#it’s a mess but jamie refuses to feel bad

[thetarttfuldickhead]

I think there’s a lot of unmined potential in Jamie being conditioned to prick out when he’s flipped off, ‘cause if the team’s doing the rounds some late night after a win and some random dude decides to give Jamie the finger then—

[bellatrixscurls]

two ghosts | part 1

pov : lily rejects james many times, until he finally gives up. but y/n and sirius are there for him, in more ways than one.

warnings : smut (next part), mentions of ex!bully!james, fluff (it probably sucks cus i only know how to write smut), sub jamie if you squint, pet names, established relationship between reader and sirius. please lmk if there are more! <3

part two

“I’m telling you, sweetheart. It’s nothing your pretty cunt can’t fix” Sirius winks at you, shoving a piece of bread in his mouth, causing you to roll your eyes. He obviously notices, as he is sat across from you, and smirks.

Remus is eyeing you both suspiciously, and clears his throat. “I can think of more situations you,” he looks at you and you blush slightly in embarrassment, “cannot fix. So what is it now?”

Sirius giggles like a little kid, and you shake your head, your cheeks way too red by now. “I think Prongs needs some.. relief. Poor thing is so crabby these days, and it’s all because of that stupid mudblood.”

“Sirius!” you shriek, kicking his foot under the table. “Okay, alright! I was just looking for something bad to say about her.”

Remus rolls his eyes and Peter places his fork down, blue eyes wide as he stares at you, clearly interested. “What do you mean by relief? I mean, he’s been refusing to tell me what’s wrong and yes, he is acting a bit strange, but I can’t think of anything that could help him. Unless you want to get him a date with Evans, which is not an option.”

Peter’s speech leaves all of you speechless. You’ve looked at the situation as more of a joke, not realising how sweet Jamie turned to grumpy, fussy James. “I mean, not that I would want to get him a date with that one” Sirius scoffs, his hands raising in surrender as you and Remus glare at him.

“And why would that be, Sirius?” you find it’s your turn to tease him, to which he scoffs again, giving you an wide-eyed look when he spots James approaching the ton of you.

His head is a mess of curls that bounce furiously as he walks messily, his eyes are bigger than usual and his face seems to scream ‘I’m tired!’. His clothes, surprisingly, are not wrinkled. Well, it’s a surprise to anyone but you, cus you are the one who prepared them for him the night before.

“Morning” his voice is thick with sleep, barely gazing at you as he wraps an arm around your shoulders, squeezing you into his side only for a few seconds. “Thank you for taking care of me” he says softly, obviously referring to his robe, shirt and trousers.

Your eyebrows shoot up, clearly surprised by the little gesture, and the guys seem to be as surprised, if not more than you are. “No bother, Jamie.”

The atmosphere in the common room is tense, and you all can sense it. Even James.

“You can talk to me, you know” he scoffs, slightly annoyed as he looks up for merely a second, eyeing Sirius, and his face somehow softens.

Sirius looks at him sadly. “We are worried about you, we don’t want you to lose yourself just because some red-headed chick doesn’t want you.”

And then, you all know that he screwed up.

James stands up abruptly, and looks down at Sirius, his usually gentle blue eyes now a few shades darker. “She’s not- You don’t know what it feels like, Sirius” he calls him by his first name, not Pads, and not Siri, and you can see Sirius’ face soften and his bottom lip jutting out just slightly. “You’ve found Y/n a long time ago, and even before you didn’t have a problem with girls ever refusing you. You don’t know how it feels.”

You all fall silent, your hand coming up to gently rub at his back, his head leaning into your neck as he nuzzles against your skin. “We just want our Jamie back, honey. I promise you so many other people in this school want you for you.”

“You promise?” he looks at you with those doe eyes that always make you melt.

“I do. And maybe it’s best that you didn’t get with Lily, who knows what would’ve happened. I promise there is someone there for you.”

By the end of your speech, you can only hear James hum softly as you continue to rub his back. A few minutes pass by, and Remus whispers to you, letting you know that James is sleeping. And so you sit more comfortably against the sofa, allowing yourself to rest for a little bit as well.

♥︎

Shifting pulls you from your deep slumber only a few hours later, and you find your arms empty, no trace of James anywhere. You sigh softly as you move to stand up, taking the blanket, that you were not aware was there, with you.

“Sweetheart, you’re awake” Sirius beams when you stand up, and you almost have a heart attack when you hear his voice, being pulled away from your thoughts.

You turn to look at him, lazily dragging yourself and finally throwing yourself into his arms, the boy taking that as a sign to sit down, with you still in his arms. “I missed you” you smile into his chest, engulfed by his intoxicating scent. He smells like he always does, but to you, it’s much more than that.

“Me too, sweetheart” he kisses your forehead, his eyes closing and so do yours.

But little do you know, James is watching the two of you the entire time, and his heart drops and swells at the same time. He wants that, but he is glad that his best friends have it.

♥︎

The next day, you walk with Sirius, hand in hand, towards your Herbology class. He is telling you about his new partner in partner in Potions when you spot James leaning against the wall, talking to Lily.

“Siri, he’s doing it again” you pout, looking up at your boyfriend as he looks in their direction, his eyes darkening at the sight.

“Oh fuck” he swears under his breath, and you frown. “I can’t hear him cry for the entire night again, breaks my heart” he gulps and you brush your hand against his cheek gently, making him look st you.

“Maybe it won’t be that bad. Maybe he is okay now” you try to reason with him and he seems to soften for a moment, not long though, cus James is messily walking away from Lily, his eyes red and lips puffy. You look back at him, his eyes not once leaving yours as he walks away, heading towards the Gryffindor Tower.

“Yeah, he seems pretty content” Sirius scoffs to himself, running one of his hands through his hair as the other holds your waist.

“Bring him to my dorm” you tell him, your eyes widening before you continue. “I- I mean, both of you. We can take care of him, make sure he doesn’t feel alone and maybe forgets what happened for the night.”

Sirius looks at you like you are his Moon, the one who always brightens his path when it gets dark. I mean, he’s told you that before.

“You are a genius!”

♥︎

After classes, you went to find James, but found him in the worst situation you thought possible.

He is with Lily. Meanwhile the red-head is reading her book on the sofa, James is knelt in front of her, gently tugging at her delicate arm, but she pays him no mind. “Lily, I just- please, just a date, just one” he whispers softly, not wanting to disturb her more than he already does.

She rolls her eyes, and sighs. “James, I don’t know how many times to tell you that I’m not interested” she says sadly, and you can see his bottom lip quivering. “I don’t.. you were mean to my friends, James. Mean to me. For a very long time, and even though it was long before you liked me, I can’t” she finally confesses, cupping his cheek with her palm.

Your eyes widen and so do James’.

He lets out a soft ‘oh’ and quickly wipes his tears, baby blue eyes blinking in shock. He didn’t know.

“Oh okay... Okay then, that’s fine” he nods frantically, slowly standing up from his knees and brushing his hands over his robe. “I’m sorry, Lily” you see him pout slightly before he practically runs away.

You wait until Lily stands up and finally follow James upstairs, not wanting to make it seen like you were eavesdropping. You were, but.

Knocking gently on the door, you are met with a muffled and small ‘yes?’

“Jamie, it’s Y/n” you lean your head against the door, your eyes closing as you listen to the shuffling in the room.

Moments later, he opens the door and your shoulders drop when you see his state. He hasn’t been himself for weeks now, but he has never looked this way until now. He looks a mess, and his bed is the same.

“Darling” you frown slightly, not touching him because you don’t know if that’s okay yet. “D’you wanna go to my dorm? You can stay with me tonight, Siri will be there too.”

You try to soothe him, explaining that you will listen to him as much as he needs, but when he hears ‘your dorm’ and ‘Siri’, his ears perk up and he starts nodding fervently, grabbing his blanket and shutting the door behind him.

You give him a small smile before you guide him to your dorm, where your boyfriend is waiting for you. He probably doesn’t expect you to manage to get James to come, so his eyes widen a little bit when he sees him, but he clears his throat and stands up from your couch, greeting you. Sirius’ arms snake around your waist as he gives you a sweet peck on the lips, before he moves to James.

The bespectacled boy’s back is glued to the door, sitting there timidly as he tries not to look at you both, but he fails miserably. “Hi there, Prongsie” Sirius teases him and James smiles a genuine smile, his eyes closing as Sirius brings him into his arms, the long-haired’s boy scent just as intoxicating as it is to you.

“Do you want to talk to us, babe? Tell us what happened?” you quip as you take James’ hand in yours and you usher him to sit on your perfectly made bed, the sheets soft beneath him.

He looks up at you, then at Sirius, and sighs softly. “I used to be a bully” he confesses, as if it is a secret, “And ‘s why she doesn’t like me... Lily.”

Sirius’ grimace is more than present on his face. He remembers those times, up until third year, when he met you. You’ve changed him, and them, for that matter. James has always been a sweet boy, but he used to think that he was superior to the others. Not now, though.

“That was way too long ago, though. We were kids” Sirius whispers defeatedly, he knows that’s not an excuse.

“I was terrible” James says and a sob catches in his throat. Your heart almost breaks and then you understand what Sirius meant when he said that James crying made his own heart break. “I regret that, I don’t want to ever do that again.”

You pout, inching your hand closer to his as you slowly caress it, your eyes moving from him to your boyfriend. “It’s been age, Jamie” Sirius speaks softly, “you have changed, that’s not you anymore. Sure, you cannot erase your past, but you cannot let it define you either. That’s. not. you.”

James looks up at him with hope, and Sirius grins widely. “Look at you, you are the sweetest boy I’ve ever met. So pretty as well” Sirius’ tatted hand cups James’ soft, pale cheek and the younger boy melts against his skin. “Yeah?” he breathes, batting his eyelashes at Sirius, who nods proudly.

But when Sirius notices that James’ hand is moving up his thigh, he removes his hand from his hand from his cheek and stands up, walking towards a smaller chest of drawers, where you keep his clean clothes for when he comes over.

James’ breath hitches and tears start pooling at his eyes. He tries to be quiet, but you are still beside him and hear it. “What is it, sweet boy?” you ask, frowning.

He just shakes his head, burying his face into your soft pillow. “M sorry” he sobs, his tears most definitely soaking your pillow.

“Sorry?” you ask and he hums, still not looking at you. “Tried to touch Siri” he admits, “you have.. you’ve just been so good to me, I-”

“Oh, love, I’m not upset with you. I mean, who wouldn’t want to touch Siri?” you joke and he giggles softly, lifting his head from the pillow.

“Okay I’m back and I got you my shirt and this pair of boxers, I hope they fit you- Hey, why are you crying?”

─

next part will probably be just a little bit of fluff and smut, but i thought i’d share this little thought with you guys. i will write the other fic ideas soon, please bear with me <3.

[sommerregenjuniluft]

@jegulus-microfic jan 22 - cry - 873 words

sapphic jegulus feat. pregnant!jamie (and the wonders/horrors of hormones)

“Mh,” James makes around the mouthful of pretzels she keeps dipping into the Nutella, “He’s kicking again!”

Regulus is already off the step ladder, overalls clad knees hitting the plastic covered floor next to where James is slouched in their camping deck chair.

They’re painting the nursery today. Or, Regulus is, while James is putting up her feet as ordered (not by the midwife but by her god damn fiancé so she better listen) and dipping pickled cucumbers into the chocolate cream as well whenever she thinks Regulus isn’t paying attention.

Which she is never not, and especially since James came back to bed out of their en-suite bathroom with a positive pregnancy test that fateful day a few months ago.

James licks her lips off crumbs and takes Regulus’ hand to where Harry is pedaling away inside her stomach, placing her palm over Regulus’ pale fingers.

It doesn’t take too long for Regulus to feel the skin move under her own palm, James’ skin warm where her shirt has ridden up over the bump.

For a woman that’s refusing to put on anything pregnancy wear related she’s been pretty keen on the idea of Regulus in an old crop top and overalls for her painting get-up.

James chuckles above her when Harry goes a little wild at Regulus’ proximity—she’s convinced he can already differentiate between his two moms.

Regulus less so, since he’s barely the size of an eggplant and all.

Still, she indulges her fiancé, and it’s true nonetheless that speaking to the baby firms the connection even as it’s still inside the womb.

Regulus hums happily, lips tugging at the corners and out of the corner of her eye she sees James’ nose scrunching in delight.

“Hello, babyboy,” she speaks at the belly, “Already training for your first triathlon in there, huh?”

James shakes the shaggy hair out of her doe eyes, grinning cockily, “Of course! He’s gonna place first on his very first go, too.”

Regulus rolls her grey eyes, “Not to already put any pressure on him or anything.”

James rolls hers in return, smile not fading as she brushes some of Regulus’ long, wavy hair behind her shoulder, caressing her cheek with her fingertips. “Love, you know damn well I’ll support him in whatever he chooses to like spending his time doing. But to be honest, between the two of us? I’d bet a Turning he’s on a balance bike before he can even run properly.”

Regulus scowls a little, James unperturbed as she looks back at her before arching a brow.

Regulus bends down over her belly again, cupping a hand around her mouth and whispering at their little baby, “She’s right, y’know. But don’t tell her I said that.”

Her fiancé cackles, throwing her head back and Regulus sets her lips down against the belly in a gentle kiss.

There’s a little sore spot in her chest suddenly and she blows out a breath through her nose, still so close to James’ belly Regulus feels the air hit her back.

“Harry,” she starts, “I know I’m probably not a naturally good mommy. There’s still lots of what I have to learn, and unlearn, especially. But I’m doing the work, I promise. I’m reading the books, and talking to my therapist on a set schedule because I love you. You’re not even here for me to hold but I already love you so much I feel like I could pulverize a whole fleet of ships if it meant nothing bad ever happens to you.”

She kisses the bronze skin again, thumb swiping back and forth over the small spot that keeps being pushed at, “I also know that I’ll mess up eventually but that’s okay because that’s normal. And I promise you—I promise, ok?—that I’ll love you so much it’ll make up for all of it.”

Suddenly there’s a sniffle from above and Regulus head whips around alarmed to see James lips in a quivering pout, chin wrinkling and tears welling impossibly high in her bloodshot eyes.

“Baby,” Regulus makes a cooing noise, moving one hand to cup James’ jaw, “Why are you crying, what’s wrong?”

James gives a little hiccup, aggressively gasping up the snot, “That was so sweet, what the fuck.”

Regulus tucks her lips in to keep from breaking into a small laugh and nods understandingly. James’ hormones have been rollercoastering a little the past few weeks.

“And also hot,” she adds, gaze dipping to Regulus’ lips and then lower where she knows the metal of her pierced nipples is peeking through the cotton. James pulls her lower lip between her teeth, gnawing on it before shrugging slightly, distracted by the view, “Talking about raising hell for his well-being and stuff.”

“And stuff,” Regulus parrots, sliding her hand around to James’ waist and licking the corner of her lips, knowing exactly what the best approach is to get James out of her headspace here now.

In the end, all it takes is Regulus leaning in closer, voice husky and telling James she’d kill for their little family without batting an eye for James to ask her to fuck her on the sofa from behind with the mirror in the hallway facing them.

[presidentdisastraofgallifrey]

Doctor Who and The 500-Year Diary

(Take 2)

One: 0-650. Was in his mid-200's upon leaving Gallifrey, a little over 100 years out of the academy. I choose to believe he was born disabled, because some sort of looming issues, hence the cane, but I have given up reconciling him looking old. It doesn't matter. He and Susan wander for a while before the show starts, so that by the time he leaves her on Earth it's been 150 years since they left home (so he's around 400 and she's somewhere close to 220). The show doesn't represent the true gaps he has between companions, so he's in his mid-600's when he actually regenerates, having already filled up his first diary. He mostly grumbles and complains in it, requiring reading between the lines to get the adventures, but if you look closely you can see his care and the fun he had. Also he sometimes unexpectedly includes genuinely funny jokes and anecdotes.

Two: 650-700. Very short life, the vast majority of it spent with Jamie. Prefers art and music to writing, and most of his diary entries are just watercolors of landscapes with Jamie in front of them.

Three: 700-748. Equally short life. About 8 years with unit as punishment, and 10 dying of radiation in the tardis, leaving 30 that he spent adventuring. That was almost all during Sarah's time, but he went off without her so much that she only spent like 5 years with him. While trapped on Earth, he would often start diary entries out as complaints about humans and Time Lords and other foolish things, but end up talking excitedly about some adventure or his current companion or Bessie. Not needing to sleep as much as humans do and getting bored very easily, he spends whole nights writing out lists of places to travel when he can and half-formed emergency plans and other such things. He writes very rarely once he has his freedom back, but occasionally comments on some adventure or other.

Four: 748-1,113. As best canon can tell, he only spent about 65 years as Four, but I refuse that to believe that two Time Lords didn't spend centuries traveling together. He spent somewhere between 4-6 years with Sarah, a few decades alone, 5-8 years with Leela, a few decades alone, and the rest with Romana except a few months at the end. He's really bad at remembering to keep his diary. He does sometimes write about the feelings he doesn't realize he doesn't share aloud, and intermittently writes about adventures, but when he does he heavily editorializes them into the way he wants to remember them. After Romana's regeneration, she (with minimal permission) starts correcting his entries, and then just writing about their adventures for him - much more accurate and somewhat more consistently, but still not every adventure, just the interesting ones. He still writes, but mostly about interesting thoughts or sometimes feelings or those moments when he realizes "OH! That's what they meant!" days later. He doesn't write at all between her leaving and his regeneration. He fills the second diary.

Five: 1,113-(almost) 1,500. I can't say how he writes yet, but this is the era he stops bothering to accurately keep track of his own age and just starts telling everyone he's 900.

Six: 1,500-1,700. He finishes his third diary soon after regenerating, realizes "oh, I must be 1500," and immediately goes back to telling everyone he's 900.

Seven: 1,700-2,000. Fills fourth diary.

Eight: 2,000-2,080. He has a lot of adventures, but I feel like he shouldn't last long. May change this when I actually get this far. He takes a break from the 900 thing and just makes up random numbers to cover for having no idea how old he is.

War: The Time War messes it up so he doesn't really count against age, both because trauma and it's genuinely impossible to count. Doesn't write. Actually tries to destroy his diaries and his useless, pointless past, but the tardis rescues them and spits them back out into the library after he regenerates.

Nine: 2,080-2,100. Shortest life ever. Tries to recapture a hint of his former self by going back to saying he's 900. Writes about every adventure (at least, every one with Rose), but in an emotionless, listed itinerary sort of way.

Ten: 2,100-3,000. Starts counting his life again, but has almost convinced himself he really was 900 and starts from there. And also is bad at math. Writes a lot, like way too much, about his emotions without actually processing them. Does also gush about his companions, and people he meets on adventures, rarely telling the full adventure story but more talking about pieces of it in detail. Finishes fifth and sixth diaries, but both times registers how old that must make him and immediately forgets.

Eleven: 3,000-4,200. The most ADHD anyone has ever been. Starts describing an adventure and trails off mid-entry into a totally different story or a ranking of cool planets or lists of funny words or doodles of his companions. Sometimes gets frustrated at his past self for this because he was trying to look something up and found the diary useless. Fills up his seventh and eighth diaries, and both are heavily dented from being chucked across the room.

Twelve: 4,200-5,700. His diary is a weird mix of things. Right after a traumatic adventure, will rant and rave against the universe. Months or years after a fun adventure will fondly remember it, crossing out messily bits that he misremembers and re-remembers mid writing. Infodumps about new hobbies while pretending not to care about them. Skips decades at a time, which is how Missy took it and roleplayed as him for so many years without him noticing that she eventually just told him. He didn't cross out her entries but did write in the margins angry commentary. Filled ninth, tenth, and eleventh diaries.

Thirteen: 5,700-5,790. Spent 20 years with Yaz (and others), 10 alone between adventures, and 60 in prison. Didn't have her diary in prison. Did write a lot for the other 30 years, but is the second most ADHD anyone has ever been and had a tendency to start stories ("so we landed in London in 1863"), get distracted talking about how amazing Yaz is or this cool person they met or the wonders of some ordinary thing, and then forget to tell the middle before concluding the story ("and we sent the daleks packing"). Also just goes on a lot of happy rants with no story attached. Uses SO many exclamation points, but never shares more than surface level excitements and annoyances.

Fourteen: 7,790-6,000. The other round numbers are estimations, but this one is not. He stays with Donnas family for over 200 years, until Rose's grandchildren are old, and heals and relaxes and finally chooses to regenerate (sort of; who knows how that works) when he has filled up the last of his 12 diaries. Uses his diary to finally work through his emotions, talk with excitement about the wonders of ordinary life he's discovering, and sometimes draw, paint, or do those scrapbook-type journal pages.

Fifteen: 6,000+. Being done with a whole diary set feels like a fresh start, but is also sad. It's not like he can just go home for more. But then, inexplicably at first, he discovers more in the tardis library (that she put right by the others). Another whole set, matching (unlike his), of the type often given as academy graduation gifts. It turns out these were Romana's. The first 80 years are filled by Romana i, but after her regeneration she sort of shared his. So he reads them (and cries), and then starts using the first one has his new diary. Fourteen was in the habit of writing every night, so at first (while Ruby is there), Fifteen actually writes about every adventure in detail, though slowly he does get more and more distracted and writes less often. He also tends to focus very heavily on the little details he loved and gloss over big things like almost dying or the horror of whatever they saw this time.

The Doctor never writes about their regenerations. They will note that they did, and write in detail about who they are now (sometimes. depends on who they are now), but never about what killed them.

[dmercer91]

nhlers as ultra specific things

this is basically a list of nd lore as nhler hcs

cause it makes them feel more human and i feel like that’s a good thing

pls add on or feel free to challenge my choice of player <3

michael bunting bites his nails

matthew tkachuk messes with his eyebrows and eyelashes

luke hughes picks at scabs and acne

dawson mercer pokes his tongue out when he’s focused

nico hischier picks at his nails

trevor zegras plays with a rubber band when he’s unsure

mitch marner tells stories and forgets the point

mark estapa chews on his hoodie strings

rutger mcgroarty zones out so hard he doesn’t catch what people say to him

freddie andersen cracks his knuckles when he’s uncomfortable

william nylander picks at / messes with the cuffs on his long sleeve shirts

john gibson doesn’t like eye contact but makes a point of doing it in case he seems rude 

seamus casey says ‘huh?’ only to properly answer a question without it being repeated

jamie drysdale doesn’t like it when his food touches

elias pettersson shuts down when he’s overwhelmed

jack hughes scrolls on his phone with his mouth over the caps of his water bottles

andrei svechnikov jumbles english and russian when he’s flustered

pyotr kochetkov gets migraines

auston matthews hates his laugh

john marino thinks he’s the king of sarcasm but misses most sarcastic comments

cole caufield has a hard time reading when it’s his turn to speak and often cuts people off or misses his window

tage thompson responds to compliments with an extremely awkward grin and an enthusiastic thumbs up

owen power pushes up his glasses only to find out they’re not even on his face

ryan graves has a good singing voice but his voice will absolutely never see the light of day

sidney crosby smiles and nods when he could not have less of a clue what’s going on

rasmus sandin consistently trips over his own feet

dougie hamilton often says ‘thanks, you too’ when a non hockey player tells him he played well

ethan edwards wanders off mid conversation if he hasn’t spoken in a while without even realizing

arber xhekaj complains consistently about one thing and when he’s given a completely reasonable solution he refuses the advice

kent johnson draws on his arms

gavin brindley has a really niche/uncommon skill and is completely baffled when others are impressed

alex turcotte struggles doing groceries cause he’ll only buy what he’s currently craving

timothy liljegren has a good memory but only because he can associate things he needs to remember to the absolute most random third party aspect ever

connor mcdavid will enter a room with a task to complete and stand in the doorway buffering cause he can’t remember what it was

leon draisaitls hands are always cold

logan cooleys room is really messy but he can remember that he has a pack of gum in his black sweatpants that are on the far left corner of his floor under the red shirt. if the gum is moved to an appropriate place for gum it will never be touched again

connor bedard laughs at really bad jokes out of pity (or cause he doesn’t get it and he feels like he should)

quinn hughes has no social battery unless he’s with his person - in which case he is on crack

[niccichi]

LukeJamie Headcanons 🌟🍶

It's 3:34 AM and I can't sleep, here's some headcanons I have for these losers <3 Putting under the cut so I don't clog up dashes

Jamie knows how to cook, it came with living with his grandmother in the middle of nowhere and idolizing Yun and Yang, who own a restaurant. Luke can make basic things, but ask him to make anything more and it's a disaster guaranteed. Jamie never admits it but he loves cooking food for Luke because it's a subtle, wordless way for him to show his love.

Jamie's love language is giving acts of service and receiving words of affection. Luke's love language is giving quality time and receiving gifts.

Luke's apartment is a mess, usually placing things wherever it's convenient and forgets to do his chores sometimes. Jamie's surprisingly the opposite, keeping things organized and tidy. Cleanliness was practically ingrained in his brain because his grandmother was a huge on keeping things clean. When they start living together, Luke does try to make an effort to keep things organized because he knows it bothers Jamie.

Jamie's a cat person while Luke's a dog person. They always have petty arguments about this.

Luke's usually the big spoon while Jamie's the little spoon but that's because their height difference makes it easy (and Jamie doesn't like to admit it but he does like being held in Luke's arms). However, if Luke's having a bad day, Jamie would be the big spoon to comfort him.

Jamie always steals Luke's clothes. Luke has no say in what clothes get stolen, they just disappear from his closet. He would lightheartedly complain about it but he does love seeing Jamie wear his clothes - it makes him feel all warm inside. Jamie does think Luke's clothes are ugly, but he has to admit that they're pretty comfy to wear. Luke would steal Jamie's clothes if 1) they weren't too small for him and 2) if Jamie owned anything else other than primarily crop tops.

Luke LOVES using pet names. He mostly uses 'babe,' but he'll use just about any pet name ever, including nicknames (like 'Jay'). Jamie isn't big on using pet names, but there was this one time where he called Luke a term of endearment in Cantonese and refused to translate it for him. They mostly use insults as terms of endearment though - for Luke it's 'pretty boy' and Jamie uses 'meathead,' 'dummy,' and 'dork.'

Jamie cannot drive for his life, so if they ever have to drive anywhere, Luke is always designated driver.

Luke loves PDA - he'll take any opportunity to hold Jamie's hand, wrap his arm around Jamie's shoulder or waist, or kiss his cheek. Jamie, surprisingly, is reserved when it comes to public affection. He prefers keeping intimacy private and always gets flustered when Luke starts getting really affectionate in public. Luke gets a kick out of it and always teases him about it.

Neither of them are really overprotective over the other, as they trust each other to be able to protect themselves and navigate Metro City on their own. However, Luke does get worried about Jamie sometimes, as he's much more reckless and he has a little fear of something happening to him that can't be controlled, fueled by the loss of his father and the Nayshall incident. It doesn't help that Jamie doesn't really value his own life very much either - it's residual from his neglectful parents and growing up delinquent.

One time Jamie came home extremely bruised and beaten up during a rough patrol and Luke became upset seeing his boyfriend so badly hurt. Jamie was initially confused, since he was still alive and well, and it takes him a long time to understand that Luke genuinely does care about his wellbeing and if something did happen to him it would tear Luke apart. He starts being more careful after that incident - if not for himself, then for Luke.

[mywritingonlyfans]

The prompts are adorable oh my god. How about prompt 049: "I’m really drunk, please help me get safely out of the way so I don’t ruin our friend’s wedding."? Thank youuu!

here's the prompt list

...

Alex and you never talked much. But being Kate's best friend and him being Jamie's, the two of you heard a lot about each other's crushes. Alex had met you when you had to share an apartment with Jamie for a few months during adolescence. He had a girlfriend at the time, but he remembers enjoying talking to you while waiting for Jamie to come home from somewhere. He found you captivating, and since you both liked similar things, the conversation flowed easily. Jamie had heard all about these conversations when he was alone with you. You couldn't stop talking about Alex, from his smile to the cute way he spoke without being able to properly keep his eyes on you.

Years had passed, and not much had changed, except that you saw each other much less, and Alex's band had made him more famous. Whenever you were in the same room, Kate and Jamie couldn't stop hearing you talk and ask about each other. Following Kate's plan, Jamie had found a way to keep you two together throughout their wedding ceremony. Kate was convinced that this night wouldn't go to waste. Both of you were single, and the odds were in your favor.

"Al, my stomach doesn't feel too good," you said. He laughed, his eyes soft and comforting, making it hard for you to look away. The alcohol had hit you hard, and it felt like your vision was gradually turning into a dream-like description. "My bad," he helped you settle on the bed, propping you up halfway between sitting and lying down. Apparently, you weren't as good a drinker as Alex. You had both consumed nearly the same amount, but your tolerance wasn't the same, and you had begged Alex to get you out of there so you wouldn't ruin your friends' long-awaited night.

"You're crying, babe?" he asked, concerned, running his thumb across your face. You didn't have that level of intimacy, but alcohol does strange things. "Do you think there's something not to like about me?" Your voice sounded slurred and messy due to the situation. He wondered if your vision was blurry, spinning, or if it hadn't reached that point. He felt fine, although he knew he wasn't completely sober.

"What do you mean, luv?" he asked, placing the comforter over you as your eyes were already closed. He rested his palm on your stomach, making you feel comfortable, and before he could pull away, you held his hand there, wrapped around yours. You wanted him close, and he wouldn't refuse that. "Something that's wrong with me that I can work on improving, I'm not sure," you said, tears streaming down your face, landing on the pillow, and you still kept your eyes closed. Alex would be stupid not to realize that the wedding was making you question your own experiences or perhaps choices, not out of envy, but as something that could have been but never was. "I don't think there's anything wrong with you, in you. You don't need to change anything. You'll find someone who likes you just the way you are, pet." Alex felt bad for being so generic, but you were so drunk that he thought those words would be enough. You smiled softly, and he could relax. There was a sudden silence that, if not for your thumb caressing his cold hand, he would have thought you fell asleep. "You know, I always wanted those pet names to mean something, for them to be just for me." Your eyes opened, shimmering with tears, and your lips now wore a sad smile. Alex had messed up badly; your emotions were directed at him and his damn lack of attention. Despite that, his mouth was still too dry to make any sounds. Did you mean it? "I wanted to be one of your songs when I was younger, one of those cheesy ones you used to write when your hair covered your eyes, and you were dating that girl you always brought to Jamie's house at your friends night. I wanted to be her so badly." He observed calmly, you spoke calmly, as if you had come to terms with the idea that it wasn't meant to be for you. Your words were interrupted by small sobs and disjointed breaths. Alex was paralyzed, carefully analyzing this information so that it wouldn't be misunderstood. "Did you used to like me?" he ventured, knowing the obvious answer. He had made song about you before, more than you could imagine.

He wanted to throw the words at you, but he held back, deciding that anything he had to say would be better said when you were sober and aware of it. He had kept that inside for so long that it wouldn't make sense to waste it on something that could be a misunderstanding. Your fingers touched his chin, your funny gaze serving as a reminder that you didn't have much control, and you nodded. "I like your cheeks when you smile, how they fill up and how the tip of your nose seems to smile along with them, how your eyes become smaller, and your lines become more prominent. You're so beautiful." By now, he was already smiling at you, and you traced your fingertips along his illuminated face. "I like you, Alex, in the present. But you never gave a damn about me, and here I am." You huffed, making him laugh out loud, which startled you a bit, but he quickly reassured you with a lingering kiss on your forehead. He was so happy about that, he would spend the entire night, until you woke up, memorizing every word he would say to make sure he wouldn't mess it up.

"I think you're beautiful too," he let slip, intending to lighten the mood and stop the tears. And it worked. He leaned in to kiss your forehead once again, enjoying the cute sigh you released at the contact. Your hand held onto the hem of his blazer, not tightly, but enough to keep him close. He turned his face away, knowing he shouldn't (and definitely would not) kiss you in that state, but you quickly followed through with what you had in mind. "Can you stay here?" He seemed confused, and although you looked lovely, you strongly smelled of alcohol. He chuckled at the thought. "Can you stay here 'til I fall asleep, Al?" You pulled him to your side, his hair falling over his forehead, and your eyes followed every movement he made. He found himself enjoying having you near, like that, feeling your touch, being able to close his eyelids and still vividly remember every expression on your face. He realized that whether he responded or not was irrelevant, you would do as you pleased, and given your exhaustion and slurred words, even if he tried, it would be in vain. He lay down beside you, and soon you nestled into him, the same sigh from minutes ago repeating itself. As his hands found their way to your hair, he felt comforted, knowing that you felt safe with him. "You're going to regret this so much tomorrow, darlin'," he whispered, chuckling softly, looking down at you tucked on his chest with your tiny arms wrapped peacefuly around him.

[hockybish]

Maybe Bean needs to leave the boys with Trevor for an extended period of time (not during hockey season thought) and see how he does?

yes i don’t think trev would cheat because no matter how crazy he is and sometimes not the brightest at the end of the days he loves bean, and i think maybe he see someone flirting with her or someone makes comment how she can find someone so much better and maybe it makes him realize he needs to start getting his shit togetehr if he wants bean to stay with him, and i think maybe that starts more by trying to party not as much because if trevor is being honest he loves the quiet nights at home with beans and the kids but tried to party more feeling that’s what he “had” to do but he loves being home, he also starts trying to help mroe with kids taking time to actually be a good father and then bean leaves them for a few days with trev and he realizes how much he needs to learn of his kids and how much of an apology bean deserves

he see someone flirting with her or someone makes comment how she can find someone so much better and maybe it makes him realize he needs to start getting his shit togetehr if he wants bean to stay with him

They were at a little party of sorts with duck players and their families. It was a teammate who made the comment.

"She's too good for you. I don't see what she sees in you. I wouldn't be surprised if she takes the kids and leaves you one day"

That set him off, remembering the time she almost did. He pushed the guy away and went to look for another drink.

He loves her, she loves him. Bean would never leave him, especially now that the twins are on the way.

Trevor grabbed a cold one. Observing it, did he really need another one? Maybe he did need to change. He put it back taking a lemonade and juice pouch instead.

that starts more by trying to party not as much because if trevor is being honest he loves the quiet nights at home with beans and the kids but tried to party more feeling that’s what he “had” to do but he loves being home, he also starts trying to help mroe with kids taking time to actually be a good father

Partying wasn't fun anymore. Jamie got married and had a family of his own, Mason got a girlfriend and another dog, and the younger guys on the team were making him feel older than he was.

So he left the jam packed bar and headed for home, stating he had someone waiting for him there.

He tripped over a pile of laundry and stepped on a little hot wheels car. The kitchen light was still on so Trevor could see the mess that was around him.

He felt bad.

Wandering further in he found his family in the living room asleep. One twin was in the swing, the other in the seat bouncer. Bean was on the couch with Percy on her chest and Zephyr snuggled in close.

He should have come home after the game. He was still under some notion that that was what he was supposed to do after games, go party, celebrate the win or drink until you forget the loss.

He was going to make a change. Starting the next day, he was going to work on being better.

then bean leaves them for a few days with trev and he realizes how much he needs to learn of his kids and how much of an apology bean deserves

the boys are definitely older. Bean was at a friend's bachelorette party weekend, and Trevor assured Bean he could handle it. Chaos ensued within the hour.

Percy bit Evan and Evan hit Percy in retaliation.

Rion started jumping off things, when launched himself off the couch, he caught the corner of the coffee table. Lucky enough he didn't need stitches.

Zephyr was playing with a little mini stick set and accidentally broke a lamp.

Everyone was crying at some point in time even Trevor.

He didn't make the right dinner and ended up burning it. Zeph almost had an allergic reaction to something. Percy out right refuses to eat the burnt food. The twins decided to have a little food fight.

"I don't know how you do it"

"It's not easy. But I'm used to it, I've got a system"

"I'm sorry for sayin all you is sit around all day"

[farfromstrange]

Chaos Theory | Michael Kinsella x Reader

Chapter 24: Bandaids Don’t Fix Bullet Holes

Masterlist ° Chapter List

Pairing: Michael Kinsella x Reader (she/her)

Summary: While Michael meets with his solicitor, you're stuck at his house, and you slowly start going crazy. A visit from a particular someone drives you even crazier.

Warnings: Angst, Frank (yes, that's a warning)

Word Count: 3.2k

A/n: I've finally gotten around to finishing this chapter. It might not be as exciting as you guys hoped it would be, but I have a plan for the next following chapters and I had to leave space for that, which is why this isn't as plot heavy as I intended it. (Also, I’m not sure about the title, but I’ve run out of songs to use)

You’re still tired when you wake up the next morning, but the sadness that overcame you the day before has been replaced by emptiness. You just feel numb now, but it’s better than being in pain. 

Michael has an appointment with his solicitor this morning. Your blood burns your insides when you think about being left alone for the day. His family surrounds you. Not literally, thank God, but with them living on the very street Michael does, it feels as if they’re caging you in like a zoo animal.

You tried to convince him to let you go home, but he insisted that you stay in his house until he’s back so he can make sure that you’re safe. His house has a better security system in place than your own home, and after everything that was unraveled the other day, he would rather not take any chances until he has figured out how serious the repercussions of Frank’s actions will be.

They blew up Michael’s phone all day yesterday, but ever since he blew them off, no one has been brave enough to his house in person. It has been otherwise quiet, too. Thankfully. Still, you can’t help but be wary. 

You’re sitting in bed with your legs pulled up to your chest, resting your cheek on your knees as you watch him rummage through his wardrobe to get ready. Today is an important day to him and he doesn’t want to risk making a bad impression, no matter how big the chaos around him is.

You called in sick from work. You can’t stand being around people, let alone put on a fake smile. The scent of coffee makes you nauseous. To top that off, your hand is still swollen, bandaged, and your knuckles have started getting irritated. Any doctor would have told you the same thing Michael did; your wrist is sprained and you need to rest your hand, which means that work is off the table. 

You know you’re going to use up all of your sick days if you keep going like this, but at this point, there are no worries on your mind. None but one, and that is your sister. Okay, maybe you’re overthinking about a little more than that, but you refuse to acknowledge that or you will drive yourself crazy.

At least Michael’s house smells like safety. You can’t describe it, but the comfort his scent engulfs you in makes this a little easier, even with the separation anxiety eating you alive like a flesh-eating amoeba.

“Hey,” his soft voice brings you back to reality. It has a bit of a scruff to it, but that’s what makes him so attractive.

The bed dips before you, and you look at him with red eyes. “Are you gonna be alright?” Michael asks, his hand reaching out to cup your cheek. “I could call the solicitor and tell her I’ve changed my mind, that I can’t do it today, I…”

You shake your head. The last thing you want is for him to put you over getting his daughter back. The truth about your past, then Jamie’s death, and now the revelation with Frank and Amanda messed with both of your lives, and God knows what else happened in the time you were at work. 

The things Michael threw in Frank’s sounded so serious, you can’t imagine that he has fully forgotten them just because of this one appointment. There seems to be more to it, even, and that scares you. It scares you that he’s going through hell and now he’s going through yours too. And you’re forced to go through his, thanks to his family and your inability to stay away.

You have an inkling, but you don’t like what it is telling you, not one bit. You know Michael, and you know how easily he could be pushed to a point where he would do just about anything for the people he cares about. It’s a terrifying prospect that you could lose him.

You shake it off. You’ve already done enough stupid things for the time being. You can’t do this alone anymore, and you don’t have to.

“Go,” you say, your voice barely above a whisper. “I’ll manage. Don’t put your future with Anna at risk just because of me. It’s not worth it.”

Michael’s eyes soften. “Yer always worth it, that’s not–”

“No. Not this time.”

He sighs. “We’ll talk about how to keep your sister safe once I’m back, alright?” It sounds like a compromise. “Just don’t do anythin’ rash ‘til I’m back,” he says.

“I know,” you answer.

“Promise me.”

You open your mouth. An exasperated sigh slips your lips, and he gives you an incredulous look. “Okay, fine,” you cave. “I promise. I won’t do anything rash until you’re back.”

You’re not sure how you’re going to keep it, but he’s right. You can’t do anything rash or you will risk a lot more than your sister’s safety. She’s the most important thing in your life, above all else, and if you put her at risk just because you’re impatient and drowning in your concern… You wouldn’t be able to forgive yourself.

“I’ll be back in a few hours.” Michael leans forward and presses a kiss on your forehead.

You close your eyes and lean into his touch. “I love you,” you whisper. 

He smiles right back at you. “You too.”

Michael checks his appearance a few more times in the mirror, and you can tell he’s nervous. He rechecks every document twice, and he repeats every question he prepared himself for in his head. 

You want to lift him up, but you’re too low to say anything supportive other than what you feel for him. You hope it’s enough, but you feel useless and numb, and the state you’re in is a horrible middle space between being an exhausted mess and being on high alert. But most of all, the fear never leaves your bones. It has manifested and it’s eating away at your soul. 

“After our fight,” you speak up, “I, uh, called the inspector on the case of my sister’s death six years ago.”

He deserves to know.

Michael stops in his tracks and turns to you. “And?” he asks. 

You shrug. “I was redirected to Scotland Yard’s official hotline, and the front desk lady told me she would pass my message along, but…” With a defeated sigh, you lower your head and shake it. “He didn’t call me back.”

Michael purses his lips. He’s not mad, you can tell. He probably would have done the same in your position. You took the only road you thought could help you, but it ended up being a dead end, after all. Or maybe you missed something crucial.

“Maybe he’ll call today,” he says almost hopefully. “If he’s anythin’ like ya said, he’ll call eventually. Maybe he’s just… swamped.”

“Or maybe he can’t help me.”

“I’m not going to lie to you.”

You want to kiss him just for that.

“So,” he says, “him not wanting to help or be associated with this case again is somethin’ we need to consider.”

You nod along. He’s right. It’s possible. The truth hurts, but at least it’s true.

Wiping your dry cheeks to prevent yourself from actually crying, you clear the lump in your throat. “Well, regardless, I need to pick up the file,” you add, your voice stronger this time. 

He shakes his head. “We can do that once I’m back, alright? Yer not goin’ anywhere without me.”

You don’t have the strength to protest. Michael kisses you again. “Good girl,” he says. 

When he turns to leave, you hug him for a little longer than necessary. He rubs your back, knowing it’s hard for you to let him go, but he has to leave. You understand now why he was so clingy the other day, and it hurts to watch him walk out the door and down the street, disappearing out of your sight, and you lock the door the way he told you to. 

Against what your brain tells you, you don’t go back to bed. You make yourself a nice cup of coffee and find some toast in the cupboard to make yourself some breakfast, and you force yourself to swallow a few bites for your upset stomach. Maybe that will give you a clear mind. 

You spend a few minutes sitting in the backyard, staring out into nature. Every once in a while, you peek over at Jimmy and Amanda’s house. It seems so deserted. You wonder if they fought after you punched her. 

Michael and Jimmy don’t seem all too close, but they’re still brothers, and Michael seems to see something in him that you don’t. You don’t need to understand it. 

You busy yourself with cleaning for a while. Just as you’re scrubbing the stove, you catch something from the corner of your eye. Your peripheral vision picks up on a silhouette close to the bushes that adorn the sides of Michael’s driveway. 

She’s concealed halfway by your car, but you catch a glimpse of the girl’s face that is staring directly into the house, and when she meets your eyes, she gasps and bolts.

Anna. 

You know Michael has secretly been watching her just to get a chance to see her, even if it’s from afar. You never expected Anna to come to the house herself.

She was still little when he went to prison and she must be more than curious, but also a little angry because she probably doesn’t know or understand the full truth behind her mother’s death yet. She’s a child, but she’s not stupid.

You open the front door and storm out of the house. You call out, “Anna?” But upon hearing her name, the girl runs faster, and soon enough she has disappeared around the corner in her school uniform.

You sigh. Whether or not you will tell Michael about this depends on how his meeting goes. Now that she saw you, what must she think? Knowing her father whom she hasn’t seen for eight years has a strange woman standing in his kitchen and cleaning it like a mad woman. 

By opening the blinds to let in some light, you might have just screwed up in the eyes of a teenage girl and Michael’s daughter, and that fills you with dread because you don’t know if he’s going to process the truth in the way you want him to. 

Locking the door behind you again, you draw the blinds closed and return to angrily scrubbing the stove, making the pain in your injured hand worse without even using it, but at least it makes you feel something other than the gaping emptiness deep within your soul. It keeps you from going crazy. 

Suddenly, there’s a knock on the very door that you just closed. Startled, you turn around. Goosebumps form on your skin. For a second, you consider what to do. Should you go upstairs and hide? Should you call Michael? Should you grab a knife or the gun behind the fridge? 

You move toward the front door, your steps careful and calculated. The knocking intensifies. You can feel yourself quivering in the fuzzy socks you’re wearing.

Then, you hear a faint voice call out your name, and you can see Frank peeking in through the kitchen window. He waves at you as if he can see you through the slits in the blinds. You hold your breath. 

“I know you’re in there!” he calls out for you. “I just wanna talk.” There is a pause, and you stand there completely paralyzed until he adds, “It’s about yer sister.”

Your feet carry you the rest of the way to the door and you open it enough to look outside. 

“What do you want, Frank?” you snap. “Do you get off on harassing innocent people? Or are you just that stupid?”

He looks at you, and… is that guilt in his eyes? You don’t want to believe it. The audacity he has to show up here and look like that. He’s cruel, he’s vile, he is an asshole and he doesn’t deserve your attention. But he mentioned your sister. After what happened the day before, he knows that you would jump at the mere mention, and that is how he gets you. 

“I just wanna talk,” he repeats. “Please.”

“Michael’s not here,” you say. You have to stand your ground. He’s doing this on purpose. He has to be. This man is capable of unspeakable things. 

If Michael knew, heads would roll. 

“I’m not here to talk to Michael, I told ya. I’m here because o’ you.”

You let out an exasperated sigh. You shouldn’t, you know that you shouldn’t, but your body acts without listening to your common sense. You open the door just enough to let him inside. 

This is about Maya, you tell yourself. Whatever he has to say could be important. And you can’t say no to the man who threatened her once before. He is the reason she might be in grave danger. So, whatever he knows, as small as it might seem could help prevent any further damage. And if he’s lying, you can still grab the gun behind the fridge and put an end to this disgusting excuse of a human being. 

“Thanks,” Frank throws your way as he steps in, almost as if you’re friends, and you hate that he carries himself with that godawful, confidence-secreting attitude. 

Does he not realize what he did? Michael threatened him with a gun and this is how he walks around, with his hair styled and an almost sly smile on his face—it’s just a hint, but it counts, and it makes you feral. 

He stands in the kitchen, turning to you. You stand across from him, arms crossed and waiting for him to make a move. You won’t offer him a drink, that’s for sure. 

He lets out a long breath eventually, pulling something from his backpocket. You flinch at the sudden movement of his hand, and he lifts them almost as if to reassure you that he isn’t a threat. But to you, he is everything bad and more. You hate him in a way you ever only thought you could hate one person, even though it’s a different kind of hatred nonetheless. 

Frank pulls out a small envelope, looking down at it for a moment before slowly extending it to you. You frown at him. He insists you take it, but you’re not sure if you want to see the contents. 

“Open it,” he encourages you. 

You roll your eyes, reaching for the envelope. The paper feels thin under your fingers, almost rough and worn. It’s barely closed. You only have to pull a little to open it, and when you look inside, you can tell there is a series of pictures waiting for you. You shoot Frank a glare. 

“What’s this?” you ask as you take the photographs out of the envelope. 

“It’s the pictures my men took of your sister,” he answers. 

You stop. “What?!” Your voice echoes. The house isn’t even that big, but you are loud enough for the sound to carry. 

“Relax–” 

“Relax? You had my sister followed and now you come here after deliberately putting her in danger, telling me to relax? How sick can you possibly be?!”

“They’re the pictures I was plannin’ to have sent to ya so you’d leave Michael alone. I told my men to back off. I promised tha. I don’t like being threatened,” he says. “They’re the only photographs left of her. Swear to God. It’s done. It’s over. Nothin’ more to worry about, alright? So… relax.”

His voice holds a certain edge as if your anger is somehow annoying to him and not at all justified, and only for that you want to use your healthy fist to hit him.

No, you won’t fall for it. You see a glimpse of humanity, but you refuse to let it blind you. People like him know how to fool someone in a crisis like you, and they use that vulnerability to their advantage. 

You take out the photographs he gave you. He’s right, it is Maya. Your little sister, all alone and vulnerable. It’s so different to see her walking the streets of London after school, hanging out with the few friends she has, and–

You stop. The last picture has your father in it. The look in his eyes resembles death. He smiles at your weak mother, but there is nothing but evil in his eyes. You can see that he has no soul, he never had one. It makes your stomach churn. 

“You’re lying,” you say, but your voice is barely above a whisper. “This was never supposed to happen.”

“Believe me or not, but it’s done,” Frank repeats. “They won’t hurt her, and for the record, I was never plannin’ on havin’ her hurt anyway, but after what you said about your father… You know, we can help–”

“Don’t even start,” you cut him off. “You had men follow my sister and put her in danger because you didn’t think. You were dissatisfied with Michael choosing himself over your twisted family for once in his godforsaken life, and you were ready to let it out on an innocent child you didn’t know instead of taking it up with me. That makes you as much of an asshole as my bastard of a father, and I’ve encountered many people in my life. You threatened me and my sister and that is not something I can just forgive. So forgive me for not trusting you, but you have done nothing to earn it.”

He nods slowly, processing your words and agreeing, “Yer right. For what it’s worth, I’m…” And he struggles to say it. “Sorry,” he says. 

You stare at the pictures, then back at Frank. Tears of frustration and pure rage form in your eyes, and they already start pricking at the corners. “Get out,” you say, trying to stay calm. 

“C’mon now, let’s not make such a big deal out of it. You know that ya have your own problems and that you’re not ready for what this family brings with it. I just wanted to protect us. I only hurt those that need t’be hurt, not innocent children.”

The urge to punch him grows with every passing second. Every word in your head makes less and less sense as you start losing sight of what’s most important. You want to give in to your anger. You want to be selfish. 

But you can’t. You can’t allow yourself to give in. This is not who you are. And Maya wouldn’t want you to lose sight of that as much as she wouldn’t want you to lose sight of her. 

“You already hurt her,” you say.

“I didn’t. She’s alive. She’s no longer being followed, and your father has no fuckin’ clue ‘cause my men aren’t that stupid. What more do ya need?”

“Frank,” you spit his name like a snake would dig her teeth into its victim. You’re inching closer to the point of disaster. “I’m going to ask you nicely,” you say, “even though you don’t deserve any bit of my kindness. Get the fuck out of this house or I swear to God, I will make use of the gun Michael keeps around here and shoot your cock off!”

Instead of cowering in fear at your tone, Frank only smirks. He looks surprised, impressed even, but not scared. At this point, you’re boiling like a tea kettle on a gas stove.

“I was wrong ‘bout you,” he says. The sound of impress is laced in every vibration of his vocal cords. 

You stretch the fingers of your uninjured hand. He needs to get out. Now. 

“If you don’t get out, I will call Michael right now and tell him you harassed me.” It’s your last straw. He doesn’t respect you, so maybe he will respect the man that already bashed his head in. 

The next time he comes face to face with him, you know he won’t be as merciful. 

You pull out your phone. “I’m sure he’d love to hear what you had to say to me, word for word.” You unlock it and select your boyfriend’s contact at the top of the list. “I have a very good memory, you must know. I can remember conversations pretty vividly.”

Of course, it works immediately. Frank’s face falls. As soon as you mention Michael and the possibility of telling him every last word that was passed between you in the past five minutes, he takes a step toward the door. 

“Take care of yourself,” Frank tells you, and you have never been so relieved to watch someone walk away from you as you are now. 

You’re quick to lock the door behind him, letting out the breath you had been holding before, and your entire body quivers as you sink to the floor with the photographs in hand. The tears start streaming down your cheeks as the helplessness of your situation settles in. 

You’re not sure where to go from here, and it is terrifying. 

How much longer can you hold on before everything around you, including the people you love, turns into ashes in front of your very eyes? 

Tagging: (let me know if you want to be tagged, too!) @bellaxgiornata @mattmurdocksscars @ms-murdockswift @your-not-invisible-to-me @shouldbestudying41 @glowstick-lesbian @acharliecoxedfan @roseallisonparker @norestfortheshelbywicked @1988-fiend @loveroftoomanyfandoms @mattkinsella @schneeflocky @harperdoodle @ravenclaw617 @lunaticgurly @mattmurdocksstarlight

[sweet-villain]

Bullet To The Heart~ J.Q

@its-quinns-bread asked:

Hey princess✨

First of all, i really love your work. You're my favorite writer tbh, your angsts are craazy😩

Got a request, if u still writing stories.

I know it's a bit weird and out of the usual actor vibe but i really want to read something like that. It's okay if u don't want to write it

Joseph Quinn, as the smartest shooter in the world, working for the most famous Gang in London. All he get is just the name of the victims(bad guys) and he find informations himself in a second, using only a bullet (right on the head) to kill em. The reader is the next victim as she's blamed for something she didn't do. That's till he sees her. Feeling like "love at first sight" Joseph refuses to kill the reader, trying to find a way to hide her so his boss won't search for her. They get closer.

You can add Jamie as his best friend and helper. When he finds out the reader is his boss' biggest enemy's sister(Dacre Montgomerys) everything make sense. His boss just want to hurt Dacre by killing his sister bc of past misunderstandings.

Having a characters death (maybe Jamie's?) Would make it sad also.

You can make the story as how u want and end it also as how u want. Just gave an idea for a fic~

Mention of Death, Angst

@harringtons-cupid @haileighboi @pleasantlycrazyworld @clovermunson @moonchildquinn. @ceriseheaven @glamourpearlsandpolkadots @hawkins-high86 @cinemaquinn @woahlifehitsyahuh

Author's Note : Thank you so much lovely. Not me crying over here as I start this. I really like this ideas and I am going to roll with it.

" Asshole" he pulled his arms to swing his knife at him.

As the blade came towards him, he stepped closer to his body, so when he turned his right shoulder brushed against his chest. Using his opened hands, he strucked him upper and lower arm. The combination of his strike and the swing made the knife his hand, clutter to the ground.

Grabbing his arm, twisting until the heel of his hand pointed towards the ceiling. Then he put his right shoulder under his elbow and yank his hand down. With a crack, his arm broke causing him to hiss in pain.

" You're fucking dead!" he creamed.

Spinning around to face him, he chuckled bringing his fist back and colliding twice with his face, mainly his nose. Blood began to gush. While he tried to grip his nose and look at the blood, he kicked him in the knee caps. Mason tumbled to the ground.

Joe chuckled as he stared down at Mason, helpless.

" Funny, I'm not." Joe kicked him in the ribs. He knelt down to feel a pulse on Mason's wrist. He was meant by a strong pulse.

Mason winced, clutching his arm, " You little-"

Joe sighed to himself, colliding his fist against Mason's face, standing up taking a handkerchief from the pocket of his pants as he wiped his hands of any blood. Joe would usually bring a gun to handle guys like Mason Dye but he knew better, he didn't want to start a war with his enemy.

That could wait. Everyone knew who he was by one glance in his direction. He was dangerous and he's the smartest shooters in London. His assignments are simply to kill the victims that are assigned to him, no messes left behind, and no remorse to any of those that even beg him.

He makes his way out of the building leaving that mess for the Montgomery gang to find. It was a message to the leader of the Montgomery gang, that he was watching them and he was ready if Dacre, would strike.

He left Mason Dye alive, broken but alive.

Heads turn when he walks through the familiar bar of London, one he knows his best friend runs and spots him in a blink of an eye. Jamie is serving customers behind the bar like usually but he's also known best for selling guns and the bullets you need. Jamie was chatting with a nice couple with Joe walked up to him with one elbow on the bar.

" Well, Well, Well look who the wind brought, the smartest shooter in London and the best" Joe rolled his eyes, with a small smile on his face. He knew Jamie was only boosting his ego and playing with him like that. " If it isn't my best friend, what can I do for you?"

Joe took out the gun from behind his back placing it on top of the bar. Jamie's hands falls on top of it sliding it below and out of vision as he eyes it.

" Not too bad, where did you get it?" Joe snorted remembering how he left Mason lying with his nose broken in the building. " Don't tell me you took it off one of those nobody's off the street that look at you with one glance and they are a goner."

Joe smirked, " Mason Dye."

Jamie's eyes got wide as he leaned closer to Joe's ear, " Are you kidding me?" Joe shook his head with a serious look on his face. " He was sent to hunt, hunt for me... I know it.."

Jamie sighed pulling back as he turns around putting the gun in of the cabinets.

" You have to be more careful around like that, who knows what or who Montgomery will send out next?" Joe's hand balled into a fist.

" He can send as many as he likes, you know they will be dead the moment they stepped foot in my sight" Jamie smirked knowing fully what Joe was capable. Joe could end someone's life with just one bullet to the head.

Joe didn't care for his victims, nor he cared for their names or their families. He did the job as he was told and went on his day. The only people he cared about was Jamie, Keery and Maya that were part of his gang. Anyone else was not in his books.

A hand places on top of Joe's shoulder catching him off guard. Joe senses picked up as he grabbed the arm twisting it around and slamming the person's head on top of the bar with his other hand on it. The person winced harshly, " It's me, Joe."

Joe's eyes turned from blaze of fury to softer shade of brown as he released Keery from his old. Keery stood up, rubbing his head while Joe adjust his jacket tapping it with his open hand as he apologized. Maya couldn't help but snickered at what just happened.

" Yeah, Yeah, laughs it up" Keery waved her off as he turned to Joe, " Geez you could of pulled all my hair off, thanks" Joe shrugged as he took the drink that Jamie had slide over to him.

" You'll live" Joe turns his head to Maya.

" You have something for me?" She nodded, taking out an envelope from her back pocket and handing it over to him. He grabs the yellow envelope that holds a picture of his next victim.

" Did you hear that Joe happened to bump into our dear old pal Mason?" Jamie folded his arms and places on top of the bar as he leans in a hush tone, looking around that no one would hear him. This side of the town wasn't Montgomery's territory. They weren't allowed on this side of town.

Keery and Maya both looked at Joe with worry, " you want us to scout around and see if we find anyone else that doesn't belong here?" Joe shook his head taking a cigarette from his pocket with a lighter. He places the envelop in between his armpit raising one hand to cover the flame as he lights the cigarette.

" There's no need, I've handled it" Keery nods.

" How about a drink before dear Joseph runs to do his job?"

" Sounds good" Maya says. " Do you need us to come?" She asks.

" I've got it, Maya. You stay here and enjoy yourself with Keery" he pats Keery on the shoulder with the edge of the cigarette hanging from his lips.

" But what-" Joe put his hand up as he shakes his head.

" If I needed your help, I would of asked " Jamie pursed his lips taking one of the guns that Joe likes, with two boxes of bullets just to be safe as he slide them over.

" A gift" Jamie smirks. Joe looks around to see if anyone was watching him and takes the items off the bar putting them into his pocket shielding them with his jacket. He feels the crips of the envelope in between his fingers as he eyes it.

He felt this one was special.

-

Joe eyes the picture in his hands as he stands across the street, leaning against the brick wall and looks up in time to see you walking across the street with a bag in your hands. You had gone shopping in the opposite side of town, it was forbidden for you to walk those streets but you weren't going to be cooped up in that home.

" It's not a good idea for you to walk those streets" Liv reminded you as she places a hand on top of your arm. Her face shown with worry while you huffed the piece of hair in front of your face.

" Don't tell me you want me to be copped up in here like some chicken or something" she chuckled for a bit but shook her head.

" You deserve to do what you want, but you know those street aren't safe. What would he say?" you rolled your eyes at the mention of your brother. Dacre. Dacre Montgomery. He was the second biggest gang leaders in London, killing anyone that do his family harm and betrayed him.

Both Joseph and Dacre had higher ups to speak for and the higher ups disposed each other to the bone. There was once where the Montgomery gang and the Quinn gang were at peace, it was one misunderstanding between one another that led to the downfall.

" He would say nothing, I'm a grown woman that can handle herself" the door opened and your brother stepped in with following by Chester, one of his right hand man.

" My love" Liv stands up from her seat as she makes her way over to him. The two share a small kiss as he turns to you, with Liv's arm wrapped around his elbow. You scoff at the sight of your brother fully aware what he was going to say. You looked away not bothering to hear his nonsense this time.

" You can't be mad at me for a long time" he says stepping closer releasing from Liv's hold as he rounds to the seat in front of you and sits down. He takes a hold of your hand in his and places his other hand on top of yours. His rings shine in the light as well as his necklaces hanging around his neck in between the open shirt he has on.

" It's not safe for you to go out today" he says. " I know how much you enjoy the weather and hear the laughter of children running around in the streets. I know you want to go out like you used to, but things have changed and you must stay here. For your safety" you slipped your hand from under his as you stood up.

" I'm capable of handling myself, I'm a Montgomery for crying out loud" you shouted waving your hands around. " It's not fair that Liv gets to go out and I have to sit here and wait for your orders" Dacre sighed as he stood up.

" You will stay here and that's an order. I'm only doing this to protect you" the door swung open again and bruised and broken arm Mason stumbles in with his front teeth missing, his nose looks broken and bloodied. He looks like he's in a lot of pain as he stumbles into Chester.

Chester takes a hold of him as he looks worried at his friend. Dacre's jaw clenched at the sight of his friend, " Who did this?" he asked. Mason winced grabbing his side. You hurried towards Mason other's side as you helped Chester bring him to the couch. Mason settles down with a wince and a hiss as he slouches on the couch.

Dacre looks up at Chester, nodding his head to get Myles and Clayton as an order to go out looking for whoever did this to Mason.

" I will end anyone that did this to you" Dacre swore and points to you, " Stay inside, listen for once" he hisses storming out leaving a groaning Mason the couch while Liv stands off to the side.

" He's going to be really angry, but I can deal with him. You should go. You've been in this room for three days" you nodded and mouthed a thank you. Mason was about to protest but Liv smacked the back of his head in silence.

You ran out the door getting the things you needed and headed out the door. Sunshine was calling your name.

-

Joe continues to watch you walk down the streets and one of his hands is on the gun on the side of his pants, beneath his coat as he follows you down the street. You were his next victim and he was going to finish the job no matter the circumstances. You stopped for a moment and looked at your surroundings as if feeling something was off. Joe had stopped and hide behind one of the cars parked on the side walk. Just in case you turned around and spotted him.

You continued to walk hearing children run past you with a plane in their hands. As your boots hits the pavement, another pair of shoes hit the pavement and you have been hearing it for quite some time. You turn the corner into an alleyway when you turned around to face who had the audacity to follow you.

You thought your brother sent one of his goons to follow you but you face to face with another face. A face that the part of town you were in knew very well. His curls were messier than ever, his brown eyes stared down hard at you and he didn't have nor a smile or a frown on his face.

His hand itched for a gun but he stopped in his tracks as his eyes grew wide at the sight of you. You were beautiful. He watched your face turned from shock to surprise as you stood in front of him. His mouth was a jar.

" What?" you asked, suddenly breaking him out of his thoughts. " I'm sorry, what?" He scrunched up his eyebrows as he took sight of you. The way your hair was flowing in the wind, the way your eyes held surprise in them and amusement, the way you had that small smile on your face and the way you were waiting for him.

" Well..." you titled your head to the side. He swallows the lump in his throat at the sudden stop. He never stopped to kill his victims. But this, you.. this was different. His heart raced at the thought of having you in his arms and feeling what you were like against him.

" Your not afraid?" he asked. You snorted, shaking your head. You weren't going to tell him who you were, it's less information he needed to know.

" I don't have anything to be afraid of, certainly not of a man that has a gun ready to point at me" Joe pulled his hands away from his gun as he stood up straighter.

" Do you know who I am?" he asked, it came to him sudden surprise that you were not afraid of him. He knew it meant two things either you were ready to die as you came to face to face with your chances or that you came from a family, a family that was familiar with these type of situations.

" I do, the famous most smartest ruthless shooters on this side of town" He nods.

" What's my name, darling?" he licks his lips. His heart begged you to call his name out. He wanted to know how it sounded out of you.

" Joseph Quinn" he had to hold himself back on how good his name falls from your mouth. If he could show you how he felt, his eyes were rolling to the back of his head and his heart melted on the spot.

But, he can't. He can't care. Not for you.

" You did have a job to do, no?" you asked. " To kill me?" his lips grow in a thin line as he nods taking out the photo of your from the back pocket of his pants and unfolding it. It was a picture of you, outside on the balcony having tea.

" Huh? What is stopping you?" you took the chance and stepping closer to him. You can smell the hint of cigarettes, gun powder and mint off of him.

Suddenly you heard the familiar voices and grab the lapel of his jacket pulling him to the side of the building as a car drives past. Joe's breath hitches seeing how close you were to him. His eyes grow wide as your lips were inches away from him. Your head was peeking out to see if anyone had spotted you two and when you saw that no one did, your head turned just in time your own breath to hitch.

Joe couldn't help it. He had to keep you safe and have you to himself. When you turned to grab your bag from the floor, a hand wraps around your mouth while he pulls you back, whispering into your ear to be quiet. The next thing you knew, things grew black as you went limp in Joe's arms. He lowers you onto the ground into his lap looking over your features.

God, you were beautiful.

He had called two people he trusted besides Jamie to help.

" Are you out of your mind?" Keery asks waving his hands over at your laying body on the ground. " We can't bring her back to the house"

" Why not?" Maya gasped as he flicked him in the forehead. He scrunched up his nose rubbing on the spot. " You were suppose to kill her, our boss will kill us first then you."

Joe shook his head, " He won't and I will not let that happen"

" It's your funeral' Keery says as he helps him carry you to the car while Maya was on the look out.

-

Dacre rubbed a hand down his face as he angrily stared at his men, his jaw twitched as there was fire in his eyes. How could you be missing?

" I specifically told her not to go, and now she's gone..." he eyes Liv who scurries away behind Chester. " Liv, did you tell my sister that she was allowed to go? At a time like this? Have you seen the state of Mason?" she nods and mumbles she's sorry.

He pinches the bridge of his nose and lowers his hand.

" You find her and you bring her here, do you understand me?' Chester nods as he begs the rest of follow him. Mason stood up as he was about to follow Chester out the door when Dacre puts his hand on his chest to stop him.

" Not you, Mason. You're still healing" Mason huffed.

" I want to help" he says. " I need my gun and bullets, I'll be okay. This" he motions to himself, " It's only a scratch"

Dacre chuckled, " you can barley walk. Take another day off and that's an order" Mason huffed as he looked towards Liv who looked away. She knew better than to go against her boyfriend right now.

He walked away with one more glance at Dacre to see if he would change his mind. He didn't.

" Babe" Liv called out to her boyfriend who had his hands in his pockets of his pants as he stared at the flowers on the table. " I'm sorry, I've only wanted the best for her."

" And look where that's got her" he says, looking at her. It was a cold and distant look. He didn't meant to be cold towards his girlfriend but right now you were more concern on his mind. His baby sister.

He made a promise to always look out for you.

" How can I make you feel better?" she asks, making her way to him running her hands up his arms, squeezing at his shoulders massaging them in hopes he would relax more. He was stiff as a stick on the ground.

He shrugged off her touch and walked out the room leaving Liv in brim of her tears as she walked to the window, looking out in hopes you were okay.

-

Your fingers dragged over the books on the bookshelf brushing over the titles with golden lettering. Joe was pouring a drink in two glasses, peeking on the side spying the poison he had just in case he needed. He glanced at you and a sudden feeling of calmness passes over him at the sight of your back.

You can feel his stare on your back as you walked through his apartment stopping on a picture.

" Who's this?" you asked, turning to point a finger at the photo and look at Joe for answers. He picked up both glasses with his hands making his way towards you, handing one to you.

" Thank you" you took one from his hand while looking back at the picture. It was Joe one arm wrapped around the person's shoulders. The other had his arm wrapped around Joe, he had blonde dirty hair, short, had pretty eyes, smile on his face as he looked at the camera.

" That's Jamie" Joe felt like he could only tell you Jamie's name. He didn't know you all to well for all he knew you could be playing him and this was all a game to you. But again, he felt that calm passing through him when you look at him.

" What does he do?"

" He's a bartender" Joe says, " the best in town" he adds. You nod, tapping one finger against the glass.

" Have you known him long?" Joe nods.

" We're very good friends and one of the few that I trust" he says, downing his glass. Your eyes move next to the next photo he has on the wall. It was Joe with two others, one was a guy and the other was a girl. She was really pretty.

" Who are they?" He scrunched up his nose, chuckling.

" You're very nosey" he says.

" Oh sorry, just trying to figure you out" he hummed as he took his glass back to his kitchen and poured himself another drink. You watched his hands hold the bottle with one hand while the other held onto the glass. You wondered how his fingers would feel on your skin.

" Those two are my friends too, Joe Keery. But we call him Keery, because then whoever calls us will get us confused and the other is Maya. They handle things when I need some help" he turns to look at you while you continue to pace his apartment stopping to sit on his couch.

" Do you have anymore?" He arches his eyebrows in questions, " you know. People you trust" you motion with your hand. He leans his back against the kitchen counters with the glass in his hands.

" Not many" he decided to answer, as a safe answer for now.

" Do you?" he asks turning the tables on you. You couldn't help but let out a small laugh. " You can say that" you weren't telling him half the truth, Liv and some of the other girls around the other side of town were some of your friends. There was also your brother's men who were you friends too.

" So what's your name mysterious pretty girl?" he set his glass down near the kitchen sink as he cautiously approaches you. There is a part of him that wants to know you but yet it's holding back because he doesn't trust anyone really. He's a man that can kill anyone with one bullet in the head.

You eyed him, " You're going to hate me once I tell you who I am and who my brother is.." he tilts his head in confusion not really understanding where you were going yet.

" I'm sure we can get pass it" he says standing a few feet away from you. You sighed and wrapped your arms around yourself, ready to walk out the door if needed as you stood up.

" Look, I don't think you want to know" you move your way towards the door when a hand reached out to grip your wrist turning you around as you come face to face with Joe.

Your breath hitches once you realize how close he is to you.

" What's your name?" the grip on your wrist was a little tighter as his eyes darken to almost the shade of the color black. If you were hiding your name from him and trying to avoid this, he was going to find one way or another. It was part of his job.

" My name is not important" he sighs, jaw locked tight as he brought you closer to him. His other hand gripped your chin making you look at him.

" You don't want to play any games with my, you understand me? Do you know who I am?" at these words you rolled your eyes and pushed away from him. He released you with a little push as you stumbled back getting your footing.

" I know who you are" you mumbled, rubbing your wrist from his grip that he had on you. " My name is Y/N Montgomery" at the sound of your last name slipping through his ears, he took his gun out from the back and pointed at you.

Your eyes grew wide at the sight of it raising your hands up.

" I'm not here to kill you, my brother doesn't know you found me" Joe blinks once as he eyes you, then another as he eyes your outfit and eyes the purse on your shoulder.

" Show me your purse" he says motioning it with his gun. " What do you have inside?" he asks.

You took the purse off your shoulder and opening to reveal what you had inside. Lipstick, your wallet, a pocket knife and small bottle of your perfume with chapstick.

" The knife, give it to me" he held one of his hands out for you to place it on his hand. You didn't hesitate to give it to him, there was a feeling you felt that you could trust him. He was surprised from the way you just handed it over to him without a word.

" Montgomery, huh?" he asked, turning the knife in his hands. He can see your initials on it shining in the light.

" Yeah, Montgomery. A name I'm not very fond of" you mumbled looking at your painted nails.

" Being a sister to the second best shooter man in London isn't enough? You're a Montgomery, you have everything handed to you" you couldn't help but laugh.

" Handed to me? I have worked for every single thing in my life. You think it's so easy being a sister of Dacre Montgomery? You have no idea what it's like, always being said oh watch this Y/N, you can't handle this Y/N, you can't be trust with a gun Y/N, you should stand behind me Y/N, you should go with one of my men, you should go there, you should do this and that" you spatted with anger, " I am tired of him."

Your eyes brim with tears turning away from him.

" He's never given me my moment. He's controlling and he's never letting me do what I want. I always have to have someone with me"

" Then how did you need up alone on the other side of town? hm?" he asks.

" His girlfriend, she's such a doll. She told me to make a run for it, to capture some sunlight. I needed to get out of that house. I felt like a caged animal.." you can feel his presence get closer.

Joe still had his gun out in case you tried anything. He could hear the pain in your voice as you spoke on how your brother treated you. It was unfair and he wanted nothing but to protect you.

" You won't be anymore.." he says. You turned around with your eyebrows knitted tougher looking at him in confusion. " What are you talking about?" you wiped your nose with the back of your hand.

" Stay here, you'll be safe here" you eyed the gun in his hand and looked back up at him. " Safe? When you have that on me?" you motioned with your hands towards the gun.

He lifted up showing you that the safety was on and that he wasn't going to really use it on you unless he had a reason.

" Why do you sense to trust me?" you asked.

" Because you're different, even as a Montgomery. You seem different, I like different. You're too beautiful to be locked in a house, your bother will get what's coming to him"

" What are you going to do?"

He sent you a small smile with a shook of his head, " Don't worry about that."

-

The door the bar opened, the noise has stopped as all eyes fell on who stood there. Chester stood there with the other men behind him as he looked around with a gun in his hands. Jamie stood behind the bar, with one hand on the gun he had hidden underneath the bar.

" Now can anyone tell me if they seen a pretty girl that came in that didn't look like she belonged here?" Chester asked stepping down a few steps as he looked around.

" Pretty busy in here, what is everyone drinking tonight?" he walked up to a couple and took a glass, downing it in on go and threw the glass somewhere where it crashed. Jamie growled at the action, gripping the gun tight.

" Have you seen the girl? Maybe she came through here?" Chester asks describing you to the woman he wrapped an arm around and pointed the gun to her chest. " I need a yes or no" the woman only whimpered reaching for her husband in fear. Chester tsk as he pointed the gun at her husband.

" I asked you a question" he says, " I will start shooting if I don't get answers!" he yelled in anger. Jamie had enough of this as he spoke up.

" You aren't welcomed here" he says bringing the attention of Chester who turned his head at the sound of Jamie's voice. " Ah, you must be the bartender that everyone talks so highly of.. John right? Or what is Josh?" Chester asked scratching the side of his head with the gun in thought.

Jamie suppressed a fake smile, " It's Jamie."

" Potato, tomato" Chester waved the gun around as he came towards the bar. " Boys" he called to the rest as they scurried up to him. He pursed his lips looking around.

" Search every inch, I don't care what needs to be done. Find her" Jamie jaw clenched as he gripped the gun underneath a bit tighter. From the corner of his eyes he can see that Maya and Keery are in the back looking out. He shake his head no to them. He doesn't need any blood in the bar.

While they searched for you, Keery and Maya rushed to find Joe.

-

" Are you going to keep the gun on the table all the time that I'm here?" you asked noticing it was still there. Joe walked out of the bedroom, most likely his as he looked at the gun on the table.

" Does it bother you?" he asks. You nodded.

" Good, don't need you to try anything on me"

" I told you that I am not like my brother" he hummed as he put on his jacket. " You might be like your brother but your a Montgomery. You never trust a Montgomery."

" But you haven't killed me yet, what's stopping you?"

" You're too pretty to be a corpse" Joe says, but you rolled your eyes at his lack of flirting. " Gee, thank you."

" There is something about you that's different, I like it" he says with a shrug. Suddenly there is a knock on the door causing your sense to be alert.

" Expecting anyone?" he shook his head as he took the gun off the table and slowly made his way to the door. Banging against the door was hard and shouting of voices.

" It's us, Joe! Red Alert!" Joe put the gun down as he opened the door as two people rushed inside, almost falling on top of each other. You noticed them from the photos hanging on the walls.

" What is it?" Joe asked. The other two have yet to notice that you were in the room with them. The both of them started to talk on top of one another shouting what was going on.

" Hey!" Joe shouted. " I don't understand what you both said, speak slower and one at a time" Kerry began to tell Joe about how Chester with his men walked into the bar demanding where a girl was and no one had any idea of who she was.

That's when Maya noticed your presence in the room, " Joe tell me you didn't" she says making her way over to you and circles around you. " She's the girl they are looking for.." Keery turned his attention towards you that was standing playing with your fingers.

" Joe! Chester has his gun down there pointing at everyone including Jamie.."

" Jamie can take care of himself, he's a big boy" Joe says, there was price of fear inside of him. " We need to tell them she's here"

" I am not going back" you said, " over my dead body they will take me back to my brother."

" Who's your brother?" Keery asked. Joe put a hand to stop you from talking when you uttered out who your brother was. Maya and Keery's eyes got wide at his name.

" Joe!" they both yelled.

" Let me handle this" Joe says as he walks into his kitchen, getting another gun out as he steps out. " You're going to stay here" he says, putting the gun in your hand that previously laid on the table.

You were about to protest when he sent you a glare. If he thought you were staying here and being in the room like you were when you were living with your brother, then he had another thing coming.

"Stay. Here." Joe said those words one more time as he headed out with Maya and Keery hot on his trails.

-

Chester and the rest of the boys were flipping tables, throwing glasses and moving people around.

" No one moves or leaves until we find the girl" Chester says.

" You can't keep us here!" a man shouted as he rose to stand up, but Chester knocked him back down with a clog of his gun. " Sit down, grandpa."

The group that was with him, held him back as he fell into one of their laps. " These are my customers, you can't keep doing this" Jamie spatted as he sent a glare towards Chester.

" And who's going to stop us? Hm? You?" he snickered. " There is one of you and 5 of us"

" You forgot to count us" Maya's voice spoke out as she stepped out with Keery and Joe by her side. Chester clasped a hand over his mouth dramatically as he gasped, " Oh look it's the three musketeers. What am I going to do?" he wined.

Joe growled, " Leave them out of it."

Chester pointed his gun towards Joe, " Well look here-" he didn't get to finish his sentence as Joe shot him in the shoulder, bullet went straight through. Chester screamed as he gripped his shoulder and cursed to himself. All the noise stopped and the focus was on him.

" Why you little-" Chester didn't finish his sentence because Joe shot his other shoulder. Chest screamed again as he gripped both his shoulders on the ground in pain.

" You're going to regret this!" he shouted through the pain. " Help me up! We gotta tell Dacre" he says as the boys help him off of his feet and carry him out of the bar.

" This isn't over" Jamie shouted.

" Not by a long shot" Joe says lowering his gun.

-

You were startled when the door opened and slammed shut as Joe stormed into the apartment.

" Did anyone get hurt?" was the first thing you asked. Joe stopped in his tracks as he turns to face you. " I told you I would handle it, no. No one did. But they were so close, you have to tell your brother to stop snooping for you otherwise someone will die and it won't be pretty."

" I am not going to call my brother, I have nothing to say to him" you shook your head with your arms across your chest with a huff.

" Call him" he says through his gritted teeth. " This side of town is my home, and I am not going to let anyone get hurt because of someone-"

" Someone like what? Huh? A Montgomery?"

" Someone like a pretty thing like you" he finishes catching you off guard. Your cheeks turned pink as you looked away from him.

" Don't hide from me" he brings your face back that he could see you, " You'e even prettier like this" He pokes one of your cheeks, the blush that you had darken. " Look at you, so pretty"

" You're pretty too, you know" you mumble out, loud enough for him to hear. He pauses at what you had told him and his own cheeks hint with redness.

" Thanks" he says pulling his hand away. He was about to walk away to his bedroom when your hand shoot up and stops him. He glances down at you in silence. " Stay with me for a bit" Joe was about to protest when something in your eyes caught him off guard as he sat down on the couch with you.

He ended up staying the whole night, falling asleep in your lap. In the middle of night he woke up and carried you to his bed where he thought you were more comfier. He took off your shoes for you and set them by the bed while he changed into something more comfortable as he settled in bed right next to you on his side.

When morning came, you rolled on your side to meet with the face of sleeping Joe. He looked so peaceful, sleeping with his chest rising up and down. Some strand of curls fell onto his forehead, his eyelashes were kissing his cheeks as he slept, and his lips looked so soft and kissable. They were right there for your taking.

" Stop looking at me" you heard the sound of his voice bring you out of your thoughts. A hint of red appears on your cheeks as you looked away and turning on your back to stare at the ceiling. Joe opened his eyes watching you look at his ceiling rather than his face.

" The ceiling isn't much interesting either"

" Then what am I suppose to look at?" you asked. When he didn't answer you, you turned to look at him him noticing he was already looking at you. " What?" his hand reached out to brush away a strand of your hair behind your cheek causing a hint of red appear on your cheeks.

" You're beautiful" he says.

" So are you" you tell him. He rolls his eyes as he sits up in bed rubbing his eyes and stretching his arms out. He stood up from the bed and you noticed he was only in a pair of boxers, eyeing the happy trail that you wanted to brush your fingers through, he caught you red handed as he spoke up.

" You like what you see?" you looked away, covering your face with the covers while Joe laughed as he walked into the bathroom. Today was going to be long day.

-

Joe was busy in conversation with Jamie when the door to the bar opened and everyone's eyes got wide who stood there. He wore a nice suit with his hair done nicely. His blue eyes were darker than they usually wore. Accompanying his side was Liv as she hung on his arms looking around for any sign of you. Her heart raced knowing what was about to happen.

" You shouldn't be here" a voice spoke out catching Dacre' attention as he came face to face with his enemy. " Joseph Quinn" he says like the name tasted bitter on his tongue.

" Dacre Montgomery" Joe reponse back to him, " Like I said, you shouldn't be here. You don't belong here.." he adds.

" I don't, but it came to my attention that my sister was spotted on this side of town. Care to share where and with whom?" Dacre asked. He took a few steps down.

" She's not here" Joe says.

" She never was" Jamie says as he walks around the bar. He stood next to Joe. " I suggest you get out of my bar" Jamie spats, pointing to the door.

Dacre laughs, " You are so funny, bartender. I don't believe I was talking to you."

" My name is Jamie and you best be on your way" Dacre titled his head to the side. You were peeking behind the bar counter at your brother. He looked really angry and very displeased to be here.

" I don't care what your name is, you don't answer to me. I asked Quinn over here.." Joe shook his head.

" She was never here like Jamie said" Dacre tsked as he reached his hand out for one of his men. One of his men handed him a gun.

" I am going to count to three, and if I don't get the answer I am looking for then I will start shooting. Do I make myself clear?" Keery and Maya got their guns ready if anything and Joe had his hand reach for his gun.

"One..." Dacre started as he eyed the room wanting to spot you himself. You were in big trouble and he knows you know it.

When no one said anything he went to count to two.

" You're not making things easier on you, Quinn"

" She's not here" Joe says through gritted teeth, " Leave!" he adds.

" Three" Dacre counted pointing a gun at Jamie, Joe couldn't eve react as a bullet went straight for Jamie and shooting him in the heart. Jamie stumbled back as gripped his chest. Joe catches him as Jamie falls to the ground. Everyone in the bar is screaming and running out while Dacre says, " I warned you!."

Joe doesn't pay attention to anything that Dacre is saying as he holds Jamie. Blood is oozing from Jamie's wound. Jamie is trying to say words out but blood is spluttering from his mouth. Joe's eyes brim with tears as he shakes his head.

" Don't leave me, you can't do this" he tells Jamie. Jamie only could weakly smile at him and raise his hand towards Joe but before he could touch Joe's cheek, the hand falls and Jamie eyes stare straight ahead. Joe grips Jamie, sobbing at him.

Keery and Maya started to shoot Dacre's crew while Dacre shield himself with Liv while looking for you. He see's the back of your head and grins.

" There you are trouble maker" he raises from his hiding spot as he shouts your name over the gun fire that is going on. Your head turns at the sound of his voice locking eyes with him. He found you.

Before Dacre can reach out to you, there is another scream and this scream alerts you and Dacre. Both your head turns at the sound of the scream watching as Liv is stumbling back gripping her chest as blood oozes her dress.

" NO!" Dacre screams as he rushes to her. He catches her as she falls into his arms. Joe takes Jamie's body and puts it over his shoulder as he rushes out of the bar while both Keery and Maya grab you and rush out of the bar hot on Joe's tail.

-

Joe stands looking down at his friends' grave with dried up tears on his cheeks. He had no idea if he had anymore tears left to shed but this was unfair. He was going to have to live his life without his best friend by his side. He never thought anything could break his heart, but this, this was more harder than heart break. You weren't sure if you should come up to him or give him space. A nudge on your shoulder sends you making your way to him.

You stood by his side glancing down at the grave stone.

" I'm so sorry Joe" you tell him, your fingers brushing against his own. He lets you lace your fingers through his as his body turns towards you with his head falling on your shoulder. Your other hand comes up to run your fingers through his curls. " I'm so sorry" you mumble, " he was great-" Joe cuts you off raising his head to meet your eyes.

" He was my best friend, the first person I trusted in the whole town. How am I suppose to go on like this?" your own heart broke at the sight of Joe.

Your hands reached up to cup his face with both your hands, " You can get through this. I know you can. I'll be here if you want my help" he nods turning his head to kiss the palm of your hands. He wants you here. He really does.

" He would of loved you" Joe tells you. You softly smiled.

" I'm sure he would" Joe takes both your hands off his cheeks as he sniffles, " Will you stay?" his brown eyes stare into your eyes with hope and want.

" I will, Joe" He wraps his arms around your waist as he tugs you to him.

The both of you stayed like that for a while not knowing your brother was watching not too far ahead with a scowl on his face.

" What are we going to do about them?" Mason asked.

" Leave it" Dacre says.

Dacre took someone that Joe cared about deeply and Joe took someone that Dacre cared about deeply. An eye for an eye.

But Joe took you from Dacre too. As much as it pained Dacre to see you with his enemy, he knew you were happy and if you wanted to talk with him.

You knew where to find him.

[fics-by-em]

Amorous Facades - Chapter Eight

A wild night out leaves the lives of Jamie Tartt and Ophelia Adams more intertwined than they ever would have imagined.

Will their decision to try and use the situation to their advantage work out in their favour or will they realize that they should have cut their losses when they had the chance?

———-

previous chapter

———-

Note: All the comments on the last chapter had me feeling super motivated so this chapter came together a lot faster than normal and I thought I'd post it a couple of days early as a thank you for all the support! It really means so much to hear that people are enjoying the story, I love reading all your thoughts!

———-

Lia was truly gripped by fear that she’d ruined everything after the private kiss she’d shared with Jamie and the rejection that had followed - however reluctant her refusal may have been. 

She knew Jamie well enough to know that he wasn’t used to being turned down and she’d assumed that he probably wouldn’t take very kindly to it, but it seemed his acting skills extended beyond just being a pretend boyfriend because by the time she’d followed him downstairs, there was no hint of obvious upset. For days, she waited with baited breath for his indignance to rear its head. For a petty comment, a cruel jab, any sign of retaliation. But nothing ever came.

And that led Lia to the only possible conclusion: she’d been right about Jamie’s intentions.

He wanted to forget. He wanted a distraction. He wanted the comfort of being wanted. He wanted the pride of impressing her with his skills and the reminder that he was talented despite the blow his ego had taken. But he didn’t want her. She would have just been a warm womanly body that he’d chosen because their agreement prevented him from going out to find someone more suited to his tastes and lifestyle. 

He wasn’t bothered by her rejection because he wasn’t particularly bothered about her and the sting of that realization was bad enough to have her feeling grateful for the decision that she’d made to stop things going any further. She was in way too deep and clearly more invested than Jamie and she needed to start being a little more guarded if she wanted to get out of their mess unscathed.

She always wore her heart on her sleeve though and it was a constant struggle for her to keep her feelings hidden away. It was easier if she spent less time with Jamie so she found herself choosing to work late more often than not in an attempt to limit their time together. It hurt her to do so even if she felt it was for the best, but it only took him a few days to seemingly catch onto her plan.

“Ophelia!” Her dad called as he swung open the door of the office where she was sorting out the books that customers had placed a special order for. “There is a handsome, rich man here to see you!”

“There is? Who?”

“Well, that’s an interesting question,” her dad mused with an eyebrow raised in suspicion. “Do you have a lot of wealthy men pursuing you at the moment?”

“I hope not,” a familiar voice chimed in as Jamie poked his head around the door frame. “Not sure I wanna have any competition, babe.”

For a moment, Lia was a little surprised by his use of the pet name, but she quickly clued in that it was probably for her father’s benefit and flashed him a smile.

“Oh, hi, Jamie,” she greeted him. “No competition, I promise. Why would I need anyone else when I have you?”

“Wow,” her dad scoffed with a roll of his eyes. “That was impressively cheesy. We should get you writing romance novels instead of just selling them.”

“It’s easy to be cheesy when you’re in love.”

Jamie looked a little stunned by such a claim, but he managed to recover and shoot her a wink as her dad shook his head and turned back towards the door.

“Well, I’ll leave you lovebirds to it, just remember that those orders need to be sorted before you leave tonight,” he reminded her before looking back over his shoulder to flash Jamie a stern look. “And there are cameras in here so don’t get any wild ideas.”

“Dad!” Lia protested, feeling her cheeks heat up as he chuckled and hurried out the door. “Sorry about him, he just likes to stir the pot.”

“I noticed that. He gave me a bit of a hard time when I walked in, wanted to make sure I was taking good care of you and all that. And he made me agree to having dinner with him on Sunday so I guess we’ll be doing that.”

“Of course he did,” Lia rolled her eyes. “But whatever threats he made, I promise you he can’t follow through. He’s incredibly non-confrontational and I doubt he’s ever thrown a punch in his life.”

“It’s nice that he’s protective over you though, but I do have one question,” he paused and waited for Lia to look up from the pile of books in front of her before he asked, “Who the fuck is Ophelia?”

“I am,” Lia informed him, surprised by his confusion. “Ophe-lia. I just always go by Lia.”

“Fuckin’ hell, I don’t even know my wife’s name,” Jamie groaned. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Didn’t I? I guess I just assumed I told you the night we met,” she shrugged. “But even my dad rarely calls me Ophelia so it’s not a huge issue.”

“Isn’t it from that old book?”

His description of such a classic piece of literature had a laugh slipping from her lips as she nodded her head.

“Hamlet? Yeah, it is. But Ophelia’s the one who goes mad and kills herself after her dad dies so I always thought it was an odd choice. My dad swears they picked the name before I was born, but I think he went rogue after my mum died because he’s a huge Shakespere dork.”

“It’s pretty, it suits you.”

“Thanks,” she smiled. “I could have ended up as Rosencrantz or Guildenstern so I don’t think it’s too bad as far as names from Hamlet goes.”

“Rosencrantz,” Jamie scoffed out a laugh. “Fuckin’ hell, that would have been tragic.”

Despite their easy conversation, there was an air of distractedness around Jamie that seemed more noticeable with every passing minute. His hand drifted down to fiddle with a pen resting on the desk while his other picked at a loose thread on the bag strapped across his chest and Lia suddenly realized how strange it was for him to track her down at work.

“It would have been,” she agreed before broaching the subject. “But what brings you to our humble little bookshop this evening, Mr. Tartt?”

“I need your help,” he admitted. “I need a suit.”

“You don’t already have one?”

“Apparently not one that’s appropriate for a funeral…”

“Oh,” Lia frowned. “You’re going to a funeral?”

“Yeah, well, we are, if you don’t mind coming. The whole team will be there - including Keeley - so I think it would be good for you to come too. You know, to keep up appearances.”

“Of course, I’ll come with you,” Lia assured him, but there was a knot in her stomach as she asked, “Whose funeral is it?”

“Rebecca’s dad. We’re all going to support her, but I need help finding something to wear. Thought you might know, you know, with your experience.”

“My experience?” Lia raised an eyebrow until she realized what he meant. “Oh, you mean from when my mom died? I was literally a week old - if that - for her funeral so I have no memory of it at all, but I’m sure we can figure it out together.”

“Great, thanks, that would be great.”

His voice was soft and he seemed to be struggling to make eye contact, two very out of character things for Jamie that had Lia’s concern growing.

“Jamie, are you okay?”

Her gentle question caught his attention as he lifted his head to look at her.

“Yeah, I’m alright,” he assured her. “It’s just weird, isn’t it? The whole death thing.”

“It is, it’s kinda scary to think about,” she agreed. “Did you know Rebecca’s dad well?”

“Didn’t know him at all really,” he admitted. “I think I met him once at a match, but I’m not even sure about that. It just got me thinking, hearing everyone talking about the funeral.”

“That’s understandable. It’s a hard thing to process, but it’s part of being human. It’s what makes it so important to appreciate the time you have because you never know when it will be over.”

Jamie took a moment to think over what she’d said before slowly nodding his head.

“I guess you’re right,” he accepted her answer. “So, you’ll help me find a suit?”

“Sure,” Lia nodded. “We can go tomorrow before you have training if you’d like to.”

“Yeah, that would be great,” Jamie agreed before changing the subject. “So, what’s all this you’re doing?”

“Sorting out the custom orders,” Lia explained. “When people ask us specifically to order something that we didn’t have in stock. I’m almost done though, if you wanna help then maybe we could get some dinner after?”

It was counterproductive to her plan of creating some distance between them, but it seemed like whatever existential dread was plaguing Jamie had him in need of a friend as he flashed her a warm smile and eagerly agreed to her offer and Lia was powerless to resist the temptation of helping him through it.

——

The damage of Lia’s resistance to Jamie’s seduction became more obvious in the days leading up to the funeral. As something was clearly weighing on his mind, she’d expected him to turn to her - especially after they’d crawled into bed together - for the comfort that they’d so readily given each other in the past, but he made sure to keep his distance as if there was a physical wall between them. She couldn’t blame him after she’d laid down her boundaries and then avoided him, but she found it hard not to coax him into opening up to her.

She was starting to think that her plan to keep her feelings out of the situation was only making things more complicated.

And attending the funeral together only seemed to make things worse.

The moment they arrived at Richmond to meet the rest of the team, Jamie slipped back into his role as doting boyfriend. They had some time to socialize while they waited for the bus, but Jamie stayed by Lia’s side for every moment. At first, she was just grateful for the support - they’d been welcoming every time she met them, but being alone in a group of people she didn’t really know was always something that gave Lia anxiety - but as the time progressed, she found the edge of protectiveness in the gesture to be stirring up other feelings.

The way his hand never left her waist as she commiserated with Dani about the pain of their formal footwear. How he draped his arm around her shoulder as she asked Coach Beard about the novel on his desk. The nuzzle of his nose into her hair as she was asked to play mediator in a fierce debate about what happens when you die between Colin and Isaac. She knew that despite any past animosity, no one on the team would be disrespectful enough to make any kind of pass at her while she was with Jamie and she knew that he knew that too, but his need to make it clear at all times exactly who she was there with sent a tingle down her spine.

She was used to being independent and prided herself on that fact, but there was something about being so wanted - so openly claimed - that she was finding very irresistible.

By the time they arrived at the funeral and she managed to escape with Keeley, she was beginning to wonder how she’d ever had the willpower to turn Jamie down as she cursed him for being such a damn good actor. But as Lia was quickly finding to be a common occurrence, Keeley Jones was a perfect distraction. She’d led her to a separate area of the church where Rebecca was hiding out in search of a bit of peace, but it didn’t take long for her quiet moment of solace to be destroyed as Keeley had them howling with laughter as she regaled them with stories from her times attending church when she was younger.

But the distraction was somewhat short lived when Rebecca’s friend - Sassy - snuck through the door.

“I have been told to come in to ask you to lower your voices,” she warned them, forcing the trio to stifle their giggles. “But…I also brought this. Stole it from a little boy in a white robe.”

She pulled a bottle of wine out from behind her back earning more laughter from Lia and Keeley as Rebecca smiled with a shake of her head.

“No, Sass…”

Undeterred, Sassy simply shrugged and cracked it open, but Keeley was quick to come to her defense.

“No, this is good because we have some gossip to discuss and we might need something to loosen up some lips,” she smirked. “Shall we start with Lia?”

“Me?” Lia questioned, her shock clear in her voice. “What gossip do I have to share?”

“Well, Jamie came to talk to me yesterday,” Keeley informed the group. ���And he told me that he kissed you!”

Lia felt a wave of dread wash over her, but Sassy raised her eyebrows in exaggerated surprise.

“She was kissed by her husband? What a scandal.”

“Ah, but he’s not her husband,” Keeley clarified with a twinkle of excitement in her eyes. “He’s not even her boyfriend, it’s just a PR stunt. Or that’s how it started.”

The look on Sassy’s face shifted into something more like intrigue than confusion, but as a dramatic ‘interesting’ slipped from her lips, Rebecca wasn’t so convinced.

“Yes, but he does kiss her all the time,” she pointed out. “That boy lays more affection on her than an overly excited puppy.”

“Only in public though,” Keeley insisted. “But this happened when they were alone.”

That seemed to sell Sassy and Rebecca on the fact that there was gossip to be had as they nodded their heads and looked at Lia expectantly.

“He did kiss me when we were alone,” she admitted. “But it wasn’t a big deal. It was after they lost that match and his dad was giving him a hard time. He was emotional and wanted comfort, but I reminded him that our arrangement is just business and nothing happened.”

Sassy seemed to accept her explanation, but the look on Rebecca’s face could only be described as skeptical and Keeley was absolutely not convinced.

“He told me that you’d said that, but I thought he was lying because I couldn’t possibly imagine why you would say such a thing!”

“Because it’s true,” Lia insisted. “He was just upset, it wouldn’t have been right to take advantage of him!”

“But you wanted to?” Sassy asked. “Are you hoping for an arrangement that’s a little more frisky?”

The question alone was enough to make Lia blush in a way that she was sure must have undermined the shake of her head.

“I don’t want to make things between us any more complicated than they already are.”

“That wasn’t a no,” Rebecca smiled. “Sometimes taking a risk on something complicated can lead to something really great.”

“And Rebecca would know all about that,” Sassy chimed in. “She’s been secretly shagging someone for months now.”

Lia was relieved that the attention seemed to be off of her as Rebecca’s jaw dropped and she let out a startled, “What?”

Seemingly distracted enough to forget about Lia’s little drama, Keeley eagerly jumped in as Sassy handed the wine to Rebecca.

“Let’s skip the part where you pretend you’re not, yeah?”

“What are you even talking about?”

It was an even weaker deflection than Lia’s and Keeley was - once again - ready to back up her claim.

“How about the bullshit text after the date, the fact that I have not seen you outside of work for two weeks, and that even though today is your father’s funeral, you are glowing like a girl who just got properly plowed.”

Her blunt honesty had Sassy dissolving into giggles and no matter how hard Lia tried to resist, she couldn’t help but join her until Rebecca’s shock gave way to a smirk.

“Shit…”

Her tone made it clear the word was an admission of guilt and Keeley and Sassy shrieked with glee as Lia laughed at their dramatic antics until Rebecca’s mother - Deborah - and Sassy’s daughter - Nora - rushed into the room.

“I’ve been asked to come in and tell you to lower your voices!”

Deborah was just repeating what Sassy had told them earlier, but Nora smirked as she added, “The vicar looked like he wanted to swear. Is everything alright?”

“Yeah, of course,” Keeley assured her as Lia briefly wondered if they could be kicked out of a funeral. “We’re just trying to figure out who Rebecca’s shagging.”

Rebecca sighed and rolled her eyes, but to Lia’s surprise Deborah was just as eager to stir the pot as Keeley was.

“Oh, I know,” she informed them. “And it’s good.”

That claim caused another round of shrieks despite Rebecca’s weak protests until Sassy came up with a brilliant idea.

“Okay, hang on. Let’s play twenty questions!” Everyone eagerly agreed before Sassy got the ball rolling. “Is he tall?”

Rebecca reluctantly admitted that he was, but it seemed the game was entirely unnecessary after the next question that came out of Keeley’s mouth.

“Is it Sam?”

“How the fuck did you know that?”

Even Lia couldn’t resist letting out a squeal at that admission as it was such an unexpected and unbelievable answer, but the fun was shut down when the vicar stormed into the room.

“That’s it!” He snapped, getting everyone’s attention and immediately silencing the shrieks of laughter. “Everyone out except immediate family, please.”

“You are so bad,” Rebecca hissed to Keeley, but as Sassy pointed out that Keeley wasn’t the only one, Rebecca turned her attention to Lia. “Don’t breathe a word of that conversation to Jamie, please.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” she smiled. “Your secret is safe with me.”

With that, she hurried out the door after Keeley and Sassy as they all took a minute to process the information they’d just been given. 

“That is absolutely mental,” Sassy shook her head. “But good for her.”

“Seriously,” Nora nodded in agreement. “Boss-ass bitch.”

Sassy shot her daughter a warning look, but didn’t bother to scold her and Lia had almost forgotten how the entire conversation had started until Keeley circled back to it as they made their way back into the main part of the church.

“Okay, but we never got to the bottom of the Lia and Jamie situation!”

Immediately, Lia felt a knot in her stomach as Nora looked perplexedly between the women.

“What situation? We already know that she’s sleeping with him.”

Lia was caught off guard by how involved she was considering her age, but Sassy answered before she could organize her thoughts.

“Oh, you missed that part,” she smiled. “Turns out that Mr. and Mrs. Tartt are actually not a real couple.”

“What?” Nora’s eyes widened in shock. “I didn’t realize that one funeral could have so much juicy gossip.”

“We’re just friends,” Lia clarified. “I agreed to the whole thing to try and help salvage his reputation after he came back to Richmond.”

“But now they both have feelings for each other,” Keeley interjected. “And Lia won’t admit it.”

“I think Jamie is great,” Lia informed them, choosing her words carefully. “And I’ve grown very fond of him since we started our little arrangement, but he’s not interested in me romantically.”

“Well, then get that boy an Oscar,” Sassy demanded. “Because he had me completely fooled.”

“Me too,” Nora chimed in. “He looked smitten to me.”

“He is smitten,” Keeley eagerly agreed. “I know Jamie, I can tell. Plus, it says a lot that he respected your request for him not to sleep with anyone else. That boy has less restraint than a horny dog, but he’s hardly even glanced at another woman since he met you.”

The sincerity in her voice made it hard not to believe her, but the voice in the back of her head still warned her that it was all too good to be true and that indulging in the fantasy she’d created in her mind would just lead to her getting hurt.

“I’m not so sure,” she hesitated. “He is a good actor and it’s hard for me to know what’s real or if I’m just getting carried away with the charade.”

“Sounds like you need to have an honest conversation with him,” Sassy pointed out. “It’s no good living your life wondering ‘what if’. We’re at a funeral for christ’s sake, there’s no better reminder of the importance of seizing the moment before it’s too late.”

Lia’s eyes drifted over to where Jamie was standing across the room with his hand on Dani’s shoulder as he appeared to still be consoling him about the pain in his feet. It was sweet to see him be so supportive and it was even sweeter when he glanced over at her and shot her a wink when he caught her eye.

“You might be right,” Lia mused. “Maybe I’ll talk to him later.”

Even the weak promise was enough to earn another squeal from Keeley, but as the rest of the guests shot their little group some rather disparaging stares, she reigned it in as she whispered an apology and they headed to find somewhere to sit.

——

By the time the funeral was over, Lia was feeling very melancholic. Watching Rebecca be so overcome with emotion was tough and even though they’d all supported her through it with a little impromptu sing along of ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’, it seemed that everyone was feeling rather sombre by the time they went to the gathering at Deborah’s house afterwards.

But Lia was also feeling determined.

Sassy had been right. There was no point in spending the rest of her life wondering if giving Jamie a chance would result in her getting her heart broken and the reminder that no one ever knew when their end would come had her feeling inspired to live life with no regrets. If he turned her down or broke her heart then Keeley would just have to work her PR magic and dissolve their little arrangement, but the way that Jamie had held her hand so tightly throughout the entire eulogy had her feeling like that probably wouldn’t be necessary.

But Jamie was clearly distracted. 

Lia put it down to the sobering reminder of their own mortality that the funeral had provided, but even as they mingled with the team and Rebecca’s family, it seemed like his mind was very much elsewhere. When she tried to broach the subject, he assured her that he was fine with a kiss to the top of her head, but they hadn’t been at the little gathering for long before he snuck away. Figuring that he just needed a moment alone with his thoughts, she wasn’t particularly worried, but when half an hour passed with no sign of him returning, she slipped away from her conversation with Higgins - the director of football operations at Richmond - to find him.

It took a few minutes considering the size of the house and the number of people, but she felt a wave of relief when she spotted the back of his head from across the room. As she walked closer she realized that he was deep in conversation with Keeley and from the look on her face over Jamie’s shoulder they were talking about something very serious. She wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but when she moved a bit closer she couldn’t help but hear the end of what Jamie was saying.

“I know this is a mad shitty thing to do, but I love you, Keeley.”

Immediately, a flush of humiliation washed over Lia as the confession she’d been planning to make to Jamie rang in her mind and had her heart clenching in her chest. Despite her brain telling her to get away from the situation before anyone noticed her, she was frozen in place until Keeley caught sight of her over Jamie’s shoulder and her eyes widened in surprise. Clearly catching the look on her face, Jamie spun around to face her as well.

“Shit,” he groaned. “Did you hear that?”

Keeley was frozen like a deer in headlights, but Lia simply forced a smile and nodded her head.

“Yes, I did,” she admitted. “But it’s fine.”

The silence that followed her words could only be described as awkward. Every moment that Jamie stood frozen - staring at Lia like a little boy caught with his hand in the cookie jar - had Lia’s emotions rising, but she swallowed the lump in her throat and kept the smile plastered on her face until Keeley broke the silence with a softly mumbled ‘sorry’ before waving apologetically and walking away.

Jamie turned to watch her go, but it seemed her departure snapped him out of his daze as he stuttered and stumbled through several unfinished sentences until a sigh fell from his lips.

“No, it’s not.”

“It is,” she assured him. “It’s none of my business who you love, Jamie.”

“No, but it’s not…” Jamie trailed off as his eyebrows furrowed with the effort it was taking to find the words he was looking for. “It’s not like that.”

“You don’t need to explain yourself to me,” she insisted. “It’s all just business between us, right?”

She thought that the reminder would bring Jamie some relief and absolve him of any perceived wrongdoing, but for a brief moment a look that almost seemed like sadness flickered across his face. It was fleeting and Lia assumed it had more to do with her interrupting his moment with Keeley than her overhearing what he’d said.

“Sure, yeah,” he nodded. “It’s just business.”

Slipping his arm around her shoulder for the benefit of anyone watching, Jamie led Lia back towards the group of his teammates that she’d been talking to, but she found herself feeling very preoccupied.

In some ways, she was lucky - if she hadn’t heard what he’d said and had poured her heart out to him like she’d planned then she would have looked like an absolute idiot - but that didn’t stop the disappointment from plaguing her mind. 

Jamie still loved Keeley. 

Whether Keeley reciprocated those feelings or not - and Lia was fairly certain that she didn’t based on her solid relationship with Roy and the many conversations they’d had about her situation with Jamie - it meant that Jamie was not currently emotionally available to have feelings for her. She’d been right about their kiss being nothing more to him than a search for comfort and she hadn’t realized how badly she didn’t want that to be true until she had absolute confirmation that it was.

She managed to put on a brave face for the duration of the funeral and for the rest of the afternoon, but when they crawled into bed that night, Lia made sure to leave plenty of space between them and the next morning she found that for the first time since their arrangement had begun, she didn’t wake up wrapped around Jamie.

-----

chapter nine

[episims]

I have some more! 11 for Vera and Troy, 31 for Ash and Lydia, 38 for Mel and Cedric, 51 Deanna and Tess and 57 for my dear Will and Jamie 😌

Thank you! <3

11. Do either try to hide their emotions if upset? Can the other still tell?

Vera's generally not easy to upset, she always tries to see the positive side of things and if someone annoys her, she aims to discuss it through. But if something related to her patients presses her mind, she can't really talk about it. Troy can tell that she's quieter than usual but doesn't always know the reason.

Troy values staying calm so he tries to hide his emotions to an extent. He's not very good at it, Vera can read him easily!

31. Can they sit side by side without touching the other or are they handsy? (lacing fingers, touching knees, etc.)

Ash and Lydia are pretty handsy. Ash touches Lydia to express love and also to calm her, and Lydia seeks Ash's closeness for a sense of security. PDA makes her a bit anxious though.

38. Who is more sexually experimental? Who's more vanilla?

Mel is more experimental but Cedric's very open-minded! As long as Mel's plans don't include bringing in third wheels, he's unlikely to refuse and enjoys letting Mel take the lead.

51. What’s a non verbal way they say I love you?

Deanna does most chores in the house and only occasionally bothers to nag about it. She's not super tidy herself either but she's quite a visual person and if the mess gets bad it starts to burden her. But also, she lowkey feels like Tess is one of them with a real job and hopes that she can help her like that.

Tess hugs and kisses Deanna a lot, especially always before Deanna heads to bed!

57. Whose the serious one when grocery shopping and who likes to toss random things in the cart?

Will kinda seriously toss random things in the cart? Jamie doesn't really have much saying in what they eat, which is more than okay with him! When they get groceries Jamie obediently fetches whatever Will asks him to. But Will adapts his plans if he sees something that inspires him.

[gummybear1031]

So I watched "Annabelle Comes Home" on Oct. 2 but didn't livetweet it 'cause my dad called. He got y'all's livetweet in real time.

Yesterday, I watched "Mr. Boogedy" and didnt livetweet it because it sucked.

Today! The randomizer picked the new "Haunted Mansion" movie.

It was meh. The Muppets did it better

Spoilers and recap of the livetweet below the cut.

Angriest not-a-ghost tour I’ve ever seen.

Okay, I would actually enjoy this angry ghost tour probably. We do a bunch of ghost and historical walking tours. Also, this hummingbird story is legit the kind of thing people tell me when they say they saw a ghost once. 

I like Rosario Dawson’s car and U-haul showing up during Ben’s angry not-a-ghost tour. Nice connection, Mouse. 

Thank you, Rosario, for being sensible! Yes, you leave the obviously haunted house before everybody dies. 

Fun fact: I was the “You’ll be back!” ghost (well, zombie) at a haunted hayride for several years. 

Priest Owen Wilson’s cat is amazing. I want to pet them. They’re so fluffy!

Fr. Owen didn’t read the book. Victor never finished med school! 

Action Guy absolutely reminded me of Abuelita with a chancla. So samesies!

Of course, the ghosts refuse to do anything when there’s a person around. 

Why does everybody keep missing the ghost in the rearview mirror? 

My dad also loves that show, dead sea captain! Like our father-daughter dance was to “Wanted Dead or Alive” because of it. 

I know Ben’s pain. Don’t want to be in the house because it’s full of ghosts; don’t want to be outside because it’s too peopley. 

He just wants to chill in your house and watch Deadliest Catch. Let him! *Ben opens door* Nevermind. Not cool, ghost. 

Danny Devito! YES!

Harriet the Psychic matches every psychic I’ve ever met. This is exactly how my sister does her stuff. 

They’ve already screwed up this seance. Don’t break the circle! That’s how y’all get possessed. 

“Here’s a pen and pad I purchased at CVS.” This is almost as bad as the Hocus Pocus 2 scene in the Walgreens. 

Ben, that is obviously some sort of ghost trick. That is not your wife. 

Constance’s husbands’ heads disappearing from the photos is great. But I still prefer Taraji P. Henson’s version of her. 

Fun fact: never leave your crystal ball uncovered when not in use. The sun may strike it and set your house on fire. 

Sorry, Jamie Lee Curtis, but Miss Piggy did it better. 

Is this ghost in middle school? Unscrewing the top of the Zataran’s like that? Also, I have the same seasoning in my house; it’s good, and that ghost should feel bad for messing with Rosario’s cooking like that. 

The candle that’s blowing itself out looks really … phallic. 

The product placement in this movie is wild. It’s so hard to take them seriously when Ben is sobbing the phrase “Baskin Robbins.” 

Hasan Minaj! Why were you listed so early in the credits if this is your only scene? 

Crump’s backstory is just wild. Of course he turned into Jared Leto with a backstory like that. 

I like what they’ve done with the stretching room. 

Winona Ryder? Are you doing a Linda Cardellini impression? Also, this is the worst tour I’ve ever seen. And I was once on a tour where the guy claimed the Civil War was still happening in the 1840s. Twenty years before it started. 

Did that spider just scream?

More product placement. I actually like Burger King; their veggie burgers are really good.

Fr. Owen Wilson is going to federal prison. Like, that’s a felony. A pretty serious one if you perform a sacrament. 

Prof. Danny Devito is obviously possessed. Ghost, you are really bad at your job. (Is scare people a job?)

OMG. It was almost the professor in the drawing room with the candlestick. Fortunately, Rosario saved the day. 

More movies need evil Danny Devitos. 

I know Travis is 9, but he’s the dumbest mofo ever. 

Okay. I actually feel really bad now. I got depression too, buddy. That said, you don’t think it’s weird your dad sounds just like the Hatbox Ghost?

How did Crump kill a mummy? Did he kill a bunch of people at a costume party? 

Is Fr. Owen riding Constance into battle? With her army of beheaded husbands? 

Dead sea captain got his boat! Yay!

[thedeafprophet]

What Color Does Your OC's Love Feel Like?

oh this seems fun lol. tagged by @saltymaplesyrup im assuming this meant to take the quiz as the ocs lmao.

Quiz is found here

Tagging @house-of-mirrors if you wanna play with the quiz lol. anyone else seein it feel free to play too

Alex: dark stormy blue

"Sinking ships, raging seas and tumultuous hearts, love isn't easy for you. It's a struggle, a constant inner fight of should I? Can I? Do I? Feelings are hard and they rumble inside you in a dissatisfied mess that begs to be let out. Your heart screams and cries inside you and you… You can't, you won't. You're scared. And love is scary, it's hard and sometimes it just doesn't work out. People leave, people hurt, people change their minds. And you and your cold stormy heart yearn for the calmness, for the distance, to be allowed and able to simply not feel. And yet, you do. It rages, it fights and storms inside you and you try to keep it down, keep it quiet, to feel pretending not to. It's the burn of childhood friends growing apart, of parents that aren't quite there, of relationships that burn out. So you snuff it down with water, cold and calming and blue, blue, blue. But being loved by you is blue too, just not in that way. It's the soothing, embracing feeling of floating, the moment when you sink down bellow the waves and become one with the water, with everything. It's the balance, the dramatic yet calming sound of waves that crash against a rocky shore. You're the good and the bad, the violence of the storm and the watery peace right after. You're the blue, blue feeling and loving you is watery tears, yelled confessions that no one will hear and burying your feelings in a deep watery grave never to be found out about. Your love is dark stormy blue, it's vast and deep and all encompassing, it's safety in the surface of danger, it's trusting the unruly abyss and yet I'd gladly risk drowning just to feel what it's like being loved by you."

Josephine: warm burnt orange

"Riding off into the sunset, the hope of a happy ending, the bitter after taste that still in it's own way smells kinda great. Your love is all bitter hopefulness, all about a broken heart that refuses to quit, all about the unshakable knowledge that a burning fire has a great comforting warm and a soft glowing light, all about the way when the sun comes down there's a beautiful starry night. It's stubbornness, it's the refusal to give up, the clutching of broken shards despite the searing pain and being adamant that dammit you can still make a beautiful stained glass window out of it. Yours is a screaming heart, a pleading love, a bitter and almost belligerent hopefulness that things will still work out even if you have to roll up your sleeves and make them. And god, aren't you tired? Isn't your heart heavy? Is all your hard work worth it? Don't you just want to curl up and let it be? Let the fire turn to ashes and the sky turn dark and let love die down and watch people leave? But you don't, do you? You're the bravest out of all of us, so you pick up the pieces and you keep going, you keep believing and you keep your heart full of hope because some day. Some day you know you'll get it. You keep riding off into the sunset and you keep filling my heart with hope as you go because god, how do I wish you finally get it too."

Jamie: cold stark gold

"Fireworks, borrowed lighters and sparklers against a dark backdrop, yours is a love that burns stark and bright. It's scary though, like things that burn always tend to be, but for you it isn't the thrill of the open flames that gives pause and a slight stomach drop of terror, but rather the time when the flames go out, the sparkler ends and the night is cold and dark once again. Fireworks, borrowed lighters, a striken match, your love burns bright and fast and then maybe it passes, maybe the feeling dies out and you're left in the cold once again. And that's the feeling isn't it? Of being bored and waiting for someone to light you up again? To be fair, you do know you don't need it, but then again we don't often crave the things we need. And you crave and yearn and burn in the wait, restless in the knowledge that at some point someone will pass and rub you the right way, that some day you'll light up the night sky bright yet again. There's comfort in the darkness and solace in the predictable loneliness of the in between, but your heart still squirms inside you, waiting and willing and begging to burn up again. Your love might not be comfort, it's not one for the sick days, but then again, there's a reason why everyone waits for the shining lights in the sky during holidays."

Aurora: deep staining red

"Ripped out confessions, warm velvety whispers and a heart like an open wound. Your love flows out like dripping blood, beautiful, flawed and twisted. It's gut wrenching, the type of painfully dramatic feeling that makes you clutch your chest, picturing dramatic monologues about love and loving and big screen over the top scenes of sobbing into your pillow until you fall asleep. It rips out of you, clawing it's way up your throat more so than tumbling out. Sticky words that just need to be let out, feelings so big they don't fit inside you. Your love isn't easy, it's a true bloody mess, dripping and staining everything it touches in a desperate attempt to be seen, to be felt, to be loved back. And you, you love so hard, so deeply, so much for someone who carries all that pain. Atlas holding up the world, how are you? Is your love still flowing? Is your heart still open? Still pumping and bleeding and dripping with blood and tears? Still painting your beautiful pictures and writing your love letters in deeply personal red ink? Because I see them, I read them, I love them and you, you, you, you. Clench your chest, scream your love, cry it out. Spill your words of loving, keep your heart beating, keep your love coming and paint the entire world red with it. Make it in your image, keep going, it's okay. Maybe one day the whole world can be red and loved and beautiful just like you."

[cookie-de-baunilha]

DG's trapped him in a narrative where he just emotionally stagnated at age 25 (or younger, frankly) and devoted herself to trying to gaslight us into finding it tragically romantic.

YESSS exactly!!

Honestly, it’s a shame that we, as fans, seem to have a better comprehension of the character’s issues than the author herself. The fact that Diana wrote all of this complexity into him (maybe unknowingly?) but doesn’t know how to deal with it is such a waste of a good character. It shows how uninterested she is in giving John an actual development.

Your analysis of John’s character, his feelings for Jamie and his relationship with Percy is spot-on.

how alike John and Jamie are, and how by choosing someone so like himself as a talisman for his own emotions he's just choosing to maintain the status quo and thus never truly challenge himself to grow as a person, here

Yep! Diana actually talked about the similarities between John, Jamie and Stephan before. I found these old screenshots of Diana commenting on the matter in that forum she used to engage with the fans before the litforum:

(ugh, have I said how much I hate Diana for laying a perfectly complex groundwork — and proceeding to talk about it on forums! — and then throwing it all away in the trash? yeah well, I’m saying it again now 😓)

That’s the reason why John loving Percy is so fantastic to me, and why it is so refreshing to him: Percy is different from literally every man in John’s life (and from the amount of information we are given, I suppose we can include Hector in the Jamie/Stephan category as well).

And answering the question she poses at the end: yes, it was enough for John; no, it wasn’t enough for Percy.

It was enough for John, but he couldn’t accept it because he was afraid of stepping out of his comfort zone and taking a chance. He’s scared of love, so he runs away from it — it’s easier. Clinging onto Jamie is easier.

It wasn’t enough for Percy, because how could it be? John loved him but never told him. John wasn’t honest about his feelings for Percy — again, because he is afraid of it.

That probably made a mess of Percy’s head. Imagine this: you are in a relationship with someone, and the two of you seem to share a level of closeness and intimacy neither of you had ever experienced before. You believe the two of you have something special and serious, so you realize you are in love with them and think that they love you back… until you ask them about it and they say they can’t love you because there’s already “someone else”. They say the two of you are basically really good friends with benefits. They act like they love you, but their words contradict that.

Now, some people will say: demonstrating love is more important than words! Well, yes, but no. It’s not that simple. Sure, words are meaningless if there’s no real action, but the opposite is just as bad. Would you be with someone that refuses to tell you they love you and commit to a more serious thing, even when their actions contradict all of that?

Well, Percy’s desperate need for love made him do just that. He struggles with low self-esteem and a sense of unworthiness, and he really loved John, so it was easy for him to accept those terms.

(this is also the reason why I compared Percy to Marianne from Normal People in a recent post)

But this contradictory behavior fucks with anyone’s mind. That is what bothers me so much about they way Diana conducted the whole thing: she doesn’t believe John did Percy wrong too.

It seems like her line of thinking mingles with John’s. That’s really bad because we have an author that cannot disassociate from her character’s beliefs, which makes it really hard to call the character out for his flaws and mistakes. Diana is not impartial at all.

She also calls Percy “deeply fractured”, but she doesn’t seem to think John is fractured too — in a different way, but still. Even though she very much left room for the readers to interpret it in this light. Damn, Diana literally wrote all of the shit we are analyzing here, but she seems to be unaware of it, since she doesn’t believe that John pining for Jamie is an unhealthy thing for John.

And more fascinating yet to me is the way that John and Percy's dynamic both reflects, and yet distinctly differs, from the tone of the other two relationships. While John occupies the position of the elder and more experienced (at least in some quarters), in contrast Percy doesn't hold him on some idealized pedestal.

Certainly there is a great deal of admiration for John on Percy's part, but at the same time he also quite clearly sees John's flaws.

Perfectly put! Their dynamic is so freaking interesting. I don’t think Diana meant for this to happen, but if we take Bees out of the equation, John and Percy are actually the best written couple in the whole Outlander universe... *coughs* after Jamie and Claire — well, personally, I find them way more interesting and well-written than J&C, but J&C are still the main characters/couple and obviously have a lot more space to be developed (and won’t ever get ruined by DG lmao). So maybe this is me just giving the credit where the credit is due, even if it doesn’t do it for me. I guess that’s a matter of personal opinion in the end of the day.

Then he and Percy could've continued to grow together, with the push and pull between them being the very thing that would've stimulated that personal growth. And through Percy's eyes John would also come to see himself and his own worth as he really is - as he's been all along - his own True North.

Exactly! Back in 2012 in that old forum, Diana said something about the worth of the loved person to the lover, and how a relationship can help shape someone — which fits this idea of stimulating personal growth that you mentioned.

But this is where Diana loses me, because stimulating personal growth and shaping someone through personal exchange =/= defining someone else as the North of your life.

She doesn’t seem to believe that John considering Jamie his “True North”, or as someone whose mere existence helps him define his own existence, is a problem to him. Even in this post she commented on it in a more positive light:

First of all, they don’t even have a romantic relationship. But even if they did, it would still be a complicated thing to say. Yes, relationships (of all kinds, really) shape us, but being shaped by interpersonal experiences is not the same as letting someone’s existence define your own. 

It seems like I’m just being picky about semantics here, but the way I see it, those are two different things and giving someone else that much power over your life is very problematic.

If John said the same thing about Percy I would be concerned too, that’s why I never wanted John to swing his “True North” from Jamie to Percy. Now, like you said, a relationship with someone like Percy, who challenges him, could make John realize that he (John) is his “True North”. Which is a much healthier dynamic and a much more positive way of influencing someone’s life (since we are talking about giving something to a lover).

So yeah, that “True North” bullshit with Jamie could never be positive. For a multitude of reasons. The fact that John holds himself back from living real experiences to the fullest because of it should be enough proof.

The last paragraph of Diana’s comment poses the question: “So in what direction might loving Percy again swing him?”, which suggests to me that, at some point, Diana might have considered following that path. It’s hard to tell though, since she took a completely different road in Bees. And even if she had decided to make John love Percy again, there are no guarantees that she would do so by addressing all of the issues we brought up regarding John’s problems and his unhealthy dynamic with Jamie, since she seems to be oblivious about the level of complexity she wrote into her own story (about this specific matter).

Either way, it seems like she changed her mind about it whilst writing the book.

john/percy making me come back to tumblr in 2023 lmao

[twinklelilstarkey]

cuddling with jamie oleksiak, or just him making the narrator feel safe bacause he looked so cuddly in his last interview

A/N: You are so right, baby anon. Oh, to held by this man! (interview in question)

Warnings: Working from home (due to the pandemic).

You stir the food on the pot, over the stove, while scrolling through your phone, staring at the uncountable notifications. It's unbelievable how even when you're on your day off, your coworkers just don't seem to understand that you're not going to be by your computer today.

You had a horrible past few days at work. Your usual team had been separated to work on all different projects and you were left to deal with complete pumpkin heads. You knew right off the bat, on your first online meeting with them, who you were really going to work with.

It's the type of people that just make others work for them and whenever there's absolutely no one to do it for them, they panic and blame it on others. Lucky for you, you're superior over them in the company, so they can't mess with you - or at least shouldn't. But you've heard a few good stories with their names sprinkled on there and it's not all that pleasant.

Yet that still does not protect you from having to deal with them in this project. Which, by the way, is supposed to be done by thursday, and today’s tuesday. You did your part already, but... they’re stuck and unable to contact anyone at the office due to it being lunch hours.

Funny how that only happens on your off days, uh?

If they hadn’t been such asses with you last week and refused all of your help, you would be, right now, helping them out. No problem. But... no. They should’ve thought of that before.

Is that a little psycho of you? Sure, but that’s what working from home with this type of people does to a person. 

If there's anything working from home actually gave you was just a bigger headache and an inhumane way to always exhaust you.

Off days are truly a blessing. Or should be.

You put down your phone over the counter letting out a loud tired sigh with how many notifications you're getting in just a few minutes and stare back at the stove.

They're seriously going to drive you insane.

"Hey." You hear from behind you.

You look over your shoulder and find Jamie walking into the kitchen, wearing this morning's grey hoodie and sweatpants.

"Hi." You say with a small smile.

He walks over to you, sneaky grin over his lips, and when close enough, he plants a kiss on to the top of your head, over your hair.

"What are you making?" He asks as his eyes drift over to the stove.

You follow his gaze and give him a little shrug.

"Some recipe I found on the internet. Can't really pronounce it, but it looked good in the picture." You tell him and he exhales out a laugh through his nose.

Jamie wraps one of his arms around you and leans his cheek against the side of your head. You lay your hand over his arm on your waist and lean back against him while continuing to stare down at the food and silently praying that it comes out well.

"You okay?" He asks in almost a whisper, close to your ear.

You nod a bit and he lays another kiss over the side of your head, knowing that there's absolutely something behind that little slow nod.

"Do I need to beat someone up?" He asks before planting another kiss over your ear.

You smile at his words and shake your head.

"No." You say with a chuckle, "Just stressed with work."

You feel him nod understandably and pull you closer to him.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" He asks and you shake your head with a small smile.

You lay your hand over his bearded cheek and turn your head over to meet his gaze.

"I'm afraid not. But thank you for worrying." You tell him.

You peck his lips and his soft grin reappears, making your chest swell up with familiar love and warmth. You wrap your arm over his neck and lay a kiss over his cheek.

"Now," You start, "How was your interview?"

(...)

“They’re all assholes.” Jamie comments out loud and you can’t help but let out a giggle.

“Not all of them.” You say, trying to defend your coworkers.

He looks at you with glance that just makes you smile brightly at him, complete ‘who are you trying to trick here’ behind his eyes.

“I’m serious, Jam, not all of them are bad.” You say before laying your head back on his chest.

“Oh really?” He asks and you nod, still smiling, “Name one person in your team, right now, that is not bad.”

You think for a bit and his chest starts moving as he starts to laugh over your silence. You smack him and he presses a kiss onto your forehead.

“Just admit it,” He says, “They’re all trash.”

You roll your eyes and pull the blanket up to your shoulder, ignoring him.

You’re both sitting in your balcony, away from any of your phones and computers. It’s cold out, but you’re both sitting in the same chair under a huge fluffy blanket, while you sit between Jamie’s legs sideways - with yours legs over the arm of the chair.

“Are you cold?” He asks while laying a hand over your leg, under the blanket.

You shake your head yet lean closer to his chest.

“We can go back in-”

“Nooo.” You whine, wrapping your vacant arm around his torso to emphasize that you don’t want him to move, “I like it here.”

“Alright.” He says, lifting his hand from your leg onto the air defensively.

He wraps one of his arms around your shoulders and you close your eyes as he pulls you closer to him. His hand then moves and starts to run up and down on your back as if to warm you - even though you just said that you aren’t cold.

To your surprise, your mind is completely out of its usual black hole from work. You’re enjoying the sounds of the city around you, the harsh cold wind hitting your face and exposed legs, and, of course, the human furnace that Jamie is. You’re calm and not even close to being stressed.

It’s almost like all your worries evaporated.

You feel Jamie lean his chin over the top of your head and his hand finally stops moving on your back, pausing right over your shoulder. He adjusts the blanket so it can cover your legs slightly better, and his attention is quickly stolen when he looks down at you one more time.

Even with closed eyes he can tell you’re tired. He assumes you probably haven’t even slept that well lately, all because of your job and that damned project. And with that, he decides to not even move an inch and just stay seated, letting you rest over his lap, with your head on his chest, away from all your worries. 

He doesn’t care how long he will have to wait for you to wake up and let him move. He’ll stay for as long as you need.

Soon, your breathing starts to slow and your hold on Jamie becomes light. You’ve fallen asleep. Jamie’s lips curl into a small smile and he lays his head against yours again while wrapping his arms around you securely.

The both of you need a nap, and there’s no better time than now.

Hope you liked this!!!