#his: she looks like she just woke up on a bar floor still drunk

[lunapwrites]

taking a deep breath and reminding myself that i'm (probably) in the worst of it right now. and, if so, i am fortunate.

bean is generally a happy little potato. yes, she spits up like she's auditioning for a reboot of the exorcist. yes, she has decided recently that sleep is for the weak and do i look like a bitch to you? but aside from all of that, she's normally really chill. and my lovely partner has been such a life-saver during this time, being the most dad even when she pulls his beard hairs out and throws up on his shorts as soon as he picks her up.

the 6-8 week point is apparently the crucible (on average, which she typically is), and we're on our way out of that. so... maybe there's a light at the end of the tunnel?

sleep is: a white noise machine, lofi girl in the background (dark synthwave ty) and one of those warmies that bean won't cuddle with directly but i will and then she cuddles with me and gets the same effect. (soft, warm, smells like lavender.)

and if this current trend of "getting better, slowly, for now" continues, i might be able to start writing again. (god i hope so lol.)

[sunnysidevans]

Heart Of Texas - J.Seresin

Synopsis: While in Texas for your best friends bachelorette trip, the last thing you expect to find is the green eyed cowboy in the bar. Or to find him again months later.

Pairing: Jake "Hangman" Seresin x Reader.

Warnings: 18+, swearing, mentions of alcohol, mentions of the deed, soft jake(warning in himself really) , uh drunk marriage? not sure what to label that.

Authors Note: hi! i'm alive! I have had this draft for... MONTHS! I have not had much motiviation but upon it being hot glen summer. I'm here with my favorite green eyed boo.

The sun was shining bright through the soft gray curtains, causing you to squint. The silk sheets were soft against your skin. Rolling over in the King sized bed, you groan.

A night of bar hopping in the heart of Austin was probably not the smartest idea but the bride to be got what she wanted for her bachelorette party, her words playing on loop,

“I want to go to Austin and have a good time before I’m a married woman” .

The groan beside you pulls you from your thoughts, looking over beside you, gasping. You pull the sheet to cover your body, pulling yourself away from him and against the wall. “Oh my god” you whisper with a shake of your head.

Moving further against the wall and away from the man as he slowly woke up. Looking him up and down you take him in, he was tall, his feet hung off the bed slightly. His tanned skin and the small freckles adorned his chest, soft blonde hairs residing there. Once he opens his eyes, you note the soft green of his irises.

“What the hell?” he groans, hand falling to his forehead.

Then he looks over at you. You look like a deer in the headlights looking at him. Under his gaze, you can’t help but to pull the sheet tighter against your chest, less of his body being covered.

“Who are you?!” you whisper-yell. “Uh- My name's Jake” he chuckles, sitting up to push his body against the headboard. “Okay but why are you in my hotel room?” you ask.

He looks around the room, noticing the clothes scattered on the floor. "I think um” he rubs the back of his neck.

“I think we may have slept together Sugar” his drawl was soft, his voice deep and still riddled with sleep. 

“I think I can gather that '' you mumble, rubbing your eyes. The coldness of metal against your face pulls your hand away. “Oh-” looking down at your hand, then back at the man in front of you, who you now know is Jake. “what is it?” he asks from the end of the bed, looking back at you over his shoulder.

Holding your left hand up to him, you wiggle the small dainty band on your ring finger.

“Oh shit” his face pales, looking down at his own left hand, a simple band adored his own ring finger. “We’re fucking married” you mumble, pushing the sheet off your body to stand.

Grabbing your panties, you begin to pace the hotel room. “Dude, how the hell did we get married?!” you ask, looking at Jake. He chuckles with a shake of his head, hands on his knees. “FIrst of all, please put your tits away” rolling your eyes, you grab the first shirt in sight, buttoning it to look at him. “Please explain! What do you remember?” with your hands on your hips, he sighs. “Not more than you do,” he admits. “Just fuckin dandy” you mumble, pushing a hand through your hair.

“I must say, I do remember alot of shots, '' he admits, it causes you to chuckle. “I can’t believe this is happening right now” pacing infront of Jake, he sighs. “It’s okay, those marriages are never even legit, not legally” he admits, pulling his boxers on, standing infront of you. Stopping your pacing, he grabs your shoulders. “It’s alright Sugar” he smirks.

Rolling your eyes you push his hand off you. “It’s alright to you..” trailing off, you look at the floor infront of you, “Jake” he hums in response. You pick up the piece of paper infront of you.

“Certficate of Marriage'' you hold it out to him.

“Legally, I am now your wife” he rips the paper out of your hands, looking it over. “Oh shit” he looks back up at you then down to the paper. He goes to speak, knocking on the other side of the door stopping him.

Widening your eyes, looking around the room, you sigh. “Okay big guy” he goes to protest as you shove him into the bathroom quickly shutting the door before he can protest.

As the bathroom door shuts, your hotel room door opens. “Why did I think you should have a key?” you sigh. Your best friends are all making their way into the hotel room.

“Safety, I have all the room keys” Laura, bride to be smirks. She sits down on the bed, looking around the room.

“Are you okay?” she asks, looking at you with a smile. “I’m fine” you are lying through your teeth. “Are you okay?” you look at your best friend Wanda as she has a small smile.

“She texted Bradley at least 200 times last night, they’ve talked twice this morning” Laura says, looking between you and her friend with a deadpan look in her eyes.

“She’s in love” you admit with a grin. “I’m the one getting married!” Laura defends with a laugh. Wanda turns her gaze to you, “How are you standing?” she asks, you raise a brow. “What do you mean?” you ask, “You had a wild night” Allison says from beside you.

“What do you mean?” she chuckles, “you were all over that guy, he was so into you” Jake smirks from behind the door, listening to the conversation between you girls.

"oh really?” you ask as she nods. “I don’t remember his name but you guys hit it off..” she smirks looking around the hotel room. “You slept with him!” Wanda stands, pointing at you. “Okay” holding your hands up in surrender, you look between your group of friends.

“I remember nothing, um” you blush, knowing he had to be listening. “The sex was phenomenal okay?” The room cheers, Jake's smirk grows behind the bathroom door.

“You guys really were all over each other '' Laura nods, grinning. “Here, look'' she's pulling her phone out, showing you the photos. The night coming back to you, one photo at a time.

The music pounded through the speakers of the club. “I can’t believe that in two weeks I’ll be married!” Laura yells beside you, dancing with her own drink in hand. You smirk, sipping from your glass.

“In two weeks time we’ll be looking at Mrs.Machado!” you yell, the rest of the group cheering. “Oh! I love this song! C’mon!” You are pushed out onto the dance floor with your best friends. “Get Low” by lil John played through the speakers, singing loudly as you swayed your hips.

“Ohhhh (Y/N)! He is totally eye-fucking you!” looking over at Wanda, who sends a nod to the tall blonde at the bar. The same blonde who bought the drink you were currently nursing. He winks. Being the only single friend in the group made this a common occurrence.

You smirk, pointing to him as he smirks. Pointing to himself, you nod, motioning him over. Pushing your drink into the hands of poor Allison who was just trying to nurse her own hands.

You take his hand, pulling him away from the group of girls. “You know it’s rude to stare” you smirk, he shrugs, hands on your hips as he pulls you into his chest. Back to his chest, you didn't hesitate to grind your hips against his.

You feel his chest rumble, his chuckle against your ear. “Not that I see you complaining Sugar'' resting your hands on top of his, you continuing to grind against him.

“Neither is he!” you smirk, he couldn’t even be embarrassed as he knew you referring to his hard length that continued to poke your ass. 

Laura stopped on the last photo of the two of you, it looked like it was straight from a prono. “Oh” you nod, looking at her with a blush.

“I’m gonna assume that” Allison points at your shirt with a smirk, “is not yours”. The blush now made its way up your cheeks to your ears. “No,” shaking your head, you bite your lip.

“Allison owes me $20” Laura smirks, sitting down on the bed beside your best friends. You gasp, “You placed bets?!” the girls laugh. “I knew you’d go home with him, he couldn’t keep his hands off you” the night was coming back to Jake as he continued to sober up.

“Anyways” Wanda grins, “Get cleaned up and we’ll see you downstairs for brunch in an hour” you nod, smiling. “Okay, I’ll see you guys then” they all send you a wink on their way out of the door, you sigh as the door closes behind them.

“You can come out now” Jake makes his way from the bathroom. “They’re fun,” he smirks. You send him a glare, running a hand through your hair. “Sorry” he smiles. “What are we gonna do?” looking up at him, he can’t help but look you over.

You were gorgeous. The whole reason the night ended the way it did. “Well I have to head back to California in about 4 hours,” he admits, hand on his hips.

“California?” you ask as he nods, looking at you. “We’re from California” he chuckles, a weird coincidence. “Here” he picks his phone up from the floor, holding it out to you.

“Sounds like you will be busy so” he smirks, looking at the deadpand look on your face. “Give me your number and when we both have the time, we can see a lawyer” nodding slowly, you take the phone from his hands. Putting your number in, holding it back out to him.

“I did have a good time, from what I remember” he admits, sending you a quick text so you could save his own phone number. “It was also your idea to get married” gasping, you snap your head up to look at him.

“It was not!” you defend as he shakes his head, pulling his pants on. “It was Sugar” he smirks, hand on his hips.

He stood in just his pants, shirtless in your hotel room. He had a small tattoo on his pec, you just now noticed. “It’s my niece's handwriting,” he admits. You can’t help the smile that makes its way on your lips.

It was the only tattoo Jake Seresin put on his tanned skin.

You are getting yourself dressed, feeling him stare at you. “Can I help you?” he chuckles, “can I have my shirt?” he asks. You blush, unbuttoning the shirt to hold back out to him. “Thanks” you nod, turning back to him as you finish pulling the clothes from the night before back on.

“I’ll give you a call in like, a week or so?” he asks as you nod. “Uh, give me like a month, my best friend get’s married here in a few weeks” he nods, smiling. “No problem, I have a wedding myself” you smile, your own mind drifting to see him in a black tux.

“Okay” he makes his way to the door, “Jake” he stops, looking over his shoulder to you.

“Have a safe flight” he smiles, sending you another wink. “You too” 

+

A week later, you received a text from Jake. You never expected to hear from him until he was ready for a lawyer.

UNKOWN: Hey, You make it back okay?

You had to admit, you originally didn’t want to save his phone number, but you decided then, it was best to save it. You had nicknames for everyone, it was a love language for you, Jake getting his own.

You smirk as you save the nickname “Hungman”, for obvious reasons. 

YOU: I made it okay, how about you?

He smiled, he didn’t truly expect a response. He also saved a nickname for you in his phone, “Sugar” because you were just so sweet.

“Does it fit?!” Laura is knocking on the door, pushing it open to see you in the Lavendar dress she chose for you. “Oh, (Y/N) you look stunning!”  smiling at her in the mirror, turning to face her. “Are you sure?” she nods, helping you out of the room. “I love it” you smile, spinning on the small platform.

The week was leading to wedding preparations for the soon to be Mrs.Machado.

Including dress fittings to be sure the dresses from two months ago still were perfect. “Why are you so smiley?” Allison asks, smirking.  You shrug, looking at yourself in the mirror. “I bet she was texting Mr.Texas” Wanda smirks.

The group had given Jake his own nickname. “Jake just texted to make sure we all made it back okay” she coos, “how sweet,he was concerned about you” you smile.  Maybe he was, you werent sure.

You didn’t want to look into it too much. The way you didn’t want to just yet take the delicate gold band off your left ring finger. They had yet to notice it, you found no harm in keeping it on for the next week.

“The man, the myth , the legend!” Coyote shouts, standing from the chair at The Hard Deck. Jake smirks, holding his hands out in pride. “I’ve arrived” he chuckles, hugging his best friend. “Did you have a good trip home?” Fanboy asks beside him as he sits down. He thinks back, the gold band sitting against his chest. He didn’t want to destory it with work, opting to put it with his dog tags.

“Of course I did,” he smirks. “Back just in time for the wedding” Javy sits across from him, handing him the beer. “Did you get laid?” Payback lets curiosity get the best of him. “Of course he did” his best friend answers for him, Jake smirks. “Bradshaw!” Jake looks up at the mention of Bradley, smiling at him and then his girlfriend, Wanda. “Sorry guys, I had to go pick her up” he smiles at the redhead beside him. She waves, sitting down beside Javy.

“Hey guys” her smile is warm. Jake knew that her and Bradley were made for the other. “I’ll go get drinks baby, I’ll be back” he kisses her head, walking to the bar. “How was the trip?” Coyote asks, she smirks. “So good! I will be going back to Texas again” she smiles, “I missed Brad though so” Payback gags from his seat.

“Stop” Fanboy slaps him. The group all have significant others except Hangman. Javy had his fiance Laura, Bradley had Wanda and Mickey had Allison. Payback had a girlfriend but it was far from being serious.

Phoenix and Bob both had already been married before even coming back to Top Gun. The group had yet to meet their spouses. “Here baby” Rooster sits back down, looking at the group.

“Cap” he nods to Jake, a smirk on his face as he sips his beer. Captain Jake “Hangman” Seresin. He smirks behind his own beer. “Rooster” Wanda smiles at Hangman and the rest of the aviators.

She’s leaning over beside Javy, showing him pictures of his soon to be wife and her friends. He feels his phone buzz in his pocket. Pulling it out, he can’t help but smile.

Sugar: I found this on my phone, thought you may like it. 

Attached was a photo of the two of you, a selfie of cake frosting smeared on both of your faces. He smiles, hearting the photo and saving it to his camera roll.

He didn’t want to admit his “wife” was becoming just that to him.

His wife.

“What’s got you smiling?” Mickey asks, he shrugs. “Is it the girl you slept with?!” Jake sighs, looking at his group of friends. “You slept with somebody?” Rooster asks, as he nods. “I can’t say I’m surprised” he mumbles, Jake sending him a look.

“I did,” he nods, looking at his friends. “And you kept in contact with her?” Javy smirks, looking at his best friend. Well of course I did, we’re married is what he wanted to say, instead he smiles.

“I did,” the group cheers.

“Maybe the hangman is finally getting himself a lady!” he can’t help the blush that makes its way to his ears. The bar began filing in with the rest of the group's spouses, Laura first. “Gentleman” she smiles, sitting down beside Javy. Laura was also a pilot, just now an instructor at Top Gun. Then filed in Allison who sat beside Mickey.

Payback leaving to go pick up his new girlfriend Lily. “I think this is my que to go” Jake sighs, pulling cash from his pocket as he tosses it onto the table. “Oh Hangman” Laura shakes her head, frowning.

“You don’t have to go,” he shakes his head, standing from his seat. “I have some much needed sleep to catch up on” he lies through his teeth. He hated being the odd man out of the group.

He waved goodbye, making his way out of the hard deck, his mind drifting back to you. Pulling the phone from his pocket, he sighs at the text from Javy.

Javy: Don’t let it beat you up man, you will find that someone soon, maybe at the wedding!

The continuous buzzing of your phone causes you to groan.

You knew the minute that group chat was created it was gonna be nothing more than a headache.

Ally: I think (Y/N) should go on a date with Hangman.

Wanz: I agree! The poor guy left because he was the only single one.

Lars: He’s a really down to earth man (Y/N)! Once you get past the cocky exterior. 

Y/N: Can you guys not play matchmakers right now? I did really hit it off with Jake, remember?

Ally: He's in Texas ! You never know, your soulmate is right there, in Hangster. 

Wanz: Bradley said he really is nice and you guys would be so cute together.

You give up then, muting the notifications and tossing the phone back on the counter beside you. They meant well, knowing you just wanted to get back out there after your break up.

You groan at the buzzing of your phone again, picking it up ready to block whoever's number for the night.

Stopping short at the message, the ellipses follow. 

Hungman: Goodnight, Is it weird to text you goodnight? 

Another message following

Hungman: Thought that's what married couples do so why not?

You smile. Jake felt his chest tighten, he was thanking whoever above that you had read receipts on. 

Sugar: Goodnight Jake, We did drunkenly get married remember? My idea apparently. 

A smile on his lips, he replies quickly.

Hungman: I mean, I didn’t have to agree to it. You clearly wanted to marry me though. I mean look at me.

The ellipses follow a few times, going in and out before one final message. 

Sugar: I remember now you felt that way about me Mr. ;). Goodnight. 

-

The week was over before you could blink. Wedding prep was extremely stressful, in ways that made you happy to just be a bridesmaid.

“(Y/N)!” you fix the skirt on your body as you walk to the table, smiling at the group. “Bradley Bradshaw '' you smirk, kissing his cheek and making it around the table. Hugging the group as you sit down beside Allison and Mickey.

You loved the group of Aviators. Bradley was originally your friend first, then the group followed. “What is that?” Mickey asks, pointing to your hand. You look to where he was pointing, your heart dropped.

In the weeks you had been home from Texas, you did the very most to hide the wedding band. “(Y/N)” Javy’s voice is stern, looking at you with curious eyes. “What?” you say, pulling your hand off the table quickly. He’s faster, reaching over the table to stop you.

“Oh my god!” Wanda sits up in her seat. “You married Mr.Texas didnt you?!” she points, looking between the group. Slouching back in the seat, you pull your hand away from Javy. 

“Mr.Texas?” Mickey asks, chuckling. “She met a guy in Texas, they left. I just assumed they slept together but-” Allison smirks, looking at you. “That's where you snuck off to! You guys got married!” She's laughing. “This is not about me” you speak up, looking at Laura. She smiles, winking at you.

“This is about in less than a week, these two” you point to Laura and Javy “will be married!”.

The conversation now shifted to the wedding. You felt your blood pressure finally even out. You knew you should’ve taken the ring off. 

 In the last two weeks you shared lots of photos and texts with your husband, well Jake. He shared his own photos, asking you about your day. It was all things you were not used to.

Dating in a place so full of Naval Pilots was hard, it was not your type as it was your friends.

Having enough Navy friends, you were shunned off piolts. The group continued mumbling between themselves as you sipped your wine. Your phone then rang, furrowing your brows as you pulled it out.

Why was he calling you? Standing, Bradley notices first. He takes the hand closest to him as you pass. “Where you goin?” he asks, a gentle smile on his face.

“Uh, Jake is calling me, I just want to make sure he’s okay” his brain calculated what you said, before he put together Mr.Texas was Jake. “Okay” he smiles, giving your hand a squeeze.

“I’ll be back” you smile, walking outside quickly. “Hello?” he sighs, “thank god”. You frown, “Jake are you alright?” he smiles.

“Yeah, I just wanted to hear your voice” he admits, you can’t help the smile that grows on your lips.

“You know I am having dinner with my friends tonight” he chuckles. “I know I got the photos you sent, I just- I don’t know I wanted to say hi” he smiles.

He didn’t want to admit that he was starting to feel things for you. “Jake” you chuckle, looking in the window at your friends, none the wiser.

“I just wanted to talk to my wife” your heart starts beating harder in your chest. “You wanted to talk to your wife huh?” he smirks, it sounded even better when it came from your lips. “Yeah, I just want to say” he clears his throat.

“Have a fun evening, please text me once you make it home” you chuckle. “That's very Husband-y of you” he smirks. “I am a husband, your husband”  you blush.

“Okay Mr.Seresin, I will text you when I get home” he smirks,  “I also sent you some money if you need, Mrs.Seresin” it felt odd, but in a good way as legally, you were Mrs.Seresin.

“Jake,” he scoffs. “Nope, as a husband I am taking care of my wife, now go have fun” he blows a kiss over the speaker, hanging up before you can protest. You sigh with a smile. Typing out a quick text.

Sugar: Thank you, Husband. I appreciate you <3.

He can’t help the grin on his lips, looking over the text. He wouldn’t hate the idea of actually being a husband. The lawyer was the last thing on his mind. Making your way back inside, smiling at the text.

Hungman: No problem, Wife. Have a fun evening, talk later <3.

-

Wedding day had finally arrived, looking around the room, you sigh. “Where the hell is Laura?” you ask, standing in the suite with Allison and Wanda.

“I have no idea” you sigh, shaking your head. You knew she was not getting cold feet. “I’ll be right back” shutting the door behind you, you walk down the hallway with the bottom of your dress in hand.

Turning the corner you stop. Javy and Laura, both standing on the patio together. You clear your throat, both looking like deer in the headlights.

“This is not tradition” you say, arms crossed and brow raised. “I’m sorry” Laura smiles, hand locking with her now soon to be husband.

“Get back in the room, you have to get ready” she nods, kissing Javy one last time before she’s pushing past you.

Following her down the hallway as she got steps ahead of you. “Can’t believe you pulled me away from my husband” she gruffs, jokingly of course as you smile behind her. “I’m sorry miss, “I want a traditional wedding’” you throw the air quotes out to her.

She shakes her head, pushing into the room accompanied by the rest of your friend group and parents.

“I’ll be right back” you send her a reassuring smile, walking away from the room. It was hitting you a lot harder today that you were again only a bridesmaid and never a bride.

You tried hard not to mess up the makeup the lovely artist did trying to avoid the tears rolling down your cheeks. In the process, you don't notice the person in front of you, running into a hard chest. Soft hands catching you from falling, “woah there”.

Your whole body tenses, you knew that voice.

You look up to meet the same green eyes you had been thinking about for weeks. “Jake?” his hands remain on your shoulders. “(Y/N)?” his voice going up an octave in surprise.

“What are you doing here?” you ask as he looks you over, the lavender dress looks beautiful on you, “why are you crying?”.

You sniffle, shaking your head, “no answer my question first” he chuckles at your stubbornness. "My best friend is getting married today to his fiance, Laura” you gasp.

“Oh my god” you move from his arms, chuckling. “You are Hangman!” you point as his smirk grows wider.

“Javy’s best friend from top gun, oh my god” he nods sucking his teeth as he shoved his hands into the pockets of his suit. “You are Laura’s best friend” you nod, looking at him.

“What the fuck” you whisper, more to yourself than him. “I did not put this together” he nods, walking closer to you.

“Wanda and Allison tried setting me up with you” the words flow faster than you can process you are saying them as he laughs, a full belly laugh.

“Did you tell them that I am already your husband?” he asks as he then notices the ring on your left hand as it's brushing your cheeks. “No, I didn’t because I had no idea you were the same person” you chuckle, shaking your head again.

“I’m happy to see you,” he admits, looking at you. Looking back at him, you finally take him in, the black suit against the lavender shirt he wore under, bowtie tied neatly.

He looked as good as he did the last time you saw him in person. He smiles under your gaze, “I’m happy to see you too” . It's soft but in the large corridor it wasn’t hard to miss. 

“Hey (Y/N)-” Bradley stops short at the end of the hallway, looking between you and Hangman. “Hangman, what did you do?” he starts making his way down the hall to get closer to you. Moving to stand in front of Jake, you stop Bradley.

“Bradley” he stops, looking between the two of you.

“Hangman is Jake” Bradley nods, looking between the two of you, “yes his name is Jake, what does that have to do with what is going on?” you shake your head, chuckling.

“Mr.Texas?” you ask, Bradley stops for a few seconds before he is chuckling. Jake slips a hand to rest on your hip, looking between you and his now friend. “She was the girl you slept with in Texas?!” He points to you, looking at Hangman.

Jake nods, looking at him with a sheepish smile, “Yes”.

“Oh my god, I can’t believe out of all the people in Austin Texas you married Hangman!” he laughs with a shake of his head.  “Can I just say something?” you ask, between both aviators.

“One, I had no idea he was in the Navy until about five minutes ago. Second, he was just Jake in Texas, a southern gentleman” you look at Jake over your shoulder, he smiles down at you.

“Did he get me in his bed and marry him? I mean yes but I am also a grown woman, I had no idea he was the Hangman that you all talk about” Bradley nods slowly.

“I’m still in shock,” you admit, looking between them. “You have to tell the girls,” Bradley smirks, looking at you. “I vouched for you and everything Hangman!” he laughs at his friend, who furrows his brows.

“The text said, and I quote “Bradley says he really is nice and you guys would be so cute together” so I mean he did” you say, nodding between the two of them. “Had I known you already went out and put a ring on it” Bradley mumbles with a grin.

“How did I not recognize the girls' voices when they were in the hotel room?” he asks as you shrug. “We were hungover and barely remembered how we ended up there,” he nodded with a laugh.

“Okay point taken”  you smile, looking between your two friends. “Well anyways, Hangman we are being summoned by the groom” Bradley smiles, “I’ll see you two later” he smirks, laughing as he makes his way back down the hall.

You turn to face Jake with a smile. “Mr.Texas?” he asks, hands resting on your waist. You laugh, nodding, “The girls all nicknamed you Mr.Texas, I reminded them time and time again you were Jake”.

He smiles, looking at you. “Go” you whisper, resting your hand on his arm. “I will see you later okay?” he nods, leaning down to kiss your cheek.

“I’ll see you later, Mrs.Seresin” he winks, walking back down the hallway the same way Bradley did.

He doesn’t miss the blush on your cheek. With a deep breath, you make your way back to the bride's suite.

“There you are!” Laura is grinning, holding a hand out to you. “Sorry, I’m here” you make your way to her, taking her hand.

“I want to tell you something” she’s whispering, looking at you.

“What is it?” you ask, squeezing her hand. “I never thought I would be here, marrying such an amazing man” she’s holding back tears as she continues, “I never thought I’d have such amazing friends like I do you and the group, I want you to know first” she’s grinning.

You nod, reaching out to wipe a tear from her face, “I’m having a baby”.

You grin, tears making their way to your eyes. “And I want you to be their god mother, Javy has already decided to ask Hangman to be godfather” you grin, both at the mention of Hangman and of the baby. “I’m honored” you smile, pulling her into a tight hug. 

The wedding kicked off smoothly. You stood beside your best friend, watching as she married the love of her life. Doing your best to avoid crying, failing as they shared vows. You look up from the bouquet in your hand, Jake winks at you from his spot beside Javy. You blush, looking back at the couple.

“I now pronounce you, Mr and Mrs Machado!” the priest cheers as everyone follows suit. Jake waited so he could walk the aisle with you.

Following his best friend as he held an arm out to you. You move beside him and you link your arm through his, following the train of Laura’s dress.

Bradley smirks from his spot at the altar watching the scene in front of him as he was the only one to know.

He’s then looking at his own girlfriend as if she held the world. Following them outside, standing beside the rest of your best friends as you are throwing flower petals at the couple with cheers.

“See you all at the reception!” Javy grins, helping his now wife into the car, following after her.

“Wanna ride with us?” Mickey asks from beside you, smiling. Jake’s hands make their way back to your waist, shaking his head. “I got her” you smile at the look on Mickey's face, looking between the two of you.

“I’ll ride with Jake” you take his hand off your waist, lacing your fingers together. “Okay” He trails off, following Allison as she paid none the wiser of what was happening behind her. 

“I now welcome you, Mr. and Mrs. Javy Machado!” you grin, cheering beside your friends as Laura and Javy make their way into the reception.

Laura looked gorgeous in the dress she chose. Jake beside you as he grins at his best friend. He was happy for them, even more happy having you beside him. You look up at the feeling of a hand on your arm, smiling at Wanda. “We need to talk” you frown, looking at her.

“Are you okay?” you ask, now turning to your best friend. She nods, smiling. “Hi Hangman” he nods, sending her a smile.

“Wanda” he nods and makes his way from the two of you to join his group of friends. You watch as he congratulates his friends, not missing the smile he shared with Laura.

“It’s Hangman?!” she’s whisper-yelling. “Huh?” you look back at Wanda, Allison on her way to join you. “Mr. Texas was Jake Seresin?!” she whispers a grin on her face. You blush, looking at your friends.

“What?!” Allison asks from beside Wanda, looking at you. “Yes, Jake is Mr.Texas aka Hangman” you look at them with a blush. “I can not believe this” Allison is laughing, watching you. “I can’t believe we tried setting you up and he already put a ring on it!” you laugh.

“Don’t be mad, Bradley told me” Wanda says, hand on your arm. Shaking your head, you smile. “I planned on telling you, I just haven’t told Laura because well it’s her day” you say, cutting short at the mention of your friend.

“What haven’t you told me?” she asks, glass in her hand.

“(Y/N) married Hangman!” you gasp, looking at Wanda.

“What?!” Laura  is looking between you and back over at Jake, who stood with her husband. “Mr.Texas?!” she asks as you nod. “It all makes sense now, I mean sure Jake is a common name but in Austin Texas” she grins. “How did we not recognize him?” Laura asks the group, they shrug, “We were drunk and it was dark” Wanda says, they all laugh. 

Making it through the crowd, you approach the group of Aviators. “Gentleman” you smile, looking between them, looking at Javy. “Javy, Congratulations” you smile as he pulls you into a tight hug.

You had grown close to Javy as he was like your big brother. “Thank you (Y/N/N)” you smile, moving back to stand beside Jake who doesn’t hesitate to wrap an arm around you.

“Am I missing something?” Javy asks, looking between the two of you. “They’re married!” Bradley yells from behind him with a smirk.

“What?!” he looks at his best friend, who grins. “I am indeed Mr.Texas” Jake laughs at the nickname, looking at his friend. “And I am the mystery texas girl” you are also laughing.

"Oh my god!" Javy is laughing, hand on his stomach as he looks between the two of you. "And all this time Laura has been trying to set the two of you up!" he points out as his wife joins his side with a grin. "I mean I did if you think about it" the two Machado's grin.

“Are you gonna stay married?” the question was loaded, in the weeks since you returned to San Diego neither you or jake thought about divorce.

“I don’t know” you say, looking up at the man beside you. “We'll see” you wink, moving from his grip and making your way back over to your friends. “I can not believe you two are married and I-” Javy furrows his brows.

“I never saw your ring! None of us did” Jake grins, holding his left hand up, “I wore it on my tags, didn’t want to ruin it, but I whipped it out for today” he shrugs as he sips the beer in his hand. 

The reception continued on with drinks, laughs and speeches. The group all found out slowly you were indeed married to the captain of the squad.

Standing on the balcony of the venue, you close your eyes and take in the breeze.

“You know the party is not out here” you smile, the southern drawl making itself known now that he was a few drinks in. “I know” standing from the railing, you turn to face him.

He smiles, his suit jacket now discarded, now just the lavender button up. “I needed a few minutes,” you admit, looking at him.

He nods, moving to stand beside you. “Can I ask you something?” he asks, looking over at you.

Nodding, he continues. “Do you want to get divorced?” biting your lip, you shrug. “I don’t know,” you admit.

“I don’t” he admits sipping from the beer in his hands.

“What?” you look over at him, looking over his face. “I think I'd like to see where we can go,” he admits. You blush, looking away from him, “Oh” your voice is soft.

“I don’t know, something feels right, it has for the last few weeks” he’s spilling now, he realizes.

“In the nights that we talked, the texting, the photos” he shrugs, looking down at you. “I can’t help but think maybe we could make this marriage work,” he smiles. You bite your lip, nodding slowly.

You had the same feelings, but in the group of your friends you knew the reputation Hangman held.

“Are you ready to be tied down to someone, let alone me?” you ask, he chuckles.

“I haven’t looked another woman's way since you” he admits, looking at you.

“Really?” you ask as he nods. “I realize now what you’ve heard about me, how I sleep around and all but” he shrugs, moving closer to you.

“I am a simple man. I want a wife and a life with someone I love” you look up at him as he continues. “Now, did our marriage start traditionally? Of course not. I want to build it” he smiles, hand reaching out to cup your cheeks. “I want to take you on dates and woo you, be the husband you deserve” leaning into his hand, you kiss his palm.

“I won't lie I didn’t expect you to lay it on so thick” you grin. He chuckles, looking at you.

“What do you say Sugar?” he asks, his voice now deeper and accent thicker.

You nod, leaning up to connect your lips to his. Taking him by surprise as he doesn't kiss back at first but within seconds, kissing you again.

He’s pulling you against his body, hand on the back of your head to pull you and your lips closer. As you kissed him, you realized two things.

Laura was so smart for picking Austin for her bachelorette party. And when you left Texas, you left half your heart there.

The smooth talking green eyed pilot taking a piece of your heart and holding it with him. Traveling back to California with him, and holding it close as he himself was close.

“Can I take you out officially?” he asks softly, "soberly, of course" he nudges your nose. “I think that can be arranged,” he smirks, kissing you again.

God did you love Texas. 

Authors Note part II: I must admit I don't think this is my best work but I think the story is good and kind of hallmark-y? But lawd! did anyone see this fic going where it did? let me know your thoughts! of course, likes, reblogs and comments are always welcomed!

and of course, if you liked this fic you can find more of my work in the library here

⇾ The Library

[dronningreid]

6 AM

After a good night of free drinks at a bar, reader wakes up in a bed that looks nothing like her own. Maybe that mistake isn't so bad after all.

who? Spencer Reid x Fem!Reader

category: flangst (my specialty) and suggestive intimacy +18

warnings: mentions of sex, naked, mentions of alcohol and hangover. English is not my first language.

word count: 2.5K

a/n: I stole the title from a song that I almost don't like but it's very this. I also sacrificed myself for the team by getting drunk on Christmas to write this better (it wasn't a good experience, but what am I saying? I'm very committed to my work. Oh and happy almost new year!

Every story has a beginning and how much you wish you could remember the beginning of this.

A ray of sunshine.

That's what woke you up, a ray of sunshine. But not the kind that sneak in through the window and burn your eyes even when they are closed. What woke you up was the warmth of the arm that wrapped around your torso from behind, that kind of sunshine.

You look at the clock and it's damn 6 AM. You didn't expect to start the year so early but there you were.

You relaxed when you feel a warm breath touching your skin. For a moment you felt so fine, until that horrible headache made it difficult to make sense of where you were, but you could remember the ghostly sensations, the pressure against the mattress, his hands running over every corner of your skin and the way the sheets molded with every movement.

You craned your head slightly to get some clues about your surroundings and then the clothes on the floor became visible in your field of vision.

Damn it.

It didn't take a genius to figure out what had happened the night before.

You tried to get out of the grip of the mysterious man you spent the night with, but...

He pulled you towards him again, this time with more force. "Please don't go." He pleaded, but he was still somewhat asleep.

Damn it, damn it, damn it.

You recognized that beautiful voice immediately. It being a random guy was a bad thing but Spencer? that was worse.

A wave of panic and guilt ran through you. Now what the hell were you going to do?

You looked at him sideways, first at his lips, and just looking at them made you remember how they felt on your skin.

That's when a fragment of last night hit you...

"Spence." You whispered in the darkness, you couldn't see him but of course you could feel him.

His big hands on your thighs, his tongue caressing you like a feather and the way his nose brushed your sensitivity complemented how good you felt at that moment.

Were you dizzy from the pleasure or from the alcohol? Maybe both.

Now you understood, you let him cross boundaries that a friend should never cross. But you were too drunk to tell him to stop? No, that was an excuse, because in reality both been drunk, a lot.

You blinked a few times before coming back to the present, your memories were so fragmented at the moment that it was best not to put pressure on your mind.

You let him continue for the pleasure and because he was Spencer. There was no one else on this earth you could trust enough to do something so intimate, so personal.

Spencer looked so calm while was asleep, you didn't even know why but you started counting his eyelashes.

That would have been a perfect morning. But one question kept nagging at your brain. How did you get into his bed?

Very simple, it all happened while everyone was on the jet, returning from a case.

"I just hope there isn't another case. It's New Year's Eve, we should be celebrating and not catching serial killers." Emily said. "I'll ask for a raise." Then she brought the glass of whiskey to her mouth.

"Prentiss, you haven't even been with us that long." Morgan let out a light laugh.

"It's been a tough year." You supported Emily. And it was true, Elle and Gideon left a void that no new face could fill. But luckily Emily was Emily, Rossi was Rossi. Neither of them intended to fill the void they left.

"Yes indeed," Rossi added to the conversation. "Drinks at O'Keefe on me, who's coming?" And there was the monetary contribution, maybe your favorite thing about him?

You, Emily and Morgan were quick to raise your hands.

Hotch laughed lightly. "I'll pass, I want to visit Jack."

You stood up from your seat on the jet to approach Reid. "And you? Come?" You gave him a slight nudge with your shoulder. "Or you have a secret son that I don't know about."

Reid shook his head in amusement before setting his book down on his lap. "I don't know, I'm tired."

"Come on." You gave him puppy dog eyes. "And I'll take you back to your apartment."

"Don't know..." He bit his lower lip.

"Oh come on, who's gonna tell me random facts all night? Morgan?" You insistent.

"I heard you!" Morgan shouted from the other side of the jet.

Reid chuckled. "Of course not, that's my place in your life. Besides, he already has Penelope."

You looked at him with hopeful eyes. "So you're coming?"

He shrugged. "I haven't another choice."

One, two, three. Happy New Year!

By that time you and him were already so drunk. Everything was spinning around and both had laughed at every stupid thing Morgan said, that wasn't a very good sign.

You helped Reid into the taxi, almost falling with him in the process. When you left him in the back seat he looked at you, with a pout.

"You said you were going to take me home!" He spoke very loudly, without meaning to.

"If you want to die then let's go in my car." Your words dragged on.

He shook his head and patted his seat. "I'm not going to let you drive. Come on, get in."

You sighed but finally agreed and got into the taxi with him.

He fell asleep with his head resting on your shoulder, it felt so comforting that you didn't even notice when you fell asleep.

After a few minutes the taxi driver spoke. "We're here."

You opened your eyes suddenly.

"Hey... Are you awake?" Spencer whispered, leaving a soft, brief kiss on your shoulder.

You didn't answer anything, hoping that... Who knows what the hell you were hoping for. A miracle maybe.

Spencer said your name, his tone oddly serious. "Can we skip the part where we pretend we don't sleep together and we can just talk about this?"

He kissed your neck and your hand ran over his exposed torso. "Can we skip the part where we do this and we can go straight to the action?" Alcohol makes the braves.

Reid smiled against your skin. "Anything you want."

He moved away a little just to separate your thighs and settle between them.

Reid placed his hands on either side of your head, you watched him intently waiting for what would come out of his lips.

"I'll stop whenever you want, okay?" Even a little drunk he was a gentleman.

You nodded hurriedly, excited for what would come next.

∗⋅✧⋅∗

His breathing is a mess, your breathing is a mess.

During the act he searched for your hand, interlacing his fingers with yours. His hips and yours moved together, like puzzle pieces, only in a constant rhythm, which made the bed creak.

The noise of the mattress, of his mattress, merged with the noises that came from between your lips which came in different forms but had the same effect on him...

You couldn't say for sure that you remembered everything, but from those little fragments you knew that you had never felt so good in your life.

You move under the sheets until you are facing him. But that was a worse idea than you anticipated.

Confronting him after all the images you have of him in your memory feels like someone has just punched the air out of your lungs.

"To begin with, do you remember anything?" He breaks the thick silence, again.

"Fragments." Your voice comes out as a shameful whisper.

He tucks a strand of hair behind your ear. "Me too..." He whispers too. "But I do remember that you tried to leave me in the morning."

"Oh..."

Really? Was that the only thing that could come out of your mouth?

Reid sighed and closed his eyes for a brief moment that seemed like an eternity. "Listen, I know this might be awkward but please don't go..." A pang ran through your chest as you saw his pleading eyes. "We don't even have to talk about it."

"Okay..." He sigh of relief at your answer.

But as a cruel joke of life someone knocked on the door, ruining the conversation for Spencer and bringing a postponement for you.

Reid sighed before reluctantly unwrapping his arms from you. "I'm sorry. I... I have to go." He said before getting out of bed.

Last night probably, no, definitely last night you saw him to the soul, but still this time you stared at the ceiling until he got dressed in pajama pants and a gray t-shirt.

He left the room leaving you alone on his bed, naked. Wow, that was something unexpected.

You stood there for a few moments, before wondering what the hell you were doing?

You rubbed your face with your hands as many questions collided in your mind, all eager to capture your attention while you didn't even want to think about it.

What does it mean to sleep with Spencer Reid? He was one of your longest friendships and just by letting him spend one night everything is ruined.

He was acting so casual, like waking up with you was something so normal...

But you didn't even know how to name this. Because, after all, what was this?

You got out of bed and immediately searched the floor for your clothes. You found almost all of them at least.

Once dressed and half combed, you decided to leave the room and try to get out of Spencer's apartment.

But it was such a stupid idea considering it wasn't just you and him in the apartment. Even though you thought you were going to get out of this alive when you saw Reid's back turned to the door.

"Who do we have here?" Morgan's voice was enough for Reid to see you and you to see him.

You had been caught red-handed.

Reid frowned. "You were leaving?"

You stammered a bit before deciding to stop embarrassing yourself and close your mouth.

Morgan's gaze traveled from Reid to you and back to you before figuring out what was happening or at least what had happened.

"Wait guys... Both had sex?" Morgan whispered, trying to be discreet, something that was definitely unusual for him, but not the strangest thing today.

You let out a nervous laugh. "We? Of course not!" You rush to say.

Reid's frown deepened. "We don't?" He said with a hint of mockery and another of bitterness.

No one knew what to say for a while, but the only one in trouble was you.

Morgan stood up from the couch. "Yeah... I think I'd better get going."

Spencer didn't say anything, not even when the door closed behind Morgan. He just looked at you with severity, a severity that disguised his vulnerability. How vulnerable he was before you, as if his heart was exposed on a silver platter.

You weren't willing to talk and he felt like he had already said too much, so the silence between you only grew thicker.

Reid snorted. "For the love of god, just say something!" He swallowed. "Say something, whatever. That I'm bad in bed, that what happened was a one night stand, or that you just tried to run away because you're afraid that if you stay you'll have feelings for me." He try with all his might to keep the tears in place.

You shook your head at his first sentences, but perhaps the last was right. "I... Am I hurting you with this?" Maybe it wasn't the best question, but at least you were honest this time.

He looked away, debating what he should or should not say. "Yes... Yes, you're hurting me." Spencer didn't understand how the words managed to slip through the thick lump in his throat.

Guilt and you were never good friends. "Yes, maybe I'm starting to feel something for you beyond a friendship, maybe I already felt it before. I don't know... I'm scared."

Spencer hesitated but finally took a step in front of you. "I'm scared too." He whispered.

You hesitated for a minute but finally put your arms around him. At that moment you just needed the warmth that his arms could give you.

Reid hated how easily he hugged you back, you were close to abandon him...

"I'm sorry." You murmured as you held onto him.

He places a kiss on the top of your head before rubbing your back. "Just don't exclude me from this, let us both figure out together what's going on here, okay?"

"I promise." You tilted your head back to look at him.

"Changing the subject." Spencer looked at you intently, were his eyes always so beautiful? "Did you see my bra? I couldn't find it while I was getting dressed."

"Oh." Spencer nodded and his cheeks quickly turning a pinkish color. "I kicked it under the couch when Morgan knocked on the door.'

Neither he or you remembered how your bra had gotten there. But it happened while the messy make-out session was going on.

Reid broke the kiss and slipped his hand inside your shirt, stopping until he reached the clasp of your bra. "Can I take it off?" He looked at you with pleading eyes.

"Of course." You tilted your head towards him, not willing to leave his lips for long.

He gave you a couple of short kisses while unbuttoning your bra. "I love you." He murmured against your lips.

"I love you too." Your statement came out as a gasp when he pressed his lips against yours more intensely.

Both were drunk when they said such important words, yes, but isn't it said that drunks always tell the truth?

[woso-dreamzzz]

Anger III

Vicky Losada x Putellas!Reader

Summary: It was meant to be a quiet night

You rolled over in bed with a groan and shoved your face into the pillow.

Over the monitor, you heard wailing.

You reached your hand out blindly and slapped at Vicky.

"Vicky," You hissed, still sleep addled and groggy," Vicky...Vicky!"

She woke with a start. "Huh? What is it?" She seemed to realise the screaming coming from the baby monitor. She yawned. "I'll get her."

"I should hope so," You said," It's your turn."

You'd only just brought your baby home. Little Sofia Losada had been blessed with a healthy set of lungs at birth that kept you up at every hour of the night.

You could hear on the baby monitor the moment that Vicky opened the door to Sofia's room and slipped inside. There was a brief rustle of sheets and then you could hear your wife over the screeching of your baby.

"Alright, you," Vicky said," Let's see what's wrong."

You sighed in relief and buried your face back in your sheets as the cries quietened. You were relaxed and happy in the warmth of your bed and the sweet silence as Sofia got comfort. You began to drift off happily until you heard your phone ringing.

You thought about ignoring it but, when the call dropped, it picked up almost immediately again.

You groaned and reached for it, refusing to open your eyes. "Hello?"

"Heeey." The voice was slurred and thick.

You squeezed your eyes as tight as possible, hoping that this was all just a horrible dream. "Alba, I thought you were with Alexia."

"I am! Ale! Ale! Say hi!"

"Hiiii." Alexia's voice was slurred too and you finally opened your eyes.

You pulled on a jumper and some socks, slipping into your favourite pair of slippers. "Where are you?"

Alba rattled off the name of the bar they had gotten drunk at and you swore at them under your breath as you headed to the door.

You met Vicky out in the hallway. Sofia was in her arms, eyes almost completely closed as the lack of sleep caught up with her. "Hey, you didn't have to get up," Your wife said," We're okay here. Go back to bed."

"I can't," You said apologetically," My stupid sisters are stranded and drunk. I'm going to go pick them up." You pressed a kiss to her lips and then another one to Sofia's head, brushing down her little baby curls. "I'll be home soon."

It was a quick drive to your sisters and a much longer task trying to get them into your car. You wrangled Alexia in first, firmly telling off your oldest sister when she tried to unbuckle herself from the passenger seat.

It was much harder to get Alba in. She wanted to go back to the bar and have another shot but you manhandled her into your car where she promptly burst into tears when she noticed Sofia's car seat was empty.

"The baby!" She cried," The baby!"

"Where's our baby?" Alexia asked, rolling her head to look at you like her neck suddenly couldn't hold it up.

"You mean my baby? At home, where you're both going to drink a litre of water each and share the bed in the spare room."

Alba stubbornly kicked the back of your seat. "We're adults! We don't need to share with each other!"

"Then one of you will sleep on the floor," You told her, reaching around your seat to slap her back.

You managed to get both of your drunk sisters up the driveway and through the front door.

"Be quiet," You hissed as Alexia tripped over the side table," My baby and my wife are trying to sleep!"

"Baby Sofia!" Alba cried as a light turned on and Vicky appeared in the hallway, watching on in amusement with little Sofia in her arms.

"Shut it! She's sleeping!"

You held both of your sisters back by their shirts when they tried to rush for your baby. "No!" You said sternly," Bedtime for you two."

"Sofia's not in bed!" Alba whined as Alexia pouted, reaching for Sofia like her life depended on it.

"I'm just putting her back into bed now," Vicky said," Would it make you two happier if you watched me?"

Both of your sisters nodded and all four of you trooped into the nursery to lay your sleepy girl to bed. She yawned in her sleep, scrunching up her little fists in a way that had both of your sisters cooing.

Vicky placed her down gently in her crib and switched on the monitor again as you guided your now settled sisters to the spare room. It seemed that seeing Sofia had calmed them both significantly because neither of them fought you when you tucked them both into the same bed.

"Three kids in bed," Vicky noted," And it's not even two in the morning."

"We did good, huh?" You joked as you slid into her warm embrace and pillowed your head on her chest.

"I'm surprised you let them sleep on the new sheets while drunk. What if they throw up?"

"Alexia won't."

"And Alba?"

"There's a bucket on the floor next to her," You said dismissively," If she throws up on the sheets then she's paying for them to be cleaned."

Vicky laughed. "I love it when you make plans to extort your sisters out of money. It's sexy." Her hand crept down to your bum.

"If I wasn't exhausted," You said," I would so take you up on that but-" You checked your bedside clock," We've got a one-week-old who will wake up for a feed in a few hours and my drunk sisters in the other room. No chance, Mrs Losada."

Vicky laughed again and you rocked at the movement of her chest. "Maybe tomorrow," She said," When Alba's out washing our sheets and we manipulate Alexia into babysitting."

You closed your eyes. "It's your turn to manipulate Alexia."

[nerdieforpedro]

Angel in Disguise

Javier Peña x plus size female reader

This fic and blog are for readers 18+ MDNI

Word Count: a little over 1k

Summary: It's raining and it reminds you of your recent interactions with your best friend Javier Peña.

Warnings: unrequited love, angst, one person you work for should not drive, slight self-esteem issues?, possessiveness

Notes: I haven't posted anything for Javier Peña for a long time. I'm glad I was able to write something. This is one of two for @undercoverpena 's April Showers Challenge.

Main Masterlist/ Javier Peña Masterlist/ Writing Challenges Masterlist

Leaning against your desk, you’re looking out at another rainy day. Thankful that you keep a pair of rain boots in your office and at home. You’re thinking of last month and last week, how you’ve lied to Javier and yourself. It’s for the best though. 

Large drops remain on the window as the sound of the water falling intensifies. Last month you had finally worked up the, well with a shot or two of liquid courage to tell him. Tell Javier Peña that “yeah, we’re friends Javi but I want more from you. Have wanted more from you. I could make you happy, because I know you. We know each other. I can give you something simple, a life together.” One of your favorite dresses, your deep violet one that had the open shoulders you liked. Pretty and not too sexy you felt, just right.

Nothing was right that night. He walked in with a woman you were pretty sure was at least ten years younger than him or maybe she had excellent skincare and always used sunscreen. His hand looked perfect on her waist and so did hers on his. He introduced her to you as his girlfriend of the last six months. You’d heard him mention someone but didn’t think it was the same person. Was she the one that had large mood swings? Javier would never admit it but you know he craves a bit of drama. Something you rarely have any of. Dinner was nice at the bar. She seemed nice. Neither of them stopped smiling nearly the entire night. 

The only silver lining is that you live on a lower floor than Javier so you don’t hear that. You’d go insane if you heard them doing that. You’ve heard the rumors and have gotten the sense (though given your feelings you could be biased. Highly doubtful,) that most of them are true.

That night you went home by yourself, threw off your dress and flopped across the bed. You weren’t sure if the rain came down first or your tears but you do know that you cried yourself to sleep and woke up cold. 

That was last month. Now they’ve been together for seven months.

This week at work you were legitimately busy given that the ambassador you work for has decided to drive drunk and hit a lamppost, damn idiot. Of course he wants to use his diplomatic immunity and the policia would like to make an example out of him. Negotiations are led by you as you represent the embassy. Javier was able to catch you one day, say hello, how are you and ask what you thought of Camilla. Her name is even pretty, like her. She was polite and complimented your dress that night. Nothing bad to say about the woman except she exists or is doing so next to Javi.

You lied right to your friend’s face and told him that you like her, she seemed very sweet, that you three should go out for drinks and that she’s beautiful. The last one wasn’t a lie, she was stunning. The rest of it you’re still unsure how you made it all drop from your mouth so easily. His eyes light up and Javier says something that is as honeyed as it is a stab, “I’m glad you like her. I was worried you might not and then I’d have to wonder if she’s really right for me. You’re the best ángel.” You think you smiled and gave him a hug before going back to dealing with the ambassador issue. It’s a blur. Getting back to your office and stopping yourself from yelling took priority over before getting back on the phone about this drunkard’s problem which is yours.

Finally into the next week, you’ve settled the dispute between the policia and the ambassador. He’s required to pay for the damage and a substantial amount of money to the city of Bogata with a suitable donation to the policía as well. You should have left a few hours ago, but then you might have run into Javier on your way out. You need to steady yourself before seeing him. ‘Just act like I did two months ago. It will be fine.’ That’s what you tell yourself but you know your body will betray you when you see him. You feel the melancholy and longing again. 

The gray skies match your mood. Subdued. Drippy. Unsettled. Foreboding. Closing your eyes, you feel them fall against your cheek again, the tears rolling down. Twisting your body to reach for the tissue box you now keep on your desk, you pat your eyes to see Javier Peña in the middle of your office.

“Hey amiga, qué paso? (friend, what’s up?) You’re crying.” It’s kind that he asks, Javier is always kind. Before you can tell him you’re fine, he’s got an arm around you and kisses your forehead. “What’s wrong?” You won’t tell him why, he’s happy and you know he deserves it. Given the small pieces of how he came to be at the embassy. Broad strokes and rumors are what you know. Javier doesn’t talk about his time in Columbia or pursuing the Cali cartel. When it’s mentioned his face hardens, letting people know to change the subject.

“Just a tough day today, that's all Javi. Thanks.” Your head leans against his chest, breathing in his scent. Keeping your hands around the tissue you’d been dabbing your eyes with. A thought you immediately regret enters your mind:

Could she be an angel in disguise and leave him broken on a rainy day such as this? Maybe Javier would be standing out in the rain? Could you take him against your chest like he’s doing with you now?

No. It wouldn’t be the same. Javier is being a sincere friend to you right now. You would have an ulterior motive. 

A few more tears fall across your cheeks as a gust of wind blows the rain loudly against your window. Even the sky is scolding you:

Leave that man be, you’re the angel in disguise. 

Peeps who want a hug from Javier 😭:

@guelyury @yorksgirl @angelofsmalldeath-codeine @javierpena-inatacvest

@theywhowriteandknowthings @goodwithcheese @maggiemayhemnj @readingiskeepingmegoing @bitchwitch1981

@harriedandharassed @bishtrouille @schnarfer @katw474 @megamindsecretlair

@tinytinymenace @magpiepills @pedroshotwifey

[thollandsgirl2013]

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐘𝐨𝐮

Parings → Nathan Drake x Reader

Warnings → Fluff, angst, betrayal, hurt/comfort, slow burn.

Summary → Amidst a dangerous treasure hunt, unspoken love is revealed when betrayal strikes, leading Nate to realize his true feelings for Y/N.

After the whole fiasco with Chloe Frazer, you, Nate, Sully, and Chloe went to the church with the pine tree drawn on metal outside.

"See, I told you. He's a genius," Sully said.

"Genius is a stretch. I'll see if we can get into the church," Chloe replied in a monotone voice, heading towards the nuns nearby.

Nate was staring at Chloe with a smirk on his face. You didn’t like the way he looked at her. You were in love with Nate, but he was oblivious to it.

Sully noticed Nate’s staring too. "Whoa, whoa. Don’t even think about it. She can’t be trusted."

"I think you should listen to Sully, Nate," you said.

"What? Look, she's coming back," Nate said, motioning to Chloe.

Chloe returned and announced that they could get into the church tomorrow night. All of you went to a house Chloe had set up for you. That night, you all got drunk—except for you, as you weren’t much of a drinker, making you the only sober one. Sully was asleep on the couch. You saw Nate and Chloe on the balcony. You didn’t want to snoop, but you couldn’t help but listen to their conversation. They were really close, and you didn’t like it. When Chloe finally left for her room, Nate noticed you standing there.

"Hey, you're still awake."

"Yeah, couldn't sleep." You joined him on the balcony. "So, you and Chloe, huh?"

"Well, not really. She doesn’t seem interested, but a bit of flirting doesn’t hurt anyone. Besides, who knows? Maybe she’ll like me later."

"Yeah, I guess. I should lie down, try to get some sleep. Goodnight, Nate." You kissed his cheek and went to bed with a heavy heart.

The next night, all of you went to the church. It was deserted. Nate found a back door leading to some kind of tunnel. You, Nate, and Chloe ventured inside and discovered a bar underground. Somehow, Braddock’s goons were there too. Chloe pulled Nate onto the dance floor, suggesting you all should blend in. You stood alone, feeling left out and questioning why you had even come along.

After a fight with the goons and nearly drowning in water, you stumbled upon some ruins. There were three large jars filled with salt that burst open upon touching. Amid the chaos, you and Nate found a map hidden within the salt. Despite everything, Nate was cheerful.

But then you heard the sound of a gun’s safety being switched off. When you two turned around, Chloe was standing there with a gun aimed at you.

Nate tried to calm her down. "You don’t have to do this. Just put the gun down."

"Give it to me, Nate," Chloe demanded.

"We can talk about this," Nate urged.

"You really don’t know what went down, do you?"

"Went down with what?" Nate asked, confused.

"Sam. Who do you think?" Chloe replied.

"No, no, no. Please, tell me what happened to Sam. Please," Nate begged.

Chloe hesitated, then lowered her gun. "You’re a good guy, Nate."

Seeing an opportunity, you tried to grab the gun, but Chloe was faster and shot you in the shoulder. You fell to the ground with a thud.

"Y/N!" Nate shouted.

Chloe took the chance to strike Nate with the butt of her gun, knocking him unconscious. With blurry vision, you watched Chloe escape with the map and the gold keys before you passed out from blood loss.

When you woke up, you were in the bed of the house you had been staying at. Your shoulder was patched up. As you tried to get up, you realized something heavy was on you. Nate was sleeping beside you, his arm draped over your waist, his grip strong even in sleep. He seemed distressed, so you gently woke him.

"Nate? Hey, Nate, bub, wake up."

When Nate opened his eyes and saw you're awake, relief washed over him. "Oh my God, Y/N, you're awake. I was so scared. You got shot! I'm so sorry for dragging you into this mess. I should never have forced you to come along. I'm so sorry," Nate rambled, his voice breaking with emotion.

"Hey, hey, Nate, it’s okay. I’m okay. You didn’t force me to do anything, okay?" You reassured him.

Nate carefully pulled you into a hug, as if afraid to hurt you further.

"I know this isn’t the right time, but when you got shot and weren’t waking up, I realized something. I can’t imagine my life without you. I’m in love with you, Y/N. And it’s totally okay if you don’t feel the same, but I had to say it."

You smiled softly, despite the pain. "Damn, I should have gotten shot sooner. Then we’d have been dating by now. I’m in love with you too."

"Don’t say that. And I’m sorry it took you getting shot for me to realize my feelings."

"Well, at least you did figure it out," you replied.

"Can I kiss you, please?" Nate asked, his voice almost a whisper.

"Yeah," you whispered back.

Nate kissed you gently, a slow and soft kiss full of love. He was careful not to hurt you. Afterward, you both lay down together, cuddling, as exhaustion took over.

As you drifted off to sleep, you couldn’t help but feel that despite all the chaos, you had finally found something real with Nate. And you knew that, no matter what, you would face whatever came next together.

༻﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡༺

[1toreyouapart]

Right Through Me

***FANFICTION THAT INVOLVES REAL PEOPLE. DON’T READ IF YOU DON’T LIKE THAT. 18+ MDNI***

Rae arrives on her former best friend’s doorstep, asking only for a place to stay while she gets back on her feet after moving across the country to escape her ex. Nick gladly opens his door to her, quickly pulling her into the fold with his friends and band mates.

Noah is just trying to survive. He wants to make it. Needs it. He has no time for anything other than the band. He’s got a point to prove. Nick’s friend challenges that and upends his entire world. She drives him crazy with her laid back, carefree ways.

Everyone can see the collision coming from a mile away, and nobody can stop it. Much less the two of them. Who will make it out in the end?

CW/TW: domestic violence, miscarriage, alcohol use, swearing, smoking, tobacco/vape use, smut, more to come as story is written.

Stay

“Please, God,” she begged spitting out blood. The pain in her cheek was nearly unbearable. Pain akin to an electric shock rocked her, nearly knocking her out when she tried to get up off the floor. Something was desperately wrong.

Groaning she propped herself up on her elbows, only to be met with Sean’s face as he stood over her, laughing. His face wasn’t his, though. It was different. Weird. Almost demonic as he leered down at her, laughing so hysterically she was sure she had a psychotic break.

“When I get my fucking hands on you you’re dead, you ungrateful bitch.”

Hands clawing at air she woke up, taking a sharp breath. Sean wasn’t there. She was on Folio’s couch. In his living room. 2,700 miles away from Sean. Heart still pounding in her chest she rolled over, burying her face into the back of the couch. She was safe. Away from him.

The sound of Folio’s door banging into the wall startled her, making her screech as she sat up. Still gasping for air she watched as Folio ran down the hallway in his underwear, bat in hand, ready to swing. He stopped just short of the couch, eyes wild as he scanned the room.

“Rae! You good?” His wild, terrified eyes finally settled on her.

“Yeah. Just a nightmare.” Rae sighed, pulling the blanket back up around her. “Everything’s fine.”

“You sure? You were screaming like someone was killing you.”

Folio rounded the couch, eyes watching as he made his way to the chair opposite the couch. Absentmindedly she wiped her palms on her pants, glancing around the room herself. Finding nothing she focused in on her best friend. Her brother.

“I’m sorry. He’s out soon and I guess I’m scared he’ll find me.” She looked down, away from him, ashamed of her fear of a man who was currently locked up.

“Then we switch. You take my room. I sleep on the couch.”

Rae thought for a minute, grabbing her phone. 11:30pm. Two hours before bars closed. Chewing on her bottom lip she pulled up her Uber app. Closest one could be there in 15 minutes. Just enough time to pull her hair back, throw on a quick change of clothes, and make sure she didn’t stink. No hesitation she clicked the button to confirm the ride she wanted, the updated ETA popping up on her screen. 10 minutes. Fuck it. She could just run her fingers through her hair and call it good. Anxiety still stabbing its way through her insides she stood up, reaching for her sling.

“Where are you going?”

“Out. Gonna go get drunk.”

“Alternatively, you stay and get drunk here.”

Rae sighed, pulling her deodorant out of her bag. As tempting as that was, she was scared to get drunk with Folio. Surrounded by people she could pretend everything was still somewhat normal. With Folio? She would crumble. And she couldn’t do that. Not yet.

“Uber’s already on the way, Nick. I’m not stupid.”

“Never said you were, Rae. I just,” he paused, grabbing her hand to make her stop. “I don’t like the idea of you going out by yourself. Not with your arm all fucked up.”

She paused, chewing on her bottom lip. Folio was right. Of course he was.

“Then come with me.”

“Rae. Bar’s close soon, anyway.You’ll get like one drink, two if you’re lucky.”

“Nick. If I stay here right now I’m going to get too comfortable and I’m not ready to talk about it yet.” Her voice shook, tears beginning to blur her vision.

“Cancel your Uber. I’ll call the guys. See who’s up.”

He said it so simply. Like it was the perfect solution. And maybe it was. He would know the nightlife here more than she did. Maybe having someone come over was the smarter option. Reluctant she pulled out her phone, canceling the ride.

Rae nodded her head, dropping back down on the couch. She listened half heartedly as Folio tried calling a couple phone numbers. The third number he called picked up.

“Hey, man. You busy?”

A brief pause in which she stood up, walking into the kitchen. Hands shaking she pulled down a glass, grabbing the bottle of bourbon next to the stove. She eyed the amber liquid, debating pouring some in the glass or taking a swig straight from the bottle first.

“Yeah. Uh, you wanna come over?”

Another pause. She poured the liquor into the glass, far more than necessary. Her goal was get too drunk to care, after all.

“She’s trying to leave. Woke up to her screaming like somebody was killing her. Barely talked her into staying in instead of going out.” His voice was hushed, but not quite enough. “Alright. See you in a few.”

Rae made her way back into the living room, sitting cross legged on the floor. She took a sip from the glass, letting the liquor linger in her mouth before swallowing, the burn settling in her belly.

“So. Good news. Noah’s on his way over.”

Tag: @collisionofyourkissmakesitsohard

[sseniita]

"what if you regret it when you're older?"

“Ok go.” Although the rough hand on her right shoulder kept her grounded, the tattoo gun vibrating dangerously close to the left side of her collarbone sent a shock through her system. The slightest prick was more than enough to sober her up immediately. “Wait. Wait! No!” The hero squirmed away, losing her balance and promptly falling off the kitchen barstool and onto the cold tiled floor. 

“Coward.” The villain started down at her. The gloved hands that had hurt her so many times, gripping onto a tattoo gun. “Get your ass back up and on the chair.”

The hero could taste the bile rising in her mouth. Her excessive drinking paired with being inside the villain’s house was not a good combo. Add to that her tiny tank top she unveiled to give the villain access to her desired area of her very first tattoo. The villain drank as much as the hero did, but his steady hands suggested he was stable. Definitely not sober considering he invited her into his apartment and situated her in his kitchen, regardless he remained stoic if a little determined as he helped her back onto the stool. 

“You said you liked the mock up. What now?” The villain’s voice was harsh as it always was, but perhaps the buzz of a few too many softened it into something the hero shivered at. Perhaps the hero really did drink too much. She took another look at the sketch book on the kitchen island, crowded between masterful doodles and absentminded pen strokes, was a clean lined and minimalist illustration of a sun. The hero had totally lost her mind.

“You said it’ll hurt.” the hero confessed. 

“Getting a tattoo close to your collarbone probably doesn’t compare to being stabbed.” He traced a finger down a thin scar on her bare bicep. His hand lingered there like it did when he plunged the knife in oh so long ago. The stab back then was slow and deliberate, just like his touch was now. “I promise you can handle it, Sunshine.” 

The hero burned red at the familiar nickname, a reminder and confession about the meaning behind her tattoo. They had coincidently been at the same bar, alone at that, and the villain hadn't mentioned it, but the way the edge of his lips quirked up at the bar when the hero brought the idea up meant he knew. He immediately seduced the hero by saying he dabbled in tattoos and had a kit at home. Extremely sketchy, but the hero had drank enough courage and recognized this would be her only chance.

“Why am I doing this?” she asked herself but the villain responded. 

“Because you’ve never done a stupid thing in your life.” 

“I got drunk and followed my greatest enemy home, that sounds worse than this.” 

“In that case this should be nothing.” The tattoo gun started buzzing again. “Stand still.” 

And the hero did. She definitely wasn’t drunk, if anyone ever asked she’ll say she blacked out and woke up in a tattoo shop. The villain’s gloved hands were cold on her collarbones, a shiver made its way through her body when the villain leaned in close and whispered in her ear. 

“This'll hurt. Just hang on, Sunshine.”

The hero closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and nodded. The pain came sharp, and the villain found the hem of his shirt being gripped in the hero’s hands. He chuckled at her display and made sure to finish as soon as possible. When he finally stepped away the hero’s face was red and her eyes wide with excitement. It was a simple tattoo, a variation of which he'd done a million times but the villain had never been as proud and blown away by his work on someone before. They both looked at her tattoo through the bathroom mirror for a very long while, the hero relished in the sting, the villain taking in the view.

Years later, when the hero finally got back at the villain for the scar he left on her with a knife, she noticed a small crescent moon tattooed on his own left collarbone, right above where her knife plunged into him.

[haveyouseenthisskeleton]

how are the main 10 when drunk, and whats a funny story because of this?

Undertale Sans - He doesn't drink that much so it's pretty rare when he's actually drunk. But the rare times he is, he turns into a chaos goblin, pranking everyone repeatedly until someone has to restrain him to make sure he stops messing with people. Friends, family, perfect strangers, drunk Sans fears no one. The worst being when he's drunk with Toriel. The two of them are laughing hysterically to the point they can't breathe anymore for no reason. If Sans' laugh is pretty discreet, Toriel... is absolutely not.

Undertale Papyrus - Papyrus doesn't drink except when he's hanging out with Undyne, and somehow, it always ends terribly wrong. There was that one time they woke up on the roof of the highest building only wearing duck lifebelts or that time they crashed a wedding and begged the priest to marry them together, which he actually did because he was terrified of them. To this day, they are still legally married as Undyne doesn't want to divorce because she thinks it's funny. Papyrus thinks it is not, but he can't drag her in court to divorce their drunk marriage, that's so embarrassing!

Underswap Sans - He's the same when he's drunk, just really hyperactive and excited, bouncing and running everywhere, completely forgetting his inside voice and trying to ride every royal guard dog he can find to run in the park on their back. Toriel usually keeps him on her lap when he's starting to cause too much chaos until he passes out after running out of energy lol.

Underswap Papyrus - He doesn't take alcohol very well. Usually, he feels dizzy after a glass or two, goes to a corner and naps there for twelve hours straight. The only problem being no one can wake him up and he usually ends as a dead potato bag on Asgore's shoulder when it's time to go home.

Underfell Sans - He needs to have someone to watch him over at all costs because he will provoke a brawl. Red is searching for fights, and for people to fight each other. He can't help it, when he's drunk, it's his favorite thing ever. He's not authorized to drink if no one can watch him, because one time, he made Toriel and Asgore fist fight in a party and it took 30 monsters and the entirety of the Royal Guard to stop the two boss monsters from trying to kill each other while he was just cheering in a corner and taking bets...

Underfell Papyrus - It doesn't seem to affect him, but alcohol makes him a lot more sensitive to compliments and teasing. Just a little sentence can turn him bright tomato. Unfortunately, alcohol prevents him from defending himself too. His mind is blank, he has no control of the situation, and the more you tease him, the more red he gets. He hates it when he's like this, so usually, he doesn't drink before everyone is already drunk.

Horrortale Sans - Alcohol makes him sick and he hates how it tastes so no thanks. He's fine with a soda or water.

Horrortale Papyrus - He's a big baby when he's drunk and will get emotional at anything. Any compliment, anything looking cute, just giving him back something he dropped on the floor will send him sobbing hysterically in the other person's arms and crushing them to death in a hug. He accidentally dislocated Grillby's shoulder like this once. Then he came to his bar every day for two entire months to apologize again and again lol.

Swapfell Sans - He's his usual self, but without the filters. Instead of bitching on everyone in his head, he's bitching on everything and everyone out loud, and not a lot of people actually like that. It's not like he cares. Well, he cares when some giant monsters smashed him into a wall several times to make him shut up, but otherwise, he's answering back to people coming to argue with him. Half of them leave crying because he beat them up verbally.

Swapfell Papyrus - He's flirty as hell. He will flirt with everyone, but also everything looking vaguely monster-like, like a pillar, or a bush, or a car. He even went to an airport to flirt with what he thought was a Tsunderplane for three hours before someone asked him why the hell he's kissing a random plane.

Fellswap God Sans - He goes to find Alphys to antagonize her so they start fighting. He doesn't care if Alphys is on the other end of the city, dating Undyne or in the middle of an important meeting with the Royal Family, he will fight Alphys. Alphys is a bit paranoid now in the evening, scared he might crash through a window to throw bones at her.

Fellswap Gold Papyrus - He has a confidence boost for about an hour, does crazy things like inviting Napstaton to dance, and suddenly he realizes he's dancing with Napstaton and that everyone is looking at him and he randomly screams and jumps by the window to run away. Yeah, he's not good with alcohol.

[lacontroller1991]

Stay Here (Obi-Wan Kenobi x F!Reader)

Main Master List || Star Wars Master List

Warnings: mention of drinking, reader has a fever, Obi-Wan lowkey takes advantage of it, admitting of feelings

Word Count: 810

Author's Note: I know that that's Padme in the gif but I couldn't find a gif of Obi-Wan alone :( but I still thinks it works.

==========

It started with your head pounding the moment you woke up. Realistically, you knew that going out with Anakin to some bars wasn’t probably the best idea, especially the night before a very important Council meeting; however in hindsight, you didn’t really plan on drinking that much; yet still, you don’t remember ever having a hangover this bad. 

Trying to get out of your cot, you groan in pain as your vision blurs slightly as sweat beads on your forehead. Ok, definitely not a hangover. Managing to get out of your cot, you hastily get dressed not really paying attention to your surroundings as you leave your chambers toward the Council Chambers.

“Late you are,” Yoda comments as you feel the eyes of the Jedi Masters on you as you bow slightly toward the Grand Master.

“Sorry, Master. I overslept my alarm,” you reply, shaking your head slightly to try to get the headache to go away, you sway to your seat before landing in a resounding ‘plop’, causing Anakin to stifle a laugh. 

“Are you okay, young one?” Plo Koon questions and you feel Obi-Wan’s blue eyes watching you in concern. Waving off the Kel Dor, you lean your head forward as Windu continues his droning, most of the Council’s attention leaving you, except for Anakin and Obi-Wan who share glances. 

Deciding you can’t take anymore of the pain, you make a move to stand up. “Sorry to interrupt, Masters, I think I need to retire to my-” before you could finish your statement you fall forward and if it hadn’t been for Obi-Wan’s quick reflexes, you would’ve been kissing the floor.

“Just how much did you guys drink last night?” Obi-Wan chastises Anakin who shakes his head in denial.

“Just a few, but I was more gone than she was. It’s gotta be something else.” Obi-Wan turns his attention back to your barely conscious form as he places the back of his hand on your forehead, immediately pulling away. 

“She’s burning up, we need to get her to the infirmary,” Obi-Wan moves to pick you up but you grab ahold of his wrist.

“No, no infirmary.” 

“Take her to her room, you will. Watch over her, trust you I do, Master Kenobi.”

“But what about the meeting?”

“I’ll catch you up later,” Anakin replies, trying to hide a smile at the circumstances. He’s seen you when you’re drunk and he’s seen you with a fever before. If this is anything like previous times, then he knows that you may say something you wouldn’t say lucidly. 

Noticing Anakin’s amusement, Obi-Wan furrows his brow in annoyance before shaking his head and looping his arms under your legs and back, picking you up and holding you against his body.

“I’ll make sure her fever goes down.” He nods briefly to the remaining Council members before rushing out the door to your chambers.

Feeling a warm body against yours, you curl into the chest of the person carrying you and shiver, trying to get enough warmth to combat the sweat trickling down your body, not really caring whose arms you’re in. 

Looking down at your form, Obi-Wan can’t help but to feel his heartbeat a little bit faster. Of course, this isn’t the circumstances he wanted for you to be in his arms, but he will take what he can get. Making it to your room, he slides the door open and hastily puts you down on the bed, removing your shoes and cloak from your body before grabbing a washcloth from your refresher and wetting it with cold water, placing it on your forehead, causing you to shudder. “I really think you should go to the infirmary.”

“No. How else would I have gotten you alone?” Obi-Wan’s eyes widened at your comment but if it bothered you, you made no notion of it. 

“Darling. I’m not sure you’re fully conscious.”

“I’m conscious enough to know that your arms are strong and that you smell like a warm summer day.” Obi-Wan can’t help but feel the heat rushing to his cheeks and he so desperately wants to press you more as to what you think about him.

“(Y/N). How do you feel about me?” He knows it’s wrong and he knows that he probably shouldn’t be asking these types of questions while you’re not completely lucid, but when would be the next time he gets to ask these things?

Knowing where he’s trying to steer the conversation, you decide to play along. Curling further into a ball, you use what little force you have to drag him down onto the bed next to you, using his chest as a pillow while you listen to his pounding heart.

“I love you, Kenobi. Now stay here while I get some sleep.”

“Don’t worry, darling. I’ll be right here when you wake up."

===========

General Tag List: @marvelousmermaid @himbovillain-anon @babblydrabbly @a-reader-and-a-writer @tavners

[hughiecampbelle]

Being The Youngest Roy Would Include: Pt. 2

A/N: This I'd solely based on this fic, which I am in love with :) I ran out of room on the first part and had much more to say lol

Warning: addiction/addiction mention, abuse/neglect

Being The Youngest Roy Would Include: Pt. 1

Waking up at random underground bars, clubs, random streets in the city not knowing where you were or how you got there. It was definitely scary at times, but you were too numb to care

No one carded you, fearing your name more than your safety

Whenever you were hungover, you could hide away in your own bathroom on your own floor of the house, not that your father went looking for you or would seek you out very often, if at all

Everyone in that house knew. Everyone knew and they said nothing. When you got sick all over your clothes, reeking of a seedy bar or covered in glitter from clubbing, a fresh pair would magically show up folded on your bed. When your nose bled from the drugs and you used a white towel, a fresh one would be replaced in no time

You always believed you were being careful, that nothing bad would happen. You thought you were holding up the charade, and in some cases you were. Logan never said anything to you, about anything. As long you showed up and did as you were told, he didn't really care what you did outside of that

A few times you'd overdosed. Purely on accident, in your room, at the bars, at a party. A few times you woke up in the hospital, the closest one, but no one ever showed up. Even when you collapsed in your own home, your father was too busy in his meeting to pick up. Your mother was your emergency contact and she rarely picked up, too. Doctors knew who you were and that was enough to silence them, for better or for worse

It was easier to pretend this problem didn't exist. Like everything, your father ignored it, swept it under the rug

It wasn't until you called your father for help, drunk, high, crying and scared, unsure of where you were in the middle of the night did he reach out to someone, angry you woke him up, getting your brother to come find you. Your last attempt at seeking his love, his care, cursing yourself for being so stupid as to think he'd care in the first place

Connor dropped everything and got to you, seeing just how fragile and lost you really were for the first time. You could barely keep your eyes open. That scared him to death

It took a lot longer than they'd like to admit to realize you had a problem, that this wasn't just the occasional drink

Connor was the first to suggest an intervention. The rest followed, unsure of what to do, ashamed they hadn't seen any of this sooner

Coming off a high left you feeling low, helpless, and now embarrassed your big brother had seen you in that state. It wouldn't be the last time you'd go to rehab, but it would be the first

The anger came back though, it always did, and with nothing to soften the blow you took it out on yourself, on others. Your siblings were the first targets and no matter how many times you apologize, the guilt eats you up alive. Accusing them of not caring about you, of not noticing. In one particular dark moment you even accuse Roman and Kendall in aiding you in your addictions in the beginning, neither of them knowing. Kendall tries to tell Rome it's not his fault, coming to his baby brothers aid. If you could take one thing back, it would have been that. The look on their faces still haunts you

"Rome, I'm so sorry. I should never have-"

"Yeah, yeah, I know. I know, okay? I know."

You try getting clean on your own, something your sister makes it known she's against, but there's nothing she can do. When you can't get into places, when they refuse to have you again, you do it by yourself, mostly at Connors ranch. It's secluded, far away from your father. Once you stayed at Kens, a few times with Shiv, but you liked being at Con's the most. It's a mess and really you should be somewhere with professionals, but it's only for when you slip up, for when things are mostly stable, if that can even be measured

In the end, rehab is where you end up. More than a few times. When you get your phone back, one of them always makes sure to pick up your weekly call, even when you talk about nothing, like with Roman

You still thank Connor for picking you up that night

"Don't worry about it, I was happy to."

Being in your fathers presence is a major trigger. You try to stay with your mother for a few weeks, but she always grows uneasy with you around. She doesn't believe in your addictions, in any of your problems. She sends you back to Logan without a second thought, thinking you and your siblings are blowing things out of proportion

You got your own place, somewhere free of association from all those terrible years, all that sickness. You invite your brothers and sister often, trying to make it up to them every single day

You've been clean from everything for a year. Connor couldn't be more proud. Everyday you fear you'll go back to the old you and every day you find a reason, no matter how small, not to. Most of the time it's for your brothers and sister. All the shit you put them through, everything they've done for you, all the times they picked you up from rock bottom, it's the least you could do for them

Kendall still sneaks you candy, one of the last vices you can truly indulge in. Your favorite from when you were a kid. He doesn't hold anything you say against you, knowing what that mindset is like. When you feel yourself slipping, you turn to him. You don't always have to say it, sometimes he just knows, he understands

Shiv still helps you out. Straightens your hair, fixes your collar, doing some damage control with the public when they've turned the story on you, looking after you in those small, significant ways like when you were little. She and Con are the ones to ask if you're okay, if you need a place to stay for a few days, anything at all. Sometimes you even take them up on their offers

You and Roman are closer now, too. He seeks you out at events, hugging you harder than anyone else. He's always kissing your head, holding you close. His comments remain snarky, but for you, self-aware. Nothing that goes too far. He'd always got a glass of sparkling water ready for you so you don't have to go near the bar. What you said hurt him beyond words, but he also knows that was the detoxing you speaking, not the real you. Still, he checks how much is in his glass now, trying to make up for the past

Connor is still the only good father figure in the world. Every year you send him a card for fathers day, writing the same long winded note as a thank you to him. He pretends they don't mean the world to him, but he's got each one in a box under his bed. They make him feel so, so loved

It's not easy. It never will be. You still have to see Logan, talk to him, pretend there's anything left of your relationship. God only knows what story he's spun for Marcia. But it gets more bearable knowing you have people on your side now, that Connor, Kendall, Shiv, and Roman all have your back no matter what. You're their baby sibling after all

[freakroth]

Young Love [Chapter 4]

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I'm to lazy to link the other chapters just go find them yourself

i haven't read this chapter in over 3 months so i have no idea if i should add a tw

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Y/N's POV:

It's been about 4 weeks since Chuuya apologized to me. We've become pretty good friends, but i'm still scared to show my real personality. 

Right now me, Sigma, Dazai and Chuuya are at a karaoke bar drinking and have fun.

"wake me up inside! (I can't wake up) wake me up inside, (Save me) call my name and save me from the dark, (Wake me up) bid my blood to run, (I can't wake up) before I come undone. (Save me) save me from the nothing I've become!" I sing while being pretty drunk. 

"Bring me to life! I've been living a lie! There's nothing inside! Bring me to life!" Sigma sings with me while Dazai records us. Chuuya is already asleep drunk of his ass, and his dumbass said he wasn't a lightweight. 

After we are done singing i plop onto the couch next to dazai who is also drunk. I pull Sigma(who is much taller then me) onto my lap. "Did you know you can get pimples on your pubic area..?" i asks Dazai and Sigma. They both look confused "you can?" Sigma says while i wrap my arms around his waist. 

Suddenly i push Sigma of my lap making him fall on the floor "i'm gonna sing another song" i get of the couch and grab the microphone.

"Touch me, yeah, I want you to touch me there. Make me feel like I am breathing, Feel like I am human" I sing and after i finish i hear Sigma and Dazai clapping for me.

"I didn't know you could sing so well Y/N!" Dazai says. "oh, and i could touch you if you know what i mean~" Dazai says in a flirty tone and i blush a bit. 'hes drunk, really drunk' i think to myself. "no thanks, i'd rather have Sigma touch me and kiss me!" i say and see Sigma blush. "Ooo~" Dazai teases Simga. 

"Come on! you have to kiss him! its the rules!" Yasano tells me. shes obviously very drunk. "Just kiss Dazai already!" she whines "Fine Fine" i sigh and get up. i almost trip and fall while walking because of all of the alcohol i've had. 

"Sup mamasita" Dazai says as i walk up to him. "..huh..? what are-" before he can ask me what i'm doing i slam my lips against his. as we kiss i hear the other people in the crowd cheering for us. 

We both melt into the kiss and i feel Dazai's hands wrap around my waist and i end up on his lap. I feel his toung enter my mouth and my hand brushes through his brunette hair as we make out.

"Okay thats enough you two!" Yasano yells. As i pull away i start panting trying to catch my breath and i see Dazai do the same. I get of his lap and sit down next to him and Sigma.

"..what are you guys doing..?" i hear Chuuya ask, he must have woke up because of the noise everyone was making. "Spin the bottle!" Dazai says and gets up and sits down next to him on the couch. "I'm not gonna play anymore since my beautiful boyfriend is awake!" Dazai says.

We all sit in a ring on the floor while waiting for the bottle to stop spinning to see who Sigma has to kiss. 'oh its gonna land on Lucy...? is that her name? oh a fly" i think as my attention turns to the fly and i stop paying attention to the game.

Suddenly i feel someone grab my jaw and kiss me. I open my eyes and see its Sigma. I start to melt into the kiss and i feel Sigma's hand caress my hair. We both pull away for a bit and go back to making out. 'why does this feel so good?' i think as i put my hand on his cheek. His lips feel so soft against mine, and i can taste his strawberry lip gloss.

When we finally pull away theres some saliva connecting our mouths. I try to catch my breath after what just happened. 'I JUST KISSED TWO PEOPLE IN ONE NIGHT?!' I think to myself and i feel my face getting hotter. "you okay Y/N..? you look a bit red.." Sigma asks me and touches my forehead. "you're burning up, i can take you back if you want.." He says and i look around and see everyone else passed out, drinking, laughing and playing other games while really drunk. 

"okay.. thanks.." i say and smile.

The next day i wake up and feel something under me "..huh..?" i look down and see Sigma laying under me. I start to blush a lot 'WHAT THE FUCK WHAT THE FUCK WHY AM I LAYING ON SIGMA DID WE HAVE SEX???' I start to imagen dirty stuff that could have happened last night and i squirm at the idea of me and Sigma doing it.

I feel some movement under me and see that Sigma is waking up. "..what time is it..?" he asks and yawns. i check my phone "8:30.." i say and freeze, i see that Sigma also freezes. ".Y/N.. what was your first class today..?" Sigma asks "P.E.." i answer "yeah your dead" Sigma says and i gulp. "why don't we just call in sick today? i mean a lot of people were out drinking last night to celebrate passing their first test of this school year.." i say. "i'm not sure th-" before Sigma can answer Nikolai busts down his door. 

"I just happened to hear that you two are late for school, but no worries! i already called the principle and tolled her that you two would stay home for today!" Nikolai says proudly. "..aren't you gonna go to school today..?" Sigma asks and Nikolai suddenly remembers that hes late. "Holy shit! I'm late!" He yells before running out of the dorm to his class.

Me and Sigma giggle, i then remember that we slept in the same bed and blush a bit. Sigma notices me blushing and asks "..you okay?" "yeah.. its just.. did we do anything last night when we came back here..?" I ask nervelessly and look him in the eyes. He seems to realize what i'm thinking about and chuckles nervelessly. "N-no we didn't do.. that.. i wouldn't do that with out your full consent.. and since you were drunk you wouldn't be able to"  he says reassuringly. (CONSENT IS SEXY) 

I let out a sigh of relief "oh okay.." i lay back down on the bed "so what should we do to day? Nikolai and Fyodor aren't gonna be home for a few hours" Sigma says in a calm voice and looks down at me "we could watch a movie?" "sure" he smiles down at me and i feel my heart skip a beat 'holy shit why is he so pretty'

We both sit down on Sigma's bed after getting some snacks "what should we watch?" Sigma asks me while i get comfortable "Lets watch repo the genetic opera!" "Okay" Sigma smiles at me again and i swear starts beating faster 'holy fuck hes so cute?!? i want him to be my boyfriend!! why can't we just hold hands already?? Y/N DON'T FUCKING KISS HIM!' i think while Sigma looks for the movie.

"ngh, Graverobber and Blind mag are so hot" i fangirl over them both while Sigma chuckles "i guess you could say that" He says and i feel his arm wrap around my waist 'HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT STAY CALM STAY CALM' i feel myself turning red with the contact we have.

 i feel him take my chin and bring my face closer to his "..Y/N would you believe me if i said i have a crush on you..?" i feel his breath on my lips 'if i just move a bit closer.. we'll kiss again..' "no.. i don't see myself as that attractive.." i look away from him but he pulls me back.

"i love you Y/N.." i cover his mouth with my hand "you're lying.. you wouldn't love someone like me.." i try not to cry. "but what about our kiss last night..?" "you were drunk and i also kissed dazai.." a small tear runs down my face and Sigma wipes it away "i was never drunk.. i  only drank one glass and then i was done.."  "why would you love someone that.. thats.. fat like me..?" more tears start to fall now as i can't even believe that he would like me. "Y/N you aren't fat.." Sigma hugs me and i hug him back "but my body is so ugly..?" "its not ugly.. i love you and your body.. its perfect.." 

"Can i kiss you again?" he asks me and i nod. I melt as i feel his soft lips on mine again, i feel his hand caress my hair gently. as i pull i start to pant a bit "i really do love you, and if i'm honest i fell for you when i first saw you.." he whispers to me and i start full on sobbing. "how can you love someone like me?! how can you love someone who acts like me?" I cry as i feel wipe my tears again "shh.. shhh its okay.. mo need to cry.." "theres nothing wrong with the way you act.."

We both lay there in his bed while i cry and he comforts me. I lay on top of him while i vent about stuff that have been bothering me for years, like how i can't understand my emotions well. Through all of this Sigma is being a real sweetheart and telling me comforting words.

Sigma's POV:

After Y/N calms down, they fall asleep in my arms. I caress their hair as they sleep, i can feel their chest slowly rising and falling 'how did i get so lucky to be able to hold them in my arms?' i think to myself before Nikolai busts into my room again.

"Sigma! Mr. Fukuichi almost killed me for being late!" he whines "shh! Y/N is sleeping" I scold him and see him start to smirk "ooo~ did you and Y/N stay in bed and cuddle all day?~" he teases me and i feel my cheeks heat up a bit "SO YOU TWO DID CUDDLE ALL DAY! DID YOU HEAR THAT FYODOR?! Y/N AND SIGMA ARE CUDDLING!" He yells and runs out of the room to tell Fyodor without closing the fucking door. I sigh and feel Y/N moving at bit "Did he wake you up, Darling?" I ask them as they sit up. "..yeah.." they yawn before kissing my red cheeks. "Are you hungry? we haven't gotten out of bed at all today." "hm.. yeah" "what do you want to eat?" i ask and i see them think for a while. "How about some Pizza? we could go out and get some for us and Nikolai and Fyodor" I smile "sure"

Me and Y/N walk hand in hand to a pizza shop near the dorms, its already a bit cold outside so we're both wearing matching sweatshirts (btw y/n started at the college around September and now its early October) I hear Y/N sigh and i look at them with a worried expression "something wrong, love?" I ask and pull them closer to me "its just that i don't want winter to come since i hate the cold" I chuckle a bit and kiss them on their cheek "Don't worry, i'll always keep you warm"

While me and Y/N are walking back after getting the pizza, we see some people from our college whisper and point at Y/N. I can see how uncomfortable and nervous they are because of this. "They are probably talking about how pretty your outfit is" i try to comfort them

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I feel so sigma

Ideas for future chapters are very much needed, please comment if you have any

[alpydk]

The Circling Sky (Part 2)

New fic, a lot darker than the last one. Set post-Netherbrain. Gale x F (OC) - Written primarily as my own therapy, it seems. TW - Reference to a suicide attempt as well as the overall theme of alcoholism and neglectful parenting.

He packed a small bag of clothes and supplies, thankful for his earlier time on the road for these new skills of survival. Though he was anxious for what was to come, a part of him was excited to be moving again, to see what types of people would be awaiting him this time. He left a small letter of explanation for Tara and as the sun rose, he left for the city limits.

Ao3 Link

Lissa had run home through the rain to find her father quickly packing essentials into a trunk. This happened every so often, usually when he owed money to someone and couldn’t pay up, but since reaching Waterdeep he had promised things would be different. “What do you mean we have to leave?” The smell of alcohol permeated his clothes, and she knew exactly what had happened. He’d got drunk, gambled the last of their gold away and was now most likely in debt to someone dangerous. “You’ve not pissed it away, have you?”

He refused to answer, just throwing clothes into a bag. “Lissa, dear. It’s not how it looks, we just have to lay low for a little while, that’s all. Go grab your cloak.” She noted the swelling under his eye, not the first black eye he’d managed to get. At least that’s all it was this time.

She remembered the nights she had come home from working at sleazy bars, finding him unconscious on the floor either from having been beaten up or having just drunk himself into that state. The worst moment was when she was barely ten years old and she had found him lying under a broken rafter in their bedroom, the noose still tied around his neck and his face bruised and swollen from what he had attempted to do. She’d been young but she fully understood what had happened, choosing just to sit with him until he woke. He’d never tried anything like that again but the drinking, the gambling, the fights, they all continued. She’d thought about leaving so many times, even threatened it, but each time he would play the victim and she would feel the guilt wrap itself around her own throat, her own noose ready for the hanging.

“But what about my job, Dad? I can’t just up and leave.”

“Well, you’re going to have to. I’m sure they won’t miss you. There’re always other young girls who can serve drinks.”

She turned from him holding back her anger. He didn’t even know what she had been doing these last two months. How every single day she’d worked at the library to bring money into their home, keeping them fed and with a roof over their heads. “Can you not just use the money I’ve been putting aside? Do we really have to leave another place?”

He paused from packing, and she knew exactly what this meant. “The savings?”

“You used them too, didn’t you?”

“Well now, there were good odds on this horse…”

She wanted to shout at him. She should have known better than to have left the gold at home where he could access it. He’d promised her that this wouldn’t happen again, promised her that the drinking would stop, and he would do better by her. She couldn’t even be angry at him though, it was so much easier to feel nothing, to expect disappointment instead.  Her father, the most unreliable person she knew.

Realising she hadn’t brought her cloak home with her; she looked back over to him. “How much time do we have?”

“We’re joining the caravan to Baldur’s Gate around sunrise tomorrow. I expect us up and at the city limits just before then,” he said as he slumped to his side, leaving the bag and gripping his chest.

Hearing the thud, she ran over to him “Shit, Dad. The pain again? You spoke to the clerics, right?”

He rubbed at his shirt breathing deeply until it had passed. “Of course, they said it’s nothing.”

“So that money went on booze too, didn’t it?” She stood back up shaking her head. He couldn’t be trusted to do anything. Why did she keep letting him get away with this? “I left my cloak at the library. I’ll be back in a bit.”

***

Gale paced his study trying to figure out what to do with himself. He had no confirmation that this letter was real and no more information than what was written there. He considered a sending spell, maybe another letter to gather up information but he felt restless knowing he would need to wait for a reply. There was also the matter that if the information was correct, if Tav was truly dead then he would be left alone to grieve in Waterdeep. There was always Tara and his mother and yet they had never brought comfort in the same way his friends had. No, he wanted to be around them again; he would travel to Baldur’s Gate. 

He packed a small bag of clothes and supplies, thankful for his earlier time on the road for these new skills of survival. Though he was anxious for what was to come, a part of him was excited to be moving again, to see what types of people would be awaiting him this time. He left a small letter of explanation for Tara and as the sun rose, he left for the city limits.

***

“Is five gold mate, you can’t just come on ‘ere for free.” 

Lissa’s father, Viktor, had been trying to barter for some time with the caravan leader to get them a spot on the cart. After she’d left him, he’d done little more in the ways of packing and had instead started on a bottle of brandy he’d bought with the last gold they had. The swelling under his eye had turned a blue-black colour and he nursed his head clearly suffering the consequences of his actions. 

“Look, ‘ow ‘bout you let us ‘ave a little minute with your pretty friend there. Then we can call it even.”

Her back tensed up at the idea of it and her father’s silence brought her little comfort. Was he seriously considering this? In the end, she turned removing a small silver ring from her finger. “Here this is easily worth five gold.”

“But wasn’t that your mother’s?” her father said, his voice sounding gravelly. 

It had been, but her mother was long gone. A drow that had managed one drunken night with her father and then ditched her the moment she realised she wasn’t a full-blood. Just another tragic half-breed treated as an outsider by both races. All she had was her father; what was some trinket compared to family? Lissa handed over the necklace and as the caravan leader nodded, she took her father’s arm helping him up onto the cart. 

“Lissa?”

A voice from behind her calling her name, one she recognised. As she turned, she saw Gale approach, his arm waving to her and a smile on his face. What was he doing here? Viktor leant out from behind her. “He looks like he’d have a bit of cash on him.” 

She stepped down from the cart and approached Gale, trying to distance herself from her father lest Gale realise she was together with him. “Mr. Dekarios, a surprise to see you.”

“Yes, yes, a welcome surprise to see you too. I’m to take a rather unexpected journey. Might I assume that you are to do the same?” He signalled to the wagon. 

“Yeah, something like that. We’re going to visit family.” This had been the lie ever since she was a child, a dying grandmother, a pregnant aunt, some distant relative in need of aid, anything but the truth. She’d lost count of how many times she had covered for her father’s debts.

“Ah, exciting. Well, it will be good to have some fine company on this expedition.” He softly smiled at her, and she remembered how close she had come to kissing him the previous evening, the warmth inside her still burning for him. If she hadn’t been aware of her father’s eyes on them both she might have just given in there and then to him.

“Oi, Lis’, we need to get a move on. He wouldn’t be interested in you anyways, looks like he goes for the smart ones,” he laughed.

She closed her eyes at her father’s words that rang out over the group of travellers. She opened them again to see Gale looking at her with sympathy. His voice was quiet and caring. “Family, I take it?”

She gave a quick nod and turned to the cart. This was going to be a very long trip to Baldur’s Gate.

***

For some hours they sat as the cart rocked back and forth along the bumpy road. Viktor had thankfully fallen asleep, a flask in hand. He’d told her it just held water, but the smell had given it away quite quickly. So long as he was asleep that was fine. It meant she could collect her thoughts and prepare for setting up again in a new city. 

Gale sat across from her observing the way she tapped her fingers repetitively. Thumb to pointer, tapped twice, repeated on each finger and back again. Clearly, some sort of mindless soothing habit she had. These little things he had never had the chance to see during his visits to the library. Though he had watched her often then, it was different when she wasn’t moving around constantly. Eventually, he spoke up hoping she would engage in conversation with him. “Lissa, I delivered your cloak to the library. I can see you never found the opportunity to collect it.”

“We left in quite a hurry. Family emergency you see.” She nervously tapped her fingers together a few more times.

He leant forward, placing a hand on her knee, his voice calm and soft. “Ah, do you want to talk about it? I’m quite the good listener.”

“No, no it’s fine.” More information meant more lies, which meant more to keep track of. Best to just keep it short and simple. Besides once they reached the city, they would be parting ways for good. No reason to build any attachments.

“Well, when we travel back, maybe you can collect it. Or possibly I could purchase you a new one. It was my fault after all that you left it behind.”

She remembered the events vividly, how she had left the tower, how the rain had battered down on her bare shoulders as she ran home. She could feel the warmth of his hand on her leg, her mind becoming easily distracted; change the subject repeating internally. “Why is it you are travelling Mr. Dekarios?”

“Please, my dear. Call me Gale. We are no longer in the library.”

“That may be so but if we are to return, I don’t want to create any bad habits I can not break.” She didn’t want to build up any close relations, especially not with someone who she was already fond of. 

Gale pulled himself back, removing his hand from her. He seemed disappointed and she hated herself for dismissing him so quickly. Her father snored next to her, and she bit back the resentment she held towards him. If only that beam had held, maybe things would have been different for her. No, she shouldn’t think that, this was her father after all.

“I understand. Well, I suppose my reason for travelling is much like your own. A family emergency of sorts.” Gale didn’t want to say death until he was sure of the exact circumstances, and he didn’t want to share full details if she was to keep up the pretence of a professional relationship.

She nodded. She was curious but did not want to dig further into it, knowing it would mean sharing more of her own life as an unwritten payment for information. She grabbed at the bag between her legs puling out a small book to read.

“Tanil?”

Lissa lifted her head at the unexpected question.

Gale gestured to the book in her hands. “The book you hold there. Felaar Tanil, if I’m not mistaken.” 

“Um, yes, it is. How did you know?”

He gave a short chuckle. “My dear, I’ve been known to try my hand at poetry. Tanil is one of the ones I would often recommend over a bottle of Blingdenstone Blush.”

She smiled at him, enjoying this moment of connection but simultaneously cursing the fact that they shared something in common. Her slowly improving mood was shattered instantly at the voice of her father, his opinions needing to be vocalised for all to hear.

“Poetry is for elves, princesses, and men who-” His voice was cut off by a sudden lurch of the cart, hitting a bump in the road. Lissa was thankful as it gave her a quick moment to mouth an apology to Gale for her father’s behaviour. Only three tenday to go… 

[your-highnessmarvel]

cotton candy | s.riley

CHAPTER TEN

Pairing: Simon Riley aka Ghost x Original female character

Warnings: language, blood, guns, and gun violence

Chapter Summary: Laura gets caught in an ambush, throwing her right at the mercy of her enemies. In the dark, alone, covered in blood, there might be no way she survives this one.

A/N: AYEEE! Okay not much smut or anything in here, but just some more story building. Next chapter is gonna be some HEAVY smut but I had to build to that so if you're one of those who don't care about the story, just skip to next chapter LOL

Masterlist

Taglist: Open

Find it on AO3 HERE.

I got back into the bar, finding it in me to ignore what had just happened. Every inch of my skin buzzed, my lips swollen and pained from his mouth, from the kisses he lay down my neck. I was desperately grasping at the memories that were vanishing like smoke - I wanted to remember that feeling. There was no way that my treacherous mind would rip those memories of Ghost - Simon - from me.

Soap and Ale were still inside, and when Soap's eyes found mine across the dark, foggy room, I was brutally reminded of the words Simon had spoken against my neck.

"I want you to cum, Laura."

"Soap would do a fine job, I'm sure."

And from across the room, Soap smiled, waved at me.

The sergeant living in my head chuckled, touching me and kissing me and whispering filthy nothings against my warm skin. I had to shake my head to get the image of Soap fucking me out of my mind.

This place was driving me to the brink of insanity.

"Ghost left?" Soap asked, meandering through the crowd like a bullet through glass to get to me. He stood a few inches away, like I was a fire hazard.

I rose my brows, puckered my lips. God, could I make it anymore obvious? "Uh, yeah, he was tired."

Soap stared at me, expressionless. He knew. "Yeah, right, okay, let's get absolutely hammered, yeah?"

The first two drinks went down like water, which helped because I sucked at pool and Soap was a horrible teacher and Ale kept laughing at me.

By the time Gaz walked in, fresh from a shower that I could smell a mile away (he came to impress), I was halfway through my sixth beer, and my skin buzzed.

He caught up to me in no time, flashing a dazzling smile, arm across my shoulder, screaming and swaying to the music playing so loud my chest hurt. With Soap beside me, yelling in whatever language, his skin grazing mine whenever he swayed against me. His knuckles against my biceps, his arm replacing Gaz's, his laugh in my ear. A haunting, a terrible, terrible haunting figure of him stayed imprinted like a scalding brand against my mind.

Because the rest of the night was just a blur.

And the second I woke up, I knew trouble was on the horizon.

I tumbled out of my bunk, still clad in the sweaty, dirty clothes of last night, watching Gaz and Soap run across the RV, splotches of harsh sunlight catching on their skin.

"What's happening?" I mumbled, headache pounding in my skull, still half drunk.

Gaz looked up as he was peeling an old pair of boxers from the floor. "Alvarez is moving cargo today," he said, throwing the dirty thing into the bathroom.

"Cargo?"

"Guns, explosives, ammo."

Soap latched a bulletproof vest onto his shoulders. "And drugs."

I sighed. "Cool, so what then?"

Gaz shrugged. "We catch a couple guys, waterboard them until they give us some kind of valuable information, eh, Soap?"

Soap winked, slapping on the flaps of his vest. "Yes, sir."

I raked my hands in my hair, through the tangled mess of black knots.

"Price will stay with you," Gaz said, slipping on his boots.

I frowned and crossed my arms, leaning against the doorframe of the bathroom. "Who?"

"Captain Price," Gaz answered. "He'll meet us here in twenty and bring you to comms. You'll be able to quickly identify Alvarez if he's there and also, we can make sure you're not wandering around here willy-nilly."

I opened my mouth, insulted. "Willy-nilly?"

"You do tend to do that a lot, princess," Soap interjected, slipping on gloves that just made his entire outfit look... sexy.

I rolled my eyes, locking myself in the bathroom. I listened to them finish up; lacing their shoes, throwing the worst jokes ever between them. While I brushed my hair and got ready for a shower, I heard them leave, and it gave me peace to know I was alone. Even if it was only for 20 minutes.

I showered and dressed in a green t-shirt that I got from the girls on base, so it was tight enough for me. I got back into my black trousers and laced on some kicks.

I was halfway into a Fruitloops bowl when the door to the RV swung open. Like on instinct, my body tensed, a wash of burning heat flashing down my spine.

But it wasn't Ghost. It was this Price fellow, shadowed in the doorframe with the morning sun burning at his back.

He was tall, his shoulders stretching out the long sleeve tee he was wearing, the color of charcoal. A thick moustache that connected to his beard, under cold and small blue eyes. His hat, a sort of fisherman's dream, made him look almost homely.

"Laura?"

I squinted. "No."

He squinted back, tilting his head to the side like a father scolding a child. "You're not stupid and neither am I," he said. Oh he definitely had kids. He gestured at me with one gloved hand. "Let's get going."

I huffed, dropping my bowl of cereal into the sink and walking out of the RV with Price. He was really tall, I realized, as I climbed down the two wiggling steps of the motorhome. Not as tall as Ghost, but close enough.

Price was galant, holding the door for me, offering his hand. I chose to ignore it, feeling fussy and jittery.

"They said you were somethin' else," he mumbled as he closed the door, letting it swing shut.

I looked back, watching him as the morning sun bathed him in light. "Who said what about me?" I asked, following him with quick steps, trying to keep up with his giant leaps.

The sun blinded me as we made our way through the maze of tents, but I still saw the corner of his lips move into a smirk.

"Is it Johnny?" I asked again. "Or Ale?"

He shook his head. "I bet you'd like to know."

We rounded the corner of the gym building, lounging the wall, the sun so hot and bright here.

"Of course," I answered. "I want to know which one's talking smack about me."

"No one's talking smack about you, Laura."

"It's gotta be Soap."

He turned to me, pining me under his beady blue eyes. But he was sort of smiling. "I like you," he said, and I couldn't help but make a silly grimace. "But stop acting like a baby."

I followed him in silence after that. We walked between the Emergency Room and the Women's Barracks, saved by the shade and the coolness made me sigh in relief.

"Why does everyone wear gloves around here?" I asked. He groaned. "I mean, it's like you guys are organizing some type of mass murder but you're being very careful about fingerprints."

"Shut up."

He opened a door for me that lead into a very somber hallway. The building was the biggest manmade structure on base, and the call of the AC had me scuttling inside to reach the fresh air.

Closing the door, Price let out a groan of relief as well. "Welcome to comms," he said, gesturing with his hand down the somber hall.

"This place is eerie."

The hall echoed our steps as we meandered down, opening a door to the sound of metal hinges and static. Price guided me into a room full of small monitors, like TVs in the 70s, glued to every inch of the four walls.

The room was rather small, which made the boy sitting at the desk seem so out of place.

"Laura," Price said, closing the door behind us. "Meet Private Michaels, our communications technician."

The boy, Michaels, turned in the wheely chair, a horrifying screech coming from the wheels. He had a mass of curly brown hair flopped over his head--so not army appropriate--and he had so many freckles on his face. It made him look no older than eighteen, with round cheeks and hope in his big doe eyes.

"Nice to meet you," I said, following the physical instruction Price was giving me to sit at the desk opposite Michaels.

Price sat in the chair next to me, holding a pair of headphones in his hand. "Put these on," he said.

I did as I was told.

"Here," he instructed, pointing to the monitors in front of me. The white and grey glow of the screens reflected off his face, casting awkward shadows on him, like black, moving smudges.

I turned to the screen, watching as Soap sat down. "Soap," I said, almost hopefully, a smile bursting on my face.

"He can't hear you," Price muttered absentmindedly, taking his hat off to put on his headphones. His hair was short and cropped, a soft brown. "These are bodycams," he explained. "You're viewing Ghost's now. And with these buttons here, you can switch between them."

I looked at his fingers as he played with the keyboard's function button. I did the same on mine, and the view changed, showing Gaz chewing on gum, settled in next to someone's broad shoulder.

"All strapped in boys?" he said, and hearing him through the headphones made me laugh. I felt like I was spying on them. I heard mumbles across the comms, and then I heard an engine starting.

"Michaels," Price said. "Convoy is on the move."

"Convoy 783 Alpha Romeo Alpha Echo is moving towards primary target," Michael repeated, and when I turned, he was holding a mic to his mouth. He quickly panned back to the screen, and I could see an aerial view of the truck in question.

"You can see the drone footage like this," Price said, getting my attention back to my own screens.

He pressed a few buttons on my keyboard, and the screen to my left switched to the drone view.

I followed the little green truck with my eyes, trying to imagine what the guys looked like in there, huddled up. I tried to imagine what they were thinking, if they thought this entire mission was so stupid; since they had to babysit some girl who got caught in the crossfire and chase after a drug lord that should've been easy to catch.

I felt so dumb, so worthless and stupid as I watched the bodycams; seeing Gaz check his weapons, Ghost and his skull mask leaning against the wall of the truck with an empty look in his eyes. Soap with his rifle barrel down, hand on the butt end of it. Ale smoking a cigarette.

These men who had better things to do had become sort of... my friends.

I felt my heart beat a little faster, and the closer they got to the target location, the more I felt blood rush in my ears.

"Convoy has arrived at drop off," Michaels narrated.

"If you see anyone familiar, Laura," Price told me, leaning close to me so I was forced to pay attention. "Tell me."

I nodded, feeling my palms start to sweat. "Yes."

"Squad is 900 yards from target location."

"Switch to Soap or Ghost," Price instructed, and I flipped my view to Ghost, watching the sway of his gun, one of his gloved hands gripping the barrel. "Put Soap on your second monitor."

I did, seeing the ground move beneath his rapid steps, watching them approach a building with a splotch of shade beside it like dark ink.

"500 yards."

I felt a lump rise in my throat.

"Target location acquired. Lieutenant, move your squad into position."

From Ghost's camera, I saw them crowd the building; Soap moving in front of Ghost, towards the entrance. On the other side of the door, Gaz and Ale, nodding to each other in a language unknown to me.

"Moving int-"

And then the entire world went dark.

The monitors closed with a doomed dying sound, a cloak of darkness snapping into the room. No lights. No sounds. Just the echo of my heartbeat and nothing else.

Until Price. "Michaels, what happened."

No response.

"Michaels!"

"Sir, I'm not entirely sure!" the boy answered frantically. I heard the wheels of his chair screech in response.

"Get us back on!"

"Nothing's working sir!"

I heard Price get out of his chair, and he moved, but I couldn't see. Even my hand a few inches from my nose. I was blind.

"Where's the -"

"Sir, I'm trying the breaker box, everything is fried."

"Fried?"

I felt something like a stone drop in my belly, a looming doom rising in my chest like a monster.

Something was terribly wrong.

"Yes, sir, fried."

"How?" Price asked, and his voice, quiet and small, made it seem like he knew the answer to his own question. And then, "How?" and that was an entirely other question.

"I don't know how they got the technology, but I'm assuming-"

"Do you have a weapon?" Price interrupted.

"My side arm, sir."

I felt hands at my shoulders. How could he see in the dark?

"Stay with Laura." He instructed. "Laura, stay here. I'm going to go find a weapon."

"What..." but I trailed off when i heard the door, and my eyes had adjusted just enough to see a darker shadow pass in front of me and leave.

The sound of the shutting door was like an omen.

"Michaels," I whispered.

"It's okay, miss."

My hands turned into fists. "What's happening."

There was a long, strange silence, where I could practically feel the wheels turning in his head, as if he wasn't sure if he should tell me or not.

"There's been..." he trailed off, his voice strained. Then, "There's been an EMP."

I frowned, turning in my chair even though only i was only met with darkness. "A what?"

Again, a short silence. "It's an electromagnetic pulse," he clarified. "It fried our system and I don't know why we can't get it back on. They must be running interference."

I raised my brows. "They can do that?" I fired back. "They can do that to the US Navy?" I was more impressed than anything else.

"I guess."

"But why?" I asked.

Another silence. "For you, I'm thinking."

"Me?"

"You don't seem to realize that you're the only person outside of Alvarez's crew that has seen his face."

"I'm beginning to wonder if that's even true," I said. "He said he was Alvarez. He had the tattoo and all. What if it was a decoy?"

"No one else is allowed to have that tattoo," Michaels explained, seemingly an expert on this. "He kills anyone who even thinks of doing it. He's a kingpin. So yeah, maybe you're right, but I think they wouldn't spend that much money and energy on a whole EMP if you hadn't seen the real Alvarez's face."

In the distance, I heard a door opening and closing. I swallowed my fear, hoping Price was coming with good news.

"You're right," I told Michaels. "But still, I keep hoping this is all a hoax."

Michaels laughed, but it soon died on his lips when the door swung open and a flash, a bang of white hot, orange light burst into the room, illuminating the space in a flash, a moment.

It hung there before me like a tableau. On one side, Michaels on his feet, aiming his gun, a flash erupting from the barrel. On the other, someone else, definitely not Price, wearing black gear and a full face helmet.

I felt hung above this tiny room, watching this scene from a distance, hearing the sounds of gunshots, hearing bodies hitting the floor like marbles in water.

"Michaels!"

I stumbled in the dark, landing on my knees, something wet and so warm seeping through my trousers. On the other side, the sound of choking.

"Michaels!"

I felt around with my hands, wetting them in something thick like yogurt but warm like tea. I found his body with my hands, shaking it.

"Take... this," he stuttered, his voice wet and wretched, scratched and weak. He pressed something into my wet hands, something cold and metallic. The gun.

"No," I mumbled, and i felt the tears tracing down my face, the fear rising up in me when I finally realized what had just happened.

My ears buzzed.

I felt a cold fist reach into my chest and squeeze the air out of my lungs.

I was alone, in the dark, and someone had come in to try to kill me.

Was he dead?

I stood in the dark, with Michaels' gun in my trembling hands. My knees were weak, making it hard to cross the room, stepping on this stranger's dead body.

Disgust built in my throat, lumping in my mouth. I squeezed my eyes, allowing tears to slide off my lashes.

I pressed my hand against the door and pulled it open, moving this man's body with my feet.

I whimpered, disgusted with myself, with the fact that I had blood everywhere on me.

The door was open, but it was still so impossibly dark.

I had to get outside, where I had light, where I could see the sun.

Where was Price?

I pressed one bloody hand on the wall, the other holding the gun before me, shaking, trembling from head to toe. I kept a steady pace, trying to calm my breathing, my racing heart, my tears building along my lash line.

I heard a crash, a shot, footsteps on the other side of the building. I fell into a crouch, holding onto the gun with wet, rigid fingers. I blindly swung it around, finger so close to pulling the trigger.

I had to find light.

I almost screamed when I heard footsteps around the building outside, shouts in a language I couldn't understand.

I stood on shaking knees, the tremble moving into my legs as I took tiny steps towards the door--or what I thought was the door. But as I crept along the wall, my ears fine-tuned to any noise around me, it was clear that the building was surrounded.

It felt like hours went by. It felt like days in there, in the dark. There were shots echoing outside, ricocheting off the building. I could hear the cement tumbling to the ground.

I sat there, back to the wall, in utter silence and darkness, praying no one would come looking for either of the dead bodies in the other room.

But I wouldn't stay in here much longer. I had to get out. Find light. Find Price or Laswell or anybody else.

I stood and made it quietly to the front door, hand on the push bar, heaving in breath after breath. I pushed, holding the gun before my face. A sliver of light appeared, blinding me for a second as I came out.

I heard feet shuffling in the dirt, but the sun was so bright, my eyes hadn't yet adjusted. So I turned, saw a blurry, dark figure.

As soon as my eyes registered a gun pointed right at my head, my brain went into survival mode and I pulled the trigger.

The force of the gun made me tumble back, arm raised to shield from the sun, the potential bullet coming my way. But I just heard a shout of pain.

I raised my head, eyes still squinted. I'd shot the man, dressed in blacks, helmet over his face, bulletproof vest over his chest. I'd shot him right in the forearm, causing his gun to fall to the dirt ground.

"Oh, shit," I mumbled.

He looked up, pressing one hand against the bloody hole in his arm. He said something to me, but I didn't understand. And suddenly, he was charging at me, a few long leaps and he crashed into me, sending us both tumbling to the ground in a cloud of sandy smoke.

My head hit the ground with a sickening thud and I lost the gun, my hands coming up to shield my face. He kept screaming at me, his heavy body pressed flat against mine.

I screamed, pushing at his shoulders, but he meandered his hands around my neck and cut the air from my lungs. My eyes flew wide, watching my reflection in his mask; a wild girl with messy black hair and eyes filled with nothing but terror.

He was straddling me and there was no way I was strong enough to buck him off. But I tried anyway, planting my feet against the ground but with no air in my lungs, my face burning, lips swelling, my feet just resorted to scrambling against the dirt.

My vision was closing.

I tried to scream, but my mouth stayed open and I watched my reflection quietly go dark.

This was finally the end for me.

My eyes went dark and my hearing turned to a sharp ringing. He fell over me, relieved almost, so heavy like deadweight. I thought he was spitting on me, something wet slapping on my face, warm and gooey.

But then his fingers relaxed around my neck and I took a strong, loud gasp of air. I stared at the clear blue skies, watching my assailant's form like a huddled black mass laid right over me.

Did I die?

And then Ghost's mask came into view, over me, pulling the man from my body. With his weight lifted off, I coughed, gulping in air like a parched man with water.

I put my hands over my face, feeling the wet, dried crust of... blood?

It hadn't registered in my brain that the man had died. But why else was Ghost here? And when my fingers came back blood red, caked in Michaels' and two other man's blood, the fear that built in me came out like a shriek.

I felt hands at my shoulders, hoisting me up, and I turned, ready to punch, claw, kick, and scream my way out. But I only saw Soap's face, splattered with blood and torn with fear. He grabbed my face with two hands, bringing his eyes up to mine.

"Tell me you're okay," he breathed.

I was heaving, nodding frantically, grabbing onto his forearms like an anchor.

He sighed, relieved, pulling me against him. He kept one hand in my hair, the other stroking my chin.

"Soap, what's happening?" I asked, gripping onto his bulletproof vest.

I turned in his embrace, watching Ghost kick the body to the side and rip the helmet off. Someone, Ghost or Soap, had shot him clear through the neck. A gaping, bloody hole tore through his trachea.

"I would've kept him alive just to hurt him even more," Ghost said through clenched teeth. He was in his full army-issued uniform, complete with his tactical vest, his helmet, gloves.

When he turned to me, I saw the heavy look he gave me through the holes in his skull mask. The bone-white was sprinkled with dots of red.

He was angry.

"I'm so sorry I got out," I mumbled.

Soap hushed me, a finger on my lower lip, wiping the blood off, comforting me. Ghost stood, walking slowly up to us. He pushed the strap of his rifle over his shoulder, letting the weapon hang at his side, and reached out to brush a strand of hair out of my face.

"Not your fault," he mumbled. I looked up slowly, meeting his gaze. He was so close to us. With Soap holding onto my waist, Ghost's hands skimming down my neck, I finally felt safe.

It was so strange, having a dead body inches from my feet, and two grown men with the warmth of the sun cajoling me with comforting caresses down my spine, along my shoulders.

"We need to get her out of here," Soap mumbled. He'd buried his face in my hair, kissing along my hairline. The intimate gesture made me shiver.

I closed my eyes when I felt Ghost's hands along my waist.

Soap wrapped one arm around my shoulders steering me along. I watched as Ghost took back his weapon, walking in front of us as we rounded the corner of the comms building.

"They killed Michaels," I mumbled.

Soap pressed me closer to him.

"I had to take his gun," I continued. I shivered at the thought of his blood on my fingers. Of him dying alone in there, in the dark, with some strange body next to his.

We jogged to the barracks building, one I recognized from my time getting clothes from the women on base. We entered silently, the place quiet and dark.

"We should wait until they've got comms back on," Ghost said, closing the door behind us and hurrying us into the hall.

"Are we sure all shadows have been eliminated?" Soap asked.

"Dunno," Ghost mumbled, ripping open a door and ushering us inside. It was cold but the curtains were open and light swooped in, illuminating the few bunks in the room.

"We should wait out here until then," Ghost instructed, heading over to the curtains and pulling them shut, squeezing all light out of the room.

[scribeofskyrim]

Middas, 15th of Heartsfire, 4E 201

Drunk Me is a terrible, stupid, no-good bitch.

I thought I’d left myself a cup of water by the bed this morning.

It was more liquor.

Right now, I’m back in bed, trying to use this to focus and make my head stop spinning. I took a second to make myself decent and poke my head over the balcony to order up some breakfast and water for us all. I hope Corpulus or whoever gets here soon.

I only remember bits of last night, but from what I can make out on the last page here it looks like we had one hell of a time! At least Drunk Bronwen did one smart thing - I woke up alone. I do not want to get tangled up with anyone in this town or anywhere else just yet. Even for a night.

-----

Damn. Drunk Me might have done something really stupid, but no one’s said anything, so… No harm, no foul? I noticed a makeup smudge on my face while I was washing up after breakfast that sure as Oblivion didn’t come from me! I have no idea who it came from, though. Oh, well.

Lydia looks tired and a bit worn, but not that bad, all things considered. I know I was telling people that she had earned a night of partying, and the bar just... Went with it! I think she got free drinks the whole night!

She asked if I woke up with another fiance (or fiancee?), and Erandur almost choked on his tea.

Sweet Divines. I’d forgotten! I hope I didn’t get engaged again or worse. Erandur’s a priest of Mara. He can marry people!

Erandur said he didn’t recall officiating any weddings last night. At least, he doesn’t think he did. His memory’s as hazy as mine. Right now he’s finishing up a cup of tea with his hood pulled low over his eyes. He muttered about how he hasn’t woken up like this in well over a decade.

Lydia’s telling him about the last time we got this drunk while we wait for Valdimar to finish cleaning out his helmet. Apparently it got passed around so people could try it on, then used as a communal drinking bowl.

Well, we might not remember much, but at least we had a good time, and I (probably) didn’t get married.

_____

I thought I would start crying again once I finished the main part of the house, but I barely have any energy to write.

I realized something, though. I have to write. Putting my day in here helps me sleep. It’s like setting down a burden I’m carrying in my head. I like it.

Today I need it.

Once we got over our hangovers (more or less), we gathered our things and left Solitude for the Manor. Aside from a few mudcrabs and getting turned around in the mist, getting here the first time was easy.

I built what I could, and finished the entryway before I ran out of logs. So, we trekked our way back over the swamp to the mill just outside of Solitude to buy more.

I’ve never stopped at that mill before, so I didn’t know the route back. We found a creepy ruin on our way over here, but there wasn’t much to it. Just a walled area with an altar-looking table and wall in the middle, with a chest stashed behind it. There was a bit of gold and some armor inside, but that was it. Still - Easy money!

The other thing we found was… Terrible.

We noticed the smoke first, then the smell as we got nearer.

All I could think about was Helgen. I instinctively put my hands up, spells at the ready, and the others pulled their weapons as well. Then... I froze. It wasn’t a spell or anything; I literally couldn’t make myself take a step towards the smoke until the dog barked and snapped me out of it.

We rushed forward, ready to fight, but there was nothing there to fight. Just a house on the edge of the swamp, barely in the treeline, mostly reduced to ruin but still burning. There were scorch marks on the ground all over, and a body next to a wagon out front. It was so burned I couldn’t tell you anything about it other than it had been a person. Inside was no better. There was a burned body on the floor, but I could barely see it through the fire and smoke.

Inside the house, memories from Helgen came back again. The screams and that terrible dragon’s roar – Divines, I hear it now – and the smell of blood and burning right in front of me…

It was too much. I felt like I couldn’t breathe, like I would die if I stayed there, so I ran.

I bolted through the swamp, straight for here. I have no idea how I knew where to go, but I got here in minutes, it felt like, and fell to my knees in the clearing in front of the house.

The dog got to me first, and I just hugged him while I broke down.

When the others got to me, they helped me up and got me inside.

There’s still not much in there, but I had built a fire pit to cook at, so Valdimar started work on some soup while Lydia and Erandur got me settled on a sabercat pelt they put on the floor. They sat on either side of me and Lydia started asking questions, but Erandur stopped her. He simply held my hand and said that they were here for me, and that I was safe.

It’s been a long time since anyone’s said anything like that to me, and if I’m not careful, I’m going to start crying again right here at the dining room table.

Of course, I started crying even harder then, but I almost stopped from shock because Lydia hugged me! She gave me a big, tight hug and said that it was healthy to cry. Even if I was the Dragonborn, a thane, and the “Hero of Helgen.”

That’s what stopped me.

I asked her what in Oblivion she meant by that, and she said that’s what they called me at Dragonsreach before they learned I was the Dragonborn. The Jarl had sent me with Irileth because I had experience fighting the dragon at Helgen. I explained that I never told him that, I just told him I was there and I saw it. When the dragon attacked the western watchtower and he asked me for help, I didn’t have time to argue. I just went and did it!

Valdimar brought us all some bowls of potato soup and asked why would the Jarl think I’d fought a dragon? I was about to ask the same thing, but then I remembered an important detail.

I had been wearing Imperial armor I’d looted in Helgen. The Jarl probably thought I was stationed there, and had fought with them when the dragon attacked. Erandur said that made sense. An Imperial woman with a Cyrodiilan accent, wearing Imperial armor, coming from a Legion outpost – He’d think the same thing.

Then Lydia asked the big question. The one I’d been able to dodge for almost a month.

If I wasn’t with the Imperial Legion, what was I doing there?

So, I took a big drink of the water Valdimar offered me, and I told them most of it. I started with being captured trying to cross the border, and told them about meeting Ralof and Ulfric Stormcloak in the back of the cart on the way to Helgen. I told them how the Legion decided to execute me, even though they’d just picked me up in the woods and I hadn’t done anything wrong.

That got a round of particularly nasty curses from them. Erandur said a few things that surprised even me!

I told them about the dragon and a bit about my escape, but when my hands started to shake so much the spoon was rattling in my bowl, Erandur patted me on the back and said that was enough. Valdimar took the bowl and Erandur took my hand again, and reminded me that I’m safe. Lydia started to ask why I was trying to sneak into Skyrim, but Erandur stopped her.

She was clearly not happy about being shushed, but Valdimar loudly suggested that he and her go out and patrol the perimeter. He said he wanted to make sure there were no wolf dens or spider nests nearby. She agreed before he could haul her out of there (I know he would) but I caught her mouthing something to Erandur before she left.

He said she told him to take care of me.

As soon as we could tell they were out of earshot, I apologized. I don’t know what happened. He shrugged and told me that it was all right. He’d seen it before, dozens of times.

We sat in silence for a bit, and I don’t know why, but I told him what happened in the Capitol. He just listened, and nodded as I talked. I mean, it’s not a long story, and when I was done he agreed that I did the right thing. He said I was just defending my friend, and honest men don’t keep daggers up their sleeves. He would know; he pulled back his sleeve and showed me an old scar on the underside of his left forearm.

He’d been careless sheathing his blade.

He asked if I was feeling any better, and I was, mostly. He told me how he had some training about getting through fits like mine when he became a priest of Mara. He offered to teach me how to meditate or do some special breathing to calm my nerves, but I didn’t want to. I can’t sit still long enough, and I was starting to get antsy.

Erandur suggested doing something repetitive and simple. He said a lot of priests take up handcrafts or gardening if they can’t meditate. I know I need a lot of nails, so we went outside and I hammered out nails until I felt better. He talked a bit about his time at the Bard’s college, and mentioned he got high marks for memorization. I said I figured as much, given his performance last night!

I would pay a thousand Septims for a painting of his face at that moment. He didn’t remember anything about the bet with the students, (I couldn’t remember either, I just read what I wrote from last night!) but when I said he re-enacted “a certain play” for all of us he cringed and tried to disappear into his hood! He did his nervous laugh and was trying to explain his actions away when Lydia walked over and commented that I looked like I was doing better.

She’d come over to help me with the building, and we worked on the main house while Erandur wandered off to the water’s edge to where Valdimar was standing with the dog. Lydia mentioned that there was a pack of horkers out that way, and that she’d found some iron ore and stone I could quarry if I needed it. They’d also spotted a ruin not too far off.

That’s good to know, and soon enough, we finished the main building! We got some beds put together, along with a dining table, too.

It’s nice to eat at a table with enough room for all of us. I’m just writing here while the others clean up. It was a long day, and I worked later than I meant to, but I needed to do something with myself, or else I know I’d feel worse.

I’ll have to tell Lydia and Valdimar why I came to Skyrim some day, but at least I was able to tell Erandur. I did tell the dog, but it’s not the same.

Time for sleep. I’m going to go crawl into my soft, newly-built bed, in my second new house.

[aliypop]

Any Day Now: Chapter 5

Word Count: 2,509

Writers Note: I lost steam on the Tupelo fic, but this one is coming out better!

Warning: Language, death

Pairing: POC OC x Elvis

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5

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@richardslady121

@thegettingbyp2

@presleyenterprise

@sissylittlefeather

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@rjmartin11

@thetaoofzoe

@your-nanas-house

@zayurir

@60svintage

@sillybookmarks

Las Vegas 1970

"Don't see why you're sorry, sugar. You didn't lose the greatest Blues singer as a daddy," She giggled a little as she began to cry, 

"Want me to leave the bottle?"

"Please..." Cecelia said. The more she drank the whiskey, the better she felt. She was giggling and flirty and forgetting her troubles, but deep down in her drunken state, she was still sad, angry even at herself. She started with half of the bottle, slurring her words, and her accent was thick, "Y-You, You know whaddya thank of Elvis?" Cecelia asked, "I Thanl he's a swell fella, and-and I-I-I says to him I love you Mr. Presly!" Her hand swaggering on as she talked, the patrons at the bar nodded along, lucky enough to be in her presence. After a minute, Cecelia was down to the bottom of the bottle. She was falling out of chairs and stumbling falling out of fe m "Ya knowww my daddy dieeeed, that's right he did, a-a-an I wasn't there 'hen 'e died," She laughed, "Some 'aughter I am 'ight?" she could feel her heart beating 

fast and the room spinning. Her breathing was getting faster, and she felt lethargic. "A.. An... Anor... Bott.." Cecelia dropped to the floor, bottle in her hand. That was all she could remember. Elvis was pacing in the hotel room. No one had seen her since she walked out, and she could have been anywhere, but he didn't want to think the worst. He then remembered that Cecelia told him back in the 60s. She was battling depression and thoughts, and now he was terrified.

 "I couldn't find her son." Vernon groaned,

"Shit..." Elvis began to shake. His anxiety was kicking in, and it had been an hour now.

"Where the hell is she!" Denise sighed, 

KNOCK

              KNOCK

KNOCK

Vernon opened the door as Jerry stood there. He was silent til Elvis pushed past his dad. Jerry held Cecelia as he looked at Elvis, "Keep an eye on her. She's had a lot." Placing her on the bathroom floor for when she woke up, "Jerry, where was she." 

"At the bar where she."

BLAGH!" 

"Drank an entire bottle of whiskey," Jerry said. Elvis ran to the bathroom as he heard her throwing up her guts. Cecelia was clinging to the toilet as Elvis was holding her hair back, "I'm sorry...I'm sorry..." she kept saying in between her throwing up, "Shush, it's okay, I'm here," 

"I don't ever want to ACK! Drink again," Cecelia shuttered. She felt sick to her stomach, and the room was spinning. She couldn't get up much, and she felt ashamed and weak.

"Need me to get Doctor Nick?" Vernon asked, 

"No, she just needs a cold rag and rest," Jerry said as Denise stood there with gritted teeth. Elvis had undressed her and put on her pajamas. 

"Elvis..." Her eyes were closed,

"Let's get you to bed," 

The morning after, Cecelia felt her head pounding as she was in the bathroom again. She almost felt pregnant, but worse, 

BLEGH!

"Honey, are you okay?" Elvis asked,

"I feel like shit... What happened?"

"Well, you got drunk last night." Elvis mentioned as Cecelia looked horrified, "I don't... I didn't..." Elvis kissed her hand, "I didn't sleep much. You were talkin in your sleep about your daddy," When he mentioned him, Elvis could see the tears in her eyes. 

"Come here, come here." He wrapped his arms around her as she took his morning scent, "Is he really gone..." Cecelia asked, 

"I'm afraid so," Elvis said as she curled into him. He remembered how he was when Gladys passed. Elvis wouldn't eat. Talk, he'd cry, and Cecelia was there for him the entire time, holding his hand and letting him cry in her chest. Now it was his turn, "I don't think I can go to his funeral. I-"

"How dare you be so irresponsible," Denise said, walking into the hotel room. Cecelia looked at Denise. It was as if she were a little girl again, "Mommy..." she reached out as Denise turned her back to her, 

"Look at you drunk like your..."

"Denise, don't you dare..." Elvis glanced at her,

"Father, you'll kill yourself just like him!" Denise said. Elvis wasn't happy when she said that. He knew Denise was grieving her husband, but this wasn't the right way to go about it. 

"Already sing blues just like him!"

"HEY! Cecelia is havin a hard time too. Give her a little slack instead of being on her ass so much!" Elvis said,

"She's gotta be strong, Elvis. Her mistakes can cost our label..." 

"She's human, she'll make mistakes," Elvis sighed,

"STOP TALKIN ABOUT ME LIKE I'M NOT HERE!" Cecelia sobbed as he hugged her tightly, 

"CECELIA!"

"NO, Mama, you can sit on your high horse, or you can feel for at least one damn minute, but you will not tell me how to feel!" Cecelia cried, 

"Don't you talk to me like that!" Denise grabbed her face. She looked into her daughter's eyes as she saw Alfonso in them. Denise laughed, "If you'll excuse me a bit..." 

Denise walked out as she cried. Midge saw her, 

"Finally grieving Mrs. D,"

"I lost my husband, my best friend, my manager, my business partner." Denise cried, "Almost lost my daughter."

"What did Cece do..."

"Nearly drink herself to death..."

Valmos Manor Nashville 1970

"Come here, babies," Ruby said as she held onto the twins. They were still traumatized a little from the hospital, but with Eleanor and Ruby, they'd be okay, "I don't know what I'd do if I lost my mama or papa." Elaine sniffled. Eleanor had Elaine on her lap as she smiled, "Well, don't think about it too much. Think about..." Ruby looked at Jessie as he was playing with,

 "Oh my God, Denise still kept that Elvis doll." Ruby laughed as Eleanor laughed, 

"A what?" Jessie looked up as Elaine went to hold it, 

"So, back before you two were born and your mama and daddy were sneakin around dating, I bought your mama this doll in 1957." 

"It was the ugliest thing I've ever seen." Eleanor smiled as Jessie and Elaine laughed, "But Ruby thought it would bring comfort."

"Did it?" Elaine asked,

"Your mama loved that ugly ole thang." Eleanor chuckled,

"I think it's handsome." Elaine hugged it tight. "I wish they were back. I miss them." Jessie said as Elaine nodded in agreement. Jessie then walked to the fireplace as he saw a picture. It was in black and white, and it was Cecelia and Elvis at the Lousiana Hayride in 1955. 

"Papa looks funny!"

"I think he looked handsome," Ruby smiled,

"Let me see!" Elaine smiled, looking, "They look like they had a crush on each other," 

"They might have, but I tell you, I liked that look better than the sideburns," Eleanor mumbled,

"What about my sideburns?" Elaine and Jessie froze, running to the door and hugging their daddy as he kissed their foreheads, "See, you found that ugly behind doll." He joked, 

"Elaine loves it," Ruby laughed,

"Just like her mama,"

Cecelia walked in as the kids ran and hugged her. There was an odd shift of wind in the house. Cecelia couldn't look at the pictures or awards. 

 "Mama!!!!"

"My babies," She hugged them both. "Laine, J, are you two okay?" She asked as they nodded, 

"Grandpa's not coming back, is he..." Jessie asked,

"I don't think so..." Cecelia tried to hold it together,

"Okay, Ruby, Eleanor, we need to view the body..." Denise said, "And then I need to figure out who's taking over his half of Paradise and his funeral plot in North Carolina." Denise smiled, Midge, Elvis, and Cecelia looked at each other, 

"Well, don't stand there! Let's go!

"Cecelia..." Ruby said, 

"I'll stay with the kids," Cecelia smiled, "Maybe stop by the studio."

"I'll stay with you." Elvis smiled, taking her hand and kissing it. As everyone left, Cecelia stood on the steps thinking of memories, but one stood out the most.

1957

Cecelia put on her red heels and went downstairs. "Mornin Daddy," she kissed his cheek, "Morning, Mother," she hugged her as Denise looked at her, 

"That dress and the red lipstick..."

"I can take it off if you'd like ..."

"No, keep it. If you want to look like a woman of the night." 

"I was going based on my album for the interview," she mumbled, putting the plate of food on the table, 

"Where did Mr. and Mrs. Presley go?"

"They went to the store. They'll be back." Alfonso said as he looked at Denise, smiling at her, 

"Speaking of Presley's your uh friend Elvis, how's he doing?"

"He's still asleep. He doesn't get much of it with Tom Parker around." she smiled.

"I see, but damn can he eat!" Alfonso responded, laughing a bit.

Soon after, all the camera crew had set up shop in their living room. Cecelia was sitting next to the tree as her parents were on the couch, snuggled nice and cozy, and talking about their cover of Baby It's Cold Outside. 

"We've been married for so long. That the chemistry is still there." Denise smiled. Cecelia couldn't tell if it was genuine or not.

"Is it true you two are separated?"

"Separated from this ol girl, never!" Alfonso smiled as he kissed Denise's hand, and she slowly glared at him. Cecelia sighed, hoping maybe someone would acknowledge her existence.

"Cecelia, tell us about your Christmas album! Not only do you have Little Richard. And a duet with BB King, but Elvis Presley! On Jingle Bell Rock, how did you manage that?

"Well, you know Aaron Pres and I. We go way back to the Hayride days. We got noticed at the same time. We're great friends really and...." The stairs creaked as the attention turned to Elvis, who was rubbing his eyes still from sleep as he was halfway dressed, 

"Hey Nel, is breakfast ready..." he paused as he slowly went back upstairs, Cecelia chuckling as her parents were fuming in anger, 

"Like I said, we go way back."

1970

"Is Mama okay?" Jessie asked as Elvis nodded, "She's thinking about something." He smiled, ruffling up his hair, "Like what?"

"Memories." He smiled, " A lot of memories happened in this house," Cecelia grinned as she stepped on the creaking step. Elvis shuddered as he remembered the many times he'd stepped on it. "EL! MY ROOM IS STILL THE SAME!" She giggled. He ushered the kids upstairs. As they went inside her bedroom, "It's so pink..." Jessie laughed as Elaine flopped on the bed, "Who's that?" Elaine pointed to a poster, "Uncle Dean and Uncle Frank." Cecelia had smiled as Elvis playfully rolled his eyes at how she swooned out their names, 

"And who's that with all the lipstick on him," Jessie asked as Cecelia turned red, 

"That's uh..." 

"That's Daddy!" Elaine smiled, "But why kiss that when you had the real thing?"

"Well... You'll understand when you're older." Cecelia smiled, 

"You too, Jessie," Elvis said. The two then laughed and scrambled off as Elvis closed the door. He leaned against it as Cecelia smiled, "I feel like I'm twenty again." sitting on her bed, "Why twenty?" Elvis asked out of curiosity, and then it hit him, "Oh, twenty..." he smirked as she blushed harder, "Finally understood what you meant about good rockin'." She smirked, 

"Now we can't stop rocking," He walked to her, kissed her, and pulled her close,

"CECELIA, ELVIS, KIDS, WE'RE BACK!" Midge shouted as they ran downstairs. Denise glanced at Cecelia and Elvis as she sniffed her daughter, 

"You smell like Elvis..."

"Thank you," Cecelia blushed,

"Wasn't a compliment." 

North Carolina 1970

"El, thank you for being here," Cecelia sighed. They were at the repass of Alfonso. Her family was there, his friends, and of course Elvis, "Baby, this is just as much my family too." he kissed her hand as she smiled. Walking by was Irene, the cousin Cecelia loathed, "Sorry for your loss," her nose in the air as Cecelia wanted to chop her in half, 

"See, you bought Elvis." she laughed,

"That's what you do when you're married to the man who's the father of your kids, Irene." Elvis glanced at her as she walked away. Cecelia chuckled. The twins were playing with their cousins and walking up toward Elvis, 

"BB," Both Cecelia and Elvis said, smiling a little,

"If it and Mr. and Mrs. EP," He hugged them both, "Sorry 'bout ya pops." He hugged her, 

"Thank you. I know he would've loved to have seen you again." She smiled, "He will. Someday honey, say you make this sweet potato pie."

"I made 99% of that plate. My mama was too distraught to cook." Cecelia laughed as Elvis was eating, too, 

"EP, you better cherish this woman. They ain't makin 'em like her." 

"Believe me, I know," He kissed her forehead. Denise watched in the corner as she smiled. This was family to her, supportive even on the bad times like this,

 "AYE Cousin Crudup made it!"Cecelia gasped, running to him. Arthur Crudup and Alfonso were best friends. He was like a big brother to her daddy. And to Elvis, a big inspiration, 

"Cece, you didn't tell me you were related to Big Boy Crudup..." 

"He's like an Uncle to me." She smiled, 

"Mr. Presley,"

"Sir." He shook his hand, "I'm a huge fan..."

"I know, little bit here told me, all them years ago." He smiled. As he sat down, "You know I ain't never seen my song get dat big til you did it." He laughed, "Course me an Alfonso wrote it half drunk," he then hugged Cecelia as she hugged him back,

 "Be strong," 

A few hours later, everyone was singing. Denise, Eleanor, and Ruby were by the piano singing gospel songs. And then Elvis joined in. Cecelia had come with her daddy's guitar, and she strummed it as she shed a small tear. 

"In honor of my daddy." Cecelia smiled as she began to sing That's Alright. Elvis looked over at her as Denise laughed, a few through tears. Cecelia was so much of her and her father, so in a way, his legacy never died.

"This song here is one that I cherish. I remember being eleven and hearing it, knowing my daddy had something to do with it, que 1954, and I'm listenin to some guy sing it," Cecelia laughed, looking at Elvis, "Y'all know him as Elvis. I know him as my best friend and my husband and the guy who eats my fries." She laughed. Elvis kissed her cheeks.

As everyone left, Cecelia, Elvis, and the kids were packed into the car as they drove to where they'd be staying for the night. It was a white house with a porch swing on a big piece of land, a bit bigger than Elvis's house in Tupelo, "What's this place, mama?" Jessie asked as Cecelia got out of the car and cried, 

"Home..."