#implied ladylove because really

[mikauzoran]

Adrienette: Serendipity: Fifty Marichat and Adrienette Kisses: Kiss Thirty-Six

Read it on AO3: Serendipity: Fifty Marichat and Adrienette Kisses: ...to give up control.

“I mean…I get why they chose them, but orange and green aren’t very good wedding colours,” Marinette sighed heavily as she flipped through the wedding planner at her desk.

“I don’t see how orange and green is any different from us picking pink and black,” Adrien hummed as he paced the room, bouncing two-month-old Hugo. “Isn’t the point of wedding colours that they mean something to the couple getting married? Rose and Juleka did pink and purple, Ivan and Mylène chose black and rainbow pastels, and Luka and Xavier-Yves picked purple and blue. I think green and orange make sense for Alya and Nino.”

“Still,” Marinette sighed again. “I’m having trouble finding chair covers and table runners in the right shades. Bridesmaids dresses are going to be difficult to coordinate, I have no idea what colour shoes to tell everyone to wear, and don’t even get me started on the groomsmen’s tuxes.”

Adrien winced, seeing that his wife was at it again, entering super-planner mode. “My Ladylove, I think you need to relax a bit,” he coaxed, coming over to put a hand on her shoulder. “They just got officially engaged three weeks ago, and the wedding date isn’t even set yet. There will be plenty of time to sweat the details.”

Marinette turned to glare at her husband. “Adrien, our best friends are finally getting married. This is a big. Deal. Alya’s trusting me as maid of honor, and everything. Has to be. Perfect,” she stressed, punctuating her words so that he would grasp the magnitude of the duty placed upon her.

“And it will be,” he cooed, beginning to rub her tense shoulders as best as he could one-handed. “But you’re stressing yourself out over a wedding that’s probably still a year or more away. Besides, I got the impression that Nino and Alya just kind of wanted to get married on a beach somewhere, barefoot and in bathing suits. Didn’t Alya say something about the reception being picnic food and coolers full of beer so people could dance and get drunk under the stars or something?”

Marinette rolled her eyes. “She was joking. Trust me, Adrien. Over the years of our friendship, Alya and I have often discussed wedding plans in excruciating detail. I’ve already got several possible wedding dress designs for her. I know what I’m talking about.”

Adrien pursed his lips, thinking that Alya hadn’t sounded like she was joking but not wanting to upset his already tense wife. “I didn’t mean to imply that I thought that you didn’t. I’m sure you do. It’s just…I think it’s a little early to be planning in as much detail as you are. Maybe this is one of those times where you don’t have to have everything under control right this second?” he suggested, trying to be helpful

Marinette rose to her feet, fists balled. “Are you saying that I’m a control freak?” she snarled, hair bristling.

Hugo, who had been contentedly dozing in his father’s arms, stirred at his mother’s terse hiss and began to whimper.

“Shh,” Adrien cooed, bouncing his son, trying to calm him. “It’s okay.”

He looked up at Marinette, assuring, “No. That’s not what I meant at all. I’m sorry it came across that way. Let me go put Gogo down to sleep, and, then, maybe can we talk?”

She crossed her arms and blew out a long sigh. “Fine.”

 When Adrien came back some fifteen minutes later, Marinette was lounging on their bed, flipping through their wedding photo album.

“Hey,” he called softly, sinking down onto the bed beside her and reaching out for her hand.

She took his and gave it a squeeze. “Hey,” she answered in a mumble. “Sorry I snapped at you.”

“It’s okay.” He easily shrugged it off, glad that she was no longer angry with him. “I know you can be a little short when you’re stressing, and I didn’t phrase what I was trying to say right. I don’t think you’re a control freak.”

“Some people do,” Marinette muttered sullenly. “…I overhear people at work.”

He shook his head. “My Love, you are very good at what you do, and you want things done up to your standards. That’s not a bad thing. Are you a little intense at times? Yes, but you produce stupendous results. There’s nothing wrong with making sure you produce quality work.”

She hummed as he pulled her into his arms.

“Seriously, your ability to take chaos, parse all the complex details, and come up with a step-by-step plan to turn it into order and beauty has always astounded me. It’s one of the things I admire most about you. Having a firm command of the situation isn’t a bad thing,” he stressed.

She gave a noncommittal grunt, resting her head on his shoulder.

He sighed, leaning back and pulling her down onto the bed with him. “Marinette, for years Paris only survived because you were always in control of the situation. You always had to be in control, otherwise everyone you loved was doomed. That’s a lot of pressure, but you adapted to it, and now it’s pretty much your survival instinct to always make sure you’re in control. I get that. I one hundred percent understand why you always feel like you need to be in control.”

He gave her forehead a kiss and gently started to pet her hair. “…But things aren’t like that anymore. It’s not life or death all the time. I get that you’re still traumatized from your years as Ladybug, but I think it’s time we started working on identifying some old coping mechanisms that aren’t serving you well anymore in your new reality.”

“You sound like my therapist,” she snickered, snuggling into his hold.

“I mean, I have been in therapy for eight years now,” he chuckled, burying his nose in her hair. “I would hope some of their lingo would have rubbed off.”

Marinette took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. “Okay. Yeah. You’re right. It does make me really anxious when I don’t feel like I have a handle on things. I’m seriously stressing about reception decorations when I don’t even know the location of the reception yet, so…maybe I need to chillax a bit.”

“I think that’s a good idea,” he seconded. “I realize how important this is, but it’s not going to ruin Nino and Alya’s big day if you can’t find the right shade of orange table runner. You’re going to do an epic job as maid of honor, and the wedding is going to be spectacular, but, for sure, no one is going to die if you don’t figure out the groomsmen’s tux situation right this minute, so maybe we can just keep taking deep breaths and calm down and let it go for now.”

“Yeah,” Marinette murmured, matching her breaths to Adrien’s long, measured inhales. “Maybe that can wait until I have more concrete details to work with…but I just worry that if I don’t get a head start, I’m not going to have enough time to iron everything out, and the wedding won’t be perfect, and Nino and Alya will decide they don’t love each other anymore, and then our children won’t be able to get married because Nino and Alya will get a divorce, and Gogo will hate me because it’s my fault the person he was supposed to marry never got to be born because I ruined Alya and Nino’s wedding.”

Adrien did his very best not to laugh.

Marinette’s negative thought spirals were always so interesting and bizarre, but he knew that she one hundred percent believed the nonsense that was coming out of her mouth in that moment, and he had learned not to make light of her fears.

He pulled back and smiled down lovingly at his wife. “Princess, I don’t think anything could make Alya and Nino stop loving one another. As for Hugo’s future spouse, I think we need to let our two-month-old son make his own life decisions…. Do you want me to distract you?”

“Yes, please,” she replied sheepishly, eagerly arching up into his kiss.

[lunaschild2016]

Four: A Dauntless MC Romance Chapter 3 - Four

Rating: M (Language, Sexual content)

He was scarred from his past and from his service to his country, but not one of those scars compared to what he held inside. She was the one to see beyond that, to soothe and heal him. She was the one he would never be good enough for but would spend his entire life trying to be. Even if it cost him everything in the process. Four/Tris AU Modern Day (M)

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A/N: I was challenged to give some love to Four and Tris. So this is my attempt to go to the ‘Fourside’. Apparently the Fourside has flan, not cookies. But since flan is the shit I am good with that. :P Don’t worry, I have plans for my favorite badboy with a follow up story with Eric and his ladylove.

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@kenzieam@ericdauntless@jojuarez26@jaihardy@iammarylastar@captstefanbrandt@violetsonthelam@badassbaker@readsalot73@fuckthatfeeling@dani5102@beltz2016@beautifulramblingbrains@affabletimelady@irasancti@meganbee15@pathybo@lauraaan182​@gylisaa@scorpio2009@gylisaa

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Chapter 3: Four

I sink into the couch of the game/family room with a beer in hand. Letting my head fall back against the cushions, I also let the good natured ribbing and shouting from the guys gathered around, wash over me. I am letting myself get in some real R&R for the first time in three months.

I had thrown myself headlong into work with the security firm and the club. Trying to drown out the tangle of feelings I had from the moment I learned that Tris was dating. Not only dating but had been for a few months and it was supposedly getting serious.

I had no right to have the feelings I felt about that. It didn’t stop them from happening though.

I lifted my head and took a deep drink from the bottle of beer. My eyes roamed over the room taking everyone in. It looked like all the guys were here.

Not really a surprise that we were all gathered together. It is a Saturday night. What is surprising but hadn’t really registered is that it was here in the main house instead of the club bar that is in another building just behind the house.

From the beginning it had always been established that the partying would be kept separate from the house where the president and other residents lived. That was family space and no one questioned or took it for granted.

So an old barn had been renovated, added to and upgraded over the years. It now rivaled and resembled some of the best clubs in Seattle. As another way to bring in revenue, it was oftentimes leased out for events. Even a few wedding receptions had been put on in there.

Beside it was the massive garage that housed the bikes, and a repair shop. Most prospects did time in there, earning their keep along with learning the ropes. That garage was strictly for bikes, unlike the one at the front of the compound that was for the collision/repair business that the club owns.

Weekends that it wasn’t rented out, the bar and garage were packed with members and even some locals that had invites.

I hadn’t heard about it being rented out so the fact that we were all gathered in the massive entertainment room had me frowning.

I elbowed Zeke beside me as he was in the middle of some video game with his younger brother and new prospect Uri.

“Yo, Zeke. Why are we all in here again?” I ask as I eye the screen they are playing on. Some first person shooter game that makes me internally snort at some of the antics I am seeing on the screen.

Zeke is apparently too engrossed to answer but Eric pipes up from a recliner where he is sprawled back like he owns it. Mainly because he kind of does. He long since laid claim to the monster.

He huffs and mashes some buttons on his own controller, never bothering to look in my direction. “Some kind of hen party to celebrate some shit for Tris.” He grumbled out. I couldn’t tell if he was upset about the fact we had been kicked out of the bar or because it looked like he was getting his ass kicked in the game. Probably both.

Eric is a pretty sore loser.

When what he said registers for me I feel ice coursing through my blood in waves of dread. “Tris is celebrating something? What?” I get out when I finally find my voice again and hope it doesn’t give too much away.

Zeke looks at me from the side of his eyes and I know he gets why I am asking. Can’t really hide too much from my best friend.

Eric gives a one shoulder shrug. “She got engaged to some dude. Peter something.”

That knife that had been doing a slow and painful twist over the past six months plunges in and I feel the breath being knocked from me.

“Peter. Peter Hayes?” I ask tightly as my hand clutches the bottle in a death grip.

“Suppose so.” Eric once again casually answers.

“Are you shitting me?” I growl out, unable to stop myself.

Eric smirks a little but still doesn’t look my way. “Last dump I took didn’t have little Four turds floating around. So I am going to say, that no, I am not shitting you.” His joke and amused smirk falters and he growls then throws the controller down in a huff.

I look to the screen, my face pulled into a scowl but trying to mask it before Eric can read too much into my outburst and tone. Now that he is no longer absorbed into the game I know he is going to be analyzing it.

“Why does it matter to you anyways?” I don’t dare look at him but I can already hear it in his tone. Trying to get more out of me so he can file it away for processing later. See if there is anything to use in it.

It is a hell of an ability and skill that was beat into him through his time in the service. Not something we talk about but it has been implied there was a reason he was called the enforcer and got a reputation as being ruthless in his unit.

Even now, when it came time to and we needed to get information from someone that was less than willing, it fell to Eric.

“Just surprising is all. Wouldn’t have said I ever saw her going for someone like Hayes.” I shrug and tip my beer back.

That is an understatement. It killed me to think of her with anyone at all but him...I couldn’t even fathom how that even happened.

Eric gives a chuckle and I look over to him. For a second he has a knowing smirk but then a shadow crosses over his eyes and he looks away with a sigh. “Yeah, Max wasn’t exactly keen on it either. I can’t say I care for the guy either but he has a promising career as a lawyer and seems to be over the moon about her. I guess as a father you couldn’t ask for anymore than that.”

Eric takes a long drink of his beer then starts picking at the label of it in what anyone else would call a nervous gesture. Eric doesn’t get nervous so I don’t call it that. “I mean that’s the type of guy she deserves right? Both of them do. Guys from good fucking homes with respectable jobs. Not all scarred and fucked up in the head.”

His words cut me deeply, almost causing me to miss the hint of bitterness in them. I don’t answer. Can’t answer, I feel so wounded.

Because he is right. That is a large part of why I would never allow myself to go beyond my fantasies with Tris. I wasn’t good for her or good enough. Too old, too broken, too much baggage; the list goes on.

“Fuck this.” Eric growls and pushes himself from his chair. He slams down the beer bottle on the small table beside him and yanks his leather jacket from the back. “I’m going for a ride. Maybe into the city. You know how to get ahold of me if something comes up.”

He storms out with a scowl on his face not even waiting for a reply, leaving me to my own thoughts.

It is quiet for a minute until there is a pause as the sounds of the game die down. Then Uri breaks it.

“Dude, does Eric have a thing for Trissy?” His tone is incredulous but also a whisper. My head snaps up as I look to him and glare. He doesn’t notice though because he is looking at Zeke.

I follow his eyes and look over to my friend who is shifting uncomfortably. My eyes narrow and my glare deepens. “Zeke?” I growl out.

Zeke groans and sighs. “No Four...he doesn’t.”

“Why am I not convinced?” My growling doesn’t lessen.

My best friend rolls his eyes but he looks around and leans closer to me. “Look it isn’t my place to say but let me just hint that you aren’t the only club member with a thing for a Prior around here.”

It takes a moment for that to register and when it does my forehead wrinkles. “Belle?” I bark out in disbelief. “Those two don’t get along for shit!”

Zeke smirks and shrugs. “You handle your shit with brooding silence and silent stalking. Eric tends to handle his in other ways.”

“Fuck me.” I sigh out and close my eyes and take a breath of relief but also commiseration.

He and I aren’t best friends but we have each other’s backs when it counts. If I thought I had it bad with Tris, I can’t imagine what it was like for Eric.

I can’t decide if he has it better. Belle has never hinted at liking Eric in any form. In fact, given their interactions with each other I think she might truly hate him. A feat for the young woman who gets along with everyone.

Was it better to be hated by the woman you can never have or to always know that the only thing holding you from being with her...is you?

Suddenly the sprawling and welcoming rooms of the house and game room seemed to be closing in on me. I leaned forward and put my own bottle of beer on the table. “A ride sounds good.” I supply in a distant tone before nodding to a few of the guys on my way out.

I have to walk past the bar to get to where my bike is parked outside of the garage. I try not to allow my eyes search for a sight of Tris along the way. The doors are all closed up but there is music and laughter coming from inside.

A few of our guys are standing outside of it. Protection detail and making sure nothing bad happens to the girls inside. Max will have posted a few guys inside too. Most likely taking up residence there himself. I feel a jolt of jealousy at anyone that got assigned duty in there tonight.

I shouldn’t be surprised that I see Eric lingering near his own bike after the revelation I was just given. I am not surprised that we both seem to take our time going over our bikes while our eyes turn more than once towards the bar.

A burst of laughter breaks through the music and has us both stilling. We look at each other then, each realizing what we are waiting for. Just one glimpse of the girls we can never have.

His lips thin as he straddles his bike after he turns away. He nods to me and fires his bike up then tears out of the spot and down the long driveway.

I throw my leg over my own and roll out a little more calmly no matter that I feel nothing like that inside. I let my bike carry me to one of my favorite spots. Along a rocky coastline after riding for about forty five minutes. There is a bluff that is used as a scenic spot. Tourists and travelers will pause in their travels to take photos, have picnics or just take in the view. There are many like that all over Grays Harbor County. My favorite is the coastline.

There is a spot down from the more sedate beaches and public places. A bluff that overlooks the Pacific. I park the bike but stay on it, my vantage enough to allow me to see and hear what I love the most about this area.

The sea rolling in and crashing against the walls of stone. Turbulent and beautiful. The chaos of the churning waters has always had a way of making the tangled and messed up thread of my thoughts and feelings seem clearer.

Moving on seems to be the wisest course. The one that makes sense. I just know if it was that simple I would have done it long ago when I realized how deep I was with Tris. We hadn’t always been so distant. I wasn’t always so standoff-ish.

There was a time that we spent time together, and often. What started out as me being part of the prospects that were assigned to watch over her, Belle and Caleb from time to time; turned into a real friendship.

Zeke, Eric and I were the crew that got assigned to Max’s brood while the other prospects would take other members kids. We might have bitched and moaned about it with the other guys when we are all gathered together and at the bar but it was all for show for me.

I had secretly loved it. It wasn’t exciting at all. Those three were the most easy going non-demanding teenagers I had ever encountered. The only one that could be said to have given us issues was Caleb. And even then his issues were wanting to stay at the library longer, boring as shit, or griping about the various hazards of just about anything he could think of.

He was a bit of a know it all but he was also protective and paranoid about anything involving the safety or health of his sisters. Understandable after the death of his parents. He generally caved into the requests and desires of his sisters though.

So our time during the ‘babysitting’ duty could be doing anything from riding around on the ATV’s, mudding or just in general running wild on the multi acres of the club house property; to sprawled out in the family room doing movie marathons of old classics to newer blockbusters.

I got to know a lot about Tris during that time. I connected deeper than I had ever connected with anyone before. Had ever allowed myself to. At first I had tried not to, tried to keep my distance and be cool. But she just had this way about her that set me at ease. That soothed hurts I thought I had left in the past long ago. With a look from those blue eyes she saw into me, saw those wounds. But she never looked like she pitied me for them.

I didn’t realize how much I would be giving up by turning away from my own feelings and keeping her at a distance because of hers. I didn't realize how much it would hurt or that it felt like there was a void inside of my I would never again be able to fill without her.

I realize then and there I couldn't do it. I couldn't let her go if there was a chance that we could be. That she could be mine. If I hadn't blown it and it wasn't too late, I was going to make things right.

I would only walk away if I thought she was truly happy. It would still kill me but I could do it for her. But if there was one whiff of her not being happy or in love, then I was willing to risk it all for her.