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simplyholl · 5 months

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The Newlywed Game

Summary: You’re forced to play The Newlywed Game with your ex situationship.

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x F. Reader

Warnings: Angst. Smuttish, but not my usual descriptive smut. 18+ Only. Minors DNI.

See my Masterlist here

“I can’t.” That’s all the explanation you got when Bucky ended your situationship. You were friends with benefits for almost a year. The only rule he had was don’t fall in love. He had too much baggage and he never wanted a family. He didn’t want anyone to depend on him.

You couldn’t blame him, he was traumatized by Hydra. Trapped inside his own body for decades, he was afraid it could happen again. You jumped in head first with him anyways. You were in his bed after every mission, every meeting, every day. You basically lived in his room, not that he would ever admit that. Then one rainy afternoon, you knocked on his door like always. Except this time, he didn’t pull you into his warm embrace.

He moved out of the way so you could come in, and immediately you knew something was wrong. You reached for him, ready to console him, desperate for his touch. He had just finished a mission with Sam and he’d been gone for two weeks. You missed him, and he was usually so excited to see you.

When you placed your hand on his cheek, rubbing the scruff that had grown while he was gone, he wrapped his fingers around your wrist removing it. “I can’t do this anymore.” His voice was so low you could barely understand. Your eyes narrowed at his words. “Have I done something wrong?”

“This has gone on for longer than it should have. I can’t let it anymore.” Your throat tightens, but you refuse to cry in front of him. You walked out and your relationship with him was never the same. You didn’t hang out anymore.

When you were alone, he would leave. He didn’t sit beside you during the Friday night movie. He didn’t choose you for his partner on game night. The other Avengers didn’t know for sure that you were hooking up. You hid it pretty well. They had their suspicions, but neither of you ever confirmed it.

Tony called everyone to the back yard. “What’s all this?” Steve asks, pointing to the stage he had set up. “It’s my anniversary tomorrow and Pepper said she always wanted to play the Newlywed Game. So I had this built so we could play.”

“That’s great, Tony. But who are you all going to play with? There’s four set up’s and only two couples.” Steve gestures to Wanda and Vision. “Thought about that and Cap, you and Natasha are going to play and….” He looks at the whole team, everyone looking in different directions trying not to make eye contact. Except for Sharon, who hung around a lot lately. She was getting closer to Bucky, obviously wanting Tony to choose them. You roll your eyes. “Barnes and Y/N. There now we have all our couples. I’m going to go get Pep, you guys take your spots.”

You look at Bucky,but he’s busy talking to Steve about how ridiculous it is. You hear Sharon agree that he should have chosen someone else. When Pepper comes in, she excitedly claps her hands together. She points to the other teams, “You’re going down!” She laughs, but you can’t help but protest, “This is rigged! You guys and Wanda and Vision are the only real couples!! How is anyone else supposed to win?”

Tony shoots you a death glare but answers, “Cap and Natasha have definitely bumped uglies before. And you and Barnes are close friends. I thought that would make it more fair. But, I do expect to win.” You cross your arms, but accept his answer. Bucky finally looks at you, but it’s not friendly.

Sam comes out, wearing a suit Tony made him wear to host. “I’ll explain the rules. You all have a whiteboard, marker, and eraser. I will ask a question and you will write your answer on your boards. If your answer matches your partner’s you get a point. I’ll eliminate one couple each round until the final tie breaker.”

You take a deep breath. This is hell. But you do know Bucky better than anyone, so as long as he didn’t ask any crazy questions, you would be fine. “First question. Where is the craziest place you and your partner have had sex?” You freeze. Of course Stark had these wild questions. If you both answered the same, everyone would know that you had hooked up.

You think about lying, but decide the ball should be in Bucky’s court. You’ll answer correctly, and if he doesn’t you’ll know he doesn’t want anyone to know. You quickly scribble your answer, waiting on Sam to call on you. Tony’s answer is Steve’s room and Pepper’s matched. Everyone laughed while Steve said Tony has to pay for his room to be deep cleaned.

Wanda and Vision both answer “in the air.” Natasha and Steve said a table in the meeting room. You turn your board to reveal your answer and Bucky shows his. You look and see that he has answered correctly. “The quinjet?! Damn y’all are nasty!” Sam laughs.

You’re taken back to that moment. You, Bucky, and Bruce were on your way back from a mission. Bruce was driving the quinjet, but activated the mode Tony installed for breaks. As soon as he started snoring, Bucky led you to the bathroom. He took you against the wall, metal hand across your mouth to stifle your moans. It was one of the hottest things you’d ever done. Your suit clung to you in the worst ways after that. His cum dripping down your legs, it was nearly impossible to take off.

The others look at each other in surprise. Scott yells “I told you they were hooking up. No one believed me!” Sharon looks at Bucky so harshly that if looks could kill, he’d be dead. He just shrugs his shoulders. Of course, he would be hooking up with her. Why wouldn’t he? She was pretty and it had been three months since he ended things with you.

The next question was “Who hogs the covers more?” Everyone got it right except for Steve and Natasha. She said that wasn’t a fair question because they never actually slept when they were together. The round continued with four more questions. At the end, Steve and Natasha were eliminated because they had the least amount of points. The rest of you were tied.

“What is your partner’s pet name for you?” Sam asks. That’s easy, “doll”, you write. When you reveal your answers, Sharon looks furious. That must be what he calls her too. It stings, thinking of them together. You don’t have time to dwell on it before Sam asks the next question. “What is the highest number of orgasms your partner has given you in one night?” Your eyes widen, you know the answer, but you don’t know if he will remember.

Tony and Pepper answer three, Tony grins like the cocky asshole he is. Vision and Wanda answer two. Bucky raises his board, “Six?!” Sam shouts, “How were you guys fucking this much and nobody knew?” He laughs. The round surprisingly ends with Wanda and Vision getting eliminated.

But you’re busy thinking about that night. Bucky’s head between your thighs for hours. He barely came up for breath. You were sure he would smother, but he insisted. He didn’t stop until the sheets were soaked, your legs were shaking so hard, you’d immediately fall if you tried to stand up.

He had you screaming his name all night. When he finally started fucking you, he took his time, pulling another orgasm out of you before going back down for another taste. He finally came with you on top. He had to lift your limp body on him, using you like a sex doll. You couldn’t move if you needed too. It was the best sex you’d ever had.

“It’s time for the tie breaker question. Answers don’t have to match, the crowd will vote on the most romantic answers.” Sam states. “When did you know you were in love?” Tony and Pepper immediately begin writing. You’re certain you’re going to lose this one. Bucky was never in love with you. You write your answer, deciding to answer truthfully.

Tony and Pepper’s answers make you tear up, they are so in love. You can only hope you’ll find that one day. You and Bucky reveal your boards at the same time. You glance at his, his answer knocks the breath out of your lungs because it matches yours. The Avenger’s Barbecue. You lock eyes, his gaze softens as he reads your answer.

You’ll never forget such a pivotal moment in your life. All of the Avengers and Shield agents’ friends and family were invited to play games, eat, and have a good time. Emily, who helped coordinate your missions brought her husband and three young children. A baby girl, a two year old boy, and a five year old girl. The children were drawn to Bucky. The two older children swung from his metal arm while he held the baby with his other one.

The image made your ovaries explode. You couldn’t help imagining how he would be if you had kids. He laughed as they asked him a thousand questions, playing on him like a jungle gym. You knew without a doubt, you were in love.

Bucky took a deep breath when he read your answer. Why was it the same as his? Did you know? Was it a prank you were playing on him? Emily’s children were entranced with you from the moment they met you. He couldn’t blame them, he felt the same. They had played with him for an hour before the food was ready. When Tony told everyone to make a plate, you offered to watch the kids while she and her husband got their food.

Bucky watched as you comforted the crying infant. The two older children sat beside you while you read from a book the girl got from their bag. Bucky knew he was screwed. He could see a life like this so clearly. Your belly round with his baby, while you tended to your other children. He didn’t want to admit how badly he wanted that. The realization hit him like a ton of bricks. He was in love with you.

That night he made love to you, it was softer, slower than the other times he touched you. He knew you could tell the difference too. He placed one last kiss to your lips, willing himself to let you go. The next morning, he left for his two week mission with Sam. He convinced himself that it was for the best if he ended things. He didn’t want to hurt you. You might be okay with it now, but years later you would regret it.

You’d realize having the Winter Soldier for a husband wasn’t worth everything you would have to go through. Then Sharon started flirting with him after Steve rejected her. He hadn’t so much as hugged her, but she acted like she was entitled to him.

Everyone voted for Tony and Pepper to win. They were the real couple and it was their anniversary tomorrow. Tony was going to treat everyone to dinner for being such good sports. You got out of there as soon as it was over. You needed a nap before going to dinner. It was all too much for you. How the hell did you and Bucky make it so far in the game? Why did he have the same answer for the last question? You convince yourself that he knew how you felt.

That night changed everything. The sex was different. If you didn’t know better, you’d swear he was making love to you. He had to be messing with your head. Somehow you manage to fall asleep even with your thoughts racing.

You wake up two hours later, just enough time to get ready for dinner. You put on the little black dress Bucky loved. If he wants to play games, bring it on. You apply your perfume when a light knock sounds on your door. You would recognize the knock anywhere. “Come in” you call. Bucky walks in, his tight black t-shirt hugging him in the best ways.

“Hey doll, we need to talk.” You put your earrings in, anger surging through you. “Talk about what? How you were trying to humiliate me up there? How you’re banging Sharon now? There’s nothing to talk about. You should just go.”

“Humiliate you? What about me? How did you know the answer to the last question?” He demands, charging toward you. “I answered it truthfully, James. How did you know my answer?” You ask, hands on your hips. “I answered honestly too.” He confesses, his blue eyes sweeping over the swell of your breasts.

“Stop lying! I don’t see what the point is. We have been over for three months. Why are you doing this?” He shakes his head, “I was telling the truth. I realized I was in love with you when all those kids were sitting in your lap. I could see our life together. And I wanted it, the kids, the white picket fence, the big house, you.”

“Bucky, I wanted all that with you too. Seeing you playing with those kids made me realize it too.” You sigh, feeling relieved to finally get it off your chest. His lips crash into yours, hands moving at lightning speed to remove all of your clothing. You’re under him in seconds, panting against his lips as he rubs himself against you.

Bucky moans as he sinks into you. He’s always known deep down you were made for him, now he has no choice but to accept it. “I’m so in love with you.” He tells you between thrusts. You claw at his back, his confession almost sends you over the edge. “I am so in love with you, Buck.” You kiss him gently. “Say it again.” He smiles, as you get lost in each other.

Tags

@cindylynn @wheredafandomat @multifandom-worlds @loz-3 @megharat-barnes-reid @kats72 @crimson25 @mochie85 @cakesandtom @lokidokieokie @theallknown213 @alexakeyloveloki @tmilover1993 @yeaiamme2 @pigeonmama @yeehawbrothers @lokischambermaid @fictive-sl0th @nomajdetective @goblingirlsarah @foxherder @weirdothatwritess @silver-tongue-taken-to-bed @freegardenbanananeck @lamentis-10 @jainaeatsstars @queenshu

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bunnwich · 23 days

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Gifts (Leona Kingscholar)🧡

Leona muses on the gift you leave him for Valentine's Day. (Based on the official merch twst 2024 Valentine gift messages)

Characters: Leona Kingscholar, Yuu/MC!Reader (Can be framed as platonic or romantic)

Words: 936 words, Leona's POV

Notes: Wanted to challenge myself to do something short and sweet in a few hours and was inspired to improve upon yet another dry official Leona gift message response.

Gifts.

They came easy over the years, like plucking an oversweet tart from a dessert tray. He was disliked, feared even, but lucky for him easy on the eyes — and still a prince to occasionally bow and scrape to. So many folks over the years were eager to oblige him and follow the traditions of the Sunset Savanna. Idolize the royals; the divine oligarchy. He was simply “lucky” enough to be born under that umbrella. That’s all.

Those gifts and attention fed him for a while, but if he was being honest, some part of him always remained hungry.

After all, shiny trinkets were nothing like a dusty old book or the heady cedar smell of a well-used chess set. What was the value of pretty baubles to sit on shelves of his empty room or clothes that cost more than some folks' houses?

Pillars of sand.

Was it so damn pathetic and vapid to want something not given by his family's twisted obligations or plucked from the hands of a quivering servant? No games. No more ulterior motives.

Wishful thinking, maybe or a childish habit that he had dumped in the trash, like all those boxes of sweets that long went bitter on his tongue.

He reminded himself that others had suffered much worse than not being doted on in their preferred way. However, this reality failed to take away his distaste for each and every gift. Tch. How many times would he have to snuff out that damn sentimentality that he had been so “lucky” to inherit?

Leona’s eyes fell upon the small bottle vial in his palm and the wooden lion tag attached, tied carefully around the bottle. It had been nestled on the corner of his bed when he returned from Spelldrive practice this morning, all nice and wrapped in shiny paper.

His mouth crinkled and a small sound rumbled from his chest without his permission. Relief of some kind maybe. It had been one of the first gifts he received that was not for his birthday or from his family.

A friendly gesture or…somethin’ more insidious?

To think, someone who came to this world with nothin’ goin’ outta their way to get him somethin’...special.

But, “friends” weren’t something he kept. Instead, he had a collection of starry-eyed froshes, classmates, rivals, those few worthy of his respect. And then there was Ruggie of course but, would he be around if not for the understanding they had come to? Best not to dwell on it now.

Leona chuckled watching the amber liquid swish around the curved glass like liquid gold. How bold of them to choose a scent for him of all things. Beastfolk were sensitive to ‘em and he especially. But, they had been the brash and precocious type ever since they came to this school. Always skipping steps to pull off an advanced move.

Regardless of how big of a crowd he’d ever have cheerin’ at one of his games or how many brilliant trinkets he’d be gifted, nothing beat his chosen audience of one. Who, even after seeing firsthand all the grimy parts of him...still havin’ the audacity to stick around so long.

His eyes fell over to the chessboard at the corner of his desk. Brave little creature indeed, and brimming with Savanaclaw tenacity. A little pawn that made it to the other side of the board, ready to be crowned.

No way they knew the implication of such a small gesture, how important scents were to beastfolk, not that he was one for tradition, of course. Still, He brought the bottle to his nose for the umpteenth time as he leaned forward on his elbows. In an odd way, it reminded him of the gardens back at home when it rained, all those lonely hours pouring over books and chess games.

Alone but…if he concreted enough, he was able to catch a whiff of the oil where their fingers touched the glass. Yes, in their note they had mentioned that this scent reminded them of him, but to his nose it was missing something. A key complementing note. A missing piece.

The scent of a little herbivore turned into a formidable beast that he couldn’t get out of his head.

His brow furrowed as he glanced over at the small pile of notes, discarded by his boots. Then he tried again this time with more wit.

"Hey– Allow me to thank you for your generous gift. Heh. I can’t believe you actually picked out a halfway-decent fragrance. I might actually keep this. I thought about sending you something in return if the mood struck me, but this thank you note should do the job just fine, right?"

Leona kept it short and sweet. He knew they two were past formalities, but it was amusing to still play the game a little. He had been waiting for them to approach him in such a bold way, and finally, he had been rewarded for his saintly patience. Still, he wasn’t ready to show his hand yet, well-

He allowed sentimentality to win this time and flipped over the note, scrawling a little something extra for their eyes only.

“P.S. If you were gonna treat your lion so nice…the least ya could do is make good on such bold intentions and show him some proper attention.”

He chuckled again as he let the paper slip from his fingers, finally satisfied with what he had come up with. Honestly, it didn't matter much what he wrote. Maybe he was becoming sentimental in his “old” age but he knew...that they would always find each other in the middle.

It was their move again.

Besides, it was only fair that he repay them properly. Etiquette and all that.

#had this in my drafts for a while 🫶#leona kingscholar x yuu #disney twisted wonderland #twst wonderland #twst writing #leona x reader #twisted wonderland #leona kingscholar x reader #leona kingscholar #twst #twst leona #bunnwich writes📝

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sashasspace · 4 months

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Love Language mod v1- the intro ♡

I can’t believe my first ever mod is finally out! I wrote it out in July 2021 hoping the day it could be a mod and the fact it is out now feels so surreal. The five love language mod in the sims! Yes, our sims can now have a love language as a trait. You can buy the trait from the rewards store and it costs 12 points. Once your sim has the trait, you can see it in the simology panel and then your sims will have wants surrounding their trait. I used ALL the packs to create this mod.

What are the wants we will see in game?

Most of the instructions are already in the game on how to complete the wants

Words of affirmation

For words of affirmation, your sim’s charisma skill is an important factor when it comes to their social interactions

Compliment outfit *skill 2 charisma*

Compliment appearance

Brighten day *skill 2 charisma*

Flatter *skill 3 charisma*

Ask about day

Express admiration

Whisper (any whisper social)

Profess undying love

Pickup line *for couples with high relationship, just have your couple flirt*

Sweet talk *skill 6 charsima*

Flirt

Declare love publicly

Get to know

Discuss interest

Deep conversation

Tell story (any story social)

Tell dirty joke *skill 4 comedy and also flirty*

Ask a risqué question

Write love email *skill 4 writing/ flirty mood*

Flirty text *could be regular text too*

Heartfelt compliment *happy mood*

Say affirmations

Write affirmations

Quality time

Ask about day

Watch movie alone or with someone

Play Console / PC alone or with someone *skill 4 video gaming*

Call someone

Chat on computer

Cook meal alone or with someone (any meals from all packs)

Picnic *spring/summer season*

Prepare drinks (any drinks from all packs)

Travel

Join in cooking

Workout *skill 6 fitness*

Dance together *skill 3 dance*

Pillow fight

Teach to knit *skill 10 knitting*

Play with sparkler *must be summer/fireworks must be on property for the want to appear*

Video call

Watch TV show

Take a bath *any bath*

Play board games *all table games included*

Gifts

Give gift *friendly, mean, funny or romantic*

Give simoleons

Treat yourself or any animal

Receive gift *open presents from seasons*

Buy something *retail, phone, computer purchase...etc.*

Offer rose *gift rose or flower arrangement in inventory/ buy from the flower stall*

Donate to charity *skill 3 charisma*

Give jewelry gift *gemology table*

Give a collectable as a gift *dig to find something or buy simmi capsule*

Acts of service

Call to meal

Be called to a meal

Make drinks for *use bar*

Prepare drinks (any drink from any pack)

Order drinks together / solo

Cheers *toast from seasons/ my wedding stories*

Order food from stall

Clean up

Repair

Give or receive massage *romantic base game social or spa day*

Cook (any meal)

Donate to charity *skill 3 charisma*

Order delivery

Serve tea/ be served tea *object from my wedding stories*

Hire a service (any service)

Volunteer *parenthood pack*

Physical touch

These wants need sims to have a first kiss to appear. For sims created in CAS as married or premades, they have to woohoo first for the want to appear.

Kiss

Kiss lover's cheek / family kiss *all sims are included in this interaction*

Hug / Embrace *all sims are included in this interaction*

Caress cheek

Snuggle your lover

Give / receive Massage

Look deeply into eyes

Feed a bite

Slow dance / sweetheart dance *My wedding stories/ High school years*

Cozy up by the fire

Woohoo (any location)

Cuddle while watching movie

Make out

Tickle

Credits 💕

Thank you Tee (danitysimmer) for helping me and teaching me all about modding. You are so patient with me and so understanding.. I’ll never forget your kindness. I pray you receive so many blessings in life

Jordy, thank you for motivating me to go back and cheering me on when I sent updates

My family and friends who cheered me on when I sent updates

Zerbu’s mod constructor v5 / Lot51 tuning builder

Sims 4 studio / Scumbumbo’s xml injector

Cinnasims for the pose I used / pose player mod

"The Five Love Languages" by Gary Chapman

Twistedmexi better exceptions

My amazing friends who tested this mod out thank you so much!

XML INJECTOR IS REQUIRED!!!!

Optional downloads ♥

UI Cheats Extension v1.41 | Patreon

MiniMod: Re-Roll Wants | Patreon

Video tutorial

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE MOD Alternate Download

Brazilian Portuguese love language mod

French love language mod

Polish love language mod

Ukrainian love language mod

Spanish love language mod

FAQs ღ

Why is the mod not appearing for me? You don't have XML injector mod 💜

There will be future updates such as moodlets/buffs and love languages for children. If you have any issues, please contact me. I will try my best to figure it out. Tag me if you use the mod, I would love to see it in your game. Thanks for downloading and being patient with me. I wish you a lovely day!

Take care 🌙

🚨 For any modder who wants to translate any of my mods, I don't mind if you upload it on your patreon, or even any other website that monetizes, BUT I do not want you to post it on CurseForge. I would also like if you keep the mods publicly for download no early access.

#the sims 4 #simblr #sims 4 #ts4 simblr #simmer #black simmer #sims 4 mods #sims 4 love language mod

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love-that-we-were-in · 5 months

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betting on all three for us two

pairing: frat!luke castellan x reader summary: you think you like being a little more friendly and a little less competition with luke castellan this year. a sequel to this fic word count: 3.1k warnings: none

author's note: frat luke my dearly beloved loser son who studies pre-med this is for you you know who you are i love you

The fall semester comes at you faster than you’d like, this rapid change from a golden summer to the crisp air of being back on campus. You’re rooming with someone from an old anthropology elective you took, Silena finally moving into her sorority house. It should feel weirder, how everything has changed since spring break.

You take the opportunity to build new habits. Early runs, no caffeine after 2pm. Little things that make the day go a tiny bit faster, building blocks to fit around your class schedule. Silena schedules weekly lunches for the three of you and there’s this gravity to it all that you want to study.

It had been nice to be home for a few months. Your mom had missed having you there, being able to show you the new flowers she planted, how the lemon tree in the yard is twisting weirdly. Board games and family dinners and friends who never left your town. Being back home was resetting. Being back on campus was restarting.

Lee catches you as you leave the gym, offering to walk you to class if you’re heading in that direction. You smile, telling him that you have a late start and pretend he doesn’t frown when your phone buzzes. He mentions that he’s thinking of starting a study group for one of your classes and you tell him you’ll think about joining.

While he heads towards the main building, you make your way to the campus coffee shop - caught behind the early risers desperate for something to get them through their first lecture of the day.

“Can I get a flat white and an iced americano with caramel to go please?” You smile at the girl working the counter, stepping aside to glance at your watch.

You run through your schedule for today, ignoring the text that comes through. You know exactly what it says, the same thing every morning, and you don’t even bother to roll your eyes at this point.

“I can’t believe you ignored my text,” Luke says when you reach the courtyard between the library and the medical building. “Not even a flame emoji.”

You stop in front of him, drinking in the jeans and sweater combination he’s settled on today. It’s a really nice sweater, dark blue and a little baggy. You wonder how quickly he’d notice it going missing. Probably not as quickly as he’d notice the stupid hat he’s wearing go missing. His backpack leans against the bench, pristine.

“No one uses those except you,” you shake your head, handing him the iced drink. “What time does your lecture start?”

Luke tells you as if he really needs to. It’s this thing you’ve started doing since the semester began, acting like you don’t know his schedule as well as your own. As if the both of you haven’t fallen into this routine in just a few weeks. Like it’s not a highlight of your day.

Clarisse thinks it’s adorable. Chris thinks it’s hilarious. You think it’s nice to have someone to share your free time with, beyond whatever else you and Luke have. It had been a fear of yours, when Silena mentioned not sharing a dorm with you, that you would fall to the sidelines. That life would come with these new priorities for everyone and you would only be fourth or fifth on their lists, too cemented in the day-to-day that you’d be forgotten.

Morning coffee with Luke stops that fear.

“Did Silena tell you about the party on Friday?”

“I have a study group in the afternoon,” Luke says, swirling his plastic cup around so the ice clinks together. “If I do go, I’m showing up late.”

“Maybe I’ll keep my eye out for you there, Castellan.”

He laughs and it’s like summer again. There’s something insane about hearing Luke laugh like this, unbroken and loud, nothing like it had been over the phone while you were back home.

“You’ve got dinner with Silena and Clarisse tonight, right?” He asks, swinging his bag over one shoulder. You throw your empty cup into the trash can as you both start walking. “Is there any point in asking if you want to come round after?”

You knock his arm with your shoulder, laughing, and, instead of feigning hurt like usual, Luke just takes your hand in his, the skin a little colder than you expect. Gazing down at your linked hands, you bite your lip before sighing.

“If I’m home before eleven, I’ll consider it.”

Last year, when you first met him, you thought Luke only got that determined glint in his eyes when he was competing. That it was a sign of an unanticipated thrill. Since then, you’ve learnt that it’s not that at all. It’s this thing that ignites within him, determined and passionate and a little boyish.

You think it might be one of your favorite things about him.

“I will take that deal.”

You wish you could say you were a little drunk. At least that way you would have something to blame. As it stands, you’re stone cold sober, maybe a little tired from class but nothing that can really be blamed for the lack of weight your actions seem to have right now.

The only thing you can blame, and you will, is the boy next to you, completely engrossed in the movie playing. They’d been watching it when you arrived, all settled on the couches and you assume this is something they do regularly, and at any other time you might’ve called it cute.

Not tonight. Not when you walked in to the discovery that Luke wears glasses and you didn’t know about it. It was something you played off, making a joke and settling into the cushions beside him. In the time since, Chris has left for his date with Clarisse and Charlie has pulled out some work to go through in the corner of the room.

“What’s up?” Luke asks when he realizes you’ve hardly moved in ten minutes, barely even breathing. And it’s the worst possible thing he could do, glance down through the frames with that small smile you’ve gotten used to and curls loose.

“Nothing’s up,” you let your eyes trail back to the screen. “This is a very cute tradition you guys have going on.”

Charlie lets out a little laugh from across the room. You feel the way Luke exhales against the side of your face. You think you’re able to go back to pretending everything is normal, make a joke and enjoy the rest of the movie. The second you feel Luke’s fingertips on the skin of your knee, gentle and warm, you know you can’t.

“You’re swerving,” he whispers, throwing a quick glance at Charlie to see if he can hear but the other boy is engrossed in his work. “Talk to me.”

“It’s nothing,” you bite the inside of your cheek when he nods encouragingly, incredibly aware of the patterns he’s tracing on your skin. “I just think it’s interesting that you’d choose to wear a hat all the time when the glasses are right there.”

“What?”

His hand stills and you wait. You wait and you stare at the shape of his jaw and you chuckle when it finally clicks, his adam’s apple shifting as he swallows the conclusion down. “Are you saying you like my glasses?”

You don’t like how uneven this all feels. Whenever you’ve been with Luke so far, there’s been this mutual balance that you’ve grown used to. Even before now, back when you were locked in silly competitions, you did it on even footing, the expectation that everything meant nothing and you wouldn’t be affected.

This, the way Luke grins around the realization, hand moving to rest on your thigh, is different. It’s heavier. It’s a loss after a winning streak and you’re kind of obsessed with the way it could drag you down.

“I just think that hat is stupid.”

“Yeah, okay,” Luke nods and you know, even if he doesn’t do it outright, he’s laughing. He’s categorizing the information you’ve just given him, placing it where it belongs in his mind, and it’s going to bite you in the ass. “Tell me more.”

“Luke,” you mutter, gritting your teeth. His fingertips brush against the hem of your shorts and, when you glare at him for it, he just shrugs. You throw a glance over in Charlie’s direction. Still nothing. “Are you insane?”

He tilts his head like he’s considering the question carefully. If Charlie were to look over, you know he’d assume you were locked in a debate about something silly - a staple of you and Luke - and it wouldn’t matter. He wouldn’t know for a second that you were holding onto Luke’s wrist, his hand itching to move just a little to the left.

You sigh and the boy beside you raises an eyebrow. You both know that you’ve lost this round.

When you press your lips to his bicep as the film credits roll, warm even through the fabric of his shirt, you mumble, “I really like your glasses.”

You aren’t used to watching things from a crowd. You’re used to focusing on yourself, on your team - not watching from a distance, surrounded by people who are there purely for enjoyment. There’s no winning from the stands.

Luke doesn’t know you’re here. You’d sent him a text that morning wishing him luck, arranging to meet him when his debate was over. You hadn’t bothered to message him when your afternoon class got canceled, choosing instead to race across campus and find a seat in the dim auditorium they’re using.

There isn’t the crackle of energy you get from swimming, or from watching Luke during track sessions. It’s less intense, for sure, a balance between the fire you know exists within him when he’s competing and the confidence he has in his own intelligence. You’ve argued with Luke, stupid things that neither of you care to take too seriously, and this is just the next stage of that.

He’s got his glasses on, you note, when the debate gets underway. He’s wearing his lucky green polo, even if he’d never personally call it that, and he’s switched his smartwatch out for an analogue one. The cheap biro you’re used to seeing him use has been replaced by a fancy silver pen that he still taps against his thigh while thinking. He’s sitting straighter than usual, shoulders back.

It’s almost like meeting him for the first time, focused and confident and sharp at the edges.

You’re kind of obsessed with it.

An hour and a winning handshake later, you make your way through the small crowd leaving to find Luke in conversation with one of his teammates. She smiles as you wrap an arm around his waist from behind, the slight tension still lingering in his bones melting away when he realizes it’s you.

“What are you doing here?” He says, turning enough that he’s actually facing you now. The girl waves you both goodbye. “I thought you had class.”

“Professor Chase had to cancel. His daughter got sent home from school with a fever.”

Luke nods, pressing his lips to the top of your head quickly. “You didn’t have to come to my debate.”

In the few months you’ve known Luke, you’ve learnt more about him than you expected to. You know from summer that Connecticut means looking after his sick mother, that he’s hoping to introduce some new charity events to ksig, that he used to go to a summer camp growing up. You know that his dad never showed up for anything and that he sits in the stands of all of your swim meets regardless of whether it cuts into his study time or not.

More than all of that, you know that the way he’s gazing at you now, a cross between awe and something deeper, is going to drive you crazy one day. You hope he can read the same expression on your face.

“Thank you for coming,” he says when everyone is finally dismissed, an arm thrown across your shoulders as you make your way out of the building. You loop a finger around one of his, just because you want to. “It means a lot.”

“I told you I would,” and you had, months ago, staring at Luke’s bedroom ceiling, back when you were still caught in the casualness of it all. When Luke was just someone you pretended you weren’t trying to bump into at parties. You’d told him that you would show up for him if you ever got the chance. He’d rolled his eyes, throwing a blanket over you both and told you to go to sleep. He’d drifted off with his nose pressed against your neck. “I keep my word, Castellan.”

“I know.”

In the evening light of campus, you think it might mean something more. Buried under the timing and the bitter wind until it’s a promise only you and Luke could translate. Asking him about where he wants to go for dinner, you like that no one else could understand the depth of it.

+1.

Silena catches your attention as you enter the kitchen, grinning wildly and explaining her concept for tonight. Drew gave her permission to throw this week’s party, something themed and fun and it’s something she’s so proud of that you can’t help but grin back at her energy.

“Even Charlie came,” she tells you excitedly, handing you a drink. “I feel like tonight is going to be it.”

In all the years you’ve known her, she’s been counting down to it. You don’t exactly understand the fundamentals of what it is, if it’s a real thing or something she can just sense intrinsically. There have been moments where she’s thought of it before, mentioned it offhandedly before shaking her head - as if knowing she was wrong.

“What even is it?” You ask and, for the first time, she breathes deeply instead of shrugging it off.

“The beginning of the end,” she says and that doesn’t exactly explain anything. “Everything is about to change.”

You still don’t really get it, but she’s as confident in this as she is about her clothes, so you nod like you understand. She sends you away not long after that, turning her attention to the new group that’s just walked through the doorway, mentioning that you need to be in the basement in about an hour and you just accept your fate, moving into the next room and falling into conversation with Rachel.

Luke slips into the basement just as Silena starts yelling for everyone to do so, catching your eye across the room and waving. When you’re all instructed to sit down in a circle, you wonder exactly what Silena has planned for tonight. When she places a near empty bottle down in the center of you all, you laugh.

“Are we actually playing spin the bottle?” Chris asks, prompting a murmured chorus of agreement from everyone else in the room. Silena frowns at him.

“Wanna bet he ends up getting the most into it?” Luke whispers in your ear and you raise an eyebrow at him. “Loser has to buy the coffee tomorrow morning.”

“You’re on,” you bump your fist to his to seal the deal. “I think he’s gonna get bored by round 3.”

“Only boring people get bored of this game. It’s about drive.”

“It’s about power?” Luke lets out a laugh and Silena turns her glare to you. “Sorry.”

She starts to explain the rules of the game, as if you’re all twelve again, and you bite your lip harder with every comment Luke makes under his breath. It’s a little mean, a little stupid, and you wish you were fifteen again, playing a proper game of spin the bottle for the first time.

Nothing much happens for the first few rounds, Chris starting to grumble the longer the game goes on. Luke clicks his tongue when you point it out, cursing his best friend like this was the worst thing that could’ve happened to him.

Lee spins and it’s like cosmic interference when the bottle stops between you and Luke, the two of you glancing at each other and then back towards Lee.

“Should I spin it again?” Lee asks when no one says anything. Silena shakes her head and says, “You can choose or we can vote if that makes you more comfortable.”

“Please let us vote,” Chris shouts, animated and you narrow your eyes at him, ignoring the smug smile Luke gives you. “I’ll never ask you for anything ever again.”

Lee glances between you both again, at where your knee rests against Luke’s thigh and the beer you’ve been sharing for the past twenty minutes sits between you. “It might be better to vote.”

“Sure,” Silena smiles before silencing you all. “Everyone that wants Lee to kiss Luke, raise your hands.”

You raise your hand and Luke mumbles beside you, flicking your leg and you poke him in return. Anything to avoid kissing Lee Fletcher after two years of avoiding it.

“That is an overwhelming majority,” Silena says and you know, just by the way her eyes slide over to you, that she didn’t even bother to actually count. “Lee, you may now kiss Luke.”

There’s this moment where you think Lee is going to just leave but instead he stares at the boy next to you, the relaxed set to his jaw, the annoying baseball cap on his head, how he’s so unbothered by it all. You watch as something clicks in his mind, you really want to know what it is.

Whatever it was, it makes him grab the bottle again, ignoring Silena’s protests. It lands on the girl from Luke’s debate team and she straightens her back ever so slightly.

“Silena,” Lee says as he leans towards the girl. “I’m not going to kiss Luke or his girlfriend.”

“Damn straight,” Luke mumbles, grabbing your hand from your lap and holding it in his instead. It’s stupid and it really doesn’t matter to either of you, you know that, but there’s this way he says it - almost like it’s the worst thing he could’ve imagined - and it settles in your gut with the beer you’ve been drinking. “Me or my girlfriend.”

“I’d really like to meet her,” you say, laughing when he huffs and pulls his hat down on your head. When you push the visor up to see him properly, all rosy cheeks and compacted curls, you think you might have found it. Whatever it is.

Based on the way Luke’s nose scrunches and his eyes crinkle, you think he understands that too.

#luke castellan #luke castellan x reader #percy jackson and the olympians #pjo #luke castellan x you

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barelytolerabled · 9 months

Text

Healing Speed and Soul

daniel ricciardo x fem!physiologistReader

summary: The McLaren team sought the expertise of a skilled physiotherapist, you, to tend to the physical well-being of their drivers. Little did they know, you would soon become more than just a healer, evolving into a vital source of emotional support for the drivers, especially Daniel Ricciardo.

Warnings: body shaming, ed

WC: 2k944

——————————————————————————

On your first day at McLaren, you nervously stepped into the bustling atmosphere of the team's headquarters. Team principal Zack Brown warmly welcomed you, introducing you to the dedicated mechanics, engineers, and other essential members of the McLaren family.

As you walked through the high-tech facility, you felt a mix of excitement and anticipation. The air was filled with the hum of activity.

Zack eventually led you to the heart of the team the garage. There, you found yourself face to face with the dynamic duo of McLaren, Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo. Lando, with his infectious enthusiasm, greeted you with a friendly smile, while Daniel, known for his trademark grin, extended a warm handshake.

"Hey there! Welcome to the team," Lando exclaimed, his energy contagious.

Daniel, with a twinkle in his eye, added, "Great to have you on board. We've heard you work wonders, hope you're ready for the challenge!"

You, feeling the warmth of their welcome, couldn't help but reciprocate the positive energy. Little did you know that beyond the world of physiotherapy, you were about to embark on a journey that would intertwine your life with the adrenaline-fueled existence of the McLaren drivers.

A few days into your tenure at McLaren, the intense rhythm of Formula One life began to settle around you. As the physiotherapist, you observed the drivers, Lando and Daniel, pushing themselves to the limits during practice sessions and briefings.

Recognizing the importance of maintaining their peak physical condition, you decided it was time for a comprehensive medical checkup. You approached Lando and Daniel with a plan to ensure their bodies were in optimal shape for the upcoming races.

"Lando, Daniel, I'd like to conduct a thorough medical checkup to ensure you're both physically prepared for the challenges ahead. It's crucial to address any potential issues before they escalate," you explained.

Lando, always eager to improve, nodded in agreement, "Sure thing, doc. Anything to stay at the top of our game!"

Daniel, with a playful grin, added, "I trust you've got the magic touch. Let's do it."

The medical examinations unfolded in the state-of-the-art McLaren facilities, with you meticulously assessing their fitness, flexibility, and overall health. As you worked, conversations flowed, revealing not only physical aspects but also providing insights into the drivers' mindset and emotional well-being.

In those moments, you realized the delicate balance between physical prowess and emotional resilience required in their life. Little did you know that your role would extend beyond the realm of physiotherapy, becoming a crucial pillar of support for Lando and Daniel as they faced the relentless challenges of the racing season.

In the quiet confines of your small office, it became evident during Daniel's medical checkup that he was neglecting his nutritional needs. You, observing the signs of under-eating, decided to address the issue directly.

"Daniel, I've noticed you might be skimping on meals. Nutrition is a crucial part of staying at your peak, especially in this demanding sport," you gently pointed out.

Daniel, usually vibrant, seemed quieter than usual. After a moment of contemplation, he simply nodded in acknowledgment.

Sighing, you grabbed your coat. "Come on, Ricciardo. We're going to fix this. I'm taking you for a proper meal, no excuses."

Leading the way, you and Daniel left the confines of the McLaren headquarters, embarking on a journey to ensure the Australian driver's well, being extended beyond the racetrack. Little did you know that this impromptu outing would mark the beginning of a unique bond, intertwining your role as a physiotherapist with a deeper connection to the personal lives of the McLaren driver.

Navigating the streets in the fading daylight, you led Daniel to your apartment. The confusion on his face was evident as he questioned, "Your place? Why are we here?"

Turning to him with a determined look, you explained, "Daniel, it's not just about making you eat; it's about making sure you eat right. I'll be cooking for you. Trust me, it's time for some proper nourishment."

Once inside your cozy apartment, you set about preparing a wholesome meal, the aroma wafting through the air. Daniel, still a bit perplexed, watched as you skillfully moved around the kitchen.

"You're really going all out. I appreciate it," Daniel admitted, a hint of gratitude in his eyes.

As you sat down to eat, you shared a smile. "Sometimes, a good meal can make all the difference, especially when the pressures of racing start taking a toll. Consider it part of my job to keep you fueled and ready for the season ahead."

As you shared the meal in your apartment, a comfortable silence enveloped you. Suddenly, breaking the quietude, you looked at Daniel and asked, "Who?"

Daniel, with a mouthful of food, raised an eyebrow, "Who what?"

Softly, you persisted, "Who made you think you shouldn't eat? There's something deeper here, Daniel. I can see it."

Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Daniel hesitated for a moment. A mix of surprise and vulnerability flickered in his eyes before he finally spoke, "Well, it's just... the constant pressure, expectations, you know? Sometimes, it feels like I don't deserve a break, even for a decent meal."

You nodded in understanding, recognizing the weight of the expectations that came with Formula One. "It's crucial to remember that taking care of yourself isn't a sign of weakness. If anything, it's a strength. You're not alone in this, Daniel. We're a team, on and off the track."

You, sensing there was more to Daniel's struggle, looked at him with a discerning gaze. "Are you sure you're telling me everything about that? Because Norris doesn't seem to have this issue."

Daniel hesitated for a few moments, glancing away before finally admitting, "Well, some people think I should be careful with food, that my weight isn't the best for racing. But yeah, little norris isn’t a problem like me for them."

A dry chuckle escaped your lips. "What a load of nonsense. Your performance on the track speaks for itself. You don't need to conform to anyone's unrealistic standards. It's about being healthy and fit, not fitting into someone else's idea of what a racer should look like."

Clearing the plates from the table, you took a decisive stance. "From now on, I'll bring you lunch, Daniel."

Daniel, trying to be polite, protested, "No, no, you don't have to do that, really."

You turned to him with a determined look, "Daniel, my role is to take care of you. Of course, I'm doing it, and you have no choice."

Concern crept into Daniel's expression, "But Zack makes me follow a strict regime. He can't know."

A disbelieving shake of the head, you retorted, "Zack agreed to this nonsense? Well, then it'll be our secret. Meet me in my office at lunch tomorrow. We'll eat together."

As the weeks passed, you continued your routine of preparing and bringing lunches for Daniel, meeting him in your office during race weekends. The aroma of home-cooked meals became a familiar presence, and whispers of camaraderie between you and Daniel began to circulate.

People couldn't help but notice the positive changes in Daniel, he seemed healthier, more energized, and perhaps even a bit happier. The bond that had formed between you and him extended beyond professional duties, creating a ripple effect in the team dynamics.

Colleagues started to see the genuine care and support you provided, not just in terms of physical well-being but also as a source of emotional strength for Daniel.

In the bustling atmosphere of the McLaren team lunch area, Daniel found himself with no choice but to join his teammates while eating the lunch you had prepared for him. Sitting across from Lando Norris, one of the team members jokingly teased, "Didn't know you knew how to cook, Daniel."

Daniel, taking a bite, replied honestly, "I'm not the one making it."

The teasing took an unexpected turn when the team member quipped, "What, you got a wife at home or something making you these?"

Daniel chuckled dryly, playing along, "Something like that, actually, yeah."

The laughter subsided when Lando, with a curious expression, raised an eyebrow, "And you think I could ask your 'wife' for one too? I've got a appointment with her this afternoon, pain in my back you know."

Daniel's eyes widened, a mix of surprise and realization dawning on him. "How do you know who's making me those lunchboxes?"

Lando leaned in, a knowing smile on his face. "She has the exact same lunchbox, mate. But don't worry, your and your "wifey" secret is safe with me. I'm aware of how tough the team can be on you."

Arriving home late, you were taken aback to find Daniel in your apartment, busy preparing dinner. "Daniel, what are you doing?" you asked, a mix of surprise and gratitude.

He gently helped you off with your shoes and coat, replying with a smile, "You've been doing so much for me, so I wanted to return the favor. Not promising a meal as good as yours, though." He chuckled and guided you to the dining table, ensuring you were comfortably seated.

"Daniel, it's actually my job to take care of you," you reminded him.

He sighed, placing your plates on the table, and took a seat in front of you. "And as your friend, it's my job too. Let's forget work, mmh?"

You smiled at him, grateful for the unexpected gesture. "Thank you, Daniel. This means a lot."

Mid-dinner, Daniel suddenly got up, exclaiming, "I almost forgot." He returned to the table with two glasses and a bottle of wine.

"Daniel, we work tomorrow," you reminded him.

He playfully interrupted, "Ah ah ah, what did I say? We forget work tonight, okay?"

You sighed, smiling, "Anything you want, Daniel."

With that, you clicked your glasses. The shared laughter and genuine connection over dinner marked a brief escape from the intense world you navigated together.

Relaxing on the couch after dinner, you and Daniel found yourselves immersed in easy conversation about anything and everything. As the night unfolded, Daniel slyly mentioned, "You know, I may have indirectly told the guys it was my 'wife' who prepared my lunchbox."

You raised an eyebrow with a playful grin. "Oh, is that so, Daniel? Well, get ready. I'll start leaving lovey notes on those lunchboxes of yours. Always dreamt of being a good wife to my husband."

They both burst into laughter, the shared humor lightening the atmosphere. In that moment, amidst the jokes and banter, you and Daniel found solace in each other's company.

Days later, on a day when you couldn't eat with Daniel, you slipped a small note into his lunchbox. It read: "Fuel for the race, but don't forget to savor the moments off the track too. You've got this! - Your wifey."

When Daniel opened his lunchbox and discovered the note, a wide grin spread across his face. During the team's lunch break, Lando noticed Daniel's amused expression and couldn't resist asking, "What's got you all smiles, mate?"

Daniel, holding up the note, chuckled, "Looks like I've got a secret admirer, leaving lovey notes in my lunchbox."

Lando leaned in, feigning surprise. "Oh, a secret admirer, huh? Got any idea who it might be?"

Daniel playfully rolled his eyes, "Come on, Lando, you know exactly who it is. She's making sure I eat well and stay in high spirits."

Lando, joining in the light-hearted banter, teased, "Well, aren't you lucky to have your 'wife' looking out for you? I hope she leaves some notes for me too."

Daniel, with a smirk, responded to Lando's teasing, "Keep dreaming, mate. It's my 'wife' making them laugh." The banter continued, and laughter echoed through the lunch area.

However, as Daniel glanced at your note and the warmth it brought, a subtle longing lingered. A part of him wished the playful joke about a secret admirer and a lunch-making 'wife' could transcend the realm of humor. Little did he realize that within the confines of the jokes, a deeper connection was slowly taking root, sparking emotions that stretched beyond the boundaries of mere camaraderie.

The 'wifey' joke continued to weave itself into the fabric of Daniel and your dynamic. Whenever Daniel passed by your office, he'd playfully inquire, "How's wifey doing?" Lando, ever the instigator, joined in, making insinuations that left the two of them chuckling.

Before crucial races, their banter took a unique turn. Daniel, often discussing strategy with Lando, would hear remarks like, "If I win, your wife better make me that famous lunchbox for me too." The playful commentary even spilled into interviews, with Lando winking at Daniel when asked about their favorite meals.

In one interview, when the interviewer queried about the drivers' preferred dishes, Lando slyly responded, "Well, it depends on who's making it, right, mate?" He wiggled his brows at Daniel, leaving the audience in stitches.

During a casual night in with your friends at your place, you packed two lunchboxes of the same meal you had prepared. Observing your actions, one friend raised an eyebrow, teasing, "Two? Planning to feed a small army or something?"

You chuckled shyly, "It's just for one of my patients."

Another friend, noticing the little notes signed 'wifey,' couldn't resist poking fun. "And those little notes signed 'wifey' are also for your patient?"

Laughing, you playfully scolded, "Hey! Put that down!" The room erupted in laughter, the friends enjoying the playful banter. Your lunchbox antics had become a source of amusement not just within the Mclaren garage but also among your close circle of friends.

——————————————————————————

Searching for Daniel in the garage, you found him with Lando. "Wifey," they both cooed simultaneously, earning a punch in the shoulder from Daniel to Lando. "Not you," Daniel clarified, prompting laughter.

"Be gentle, Daniel," you teased, handing him his lunchbox with a little note as usual. "Need to be taking care of an engineer during lunch, sorry." You side-hugged Daniel before turning to Lando, "Pole position, right, little Norris?"

"Yes, ma'am," Lando replied with a smirk.

You chuckled and handed him a lunchbox, saying, "Well earned. Keep going like that, Lando. I'm proud of you." Lando happily hugged you, expressing his gratitude. He then turned to Daniel with a mischievous grin, "Guess I also got a wife now, loser."

"Hell no, you don't, little mosquito," you laughed, playfully shutting down Lando's claim. With a quick exchange, you got back to work, leaving the two drivers with smiles on their faces.

——————————————————————————

The usual lunch hour arrived, but Daniel didn't show up at your office. Growing worried, you decided to search for him in the garage. Passing by Zack's office, you overheard Zack's cold reprimand, focusing on Daniel's weight.

Unable to bear it, you entered the office with determination. "It's my fault," Daniel began, looking at you with concern. "No, no, it's not her fault," he continued, addressing Zack, "You're right, Zack. I haven't been careful recently, and I'll change that."

You, however, halted Daniel with a stern gaze. "No, you won't."

Turning to Zack, you asserted, "Zack, as Daniel's physiologist, I took the liberty to ensure he's properly nourished because apparently he hasn't been before my arrival here. His well-being is my responsibility, and I won't let him compromise that for any unrealistic standards."

Zack's anger flared as he confronted you, "You knew about his strict regime, and you went against my orders!"

"Yeah, I did! I did, and if I had to, I'll do it again," you asserted, standing your ground.

Zack, visibly angered, sat up. "You know what you'll do? Pack your things, you're fired."

Daniel, attempting to mediate, approached Zack, "Zack, it's not her fault. She didn't mean to—"

Stopping Daniel with a raised hand, you interjected, "Stop, Daniel. I don't want to work for someone like him anymore anyway."

With those words, you turned away and headed to your office to pack your things. The air in the room hung heavy with tension, marking the end of your tenure at McLaren.

While you were packing, your focus interrupted by the sound of the door, you instinctively responded, "My office is closed, sorry."

"It's me," Daniel's voice cut through, and you turned around to see him standing there.

"Oh," you uttered, and without a word, Daniel opened his arms. You hurriedly approached, burying your head in his chest. "I'm so sorry wifey," he whispered.

"It's not your fault, Daniel," you mumbled into his embrace, finding solace in the midst of the tumultuous situation.

“What am I supposed to do without you at the garage now?" Daniel thought out loud, his worry palpable.

You chuckled sadly, "You could always still come to mine for lunch."

He couldn't believe it. Pushing you away a bit, Daniel questioned, "You just lost your job because of me, but you continue. Who are you?"

"Honestly? Just a girl who grew too close to her patient," you admitted.

Raising an eyebrow in confusion, Daniel looked at you with wide eyes as if connecting the dots. "You're too important for me to let people treat you like shit, especially when it's putting your health in danger," you explained.

His eyes widened, and it seemed like realization struck him. "Do you mean that—"

"Yeah, I love you, Daniel," you confessed.

For a moment, silence hung in the air, and doubt crept into your mind. Yet, before you could dwell on it, Daniel stopped your doubts. "Then it's good you got fired, else I couldn't have been able to do this."

He grabbed your face and kissed you. "Would your dreams be fulfilled with me as your husband?"

#f1 fanfic #f1 fic #f1 imagine #f1 #f1 x reader #daniel ricciardo x reader #daniel ricciardo #daniel riccardo imagine #daniel riccardo x reader #lando norris #mclaren

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hockey-fics · 8 months

Text

That Night in Michigan - Quinn Hughes (mostly)

You can feel your eyes prickling with tears, your heart racing. Quinn had never spoken to you in that way before. Never in a million years would you have expected Quinn to speak to you that way.

Word count: ~9,100

Warnings: drinking

There were few things you could count on to be stable in your life. One of the few things that you could count on were summers with the Hughes family. Your parents were close with Ellen and Jim, close enough to receive an open invite to the summer home every year. From as early as you can remember your summers were spent on that same sunny lake in Michigan.

You grew close with Luke, Jack, and Quinn over all those summers. It was on that lake in Michigan that some of your best memories were made. Countless hours splashing around in the lake, learning to paddle board, and water ski. You had your first sip of alcohol one year and your first time getting drunk a couple years after that. Late nights spent around a kitchen table playing round after round of whatever board game you were into that year.

During those summers your feelings for Quinn changed. At some point he went from the friend you spent every summer with to the boy you spent ever summer with who you also had a crush on. Every year your feelings for him grew deeper and deeper. As time went on and you graduated from high school, with your confidence growing, you started to act on your feelings. In small ways, flirtatious comments here and there, compliments that were a little more than just friendly. But nothing more ever came from it.

After everyone had graduated high school the summers at the lake house changed. When Quinn and Jack decided to purchase the house for themselves it changed even further. Visits weren’t as long or as frequent, but you looked forward to them just as much as you did when you were a kid.

This year Quinn had invited you to the lake house for a week in August, when he would be there with his brothers and a group of friends that for the most part you didn’t know. Of course you agreed and after booking the time off work you made the journey to the lake house.

Pulling into the driveway you hop out of the car, the hot air hitting your air-conditioning cooled skin like running into a brick wall. After pulling your few bags from the backseat of your car and lugging them up to the front door you push it open, music playing from somewhere in the house.

“Hello,” you call out, pulling your bags inside and shutting the door behind you. Kicking your shoes off you turn your head when you see a figure appear next to you.

“Hey,” Luke greets, walking over and pulling you into a hug. “Took you long enough.”

“Some of us take the speed limit as more than just a suggestion, Luke,” you tease.

“You’re so boring,” Luke jokes, reaching over and picking your bags off the ground. You follow after him to the room you had spent many summers in, tossing the bag you were carrying onto the bed. “We’re out back when you’re ready,” Luke tells you before leaving you alone in the bedroom.

Rifling through your bags you pull out a bikini, quickly changing into it before tugging your shorts and t-shirt back on. If you remembered one thing about the lake house it was to always be ready to be in the water. Heading through the house you follow the sound of music and chatter from the patio, stepping outside a few minutes later.

“Y/N,” Jack cheers, a bottle of beer in his hand, though you could have guessed without the obvious indicator that he was a few drinks in.

“Hi Jack,” you laugh, walking behind the chair he was in to lean down and wrap your arms around him. “Starting a little early?”

“It’s summer,” Jack defends with a chuckle. “You’re actually starting late.”

Standing up straighter your eyes scan the group of mostly unfamiliar faces till they land on Quinn. You can’t stop the smile that spreads on your face as Quinn gets up, walking around the table to pull you into a hug. “How was the drive?” Quinn asks, his arms still firmly around you.

You can’t help but let out a sigh of contentment being in Quinn’s arms. “It was long.”

“I told you to just fly in and I’d pick you up,” Quinn reminds you.

“I know, I just didn’t want to interrupt,” you tell him.

“It wouldn’t have been an interruption,” Quinn says, pulling back from the hug. “But now that you’re here, do you want a drink?”

“Yeah, sure.” Turning around you follow Quinn back inside and into the kitchen, watching him pull the fridge open to show you the options. “What would you like?”

Your eyes focus on the selection, a teasing smile growing on your face. “Maybe one of the vodka sodas that I’m guessing you bought for me.”

Quinn chuckles, grabbing a can from the previously unopened box of vodka sodas. After handing it to you Quinn leans against the counter, his eyes focused on you. “It’s been awhile, hey? Feel like I’m missing out when I see you hanging out with Jack and Luke.”

“Well you’re the one who moved all the way to Canada,” you tease. “They’re only a half hour drive from me, you’re like…a hundred.”

“Forty-four, actually…I’ve checked.”

“Oh, sorry, just a short forty-four hour drive, I’ll be sure to pop in for a visit more often.”

“I’ll just come see you in New York instead…probably be more fun than Vancouver.”

“Yeah, you can stay with me in my four hundred square foot apartment,” you joke.

“Sounds cozy.”

Reaching over you take Quinn’s hand in yours, pulling him through the kitchen to stand just in front of you. “I don’t mind getting cozy with you.”

“I definitely need to make a trip then.”

Before you have the chance to say anything else you see someone walk into the room and you pull back from Quinn, looking over at him. “Hi,” you say to the man who you had never met before.

“Hey,” he greets, setting an empty can down onto the kitchen counter. “You must be Y/N.”

“I am,” you tell him with a friendly smile, wishing you knew his name in return.

“This is Holtzy,” Quinn tells you, nodding towards the man.

“Alex,” he interjects with a smile.

“Nice to meet you, Alex,” you tell him, watching as he grabs another drink from the fridge. “You play with Luke and Jack, right?” you ask, putting the pieces together.

“Yeah, I do,” Alex replies, his smile widening. “They never let me come with them when they go to New York to see you.”

“What?” you laugh, shaking your head. “Why not?”

“They said you didn’t invite me.”

With a quiet scoff you roll your eyes. “Well you’re always invited, and if they say otherwise you can tell them to take it up with me,” you tell him.

“Oh, I will, I need a local to show me around New York.”

“Local might be a stretch,” you tell him with a giggle. “But I’ll show you around anytime.”

You watch Quinn step away from you, heading towards the patio door. “Guess we’re going back outside,” you say to Alex, glancing back at him. “You coming?”

Alex nods, following you back outside just a couple seconds after Quinn. Finding an empty seat beside Luke you settle in, joining into the conversation a few minutes later. The rest of the day slips by quickly, conversation flowing easily as you catch up with Quinn, Luke, and Jack and get to know the others that were there. By the time the sun had set there was a definite buzz in your body from the alcohol. Half of the group had piled inside to play a few games of pool, others already calling it a night and heading to bed.

With everyone but you and Quinn gone from the patio the energy was different. Quieter, calmer. “I’ve missed you,” you say to Quinn, taking a sip of your drink.

“I’ve missed you too,” Quinn echoes. “How’s New York been?”

You’re quiet for a few minutes, thinking through the last couple years of living in New York. “It’s been good,” you tell him with a shrug. “I mean moving there by myself…it’s a big city, it gets lonely sometimes, you know?”

“Yeah,” Quinn breathes out. “I get what you’re saying.”

“Lonely up there in Vancouver?”

Quinn shrugs, glancing out at the lake for a second. “It feels lonely when I go back after being with everyone down here. But it’s not bad, it’s not like I can really complain.”

“You can complain,” you assure him. “I’m not going to tell anyone that the twenty-three year millionaire professional athlete is complaining about living in a beautiful city in Canada.”

“See, I can’t-.”

“I’m joking, Quinn,” you interrupt, laughing as you stand up to walk over towards him. Sitting down on the couch next to Quinn you wrap your arm around his shoulder, leaning into his side. “I know you’re close with your family, I get it.”

“It’s not just them,” Quinn whispers. “I miss you a lot too, you know?”

Pulling back slightly you look into Quinn’s eyes, your heart hammering in your chest. “That’s good, because I miss you a lot too.”

You watch his cheeks redden, his eyes diverting away from you. Giggling you reach over, your hands cupping his cheeks as you turn his head to look you in the eyes again. “Look who’s blushing,” you tease.

“You love this, don’t you?” Quinn asks, his hands wrapping around your wrists to pull your hands from his face.

“Yes,” you giggle, leaning in to press your lips to his cheek. “I think you do too.”

Before Quinn has the chance to respond you hear the sliding glass door open and you pull away from Quinn, turning to look over at the door.

“We’re going for a night swim,” Jack tells you, reaching down and grabbing your hands, tugging you up to your feet. “You coming?”

Your eyes fall to your hands, where Jack was still holding onto them. “I guess so,” you tell him with a breath of laughter. Turning around you look down at Quinn, nodding towards the lake.

“Next time,” Quinn tells you. “I’m kinda tired, I’m going to head to bed, you know where my room is if you need anything tonight, okay?”

You part your lips, ready to try to argue for him to come with you before deciding against it. “Okay,” you finally say before heading down the back steps of the patio and down the dock. The water is illuminated by the moon in the clear sky and you peel off your t-shirt and shorts, tossing them onto the ground.

Luke is the first one to get in the water, followed quickly by Max and Gavin. You were one of the last, hesitating around the edge of the dock when you feel a set of hands grasp at your arms. “No,” you shriek in surprise, not wanting to be pushed in.

“Sorry,” Alex laughs, wrapping his arms around you and pulling you back a couple feet from the edge. “I wasn’t actually going to, I’m sorry.”

Your hands land on his forearm, giggling quietly. “It’s fine, you just scared me,” you breathe out. “Are you coming in?”

“Yeah,” Alex tells you, stepping back to pull his shirt off. Your eyes trail down over his body though it wasn’t as discreet as you had hoped, when your eyes meet with his again there’s a smirk on his face. “Like what you see?”

“Yes,” you reply quickly with a feigned confidence that you hoped would mask the embarrassment of being caught checking him out. Before he has the chance to say anything else you hop into the water, the cool temperature a shock to your system that is slow to dissipate.

The night swim doesn’t last long. The cold water zaps the warm buzz in your body and forces you to climb out of the water and into the comfort of a well worn-in beach towel. After saying a round of goodnights to everyone still up you make your way to your designated guest room, changing into a pair of pyjamas and falling asleep far quicker than you had anticipated.

When you wake up the next morning the house is quiet, the air is cool, everything feels serene in a way that you hadn’t felt anywhere else before. Tugging on a hoodie you leave your room, stepping quietly through the house in order to not wake anyone up. In the kitchen you pull open a few cupboards till you find some coffee, brewing a pot of coffee while scrolling on your phone.

“Morning.”

Lifting your head you look over at Quinn, smiling softly. “Good morning,” you reply, shuffling over to pull him into a hug. “How’d you sleep?”

Quinn wraps his arms around you without hesitation, running his hand along your back. “Pretty good. How was the swim?”

“It was quick, I didn’t last long,” you tell him, receiving a chuckle from him in response. You never were one for long night swims. When you were younger it was primarily because the darkness of the water and stillness of the night would freak you out and no matter how much you tried to put your fears aside you would end up getting out long before everyone else. As you got older the fears subsided, being replaced by a distaste for the cold water in the cool evenings. You stay in Quinn’s arms till you hear the distinct hissing sound from the coffee pot telling you that the coffee had finished brewing. “Do you want some coffee?”

“Still don’t like it,” Quinn tells you. His eyes follow you around the kitchen as you find yourself a mug, pouring yourself a cup of the steaming liquid. “Want to sit outside?”

Setting the pot back into the maker you pick up your mug, following Quinn out onto the back patio. Settling into the corner of the patio couch you pull your legs up onto the couch, turning to face Quinn on the other end of the couch. “I wish I could just stay here forever.”

“You could,” Quinn tells you, reaching over and setting his hand on your leg. “I’m not going to tell you to leave.”

“But you wouldn’t be here and that’s at least seventy-five percent of the reason I like being out here.”

“What’s the other twenty-five?”

“Probably like twenty percent the lake and five percent Luke and Jack,” you joke.

Quinn chuckles, shaking his head. Of course you were joking, Jack and Luke were some of your closest friends, you grew up with them, they were like family. But there was definitely a bit of truth in the joke, your feelings for Quinn were different, you had accepted that long ago. “I knew I was the favourite.”

“Yeah? How’d you figure that out? Was it maybe when I told you that I had a crush on you?”

“I think you have a crush on everyone.” You want to think the comment is a joke, that it doesn’t mean anything. But you can’t ignore the way Quinn’s eyes fall towards the ground as he says it, the way his voice grows quieter.

“That’s not true,” you insist, shuffling across the couch to sit next to him. “I’m serious, Quinn, I’ll kiss you right now.”

Quinn’s lips curl into a smile, shaking his head. “You’re so funny,” Quinn mutters with obvious sarcasm.

“I’m not joking,” you exclaim, shifting onto your knees to fully face him, your hands cupping the sides of his face. “I will.”

“What’s stopping you?” Quinn’s eyes drop to your lips and you inhale a sharp breath, your heart racing in your chest. What was stopping you? The potential to ruin a lifelong friendship was definitely high up on that list.

“I don’t know,” you whisper, leaning in a little closer. The moment felt like it had slowed down, every sensation in your body heightened. Before you have the chance to move any closer the sound of the door whipping open causes you to clamber back away from Quinn.

“Shit, sorry, was I interrupting something?” Luke asks, but the smirk on his face tells you he isn’t really that sorry about it.

“Nope,” you reply quickly, staring down at your hands to hide the way your cheeks had suddenly grew hot.

“Are we still going out on the boat later?” Luke asks Quinn, the smirk not wiped from his face.

“Yeah, whenever everyone gets up,” Quinn tells him, clearing his throat nervously. “I’ll um, I’ll go make sure everything is good to go,” he adds, hoping up from his seat, heading towards the dock without a moment of hesitation.

“So, you are you two….you know?” Luke asks you as you get up to head inside with him.

“No,” you tell him honestly. “Maybe if you hadn’t ruined it though,” you add with a playful whack to Luke’s arm.

“Do it in your room next time then,” Luke replies as you head through the house towards your room.

“Our rooms share a wall, are you sure about that?”

Luke wrinkles his nose at your insinuation, pushing you towards the bedrooms. “Go get ready to go on the boat, I don’t want to think about this anymore.”

It doesn’t take you long to change into your bikini and a pair of shorts, grabbing a few things before making your way outside and down to the dock.

Stepping onto the boat you set your bag down, taking a drink from the cooler before claiming your seat across from Quinn who was in the driver’s seat. After everyone settles in you head out into the middle of the lake, the sun high and hot in the sky. A round of rock-paper-scissors settles who got first dibs on water skiing. You spend the majority of the afternoon alternating between watching whoever was water skiing and talking with those who weren’t, though you had to admit you were giving most of your attention to Quinn.

You had just finished watching Luke take his turn water skiing when Dalton steps in front of you, blocking the sun that you were comfortably warmed by. “Are you sure you don’t want to take a turn?”

“No,” you giggle, shaking your head. “I’m so bad at it, it’s embarrassing.”

“Come on, you can’t be that bad,” Dalton replies, a mischievous smirk on his face.

“Yes, I am,” you assure him. “Now can you move? Your blocking my sun.”

“You’re already burnt, I’m doing you a favour.”

“I am not,” you exclaim with a giggle, pulling your sunglasses off to look at the skin on your arms. It’s tinged with a slight redness and you let out a quiet groan. “Well are you at least going to help me put more sunscreen on then?” you ask Dalton with a teasing smile.

“I’ll help you put sunscreen on any time.”

Standing up you grab the bottle of sunscreen, handing it to him before turning around and pulling your hair over one shoulder.

“Do I only get to do your back or can I help with the rest?” he jokes.

“Don’t push your luck, Dalton,” you tease, flinching when the cold sunscreen hits your back. After he’s done with your back and shoulders you take the bottle back, continuing onto the rest of your body. When you lift your head your eyes meet with Quinn and before you have the chance to so much as smile he’s looking away, his expression cold and distant. Furrowing your eyebrows you try to figure out what had caused that reaction, flopping back down into your seat with a sigh.

You stay out on the lake for another couple hours before heading back in, Quinn easily docking the boat. You gather your belongings, taking your empty cans with you as you head up from the dock to the house. Your skin was sticky with a mix of sweat and sunscreen, forcing you to head straight for the shower. The water is refreshing, as are the clean shorts and t-shirt you pull on after it.

Back outside you find Quinn on the patio again, almost in the exact same spot you had been so close to kissing him just that morning. The air is still hot, the summer sun slowly beginning to dip lower over the horizon. Walking over you sit on the wicker arm of the patio chair he was in, resting your arm on the back behind him. “Do I have competition?”

“Hmm?” Quinn hums, tipping his head back to look up at you, squinting against the sun.

You nod towards his phone, still unlocked and in his hands. “Just seem pretty focused on your phone.”

Quinn shakes his head quickly, a breath of laughter escaping his lips. “Had to keep myself busy while you were in the shower.”

“Could have come joined me,” you tell him with a playful smirk. Sliding from the arm of the chair you set yourself down onto Quinn’s lap, resting your head on his shoulder.

“Stop,” Quinn groans, his cheeks growing redder by the second. You had to admit it, you liked how flustered you could make him.

“If you insist.” Tugging your own phone out of your pocket you unlock it, heading to the app that consumed an ungodly amount of your free time. You scroll through the for you page on TikTok, enjoying the way Quinn’s chest would rumble with laughter underneath you. He would never admit that he enjoyed just sitting around watching TikTok with you but he didn’t need to say it for you to know it was true.

Eventually talks of dinner disrupt your time with Quinn and you reluctantly pull yourself out of his lap to let him take the lead on dinner. You’re pretty sure someone else could have manned the barbecue but you take it as an opportunity to get off social media as well.

Wandering inside you find Dylan in the kitchen, chopping romaine lettuce with all the skill of a preschooler. “Do you need some help there?” you tease, resting your elbows onto the kitchen island and leaning down onto it. Your eyes move from the lettuce to his eyes, a playful smile on your lips.

“Am I not doing a good enough job?” Dylan asks with an uncertain chuckle, looking down at the lettuce in front of him.

“Well, I can’t say it’s the method I would use,” you tell him.

“My skills are not in the kitchen,” Dylan confesses, setting the knife down next to the cutting board. “But I have plenty of skills.”

Standing up straighter you walk around to the other side of the island, pushing him a few steps away from the cutting board and picking up the knife. “Like what?”

“Hockey,” Dylan replies quickly.

“Yeah…you and everyone else here,” you tell him, tossing a handful of chopped lettuce in the salad spinner. “I mean, aside from myself.”

“Tough critic,” Dylan says with a laugh, leaning against the counter beside you. “Beer pong.”

“You and everyone else here…including myself,” you tease, turning your attention from the lettuce to look up at him.

“I like that confidence,” Dylan says, walking to the fridge to pull something out of it. When he returns he sets the can next to you, a vodka soda. “You’re on my team if we play then.”

“Deal,” you say, picking up the can and opening it. “You sure know how to win me over.” You take a quick sip of the cold raspberry flavoured drink before getting back to work, getting the salad prepped. By the time you finish the salad and the drink Dylan got for you Quinn is back inside with a plate full of cooked steaks.

His eyes shift back and forth between you and Dylan as he sets the plate down and for the first time you realized just how close you were standing to Dylan. “I’ll go tell everyone dinner is ready,” you say before quickly scurrying out of the room. When you return to the kitchen Quinn already has his dinner, sitting at the kitchen table with Dylan. Grabbing your own dinner you claim the spot beside Quinn before anyone else has the chance to. “Thank you,” you whisper to him, letting your hand fall onto his thigh under the table.

“Of course,” Quinn mumbles and you swear his eyes shift down to your lips for a split second. But it’s so quick and you were already tipsy and perhaps you were reading things wrong.

After dinner you help clean the kitchen while a group sets up a table for beer pong, a suggestion made by none other than Dylan. He quickly claims you as his partner and you find yourself at his side again. You manage to hold your own through the game, sinking your ball in the last remaining cup on your opponents side.

“Holy shit,” Dylan exclaims, wrapping his arms around your waist and lifting you up in a celebration. “You weren’t lying,” he adds as he sets you down, his hands lingering on your arms.

“I’m in college, Dylan, of course I’m good at beer pong,” you tell him with a giggle.

“Very impressive,” he says, handing you a ping pong ball for the next round of the game.

You play a few more games before giving up your spot. Heading to the fridge you get yourself another drink, popping the can open and taking a large sip. When you turn around you nearly run into Quinn, jumping slightly. “Hi,” you breathe out.

“Hey,” Quinn replies, his hand falling on your hip as he guides you away from the front of the fridge to get a drink for himself. “How many have you had?”

Rolling your eyes you shrug in response. “Does it matter?”

“Guess not,” Quinn mutters. You watch him take a step away, leaning back against the kitchen counter, his eyes focused on anything but you.

You remain silent and still for a few minutes, your mind processing his sudden coldness towards you. You follow his eyes, watching the beer pong game with him for a few minutes. “Want to go outside with me?”

Quinn finally looks over at you, hesitating for a second before nodding in agreement. Weaving your way through the house you step outside with Quinn, the night air still warm, the sounds inside the house fading as Quinn pulls the door shut behind him. “Are you okay?”

“Hmm?” you hum, nodding a second later. “Yeah, yeah, I just wanted to spend some time with you.” Walking to the edge of the patio you lean against the railing, focusing on the gentle lapsing of the water against the shore. Quinn moves to stand beside you, resting his forearms on the railing beside you. “You’ve been quiet today.”

“Don’t have a lot to say, I guess,” Quinn mumbles.

Sighing you lean over, nudging him gently. “Are you not having a good time?”

“I am.”

“Are you sure?” you ask, turning to face Quinn.

“Yeah,” Quinn repeats, looking over at you, smiling softly.

Reaching over you grab Quinn’s hand, pulling him away from the railing. “Come with me,” you say before guiding him to the stairs of the patio and down towards the lake.

“What are we doing?” Quinn asks, hesitation clear in his voice.

“Do you not trust me?” you ask, stopping just before the shore gives way to the lake water.

The sky is clear and the night is illuminated by the moon and stars above you. It’s hard to make out the details around you but you can see the uncertainty on Quinn’s face. Giggling quietly you look out towards the water before turning your attention to Quinn. “We’re going to go swimming.”

“I’m wearing jeans,” Quinn tells you, shaking his head.

“Take them off,” you suggest with a playful smile, your hands grasp the bottom hem of your t-shirt, tugging it over your head. Tossing the shirt onto the ground you stare over at Quinn, waiting for him to make the next move.

You watch as he moves his hands to unbutton his jeans, kicking his shoes off before sliding them off his body. Quickly you shimmy out of your shorts, setting them with your shirt before reaching your hands around your back, unhooking your bra.

“Oh, woah, I, uh, what are you, um, what are you doing?” Quinn stammers, looking up the yard towards the house.

“Nobody’s watching, Quinn,” you whisper, slowly pulling your bra off, holding your arm over your bare chest as you drop the bra beside your clothes.

Quinn’s chest is rising and falling a little quicker now, palpable hesitation in his movements as he takes off his shorts. Standing in silence he looks over at you, neither of you making the next move. “Are you going to keep going?” you finally whisper.

Quinn pauses for a second before sliding his boxers off, his eyes locked with yours, watching to see if you’re going to let your eyes wander. You pull your own underwear off a second later, turning towards the water and stepping into it. The cool water lapses against your ankles and you let out a shaky breath. “It’s cold.”

“You’re the one that wanted to do this,” Quinn reminds you, taking your hand and pulling you along with him further into the water. You skin is covered in goosebumps, each step into the lake cooling your body further and further.

“Fuck,” you whisper as the water reaches your chest, your nipples hardening. “I’ll go under if you do.”

“Deal,” Quinn chuckles, letting go of your hand as he dips lower into the water.

“You first,” you say, hugging your arms tight around your body.

“No way,” Quinn exclaims. “You’re not going to do it.”

“Yes, I will,” you retort, though you can’t stop yourself from smiling, a tell tale sign that you were lying. “Fine,” you huff. “On the count of three.”

You count down to three, ducking under the water and resurfacing as quickly as you could. Reaching your hands back you push your hair back behind your ears, giggling as you look over at Quinn. His eyes fall to your now exposed chest and you can feel your heartbeat speeding up. “Sorry,” he mutters when he realizes that you had noticed.

Reaching over you take Quinn’s hands, pulling him closer. “I don’t mind,” you whisper, glancing down to his lips.

Laughter catches your attention, looking up towards the shore, a few people now standing on the patio. “Shit,” you whisper, looking back to Quinn.

“I’ll go get us some towels, just stay here,” Quinn says, swimming back towards the shore as you pull your arms up in front of you again.

When he gets closer to the shore the sound of his body moving through the water catches the attention of the guys on the patio. “What are you-,” Jack begins to ask, his voice shifting to laughter as he spots you. The laughter mixes with teasing whoops coming from the three on the patio as Quinn pulls on his shorts and heads towards the house.

He returns with a couple towels, opening one up for you as you hurry towards him. When you get closer he wraps the towel around your body, holding it up till you had it secured around you. “Thank you,” you whisper, staring up at him. Your skin is covered in goosebumps again, droplets of water slipping down your bare arms. “They’re watching,” you add a moment later, as Quinn begins to lean in closer.

“Right, yeah, um, we should head in,” Quinn mutters, stepping back and gathering the clothes from the ground while you head for the patio.

“Invite me next time, hey?” Max comments when you get closer, his words drawn out and cloaked in a drunk tone.

“Alright, that’s enough,” Jack mutters to him, elbowing him to get his attention, shaking his head to let him know he was serious.

Your cheeks are hot as you scurry by and up to your room as quickly as you could. You hadn’t thought this part of it through, feeling so exposed as you hurried through the house full of people in nothing more than a thin beach towel. With the bedroom door closed behind you you’re able to let out a breath that you didn’t realize you were holding, changing into a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt, your skin still cold to the touch from the lake.

Laying down on the bed you find your phone, no longer in much of a partying mood. A few minutes later there’s a quiet knock on the door and you sit up, looking towards the door. “Yeah?”

“You okay?” Quinn calls through the closed bedroom door, making you laugh softly. Of course he wouldn’t barge in, though he had just seen you naked so it felt unnecessary to be so concerned about your privacy.

Standing up you walk over to the door, pulling it open and leaning against the doorframe in front of Quinn. “I’m okay,” you assure him. “A little cold.”

“Should I remind you again that it was your idea?” Quinn asks with a smirk. “Are you coming back down?”

“I don’t know, I think I might call it a night,” you say with a shrug.

“Do you want to do something else? We could just watch a movie or something.”

“Yeah, sure.” Pushing the door open further you step out of your room, following Quinn down the hall to his bedroom. Crawling onto the bed you turn your attention to the TV as Quinn flips through the menu to get to Netflix. Pulling the blankets back you slide underneath them in an attempt to warm yourself up.

“You’re going to fall asleep,” Quinn says, sitting on the edge of the bed as he scrolls through the movies available on Netflix.

“I am not.”

“Okay,” Quinn replies, though it’s clear that he doesn’t believe you.

After deciding on a comedy Quinn lays down next to you, his arm around your back as you lay your head on his chest. Quinn wasn’t wrong about you falling asleep, your eyes feeling heavy for awhile before you drift to sleep, long before the end of the movie.

When you wake up again it’s the next morning and you’re in almost the same spot you fell asleep the night before. Your arm is slung over Quinn’s torso, his chest rising and falling beneath your head with each heavy breath. Slowly you pull yourself away from him, careful not to wake him as you slip out of the bed and leave his room. You mind is hazy, racing with thoughts of the night before. How badly you wished you and Quinn had just a few more minutes alone in the lake. But maybe it was for the best. Ruining your friendship in one drunk night might not have been your best move.

You spend most of the morning alone in the living room, watching tv till everyone begins pulling themselves out of bed. “So, how was your night?” Jack asks, flopping onto the couch beside you, a teasing smirk on his face.

Rolling your eyes you shrug in response, glancing into the kitchen where Quinn was chatting with Luke and Dylan. “It was fine.”

“Oof,” Jack replies with a chuckle. “Just fine? That’s gotta hurt Quinny’s ego.”

“We didn’t hook up, Jack,” you mutter, staring at your hands as you twist a ring around your index finger.

“Really? I thought when you guys were-,” he begins before shaking his head.

“No,” you whisper. Dropping your legs from where you had them pulled up in front of you onto the floor you pull yourself to your feet. “I’m going to go outside for a bit.”

“Are you okay?” Jack calls as you walk towards the back door. You nod in response but you don’t say anything more.

You walk outside and keep going till you’re at the end of the dock, dropping down and dangling your legs over the edge of it. The sky was gloomy, the day overcast. Sighing to yourself you lean back on your arms, watching the ripples on the surface lake for awhile.

“You look kind of sad out here by yourself.”

Looking over your shoulder you smile at Alex as he walks up the dock, lowering himself down beside you. “I’m not.”

“You sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure,” you tell him, laughing quietly. “Just thinking.”

“About?”

“Things,” you reply, looking down at the water.

“Mysterious,” Alex says with a chuckle.

“Oh yeah, I have tons of secrets.”

“Tell me one.”

Turning your head you look over at Alex, smiling playfully. “Well then it wouldn’t a secret, would it?”

“Fine, tell me something about yourself that isn’t a secret.”

“What do you want to know?”

“What are you taking in university?

“I’m majoring in psychology,” you tell him. “Minoring in dance.”

“Dance?” Alex asks, surprise clear in his voice.

“Do I not look like I know how to dance?”

Alex hesitates for a second, his eyebrows furrowing. “No, no, that’s not what I meant. It’s cool, I just didn’t know people did that.”

“Danced?” you tease.

“Well I don’t,” Alex defends.

Pulling your legs up you hop to your feet, reaching your hand down towards him. “Get up.”

“Why?” Alex asks, drawing the word out.

“Because you’re going to dance.” Taking your phone from your pocket you put on some music while you wait for Alex to get up.

“I really don’t know how to dance.”

“Lucky for you I’m a pretty good teacher,” you tell him, reaching over and taking his hand. Pulling him closer you place one of his hands on your waist, grabbing the other one and holding it up. You walk him through a basic box step, barely able to contain your laughter as he messes up time and time again. Eventually he gets it down, at least close enough that it looks like you’re actually dancing. “See, you can dance,” you tell him.

“Do you think I could get a minor in dance?” he jokes, lifting his arm up and spinning you around.

“Well that was pretty impressive, so maybe,” you tell him with a giggle. “Want to head back? You can show everyone your new skills,” you tease.

“No way I’m dancing for those guys.” Following you back down the dock you walk inside with Alex, everyone hanging around the kitchen table, cards in hand.

Walking over you stop behind Quinn, sliding your arms down from his shoulder to his chest, leaning down to look at the cards in his hand. “What are you playing?” you whisper.

“President,” Quinn mutters. “You’ve never played before.”

“How do you know?”

“Because you told me you only ever play cards when you’re here and I’ve never played with you,” Quinn replies cooly.

“Alright,” you mutter, realizing he wasn’t about to explain it to you either. Sighing you pull back, walking into the living room to take your spot on the couch again. Had you really read the situation between you and Quinn that poorly that even what happened last night was an overstep?

By the time dinner is being made the drinks have started flowing again, the kitchen loud with laughter as dinner is haphazardly thrown together. You keep to yourself for most of the evening, suddenly feeling out of place. It was the first time you had ever felt uncomfortable at the lake house, the place that had always been a safe haven for you.

“Are you going to be a loser and sit by yourself all night or are you going to come hang out?” Luke asks, hovering in the doorway of the living room.

Reaching over you grasp a pillow tossing it at him. “Don’t be a dick,” you mutter, watching him easily catch the pillow, tossing it back onto the couch.

“Sorry, I was joking,” Luke replies, raising his hands defensively. “What’s going on with you?”

“Nothing.” Pulling your legs up onto the couch you wrap your arms around your knees, leaning your head on them. “It’s just…Quinn.”

“What did he do?”

“Nothing,” you whisper. “It doesn’t matter, Luke, just go back and hangout with everyone else.”

Luke sighs loudly, walking into the room and dropping onto the other end of the couch. “You know I’m not going to just leave you. Tell me what he did, I’ll beat him up.” You can’t help but laugh at the comment, turning your head to smile at Luke. “You know I could.”

“I know,” you reply, giggling quietly. “Come on,” you say, standing up and nodding for Luke to follow you. You weren’t about to let him sulk with you just because he didn’t want to leave you alone. Leaving the living room you head back into the kitchen, getting yourself a drink before stepping onto the back patio where everyone had moved to. Finding a seat you do your best to stay engaged with the conversation but you can’t stop yourself from sneaking glances at Quinn every chance you could.

The sky is completely dark before you know it but you’re still not able to shake the sinking feeling you have about Quinn. When you see him stand up you watch him go inside you take the chance to talk to him alone and hop to your feet. Inside you close the door behind you, walking towards the kitchen.

“Quinn,” you whisper, stopping in the doorway to the kitchen as you watch him slam back the contents of his cup. “Can we talk?”

“About?” Quinn mutters coldly, pulling the door of the fridge open before yanking out a bottle of beer.

“I, um, I just,” you stammer, watching him pop the lid of the bottle off. “Did I do something wrong? I just feel like you’re upset about something or upset with me or, I don’t know, I just-.”

“Just don’t like when you can’t have the attention of every guy around?” Quinn mutters, his words slurred.

Your eyes widen, a shaky breath leaving your lungs. “What?”

“Don’t like hearing the truth?”

“What are you talking about, Quinn?” you exclaim, folding your arms across your chest, your fingers digging into your arms.

“I’m talking about you fucking flirting with everyone…then you tell me you have feelings for me but that’s obviously bullshit. Especially after last night, like what the fuck, Y/N? I’m done with this…with you.”

You can feel your eyes prickling with tears, your heart racing. Quinn had never spoken to you in that way before. Never in a million years would you have expected Quinn to speak to you that way. “I-,” you begin, though you weren’t even sure what you were planning to say. Reaching up you wipe away a couple tears that had pooled under your eyes. “I wasn’t…it wasn’t like that Quinn, I wasn’t flirting with everyone-.”

“You were,” Quinn interrupts.

“Stop,” you breathe out, shaking your head. “Please, Quinn, please just listen to me,” you plead. Your breath was catching in your throat, desperately trying to hold back your tears. “I really like you Quinn, I’ve had feelings for you since I was twelve, I love you Quinn…I’m in love with you.”

“Yeah?” Quinn mutters coldly. “Seems like if that was true you wouldn’t be flirting with other people right in front of my fucking face.”

“Please,” you whisper, tears streaming down your cheeks. “I’m sorry, it never meant anything, I didn’t think it was a problem, I-.”

“Maybe you should have thought about someone other than yourself then,” Quinn snaps.

“Why are you being so mean?” you croak, choking back a sob.

You watch his expression soften, a silence falling between the two of you that feels tense and uncomfortable. You swallow heavily, waiting for him to say something, anything. But he doesn’t. You stand there, silent and still as Quinn turns around and walks out of the room. With your vision still blurry with tears you walk in the opposite direction, opening the front door and sitting down on the steps to the front of the house. It’s quieter on this side, the night air drying the tears on your cheeks as you stare up at the clear sky now full of bright stars.

You don’t know how long you’re sitting there, but it was long enough that the sound of the door opening behind you startles you. Turning your head you look up at the figure behind you.

“Oh, hey,” Alex says, car keys jingling in his hands as he closes the front door behind him. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” you reply quickly, wiping away the few tears left on your face. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

Alex hesitates for a second before taking a step down the stairs and lowering himself down beside you. “You sure?”

Sniffling quietly all you can manage to do is nod, staring straight ahead of you into the dark driveway. Alex slides his arm around your shoulders, clearly not believing your terrible lie. Tipping your head to the side you rest your head on his shoulder, allowing yourself to take in the comfort he was offering. “I’m going to go home tomorrow,” you finally whisper.

Alex squeezes your shoulder gently, waiting a couple seconds for you to continue. “Why?”

“It’s not a big deal,” you tell him, which was another lie and you’re fairly sure that Alex knew that. “Quinn and I, we, um, we just got into a…a disagreement, I guess.”

Alex nods slowly, running his hand along your arm gently. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“Not really,” you admit. “You don’t have to sit out here with me moping either, I don’t want to ruin your trip.”

“You’re not ruining anything,” Alex assures. “I’m leaving tomorrow so I wasn’t planning on being up late tonight anyway.”

“Did you get into a fight with Quinn too?”

Alex laughs, shaking his head. “No, I came a bit earlier with Luke and Jack so I was planning to head out early too.”

“Exciting things happening in Newark that you can’t miss?”

“Maybe not Newark but New York is pretty close and if you’re going to be there then there’s definitely exciting things I wouldn’t want to miss.”

“Are you flirting with me, Alex?” you ask, lifting your head from his shoulder to look into his eyes.

“I have been all week…took you long enough to notice,” Alex informs you with a soft smile.

Your breath catches in your throat, your eyes focusing on his. You were used to casual flirting, flirting when it didn’t mean anything, when it was fine if it went unnoticed. Something in this moment felt different. “Sorry I didn’t, um, I don’t know…I’m not actually good at…this.”

“At what?” Alex asks, eyebrows furrowed.

“Flirting,” you whisper.

“No, I think you’re pretty good at that,” Alex says. His laugh afterward lets you know it wasn’t a serious comment but it still felt like a slap in the face.

Nodding slowly you do your best to discreetly wipe away the tears that had pooled in your eyes again. “Yeah,” you whisper, staring at the night sky. “I guess not the flirting…the feelings part of it.”

“That’s okay,” Alex assures you with a shrug. “That part’s not as easy.”

“You can say that again,” you whisper.

“That part’s not as easy.”

Turning your head you look over at Alex, taking in his playful smile. You can’t help but laugh at the joke, shaking your head. “So, you wanted a local to show you around New York?”

“Yeah, I do.”

“How about Wednesday?”

“Wednesday would be great.”

A few days later Alex had made the trip from Newark to New York, exactly as you had agreed. After meeting him at your apartment the two of you grab a coffee before heading on a walk. Snapping a quick picture of Alex, walking down the road with an iced coffee in his hand, you post it to your Instagram story, captioning it in your typical humorous style. ‘He wanted the local experience…first stop is to see the subway rats, any other suggestions?’.

You spend the rest of the day together, showing Alex around the city and getting to know each other in a way that you didn’t have the opportunity to at the lake house. After spending the day out and about you ended the evening with take out and a couple bottles of wine at your apartment.

“This is where you live?” Alex teases as he sets the takeout you two had picked up on the counter in the small kitchen.

“Don’t be mean,” you laugh, opening the kitchen drawer to find a wine opener for the bottle you had bought. “It’s so expensive to live here and it’s just me so I don’t really need a lot of space anyway.”

“I’m just joking, it’s cute,” Alex tells you, watching you pour a couple glasses of wine, taking one as you hand it to him.

“Cute,” you repeat, taking a sip of the wine. “You’re just saying it’s small in a nicer way.”

“Well I can’t lie to you, it is small.”

“At least you know that I don’t think size matters,” you tell him with a playful smile.

Alex’s eyes widen, his eyes falling to your lips for a second before a nervous breath of laughter escapes his lips. “I, uh…do you think that’s something I’m worried about?”

Giggling you take another sip of your wine, letting your eyes trail up and down his body, as if you were really pondering the thought. “There really is only one way to find out, Alex.”

Alex exhales loudly, his hand clamping around his glass of wine as he takes a large gulp of the cool white wine. “Are we at least going to have dinner first?”

“Fuel up,” you tease, pulling his meal out of the bag and setting it down on the kitchen island. Walking around to the other side you slide onto the barstool, taking your own food.

You make small talk through dinner, but it never for a moment feels forced or unnatural. You talked about his life growing up in Sweden, about his family and his friends. You talked about school, about what your plans were in the future. You talked till the bottles of wine were empty and the clock was nearing midnight.

“I should probably get an Uber or something,” Alex says, picking his phone up from the coffee table.

"You can stay here, that’s quite a long Uber ride,” you offer. “The couch is pretty comfortable, or so I’ve heard.”

“I don’t want to get in the way.”

“You wouldn’t be,” you insist, standing up and taking the empty wine glasses to the kitchen. “I’ll grab you some blankets and stuff.”

“Thank you.”

After gathering some blankets and pillows you head to bed yourself. Alex spends the night and much of the next day at your place. He’s back in New York a few days later, coming to karaoke night with your friends. A week later you spend the day in Newark with Jack, Luke and Alex. When the season started you were in Newark for most of the Devils home games, cheering on not just Jack and Luke but Alex as well now.

“What’s going on with you and Holtzy?” Jack asks, sitting across his living room from you. You had spent the night in Newark after going out for some drinks with them after a game one night in early October.

Looking up from your phone you shrug in response. “I don’t know…nothing.”

“You two aren’t together or whatever?”

“No, I mean, I…we’re…I don’t know what we are,” you stammer. “Why?”

Jack groans and tips his head back, staring at the ceiling. “Quinn was asking.”

You’re silent for a few minutes, nervously fiddling with a loose thread on your sweater. “How is he?” you whisper. You hadn’t gone this long without talking to Quinn for as long as you’ve had a cellphone. You wanted to, you wanted to talk to him, but after the way you left things at the lake house you didn’t know if you should reach out.

Jack glances around the room, lips parting as begins to say something before stopping himself. “He’s fine.”

“Okay,” you whisper, your eyes prickling with tears. You weren’t sure where the emotions were coming from. You had been upset about the situation, sure. But you hadn’t expected that hearing he was doing fine without you would hurt so much. “That’s good,” you croak.

“Oh my god,” Jack groans, noticing your tears. “He’s not,” he admits. “I don’t think he’d want me to tell you that but this thing with you and Alex…he’s not happy about it.”

“Well he’s done with me, so I don’t know why he would even care,” you mumble under your breath.

“Jesus,” Jack breathes out, shaking his head. “What are you talking about? What happened that night in Michigan?”

“He, um, he made it clear that he didn’t like my behaviour and he’s done with me,” you say quietly, swallowing heavily as a few tears slip from your eyes.

“He’s not done with you.” Jack stands up and closes the distance between you and him, sitting down and wrapping his arms around you. “Why don’t you call him tonight?”

Sighing you rest your head on Jack’s shoulder, not agreeing to call him but not saying no either. Maybe it was what you needed. At least then you could have an answer, if you and Quinn were ever going to be friends again you knew you needed to talk about it.

You head home that evening, sitting in your apartment and staring at the black screen of your turned off tv. You didn’t need to put anything on, your mind was doing enough to keep you preoccupied. Eventually you reach over, picking up your phone and finding Quinn’s contact. Hesitantly you dial his number, lifting your phone to your ear as you listen to the dial tone.

“Hello?”

Your heart hammers heavily in your chest at the sound of his voice, a shaky inhale filling your lungs. “Hi,” you whisper. “Do you have time to talk?”

#quinn hughes #quinn hughes fic #quinn hughes x reader #quinn hughes imagine #nhl imagines #nhl fanfic #nhl fanfiction #nhl one shot #nhl fic #hockey fanfic #hockey fic

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wosoamazing · 7 months

Text

Surprise

Summary: You surprise your Ma for her birthday.

A/N: Just a short one, based off this request.

It was the day before international break, a period of time in which Katie’s Birthday feel, she was upset that yet again your little family would be split on a birthday, little did she know that your Mum was planning to come visit her, she had arranged with Tony to have a break however that was after the team had already been announced, so she asked Tony to wait until the day she surprised Katie to announce that she was no longer available.

“What if I just don’t go to camp this time, they’re only friendlies” she said as she opened a present.

“Katie, babe, no, you should go, it will be okay. Oh, and also you will get your main present on your Birthday” Caitlin said, she of course knew what this was, it was you and her, but Katie didn’t.

“What is it?” “You will have to wait to find out”.

_____

“Which plane ours?” You ask your Mum, you were standing on the window looking out at the planes in the lounge, Steph and Kyra were with you, as always, except for some reason you didn’t have nearly as many bags as them, where usually you would have more than them.

“We aren’t getting on a plane today, Monkey.” She replies, “But why?”

“Because we are going to fly to Ireland tomorrow, so we can surprise Ma for her Birthday,” your Mum informs you excitedly.

“So why we here then?” “To send her photos like we always do so she doesn’t get suspicious. We’re tricking her into thinking we are going to Matilda’s camp”.

“But you say tricking is bad” you pout.

“Well, most of the time it is, but this time it’s for a good reason, so it isn’t bad”.

“Because Ma is sad, she won’t see us on her birfday and if we go and see her she will get all happy?” you question trying to make sense of the situation “Exactly” “kay”

_____

“PLANE!” You exclaim as you watch a plane take off.

“Shh, Monkey, inside voice, people are trying to work and relax,” she tells you softly in your ear before she turns to a group of businesspeople near her, “I am so sorry, she is just very excited, we are going to surprise her Ma today, she is currently away for work, and its her birthday today,”

“Oh no, it’s sweet, and that is such a cute thing to do,” one of the Women say.

“It’s alright, we’re not really doing anything that important, trying to figure out what colour to use for our design, but I’m sure Katie will be happy to see you. Oh god I sound like a stalker, my daughter is an avid football fan, she plays and wants to become a professional”. The man who seems to the boss says.

“That’s okay, but I am sorry, if I ever see you at a game, I’ll make sure to say hi,”

“Thank you, we are actually coming to the first game after international break,”

“Well, I’ll keep a look out and maybe I’ll have a gift for her”.

“Now boarding flight BA830 to Dublin, flight BA830 boarding now”

“Oh, that’s us, nice meeting you all sorry for the noise again,” your Mum picked you up and headed to your gate, you got checked in and sat on the plane, it wasn’t a verry long flight, but you still fell asleep, something about planes sends you to sleep, you had also not slept much last night as you were excited about seeing your Ma.

_____

There was a car in the pick-up spot waiting for you, your Mum had asked Eileen if it was okay if she did surprise your Ma, she was nervous that Eileen would say no as it might cause some tension/drama in the team but Eileen said absolutely, she even offered a driver to pick you up from the airport and take you to the grounds, your Mum had said it’s okay but Eileen said it was the least she could do,

You got in a car with you Mum, which stopped outside a local flower shop, you went inside with her and helped her pick out the biggest and bestest bouquet for your Ma, after you had purchased it, you got back into the car. After about 3 minutes you were there.

“You ready?” “See Ma!”

Eileen was on the sidelines, near where you were entering, when she saw you, she yelled out “Katie, can you come over here for a sec,” you Ma turned around and started jogging before she saw you and stopped, her mouth dropped before she crocked out "Y/N/N, Cait".

“Ma,” you said as you started running as fast as your little legs could go, when you neared her, she put her arms out and you jumped into them, she lifted you up to give you a big hug before perching you on her hip, your Mum wasn’t far behind her.

“Happy Birthday my love,” your Mum said as she placed a kiss on your Mums lips and hugged her, before putting her arm around her shoulders. “How?” “That doesn’t matter now does it, we’re here.” “I love you so much, thank you for surprising me and for coming” your Ma said as a few tears left her eyes, but Caitlin was quick to wipe them away.

#woso #woso community #woso fanfics #woso x reader #woso imagine

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brainddeadd · 17 days

Text

About damn time

Quinn Hughes x fem!reader

Jack Hughes x fem!reader (platonic), Luke Hughes x fem!reader (platonic)

Warnings: fluff, angst, fan hate, pining, jack calls reader "bub", Jack's a menace, Nico shows up cause he's the loml

You grew up with the Hughes brothers

At two months younger than Jack, you blended in with their tight-knit group

You met the Hughes brothers when you and Jack were 7. He shoved a kid in the playground for being mean to you, even though you were going to let it go, and the rest was history.

Jack became more like a twin than a friend. You two were inseparable. You were the calm to his storm.

Luke worshipped the ground you walked on. Followed you around like a lost puppy, and often, when he was having an off day, you were the only person who could calm him down. His own personal sanctuary from the world.

Quinn was the older, quiet brother who was always polite and friendly, but to anyone on the outside looking in, you guys just didn't work together well. However, they couldn't be more wrong. You quickly became each others solace in the chaos of their lives.

You went to every game you could, wearing the number of whichever brother was playing that time. Always in the stands, you were their biggest supporter, so it wasn't a surprise when you were invited to Quinn's draft.

Politely clapping and cheering with their families, fans started to be critical of your appearance and your actions. Rumours started to spread that you weren't interested in hockey, only wanted the money and fame that came along with being close to the Hughes brothers. They assume you're a bitch, instead of shy.

Jack shuts that shit down.

jackhughes: it has come to my attention that people are being little bitches towards my twin. that stops now.

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The other brothers repost the pictures to their own instagrams, and the hate dies down slightly. You make a new private, personal instagram.

Jack's draft comes and goes, and you're accepted into the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. Quinn is over the moon but hides it. Jack mopes for 3 days.

Quinn asks you to move in with him while you get settled into Vancouver. He says it's to help you, but Jack and Luke know better.

Fans start to photograph you at Quinn's games, a blank look on your face, and the rumours start up again. You ignore it until they say you're a puck bunny who's fucked your way through the brothers and will move on to other players eventually.

Quinn finds you crying. He can feel his heart break in his chest at the tears streaming down your face and the way your mascara is smudged around your eyes.

_quinnhughes: my best friend. my favourite supporter.

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Fans change their tune after Quinn's post, suddenly deciding that they love the idea of you two together. They think his use of "my" was a declaration.

The thought of being Quinn's makes your heart flutter, but you keep quiet.

Little do you know, Quinn feels the same.

Luke gets drafted and goes to New Jersey with Jack, where they're left alone to scheme and form a plan to get their big brother to finally get the girl.

"You sure about this?" Luke asked, his finger overing over the call button on your contact.

"Dude I'm telling you, they just need a lil push in the right direction."

"Uhh, this is more of a check into the boards." Nico's voice chimes from his places on the younger boys' couch.

"Just call her!" Jack ushers Luke away, firing off a text when he hears your voice through the phone.

Jack: yo quinn, is bub ok?

Quinn: yes ? I think ?

Quinn: I'm at practice

Quinn: wait

Quinn: whys she not answering her phone

Jack: idk man

Jack: I can't get through to her

Jack: neither can Luke

Quinn: she's supposed to be at home

Quinn: wait

Jack's phone remains silent for ages until he hears a commotion on the other end of the line from Luke's phone. Quinn's yelling, and Jack winces at the panicked edge to his voice.

"I'm here, Quinny," your voice is soft and gentle, confusion lacing your tone, and Jack can hear the sigh his brother heaves, picture the way his shoulders must fall in relief. "What's wrong?"

Luke chooses that moment to hang up.

"Bro!"

"I don't wanna hear that!"

It's two hours later when Jack receives a text from Quinn. It's a photo of your legs resting on Quinn's, hands entwined. The caption reads:

We've been dating for months dumbass

Jack's offended that neither of you told him and takes it upon himself to get revenge.

jackhughes: you're welcome for shoving the kid when we were 7. without me, you'd never have met.

congrats losers

tagged: yourusername, _quinnhughes

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#quinn hughes x reader #° braindead writes #nhl x reader #ice hockey x reader #jack hughes x platonic!reader #luke hughes x platonic!reader

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gatitties · 9 months

Text

Web of love

─Yandere!Jujutsu Kaisen x fem!reader (platonic)

─Summary: You're hoping to go out for a while on your own, but of course, there's always someone watching closely

─Warnings: mahito, blood, toxic behaviors, obsession, yandere stuff

Part One / Part Two / Part Four

The blank pages: Part One / Par Two

YOU WERE in a bad position and the next move made you lose the game, you didn't care at all, already used to this routine of losing.

"I don't understand how you can be so bad at playing this."

"I was never interested in board games, and even less so in chess."

You shrugged your shoulders as you watched Sukuna checkmate again, you sighed, narrowing your eyes, this night seemed excessively long, even when the king of curses himself offered you to have friendly games during the nights where you coincided in his domain ─because this idiot didn't have anything better to do either─ after a few games you end up bored, not to mention that you were always the one who lost.

"Let's make a deal, brat."

You crossed your arms, raising an eyebrow at his words, you were definitely discovering many unknown tints about Sukuna while you were locked up here, you nodded waiting for him to continue, although you already had your answer in mind, neither you nor him had anything better to do here.

"You don't like sorcerers and neither do I, but I'm not part of the group of villains of mediocre curses, you don't want to be involved with them either, why don't we help each other?"

"How do I know I can trust you? Also, how could I help? I have flesh and blood surveillance cameras out there."

"Once you make a deal, you agree to some rules, if the person breaks them they will receive a punishment, and you can be useful if I use you against them."

"So I only serve as a bargaining chip? What the hell do I gain from that?"

"Protection-"

"Don't I have enough of that already?"

"Shut up and let me finish." you let out a soft sigh, cringing at his demand, this geezer made you tremble in your seat when he seemed angry, but you would never admit it out loud "You don't need more protection, but your family does, don't they? You are not even aware of the dangers they are exposed to."

Again, everyone seemed to know how to play with your feelings, you frowned thinking about your parents, you called them recently to update them on your supposed exchange with other students and they didn't seem consumed by cursed energy or any malaise in general, they definitely seemed better now that you weren't hanging around and attracting all those bad energies, although you were unaware that the real danger was not what you were attracting, but the people who are trying to have you just for themselves, for them your parents were an obstacle.

"Well? We have a deal?"

He extended his hand, with a sly smile as if he were already waiting for an affirmative answer, you remained silent for a couple more seconds, staring at his hand, you brought yours closer, placing it on top of his, but not shaking it.

"I'm sorry, but I'm going to reject."

"What!? Are you an idiot?"

"Probably, but maybe this pact will only bring me more problems, you know… the whole fucking world is after you, or your fingers, or your head."

He pinched the bridge of his nose, you could feel his anger expanding even outside his body, you even thought he would kill you right there so he wouldn't see you again for the moment, however he started to laugh, increasing the volume of his laughter like if he were a psychopath.

"You really don't know anything about this world or the people around you, okay, I'll let the weight of your choice fall on your shoulders, but I won't make you the offer again."

You gave him a thumbs up, not even looking at Sukuna as you had your nose stuck in your phone, a little bored with the talk about pacts and protection, if you were going to get out of this cursed world situation it would be on your own and without anyone's help, if that led to your perdition so be it, but at least you could choose what you wanted.

He got a little twitch in his eye when he saw that he was being ignored or that you didn't really care about his comment, annoyed with that electronic device that was taking up all your attention, he seemed like one of those anti-internet parents who believe that the new technologies are the devil, luckily you woke up before he could grab your phone and throw it into the air.

You returned to your routine, each day a little less sane and more annoyed by the attitude of the sorcerers around you, you had thought so many times about accepting Mahito's offers to 'fight' at his side simply to annoy the others, however you would be giving the pleasure to the villains, which you were not going to do either, in no way, no one would have privileges, everyone is equally guilty that your life is now a spiral of obsession and overprotection, not to mention the macabre creatures that chase you.

Sometimes you think that if you had met them under different circumstances you would not have such a forced relationship with some of them, Itadori seemed like a good boy, Megumi has his moments but he is not a bad person, Nobara would be a great friend and Gojo… is a separate topic.

Today was a day in which you thanked all the gods of all the religions ever known, the three of them were on a mission that you were not allowed to go on, Gojo was busy with other matters that you did not know about and you did not know the whereabouts of the sophomores, so you had some peace of mind.

You took the opportunity to leave the vicinity of the Jujutsu high school now that you didn't have eyes on you, throwing yourself into the streets full of noise and normal people, oh how you missed being an npc who simply did daily errands and slept without having to worry about what curses and sorcerers were after you, you would really pay to erase the memory of all the people introduced into your life these last few months.

You walked for a while without any mishap, which made you suspect that everything was too calm, you shrugged, taking out your phone to check the time, however in just a second the object was completely torn from your hands, you blinked with a blank look as you watched the thief run away, too distracted trying not to scream in front of the crowd of people, you didn't notice how a black blur ran off in the same direction as the thief, the same direction you took a second after. You kept all your annoyance to yourself, smiling fully as you followed the path of the asshole who had had the brilliant idea of stealing you, of all people.

There was no way you were letting that guy get away when you bought that phone relatively recently with your own sweat and tears, without the monetary help of your parents, you were not willing to buy another one, plus it was your only way to evade the reality in which you were trapped now. You dodged people, dogs, you were almost run over but you managed to get on the heels of the thief, whatever the case, someone jumped on him before you could trip him and punch him.

"What do you think you're doing!? Shit like you stealing something from my precious sister!"

"AHH- I'm sorry- I- please!"

You stayed frozen in place, your face turned pale, your blood rushing out of your veins as you watched the thief being brutally beaten by the man with two messy buns, oh yeah, you forgot that you had some weirdo following you and proclaiming himself your 'brother'. You slowly walked over to your phone that had been dropped and slid due to the fight, hoping not to draw Choso's attention as he left the guy's face to a pulp, you silently crouched down, checking that, luckily, there weren't any scratches on the screen, with the same tranquility you got up, hoping to be able to continue without being noticed.

The blood that returned to your face left again as quickly as you felt a hand on your shoulder, you clenched your fist knowing that it wouldn't be so easy to get out of this curse's range of attention.

"Choso!"

Without time to react, the same hand that was holding your shoulder pushed you behind some garbage containers, crashing your other shoulder against the wall. You didn't allow yourself to let out a moan of pain because you recognized the voice that had called Choso.

"Mahito… do you need something?"

"No, actually I was just passing by, what's up with that guy?"

He pointed childishly and nonchalantly at the barely conscious thief on the ground, his entire face and surroundings splattered with blood as were the knuckles of his attacker.

"Nothing, I thought he had one of Sukuna's fingers, it turned out to be just a residue of his presence."

"Oh, that's a shame, at least I can have a new toy."

He stuck out his tongue, giving the 'peace' sign to his accomplice, you covered your mouth with your hands and closed your eyes as you heard the screams of pain and terror of the poor devil who had decided to steal you, his body contorted, deforming into a strange thing that Mahito devoured afterwards. You wanted to get out of here if possible without either of them noticing but it would be too difficult to do so, at least, you settled for Mahito not discovering you for the moment, but maybe you should think twice before.

"Oh, why is my favorite human trying to hide?"

You jumped in fear immediately as you came face to face with his sickly smile, taking a second to look behind him and see Choso's irritated face who seemed to want to spend time with you alone and not with Mahito involved.

The situation in which you least wanted to be involved, trapped with the greatest threats to your life expectancy, and not only because they could kill you just by touching your body, but because they exhausted your entire social battery exponentially, were, without a doubt, worse than being caught in a fight between Gojo and Sukuna, these curses would make you seriously reconsider whether life is really worth it.

The change from walking the streets of the city encapsulated in your own thoughts to walking the streets with two possibly precursors of human extinction was a huge leap, definitely something you didn't expect to be doing, if they gave you the choice, you'd rather be listening to everything Nobara had done in her training while Itadori fought for your attention, but here you were, holding Choso's hand because he was too paranoid of losing you among the people frequenting a crowded street while Mahito looked at all the stores like a child full of curiosity.

The truth is that you thought it was going to be something worse, you thought you would see a lot more blood, murders or something like that ─maybe today just wasn't the time─, after all these guys were considered the villains, however you swallowed your words when you even found yourself “enjoying” the rest of the afternoon, it wasn't much different than how the sorcerers treated you, they just dragged you around talking to themselves as you barely answered them or simply nodded or denied their words.

The sensation was so ordinary at this point that you felt like it was Nobara who was pulling your hand instead of Choso, you even noticed the same concern in his eyes when you tripped over your own feet because you were distracted.

When the sun began to set on the horizon, letting the cold tones paint the sky, you decided that you had to leave, you were not the only one who thought about it, although Mahito knows that he could use you to his advantage, he knew that threats Sukuna's were not things to play with, and he had already been warned once, he just watched from afar as Choso said goodbye to you, disinterested but without taking his eyes off your face, a smile beginning to appear on his face as he imagined the different ways in which to destroy that pretty face of yours, not for you, but to see the expressions that those who had so much esteem for you would make, just thinking about their expressions when they saw your death caused him an indescribable feeling.

"Send me a message when you arrive, don't take shortcuts and go through busy streets and ah- take this, it's starting to get cold, I don't want you to get sick."

Choso bombarded you with requests to get to the school safely since they couldn't get anywhere near there, you ignored the fact that he stole your phone to add his number and loosened the scarf he had wrapped around your neck since he pulled it too tight, just you agreed to all his requests in the hope that he could set you free once and for all, promising that you would send him over if some weirdo did anything to you.

You sighed in relief once you crossed a corner, losing sight of Mahito's amused gaze and Choso's distressed one, although your relief didn't last long when you bumped into a man's arm, not just any man.

"Here you were…" he took off his glasses, rubbing his eyes "Do you know the commotion you've caused by disappearing like that out of nowhere?"

Nanami looked at you with a slight frown, you shrugged not knowing what to answer him, he himself seemed worried enough about your whereabouts, his breathing was slightly accelerated and his usually neat hair had a couple of loose strands.

"I'm… sorry?"

He sighed heavily at your inability to understand everyone's concern, he took you safely back to the high school where everyone was waiting impatiently to receive the news from the blonde. Once there you were greeted by two pairs of arms clinging to you, Nobara and Itadori still not learning that thing about personal space, Megumi was simply scanning you, frowning at the scarf, Gojo remained silent, scanning your body for of possible injuries with the help of the power of the six eyes, he smiled to himself when he saw no scratches, but his face darkened when he saw traces of cursed energy, not just any cursed energy of course. He knew you were smart enough not to switch sides, so he should keep you further away from the idea of going out on your own again.

You narrowed your eyes as you felt his gaze on you despite having his eyes covered, he only greeted you with a giggle, commenting that you were lucky that 'Nanamin' had found you in time before something bad happened to you.

When the worry of the moment passed, everyone dispersed to do whatever they were doing before discovering that you were nowhere to be found, only you and Megumi were left in the room.

"You look exhausted."

Before you could figure out if you could sleep peacefully today or play chess another night with Sukuna, he began a light chat with you.

"Why would it be?"

You responded sarcastically, following the talk for a couple of minutes until you decided you had enough human or cursed interaction for the day, your bed was waiting for you and your tears had been trapped inside your eyes for a long time, you needed some comfort that right now only you pillow ─and sometimes not even that─ could give you.

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