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har-rison-s · 1 year ago

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tell me i'm good | coryo snow x fem!reader

a/n: ohmygod you guys why did this take me like almost 3 weeks....... mnadfahsdf anyways um this might be like the last chapter idk ???!!!! what would you guys like me to do.... cos im kinda losing my grip on coryo rn, im at the end of my tbosas copy and im just so disgusted w him idek ???? but uhh yeah. sorry i'm a bit of a mess lately. i did have some little things i could be including in further writings, like y/n meeting tigris, or y/n reuniting w coryo after he returns from 12, but there's not much material for like whole chapters, idk. hope you at least enjoy this and let me know if u guys have any ideas!! happy reading <3

previous chapter

coryo masterlist main masterlist

word count: 4.2k

themes: little angst, smut

warnings / disclaimers: smut, fingering, praise, sorta sub!coryo cos that's what i live for. coryo has a praise kink, sue me

gif credit goes to author / owner <3

usually Coriolanus would feel unease in a rich family’s home, like y/n’s was. unease because he felt like he belonged there, in homes like that, but he didn’t exactly deserve to. the snow name had fallen to ruin and bankruptcy because of district twelve, and they’d been living in hunger with barely any money since then. it had made Coriolanus lose the confidence he wanted to regain, about himself and the way he carried his family name.

he always put on a certain stance and grace when walking into homes like this, a way that would never make the hosts doubt he came from a place any different than this. being in homes like this made him feel ashamed of his living conditions. he was grateful towards Tigris for putting in her efforts to upkeep their home, but he could never escape the fact that this wasn’t how they were supposed to live, it gnawed at him day and night. and when he was in homes like this, Coriolanus felt uneasy because his home was nothing like these ones.

but when it was just him and y/n in her shower, her bathroom and her bedroom, he felt none of that unease or shame. he did feel a little envious, but that’s where it ended. the other spiteful and loathing feelings he usually felt were gone. perhaps it was just her effect on him that did it, but he felt like admitting that would make him vulnerable. he knew it, just didn’t want to admit to himself. to her – always. he couldn’t hide her effect on him if he tried.

the one difference he realized between her home and his was that the outside world was completely quiet here. from the snow penthouse Coriolanus could hear street noises – rats, people, cars, trams. grandma’am’s singing was really the worst of the noises, but that was a different case. it almost spooked him how quiet it was here. he liked it. lying beside y/n in her bed, both of them wearing pyjama shirts and underwear, he glanced at her reading a book that looked older than anything he’d seen before.

“i thought most books were burned in the war, or even in the old world,” Coryo admitted to her and watched as corners of y/n’s lips tugged into a gentle smile at that. she had her back against the headboard, and could look down at Coryo. she didn’t, her eyes were still on the tiny words printed on the pages.

“they were,” she said, “my mother got only three as a gift when she was a kid. they were her most prized possessions, she always had them with her.” y/n sighed. “they survived the war, it seems, and everything else, and joined my father’s library.” she finally looked at him and smiled. she closed the book, but not without leaving a bookmark where she had stopped, and shoved it onto her nightstand. she shut off the light and slid to lay beside Coryo. her hand under her pillow, she looked at him moving to lay on his side to face her, tucking his hands under his pillow, too. she smiled and Coryo mirrored that, too.

“grandma’am has some books at home,” he said to her, “but i’m sure she hasn’t touched them in ages,” he added and made y/n laugh.

“do you think Lucy Gray has books at home?” y/n asked suddenly, and Coryo’s expression changed. he’d completely forgot about her until y/n mentioned her just now. she was still in the arena, hiding from Coral and the others. y/n looked into his eyes as the motions changed in the blue of them. “her songs do sound like ones from a book,” she added in an innocent voice, still waiting for any sort of answer from Coryo.

he huffed. “they sure do,” he replied quietly, shortly, “but they’re her own. at least the ones she’s sang so far,” he said then and looked down between him and y/n.

“i really loved the one she sang when you were supposed to have your interview,” y/n admitted, “the very first words, something about when she was younger, she fell into hollers and now when she’s a girl, she fell into that mystery boy’s arms. those really touched my heart,” she said with a smile and still looked to Coryo. he shyly looked into her eyes, “made me think of you.” she all but mumbled quietly.

he made a half-smile. “really?” he asked and she confirmed with a nod.

“sounds like me and Lucy Gray were both angry little ladies when we were younger,” y/n said and rolled over onto her back, “i certainly was. gave my parents and the babysitters pains,” she sighed, “i do regret being hard on them, but i never regret anger that i had, whatever it might have been about.” she turned her head to Coryo, who had suspected that she’d turned away from him all together by laying on her back now. but she didn’t turn away. just felt shy. “mother used to say there would never be a boy who liked me if i was always this angry,” y/n said and hummed quietly.

“well, she was wrong,” Coryo immediately said and reached a hand out to stroke her delicate cheek, “i like you, and not just because you’re angry, but it’s a good characteristic to have,” he said and it made y/n turn to lay on her side to face him again, a smile on her face. he did like her anger, it showed courage. but it unnerved him sometimes, just like Sejanus did when he spoke up against teachers, dr Gaul or anyone else higher standing. y/n and Sejanus could both get into serious trouble just by being themselves. oh, but isn’t it fun, Coriolanus, to have such strong, different people around you?

“that will prove her wrong when we tell her about us,” y/n said in a hopeful voice, and Coryo nodded before he could respond otherwise. he wanted to give her a smile, but instead he gave her the ghost of one, his thoughts slithering away elsewhere.

“do you think... it’s good arms that you’re falling into? my arms?” he asked, wondering the worth of those lyrics to her. and his worth to her, and overall. she’d practically just admitted that she had fallen into his arms, into him, so he had to know. he had his anxieties about what he did in the arena not too many hours ago, about what it could mean, what it could change, who would find out. now that his mind wasn’t entirely preoccupied with other things and she had reminded him about Lucy Gray, Coriolanus’ thoughts ran wild again.

y/n put her hand on his cheek and stroked her thumb over his pearly skin. she wasn’t sure about her answer. believing Coryo was good was different than him actually being good, and she’d always believed her own good thoughts of people who weren’t entirely good rather than seeing them for who they truly were and accepting that. she knew Coryo wasn’t perfect, not really, under the surface, and sometimes he made very strange compromises. but not to her. he’d always been good to her. “i think so,” she said finally, quietly, “you’re good to me.”

he shook his head, and her hand moved to his lips and then back to his cheek again. Coryo felt a surge of euphoria at her fingers against his lips. “i try to be, but...” he looked into her eyes, “i don’t know if i am good.” he admitted and y/n’s eyes gave him a puzzled glance. “i couldn’t tell you before, but,” he took a deep breath, “i killed one of the tributes. in the arena.” he finally said, no distractions, no avoiding the subject, just straight-forward truth. laying himself and his actions out in the open.

y/n’s eyebrows puzzled, then drew together as her eyes searched all over, then looked to a spot between her and Coryo. he’d killed someone. he’d killed a kid and then just gone to her home and... without telling her about it. truly, he was in shambles when she saw him, and could hardly get a word out, but... she took her hand away and curled it under her pillow. she felt used. she didn’t look at him, though Coryo wanted to beg her to do so, to say anything, do anything. anything other than this silence.

“did you come here with... those intentions? did you want to just... sleep with me and then go back to your home?” she asked him finally, all kinds of thoughts were racing through her mind. “like i’m just some...” profanities circled her mind.

Coryo shook his head at her voiced assumptions and scooted closer to her under her covers. he’d made her upset, but not in the way he’d anticipated. girls do have a different view of everything, they really do. “no, no, it wasn’t like that at all,” he told her. wasn’t it? “i didn’t want to go home,” he said, “i just ran and ran until i recognized your house and... i just knew it was the right place to be. i couldn’t be with anyone else, y/n,” he almost pleaded. she gave him a glance.

“and what then? i wasn’t inviting you to do all these things to me, with me,” she said, suddenly feeling nauseaus from the thoughts she was having, the assumptions that clouded her mind and swam into her words, “you wanted to.”

“i did want to, and no, it wasn’t—ugh,” Coryo turned to lay on his back, “i just couldn’t bring myself to tell you then. you-you’re where i feel the safest. and... you are irresistible to me, as i’ve said before.” he turned to lay on his side again, where y/n had pulled into herself more, her arms around her own frame, eyes staring blankly into her bedding. “you’re not just someone to me, i would never use you like that,” Coryo assured her, and y/n looked into his eyes finally. he felt relief, if only momentary. she’d looked at him, at least, “i couldn’t even tell you what you mean to me. too much, is what you mean to me.”

he offered her a smile, but she just looked back at him. “so what we did wasn’t just a distraction for you?” she asked in a quiet voice, and Coryo shook his head, happy they were on the same page finally.

“no, y/n, it meant the world to me,” he told her, “and so do you.” he promised and managed that smile again. she believed him. she didn’t care that it could make her a fool later – that was later, and not now. now she was his world, she was his solace, his comfort, his safe place. “i love you,” Coryo said. didn’t i tell you that already? he searched her eyes and she nodded, finally.

“i love you, too,” she said back and Coryo held her face in his hands with her silent permission, “i just wish i could know what goes on in that head of yours,” she admitted, though fearing it may make Coryo lock himself up and never say a word to her again. some would call knowing what the other is thinking an invasion of privacy, but she didn’t see it that way, and neither did Coryo.

“i wonder the same thing about you,” he admitted back and y/n raised her eyebrows momentarily at that statement, a little surprised, though she was glad to hear that he felt the same way, “i never want to make you feel worthless to me, y/n, i—”

she shook her head, “you can’t really control that,” she pointed out.

“but i want to try,” he said, and thought that it would be best if he could control every aspect of how she felt about him or what he made her feel. her anxieties were out of his hands, but he wanted them to go away, and wanted to do his best for her to not have them at all. not plant the seeds for those anxieties.

“tell me about it,” she urged him after again shaking her head gently at him. she tucked her face closer to his, “did you do it for Lucy Gray?” she asked and looked up into his eyes again.

“well, yes,” he answered, “but he would have killed me and Sejanus, too. it was...”

“self-defense?” she asked and Coryo nodded. “they sent you in there after him and didn’t even provide protection.” protection from who? kids who have been pushed out into an arena, onto a stage, and told to perform and survive?

“that was the catch, yes,” Coryo said, “he ran after us, though he was limping, and attacked us. i didn’t...” he gulped and looked down, “i didn’t want to hurt him, but... i felt something, and i... couldn’t stop.” y/n looked into his eyes. “i don’t feel... i don’t think i’m the same anymore.”

y/n pulled him into an embrace, his head against her chest, damp curls tickling her neck, and held him tightly. it was almost like cradling him, so gently, comfortingly, offering her solace. she didn’t know what to say to him, what words to offer. it seemed they’d all ran out. the smart-mouth y/n had nothing to say for the first time in her life.

“do you still think i’m good?” Coryo asked quietly, his voice muffled. y/n sighed, her eyelids fluttering, eyes turning glassy as no doubt Coryo’s were too, she could hear his voice on the whiny, sob tone. he needed comfort, reassurance.

“i think you can be,” she told him her honest thoughts quietly, despite knowing it wasn’t a direct answer to his question. Coryo gulped and pulled back, just to look at her, just to hold her, too.

“tell me i’m good,” he pleaded and took her face in his hands again. y/n felt confused, and looked at him with eyes very much expressing that, but couldn’t stop herself from what she said next.

“you’re good,” she assured in an unsure voice, and was taken aback by Coryo kissing her. hard, sudden, urgent, desperate. she could hardly draw breath, his teeth were clashing against hers, lips hungry on hers, tongue licking at her teeth, the inside of her mouth, hungry, starving, desperate, “you’re good.” she said again, still sounding unsure but less than the first time. Coryo whimpered into her mouth at her words, he felt himself twitch beneath the fabric of his loaned pyjama pants. seriously? he asked himself at first. but then, this is good. this is doing something good for you. listen to her, “you’re good, Coryo,” y/n gasped into his mouth. she could feel him against her inner thigh now that their bodies were intertwining again. Coryo moved his lips to her neck, nipping, licking, softly biting, suckling at her skin, drawing out the most delicious of noises out of her, only making himself more desperately aroused from it, more desperate for her, “Coryo, you’re...” she couldn’t even finish her sentence as she writhed in his hold, her hands grasping at the skin under his shirt, fingers teasingly slipping between his hot skin and the elastic of his pyjama pants.

“say it,” he reminded her in a whisper, a request in the disguise of a whine. Coryo grinded his hips against y/n’s, drove his growing length against her cunt, and found warmth there immediately. y/n almost cried out her next words, the heat between her and Coryo making her nearly as desperate as him. desperate for each other, like bitches in heat.

“you’re so good, Coryo,” she squeezed out and pushed her hips up against his. she put her hands on his chest and pushed him back on the bed, his back on her soft-as-ever pillows, and his eyes looking up at her. she just adored the sight of him like this, but couldn’t hold herself away from kissing him, stopping her short adoration of him. he needed her. he needed her support. so she’d give him that. she had always been ready to do that. take care of him. she’d done that in another way time and time over already.

she took his hand and pushed it in her pyjama bottoms, and Coryo groaned, relishing at touching her at her most vulnerable part again, this ever-inviting slick warmth that was all his to touch, to please, to discover.

“touch me, Coryo,” she breathed onto his lips, and he nodded in half a second. so compliant, so obedient, doing what he’s told. afraid for what may come if he doesn’t. afraid of the chaos that comes for not following orders. always melting like chocolate under her hot touch, compliant to her. his fingers ran through her folds, covered in slick, making her gasp and arch her back, hair in the air. Coryo watched her in awe, in adoration. she was a goddess above him. assuring him he was good, telling him what to do, listening to him, falling apart under his touch, such an effortlessly beautiful girl. he had lucked out. Coryo kept his eyes on her face as he pushed two of his fingers inside her walls. it made y/n sigh and shudder in relief, he was delicate on her soreness, like balm on a bruise, “Coryo,” she moaned and felt his fingers curl inside of her, making her eyes roll back into her head, “fuck, you’re so good for me, Coryo.”

he nodded again, eyelids fluttering and lips stretching into a smile. her words and noises fed his ego and flattered his heart that so longed for words of praise and recognition. they also made his hard-on grow in his pyjama pants, and he felt kind of shameful for it. he grazed her walls with his fingertips and felt how it made her shudder sitting above him, her cunt squeezing him in, her thighs tightening around his hips—locked in. Coryo moaned, he felt his hand between his clothed, growing erection and her cunt, and it was the perfect squeeze. her warmth pressing against his own, pulling him in. he pumped his fingers faster inside her, delicious sounds from her cunt going straight to his erection.

“Coryo,” y/n mewled and rocked her hips on his hand. he could tell she was desperate, and that meant she was close, too. she was nearly crying, her soreness from before joining the immense pleasure Coryo was providing, “be good for me and make me come, Coryo, please,” she half-pleaded, half-commanded, and Coryo nodded again, beyond turned on but still so focused. his other hand reached around her hips and pushed a splayed palm on the small of her back, pushing her core more into his hand, down onto his length. y/n groaned and gasped for him, but she took his hand and guided it up her pyjama shirt, over her breast, and made him squeeze the flesh of it. that made her whimper and only yearn for her release more. she was oh-so-close, about to fall over that sweet edge for the second time that night.

Coryo pulled his trump move of pressing a digit against her clit and ground his hips up against hers again, trying to maintain a rhythm, and knew that was it, he could feel the difference in her body immediately. she jerked, and her thighs trembled—she was so sensitive still—and she drew ragged breaths. y/n collapsed on top of Coryo as she came, uttering his name under her breath, and he drew his hand from under her shirt to wrap it around her frame to just make her feel his ever-long support. her hair in his face, they were both gasping for air, skin on skin, and Coryo didn’t even realise until he felt not just her wetness on his fingers, but his own under his hand, soaking through his pyjama pants, that he’d come, too. he hardly even felt it, unlike that first time just a mere hour or two ago. his cheeks blushed a bright pink on his pale skin and he tremendously, though stupidly, hoped she wouldn’t notice.

but when she kissed his cheek and his neck after regaining herself, he sort-of forgot about the little detail, melting into her affections on him. “Coryo, you did so good for me,” y/n quietly praised him and then raised her head to look at him. he shyly looked into her eyes and managed a smile in response. what she did next surprised him immensely. she reached her hand into her pyjama pants and gathered her own white honeydew liquid on her fingers and then drew that hand of hers to Coryo’s own lips, “taste me,” she breathed with a compelling spell on her tongue that had Coryo not even thinking twice before he did as he was told.

she slid her fingers in-between his pretty bow lips, watching it happen with hungry eyes all the while, and Coryo welcomed her digits with delight. his tongue swirled around her fingers as he sucked her liquid off them, and moaned at the taste of her, all the while keeping his eyes on hers. she grinned faintly, just adoring the sight of her fingers in his mouth, his messy curls and pink cheeks. y/n leaned down close to his face and pulled her fingers out slowly, his tongue following right after them. she trailed her fingers across his lips, tracing their edges and corners as Coryo parted them wider, she looked onto him with insatiable hunger, turning him into a complete puddle under her. she kissed his lips with her hand across his cheek, thumb digging into the corner of his lips, right in the middle of her kisses. it turned Coryo on again, even though he deemed it impossible.

“how am i?” y/n asked quietly with a smile on her lips, and Coryo returned the expression.

“sweet like sugar,” he told her the absolute truth, making y/n smile wider. he lightly bit into her thumb as he looked up at her, “we both need to change pyjama pants,” he said quietly, suddenly shy. y/n looked down at between them, which was the last thing Coryo wanted her to do, but the look on her face assured him altogether.

“oh, Coryo, that’s alright,” she assured him about his accident and caressed his cheek with her hand, bearing the sweetest face of all as she looked at him, “don’t be sorry.” she pleaded and Coryo nodded with a true smile on his pink bow lips. he clearly enjoyed listening to her telling him what to do, and had no problem obeying her. “we’ll find some in the laundry room. but after that we’re really going to bed,” she said, and he nodded again, “you do need your rest for tomorrow.”

right, tomorrow. the games were still on, and Coryo was required to attend. he should be walking into Heavensbee hall high and proud—if no one had killed Lucy Gray during the night, of course—acting his best and looking his best, pretending like there was not a scratch on him. another day, another act. though, could he really hide something like what he’d done tonight from the whole world? they were watching, for sure.

“will you be there with me, tomorrow?” he asked as y/n pulled him up from the bed, and she looked up at him with a special glint in her eyes. she could cry at his earnest question. he wanted her there. maybe her little fantasy of them walking into Heavensbee hall hand in hand finally could become reality. they’d kept up the casual classmate relationship appearance to everyone else so far, no one even suspected a thing of the slightest bit of friendship between them. it should be pretty obvious, but their classmates proved otherwise.

y/n squeezed his hand hard in hers and gave him the biggest smile, “of course i will,” she assured him, “if you want me to be there, with you, in front of everyone.” she pointed out and seemed to be asking him a question without actually asking him.

Coryo realized then that this night between them had changed everything. especially this last intimate exchange, but he didn’t exactly know why. it just had changed his whole attitude towards her and their secret friendship that had recently turned into a relationship. he didn’t even care that anyone knew now, in fact – he wanted to show her off to the whole world, he wanted them all to know that he was with her, that he had landed her, that he belonged to her. that was with him, that she loved him, that they loved each other. nothing else mattered to him, really. he forgot about the rest of the world when he was with her.

“i do want that, yes,” Coryo told her with pride on his face, “i want them all to see us.” he said simply, but implied much more, his eyes expressing conviction and charisma, and he made y/n smile wide. smile like she was the happiest girl in the world. with Coryo, she might just be that.

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#har-rison-s writes #har-rison-s work #coryo snow #coryo snow x reader #coryo snow smut #coriolanus snow #coriolanus snow smut #coriolanus x reader #coriolanus x you #coriolanus snow x reader

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typicalopposite · 23 days ago

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we almost had it all

rated T | Trigger warnings: mpreg, blood, miscarriage

part one | read on ao3

Buck stirs; and the movement, coupled with a pained groan, is enough to wake Tommy out of the already restless sleep he was barely managing. He straightens himself in his hospital chair and waits for Buck to fully become conscious. “Hey,” he says softly when those gorgeous baby blues finally flutter open. Buck blinks a few times, taking in his surroundings, and tries to move; a deep, guttural noise escapes him immediately and he screws his eyes shut. “Easy there,” Tommy laughs, leaning forward to rest a hand on his shoulder, to ease him back down on the mattress. “You— you’re pretty banged up, Buck. Don’t move.”

“Mmm…” he hums in response, shaking his head back and forth. “‘Vn… ‘vn!!” He furrows his brow and looks at Tommy, eyes sad and pleading; clears his throat and says… very intently. “Evan.”

Tommy stares at him, and feels his lips twitch, curling up ever so slightly, and he nods. “Okay, okay… Evan.”

As bright as the sun when it’s at its peak in the sky, with not a single cloud to hide its rays, Evan smiles.

For now— at least for just a moment— it’s enough. Enough to take Tommy’s mind off the cramps the doctor in the ER said would probably last for a few more days. Enough for Tommy to appreciate what is here in front of him; what he can see and touch, that has a heartbeat and life… and not dwell on what has been lost. Enough to pretend— for just this blessed little moment— everything is going to be okay.

Tommy explains the details of the accident to Evan. He tells him how the semi had run the light, and the side of the engine he was sitting on took the most impact. He tells him how the call came in and how he was prepared to fight someone if they didn’t let him fly to the scene. “My hero,” Evan laughs.

“Hardly,” Tommy rebuts, feeling his cheeks heat up. “I didn’t do much…” He didn’t do enough. He didn’t do the most important thing he was supposed to do. He didn’t keep their child safe. “B- But you’re safe… I’m so happy you’re okay…”

At some point Tommy’s hand ends up in Evan’s. He holds it gingerly, like it’s a precious fragile thing he can break— he has broken enough of Evan already. He runs his calloused thumbs over the knuckles, and after a few moments teetering on the uncertainty of whether this is acceptable or not Evan finally splays out his fingers and intertwines them with Tommy’s. With that… Tommy carefully brings the hand up and kisses it— Evan uses the hold to pull Tommy forward into an actual kiss.

He sighs against Tommy’s lips, and lingers there so long Tommy thinks he might have nodded off again until he finally hums like he’s content and Tommy pulls back to look into his eyes. “I’m so sorry, baby…” he says.

“It’s okay…” Evan replies, and it’s really not… Tommy knows it’s not… nothing is okay. Not with the breakup, or Tommy running— Evan doesn’t even know the full extent of how not okay things are; would he be so forgiving if he did? He considers protesting, but Evan’s forehead is pressing against his and he seems so content with just being— Tommy can do that too, at least for the moment.

The moment proves to be short lived, and Bobby catches Tommy out in the lobby while Maddie is in with Buck, making her own fuss over him. “I talked to Lucy,” he says, eyes soft… and all too knowing. Tommy feels his throat tighten; he can’t even squeeze out a lame attempt at bitchiness towards her for blabbing his business. Somehow Bobby’s expression softens even more, as he reaches out and lays a hand gently on Tommy’s shoulder. “I am so terribly sorry, Tommy… If there is anything I can do— If there is anything you need… my door is always open, okay?”

For a second Tommy feels that connection he’d felt way back when he was still at the 118. That strange powerful pull towards the new captain— something that was almost akin to how he suspected he should feel around his own father— that he never quite got the full experience of before his transfer. Tommy blinks at him, the lump in his throat too big, too wedged in tight to speak around, and he nods.

“So is- is everything— are- are you…” Bobby sighs at himself, not seeming to know what to say. “How are you, considering…”

Tommy shifts on his feet, and tries desperately to find his voice so he can lie his way out of trauma-dumping the past day and a half onto his former captain.

He doesn’t want to talk about the miscarriage… He doesn’t want to talk about how, after the staff came out and learned what was happening, they rushed him inside, got him in a room— how they told him to try his best to relax; that his body should do the work… but if it didn’t they would have to intervene.

Eight hours later… they had to intervene.

He doesn’t want to talk about how he spent the entirety he was cohesive enough to think clearly… thinking about how Evan might be dying just a floor above while they scraped their child out of him.

He doesn’t want to talk about how he felt so numb when they released him— how he winded up in the ICU asking for Evan Buckley, instead of going home. He doesn’t want to talk about how he took advantage of Evan's unconscious state to take in every aspect of his being: every dimple in his skin, every mole and freckle, every perfection and the imperfections, too. He is so beautiful and their child would have been so beautiful too.

He doesn’t want to talk about it, or think about it… but he tells Bobby everything, anyway. He doesn’t even know why. He just starts talking and he can’t stop, and eventually he is talking and crying… and Bobby is just standing there listening; he lets Tommy have the floor, until he has said his piece.

Then, without a word, he pulls him into a hug.

And Tommy cries harder.

He apologizes profusely, because he didn’t mean to cry all over Bobby, just like he hadn’t meant to cry all over Lucy— and like Lucy, Bobby assures him it is absolutely no problem.

“Please don’t tell him…” Tommy finally manages to get out.

“I didn’t plan on it,” Bobby says softly, rubbing a hand over Tommy’s back as his sobs, turn to cries, turn to just some shaky breath and sniffling. “But…” he continues once Tommy is calm. “I do believe you should. I think it would help with your grieving process. And I know that Buck would want to be a part of that with you.”

Tommy feels his face crumpling again. “I know that, I just—” Tommy looks back towards the room. “I just got him back. I can’t— I can’t lose him again…”

“You think you’ll lose him?”

“I lost his child…”

That’s enough for Bobby to pull back and give him a stern— but sympathetic— look. “That was not your fault, Tommy.” He stares at Tommy; Tommy knows he looks doubtful. He sighs. “Buck would never blame you for this loss… he’d more likely blame himself for causing it.” Tommy’s eyes go wide and he’s about to protest, but Bobby stops him. “That’s just Buck, he will find a way to shoulder the blame no matter what… but he would blame himself so much more if he knows you went through this pain alone. So I definitely think you should tell him.”

Tommy waits until the visitors die down.

He slips into the room after Eddie and Chris have left and gently pushes it closed behind him. It must be written all over his face because Evan immediately asks him if he’s okay. “No,” Tommy says, quietly, dreading this conversation already.

“W- What wrong…”

Tommy crosses the room and drops down into his chair, taking Evan’s hand between both of his. He licks his lips, but his throat is so dry it doesn’t help much. Words are nonexistent, his nerves are frayed. “I- I, uhm…” Evan is looking more panicked by the second and Tommy is starting to regret choosing this while he was still in the hospital, recovering. The bulky feeling of the massive pad the hospital provided reminds him he is also recovering and Bobby’s voice is in his ear encouraging him to go on. He laces their fingers together, and the first tear falls as he realizes— “I was going to tell you today anyway…”

His voice is so small, he is surprised Evan hears him, but he does. “Tell me what?”

“That- That I was… pregnant.”

It takes a couple seconds for Evan to register what he said. “You- You… what?” Another beat and he realizes the tense. “Wait… was?” Tommy swipes away at the tears, and nods. “You- You had a—” He quickly nods again before he has to hear Evan say it out loud. Now tears are filling Evan’s eyes, and he shifts himself towards Tommy. “W- was it because of— of…”

“I guess the stress… and I- I probably should have never been the one to fly to the scene… I’m- I’m so sorry, Evan.”

“Wha— No… Tommy, no, it’s- it’s not your fault.” Evan squeezes Tommy’s hand, pulling him closer so he can reach up and caress Tommy’s cheek, running his thumb under Tommy's eye to catch the tears. “You should have never been put in that situation… I’m sorry about that.”

“You have nothing to apologize for either…” Tommy says, reaching up to hold onto Evan’s wrists; his lips tremble despite his best efforts to control it and his breathing is so shaky.

Evan nods. He moves over on the bed as far as he can and releases Tommy’s face to lower his guard rail. “Come here,” he says, holding his arms out to Tommy.

“I’m not getting in your bed, Evan…” Tommy says, forcing a laugh.

“I want to— I n- need to hold you,” Evan says, softly. “Please come here…”

Tommy doesn’t fight that— honestly he’d love nothing more than to be held by Evan. He carefully climbs onto the bed, avoiding wires and Evan’s injuries, and eases himself up against Evan’s side. He feels the most at ease in Evan’s arms, that he has since- since the break up really… He lets his head fall to Evan’s chest and exhales; with it comes a sob, then another, and another. Evan’s body is trembling too, and he feels a tear fall from above him and land on his forehead.

He carefully wraps an arm around Evan’s body, holding him close as they grieve what they’ve lost.

They cry until they can’t cry anymore, and then they just lie there in silence, until Tommy thinks maybe Evan has fallen asleep. “I missed you so much,” Evan says, disproving the thought. His face is buried in Tommy’s curls and he presses a kiss against them. “I don’t want to miss you anymore…”

Tommy gently shifts so he can look up at Evan. “Me neither,” he says, and pushes up enough to capture Evan’s lips. He brings a hand up to hold Evan’s face while he kisses him, and he knows there is so much more to say— so much more to be sorry about, and work through. It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it.

He hates that this is what brought them back together. He hates that they might come out of this stronger than before, but at such a great cost. He hates that they will never meet their child…

But he has been given a second chance at a future with Evan… and with that, maybe, he can hope for a second chance at a family with Evan as well.

#bucktommy #tommy kinard #evan buckley #bobby nash #mpreg #bucktommy mpreg #pregnant tommy kinard #miscarriage #angst with a hopeful ending #fix it fic

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storm-angel989 · 9 months ago

Note

Okay so I saw your val and child fic and i got inspired to req as well😭 Lucifer x eldest!daughter!reader, what if luci and Lilith had like, a child before they fell. THIS IS PLATONIC OKAY almost forgot to mention. So like reader is like an angel (maybe with unique wings like luci?) and is more than tens of thousands years old cause she was born before they fell, and she can't go to hell or have any contact with her parents because heaven is worried that she'll fall too, so she's very protected by the angels. It'll add more to the angst if reader isn't even aware that she's the daughter of Lucifer and Lilith! Better, she didn't even know they existed at all because the angels tried their best to keep her away from everything about hell. I hc that Lucifer went to heaven to like, talk w sera to let charlie have a meeting about the extermination yeah!! So on his way, he caught a glimpse of reader gifting a basket full of pastries or idks to Sera in her office. After tens of thousands of years apart, what will he do? He can't fuck this up since of he makes sera angry, then charlie won't have a meeting at all!

Ask and you shall receive! I don't have a ton of experience writing Lucifer, but take a peek- feedback is always appreciated! Thank you so much for your request!

She looked just like her.

Blonde hair. Wings that mimicked his own, at least, how they looked in his glory days. Prior to his fall. Her eyes sparkled with the goodness only heaven could create. Ironic, really, if he was being fully honest with himself.

It was only a glimpse, a glance as she handed off a basket to one of the other angels. Sera’s secretary, maybe. Or one of the lower officers in her command. Honest Lucifer couldn’t care less who she was handing it to if it wasn’t him. After all, that was his daughter.

Every part of him yearned to stand up, to blow these pretentious angels out of the way and to embrace what was rightfully his. To end the pain of a loss he had kept a secret from everyone around him for eons.

But by the way she acted, he doubted she had any idea who he was. It had, after all, been ages since he had last seen her sweet face, bubbling and bright. Heard her soft giggles, her coos as he rocked her to sleep at night. Ages since the high seraphs of heaven ripped her from his arms as they cast him and Lilith to Earth, as punishment for their so called egregious errors.

Twenty nine thousand, seven hundred and fifty six years to be exact. Not that he was counting.

He tried to shake her from his mind. He had another daughter to focus on, after all. One bore after he and his wife fell, crashing into the underground world- a punishment for an external sin.

At first, Lilith had cried. Dark echoing sobs that resulted in the creation of the sins of hell. Each of them one of the actions of heaven that led her to the loss of her daughter. Heaven’s pride, lust, greed, gluttony, wrath and sloth, all became embodiments of the third most powerful beings in hell. It took eons before the discussion of another child could even be considered.

Ironic, he pointed out, that the crimes of heaven became reality in hell. But she didn’t care. He supposed in her mind, bringing to life heaven’s dark side was a sort of retribution.

It was eons, eons before they decided to try again.

That brought him here, to this moment, as he sat in front of Sera as casually as he could. She didn’t need to know he recognized his own daughter. Honestly, dangling her in front of him like that. How dare she? He should strike her now, his hands could leave burning marks of darkness across her face, a permanent scar was the very least she deserved for shattering his family.

But he had another child to consider.

You should be grateful, the commander taunted as he ripped his daughter from his arms. At least now she has a chance at happiness, a chance to avoid eternal damnation and punishment. Why are you not more grateful?

Lucifer’s infant screamed in one of his oversized hands, and with the other pushed him down into the pits of hell alongside Lilith. Their punishment for daring to create something without the permission of a higher being.

“She desires a meeting? With us?” Sera wondered aloud. “Whatever about?”

Lucifer snapped his attention back to the issue at hand. His other daughter, one created many, many years after the loss of their firstborn, needed him. Play it cool, Lucifer, he thought to himself. Charlie needed him. He casually looked at his fingertips and then glanced up at her.

“I don’t know. Something about sinners and heaven. Honestly, Sera. What harm could come from a little….post extermination meeting? After all, wouldn’t you enjoy the chance to meet my daughter? You might notice a few connections that could help keep heaven safe.”

If Sera understood his insinuations, she didn’t let on.

“Very well then, if you feel her knowledge will bring value to heaven. After all, the sanctity of our home is of utmost importance.”

Sanctimonious bitch, Lucifer thought. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught his eldest, his reader laughing at a joke another angel told.

In all the time that had passed, that ringing laugh never changed.

“We have a deal then. Tomorrow, noon. And let Peter know, I don’t want my daughter treated as poorly as I was.” He stood up and turned to walk towards the door.

“She’s doing well, you know. Reader. She’s safe and happy in the hands of parents who truly love her.” Sera’s voice came softly from behind.

Every part of him yearned to turn around, to rip her heart out of her chest and stomp on it the way she had done to him all those years ago. To scream, to gouge her eyes out- the worst circle of hell didn’t hold enough punishment for what this bitch deserved. What heaven deserved for tearing a family apart.

But he had another child to think about.

So instead he swallowed back his feelings and silently walked out the door as he chose to respond in the best way he knew how. He pushed open the outside door and lost in his mind, he tripped down the first step.

A soft hand caught him from behind, preventing his fall.

“I’m so sorry Mister, are you okay?” A familiar voice asked, worry evident.

A cold feeling settled in his gut. No, fate couldn’t be so cruel.

“Ahaha, yeah, just clumsy, you know? Thanks for the catch!” He replied as calmly as he could. He adjusted his tie, willing himself to not turn around. To not face one of the biggest sources of heartbreak a parent could imagine.

He began to walk down the street, back towards the gates of heaven. Back towards the portal that would inevitably open up and toss him down into the pits of hell, where he could again safely hide in the sanctity of his office, again lose himself in yet another fruitless hobby as he tried desperately to forget the night that tore his family apart.

“Dad! Over here!” Her voice sang out.

Involuntarily, he turned around. Dad? Did she recognize him? Was it possible? For just a moment, his heart soared. Dad is right here, reader.

The words caught in his throat as he watched her embrace another man, another angel. One he knew well. Every inch of him flared up with rage. Bad enough that heaven took her away but to give her to him? Of all angels?

And they said hell was cruel.

It took every ounce of self control to turn away from the scene. To once again bury the emotion deep within himself. To process the pain of yet another loss.

After all, he had another daughter to think about.

#valentino x reader #the vees #hazbin lucifer #hazbin hotel lucifer #lucifer morningstar

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onas-batlle · 1 year ago

Text

The Westie Way

pairing: lucy bronze x ona batlle

warnings: none, or tooth rotting fluff

synopsis: Narla watches her mum fall in love again.

a/n: one shot from narla’s pov and tbh i have no idea where this came from but i hope everyone enjoys it lol

Ao3 Link

———

Something was different. That much was obvious. Even in her small doggy mind which was primarily occupied with rocks and treats and sticks, Narla could tell that something wasn’t quite right with her mums.

She was used to them not being together all the time as she had lived in this funny little country where people spoke with harsh tones and always seemed to need to wee, and Keira was not there for the majority of the time, but this felt different. They felt different.

They didn’t talk to each other very much, not like they used to, and often those conversations were louder and less pleasant than those in the past. The three of them hadn’t cuddled together in several weeks either, and Narla now had to choose which room she wanted to sleep in. Usually, she had opted for whoever looked sadder.

And then they moved to Barcelona. Lucy went first and Narla went with her, but this time when Keira followed, she got her own house. Now they spent no time together - the only brief moments they were a trio again was when Lucy handed Narla over to Keira to look after her for a short while.

But despite the odd things that were happening with her mums, Narla liked Barcelona. It was warm, had beaches, friendly people, and nice rocks. It did a great deal to cheer up both of her mums, and Narla supposed that was the only thing she could ever really hope for.

It was a few months after the move to Spain when the Westie started to notice that Lucy seemed happier, brighter even. Previously she had wandered around with a slouch and a permanent worry line between her brows, but nowadays she walked with a pep in her step and was constantly grinning.

And she was also attached to that strange black box that she carried everywhere. It had weird lights and made loud sounds, and often Lucy would shove it into Narla’s face before showing her a mini version of herself which was mildly terrifying. More often than not, Narla would saunter into Lucy’s bedroom and find her owner tucked under the covers with that glowing box in her hand and smiling giddily, fingers tap tapping at the screen.

Narla wasn’t sure what had changed her mum’s demeanour so much, but she much preferred this oddly joyful Lucy to the mopey one that had existed only months ago.

She didn’t have to wait long to find out the cause, however, as it only took a few weeks before the English woman was curling up on her bed with her pup and spilling it all.

“I’ve met someone, and I think she might be the one.”

Narla blinked. She had heard of ‘the one’ before. Her other mum Keira had murmured it to her recently when speaking about her new partner, Laura, and now Lucy was too. She still didn’t know what it meant, but she assumed that it was something like a dog’s mate. It clearly meant that the person was special to them, so Narla let out a little supportive bark in response.

“She’s pretty, and she’s Spanish, and oh! She’s everything, Narla,” Lucy gushed, excitedly waving her arms around in the air as she spoke.

“She’s in England right now, playing in Manchester, can you believe it?” Lucy continued, face almost dreamy as she spoke about her new mystery girl. “The wrong side of it, but it’s funny how we played against each other and I didn’t even notice her until now.”

The dog hadn’t seen her mum like this before. So smitten. Lucy had been happy with Keira, at least until the end, but this teenagerlike giddiness was something different altogether. Maybe it was because it was new, but Narla already felt more cheerful at the sight of Lucy being so happy about something.

“I can’t wait for you to meet her. I know you will love her.” The ‘like I do’ remained unspoken, as Lucy felt that it was too early to admit something like that, even to her dog, but Narla looked at her knowingly after those words.

“I’m happy,” Lucy whispered into the air, and then was silent. Narla took that as a sign to burrow into Lucy’s chest and fall asleep, dreaming of sticks, and rocks, and a faceless woman who made her human smile brighter than she ever had before.

A couple more weeks had passed until there was someone new around the house, Narla had noticed. Ona. That was her name. She spoke in a deep accented tone, her English in that familiar accent that the Westie had gotten accustomed to over the past few months or so. She always gave Narla a friendly cuddle when she saw her - it turns out Spaniards were super affectionate with animals too - and would occasionally slip her a treat that the dog would eagerly snap up.

At first, it was merely a few visits, Ona curling up with Lucy and Narla on the couch and scratching behind the dog’s ears in a certain way that only a select few knew how to do. That was impressive, Narla thought, and so she opted to cuddle up with Ona whenever she came around.

Sometimes her mum and Ona would do that weird human thing where they pressed their faces together and like… licked? Naturally, Narla wanted to get in with the fun, so she would clamber on one of their laps and leave her own lick up the sides of one of their faces, leading to them to break apart and burst into giggles. She didn’t really know what was so funny, but her favourite person being happy meant that she was happy too.

Then there was a brief bit of time where none of them were around, Narla having been carted off to her grandparent’s house, and she only saw her mums in photos or videos from another one of those little black boxes.

However once that strange period of time ended and Narla was safely back home, Ona was there almost every day, popping in after Lucy came home from training, humming in the kitchen in the morning, walking in step with the English woman while she took Narla on her daily walk.

Then suddenly the Westie was spending time with the Spanish woman alone. Narla used to go to Keira’s when Lucy was away, but soon she was left alone at home with Ona, who always gave her extra snacks and would press her finger to her lips in a shushing motion every time she did. Lucy wasn’t super stingy with snacks per se, but as an athlete, she was careful with diets and knew all too well what health problems could occur if an animal got too overweight. Ona on the other hand loved to spoil her animals, and would regularly dole out treats. Plus it wasn’t like Lucy didn’t know, as Narla had spotted her leaning against the door frame and smiling fondly as Ona ‘secretly’ placed a dog treat on the ground for her to devour.

“I hope you know that I love your mum very much. And I want to tell her that very soon,” Ona spoke out of the blue one day as she stroked Narla’s fur. Lucy had a day of interviews lined up and had figured that it would be nice if her pup had some company - especially after the two away games they had in the past week or two.

“I’m very fond of you too, perrita,” she added. “Listen, I’ve been researching and would you maybe want to learn a trick? In Spanish?”

Narla wasn’t really one for tricks and didn’t really like being told what to do too much, but the hope etched on Ona’s face made her relent, and she hopped down off the couch and looked up at the Spanish woman in preparation.

“I’ll go get the treats, be right back,” Ona said, jumping to her feet and borderline sliding across the hardwood floors towards the kitchen. Narla then heard a clatter followed by a muffled ‘mierda!’, and she took a few cautious steps towards the direction of the noise but before she could investigate any further, Ona popped back around the corner.

They settled next to the coffee table, and Ona folded her legs under her while Narla sat politely awaiting instruction.

“Okay, so you’re very famous, so I thought maybe you could use this when you meet your fans.” With that, Ona held out her hand palm up. Narla stared at her hand, confused and looked back up at the Spanish woman’s face who was looking back at her in expectation. She leaned forward and sniffed it, and Ona still smelt the same, so she cautiously licked her hand. Still, the Spaniard remained silent with her hand out.

Finally after a few minutes, Narla placed her paw on top of Ona’s hand and was immediately showered with praise and handed a treat. Then Ona once again held out her palm, and Narla placed her paw on top again, getting another treat for her efforts.

They did it a few more times, Ona extending the duration of time between Narla’s paw resting on her palm and giving her the treat, just to make sure that the Westie knew what she needed to do.

“We’re going to introduce a word now, okay?”

This time, when Ona extended her hand, she said ‘hola’, and waited for Narla to place her paw in her hand before praising her and giving her a treat. They went over this step for a wee while, it being slightly more difficult than before, but soon Narla was doing it consistently every time Ona said ‘hola’.

By the time Lucy came home, Ona was practically bouncing off the walls in excitement, elated that Narla had been bright enough to pick up the trick in only a day.

‘Hola, mi vida,” Lucy said tiredly as she walked into Ona’s outstretched arms, burrowing her head into the juncture of the Spaniard's neck. Narla raised her paw slightly at the familiar word but placed it down again as she regarded the lack of a hand in front of her.

“Narla and I have something to show you!” Ona exclaimed, grabbing Lucy’s hand and dragging her in the direction of her dog. “Now I want you to offer her your hand and greet her in Spanish, Entiendes?”

Narla watched as Lucy held her hand up to her, and then the English woman spoke.

“Bon dia?”

“Lucy! Not the right greeting. Come on,”

“Okay, okay. Hola?”

Hearing that word, Narla reached out her paw to touch Lucy’s hand and the fullback’s jaw dropped open as she softly shook her paw up and down. She turned to her girlfriend in awe, Ona grinning at her excitedly.

“Did you teach her to do this?” Lucy asked, and when the younger woman nodded at her, she gathered her in her arms and twirled them both around, Ona giggling at the action.

“I love you,” Lucy whispered, the statement only loud enough for Ona and Narla to hear. Narla’s ears pricked up at that, and she knew that this was a major deal. A soft expression was now written on Ona’s face, and soon her eyes were wet with tears as she pressed several kisses to Lucy’s lips, all while echoing the words back to her.

While Narla thought this whole display was nice, she kind of wanted her treat now, so she barked once to get their attention. Ona broke away from Lucy’s embrace and knelt down, pulling a treat out of her pocket. “Oh! Lo siento, Narla. Here’s a biscuit.”

“You spoil her rotten, you know that?”

“Only the best for your dog,” came the response, and if Narla wasn’t so preoccupied with her treat, then she would have seen her human wrap Ona up in another kiss.

–

Life with Ona was good, Narla thought, until that puppy came along. Ona’s energetic puppy named Coco. Coco loved Narla, and did Narla love him back? She wasn’t too sure. She definitely loved Ona, that much was obvious. The Spaniard might even edge Lucy out in terms of her favourite person if she continued to spoil her and scratch her head like she did, but unfortunately, Ona came with Coco, a small shaggy, black-and-white dog who loved to annoy her and slobber all over her precious rocks.

She had been rudely awoken from one of her well-earned naps one day by a series of high-pitched barks before a small weight had barrelled into her. A small excitable dog was the culprit, and she did her best to glare at Ona and Lucy who were looking on in amusement.

“This is Coco. Narla, meet Coco. He and Ona are going to be living with us from now on,” Lucy spoke, kissing the side of Ona’s head before grinning down at her dog.

Narla growled a little as Coco’s clumsy tail hit her in the face, and Lucy narrowed her eyes and ordered her to play nice. Internally she humphed in annoyance, but reluctantly she turned back to the puppy and scooched over so he could cuddle up with her. Just this once.

Many days, weeks, and months, passed and Narla and Lucy fell into a routine with Ona and Coco. They seemed to fit into their lives flawlessly, and soon it was as if they had always been there. Narla still saw Keira, of course, but not as much as she used to. She had been primarily Lucy’s dog, in the first place, but she still did miss her other mum sometimes.

The air was lighter in this apartment, Narla had noticed. Ona and Coco just seemed to feel like sunshine. And maybe it was because they were in sunny Barcelona not freezing England, but even Lucy’s whole demeanour had morphed into something brighter.

Ona and Lucy fought just like any other couple, and Narla would go curl up in a ball under the bed when they did - flashbacks from those final months with Keira still lingering in her mind. But it would blow over rather quickly, and her mum and her new mum (?), were always back to being sickeningly sweet in no time.

One night the two women arrived home after having dinner together, and Narla greeted them excitedly at the door and wagged her tail as Lucy scooped her up, Ona pressing kisses to the dog’s head. Coco stayed lying on his little bed, snoozing away, and Narla mentally rolled her eyes at his behaviour. Their humans were home, which was incredibly exciting, but clearly, he valued his nap much more.

They headed towards the lounge, and Ona said something about having a shower before heading away, and soon they could hear the water in the bathroom start to run.

Lucy collapsed on the couch, Narla still in her arms, and she let out a content sigh. A few moments passed.

“I love her, you know?”

Narla did know. Ona had been in their lives for almost three years now, and not a day went by where her mum didn’t show her love for the other woman. In fact, Ona was now one of her mums, Narla decided.

“You can’t tell anyone this, Narla,” Lucy whispered, expression serious and her gaze boring into her dog’s. If the Westie could roll her eyes she would have, she was an animal, who was she going to tell? but even so, she let out a little bark to urge her human to continue.

“I’m going to ask Ona to marry me.” With those words, the English fullback pulled a box out of her pants pocket and popped it open, a shiny diamond ring nestled delicately inside.

Narla always heard that humans gave each other rocks when they loved each other, and she understood completely. She loved rocks and collecting them, and while the ones that humans exchanged were much shiner than the ones she brought home, she still treasured her own much like they did.

“I know you don’t really understand the concept of marriage, but this is a big deal. This means I want Ona and Coco in our lives forever,” Lucy said earnestly, glancing at the ring she held in her hand and back at her dog. “Are you okay with that?”

Narla was more than okay. As much as the smaller dog annoyed her sometimes, she couldn’t help but be a bit fond of him. Ona was also positively wonderful, and Narla wouldn’t mind getting sneaky snacks forever. Not to mention she loved how much joy the Spanish woman had brought into their lives. To show her agreement, she nuzzled Lucy’s hand that was holding the ring box and let out a soft bark as she watched her owner’s face split into a grin.

“I knew you would approve, my best girl.”

Footsteps suddenly echoed in the hall and Lucy hurriedly snapped the box shut and stuffed it in her pants. Mere seconds later, Ona strode into the room and threw herself into Lucy’s side, fingers coming to scratch the top of Narla’s head.

“Your turn to have a shower,” the Spanish woman spoke, turning to Lucy who was looking at her absolutely besotted.

“Wanna come with me?”

“I just had one,” Ona laughed as Lucy tugged her up from the couch and into her arms.

“Can never be too clean,” came the smirked response and soon Lucy whisked her away back down the hall, Ona waving her hand as a goodbye to the Westie who remained on the couch. If Narla could smile, she would have.

A few days later, Lucy had set up a special dinner for herself and her girlfriend on their balcony. She had sent Ona off to spend the entire day with Aitana, and while she was away, the older woman had dragged out a small table and adorned it with a white tablecloth, a bouquet of roses, and a singular candle. She had strung out string lights along the railings to allow a soft golden glow to wash over everything and hid her speaker behind a pot plant that played Spanish love songs at a low volume.

Narla herself was just sitting in the corner gnawing on a toy and occasionally glancing up to watch as Lucy frantically ran to and fro. After a few hours of the English fullback slaving away in the kitchen, the delicious smell of paella soon filled the air, and Narla perked up at that. Whenever that dish was made in their home, she was always given at least one piece of shrimp.

By now Lucy had put the finishing touches on the balcony and quickly got changed into her outfit for the night - cream dress pants, a white no-sleeved shirt, and a matching cream blazer.

She ventured out to see Narla when she got the text from Ona that she was on her way home, and plucked her dog up, much to the Westie’s chagrin.

“Tonight’s the night, Narls. I’m gonna propose.”

Narla could hear the nerves in her mum’s voice, and so she licked her face to help soothe her worry. The dog knew that Ona loved her mum, and there was no way that the Spaniard would ever not accept Lucy’s shiny rock. But humans were strange and got into their heads about stuff, so all Narla could do was let Lucy hug her tight until the door to the apartment opened and Ona arrived home.

The Spanish woman had gotten ready for the date at Aitana’s, and Lucy was speechless as she took in the skintight white cocktail dress Ona was wearing. The younger woman did a twirl to show off her outfit and blushed prettily as Lucy gathered her into her arms to drop a kiss on her awaiting lips.

“The most beautiful woman on the planet,” the older woman breathed, and kissed away any objections her lover had to that comment.

“This way, baby,” Lucy murmured fondly as she laced her fingers with her girlfriend’s and led her over to the balcony. Ona gasped at the sight of the setup and the homemade paella on the table, and Lucy pulled out a chair for her to sit on.

Dinner was positively a dream, and Narla could feel the happiness radiating from both women as she observed them from her spot on the ground. After a few hours they were drunk on the wine and each other, but Lucy had begun to nervously wobble her leg under the table as she gathered up the courage to ask Ona the one life-changing question she so desperately wanted to ask.

The Spanish woman was just coming down from a fit of giggles at some story Lucy had told, and as the English woman drank in the way her cheeks dimpled as she smiled, she knew she had to do it immediately.

“Ona I… I’ve never been super good with words so if this comes out as a jumbled mess, I’m sorry.”

Ona looked slightly confused at her words, but nodded slightly in encouragement. Lucy sucked in a deep breath before continuing.

“Ever since you walked your way into my life with that smile of yours during Stan’s wedding, I think you’ve held a piece of my heart. It’s funny how life happens, you know? We knew each other long before that, but we didn’t know each other. Not really. And yet you were already so intertwined in my life because you were friends with my friends and I was living in your home city and playing with your national teammates, and it’s like some invisible string was tying us together just waiting for us to finally notice each other.”

Lucy was crying a little now, emotional as she gazed up at the woman she adored so much. “Oh Ona, I don’t think there’s any other universe where I don’t fall head over heels in love with you. None. It’s just not possible.”

As she said those words, Lucy slowly knelt to the ground in front of Ona, and the younger woman gasped and pressed a hand to her mouth as she registered what was happening.

“Hell, even my dog loves you more than she loves me! I don’t think I could ever picture my life without you and Coco in it, and I don’t ever want to either. You’re my best friend, Ona, and I would be so, so happy to have you both in my life - to be mine - forever. So.. et casaràs amb mi, amor meu?” With that, Lucy pulled the ring box out of her pocket and popped the lid, the diamond sparkling in the setting sunlight.

“Sí, yes, of course, I will marry you amor!” Ona sobbed as she yanked Lucy up from her knees and twined her arms around her neck before kissing her passionately, pouring every ounce of emotion into the action.

“I love you, I love you, I love you,” Lucy whispered into Ona’s hair as they embraced, body tingling at how surreal this all felt. She was marrying the love of her life. Narla watched on from her spot in the corner and immediately knew what she had to do.

Bounding away into the house, Narla ran to her own bed and scavenged around until she found her favourite rock - the one she barely let anyone touch - and picked it up in her mouth before hurriedly making her way back to her humans. Lucy and Ona were still wrapped up in each other, laughing, pressing their faces together, and occasionally Lucy would twirl the Spaniard around. Narla stood waiting for them to notice her, but when they didn’t, she ran over and nudged Ona’s leg with her nose.

The Spanish woman tore her eyes off Lucy as she felt the touch, and looked at the small dog who was standing at their feet. Narla placed her rock on the ground in front of her, and politely sat, wagging her tail.

“Is she..?” Ona trailed off as she stared at the Westie in front of her, the rock lying like an offering.

“I think she’s proposing to you too. I mean look at the size of that rock,” Lucy laughed, burying her face into the other fullback’s neck as she realised what her dog was doing.

“Aw, Narla! I would be honoured,” Ona grinned, bending down to gently take the rock that Narla had presented to her and brought the dog into her arms. Lucy’s own arms were soon around the both of them and Narla snuggled into their chests, content to be with her humans.

“My girls,” the English woman whispered, happy tears almost threatening to spill again.

“Mi chicas,” Ona echoed, pressing a kiss to her fianceé’s lips (déu meu, they were going to be married), and letting out an elated giggle.

A series of sharp barks rang through the air, interrupting the moment, and all three looked down to see Coco jumping and yelping at them. Lucy let out another chuckle - she couldn’t seem to stop smiling lately - and brought him into their embrace.

“And my boy, as well,” Lucy added, pecking Coco’s scraggly head. All of them stood there for a short while, just basking in their little domestic bubble and enjoying the moment as the sun set behind them. Life was good.

Later that night after Lucy had banished her from the bedroom, Narla nestled into her own bed, happy at how successful the day had gone. Ona and Lucy were both impossibly happy, that much was evident as she had taken in their shiny eyes and the way they had been wrapped around each other for most of the night.

Her musings were interrupted as quick feet came rushing in her direction and came to a grinding halt in front of her.

Coco dropped a small pebble in front of her and looked at her with bright eyes, and Narla sighed. She supposed she would let him cuddle with her, just for tonight.

#lucy bronze x ona batlle #ona batlle x lucy bronze #lucy bronze #ona batlle #woso fanfics #woso imagine #my fics

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randomreadingtimewithtsuki · 4 months ago

Note

Fairy Tail request: Lucy's S/O surprising her by asking her to marry them at the end of their date.

Hello!

Thank you for requesting! This is my first FT request and i hope this is of your liking!

Please let me know what you think!

Tsuki's note: I did not watch nor read 100 years quest, but, lets assume this happens during the quest, for context sake.

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It's been a long time since you saw Lucy and whenever you see her is usually for a short time, given that she is currently on a quest. A really long one.

But that does not mean your dates are any less exciting !! you always do your best to arrange everything she enjoys: a new book, a delicious cake with tea and, of course, time to chat. Just the two of you.

The party should be returning to Fairy Tail to restock. So you planned out a simple, yet sweet date. You knew she would be very tired and the last thing you wanted to do was overwhelm her.

So you began preparing! You found some nice scented candles, that weren't too strong, a novel she has been wanting to read and some ingridients for a delicious home made meal.

While you were at it, you decided to tidy her place too. During this activity, you started to wonder if now was the time. You had been thinking about it for such a long time! You even knew what ring to buy her! But ... was she on the same page? it seemed like it....

On the day that they arrived it was a massive party, as usual. A lot to catch up, many papers to give to Master and lot to unpack, literally.

You decided that it would be best to have the date the next day. They all seems so tired and you wanted her attention on you, so it was fair she enjoyed the guild's company for now.

When you asked her to spend the next day with you she was thrilled!! She accepted promptly. Lucy always felt very blessed for having you around. Her house was tidy, you left a little note for her and the novel. Absolutely sweet.

When the next day rolled around, you pretty much changed plans. Since you have the whole day to yourselves, why not walk around the town in the morning?

For lunch, you allowed her to choose what she wanted to have, but you made her guess what was up for dinner. Lucy was very happy to have a homemade meal! and by you!!!

Alas, in the afternoon, Lucy seemed fairly tired. So you guided her back to her house. She was feeling so upset about cutting you date short.

You reassured her that she should just rest, insisting she took a nice candle lit bath while you went to fetch everything for dinner. Well... you didn't just fetch the food, no. You had decided to grab something in a jewelry store.

By the time you were back, she was still in the bathroom. To avoid invading her privacy, you called to her, announcing your arrival. She hummed in response.

Well, at least she didn't fall asleep in the bathtub right? You began to prepare the food. You started to sweat quite a bit - the heat of the oven and the anxiety were making it look like you just showered.

After a couple of minutes or so, Lucy finally came out of the bathroom and she was gorgeous. Beautiful black and white dress, hair tied up, just beautiful:

Lucy: Ta-da~! How do I look for our date?

You laughed to yourself:

Y/N: Gorgeous as ever!

She hummed again walking your way and inspecting what you were cooking. She wanted to help you finish but you did not allow it:

Y/N: C'mon princess, we can't have that dress stained, can we?

She puffed her cheeks.

Y/n: Besides, you just came home and i am almost done anyway.

You knew she wasn't going to just accept it that easily. To your surprise, she sat down on her bed and made a declaration:

Lucy: Then, listen to my new idea for my novel!

You giggled. Of course. As soon, as you were done cooking and dinner was served, the topic of the conversation changed. Lucy started listing everything she saw on her trip that reminded her of you.

She even gave you little gifts! Things she thought you would love - and she was not wrong!

You watched her with heart eyes as she chatted about the places. You couldn't help it anymore.

Y/N: Lucy?

Lucy: Uh? Oh sorry! I am talking too much? I-

Y/N: No, no. Quite the opposite.

Lucy looked confused at you. You felt your face heat up and you did not allow yourself to think much. Just acted, pulling a small black velvet from your pocket:

Y/N: Would you... would you share everything and more with me forever?

Lucy eyes shone so brightly and her face has a dark rue of red. It was a little silent as she covered her mouth. This silence that lasted a couple of seconds felt like months. But soon enough she shined more brightly than the sun itself:

Lucy: Yes! Yes... I... I will, if you are willing to have me...

You smiled so brightly at her as you stretched your hand to her. She gently placed her hand in yours and slid the ring on her finger. Lucy immediately lifted her hand to stare at the simple, yet beautiful ring.

It was a golden ring with a small crystal on it. Nothing too extravagant, yet it was elagant:

Lucy: How... This ring is so beautiful! Oh Y/N...

Y/N: Only the best for my princess!

Lucy: We should go find one for you!

She exclaimed as she grabbed your hand. She was so bright. So beautiful. You couldn't help but smile as brightly as her.

For the rest of the meal, you happily chatted about your future plans. To get a shared placed, to buy your ing the next day, to plan a date, the place, all of it!

You both ended falling asleep in each others arms while discussing all of this. The next day, you went ring shopping. You let Lucy pick for you, it was fair right? You picked hers.

She got you a ring similar to hers, golden with a simple gem. Just beautiful.

Well, for the rest of the day it was a mix of happiness and annoyance - the whole guild was happy and it was a massive cheer, but also had a lot of teasing. Such as when you will have a family, move in together, since when you were thinking of marrying and so on.

Alas, it was the happiest few days of you life and you sure prayed for more to come.

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Thank you for reading!

#fairy tail x reader #lucy heartphilia #lucy heartphilia x reader #lucy ft x reader #ft x reader #lucy heartfilia #lucy heartfilia x reader

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beargyufairy · 1 year ago

Text

Just My Thoughts Pt. 7

Natsu’s Growth

I’ve been disappointed a few times at how Hiro Mashima writes his characters and plot. But never have I ever been as disappointed as I was when I read this panel in the 100 YQ.

For reference, Natsu made a joke about disinfecting Lucy’s burns. It was not even a funny joke. I don’t think anyone laughed. Lucy was burned after trying to calm Natsu who consumed Ignia’s flames to battle against the water dragon god. While he did succeed in the fight, he lost control of himself and was stumped by the flames.

This is such a disappointing situation when it comes to Natsu and his development as a character. Everything he experienced in the original manga/anime is put to shame. It’s like his growth as a person disappeared into thin air. I mean come on!! Is Mashima being serious right now?! Because am I supposed to believe this is the same Natsu who wouldn’t let Gray use Ice Shell on more than one occasion?! Natsu knows the consequences of Ice Shell and refuses to let that happen to Gray no matter how dire the circumstances are. Even though Gray and Natsu would never admit it, their relationship is unique and filled with love. They may be rivals and opposite (considering the ice/fire, demon/devil slayer attributes) but their friendship has grown so much since the start of Fairy Tail. Doesn’t this show how considerate Natsu is?! How important the lives of his friends is to him?

If that isnt enough here’s another example. When Erza was sacrificing herself in the Tower of Heaven arc, Natsu refused to let her go and eventually saved her. Erza is important to him and Fairy Tail. He wants her to live on. Doesn’t this show how much Natsu cares about everyone?! Is he making a joke about Erza?! No he isn’t.

Okay fine those examples aren’t about Lucy right, so why does it matter?! Because Natsu would never joke about burning his friends, accident or not. And if it’s about Lucy, then most definitely not. Lucy is probably the member of Fairy Tail he cares about the most (aside from Happy). When Future Lucy died, Natsu almost went completely rogue (pun intended, if you know what I mean). He even stated that something precious was taken from him. Furthermore, when Lucy was “dead” during the Alverez arc, Natsu lost it. Literally, he became END, the demon everyone fears, the strongest creation of Zeref, the black wizard. Lucy’s life was so important to him that without it, there was nothing holding him back. He even stated that he can’t be stopped after having flashbacks about her supposed death.

Natsu couldn’t care less about the world ending. He wanted to fight the people that made Lucy cry. That’s what he was focused on. And so after all this, Mashima wants me to believe that Natsu would joke about burning Lucy?! Yeah, I don’t think so. After everything Natsu went through, he would’ve at least felt guilty. Considering that it was Lucy of all people he burned, he would’ve apologized over and over again. Why?! Because she’s so important to him. He literally became a demon when he thought she died!! Isn’t that proof enough?! I also think that he would feel so grateful to her. This isn’t the first time Lucy helped Natsu control himself. She’s always there for him. But Natsu has never lost control like this before. Did Natsu ever properly thank Lucy for saving by rewriting the book of END?! He’s literally only alive because of her. She tampered with a demonic force and black magic yet Lucy is so damn under appreciated that it pains me!!

If the goal was to lighten the situation considering the intensity of the battle against the water dragon god and Ignia’s involvement, a joke that doesn’t make Lucy’s burn seem pathetic would’ve been better. A joke about anything else would’ve been better. Seriously, Lucy knew the consequences of trying to stop Natsu, especially when noting that she was scared of his flames for the very first time. She did anyway because she cares about Natsu and knows that she can help him, even if it means she will get burned. I would also like to note that Lucy never actually saw Natsu as END. She arrived after he gained some sense of control. Considering everything, if Hiro Mashima doesn’t make up to me by having her fear of Natsu’s flame and her lack of experience with END play into the story I’m gonna be so mad. Since he already disappointed me with how he’s treating Lucy’s injury/burn, I really hope he plays the rest of the story properly.

I’m very disappointed in how not only Natsu’s character is being portrayed and downgraded, but also how Lucy is yet again the butt of the joke. She does so much for her team and friends but is always ignored (I’m still upset about Aquarius’ sacrifice that’s not talked about enough).

Thank you for listening.

#female rage #fairy tail #lucy heartfilia #natsu dragneel #nalu #natsu x lucy #artists on tumblr #writers on tumblr #lucy x natsu #illustration #lucy deserves better #fairy tail 100 yq #thank you for coming to my ted talk #just me and my thoughts #i hate this #rant post #nalu headcanon #home is where you are #lucy star dress

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genork-the-fandork · 7 months ago

Text

Not-So-Standard Procedure

Word Count: 620 Prompt: Cuddling/Nightmare A/N: I haven't written a lot for Fairy Tail, or really anything that anybody can find, but I just had to participate in NaLu week. NaLu was my first major romantic ship that I supported (that wasn't Digimon-related), and they hold a special place in my heart. I can always smile when I see or read NaLu content, and so I wanted to show them my appreciation, even if, at times, I accidentally get OOC. ;w; In any case, for most of the days, I plan to incorporate both prompts as much as I can, though at least one day I'm only capable of (1). Hence the red circle! This prompt I had a cute idea of having Happy prompt the cuddling, and so I ran with it! Thank you for reading, if you do! @thenaluarchive @allaboutnalu

By now, Lucy should have been used to the sounds of someone breaking into her apartment in the middle of the night. It was such a regular occurrence, her sleeping pattern surely had changed over the years to accommodate the frequent intrusions. Still, she was tired, and her eyelids were heavy as she tried to open them. Her limbs felt like they were moving through molasses as she pulled them into a sitting position, her hand fumbling for her keys, holding fast to Virgo's.

Her footsteps were light as she crept along the wall to find the light switch. She closed her eyes as the light turned on, holding her key in front of her at the ready. When she opened her eyes, the expected sight was waiting for her on the armchair.

Well. Sort of.

Yes, it was Natsu and Happy, as expected. But Happy was crying and curled around Natsu's shoulder. The Dragon Slayer had one of those rare soft looks about him as he comforted his Exceed companion. Lucy lost all will to yell at them seeing them like that. Partially because she knew Happy would say something obscene, and partially because she wanted to preserve this moment, at least for a little bit, in her memory. Her heart was having a hard time staying in her chest looking at Natsu like this.

"What's wrong?" she said gently, perching on the armrest.

Almost like there was something magnetic between them, Natsu angled toward her, leaning subtly into her arm. She tried to will away the flush rising up her neck, knowing he probably wouldn't notice even if he looked at her. Which he didn't as he explained, "Happy had a nightmare."

"Oh, Happy, I'm so sorry." Lucy reached behind Natsu's head and lightly stroked the fur between Happy's ears, the best she could do in their current position.

A sniffle. "C-Can we stay here with you, Lucy?" Happy warbled, lifting his head to implore her.

As if she was going to say no. Just as she opened her mouth to say yes, Natsu finally looked up at her, his own eyes pleading, if a little apologetic. The corner of his mouth was quirked up, an exasperated expression of "what can you do?" that she hadn't seen before. Seeing that look on his face made her chest constrict, and she swallowed before smiling. "Of course, Happy."

Lucy went to shut the light off as Natsu carried Happy to her bed. It was standard procedure of course that they would end up stealing her bed, but it was becoming standard procedure, too, to let them steal it. At some point she'd stopped fighting it, though she couldn't pinpoint when precisely this change had started.

She set her keys down on the table and sat down on the bed. In the dark, she could sense Natsu against the wall, by the window. Happy was in the center, his tail tucked around him. When Lucy slipped under the covers to join them, the warmth from them both hit her like a brick. But a nice brick. A nice, fluffy brick. Wow, she was tired.

Rolling onto her side, she blinked through the dark at Natsu, whose attention was riveted to Happy. If she was someone else, she would have pointed out how this almost looked like they were comforting their child, but just the thought of saying something like that to him filled her with embarrassment.

"Thank you, Lucy," Natsu whispered in the darkness.

After all this time, Lucy didn't need the lights on to find his hand and hold it. "Always."

They three fell asleep, with Lucy and Natsu angling toward each other until their foreheads met perfectly above Happy.

#fairy tail #nalu week 2024 #gen writes #natsu dragneel #lucy heartfilia #nalu

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satansaidnottoday · 9 months ago

Text

Twinning: Party time.

Part 1 | Part 2

Info: Human AU, Lucifer's Mc, Everyone & GN!Mc.

Summary: Cute little party. A little short because I'm not feeling well.

"Your cat is trying to kill me!" Your assistant screamed from his stool.

You turned around to find the little orange menace (that you had nicknamed Cheddar) curiously pacing around him, occasionally reaching to scratch at his legs. To Mammon's relief, you walked over and retrieved the wild animal.

"What a brave man, facing a beast this size," you taunted him, as you gently pat Cheddar. He purred gently under your touch.

The fake blond scoffed. "For your information, I'm very brave! I just don't care about being scratched."

"I was talking to the cat," you said with a sideways grin. Red builds up on his cheeks.

"Hey! I'm no beast! You should be grateful I'm even hel-." He tripped, almost falling off the stool. You held out one arm and pushed him back to equilibrium. However, that didn't stop him from screaming for dear life. Cheddar ran away to the play zone for some quiet time.

"I already got you."

You walked away to let him finish hanging the lights. The cake was safely hidden away in the kitchen, and you had everything else done. The banner with their names was already in place, over three tables you had pushed together to make a single large one. You put a large blue tablecloth over them and laid an assortment of snacks, sandwiches, and sodas alongside it.

You even lowered the lights and closed off the curtains, so the LED constellation you made could show off.

"It's done!" Mammon announced, standing proudly and admiring his work.

"Well done," You pat his shoulder. "You should go sit down, it's almost time."

As soon as you said that, Beelzebub crashed with the locked door behind you. You turned around and opened it for him.

"Are you okay?" You asked, but he was already running inside and looking at the decorations with amazement. Somehow a bowl of chips made it into his arms too.

"Beelzebub!" Lucifer's commanding voice almost shook the walls, but somehow didn't have any effects on Beel.

"Lucy!" He answered, finally sitting down at one of the seats of honor you had prepared.

Lucifer didn't seem very pleased, so of course you offered him a party hat.

Quickly all the guests made their way inside, including two men around Lucifer's age who you didn't recognize. A muscle wall of a man who laughed very loudly and a smaller pale man wearing a suit. However, you were more interested in the smallest guest of honor.

Belphegor was riding one of his sibling's backs, like always. This time, [Leviathan] had the honor. When they came in, his eyes opened up wider than usual and he jumped down to the floor. He spent a few silent moments just walking around and looking at the lights with a tiny smile. You weren't expecting a big reaction from him, just seeing him enjoying something for once was enough. It made all the work worth it. Finally, he went up to Lucifer for a hug.

"I love it, thanks." He said, just loud enough for you to hear.

"Uh? But he didn't even-" Mammon started to speak, but you elbowed him before he could go on.

"Who's ready for some party games?!" You ask, ready to take over the role of host.

The two hours go by fast, and not a single second is dull. You learned a lot about the siblings that day, like everyone's favorite colors, which were listed out to you by Beelzebub at least three times. He really wanted to make sure you gave everyone the right hat.

You also learn that the big man's name is Diavolo, and he works with Lucifer. The other man was his butler, Barbatos, who proved to be very helpful. He picked up after everyone else, making it so you almost had nothing to clean at the end.

The highlight of the day, at least for you, was Satan introducing Felicia to his whole family. It was overall a good first impression, Lucifer even scratched her ears. Belphegor ended up napping with her for most of the day.

When it was time to sing Happy Birthday, you brought out the big guns. Of all the cakes you had ever made, this one was definitely your favorite. You had covered it in black, purple, and blue ganache, smudged together to get a galaxy design. All of the constellations and planets were hand painted with your own hands, and you sprayed edible glitter over the whole thing. You place it down in front of the birthday boy, with two candles and two sparklers on top.

"That's not a basic cake," Lucifer looked at you with those suspicious eyes again.

"I went a little overboard while making it, don't worry, it's on me." You smiled but he didn't seem to like that. Whatever, there's nothing he could do about it.

"Thank you, Mc," Belphegor said with his sleepy voice. It was difficult to believe he was a teenager, with how small he looked and how quiet he was.

"It's nothing."

You ruffled his hair and lit up the candles. Everyone started singing, including the twins. They sang to each other, which you found unbelievably adorable. When the candles went out, you didn't waste any time cutting up the cake. Beel would have surely exploded if he had to wait a second more.

While everyone ate, you made your way to the back to start cleaning some of the crockery. Your head buzzed and your body felt more tired than ever. But hearing their laughs, you thought everything was worth it.

Thanks for reading!

#dividers by @cafekitsune #OB!HumanAU #obey me #obey me shall we date #obey me!#obey me nightbringer #om! shall we date #obey me fanfic #obey me headcanons #obey me lucifer #obey me x reader #obey me lucifer x reader

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softie-rain · 9 months ago

Text

Step On Me

Part II - The President

Pairing: Sejanus Plinth/Coriolanus Snow

Summary: “Aren't you going to tell me when you fell in love with me?” Sejanus asked with a pout. Coriolanus froze. When did Coriolanus fell in love with Sejanus? Was he ever even in love with him in the first place? Coriolanus thought he had to be, at least at some point, because how else would he explain the way Sejanus was still haunting him after all those years?

Notes: woo new chapter! This one isn't happy but it's less sad than the first one. (I'd argue the ending is. Blame Scott Street) We have a song reference in this one too, let me know if you spot it (:

chapter: 2/7 (weekly updates!) prev. chapter

read it on ao3 here

The second time Coriolanus saw Sejanus, it was two weeks after he won the elections.

Years had passed since his times as a peacekeeper in District 12, Lucy Gray Baird now only living in the furthest abyss of his mind, no one had memory of her in the Capitol, or in the other Districts. If they even knew about her in the first place.

He had made sure to outshine the 10th Hunger Games by working hard as a gamemaker under Dr. Gaul during the following Games. His ideas had brought new interest to them, thanks to the addition of mutts and traps all around the newly rebuilt arena. His first edition as a gamemaker, right after Lucy Gray’s games, won by the girl from District 4, was probably the one he was the most disappointed by. The only reason being that everything was still in the projecting phase, and those goddamn drones still caused trouble.

But now, five years later, as he sat at his desk in his office in the Presidential Palace, he truly felt at home. It stung that Tigris was colder to him lately, sometimes he sensed some lack of support on her side. But she was still his cousin, and he knew they’d be together till the end, no matter what.

“President Snow?” Cassia, his secretary, knocked at his door. Although president for just a few weeks, Coriolanus was already used to the title. It felt familiar, like it was meant to be. Everything he deserved, was finally his.

“Yes?” He responded. His secretary appeared behind the door, holding a plate of cookies.

“Ms. Plinth passed by, she brought these for you. She also told me to tell you they’re inviting you over for dinner, her and her husband.” She said, leaving the cookies on his desk. Coriolanus observed them and nodded. He knew Strabo had a terminal illness, he wouldn't give him more than over one week of life. He assumed the dinner was Ma’s idea for Coriolanus to say goodbye.

He considered it pathetic, but he had to go anyway. What impression would he give to the people of Panem if it got known that President Snow hadn't been by Strabo Plinth’s side, a man who had given him everything and considered him a second son, in the moment of his final breath?

“I will. Thank you, Cassia.” He said, grabbing one cookie to try it. He noticed Cassia was still standing in front of him, looking rather uncomfortable. “You can go now.” He added.

“She’s still here. She’s insisting on seeing you. I know you said you don’t want to be disturbed at any hour today but-”

“Then you already know what to tell her. Go.” Coriolanus stated, more angry than he intended. Cassia bit her lip and nodded, quickly exciting the office and closing the door behind her.

Coriolanus sighed and leaned back on his chair, passing his hand through his hair. He gave another bite to the cookie, quietly moaning at the taste. Ma’ Plinth might have been a sad pathetic woman (even more so as she aged), but her cooking was still as delicious as ever.

“Coriolanus Snow, President of Panem.” Coriolanus almost choked on the cookie upon hearing the voice. He immediately got up, looking around the room. Like that night of many years ago Sejanus appeared in the corner. He was leaning on the wall right next to the window, observing Coriolanus. “I always knew you were going to get far. Even before the Academy, I would look at you and think ‘Man, this kid will do big things.’”

Sejanus was talking to him with an admiring tone, sounding almost proud of him, as if he was his mother. And, to be fair, it wasn’t far off from what Ma’ had told Coriolanus right after he was nominated President. The boy walked over to him and sat on his desk, looking at the cookies. “Can I? It’s been ages since I’ve eaten one.”

Without responding Coriolanus nodded. Sejanus leaned forward to grab one and as he did so Coriolanus took a good look at his neck. The bruises of the rope were still there, as fresh as ever, like the hanging day had been just the day before, as if no time had passed at all.

“You seem surprised to see me.”

Coriolanus raised an eyebrow surprised, gesturing to Sejanus. “Shouldn't I be?”

Sejanus shrugged and shifted on the desk, sitting with his legs crossed. “I visited you once already.”

“Yeah, when I was nineteen.”

“And now you’re twenty four! Where did the time go? You look just as handsome though. Maybe even a bit more now.” Sejanus leaned in, winking at him. Coriolanus felt himself lightly blush and immediately shook his head, trying to recompose himself.

“And you look just as dead.” Coriolanus bit back, ignoring the effect Sejanus still had on him. When was he going to grow out of his stupid crush? He had finally realized and admitted to himself that he liked Sejanus years ago now, not shortly after his first post-death visit actually, and he thought he was over it. So why did he still make him act like he was twelve again, blushing for a compliment or for the slightest sign of affection by his side?

It made him feel weak, powerless. All that time and Sejanus still had such a strong hold on him. It made him wonder of his time in District 12, how Sejanus had always had that effect on him. Was all the power he felt over the boy just an illusion? Obviously not, or he wouldn’t have sent the recording to Dr. Gaul.

“I’m glad to see the guilt isn’t eating you alive anymore.” Sejanus said, sounding sincere. Coriolanus hated him.

“It’s not.”

“Good. You look happy now.” He said, tilting his head. “Are you?”

Coriolanus frowned. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“You tell me, I asked the question.”

“Well, I am.” Coriolanus replied, shifting on his chair and crossing his arms. “So no need for you to be here.” He dismissed him, waving his hand at him.

“I'm not your secretary Coryo, you can't just tell me to leave.” Sejanus said, as if it was a matter of fact. “I didn't decide to be here, you know?”

“Right, because my mind made you up, or whatever.” Coriolanus said, rolling his eyes, leaning his elbow on the desk and resting his hand on his palm.

“That's one rational explanation, yes. Or maybe I'm a spirit and I lied to you.” Sejanus said in a neutral tone, crossing his legs on Coriolanus’ desk.

The blonde boy frowned as the other's shoes dirty the surface and then looked up at him again. Sejanus was staring down at him smiling, and Coriolanus found himself missing his curly hair. Truly it had been a shame he died with his head shaved. He would have loved to see his hair one more time.

Coriolanus had given up on trying to find a rational explanation for Sejanus’ first apparition, and he wasn't certainly going to start trying to find one for the second.

Coriolanus cleared his throat and gestured around himself. “So you're proud of what I achieved?” He asked, smiling proudly. “Pretty great, isn't it?”

Sejanus grimaced. “You did big things, that's for sure. But great? I wouldn't say that.” He said, sadness in his voice.

Coriolanus couldn't say he was surprised, though he felt disappointed. He expected Sejanus to congratulate him on what he'd done, but after all he knew his morals: Sejanus could have never been happy for Coriolanus when all he had done was making the tributes’ lives even more miserable. But he had also come up with the idea of the Winners Village in every district, and what about the money for the winners? Also Coryo's idea. Couldn't Sejanus for once be content with the lesser evil?

“Well, I didn’t ask for your approval.”

“Yeah, I assumed you didn't when you turned me in.” Sejanus said laughing, as if he had just made the funniest joke.

Tigris would call him resentful and here he had Sejanus still holding grudges of something that happened almost six years ago.

Coriolanus scoffed and looked down at the documents he was examining before he got interrupted by Cassia, ignoring Sejanus’ eyes on him. He felt the boy shift next to him. Sejanus got up and started pacing the room, observing his surroundings. “Oh, look at this! It's beautiful! And fancy.” He said, pointing at the portrait they made of Coriolanus on his second day as President.

Although Coriolanus hadn't exactly been euphoric to pose for that painting, he had to admit it was rather flattering to have it in his office. Every time he looked at it, every time anyone looked at his portrait could recognize the power Snow held. The hard and proud look he was represented with did him justice, so much that his secretary and most of his employees would on purpose avoid the painting when they entered the room. In Coriolanus’ eyes it was perfect: feared and respected by everyone.

But Sejanus was standing there, quietly, with his hands crossed behind his back, observing the painting with a smile on his face.

“I like it. Except for the eyes, they don't do you justice.”

Coriolanus scowled, trying not to snap at Sejanus. “Why so?”

Sejanus turned to face his Coriolanus and his smile widened. “Yours are much more blue.” He told him, looking at him with those lovesick brown orbs Coriolanus worshiped.

“Did I ever tell you when I realized I was in love with you?” Sejanus asked, walking up to Coriolanus. Coriolanus shook his head no.

“I'm afraid you died before you could.” He replied sarcastically.

Sejanus nodded. “Ah. True. Well, we have time now don't we?” He said excitedly, jumping on the desk again. Coriolanus sighed and pushed his papers aside, knowing it was useless to even just try and tell Sejanus to go away.

“We were fifteen.” He started, looking up. Coriolanus didn't know if it was to avoid his look, but his own eyes were fixated on Sejanus’ face.

“I've always known I liked you, since I first saw you. You looked so adorable, with those rosy cheeks and blonde curls!”

Sejanus smiled widely, and Coriolanus couldn't help but lightly blush at the thought of the Plinth boy being head over heels for him at such a young age, complimenting him like that.

He also found himself getting used to the odd happiness and calm that seemed to be characteristics of post mortem Sejanus.

“Anyway, this day in particular we were at school,” He kept going, “And Festus was talking behind my back. I mean, I could perfectly hear him. I'm not sure if he meant for me to hear or not, actually. I never thought about it.” Sejanus commented, more to himself than to Coriolanus.

Coriolanus rolled his eyes and cleared his throat, gesturing Sejanus to go on.

“As I was saying, Festus was making fun of me. And then he said, I remember this clearly as if it was yesterday: ‘I think he should be repead for the next Games. That way he'd learn his place!’” Coriolanus gulped. He could see the hurt on Sejanus’ face. So many years had passed and he was clearly still affected by it. He wasn't sure if he could blame Sejanus (or accusing him of being pathetic) for that, though he usually would.

Even to Coriolanus, with that comment Festus had overstepped a line.

“I remember running away, trying not to cry. Which I did, eventually, but only when I got to the bathroom. Which is when you found me.” Sejanus said, pointing at Coriolanus.

“You knocked at the stall where I was hiding and asked me if I was alright. I lied, said I was fine.” Sejanus let out a laugh and shook his head. “You knew I was lying. So you insisted and kept knocking, until I opened the door and got out. And that's when I saw them.”

Coriolanus frowned, confused. “Saw what?”

“Ocean blue eyes, looking in mine. I felt like I might sink and drown, and die.” He replied, staring at Coryo. “You saw me crying and hugged me, no questions asked. Your hand touched mine, and that's when I knew. That I was utterly and desperately in love with you.”

Coriolanus remembered that day. He had immediately followed Sejanus because he had assumed he had gone crying. Assumption that was confirmed when he heard the sobs in the bathroom. Truthfully he had rolled his eyes and sighed before knocking on the door, getting annoyed when Sejanus pretended to be fine.

When he finally came out of the bathroom the site before Coriolanus was pretty pathetic: Sejanus had red and puffy eyes, he kept sniffing with his lips parted, how could he say he was fine when he looked like that?

The hug seemed like the only rational option to Coriolanus to put Sejanus out of his misery, an act of mercy. Apparently it had meant much more to him than Snow thought. Still, he didn’t see any reason to break the news to the boy, so he didn’t say anything about it.

“You’re welcome?” He said instead, which sounded more as a question than a statement. At least it earned a laugh from Sejanus.

The Plinth boy kept staring at him lovingly without saying anything, and Coriolanus was starting to feel rather uncomfortable. He went back to study his documents, clearing his throat trying to stop his voice from breaking when he spoke. “Well now that you’ve told me your sob story you can leave, right?”

His voice was cold, he had already shown his weak side to Sejanus last time, he wasn’t going to repeat the scene once more. Although he would have loved to feel the warmth of his hugs one more time. He despised that feeling, the one he always had around Sejanus, of caring, of attachment. Why couldn't he let him go? Why was it so hard, if he wanted to so badly?

“Aren't you going to tell me when you fell in love with me?” Sejanus asked with a pout.

Coriolanus froze. When did Coriolanus fall in love with Sejanus? Was he ever even in love with him in the first place? Coriolanus thought he had to be, at least at some point, because how else would he explain the way Sejanus was still haunting him after all those years?

But when, that was very blurry.

He never really thought about it and even now, he didn't think there was a specific moment. In Coriolanus’ eyes Sejanus had just always been there, and the blonde's feelings just kept swinging back and forth from hatred to love. Whether said affection was platonic or romantic had never been the main focus of Coryo, who simply would try and go on with life fighting the urge to either slap or kiss some sense into Sejanus.

Uh.

Maybe the feelings had never been platonic.

Either way, he wasn't going to tell Sejanus any of that.

“Do you really want me to go?” Sejanus finally asked, tilting his head.

He didn't seem upset or sad about it, it was a simple genuine question. One to which Coriolanus didn't know the answer to. “Yes.” He replied, looking down at his papers. But was it really what he wanted? What he needed?

“But I'm assuming you won't listen to me will you?” He added looking up, only to find out he was once again alone, as he had always been for the past five years.

He went back to write notes on the documents, pushing away in the deep bottom of his mind the feeling of longing for Sejanus.

In his head he could hear an echo, that he desperately ignored, and that sounded too much like Sej.

“Anyway, don't be a stranger.”

#the ballad of songbirds and snakes #tbosas #tbosbas #sejanus plinth #coriolanus snow #sejanus x coriolanus #coriolanus x sejanus #snowjanus #snowplinth

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baileys-3 · 1 year ago

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NEW CHAPTER ONLINE on AO3

Sneak Peak:

Genny is walking across the baseball field, lost in her thoughts and not paying much attention to her surroundings. She's thinking about tomorrow and all the things she needs to get done. But before that, she has to help Tim clean up his training equipment and then pick up Mat from her neighbors. It's a relief that she lives next door to an elderly couple who are always happy to look after Mat for a few hours. Being a single mom can be tough, but it's been that way since the last year of her marriage to Rob. Not that he was much help with the kids anyway, even when they were still together.

"Hey mum. Can Blake and I throw a few more balls?" Tyler startles her out of her thoughts.

"Yeah, sure." The two boys cheer and immediately start throwing balls at each other. Even now, after training, they still haven't had enough. Which is surprising, because Tim and Lucy chased the boys around the pitch so much that they were all dripping with sweat by the end. And yet, at the end of the training session, the boys were all happy and beaming. It seemed like they couldn't believe what they were capable of. Genny doesn't want to complain about Tyler's former coach, he had a rather cozy and familiar manner, not taking the job so seriously. It's not entirely his fault though, as he only took the job out of necessity, just like his predecessors apparently did. Tim and Lucy seem to be the first to have found an approach to the boys, if the parents' conversations in the stands are to be believed. And the two of them are an amazing combination. Tim, with all his expertise and the eye that you need to have as a coach. And Lucy, who has this likeable manner and simply knows how to deal with people. And apparently also with boys of this age. She even reckons that at least half the team have developed a little crush on Lucy. Judging by the giggles. And how they sometimes turned red in the face.

During training, something fascinating happened. Genny joined Lisa, Samantha, and Anne shortly after the start of training. She realized Tim would no longer need her. As time went on, more and more parents joined them, and a lively conversation about the two new coaches and the team ensued. The parents were enthusiastic, and Genny completely understood their excitement. She had seen many training sessions, but never one like this. Some parents even asked if the two coaches could continue, or if Genny could get them interested in doing so. Genny doesn't think the chances are high because both coaches have jobs that demand a lot of time and involve overtime. However, there's no harm in trying.

When she arrives to the sides where Tim and Lucy already started tidying up, Lucy is handing Tim a baseball bat, which he stows away in the front pocket of a bag. Genny kneels down next to the small trolley they are using to transport the equipment. She picks up the helmet lying next to the trolley and starts to help tidy up. Or rather, loading the equipment onto the small trailer.

She doesn't waste time; she gets straight to the point. There's no need to beat about the bush." I think you two should co-coach. You were great together. "

Tim's rebuff comes straight away: "Oh, no, no. I'm -- I'm ready to hand over the reins entirely."

She's not at all surprised. But Lucy chimes is right away, not letting Tim quit so fast. "Not a chance."

Genny decides that this is a wonderful opportunity to push the two of them a little. She is so curious and is almost certain that there is something going on between her brother and Lucy. It's all these little signs.

"No, but seriously. I saw today why you work so well together."

And indeed! Her brother starts stuttering. That never happens to him, except when Lucy is brought up, whether directly or indirectly." I-I ... It's just, uh ..."

So, Lucy immediately jumps in, as an attempt to save Tim from total self-destruction. "We spend so much time together on..." and immediately corrects herself. Which is totally suspicious. "... out on the job."

Tim can only contribute an "Mm-hmm." Genny has to be careful not to smile too obviously. Tim doesn't know where to look at all. She's hit the bull's eye. The confirmation of this comes when Lucy suddenly changes the subject entirely.

#chenford #lucy chen #the rookie #tim bradford #tim bradford x lucy chen #tim x lucy #archive of our own #chenford fanfic #chenford fic #chenfordsource

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qqueenofhades · 1 year ago

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I will always attempt to prod you for new Garcy content, so, here's hoping this speaks to you 😂 (also happy belated birthday! <- my Tumblr wasn't working properly on you big day, and didn't let me send you a HBD greeting then, so I'm doing it now) 🥳

----------

Garcy

41. Don't look back

The New England night is rank with cold, with the briny scent of the distant sea, with woodsmoke and creosote, tar and turpentine, hay and mud. Lucy stands with her arms crossed, her coat drawn tightly over her shoulders, staring out at the dark woods that stretch endlessly beyond this simple farmhouse on the edge of Boston -- in the year 1880, a fast-growing industrial city, thronged with largely-Irish immigrants, strung up with newfangled electric lights and trolley cars, steamships moored at the docks, but still straining at the old Pilgrim bones beneath, forced to accept all this modernity at a blow. In other circumstances, she would almost like the chance to look around. Not, however, as if that is going to happen. Now or ever.

She shivers harder. She can still feel the wind cutting right through her, and surely it's her imagination that it's not just a figure of speech, that she's becoming more and more insubstantial, never-existing, by the moment. She feels dreamy, almost comfortable, the sort of lulling reverie you slip into when you're on the brink of freezing to death and it feels downright pleasant. She looks down at her hands, tries to see if she can see through them to the ground. It would be just, perhaps. It would be the only outcome.

Just then, there's a particularly loud commotion in the farmhouse behind her, and she turns around sharply. She hasn't been paying attention to the low-level clamor -- the shouts, the shots, the smashing, the screaming, the sort that would attract the neighbors if there were any in range. As it is, there aren't, and that too is all by design. She stands here, a cold and merciless goddess, listens to men die inside, and feels... nothing. Her mother has, in the end, done her job too well. Carol Preston dutifully raised her daughters in Rittenhouse, trained Lucy to be the heiress, the crown princess, and now it's playing out exactly as she intended, with one devastating little twist. It's Rittenhouse dying in there, all of them, or at least Lucy so badly hopes. All her ancestors, her great-grandfathers and uncles and whatever else, and that means that when they get back to the present day (if they get back to the present day), there is a very good chance that she will never have existed at all. Will be a revenant, a time-ghost, a relic from another timeline who has nothing left at all, no root to her old life, and not even anyone else's memories. Hell, she might just wink out on the spot, a twisted paradox too contradicted to exist. Is it worth it? Can anything possibly be worth this?

Yes, Lucy thinks. Her face is stone, her eyes are dry, she does not weep a single tear. Yes, it is.

At last, the banging and blasting falls silent. Ruthlessly effective as he is, Garcia Flynn is far from subtle. There's a long moment in which Lucy panics, thinking that they managed to strike a lucky blow, that he's gone too, but then he emerges, tall and dark and shadowed, his suit sleeves spattered in blood. He looks at her and doesn't say a word. Just goes to his knees in front of her (even so, he's still almost as tall as she is) and holds out the gun, a medieval knight pledging his sword to the service of his lady. At last, his voice half a whisper in the wind, he says, "It's done."

Lucy shivers from head to toe. She looks down at him and doesn't answer. Yes, her ancestors might all be dead now, but there's still no guarantee that Rittenhouse has been erased, root and branch. One of them might have left a pregnant wife somewhere, or a secret mistress with a love child, or all the other ways history contorts around on itself to protect its continuity. She could have done all this, live with the knowledge of it forever, and still failed. Flynn might have gone in there to kill her whole family, but Lucy is the one who brought him here.

(What would she have done, if they hadn't found each other? Who would she be? Carol's perfect little Rittenhouse princess, just as planned? Not this, this Salem witch, hands dripping with blood just as much as Flynn's. It's only on his because she asked him to do it, and he agreed. That's love, she supposes. A twisted and dark and desperate version, but still love. He is the only thing she has.)

"Flynn." Lucy doesn't recognize her own voice. "Please. Get me out of here. Get me out of here."

Flynn considers, then nods once. He lifts her halfway, arms around her waist; as ever, her weight is completely negligible to him. It's going to be a long walk back to the Mothership, where Rufus is waiting nervously. When they get in, the jump very well might not work, as long as Lucy is in there. The space-time continuum might reject traveling back with an alien entity, an erased object. She might have to get out and stay in 1880 forever, the price of removing Rittenhouse in the present. Is she ready to do that? Can she stand it? Or will she just simply evanesce away?

"Flynn," she starts again, shaking, her face buried in his shoulder. He walks quickly, but somehow without hurrying. The wool of his jacket smells of lamp-oil and fresh blood. "Flynn, I'm not going to be able to come back, not if I don't -- "

"Yes." He sounds calm, certain, cold as the snow. "You're going to be fine, Lucy. Rufus will figure it out. You'll come home with us."

"But back there -- " Lucy twists, tries to peer over his shoulder, to look back at the dark farmhouse where Rittenhouse has, pray God, finally met its utmost end. "If you -- "

"Shh." Flynn's grip tightens on her. "Don't look back, Lucy. It's all right. Trust me. I would never do anything to hurt you."

It's a deeply ironic utterance, considering what he just did to her whole family (on her express invitation, but still) and how their relationship started, but she does. She trusts him. She holds onto him with both hands. Don't look back. Like Lot's wife fleeing from Sodom, unable to resist the curse, transmogrified into salt. There are tears on her cheeks. She tastes it on her lips. She doesn't know who she's crying for. It seems impossible for it to be her.

Don't look back.

Lucy buries her face in Flynn's neck again, and does not.

#battleshipgarcy #ask #lucy x flynn #garcy #garcy ff #fic prompts #spooky season #i would apologize for the angst but also #ahem #also thanks for the belated hbd!

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ghostatas · 1 year ago

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Baghera :(((((

THOUGHTS ON LUCIE FROM OPQ

Sweetie, queen, she was trying so hard but the dice rolls were just not on her side. Made for great angst but still ;((

Lucie, at the beginning, quarrels with Amy, calling her a brat and spoiled because she stole her water. It was boiling and this little kid just runs in front of her and steals the last of the water, like what!!! Rude!

So, lucie starts complaining to Amy and her dad. But she's not being exactly rude? She's telling the dad that he needs to teach her daughter manners and to be respectful to their elders, something I think we were all taught as a child. Right now, Lucie doesn't care about Amy at all. She's just some random bratty kid that she'll never see again OK??? Why can't she be upset?

But it's not the last time they see eachother, not even close. They get trapped together, in a very dangerous, scary environment.

Lucie is a free-spirited character. She is smart and logical, but she is curious, she likes to adventure, experience and learn new things. It's probably how she met Diego; they are similar, twin flames in a way. Diego seems to be the more timid one of the duo, but will always support and follow lucie. Lucie is a leader; she knows her self worth, her importance and she knows she is smart.

She takes the lead in investigating during most of the tasks. When she sees Amy again, the situation is too chaotic to really process her being there, but she's not just going to leave her out to die so they all go in the control room together. They don't really interact much I think, but hey, they have a mutual dislike of Benito so that's cool! Amy also almost ends up saving them too by the end of the first episode, but ends up breaking down just before they are safe. Luckily everyone was fine, Jeffrey was pushing it a little but I swear he's probably a munchkin with his epic, mysterious backstory and his power of friendship (RiP wallace) ig. So yeah everyone is fine.

Amy is still crying by the time they return to Mikhail and get new clothes. I think this is the part when Lucie truly starts to care about Amy, or at least holds herself responsible for her. This is a lot for an adult to bear, let alone a little kid who still hasn't even processed her fathers DEATH, and who knows very little about their situation because no one has the time to explain. Amy is lost and scared and sad and confused and angry and upset and so very lost-

I think Lucie empathised with her in some way. Lucie is a free spirit. She lived travelling, she lived freedom. I imagine her childhood to be similar to Amys (before that entire trauma-fest). I think they all in a way see a part of themselves in Amy, who symbolises humanity in a way.

Freedom. Passion. Peace. Joy. Recklessness.

They cannot afford to have any of that here. Lucie wants to protect any of it that is left. She wants to leave too, to preserve her own humanity and life.

When Amy leaves Mikhail, Lucie is the only one rushing out to help her. She goes immediately, not a second delay. Amy has also started to trust her, so she plays along and is quiet no matter how confused she is. Lucie dies for Amy

Lucies last thoughts are not how she is happy that the others lived. She is regretful, she is mournful, because she wanted to survive with them. She wanted to leave with them. She wanted to survive.

She has lost everything she has stood for.

She can no longer travel, or explore, or theorise, or learn new things. She is bitter that she is going to die, yet despite that she chose NOT to sacrifice Amy for herself (unlike a CERTAIN SOMEONE *cough cough* Carol *cough cough*). That speaks volumes to me.

Lucie values herself, yet she chose Amy, a kid she met only a few hours ago and disliked at first. She faced torture. She didn't even get to die quickly, no, she was in horrible, excruciating pain before she blacked out and died.

I can't put it into words correctly how it makes me feel, and how I think of Lucie. Lucie did not want to sacrifice herself. She did not want to be a hero. She wanted to live, desperately. Yet in that final moment, where she could've lived, she chose to save someone else instead. I was fully expecting her to abandon Amy at the final moment. Yet she didn't....

And THIS, LADIES, GENTLEMEN AND OTHERS, is why we stan the QUEEN, BAGHERA HOLY SHIT.

*cough* yeah I have a lot of feelings about this. I might come back to it layer if I can find the words but i doubt it. Rip Lucie, the absolute GOAT of opq (I would say MVP too but that titles reserved for Jeffrey, I mean did you see him during the final part????? Holy shit) but yeah that

#ordem paranormal quarentena #opq #opq lucie #this is just a word dump s #dont expect it to be legible lol #it is 5 am #and i have thoughts #gg cellbit for decimating my sleep schedule for the next month

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cfr749 · 10 months ago

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Next week's episode, I imagine, Tim will end up learning to let people in and accepting help. Another character growth for him, while Lucy isn't even allowed to really feel the emotional consequences of her near fatal shooting. It's already as if nothing happened and she's over it, nothing comes back to haunt her.

To me, the biggest turn off of this show/ship is this unbalance of storylines and depth between the character, the female one always getting the short end of the stick.

Hi anon!

Thank you for the meaty, thoughtful ask! Definitely some thoughts here that are right up my alley.

I'm going to start by saying I have genuinely been surprised by and happy with this season so far. Season 6, at least for Chenford, has felt like a return to the to the show's earlier roots of being truly character-driven. And I mention that simply because I still see a LOT of potential for Lucy's storyline this season.

This is the first time in YEARS we've had a multi-episode storyline seeded for Lucy, and I'm over the moon about it. With that said, the show still has its issues, and I completely get what you're saying.

While the moment with the radio was sweet and I can appreciate the sentiment, I agree that it was actually quite strange that we went from Lucy being devastated by the idea of almost killing someone to Tim framing something that will forever remind her of that moment and them smiling and laughing about it. I think in the show's attempts to deliver fan service, there isn't always someone asking: is this actually something a normal person with human emotions would do? 😂

So yeah, in making that choice, it did seem like they'd swept the shooting storyline under the rug and were moving on.

That said, I will be completely flabbergasted (and legitimately outraged) if there's not more to come in terms of Lucy's broader storyline, including her having to come to terms with her feelings about all of the challenges she's faced this season. We're coming off of multiple episodes that were very focused on Lucy's emotional state around the detectives exam and the aftermath, so I understand why they've shifted to seeding a storyline for Tim for a little bit, but I'd argue that as much as this episode gave us some (tbh kind of convoluted 😬) backstory for Tim, it was just as much about how Tim's actions impacted Lucy.

I'd argue that it was WAY easier to empathize with Lucy this episode than it was to with Tim (minus Eric's teary-eyed "Understood" that was an act of violence against us all). And tbh I'm not sure if that was intentional, but I'm more than okay with it.

For me, this was one of Lucy's best episodes in a long time -- this is the badass, take no shit woman from Seasons 1 and 2. She loves Tim dearly, and we know it must have killed her to ask him to leave, but she still found the strength to stand up for herself. She knows she deserves to be treated as an equal partner, and she demanded that Tim either provide that or go. And for her to be able to do that amidst everything else her character has been through in just the first 4 episodes of this season was IMO phenomenal (and so, so painful but absolutely needed) to see.

I couldn't agree harder though with your broader point -- the show has seemed very lopsided in terms of giving Tim lots and lots of backstory and multiple opportunities to grow and evolve, and then can't even be bothered to keep track of Lucy's parents names😭. It genuinely sucks. And they have so much to make up for.

They've given Lucy plenty of screen time and they've put her through tons of shit. I just think they haven't seemed to have had much interest in really exploring the actual impact on her character in any meaningful way, until now (I hope!).

And to be clear, I have zero interest in seeing Lucy simply tag-along on Tim's story for the rest of the season. I love that they are going to be together; I love that they are getting to support each other, but Lucy needs (and deserves) a fitting conclusion to her own story.. And if they don't give her one...

Thanks for the ask anon!

#chenford #see lana ramble #the rookie #lucy chen

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lagingersnapz · 5 months ago

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Some Rain Must Fall - (Fallout Fic) Chapter 16: Mr. and Mrs. Howard

Chapter: 16/?

Lucy and Cooper talk to Norman about everything they've all been through, and the stress of the day ends with a bottle of wine between the Vault-Dweller and her Ghoul companion.

Characters: Lucy MacLean/Cooper Howard(The Ghoul), Dogmeat(CX-404), Original Characters

Word Count: 5039

Warnings: Violence, Swearing

Author's Note: This chapter is entirely from Lucy's perspective. I usually try and include both Cooper's perspective and Lucy's in each chapter, but there was so much in this one that just seemed like it would make more sense from hers.

Previous Next

Ao3

~~~

Norman hurried out from behind the desk and Lucy moved just as quickly to meet him. The flood of emotion at seeing him again, her brother, had tears running down her cheeks almost immediately, and Lucy wrapped her arms around him, squeezing as tightly as she could without pulling at the stitches in her back, but when Norm tried to return the embrace, he got too close to the injury. Lucy flinched, letting out a hiss of pain, and Norman let go of her quickly, worry coloring his expression. Lucy felt a hand on her elbow and turned to see Cooper had moved up beside her and was looking down at her with a question in his eyes.

“Lucy, are you okay?” Norm asked, looking her over for obvious signs of injury.

Lucy nodded, sniffling. “Yeah. I’ve just got a bit of a cut on my back. Nothing serious, though.” Norman had never been much for showing affection, so the fact that he was so happy to see her made Lucy almost afraid. What had happened while she was gone?

“I take it this is my brother-in-law,” Cooper said, shifting from one foot to the other as he stood beside Lucy, looking down at her brother with cautious amusement, his shoulders back like he had all the confidence in the world. Underneath that mask of confidence, however, Lucy recognized the tightness of his jawline, and the subtle way his brow pinched. It was almost impossible to notice without him having eyebrows, but Lucy was getting pretty good about reading those little expressions. Norman stared right back, and she saw the same flicker of emotion on his face as she saw on most other people–and she knew had probably been on her face–the first time they saw Cooper.

“Brother-in-law?” Norman asked, looking from Cooper back to Lucy.

Lucy smiled, wiping some of the tears off of her cheeks. “Oh, it’s a long story. Norm, this is Wyatt.”

Lucy watched as Norman’s gaze swept slowly over Cooper, taking in every detail. His surprised expression faded to his usual look of near apathy, but she knew that there was a lot going on in his head at that moment.

“Wyatt, huh? Is there a last name there?” he asked. Lucy opened her mouth to respond, but Cooper stepped forward and held out his hand.

“Howard. Wyatt Howard.”

Lucy felt like someone had dumped cold water over her. Obviously she knew he couldn’t use the last name of the sheriff she had nicknamed him after, that would be way too obvious, given Norm had been raised in the same Cooper Howard loving household she had, but to just go and use his real last name didn’t seem very covert.

Norm nodded, reaching out to return Cooper’s handshake. “Howard? Like the movie star, Cooper Howard?” He looked at Lucy and gave her a wry smile. “You did always say when we were growing up that you wanted to marry that actor. Looks like you at least got the last name.”

Cooper barked a laugh, turning to look at Lucy as he dropped Norman’s hand. “Excuse me, Darlin’, have I got competition you never told me about?”

“Norman, shut up,” Lucy hissed, glancing at Cooper and feeling her cheeks going red. Of all the things Norm could have said, she knew this one was definitely going to come up again later. Cooper was never going to let her live down what he had just been told. It wasn’t that she was embarrassed to have had a crush on an actor when she was younger, but having that fact stated so casually and cluelessly to said actor was somewhat mortifying.

“Ah, don’t worry. Was never much of a Cooper Howard fan myself, so I don’t consider him much competition. Even if he was still alive.” Cooper put an arm around Lucy’s shoulder and gave her a little squeeze, a grin still plastered over his face.

The cat who got the cream, Lucy thought.

Norm watched the interaction with mild amusement, though the thoughtfulness behind his gaze hadn’t faded. “It sounds like we all have a lot to talk about,” he said, tapping his finger on the desk. Looking over at Cal and the other guard, he nodded his head. “You guys can go. If Lucy says Wyatt is okay to be here I trust her. I’m just going to take them home. If you need me you can find me there.”

The guards nodded, then nodded at Lucy as well, giving Cooper a cautious look. Cal finally gave the ghoul a little nod, looked down at Dogmeat like he wanted to pet her, then followed the other guard out.

“Alrighty, why don’t ya’ll show me to your home, then,” Cooper said in a voice that was entirely too cheerful. Lucy felt herself freeze up for a second.

Show me to my new home? Monty’s voice echoed in her memory, and she felt a cold shiver run down her spine. At least she didn’t have to go back to that housing unit. She never wanted to step foot in there again.

“Lucy, are you okay?” Norm was looking at her with concern again, clearly catching the sudden shift in her mood, but she nodded and gestured for him to lead the way, though she obviously knew the way to their old home.

The walk through the halls was much like the trip to the Overseer’s office, and Lucy was starting to get really tired of the judgemental looks cast at Cooper, and the cautious ones given to her, like just by setting foot outside the Vault she had become dangerous and unpredictable. Not that that was entirely untrue. Although at her core she was still the same Lucy as she had been before, there were definitely changes to her. Did those changes show on her face?

When they reached the door to her old home, Lucy felt strangely hesitant. Her dad had never settled them in the Overseer’s unit near the office because he said he preferred to be among the rest of their community. As the door slid open and she stepped inside, Lucy felt her skin crawl a little bit at the strange sensation. It was like stepping back in time a few weeks. Before the surface, before Monty. Before the Ghoul.

Norm didn’t wait to start asking questions as soon as the door closed behind them, and Lucy sat heavily on the couch she had spent so much time on before in another lifetime. Lucy wasn’t sure where to start her story, so she started right after leaving the Vault. She told Norm about Plan D, Wilzig, sand in water filters, Filly, Ma June, the Ghoul—though she didn’t tell him that the man she had introduced to him as Wyatt and the Ghoul in her story were the same person— and the gulper. She told him about Max, Vault 4, The Brotherhood, Moldaver, and how ‘Wyatt’ had shown up at the Observatory and she had gone with him and married him during their time with the settlement. Lucy talked until it felt like her throat was so dry it would crack, at which point she was surprised by Cooper handing her a glass of water. Throughout the entire story, right up until the moment she and Cooper had shown back up at the door to Vault 33, Norm remained silent and listening.

“Well, that’s a lot to take in,” Norm said when she finally stopped. Dogmeat had settled on the couch beside Lucy, and rested her head in Lucy’s lap, and Lucy was grateful to have something to do with her hands, so she had been petting Dogmeat through most of her story. Cooper was having trouble settling in, which had been a bit distracting. He paced the room, stood beside the couch near her, tried sitting down in a chair at their table, got up, and paced some more. Frankly, it had done nothing to soothe Lucy’s nerves, but she figured now wasn’t the time to tell him that.

“More than I realized,” Lucy admitted, taking another long drink of water from the glass Cooper had brought to her. And it was true. How could so much have happened in such a short amount of time? “And what about here? How did you end up as Overseer? No offense, but it’s not a role I ever thought I’d see you in.” She held up her hands quickly in a placating manner. “Not that I think you’d do a bad job, just that you always seemed so… apathetic about work.”

Norm took a deep breath, letting it out slowly and rubbing his hands over his face like he was trying to collect himself. “It’s not a role I ever saw myself in, either. But after everything that happened, I was voted into the position anyways.” Sitting back in his chair, Norm looked at the floor, clearly trying to gather his thoughts. “I guess it’s good that you learned about Dad from him. Means I don’t have to break the news to you. You know, about him being from before the bombs.”

“What do you know about that?” Cooper asked, and Lucy was surprised that he was finally joining in the conversation. Norm shrugged a shoulder.

“Enough. It’s a little hard to explain. Maybe I should actually show you before I try explaining it.” Standing back up, Norm led them out of the house and into the halls again, filling the story in a little bit as they made their way towards Vault 32. “So, Steph and Betty were in on it,” he started, and Lucy felt a shock run through her.

“Steph?” She didn’t want to believe it. Steph had been her best friend. Once upon a time Lucy had wanted nothing more than to get married and raise her kids alongside Steph. Now she was being told that Steph was one of the people working with Vault-Tec?

“Yeah,” Norm nodded, “she was promoted to Overseer of 32 by Betty, took Chet and the baby with her, and then I found their secret in Vault 31. I barely got enough people to believe me to have her put into a makeshift holding cell.” He scoffed. “The same one we had been keeping the Raiders in, actually.”

“What happened with the Raiders?” Lucy asked.

“They were all murdered.” He glanced sidelong at her. “Honestly I’m not too broken up about that. Though Veronica got blamed at first, so that was a little unpleasant. Finding out it was actually Steph and Betty cleared her name.”

It was so much information. Not only was Steph a member of Vault-Tec, but she was a murderer as well? Lucy couldn’t say she was terribly upset about the Raiders either, not after they had killed so many of her friends and almost killed her and Norm, too, but to hear that they were killed as coldly as they had been killing?

The four of them passed into Vault 32, and Norm kept talking. “I’ve been trying to go through the terminals to find out as much as I can about their plans, and I’ve found some interesting stuff, but most of the information is pretty well locked away, so it’s been slow going.”

“You said that Chet had gone with Steph and her baby. What did he do after she was arrested? What happened to her baby?” Lucy asked.

“She’s been going back and forth between the nursery and Chet. I think he feels responsible for her.”

A her. Steph had given birth to a baby girl. “What’s her name?” Lucy asked, her voice a little softer.

“Lillian,” Norm answered simply, still looking at her. Lucy felt her eyes get a little hot, but she nodded, sniffling quietly. Cooper moved up next to Lucy and put his arm around her, and Lucy leaned into him, grateful for the show of support, even if it was just an act since she had told everyone they were married.

As they walked, Lucy took in the sight of Vault 32, and Norm told them about what state it had been in when he and Chet had first entered it, and Lucy couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Home was feeling less and less like home. A place where she used to feel safe now felt big and foreign. As they got closer to the entrance to Vault 31, Norm stopped and turned to them, clearly trying to figure out what to tell them about what they were about to see.

“I don’t exactly know how to explain what’s in there,” he admitted. “It’s probably gonna be a bit of a shock.” He looked like he wanted to say more but didn’t know what to say, so instead he used his Pip-Boy to open the Vault, leading them down a hallway to one final door. When they passed into the next room, Lucy stopped so sharply that Cooper ran into her.

“What are-” Cooper started to talk, but his voice cut off in a strangled sound, and they simply stood, looking around the room while Norm stood off to one side. The walls were lined with pods full of sleeping people. It reminded Lucy of the sleeping pods that the pregnant women who had been experimented on in Vault 4 were kept.

Cooper moved first, walking to the closest pod and looking in on the occupant. “So that’s how he did it,” he said quietly to himself. Several of the pods were open, and Lucy looked at a terminal nearby for the list of names. On it she saw her dad’s, as well as Steph and Betty.

“Let me see that list,” Cooper said, and although he was clearly trying to hide it, Lucy heard the tension in his voice. He didn’t shove her out of the way, but he muscled his way in front of the terminal without waiting for her to move, and Lucy knew he was searching the list for Janey or Barb.

“Wyatt?” she asked after a little bit.

Shaking his head, Cooper stepped back from the terminal, looking around the room again. “Not here,” he said quietly.

Lucy reached out, putting a hand on his arm and rubbing gently, hoping he took comfort from her touch the same way she took comfort from his. “We’ll keep looking. There might still be answers here.” He nodded, reaching up and putting his hand over hers, and Lucy felt him give her hand a little squeeze.

“I know this is a lot to take in,” Norm said. “There’s one more thing I should probably show you guys. This one is, uh, a little more difficult to explain.”

Lucy cocked her head to one side, wondering what could be harder to explain than a room full of cryogenically frozen people from before the war, but she followed Norm wordlessly all the way back to Vault 33, her arm looped through Cooper’s. Rather than going back to their home, Norm led them back to the Overseer’s office and into the attached rooms, stopping in front of a closet. He put his hand over the button to open it and then paused.

“Um, brace yourselves, I guess,” he said and then he pushed the button and the door slid open.

“Hey! You can’t keep me in here! This is ridiculous!”

Lucy looked around to find the source of the voice, but the closet didn’t have anyone in it. Instead, her eyes landed on… “Is that a brain in a jar?” she asked.

“Hey! I’m not just some brain. My name is Bud Askins, and these Vaults are mine.”

It took a second for Lucy to sort through what was happening. Obviously brains didn’t have mouths, so how was it–he?–talking at all? Beside her, Cooper started to chuckle, then eventually broke down into all out hysterical laughter, literally bending at the waist to put his hands on his knees, and Lucy was afraid he was having a nervous breakdown. The laughter tapered off into coughing, and Lucy reached into the pocket of Cooper’s duster, pulling out his inhaler and one of the amber vials, popping a new one into place and handing it to him while he wheezed.

“Bud fuckin’ Askins, huh. You remember me Bud?” Cooper’s voice rasped from his coughing fit, but he stepped closer to the brain that was apparently a man named Bud.

“No, I don’t believe we’ve ever met.” Bud paused, and suddenly Lucy found herself wondering how a brain in a jar could see. “But if you give me back access to the system and put my wheels back on, I might even consider letting you stay in the Vault. Obviously you wouldn’t be allowed to breed, that would ruin the whole experiment, but I can be charitable enough to let you live here.”

Cooper snorted. “Oh, no worries there, Bud. I’m good and sterile.”

“Perfect!” Bud sounded genuinely pleased. “Then if you’ll be so kind as to get me out of this closet-”

Stepping back, Cooper ushered Lucy and Norman out as well, shutting the closet door before the Bud-brain could finish talking.

Norm had watched the entire exchange with a raised eyebrow. “You know him?”

Cooper reached up, scratching at his bald scalp under his hat, still grinning at the closet door. “Something like that.”

Lucy was watching him carefully. The whole exchange was just another surprise in a day that had already been full of them. It was all starting to feel overwhelming, and her eyes had started to ache. “Norm, what time is it?” Of course she could have just looked at her own Pip-Boy, but Lucy was busy thinking and staring off into space.

Norm looked down at the device on his wrist and scoffed. “Late. Come on. Let’s get you back home.”

“Wyatt, are you okay to go home for the night?” Lucy asked. A lot may have happened, but there weren’t really any new answers in the search for Cooper’s family, so she didn’t know if he was going to be willing to rest just yet. He surprised her by nodding his head. The mirth had faded somewhat from his features, and he was now staring at the closet door contemplatively, but when Lucy and Norman turned to go, he followed along.

“Alright,” Norm announced as soon as they were home, “I’ll let you guys have this unit while you stay here. I can stay in the Overseer’s suite. I have some stuff there already anyways, for days I worked late and didn’t wanna walk home.”

“Oh, Norm, you don’t have to do that,” Lucy said, taking her brother’s hands in hers.

Smiling, Norm shook his head. “You’re a married couple, right? You don’t need me hanging around. It’s not a problem, Lucy.” Looking at Cooper, he gave him a farewell nod, patted Lucy’s hands, and turned to leave.

After the door shut, Lucy and Cooper stood in silence, both obviously thinking of all the things they had learned and all the things they still didn’t know. It was Cooper that broke the silence with a heavy, drawn-out sigh.

“Well, Mrs. Howard, I don’t know about you, but I could use a drink.”

Lucy smiled a little bit, shaking her head. “It’s a Vault, Mr. Howard . We didn’t make alcohol. We were too busy using the space as efficiently as possible to make sure everyone was fed.”

“You mean to tell me your daddy was an Overseer and didn’t have any sort of alcohol squirreled away?”

Lucy shrugged and nodded at the same time, gesturing around the living room.

Cooper clapped his hands together and looked around. “I bet you 20 caps I can find something around here.”

Lucy shook her head. “You go ahead and look. I’m going to take advantage of the shower again.”

“Watch the stitches, Darlin’,” Cooper said, but he was already walking off towards her dad’s bedroom.

Lucy didn’t bother to respond, walking into her own room to get some clean clothes. As soon as she set foot inside, tears welled up in her eyes and she balled her fists up, pressing them to her face to try and force back the choking sobs that were threatening her. Dogmeat had followed her, and Lucy felt the dog leaning into her leg. Sniffling, Lucy reached down with one hand to pet Dogmeat, then dropped to her knees and threw her arms around her instead, burying her face in the dog’s filthy fur, and letting herself cry for a minute or two. Everything in the room looked the same as it had the day she had left. How could this room, her room, be the same when she was so different now? When the whole world was so different now?

“Sorry about that, Dogmeat,” she said, sniffling and sitting back. Dogmeat shuffled her paws a little on the floor, licking her muzzle and looking at Lucy expectantly, like she was ready and willing to hear all of her grievances. “I think a shower will help clear my head.” Lucy gave Dogmeat another scratch, then went into the bathroom to see if the shower could wash away her despair like it would the dirt.

Lucy’s body was a catalogue of brand new bruises and scrapes, not to mention the big wound on her back, which she finally got a chance to see in the mirror. The shower was just as blissful as the one in Vault 4, and Lucy wanted to stay in there forever, feeling comfortable and clean once the stinging of all her various cuts had subsided. But the world outside would wait for nobody, and in the end she made herself get out and get dressed.

Dogmeat had left her room, and Lucy found her lying in the living room next to a bowl of water and an empty bowl that Lucy was sure must have been food. Cooper looked over at her, and a smile broke out on his face again, close to the same mischievous one she had seen that morning.

“Guess what I found?” he asked, and Lucy felt her eyebrows rise.

“No,” she said in disbelief.

Cooper held up a bottle and Lucy walked over, taking it from his hand. While she had been in the shower, Cooper had made himself comfortable. His duster was draped over the back of a chair, and his hat was on the couch next to him. His face looked cleaner, and Lucy wondered if he had washed it in the sink while she was in the shower. The buttons of his vest were undone, though he hadn’t taken it off completely. The bottle in question had been opened, and Cooper had clearly had a few drinks from it.

“I can’t believe you were right,” she said, putting the bottle to her lips and tilting it back for a drink. It was sweet and biting at the same time, and Lucy almost sputtered. She’d had champagne before on very special occasions like weddings, but this was not champagne.

“Guess you owe me 20 caps.”

Lucy raised an eyebrow at him. “I don’t have any caps,” she said, knowing he was as aware of that fact as she was.

“Well, alright. I think I know another way you can pay off that debt. Take a look at what else I found.”

Lucy went to hand the bottle back, but Cooper was reaching behind him, pulling out the replica of the gun from The Man From Deadhorse . “I believe you owe me a demonstration, since you ain’t got caps.”

Lucy accepted the gun, looking down at it. “Fine, but give me your gun belt and holster.”

“Ain’t you got your own?” Cooper asked.

“Yeah, but it’s in my room and I don’t wanna go get it. Just let me borrow yours.”

Cooper mulled over her request for longer than it would have taken Lucy to go get her own holster, but she stayed stubbornly rooted to the spot until he rose to his feet. Lucy was standing close enough that she had to take a step back when he stood, looking up into his face as his shadow fell over her. Cooper’s pale green eyes were locked onto hers as he reached down and removed his gun belt and holster, handing it to Lucy after he had taken out his revolver, placing it on a nearby table.

As Lucy took the belt out of Cooper’s hand, she held his gaze, and felt his fingers brush over hers, and suddenly the feeling in the room shifted, and a shiver ran down her spine. After she had taken it, Cooper lowered himself back onto the couch, and Lucy managed to pull her eyes away from his.

Am I breathing a little harder? Pushing that thought away, Lucy looped the belt around her waist, tight enough to keep it on despite her lack of belt loops, but loose enough that it wasn’t pressing on her injury.

“It’s been awhile since I did this,” she said, putting the revolver into the holster.

“I’ve got complete faith in you, Sweetheart.” Cooper was watching her intently, his gaze traveling over her like he was taking in every detail.

Taking a deep breath, Lucy practiced pulling the gun out of the holster a few times. It was way bigger than she needed, and her holster probably would have worked better, but she wasn’t about to tell him that. Instead, she put the gun in the holster again, hovering her hand over it. Then, as quickly as she could, Lucy pulled the revolver out of the holster, flipping it a few times in her hand before pointing it at Cooper, her other hand hitting the hammer so she could pretend to fire rapid shots at him.

When she had finished the trick, Cooper let out a low whistle and clapped his hands slowly. “Damn, you really are a gun-slinger. Get you a hat and a lasso and we can turn you into a hell of a cattle rustler,” Cooper chuckled, still looking at her. Lucy put the gun back in the holster.

“A lasso, huh,” she said, then moved to his nearby saddlebags and reached in, pulling out the rope they had barely managed to collect after the tangle with the deathclaw. It was the same rope he had used on her back at the lake after the gulper incident. Turning back to him, Lucy walked over, lasso in hand, and Cooper simply sat there, watching her, one arm over the back of the couch like he didn’t have a care in the world.

Once she was close enough, Lucy reached down, picking Cooper’s hat up from the couch next to him and putting it on her own head, then looped the same lasso around his neck as he had looped around hers, though she was decidedly more gentle about it when she tightened it and stepped back.

The smile had faded somewhat from Cooper’s face, and she could see his chest rising and falling a little faster, a little more ragged, his lips slightly parted like he wanted to say something to her as she stood there in front of him, wearing his hat and belt, with a rope around his neck. Instead, without a word, Cooper reached up and took the rope in one hand, using it to pull Lucy closer again.

As Lucy got closer to the couch, she stayed directly in front of Cooper, until he had pulled the rope enough that she had to lean in over him if she didn’t let the rope have a little more slack. She kept it taut, and instead rested one knee on the couch next to him for balance. The soft material of the couch pressed her leg to the side until her knee was against the outside of his thigh. Now Lucy was sure she was breathing harder, and she braced her hands against the back of the couch, catching her bottom lip between her teeth as she pondered the wisdom of what was clearly happening here.

They both remained silent, save for the sound of their heavy breaths, as Lucy put her other knee up on the couch on Cooper’s other side, hovering over him, not settling herself into his lap. The delicious heat she was so familiar with from her nights curled up at his side rolled off of him, whispering over her skin. Cooper reached for the belt around her waist, and she felt him put his hands on the buckle, though their eyes had locked again.

Lucy broke her gaze away, and found herself looking down at his lips, still slightly parted. Putting a hand on his chest, she leaned in, feeling his breath puff over her face as she got closer, her head tilted to the side, heat pulsing in her stomach. Cooper’s other hand had come up to the back of her neck, gentle, not pulling her forward, letting her know that if she wanted to pull back he wouldn’t stop her. His skin was rough and calloused against hers, but the sensation of it was pleasant, raising goosebumps over her arms.

What do those lips feel like? Lucy found herself wondering, and decided maybe it was time to find out. Leaning forward, Lucy’s own lips parted, her eyes closed, and then, before she could touch her lips to his, the sound of knocking stuttered through the living room, and Lucy pulled back with a gasp, looking over at the door and then back at Cooper. He was looking up at her in surprise, and Lucy felt her cheeks go red.

“I’d better see who that is,” she said, her voice hoarse, and she eased back off of the couch. Off of him.

“Uh, yeah,” Cooper managed, though he was looking around now like he wasn’t totally sure what had just happened. Without taking the hat off of her head, or the belt off of her waist, Lucy made her way to the door.

“Chet?” she asked, not sure why she was so surprised he would show up. Without waiting to be invited, Chet stepped inside and threw his arms around Lucy, knocking the hat right off her head.

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