#and i don’t even want to talk about gio

[katelynnwrites]

It sounds like Beth might have a replace of Kathrine in the Arsenal team, that makes me sad

i know 😔

[magics-neptunes-things]

Trouble

Hi guys!

So this come from a request I had several weeks before, but I deleted it like the dumbass I am :) Sorry dear Anon, but they were asking for a long story like the one I did for Alessia and Caitlin.

So here it is :) I hope you'll like it, it's a long one. And I haven’t proofread it, sorry for the mistakes I’ll do it later 🙃

Please enjoy ♥

TW : Pregnancy, Angst, Injuries, mention of breakup, concussion and I think it's ok like this. Please tell me if I forgot anything.

Even if you are from Spain, you are a figure from your youngest age at Arsenal. You are here since your 20 birthdays, and you just finished your seventh year in the north London. You have seen a lot of people coming and leaving, the last one leaving being of course Vivianne Miedema. It was a sad day honestly; you are anyway happy to see Mariona coming with you and Laia to extend the Spanish population in Arsenal. You are three now. Laia, Mariona and you.

You get along pretty great with all the people, even the new signings like Kyra or Alessia. In reality there only is one person with who you don’t really get along.

Leah Williamson.

It wasn’t like that at first, to be honest. You were coming from Real Madrid, but it was to run away from the RFEF and everything’s coming around. You talked about it with your Arsenal teammates, even in 2017 you already had several troubles right there.

Like your Spanish teammates, you sign the letter against the RFEF and like a lot of them you decide not to keep playing under those conditions. But like Mariona, Ona and Aitana, they promised you some changes and you trusted them. So you get back. How wrong you were. But it was too late to change your mind, too many things were engaged. It was in 2022.

Maybe it was at this point that Leah really became hostile towards you. At least she wasn’t afraid to show it off.

You are playing in the defense, usually just next to the same Leah. Like you said you weren’t really closed, but you were doing a great job together. A lot of things happened during those seven years, you have several breaks up with one intervening in 2022 after your ex-girlfriend, Gio, left for Everton and then Spain.

Late spring 2022 too, you got hurt and stayed away from football for several months. You chose to do your rehab in Spain, much to your teammates’ misunderstanding. You still came back several times to meet your doctors at Arsenal, but that’s all. You still managed to come back on the pitches for the World Cup and won it with Spain.

This year you weren’t injured so you were able to play all the games Jonas wanted you to, and you won several other things with Spain.

Which takes us now, at the beginning of a new season.

It was a little hard to come back in Arsenal’s training without seeing Viv. You started at Arsenal at the same year than her, with Beth too. Talking about Beth, it’s probably way harder for her. But you can’t approach her, Leah being always around and looking at you like she’s going to kill you.

You pass all your time with Laia and now Mariona, even if the girl seems to enjoy being able to see her girlfriend as long as she wants now. Which you don’t blame her for a second. You don’t miss Leah’s glare when you enter the gym training, rolling your eyes while Mariona fly to Lia.

You chose a machine next to Steph, who greats you with a smile. You smile back before starting your training, your mind maybe a little somewhere else. You were still training when Jonas comes to you to mumble something in your ear, asking you to follow him.

He takes you to his office, where you find other members of the staff too. That make you frown, but they smile at you from the start, probably to ease your mind.

“Hi, Y/N. We just wanted to see how you are doing?”

“I’m fine, thanks” you answer, always a little suspicious.

Well, it was before you spot Win, Arsenal’s dog, who comes to boop your hand with his nose. You smile and start to stroke him, looking back to the other people on the room when they start talking.

“How are things at home?”

“Oh… It’s pretty great actually, thank you”

You give them a sincere smile, who seems to convince them. It was Jonas who talk next.

“We just wanted to remember you that we have a daycare reserved for Arsenal in the building. Are you still sure that you don’t want that? It could be way easier for you.”

“No” you answer, shaking your head.

Here is the real reason why you were absent during several months. You had a baby. A non-wanted baby after a simple fling with a boy who live somewhere else in the country. He visits sometimes and take your kid for a day or two, but he still lives in South Shields and told you in the early hours of your pregnancy that he won’t be able to move on in London.

You didn’t ask him to do it and you didn’t want to move from London too. So the things settled like this and you manage your career and your baby as good as you can. Your parents come from time to time to help you with, too. But your mother is sometimes a little too much, honestly.

“And what about the fact to talk about it with your teammates?”

You shake your head one more time. Here is the other thing, you haven’t talk to any of the girl about your pregnancy. You don’t really know why, you were scared to be judged, even if you know that they almost all are really understanding and sweet. You had to inform the staff and you find a compromise by saying to the world that you were injured. Which was wrong.

“Maybe it could be easier too if th- “

“I said no”

They all share a look, but you stand your ground. Leah flows in your mind, you are pretty sure that she would be piss off about the situation and the mystery around it. And the idea of your little perfection being talking badly makes you sick, to be honest.

“Ok well, you can go back to training.”

You mumble a thank you, stroke Win a last time before getting up. You are a little angry about this conversation, this isn’t the first time they tried to make you talk about it to the other players. Maybe it could explain a lot of things to them, why you are late sometimes or why you look very tired several times too. Why you skip almost all the team’s bonding too.

Well, you probably wouldn’t come if you could, Leah’s here and you stay away from her as much as possible.

You are still angry when you find your teammates and you have never been a good person when it comes to hide your feelings. Everyone in the team can see it but you ignore the whispers and the looks exchanged.

They were now in the room where Jonas talks about strategy and new of the team for the team’s meeting. You go sit next to Mariona, who gently pushes you with her shoulder. You smile softly at her, before putting your head on her shoulder.

“I’m fine” you mumble.

Mariona knows, like Laia, but only because they are your Spanish teammates, and you couldn’t hide it from them during the World Cup or the Olympics. Safe to say that they all became aunties, with Alexia Putellas of course being the favorite one. She’s really great with kids.

You intercept a furious glare from Leah and arch an unimpressive eyebrow at her.

“Can’t she give it a rest from time to time?” you groan silently when Jonas enters the room too.

“Basta” Mariona mumbles back and you groan back.

It’s only when Jonas starts to talk that Leah turn her eyes and you sight softly, sitting correctly on your chair. You hate team’s meeting, it always at those moments that the tiredness comes harder. While you are in movements, it’s ok, you can manage it. But when you are supposed to stay still, it’s harder than anything. Thanks god, Mariona keeps crushing your foot when she feels your attention getting low.

You totally avoid Jonas for the rest of the day, but you couldn’t escape Leah during the training. You are on the same team during the mini-games and we can’t say that the agreement is very courteous.

“For God’s sake Y/N!” almost shout Leah when Caitlin managed to score after passing you.

“If you were in your position, I wouldn’t have to defend the entire field alone, Leah” you spit back.

“I was trying to score! I can’t do everything”

“The keyword being trying here” you snort.

Leah is furious, but you are too. The frustration of the conversation from this morning is still here and you aren’t able to cool off like you usually do. The blonde is now facing you, but you don’t move. You both have literally the same height and you are not afraid of her.

“At least I’m trying things, not like you. Always doing the same boring tricks every single day of your life.”

“What the fuck is your problem, Williamson?”

Just when you wanted to push her away from you, Katie is here to take you away from Leah, while Alessia does the same with Leah.

“Hey breath Mate, it’s just training yeah?”

You nod and take the bottle of water Laia is giving to you, taking several longs sips. You shouldn’t have reacted that way, but Leah is getting on your nerves. You don’t know what Alessia is saying to Leah, but the blonde answer something quickly and animatedly to her.

At the end of the training, Jonas takes Leah and you on the side, scolding both of you like children. You put your best poker face; arms crossed on your chest. There is a hint of challenge in your eyes when you look at the man. You are still piss of about the conversation from this morning. You had a deal about your pregnancy, and they still try to turn it in their way.

“Y/N can I give you a word alone?” he asks after her speech.

“Not again Jonas, I’m sorry. I really have to go.”

He sights and makes a gesture with his hand, to tell you to go. You don’t hesitate to go to the locker room, taking a quick shower before leaving the facility. Your baby is waiting for you in the daycare and you have to go as soon as possible.

“Y/N?”

You turn when you hear Mario’s voice and stop in your run to your car.

“Yeah?”

“You know about the team night this weekend?”

“Yeah?” you say one more time.

“It’s at Lia’s. And she asked me to make sure that you will come too.

You sigh and roll your eyes. Mariona as a guilty smile and shrug. You can perfectly picture how the conversation went, and you can’t help but being amused by it.

“Will Leah be here?”

“Probably. It’s at Lia’s.”

There is a beam of silence.

“Y/N, come on please. I’ll missed you.”

“What did Lia promised you if you make me come?”

“Nothing” Mariona laughs. “She just looked at me with those green doe eyes and she knows I can’t deny her anything.”

You sigh once again while rolling your eyes.

“Alright, I’ll be there. But I’m not passing the night.”

You haven’t exchanged a single word with Leah since your fight during the training. Unlike the other times, you don’t even look at her now, you just ignore her. Making like she doesn’t exist, even if there probably is another more mature way to deal with things. But you have to be mature every day, so if a teammate decides to shout at you without reason, you are just going to ignore her and that’s all.

Of course, Leah is here when you enter Lia’s house, looking stupidly attractive in her white top and jeans. But Laia immediately takes you by the arm to lead you in another part of the room. You don’t know if they planned something together, but you decide to ignore it.

“Where’s your little one?” Laia whispers softly.

“With his usual babysitter” you answer quietly. “He was asleep when I left, maybe he’ll sleep well tonight.”

There is a big hint in your voice telling Laia that you absolutely don’t believe it. Your son has the worst sleep in the world. Laia smiles and pat your back with affection, and you snuggle against her, never against hugs, kisses and a little of love.

“Can’t she keep her hands for herself?” Leah groans on the other part of the room.

Lia, who was sitting next to Mariona, laughs softly. She’s the first-person Leah goes when she wants to grumble about you, but the Swiss woman never took it seriously. Until your fight the other day, you never have a word against each other, to be honest.

“Just stop looking at her” Lia smiles.

“Hard to do when she’s so noisy”

“You’re acting in bad faith” Lia points, making Mariona smiles next to her.

Leah snorts and drag her attention somewhere else in the room. Katie and Caitlin are giggling on a sofa, thanks god there are people as single as her in this team too. Leah was thinking about getting up to find Alessia and Lotte when Mariona talks.

“When are you going to do something about your crush for her anyway?”

Leah is so stunned that she looks at Mariona blankly for almost one minute.

“I’m sorry?”

“Don’t look surprised. The sexual tension between you two is hard to miss. You fancy her and it’s ok, really. Just do something about it.”

“I don’t fancy her” Leah seems really outraged. “She’s so annoying and full of confidence, it gives me the ick. Plus, she can’t stop to touch everybody, even people she knows are with someone, just like you.”

Leah’s looking at Mariona, who arch her eyebrows. It’s Lia who answer something at that though.

“She’s Spanish, Love. They are just touchy” Lia shrugs.

“We are” Mariona confirms with a knowing smile towards Lia.

“You both are disgusting.”

“At least I’m being disgusting with someone else, I’m not just starring at a girl pretending hating her.”

“I’m not pretending” Leah growls before getting up.

From your point of view, you just see Leah getting up, complaining something that no one can really understand. You watch Lia and Mariona talking before Laia takes your attention again by asking you a question. You are now sitting with Stina and Frida, in addition to Laia and you were casually talking with a glass of alcohol in your hand.

The night went pretty great, you don’t drink a lot and you are having a lot of fun, catching up with your teammates. You talk to a lot of them, usually going away from Leah. You don’t realize that she’s looking at you from time to time, you are still ignoring her. It’s hard for you, you have to admit. Every time you spot some blonde hairs, your eyes always turn in her direction.

“Oh, I have to take this one” you frown, picking your phone from your pocket.

It’s the babysitter and it’s never good when you received a call from her. Usually, she’s able to manage your son’s cries or behavior.

“Hello?” you answer when you are on the other room.

“Hi Miss, I’m sorry to disturb you… But you probably need to come home.”

You feel your blood freeze in your veins, hearing this poor girl explaining to you that your son caught his feet in the carpet while wanting to join his babysitter in the living room after waking up.

You are livid when you end up your call before turning around, just to face Leah. You swear inside your head but for once she’s looking at you with something else than disdain. She seems concerned.

“Are you ok?” she asks.

“I… Can you get me Mariona or Laia? Please.”

She looks at you several seconds before nodding. You saw her form going in the living room while you are on your phone, asking for an Uber.

“Y/N? Que passa?”

Mariona’s voice startle you, but you are relieved to realize that Leah hasn’t follow her. Even if your friend is talking in Spanish and Leah probably don’t talk a single word, even if she likes to go to Ibiza on holidays.

You explain to Mariona what is happening in a quick Spanish, going to grab your coat when your Uber informs you that he’s coming in five minutes. The Balearian promises that she will say goodbye to Lia and the others for you and just with that, you left the house.

You took your son and his big bump on the hospital, where you pass the night. The doctors decided to keep him under observation in case of concussion. You kept Mariona and Laia informed and ring his dad too. You feel a little alone, sitting on that awful plastic chair while your son is peacefully sleeping on his bed.

You almost regret refusing Mario’s offer to come with you, but it was her girlfriend’s party. And you would have need to explain a lot of things to the others.

You skip the training two days later, wanting to stay with your son. He’s good to be honest, but you prefer not to take any risks with his health. He’s still little after all, he’s not even two years old. And seeing him in pain just break your heart.

Laia visited you and brought you some groceries and fun things for your little man. He likes when Laia or Mariona are visiting, he seems to love talking in Spanish more than English.

He was already sleeping when someone knock on your door that night and you hesitate before getting up to open the door. You aren’t waiting for anyone rand you aren’t in the mood for some canvassing.

But it isn’t someone wanting to sell you some assurance who you face when you finally open your door. It’s Leah.

You look at her blankly.

“What are you doing here?”

There is no harm in your question, almost no one came to your apartment since your delivery. You changed one of your guestrooms for a nursery, where your baby is sleeping right now.

“I don’t know. I just… You weren’t in training today” Leah shrug.

“You could have text me” you point.

“Would you have answer me?”

There’s a beam of silence.

“Probably not” you smirk before sighing when you realize that Leah isn’t moving. “So, why are you worried for me?”

“I’m not worried about you” she snorts. “I’m your captain, I need to check on my players.”

“You could have asked Jonas” you shrug.

“After our little commitment from the other day, I wasn’t sure that he would have answer something to me”

You exchange another look before you sigh one more time and let her come inside your apartment. She came here several years ago, so it’s not a surprise for her. Not a lot of things have changed, and you are a little neat freak, so there isn’t any toy on your living room.

“You can sit” you point your couch.

“Why are you whispering?” Leah whispers back.

“I’m not whispering” you whisper.

You are whispering. You really hope that your son is dead asleep and will not hear that you are having a late visitor.

Leah groan in frustration and briefly press her hands on her eyes while sitting on your couch. She then raises her head again and looks at you, sitting on the arm of the same couch.

“Look Y/N, I know things are a bit tensed between us for several months now…”

“Yeah, I still don’t know why. Just saying.”

Leah bites her lips and looks at the windows, probably trying to sort her thoughts in the right order. You are really intrigued, you never really understood why Leah’s behavior changed with you. You only have assumptions, but nothing to be sure of.

“Would you understand if I… - “

“Mamá?”

Holly shit. Leah turns so quick to the voice coming from the entry of the living room that you actually don’t see her making the move. You ignore the strange feeling in your throat and turn yourself to your son, putting the sweetest smile on your face.

“Que passa Cariño?”

He reaches out to you while you approach him, and you don’t hesitate to take him in your arms.

“Who dat?” he mumbles, switching automatically in English, his face half-hiding behind your shoulder.

“It’s Leah, you saw her on telly, do you remember?”

He nods and Leah waves at him still under the chock.

“Number 6”

“Sí Cariño.”

His big eyes are looking at her with intensity and curiosity, but it’s not the time for him to do that.

“I’ll take you back to bed” you inform him.

He nods again and wave back at Leah. You don’t have the courage to look at her and take all your time to put the toddler to sleep, even if he falls back asleep very quickly. You almost hope that Leah would have left when you come back in your living room. But of course, she’s still here.

“So�� This was why you were whispering” Leah finally comments after several minutes of silence.

You roll your eyes and let you fall on the couch. Leah knowing your secret is the worst thing honestly, if you had to choose someone on the team you definitively wouldn’t have chosen Leah.

You must look desperate, because when Leah talks to you again, it’s with the most caring voice ever.

“Look, your secret is safe with me. I won’t tell anyone, I swear.”

You just have to look at her eyes to know that you believe her. Your eyes follow her hand when she puts it on your knee, and you remember the first months of your arrival in Arsenal. Leah was sweet and caring with you too. You were getting along so great. This gesture makes you realize that you actually miss it.

“Thank you” you mumble.

“Who else know?” she asks softly.

“Mario and Laia, and I have to tell the staff obviously” you sigh softly. “And the players of my national team know too, it was impossible to hide during the World Cup. The fans assume that it was Mateo’s cousin.”

“That’s why you went to Spain during your recovery” Leah realizes aloud, before frowning. “Wait, you weren’t really injured, were you?”

“No” you sigh. “But my pregnancy wasn’t really wanted, and I panicked. I needed to go back to my parents, and they helped me with it. Then he was born and now he’s here. I sometimes want to tell you all but it’s harder everyday and I really wanted to protect him from the media and stuff. But the staff wanted me to talk to you all for several weeks now”

“Is that why Jonas calls you to his office sometimes?”

“Yeah” you breath, still annoyed. “We had an agreement with me not talking about my son but they try to make me change my mind.”

“Oh.”

You raise your eyes on Leah, to see that she seems a little uneasy and thoughtful at the same time. You don’t know why you are explaining all of this to Leah, even if she knows now, it’s still Leah.

“I was sure that you had something happening with him.”

“With Jonas?” you ask with disbelief and grimace when she nods. “Ew. No.”

Leah laughs slightly and you can feel her looking at you with attention. It’s maybe the first time she’s looking at you without animosity from a long time now. You feel yourself blush slightly, but she doesn’t point it.

“I have like a billion of questions” she admits.

“I’ll answer them, but I need a drink before. What do you want?”

“Same thing as you.”

You come back with two Spanish beer, and you smirk when you watch Leah looking at the name of the brand on the bottle before drinking.

“Who is the father?”

“You don’t know him. He was a random hookup after my breakup with Gio. I was trying to forget it; I didn’t expect to forget it that way though. He lives in South Shields.”

“So, you raise him alone?” Leah frowns.

“No, he comes from time to time. Sebastian loves him and he’s great with him, but he has his life in South Shields, and I couldn’t ask him to let everything down to come in London. And the closest place to South Shields would have been Manchester, there was no way that I leave Arsenal for United.”

Leah has a vague grimace, and you can’t help but smile. You heard her too many times talking about the fact that Alessia left the wrong team to come for the best. She then drinks her beer, seeming to register what she just learned.

“Does Gio know?”

You shake your head before answering.

“I haven’t talk to her since the breakup” you mumble.

“Would you have liked to if you hadn’t been pregnant?”

“I don’t know, Leah.”

She nods once again, looking lost in her thoughts one more time. You take advantage of it to look at her really for the first time for ages. You always loved her eyes and found the wrinkles around them very cute. But Leah is beautiful, it’s not something new. She isn’t fancied by dozens of fans for nothing.

“Sebastian is a pretty name”

She suddenly raises her head on you, catching you staring at her. Well, almost checking her, you have to admit.

“Oh, thanks”

You clear your throat nervously before talking again. You didn’t realize how hard you were staring at her and you hate her smirk and the cockiness with which she raises her eyebrows.

“I should go. I’m sorry I showed up like this without warning and kind of force you out with your secret.”

“Don’t worry, I’m used to it” you roll your eyes, thinking about Arsenal’s staff.

“I can tell a word to Jonas if you want me to. Asking him to leave you alone.”

“I can defend myself” you frown.

“I know.”

Her answer makes your annoyance subside as quickly as it had ridden. She just wants to help; she’s not judging you. You look at her eyes maybe a little longer that what you should before smiling at her softly.

“I’ll ask you if I need you, ok?”

“Deal.”

Leah stands up and you are a little sad to see her leave, but you should probably go to bed too. You follow her to the door, opening it for her. She passes the doorstep before turning in your direction.

“Will you be at training tomorrow?”

“Yeah. Sebastian is going back to daycare.”

Leah smiles and before you can react, she kisses your cheek before going to her car. The way your cheek burn stupidly even minutes after annoys you prodigiously.

After that night, you realize that Leah is looking at the best way to recreate the friendship you had in the first place. She’s awkward sometimes but that make you laugh. The others have realized that something changed between both of you, and you informed Mario and Laia about what happened. It makes sense for them, but not for the others.

Leah comes from time to time at your house with a coffee for you and a hot chocolate for Sebastian for breakfast. You like those moments together and after several moment of shyness, Sebastian is now really at ease with the blonde.

“He looks so much like you” Leah points one morning while you are sitting to drink your coffee while Sebastian is playing on the ground with his little cars, his bump almost impossible to see now.

“Well, I hope so, after all the hours I worked for him to go out of me” you roll your eyes.

Leah imitates you before answering.

“Of course, he looks like you. But he has the same eyes color, the same mimic too. The only thing changing is that he doesn’t have your Spanish accent while talking English.”

“What?! I don’t have an accent anymore” your frown deeply.

“Of course you have” Leah laughs.

You keep frowning. You are living in London since almost seven years, you are pretty sure that you haven’t any accent anymore.

“Don’t make that face” Leah still laughs. “It’s kind of cute and hot honestly.”

You raise your eyebrow while looking at her. Does Leah just say you are hot? You can’t say anything else though, because Sebastian is coming to you with a frown and one of his cars in one hand, a wheel in another. You look at him wordlessly handing it to Leah, who puts it back without hesitation.

Others changes came in your relationship with Leah. Your favorites people to cuddle have been Lia and Beth, before Alessia and Kyra came to Arsenal. Leah seems surprised when you put your legs on hers for the first time during a team bonding while you were sitting on a couch, but you didn’t really think about it. You just did what you wanted without thinking.

Thanks god, Leah’s rigidity faded as quick as she came. Since that day she’s the one initiating hug from time to time.

And she takes the habits not to prevent you when she comes to your house for breakfast or in another moment of the day. She usually doesn’t come at evening because she knows that Sebastian might be sleeping.

It was another day like the other when Leah comes to your house with her bag of pastries and your hot drinks. She rings the bell like every time but she’s not facing you when the door is open. She’s facing a man around your age, looking at her with the same surprise as she is.

“Who are you?” he asks, and Leah arch her eyebrow.

“Who are you?” she snaps back.

She doesn’t like the way he’s standing on your apartment like he owns it. She read to many news items and watched to many dark television reports about men killing women.

But she doesn’t have the time to get scared a little longer, because there is suddenly a sweet, happy voice that she knows very well.

“Leah!”

Sebastian is running from the living room for Leah, jumping on her knees. Leah takes him in her arms and hug him, before looking again at the man.

“Where’s Y/N?”

“Mamá is in the bathroom” Sebastian says happily, looking in the bakery bag with appetite. “Did you buy me Mince pies?”

“Sur, Buddy.”

With his pastry in her hand, Sebastian runs back inside the apartment to sit at the dining table. Leah follows him and was starting to get really annoyed by the other man in the room just when you arrive.

“Leah! Hi.”

She smiles at you and let you kiss her cheek with a side hug. You then put your attention on your son and his pastry, obvious of the tension in the room.

“So, you met Jeff?” you ask, cleaning Sebastian’s cheeks.

“Not really” Leah mumbles, sitting next to Sebastian.

You only raise now your gaze to realize that Leah and Jeff are actually looking at each other from the corner of their eyes with almost hostility.

“Jeff is Sebastian’s dad. He came for the weekend to pass time with Sebastian” you explain.

“’e ‘o ‘o o’ie” Sebastian says, mouth full of food.

“Try after chewing your food Cariño” you roll your eyes at him playfully.

“We’re going to watch a movie and then watch Mamá and you play” he pips up with happiness.

“That sounds good Bud’.”

Leah smiles but you can say that it’s not a real smile. Jeff finally sits next to you, and you manage to entertain a conversation between the four of you, very helped by Sebastian. Around ten, Jeff and Sebastian both left to the cinema, and you hug him tight and verify his bag before letting him leave with his dad.

“I’ll keep you update about our day” Jeff says, kissing your cheek goodbye. “See you, Leah.”

Leah grumbles something back and you don’t lose a second to have a real and long look at her once the door is closed.

“What?” Leah moody ask.

“You tell me. What’s happening to you?”

“Nothing” she shrugs.

You hum in answer, not trusting her for a single second. But you don’t want to push too much. You offer her another tea before cleaning the kitchen and making your bag for the game. Leah’s here so she will drive you to the stadium.

“Where is he staying? During the weekend?”

“In the guestroom, why?”

“He’s sleeping at your house?!”

“…Yeah?”

Leah doesn’t answer. She doesn’t like it. She doesn’t like the way he kissed your cheek like you’re still his, even if you never have really been. She doesn’t like him around you, sleeping in the same house as you are.

“Leah what’s happening?”

You are lost. Leah seems angry but you don’t understand why. She doesn’t answer once again, only looking at you when you put your hand on her arm. You can see torment in her eyes, but you still don’t understand why.

“You know he still fancy you, right?”

“What?” you laugh softly.

But you realize quickly that Leah isn’t joking. The way she looks at you make you feel something funny in your stomach. It’s intense.

“It’s nothing like that between us. We are friend for Sebastian, nothing more. Nothing happened since the night Sebastian was conceived” you say with a comforting voice.

Leah hums once again, her brows still frowning. You erase them with a tentative finger, trying to read her eyes.

“Why are you asking that, Le?”

“Nothing, he was just acting like you’re together or at least like he lives here too.”

“Well he’s not. You or Mario and Laia are here way more often than him.”

Leah still seems moody when you left to take her car to go to training, but at least she’s talking to you and not sulking.

“I was wondering” Leah starts after you chose a music to listen during the trip “What’s your type? I mean it’s obviously tattooed, blond and disgusting bodybuilder for the men, but what about women?”

“He’s not a bodybuilder Leah” you laugh while rolling your eyes. “And for women, you saw my ex-girlfriend, didn’t you?”

“Yes, but Gio has brown eyes and hair. And I totally saw you with a blond before.”

She’s right. You bite your lips softly while trying to find the best way to explain how you “choose” your crushes.

“It’s not a physical preference with women. It’s more… The charism, you know? It can be someone with blond hair and clear eyes, or a brunette. It doesn’t really matter.”

“I see” Leah answer thoughtfully, before smiling. “Who was your first celebrity crush?”

“Dianna Agron” you answer without any hesitation.

How much you are sure about it makes Leah laugh, and you can’t help but smirk back. You were kind of obsessed with her in Glee, I mean have you seen that girl? It would probably be strange not to be, in your humble opinion. You don’t have time to ask Leah’s, because the blonde is parking the car in the stadium. You maybe will be able to ask her the question back after the game.

You don’t let your son coming a lot to the games, there is really less spectators than for the men’s games and you don’t want him to be exposed to someone from the staff or something. But you can’t always say no to him when he begs you to come. Today Jeff is here, so it can easily pass for a dad-son moment to anyone.

You discreetly great him with a wave during your training, internally rolling your eyes when you see him with a bucket of chicken nuggets and some chips, even if it’s like three in the evening. But after that you are focused on your training, you are on the starting eleven today and you have to be more ready than ever.

The game was hard, but it went pretty great. Leah and you managed to block almost all the shoots took by the other team and when they passed, your goalkeeper stopped the ball every time. Caitlin and Mariona scored today, with Alessia being rested. Jonas informed you that you will be sub off around the seventy minutes during the half-time and you just nod softly. You are sad not to play every minute of the game while your son is here, but he knows now that you are sub to be rested to be able to play better the other games.

You knew that at the next stop during the game you will be switch, so you decide to play as best as possible when you see that a ball is coming across the field, for a header from an opponent. You jump to try to take it first, but your head is soon hits by something very strong who made you groan in pain. You fall on the ground without being able to stop your fall, pain radiating in your head.

You are not aware of the opposite player lying somewhere close to you, in pain too. You hear the footstep of the other players around you and you open your eyes just to see Lotte’s short crouch next to you.

“Do you hear me?” Lotte says.

There are other hands on you, stabilizing you on your side. You groan in answer to Lotte, who let a breath of relief.

The pain is awful, but you know that somewhere in the crowd there is your son who is probably mad concerned. You don’t want him to see you like this. Mariona has been subbed for Chloe some minutes before so she’s not on the pitch anymore. There is just one person who can help you now.

“Leah” you whisper.

You can’t hear yourself, so you are really surprised when you hear her answer, from behind you.

“I need to get up” you mumble, rolling slowly on your back.

“It’s not a good idea” one of the medical team answers.

Opening your eyes is painful, thank God there isn’t any sun but only grey sky under you. Leah’s frame block a little of the light, which is good too. You look for her eyes before talking again.

“I need to get up. I can’t worry…”

You don’t finish your sentence, but you see that Leah understands quickly. Her eyes went just for a second where Sebastian is seated with her dad before nodding.

“I’ll help you” she says, frowning. “It’s ok, you have to take her inside, she was going to get sub off anyway”

With Leah and Lia’s help, you managed to get up and went straight to the infirmary. Laia and Mariona came with you, sitting quietly with you while you are being checked by the team.

“Do you want me to go take your things? You can maybe write to Jeff like this?” Laia proposed in Spanish.

“Yes please” you whisper back.

She pats your hand when she sees you wince because of the pain before getting up to close discreetly the door between her. Mariona holds your other hand during all the time and when Laia came back with your phone, you had to ask her to write to Jeff for you.

You both decide that you will meet at your flat after the game, you don’t know if you have a concussion for now, but it’s still better for your son. Jeff says to you that he wasn’t really happy with this thing, but that he will manage to busy his mind. You know he will.

Several minutes later, there are knocks on the door and you mumble a vague “Come in”. Leah comes inside almost hesitantly.

“How are you?” she asks, standing awkwardly next to the door.

“Tired. I have a concussion but other than that I’m ok” you answer to her.

She nods softly and you close your eyes again, looking to have a little of relief for your head. You don’t see Laia and Mariona exchanging a look before the Mallorcan talks to you again.

“We are going to get a shower. Do you need a lift to go home?”

“I can take her home” Leah interjects. “If you’re ok with that, of course.”

“Yeah” you answer only.

Mariona hums while Laia kisses your cheek.

“Call me if you need anything yes?”

“I will Mario, don’t worry”

You snap her hand when she pinches your cheek, making her laugh. You can’t help but smile back, sitting a little more when they are gone. This time Leah comes closer to you, and you can see in her eyes how worry she is.

“I’m fine” you assure her.

She groans in answer, and you almost roll your eyes again but stop the move before it’s too late. The medical staff comes right after, with a paper with the medication you will need for your recovery.

“You can’t be alone at home. Do you have someone to look after you?”

You frown softly, Sebastian can obviously not take this role. And you will need someone to take a look at him probably.

“My… A friend is at home for now. He’s supposed to stay until tomorrow late afternoon” you assure.

“No way” Leah snorts. “I will stay at your home to take care of you.”

There is now way in Leah’s mind that Jeff takes this opportunity to come closer of you in any way. You accept her offer (even if you don’t really have the choice) and with that you are walking to Leah’s car. Well, it’s more like Leah is carrying you and both of your bags.

Like you were imagining, Sebastian is still up when you come home, still wearing his Arsenal kit and looking by the windows to see you come in. He jumps in your legs when you arrive inside, and you take all your strength and concentration to take him in your arms.

“Hi buddy. Did you enjoy the game?” you ask while Leah ruffle his hair.

“Mama hurt” he mumbles, hiding his face in your neck.

“Yes, but I’m alright, ok? Have you eaten something?”

“Nothing since his fries at the stadium” Jeff intervenes. “I wanted to see if you want to eat with us before starting to cook something”

“I’m not really hungry” you shrug.

“The doctor said that you have to eat, Y/N” Leah remembers you.

You sigh softly and look at Sebastian for several seconds. He need a bath and you definitively need a shower too. Then you can all eat together before heading all in bed, that should be something possible to do, right?

“Leah, would you like to help Sebastien with his bath while I’m taking a shower? So Jeff you can cook us something, honestly just pasta with one pot of salsa I have in the cupboard would be great.”

You will see tomorrow for vegetables for your son. Sebastian seems happy to learn that Leah will give him his bath, but you see Jeff frown softly behind her.

“Is Leah staying for diner?”

“Mh in fact, Leah is staying for several day to have a look at me” you shrug.

Sebastian takes your hand to drag you to the bathrooms, so you miss the rejected look of Jeff and the happy smirk that Leah addresses him. You probably would have rolled your eyes, which is still a very bad idea.

Thirty minutes later, Sebastian is finishing his second plate while you struggle to eat more than five pastas. You can see Leah’s concerned gaze, but you start to get really tired, and you would kill to be able to go to sleep right now.

“You should go to sleep” Leah frown while looking at you.

“But Sebastian…”

“I can put him to bed” Jeff says. “It wouldn’t be the first time.”

Leah proposed to wash the dishes, so you just say goodnight to your son before going to your bedroom. You change for a pajama and go to a quick toilette before going back to your room and your bed.

You recognize Leah’s path in front of your room when you realize that you are the worst host ever.

“Leah” you whisper-shout.

You can’t help but smile when she passes her head through your door.

“I’m sorry I just realize that you don’t have anything to sleep in” you bite your lips. “You can take something from my stuff”

“Thanks” Leah just answer, turning to your furniture to take some short and t-shirt.

“Also, I hope you were not expecting to sleep on the couch, are you?”

Leah froze before turning in your direction, looking a little lost. Even with your brain being a new kind of jell-o, you can only notice how cute she looks.

“I did. Why?”

“Sebastian might wake up this night and maybe Jeff will take him there. If you don’t mind, you can sleep with me?”

“Oh.”

Oh? You arch an eyebrow at her reaction. It’s almost hurtful to be honest, but Leah seems quickly to find a way to recompose herself.

“Well like this I can have a real look at you”

“If you say so” you grumble, before turning your back at her and closing your eyes.

You don’t see Leah’s affectionate smile when she looks at you before she changes her clothes for yours and went to the bathroom. She wasn’t expecting you to ask her to sleep with you when your ex is around. She smirks when she thinks that she beats him there and he probably will get mad about it.

When she joins you in the room again, you weren’t far from sleeping but you still have a pout on your face. Leah lays down next to you and have to put an hand on your hips to kiss your cheek because you still have your back turning to her.

“Sleep well Princess Spain” she smiles.

How can you not smile at that? You do smile, softly.

“Night, Lee.”

“Wake me up if you need something yeah?”

She kisses your cheek again and you hum, moving a little for your back to be press against her. She lets you, even passing her arm around you. You fall asleep very quickly like this.

Like the doctor’s recommendation, Leah wakes you up every three hours just to be sure that you still have all your head working correctly. It’s only when you menace her to make her sleep in Sebastian cradle that she stops.

The next morning, when you wake up, Leah isn’t next to you anymore. You are a little lost, your head is pounding awfully, and you grab you look at your phone to know what time it is. It was before realizing that Leah hides it because you are not supposed to look at screens for now.

You were about to get up when the door of your room is open, just for Leah to be entering.

“Oh, hi. I didn’t know you were up” she says.

“Not for long” you mumble. “Where’s Sebastian? What time is it?”

“Your ex took him to have breakfast somewhere and go to a playground, the weather is nice” Leah explains. “How’s your head?”

“Hurt”

She smiles with sympathy and give you some pills and a bottle of water. You probably haven’t saw her so careful with someone when she helps you to sit, unless with Sebastian maybe. She lets you take your medicine before pressing her hand on your forehead.

“You don’t have fever. Are you feeling dizzy?”

“A little” you admit.

“You should probably eat something. What do you want?”

“Just bring me some of cereals who are at Sebastian” you shrug.

But Leah frowns softly.

“You need a real breakfast”

“You don’t know how to cook” you point with a small smirk.

But you just challenged Leah who snorts and gets up from your bed, answering something like “Try me” before leaving the room. You don’t see her for twenty minutes, time you used to get fresh and change your clothes.

You look at the tray she brings you. Fresh press orange juice, some fruits and grilled toast with butter. You realize that some of toasts are plain and when Leah comes back in bed with you, you understand that she will eat with you.

“I’ve read that you guys are eating bread with tomato in the morning. Sorry but I don’t know how to do that” she says while putting the orange juice in your hands.

“Have you typed What Spanish people eat for breakfast? on Google?”

You just wanted to tease her, but when you realize that her cheeks are suddenly a little pink, you can’t help but laugh. Leah doesn’t seem to take it bad though.

“No. More like How to feed a beautiful Spanish girl in the morning”

“Flattery will get you everywhere”

She just smiles, probably wanting to let you enjoy your breakfast. You are not really hungry to be honest, but you know you need to eat something. Leah seems to enjoy the strawberries, so you lot them to her, eating slowly your toasts. From the outside you probably look like a couple, and you can’t explain why you like that idea so much. You raise your eyes on Leah who smiles at you, and you smile back, trying to ignore the strange feeling she cause in your belly.

It isn’t new, honestly. You don’t know when it started, but it’s not the first time. You already felt your heartbeat go faster when she hugs you or kiss your cheek. Trickle on your skin where she touched you. You are a casual cuddly and touchy person, and you might have taken advantage of it to be closer to Leah.

She doesn’t comment your lack of talking, probably putting it on your concussion. You are feeling pretty great for someone who has one, but probably because it’s a light one.

“Do you need anything else?” Leah asks when you’re finished.

“Cuddles?”

She smiles and get on her back, and you don’t waist a second to almost straddle her, your head on her shoulder, one of your legs between hers and your hand stroking her arm. To be honest, you are almost entirely lying on her.

“Thanks for taking care of me” you whisper, your eyes lost somewhere facing you.

“I wouldn’t have let anyone else take care of you.”

His fingers going up and down your spine would be enough not to make you realize what her words can mean. But your foggy brain seems to be able to do it anyway.

“Why?” you ask.

“Because I care for you, Missy”

She boop your nose with her finger. She could have put teasing in her voice, but there isn’t. She seems a little breathless, which is very strange for someone just lying in a bed. It feels like it’s time for some confessions, so you decide to push your luck a little more.

“Lee?” you continue when she hums. “Why did you hate me?”

“I didn’t hate you”

Her answer seems genuine, but you know that it’s not true. You groan when you roll your eyes, remembering too late that it’s better for you not to do it.

“You did, Leah. We reached a point where we never even say hello to each other. And I felt like even me breathing was annoying you.”

Leah’s lips stretch to a small smile. It was true, but she never hated you anyway. She just needs a way to explain to you without looking like crazy. You were waiting patiently for her answer, you never really understood Leah’s behavior with you.

“I just… Felt like you were turning yourself to anyone but me. You never really talked to me about what you were living with the RFEF, but you did with Viv, Lia or Katie. You weren’t touchy with me like you were with Beth or almost everyone around. Sur we were laughing together but I felt like you never considered me for me. Then Gio came and you were always together, ignoring the rest of the world.”

You frown hearing her confessions. You need some seconds to process all of this information and it’s not because of your concussions this time.

“Gio and I were always together because we were together” you point.

“I know!”

You hear her sights of frustration and feel her moving under you when she passes her hand in her hair. Her stroking in your arm has stopped and you miss them already. You don’t add anything for now, feeling like there is something else to come.

“Then you got your injury and you decided to go to Spain, like if we weren’t enough here. And I have to learn all the shit you got through your damn federation like the public, with your petition and then you finally came back to the team. But I still didn’t know why.”

Even if you don’t know if there is a place more comfortable than Leah’s arms, you push yourself to sit anyway and have a better look at her. She’s still frowning, of course she is. You let your eyes take a look at her face, her eyes, before answering something. You don’t know what you could answer to all that, to be honest. Maybe it’ll better to start from the start.

“I never was touchy with you because I didn’t know how you will react. I know it’s different from Spain, Beth has always been extravagant so I knew she wouldn’t mind. I felt like touched depraved honestly, not in the sexual way but I missed hug and just display of affection” you shrug, playing with a piece of bedsheet.

You can feel Leah’s gaze on you, but you are lost in your thoughts and says, looking only at the bedsheet you are playing with.

“For Gio, we had a good time together but if I knew she will break up with me as soon as she wasn’t here anymore, I wouldn’t have lost time with her. She’s nice, but I was looking for something serious, not just a fling to pass time, you know?”

Leah nods softly.

“When I heard about your breakup I wanted to come to you, but I didn’t know how to approach you anymore. And then Jonas announced us that you hurt yourself during a private practice and that you went back to Spain for recovery.”

You nod softly too, biting your lips softly.

“I didn’t want to talk to you about my pregnancy because we had all of those injuries. I was pregnant because of a one nightstand which wasn’t really clever of me. I didn’t have the courage to be judged by someone. And in Spain I had my parents, even if I had the right of a lecture first.”

Leah puts softly her hand on yours, making you look at her for the first time since you started talking. Her eyes are way softer that what you were expecting.

“I understand. I can’t speak for anyone, but I probably won’t have judge you. I’m not gonna lie though, given our tensed relationship, I don’t think I’ll be helpful with you.”

You smile softly, before shrugging. You still have the part with the RFEF to talk about, which you don’t really like. You are not fond of your new coach to be honest, but at least it’s a little better.

“And for the national team, like other I tried to stand up against them while signing that paper with the other girls. They tried to make us comes back for World Cup, making promises and everything. I called Alexia about it and she explained to me that if we don’t come back, they will call younger players. And I couldn’t let younger girls having to deal with all this shit. Ale managed to convince Ona, Mariona, Aitana and myself to come back. We fight to win, hopping that after being World Champions people will hear us more”

You frown too, not far from Leah’s habits. You hate what happened after the World Cup, all this fuss with the former president and Vilda.

“But people keep calling us traitor and were laughing about what happened to Jenni. Then we made this petition attesting that we won’t come back until the RFEF change, like our coach. They changed the coach but then we got forced to come back, they threatened to take away our professional player licenses if we didn’t come back.”

You shrug, still looking at Leah. She’s silenced for now, but you can see all things getting together in her eyes.

“So, I came back because I didn’t have the choice. We talked a lot, sometimes until like three in the morning, and things aren’t great honestly, but it gets better”

“That’s a lot to process” Leah says slowly.

“Yeah. And I had a baby who couldn’t sleep at night during that time” you add with a smirk.

Leah smiles back, her face getting softer when you mention Sebastian. You can’t miss the bond existing between the two, Sebastian adores Leah, and you are pretty sure that Leah likes him a lot back.

“It was hard, but I never had a single regret about my pregnancy. He’s the best thing that ever happened to me.”

“He’s a sweet boy” Leah confirms.

You watch her scratch her forehead before putting a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. She still seems thoughtful. You look at her while tilting your head, wondering what is still in her mind.

“What are you thinking about?” you ask softly.

“What would have been different if I was there for you instead of sulking stupidly.”

You shrug before biting your lips softly.

“Can I do one more confidence?”

“Of course.”

Leah sits in the bed too, her back against the bed.

“I had like the biggest crush on you on the first day at Arsenal.”

There is a blank before Leah laughs softly.

“You’re joking?”

“No”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

She seems almost outraged by that information but arch an eyebrow before answering.

“You had a girlfriend, Leah. And I’m pretty sure that neither of you would have been interested in a threesome.”

You laugh at Leah’s awkwardness and the grimace she makes soon after. But now that everything was spilled out, you feel a little better to be honest. Lighter. There is no more secrets between you. Or almost, because you still have that crush for her anyway.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you during those times” Leah says, softly stroking your hand now.

“It’s ok. I wasn’t here for you neither when you had your ACL and your breakup.”

Leah shrugs one more time and at this rate she will have done her shoulder-training exercises for the day.

“Plus, you are here now.”

“I am.”

She smiles this time and it’s hard not to have a crush for her when she smiles like this. Leah is a beautiful woman; you must have sore eyes if you don’t realize it. You found her beautiful even when you were at loggerheads, but now that you find back the personality you loved before, it’s even better.

“Would you like to-“ “I was wondering if-“

You talked at the same time, just to shut up at the same time too. You smile at her and she’s smiling too, but this time you are the first to talk.

“Sorry, go on.”

“I was wondering” Leah starts slowly “If you would go out with me one night?"

“Like, for a date?”

“Yeah?”

You really hope that it’s really happening and that you are not dreaming or something. You bite your lips softly before answering.

“I would love to.”

“Are you sure you will be ok?” you ask Mariona in Spanish for the hundredth time.

The usually calm and composed Spaniard sights and throw one of Sebastian’s toys at your head, the poor duck falling on the ground with a “quack”.

“Y/N I swear to God that if you are not leaving now, I will kick you out of your own house. Go get ready.”

You grumble something under your breath, roll your eyes when Mario shouts, “I heard you” and leave for the bathroom. You are already dressed, but you need to do your hair. Tonight is the night where Leah takes you out and you are more stressed than ever.

Mariona accepted to play the babysitter for Sebastian, and she will be sleeping in the guestroom if you are coming home late. You are not the kind of mom who lets you kid to go out usually, when you are not with him it’s because you are at training or at a game. It’s during the week so you were a little reluctant to ask the teen who usually babysit Sebastian.

When you confessed to Mariona and Laia they proposed to come, Laia hasn’t been able to come, but Lia must come soon to help Mariona. Which you find very cute and teased Mariona about. It’s only when she starts to tease you back about Leah that you stopped.

You are just finished to prepare yourself when the doorbell rings and you hear Sebastian’s footsteps running to the door.

“Leah!” he shouts happily.

You frown when you hear him call Leah a second time, but when you go to the living room you understand that it was in fact Lia who he was calling.

“Pwetty” he points you when he spots you coming in the room.

“Gracias mi Amor” you say, kissing his cheek.

“He’s right” Lia says when you great her with a hug. “Maybe I’ll change my Spaniard”

You blush, Leah glares at Lia and Mariona snorts. You then turn to Sebastian to tell him the last recommendations, like eat all his vegetables and to behave with Lia and Mariona. You finally get out of your house before Mariona does, turning in Leah’s direction with a slight strange nervousness.

“So… Where are we going?” you ask, playing with your fingers.

“You’ll see when we will be there” Leah smiles.

She puts a hand in your back to drive you to her car, which she starts as soon as you are both sitting inside. You smile when you hear Taylor Swift singing in the background and hums the melody. You are glad to realize that the conversation between both of you is still easy when Leah asks you a random question and it starts a small talk very appreciated.

You can help but look at Leah from the corner of your eyes, appreciating the way she is dress. Everything is perfect for her, but she’s really beautiful tonight. In fact, you say it to her when you are seated in the table of the new Italian restaurant Leah reserved, suggested by Alessia.

“You’re beautiful, by the way.”

“Thanks” she smiles casually. “I’ll say you are too, but Lia got ahead of me already.”

“She said I’m pretty” you smirk.

Leah laughs softly and you feel your stomach make a special squeeze. She seems so relaxed and when you remember how were things between you two months ago, it seems pretty unbelievable.

“You are beautiful” she says, looking at you right in your eyes.

Cursed be she and her incredible blue eyes. You are saved from fainting by the waitress who came with the menus. You chose to drink a little of wine, it’s not every day that you get out after all.

“It’s the first time I have a date since Sebastian is born” you confess like it was nothing, your eyes still fixed on the menu.

“Really?”

Leah seems genuinely surprised and you arch an eyebrow while looking at her.

“A pregnant woman or a woman with a baby then a toddler aren’t exactly what people are looking for” you shrug.

“Mh. Well, lucky me.”

She smirks and you smile back, trying to ignore the red creeping on your cheek. You like cocky Leah, you always had. You didn’t like when she was harsh and almost mean to you though, but it was time to forget about this moment. You are really happy to have another relationship with her now, even if it seems to be the start of something new.

The night went great, the food was delicious and the company amazing. You and Leah exchanged several longs looks when there is a blank in your conversation. But everything seems so fluid and you love it. You love the subtle flirt from Leah too. She makes you feel special, which you didn’t feel since a long time.

After sharing a dessert, it was time to going home. You don’t hesitate to accept when Leah proposes you a last drink at her house. Mariona informed you two hours ago that Sebastian is dead asleep after having his bath and eating her plate full of spaghetti.

Leah puts something on TV and you both sit on the couch just to ignore it. You are resisting to the urge to kiss her since you left the restaurant, but it’s becoming harder and harder every minute.

Leah was rambling about a random story about her mother’s dog when you finally crack. You just lean in without even taking the time to prevent her, your hand on her hips while you press your lips against Leah’s. She stays still and when you retreat yourself, she’s looking at you with wide eyes. Ok, maybe you read her behavior wrong.

You feel so ashamed that you would rather being struck by lightning right now.

“Madre mia Leah, I’m so sorry. I thought – “

But Leah doesn’t let you the time to add something else. She grabs your face with her both hands and drags you against her to kiss you. You are surprised, maybe less than Leah when you first kiss her, but you kiss her back and you definitely never feel something like that before.

Leah knows how to kiss, and you work on yourself not to jump on her. You follow the move when Leah lays down on the couch, your lips never detached from hers for a long time.  

“I wanted you to make the first move” Leah admits later, when you are cuddling on her couch. “I didn’t want you to feel any pressure”

You just hum and given Leah never refuse you a kiss since the first, you raise yourself to put a peck on her lips.

“Do you want to have the big talk now? About how we see our relationship, or do you want to wait?” the blonde asks you after that.

You frown softly, a little bit surprise by that question. You might have some random hookups at one point, but after your reciprocal confessions and tonight, for you it was more than obvious that you want something serious with her. So you may as well get it clear now.

“I am looking for something serious, I’m not going to lie. I have a toddler and I’m not interested in wasting my time, especially with you because I like you a lot.”

“Work for me baby” Leah smirks, before becoming more serious. “Another thing.”

“Yes?”

“I don’t share” she frowns.

“Okay?”

You don’t understand what she wants to say with it. I mean of course you understand what she means, but not in this situation. You are not really interested to have an open relationship.

“I’m not going to ask you to stop your arrangement with Jeff because it seems working for the three of you now, but it’s not because he’s sleeping at your house that he can say a word in your life or our relationship. And since now he better has his eyes in his pocket.”

You roll your eyes with a little smile. In your eyes, Leah is making a little too much with this story. You are sure that your ex doesn’t have a single interest in you, so you are not lying when you answer to Leah.

“There is nothing between Jeff and me, Lee.”

“For you maybe. We’ll see how he’ll react when you’ll tell him about you and I. But stop about him” she decides soon after.

You were going to ask her if there is another topic that she wanted to talk about, but it was before she shows you what she has in mind by kissing you once again. You don’t complain though, you could probably spend hours kissing her without being tired of it. Everything in Leah is intoxicating, in the right way.

“Is it time for me to get you home?”

It is, but you don’t want to. You agree nevertheless, unable to hold a pout at the thought of separating yourself from Leah, even for some hours. But it’s better this way, even if Lia and Mariona are sleeping in the guestroom, you’d rather to be there when Sebastian gets up.

Leah grabs your hand to takes you to her car and takes it again when you are going to your door.

“I had a perfect night. Thanks” you say when you turn in her direction, passing your arms around her shoulders.

“I have a perfect night too. I can’t wait for the next one”

Her lips stroke yours while she talks, and you can’t help but smile softly.

“Who says it will be another one? Maybe you’ll have to bribe me?”

“Can’t wait” she smirks cockily.

You laugh softly and exchanged another kiss before you have to let her go. She kisses your cheek softly and you enjoy a last time her smell before looking at her going back to her car.

“Text me when you are home?”

“I will. Good night, Y/N.”

“Good night.”

There is only the light in the living room who is still on when you enter the house. Everything is perfectly tidy, way more than when you clean yourself after Sebastian falls asleep. You smile when you see the drawing Sebastian made for you, in evidence on the table in the kitchen.

You pass in your Son’s bedroom to kiss him before going in your bathroom to change for your pajama and prepare you to go to bed. When you are ready, you happily find your bed, looking at your phone just to see that Leah messaged you several minutes ago.

Leah 🌹 I’m home, Lovely. Can’t wait to see you again 😊❤️

You Have a good night too 😊 see you tomorrow?

Leah 🌹 Sure, I wouldn’t want to deprive Sebastian of his morning pastry  🙃

You Seeing you makes him happy too you know, with or without pastry He probably gets it from his Mama 😉

Leah 🌹 Stop and go to sleep, you little flirt 😂

You 😇 Sleep tight ❤️

Leah 🌹 Sleep tight. See you tomorrow ❤️

[aheathen-conceivably]

The early morning sunlight was streaming into their bedroom, the same way it had nearly every day since their arrival over four years before. The air was clear, whatever gauzy dream that had reigned over it in the moonlight now replaced by the warm light of day. Zelda rolled over onto her side, seeing the man beside her clearly. When she spoke it was almost hushed in awe. “You really are home.”

He laughed lightly, as though expecting her to say exactly that. He barely opened his eyes as he answered. “I told you I was. You just didn’t believe me.”

“I thought I was dreaming.”

Finally his eyes opened fully, although he made no attempt to rise from the bed. “I should be so honored if that is what you dream about when I’m gone.”

His body beside her was the realest thing she had felt in weeks, warming the whole room as the sunlight drove the nightly chill from the air. She leaned onto him, the simple word “dream” bringing back a torrent of vivid visions alongside words she had kept silent for too long. “I was dreaming. It was about a house. It - it was in England, I think. I’m not sure why. It was strange…” she trailed off into silence; only even without her voice, the room wasn’t quiet. It was filled with the sound of their breathing, keeping in rhythm with one another. “It was a library. Or at least it should have been. If that makes sense?”

“A library?”

She thought about the card that had been in her hand when she had fallen asleep. Where was it? Should she have tucked it under the bed? Could she still hide it there before he saw it? No. Goodness. What was wrong with her? That was foolish. Why would she hide it? Why would she even think it was something it wasn’t? Some sort of opportunity. Some sort of hope - 

“Zelda?”

She snapped back up to look at him. So warm and real and here, so much so that it seemed impossible he would ever be anywhere else ever again. “Yes, a - a library. I think it's because a couple of weeks ago there was this truck. A book truck, Lottie called it. It drives from place to place to loan out books. More books than even I have ever seen. It - it was driven by a librarian. A man named Barnes. He explained that he works out of the courthouse. He - he gave me his card. To talk. About the truck. If I was interested in knowing more about how it works. It must have been on my mind when I fell asleep. That’s all.”

“Have you gone?”

“What? No - I - I didn’t see much point. I’m sure he just thinks I’m a restless housewife. Besides, what good would it do? To get the information and little else. And Gio needs me here - to help with the crops, I mean.”

“But you said yourself the field wasn’t doing as well as last season, and the work barely necessitated both of you any longer…”

A torrent of nervous butterflies invaded her stomach, the same ones that she had been fighting every night he was away. “But the house. And the loan. The chores would pile up. And who would pick up Lottie from school? Who would keep the laundry clean and the chickens fed? Who would - “

“Zelda,” he stopped her, taking her chin in his hand to prohibit the torrent of speech that he knew would descend into an effort to talk herself out of what she really wanted. “You’re finding reasons not to go. What about why you should go? Like the fact that you’re so excited that you weren’t even fully awake before you told me all about it. Or that you’d make the best librarian this town has ever seen.”

“He never said there was a job or a library or anything really -“

“But he never said there wasn’t?”

“Well, no. But I didn’t ask.”

“And what if there is? Wouldn’t you like to know? Instead of pondering away like this, making yourself crazy over the thought?”

She bought her head close to his chest, trying to lose the last tendrils of the world as she attempted to get closer to him than was physically possible. “I missed you, you know that, don’t you?”

He pulled away to look into her eyes, and she could feel his hand brushing back her hair, already making her feel tired despite the fact that she had just woken. “So you’ll go?”

Only when she nodded in affirmation did he wrap his arms back around her, closing them so tightly that she couldn’t open her eyes again even if she wanted to. “I missed you too, my love. More than you know.”

Previous / Next

[pedrithink]

you and i ✩ jude bellingham

request: maybe you could do Jude and his girlfriend through different stages of their relationship

ynusername

Liked by judebellingham, jobebellingham, and 56.762 others

ynusername congratulations, jude!! you deserve every bit of this 😁👏🏻

View all 567 comments

judebellingham thank you!!! 😁😁

user1 i love to see the early stages of their relationship 😭

user2 y/n was always by his side :(

user3 were they dating at this time?

user4 @user3 yes!!! this was in his debut for birmingham

user5 i remembered the interview jude gave last year and said that by this time he was already completely in love with her

user6 why was she congratulating him?

user7 @user6 because he had made his debut in the first team

ynusername

Liked by judebellingham, jobebellingham, and 76.889 others

ynusername i expected nothing less from you. congratulations on your victory, more moments like this will come :) always proud of you, golden boy.

View all 802 comments

judebellingham couldn’t have done without your immeasurable support. can’t wait to see you again…

ynusername @judebellingham i will always be cheering for you, miss you a lot.

user7 this was back when they had broken up because of distance and yet she was still supporting him :(

user8 i love the way they showed that they still love each other even with the distance

user9 for y/n the most important thing was that jude was happy even if he was far away from her 😭😭

user10 @user9 i just remember jude saying that at this time he always cried when he came home because everything he did referred to her 😭

ynusername

Liked by judebellingham, gioareyna, and 102.234 others

ynusername it was a great night with you, captain 🫡🫶🏻

View all 1.022 comments

judebellingham i missed you a lot.

ynusername @judebellingham always with you, you know that :)

gioareyna it was amazing to meet you, y/n. jude talks a lot about you 🫣🙄

ynusername @gioareyna don’t get jealoussss!!! he loves you more than he loves me 🫨

user11 the way he looks at her, GODDDD!!!

user12 i dont know if i want to date someone who looks at me the way jude looks at y/n or the way gio looks at jude

user13 imagine loving someone so much (me talking to y/n and jude)

ynusername

Liked by judebellingham, trentarnold66, and 133.455 others

ynusername i can't and don't want to imagine a life without you. i have loved you since we were 14 and i hope we can stay together until the end of eternity. happy birthday, golden boy. ⭐️🫶🏻

View all 2.172 others

judebellingham i am so happy by your side. thank you for everything, my love. thank you for not giving up on me and our love. i love you!

ynusername @judebellingham our thing is a forever thing, jude victor william bellingham!!!!!!!! we cannot ever give up.

user14 y/n calling jude ‘golden boy’ to this day, i will cry!!!

user15 their love is so pure :(

user16 i love to see how their love has only been growing

user17 may they be very happy together

ynusername

Liked by judebellingham, jobebellingham, and 223.456 others

ynusername visiting home 🫨💗 always love to be here.

View all 1.224 others

judebellingham my pretty partner in crime 🫡💗

jobebellingham i missed you!!!

ynusername @jobebellingham missed you a lot!! 💗💗🥲

trentarnold66 you need to come visit me RN!!!!!!!! you don’t have excuses.

ynusername @trentarnold66 I WILL TRY

judebellingham @trentarnold66 what about me????? 😢

trentarnold66 @judebellingham yeah, you can come too if you want 🤷🏻‍♀️

user18 PRETTY COUPLE DOING PRETTY THINGS THAT PRETTY PEOPLE DO 😭

ynusername

Liked by judebellingham, jobebellingham, and 334.081

ynusername hi madrid 🤍🫶🏻

View all 3.467 comments

judebellingham madrid is more beautiful with you

ynusername @judebellingham simp

user19 y/n is moving with jude to madrid????? finally!!!!

user20 @user19 for sure, they are almost married already LOL

gioareyna i will miss you guys 🥹

trentarnold66 ❤️

[goodlucktai]

one of the rotten ones

rottmnt word count: 2k pairing: don & leo, don & OC title borrowed from anthems for a seventeen year old by yeule part of the archer au :) read on ao3

x

“I don’t think Gio likes me,” Donnie blurts. 

He’d feel self-conscious if he was pressed to admit it anywhere else, but he’s in the infirmary, and the only one around to hear him say so is his twin. 

They’re moving into hour two of Leo’s “faves” playlist and the fourth consecutive Taylor Swift song even though he swore he put it on shuffle. Leo is going through cabinets and shelves systematically, updating inventory on his phone, while Donnie infodumps about energy storage and projectile dynamics and the breaking strength of crossbow string. 

Donatello’s base knowledge of this particular ranged weapon is severely lacking, which is a significant personal problem for him now that he has a sibling with a preference for archery. He needs to be the world’s leading expert on the subject yesterday. He has half a dozen half-formed plans for things like sonar bolts for 3-D mapping, which may or may not have been inspired by the Jupiter Jim Pluto Vacation run.   

Only every glance at the project folder simply labeled ‘G-01’ causes an uncomfortable feeling to squirm to life in his stomach, not unlike the Krang tentacles that had attached themselves to his carapace on the day the world didn’t end. 

Donnie isn’t good at people. He doesn’t know how they tick, and there are no reliable lines of code or handy user manuals that he can fall back on when he’s mystified by human behavior. 

His siblings don’t have the same problem. Leo is perceptive to a degree that borders upon clairvoyance, Mikey is the single-most emotionally intelligent member of their family, Raph is more charming than he gets credit for, and April can talk her way through any closed door, police tape or VIP-only entrance. None of them fumble the way Donnie does when a social interaction goes off-script, like it’s a volleyball that got served his way without the ample warning he needs to be anything approaching passable at the sport. 

But he knows he’s not imagining it—the way Gio seems to brace himself when Donnie comes into the room, like he’s expecting a confrontation every time. Like the last thing Donatello could want with him is something good. 

Donnie can be a lot. They all can. They come by it honestly, equal parts chaotic lab experiments and their father’s sons. And not every structure is built to withstand hurricane winds. Not every person is equipped to deal with a Hamato level weather event. 

But he has never seen Gio flinch away from anyone else. 

So he did what he always did when confronted by something outside his formidable repertoire—he took it to Leo. 

There had never in Donnie’s life been a problem that couldn’t be made into their problem. It came with twin territory. 

And Donnie’s twin in particular is good at translating Donatello and translating other people for Donatello, and jumps on any chance to be helpful and feel wanted, and absolutely loves problems. It’s one of the most annoying and endearing things about him. If there is any trouble within a hundred miles, Leo will find it. He will worm his way into the center of it and then puzzle his way out from the inside. Most other clever and curious people were satisfied by the daily Wordle; Leo would chew through a wall unless he had something more hands-on to occupy his mind with. As polar-opposite as the two of them could be in, in that regard, they were one and the same. 

It’s somewhat reassuring to Donnie that Leo’s immediate reaction is plain incredulity. He looks baffled, like Donnie has just started throwing stuff around the room for no reason. 

(He knows better. In the medbay, of all places, that would be a death wish. Leo runs a tight ship here and only here.)

“Sorry, you don’t think Gio likes you?” Leo says slowly. “Our Gio? The guy who let you infodump about the mycelial networks of fungi to him for almost two hours, all because Mikey mentioned he was making mushroom stir-fry for dinner?” 

Donnie scoffs, but he can’t help but feel warmed by the reminder. Gio had settled right in, the way he always did once he was sure of his welcome, and watched Donnie talk like nothing more interesting existed on this side of the equator.

“His eyes didn’t even glaze over,” Leo goes on, doing what he always does and pressing the advantage. “That’s a new personal best in this family. Even April started looking for a window to climb out of at the thirty minute mark.”

“There was bound to be at least one other mutant turtle in the New York metropolitan area with an appreciation for botany,” Donnie says imperiously, tilting his chin up. 

But the worry is still there, firmly rooted, trying to flower. Leo must be able to tell because his frown deepens, playfulness evaporating by the second. He pauses the music and sets his phone down. The room rings in the sudden silence, but it’s not uncomfortable, because it’s a room Donnie exists in with his twin. 

“I just want him to like me,” Donnie says. It’s a childish want, it makes him feel half his age, but it’s true. 

He was never one of those human kids lingering near the playground, on the edge of the classroom, desperate to fit in. He was never on the outs because he never had the chance to be. But this is probably what that would have felt like. 

Giorgio is quiet by default, absorbing everything with dark brown eyes, always pausing to think before speaking in a low, flat register that is becoming as familiar to Donnie as Raph’s comforting rumbles and Mikey’s energetic shrieks and Leo’s sweet or sly laughter. 

He hasn’t been anything but kind since he got here. He saved Leo, brought him home from a place it should have been impossible to come home from, so Donatello would put up with any manner of assholery from that quarter in exchange—but it’s not that at all. 

Once Gio’s initial guard goes up and then comes down, once they outlive that moment of consideration that verges upon scrutiny without ever crossing the line, the eldest turtle softens for any younger one like clockwork. He indulges whatever noise or nonsense they’ve brought with them like there is no better use of his time. 

It doesn’t seem like a lie. But Donnie is the least qualified person he knows to make that judgement call. 

There’s a lot at stake if he’s wrong, is all. 

Leo looks like Donnie has taken a melon baller to his insides just for fun. 

“I’d know if he didn’t like you,” Leo says with absolute certainty. And he probably would. And he would take it so personally. He wouldn’t let Gio know a single moment’s rest until the spotted turtle had a coming-to-Jesus moment and acknowledged his wrongdoings in canceled Youtuber apology video format. 

Since that isn’t the reality they live in—and Leo’s daily relentless pestering of Gio is harmless and little-sibling-shaped and decidedly not mean-spirited by any stretch of the imagination—some small part of the tight, unhappy feeling in Donnie’s heart has no choice but to accept that as the compelling argument it is. 

“He probably misses you, Tello,” Leo adds, something softening in his face that it hurts to look directly at. “His you, I mean. I know I would be a train wreck cosplaying as a person if I had to go someplace I’d never see you again. Can you imagine how screwed-up I’d be?”

Donnie’s whole soul shudders at the idea, at the nightmare that almost came true when the portal closed around the Technodrome and as good as severed Donnie clean down the middle. At the glimpse of a life he’d be forced to live with one leg, one lung, one arm, one eye, half a heart. 

“That’ll never happen,” he says, a little too loud. 

“You’re stuck with me,” Leo agrees. He means it, Donnie can tell—even after that almost-nightmare he put his family through, he means it. It’s one thing to take the nuclear option at the actual on-paper end of the world, it’s another to sit in a safe, warmly-lit room with his twin brother and try to conceive of an existence in which their dynamic duo was whittled down to a solo act. 

When they were little, Donnie once tried to explain how big the unobservable universe was. He told Leo that light from the big bang hadn’t reached Earth from all the way over there yet. It was a concept he struggled with as a child, that something could be so unknowable and immeasurable.

“That’s how big my ‘I love you’ is,” he said, all of seven years old and putting it into words the best way he knew how.

“I love you bigger than that,” Leo said promptly. 

“Ugh, you can’t,” Donnie said, frustrated at his twin for always trying to one-up him, for not understanding the huge thing Donnie was trying to compress and fit into his hands. “It’s not possible.”

“It is,” Leo said firmly, eyes gold to match Donnie’s, warm and shining in a way that was all his own. “I do.”

And then Leo went on to prove it. In a way Donnie never would have wanted him to—in an explosion that split the sky and left flash burns in their eyes, and the hollow pain of a surgical removal as the still-beating heart of their family was cut away, and the discordant electronic fuzz where a beloved voice had been rushing through last words, replaced by the sound of a radio without a signal, a device unpaired—but he proved it in a thousand other ways, too. 

He was even proving it now, this afternoon he spent leaning on a forearm crutch and ambling around to various shelves and cabinets to keep up with his stock of medical supplies that had been severely depleted in the weeks after the invasion. Leo had carried bandaids and lidocaine spray in a tiny tote bag since he was two feet tall. He couldn’t stop bad things from happening but he could try to make the bad things better. 

He’s looking at Donnie like he would right every wrong for him if he knew where to start. Like the unobservable universe was small enough to fit in his pocket compared to the lengths Leonardo would go for Donatello. 

Leo is the younger twin, but sometimes the only thing there is for Donnie to do is shuffle over and bonk their foreheads together and believe him. 

“If Gigi hated you, he wouldn’t be a Hamato,” Leo announces, muffled and silly and entirely correct. “It’s a required qualification. You must have missed that meeting with HR.” And then, because it’s important, he whispers, “I promise, okay?”

“Okay,” Donnie whispers back. 

At about that moment, TSwift’s I Think He Knows comes on, proving once and for all that there is actually no way Leo’s playlist is on shuffle. The weighted moment they’re holding on tight to transitions into a lighter one that gets flung haphazardly around as an immediate life-or-death struggle for the phone ensues. 

Stalemate is only reached when Splinter barges in to read them the riot act for daring to roughhouse while they had a non-zero number of broken bones between the two of them. Leo is bright-eyed with mischief and already fast-talking their way out of trouble the same effortless way April can rattle off her brothers’ favorite coffee orders, and Donnie’s worry has been soundly evicted, all its belongings in boxes in the yard. 

Sitting around has never been his style. He’s a turtle of discovery and invention. And now that he’s been reassured that the absolute worst-case scenario is not on the table—that it, in fact, was never on the table to begin with—curiosity rears its head and snaps up the dregs of anxiety like a hungry wolfhound who mistook it for an unattended rack of lamb. 

Hypothesis: Georgie isn’t being weird out of dislike of Donatello. Leo’s certain he’s not, so certain that he was willing to promise, point-blank and absolute, instead of being tricky and sly in the name of cheering Donnie up instead. Leo even offered a much more palatable alternative, but further evidentiary support is required. 

So after dinner a week later, as the whole family crowds comfortably around the banana split bar spilling across the entire kitchen island and argues over which toppings Gio and Casey should stack their bowls with first, Donnie blurts, “Can I see your crossbow?”

Giorgio really is one of the clowns in this circus. He proves it by putting his ice cream down, and picking the bow up from where it was relegated to the bench seat where everyone tosses their coats and shoes when they get home, and passing it right over. No normal person would put a loaded weapon in Donnie’s hands just because he asked nicely. 

As if in tacit agreement, both of Casey’s eyebrows shoot toward his hairline and Raph makes incredulous scoffing noises. April says, “You did not just—” at the same time Splinter blusters, “Purple, you fire that thing off in this house even once and I am grounding you from everything you know and love, including Orange!” and Donnie screeches, over Mikey and Leo’s hysterical laughter, “I can be trusted with projectile weaponry!”

The crossbow has been carefully maintained, but it hasn’t been used in weeks that Donnie is aware of. They’ve all stuck pretty close to home since the invasion, and it’s not like Gio knows anyone but them—it’s not like they need firepower for grocery hauls or pizza runs, though, knowing their luck, that could change any given day. 

But Gio still cleans it regularly, and he’s become a familiar sight at the kitchen table; parts spread out on an oil-stained rag, meticulous and methodical with the one belonging he brought here with him from the future other than the clothes on his back and the colorful friendship bracelet on his right wrist. 

It’s important to him, clearly, but he’s letting Donnie handle it with an indulgent look on his face. Like there are no better hands to leave it in than his little brother’s. 

Because he’s at risk of having a whole emotion about that out loud, where his entire family is assembled to witness it, Donnie quickly turns his mind onto the much safer road of gadgetry.  

He has never actually held a crossbow before, has never built or used one, but he’s been doing a lot of research. He has a lot of ideas. He wants to print mechanical broadhead arrows with explosive tips, or tear gas canisters, or EMP charges. It’s a brand new world of creative chaos and that’s not even touching all the build customizations Donnie has in mind. His fingers are already itching to dismantle and reassemble the machine into something better, something that won’t ever fail, something his big brother will love. 

Only—huh. What feels like a low-level electric current thrums to quiet life like it was waiting to be noticed by the right pair of eyes, just enough of a static shock to get his attention and guide his hand to the rail. Glowing purple does the work of an allen wrench in seconds and a handful of screws clatter to the table. Donnie removes the scope in one sure motion, and moves on to snap the rail from the stock. 

Raph says, low and warning, “Donnie,” intimately familiar with gremlin gadget mode and all the kitchen appliances and shared toys destroyed in Donnie’s early years in the name of science. But he’s not breaking this time, he’s just looking. 

He flips the rail over in his hands and finds the source of that odd electricity-conductive feeling. Hidden on the underside is a small embossed logo that Donnie would recognize anywhere, because it’s his.

“A-ha!” he says, absurdly pleased with the discovery. “A Genius Built mod.” 

The rail was one of the first things he’d had in mind to upgrade, but it looks like he’d beaten himself to the punch. 

“With a custom rail, we can add whatever attachments we want to the stock, way beyond just an average scope or a rangefinder,” Donnie says eagerly, his mind darting ahead in three different directions at once. “The world is our oyster, Georgie!” 

He can’t help grinning. His logo on Gio’s prized possession is that last little bit of evidence he needed. He’s never been happier to be wrong, and will endure Leo’s smugness for an unheard of two entire business days before initiating retaliation. 

No version of Donatello would put that mark on anything unless he really cared about it. 

And Gio wouldn’t lift the rail from Donnie’s hands, and touch his thumb to that stylized “D” as if to prove to himself that it was real, an expression of painful wistful longing on his face, unless he really cared, too. 

[enwoso]

could we have a hc or a short blurb about Alessia’s birth with Grumpy?

new arrival | alessia russo x child!reader

grumpy masterlist

🌸 alessia was over being pregnant, she wanted nothing more than to meet her little one. the sore back, swollen feet and the needing to pee after every single minute was boring now. she wanted to start her motherhood life now.

🌸 so when she started getting contractions, a small part of her was really relieved but every single other part of her was in a serious amount of pain.

🌸 her mum, carol, stayed by her side the entire time during the delivery while her dad, mario and two brothers giorgio and luca awaited the news of their new addition to the family at home.

🌸 “mum, i can’t- it hurts too much” “yes you can less, your the strongest person i know!”

🌸 after a very long and grueling five hours of active labour, but ultimately a very smooth birth. smoother than alessia had been expected having had every complication outcome scenario planned out in her head just in case. however thankfully they weren’t needed and finally alessia’s lovie was being placed onto her chest as small cries filled the room.

🌸 alessia just looking at you with so much love. as she took in all your features, your tiny hands, small pink lips and your little button nose as well as the small amount of hair that was on your head. in alessia’s eyes you were perfect.

🌸 “oh alessia she’s gorgeous! she’s even got your nose!” carol would point out as alessia would nod, her eyes bubbling with tears — happy ones though.

🌸 alessia’s dad and brothers rushing into the room talking loud and excitedly as carol shushed them in case it startled you, the three taking in your tiny form and you were passed to her dad for him to hold before alessia’s brothers.

🌸 the topic of your name, soon came around but alessia had already settled on your name months ago before you were born however wanting to be sure and seeing your little face she knew that your name would suit you perfectly.

🌸 “i’m already the favourite uncle! she just gave me a small smile” gio would tease his older brother who would just roll his eyes as alessia and her parents would laugh at their antics.

🌸 “i really hate to burst your bubble gio but she’s probably just hungry— and i don’t think newborns can smile just yet!” alessia would point out, as you would be passed back to your mum. it just about being time for your feed.

[taylorkellyreporting]

i hope no one minds if i liveblog this bitch: high potential from 1x07

fell very behind on this show and i’m very happy to be watching it again <3

idk why, but i have a feeling this guy’s gonna get arrested for the murder

only a couple minutes in and i’m stressed tf out

i don’t really like how this episode is directed 🫠

this dude knows damn well morgan is the best detective

i don’t buy that this guy is the killer

morgan to the rescue, as always

maybe not the time but i hope we get karadec worried about morgan and ava

“i don’t trust cops and neither should you.” hilarious coming from two army soldiers

FUCK

God, morgan is so smart. i know that we know this but still. she’s a genius!!

this morgan and ava scene ❤️‍🩹

OH FUCKING DAMN IT

MORGAN GILLORY THE GENIUS THAT YOU ARE

karadec watching morgan reunite with ava and ludo 🥺

SHE HAS A DESK 🥹🫶🏼

lmao karadec knowing morgan isn’t gonna use her desk and not even saying a word when she plops herself and her belongings on his 😭😭 we’ve come so far

this episode was amazing and probably my fave so far. this particular storyline has been so overdone but the show still had me stressed the entire time. can’t wait for what’s next!!

1x08

tom and morgan are giving me a little buzz

oh wow. he’s a lot older than i thought

his girlfriend’s attacked and he’s talking about pool tile? i don’t like him

what the hell…

it’s probably just because i’ve watched matlock but maybe she lied about who she was cause she thought the older guy she’s dating is the one who killed her boyfriend

OH?? A MURDER BOARD

man, i love morgan

these brothers are probably the killers

i hate the way this guy talks

maybe it wasn’t blaine but the brother

“sorry, i’m not familiar.” “oh, you’re about to be.�� lmao he knows morgan so well

this episode is messy as hell 😭

i knew morgan would see herself in penny

MORGAN AND KARADEC SOLO SCENE IN HIS APARTMENT??? LIFE IS WORTH LIVING

“i like it.” yeah, i bet you do

working the case in karadec’s apartment…eating dinner…while hozier is playing. THIS IS A DATE.

the way morgan could’ve went to see tom but she chose to spend the rest of her night with karadec instead…i see what the showrunner is doing 🤭

the look on karadec’s face when morgan brought up tom…this episode has given me so much

“do you want it to happen?” JESUS

KARADEC OPENING UP TO MORGAN 💗💗💗

“it’s for the best, she deserved to be with a man that wasn’t in love with something else…this.” and that’s why he and morgan are perfect for each other! she matches his freak.

i knew it was edward

not him running to that cliff…DO A FLIP!

“take care of yourself.” morgan is such a sweetheart

karadec offering to drop morgan off at tom’s 😭

poor penny 💔 i’m so glad she got her answers

i want to like him, but i don’t trust tom. i wouldn’t be surprised if it comes out that he has some kind of history with roman

what is your story, roman 🤨

morgadec too sweet montage so good i had to run it back one more time

this is my favorite episode so far, MORGADEC SHIPPERS WE ARE SO UP

1x09

bring your baby to work day

“she brought her baby to work?” “yes, she did.” “well, that is a first.” “mm. and hopefully a last.” he is TIRED 😭

omg the roman of it all is getting real

“if money was a motive for killing my dad, shouldn’t i have waited ‘til i was in the will?” he has a point

oh, come on. selena reaches out to gio and suddenly tom is leaving? either he’s gio or someone just really want us to think he is

karadec interrupting their hug 😭

karadec is being so talkative this episode and morgan is not matching his energy 😔💔

damn, morgan, if you wanna sit on karadec’s lap just say so 😭

this look. right here. what the fuck.

NOT MORGAN STEALING TIANA’S PHONE

okay so tom is definitely not gio but i still don’t trust him

i really wish they would stop having ava insult the way morgans brain works

“my lasting memory is going to be of him calling me a vulture.” poor guy

karadec heard the favor was for morgan and immediately folded 😭

“by the time i hear back from the national insurance crime bureau and search every corner of the secretary of state database, whoever murdered marvin will probably be dead too.” the look on her face and her delivery is sending me

“you know, i know a good dentist when you need one.” pls

HELP NOT HIM NAMING HIS CARS AFTER MEMBERS OF THE BEATLES 😭😭

it’s too early for him to be the real killer. was he in on it? possibly. but i don’t think he acted alone, if he did.

damn, that’s crazy. i was really expecting tiana to have something more to do with marvin’s murder.

selena should’ve given karadec credit for solving the case, too.

karadec telling the victims son that his dad loved him and that the only personal picture in his office was of him 🥺 he’s such a softie 💕

ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME

“i’m here now, too so whatever you need, however i can help, just say the word.” HE’S GOT IT BAD

i can’t believe i’m about to say this but i hope she gives gio a ride

whew, that final scene was so good.

this episode was pretty good! i loved hearing karadec talking about his father and i LOVED all the looks he was giving morgan and how he folded the second he found out the favor was for her. the slow burn is slow burning 🫶🏼

1x10

well that’s traumatizing

“marlo, we don’t eat grass! have some seaweed!” 😭

SCREAMING at morgan doing an impression of karadec having an orgasm

they both know she’s not staying there

“and you got married!” karadec’s face 😭😭

they just got mistaken for a married couple, MORGADEC SHIPPERS WE KEEP WINNING

“what do you know about tara foley?” “everything!” “did you know she was murdered?” “almost everything.” pls

he didn’t even hesitate to say who hired him 😭

“they thought the nanny was mistreating their son.” well, that’s certainly not the impression they gave off earlier.

this guys husband is so done with him dkfjgjd

HOW does this guy not know what’s going on in his own home

“there’s a nanny cam in the north pole?” crying

them being in counseling isn’t at all surprising

“i can’t believe you.” “me neither.” morgan 😭

either carina’s lying or her husband mark was using her account to spread lies about tara.

an immigration lawyer???

that prime mention was so obviously promotion

poor baby elliot ☹️

“we listen and we don’t judge” morgadec cannot relate

“tara was my babysitter.” uhhh???

this dude is hilarious

finn is evil and elliot deserves better

i really hope daphne walks into selena’s office next

oooh was it another nanny? maybe rosa?

lmaoooo the rest of the people in carina’s meeting all turning away after she shouts “alaskan spruce” is sending me

when they were talking to the nannies in the park i turned to my sister and jokingly said “it was the nannies” but it’s not looking like a joke anymore 😭

not morgan and carina bonding fkgjvns

so that’s what the lawyer was for

oh, karadec liked that nickname 😭

the picture of tara with the baby :(

this show always makes me so damn emotional

so glad ava was there for elliot in the end

this ep was really good, i liked the storyline this time around and i feel so sad for elliot :( so happy ava was there for him, though. i already knew morgadec was endgame but them being mistaken for a married couple and the when harry met sally scene really just solidified it for me <3

1x11

oh shit, okay.

alright selena fkgjfjd

karadec taking both badges away 😭

oh, he’s feeling playfullll

“i would’ve killed for a rock to live under.” i don’t blame her

i find it very hard to believe no one in the house heard him fall down the stairs

this episode is right up my alley!!

that was a very far fetched theory but i’m here for it

THE DUMMY? this show is so unserious 😭😭

“is ida okay?” karadec’s face pls

i just know morgan did this dkfjgjd

MATTY THE BADDIE 💀

this ep is so knives out coded, i wonder if they were a bit inspired by the movies

oof, that murder was deserved

it was the murderer disguised as barry

maybe cody is the one who killed him 🤨

ida perp is still sending me

I KNEW IT WAS CODY

“he’ll likely serve less than three years.” good

IS MY LIFE A JOKE TO YOU

that big ass smile on her face 🥹🫶🏼

slowburns they could never make me hate you

this episode was so fun!! i really like the style and i’m even more sure they took inspo from knives out, which i love!! there wasn’t a lot of morgadec but man, did that final scene make up for it.

1x12

LUDO!!

“who is she?” “oh, i’m standing right here, you can just ask me.” queen

we’re gonna get petty!karadec this ep 🤭

morgan found out karadec doesn’t fuck with his old partner and started treating him accordingly

ohhh shit that was not expected

i can’t wait for morgan to prove these stuck up fbi agents wrong

OH MY GOD

“oz, right?” “yeah.” “do me a favor, stay in your lane.” “and you do me a favor, show us some respect in our house. you don’t live here any more.” “daphne-“ “no! that is my partner you’re talking to, choose your words carefully.” “that sounds like a warning, detective.” “how perceptive.” HELLO??? THIS WHOLE SCENE?? *chefs kiss*

oz just somehow became even hotter, which is not something i thought was possible

DAPHNE DEFENDING OZ, OZ DEFENDING DAPHNE, AND KARADEC DEFENDING MORGAN

“right now we’re just a distraction for him, especially morgan. he sees her exactly the same way i used to before i realized how valuable she really is.” THIS EPISODE IS FEEDING ME

“ronnie and karadec are bitter exes.” what the hell, sure, i’ll incorporate that into my belief system.

i fear ludo’s gonna lose it soon

ronnie isn’t answering…i bet they already figured it out and just kept it from karadec and morgan

“kenneth, freeze!” girl, did you really think that would work?

wait…are the marks on the body from being tied up???

well 😭

i really hope they don’t kill off ludo

poor elliot, he’s been going through it ☹️

karadec definitely has some lingering feelings for ronnie dkfjfjs

“kenneth was a butterfly.” FUCK SHE REALLY IS RUBBING OFF ON HIM

not the dog being the murder weapon 😭

not ronnie wanting karadec back 😭 sorry man, he’s all morgan’s now.

“i have a new partner now.”

KARADEC LOOKING MORGAN UP AND DOWN AS SHE’S WALKING AWAY AND SAYING “yeah.” TO HIMSELF RIGHT AS THE LYRICS SAY “i’ve got the good side of things” WHAT THE FUUUUUCK

i don’t even know where to start, this episode had almost everything i ever wanted. amazing, amazing. amazing. i’m so sad the next ep is the finale ☹️

1x13

morgan’s so fucking funny 😭

“there’s photos, if you ever wanna see ‘em.” i love daphne sm

well, shit.

i’m so here for the puzzles!! my favorite episode of svu is scavenger and if this episode is anything like that one, it’ll be an excellent watch.

karadec just freely giving up information about himself to morgan gives me such a buzz

i’m already so obsessed with this episode oh my God

GEO???

i kinda like him tbh

trying to figure out of morgan was being watched in that diner or if that’s just how that scene was filmed

ava making a memory book for her dad ☹️ i hope if roman is alive, he’s a good man.

what is the deal with oz…

oh brother 🙄

really loving them almost always showing karadec after a morgan/tom scene

this episode is so creepy, i love it

oz :((

“smart people have blind spots, too.” “and my heart breaks for them.” 😭

karadec is sooo protective of morgan 🥰

OH MY GOD THIS EPISODE IS EXCELLENT

those dolls are so creepy

now karadec wants morgan to open up to him!! morgadec shippers we have come so far 🫶🏼

really hope tom going to the gala means we get a jealous karadec

“daphne can watch my back.” “i always do.” her smug little smile 😭 i love them

did karadc have a date planned or…?

“aw, look at you. you got all dressed up just for me.” agent ronnie i know what u are.

karadec is down HORRENDOUS for morgan 😭 what do you mean he reached out to ronnie so he can look into this flynn woman 😵‍💫

oh, roman. what were you up to?

FUCK

i LOVE when karadec shows his more playful side

“morgan’s not here yet, either.” “i’m pretty sure she’ll be easy to spot when she shows up.” 😵‍💫

okay, that look on karadec’s face when he sees morgan!!!! my guy froze. that is the face of a man who’s *realizing things*

“ah, you look absolutely stunning.” IS MY LIFE A JOKE TO YOU?!?!????

HE’S SO FLUSTERED THAT HE OFFERED TO BUY HER A DRINK THAT’S FUCKING FREE

not looking forward to tom ruining this

THEY’RE DANCING??(!?&(&;&:’

LIFE IS WORTH LIVING

“i know how much this means to you. that’s why it matters to me, too.” what the fuck man.

THIS MAN HAS FEELINGS

“hey partner, trust me. okay?” I’M GONNA SCREAM.

FUCK OFF TOM NO ONE WANTS YOU HERE

so glad they were interrupted

OH MY GOD OZ!!!!! THEY BETTER SAVE HIM

OH THANK GOD

i wanna give oz the biggest hug

morgadec really has come so far. what do you mean karadec is acting aggressive on behalf of her???

have a feeling the guy talking to morgan and the kids is david

KNEW IT

what the fuuuuuuck

WHAT. WHAT??!?&?’vn WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK JUST HAPPENED? WAS THAT ROMAN??? SOMEONE WHO KNOWS HIM? WHERE IS SEASON TWO

in many, many ways, this was even better than that svu episode. there is SO much to unpack and i can barely get my thoughts in order so i just want to say that this was for sure the best episode of the season. my God. this picture is literally me right now. can’t wait for season 2!!

[caramelcleopatraa]

Sparks Flyin' (Suit & Tie Revised)

Word Count: 1.4k~

x: hey y'all, its the owner of The Bank speaking! Finally got this shit finished, and I'm halfway into part 5 already 💋 Here are the playlists loves! I will actively be adding to these as the story progresses. We got ms. plot in the building as well xo

Content: Mafia!Roman Reigns x Designer!Reader, suggestive

Playlists 💋 Spotify Apple Music

“Rommannn! Are you done yet baby?” A high pitched yell on the other side of the door startles you. Roman’s grip on you tightens and you give him a confused look. He plants a tender kiss on your cheek, leaving you a little bit flustered, and he smiles at your flustered expression. His hand pushes your head down on his shoulder and you take a deep breath. 

“Yeah. Just be patient, ok?” Roman says sternly. “But Baaeee! You’ve been in there too lon-” “I’m not finna tell you again. Wait,” Roman says, rubbing the back of his neck. Annoyance was written all over his face. De’arra groans in defeat and the comfortable silence settles back into the atmosphere.

‘Pleeaase! Please! Pleeaassee! Don’t let this turn into some drama…’

You let your nails drag across his chest. “Am I gon’ have to worry about her fucking up my shop?” 

“Nah, she all bark no bite,” Roman says, looking down at your hands. “She’s not that petty or jealous.” You look at him with your eyebrow raised. ‘For him to be a ladies man, he should know how petty bitches are. ESPECIALLY when it comes to a man.’

“I hope so. I don’t wanna deal with yo’ loose ends,” You say, getting off of him and standing up to pick your bottoms off of the floor. 

“I got my shit together girl. I already told you I’m not fucking with her. She’s only around me cause her daddy likes my money.” ‘Money? Who’s her dad?’

*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*

“The couples are finished.” Aahkilah yells at you from the otherside of the door. Both of you finished getting dressed and clean up the dressing room. You were about to walk out of the room until Roman grabbed your hand and pulled you closer to him. You were going to question why he pulled you away before his hands rose above your head. His hands firmly smooth down your hair and fixed some stray hairs. You couldn’t take your eyes off of him. He handled you with such care and delicacy. You tell him thank you and he responds with a short hum.

 You open the door to greet your clients. Gio and Madison are working as cashiers, ringing both of them up for their suits and dresses. Jey and Jimmy are putting in their payments while Talia and Trinity are talking. “Girl come over here real quick!” You hear Talia yelling at you to come over. From the tone in her voice, you couldn’t tell what this conversation was going to be about. However, you wouldn’t be in the dark for much longer. “Wassup?”

“Girl you ain’t hear?” Trinity says looking at you with a confused face. You shrug your shoulders and replied, “I be busy. Enlighten me.”

“There’s a new family trying to replace the Anoa’i family.”

Talia crosses her arms and sits into her hip. The blank expression on your face says everything. The Anoa’i family has been managing Florida for decades. To challenge them would be like walking straight into a turf war. Apparently, someone wanted that war. “They’re offering hella bank tryna take their spot too. I wonder if that shit’s fake… or a bluff maybe.” 

“They’ll take that offer back when they realize who they’re messing with,” You mutter to your friends. Even your family didn’t dare challenge them, because they’re smart enough to know it’ll go every other way but good. Your family, the Semele’s and the Anoa’i family have always been on good terms. The Semele’s don’t own turf however, they are known for having access to a lot of things most mafia’s don't. Your family is known for being suppliers of information, stolen goods, weapons, you name it. So if Reigns is being threatened, that means you could be in trouble too, since everyone knows these two families are tightly tied together. A power duo, if you will. 

“You’re not worried about this?” Trinity’s face is laced with concern for you. You shrugged your shoulders, rolling your eyes as well. “This could just be a scare tactic, and those don’t work on me,” You said confidently as you gave them a reassuring smile. 

“That’s not something for a pretty lady to worry about. I’ll handle it,” Roman says, looking straight into your eyes. Goddamnit, those eyes. Somehow they made you so flustered. His presence was enough on its own, but his stare was so damn powerful. You were ashamed that someone you had only met an hour ago was making you so giddy and out of character. The tension between you two was thick, and everyone was starting to feel it. “You gon’ let me handle it?”

“What? You're not gonna let me handle it? Don't think I can?”

“It’s not your problem,” Roman says sternly, deading the conversation then and there. You walk closer to the cashier desk to talk to him directly. “Is this your way of caring for me?” Roman smirks at your comment. “When I said I'd take care of you, I wasn't just talking about that pussy.” Gio and Madison’s jaws drop at his comment. You could see them looking at you through the corner of your eye and you knew you would have to explain what he meant by that. You couldn't hide the smile forming on your face, so you turned your attention to your shoes. “You like that?” You didn’t even have to look at him to know that he was smiling. You could hear it all in his tone. “Boy, I’m not playing with you,” you say, walking away, still wearing an existing smile. Roman laughs to himself and hands Gio a stack of cash.

“Neither am I.”

You finished another successful busy day. A shit load of fittings and pickups. Roman had someone pick up all of their suits and dresses, which completed all of your custom orders for the day. Finally, a chance to get off of your feet.

“Ummm what the hell was that this morning?” ‘Ahh shit.'

You internally roll your eyes. Eventually, they were gonna bring it up to you. Maybe trying to play dumb was not the best decision on your part.

“What was what?” You innocently bat your eyes at the two ladies. “The smile off you had with your private client. Don’t tell me something went down after I dropped off your drink,” Madison says, sitting down in the swivel chair next to you. You almost muttered a snarky comeback when you were hit with flashbacks from this morning.

"Lemme love on that pussy, baby."

“That pussy got me drenched baby.”

“Cum on my tongue, mama.”

How he spoke to you and how he touched you kept replaying in your mind. A pool between your legs was forming just from the thought of him. 

“Oh he definitely put it down.” You are quick to defend yourself just as Gio says, “You’re over here in lala land! And at your job too!” Gio acts shocked and puts her hand over her heart and lets out an exaggerated gasp. You hit her in the side and shy away from their investigating eyes. The deafening silence was telling the truth for you. 

“Well we didn’t fuck.. But he did eat me out,” you shyly said, still looking away from them. You didn’t have to look at them to know that their mouths were wide open again. What you didn’t know was those open mouths turned into wide smiles. “Ok! Ms. CEO gettin some head! Was it good?”

‘WAS IT GOOD? GOOD’S AN INSULT’ “Um…” 

Before you finished your sentence, Madison interjects with, “Musta been, you looked like you were in a good mood today too. Especially after Roman’s fitting” You regrettably looked back in their direction and saw Madison wiggling her eyebrows. You lightly shove her away from you and stand up. “No, the fitting went well with no complications. That's what I was happy about.” You attempt to defend yourself, but you should’ve known that it was falling on deaf ears. Madison and Gio help you close down and lock up the shop. Of course, Madison had to tell you her two cents before going your separate ways. 

“Look at you smilin-”

“Shut up.”

🏷️ tags :) @2-muchsauce @theninthwonder @harmshake @alichesmi @thesamoanqueen @alyyaanna @empressdede @badbitchcentralinc @christinabae @fame-ass-ers @southerngirl41

[futfemfantasies]

Not for long \\ giovana queiroz x reader

Prompt #30

Stirring the food in the pot, the aroma of the different herbs and spices hit your nostrils. Just as you put the wooden spoon down, you feel muscular arms envelope your waist and you lean back into Gio. You feel her pull you closer while her lips attach to your exposed neck. One hand goes under your shirt and while the other slightly underneath the waistband of your shorts. Your eyes flutter close but re-open sooner than you’d like, as you smell something burning. You quickly try to salvage the food but it was too late. You turn to Gio who has a mischievous look on her face and is laughing at your supposed ‘angry’ face.

“What are we going to eat now?” You ask, still made about the now burnt spaghetti sauce. Taking a step towards you, Gio scans her eyes up and down your frame and bites her lip slightly.

“I can think of something” Your eyes go wide at Gio’s suggestion and you lightly hit her on the arm.

“We can order in and have a lazy night okay?”

You agree with Gio’s proposal and suggest getting pizza from your favourite place around the corner. You announce you are having a shower and you’ve never heard Gio speak quicker on the phone than in that moment.

After some fun activities in the shower, you both retreat to the couch where you wait for the pizza. The doorbell rings through the apartment and you jump up with excitement, with Gio laughing and shaking her head. Oh how I’m going to miss her, Gio thinks to herself. She gets pulled out of her thoughts by a kiss on her cheek and a plate put in her lap. She quietly thanks you and busies herself by eating as many pieces of pizza her stomach allows her. You move the pizza box to the kitchen to come back to find Gio in that same position again, lost in her thoughts. You put yourself in her lap and cupped both cheeks.

“What’s going on baby?”

“I have some news and I don’t know how to tell you without crying”

“It’s okay baby, you’re allowed to cry”

One tear escapes Gio’s eyes then a waterfall appeared down her cheeks. You held her close and tight and she did the same to you. You moved to a more comfortable position where Gio was lying on top of you, her head on your stomach, saturating your tee shirt with tears but you didn’t care. You just wanted to know what has gotten your girl so upset, so you could think of some ways to help. You brush your fingers through her hair and her breathing evens out, she’s relaxed now. Gio looks up at you with her red, puffy eyes and sad smile decorating her face.

“Can you tell me what’s got you so upset now my love?” You question, tucking her loose hair behind her ear

“I’m leaving Barca at the end of the season. I’m going to Arsenal”

You take a few seconds to digest what Gio just said but then you break out in a big smile, hugging her tightly.

“This is so great for you baby”

“How do feel about it?” Gio asks you as she sits up slightly, pulling you into her lap.

“I think it’s going to be great for you babe. I just know Leah and Beth will look after you”

You talk about everything about London and Gio doesn’t appear to be upset about it now.

It’s been four long months without seeing your love and you’ve finally got time to surprise her. You picked up a little knock to your shoulder so the Barca medical team suggest 2 weeks to heal. After long discussions about recovery and the healing process with the head of medical, they let you have 2 weeks personal leave. You got back from training and dumped your kit bag at the door. You kick off your trainers and sprinted upstairs to immediately book a flight to London. You found a flight leaving in 5 hours, so you quickly text your teammates to tell them you won’t be in the country and race around to find your passport and pack your bag. In the middle of all the chaos, you almost forgot your daily call with Gio. You both talk about your day when you hear Gio sniffle, meaning she’s about to cry or has just cried.

“What’s wrong G?”

“I miss you” Gio pouted.

“It’s only temporary mi amor”

You two eventually hang up, with your lame lie of you having a team bonding lunch you need to get ready for. Gio reluctanty let’s you go and you promise to call her later. You check the time and you are set to leave in 30 minutes. You shove more random clothes, that consisted of both yours and Gio’s in a suitcase before having a quick shower and setting off.

You arrive in London and you feel like you can breath again. You whistle down a taxi and give them Gio’s address. The whole time you’re bouncing your leg and picking at the skin around your nails. You are nervous and you don’t know why. You’re about to spend 2 weeks with your girl and watch her play with her new team. A little while later, the taxi pulls up to the apartment complex and you thank the driver as he got you suitcase out of the trunk. You quickly scroll through yours and Gio’s texts to find the apartment number. As soon as you find it, you race to the elevator and put in the floor number. You practically run out of the elevator and run down the hall to apartment 347.

You take a moment to yourself before wiping the palms on your sweats and knocking on the door. You hear that accent you’ve missed so dearly yell out ‘I’ll be a minute!’. You cover the peep hole and the wooden door swings open to reveal your Brazilian beauty wearing nothing but an oversized t-shirt and panties. You both look at each other like it was the first time all over again until Gio hugs you tightly. You wince slightly due to your shoulder and Gio immediately apologises.

“What are you waiting for? Kiss me”

Gio rolled her eyes before kissing you passionately. Eventually, you both pulled away and Gio wheeled your suitcase inside. You both went straight into her bedroom and cuddled. A few hours later, you decided to tell Gio your news. You looked up at her and the golden light from the sunset shone perfectly on Gio’s features, making you fall in love with her all over again.

“I have some news” You say sitting up slightly.

“I’m all ears”

“I’m leaving Barca at the end of the season” This causes Gio to sit up too.

“Where are you going to play?”

“Arsenal”

“You’re kidding?” You shake your head and Gio leaps up from the bed and starts celebrating.

“I’m so happy for you beautiful” Gio jumps on the bed and kisses you, but both of you smiling so it’s short lived.

“I told you it was only temporary”

“I love you mi amor”

“I love you more baby"

[scarabsinthestardust]

Right on Time // Ch. 10

CHAPTER WARNINGS: previous domestic violence situations; injuries from physical abuse; anxiety; fear; depression; language; verbal arguments; talks of murder & attempted murder; mentions of police/detective; jail/correctional facility; mentions of alcohol withdrawal; mentions of being put in restraints; toxic/manipulative behavior from an abuser

MASTERLIST

word count: 5100+

“You sure you wanna do this?”

Josh nodded, swallowing down any remaining anxiety that dwelled at the forefront of his mind. I squeezed his thigh as we prepared to get out of the car and make our appearance at my parents’ house. If I’m being honest, I think I was much more nervous about it than he was.

I was dumbfounded when he told me he wanted to go with me to dinner. He hadn’t even left the house once, and I personally didn’t feel like attending a hectic family gathering was a great way to start re-integrating himself. But he insisted. “I just want to start feeling normal again,” he said.

I’d previously given my mom a brief rundown of recent events so she wouldn’t be shocked when she saw Josh, his face and neck still bruised, his hand in a cast. However, I knew she wouldn’t tell everyone else Josh’s business, so I expected a lot of questions from other family members. I worried the bombardment from so many people, combined with the noise levels, would send him over the edge.

I kept a close eye on him, watching for any sign that he needed a break. My mom was gentle when she pulled him in for a hug, then all but ruined the moment when she said, “Pigs. They’ll eat everything but the teeth. If you ever needed to know what to do with a—”

“Jesus Christ, Ma.” I shook my head and steered Josh away before she could say anything else on the topic of illegal corpse disposal. I apologized to Josh, but he just smirked.

“I think she’s great.”

One of my uncles immediately asked if he’d been in a car accident. Josh responded with only a curt nod and made no attempt to share the truth, so that’s what we went with. I’m not sure how anyone believed the bruises on his neck were from a seatbelt.

Alex was running late. I was a little worried about Maddie’s reaction to Josh’s injuries, or that she’d excitedly make a running leap for him and hurt him. I kept an ear out for their arrival so I could soften those potential blows.

I didn’t even hear her come in. We were sitting at the table, chatting with my cousin Gio. When Maddie found Josh in the small crowd, she marched up to him like a girl on a mission, her sneakers lighting up with every step.

“Hey, punk,” he smiled at her.

She took in the sight of him, eyes wide, then said (quite loudly), “Did you fight a bear?!”

“Maddie,” I warned, flinching at the sudden rise in volume.

But Josh was holding his own just fine. He leaned forward, bringing his hand up to the side of his mouth like he was telling her some huge secret. “Actually, it was three bears. And I totally won.”

“No way!” And at Maddie’s behest, he proceeded to tell her the most ridiculous story he could come up with on the spot – the bears were armed with swords, and one of them had an eyepatch. I didn’t catch his explanation of why he had to fight them in the first place. Just as Maddie was hanging onto his every word, I was hooked on his smile, his laughter, and the unbridled happiness in his eyes, something that had become a rare occurrence these days.

I took a minute to check in with Alex, who offered a sympathetic smile when I approached her. “Mom told me a little bit.” She motioned toward Josh. “How’s he been holding up?”

“Some days are better than others,” I told her. “But he’s enjoying himself right now.”

“And what about you?”

“Me? I’m fine.”

“Don’t lie to me, Cairo.” She gave me a pointed look.

“I’m… I’m okay.” I sighed, not really knowing what to say, but the words did come. “I’m angry, upset, and if I’m being completely honest, scared to fucking death. I almost lost him, and some nights that’s all I can think about. But I try to remind myself that what matters is I didn’t. He’s still here, and I need to hold it together for him.”

“You don’t have to be the strong one all the time. This has been hard on you, too.”

“But he needs the support more that I do right now.”

She sighed. “Just don’t overdo it. You can’t take care of him if you’re not taking care of yourself.”

Did it look like I hadn’t been taking care of myself? I know I hadn’t been sleeping great, and I was undeniably stressed, but I didn’t think I was doing that badly. Even if I admitted that Alex was right, though, what could I even do? Things would get easier with time, but all the pain behind it would stick for a long time, like gum on hot concrete. I didn’t know if Josh would ever be one hundred percent okay again, but the only way that was even possible was for all of this shit with Finn to completely end. And I had a feeling it was far from over.

~

Josh finally decided he was ready to get out of his brother’s house and come to mine, where we also began the search for the house we’d eventually buy together. It was still an adjustment; we both knew there wasn’t any kind of overnight fix for what he went through, but he was coping. His anxiety was still at an all-time high, and the nightmares were relentless, but he’d gotten more comfortable in reaching out for help, even if all he needed was someone to help ground him. I didn’t mind it either when he was finding it impossible to sleep, and he’d wake me up, simply so he wasn’t alone.

Going back to work was hard. I missed my job while I was out, missed the people, but I hated leaving Josh alone for that long. I probably asked him a thousand times if I could drop him off at Jake’s or ask one of his brothers to come stay with him, but he refused. “I can’t let you baby me forever,” he said, explaining that this was just another step toward the normalcy that he craved. I did, however, text him every chance I got, just to ensure he was okay.

I returned home after a shift to find him curled up on the couch, scribbling in a notebook. I pretended I didn’t notice the deep exhale he let out when he saw me, an indicator that he’d been holding his breath as I unlocked and opened the door.

“Hey, you,” he greeted, a sweet smile on his face.

“Hey.” I dropped my bag on the floor, swearing I’d get up and take care of it later, and sat next to him on the couch. “Whatcha working on?”

“New song. Still in the early stages, though.” He let me take a peek at the page, mostly covered with doodles and a couple lines of lyrics he’d jotted down. He closed the notebook and tossed it on the coffee table, and I noticed what he was wearing. I eyed the navy-blue sweatshirt, the little ‘Nashville Fire Department’ logo on the left side of his chest, and I couldn’t help the small smile of my own that formed.

“You’re wearing my shirt.”

He grinned sheepishly. “S’ comfy. And it smells like you.” He leaned his head on my shoulder.

“It looks good on you.” I snaked an arm around his waist and gently scooted him closer to me. The sleeve rode up a bit, just enough to expose the cast on his wrist; before we left my parents’ house, Maddie decided the cast was seriously lacking character, hence her drawing of what I’m pretty sure was a dead grizzly bear.

“Cairo?”

“Hm?”

“Can I talk to you about something?” The tone of his voice made me immediately worried.

“What’s up?” I tried to keep my own inflection light. I didn’t want to make him nervous or feel like he couldn’t talk to me about it, whatever it was.

“I’ve been thinking a lot about… well, everything. There’s still so much that I don’t understand, ya know? And… I know a lot of it, I might never have the answers to, like… when I think about that poor kid, when I think about what he did to Stephen… I can’t help but wonder if he knew… if he knew he was gonna die, like I thought I was gonna.” His voice cracked and he sniffled, but he continued. “It coulda been me, and maybe… maybe it should’ve been me, but—”

“Josh, don’t—”

“I know. I’m sorry.” He toyed with the sleeve of his (my) sweatshirt. “The point is, maybe it doesn’t all have to be like that forever, surreal and uncertain. I could… I could at least get some answers, some closure. And I know how, but you’re gonna hate it.”

“What did you have in mind?”

“I wanna go see him.”

The metaphorical record scratch into silence was almost audible in my head, and I stared at him, completely dumbfounded. “Please tell me you’re not talking about who I think you’re talking about.”

“If I could just talk to him, maybe—”

“Are you insane?” That was low. “Are you seriously talking about visiting the guy that almost fucking killed you?”

“It’s not like I’d really be alone with him, if that’s what you’re worried about. There are guards, and isn’t there a divider we’d have to talk through?”

“Not necessarily. It’s not prison, it’s a local jail, and I don’t have a lot of faith in the security there. There’s no guarantee you’d be safe. You’d be locking yourself in a cage with a tiger, and you’re the…”

“I’m the what? Say it.”

“Prey.” It sounded awful when I said it out loud, and I was already beating myself up over it. “I don’t know what you think you need from him, but—”

“Do you think I’m weak?” He was staring me directly in the eyes when he said it, jaw tensed.

“What? That’s not—”

“You think I can’t take care of myself, that I need you to coddle me all the time. I’m not a fucking child, Cairo. And I certainly don’t need your permission.”

“Josh, I’m not…” I closed my eyes and sighed. I was pissed off, but didn’t really have the energy to argue. “I’m… I’m gonna go take a shower.” He scoffed and shook his head as I stood and walked away.

As the hot water washed over me, I let my thoughts drift. I couldn’t understand why the hell he would even consider going anywhere near Finn. What did he think he could possibly achieve? I mean, the guy tried to murder him, made the decision to wrap his hands around Josh’s throat and strangle him. Did Josh think he’d get some kind of meaningful explanation or a heartfelt apology? And now, knowing what we know, that Finn was very likely singlehandedly responsible for the death of not one, but two people…

The idea of ‘closure’ in this case was so… naïve. Nothing would change; Finn would still be a violent piece of shit, and Josh would still be his victim. I know he hated to be thought of like that – it made him feel small.

Josh had been doing so well, taking small steps towards his recovery. When he would get bogged down by the memories and all those terrified feelings, he’d still manage to bounce back, grasping onto whatever he needed to pull himself up. But if he went there, put himself face-to-face with his abuser, I feared he’d slip again back into that dark place, and I wasn’t confident that I’d always be able to reel him back from it. I couldn’t imagine a world where any conversation with Finn would go well at this point, which led to the question of how it would affect Josh’s mental health. And that was all without adding in the possibility of Finn physically attacking him. How long would it take the guards to intervene?

Josh was so adamant, though. Stubborn as hell, but that was just one of the reasons I loved him. He let that familiar fire rise up as he bit back at me. Do you think I’m weak? Did I really make him feel that way? I only ever wanted to take care of him, be there when he needed me, and protect him from getting hurt again. I never meant it to seem like I thought he wasn’t capable of caring for himself. I groaned and pressed my forehead against the cool tile. Why am I so fucking tired?

I finished up and got dressed before heading back to the living room. Josh was still on the couch, writing in his notebook again.

“Josh,” I said quietly. “Do you wanna come to bed?”

“I’m not tired.” That was obviously a lie, and he was clearly still mad. He wouldn’t even look up at me.

I rubbed my eyes, trying to wake myself up. “I’m sorry. Can we just… talk about it tomorrow?”

He stopped writing for a second, then shook his head. I couldn’t really see but I knew he rolled his eyes, then went back to what he was working on.

I didn’t know what else to say, so I retreated to the bedroom without another word. I never liked to walk away from an argument like that, but I didn’t have it in me. I left the bedroom door open, though. I laid there for a while, waiting to see if he would give in and follow. He didn’t. My exhaustion eventually won out and I drifted off.

I didn’t sleep for long. When I woke up and Josh still wasn’t there, my heart sank a little. I got up and padded to the living room, where I found him asleep on the couch, neck craned at an uncomfortable angle. He was still wearing my sweatshirt. I picked up the green notebook that had fallen to the floor and placed it on the table before gently touching his shoulder to try to wake him up.

“Josh, baby, come to bed, please.”

He blinked sleepily and nodded, yawning when he sat up, but didn’t make a move yet to stand. He averted his gaze downward and had a look on his face that told me he wanted to say something. I beat him to it.

“I don’t think you’re weak,” I blurted out. I placed my hand on his cheek, and he looked up at me. “You’re one of the strongest, most resilient, and bullheaded people I know.” That coaxed a small smile out of him. “I’m sorry. You know I never meant to make you feel like that. I’m just… I’m so scared you’re gonna get hurt. But you’re right – I have to let you make whatever choices you feel like you need to.”

“I’ve been trying so hard, Cai, you know I have. But something still feels… off. I don’t know how to explain it. I know you don’t like it, but I don’t know what else to do.”

“It’s okay,” I said. “I… I don’t like it, but I’m not gonna stop you if you’re serious about it, if you feel like you really need this.”

“I do,” he whispered, as he brought his hands to my hips.

“Tell me when, and I’ll drive you.”

He had a hopeful look on his face as he peered up at me. “Really?”

“As much as I’d want to be there when you talk to him, realistically I know it’s not a good idea. It’d probably only piss him off, and I don’t trust myself to be around him. So driving you out there, being there for you afterwards, it’s the least I can do.”

He wrapped his arms tightly around my waist and pulled me the rest of the way to him. I closed my eyes and let him hug me close for a minute or two.

“C’mon, let’s go get some sleep.”

~

I felt like absolute shit. I hadn’t slept, my head was pounding, and I was sick to my stomach from not having enough of an appetite to eat anything.

“Are you sure you’re okay to drive?” Josh asked me.

I assured him I was fine, and I’d feel much better once this was all over.

We sat in the parking lot of the detention center in silence for a while, as Josh built up the courage to go inside. I’d told him a million times to be careful and made him promise he would back out at the first sign of things going downhill. He stared at the building, his knee doing that nervous bounce. I’m not above admitting that I wished he would change his mind, hoped he’d realize this was a terrible idea and ask me to just take him home. But I didn’t truly expect it. He’d made up his mind, and he’d go through with it, no matter how difficult.

“I love you,” he said, barely above a whisper.

I squeezed his hand as he drew in a deep breath, preparing himself for what was sure to be a very uncomfortable interaction. “I love you, too. I’ll be right here when you’re done.”

~

JOSHUA

Josh hated the smell. It was like a combination of body odor, cleaning supplies, and shitty school cafeteria food. It seemed to permeate the entire building; he thought a gas leak would smell better.

He checked in with the front desk to get a visitor tag. The way the guard eyed him, taking in his injuries, a judgmental look on his face, made Josh want to curl into himself and disappear. He went through a security check (he’d left everything in the car, knowing he would be forced to empty his pockets), and the guard gave him an extensive set of rules for the visitation. He was led through a couple of locked doors into a larger room, scattered with round tables and chairs, all made of cheap, white plastic. He was instructed to sit and wait, while the guard went back the way they came and another left through the opposite door, presumably to go grab Finn.

It crossed Josh’s mind that he was making a mistake, but he’d already come this far. Through a set of double doors, he could hear yelling; he couldn’t tell if it was just loud conversation or an actual fight. There were a few other people in the room, visiting their loved ones, some having noisy conversations of their own. The collection of sounds was already putting Josh on edge, and he suddenly felt like everyone was staring at him, watching him. He tried to focus on anything other than the nearby voices, zoning in on a tiny shred of plastic that had been picked loose from the table, but it did nothing to relax the knot in his gut and the nauseating feeling that accompanied it.

He waited for a while, until he was strongly considering just leaving, turning tail and running back to a safer place. But his head shot up at the sound of those double doors opening, and every muscle in his body tensed when his eyes landed on the familiar figure.

Finn froze when he saw his visitor, genuinely shocked. He looked so pale in contrast with the dark blue clothing issued by the detention center, and he’d grown a bit of facial hair since Josh last saw him, giving him a rugged look. He was standing, staring at Josh from across the room, until a guard rudely scolded him for being in the way, and demanded he either ‘sit his ass down or go back to his cell.’ He only hesitated for a moment more before he made his way to Josh and took a seat.

The pair stared at each other for a beat, and Finn was the first to speak. “What are you doing here?” His voice was low, and he wouldn’t look Josh in the eyes. “Does your boyfriend know you’re here?” There was a tiny bit of snark in his tone that irked Josh.

“I’m not here to talk about him.”

“So that’s a no.”

Josh rolled his eyes. “Maybe this was a bad idea.” He made like he was going to get up and leave.

“Wait.” Finn reached out but wasn’t quite bold enough to try to touch the man in front of him. “I’m sorry. Don’t leave, please.”

That was all Josh wanted to do right now, run back to the safety of his boyfriend and home, but something in Finn’s eyes stopped him. It wasn’t just sadness – it was something else, something Josh wondered if Finn was even truly capable of – remorse. He took in Josh’s appearance, focusing on the marks on his neck. The memories from that night came rushing back, some less clear than others. He’d hoped it had all been just an extremely fucked up nightmare, but the proof was right in front of him. He almost killed the only person that he ever really loved, maybe the only person that loved him.

Josh caught a glimpse of Finn’s wrists, red and irritated, the remainders of bruises that were already mostly healed. Finn noticed him staring and moved his hands off the table and out of sight. “They had to put me in restraints when I started going through withdrawal,” he explained.

“I���m…” Josh’s first instinct was to apologize. For what? For Finn making choices that got him put here in the first place? For not caring enough to even try to stay sober? No, he was done apologizing for things that weren’t his fault. Finn made his bed, and now he needed to lie in it.

He thought when he saw Finn again, he’d have a million and one things to say. He’d rehearsed it in his head, planned it out and promised himself he would dive into it headfirst, but now that he was actually here, he couldn’t find the words. One question kept ringing through his head – why?

“I don’t have an answer for you,” Finn said, as if he could read his mind. “And I won’t make excuses for what I did to you.”

“And what about Stephen?” The words escaped before Josh had a chance to stop them. It was one of the things that had been gnawing at him from the inside out.

He expected Finn to play dumb, to pretend like he had no idea what he was talking about, but he didn’t. His breath hitched and he visibly recoiled. “Cop came and talked to you, huh?”

“He was 19. He was a kid. Why did you… why him?”

“Because he looked like you.” His answer was so sudden, his tone so hard and cold. It made Josh’s skin crawl. Then almost immediately, Finn’s features softened. “I do love you, Josh. I—”

“No. You don’t do this to people you love.” Josh was surprised at how his own voice sounded, firm and unwavering. “I gave you everything I had, Finn. And you used me. You used me as an outlet for all of your unresolved anger and trauma. It never should have been my responsibility to—”

“To fix me?” Finn bit out. “You knew I was fucked up from the get-go. I told you—”

“About the car crash in Sioux Falls? But you lied about that, too, didn’t you?”

That one surprised him. He hadn’t anticipated Josh knowing about that, much less bringing it up. He considered denying the allegations, but what good would that do? Josh knew about what happened in Salt Lake City, even if he only knew the bare minimum. He supposed there was no point in trying to salvage Josh’s opinion of him.

“I didn’t know, not right away. I thought… I thought she’d be okay.”

“But she wasn’t. Someone died, those kids lost their mom. And you left them there.”

“I’m not a good person, Josh. I know that. I’ve done… a lot of really bad things. I don’t… I don’t know how to not be that person.”

Josh didn’t reply. He didn’t know how to. If they’d been having this conversation years ago, he would have been the first to tell Finn, ‘No, you’re not a bad person, you just made mistakes. It’s okay to make mistakes, and they don’t define you.’ But things were so different now; everything had changed, and there was no going back.

“Do you think you could ever forgive me?”

Josh sat back in the chair and sighed. That was a big ask. Could he ever find it in him to forgive Finn, for any of it? “I don’t know. I know that’s not what you want to hear, but… what you did to me… it’s taken so much out of me, changed me. How I was before… I don’t know that I’ll ever get that back, not completely.”

Finn didn’t argue. Being sober, however forced it was, allowed him to realize that there wasn’t anything left to salvage. “You might not believe me when I say I love you… or maybe I don’t even know what that means. I never knew what it even felt like until I met you. And… and I know you loved me, too…”

“The man that I fell in love with, he’s been gone for a long time.” It sounded so heartless in Josh’s ears, and he felt a pang of guilt. “I tried so hard—”

“I know. I know. You… you didn’t deserve… you deserved better than me. I just didn’t know how to let go.”

Josh picked at his cuticles and averted his gaze. He wasn’t expecting this, but Finn had the capacity to be quite sweet when he was sober. Josh couldn’t help but think back to the beginning of their relationship, when things were still good. He was happy. But once they stumbled, they hit the ground hard, and there was no getting back up that hill. Josh had to ask himself if any part of him missed it, and maybe he did miss that part of Finn that wanted to love him, but that piece of him was gone. And Josh genuinely felt like that was alright.

Finn made a bold move, bringing his hands back up and reaching out to Josh’s. Hurt flashed across his face when Josh pulled away, avoiding his touch. “Don’t,” Josh warned.

“Are you afraid of me?” There was a hard edge to his voice, and it made Josh crave to put more distance between them. He was afraid, but he was also fucking sick of being scared all the time.

He steeled himself; he straightened his back and forced himself to look Finn in the eyes. “If you really want to do something good, if you really want to be a better person, then start by telling the truth. Call the detective and tell him what happened to Stephen. Tell him about the crash and whatever the hell else you might need to get off your chest. Give those families the closure they need to heal, and to move on.”

Finn leaned forward and slammed a fist on the table, earning curious looks from other visitors. It made Josh jump slightly, but otherwise, he didn’t falter. “They’ll lock me up for the rest of my fucking life!” he hissed.

“Maybe they should.”

Throughout their relationship, Finn had done what he could to smother the flame that burned so brightly within Josh. He beat him down until there wasn’t any real fight left in him. He’d gotten used to being able to manipulate Josh, to invoke pity from him, and to make him believe he wasn’t strong enough to ever walk away. So, he wasn’t prepared for Josh to have seemingly recovered some of that fight. The way Josh glared at him, his eyes full of fierce anger, made Finn realize that he couldn’t win this anymore. He retreated into himself and chewed on his bottom lip. “You aren’t ever coming back, are you?”

Josh sucked in a deep breath and pulled together every bit of courage he could find inside of him. “No, Finn. This is it. So, if there’s something you want to say to me, now’s the time.”

Finn just sat silently. What could he possibly say? ‘I’m sorry?’ No amount of apologies would ever change anything. He couldn’t take it all back. If he could do it all again… would he even do anything differently? He knew it was over, that Josh would leave, and it may be the last time he ever saw his face. And Finn knew, as much as he hated to admit it to himself, that it was all entirely his fault. But despite this, he couldn’t prevent the other feeling in his gut, snagging onto him like a fishhook – jealousy.

“Your boyfriend. Is he everything you’ve ever wanted?” Finn asked snidely. “Is he worth it?”

Josh scoffed at the other’s tone before standing and planting his hands on the table. “He’s more than I could have ever asked for. And he is outside, waiting to take me home.” He gave Finn one more chance, another moment to speak. When he didn’t, Josh straightened and moved to leave, unsure of what else to say.

“Josh? Will you promise me something?” Finn’s voice was low, his features soft again. “If… if he ever stops treating you right, starts treating you like… like I did… promise me you’ll leave.”

It seemed like such a strange thing for Finn to say. Was it so hard to believe that it came from a place of concern, instead of some kind of underhanded maliciousness?

He drew in a deep breath and met Finn’s eyes one last time.

“Goodbye, Finn.”

When Josh returned to the car and his boyfriend, who’d been anxiously waiting for him, he was unable to put together the words to explain what had just happened. He let out a puff of air, like a weight was being lifted off of his chest. Cairo placed a gentle hand on Josh’s arm. “Are you okay?”

“I think so.”

“Do you wanna talk about it?”

Josh shook his head. “Not yet.”

“Okay. Whenever you’re ready.”

“Thank you, Cai.” He laced his fingers with Cairo’s and held onto him, an anchor to ground himself. “Let’s go home.”

///

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[gauloiseblue]

Keep Your Eyes On Me

[Giorno Giovanna × Reader]

Never in your wildest dreams did you think you could paint someone as magnificent as Giorno, but it happened just like that. It all started from a small talk about the weather and the lovely sight of his private garden. But as soon as you talked about the progress in your project, he immediately proposed something you wouldn't expect.

"If you really need a model for your painting, you could've just asked me."

You snapped your head towards him at lightning speed.

"For real?" You asked, and he nodded without hesitation. "I mean—isn't that dangerous? I might end up exposing your identity! Because it's gonna be exhibited in the gallery and—and since your face would be on my painting—" You stammered as you tried to explain, "Someone might recognize you, and—"

"Hey, calm down. You think too much." He said with an amused grin, "No one has ever seen my face, except for the few people I trust."

He tilts his head when you squint at him, “I doubt that.”

“You can change my hair color, or alter my face a little bit if you’re still unsure.” He suggested, “Like I said earlier, I don’t mind becoming your muse.”

An amused snort came out from you louder than you intended, “That’s a bold choice of word, Gio.”

“But you always whine about not having a muse.”

“Well,” You scratched your nose, “What I mean by that is having an ordinary person as my muse, not the legitimate Don of passione.”

“I don’t see what’s wrong with that.” He raised his brow, and an exasperated sigh left your mouth.

“That’s not it…” You mumble while your head’s down, not looking at his direction, “It’s just that… I’m worried about your safety, Gio. I don’t need to be a part of the mafia to know that everyone wants you dead. Not everyone, but you get my point.” You corrected, “I don’t want to accidentally put you in danger, y’know?”

For a moment, the conversation went cold. He didn’t say anything, and you didn’t look at him. But then you hear footsteps, and a hand slips onto your cheek as he cups your face. “You really have the tendency to make me work for it.” He retorted gently, “I offered myself to be your model because I know you want me. But it’s not your job to worry about me, (Y/N). I want you to finish your project first, before you decide what to do with the painting.” He smiles, “Capisce?”

Although you didn’t get cold feet, it seemed like Giorno thought otherwise. Because he holds you still when you step away, and his grip is firm on your waist.

“Alright, alright.” You compromise, “I’ll do it, okay? I’m gonna take my stuff first, so can you please let me go for a sec?”

—

The painting equipment you bring is quite heavy, but you refuse to let his man carry them for you. You’ve surveyed the ideal place for the background, and you quickly set up the easel. While you set down your brushes and color paints, you watch the men arrange a long sofa by the window. With the instruction from the Don himself.

“So you’re gonna lay down?” You asked.

“You expect me to stand for hours?”

“No, but I thought I told you to sit on a chair.”

“It wouldn’t look as good.”

You roll your eyes, “I guess beggars cannot choose.”

He grinned as he dismissed his men, “I would take my clothes off if you wish to paint nude—”

You quickly clear your throat, loud enough until it sounds very constrained. Even though his men keep a straight face, you know they heard him. You glare at him, and he just chuckles in return.

“Shall we begin? You can lay down now.” You told him as you squeezed out the paint, “Make sure everything’s comfortable enough for you.”

“I’ll be more comfortable if you lay beside me.”

“Giorno.” You called him with a frown, which only made him smirk. He doesn’t speak much as he gets on the sofa, and leans comfortably against the armrest. You pick up the medium-sized brush and dip into the green color. You glance toward him, and begin to sketch on the white canvas.

“Hold on.” He said as he unbuttoned his vest, and slid them off his shoulders. You see him throw the black garment away carelessly, before he loosen up a few buttons of his shirt.

“Dio mio, Gio.” You uttered as you put down your palette. “Can’t you at least not throw it to the floor? It’s gonna get dirty.”

“It’s gonna be laundered anyway.” He replied while he rolled his sleeves, and you just scowled as you picked it up.

“Stronzo.” You mumbled as you dusted off the vest, and went back to your place. You drape the thing onto your chair, before you pick up where you left off.

The green color quickly spreads on the canvas as you map out the scene. You use the blue to sketch out the window, and the soft yellow for the sofa. Your eyes dart to him while you paint, and you hate to admit that he made the right choice to get rid of the vest. He fits perfectly into the picture.

You wonder if you ever see him as relaxed as this before. Although you knew him close enough, he still used his refined manner around you. As you draw the black line, you wonder where his attitude goes.

The brush is quickly switched with a bigger one, and you mix some dye until it resembles the color of the wall. You paint most of the canvas with the new color, and add the shadows and light. You look out the window, and find the sky’s clear. You’re gonna need a lot of blues.

As you work on the details, your eyes inadvertently fall on him. He’s also looking at you, with his cheek resting on his palm.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Like what?” He asked.

“Like that… like you’re gonna…” You pressed your lips tightly before you shook your head, “Nevermind.”

You turn your gaze away as you focus on your work. The shadows are roughly placed, and you move on to the greenery.

“You know,” He began to speak as you painted, “I’ve had my portrait done a few times before, but you’re the first one who insists on doing it in my garden.”

“Why? You missed your office already?” You sneered.

“No, but I do miss my whiskey.”

Your brows furrowed, “You don’t drink liquor.”

“I don’t drink when I’m working.”

“Huh.” You replied nonchalantly, “Of course, this is just a picnic for you."

He chuckles, “I wouldn’t consider this as a picnic, there’s no wine and cheese platter for us.”

“Us?” You narrowed your eyes, “This isn’t a date, Gio.”

“I know.” He stated, “It’s just a proposal.”

You feel your blood rushes to your face, and you turn away from him. You can’t think of anything as the reply, so you settle with silence. It didn’t surprise you when he openly flirts with you, and you usually just shrug it off. But this time, you can’t ignore him at all, not when he sounds so serious.

The window on the canvas slowly takes shapes, and provides a good background for the plants. You spend the next hour perfecting the tall foliage, without sparing another glance at him. But you don’t have to look to know that his eyes are glued on you.

As you finish the basic lines of the potted plants, you proceed to draw the long sofa. You keep your head down as you blend the faded cream color, and put them on top of the yellow.

“I think I’ll be working on the background detail now,” You announced without taking your eyes off the canvas, “You can take a break Gio, feel free if you want to leave.”

“I’ll stay.”

You bit your lip, he’s going to be a hell of distraction.

Humans can acknowledge if something’s watching them, and you curse your ancestor for passing down that ability. Even when you try to ignore it, it keeps screaming at the back of your head. Because not only does he keep his eyes on you, the intensity of his gaze also sets your alarm off.

He never looked at you like this before, right? Or have you been ignoring the signs? His friends always teased you, saying that you wouldn't be a great detective. But you're never good at reading someone's thoughts, let alone his mind. God knows what's going on inside his head.

If someone matches up the painter's apathy against the Don's preservation, it's gonna take a long time to know who's the winner. But this time, the answer seems to be clearer. And when your eyes met, you realized how terrifying his stubbornness can be.

"Gio," You mused, "Don't look at me like that…"

His lips spread into a half smile, "Like what?"

You grip your brush tightly, you don't have the courage to speak up your mind. It would be silly to ask the most feared Don about what he wants, because he has been declaring it loud and clear.

"(Y/N)." He called you softly, but as tenderly as it was, he still made your heart race, "Did I make you uncomfortable?"

"I don't know." You looked away, "I just… don't want to get the wrong idea."

His smile grew wider, until the lines around his lips became prominent, "Come here, (Y/N)." He stretches his hand toward you, "I'll let you find out."

There's no need to confirm your suspicion, because the words he just said is a confession itself. You look at him and realize that he doesn't hide his infatuation. And you know better than approaching him without thinking. Because if you do that, it can only mean you reciprocate his feelings.

But do you love him? You asked. Despite the path that he chose, and the fact that you'd be plagued by constant worry about his safety. Will you still love him? Even when you know the misfortune will follow the two of you to the end?

Yes. Yes you would.

You gently put down your palette, and wipe your hands on your handkerchief. You've been repressing your own feelings for so long, but you won't hide anymore. Once you make it to his side, he'll know that you love him. There's no turning back.

He sits on the edge of the sofa by the time you walk to his side. When you stop right in front of him, he reaches for your hand and pulls you closer.

"Won't you regret it?" You muttered while he wrapped his arms around you, "I'm just a mere painter."

"And yet,” He tugs your hands and kisses them tenderly, “You could bring me to my knees.”

You blushed when he placed another kiss on your wrist, “Giorno—”

His head perks up, and you reach out to cup his face. He doesn’t resist when you lean forward, bringing your face closer to him. For a moment, you wonder why the thought of kissing him never crossed your mind before. He looks so… inviting.

He puts his hands on your waist as you press your lips against him. You taste his hunger on your tongue, and he guides your hand to his shoulder. You utter a small squeak when he hooks his arm around you and brings you down to the sofa.

The soft cushion puffs out under the sudden weight of your body. You need a second to process what had just happened, before you see him leaning over you.

Before you had the chance to speak, he already kissed you again. You squeeze your eyes shut as you circle your arms around his neck. Having him so close to you makes you realize how many details you missed out about him. The subtle scent of his shirt, the softness of his hair, the warmth of his skin.

Maybe you’re overwhelmed by love, even adoration. But you swear when you look at him, he never looks as magnificent as he is now.

—

The chatter and the occasional clink of glass fill the room as you walk past the visitors. The exhibition is bustling with people, and the champagne flows endlessly. There’s a few acquaintances around, but you only greet them without a small talk.

Giorno promised you he’ll come, even though you’re strongly against it. You’re worried about him making an appearance in public, but he assured you it’s alright.

This might be the first time you’re feeling nervous in the exhibition. Not because of the display of your art, but rather the incoming arrival of your muse.

When you reach the section of your paintings, your tension drops as you see familiar faces. His friends are coming, and you know Giorno is safe when they’re around.

Bruno is the first to notice your presence, and he smiles as you walk closer.

“Ciao, (Y/N).” He lifts his glass of champagne, and you return the gesture.

“Ciao.” You grinned, “Glad you made it here.”

“I would never miss it, (Y/N).”

The rest of the crew greet you, as they give a short praise for your paintings. But not without commenting about the portrayal of their Don.

“What did you do to him? He doesn’t look scary at all.” Said Narancia, “I swear, he looks more terrifying than usual. I could never get used to seeing him like that.”

“That’s because he only smiles when you mess up something, Narancia.”

“I never thought I’d get to see him without his suit on. I mean, he looks like the kind of man who sleeps in two-piece.” Mista jested.

“Now you mention it,” Abbacchio chipped in, “Why did he agree to be your model?”

You shyly answer, “He’s the one who suggested it.”

“What?” Bruno stares at you wide-eyed, “He asked you to paint him?”

“Sort of.”

Abbacchio strokes his chin slowly, while keeping his eyes on you. “That explains the lack of formal clothes.” He sneered, “So, did he finally succeed?”

“Succeed on what?” You furrowed your brows.

He only sips his champagne as he looks past behind you. The others seem to do the same, and curiosity makes you turn your head.

To say that you didn't expect him to dress up to the nines for the event was half a lie. You know he loves to flaunt, but seeing him like this almost makes you drop your glass. Because not only does he catch everyone's eyes, he doesn't hide his magnetic charm at all.

"Amore." He tugs you close by your waist, and places a peck on your shoulder, then your lips. "Sorry I'm late."

"Gio." You hissed, "I told you—"

"Dio mio!" Narancia gasped as he pointed at the blond, "Did you just kiss her?"

Fugo grabs his head and pulls him away from the group, "Come on now, don't bother them."

The youngest member protested, but he couldn't get away and got dragged further. The rest of the crew just watch them leaving, before they shift their attention to you.

Mista is the first one who speaks, pointing out the obvious, "The two of you are dating?"

"Well," You instinctively rub the back of your neck, "Yeah."

Your lover leans closer to whisper to you, "You don't sound so sure."

"Sorry." You squeeze his hand. "I just don't know how to tell the news to you guys."

"But why?" Bruno's eyes crinkled as he smiles in amusement, "We've been waiting for this moment." His statement made Giorno chuckle, before he pressed a kiss on your crown.

"I miss the time when he didn't care about girls." The silver haired man groans when Bruno kicks on his ankle, "What was that for?" He grunted.

"Aren't you happy that they're finally together?" Mista playfully asked as he circled his arm around his neck, "You used to complain about them all the time."

You raise your brows, but the older man just shoves him away. Mista laughs when he receives the death glare from him.

"Now, now." Giorno spoke up at once, interrupting the early stages of their usual bickering, "If you'd excuse me, I have to go on a date with (Y/N)." He encloses your shoulders with his arm, "She promised to give me a tour around the exhibition."

Bruno gives him a small nod, "Sure," He then adds, "Have fun, you two."

You wish them a good night before Giorno drags you away almost immediately. The drink on your hand almost spilled out as you tried to follow his pace. After walking through the third of the gallery, he stops at the empty corner.

It doesn't take long before he pushes you to the closest wall, and starts kissing you like a hungry man. You voice your protests, but they only get squashed down by his lips. You don't know which, or whose paintings are being displayed beside you, but you hope you won't disturb them by accident.

The two of you finally part to catch a breath, and you just realize that two people just scurry away when they see you. A pang of embarrassment struck you as you're suddenly aware that you got caught making out with him—your own model—on the day of your works' exhibition.

"Didn't I tell you to be patient?"

You put a frown on your face when he softly chuckles. He doesn't seem to mind his manner, which effectively fuels your guilty desire further.

"I've waited for long enough." He expressed with a coy smile, "Don't you think I deserve fair compensation?"

[ninthfeather]

the battle lives inside of me

Fandom: DC Comics/Batman Summary: Jason has a fibro flare. (also on AO3)

A/N: Title from "Brave" by Gio Navas, which is an FMA fansong but fits really well for this particular fic. Thank you to FabHawk for beta-reading!

Btw, one of the OCs uses she/they pronouns and Jason alternates, so I promise those aren't typos. Warning for some internalized ableism from the POV character.

Jason woke up to scorching pain across his back and had a brief moment of panic. He was in a warehouse, his nose was clogged with blood, there was a digital countdown clock burned into the inside of his eyelids and beeping filling his ears--

And then he shifted, slightly, and smelled that new detergent he used to wash his bedsheets the day before last. He was in his safehouse at the edge of the Bowery, the one that Oracle actually knew about, and he wasn’t a terrified fifteen-year-old anymore, he was the fuckin’ Red Hood. And the Joker was in Arkham, for however long that lasted this time.

The pain was mostly in his back and shoulders, but he can feel it radiating into his neck and arms. It wasn’t the normal backache he got from spending too long hunched over case files or not quite bracing right when he shot. This was the bad stuff, the kind of pain that used to knock him out for days back when he was still with the League.

Talia used to threaten him into getting up, but eventually it stopped working. She actually stabbed him a few times before she figured out that it wasn’t a lack of motivation on his part. Jason could deal with injuries, could push through being tortured, but this was sudden, without warning, and completely unabating. None of the medicines the League had touched it--even the hard stuff, which he hated taking anyway, only made him loopy enough not to care, without actually diminishing the pain at all. Heat, cold, soft beds, hard beds, nothing completely wiped it out. He’d thought it was a souvenir from the Joker, that the Pit hadn’t fixed everything--but Talia insisted that wasn’t how the Pit worked.

It wasn’t until years later, until after he got his head on straight and sketched out something resembling a truce with the Bats, that he actually got any answers. He’d forced himself to go to Leslie when it got bad, and she’d immediately started peppering him with questions. She kept about a pint of his blood for testing after writing two pages of notes on him, and then she went radio silent for a month. 

When she’d called back, she’d been almost frustratingly gentle as she explained how sometimes people who had difficult childhoods stored that hurt in their bodies, and only found it again once they grew up. How she had no idea whether a magic pond would bother fixing the way Jason’s body had reacted to spending most of his early childhood stressed out. And that they didn’t really know how to make his body stop hurting, just how to make the pain a little less severe.

Jason had meds, now, ones that actually worked, and a plan for how to navigate this crap. The meds wouldn’t kick in right away, but that’s why he had lieutenants, and for that matter, why he hadn’t kicked the Bats to the curb. 

He started with the basics, firing off a quick text to Dawson and Ali about covering his patrol routes.

As he expected, Ali called less than a minute after he pressed send. “Remember how you had Juanita reorganize the safehouse?”

“If you want to know where she put the backup gear, call them,” Jason said.

“She hates me,” Ali whined.

“She hates that you leave your empty tupperware in the fridge,” Jason corrected. “Stop doing that, and they’ll warm up to you.”

Ali groaned. 

“Listen, and you can spread this around for me--I don’t want to hear about anything less urgent than an Arkham breakout today,” Jason said. “If no one on site knows how to handle something, call Jess. If she doesn’t know, just let it sit ‘til tomorrow. And if someone wants to talk to me directly, I’m unavailable. Got it?”

“You got the flu from Bea, didn’t you?”

“If you call again you’re going to voicemail,” Jason said. 

He hung up, texted Mareenah about checking in with the working girls on her way home from her legal job, then dialed Jess.

“Hey, Jess speaking, may I ask who’s calling?” she started.

“Jess, you’re in charge today,” he said.

“Red, do not do this to me, Juanita is five seconds away from wringing Ali’s neck--”

“I pay you more than the rest of those disasters for precisely this reason,” Jason said. 

Jess sighed. “Fine. But I can’t actually go in.”

“This is the day you have office hours, right?” Jason said. 

“Those freshmen's questions won’t answer themselves,” Jess said.

Jason felt for her, he really did. If there was any job more thankless than being a Gotham vigilante, it was being a Gotham University adjunct professor.

“I just need you to be on call in case anything happens,” he said. “Dawson and Ali have patrols, Mareenah’s checking in with the girls, and Juanita should be stopping by the safehouse anyway, so all I really need is someone for them to ask annoying questions.”

“And that someone can’t be you today?”

“And that someone absolutely cannot be me today,” Jason affirmed. “I’ll check in within 24 hours, but for now proceed as if I’m out of the country.”

“Can’t this happen a little farther from midterms, just once?” Jess asked.

Jason wished he had that much control over what was happening.

“‘Fraid not,” he told her. “But Jess? Thanks.”

“Welcome as always, Red,” Jess said, but he could tell her heart wasn’t quite in it.

“That’s all, talk to you later,” he said.

He hung up halfway through Jess’s unenthusiastic “Bye.”

It sucked, having to rely on people like this. 

Jason liked to be relied on, to be the one helping other people. He liked taking care of people because it was what his Mom and then Bruce had raised him to do, and because being able to see proof that people were better off with him than without him helped with the particular screws he had loose in his brain.

But relying on others? That was less than fun. Being indebted to someone, even someone who would never dream of collecting, felt like running out from behind cover and waiting to see what direction the sniper bullet would come from.

He tried to ride out the discomfort, the way his therapist said to do, but he could still feel it in the tight grip he had on his phone and the harsh tone of the text he sent to Oracle’s burner phone.

Taking myself off the roster for 24hrs. Hand over everything you have on Gerald Winters to RR; the case is his now.

She messaged back immediately, What’s wrong?

Something came up on my end, he replied.

Are you sick?

Sure , Jason said, which wasn’t even technically a lie.

You need anything? I can have one of the kids or N do a grocery run.

I’m good.

She sent him that “press X to Doubt” meme, which was frankly rude.

I can take a picture of my medicine cabinet and my fridge, if you need proof.

Ok, ok, I’m backing off. But text if you need anything. 

Jason sent K, and then closed the thread.

Probably, he was still going to end up with at least one of Bruce’s hangers-on trying to bring him soup, but hopefully by the time they coordinated it, he’d be mobile enough to pretend he had a twenty-four hour bug.

In the meantime, he levered himself up enough to turn on the TV, and clicked on the first Austen adaptation that showed up on Netflix. He didn’t recognize it, which meant it was probably going to be hilariously bad, but getting upset about awful movie adaptations was also distracting, and he needed a distraction.

He settled in to watch and waited for the meds to kick in.

[risquefanfics457]

Hi! If your requests are still open, would you be able to write Giorno x Shy!Fem!Reader where they’re childhood friends and Giorno gained feelings for reader over the years and wants to confess but doesn’t know how? Maybe reader feels the same way and wants to confess too?

Thanks!! :D

Did I spend 2 hours writing this because I got hyperfocused? Yes. Worth it? Yes.

Giorno and the reader are both 15 at the start and 18-19 by the end. ENJOY!

“Amica?” 

You knew that voice. It had Giorno all over it. Giorno and you had become friends when he moved next to you when your were both 4. He’d changed his name to Giorno, and you respected that, only his mom and step-dad called him Haruno, as he was known in Japan.

“Gio Gio?” You stepped out on the porch of the cafe you worked at, “What is-?” You stopped. Standing in front of you was Haruno Shiobana or Giorno Giovanna as he liked to be called but… blonde.

“Santa merda! Gio Gio, you’re blonde!”

“I know!” He threw his hands in front of him, “I woke up this way!”

You looked at him, gathering all the details you could. He was still the same boy. Same jade eyes, “What happened?”

“I woke up this way!” He waved his arms about, “Can we talk about this?” He pointed to his newly golden locks. It practically glowed in the sun, “Uh, I have a 15 minute break soon.” You stuttered.

“Okay, I’ll be here.” He wrung his hands and leaned awkwardly against the lamp post.

“Or you could come inside.” “I don’t have any cash on me.”

You chuckled, “I can still get you a water, on the house.”

He nodded, “Alright.”

You waved him in, “It’s not like anybody will recognise you anyway.”

“You did.” He said quietly

You blushed silently, “Be with you in a few.”

“So you woke up, and now you’re just blonde?”

“Yeah! Like my dad.” He whispers

“Whoa, you never talk about your dad.” You are even mor eintrigued now. Giorno had a peculiar picture in his wallet that he said was his biological father. The man in the picture was build strong and almost scarily so. But the defining trait Giorno knew was from that man was the star shaped birthmark on his upper shoulder. 

“I mean, I didn’t think this is what puberty did.” You teased, “What colour do you think my hair will turn?”

“Pink?” He laughed, “No, that a ridiculous colour.”

“Yeah, nobody in their right mind would have pink hair.” You laughed together.

“What would you even do if you met a dude with pink hair?”

“How should I know?” He laughed, “I’ve never seen one, and I doubt I ever will.”

“Well, you could grow it out.” You said

“I could, we could style it like those old magazines we used to read as kids.”

“I can see you in a braid.” You grin

“We’ll see.”

“Ehi! Y/N, back to work, I see you going 2 minutes over your break!”

“Gotta go.” You stand up, but Giorno stood as well, “Me as well, goodbye, Y/N.” He customarily kissed you on both cheeks, something you’d taught him a long time ago. Watching him leave, you went back to taking orders as you wished that you’d had the nerve to teach him a new kind of kiss.

A few weeks later, he stopped in again, “Amiga!”

“Hey, got money for an actual coffee this time?” You called down the stairs

“I do, but that’s not the point.” He climbed the cafe stairs to meet you, “I’ve figured it out.”

Him suddenly so close with that piercing gaze had you pull away, flushed pink. “What?” 

“I figured it out. The drug trade, everything.”

You looked quizzically at him, “You mean the mafia?”

He nodded, “I’m going to join them.”

You blinked. Wow, you’d lost it. Who knew serving 17 macchiatos in an hour would finally push your brain past its breaking pointt?

“Amiga?”

“Sorry, you lost me. What’s the plan?” You wiped down a table

“I’m going to become a gangstar.” 

You nodded, “See, I keep hearing you saying you want to join the mafia.” You shake your head.

“I did say that.” He tries to meet your eyes, “All the drug problems, the law being run by criminals, it can be solved, I can solve it.”

You couldn’t believe what you heard, “You’re 15.”

“I know. I need all the time I can get, I have to start early.” 

You put the cloth and spray down, “Tell me you’re kidding me.” You kept your voice low, you didn’t like catching attention of others.

“No, I’m finally going to do something about all this.” He took your hands in his and you noticed him stutter, “W-we grew up surrounded by people influenced by drugs, isn’t it time to do something about it?”

His change in demeanor prompted you to break out into a red blush. He wasn’t usually so… forward. It was different. You automatically sank back into your shell as red as a crab as other people stared. “Giorno, this is insane. You can’t join the mafia, it’s an early death sentence.”

“I get that, but things are different now.”

“But why you?” 

“Because kids like you and I deserved to have good childhoods.”

That struck a nerve, “Giorno, I want to talk about this more, but I need to stay focused on my job right now, I’m sorry. I’ll call you when I get home, okay?”

He took a deep breath and stepped away, ”Okay. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“It’s alright, I’m just worried about you. I care, okay?”

“I know.” He smiles earnestly, “I love that about you.”

Before you had a chance to reply or even register what he said, he was gone.

You called him that afternoon. Nothing. You called him again later that night. Nothing. You called him the next morning. Same results. Life went on, agonizingly slow. A week went by. 

You should have just told him when you had the chance.

A month. 2 months. 4… 8… a year. You gave up after 3 years…

“Andrea, I need you to calm down. The report doesn’t have to be done until noon tomorrow. You have a full day and 3 hours to draft and finish it.” You spoke on the phone to a colleague. “Yes, I’ll be in on tomorrow… no, you don’t need me to proofread it, you’re an adult, you can scan your own emails for typos.” 

A knock came from the front door. “Andrea, take a breather and write when you’re ready.” You hang up. Why your co-workers who were 5 years your senior needed you to spellcheck was beyond you. The knock came again, whoever it was, they were impatient. You checked the glass and caught a glimpse of blonde, and your heart skipped a beat. You calmed yourself and opened the door. It wasn’t him. Of course it wasn’t. A man in a green suit was standing in the doorway, “Buongiorno signora.” 

That name. He had to say buongiorno. Of course giorno was a regular word, but it followed you everywhere, and you felt your heart flop sadly every single time you heard it. 

“What can I do for you?” You cross your arms.

“My name is Pannacota Fugo, my boss wishes to speak to you privately.”

You nod, “Okay, I’m guessing you’re from a law firm or something?”

“No, signora. I am from Passione.”

Despite the decrease in crime regarding the mafia, the word stung, it was the mafia group Giorno mentioned. God, if they were looking for Giorno… but they couldn’t even ask you, you had no idea where he went either.

“What about it?”

“You may know him.”

“I don’t know anybody from the mafia, I make it my business to stay clear of their business.” You go to close the door.

“I’d reconsider. The boss says he knows you personally. I’m here to take you to see him.”

You steeled your nerves, “I said no.”

It was a skill you were working on, you’d become better at not being so shy.

“Right. Well, Giorno sends his regards then.” Fugo says and goes to leave

“Giorno?” Your heart almost jumps out of your chest, “Giorno Giovanna?”

Fugo nodded.

“I’ll get my things.”

You pulled up the a house. It was lavish, even on the outside. 

“He’s inside.” Fugo holds the car door open for you. 

In just some clothes you’d thrown on, you climbed the steps to the house. You stopped at the door. Fugo followed you and nodded to some guards who opened the door.

“Where is he?” You asked the blonde man.

“On the left.”

You rounded a corner and on a chair in a large room was a man.

“Amiga?”

Your face flushed at the sound of his voice.

“Please, leave us.” The blonde man stood. He was just as handsome as he was before, but now, toned and his blonde hair was long and braided down his back. He wore all black. You stared dumbfounded at him.

“It was hard to find you, you changed jobs.” He chuckled. That laugh made a old shiver run down your back, one you’d thought you’d lost.

You stepped back and tripped over a chair behind you. Without missing a beat, he caught you. But that didn’t make sense, he was on the other side of the room. But something caught you. You caught your balance and eased yourself up, still in shock, “You’re… here.”

He nodded with a hint of pink on his cheeks, “Yeah, I’ve been here for a few years now.”

“You… you never came back.” Your face heated up.

“I’ve been getting a handle on crime before I brought you to me. I didn’t… I didn’t want you to be a target.”

“But you could have called.” 

“I’m always being watched, Amiga. Nothing was going to be a secret these past years.”

“You’re still calling me amiga.” You said.

“Well, I thought maybe we were still friends.” He sighed hopefully

“I, I don’t even know what to think. I… I hated you. I hated that you said nothing and left. But I missed you, and I still do…” You held your head in your hands, trying to name all these emotions running through you.

“I loved you.” You finished.

He looked wistfully at you, “Me too.” 

“Well, w-what now?”

“Well, it’s up to you. We can start over, or we can just, let this go. I’ll let you go back to how you’ve been.”

There was a long pause,

“I… I want to be near you, but this can’t have just… not happened. I think-”

“So we should start over?” He nodded

“Not from the beginning.” You got closer and touched his face, “I still know you, at least I think I do. I might not, but I want to.”

He leaned into your touch.

“I still know this face.” You brushed your thumb over his cheek. You chuckled, “To be honest, I dreamed of this face.”

“Really?” He chuckled pleasently, a sound that made the butterflies in your stomach flutter

“I face I wished I’d kissed.”

“You’ve kissed my face plenty of times. You’re the one who taught me to do it.” He smirked. A vine snuck around your wrist and a flower appeared in your palm.

“Then the face I wished I kissed in more than one way.” You leaned in. You pressed your lips to his left cheek, and then the right, and as the sun made the rose coloured curtains behind you project a pattern of pink on his face, you sealed the confession with a gentle kiss on his soft lips. His hand curled around your face and tucked your hair behind your ear, “I wish you showed me this was to kiss earlier too, Amiga.” He smiled.

“Yeah, if this is how it’s going to be from now on, I’m going to need to be something more than amiga.” 

His response was quick and sauve, “Then this is the greeting kiss you should expect from now on, cara mia.”

[cartierdreamx]

𝕯𝖊𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖓𝖊𝖉 𝕿𝖔 𝕱𝖆𝖑𝖑 *3*

Hi my honey buns <333, I am so sorry for the wait, but here it is and I so hope you enjoy!! Just diving in further into Jenna’s character and r has a secret?????!!!, I am like half asleep right now so I have no idea what to say butt I will also mention, I will look over this ch properly with a full rested mind once I wake up LMFAO. I hope you enjoy and if you do, please consider reblogging, following, and commenting! Thank you all for your constant love and support! J <33

If you would like to be apart of a taglist so you know when the next chapter comes out, comment down below or let me know thru asks!! Also please make sure your tags are on, so I’m able to tag you🤎

Pairings: jenna ortega x fem! Reader

Warnings: the tiniest bit of angst, dark themes, swearing, mentions of weapons and violence and murder.

This fic is STRICTLY 18+, as it involves adult themes, minors DNI, you are responsible for your own social media intake, which includes reading entertainment which this fic falls under, so one last warning- this fic is 18+. Thank you!  

*though my fics have real people, my fics are just for entertainment and far from reality*

FYI: JENNA IS G!P IN THIS FIC!!

~~

There was barely any times Jenna felt abandoned, hopeless, trapped, and there were even less times where Jenna felt this way about a woman, an ordinary citizen. Vulnerable was never a side she would welcome, it made her feel weak, an easy access for Gio, so when you came along, you were an anomaly, you were only supposed to be a one-night stand, she would never admit it but the heat of her heart upon talking to you melted the layer of ice she projects.

Oh, how she wishes she had never spoken to you, you would’ve been safe, if everything she cares for would be destroyed, if she had never spoken to you, crimson would have never painted her hands, your crimson, your blood spilt was a reminder this was all her fault.

But, would there have been more regret if she left you alone that night? There was barely any times Jenna felt vulnerable, but when she’s with you, that’s what she is, and tonight, she was more vulnerable than ever. Vulnerability wasn’t welcomed, but it encased every inch of her.

“Jen, you have to let go of her.” Viv sighs, placing a hand on her shoulder.

Jenna winces away, “NO, no, I can’t, I can’t, please, Viv.”

“Hun, I know you don’t want to, but we have to get her on this stretcher so Kaman can take of her.”

“I WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE CARE OF HER.” Now in a softer tone and as her tears fall, she repeats, “I was supposed to take care of her.”

Viv understood her feelings, she didn’t want to lose you either, and at the possibility of losing you, she couldn’t lose Jenna the same night, “Jenna, this isn’t your fault, you have to get that through your head.”

How she would give up anything in the world right now to see your seraphic smile again, she’d trade her throne, she’d take off her mafia crown and let the city fall into the hands of Gio Marcello if it meant your hands could caress her face once more. The weakened brunette, always so contumacious, never giving in, but she knew she had to, just this once, although, she was a great negotiator.

“Can I at least hold her in the stretcher?” There was always a fierceness in her eyes, Viv and Bruce knew that look all too well, but seeing her like this was different, the same knots in their backs that Jenna’s stubbornness caused were untied by her weakness, well in Jenna’s eyes, her weakness, but in reality, it was proof she’s just like any other citizen on the street, hurt and scared, in this moment, she wasn’t the most feared woman, wasn’t the crown heir to the Ortega family, she wasn’t a playboy, she wasn’t egotistical, she wasn’t arrogant, she was just Jenna.

“Oh, baby, I don’t thin-.”

“Of-course, you can Jenna, I just need to to be careful and still so I can take her vitals administer an IV.” Kaman, the head doctor of the towers, cuts in.

“I promise.”

As the two of you are whisked away into a nearby elevator, Viv and Bruce stay back, as much as they wanted to accompany their friends, they knew they had a job to do, they couldn’t let the family fall, not when Jenna needs them most, and so with unspoken words, the two of them knew exactly what to do. Bruce manning a team of soldiers, investigating what happened and who caused this mess, and Viv staying remote collecting intel from Bruce whilst trying to hold the integrity of the tower when their leader has fallen. Temporarily of course, hopefully.

~~

Ignorance is bliss is the saying, and Bruce so wanted to bathe in this bliss, the bliss where he doesn’t find out what happened to you, his demeanour paints itself as large rottweiler, physically, his brute strength would scare any normal human being away but, on the inside, he had a heart as strong as the winds on top of mountains.

For you, his heart welcomed you in, he won’t ever admit it to Jenna, only because she’d deny it, but when he senses Jenna truly cares for someone, his love and care automatically calls out for that same person. His overprotectiveness over you blames himself slightly for what happened, but not as much as Jenna did.

“Bruce, we found y/n’s blood and smashed up cameras from across the street and corners, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologise.” His flat tone masking the fact he’s trying his best to hold everything. “Were you guys able to find anything else?”

“Right, and unfortunately not.”

Bruce sighs deeply with remorse, “shit, wait okay, okay, get the smashed cameras to Ammo in tech, she’s savvy with these things, it’s slim, but we have to try.”

One of his soldiers’ nods and the rest start collecting fragments of evidence alongside the actual cameras. “Hey Viv, we might have something, meet me on Ammo’s floor, she might be able to resurrect the SD card from the cameras.”

~~

As much as she wanted to stay, the force of her wanted to leave, Jenna held you for so long, but she got so lost in the pain, she forgot the copious amount of regret and guilt she’d feel when you woke up and saw her face, you told her you hate her, but did you mean it? Either way, she wanted nothing to do with these feelings, you’re better off waking up next to someone you love.

“Jenna?” Kaman, looks up from you after doing her regular check, “where are you going, sweetie, doctor intuition tells me she’ll be waking up soon.”

“Out.” Her body was shutting her heart down, her brain is in control now and maybe it should’ve stayed in control, not passing on the torch to her heart, a lot of regret wouldn’t have existed if that were the case. Jenna grits her teeth and lets out a breath through the minuscule gaps between, “I’m calling Solana, her best friend, she deserves to know what happened, and she,” now pointing at you with her forehead, eyebrows “she deserves someone else here.”

“You’re running away again, Jenna.”

“What else am I supposed to do?” Jenna bites back.

“Stay.”

“That’s not an option.” Jenna, now using a tone you’d only hear from a mother. Before Kaman could say anything else, the space between you and her had been closed off, and that wasn’t the only thing restrictive.

There was something about the night ambiance that always provided fresh air, each molecule of oxygen that raced through her body was pure, antonymous with the blood spilt over the years as a result of her hands.

Hello? Who is this?

Hi Solana, sorry for the late-night call but something happened, oh, it’s Jenna by the way.

Though it was over the phone, Jenna could feel Sol’s heart drop.

OH! Jenna, hi, Sol is fine by the way, is y/n okay? I’ve been trying to reach her, but I can’t seem to get a hold of her.

There was an accident… Can you come to the towers?

Fuck, okay, I’m on my way.

Once Sol walks into, Jenna is greeted with a heavy heart, yet a kind smile. “Is she okay?”

“She will be, she’s going to wake up soon, she’ll want you there, just head up to the floor marked with H.”

“Aren’t you coming with?”

At this very moment, something clouded the air, you couldn’t see it, feel it nor smell it but something in the air that made Jenna retain why she’s not going up with Sol, “she needs you, not me and plus, I have to do something.” That last line was a ramble, she didn’t have to do anything, not at this very moment, but she couldn’t go see you. Couldn’t or won’t?

Sol sighs and takes a step towards Jenna, “okay,” the mafia queen had never been easy to read, no one knew what went on inside of her, but tonight, Sol read her like a novel, but she didn’t want to push. “You know,” caressing Jenna’s hand “whatever happened, it wasn’t your fault, Jenna, no one blames you.” Jenna didn’t have the courage to look at Sol in the eyes, all she could muster up was “y/n does.”

“I’ve known her for years, I share a soul with her, pun intended,” trying to make Jenna smile, but Sol is sure that joke flew over her head, “she doesn’t blame you.” Sol’s last attempt to console Jenna and try to convince her to come up but stubborn is Jenna’s middle name, so all she could give Sol was a headshake and a smile as the elevator doors close.

Maybe I should go to her. A constant thought that flooded Jenna’s mind but in the split second where she was about to press the button marked ‘H’ on the elevator, a text from Viv telling her to meet them on the tech floor came through, directing her finger towards the button marked ‘T’ instead.

Walking into the office, Jenna’s fist immediately clenches up at the sight of smashed up cameras with intricate wires tangled up within each other. “For the sake of everyone in the city, PLEASE tell me you’ve found something,” there was desperation in her tone, she wanted to throw the closest object across the room but the breath she takes seems to calm her down enough to hear her little posse out.

Like Alvin and the Chipmunks, Bruce, Viv, and Ammo avert their gaze from the screen to Jenna, “this right here is why you pay me six figures.” Ammo retorts, making Jenna giggle a bit, the first time a positive sound escaped her mouth since finding out you were hurt.

“Alright, no need to boast, especially when I make 10.” Jenna smirks and Ammo rolls her eyes.

“How’s y/n?” Viv says with concern.

“Ah, she’s great?” There was some hesitation when she answered, truthfully, she doesn’t know how you are, when she left you, you were stable, but she doesn’t know how you are. “I’m not really sure, Sol is up with her, and I got a text from Kaman that she woke up when I was on the way up.”

“And you’re not there?” Viv exclaims with such flash.

“She won’t want me there.”

Viv inflates her cheeks to the brim with air before letting out a huff, “Ammo, will you please pass me the magazine on your desk.” As no words were exchanged, Viv starts to roll up the paper and trains her eyes at Jenna, no one knew what was going to happen next.

“BAD, JENNA, BAD.” Viv screams as she knocks Jenna on the head with the magazine, at the same time, Jenna extends her arms above her head, flinching away at every hit as a way to protect herself.

“VIV?” Jenna squeals, “what was that for?” she then questions whilst Bruce and Ammo try so hard not to laugh as tears form in their eyes.

“That’s for being here, waltzing around like an idiot when you should be waltzing around like an idiot up there,” Viv pointer finger erects up, “you know, with y/n?”

“I just- she doesn’t, she hates? Aw for fucks sake, just show the video, stop lingering on me.” Jenna commands, not wanting to talk about her feelings, and definitely not wanting to talk about her feelings for you. What feelings? Does she even have feelings for you?

“Are you sure? It’s a bit, well you know.” Viv informs.

“How much blood have I washed from my hands?” Jenna bites back.

“Yeah, but you didn’t have feelings for said blood.” Viv points out, making Bruce and Ammo scoff out a laugh.

“What? I don’t have feelings for y/n!” Jenna starts getting all defensive and in unison just like the chipmunks, the group of three goes “mhmhm.”

“Ugh, whatever, just play the video.” As the video plays, Jenna watches what that night was like for you, in clear technicolour, how the man had followed you like a predator set on his prey. And as his palm lands on your face, she squirms, she doesn’t want to go on, she doesn’t want to see you like this. No amount of violence she had witnessed and caused could ever prepare her for what she was watching.

JENNA! JENNA! PLEASE, JENNA, PLEASE, JUST STOP!

The colour drained from Jenna’s face as quickly as the rage set in, once she heard the first syllable of her name, she knew you were calling out to her and it was all too much for her, there was water setting on her tongue, if she saw anymore, she was sure she’d throw up everywhere. Jenna rushes out the office, accidentally slamming the glass door behind her, drawing the attention of the other tech workers to her, but their gazes quickly returned to their screens as they realise who they were staring at.

“Jenna, are you okay?” Viv asks as she closes the door behind her, Jenna couldn’t hold eye contact with her, too scared that tears would start streaming down her face if she had seen the softness of Viv’s face; concerned for her dear friend.

“I’m fine.” The words just barely making it through her teeth.

“You’re not, and that’s okay, I just need you to tell me what’s going on through your head, this entire tower is your family, we can help.”

“She-” Jenna croaks, “she called for me, Vivica.” Using her full name, this indicated she was an even bigger mess than anyone anticipated, Jenna would use ‘Vivica’ when things got too serious, too overwhelming, and those times barely existed, Viv greeting her name like a stranger. “She called for me and I wasn’t there, I couldn’t save her.”

Placing a firm grip on both her shoulders, Viv comforts Jenna, “Jenna, look at me, there was nothing you could do in that moment to help her, get that through your thick skull.” Jenna huffs out a deep sigh, “but.” “No buts, stop blaming yourself, and you did save her, she’s alive because you took her in.” Viv reassures.

“Okay.” Jenna didn’t want to ‘okay’ this conversation, especially when she herself wasn’t okay. But that was all she could muster up at this moment.

“Okay. Now tell me what you need.”

“I need to find that man and kill him.” An ‘o’ shape forms Viv’s mouth, but she doesn’t know why she’s surprised, this was the most logical solution for Jenna. “No, not kill, that’d be giving him mercy, I want to hurt him so bad he wishes he was never born.” There was such fury in Jenna’s eyes, a fury no one had ever seen, not even Viv, but she understood, she shared that same fury, it was the same with Bruce, but Jenna held most of the fire, she conjured it.

“Okay, okay, that’s on brand, but before you go out and hunt him down and we feed you information, you should know, this wasn’t a random attack, the van that ended up picking him and her up, ultimately dropping her off at our feet was Marcello.”

“Gio did this?” The fire only growing stronger at the realisation that Gio was using you as a manipulation tactic to see her fall, to make her weak, vulnerable.

“Unfortunately, so he may be guarded.”

“He won’t, he’s a useless pawn to Gio, and I’m assuming he wasn’t supposed to hurt her that bad.”

~~

As Jenna heads down to the garage, everyone at their stations waiting to give Jenna information on Jameson’s whereabouts, Jenna ends up running into a frantic Sol. “Sol? Are you okay?”

“Jenna! Just the girl I was looking for, y/n’s awake, she’s doing great and she’s looking for you.” Jenna wishes she had never run into Sol, the guilt she buried about how she wasn’t there when you woke up was slowly making its way back up to the surface and that same feeling of saliva settling on her tongue was back again.

“I’m glad she’s doing better.”

“You’re not coming to see her?”

Before Jenna could answer, adding onto the guilt that harbours her, Sol had once more read Jenna and the twitch in her eyes, the pursed lips and the disconnected eye contact told her all she needed to know. “I wish you believed that this isn’t your fault.”

“Me too,” Jenna smiles at her, “later, when she’s well enough, I want her to recover in my penthouse, I’ll have people set up the guest bedroom, it’ll give me peace of mind that she’s here with m-, with uh, you know protection.”

Sol tries to hide her smirk at Jenna’s slight mistake where she was supposed to say ‘me,’ where she wanted to say ‘me,’ “that’s very sweet of you, it’ll give me some peace of mind too.”

“If you want, I can have another room set up for you?” Jenna kindly offers.

“OH, no, that’s very sweet, but I don’t want to intrude, and plus I have a business to run and I’m not in any danger, thank you though.”

“Of-course, just let me know if you change your mind, and the only thing that poses a danger to you is TMZ stealing your work.” Jenna winks, making Sol laugh, before heading towards her personal garage, separate the the tower’s garage.

Which car today? She thinks to herself, “take the GT3, perfect for a 1am cruise, we can see you wallowing in indecisiveness, this is a problem only you’d have by the way.” Viv speaks, coming from Jenna’s ear piece.

“Heh, you’re right the irish green GT3 is perfect for a 1am cruise, though this won’t be a cruise, more like sweet, sweet revenge.”

“Yuck, never say that again, this isn’t a movie.”

“Hmm, kinda is, but maybe more like a book.”

~~

As you wait for Sol to get back from her little quest, you can’t help but wonder if it’ll just be Sol walking through the doors or will Jenna accompany her. Despite being beaten to a pulp, you remembered everything, you’ve always had a stellar memory and despite all the hurt and pain, there was something about the warmth Jenna encased you in whilst in your arms that washed away the pain, each beat of your heart was in sync with hers and for once she wasn’t the most feared woman in America, she was Jenna.

Just Jenna, with the ability to be vulnerable like everybody else. As much as you didn’t want to admit it, waking up to the lack of her warmth ached you, but that doesn’t mean you weren’t grateful and relieved to see Sol by your side, but deep down your heart longed to be in sync with hers again.

“Hi, my sweet one.”

“Sol!” And only Sol walked through the doors, leaving you deflated, not realising you displayed your disappointment for Sol to see.

“I know, I’m sorry.”

“No, don’t apologise, it’s okay, I just thought, never mind, it’s stupid.”

“It really isn’t y/n.” Sol takes a seat by your leg on your bed.

“I just want to thank her.”

“She knows you’re thankful, what you really want is her, or do you still hate her?” Sol teases.

You hmph, “I don’t want her.” Is that a lie, y/n? “And I don’t necessarily hate her.”

“Hm, okay, whatever makes you sleep at night, however, if you don’t hate her, why’d you tell her otherwise?”

“You heard about that?”

“Whole tower at this point.”

“I feel like this is karma for being a journalist,” you two share a laugh, taking a deep breath, you confess, “when I ran into her at the mall, she had told me to tell her that I hate her, if I told her that, she would leave me alone, when I told her I hate her, I didn’t mean it in a spiteful way, I meant it in a I don’t want to be a burden to you way, because I knew she would stop at nothing to hurt whoever did this to me, I couldn’t let her get hurt on behalf of me, get hurt in general.”

Viv and Bruce heard all of that through the door so when they walk in, Viv couldn’t help but make a remark, “aw, you do care about her.”

Your face lights up at the sight of your friends, “unfortunately,” you joke.

“How’re ya doing kid?” Bruce speaks first, which surprises everyone in the room.

“I’m doing better, you?”

“I’m not the one who got hurt.”

“Not physically.” Your statement makes Bruce bow his head down a bit, confirming your words to be true.

“I’ll be okay.” He smiles.

“Viv?”

“I’ll be okay too, I’m just glad you’re doing better.” She walks up to you and gives you a tight squeeze.

“OH!” You remember that there was a high possibility Sol and the other two have never met before, “this is Sol, my everything.” Sol smiles and holds your hand.

“Yes, hi, hello, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” Viv sticks out her hand and Sol gracefully accepts.

“Please, pleasure’s all mine, thank you for taking care of her.” Sol giggles at her, “and nice to meet you too, uh?” She turns to Bruce.

Bruce tips his head at her like a mini curtsy, a gentleman he is, “Bruce, ma’am.” Another smile from Sol.

“I don’t mean to interrupt introductions here, but is Jenna around?” You gather up the courage to ask.

“She’s on her way back to the towers.” Viv answers.

“From where?”

“I’ll leave that to her to explain.”

“But let’s not focus on her right now.” Easier said than done. “Jenna is offering you a guest bedroom upstairs to recover in, and trust me, this room may be amazing, but nothing compares to her penthouse.”

“That’s very generous of her, and yeah, whew, her penthouse is something else, she’ll be back soon, right?”

“I’m sure of it.” Viv reassures.

~~

Despite her small stature, Jenna was incredibly strong, evident as she drags a 6ft tall, unconscious man into the elevator as they head towards the dark rooms of the tower, underneath the city, where if Jenna wanted something from an individual, she’d get it.

As they reach the one of the underground levels, the elevator door opens and Jenna is greeted by Viv and Bruce, they wanted to bring a few soldiers, but Jenna insisted this had to be done privately, there was something poetic about her doing this where no one could hear his screams, the same way no one heard yours.

“Here Bruce, take him and tie him down to the chair and wake him up.” Jenna commands, the fury she once welcomed in, back and angrier than ever.

Once Jameson wakes up, his eyes are met with a fiery brown. “Speak.” He laughs at her attempt to be intimidating, “Oh? We’re laughing I see, let’s see if those teeth will still be there when you laugh after I’m done with you.” Jenna balls up her fist and with so much might, punches him in the jaw, knocking him to the side a bit, immediately drawing blood out of his nose and gums.

“That all you got?” He challenges, “I made your little pet scream more.” That was it, that was Jenna’s last straw, no one knows what possessed her, but no one was mad about it, she claw gripped his throat, throwing punches at every part of his face, his blood splattering all over the place, painting Jenna’s white button up, the first 3 buttons now undone from the roughness she delivered.

And with every grin, laugh, snarky remark Jameson displays, Jenna’s punches got harder, one punch being so hard, he falls backwards taking Jenna down with him. Jameson was strong but Jenna was stronger, “Gio was right, y/n does have you wrapped around her finger.”

With one final blow, she nearly renders him unconscious, as she leaps up from him, Jenna mumbles “you don’t get to say her name.”

“Calm down, tiger,” he mutters as the blood pools up in his mouth, spitting it out he continues “she’s not who you think she is, not the angel you see her as.”

Having had enough, she gives him one last hurt, a kick to his ribs, almost promising she broke it as she heard something crack, swiftly followed by a blood curdling scream. “Take him away, deliver him back to Gio but make him crawl his way to him.” With no hesitation, Bruce unties him and drags him away, at Jenna’s side, Viv hands her sanitizing products to clean the blood off her hands, “go, y/n needs you, I can clean this up.” Like Bruce, Jenna leaves with no hesitation, she was a full-blown storm and she needed you to calm her waters down.

~~

Though it was nearly 3am, you had no interest in sleep, instead, you were lost in the silence of the penthouse, being so high up the business of the streets beneath you could not be heard. You thought about the last time you were here, the only time you had been here, before tonight, maybe you were a bit harsh, maybe she deserved it.

As you think about what might’ve happened if you didn’t reject Jenna’s advances, the silence around you allows you to hear an elevator coming up, hopping up quickly, to the best of your ability, you breathe through the stinging pain from your healing body and head out.

“Jenna?” You see a beaten-up Jenna staring at you, fresh from the elevator, only making a couple steps into her penthouse. Though she looked beaten up, the undone buttons, blood splatter all over her shirt, untuck and ruffled up, you knew she wasn’t the one who took the pain, rather, she was the one who gave it. “Jenna?” You say again, hoping this time, your voice would knock her out of her dissociative trance.

“Y/n.” Was all she could mutter out.

You walk closer to her, being inches away from her face, body warmth radiating, your hearts in sync once more, you get déjà vu as this replicates the first night you met her, something about her brown eyes gazing into your soul, as if she were reading every atom in you to know you. “Y/n.” Jenna jolts awake, “I’m sorry, you shouldn’t see me like this.” But before she could turn and leave, you grab her wrist stopping her.

“Stay with me, I don’t want you to leave.”

She slowly grazes her face to yours, her eyes now closed and so are yours, both noses hug each other like a puzzle piece, the speed of your heart now rising to a point you swear it was going to electrocute the both of you from all that static rush, but what Jenna says next would stop your heart.

“Kiss me.”

~~

a/n: did anyone catch the slight 4th wall break and the cigarettes after sex reference hehe. GOODNIGHT OMG IT’S 7AM😭🫶🏽 also smut in ch4 instead of 3 won by like 1 vote 💀

TAGLIST: @somegaybae @omega-horus @lonelym00n @iamthewoe @dksjskx @lazyturtle0-0 @jess-1-e @zaclewiss @lostgirl1415 @pitifulbinx @talialeih @amessbian @aiakum @user173781 @dvrkhcld @urmajestyalex

[theblueeyedeagle]

In which Blue kidnapped uh uh I mean went on a trip with Giangio to Elysion Boulevard!

You may be wonder “How? Why?”

The short answer is mods, BUT that answer does not do justice to the absolute JOURNEY it took to drag this little man all the way down to the streets of Krat. And I just want to share this with you cause screaming out laughter at 2AM on a discord call with friends unfortunate enough to witness this is not enough apparently XP

So! We begin at the Path of Misery.

I crash the game approximately three times trying to get him out of there. Eventually I settle on a system of teleporting him along with me and (at risk of making the game a tad less stable) freezing enemy animations to get through unharassed.

Not that that matters much for Gio cause enemies don’t care much abt NPCs but they very very much care about Pino and Pino is the lynch pin that keeps the game areas loaded under our feet.

Next was the lift. This is where I fully expected our journey to end. It almost did because Gio was not meant to be on a moving platform and would fall upwards and outwards out of the lift and into the shadow realm (he’d fall out of the world and despawn)

It took me FOUR tries to find the spot to stand so I could hold him in place so he wouldn’t fly away.

Everything went pretty smooth at Venigni works. Hilariously enough I accidentally talked to him while trying to climb a ladder and the first thing he had to say was “Ah! Mercy! I beg you! Don’t kill me!”

Nah don’t worry Gio, we’re just on a field trip.

Finally! We reach town! I’m howling with laughter and my friends are on the other end of the line like “Oh my god, you finally did it but WHY?!”

Everyone thank Pino for his hard work in helping me carry this man all the way down here👏👏👏

“Why didn’t you just spawn him in down in the city?”

Because NPCs have a string of numbers after their ID that generates upon loading the map they’re in. Therefore even if I have their ID, there’s no way to get the numbers needed to place them down. Therefore I resorted to dragging Gio through all the places linked WITHOUT load screens. So theoretically this will work for other NPCs standing around in areas linked without load screens too!

Edit: part of the Lift Experience I forgot lmao

[the-dumpster-fire-of-life]

…heyyyy….👩‍🍳 yes Ik I’ve been dead but I’ve had school which I Alr hate ANYWAYS

U remember in dance moms when Maddie had to kiss gio (or sm else I can’t remember who) for there duet (us we where I’m goin 😏) how about dance mom bill finding out BUT WAIT THERES MORE (if u want u don’t have to do it🫶🏽) an on the day they preform the rest of the band is their (family ykyk) an they see reader kiss the boy an there all like “WOW WOW WOOOAH SLOW DOWN🫸🏽🫸🏽🫸🏽🫸🏽” total overprotective mode activated an then there all like “NO your wayyy to young to even kiss an don’t even THINK about dating 🙄” annoying maybe loving soft family moment tho YESSSS

I’ve been dead but I make up for it🙋🏽‍♀️ as always love your work never rush an I stay cooking👩‍🍳👩‍🍳

(yes, yes, yes! sorry this took so long but enjoy!!)

Girl's Gotta Be Kisses

Bill is literally feeling his soul leave his body the second he heard Abby mutter anything about a kiss

Especially because he still thinks you’re his little baby

He is immediately calling Tom, Gustav and Georg the second he leaves

He is covering his eyes the entire time you guys are rehearsing the duet

He thinks the kiss is like a jumpscare and he wants absolutely nothing to do with

He is horrified because he peeked out from his hands and yelled because the second he did guess what?

HE SAW THE FUCKING KISS

“No, no, no, no! Honey! Save my kid!”

He is so overdramatic about it but he has a right too

You can make jokes about it as well like

“I can’t believe you’re having your first kiss. In a dance!”

“Who said it’s my first kiss?”

*Que Bill stomping on the brake pedal and you going flying into the seat as Tom is in the passenger seat and your uncles are next to you*

“WHAT?!”

That's what you get from all four of them as Uncle Georg has you by your shoulders, Tom and Bill are practically turned completely in their seats and Gustav has a hand over his heart and is so grateful his kid isn’t old enough yet

Bill is probably crying and Tom knows what it feels like when his mother caught him with girls 

They still think of you as an infant running around stealing their shit and trying to play their instruments dressed in Toms shirt, Bill’s bracelets, Georg’s hair ties and a little toy bass and Gustavs hat

But they are teasing the shit out of you as well but they’re also horrified and disgusted about how fast you’ve grown up

They feel so fucking old

They are definitely going to see you perform and are all huddled in a pile and closing their eyes and waiting because Bill never told them when the kiss happens in the dance

If he got jump scared, they get jump scared as well

When they actually do see the kiss they’re literally like children seeing their parents kiss for the first time and are going “Ew!” and “Gross!” and “Stop, stop, stop!”

When they see you after it they literally swoop you away as your duet partner stands there awkwardly

Tom did talk to him, gave him a little elbow nudge and eyebrow wiggle as your partner did indeed blush

They’re literally all over you with going “Never again!” and “Don't you dare, Abby! I will sue you!” and “Don’t ever think about dating, kissing, marriage, anything until you're freaking forty!”

They will never let that go until you come back with your first boyfriend in a few years

Then that's when shit goes down

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

#69 commented by @teatatatea

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