭

part 2

#f1 x reader #charles leclerc x reader #formula 1 x you #formula 1 x y/n #formula one x you #f1 x you #f1 x female reader #f1 x y/n #formula 1 smau #f1 smau #formula one smau #formula 1

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darknessawaits28 · 4 months ago

Text

The Day of The Jackal {Alexander Duggan x reader}

Hello, hello, hello my lovies! I'm sorry but I got obsessed with this show and have been watching it multiple times! So, I wanted to give you a mini short story of you and The Jackal together. It may be different from the original plot of the story but same concept. Hope you enjoy. Thank you lovies for all your love and support! Yall are awesome! :3 Smut and violence warning, viewer discretion advised.

After discovering the secrets that Alex kept from you for years, you sank into his chair by his desk. Never in a million years would you suspect your traveling salesman of a husband would have such instrument of destruction. Quickly rising from his chair, you heard your phone buzzing, knowing for a fact it was him.

"Hello?" you whispered cautiously into your phone when you placed it close to your ear.

"Hey honey, I am so sorry that I didn't call you back, there was a slight problem in the job in Munich."

"Oh, okay, are you coming home now?"

"Yes I am my love, hopefully they don't call me back again." "Are you alright?" Alex questioned with worry laced in his voice.

"Y-Yes I-I'm fine...I...just....come home please" You gulped slightly.

Alex furrowed his brows at your response, noticing you gulping and the way you were speaking...something was definitely wrong. "I'll be there shortly, love you."

"Love you too" you said coldly, the word 'love you' not having meaning to you anymore.

A deep sigh escaped your voice as you walked out of his office and down the halls of your expensive Spanish home, wondering how you were going to explain this whole ordeal to your family. You knew how much they did not trust Alex with his comings and goings, but you always brushed them off, saying they were jealous of how much money he made and how you were being treated like royalty. But at this very moment, you feel a tremendous amount of regret for not listening to them sooner.

"Hijo de la gran puta" you murmured underneath your breathe, until you felt something hard against the back of your skull. ((Spanish Translation: Son of a bitch))

"Easy now dear, you're going to turn around slowly for me" A rough voice spoke from behind you.

"O-Okay..." you nodded, slowly turning around, not wanting to upset whoever this man was. When you faced the man, you noticed they were in black out clothing and full of weapons that seemed similar to your husband's.

"There ya go, now, where is the Jackal?"

"Who?"

"Don't play games with me bitch, where is the jackal, the assassin that took out the German politician Manfred Fest and his son Elias."

"I-I seriously don't know who you're talking about?" you gulped, hoping to god that whoever this assassin was, was not your husband.

The man growled in anger and annoyance, using the back of his gun to hit you in the face, instantly causing you to fall onto the floor in pain. "Last chance, where is the Jackal?"

You winced in pain, touching your nose to see that you were bleeding, "And I told you, I don't know!"

"Boss, do we kill this girl, she keeps saying that she doesn't know the jackal?" the man used his radio to contact his partner.

"No Damion, maybe we can use her as bait, he'll come for her" the other man spoke through the radio.

"Alright" Damion smirked as he grabbed you violently by your hair and began to drag you across the hall.

"Ah, stop it, let go!" you pleaded, trying to struggle your way out of his grip.

"I love it when you girls struggle" Damion laughed, releasing you and then roughly picking you up over his shoulder to head downstairs.

"Listen up men, I know the jackal will be arriving soon, I want you all to take your positions in each corner of this house and outside as well." "And I swear to god, if you fuck up, you'll be hearing from the butcher." "Understood!?" the boss yelled to his squad of men.

"Understood sir" the group of men shouted in agreeance to their boss, quickly taking their designated positions around the house and outside.

"Let me go you pendejo!" You slammed your fist onto Damion's back, but stopped when you felt his hand slightly grab your ass. ((Spanish translation: stupid))

"Mm, you got a nice ass, I wonder if the Jackal popped your cherry yet, because you seem so uptight I'm pretty sure you're a virgin still" he huffed, slamming you onto your living room couch and grabbed duct tape from his pack. "Now, you're going to be a good little girl or I will punish you."

"Fuck you!" you spit in his face.

Damion shut his eyes the minute he felt saliva spray his face, "Ugh...you fucking bitch" he growled, wiping his face with his glove and then slapping the living shit out of you. "Next time, I'll slap you harder" he warned you, pushing your face into the couch as he began to tie your hands and legs together.

As you laid there, tears began to overflow your eyes, wishing that Alex would've never met nor married you.

"Aww are you crying, did I hurt you that badly?" Damion mocked you when he pulled you up by your hair.

"Ah....go to hell" you breathed out with pain laced in your voice.

"That's where the Jackal is going" he laughed deviously, grabbing the another piece of tape to cover your mouth. "See you in a few minutes."

The minute Damion disappeared, you tried to wrestle free from the tape that was tied around your hands and legs, but your efforts proved to be in vain.

Meanwhile, Alex continued driving down the road, wondering what was wrong with you. You've never sounded like that in all these years, well, once when he forgot about your birthday, but this was different. A deep sigh escaped his lips as he shifted the gear of his car, going slightly faster. Within seconds, he was pulling up to the house, making sure to shut off the lights to his car to not announce his arrival. Once he put his car in park and shut it off, he slowly turned his head to view the house, noticing that something was off, something that only an army trained man could notice.

Casually grabbing his things, he made sure to have his gun loaded and ready for use in case someone tried to attack him. As silent as he could, he stepped out of his car, and headed inside, making sure to analyze his surroundings. As he finally reached the doors, he opened it, stepping inside and setting his bag down by the chair.

Upon hearing the door open, your eyes widened, quickly struggling to sit up, "Mm, mm!" You tried to shout for Alex.

Alex's ears pricked up at the sound of a muffled voice, his heart beginning to race as he held his gun close to him.

"Mmm mmm!" you cried out, hearing footsteps coming closer.

Alex quickly rushed into the living room, gasping at the sight of you tied up on the couch. "Y/n?" he questioned, quickly dodging a knife that came swinging at him.

"Argh, come on ya bastard!" Damion growled as he tried to stab Alex.

Alex continued to dodge the knife, putting his gun in his pocket and began to punch the man, trying with all his might to get the knife out of his hand.

"You have a sweet girl there, I can't wait to fuck her when we're done killing you" Damion snickered as he struggled to slam the knife into him.

Alex, hearing his disgusting words, brought a seething rage within him, using his legs to kick him in the groin and grab the knife from him. Within an instant, he jabbed the knife into his chest, making sure to jam it deep within so he could feel the intense pain. "Fuck, you" he growled, pushing the man away from him and then rushing to your aid.

"Oh my love, are you okay" he said as he grabbed another knife that he conveniently had in his other pocket and began to cut your restraints.

When he finally pulled off the tape from your mouth, all you could do was burst into tears, "Alex, y-you can't be here...t-they're all over the place...they're going to kill you!" you worriedly spoke, completely forgetting about the fact that you were mad at him about the secrets he kept from you and the amount of weapons he had tucked away in his closet.

"Don't worry about me" he looked deep into your eyes, cupping your cheeks, noticing the bruises and the blood that littered your face. "Did he hurt you?"

"Well, he slapped me around and...hit me with his gun but I'll be okay" you truthfully told him.

"Those bastards" he growled, pulling you into a hug, hoping to calm you down slightly by his embrace. "I need you to do me a favor?" he asked as he pulled away from the hug.

"What?"

"Go into our bedroom, lock the door, and hide in our closet, I'm going to finish them off."

"Wait Alex!" You tugged at his arm.

"I'll be careful okay, go now" he smiled softly, pulling you into a deep kiss and then went about to find those bastards.

An hour had passed, your body shivering in worry and fear about Alex. He went off to fight a literal army out there, there's no possible way he could've survived. Ignoring the fact that he told you to hide in the closet, you opened the doors, trying to see where he was and if he was okay. "Alex?" you whispered, sneaking towards the bedroom door and then opening it up a crack. A loud gasp rang from your lips when you saw him walking down the hall, covered in dirt, blood, and the occasional cuts and bruises.

"Alex!" you shouted his name again, opening the door wide and rushing into his arms.

"Heh, told you I'd be alright" he smiled when you came charging towards him.

"Cabron, you lied to me" you growled, slapping him viciously across the face.

Taken aback by the sudden slap, he narrowed his eyes in curiosity. "What did I lie to you about y/n?" he questioned with confusion.

"You had weapons, cash, and who knows what else hidden in that closet of yours." "And now these men show up at our house, demanding to know where this Jackal guy is, and almost killed me and you." "Who are you really Alex?" "You can't be a traveling salesman or whatever the fuck you claim to be!" you shouted, clearly traumatized by what transpired an hour ago.

Alex sighed angrily at this sudden interest, "You went through my closet?"

"I did....because I thought you and I had no secrets." "But clearly I was wrong." "Who.are.you?" you spoke again with venom laced in your voice.

Alex towered over you like an animal in heat, preparing himself to tell you his true identity. "I'm...I'm an assassin and....kill people for money."

Your heart sank at the sudden information that was laid on you, "Y-You're a what?"

"I kill people for money, is that what you want to fucking hear!" Alex shouted in anger.

You jumped back at his yell, tears overflowing your eyes again as Alex's true self was slowly starting to show. "I-I don't know who you are anymore Alex" you breathed out in fear, turning around and rushing into your bedroom, slamming the door in the process.

Alex rubbed his head in frustration, hating how he snapped at you due to the tremendous amount of stress he was already in. "Y/n please, I-I'm sorry...I didn't mean to yell at you" he spoke from behind the door. "My love please" he spoke again, trying to get you to talk to him. As he grabbed the doorknob, he noticed it was locked, another wave of anger filling him. "Open the door y/n."

"Go away" you shouted at him as you sat in the corner, your knees pulled close to your chest.

"Open....the goddamn door y/n" Alex angrily ordered.

"Mentiroso de mierda!" "Lejate de mi!" ((English translation: You lying sack of shit, get away from me!))

Without warning, Alex kicked the door open, stomping his way in and towards you.

"No, no!" you gasped, covering your face in fear.

Alex quickly grabbed you, picking you up bridal style and then slamming you onto the bed.

"Let go of me!" you screamed, trying to get away from this murderer.

"Stop it, stop!" Alex demanded, grabbing both of your hands and pushing them above your head, his face inches away from your own. "Look at me."

"Why should I look at a murderer?" you growled.

Hurt by your words, he held your wrists with his left and grabbed your face with his right, forcing you to look at him. "Do you know how much I love you?" "How I do this job for you?" "I do this so I could provide for you." "To make your life happy as possible." "I know the struggle you've had before, I know how your family is." "All I wanted to do was to live a life of happiness with you my love" he sighed, pressing his head gently against your own.

Hearing those words brought an ache to your heart. He always had a way with words, but you couldn't give in, not after the secrets he held from you nor the trauma you just endured. "You don't love me."

"I do love you, I love you with all my heart" he breathed out softly, leaning down towards your neck and pressed gentle kisses against it.

"Ah, t-then you'll stop....if you love me you'll stop this and live quietly with me" you pleaded with him.

"Okay, I promise." "I just got one more job, and I will be finished, sound alright to you?"

Hating that he had one more job to complete, you nodded, simply because you wanted to be with your husband and live in peace; not live in a life of fear and having to look over your shoulder for the rest of your life.

A small smile peered across his lips as released your wrists, sitting up slightly to remove his shredded and bloody stained shirt.

"You look hurt, do you want me to get the first aid kit?"

"No."

"But you're bleeding, let me at least get a towel to stop it."

"No" he breathed out more deeply, slowly hovering over you and grasping your cheek. "All I want to do is make love to my wife."

"Alex I don't think this is the right time" you moaned softly when he pulled you into another deep kiss, your body beginning to melt at his touch.

"Y/n" he moaned against your lips, his groin grinding against your pants.

"Alex" you pulled away from the kiss, pushing him back gently to remove your shirt.

As he watched you strip in front of him, he did the same, unbuckling his pants and removing the rest of his bloody stained clothing.

In an instant of passion and love, he slammed his cock within you, letting out a breathe of pleasure against your ear. "Does that feel good?"

"Yes, yes, it feels so good Alex" you cried out, wrapping your arms around him.

Alex let out a slight chuckle at how eager you sounded. "Good" he hummed, beginning to move his hips, his cock slamming within you.

"Alex, Alex" You moaned happily, moving your head a bit to devour his lips.

Alex groaned hungrily, devouring your lips as well, his hips having a mind of their own as he fucked you raw and hard. He knew that by the end of this he would have to leave you. It pained him, but he had a job to finish, and he had to see it through to the end.

After all, he was The Jackal.

#the day of the jackal #jackal #love #smut #love story #short story #tumblr fyp #on tumblr #story #jackal x reader #alexander duggan #eddie redmayne

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ts1m1kas · 10 months ago

Text

Original Ask: Hii can I request a jealous!max verstappen x reader where they’re secretly dating but the other drivers keep flirting with her lol (anonymous)

Word Count: 580 words

(author's note: first f1 fic, i hope you all enjoy !! 🫶)

When Max and Y/N finally started dating, Max requested one thing from his girlfriend; they kept their relationship private. Y/N had agreed immediately, understanding that life as an F1 driver’s girlfriend could become stressful at times.

However, Max began to regret his decision when he spotted Y/N and Charles talking animatedly outside the Ferrari garage. He stood watching from afar, grinding his teeth in annoyance.

“So Max is taking you to Bali? That’s nice,” Charles commented, smiling at the woman in front of him.

“Yes, he is! When he heard it’s somewhere I’ve always wanted to go, he booked the tickets immediately. We’re going together at the start of the off-season.”

“That is the most Max thing I’ve ever heard. I'm excited for you, though, Bali’s gorgeous.”

Y/N laughed, “You’re not wrong. Are you and Alexandra planning on going anywhere?”

“I think she mentioned wanting to go to France? I can’t remember off the top of my head, but we’re definitely thinking of going away.”

“That sounds lovely. Please do tell her I say hello.”

Max had decided he couldn’t take it any longer. He stormed over to Y/N and Charles and put on the fakest smile he could muster.

“Everything okay over here? You both seem to be having fun.”

“Hi Maxie, Charles was just telling me about his holiday plans with Alex!” Y/N said happily, turning round to look at her boyfriend.

“Yeah? Well, I think we’re needed in the garage, so we should probably get going. Wouldn’t want to keep Christian waiting.”

“Okay, I’ll see you later Charles, good luck with the race!”

“Bye Y/N, see you around,” Charles replied, waving goodbye.

Max began walking off in the direction of the Red Bull garage, with Y/N hot on his heels. When they finally arrived, Y/N turned to face Max.

“I know Christian didn’t need us Max, are you gonna tell me what’s going on?”

Max scratched the back of his head, suddenly feeling embarrassed.

“Maxie? You can tell me, I won’t laugh at you.”

“You talking to Charles made me a little jealous.”

“A little?” Y/N said, raising her eyebrow.

“Okay, a lot. I shouldn’t have pulled you away from him like that, I’m sorry, schatz.”

“It’s okay, lovie, just remember I'm yours and only yours.”

Max pulled Y/N into a grateful hug. He knew he could be irrational sometimes, but he was thankful that his girlfriend was always there to ground him and remind him that she loved him.

“I think,” Max started, “That I'd like to go public.”

“Are you sure, you know I don't mind either way, Maxie,” Y/N responded, looking up at her boyfriend.

“It might help if others know that you're mine. They should flirt with you less.”

Y/N slapped him gently on the chest, “They don't flirt with me Max, don't be ridiculous. It would be impossible for anyone to flirt with me when you're standing a metre away staring daggers at them.”

“I suppose, but I still want to tell everyone.”

“Okay then, whatever you want.”

Max pulled Y/N into another hug, “I'm sorry again for earlier.”

“It's okay, I know what you're like by now. You and your irrational thoughts.”

Max laughed, and the pair remained in each other's embrace for a while. Until Christian actually did need them both, and Max had to detangle himself from Y/N with a disappointed and discontented sigh.

#f1 #fanfiction #fanfic #f1 drivers #max verstappen #max verstappen x reader #max verstappen blurb #max verstappen imagine #by ts1m1kas

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totaly-obsessed · 1 year ago

Note

Hi! Can you do a Mary earps and reader fic where the reader is England medic or coach and all the team love her and Mary is soooo proud and in love but also wants all the attention from her girl plwaseeee

Comfort

Mary Earps x reader request

-> Reader is the Lionesses medic, and also Mary's wife

-> Talk of Alex Greenwood's recent injury

➳ Masterlist

•─────⋅☾ ☽⋅─────•

Mary loved National Camp – all her friends playing together, representing their country. But her favorite thing about it? Being with you 24/7.

As one of the teams’ medics and physios, you accompanied them to every training and game, wearing your wife’s jersey beneath the team jacket. And it was not one of the shirts that you can buy, but one of Mary’s personal ones, one from the euros. So not only were you a good-luck charm but you were also wearing one.

Mornings at Saint George’s Park were your second favorite, right behind breakfast in bed with Mary. While you definitely were not a morning person, your wife was and the early training start didn’t help you either, so at eight in the morning, you were sat at a table in the dining hall – a steamy cup of coffee in front of you, just as you liked it. Mary had given it to you when you returned from your shared room, having to go back because you had forgotten your bag.

The brunette was currently getting food for the both of you, while you tried to wake up with the coffee. “Doc!” You were in fact not a doctor of any kind, but Lucy didn’t care either way and just threw herself down in one of the chairs next to you. The defender handed you a small chap-stick-like tube. “It’s a wake-up-stick. Thought ya could need it.” You smiled at her gratefully, thanking her with a quick squeeze of her hand. After applying the stick, you waited, and while you didn’t notice an immediate difference it smelled nice.

“Aye Miss Earps! How have ya been?” It was Ella’s loud voice that eventually pulled you out of your sleep-induced trance. The younger girl sat down next to you – in Mary’s chair - as she excitedly told you a story of something Alessia had done, who sat on her other side, followed by Garce. Eventually, Esme, Hempo, and Maya joined in as well. The table had become too small after Grace sat down, but no one cared. The footballer just pulled in more tables and chairs, making the circle bigger and bigger until Mary finally came back. “Oi, what’s this then?”

The entire Lionesses squad had squished around a couple of tables, exited chatter filling the room, with you somewhere in between. “Up ya get Tooney.” The brunette could whine and pout as much as she liked but Mary was ruthless, wanting to sit next to her wife. You thanked her with a quick kiss, rolling your eyes as you heard Rachel yell “There’s children here – perverts!” Your favorite goalkeeper was quick to yell “And you’re one of them!” back at the blonde as the table started laughing.

You loved this. While you were not a part of the team that was on the pitch, the girls loved you. For you, and not for being Mary’s wife.

After eating you had to leave earlier, needing to set up the treatment room, checking if everything was where it was supposed to be. Georgia was the first to come in, wanting some numbing cream on her ankle as she had an incredibly sore bruise there. Next was Ellie, who got her neck taped as she had some tension there. After all the smaller complaints had been dealt with, your very favorite patient entered the room, hugging you from behind to announce her arrival.

“My turn, Lovie.” It was a nice little ritual you had built up over time – Mary would sit down and apply ice spray to her hands before you started taping her left one, laying a kiss on top when finished, before repeating the same thing for her second hand. Then came your favorite part – taping her shoulders. After making sure that no one else was in the room and that there were no cameras your wife would take off her shirt, pulling the straps of her sports bra to the sides as well as she could.

This was also the brunette’s favorite part, as you massaged her tense shoulders, layering them in soft kisses – marveling at her muscles as you started taping them. “Like what you see, my love?” She would always ask, a teasing smirk on her face before she would pull you into a passionate kiss – the last one both of you would get before the end of training.

It was the last day before the England-Belgium game and the small training session had gone by without any problems, sending the players to recovery.

But it was the next day, matchday, that you and your abilities would be tested.

In the seventh minute, the game was interrupted with a call of ‘handball into the area by Chloe Kelly’ which meant that there would be a freekick for Belgium in an incredibly dangerous position. Mary had set the girls up to her liking but the ball was struck with perfection, curling nicely, and finding the back of the net – leaving your wife to catch the rebound ball as she laid on the ground. It was devastating, knowing that she would blame herself for it. But it was only the seventh minute, leaving the whole game up for grabs.

And then it happened.

In the Eighteenth minute, a long ball from the Belgian goalkeeper found its way to the other side of the pitch, leaving Alex Greenwood and Jassina Blom to collide with their head against each other. Directly in front of the England bench.

Before the blonde even hit the ground, you had started running with your colleague grabbing the bag.

Alex was lying head-down on the pitch as the stadium got silent in shock. You kneeled by her head, getting as close to her as you managed. “Can you hear me, Alex?” But you quickly noticed that she couldn’t answer you, she was in too much pain. “Tap your finger once for yes, twice for no. Can you hear me?” One tap.

She was still conscious.

“Have you had more than one concussion before?” One tap.

Fuck.

Knowing the risks of multiple head injuries, it was important to react in a proper manner. Most of the players were standing at Sarina’s side as she gave instructions, but you could feel their scared stares finding you again and again as you tried to hide Alex from the world. Mary didn’t stand too far away from you, terrified that you were on the pitch. As much as she loved you, when you were on the pitch something bad had happened.

You were checking the injured player’s pulse and her pupils, as everything showed signs of a terrible concussion – but with previous injuries, this was a ticking time bomb. Just a minute later the field doctors entered the pitch, stretcher in hand as they walked towards you.

The Belgian player sat up again, a bandage on her head, but it was too risky to sit Alex up. Any sudden movement could send her into a seizure and the aftereffects could be immense. With all of the doctors at your side now, you carefully turned the player on her back, after getting confirmation from a professional you had placed a wet rag over her eyes, trying to shield them from the harsh lights.

Mary was standing behind you, offering her legs as something to lean against, which you gladly accepted as her teammate was heaved onto the stretcher as carefully as possible. In the 31st minute, Alex was finally stretchered off by the medical professionals as you sat back down in your seat – heart pumping incredibly fast.

The game was lost, Belgium winning 3-2 the shock of Alex’s injury still sitting deep.

Back in the team hotel, it was quiet, they had not only lost an important game, but Alex their friend and teammate was in the hospital.

Mary sat next to you on one of the big couches as some of the younger ones looked for comfort in the two of you. It was Chloe who just blatantly sat down in your lap, cuddling into your wife and yourself looking for warmth and shelter. And it did not take too much longer until you were covered in players as they flocked towards you like a herd of lost sheep that were looking for comfort.

#woso x reader #woso imagine #woso #woso imagines #engwnt x reader #lionesses x reader #mary earps x reader #mary earps #man united wfc x reader

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babydollmarauders · 2 years ago

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QUINNY’S B-DAY — JACK HUGHES

part of the el!hughes au

quinn hughes x platonic!reader

notes: a short birthday post for our now 24 year old captain 🫶🏻

y/n.hughes

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y/n.hughes Q, you taught me what familial love really is. you took a quiet, introverted, anxiety ridden, 13 year old girl under your wing, and i’m so grateful for that. you constantly reminded me that my home life did not make me who i was, but that it could help shape me into who i wanted to become. it’s because of you that i met my soulmate and have the amazing family and support system that i have now. where everyone else saw an outcasted 8th grader who snuck in to watch hockey practices, you saw someone who needed your love and guidance, and you had never been more right. you showed me that my house was not a home, but yours was. you showed me that i could live a life that made me feel good. and most importantly, you showed me what it was like to feel loved and wanted in someone’s life.

i’m so thankful that i get to call you my brother. i’m thankful that when i call, you answer; when i cry, you do anything to make me smile; and when i’m living, you’re cheering me on.

i love you from the north pole to the south, a million times over 🤍 thank you for providing me with the chance to be happy “because i deserve it”

happy 24th, snuggles!

tagged _quinnhughes

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_quinnhughes was i expecting to cry a bit today? no. thank you, lovie. i love you from the north pole to the south, a billion times over 💙

y/n.hughes oh- a billion is a lot more than a million

_quinnhughes yes it is, it’s also how much i love you

y/n.hughes oh okay

jackhughes you broke my wife, jackass

_quinnhughes @/jackhughes aren’t you supposed to be nice to me on my birthday?

jackhughes i was gonna, and then you made my lovie cry again

_quinnhughes @/jackhughes again?

jackhughes she already cried going through her camera roll to find these pictures and writing the post

_quinnhughes @/y/n.hughes call me 💙

lhughes_06 @_quinnhughes happy birthday, Quinner! best oldest bro there ever was 💪

_quinnhughes thanks, moose!

_alexturcotte @_quinnhughes happy birthday, Quinn! 🫡 go beat the Oilers!

_quinnhughes thank you, Alex! i’ll sure try!

colecaufield @_quinnhughes haps birth, cap bro!

_quinnhughes you didn’t finish a single word in that sentence… thanks, Cole?

colecaufield you’re so welcome!

jackhughes @_quinnhughes i guess happy birthday big bro, hope you have a good day and a good game!

_quinnhughes lovie made you say this, didn’t she?

jackhughes you know it

_quinnhughes i’ll accept it anyways, thanks Jacky

jackhughes El also says happy birthday

_quinnhughes she can’t even say happy birthday, dude

jackhughes but she CAN say “appy day-day, winny!”, i was paraphrasing

_quinnhughes big word for ya, bud

jackhughes just for that, you don’t get to see my daughter or my wife

_quinnhughes too late, lovie is facetiming me rn. talk to ya in two secs

jackhughes damnit, lovie!

y/n.hughes i love and miss him 🥺

jackhughes damn, i can’t stay mad at you

#el!hughes au #quinn hughes #jack hughes #quinn hughes x reader #quinn hughes fic #quinn hughes imagine #quinn hughes blurb #jack hughes x reader #jack hughes imagine #jack hughes fic #jack hughes blurb #nj devils #vancouver canucks #nhl imagine #nhl fic #faithlynn’s insta edits <3 #faithlynn’s writings <3

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chrisevansonly · 2 years ago

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𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐱’𝐬 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥 | 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐬

✯lando norris x female reader (ft. alexandra saint mleux)

✯social media au

✯so now we know who’s girl lando’s gf really is

✯pt 2 to lando’s girl, not requested i just wanted to do a part two🤭

yninstagram

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happy girl waiting to be reunited with my bff🩷

see 34,000 comments

username looking gorgeous as ever

username omg i need to look like her

landonorris miss you already :(

landonorris hope you miss me too

landonorris come back

>yninstagram i’ll be back so soon lovie, miss you sm already 🥺❤️

username lando in the comments 😭

alexandrasaintmleux can’t wait to see you baby!!!!

>yninstagram so excited 🥰

username THE GIRLS ARE REUNITING!!!!

charles_leclerc about to be the longest week of my life 😃

liked by landonorris

>alexandrasaintmleux 🤔🤔

>yninstagram 😁😁

yninstagram added to their story!

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alexandrasaintmleux

liked by charles_leclerc, ynisntagram, apmmonaco and 76,000 others

reunited and it feels so good🥰

tagged yninstagram

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username alex and y/n are too much to handle

username oh wow😍😍😍

charles_leclerc gorgeous baby❤️

charles_leclerc hey y/n bring her back in one piece 😃

>yninstagram hey charles, sleep with an eye open 😃

username PLS💀

landonorris don’t do anything i wouldn’t do!!!

>yninstagram babe that list is so short….

>danielricciardo can confirm

>landonorris 😐

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yninstagram

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best week with my other half, let’s do this everyday ❤️

tagged alexandrasaintmleux

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username these two are my fav f1 wag duo

username GIRLS!!!!!!

username ok so lemme be in this friend group 😌

landonorris NO NOT EVERYDAY

landonorris I NEED YOU EVERYDAY

>charles_leclerc i agree, lando needs you everyday 🫠

>yninstagram @:landonorris IM ON MY WAY BABY

>yninstgram @:charles_leclerc count your days leclerc COUNT THEM!!!

username lando is the biggest baby ever

alexandrasaintmleux i’m still crying come back 😭

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landonorris

liked by yninstagram, quadrant, carlossainz55 and 865,000 others

never leave me again.

tagged yninstagram

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username why is this so cute

username parents my parents!!!!

yninstagram i’ll never leave you again baby 🥺

yninstagram i love love you!!!🩷

>landonorris i love love you ❤️

username too much love, can’t handle it

alexandrasaintmleux leave him…come home

>charles_leclerc NO

>landonorris NO

username let the y/n war begin

yninstgram

liked by mclaren, landonorris, alexandrasaintmleux and 645,000 others

never leaving you.

tagged landonorris

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username 🥹🥹🥹🥹

username adopt me pls

landonorris stuck with my forever.

>yninstagram wouldn’t have it any other way😘

username STUCK WITH ME FOREVER? ENGAGEMENT?!

username HOLD UP

alexandrasaintmleux i’ll be happy for you…even if it ruins me😪

>yninstgram you’ll always be my girl❤️

username IM CONFUSED!!!

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keithpaladin05 · 2 years ago

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Poly hamilsquad x reader sickfic

It was a quiet morning in the middle of November. You woke up to a pounding headache, piercing stomach pains, and a dry, sore throat. You writhed around on the bed, willing the pain to go away. Your eyes welled up with tears and you whimpered in pain. “Mmm babygirl?” John whispered as he yawns and rolls over to face you. He sees your eyes welling up with tears and your face scrunched up in pain. “Hey, baby come here” he cooed as you put your head into the crook of his neck. “I-it hurts s-so bad” you sobbed into his neck as you tightly grasped his shirt. “Shhhhh where’s it hurt baby girl?” “My head, s-stomach and t-throat.” You whimpered out. John kissed your forehead and leaned over you to shake Laf awake. ��Laf, hey, wake up babe.” Laf stirred and opened his eyes slowly. “What’s going on?” He asked sleepily. “Baby girl is sick” John said sadly as he rubbed your back. “Aww mon amour come here” he cooed and kissed your shoulder. He then placed the back of his hand against your forehead and hummed in disapproval. “You have a fever lovie” you whine and cuddle into Laf’s chest. “I’ll go find some medicine” John says as he climbed over Herc, waking him in the process. He grumbles but stops once he sees the state you’re in. “Awww honey” he coos as you look at him sadly with a pained look on your face. “H-hurts s-so b-bad” you croaked and your eyes welled up with tears again from the pain. “I know baby, I know” Herc said sadly as he moved closer and kissed your unusually warm forehead.

A few minutes later John comes back in with some pain pills, a glass of water, and some tea. “We probably should wake up Alex so he knows what’s going on” John says as he sits by your feet, rubbing your calf soothingly. John then stood up and shook Alex awake gently. “Baby, wake up. (Y/n) is sick” John said. Alex immediately woke up to that and sat up concerned. “Is she okay? Where is she?” He asked frantically as he looked around the room and spotted you cuddled in between Laf and Herc. “Awww lovely, what’s got you so sick, hmm?” You just shrug and let out a tearful sniffle. “I-I don’t know” you mumbled and snuggled your face into Herc’s shoulder. “Try and go back to sleep honey” Herc said quietly and stroked your hair. You nodded and closed your eyes.

Around an hour later you woke up feeling worse than before. Your stomach was churning painfully, and your head felt like it was going to explode. You then felt the vomit coming up your throat and you ran to the bathroom. You didn’t have time to shut or lock the door so of course the guys heard you. You heard Laf come into the bathroom and he sat down behind you. “Shhhh mon amour just let it all out” he soothed as he tied your hair back and rubbed your back soothingly. Once you were finished you leaned back into his chest in a fit of sobs. “H-hurts” you said in between sobs. “I know baby, I know” he whispered as he rubbed your stomach in soothing circles. “Lets clean you up then we’ll go snuggle on the couch” he says as he wipes your mouth with a cloth and picks you up bridal style. He brings you to the couch and lays you down with your head on Alex’s lap while he typed away on his laptop. “Feeling any better babe?” He asked while stroking your hair. You shook your head no and nuzzled your face into his stomach. Alex looked at you sadly and went back to typing.

~time skip~

It was around 5pm now and you were currently laying on top of John’s chest on the couch watching a movie you couldn’t remember the name of as you were in a fever induced daze. Herc brought you some more medicine about 30 minutes prior but you still felt just as sick as this morning. John noticed you dazing with a blank and tired look on your face and rubbed your back in soothing circles. “Go to sleep baby” he said softly and pulled the blanket up to your neck. You closed your eyes and wrapped your arms around his waist.

Around an hour later the rest of the boys had all joined you in the living room for a chill movie night. You were sitting in between John and Laf, with Herc on the reclining chair and Alex on his lap. There was pizza on the coffee table and you were happily munching away.

“You feeling better love?” Laf asks as he puts his arm around you.

“A little, thanks to all of you” you swipe happily and put your head on his shoulder, happy to have your boys.

#poly hamilsquad x reader #hamilton x reader #john laurens #alexander hamilton #hercules mulligan #sickfic

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corruptedcaps · 1 year ago

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I’ll take it from here

Alex stood at the front door of Gina’s house and was rethinking her plan when suddenly the door opened and her bully stood right there in front of her.

“Do you have my work done yet loser? That better be why you asked to come to my house after school. I’m suppose to be going on a date with your hot step brother Harry.” Gina snarled at Alex who stood calmly before her tormentor but inside was a bundle of nerves. It might have been a mistake to meet Gina at her own home, it face the bitch home field advantage.

“N-no Gina I don’t have your homework and furthermore I won’t be doing it or anymore of your work going forward.” Alex said stuttering unable to hide her fear. Gina’s bitchy smirk however turned sour.

“Excuse me? You don’t decide to stop, I’ll tell you when you stop understand? Oooh I was looking forward to getting wined and dined by Harry but it’ll be just as much fun beating you up.” Gina said advancing on Alex who pulled out a large red jewel from her pocket and pointed it at Gina.

“No! Stay back! I didn’t want to do this, but I bought this magic rock, it will strip away all your evilness once I say the magic word. If you just walk away I won’t use it!” Alex said almost shaking. Gina however started to laugh.

“A magic rock? That’s the lamest thing I’ve ever heard! God I can’t wait until I tell all the girls about this tomorrow, they’re going to want a piece of you too. But for now you’re all mine!” Gina said with an evil grin as she advanced again on Alex.

“No please! No go away! Oh the hell with it! Alterexia!” Alex cried out and the gem started to glow. Before long its light was filling up the room and with a boom, a beam of red light hit Gina square in the chest. Then as quickly as it happened, the light died away.

“Wow nice light show geek but if I were you I’d get my money back.” Gina said mockingly. Alex looked at the gem confused, it should have worked. Then suddenly the gem turned to dust in her hand.

“Haha I guess even that’s not an option anymore. Now where were we.” Gina grinned as she stepped closer to Alex. However after one step she felt a sudden pull in her chest. Brushing it off she took another step and this time the pull was so intense that the buttons of her top flew open and she barely grabbed them.

“What the hell?” She said. It was as if her tits were trying to escape her body. Holding them tight she felt her breasts trying wriggle through her fingers.

“No! What’s happening? Stay put!” She cried but it was no use, with a pop her boobs came from her body leaving her with a flat, bare chest.

What happened next took both of them by surprise as the big boobs hung the air for just a moment before flying over to Alex and diving under her shirt. The very act froze Alex to the spot. It wasn’t until they reached her chest and slid over her own small pair, grafting onto them, that she let out a gasp.

“Ooohhhh fuck what is happening.” She groaned. It wasn’t a groan of pain though, it was one of wet eroticism. Her new heavy pair of tits felt so sensitive, her nipples standing at attention. The combination of both hers and Gina’s boobs gave her an impressive set.

“W-what the hell is this? What did you… wait, what’s happening now?” Gina said as she felt her head start to itch. Her blonde follicles began to rise and stand on end until one by one they were seemingly plucked by an unseen force. Before long every hair on her head was gone, suspended now in the air above her in a large clump.

Just as Gina jumped to grab the hair it shot across the room to Alex where it hit her softly in the face. It then migrated upwards to her head. Each strand latched onto one of her brown hairs, wrapping around it like a braid until it had consumed it and turned it bright gold. The whole process was orgasmic for Alex.

“Mmmm oh yesss that feels really goooood.” She moaned as her hair grew thick and strong thanks to having two sources. Alex ran her hands through her new hair and played with it lovingly. However she wasn’t happy with how her fingers looked wrapping her hair around them. Her nails were dirty and half bitten from stress. Not as nice as Gina’s pink press on acrylic’s. She suddenly wanted them. She felt she deserved them. Eyeing them with new found desire she instinctively lifted her hands out in front of her.

“Come to me, come to your new home.” Alex said in a new cold purr that came naturally to her now. Suddenly Gina’s arms went stiff and shot upwards. One by one each fake nail snapped off her fingers and flew over to a waiting Alex who groaned as each one pressed onto her own fingers.

“Mmmm yes these will do nicely. Thanks loser, I’m feeling hawt and bitchy thanks to you. No wonder you were so mean to me, I feel so fucking evil! But something tells me you have more to offer me.” Alex said as she strolled confidently over to a now cowering Gina.

“No please Alex don’t! I’ll stop bullying you and everyone else. I’ll do anything you want just please no more!” Gina said in a whimper. Alex stood over her unsympathetically.

“Why should I stop? I’m close to taking everything you ever had. I just need that deliciously evil mind of yours now and I’ll be the queen bee. You’ve been the model of an evil bitch but don’t worry I’ll take it from here. Oh and it’s Lexi from now on dork.” The new blonde said as she bore down on Gina and placed her new nailed hands onto her enemy’s bald head.

As soon as she made contact she threw her head back in ecstasy as her brain was filled up with fashion knowledge, juicy gossip and evil bitchy talents. Everything that made Gina ‘Gina’ followed effortlessly into Lexi’s head and a new wicked bitch was born. Not only that but remaining physical traits came over too. Tanned skin, perfect eyesight, pouty lips. They were all Lexi’s now.

As the transfer finished. Lexi let out a long cold cackle of triumphant. She felt incredible, unstoppable. She looked down at a catatonic Gina and smirked. She took off her own glasses and put them on Gina.

“Here loser, I don’t need them anymore, I’m perfection. Thanks to you I’ll be able to slip into the role of head bitch within a day. All your friends will be mine and all your boy toys too. Speaking of which I think you’ve lined up a hot date with my sexy step brother. Mmmm it’s so much badder knowing he sleeps in the room next to mine but after tonight I think we’ll only need one room from now on.” Lexi said grinning wickedly to herself while Gina drool in front of her.

Rolling her eyes Lexi pushed past Gina so she could get to firmer mean girls closet. If she was going to have a hot date she needed to dress the part. After 20 minutes of trying on sluttier and sluttier outfits she finally landed on one she thought would have her step brother creaming his pants.

“You have such hawt clothes Gina. Or should I say ‘had’. Once I rock Harry’s mind later I’ll have him come over here and get the rest of your clothes. Not like you’ll be using them.” Lexi said smiling wickedly again but Gina again remained motionless.

“Oh it’s no fun bullying you if you don’t react. I’ll have to find a way to give you some of your mind back soon but for now you can stand there and think about how you had everything and now have nothing.” Lexi said sarcastically blowing Gina a kiss before leaving.

In the quiet stillness of the room there suddenly was the sound of whipping sand. Particles of the magic rock around the room began to coalesce and reform before too long it had completely returned and sat upon the floor in front of Gina.

Gina’s mind was empty, nothing but darkness. However one word started to emerge from the darkness a word she had only heard once. Alterexia. It echoed again and again in her head. It was the only word in there. Her mouth started to move….

THE END

#f2f #corruption #bitchification #magic #evil bitch #power transfer #cc2024

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8-rae-rae-8 · 2 months ago

Text

"Who's 'Mama', Alex?" - SIX (tv) Fic 1/2

CLASSIFICATION AU - AgeRe

Summary:

Alex doesn't know what to do with himself, he tossed his phone somewhere and all he can do is scramble to his keys and find a way to get somewhere safe--away from himself. He finds himself at Buddha's place, with his comfort item and barely enough willpower to stop himself from breaking right there. Being Little wasn't a gift, he was cursed with these emotions he can't handle when he drops so very far. Buddha needs to call someone quick before the Little in front of him shatters beyond the tears on his face. Who was it that Alex wanted again?

12.2k Words - AO3 for tags (there's a lot)

Begins below the cut - NOT beta read

[s2 between ep1 & 2]

He doesn't remember grabbing his keys, nor getting in and out of his car. Everything meshed together in a mix of panicked feelings and a lump in his throat. Caulder doesn't cry, he likes to tell himself that. It's a weakness, even when everything kept piling up and he couldn't keep that feeling away. There's no subtlety to the way fuzziness clouds his mind, no slow creeping in, no time to settle in, just suddenly there. Tears try to blur his vision despite his best efforts to keep it all away.

Whatever pills he swallowed down were only enough to get him somewhere safe enough to fall. His parking job didn't matter, he's just fucking lucky he's alive to have made it when he could barely see ahead of himself, let alone understand exactly what he was doing. Being on autopilot meant he at least knew where he was going in some capacity.

Buddha's place, the house he and his family ran to after Rip's shooting—after his Caregiver died—he's lucky he navigated all the way there at all. It's closer than their old place was, and much closer than anyone else's. Being close to the water meant being far from the rest of his team, and usually he wouldn't trade the sounds of the ocean for a warm place to fall, but he would now. Anywhere was better than alone.

His fist doesn't even have to hit the door for there to be someone peeking through the peephole. The smallest bit of light from the interior shines a circular dot on his cheek, narrowly missing his eye. He winces all the same, other hand tightening around the small items in his hand. Car keys, wallet, and the tail of a small lovie. Something old with it's age showing on the fluff, yet he clutches it in his hand all the same.

He's delicate like this, something in need of protection and warmth. Caulder's hands never reach out first, and the fact that he's shown up here, of all places, is enough to confuse the household he stumbled to. Shuffling and whispered yells come from inside, until the door clicks unlocked and opens in front of him. Warm light floods his vision, contrasting the dark skies above him.

Little.

It's a curse and a blessing.

Gentle hands pull him from the chill of the outdoors. Trembling shoulders coated in warmth as a blanket comes in contact with his cold frame. He hadn't been standing out there that long, had he? How long had that drive actually taken? Did he go the correct route? Was it the chills, or fear that made him shake in such a way?

The house feels like safe, despite the uneasy atmosphere of a surprise guest. Moving parts all around him that his brain can't process as fast like he needs it to. He's stuck, frozen as everything moves around him.

"Alex..?" He wants to call the immediate help just the instincts of a Caregiver, but he can't exactly when it's three sets of hands are helping him to the couch. Jackie, Ricky, and Anabel. Their daughter had to have been the one to open the door—it's not like he can remember everything passed the growing fuzziness in his head. Illegal pills can't push the small away.

"Buddha..." Alex attempts, tongue heavy in his mouth the more he tries to get his words out properly. The items in his hands almost drop from his hands as his grip falters. His head says safe, while his stomach tightens another knot.

It could be written off so easily as him drinking a little too much, if Ricky's chest didn't tighten with the sight of Alex crumbling. He's too goddamn small for the age range he knows is on his files, four to six… They can hope he's just on the smaller side for now.

Getting Alex to the couch is a lost thought the second he falls into Buddha's arms. Getting a closer look at him, dark eyebags show themselves better in the light, bitten lips swollen with small traces of blood in the chapped skin. Something was wrong, something Ricky can't fix the way Alex needs. What he can do, though, is hold him tightly in his arms while he sways, just the same way he did with both of his kids. Rocking them until they settled.

Alex doesn't settle. His arms may wrap around Ortiz, and he may let himself lay against him, but he never settles. Constantly shifting his weight while he tugs and tugs at the fabric on Ricky's shirt once he got a decent grip. The items in his hand get clutched tighter in favor of holding the small plush, for the smallest bit of familiarity... The sniffling could be chalked up to him being sick, but the small wet spots growing on his shirt, under Alex's eyes says otherwise.

Being classified a Caregiver didn't mean they all knew how to help, just to make it bearable 'till it would be okay.

"You're alright, 's okay… Shh, shh…" Buddha whispers as he threads his hand through the hair at the back of Alex's head. Gentle, slow, avoiding any knots in the Little's hair. He only stills as he finally cups the back of Caulder's head. That small bit of comfort almost breaks the rest of any resolve he may have had.

Alex doesn't cry, until he's too damn small to stop it.

Ortiz never falters in the position Alex put him in, on purpose or not. That much didn't matter. What does, is that he's not alone.. that someone is holding him. Right now, it doesn't matter if they have space for him to sleep overnight or not. They can make it all seem okay, that's what they do. As Anabel backs into her room, and it's just him, Ricky and Jackie, it feels a lot more heavy.

Everything gets more heavy, and he can't stop the weak cries into his teammate's shoulder. Being small isn't something to be ashamed of, they can all agree on that in their own ways. Although, Alex will always say it's fine for anyone else, just not him. It's never been a thing he's spoken about, or shown, for christ's sake. There's a reason for that.

A situation like this shouldn't happen. Not on the military grade suppressants the Littles in their unit are on. They all have their times to get off the medication, but this was not Alex's. He wasn't due for that until the next week. He knew that. Situations like this are exactly why he keeps a baggie of pills in his bathroom cabinet. It was supposed to be okay, then the suppressants he'd been given weren't enough and back alley pills were all he could afford to get. No one would give him anything stronger than the military, it was a last resort to keep him on his feet.

He wasn't supposed to drop.

But the times he did, in a safe environment after being given the medication to regress the proper way, there's only one person Alex ever wanted to be there; Bear. Trusting the team was easy, all Alex had known for years was the team. The hard part of that was the vulnerability he did his damned best to hide. From wounds, to his classification as a Little. One person he trusted with himself in that state was Bear—it's a heavy weight to carry.

He needed Bear, but all he managed to do was get to the second best place. There's no extra bed for him to crash in, no space for him in a full house. All he needed was somewhere safe, somewhere to fall into that wouldn't break him upon impact. He won't gather scrapes and scars if he's treated with the warmth that Ricky supplies. He trusts him, as a man in his team, as a friend, a place to land when there isn't anywhere else. Just not a Caregiver.

It's a difficult wound to soothe, one Alex hasn't quite figured out. His one option had been Bear, after Rip was no longer there to care for him. For Graves, without much left of a family, he was there around the clock if Alex ever needed him. It didn't take long for him to be his first call or text at any sign of something going wrong. Sometimes it was just to chat, those times calmed him better than anything could. Once, it was the rush of waves against sand that lulled him to sleep, now, it's Bear's voice through the phone.

Never once did they discuss anything of the sort. No Caregiver and Little agreement, nothing written and signed the way it should have been. It was supposed to be a temporary agreement, Alex would come to him with the medication to help him regress, and Joe would have a Little attached to his hip the rest of the day, if not longer. They both slipped into their roles as if it was the easiest thing in the world, the way it was supposed to be. It happened slowly. A call here and there, messages randomly throughout the day… They bonded without realizing a single thing was different.

In his mind, few things changed. Like kids, most Littles have names for their Caregivers, something simplified that they could easily call for, something that brought a sense of calm. Mom, dad, baba, papa… Whatever it may be. Alex's mind associated Bear with one much faster than he did with Rip. Both mom and dad carried a certain heaviness in his heart, but for Bear… 'Mama' fits just right. The name he calls for in the silence of his room, when it is truly just him. No Caregiver around, no Bear, no Buddha, no one else. The title sits on the tip of his tongue, bitten in an effort to not call for someone he can't guarantee will come.

Alex doesn't know the words that slip from his lips at Ricky's gentle touch once his teeth release his tongue, warm hands rubbing circles into his back until Alex's breathing matched the up and down motions. Something babbled beyond comprehension spills from his tightening throat. The right sounds for the words he's searching for don't come to him the way he needs. Being small in such a way terrified him, he can't keep a solid hold on a single thought before it dissipates. His hands clench on the fabric of Buddha's shirt.

"Who do you need, kid? Who can I call?"

If he calls in the middle of the night, will it cause problems? Or would the Caregiver he needs pick him up and make it better? Does he get to be better? After every argument he sparked for no other reason than to fill the silence, he can only hope he deserves better than the cold his previous Caregiver may have left him in. It depended on the number of drinks he had hours before, whether Alex would get to go home to a safe place. Bear isn't like Rip, not like that.

The title of 'mama' falls from his lips faster than he can think to stop himself. The word muffles against Ricky's chest where his face is pressed, was he loud enough to speak past his own weak cries? Alex's phone was left the last place he put it, maybe his bedside? The counter? It's not in his hands or pockets… He can't just call, or he would've before he even got in the car and risked not only his life, but others', just to be somewhere safe.

"Who's 'mama', hm?" There's a beat of silence between responses. The Little can feel the way Ricky shifts on his feet, tongue clicking in thought. Uncertainty on his face as Alex peers up at him, just enough to see his face. "Is it Bear, Alex? You want me to call Bear?" Please.

Tears sparkle in his eyelashes, blinking away the droplets. A trembling lip pulls into his mouth, worried between his teeth. Alex nods, short and hesitant, like he fears the brown eyes looking back at him will burn him. There's not a thing in his mind that's concrete right now. He can know he's safe, he can know nothing bad will happen to him, but it doesn't take the fear away. This situation was never supposed to happen. He shouldn't need the shoulder to lean on, or the coddling, but he does. And, god, he needs his Caregiver more than anything in this moment.

"I got it… Just let it out, huh? Just a minute..." Ortiz hesitates to pull his hand from where it rests on the back of Alex's head, carding back through his hair once before it leaves him completely. He still holds him, one arm wrapped around him to keep him steady amidst the Little's trembling. The comfort eases his tensed shoulders, pulling them down slowly until they no longer cramp where they were raised to his ears.

Caulder presses his face firmly back to the tear dampened spot on Buddha's shirt. His own shuddering breath fills the space, with the quiet tapping Ricky's fingertips against the phone screen. Is it too late? What if there's no answer?

The phone rings once, twice, then three times before a click.

"Buddha, if you woke me up for bullshit again…" Comes the exhausted voice through the phone. Relief immediately floods through the Little's body, his head sagging forward to press his entire weight on Ricky. It's okay. It'll be okay now. Bear is right there, he'll know, he has to.

"Alex needs you." Simple, quick to the point.

"Is he with you?" Any sleepiness strips from the team leader as blankets audibly shuffle. Graves clears his throat, hands barely holding the phone while he moves as quickly as he can. Every brush of fabric and movement near the microphone comes through as ruffling to their end of the call.

"Got 'im right here… My house, door's unlocked." Ricky calmly speaks. The last thing everyone needs is everyone high on nerves. He's been there before, albeit briefly, when Alex was waiting for someone to pick him up. Not to mention the courses they take just to keep someone—specifically a Little—calm in any situation.

"Bear…" Alex's small voice calls to the phone, blue eyes blinking up to the bright screen. He's not far, Alex needs to believe that, at least. It's scary to be small and confused, no matter how old his age range might be… Wanting someone close was second nature to him, after hitting everyone away had failed. There was no one to hold him when he was small before, is it so wrong to not want to be let go of again? Is it wrong to not want to be alone? There hadn't been a real mom or a present dad for him when he actually was a kid, he needs that closeness now, when everything still feels like it will crumble at any second.

"Put him on the phone, Buddha, now." He just barely hears his Caregiver say into the phone, alongside the sound of elevator buttons. There's no hesitation to Ricky pressing the phone to Alex's ear, he holds him all the same. That's all that Buddha can do. He's not the boy's carer, he is simply all he has for now.

The smallest whimper comes from Alex's trembling lips as the cool glass of the screen comes in contact with his skin. All of the items in his hands clatter to the floor, car keys falling somewhere he can't be bothered to look. That's not the thought in his mind, just holding the tail of his little plushie and hearing Mama's voice.

"Alex? 'm on the way, okay? Ten minutes, I promise." The drive is at least twenty, Alex just doesn't have to know that right now… Nothing stops a Caregiver from getting to their Little one, it didn't matter the distance. They've all seem the lengths they go, just for family. This is no different. A Caregiver getting to their Little in a rush, despite every law in the way.

Alex nods shallowly as he sniffles, nose crinkling with the effort. His shaking hand clutches the plush tighter. Mama will be there. He has to.

"Okay, stay with Buddha, he keeps you safe, remember?" Bear speaks to him the same way he saw him talk to his daughter, not even one and getting into baby fights with her dad about the silliest things. Alex remembers seeing it. Hell, he remembers feeling the fuzziness try to creep in even then. He had cuddled up with his stuffed animals that night (despite having tucked them away the day before), safe and sound.

Does he get to be safe and sound tonight, too?

"Uh-huh…" Caulder mutters into the mic, cheek squished against Ricky's chest.

"That's it. Wait for me, I'll knock when I get there." Joe promises him again before the phone clicks off and that deep, unsettling feeling makes it's home back in Alex's stomach. He'll be there, he has to come. Bear won't leave him like this will he? Like Rip had?

Even with the unease, Alex shifts to loosen his grip and look up through his wet eyelashes. Deep breaths don't do anything when his chest tightens more and more. All he can do is wait. Why does he always have to wait? When is it his turn to have the gentle things he needs?

"He's on the way…" Buddha whispers to him, phone tucked away and the kind hand threading back through his hair. Slowly, with every ounce of care Alex has seen him use with his own kids, Buddha finds a way to move the both of them without startling the growing anxiety in Alex's head. Steady movements until they've back up enough to feel the couch, it only takes a moment to coax the Little down next to him… A warm blanket can work wonders for someone so small.

Ten minutes feel like ten hours to both scared kids, and scared Littles. The silence breaks every so often for Alex to quietly ask if Bear really is coming, and although Buddha may not know who's cared for Alex before, he gets the idea that he was left so, so alone. The Little's hand holds onto the warm blanket around his shoulders like it could be ripped away without a moments notice, while the other finds a better grip on his small plushie.

A warm arm tucks around him, pressing away any space in the blanket where cold air can slip in, then simply holds Alex close. Low, steady humming coaxes his mind to settle to where he is now, somewhere warm while he waits for his Caregiver to knock. Buddha's always been good at that, redirecting someone with the smallest things if he so much as notices something is off. It's easy when he's done it so many times, it usually (if not always) pulls the Little back to where he's supposed to be.

"Why don't you tell me who your friend is?" Buddha prompts with a gentle tug to the stuffed animal Alex is yet to loosen his grip on. At the prompting alone, he squeezes the soft toy protectively. He won't take it, Alex knows that, but it doesn't take the fear out of his mind. It goes back longer than he can remember, only the feeling and tiny glimpses remain. Something was taken from him, things were snatched but he can't remember what. He doesn't want to remember whatever gave him that gut wrenching feeling.

"Lovie…" Alex answers with a quivering lip. There's no name for the ragged comfort item, he never found one he thought was good enough for it. The brown fabric folds in his hand where he squeezes it. In the limited light of the living room, the little ears and nose on the head of the plush make it clear what it's meant to be. A little bear lovie, worn and loved well, with "A. C." written on the white tag at the bottom seam in a certain teammate's hand writing.. Bear's.

The quiet conversation hooks his attention. For the time being, his strained breathing eases and he listens to his temporary 'baby sitter' talk and ask questions that are easy on his regressed mind. Yes or no questions, things about his lovie… Buddha is kind to him, it's in a Caregiver's blood to be, but that doesn't mean Alex always got that kindness before. The ache in his tummy slowly untangles, the tears on his face begin to dry with the help of Ricky gently wiping them away with a tissue from a box by the couch.

It's not so scary anymore. Buddha gets him to settle just enough to where Alex is laying his head on his chest when that knock at the door happens. Unlike usual, the Little stays put and waits to see his Caregiver look into the room. His blanket is tucked around him too well, it's too warm to leave, and Ricky never nudges him to go. He just started feeling safe again, and god forbid Bear get angry with him for needing him.

"Over here, Bear." Buddha calls, an arm snugly around the Little who's almost half in his lap. He only ever shifted to accommodate however Alex wanted to sit.

"Oh, Alex…" The sigh of relief fills the room, the worried crease in Bear's brow eases as he looks down at the Little huddled up in his teammates arms. "You got me worried… Why didn't you call me?" Joe asks. His knees pop when he crouches down to look at Alex at eye level.

"He didn't have his phone when he showed up..." Ricky interjects, his arm loosening around him to let Alex move freely.

All Alex does is shift ever so slightly and blink up at Bear. His trembling hand pulls his lovie into his blanket, holding the small thing close to his chest. Like when he first entered the house, he hesitates looks at the man in front of him. Caregiver or not, his heart squeezes in his chest and chills spread down his arms. He only glances up at Bear, breaths coming out as shudders and minuscule flinches.

"He called you 'mama', Bear…" Buddha's voice is quiet as if the Little can't hear when he speaks under his breath.

"What?" Graves' eyes jump between Alex and Ricky. "He called me 'mama'? Are you sure? He said that?" The tone makes his stomach flip, whether it be confusion and concern, or anger, Alex's mind can't decipher the difference.

That earns a fearful wince from Caulder, pulling in on himself further and further until his head is away from Buddha and he's clutching the blanket like he's trying to hide. It should be impossible for a man his size to look so fucking small. His breath catches in his throat.

Is Bear angry? Was he right to anticipate that? It's too late anyway, there's no way for him to get out of this. No regression suppressants to take and make this all go away, he took too many pills once and barely felt aware and alive for days after, he can only guess overdosing on suppressants would feel worse. At least with oxy, there was a high. Short lived or not.

All he can see are lips moving and muffled sounds the more he tucks himself into the blanket. His own heart beats rapidly in his ears like a warning alarm. One more wrong move and he'd get hurt. For all he knows, he'd be left alone somewhere, all over again. There wouldn't be anyone to crawl to anymore, it would be his last strike. Just one more and he'd fail, they'd send him home and leave him there to rot. All because he misstepped, again.

He's done it before. One wrong thing said or done and no one was there to pick him back up. He was left alone, somewhere he just had to wait for someone to come find him. Bad behavior was harshly punishable, he learned that fast enough as a kid, then again when he thought he got to be safe. If it was on purpose or not, he was still left alone at a restaurant where his past Caregiver was supposed to be taking care of him. Where Rip was supposed to be taken care of him.

Alex never blamed the booze, not even when there were four bottles at the table… It was always his own fault. Why wouldn't it be? It was his fault when he was a kid, waiting for his drunken mother to pick him up from school. She made sure he knew it was his fault. For what? He never asked, he didn't need to.

Is it still his fault now?

He dips his head into the fluff of the blanket, hiding from every look he might get. The tears sit in his eyes, daring to wet the blanket where his head rested face down. Will he get to go somewhere safe, or is this his last misstep before he's kicked to the porch? Fear and guilt burns in his veins, coursing through him like flowing water. Not the calm of waves, but rushing rivers and waterfalls. The weak pain of it makes him drop the lovie from his chest, into his lap in the blanket.

What he's expecting never comes. There's nothing to brace for.

Instead, gentle arms lift him from the couch. Slow and steady. Alex doesn't hear the little grunt that came with the effort of lifting him, but he feels it in Bear's chest where his head is gently pressed. One arm wraps around him and supports him while the other settles him in the Caregiver's arms. Even with the hefty blanket covering him, Bear moves him with expertise only he's gained.

The rumbles of Joe's chest acts like the quiet humming. Words indistinguishable, yet, Alex can both feel and hear the familiar sound that's calmed him so many times before. Bear is right there, holding him with delicate touch. He's breakable, a fragile thing that has broken chips throughout it's frame, daring to break at every wrong move.

Caulder doesn't cry often, but every time he does, it's like a stab to the Caregivers' hearts when they hear the stifled cries. To Buddha, to Bear, tears meant it was serious to Alex. Even in his regressed state, it says something is wrong. Deeply so. It didn't matter if it was from external factors or his own mind going haywire. Something is wrong.

Gently, Bear sways with the Little in his arms, fully supporting him now that Alex settled just enough to not worry about him falling. Their training grants the ability to pick up the men they need to carry from the field, but the rush of adrenaline with a Little in distress, it eases the strain for a short while.

As the pulsing in his ears calms, gentle voices come back to him, rather than just the rumbling in Bear's chest where his ears is pressed to it. His side presses flush against the Caregiver's front, blanket wrapped around him carefully without once moving it into an uncomfortable position. It's warm, but Alex doesn't peek his head out of the blanket to look up at his carer.

With the same soft touch, Joe subtly adjusts Alex in his arms until he can tuck back the blanket just enough to see the Little's face. Tear streaked and red with the effort of not crying aloud. The Little can't meet his eyes, he can only watch Bear's lips as he quietly talks to him.

"'s okay, 'm here now, yeah?" Despite his hesitant look, he continues, "Mama's here." Graves' blue eyes stare down at him, small crows feet on the surrounding skin. He smiles, the smallest quirk of his lips.

Alex's gaze shifts from his carer's lips, to his eyes, back and forth from them over and over until he finally lets out the smallest cry. More than a whimper than anything else. Bear isn't mad. His hand searches the blankets until he finds a place to reach out of, the shaking hand latches to Bear's shirt.

"See? Right here, I said I'd be here." Bear mutters to him. He brings Alex a little closer with the arm tucked under his head and places a light kiss to the top of his head, in the same way he would always do for his little girl when she cried for someone too. He still slowly sways with him in his arms, never caring for the pain in his feet that would surely make itself apparent later.

Tears pool in the Little's eyes all over again, soaking a little spot of the fabric where Bear gently pressed him against himself. Every blink, more tears roll down the sides of his cheeks, wetting his hair in this position. Alex worries his lip between his teeth as he stares up at Joe, adams apple bobbing every time he chokes back a sob.

"I know…" Bear coos against his hair, messy and uncared for with the time between proper washes that Alex couldn't get to himself with such a clouded mind. He blamed it on brain fog at first, because he was supposed to drop, and then he did and he couldn't bring himself to do even the most basic self care tasks, not even the ones he prided himself on doing every day. It all fell away in the face of being so little.

The Little tugs weakly at Bear's shirt the same way he tugged at Buddha's, impatient and rushed, as if something could take him away. He's safe now, right here, in his Caregiver's arms. It's supposed to feel safe. But instead, all he feels is anxiety in his veins, burning him like fire, weakening his grip on everything, in his mind and physically in front of him.

"I'm right here." Is all Graves can say. What else is there to do but be there, when Alex can barely arrange his thoughts enough to let himself cry? He'll be there however long his boy needs, he's always been there. In Rip's absence, he was the only one that picked him up and made sure he was safe. He'll do it all over again, Alex has heard him say it, but something always screams that he will never be worth that much.

He presses his face firmly against the Caregiver's shirt, pulling himself just enough out of the blanket to feel the soft fabric of his shirt and be enveloped completely by Mama. His heart squeezes in his chest as he tries to pull in strained breaths. Crying hurts his throat, it makes his head throb, he doesn't want to cry, he doesn't want to sob, but it builds in his chest more and more.

"Let it out, bud… Not goin' anywhere." Bear promises him, his own voice shaking slightly at the sight in front of him. He bounces Alex ever so slightly, until he can get the little one into an actually comfortable position that's a little more upright, an arm under his thighs to support him. He won't let go.

It seems all he needed was the permission, as if someone told him he wasn't allowed to cry. Alex melts against Bear as he swallows a breath he promptly lets out in a near-silent sob. He nuzzles his face into the fabric as much as he can, stifling his sobs with his lip bitten between his teeth. He can't be loud, it was pressed into him since the time he was barely toddling around on his own two feet.

Loud meant he'd get in trouble, and that meant there would be a punishment he can still barely wrap his head around even decades later. The nonexistent threat still burrows deep in his brain, even if he knows no one will lay their hands on him for needing them. Not these days, they won't. He's lucky that it's a reportable offense, no one lays their hands on Littles when they're so goddamn small. Though, he didn't get that luck as a child, or even as an adult behind closed doors when it came to the simplest mistakes.

"I know, I know…" The Caregiver mutters as Alex's silent sobs turned into heaving breaths and loud cries far too familiar to wailing. It ignites a certain fire in Caregiver's, the need to fix whatever is broken and make it all better burns brighter with every cry, even if the source of the distress is nowhere to be found. Bear holds him closely, a hand coming to cup the back of Alex's head while the other keeps him up in his arms when Alex can't wrap his legs around him like usual.

Everything is scary for reasons Alex can't point out. Piling up and up until he can't remember the reason he drove here in the first place. It's weakness, he knows it is. His head spins and throbs and everything just gets so much bigger in front of him. No matter how tall he is, everything seems to tower over him and he can't do so much at pick up his head to face his Caregiver.

How long have all these things just kept piling and piling? Was it his head? The agony of every attack, every migraine? That's what they are, right? Every time he's doubled over in pain and wailed for help he wouldn't get? How long has it been since he dared to say he needed help? Before the TBI, before everything slapped him in the face? His head is too fuzzy and clouded to make a guess on whatever the reason he so frantically needed his Caregiver. It wasn't like he could just ask. There's a time and place to be so very Little, and this wasn't it. Why had he needed him in the first place? How much time is he wasting by simply being small?

Thirty years of life drilled into him that small meant bad. Any weakness, any drop, any fear meant he wasn't man enough. He wasn't something worth keeping when any look at his vulnerability said he could never be able to work the job he wanted. There could never be a place he would be useful or wanted. That was until Rip brought him under his wing and made him a core part of his team. No amount of drunken nights, fresh bruises, and nights of going to bed with an empty stomach while so small, could make Alex hate him. It reinforced his fears, his knowledge of how bad he was for being Little, but that was his superior, the only man who wanted to help him when he was shunned from any other position.

There's nothing he can do but cry, in one of the few spaces where his aches wouldn't earn another wound. Bear's shirt muffles his cries as much as a thin piece of fabric can, soaking up every tear, every little bit of snot and spit from the Little's open-mouthed sobs. Never once does Bear pull back for anymore than to make Alex take a full breath from where his face is tucked against his chest. The pained sounds Alex makes drives a knife through Bear's chest, or maybe the way he quiets to sniffles hurts more.

"What's got you worked up, bud? 'm right here, Mama's here, huh?" Graves softly speaks to him, with a gentle bounce to shift Alex into a more comfortable position. He leans down and gently places another kiss on Alex's head. Every use of the title Alex gave him loosens the Little's tense shoulders, one word at a time.

Alex doesn't have the ability to properly put it all together, nor the capacity to understand why everything was so scary. Bear knowing he thought of him as Mama was the last block on the trembling tower of fear, of every little problem he might've had over the last few weeks. The shame aches in his chest. He may be used to doing things wrong, but the reaction to it always hurt the most. Or, the reaction he imagined he'd get was always the worst. It rarely happened, there hadn't been a cruel hand the moment he stopped running Rip and went to Bear instead. No sharp tongue, or bruising grasp while he's scolded for every little thing under the sun.

His flushed, damp face peers up at the Caregiver, blue eyes sparkling with unshed tears. Caulder swallows around the lump in his throat, bringing in a shuddering breath. "'m tired…" Is all he chokes out, before the tears begin to flow again, barely able to do that much before he presses his face back into Bear's shirt. His shoulders shake with aggressive sobs.

What other way can he describe the immeasurable about of pressure on his body? Weighing down every part of him and pulling him further down, and down… Making him smaller and smaller, without a single reason why. His body shouldn't be doing this, he should be asleep right now, or doing anything else. Yet, he's sobbing in his Caregiver's arms because everything is so much. There's too many problems he can't name, problems with no solution, while everything keeps crumbling around him.

"Oh, baby…" Bear breathes out, the hand on the back of Alex's head moves to rub his back in slow circles. He sways with him slowly, watching as Alex painfully hiccups along with his sobs. There's nothing he can do, Alex knows that. This is a him problem, all of it is. The headaches, the unprompted drops, the pains, the exhaustion, the guilt for just existing. It's all him, things he can't say.

The room around them is silent, just him and Bear, standing in Buddha's living room while thing seem to just get worse and worse in Alex's head for no reason except he's scared. Is he scared of things he can't see, the same way he cried about the monsters in his closet? Or is it the real possibilities of getting hurt that he shouldn't have to be worried about while he's so damn small?

No Little should have to worry about what he does. No one should have to wake up wondering if they'd make it through the day, or die because of the ticking time bomb in their head… And yet, Alex does, without telling anyone. On top of the job, on top of being a father himself, with child support bills he's barely managing over the need for illegal suppressants to just stay aware. On top of everything, he's too goddamn small. He can't drop the weights he's carrying, so he sinks with them as they pull him further down.

"Mama…" Alex's voice cracks as he weakly calls out.

And for the first time, there's someone to respond with the delicate dare he needs. Alex never tends to cry for someone who's right in front of him, he'll bite his lip and hush until it's a 'good time' to bother his Caregiver. Breaking that habit is rough, and beyond the pure agony of the headaches, he's never called for someone like that, with desperation clear in his shaking voice. He drops old enough that he should be able to articulate whatever he needs, he knows that, but he needs Bear now.

He needs his Caregiver, and Bear simply holds him closer. He's there for him, in ways no one else had been. Even in ways Caulder knows he doesn't deserve.

"I got you, see?" Joe tilts up Alex's face ever so slightly, brows raised as he carefully studies every feature on his face, watching every tear drop when Alex blinks. His gaze bounces from each teary eye, the little one's lashes wet with what seems like hours of crying.

Fearfully, his blue eyes meet Bear's for the first time that night. The Little chews at his swollen lip, barely sucking in breaths when he sniffles. His chest tightens the more he watches Graves in the brief silence.

"I'm not leaving, you got that?" He softly mutters, gently pressing their foreheads together. "I'm here as long as you want me to be…" The hand on Alex's chin moves to cup his cheek instead, despite the clear ache in his arm the longer he supports Alex with just that arm.

Caulder's eyes close as Bear presses closer. He lets go of his lip, bitten red and raw, to take a shuddering breath. Graves won't leave, no matter how much he says he's right there, the Little worries if it might be the last time he ever is. Not just because he worries Bear would leave, but because Alex would, by his own choice or not. There's too much weight on his chest, too many problems stuck in his head, including what could kill him, god forbid he do so much as hit his head.

"'s you 'n' me, Alex. I'll always be there, you just call me. Night or day." The Caregiver promises, his thumb brushing away the tears dripping down Alex's cheek. "Hear me?" He sways slowly with Alex in his arms, doing his best to soothe the pain that would come with being on his feet with over two-hundred pounds on his front.

"Uh-huh…" He whispers, eyebrows pinched at the center. Every worry in his head spinning with reminders that things are still so wrong, no amount of comfort can fix this. It can't fix him. He wants Bear to be right, it's the two of them now. There's no one else to ice his wounds, no one else to pick him up and make it better.

"Do you wanna go home?" Bear asks him softly, pulling his head back slowly to look down at him properly. There wasn't a real home for Joe to go back to, nor was his house ever what Alex had preferred.

After the first night he heard Lena whisper-yelling at Bear through the door about how they couldn't keep him here, as if he was some kind of animal, Alex didn't come back. She might not be there now, but Alex won't sleep a wink in that house regardless. They always go Alex's place now, somewhere that was solely his space. Everything was as it should be. That's home, even if being alone makes him sick to his stomach some nights.

The little one responds with the same quiet 'uh-huh' as he did moments ago. He leans into the hand holding his face so gently, blinking up at Bear while he attempts to ease the cries that want to come out. His chest heaves with the effort of simple breaths, rather than pained cries. He wants to go home, not stand here anymore. The tears can wait until he's safe in his own bed, with his Caregiver, in his own place.

"I don't think Buddha will mind if we take his blanket, huh? 'm sure he's got plenty…" Joe grins at him, eyes crinkling at the corners.

It earns him the smallest laugh, rough around the edges and weak, but it's better than the borderline wails the Little made earlier. Anything is better than that heartbreaking sound.

"There's my boy." Joe's eyes soften further at the sight of the small smile at the corner of Alex's lips. He places another gentle kiss to his forehead with an overdramatic 'mwah' when he removes his hand from his cheek, anything to keep Alex's mind off everything else. It all stays there, heavy on his shoulders, but there's someone keeping him afloat and breathing. That's all he could ever ask for.

Slowly, Bear carries Alex just a few feet to the side before Alex sharply inhales, all of the Caregiver's attention quickly put on him, mouth open to speak when Caulder beats him to saying anything, eyes wide where they look down, then back up. Tears sit on his lashes, pooling on his waterline.

"Mama..?" The little one mutters, blue eyes look up at him again. Every time one drips down his face, Bear swipes it away. The calluses on his hands feel more welcoming than the soft touch of any medical professional that treated him while small, this is familiar, it's safe. It's Mama. It's Mama, but they can't go home yet because something is missing.

"Hm?" Bear prompts, his swaying faster in worry, watching the way Alex's eyes timidly flicker between his eyes the blanket, unable to keep eye contact the way he's been told he should be able to.

"Lovie…" His lip quivers, voice strained. In the blanket, his hands quickly try to find the plushie. The tears heneeds to go away keep resurfacing with the realization that he can't find the lovie he came here with. It's dark in the blanket, and Alex let his plush stay in the dark before realizing it was gone.

"We'll find 'em, okay? Can you tell me where lovie was when I got here?" Bear steadily asks, keeping a level head since Alex certainly couldn't do that like this.

"The b'anket..!" Alex's voice is more like a weak squeak than anything close to his typical tone. Desperation lines his words, everything blurring together again as he tries to find the lovie anywhere in his blanket. It should be here, it was there when Mama picked him up.

"Buddy," Bear begins, moving Alex just enough to loosen the blanket so they can find the missing plushie, "Lovie's gonna be in here, I promise. Can I look first?" His hand tugs a little at the blanket. There's no chance of getting Alex out of the blanket now, they both know he won't let Bear unravel him from the warmth he craves.

Despite Alex's worry, he pulls his hands up to his chest, nervously balled into fists. He nods slowly, watching as Bear moves to check the blanket. Using a careful hand, he checks around all the folds of the blanket. The Caregiver props Alex up with his leg so he can properly check the fluffy fabric for the little stuffed animal Alex needs before they can get any further. The keys on the floor didn't matter, the lovie did.

Like the games Bear played with his daughter, once his hand found the plush, he carefully pulled it from where it bunched up in the blanket with a gasp and smile.

"Lovie!" Bear exclaims, showing the plush safe and sound. The tiny recoil after the action goes unnoticed by Alex.

It's worth the moment of cringe when the Little smiles and quickly grabs it. He may regress a little older, but something about being treated like he really was small helped ease away the adult issues that burned into his head.

"We got this, huh? Lovie didn't disappear." Joe says as he settles Alex back into a good position to carry him. He adds a soft bounce to the movement.

Alex nods softly, staring at the little plush in his hands. His thumbs brush over the silky fabric on the borders of the lovie. For now, that little item is all that matters. He thought he lost it like he thought was going to lose his Caregiver over the title his mind associated with safe. Yet, he has both right here. With Bear gladly calling himself 'mama'—even with the hesitance Alex saw—and the plushie safe in his hands.

"Exactly." Bear hums, glancing around the house. Alex's own car keys remain on the floor as they step out of the door that Bear accidentally left slightly open when he entered. They don't matter now, Joe doesn't even note them before they leave. It's just Alex on his mind.

The quiet sounds of the night settle Alex on the short walk to the car. The gentle bounce of Bear's steps, the crickets, low hum of air conditioners in the cramped neighborhood, and familiar traffic, ease him. Like the white noise machine Alex recently bought, it quiets the shouting in his head. Maybe that was Bear's doing mostly, with Alex's head leaned gently onto the Caregiver's chest above his heart. Often, he sleeps just like that. Background noise than the steady, familiar heartbeat keeping him cradled in safety.

Alex only notices they made it to Bear's truck when the door opens and he's hoisted into the passenger seat. Rather than panicking, he just looks at his Caregiver with sad eyes the entire time he's being buckled in and tucked in. The comfort slowly goes away in the chill of the car, only the blanket there to keep him warm. One hand clutches it, while the other holds the lovie closer to him.

His eyes follow Bear the entire time, tracking him while he simply rounds the vehicle to enter on the other side. He knows he won't be left here, but it doesn't stop the thought. It certainly doesn't stop his chest from tightening either. Mama said it was just the two of them, that it would be okay. He has to believe it, what other option is there?

"Good boy." Bear grins at him, a hand reaching to ruffle the Little's hair. "Home now?" The car hums to life as the key twists in the ignition.

A few strands of hair fall into Alex's face when he nods. The sad, timid look never leaves his features. Painted in his gentle eyes, resting over his creased brow, bitten onto his bottom lip. He rocks slightly where he sits, unable to tear his gaze away from his Caregiver. If he looks away, will Bear's kind eyes turn to anger? Is the gentleness a lie, something to be thrown away once it's truly the two of them?

He can't take the words at face value, when a hand that had been kind to him once, turned into the one Alex was scared to reach for. It always turned out that way for him, no one to call, alone somewhere he can't pick himself up.

His mother did it, leaving him places just so she could get away from how 'needy' he was, as a child. Defenseless and confused. Alone. He always got an earful after he was picked up, or a cop found him wandering alone. Simply existing meant he was the problem child.

Then, Rip did it. The man Alex quite literally gave his body and soul to protect, left him. Being a SEAL only means so much when there's so much fuzz in his head, and fear in his veins. They had an agreement, signed papers and all, that Rip excused in preference of drinking until he couldn't stand—Alex wished he didn't understand the burden he was putting on his Caregiver. His mother was right, he would always cause problems.

Even with Bear, who continuously promised he would stay, Alex heard his and Lena's conversations behind the door. He wasn't wanted there either, she never wanted him there. No matter how many times Bear had quietly told her that he needed someone, Lena said to find a different place, as if Alex was a stray dog that could be just taken somewhere else. He can still hear the quiver in Bear's voice when Lena accused him of trying to replace their daughter…

Usually on car rides, no matter the hour or how poor the day was, Alex would talk and talk about nothing in particular. Whatever came to him next, it never had to make sense. Tonight, he silently leans his head on the window. No words sit on his tongue, not even the smallest hum. The vibrations of the car against his head makes him grit his teeth, but he doesn't pull back. Maybe he deserved that, the dull, throbbing ache in his head he's grown so used to. If it gets worse… Maybe he deserves that too.

"Alex?" Bear's voice calls out to him, low with concern as a hand comes to rest on one of Alex's twitching hands. "You with me?" He asks, glancing over to him. Bear's own timid hand unfolding the tense grip on the blanket to gently take the Little's hand in his own.

Immediately, Caulder's hand latches to Graves' with the same impossibly tight grip. His lips part to answer the question, but all that comes out is a weak whimper. He can't meet Bear's eyes, nor can he focus on anything outside the window of the moving car, all he can do is look down at lovie in blanket in his lap.

"Bud..? You here with me?" Bear mutters again, thumb brushing over Alex's knuckles.

His throat tightens, but all of the tears in his eyes feel like they dry the same second. He's not here, not safe the way he should feel. He wants to be able to drop everything, he needs to. It's not fair that other Littles could, when he still had to feel everything. No breaks, it all rushed over him, drowning him in all the things he can't even put a name on. It all just felt bad. Hesitantly, the Little shakes his head.

"Don' leave…" His voice is so small. Broken and desperate for something, anything. Alex's hand shakes with the tight grip he holds Bear's hand with. He can be promised everything, and still fear—know—he'll wake up with nothing. Bear is right there, but his throat keeps tightening and his chest hurts.

It's not fair. Why can't it just be fair?

"Baby…" Bear frowns, taking his eyes off the road momentarily to look at the Little clutching his hand. "'m not going anywhere, no ones leavin'. We're just going home," He begins, looking back to the street, "Going home where you have stuffed animals, your blankets, and good snacks… I'm staying the night, hm? You 'n' me, yeah? Safe and sound?" He draws out his explanation as far as possible, watching out of his peripheral vision for Alex's reaction.

There's no reason for Alex to believe that Joe specifically will leave him, he never did before. No emergency tore him away, they just went together. Hell, some nights when Alex couldn't stand to be alone, he didn't even leave the bed. He shouldn't be scared to be left alone, but he is. He's always scared.

"Wanna go home…" Alex's voice cracks as his chest heaves, breathless and forced to create any sound at all. It's not his house he wants to go to, and painfully, that's too clear. There's no home he can go to, is there? Not one he can point out, not in front of him or on a map. There's not even a time he can place that would ever feel close to home.

"We're goin' home, I'll hold you all night. Promise." Joe says gently, though the more broken Alex sounds, the more he gets the picture. He's holding broken pieces that he's fixed many times before, and he'll do it again. He'll do whatever is needed of him. That's what he does, as the team leader, as a friend, and as a Caregiver.

That.. that's the closest he'll get to home. Cradled against Bear's chest with the soft rumble of his voice playing in his ears. He won't be alone, at the very least. He can work with that. As he sniffles, he timidly looks up at his Caregiver.

"H-home…" The Little repeats after Bear, picking up his head from the window. Yeah, yeah… He wants that, bundled up in his—and now one of Buddha's—blankets, held safely like he could possibly be someone's world. Even just for a night, he wants to be someone's everything. All while entirely missing the way Bear looks at him like he's just that… His everything.

"Yeah, home, buddy." Graves gently squeezes his hand, feeling Alex's own grip loosen at the comfort of added pressure. The Little's shoulders ease down until he isn't uncomfortably scrunched in the seat, breaths coming in easier and easier.

The drive goes from agonizing, worrisome silence, to a calm, quiet space. Alex's eyes finally peer up every so often, looking at the racing lights going by as they drive past them, and the other cars around, despite the hour. It's not as scary anymore. He wants to go back home, Bear won't leave him there, and he has to trust that, he wants to.

Bear isn't Rip. Bear isn't his mother.

At some point, he turned to look at Bear rather than stare out the window when it began fogging with his warm breath on the cold glass. His back pressed against both the door and the seat as he leaned, eyes softly watching Bear's mind work at the simple task of driving. Though, on the route, it is almost complete darkness as they go through the wooded areas nearer to the beach.

With his eyes on his Caregiver, holding his hand tightly, Alex lays his head back and lets his eyes flutter closed. The quiet hum of the car and Bear's rhythmic, light tapping against the steering wheel brings his head to a more floaty space, like a bubble shielding him from himself. Maybe that was Bear's doing, though. He doesn't sleep, but the soothing sounds leave him on the verge of passing out by the time they get to the house.

It's safe. The delicate hands lifting him from the car are safe. The calming beat of Bear's heart as he's laid over his chest is safe. The small plush sits loosely in his hands, carefully tucked against Alex when Bear removes him from the car. Never as a child did Alex get that experience, being carried inside as he's on the verge of sleep. He had only gotten a rough shake to his shoulder to wake him enough to walk inside and inevitably pass out, sometimes not even in his bed or on the couch.

He doesn't have to worry about that at all now. Bear holds him with the most care he possibly can, as if he was handling a sleeping infant. A hand rests on the back of Alex's head, cradling it even as they get to the door. Joe's copy of the house key unlocking the door with ease, the sleepy Little propped up on his poorly balanced knee. All Alex does is blink up at him, resting in the warmth of Bear's touch.

He's safe.

"Sleepy boy…" The carer mumbles, pulling Alex back against him once the door clicked open. "Bath before bed time, or pajamas and a show?" He asks, letting the door slowly close behind them before locking it. Slowly, he moves to the couch, keys tossed onto the counter somewhere they'll find later.

"Show…" Caulder yawns. He falls back against the couch when Bear steadily sits him down and begins undoing the poorly laced shoes that were rushed to be put on a couple hours before. Alex rubs his eyes as he watches, the tears leaving his face puffy and warm.

"Atta boy." Graves nods, slipping Alex's shoes off. He settles on a knee to remove his own shoes, putting the pairs of shoes in a spot they won't get tripped on later when Alex inevitably stumbles in the dark to find a snack at horrendous hours of the morning. "Up?" He then asks, on his feet with his arms outstretched to lift Alex back up.

"Up." He nods with a firm pout on his lips. Only relaxing when Bear lifts him off the cold couch and he's met with warmth again. He nudges his head against the nape of his neck, settling into his arms.

"Don't get too comfy, still gotta get pjs, right?" Bear playfully pokes Alex's side, grinning when the Little tries to wiggle away from the ticklish feeling.

"Mama-!" Alex bumps his head against Graves' jaw.

"Gotta keep my cub awake, huh? You're gonna get all comfy in a minute." He chuckles softly, rumbling in his chest. Gently, he bounces Alex, readying him to start walking to the bedroom not too far.

The Little smiles sleepily at the nickname, heart squeezing in his chest but no longer from fear or hurt. Just love. He's so loved. If he can understand that or not, he is.

"That's what I thought…" Bear hums, walking with Alex to the bedroom. The blankets are rustled from the sleepless night Caulder's had so far, a pillow on the floor, one of Bear's hoodies thrown at the end of the bed… The room is a mess, dirty clothes strewn about, even his plushies knocked to the floor. And yet, at some point, for whatever reason, Alex threw on jeans of all things, to run somewhere away from here.

As Alex is sat down, the little lovie is firmly pressed to his chest while Bear begins to work at unraveling the large blanket from Alex's slumped frame. The space fills with warm hums, keeping away the dark clouds that dare to fill Alex's head at the slightest bit of silence. It's safe. Never once did Alex ask Bear to keep track of triggers or things that upset him, the Caregiver did that all himself. He never had to ask Bear to be mindful of him, he already was.

Caulder holds the lovie delicately in his hands. However, not so delicately where his teeth bite at the ear of the bear plush. The fabric grows damp where he chews it between his teeth. He watches Bear with big, soft eyes, rocking slowly to the humming.

"Be gentle, bud…" Bear warns as he glances up at Alex, and the plush's ear bitten between his lips. There's no cruelty to his voice, nowhere near firm. More affectionate than anything. The lovie had been his idea, after all. He'd seen the nights Alex struggled away from him. The little thing had been covered in Bear's cologne, it no longer needs that when Bear is really there to hold him at night, but it'll always be Alex's favorite stuffed animal.

The blanket falls away from him, only gently rested over him for the brief moment the Caregiver stands to retrieve something akin to pajamas in the messy space of Alex's room. The dresser is almost bare, aside from a pair of light blue pajamas with clouds spotted along it. Almost too soft. Alex's eyes follow him the entire time he's away.

"These?" Bear prompts, narrowly avoiding tripping over a t-shirt as he crosses the bedroom floor. He takes it as a yes when Alex immediately reaches out towards the set, or maybe just reaches for him.

Alex calmly watches as his uncomfortable jeans are replaced with the warm cotton pants, moving the way Bear needs him to in order to dress him. The shirt was the problem. With the plush set briefly aside, he should be able to let Bear tug the shirt over his head, but he just watches. He doesn't move at all to make it easier, he makes it worse with his hands holding the bottom of his shirt. Eyes going from wide and curious to hesitant, slightly squinted while he looks at his Caregiver.

"I know, baby, but it's just pjs. Mama can close his eyes and you can do it?" Joe suggests, hands back and clear in Alex's vision. He won't move, and he makes sure Alex knows that.

"Closed 's okay…" Alex's small voice croaked, hoarse with all of the hours of tears that day. He watches Bear closely until his eyes close. Then, and only then, does he remove the tear-stained shirt. His eyes look at his own skin, the tiny bit of excess fat on his tummy, and then the large, stretched scar over his lower abdomen. Bear knows it's there, but it's one of those nights… See him, but don't look.

His finger twitches as it follows the length of the old scar, then a couple of surrounding stretch marks. The whole time, he keeps taking glances like he's scared of what Bear would say to him. There had only ever been well mannered questions, never cruel jabs or harsh remarks. That, he's thankful for… The tiny ones on his chest don't matter, or at least were never questioned.

"Alex?" Graves hums to him. "You almost done, buddy?" Worry laces his voice yet again.

In response, Alex quickly throws the damp t-shirt to the side and replaces it with something actually comfortable. His hands immediately seek the comfort of the lovie at his side. He grunts to announce he's done, every scar covered and safely sealed away so he doesn't have to see it himself. He's too small for all the weight on his shoulders. Bear can take it away, he always does. Or, at the very least, tries his best to.

"There ya go." The Caregiver coos, his smile wrinkling the corners of his eyes. "Hey, sweet boy…" He softly says, ruffling Alex's hair again.

Caulder's eyes sparkle, looking up at Bear as he straightens his hair out again. He leans into the touch as it softens. It's okay. He pulls in a deep breath before he nips at the lovie's ear again, trying to regulate the fast uptick in fear at the small, simple task of just getting comfy.

"Bed time and show?" Bear asks with raised eyebrows, his gentle grin never leaving his face. His hand brushes out the curly hair before he gives Alex a light pat on the shoulders, eyes soft where he looks down at his Little.

There's a beat of silence, Alex never responding but quickly making it his mission to get into the big bed before Bear can. A smile spreads on his face as he turns to face Bear. The blankets are all horribly messy, he's barely under them and, lord, do they need to be re-tucked into the frame. But, that smile, with the lovie's ear still between Alex's teeth, is enough to make Graves chuckle. If not at the action, than the sweet smile his Little gives him.

"Are we being silly?" Bear coos, arms crossed playfully over his chest. Really, he should change his shirt and pants, but before he does, he presses a knee onto the bed and leans over to press a kiss to the side of Alex's head. "Do you need to get the sillies out before bed?" He sits as he pulls back slightly.

"Nuh-uh." Alex is quick to say, dropping the lovie into his lap. He squeaks when Bear wiggles his fingers by his side, threatening to tickle him again. "No!" He insists, smile growing as he lightly kicks away.

"Are we sure?" Joe chuckles, pulling his hand away. His own breaths coming in easier when his Little smiles so brightly.

"Yeah!" He nods quickly, one of his canine teeth poking out from his lips when he bites at the already swollen skin. Alex's quiet giggles fill the space, lighting up the room beyond the moon peeking in through the windows.

"Alright then… But I gotta get comfy so we can get comfy, okay? Can you wait for Mama?" Over the course of the last couple of hours, the title began to come out with less and less hesitance. It makes Alex smile all over again, nodding softly even if he didn't catch all the words. Him, Mama, comfy… That's all he needs.

Bear only takes a moment to steal something clean from the folded laundry on the far side of the room, getting out of the wet shirt and scratchy jeans and slipping into a pair of Alex's shorts and one of his own, stolen, shirts. The gentle humming resumes as he tends to the blanket problem… Tugging everything to the correct sides and firmly tucking Alex into the bed as he's fixing everything, then, he places Buddha's heavy blanket over the fixed bedding.

"Cozy?" He glances at Alex, hands settled on his hips as he takes in the way Alex cuddles into all of the blankets. His sheets, then a warmer blanket, then a comforter, and now the big blanket. The Little looks so much smaller like that, even with the events of the day taking a toll on his body, he looks so, so small.

All he gets in reply is a copy of his own humming, and a small nod where Caulder has sunken into the bedding. Bear simply grins and climbs into the bed, TV remote in hand where he swiped it off the bedside table.

"C'mere…" He rumbles, leaning against the headboard once the pillows are situated enough. The one on the floor can stay there for now. What's more important, is getting Alex comfy, then getting him to rest. One arm opens to bring his Little in close.

Alex doesn't need the prompting whatsoever. As soon as Bear is what looks like content enough where he's situated, Alex immediately presses himself into his side. The little lovie sits on the side, hands free so he can grab at Bear's clean shirt. His head tilts up, chin pressing into Bear's chest, and just looks at him. Moonlight reflects in his eyes.

"Hey, darlin'…" Graves murmurs, brushing through Alex's hair gently. With care, he fixes the knots in the curly hair.

He blinks softly up at him, before he shifts positions to be comfortably tucked against his side, cheek squished against Bear's chest. The heavy blankets get pulled up closer and closer until his shoulders are completely covered. A little shimmy makes it known that he's comfortable.

"That good?" Joe hums to him, his hand still threading through the Little's hair.

Grumbling in response, Alex just cuddles closer. One leg over one of Bear's so he can't possibly leave. A hand grabs a fist full of his Caregiver's shirt, holding on closely as the television clicks on. The brightness makes him flinch, and the Caregiver grunt with the same reaction.

"Sorry, baby…" Bear huffs, rapidly clicking the button to lower the brightness. A sigh leaving him as soon as the painfully bright screen is gone.

"'s okay." The little one murmurs, his eyes fixed on TV while Bear looks for something regression-appropriate. Alex's soft, small voice barely above a whisper. Bear replies with a quiet hum of 'thank you', tucking his arm carefully around Alex, who immediately melts into the touch.

After a few minutes of clicking through show options, Bear settles on something he's seen Alex watch before, something about mermaid kids and a school… The completion bar was only a few seconds in anyway. He's not sure what's going on, but it'll be turned off whenever Alex falls asleep anyway. He settles more comfortably in bed, holding his Little closer.

Caulder's sleepy eyes watch the show for only a few minutes, and hums along with the intro tune, before he presses his head further against Bear's chest. For the first time that night, his heart doesn't feel like it's beating out of his chest, his lungs fill fully with air… He's warm.

"Goodnight, bud…" Bear near-silently whispers. He sets the remote aside, and gently uses that hand to brush over Alex's scruffy cheek. Soft eyes watch as Alex closes his eyes and begin to drift to sleep.

A small smile sits on his lips while he falls asleep, the low rumble of Joe's chest soothing him further. He sleeps wrapped in warmth, cuddled up to his Caregiver exactly how he should be. Warm, safe, and loved.

As promised, Bear never leaves his side. Not when he tosses and turns for several minutes at a time, he stays there, keeping the bed warm and Alex safe. The kid's show gets turned off, and replaced with something more interesting to Bear, tree-houses and log cabins… Something to keep his mind occupied while he stays awake, just as a precaution in case Alex needs him.

And it was needed.

On the fifth position shift of the last hour, low, pained grunts came from the Little beside him. Haze heavy in his head, Alex simply turns again and presses his head against Bear's side, in a significantly different position than he was before. This one curled up far more, holding his head between his hands, eyes wide as he stares at nothing…

He doesn't do anything but whimper in pain. A horrible throbbing fills his head, ears ringing until he can't make out a thing from the TV show, or anything said to him. Instead, his nails dig into his head and he cries out.

Prying hands do nothing when sharp agony fills his body. 'Headache' can't describe the pain, migraine doesn't feel close enough either, it's far past that. Even with pain, Alex never cried out so loudly, not as much as Bear hears from him now.

Confused babbles and cries fall from his lips. It was all just fine moments ago, it had been okay. Why isn't it okay? It should be okay. Alex was smiling not even three hours ago. Why is his baby crying?

And now all Bear hears is broken babbles of, "it hurts!" over and over until the room goes quiet and Alex goes terrifyingly slack.

#classification au #six 2017 #SIX agere #SIX (tv)#alex caulder #alex caulder whump #joe bear graves #joe graves #richard “rip” taggart #ricky “buddha” ortiz #six show #age regression #agere #agere fic #fandom agere #agere fanfic

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