#and his restaurant literally. made him clock out IMMEDIATELY | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

ladykailitha · 1 year ago

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The Magic of Christmas Part 6/8

Angst up ahead. Sorry. I had to rough things up a bit so they didn't get together too soon. But hey, at least it's Halloween. And yes, this was actually something my friends and I used to do for Halloween. It was fun.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5

***

October in the Midwest was as beautiful as it was harsh. The temperature would take a sharp decline around this time of year, and if you weren’t prepared you could get caught outside in cold ass weather in a light jacket with no gloves, no hat, no boots.

In short, Steve in this moment.

He had gone off to work assuming it would be as warm as it was the day before. But no. Mother Nature had decided that summer was officially over, autumn was a fleeting season, and that winter was here.

So yeah, he was fucking miserable. He spotted Robin all nice and cozy and protested.

“How did you know it was going to be so cold?” he whined.

She rolled her eyes at him. “The weather app on my phone?”

Steve cursed under his breath. “It was literally sixty degrees yesterday, how am I freezing my balls off?”

Robin made a face. “Ew.”

A dark grin took over his face.

“What?” she asked as he inched closer. “Whatever you are about to do, don’t.”

He pounced and managed to get his cold hands under her coat close to her skin and she shrieked, trying to get away.

He chased her trying to warm his hands up.

Eddie arrived a few minutes later to find them rosy cheeked and laughing their asses off.

“You didn’t have to wait for me outside, you know?” he said, tugging on Steve’s sleeve to guide him toward the doors that would lead into the restaurant.

Robin peered around him as though she was looking for someone. “Chrissy not coming?”

“Yeah, sorry,” Eddie said, “Her finance professor decided that he was going to have pop quiz tomorrow and only gave them two days to study for it.”

Steve grimaced. “I bet it was Callahan. That guy’s an ass. Especially if there are more than three girls in his class.”

Eddie tilted his head to the side. “That’s right, I forgot you must have gotten your business degree if you’re running your own business.”

“Worthless as it is to actual fucking business,” he groused.

They walked into the restaurant and Eddie immediately clocked why they had been waiting for him outside. It was hotter than the Devil’s tit in here and it was crammed wall to wall with people.

“Reservations for four under the name Harrington,” Steve said when they reached the hostess.

She scanned her list. “No one under that name for tonight.”

Steve frowned. “Today is the 11th, right? It is six o’clock right? How is my name not on the list?”

“I’m sorry, sir,” the hostess said briskly. “There is no one under that name for six o’clock.”

“How about Buckley?” Robin asked, stepping forward.

She scanned her list again. “Nothing for six.”

Eddie frowned. “Okay, then for what time?”

The hostess blinked at him. “Excuse me?”

“You clearly have a Buckley on your list,” Eddie explained, “as you didn’t say no to the name, just the time. So what time is the reservation for?”

“Well,” the hostess said with a sneer, “if you can’t remember the time, how do I know you are the Buckley that made the reservation?”

Robin pulled out her ID and handed it to her. “It’s under Robin Buckley for tonight, if not 6pm then 6:30pm.”

The hostess took her ID and looked from it to her and then back again several times. She sighed heavily. “Yes, we have a reservation at 6:30 under that name.”

They were shown to their seats and sat down.

The food was terrible, the service was worse, and the prices for the food were exorbitant for what they got.

Steve left the bare minimum of a tip, roughly eighteen percent and they were chased out of the restaurant by a screaming server demanding more tip.

“Well that was horrific,” Robin said as they all huddled inside Steve’s car, waiting for the cops to arrive so that they could get the screaming lady away from them so Eddie could get to his van and Steve could drive off safely.

“And who’s idea was this anyway?” Eddie hissed. He had never been treated that badly by anyone in his life. And he was a metalhead in high school.

Steve ducked his head down. “It was mine. But I had heard nothing but good things about it from my colleagues for weeks. I just want to do something unique.”

“That was unique all right,” Eddie growled. “Getting yelled and chased for leaving a decent tip. Congrats, zero for ten would never do it again.”

“I’m sorry!” he cried. “It’s never happened to me before either.”

“Whatever.”

Just then the cops arrived and the server went dashing back into restaurant the second she saw them. They talked to Steve and got his information and his version of events. Ten minutes later, Steve and Robin were on their way home in silence and a very pissed off Eddie was on his way back to his place.

“Edward Allen Munson!” Chrissy snapped after Eddie told her about his night. “Are you seriously telling me that you think that Steve, your Steve would deliberately take you to a restaurant were they were rude to you, the food was bad, and then proceed to get chased out said restaurant to humiliate you?”

“Not when you say it like that,” he muttered looking down at his hands.

“You think?!” she screeched. “How could you possibly think that of Steve?”

Eddie picked at the thread of the rip of the knee of his jeans. “It was a lapse in judgment, okay! I don’t really think of him like that! I don’t. I–I don’t.”

“So do you want to tell me what was going through your head?” Chrissy asked.

“All the times that I got made fun of for the way I dress,” Eddie muttered, “the music I liked, the games I played, the art I drew. I could see it all happening again like it was in slow motion.”

She threw her arms around his shoulders. “But Steve isn’t like that. He hired you for you. Your art, the way you dress. Then he liked you as a person. A person who made him laugh, who drew him out of his shell, who looked him in the eye and said, ‘I won’t hurt you.’ Only you did, Ed. So much.”

“I’ll make it up to him,” Eddie promised.

“You better.”

Only two days later Robin messaged him to say that one the charities he was on the board for just got indicted for fraud and that for the next couple of weeks Steve was going to be living in the office until got it figured out.

But apparently the universe was out to get Eddie because the next thing he knew Steve was on his way to London because one of the companies Steve’s own company had been trying to buy for literal years was finally willing to sell.

So off Steve went. And Robin went with him. Leaving behind two very bereft artists.

It was getting close to Halloween and Eddie was getting worried. So he called Robin.

“You guys will be back in time for Halloween, right?” he asked nervously. “I’m not DMing a one-shot in your house if you guys aren’t in it.”

“We’re working on it,” Robin promised. “It’s just one of the original owners is dragging his feet on one sentence in one paragraph. And it’s stupid and pointless.”

He sighed. “I’m sorry. That does sound bad.”

“I’ll keep you guys posted,” she said firmly. “We’ll make it back even if I have to shank the old bastard.”

Eddie laughed feeling easier about the Halloween party.

“I’ll be your alibi,” he said with a grin.

“You’re on!”

They barely made it in town by the 29th. Steve was running on two hours of sleep and bleary-eyed when he fell into bed that night. Robin had insisted that they stay up until at least nine to avoid jetlag.

Something that Steve struggled with mightily, but sleep was bliss once he was allowed to crawl into his bed.

He woke up at eleven the next morning, still tired, but finally alive enough to function beyond zombie-like.

Robin and Steve got to work cleaning the house. Technically Claudia and Dustin lived there, too. But she had recently started dating again and spent most of her time at his place. So in the house hadn’t been lived in during the two weeks they were gone.

They got the dining room set up for the game and then went shopping. Steve was going all out.

He bought ingredients for pizza and as many toppings as he could think of. Sausage, ground beef, bacon, peppers, onions, mushrooms, ham, hell he even grabbed pineapple in case someone wanted it. He was also making two different kinds of sauce. A white cheese and a marinara.

He got everything prepared and in the fridge, then tomorrow he was going to make the dough.

“You have really outdone yourself,” Robin said patting him on the shoulder. “Those little shitheads better appreciate your hard work.”

Steve scoffed. “They won’t.”

“True,” Robin said with a laugh.

Eddie wasn’t sure what he thought of Steve’s house. At least from the outside. It was very post modern and a little ugly.

But when he was led in, he fell in love with the place. It was warm and welcoming and so soft.

If Eddie had been a writer he would have spoke to the metaphor of the house being like Steve. Looking pretentious and aloof on the outside, but warm and inviting on the inside.

The guilt from the last time he saw Steve burned in his gut. He had railed against judging a book by its cover for so long, that he forgot what that actually meant.

“So are the kids here yet?” Eddie asked as she took his coat.

Robin shook her head. “Not yet. But they should be in about a half hour. Steve wanted to give you time to set up before they got here to ‘deepen the surprise’ as he called it.”

Eddie grinned. “Lead the way!”

She lead him to the dinning room with the long oak wood table. It was gorgeous.

“We don’t usually eat in here,” she said as he set up. “There’s a lovely little breakfast nook in the kitchen that’s better suited for our eating needs, but I figured that you’d want more space for your game.”

“Brilliant as always, Birdie,” Eddie said, kissing her cheek.

“Oi!” Steve said from the other door to the dinning room. “No stealing my lesbian. You have one of your own.”

Eddie threw his head back and laughed. “Yeah, yeah.”

Now that the door was open delicious smells came wafting through the air.

“Holy shit, Stevie,” he gasped. “What are you making? I thought it was booze and pizza tonight, nothing fancy.”

Robin laughed as Steve ducked his head.

“This guy do anything simple?” she asked mockingly. “Never!”

Steve rolled his eyes. “Homemade just tastes better than fast food.” He turned on his heel and walked back into the kitchen.

“Only because you’re a food snob!” she crowed after him.

Eddie shook his head. “I’ve never gotten why people can be such snobs about food. It all comes out the other end in the end.”

Robin snorted. “That’s be we both grew up poor. Steve didn’t have boxed mac and cheese until he moved in with me.”

“But boxed mac is the best!” Eddie protested.

“Only if you haven’t had his grandmother’s mac and cheese. It’s made in a casserole dish with bread crumb topping and extra cheese sprinkled on top at the end for extra gooeyness.”

Eddie straightened up. “One moment please.”

He walked into the kitchen like a man on a mission. “You sir have been holding out on me. You have a grandma approved mac and cheese recipe and you haven’t shared?”

Steve who had started the rant confused, threw back his head and laughed. “Sorry, Eds. I’ll bring to the next movie night. I promise.”

Eddie nodded and then turned on his heel to go back to setting up the D&D game.

Once everything was set up and they were just waiting for the kids to arrive, Eddie took time to suss out how badly he had fucked up.

“You are going to still join us, right?” Eddie asked chewing on his lower lip nervously.

Steve crumpled. “I want to. I do, but I’m so tired.”

“You would have been so tired if you had ordered pizza like the rest of us heathens, you know that, right?” Eddie said, bumping their shoulders together.

“If I’m being honest,” Steve said, scratching his cheek, “I wasn’t sure if you’d still wanted me to.”

Eddie threw his arms around him and sighed. “I’m sorry, Stevie. Of course I want you here. It’s sometimes I get locked into the us verses them mentality and forgot that you aren’t like that.” He tilted his head to side with big smile. “Plus we get to freak out your goblins not once, but twice if you play.”

Steve blinked for a moment. “Nope, you’re absolutely right, that is a fantastic idea.”

Eddie grinned. “You can play until your first death and then you can go to bed. Robin and I will handle it from there.”

“Sounds like a perfect plan,” he said with a smile.

They were close, so close. All it would have taken was to lean forward just a little and they would have been kissing.

But of course that was when the Party decided to arrive.

Steve got down their pizza orders and popped them into the oven. Then he lead them to dining room.

“Why are we eating out here?” Mike asked. “I hate that long table, it makes me feel like a peasant in a king’s castle or some shit.”

“Robin is making the drinks,” Steve said, “which means she needs the full bar to make them. There’ll be a menu and each of you will be given cups with lines on them. Once you hit the top line, it’s water and soda for the rest of the night. Do you understand?”

Everyone nodded. Even Mike. They knew that Steve had risked a lot of clout with their parents for this and they did not want to blow that for him.

Suddenly Dustin was tugging on Steve’s sleeve. “Why is Eddie Munson in our house?”

Everyone else turned and looked at the head of the long the table. Sure enough, there was Eddie, waving at them.

“Settle on in, my stalwart adventurers,” Eddie greeted warmly. “Your D&D accouterments are over by the door. You’ll have ten minutes to get ready and then we’ll start the haunted forest one-shot campaign for five.”

Everyone looked around and counted off.

“Are you playing and DMing?” Lucas asked, tilting his head in confusion.

Steve walked over to the door and pulled out a set of brightly yellow dice and sat down next to Eddie. “Nope.”

And suddenly there was pandemonium as they realized that Steve was playing with them.

Steve ended up playing the whole night, having been sucked into the story telling. After it was over and Steve was curled up with Dustin on the floor of the living room where everyone was camped out in sleeping bags including Eddie and Robin, Dustin thanked Steve.

“This was awesome, Steve,” he murmured drowsily. “You didn’t have to do this.”

“I knew how upset you were about not being able to meet him,” Steve said, “especially since I work with him all the time for the charity.”

Dustin lifted his head. “So you came up with this as a way to make up for it?”

Steve hummed.

“Thanks, Steve.”

“You’re welcome, bud.”

As they drifted off to sleep, Eddie smiled to himself under the comfort of his sleeping bag. Yeah, Steve was a good dude.

****

Part 7 Part 8

@spectrum-spectre @estrellami-1 @zerokrox-blog @artiststarme @swimmingbirdrunningrock @gregre369 @pyrohonk @a-little-unsteddie @chaosgremlinmunson @chaoticlovingdreamer @maya-custodios-dionach @goodolefashionedloverboi @messrs-weasley @val-from-lawrence @i-must-potato @danili666 @carlyv @rozzieroos @wonderland-girl143-blog @justforthedead89 @emly03 @bookworm0690 @itsall-taken @vecnuthy @bookbinderbitch @redfreckledwolf @littlewildflowerkitten @yikes-a-bee @awkwardgravity1 @scheodingers-muppet @mira-jadeamethyst @cinnamon-mushroomabomination @genderless-spoon @anne-bennett-cosplayer @irregular-child @carlprocastinator1000 @mogami13 @samsoble

#my writing #stranger things #steddie #ladykailtiha writes #christmas #artist eddie #businessman steve #autistic steve harrington

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fallinforerling · 2 years ago

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have you met before? | chapter 3 - eh

ೃ⁀➷ erling’s masterlist

ೃ⁀➷ erling’s taglist

ೃ⁀➷ masterlist

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You told yourself for the entirety of your shift that you wouldn’t give in due to nervousness; that you wouldn’t feel pressured just because you had a date. But as the hours passed, you felt the urgency to get ready immediately. With a sigh, you said goodbye to who seemed to be the last customer of the day, realizing it was already five p.m. and you were still there.

Your mind raced and raced, thinking about what type of guy Erling could be. Was he the type to take his date to a fancy restaurant? Or was he more laid-back? How did you expect him to be?

You didn’t have an answer. You just wanted to go out with the same sweet guy you’d met a few days ago. And even though you still saw him as Erling, just Erling, you also knew he was a famous footballer. That made you nervous. Thinking about it made you dizzy, to be honest.

“Calm down. Breathe.” You told yourself, taking long, deep breaths before relaxing your shoulders. “He’s a normal person, just like you. No need to freak out.”

And it was true. There was no need to see him any differently just because he’s famous. He was the sweet guy who asked for a date, and he’ll stay that way.

For now, the only concern you were having was that you really needed to get ready, and, for now, the shop work could wait until tomorrow. You gave the clock a quick glance, feeling your heart jump when it marked 5:40 p.m.

Run. Run. Run. That was the only word that repeated itself in your head as you collected your things, making sure every single lock was in its place before hurrying to the door.

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As you predicted, your indecisiveness came through, making it five times harder to choose the perfect fit for this date.

It’s dinner, but where? Do I wear a dress, pants, a blazer, flat shoes, or high heels? You saw the ridiculous amount of clothes gathering on every flat surface of your bedroom, frustrated when you tried to see anything working, but nothing did. Will he even pay attention to my clothes? You couldn’t know, and it would be such a dick move to throw the first thing you saw just because you were in a hurry.

Every dress you owned seemed like too much or too little; the other combinations didn’t sit right with you. It was so frustrating that you wanted to call literally anyone you knew for help. And then, just as you were reaching down to your nightstand to get your phone, a miracle happened. The delicate fabric of the dress was spattered on the closet floor, hidden from your sight unless you looked at it in the right position. /t was like destiny.

“I can’t believe I forgot about you!” You shouted, picking it up with care. It was perfect.

You hurried to try it on, praying for it to work. The need you felt for it to fit was immense, so when it passed your legs and sat around your hips as comfortably as you remembered, you started to thank every single deity available. Finally. You looked back at your reflection, feeling satisfied with the vision. The black dress, which was your go-to option whenever you had to wear something formal but casual, still fit you like a glove. Everything about it was perfect, from the delicate lace around the cleavage to the way it wasn’t too long or too short. The material was soft, comfortable, ideal.

The joy you felt lasted only five minutes. You shot your phone a glance, and suddenly you didn’t care anymore for the dress or the state of your room. It was almost seven. And you haven’t started the process of getting ready.

“I’m so fucked!” Your neighbors must be hating you by this point, with all the screaming and running around, but you couldn’t help it. You had less than an hour to look presentable.

Taking the dress off, you hurried to the bathroom, grabbing the essentials along the way. That shower was the shortest— and most effective— one you’ve ever had. You didn’t know if it was the adrenaline, but everything was going your way. The body lotion was absorbing well, you didn’t struggle to find your jewelry, or your favorite heels. Even when you were doing your makeup, you didn’t fucked it up, even though your coordination wasn’t the best. Everything was going your way. And just as you were finishing the eyeshadow, your phone buzzed.

✉️ Erling: hello beautiful. i’ll be there in five, can’t wait to see you 🤍

Your heart raced. The feeling of nervousness didn’t leave your body while you made sure you had everything in your bag or when you walked down the hall and into the elevator. The butterflies in your stomach seemed to be fighting each other on your way to the main entrance, and just when you finally stood outside and your phone buzzed, making you look down at it and then back at the street to see Erling’s face peeking out from an impressive car, did you realize there was nothing to be nervous about.

“Hello, gorgeous.” He got out of the car, making his way to you in three long strides. “You look beautiful, as always.” His hand reached out to you, like he wanted to touch you, but stopped at the last second. “Ready?” His fingers lingered on one strand of your hair for a few moments before he dropped it.

“I’m ready.” A smile crept onto your face. Without having a reason to do so, you let your left hand act by itself, caressing his arm for a moment. “You look amazing.”

And it wasn’t a lie. He was wearing a leather jacket that hugged his shoulders in such a way that you couldn’t stop looking. His outfit was pretty much black on black, with his blue Jordans being the only pop of color. His eyes smiled at you, and you knew you were about to experience the best date ever.

Because you felt comfortable around him. His hand reached for the small of your back, guiding you to the car as you two chatted, but you didn’t feel his touch invasive. The calm that overcame the nervousness had you smiling as you entered the car, taking in Erling’s scent. It smelled like every single thing you liked in the world combined into one.

“How was practice?” You asked once he made it behind the wheel. The sight of him driving did things to you, so you had to physically stop yourself from touching him again. “I hope you aren’t too tired.”

“To see you? Never.” His smile was so sweet. Oh, how were you supposed to survive this date? “But training was fine, not as exhausting; I’m getting used to their rhythm.”

“It must be difficult to get used to a whole new team dynamic so quickly.” You didn’t know a lot about football, but you could figure out that much. “Do you miss your old team?”

“Honestly?” He was staring right ahead, but you could see one side of his mouth lifting slightly. “A lot. They were family to me, still are.” He shrugged. “But I had to go; football is like this sometimes. We can’t help it.”

“At least your new teammates are nice.” You stated it, but instantly doubted it. “Right?”

“Yeah, they are! I’ve already made some friends. All of them are good lads, can’t say they’re unwelcoming.”

“I’m glad to hear that. But again, you’re a lovely guy. It doesn’t surprise me that you’d made friends so fast.” Your cheeks were burning red; once again, your mouth acted by itself.

“Oh, I’m lovely, eh?” His cheeky smile made you laugh, not giving importance to your embarrassment. “What about you? I haven’t met anyone sweeter than you.“

“Oh, stop!”

“I’m serious! Actually, I have a whole dinner to talk about you in a minute.” You felt the car stop, your eyes going straight to the restaurant to your left. “Wait here.”

“What? Why?” You were so transfixed by the restaurant’s fancy exterior that you didn’t catch why he was asking you to wait. He got out of the car, getting to your door fast enough for you to still be sitting there, clueless.

Then your door opened, with him peeking over it with a tiny smile.

Oh, god. You weren’t surviving this date at all.

“You are lovely.” You said once you got out, taking the hand he was offering. “Thank you.”

“No need to thank me.”

Walking to the door, you thought you saw some people taking a double look at Erling. That only reminded you of his fame, but nothing could affect your mood. His hand was warm, and, not surprisingly, big. It engulfed yours in a way that made you smirk.

“Good night. Table for two.” The guy at the reception looked up to him with a blank stare, like his eyes couldn’t believe who he was seeing, before dropping them to the book between his hands. “It’s under Haaland, with a double ‘a’.”

“Yes, good night, Mr. Haaland... Miss.” He made a slight nod in your direction, looking extremely professional. “Right this way.” He guided you inside the place, which was breathtaking with all of the vintage furniture, the crystal chandeliers, and the beautiful flower themed decoration. “Here it is, table for two by the balcony. I’ll lower the curtains if you like.” Then you noticed the table hiding behind a tall balcony window with an unbelievable view of the city.

You didn’t know what type of guy this whole date made Erling out to be, but whatever that was, you loved it.

“What do you say? Do you want to lower the curtains?” Erling’s hand touched yours, which was resting on his forearm, making you wake up from the trance you were in while admiring your surroundings.

“I… Sure, let’s lower the curtains.” If that means more privacy, then you’ll take it.

“Very well. Please take a seat while I make the final arrangements for your stay.” The man finally left, making the curtains fall, isolating you both from the rest of the place.

What was left was the view of the city, and Erling.

“This is so quiet.” You said, feeling the breeze on your hair. “I like it.”

“I thought you might like it.” You both kept staring right ahead for a few seconds before taking a seat, facing each other with the smile you only wore on your first date with someone. It was shy, sweet, and full of hope. “I’m so glad you’re here. I didn’t think you were going to say yes at all.”

“Really? Why?” There was no way he doubted it. How was that possible?

“You were just… so sweet. I didn’t think you’d say yes to a complete stranger. I was hoping for the best.” His smile was mesmerizing. “I was lucky enough to catch your attention.”

“It was the broad shoulders, actually.” You enjoyed watching his eyes almost disappear while he laughed at your words. “And the long blonde hair.”

“Were they? Damn, I wish I knew that earlier.” His laugh was so contagious. You liked it a lot.

“Good night. Sorry to interrupt. Are you open to seeing the menu?” A waiter appeared on the curtain’s edge with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. You understood his expression all too well; he was tired. He handed you the menus with soft movements before placing his hands close to his body. “Please let me know if you’ll like anything in particular; I’ll be within earshot.” Before you could say “thanks”, he had already disappeared.

“What are you in the mood to drink?” Erling asked, eyeing the menu with interest. “Do you like wine?”

“Only if it’s sweet.” You eyed the menu too, disturbed by the fact that there weren’t any prices listed. What kind of restaurant didn’t have their prices on the menu?

“Well, that’s a deal then. Do you want anything else? Water? An appetizer?” You blinked at the question, not knowing what to do. He could surely afford anything on the menu since he brought you here, but it was still… weird.

“What about the unpronounceable one with the French name that, apparently, has salmon?” You both laughed at your suggestion, your cheeks going a bit red because it was evident you’d never step foot in a restaurant this fancy.

“I actually love the idea of eating something that I don’t have the slightest idea of what it has inside.” He leaned over the menu, giving you a look that made your smile wider. “You aren’t allergic to anything in particular, right?”

“Not at all.” You leaned as well, enjoying the proximity.

“Perfect then. Weird french appetizer it is! Waiter?”

The guy appeared out of nowhere, making you wonder if he was closer than expected. He looked as unimpressed as before, so you figured that it wasn’t the first— nor the last time��- that he’d heard weird things while working. He took your order with a quick nod, not questioning or talking unless either of you asked for something specific.

“Can I ask if you have already decided on the main course?”

“Oh, well.” Erling took a quick glance at the menu, shrugging right after. “I’ll have a steak, actually. Rare, with… Uh… The zucchini, carrot, and apple ribbons.”

“What about you, madam?”

“I’ll have the lobster tortellini.” You said that with enough confidence to not cringe at yourself. Once the waiter left, you eyed Erling, raising an eyebrow at him until he raised one back at you.

“What?”

“Rare?” You laughed, not wanting to believe that you liked a man who ate rare meat. “You are basically asking for an alive piece of meat on your plate, Erling.”

“Ow, c’mon! All the good stuff goes away if you cook it!”

“You can’t be serious!” You liked feeling like you could mess with him. “I’m not taking any of your food opinions seriously if you think that.”

“Oh yeah? Then it doesn’t matter what I think about your food?” His cocky grin made you blush, but you stood your ground.

“That’s very different, you know! My food is amazing.”

“Excuse me, would you like to try the wine first?” The waiter appeared out of nowhere, startling you both.

“Sure thing, we want to get drunk. Don’t we, dear?”

That didn’t take a reaction out of the waiter, but it made you laugh, so Erling kept making silly comments throughout the dinner until the poor guy seemed done with life in general.

You didn’t remember having that much fun on a date since… ever.

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“Have a lovely evening. Please, come back anytime.” The waiter gave you a smile wider than the universe; apparently, it only took a good tip for him to actually show emotion and suddenly like Erling’s jokes.

You both giggled on your way out, Erling’s jacket covering your shoulders as you both walked slowly to the main entrance, red-faced from the bottle of wine and full of food that you still didn’t have the slightest idea of what it was. Your hand was back on his forearm, his tall figure feeling warm against your arm as you followed him.

“I dunno if it would be a good idea to drive right now.” He said once outside, his eyes wandering on his car. “But what else can we do? It’s midnight.”

You both stared at the car for a good minute before giggling nonstop, finding somehow funny how neither of you could drive right now. You were basically stuck there, but it felt like a good thing.

“Maybe we can walk around that park over there?” The idea came suddenly, since it was only now, at the peak of your semi-drunk state, that you noticed the beautiful park a few meters away. “We are not that drunk, so we should be able to walk like normal people… Right?” You looked up to him, catching his pleased smile just in time before he turned his head to look at the park’s direction.

“We are not, beautiful. But we could walk, of course. Any time to add to this date if a yes to me.”

“You’re so cheeky.” You laughed, loving the feeling of being wanted and appreciated by this man.

You were both tipsy, and one good thing about you being tipsy was that your shyness faded away, leaving your truth, and sometimes unhinged, thoughts to come out.

“I love this idea.” He said, guiding you across the almost deserted street. “There isn’t anything more romantic than walking around a park at night.”

“This totally feels like a romcom.” You were wearing his jacket, a cute dress, and walking around a park next to a guy that made you feel like you were floating. He was right. This was romantic.

“Is that a good thing?” He seemed slightly worried, which made you smile even more.

“I love romcoms, Erling.”

You both shared a brief stare, and you felt the electricity run between the two of you. Your skin exploded in goosebumps, and you suddenly remembered he was there, he was real and you were on a date.

Was he going to kiss you?

“I can’t stop saying how beautiful you look tonight.” He whispered, your steps slowly coming to a halt. His hand reached for your face, and this time, he didn’t stop until his fingers were touching your hair.

You didn’t say a word, scared of fucking up the moment. You felt your heart beating so hard that you feared it would be noticeable while he kept staring down at you like you were the only person in the world. It was melting you.

“Erling…” You finally said, reaching for his hand, your fingers exploring the back of it, not knowing what to expect from the kiss that was most definitely coming.

“Can I kiss you?” He murmured, already looking at your lips with such intensity that it took your breath away.

“Yes…”

Once your lips met, your bodies followed. Your hands went for his shoulders, the fabric of his shirt feeling soft against your palms as you held on to them. You felt his hands grabbing your waist, pushing your body against his softly. His lips were soft, warm, amazing. You didn’t recall sharing a kiss on a first date that felt like this. It was so cliche, yet so good.

This was the best kiss you’ve ever had. He was kissing you like it was the best kiss he’d ever had.

You aren’t surviving this. At all.

˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚*ੈ✩‧₊˚⋆·˚ ༘ * ERLING’S TAGLIST —

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begebege28 · 7 months ago

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JUST MY 2 CENTS

It’s truly amazing how they think and created all those HCs about #that couple. Like if that’s what you want, by all means do so. But to treat it like it’s canon? NO WAY. The way buddies do the same yet we get policed over it??? The way they act like buck is this idiot character who was “saved” by tmmy the talking tree trunk. And how tmmy is this “big protector”. Literally every time i see these takes, i ask myself, are these scenes not airing on my tv?like when they say “he was considerate of bucks feelings" when we know that’s not the case. Otherwise why lead him on during the date? Tmmy was out the moment buck made the “cool chicks” comment. Like why be petty and make the “joke" "Guess you can never have enough closet space. Ain't that the truth, right, Evan?" LIKE YOURSELF were hiding who you were? And here you are almost outing him? Thats your protector? “This is my first date with a dude”. Really tmmy didn’t clock it.. what 30yr says dude?? To lead him on and not tell him until basically opening the car door and immediately after leaving the restaurant you order it? Giving no indication you were done? Or during the date itself? I wonder why we didn’t see the continuation of the date? Reminded me and buck and Natalia first dare. For them to say this man is "so confident” we are yet to see this? In what way is he confident? In his sexuality?Obviously not lol. Well, in his job? If that’s that makes him confident then…… Then they made BUCK apologize because he wasn’t ready to come out to his best friend… The way they sped run the relationship by inviting him to his sisters wedding? I’m Sorry but you JUST CAME OUT. Has it even been 48hrs? This is a fictional show to which they could have made tmmy be a part of the bachelor party or the search rescue. Now that i think of it, what did the bachelor party serve in connection with the rest of the episode? We know they cut 30minutes of the episodes… i wonder what they cut???? Literally they could have made the medal scene be sweet and warm but it’s “enjoy it while it lasts”. REALLY? do we remember how buck wanted to have a medal and what it meant to him? They could have made them at least act like a couple… you wouldn’t even be able to tell they were dating if you didn’t watch the previous episodes. The dinner scene? The “daddy joke”. Like. Do they even care about this relationship. For for the love of god, you are allow to dislike a queer couple and queer character. Stop shielding them. They are allowed the same criticism. It’s not homophobic to hate tmmy or hate the relationship.

Imagine calling Eddie a "straight man" who still has grief over wife… how long has it been? They go on to say "this is why Eddie has to perform on dates" and "he never had to be with anything with Shannon expect himself". "He never had to be anything with Shannon expect himself". Simply where was this? What flashbacks and scenes with Shannon did you watch where Eddie was himself? Was it when he enlisted Shannon without telling her the FIRST TIME? Or was it THE SECOND time. Or was it after Eddie was discharged from the hospital and we got to see their life before Shannon left? Better yet, do you even remember why Shannon left and how he TREATED her. Shannon’s words, i don’t need a PROVIDER. “Eddie now has to realize he is enough. For Chris, for himself and for others". Isn't this bucks coma dream? Him realizing he's enough. Coma buck said to Bobby "I matter here" and Bobby responding with "you haven't learned a damn thing"." They went on to say “The only person we don't see or hear in the coma is Eddie." They continued “it's because buck sees Eddie as a brother. And buck faced off Daniel and himself, Because Daniel is the brother he couldn't save. The brother he never had. Eddie is also the brother he never had yet has saved" the whole point of the dream, was about buck. It was never about anyone else but himself. The dream literally is that. A dream. A life with loving parents/family and one where Daniel lived. This is if buck never had the life he did hence never meeting the 118. That's why Eddie isn't there. It's literally explained. If buck never goes and becomes a firefighter, he never meets Eddie. Buck is the Eddie gets in touch with Carla. Remember the flashback in Eddie begins? His parents basically shaming Eddie and saying "who's gonna watch Christopher while you’re at work". If Eddie never meets buck, he never meets Carla. That's why he's in Texas in the dream. He lost his custody because buck wasn't there, and therefore Eddie never got the help. I can’t with this narrative that “buddie is never going to happen” because for 6 seasons it was “queer buck is never going to happen” and look where we are now. I’m sick and tired of this superiority complex. Like, you’re making bucks bi arc about Timmy instead of buck himself. Oliver admitted bi buck was shot down in s4. He had to wait another 3 seasons for bibuck to happen. Were the same people saying “bi buck will never happen” during those times, now saying buddie will never happen 🫢🫢🫢 if so; that’s fucking crazy and sad. You never cared about buddie and the family that we have been graced with on our screen. The 6 years of content. Let’s not forget, bi buck this season was an afterthought. It was gonna be a continuation of Buck and Natalia. And then when the actress couldn’t come back, it was gonna be Buck and Lucy. And then Tmmy and Eddie. And then FINALLY we got Buck and Tmmy.

#buddie #buckxeddie #buckeddie #buckley diaz family #buddie 911

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redhead-reporter · 2 years ago

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º ✧ 。continued from HERE with @alldaddy ! :’)

It was very, VERY hard to surprise an investigative journalist as talented as Mary Jane Waston - but god damn had Odin Borrson pulled it off spectacularly.

They’d always been very UNDERSTANDING of each other’s high pressure jobs, rescheduling countless dates when his meetings ran long or her deadlines got tight without ever feeling slighted or unappreciated. It was part of what made them WORK so well together, that deep respect for each other’s work ethics. But ... c’mon. It WAS Valentine’s Day, one of the handful of days a year now that she was with Odin that MJ actually made sure she was off the clock with enough time to DOLL herself up for dinner. So when he’d texted her to say that he was running so late he couldn’t pick her up like usual, to just go on to the restaurant without him? Yeah, she’d been more than a little TICKED. Not enough to cancel the date, although the pettier side of herself HAD presented that as a brief option, but still.

Thank god she hadn’t actually threatened that, considering what was waiting for her ...

To say MJ’s jaw hit the floor when she walked in would be an UNDERSTATEMENT. For a moment she’d just blinked stupidly, turning her head left and right as her brain struggled to make sense of what she was seeing. This was one of the hottest, most exclusive restaurants in New York City. It had a waitlist several years long that took having some serious connections to even get on. Tonight was the single biggest night for restaurants to be busy ... and it was fucking EMPTY. Like tumbleweeds rolling through, crickets chirping levels of empty. “Okay... what the hell is happening right now?” she’d tried to ask Vili, but when she turned around he was already gone. Instead there was only the staff who patiently guided the shell shocked redhead up the stairs and into the next room.

With her heart HAMMERING loudly in her chest MJ tried to take it all in. The small fortune’s worth of her favorite flowers on every table, serving as a backdrop to the dozens of large framed photographs. That first vaguely blurry cell phone photo of the two of them at the club the night they met, captured by Harry in the hopes of alerting her EX to the new man she was eyeballing. Them together on the beach the first time she’d flown to LA to visit him placed next to a goofy selfie in his car when they took a long weekend up to a cabin in the Berkshires. A paparazzi photo of him smiling SO proudly at her when she won her first Pulitzer prize last spring, then the staged one his real estate agent had made them pose for when they got the keys to the penthouse. All broken up by sweet, private candids they’d taken over time, capturing SMILES they saved just for each other. It was practically a MUSEUM to their love story, enabling her to quite literally walk through their last two years together as the kind staff member led her towards the stairs to the roof.

“Odin?” MJ managed to squeak out when she saw him standing in the center of it all, still shaking her head to try and clear her mounting confusion. She crossed the roof to him immediately when he reached for her, hoping that at least touching him might GROUND her enough to make sense of everything. But then he promptly dropped to one knee and she LOST her connection to reality entirely. If you asked her five years from now what she’d been thinking during Odin’s heartfelt proposal? The honest answer would be that she wasn’t thinking - she could only FEEL, could only vaguely register the tears that had begun freely falling down her cheeks as her free hand lifted in cliched shock to cover her mouth.

All her life she’d thought this moment would scare the HELL out of her if it ever came, that she’d instantly fill with panic that they’d turn out just like her parents in the end and push whoever it was away. But the horrible dark nightmare of Philip and Madeline’s “love story” was the LAST thing on her mind. Why? It was simple, really - MJ loved him. Wholly, utterly, completely. She loved him so much that he didn’t even feel like another person to her anymore; he was PART of her, practically her right arm in everything she did. He believed in her more than anyone else, did everything in his (admittedly IMMENSE) power to support her without ever making her feel like she couldn’t have done it for herself. He always let HER dictate how fast or slow everything between them went, even when she could see in his eyes that it killed him a little to do so. He challenged her when necessary, he SOOTHED her when needed, and he made her smile just by being there in their oversized bed whenever she opened her eyes.

He was ... the love of her life. So really? There was only ONE thing she could think of to say as the candlelight made the stunning engagement ring inside the box SPARKLE like one of the sky’s brightest stars.

“... Yes. Yes, Odin Borrson, I’ll MARRY you.”

#º ✧ 。you reflect me I love that about you --- mj && odin #º ✧ 。not the girl i was or used to be --- insomniac verse #so long it needed two gifs :''''')#now excuse me while i sob and throw myself into the sun

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lettuce-seize-the-day · 3 years ago

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i was gonna go grocery shopping today after my first day at the new store (bc i hate driving so i wanted to do it while i was already out yk) but the new store is a shit show bc it just opened within the last 2 months and it's twice the size and traffic of my old one and half the staff lmaooo, so it's a fuckin MESS and i tripped on a cardboard box someone folded up to throw away but it fell down ig, so yeah I didn't see it, but see I was carrying stuff and I was trying to preserve the stuff, so long story short i landed with my FULL body weight all on my elbow and when i tell u it fuckin hurt.............

anyway so now I have 2 arms i can't fucking use to pick things up heavier than like. 5 lbs, 10 absolute max. (bc my left shoulder u recall is separated, which is the less severe version of being dislocated basically but unfortunately means i can't just pop it back where it goes 😔 but it's been separated and untreated long enough that my muscles in my left arm and hand don't work which is cool) so now i did this fun thing on my RIGHT arm so like......cool that my body is? sharing???? but i for real can't carry anything at all. i picked up literally 2 6 packs of soda from walmart (necessities yk) and that just about killed me :(

#shut up hanna #they handled it correctly imo tho #i was supposed to leave but obvi couldn't for a bit #and i got to stay clocked in until i was ready to leave (after just sitting and sniffling for awhile lmao)#and they didnt discourage me from getting medical treatment but we agreed it was just too soon to tell if it was necessary #bc it hurts a lot but theres a good chance its just bad scrape and bruising #and it just hurt so bad bc it was so much pressure on my funny bone #but if it does get worse and not better they said to just call them and let them know #so they can send me to someone the stores insurance will cover #its better than my brothers restaurant #he fucking fainted and fell and got a CONCUSSION #(bc they didnt give him a break !!!!! and it was hot af and hes 300+ lbs so he was hella dehydrated !!!!!!! bc u need a lot of water !!!!)#and his restaurant literally. made him clock out IMMEDIATELY #and he was in the hospital til past 3 in the fucking morning #luckily either way our insurance covers it but still. what the fuck #anyway yeah that didnt happen to me so thats cool ig #just wish i could use my arms :(( i cant pick up my kitty cat 😔😔 and getting in my semi lofted bed is a Task

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icallhimjoey · 2 years ago

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Can you make a joe quinn x reader where him and the reader have been together for a while and since hes getting more famous of st4 she notices the fangirls comment about her and her body and how of a small chest she has compared to others and she believes yhem and wsnts to do a breast surgery and she hides the papers from him untul he finds them and they fight about it and she explains why she wants to do it and he tells her it doesnt matter to him and that he loves her and they make love? :)

itty bitty titty committee (said with love, i am a member), assemble! wordcount: 2.3K ----------

Perfect

“What the fuck is this?”

Oh, it had been sort of fun at first.

You would excitedly point out people taking sneaky pictures on the tube, and Joe would scrunch his face at you, before turning to smile at who ever had recognized him out and about. It had become a recent phenomenon that you had to deal with, and it took some time getting used to. Before, Joe had been recognized only once when you’d been out with him, and it had been an older gentleman who’d seen him in a play and just wanted to come tell him about it. No photo. No nothing. Just a nice chat. It fascinated you that now girls would come up to him as you would do a Wednesday afternoon food shop. They’d hug him in isle 3 in Tesco’s, next to the cartons of milk and boxes of cereal as you would pretend to be invisible, pushing the trolley away as you'd keep shopping. They’d hug him so tightly; his breath would escape his chest as he posed for pictures taken with phones in shaky hands.

Joe never minded. Joe always made time. He’d match their energy and his media training would kick in, you’d clock it immediately, but Joe was always genuine. A class act. He wouldn’t go as far to say that it’s what he actively wanted, being recognized in places and at times he didn’t expect to be, but he was so grateful for it. It meant that he was doing something right. It had tickled you to no end when you found people were talking online under reposted photos that were plucked off of your social media pages. You had been quick to privatize everything, but people had their ways, you were sure. People would argue with passion – “Joseph can hang out with a girl without having to date her!”, “Oh my God that’s literally his sister!”, “Daft cows, that’s his agent.”. You would send Joe screenshots in WhatsApp, adding “my good friend” or “such close siblings” with love heart emojis and he would write back “fuck off, weirdo”. When you’d been less careful and had kissed outside of a McDonalds late at night, it had proven that Joe was in fact spoken for. You had both been drinking, and you’d been so very happy with your little box of chicken nuggets, feeding Joe little bites as he smoked a cigarette next to the entrance. Joe had kissed you, and you had broken away from him in laughter because he still had chicken in his mouth. The photos and videos of you from across the street, a well lit and busy restaurant behind you and cars passing in front of you, had spread online. For a full week people you were close to couldn’t stop sending you screenshots as they came across them on social media. And you had really liked the pictures too! You really liked what you’d been wearing, and Joe had been in his brown suit – just cute pics of a cute couple being cute together.

“What the fuck is this?”

But Joe had told you to stop looking for pictures online, knowing not everyone would be nice. And he’d been right. The things you’d come across would sometimes baffle you, and you would absolutely lose yourself for hours, hidden behind your phone or laptop screen. You hadn’t let Joe see, but some of these girls were ruthless. There was no way you would have been able to predict the running joke you had become online. “Small tits McGee.” “Joe’s a boob man, how is this fair on him” “Is that why he hugs every single girl he meets like that? So he gets to press himself up to actual boobs?” Words cut deep. Deeper than you’d like to admit. And then there were TikTok videos of edited pictures pulled from your Facebook account. Big boobs photoshopped onto your frame, replaced by the actual real shot, a flashing “before and after” on a loop that emphasized your small cup-size. It wouldn’t have affected you so bad if you hadn’t already been riddled with insecurity. These girls were only echoing the voices in your head and even though you tried your very best not to, you had spiraled.

Your boyfriend had noticed you seemed a little less happy than before. You were in moods more often, and when asking if you were okay, if something was wrong, you’d never let up. “I’m fine,” you’d say, fake smile plastered on your face. And Joe wouldn’t press it, because he knew you’d come to him if you needed to, but his worry didn’t fade.

“What the fuck is this?”

After staring at yourself in your bathroom mirror, examining yourself until your body didn’t even look real to you anymore, you started looking at websites of plastic surgeons. Breast augmentations were expensive, but the images on their websites looked good. You would scan your eyes across pages for images of breasts that looked like yours in the before photos, just to see what you could turn into if you had the money. You were sure you could save up for one, it’d just take a while. You were zooming in on scars, contemplating if you’d be okay with having those, when you decided that booking a consultation would probably still your mind a bit.

And so you’d gone in. And you hadn’t told Joe. Or anyone, for that matter. And they had shown you things. 3D images of what you may look like after. And they had let you feel implants. And they’d drawn over your chest and hadn’t even questioned why you were there, so you knew. Yours were the kind of boobs people got augmented. You’d left your first appointment with booklets, flyers, and folders. They had printed the photo they had taken of you. The before. And also, the virtual after.

Sometimes, when Joe wouldn’t be in, you’d just look at it. Getting used to it. Holding up the image next to your own body, and you had started preferring the body that was promised to you by the surgeon. So, you silently had started to save money, because maybe, this was just right for you. It would end the stream of comments and jokes you’d read every day, because you couldn’t not check to see what people were saying about you. “What the fuck is this?” Joe’s tone was accusatory. Harsh.

You’d walked in on Joe, the booklets and flyers laid out on the table in front of him, the two printed pictures in his hands. He’d found them. You hadn’t known exactly how to react, but your instinct was to settle down the upset that roared within your boyfriend and had seeped out through his eyes at you.

“Oh, that’s nothing,” you tried minimizing it, sounding aloof. But your face had flushed red with embarrassment as you had stepped forward to try and take the pictures from Joe. “You’re not thinking of doing this.” Joe accused, moving his hands out of your reach and the anger in his voice flushed your body with adrenaline. You didn’t appreciate Joe’s tone. Who was he to decide this for you? His face didn’t falter, not a hint of empathy behind his eyes, and you felt anger bubble up your throat. “And if I was?” in your head you had sounded stern, but your voice left your body too shaky for your liking. Joe’s face dropped suddenly and flooded with concern. “Sweetheart,” he looked at the images again, and you felt strangely exposed. “Why?” Joe asked on an exhale, his eyes scanning the printed 'after' photo. Your arms subconsciously wrapped around your stomach, and you raised your shoulders in a shrug. Explaining it would mean you’d have to confess it was his fans that had gotten under your skin, and you didn’t want to do that. You chewed at the inside of your cheek, before growing frustrated at Joe looking at the images of you in his hands. “Give those here,” you successfully snatched them from him this time and started collecting the rest from the table. Joe watched you, his eyebrows furrowed, and his face showed genuine confusion. Your response to his words, the way you were scrambling to hide all the things he’d found when he had been looking for an envelope in drawers littered with random junk had absolutely taken him by surprise. You’d never mentioned any of this before to him. “You know you don’t need it,” Joe tried, but the compliment fell on deaf ears. You moved the pile of papers back into the drawer where Joe had found them, no need to be secretive about them now. You didn’t know how long ago Joe had discovered them, and how much of the information he’d read through. “I’m just entertaining the idea.” You pushed the drawer shut, figuratively also closing the door on the topic in your mind. It didn’t work as easy as that on Joseph, though. “When were you going to tell me?” Joe snarked, clearly annoyed by his failed attempt to quickly talk you out of getting a boob job. He couldn’t accept your mindless disregard, and he wasn’t sure what irked him more. The fact that you’d withheld this from him, or the thought of coming home one day and finding you with fake tits high up on your chest. “I would’ve let you know eventually,” you said tensely. “It doesn’t really concern you.” You lied, entirely too unconvincing and he could hear it in your voice. Joe’s eyes shot down to your chest. What was wrong with them? You had never shown insecurity before, Joe’s hands were always welcome to grope. What had changed? “Stop staring.” “You’re perfect.” Joe spoke softly, finding your eyes with his own, changing his tactics to change your mind. You weren’t great at hiding true feelings, and Joe had known you long enough to read your eyes with expertise. You scoffed at his little comment. “You are!” Joe argued, reaching out and grabbing your wrist. “Most wouldn’t agree,” you succumbed to Joe’s warm kindness and let him pull you closer. You looked down at how Joe intertwined his fingers with yours. “You should see the things they’re saying,” your voice was tiny and it shocked more worry into Joe. “Who?” Joe leant down a little, his face moving to find your line of sight to make you look at him. “Them. Online! I know I shouldn’t look- you said I shouldn’t, but I can’t help it!” you huffed, defeated, chest heaving with anger still. You were scared to elaborate much further. You knew Joe hated that success in his career also could negatively affect whoever he was close to, so you really didn’t want to press it. It would just make him feel awful. But Joe understood and it hurt his heart. It didn’t need further explaining. He embraced you as you just stood there, arms down by your sides, overtly aware of your chest pressing up against his. “Come on,” Joe moved your arms to his back, “Hug me back.”. You weakly left your hands where Joe had placed them, and you felt frustration-tears at the sides of your eyes. “Tightly!” Joe whined at you, and you obliged. You clasped your hands around your own tensed arms behind him and squeezed his ribs tightly. The pressure of your touches made the tears escape your eyes and you nuzzled your face into Joe’s chest. Then Joe reached behind you and opened the drawer you had just shut moments before, taking out the pile of paper and turning you around in his grip. Hovering over you from behind, his head heavy on your shoulder, one hand still around your waist, he guided you to the bin in the kitchen. One of his feet pressed down on the paddle, opening it in front of you. And then instead of throwing everything in himself, he pressed it all into your hands. “You don’t need it.” Joe spoke into your ear before kissing you on the patch of skin just below it, both his hands now firmly around you, holding you up. You frowned, and hesitated. Joe picked up on it immediately. “These,” his hands found your boobs, and you caved your chest inward slightly. “Are so fucking pretty.” Joe’s voice was deep, aroused, as he spoke in a near whisper and a groan slipped out right next to your ear. You dropped all that you were holding, most of it missed the bin completely, but it didn’t matter. You turned to find his lips with your own. And Joe made sure to pay extra attention to show his appreciation of you. He needed you to feel his worship of you in your bones. He roughly pushed your top up, yanking your bra up over your chest as well. His lips and teeth scraped the hot skin of your chest, tongue swirling and leaving wet trails across them. He covered you in kisses and nibbled at your nipples as your head fell back in pleasure, moans escaping your throat. Before you knew it, Joe had picked you up with strong arms and slung you lazily over his shoulder. It made you shriek, trying your best to hold onto Joe so he wouldn’t drop you as he made his way over to the bedroom. There he let you fall onto the bed. Joe put a knee down either side of you, and for a moment, just looked at you through half-lidded eyes as you smiled back at him.

“Perfect.”

#joe quinn #joseph quinn #requested #joey quinn #joe x reader #joseph x reader #perfect

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wiypt-writes · 4 years ago

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Murder, He Wrote

Epilogue

Summary: You and Ransom attend the launch of his book and the cover closes on your story.

Warnings: Bad language, Mature (NSFW, 18+) NON-CON situations, kidnap, violence. Blood. DO NOT READ IF ANY OF THOSE TRIGGER…READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED…YOU HAVE BEENWARNED.

Pairing: DARK! Ransom Drysdale x Reader

A/N: The end! I can’t believe all this span from @jtargaryen18’s Halloween Challenge last year. I hope you have enjoyed his as much as I have.

Word Count: 3.6k

READ THE WARNINGS!!!! This is a DARK series so don’t @me if you can’t follow simple instructions and end up with butt-hurt. And if you’re under 18 get off my blog!

Disclaimer: This is a pure work of fiction and by writing it does NOT mean I agree with or condone the acts contained within. This fiction is classified as 18+. Please respect this and do not read if you are underage. I do not own any characters in this series bar reader and any other OCs that may or may not be mentioned. By reading beyond this point you understand and accept the terms of this disclaimer.

Murder, He Wrote Masterlist // Main Masterlist.

Part 7

The town car and it's driver took you to whatever swanky hotel Ransom and his publishers had decided upon, you not caring the slightest inwardly, outwardly only half paying attention. You glanced out the window watching the lights of downtown pass by as your husband of merely three weeks held your hand and rubbed the back of it with his thumb.

It was a warm July evening, the two of you dressed to the nines in formal attire. Ransom had insisted the launch be an invite only, formal event. Therefore, he was dressed in a two-piece suit, black of course, with a crisp white button down, silken black tie, and you, you looked like an ice queen's slutty sister. The powder blue silk dress you wore tied together with thin straps on each shoulder, your feet already hurting in your nude six inch sandals. Your free hand tapped a neatly manicured finger over your clutch that matched your shoes. A delicate white gold and diamond tennis bracelet adorned your wrist whilst the necklace you'd been gifted at Christmas hung around your neck. You wore your hair the way he said he loved it, in a ponytail full of waves and wisps framing your face.

After the incident on Valentine’s Day, you’d spent another two weeks in the confines of the basement. All luxuries removed and you were used and abused in exactly the way you had been when Ransom had first taken you, until he’d once more sucked the fight out of you. Only this time you didn’t have the strength to find it again.

You played the part you’d been cast in his sick little fantasy and became totally passive to his whims. You let him fuck you which, in all honesty, wasn’t an entirely unpleasant situation as he knew his way around your body and it felt good. You had given up denying it, and for the moments he was teasing those carnal reactions out of you, you escaped, let yourself imagine you were with someone who you wanted. And by keeping him sweet, you fooled him into thinking you were content. And things settled down, you had that halfway to normal life that you’d achieved before you discovered his manuscript.

But it was bullshit. A means to an end. And you deserved a fucking Oscar.

He’d had the audacity to propose to you, too. In a restaurant. Surrounded by people. He asked you the question, like you had a fucking choice.

Angry, desperate tears had filled your eyes as you’d simply gaped at him, tears the deluded cunt took for you being overwhelmed with happiness. With a smile he slipped the gaudily large diamond on your finger, sealing your fate.

It weighed as heavy on your hand as the grief for your lost life, and the despair at your situation did in your heart.

You’d had a small wedding. Attended simply by your parents and sister. He sent an invite to his mother and father but they didn’t show up. Your dad walked you down the aisle and as you walked towards the man you hated with every breath in your body, your father kissed your cheek and asked you if you were sure you wanted to do this. And no, of course you didn’t, but what could you do?

There was no way out.

“You look as gorgeous tonight as you did on our wedding day.” Ransom’s voice slightly startled you and you turned to face him.

You smiled at him, the smile you knew he wanted to see, as he placed a soft kiss to your cheek before doing the same to your hand, his lips ghosted over the top of the obscene rock and matching band on your finger which caught the lights of the city, sparkling with all the ferocity of a supernova.

Before you needed to reply with some half assed compliment back, the town car stopped as the driver got out and opened Ransom's door.

"Wait here," he instructed and walked around with the driver on the other side, escorting you out the minute your own door opened.

Flashbulbs fired off in your eyes, no doubt the press there for some absolutely ridiculous notion that this book was anything but its true nature of terror and disgust.

Ransom’s hand pressed into the base of your back as he guided you along in front of him, various members of the press calling his name, and you heard the excited shouts from some as they spotted the bands on both yours and Ransom’s hands, positively shrieking as they asked when you’d gotten married.

The headlines flashed in your mind now, 'Grandson of the Great Harlan Thrombey Releases First Suspense Novel'. 'One of Boston's Most Notorious and Eligible Bachelors is Strictly Off The Market' . 'Trust Fund Playboy Sinks His Bunny'.

It made you want to puke.

In fact, as the press line faded and you stepped foot into the lobby, you swallowed back the bile forcing its way up. A tray with champagne flutes passed you by and you immediately snagged one.

When Ransom had been distracted for a brief moment, you quickly glanced around and swallowed back the entire flute of the bubbly drink. Delightfully enjoying the brief taste and quick head rush it gave you.

The further you walked into the event, his hand still against your bare back, the louder it grew and the more trays of champagne and appetizers were floating by.

As typical, the two of you were fashionably late so, you had little chance to take part in any nibble or further, a drink, because the supposed "man of the hour", more like terror of life, was due to give a speech.

His agent pulled the two of you aside and made mention that it was time for Ransom to greet his guests. He pressed a sickening sweet kiss to your lips and confidently took to the small podium atop a small stage nearby.

“First and foremost, thank you to everyone who came out tonight. But more importantly, thank you to my beautiful wife, without you Sweetheart, this wouldn't be possible.”

The smile he flashed you was loaded with meaning as the pair of you looked at one another, his eyes shining with the depraved private understanding you shared.

And you hated him then just about as much as you ever had.

Excited muttering spread around the room as he had knowingly referred to you as his wife. It was the first time he’d announced your marriage to the world but, as he smiled and held his hands up, nodding smugly and confirming whatever people were asking him, you felt nothing but an overwhelming sense of nausea. To everyone else it was a sweet dedication, to you it was a sickening truth. This book was based on what he’d done to you. What he was saying was literal truth.

And the fact that the people currently applauding whatever he had said would never realise the true nature of those words on the pages of his book made you want to vomit in your handbag.

Applause rang around the room and you realised everyone was turned in your direction. Drawing your shoulders back you stood tall and once more fixed that fake smile on your face before Ransom cleared his throat and began to speak again.

But you didn't listen, you drowned him out, the sound of his voice distant and murky like Charlie Brown's teacher. You allowed you mind to think of anything but the present, other than the fact that these people were in unknowing full support of the hell you'd been through the last nine months.

Eventually a loud, rapturous applause signalled the end of his speech and he stepped back, smiling and then turned to the man from his publishers who shook his hand furiously, before the pair of them posed for photos.

That was when he beckoned you to him, looking at you in such a way that made your skin crawl and your teeth seethe with each breath. This bastard expected a photo op from you above all this, commemorating this disaster.

On autopilot you headed towards him, indifference obedience now your specialty and his arm curled possessively round your waist, fingers splaying on your hip. You posed and smiled as the flashes went off, but as you stole a glance at the large, ornate clock on the wall, you suddenly felt your head beginning to swim.

Seeing a convenient way out of this bullshit, you made sure to falter just a little, placing your hand to your chest. It caused Ransom's attention to turn to you.

"Sweetheart, are you alright?"

“I’m feeling a little light headed and warm.” You looked up at him. “Could we maybe get some air?”

"Sure, yeah," he looked to his agent and they nodded towards a side door in the room.

His arm still round you, playing the doting husband, he led you towards it and opened it with a flourish, allowing you to step out in front of him.

You emerged into the alley at the side of the building and took a huge gulp of air, steadying yourself.

"Y/N, what's wrong?"

You were warm, flushed, your skin tingling as the now cooling air hit your slightly damp skin, your nipples perking at the temperature change were visible through the silk dress, and you didn’t miss the heated glance he gave them as you spoke. "I, I don't know. I think it's all the commotion."

“You do look a little flushed.” His eyes moved back to yours and he studied you for a moment, his large hands gently cupping your face as he kissed your forehead before his lips pressed to yours. “Wanna take a walk?”

Despite the fact you really couldn’t walk far in the ridiculous shoes you were in, you nodded. Anything to avoid going back in there and listening to all those sycophants kissing his ass.

He took your hand and started walking slowly down the alley. You were mid-way down when a man jumped out from behind the dumpster. You screamed and instinctively Ransom jumped to the side, pulling you slightly behind him.

“Give me the money and the jewellery, no one gets hurt.” The man spoke gruffly and you felt Ransom draw himself up to his full height as he glared at the dirty, dishevelled man, disdain on his face.

“Eat shit.”

“Ransom, just... please give him what he wants.” Your voice trembled as your body shook, your right hand already removing the rings on your left.

“I’d listen to your pretty wife, if I were you.” The man spoke as he reached into his pocket and when he withdrew his hand you swallowed at the unmistakable flash of metal.

“Fuck, Ransom, he’s got a knife!” You clutched his arm. “Please just give it to him!”

"Fuck, no," he started reaching for his phone but the man lunged toward him.

In the melee that followed, you were thrown to the side, your rings clanging to the floor somewhere along with your clutch, your palms and knees scraping painfully on the floor. By the time you’d pushed yourself up, you saw the man scrambling to his feet, Ransom’s watch and wallet in his hand. He turned to look at you and you backed away, stumbling once more to the ground letting out a blood curdling scream as he advanced. He stopped, picked up your rings and your bag, before he turned, bolting up the alley and rounding the corner, disappearing from sight.

"Y/N," the croaking voice came from your husband as he staggered towards you, a deep red seeping through his white dress shirt, his one hand attempting to stave off the bleeding. The other, cradling his phone. But he didn't get more than a few steps as he collapsed nearby.

"Ransom!" You shrieked and heels be damned, you ran to him, looking around, "help!"

"Call 9-1-1, Baby," he begged, trying to thrust the phone into your hand and you leaned over him.

With a jittery hand you swiped over to the emergency call option and hit the first two digits before you glanced around again and hesitated, rising slowly to your feet.

“What...” Ransom’s chest heaved as he looked up at you, his face white with shock as you turned the phone in your hand and shrugged.

“Yeah, you see, I could call for help but...” with that you tossed his phone to the hard ground and crunched it with your stupidly high heel, rotating your foot to make double sure, the glass and metal grinding between the stiletto and the tarmac. “Whoops, looks like it got smashed in the fight.” You gave a little chuckle. “And of course, mine was in my bag which he took. Isn’t that ironic? I mean the first time you permit me to use it for something other than to contact you or my mom, I can’t.” You made a little tutting noise. “Guess I’ll just have to keep yelling and hope someone hears.”

With that you turned and screamed, a frantic yell. “Please, someone help us! Please, he’s been stabbed, call 9-1-1.” You slowly dropped back to a kneel, ignoring the sting of your grazed knees and smirked. “Dammed, I really am good at this acting shit, don’t you think, handsome?”

Ransom coughed a harsh and wet cough. His chest heaving raggedly as he struggled between catching a breath and bleeding out.

“Y/N...” he spluttered, “you...please...”

"So many criminal junkies in Boston, Sweetheart. Plenty who will take the fall for a little hit,” you emphasised the 't' of the last word as you spoke the very same line that he had delivered to you months ago, the threat he had held over you and used to keep you in check whenever you stepped over that line.

His eyes widened further as the realisation set in, you could see his brain working and it gave you a buzz, a sense of satisfaction to know that he understood this was your doing.

You wanted the last thing this bastard thought about to be how you were responsible for his death. But more so, his narcissistic and sociopathic tendencies be damned, you wanted him to completely understand exactly how it was his fault.

And given the way he was bleeding and struggling for breath, you didn’t have long.

Another scream for help flew from your mouth as you pressed one hand on top of his which were now both clutched to the wound in his stomach, the other brushing his hair back slightly as you smiled down at him.

“I told you when you threw me back in the basement that the way you treat people would come back to haunt you.” You gave a little shrug. “And, when you told the homeless guy looking in the bins on collection day a few months back to eat shit and get a job, well, he took it kinda personally. He didn’t even blink when I asked how much it would take to knock you off.”

"You..." choking on blood, "vicious..." choke,

At that you gave another loud hysteric yell for help before you turned your head back to look at him.

“See, once upon a time I thought you’d changed. But here’s the thing, a person like you doesn’t change, Hugh. You’re incapable of love. You take what you want when you want for no reason other than it pleases you.”

Another scream for help, and this time you could hear someone answering and a lot of yells as people started running towards you.

“Well, now I’ve taken your life like you took mine.” You bent down, your forehead pressing to his as you smirked. His arm reached up to grab you, his blood soaked hand curling over your cheek and side of your neck. "And you know what? It feels good."

His palm was warm and slick against your skin and his eyes blazed with anger as his fingers squeezed. You knew he was desperately trying to hurt you but you felt nothing. You smiled, as you placed a soft kiss to his lips, your words whispered as you pulled back ever so slightly. “Karma’s a bitch, and so am I. See you in hell.”

As the fake tears started to pool in your eyes once more, you allowed your lip to tremble for distraught emphasis. Blood was now trickling out of Ransom's mouth, along down his ear and to the tarmac. You pulled back just a little so as to see his eyes. You wanted to watch him choke on his own blood as he took that final breath. You started sputtering words incoherently as you amped up the hysteria, hearing the footfalls now just behind you.

He didn’t even make it to the hospital.

Hugh Ransom Drysdale was pronounced dead at 21:05 hours on Friday 17th July where he lay in a pool of his own blood, in that dark alleyway down the side of the hotel.

Leaving you a widow.

And free.

***10 months later***

It was as simple as it sounded, closing your eyes and pointing to a spot on a map. Your finger ended up on Boulder.

Colorado was far enough from the last year or so of your life that you could feel comfortable. You'd researched it, finding it to be something worth interest. Affordable. Breath-taking scenery. Incredible life altering activities and quaint little towns. The summers were supposedly warm but rarely did the temperature rise above ninety-five, the winters were supposedly very cold, dry and windy; rarely dropping below six degrees with partly cloudy skies year round.

The months following Ransom’s death had been as draining as humanly possible. The investigation had involved countless interviews before the police and authorities settled for it being a mugging gone wrong. But then there had been the months of wrangling and private law cases his parents had attempted to bring against you to prevent you getting his money, despite the probate law being fairly simple. You were married. He left no will. It was yours by default.

Eventually, when the Drysdales had exhausted every last option, they were forced to concede and that was when you made the decision to leave, a decision of which your parents were highly encouraging. They practically talked you into this whole thing to begin with. Helping you leave your nightmares behind. Despite them not suspecting anything at first, you weren't blind to the fact that things still had not sat right with them. You knew they had suspected a level coercion, that maybe you'd had a manic episode of mental illness, but you never had divulged the full details and by the time he was gone, they hadn't cared. Your relationship with them had strengthened and healed and that was what you cared about.

Now, you were newly nestled in Boulder with a great condo downtown, a stone’s throw from the historic district that was filled with cliché shops and bars. Whilst you didn’t need the money, you’d taken a job working in the media department of a private law firm. It was a far cry from your journalist days, but it suited you just fine.

The more distance you put between who you were now and who you had been, the better.

You were at peace.

The May evening air was temperate as you crossed the street and opened the door to the designated bar in which you were meeting your new group of friends, mostly gathered from work, for a girl's night out. You’d been held up a little in the office so they were already waiting at a table. You waved and gestured to the bar, indicating you were going to get a drink.

As you sidled up to the wooden counter, you were jolted a little into a man to your right. You turned to apologise and gave a little double take. You recognised him instantly. But you didn’t want to make that obvious and cause him to feel uncomfortable. You knew how it felt, to have everyone looking at you, hushed whispered comments as you went about your business, people trying to figure out if you were who they thought you were.

That was part of the reason you had moved, and you sure as hell weren’t about to subject the man next to you to the same, uncomfortable experiences.

Recovering quickly, you hastily apologised and he smiled.

“Don’t worry about it.” His Boston accent was evident and you smiled.

“I miss that accent.”

The man chuckled, his warm blue eyes creasing slightly as he looked at you. “You from Boston, too?”

“Concord.”

“Newton.” He replied, “well, I lived there anyway, but I’m sure you already knew that.”

You wrinkled your nose. “Should I? Know that, I mean?”

He studied you for a moment, and you kept your face as passive as possible. You could tell he knew that you knew, but you gave a shrug none-the-less and he smiled, a gorgeous smile that lit up his entire face, perfect white teeth flashing from beneath an immaculately groomed beard, as he extended his arm towards you.

“Andy Barber.” His fingers gently brushed the back of your knuckles, as you shook his hand, his grip warm and gentle.

“Oh, of course.” You smiled back. “One of our attorneys.”

“Our?”

“Yeah, sorry, I’m Y/N. I work in the media department. I mean I only started a few weeks ago but...”

“Well, in that case, I’m pleased to meet you, Y/N, and welcome aboard.” His smile didn’t falter as he let go of your hand and gestured to the bar. “Can I get you a drink?”

You paused for a moment before you took a deep breath.

And nodded.

“Sure, that’d be great.”

******

Sequel: Follow Andy and reader’s story in Consciousness Of Guilt.

#murder he wrote #dark ransom drysdale #dark ransom drysdale x reader #dark ransom x reader #dark ransom drysdale x you #ransom drysdale #ransom drysdale x reader #ransom drysdale x you #ransom drysdale fic #chris evans #chris evans characters

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young-dumb-and-vaccinated · 3 years ago

Text

The Sommelier (Hannibal x Female!Reader) pt. 3

A certain redheaded tabloid journalist tracks y/n down at work. Y/n finds out how persistent she is when she makes her an offer she just can’t refuse.

Trigger warnings: Christianity, stalking, survivor’s guilt

You made it out alive, and that was more than could be said for some.

Your consolation prize was a ghastly scar on your hand that you kept bandaged up as to not scare small children. You did get some worker’s comp after all; enough to pay for your medical bills and a little extra to make up for the lost workdays. All things considered, you were the lucky one. Four people lost their lives that day and three more were injured far worse than you. You should have felt grateful to be alive.

But somehow that was even worse. You got a couple stitches and some time off. It wasn’t worth four people’s lives.

Your therapist explained it to you very gently. You were experiencing a phenomenon known as "survivor's guilt". She encouraged you to join a support group, get outside and familiarize yourself with your new experiences.

This was good advice and all, but yours was the newest, hottest crime. You couldn't go anywhere without being hounded by reporters looking for whatever details you had somehow left out. Dr. Bloom encouraged you to take some time off work until the media circus died down, but you had bills to pay.

"I feel like there should be some rule about re-opening a restaurant within a week of it being an active crime scene." Charissa observed as she wiped down a table. "If anything, it's a health hazard."

"Are you serious?" You scoffed. You'd been tasked with refilling the salt shakers. Appropriate, because there was plenty of salt to go around. "Demand for this place has never been higher. Everyone wants to see if the blood is still on the carpet."

"Hooray for capitalism." She rolled her eyes. "Are you gonna be okay, [F/N]?"

"'Okay' is a very relative term." You forced a laugh. "I think I can make it through the shift if that's what you're asking."

"Aren't you behind the bar all evening?" She asked.

"Yeah, but that means I'm trapped." You folded your arms. "First thing you see when you walk in is the waitress who survived the- what are they calling him?"

"The Baltimore Butcher." She answered with a voice full of vitriol. "Do you think they ever consider the ramifications of giving literal murderers these weird superhero names? Like, no wonder we get copycats, they treat these guys like celebrities."

"Holy shit, right?!" You slammed the salt shaker down on the table. "Y'know, last night on the news, they used the creep's graduation photo and kept saying that he was a good Christian young man with a lot of prospects."

Charissa stuck out her tongue in disgust. "I saw that. And how he was 'corrupted' by crack cocaine. Once again, blaming a drug that was used to villainize poor Black neighborhoods in the 80's as some kind of corrupting agent."

You nodded furiously. "Instead of understanding that Christianity is a violent imperialist religion that lets violent white men absolve themselves of any guilt."

"And they knew it wasn't crack." Charissa added. "I heard that shit was completely uncut. You know he spent a lot on it."

"And I will say this until the day I am put in the goddamn ground," you tensed up. "The only reason the fucker escaped is because he is white."

"Hey y'all." Another waitress walked in for her shift. "What are we talking about?"

"Cocaine." Charissa answered. “Also white privilege.”

"Great." She said dismissively. "Hey [F/N], can I scoop up that bar shift? I could really use the tips."

"Madison!" Charissa scolded. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"

"What?" Madison shrugged and glanced at you. "I didn't get any paid time off. I need the money."

"Was that supposed to be a joke?" Charissa scowled. "Are you seriously joking about her trauma?!"

"It's fine, she can have it." You rolled your eyes, then turned them to Madison. "Just know you're the reason I have survivor's guilt."

"Well now I feel bad." Madison frowned.

"Good." You and Charissa said in unison.

It was sort of comforting to get back to the script. Almost nostalgic. It provided the illusion of normalcy in an incredibly abnormal new reality.

You approached the first table in Madison’s block, hoping for a new beginning. A young woman with fiery red hair sat alone by the window.

“Hi!” You greeted, with a smile as genuine as you could muster. “My name is [F/N], I’ll be your waiter tonight.”

The woman smiled back. “Evening.”

You couldn’t tell what, but something was off. Perhaps you were trying too hard to force normalcy. Or maybe it was the borderline predatory way the woman was looking at you; like a shark following a trail of blood. Either way, the vibes were rancid.

“Can I start you off with a drink or is water okay?” You ask.

“Could I possibly trouble you for a glass of chardonnay?” She asked, lowering her eyebrows.

“Of course.” You nodded and reached for your pen.

“Actually,” She corrected herself. “If you could bring a bottle and two glasses, I’m expecting company.”

“Absolutely.” You scribble the order down on your notepad. “Do you have a preference?”

She thought for a moment. “Oh, dealer’s choice. Whatever you prefer.”

You soon returned to her booth with a bottle of your favorite chardonnay and two stemmed glasses. You poured a small bit in one glass to let her taste.

“You have wonderful tastes.” She complimented, filling her glass. “It’s very delicious.”

You rocked on your heels. “Would you like to place your order now, or do you want to wait until after your guest arrives?”

“Actually,” she repeated, filling the other glass. “My guest is already here.”

She slid the glass across the table and gestured to the other seat.

You felt stupid, but there was no way to avoid this. You couldn't just not do your job. She cornered you by the confinements of your profession.

"I really can't, I'm on the clock." You said, apologetically. The wine beckoned you. "I'm sorry, maybe another time."

"Oh, bummer." The woman placed her chin in her hand and pouted. "Well, I'm sure there's something that would make your boss look the other way."

She glanced down at your bandaged hand, then met your eyes. "The bandages are a dead giveaway, [F/N] [L/N]."

You then noticed a wire sticking from her pocket. Undoubtedly some kind of recording device. You looked at the ground. "I'm afraid I have to ask you to leave."

"But who will drink all this wine?" She asked, raising her glass.

"Ma'am." Your voice hardened as you tried to bite back an overwhelming rage. "Please leave the restaurant. I'm not going to ask you again."

Your manager, Matthew, passed by. "What's going on here?"

"This waitress is being very rude." The woman complained. "I ordered chardonnay, and she brought me chablis."

"Chablis is a type of chardonnay." You corrected. Even you found it strange that this was the hill you were willing to die on. "She asked for my preference, and I prefer the unoaked varieties."

Matthew looked confused. "Well, she's right."

You gestured to her pocket and he caught on immediately. He narrowed his eyes. "Ma'am, please leave the premises or I'll be forced to call the police."

The woman stood up, rummaged through her pockets and slapped a handful of bills down on the table. She then proceeded to drink both glasses of wine and walk away.

Matthew looked at you apologetically as he collected the bills. "Are you sure you want to be here tonight? I can call in someone to cover for you."

You shook your head and grabbed the bottle by its neck. "No, it's okay. I appreciate the concern but I really just want things to go back to normal."

"Hey!" A woman from the adjacent table called out. You prepared to immediately recant your statement about not going home.

"We like chablis." The woman said, gesturing to herself and her friend.

Her friend joined in. "And if that nosy reporter lady isn't gonna drink it..."

You glanced at Matthew, who shrugged. "Sure. It's yours."

The women exchanged delighted looks as you placed the bottle on their table. Matthew handed you a couple of clean glasses and you began to pour.

"For this wine, I suggest any of our wonderful seafood dishes." You explained, your cheeks stinging with a smile. "It also pairs quite nicely with chicken and game bird."

"Thank you." One of the women said. "If you don't mind, we'd like to take a look at the menu, please."

"Of course." You nodded. "Just flag me down whenever you're ready."

"This is why I put you behind the bar, by the way." Matthew gently scolded you as you collected the soiled glasses.

"Didn't you hear?" You said. "Madison needs the money because we can't all have paid time off."

"You should have come to me first." He sighed. "She has no right to say those things to you."

"Never stopped her before." You shrugged.

"I'll talk with her after the dinner rush." He said. "Just... try not to get cornered tonight, okay?"

"I'll do my best." You answered, flatly. “Because that’s definitely something I can control.”

The rest of your shift went smoothly, or, as smoothly as could be expected given the circumstances. The nosy reporter was right, your bandage was a dead giveaway. You had to dodge a couple of questions, but most people had enough decorum to know the wound--metaphorical and literal--was still fresh.

You said goodbye to Matthew and Charissa, collected your things and walked out to your car. You put the key in the ignition, only to find your gas tank was completely empty. You had just filled it that morning.

You bit back a scream and fought the urge to slam your head against the steering wheel. Throwing the door open, you mentally prepared yourself to either make a long trek to the nearest gas station, or beat someone up.

“Looking for this?” A smug voice said over the cicadas.

You turned around and saw the nosy reporter from before holding up a canister. A deep, blistering fury overtook your face as you slammed the car door. “You siphoned my fucking gas?”

“It’s not like you left me with much choice, [F/N].” She crossed her arms. “You’ll get it back once you answer my questions.”

You threw your head back in disbelief. “You’re Freddie Lounds, aren’t you?”

“I see I’m not the only one who does my research.” She said, looking a bit impressed. “How’d you know?”

“It’s the first thing that comes up when you search ‘unethical crime journalists Baltimore’.” You answered. “There’s a whole flair dedicated to you on the subreddit for murder survivors.”

Freddie seemed proud of herself. “Need a ride?”

“I’d rather drive off a cliff.” You said, honestly, before turning around to leave.

“Where are you going?” She walked after you.

“To get more fucking gas, you evil bitch.” You shouted back. “Are you gonna follow me to the BP too?”

“Look, I heard what you were saying to your friend.” She called out. “About white privilege.”

“Yeah,” You rolled your eyes. “It’s the same privilege that allows you to siphon a stranger’s gas and sit in a parking lot all night without getting arrested.”

“And I agree with you.” She hurried to your side, her chunky platform boots clacking against the asphalt. “They did you dirty and they’re shooting themselves in the foot by not listening to you.”

You turned around and threw up your arms. “Why didn’t you just lead with that?”

“I invited you to sit down over a bottle of wine, did I not?” Freddie chuckled.

“Cornering me at work is not a gesture of goodwill.” You huffed. “And I actually do want to put my story out there, but all you’re accomplishing by stalking me is guaranteeing you won’t be the one to do it.”

“Are you really in a position to be that selective?” Freddie smirked and placed all her weight on one hip.

You groaned. “What?”

“The Baltimore Butcher is still out there, and you won’t be the hot new victim forever.” She grinned sadistically. “Soon enough, him or some other psycho is going to strike, and your fifteen minutes of fame are up.”

“Good. Then I can go back to living my life.” You said.

“But what if his next victim is a Christian?” Freddie grabbed your shoulder. “What if the next person who narrowly avoids getting their throat slashed decides to go on record and say that he doesn’t represent ‘real Christianity’?”

You went quiet. You hadn’t considered it, but the thought of anyone downplaying his faith as a motivation made your blood boil. You looked into the man’s eyes and saw a person driven to kill for his god. A god he shared with the crusaders, conquistadors and slavers.

“...but it does. Christians colonized half the planet for--”

You stopped yourself when you saw Freddie’s smile.

“You want to get on your soapbox, now’s your chance.” She bit her lip. “Take control of the conversation while you still can.”

“Fine.” You spat. “I get off work tomorrow at four.”

Freddie shoved the gas can into your hands. “I’ll see you then.”

#hannibal lecter #hannibal nbc #hannibal x reader #hannibal x you #freddie lounds #tw christianity #will graham

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giorno-plays-piano · 4 years ago

Text

Abominable Part 1

Pairing: mage!Peter Parker x mage!Reader

Warnings: yandere, obsession, stalking, murders, possible gore in the future chapters, pretty dark story overall.

Words: 1543

Summary: An investigator of the Mage's Association, you are sent to discover the mystery behind a series of murders before more sinister events take place.

P.S. This was inspired by The Garden of Sinners particularly. I loved it dearly when I was a teenager.

To avoid any confusion, the reader is neither good nor bad due to the nature of her profession. Peter is an adult.

____________

Stepping on a platform with a vintage Samsonite briefcase in your hand, you looked at the people standing aside, most of them waiting for other passengers to leave the train. Although you knew the face of a magus who was supposed to meet you, it was hard to recognize him in the crowd, and you stared at all those people in front of you, clenching the briefcase’s handle. You hated waiting.

Of course, Lord Pierce wasn’t too happy with your arrival: the old fool thought he was untouchable even after a series of murders and an unnatural magic activity in Tombra that got the Mage's Association alarmed. You remembered the revulsion in Mr. Stark’s voice when he talked of Alexander. The old aristocracy, Lord Pierce was an outstanding magus who had long abandoned practicing any decent magic and instead preferred to exploit the strength of his numerous successors. While he still had some friends in the Association, Stark hated him greatly and was happy to remind him who was in control.

Naturally, Pierce knew why you came to Tombra, and the conversation between you two didn’t go well. You didn’t hide your intentions: you were the Investigator of the Clock Tower, and your job was to figure out what was happening in that megalopolis where Lord Pierce resided proudly. It meant you were going to be a great disturbance and a possible danger to many aristocratic families under Alexander’s protection.

It wasn’t surprising he chose the most useless assistant to help you find out the truth. His name was Peter Parker, and he was class D+ magus who attended neither Clock Tower nor Atlas Academy. His role was to slow you down, you thought and sighed.

Suddenly, you saw a familiar face when a young man hurried to you, his cheeks red, sweat running down his face: apparently, he was late. You snickered, looking at his formal attire - his black tie was so long as if he stole it from his father.

Once he was close enough, the young man stood tall, at attention, waiting for you to say something as he stared at you with awe and horror.

“Lady Ragna of the Clock Tower,” you named your rank coldly, and your companion nervously bit his lower lip, acting exactly how you expected of him.

“Peter of Tombra! Pleased to make your acquaintance!” He sounded too excited, and his hands were trembling a little, although he tried hiding it.

Gods, what was he good for in a situation like this, unless he possessed some extraordinary powers not stated in his file? Well, now was the time to discover that, you thought as you narrowed your eyes at the young man.

"Your primary magecraft?"

"B-bounded fields and healing!"

Nothing spectacular there, but bounded fields could be of use to you if you would ever be attacked while performing magic.

"Elements?"

"Water and wind!"

This was better: magi controlling more than one element were still rare, and the boy could make a nice apprentice if he were to be send to the Clock Tower. Besides, with Tombra surrounded by a river, a liquid manipulation skill Peter definitely possessed could be valuable, too.

"Magic circuit composition?"

"N-normal?"

"Any familiars?"

"None."

He was clearly feeling like a mouse in front of a snake, his face getting even more red with every second, and you found the situation rather funny.

"Your motto?" You stared him dead in the eye.

For a second Peter looked horrified, his mouth slightly open as if he were to say something, but you heard no sound coming from him. Then, as if struck by lightning, he gibbered with fear, "Live p-proudly?"

Oh boy. He really thought you were being serious when you talked rubbish with a stony face. If anybody was to talk about a personal motto, even the most pretentious magi of the Clock Tower would burst out laughing.

Rolling your eyes skyward, a gleam of deviltry in them, you smirked, "It was a joke. Don't ever use a motto, it's a terrible idea."

"Thank goodness! I thought it's something high magi of Clock Tower have." The next second Peter made a sigh of relief, and then the both of you laughed loudly, making other people on the platform throw glances at you.

Although you realized the young man had much less experience than you, you still felt he would be fun to have around. If he could make your life a little easier, you would accept his help.

Moving away from the platform and soon passing through the station's hall, you went straight to the city streets instead of catching a taxi. Peter hurried after you, still perplexed at your refusal to let him carry your bag - you guessed he expected you to boss him around, and it made you chuckle. What Pierce was doing with young magi here if Peter had such an impression about higher-ups?

"Lady Ragna, I was informed that the cottage where you chose to stay is in the suburbs. Did you decide to change it?" He asked, seeing you walking to a completely different place.

"No, it's the same cottage. If you wonder why we aren't driving there right now, I'd prefer to patrol the streets tonight to get to know the city. We can discuss the details of the job in the meantime."

You walked away fast, not looking at your companion anymore and watching the night city instead: you had never been to Tombra before, but many magi from the Clock Tower were born there, and their talk about the city always made you a little jealous. Born in a small town to a simple human woman who knew nothing of magic, you always wished to know what it was like to grow up in a true magic society like the one in Tombra, a home to many noble families, albeit smaller and less significant than those living in the capital.

The city looked exactly like you imagined it: giant grey buildings stood besides the streets, and while they didn't look particularly pretty, you loved those countless neon signages and bright posters that were shining even in the darkness of the night. The streets were busy with tourists admiring the city, couples walking out of the fancy restaurants and cinemas, and young people, recklessly snooping around some nightclubs and bars, trying to get in despite the security glaring at them and requiring them to show their ID cards while the kids pretended they forgot them. There was also a small marketplace with colorful food trucks and booths, offering both local and international cuisine, and you blended into the crowd immediately, taking some crepes and then buying takoyaki - Peter, following you like a puppy, looked shocked.

"I can't do my job on an empty stomach," you smirked and handed him some takoyaki.

Funny enough, he accepted the second you showed the plastic plate into his hands, eating so hungrily as if he had been starving the whole day.

"Well, now since I feel a bit better, let's talk business," you motioned the young man to follow you, and turned to a narrow alley, leaving the noisy market that was going to be full of people for at least a couple of hours more. "Do you have any idea why I have been sent by the Association?"

Licking his fingers, Peter looked somewhat shyly at you, probably afraid he would say something silly, "From what I understand, the reason is some unnatural magic activity the Association couldn't trace, and the involvement of its user in several murders."

"Correct." Crossing the alley, you scratched the chipped paint from an old building in front of you and looked at your fingers, furrowing your brows. "To be precise, the reason why the Association didn't leave these murders to a human police is the method how these murders were carried on. Whoever did it pretty much sucked the soul out of victims' bodies."

Peter frowned, staying still while you kept examining the concrete wall in front of you, drawing strange symbols that started glowing immediately as you finished them.

"It may sounds funny, but the ritual necessary to prevent the soul of a dead person to come back to Akasha is known only to a couple of magi, and each of them is considered a great danger to the society by the Association. This alone is a threat, but Mr. Stark's other concern is the indefinite nature of magic practiced in Tombra. It is likely that the magus responsible for the deaths is planning something much more sinister, and we can't allow this to happen."

Finding what you were looking for, you nodded to yourself and moved further, Peter walking right beside you with a concerned expression on his face. He was probably surprised you didn't need his guidance, but you spent the last three days memorizing Tombra's map.

"Do you mean that the souls of victims can be combined to become a power source for some... dark ritual or something?" He asked nervously, licking his lips.

You smirked, turning to him and pointing to the wall of the next building that started to glow subtly as you got close, "Exactly, Peter."

__________

Tags: @finleyjayne @alexakeyloveloki @helenaeisenhower @villanellevi @hurricanerin @inlovewiththefictionalcharacters @chris-evans-indian-fanfic @navegandoaciegas @rosalynshields @sllooney @angrythingstarlight @lookiamtrying @buckysbunny @soleil-dor @stargazingfangirl18 @dillybuggg @literate-lamb @cosicas-cuquis @sarge-barnes-sir @buckybarnesplumwhore @jaysayey @megzdoodle @gotnofucks @lux-ravenwolf @ximebebx @jeremyrennerfanxxxx123 @sourpatchspinster @biiskuitx

#peter parker x reader #dark peter parker x reader #peter parker #dark peter parker #spiderman #spider-man #spider man #yandere #MCU fanfiction

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marjorie189 · 4 years ago

Text

The One and Only: JJ Maybank Series

Summary:

Y/N, the kindest and sweetest person you’ll ever meet. The thing is she’s a kook. Unfortunately causing her to fall into the stereotype of being snotty and spoiled, just because she’s from the other side of town. Kie and Y/N would exchange greetings and occasional conversations during Kie’s kook year. As summer emerges, she notices Kie’s group of hot pogues. One pogue in specific catching her eye. The One and Only: JJ Maybank.

Word Count: 12,296

❀✿

Y/N was walking along the beach’s sand taking in the nice midday sun. The sun hit her exposed skin. She was dressed in white denim shorts and a small flowery yellow cami. She was beautiful, the whole town of Outer Banks was aware of that. Except for herself. She was too selfless to realize it.

Y/N POV:

My feet sink into the warm sand of the beach, legs after one another. I look fondly at the mesmerizing view of the waves hitting the shore, taking a nice relaxing walk on the beach.

I was so at peace and in love with the scenery, that I realized I was no longer in Figure 8 but in The Cut. I look to my left and see The Wreck.

I feel a smile appear on my face at the thought of Kie. As I get closer to the restaurant I see Kiara fighting a couple of boys. I laugh at her playful nature.

I stopped on my tracks, debating whether or not I should enter the premises. I wouldn’t want to interrupt anything. As my thoughts linger I subconsciously open the door. My eyes widen right as the bell above the door rings, alerting that a customer is entering.

Kiara and all of the three, tall, intimidating boys look over at the door, their eyes catching mine. I blush immediately, regretting my decision instantly.

“Y/N!!” Kiara shrieks in excitement once she sees me. My heart settles once Kiara’s warm voice assures me that I made the right decision. And oh she does. She has no idea that by just walking through that door, that her whole life would change.

The boys look like cats on a cat clock. Their eyes go from Kiara to y/n, back to Kiara, and back to y/n again, and they continue to do so.

Kiara leaves the boy’s side and speed walks over to me. A huge grin on her face.

“KIE!!” I yell back as loud.

“What are you doing here?” She questions once in my arms. I hug her tightly and she reciprocates the same energy.

I open my mouth to respond but she quickly shuts me down.

“Actually! Just give me a sec! Let me just handle them real quick and I promise I’ll be there in a few seconds!” Kiara quickly says, referring to the three boys, that have not kept their eyes off of us. Kiara notices and rolls her eyes.

“Yeah. Yeah! For sure, I’m in no rush!” I say with a smile.

“Okay perfect! Just wait for me on the counter,” She says and points to the stools along the counter’s bar.

I nod and walk over to the counter passing by the three boys. As I walked by them I could feel their heavy stares on me, following me.

I then hear three loud slaps followed by hisses and groans, I giggle and shake my head.

“What was that for?!” One of the boys shrieked.

“For checking out my friend! What? Do you think she’s some kind of animal?” Kiara says in an annoyed manner.

“What? No!” Another boy immediately says in defense.

My back still facing them. They definitely weren’t good at being discreet.

“It’s just… We’re confused, shocked, and surprised that you’re talking to someone other than us! Especially a girl...” The last of the three boys say.

[Okay if y'all can guess which of the three says these three lines I’ll give you guys a shoutout😂]

“You know what guys! Just get out!” Kiara scolds at them.

I take a seat on a stool, place my elbow on the counter’s bar, and hold my head with the palm of my hand, staring at the four in amusement.

“What? What about our food!” The unknown boy says. Now that I’m sitting I catch a better glimpse at the three boys. Distinguishing who they are. This unknown boy’s voice belonged to The One and Only: JJ Maybank.

I notice that all three of the boys are pogues. At first, I felt a bit stunned at who Kiara was choosing to spend her time with. But that little voice in my head was just nonsense Kook talk, trying to instill itself onto my brain. I came to a quick and rightful realization that there was nothing wrong with that nor them. I’ve just been stuck in a community where Pogues are looked down upon and the Kook beliefs have been trying to screw itself onto my morals ever since I was a little girl, but I won’t let that happen.

It’s not fair how Pogues get mistreated and discriminated for their lifestyle. They have no control over that. I never stood for that and nor has Kiara. So it’s not surprising that she’s friends with these three boys. They must be kind guys if Kiara is spending her time on them.

“No! I’m not giving you free food! Now get out before I call the cops!” She says and shoves them towards the direction of the door.

The boys let out cries of despair and give Kie their best puppy dog eyes.

“Nope! Not falling for that,” She says and sends them one last push before they were out the door.

She shuts the door behind them and lets out a big huff once they’re out.

“Come on Kie!” The boy that has his cap reversed on his head says. I instantly recognize him as Hayward’s son, Pope, I believe. He was knocking and begging on the glass windows of the restaurant.

“Nope.” She whispers and shakes her head at them.

All three boys were standing outside the restaurant like statues. Wearing sad frowns on their faces.

Kiara rolls her eyes and walks away from them. My eyes divert over to Kie’s.

“Okay! Sorry about that,” She smiles.

I let out a laugh and nod.

I look over Kiara’s shoulder to see the boys still standing against the entrance of the restaurant.

I continue to look at them, nonchalantly. For the first time, I’m actually noticing how good looking these boys are. My eyes find John B’s well built body. I can picture how strong and muscular his chest must be through his loose tank top. My mouth waters.

My eyes then lift up meeting JJ’s blue ones, just to see that he already had his eyes on me. But in reality, they never left her.

My attention then shifts over to JJ. His smile turned into a smirk as he noticed my eyes on him. He locks his eyes with mine. I couldn’t help but smile. My insides were bursting, but I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of blushing.

Those few seconds of our encounter felt like hours, even days.

“EWW! NO. Gross! This is not happening! Stop that! This instant!” Kiara exaggeratedly says.

JJ and I’s trance breaks as I look over at Kie.

“What? What are you talking about?” I say playing it cool.

“Oh don’t even go there! Don’t act like I didn’t see that!” Kiara says grabbing a wet rag from the counter and slapping me with it. I gasp in shock and slap it away.

“What? Why are you hitting me?” I say in between laughs playing dumb. I look over to the guys and see them laughing as well. But only JJ knew the reason why she hit me.

I see the blonde laughing and smirking through the glass window as he catches my last stare before Kiara’s dad shouts at them.

“Stop scaring my customers away! You guys look like stalkers out there just looking through my windows!” He says coming out from the kitchen. Kie’s dad stops his yells and the boys' laugh and nod.

“Yes sir,” Pope and John B say in unison and JJ salutes him.

JJ then looks me straight in the eye and winks at me. A silly, playful smile placed on his face. I try my best to compose myself, but on the inside, I’m all mushy and tickly. I just smile at him, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of playing along with his game.

The three of them start walking off and within a few seconds, they weren’t visible from the windows.

“Those boys!” He grunts causing me to giggle. “Oh hi y/n! Didn’t see you there. Nice to see you again. How have you been?” He greets happily.

“Oh, god dad! How many questions was that?” Kiara groans.

“No. No. It’s okay, Kie,” I say, sending her a little shove. “I’ve been good, Mr. Carrera. How about you?”

“Oh call me Mike!” He says with a laugh. I smile and nod.

“Alright well, I’ll let you girls talk. If there’s anything I can do for you girls just let me know,” He says before walking away into the kitchen.

“That did not just happen!” Kiara yells over at me.

“What? That wink that he just sent me while you weren’t looking?” I say with an evil smile.

“Oh no, no, no, no!” Kiara says shaking her head.

I let out a laugh.

“Sorry, Kieee!” I say with a pouty face.

“No, no, no!” She says with an eye roll.

“You can’t blame me! It just happened,” I say defensively.

“Uhuh! Sure,” She says, giving me a scolding look.

I smile innocently to tick her off.

“I hate you!” Kiara says with a glare.

“What! I didn’t even do anything!” I say putting my hands up in surrender.

“Okay, I don’t blame you, this is all JJ’s fault!” Kiara says with a huff. “He literally flirts with anyone who literally just breathes,”

I let out a laugh.

“Wait so did he actually wink at you?” She says, looking at me questioningly.

“Mhm,” I say simply.

She groans.

“And it was quite hot!” I say in a whisper, knowing it would get her mad.

“Ughh. What do you even see in him? He’s disgusting!” Kiara says in pure disgust.

I just shrug.

“You know for being titled the nicest girl in town. This little encounter right here does not prove it. You’re evil,” Kiara exclaims.

“Am not!” I say quickly.

“You are and it just proved!” Kiara teases.

I shake my head in defeat.

“So what brings you here?” Kiara questions.

“Just wanted to say hi. I was taking a nice walk and ended up here without realizing,” I say with a small giggle, laughing at my oblivious nature.

“That’s exactly something you’d do!” Kiara says bursting out in laughter.

I start blushing and covering my face in embarrassment.

“Okay, I take it back! You really are the sweetest person in the OBX. No one is this shy,” Kiara teases.

“I am not shy!” I protest.

“You are!” Kiara protests back.

“Okay maybe I am but it just comes naturally,” I say with a frown.

“I think you’re just shy and embarrassed when someone gives you attention. Especially with someone you’re not that close with. Like me. But I’m changing that! I don’t want you to be shy with me anymore,” Kiara says kindly.

“Aww,” I say with a small blush. “I’d like that,” I say pulling Kiara into a hug.

“We’re going to be the greatest of friends! In school, I was always too shy to come up to you. You just seemed like the nicest person and I was too intimidated by that. You looked like you had your life all put together and I didn’t think you’d need me in your life. It looked like you had everything you needed already. Even though I really wanted someone like you as a friend. You were different, you weren’t like those other bitchy girls in school. I always wished I had you,” Kiara confesses.

“Aww, really Kie? That’s the sweetest thing ever. I really wish you would’ve come up to me. You know I would see you in class or walking by and see you strut that hallway. I was like damn! Kiara has confidence!” I say with a smile.

“Really?!” Kiara says in surprise.

“Yes! Hell yeah,” I say loudly.

“I’m glad that worked,” She says with a giggle. “I would always have my confidence up. It was mostly a front because I kind of sort of hated everyone there,” She says letting out a loud laugh.

I join her laughter and smile.

“Yeah. I can totally see that. Some of them are really bad,” I say thoughtfully.

“Some of them?” Kiara says with a raised brow.

“Okayyy. Mostly all of them,” I say.

“I don’t know how you can deal with them! They’re rude and disrespectful. I don’t know how you can be friends with them. Especially when you’re nothing like them! I don’t get it! It doesn’t align. The dots don’t connect,” Kiara passionately says.

I let out a giggle.

“Yeah, I would question that myself too. But see the thing is I’ve known them all since the day I was born. It’s like all I can do is deal with them. They’re not all that bad you know. Yes, yes I know. They’re arrogant and act superior to others and trust me I don’t condone that behavior but they’ve all kind of become like my family,” I rant in hopes of trying to get her to understand.

Kiara looks at me closely in an inspecting kind of way. She nods staying quiet.

“Okay. I can respect that,” Kiara says after a while.

A smile appears on my face.

“Thank you, Kie! I really appreciate you accepting that part of my life,” I say with a smile.

Kiara returns the smile and opens her arms and closes them around my shoulders. She lays her head on my shoulders.

“Of course. I know you’re a great person. I know you’re not like them,” She says letting go of me.

I nod.

“Okay but tell me this! How are you blushing over JJ Maybank when you have Rafe, Topper, and Kelce are all over you, all the goddamn time. It doesn't make sense!” Kiara says with a head shake, laughing.

I let out a laugh instantly.

“You’re crazy. They're annoying! But I love them. Unfortunately,” I say with a wide smile. “And! I am not blushing over JJ Maybank!”

Kiara lets out a snicker.

“You definitely were!” Kiara sassily says.

“I wasn't,” I say with a straight face looking away from her knowing I’d end up letting out a laugh if I left my gaze on her.

“I can read you like a book!” Kiara says with an eye roll.

“Okay. Whatever,” I say looking out into the windows.

“What would your three boys say if they saw their precious little girl flirting with JJ Maybank. Their arch-nemesis!” Kiara continues to tease.

I groan and roll my eyes at her. “Really?” I ask.

She nods with a smirk.

“Well, I’m sooo happy that didn’t happen! They would literally get sooo mad!” I say in emphasis.

Kiara laughs.

“Hell yeah they would. They would literally want to beat the shit out of JJ if they’d witnessed what just happened!” Kiara exclaims.

“Well let’s be grateful that it’ll never happen! Again!” I say with a relieved sigh. “Cause knowing Rafe, Topper, and Kelce they’d find out somehow,”

Kiara lets out a giggle.

“Well see I don’t think it’ll be the last time. If I’m being honest,” Kiara says.

“And why is that?” I question in interest.

“Well if you’re going to be my friend, you’re going to be seeing JJ often,” Kiara explains.

“Oh. You’re totally right. That totally slipped my mind! Oh, darn it!” I frown.

“Oh don’t act soo sad. You’re probably bursting on the inside!” Kiara says with an eye roll.

A giggle escapes from my lips.

“Not even. I don’t even know JJ. Yeah, he’s good looking but it’s not like I like him,” I say in all honesty.

“Hm,” Kiara says pursing her lips.

“Oh god!” I say with an eye roll. “It’s not even like that! I don’t even like him like that Kie!” I say shoving her shoulder.

“Okayyy. Whatever you say Y/NNNN!” She says teasingly.

“I hate you, you know that?” I say throwing the rag at her face.

She gets caught off guard and laughs.

“I have an idea! I’m going to JB’s house in a bit. You should come!” Kie says happily, her eyes like shooting stars.

“I’m guessing that’s John B?” I question and she nods. “I don’t know Kie…” I trail. “I'm too shy!” I pout.

“Oh stop! It’s not like you have somewhere better to be!” She says in an annoyed manner.

I gasp. “I actually have to be at the club’s resort!”

“My point exactly! You literally go to the club like every other day. I’m sure Rafe, Topper, and Kelce can have a day without you at the golf course!” Kiara sassily says.

“Okay let’s say I do decide to go…” I trail. “I can free up my golf date with them. That’s no problem. Even though they’ll get butthurt and will want to know where I’ll be, who I’m with, and ask every question possible. But I’ll just make up a lie because they’ll have a heart attack if I’m hanging with you and your boys. Remember arch nemesis!” I say dramatically in the end.

Kiara laughs. “Right! I picture them being attached to you! How do you handle their clinginess!” Kiara questions with a playful teasing smile.

“I don't even know..” I trail in thought with a giggle.

Kiara laughs and continues with her previous conversation.

“Come on Y/NNNN! The boys will love you!” Kiara begs.

“ I don’t know about them loving me. They probably hate me because I’m a kook,” I say reluctantly with a sigh.

“What? Okay fine! What I meant to say is that they’ll eventually love you. It’s impossible not to love you. You’re lovely! And they’ll see that. So come on! I’ll be there, right by your side, if you do decide to come. And plus they were literally eyeing you like candy. Which is annoying! But that means they lowkey already like you. But I must admit if you do come over, it will probably be awkward. Hopefully, they quickly realize you aren’t like that. I mean come on if I of all people love you, that means a lot,” Kiara tries to console.

I huff. “Okay fine…”

“Yessss! Thank you Y/N! I love you! We finally need another girl in the group!” Kiara exclaims.

I roll my eyes. “I’m literally barely going to meet them for the first time! Don’t get ahead of yourself. For all we know they can decide to not want me in your friend group,” I say with a laugh.

“Trust me! They’ll love you! I hope…” She trails in the end.

“I hate you! You’re making me nervous,” I say with a frown at that last part.

“Okay okay! I’m sorry!” Kie says defensively. “But I’m kinda nervous too! But mostly excited!”

I groan looking away. “I’m starting to regret this ya know!” I say looking back over at her. “You know the golf club sounds like soooo much fun right now!!” I say jokingly.

I playfully get off the stool to pretend I’m leaving but before I can do anything else Kiara grabs onto my arms.

“Nu-u-uh!” Kiara says humming a no.

I let out a cry sitting back down.

“I hate you! I’m starting to not like this! What if they hate me? This could turn out sooo bad you know! If Rafe and the boys find out they will literally without a doubt want to beat the shit out of John B, Pope, and JJ. I’m not even joking Kie!” I say with a few pouts as I put my head down on the counter, sighing.

“Yeah… I didn’t really think that far. They literally gatekeep you!” Kiara says angrily and then it turns into a blank face trying to think of a plan.

“Alright let’s not get ahead of ourselves! For all we know, we could be thinking wayyy ahead of ourselves. This could literally be a one time thing if they decide to not want me around. So let’s not worry about Rafe. Topper, and Kelce. For now..” I say with a small giggle at the end.

Kiara nods in agreement and lets out a small laugh as well, lightening up the mood.

“Alright well, I still got like an hour or so here at The Wreck. So I don’t know if you’d want to stick around or if we wanna catch up after I’m done?” Kiara questions at the end.

I think for a bit.

“Alright how about this? I go walk around town for a bit to kill time while you’re finished here. It’ll give me a chance to tell the boys I gotta bail on them,” I say looking at Kiara to see if she agrees.

“Yeah, sounds good! Okay, so thing is I haven't even told the boys that you’re coming over. So once I’m done here I’ll head to JB’s house and tell them that I’m bringing you over..” Kiara says trailing at the end.

“Oh, how will that go!” I say distraughtly.

“I don’t even know! I mean it’s one thing that they find you attractive and hot, but who wouldn’t! You’re a smoke machine,” Kiara says with a smile.

“Oh stop that!” I say with a shy smile. I could feel my cheeks burn.

Kiara giggles in awe.

“But.. it’s another thing for you to be in their presence. You know what I mean? Like sure they may think you’re good looking but you coming over to hang out, it’s a whole nother ball game. I just hope they don’t give you much of a hard time. Just know this y/n! Just give them time to warm up to you,” Kiara beggs.

I nod understandingly taking it all in.

“Alright then. How will I meet you? Since you’re already going to be at John B’s place?” I ask confused with the plan.

“Oh right! Um? I’ll send you their address through a text. Is that cool?” Kiara asks with pleading eyes.

“Yeah that’s cool! Alright well, see you in a bit,” I say with a smile, standing up from the stool.

Kie stands up after me.

“Yeah. Text you in like half an hour!” Kiara says with an excited smile.

I nod and give her a small hug before I leave.

Kiara tightens her grip and I smile into the hug.

I pull away. “Kiara. I’m glad we’re deciding to become close,” I say with a smile.

Kie smiles and nods. “Me too y/n!”

I wave a little goodbye and walk out of the restaurant.

I start walking into town. After about five to seven minutes of walking, I find a cute bench that’s seated under a tree.

I smile as I see the bench surrounded by nature. The huge tree, grassy area, and flowers nearby.

I take a seat and decompress everything that's about to happen. For some reason, I’m really nervous. I’ve never really had much contact with Pogues. But I’ve always admired how strong they are. Not even just physically but mentally. They go through so much in their lives, and apart from that, they’re shit on by the people I’m surrounded within my day to day life.

After looking out at the sun hitting the water, I grab my phone and dial Rafe’s number knowing he’ll be with Kelce and Topper.

The phone rings and instantly the call is answered. I smile knowing Rafe is probably excited to hear my voice. I roll my eyes, my smile widening.

“My favorite girl!” I hear through the phone’s speaker. His voice deep and quite captivating.

“Hi Rafe,” I say with a giggle.

“What can I do for M’lady? Or is she just too excited to see me that she had to call me?” He teases.

I let out a laugh. “Definitely not! It’s actually bad news. Are the boys there too?” I say knowing they were.

“Yeah we’re here!” Kelce and Topper say in unison. Worry stringing along with their words.

“Okay good. Umm, I just gotta rain check on our plans boys,” I say simply.

“What?! What do you mean?” Rafe quickly says.

I smile at his reaction, expecting nothing more.

“I just gotta do something today,” I say, trying to sound convincing.

“Like what things?” Topper trails, questioning me.

“Just some things. Nothing to worry about boys. I’m sorry, I know we’re always together. Take this as a good thing. You’ll have this afternoon to yourselves, without me,” I say with a laugh.

“But why! We know for a fact you have nothing to do!” Kelce exclaims.

Kiara's voice screams in my head. Clingy.

“Just take it as a boys day!” I say knowing they’ll fall for that.

“Okay fine!” Rafe says with a grunt. “But just know you can’t just bail on us like that! Next time we’re not letting this slip by!” Rafe says dominantly.

“Okay... Sureee!” I say with an eye roll.

“I’ll miss you the most!” Topper yells through the phone, beating the other boys to it.

I giggle knowing this’ll start an argument.

“Not true! I’ll miss you the most!” Kelce quickly says.

“Come on boys. We all know who’s going to miss her the most,” Rafe says.

I roll my eyes with a smile.

“I can just imagine the smirk on your face right now Rafe,” I say shaking my head.

“Whatever Rafe!” Kelce says annoyed.

“Bye boys. I’ll miss you!” I say happily. “Mwuah!” I say.

“Ha! I caught that kiss!” Topper yells in victory.

“You guys are ridiculous. Bye!” I say and hang up before they continue to argue.

I roll my eyes and put my phone away, smiling.

I thought to myself, “thank god I ended the call quickly before they asked more questions. Like who I was with or who I’ll be with.”

I stood up from the cute looking bench to walk around town for a bit. I take a look around The Cut. It was quite different from Figure Eight. The buildings here were archaic and run down. The town’s people were torn and exhausted, visible in their faces that all they wanted to do was get a good, long, lasting sleep.

I find a lady selling homemade ice cream by the docs and I smile walking over to her.

As I near her she forms a frightened and terrified look on her face. She grabs onto her cart tightly, as if I were going to take it away or hurt her.

I frown.

“Oh. Um I was just going to get some ice cream,” I trail not wanting to scare her off.

The lady looks at me with a skeptical look in her eyes. I smile, trying to comfort her.

She nods slowly.

“Thanks!” I say vibrantly trying to show her that I’m here with good intentions. “Can I get a chocolate scoop, please?”

“Yeah. Thanks. I thought you were like the others,” She says slowly in a scared tone, still not fully trusting me. She was trying not to offend.

I frown. “I’m so sorry about that. I would never! I just saw that you were selling ice cream and it looked very delicious. Better than those branded manufactured ones from the store,” I say with a giggle.

A smile peaks on her face causing me to smile.

“Thank you, dear. I’m sorry to have acted like that towards you. If I knew you were-” She speaks but I immediately interrupt.

“No! No! Don’t apologize. I’m so sorry for them treating you badly and harmfully. I get mistaken for their kind of behavior all the time. Just know that I’m not like them, at all!” I say referring to the kooks, while she scoops up the ice cream for me.

She looks up from trying to form a perfect scoop.

“There’s still hope then! I thought they were all rude and violent towards my kind of people. Turns out you’re the only one left.” She says handing me my ice cream.

I shoot her a smile.

“You’re so kind! I’ll definitely be coming back,” I say with a smile as I taste her ice cream. “It’s amazing!”

“Thank you, Miss!” She says handing me some napkins. I gladly take them in my hands and hand her the money.

“Thank you very much! It was nice meeting you,” I say, sending her a loving smile.

She smiles brightly and waves me goodbye.

I turn around and start walking back towards the bench I discovered earlier. I take a seat and look out to the shore as I eat my ice cream peacefully. It was the most authentic and tasteful ice cream I have ever tasted.

Twenty minutes later, ice cream was done, and eyes still on the view.

A text from Kiara interrupting the moment.

Okay I’m off work now. I’m currently a few feet away from John B’s house. I’ll send you a text when the light’s green, so you can come over 🤎

I nod as I read it, reacting to her message with a thumbs up.

I stand up from the bench and enter a small liquor store to buy bottled water.

I head over to the fridges grabbing an ice cold water bottle. I go up to the cashier and pay for it.

“Thanks,” I say with a smile and start walking out the door. I walk around for a bit waiting for Kiara’s text.

Kiara’s POV:

I hit send to the message I typed out for y/n. I put my phone away in my back pocket. I sighed nervously as John B’s house came closer and closer into view.

I rubbed my sweaty hands together without noticing. I smile widely as I see the guys on the porch.

“Hi boys!” I say as I feel my curls blowing behind me with the warm wind.

“Hi Kie!” They all say with toothy smiles.

I try my best to hide my nervousness as I look out into the distance. I walk up the porch’s steps and walk over to the boys.

“What’s up Kie!” JJ cheekily says with a goofy smile.

I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Hi JJ,” I say taking a seat.

“So you ready?” John B asks with an eyebrow raised.

“To do the same thing we do every day? If so, born ready!” I say letting out a laugh.

“That’s my girl!” JJ exclaims.

I chuckle and for a second I forget that I’m going to break the ice to them about y/n.

“What’s wrong Kie? You seem a bit off!” Pope says in a concerned voice.

“Oh um, nothing really. Better than ever really! It’s just um I have to talk to you guys about something,” I say scanning their faces.

JJ lets out a small chuckle. “What are you talking about?” He says.

I look over to John B and see that he’s leaned back on his chair, eyeing me curiously.

“Just spit it out Kie,” Pope says quickly.

“Yeah Kie. What is it,” JJ says once he sees that the other two boys were taking this seriously.

“Okay. Just please don’t overreact and please and I mean please keep an open mind about what I’m about to say!” I proclaim.

“Um, what?” John B says eyeing JJ and Pope in confusion.

Pope and JJ give John B that same look back.

The three boys look over at me like judges waiting for a declaration.

The boys are as impatient as ever with Kiara’s silence.

“Okay so…. To just let it all out. I invited someone over,” Kiara says and immediately waits for some sort of reaction from the three boys.

“Well, technically you didn’t just let it all out. I mean you kind of let out a high key factor-” Pope says annoyingly using his intelligence before JJ interrupts him.

“YEAH LIKE WHO!” JJ loudly blurts out.

“Yeah Kie... I don’t know about that... I mean you know this circle stays like this,” John B says forming a small circle with his two thumbs and indexes.

I sigh.

“I know. I know. And I’m sorry it’s just this person is pretty cool and I know you guys would like that,” I say, trying to convince the boys. Not yet revealing the gender of this mystery person.

“Yeah! I think we already have enough with our own cool,” John B protests. “We don’t need anyone else and plus who would you even invite? There’s like no one else,” John B continues, still unconvinced.

I look around to Pope and JJ to see that they’re both in doubt about the situation.

“Okay look. This person is someone really important to me and we’re both deciding to evolve our friendship! We were never really close but we’re choosing to change that,” I explain more in detail.

“Okay then if this person is so important to you then why have we never heard of them before?” JJ questions.

“Be-because! She was from my Kook year!” I blurt out.

“What?!!” They all question and exclaim. Their eyes wide and in surprise.

A couple of scoffs are heard.

“Okay, we just heard a couple of things here! Tell us if we’re wrong but did you just say it’s a she and that she’s a KOOK?” Pope says in disbelief.

“We are not having a KOOK over Kie! Kie it’s definitely a no! Like are you crazy? This isn’t our Kie. This is someone else!” JJ says within a millisecond.

“Yeah - I - I don’t even know what to say,” John B says in thought.

“Guys please!” I plead. “What did I say? To keep an open mind and to not overreact and you guys do the exact opposite of what I told you guys not to do!”

“Kiara! She’s a kook. Have you forgotten everything they have done to us? They’re rich, spoiled, brats! They don’t care about anyone but themselves and their money!” Pope fumes.

“Yeah Kie! You literally have personal experience with these kinds of people. Obviously, that’s why you hang with us. Like is there something we’re not getting here? Something we don’t know? You went to school with them and you hated it. Every single second of it!” John B profoundly says.

“Guys! I know. I know. It sounds crazy but trust me! Just, please! When have I ever failed you guys?” I beg and give them a pleading look.

“Kie! What is so important about this girl anyways?” JJ questions genuinely.

I scoff.

“I don’t know JJ. Why don’t I ask you the same thing?” I reply with a burst of anger.

“What? Why would you have to ask me that?” JJ says, his eyebrows furrowing.

John B and Pope just look at each other with what the fuck expressions on their faces.

“Yeah JJ! Why were you flirting with her?” I say pettily looking at him

JJ's face turns into shock. He scoffs. “Me?” He points at himself and laughs. “Flirting with a kook? Never!” He says fighting me back with laughter and shock all mixed in one.

“JJ I saw it with my own eyes!” I say with annoyance.

“Dude I swear this isn’t you Kie! Are you like okay or something?” JJ says, his eyes looking at me as if something was wrong.

I get angry. “Yes JJ I’m perfectly fine!”

“Well… I mean when a girl says she’s fine, she’s not really fine..” Pope trails barely above a whisper.

“Well, in this case, it doesn’t apply alright!” I furiously say, looking over at Pope.

John B knowing very well that he is not going to butt into this conversation.

“Okay! Then who!” JJ yells annoyed in defiance.

“Y/N! You were literally winking at her and fucking checking her out!” I yell out.

“Oh,” John B lets out with wide eyes.

“What? That - that was not even flirting!” JJ says, trying to sound confident in his response.

“Yeah you stuttered. You can't cover that up now.” Pope says shaking his head.

“I did not stutter!” JJ says shooting Pope a fuck you facial expression.

“Okay fine! She can come,” John B says unexpectedly.

My heart jumps and I turn my head over to him.

I immediately smile and my mouth opens up in thanks.

“If she really means that much to you, she can come,” John B says sweetly.

I stand up from my seat and go in to hug him.

“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you John B!” I say as I fall into his arms in the process of hugging him.

John B lets out a laugh as he catches me in his lap.

“Okay but only this once!” John B warns pointing a finger at me.

“Yeah if we don’t like her she’s not coming over. Ever again!” JJ protests angrily rolling his eyes.

“No! No! You’ll all love her I promise!” I say immediately.

“I don’t know about love….” Pope trails off as he raises his eyebrows.

“Okay let me go text her! Thank you John B, I love you!” I say getting off his lap.

“Thank you John B, I love you,” JJ mimics in annoyance.

“Fuck off! You were literally the one flirting with her!” I say walking away from them to text Y/N.

As I’m walking into the house I hear the boys talking.

“Why would you say yes?!!” Pope exclaims.

“What?! She’s hot!” John B says referring to y/n.

“I heard that!” I yell at them.

“ANDD she must be amazing since Kie is friends with her!” John B adds trying to save himself.

“Ha! Thought so,” I say walking into the house as the boys continue to hush their conversation.

I go to my messages and Y/N and I’s previous conversation pops up.

I click on the voice memo to record my voice message.

Hey Y/N! Okay good news! I got them to say yes!! It took quite a bit of convincing and arguing but I got it! I’m sending you the address right now! Okay see you in a bit! Byee.

I send the voice memo and walk out to the porch and sit with the guys.

Y/N’s POV:

I was walking around the shops in The Cut when I got a text from Kiara.

I open the message seeing that it’s a voice memo. I put the phone closer to my ear in hopes of being able to hear the message nice and clear with the commotion around.

Hey Y/N! Okay good news! I got them to say yes!! It took quite a bit of convincing and arguing but I got it! I’m sending you the address right now! Okay see you in a bit! Byee.

Midway through the voice memo, I get another ding as Kiara sends the address.

Butterflies come to life in the pit of my stomach as I copy and paste the address onto Google Maps.

I click on ‘start route’ once the app gives me the fastest route to the destination. It says it’ll take a 10 minute walk.

It directs me to walk straight until I make it off the docks.

I get off the maps app and text Kiara.

Hey Kie! Alright, it says I’ll be there in 10. See you there!

I continue walking for the next couple of minutes on the docs as I hear the ocean beneath me.

I feel a sense of security and safeness from the sounds of the wind blowing against the water, forming the waves.

The docs were coming to an end, so I open up the maps and see that it’s telling me to turn left and walk straight until I see Hawks St.

On Hawks St turn right, siri says.

I continue walking straight, leaving the ocean behind me.

The map is leading me to the part of The Cut where the houses reside.

I’m halfway done with the walk when I reach Hawks St.

I look down and wait for siri’s next direction when I take a right.

Keep walking north until you reach “The Dirt’s Path”

I look at my surroundings and see a community of small homes in the suburbs. These houses were small and fading. They were either falling apart or on the verge of breaking down. Some houses were visibly taken care of but still not in the best conditions.

I keep walking and realize that I haven’t yet seen a street sign nor street post. As I realized I felt scared. I felt lost and afraid. I looked around and it was empty, no one was around. I looked down at my phone’s maps and saw that more minutes have gotten added to the time. I must’ve missed “The Dirt’s Path” or something.

The maps were no longer useful as it was just saying rerouting.

I sigh in frustration and turn off my phone.

I try to find the so-called Dirt’s Path and realize that it was going to be much harder than I realized. I have no idea how John B’s house looks like. I don’t know what to expect or what to look for.

All the houses I walked by were side by side and facing each other. They were a couple of blocks down from the beach and water line. These houses were placed like suburbans. I don’t know if John B’s house is like one of these or if his home is by the water?

I run a hand through my hair in frustration. What am I gonna do? Do I text Kie? But what’s the point in telling her I’m lost? I wouldn’t know how to tell her where I am. There were no street names I can refer to.

I throw that idea out the trash and try to find another way to John B’s house.

I continue walking forwards now more aware of my surroundings, trying not to get lost, more than I already am.

I then meet a dirt path as all the suburban laid out homes end. Could this be The Dirt’s Path?

I mean it is a literal path of dirt.

I take a leap of faith and walk into the dirt. As I walk further into this new part of The Cut, I realize the difference between the structures. These homes were more stretched out and spacious in land but the homes were shabby looking and on dirt. While the other homes were on cement. Another thing was that these houses were feet away from the water.

My phone dings must be a message from Kiara.

I grab it and read.

Where are you? Seven minutes ago

Better not have bailed on me :( Two minutes ago

I must have lost connection since I’m just getting her texts.

Just finding my way arounddd…

I send not wanting to admit that I’m lost.

She immediately responds.

Okay I got worried! Cause you said 10 minutes and it now been like 20

I read her message and go back to maps and see that I'm less than a minute away!

I get excited knowing I’m no longer lost.

I look up ahead and realize that it must be the white rectangular house with a nice porch, grassy area, and amazing view of the water. It was right on the edge.

I walk up to it when I knew for certain that it’s the house. I turn off my phone and get closer by the second. My eyes then meet four people sitting down on the porch. I catch Kiara’s crazy beautiful hair and see the three boys inches away from her. They all seem comfortable and content.

Once I make it to the steps of the porch I call out Kie’s name.

They all turn in their seats, looking over at me.

Kiara smiles widely and stands from her seat.

“Y/N!!” She loudly exclaims as she walks over to me, hugging me.

“I’m sooo nervous!” I whisper once our bodies physically collide into a hug.

“Don’t even sweat it!” She whispers into my hair.

I nod and we both let go of the hug.

I look over to the boys from the bottom of the porch and see them staring at us.

I wave at them and they all give me a small awkward wave, in return. I don’t take offense to it knowing they must feel weird about the situation.

“Come on!” Kie says intertwining our fingers. She leads me up the steps and deeper into the porch. Over to the seated boys.

She sits down on a couch that’s empty and pats the seat left to her, insinuating for me to sit down. I comply and get comfy. The boys' eyes on us, mostly on me, the whole time.

“Hey guys,” I say with a warm smile, waving again.

John B is on the chair to my left next to the couch that Kie and I are sitting on, Pope on the width of the porch, and JJ across from us.

“Guys this is Y/N!” She starts. “And Y/N this is JJ,” She says and points in front of us.

JJ waves but it kind of seems forced.

I smile and mutter a small hi.

“This is Pope,” She says and points to our left.

“Hi. I’m Pope,” He says in welcome.

I smile feeling better about being here. His kind nature warming me up.

“Hi,” I say cheerfully.

“I’m John B,” John B says.

I look over at him.

He reaches his arm out to me and I smile, taking his hand in mine. He shakes my hand confidently with a large smile, causing me to blush.

I smile noticing that he didn’t have to wait for Kiara to introduce us. He took initiative.

“Y/N,” I say smiley.

“Nice to meet you. You have such a pretty name,” He says sweetly letting go of my hand.

“Thanks,” I say with a blush and a smile.

“Yeah. Anytime,” He smiles pridefully once he sees me get all shy.

Kiara nudges me and I try to ignore her but I can only imagine the grin she holds.

I look forward and see JJ noticing Kie and I’s encounter. Catching onto Kiara teasing me about John B and I’s little moment.

I see that his eyes turn dark as his face becomes tight. He seems mad.

I just looked away, acting oblivious.

“Sorry I was late. I got lost” I say letting out a nervous chuckle.

“Don’t stress it. It can happen to any of us,” Pope says with a smile.

“Can it though?” JJ questions trying to throw shade at me.

My eyes swift over to him, my smile falling. His eyes everywhere but on me but I know for a fact he feels my eyes on him.

The boys stay quiet knowing the answer.

Kiara kicks JJ right on his shin.

JJ immediately looks over to Kiara and shoots her a glare.

I don’t make it obvious that I’m aware of the fit JJ and Kiara are having.

Kiara sends a glare right back at JJ, in hopes that he’ll be nicer.

“It’s okay!” Kie says with a warm kind smile, now looking at me.

I nod and get a bit of reassurance before JJ continues with his antics.

“Yeah I mean it must be so hard for you to walk these streets right? You’re used to street signs and easy transportation. Unlike here on The Cut. We’re full of broken streets and full of dirt paths. Kind of a given that you wouldn’t find your way around.” JJ rudely says rolling his eyes.

John B’s eyes widen. John B wouldn’t care if it was said to any other kook but John B just had a gut feeling that Y/N wasn’t like those other kooks. It was like with Kie. Kiara was no one compared to the Kooks.

The only difference between Y/N and Kiara was that Kie wants nothing to do with the kooks. On the contrary, Y/N is surrounded and close friends with them. Living the Kook life, just Y/N’s morals are thoughtful and generous, unlike the Kooks.

“Hey man-” John B starts in a way to stop JJ, feeling bad.

“No. No! It’s okay. I deserve it anyway.” I say with a shrug but inside of me, my heart stung. I mean what he was saying was true but did he have to be so rude about it?

I see in the corner of my eyes Pope making a double take at my response.

“What?” Kiara says angrily at my response. “How in the world do you deserve that?” Kiara says to me.

I look over at JJ and he just has a straight face, no emotion appearing on his light soft skin.

But JJ was just as shocked at her response as everyone else. He would expect any kook to fight back with a response but never in a million years would he expect one to just accept his rude comebacks.

It was silent as those seconds passed by before Kiara spoke up again.

“You did nothing wrong! I mean yeah kooks are living a better life than here at The Cut. But how is that on you?” Kiara continues.

I stay silent. Not wanting to say anything.

“JJ! I’m fucking letting this slide. For now. But just watch when we’re alone! Don’t think you’re getting away with this,” She says, anger evident in her voice.

“Kiara. It’s fine,” I say putting a hand on her shoulder, trying to forget all about it.

Kiara turns to me and sends me a look. She shakes her head telling me she wasn’t going to let this go. I just stayed quiet, again.

I look down at my lap and fiddle with my fingers.

I kinda miss Rafe right now. He would never treat me like this. Nor would Topper or Kelce.

I start to feel myself closing up to them.

Kiara notices and puts an arm around me.

“You know I kinda miss Rafe now,” I say only for Kiara to hear.

“They’re that bad huh!” Kiara whispers back, referring to her friends.

“Eh,” I say with a shrug.

“Well I mean if you’re missing him of all people. They must be reallyyy bad!” Kiara accidentally says loud enough for the boys to hear.

“Oh shit!” Kiara says once all of the boy’s eyes were on us.

“Kiara!” I say, giving her a look. My eyes wide in embarrassment.

“She has a big mouth! Huh?!” John B says with a laugh.

“Tell me about it,” I say looking over at him as my heart flutters knowing that they’re not all bad.

I hear Pope chuckle, making me smile. So, JJ was the only mean one I say to myself. Taking a mental note.

JJ stays quiet just sitting on his chair. Looking around like nothing happened.

I decide to let it slide and not let it affect my afternoon with Kie. Allowing myself to further get to know Pope and John B.

“So who is this guy you’re missing?” Pope sillily says with a toothy smile.

“Oh, no one!” I say with a nervous smile, that just happens to go from ear to ear.

My eyes notice JJ shifting and moving in his seat as I cheekily smile.

“With that smile! It must be someone,” John B teases causing my smile to widen.

“No! He’s just a friend!” I say as my cheeks turn red. I try to cover my face in my hands.

“Aww. You’re so shy!” John B cooes.

“Yeah. It’s kinda cute!” Pope adds.

“She does this all the time!” Kiara says with a playful eyeroll.

“It just happens okay!” I let out in a laugh.

The three are in amusement with the new girl before their eyes. Meanwhile, JJ just sits awkwardly in his seat, not daring to say a word. But he couldn’t help but think of how adorable the girl before him was. She was precious and her embarrassment and shyness added to her cuteness.

For the most part, JJ regrets letting his Pogue pride get in the way of getting to know Y/N. But all he can do now is hold his exterior high.

He still does hate the fact that she has everything that he doesn’t but he feels kind of bad because she seems genuine.

After John B, Pope, Kiara, and I settled down from our fits of laughter, Pope speaks up.

“So Kiara tells us you’re a kook?” He asks.

John B’s eyes lighten up.

“Yeah! I mean it honestly doesn’t even seem like it. You seem so chill and quite frankly adorable!” John B adds.

I smile and feel my cheeks warming up.

“Yeah I mean I guess you could say I am,” I say like it’s nothing.

“She’s literally the kookest of the kooks! Except she’s a total sweetheart!” Kiara says, opening her mouth.

“Elaborate on the kookest of the kooks?” Pope curiously asks.

“Yeah like she's the kookest of the kooks! She’s literally at the top, her and her family. Which is quite ironic right? She’s the richest, has the biggest house in the OBX, best cars, and trucks, the list goes on.” Kie lists to the guys. “Oh, and how could I forget? The best looking!”

“Wow, and I mean yeah! Shouldn’t that make you the brattiest and the meanest?” John B says with a chuckle knowing y/n is the exact opposite based on what he’s known of her.

“And the bitchiest?” JJ remarks with an annoyed look on his face.

I look over at him, my eyebrows furrowed.

“I mean do you think I’m a bitch?” I say finally speaking up.

Pope and John B give each other a look.

JJ stays quiet as if I never even spoke.

“And you say kooks are arrogant and self centered!” I mutter letting out a scoff but they all hear clear as day.

“If you have anything to say, then say it!” I say looking straight at JJ even though he wasn’t even looking at me.

Y/N’s a shy sweet girl but that doesn’t interfere with her courage. She’s fiery and stands up for herself.

He finally looks over at me.

“I don’t have anything to say,” He says plainly and looks away right after.

I would’ve called him a coward then and there but I didn’t want to ruin the moment with the rest of us.

Kiara smiles at me telling me good job with her smile, causing me to let out a small laugh.

I look to my left and notice Pope sending me a thumbs up with a huge smile causing me to giggle.

He deserves it, is what they’re trying to say.

I was a bit worried that John B and Pope might not like me after answering back to JJ, but they seem pleased with the fact that I did.

I sigh to myself in relief.

“Yeah, one day you all can come over!” I smile. “Well I mean if you guys decide to want me around,” I end with a small giggle.

Pope’s eyes get big but JJ interrupts right as Pope is about to speak.

“Yeah... I don’t think so. So don’t get your hopes up,” JJ bluntly says.

My mouth opens to respond but Kiara quickly changes the subject.

“You were saying something, Pope?” She says trying to proceed with the conversation.

“First off JJ, speak for yourself!” Pope declares. “And! Like, go over to your mansion?” Pope baffles at me.

“I mean I wouldn't call it a mansion,” I trail with a laugh, ignoring JJ’s remark completely.

“Oh stop being so modest!” Kiara says with an eye roll.

“Only if we can steal your dad’s car and drink the finest wine and champagne your family possesses!” John B jokes.

“Deal!” I beam.

We all let out a chuckle, except for one.

“Let’s play a game!” John B blurts out of nowhere.

Kiara gasps.

“Great idea!” She says and reaches out under the couch. “I think I saw some Uno cards under here,” She mumbles.

“Okay. But let’s spice it up” I dare with a devilish look.

“I like how this is sounding. Go on,” Pope ponders.

“Okay how about this! While we’re all playing Uno we can all ask each other, Never Have I Ever questions!” I propose.

“Okay. Sounds interesting,” Kiara says now shuffling the Uno cards.

“Serves the purpose of getting to know each other,” Pope says getting closer. He places a small table in the middle of us to put the cards on.

“Uno says a lot about someone’s behavior! So we’ll be on a close lookout for yours!” John B slightly teases.

“Oh yeah. Definitely doesn’t make me nervous at all!” I say with a playful eye roll.

“Yeah, we already noticed the eye roll. We’ll add that to our observation list,” Pope laughs.

“Stop!” I say feeling my cheeks get warm.

Kiara laughs and starts to hand us all our individual small decks.

“Well, this is going to be a long afternoon!” JJ huffs getting his deck from Kiara.

“Okay, Y/N never have I ever!” John B thrills, as we all ignore JJ’s remark.

“What!” I say with a wide smile. ”We haven’t even started the Uno game and you’re already bombarding me with questions!” I end with a laugh.

“Well too bad!” He says with a sly smile.

“Okay fine,” I say giving in and placing the first card of the game.

Kiara then places her card on top of mine.

“Never have I ever had my first kiss,” John B questions as he eyes me.

“I mean yeah. Duh!” I say as I make an obvious face.

“Okay just asking!” John B says in surrender causing me to chuckle.

“I think we need a storytime!” Kiara pesters.

“Ha! Definitely not,” I retort.

“Oh come on tell us! It can’t be that bad!” Pope prys.

“Oh. It wasn’t bad at all! It was quite magical, actually,” I add in remembrance of the day.

“Okay then, see! Tell us,” Kiara prys.

“Yeahh. No,” I say knowing that if I name the boy it’ll ruin the night.

“Well if it’s not a bad first kiss then why not tell us?” Pope says adding a card.

“Because,” I say with a laugh. “I have my reasons,”

“Oh come on!” Kiara says, forcefully making me look at her pouty face.

“Okay fine,” I say with a huff, knowing they wouldn’t stop until I tell them.

“Yes!” Pope says with a clap.

“Bingo,” John B retorts as Pope and him give each other a handshake.

I roll my eyes at them and smile.

“It was a middle school dance. I was in sixth grade and the boy was in eighth grade. A slow dan-” I say as I was trying to tell them the story before Kiara eagerly interrupts.

“The boy being?” Kiara interrogates with a smirk.

I give her a side eye and continue the story without answering. Completely ignoring her.

“Oh come on!” The three say. The three being Kiara, John B, and Pope.

“No! I’m not saying!” I remark.

“How much do you want to bet it’s the boy you and Kiara were secretly talking about earlier,” John B says with a smirk, wiggling his eyebrows.

I get scarlet red and shake my head, a smile waiting to be released.

“No way!” Kiara says putting the dots together in her head. “It is! isn’t it?”

I stay quiet holding in my smile but failing miserably.

“It all makes sense! No wonder the boy is with you 24/7. It makes sense as to why he’s so clingy with you. You locked him in with a kiss!” Kiara gushes.

“You’re ridiculous!” I say with an eye roll.

I look away from Kiara and lookup.

My eyes meet JJ’s and my heart skips a beat. He’s so beautiful. His blonde beachy hair and sky blue eyes. For a second his facial expressions seem kind and warm, but they quickly change to cold and menacing ones, once he sees my gaze on him.

I look away.

“Next question!” I say as I place a card onto the table.

“What? But you never finished the story,” Pope reckons.

“Oh right,” I say with a playful sigh. “I was dancing with my friends when a slow dance came on. He came over and asked me to dance with him. Me and him weren't exactly friends at the time but we knew each other, he was really nice to me despite him being an eighth grader. We spent the rest of the night together. Dancing and having a good time. I look back at that night and know it’s one of the best nights I’ve ever had. It was remarkable and straight out of a cliche movie. The last dance was of course a slow dance and he offered to dance one last time. Of course, I said yes, so he takes me by my hand and takes me onto the dance floor. In the middle of the song we both leaned in and kissed. I was dying on the inside, I remember I was like oh my god I’m kissing the cutest guy in school!” I say ending the brief and quick story with a laugh.

“Okay, and what happened next?!” John B presses.

“What?” I say with a laugh. “I thought we’re only talking about the first kiss,”

Pope and Kiara gasp.

“So you’re saying you shared more than one kiss?” Kiara says with wide eyes.

“What! No!” I say knowing I just exposed myself.

“Now you gotta tell us more!” Pope says intrigued.

“Okay fine!” I say with an eye roll. “After our kiss ended, so did the dance. So, he offered to walk me home. We talked and he made me laugh the whole way there. When we made it to the gate of my house we were saying our goodbyes and right as I was about to enter he pulled me into another kiss. Might I add it was even better than the first! Maybe cause I was a bit more comfortable with kissing. Who knows but it was. I know if I leave the story at that, you guys will continue to ask questions. So let me sum it up, he graduated middle school but we continued to talk during that summer. We became friends and now after all those years, he’s still my best friend. I know he’ll always be there for me and I can trust him with my life,” I say to them.

“Wow,” John B says looking up at me after placing his card.

“We’re definitely talking about this later!” Kiara beams. “Cause I know for a fact it’s him!” Kiara says, referring to Rafe.

I roll my eyes and groan.

“It’s not!” I claim. Even though it is. Rafe was my first kiss.

“What! That’s not fair.” Pope states with a whine.

“Yeah I agree. Y/N if you’re going to continue to hang around we have to know what you guys are going to talk about,” John B says.

“Are you trying to blackmail me?” I say with a raised brow, letting out a laugh. “But don’t even worry about it. We’re not talking about it!”

“Yes, we are!” Kiara says as she places a reverse card.

“Gosh! You guys are so annoying,” JJ says with a huff.

“I think it’s just you,” Pope says.

“Alright, then my turn!” JJ says determinedly.

“Never have I ever been so bored with my kook life that I had to give it some spice by hanging out with pogues as entertainment,” JJ speaks looking at me with fire in his eyes, waiting for my answer.

I look him straight in the eyes. “Never,” I say.

“I have,” Kiara answers.

“The question wasn’t meant for you,” JJ says, moving his eyes off mine as he speaks to Kiara.

“Well, it applied to me so I answered,” Kiara says with sass.

JJ rolls his eyes in defeat and lays back in his seat.

John B nudged me causing me to realize it’s my turn.

I look down at my card and see that I have a blank action card.

I place it down in the pile.

“JJ,” I say with a smirk, catching his attention.

His heart skips a beat, as he hears his name rolling perfectly out of her lips.

I can feel everyone’s eyes on me.

“What?” He says with an eye roll.

“Draw 20 cards,” I say with a fake sweet smile.

Next to me, I feel Kiara stifling in her laughter.

“Ooo. This just got interesting,” Pope says with a laugh.

“I’m not doing that,” He fumes.

“You okay there JJ? I think I can see smoke coming out of your ears,” John B teases.

“Cut it out, man!” JJ says at John B.

We all continue to laugh which proceeds with JJ throwing the cards down on the table.

Kiara, Pope, and John B look up at him in surprise.

“I’m not playing this stupid game, anymore!” He says standing up from his seat and walking away into the house.

We all let out loud laughs and continue to play.

“Go Kie,” John B says, but worriedly looks over at JJ.

“Hmm okay. Never have I ever had a one night stand,” Kie asks.

“Never,” I answer.

“I have,” John B says.

“Regretfully yes,” Pope responds.

“Yeah me neither,” Kiara answers.

“Never have I ever fallen in love,” I ask them.

We all answer a no.

“Never have I ever called a teacher mom,” Pope asks.

I giggle.

“Oh come on! I think we all have,” Kiara laughs.

John B places his second to last card on the pile and is left with one.

“UNO!” I yell at him.

His eyes widen and he looks down at his card.

“Darn it!” He says and lets out a groan.

I smile and let out a laugh.

Kiara hands him four cards.

I look straight ahead of me, where JJ previously was. The night approaching.

Wow, the time has gone by so fast. I smile knowing that I've had a great time. John B and Pope were amazing. They’re funny and welcoming. They made me feel nice and equal to them.

As I was in my head, Kiara placed her last card causing her to win the round.

Pope and John B roll their eyes.

“Why do you always win?” Pope says with an eye roll.

“Because I’m smart. Duh!” She says with a smirk.

I roll my eyes at her.

“Oh relax!” I say giving her a look.

“Is this a challenge I’m sensing?” She scoffs playfully.

“OOO girl fight!” Pope comments.

Kiara rolls her eyes and I just laugh.

We start picking up the cards and placing them back in its box.

“JJ! COME OVER HERE! John B yells. Hoping it would reach JJ inside the house.

I look behind me in the direction of the house and see JJ reluctantly walking out.

“Come on, man!” John B says once JJ is outdoors, trying to convince his best friend to come back.

“Yeah, before we replace you with Y/N,” Pope jokes.

“Haha!” JJ says in monotone, shooting him a glare. “So funny, Pope,”

“Aw. Come on lighten up, J,” John B says with a smile.

“Yeah,” JJ says once he makes it over to us, keeping his response short.

JJ sits back down in his seat.

I sense the awkwardness in the room, even though we’re all outside.

“Hey... I think I’ll start heading out,” I say to them.

“What? Why?” Kiara asks in surprise, frowning.

“I- I just don’t want to make things weird,” I say standing from the couch. “But it was very nice talking to you guys!” I say looking over to my left where Pope and John B reside.

They shoot me sympathetic smiles.

“Likewise,” Pope says smiling sweetly.

“Thanks,” I smile.

“Fine. Let me walk you out,” Kiara says, starting to stand from her seat.

“No!” John B interjects, standing up from his chair instantly. “I got it.”

“Oh. Um okay..” Kiara says sitting back down in her seat, before even getting to fully stand up.

I blush and hesitantly look up at him.

He smiles assuringly, making my heart flutter.

I look away shyly. My eyes falling on JJ’s.

He looks bothered by the fact that John B intervened with Kiara walking me out. His eyes look like they’re filled with rage and annoyance.

If I knew any better I’d say he looked jealous. But why? Literally the whole goddamn time he treated me like his punching bag.

“Actually I’ll join you. Let me just get my things,” Kiara says standing from her seat.

John B and I nod, as she walks into John B’s house.

“Come on,” John B says, placing his hand gently on my back. Insinuating for me to walk off the porch.

I start walking off, John B behind me.

I turn around as I make it to the steps.

“Bye,” I say brightly, looking over at Pope.

He grins and waves goodbye. “I’ll see you,”

I nod and then look over at JJ.

This time he’s acknowledging me. Maybe because I’m leaving?

“Bye JJ,” I say softly, giving him a small wave.

His icy blue eyes locking with mine.

My stomach erupts in butterflies. Fuck.

“Bye.” He lightly says.

I smile and look down, looking away.

I smile, blushing.

He seemed quite sincere in his response. Gosh, this boy is making me go crazy. First, he looks at me all flirtatiously winking at me and all. Then, when we meet he’s a completely different person. And now he says goodbye to me, like in such a kind manner. He doesn’t make sense. Does he hate me or not?

I make it down the steps of the porch and John B and I continue to walk a good distance away from the boys.

“Thanks,” I say once we make it to a stop.

I look up at him. I feel tingly as my eyes lay on him. His tall figure giving me butterflies and his tan muscular skin making me spin.

He smiles looking down at me, causing me to blush even more.

“Yeah. No problem,” He smiles, continuing to look down at me.

“Gosh, you’re making me act all shy…” I say looking down at the ground.

I hear him chuckle, making me smile.

“Sorry!” He says, thinking of how adorable the girl before him is. “But look before Kiara comes. I just wanted to say I’d love to have you around. Ignore JJ. Don’t let his attitude discourage you. He’s just protective that’s all. I’m really sorry about him. It honestly surprised me, I didn't think he'd be that harsh…” John B says, running his hand in his hair awkwardly, in hopes that it’d make up for it.

“Wait? Really!” I say in awe about him wanting me around.

“Yeah! Definitely,” He says in a reassuring tone.

“Okay,” I say with a pleased smile.

“Okay..” He says, repeating after me. “Look and yet again, I’m really sorry about JJ and his rude comments and remarks. I don’t know what got into him. Really,” He says looking into my eyes, again, trying to explain.

I nod.

“He’s just very…. How do I say this? It’s the dumb kook vs. pogue rivalry. But he should’ve realized that you’re different. I mean even Pope realized it. He’s just probably still not over the fact that you’re a kook. But I mean Kiara is a kook too. So, it shouldn’t be any different. But I’m sure he’ll loosen up soon. So please don’t let him discourage you from coming over. We’d all love for you to be here more often,” He says smiling.

“Okay. I will. It was really fun. I had a great time. So thanks,” I say looking up at him to keep eye contact.

“Yeah.” He says.

He opens his arms and I smile joining his embrace. He wraps his arms around my back loosely as I place my arms under his, wrapping them around his back.

The hug was short but nice.

I look back at the house and see Pope and JJ looking over at us.

I look back at John B, he too notices them looking.

He shakes his head and laughs.

“Ready?” Kiara yells coming out of the house.

I nod and smile.

“Bye boys!” She says to Pope and JJ as she passes by the porch.

They say their goodbyes as John B and I wait for her by the hammocks.

Once Kiara makes it over to us, John B gives me another quick hug.

“Bye friend,” He says with a playful smile.

I laugh and wave him goodbye.

I can feel Kiara smiling as John B walks back to the porch.

“Sooo! What was that all that about?!” Kiara says happily poking my sides.

“Oh god! Nothing, he was just telling me to ignore JJ and to come around more often,” I explain as we both start walking away.

“Really! That’s great! See! I told you!” She says poking my sides.

I laugh trying to get away from her as we walk off.

Kiara giggles. “Well just wanted to let you know that every time John B and you had a moment JJ looked furious!! I’ve never seen him act like that!” She gushes.

“Oh god,” I say, rolling my eyes at her.

✿❀

Hello Everyone💛Thank you so much for reading my first ever series and imagine that was written specifically for Tumblr. So welcome☺️

This part is an introductory chapter. I made sure you all got to know more of the characters including Y/N. I have so many interesting and amazing thing planned for The One and Only JJ: Maybank. So, fasten your seatbelts cause you’re in for a hell of a ride!

I would greatly appreciate your likes, reblogs, and comments :)

Thank you all! 💖

taglist:

@annab-nana

#jj maybank #jj maybank x reader #jj maybank imagine #jj maybank series #outerbanks #outer banks #outer banks imagine #jj maybank oneshot #outer banks oneshot #jj maybank x y/n

189 notes · View notes

jeyramarie · 4 years ago

Text

Mr. & Mrs. Holland- (Mob! Tom Holland x Mob! Reader) part 4

summary: sometimes the price to pay is the worst consequence

warning: kidnapping, torturing, blood, cursing

w/c: 2,907

a/n: i had this idea so long ago and seeing it written it’s absolutely amazing. i hope you guys like it! happy reading everyone 🦋

prologue~ part 1~ part 2~ part 3~

After Tom hung up, he quickly got dressed.

“Babe, what happened?” she asked leaning over the bed to grab her underwear.

“James.. he is dead.” he said, poking his head out of the closet, seeing her face of shock.

“Um.. how? w-why?” she stuttered, running her hand through her hair.

“Darling, i don’t know but i have to go over there.” Y/n was still in shock, how can someone she just saw earlier in the day was found dead. Her thoughts were cut short when Tom came out of the closet and gave her a kiss.

“I’m gonna figure this out, okay? I’ll call you. I love you.” Tom said and left for the hotel leaving Y/n alone in bed, worried to death. She spent the whole day at home, waiting for Tom to call. Y/n wasn’t gonna stay inside the rest of the day bored to hell. So of course, she kept herself busy. She painted and played the piano in a small library Tom had made for her. She was writing a song for her husband which was quite hard. The melody didn’t sound as soothing as she wanted to. At the end of the night, she was drinking tea on her bed while watching tv when her phone finally rang. It was Tom.

“Babe?”

“Hey, darling.”

“How are you? Are you okay? Is everything okay?”

“Honey, calm down. I’m fine. I just got caught up, I’m sorry I didn’t call.” he chuckled making Y/n let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding.

“No, it’s fine. I’m just glad you’re okay. I was literally going crazy.”

“I’m sorry love, it’s just pretty hectic over here.”

“It’s alright. Are you on your way home?” she asked, feeling hopeful and bit her lip.

“Actually, love. I wanted to talk about that.” Y/n stayed quiet waiting for him to continue, immediately feeling upset.

“I have to leave for a few… have to go to Washington.”

“Why?” she whispered sadly making him frown too.

“Some business issues, darling. Just gonna go check it out, see what’s going on.”

“Can’t Harrison go and handle it?” she asked as she ran her finger around the teacup.

“Not this time. They need my signature to prove Haz is not lying. You know us mobsters have serious trust issues.”

“How long are you gonna be away?”

“Like three days.”

“Do you have clothes?” that made Tom smile, loving how she worries all the time.

“Yes, I do.”

“And your toothbrush?” she smiled as his laugh filled her ears.

“Yes, my love. I have everything.”

“Okay, then.” she said softly as she fidgeted with the blanket.

“I have to go, baby. I’ll call you in the morning.”

“Okay, goodnight. I love you.”

“I love you too, princess. ‘Night.” they hung up and Tom went back to work while Y/n’s eyes teared up. It was gonna be a peaceful nice so she felt the sudden need to do something she’s never done and was slightly scared to do. She just needed to be alone right now. Y/n got out of bed and put on her silk robe, going downstairs to talk to William. He was sitting on the kitchen stool drinking coffee with Susan, the maid.

“William.” she said softly not wanting to startle anyone. He heard his boss and quickly stood up from the stool, turning to her.

“Gather everyone around, please.” she turned around and left to the main entrance leaving William and Susan all confused. Wondering what she was going to say. A few minutes went by and all her employees from the house gathered in front of her.

“Hello, everyone. I don’t know if you know but Tom is gonna be away on a business trip for the next three days. You all can go home today, to your family. Take the rest of the day off. I’ll see everyone tomorrow.” she smiled as her employees smiled too. They all said thank you and spread out to grab their belongings. She turned to William who was still standing there, not moving an inch.

“William, you can go home.”

“I’m sorry, ma’am. I can’t leave. I don’t want to.”

“Thank you. You can sleep in the guest room.” she said as she walked upstairs to her room to try and get some sleep.

The clock read 3:30 am when Y/n woke up abruptly from a slamming door. ‘It must be William.’ she thought as she suddenly felt really thirsty. She walked out of her room and made her way to the kitchen. The whole house was dark, only lights that were reflected inside were the ones from the pool. She opened the fridge to get some water and when she closed she saw a figure next to her making her gasp. The jug of water crashed on the ground, covering the floor in broken glass. As she stepped backwards, trying to get anyway from the intruder, her back met a strong broad chest. The man quickly wrapped his arms around her, holding her in place as she kicked around trying to get out of his grasp. Y/n was about to scream for help when the person in front of her quickly covered her mouth.

“Where’s the chip?” the person asked as she struggled against the strong grip around her. Y/n shook her head making the person roll her eyes.

“Check the whole house! Now!” he screamed and a bunch of people walked in, beginning to trash the whole place. Flipping tables and furniture, breaking bases, mirrors, picture frames, everything. The man behind Y/n kept a strong grip around her with one arm and covered her mouth with his other hand, making her see how they destroyed everything. She kept screaming into the man’s hand and moved her body abruptly to get out his grasp.

Suddenly, people started walking down the stairs holding William at gunpoint while his hands were up in surrender. He was about to say something when one of the men hit him in the back of the head with the barrel of the gun, leaving him passed out on the floor which caused Y/n to scream into the hand.

“You’re gonna wish you’d never taken that information.” and with that he punched her so hard that she fell unconscious onto the man’s arms that were still wrapped around her.

‘Ugh, what a massive headache.’ Y/n thought immediately when she started waking up, thinking that everything from the night before was a dream. She was hoping she would wake up in her bed, nexto to her husband but it wasn’t like that. Once she opened her eyes, she felt immense fear from her surroundings. She was tied up to a chair with duct tape over her mouth and she was in some kind of basement. After what felt like hours of her trying to break free from the ties, the door behind her opened letting a man walk in.

“Well, hello there. You finally woke up.” a familiar voice said she struggled against her restraints feeling immediate fear.

“It’s a pleasure to have you here.. Mrs. Holland.” the man said finally standing in front of her causing her to lift her head slowly. Her eyes went wide when she saw who it was. Which made her pull against the restraints even harder, needing to get away. It was Adam. The same Adam that was spying on her and her husband, the same Adam that probably killed James. He laughed at her fear as he ripped the duct tape off her mouth making her groan in pain.

“Now, let’s talk. Shall we?” he said as he placed a chair in front of her and sat down.

(Washington…)

All the way in Washington, Tom was having dinner with a couple mob friends when Harrison’s phone ran. He saw it was William calling which made him answer immediately, knowing something bad must be happening.

“William, everything alright?”

“Haz, he took her. He took Y/n.” he grunted getting up from the floor feeling immense pain on his head. Harrison’s eyes went wide quickly turning around so his boss wouldn't hear.

“Who took her, William? What the fuck happened?” he whispered aggressively running his hand through his hair.

“Adam… he came here, trashed the whole place. He came looking for the stupid chip.”

“Where the fuck was everyone? That house is supposed to be surrounded 24/7.”

“Mate, I know that. Y/n sent them all home for the night.”

“Why the fuck- okay, thank you William. I’ll call you later, after I tell Tom.” he whispered not wanting his boss to hear.

“Alright. I’m sorry, mate.” Harrison hung up and turned to see the men laughing, Tom all smiley with no worries. It pained him to be the one to ruin that but he had to say something. Y/n’s life was on the line. With all his courage, he walked towards Tom and leaned getting close to his ear.

“William called. It’s about Y/n.” he whispered then stepped back making Tom turn to him and give him a questionable look. He excused himself from the table and walked over to Haz, pulling him towards the hall of the restaurant.

“What about Y/n?” Tom asked angrily with a clenched jaw.

“Adam showed up at the house.” Harrison saw how he wanted to interrupt so he held his hand up to shut Tom up.

“He went looking for the chip, trashed the whole place and took Y/n. I asked William where everyone was and he told me that she had sent them all home for the night.” Tom stayed silent for a while, feeling anger course through his body like wildfire. All he replayed in his head was ‘took Y/n’.

“Let’s go back to New York. Now.” he said angrily and stomped outside of the restaurant, getting into the car with Harrison behind him. Tom couldn’t take Y/n out of his mind. Thinking how scared she might’ve been, how he wasn’t there for her, everything was eating him alive. He bounced his leg up and down the whole way, feeling nervous and worried and angry all at the same time. All he wanted was to be with his wife, to keep her safe and he wont till he gets her back.

(New York…)

She huffed as another punch hit her cheekbone causing it to open. Adam has been torturing her for what felt like hours. He hit her in the face, her torso, even on the side of her head. All his rage went out on every punch he gave.

“No one is gonna fucking steal from me again. Specially stupid ass women like you.” he said with gritted teeth, punching her in the corner of her mouth making her cough and spit out blood.

“Didn’t your mom ever teach you to not hit girls?” Y/n mumbled with her head hanging low, feeling dizzy from all the fist to face contact. He laughed dryly and yanked her head back by her hair making her wince in pain.

“She did.. but she also told me to defend myself and you’re a slimy little bitch.” he said with gritted teeth as his grip on her hair got tighter making her shout in pain. Adam let go of his grip pushing her head forward. He was about to punch her again when he’s phone started ringing. One of his men gave him the phone which made him smile devilishly once he saw the caller id. He took the gun from the back of his pants and pointed it at Y/n as he answered the fun.

“Hey, Tommy.” her eyes went wide when she heard her husband’s name and started pulling on the restraints.

“Tom!” she shouted causing Adam’s employee to stand up and cover her mouth. Of course, she continued shouting Tom’s name over and over again. Until she had enough of being silenced and bit the guys hand making him scream and take it away.

“Tom! Please let me talk to him, Adam. Please, I need to talk to him.” Y/n begged on the verge of crying. He laughed and placed his phone on her ear.

“Y/n?”

“Tom, baby-“

“Are you hurt? Do you know where you are?”

“Baby..” she whispered as she started to cry.

“Tom, I’m scared.” she muttered feeling ashamed and disappointed in herself.

“I’m gonna find you, okay? Try to give me a coded message, baby. Just try, please.” She started looking around, trying to look for something familiar that Tom would notice but all she saw was Adam and his men staring at her.

“I-I can’t. There’s nothing- I can’t.” Tom was about to answer when Adam came and ripped off the phone from her ear.

“I’m sure you guys had a nice conversation.”

“If you dare fucking touch her, I’ll find you and cut you in tiny little pieces.” Tom said with gritted teeth.

“Oh well, Tommy you might have to sharpen your knife then.” He quickly hung up the phone before Tom could start talking.

(Tom’s private jet..)

The mob boss threw his phone on the floor as he stood up and walked back and forth in anxiousness. He ran his hand through his hair, only thinking about his wife.

“He fucking touched her, Harrison. He… fuck!” Tom screamed with gritted teeth only wanting to kill Adam over and over again.

The plane finally landed and they drove quickly to the house. William was waiting outside with a bruise eye and a sling holding his right arm. The car came to a stop and both men stepped out quickly walking towards the man who was scared.

“Mr. Holland, I’m so sorry. She sent everyone home but I decided to stay to look after her and then they came in and just-“

“William, breath.” Tom said, interrupting his rambling.

“I’m so sorry. I- I couldn’t do anything.”

“It’s not your fault, William. Do you have any idea on where she might be?” he asked, walking into the house with the men behind him, going into the kitchen.

“Of course, I thought about the hotel. His house too or maybe James’ house. She can be anywhere by now.” Tom stayed silent rubbing his chin in deep thought.

“We should go to the hotel an-”

“Wait, didn’t you put a tracker on James’ car?” Harrison interrupted leaning against the counter.

“Did you ever check it, boss?” William asked, turning to him waiting for an answer.

“Not really.. James was found dead that day. Never got the chance.” he said softly as he stood up to get his laptop. He turned it on and began typing away, looking for the current location of the vehicle. It was at Le Royale, where James was last seen before he got murdered.

“I wonder why he went back there..” William said walking away to get some water. Tom quickly thought about the chip Y/n had.

“Will, does the chip have access to the security cameras?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

“We have to find it, right now.” and with that, they all spread out around the house. They went into every room and checked every closet and drawer. Tom finally made it to his bedroom that stayed as Y/n left it. Bed undone, her clothes on the floor, the smell of sex still in the room and her purse wide open on the dresser, next to her laptop. He ran and grabbed it, then ran downstairs to call the guys.

“I got it!” he shouted as he got closer to the computer, immediately plugging it into the device. Tom sat there again, typing and typing, trying to pull up the footage of James in Adam’s office. He was thinking about this for some time. Finding proof that Adam killed James, sending it to the police anonymously and following them when they went to look for him at his home. That way he could find Y/n. His thoughts quickly changed, ‘That would take too long.’ he thought quickly stepping away from the computer. William and Harrison looked at each other in confusion wondering why he would just stop.

“I have to call him.” Tom mumbled standing up from his chair and pulling out his phone, quickly dialing Adam’s number.

“Hello?”

“What do you want?” he asked angrily as the man laughed.

“What do I- oh Tommy. It’s not that easy.” he said as he watched Y/n get her head dunked in water repeatedly, not giving her time to breath.

“I’ll give you anything. Just tell me what you want and I’ll get it for you just… just please give me Y/n.” Adam stayed quiet for a bit as she gasped for air once her head was out of the water.

“Give me my chip back and we’ll schedule a place.” Adam said, holding his hand up, signalling his stop the turtering. He then hung up and walked towards Y/n who was still gasping for air. Tom put his phone back into his pocket and made his way to the boys who were still on the computer.

“Adam wants the chip.” he said, breaking the guys’ trance.

“I’m gonna give it to him-”

“But Tom-” Harrison started interrupting him out of shock.

“I’ll give it to him empty.”

mr&mrs.h: @ilovefandoms102 @themaddies-obx @guillerminacaba @teenwishes08 @runawayolives @theartisticqueen @quacksonlover81 @wonderfulfluffer @spidernerdsblog @nerdy-collector-festival

#tom holland #tom holland x reader #mob! tom holland x reader #mob!reader #mob!au #tom holland fluff #tom holland smut #tom holland angst #mob!tom #tom holland fic #mr. & mrs. holland #mob!tom holland x reader #mob! tom holland x mob! reader

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sukirichi · 4 years ago

Text

sukirichi’s 2.4k milestone event

weee another milestone and nooo i couldn’t wait for 2.5k because i’m so excited and happy, thank you so much! ʕ •ᴥ•ʔ including HAIKYUU this time around yeeeee! also i don’t have a restaurant aesthetic anymore, just kind of goofing around now! REQUESTS ARE OPEN.

before you request...

please read about my writings first! it will include the stuff i write and don’t write about. i’m more flexible in nsfw works, so if you really want to try for a kink, just send me in and if the idea is up to my liking, we’ll see how it goes!

please be patient and nice! if i don’t like the tone of your request or if you’re ‘demanding’ me, aka, “hey, write this for me, this concept...” your ask will immediately be deleted!

no requesting of the same idea to other writers please!

please keep in mind i don’t do too much canon-heavy plots, aka really specific canon events and how they lead up to one another. i don’t read the manga for both jjk and haikyuu ʕっ• ᴥ • ʔっ

I do not do headcanons anymore. I’m not good at them LMAO.

i feel a lot more laid back in my writings now, so i’ll only be taking requests that i want to write for! the accepted requests will be listed down below as i organize them

you may refer to my first milestone event if you want more ideas for AU requests! you no longer need to include the numbers/spices/ingredients format used in that. just send whatever idea you want ʕ •ᴥ•ʔ

I HAVE SOMETHING TO TELL YOU. whichever idea i love the MOST will be turned into a series just because I want to try new things hehe!

— characters i can write anything for (nsfw & sfw)

: gojo satoru, fushiguro megumi, fushiguro toji, choso, ryoumen sukuna, nanami kento

: suna rintarou, kageyama tobio, tsukishima kei, miya twins, kita shinsuke, oikawa tooru, ushijima wakatoshi, bokuto koutarou, akaashi keiji, tetsuro kuroo

— characters i can only write sfw for

: itadori yuuji, inumaki toge, okkotsu yuuta

: kenma kozume

— characters i’m MOST eager to write simp for

: fushiguro megumi, choso, naoya zenin, ryoumen sukuna, gojo satoru

: suna rintarou, kageyama tobio, kita shinsuke, oikawa tooru, akaashi keiji

accepted requests: (only accepting the ones that interest me for now!)

favorites marked as ⭐

RYOUMEN SUKUNA: hello love!! i know it LITERALLY just came out but would you consider a pt 2 or a drabble for sweet lies? where megumi either catches her and sukuna or she genuinely starts moving on uasdfghj i'm convinced that megumi heard her fucking sukuna in the bathroom <3 anyways pls feel free to ignore me too

RYOUMEN SUKUNA: Ma’am , i beg of u ,,, spare husband! sukuna x wife! reader drabble. I just read your arranged marriage AU and lordddd i’m obsessed. How long did it take for him to take her virginity 😳? i’m so curious as to how that went down read here: black magic [02]

⭐⭐ RYOUMEN SUKUNA: Yooooo how about Rockstar Sukuna seducing his manager ehehehehe~

⭐ RYOUMEN SUKUNA: Ok but... pirate captain Sukuna 👀👀👀 I’m havin some Thots ngl 🥵🤤 I can’t decide whether reader should be the first mate and they’re a kickass Power Couple 💪😎or if she should be a stowaway who gets found out and has to pay for her passage with her body 😩😉

OKKOTSU YUTA: We both be weak for yuuta and toge😩 congrats 2.4k btw. so i'll request that for the event! poly!yuuta and toge. i see that you only write sfw for them so fluff. u can think of anything you want for it..and yes we simp for both of them i love them sm🤧

⭐ OKKOTSU YUTA: Hi saw that your request are open and congrats for the 2.4k !! 🎊 if possible can i please request yuuta having a girlfriend that's his childhood friend? (So like instead of rika it's y/n and she doesn't die) that loves to dote on him cause that boy needs some love. Thank you!! <3 | kiss me more

⭐ OKKOTSU YUTA: Hi can i request a scenario in which inumaki and okkotsu gets hit with a curse(?) That makes them a clone but the clone is a kid and seeing their gf taking care of the baby please thank youuu

INUMAKI TOGE: Toge's S/O being so sad that even when he says "smile" it doesn't work( also saw that in TikTok)

⭐ INUMAKI TOGE: Hi can i request a scenario in which inumaki and okkotsu gets hit with a curse(?) That makes them a clone but the clone is a kid and seeing their gf taking care of the baby please thank youuu

INUMAKI TOGE: We both be weak for yuuta and toge😩 congrats 2.4k btw. so i'll request that for the event! poly!yuuta and toge. i see that you only write sfw for them so fluff. u can think of anything you want for it..and yes we simp for both of them i love them sm🤧

⭐ INUMAKI TOGE: Hi! Congrats on 2.4k!!🤩 For the event, may I request an au where reader is Yuuta's sister? Can be gn/fem reader anything is fine. And they fall in love with Toge? Fluff fluff fluff please🥺Maybe they meet one day when she went to visit the school? Or she's a new sorcerer. Aahhhh I can't think of anything so I'll leave it up to your wonderful mind😌 Thank you! And again congrats! | crush

INUMAKI TOGE: SUKI OMG SIREN AU WITH TOGE AND DEAF READERHis voice hypnotizes all who hear it but she’s unaffected and he’s shook lmao 😂 She teaches him human sign language so they can communicate 🥺 maybe when he realizes he likes her he brings her seashells and other shiny things from the sea floor and it’s so cute 🥰 just 🥺🥺 siren Toge 🥺🥺🥺 (DEBATING)

GOJO SATORU: Hello dear Suki! 🤗 congrats on your more than deserved milestone 👏🏼🥳 I know it’s not the restaurant aesthetic anymore but still, thank you for being a Michelin-star chef spoiling the fandom with your food 🤤👀 I’d love to request the following: ingredient 66 with sugar 8 & 9 and Gojou as cherry on top 🥰 some heavy angst with a happy / smutty ending. additional 🍪 for inspiration - „Best friends don’t look at each other the way you look at her. You never know what will happen, tomorrow might be too late“. Have a lovely day dear 💕

GOJO SATORU: Congrats on 2.4K!!!! May I please request a fic where the reader has like. Zero reaction to Gojo? And he’s kinda shook bc people either adore him or hate him, but here’s reader acting like he’s just a normal dude. And he starts falling for her bc he’s never experienced that before

⭐ GOJO SATORU: a reader that likes Gojo but immediately says N O P E bc they clock that he’s at risk of breaking their heart so they just try to avoid getting close to him despite being a teacher stuck with him a lot of the time. And Gojo is just like ??? But I like you??? Why are you always avoiding me? “I’m tired of you acting like I can’t commit to something. Committing to you is easy.”

⭐ GOJO SATORU: ♡Soft nsfw scenario with s/o and gojo while outside is snowing read here: cold

⭐ GOJO SATORU: Ohoho~ another milestone! Congrats~Can I get Vampire!Satoru x Monster Hunter!Reader where he “proves” to her that all of his victims came willingly(I think from the AU choice you’ll know exactly who I am lol 😉)

⭐ GOJO SATORU: hello! first and foremost, congratulations on reaching 2.4k! i love your writing and its just oh my goodness <3 your stories made my heart squeezed! second of all, i'd like to propose a request for a story. fluff/angst (up to you! your way of writing is just superb) mixed with nsfw gojo satoru. a modern business tycoon au where he just lost his wife and is overprotective of his 1 year old toddler. you're his new staff in the office and is treated badly bcs you know, new staff. one day, you stumbled upon your boss and his baby in a shop, who wont stop crying and he took an interest in you when you managed to calm his kid down. he hired you as his babysitter + made you move into his estate. from there, your life changed! also, thank you for accompanying my days with your stories, it's marvelous! 💕

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ NAOYA ZENIN MY BAE: okay i thought you might like this idea for the event (or maybe not lol) - naoya coming home to his beloved little housewife and feels like giving her a treat for being such a good girl.,,.,, read: man's gonna re-arrange your guts and have some soft moments with you after (not that he would ever admit that shsghshsj) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | good girl

NAOYA ZENIN MY BAE: Stage magician Naoya and his cute little assistant, where every other trick works to undress or strategically rip her outfit so he can show off his little bunny to the crowd before fucking her brainless backstage

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ NAOYA ZENIN MY BAE: listen ,,,,, ur naoya hate fic goes crazy stupid may i add something. naoya being overprotective like reader is so pretty and many of the clan men look at them a lottttt and naoya out of nowhere will kiss you in front of them or will grab them in front the maids and workers. then reader becomes mad and they get into an argument and then hate fuck :D lmaoo (THIS REQUEST PLEASEEEE SEND ME TO HEAVEN) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ NAOYA ZENIN MY BAE: Omg Suki! Congrats on the 2.4k! So uhmm I decided to take a break from the Kita/Naoya twin au angst 👉👈 idk if you are still accepting requests but HAS ANYONE EVER MENTIONED OR HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED SUGAR DADDY NAOYA????? 🥺 -🌸

FUSHIGURO MEGUMI: Megumi being insecure about his eyes because they are a very light green colour( like in manga) so he wears blue contacts( I saw that on TikTok and... big brain energy)

⭐ FUSHIGURO MEGUMI: SUKI, HI! First of all, congrats on 2.4K you absolutely deserve every single milestone coming your way 💞💞If it’s not too much to ask may I request a one-shot with megumi where he’s jealous that his fem!crush is spending more time with Itadori and sees how she enjoys his company a lot but it’s purely platonic? Reader likes megumi too and they both need that push in the right direction?Thanks so much if you decide to write this 🥺💖 I seriously love your writing and your big brain sm

CHOSO: Could you write something with Choso and the reader that has a toxic mother (if that actually exists. She controls everything the reader does, and plays with her mind/ feelings making her feel like she's the bad one)?But after a fight with the mom, the reader has enough and just leaves deciding they will finally do what they want, ending up at a tattoo shop, where Choso is the tattoo artist.Ngl, i'd like this to be nsfw because i am thirsting for this man ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)Don't really have kink preferences but if you could include size and breeding kink then i'd be hella thankful ☺

GETOU SUGURU: Yo how about a Victorian AU with Gentleman Thief!Getou and Debutante!Reader nsfw 👀👀 maybe she hears something in the dark and goes to investigate and gets pressed to the wall with a knife at her throat 👀🥵

FUSHIGURO TOJI: can we get a part two of the "lessons learned" toji fic 👉🏽👈🏽 maybe him fucking and overstimulating her so hard she cries and begs for mercy but no mercy will be given. maybe he uses the same handcuffs she used for him on her 🥰 maybe some manhandling cause im a hoe for letting a man throw me around

⭐ KAGEYAMA TOBIO (fckin finally): kageyama tobio x reader fic for mutual virginity loss? maybe they just haven’t had time with him being a fancy schmancy volleyball player, maybe there’s just nerves, i don’t know! i’ll leave it up to u babe <3

⭐ SUNA RINTARO: hi!! congrats on the 2.4k HEHE just wanted to request a suna and tattoo/flower shop au? idk just the thought of tattooed suna is like. mm yes

⭐ SUNA RINTARO/AKAASHI KEIJI: hi suki!! i’m so excited for your event! so i rarely ever see someone else who loves both akaashi and suna so i was wondering if you could write something for them! maybe apocalypse au?? or roommate au?? i was thinking y/n could have a relationship/be fuck buddies with one of them and some smutty exhibitionism happens with the other watching, and then some pining that ends in a threesome if you write those! if not, then just a smutty n filthy little love triangle that you can choose an ending for lol (a happy one would be nice bc my heart can only handle so much angst, but really it’s up to you and what inspires you!!) tysm for doing this event and always working so hard <3

⭐ OIKAWA TOORU: hi i love your writing!! can i please request work au (boss oikawa x secretary fem reader?) with degradation and him fucking your in the window 😭💗💗

#jujutsu kaisen #jujutsu kaisen x reader #haikyuu!!#haikyuu!! x reader #haikyuu #gojo satoru #fushiguro megumi #ryoumen sukuna #uhh im lazy #to tag #THANK YOU FOR THE MILESTONE <3 #sukirichi #suki: 2.4k milestone event

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mrslilyrogers · 5 years ago

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Betrayal Part 7

Pairing: Bucky x Reader

Summary: (AU) Set in New York. You and Bucky have been married for 5 years. He’s the love of your life and you are his. At least, you thought you were until he started slipping away from you, coming home late and smelling of another woman’s perfume? You are in denial. Are you just losing your mind or are you really losing him?

Author’s notes: I’m so so sorry this took so long! I redid the whole thing. We’re going to back up a bit in this chapter and visit the past. Please check the warnings before reading. Also, my requests are open. Send ideas if you’re feeling particularly angsty! Or even fluff, I’d like to try my hand at it. As always, let me know what you think of this chapter! For tags, please send in ask!

Warnings: Cheating, Angst, Abuse, Swearing

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6

2 years ago.

Bucky tapped his fingers on the table as he checked his watch again. 8:15. Forty-five minutes late. Again. He let out a huge sigh, barely able to hold himself from scratching his eyes out. The curly-haired waitress went back to him with an apologetic look on her face, “I’m sorry, sir. My manager told me I really need to take your order now. There’s already a line waiting outside…” she let her sentence trail sheepishly. Bucky tried to ignore the heat creeping up his cheeks and gave her an unconvincing smile instead, reciting his order. When she left with visible relief on her face, he picked up his phone and called his wife again. He had tried to call and text her earlier but she hadn’t picked up.

“Hello?” Y/N answered, sounding frazzled and irritated as she cleaned up after her rude customer. He just had the audacity to leave a mess after complaining and whining about the wifi three times. She could barely keep her eyes from rolling.

“Hey, babe. Where are you? I’ve been waiting for you at the restaurant,” Bucky’s defeated voice on the other line replied.

“Oh shit!” She shrieked, attracting the heads of the other customers as she glanced at the clock on the wall. She had lost track of time. Bucky had been waiting for her for almost an hour. On their anniversary. Oh crap, crap, crap.

“Oh my god, baby. I’m so sorry! I’m understaffed and I lost track of time! Could you please wait for me? I’m so sorry!” She quickly took off her apron and changed into the dress she had brought with her that morning for their date. Bucky had been planning this. He arranged for Lizzie’s babysitter and everything, practically bouncing off with excitement for this night. He wanted to try out this new restaurant and between raising Lizzie and making sure Winter Bakery was still making a profit, they haven’t seen much of each other lately. She just couldn’t find the time whereas Bucky’s stable position in Shield gave him more authority to delegate. And he literally had been trained for this for years. All those late-nighters at the university and all the grunt work he and Steve went through have finally paid up. They were at the top of their game, one of the youngest to acquire their positions. They were heroes in the investment banking world. Life was easy for him now, cherry on top of the cake. He only wished Y/N could be there with him. But she was still on shaky ground with her business and he fully understood that.

“Of course! I already picked our appetizers though. They were trying their best to kick me out gently if I didn’t order anything,”

“Oh, my poor Bucky. You should’ve flashed them your smile, charmed your way. They would’ve made you stay,” she replied, fixing her ponytail, not having the time to retouch her makeup anymore. This’ll just have to do.

“Really, now. It was a waitress, you know.” He teased back.

A beat before Y/N replied in mock seriousness. “In that case, don’t you dare. I’ll be there in 15!”

“Wouldn’t dream of it. See you, babe. I love you--,”

But before he could even finish his sentence, the line had dropped on the other end.

_______________________________________________________________________

1 year ago.

“Daddy, look, apples!” Lizzie pointed from her seat in the grocery cart. Her legs swinging as she giggled at the heap of apples on their side. “Yeah, baby, you’re right.” Bucky replied absentmindedly, not even bothering to look as he stared confusedly at the bunch of green vegetables in front of him. The list Y/N gave him said scallions, but how the hell was he supposed to know which was which? Scallions, spring onions, green onions, they were all the same right? He suddenly regretted volunteering to do their grocery shopping alone, having no clue what half of the list Y/N prepared even meant. It was the weekend, they were all supposed to go together and then have a quick visit to the toy store after, for one more of Lizzie’s birthday gifts. She had just turned 3 a week ago and he couldn’t help but promise to let her pick out another doll. When Y/N had given him a pointed look while Lizzie clung on and gushed to him, he couldn’t help but to just give her a tiny shrug. He grew up with nothing, he was gonna give his little girl everything. But that morning when he thought the three of them finally had time to spend together, Y/N couldn’t make it again. She was having problems with her manager and had to go into work unexpectedly. Now, she wasn’t even answering his calls when he had to ask her about the most complicated grocery list he’s ever seen in his whole life.

“Daddy, when are we getting my doll?” Lizzie asked again, looking up at him as she clutched her favorite white wolf stuffed toy.

“After this, sweetheart.” He answered, preoccupied and calling Y/N again. This time when she didn’t answer, he gave up, grabbed the one nearest to him and hoped for the best.

When he’s gotten halfway through the list and let Lizzie point at the snacks she wanted for school, he let his mind wander, when the hell had they become like this? He barely saw his wife anymore. Her problems with her bakery cafe, always dragging her away from them. He wished she could find competent people who would stay but if it weren’t her manager, it was her baker and so on. And if she was finally free, he’d be the one who was busy. It was hard and annoying but coupled that with taking care of an over-enthusiastic three-year-old, it was also exhausting.

He missed Y/N and he wished he could spend time with her. He completely understood that she was always needed at work. He had been through that in their early 20s, but they didn’t have a kid then to compete for their time and understanding it was different from actually living it. Their marriage had become stagnant. The banality of their everyday life, a stark contrast to how they used to be when they were just a couple of kids off college who rented a too-small apartment with his little sister, Becca. Time has flown and he’s finally achieved the life he’s always wanted; a big duplex apartment, a steady high-income job and a family he had always yearned for but never really knew he needed. All of the things he promised himself when he was younger and had nothing, he had now and more, yet there was still something missing. He missed the thrill of his life, chasing his dreams had always kept him motivated, distracted. Now that he had it all, he was at his wits’ end. Maybe it was because they were also growing apart, he could feel it. Y/N had always been able to make him happy and whole; he had always been able to rely on her emotionally. She was the better part of him and now that she was becoming distant, he hung onto her like a lifeline but his insistence on going on vacations as a family wherever his wife and daughter wanted went unheard, all his attempts at romancing cancelled.

Even as he lined up now for the cashier, he whipped out his phone to text her. His hands had been busy typing when a brooding, dark-haired man stood behind him dressed in all black. His arms were muscled despite his age and the sagging skin on his right arm holding a tattoo of an odd skull with tentacles extending out of it was barely covered by his shirtsleeve.

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t little Bucky,” a familiar husky voice mocked from behind him.

Bucky immediately felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, the voice sending a deep chill down his spine, making him go rigid as he slowly turned around, the blood draining from him when he went face to face with the man who had made his life a living hell, the man who not only broken him physically but in spirit as well. Repeatedly.

“You some errand boy now? I didn’t raise you to be like that, you know,” He continued to mock, tipping his chin to the cart with Lizzie still on it.

“Do you know him, daddy?” She asked, holding her little wolf tighter as she watched the stranger warily.

“Hey there, sweetie. Your daddy didn’t tell you about me? That’s weird. I raised him and your aunt Rebecca a long time ago. My name is Rumlow,” he flashed her a chilling smile, stepping closer to offer his hand. That’s when the fog in Bucky’s brain cleared. He moved with a lightning fast reflex, stepping in between them as he got in Rumlow’s face, fisting his collar harshly in one hand,

“Don’t you dare go near her,” his dark and low voice had threatened, dripping venom. His eyes had dilated, almost turning black as he shoved him hard. Rumlow’s grating laugh echoed around them, bringing back all those awful memories he had buried deep inside his head.

“I’ve taught you well, boy. Can’t say I’m not proud,” He clapped and actually smiled at him smugly. At this point, Lizzie had started crying making Bucky even more furious.

“I don’t ever want to see your face again. And if you go near my daughter again, I’ll make you fucking regret it. Do you understand?” His threats went on deaf ears as Rumlow broke out into a full-fledged grin.

“I’d love to see you try, James. You’ve grown soft,” He accused, eyeing Lizzie and the grocery he had still lined up, several heads already looking at them.

“Lucky for you. I have a new son here,” He continued, tilting his head to the boy standing by his mostly empty cart-- save for the beer and the liquor. Bucky flicked his attention to the boy and he felt his world spin as he saw himself in him with his eyes haunted, wary and afraid. He couldn’t have been older than eight. Rumlow smirked at the look on Bucky’s face, already detecting the turmoil brewing inside him. He had succeeded. He always knew Bucky was weak, his emotions his downfall. The fear and guilt clearly written in Bucky’s eyes made Rumlow gloat as he talked to the boy,

“What did I say, Bert, huh? You’ll only have food if you go get it yourself. Why are you still standing there?”

The boy looked around the big grocery store, mentally taking note of the stalls and where they were currently at, memorizing it in case he got lost but still, he didn’t move. Bucky looked at Rumlow and he saw the same look he’d always had directed at him before, his taunting eyes daring the boy to go or face the consequences.

“But I’m scared,” the boy replied, his voice small and frightened. Rumlow moved to him, bending his knees to get to his eye level. “Well then, you just won’t have to eat,” he told him in a hushed voice, pouting and mocking.

Bucky didn’t have to hear it to know the exact words, buried memories rushing back to the surface. He heard it countless times directed at him. The boy ran to the nearest stall, his heart pounding and hoping Rumlow would still be at that same spot when he came running back. Bucky knew the feeling, it was like he was living it all over again. As much as he wanted to help, he was rooted to the spot, even Lizzie’s crying couldn’t move him. Rumlow stood back up and faced him. “You were always my favorite,” he told him proudly as he pushed his own cart away from them, no doubt to give Bert an even harder chance of finding him.

Just before he got too far, he swiftly turned around, feigning innocence as he said, “Oh and by the way, say hi to Rebecca for me,” His lips twisted up into a sneering smirk as he left, whistling without a care in the world. And just like that Bucky was moving, grabbing Lizzie and getting out of that store as fast as he could, hoping Rumlow would stay out of his life forever.

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

“I’m never letting you do the groceries again!” Y/N screeched, a horrified look on her face as she stared at their fridge. After the incident with Rumlow, Bucky had brought Lizzie to the toy store, allowing her to buy all the stuffed toys and dolls she wanted instead of just the previously promised one doll. They had gone to lunch after, he kept Lizzie distracted as much as possible to forget the man she had just met. When she brought him up again, he told her it was just a friend he didn’t like very much and that she shouldn’t bring it up to her mom because it was nothing, he promised he never had to see that man again. Lizzie seemed satisfied with his answer and went back to her usual chirpy self. On their way home, they passed by another grocery store. He had mindlessly strolled the aisles and grabbed whatever he thought they needed, his head at a different place, much as it still is now.

“Bucky, we don’t need four cartons of milk, why would you even get this?” Y/N asked incredulously, shaking her head as she chuckled.

Bucky had been staring off into space, not hearing what his wife had been saying. “Uhm, hello Bucky, you still with me?” she teased, waving a hand in front of his face.

“Oh sorry, what was that?” He asked, glancing up at her from his perch by the kitchen counter. The coffee he had brewed, now cold in his hands.

“Hey, you okay?” she asked, looking at him with concern in her eyes.

“Yeah, just didn’t sleep well,” he waved dismissively. Y/N felt a pang of guilt. He’d been bugging her to spend more time together, planning outings and dates that she never seemed to find time for.

“Well, I finally have the day free. Why don’t we go out, watch a movie or have a picnic? It’ll be fun,” she suggested, draping a hand over his shoulder while her chin rested on the other, her elbow propped up on the countertop to keep an eye level with him.

“I can’t, I’m sorry, babe. I promised to meet up with Thor,” he moved away from her touch, standing up. Y/N looked at him confusedly, “Okay, how about after?”

“Gotta go over some accounts with Sam, sorry love. I’ll be back before dinner,” He gave her a quick kiss to the cheek before heading out. Y/N stared after him, brows knitted, before shrugging. She’ll just get her errands around the house done then.

After pounding the punching bag in Thor’s gym incessantly, Bucky found himself aimlessly walking around the streets, he just needed to clear his head. The little boy’s face was still etched in his mind as he opened the door to a bar. A little too early, he knew but he couldn’t shake off the nagging thought plaguing his mind.

How could he have let that monster roam free while he had lived his life without even a glance back?

_______________________________________________________________________

Years ago.

Bucky held Becca’s hand as they ascended the rickety steps of their new home. They had just lost their parents and were now moving into an unfamiliar house. The case worker had told them they were lucky not to be separated and that they shouldn’t worry; they were getting a good foster father who would take care of them from now on.

“I had interviewed him myself, you see,” She told the children, beaming with pride.

“I couldn’t have found a better one for you guys, why, this area is still very close to where you grew up in. You could still visit your old haunts,” She ruffled Becca’s hair, trying to lighten the mood while the little girl just moved farther away, hiding behind her big brother. The worn-out door which at once might have been painted pristine white but now had chippings hanging off of it suddenly opened with a creak, a man with a charming and easy nature stepped out with a warm smile on his face that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“You guys are here! Welcome, welcome, please come in!” He gestured humbly to his house. Becca squeezed Bucky’s hand tighter which he squeezed back in return, reassuring her. There was something about this man that wasn’t quite right. He seemed relaxed and easy-going, a smile continuously plastered on his face but there was a lethality to him that the children couldn’t seem to shake off, almost as if it was buried deep inside waiting to be unleashed. The case worker hung on his every word, giggling as they talked. She slapped his arm with the horrible looking tattoo that gave Becca a fright. The children barely moved from the sofa they were seated at after the introductions.

“It’s usually like this. Don’t worry. They start to open up after a while,” the case worker sympathized with Brock, the man who introduced himself as their new foster father; he would treat them as his own, he had promised.

“It’s alright. I understand. After my wife, I’ve been all alone and this, this is a blessing to me,” He told her as he turned to the children. Her hand strayed to his arm again and lingered there.

“Oh, Brock, you are a good man. They’re great children, they won’t give you trouble.” She replied, patting his arm for reassurance. It didn’t miss Bucky how she hung off his every word.

“But I should get going, I will check up on you in a week. Children, be good. You have my number if you need anything,” She stood up, smoothing the wrinkles on her blazer.

“Wait, you’re leaving us already?” Bucky couldn’t help the whine that escaped his voice. He didn’t miss the darkness that spilled over Brock’s face for a split second before he carefully put his smile back on again.

“I’ll be back in a week, Bucky. Don’t you worry,” the case worker smiled before she walked out the door leaving him and Becca to a stranger.

When she was out of sight, Brock had suddenly changed his demeanor. The smile on his face had turned into a scowl when he faced them. “Alright, listen up both of you,” he boomed, his voice cruel. “Grab your things and get on to your rooms. I don’t want to hear any noise. No running around, and if I see you making a mess. You bet your little asses, you’ll pay for it,” He stood up and left them to their bags.

“But Mr. Brock, I’m thirsty,” Becca piped up, looking up at him timidly. The man’s grating laugh rumbled as he threw his head back, shaking it.

“That’s Rumlow to both of you, you hear me? Don’t make that mistake again. Now, come here,” He said, beckoning both the children to come over. Once they reached the kitchen, he pointed to the high cupboard. “You see that?” He asked Becca, dropping low to get to her eye level. When she just nodded her head, he continued, “That’s where the glasses and the plates are. If you want something in this house, you go get it yourself. I’m not your nanny,” He held Becca’s face in his hand roughly. His fingers wrapped around her cheeks tight as he held her by the chin. Bucky felt his fists clench at his sides, pushing Rumlow as far as he could with his eleven year old might.

“Stop that!” He screamed. Their parents never hurt them. How dare this man think he could do this to his little sister?

“Oh you wanna be the man of the house?” Rumlow jeered, shoving Bucky back making him fall to the floor. Becca’s sniffles grew louder as she tried to stop her crying, her shoulders shaking from her effort. As Bucky lay sprawled, Rumlow scooted down menacingly to him,

“You dare push me when you were just whining like a little bitch a while ago, you wanna man up? Alright, I’ll allow it,” he taunted, pondering it for a moment before his sinister smile came back on. “Let’s see how long you’ll last protecting your little sister.” He gripped his face by the chin, fingers squeezing exceedingly tight on his cheeks before he pushed him off and he hit the floor.

“I won’t be some parent to you that you could twist around your little fingers, no. I’ll make you into the best man you could be. I will teach you about order. And order only comes through pain,” He drilled into him like a soldier as he stretched his legs back up, his measured steps going to the fridge to fish out a beer. He took a long gulp before he continued,

“And the sooner you learned that, the better,”

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

Bucky sat alone at one of the benches by the field at his school, choosing solitude over the roar of the cafeteria after a particularly bad morning at home. Their foster father had woken up drunk and had haphazardly thrown things at them when Bucky accidentally burnt the eggs he had been cooking for his and Becca’s packed lunch for school. He picked on the peanut butter sandwich he prepared, not having the appetite to eat when he heard jeering voices from a group of boys and sounds of flesh being hit again and again with accompanying grunts of pain. He felt his feet move on instinct when he found them by the bleachers, a scrawny boy at the center of a group huddling over him, they were laughing as he tried to fight them off, not once being able to land a punch. The blood pumped in Bucky’s veins, a constant beating in his ears, as he grabbed the biggest of the bullies by the collar and harshly yanked him off the tiny, blonde boy now sprawled on the floor with his skinny arms covering his face. When one of the other kids tried to punch him, he deftly moved out of the way and delivered a swift blow to his stomach, making sure to spare his face so as not to get in trouble. That was how Rumlow did it, might as well use the same trick right?

“What? Who wants to go next?” He threatened, loving the adrenaline coursing through his veins, the power he had with defending someone so helpless. The lanky blonde boy stood up beside him, blood dripping from his mouth as he held both his fists up, “I can do this all day,” he said, catching his breath but his stance clearly indicated he could barely stand up straight. Bucky just looked at him weirdly, not knowing whether to find him stupid or brave. The bullies stood against them, unsure. Bucky was the same age as them, only slightly bigger. Him and the blonde boy were still clearly outnumbered but Bucky’s eyes held a lethal strength in them, his body coiled with unleashed brutality, ready to fight. The bullies scrambled out of there as fast as they could, their feet tripping over them.

“Yeah next time, pick on someone your own size!” he hollered before looking back at the blonde boy who looked younger than them but held himself with such maturity that it didn’t seem possible. He decided right then and there he was going to make him his new friend. Rumlow had always taught him about his belief of the natural order of the world, that strength and might always won the day and that order could only be achieved through pain. If you could inflict it on others, you were stronger, better. Weaker men were useless, had to be beaten up and put in their place. “That’s just the way of the world,” he had said. But Bucky was old and smart enough to see right through his facade. He was a bully, feeding off of people who couldn’t fight back. Bucky was going to be different, he wouldn’t bow down to his will. He just needed to protect his sister, spare her from the taint of Rumlow’s anger and prove that he wouldn't become the man Rumlow has been conditioning him to be.

“You alright?” Bucky asked the boy standing beside him who was touching the bruise forming on his forehead.

“Yeah, thanks for helping me,” he replied sheepishly, ashamed he couldn’t fight for himself.

“Next time, just don’t provoke them, they aren’t worth it.”

“But they were wrong. Bullies, I’d always stand up to them,” the blonde brushed his hair back from his forehead, determination steeling his voice. Bucky smiled, maybe he could learn a thing or two from this boy too.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

“Steve, what’s yours?”

“Bucky. Steve, you’re a little punk. You know that?” he said teasingly, laughing.

Steve grinned back, “Jerk,”

_______________________________________________________________________

Present

The light filtered into the room as the curtains were drawn back harshly causing Bucky to groan on his bed, flitting a pillow to cover his eyes.

“Buck, come on. Get up,” Steve’s firm voice spoke through the fog in his mind.

“Get out, Steve, I’m sleeping.” he replied, turning his back to the hand shaking his shoulder.

“How long are you going to do this? It’s been two weeks. Have you even talked to your family yet?” Steve’s judgmental voice rang out, hard and unforgiving.

“She doesn’t even wanna see me,” he huffed, anger at himself boiling in his veins. He hasn’t seen his daughter in two weeks. Y/N’s short, cold replies to his messages were just updates on how Lizzie was doing, anything regarding Y/N, he had no idea about. He didn’t even know what sort of excuses she made up for Lizzie, how his “work trip” kept getting extended. When the hell could they keep that charade up? He was lucky enough she was letting him talk to his daughter on the phone for a few minutes every once in a while. He sat up on the bed, rubbing sleep from his eyes as he reached for the bottle of whiskey at the bedside table. These days he could only fall asleep when he’s had one too many to drink and even then, he’d still wake up with a headache that could only be dulled by alcohol. He barely even made it to work everyday. Sam had been good enough to cover for him, staying on neutral ground with everything that’s happening to his marriage although his eyes said otherwise, disappointment etched in them. All the while Steve had ignored him the entire time since the hospital. No amount of apologies moved him from his stance except today, when he suddenly barged into the hotel room Bucky has been renting like he owned the place.

“Jesus, Bucky, stop that!” He swiped the bottle Bucky held between his lips, splashing amber liquid on his shirt and bed.

“Damn it, Steve! Look what you did! Give that back,” Bucky held his arm out, his reflexes slow as he tried to grab it from his friend.

“Jesus Christ. You smell terrible. How much have you had to drink last night?” Steve fanned the air around him trying to rid the stench of alcohol and sweat.

“How the hell did you even get in here?” Bucky’s pissed off voice grumbled but one look at Steve’s intense stare with his brows furrowed and his jaw clenched, standing straight as a drill sergeant, arms crossed at his chest with his muscles bulging out of his fitted gray Under Armour shirt; he knew. The punk had intimidated his way in. No doubt leaving a poor breathless, flustered receptionist in his wake.

“You could get that receptionist fired, you know?” He tried appealing to his best friend’s better nature.

“You wouldn’t tell. Plus, it isn’t as if she didn’t get a hefty tip. Go take a shower, Buck, you stink.” Steve didn’t budge, staring him down with a disgusted look on his face. Bucky just scoffed,

“And then what? I don’t know if you’ve noticed, Y/N kicked me out, man. Just go home, you’re wasting your time.”

Steve’s hardened face softened as he looked at his friend. His eyes were puffy, his skin pale as he scratched his wildly unkempt beard, his greasy hair sticking out on one side. What the hell had happened to Bucky? How had it gone so bad for his friend in a matter of days? He suddenly moved out of instinct, collecting clothes strewn everywhere and packed them into the suitcase at the corner of the room.

“Steve, what the hell are you doing?” Bucky exhaled loudly. It was too early for this. Where the hell was his drink?

“Get your ass moving, Bucky. You’re staying at my place,”

#bucky x reader #bucky barnes x reader #bucky barnes angst #bucky barnes #bucky fanfic #bucky fic #bucky x you #bucky x female reader #steve rogers #betrayal #marvel fic #marvel x you

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imaginarysonder · 4 years ago

Text

Plush

Pairing: Jackson Wang x OC (reader)

Genre: Fluff, the TINIEST bit of angst

Word Count: 3.8K (yikes)

Description: Jackson buys you something cute to remember him by when he’s travelling, but it upsets his life more than he thinks it will.

A/N: Super squishy marshmallow fluff for Got7′s Jackson. Been all up in the feels since the beginning of the year about EVERYTHING. So here’s my way of coping.

Jackson was not prepared for the upset in his life when he brought your seemingly simple present home. He chuckled to himself as he tried to hide the bag behind his body as he entered your shared apartment. “Babe?” he called.

You rounded the corner to the entryway and smiled at him. He shrugged off his jacket and toed of his shoes. “Hi, love,” you said approaching him choosing to ignore the shopping bag he was poorly hiding behind him. You wrapped your arms around his waist and pressed the side of your head to his chest. He didn’t hug back as he struggled to keep the bag contained. You smiled slyly at him as you reached up to kiss him lightly. “Should I even ask?” you whispered against his lips.

Jackson chuckled before pressing his lips to yours again. “You’ll find out soon enough,” he replied pulling himself out of your embrace to brush past you into the kitchen. He set the bag down on the kitchen counter as he opened the fridge. You rolled your eyes at his back as you returned to your position on the couch. You focused your attention on the emails you had been returning and adding to your calendar of meetings and appointments. You were vaguely aware of Jackson shutting the fridge and making his way over to the couch next to you with the large shopping bag. The two of you sat in silence next to each other for a short time, Jackson practically vibrating next to you in anticipation.

“So,” Jackson began and coughed awkwardly.

You minimized your emails and closed your laptop to give him your full attention. “Hm?” you hummed at him.

“You know how I’m leaving tomorrow for a few weeks?” he asked even though he knew you were well aware.

“Mm,” you hummed again in agreement. “Team Wang engagements in Hong Kong and Shanghai,” you confirmed. “I know, babe. It’s been on my calendar since you booked the plane ticket.”

He nodded. “Well, I know you don’t like it when I buy you things,” he paused at your raised eyebrow, “but I thought you could use this to keep you company while I was away.” He scooted the shopping back towards you and you finally got a good look at it. It was LARGE and bulged slightly as its contents didn’t fit well within it’s shape. You furrowed your brows at him and a small frown pulled at the corners of your mouth. One of the ground rules you had laid when you and Jackson started dating had been no unnecessary gifts. Receiving gifts was always hard for you. “It’s practical, I promise,” Jackson assured you as he pushed the back closer to you.

You sighed but placed a hand on the bag. Jackson started vibrating again in excitement. You held your breath as you looked in the bag. A large, squishy-mochi-like penguin plushie smiled back at you from the depths of the bag. You pulled it out and squished it experimentally between your hands. It was fat and soft and the size of a standard nine-year-old.

“I thought it could keep you company while I’m gone,” Jackson explained hurriedly as he watched you look at the penguin with a blank expression. “I hugged every plush they had, this one seemed the best size and softness.”

You couldn’t help but laugh at the mental image of Jackson hugging every stuffed animal in the store he ended up going to. You hugged the penguin to you. It fit perfectly under your chin and its softness in your arms immediately felt calming. You snuggled into it and sighed. “You like it?” Jackson asked hesitantly.

You closed your eyes and nodded as you pressed the penguin closer to you. “He won’t replace you, but he’ll do,” you whispered.

It was the crack of dawn the next morning. You were yawning and watching as Jackson made tea in a travel mug and pulled on his shoes with his suitcase parked by the front door. You pressed him against the wall as he kissed you breathless. Silent I’ll miss you’s were passed between the two of you as you had to pull yourself away from him. He pressed you to his chest as you listened to his heart beat wildly in his chest. You smiled glad you still had some sort of effect on him. Jackson looked down at you smiling wistfully as he traced your pulsating jugular. Too soon he was gone.

The weeks that Jackson was gone felt long, but you were glad you had work to distract you and the large stuffed penguin to fill the empty space in your bed. Very quickly, the penguin became your go to comfort item instead of Jackson’s shirts or his small spray of cologne he left for you. You kept finding yourself reaching for the soft plush when you longed for Jackson. The softness under your fingers and squish between your arms comforted you more. You often sent Jackson pictures with it tucked under your arm or held it in your lap as you FaceTimed him.

“So, I take it you like your present?” Jackson teased you via FaceTime. He was laying on his stomach on some hotel room bed his hair messy and his eyes tired but not without a hint of mischievous twinkle in them.

You hugged the penguin closer to your chest and smiled wider. “You could say that,” you replied cheekily. “He’s been keeping me company.”

“Good, I’m glad,” Jackson said tiredly running a hand over his face. “I should have bought myself one too,” he chuckled.

“I’ll get you one for your birthday,” you assured him.

He was shaking his head before you even finished your sentence. “I want you instead,” he said quickly. “I don’t need a penguin when I have you.”

You felt yourself blush immediately and looked down in embarrassment.

“How do you still get embarrassed when I say stuff like that?” Jackson laughed at you.

You shrugged blushing harder, your ears feeling hot. “I don’t know,” you murmured. “It’s always different when you say it.”

Jackson laughed. His eyes crinkling at the edges just how you loved. “Yeah,” he admitted. “Everything is different when it’s us, huh?”

“Just you,” you chided him.

“No,” he shot back. “You have the same effect on me, dummy.”

“You’re better at hiding it then,” you laughed.

“I don’t want to hide it from you,” he murmured. “I’m just better at playing it off,” he chuckled lowly. There was a long pause and both of you just basked in each other’s company. “I can’t wait to see you tomorrow,” he sighed.

“Mm,” you hummed in agreement. “I miss you,” you sighed.

He smiled weakly at you but you could see the excitement shining through his fatigue. You said your goodbyes and he blew you a kiss before the both of you reluctantly hung up to sleep.

You woke the next day with your faithful penguin under your arm. You squeezed him excitedly as you remembered that Jackson was coming home today. You got up quickly and went about your day in the house cleaning as you went. You settled on the couch as you finished watching the laundry tumble round and round in the washer. Jackson wasn’t due in until this evening and then with the drive from the airport you estimated he wouldn’t be at the apartment until 8 or 9PM. You sighed glancing at the clock, it was only noon. You clicked on the TV and opened your laptop. You might as well work while you had some quiet time. You opened your emails and immediately regretted it. You sighed and cracked your knuckled getting ready to see what dumpster fire you’d have to put out now.

You glanced outside. Somehow the afternoon had bled into early evening and into night. You looked at the clock on your laptop, it was already 7PM. You sighed and stretched before getting up and grabbing your stuffed penguin from your bedroom. You gazed longingly at the front door willing it to open soon. You jumped as your phone buzzed on the couch next to you. It was a call from Jackson. You picked up quickly. “Hello?”

“Hi, baby,” you heard his voice call over the phone. He sounded tired.

“Hi,” you breathed. “Are you on the ground?” you asked hopefully.

“Yeah, just landed,” Jackson confirmed. “They’re just starting to unload the plane.”

You nodded even though you knew Jackson couldn’t see you. “So, you’ll be home soon,” you murmured glancing at the clock again. “I should get dinner going.” Even though you kept your voice calm, you could feel the excitement bubbling up in your chest.

“Do you want me to pick something up on the way?” Jackson asked. “I can stop by that restaurant you like…”

He trailed off and you could hear shuffling on the other end of the line as you assumed Jackson was standing and gathering his belongings before getting off the plane. “No, Jacks,” you murmured cutting off his thought process. “Just come home to me.”

You heard Jackson chuckled lowly. “I’m on my way, baby,” he said firmly. “I’ll see you in a little bit, okay?”

“Mm,” you hummed. “Can’t wait.” He hung up first and you couldn’t help but hug your penguin as your body tried to contain all the feelings you had for that man. It felt like your heart might literally burst with how much you felt for Jackson. As you pressed down your beating heart, you estimated Jackson would be home in about thirty minutes. You quickly called in take-out at yours and his favorite local restaurant and went to go get changed to pick it up.

There was a small skip in your step as you walked back from the restaurant with the bag of take-out cradled in your arms. You pressed the key pad to be let into you apartment building and rounded the corner to the elevators. Time seemed to slow as you saw a man standing in front of the elevators with his back to you a large suitcase at his side. You knew that silhouette anywhere and you almost dropped the take-out. “Jacks?” you called out.

Time seemed to go even slower as he turned to look at you. He plucked out his airpods and a smile began to stretch its way across his face. “Well, hi, baby,” he replied as you came closer. “Is that what I think it is?” he asked eyeing the bag in your arms.

You nodded and grinned up at him.

“God, you’re the best,” he sighed pulling you closer by your elbow. He leaned down to press a firm kiss to your forehead. You felt him inhale deeply against your skin and you held back your laugh. “You smell so good,” he murmured lips moving against your skin softly, “like home.”

You let your laugh out then. “You dork,” you teased him, but you also leaned in and pressed your face to his shoulder so you could catch a small whiff of him. He smelled like home to you.

The elevator finally dinged and the two of you entered, Jackson rolling his suitcase behind him. On the way up, he took the take-out out of your arms and placed it gingerly on top of his suitcase so he could pull you into his firm embrace. One thing you learned quickly in yours and Jackson’s relationship was his strong love language of physical touch. You had never known you craved so much physical touch from another person until Jackson. Many of your previous relationships had been what you thought were a normal amount of physical interaction; holding hands, soft kisses, hugs, cuddling, etc, but everyone of them paled in comparison to Jackson and his need to be touching you in some way. You could always decipher his mood based on the type of contact he made with you. It made you feel like you understood him better as well as feel loved and appreciated.

You felt Jackson sigh against you melting into you a little. “I missed you and this so much,” he admitted. “I needed your touch so badly while I was away. You always make me feel better even if I’m already happy.”

You blushed wildly at his words and you tried to push down the flames of embarrassment.

“Stop blushing, babe,” Jackson said and you could hear the smile in his voice. It didn’t escape you that he didn’t even have to see your face to know that you were red with embarrassment.

Before you could reply, the elevator doors opened and you pulled away from him picking up the take-out bag and trying to hide your blush from him sheepishly. You could feel Jackson’s eyes burning into your back as you made your way to your apartment’s front door and punch in the passcode to the door. It beeped open and you held the door open for Jackson to wheel his suitcase in. After he passed you, you followed in and set down the bag to take out to off your shoes.

Once the door clicked shut behind you and you had straightened up, you were pushed back against the door and smothered. Your tip toes barely touched the floor as Jackson’s body crowded you against the door his lips pressed firmly against yours. One of his arms was locked around your waist and the other snaked up your back to hold the back of your head so there was no escaping him. You rested your hands on his shoulders and smiled into his urgent kisses. “I missed you too,” you gasped between the flurry of lips.

Jackson pulled back a fraction and nuzzled his face deep into your neck groaning. “I’m never going anywhere ever again,” he whispered. The feel of his lips ghosting over the sensitive skin on your neck made you shiver.

“Oh?” you asked in mock surprise. Jacksons hand on your waist snuck a few fingers under your shirt to feel your bare skin. “So, no more Team Wang stuff?” you asked jokingly. “No more overseas Got7 tours? No more traveling? No more seeing your family?” You knew the last one was the nail in the coffin.

Jackson huffed and pressed a chaste kiss to the underside of your jaw. “You made your point,” he grumbled into your neck.

You laughed and pushed him off of you swiping up the take-out and waving it at him enticingly as you made your way to the kitchen. The two of you caught up over dinner and he told you about all the Team Wang planning he had been doing and the new members of his team and the possibilities in the future. You felt your heart swell in your chest as you watched him talk about one of his passions so openly. You hoped every dream he ever had came true and you hoped you would be there to see it happen.

“Anyways,” Jackson cut himself off, “what have you been doing, babe?” He effectively shut himself up by shoveling a large bite of food into his mouth.

You smiled weakly as you felt your life was nothing special compared to his despite all of Jackson’s reassurance. “Not much,” you replied breaking your gaze off of him. “You know, the usual emails and I went into the company a few times for meetings and to supervise directly. It’s hard when they keep replacing team members without telling me.”

Jackson nodded knowingly even though you knew he hand-selected every team member in his company. “You should just work for me,” Jackson said grinning at you.

“We’ve talked about this, Jacks,” you said meeting his gaze.

His smile faltered and he nodded. “I know,” he conceded easily. “You need your autonomy.”

“I have no doubt you’d treat me better than my own company,” you reassured him, “but working for you poses a lot of problems in and of itself. It’s not because I don’t love the idea.”

“Someday it’ll make sense for both of us,” he said smiling at you.

You cleaned up the kitchen while Jackson went to unpack and shower. When he emerged from the bathroom with damp hair, you were snuggled on the couch with a random TV show playing and the stuffed penguin tucked in your arms. Jackson smiled at the fact that now you reached for it unconsciously. He plopped down on the couch next to you and pulled you closer. Jackson tried to reach his arms around he both of you, but they weren’t long enough to lock around you like he usually did. You laughed as he shifted a little and wiggled his arms and hands around until he wedged them between your body and the squish of the penguin. “This is new,” he muttered to himself but you couldn’t help but laugh harder at him.

Over the next few days, Jackson noticed that the penguin got in his way and disrupted his daily life more than expected. The both of you were working from home for the time being and the normal amount of affection he received from you was reduced by almost 80%, or at least he thought so in his own mind. When he woke up in the mornings, he wouldn’t find you tucked against his side like usual. Instead, you were spooning the penguin facing away from him as you continued to sleep peacefully. When you were working on the couch, he would reach out for your hand where it usually rested close to him if he needed you. Instead, both you arms would be wrapped securely around the penguin as you hugged it tightly while you worked. Instead of couple snuggles on the couch, it was suddenly a throuple with a very fat, squishy addition. You also opted to wrap yourself around the penguin instead of throwing your legs over his legs or resting your head on his chest. Jackson tried to convinced himself it was nothing to be concerned about, that it was just you loving the gift he got you and acting out of habit due to him being gone for so long. He tried to not let it bother him, but he couldn’t help but feel a little sadder and a little more distanced from you like you were ignoring him. His pride refused to let him think he was jealous of a stuffed penguin and he refused to talk to you about it for fear of seeming petty. So, he let the penguin get in his way for a lot longer than he would hae liked.

One day, Jackson came back from the mart while you stayed home to finish the laundry. He came into the living room to find the penguin wearing one of his shirts baggily. His eye bugged out of his head and the penguin’s smiling face seemed to mock him evilly. That was the last straw. The penguin was already stealing his girl and now his wardrobe? It was unacceptable. Jackson banged the bag of groceries down on the kitchen island and went to find you. You met him in the hallway startled by the loud noise. Jackson grabbed your hand and dragged you to the living room pointing accusingly at the penguin in his shirt. “What is that?” he asked in frustration.

Your eyes followed his finger to the couch and the penguin. You giggled. “I missed you when you went to the mart, so I put that on him like a mini-Jackson. Isn’t he cute?” you explained cheerfully. You met his eyes and your cheer faded quickly as you saw the upset in his eyes. “Wait, Jacks, what’s wrong?” you asked suddenly serious. “I was just messing around. Did I upset you?”

Jackson sighed and took your hand. He tried his best to push down his annoyance and when that happened, the empty emotional space allowed him to feel the rising embarrassment. The tips of his ears began to burn as he thought about what he was about to confess. “I just feel like ever since I got back from Shanghai, you like that penguin more than me,” he muttered. His eyes were glued to the floor.

You had to bite back you laughter even though you knew this was a serious situation. Your hand snaked up to the back of his neck and pulled him closer. “Oh, Jacks,” you murmured. Jackson was resistant at first to you tugging him closer, but the minute your lips molded to his neck, all defiant thoughts in him vanished. He felt his knees go weak and he let you maneuver him so he leaned against the wall. His hands limply rested on your shoulders as you continued to pepper kisses up and down his neck, up onto his jawline and behind his ears. He shivered in your grasp and that only prompted you to nip at his jugular. After what felt like hours of soft kisses, light nips, and grazes of teeth and tongue, you pulled away to look up at him. His eyes were glassy and a burning blush raged across his cheeks and the tips of his ears. His parted lips were pink from gnawing on them and his breath came out a little ragged. His large hands settled on your hips and your arms wound around his neck. You leaned into his embrace so you could speak in his ear. “So, you’re telling me,” you murmured, “that you’re jealous of the stuffed penguin you bought me?”

Jackson shivered again and groaned as his forehead fell onto your shoulder. “When you say it like that, it sounds pathetic,” he whined boyishly.

You laughed and lifted his face to look at you so you could kiss him. “Yeah, just a little bit,” you whispered to him. “But, I’m sorry if I made you feel neglected. I know how much you recharge with just a simple hug or kiss. You were gone so long that it just became a quick habit. Forgive me?” You pressed your nose into his neck and sighed. Your heart squeezed a little at the thought of you unknowingly causing him unnecessary hurt.

Jackson sighed as he looked into your eyes before pulling you flush against him. “I know and I forgive you, baby. I’m glad you love him, but you can’t love him more than me.” He couldn’t deny that feeling you in his arms and having your undivided attention was all he wanted and all he would ever want when it came to you. His arms pressed you harder against him as he willed your body to melt into his.

You laughed into Jackson’s neck. “That’s impossible,” you assured him. “I love you best of all.”

#got7 jackson #jacksonwang #jackson wang #got7 #got7 scenarios #got7 jackson fluff #got7 jackson scenarios #igot7 #got7forever #jackson wang fluff

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