#god I’m so glad this is finally done

[10millionotters]

Happy Valentine’s Day from TF 141 (+ their very own medic)

And from me ♥️

[starryluminary]

I love it when he snaps. I love it when he’s mad. I fucking love Dave

[huffle-dork]

Ties to the Past (Swapboys AU)

Previous parts | Masterpost | Swapboys Tag

(AN: FINALLY MORE VILLAIN ARC I have been working on this part for SO LONG!! I hope it’s worth the wait cuz WHOOBOY this guy is hefty! But we finally help Jackie and his son Ollie escape from Magnificent but- Alt saves them? During his villain arc? 😱 Then we learn more about Jackie and Mag’s past- and Alt starts to have some doubts. I hope you guys enjoy!!)

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“M-Marvin… please… y…you don’t have to…to do this…” A weak voice strained to make itself known behind the dark magician. Magnificent looked back from the spell he was performing, casting on a small brunette boy in floating magic as he dreamed. He narrowed his eyes and hissed towards the voice. “Quiet- I’ll deal with you again in due time, Jackie.”

Jackie Mann struggled against the magic now wrapped around his wrists, pulled tightly behind his back. Tears are in his eyes as he weakly fights against the toxic magic flickering in his irises, trying to pull him back under. “Please s-stop it…! Just- leave him alone…!”

“For fuck’s sake-“ Marvin rolls his eyes. He had no idea how Jackie kept having these bouts of clarity… he thought he broke his mind enough back at his flat. Well- good thing Mag never got tired of that. He holds out a hand to finish up the spell, runes materializing then circling the bubble of magic holding the little boy. The boy’s eyes flutter weakly then just barely open, glowing a steady white. 

“There-“ Magnificent hums and then turns towards Jackie, left eye flashing in anger. Jackie shudders then tries to back up but Marvin lashes out and pulls the father up to face him. He bares his teeth as he snarls, “I’d be more worried about what I’m going to do to you, old friend of mine~! Your son will be safe however- he’s just going to have some pleasant dreams, dreams that I can study later.”

“…why? Why Ollie?” Jackie asks quietly.

The dark magician hums at this and drops Jackie. Walking thoughtfully around the magic bubble, He places a hand on it and watches as swirls of white and pale color come to the purple surface. “Well from what I gathered from your mind… Your son is gifted, Jackie. And not in the mortal way… he has Sight.”

Jackie makes a confused face, “Actually his sight isn’t great- he’s only 4 and has glasse-“

“No you idiot!” Magnificent snaps, “Sight. As in he can see things others cannot- he can see into the very fabric of magic itself!” Magnificent grins and then snaps, a piece of paper in his hand. It’s the drawing Ollie was doing earlier. Magnificent studies it with a tilt of his head, much like a curious cat.

“And even just based on this… he can see more than just that. He glimpsed other worlds- he saw into the multiverse…”

“…you’re still on about that?” Jackie asked with a raised eyebrow. “I thought that was just a nerdy comic book thing we both thought was cool!”

Marvin hits a fist against the wall and yells out, eyes flashing. “It’s real, Damnit!” He then gains some composure and adjusts himself. “A mortal like you could never understand, Jackie. There’s always been so much more than us… and I’m going to find a way to obtain the power it holds, one way or another.”

He then taps on the magic bubble and frowns. “… I have no idea if your son will prove too useful but- he won’t be harmed.”

Jackie seems to relax just slightly- until the magician is back in front of him in a burst of static, bending over him like a looming shadow.

Magnificent hums and smiles cruelly, trailing the back of his hand down Jackie’s cheek and then gripping his chin hard in his claws. “You, however, Jackieboy…. I’m gonna make you mine again~”

Jackie makes a face and grimaces. “Ew, don’t say it like that! I thought you didn’t like people that way-“

The claws dig deeper into Jackie’s chin and he bites back a yell of pain as the dark magician snarls out, “Silence!”

He pulls Jackie close enough so that the father can smell the blood still lingering on his face. “I’m going to turn you into a mindless fucking husk! But at least then… you’ll forget alll about this meaningless adventure you’ve had without me, hm?”

“M-Marvin-“ Jackie tries to whimper. But, this only angers the magician further as he yells and throws Jackie against the wall behind them.

Jackie’s head hits the hard concrete and the world goes white for a second before he topples to the floor. He then bites back a retort- before gaining some bravery and shouting out, “You left us, fucker! I wanted you there- of course I wanted you with us! I just- also wanted Zara! To be a dad! But you- you never got that! Your world was way too fucking small to let anyone else in!”

Jackie huffs after, watching for Marvin’s reaction. The Marvin he knew would have exploded- maybe broken something. But this Marvin… he can’t predict what he’ll do. He’ll blow up at the tiniest thing and yet this- nothing… he just stares down at the father with those unnatural eyes that sent shivers down his very soul.. It made no sense. What happened to his friend? His brother?

The dark magician shakes his head with a light laugh and slinks back towards Jackie, shaking his head and tutting quietly. “Oh Jackie Jackie…” His foot then lashes out to strike against Jackie’s head and hold it there. He bends down to giggle at him. “Did you really think that would do something? That you could appeal to my humanity with our bond?”

He then snorts and kicks Jackie’s head slightly as he flares out his cape. “My humanity died long ago, old friend. And my ability to care died with it~!” He laughs, a bit unhinged.

Jackie struggles to try to push himself back up. “Then… why… why did you capture me? Why did you kidnap my son? Why do any of this?!” He pants, eyes burning with rage.

Marvin bares his fangs with an even louder laugh, flashing a purple tinted eye towards Jackie now. “Because, Jackieboy! I still want to win~! I still want to see you suffer~!” He then snaps his fingers and magic appears in front of Jackie, purple and green swirling in transfixing hues. “And I can’t deny that this will feel very very good~!”

“Marvin no…!” Jackie tries to plead but Magnificent had done nothing but break his mind over and over again today. His eyes quickly glaze over as he falls to the magic’s thrall yet again.

Magnificent giggles and kneels down by Jackie, esting his trance. The father hardly blinks and follows the magic loyally as Marvin tries to move it. Oh, so perfect~!

“Very good Jackie,” Magnificent purrs, “Now… why don’t we start with something simple? Something very easy for that big empty head of yours…

Recall when you last saw me before today… because now that’s the last true thing you’ll remember! Everything after that is all a blur… like a meaningless dream.”

“…like… like a dream…” Jackie mumbles dazedly.

“Yes exactly~! Any new friends, any family, any important parts of your life just- pop! Gone! Let the spiral take those thoughts away for you Jackie, down and down and down they go… leaving only a distant echo.”

“…echo…” Jackie’s head lolls to rest on his shoulder, face falling even more slack, mouth hanging open as the magic works to clean out his mind.

“Excellent job, Jackie!” Magnificent praised, swiping almost gentle hands through Jackie’s tousled hair. “Now there’s a big gap where the last couple years were! We gotta fill that back up with stuff, hm?

Like, how you and I finished university together- and stayed by each other's side, no matter what.”

“N…no… matter what… yeah….” Jackie breathed.

“Because we’re best friends, right?”

Jackie dazedly smiles, nodding very slightly. “…yeah… b’st friends… forever…”

Marvin grinned wide, toxic eyes possessive as he watched Jackie completely be rewritten. Oh.. such a sight to see!

He’s about to continue when he suddenly winces and grabs at his mask. Pain pulses sharply, his scars burning. He pulls back a hand to see it just covered in blood- the veins on his wrists throbbing with bright purple. The blood is also running so thick and dripping onto the floor and his pants. He curses quietly and tries to stand up, feeling a wave of dizziness. Damnit,.. he’s at his limit.

Well… at least his spell on Jackie’s son and Jackie could be maintained for a few hours while he recovered. It should be no trouble…

Except- Alt was training here today, having recovered enough from that SCLERA encounter. He wasn’t fit enough though to send out on a mission- and If he saw this… oh that could ruin everything!

Mag growled to himself then stepped back, studying his set up. He held out both hands and in a wave of magic, the area housing the Manns shimmered like a mirage before looking like a pile of stock and cardboard boxes, looking no different from any other part of the warehouse. The dark magician nodded in satisfaction and wiped at his face. His apprentice shouldn’t be skilled enough to see through a glamor like this. He should be fine for now… Even if he approached it- the spell would give him a strong mental suggestion to stay away.

His timing couldn’t have been better as he felt a surge of electric energy and heard the sharp sound of glitching as Alt walked in.

“Oh hey Mag, there ya are!” His apprentice grinned. He then blinked, taking in the sight of the older magician. “Oh whoa- I’m guessing you’ve been working on something big?”

Magnificent chuckled and wiped more at his face. “You could say that… but I need to recover now.” He meets Alt’s eyes and nods, “Guard the warehouse, study more of your spells- practice whatever… just don’t get into trouble.”

Alt gives a cheeky salute, “Gotcha boss.”

The dark magician nods tiredly then, in a fizzle of tv static, disappears.

Glitches pops out from Alt’s hood and the glitch sighs dramatically. “Damn- first day back and I just get busy work- it’s like fucking secondary school all over again…”

Glitches mewls loudly, as if agreeing. Alt giggles and grabs her, gently putting her down. “You wanna find the others, girl? I don’t think I can spar but maybe you guys can play?”

The black kitten stretches and then flicks her tail at Alt with another meow before bounding off to go explore. Alt snorted and shouted out, “Please don’t get trapped somewhere again!”

He then sits cross legged on the floor, pulling out some notebooks and books to spread out around him. He started drawing runes and circles on the floor, trying to see if he could remember some old spells he knew. Mag said the source wasn’t ‘respectable’ but- they worked well enough for Alt when he needed them. Proper spells sometimes seemed like such bullshit… it almost made him miss…

A sudden high pitch meow snapped Alt out of his thoughts. That was Glitches’ ‘hey dad I need you to look at something’ meow. He sighs and gets to his feet. Usually it wasn’t anything important, more like, filling her empty food bowl or a weird bug she found. But, if he ignored her she’d meow her head off- and he did not want to wake Mag right now.

He glitches over and kneels down by Glitches, looking around at the space. “What it is, glitz?”

The spot they were at just looked like… a small corner between stacks of shipping crates. He didn’t even see anything on the ground of note. He tilted his head, knitting his eyebrows in confusion. Glitches looks back up at him and meows insistently, going to look back at the boxes as if she can see through them.

Alt purses his lips and then takes out one of his books, flipping to a page he dog-earred. He almost had this memorized but just to be sure… he traced a rune into the air, the trail brimming with magic and then whispered some spell words.

Soon enough, Glitches’ meows started to turn into tiny cries that Alt could understand.

Dad! Dad! She mewled, Smell friend!

Alt looks confused again, “Smell friend…? …if it’s the panthers… I don’t think they’re hiding in these boxes, Glitches.”

Nooo! Not siblings! Glitches shook herself then looked straight at the boxes again. Friend. Dad’s friend. Smell like… kittens. Has many kits! Love kits, play and give treats! Her tail flicks in excitement as she looks back at Alt. Want see! Dad come?

Friends with… kits…? Like- kids? And lots of them… that could only be- “…Jackie?” Alt breathed, feeling his heart stop. He looks at the boxes and glitches to his feet. “W-Where do you smell Jackie, girl?”

Through here! C’mon! Glitches meowed but when Alt looked back down, it seemed like she disappeared.

Alt looked back at the boxes to study them some more… Glitches seemed like she could see through them. That could mean… an illusion. A powerful one, considering Alt could feel his focus wanting to wander- to get away from the totally normal assortment of shopping crates and boring boxes. But… that alone was suspicious. So, he pressed forward, eyes wandering to the edges of the stack.

One thing you don’t know about illusions until you make them enough times is… the eye can only consume so much- and you only have so much magic. So… the edges of an illusion tend to fizzle out into bands of colors- just slightly. Chromatic aberration. Easy enough to miss… unless you know what to look for.

His eyes found the tallest corner and squinted. The edge of the box shifted- coming apart just slightly, revealing the colors of light beneath the illusion coming loose. Like- a CYMK print being pulled apart. Alt scowled and then turned to look back at the boxes in front of him. He swept out a hand and tried to dispel the illusion- but it was some heavy enchantment… which could only be done by Mag. He grits his teeth then glitches through, fighting a bit with the magic but finally able to stumble into the open space behind it.

Alt gasps at what he finds. Jackie is slumped against the far wall, eyes glazed and filled with spiraling magic. He looks… awful. Pale and injured.

But, even worse is the ball of floating magic off to the side, looking to contain a little boy. Glitches lets out a long distressed meow and paws at the magic. Kit trapped! Dad help!

“Ollie!” Alt cries and glitches over in front of the magic. He hesitates to touch it, not knowing what spell this is. He… doesn’t look hurt. He looks like he’s sleeping…

Still, Alt kneels down and tries to see if he can wake him, touching a gentle hand to the magic. “Ollie… can you hear me?” He jolts slightly at seeing swirls of white and pale colors floating towards his hand, as if drawn to him.

Weakly, Ollie’s eyes open a bit more- but they’re filled with white light. He looks up, but doesn’t seem to see Alt, only looking out ahead. But, he whispers quietly, his voice echoing within the bubble. “…uncle Alt…?”

Alt’s heart clenches at the familar title. One he didn’t deserve anymore… but, “y-yeah Ollie. It’s me… are you okay? What do you remember…?”

“Bad… man… he had… half a cat’s face… scary-” Ollie breathes, “hurt… daddy… made Kelsie… cry… took me… daddy tried to fight… but bad man… was too s…strong…”

Alt’s magic reacts in anger, electricity and glitches arcing off him wildly. “Mag… mag took you- took both of you…!” He growls out, baring his teeth in a feral snarl. “He said he’d leave you all alone…!”

He looks back at the magic and then with a yell, thrusts both of his hands into the bubble and tries to rip it apart with his own magic. Try being the operative word as just trying to dive into the magic causes it to burn Alt and he jolts back with a pained cry. But, anger gives him desperate fuel as he produces a knife made of magic and slams it into the bubble over and over. Glitches hisses at the bubble, then dashes off to hide- right as The magic cracks and then finally explodes- sending Alt flying back. He takes a second to recover then hurriedly glitches over to pick up Ollie. “Ollie! Are you okay? S-Say something…!” Alt cries out desperately.

Ollie stirs and then blearily looks up at Alt, the white magic in his eyes fading to a light white-ish blue. He smiles up at Alt. “I knew… my dreams were wrong…” he breathes.

Alt looks confused- then Ollie digs into his pocket and pulls out a crumpled piece of paper. He shakily places it in Alt’s hand. It’s… a drawing. And on it…. Is Alt but in his Impulse outfit, his eyes glowing purple and his face set in a furious frown. There’s a destroyed city behind him, alight with green fire. Alt inhales sharply, but Ollie places a light hand on top of Alt’s. “I haven’t… shown Daddy… or Kelsie.” He whispers. “It would make them sad and… You’re not like the bad man, uncle Alt… you’re good… I know you are…”

Alt feels his throat close up as tears prick in his eyes, “Ollie I-I…!” His heart feels like it’s being ripped out of his chest.

“H-Hello?” Another croaked voice calls out. It seems like the explosion of magic woke Jackie up from his trance. He looks around in confusion, trying to get up but ends up falling back down, unable to get the right balance with his arms still tied behind his back. “M-Marvin…?”

Alt stiffens and looks back to Jackie with wide eyes. He looks down at Ollie and the boy looks back with desperate eyes. Alt sighs then scoops him up and positions him to cling to his back. Ollie weakly wraps his arms around Alt’s neck as the glitch tries to quietly approach Jackie.

“Jackie…?” Alt asks quietly.

Jackie jolts in surprise and then glares at Alt, bunching up and baring his teeth at him. His irises are rimmed with purple. “The fuck are you?! Are you the creepy fuck who kidnapped me and put me in this freaky warehouse?!”

Alt’s eyes widen. “Wait, what? J-Jackie you don’t…?”

“What did you do with Marvin, you bastard?!” Jackie snarls.

“Who’s Marvin??” Alt asks in bewilderment.

“My fucking best friend, asshat! He’s a powerful magician so I’m guessing you probably fucked with him first to get to me! I-I don’t know what you want with me or- or… him…” the purple flickers in Jackie’s eyes as his eyebrows knit in confusion. “I… don’t think he has… enemies…? He… he wanted to… perform magic… right..?” His voice gets quiet at the end, trailing off as he looks out blankly.

Alt swallows shakily. Magnificent must have been messing with Jackie’s memories but… why…? He goes to kneel down by Jackie and Ollie sniffles and hides against Alt’s neck. He gently waves a hand in front of Jackie’s face to get him to focus. “Um… I'm sorry for the confusion but… I’m not the one who took you. But… I-I can try to help you find your friend. Can you… tell me what he looks like?”

Jackie narrows his eyes at Alt and draws back a bit. But, the sincere tone of Alt’s voice has him relaxing slightly. “Okay then uh… he has… brown hair and pale green eyes and… he’s dressed like a cringe-ass magician usually… he likes wearing capes.” He laughs. Then he gets that blank look in his eyes as the purple flickers again. “…he has… scars now.” He breathes, “Scars over his face… his eye… he didn’t… have that before… under… a mask.”

Alt inhales sharply. “M-Magnificent?”

“That’s what he wanted his stage name to be…” Jackie whispers dazedly, “Marvin the Magnificent…” He shakes out his head then looks around again. “…where is he…? Where’s my friend?”

Alt takes a steadying breath to keep back his anger. What the hell was Mag doing?! Tricking Jackie into believing they’re friends? It… it was fucking sick. The glitch goes to rest a hand on Jackie’s shoulder and tries to look into his eyes. “He’s not your friend, Jackie… he’s the one that put you here. He messed with your mind…”

Jackie’s expression turns furious, “Y-You’re a fucking lair!” He screeches and tries to lunge at Alt. “Marvin wouldn’t do that to me-!”

Alt pushes Jackie back, his eyes flashing. “He already has! Jackie- try to remember stuff besides Mag- Marvin. Do you remember your family? Your wife? Your other friends?!”

Jackie looks enraged as he bares his teeth at Alt. But then slowly, his expression falls and he looks… lost. Scared… “…I have a wife…?” Then his eyes widen, “…Z-Zara…? Is… is she my wife…?”

“Yes…” Alt says quietly, “And you have 3 kids with her… one of them is right here.” He kneels down and helps to take Ollie off his back. “Do you remember him?”

Ollie is a shaking mess, thick tears falling down his face as he looks at his dad. “Daddy? P-Please remember…!”

Jackie looks even more scared and confused. The kid… god he looks just like him. Like a mini me with glasses and his bright blue eyes. “I-I have kids?! But… t-that can’t be…! The last thing I remember is… is-“ He looks down, eyes flickering back and forth as he tries to remember. “I… I don’t-“

“There’s no way you forgot them, Jackie,” Alt says, “You have to remember… Kelsie? Penny? How about your friends? Jameson? Henrik? …Chase?”

Jackie looks increasingly more distressed as that purple light flickers in his eyes. “I…I-I…!” Then, the purple ring snaps, dissolving from his eyes. He sits up straight and looks back at Ollie and Alt with clear eyes that instantly start to fill with tears. “Ollie?” He whispers.

Ollie bursts into loud tears as he rushes at Jackie and hugs him around the neck. “Daddy!!”

While the two reunite- Alt goes behind Jackie and carefully tries to undo the magic holding his arms back. As soon as the magic is gone, Jackie hugs Ollie tight, burying his face in his shoulder. “Oh, Ollie…! I-I’m so sorry…! ‘M sorry… I’m sorry…!” He sobs.

“It’s okay daddy…” Ollie quietly reassures him.

Alt watches with a sad expression then coughs slightly. “I’m sorry to interrupt but… we need to get you both out of here.”

Jackie startles- seeming to have forgotten Alt was there. But once he sees him he glares and backs up with Ollie, holding him protectively. “A-And why should I trust you?! Y-You must have had s-something to do with this!”

Alt glares, green magic burning in his eyes. “No I didn’t.”

“Why should I believe you?! With all you’re trying to do to Chase-!”

Alt yells out and pushes Jackie slightly into the wall, shoulders sparking wildly with held back power. “You can think whatever messed up things you want about me! But know this- I don’t fucking do kidnappings, alright?!” He snarls. “Now do you want to escape here, or do you want to stay and become Mag’s puppet?! It’s your fucking choice.”

Jackie stares at Alt with wide eyes. He opens his mouth a few times before shutting it with a scowl. He looks away. “…fine.”

“Good.” Alt snaps. He doesn’t let him go though. He lets out a short whistle and then Glitches comes bounding out of her hiding place. Alt waves a hand at her and then in a fizzle of magic, she turns into a panther.

Jackie’s eyes widen.

Ollie gasps, “big kitty…!”

“Glitches, make sure Mag and the other panthers say away, got it?” Alt says firmly. Glitches bumps her head against Alt’s hand and flicks her tail before rushing back off into the darker parts of the warehouse. Alt watches her go, then makes sure both Jackie and Ollie are connected to him before he lets out a small warning. “…sorry… this is gonna feel weird.” Then- in a flash of light, Alt glitches them outside.

This was not as far as Alt wanted to go… they’re only a few warehouses down from Mag’s current lair. But, clearly trying to glitch 3 people was a lot for Alt in his current state. As soon as they reappear, he falls against a nearby wall. They’re in the messy and cluttered alley behind the bigger warehouse entrances. Easy to get lost here…

Jackie and Ollie shake off the weird feeling of glitching. Then, Jackie looks over at Alt with concern. “…you okay?”

“Fine.” Alt grunts and shakily pushes himself up. “I can’t glitch us farther… but the panthers can catch your scent this close. We need to get you farther away.” He starts to walk down the alley and Jackie hesitates before following after him, Ollie clutched tight in his arms.

There’s a couple tense minutes of silence as they walk.

Then, Jackie can’t stand it anymore and breaks the silence. “…Alt… why are you doing this?”

“I told you I don’t-“

“No… not saving us. I mean… this. Working for Mar- Magnificent…” Jackie’s expression hardens. “You do realize how messed up this is right?! After we- we saved you the first time from him- now you’re just… going back? Working for him willingly? And we don’t even get to know why?”

Jackie can’t see Alt’s face as he walks in front of him but he sees his shoulders stiffen. “You wouldn’t understand, Jackie.” He says shortly.

“Then, talk to me Alt!” Jackie shouts, “Help me understand! Because all I’m seeing is Chase messed up and now you decide to go all fucking Joker on us- it makes no sense! Does our friendship just mean nothing to you now?! Or was everything before this just a fucking lie?!”

Alt’s shoulders and arms have been crackling with electricity as Jackie talks but at the last statement, he explodes, whipping around on the father and marching back towards him. “Shut up! You’re talking about shit you’ll never fucking understand, got it?! I don’t need to explain shit to you! Just because we were friends for a few months doesn’t mean you know me!”

Jackie backs up, fear on his face as he protectively hugs a terrified Ollie to his chest.

Alt’s expression falls slightly- then he quickly turns back around so they can't see his face. “Look… me helping you now is my repayment for those few months… once we’re somewhere safe, you never have to see my face again.”

“Alt, that’s not what I-“ Jackie tries to interrupt.

Alt looks back at him with glowing eyes, “Keep pushing your luck though and I’ll leave you back there with Mag.”

Jackie tries to school his heartbroken expression. He glares back at Alt, “…you’re not at all who I thought you’d be…”

There’s a sharp pain in Alt’s chest that he tries to ignore as he turns back around and starts walking again. “…you’re right. I’m not.”

They start to walk again in another bout of silence before Jackie asks quietly. “…what am I supposed to tell Kelsie?”

Alt freezes, “…leave her out of this.”

“I don’t think you understand how much she adores you, Alt!” Jackie snaps, “How am I supposed to tell her that one of her favorite people has just run off to become a super villain?!”

“Shut up!” Alt cries, trying to hide how his hands are shaking. “I-It doesn’t matter. She’s just some kid-“

“She’s my kid, Alt! And I know you adore her too- don’t act like you don’t!” Jackie yells back, tears in his eyes, “She’s going to lose one of her favorite uncles and I can never tell her why! All because you’re too emotionally constipated to actually talk with other people, you fucking selfish-!”

Alt roars in anger and in a quick glitch he’s shoving Jackie into one of the alley walls, lightning sparking off him dangerously. “S̸h̶u̴t̵ ̸u̴p̴!̶” he screeches ferally. “Quit trying to manipulate my emotions, you fucking-!”

“Alt- please-!” Jackie suddenly wheezes in panic. “O-Ollie!”

Alt’s eyes widen as he realizes his magic is way too close to shocking the poor shaking 4 year old in Jackie’s arms. The magic dies down and he starts to open his mouth to say something- anything…!

But then a blue boot is cracking against the side of Alt’s head and sending him crashing to the floor. Bro Fantastic looms over him, teeth bared in rage as power flows out of his eyes, holding Alt down with his foot. “I should have fucking known it was you!”

Jackie scrambles back to cower against the wall. “C-Chase?!”

The hero looks back to him and his expression softens. “Run, Jackie! Dr. J has his car nearby- I was worried I’d need to take you to the hospital like Stacy…”

“What?!” Jackie cries, “is she-?!”

“I’ll explain later! Just go!”

Jackie looks conflicted- glancing down at Alt who is struggling to push himself up under Chase’s boot. Then he closes his eyes as he runs as fast as he can down the alley.

Bro watches him for a second before bending down to Alt’s level and baring his teeth. “I thought you were going to leave them alone, Impulse.”

Alt’s eyes flash with concealed magic as he snarls at Bro, “For once, I had nothing to do with this!”

“Don’t fucking lie to me!” Bro snaps, “I just saw you attacking Jackie and Ollie! Do you think I’m stupid?!”

‘Well, yeah.” Alt snorts with a crooked smirk. Then, he send out a pulse of electricity that throws Bro off of him and sends him flying back. Alt glitches to his feet and cracks his neck. “You don’t need to know a lot about me hero,” he growls. “But know this. I don’t do kidnappings. Ever.”

Bro groans and glares at Alt. “Couldn’t have fooled me- you and Mag are one in the fucking same now, aren’t you?”

Alt’s eyes widen- and then his magic reacts to his emotions, rocketing out of him like an explosion. He flies at Bro’s face, lightning crackling in his hand as he yells ferally in anger. Bro can’t block in time before he’s sent to the ground by the electric onslaught. Alt presses him down to the ground and shocks him over and over, absolute murder in his eyes.

Bro can’t fight it at first, crying out as his body spasms and jerks. But eventually he finds the strength to kick Alt off him- charging the blow up with his super strength. Alt flies back and cracks loudly against the side of a warehouse. He cries out, gripping at his side as he staggers off the wall. Ugh- he hit the wall really hard… he could have broken something…

“Look dude, I really don’t want to hurt you!” Bro shouts as he starts going back towards Alt. “But you have to see why my hands are tied this time! You went too far! You said the others would be safe if they stayed out of the way!” His eyes burn blue with anger, “Or was just a lie for you to hurt more people I care about to get back at me?”

Alt is quiet before bursting into pained wheezing laughter. “You really have nothing between your ears, do you?” The glitch growls. “I told you I had nothing to do with this! Magnificent kidnapped them! If I hadn’t helped- they’d still be trapped in there! Jackie could barely remember his own name- and I got him out of it-!”

Suddenly Alt is being thrown back by the wall, Bro grabbing him by his throat. “LAIR!” He screams, power radiating from his eyes in glowing smears. “You really think I’m dumb enough to believe that?! You were attacking him-!”

But, Alt can hardly hear him. He’s panicking at the pressure on his neck, kicking with a wild desperation in his eyes and clawing at Bro’s hand. “L-le-!” He wheezes, trying to get purchase to breathe.

Bro’s eyes widen and he steps back quickly, letting Alt drop to the ground. “Alt…?”

Alt coughs and wheezes, a panicked look on his eyes as he tries to catch his breath. His hand is shaking over his neck. Finally he croaks out, glaring daggers at Bro. “You d-don’t need to believe me, then. Just be glad your fucking friend isn’t brain dead.” Then, before Bro can respond, Alt glitches away.

———

When he appears back in the warehouse, Alt expects a moment to breathe. But, he doesn’t get that- instead he gets a clawed hand grabbing him by the neck and throwing him down to the ground.

Alt chokes again, wide eyes meeting Magnificent’s furious ones. He tries to look around for Glitches- gasping as he sees her being pinned down by one of the other panthers. She mewls back at Alt desperately- but Alt’s attention is forced back to Mag.

“Where the fuck are they?!” The villain spits.

“M-Mag-! My neck-!” Alt wheezes, trying to claw free.

“I don’t give a fucking fuck about your pitiful trauma right now, Alt!” Magnificent hisses, “Where are they?!”

“G-Gone-!” Alt breathes out painfully, anger flaring up in his eyes too, “I let them go!”

Power radiates off Magnificent and his hand starts to burn, making Alt panic more. “Why?!”

Alt weakly glitches out of Mag’s grip- but doing so has claw marks going around the side of his neck. He shakily breathes then glares at Mag. “If you gave a fuck about my trauma, you’d know why! You’ve been in my head, you should know I don’t do fucking kidnappings!” He then grips his still bandaged arm, where SCLERA’s chip rests under his skin. He pulls up his sleeve and holds it out towards Magnificent. “Did you also forget that I just got kidnapped too?! Not even a week ago!”

Magnificent practically roars in anger and Alt staggers back, terrified. He sees hints of the old puppet master he was in that anger. He braces himself to get hit- only to hear an explosion to his left. Magnificent hands glows with pulsing purple as he destroys abandoned boxes in his rage. Then he turns away from Alt, cape dramatically billowing as he growls. “You are a fucking child. You don’t understand what you’ve just done-!”

“Then help me understand!” Alt yells back, trying to approach. “You said this time we’d be… equals, right?! For that to work, you need to tell me why you’re doing things!”

“This has nothing to do with our mission-“ Mag growls.

“But it involves you kidnapping my friend and his son when you promised me you’d leave them alone!” Alt cries, “I’m only working for you because of that! You can’t just go behind my back and try to make Jackie your memory wiped puppet and kidnap a fucking child!”

Alt starts to step back, breathing heavily through his emotions as glitches build around him. “If this was your plan this whole fucking time then- I-I quit! I’ll find my own fucking way back-!”

“No!” Magnificent shouts almost desperately, turning around to reach out to Alt to stop him. Him and Alt blink at each other, both seemingly surprised by Mag’s outburst. The mad magician adjusts his vest and looks away, sighing. “…if you must know why I did what I did… then I will enlighten you. If it means you will still carry out your mission and training.”

Alt looks skeptical but his glitches die down. “…alright… start talking then.”

Magnificent sighs and then waves a hand out. The edges of Alt’s vision starts to fill with magic light.

“I think it’s best if I showed you.”

————

Alt opens his eyes and looks around. It’s… some sort of city street- a suburb somewhere. It actually almost feels… familiar?

“It could,” Magnificent’s voice echoes next to Alt, making the glitch jump. Mag smirks and then his expression falls as he looks out. “This is London… nearly 17 years ago.” He glances back at Alt and raises an eyebrow. “I believe you’re a bit familiar with this town?”

Alt snorts out a response. “Yeah. A bit.”

The two look out and soon a boy in a green robe starts to walk across the scene. He has slightly longer brown hair pulled back into a loose tiny bun, holding a bundle of books in his arms. Alt’s eyes widen, “That’s…?”

“Yes. Believe it or not, I was not always the powerful magician I am today,” Magnificent says haughtily. “However, I was a prodigy. Magic always came easy to me.”

A couple of green robed kids run past little Mag, laughing and someone pushes past him, nearly throwing him off balance. The kid that pushed him looks back with a face of slight disgust and runs back to his friends. “Ha! Did you add the look on cat boy’s face? What a loser!”

“…interacting with the drivel that populated the school did not.” Mag spits.

Alt looks out at little Mag, feeling his heart clench a bit. Boy… did he know the feeling.

“Hey!” A new voice speaks up and suddenly someone drops down from a tree nearby. Little Mag nearly jumps outta his skin and holds out a hand, ready to blast some magic when he stops. It’s… just some normie. A girl from the looks of her uniform’s skirt. But she’s also- dirty. Probably from climbing up the tree. Her wild brown hair is cut short and thrown in many different directions and any skin that’s showing has colorful bandages or some kind of scrape. “You okay?” The girl asks, and her accent is… strange. Irish, from the sound of it. “Those green robed kids can be real uptight asreholes.”

Little Mag makes a face and rolls his eyes. “In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m also a green robed kid.”

“Oh yeah but uh- I dunno. Ya seem different,” Says the girl.

Little Mag snorts and rolls his eyes again. “I don’t need the opinion of some random girl climbing up a tree. You probably don’t even know who you’re talking to-“

“Well- you’re a magic circle student, right?” The girl says. Little mag looks back at her with wide eyes. She gives him a toothy grin. “I may not look it, but I know about magic! My mam’s a witch!”

Little Mag’s expression falls into one of disinterest, “Oh, a witch? So, commoner magic.” He snorts and starts to walk again. “I don’t have time for this.”

“Hey wait!” The girl shouts, running after him. As she catches up she scowls, “yer a right cunt, you know that?”

“Excuse me?!” Little Mag gasps.

“Ya don’t just leave in the middle of someone talkin’ to ya, asshole! Or assume that my mam is some commoner? The fuck does that even mean? Do all you circle pricks all come from royal blood lines or some shit?” The girl scoffs. “I know ya Brits were uppity but yer giving them a real bad name.”

“You have a real fowl tongue,” Little Mag mutters.

“I say it how it is,” The girl shrugs.

Little Mag rolls his eyes. “If you must know, most circle students aren’t from royalty. And while I’m not royal, I’m from a prestigious magic line. I’m destined for great things- and that means I don’t brush elbows with hardly magic nobodies.”

The girl gasps and then goes to stand in Mag’s path, scowling at him and pointing her finger at him. “You can’t just say that to someone! Who the hell taught you to talk like that?!”

Little Mag growls and pushes the finger out of his face. “My father. Brantly McLoughlin. And if you keep bothering me- I’ll have him send you and your hardly magic mother back on a boat to where you came from!”

The girl barks a laugh in his face. “Is that supposed to scare me? I don’t give two shits who your dad is! Nor will my mam- she’s not under the circle’s rules!”

This gives Little Mag pause, “She’s not?”

“No, you dumbass. She does natural magic. Witchcraft- stuff anyone can do.” The girl rolls her eyes. “I figured a big magic guy like you would know that the circle can’t control that.”

Mag blushes and snorts, trying to shove past her. “W-Well I’m still learning!”

“Thought you were a prodigy?”

“S-Shut up! And stop following me!”

“I’m walking home too, tight ass. My house just happens to be this way too!”

“Ugh!”

Alt covers a laugh. “Damn, Mag. This girl is ripping you to shreds.”

“Please focus, Alt,” Magnificent sighs.

The scene plays out with the two kids walking and then slowing down at the same two houses. The two of them look at each other in confusion.

Little Mag looks to his house and then snorts going towards it. “Goodbye then.”

“Wow- yer not even gonna ask your neighbor’s name?”

Little Mag’s head whips back to the girl and she smirks, jerking a hand to the house next to Mag’s. “That’s my house.”

Little Mag takes a deep breath and throws back his head with a sigh. He quickly looks back at his house to check for any sign of his father. If he saw him talking with this normie witch spawn-

The girl’s expression grows soft. “Hey… are you okay?” she asks quietly. “You look… scared.”

“Huh? What? No!” Little Mag scoffs, “I-I’m just-“

“I didn’t… recognize you outside that house,” The girl continues. “Since that’s... the only place I ever see you. Your window is right across from mine. I… see you locked in that room for… for so long. And I’ve lived here for a few months now.”

Little Mag freezes. He looks at that girl with wide eyes. But he sees only sympathy in hers.

“Are you in trouble?”

“No i… m-my father just- wants me to focus on my studies…” He warbles back.

“You can study and get sunlight. You look like a vampire.” The girl says bluntly. “When’s the last time you played outside?”

Little Mag hesitates.

“When’s the last time you played?” The girl asks with increasing concern.

“P-Playing isn’t… learning.” Mag says quietly.

The girl gasps. “You are in trouble! You’re not just an arsehole!” She grabs his hand and starts to pull him. “W-we should talk to my mam-!”

“No!” Little Mag tries to pull away. “My father will kill me! A-And you and your mum-! I-I can’t let him see me with-!”

The girl turns Mag around and grabs him shoulders, face drawn with sincere worry. “This… isn’t right. Haven’t you had a chance to… be a kid…?”

“You don’t know w-what you’re talking about,” Little Mag breathes.

The girl lets go and lets out a shaky breath. “Yer right… maybe I don’t.” She then extends a hand. “But… maybe I can learn? Starting with yer name?”

Mag hesitates then slowly goes to shake her hand. “Marvin McLoughlin.”

The girl grins, “Jaqueline Mann! Though most everyone calls me-“

“Jackie!” A voice calls from within her house before the door opens, showing another girl that looks just like her- but a bit more neat and clean. “The hell are you doing?! Mam made snacks! And Saoirse will eat it all without you!”

“Coming, Jaz!” The girl, Jackie, calls. She gives Marvin a sorry smile. “Hey… if you need anythin’- even if you’re a right prick, you can come over and ask. Alright, Marvin?”

“Y-Yeah I’ll… think about it.” Mag- Marvin says.

“Good. I’ll drag you out to play sometime. Those moss back pricks seem like terrible company.” Jackie giggles, giving Marvin a wink before rushing over to her house.

Then, the scene fades. Alt stares out in disbelief. “Jackie… Mann? But- he-!”

“Was my very first friend,” Magnificent says quietly.

The scene picks up again, showing its night now in between the two houses. Little Mag, or Marvin, is sitting on the seat in his bay window, reading his magic books. He suddenly jumps as he hears little clings and clangs against his window. He hurries to look and then groans and goes to open the window. “What are you doing?!” Marvin whisper-hisses across the way. “You could alert my father!”

“Sorry!” Jackie whispers back. “But ya wouldn’t get yer big head out of your book!”

“What do you want?” Marvin sighs.

Jackie grins and then throws something across the gap between their windows. Marvin yelps and startles back, staring wide-eyed as he sees a little makeshift net making a bridge between their rooms.

“My twin is at a sleepover!” Jackie whispers excitedly, “I don’t like those overly girly things so I have the room to myself! Wanna come over and watch a movie or something? Maybe play some video games?!”

“Are you crazy?!” Marvin hisses. “If my father sees me over there I’m dead!”

“So don’t get caught, pussy!” Jackie grins. “Yer a magic prodigy aren’t ya? I’m sure you got somethin’ up your sleeve!”

Marvin hesitates, looking back towards his door. He listens for any sounds out of the ordinary… but doesn’t hear anything. His father was usually preparing for bed at this time. And honestly? Marvin had read this part of his book so many times he could recite it in his sleep. His heart wanted to leap into his throat as he thought such thoughts but… he’s never really had anyone… reach out before. To try to be his friend. Can he really let this slip past him? A chance to… escape? To be free? Just for a little bit?

He narrows his eyes in determination and nods. He carefully climbs out his window and then in a wink of green blue light appears in Jackie’s bedroom. Jackie jumps and then gasps in delight. “Woah!! You can just do that??”

“I told you… I’m pretty great,” Marvin smirks.

“Magnificent, I’d say!”

“Ha… Marvin the Magnificent… I like that.” Marvin smiles more sincerely. He goes to the window and holds out a hand, casting an illusion on his room to make it look like he was asleep in his bed. Then he turns to Jackie and grins. “Okay… um… what movie did you want to show me?”

The scene fades as it shows little Jackie pulling little Mag excitedly to the little CRV television in her room.

“From that day on… we were inseparable,” Magnificent says, looking down at Alt. Alt looks back up at him with a mixed expression. Mag waves a hand and more of his childhood passes by, showing Jackie and Marvin playing together- falling asleep on the floor, playing video games, exploring outside in the woods, in a tiny fort where they carve their names into the wood. They grow up together.

“He helped me eventually escape my father. He helped me open up though… I was never good at making friends outside of him.” Magnificent explains. Then, his hand drops, the magic settling on an image of 3 people… Mag, Jackie, who had his arms around Mag and… “who is that?”

“Zara Caley.” Magnificent spits. “Or as you know her, Zara Mann.”

Alt’s eyes widen.

“Everything changed once she came into the picture,” Mag growls. “Jackie threw away all our hopes and plans for our future for that girl. He was ready to abandon me. He did abandon me.”

The magic shows one more scene that blooms to life before them. It's of a small apartment living room. Jackie is laying on the couch, throwing a ball up into the air. Marvin is carefully putting pins into… some costume on a mannequin, holding the rest in his mouth. Alt raises an eyebrow at Mag and Mag rolls his eyes. “In addition to my magic studies with the circle… I also took up costume design in University.”

“That’s the last thing I expected, honestly.” Alt snickers.

Mag rolls his eyes again and the scene continues.

“Yo Marv I’ve been wondering?” Jackie asks. “Are you having trouble picking between working for the Circle or like… going into costuming?”

Marvin hums as he stitches on some beads to the trim. “I’m not working for those uppity fucks, Jackie. I’m going to do my own thing. But… when I run my own show someday, costuming knowledge will be pretty beneficial. And if I need to save up for that… some magicians will pay top dollar for flashy outfits. It’s really a non-choice. I can do both.” He shrugs.

Jackie laughs and then gets quiet as he stares at the ceiling “I dunno what I’m gonna do dude… I love parkour and I love making videos- but I dunno how much of that I can do once me and Zara get married…”

Marvin stiffens and nearly swallows the pin in his mouth. He looks at Jackie with wide eyes, “married? Seriously?”

Jackie looks back at Marvin like he’s crazy “yeah man! You know how crazy I am about her- I don’t want to ever be without her…” he sighs and flops back down on the couch to look up again, expression dopey and love-sick, “as soon as we graduate I’m popping the question- I want our life to start together as soon as possible”

“….oh.” Is all Marvin can say as he tries to bite back the bile in his stomach.

“Hm? Something wrong, dude?” Jackie asks.

Marvin grips at his project with hardly concealed rage. He feels like he hardly sees his best friend anymore! With their studies and Jackie hanging out with those other friends of his…. And now this girl!

“W-what about me?!” Marvin suddenly snaps, looking back at Jackie with equal parts rage and desperation. “We… we said we’d always stick together- go on adventures together! You could parkour and make videos and study heroes while I traveled the world studying Magic and doing shows and-!”

Jackie winces and gets quiet, “…those were nice dreams when we were kids, Marv but… I dunno if that’s realistic anymore…”

As Jackie talks, the scene starts to crack, like it’s made of glass.

“I can’t go chasing superheroes like I’m 10 anymore… I wanna be with Zara- and go where life takes us together.”

Another crack, a loud shattering noise breaking up the image.

”I mean- I’ll support you and always be your friend but um.. I dunno if we can always be together… that’s just life, you know?“

Another, bigger crack.

“You’re gonna be a big star and well… I dunno dude- I’m dreaming of- of being a dad actually- cringey as that is-“

Crack. Crack. Crack.

“I kinda want life to just be… simple.”

The image shatters completely before seeing Marvin’s reaction- and as it falls to pieces Alt feels himself whisked away into the darkness with it.

———

Alt opens up his eyes with a groan and shakes out his head. He sees Magnificent still standing next to him, arms poised behind his back and expression withdrawn.

It’s quiet for a minute. Then Alt says quietly, “Mag I know it’s not my business but I don’t think what Jackie said was-“

Magnificent holds up a hand to cut him off. “You don’t need to say anything more. I showed you all that not to gain your pity, or to reflect on what I’ve done wrong. There’s no changing the past for me.” He chuckles. “My old friend helped me find that path I truly belong on. In a way, I’m grateful.”

“Why… did you take him, then? If you don’t… regret being this?” Alt asks quietly.

Magnificent hums, looking up at the ceiling in thought. “…becoming something more than human is a tricky art, Alt. And since I was once… human- those human attachments sometimes rear their ugly heads. Perhaps my humanity simply lashed out for something we can no longer have- a sense of familiarity.” He shakes his head with a laugh. “Perhaps it was too foolish of me. those… desires…sometimes they are too strong to resist.”

Alt narrows his eyes. “… That makes no sense.”

“Does it? Do you not sometimes have your thirst for blood, kitten?” Magnificent purrs, “Do you not long for the safety you still feel for your friends? Your brother? Isn’t that why we’re doing all of this? To get that back, hm?”

Alt feels like he got punched in the gut and he looks away, clenching his hands into fists.

Magnificent laughs and he starts to walk behind Alt, throwing out his cape as he talks. “But, it’s no matter. I made you a promise, my apprentice. And I shall keep it. I hope you will forgive my brief moment of humanity.”

“It’s… fine. I guess.” Alt grunts. He can kind of understand Mag now… seeing how close Mag and Jackie were as kids… made him think of what he longed for with Chase again. Isn’t he… doing something similar here? Betraying the present to improve the past? Pushing all his friends away to save his younger self this life of isolation he’s led?

Chase’s words echo loudly in his head, making him wince.

“you and Mag are one in the fucking same now, aren’t you?”

…was he? Is he… becoming like Magnificent? …why does that thought scare him so much? Mag was helping him- he was teaching him and helping him be stronger. Isn’t that… good?

He shakes his head and glares back at Mag. Because there’s one thing he’d never do… “Ollie,” Alt growls, “why did you take Ollie too? He- he had nothing to do with this- obsession you have with Jackie!”

Magnificent looks back at Alt and raises an eyebrow. And then he chuckles, making Alt’s body prickle with electricity in anger. “You don’t know? I thought you studied magic with the Circle too?”

“Bold of you to assume I was a good student.” Alt rolls his eyes. “I taught myself.”

“Mmm… that does explain your remedial understanding.” Mag says flippantly. Alt looks like he’s ready to explode. “If you must know… it’s because Oliver has Sight.”

Alt’s magic dies down a bit. “…Sight?”

Magnificent grins and starts to circle around Alt as he explains. “Yes! Like the seers and oracles of Old… young Oliver Mann has the ability to see into other realities! Futures we have not seen, glimpses into what could be or could have been! Even views into the multiverse itself!”

Alt’s eyebrows knit together in confusion. “The… multiverse…? Like… what you see in comic books and shit.”

“Oh Alt… it’s so much more than some artist’s idea!” Magnificent giggles with mad glee. “It’s real- I know it is! I’ve seen peeks of it too- realities so different from our own and bursting with new strange kinds of magic…! All for the taking-“

“…if you’ve seen it before… why did you need to kidnap at 4 year old to see it again?” Alt asks skeptically.

Magnificent frowns and sighs, “It’s been so long since I’ve encountered anything close to the multiverse. Peering into Jackie’s mind and seeing that his son was getting these strange dreams… these trance-like states of seeing something else. I had to act and see what more I could find… perhaps he could have been a key-!”

“No no nuh-uh,” Alt says firmly. “I don’t care what twisted goal you have but- if you want me to stay here and keep working with you, I have a new rule. No endangering kids. Ever.”

Magnificent opens his mouth to protest but sees the fire burning in Alt’s eyes. He smirks and goes to look back at Alt. “Very well, kitten. You are too valuable a… asset for me to lose over a very slim lead. I will respect your wishes.”

The mad magician snaps his fingers and whistles and his panthers’ heads all perk up, quickly running over to his side and getting off of Glitches, who they had pinned this whole time. Glitches shakes herself off and hurries over to Alt, turning small as she climbs up his shoulder and hides against his neck. Alt goes to scoop her up and comfort her.

Magnificent looks back at Alt and studies him for a second before smiling. “You know, despite your defiance today, Alt… you impressed me.” He gestures back towards where he had hidden Oliver and Jackie. “You were able to get past my very powerful glamor… and laid out a solid plan for your… escape.”

Alt blinks and looks back up at Mag with surprise. “Oh uh… t-thanks?”

Magnificent chuckles. “Try not to make defying me a habit, cub. But… well done.” And with that, his mentor leaves the room in a flicker of static- leaving Alt alone with his thoughts.

——————-

It’s well past sunset now- about the time Alt knows the Mann children are asleep. But… Mag’s talk about other realities and Sight has his mind reeling. Could Ollie really see stuff like that? And… could he… maybe see something for himself…?

Jackie always said Ollie had his own book for drawing and kept a lot of loose leaf paper drawings around. Hell- he showed Alt one when he saved him. But that image is burned into Alt’s brain. The green flames… so much like Mag’s. He… he had to see what else there was. Maybe there’s more- maybe there’s a way for him to see if… if all of this was worth it. There had to be something- something that would take away this dread and regret that weighed down his stomach.

Alt approached the balcony of the Mann children’s bedroom- seeing the lights turned off. He braced himself with a steady breath. Just a look… just a quick look and then he’d leave them alone for good.

Even if that thought drove stakes into his chest.

Alt then glitches inside. He starts to look around-

WHAM!

Something solid hits him in the face and sends him flying back towards the window. He cries out, holding his throbbing and now bleeding nose.

Jackie is on top of him, breathing heavy with wide manic eyes as he hefts a baseball bat over his shoulder. Where did he come from?! …was he staying in the kids room?

“Jackie?!” Alt hisses.

“What do you want?!” Jackie barks, “Why are you here?!”

“Jackie l-listen I-!” Alt tries to stammer.

Then there’s a rustling in the beds around them and a lamp gets turned on. Two sets of innocent eyes blink at the scene.

“Uncle Alt…?” Ollie breathes, clumsily putting on his glasses.

“Alt!” Kelsie yells in delight and throws herself out of bed. She rushes at him and then tackle-hugs him before Jackie or Alt can even respond. “I’ve missed you so so much!! Where have you been??”

Alt’s expression breaks as he goes to lightly rest a hand on Kelsie’s back. He hesitates, not sure what to say, “…away… I-I just… had to go away for a…a bit.”

Kelsie lets go and looks down at him with a frown.

“Yeah… Daddy said that too. But you guys aren’t telling the full story! Where did you go?? Are you back now?? Can we play again soon?”

Alt’s expression turns to one that equal parts panic and heartbroken. She’s so sincere. He had no idea he’d be… missed so much. He- hasn’t ever felt missed…

Jackie notices the expression on Alt’s face and the hardness of his softens. “Sunshine…” he says gently, kneeling down. “It’s late… and uh- Daddy made a mistake and hit Uncle Alt by accident.”

Kelsie blinks back down to see blood trailing down Alt’s face and she gasps. “Daddy! How could you hit Alt?! He doesn’t look at all like that bad man that look Ollie!”

Jackie laughs quietly, “Y-You’re right… that was my bad… but I gotta get him cleaned up, okay? And you have school in the morning so… you need to get back to sleep.”

“Okay…” Kelsie sighs. “Can I ask him one more thing though?”

“…sure, sweetheart.”

Kelsie looks back at Alt with her pleading blue eyes. “Are you coming back soon?” She whispers.

Alt feels his heart crack in two.

“I… I dunno,” Alt croaks back. “I’m sorry I… I really don’t know.”

Kelsie sighs and nods, “That's okay… you’re probably doing something really important huh?” She then hurries to get up and grabs something from off the side of her bed and then hurries to plop it in Alt’s hand. It’s a tiny black cat stuffed animal. Kelsie grins proudly at him, “then you hold onto that! and you’ll give it back to me when you’re ready to come back! So you can remember us and how much we miss you!”

Alt stares at the kitten, dumbfounded. “K-Kelsie, I-I can’t-“

“That’s very sweet Kelsie, thank you.” Jackie interrupts as he grabs up Alt by his arm and gets him to his feet, making sure he keeps the cat in his hands. “You two try to get some sleep now, okay?”

“Okay, daddy,” Kelsie says, hurrying to crawl back into bed. “Bye Alt!”

Alt looks back to see Ollie meeting his eyes. They look so sad- so much wiser than a 4 year olds should be. “Bye… uncle Alt.”

Jackie closes the door before Alt can say anything back.

Alt is pulled down the hallway towards the master bedroom- and then towards the master bathroom inside. Jackie then shoves him further in and grumbles as he starts rummaging under his sink. “Tell me why I shouldn’t call the cops on you right now.” He glances back at Alt with a hard expression. “or should I call Chase?”

Alt grits his teeth and laughs bitterly. “Oh you wanna play that card? Fine. Call him, and I’ll tell him about you and Mag.”

Jackie nearly hits his head on the cabinet, whipping around to look at Alt with wide eyes. “W-What? You-!”

“Yeah, Mag caught me up on your wholeee sad history,” Alt bites back. “Chase already couldn’t trust me because of my connection to Mag. What will he do when he finds out you go even farther-“

Jackie yells out and grips at his head before shouting at Alt, “Stop it! Just fucking- stop this whole fucking villain shtick, Alt! It’s not you!”

“What the fuck do you know about me?!” Alt yells back.

“Enough to know that back there- you had a look of complete fucking regret on your face as you lied to my daughter!” Jackie screams back.

Alt’s expression falls, anger gone. He pants where he stands and then looks down… at the cat Kelsie gave him. She looked so… hopeful.

Jackie watches him and then sighs, walking up and going to push Alt’s shoulder down so he sits on the edge of the bathtub. Alt blinks in confusion but then Jackie is lightly shoving a wet cotton ball under his nose. Alt hisses and goes to hold it and Jackie lets go. “Hold that till the bleeding stops.” He instructs.

Alt knits his eyebrows together but does what Jackie says. “…why are you helping me?”

Jackieboy sighs and goes to sit on the toilet next to him, looking at the ground, “I dunno. Feels like the right thing to do.”

Alt winces a bit at this and then looks away. Glitches collect and buzz around his shoulders as the room grows quiet- the tension is enough to make Alt’s skin crawl. He shouldn’t even be here…! If Mag finds out he went here instead of getting his ribs checked like he said then-

“Alt,” Jackie says quietly, but with a gentleness that lacks the bite it had before. Alt is snapped out of his thoughts and looks back at the father with confusion. Jackie sighs and meets his eyes. “…I can’t begin to try to understand… why you’re doing this. It… makes me angry that you’re doing this. This doesn’t seem like you.” He shakes his head and messes with the back of his head. “But what do I know? I’m just… a loser dad who met you a few months ago.” he laughs bitterly. Alt tries to open his mouth to respond but nothing comes out.

“But dude this… path you’re going down,” Jackie says gently, “it’s only going to end badly.” He shakes his head and plays with his ring, “I… didn’t know what Marvin was doing back then and… I couldn’t stop what happened to him. Until today? I thought he was dead.”

Alt’s eyes widen. “Really…?”

Jackie nods, “I tried to send him an invitation to our wedding… I hadn’t heard from him in… over a year I think at that point. But right after the wedding I… saw on the news that a tent caught fire during a new magic act… and Marvin was the only casualty.” He shakes his head with a bitter laugh. “I know now that was just a lie… a lie so he could… become this. I guess…”

Alt swallows thickly and looks away. Jackie sighs and messes with his hair. “You know… over the years looking back on everything… I wish I… saw the signs. Marvin started getting into darker magic… started acting weird and angry and… god I hadn’t noticed. Maybe if I had then… then none of this would have happened.”

Jackie notices Alt still not looking at him and gives him a meaningful look. He hesitates before laying a hand on Alt’s knee. Alt tenses slightly but Jackie just gives it a gentle squeeze as he says, “listen Alt… I couldn’t help Marv but… m-maybe I can help you.” His expression turns pleading. “Whatever he’s promised you? Whatever thing you’re getting out of this…? You gotta stop it, man! I can promise you it’s not worth it.”

Alt glances back at Jackie, confused and hesitant. Jackie switches to holding his shoulder. “You aren’t too far gone yet, Alt… I can tell. There’s part of you that doesn’t want to do this… to be this- villain, right? You can’t let your anger eat you alive.”

Alt is quiet, staring down at his legs- at the tiny cat that Kelsie gave him. His heart aches. But then… he thinks of Chase- of the anger in his eyes. Of the burning rage stuck deep in his core about how his life has been spent. Alt pulls himself away from Jackie and to his feet. “I told you once, Jackie. This is something you’ll never understand.” He shuts his eyes and turns away. “I promise… you won’t have to see me ever again. But I.. I have to do this.”

“Alt, please, wait-!” Jackie cries out.

But in a flash, Alt is gone. The only sign left behind is the faint crackling of magic in the lightbulbs of the room. Jackie slumps to the ground and shuts his eyes.

He… has a lot to think about now.

[unfortunatelyilikebnha]

The diffriders are so fucking fascinating to me specifically flare trooper dumjid bc like. You take a dragon mercenary who has seen war and has actively watched many comrades die. His whole thing is that he’s a perfect guard and thus the only one who survived, leading to a fucked up conception of himself as above death. And then you have him possess the body of some kid who presumably agrees to let him see earth bc That’s His Favorite Card And He Thinks He’s Cool and who’s probably like 12 (sorry saori I have no clue how old you are I’m just guessing based off taiyou + hiroki) and just. Walk around on earth (where are saori’s parents btw. Like you could say this about most vanguard characters but where are saori’s parents/guardians/friends do they know what “saori” is up to?? Does anyone who knew him pre-diffride realize how different he’s been acting?). Play a card game where he commands his dead comrades bc shiranui is paying him (which. How is he paying him, earth currency or cray currency? And what IS cray currency for that matter?). The only thing he likes about earth is the music but he is specifically cursed to keep having his headphones break. When a unit who’s diffriding a human dies in the human’s body, both the unit and the human die on both planets, and besides the money dumjid is only on shiranui’s team bc antero/miguel DIED, a fact which he’s fully aware of and iirc derides him for (may be wrong abt that one though). He constantly tells people to die when he’s cardfighting them. He is laid-back about vanguard and doesn’t care much until he loses a cardfight and because loss and death are inextricably linked in his mind he proceeds to get Super Fucked Up About It bc he’s built his entire self image off being The One Who Survives and losing the cardfight is akin to confirming that it’s possible for him to die & he especially can’t accept that Some Random Humans have the ability to take him out. Sometimes he shows his opponents the battlefield and the bodies of his comrades and they really don’t seem to devote much thought to it (like. What??? I get that chrono & friends love vanguard and chrono does address it a little bit but mostly iirc just to say “I don’t think that’s what vanguard actually does/that’s not OUR vanguard”). He’s affected worse and worse with each loss and joins a group trying to end the world to get revenge on the humans who’ve beaten him (iirc unclear whether he knows the success of the destruction of the earth will destroy him too). He becomes the last of the original diffriders - chaos breaker dragon doesn’t count he was diffridden during U20 - to remain on earth, a point which he makes sure to bring up as proof of his superior survival abilities. The kid whose body he’s possessing expresses that he’s not happy about the way dumjid’s acting and dumjid doesn’t give a shit and continues to puppet his body around. Just, everything about him as a character is so fascinating in a concerning way and, like shiranui, he brings up the fact that vanguard is Real in a way that the earth characters don’t really consider - yes they have strong imaginations and genuine attachment to their units, but ultimately they’re playing a card game where even if cards get sent to the drop/damage zones they can come back for the next battle* whereas on cray they’re fighting Actual Battles and the units that die die For Real And Permanently. Unlike shiranui, who eventually began to see vanguard as a method of reunion with his dead friends and decided that what he’d been told about earth vanguard being a direct cause for his friends’ deaths might be wrong, Dumjid never changes his view on earth vanguard after “experiencing death”, so when he finally loses and goes back to cray he’s essentially dragged back clawing and screaming. I don’t know, there’s just something about him that’s sooooo soooo fascinating to me

[killa-trav]

do you ever just think about how lando was too shy to ask seb for a photo at the autosport awards many moons ago and then on seb’s last ever gp weekend, was in the middle of the paddock with seb on sunday singing sweet caroline

[bubblegumbeyotch]

before n after :-)

[trust-over-love]

No one can make me feel bad about my past. I was honest so I wouldn’t be judged. But instead it’s always used against me. By my own husband at that. We both have kids from different people. But I’m the bad person for it. Crazy because you wanted to be the next one & I gave in to make you happy even though it wasn’t what I wanted. & just to just be talked about poorly & let go after being told it was never an option. Only thing that I had to forgive myself for was giving in & trusting someone I chose & loved so much. Who in turn broke my heart & makes me to be the bad person when we’ve both made mistakes. It was just a lesson & I’m at peace with that now. I’m not perfect & took accountability for my mistakes. I forgave & stayed when asked. I even respected the decision he made to brake our family he tried so hard to make with me. It was hard & it hurt but you can’t force someone to stay or love you. I prayed for strength & guidance. God showed me why I needed to let go. I tried to make it work as I promised I would, but I wasn’t enough or ever even the one. I don’t talk poorly about him to others. I keep the bad to myself or write on this app where no one knows us. I asked for respect to let me go completely so I can move on without trying as he asked. & it turned into a battle. I was threatened of my freedom. That was the last straw. It was such a help to let it go. Coparenting for our kids is all I want to do. No more trying. He got what he wanted. The trust is gone completely. I just want to do right for the kids & communicate for them when needed respectfully. Praying for the respect as his mother’s children & soon to be ex wife as he has chosen. I don’t regret giving my all. It’s all good. At least I know I tried. Life has many lessons we must all learn to help make us better ourselves. God wrote our story before we even knew what would happen. So I will continue to trust Gods guidance in my life & not question anything he has in store. I’ll just continue to do better for me & the kids & keep God first as we should. So thankful for growth & strength. So grateful to have loved & trusted in someone for once, even if I was broken hearted in the process. Time to focus on continuous growth, keeping god first, & being better for my kids. Only God can judge me.

Life’s a bitch & then we die. Can’t let pain linger on. We only have one life to live. I Choose Happiness!

[a-b-riddle]

Part Five

Can't stop thinking about the attempt of reconciliation and reader ain't having it. Our girl is going to be wilddddd y'all. Also goodnight. See y'all tomorrow (maybe)

You call Meredith when you get home.

You. Are. Fuming. She's not sure she can ever remember a time you using so many swear words at one time.

How fucking dare them? Immature? You're the immature one? You were the one trying your best to salvage four failing relationship meanwhile none of those assholes could be bothered to try and keep one. They had one person to manage: you.

"I wanna go out this weekend." "Wear something tight and borderline risk indecent exposure."

"You know what I always say," Meredith begins. "The best way to get over someone-"

"is to get under someone else." You finish. You weren't exactly keen on the idea of bringing someone to your bed just yet, but a little attention would do you some good. "I don't want to fuck someone just yet." You admitted. "I'm more on the getting drunk and making out."

"I didn't know we resorted back secondary school heavy petting?" She teased.

"University, Dear." You corrected. "I didn't peak until after I graduated."

"No." She argued. "You didn't put your books down long enough to realize that boys actually wanted to fuck you." You were glad she couldn't see you roll your eyes. "Saturday work for you? I have a late night Friday and won't be up for it."

"That works."

"Sorry." She apologized. "I plan on getting you absolutely smashed so I need to be ready to play the nanny. I know how you love to get drunk and run off."

It was true. You had always found it hilarious when you were drunk to just run. Quite literally run away. It got to a point during university where Meredith would handcuff you to her so you didn't stray.

"I won't run." Your sober mind promised.

"Uh huh." Meredith's tone told you that she knew that was a load of shit. "I'll text Tabs. Let her know the plan."

The next day at the shop was pretty uneventful. No more unexpected visitors. You still had them all blocked. Not caring if now they decided to offer up some bullshit apology.

Months. This had been a steady decline for six months. A text or a simply sorry won't fix this. You weren't sure anything could.

But it didn't matter. You were done and they obviously were too.

You had picked up enough take out to feed a family, but you didn't plan on making your lunch before work or cooking when you got home. The rest of the week you planned on just going through the motions until you could go out Saturday and hopefully get everything out.

You weren't paying attention as you walked down the hallway to your flat. Fishing in your purse for keys. You were at almost at your door when you saw him.

Sitting next to your door was a familiar face. A face you felt you haven't seen in forever.

“What are you doing here, Kyle?" Your voice was flat as you continued to blindly try and find your keys with one hand. Fuck. You really need to clean out your purse...

“My key wouldn’t work.” He explained. "So I’m out here.”

"I'm aware why you're not in my apartment since I changed the locks," you said, trying to keep your irritation at bay. "What I am asking is why did you come here?"

"You won't return any of our messages."

"You're all blocked, so technically I didn't really get any messages." "Besides, you don't get to complain to me about not responding to texts, Kyle Garrick." Your fingers finally wraps around them. God bless. "If you're here for your things, it'll have to wait. I have to sort through everyone's shit and I don't know whose is whose."

"We need to talk." He explains as you put the key into the lock, opening the door.

"Nah," you say scrunching your nose in that way he used to adore. "I'm good. But you can swing by tomorrow and pick up your things if you'd like." You say before trying to shut the door on him. You were stupid in thinking you could be faster than him.

Dammit.

"I know things haven't been good and I've definitely could have been better,'' he admits. "But can you at least try and let us apologize? Let us try and work it out."

"No." You answered, trying to close the door. Not caring if you had to resort to kicking his shins to get him out.

"Why not?" He countered.

“Maybe because I've already tried, Kyle?” You gave up on trying to shut him out. You were strong, but he didn't have any issues in besting you. “Because I actually tried with you. With all of you. You didn’t need to come here giving me excuses about your life being hectic because I’ve made the excuses for you.” You didn't miss how he practically flinched. He had always blamed his busy life. Family. Work. You stopped caring about whatever excuse he gave you and realized it was just that. An excuse. “I’ve been telling myself for months that everything you guys didn’t do for me wasn’t because you didn’t care about me. It was because of the stress of your deployments is the reason none of you tell me when you get back from until it’s time to fuck. I tell myself it’s because of the fucked up situation of me being with all of you that makes it awkward to meet your families. Families you all have that I now know I’m not worthy of meeting.” He wanted to correct you. You were. You were worthy. He was an idiot. “It’s not that I need your excuses to make me feel like what you did was justified. No matter what it was, it was apparently to you because you did it.”

He took a step back, processing everything you had said. He had been selfish. You were the reliable constant in his life. Someone he believed he never disappointed. Someone he couldn't disappoint no matter how many times he fucked up.

You took the opportunity to slam the door. Quickly turning the lock before he had a chance to open it back up.

God...

That felt good.

You had spent that evening collecting their thing in case Kyle did show back up tomorrow. You wouldn't make their lives easier by sorting all their shit and organizing it. Everything. One box. Let them figure it out. You almost had a mind to add a shirt that you knew didn't belong to any of them just to have them argue over it. Or least make them think there was someone else...

You were almost tempted if not for the premise that you wanted them to realize this was their fault. Their fuck up. But now that you were officially all broken up, you were free game.

[astonmartinii]

i will always love you | max verstappen social media au

pairing: max verstappen x fem bodyguard reader

what he wasn’t supposed to fall in love with his bodyguard? this IS a rom com

MASTERLIST | TIP JAR

f1insider

liked by user1, user2 and 45.925 others

f1insider: red bull have confirmed that max verstappen will have a bodyguard for the rest of this season after increasingly aggressive fan activity towards drivers at races. what do you think about it?

view all comments

user3: i completely understand that it’s insane that it’s gotten to the point where he needs a bodyguard …. but like JEALOUS

user4: i pray there’s never any need for her to do her actual job

user5: f1 need to sort it out i agree

user4: i meant because i would be no better than a man im sorry god but i want to watch her fight someone 😫

user6: this should’ve been done so long ago but i’m glad they’ve finally made the step

user7: what i find crazy is that people can afford a paddock pass and wanna fight the drivers ??? what a waste of money GIVE THEM TO ME

user8: i’m being completely serious when i say … any punk ass influencer tries to film max in the bathroom i want this bodyguard to shoot them with a gun

user9: no i agree

user10: and when i do it on purpose so she can beat the shit out of me ??

user11: choke

user12: she look familiar to any of you?

user13: i thought i had seen her before but like i just can’t quite recall

user14: swiftie here! she was taylor’s bodyguard for a couple years so you probably have seen her in paparazzi photos or something

user15: taylor swift and now max verstappen i need her agent

user16: the thought of that massive hunk of a man cowering behind her is killing me

user17: it’s killing you? it’s getting me excited this is so romance book coded

user18: you people’s obsession with putting people in “relationship” is the worst thing to happen to the sport

user19: i agree! (they would be unbelievably cute)

user20: i’m glad to see we’re all being very serious about the state of the sport where a driver needs a bodyguard and not the fact that said bodyguard is visually appealing

user21: sky i will deal with your bias if you give us the visual on her

user20: jesus wept

yourusername

liked by maxverstappen1, landonorris and 120,399 others

tagged: maxverstappen1

yourusername: new job, same friendship bracelets

view all comments

user22: WE FOUND YOU

user23: hi mother !!!!

user24: we miss you serving face with taylor :(

maxverstappen1: you were a bodyguard for TAYLOR SWIFT ???

yourusername: you didn't read my CV? you had the last say on me being hired?

maxverstappen1: i let GP read them and he's never steered me wrong before

yourusername: that seems irresponsible

maxverstappen1: ANYWAY my point was going to be ... can we still get eras tour tickets?

yourusername: i can see what i can do

maxverstappen1: what if you just called taylor up?

yourusername: do NOT reference the kardashians if you want tickets

maxverstappen1: noted :3

user25: i can't have anything in this life ??? what do you mean you've worked with taylor and max?

user26: she looks so hot with a gun i'm starting to think the NRA are on to something

yourusername: absolutely not get out of here with that shit

user27: oh she educated as well? will you accept my hand in marriage?

maxverstappen1: 🤨

landonorris: and if i said you could guard me all night

yourusername: it's kinda my job to guard max all night

landonorris: but you'd rather guard me 😉

yourusername: i doubt you'd pay me as well as max

landonorris: i can pay you other ways 😉

maxverstappen1: lando i will break your fingers one by one

user28: max is out here like SHE IS MY BODYGUARD

user29: him being possessive... idk where to look but both of them - mark me scared AND horny

user30: TOO REAL

maxverstappen1

liked by schecoperez, fernandoalo_oficial and 1,452,099 others

tagged: yourusername

maxverstappen1: simply lovely to be back on the top step in brazil, @yourusername you're clearly my lucky charm

view all comments

user31: max does a generational drive and immediately gets on instagram to flirt with his bodyguard

user32: he's so real for that because look at y/n

user33: i once thought swifties were crazy for being so obsessed with her but now i am just as bad lol

yourusername: nuh uh that drive was all you big boy

maxverstappen1: heheheehehe

maxverstappen1: did i make a good first impression?

yourusername: a very good first impression ;)

maxverstappen1: are you proud of me?

yourusername: very proud maxy

maxverstappen1: :3 thank you <3

user34: what in praise kink did i just read?

user35: i know he's done it in a very public forum but just leave them to do whatever they gotta do

user36: i know this man saw her in a suit and with a gun and fell to his knees

yourusername: well... close enough!

landonorris: idc about all of that ^^ i'm still going to shoot my shot

yourusername: is me rejecting you luck or talent?

landonorris: HUH ?????

yourusername: i may just be a bodyguard but i still have working ears 👍

user37: okay so she does serve more than just looks ...

user38: she's got a fan in me now

charles_leclerc: let me just sit back and observe

yourusername: you good?

charles_leclerc: i am sitting back and observing

yourusername: you are observing very loudly

charles_leclerc: i am just watching max embarrass himself, this is very healing for my younger self

maxverstappen1: RUDE

yourusername: he's not embarrassing himself if it's working?

redbullracing

liked by maxverstappen1, schecoperez and 2,451,045 others

redbullracing: statement regarding today's incident.

view all comments

user42: sorry red bull but i want that video tattooed on my eye balls

user43: i am so unbelievably hot and bothered after seeing that video

user44: red bull i'm afraid you'll have to take that video out of my cold dead hands

landonorris: i didn't realise the paddock came with dinner and a show today

oscarpiastri: lando they tried to kill max...

landonorris: well he was never in any actual danger with y/n around

oscarpiastri: do you ever read the PR briefs?

landonorris: PR whats?

oscarpiastri: this is starting to make a whole lot of sense

user45: they'll try to cancel lando for this but like he's being real

user46: no because why was george russell and kimi antonelli literally in the back of the footage eating LITERAL POPCORN

user47: i've never wanted to be two people so bad

maxverstappen1: i lived bitch

yourusername: MAX????

maxverstappen1: because of you, i'm forever in debt to you <3

yourusername: just doing my job :)

maxverstappen1: so you didn't just do it because of your undying love for me :(

yourusername: i think that would be inappropriate

maxverstappen1: THAT'S NOT FAIR, THEY CAN'T TRY AND KILL ME AND YOU CAN'T SAY YOU HATE ME IN ONE DAY

yourusername: oh maxy, do you need a cup of tea

maxverstappen1: and a hug ????

yourusername: yes, even a hug

user48: oh to have max that pathetically down bad for you

maxverstappen1

liked by charles_leclerc, yourusername and 2,309,773 others

tagged: yourusername

maxverstappen1: can you people stop thirsting over my girlfriend please - i may not be able to fight but she can

view all comments

user49: HE HAD ENOUGH

user50: i mean i too think thirst comments from my literal friends would throw me over the edge

user51: he was like winning in brazil is not enough i gotta watch my gf beat the fuck out of someone and then publicly claim her

yourusername: you're puffing out your chest in the paddock when all the girls on the internet are thirsting over you - if anyone should be jealous it's me

maxverstappen1: but you're so much better than anyone else i am horrendously in love with you

yourusername: HORRENDOUSLY

maxverstappen1: i have never felt anything like this? im scared???

yourusername: no need to be scared baby i'm in for the long ride

yourusername: and i can and WILL protect you

maxverstappen1: i need to report a hostage situation? it's me in my bedroom - i need to be saved

yourusername: you're so cheesy, you're lucky i love you

user52: i have another hostage situation - it's me in this comment section

user53: watching them be in love is like torture to me i'm so lonely

user54: they need a trigger warning i fear

maxverstappen1: @landonorris @pierregasly @olliebearman suck on that

landonorris: LEAVE ME ALONE

pierregasly: don't hate the player hate the game

olliebearman: why did you say fuck me for ????

maxverstappen1: i've seen those looks ollie don't lie to me

yourusername: babe i think he might just be scared of me

olliebearman: WOMEN IN POSITIONS OF POWER SCARE ME I'M SO SORRY Y/N

yourusername: no worries ollie! max is just possessive

maxverstappen1: ugh duh! you're the best thing that has ever happened to me, obviously i want to keep you to myself

yourusername

liked by olliebearman, maxverstappen and 342,067 others

tagged: maxverstappen1

yourusername: and iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii will always love you! sorry it had to be done - whitney houston is a LEGEND

view all comments

user56: of course she knows that song, she's basically living that story

user57: OF COURSE SHE KNOWS THAT SONG IT'S ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS SONGS EVER ???

yourusername: and you can bet your ass the red bull garage have been singing it non stop since i arrived

redbullracing: singing is our passion

maxverstappen1: they'd have to kill me to keep me from you DEADASS (pun intended)

yourusername: and that won't be happening because i'll be there to protect you

maxverstappen1: i'm not opposed to watching you deal with a problem in the paddock

landonorris:WHY WAS I MADE THE BAD PERSON WHEN I SAID I WANTED TO WATCH ???

maxverstappen1: because it was my life that an attempt was made on ?

landonorris: and?

maxverstappen1: AND?

landonorris: it would've made winning the championship much easier ?

yourusername: nuh uh i would jump into that red bull and win out of spite

maxverstappen1: it's true, i've been training her up

landonorris: you gonna let me have anything

maxverstappen1: nope :P

yourusername: nope :P

user58: oh they're so annoying 😭

user59: true ride or die couples are so irritating

user60: i still wish i was them

danielricciardo: i get fired and you get a girlfriend ??? how is this fair

maxverstappen1: idk what you want me to say, i'd never give y/n up for anything

danielricciardo: not even a red bull maxiel reunion

maxverstappen1: sorry buddy, maxiel is dead

danielricciardo: EXCUSE ME?

yourusername: sorry daniel, there's a new sheriff in town - should've charmed max when you had a chance

maxverstappen1: try as he might, he'd never be you

yourusername: awwwww considering your massive teenage crush on him... i love you!

danielricciardo: so fuck me then?

fin.

note: TWO IN ONE WEEKEND WHAT?

[norrisainz33]

New Girl Pt. 2 || GR63

☆ summary: george has a new nonfamous partner who the fans absolutely adore

☆ pairing: george russell x nonfamous!reader

☆ fc & warnings: none

☆ requested: had a few people ask for a part 2 on this one so here it is!!

part 1 here

ﾟ. ✿ ୨❤︎୧⠀✿ . ﾟ

mercedesamgf1 has posted a video

liked by user1, user2, user3, user4, user5, user6, georgerussell63, yourbff and 154,234 others

mercedesamgf1: asking george all of your questions ahead of the singapore grand prix!

view all 327 comments

user1: the way his face lights up at the mention of y/n 😭

user2: no the way he respects her privacy is so wholesome

user3: georgie is the whole package i’m sick

user4: admin you are a real one for asking about y/n

mercedesamgf1: 🤭

user5: wait i think he’s hinting about y/n getting social media

user6: omg ur so right he def is

user7: he’s clearly so in love with her i’m so jealous

user8: god i see what you have done for others!!!!!

user9: y/n is just a girl and i love it

georgerussell63 has posted to his story

view all story replies

user8: she’s so pretty what the heck

landonorris: you bringing her to padel or what ?

georgerussell63: how many times are you going to ask to hang out with MY girlfriend

landonorris: dude she’s awesome and i wanna be her friend tf

georgerussell63: she said she’ll come play with us 🙄

lilymhe: GORGEOUS VIEW. i’m taking her out next

georgerussell63: double date?

lilymhe: um no , solo date just me and y/n

user10: boyfriend george is unlike any other

user13: ok lover boy

user14: ahhhh she really is in singapore with you omg

user15: we stan our unbothered and not chronically online queen

georgerussell63 has made a post

liked by mercedesamgf1, landonorris, alex_albon, oscarpiastri, lewishamilton, yourbff, and 564,364 others

georgerussell63: when in singapore!

[tagged: landonorris, alex_albon, ynuser]

view all 665 comments

user12: he’s so fine

user5: 🚨🚨 HE TAGGED Y/N 🚨🚨

user6: LOSING MY MIND OVER THIS

user14: THE QUEEN HAS ARRIVED

mercedesamgf1: obligatory padel post!

landonorris: you forogt to post the part where y/n and i beat you and alex

ynuser: yeah georgie where was the acknowledgement huh?

maxverstappen1: oh i like her already @.georgerussell63

alex_albon: i have no idea what you guys are talking about

georgerussell63: my bad everyone. yes, it’s true - lando and y/n did beat alex and i in padel

alex_albon: @.georgerussell63 noooo why’d you sell us out like that

user16: i wanna take a bite out of his thigh

user23: i hope singapore treats you well george

ynuser has posted to their story

view all story replies

user7: a working gal ok i see you y/n

yourbff: great first story y/n/n

ynuser: thanks bestie ,, just wait till you see my first post

yourbff: i’m glad you’re finally leaving the stone ages and joining us on social media 🤍

ynuser: lmfao you know i hate attention like this

yourbff: then you fell in love with the wrong man 😂😂

ynuser: i did not - he’s perfect!! i just have to get used to it. working on ‘coming out of my shell’ as they say 🫠

yourbff: you and your shy self are perfect the way you are!!

georgerussell63: yes you are doing it right my gorgeous girl

ynuser: thank you 🥹

ynuser: also your fans are quick i never thought id be perceived like this on the internet 🫣

georgerussell63: hahah yeah they are. i’m sorry if it’s overwhelming darling

ynuser: seems it comes with the territory!! alexandra and lily been giving me some tips so don’t worry about me

georgerussell63: glad you have them!! don’t let the fame go to your head 😉

ynuser: HA i am not famous please don’t say that 😭

landonorris: oh some quality content

ynuser: thanks lando

mercedesamgf1: welcome to instagram y/n! looking forward to seeing you in singapore!

ynuser: wow thanks mercedes!

user8: you are so normal and i absolutely love it

user10: you’re giving all us fans hope

ynuser has posted to their story

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user10: stop you making bracelets and handing them out was the cutest thing i’ve ever seen

user11: you might be my favorite wag to ever exist ,, what do you mean you made bracelets to trade 😭

georgerussell63: blimey you are so adorable

ynuser: so are you!!

georgerussell63: how did i get so lucky?

ynuser: georgie 🥹 im the lucky one

georgerussell63: i’m definitely the lucky one. you’ve changed my life in the best way possible

ynuser: brb sobbing

yourbff: i’m so jealous of your life girl

ynuser: it might all be a dream idk

yourbff: nooo stop

user27: you being so shy and timid yet still taking the time to hand out bracelets with the girlies is true peoples princess behavior

landonorris: thanks for the bracelet! i think it brought me some luck

ynuser: gotta bring george some luck next 😭

mercedesamgf1: it’s such a pleasure having you in the paddock 🤍

ynuser: thanks for looking after me admin 🤍

user12: thanks for being so sweet to me and my friend this weekend!! never change y/n!!

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ynuser: life recently can be summed up in one word.. surreal

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yourbff: absolutely fire first post tho i should have been in it

ynuser: next one you will be dw

user8: the queen has posted everyone stay calm and collected in this comment section

user11: where is that dress from i’m crying it’s so pretty

ynuser: would you believe me if i said tjmaxx?

user11: truly the most iconic answer you could have ever given

user7: you are the blueprint

georgerussell63: your beauty is surreal

ynuser: george russell you are everything

alexandrasaintmleux: stunning 🤍

ynuser: 🤍

user26: starting a y/n fan club as we speak! like this comment to join

user26: NOT GEORGE LIKING HAHAH

user27: thank you for giving us nonfamous shy girlies hope y/n 😭

ﾟ. ✿ ୨❤︎୧⠀✿ . ﾟ

a/n: thanks for reading!! likes and reblogs appreciated. have a few works in progress that i’m hoping to get out this week. appreciate all of your support 🫶🏻

ﾟ. ✿ ୨❤︎୧⠀✿ . ﾟ

disclaimer: pictures are not mine and everything i write is fiction

© norrisainz33 || please do not rewrite, translate, or copy any of my works posted here on to any other platform

[fireinmoonshot]

the hard way | tyler owens x fem!reader

Pairing: Tyler Owens x Fem!Reader Summary: You and Tyler Owens have a bad habit of butting heads, but all it takes is one hint of jealousy and things change in the blink of an eye. Warnings: Tyler is lowkey an asshole, but reader can be too, there is a creepy guy that tries to come onto reader and puts his hands on her. Word Count: 4.2k A/N: I rewatched the original Twister movie today and got this idea while watching it and then it all just came out of my head onto the page and here we have it! I had so much fun writing this, it's honestly one of my favourite Tyler fics I've done so far. I hope you all enjoy it. Thanks for all the love on my Twisters fics so far!

“Oh, here we go again,” Boone says, crossing his arms over his chest as he watches you walking towards Tyler, your laptop in your hands. Judging by the look on your face, you have something fairly important to show Tyler – and Boone knows Tyler won’t be happy about it.

Dani sighs beside him, her legs kicked up on their cooler from their spot at the motel. It’s late at night and none of the storms had turned into anything today, leading to a very long day for all of you. You’d driven hundreds of miles only to end up with no new footage.

“How long do you think it’ll take him to get mad?” Dani asks.

“He’s just spotted her and he already looks annoyed, so I’d guess straight away.”

They watch on from a distance as you finally reach Tyler. You move to stand beside him so he can see the screen of your laptop. “I was right after all,” you glance up at him. “See this? That storm was never going to amount to anything and even the radar showed it dying out. We could have saved ourselves half a tank of gas and a few hours if you’d listened to me.”

Tyler rolls his eyes and looks away from your laptop, trying to focus on not burning the dinner he’s been cooking the team on the barbecue that the motel has. “Okay, I get it. But I can’t go back in time and listen to you, so will you just drop it? I’ve had to listen to this all day. You’re drivin’ me insane, sunshine’.”

“Well, if you had listened to me, I wouldn’t have kept bugging you about it, T.”

It’s never been smooth sailing between you and Tyler. You get along most of the time, sure – you have to when you’re working together. But you also tend to butt heads more often than not. With both of you having studied meteorology, you’re the only two members of the team with formal training, which means you often have differing opinions on your interpretations of the weather and the forecasts. 

You disagree with Tyler, he disagrees with you and the rest of the Wranglers watch on, both amused and irritated at the fact that the two of you just can’t seem to work together sometimes. There are, of course, times when you can deal with it. But today… well, Boone had been glad to get out of the car at the end of the day and distance himself from the two of you.

He swears he’s not riding with you both tomorrow.

“If I listen to you now, will you stop bugging me still?” Tyler looks at you.

With a scowl, you slam your laptop shut and hold it under your arm. “If you listen to me tomorrow, then I might stop bugging you. I am not having another failed day chasing because of your inability to choose which storms to follow.”

Tyler sighs. “Why do you always have to do things the hard way?”

You huff and walk away, heading back over to the rest of the team. You grab a drink out of the cooler and sit down on the tailgate of Tyler’s truck, sitting your laptop beside you. The other members of the team watch you cautiously, like you’re a brewing storm that could become a tornado at any moment.

“Anyone wanna take my spot in the truck tomorrow? I’ll ride elsewhere,” you offer.

Boone stares at you for a moment. “You promise?”

You make a face at Boone and take a sip of your drink. “Yes, I promise,” you say. “I’m sorry you had to listen to all that today. God, he just drives me up the wall sometimes. I don’t know how he expects us to continue running this damn Youtube channel or get the research we need if we don’t get the right storms to chase.”

“Hey, no Tyler talk while you’re over here,” Dani pipes up. “This is a safe zone.”

“Sorry, sorry,” you mutter, lapsing into silence just as Dexter, Lily and Kate re-join the group, having headed upstairs to their rooms to refresh themselves before coming back down for dinner. You watch as Kate heads over to help Tyler out.

By the time the two of them bring dinner over to you, you’ve managed to cool off a fair amount and are now discussing the forecast for tomorrow with Dexter, who is leant up against the truck, looking at your laptop over your shoulder. 

“Burgers are ready,” Kate announces as they place the tray of them on the small camp table that someone had set up earlier in the evening. “We worked real hard on them.”

You’re surprised when Tyler picks up two paper plates, puts a burger on each of them and then walks over to you, handing one of them to you before taking the seat beside you on the tailgate. 

“Truce?” He says, looking across at you. “I’m sorry ‘bout today, I mean it.”

Your lips quirk up into a smile. “You promise you didn’t poison my burger?”

Tyler chuckles. “No, not unless Kate put something in there that I didn’t see.”

“Okay, then. Truce,” you nod. “But I’m not riding with you tomorrow.”

He raises his eyebrows just as he takes a bite of his burger. It takes him a few moments to reply, refusing to speak with a mouth full of food – something his mother had instilled in him from a very young age. “What? Why? You’re not still that mad at me, are you?”

“No, I just need a change of scenery or I’m worried I’ll run you off the road. I saw the way you got today when you got distracted cause I was arguing with you. It’ll be good for us to cool off and get a break from each other.”

From across the group, Boone adds “I think you just want to argue over the radio, actually. That’s what you mean by a change of scenery, isn’t it?” His voice is teasing.

“Funny,” you narrow your eyes at him.

“You can ride with me and Lily tomorrow,” Kate changes the subject ever so slightly. “Boone can ride with Tyler. Just like old times, right?”

You look at Tyler, expecting him to be happy with the idea of you riding with the others tomorrow so you don’t bother him all day, but instead he looks concerned. His eyebrows are knotted together and the look on his face shows he’s displeased. 

“Ty?”

He blinks and the look disappears off of his face. “Yeah, go for it. Boone and I’ll be right, hey buddy?” He raises his beer in a cheers to Boone, who does the same thing. “Don’t miss me too much from the other car though.”

“Me, missing you? I think you should try not to miss me, T.”

Tyler grins. “Easier said than done, sunshine.”

The following morning it feels strange to be getting into a car that’s not Tyler’s red truck. It’s your usual mode of transport. Your seat is the passenger seat and it has been for most of the chases in the past, except for ones where footage was the primary purpose of the chase and not research. 

You’re just lifting your bag up into the trunk of Lily’s car when Tyler swoops in behind you and helps you lift it – as if it weighed more than it actually did, as if you were actually having trouble with it. You turn around, eyebrows raised. 

“Mornin’, sunshine,” Tyler grins. “Haven’t had a sudden change of heart, I see?”

“Not happening,” you smile in return. “You’ll be fine without me. You and Boone will be able to catch up like old times. And don’t worry, if we disagree on something, I’ll be sure to let you know about it over the radio anyway. I have Kate on my side today.”

Tyler laughs. “Oh, double whammy. I’m in danger today, aren’t I?”

Kate appears from the other side of the car, putting her own bag in beside yours. She wraps an arm around your shoulders and shoots a smile at Tyler. “You’re gonna regret letting her ride in a car other than yours today, Tyler. A day driving with Lily and I… she’s gonna be a changed woman by the time she gets back in your truck tomorrow.”

“That’s if I even want to get back in his truck, Kate.”

He stares at the two of you and then shakes his head and laughs to himself. “Okay, I’m getting Boone and getting out of here before Lily shows up and you guys gang up on me even more,” he turns and heads for his truck. “Drive safe, all right?”

You and Kate both laugh, watching him as he walks towards his truck, Boone joining him on the way there. Dani and Dexter aren’t far behind him, hopping into the van, and Lily comes bounding down the steps after them, her bag over her own shoulder. 

“We ready for today, ladies!?” She calls loudly from across the lot. 

“Let’s do this!” Kate matches her energy.

You take the back seat, feeling incredibly out of place in the car as Lily starts the engine and follows the other two cars out of the parking lot, leaving the motel behind. It’s smaller in this car compared to Tyler’s, and as you pull your laptop out of your bag and get the radar up on it to get another look at the storm you’d all chosen earlier in the morning, you wonder if you made the right choice.

You’ve been on the road for two hours, heading for a storm north of you when you look down at the radar again and see that it’s gotten smaller – not becoming the larger storm you were all hoping for and certainly not likely to produce a tornado. It’s your job to reach up and grab the radio from between Lily and Kate in the front seats to inform the others. 

“The storm’s shrinking, I think we should pull into a gas station and regroup,” you tell the others through the radio, already preparing yourself for the response.

It comes through almost instantly. Tyler, laughing, then his voice: “What was that you were saying to me last night about listening to you? Guess you’re off your game, darlin’.”

Kate grabs the radio off of you before you can say anything else. “Okay, we all chose this storm together, Tyler. Let’s not throw accusations around and not over the radio.” 

You’re unaware that in the truck, Boone is telling Tyler off for the exact same thing. 

“Thanks, Kate,” you reach forward and squeeze her shoulder as she hands the radio back to you. “Next gas station, let’s pull in and we can all look at the radar together. I don’t think we’re gonna get anything massive in the time it takes us to regroup.” 

“You sure about that, sunshine?” Tyler’s voice comes through the radio again. “I don’t know if we can trust your ability to forecast the weather anym–” His voice cuts off abruptly.

“Sorry ‘bout him,” You hear Boone say shortly after. “We’ll see you at the gas station.”

You give the radio back to Kate and lean back in your seat, sighing as you look out the window at the blue sky and the clouds scattered around it. How could he have been perfectly tolerable last night during dinner, help you with your bag this morning and yet be so irritating? You hadn’t even said anything to spur him on. 

It’s about an hour later by the time you reach the next gas station and you’re grateful when you can get out and stretch your legs. Lily and Kate both head for the bathroom while you head inside to order some drinks and food for the three of you. You don’t bother to wait for Tyler when you see him hop out of his truck. 

He makes his way up to you once you’re inside, waiting for your drinks to be made.

“How’s the other car goin’?” Tyler asks, nudging your shoulder gently.

You look at him, arms crossed over your chest, and look away, choosing to say nothing.

“Come on, sunshine. You’re seriously ignoring me? Where’s that fiery attitude of yours? Just cause you’re in another car doesn’t mean you can’t give me shit right back when I give it to you,” he tries. 

But you’re not interested in the slightest. His words had been uncalled for – especially when you’d moved to another car in an attempt to diffuse the tension between the two of you, and he’d just brought it right back up.

The waitress slides the drinks over the counter and calls your name just as Lily and Kate exit the bathroom, heading straight for you. 

“Can you guys watch my drink? I need to go grab my phone from the car,” you tell them.

Lily and Kate happily take your drink, moving to stand beside Tyler and make conversation with him as you head back outside to grab your phone. You don’t really need it that badly, it’d be perfectly fine to leave in the car till you headed back outside anyway, but it was your way of getting out of a conversation with Tyler. Not that it really was much of a conversation anyway.

When your phone is in hand, you make no hurry to walk back inside the gas station. You make note of several other storm chasers in the parking lot and filling up their cars with gas. It’s a popular stretch of road for chasers and you assume several of them had been chasing the same storm as you and had realised it was going to be a bust.

You almost bump into one of them as you’re heading back inside. You recognise him instantly. He’s in one of the more well known teams, one of the Wranglers rivals and one of the many other groups of chasers that think you guys are just in it for the money you get from the Youtube videos rather than a genuine love of weather and chasing.

“Well, if it isn’t my favourite Tornado Wrangler,” Xavier flashes a smile at you and holds the door open for you to enter, following in after you. “Bit of tension in the group, I hear.”

You frown, unsure about his words meaning, when he continues.

“One of my guys was switching frequencies in the van and got yours on accident. We, uh, we heard your little… disagreement with Owens,” he admits. “I promise we weren’t listening in on purpose. That’s the last thing I’d wanna do. But y’know… open channels and all.”

You can’t help but cringe at his words and let out an awkward laugh. “I’m sorry you had to hear that, Xavier. It’s nothing a little time and a successful storm won’t fix, anyway. I think everyone in the chasing community knows Tyler and I butt heads nearly every day.” 

“Butt heads? Honey, that sounded a lot more like an intentional insult to me.”

“No,” you shake your head. “No, Tyler wouldn’t do that.”

Hearing that Xavier thought Tyler’s words were an insult is the kick you need to make you realise that they weren’t. Tyler was the type to get on your nerves, that was true. But the type to intentionally insult you in an attempt to hurt your feelings? He would never do that.

Xavier gives you an unimpressed look. “Listen, honey – we have a spot available in our team and it’s yours if you want it,” He reaches out and places a hand on your waist, almost making you flinch at the action. You resist the urge to hit his hand off. “You have the degree to prove you know what you’re doing and I think we both know you’re wasting your time with the Wranglers. Especially proven that their leader seems to treat you like something on the bottom of his shoe… me, on the other hand, well… I’d treat you better.”

You try your hardest to control your expression, not wanting to come across the wrong way or to make a scene in front of everyone in the gas station – your team, his team and the several other teams and general patrons all milling about and eating their mid-day feed. Even though you feel uncomfortable as all hell and would love nothing more than to deliver a swift punch to his nose and book it straight back out the door. 

“Listen, Xavier,” you take a step closer to him and almost cringe at the way his lips move up into a smile at your closer proximity. “I wouldn’t join your team if it was the last storm chasing team on earth. If you think I’m wasting my time with my team, I hate to think how much time I’d waste on yours. I’ve seen how much time you spend looking in your car mirrors. If you didn’t know, the tornadoes don’t actually care how your hair looks.” You reach up and pat his chest condescendingly. “And if I hear you say one more bad word about Tyler Owens, I’ll make sure the whole chasing community knows about what happened here today, how you tried to come onto me just to get me to join your team. Trust me, it won’t end well for you.”

You don’t waste anymore time in removing his hand from your waist and leaving him standing alone as you head back over to your group. Kate and Lily are watching you from right where you left them, though Tyler isn’t with them anymore. 

Kate hands you your drink. “You all right? What the hell was that?”

“Just Xavier being an asshole,” you mutter, risking a look over your shoulder to see that he’s gone to join the rest of his group. You hope he’s seething and embarrassed by your words. “I dealt with him though.” 

You can’t shake the uncomfortable feeling still running through your body, though. You try and take a sip of your coffee to calm yourself down. It doesn’t work, really only making you feel more jittery and strange. 

“I’m gonna go wait out at the car, when you guys are all done we can check the radar together and decide where to go from here, all right? You guys can tell the others?” You ask.

Kate nods. “Yeah, course. You sure you’re okay, though?”

You look between her and Lily, noticing the worried looks on their faces, and try and put a smile on your own face to stop them from worrying so much. “Yeah, I promise. It’s just packed to the brim in here and I wanna get some fresh air after all the driving.”

You can feel Kate and Lily’s eyes on you as you leave, coming out the door you’d only just come inside through. You make a beeline straight to the car, taking a deep breath, grateful for the cool breeze on your skin and the warmth of the sun above you. The uncomfortable feeling starts to fade as you open the door to the car and climb up, putting your coffee in the cup holder and leaving your feet hanging out the door as you start to scroll on your phone to distract yourself. 

It’s only a few minutes later when someone stands in the way of the sun and casts a shadow over you. You blink up to meet Tyler’s eyes. He stands in the doorway of the truck, a hand on his hip.

“Already scouting a new group to join cause of me, are you?” He starts, and it takes everything in you not to roll your eyes. “I go to the bathroom for two minutes and come out to see you and freakin’ Xavier all close? When the hell did that happen?”

You let out a huff and squeeze your eyes shut. “Seriously, T, can you not do this right now?”

Tyler shakes his head. “I wasn’t trying to insult you over the radio, sunshine. Usually, you give it right back to me, so that’s what I was expecting, and I know I took it too far – Boone said as much after we put the radio down. I really am sorry about it.”

You open your mouth to tell him it’s all right, that you accept his apology, but he continues speaking, cutting you off and making you glad you never got a chance to actually speak.

“But out of everyone, I see you flirting with Xavier? I mean, come on.”

“I wasn’t flirting–”

“Sure as hell looked that way to me,” he huffs. “You two were all touchy. I saw it.”

You take a deep breath and move to stand up, forcing him to move out of your way. You close the car door behind you and turn to face him, crossing your arms over your chest. You are not going to have this argument like this. 

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were jealous, Tyler.”

Tyler doesn’t hesitate before he replies. “Well, that’s cause I am.”

For the first time since you’ve known Tyler Owens, you’re lost for words. You open your mouth once, twice, unable to come up with anything to say to him. It seems Tyler is the same, just staring at you, his eyes ever so slightly wide. 

“Then… then you’re jealous for all the wrong reasons,” you manage.

You should be saying something else – teasing him, getting on his nerves, but your short response is all you can get out and it’s nothing like your usual tone when you talk to Tyler.

He frowns. “Why is that?”

You clear your throat. “Cause he was the one coming onto me, telling me to join his team and talking shit about you, and I was the one telling him not to talk shit about you and not to put his hands on me, like he thought he could clearly do without consent.”

As soon as you finish speaking, you regret your words only because of the look that crosses over Tyler’s face. He glances over your shoulder towards the gas station where you assume Xavier and his team still are. 

“That piece of shit,” Tyler mutters, and then he’s moving.

You’re quick to react, hurrying after him and reaching out to grab his arm and attempt to tug him to a stop. It doesn’t work the first time, but the second time it does. “Tyler, stop. You going in there is not going to help anything, it’s just going to make things worse.”

Tyler turns to look at you and you’ve never seen him look so mad before. 

“You’re telling me that guy put his hands on you and tried to come onto you and you don’t want me to go and give him a piece of my mind? Sunshine, he deserves worse than what I can do to him, but I’ll do my best,” he says.

You don’t miss the fact that Tyler manoeuvres your grip on his arm to take your hand in his instead, weaving his fingers in-between yours and giving your hand a squeeze.   

“I’m saying that I already gave him a piece of my mind, T, and I threatened that I’d tell everyone about what he did if he said anything bad about you again,” you explain. 

“I don’t care if he says anything about me, but the fact that he did that to you… everyone already deserves to know what a piece of shit he is,” Tyler seethes. 

You squeeze his hand, then. “I’m sure they’ll find out one of these days, but not today, T, please. I just wanted to come out here and get some fresh air and try and forget what happened.”

Tyler takes a breath and then takes a step towards you, away from the gas station. “Do you want company or do you want me to go back inside and tell the others to hang back inside a while?”

“You’d do that?”

He laughs softly. “Have the last few minutes not shown you that I’d do pretty much anything for you, sunshine? And last night? The last thing I wanted was for you to ride with someone else other than me, but I could tell it’s what you wanted, so I didn’t fight you on it.”

“And what you said over the radio this morning?”

“I missed you and the way you always disagree with me. I just acted on it the wrong way.”

“Yeah,” you nod your head. “You were a real asshole.”

Tyler’s face breaks out into a grin. “Not gonna disagree with you on that one.”

You stare up at him for a moment, honestly surprised at how quickly things had changed between you. Only minutes ago, Tyler was mad at you, then he was mad at Xavier and now he was standing here, smiling at you like you were as bright as the sun. His nickname was fitting for you, you suppose.

“Will you just come and stay with me for a bit? Till whenever the others come out?” You ask, nodding your head back towards the car where you’d been sitting before.

Tyler nods. “I have one condition, though.”

“Name it.”

“You sit in my truck instead, and you come back and ride with me in it again.”

You can’t keep the smile off your face. “That’s two conditions, actually, T.”

“And you didn’t say no to either of them,” Tyler smiles. “Come on, sunshine.”

[povlnfour]

ੈ✩‧₊˚ .JPG (JUST PROPOSE GODDAMNIT) (LN4)

pairing: lando norris x girlfriend!reader

summary: lando’s childhood sweetheart has long since been the subject of his photography account. fans just can’t wait to see one specific post from the couple in the future

*face claim for y/n: edie rose (but please imagine her as you see fit!)

lando.jpg just posted a photo ੈ✩‧₊˚

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lando.jpg life lately🧡

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user1 me checking y/n’s hand for a ring everytime lando posts her

user5 FELT i got so excited when i saw one here then realised it was her right hand

user2 SO REAL nearly 8 years im expecting it soon…

daniel3.jpg one of you looks super graceful w the food

landonorris gtfo

yourusername (affectionate)**

user3 SUCH A CUTIE

user3 y/n i mean xo

user4 MOM AND DAD

user5 JPG MR .JPG. JUST PROPOSE GODDAMNIT!!!!!

lando.jpg just posted a photo ੈ✩‧₊˚

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lando.jpg my muse and me

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user5 lando i BEG just ask the woman to marry you

user6 his muse🥹🥹🥹 if someone called me that i would be a puddle

user1 oh she so has stops to pet random dogs energy

yourusername i love you my darling

user4 the third photo *faints*

user7 JPG!!!

user5 finally my legacy is catching on

yourusername just posted a photo ੈ✩‧₊˚

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yourusername lando got .jpg-ed of his own for a change

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user3 the caption sounds….

yourusername @/user no comment

user8 MISS Y/N THAT FIRST PHOTO IS ILLEGAL

user5 i just gasped out loud at work in front of customers

user2 Y/N KNOWS WHAT WE WANT TO SEE

user1 i know we’re freaking over the first pic but his smile in the second one i’m so in love. how do you cope with him looking at you like that?

yourusername i quite simply don’t🩷

lando.jpg just posted a photo ੈ✩‧₊˚

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lando.jpg holidays as captured by us

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user5 a whole fancy holiday to greece and stILL NO RING????

user7 mr. norris the next photo u post better be a damn proposal or god help me

charles_leclerc good decision to put her first, that way people don’t run away

user6 CHARLES😭😭😭

user1 JPGGGGG

user3 look at that GLOW she’s so main character (you’re cute too lando i guess)

yourusername just posted a photo ੈ✩‧₊˚

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yourusername baby is away but still sending deliveries💐

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user7 flowers but never a ring… i could treat you better baby

landonorris 🤔

user3 ^^^ WHAT THEY SAID

oscarpiastri is this what you had to ask lewis for help with @/landonorris

landonorris international shipping isn’t my thing ok

user4 best boyfriend ever

user7 he COULD be the best husband ever, but🤭

landonorris just posted a photo ੈ✩‧₊˚

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landonorris happy birthday babygirl. so glad u lived long enough to utter the words ‘get a picture of my boots dickhead they’re brighter than ur future’

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user7 so no bday proposal either😐

user5 SIR YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME

landonorris guys stop being mean i’m only small

danielricciardo he’s joking bullying turns him on

user1 lando you have to expect the marriage jokes in ur comments now

carlossainz55 feliz cumpleaños y/n!🥳

yourusername gracías, mi amigo🥹

user7 ‘my friend’ TEARS IN MY EYES SHES THE GRID BESTIE

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liked by lewishamilton, carlossainz55 and 112,099 others

yourusername days in england are my fave bc it gave us my fav f1 driver (lewis hamilton)

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user4 Y/N/N U ARE SO REAL AHAHAHA

charles_leclerc i’m offended

yourusername ur my next favourite sweetie

landonorris IM NOT EVEN SECOND?

lewishamilton i expect you in a merc cap next race now

yourusername done king

lewishamilton visit soon🖤

landonorris absolutely not

user8 lando won’t propose so lewis said BET

lando.jpg just posted a photo ੈ✩‧₊˚

liked by daniel3.jpg, charles_leclerc and 95,108 others

lando.jpg night at the opera

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user3 AT THE OPERA? AND STILL NO…? JPG!!!

user5 JPG!!! JPG JPG

user1 JPG

user9 JPG!

user2 JPG JPG JPG SAY IT WITH ME

user6 JPG JPG JPG

user7 JPG!!!!!!!!!

landonorris why are you all shouting a photo type in my comments

landonorris oh

lando.jpg just posted a photo ੈ✩‧₊˚

liked by yourusername, daniel3.jpg and 100,072 others

lando.jpg singapore on film

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alex_albon JPG!!!

landonorris you have 3 seconds to leave my page

user8 IM IN TEARS OVER ALEX

user5 IT CAUGHT ON‼️

user1 definitely no ring☹️

yourusername reading your comments is like reading the latest tabloid

yourusername just posted a photo ੈ✩‧₊˚

liked by danielricciardo, landonorris and 105,602 others

yourusername what do you mean we’ve been together for eight whole years??? what do you mean we’re not 15, young, dumb and in love anymore? i’d take another 8 in a heartbeat🧡

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landonorris eh we’re still dumb and in love, just maybe not the first one. love you baby🧡

fernandoalo_official you are still a child.

user4 HAPPY 8 YEARS TO MY FAVOURITE COUPLE☹️☹️☹️

user5 all the behind the scenes of him taking photos :(

user7 she really is his muse huh

landonorris just posted a photo ੈ✩‧₊˚

liked by lewishamilton, oscarpiastri and 214,520 others

landonorris sometimes when i look at you i think it’s only been 8 seconds with how much i learn about you each day. hard to believe it’s been 8 years, and that i love you more each day. no one else i’d want to spend the rest of my life with. i know you’re just settling until you can win over lewis (or charles, or george, or oscar, or alex, or carlos) but i’m feeling pretty lucky it’s me you chose to do that with.

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lewishamilton mate you just gotta get on my level

oscarpiastri good taste, y/n

landonorris NOT YOU TOO

yourusername thank you bff

user8 me waiting patiently for the anniversary proposal post????

user1 wishful thinking oomf

danielricciardo all jokes aside pal, happy you’ve managed to keep her around for this long despite being you. big love for you both🖤

landonorris HOW was that all jokes aside

yourusername believe it or not, it’s always you. happy anniversary baby🧡

yourusername just posted a photo ੈ✩‧₊˚

liked by charles_leclerc, landonorris and 107,821 others

yourusername lando caught the behind the scenes of my selfie taking and let me tell u the distance between me n him is important

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user2 this was not the post i was expecting but i’ll still take it

user5 i was hoping we'd get a different post but you still look good ma'am

user8 the fact he’s always there to take photos of you >> girl you have landed on your FEET

yourusername tell me about it. luckiest girl in the WORLD

lando.jpg just posted a photo ੈ✩‧₊˚

liked by daniel3.jpg, yourusername and 112,562 others

lando.jpg y/n by me, me by me, me by y/n

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user4 so it’s official … no proposal?

user5 jeez man JPG.

user3 jpg!!!

user1 just propose goddamniT

yourusername just posted a photo ੈ✩‧₊˚

liked by lewishamilton, alex_albon and 206,719 others

yourusername i don’t even have the ability to be mean to you this time. my forever person. thank you for putting up with me. this feels like a dream i cannot believe i am a fiancée. THE EASIEST YES IVE EVER SAID (and you once asked me if i wanted to snooze the alarm)

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user3 OH MY GOD. OH MY GOD AM I DREAMING

user7 WHAT THE JAJHDBSVJA

lewishamilton finally! show me the ring this weekend (congratulations)

yourusername facetiming u rn

user5 IM???? MY LEGACY HAS ENDED AND I COULDNT BE HAPPIER

carlossainz55 couldn't be happier for the both of you

alex_albon LILY AND I ARE SCREAMING CONGRATS TO OUR FAVOURITE COUPLE

landonorris just posted a photo ੈ✩‧₊˚

liked by carlossainz55, charles_leclerc and 377,290 others

landonorris took my time but got there eventually. ‘just propose goddamnit’ WELL LOOK AT ME NOW! gonna have myself a wife. i love you baby, thanks for screaming yes immediately so i didn’t have to wait to hear your answer

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landonorris @/user5 i hope ur happy now

user5 VERY.

charles_leclerc can't believe you pulled it off mate, congrats!

oscarpiastri sad i can't scream JPG at you in the garage anymore but happy for the both of you!

yourusername my oscar :( cannot wait to squeeze you this weekend

oscarpiastri @/yourusername i better be a bridesmaid

landonorris why not a groomsman????

oscarpiastri @/landonorris i like her more

mclaren wedding (mclaren's version)

----

a/n:

hello hello, i have had so much fun writing and creating this so i hope you like it!!!!

was going to wait to post but after the hell that was quali i thought hey why not now

thank you all for reading! as always, comments likes and messages are appreciated and whatnot🫶 take care of yourselves this week!!! the temperature is starting to drop in france so i am wrapped up warm and i hope you’re looking after yourself wherever you are

taglist (found here): @idkiwantchocolatee @vellicora @alessioayla @bborra @crimeshowjunkie @minkyungseokie @paolexsstuff @celestialpato @champagnelovers101 @loxbbg @hobiismyhopeu @tsukishitm-a @moonypixel @champagneproblems17 @ironmaiden1313 @lqvesoph @sunflower-golden-vol6 @six-call @skatingiswalkingincursive @peqch-pie

[katsu28]

welcome to miami

pairing: lando norris x reader

summary: lando wins miami, and you're there to see it happen (2.1k)

a/n: had to crank this one out for lando's first win 🧡 i'm still buzzing with excitement and pride omg

You’d decided to fly out to Miami on a whim, really. 

The last race you’d gone to had been a whole ordeal for you. The airline had nearly lost your luggage, Lando’s request for your paddock pass hadn’t gone through in time so you had to sit outside for hours until things got sorted out, just a few of the many things that definitely weren’t great.

But all things aside, Lando had done great in the race and you were there to witness him in his element—something you’d always love to see.

With all the chaos that seemed to come with the Miami Grand Prix, Lando assured you he’d understand if you wanted to sit this one out. You really were planning to stay behind, honest to god. But when you’d wished him luck and kissed him goodbye before he left for Miami, something in you shifted. 

Something was telling you to go, to be there for him in the flesh, even though it could get crazy and it was definitely a little bit out of your comfort zone. But your love for your boyfriend spanned far and beyond, so you did it. 

The unfortunate thing about the last minute planning was that your flight landed at the same time the race began. Between the mad scramble to make your redeye and confirm things like your pass and credentials when you got to the track, you’d forgotten to actually tell Lando you were coming. 

By the time you’d touched down in Miami, it was far too late. You’d have to settle for surprising him afterwards. 

You arrived at the paddock a little over halfway through the race, collapsing into an armchair at McLaren hospitality with the biggest sigh known to man. Your neck ached, your feet were killing you, you were starving and it was too damn hot here in Miami.

Maybe you could go grab some food in a second, but right now you were so exhausted you wouldn’t have been surprised if you’d fallen asleep right there and then.

“Y/N?” A familiar voice drew you out of your stupor a while later, and you looked up to see Oscar’s girlfriend Lily staring back, a mix of confused and glad to see you. “Oh my god, you’re here! Lando said you weren't coming, he’s going to be so happy to see you!” 

“Yeah, it was a last minute thing, honestly. Lando doesn't even know I’m here.” 

“You must be on the edge of your seat right now.”

“Sorry?” 

 Lily nodded over your shoulder. “He’s winning. Lando’s leading the race, look.”

Suddenly you were wide awake, previous fatigue gone and forgotten as you spun around to look at one of the big screens showing the race. Lo and behold, there Lando was, holding steady at the front of the pack a good few seconds ahead of Max’s RedBull. 

“Holy shit.” You blinked a few times in disbelief, because maybe you were seeing things, but nothing changed. Lando was still P1 with only a handful of laps to go. “Holy shit!” 

“He’s gonna do it, Y/N. Lando’s gonna win.” Lily promised, squeezing your hand tightly. 

And she was right. 

The entire McLaren portion of the paddock erupted into deafening cheers the moment Lando sped past the waving checkered flag, you included. You were cheering so loud you felt your ears start to ring.

People were jumping around with each other left and right, folks you didn’t know hugging you and congratulating you on Lando’s win. It was odd, because you weren’t the one who’d won, it was your boyfriend, but you accepted the praise nonetheless. 

He’d done it. For the first time in his career, Lando had won. All the hard work, all the long days and sleepless nights, all the time and energy and training the entire team had put in to make a dream a reality had finally paid off. 

It felt like a sort of out-of-body experience for you, watching Lando throw himself across the barrier into his team, seeing him up on the top step of the podium with his first P1 trophy. Part of it didn’t feel real, but it was. 

You could hardly sit still while you waited for Lando and the rest of the team to return to the paddock. Of course he had to do a couple post-race interviews, the podium press conference, all that stuff, but you could stick it out. All would be worth it to see the look on his face when he saw that you were here instead of back home. 

It was only fitting that you heard them all coming before you saw them. Cheering, chanting, you even heard some singing going on, and then there he was. He was nothing but smiles all around as you watched him break away from the others and pull out his phone. 

It took everything you had in you not to yell out his name. Instead, you video called him with shaky hands, waiting eagerly for him to pick up. He answered immediately, his gleefully smiling face filling your screen. 

“Hi, I won!” He exclaimed, beaming so big and bright his eyes crinkled at the corners. “I won Miami!”

“I know! I’m so proud of you, Lan!” 

“I really wish you were here to see it, but it’s alright. Everything is so crazy here, I—” He stopped in his tracks as soon as he glanced back down at his screen, bringing the phone so close to his face you could only see one of his eyes and the fading cut across his nose. 

“What’re you doing, bub?” You laughed, feigning cluelessness. 

“Where are you? It’s…” His nose scrunched adorably as he tried to calculate the time difference in his head. “Eleven at night back home, why is it bright out on your end?”

“Maybe I’m not at home.” You shrugged, angling your own phone towards the McLaren logo behind you casually. “Maybe I’m…”

“No. What the fuck? Are you—” He cut himself off a second time, squinting at his phone. It was funny, watching his head whip up both on your screen and from where you were standing, even funnier when he clocked you instantly and all but threw his phone off to the side as he broke out in a full on sprint towards you. “Holy fuck, you’re here! How—what—” Lando was so shocked he couldn’t even finish his sentence, but he didn’t need to.

You let him all but tackle you around the waist, clinging onto his shoulders for dear life as he spun you around a few times. He was hot and sticky with champagne and smelled like sweat and gasoline, but you didn’t care. You were so beyond proud of him you couldn’t even put it into words. Not bursting into tears of pride was all you could do. 

It turned out you couldn’t even do that, because as soon as your feet touched the ground again and he pulled back to look at you with stars in his eyes, the tears started to gather in yours. 

“Oh my god, are you crying?” He laughed, big hands coming up to cup your face tenderly. His thumb swiped over your cheek, catching a lone tear that had managed to escape. “Don’t cry, woman, or else I’ll start crying again.” 

“Of course I’m crying, you dick!” You exclaimed, sniffling a few times in hopes of keeping the waterworks at bay. “I’m happy, I’m proud, I’m really fucking jet lagged right now, I don’t know what I’m doing!” 

“So this is why you weren’t answering my texts!” He exclaimed, holding you at arms length. Even that only lasted a fleeting moment before he was bringing you right back in for another bone-crushing hug. “I knew you weren’t ignoring me! Oscar was being a dickhead, he said I was being clingy.”

“I’m sorry, I was twenty thousand feet in the air at the time.” You gave a watery chuckle, tightening your arms around his neck. “I’m so, so fucking proud of you, baby. Never had a doubt in my mind that you’d be a Grand Prix winner one day. Kinda wish that day was one where I could’ve put on a cuter outfit, ‘cause I can already picture all the god awful photos of this moment right now, but whatever.” 

“Thank you. Thank you for standing by me, thank you for loving me—thank you for everything. I love you. I love you so much.” Lando said, lips pressed to the crown of your head. “I’m beyond fucking lucky to have you, darling. And you always look cute, what’re you even talking about?” 

“You may be a winner now but you’re still a god awful liar, Lando Norris.” 

“Shut up and c’mere,” He murmured, tugging you flush against him with a hand splayed across your back. Before you could say a word, he tilted your chin up with his thumb and pointer finger and he kissed you, finally.

It wasn’t a graceful kiss by any means, but it didn’t matter. He tasted sweet like champagne and victory as he kissed you with his whole soul, nearly knocking you backwards had he not been keeping you firmly in place. 

He pulled away far too early, but pressed one more, much shorter kiss to your lips before he gave you a not-so-subtle once over. Concern bloomed across his face, and instantly you readied yourself for the barrage of questions coming your way in three, two, one. 

“How was your flight? Are you tired? I still can’t believe you forgot to tell me you were coming. Do you want to head to the hotel? I think I've got some more media stuff to do, but I can send for a car to take you back now and I’ll meet you later?” 

“I’m fine, you muppet! Stop fussing over me.” You griped playfully, nudging him with your elbow. “Do what you have to do, I’ll wait here for you.” 

Lando tutted, pressing close to murmur into your ear, breath hot. “What I want to do and what I have to do are two very different things. One involves you, and I can’t do it with all these people around, but—” 

“Lando.” 

“What?” He pouted. You reached up to tug at his earlobe, to which he huffed out a sigh. “Fine. We’ll discuss it later then. I was actually supposed to fly home tonight to get back to you, if you wanted to know.” 

“Really?” Warmth bloomed in your chest at his words. He could’ve done anything he wanted the night following the race, but he’d booked a flight to go home to you. 

“Of course. No matter what the outcome could’ve been, I wanted to see you.” He replied, smiling warmly at you. You turned your head towards him, puckering your lips for a kiss that he happily planted on you. “But since you’re here and not thousands of miles away…how ‘bout we celebrate? Dinner out, maybe go clubbing? Miami’s got a killer party scene, I’ve heard. Unless you’re tired from your flight, we could always just stay in.” 

“My winner wants to go clubbing, then we go clubbing.” You said firmly. Good thing you’d thrown that dress Lando loved on you into your bag, just in case. (Though you suspected he wouldn't have minded buying you a brand new one if you asked.) 

“Your winner, huh?” Lando beamed. “I like the sound of that.” 

“Formula 1 winner Lando Norris takes on Miami! To the clubs we go!” 

-------

“We shouldn't have gone clubbing.” 

You glanced up from where your face had been buried in Lando’s shoulder since the plane had taken off, squinting at your boyfriend through bleary eyes. Even the dim light of the cabin was almost too much for the throbbing in your head, making you wince. “Huh?” 

“Last night. We should’ve just ordered takeaway. Watched a movie or something.” 

“You wanted to go out though?” 

He let out a pained groan, shifting in his seat gingerly. “Yeah, and look where that got me.” 

“What’re you even—oh.” You blinked a few times, and when your vision cleared, you saw it. A ugly looking bruise right above his eyebrow, darkening the surrounding skin. “Did you get that last night?” Lando nodded, prodding at the area gently before you had the sense to swat his hand away. “Stop touching it. I don’t even remember how you did that. I don’t really remember a lot of last night, really.” 

“Me neither.” He snuggled deeper into you, letting his cheek fall against the top of your head comfortably. “Next time I suggest something, tell me I’m being stupid.” 

“I love you even when you suggest stupid things.” 

Lando scowled, but not for long until it morphed into a wince. “I’m too hungover to even argue with that right now. I love you too.” 

“Lando Norris, Grand Prix winner, parties so hard he doesn’t know how he injured himself. Nice.” 

“Are you ever going to stop calling me that?” 

You dotted a kiss to his cheek, smiling bright as you could manage. “No. Do you want me to stop calling you that?” 

“...No.”

follow @katsu-library to be notified when i post new fics :)

[artinvain]

in the midsts of hellfire (pt 1) (wc: 3.2k)

pit fighter!vi x reader & sevika x reader

cw: angst and toxic relationship (with vi). smut

the days had blended into a blur for Vi. she knew pain and it was the only thing that kept her sane. every time she sees a flash of blue hair in the crowd she allows her opponent a chance to get her mouth bloody. when she heard the soft lilt of cait’s voice the punch to her gut doesn’t feel like much but it knocks her on her ass and she loses the fight. except vi doesn’t hear the bell toll signaling the end of her match. 

her ears are ringing with the sound of the bomb powder had set off - to kill her. powder, her pow hated her - what had she done? vi doesn’t realise she’s screaming maniacally, tears staining her cheeks as she picks a fight with her opponent. and because it’s the pits - she can and since her opponent is willing - the game continues.

it’s gorey, her back tooth is knocked loose. she pops some blood vessels in her opponent's eye. her hair is matted with blood to her forehead and when she stumbles into your apartment she finally collapses into your waiting arms. 

in her new reality vi had allowed herself only two pleasures - sex and the comfort of a home. she hadn’t bargained for her feelings to grow so exponentially, though she never told you about her past, how it haunted her. and looking up at you as you worry over her, she realised that there could be a time where she tells you that she loves you and truly means it.

you are the prettiest girl in the undercity without a doubt, a flower anyone would love to pick and for some reason you had settled for vi. she still questions you - whether or not you were really on her side. sometimes she waits in the evenings with baited breath for enforcers to barge your door down and take her away. almost every night she imagines it's caitlyn that is at your door.

though looking over at you now, your eyes flitting around under your eyelids, your skin dewy with the heat of vi’s body so close to yours, god she regrets ever dragging you into her shit, you didn’t deserve to be second place to anyone. vi could appreciate how great you were, but she promised herself she would never let her love break anyone else. and yet, here she is, about to do it again.

“baby,” she whispers, her calloused hands brushing your cheek and easing you awake with kisses to your neck and jaw. “I need you, please wake up” she breaths into your ear, her lips tasting yours before you can interject and still you do - 

“are you sure?” your voice laced with sleep and still under that - lust. she wondered how it is that you managed to care so deeply for her when she was so withholding. 

“I’m patient,” you had told her when vi said she wasn’t ready for a relationship. you waited for months for her, let her cry in your arms. you let her tell you about her exploits - she was trying to make you jealous and when she had enough - vi came home to you and let you have her.

“I’m sure,” she breathes, clambering between your legs as you open them for her. “I love you,” she chokes out between kisses to your throat and it’s all you need to let go. vi rarely said it and to you, that meant when she did say it - she really meant it - really needed you. so you let her have you.

In the morning you wake up to a note pinned down by a small bag of coins. 

“gone back to pits, buy something nice,” 

you rolled your eyes - even on a saturday, vi remains relentless.

you take yourself to the last drop after your shift and you’re glad it’s still empty considering it was a saturday afternoon. it always was when you and sevika planned to meet. you didn’t know sevika had bought out half the bar so that it was emptier for you. she knew you hated crowds and she didn’t want half of zaun oogling at you - as if you didn’t get that enough on a daily basis. no one would know she did it because she was jealous, she didn’t want a full bar dividing your attention between her and the rest of the world. nor did she want her men to see how her eyes softened around you.

The two of you were unlikely friends, that is because sevika isn’t really friends with anyone but you. sevika adored you, the only girl who actually made her laugh, you were the only girl who looked at her like you wanted to hear what she had to say - not because you were afraid or being paid. sevika’s soft spot for you deepend every time she saw you. 

when you plop down beside her in the booth, she lets you see a small smile. her stretched lips showing off the tiny gap between her teeth you often told her made her so pretty. no one ever called sevika pretty and it made her blush every single time. 

“you smell nice,” she whispers, handing you a joint and lighting it for you as you bring it to your lips. “I smell like kitchen grease, which is incredible because i don’t even work in the kitchen,” you laugh and sevika exhales gently through her nose. “still smell like flowers,” she mutters and before you can reply - “how’s vi,” sevika spits her name like it’s hot ash in her mouth.

you were well aware of sevika’s dislike of your girlfriend though she never explained it to you and vi never liked to talk about sevika. Of course she had wanted you to stay away from “the scariest lady in zaun” but if she didn’t listen to your warnings about getting her face beaten in  every day. you decided you didn’t need her approval on who to trust.

sevika masked her dislike for vi with the fact that you always seemed so sad because of her. not because she was head over heels in love with you. of course, vi had no idea you were so close with sevika and sevika used that to her advantage. she could be a sounding board for all your relationship issues and all it did was give sevika material on how to be a better girlfriend to you. because there was no way sevika was letting this shit go on any longer.

“she’s fine - she’s just -”

“absent? was she mean when she got back from the pits again this time?” sevika grunts and passes you the joint as you scoff at her. Even though she didn’t treat you right your eyes told her how much you cared about her. she wondered if you would look at her differently after she’s done with vi.

“no vika, that doesn’t happen that often-”

“but it happens” sevika interrupts you and doesn’t back down when you give her a look. “I hate what she does to you,” she continues. 

“I don’t know why she treats you the way she does, but you don’t deserve it bunny,” sevika smiles when you stop scowling. you loved it when she called you that, curled her arm around your shoulder like she is. It made you feel safe and allowed you to be fragile as you were. and every time you sink into her chest, it takes all your strength not to let those feelings bubble over. the one’s you’d been denying since the moment you met sevika. you swallow down your guilt at the way your heart flutters when sevika gently caresses your cheek.

sevika knew it would break your heart, to hear the enforcers banging on your door - see the way that vi looks at caitlyn when they finally find each other again. at first sevika wanted to turn vi over to regular enforcers and see her shut in a cell again - serves her right for getting out and trying to turn zaun upside down.

it pissed sevika off - vi on her high horse as if she had never done a bad thing to survive. she waltzed in and halted sevika’s plans to turn zaun around with her anger and childish violence. If the girl had taken even a moment to talk to sevika then she would have known that the brutish woman had a plan to save her home after all. 

“I know you don’t like her, but thank you for always hearing me out,” you say, taking sevika’s hand and now she’s no longer thinking about vi. only how supple your hand in hers is, the look of your soft lips as they shape her name. 

“I’d do anything for you bunny,” sevika noses your forehead and gingerly presses a kiss there. your breath hitches, your face rising to look up at sevika as she looks down at you. sevika can heart her heart pumping in her ears, her face heating with need and your proximity. 

“I love you,” sevika says softly, she’d never said it before, to any other woman and she doesn’t know how or why she lets it slip. but when your lips stretch into a grin, she takes a deep breath. 

“I love you too sevika,” you bury your face in her neck and pull her arms over you in a hug. a poo attempt at masking the sincerity sevika already saw in your eyes and heard in your voice. you both knew what it meant, and that something should change or you should jump apart like teenagers being caught kissing but you don’t.

It feels more natural than it ever has, the way sevika’s hand comes to rub up and down your back, the sky kiss you lay to her cheek. her hand playing with yours in her lap.

“I should get going,” you pull back with an air of sadness and sevika packs the left over joint in a bankie for you. 

“I’ll see you friday,” she replies and sits back in the booth to watch you go.

you’re shocked to find vi sitting on your couch when you get home. she doesn’t look up when you greet her. Instead she trains her eyes on the opposite wall, her pocket knife clicking in her hand as she skillfully plays with it. you sit on the couch beside her and gently lay a hand on her thigh, she tenses.

“you were with sevika,” she says finally, and you take a deep, nervous breath. had anyone seen you two together? had they seen how close you were?

“someone told me you were at the last drop today,” you exhale relieved that that’s all she has to say. you nod your head and try to say what you had practiced for this scenario, but vi doesn’t let you get a word in before she’s throwing your vase across the room with a yell.

“do you have any idea how stupid that makes me look? she is for everything im fighting against,” she yells and you furrow your brows,

“you don’t know her like i do, she’s trying to fix things.” your voice is shaky but the statement is bold. you know sevika, and she hadn’t told you everything but you know enough to confidently say sevika wasn’t ever just silco’s lackey. she was powerful and smart and making changes in zaun – starting with a centre for shimmer recovery.

“excuse me?” vi asks, anger making her breath shudder. 

“I’m just saying you have no idea what’s going on in zaun anymore, your head is still in the ring vi, it always is,” you say.

and you’re right because vi can hear the toll of the bell in her head, the fight had started and she was feeling jealous and cruel. 

“you don’t know how stupid you’re going to look when she drops you for someone who will actually open their legs for her. or maybe you’re easier than i thought,” she spits without looking at you but she can hear your jaw drop with a gasp.

she’s half expecting you to fight back. tell her she was being an asshole - that she was still in the pits. the usual and instead she’s filled with dread at you silence. 

“I think you need a few days alone,” you say as you stand and go to put your shoes back on. vi jumps up to follow you to the door,

“are you really just going to leave me? like everyone else?”

you pause and turn to look at her. 

“I don’t think you want me here,” you say, gently clasping your hands over vi’s and she drops to her knees, tears beginning to pool in her eyes. her arms wrap around your legs and she starts to cry into her belly.

“please don’t leave me,” she whimpers, resting her cheek against you. Your hands come to mindlessly play with her hair. 

what she really wanted to say was “please don’t leave me cait,” 

but you weren’t cait. you stayed. you were a placeholder that vi has grown dangerously attached to and she wondered now about finally sending that message to cait - whether or not she should do it. because maybe this is better, maybe this is what she deserves and her only reprieve is you - her angel.

“I’m sorry, i’m so sory i fucked up,” vi screws her eyes shut and holds you tightly her voice more honest than it ever has been.”i promise you things will be different, please just - please don’t go,” you try to pull vi’s arms off of you but she tightens her grip and you’re not in any position to challenge her strength.

“vi, you’re hurting me,” you grunt, but her arms stay locked. pain is the only way vi had ever known love. so surely, surely vi believed there was a part of her that could love you, get over cait and focus on you, on her new life.

a resounding knock echos in your apartment and the door handle rattles with effort to open in it. 

“vi?” 

at first she thinks she’s imagining it. but then cait is screaming her name, banging on your door and vi gets up past you, shoving you behind her and opening the door.

you know with the look in her eyes that vi never intended to stay, or to love you like she promised. she was filled with real calm, relief that you had never seen before. Neither of the girls take notice of you when they embrace, even less so when they kiss and by the time vi realises what she’s done, you’re moving past her into the street.

“no, no wait,” she runs after you and cait locks your door to follow her. vi pulls you back by your arm before you can duck into the crowds moving in the streets. 

“It’s not what you think,” she sighs and she gives a look to caitlyn when she scoffs. 

“This is - she’s from my past and -”

“and you’re in love with her, that’s where your mind has been this whole time - not in the pits - with her.” you frown with the restraint of keeping your tears back. 

“I don’t ever want to see you again,” you swallow and wretch your hand from hers. caitlyn’s hand is on vi’s shoulder as she tries to pull her away from you.

“we have to go vi, now,” caitlyn looks around the streets wearily.

you nod your head, “go,” you say, 

“I’m coming back for you,” vi says, as she starts to back away with caitlyn. her words thinning with the distance between the two of you. “I promise,”

and then she’s gone.

***

when you get to sevika's home you stumble into her arms, tears never-ending as you blubber and she hates to see you in pain. but it worked. cait had taken the bait and vi was gone for good.

she held you in her arms until you could breathe, and instead of falling asleep like she assumes you will, you're turning your face upto her from her chest.

"vika," you breathe and sevika's heart flutters at the need in your voice - "make me forget,"

sevika handles you into her lap and presses a

kiss to your mouth with vigour. She moans at the taste of you when she finally licks into your mouth. Your hips grind down on hers and sevika whines, so embarrassingly close to cumming and she has to reach under your top to grope your tits. she tastes your groans as she rolls your nipples between her fingers and loves the weight of your tits in her hands. 

“never letting you go,” she groans into your neck as she turns you over in one swift movement, her muscles taking all of your weight and she appreciates you beneath her. Your soft hips and thick thighs pressed around her hips. She can’t help when she claws your clothes away from your body.

“m’sorry bunny, just need to see you - you’re so beautiful,” she moans, kissing down your body, “finally get to taste you,” her words of praise for your taste muffles as she buries her head in between your thighs and sucks your clit into her mouth.

you moan, all thought of vi clearing your mind as sevika sinks two fingers into you, curling them - “god you’re so fucking wet, and so needy for me,” she groans feeling you tighten on her fingers. “fuck fuck, m’gonna cum,” sevika whimpers and the sound alone from her - so vulnerable and soft beneath you, you’re cumming and so is she, feeling and tasting your pleasure.

she’s quick with the way she tears her own clothes off and secures her strap to herself. “I love you, and i will never let you go,” she whispers as she sinks into you. Her eyes trained on yours - lids lowered as you look up at her.

“I love you,” you gasp as she snaps her hips against your gspot, sevika smiles and pulls you in close so that your foreheads are pressed together. sev can feel your pussy pulling her in, the base of her strap rubbing and bumping up against her clit so deliciously.

“you’re mine,” sevika moans and you whimper in agreement, “yours, please cum with me” your words slurred as sevika speeds up her hips and holds your thigh up. “you’re so beautiful,” she gasps, looking down at you and when your back arches, you both cum with a groan, moaning and whining - bodies sweaty and intertwined. 

“I could die happy now,” sevika groans after taking the water she’d given you and taking a sip herself, 

“shut up…” you laugh and start to play with her hair, her head resting on your belly, she presses occasional kisses there. “how long have you-”

“since the day i met you,” she replies. 

***

In caitlyn’s hideout, vi can’t keep her head straight. her eyes trained on your little red tracking do at sevika’s home. 

“come to bed,” cait whispers, her hand gently squeezing vi’s shoulder. she swallows down her jealousy and tries to pull vi to bed. 

“In a minute,” she says quietly, waiting to see if you would move though you hadn’t in the last four hours.

“I thought you’d be excited to be home,” cait snaps against her better judgement and vi has to restrain herself, cait isn’t sued to the monster she is now and she didn’t think now would be the right time to introduce her. 

“you’re right,” she huffs and puts her phone down, vi steps away from the window and follows caitlyn to bed. 

vi thought it would be different. Whenever she imagined this moment, she was always happy and probably fucking and safe but all she felt now was empty, and a longing pull for something familiar. you had seen all the darkest parts of vi and still loved her, and she didn’t know now, why or how she ever imagined she could let you go.

sevika tags: @archangeldyke-all @sexysapphicshopowner @sevsbaby @iamaboringrattat @lavendersgirl @opropheticsoul @ariariarr @femme-historian

[fqlling4it]

we can’t be friends (wait for your love) part 2 | max verstappen x best friend! reader

yourusername

liked by lilymhe, francisca.cgomez, and others

yourusername much needed rest and relaxation over the break (with some extra special family time)

view all 2,832 comments

user732 posting for the first time in months after dropping THAT song is diabolical

↳ user82 her saying she’ll wait for his love is actually kinda insane because i’d be groveling on my knees if she showed the slightest bit of interest in me

lilymhe oh my beautiful, beautiful girl

↳ yourusername love you lily <3

user81 i know that second single’s gonna hit like crack

↳ user4 praying everyday for her to release again

georgerussell63 pops finally made the gram?

↳ yourusername took lots and lots of convincing for me to be able to post this georgie

francolapinto muuyyyy linda 😘

↳ yourusername i’m a little too old for you sweetheart

christianhorner make sure to tell that boy of yours thank you for winning you the bear

↳ yourusername papa, this is not how instagram works…. everyone can see this

user63 christian outing his daughter about having a boyfriend was not on my 2024 bingo card 😭

↳ user33 diabolical move on his part, but now i’m nosy and wanna know who

francisca.cgomes i’ve missed you, come by soon ☹️💔

↳ yourusername will be over as soon as possible

yourusername added to their story!

[caption 1: night out with my girl! francisca.cgomes]

[caption 2: always third wheeling these two pierregasly francisca.cgomes]

view story replies

francisca.cgomes you could’ve brought him with you bubs

↳ it’s still new, didn’t want to force him into something he might not be comfortable with… he only met pops because of work

user72 y/n’s so me, always third wheeling my friend and her boyfriend </3

user44 two pretty girls omg

carlossainz55 could’ve invited me hermosa, would’ve been a nice double date

↳ next time then, just wasn’t sure if you were ready to officially officially meet my friends <3

alexandrasaintmleux no boyfriend appearance?

↳ keeping it low key… wasn’t sure if he was ready to meet everyone as my boyfriend yet

francisca.cgomes added to their story!

[caption 1: picked up alex and forced pierre to be our photographer]

[caption 2: when she gets a text back so she has to set her phone down and scream]

carlossainz55 glad i have that effect on her, tell her to answer me though </3

↳ still screaming, will text you back when she’s done

user44 literally me when i get a text from my man 🧍‍♀️

user81 three baddies in one picture 🧎‍♀️‍➡️

maxverstappen1 who was she texting???

↳ it’s none of your business max, stop meddling

incoming messages from max!

carlossainz55

liked by charles_leclerc, yourusername and others

carlossainz55 what a great way to end a three week break, love spending time with mi sol. ¡vamos vegas!

view all 4,822 comments

user72 y/n in the likes, my yncarlos truthers RISE!

↳ user63 so delusional oh my god

yourusername viva las vegas!

↳ carlossainz55 viva las vegas!

charles_leclerc sad to be out last triple header as teammates brother, i’ll be keeping you around

↳ carlossainz55 gonna miss you hermano, we’ll race hard for ferrari

user65 can’t believe it’s carlos’ last few races in a ferrari 💔

↳ user55 and if i say perez is out so the redbull seat is open and carlos goes to redbull and franco stays at williams 😁

↳ user65 delusion at its finest

maxverstappen1 ready to go in vegas 🙌

↳ carlossainz55 see you there

user23 you know who else went golfing with lily during the break? y/n!

↳ user61 that doesn’t mean y/n was there when carlos was with lily and alex, you sound delusional

yourusername added to their story!

[caption 1: the only professional ever took me golfing lilymhe]

[caption 2: he got jealous, so my man took me golfing too (:]

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user732 man???? i thought maybe your dad was joking… oh my god

user61 hmmm… interesting…. is that perhaps carlos sainz? who wore that same outfit in the pictures he posted on his insta… suspicious 🤨

carlossainz55 i was not jealous hermosa.. just wanted you to remember how good i am at golf

↳ oh of course amor, you just wanted to show off your golfing skills… so what if i post a picture of us when i announce my new song? are you okay with that?

carlossainz55 sounds amazing hermosa, i’ll post you too.. wanna show off my girl

lilymhe oh you two are so cute

↳ you missed it!!!! when we went to go find my ball he told me he loves me… i melted on the spot lils, he’s so sweet 🥲🥰

christianhorner oh baby, i hope you’re having a wonderful break. tell carlos to stop by hospitality on media day, we’ve got some things to discuss

↳ thank you papa! i’ll make sure to remind him

user81 oh that’s so cute

user94 lily and y/n >>>>>

user01 the fit though

maxverstappen1 is that who i think it is?? you’re with carlos??

↳ please max, it’s none of your business… can’t you just be happy for me?

maxverstappen1 i am happy for you schatje, i hope he treats you well

↳ so well! i love him max… so so much

user344 imagine being max and fumbling the baddest bitch and almost losing your championship to someone with three race wins

yourusername

liked by carlossainz55, maxverstappen1 and others

yourusername dinner dates with my man <3 (new song eternal sunshine out friday!)

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user61 I KNEW IT I KNEW IT AND I GOT CALLED DELUSIONAL FOR SAYING IT

carlossainz55 bonitaaa

carlossainz55 hermosa 😍😍😍

carlossainz55 te amo mi sol

↳ yourusername te amo guapo

lilymhe and the cutest couple award goes to… carlos and y/n

↳ yourusername ahhhh i love you lily <3

alexandrasaintmleux oh you two are just the cutest

↳ yourusername thank you alex, love you <3

maxverstappen1 so happy for the two of you, congratulations!

↳ yourusername thank you max, it truly means a lot

user743 ok but they’re so cute together

user392 newest ferrari wag but only for three race weekends ☹️

↳ user16 you act like she’s dying, they’re just moving teams

christianhorner so happy for you baby! i love you princess ❤️

↳ yourusername thank you papa, i love you too. make sure to tell geri we’ll visit soon <3

carlossainz55 added to their story!

[caption 1: paddock days with my girl]

[caption 2: a win in vegas with the best company]

f1

liked by carlossainz55, yourusername and others

f1 carlos sainz to join oracle redbull racing for the 2025 season after sergio perez retires! franco colapinto will take sainz’s seat at williams for the 2025 season

view all 10,382 comments

carlossainz55 so so grateful for this opportunity!

user55 i literally predicted this ????

↳ yourusername please predict carlos winning wdc 2025, thanks girlie 🥰🙏

user23 so so happy for him!

user82 oh this is amazing news!

maxverstappen1 can’t wait to be teammates mate!

↳ carlossainz55 so excited to be teammates again hermano

charles_leclerc happy for you brother!

↳ carlossainz55 thank you charles, double date with the girls soon!

user44 oh wow

christianhorner excited for next year! wcc is ours! work hard boys!

yourusername added to their story!

[caption 1: eternal sunshine out now 🌞]

[caption 2: my eternal sunshine ☀️ carlossainz55]

[pedroscurls]

welcome to broadway (one-shot)

summary: it's the anniversary of oklahoma! and with it being your first broadway show, hugh takes you under his wing to show you the ropes. along the way, you realize that you've developed feelings for him. pairing: hugh jackman x fem!reader word count: 5.4k warnings: dry humping, suggestive smut (sorry - didn't go explicit in this one!), light dirty talk (this also isn't proofread, so apologies for any typos!!!) a/n: to the anon and @sir-thisisadndserver who both requested a story about broadway, i hope you both enjoyed this!!! (ugh, i wish i could watch the music man in good quality bc he just looks so good in it. but also, hugh in oklahoma! has done things to me... my god, his voice, the curls, just everything.) i mean no disrespect to hugh jackman! this is purely fictional.

THE TABLE READ

You can’t believe it. Lead role of Oklahoma for their anniversary showing. Twenty five years later and while mostly everyone came back except the role of Laurey, you were the only odd one out. You knew what this play entailed, knew exactly how it would end. You also knew that you’d be playing alongside Hugh Jackman, who was reprising his role as Curly. 

You’re excited, yet nervous. Hugh Jackman not only was an amazing movie and television actor, but you’d be lying if you said you didn’t watch most (if not all) of his shows on Broadway. His sheer talent truly captivated, yet intimidated you. You don’t know how you will be able to act “normal” around him. He isn’t just talented, but he’s also incredibly attractive. Anyone with eyes would be able to see that. 

You’re the first one seated at the table and notice Hugh is set to sit next to you. You keep your eyes focused on the pages in front of you, trying to calm your nerves and get yourself ready to be in character. You can hear people come in, excitement and laughter filtering the room. You take a deep breath and stand up to introduce yourself. You’re taken aback by how welcoming everyone is and it puts you at ease, your nerves slowly beginning to die down. Everyone’s excitement is infectious, making you feel immensely thankful to be part of this cast. 

Your back is turned to the door, talking to one of the cast members that you don’t realize Hugh Jackman has finally arrived. He’s greeting everyone with a large grin and waves and you don’t notice. Not until you feel a soft touch in the middle of your back. Slowly, you turn around and look up, eyes slightly going wide as you stare up at him. 

He’s staring down at you with such a large smile that it literally makes you feel weak in the knees. Yeah, you don’t know how you’re going to get through this play without fawning over him, especially since your character – Laurey – tries to hide her feelings for Curly for the majority of the play. 

“Hello there,” he says softly, hand extending out for you to take. “I don’t think we’ve gotten the chance to meet yet. I’m Hugh.”

You bite your lower lip and extend your own hand, gently sliding it into his and shaking it slowly. “Hi,” you smile shyly and tell him your name. “It’s an honor to share the stage with you. I’ve been a huge fan.” 

Hugh chuckles, his hand soft and light with yours. He releases your hand and keeps his eyes solely focused on you. “I’m a huge fan as well,” he admits. “I’m glad you get to be my Laurey.” 

My Laurey. You feel your heart rate beat ten times faster, heat rising in your cheeks. “And you, my Curly.” 

He lets out a quiet chuckle, hands moving to his pockets. Hugh finds your energy and presence very calming and despite this being your first ever time on Broadway, he has to commend you for being professional. Though, he can see the excitement that flickers in your eyes. He knows that look, has even donned that same look every time he got on stage. “So, I hear this is your first time?” 

“On Broadway, yeah. Do I seem too nervous?” you laugh, biting your lower lip. “Because if I do, it’s because I am. I’m trying to keep it cool, but to be in a room with all of you? I just can’t believe it. I don’t want to mess up.” 

Hugh’s eyes softened. “Eh, we’re just a group of people who love to perform, including you. We’re all gonna make mistakes along the way, even on opening night, but as long as you’re having fun, that’s all that matters.”

You’ve heard stories of Hugh – how he puts people at ease, looks out for everyone in the cast and crew, and right now, you’re experiencing it firsthand. You suddenly feel your nerves disappear under his gaze and for once since finding out that you’d be playing the lead role of Laurey, you feel immense excitement. You’ve never been one to be shy on stage, but knowing that you’d be the new person in this cast instilled anxiety in you. They’ve done this before. They’ve played these same roles. And ultimately, you didn’t want to disappoint any of them.

“Thank you,” you finally reply. “I didn’t realize I needed to hear that.” 

“Well, if you never need more reassurance, I’m your man.” he winks. 

The theater director calls everyone’s attention, making a short speech at how it’s great to be back and how amazing of a show you were all going to have. You look around the room, seeing the smiles on everyone’s faces before you finally look up at Hugh. You’re surprised because he’s already looking down at you, giving you a reassuring nod as you feel his hand brush against yours. 

The subtle action grounds you, settles the nerves that begin to build in the pit of your stomach. You feel a sudden calmness wash over you as you take a deep breath, pulling your gaze away from him when you hear your name being called. 

“And we have our Laurey,” your theater director says, everyone clapping and cheering for you. “Welcome,” he says with a grin. “We’re lucky to have you.” 

You smile in his direction, nodding at everyone else in the room. “Glad to be part of this amazing cast,” you reply, everyone continuing to clap before it begins to slow down. 

“And our Curly,” the theater director continues, nodding towards the man standing next to you. “We’re all so excited that you’re here to reprise your role. It’s gonna be a great show.”

Once the theater director finishes his speech, everyone in the room takes their respective seats. Hugh pulls out your chair for you and you smile up at him, sitting down as he pushes it in for you. 

“Thank you,” you tell him.

“Anytime,” he winks. 

—

Throughout the table read, you finally feel at ease, comfortable in your element as you change your accent to reflect your character’s. Hugh changes his own and how lucky of you to get a front seat of his skill and talent. He turns to you, saying his lines at the beginning of the play. “On'y she talked so mean to me a while back, Aunt Eller, I'm a good mind not to take her.”

He’s staring at you with a charming smile, leaning back against his seat with his eyes staring into yours. 

You then say your line, rolling your eyes with your arms crossed over your chest. “Ain't said I was goin'!” 

Hugh then says his line almost immediately, “Ain't ast you!”

There’s a silence that engulfs the entire room as you two stare at each other. He’s still staring at you with a big grin and you with a frown on your face and eyes narrowed. You’re surprised at how much chemistry you already have with him, how easy it is to slip into the role of Laurey and exchange lines with him without any issue. 

As the table read continues, you can’t help but take notice of Hugh’s presence next to you. The scene where you kiss approaches and you know that it isn’t going to happen here, today, but to know that you will eventually have to kiss him makes you nervous, but also very excited. 

By the time the table read ends, a few hours have passed and everyone claps. The theater director dismisses all of you, saying that rehearsals will begin next week. You begin to pack your things before you feel Hugh gently reach a hand out to rest over your forearm. 

“You did great,” he says. “And to think you were nervous?” 

“I was,” you laugh quietly. “But I guess you helped ease my nerves.”

“I did, huh?” he smiles proudly. “Well, I suppose I should say you’re welcome.” 

You shake your head, standing up from the table and seeing him follow suit. “I was wondering–”

“Do you think we should–” 

You both say simultaneously, both letting out a quiet laugh. “You first,” you tell him, gazing up at him. 

Hugh smiles, bringing a hand to rub the back of his neck nervously. “Would you be okay with exchanging numbers? We can go over lines sometime when we’re not in rehearsal to get more practice in.”

You’re trying to contain your excitement, trying to remain calm and collected, so you give him a nod and then reach for your phone. “I was thinking the same thing. Here,” you hand him your phone and see him give you his. “Maybe we can meet up for coffee later this week?” 

Hugh smiles, typing in his number into your phone. “That’d be great. I know a perfect place.” 

You smile to yourself and type in your number before handing his phone back to him and taking your phone from him. “Perfect,” you respond, putting your phone back into your bag. “And if I get nervous at all–”

“Feel free to text me. Or call me.” Hugh finishes for you. “Like I said, I’m your man.” 

“Thanks, Curly,” you grin, changing your accent to reflect Laurey. “That’s mighty kind’a you.” 

Hugh chuckles, his eyes twinkling in the light as he smiles down at you. “Anythin’ for ya, Laurey.” 

—

REHEARSALS

The rehearsals have become more frequent as the date of opening night looms closer. You and Hugh have spent so much time together outside of rehearsals, either you coming by to his place or him coming to yours. Your relationship with him has blossomed in the span of a few months, feeling much more comfortable and confident around him. The more time you spend with him, the more you find yourself catching feelings for him. You wonder if it’s because of the nature of the role you’re playing, being the love interest of his and the fact that you both have rehearsed the kiss and dances multiple times. 

Though, you can’t help but notice the frequent texts and calls from him that have nothing to do with the play, or the way he lingers around you, some part of him always needing to touch you – on your lower back, between your shoulder blades, your hand. It all seems innocent enough, but with each touch, with each lingering gaze, you feel more and more attracted to the possibility that maybe the feelings are mutual.

Today, it’s only you and Hugh in rehearsals, practicing the dance in the dream sequence. You’ve both gone over the dance plenty of times today, both drenched in sweat. You take a short break, sitting down on the floor as your back rests against the wall. You take a long swig of water before Hugh takes a seat next to you, his side flush against yours. 

“Hey you,” he says, smiling in your direction. “You really know how to push me,” Hugh chuckles. “And I thought I was the hardest worker. You definitely make me look like I’m not doing enough,” he teases. 

You roll your eyes, gently nudging him with your shoulder. “Oh please, I’m only pushing you because you’re pushing me.” 

“What do you say?” Hugh asks. “One more rehearsal and we call it a night? Grab a bite to eat at my place?” 

“That sounds amazing,” you sigh in relief. “I’d have kept going if you hadn’t said anything.” 

Hugh chuckles, moving an arm around your shoulders as you lean into him. “You know, you can tell me to slow down. I don’t want you to overwork yourself.”

“I know,” you reply. “I just wanna prove to you and everyone else that I’m meant to be here.”

Hugh tilts his head. “You are meant to be here. You’ve got a lot of talent,” he says your name, eyes gazing into yours. “And this is just the beginning for you.” 

“Yeah, we’ll see after opening night,” you chuckle. 

“Not only are you talented,” Hugh says. “But you also love being on stage. Everyone can see it, can feel it. The audience will too. Now, get off your ass and let’s finish this dance.” He smiles, standing up and reaching out for you. 

You chuckle, taking his hands and standing up with his help. Your hands immediately dart out to rest on his shoulders, bodies flush against each other as your nose brushes against his. 

“Thank you,” you whisper. “For always reassuring me. I’m sure it’s exhausting.”

Hugh’s eyes never leave yours as one hand moves to rest on your lower back and the other takes your hand in his. “Not exhausting at all, baby,” he replies, his breath fanning over your lips. 

You clear your throat at the pet name, biting your lower lip as the music begins to play. You take a deep breath, trying to snap out of the trance that he put you in to focus on the dance sequence. Your gaze never leaves his as you both move across the dance floor. It was that specific moment where you were sure that he felt the same way. 

—

After rehearsals, you drive to Hugh’s place and see him step out of his car with a box of pizza. He leads you inside and walks into the kitchen, sitting at the table. You walk over to him and sit next to him, inhaling the aroma of food once he opens the box. 

“God, I feel like I can eat this whole thing,” you chuckle, taking a slice of pizza and lifting it to your lips. You’ve always felt comfortable around Hugh and you have to wonder if it’s because of him, how calm and grounded he makes you feel. You’re continuing to eat, eyes falling shut as you sway your body in the seat, just happy to be eating something. 

Hugh watches you with a loving gaze, eyes scanning your face as he stares at you. He certainly didn’t expect you to come into his life the way you did. It’s no secret that he gets along with everyone and has chemistry with every leading lady in his roles, but you… You’re a completely different story. He finds your passion to perform refreshing and your talent invigorating. Not only are you professional, but he appreciates your ability to put your all into each performance, even though it’s only rehearsal. It gets him excited to know that come opening night, everyone will know just how talented you are. 

He’s taken out of his thoughts when he sees you open your eyes, looking at him with a furrowed brow. 

“What? Why are you staring at me like that?” you ask.

Hugh smiles, eyes lowering to your lips as he sees pizza sauce at the corner of your lips. He also loves the fact that you’re not shy around him. He reaches up and wipes the pizza sauce from your lips with the pad of your thumb, staring into your eyes. “You’re a messy eater when you’re hungry.” 

The heat in your cheeks rises once again as you set the pizza slice down to grab a napkin, wiping your mouth. “You should have fed me during our break earlier.” 

Hugh chuckles, nodding in agreement. “Fair enough.” He doesn’t break the gaze, bringing the pad of his thumb to his lips and licking the pizza sauce from it. He sees your eyes dip down to his lips, hearing you quietly clear your throat as you bite your lower lip. 

“You’re cute, you know that?” Hugh blurts out, head tilting as he stares into your eyes. 

You roll your eyes and gently reach out to shove his shoulder. “Yeah right.”

Hugh chuckles, leaning forward in your space. “You are,” he whispers. “And there’s just something about you. I can’t put my finger on it…”

“Hmm…” you say quietly, eyes continuously darting to his lips. “Hugh…”

“Yeah, baby?” he says lowly. 

“Is this–” you whisper. “Is this appropriate?” 

Hugh then leans back, shrugging a shoulder. “Probably not,” he admits. “But I can’t be the only one who feels something between us…”

You look up at him, wanting to reach out for him, to pull him back closer, but you don’t. You’ve wanted him for months now, wanted this moment to happen for so long, but you couldn’t. You just didn’t know how things would change if you were both to cross that boundary… Even though you’ve both probably crossed so many lines already. 

“You aren’t,” you admit. “I want this just as badly as you, but–”

“Not yet,” he finishes for you. “After the play.”

You nod. “I just don’t know what’d happen if we do this while we’re still in production… I’ve waited for a few months, another few won’t hurt, right?”

Hugh bites his lower lip and shrugs. “Might hurt me,” he teases. “I mean, we’ve kissed already as Curly and Laurey. But I’d love to just kiss you as… As me.” 

“A kiss wouldn’t hurt,” you say quietly, slowly leaning into him. “But that’s all we can do.” 

Hugh nods and stands up from the chair to pull you up into him. The lights from the city reflect off his large windows as his hand rests on your lower back and the other on your cheek. Slowly, he leans in and brushes the tip of his nose against yours. 

“If we do this,” he whispers lowly. “There’s no going back.” 

“Fine with me,” you answer. “Now kiss me already.” 

Hugh grins and then presses his lips against yours, fingertips resting on the back of your neck. You’ve both kissed so many times already, but this time feels so much more different. Your lips move against his own, hands moving to grip his arms. Hugh walks you back into his window, feeling the glass press against your back as his hand moves from your lower back to your hip. Your lips part for him and he slides his tongue past your lips, hearing you whimper as a result. 

The kiss deepens as tongues get involved, lips moving with more urgency against one another. You’re about to bring your leg up to hook around his hip, but you stop yourself, moving your hands to his chest and slowly pulling him away. Breathless and panting. 

Hugh rests his forehead against yours, eyes remaining shut. “I’d say that was a great real first kiss,” he laughs quietly. 

“Waiting for a few more months might prove to be tough,” you admit, moving your hands into his hair and tangling your fingers into his locks. 

Hugh chuckles and pecks your lips softly, pulling back to look down at you. “Maybe we don’t go the full distance… yet.” 

“What do you have in mind?” you ask, biting your lower lip as you stare up at him with desire filled in your orbs. 

“Come on.” Hugh takes your hand and leads you to his couch, sitting down against it and pulling you down onto him. You straddle his hips, clearing your throat as you feel his manhood press against your core. You wrap your arms loosely around his shoulders as his hands rest on your hips, leaning his head up slightly to capture your lips once more. 

“This okay?” he mumbles against your lips.

“More than okay,” you answer, beginning to move your lips with his. Without hesitation, you roll your hips against his own. You’re wearing leggings and he’s wearing sweatpants and while the fabric isn’t as thick as jeans, it’s still too much clothing for you because you need to feel more. You need to feel all of him. 

Hugh groans against your lips, feeling his manhood begin to stir awake at the friction. His hands slowly move upwards, underneath your shirt as his fingertips dig into the flesh of your skin. He leans up to gently bite at your lower lip, your moan escaping your lips. 

You apply more pressure when your hips roll against his, his length hardening and straining against the fabric of his sweatpants. You feel a wetness pool between your legs, an anticipation settling into the pit of your stomach. You don’t know how you would wait another few months before fully feeling him inside of you since this sneak peek wasn’t helping. Instead, you’re yearning for more.

Hugh pulls away from the kiss only to place gentle kisses along your jawline, his hands continuing to move up your back, his fingertips brushing against your sports bra and back down to your lower back. The pressure in his pants tighten and he wants nothing more than to rip your leggings off your legs and slam into you, but he has to show some restraint.

You tilt your head slightly for him, exposing more of your neck as you feel his lips and his scruff brush against one of your many hot spots. You whimper, your hands gripping his shoulders. 

“Hugh,” you moan quietly. When you feel his teeth graze your skin, you have to pull back to look down at him. Your chest is heaving and you’re almost breathless. “Mmm, if we don’t stop,” you whisper. “I won’t be able to control what will happen next.” 

Hugh smirks, licking his lips slowly. “Okay,” he says. “Okay. Let me just…” Hugh gently sets you down next to him, readjusting himself in his sweatpants and the action doesn’t go unnoticed. You can see the obvious tent in his pants and his hand grasping himself to adjust his hardening length into a much more comfortable position. You can see the outline of his manhood, feeling your throat go dry at the sight. He’s long and thick and you have to peel your eyes away from him to avoid just settling yourself on your knees between his legs. 

Hugh watches you, eyes taking in your frame from top to bottom. It doesn’t help lessen the pressure in his pants because it only just makes him harder. “I’m actually going to…” he begins, pointing down to the center of his sweatpants. “I’m gonna take care of this. Will you be okay for a bit?” 

You clear your throat. The thought of being under the same roof as Hugh as he’s jerking himself off to the thought of you excites you. “Y— Yeah, I’ll be, um…” you bite your lower lip. “I’ll be here.” 

Hugh nods and then leans over to kiss your cheek, lips brushing against your ear. “If I had it my way, you’d be the one helping me take care of this.”

You shiver against his words and look up at him. “And if I had it my way, I’d drop to my knees in front of you to take care of it.”

Hugh growls, the sight of you on your knees now fully ingrained in his mind. “Great,” he chuckles. “I’m gonna keep that in mind while I…” he points towards his lower half. “While I handle this.” Hugh then stands up from the couch and excuses himself to go to the bathroom, allowing you to lie down on the couch and letting out an exasperated sigh. 

“It’s gonna be a long few months,” you mutter to yourself.

—

OPENING NIGHT

You feel the nerves begin to build as you’re all getting ready to perform for opening night. You and the rest of the cast and crew are all ready to perform, but you… You’re anxious. You’re nervous. You’re afraid that you’re going to mess up, so when Hugh rests a hand on your lower back, you look up at him with a tense look on your face. 

“You’re gonna be okay, baby,” he whispers. “Just have fun.”

You nod, feeling his hand drop from your lower back and you reach for it, giving it a tight squeeze. “Okay,” you say. “Just have fun,” you repeat. 

“Exactly. Let’s have a great show, yeah?” Hugh reassures. “And after this,” he whispers, lowering enough so that his lips hover against your ear. “We can finally go back to my place and take the next step.” 

That makes you stand straighter. You had been so focused on making sure that your performance was perfect as opening night approaches that you and Hugh hadn’t had an intense, passion-filled night since the night you had your first kiss with him. 

You feel the heat rise in your cheeks as he pulls away with a wink. “You know just the right things to say,” you chuckle. 

Hugh grins. “I knew that’d get you excited.” 

You feel your nerves begin to settle as the curtain begins to rise, knowing that Hugh’s character begins the play with a song Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin’. 

Throughout the play, you feel at ease once you step on stage, easily slipping into character. The back and forth banter between your character and Hugh’s are filled with a hidden and unspoken passion that you have for each other. Despite the roles you’re both playing, you can feel the tension and excitement bubbling within you as the play continues. 

Just another hour and then you and Hugh can finally have the moment you both were waiting for. 

Your first time on Broadway proves to be more than what you expected and you love it. Being on stage, under the bright lights, with a cast and crew that has the same excitement and passion as you makes you aware of the fact that this is truly where you’re meant to be. You couldn’t believe that you had questioned yourself at the beginning of all of this. 

After the scene where Laurey fires Jud, you know what’s coming. The kiss with Curly, followed by the marriage proposal. Once your lips touch Hugh’s, it’s filled with so much passion and relief. Part of you has to wonder if it’s because the characters, Curly and Laurey, finally admitting the love they have for each other, or if it’s because the end of the play is nearing. 

And it isn’t until you pull away that you see a fleeting familiarity flicker in Hugh’s eyes, a grin lining his lips. Throughout the next scenes, you’re both side by side, basked in the joy of being newlyweds and you know there’s a scene where Hugh is shirtless with suspenders. You are both backstage, getting ready for the next scene as you see him flex his arms subconsciously. 

You’ve seen him shirtless before, but right now, there’s something about the sight that makes an immediate wetness pool between your legs. When Hugh looks over at you, he gives you a wink, knowing exactly that you were just checking him out. 

Throughout the rest of the play, as it nears the end, you can’t help the excitement that bubbles within you. It isn’t until the end of the play that Hugh’s touch becomes more urgent, like he’s just as ready to leave with you. Each person with a pivotal role is introduced at the end as they bow towards the audience. 

However, it isn’t until your name is called that the entire audience’s cheers become much louder. You walk towards the edge of the stage and bow, smiling and waving as they give you a standing ovation. You look back at your cast, back at Hugh, who all are clapping for you. 

It was a perfect night and you know it’s only beginning. 

—

You and Hugh join the rest of the cast for a celebratory after party, having changed into much more comfortable clothing. You’re both at other ends of the room, but while you’re each in a conversation with someone else, your gaze is locked on one another. 

It isn’t a secret that you’re attracted to each other, but tonight, it’s completely obvious. Hugh’s eyes move along your frame slowly and under his gaze – even from afar – it excites you. You look at the time, knowing that it’s already so late and you’re ready to leave. With Hugh. 

You make your rounds, saying goodbye to everyone until you reach Hugh. He excuses himself from the person he was speaking to and meets you halfway, eyes filled with anticipation. 

“I’m heading out,” you say softly. 

“Meet at my place?” Hugh asks.

You bite your lower lip and nod. “I’ll see you there.”

Hugh then reaches out for his phone and sends you a text. You pull out your phone and see a four digit number, furrowing a brow in confusion. “What’s this?”

“The code to get into my place,” Hugh confirms. “If you get there before me, feel free to let yourself in.”

You smile to yourself and then reach up to wrap your arms around him in a hug. “It was a great night, Curly.” 

Hugh’s arm tightens around your frame as he shuts his eyes, whispering into your ear. “And it’s only just starting, Laurey.” He pulls back and kisses your cheek, lingering for a moment before he pulls away completely. “I’ll see you in a bit, baby.” 

You leave the party and make your way to your car, anticipation simmering in your depths. You drive to Hugh’s house, knowing that you’d get there before him. So, when you enter the four digit code the gave you, you see the gates open and you drive into his driveway, the garage opening up for you. 

Just a few minutes after you park, Hugh pulls in behind you. You step out of your car and look over at him, seeing him turn off the headlights once he puts his car in park. He climbs out and strides over to you, arms wrapping around your waist immediately. Without allowing you to speak, he dips down and presses his lips against yours, moving them eagerly against yours. 

“Mmm,” you whimper, feeling his hand move to your backside as he gently squeezes it into his hand. 

“Let’s go inside,” he mumbles, pulling back to look down at you. “I’ve been waiting for months for this,” Hugh chuckles. 

You nod and take his hand, following him inside his home. You don’t get far because you lead him to his living room where you push him back onto his couch and you straddle his hips like the first night you shared your first real kiss with him. 

He doesn’t waste any time in removing your shirt though, growling at the sight of you completely exposed for him, having decided on not wearing a bra. Hugh feels drunk off of you, his mind swirling with the immense thoughts and ideas of what he wants to do to you tonight. He knows he won’t get a chance to do them all in one night, but he just isn’t sure what to do first. He wants to taste you, wants to be head first between your legs. But he also wants to feel your walls wrapped around him, milking him to his own release. 

But your moans… your moans pull him out of his thoughts and he’s suddenly very aware of the look on your face. The heat in your cheeks. Your parted lips. Your breaths coming in short pants. You want this just as bad as he does and it only excites him further. 

“You did amazing tonight, baby,” Hugh says softly, hands coming up to brush against you. 

You whimper, looking deeply into his eyes. “Thank you,” you say quietly, eyes fluttering as his thumbs brush against your peaks. “Hugh…” you moan quietly. 

“I know, baby. I know… Let me take care of you.” 

Throughout that night, you barely got any sleep, but when you did, you were completely spent. Hugh had helped you reach your climax more times than you can count and that had never happened before. He was so generous, so considerate, but it was only because he yearned for the sounds that escaped your lips. Loved to see you squirm against his touch, enjoyed the sight of your eyes fluttering when he finally entered you. 

Hugh knew he wanted more. Needed more. He felt like a possessed man once he finally got that first taste of you. You unleashed something almost animalistic in him – the desire to see you come undone. The first time it happened that night, Hugh was in absolute awe. The way you arched your back, lips apart, body squirming against his mattress and a loud moan escaping your lips… it made Hugh want more of that. Want more of you. 

And he was certainly going to get it, that he was sure of.