#clandestine meetings

[tswaney17]

A Game of Chess

@elriel-month Clandestine Meetings! I've been sitting on this fic since the beginning of the year and I'm so excited to share this one with you. It's inspired by the song, When You Say My Name by Chandler Leighton and I highly recommend listening to it (it's very Elriel-coded). Hope you like this! 💕

My fanfic account: @tswaney17fics​​​

My ao3 account: tswaney17

Please let me know what you think about this update. I love getting your feedback. Constructive criticism is always welcome. 💕

Trigger warnings: None

Word Count: 1,114

This fic will be posted on AO3 only. Read the beginning below or click here to head to AO3.

Elain was not one for going out, especially not to places like Ritas for drinks and dancing. She was, by definition, a homebody. But when Mor had announced she was going and looking for takers, her eyes had traveled to the brooding Shadowsinger leaning in the corner of the room, and said, “I will.”

Surprise had lit everyone’s face at the declaration, but she only focused on his. Made sure she threw the challenge at him.

It had been six months since that disastrous Solstice night, and he had yet to say more than four words to her—never apologizing for what had happened or explaining why he abruptly left.

But despite that, when he did grace his presence at the River Manor, she felt his eyes on her like a brand upon her skin, even if she never truly caught him looking at her. She always felt it.

Well, tonight Elain was going to make him show his hand. Force him to watch her while she danced.

That was if he took her up on her challenge. And if Elain knew Azriel as well as she thought she did, she knew he could never back down from a challenge.

Read More

~~~~~

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While I have moved most of my fics to AO3 only, I am still going to utilize a tag list here on Tumblr. This as a permanent solution and may change in the future. For notifications, you can follow and subscribe to my fanfic account where I will be reblogging updates and snippets only. You can also find me on ao3. If you would like to be added to my tag list, please leave a comment on this post.

My fanfic account: @tswaney17fics​

My ao3 account: tswaney17

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[sweetprfct]

Clandestine Meetings

Joseph Quinn x Fem!Reader

Summary: How big is your empathy for someone you love? When do you know when enough is enough?

Author's Note: This hurts soo... good luck! Inspired by Illicit Affairs and You're Losing Me by Taylor.

Wordcount: 3.2K

The rain poured heavily down the city of San Francisco as you fluttered your eyes open and watched every raindrop slide down the glass window in front of you. The city lights burned brightly outside with the sound of the rain pitter pattering.

One year. 

One year since you have been doing this. You knew damn well that this was illicit. You both have talked about this. You knew damn well that this was something that everyone would disagree on because you were nothing but just a normal girl from San Francisco. You weren’t known for anything else. You weren’t special, but he chose you. He chose to be with you. 

You two had met one year ago at a bar when you had gotten yourself a bit too drunk after a long day at work, and he had come and talked to you. At that time, he was also in town to film a movie. For some reason, you had caught his attention. Ever since then, you two had been seeing each other. You would facetime each other when he was back in London. He would secretly visit you in San Francisco whenever he had time. It worked. It worked really well. Though, no one else knew about it. Not even your friends nor anyone close to you. It was just the two of you. You both agreed to keep this a secret because he didn’t want everyone else dipping their opinions on the relationship nor wanted his team to ask several questions because then, they’d start having ideas of how this could be publicized, and he didn’t want that. 

You understood his decision. You supported his decision because you thought no matter what, you were important to him. That he cared for you and the reason why it was kept a secret was because he didn’t want to hurt you nor disturb your life in so many awful ways by the public. So, you agreed. But how far would you go? How do you know if enough is enough?

“Hey.” He whispered softly, planting a soft kiss on your bare shoulder. He wrapped an arm around your torso, pulling you close to him as he buried his face on the back of your neck, smelling your flowery scent.

“Joe.” You murmured. “I have to go.”

He hummed softly, his arm tightening around you. “Hm… no. Please stay.”

You couldn’t help but smile and slowly turned yourself around to face him. Your index finger poking the tip of his nose softly.

“You know I have to. We don’t want to get caught by Alex tomorrow morning, remember?” 

Alex was Joe’s manager, and he was coming to stop by Joe’s hotel room tomorrow morning to drop off some paperwork for him and talk about his next schedule after the movie. Usually, you would sneak out of the hotel room early in the morning but not this time. You didn’t want Alex to catch you just in case he’s coming in early. 

“Few more minutes.” Joe whispered, pulling you close to him as you buried your face on his neck.

You could never get tired of his minty fresh scent, and you had spent so much time with him that sometimes, your clothes were starting to smell like him or his scent would still linger on you when you arrived home. 

“You know you’d miss me when I go back to London.” Joe said, his fingers gently brushing your hair, and it made you feel safe and warm in his arms.

“You don’t have to go, you know.” You replied. 

You had told him that about a thousand times, but Joe loved his hometown, and he couldn’t just leave London just like that. You tried understanding that too because you knew it was hard for him to change his whole life and move to a different country with unfamiliar cultures that he wasn’t so used to. 

Joe didn’t say anything as he set his index finger on your chin, lifting your face up, looking into your eyes before giving you a small smile. His lips touched yours softly as you kissed him back. You didn’t know what it was when it came to him, but you tend to get lost in his touch and every kiss that he gave to you made you want to just melt yourself in his arms completely. 

“It’s raining, darling.” Joe made an excuse when you pulled away and swung your legs over the bed, letting your feet touch the cold wooden floors.

“You’re mental if you think I’m going to let you go out there in the rain.”

“Joe, I’m fine. I’m used to this weather.” You stated, slipping on your clothes. 

“I know.” Joe followed right behind you, slipping on his boxers before sliding his arms around your waist, hugging you from behind and planting repeated soft kisses on your cheek. 

“Joe!” You laughed as he continued to give you kisses all over your cheek and down your jawline and into your neck. “You always make it so hard for me to leave!”

“That’s the point, innit?” He laughed, letting go of you as you turned to face him, setting your arms around his neck.

“I’ll come back tomorrow night, I promise.” You grinned, leaning in to give him a chaste kiss.

“Alright, alright.” Joe sighed. “I’ll let you go if… you give me one more kiss.”

You laughed, poking both of his cheeks with your index fingers before sliding your fingers through his curly brown hair. You stared into his eyes for a moment before leaning in to kiss him deeply. Joe smiled through the kiss as he picked you up from the floor and twirled you around the air, letting out a squeal from you. 

Hood up and face down was what you told yourself as soon as you walked out of the hotel building later that night. Umbrella up as soon as you walked out under the rain and down the hilly streets of San Francisco. Your apartment building wasn’t too far to walk to, so you decided not to take the bus. As soon as you entered your apartment building, you shook off the rain droplets from your umbrella and coat and headed up to your place. 

“Shit.” You cursed under your breath as soon as you heard your phone rang and saw your co-worker’s caller ID. You hesitated for a moment before answering the phone call.

“Hey!” You answered with a cheerful voice.

“Where are you? I thought you’re coming.”

You gently slapped your forehead with your palm and scrunched up your face, trying to figure out an excuse as to why you have missed hanging out with them for the fourth time already.

“Yeah, I’m so sorry. Something came up and my sister needed help moving some stuff in her place. You know how she just moved in.” 

You were the worst liar ever because you have made the sister excuse for the third time already.

“Well, we really missed you. We haven’t seen you in a while, especially when you started working from home.” Your co-worker replied.

“I know. I’m so sorry, I’ll make it up to you all next time.” 

And just like that, they believed that excuse again, but you doubt they actually believed it because you had told them the same excuse over and over again. 

You know you wouldn’t. 

Entering your place, you freshened up and immediately slipped yourself under the comforts of your own bed. The thought of Joe had appeared in your mind as you stared into the ceiling. You knew that your situation was hard, but you had fallen hard for him. He had made you the happiest in a long time, and you would do anything just to be with him. If that meant by enduring the hidden clandestine meetings in his hotel room or his little midnight visits in your apartment, you’d do it. You’d do anything because you were deep in this already, and you knew he wanted you too.

But the question kept repeating in your mind. How far would you go for him? How far until enough is enough? 

The next morning, you had received a message from Joe saying that he couldn’t see you because he was running a little late from filming and so, you understood the situation again. The day after that, he had some kind of convention to attend, so there was no show of him in your place again. You understood the situation again. Then, news broke out about him dating a certain Hollywood starlet and that pulled your heartstrings a little too hard that you had found yourself up in his hotel room, waiting for him to finish his night filming. You waited for him until 2am until he arrived in his room, stunned to find you in his bed. 

“Hey.” Joe furrowed his brows. “What are you doing here?”

“Is this true?” You held up your phone with the article on the screen.

“Baby.” Joe started.

“No, don’t call me baby.” You argued. “Just answer my question.”

“No, of course not!” He replied, walking towards you and sat at the edge of the bed across from you. He held your hands, his eyes staring right into yours. “You know how I feel about you. This is all just some kind of PR that Alex decided on.”

You looked into his eyes, trying to find the truth in them. You believed him. You really did. You saw it in his eyes that he was telling the truth and that made you relax a bit as you exhaled a sharp breath. 

“I love you.” Joe said sternly.

Those three little words took you aback because it was the first time that he had said those words to you. You knew right then and there that he was telling you the truth.

“Y…You do?” 

“Yes.” Joe smiled. “I love you. I love you so much that I can’t even explain how you make me feel whenever you’re here with me.”

“I love you too.” You smiled as he pulled you into a deep, passionate kiss. His fingers tangling in your hair as you smiled through the kiss and gently pushed him down on the bed, towering over him. 

You pushed his hips down as you continued to kiss him, while he tugged on your hair a little bit, letting you escape a soft moan from your lips. He quickly turned you around so you were laying under him as he towered over you this time, letting his lips touch and burn every inch of your soft butterfly skin. Your head spun just like the way it always did whenever he kissed you. Your body shook just like the way he always made you feel whenever you felt himself inside of you. Your hazy eyes stared into his as he paused for a moment and gave you a smile. You were so in love with him and god, look how much of a mess he had made of you, but you didn’t care. For him, you’d do anything. 

Burying your face on his chest that night, both of you still breathless and panting from the way you two had touched each other, you didn’t even realize that the next few weeks were going to be hell for you. 

One year.

One year of understanding. One year and you both had fallen for each other deep but how come in that heavenly year, you didn’t expect that hell was coming? Because for the next two weeks, you didn’t see Joe. Although, you have seen him in articles with her. He had told you that this was only for publicity, but you were starting to feel different about it. You weren’t comfortable, but you understood because he loves you and this was only part of his job. But how big was your patience? How big was your empathy because the more he was busier, the more you were seeing him less, it was starting to tug on your heartstrings a bit too hard. A bit too painful. 

It pulled your heartstrings when you arrived in the hotel lobby one night and an unfamiliar voice called your name. You turned around and saw Alex waiting for you in the lobby.

Uh oh. He knows.

“I knew it.” Alex scoffed, walking towards you.

You pulled your hood down and stood there frozen. You weren’t too sure what to say or do exactly. You and Joe didn’t talk about this. 

“So, you’re the reason why Joe would disappear from our sight all of a sudden or when he tells us he’d be at the bar down the street when he was really with you.” Alex stated. 

He looked furious, and you swallowed every bit of fear that was running inside of you right now. You weren’t too sure what to do in this situation, and you didn’t want to fuck it up by saying something that you might regret later.

“Alex.” You heard the elevator doors open and saw Joe walk out of it. “What are you doing?”

“We already know about her, Joe. Don’t try to cover it up.” Alex retorted back.

Do something. Say something, Joe.

“Alex, what are you talking about?” Joe furrowed his brows.

Lose something, risk something.

“We’re just friends.” Joe stated.

That stung. 

You didn’t say one word because you didn’t want to get in the conversation that wasn’t meant for you to be in it, but those words stung. One year of this relationship, and Joe was weak. He couldn’t even defend you in front of his manager. How would he defend you if one day, you were caught in public together? How far and how long were you two going to be like this? Will Joe ever one day risk something just for you? He said he loved you, but did he really? You watched as Joe explained to Alex that you two met at a bar, and you have been there for him whenever he needed a friend, and you didn’t want to stand there anymore. You didn’t want to listen anymore because every word he said shattered every piece of you, and you weren’t too sure if you were able to piece yourself back together again after this. 

As soon as Alex had believed him, Joe took you upstairs. You didn’t say one word to him in the elevator nor when you two walked down the hall. Your mind, however, was running a thousand thoughts. Your heart was beating so fast, and you just wanted to scream. Your face was starting to go gray, and you felt like you were going to throw up. The air between you two was thick, and you knew damn well how much it changed the moment he said those words. When you entered his room, your heart had stopped beating for him. He was slowly losing you. You were slowly fading from him, and Joe didn’t even realize it, didn’t he? 

“Hey, I’m so sorry about that.” Joe took your hands in his, but you were numb. You weren’t there anymore. 

Stop.

“Are you alright?” Joe asked, tilting his head at you. “I’m sorry I had to say that. You know how complicated it is.”

Stop.

He was losing you.

Stop.

You couldn’t find a pulse. Your heart had stopped beating.

“I can’t do this anymore.” You vomited the words. 

Joe stood frozen in front of you, and you could see the hurt in his eyes. Joe loves you, but he didn’t love you enough for him to learn how to fight for you. 

“I… I don’t understand.” Joe murmured. 

“How long, Joe?” Your eyes welled up with tears. “How long are we going to be like this? Until there’s nothing left in me anymore?”

“What?” Joe was confused. “No, of course not.”

“I gave you everything. I gave you myself, my patience and every bit of empathy that I have. I gave everything to you.” You argued, tears rolling down your cheeks now. “Even when it gets hard sometimes. I understood you because you said you love me.”

“I love you. I mean that. Things are just complicated right now, and I never want to hurt you like this.” Joe explained, taking one step closer to you.

But every step forward he took, you took a step back. Every word he said, you felt yourself and your soul faded with it. You have been trying to stay strong about this. You have been trying to be so patient, but for how long? 

“Then choose something!” You exclaimed, “Risk something for me for once!” 

Silence.

You shook your head. You knew what that silence meant. 

“I got nothing, Joe.” You murmured, wiping your tears away. “I can’t believe your words unless you also show it to me.”

You stood there and watched him sit at the edge of the bed. His head hung low, and he was shaking his head. No words slipped out of his lips and that made it even more painful because even with just the two of you, he couldn’t even fight for you. He couldn’t even lose something for you. He couldn’t choose you. 

“Goodbye, Joe.” You shook your head and turned to walk out the door. 

“Wait!” Joe immediately got up from the bed and stopped you. 

He wrapped his arms around you, hugging you from behind so tight that he didn’t want to let go of you just yet.

“I’m sorry, please.” Joe murmured. “Please don’t go. Don’t give up on me just yet.”

You could feel his tears on your skin, but you already had faded away. 

“Then choose something, Joe!” You cried out, pulling his arms away from you.

You knew damn well that this was going to break you, but you still risked it. But how far is enough? How long were you going to be an idiotic mess for him? 

“I love you so much.” Joe turned you around to face him, cupping your face and wiping the tears that won’t stop rolling down your cheeks. 

“How can you say that when I’m slowly dying over here?” 

Joe shook his head, “You’re not. You’re not going to because I will risk everything or lose everything. Just not you, please.” 

You stared into his chocolate button eyes. You saw the truth in his eyes. One year together, and you knew you could always see the genuine truth through his eyes, so you believed him. 

“I will talk to Alex first thing in the morning. I will tell him everything.” He caressed your cheek softly with his thumb. “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry I didn’t realize how much shit you have endured because of me. Most of all, I’m sorry I didn’t realize it sooner until you were slowly losing from me.”

You nodded your head, sniffing as you wrapped your arms around his neck and embraced him in a tight hug. “Thank you.” You whispered.

“I’ll lose everything before I could lose you.” He whispered, pulling away. 

He kissed you softly and showed every bit of his love into that kiss, making sure that you knew how much he meant to you. Joe made sure that he showed every bit of his love for you in that kiss, and you knew. You knew he meant what he said. 

And he knew that for him, you had ruined yourself a million little times, and he would never let you do that ever again. 

The End.

Taglist:

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[fernandoswarcrimes]

Princess Protection Program

“Our love story will be one for the ages.”

Warnings: talks of death, parental neglect, near kidnapping, Motorsport accidents.

Sneak peaks: 1 , 2 , 3

Want to be added to the tag list? -> 👑

Chapter 1: Princess Protection Program

Chapter 2: Clandestine Meetings

Chapter 3: I Know Places..

Chapter 4: The Great War

Chapter 5: But Daddy I Love Him!

Chapter 6 (the finale): The Alchemy

-

Possible blurbs afterwards

© 2023 all rights to original content reserved - fernandoswarcrimes Do not modify, plagiarize, or claim my work as your own.

[chrlvctius]

startingggg AAAAAAAAAAA !!! I feel like there's gonna be a part 3 to this HELPPP or not 😭😭

but after this series, I'll go with the Leah x reader one (the idea I posted awhile ago) orrr the ale x reader fluff one AHSJAHSJA

Thiss part kinda got sum hint of the song dress by Taylor swift! the stares they would have across the room, clandestine meetings, andd many more!! hope you'll get the reference of some AHSJHAHAHA

[arcanewonder]

keep the lights burning for me.

[mollysunder]

I was talking to my friend who is very adamant about not watching arcane, but does enjoy listening to me rant about it. They told me Jinx was right not to show up at Sevika's rally. They pointed out it's kind of illogical for Piltover's Most Wanted to go to a large rally in the middle of the day in a public square and not expect to be arrested, and the crowd should have been too.

I couldn't really argue woth that because... yh upon retrospect, that plan was obviously going to fail. Why hold it in the middle of the day? Why out in public next to a popular statue where enforcers would inevitably be doing patrols, because Zaun's under occupation?

Practically every person in that crowd was on the wrong side of the law and nobody expected things to go wrong? The only one at that rally who knew they'd be arrested was Singed, who's also one of the two people who technically brought a weapon?

[moonsblack]

chapter 20 sneak peak 🤭

who do you think is saying it? and to who?

[comic-sans-chan]

Teenage Garashir is really something special. You know Julian was a crazy son of a bitch as a teen and Garak was a sarcastic stuffy little shit with his nose glued in a book. Julian obsessing over tennis and racquetball with a perpetual middle finger pointed towards his parents and Garak weeping over Cardassian Stephanie Meyer alone in his tiny bedroom while Tain throws knives at his door and Mila shouts at him to do the dishes. Julian's drooling over five different people at once and Garak's thinking hauntedly about that cute guy he had to kill last week while he mows the lawn. They both crave death, but sparks fly the second they lay eyes on each other. Garak's trying to figure out the logistics of balancing a secret agent career and an alien husband while Julian's just daydreaming about stuffing his face in his chest and suffocating. It's a shitshow and it's magnificent.

[geekysteven]

Business in the front, party in the back.

Clandestine meetings on the sides.

Terrible secrets in the basement.

[jin-zixun]

minji au - lan zhan asks su she to come back to the cloud recesses with him and su she just starts fucking crying because wait really? 🥺? really??? 🥺🥺🥺??? do you mean it er gongzi??? 🥹🥹🥹

(and lan zhan is thinking like ohhhhh shit this is like a key event for your entire life damn i was just dtf)

[kissablelips-desireslure-vol3]

FRIENDLY VACATION

Directed By: Rocco Fallon

Featuring: Markie More with Jimmy Clay

©️ NEXT DOOR (STUDIOS) ENTERTAINMENT

[burningblake]

LITERAL!! CHILLS!!

I'm so glad I'm rooting for this man, everyone fighting to outbest him meanwhile he has set the board and all the movements ages ago and just makes his short appearances to deliver his epic checkmates, I just love him so fucking much!!

[stormyoceans]

LITERALLY THE SINGLE MOST INSANE PICTURE I'VE EVER SEEN IN MY ENTIRE LIFE LIKE THE LIGHTING THE EXPRESSIONS THE FISH TANK IM GONNA PASS OUT

[fernandoswarcrimes]

𝓒𝓵𝓪𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓮 𝓜𝓮𝓮𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼

Summary: the secret meeting this is part two to 𝓟𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓬𝓮𝓼𝓼 𝓟𝓻𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓬𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓟𝓻𝓸𝓰𝓻𝓪𝓶 Word count: 5.3k Warnings: sad bits, brief mentions of Jules, Anthoine, parents neglect, the media being the media and fluff Note: here we get to see the duo have lunch and get to know eacgother better, but will it last before it even gets started?

Also, can you spot the cars 2 quote? Leave a 🏎️ if you can pick it out.

Tag list: @weirdestmentalityphilosopher @totostables @yourmom-lmao @dessxoxsworld @aracee @buendiabebeta​ @stillbreathin​ @flyingmushroomss @moneymasnn​@christianpulisic10 @pierre-gasssllyy @heavengirls111 @evans-dejong @hungryhungarian​ @charlie123456789 @glitterquadricorn @Mariar31 @mick2mercedes @squirreljoe​ 

Tuesday.

Tuesdays would normally be a normal relaxing day for Gracelinde but this Tuesday was different, nerve racking.

Her parents had no idea she was going to be meeting Monaco’s golden boy for lunch.

She tried on her fourth sweater of the day looking at herself in the mirror.

the pink one was too light

the purple was too bright

the yellow made her look sickly

but this one was cream, it had been a gift from Alexei and Dimitri.

It was the first decent one she came across since she started getting ready two hours ago.

Gracie ran her hands over the sweater stopping at the light pair of jeans she had on. It wasn’t something she usually reached for. Sticking mostly to skirts and dresses but today she just wanted to blend in amongst the tourists and locals milling about outside the palace.

Seeing the black cardigan laying on the chaise, she picked it up and slipped it on over her sweater and gave herself a twirl in the mirror. A bright smile spread its way across her cheeks, finally happy with her outfit, but then the nerves settled back in.

It would be a lose lose either way for all three of them.

On the other side of the city Charles was on the phone with Pierre as he looked over his outfit for the 8th time that day. He wasn’t any better than the blonde girl who was also worried over her own outfit.

On the other side of the city Charles was on the phone with Pierre as he looked over his outfit for the 8th time that day. He wasn’t any better than the blonde girl who was also worried over her own outfit.

“I don’t know about this Pierre, what if I screw things up?” The brunette boy asked as he fiddled with his shirt, his phone sat propped up atop his dresser with the French boy on FaceTime since he was the only one with a solid fashion sense besides Lewis or Zhou, but he didn’t want to bother either of them knowing they would ask too many questions that Charles didn’t have the time nor answers to.

“Impossible.” Pierre said as he continued to hit the buttons on his controller, not really paying attention to his best friend's clothing crisis, too busy playing Call of Duty with Yuki. “Just apply the same level of dedication you’ve been using to play the dumb idiot and you’ll be fine. It’s not like she’s gonna notice anyways Charles, girls don’t pay attention to stuff like that when you look as attractive as we do.”

Charles sighed as he looked at himself in the mirror. “It’s just that she’s different, you know? She isn’t just some girl Pierre she's- wait. Did you say idiot?” He looked down at his phone, confused and a little hurt at the comment his best friend just made like it was normal. “Is that how you guys see me?” He questioned, afraid of the answer he was about to get from the Rouen boy after he so casually said that.

Pierre just rolled his eyes as he swore under his breath hitting a few more buttons before deadpanning, finally pausing the game to look at Charles. “That’s how everyone sees you Charles, isn’t that the idea? I mean come on, it’s genius. No one realizes they’re being fooled because they’re too busy laughing at the fool. They just don’t know that you’re genuinely that big of an idiot.” It was a part of Charles charm, that he was an airhead, everybody knew it. Even if he didn’t realize it himself.

Charles just frowned at his phone. He never realized everyone thought he was an idiot. Sure he still struggled with his English from time to time and it took him a few minutes to get jokes but he thought that was normal. It made him rethink every encounter he’s had in the past few weeks, he felt like he was going to puke.

“I’ve got to go mate.” He said before quickly hitting the end call button not even waiting for Pierre to respond. He started to regret calling him in the first place as he looked at himself in the mirror, looking over the outfit his best friend picked out.

It was absolutely not the right outfit to meet Gracie in.

Pierre had made him put on a black and white flower design button up shirt, ripped gray jeans that cuffed at the ankles, and a bandanna. It just felt wrong. It’s like he was trying to make him look like a disaster in front of the blonde princess who asked to meet her for lunch.

Charles shook his head and started taking the shirt off walking back to his closet. He wasn’t wearing this, there was no chance in hell. The bright eyed boy looked at all the clothes he had for a moment before pulling out a plain white t-shirt and his black hoodie. It was a safe choice, and one that went with everything. “This could work” he thought before looking at his options for pants. He picked up a black pair of jeans and looked between them and the hoodie, before checking the time on his watch he had twenty minutes till he had to be at La Pampa so this outfit had to be it whether he hated it or not.

Gracie picking La Pampa was intentional, the restaurant sat facing the palace square and it was the main reason Dimitri agreed to help her with this secret meeting. Seeing as he could stand off to the side blending in with the crowd enough to keep an eye on the younger girl while still giving her and Charles space to talk and have lunch like normal people.

Well as normal as a Royal and famous formula one driver could.

Alexei on the other hand did not think it was a good idea. The younger light haired man was always one to stick to the rules, and that meant that no meetings went without her parents' prior knowledge or approval, something his boyfriend Dimitri ignored from time to time, would happen. Mick and Lance were one thing because Gracie and her parents had known the boys for the last few years, unlike Charles who she had just met two days ago. It just didn’t seem safe to him for her to be going off with this boy. Famous or not. He didn’t agree with it one bit.

But Dimitri, the ever so charming man he was, said if Albert and Charlene had a problem with it that he’d take the fall for it all. He really just wanted to see the tiny blonde girl genuinely be happy for once, for her to get to experience something as normal as going out to lunch with a boy that didn’t have any underlying schemes or meanings to it. Unlike when her parents would set up outings between her and Nikolai.

It was the little things in life that she was missing out on.

The brunette man knocked on the door to let Grace know it was nearly time for them to make their way out without getting caught. “Coming Mitri!” He heard her call out before hearing a bit of stumbling which made him chuckle as the door swung open. “You alright there Bambi?” He questioned causing her to pout. “Come on kid, don’t wanna keep Prince Charming waiting do we? Al said he’s already there, punctual the kid is eh?” He teased as they made their way to the side gate that would let them sneak out easier.

Even though Alexei said he wanted no part in this scheme of a clandestine meeting because it would almost always end in misery, he had to run an errand for Charlene and just so happened to see the boy already at the restaurant waiting for Gracie. So there was no harm in telling Dimitri that he did in fact show up, earlier than the time they set.

Gracie could feel her nerves start to rise again as she messed with the ends of her sleeves before fixing the bow in her hair. “Don’t be nervous Gracie-Lou. I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about.” She heard the Russian man reassure her, giving him a small nod and smile. “You look like you’re gonna be in a spy movie.” She commented with an amused grin.

The taller brunette man had on a baseball cap and dark sunglasses along with his jeans and hoodie, which was something he never wore. It was odd, but funny at least to the smaller blonde to see him in something that wasn’t a well pressed suit like he normally wore.

“Well I can’t just stand outside in my suit, Miss Sassypants. I think that would draw a bit too much attention don't you?” Dimitri said sarcastically but his face held a teasing grin when he saw the flat look she flashed at him for trying to be funny. He enjoyed riling the girl up, not having kids of his own; she was the closest thing he had to a daughter and having looked after her since she was about six he and Alexei grew to treat her like their own seeing as her own parents were seemingly always far too busy to care or genuinely love the girl.

“Now lighten up, you’re having lunch with Monaco’s most eligible bachelor. Some girls would kill to be in your shoes. Then again- I guess I could say the same for him, you both are in the same boat of people wishing they could be with the both of you.” The taller man rambled as he opened the door for her letting her go out first before following after her. “Mitri, please you’re not making my nerves any better.” She said quietly as they walked up the sidewalk to the square the crowd chatter getting louder and louder the closer they got.

The sun was high in the sky which was a good sign, she would’ve hated it if it was to rain today. But luckily they were getting into early summer which also meant more tourists.

Gracie took a deep breath as La Pampa came into view “I’ll walk you over just to get a scope of everything then I’ll go and stand by the wall over there by the statue to give you two some privacy, if you two want to take a walk just flash me our hand single and I’ll keep my distance.” The blonde girl nodded with a smile appreciative that he was willing to do this for her.

The older man spotted Charles sitting at a table off to the side away from a few others and guided Gracie towards the boy. The oncoming footsteps made the Ferrari driver look up from his phone before quickly standing up, nearly bumping into the table with a sheepish smile. “Hey..” he said softly causing Gracie to smile back replying softly “hi.”

“Alright..” Dimitri said, looking between the awkward pair. “I’m gonna make myself scarce, so enjoy your lunch Gracie-Lou you know the drill and the rules.” He commented, patting the blonde on the shoulder before looking over at Charles giving him a small nod walking off to stand where he told Gracie he’d be. “Here let me get your chair.” Charles spoke before moving to pull out the girls chair for her which made her shake her head softly with a grin as she sat down. “You know you didn’t have to do that right?” She asked once he took his own seat.

“I know, but my mom raised my brothers and I to be gentlemen.” Charles said with a small smile causing the bubbly blonde to nod and grin as she picked up the menu to look it over. “So.. Gracie Lou? It’s a cute nickname” he commented, causing a flush to appear across the blonde's cheeks as she looked back up at him with a small smile. “He’s been calling me that since I was younger, I always liked how the grinch stole Christmas. He said I reminded him of Cindy-Lou Who.” She rambled before pausing realizing what she was doing and quickly grew quiet remembering how her mother would scold her for talking too much as she looked down at the menu even though she already knew what she was going to get because she got the same thing every time she ate here.

Charles smiled listening to her explain the nickname, he found it adorable. “I can see the resemblance button nose and bright doe eyes.” He said before noticing she had grown quiet and closed in on herself after speaking about it, like she wasn’t supposed to talk so much. It made him frown a bit as he looked at her trying to figure out why someone would keep her from expressing herself so animatedly because to him it was the cutest thing.

“What are you thinking of getting?” She asked glancing up at him to see him suddenly bashful for getting caught staring at her when she wasn’t looking, he just couldn’t help but want to look at her still not believing that this was actually happening and he wasn’t being pranked. “I’m not quite sure. What do you usually get?” He questioned wanting to know if she had any recommendations or what she liked from here.

“I usually get the Lemon Sugar Crepès and a pineapple shake.” Gracie said, closing the menu as she smiled at him. “It reminds me of summertime.” “I think I’ll go with that too then, I have to see what they’re all about and maybe next time if you’d like, I can show you my favorite restaurant?” He offered with a hopeful look causing a bright smile to spread across her lips. “I’d like that a lot, it's a deal.”

As the waiter walked over greeting the two and taking their orders the two got to know eachother better, Charles got to know her favorite movie which happened to be Ratatouille claiming that she’s always loved the art that goes into cooking even though she’s not allowed to cook at home and how it’s set in paris a city that she’s dying to see in person. He learned that she loved to paint and read literature. How Mick's sister taught her how to ride horses last year, something she found fun even though it absolutely terrified her. Everything about her was fascinating. The more and more he found out about the girl the quicker he started to fall for her because she was such a genuine person despite the life she was born into.

Then it was her turn to get to know Charles. He told her how his favorite tracks were street circuits because they had a reputation for being extremely difficult and how he embraces the added difficulty, and that's the way he likes it. His favorite number is seven and wanted to use that as his driver number but Kimi had already gotten to it first. How he taught himself how to play piano in his off time. He liked skiing and being with his family when he could seeing as they were all super close. He told her how at first, he was nervous to be teammates with Sebastian but now they’re close friends even after the German driver moved to Aston Martin. Gracie could listen to the boy go on and on about anything and never get tired of listening to him talk about things he was passionate about.

After they had eaten, they both decided that her idea for Lemon sugar crepès was a great idea but next time Charles swore his favorite restaurant would top this.

“Would you want to maybe go for a walk?” Charles asked hesitantly as they both stood up. He didn’t know if she had any commitments the rest of the day but he knew he’d regret it if he didn’t at least ask. “I’d love to.” Gracie nodded as she pushed in her chair and took his outstretched hand with a smile. The two making their way to the sidestreets, Charles making sure he was the one to walk on the side of the sidewalk that mirrored the road, the blonde gave Dimitri the signal to follow before focusing back on Charles.

“So what got you into racing?” Grace questioned wanting to know more about his racing passion after getting to know him on a more personal level over lunch.

Charles glanced at her for a moment as they walked through the streets trying to figure out how to say what he wanted without bringing the mood down because that was the last thing he wanted to do around the sunshine girl. “Well, racings always been a part of my family. My father was a racer in formula 3 and my godfather Jules was a driver too, for formula one. I don’t just do it for me anymore, I want to make them proud and continue on for Jules since he didn’t get to show everyone how good he could’ve been, I know he would’ve been great if he just had more time with everyone.” He explained glancing at the shorter girl seeing her listening intently which he appreciated.

“I remember hearing about the crash, about Jules, they said there hadn’t been a crash like that since Senna. That’s when they put the halo in place right?” She questioned causing him to nod, listening to her now just as she did him. He wanted to hear what she thought of it, an outsider's perspective on something that had been weighing on his mind for the last six years.

“Life has a way of having unfortunate things happen that nobody expects coming. We’ve seen it all through history with disasters and tragedies but the outcomes, the after effects of picking things up and making sure they don’t happen the same way as before shows that if people had thought of it sooner it might’ve been prevented, but then everyone hangs onto the what ifs instead of the here and now. Like a butterfly effect. I’m sorry you lost him, and your friend Anthoine, in 2019? That was when you won in Spa. I remember that race. I can’t believe they made you guys continue on like nothing the next day after something like that happened. Racing at the speeds you guys do is such a beautiful sport but it comes at such a cost in the blink of an eye. Though it takes strength to continue to do what you do. I'm sure you’re making them really proud, I know you make Monaco proud.” Gracie said softly, she could never imagine what losing someone close to you, whether it be family, a friend, or a teammate and having to continue on in the same sport without them would feel like.

Charles was speechless, she had so easily put into words what he had been trying to do for years. He knew it was a freak accident that nobody expected to happen. Aquaplaning can happen in the blink of an eye, everyone knows that and despite it, there’s no stopping it like she pointed out. But it was the aftermath, the changes to keep it from happening again. The Halo, first trialed in 2016 before it became mandatory in the sport two years later, protected their heads from flying debris or the car flipping. Hopefully to keep what happened to Jules from happening again. And it had worked, it had saved countless drivers lives since then but like she said, if one thing had been different back then, everything would be different today.

Just like a butterfly effect.

“You look like him, you know.” The blue eyed girl softly spoke as she looked up at him; nobody had forgotten the French driver. How could they when Charles was nearly a spitting image of him. Despite the older driver being from Nice, his ashes rest in the Monte Carlo cemetery, in a tomb amongst the other prestigious and famous people the city had laid to rest. He had the same eyes and smile as Jules, she was sure if you put a picture of the two side by side it’d be a hard game of ‘spot the difference’.

But Charles was different from his godfather. She could see the sunflowers that circled his irises, something she found enchanting because that was something not many people had, how when he laughed his eyes crinkled and the dimples in his cheeks deepened his laugh was a sound she never wanted to forget. She noticed he was shy, yet outgoing once he got comfortable with someone. Scared yet cautious of letting people get close to him, for good reason. His accent leaned more towards Italian unlike Jules who’s accent was softer and more distinctly French. It was little things like that, that made the two nearly the same yet polar opposites. She was sure the boy next to her was a real life Disney Prince, she couldn’t find one bad thing about him. She would find out later he is fiercely competitive and a terribly messy packer. He was perfect in her eyes, even if he did think his restaurant could beat her lemon sugar crepes, that was debatable.

Charles could say the same for her. “You look like your grandmother, the famous Grace Kelly.” He didn’t watch old movies a lot but he knew of the city’s former princess from the fifties. Nearly everyone did and the girl next to him looked almost identical to the late American actress that had a lot to do with the city being how it was today. Her mark was left everywhere, street names, the hospital, she even had a famous Hermès bag named after her, which he noticed the shorter girl was carrying the day he met her and again today except today the bag was beige instead of emerald green. The actress would continue to live on through her granddaughter in more ways than one. She had the same soft facial features, baby blonde hair and bright enchanting eyes.

But yet the younger girl was different, far from the personality her grandmother had. Gracelinde was ladylike yet elemental she could easily bend her personality to whatever the room needed her to be, suggestive of icy mountain heights and untouched potential, he noticed it at first when they had sat down for lunch how she held herself back, she’d get excited over something and quickly mask it closing in on herself to not show how she truly felt as if she had been scolded for doing it in the past. He assumed it was due to living the life of a royal, she couldn’t just be herself she had an image to upkeep and he hated the fact she thought she couldn’t be herself around him just yet. But beneath it all, was a protected heart of genuine gold like that of the Amber Room, the missing eighth wonder of the world was standing right next to him in the heart of Monaco's own princess, ready to be revealed if the right person were to come along and prove to her they deserved to be shown it’s beauty that had been hidden away.

Both young adults had such similar qualities so much so that to some, looking at the pair was almost like seeing a reflection of those they resemebled from the past.

Almost.

“So, Princess, does the title come with a long name too?” He questioned with a small smirk hearing her let out a huff of a laugh. “Oh unfortunately it does.” “Well let’s hear it, I’m sure it can’t be as bad as mine.” He gently bumped his shoulder against hers as he waited for her to spill her full name, he was dying to know.

“My full name is Gracelinde Eliana Kelly Marie Grimaldi. Quite the mouthful. Grace and Kelly are in honor of my grandmother. Now what’s yours, pretty boy? Out with it.” Gracie said, eyes sparkling with mirth dying to know what his full name was now too since she had spilled hers.

Charles let out a sigh but a small smile pulled at his lips as he looked up at the sky. “Mine is Charles Marc Hervè Perceval Leclerc. Hervè for my dad.” He finished and saw her trying not to laugh, “go on laugh I know you want to.” He grinned, causing her to let the angelic laughter she had been holding back out which sounded like music to Charles ears, he wanted to make her laugh more just so he could hear it again and again. “Perceval!? Like a Lord?? Lord Perceval! This is the best thing I’ve ever heard, oh mon dieu.”

“Oh come on, not you too! My teammate said the same thing!” Charles pouted with a small grin at seeing how this time she wasn’t hiding how excited she was about the revelation that one of his names amused her. “Great minds think alike then. Carlos was it? You’ll have to tell him I agree with the Lord Perceval nickname, it's going to stick, I tell you.” Gracie smiled as they lightly swung their intertwined hands together.

Dimitri shook his head at the pair as he followed from afar, he had never seen the girl this happy in all the years he’d known her. Their stroll progressed on for another forty five minutes before Charles checked his phone after the incessant vibrations every few minutes finally got to him. Only to find a multitude of texts from the group chat he had with Lando, Alex and George.

The three boys wanted him to hop on a game with them.

Shit.

He forgot to tell them he was going to be busy today.

“If you’ve got to go I understand, todays been really nice. But I am getting quite tired myself.” Gracie said softly, causing him to look over at her as he slipped his phone back in his pocket, he’d answer the three later. “May I walk you home? Or well back to La Pampa?” He asked knowing he couldn’t walk her to the front doors just yet, causing her to nod with a grin as she laid her head against his arm as they turned at the corner that would take them down another street back in the direction of the restaurant and palace.

After he brought her back to La Pampa he realized Dimitri had been trailing them from afar not that he minded, he was glad that someone was looking out for the girl at all times. He gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek promising he’d see her again in a few days if she was free before he’d need to head to Azerbaijan for the next race, be stood with his hands in the pocket of his hoodie watching as her and Dimitri disappeared into the side door of the gates to the palace.

Charles was wonderstruck, a blush on his cheeks as he turned on his heel walking back to his apartment wondering if she knew and felt it too, the connection they had.

Gracie had felt the same wonderstruck feeling as she danced around alone in her room after Charles dropped her off. She felt like she was on cloud nine.

They both were enchanted to meet each other.

Charles was praying that this was the very first page of their love story and not where the storyline ended he didn’t need his luck ruining it for him, races were one thing but not this, he wouldn’t let his bad luck ruin this before it could even start.

Grace's thoughts would echo his name until she saw him again, he was such an enigma to her she had never felt this way with anyone she’s met before, not even famous footballers or actors. Though she hoped he wasn’t in love with anybody else, that would hurt more than anything. Being rejected by someone she felt so normal with.

Charles hoped she didn’t have anybody waiting on her. He had seen the articles about her and the prince of Denmark but he knew those were just that. Articles. Someone as kindhearted and down to earth as her wouldn’t do something damming like that especially with a well known person like himself for everyone to see.

Dimitri practically skipped into the library after dropping Gracie off to her room, finding Alexei sitting on the couch reading yet another engineering book. “Did she enjoy herself?” The glasses wearing man couldn’t help but ask as he briefly looked up from his book trying to show he wasn’t dying to know how the outing went, despite him saying he wanted nothing to do with it earlier that morning. He had a change of heart.

“Oh you should’ve seen them Lex, precious as priceless gems I tell you. I’ve never seen her smile like that before.” Dimitri said with a dramatic sigh, falling into the chair next to the couch with a wide smile across his cheeks. “He looked at her like she hung all the stars in the sky, and he’s so respectful. Pulled out her chair, offered her his hand, walked on the outer side of the sidewalk, always making sure she was okay.” He rambled not noticing that Alexei had since closed his book and was giving him his full attention now as he spoke of the younger kids and how their lunch date and walk went.

“They just clicked, you know? It was almost like her with Mick and Lance which made me a bit skeptical because maybe it’s just a Gracie thing, she clicks with everybody so easily you know? On top of the fact he’s also a famous race car driver like the other two I doubted he's got the time to date. But for Gracie? For our Gracie? I think he’d up and give her the world if she asked.” He said honestly. Sometimes you just know when you meet someone you’re going to spend the rest of your life with. Rainier had done it with Grace Kelly and refused to remarry after her death, Albert when he met and married Charlene, himself with Alexei and now he was seeing the beginnings of it with Gracie and Charles. “He’s already wanting to see her again before he’s got to head out for the next race.”

Though the blossoming couple's little bubble wouldn’t last for long and might get snuffed out before it can even start.

Alexei’s phone pinged with an urgent email making him pick it up off the coffee table to check what it was, once he read it he looked up with a look Dimitri couldn’t read before flipping the phone around so he could see what was on the screen.

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Hello!Magazine

Monaco’s own Princess Gracelinde, seen out having lunch and a stroll with Formula one driver Charles Leclerc. Could we see a new Prince of Monaco in the near Future?

By: James Marsden

May 31st, 2022

3:45 PM.

The two met outside La Pampa, which sits facing the palace square where they had lunch. Talking and laughing with each other, the pair seemed to hit it off as they then took a stroll through the streets of the city to continue the day looking rather cozy with each other.

What do Prince Albert and Princess Charlene think about the outing?

Click here to read more.

[chrlvctius]

do u think i can post the part 2 of clandestine meetings tongijt 😞

[hitsdifferents]

if anyone wants me to have their pink folklore vinyl at not seven million dollars lmk