#but here's one very soft and enamored daughter for you!

[stingslikeabee]

one muse has little to no experience with sex and approaches the other more experienced muse to teach them.  // what if Melissa teaches Genesis the ways of sexual intimacy, what then

smut prompts with plot . accepting

For all the flamboyant charm that Genesis possessed and the confidence that just overflowed with every move, it had surprised Melissa to learn that, in fact, he had been lonely for a considerable amount of time. Logically speaking, it made sense - if he had been sentenced to imprisonment within the amulet, he had been frozen in time and waiting for the next individual to give him a shot at freedom. There was no companionship to be had - no small comforts or pleasantries granted by those who sealed him away originally.

But that wasn't a secret revealed at the beginning of their interactions either - it had only been uttered as a whisper, so faint and soft that a more distracted soul would have missed it. But not the actress - not someone who had been irrevocably bound to his fate initially by accident, then entirely by choice. It had been a curious mix of greed, compassion and fascination that had Melissa sealing their deal months ago; now it was genuine feeling that moved her to peel away the metaphorical and literal layers between the two of them, peppering the unveiled skin with kisses.

This close, Genesis was perfection - an illusion orchestrated by his powers, as he had advised her, but one she was hardly willing to question or fight; if her protector and mentor said so, it wasn't her position to show doubt. Besides, there was nothing that the man had done so far that seemed to contradict or imply a desire to break their arrangement - his powers and pulls over mortals was real. Slowly, but surely, his protégée became a more well-known face within the right circles, as well as with the population.

A rising star, a delightful mystery, a breath of fresh air - the titles that the press now bestowed Melissa with were many and generous, no doubt a testament to her talent, but one that would have remained invisible if not for him. Genesis Rhapsodos was how he introduced himself to those who asked, posing as her manager and agent, dedicated to making Melissa's career the crown jewel of his résumé - and so far, he had delivered.

And after so long struggling to make ends meet and to keep a dream alive that so many were quick to brand as 'foolish', it was hard not to feel immense gratitude for him. And not just that - Melissa was more than thankful for Genesis and his work; she was hungry for the companionship he provided, the warmth of his touch and the soothing balm he represented to a lonely heart. It was almost as if she had been withering, like a forgotten rose bouquet discarded after a first date - but Genesis' presence made her flourish, burning bright and with a passion for her craft and life that had been unlike anything else.

It wasn't surprising that a deal that began with a bloody kiss had led to many others - now over his face, the jaw, his shoulders and chest. Inch by inch, Melissa uncovered and sampled her savior in a way that was nothing short of a more detailed act of worship, inhaling his scent and gleefully adding to the fire created among their bodies. It wasn't until she was almost done with the robe and cruising into more intimate territory that Genesis' left hand temporarily held hers, causing the actress' surprised gaze to meet his for a moment.

And then, the confession - the mere whispered words 'I have not been intimate with another in a very, very long time' sent a strange jolt down her spine, like thunder crashing over clear skies. But within seconds, her visage softened impossibly, and Melissa's hands moved to his face, cradling Genesis as if he was made of the most fragile things on Earth and bringing him in for a tender kiss, sweet like honey.

Through that gesture, a lot went unsaid - particularly in how Melissa stopped undressing him to instead guide Genesis' digits to her own attire. The brunette encouraged him to keep going and follow her lead, undoing the buttons of the shirt and zipping down the skirt, getting the actress to reveal herself first. Quite frankly, Melissa felt no shame like that - to be naked before another was a luxury a good performer could not afford, and besides, her protector was no vulgar audience.

If anything, it emboldened her - and Melissa moved to his lap, letting the remaining items of fabric pooled over his hips and legs, allowing him the comfort of a cover. There was going to be a time for him to gift his mistress with the glory of his beauty, but at his own pace. Instead, the brunette let his mouth go free for an instant, trailing lips over to his ear and using caring digits to card through hair, caressing more than pulling and embracing Genesis in a way that was very much protective.

He had her back out there, among studio sharks and manipulative executives; within the sanctuary of her bedroom, she would take care of his heart.

"Then let me take the lead for you," Melissa breathed into his skin, closing eyes and sighing softly. Her heart was thumping so fast within her ribcage that it could have belonged to a hummingbird; but it was just the elation of being with him, and sharing something so special like that with the one individual that deserved her affection more than anyone else.

"You can undress me first, if you like. Take your time - there is no rush," she murmured, and with the pull of gravity and the weight of her own frame, Melissa gently eased Genesis on his back, staying atop him but without creating a prison - not when her body slipped away from his grasp merely to press a kiss to every single patch of flesh available, murmuring praise in-between and looking up at the deity in her bed with burning, unyielding devotion in honey-colored eyes.

"I will make you feel like the god you are supposed to be, my beloved Genesis."

[vifilms]

❝ TASTE ME WHEN SHE'S KISSING YOU ❞

pairing. abby anderson x fem!reader x owen!pissoff

TASTE ME WHEN SHE'S KISSING YOU, being friends with benefits with abby is no easy feat, continuously finding yourself at odds with what you know is logic and a heavy heart but at tess and joel’s wedding, push comes to shove. putting you and abby between a rock and a hard place.

★ warnings y disclaimers. eighteen+, wedding!au, cheating, friends to lovers (kinda?), abby in a fucking suit, lowkey!mean abby, smidge of sub!abby, slight daddy!kink, angst + fluff + smut ps the whole trifecta, light bondage (r!tied up), fingering, 69ing, pussy munching, anal teasing, mean!abby, sub!reader, reader desc. feminine, anti-owen energy, lowkey mel slander.

wc. 21k+

hi guys! it's finally here! m'so proud of this one created with my love, @absfawn. this baby is our pride and joy, we had the most fun writing this together and hope y'all enjoy it as well. if you like it, let us know! feedback truly means a lot. anyways, happy reading!

Things have always been challenging for both of you. From the moment you met, friendship blossomed, sustaining for years, longer than Abby expected. She’s grateful for you but doesn’t know how you still tolerate her. An inkling can be found in the pit of her stomach, and every time her gaze catches you, there’s a hope that terrifies her. Almost a promise or a future she knows she wants but doesn’t think she can ever have. 

It’s been like this since the moment the two of you met. 

She remembers the first time she spoke of you, with Tess and Joel at the monthly dinner they had every first of the month, the light in her bright blues putting the full moon to shame. While Joel just chucked it up to a blossoming friendship, Tess could see something different — something bright. It shocked Tess even more when Abby brought Owen when she came to visit and not you. Her shine didn’t exist when Abby was with her boyfriend, but it did with you. Just a few months later, Tess met you, and she chucked when she saw how Abby couldn’t keep your eyes off of you. She constantly tended to you, ensuring you were comfortable, or the not-so-subtle hand rubbing your thigh sweetly. 

Joel was clueless about the behavior, but Tess could see it clearly as day. 

Tess had never seen Abby so full of joy, not since her mother had so tragically been taken away from her. 

Ever since her mother’s passing, Tess has been the one to take her under her protective wing. She was one of the very few Abby couldn’t count on, gracious to be there to hold her hand and wipe her tears when she lost her mother in her early teen years. As much as Abby loves her Father, the moments she misses her mom are more vigorous than one would like to admit. The specific way she would braid her golden hair or the tender kiss she would leave on her temple before she wished Abby goodnight. Her age didn’t matter; her mom never let her feel unloved from the moment she held her as a newborn. Abby’s curious eyes were all it took for mom to be enamored with her daughter. 

When her grades started slipping, and her absence at school became apparent, her soccer coach snapped her out. She let Abby talk about her mom when her Father, Jerry, was too weak to discuss the elephant in the room. Abby never blames him; she is the love of his life, and he mourns her every day. He looks at her bright blues, and the touch of green surrounding the irises reflects her mothers. She also talked about how soft spoken Abby is, how particular she is with her tidiness, and how she learned to braid her hair like her mother used to. 

Ever since then, the bond they shared nearly became unbreakable. 

Tess never had a child of her own, and she never could either, but with Abby, it almost felt like she was one of her own—the adoptive daughter she didn’t even know she needed but couldn’t imagine her life without. Even if Abby has to take a flight to see her, they never miss their Sunday afternoon call, where they catch up on the nonsense in both of their lives. 

It’s one of the most incredible comforts Abby has. She’ll treasure it for as long as she has Tess, her second chance at a mother’s love, she likes to call it. However, Abby couldn’t get away with hiding in the dark sometimes because of how close they were. Especially when she brought you over for the holidays for the first time. 

Two Years Earlier…

“I don’t know what’s going on with you and Owen or you and her, but don’t mess it up with her.” Tess mumbles as they watch from a distance. There you are, Joel, and you, her Father, Jerry, preparing Thanksgiving dinner. You look happy. It brings a delightful smile to Abby. It feels right, you being here with her, how easy all of it is except for why it’s so painfully not. 

“Yeah, I might be putting my foot in my mouth with this one,” Abby admits. She sips on the chilled beer you brought her a few moments ago. 

“Something is going on, isn’t it? Showing up with her instead of Owen is surely saying something.” Tess huffs out ironically. “Can’t imagine one like that is too keen on someone other than himself taking up time in your life.” 

“I suppose something is going on,” Abby says so quickly that Tess almost misses it. 

“Abigail Anderson.” 

“I know! Okay, I’ll stop it. I just—” She pauses to look at you, making an effort with her Father as Jerry’s probably telling you some old joke you’ve already heard three too many times, but you humor him. 

“You love her.” 

“I don’t—” 

“Don’t even, Abigail.” The older woman bites back. Abby opens her mouth to say a line of defense, but it says so openly that she thinks a fly might go ahead and make a home. 

Tess has always been a no bullshit kind of woman. She was never one to beat around the bush; she always directly called out Abby on her own shit. When it stunk, she would be the first to tell her. 

“I don’t have to tell you how this looks, do I?” 

“Nope. We’re crystal clear.” 

Dinner goes off without a hitch. There is roasted ham—the biggest ham Abby has ever seen—mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, beets, sweet potatoes, and her favorite—apple pie. Everyone digs in rather quickly. The Southern meal does wonders for the heart but silences the makeshift family. Abby can hear Joel moan as he stuffs his mouth full of potatoes. 

Her dad keeps the conversation light, asking where Ellie is. Apparently, her flight got snowed in. She missed the original flight due to not setting an alarm, resulting in oversleeping an hour past her flight. Everyone is quietly talking when you notice some gravy dribbling down her lips. 

“Here, Abs, let me get it.” Instead of using your napkin to clean up the mess, your thumb wipes it off her pink and pouty lips, doing it all with a sweet smile on your face. As if it had never happened, you dig back into your food. 

You miss it. 

Tess gives Abby a deadly look, her eyes bugging at the mannerisms. How close the two of you must be that Abby, who isn’t one for physical touch, let you do something so intimate and so easily at that. Raising her eyebrows as if to signal if it genuinely happened, Abby measly shrugged at Tess as if it was no big deal. 

The rest of the night, Abby was mindful of how close they got to you, but you seemed to really not give a fuck. After you were done eating, your head resting on her shoulder as you lightly engaged in conversation, the food doing its job, nearly subduing you into a small comatose. 

No more than a few hours later, you have a glass of wine as you sit next to Abby, joking with Joel as you rub the back of her muscular back. Drawing random patterns on her spine as she nearly moans from the tingles sent through your body. 

This is everything Abby wants at her fingertips; you are everything she’s ever wanted. The way you’re so soft, delicate when you handle other people, how when you comfort her, it’s the warmest she’s felt in god knows how long. She thinks of Owen and how he makes her feel, but it doesn’t make her feel anything at times, not the intensity she feels in the rapid beat of her heart each time she feels your comforting touch or your sweet voice dripping honey all over her. 

Life has always been in black and white — good and bad choices for her. 

But none of this seemed to be that simple. 

Especially since she’s the said person making the questionable decisions. Desperately, she finds herself forced to think of it each time Tess throws her a glance each time you do something entirely too intimate for a platonic, casual friend. Nothing about this is purely a token of friendship, but the only person questioning it is the woman who knows her like the back of her hand. 

The last night she’s there, her urges give in, especially when you’re begging for it. It’s not even thirty minutes since you went to the guest bedroom, separate from her own, and you’re knocking on her door. Your pupils are dilated, thighs rubbing against one another, your perky tits visible through the think tank top and pajama shorts you’re wearing. 

It isn’t long before you’re in her bed, deliciously placed on top of her with you, with your slick folds gliding against her. Even with as good as it feels, how close Abby knows she’s getting, the tight knot in her stomach begging to be released, she savors the moment. It’s a slight tick she has, watching you as you use her body to feel the euphoric rise. The headboard creaks as you roll your hips. Abby should care that someone might hear them, but when your pace increases, her body twitches, and she loses control, finding it difficult for anything else to cross her mind. The irresistible high Abby rides sends you into your own, your body collapsing on top of her. 

With the palm of her hands, she soothes your back, rubbing her hands up and down your spine, your body shaking from the orgasm. 

Maybe it’s the holidays or seeing you with her family. The words she desperately wants to say threaten to spill over her tongue. Almost as if you can sense it, your lips find hers as you reach backward to grab her hands, intertwining them with your own before pinning them over her head. A flutter fills the blonde as you kiss along her jaw sweetly before finding her lips again, telling her everything you know the both of you can’t say. 

’Cause the reality is Abby isn’t yours to hold, but the two of you will keep pretending like she is. You fall asleep cuddled into her frame, your soft breath grazing into her neck, sending shivers down her spine. Just like every night this happens, Abby can’t sleep. 

From a very young age, Abby has always been one to worry, keeping her up all night. Her mother had to convince her to take melatonin, which dissolves on her tongue just so she could get sleep throughout grade school. As the years passed, her life became more complicated, and the amount of sleep she got seemed to decrease substantially. 

Carefully, she untangles her limbs, not wanting to disturb your peaceful slumber. She blows a puff of smoke, swinging back and forth on the porch swing, and the moonlight kisses her cheeks. As much as Abby likes to deny it, the holidays make her miss home, but she’s found another thousands of miles away that’s hard to give up. 

Of course, Tess can’t sleep either. 

She takes the bud from Abby’s grip and takes a hit herself. 

“You know these are so bad for you.” Tess shakes her head, the draw she has peeping through. 

“Not bad enough for you, huh?” Abby giggles as Tess rolls her eyes. If she looks closely enough, she sees the little thirteen year old mama’s girl before her eyes. The sentiment nearly makes Tess’ eyes water. It’s been such a long time since she’s seen the bright-eyed athlete this blissful. “Guess not, Abigail.” 

“Jerry was talkin’ about you and her after y’all retreated for the night.” Abby’s eyes quirk up, her body language becoming rigid at the mention of you. She tries to ease her nerves, taking another hit as she allows the cannabis to infiltrate her lungs, almost holding a candle to the insatiable addiction she has for you. “Oh yeah?” 

She passes the joint back to Tess as she takes another hit, blowing it into the crispy fall wind as it kisses the oak tree hovering over the house. Abby isn’t sure why it puts her own edge or why there is a need to protect you from any further suspicions. The status of her current relationship, the one she has with you, why Owen isn’t here with her, and why you are. It’s an answer she doesn’t really have yet.  

“Less arguing with her than Owen. It’s what he joked about, nothing serious. Unwound that neck of yours, thought you’d be less tense with all that creaking.” 

“Tess!” 

“What? I’m old, not deaf.” 

Abby can’t help the blush creeping up her neck, crawling to her freckled cheeks. She doesn’t want to smile or expose her feelings about you more than tonight, but she fails. It creeps on her just like you have. The only thing she’s sure of is it won’t halt anytime soon. This deep hole she’s dug herself in just gets her closer to hell, but sinning has never felt so euphoric. She feels it every time your sweet taste dances on her tongue or your giggle is so light it fills everyone in the room with joy. Her favorite has to be your smile. Abby swears she’s seeing an angel for the first time. 

“Just say it. If you can’t tell anyone else, tell me. You can’t tell her right now, or that girl will run in another direction, leaving you with that sorry excuse for a man by your side.” Tess huffs as Abby rolls her eyes. 

“He’s not that bad.” 

“He must be that bad if you’re hooking up with someone who isn’t your boyfriend, Abigail.” Abby’s mouth opens, and no words manage to crawl out as she looks at Tess with wide eyes. Sure, she was a blunt and honest person most of the time, but she could have saved Abby the trouble of being so fucking honest for just a moment. Just to save her already breaking heart. 

“S’not what it is—”

“No?” Tess cocked her head to the side, looking at Abby silently, almost as if she was trying to figure her out. “Then what is it? Just us here, Abby. Like I said if you can’t turn to anyone else and speak to them about whatever the fuck is going on, at least speak to me. Is that not what I told you years ago? If you are ever having a problem or an issue, you come to me, and I will do my best to help you.”

Abby lowers her head in shame or frustration—she has no idea which—and inhales deeply. “It’s s’not that easy. You think me sitting here, smoking with you, is going to make it easier? Because I won’t. I don’t know why you’re trying so hard.”

“Because I love you, and I don’t want to see you or anyone else hurt in the process.” She’s blunt again, but her serious face falters just a little bit when Abby nods slowly. “Abby—”

“You don’t understand. You don’t understand how much it hurts,” Her blue eyes pierce into Tess’s, and she feels her heart break piece by piece. “You don’t, you have Joel, you have each other, a love you share doesn’t always happen to everyone else. I won’t get a love like yours because m��just fucking up my life by hurting everyone who walks into it. Owen doesn’t even look at me the same anymore, and what am i supposed to do? Slap on a smile and act like that’s fuckin normal? And when he is fine? It’s not important enough for him to see. Being with her is something I haven’t felt or had before.”

“You either tell her you love her or you end it, s’’not right, and you know it. You’re just stringing her along.” 

“You think I don’t fucking know that?” Abby scoffs and tugs at her hair with a soft growl under her breath. “You think I don’t think about that whenever I tell her to leave? Even though she can make my shitty night into something perfect? Do you think m’not thinking that the entire time? What do you want me to say to her? I love you, but I can’t ruin your life because I love fucking up mine?” She laughs, one Tess can smell is fake, and shrugs to herself. 

“Everything I’ve had, or had, gets taken from me, and when I find the one thing that m’here for, and I can’t do anything but see her behind closed doors, those stupid glances and smiles that make my heart feel like it’s going to rip out my chest? That’s what is fucking keeping me alive. Just to see her fuckin face, to see her smile, makes me feel alive. It makes me feel again.” Abby finally looks up at Tess, the walls she’s built up for years slowly crack. “You think I don’t know m’breaking her heart because I have no idea what I'm doing with my life right now? You're wrong if you think I don’t because I spend endless nights hating myself for it. No one will ever hate me more than I hate myself, Tess.”

For once, Tess is stunned into silence. Abby closed herself off from friends and family as she grew older, never opening up about her feelings and emotions. Even if people said it wasn’t a healthy thing to do, she never listened and kept at it. “No one hates you, Abby.” Her voice is quiet and cautious as she reaches for Abby’s hand, a hand that’s suddenly grown colder as the minutes pass.

“I hate myself,” Abby’s voice cracks, a younger shell of herself clawing its way out. “I hate myself and don’t know what to do.”

“You need to start being honest with yourself, Abby.” Tess smiled, reaching up and wiping Abby’s tears away with a soft touch. “How badly do you love her?”

“To the point, I can’t be without her.”

Abby’s body leans more into Tess’s touch the longer she wipes away her tears and rests her head on her shoulder. “Then you have to tell her, you know? I know the entire situation is a fucked up one, at best, but you’re still hurting yourself. I don’t want you to hate yourself, and I don’t want you to end up being hurt in the end. Do you understand where I’m coming from? That’s all I want for you, to be happy. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for you, Abigail.”

“She makes me happy, Tess.”

“I know, Sweetheart,” Tess mumbles against her temple and brushes loose strands of hair behind her ear. “Talking and admitting things isn’t easy for you like it is for others. I know that, but you can’t keep holding in how you feel because you are scared to hurt the person who’s supposed to take care of you. We can see you aren’t happy with Owen, Abby, everyone can see it but you and him. If you love her and not him, you need to tell her. I’m here, I’m always here if you need that extra bit of help, but getting how you feel off your chest, to her, will do you good.”

Abby makes a sound between a groan and a huff before nodding against Tess’s shoulder slower than a snail slides. “M’trying. Everyday m’trying but it’s just so hard.”

“I’m not telling you to tell her about the day when you would throw a fit when I tried to brush your hair or would slap the scissors out my hand whenever you asked me to cut your hair; you don’t have to rush yourself, I know that people are hurting but you are also hurting, and that’s the last thing I want for you. Go at your own pace, but don’t leave it too late, Abby. People only wait for a certain amount of time.”

“What if I’ve already lost her?” Abby can’t help but insecurely ask.

“I don’t think she would still be happy to see you if you lost her, Abigail. The girl isn’t going anywhere, but she might if you don’t tell her how you really feel. I can see the way she looks at you, it’s the same way Joel looks at me, actually,” Tess laughed, slapping Abby’s head lighty when she playfully made gagging sounds. “Enough of that.”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“As I was saying, she looks at you like you hung all the stars in the sky. If you lost her, she wouldn’t continue to look at you like that. That is all I'm saying. Given how shitty the entire situation is right now, I Can tell you that girl is not going anywhere. You just need that extra push to tell her how you really feel, okay?”

Abby lifts her head and looks at Tess, her eyes red and slightly puffy; a small smile appears on her lips before she nods again. “Okay,” She sucked in a deep breath. “I’ll try. Thank you.” The blonde sniffles.

“That’s what I’m here for, to make sure you stay out of shit like this,” Tess jokes while Abby simply rolls her eyes. “You’re the best thing in my life, Abby, I hate to see you so upset.”

“I thought Joel was the best thing in your life?”

“What he doesn’t know doesn’t hurt him, you will always be my favourite person. Just think next time before something like this happens, for my sake. I’m getting older, you know.” She shoves Abby’s shoulder with hers gently and squeezes her hand. “I love you. Even if you have ruined my makeup.”

That has Abby on alert, her eyes widening as she looks at Tess to find the once perfect mascara smudged under her eyes. “Did I make you cry? M’sorry—”

“I give a shit about you, Abby. When you’re hurt, I’m hurt because you’re in pain, and sometimes I don’t know what to do to make you feel better,” She admitted softly. “If you think I can sit here and not cry when you’re telling me you hate yourself, then you are stupid. It breaks my heart to know you think so little of yourself. You’re perfect, you hear me? No matter what is happening, you’re worth so much more. You deserve so much more than what he’s giving you. If he’s the reason you think of yourself so little of yourself like this, I’ll park my foot up his ass.”

A wet laugh rips through Abby’s throat before she can stop it and Tess is just happy that Abby’s already feeling just a little better. “I would like to see that,” She giggled, wiping her eyes and shaking her head. “It’s not— I think I’ve just started hating myself over the years because it’s easier than loving myself. I don’t know, sometimes I don't think m’good enough for anyone so hating myself seemed easier, m’working on it, I promise.” 

“You’re good enough, Abigail. You’re more than enough. I don’t care if it takes me years, i’ll make you see how perfect you are. You deserve more than he’s ever given you. I just wish you would see that. She makes you happy, he doesn’t. You and her work. I only had to find you both looking at each other with that smile, and I knew. You can’t hide anything from me, ever. It’s impossible.” Tess smiled, a smile that Abby missed when she was always so serious.

“I love you,” Abby chokes out, voice slightly rough and raspy, but she gets it out. “I know I don’t tell or show you enough, but I do love you. I know that I don't say anything enough, but thank you, and not just for tonight. It has been for every night, every day, since I was younger. For never giving up on me when some days I really wished you would. Some days, you would look at me, and I just wished you would give up on me because I didn’t want to disappoint someone else I love.”

“You never disappoint me, Abby. You could never do that.”

“Not even right now?”

“You might have put yourself in a stupid place right now, but that doesn’t mean you’ve disappointed me. That’s something that you could seriously never do. You just need to think about what you want and do it. No more holding back. Take that leap and go for what you want.”

“I want her. I’ve always only ever wanted her, Tess.”

“Then stop crying in my arms and go get your girl.” 

— 

Two Years Later…

Abby, now more than ever, wonders if she’s truly become this malignant villain. Even with good intentions, she still manages a way to wreak havoc in your life — only wishing to be your savior but somehow ending up your heinous villain. The rose colored glasses covering your perfect, beautiful eyes, not being able to see what’s so clearly in front of you. 

For there is a day like today, where she can’t even stand to look at herself in the mirror. It’s a truly, unsettling, aching feeling that wells in her chest before it sinks to her stomach. Silently, she tells herself, this will be the last. You deserve more than this. 

She promises to end things with Owen, her long standing boyfriend, the needle in your spin. The needle in the haystack you need to pluck and throw into another dimension. Every time you bring him up, Abby closes herself off or redirects the subject. If there’s one thing she despises, it’s talking about him when she’s with you. She tells herself it doesn’t but the guilt consumes her, not for being with you but because she’s unable to give you what you deserve. 

Abby can’t quite stop herself from dragging her feet in the mud, the impending blow of her relationship with Owen is near but still halts. A safety net may be the cause of her hollow demise, but it’ll be there to catch her. 

You question why she needs him at all. 

Late night booty calls where she’ll have to make up some lie to Owen as she seeks the refuge of the nectar she craves on her salivating lips, how the insatiable blonde won’t stop until you’re coating over lips entirely, the sweet sensation dancing on her tongue as she swallows every drop. When she’s practically dying for a taste, you never say no to her, even if you should, you're not capable of it. Even if her intentions are well placed she still takes advantage of the situation. 

Abby wonders if it’s obvious how much craves for a moment of your undivided attention. Do you know how much you replay in her mind? The moans rivaling a symphony, the one she imagines as Abby gets off to the thought of you. Thick, long fingers stuffed in her cunt as she contemplates if you do the same. It seems you must when you’re calling her tonight, moaning her name softly as you beg her to come over. Even if she was just there last night, Abby would come running like a dog digging for their favorite bone.

As long as you asked, she will always come. 

It isn’t until after when you’re so blissed and fucked out, the guilt surfaces again, practically substituting the blood supply pumping through her veins. Hazy eyes clouded with lust and love look at her, the damn look always getting her in this bed with you. To no avail, it’s a cycle she created and enabled, the two of you too weak with need to break. 

Abby feels shame when she doesn’t let the love reach her eyes, the love that reaches yours every time you look at her. She’s envious of it. How open your love expands even when she’s done nothing but tangle you up in her web of lies and deceit. 

She’s only snapped out of her thoughts when you run your fingers through her golden hair, her blocked blues, void of any tell of what she’s thinking looks at you again, really looks instead of just staring off into whatever has her so tripped up. She tries anyway. 

“Baby, come back to me.” 

The pad of your thumb caresses her scarred cheek, delicately tracing patterns into her soft skin, but you know she won’t come back. Not mentally, not until there’s distance from what the both of you did. Until it happens again and this is where the both of you land again. 

“I don’t know—” You shut her up, lips locking with her even softer ones, pink and swollen from the past few hours. 

“Stop. Please? Would you just look at me?” 

“I am…looking.” 

“Baby?” You speak softly, so delicate it makes Abby nearly whine. The name of endearment, as soon as it falls, engraves your name on another piece of her heart. Each time you’re sweeter to her than she deserves, a little part of her is given to you. Abby isn’t sure how much she has left that doesn’t belong to you. 

Every bit of it is yours to have, even if you decide you don’t want it, her heart will always belong to you. 

“Yeah?” She leans into your touch, even if it’s just for a singular second, you pick up on it. 

“Can you stay tonight?” You plead as you crane your neck to look at her from a better angle, fully coming off your high, until it’s replaced with a new one. Every second you look at her it feeds the endless addiction you have for her, the drug you need more and more every day. 

“Yeah, I’ll stay.” Her voice is full of rasp as she agrees to your request. Then she uses her strength to pull you back on top of her. Your face rests against hers as you find warmth in the crook of her neck, smelling the familiar oak scent laced with vanilla as she runs a gentle hand up and down your spine. Even if you’re afraid this will stop at any given moment, you cherish the moment. 

Abby starts telling you about her day, all the stupid little shit, just boring no sequential errands she was running to fill her days. It’s strangely domestic, a side she doesn’t expose often. With you or anyone. The complaints about Abby’s stone wall are said often to Mel. How she’s nearly stoic these days, staying in the confinements of her own mind, watching as the world passes her by instead of living in it. 

What neither of them neglect to know she is, but it’s done in such secrecy the omission must die on your tongue. The dirty little secret you must protect like an oath you don’t remember swearing, but with Abby it’s all the same. 

You would do anything for her. As much as it hurts in the big moments when she can’t be here with you, it heals you when she’s in your bed, caressing your back, whispering sweet nothings in your ear. Promises you want to believe, a complement of how pretty you are, or how much she misses you in the time you’re subjected to spend apart. It’s when you’re strong, when you want more but know you can’t have it so it makes you upset. Enough to the point where you distance yourself but ultimately this is where it always ends up. Not just for you, but for her too. 

“M’sorry I’ve been avoiding you.” You confess, easier to say it when you don’t have to look at her. 

“It’s okay.” Abby thinks you should just leave her, cut her out of your life, leave her broken and bleeding. It should be the penance she pays for holding so much time in your life. 

“It’s not. You wouldn’t do it to me.” Abby sighs but she wraps you up in her strong arms, pulling you closer to her, if it was even possible. “I do sometimes, it’s not entirely true.” 

As you stroke her blonde hair, running your fingers through the strands you ask her something, a terrifying thought that feels you with so much dread, your hands begin to shake. 

“Abby?” It isn’t the usual way you say her name, it’s void of emotion which makes her create a slight distance so she can look at you. You’re trying so hard not to cry, choking back the tears as but they start to slip, viciously without your permission. An instant, the girl below you starts wiping them away, doing her best to soothe you. “What’s wrong?” Laced with concern as you try to avoid her overpowering gaze, because if you do, you won’t get out what you need to say. You’ll fall into her, unable to find yourself, trapped in the abyss of the woman you love. 

“Just promise me.” 

“Promise you what?” 

“Promise you’ll be honest with me. Promise me if you get bored with me, if this becomes too much for you or if you decide it’s him and not me, you’ll tell me. I can handle all of this but I can’t handle being lied to or being shoved in the dark.” 

It doesn’t take her more than a second to respond, “I promise. You’ll always have my honesty.” Abby locks her lips with yours, you whimper in her mouth, so loudly it’s nearly pathetic. She tastes the saltiness of your tears, the anguish funneling beneath you. Truthfully, she doesn’t blame you. Two and a half years and you’re still here. Abby knows she doesn’t deserve for you to be but you are. With the wedding coming up and her going with Owen, your place by her side is insignificant, making you wish things were different. 

Abby tries to tell you how she feels through the kiss, without saying what she actually feels, what she’s always wanted to tell you but can’t. It’s too cruel to say when Abby can’t fully give herself to you. So, she holds you until you fall asleep in her arms and only then does she cry. Truly hating herself for breaking one of the only people she’s ever truly loved, splitting you into two the longer she contemplates on what to do. She hopes you’re deep in sleep, unable to feel the tears kissing your shoulder because if anything has pushed her to the brink, it’s seeing the love of her life cry because of what she’s done. 

— 

Two week later…

Thursday. September 2024. 

Abby couldn’t stop moving, the entire ride to the airport in the shared uber with you by her side. Indifference. It was too much for her to hyperfixate on so she focused on the dreary cloud as gray as her depleted eyes, void of the natural blue tint it once held. 

The ring on your thumb, an emerald stone, a gift from Abby for your birthday being constantly tapped with the blunt of your nail. There’s a craving Abby wants to satiate, a need bubbling at the service to link your fidgeting palm with hers but she can’t. 

This entire weekend she won’t be able to. Somehow, with the help of Owen’s oblivious nature, she convinced him it’d be a good idea to take separate flights due to her insane schedule which wasn’t not true. 

Just an exaggerated truth. At least that’s what she told herself. 

The ongoing fights with Owen, the pleading from you — rightfully so. It’s tearing her in two different directions. 

“Abs—” Your gentle touch lightly caresses her exposed forearm, “We’re here.” 

She’s pulled back into reality with a touch so light and warm, Abby swears she sees stars. Even when you’re upset with her, your kindness still extends, something she’s not quite sure what to do with. If she welcomes it, she’s greedy for wanting to have her cake and eat it too. On the other hand if she dismisses you to ease her guilty conscience, it makes her into the malicious monster she never wants to be. 

Abby carries both of your bags as you make your way through the airport. The only exception? Your personal carry-on you refuse to let her hold. She wants to question the action, but she lets it slip through the cracks. 

The line to board is outrageously long. Absent-mindedly, Abby’s head falls into the crook in your neck, her chest pressed against your back. She forgets she shouldn’t feel the right to. Not when she promises so much but always tends to go back on her word. 

Yet, you say nothing. 

A part of you knows that if you say something, or try shrugging her off, it’s going to end in one of you saying the wrong thing, in a place at the wrong time, but on the other hand, you could never deny her touch, or being so close to her. She was intoxicating, maybe Abby didn’t think so, but to you, she was all you wanted, all you wanted to be around. So when her body suddenly relaxes more against yours, and your hand wraps around to keep her up, her eyes, ones that were on the brink of falling asleep, snap open, you know she’s got questions. Many of them. Many you don’t have the heart of words to reply to. So you both say nothing, again. A silent action that holds everything. Abby doesn’t need to ask what’s going on in your head, the same way you don’t need to ask what’s going on in hers. You both already know. 

By the time you make it onto the plane, Abby feels even closer. So close that you can smell the pinewood body wash she used this morning, the smell of her mint gum she keeps chewing on when you got the uber. You were so caught up in your own mind, and your crazy thoughts that you didn’t even realize or feel the hand she had on your lower back, guiding you to where you were both seated. It was natural for her to do that when it was just you two. Keeping you safe, always having an arm around you just in case anything were to happen.jk 

Her touch always made you melt, she knew it, yet she didn’t stop herself from letting go.

“Do you want the window seat, or?” Abby left the question open, it’s the most she’s said to you all morning, her eyes did most of her talking whenever she would look at you, but even though you were somewhat upset with her, hearing her voice made you relax. “Babe” the pet name rolls off her tongue so effortlessly and gently that she doesn’t realize she’s done it, it’s only when your head snaps up to look at her, with your lips parted, that she does. “Shit, that’s, m’sorry. I know you’re upset with me right now—”

But you smile, maybe you laughed a little too, but she can’t focus when you’re smiling at her like that. “Abs, s’okay. You say it a lot, it was going to happen.” you reminded her, fumbling with your ring again, a nervous habit you’re convinced only happens around her. “I know you like the window seat, even though you worry me when you completely zone out looking at the clouds” you teased, poking her in the shoulder lightly.   

“Hey, clouds are relaxing to look at.” Abby shrugged, a cheeky smile curving up on her lips. “And i know you like being closer to the snacks when they bring them out, so we both win” She’s teasing this time, and you let her. “But you forget, you always make me buy you snacks before we go anywhere”

“I don’t make you, you offer to buy me them!”

“You still take them though, don’t you?”

“That’s beside the point, Anderson, you know i love my snacks. Nothing will ever get in the way of me and them. No matter what you say.”

“Not even us?”

The question had your heart aching and you hadn’t even sat down yet! Abby doesn’t miss the way you look at her and then away from her, like you don’t even know how to respond to that. She knows it’s too soon to be asking that, yet sometimes, her mouth runs before her brain can keep up with her. Something you did like about her. “Not here, Abby, please” your words came out as a whisper, eyes silently pleading at her.

“You’re right, m’sorry, again. I seem to be fucking up a lot lately, don’t i?” She smiles, but it’s one that doesn’t reach her eyes like all the other times. Because she knows if she keeps asking, looking at you like that, acting like this is normal, it’s going to break you even more. 

“You haven’t, you’re not, it’s just a lot, we can talk about it after, okay?” 

“After.” Abby nodded, the smile finally reaching her eyes. 

Hope.

For the most part, once you had both sat in your seats, Abby by the window comfortably and you, on the outside seat, already patiently waiting for the snacks, the blonde hadn’t uttered a single question that involved the pair of you. The one not long ago still lingered in your head, in your chest and it just consumed you. You were glad that she had decided to suddenly become quiet, looking out the small window in hopes she wouldn’t accidentally spill another question that had you pulling more away from her. 

She could handle a lot. Losing you was one she couldn’t handle. 

She knew she would lose you fully if she pressed too hard on a question.

Abby couldn’t afford to let that happen. 

Apart from the chatter of parents, and screaming children a few rows in front of you, Abby didn’t move a muscle. It was funny. Sometimes if she were focused, she would grind her teeth together, you would only know that if you’ve been around her long enough. You heard it one night. It was after a small fight with Owen, that she ended up at your apartment and you could hear the way she ground her teeth together from sitting beside her, but this time, not a single peep from her. Not even a flinch when one of the children screamed at the top of their lungs. 

She didn’t even drop hints that she knew you were looking over at her. Abby was used to your stare, used to the feeling of knowing when you would have your gaze on her whenever you had the chance that is, so maybe this was just her playing hard to get, but it still came as a shock that she wasn’t even phased. One second she’s missing you and your touch, to then not even caring about it or having it the next. After all this time, she was still hard to figure out, just like she was when you met her.

you’ll figure her out, again, if you have to.

—

Friday. September 2024.

The night, one that’s supposed to be happy and cheerful, doesn’t seem to be like that for Abby. Don’t get her wrong, she’s happy, happy for those around her, happy for those having fun, happy for Joel and Tess on their engagement. I mean, why wouldn’t she be happy for them? it was Joel and Tess, the same Tess that’s been there for Abby during a few, more like multiple, rough patches in her life, listened to her when she felt like anything she did wasn’t good enough, spoke to her about you, and how shitty she feels about not giving you everything you deserve. The same Tess that’s never let her down, but as she stands here, away from everyone else who seems to be enjoying it, cradling a bottle of beer in her hand, Abby wants to run. She isn’t sure why. All she knows is that the longer she watches the people around her, watches you, she wants the ground to swallow her whole, chew her up, and spit her back out.

Abby picks lamely at the label, easily torn away by the condensation of the bottle of beer, it’s all she can do at the moment. Owen seems to be interested in the topics Mel is bringing up. Any other night, she might feel her blood boiling in her presence but she finds herself otherwise occupied. The barstool she’s nursing supports her thighs, Owen’s cologne is so strong she almost finds herself gagging on the musky oak, the one she hates. It reminds her of you, ironically enough. 

You’re the antithesis of him. Abby couldn’t find one similarity if she tried. All hours for the rest of her life could be spent on this one task, yet it would always remain unfinished. The softness of your skin, putting the finest silk to shame. She thinks of your kind heart, the patience that extends to her in ways she doesn’t feel deserving of. On more days than she has enough hands to count, you’ve dropped your entire list of responsibilities for her. When there’s been no one else, there’s always been you.

Owen doesn’t even notice how her jaw clenches, the muscles constricting against the harsh grind of her teeth, the grim frown gracing her sunkissed face, or even the way her firm hand fists the glass so hard, Abby’s just a few moments waiting for it to blow. Part of her, however small it may be, wishes for the glass to pierce her sensitive porcelain skin. Maybe then you’d actually care instead of being lost in the shining emerald’s of Ellie fucking Williams. 

Abby wishes she crushed her skull the first chance she got.

Or maybe break her fingers.

She has an endless list.

One that seems to get shorter whenever she finds you. Her only reason is you.

Abby hates the way Ellie’s hands find refuge on your lower back, the same place she loves to place her own whenever she’s close to you. She doesn't know why the way your face and smile light up at something she’s said to you, tears Abby's heart into pieces. Just the way you look into Ellie’s eyes and laugh is like an arrow just got shot through her heart. So many promises she’s made you, and the longer the seconds and minutes pass, she feels like you’re forgetting all about them. Maybe she only has herself to blame. No, she knows she is the only one to blame. 

You weren’t even hers, and she was losing you to someone who had already taken enough from her. That scares her. It scares her with how far she would go for you. Just to see you happy, safe, and smiling. There isn’t a single thing she wouldn’t do for you. 

She’s scared to be yours, but she’s terrified to not be yours. 

Your eyes found hers like a magnet, almost as if you were trying to find her, and Abby’s heart flutters at the sight when you smile at her. A smile she has devoted months upon months of trying to bring out of you with her shitty jokes and silliness. The prior worries and doubts seem to disappear into the back of her mind, disbursing like an open fire that’s slowly burning out, and she gives you a small wave. A wave that has you waving her over, wanting her to be closer, needing her to enjoy herself.

“Abby, if you don’t get over here, m’going to drag you off that stool!” You yelled over the music, your giggle sending another flutter in her chest. Did you seem to forget Ellie? Abby thought as she placed the bottle on the counter and sighed deeply through her nose. 

Fumbling with her jacket sleeve cuff links, Abby’s eyes, one’s that you love to look at, stay locked to yours as she slowly makes her way towards you, a familiar look sparkling in those blue orbs of hers, and she has the nerve to fucking smirk one she’s close enough. The blonde looks over at Ellie, that harsh resentment bubbling back up, before looking at you again with her hand out towards you. No words, just actions being thrown your way. “How gentlewomanly of you” you grinned, placing your hand in hers and a soft gasp slipped past your lips when she pulls you right into her chest. Not even a sheet of paper could fit between you both. Abby didn’t care who was around, and who was going to complain about her dancing with you?

What you both don’t notice is the way Mel suddenly stops her conversation with Owen, who was mindlessly babbling and yapping on about whatever the fuck he was talking about and cocked her head to the side when she spotted you and Abby. How one of her hands was now pressed against your lower back, the other holding onto yours. Yours seemingly comfortably on her shoulder. 

Like you were so used to doing this with her.

“What the fuck are you looking at? I was trying to tell you—” Owens words get cut short when he, still oblivious as usual, turns around when he catches Mel’s stare, one that wasn’t directed at him, and his eyes land on Abby. His girlfriend. Who was way too close to you. Dancing like you weren’t in a room full of people. Like you want people to fucking know. 

He doesn’t even seem to catch the way she looks at you. The small grin on her face that, for you, holds so much more than just an expression. To the way, her fingers flex against your back with each step you make to the sound of the music playing loudly over the speakers. Not to mention, she way she lowers her head, lips grazing the shell of your ear so softly that you almost whimper against her. “This dress, s’pretty. You’re pretty” was all she whispered, and pulled away before you had time to respond. 

Your eyes, without your want, flicker to the people crowding around one of the tablets, and your heart suddenly drops, as does your shy smile when you lock eyes with Owens. A clenched-jawed Owen that looks seconds away from bursting into flames. “Abs,” you couldn’t help but mumble, body and brain refusing to look away from him. “He looks angry”

“We are only dancing. Nothing wrong with that” She growled, not necessarily at you, but at the entire situation. She can’t touch or hold you the way she wants to. Poor girl can’t even say what she’s already thinking, to you, without making a scene. “He’s not gonna do anything.” She states firmly. “He knows this night is important to Joel and Tess, and he knows their happiness is important to me. He won’t do say or anything to you” 

“But what about to you?”

“Then let him.”

By the time the words tumble from her mouth, you’re pulling both your hands away from her when Owen is suddenly making his way towards you both. The warmth and safety you brought Abby, being ripped away from her, had her jaw locking and eye twitching. “Abby” He smiles, although you know it’s fake. 

“What?” Her reply comes out somewhat slightly harsh which has him doing a double take and looking at you with angry eyes, again. Ones you were slightly getting used to already. “We were dancing here, you’re ruining it. Did you want something?”

“Do you want to dance?”

Is he fucking serious?

Blinking away her thoughts repeatedly, Abby can’t help but turn around to face her so-called boyfriend and raise her eyebrow at his question. “You want to dance? Now? After you’ve practically ignored me the entire time, only because m’dancing with someone else?” She didn’t care if her words came out mean and cruel. She only can handle so much. 

“I wasn’t ignoring you, Abs—”

“Sure as fucking hell looked like you were” The blonde growled, the sound of her teeth grinding together had you looking up at her with wide eyes, and before you could comprehend what you were doing, you wrapped your hand around her arm and tugged her. 

“Abby s’okay, let’s just go get some air, okay?” You pushed gently, silently hoping and praying in your head she would take the hint you were throwing and go. “We don’t need to cause a scene at their rehearsal dinner, please”

“What? Are you her guard dog now or something?” Owen can’t stop before the question slips off the tip of his tongue, with a laugh. Not even when Abby’s looking at him like she wants to kill him with her bare hands for simply thinking of such things. “Come on, Abby, i know you like to please people but—”

“But nothing.” Abby was quick to cut him off. “You know nothing”

“Why are you suddenly being such a bitch?”

Abby, who would do anything to snap at someone if she really wanted to, stepped back from Owen and raised an eyebrow at him. “And you wonder why i don’t want to suddenly fucking dance with you. Grow the fuck up, Owen. First, you call me a dog, then you call me a bitch. If anyone’s being a bitch, it’s you because you’re mad we were dancing. Doing nothing wrong” She replied calmly, but the way her hands were twitching at her sides, told you a different story. “i need some fucking air, this room feels like it’s going to suffocate me if i’m near you any longer”

Abby’s walking away before you have time to ask if she’s even okay.

Angrily eyeing up Owen, who’s now looking down at his feet awkwardly before looking over at Mel, somewhat pleading for her to say something, you can’t help but let out a gentle scoff. “Can’t even go and check on your girlfriend to see if she’s alright? What kind of ‘boyfriend’ are you supposed to be? Do we have to pay extra for giving a shit about her?” You laughed. 

“Oh fuck off, this is your fault!” 

You exhaled a deep sigh, his words stinging you in a way that hurt, but you didn’t want to show that it affected you, so you just smiled sarcastically at him. “Go wag your tail to Mel, m’sure she would rather see you than anyone else would, dick breath”

You hadn’t seen the way both of them looked at you like a deer in headlights. 

Abby was hard to find sometimes, most of the time she would disappear so fast that it was like she just went completely invisible. Other times, she would have simply gone home and never left her apartment again, but this was different. She wasn’t at home, and she didn’t know this place like the back of her hand. So surely finding her would be slightly easier.

Luck, or whatever they call it these days, must have been on your side as you found the blonde slumped on one of the benches, jacket crumpled beside her with her head thrown back and sighing deeply. Of all places she could have hidden, she chose to hide in the most obvious place. The fucking garden? “Usually when you’re mad, you’ve already drunk 3 bottles of beer and are having some kind of psychotic break” Your voice rang out, snapping her back into reality. “Are you having a psychotic break?”

“Does it look like m’having a fucking psychotic break?” She laughed. Deep and raspy. A sound that always has your thighs clenching together no matter the place or time.

“You’re pretty good at masking your emotions, so you could be” You shrugged, a small bite in your words as you placed yourself beside her. “But you already knew that, didn’t you?”

“Did you come out here just to piss me off? Because if you did, it’s working”

Your eyes found hers, and you couldn’t even stop the way your breath hitched in your throat at the lazy grin plastered on her face. “No, i came to check on you to see if you were okay, but him calling you a dog didn’t bruise your ego that much so i’ll leave if you want?”

Her hand reached out as you moved, her cold and rough ones grabbing onto your arm gently that you gasped at the action and pouted. “No. Stay, don’t leave, m’sorry” She apologized, suddenly feeling too vulnerable and scared. Too open. “M’sorry, i know you don’t have to stay, especially with how i’ve treated you. I don’t want to be here, s’all too much for me to handle. Being close to you, and not being able to do anything is driving me insane. I miss you” Abby admitted, thumb brushing across the skin of your knuckles. “I—I need you”

You don’t see the flicker of vulnerability or hurt in Abby’s eyes, you just look at her, trying to figure out her words. She didn’t expect you to chuckle. “You need me?” You repeated, shaking your head and scoffing. “If you need me, like you say, why do you push me away? Why do you never pick me? Why do you always end up picking a guy who doesn’t give a shit about you? A guy who would rather see you hurt, than happy? What does Owen have that i don’t, Abby?”

“Because m’scared ill fuck this up. Believe it or not, but you’re the only good thing i have, i can’t fuck that up. I can’t fuck you up. Do you think i don’t think about you when i’m with him? Because you’re all i think about, and it drives me nuts because i can’t do anything about it. I want you, i always want you, but i’m terrified you’ll realise i’m just not it. That i’m not enough for you. You’re the only thing i think about, but i don’t want to ruin you or what we have.” 

You create some distance, venturing off down the makeshift isle displayed in the front of the garden. Florals formed in an arch, bigger than you’d ever seen, didn’t really seem like Joel and Tess’ style, but it sure was beautiful. The pops of coral and different tones of pink rooted in a deep green. You find a moment of peace in the silence, not knowing what will be left between the two of you once the secret you’d been holding spills. 

“Abigail…” You take a deep breath trying to muster the courage, hoping it’s buried somewhere beneath you, only needing to be dug out. 

Abby finds her heart dropping when she sees you standing under the arch. She thinks it’s cruel, just a glimpse of a future she wants so desperately but she doesn’t even know where to begin. How can she earn you now? After everything she’s done…is there any redemption to be found? 

“You are ruining us. Each time you tell me you’re leaving but stay with him snuffs out everything we have.” Abby stands wanting to console you, but the look in your eyes keeps her at bay. The tears building in your beautiful eyes, and it’s not that you’re distraught, you’re clearly angry. Frustrated doesn’t even begin to cover the overflow of emotions swarming through you. 

You’re exhausted with co-existing with him, pretending everything is fine and normal. That he’s the one who makes her happy, he’s the one who knows what she wants, what she needs — that he’s the one. 

“Tell me why.” Your tone is firm, hands crossed over as shiver in the crisp air of the spring wind. “Tell me why it’s him and not me.” 

“What?” Abby bites back, her pearly whites grinding into each other as she nearly snarls. “You can’t be serious.” 

Anger starts to swirl beneath the deep pools, the one she hides so well, not even the best could decipher what she hides, all of the sweet nothings she wishes she could speak of but doesn’t. Every time she wants to lash out at Owen for not treating her right but doesn’t. The love she holds yet hides under lock and key. All of it is kept within her, only for her to know and see, but the anger slips. 

It’s evident the moment you tell her — It’s Owen not me. 

“Have you lost your goddamn mind?” Abby stalks you like you’re her prey, getting closer and closer to you. Your hands are unable to keep still when she’s so close to you, making her overwhelming presence known. You won’t look at her and it pisses her the fuck off to no degree. Why can’t you just see how much she needs you? “After everything. Everything we’ve shared, you’re just gonna stand there, ask me some bullshit like that?” 

You’ve never been the one to have Abby’s anger directed towards you, you’ve witnessed it on others, but never yourself. Was it normal to feel so small against someone you’ve known for years? Against someone who only has to look at you, hold you in their arms, and tell you that everything is okay?

“Then why can’t you just—”

“It’s always been you!” Abby shouts, her voice so loud that the birds, who were calmly in their nests, flutter and fly away. “So what else do you want me to fucking do?!”

That was your final nail in the coffin.

“I want you to choose me. I want you to want me the way I want you. I don’t want to be someone you only want when he’s not around. To be first. M’not fucking asking you for much, Abigail. Just to be the first in your life. That’s all.”

“You know it’s not that easy”

“It’s never fucking easy with you” You scowled, eyes fluttering and watching her abruptly turning away from you. Even if you’ve known her for years, she was cautious of who saw her like this. Or cautious whenever it came to her emotions. She didn’t want to be seen as weak. Tonight though, tonight you didn’t care what you said or did, you just wanted her to listen. Which is why you struggled to keep your mouth shut as she walked away. “Do you really think Owen gives a single fuck about you when he’s too busy shoving his tongue down Mel's throat like she’s some kind of hydration?” 

If you didn’t know Abby as well as you did, you would have cowered at the way her body halted in her steps, turned around slowly, and even from the distance between you both, you could see how tight she was clenching her jaw. “Excuse me?”

“Abby that’s not—”

“No.” She laughed, more so dryly as she shook her head. “Open that fucking mouth and repeat what you said. C’mon, remember when i tell you to use your words? Yeah, fucking use them then. Say it again” She’s in front of you again before you can blink, unsure of how she even moved that fast. “Don’t hold back now, you want my attention? You got it. Come on”

“Abby, please i didn’t mean to say that” You frowned, fumbling with the ring on your finger nervously. “M’sorry”

“You’re sorry? You’re asking me to pick between you both even though you kept this entire thing to yourself? You knew this entire time and you what? Thought if i admitted how much i want you, i wouldn’t be as hurt when you told me? Use that pretty head of yours, you’re not fucking stupid, of course, it would fucking hurt me”

“M’sorry—”

“But you’re not.” Abby laughed. “You’ve been fine keeping it from me. If you were sorry, you would have told me, no?”

“It’s not like we are perfect either. Look at what we’re doing. We’re just as bad!”

“But that never stopped you coming over late at night and begging me to fuck you, did it? Never once complained when i had you on my bed, fucked out your brain, did you? If it was so bad, you would have stayed away. If this entire thing was bad, you would have told me to fuck off, wouldn’t you? You wouldn’t have kept pulling me along if it was so bad. So no, you’re not sorry, you’re just sorry that you got caught and your big mouth let me know what’s happening.”

“Abby—”

“Don’t you dare start crying right now” She’s warning, looking at you angrily. If looks could kill, she would have already killed you by now. “I was going to break up with him, you know? After Joel and Tess had their wedding. I was going to do everything to make it special for us, and then— then you had to go and fucking do this” She scoffed, stepping away from you. “It’s always been you, you fucking know that, and i would have fucking broken up with him if you gave me a little more time”

You can feel your heart slowly breaking as you just watch Abby move away from you. “Abby, please, we can talk about this!” You pleaded, taking a couple of steps, trying to reach her. “We can talk about it, we can, please”

But she doesn’t stop. Not even when the sounds of your cries fill her ears. Something she would always do. Always stopping if you’re upset or hurt. She just leaves, not even looking back, with the faintest. “I can’t even look at you right now.”

—

After spending several hours crying in the garden, staring at the stupid floral arch, one that you couldn’t help but picture Abby and you underneath. All the countless nights spent together, seeing a future in her eyes, now it seems hopeless. In the heat of your despair, you revealed the tight lipped secret you’d been holding, ruining everything. In her eyes you can still see it, the betrayal and hurt, but not from who she expected it from. 

You have a craving building, wondering what she’s thinking, and if she really meant what she said. Even if she says it’s always been you, saying it is one thing, actually standing behind those words is another entirely. Pathetically, you stayed there, crossing your fingers behind your back as you awaited her return but she never came. You truly, royally, fucked things up. 

It didn’t stop from the anger rolling off you as well as the anguish. You never wanted her to know that you knew about his extra curricular activities. The selfish part of you; the one that seems to win mostly, you wanted her to pick you because she loves you, not to be a second choice or just a side piece of ass. 

Barefoot and heartbroken, you wander back to the lobby of the hotel, just to find Mel and Owen together so impossibly close with each other at the bar you wonder why Owen and Abby even bother staying together. It’s so clear, to anyone else with eyes, they are just wrong. Neither of them fit the way you’re supposed to when you love someone, when you actually care about the other person, yet she wants to savor his feelings for what reason? You weren’t sure you would ever understand why Abby did the things she did. 

The only person Abby trusted is herself. Hiding behind the mask she fronts, never fully letting anyone into the feelings brewing inside her but leaving her ultimately — empty. 

Begrudgingly, you decide to take a shot of tequila, basking in your lost hope before making your way to your hotel room. 

You aren’t walking that long before you can feel the pain in the heels of your feet, the shoes you picked for tonight slowly becoming a bad idea, as you spot your room. Reaching into your bag, the strap slowly falling off your shoulder, you grumbled softly under your breath when you didn’t feel the small thin key card that you knew you had earlier and instantly slumped your forehead against the wooden door. “Are you fucking kidding me?” You mutter to yourself. 

Deep in your own head, you don’t notice Abby sluggishly yet tiredly making her way down the corridor, unaware you were mumbling and cursing to yourself as you simply grabbed and shook the door handle with so much anger that you’re surprised it didn’t break.

“Oh, fuck you, you stupid fucking door!” Your foot collided with the door, annoyance spiraling from within you, the yelling and action had you gaining the attention from none other than Abby herself. Did you want it? Yes, but did you want it when she was angry? You weren’t sure. 

“You’re not supposed to kick the door, you know?” She couldn’t help but mutter, watching you struggle with an amused smile on her lips. 

“Be grateful m’not kicking you.” 

She laughs, or you think she laughs, and hummed at your obvious struggle. Your threat not affecting her as much as you wanted it to. “Did you lose it?”

“Did i lose it?” You repeated, hand gripping the handle tighter with a clenched jaw. “Do you really think i’m the kind of person to lose a fucking key card?”

“You tell me, you can’t get into your room, it seems like you did lose it” Abby points out the most obvious thing before sighing softly under her breath. “Or you wouldn’t be stuck out here.”

Turning your head quickly at her words, you growled at her and glared in her direction. “Would it make you happy if i admit that yes, i fucking lost my key card?”

“It might.” Abby chuckled, tongue clicking against the side of her cheek in amusement again. You notice that glint in her eyes again, the same one you’ve seen countless times in those baby blues, but she doesn’t say much, not that she has to. “You can uh, stay in my room, if you want?”

Are you hearing her correctly?

“You want me to stay in your room? Didn’t you say you couldn’t stand looking at me anymore?” 

“That’s not—” She’s pausing, running her hand over her face in frustration. “I don’t— this is just hard for me, okay? Can you try to reason with me?”

“M’trying, but every time i try to, you throw it back in my face. You throw it in my face like this entire situation is my fault.” You found her stepping closer, not that you noticed seconds prior, but as you get your words out, you notice she’s listening. “I just want you to understand.”

“Understand what?”

“That I just want to be yours, and it hurts that you don’t understand, or you do and would rather me not think of you like that, which just hurts even more.” You sighed, finally looking at her. “I want to love you the way you deserve, but you won’t let me” 

“S’not that i don’t want you to, i don’t deserve you.” Abby chokes out, every emotion and feeling, that she’s tried to keep buried deep, finally creeping up on her. “I’ve never deserved you, you deserve better than me. You always have”

“Don’t you think that’s my decision to make?” 

“I don’t want you to make the wrong one. I’m the wrong decision for you.”

Her words, ones that cut deep, have you frowning and shaking your head, like you don’t want to believe her. She’s always been hard on herself, especially when it comes to love, thinks that she doesn’t deserve it. Everyone does, and you know that she’s trying. “You are the only right decision i’ve ever made.” Your body was closer to hers, she could smell the soft perfume, almost the smell of the scented lipgloss you chose for tonight. “You are worth it, and it kills me that you don’t see it. You don’t see that under all the anger, all the feelings, everything you build up to protect yourself, you just want to feel safe. You will always be safe with me. You are perfect, i just want you to let me show you just how perfect you are. Especially to me.”

Your words struck something in her brain, thoughts going a little too fast her to keep up with, but that doesn’t stop her from wrapping her hand around your wrist, and tugging you closer to her, face quickly burying in the crook of your neck, something she does each time she’s alone with you, and the feeling of her nose brushing against the collum of your throat seconds later has you softly sighing and threading your fingers through the loose strands of hair. “Let me show you.” You whispered, gripping her jacket tightly. “Please let me show you.”

Abby lets you push her towards her bedroom door, still holding each other just as tight while her hand slipped into the soft fabric of her pocket. “Would you just let me—” Abby curses under her breath as she attempts to fish out her hotel card. You have her pushed against the door with your weight, keeping her pinned by your pelvis. 

“I should let you do whatever you want? Like you’ve been so nice to me, right?” Pulling her by the navy blue tie, swollen lips ghosting over hers, she whimpers like a bitch in heat. You give her everything, anything and everything she wants, you so graciously provided but she’s been thoughtless. Careless with how you’ve felt. It’d be so easy for her to push you off, pick you up and toss her on her shoulder before throwing you on the bed and having her way with you. 

But she likes this. 

Knowing she’s in the wrong, underneath your mercy, begging for an inch of your good graces. Abby’s practically salivating, begging to have you in her mouth, wanting to have the everlasting taste of you. Hell, she knows she shouldn’t but she thinks of you every time Owen kisses her. She wonders if he can taste your cum on her lips. After the first time, she wondered if he could clock the crimson of her cheeks, the flush she still was feeling from squirting for the first time. The thighs she could barely keep still, a proper effort made in order to keep herself up. 

You’re the first and only to even want to have the power over, she enjoys it — sure as hell gets off to it. 

“Answer me.” Your grip on her chin is iron, her blue eyes pouting as her posture slouched. 

“I haven’t been nice. I know that. I’ve been making you wait too long.” Abby shudders as your dress slips higher, as she gets lost in the exposed cleavage.

“Abby, babygirl, my eyes are up here.” Her eyes pick up to find you cold gaze, but there’s warmth. Dripping like golden honey and she wishes for it to fall on every inch of her body just so you can reclaim it as your own. She wants to feel your lips, your tongue, whatever the fuck you’ll give her, Abby craves it.  

“I know, m’sorry, it’s just—” Your hands smooth over her toned torso, the crisp button up feel smooth under your touch, but it’s thin enough for Abby to feel your magnetic touch, but you stop at her breasts. 

“He doesn’t touch you anymore, does he?” Abby shakes her head furiously. In this moment, she’s thankful she opted out of a bra tonight. Teasingly, run over the fabric, back and forth as she feels the bud pebble against your touch. Tortuously, Abby’s breath only begins to grow heavier and you’ve barely even done a thing to get her where she needs to be. 

“Fuck—” You begging to pull at the braid, undoing her long blonde locks, making them accessible for you to pull on whenever she decides to she doesn’t want to be teased any longer. “No, he doesn’t. Never like this, hasn’t touched me, made me feel like this, ever. Just you.” 

“That’s right, babygirl. You always need to come back to me. Can’t get your fill elsewhere, or be filled. He can’t do much with the poor little pathetic excuse of a cock.” You let go of her chin before whispering in her ear, “Need me so deep in this pretty pussy of yours. Even those precious long fingers of yours can’t hit as deep as me.” 

It’s then you reach in her left pocket, opening the hotel room with her key card. “C’mon, you owe me a favor, or two…..maybe even three.” You claim her lips as your own, she belongs to you whether she wants to admit it or not. 

“I think I need a reminder from last time.” 

Abby smirks, a soft smile falling over her pink lips, she leads you into the room. Her own personal siren, one word from your lips and she’ll do anything you want. Abby only has the door locked and by the time she turns around, your dress pools at your feet. 

“Shit—” Abby curses, you’re playing fucking dirty. You know she can’t be up here too long, Owen’s expectant of her to return, or so she thinks. 

“You’re killing me, angel.” 

Mouth practically salivating, at the sight of your nearly bare silhouette, the moonlight coming through the balcony accentuating every curve, your skin glowing as you wait for her to move. Abby’s contemplating, trying to decide what she wants to do first. 

She gets lost in her head, replaying tonight’s events in her head, how she couldn’t keep her cool, not even in front of her boyfriend. The thought of you with someone else too unbearable for her to bear, the incessant need she has instilled within her to be close to you. 

“That’s the point but stop suffering, babygirl.” Using her favorite thing to your advantage, you bend over the edge of the bed. Emphasizing the curve of your spin. The seconds the words fell from between your lips, you didn’t think she heard them at first, not with them being so gentle and soft. It wasn’t until you shivered, and sucked in a deep breath when her fingers ran up and down your back, nails lightly scratching your skin that you smiled into your arms. “Abs— oh” You gasped, body tensing at the feeling of her pushing her leg between your legs, pressing the rough material of her pants against your cunt, the fabric of the bedsheet rubbing against you too, adding to the mix.

“Shh,” She leaned down and whispered against your ear. “Bet you’re so fucking wet, hm?” She hummed, softness gone right out the window, still trailing her fingers up and down your back. A devious smirk appeared on her lips at the way you shamelessly tried to grind against her leg. “Can’t even wait, can you?” Her leg pushed harder on your cunt, eliciting a louder moan from between your lips. “That’s too bad, you can’t have whatever you want right now” She cooed mockingly, eyeing up the way your hands gripped the sheet below you, so tight she was worried you were going to hurt yourself. “Gonna let me eat your sweet pussy? Let me show you how much i want you?”

Just like that, you’re putty in her skilled hands. 

“Y—Yes, please, need you” You choked out, quickly nodding your head at whatever she was saying to you. You weren’t entirely sure, all you know is that you need her. Her hands, ones that you always love to have all over you, slip down and grip your hips. The action had you whimpering into the pillow, turning your head slightly to get a better look at her. The sight of her behind you, on her knees, licking her lips had yours parting. “Abby, please, want it, want you” You sighed.

“Be patient, brat” Abby scoffed, squeezing your ass in both her hands. “Don’t make me shove your panties in your mouth to get you to shut the fuck up.” There was no true intention of doing so, behind her words, she loved hearing what she did to you. Maybe a little too much. “You’ve been so bad tonight, do you deserve me to eat your pussy, hm?”

“M’sorry, i am” You sniffled, spreading your legs a little wider, tempting her in a way. Knowing she can’t get enough of you. “Please, i’ll be so good, your good girl”

“Yeah?” She hummed, mouth watering at the sight of your cunt. Folds glistened before her as she sunk her teeth into one of your asscheeks, humming at the soft gasp she pulled from you. “You’re gonna be my good girl, s’that right?” She mocked, fingers slipping between your legs, and brushing against your clit. The choked whimper you let out had her grinning against your skin, lightly rubbing circles on your bud and holding you down on the bed with her free hand. “You’re not lying?”

“No” Your words came out muffled from burying your face in the sheets, but your head shake was enough for her to understand. “M’not lying, i’ll be so good for you, i promise” You added. Fingers gripping the white sheet tighter when she’s rubbing harder circles. “Just need you to, to fuck me, please”

You’re flinching, body shaking in her hold when out of nowhere she’s spitting a glob of spit on your cunt, growling at the sight of your pussy clenching around nothing at such a small action that she knows you love. “I’ll decide when i fuck you” Was all she said, using the pad of her thumb and pressing against your second hole, smiling at your soft oh. 

Her lips part, as do yours with a moan that has her stomach fluttering and cunt clenching around nothing when she lightly dips her thumb into your hole, your cunt begging for attention as a hum ripped through her throat. “Fuck, knew you would love it too much” She groaned, watching the tight muscle hug her thumb effortlessly. “Yeah, i know” Abby mocked.

“Fuck, Abby, please”

“What are you even begging for?” She scoffed, a small bite in her question, fingers finding your neglected clit and laughing at your loud whine into the pillow when she continued her slow circles. “Just a needy slut, aren’t you?”

“Your needy slut” You whispered, looking down at her and shuddering at the feeling of her slowly rubbing at your clit, and sinking her thumb more into your ass. The sensation had moans and whimpers tearing from your throat. You pushed back against her, absentmindedly that is, and gasped loudly when her hand landed a light slap on your pussy. 

“Stop moving.” She warned with a growl. “You’re gonna take what i give you, and if i think you deserve more, you’ll get it” Abby scoffed, smirking at the sight of you burying your face more into the pillows, the messy sheet as you nodded quickly, without shame, and licked your swollen lips. “This is what you needed, hm? Getting your holes stuffed so you would shut the fuck up” 

Her words, mean ones at that, that you were used to hearing, has your face heating up, not a single ounce of shame in your body, just pride and need. Whenever Abby would get mean, yes, you were mortified the first time it happened during sex and how wet you had become, but now? she uses it to her advantage. As much as she would like. She had your body under control, and she didn’t even have to do anything to reduce you to such a whimpering, pathetic mess under her. 

The swipe of her thumb, a gentle touch, against your clit had you letting out a squeal, jolting on the bed and your eyes slowly started rolling in the back of your head. It was sinful, so sinful at how she was able to do this. Touch you with the lightest touches and have you pleading for more. Abby’s lips parted, almost salivating at the sight of you clenching around her thumb, a silent plea as to say more. Which is why she doesn’t expect the whimper that claws at your skin and rips out of your throat when she’s pulling away completely. The feeling of being almost full, not as much as you wanted, to be taken from you. 

“Abs? What—”

“You get both holes filled when you’re good,” Abby tutted, fake cooing at your pleads, one she’s so used to hearing coming from you. “Gonna start crying because m’not giving you what you want? Yeah? Gonna start saying you’ve been good enough? We both know that’s a lie, baby”

Are you crying? You weren’t sure, nor did you care, but with how Abby was dancing her fingers dangerously close to where you need her, you might burst into flames if she didn’t hurry up. “You like it when i cry for you” Comes one of your usual quipped replies. The undertone of brattiness doesn’t go unnoticed by Abby.

But what you miss is the way she clenches her jaw, her eyes harden, and how she’s quick to land a strike on your ass. Your body only gets so far up the bed with a whine before she’s leaning hers over you, hands pinning your hips to the bed and she grazes the shell of your ear with her lips. The harshness of her breath hitting your face had you trying to push back against her. Trying to get something. “Such a dirty fuckin slut” Abby scoffed, sinking her nails into your skin and sure to be bruised in the morning. “You like making it harder for yourself? You want me to punish you?”

“You know all your punishments just make me wetter for you,” Your voice wavers, breathing slightly more ragged as her body presses down harder on you. “Makes me want you to fuck me harder. Want you to fuck me like you’ve missed me.”

“Oh,” Her laugh is one of mocking. You were so used to it that it didn’t make you snappy at her anymore, but it still sent a shiver down your spine when it was directed at you, and you alone. “I do miss you, but m’not gonna just let you get away with being a fucking brat to me tonight because i miss you.”

“But why? Don’t you wanna fuck me, Abby?” You feigned innocence, turning your head enough for her to see the small pout on your lips that you were sporting. “Because i want you to fuck me, fill me up like i know you can. Make me cum in ways only you know how. You fuck me so good, Abby, please, please. I know you wanna fuck into this mattress, Baby”

Abby whimpers. 

Sounds that are only reserved for your ears, and yours alone.

You’ll make sure of it. 

She whimpers pathetically above you at your words, the blood rushes to her head and she can feel the wetness pooling between her legs the longer you try pushing yourself up against her, grinding against her shamelessly. “Wanna fuck every single thought outta your pretty head so bad” She growls into your neck, everything inside her crumbling as you both just sluttily grind against each other. 

“Then stop talking about it and fucking do it.” You spit. A noise so animalistic, you’re not sure you have ever heard it fall from her lips. With an entirely new level of greed, she claims your lips as her own, velvet tongue dominating yours as you can feel yourself practically melting. “God, can’t wait for you to shut the fuck up.” Abby mumbles against your lips. Her fingers undo the knot in her tie, releasing it from her collar as she holds both of your wrists with one, feeling the cool metal frame piercing your skin. 

“Is this what you want?” Abby begins to bind your wrists to the bed, her thumb smoothing over skin gently as she tightens the silk fabric against you. “You should be grateful I’m not blind folding you. We both know you deserve it after tonight.” You laugh, manically. Watching the pleasure in her blues rise, she likes you under her will as she takes what she wants. 

“Should I be grateful? You’re not fucking me yet…are you?” You tilt your head to the side as Abby removes herself completely, the friction of her trousers evades your cunt, leaving you nothing to grind against. With a smirk as wide as you’ve ever seen, she slowly removes her belt, slipping off her shoes as she throws the black belt on the floor. 

“You just don’t know when to shut your mouth, do you? I have something that will.” Her voice lowers an octave as she spills the threat from her pink lips, slowly removing each article of clothing. Her button up shirt is first, leaving her topless in front of you, chiseled abdomen defined as she flexes her abs further. “Would you hurry up, Anderson?” 

The more your hips buck into thin air, the wider her smirk gets. “Yeah, I’ll get right on that, boss.” Abby salutes you, having to disguise the laughing bubbling from her lips. The look you give her is deadly, trying to pull at the tie but to no avail you're stuck, under the mercy of whatever Abigail Anderson wants. The terror in your eyes furthers the slickness in Abby’s boxers but she needs to focus. You are right where she wants you, with no intention of letting you have any satisfaction at the moment. 

Maybe later if Anderson is feeling kind. 

She slowly slides her trousers off, leaving her in just her boxers, your eyes focused on her glorious, blonde happy trail falling in the fabric. Concealed and out of your grip. “You must be really frustrated if you’re saying Anderson, huh? Mhm, that’s too bad. You could have been sitting on my face by now, angel.” She tsks, her tongue hitting the roof of her mouth as she does so. 

“M’fine. Not frustrated at all, Anderson.” 

“No?” Abby simply nods, putting the weight of her knee on the bed, her face tucked in the crook of your neck as she whispers in your ear, “Why don’t we put that to the test?” She bites on your ear, kissing your jaw sweetly. The only inkling of your sweet abby, the abby you love, but she leaves just as quickly as she came. 

Without warning, she slaps your cunt, hard. 

The sensation has you wanting to reach for her, pulling at the tie again, but you’re rendered useless. Your body quivers, her finger runs up your pussy, thumbing your clit so lightly it should be considered an unforgivable sin. Once you think she’ll move on, torture you in some other way, Abby decides to have fun and slap your clit this time, gasping the name you only call her in the bedroom. A name just reserved for the two of you. 

“Already, babygirl? That’s not very…boss of you.” Abby licks the side of your neck, letting her teeth sink in delicately, you groan in response to her teasing words. “Would you stop calling me that, oh my fucking g—” 

You feel two of her thick fingers protrude your dripping hole, sliding in with ease, “Stop calling you what? God? Never gonna let you forget I’m the only one who fucks like one.” She’s slow about it, wanting you to get just enough where it feels good, but not nearly enough to where you crave to be. Pitiful whines are all the evidence she needs, a token of your temporary agony is enough to satisfy her until you break. 

“You’re such an asshole sometimes, you know that?” 

“Just an asshole who knows how to fuck your ass.” Abby can’t stop teasing you, not when you’re bucking up your hips into her fingers, moaning like a bitch in heat for more. The both of you know there’s no getting out of this unless you tell her what she wants. 

“Abby, please.” You beg, the confession comes too soon, but Abby grins wide as she pulls her face out of her neck. “Thought my name was Anderson, boss?” Unpleasantly, you roll your eyes but she still looks very pleased with herself. 

“Say my fucking name. You know what I want.” With her fingers nearly knuckle deep, she pushes further, kissing your g-spot. “So pretty baby, sounds so pretty. Stop being a stupid, stubborn slut, yeah? You’re already so wet for me. Don’t you hear yourself?” She fucks you harder as you grind against her fingers, meticulously adding in a third finger. 

“Listen to your soaking cunt. You can be a brat, tell me how much you don’t need, but she’s always gonna sell you out, huh? Do you hear the sweet sound of your pussy, babygirl?” You nod helplessly, nearly fully succumbing into the ruthless thrust of her skilled fingers. “Then tell me, what’s my name?” 

Finally, you decide to cave in. 

“Daddy, please—” With those words, Abby releases her fingers from your pussy, causing you to whimper in distress. “Abby! What the fuck!” 

“What? You think I would let you have it after you’ve been a brat. I know you’re easily drunk on me, very easily, but I’m not feeling so generous right now.” Abby slips off the bed once again, her boxers coming off her body, allowing you to see her fully as she slips off her socks. “Time to show you who is the boss, baby.” 

For the third time, you pull at the tie. Once again. you’re stuck. 

“What are you talking about?” The confusion laced all over your face, watching as you climbed on the bed, finally naked and exposed, just the sight you’ve been wishing to see all night. 

“Show me why I let you fuck me and not Owen.” Abby perches her ass on your face, claiming the seat she’s always owned since the moment the two of you met. Abby really doesn’t give you much time to even take a moment to check out the ass you love so much before she’s suffocating you with her pussy. Fuck her for bringing Owen, even if he ever wanted to eat her out, he didn’t have the skill for it. 

She knows that, you know it too, but it leaves you eager to prove just how much she likes it when she’s riding your face. Not his, yours. She’s careful enough not to completely crush you, her hand smoothing over your stomach, blunt nails clawing at your skin as you act starved of her. You had been wanting her all night, but this would be enough, even if you remained untouched, knowing you made her cum would be enough until Abby wants to play nice. 

The blonde stays quiet for a bit, even when she’s enjoying it, your tongue rolling on her cunt, she begins to find a rhythm, moving her hips in a pace she likes, taking as she pleases. But you know just how to surprise, even if she’s neutralized your hands, you know what your girl likes. 

Tilting your head back just a little, giving you enough distance to spit on her cunt, her pink folds glistening more, her body shudders as a moan escapes. A curse of your name spoken before Abby can stop herself. 

“Shut up—” Abby starts to murmur off but you spit again, causing her entire body to shudder against your body, but you don’t hold back. Being extra obnoxious for her as you make your ministrations loud, moaning into her soaked cunt, letting your tongue circle around her clit as you suck the bundle of nerves in your mouth. 

“God, feels s’good, can’t stop fucking your pretty face.” Abby almost fully seats herself, your attacks on her clit have her seeing stars. The soft build in her stomach is more than she can handle, she’ll cum soon if she’s not careful. 

So, she decides to level the playing field. 

She bends over completely, burying her face in your soaking cunt. She decides to be torturous, blowing on your lower lips, enjoying the way you shudder. Hips continue to buck into her face immediately, desperate to be eaten. She giggles. Even if you are making her feel like she might explode at any given moment, Abby knows you are so much worse. She knows your swollen clit must be pulsating, aching for an ounce of attention, a swipe of her tongue, a light brush of her fingers — something. 

“Mhm, such a pretty pussy, baby.” Abby kissing your inner thighs, getting so close to where you need her to be, but not quite to where you want her. “How bad do you want me to fuck your cunt?” She grins as you whimper, but you know better than to stop eating her out. 

“Good girl.” Abby praises you as she runs a finger up your slit, feeling just how wet you are, thighs softly twitching as she sinks a finger into your hole, finding satisfaction in how tightly you’re clenching around her. Thumb swiping at your clit, “See what happens when you’re good.” 

Abby wastes no time, not a single moment, her mouth pouncing on you with no further warning. A shriek rips out from the back of your throat, the vibration against her pussy sends a shiver down her spine. She’s slow with the movement of her tongue, sliding it between your folds, flicking it against your clit until she’s wrapping her lips around the bud, and sucking hard. 

The whines and whimpers she’s always so greedy to hear tumbling from between your lips is muffled by her cunt, almost banished from making it’s way into the room as she curls her fingers just enough to have your lips sucking on Abby’s clit harder. A certain kitten lick of your tongue on her clit has her head falling forward against the pillow with a guttural moan. The sound has you clenching tightly around the long thick fingers she’s slowly working deeper in your pussy.

“Knew your mouth was fucking slutty,” Abby shivered, hips jerking up and trying to grind harder against your mouth. A mouth that she would die without. “S’good, keep it up, you can do that, can’t you?” She mocked, knowing you have no room to say anything. Not when you were eating her out like she would be your last meal. 

“It’s a shame isn’t it? That you can’t even use your fingers this time. Know how much you like to make me cum on them, maybe next time, hm?” Abby taunted, using the tip of her tongue, sliding it up and down your inner thighs, collecting your slick in her wake. The taste of you on the muscle had her eyes rolling in the back of her head, pressing her thumb against your clit and rubbing the slowest yet dangerous circles. Enjoying the way you tremble above her. “Awh, so close already? Barely fucking touched you.” 

Her words have you whining into her cunt, humming around her clit and the blood rushes to her head at the obscene, loud sounds of you lapping at her pussy messily. Her slick runs down your chin, a sight she’s seen hundreds of times before when you’re between her legs, and drops down onto her legs and bedsheet. “Don’t have to see you to know you’re messy” She growled from below you, curling her fingers against that spot deep inside you perfectly, grinning lazily when your legs clench around her head. “Yeah, I know you love it, angel.” You can already picture her fucking smirk without having to look at her. Abby was cocky, and she sure as hell knew how to make you a trembling mess at all her touches. No matter if you were tied up or not.

Sucking softly at her clit, you hummed deliciously when her thighs twitched, hips still grinding up against your mouth, fucking herself shamelessly on your tongue. “That’s a good girl, wanna make me cum so bad, don’t you?” Another mock fell from between her lips. “I feel bad i tied you up, would love your fingers deep in my pussy right now” She sighed, fucking her fingers in and out of your pussy at a pace that isn’t enough to make you cum, like you wanted, but enough to have you whining and on the edge of something she was willing to give you if you behaved. 

It’s when her fingers deliciously slide in your cunt, rubbing at the certain spot that has your body going limp within seconds, that she’s spent hours brutally hitting with her cock, that you’re crying out around her clit, the sound still slightly muffled but you somewhat find movement and ground down against her fingers. “So fucking needy.” The blonde murmured, wrapping one of her arms around your hips and keeping you still above her as the pace of her fingers picked up again. “You want my fingers that bad? Fine, I'll give you them.”

You barely have time to understand what she means, because she crooks her fingers in a way that has you pulling away from her cunt, the growl she lets out makes your legs crush your head entirely, yours resting on her ass, unable to focus on anything but her fingers stuffing you full. 

“Do you feel it, baby?” Abby doubles down on her efforts, thumb swiping at your clit, fingers so deep as she fucks against your grinding hips. “Just like that. Is my pretty girl close? Gonna show me what a good girl you are and cum for daddy?” 

“Please, shit shit shit, Abby—” The curses continue to tumble from your lips, one after the other they fall, a lovely melody falling on Abby’s ear as it supplies her with the last effort she needs. The desperate cry from her lover’s mouth, the brat disappearing for the time being, all that’s left is the woman she loves so intensely crying for relief. The only thing she wishes is to see you. Bright eyed, struggling to keep them open or your canines sinking into your lips so harshly you pull at your chapped lip, drawing blood as you attempt to hold yourself together. Most of all she wonders if she has you so close to the edge, so incredibly close the tears are beginning to well up in your eyes. 

But she doesn’t get to see any of it, so she’ll have to settle for the weeping sight of your cunt rather than your eyes. Abby’s not sure which one she loves more at the moment. 

“C’mon, want you to paint my face in your cum. Can you do that? I know you haven’t wanted to obey tonight, but can you do this one thing for me?” You feel one of her fingers tease your puckered hole, using the slick coating her finger to tease the sensitive hole while she fucks the other. “Been begging for it, yeah? So, give it to me.” You feel her fingers teasing your cervix as you finally give in. 

Every bone in your body submits to her, as it always does, you become hers as she claims in a way anyone else fails to do. It’s just the two of you, even if you’re unable to see her blissed out dilated blues, drunk on your cunt. The way she soothes you with her fingers, gently fucking you through your high, giving you just the right amount. 

Then it’s there. 

The slight gush squirting out of you and onto her face. Abby smiles wickedly and she immediately laps at your pussy. Obnoxiously and loudly, she makes a theatrical performance of it, making sure you can hear every suck she makes as she creates a makeshift funnel into her mouth, not being able to control herself. Sweetly, she doesn’t allow a single drop go to waste. 

“Feel s’good Abby, I can’t—” Your body softens as you ride the end of your high. Abby can feel your breath on her cunt, sending a shiver up her spine. 

“Shh, I know, I got you.” Abby sweetly remarks, her tongue moving gently and sweetly as she’s unable to stop herself from pushing you through, her fingers fucking you until you’re spent.

Slowly, yet tiredly, once Abby’s had her fun, you press more of your weight on her, head resting comfortably on her toned thighs as you try to catch your breath. With the help of Abby rubbing your back slowly, you smiled into her skin and sighed. 

Exhausted of not being able to touch her, you free yourself from the tie minutes later, ripping it into two, but she pins with the strength of her arms. Quick to hold you down, even when you want to move, Abby does it faster than you can comprehend. She licks the remainder of your cum with her tongue, savoring every last bit, enjoying the shake of your thighs. Abby slaps your cunt, you moan out her name, still sensitive from the earth-shattering orgasm you’d been given. 

Abby is sporting a grin so sinister, you believe it nearly rivals a succubus closing in on it’s prey. Shifting her position, her pelvis against yours, her blond bush prickling your pussy, but she’s too strong for you to move underneath her muscular frame — leaving no room for debate. Sparkling, golden waves falling over her shoulder, freckles littered across her body as if they were her own galaxy being created, a universe unique to her. Every inch of her is more exquisite than the next, you don’t understand anyone who doesn’t appreciate her as the beautiful, loving, angel she is. She should never be treated as anything but. You want to give her the world, everything good in the world she deserves, and you hope it’s not too late for her to see it just as you do. 

Doesn’t hurt she fucks like her life depends on it. 

“You gonna be good for me and fucking take it?” Abby shifts your legs so it lays over her shoulder, lazily spitting on your pussy, enjoying the soft sigh escaping your body. It’s evil, maniacal even, torturing you like this but you can’t help but buck your hips. Trying to chase the high, she’d just given you. 

“So eager. Even after I made you come all over my face. Greedy baby.” Abby slaps your cunt once again, she takes pleasure in the way your body twitches, convulsing for more. The way you’re moving your hips, needing her to give you what she knows you’ve needed. Too stubborn, too selfish, and too fucking horny to stay away from the chiseled greek goddess. 

“Do you wanna feel my clit on yours baby? Is this what you want?” Abby moves her hips forward as she hikes your leg further on her toned shoulder. “You wanna feel how wet I am for you? Mhm, s’what you’ve been needing, just me and my cunt on yours. It’s all a filthy whore needs. Isn’t that right?” 

“Abby, baby, yes. That. Fuck, you’re so perfect.” 

“That’s right, I’m fucking perfect.” Abby gives you one thrust, enjoying the soft bounce of your tits, head half-craned and slumped against the headboard as you’re rendered helpless under her strong weight. The euphoric bliss you’re offered when she decides to be generous and over a steady pace. 

Small, pierced nipples harden as she continues her ministrations, she feels every nerve ending of her body on fire. Even if she enjoys you teasing with her, acting like you’re in control, calling the shots, this is where you belong. A needy whore begging for more of her. This time it’s her cunt you need, her dripping and weeping pussy connecting with your own. You need to feel how wet she is, both of your clits rubbing against each other. The bundle of nerves colliding together over, and over, and over. Abby’s slick mixed with your own, so much you can feel is dripping near your puckered hole, unexplored territory you know you’d let her explore. 

Abby see’s the red markings on your stomach, her being the maker of the scratches, too blissed out to control herself. She traces them with a delicate hand, a silent apology for being too rough with you. Something physical, tangent even, on how you make her feel. If she’s being honest with herself, you’re the only one who makes her feel anything. It’s why she comes back to you, even when the little angel on her shoulder tells her she shouldn't, that it’s wrong. When the guilt threatens to eat her alive, she sees your smile, hears your laugh that would put a symphony to shame. Better yet, she still has the privilege to make you feel good. To try and do everything in her power to make you feel as great as you make her feel. 

But you don’t know any of it. 

This. You. Her. All of it may be fleeting. She might not choose you. This might be a short fling before she ties the knot with this stupid man she claims she’ll leave. You can’t put your money on it, but you’ll bet on her thinking about you for the rest of her life if she wishes to stay with a man. One that will never deserve her. 

Owen will never know Abby the way you do and you’ll do anything you can to make her see it. 

“You are. Everything about you is perfect. Those beautiful blues I wanna get lost in for hours. The lips I never want to leave me. The hands I want on me all the time, the ones I think about whenever I’m alone and I don’t have you there to fuck me.” You spill out, causing Abby to become over eager to please, her hips thrusting harder against yours, chasing the feeling she feels building within her. 

She whimpers, again. 

You’ve lost count on how many have left her tonight. It’s the hope you’re clinging onto. The vulnerability she never lets leak but tonight she does. Never has she been so vocal about what she wants, but after tonight’s fight, the threat of you leaving, Abby’s desperate to keep you. Even if wants to pretend like she’s in control, the look on those worrisome pools of blue tells you something different. 

“Feesl, s’good, shit.” Abby’s blissed out face, head thrown back as she sinks into the feeling. With a clenched jaw, she grinds down into your pussy, her swollen clit pulsating, feeling your cum gravitate towards her cunt. As if this is what it was meant for, you, her — destined to find another. 

Again. Again. Again. 

Her pale skin becomes flush, rises of pink and red expands on her toned chest, her abs clenching causing each ridged lined more defined as she fucks you into another dimension. She coaxes you into her warm, slippery pussy like it’s a lion’s den. The cage is meant to keep you in, designed to never be released from the sharp canines breaking into your skin, the claws she’s managed to dig in, the strength she exhibits each time she stalks you like her prey. 

The false pretenses, the way she fluffs you with small affections, begging to be petted and played with but then tears at the skin she helped heal. Even if it leaves you bloody, clenching your chest to find one final breath, the appetite for her never ceases to exist. When she draws the last drop of blood from your veins, you’ll thank her with a gleeful smile. 

Deeply, you want Abby to feel this lush high, this euphoric feeling rushing to her head, making her impossibly drunk on you as she cries out for more, you want her to feel every bit of it knowing he’ll never give this to her. He’s a fool in the eyes of goddesses alike, a simple servant to keep her in a mediocre rise of security. A placeholder, a pathetic one at that. Too incredibly vain to swallow a meaningless ego to offer what she really needs but you’ll do it gleefully in a blink of an eye. 

He could never give her what she deserves. 

The divine feminine found between your thighs, the sweet nectar she’s spent hours lapping at into all hours of the night, leaving before the sun rises. The walk of shame back to her apartment, glimpses of you never leaving her as she goes about her day. 

This will be just another image burned in her brain, you underneath her body, taking everything she’s giving but it’s so much more intimate than either of you even planned for. The altercation from earlier in the night fizzled out the moment her lips met yours. 

Abby’s palm grips onto the headboard, gaining leverage as she fucks you. “Open your fucking mouth, such a big one, huh? Definitely showed me how much tonight, so, do it again.” Using her strong grip, she squeezes your chin, applying pressure as you obey her willfully. Your lips forming at her wish, she continues to get off, the euphoric sounds of your cunt echoing through the room as you give her everything she wants. 

The her spit drips onto your mouth, pupils dilated as she watches you accept it with a sparkle gleaming in your eyes. Bright and beautiful as you thrust your hips against, enjoying yourself even more with her spit in your mouth. Obnoxiously, you swallow loudly, moaning as you do. 

“Can you spit on my pussy? Please? I know m’already soaked, but I need it.” You request sweetly, knowing she’s less likely to reject you if you’re sweet about it. Instead, she places her hand on your throat, decorating it beautifully with her rough grip. 

Just like that, the woman who loves you, attends to your every need, evaporates into thin air and the one who aims to take control over your very essence is back. The one who likes to push you over the edge until she feels like you’re satisfied enough is back. 

Abby isn’t going to stop until you’ve soaked every inch of her mattress. The one she slept in last night, Owen by her side, but now she believes it needs a level of christening. 

Extending her long fingers, she pulls at your bottom lip with her thumb applying more pressure at your neck. “Do you think you’re really in a position to ask for anything? Be grateful that you even get to feel my pretty pussy, yeah? Shouldn’t even be fucking my pretty girl after the shit you pulled today.” 

“M’sorry, okay? Fuck, please, please— can you forgive me? I just wanted to…” Then before you can even take a moment to breathe, she’s giving you something to choke on. Long, thick, fingers crawling their way down your throat, tickling the back of it, you feel the coolness of her rings lay left on your lips. 

“There.” Abby sighs in content while she grins with greed. “Needed something to shut you up, angel. Don’t cry though, it’ll be my cock next time for your second punishment.” You try to speak but it just comes out as murmurs, incoherent mumbles as Abby fucks your harder than she has all night. She continues to grip the headboard, each thrust more powerful than the last. 

“This what you fucking need. Someone to fuck the brat out of you, so, shut the fuck up and take it.” Abby commands as she moans when she sees your eyes roll back in heightened bliss, “Forgetting how I just made you feel already? I know, brats have a hard time remembering. Daddy needs to make you cum again, huh?” 

“Abs, m’so sensitive. I don’t think I can.” You confess, but Abby continued to fuck you harder, the power of her thrusts unrelenting. With each thrust, her folds sliding against your own as you take what she gives. “No? Should have thought about that before you decided to mouth off to me, again.” 

She shifts your leg over to her other hip, bending you like her own makeshift pretzel, maneuvering you to her will as she fucks you from a better angle. Abby cockily grins as your mouth forms a soft o shape, your breath hiccups as you moan even louder. Your hands grip on her waist as she rides you. All you can do is look upon her in awe, she’s a goddess like this. She always is but not even Owen could see her like you do. He would never be capable of appreciating her just the way she comes. 

Muscles like an adonis, perfectly carved, the veins in her arms protrude as she grabs the headboard. Everything about her seems hard, rough, defined but has the sensual hips of the most entrancing woman alive. The way she rolls them with purpose, a dance she’s choosing to partake in, one that she loves very much. Unable to stop even if she tried. 

Yet it’s her big and bright blues which give her away. For the first time, you see her clearly. Beautiful, bright, and in love. She’s never looked at you the way she is now. Maybe she always did but this time she’s letting you see the love laced underneath. Not ashamed of the softness of her emotions, the one she’s always held like a burden, she carries it strongly. 

You want to let her pull the words from your mouth, but she pulls at the bud between your thighs, claiming it as hers, waiting for you to give in to her. Abby’s just as strong as she is stubborn. Even if she’s already made you cum, she won’t let herself go until she gets it from you one more time. 

“Pretty, pretty, girl. Just one more time, m’kay? Need to see those gorgeous eyes roll back,” Freeing one of her hands, she picks up the ripped tie as she trickles the soft material down your abdomen, “God, i need to see it. My beautiful angel, always so gorgeous and mine.” 

The silk feels good against your skin but you need her. You pull on her hair, bringing her close to you as Abby buries her head in the crook of your neck. For the first time tonight, she allows herself to whimper in your ear. Submitting herself to you in a way she’s never done with anyone. Abby loses it when you stroke her hair gently. 

As much as she’s hellbent on making you come first, you have another objective on your mind. 

“And you’re mine. Only mine.” Abby whimpers, her hips slowing down as you buck up into hers, leading the pace as she gives into you. “C’mon, my sweet girl, let it all go. I have you, m’never letting go, promise.” 

With a notion of protection and sealed love, Abby lets go. Every bit of her slumps against you as she finds her release, you follow after her as you slowly grind into her, letting her coast through the high as she nearly growls in your ear, chants of your name leaving like a prayer. A sworn faithfulness to the only person she’s truly loved, cradling her as if she’s done no harm. As if she’s just as good and pure as you believe she is. 

With her forehead pressed against yours, her blue eyes void of any cockiness, she squeezes them shut as she regains to catch her breath. Lazily, pulling a sheet over you both as it rests on her waist, protecting you with her warmth. Abby wonders if your heart beats as rapidly as hers, fingers tangled in her golden waves as you gently bring swollen pink lips to you. Basking in the way she molds perfectly to you as if this moment, you and her, meant to be fated. 

One of her rough hands runs up and down your back, as the other grips your chin between her fingers, pulling you more into her as you share yet another soft and slow kiss. A kiss that has you smiling into her mouth as her tongue swipes across your bottom lip, teeth nipping at skin. “Needy,” You can’t help but giggle, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as Abby simply just shrugged and grinned up at you. 

“Can you blame me? You’re addicting.” She stated like it was the most obvious thing you’ve ever heard. “Your lips are so soft, so that’s another reason why i like kissing you”

“That's the only reason? My lips are soft?” You cocked your head to the side, fingers tracing the slope of her nose slowly, amused at the way she crunches it up cutely when you cup her face. “You have pretty lips, a pretty nose, a pretty everything” You listed, leaning down to place a kiss between her furrowed eyebrows. “You have a pretty heart that is made of gold”

“I wouldn’t say that much about my heart. It’s caused a lot of pain lately.” Abby mutters sadly, fingers wrapping around your wrist and placing your hand on her cheek. “M’sorry for how I've treated you. Especially during this trip, a trip that was supposed to be so special and i kept fucking it up.”

“You’re here with me now, that’s all that matters, Abs. We matter, you matter.” Your voice was quiet, but with the close distance you shared with her, she heard it loud and clear. Your heart thumping loudly in your chest when she leans more into the palm of your hand, closes her and hums gently. “You are so beautiful, I didn't think I could be this in love with someone, not like I am with you. You mean everything to me, and I want to show you just how much.” 

Your confession has her eyes snapping open again, baby blues peering into yours so vulnerable, that you were worried she was about to get up and flee again. It always happened when you got too much into your feelings and feelings towards Abby. But she didn’t, instead, a shy smile appeared on her lips and a crimson blush coated the apples of her cheeks, her skin hot under your touch. “You don’t have to say anything—”

“I love you with all my heart.” 

The confession is ruined by the sound of the door slamming against the wall, and it startles you both. Abby’s moving to cover your body, protecting your vulnerability and being so exposed before her own. Her eyes quickly widen at the sight of Owen standing there. His chest is rising up and down, panting like he’s just ran a marathon. He’s looking between you both, at you longer than he is at Abby, but he’s looking. 

For a few seconds he doesn’t do anything, he just stands there with no idea what to do or say. Luckily Abby feels the same, and she just glares at him down with a subtle growl that has you biting down on your lip. Your eyes quickly look back over at Owen with a grin. “Can you shut the door on the way out? You’re ruining everything right now, i would like to fuck the woman of my dreams, again, and you are stopping me from doing that” You can’t help but huff. “You didn’t treat her like the Queen she is, but don’t worry, i will.”

Abby doesn’t know whether to laugh or choke on the spit forming in her mouth the second the words fly out of yours. 

Any other time, Owen would have caused a scene, woke everyone up with how loud he shouts, but this time he doesn’t. He knows it’s his fault, him to be blamed for Abby needing someone else. He barely gave her the time of day, and pushed her away for someone who wasn’t his girlfriend. Apart of him knew this day would come, she would leave him for you, he just didn’t think it would happen like this. So with one final look, he’s turning on his heels, bolting out of the room and slamming the door behind him. Not wasting a single second to get out of there. 

Leaving you both there, giggling.

Shaking her head at you, Abby cups her face between your hands not even seconds later, repeatedly placing kisses on your lips and melts at the sound as you both fall back onto the bed, in each others space, like you’ve always meant to be with hushed whispers, and promises into each others mouth. 

“It’s always been you. I love you, always and forever.”

It’s safe to say, Owen won’t ever be tasting you again.

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[angrygirlromero]

BASTARD LOVE, CHAPTER ONE

WARNING: grammar mistakes, violence, suggestive content! MDNI

It had almost been a year since Ares had visited Demitra, since then the daughter of Hera had spend her days helping and guiding young campers through their tasks and training hard in her sparring lessons with Clarisse. The Hera cabin was one of the biggest cabins at camp being detailed with fancy and skilled statues on the outside and beautiful and elegant details on the inside, Demitra sat on the large white couch that was displayed at the very center of the cabin, her smooth and soft fingers tangled in Luke's curly mess of hair as she twisted and curled locks of his dark hair between the tips of her fingers, her gaze every so focused on the boy that laid his head on her lap.

Her other free hand traced the scar on the side of the Hermes boy's face as she studied his handsome features, his eyes were held closed and the expression displayed of his face made him look at peace as he laid there. "Your fingers are so soft" mumbled Luke in his sleepy haze, his eyes still shut as a small chuckle erupted from Demitra's chest.

"You know, you should be in bed by now Councilor, you'd get in big trouble if they ever found you here at such a scandalous hour" teased the daughter of Hera, at her words the son of Hermes smirked his eyes opening slowly attempting to adjust to the dim light of the cabin, his dark orbs meeting her dark green ones, Luke Castellan had never though about having a favorite color before but from the moment he met Demitra all those years ago and she looked at him with such beautiful eyes, that very day he had deemed green to be his favorite color for the rest of his miserable demigod life.

His eyes scanned from her eyes to her perfect eyes brows, her perfect nose, to her perfect lips, his eyes danced upon her skin in amazement, "You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen" state Luke causing Demitra to blush a deep shade of red, Luke smiled softly raising his hand up to her flushed cheek, "you're even more beautiful when you smile, and blush" said Luke with an enamored look displayed on his handsome face, Aphrodite was most certainly at play at that moment and her brother's words echoed in her head as Luke held her face in his large hands, "And keep that Hermes boy close, he's quite infatuated with you, sister."

Demitra smiled shyly down at Luke as she rubbed the pads of her fingers over the rough stubble that had began growing out on the Hermes boy's chin, "This is new" stated Demitra tilting her head at the rough sensation on her fingers, Luke chuckling at her words "You like it?" asked the curious boy "I love everything about you Castellan" stated Demitra, passing on the opportunity to flush on to Luke.

Demitra let out a playful gasp at the sigh, "the almighty Luke Castellan is blushing?!" exclaimed the daughter of Hera, with a childish giggle. Luke stared at her with pure love in his dark eyes, "Only for you pretty girl" he said to which Demitra shook her head, "Always such a sweet talker" "I mean the things that I say" "I hope so."

As if on time Chris bursted into the cabin in a breathlessly state, the son of Hermes rested a hand on his leg and the other on the statue that stood tall and beautifully at the entrance of the cabin as he breathed out harshly, lifting his head slightly to the couple that now both stared at him Luke slowly sitting up from his comfortable position, confusion clearly evident on his face as he stared at his brother, "Chris? what's the matter?" questioned Luke.

And to the couple's amusement Chris raised his hand in the air that was once rested on his leg indicating that he needed a few more second to catch his breath, "Chi- Chiron, sent me- there's a new camper, he uhh" Chris paused between his breaths, "breath Chris" instructed Demitra lifting herself from the couch, she was calm as she approached the Hermes boy with Luke trailing closely behind her. As if on command a large gush of wind filled the air flowing through Chris lungs causing him to take a deep breath before calming down, now being able to stand up straight and tall to his fullest hight.

Chris smiled gratefully at Demitra, "Thanks Demi" he said to which the daughter of Hera responded with a bright smile, "As you were saying Chris" said Luke as he gave his brother a bored look as he flirted with his girl, "Oh yeah sorry for interrupting you guys, I wouldn't if I didn't have to, you see Chiron just randomly showed up at the Cabins searching for Councilors and they couldn't find you, so to save your asses I had to run all the way out here to get you, oh and Chiron wants you to take a look at the new kid, Demi" rambled Chris.

"So we should get going I'd say the kid was kind of attacked by a  Minotaur" explained Chris, "What?! why didn't you say that earlier are the Apollo kids there with him is he alive?" exclaimed Demitra as she rushed over to nightstand where the Morning Glory sat beautifully, "He's injured I've heard but he's fine he took out the Minotaur" said Chris as Demitra picked up the flower it glowed a deep blue before turning to gold in her palms, the daughter of Hera quickly placed the flower in her hair placing it on the right side near her ear, rushing back to the two boys that stood at the door staring at her in awe, "What are you waiting for?! a kid is in danger" she exclaimed once more before rushing out of the cabin grabbing her slippers at the doorway she rushed down the dirt path with the sons of Hermes rushing after her.

"Oh come on I just got here" complained Chris as jogged behind Demitra. Soon enough they had arrived to the big house where a group of Councilors stood out front having a deep discussion with Chiron as Mr D stood there with a bored expression, "Chiron what happened?" asked Demitra making her presence known, at the sound of her voice the group of demigods parted like the red sea allowing her to make her way to confront Chiron, "Demitra you're finally here, The boy fought a Minotaur, he was injured, but he has been taken care of, he's inside. Grover tells us that he only challenged the creature because it killed his mother, he'll need support not only from you but from all of you" stated Chiron, "We don't need to be babying this new kid" said Mr. D.

"He should be treated like every other kid here, not given special treatment because of his sob story" said Mr. D, " Dionysus there is no need-" Chiron was interrupted by Demitra "As the only god here and as a authority you should know better than to be speaking like that  Dionysus" said Demitra with a stern look upon her face, "Every camper here has their own story to tell of how they ended up here. And the cause of that sob story is always because of people like you, so do us all a favor and return to your chambers, Dionysus" said Demitra holding her head high to which Mr. D did nothing but tilt his head with a smirk on his face as he watched Luke and Chris stand to her right with serious expressions, and to her left Clarisse stood protectively as if challenging him.

"I guess I hit a soft spot didn't I?" he smirked before walking off "You're no fun little sis" said Dionysus before he turned in a teasing manner making his way back to bed, "I apologize for his childishness everyone, you all have you're own story to tell so for now we all have be as welcoming as possible to this new kid, just don't make it obvious, we don't want to make him feel even worse" instructed Demitra to which all the Councilors nodded agreeing with her statement, "You have nothing to appologize for Demi, Mr. D has always been an ass" stated Clarisse attempting to comfort her friend, "Language La Rue" scolded Chiron to which Clarisse lifted her hands in defeat.

"Now that everything has been established he will be incorporating into the Hermes Cabin by tomorrow until he is claimed" said Chiron "you're all dismissed, thank you for your assistance" he said before turning to return to the house the group of sleepy demigods were quick to return to their cabins, Clarisse mumbling a small goodnight to Demitra before leaving only Chris, Luke and Demitra remaining, Demitra's eyes scanned the group of demigods before she turned to the two boys that had already been looking at her.

Her gaze fell onto the door of the infirmary, "You guys head on back to bed I'm gonna check up on him before I head back, just to see what he'll need" said the daughter of Hera, to which Chris smiled softly "Always such a mother" he said before walking past the couple taking a second to rumple Demitra's hair in a playful manner, to which Luke only glared at his back.

"Go on I'll be fine" she said giving Luke a sleepy grin, causing him to only shake his head at her before he wrapped his arms around her resting his chin on the top of her head, "Goodnight pretty girl take care, I'll see you in the morning" he said as he planted a loving kiss to her forehead, "Goodnight Castellan, and take care those campers of yours, no more sneaking off" she instructed, "Your wish is my command" he said bowing playfully before he walked off to his cabin.

Demitra inhaled deeply before she turned around finally removing her eyes from Luke's figure, she opened the door of the infirmary and in the middle of the row of beds was a sleeping boy, he looked to be no older than 12 years old, his face was twisted to one of worry even in his sleep, he was so young and vulnerable and whoever his godly parent was had left him to fend for himself, the boy with dark blond hair and freckles on his adorable face, Demitra's heart hurt for the boy.

She could clearly recall the night she had been brought to camp by her Satyr protector she was scared, terrified, she had no idea what lied behind the barrier of camp but she could recall the fear that corrupted her that night as hundreds of monsters tried to kill her. She was around 13 when her Satyr had picked her up from the orphanage and from then on hell broke loose, she could recall the thunder storm that boomed that night as she stabbed and killed monsters for what felt like hours, the most painful part was knowing he was watching, he stood by and watched her almost die, yet he had done nothing.

Demitra shook away the tears forming in her eyes as she brushed some of the stray curls that fell into the boys face. She had heard that he had put up a good fight, maybe he was a Ares kid, she wasn't sure he didn't look much like him physically, but just by looking at him she could tell that his mother was a beauty. As if on timing Demitra heard the wood behind her screech out, "You're loosing your touch Beth, you use to be much sneakier, I'm disappointed" spoke Demitra as she stared down at the boy not bothering to make eye contact with the Athena girl who removed her cap revealing herself.

"I didn't get a good look at him, and my touch never left I wanted you to know I was here" said Annabeth as she tilted her head down to stare at the boy, and as if feeling the weight of their gaze the boy rustled in his sleep, "You drool in your sleep" stated Annabeth to the half awake boy, "You could be nicer to him you know, he seems close to your age he might open up to you more" suggested Demitra, "Besides if I were your age and a cute guy made such and entrance at camp I would've been his friend in the matter of minutes" said Demitra with a playful tone.

Annabeth shook her head at her words, "Don't let Luke hear you, besides I'm not like you. I don't make friend so easily, and with the entrance he just had at camp he'll have a lot on his plate" said Annabeth keeping her gaze on the boy, "you never know what the gods have in store for us" said Demitra before turning on her heels to leave, "I'm gonna be here early tomorrow morning to bring him some stuff that he might need, Luke's gonna help me with the tour, you're welcome to join us" said Demitra, to which Annabeth only sighed not removing her gaze from the boy, "I'd rather not" "let me know if you change your mind little one" she said before leaving.

⚡︎

a/n: so I'm starting a tag list for this series, feel free to comment and let me know if you'd like to added, if you have any mean comments please I ask you not to read and refrain yourself from commenting, if you have any questions or suggestions for this series feel free to message me I am always opened to new ideas or suggestions, this story is following mostly the tv series so if things don't match the book that might be why, and lastly I would like to apologize for any grammar errors in my writing, I hope you enjoy thank you for the support.

Tag list: @puppygirlstar @cecilla @random-girls-loves @purplerose291

BASTAR LOVE MASTERLIST

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[lemoncrushh]

Too Far From Texas | Chapter Three

STORY PAGE

Word Count: 5557

I always said if only I could be a morning person, my life would be so much easier. I just never understood those people who could pop out of bed the moment they woke up, all ready and eager to start the day. I felt like there was an elephant sitting on my head for at least ten minutes before I even opened my eyes. Then I needed coffee pronto or someone was getting their head pecked off if they dared to speak to me.

Friday mornings were the worst because I had to get Emery to school early for Spirit Squad. So much for TGIF. This particular Friday was also one where my ex-husband had the girls. We had a strange custody arrangement that was decided in our divorce decree. Very complicated, but after two years, we’d gotten the hang of it.

“Mommy,” Emery piped up when we were stopped at a light. “Is this your favorite song?”

“Hmm?” I sounded.

We were listening to Harry’s CD, the new one that he’d sent. I’d had it in my car since Tuesday when I’d taken Emery to gymnastics and hadn’t bothered to take it out. The truth was, I was enamored with it. I loved every track on it. It had been on repeat for three days now, and I’d come to know most of the lyrics. The particular song that was playing was certainly one of my favorites on the album, a piano ballad.

“Yeah, I like this one a lot,” I grinned at her.

“I thought so,” she sat back, proud of herself for guessing correctly.

“Which one’s your favorite?” I asked her.

She shrugged. “I don’t know yet. I like all of ‘em.”

“Good answer,” I nodded.

I turned onto the next street, singing softly along to Harry’s voice. I liked his voice. A lot. More than I probably should. And it wasn’t just his singing voice. I still got chills when I thought of how he said my name.

I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about him since that night. It had only been a few days since he’d left Houston. And I kept reminding myself that I’d probably never see him again. But his face was stamped in my brain. Especially the look on it when he’d stood in my daughter’s doorway while she had a seizure. And his kind voice when he’d handed me a towel afterwards. He’d shown concern but also had a calmness about him which put me at ease. More than anything, though, I remembered how soft his lips felt against mine.

“Reagan!” Emery shouted out the window that I hadn’t even realized she’d rolled down, making me blink and push on the break a little too hard as I pulled up to the curb in front of her school.

“Have a good day, sweetheart,” I yawned, leaning over to give her a quick kiss.

“Bye, Mommy.” Emery grabbed her backpack and hurried out of the car to meet up with her friend.

As I drove away, letting Harry’s voice enrapture me once again, my phone buzzed in the console between the seats. I frowned when I realized it was a text from Tod.

I won’t be able to come get the girls until 7.

I scoffed, turning out of the parking lot. I waited until I was closer to work at a red light to respond.

Why?

I have a make up lesson at 6.

I rolled my eyes as I continued driving. When I got to work and parked, I angrily texted him back.

You’re supposed to be here at 6. That was the agreement.

I know that but it was the only time I could schedule the lesson.

Part of me wanted to just call him instead of text, but I hated talking to him. At least in text, I could say what I wanted without hearing his condescending tone.

You know your kids are supposed to come first. You need to schedule your lessons around your time with them.

It’s one lesson Stacey. I’m not giving up the whole weekend. I’ll leave the house at 7 and be at your place by 7:20.

I gritted my teeth and sighed.

Fine.

Turning off my phone and pulling the key out of the ignition, I threw my bag over my shoulder and headed into work. I didn’t realize I had a sour look on my face until Rachel, our receptionist, eyed me funny and asked if I was okay.

“I’m fine, thanks,” I gave her a tight smile as I walked past her and down the hall.

“It’ll be okay,” she called after me. “It’s Friday!”

I groaned when I reached my office and dropped my bag on the floor next to my chair. I hated him. Even after two years of being divorced from Tod, I still despised everything about him. No, one more hour wasn’t a huge deal. It was the principle. Just like when we were married, he always got to do whatever he wanted to do. Whatever he said was gospel and everybody else had to go along with it. Even in an argument or debate, he’d been so convincing with his point of view that I would finally give in, resolved that he was right, and I was wrong. Other than one time that was still vivid in my mind when he got angry and slammed a kitchen drawer shut, breaking it off the hinges and frightening me so much I was afraid he would hit me, he never apologized for anything.

After turning on my computer, I made my way down the hall to the break room to grab some more coffee since the cup I’d had that morning hadn’t done the trick. Lorelei had already beat me there and she was stirring her cup with one of those little red straws.

“Morning,” I mumbled.

“It is indeed,” she said, tossing her straw in the trash can. “But I noticed you didn’t throw in good at the beginning.”

I made a sound under my breath as I reached for my favorite mug in the cupboard.

“Something happen?” Lorelei inquired. “Jaz didn’t have another seizure, did she?”

“No,” I replied, pouring my coffee. “Just the usual. I’m tired and men with three letter names piss me off.”

Lorelei chuckled. “Good thing Harry Styles doesn’t fall into that category.”

I raised a brow, slightly shocked by the mention of his name. “What made you think of him?”

She shrugged. “Maybe it’s because you haven’t said a thing about him since Tuesday when I asked how the date went, and you were very vague. Or maybe it’s because you still have the flowers, he sent you on your desk after four days.”

“They’re pretty,” I commented. “And they smell good.”

“They’re wilting.”

I narrowed my eyes at her. “How long do you keep flowers?”

“Three days, tops.”

I shook my head and walked around her to the fridge. “Seems like a waste.”

“They are a waste,” Lorelei remarked. “The entire floral industry is a waste of money. That’s why I always tell a man not to buy them for me for special occasions. Give me perfume or jewelry. If I have a man around the time of special occasions, that is…”

“I’m sorry, did you have a point?” I shot at her, opening a container of Yoplait.

“Have you heard from him?” she finally asked.

“Who?” I popped a spoonful of yogurt in my mouth.

“Harry!”

I shook my head. “No. And I don’t expect to.”

“Why not?”

Just then Terrance and Josh walked into the break room. Lorelei and I both greeted them with a “good morning”. As they were pouring their coffee, I could tell Lorelei was antsy to get back to the conversation. I gestured toward the doorway with my head and she followed me to my office.

“What exactly happened after I left?” she asked as soon as I was behind my desk.

“Nothing,” I replied, sitting in my chair. “We ate pizza and drank wine and talked.”

“Oh. Well that’s sweet. Did he kiss you goodnight?”

I smirked and rolled my eyes. “Yes.”

“Aha!”

“What is aha? We kissed. It doesn’t mean anything.”

“Did he tell you he’d call?” Lorelei asked.

“Not really. He just texted me later and said he had a good time.”

“See? That’s promising!”

I scoffed, pushing my chair closer to my desk. “You’ve written too much fluffy romance.”

“Um...excuse me?” she raised a brow. “With whom did I just write this fluffy romance?”

I pursed my lips, resting my elbows on either side of my keyboard.

“Can we end this conversation, please?”

“Fine,” Lorelei threw up her hands. “But I’m willing to bet he’s gonna call you.”

“How much?” I asked when she reached the door.

“How much what?”

“How much are you willing to bet?”

Lorelei allowed the idea to roll around in her brain for a moment before a wide grin spread across her face.

“Alright,” she quipped, tossing her blonde locks off her shoulder, “If he doesn’t call you by Monday, I’ll take you to that sushi place you like.”

I chuckled. Lorelei hated raw fish. “And if he does?”

“You have to take me to Tamale Juan’s.”

I furrowed my brows in confusion. “That’s not really an even bet. I like Mexican food.”

“Yeah, but I get to order anything I want. And they have those big, tall $10 margaritas.”

I rolled my eyes. “Fine.”

The girls and I were in the middle of dinner when the doorbell rang.

“Daddy’s here!” exclaimed Emery, rising from her chair.

Normally, I would have scolded her for getting up before we were finished, but knowing it was Tod, I let her answer the door so I wouldn’t have to. I heard her welcome him in as he asked her how her week had been.

“Emery,” I called her. “Come finish your food.”

Tod scoffed as he stepped closer to the dining table. “Stacey, why are they eating now? I was gonna take them to Cheddar’s.”

“So, you didn’t tell me that,” I glared at him.

“I shouldn’t have to. It’s my night with them. You never feed them before I get here.”

I dropped my fork on my plate. “That was when you would get here at 6. It’s nearly 7:30 now. If they waited to go out for dinner, they’d be starving.”

“Stacey-” Tod began.

“Aw, I wanna go to Cheddar’s!” Emery whined. “They have the fishies!”

“Emery, sit down!” I demanded.

She pouted and sat in her chair on her leg, resting her chin on her fist. Jasmine made a face and flapped her hands, showing she was uncomfortable with the loud voices.

“I can’t believe you,” Tod shook his head.

I gave him a go to hell look. “We’ll be done in a few minutes.”

Tod turned toward the living room and sat on the sofa with a sigh. I poked Emery in the shoulder and pointed at her plate to get her to finish her dinner. When it was clear she was going to just pick at it to spite me, I told her she was excused and to gather her toys she wanted to take to her dad’s.

After bringing our dishes to the sink, I grabbed the overnight bag that I’d already packed with the girls’ clothes, handing it to Tod. He took it from me with pursed lips, throwing it over his shoulder.

“I wish I coulda gone to Cheddar’s,” Emery pouted again, her bag of toys in one hand, her iPad in the other.

“Maybe your daddy can take you tomorrow,” I said, not bothering to look at Tod.

Just then, my ringtone startled me. For a moment, I forgot where I’d even put my phone until I followed the sound to the kitchen counter. My jaw dropped and my eyes widened when I picked it up and saw Harry’s name displayed. Not wanting it to go to voicemail, I quickly answered it.

“Hello?”

“Stacey?” I immediately melted when his low, raspy voice said my name. I felt my cheeks go pink as a stupid, tiny giggle escaped my throat.

“Hi there,” I muttered softly, trying not to sound too eager.

“Hi. How are you?”

“I’m...I’m okay.” I looked up to see Tod standing near the door, a look of impatience on his face and his body language revealing the same. “Um...could you hold on for a minute?”

“Sure,” said Harry.

“It’s just...my kids are about to leave for the weekend, and I need to say my goodbyes,” I explained.

“Oh, I can let you go-”

“No, it’s okay,” I interrupted. “I’ll be right back.”

I set the phone down and hurried back to the living room, giving Jasmine a big hug.

“Have a good weekend, sweet girl. I’ll see you Sunday night,” I told her. Then I did the same with Emery who held on a little tighter, something that was part of her nature, but I still believed was due to the divorce as well.

Once Tod declared he’d bring them back at 6 on Sunday, I shut the door behind him and rushed back to the phone.

“Hey, sorry about that.”

“No worries,” Harry said. “How are your kids?”

“They’re fine, thanks.”

“Good. Everything alright with Jasmine?”

I smiled that he remembered her name, and also at his concern. “Yeah, she’s doing great.”

“Glad to hear it.”

“What about you?” I inquired. “How’s your week been?”

I felt a little odd making small talk, asking someone who no doubt had ten times a more exciting life than I did.

“Really busy,” he replied with a quick chuckle. “I’m in Dallas now. Just finished my last interview. Then tomorrow I’m leaving for St. Louis.”

“Oh, I’ve always wanted to go to St. Louis,” I commented. “I bet the weather is so much nicer than Texas.”

“It’s nice, yeah,” said Harry. “Although I probably won’t have much of a chance to enjoy it. I’ll be inside mostly.”

“Oh.” A sudden giggle rose from my throat.

“What?” Harry sounded, leaving off the T again.

“Listen to us, talking about the weather,” I snickered.

“You don’t wanna talk about the weather?”

“Harry, you’ve seen me at my lowest. I think we’re beyond the chit chat, don’t you?” I ran a hand through my hair as I crossed the living room and sat on the sofa.

“I guess you’re right,” he said with a smile in his voice. “Have you had a chance to listen to the album yet?”

“Oh, yes, the girls love it!” I exclaimed. “I pop in one copy in the evenings when we’re getting ready for bed. Jasmine has a smile on her face the whole time. And Emery dances around until I make her get in the shower. Then the other copy is in my car. Emery and I were just listening to it this morning on the way to school. I think she knows all the words already.”

“That’s great,” Harry remarked. “But what do you think of it, Stacey?”

“Me?”

“Yes, you,” he said, his voice low. “I wanna know your opinion.”

I sucked in my lips, exhaling out of my nose. “Um...sorry. I guess I’m still in mom mode.”

“That’s understandable.”

“I really love it,” I declared.

“Yeah?”

“Mmm hmm,” I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me. “Every song is great. I enjoyed all of your stuff with One Direction, but this…”

My words trailed off as I brought my foot up on the couch and hugged my knee. I heard Harry chuckle.

“Keep going.”

“This is special, Harry. I know we just met, but I feel like I know you a little better just from the music. It feels personal, like you’re giving your fans a glimpse of the real you. Musically, the songs are very eclectic, but I feel like there’s an underlying theme.”

Harry was silent for a moment while I waited for his response. I swallowed hard, hoping I hadn’t said anything out of line or stupid. Finally, I heard him sigh.

“That means a lot to me, Stacey,” he said.

“It does?”

“More than you’ll ever know.”

Side stepping his remark, I started blubbering. “Sometimes I go on and on about music because I feel like I know a lot. But sometimes it might sound like bullshit. I probably don’t know as much as I claim to, and I use big words to sound smart. So, forgive me if I-”

“Stacey,” Harry interrupted.

“What?”

“I asked for your opinion. And I appreciate it.”

“Okay,” I muttered.

“And you didn’t sound stupid. It was lovely. So thank you.”

I grinned. “You’re welcome.”

Harry made a cute, contended sound before continuing. “So what are your plans for this evening?”

“Uh…” I looked around the empty apartment. “You know, the usual. Dinner with Oprah. Then some red-carpet thing. Some Angelina Jolie movie I think. But I think I might skip out early for drinks with Leonardo DiCaprio.”

Harry’s laugh rang in my ears.

“I know I shouldn’t,” I continued, happy he thought my joke was funny, “but he’s been bugging me and won’t take no for an answer.”

“How many times have you turned him down?” Harry asked, playing along.

“At least half a dozen,” I replied. “But you know, I’m so hard to resist.”

“Can’t argue with you there,” said Harry.

I giggled, biting my bottom lip. I knew it was just a response to my sarcasm, but it still made me light up like a Christmas tree.

“Okay, so I’m not doing anything,” I admitted. “The only plans I had involved wine and something on the DVR.”

“Well, I don’t wanna bother you.”

“Please,” I rolled my eyes. “Nothing about you bothers me.”

Harry made that little sound again, which was almost undetectable, but I made a mental note of it.

“That’s a nice thing to say.”

I shrugged. “It’s true. I’m actually…”

“You’re actually what?”

“I’m um...actually kinda surprised you called. I wasn’t expecting you to.”

“Why not?” he inquired.

“I don’t know…” I pulled on a thread in the hole of my jeans. “I just knew you were busy. And I’m just some random woman you bumped into at Starbucks.”

“I don’t think you’re some random woman, Stacey.”

“You don’t?” Good god, was I blushing again?

“Nope. I think you’re pretty incredible, actually. And you have amazing lips.”

“Oh my god,” I blurted out, quickly covering my mouth with my fingers. I wanted to kick myself for my immature reaction.

“What?” chuckled Harry. “Please tell me I’m not the only one who keeps thinking about that kiss.”

“You do?” I managed to ask in a breathy voice.

“Mmm,” Harry sounded his confirmation.

“Well, that’s a relief,” I said. “‘Cause I’ve been thinking about it too. I was hoping it wasn’t just the wine.”

Harry let out a deep, sexy laugh then. Not even a laugh really...more like...oh, who knows, but it was sexy, and I literally had to adjust my position on the sofa.

“Ah, Stacey,” I heard him sigh.

“Yes?” I asked, dragging out the word in a teasing tone.

“I um…” he paused. “I really hope I get to see you again.”

It was my turn to make that contended sound. This boy definitely had some major effect on me. Maybe that was just it. He was a boy. Okay, he might have been older than just a boy, technically he was a man. But I hadn’t talked to a guy on the phone like this since I’d met Tod. I felt young and giddy and...happy.

“I guess we’ll just have to make that happen,” I replied.

“Good,” remarked Harry. “I’m already looking forward to it.”

“What about you?” I asked him. “It’s early on a Friday evening. Why aren’t you out on the town?”

“Because I’m exhausted,” he chuckled. “I’ve been awake since 4AM and doing promo all day.”

“Oh,” I said a little shyly. “But you still wanted to talk to me?”

“Yeah, I figured if I couldn’t kiss those lips again, I could at least listen to the voice that comes from them.”

I burst out laughing. “Stop.”

“Did I go too far?” Harry snickered.

“Just a smidgen,” I giggled.

“Smidgen,” Harry mocked. “That’s a cute word, I’m gonna use that.”

“Are you making fun of me?” I quipped.

“Not at all, love. You just seemed a little stiff and nervous, so I wanted to lighten the mood.”

“I do?”

“Just a smidgen.”

“Harry…”

He laughed louder, and I soon followed. I could tell my face had to be beet red, and I was grateful he couldn’t see.

“Told ya I was gonna use it,” he teased.

“Touche.” I cleared my throat. “Sorry I was being dull.”

“No, no, Stacey, that’s not what I meant, love,” said Harry. “I just remember sitting next to you on your sofa talking and drinking wine. And then that memorable kiss goodnight. But tonight, you seemed nervous to talk to me. I don’t want you to be.”

I exhaled slowly, running a hand through my hair.

“Sorry,” I said again. “I guess I’m not used to this.”

“Used to what? Talking?”

I scoffed and shook my head, biting my lip. “No. Just...ugh, nothing. I like you. I don’t know what I’m doing.”

“I like you, too,” Harry declared. “And that’s all we need to know.”

“Okay,” I voiced softly.

“So...I was thinking about our conversation the other night,” Harry commented.

“You were?” 

“Yeah. I was thinking about how you said it was your dream to be a singer. What stopped you?”

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Grabbing a nearby pillow, I laid it in my lap.

“Life happened,” I muttered. “I moved in with Tod...that’s my ex-husband...after only a month of dating. Less than a year later I got pregnant with Jasmine. Everything moved pretty fast.”

“You never thought about trying for it again?”

“To be a singer?” I half laughed. “No. It seems silly now.”

“Why?”

“Because...I’m forty. My chance has been long passed. Plus, I don’t really think I’m as good as I used to think I was.”

“Why would you say that?” asked Harry.

“Well...it’s like with Tod. He’s a musician. He would tell me I’m good, but he never really encouraged me. He would just say stuff like I needed to do it on my own, it wasn’t his job. Which I get...but it also made me feel a little less confident. He was in a band for years and never, not once, asked me to get up on stage and sing with them. So over time I started thinking that maybe I’m not that good, and he’s ashamed of me.”

“Stacey…”

“Ugh!” I groaned, tossing the pillow aside. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have brought that up. It’s depressing me, even now.”

“I’m sorry, Stacey,” Harry said softly.

“I know it’s not his fault. If I’d had the courage, I could have tried. I just would have liked a little push is all.”

“I understand,” he conveyed. “Who’s your favorite singer?”

I sighed. “I have lots of favorites, but my idol is Stevie Nicks.”

“I love her. She’s amazing.”

I felt my mouth stretch into a huge smile. I always got so happy to hear someone else say they loved Stevie.

“I’ve been a fan of hers for a long time,” I admitted.

“Have you ever seen her live?” Harry inquired.

“Many times. Several times solo, and a couple times with Fleetwood Mac. But it’s been a while. I haven’t been to a concert since...well, since my divorce. I miss going. Nothing like a live show.”

“I’d love to hear you sing,” Harry stated out of the blue.

I laughed nervously. “Seriously?”

“Sure, let’s hear it. Sing some Stevie.”

“Oh, no!” I shook my head. “No way.”

“Why not?” he asked with a chuckle.

“For one thing, I’m not prepared.”

“Who says you have to be prepared?” Harry quipped.

“I do,” I replied.

“Alright then,” he said. “How about next time?”

“Next time?” I literally felt my heart flutter in my chest.

“Yeah, next time we talk. Sing for me.”

“Harry…”

“Stacey…” he mimicked in the same tone. It made me giggle.

“Fine. It’s a deal.”

“Good.”

I heard Harry clear his throat, followed by a rustling sound. Not quite wanting the conversation to end, but also feeling a little awkward by the pause, I stood up and headed back to the kitchen.

“So, I’m reading your book again,” Harry confessed when I put him on speaker and I poured myself a glass of wine.

“What?” I exclaimed. “You are not!”

“Well, maybe not reading. I’m skipping around to some of my favorite parts.”

“Why?” I grabbed my wine and some cheese and made my way back to the living room.

“Because I like it. It’s good.”

“Thanks.”

“Plus the first time I read it I thought Gavin was kind of a wanker. But reading some of it again, I can see how he might have come off that way, but it’s not entirely his fault.”

“It’s Melissa’s fault?”

“Not her fault he’s a wanker, no,” Harry chuckled. “But some of his reactions and phrases were harsh I think because she started off as very abrasive.”

“She had to be,” I remarked. “She was in a big city she’d never been to before, looking for her brother. She finally thought she’d tracked him down, only to find some jerk was living in his apartment. In a way, even though she’d never met her brother, she was already protective of him and his belongings.”

“Melissa turned the corner to find Gavin standing at the end of the hall, only the dim lamp on his desk in his room shedding light on him, casting a shadow on the hardwood floor,” Harry read. “‘Holy shit, you scared me!’” exclaimed Melissa, her heart beating in her chest as she covered it with her hand. “‘Sorry,’” Gavin muttered sarcastically. Melissa knew he wasn’t. Not the least bit. Since she’d been staying in that tiny apartment with Gavin, he’d been nothing short of unbearable to be around. So what if he’d been subletting her brother’s apartment? It wasn’t like he owned the place. He just liked to act like he did.”

I shook my head. “I can’t believe you’re quoting my book to me.”

“I told you, I like it,” declared Harry. “That part right there...the first time I read it I agreed with Melissa. Gavin was being unbearable. But…”

“Oh great, I love a good but!” I chortled.

Harry laughed. “As I was reading it again, I got to thinking, no it doesn’t matter that it was her brother’s apartment. Gavin lived there. He didn’t know the bloke he was subletting it from had a sister and she’d be showing up one day to claim it. He had every right to be vigilant.”

“You’re probably right,” I said.

“I’m sorry,” Harry apologized. “I don’t mean to tell you how the book shoulda been written.”

“No, you’re not!” I shook my head, biting into a piece of cheese. “Like I said, I think readers can take their own interpretations. I’m honestly just flattered that you even read it, let alone have an opinion.”

“Okay, good.” I heard the sound of the hardback book shutting and I found myself wondering if he was sitting on a hotel bed with my book in his hand. “So that book signing where we met. Will you be doing more of those?”

“Actually, yeah,” I replied. “Lorelei thought it would be a good idea to have a book tour. We’re going to San Antonio in a few days. Then maybe Austin and Dallas. If things go well, we might venture outside of Texas.”

“That’s great,” Harry commented. “I’m happy for you, love.”

“Thank you.”

“Maybe if we happen to be in the same city again, we can meet?”

I let out a half ha. “I doubt we will be, but sure.”

“You never know…”

I smiled at Harry’s optimism. I didn’t come across too many people like him. It was refreshing.

“You’re a ‘the glass is half full’ kind of person, aren’t you?”

“I am. And there’s a reason for that,” he said.

“What would that be?”

“It takes less energy.”

“That’s it?” I inquired. “I was expecting some deep philosophical answer.”

“Life is actually pretty simple, Stacey,” he remarked. “You’ve heard the saying that a frown uses more muscles that a smile. Or that it’s easier to be kind.”

“Yeah,” I agreed.

“It’s true. Karma and all that. If you just try to keep a positive attitude and stay humble, it’s much easier than being pessimistic. That shit’s emotionally draining and exhausting. And can actually make you physically sick.”

“You’re absolutely right,” I nodded. “I found that out the hard way.”

“How so?”

“Um…” I hesitated. “Long story. I doubt you want to hear about the life of Stacey Barnett in one night, and to be honest I’m not ready to be emotionally drained from rehashing it right now.”

“Fair enough,” said Harry. “You can tell me when you’re ready.”

Taking a sip of my wine, I pondered the wonder that was Harry Styles.

“You’re not real, are you?”

“Sorry?” Harry chuckled.

“You’re just-” I stopped myself before I said something that would embarrass myself. “Never mind.”

“I said I like you, Stacey. I wasn’t lying. And one day...maybe not the next time we talk...but one night we’ll have a nice long conversation and you’ll tell me all there is to know about you.”

“That sounds so...raw and exposed,” I muttered. “I don’t like being that vulnerable.”

“I think I’ve already seen you vulnerable, sweetheart. You said so yourself. I’ve seen you at your lowest.”

“True,” I hung my head.

Harry was quiet for a moment until he said, “I’m sorry. Did I hit a nerve?”

“No, it’s…” I sighed. “It’s okay. I just don’t really like talking about it.”

“I understand. But it’s part of your life. A massive part. That’s your daughter.”

“Yeah,” I swallowed. “I hate it. More for her than me. She’s such a sweet girl, she doesn’t deserve-”

“Hey,” Harry interrupted when he could tell I was getting choked up. “It’s okay, we don’t have to talk about it.”

“Thanks.” I wiped away a tear from my cheek.

“We can change the subject. But you’re right. She doesn’t.”

Harry and I continued to talk, the conversation easy. I enjoyed talking to him. He made me laugh a couple of times, and it made me wish he was sitting next to me on the sofa instead of in Dallas in a hotel room doing God knows what while he talked to me. I shook my head to rid it of the thoughts. I would not allow myself to imagine him lying shirtless in bed. By the time I finished my second glass of wine, I realized it was nearly eleven. We’d talked for over three hours. Harry yawned and it must have been contagious because I did as well.

“I should let you go now, Stacey,” he said softly.

“Okay. Well, thank you, Harry. For making this evening less lonely.”

“Lonely? Why are you lonely, love?”

I realized at that moment that every time he called me that, I wanted to kiss him. Gosh darn it. I let out a sigh.

“I just get a little lonely after my kids are gone,” I explained. “So thanks for keeping me company. I feel a lot better.”

“You’re welcome. I enjoy talking to you. Do you think I could call you from St. Louis?”

“I hope you do,” I grinned.

“Good.”

“Oh, and Harry?”

“Yes?”

“I think you’re pretty incredible too.”

Harry released another one of those deep, sexy chuckles again and I melted all over.

“Thank you. Goodnight, beautiful. Sleep well.”

When I hung up, I practically danced to the kitchen, setting my empty wine glass in the sink. Then I skipped to the bathroom where I saw the goofy grin on my face in the mirror. I quickly shook my head with a groan.

“Get a grip, Stacey,” I told myself. “You look like a teenager.”

I washed my face and brushed my teeth before getting into my pajamas. After turning out the lights and double checking that I was locked up, I climbed into bed with only the bedside lamp on. I must have stared at the ceiling for a good twenty minutes, replaying some of our conversation in my head, like it was part of a novel I’d written.

I knew what I was doing. I was letting this guy invade my mind as though he was a character in a book. Boy meets girl, girl is lonely, doesn’t know how to feel about boy so she acts like it’s nothing, boy breaks down girl’s walls and makes her feel special and worthy and they live happily ever after.

But Harry Styles was not a character in a romance novel. And I was not a girl. He was real and he was famous. And I was me. Just me.

A/N: Just a reminder that I wrote all of this before HS1 was even out. So, no TPWK or singing with Stevie yet. It kinda gives me chills now as I reread it.

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[blitzsicedcoffee]

Ficlet- Depersonalization

Stolas holds his knees and makes himself small in a library chair. It's two days past Octavia's 3rd Birthday, and Stolas is nursing a wound on his cheek from two days ago. Everyone in the palace knows where he got it. Who's hand he got it from. Except little Octavia of course.

He rebandages it and it stings as he reapplies it, wincing. Useless wretch you can't even get a child's birthday party right, she'd said.

But I tried, he'd said. All because he couldn't get the new clown performer from Greed to come to his daughter's birthday. He hadn't offered enough to his manager.

See Via, your daddy doesn't love you enough to get you everything you want, she said. And his eyes had twitched. Thank gods Via was too enamored with the decorations and playing with the balloons and streamers to care what her mother was spouting.

Now he sits alone, nursing his wound alone. Like he always is. Alone. As soon as he finishes the bandage he regrets that he didn't wait until he would finish crying as his tears might slip the bandage. But luckily it's keeping it's hold as his silent tears fall and he holds his mouth, the pain in his chest growing and growing. His hands move to his chest, unsure if he's having a panic attack or something else.

Father please can't I do my duty without the heir, please. I will do anything else. Anything. He had pleaded with his father three years ago. His father brushed him off as he always did. And they were wed. And then Via was conceived.

His mind constantly grappling with his love for his daughter and the torture that is his life. The torture that is supposed to be his partner, but is not even close to loving or caring or something resembling gentle. She is crude, inattentive and plain mean.

"I have given her the best of everything. All of him when he wanted to give her none and she wanted none. It's never enough. Never enough. When will it be enough? When will I ever be enough?" He mumbles to himself in between sobs.

He knows he never will be. They will never be enough for each other. He knows she sleeps with others. Her friends in the court that she parades around with and insults him with. They give him snide looks and knowing glances. He just looks down.

His hands are shaking now, wringing on themselves and he clenches the arms of the chair, desperate to hold something to feel something. Digging his talons into the arms further, he breaks into the stuffing, the stiff chair giving way to softness.

He clenches onto it for several minutes and cries, heaving his chest forward as his hands stay planted in the arms. The sobs continue, it's like he can't force them to stop like usual.

He's starting to turn. Can feel the cold black mist gathering around his head, fogging his mind and clouding his vision. Black irises overtake his eyes and he pulls his talons out that are now razor sharp, and digs one into his arm, drawing blue blood. Feel something. Anything!!!

But he doesn't.

The gaping toothed head starts to form at the top of him from the mist and he pushes it away.

Back you monster.

But he deserves this, doesn't he?

Another claw digs into his arm next to the other wound.

The blood runs down his arm and he just stares at it, the mist dissapating when there's a turn of a doorknob.

Stolas quickly holds a bandage to his bleeding arm, the door opening and a small owl entering.

"Daddy?" Via. One eye flickers back to red and he holds out one arm, "Darling what are you doing up my sweet girl?"

"I heard screams. Are you okay daddy?" She asks and he manages a small smile.

"Yes my Starfire, daddy is okay. He just...had to let out some emotions". He finishes bandaging his arm and pulls her up onto his lap. His sharp claws back to his regular talons.

"motions?" She questions. He nods, "It is important to express emotions when you have them. And sometimes they're....very strong".

Via looks up like she's thinking then looks to Stolas, "Will you be here when I have motions daddy?" She asks. Stolas kisses her forehead, "Always, my Starfire". He tickles her and she giggles, then he stands up, walking her back to her room. He tucks her in and kisses her cheek again, and she grabs his face with her tiny hands, kissing his cheek.

"I love you daddy", she tells him. His tears have already returned.

"I love you too, Via". He closes the door and considers walking back to the bedroom but freezes. Realizing tonight Stella is in the bed. He decides another night in the library wouldn't hurt and lays on the couch with a meager blanket, pulling his robe tighter over his chest.

Why don't you just end it?

No. Via needs me.

He drifts off to sleep.

[arielhopepeace]

Welcome to another Joel and y/n fic. One of these times I’d like to write one that has the breakout, because zombies have always really freaked me out lol.

Anyway, in this fic, Sarah is 9, and y/n is her 4th grade teacher. Obviously it gets GOOOOOOD later on hehe. This fic was an idea recommended by @viclgrd ❤️

As always, pleaaaase enjoy.

Part two is here

Part three is here

Part four is here

Final part is here

Part One

18+ only

Tw: mention of cancer, mention of death, panic attacks, anxiety

4,770 words

Joel POV

  "Sarah, come on!" I urge my very stubborn nine year old daughter.

There's nothing I love more in this world than her. She's a spitting image of my late wife, and she was honestly an easy, laid-back baby with a surprisingly calm toddler stage. Getting her to school is the only real issue I've faced with her.

Sarah loves to sleep. I've taken her to pediatricians with my concerns on why she loves to be in bed so much, but they assured me it's only due to her enjoyment of it, and the fact that she's constantly growing, making her more fatigued. Waking her up every morning before I have to go to work is difficult, and rather taxing. Luckily, I'm able to leave right after I walk her to her bus stop, always making it to work in the nick of time.

I'd like to say that I'm a good father to Sarah. My wife passed away when our daughter was only one, so Sarah doesn't have any memory of her. I've always wondered if that made it easier, never knowing her, but I've always been too terrified to ask how she feels. She's still so young that I don't want to fill her head with dark and agonizing subjects.

Of course I'll talk about her mother if she asks and explain that she passed away from cancer, but I never linger on her death with Sarah. I always do my best to turn it into a beautiful, light thing, hoping that she never develops that crippling anxiety in her sternum as I have.

"Daddy, why can't you ever take me to school?" Sarah whines as she holds my hand, both of us leaving the house.

"Because," I begin as I peer down at her, "I have to work, baby."

Her eyes twinkle up at me with their hazel hue, my lips twitching up as I admire her, completely enamored with my little girl.

"So many other kids at school have their parents visit them for lunch. Can you visit me one day?" her gaze becomes teary.

I crouch down once we're at our stop sign, giving her a kiss between her brows. "Hey," I say softly, "don't cry. I'll ask when I go in today if I can have lunch with you sometime soon, okay?"

Sarah nods with excitement, wrapping her little arms around my neck. "Thank you."

Her gentle embrace and the softness of her solemn voice tugs at my heart, making me want to just quit my job so I can stay here to hug her all day.

The bus pulls up, hissing to a stop as the doors sigh, opening with a slight squeak.

"Have a good day, baby," I kiss my fingertips, waving her off as she steps onto her bus, her head scarcely turning to give me a mildly forlorn smile.

Working in construction as I do, I'm never able to take my lunch at Sarah's school. Not only are our lunches at different times, but my jobs are usually over a half an hour away or more. It's a demanding and grueling occupation, but it pays well and allows us to live comfortably; not living paycheck-to-paycheck as we used to.

When my wife passed, I was utterly, wholly gutted. Within a month of us finding out she had cancer, she was gone. It was dreadful knowing she was in pain, knowing there was nothing I could do to help her, and watching her rapidly decline until she drew in her last weak, delicate breath on this earth.

I promised her I'd take care of Sarah, and raise her to be as incredible as she was. Every single fiber in me prays that I'm doing everything exactly as she would've wanted it.

Being alone for the last eight years hasn't been difficult for me by any means. I've gone on a few dates here and there, but never anything that has stuck with me. It's usually just one date and then it's over, never hearing from the woman again, or I never reach out.

Part of me enjoys the wilderness within where my heart lies dried up in the sun. There's no possible way I can ever be left or have my heart broken if I'm alone. I'd be perfectly content with never having a woman again; just me and Sarah until she's old enough to move out and get on with her own life. She may only be nine, but I think about her growing up every day, and how in another nine years, she'll be graduating high school.

Those thoughts always fill me with sheer, all-consuming panic, knowing that she'll be leaving one day, and I'd never prevent her from doing so. All I want is for her to be happy and live the picturesque life she deserves, and she can't do that if I'm already having empty nest syndrome before she's even in the double digits.

On the drive to work, my cell phone begins ringing through the Bluetooth of my truck. My heart stops when I see it’s Sarah’s school, immediately answering the call.

“Hello?” I try to keep my voice steady.

“Hello, Mr. Miller! This is Principal Sanders, and I’m just reaching out to all the parents of students in Mrs. Peters’ class to let them know that unfortunately she won’t be returning to school this year. She’s still out with a broken hip after her fall, and we’re afraid she won’t make a full recovery as soon as we anticipated.”

My pulse settles, relieved Sarah is okay. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I know Sarah loves her, so I’m sure she’ll be sad.”

“Aw, that’s very good to know! We’re having a welcoming party for the new teacher tomorrow at the park right across the street from the school. We thought we’d make it a special occasion to lift the student’s spirits a bit about Mrs. Peters. We’re just doing a little head count to see how much pizza we should order. This isn’t going to be school funded, it’s just some of the staff getting together to welcome her. Are you and Sarah interested in joining?”

I shrug as I keep my eyes fixed on the road. “Sure. I’d like to chip in if you’re accepting donations, or I could even bring some food myself.”

“That’s very nice of you, Mr. Miller. That would be a big help either way.”

“What time? It’s Saturday, so I don’t always work on those days.”

“It’ll be at one o’clock.”

I’ll just make sure I don’t pick up any overtime tomorrow. I usually always try to, just for the extra money, but it would be nice to take a day off and go to the park with Sarah.

“Okay. We’ll be there. I’ll bring two pizzas and maybe a tray of cookies.”

“Thank you so much, Mr. Miller. That’s very appreciated. See you tomorrow.”

“Bye, Mrs. Sanders. See you tomorrow.”

We hang up, my lungs letting out a gentle sigh of relief. I’ve never gotten a random call from Sarah’s school like that except for when she’s sick, and I always seem to be assuming the absolute worst about everything. Truthfully, I think it’s the left over apprehension I feel from my wife’s passing.

***

“Hi, I have a pizza order under Joel,” I say as I look around the pizza shop, the teenager at the register sighing at me.

“Your total is twenty-five dollars even,” the boy replies flatly.

My fingers fish into my wallet, handing him cash as a woman comes up beside him and places my pizzas on the counter. The boy takes my money as I grip the pizzas in my hand, the warmth from the bottom of the box radiating through my palm.

The door to the pizza place dings its bell as I leave, making a b-line for my idling truck that has Sarah in the passenger seat with a tray of cookies on her lap.

“Here, let’s put these on the floor,” I say as I set the pizzas onto the ground beneath her. “Just don’t step on ‘em.”

“Foot pizza doesn’t sound good to me, dad,” she giggles, making me laugh with her. “I’m excited to see my friends!”

“Will Rachel be there today?”

She nods enthusiastically as we head toward the park. “Yeah, she’s supposed to be. Everyone was really excited about it yesterday in class. I know some people couldn’t get their parents to go, though.”

“Well, at least Rachel will be there,” I beam at her before turning my eyes back to the road in front of me.

“And us,” she replies fondly. “I didn’t think we’d be able to go. You always work on Saturdays.”

“I know, but I thought it would be nice to just hang out in the park with you for the day.”

“Thank you,” Sarah says softly. “I love you.”

“I love you too, honey.”

Pulling up to the park, I see several children and parents everywhere. It looks like her entire class has shown up, the thought of Sarah being able to see all her friends making me happy for her. I’m really glad I decided to not get that overtime in today. She deserves to have some fun.

Sarah carries the cookie tray as I carry the two pizzas, opting for just cheese and pepperoni. My eyes land on the principal, guiding Sarah towards her with my palm on her shoulder. She’s so ecstatic that she nearly ran away with the damn cookies.

“Hello, Mr. Miller. Sarah,” the principal says warmly. “You can set everything down here,” she gestures to a table.

“Hey, Sarah,” I hear from beside me. “Is this your dad?”

“Yep!” she replies. “This is my dad, Joel!”

After setting the pizza down, I turn with an outstretched hand, my breath being caught in my throat as I take in the appearance of Sarah’s new teacher. She’s absolutely stunning, and my god she looks young. Sarah’s last teacher was easily in her mid-sixties, but this one can’t even be thirty yet.

“Hi, Mr. Miller. I’m Sarah’s new teacher, Ms. Y/l/n, but you can call me y/n.” Her voice is feminine and light, making goosebumps trail across my skin as our palms connect.

“Please, call me Joel,” I reply with a quick lick of my lips.

Sarah toddles away, joining several of her classmates on the playground.

“I’ve only been teaching them for a day, but Sarah is the most well-behaved,” she leans in to whisper. “And no, I haven’t said that to every parent,” y/n giggles.

Her little laugh forces me to join her, my nose being caressed with the scent of her perfume from her standing so close to me.

“Well, I’m glad. She was the easiest child, really.”

“Do you have any others?” she asks, her eyes on mine, completely melting me.

I shift, doing my best to focus on the conversation rather than her effortless beauty. “No,” I smile. “Just her.”

“I’m an only child, too,” y/n grins, her eyes flitting over to the playground briefly before meeting my gaze again.

“I wasn’t lucky enough,” I tease, watching a laugh pass her delicate, rosy lips. “I have an older brother.”

“I always wished to have a sibling, but my parents were never successful when trying again.” Her voice fills with melancholy. “My mom had ovarian cancer, so it was pretty impossible to conceive after me. I was a miracle baby.”

My brows fit together, that familiar anxiety blooming in my chest at the mention of cancer. I place my hand on my sternum, as if I’m trying to catch that feeling and push it down.

“I’m sorry,” is all I can muster out to say. “My late wife passed away from cancer when Sarah was one.”

Why did I say that? I’ve never spoken about her to anyone other than family before, but for some reason, I felt the need to tell y/n.

Her hand reaches out and rests on my bicep. “I’m so sorry,” her gentle eyes soften even further. “My mom died when I was ten, and my father just passed away last year.”

“My god,” I respond with disbelief. “You’re way too young to have lost both of your parents already.”

Y/n’s eyes track to her hand that rests against my arm, quickly removing it as she clears her throat. “Oh, they were older when they had me, but still not old enough to pass away.”

“How old were they, if you don’t mind me asking?”

She smiles. “I don’t mind at all. My mom was only forty-six when she passed, and my dad was older, he was seventy-six.”

“They were a few years apart, then?”

“Sixteen,” y/n laughs awkwardly. “Everybody always finds that so strange, but they didn’t see how in love they were. I never saw them fight once.”

“That’s beautiful, y/n,” I smile warmly at her.

She blinks up at me, tucking her gorgeous hair behind her ear as her body shifts. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to get so depressing.”

“No,” I laugh lightly, shaking my head. “You didn’t. It’s life.”

Her lips spread with that breathtaking grin, my eyes all over her face before a voice rips me from my waking dreaming at her parted mouth.

“Hi, Ms. Y/l/n! This is my mom,” the little boy turns to his mother. “Can I go play now?”

The woman laughs, nodding.

The boy dashes away, joining the rest of the kids on the playground. My head bobs around a bit, looking for Sarah until I finally spot her, seeing her go down the slide with a vast grin on her face. I smile fondly at her, feeling guilty that I was so caught up in a conversation with her teacher, that I forgot to check on her.

Y/n and the mother of the little boy begin chatting, so I quietly make an exit, sitting down at one of the picnic tables with a full bottle of water in front of me.

My fingers twist the plastic top open, the crack of the seal popping as I press the bottle to my lips, tossing it back for a drink. I can’t help but gaze at y/n, taking in her figure with complete admiration. She’s wearing a yellow sundress that comes down to her knees, pairing it with a white cardigan over the straps. Her feet are donned in ivory flats that match the unnecessary cardigan she has on her arms.

It’s Texas, and it’s hot as hell out here. Maybe I’m being a bit of a pervert, though. Her skin is absolutely flawless in every sense of the word, and I just want to see more of it. I haven’t been this taken back by a woman since I first met my wife. That thought consumes my chest with guilt, a sharp pang internally piercing my abdomen.

My hand grips my stomach through my shirt, the tips of my fingers digging into the fabric. My wife had told me that she wants me to move on once she passes, and I’ve tried, but I haven’t found anybody. I haven’t even slept with anyone since her, only a few dates here and there that didn’t even end up with a kiss.

“Joel?” a voice interrupts my racing thoughts. “Are you okay?”

I look up to meet the eyes of y/n, soft and vast with concern. “Yes,” I answer quickly. “Just a little light headed. I think I need to eat.”

Her gaze loses a bit of its scrutiny. “Let me grab you some pizza or something. Do you have low blood sugar?”

I laugh. “No, I don’t.”

Y/n briefly leaves, returning with two slices of meat lover’s pizza on a paper plate. “You seem like a meat guy.”

“I am, actually,” a laugh pushes past my lips, my anxiety slowly easing away as I grab the plate of food, taking a bite. “Thank you.”

She sits adjacent from me, a piece of pizza in front of her as well. “You’re getting some color to your face again,” she chuckles.

“Did you really think I was so old that I had diabetes?”

Y/n laughs loudly, her head thrown back, exposing her kissable throat. “Diabetes isn’t always an old person thing, Joel. You could have type one, which you could be born with.”

“You didn’t really answer my question,” I tease.

Her cheeks flush with a hint of maroon, a satisfied smile spreading onto my own face. “No, I don’t think you’re old.”

“God, I feel it. I’ll be forty-one this year, Sarah will be ten. It’s crazy.”

“I’ll be twenty-five, and I’d like to complain about how I feel old, but I feel like you’d just judge me,” she beams vastly.

“I’d never judge you,” I say gently. “I was the most scared of turning thirty, though. It was like I should’ve been planning my retirement already.”

Y/n laughs heartily. “That’s how I feel now. I only just finished college a year ago, and I’m already a teacher. When will I need to plan my retirement?”

I chuckle. “Not for a long time.” My eyes flick between hers, “What made you want to be a teacher?”

A fond smile parts her lips. “My mom was a fourth grade teacher, and I wanted to be just like her.”

“She’d be proud of you,” I say before even thinking. “Sorry,” I instantly apologize, shaking my head. “It just came out.”

“No,” she beams wide. “Don’t apologize. You’re very kind, Joel.”

“Hey, there you are,” a deep voice echoes throughout the shaded gazebo.

An attractive, tall man saunters over to y/n, giving her a quick peck on the cheek that she awkwardly leans towards him for.

“Oh, hi. Joel, this is my fiancé, Sam. Sam, this is one of my student’s parents, Joel,” y/n says with her delicate voice that reminds me of wispy summer clouds.

“Nice to meet you,” Sam nods as he shakes my hand, sitting down beside y/n.

I can’t help but feel disappointed by the fact that she isn’t single, not like I had a chance anyway. Her fiancé does seem to be older though, appearing closer to my age than to hers. He has brown hair with a red tint to it, and bright blue eyes that pin you into place. It’s not hard to miss his light Scottish accent, or his incredibly toned physique. If this is her type, I definitely never had a chance.

“Oh, fiancé,” I say nonchalantly. “Congratulations.”

Y/n shifts as Sam wraps his arm around her shoulders, placing a kiss against her temple. “Thank you,” she says, but not without a hint of disdain in her tone.

“I’ve been trying to urge her to start planning the wedding, but it’s been a year since I proposed and still nothing,” he says humorously.

“And I’ve been focusing on my career,” y/n replies sharply, but with a clear faux smile on her face. “So, I haven’t had time for much else.”

“Hire someone,” Sam says through gritted teeth. “It isn’t difficult, darling.”

My head moves around the incredibly uncomfortable situation in front of me, spotting Sarah on the swings beside Rachel. Part of me wishes there was some sort of excuse I could use to leave this picnic table, but I’m afraid I’m glued here against my will.

“Ms. Y/l/n?” a student comes up beside her, “I brought these for you.” The girl hands her a bouquet of flowers, y/n’s entire face lighting up.

“Oh, my goodness, Felicity! Thank you so much!” She places her nose against one of the roses. “I love roses. They’re my favorite.”

The girl bashfully giggles as she walks away, the mother coming up to speak to y/n.

“She insisted on getting you flowers,” the mother gushes with enthusiasm. “I’m happy to see the kids love you so much after your first day. Clearly you’re a wonderful replacement.”

“Oh, thank you so much. I didn’t feel like I did anything special, but I’m glad they like me. They’re all so amazing.”

The mom smiles fondly as she walks away towards the pizza table, grabbing herself some food.

I honestly feel guilty that we didn’t bring anything specifically for y/n. The thought didn’t even cross my mind, and now I know I have to make up for it. Perhaps I could send Sarah to school on Monday with something special for her. Would that come off as creepy, though? That’s the last thing I want to do, is freak her out.

Sam stands up and walks away, adding some fruit onto a plate from one of the platters.

“I’m really sorry you had to witness that,” y/n says quietly. “I specifically asked him not to come.”

“Oh, it’s okay. I understand,” I smile politely. “He seems like a nice guy.”

Her eyes wander over to him, a forlorn expression spreading onto her perfect face. “Yeah.”

I catch a glimpse of Sarah running past me, completely sweaty as she dives her arm into the cooler to fish out a bottle of water for herself. Her eyes meet mine and she gives me an excited wave as she chugs her drink. I wave back with a small laugh, watching as she tosses the empty bottle out and runs back to the playground with her friends.

“She adores you,” y/n says softly. “Everybody introduced themselves in class yesterday, and she talked about you.”

A warmth spreads in my chest. “Really? What did she say?”

“She just said that your name is Joel, you work in construction, and that you’re the best dad in the world.”

My cheeks ache as I smile, laughing slightly. “I love that kid so damn much.”

“I can tell,” y/n replies with a vast grin. “She’s a lucky girl.”

“Please, I’m the lucky one. When I told you she was an easy kid, I meant it. I’ve had to raise her alone for the last eight years, and it’s almost like she knew I was a single parent. She never made anything difficult for me,” I laugh, “well, until recently. Her growth spurts have made her so tired and now it’s almost impossible to get her out of bed for school.”

Y/n laughs, the sound being music to my ears. “Oh, god, I don’t blame her. I’m the same way and I’m done growing.”

Our laughter mixes together, being cut off by Sam’s sudden presence again. He plops down his plate of fruit, only having one piece of pizza beside it.

“Did I miss something?” he asks with an arched brow and a grin.

“No,” y/n shakes her head. “Just saying it’s hard to get me out of bed in the morning.”

“Oh, I have my ways,” he says suggestively.

My brows raise as I shift uncomfortably on the bench.

Y/n slaps his arm as she scowls at him. “Jesus, Sam, this is my job. There’s kids here, can you please be quiet?”

“Oh, come on, they’re all the way over there. They can’t hear me.”

“The parents can,” she continues to scold. “Please.”

“Only Joel can hear me, and I don’t think he minds,” Sam looks pointedly at me.

“Oh,” I flick my eyes between them. “No, it’s fine. I’m fine.”

“See?” he beams. “Relax, darling. This new job has you all uptight.”

Y/n crosses her arms, looking anywhere but at the man beside her. It’s honestly making me uneasy to be around them any longer, so I decide to stand, excusing myself to use the bathroom.

As the sun greets my skin, I let out a sigh of relief, a million different thoughts running through my mind right now. Almost all of them are focused on y/n, wondering if I’ll ever see her again in person after today. What possible excuse could there be for me seeing her? She’s Sarah’s teacher, and there’s no logical, normal way to see her outside of school unless I asked her out, but she’s already with somebody.

It’s hard to hide my disappointment at that fact, but truthfully I think she’s out of my league, even if she apparently is interested in older men. Sam and I are polar opposites in all the worst ways. He’s toned and ripped with colored eyes and hair, while I have the softened dad bod with shaggy hair that’s dark brown mixed with a bit of gray, and normal, non-alluring brown eyes. If there were ever a man to compete against for a woman’s affection, it isn’t him. He would win every single time.

I’ve never gone for a woman who’s more than five years younger than me, and y/n is sixteen years younger than me. I’m reminded of the story she told about her parents, and the fact that they were sixteen years apart. She spoke so fondly of them, that clearly she would never have an issue with being someone my age.

God, who am I kidding? She’s engaged and far too stunning for me. I need to quit my daydreaming now before I end up in a fictional spiral about a woman I barely know.

As I leave the humid bathroom, I see Sarah over at the playground, running around in the sand barefoot with Rachel and another girl chasing her. I make my way over, placing my hands on my hips as I watch her sprint away.

“Playing tag?” I ask, Sarah not even looking at me for a second.

“Yep!” she answers quickly. “Don’t distract me!”

Laughing, I walk away, heading towards the table that I’m dreading to sit at again. To my relief, y/n is alone, gazing down in her lap as I sit across from her again.

“Where’s Sam?” I ask her, looking around.

“Oh,” her eyes meet mine, “he’s on a call for work.”

“What does he do?”

“Physical therapy,” she shrugs. “Boring.”

I laugh. “Not nearly as boring as construction.”

“Please,” she scoffs, “I’d much rather hear your work stories than his, I’m sure. He just tells me how he gropes women all day,” y/n laughs.

“Professionally gropes,” I jokingly correct her, resulting in an effortless giggle. “At the end of the day, he comes home smelling a lot better than me, I promise you.”

She chuckles, gazing at me. “Thank you for talking to me so much, Joel. I was nervous I’d be lonely at this thing.”

“You’re very easy to talk to, y/n, you don’t have to thank me.”

There’s a moment where we sit silently, just looking at each other, and I’m wondering if she feels the same spark between us as I do.

“Okay,” Sam’s voice causes me to jump slightly, “sorry about that, I was just answering a client’s questions about what exercises they can do at home.”

I nod. “No worries. Physical therapy sounds like an interesting job,” I smile, y/n giving me a dramatic eye roll.

“Thank you!” he answers loudly, looking over to y/n. “See? I told you it’s not boring.

There’s a light thump beside me on the picnic table, seeing a sweaty, panting Sarah beside me. “Daddy, I’m tired. Can we leave?”

I chuckle, nodding. “We can leave whenever you want.”

“It’s too hot out.”

“Then we can leave.”

Sarah smiles up at me, turning to look at Sam and y/n. “Who are you?” she asks curiously.

“I’m Sam, Ms. Y/l/n’s fiancé.”

“Fiancé?” Sarah looks to me. “That’s before marriage, right?”

I laugh, nodding. “Yes.”

“Well, that’s good. She’s a very nice lady.”

Y/n laughs, shaking her head. “Thank you, Sarah.”

I stand off the bench, Sarah standing with me. “It was lovely meeting you, y/n. And Sam,” I nod.

Y/n stands, shaking my hand. “Thank you for coming, Joel, and for staying to talk for so long.”

“Of course,” I smile. “Have a good rest of your day.”

“You too.”

Sarah and I walk back to the truck, my mind reeling with everything y/n and I spoke about. I’ve decided that there’s nothing stopping me from seeing that beautiful woman again, even if I have to call off work just to stop by the school. I’ve been meaning to just to spend lunch with Sarah, anyway, and now I can see her and y/n at the same time.

I need to see her again.

****

[theycallme-thejackal]

One MidgeLenny x TSwift Fic Per Day

174. Sad Beautiful Tragic

Midge | Lenny

Time is taking its sweet time erasing her from his memory.

The problem is most likely that he doesn’t actually want to forget her. She’s at the top of the list of good things in his life - just below Kitty, who’s sleeping in his arms as he carries her to her bedroom after she fell asleep watching TV in the living room.

He didn’t want to break up with Midge. For the short time they were together, he thought this was finally it. That he’d found the person he would spend the rest of his life with. And sure, he’d felt that way with Honey, but their relationship was punctuated by crisis and trauma and a hell of a lot of drugs.

With Midge, things were easy. She never expected him to be anything more than who he is. She was supportive and loving, and while there certainly was drama involved (her ex, his addiction), she never felt the need to create problems where there weren’t any. And he was perfectly happy to bask in the comfort of a strangely stable relationship.

And then the cops showed up, yanked him off the stage, and in a matter of weeks, his cabaret license was revoked, he was sentenced to a workhouse, and everything he’d worked so hard to build crumbled right in front of him.

He couldn’t stay. She couldn’t leave. So now he lives in California with his daughter, a short drive from his mother’s house, and he thinks about her every damn day.

He tucks Kitty into bed, kissing her hair as he tucks her teddy bear into her arms, and then he heads to the living room and pours himself a glass of whiskey.

He’s on his third glass when the phone rings.

He sets down his glass and takes a drag from his cigarette as he picks up the phone, and when her voice floats over the line, his heart aches for her. They don’t talk often, and when they do, it’s usually because one or both of them is feeling sad enough to need the other. To just hear the other’s voice.

He’s grateful she reached out. He’s been tempted several times in the past few days, but usually it’s too late to call New York. She sounds worried. Sad. All he wants is to be able to wrap her up in his arms and comfort her. Tell her how much he loves her.

Over the course of their conversation, he finds it harder and harder not to voice that feeling. His stomach twists when she tells him Joel came on to her, and he wonders how soon after he left. Hours? Minutes? Was he in the fucking cab on the way to the airport when Joel showed up to try and take advantage of her heartache?

“There hasn’t been anyone else,” she tells him, and some of his anxiety slips away. Even though he’s the one who ended it, the thought of her moving on has him tasting bile on the tip of his tongue. “You see, I’m still pretty enamored with this guy who lives all the way across the country,” she continues, and he very nearly clutches his chest at the softness of her voice. “And...I’m holding out hope that he’ll come back someday.”

She can’t say things like that. She’s supposed to move on. As sick as the thought makes him, she needs to find someone worth her while. Someone who can actually be in the same state as her. “Midge...”

“I know,” she interrupts. “But...your lawyers are working on the appeal, and one day you’ll be able to work here again - ”

He’s grasping for straws when he says, “There’s no guarantee - ”

She cuts him off again. “And I don’t want anyone else. I just...don’t.”

He inhales from his cigarette. She’s broken down his walls entirely - not that he built them very high for her - and he’s helpless to do anything but ask how they can make this work.

And he finds himself agreeing to try to make long distance work. “I...I do want you to meet Kitty,” he tells her, smiling at the idea of just how hard Kitty fights to stay awake to watch Midge on Gordon Ford’s show. She already loves Midge, and he’s certain he’ll love her more once she actually meets her. “I think she’ll like you more than she likes me.”

Her laugh is soft, and it makes him grin even more. “Considering how much Esther loves you, it’s only fair,” she teases.

God, he misses that entire weird fucking family. Ethan, Esther. Abe and Rose. He even misses her former in-laws and the insanity that comes with their presence at family events. “Tell peanut I’ll come visit soon,” he says.

“If I tell her, you have to make good on that promise,” she threatens.

“I would never break a promise to Esther Maisel,” he swears.

“Okay. Well...the show is pretty much taped for the next couple of months. I might be able to swing a visit mid-October.”

“I’ll block off the entire month for you,” he replies, and she laughs again. 

He hears her fight a yawn, and he chuckles. “You should get some sleep,” he whispers.

“I should...but...I don’t want to hang up.”

“You can call again tomorrow. I’ll be home writing most of the day.”

“Okay, then,” she concedes. “I, um...goodnight, Lenny.”

“Night, Midge,” he breathes. “I...” He sighs. “I love you.”

He can hear her smiling when she responds, “I love you, too.”

The line clicks softly, and he sets down the phone before settling back into his seat, feeling better than he has in months.

[irrelevantwriter]

In The Wild

Featuring: Eddie Munson (Stranger Things) 

Rating: SFW

Word Count: 854

Just a little blurb of Eddie as a preschool teacher. I will die on the hill that he’s the kids favorite because he let’s them get messy. And color his tattoos. And play with his hair. And he does all the voices for story time. I’m gonna go sob now. K bye.

**Check out my other Eddie fics here

*Masterlist in bio.

***********************

“Mr. Munson! Mr. Munson!”

Eddie turned in the direction of the little voice that’d called out, transporting him from the cereal aisle in the grocery store to his classroom at Havenwood Elementary. He pushed the headphones of his walkman off his ears, silencing the guitar solo of Metallica’s Enter Sandman.

Before he could truly process which one of his students had spotted him, a pair of little arms wrapped themselves around his jean clad legs. He knew who it was instantly.

“Woah, hey there Piper,” Eddie chuckled at the four year old’s enthusiasm, catching her before she caused them both to topple over. She was surprisingly strong. And very affectionate with her teachers.

“I told Mommy I saw you by the cookies, but she didn’t believe me!”

Eddie took in the young girl’s furrowed brows, her face set in an expression of determination as she eyed her mother from down the aisle. The poor woman looked frazzled. And deeply embarrassed.

“That’s okay, Piper. Your mom just probably didn’t want to make a mistake. It’s okay to be wrong sometimes,” he explained gently, patting the girl’s back. She still held onto his legs, staring up at him with large hazel eyes, taking in every word as if he hung the moon.

“Piper! I’m so sorry, Mr. Munson,” Tracy, at least he thought that was the woman’s name, approached and apologized, reaching for her daughter.

“S’okay. Really,” he replied, shrugging off her worry. “I’ve had my fair share of surprises while out. Piper’s hardly the worst.”

Tracy visibly relaxed at his words, holding the young girl’s hand after she finally pried her off Eddie’s legs. 

“She saw you and shot off before I could stop her. She was excited.”

“I got that,” he laughed, winking down at Piper as she fiddled with the rings on one of his hands. She did that at school a lot too. All of the kids did. They were always enamored by his wardrobe. And his hair. And tattoos. 

Many of the kids, including Piper, had been afraid of him at first. But after the first few hours of uncertainty, the kids usually warmed up to him. It was a pattern he’d gotten used to in the last three years.

The parents could be a different story. But word around town had gotten out. And finally Eddie’s reputation was one he could be proud of. He was the favorite teacher. The kids loved him and the parents praised him. It's what he’d wanted all his life. What he’d left Hawkins for.

Respect.

“You being good for your mom, kiddo?” Eddie asked, pulling Piper’s attention to him.

She shied away from the question and his stare, looking down at her glitter pink tennis shoes instead.

“Piper, Mr. Munson is talking to you, sweetie.” Tracy gently nudged her daughter’s shoulder.

Piper nodded.

“That’s good. No more running off though, okay? Don’t wanna get lost, do ya?” He crouched down to her level, making sure she met his eyes. She nodded, reaching out to tug at his hair. Something she also did quite often.

“I’m sorry again. We didn’t mean to disturb you,” Tracy spoke up, eyes drifting over his form as he stood to his full height.

He tried hard not to react to her subtle appraisal. It was something he was still getting used to. Because even though he’d anticipated the initial reactions of parents at seeing him as their kid’s preschool teacher, what he hadn’t been expecting was the mothers. The single mothers. The single mothers and their very clichéd attraction to the tattooed metalhead with a heart of gold. Least that’s what Steve had said when Eddie had explained the situation.

“No problem. I love seeing my kids out in the wild,” he joked, earning a soft giggle from the woman.

She wasn’t unattractive. And she was probably somewhere around his age, maybe a little older. But Eddie had made it a rule to stay away from the parents. He’d learned the hard way in his first year of teaching. Some lines just didn’t need to be crossed. And he loved his kids too much. Loved his job too much to put it in jeopardy.

“Well, we’ll let you get back to it then. Say goodbye to Mr. Munson, sweetie.”

Piper looked up from her spot near Eddie’s tennis shoe, a sticker in her tiny fingers. She smiled brightly up at him, waving as she stuck the My Little Pony sticker to his jeans.

“For me?” Eddie asked, playing up his appreciation for the girl.

She nodded, taking her mother’s hand.

“Thanks, Piper. I love it. I’ll make sure and wear it on Monday for school, yeah?”

Her smile doubled in size, eyes beaming with excitement. Tracy pulled her along, waving at him as they left the cereal aisle, leaving him to his weekend ritual. Eddie left the sticker on his jeans and put his headphones back on, ignoring the curious gazes of those that spotted the item amongst his black denim and leather.

He would do anything for his kids.

Mr. Munson was everything his own teachers hadn’t been.

[aceofnace]

4x10 was truly one of the worst tv experiences of my life bc what was that with Tristan and Nancy, literally what in the fresh hell was that? They looked so in love, they have them so much it's driving me batshit. Even with the theory of the black door I can't accept that, the only way I'll stomach it is if he's some form of ace or has half of his soul on top of the black door. If they're going to go the Tristan is her soulmate in every lifetime but she's gonna choose ace in this one I might need to be committed bc who does that to their main ship in the last 2 eps of the show, the only form I'll accept is if she's been destined for Tristan but she's been choosing ace in every lifetime too. I can't even begin to imagine how they're gonna wrap this up in a way that's remotely satisfying, bc they're gonna need half of the last 2 eps to just be about nace, I'm sorry but now that we're getting no scenes of them actually together I'm gonna need a sex scene a rain kiss the most romantic hug and I love you soulmates in every life confirmation and a wedding or a scene that confirms they're married with a daughter or something I'm not kidding

I get it. Somehow, I was less angry after first watching 4x10 than I was after watching 4x09, which makes no sense because Tristan wasn't even officially in 4x09, but I think it's only because I went into 4x10 with the lowest of low expectations that we'd get any Nace so I was at least a little prepared. But I wasn't prepared for was...that ending scene with Nancy and Tristan on the floor. Yeah, they looked a little too cozy. And Nancy used her soft voice with him that she normally only uses with Ace. And that forehead touch? NO, THAT'S HER MOVE WITH ACE! WHAT THE HELL ARE THEY DOING?

Look, at this point, I have no idea what's going on, other than it's something very strange and will end up explaining everything in the end. But will it be a satisfying explanation? That remains to be seen. My guess as of right now as to how or why that scene took place is this: if Nancy went to the black door with a specific sin with the purpose of erasing/altering her feelings for Ace (so that they could be happy again and easily move on), then it could explain why Tristan is so enamored with her—because the sin of hers that he ate was charged with her love for Ace. And maybe Tristan doesn't remember a sin once he's back in his human form, but it's possible that he subconsciously does. And as for Nancy, her newfound feelings for Tristan are easy to explain: the black door altered her memories and her feelings. She has only really shown any actual interest in Tristan since the episode after she supposedly went to the black door. Even in 4x07 when she told Ace she'd gone through an intense situation with Tristan and wasn't sure how she felt about it yet, it was easy to see that she was testing him. She wanted to see if that bothered him. And when Ace showed no signs of it bothering him (even though it absolutely did) she was visibly disappointed and so upset she dropped the dice she was holding onto. No, these "feelings" Nancy suddenly has for Tristan are not real.

If you re-watch that last scene with them, surrounded by candles, staring into each other's eyes while talking about walking paths together many times before, it's actually not as romantic as it seems upon the first viewing. Compare how Nancy stares into Tristan's eyes with the way she has been staring into Ace's eyes ever since the scene in his apartment in 3x13. There's just no comparison. When she looks at Ace, you can feel the deep yearning, the desire, the unadulterated love. When she looks at Tristan at the end of 4x10, she looks curious. Like she's trying to solve a mystery. But she also, honestly, look like she's maybe under a little bit of a spell. There's no real warmth to her. There's no longing there. And yeah, they touched foreheads, but they didn't kiss. WHY didn't they kiss? This is Nancy we're talking about here. This girl doesn't shy away from physical contact with men she's attracted to. If she had wanted to kiss Tristan, she would have. Heck, she was trying to kiss Ace for all of 4x01 even though she knew it would kill him. Now, you could say, "well, the Glasses interrupted them before they could kiss", but they really didn't. There was plenty of time for either Nancy or Tristan to lean in and at least touch lips, but no attempt was made by either one. That is WEIRD. Especially with how that scene was set up. Again, something very strange is going on here.

I feel like I'm getting off-track here, so I'll get back to the point of your ask. The soulmate thing is weird and very out-of-the-blue. I'm not sure where they're going with it, and I'm not even sure where I'd want them to go with it. I don't really see the point of introducing a character late in the game and then revealing that he and Nancy have walked this world together many times before as soulmates. That would be a very interesting (unaffectionate) choice for the writers to make, knowing how rabid the fanbase has always been about Nace and how we've been calling them soulmates since season 2. So we'll just have to wait and see what they've got up their sleeves. I'm with you, though, I could definitely get on board the train of Nancy choosing Ace in every lifetime, even though she's been destined to be with someone else. Any other scenario will probably not sit right with me.

After all the pain and suffering we've gone through this season, we deserve to get a "sex scene a rain kiss the most romantic hug and I love you soulmates in every life confirmation and a wedding or a scene that confirms they're married with a daughter". I'm hoping we at least get one of those, but I'm not sure if we will since time is running out and it's running out fast. No matter what, we'll get at least one more kiss, and it will probably replace their last one as being the best kiss of Nancy's life. But we might have to just accept that's all we'll get in the end, and we'll just have to dream of what could've been had everything been done differently.

[thatbanditqueen]

how jealous/protective is elvis when it comes to becky butt?

Why hello there lovely non non, thanks for reaching out!

What do y'all think? My initially gut reaction is VERY. I'm gonna venture to bet any man caught looking at Becky in any kind of way is gonna get some wrath that falls somewhere on the Elvis temper scale that begins with "not paying attention," and goes from "Mad as a mule chewing on bumblebees" to "pointing a gun atcha while I karate kick your ass,"

Its early days, Becky Butt and Elvis have only known it each other a week. Although, what a week - they managed to spend FOUR nights together and Elvis managed too worm his way into her family and meet her kid and collude with Ida to 'kidnap' her. He probably knows her better than a man she might have met normally and dated for a month or two before being ready to have him meet Ruth and her Aunt and Uncle. But that is how Elvis is, I get the feeling from obsessively studying reading about him that he could be instantly close and familiar with people he got a good read on. So I'm gonna say that intensity applies to his jealous and protective nature, at least in the way I'm sketching him out in this fic. He already punished Joe for teasing her and had someone go tell Charlie not to sit next to Becky in chapter two. Even though he had her dress bought small so she'd be popping out of it all night, he was still very angry when she accidentally flashed Charlie. And there's more of that coming in Chapter 4 because Jerry and Charlie and Larry are just the first to be totally enamored with her.... not sexually mind you, although Jerry kind of develops a soft appreciation for how cool and beautiful she and her daughter are, he wants to try and protect her from Elvis.... but yeah, the Mafia boys are *mostly* gonna wanna be around her, she's someone new and their cooped with with each other all the time, and Becky is such a down-to-earth, semi-Tomboy who's not afraid to get her hands dirty, although she also loves cooking and sewing and making things, she is very much a earth mother goddess type... probably my most domestically inclined OC... anyway, she totally charms the boys with some vegan carob cookies and guitar playing and maybe fixes some pants for Lamar that he rips or something.... as for outright jealousy and protectiveness.... it is going to come out more and more as they go on... there's definitely a fight with baby daddy somewhere down the line....

So, how about you all? Are you here for hot and bothered Elvis?

If you read my fic, you've probably noticed "angry violent" Elvis one of my favorite flavors, along with "Cocky flirty prick," "Having a Hissy Fit," "Soft, sweet and needy," "Cool and confident because I feel safe with you and also like you give me power over you," and "Goofy sexy baby talk in third person about my penis..." hmmmm i feel like i jusst drifted off into a day dream (night dream?) as I started to just describe all the different sides of Elvis because i love them all... although i need to work in "deep philosophical mystical" and "prankster" Elvis more....

Oh no, stop fighting... over me.... i hate it.... take me now

xoxox norah

[justatinybunwriting]

Quilt

The 25th entry and the last of the short stories I wrote from this list.

When Jac goes to visit the family farm on a colder day, there's one thing that she looks forward to more than anything else. It was surprisingly not her dad's wonderful singing, nor was it hanging out with the vegetable sheep herd and sleeping on their wool (though that would be a close second). That distinction belongs to staying in the living room and wrapping herself all around with her favorite quilt.

This luxurious fabric was hand knitted by the green man himself from the fleece of the very vegetable lambs that he had raised. It used to be a part of a much larger throw that had decorated the sofa for more than a decade. But after seeing that his adopted daughter loved it so much, Gerald decided that it would be better for her to have a piece of it to claim for herself. So he had cut off a portion and presented it to her one fateful dawn- and the young woman had been enamored with it ever since.

Jac was so comfortably snug in the center of her thick, warm veil atop her resting place on the back of the couch. Her figure reminded Gerald of a chrysalis, for the tiny human remained completely still in that exact position all throughout the morning. He knew she was awake, but he was also aware that she would not be getting up anytime soon.

"I'd be careful if I were you, Jac!" Her father teased, "I wouldn't be surprised if you will turn into a butterfly in a few more days."

"You know what?" Jac finally spoke in a muffled voice. "Let's test that theory."

"I never saw a giant butterfly before, so I'm sure that would be truly remarkable!" Gerald replied. "I bet you'll become a very beautiful one."

"Thanks dad." And with that, she was done speaking for at least another hour.

As the day rolled by and the nature giant was mostly done with his early chores, he sat down to relax with a nice cup of joe next to the human cocoon. While she failed to notice his presence at first, Jac listened intently as more and more sounds began to perk up her ears. The creak of a tin opened, which was immediately followed by a plastic wrapper unzipping, that would then unleash a sweet yet tart smell that tickled at her nose. Jac slowly turned her head around to witness the majesty that was her dad's famous cookies, her eyes then widened to about the size of an owl's.

"Well! That got your attention," Gerald said with a soft chuckle. "You want some?"

Jac gave an audible gulp that even the giant was able to hear. But as soon as she unfurled the quilt that had protected her small body, she was quickly reminded of why she had it on in the first place. After merely a moment exposed to the surrounding air, which in turn caused her to shiver quite a bit, Jac backed up and took refuge underneath the safety of her quilted shield once again.

"I think I'm good for now." She said.

"Are you sure..?" Was Gerald's response.

"Yeah..." Jac was reluctant, but she had mostly made up her mind.

"Well, that's too bad. I suppose I'll just have to eat the last remaining ones myself. Wouldn't want to let good food go to waste after all."

One by one, the noise of soft crunching slowly reverberated through Jac's skull, which had made it excruciatingly difficult for her to ignore. The thought of missing out on this rare treat pained her, and it wasn't long before she had to take back her initial decision. Gerald patiently waited as Jac's inner turbulence was swirling around in her mind. After a time however, he felt that he needed to speak up.

"Why don't you come on down here and help yourself? A bit of exercise will do you good! Besides," The green giant was hesitant to suggest this but he thought it would be the next best solution. "You can always go back to that spot when you're done."

"Deal!" Jac exclaimed in lightning speed.

As much as Jac would have hoped to keep herself from tripping over her blanket as she made her way to the seat, this proved to be next to impossible for the tiny human. Thankfully, Gerald offered to lend a helping hand quite literally, so that she can enjoy feasting on a part of a cookie without the need to unwrap herself from the safety of her fluffy cocoon.

Nothing could beat devouring one of the most delicious sweets that Jac has ever tasted while simultaneously being nice and snuggly with the best quality quilt that she owns. Gerald watched in silence as his adopted daughter happily chewed away like a rodent, and during this time he had a good thought.

"Why don't you take that blanket home with you? I know how much you like it, so it would only seem natural I think."

Jac nearly dropped the cookie she was holding and swung her head to face her father much too quickly. "This is part of a set with the other quilts isn't it? I'd hate to break it up after all this time."

"Doncha worry about it. I never cared about keeping a complete set or any of that hullabaloo. It's yours Jac. Feel free to take it and do whatever you please with it."

It took a little bit for Jac to fully realize just how happy she actually was by that statement. With a great big hug to her pops, she thanked him wholeheartedly for the gift.

"I promise I'll take good care of it!" She said excitedly.

"So long as you remember to go to work and exercise and get out of bed every once in a while then I'm fine with it." Gerald suggested.

"Sure thing dad."

Somehow her father couldn't believe that, but he went along with it with a slight sigh.

[r-adio]

❝ I DON'T DOUBT THAT YOU WERE WATCHING VERY CLOSELY, MY DEAR. ❞ though her tone lacks empathy, both of them do. they don't have any concept of mourning for the dead. they only care about what information that they can gather from it. the cannibals were replaceable, they would have never placed them out on the playing field if that was not the case. they were the perfect little army for the job. pawns on the chessboard, ones that were hungry for the blood of angels, which only made them all the more volatile. they were perfect for the job at hand, but that didn't necessarily mean that all of them had the ideal fighting capabilities for the job. with their peaceful lives here in cannibal town, the majority of them were content having a meal served to them on a silver platter. it wasn't the same as hunting down human flesh for sport.

❝ had it been a trap, but i would have not placed you in such a precarious situation. i do hope that you have that much trust in me. ❞ though, he didn't know how the battle was going to swing. it certainly hadn't been something harmless for himself. he'd taken on the worst enemy of them all, and he proved that they didn't have what it took to take on the higher angels. they were only lucky that lucifer had intervened, an unspoken truth between the two of them. he didn't want to admit to this any more than he wanted to admit that he had lost when he needed to win the most.

watching her get up from her comfortable chair, she must have had something truly of interest for him if she was willing to get up & dig out the object worth showing. a singular picture which was placed on the table before him. leaning in for a better look at it, there was no mistaking what he saw. making a soft oh, just to be sure that she knew he was just as surprised as herself at her findings. the angels truly had no care for where they left their weapons at the end of a successful day of extermination. it was a known fact, but no one had ever questioned who went around and did the clean up. they would have never anticipate that it was one of their own. using those weapons for their own gain in the end, concealing her own vital knowledge up until the point that he had to use the two girls to force it out of her.

❝ what an interesting way to get stock. ❞ he mumbled, still enamored by the image in front of him. ROSIE had her own thoughts about the matter, and it was a known fact that she couldn't talk about this with anyone else. it was a cautious topic when another OVERLORD was thrown into the mix. especially one who was revered like CARMILLA. she had a solid reputation, and plenty of DEMONS who hung on her words like it was gospel. slandering her to the wrong soul could have ended badly for anyone. ❝ i do wonder who her clients are. you wouldn't be suggesting that she is the one to arm the angels herself? HAHA, what a strange turn of events that would be. knowing that she had almost lost her own daughters to those bloodthirsty pricks, it would be the perfect karma. oh, how interesting this is indeed. you really never disappoint, @pardiselost. ❞

❝ Well someone has to these days ! It doesn't hurt the brain to think of these little ideas, after-all you know dear Franklin was killed by the Angels too. Watched it happen before my very eyes. The sight of it had me watching closely, my dear Alastor. ❞ Franklin's death didn't hold much of a meaning to her, close yes, but close to where she could mourn over for them ? No. That would be just silly for her to feel sorry, it wasn't her fault that Franklin was too late to get in the Emporium.

❝ If it was a trap, well I lived a wonderful run ! I hope you would be the one to eat my corpse when it is left there. No one else has such a wonderful palette of taste like you do. ❞ She smiles placing down her tea as she jokes with him. Really though, the more she thought about it, the more somethings she was questioning herself that could make sense, it's just the idea of saying that doesn't come across as unfathomable.

She gets up from her sit, going over to her cupboards, opening them as she dug inside looking for a little something she had place in there for safe keeping. A soft AHA escapes from her as she grabs it, closing the cupboards and walking back over to the table before placing down a single photo. ❝ Elementary, my dear Alastor. One of my darling cannibalisms had taken this picture, which yes, I found rather ODD that they would so such a thing, but the more I looked at it the more I started to understand something from EACH day those Angels stop by. ❞ She points to the weapons in the background, angel weapons that have been left behind by the angels.

❝ I thought, perhaps I might have been going a tad crazy, why without you who in hell would I ever talk about this with ? ❞ She grabs the pot, pouring him some more coffee as she continues. ❝ They always leave their weapons behind ! And WHO comes to collect them each time ? Our own Overlord Carmilla . Who is nothing more, but into the weapons business herself ! ❞ Rosie was very proud of her deduction, knowing that Alastor could clearly fill in the blanks on what she was going with it. It really shows that even the LONGEST of Overlords who have secrets can get too cautious in getting found out easy. Should be lucky it wasn't the Vees who could put two and two together. Just a little gossip between friends after all !

[zablife]

Safe Haven

Alfie Solomons x female reader

Summary: After Alfie sides with the Italians to take down the Shelbys, he starts a new life as a baker in a small village to hide out. When his wife puts her trust in the wrong person, their idyllic life is shattered. 

Author’s Note: I combined two requests for this fic. The first request was for a fic with a gentle, soft reader who brings out another side of Alfie and he falls for her despite himself. The second request was for an angsty fic where Alfie’s partner dies and he blames himself. 

Warnings: age difference, pregnancy, mentions of blood, death

“Were you disappointed no one was here for you today?” you asked Alfie as you stroked a hand over his beard. He caught your hand in his, squeezing lightly before placing a kiss along your knuckles. You wondered if it bothered him that none of his family or friends came to your wedding. You were relentlessly curious about his life before he met you although he never talked about it, seeming not to miss it. 

“Not a bit, you’re my life now, treacle,” Alfie said, pulling you closer to him so he could nestle his nose in your sweet smelling hair. It didn’t matter what his life had held before he met you. The pleasure of being in this small village, married to a kind and loving farmer’s daughter was all he needed in this world. It was actually more than he ever hoped for considering his past sins in Camden Town.

He ran a hand over your naked back, making you giggle, and he thought about how much his life had changed since he met you. Alfie had tried very hard to distance himself from the wayward man of his youth. He had gotten out clean and wanted to begin again somewhere he would be known as a simple baker and not a gangster. He loved you because you had given him that chance at a fresh start. 

You rolled on top of your new husband and teased him with a few kisses before pulling away to ask, “Will you get me pregnant?” 

Alfie laughed at your words, but secretly hoped that you would bear his children soon. Although he was older than you, he knew there was still time to have the family he had always wanted.

“If that’s what you want, dove. I’ll give ya my best,” Alfie said raising his hips up to meet you. You giggled as you sunk down onto him. Afterward, you laid beside him beyond happy and contented, knowing your life together was just beginning. 

——————————————————————————-

Alfie had come to your village one year ago to the day and you could still remember your first meeting. You were coming home from the market with a heavy basket of dry goods when the handle snapped suddenly. You rarely cursed because your mother had told you it was a filthy habit, but you couldn’t help yourself that day as you were hot and tired. “Bollocks!” You shouted as everything in your basket came crashing down to the ground. 

As you stooped to pick up your shopping, a handsome, bearded man approached. “Can I help you with that, miss?” The gentleman had asked. 

You hadn’t noticed how close he came to you and when you stood, you were face to face.“I think I have it now, thank you,” you replied. 

“Well, let me escort you in case you need any more help,” he offered.

“No, I couldn’t ask you to go out of your way,” you responded with a blush creeping into your cheeks.

 “I was going in that direction anyway, weren’t I?,” he offered kindly. You took him up on his offer and you chatted all the way back to your family’s farm. You learned that his name was Alfie Solomons and he was new in town. You instantly took a liking to him because he seemed worldly and charming. He made you laugh as well.

When he arrived at your family’s farm, your mother offered for Alfie to stay for dinner as a thank you for seeing you safely home. He agreed without hesitation, wanting to learn more about you. He watched you carefully over dinner. He was enamored by your soft laughter and easy way with those around you. You seemed wholesome and kind, nothing like the women he had known in Camden Town. 

When you placed a gorgeous lemon drizzle cake in front of him for dessert he couldn’t wait to taste it. Your mother sang your praises as she explained you had made it yourself. You had always had a talent for baking, but didn’t like to receive praise as you were shy.

When Alfie tasted the cake, it was heavenly. He knew he needed someone like you working for him in his new bakery so he broached the topic carefully. “Y/n, would you be interested in a job?”he ventured.  You looked to your parents for approval and they nodded. “Yes, I’d love one,” you said enthusiastically. You never imagined someone would pay you to do what you loved.

That’s how you began working for Alfie. You baked from early in the morning with him, learning all kinds of new recipes. Then you helped him at the front of the shop, taking customers orders. The days passed quickly with the hard work, but with every new day you became more enamored with your boss. You couldn’t help staring at him as he stood with his broad back to you, arm muscles flexing beneath his white shirt. You loved to watch him sit at the desk after closing and place his glasses on his nose as he scratched his scruffy beard in thought. He was too adorable for words. Alfie had never tried to touch you, let alone kiss you and it was driving you mad because you knew there was something between you that had to be explored. Alfie felt it too, but he didn’t think you would be interested in someone older. 

One day after closing, you asked Alfie to help you double check the amount of money in the cash register. Ambling along slowly due to his bad leg, he stopped beside you and stared into your eyes. In that moment, you both recognized the attraction that had been forming. Without another thought in your head, you leaned forward and kissed him, holding his arms for support. To your delight, he returned your kiss with a passion you’d only read about in novels. He held your head gently as his tongue explored your mouth. You thought you would die right there. 

After that day, Alfie began asking you out on dates on the day the shop was closed. He said he wanted to spend time with you outside of the bakery so he could spoil you properly. And spoil you he did. He liked to take you on picnics and outings to the book store. However, you were always worried. A thought kept creeping into you mind and it would not be dismissed. You knew from your time together that Alfie was Jewish and you weren’t. You knew he was fond of you, but you also realized he would not want someone who didn’t share his religious beliefs. For that reason, you started to pull away from him, knowing he would never marry you.

After a few weeks of thwarted dates, Alfie asked if something was wrong. He worried you were distancing yourself because you had learned about his past somehow. There were many things he had done he wasn’t proud of and he relived them every night before bed. He knew if you found out the truth about him, you would never be his.

The time Alfie spent with you in the bakery was so peaceful and happy. He realized he wanted to live that way forever. However, you were so distant, he assumed if he proposed you would say no. Until one day, you asked him outright, “Alfie, do you wish I were Jewish? I mean, I’m not and I wondered how you felt about that…” You couldn’t stand to have the question linger any longer in your mind. You needed him to tell you truthfully.

Alfie just laughed and said, “I wouldn’t care if you worshipped the devil himself, pet. You’re perfect in my eyes.” And after that the conversation about religion was done. You knew Alfie was fond of you and you began setting your sights on marrying him. In two months time, Alfie had proposed and you said yes. The wedding would take place six months later and Alfie made no secret of the fact that he wanted a family with you, when you were ready, of course.

————————————————————————-

One day as you stood in front of the ovens, you suddenly fainted. This was odd because you’d never had that reaction before. You came to with Alfie holding your head in his hands gently saying, “Fuck, pet, you frightened me.” You let out a weak laugh at his theatrics, trying to stand on your still shaky legs. “Let me help ya, dove,” Alfie said holding you up. 

“I’m fine, Alfie, please don’t make a fuss. It’s a warm day, that’s all,” you said shaking free from his grasp. He still went to fetch you water despite your attempts to tell him you were fine. 

When you stopped to think, however, you realized it had been six weeks since your wedding and your period was late. You didn’t want to tell Alfie though. You knew he would only worry. It hadn’t been long enough for you to see a doctor so you kept working, wondering if you were carrying his child. 

Three weeks later the nausea and vomiting confirmed it. You were going to have a baby. Alfie had walked in on you one morning being sick and he had asked what was wrong. You sat back against the cool tiles and cried. That instantly sent him into a frenzy, worried that something was seriously wrong. “What is it, pet?”

He quickly realized they were happy tears when you looked up at him smiling, “I’m going to have a baby, Alf.” He picked you up from the ground and carried you bridal style into your bedroom. Placing you down on the soft bedding, he came to lie next to you. Wiping a tear away with the pad of his thumb he felt a surge of protectiveness over you. He gently rubbed a hand along your stomach thinking how quickly his life had changed and how lucky he was. He never knew one person could make him feel so complete. 

He was worried, however, about your duties at the bakery which could be quite taxing. You protested when he said he wanted you to remain at home during your pregnancy. Assuring him you would be fine, he had no choice but to trust you. He made sure to stay by your side, however, worried you would faint again. Although you never did and you progressed without incident, Alfie sweetly tried to make your job as easy as possible. You loved him for it, watching him work doubly hard to ensure you had time to rest. As your belly grew, you were less capable than before and you often huffed out of annoyance when you couldn’t do something. 

As luck would have it, a woman called Marie appeared at the bakery one day soon after looking for work. Alfie had gone to buy supplies and you were the only one at the shop that day. You were heavily pregnant by then and knew Alfie would soon need someone else to help with the day to day operations. Although you’d only discussed it a few times, you knew Alfie wouldn’t mind the extra pair of hands. 

You immediately took a liking to her as she was sweet and kind. You also felt horribly about the situation she said she was fleeing from in Birmingham. You had heard it was a rough area run by gangs and wanted to help another young woman better herself. You hired her on the spot. 

When Alfie returned he was clearly upset with you for making a decision without consulting him. You would have none of that, however, reminding him that the business belonged to both of you. Not wanting to cause a fight, Alfie let you have your way. Although he was going to keep an eye on the woman. Alfie never trusted strangers.

——————————————————————————

Three weeks later, Marie sat at the office desk writing a letter. She was nearly finished when Alfie walked in to make an inquiry about the days sales. Quickly hiding her personal correspondence under a few papers, she replied she would get the ledger. The moment she was out of sight, Alfie dug around for the paper she was clearly hiding from him. He still felt paranoid around Marie for some reason. He knew it was probably just his protective instinct over you, but he had to know everything about the woman he still considered a mystery.

As his eyes flew across the page he noticed she mentioned the bakery and the fact that you were pregnant. He bellowed for Marie to return to the office. When she appeared she saw he was holding her letter. “You want to tell me why you’re writin’ about me and my wife? Who are you workin’ for?” He asked harshly, narrowing his eyes at her. 

Marie stood still for a moment looking shocked. She gulped at his accusatory tone and shaking fist unsure what to say. “Right, you have three seconds to answer my questions before I lose my patience,” Alfie told her. 

“Mr. Solomons, I was writing a letter home to my parents about my life here. Nothing more,” she said tearfully. 

Alfie carefully studied her face for signs of a lie. He tore the letter up quickly, letting the pieces fall slowly at her feet. He shifted his weight as she cried in front of him, suddenly feeling foolish and very uncomfortable with the scene he had created. “You want to write home fine, but don’t mention my wife….and do it on your own time. Is that understood?” He said looking serious. Marie nodded slowly.

He foisted a handkerchief into her hands and walked out without another word. He knew you would be furious with him if you knew he had been so brutish. He also knew he couldn’t fire Marie now, knowing your time would soon be taken up with the baby. And there was no time to hire someone new. You had already spent enough time training her and he was happy to note that Marie’s baking was improving. He decided to keep the incident to himself.

————————————————————————

Now that you were in the last month of your pregnancy, Alfie wouldn’t let you come with him for the early morning baking. He insisted you get your rest even though you protested at the thought of languishing in the house all morning.

Today you were still snuggled in bed, one hand resting on your belly as you felt your child kick. You smiled to yourself saying, “We’ll meet you soon, little love.” When you heard a bang in the kitchen, your head jerked up and you called out, “Alfie?” You wondered if your husband had forgotten something. When you didn’t receive a reply, you hoisted yourself from the bed, one hand on your back for support. The clatter in the other room continued as you heard furniture crashing. You were terrified. 

As you exited your bedroom you were met by the sight of Marie and another man you didn’t recognize ransacking your house. “Marie, what’s going on?” You asked in surprise and fear.

“I’m sorry we have to do this, y/n, but your husband has to answer for his betrayal. The Peaky Blinders ordered it,” Marie explained as she approached you slowly. You gasped at the mention of the infamous gang and tried to shake her off, but you were too slow these days. She overpowered you easily and began tying your hands behind your back. “Hurry up,” her companion said lowly.

“Marie, please you know we’re good people. You don’t have to do this,” you argued.

“Shut up!” The man yelled at you and you shook with fear. “Marie, get her to the car,” he ordered.

Before they could move you anywhere, you felt a gush of fluid run down your legs. You knew instantly your waters had broken and you looked up at Marie with a panicked look. “I….I need a midwife…please,” you begged.

Marie’s face softened and she looked to her companion. “Fuck, no, we can’t risk it. Put her in the car, now!” He said coldly.

“No, I won’t Finn! She needs help,” Marie said feeling guilty about the stress to you and the baby. Despite her role in spying on you and Alfie, she didn’t want anything to happen to you. 

At Finn’s insistence, Marie stayed with you and watched you suffer through a quick, but painful labor, helping you birth a healthy baby girl. She saw a weak smile cross your face at the sight of your baby on your chest, but she knew something wasn’t right. Marie began to panic when she noticed how heavily you were bleeding. Excusing herself from the room, she warned Finn, “She’s going to die if we don’t do something.” 

“I don’t care, Marie. Solomons needs to pay. Would serve him right if his wife died,” he spat.

Then a knock came at the front door, quiet at first and then more insistent. “This isn’t fucking worth it, let’s go, Marie,” he said pulling her toward a window at the back of the house. They left almost as quickly as the door opened and your neighbor Sarah arrived with her teenage son. She looked around your disheveled home, wondering what could be wrong. She found you lying in your bed, cradling a naked, crying infant and ran to you to offer her help.

“Sarah…you have to warn Alfie,” you said words almost too quiet for her to hear. Sarah bent down toward the bed and took the baby in her arms. Your eyelids felt so heavy, you needed rest, but not before you knew your husband was safe. 

“Y/n, what happened?” She asked scared to know the truth.

“Marie…it was Marie…the Peaky Blinders. They tried…” your head dropped back on the pillow as you felt a dark wave crash over you. You tried to shake your head to clear your jumbled thoughts, but couldn’t move. “…tried to take me, but my waters broke….” You struggled for a breath as Sarah hushed you.

“George, you fetch Mr. Solomons quickly!” Sarah called to her son. Turning back to you she said gently, “You’ll be alright, y/n. I’m going to patch you up, love. And I’m going to take care of this little one until you feel better. I promise.” Sarah patted your hand trying to sound convincing, but knowing there wasn’t anything she could do now except comfort you. You nodded in relief before the darkness overtook you completely.

——————————————————————

“Where’s my wife?” Alfie asked in a somber tone, taking in the ransacked house and eery quiet. The scene before him unsettling him in a way he’d never experienced before. The boy pointed to the bedroom and Alfie made his way inside in a few quick strides, heavy boots thudding against the floorboards. Your frequent, playful scolding replayed in his mind, “You can’t go stomping about after the baby’s born, Alf. You’ll have to learn to be quieter, love.” With your lovely, soft voice echoing in his mind, he came to the bedroom door and cast his gaze on your lifeless body. All the color had drained from your lips and cheeks. You were far too pale, he thought. As he approached the bed, he realized you weren’t breathing. 

He felt a lump form in his throat as he tried to ask what had happened, but no words came out. He pulled his long, black coat from his shoulders and wordlessly covered you, gently draping the heavy fabric up to your chin to cover the blood soaked sheets beneath your small form.

Sarah watched Alfie from the hall feeling the weight of his heartbreak. “Alfie, love, she’s gone. She don’t need that,” the woman said gently, but realized reasoning wouldn’t work as Alfie was in shock. He still wanted to protect you even though it was clear he had failed. 

A shrill cry broke the silence as the baby woke in hunger. Alfie followed the sound to the bundle Sarah cradled and his eyes grew blurry with tears as he recognized the blanket swaddling the tiny infant. You had knitted it during the cold, winter months as you sat together by the fire chatting happily about names. You teased him that he didn’t like any of your suggestions. “Your stubbornness will be the death of me, Alfie Solomons,” you had joked with a giggle.

“It’s a girl. Would you like to hold her?” Sarah asked hesitantly. Despite his imposing figure, Alfie suddenly looked terribly fragile. He took a shaky breath and reached his hands out for his child. Alfie stood for several moments holding his daughter, feeling unrelenting pain and grief. “What do I do now?” He asked the child, but Sarah knew he was addressing her. 

“We’ll help you, Alfie,” she offered quietly and he nodded in agreement.

“Oh, darlin’ what am I going to tell your gran?” Alfie asked the baby. “She trusted me…”—————————————————————————————-

Alfie had buried you in the family cemetery on your parents’ farm. He had no explanation to give them for his part in your death so he told them it was childbirth alone. As he tried to break the news, he seemed to lose the power of speech. The guilt he felt for bringing harm to you too overwhelming to bear. To make his situation worse, your parents had believed him which only ate at his soul more. He felt like nothing at all without you, an empty shell of a man.

The only thing that kept him alive was your daughter who he named after you. You’d slipped from his reach so quickly, he needed to feel your presence in some tangible way. As the baby grew, he tried to be a good father, but the despair had brought about an unwelcome melancholy that made it impossible for him so he left her with your parents. 

Alfie returned to Camden Town, intent on forgetting the happy life he had lived with you. He began gambling and drinking to pass the time when he wasn’t working. On more than one occasion he had gotten into a fight that bloodied him to a pulp. The life was fading from him. 

As Ollie patched him up once more, he advised his boss, “Mr. Solomons, my apologies, but your wife would be ashamed of you. You’re here while your daughter grows up without parents.” Alfie’s jaw clenched and his fists curled menacingly, but he held back from throwing a punch as he allowed Ollie’s words to resonate. He was right, Alfie had run away from his responsibilities and he knew he had to make things right. 

When Alfie sobered up he made the journey back to your village, finding your parents’ cottage the same as the first day he walked you home. He entered as though no time had passed, his daughter toddling toward him proving she still recognized her father. He scooped her up in an embrace and wept openly at the contact. He had missed her desperately. When he pulled back, he said, “Dove, your dad is home and I’m never leavin’ you again. That’s a promise.” Then he laughed as the baby pulled on his beard with a giggle. Somehow they would navigate a life together with you watching over them. 

----------------------------------------------

Tag list: @rikki-b-lake, @solomons-finest-rum, @lovemissyhoneybee, @peakyswritings, @julyzaa, @tommydoesntpayforsuits, @shelbydelrey, @alanadetigy, @wandawiccan60, @theshelbyslimited, @kittycatcait219

[robininthelabyrinth]

Prompt: Wei Wuxian has achieved time travel! He's gonna fix so many broken things. Unfortunately, WWX has miscalculated a teensy tiny variable and instead of arriving in his original 15yo body in Lotus Pier, he's crash landed in MXY's tiny 7~8yo body at Mo Manor. But no problem, he can fix this if he can just find his real body. (Meanwhile, Yunmeng Jiang's head disciple is acting the wrong kind of childish, aka, Mo Xuanyu is having the weirdest day of his young life.)

Switcheroo - ao3

Mo Xuanyu thought that this Wei Wuxian person whose body he’d stolen must have been a really interesting person, mostly because he’d been here for three days so far and nobody’d noticed the switch yet.

Possibly it had to do with the fact that Mo Xuanyu still wasn’t exactly sure how he’d stolen the body – he’d just gone to sleep in the shed, same as always, and then he’d woken up in the softest bed he’d ever encountered in his life…no, softer than even his dreams! He’d thought it over and concluded that he must have died from cold out in the shed, turned into a fierce ghost out of resentment, grown powerful (somehow), then stolen some rich young master’s body when they weren’t paying close enough attention and, once he’d possessed the body, promptly lost all his memory of being a ghost.

It seemed like the only logical course of events.

He was very sorry about it, though. Wei Wuxian seemed like a nice, if very unusual person.

The first day, Mo Xuanyu had barely even noticed the body-switch, being quite so enamored of the soft bed he was in – he’d refused to get out of bed at all, declaring that he was going to lie in and sleep for a century or more, and the people who’d come to the door to get him didn’t beat him or anything over it, but rather just laughed or rolled their eyes and then left him to it. Luckily, at the time, he’d just assumed he was dead or something and proceeded to ignore everything in favor of napping.

He only acknowledged that he was alive later in the afternoon, when his stomach started growling – it seemed like a very unlikely thing for a dead man’s stomach to do.

Mo Xuanyu had by that point figured out that he wasn’t himself anymore, which was fine since he didn’t much like himself; he’d also figured out, through looking himself over, that he was old now. At least fifteen or sixteen, which was twice the age he last remembered himself being. That was fine, too, though: being older meant that he was stronger and faster and would be better able to handle it when people wanted to beat him or something. Most importantly, though, it meant he was old enough to enter the kitchen on his own!

Mo Xuanyu already knew that he wasn’t allowed to eat at the main table, being only the bastard son of the younger daughter, and the cook back at home was a fierce woman who didn’t allow anyone under the age of ten into her kitchen; as a result, he had to wait for his mother to bring him back some food, and it was always cold and not quite enough. Now, though, since he was older, he figured he might as well try to go to the kitchen and fill his belly that way.

Luckily, while his current body’s house was much bigger than the Mo house, all houses were generally built along the same lines, so it wasn’t hard to find the kitchen. Everyone there laughed when he showed up, even though he’d tried to be very quiet and sneak in and then screwed it up by tripping over his own feet – it seemed like everyone thought he was doing it on purpose to be funny – and then the cooks gave him a meal of his own that was hot and fresh and wonderful.

He'd wolfed it down.

“Honestly, Wei Wuxian, you eat like a hungry ghost, you’d think the Jiang clan starves you,” one of them scolded him, but with a smile, and from that Mo Xuanyu learned that the rich young master was called Wei Wuxian and that he lived with the Jiang clan. The different surnames confused him a little, but he didn’t dare ask any questions about it, so he just stuffed his mouth and pretended that was the reason he couldn’t answer.

No one questioned it.

No one questioned it when he went wandering all around instead of doing whatever chores or duties he’d been assigned, either. Someone had actually seen him hovering by a door and asked him to bring back a pheasant when he returned, so out of lack of better options he’d headed outside to try to go find one.

He had a pretty good time walking around the forest, then remembered what he’d been asked and chased the pheasants for a while, without success . Fortunately, he then got lucky and stumbled over an old snare that had three pheasants caught inside, so he’d picked up the whole box and carted it back home.

“Three,” one of the boys in purple-blue marveled as he saw Mo Xuanyu walking towards the kitchen. “You know, people say that the birds around the Lotus Pier have gotten too smart to be caught easily, but look at our da-shixiong; he makes it look easy!”

From this, Mo Xuanyu could figure out that Wei Wuxian was (apparently!) part of a cultivator clan, apparently located at a place called the Lotus Pier, and that he was the oldest or at least head disciple, to boot. He knew all about cultivator clans from his mother, since apparently his father had been a sect leader, and that meant he knew enough to call the other boy ‘shidi’ as he passed, making the other boy beam happily.

It also meant that when he chanced a guess and called the young woman in a pretty pink dress who waved at him ‘shijie’, she smiled and nodded, which meant to him that he’d done the right thing.

“I heard you slept even more of the morning away than usual,” she told him, but didn’t seem too upset about it. “I bet that means you’ll be skipping dinner and staying up all night, hmm?”

Mo Xuanyu had no intention of skipping dinner if it was anything like what the kitchens had given him earlier, actually, but while he was still trying to figure out a way to say that, she said, leaning in close to whisper, “It’s probably a good idea, anyway – Mother and Father are fighting again. Just go to the kitchens to grab something…I promise I’ll make it up to you with some soup tomorrow, pork ribs and lotus roots, your favorite. All right?”

“Shijie, you’re the best,” Mo Xuanyu said effusively, willing to die for her at once, and she laughed and tousled his hair.

“I am,” she said, looking happy. “And if my little A-Xian stays good and obedient, I may even feed him.”

She did, too, the next day when he finally tore himself out of the beautiful wonderful soft bed and went to go find her. She’d made him soup, just as he’d promised, and laughed and laughed for some reason: apparently, she interpreted him being quiet and not talking too much as his efforts to be ‘good and obedient’, which was apparently so out of the ordinary as to be a deliberate joke.

From this, Mo Xuanyu concluded that the young master he’d possessed, Wei Wuxian, was a jackass.

Well, perhaps that was a bit harsh. Arrogant and self-centered, talented and brave and probably brilliant, definitely charming and maybe even kind, but also spoiled and inclined to step on other people to get where he wanted to go, if Mo Xuanyu had to guess – why else would everyone constantly react as if him not being obnoxious was the world’s biggest stunt?

No one seemed to expect anything of him at all: he didn’t do any chores, and no one batted an eyelid; he didn’t go where he was told, and everyone just sighed…at one point the sect leader himself came and patted him on the head, scolding him in a joking tone that he hadn’t seen him leading any of the training the way he was supposed to – but when Mo Xuanyu quailed, he’d burst out laughing, telling ‘Wei Wuxian’ to stop pretending to be a scared little rabbit, that it was fine if he’d gotten distracted by some clever new invention or whatever, that someone else would handle it, that he should take as long as he needed.

Mo Xuanyu had pasted a great big smile on his face through force of effort and agreed cheerfully.

The sect leader had accepted it.

Probably a jackass, but clearly a beloved one, Mo Xuanyu thought to himself as he packed up clothing and a few small treasures that no one would miss, a little wistful. The scare of the whole encounter had put things in perspective – he wasn’t going to be able to keep up this sort of façade for long. In fact, he was shocked he’d managed it so long already; surely, no matter how many pranks this Wei Wuxian played, no matter how childishly he behaved, surely someone should’ve noticed that he was actually an eight-year-old masquerading as a sixteen-year-old?

Mo Xuanyu couldn’t decide whether it was sad that no one paid too much attention or something that this Wei Wuxian fellow had brought down on his own head by being so consistently annoying.

Either way, there was nothing for it – he was going to have to leave.

Now that part was really sad: he’d never in his life had such good food, or such a soft bed, or even so many people that just seemed plain old happy to see him as since he’d arrived in this place. But he wasn’t the one all those things were for; he was just a sad ghost possessing a person, and if he stayed, the cultivators would eventually figure out something was wrong and exorcise him.

Probably violently.

Mo Xuanyu probably deserved it, too, but despite that he wasn’t willing.

So he packed up what he could and headed out.

He got all the way to the gate before a new purple-clad disciple – about his age, if he had to guess, and holding a pack like he’d just come back from a trip, with a scowl on his face – called out for Wei Wuxian.

Mo Xuanyu waved a little, hoping that that would be enough.

For the first time, it wasn’t.

The boy’s face settled into an even deeper scowl.

“Hey, what’s wrong with you?” he demanded. “Wei Wuxian! You’re acting all weird – hey! Where are you going?”

Mo Xuanyu was running away, obviously. He wasn’t about to get tied up and exorcised, no thank you.

He didn’t think he’d make it, but it was still worth trying.

Sure enough, the purple-clad boy who was probably called Jiang Cheng, based on what everyone was calling out as they ran by, got tired of running and jumped on his sword, and there was no way Mo Xuanyu would be able to outrun a sword, not even if he tried as fast as he –

Someone picked him up.

It wasn’t Jiang Cheng.

Mo Xuanyu turned his head and stared.

It must be some sort of yao, he thought. Humans were definitely not that pretty.

“Lan Wangji!” Jiang Cheng howled. “What are you even doing in the Lotus Pier?! Put my shixiong down!”

The rescuer, Lan Wangji, frowned a little at Mo Xuanyu.

Mo Xuanyu didn’t know exactly what expression he ought to be making in return, and was a bit too dazed to even dare to guess. He’d just noticed that they were flying – flying! on a sword! – and he was clutching onto this Lan Wangji’s shoulders for dear life.

“You are not Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji said. His voice sounded very definitive.

“Uh,” Mo Xuanyu said. “Sorry? Please don’t drop me.”

“I will not. What is your name?”

“Mo Xuanyu,” Mo Xuanyu admitted, and Lan Wangji’s eyes widened as if that meant something to him – except it couldn’t, of course, because Mo Xuanyu was sure he’d never met anyone even remotely like this Lan Wangji fellow in his life. “I don’t remember taking his body. I’m sorry. Can you not exorcise me? I don’t want to die.”

Lan Wangji was silent for a long moment.

He was still flying very fast, and Jiang Cheng was still following, shouting out curses and demands that he stop, not that Lan Wangji was listening.

“There will be no exorcism,” he finally said, and Mo Xuanyu exhaled in relief. “We will, however, fix this.”

“…we?”

“Wei Ying and myself.”

Mo Xuanyu nodded. That sounded more likely than anyone relying on his participation.

“Where are we going?” he asked. Jiang Cheng was falling further and further behind.

“Mo Village.”

Mo Xuanyu tensed up at once.

“You will not be left there,” Lan Wangji clarified, and – how did he know that Mo Xuanyu didn’t want to be left there? “But we must collect Wei Ying, who I suspect is currently in your body.”

“In my…I’m still alive?”

Lan Wangji was quiet again, and then said, “Yes. And you will remain so.”

That was reassuring, mostly.

“Okay,” Mo Xuanyu said, and found that he mostly felt relieved. He’d be very happy to have his normal body back again, if possible, especially if he didn’t have to stay in Mo Village…“Wait, if I don’t have to stay there, where will I go? I don’t have anywhere else to go, unless my father comes back for me. He's a sect leader –”

“He will not, and even if he did, you should not go with him. Once Wei Ying returns to his body, you will be able to stay at the Lotus Pier. If you do not wish to stay there, I will bring you back to the Cloud Recesses – that is my home – instead.”

“Oh,” Mo Xuanyu said, feeling bewildered. That was an awfully nice offer, even if Lan Wangji was feeling guilty about Wei Wuxian stealing his body by accident – which seemed like what had happened here rather than Mo Xuanyu being the one who did the stealing. Maybe he should go with Lan Wangji instead, he seemed much more responsible than Wei Wuxian was, rushing over to rescue him and explain things instead of throwing him into a body and leaving him all alone in a strange place. But on the other hand… “Is the Cloud Recesses…I mean…no offense, but…does it have…”

“Yes?”

“Does it have soft beds, too? And – and hot food?”

Mo Xuanyu didn’t need much, not really. He looked eagerly at Lan Wangji, who had an odd expression on his face briefly before wiping it back to neutral and nodding in confirmation.

“Okay,” Mo Xuanyu said, and curled up in Lan Wangji’s arms. “Then I’ll stay with you. You can take care of me.”

“I will,” Lan Wangji said, sounding strangely serious. “In return for the gift you last gave me – I will.”

[nights-legacy]

Left Behind - All Might's Daughter Pt. 1

PLEASE READ NOTE

{Note/Question/Request- Right now this isn't a paired imagine. I was wondering, after you've read it, where you think I should go with this. If I pair her with anybody, who should is be? How or should she forgive the two OFA users? Etc. Let me know!!}

+2460 Words Slight, slight spoilers from the Sports Festival!

+Y/N L/N is the only daughter of All Might. She has her mother's last name and what can be qualified as a super soldier quirk. She is fast, strong, powerful, and built like a tank and it's all in a small 15 year old girls body. After Midoriya comes into the picture, Y/N starts to feel left behind after a while. So she starts to pull away from them and gets close with Bakugo. Eventually, it all snaps at once and it was at the worst of times.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I huffed and puffed as I slowed to a stop I looked behind as the rest of the class caught up with Iida and I. We were the fastest in class without quirks and with most of the time. With the sports festival coming up, everyone was trying improve on things they lacked.

“Great job everyone.” Iida congratulated as everyone made it in. I walked over to Midoriya who was nearly doubled over.

“Are you okay there, Midoriya?” I asked patting him lightly on the back. He looked up at me, nodding. “You seem really winded. Maybe you should sit down for a minute.”

“Probably.” He said before he fell back, flat on his back. I laughed at him as he clocked out. I leant over him, hands on my knees, making sure he was okay. A yell of frustration caught my attention. I looked over at the source and saw Bakugo yelling at Sato who was just standing their indifferent.

“Okay, okay.” I went over and grabbed Bakugo’s arm, forcefully dragging him off. He growled at me and ripped his arm from my grip as we got a ways off.

“What do you want?”

“Not a blood bath.” I said with sass. He stared at me before smirking. He crossed his arms and leaned in close.

“I can take someone out without any blood being split.” He said.

“That may be true but who said I was talking about the other person’s blood.” I joked with an amused look on his face. His smirk turned glare and he went off on me. I just laughed and let him. I saw a flash of yellow and blue. I looked over and saw my dad whisking Midoriya away. My face dropped.

“What’s wrong with you now?” Bakugo exclaimed. I looked at him surprised before I saw him look where I was originally. Midoriya and my dad were out of sight now.

“Nothing. Nothing at all.” I said, covering up my dejected annoyance with a smirk. “Now, sorry. I wasn’t listening to you before. What were you saying?”

“You damn…” He growled.

*Time Skip*

The roar of the crowd was empowering but there was a lot on my mind. The sports festival is a big deal. The first two events were alright and I got through fine but the last one was trickier. There are a lot of students with great quirks that could kick my ass. I walked through the halls before I heard two familiar voices. (Reader is in the final round instead of Shiozaki.)

“What are they talking about now?” I whispered to myself. I leant against the wall a ways down the hall. I listened to them and heard Dad encourage Midoriya. After that, Midoriya walked out to the field. Dad began to walk down my way. “Hey dad.”

“Y/N, you spooked me.” He jumped, holding a hand to his chest.

“Sorry.” I said, chuckling.

“Well, it’s alright. You are doing well out there, my little Powerhouse.” I tensed at the nickname.

“Dad.” I whined. He chuckled before moving to walk on. “I’m nervous for the next round.”

“Everything will be fine, Y/N. You’ll see.” He said in a caring voice. He walked away and my shoulders dropped. I needed more than that. Much more. I turned and leant against the wall with my shoulder. I set my head against the wall and took a few un-steady breaths.

“What are you doing dumbass?” I jumped and looked at Bakugo disoriented. I shook my head. I had no idea how long I was standing there. “Are you crying?”

“What?” I reached up and wiped them away. “No just caught some dust in my eyes.” I said before I went to walk away but he caught my arm.

“That’s not it. What’s wrong?” He said softer. I noticed his grip on my arm was soft and…comforting? I looked up at him.

“I just needed some encouragement from someone who didn’t give it. That’s all no big deal.” I pulled away from his grip gently. I had only walked a few feet away when he spoke up.

“Whoever they are, they’re not worth your tears. You shouldn’t need anyone’s encouragement. You strong enough on your own.” I turned to him surprised. He had his back to me, hands in his pockets. I smiled sadly.

“If only you knew who I was talking about.” I whispered.

3rd POV

Bakugo looked over his shoulder as the girl walked away. He fully turned and watched her walk away. Crossing his arms across his chest as he thought about what she said. He knew she meant for him not to hear it but he did.

“Who are you talking about?” He asked out loud. He looked off in the distance in thought. It wasn’t until footsteps caught his attention. He looked behind him to see Deku coming up behind him.

“H-hey Kacchan.” He stuttered while looking a bit tired. Bakugo remembered that Deku had known L/N since before the first day of school.

“Deku! You know L/N, right?” Bakugo asked. He looked at Bakugo strangely.

“Yes. I do. Pretty well, I guess.”

“Who is important to her? Is there anyone here that would or should be in her corner?” Deku looked at him surprised.

“Um, yeah. There is.” He said tentatively.

“Who is it?” Bakugo growled. Deku looked at him before squaring his shoulders.

“I am afraid I cannot tell you, Kacchan. And before you ask me why, it’s not my place or right to tell you. There is a reason they haven’t told anyone and I will not break their trust by outing something that isn’t mine to tell.” Bakugo just stared at him in surprise before Deku walked off.

Y/N’s POV

I breathed out in pain as I walked back into the stadium halls. I had won my first battle against Kaminari but not the second against Iida. My confidence was already down and affected my performance. I rolled my shoulder as I sat down at a table. I pulled my leg up and relaxed back for a moment.

“You did great out there L/N!” Uraraka called out. I smiled at her.

“Thanks.” I called back. I got up a little bit later and walked out. I went to walk up to the student stands. In the corner of my eye is saw green and yellow. I didn’t want to look but did. I saw dad comforting Midoriya and I gave a shaky sigh. I shook my head, biting my lip before continuing on.

*Time Skip*

I was breathing hard but I still ran. I pushed myself harder to try and get away from the robots. This training session was intense and very hard. Half the class was already out and the last few were running dry. I could hear Bakugo and Midoriya just past some rubble. A hit landed right next to me, knocking me off balance.

“Umph.” I rolled off the side and back onto my feet. I dodged an attack before vaulting over a rubble wall. I paused, hearing the robot fussing on the other side. I looked around and saw Midoriya down the street. I rolled my eyes as he waved.

“You doing okay?” He asked.

“Just fine.” I snapped at him. He reeled back at the aggression.

“Are you sure? You’ve been rather testy lately. Did something happen?” He asked concerned. I sighed heavily.

“Of course something did. You’re both just to enamored to see!” I yelled before running on. He ran after me, trying to talk to me but I ignored him. We made way into the cityscape center. I saw Bakugo across the way.

“It’s too quiet here.” Midoriya commented. As soon as he said that, he was tackled off to the side.

“Shit.” I ducked as a bit of the robot flew over my head. I stumbled back, hitting a wall. I watched as he fought the robot with ease. My chest began to fell heavy.

“Come on, Miss L/N. Push on.” I heard my dad’s voice. I scoffed.

“That’s the most encouragement you’ve given me in a month.” I said under my breath. I pushed off the wall and started to fight another robot that showed up. I heard Bakugo on the other side doing the same. In the moment I heard Midoriya scream one of my dad’s catch phrases, I stopped. I just stood there, staring off.

“I give up.” I said softly.

“L/N! Are you alright?” I heard Midoriya yell.

“Oi, dumbass. Get moving!” Bakugo called across the field.

“Miss L/N, I would advise you moving on. Stalling is not advisable in the field.” I heard my father say through the field. I let out a sob. I fell to my knees, burying my face in my hands.

“I give up!” I screamed. “I can’t do this anymore. I. Give. Up!” I screamed, crying out. I couldn’t hold it back anymore. I heard yelling around me but I didn’t care not anymore. I am tired, I am hurt, and I just want this to end.

“Y/N! Look out!” I heard Bakugo’s voice close to me. I looked up right as he grabbed me and pulled me off to the side. We rolled and landed a few feet away. I looked over and saw a robot where I once was. It started to move towards us but shut down. “What’s wrong with you dumbass?” Bakugo yelled at me. I looked at him and saw a glare but concern behind it.

“Are you alright, L/N? What happened to…”

“Stay away from me!” I screamed, shuffling back away from Midoriya as he run up. I hid my face in the back of Bakugo’s shoulder as Midoriya skidded to a stop. I peeked over Bakugo’s shoulder at him and he was in shock.

“Young L/N, are you alright?” We all looked over to see All Might and Aizawa running up.

“You stay away from me too!” I pointed at my dad. I hid my face again and gripped onto Bakugo’s arm. I felt him place a hand on mine but I could tell all of them were confused. I felt a hand on my shoulder. I didn’t immediately recognize the touch so I figured it was Aizawa. I peeked out at him with teary eyes.

“Are you alright?” I nodded before retracting back.

“L/N, what wrong?” Bakugo asked. I just shook my head.

“Not here, not now.” I mumbled.

“Alright.” Aizawa said and stood. “We’re done for the day. All of you go get changed and go home. You three, meet in the classroom.”

“Why me?” Bakugo yelled.

“Because you’re the only one that L/N seems to be comfortable around right now.” Aizawa said firmly. It was silent for a moment.

“Alright.” He agreed without another argument.

I was sitting on the cabinets in the back of the classroom with Bakugo leaning next to me. Midoriya and my dad were at the front of the classroom. I had calmed down some but was still upset. I wouldn’t even look at the two. Aizawa finally came in closing the door behind him.

“Okay. What is going on?” He asked out loud. I glanced at him before looking back out the window. “Not talking. Alright. Do you two know what it is that made her act this way? That made her break down in the middle of a dangerous training session?” From the accusation in his voice I could tell he already knew.

“I am not sure. I have never seen her act like this before.” My dad said. I chuckled darkly.

“Then open your eyes or take off the blinders.” I growled. He looked at me surprised. I saw Bakugo glance between the two of us. He raised an eyebrow at me.

“I am sure I don’t know what you mean. I…” I cut him off.

“Of course you don’t!” I shot up and yelled. “You haven’t noticed one thing about me in month’s dad! Ever since…” I looked at Midoriya. “Ever since then. I have been left behind. Every time I needed encouragement from you I got nothing. Every time I needed advice from you I got nothing.”

“That can’t be, I…”

“The sports festival! I was nervous about the last round and I told you! But the only thing you said was everything will be fine, you’ll see.” I laughed with no amusement. I could hear Bakugo muttering confused behind me. I looked back at him and he had surprise and confusion written all over his face. “Yes, All Might the symbol of Peace is my dad. Unfortunately at the moment.”

“Y/N.”

“No. I’m not done. You made me despise a person that has never done anything bad to me. I haven’t got anything from you since day one. Nothing substantial at least. I don’t have a mother and no one else in this world then my dad but it seems like he’s in someone else corner only. Everyone else corner than mine. Well at least you’ve never treated me bad right? I guess it’s not all bad.” I said in a dark tone.

“Y/N…” He stood stunned.

“Speechless, huh?” I chuckled, feeling tears coming on again. “Look, I don’t want stop with your prodigy but a little acknowledgement or help from time to time. Okay? Okay.” I said before grabbing my bag and walking out. I heard someone running behind me. I looked back to see Bakugo.

“So…your All Might’s daughter, huh?”

“Yeah, the one and only.” I said. I crossed my arms over my stomach as we walked. He hummed and we walked in silence. I could feel the silent tears falling down my face.

“As awesome as that is…right now All Might is my least favorite person right now. Even less than Deku. Why was he even involved in this? Whatever. They are both little shitty…”

“Bakugo!” I yelled frustrated. He fell silent. We stopped and I took a big breath. “I know this is your own way of trying to comfort me but it’s not working, alright? I just…” I covered my face with my hands for a second before letting them drop. I looked at him. “I just want to be alone alright? I can’t, I don’t…I just can’t right now.” I paused to look at him in the face. “I don’t want to blow up on you like I did him. So please, I just want to be alone.” I could see apprehension in his eyes but I didn’t care. I turned and walked away.

“You shouldn’t be alone right now.” He called after me. I could hear him take a few steps before stopping again.

“I know.” I said before turning a corner and walked away from him.

Tags: @spicy-therapist-mom

[mionemymind]

Chapter 1: Code 10-15

Favorite Crime

Series Summary: Y/n L/n, daughter of the villainous group, “The Gisbourne”. They’re known to do the cruelest things around the world in order to get what they want. In order to stray away from her family, Y/n is the founder and sole member of the vigilante group, “The Robins”. She does what she can in order to assist those in need of help in New York City.

However, what happens when the Avengers are tasked with finally defeating the Gisbournes? What happens when they use their newest member, Wanda Maximoff, to get to the black sheep of the family? What happens if they both fall in love? But what if it was all a mission to Wanda? 

A/n: This story is told through different splices of Y/n and Wanda’s story. Italics are generally flashbacks. And be sure to read the lyrics of the story. It’s not in the same order as the original song but this is purposely done :) (Not my GIF) 

Warnings: Betrayal, angst, cursing, happy ending 

Word Count: 2.9k

Masterlist

Chapter 0 | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Bonus

Know that I loved you so bad I let you treat me like that I was your willing accomplice, honey

“Guys, let me introduce you to our newest member of the team, Wanda Maximoff.” Heads turned as the brunette timidly walked into the room. She fiddled with her hands as she shyly mumbled a quick hello to the intimidating crowd. It was Natasha that broke the silence first. “Welcome to the team, Wanda.”

Soon introductions happened but Wanda had yet to say anything else. All she could focus on was trying her best to not read their thoughts. It seemed that Natasha was the easiest to sit by since her thoughts were surprisingly quiet. She found Tony and Thor to be the loudest while Bucky’s felt a little...damaged.

Nonetheless, Steve excused the two as he led Wanda to her new room. Opening the door for her, Wanda found herself to be in a spotless and minimalistic room. The colors were on the grayscale and everything smelled and looked brand new.

“Here’s your room.” Wanda walked in, enjoying the fact that she can finally have something of her own. But considering who she was living with, she felt a little overwhelmed at the possibility of the bed itself being worth more than her childhood home.

“Everything in here can accommodate your needs just as long as you know how to work one of these,” Steve said as he held up a small tablet for the room controls. Wanda laughed a little and jokingly asked, “Are you telling me you don’t?” Her voice was strongly laced with her Sokovian accent, which was something Wanda lightly cursed herself about.

This was a change. This was new. This was a place she could start a new page and maybe even a new Wanda.

Steve slightly blushed as he scratched the back of his neck. He placed the tablet back on the nightstand and said, “Well...let’s just say I’m not one with the current times.”

“So, an old soul?”

“You could say that.” Slowly backing to the door, Steve held on to the handle and said, “But, I’ll give you time to adjust. Also, before I forget, we have a talking robot in the building. So if you hear a very smart alek voice, that’s just the robot.”

Steve gave Wanda a comforting smile before closing the door. Looking around once more, Wanda noticed that she had her own flat screen in the room. There was a desk in the corner as well as two various doors. Going through them, one door led to her own luxurious bathroom and the other led to her own walk-in closet.

Wanda walked back into the main room and saw that she had glass doors leading to the balcony. Pulled in by the breathtaking view, Wanda slid out to the balcony and watched the scenery in front of her. It was night time yet New York felt as lively as the morning. “This really is the city that never sleeps.” And as Wanda continued to watch, she could only hope that this was the new beginning she needed.

“So you’ve been here a couple of months,” Clint stated as he and Wanda finished their training session. “How do you feel?” He tossed Wanda a towel which she caught with ease. While wiping the sweat off her face, she responded with, “I feel good.”

It was an obvious lie yet Clint didn’t manage to catch it. And if he did, he would’ve figured it was the nervousness talking. However, Wanda couldn’t help but think that she’s never felt so lonely till now.

“Well, that’s good to hear.” Clint picked up the various items they used for training and started to place them back in their original places. “Heads up, I think Steve is going to give you your first big mission.”

Wanda was putting back the weights when she said, “Really?” For the first few months, she’s been shadowing the other Avengers during their missions. Sometimes they would ask for Wanda’s opinion on how she would have handled the situation and other times she would just watch.

“Yeah. The team is impressed. You learn really quickly.”

“I don’t want to let anybody down.” It was rather late for it because Wanda already felt like she let herself down.

“You won’t. I know you won’t.”

Looking down at the file given to her, Wanda first noticed how young the girl looked in the picture. There were tiny scars on her face but none looked prominent. The thing that pulled in the most was her alluring eyes. They appeared soft at first but Wanda had a feeling there was more to those tired eyes.

“So, her name is Y/n L/n and my mission is to get close to her?” Wanda asked. She couldn’t really wrap her thoughts on why she was needed on this mission. The girl didn’t seem like the type to know much combat. So it shouldn’t be too hard for the Avengers to get her.

“Correct. You’re tasked with getting close to her to the point she can trust you. Since not a lot of people know you’re a part of the Avengers, you can help us use her to get to her family.” Wanda sighed. She didn’t want to disappoint them on her first big mission but why did it feel like the Avengers were in over their heads?

Regardless of her anxiety, Wanda swallowed it down and said, “Okay, when should I start?”

Those things I did Just so I could call you mine The things you did Well, I hope I was your favorite crime

Natasha, Steve, and Wanda sat in hiding. They were currently waiting for their target to arrive at the designated location. Various S.H.I.E.L.D. agents hid with the scenery and the night had only aided in their secrecy.

As the minutes ticked by since Y/n’s last message, Wanda couldn’t help but feel nauseous from her actions. Here she was, standing with the good side of history yet she couldn’t help but feel so repulsed by her actions.

Doubt plagued her mind which only increased her anxiety. While fiddling with her fingers, Wanda could only think about her. She thought about everything that could happen to Y/n. From how the government could possibly treat her to the possible interrogation that she would have to go through.

Oddly enough, she hoped that it wasn’t Natasha that could have a chance of doing that. Because if it were her, Y/n would end up in two ways. Beaten and bruised or hopelessly enamored by Natasha. Both ways made Wanda more anxious for this outcome. As sick as it was, Wanda would rather have Y/n be beaten and bruised than the latter. Jealousy was an ugly look on Wanda as well as betrayal.

“Do we really have to do this Steve?” Wanda could feel her hands start to shake but she quickly pulled herself together. Steve was right beside her. At any chance he felt that she was distracted, he would have her immediately escorted out.

“It’s the only way, Wanda.” The lack of doubt in his voice made Wanda shiver. She felt hopeless yet she was the only one to blame. She practically led Y/n to slaughter.

“But she’s nothing like them. You see what she does on her own.” Although Wanda knew there was no chance of pleading her case to Steve, she still tried because this was Y/n for fuck’s sake.

“I’m sorry Wanda but one good person can’t make up for what her entire family has done to many.” Looking back to the entrance of the tunnel, Wanda could only think about the good things that Y/n has done with her. Because to her, one good person was enough.

It's bittersweet to think about the damage that we do 'Cause I was going down, but I was doing it with you Yeah, everything we broke, and all the trouble that we made But I say that I hate you with a smile on my face

Wanda and Y/n were hanging out at an abandoned playground near the boat docks. Surprisingly, things were still intact despite the wear and tear they’ve been through. Y/n hung upside down on the monkey bars as she watched Wanda swing closely by her.

Maybe it was the way her hair flowed through the night breeze. Or maybe it was the way that she still shone through the darkness of the night. Or maybe it was this new happy look she had on her face. Or maybe - no - it was just the way she was - always is. She’s Wanda Maximoff. With all the blood rushing down to her head, and this overbearing feeling in her chest, Y/n said, “You know that I love you, right?”

Wanda stopped swinging and looked over at Y/n. There was a small bewildered look on her face but she didn’t look disgusted by the question. “What?” There was suddenly a rush of blood pounding in Wanda’s ears. She hoped that her mind wasn’t playing tricks with her especially now.

“I know it’s crazy - I haven’t even taken you out on a first date or anything but,” there was a glint to Wanda’s eyes and that confirmed everything that Y/n was feeling, “...I do.”

Y/n pulled her body upwards and replaced her legs with her hands on the monkey bars. She swung back and forth to get her blood flowing in other directions besides her head. She looked at Wanda and saw this doubted look on her face. So Y/n quickly added, “Yeah, I love you.”

“And what makes you say that?” Wanda had various answers in mind to her own question. Y/n could possibly be on drugs or she hung upside down for far too long. Or maybe, Y/n is just out of her fucking mind. But still, Wanda only hoped that Y/n would reassure her that she heard correctly. That she does love her.

Thinking about it for a moment, Y/n suddenly found the right words to say as she swung forward and landed right in front of Wanda. She placed her hands on the ropes of the swing, her face lowering down Wanda’s, little distance between them as Y/n said, “Well, you see me as my own person. Not somebody that’s the daughter of something. Just...me.”

Wanda’s breath was caught in her throat. Suddenly her senses were filled with anything about Y/n. Her ocean scented cologne, the hair pomade she uses to style, and the way her face looked so beautiful as if it was constructed by Michelangelo.

“Anyone can do that Y/n,” she whispered. Her eyes showcased her heart as she kept looking down at Y/n’s lips. But the way Y/n’s masked made her eyes looked constantly made Wanda look back up.

“I wouldn’t call you anyone,” Y/n said cockily. “You’re Wanda Maximoff. The girl that sees the best in people and the girl I so happen to be in love with.” Love. It was so easy for Y/n to say to Wanda despite everything she has been through with her family.

No one taught her love yet when she looked at Wanda, all she could do is feel it. “You feel so comfortable saying that around me yet I haven’t said it back,” Wanda joked. By now, her breath caught in her throat with how close they were getting.

By now, their foreheads touched as Wanda’s grip on the ropes of the swing tightened. “Well, I have a feeling that you will someday. And if you don’t, at least I got it off my chest.” And someday would be today.

Slowly, the two were leaning in when - RING!

The annoying alarm that blared through Y/n’s beeper made her groan. Now, someday would be in the future. “Uhhhhh - duty calls,” she said in distaste, however, Y/n had so badly wanted to stay with Wanda. Surprisingly, Wanda felt the same way. But vigilante duties were important to Y/n. So with another kiss on Wanda’s cheek, Y/n saluted goodbye. “See you Wands. You better practice saying those words now.” Y/n left with a wink and a smile on her face.

The room was tense as Y/n stood before her family. Sharp eyes looked into Y/n’s soul as they beckoned her to finally say her peace. “I don’t want to be a part of this family anymore.”

This type of tantrum was nothing new with Y/n. Everyone knew she didn’t like being part of this family but it never got this intense. “You don’t know what you’re saying Y/n,” her Dad reasoned but frankly, he was getting aggravated by this whole shenanigan.

“No, I do know what I’m saying.” She knew her family wouldn’t treat her seriously. They never did and she was hoping that they would once more because, after this fight, she would never come back.

“You’re throwing your life away, over what? Some girl?” The whole thing was quite pathetic to them. How could you throw the whole world away for somebody they believed Y/n hardly knew?

“She’s treated me better than you,” she countered. However, her family simply rolled their eyes at her statement.

“Oh yeah? Go ahead with your little friend then but don’t come running back when things go south.” The cigar in his hands was placed into the ashtray nearby. Y/n’s parents hardly looked when they heard Y/n’s footsteps leaving the room for they truly believed their daughter would come back. Because in a family like theirs, blood is the only thing you can trust.

Perched up on the balcony, with the breeze of the night flowing past them, Wanda and Y/n were laughing at the various things their powers did. However, the night turned with Y/n teasing Wanda endlessly. “I hate you,” she said as she slightly shoved Y/n as she smiled. “Sure you do,” Y/n replied with a smirk plastered on her face.

“I seriously do,” Wanda said as she noticed Y/n look at her lips. The two leaning in closer to each other. “Okay, and what are you going to do about it?” Y/n licked her lips as she could feel her heart explode with how little space was between them.

“Thi-,” the moment was cut short was Wanda’s phone rang. Their foreheads touched at the obvious annoyment to the interruption. Y/n had to physically remember to breathe as Wanda gave her a sorry smile. “Duty calls?” Y/n said to lighten the mood.

“Duty calls.” Seeing the frown on Wanda’s face made Y/n want to kiss her even more. “God, her lips must be soft,” she thought loudly. Wanda blushed at Y/n’s words but Y/n hardly noticed. All she wanted was to remove her frown. So she settled for the next best thing. She kissed Wanda’s cheek, letting it linger for a couple of seconds.

“See you later Maximoff.” Feeling overwhelmed with joy, Wanda shoved Y/n off the building as Y/n saluted her goodbye. Smiles were still plastered on both faces.

The ringing still went as Wanda saw Y/n successfully swing away. She picked up her phone with a sigh, having to remove all her flustered emotions as she answered the call. “Hello.”

“What the hell was that, Wanda?” She knew it was coming especially since the team had a very close eye on this mission. Failure wasn’t an option. “It was called acting, maybe you should try it, Tony.” She could already feel his eye roll from a mile away.

“You’re lucky I called when I did.” Luck...if it was luck, then her heart shouldn’t have ached this much. “Yeah...thanks, Tony.”

Y/n arrived at their place in huffed breaths. The adrenaline from breaking away from her family still running through her veins. “Wanda?!” She yelled out. The tunnel echoing her voice. “Wanda?!” There was still no response.

Before Y/n could call out again, the sound of combat boots echoed through the tunnel. Y/n sighed in relief knowing that Wanda was here. “Love - I think we can still make it before my family finds…”

Slowly, the figure stepped into the light provided by the moon. His chiseled jaw and god-like physique caused Y/n to go into a defensive mode. Y/n didn’t need to see the shield in his hand to know this was Steve Rogers aka Captain America.

“What are you doing here? Where’s Wanda?” Steve didn’t respond as he pressed his fingers onto his comms. “Target is here. Move forward.” Suddenly, Y/n could feel something latch on to her back, a spread of electricity shooting through her body.

Y/n dropped to her knees, groaning in pain as she still looked at Steve. A hard boot to her back made her face roughly connect to the dirty concrete. The electrifying feeling intensifying more than ever.

As they cuffed her arms and legs, Y/n couldn’t help but focus on how much her body was on fire. She thrashed and struggled in their hold and all she could think to yell out was, “Wanda!” Screams of pain and helpless begging for Wanda’s presence echoed through the tunnels.

And as Y/n slowly faded in and out of consciousness, Wanda stood at the exit of the tunnel, hearing the love of her life begging for her to save her.

Chapter 2

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