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intergalacticaquarium · 3 years ago

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Part 6-Alone Here Together

Eddie Munson x soon-to-be-step!Henderson! female original character

Summary: Samantha stayed at Rick's cabin with Eddie, shenanigans and heartfelt nervous breakdowns ensue. Steve and Dustin have a heart to heart. (reading the past parts would probably be good but u can probably get what's going on from context)

3.1 k

(Series masterpost/chapter links here!)

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Eventually Dustin, Steve, Max, and Robin made their way out, leaving Samantha and Eddie alone in the secluded lakehouse, but neither of of were the type to admire the scenery. Within moments she was rustling through her bag for her stash, and when Eddie saw her pulling out the familiar tin box he groaned in relief.

“Thank fuck your holding, Campbell. You didn’t leave me with much last night.” He said, waiting for her to take her turn on the one hitter and pack him one.

“Sorry, I didn't know I needed to prepare a go bag. And did you check around this house? If there’s anywhere in Hawkins that would have a removable floorboard it would be Reefer Rick’s house.” She said in a joking manner, passing him the bat and seeing him light it shakily, clearly not in the mood for any kind of banter.

“It’s gonna be okay, Eddie.” She said calmly, and he looked at her with more disbelief than when they had alternate dimensions explained to them a few minutes ago.

“Is it? Because I’m wanted for murder that was commited by an evil wizard that I thought I made up-” He paused, beginning to spiral “-did Dustin just name it that or is it actually a wizard? And apparently I’m being hunted by the basketball team now? What the fuck? What part of any of that makes you think that this was going to end well?” he said hysterically, waving his hands.

“Okay- yeah- shit’s weird, but apparently Steve Harrington and Nancy Wheeler have been doing it for years so it can’t be that hard!’ she said encouragingly, but he only looked at her like she was speaking nonsense.

“Steve Harrington and Nancy Wheeler don’t spend all their time on the couch smoking weed watching horror movies! Do you think that either of us still has the fucking lung capacity to run away from real monsters? I don’t!” He said, pacing wildly, lighting the bat again and gesturing to the dugout, digging the little metal tube in to pack the end of it. “Campbell, you gotta have something that can hold more than this this fuckin sucks.”

“My pipes are in the van.” she said sadly.

“You lost the damn van? That’s the most helpful thing you bring to the table!” He said, exasperated, his limbs going every which way.

“Wow. Rude.” She said, eyebrows shooting up, and he paused.

“I didn’t mean it like that. I just mean that the van is very very helpful. It has everything in there. Every time I’ve ever mentioned something being useful you’re like ‘hold on let me get it out of my van’. How does everything even fit in there? It’s like a goddamn bag of holding!” he said, running out of breath, unable to stop talking. His thoughts were clearly scattered and overwhelming him and Sam stood up, grabbing his shoulders to stop the pacing.

“Eddie, you need to calm down. You’ve got a lot on your plate right now, you don’t need to also worry about all my possessions being left in an unlocked van with Jason and his handsy buddy.” She scolded, the sentence making her wonder why she wasn’t more worried. That seemed to break Eddie out of his panic for a moment.

“Handsy?” He asked, suddenly looking more worried and angry than before, and she rolled her eyes.

“Alright, I don’t need that macho protective man thing. It’s bad enough that Steve’s macho protective man instinct is what got me out of the situation. Getting saved by him felt, like, unfeminist or something.” She complained, but that wasn’t enough to keep Eddie from worrying.

“Saved you from what, though?” He asked, still nervous.

“Nothing, I mean, not nothing- I’m fine. They just boxed me in against the van and then grabbed me and, kinda…picked me up when I tried to run away.” She said, and saw Eddie clench and unclench his fist. “Okay, yeah, it was super scary and definitely wasn’t going to end well but I’m fine.”

“I don’t think I can take Jason in a fight but I’m gonna try and fuck him up next time I see him. That’s so fucked up- that they’d fucking attack you like that just because you know me.” He said, his energy ramping up again, but she held onto him firmly to keep him from starting to pace again.

“I can handle myself, and Steve was there-” she tried, but he shook his head in annoyance.

“That doesn’t mean I have to like being the one that put you in danger in the first place.” He shouted, and closed his mouth quickly, all of a sudden remembering that he was in hiding.

“It’s not your fault. You didn’t kill Chrissy.” She said with as much comfort as she could. She wasn’t used to this. Comforting people. Other people’s feelings had never come naturally to her. She had always told herself that it was because she didn’t care, but now she did. She desperately cared, and she hated that she couldn’t show him that.

“I know that- but why are you so sure? I mean- I didn’t see any monsters. I could still be lying as far as you know.” He said, clearly unsure what he was even saying but getting more agitated by the moment anyway.

Sam bit her lip and swayed back and forth for a moment, thinking.

“Y’know, I want to say it’s because I know you pretty well at this point, that you’re actually really gentle despite appearances, that you always can tell that I’m having a bad day and make it a personal goal to cheer me up, that you’re just about the only friend I’ve got and even when I stopped trying you never did, and that I know in my heart that you would never hurt a fly.” She said, and he cocked his head. “All those things are true, but I feel like every time somebody gets murdered there’s some schmuck saying that Ted Bundy was actually really nice when he wasn’t killing people so maybe that’s not enough.” She said, and walked up to him so he would look at her.

“I don’t think you did this, Eddie Munson,” She said, looking into his eyes. “because from the bottom of my heart, I don’t believe that you’re strong enough to break every bone in a person's body in the ten minutes between taking Chrissy into your place and you running out of it.” She said, and his mouth dropped open in surprise and incredibly guilty amusement.

“You don’t have the upper arm strength or the lung capacity, I’m 100% sure of it.” She said so matter of factly that he couldn’t stop himself from laughing, and she joined in, appropriately ashamed, they stopped laughing with effort, but the moment they made eye contact it came involuntarily spilling back out, despite how they fought the giggles, they were winning.

“I mean the fact that the Hawkins police took a look at your skinny ass and said yeah that’s our guy is insane.” She said, losing herself in the laughter that was going between them. It was nothing less than hysterical, letting out the immeasurable stress that had built up in the last 24 hours. It wasn’t contagious laughter, an onlooking person might see it and would know that they were in the middle of a crisis, but they still couldn’t stop.

“I get bullied in gym class for six fuckin years by Jason and even that wasn’t enough to convince him I couldn’t do it.” He said, leaning against the wall laughing and sliding to the floor where she quickly joined them.

“I once saw you get tired trying to open a damn jar of peanut butter” she said, still out of breath, until their ribs hurt and they had run out of breath and the present had come back to them all at once.

“Shit, what am I gonna fuckin do, Sam? Like, even if they find this Vecna…guy? Creature? Whatever it is that still doesn’t help me. You can’t bring a real monster to the Hawkins PD and say ‘arrest him, Sir!’”

“Even if they tried it would probably just…kill them. Because it’s a monster?” She said with another hit off the bat, and he sighed in agreement.

“I was about to say I’d be losing my damn mind if you hadn’t stayed, but I think that’s happening anyway.” He said, running his fingers through his hair and staring at her. “But I’m really glad that I didn’t get left here alone, and that…you were the one that stayed.”

“I know, that’s why I’m here.” She said cooly and looked him in the eye, leaning their heads against the walls and smiling at each other. “That way we can go insane together. I’ve been practicing for a while so I can give you tips.”

Eddie smiled a little bit and fidgeted, having calmed down now but still having the energy built up, and Sam frowned at the sound it made when he tapped his hands on the floor they sat on.

“Eddie, move over.” She said, and he scooted away from the floor tile that she then grabbed at the edges and pulled up, revealing a cache of whatever they needed to make this stay more bearable. Besides each other, Sam mused, before immediately getting embarrassed and shaking the thought away.

---

Back in Hawkins, Dustin and Steve sat in his car talking.

"Your face is so red dude. You haven't hit it off with any other girls, and since you steadfastly refuse to date Robin for some reason it's the only explanation."

"There are other explanations."

"Like what? Do you like somebody else? I can totally be your wingman if you need one." Prodded Dustin, and Steve rubbed his eyes.

"Don't need a wingman but thanks, I guess. I got plenty of charm. I just haven't met the right girl yet."

"Then maybe talk to different kinds of girls. What about Sam?" Dustin suggested, and Steve looked at him a little scandalized and sorta flattered.

"You really want me to date your sister, Henderson?"

"She's not really my sister. I just mean maybe you should try somebody that's doing a sort of punk thing- I don't know!"

Steve couldn't help but laugh. "Didn't know I'd grown on you so much that you want me to join the family."

"Again, she's not my sister. Maybe you'd make her nicer."

Steve was flattered but still giving Dustin shit.

"That's sweet, kid- but if you were gonna make this suggestion you probably should've done it before you set your sister up in an empty secluded house with her stoner buddy with the puppy eyes."

"Puppy eyes?" Dustin questioned, and Steve shrugged his shoulders, and he rolled past it. "They're just friends right? Thats gross, Sam and Eddie wouldn’t- I mean-" Dustin floundered with a grossed out look, and Steve raised an eyebrow, counting down until he figured it out.

“They would. They totally would. Gross.” He complained.

"Well looks like your new buddy is gonna be hangin around a lot more." Steve consoled and patted Dustin on the shoulder.

"That would require Samantha to ever be at my house in the first place." Dustin countered.

"She doesn't, like, live with you?"

"Nah man she lives in the van."

“Seriously? That’s kinda fucked up isn’t she like, nineteen?” Steve said, and Dustin shrugged.

“My mom cleaned out her whole office for her and it’s just sitting here. I had to move my av shit into my room, it takes up so much space and she’s only slept there, like, once.” Dustin complained. “She pretty much wants nothing to do with us.”

Steve leaned back a little sadly, noticing the little bit of sadness in Dustin’s voice.

“Look, man, I’m sure it’s not about you.” He tried to say comfortingly. “Is that why you wanted to set me up with her? So she’d come around more? Because-”

“What? No? I don’t care that she’s not around because I don’t even know her. I’m an only child, I like it that way. I’m just lookin out for you, man, don’t read too much into it.”

Before Steve could respond there was a crackle of static from the walkie talkie in the back seat, and Dustin grabbed it.

“Hellooooo?” Came a sing-songy voice that was broken up by laughter.

“Sam? You need to say over when you’re done talking.” Dustin scolded.

“Over.” Sam said, snorting a giggle again.

“You guys alright?” Steve asked, taking the radio from Dustin.

“Uh, yeah, pfft-” her words were broken up by background noise. “Eddie shut up-yeah I’ll ask- can you bring us some food soon? And also some beers. And also some more weed. And also some movies. And also my van.” She said, and they heard more laughter behind her, making Dustin roll his eyes.

“You guys think it’s a good time to be doin that stuff? Like, aside from the danger it’s 2 in the afternoon.” Steve asked.

“Ask him to get some kfc-” “Can you get us some kfc?” Eddie started and Sam finished.

“At least they’re done freaking out.” Steve mused.

“I guess, but now they’re useless.” Dustin said, frowning.

“Hey! Over.” Said the radio, and Dustin glared at Steve, who realized he was still holding down the button.

“We’ll bring you supplies as soon as we can but right now you guys should probably sober up, things are getting way worse for Eddie here in Hawkins. Over.” Dustin said.

“It’s medicinal. We’re very anxious.” Sam said as seriously as she could manage. “Over” she quickly added.

“Anxiety’s not so bad when you're in mortal danger. Keeps the motivation up. Over.”

“Boo. Fine. Just bring me my van bye! Eddie, stop it oh my god!” Was how she ended the conversation, their giggles filling up the radio before cutting out.

Both of them were silent for a moment, processing.

“Maybe we should’ve left somebody else.” Dustin said cautiously, and Steve nodded

“Over- HA! Eddie, shut up!” The radio interrupted one more time, and the two boys sighed in defeat.

“Drink a cup of coffee, you two!” Steve shouted into the radio, and leaned back, glancing at Dustin.

“Maybe you should be my wingman- seems like you’re a half-decent matchmaker.” Steve said, and Dustin groaned in annoyance.

---

Eddie and Sam frowned at the radio between them between their giggles. He sat up against the cupboards bouncing a ball and she lay on the ground with her legs pointed upward, leaning against the cabinets.

“We should probably listen to Steve.” Sam said with a sigh, and Eddie screwed up his face.

“I don’t wanna listen to Steve. Since when do you roll with Steve Harrington anyway?”

“Since, like, this afternoon. But Dustin trusts him, so I guess that’s enough for me.”

Eddie groaned exaggeratedly. “God, I know that Dustin trusts him, he never shuts up about him.” he complained, and Sam chuckled.

“That’s funny, because now that he’s buddies with you he thinks he knows everything and it’s driving Steve insane.”

“That’s good. I’m glad he’s weaponizing that hero worship in my favor. Kind of.” He said, bouncing a ball he had found across the floor.

“Am I sensing a personal grudge with ol’ Steve? Or is this just an anti establishment anti popularity thing?” She asked, and he chuckled.

“You always go the poser route for those little jabs of yours and it always hurts.” He said, hand over heart.

“Well, maybe you should’ve considered that before you told me how much you love it when people call you a freak.” she said affectionately.

“Badge of pride, baby.” He said proudly, putting out his arms. She kicked her legs on the counter to push herself away enough to sit up and look at him with a sneaky smile.

“Baby? Is that what we’re doing now?” She asked, and he leaned forward with a grin, trying to call his bluff.

“You can call me baby any day of the week, Sam. You should’ve realized that by now.” He said with a laugh and a puff off the joint they just had rolled. Her face was a little stunned, like she wasn’t sure how to take what he had said. Normally, he’d have been nervous saying that to Sam. He had liked her for a while but knew that she didn’t have a lot of people around her and didn’t want to risk scaring her away, but after today he knew they’d be fine whether she felt the same or not.

He leaned back and grinned at her stunned face, taking the joint and placing it between her slightly open lips until she inhaled, then took it back for himself. That snapped her out of it and she rolled her eyes predictably.

“In your dreams, Munson.” She said with false bravado, leaning back onto her hands.

“Oh yeah, on the regular.” he said quickly, and she shook her head, hating that he always had a better comeback if she didn’t have the opening to call him a sellout.

“You’re just stoned.” She said, laughing and glancing away.

“I mean, I always am a little bit. So are you.” He said, and she laughed, still a bit confused.

Her lack of reaction was enough to dampen his enthusiasm and he decided to backpedal.

“Hey- just forget I said anything. You’re right, I’m baked.” He started, but frowned at the same time she did. “I mean, what I said was true, literally last night I had a dream that we were lost in a maze but actually it was the highschool? I think we ended up fighting something and then afterward it got- heh- uh, Whatever, I just- I know this is a weird situation. I don’t need to make it any weirder. We’re just hangin out, like normal.” He rambled to take the pressure off, and it worked, but as Sam thought about it, she thought that maybe she didn’t mind the pressure.

Sam looked at him and tilted her head, all of a sudden wondering why she had never considered Eddie that way before, and when he looked at her again she realized that maybe she had actually thought about it a lot.

“Eddie…” she said, playfully but serious enough that as she leaned closer he would know what to do.

He leaned in as well, and glanced down at her lips. Just as they were about to connect they heard the crackle of the radio again, and Sam couldn’t help but laugh at their continued interruptions with her head on his shoulder.

“You two having that cup of coffee yet?” Steve’s voice came from the other end, followed by a very soft ‘you have to say over.’

Sam just grinned and offered Eddie a hang up before he went to the radio and she went to the coffee maker.

tag list

@youngflower @nostandards94 @simonsbluee

@koroktsuya @kriffingstars

#eddie munson #stranger things #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x oc #eddie munson fanfiction #stranger things x reader #stranger things fanfiction #stranger things fic #my writing

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castiowl · 4 years ago

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* DeanCas Fic Recs *

God Tier • Named | M | 95k | Canon Divergent | Angel shenanigans happen; Dean and Cas figure their shit out (eventually); THEE fic to end all fics • Cruel Angels (series) | E | 127k | Canon Divergent | Plot, trueform angels running rampant, grace/soul sex! What’s not to love! This fic IS unfinished, but the author put their notes for what they planned to happen at the end and it doesn’t end on a cliffhanger/the Dean & Cas stuff is resolved. • thunder road | T | 21k | Post-Canon | Cas is human; he and Dean take a road trip and talk about stuff • psalm 40:2 | E | 45k | Canon Divergent/Post-Canon/Time Travel | The Empty sends Cas into the past where he meets Stanford era Dean. • Galveston (series) | E | 57k | Canon Divergent | When Cas becomes human, he leaves the Winchesters to find his own path. Dean visits him every year until they finally figure their shit out. • And This, Your Living Kiss | M | 57k | Human AU | Dean is a famous poet under a pseudonym; he decides to audit a college poetry course with Professor Castiel whose favorite poet is...Dean; feelings!! • Crazy Diamonds | E | 25k | Canon Divergent | 2018 Dean and 2008 Dean switch places; 2008 Dean is very confused about his apparent relationship with Cas; 2018 Dean is determined to get back to his own Cas. • Seek to Know You Better | E | 33k | Post-Canon | Dean and Cas answer the 36 questions while attending to cases across the country. This one is SO SOFT and just SO GOOD. • What Has Eight Tentacles and Isn’t Allowed to Eat Pie? | T | 16k | Canon Divergent | Dean touches an artifact in the bunker that turns him into an octopus; inexplicably, this helps him figure his shit out re: Cas Top Tier • The Dean Winchester Beat Sheet | E | 144k | College AU; Dean is a closeted dudebro. Cas decides to be his gay experiment. • Halloween Horror (series) | E | series of horror fics and each one fucked me up in new and fun ways! beware of tags • a turn of the earth | M | 95k | Canon Divergent | Cas is ripped from time, fleeing a monster called The Darkness that erases people from existence, and ends up popping up in Dean's past timeline over and over again. Dean is determinied to save him before he disappears forever. • A Complete Kingdom | E | 85k | Canon Divergent | (Beware tags please) Dean, Sam, and Cas hunt a monster on the coast of Maine; fucked up shit happens; no happy endings here • The Path of Fireflies | M | 64k | Canon Divergent | Dean wakes up 12 years in the future married to Cas; they own a B&B ; Dean is a dick about it; emotions happen • Tall Grass | E | 57k | Post-Canon | Bunker living wherein Cas tries to make peace with being human and Dean continues to be so so stupid about their relationship. • Teaching Poetry to Fish | M | 52k | Canon Divergent | Follows Cas throughout his long life and his attempts to literally teach poetry to fish; it’s very sweet • Deeper and Deeper Into the World | E | 47k | Canon Divergent | Cas and Dean travel across the world on the heels of Metatron and Castiel's stolen grace. They figure their shit out on the way. • Fenario | E | 47k | Post-Canon | Dean and Cas buy a lakehouse to settle in after the Empty. Cas grieves Jack's disappearance. Dean has issues accepting his feelings for Cas. • the lover's choice | M | 44k | Post-Canon | Dean rescues Cas from the Empty. This is such a fucking funny fic. • This ain't a love song | M | 33k | Endverse | This is 'depression: the fic' until the end, so hang in there. • Where the weeds take root | E | 30k | Post-Canon | Dean and Cas settle down, but Cas is dealing with being human and sometimes that means time away from Dean; lack of communication is the key here! • On Drowning | T | 29k | Canon Divergent | Human Cas nearly drowns and it causes Dean to address some issues. • There Are Many Things | E | 29k | Canon Divergent | The angels fall, Cas is human, Dean kicks him out of the bunker, Cas deals with abandonment, identity, and Dean being an absolute dickwad. • Command Me to Be Well | E | 28k | Post-Canon | They get Cas back from the Empty, but Dean still has repression to deal with. They deal with it. • On Labor | E | 25k | Post-Canon | Dean tells Cas he loves him back when he gets back from the Empty. But he's not capable of love, right? So it's a lie? • Après | E | 24k | Canon Divergent | Cas falls with the angels but lands in France. Dean flies out to meet him. ROMANCE!! • There’s Only One Sure Thing That I Know | E | 20k | Canon Divergent | Dean and Cas get trapped in Ohio; they learn to be domestic and accept their horrible fate of living in Ohio forever • Kingdom Come | E | 17k | Post-Canon | Cas returns from the Empty. Dean figures his shit out. • Under the Same Sun | E | 14k | Post-Canon | They get Cas back but Dean makes things weird because he’s one repressed motherfucker. Cas doesn’t stand for it. • Coals Aglow | E | 11k | Canon Divergent | While in apocalypse world, shortly after finding Sam alive, Dean decides he's done tiptoeing around what he and Cas feel. • Happily Ever After (series) | Canon | Cas gives Dean a ring. Dean has feelings about it. • Deancas codas: season fifteen (series) | Post-Canon | A bunch of fix-it fics that all hit Honorable Mention • The Shawnee Trail | E | 166k | Western AU | Western AU where Cas is a doctor and Sam and Dean work for Wells Fargo. Plot stuff happens! It was fun and super well-written! • Emergence | E | 58k | Canon Divergent | A spell causes Dean & Sam to forget Cas's existence after he falls from heaven. Cas thinks they did it on purpose. • Though The Course May Change | E | 52k | Canon Divergent | Fake married case! These two are so dumb!! • Architecture of the Minotaur's Heart | E | 45k | Canon Divergent | Dean buys a haunted cabin next to Cas. Hidden memories begin to return of a life they spent together. • Strandlines | E | 41k | Canon Divergent | Cas is sent to protect Dean Winchester in 2006 but instead lands in 2003. • When It Comes to Being Loved | E | 38k | Canon | Dean and Cas have some alone time and learn to take things slow. • things happen | E | 28k | Post-Canon | Cas comes back from the Empty and while Dean can't reciprocate his love, Cas says he doesn't mind except he keeps being really earnest about his love for Dean and Dean is losing it • Asunder | E | 24k | Human AU | Cas is a pediatrician, Dean is a social worker; loosely based on The Wedding Date; Sam and Ruby are the best part of this tbh. • The Tunnel of Love | E | 21k | Canon Divergent | Human Cas joins the boys on a hunt involving the tunnel of love ride at a carnival. It requires them to kiss. • i projected (series) | T | 20k | Post-Canon | these are fucking hysterical; chronologically, you should read Sam, Mary, then Dean • No Kingdom to Come | M | 17k | Canon Divergent | the pandemic hits and Sam, Dean, and Cas quarantine in the bunker; Dean is having an existential crisis; he and Cas become FWB and even though they both want to be more than that, they don't talk about it until they finally do • The Thirty-Six Questions that Lead to Love | M | 13k | Canon | Claire needs Dean and Cas to pretend to be a married couple for a case; turns out it's basically a couples retreat; feelings happen • Heaven Sent You Downstream | T | 11k | Canon Divergent | Dean investigates a monster on his own. Very cool mythology/monster with some introspection on Dean’s part. • The face of heaven | T | 10k | AU | Cas is a fallen star; they fall in love; the star thing makes things complicated • Keep the Home Fires Burning | T | 4k | AU | Dean goes selectively mute again. Pure hurt/comfort that targeted me directly. • Flirting 101 with Professor Claire Novak | NR | 2k | Canon | Claire learns about the Supernatural books and schools Cas on the art of being flirted with using them Not Dean/Cas But Required Reading Anyway • an unclean man who went down to immerse himself | T | 23k | Pre-Canon | How batshit Castiel's testing of Jimmy's faith would've been had it been Old Testament biblical. • body of proof | M | 7k | Canon | HEED CONTENT WARNINGS. Sam writes Dean a letter describing past traumas, including hell. Stuff I Wrote • Vox In Rama | E | 50k | Post-Canon | WIP // Cas returns from the Empty feeling lost and numb; weird shit is happening at the bunker; part case fic, part cas introspective, part dean and cas being incapable of communicating. • Sensational | T | 6k | Canon Divergent | Cas experiences the best of all 5 human senses with some help from Dean. • It's Not Traditional | T | 1.5k | Post-Canon | There's a wedding proposal and it's all Sam's fault. • Truth | G | 1k | Canon | Regarding Dean coda; Sam gets some answers from his brother re: one angel

#*#spn #mine #ficrec #look i finally did it #the god tier are in order of how much i love them #the rest are in order by word count

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jaydicksummerexchange · 3 years ago

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2021 JDSE Release Post: Monday August 30

Monday

[ ❤ Works posted so far! ❤ ]

Second Monday is always better than First Monday!

Here are today’s yesterday's posted works:

Something There by Anonymous for elwon [Teen And Up Audiences, Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, 7.1k words]

Tags: Dick Grayson/Jason Todd, Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce Wayne, Female Dick Grayson, Prom, Slow Dancing, Getting Together, Kissing, Conspiracy, Complicated Relationships, Unreliable Narrator, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence,

Summary: “Would I like to do what?” Nightwing asked, unable to keep a sense of incredulity out of her voice.

Jason scowled. He was stomping repeatedly at the side of his own dirty sneaker, all the while studiously ignoring her wide-eyed stare. Eventually, he cleared his throat and mumbled, “go to the prom with me.”

A senior prom AU that nobody ever asked for, featuring: off-screen pinning, on-screen astonishment, references to Alice in Wonderland and Alfred positively involved in making all of this happen.

Shrouded Yearnings by Anonymous for Hedgebelle (Ahaanzel) [Mature, No Archive Warnings Apply, 24.6k words]

Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Fluff, Angst, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Pack Dynamics, Pack Bonding, Explicit Language, Sexual Tension, Omega Dick Grayson, Dick Grayson is Nightwing, Hurt Dick Grayson, Dick Grayson Has Abandonment Issues, Dick Grayson Deserves Better, Dick Grayson Has Issues, Dick Grayson-centric, Alpha Jason Todd, Jason Todd is Robin, Hurt Jason Todd, Jason Todd Deserves Better, Protective Jason Todd, Jason Todd-centric, Alpha Koriand'r (DCU), Protective Koriand'r (DCU), Sigma Garfield Logan, Cute Garfield Logan, Alpha Kon-El | Conner Kent, Kon-El | Conner Kent is a Pup, Cute Kon-El | Conner Kent, Getting Together, Dysfunctional Family, Family Secrets

Summary: Richard could force himself to be content with remaining Jason’s packmate. After all, there was no way that they were compatible enough to stay together. Right?

Jason has some OPINIONS concerning Dick’s reluctance.

you are my silver lining by Anonymous for dreamrecurrentdreams [Teen And Up Audiences, No Archive Warnings Apply, 5.6k words]

Tags: Dick Grayson/Jason Todd, Jason Todd, Dick Grayson, Vacation, summer vacation gone wrong, or right?, who knows which it is, Tooth-Rotting Fluff, Hijinks & Shenanigans, Marriage Proposal, Minor Original Character(s), Established Relationship

Summary: “You know,” Jason tells Dick much later—two flights, a car ride, and one rickety boat ride on ten-foot tall waves later. It’s 10 PM. They have just arrived at their hotel room. “You never did tell me why we flew commercial. B has to be good for something.”

Jason and Dick go on a vacation.

Through All The Years by Anonymous for Nerd_by_Definition [Teen And Up Audiences, No Archive Warnings Apply, 1k words]

Tags: Jason Todd/Dick Grayson, Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Domestic Fluff, Dancing, Singing, Kissing, Jason is Basque Spanish, Jason's native language is Euskara, Set in 1956

Summary: Kitchens aren’t just for cooking in. Sometimes you’ve got to dance a little too.

Hopeless Salvation by anonymous for element78 [FIC, T, Graphic Depictions of Violence, Dick Grayson & Jason Todd]

Tags: Dick Grayson & Jason Todd, Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Original Characters, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Alternate Universe - Pokemon, Implied/Referenced Character Death, Implied/Referenced Torture, Implied/Referenced Abuse, Trainer Jason Todd, Jason Todd is Not Red Hood, Protective Jason Todd, BAMF Jason Todd, Jason Todd Feels, POV Jason Todd, Jason Todd-centric, Pokemon Dick Grayson, Dick Grayson is Nightwing, Protective Dick Grayson, BAMF Dick Grayson, Hurt Dick Grayson, Pokemon References, Pokemon Death, Talking Pokemon, Human/Pokemon Relationship(s)

Summary: Failure is part of life.

Doesn’t mean that it ever stops feeling awful.

CAN I BE CLOSE TO YOU by Anonymous for tacnes [Explicit, No Archive Warnings Apply, 11.2k words]

Tags: Dick Grayson/Jason Todd, Jason Todd, Dick Grayson, Kate Kane (DCU), John Constantine, The Lakehouse - Freeform, Time Travel, Angst and Humor, Canon-Typical Violence, canon-typical fighting, Implied/Referenced Cheating, Unnegotiated Relationships, Is …(click for more tags)

Summary: Boy falls from sky - or, rather, trips and falls through your window at 4am wearing blue glitter eye shadow and a crop top.

Jason's morning is about to go sideways. Maybe for forever.

big dick energy by Anonymous for Squishychickies [Explicit, No Archive Warnings Apply, 2k words]

Tags: Dick Grayson/Jason Todd, Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Trans Dick Grayson, FTM Dick Grayson, gender euphoria, Strap-Ons, strap-on blowjobs

Summary: The front door opens and closes with a loud bang.

“Hey Dickie! Guess what came in the mail!”

Dick blinks and sits up on the couch, looking away from the TV to see Jason, grinning and holding a cardboard box.

“Is that-” Dick leaps up, suddenly excited. “Is that what I think it is?”

Or; Dick gets a new dick as a present from his boyfriend, and he and Jason have a great time.

under the yellow moon by Anonymous for elwon [Not Rated, No Archive Warnings Apply, 0k words]

Tags: Dick Grayson/Jason Todd, Jason Todd, Dick Grayson, Motorcycles, Midnight rendezvous, Fanart

Summary: I'm thinking we should ride, to a place that we don't know, to a place where no one's seen us before

I'm thinking, you and I, better just go with the flow, last thing that we should do is go slow

#2021 jaydick exchange #jaydick summer exchange #jaydick #dickjay #dick grayson & jason todd #come get your daily dose of goodness!

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little-miss-losing-her-mind · 2 years ago

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☆｡･::･ﾟ★,｡･::･ﾟ☆

"I don't think I've ever done a summer at the lake. Not a proper one." It had never been a thing that her family had done. Camping or anything of the sort. If they had gone out on the water, it was at the beach on a vacation. The only time she had spent at the lake had been with her friends or their families. She loved the water, though. Wished she got to spend more time there.

"What do I do?" She laughed a little as he pulled a face about Jason and shoved him in the shoulder. "Well, maybe I'll just have to show it to you instead sometime, hm?" She didn't have a red one, but she could find one, she was sure. She would need a new suit anyway...

What did she do over the summer.

"Lots of things. My family normally drags me along on vacation." She didn't mind a whole bunch with her father and her brother. It was her mother she couldn't stand being in the car with. The scrutiny over every piece of food she ate, the way that she would always steer them clear of any greasy restaurants around when they inevitably went out because they were in a hotel and the closest they had to a mini fridge.

"I always go to cheer camp in the summer, too. The whole team goes, so do a bunch of other schools. It's always fun. When I was little, my mom used to sign me up for a bunch of summer camps to keep me active. Now, I nanny usually. Hang out with friends. Get up to some normal teenage shenanigans. My friend Amy's parents have a lakehouse in Michigan, and sometimes we drive up there for the weekend and have some fun. Lots of stuff."

This summer, though, she had to say, she was pretty excited to see what she would do with Eddie.

@edhellfire

"Mhm. Well. Not now but soon. If you want." She liked regular dates and all, going out to dinner and going out and about and all that stuff was nice, there was something to be said about special moments that was shared between just the two of them. Memories that they would have where the didn't have to worry about anything but each other.

"Camping by the lake? I'd like that." Eddie probably could have asked her to go backpacking in the middle of the woods and she would have gone along, because it was with Eddie, and because he asked. But camping by the lake did sound pretty nice.

"Scoundrel." She reached up to shove his knee, but she was grinning at him. "I'll buy a new one, just for you." She joked. Though she probably would. She normally got a new swimsuit at the beginning of the summer. Until she had been fourteen, her mother had picked them with her. Now as long as she didn't get anything too "matronly" or anything that fit her poorly, she didn't seem to care. "Bright red."

She put her hand on his knee again, but kept it there this time, just picking at the thread. "That sounds fun, though."

@edhellfire

#not super in there but #tw ed #tw #//💚musing: you're not what i thought you'd be #//💚thread: you should see the other guy #edhellfire #eddissy #hellcheer

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dollhousemary · 3 years ago

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what are your favourite tropes in spn fic?

oooooo!! okay okay i’m bad at like. defining a trope so some of these may not technically fit the bill but here’s what i’ve got (and some of these aren’t specific to just spn fic):

—“there was only one bed” a fandom staple, but i find it works especially well for spn because it’s so natural to the canon lol

—newly human cas. love getting to see him navigate it and see how the author writes it

—switching pov. not sure if this is exactly a “trope” but i find i always LOVE fics that utilize it

—sam having to break it to dean that no, not everyone DOES in fact find cas attractive. this is super specific, but i’ve seen it in a few fics now and i always love it because dean’s reaction is always so fucking funny to me

—the “eileen and cas and/or eileen and dean are besties” trope. love it every time, always eat it up

—cas has a garden. i don’t care if this is “played out” at this point or whatever he deserves it

—✨lakehouse✨ (or dean and cas getting a house together in general)

—fake couple shenanigans in casefics

that’s all i can think of for now 👁

#ask #answered #ask game #pals tag #macbethapologist #this was harddddd #i feel like i can more easily think of the ones i DON’T like asffghhdfjk

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mbrainspaz · 1 year ago

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my gran, a southern conservative christian: I made us all matching necklaces out of these coins and we all need take turns wearing the one for your brother. While you're wearing it, hold it and think about how much you love him.

my mom, a fundamentalist evangelical: Oh okay, that's sweet.

me, a fantasy writer: ... you made us matching totems for a sympathetic magic love charm.

my gran: I don't know what that means, but make sure you kiss it.

me: haha I'm not kissing it.

#things gran says #casual magic #save me from my family #modern day magic #things that happened #lakehouse shenanigans

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jamiemackenziefraser · 4 years ago

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The Set Up

Summary: College students and best friends Claire and Jamie are secretly dating. While back at home for a break, they go on a getaway to a lakehouse with their friends. Shenanigans ensue when Geillis and the others become determined to set Claire up with Frank. Unable to dissuade her without giving away her secret, Claire is forced to play along... much to Jamie’s dismay.

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I couldn’t help but stare at Jamie as we all piled out of Dougal’s van. It had been a long trip to the Mackenzie lakehouse (especially interminable for me since I had been squashed between Angus and Rupert in the back), and Jamie was stretching his long limbs in the open space of the driveway. His shirt rode up as he lifted his arms, revealing a delicious strip of smooth skin at his belly and giving me a tease of his remarkable abs. His red curls gleamed in the sunlight, framing his face in a soft halo of bronze. I wanted nothing more than to jump over Rupert and throw myself into my boyfriend’s arms and kiss the living daylights out of him.

But the problem was that he wasn’t just my boyfriend. He was a secret boyfriend.

Our relationship had progressed from best friends to much more than friends after we had gone away to university together. While we were free to flaunt our love on campus, things were much more complicated back home. Jamie’s parents put enormous pressure on him not to date and to focus on his studies, and would be even more appalled to learn he was with a Sassenach. To make matters worse, Jamie’s father, Brian, had major beef with my Uncle Lamb. All of this was the perfect storm to make telling our families nearly impossible for the moment. So, we had decided to keep our relationship a secret while back at home-- even to our childhood friends (who we knew wouldn’t be able to keep their gabs shut).

After all, how hard could it be to hide things for a little while?

I broke myself out of my longing for Jamie and walked to the back of the van to retrieve my duffle. I dove fearlessly into the precariously packed trunk, filled to the brim with supplies (and booze) for the weekend. I was working to extricate my bag from under a layer of other junk when a familiar, solid body pressed behind me and reached around me to pluck my bag from the mess.

“Here, lass,” Jamie’s voice rumbled in his chest, and I could feel it against my back. I couldn’t help the tiny gasp that fell from my lips.

“Thanks,” I murmured demurely, taking the offered bag from his hand.

Before I could turn toward the cabin where the rest of our friends were crowding the door-- which Dougal was seemingly struggling to unlock-- Jamie’s arm wrapped around my waist and kept me pressed to his front.

He leaned down, and his lips brushed against the shell of my ear as he whispered, “ye look verra bonny wi’ yer wee tank top and shorts.”

I turned myself in his grip so I was facing him, suddenly thankful for the protection of the car hiding us from view.

I gave him a playful smirk, and as I freed myself from his arms, I said playfully, “thank you, friend James. But if you keep that up, everyone will end up getting an eyeful.” I gave him a wink, and then turned my back to him to walk up to the front door, knowing full well that his gaze was fixed on my ass.

“Damn door,” Dougal was cursing as I approached.

Angus was wrestling the key away from him, taking his turn to try his hand at unlocking the house.

“Dougal, I swear, if we hafta drive all the way back because ye cannae even get into yer own cabin...” Geillis was starting in on her boyfriend.

“Can I try?” I asked an unsuccessful Angus, who was cursing up a storm in Gaelic which I assumed were rather unkind sentiments aimed at the doorknob.

I had just tried and failed when Jamie reached us.

“Alright, lad, yer the last one who hasna tried this damnable thing,” Dougal grumbled.

Jamie obliged, but found no success either. I set my duffle down in dismay. It seemed a bad omen for the trip that it hadn’t even begun and we had already been defeated by a faulty lock.

At that moment, Frank walked around from the side of the house, running a hand through his short, dark hair.

“The mechanism must be jammed,” he said, his accent crisp and prim as ever, “but there’s a window unlocked in the back. Shall we check it out?”

My friends all exchanged a look, and we nodded simultaneously, at a loss for anything else to try.

We walked around the back of the cabin and looked up at the window. It was small, and well off the ground. I found myself swallowing in dismay.

Dougal-- ever the unelected (and often unwanted) leader of the group-- was quick to take charge.

“Alright, this is a two man job. Jamie, yer the tallest, so ye’re on bottom of course. Anyone fancy gettin’ hoisted through a window?”

We all looked at each other in silence, exchanging wide-eyed looks of “not me.”

Jamie was not having it though. He stepped toward the window and turned to fix his blue gaze directly on me.

“Alright, lass, ye’re the smallest. Ready to take a wee trip through the windae?”

I rolled my eyes but stepped forward obligingly. I knew exactly why Jamie had called me out, and it wasn’t because of my petite frame. The man was eager for any excuse to put his hands on me.

He tilted his head down and gave me a little smirk.

“Hold on, Sassenach.”

With that, big hands were around my waist and lifting me off my feet. I let out a little squeal of surprise as I was suddenly hoisted into the air as if I weighed nothing.

I quickly got with the program, though, and reached up for the window. I fumbled with the bottom, trying to push it upward so I could climb in.

I felt myself moving and thought for a second that I was falling, but Jamie was just settling me to sit on his shoulder. I breathed a sigh of relief and used my new secure position to leverage the window open.

“In ye go, lass,” came Jamie’s voice from below me.

His hands went from my waist down to my hips, and suddenly he was shoving me up and toward the window.

I caught the ledge and pushed myself through, all but diving into the opening.

But instead of sailing through, I landed on my stomach with an “oof” and found myself caught halfway through the window.

There were various chuckles as Jamie obligingly placed both hands on my butt and pushed. I tumbled through the window and landed on the floor with a thud that made all the breath leave my lungs. I lay on the floor stunned for a second, fighting to regain my breath.

“Ye alright, lass?” Dougal called.

I groaned and sat up. I hauled myself up and poked my head through the window.

“Just fine,” I grumbled, “I’m going to open the door.”

I crossed the room to the front door, listening to the stomping feet outside running around the cabin. I unlocked it and whipped open the door. I made a grandiose gesture with my arm to welcome them to the house, and they all applauded. Taking my role as doorman seriously, I held it open as each of my friends-- Dougal and Gellis, Angus and Rupert, Frank, and finally Jamie-- came through. Jamie, on his way in, gave me an owlish blink that passed for a wink, and I had to stifle a laugh.

I was interrupted out of my thoughts by a shout from Angus.

“Oi! Dougal. Ye call this a lakehouse? I thought yer family was rich?”

The cabin indeed was sparse… to say the least. The main room, which functioned both as a kitchen and living room, was covered in a fine layer of dust. The two couches seemed cozy though, and the kitchen was equipped, other than the fact that the sink was missing a faucet and one of the kitchen chairs had a leg broken off. The hardwood floors were mostly intact. Off to the side was a single hallway that led to the bathroom and the three bedrooms.

It would do.

Everyone began to separate-- making to explore and claim bedrooms.

It was quickly divided that Geillis and I would bunk together, Dougal and Frank, and finally, Jamie would be stuck with Rupert and Angus. I gave him a little smirk and then a sympathetic pout as he followed behind the two boys to set their stuff in the shared room.

Geillis grabbed my hand, and dragged me into ours.

As soon as we had gotten settled in, Geillis plopped herself down on the bed we’d be sharing and then rolled onto her back so she was looking up at me from her upside-down position.

“Soooo, Claire, darling…” she said in a sing-songy coo.

I rolled my eyes. “What Geillis?”

“Who are ye gonna hook up wi’ this trip?”

I started to laugh, but it turned into a choke, and I gasped for air in disbelief. I felt my cheeks flushing.

“What the hell do you mean?” I stuttered out as I willed my cheeks to calm down.

“Ye’re the only single girl on this trip wi’ loads of guys, duh,” Geillis rolled her eyes, and then rolled herself over to her stomach and propped her chin on her crossed arms in front of her.

“Listen, my beautiful prudish friend. Dougal and I have been talkin’...”

“Do you speculate on my love life often?” I asked in a poor attempt to deflect. I was starting to feel some discomfort pricking at the back of my spine. Did she somehow know about me and Jamie?

“We’ve been thinkin’,” she started again, looking at me with raised eyebrows that dared me to interrupt, “you and Frank would make a verra fine pair.”

Several emotions rushed through me at the same time. First was relief that she didn’t actually know about me and Jamie and our secret was safe. The second was disgust. The thought of Frank and I together almost made me want to laugh in her face. Finally, my brain added just a bit of panic to the mix, because I would have to tell her “no” without arousing any suspicion.

“I don’t think so…” I chuckled dubiously. I shook my head as an involuntary blush warmed my cheeks.

Geillis sat straight up, bouncing on her knees on the bed, and tugged on my arm with both hands.

“Claaaaire,” she whined.

“I’m just not into him, Geil.”

She fixed me with cold green eyes. “That lad is fiiine,” she purred, “and he looks at ye like ye’re the bloody queen herself. He’s always carried a torch for ye. Why will ye no’ give him a try?”

“I just-” I started to protest, but Geillis cut me off.

“Give me one good reason why ye dinna want tae be wi’ Frank, and I’ll leave ye alone. But… If ye keep givin’ me these weak-ass excuses, I’m settin’ ye up.”

Panic rushed through my veins. I wished I could press pause on the whole situation and go talk with Jamie. My mind was racing, trying to come up with any excuse other than the truth. But my traitorous brain couldn’t come up with a single thing.

I opened my mouth, and then closed it again, looking at my friend helplessly.

With Jamie’s pleas to keep this a secret for a little while longer ringing in my mind, I made a split-second decision.

“Fine. Set us up.”

***

Apparently Geillis version of “setting us up” was forcing me into situations where I was alone with Frank as much as possible.

“Oh bloody feckin’ hell!” Geillis exclaimed, looking in her bag, “I must have left my chapstick all the way out in the car. Claire, darling,” she turned to me where I was sitting at the kitchen table, “will ye go get it for me?”

“Sure!” I said, standing up and reaching for the offered keys.

“Oh, but it’s saaae dark out there. A wee lass like yerself shouldnae go alone. Frank, would ye be a dear and see Claire safe?”

Frank gave a smile, also standing from his spot on the couch. “Of course,” he said, flashing his most handsome smile toward me.

I was aware that some (perhaps even many) women in our town were head-over-heels for him, finding him dashing. But as he offered an arm, the only thing I felt was annoyance.

The whole group was observing this, and a few childish “ooohs” emanated from where Rupert and Angus sat by the fireplace. I rolled my eyes.

Jamie suddenly appeared from the next room, drawn by the small ruckus.

“What’s-” he started to ask what was going on.

Geillis, looking incredibly proud of her match-making work, announced, “Oh, Claire and Frank were jus’ goin’ out together tae grab somethin’ from the car for me.”

Jamie— processing the scene before him as well as Geillis’ words— suddenly tensed, and his eyes flashed. Jamie had a very good poker face, and I doubted anyone noticed but me, but I knew him well enough to know jealous anger when I saw it. His blue eyes held a look of contempt aimed at the dark-haired Englishmen who was still holding out his arm toward me.

“I’d be happy to go get it fer ye instead, Geil,” Jamie tried.

It was a valiant effort to save me, I thought. But he severely underestimated the power of Geillis’ match-making efforts.

“Nae, nae, Claire and Frank would be happy tae do it. But thanks, lad. Off ye go now, ye two.”

I gave Jamie a covert look of helpless dismay and watched as he slumped in defeat. I felt a similar reluctance as I took Frank’s offered arm and we walked together outside.

The door shut behind us, and the safety of Jamie’s presence-- and everyone else’s-- slipped away.

“So,” Frank said, “it seems Geillis has it on her mind that we’d make a good couple.”

I laughed. “Seems that way.”

A nervous bubble was forming in my stomach.

“As does everyone else…” he said. It seemed he was trying to lead me toward something.

I didn’t know what to say, so I just stayed silent, lips pressed firmly together.

Frank seemed to take that as shyness, because he stepped closer to me as we walked down the driveway, and then grew even bolder.

“I have to say, I’m inclined to agree with them,” he purred.

His words rang in my ears as panic gripped me. My throat felt dry and scratchy, and I had no idea how to answer him. Why hadn’t I fought Geillis harder on this?

Frank suddenly stopped dead in his tracks.

“You’re beautiful, Claire,” he announced. He said it was such finality, it was as if he expected me to throw myself at him in gratitude for the compliment. As if him saying it somehow sealed the deal that I should feel something for him.

I mustered a “thanks,” and then quickly scurried toward the van.

I unlocked it and threw myself into the passenger's seat before Frank could say anything else to me. I rooted around in the glove compartment until I found Geillis’ chapstick, cursing both it and her under my breath. I wished that I could just run inside to Jamie, grab his hand, and drag him outside with me.

But that wasn’t in the cards for us just now. So, accepting my fate, I hopped out of the van to face Frank again.

He was waiting patiently for me next to the van. Apparently he was taking his job of protecting me from all the late-evening attackers (ha!) because he was looking around as if he was really surveying the area for dangers to protect me from.

He offered his arm, and I reluctantly took it again.

Frank was a good guy. He was my friend. I didn’t want to be terribly mean to him. Even more, I didn’t want to endure another grilling session from Geillis about why I didn’t like him. I would just have to play along for the weekend. Suck it up, Beauchamp.

Frank was blessedly quiet on our way back in, and before I knew it, we were once again inside the cabin and in the protection of the presence of others.

Little did I know that the “others” would actually provide very little protection, and would more be terrible influences and orchestrators of putting me in situations I didn’t want to be in.

I wished I could talk to Jamie and explain what the hell was going on, but there wasn’t really an opportunity in the small cabin to get him alone without raising suspicion.

For the thousandth time this trip, I wished that I could throw myself at Jamie and feel his arms wrapped around me, hugging me close. I imagined what would happen if I got up at that very moment, walked around the room, and sat down on Jamie’s lap. My mind fantasized about how Jamie would pull me close and kiss me in front of everyone, and then allow me to snuggle into him and lay my head on his shoulder as the guys told their stories.

But that wasn’t the way things were just yet.

The group had just had dinner and was settling down in front of the fireplace on the couches. Anticipating all the alcohol we were about to drink, we’d whipped up a bucketload of spaghetti on the rickety stove and wolfed it down. Then, the drinks were broken out, and the festivities moved to the living room.

I was sitting next to Geillis nursing a beer and wondering to myself why anyone ever drank the foul stuff. I cursed myself for letting Rupert and Angus be in charge of the booze selection.

All of a sudden, Geillis, in her typical dramatic fashion, shot to her feet.

“Oh Frank,” she called across the room to the dark-haired man who was leaning against the wall, “come take my spot. Next to Claire.”

Geillis shot me a smirk over her shoulder, and I had to restrain myself to keep from rolling my eyes. I turned instead to watch Frank heading toward us, and in the process, caught sight of Jamie sitting across the room, his nose buried in his beer and eyes lowered. But I noticed the clench in his jaw, and my heart ached in sympathy.

I was brought from my musings when Frank plopped down on the couch next to me, the impact causing a slight tremor in the cushions that sent me sliding toward the middle-- closer to Frank, damn it.

Frank turned toward me and was just about to open his mouth when I was saved from a private conversation by Rupert.

“Claire,” he bellowed, “who dae ye think would win in a fight— Dougal or a black bear?”

“Oh definitely Dougal. He’s got enough rage to take down something 3 times his size.”

All the boys let out guffaws, smacking Dougal’s shoulder in congratulations at the praise.

As the conversation went on, I found my head had a pleasant buzz, and I remembered why beer wasn’t so bad. Everyone else seemed to be enjoying it too. The room had a warmth in it-- a bright, cozy atmosphere that made everyone a little more boisterous.

Frank, for his part, was especially melted by the cozy feel. He had been moving closer and closer to me as the conversations progressed so his thigh now touched mine and his side was barely pressed against me. Just as Angus was telling a dirty joke, Frank took the opportunity to raise his arm and drape it over my shoulder.

I started to stiffen, but forced myself to calm down. This was innocent, I could handle this.

But someone else couldn’t quite handle it.

I saw the exact moment when Jamie looked up to catch sight of us. A shadow fell across his features and they instantly hardened into a stony expression. But his eyes-- God his eyes-- they flashed an intense blue as they narrowed, and I could see every bit of tension in his muscles. He was coiled so tightly I thought he must surely either burst or fly across the room. But he was using every ounce of self control he possessed not to rush over, pull Frank from me, and beat him to a pulp.

For not the first time that night, I felt a little bad for Frank. The poor sop thought he had a real shot with a single woman. He had no idea the truth. Guilt made my stomach churn. I wasn’t exactly leading him on-- I made no mention that I returned his affections nor signaled that I enjoyed his touch in any way— but Frank had persisted.

So, Frank’s arm rested around my shoulders, and Jamie sulked across the room, his eyes never leaving us once.

Nearly an hour later, we were all well and truly sloshed. For me, that meant wanting desperately to jump Jamie’s bones. It must have been the same for Geillis and Dougal, because they disappeared into the back bedroom Dougal and Frank would be sharing. For Frank, he grew more bold, and had himself pressed fully against me. He kept trying to spark up conversation with me, but everything about him seemed to dull, and I mostly ignored him. Poor drunk Jamie was so fixated on me and Frank that he hardly said a word. He just glowered from his spot in the shadows across the room. Finally, for Angus and Rupert, their drunkenness was simply an intensification of their usual uninhibited personalities.

So, naturally, some fireworks were broken out.

“Do ye ken wha’ would happen if we sent it up the chimney?!” Angus bellowed.

“Woaahh,” I staggered to my feet-- blissfully removing myself from Frank’s arm-- and stumbled over to where Angus and Rupert were already knelt by a big box of fireworks that they produced from God-knows-where.

“I ha’ a lighter!” Rupert announced proudly as he produced said lighter from his pocket.

“You are going to burn the whole house down!” I exclaimed. I snatched the lighter from his fingers and walked into the kitchen to set it on the table.

When I returned, Jamie was staring at me unabashedly, and his beautiful blue eyes were pleading with me not to return to Frank’s side.

His wish was granted as Angus pulled out a couple sparklers with a wide grin and an opened-mouth laugh of glee. Before I could react, he was sprinting for the kitchen and grabbing the lighter. Rupert was on his heels, and the two boys smashed into each other as they reached the table. Angus snagged the lighter, and they both ran around to the other side of the island, sparklers in hand.

I found I didn’t have the willpower to stop them and could only pray that they didn’t burn the cabin down as they lit the sparklers. I watched in both fascination and dread as the little fireworks shot into sparks of light. Angus and Rupert waved them around triumphantly in the kitchen, faced awed.

I instinctively turned back toward the living room with the desire to see Jamie’s reaction, but to my surprise, I found him stalking into the kitchen, his usually soft blue eyes hard with anger and authority.

“Outside. Now,” he bellowed at the two fools. His voice held all the authority of a drill sergeant, and even more menacing was his posture. His back was ramrod straight, and his arm lifted to point straight at the door.

Jamie’s order sent Angus and Rupert scurrying for the door. I watched with a bit of disbelief as the very drunken men (boys, really) fell over themselves to shove their way outside, the sparklers still popping in their hands. Frank rose, too, muttering something about making sure they didn’t kill themselves.

The moment the door closed behind the three of them, hands were wrapping around my waist and pulling me into the protection of an alcove near the back door, and a hard body pressed me against the wall.

Before I had any time to process my sudden change of location, Jamie’s lips were attacking mine. He kissed with all the desperation and ferocity of a man who was starving. His arms tightening around my waist and pulling me flush against his body, he held me close and ravished my mouth. I felt him pouring out all the possessive energy that I knew had been building the entire night. I returned his kiss with equal desperation, my drunken brain responding on instinct, and I wrapped my arms around him.

“Ye’re mine,” he all but growled against my lips.

I managed a breathy, “yours,” just before his fingers wrapped themselves into my hair and tugged me into another deep kiss.

Finally, he pulled back, and we were both panting for breath, chests heaving in the slightest. I took a moment to study his face. His lips were puffy and his face lit with a fine dusting of red high on his cheekbones. But as my gaze swept further upward, I saw that his eyes blazed with possessive jealousy. That hard look made me sober instantly.

“Jamie, I’m sorry, they--” I started.

He seemed to deflate a bit, the muscles of his shoulders relaxing for the first time nearly this whole evening. He reached out a hand and softly cupped my cheek, and then let his fingers explore backward so they were carding through my curls. I melted into his soft touch.

“I dinna fash, I ken it’s no’ yer fault,” he said, instantly assuaging my fears.

I drew closer to him like a moon drawn into orbit. Pressing myself to him, I let my head thump against his shoulder in exasperation.

“Geillis has it in her head that Frank and I would make a great couple. I couldn’t tell her no without exposing us…”

“I ken, they’ve all been shovin’ the two of ye together all night,'' he growled, “and I could see ye pleadin’ wi’ me to rescue ye. God, Claire, I wish to God I couldha rushed over and torn his arm from his body jes’ for touchin’ ye.”

I tried to cut Jamie off, but he wasn’t done.

“Christ, Sassenach. I could kill him for this.”

Before I could start a reply— I had no idea what I might have said: defended Frank or tried to reassure Jamie— a warm mouth was capturing mine again. With a little whisper of a gasp, Jamie detached from my lips and started trailing his mouth down my jaw and to my neck.

He began to suck on the skin there, and my hands flew up to bury my fingers in his curls in response. I held him against me as he nipped and sucked and worried his teeth into the sensitive skin.

“He means nothing to me, Jamie--” my words were punctuated by a gasp, “I just have to play along-- for a little— until I can tell Geillis it didn’t work out.” His talented lips traveling up and down my neck made it nearly impossible for me to get the words out.

Jamie rose up, his eyes glimmering with the now familiar deep shade of blue that indicated jealousy, and towered above me.

“Aye. Play along. Jes’ dinna forget that ye’re mine.”

I shook my head and fixed him with earnest eyes.

“Never,” I breathed.

He gave me a smile that made my stomach flutter and my fears about his reaction dissolve completely.

Reaching down to tug me closer again, he joined our lips once more, and I finally had the opportunity to simply revel in his nearness, as I had been dreaming of doing this entire day.

Just as I lifted my hands to tangle in his curls and pull him closer, the sound of the door opening sent us flying apart.

Since I was trapped against the wall, after Jamie jumped backward, he quickly turned away from me and grabbed at something on the kitchen table in an attempt at nonchalance. I surveyed the alcove I was in and discovered a scrub brush hanging on a hook on the wall. Holding it up, I emerged to see the three men standing in the living room, paying zero attention to the kitchen. I abandoned my hastily-discovered, but now unnecessary, excuse by the sink and headed back toward them.

“So, did you boys have a nice time safely enjoying your fireworks?” I inquired.

“Aye!” Rupert bellowed, and I let out a laugh-- mostly releasing nervous energy at how close Jamie and I had gotten to being discovered.

As I walked back over, I noticed Frank’s dark eyes watching me intently. I could tell he had words on the tip of his tongue.

I must have returned his gaze for a second too long because suddenly the words were coming.

“It’s awfully pleasant out there. You can see so many stars. Care to join me, Claire?”

It took every ounce of self control for me not to turn behind me and shoot a helpless look at Jamie. But I could feel his eyes on me by the prickle in my spine. His weren’t the only pair fixed on me, though, as Frank was staring at me, waiting for me to respond to his invitation.

“Frank, that’s very kind, but I really am tired and think maybe I should--”

“It’s only 10 pm, ye granny!” Angus interjected, “ye cannae go tae bed this early!”

I stifled a groan of frustration. This weekend was making me understand the definition of “stuck between a rock and a hard place.”

I forced myself to give a smile to Frank. “Oh, alright then. But not for too long. I wouldn’t want to fall asleep on the porch.”

“Oh, don’t worry, I’d carry you inside--”

Frank’s flirtation was cut off by a loud bang from the kitchen. All heads swiveled in that direction to find Jamie standing at the sink (his expression nothing short of smug).

“Oh, sorry, dropped a pot,” he said, voice sounding not at all apologetic.

He gave me a tiny reassuring nod which soothed the knot in my stomach and gave me the courage to turn back to Frank.

“Alright, let’s go.”

Somehow, I felt that I was walking to my own execution.

* Fortunately— and I truly thanked God profusely— Frank was not so drunk that he tried to kiss me. We just sat side-by-side on the edge of the porch and looked out at the sky. There was enough distance between us to help me feel comfortable (although I caught him trying to scooch closer a few times). Mostly, Frank rambled on about the constellations, naming them and giving some random fact about their discovery or uniqueness. I had been lying earlier when I had said I was tired, but after listening to Frank drone on (I pitied the girl who would someday actually go on a real date with him), I really began to actually want to doze.

My head jerked once as I nodded off and then caught myself, and when I looked up, I found Frank staring at me in the moonlight.

“Maybe you should go to bed…” Frank politely gave me the out, and I couldn’t have been more grateful.

“I think I should,” I agreed, and before he could say another word, I stood up and brushed my hands down my pants.

I bid him a hasty, “Goodnight, Frank,” and then fled inside.

In the living room, Rupert and Angus were passed out on the couches— Rupert with one leg thrown over the top of the arm, and Angus fully upside down, with his head off the edge— and both snoring profusely. Jamie was sitting in a chair by the hearth, giving a glum look to the neck of his half-drunk beer bottle. When I entered, his gaze shot up toward me. I knew Frank would be on my heels, so I couldn’t linger to comfort him. I just gave him a calming smile, blew him a discreet kiss, and then said, “Goodnight, Jamie,” just as the door opened again.

“Goodnight, Sassenach,” came his reply as I fled toward the door of my room.

Geillis was still with Dougal (I pitied Frank if he was careless enough to head into his and Dougal’s shared room) so I splayed myself out on the bed and luxuriated in the feeling of being horizontal. It had been a long day, and I was more than ready to fall into the embrace of unconsciousness. I managed to get myself up to brush my teeth, take ibuprofen, and drink some water before I fell back into bed.

As I started to drift off, thoughts of Jamie circled mercilessly in my head. I sighed, rolled over to my other side, and fluffed the pillow under my cheek. I hated this whole situation. Still, the way he had kissed me-- God, maybe jealousy was kind of hot. That brought a smile to my face, and as I closed my eyes again, I relived Jamie slamming me into the wall and kissing me over and over in my head.

*** The next morning brought a broken stove. Thankfully, Dougal was able to produce a camping stove from somewhere in the basement, and we all gathered on the porch to watch as he made pancakes. Geillis managed to shove Frank at me and get him to sit next to me on the porch swing, but other than his thwarted attempt at taking my hand, the morning was rather uneventful.

That day, we were planning to head to Loch A’an for a day of swimming. It would be a bit of hiking to the lake, and a cold swim once we got there, but Dougal and Jamie knew of a secluded beach that promised some fun without too many tourists.

Standing above my suitcase to get ready, I sighed to myself as I pulled out my swimming suit. The little black bikini had been chosen for Jamie’s discreet enjoyment. (I had secretly imagined how his eyes would bug out and how he’d have to hold his tongue when I first undressed at the lakeshore.) But now, with Frank’s attentions, I regretted bringing such a risque choice.

I changed quickly, and just as I was about to put on my shirt, Geillis entered the room.

When I had managed to fit my head through the collar and tug it down, I noticed Geillis looking at me with a smirk.

“What?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.

“Ye have a hickey, Claire.”

I let out a gasp, and slapped a hand over the sore spot on my neck. I walked over to the mirror and looked to find I indeed had a hickey just at the edge of my collar.

Damn it, Jamie!

“Things go well wi’ Frank last night, then?” Geillis prodded.

“Uhh--” I stuttered helplessly.

I couldn't very well deny it, because there were no other options as to who would have given it to me.

“I--” I started again.

Geillis was looking at me with those big “spill the gossip” green eyes.

“I have to go!” I burst out.

I frantically snagged my bag and fled the room, then ran outside to join the safety of others.

On the drive, Dougal’s van bumping viciously on the gravel roads, the boys burst out into Gaelic song. Frank and I-- momentarily united by our Sassenach nature-- could only laugh along at their rowdy renditions. I smiled to myself when Jamie’s voice rose above the rest. He was adorably off key but he more than made up for it with his enthusiasm and unabashed volume.

It was a thankfully short drive, and the songs switched to English halfway through which allowed me to participate. Before I knew it, Dougal was pulling into the lot. We all piled out with nearly the same eagerness as we had after the 4 hour drive to get to the cabin.

As soon as we were out, I hastily slathered sunscreen over my poor pasty skin. Jamie always told me that I had ‘verra fine skin, like pearl,’ but I was cursing it since no one else had stopped to put any on themselves and were just about to leave me behind. Jamie, bless his heart, lingered back while the others started up the trail.

I finished as quickly as I could and ran to catch up. As I reached Jamie, he gently grasped my elbow and pulled me close to him (with a careful eye ahead to be sure no one was looking back).

“I wish I could help ye wi’ that sunscreen, a nighean,” he said in a low voice right next to my ear. A shiver went down my spine in response, but I didn’t trust my lips with words.

We quickened our pace to catch up with the others, and soon we had made it to the back of the group.

I took in the surroundings with awe. The cliffs, green with the summer, loomed around us. Their tips were jagged and rocky, and I felt myself itching to climb to the top of one to take in the view. It was a perfect summer day. Blessedly, it wasn’t raining, and the sun glimmered off of the water in the distance. It had been unseasonably warm that summer, almost unnaturally so, which was the only reason we were daring to swim in the usually chilly lake.

I was so entranced by the scenery that about halfway into our hike, my foot slipped off a rock on the edge of the path. My ankle rolled, and I let out a yelp as I started to skid down the slight embankment.

Quick as a flash, Jamie had grabbed my arm and hauled me up. I fell against him, still completely off balance, and found myself pressed to his chest for a second before I gained awareness and pulled back.

“Are ye alright, Sassenach?” Jamie asked. I noticed his eyes were shining with worry.

The rest of the group had halted and turned back, and Geillis was making her way toward me from the front of the group.

“I’m fine, I think. I rolled my ankle a little though.”

I tested my weight on it and winced as a small jolt of pain traveled up my leg.

“Do ye need me tae take ye back?” Jamie asked in a low voice.

“I’m alright, it’s just a little tender. I can keep going. Maybe just can you--”

“Frank!” Geillis’ sing-songy call interrupted my question, “why dinna ye help Claire? Her puir ankle is painin’ her, I’m sure she could use an arm tae hold onto.”

Frank split apart from the group and materialized at my side.

“Allow me,” He said as he managed to shoulder his way between me and Jamie.

I stood mutely, and he walked around to my bad side and started to lift my right arm over his shoulder.

“Oh, that’s really not necessary, I can walk,” I chuckled nervously as his hand snaked its way around my waist.

“Perhaps just until the soreness wears off,” Frank said dismissively.

He took a step forward, and pressed to him as I was, I went with him. I accepted my fate with the burning of embarrassment flaring in my cheeks.

Truth be told, it was helpful to relieve the pressure on my ankle. Frank actually made a decent crutch, and we quickly found our rhythm. Worse than the pain in my ankle would have been, though, was the sight of Jamie walking next to me but just out of reach. His shoulders were slumped, and he was trying desperately not to look at us.

God, I wished it was his arms around me.

I clenched my teeth and allowed Frank to help me forward. The ground soon turned into an incline, and I looked up from my feet to see that we were nearing the secluded beach of the lake. It was a rocky shoreline, with big boulders sticking up out of the water all over the place, but it still looked very inviting. A child-like glee rushed through me at the thought of playing around the boulders and in the water.

Soon, we were all on the beach, and Frank was letting me go to set down his things. The boys ripped off their shirts, and Angus and Rupert went flying into the water with loud whoops of glee. I set down my bag and then straightened to find two pairs of eyes on me-- Frank and Jamie.

Jamie had already stripped off his shirt, and I took a fleeting glance up and down his body to appreciate him. Frank stood further from the water, by the bushes, but I could tell he was just as eager as my boyfriend to watch me strip down to my swimming suit.

A wave of frustration swept over me, and I felt very bold as I met Frank’s gaze and gave him a chastising stare in return. Realizing he had been discovered watching, Frank averted his eyes, and made to take off his own shirt.

Might as well get this over with, Beauchamp.

I stripped off my shirt and shimmied down my shorts all in one quick motion, and then threw the clothes into my bag.

Jamie’s reaction was comically similar to what I had imagined.

His eyes did indeed go wide, as his gaze very markedly raked up and down my body. A grin started to form on his lips, but then he suddenly remembered our location, and horror flashed in his eyes as he looked toward Frank and the others. I thought Jamie had half a mind to run over and throw his shirt over me to cover me up (the thought of which made me laugh), but he was left frozen and rooted in place.

I began walking toward the water, hoping perhaps I could get there before Frank finished rummaging through his bag. But no such luck. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him catch sight of me, but I had no desire to take in his reaction.

Damn it, I am not on display for you to ogle!

I waded quickly into the water, gasping at its chilly temperature and then hastily sinking down in the shallows to hide myself from any unwanted view.

Soon, all of my frustration over male objectification was swept from my mind as Geillis appeared and tried to dunk my head under water.

We swam and clambered on rocks and boulders for what felt like hours. I floated in the water and allowed the sun to warm me, occasionally turning over to dive under and enjoy the feeling of being submerged in the cold water.

After a while, I grew tired, and I swam my way over to a cluster of particularly large rocks. I pulled myself up onto one and stretched out on its warm surface. Peaking around to make sure that Frank hadn’t snuck up on me without my notice (I had been carefully avoiding him ever since getting in the water), I noticed that the rocks blocked me from view of the entire group, and I allowed myself to relax. The surface of the rock was smooth, as if made for lounging, and I soaked up as much of its warmth as I could.

I nearly screamed as a hand closed around my ankle and jerked me out of my peaceful daze.

I clamped my mouth shut as I caught sight of a grinning Jamie, his curls wet and dripping around his face, his upper body resting casually on my rock.

“Sorry tae startle ye, mo ghraidh. It’s jes’ that ye looked sae bonny and peaceful, I couldna help myself.”

The hand moved from my ankle to caress up the outside of my calf and squeeze. Even just a subtle touch like that had me sitting up and reaching for him.

“Get up here, bloody Scot,” I whispered.

We both took a quick glance around to ensure no one else had wandered into our secluded spot, and then the next moment, Jamie was hauling himself up next to me and gathering me into his arms.

The kiss was nothing like the one the night before. Jamie took his time, lips soft and giving as he patiently pressed them to mine. His hand reached up to cup my neck (God his hand was so big) and his thumb massaged it gently. The kiss was a slow burn, but the fire nonetheless scorching for it. I felt him smile against me as I smoothed my hands greedily over the bare skin of his back.

“I’ve missed ye,” he murmured against my lips.

“We’ve been together all day,” I teased, knowing completely what he meant. I had been feeling the same way. Being so close to him yet forbidden to touch him or even pay attention to him was maddening.

“Aye, but ye and Frank have been together all day, too,” Jamie’s voice absolutely dripped with jealousy, and his burr came out strong with Frank’s name, turning it into a derisive “Frrrrrank.”

“I don’t want to talk about him, I just want to enjoy being with you,” I pleaded as I fused our lips together again.

I hated that every moment had to be stolen in secret. Even now, I would have given anything to spend time simply laughing and joking with him, wrestling him in the water. But beggars couldn’t be choosers, and I was pretty darn grateful for his kisses.

But Jamie must have somehow read my thoughts, because he was pulling back and taking my hand. His eyes held a gleam of mischief.

“Will ye swim a bit wi’ me, Sassenach?” he asked.

When I nodded, he splashed into the water, and then dragged my hand down so I followed him.

I had adjusted to being on the warmth of the rock, so the moment my body submerged under the freezing water, it was a shock to my system. I cursed under my breath and began to shiver.

Jamie laughed at me, his eyes crinkling delightfully at the corners.

“Cold, lass?” he asked in a teasing tone.

“Of course I’m cold,” I chattered, “aren’t you?”

“Nae. Ye ken Scots dinna get cold, Sassenach. Come ‘ere and let me warm ye up.”

Jamie’s hands found my hips, and he pulled me through the water until I was pressed flush against his bare chest. I smiled and wrapped my arms around my neck and my legs around his waist.

He floated around for a while with me clinging to him like a koala bear, keeping his arms tightly around my shivering form as he waded further backward.

“I kent ye were naturally cold, but ye really are freezin’, puir wee thing. Ye’re shaking’ so hard ye’re makin’ my teeth rattle,” Jamie commented.

I nodded pathetically against his chest.

“Would be quite a shame if I were tae--”

All of a sudden, Jamie was dipping me backward into the water, making to throw me from him and submerge me.

But I clung to him with all my might and let out a whisper-screech, and he was forced to straighten back up, laughing. I scrambled further up his body, climbing him like a tree in an effort to stay out of the water.

“Alright, if ye’ll no’ leave me, I’ll jes hafta go wi’ ye.”

With an evil grin, Jamie bent his knees, and we both plunged under.

I pushed on his chest, breaking free of his arms and swimming backwards away from him.

“Traitor,” I hissed, “you’re supposed to be my personal heater.”

“And yer supposed tae be my girlfriend, no’ my baby koala,” he shot back.

“I’ll show you baby koala,” I laughed as I lunged toward him.

I grabbed the top of his head and made it shove it downward under the water, but I had underestimated Jamie’s strength, and he simply didn’t budge as I attempted to pull his face down.

I froze, looking at Jamie and the mischievous gleam that had returned to his eyes. I had just enough time to mutter a “crap,” before he was on me.

I had to suppress a squeal as, instead of grabbing for my head as I had expected, Jamie dove under, grabbed my ankle, and tugged me sharply downward. I gasped in air just before my mouth went under the surface. I kicked wildly in the murky water around me, hoping to catch Jamie in the rib as payback, but my feet made no satisfying connections.

My head popped back out of the water, and I saw Jamie bobbing a meter away.

He started swimming, and I pursued him all the way to where the lake grew slightly shallower and we could both touch the bottom.

Once I reached him, I shoved at him playfully, and he indulgently pretended that I was actually propelling him backward.

“Alright-- alright,” he said between laughs as I continued to push at his chest, “truce.”

I paused and eyed him warily.

“Seal it with a kiss?”

“Always,” he said as he leaned in eagerly with lips puckered invitingly.

Just before he reached me, I cupped my hands and sent a spray of water right up into his face.

Jamie sputtered at the splash, and then looked up at me, mouth agape in betrayal.

“Ye’ll pay fer that, little lassie,” he growled.

He was just about to lunge toward me when a shout of “Claire? Jamie?” came from a short distance away. We both froze and looked at each other.

“Over here!” Jamie yelled.

“Och, thank Christ. We thought ye may have drowned,” came Rupert’s answering call.

“Nae. Jes’ got distracted swimmin’ after a fish and found Claire. Come on, lass.”

I leaned in to give Jamie one last gratuitous, self indulgent kiss, and then we swam back to the group.

We had a picnic on the beach, all inhaling our sandwiches and crisps as if we hadn’t eaten in days. Then, we spent the rest of the afternoon lounging around and taking in the beautiful sight. After we had enough of lazing about, we decided to call it a day and head back. As we finished packing up, Frank appeared at my side and offered to help me on the walk back. I insisted that my ankle was much improved and declined politely, and I watched as his face fell in disappointment. From behind him, I noticed Jamie’s light up.

I walked back (by myself, thank you very much) at a brisk pace, eager to remain at the front of the group and away from Frank.

Geillis kept looking at me and gesturing toward Frank, but I just ignored her.

I was pretty worn out from a long day of playing in the water. I was drooping in fatigue in that way one does after their strength has been sapped by the cold. When we all squished together into the van, I found myself sitting next to Jamie in the back. As Dougal began the long drive back, the rumble of the van underneath me began to lull me to sleep.

I craned my head back to rest it on the seatback and frowned, knowing there would certainly be a crick in my neck by the end of the drive.

As I began to drift off, I felt a big, familiar hand gently tilt my head and guide it onto his shoulder. I smiled sleepily and nuzzled my face into Jamie’s shirt.

Best part of the trip so far.

***

Dinner was leftover spaghetti and salads because we had been too cheap to buy anything else. I still wolfed it down, and didn’t even mind the taste of the accompanying beer. We played a drinking game after dinner— Angus insisting that beer and tequila were a dessert. It was something with cards, but I was so confused by the rules and so bad at it that I was drunk within only a few rounds and had no hope of ever actually learning the game. Frank was drunk too, and he was fully pressed against my side, an arm slung casually around my waist.

I stiffened, trying to send the message that it was an unwelcome touch, but either he didn’t notice or didn’t care, because his arm remained.

Geillis shot me a million-watt smile, and said, “they’re so cute together, are they no’, Dougal?”

Dougal only made a Scottish noise in his throat before picking up his beer.

I couldn’t bear to look toward Jamie to see either his rage or his despair.

I ducked out of the game politely, saying that I was well beyond my drink limit, and then tore myself from Frank’s grip and scurried off to the bathroom.

I shuddered to myself as I looked in the mirror.

One more day, Beauchamp. Tomorrow you go home. You can do this.

I ran my fingers through my wild curls and then stepped out of the bathroom.

I was just passing the final door in the hallway and about to reenter the living room when a hand shot out and tugged me by the wrist into the dark room. I stumbled straight into Jamie’s solid chest.

“Sorry, I didna mean to scare ye, but seein’ him touchin’ ye like that drives me mad.”

His arms looped possessively around my waist, and I melted against him.

“It drives me mad, too,” I said as I was fitted perfectly into Jamie’s embrace.

He drew back and hooked a finger under my chin to tilt my face upward. He leaned down and attached his mouth to mine, kissing me like he never wanted to do anything else. His lips pressed insistently, withdrawing for a moment only to dive back in again with renewed fervor. Our kisses made soft snicking sounds in the dark room as he pressed and released.

“Jamie--” I forced out between kisses, “I-- they’re going to-- mhmmm-- notice we’re gone.”

He pulled back reluctantly, and my lips tingled with the absence of his touch.

“I suppose ye’re right. Go on then,” he said sadly with a tilt of the head.

He placed a solid (but surprising soundless) smack on my bum as I leaned in for one last quick kiss and then left the room.

The rest of the night’s entertainment went by in a flash. Frank was all over me. It was like a game of cat and mouse-- I’d evade him for a moment only to be cornered the next. I finally ended up on the floor next to Geillis, desperately linking my arm to hers in the vain hope that it might discourage Frank.

We were all seated on the floor in a circle and looking expectantly at each other in the hopes that someone might suggest something else.

A suggestion did come, but not a welcome one.

“How about we play spin the bottle?” Geillis giggled with raised brows.

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. Thankfully, Rupert piped up.

“Tha’s no faiiir,” he whined, “the only lasses here are ye and Claire. I dinna want tae end up kissin’ this numpty,” he jerked a beefy thumb in the direction of Angus, who was staring drunkenly down at his hand as if it was the most bizarre thing he’d ever seen.

“He has a point, Geil,” Jamie declared in support, “I dinna think we have quite the numbers tonight. It’s late, perhaps we should go tae bed.”

Geillis nodded in acquiescence.

All at the same time, we staggered to our feet, using any available object for support.

“Before we part ways, I hafta suggest a wee room trade,” Geillis said suddenly.

Everyone froze at that. We were all tired and beyond desperate for a soft bed. I noticed everyone’s eyes widening in dismay. Rupert looked ready to stomp his feet like a toddler having a tantrum.

Geillis shot him a look. “Dinna get yer panties in a twist, I didna mean you. I would like to spend the night wi’ Dougal, so how about I go tae his room and Frank goes tae Claire’s room so they can have a wee bit o’ alone time?”

Horror flooded my veins and I suddenly went still as a statue. My brain provided a very unhelpful mantra of no, no, no but produced no coherent response, or better yet, rejection to offer Geillis.

My eyes flicked helplessly to Jamie, and I found him seething with rage. His hands were clenched at his sides in tight fists of barely controlled anger.

“Alright by me,” Frank piped up from beside me.

All of a sudden, all of Jamie’s jealous fury exploded.

“That’s it!” He bellowed, and launched himself across the room.

He shoved Frank away from me so hard that the poor man went staggering backward until he plopped down on the couch. Jamie whirled to face me and grabbed me forcefully around the waist and jerked me against him.

“Claire is my girlfriend, alright? We’re dating! My heart and soul belongs to her, and I canna bear tae see this go on fer another second. She’s mine.”

The room was absolutely silent and dead still as everyone stared at me and Jamie. His declaration hung in the room for the longest moment, and the tension was so thick I thought I would have been able to feel it if I waved my hand through the air. Jamie still had me pressed against him tightly, and was looking around with narrowed eyes as if daring anyone to try to take me from him.

Finally, the silence was broken by the sound of Geillis beginning to laugh.

“Took ye long enough.”

Now it was mine and Jamie’s turn to be steamrolled by shock.

“What do you mean, ‘took you long enough’?” I asked slowly, finding my tongue to be thick and heavy in my mouth.

“I’ve been tryin’ tae get him tae do that all weekend!” she exclaimed. She had the audacity to sound exasperated.

I just stared at my friend blankly. She rolled her eyes.

“That’s what the whole “Frank thing” was about. I needed a way to force ye to fess up.”

I was still so taken aback that I couldn’t seem to find my voice. But Jamie did.

“Ye kent? About us?” He asked incredulously.

“Aye, of course I did! Ye two arena exactly discreet. Ye cannae keep yer hands tae yourselves, fer Christ’s sake! Any moment when ye think no one’s lookin’, ye’re all over each other. Plus, ye always disappear at the same time. And ye didna think we’d catch on?”

Angus chose that moment to speak up. “For the record, I didna ken a thing.”

“Shut yer mouth, ye big oaf,” Geillis hissed, “this isna about you.”

She crossed her arms and looked at us accusingly. Her sharp, squinted eyes demanded answers.

I sighed. Jamie shifted a little next to me and resettled his arm around my waist-- more comfortable and supportive and less possessive now that it had been made clear that I was off the market.

“Claire and I have been seeing each other ever since we went off to University of Edinburgh,” Jamie began to explain.

Dougal clapped his hands in triumph and elbowed Geillis. “I told ye it’d been that long.”

Jamie leveled him with a look. “Do ye wanna hear the story or no’?”

Everyone fell silent, and I picked up the narrative.

“I’m sorry we didn’t say anything sooner. You know Jamie’s parents wouldn’t approve, and neither would my Uncle, so we decided to keep things a secret while at home until we could break the news to them.”

Everyone nodded understandingly. Relief made all the tension flow from my muscles, and I leaned heavily against Jamie. Our friends just stood there staring at us for a long moment, as if sizing us up as a couple. I felt like a mannequin on display, and held Jamie a little more tightly.

“Were you terribly surprised to figure out we were together?” I found myself asking to break the silence

“Och, no, the lad’s been head over heels for ye since ye were bairns,” Dougal said with a dismissive wave.

I looked up at Jamie with a smile. “What? Is that true?”

The dusting of red making its way up his neck to his cheeks was all the answer I needed.

“Aye. I kent I was gonna marry ye the first time I laid eyes on ye the first day of primary school. It jes’ took a little while fer adult us tae catch up.”

My own cheeks burned at his words and I went up on tip-toes to place a sweet, chaste kiss on Jamie’s lips.

Hollers came from Angus and Rupert, ever the childish ones, and I pressed my smile onto Jamie’s.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to me. Frank hadn’t said a peep the entire time Jamie and I were explaining ourselves. With a furrowed brow, I turned behind me to where Jamie had pushed Frank onto the couch.

As I did, I was greeted by the sight of him completely passed out and slumbering peacefully on the couch.

“I guess he’ll get filled in sooner or later,” Jamie chuckled.

We turned back to the others. I felt a lightness in my chest at the transparency and was relieved that I had the freedom to spend time with Jamie as much as I pleased again.

“Well, I guess we really will have tae change rooms now,” Geillis announced, “I’ll sleep wi’ Dougal, Jamie’ll go wi’ Claire, and Frank--- weel, I guess Frank’ll sleep out here tonight.”

Jamie’s hand slipped up under my shirt to rest on my bare skin. I felt him tap his fingers against my side in eager anticipation of being together again. I couldn’t help but smile to myself.

“Sounds like a plan, goodnight everyone,” I said.

I had barely finished bidding everyone goodnight when Jamie began dragging me down the hall toward my room.

Good night indeed.

***

The next morning, after a leisurely breakfast, we took our time packing and cleaning up. Someone must have brought Frank up to speed, because now it was his turn to mope. Jamie, on the other hand, was all smiles. He clung to me like a starfish all morning, finding any excuse to touch me. He was more than happy to flaunt our relationship in front of Frank now that he had the opportunity. As I did the dishes (and Jamie was supposed to be sweeping), he came up behind me, wrapped his arms around my waist, and began to trail kisses down the side of my neck. I turned and playfully smacked a sud-covered hand on his cheek, leaving him half a soap beard. A small wrestling match occurred as Jamie tried to reach around me to grab some soap for his revenge, but it was soon broken up by a “dinna go wild now, ye two” from Dougal.

Later, as I started toward the car, ready to load my bag, Jamie caught up to me and snagged it from my hand.

“May I take this for ye, milady?” he asked cordially, pressing a kiss to my cheek.

“I am capable of carryin’ a little duffle.”

“I ken that fine, my strong wee lass. Only I love ye verra much and wish to serve ye.”

“Well, if you put it like that…”

I handed him the duffle and smacked him on the bum as he started toward the door. He let out a whoop of surprise and jumped. Nothing was more satisfying.

Watching the whole exchange in the corner was Frank, his dark eyes hard with jealousy.

As Jamie disappeared outside with my bag, I felt compelled to approach the Englishman.

“Listen, I’m sorry if you felt I led you on. I really tried not to give you any signs I was interested, Geillis just kept shoving us together. I hope there’s no hard feelings that I’m with Jamie.”

I extended a hand to him and gave him my best apologetic smile. He looked from my hand up to my face, then back to my hand. Ignoring the proffered appendage, he shouldered past me and muttered “slut” under his breath. Then, he had disappeared from the room.

I stood rooted to the spot. Completely floored by his attitude, I couldn’t seem to bring myself to move.

Jamie returned to find me in that position, staring off at the hallway down which Frank had disappeared.

“Sassenach? What’s wrong?” He asked.

He moved closer and slid an arm around me as if sensing I needed support.

“Frank just showed me his true colors I guess,” I quietly said, still taken aback.

Jamie was instantly moving into my line of vision. “He didna try tae touch ye again, did he? I swear I’ll--”

I cut him off before he could go listing threats. “I tried to apologize to him and say no hard feelings...” I said quietly. I fixed my gaze on Jamie and furrowed my brows, “and he called me a slut.”

Jamie stiffened. I could see the rage flicker over his face before he composed it. He looked me in the eye for a moment, gauging whether I was okay. Finding me satisfactorily composed, he straightened up.

“I’ll kill him,” he said decidedly.

He began to stride with single minded purpose toward the bedrooms, his fists clenched at his sides, but I snapped out of my daze and caught his wrist to pull him back.

“It doesn’t matter, Jamie,” I said, “really, it doesn't. I couldn’t care less what Frank thinks. He was all over me all weekend without permission. I’m with you, darling. Let’s just forget about him. He can sulk all he wants on the way back, and then we never have to see him again.”

I tugged on Jamie's arm pleadingly and prayed that he’d see reason and abandon his task of pummeling Frank into oblivion in defense of my honor. After a long moment, he gave me a stiff nod. I relaxed, and Jamie followed suit, the angry set of his shoulders softening.

“No man should speak tae ye that way, but if ye ask me tae leave it be, I will,” he said softly.

He stooped down to kiss me lightly on the forehead.

When he pulled back, I caught his hand and gave it a squeeze.

“Come on, let’s finish loading up. Maybe this time I’ll take your bag for you.”

If Jamie had been clingy before, he was insufferable the entire ride back. We ended up on the bench seat in the middle together, and he didn’t stop touching me the entire ride home. I knew he checked the rearview mirror to gauge Frank’s reaction behind us, but the man doggedly stared out the window, completely silent the entire time, refusing to look at us. The ride was much quieter as a whole-- everyone was tuckered out from the last few days. I separated myself from Jamie so that I could shift to the side, and then I laid my head down on his lap.

Ever so gently, his fingers began carding through my hair. He started up a delightful rhythm-- a press of fingertips into my scalp, a swirl, and then a gentle pull as he tugged carefully through my curls. Every once in a while, he would change it up, and take his whole hand to brush the lot of it away from my face. His touch was so tender and relaxing that I began to drift off.

I had nearly fallen asleep when I felt lips pressing to my temple.

“I love ye, Sassenach,” he whispered.

I tilted my head so I could smile sleepily up at him. “I love you, too.”

His hands cupped my cheeks, both thumbs stroking over them, and I opened my eyes wider.

He was looking down at me with a complicated look on his face-- a mix of love, affection, and something far more serious.

“What is it?” I asked, placing a hand over his where it cradled my face.

He gave me a smile. “Let’s tell my parents and your uncle when we get back, aye?”

I broke into a beam and nodded against his lap.

“Yes. Let’s tell them. I’ve had enough of this keeping secrets business to last a lifetime.”

***

THE END. But not really! Here’s the sequel The Deal

#there you have it folks #my first attempt in the romcom genre!#maybe it ended up being a bit more like a rom-dram but I still had fun #I'd love to hear your thoughts!!!#outlander fanfiction #outlander fanfic #outlander fluff #Outlander #claire x jamie #Claire/Jamie #romcom

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humanmoodring-retired · 4 years ago

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Bushwhack and Bodysnatch || Adam & Nadia(2x)

TIMING: October 4, evening LOCATION: Lake houses near Dark Score Lake PARTIES: @walker-journal, @humanmoodring SUMMARY: Adam goes looking for Nadia to take her to experts on these ghostly shenanigans. Nadia is less than pleased.

Camping, Nadia was beginning to discover, was not really her jam. It kind of even sucked, actually. Squatting was better, breaking into some of the houses that people refused to stay in all year round, treating Motherfucking White Crest, Maine, like it was some sort of resort town. It wasn’t. It was fucking trash. But it gave her options to stay when the weather was bad. She hated staying at the shittier motels in the area, not wanting to get recognized by any of Nadia’s ragtag group of friends, and she didn’t want to buy a new apartment for the same fucking reason. So, squatting and camping it was. In Nadia’s Bronco parked in a little lot by the beach, as was the case of the night before.

She opened the door and shook her hair out, the curls limp and greasy. She needed a shower. Her back ached. Still, she felt more than a little self satisfied. She had a bit more cash on her, there was a cute and ironic ghost bobblehead now mounted to the dash, and she’d sent that nosy little exorcist a lovely gift. Maybe she’d finally back off. Nadia walked around to the trunk, opening it and pilfering through one of the bags inside. She needed to go to a house or a truck stop to take a shower, or she needed to give in and just go to a sleazy motel. She was wreaking havoc on her body.

Adam supposed one grim comfort of living in town where the barriers between dimensions were swiss cheese was that you never had to linger on one shitshow for too long. Adam was a guy who thrived on focus. As horrible as this thing with Nadia was, some tiny part of him was thankful for something to channel his thoughts towards other than the irrevocable fact that he'd just gunned down a friend in a mall parking lot.

To his end he’d tracked Nadia, or her body at least, across a series of break-ins through summer properties. Human crime wasn’t really Adam’s forte. But statistically most supposed incidents were actually just regular people being shitty to each other, so a Hunter had to learn how to survey and process a crime scene to at least see if the perp had any extra limbs.

The mist that inundated White Crest lately formed a knee-high tide of pale vapor, seeming to eddy around the lakeside trees. Adam cautiously waded through this ephemeral undertow, taking his time on closing the distance between himself and the hijacked Empath. Given that Nadia and himself had never met before, Adam decided to try to talk his way into bludgeoning range.

“Oh heya!” Adam walked into view, unarmed except for a roving gaze that left no ambiguity about what he appreciated most of Nadia's silhouette but found her eyes eventually. “You visiting the Coopers?” Adam made a meaningful nod towards the nearby lakehouse. “Didn’t know they were home. Anyway I’m Adam,” the Hunter beamed and offered his hand. “Sorry I was just curious if we had a new neighbor.”

“Want help carrying anything in?”

A bit startled by the sound of another person, Nadia did her best not to jump before quickly schooling her features into a soft smile. “Hi,” she said calmly. She looked to the house nearby, where she’d decided to break in, before she looked back to the young man in front of her. He… was horny. Of course. There was nothing to worry about here. “I’m Nadia. Nice to meet you, Adam.

She shook his hand and turned back to her car. “No, no, not visiting. Mrs. Cooper just asked me to drop some things off. She’s throwing a party when they get back, and I’m just helping out.” She grabbed her duffle bag and closed the trunk. “Nah, no help needed. It’s just this bag. I appreciate the offer.” She gave him a bright smile.

“Cool,” Adam said in that absent tone and apathetically agreeable nod some men engage in when they are really enjoying talking to a woman but not the least bit interested in what they are actually saying. “Great to meet you Nadia, say uh...if you are into parties then…”

But while Adam was outwardly in a beach-flirt mode, his thoughts were gauging angles and movement to trying to find some way he could end this quickly without risking hurting Nadia by accident.. This wasn’t a vamp or wolf he was westling here. She was human and had a spirit inside of her that probably didn’t give a shit if their vessel was hurt. Adam needed Nadia to stand freeze for just a second to get her safely into a subdual hold.

“...oh shit! Wait!” Adam said excitedly, eyes widening as if some revelation had just struct him. “I think you know a buddy of mine. Joey Turner, works at a tourist trap on Amity?”

On the last syllable Adam lunged towards Nadia, hoping the name drop and surprise would be enough.

Eyes widening, Nadia felt that Adam was going to jump her just before he did. However in the split second that she was about to move away, panic seized her, and she couldn’t move. She wasn’t in control.

Nadia stopped moving as soon as the boy lunged at her. She even stopped breathing, her heart pounding in her chest rapidly. As he grabbed her, she just stood there, tears coming to her eyes. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” she said, over and over again, her eyes shut tightly.

Struggling and snapping her eyes open, Nadia looked at the young man in front of her. Voice low and deadly, she said, “Let me go. Now. If you don’t want me to do to you what I did to Joey motherfucking Turner.”

Adam hauled the woman towards his own car, skin crawling as she seemed to switch rapidly between personalities. While Adam had faced down demons before, their bizarre alien forms honestly unsettled him less then a human being with ….something...inside of them. Trying to be both forceful enough to drag her while also not breaking human bones, the Hunter felt uncomfortably more serial killer then usual as he hefted Nadia into the trunk.

#chatzy: adam walker #not!nadia #bushwhack and bodysnatch #:------)

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mkstrigidae · 4 years ago

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Working on the next few chapters of APWH and whew- dealing with trauma gets worse before it gets better, and these are gonna be some rough chapters for all parties involved. There’s a lakehouse too, and fun shenanigans, but also a lot of trauma and emotion and raw, unfiltered anger.

#APWH #why does every story I write turn into some kind of exploration of a character's trauma???#I feel like i'm just incapable of writing fluff #lmao

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paradisehillshqs · 5 years ago

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so apollo has decided to invite everyone to throw a PARTY at his families LAKEHOUSE ( where there have been plenty of high school parties ) everyone is invited , and you’are all encouraged to join in. apollo has also informed us that the party is a COSTUME PARTY - so please try to have your characters dress up. the party shenanigans will start FRIDAY at 10PM GMT which will be 5PM EST and will end at 12AM EST on SUNDAY which will be 5AM GMT ( monday morning.) during this time , interactions on the dashboard are the main priority but there will be server on the discord in which you can roleplay in real time ( although , joining in here is not mandatory.) we also ask that while the event is going on , you put any none event related threads on hold and then pick them back up again after the event has ended. any threads that you have during the event though can be continued once it has ended.

until tonight , to get yourself in the mood - why don’t you post what your character will be wearing to the party - what or who they are dressing up as? i love seeing those kinds of posts. make sure that any of your event related posts are tagged with PARADISE.EVENT002 and i will be making a post from the main when the event has started.

if you have any questions , don’t be afraid to ask. and don’t forget to like this post once you have seen it.

#paradise.event #paradise.event002

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honestlyfrance · 5 years ago

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Title: Music on the Eve

Square Filled: Free Space

Warnings: Slight cursing

Summary: New Year’s Eve party, and Sam stumbles upon Bucky alone.

—

Bucky Barnes has this extensive and flexible music taste as he hoards every genre into his song list. Tony Stark pays for his Spotify, Pepper Potts and he shares iTunes, and Steve Rogers shares his vinyl records. You can count on him already hearing a song you’ve just heard yesterday on your YouTube recommendations, and you can expect him to have a dance matched to it; Yes, Barnes knows how to appreciate music as much as you would like to think, and he’s expected to bring more to the table as the New Year comes by.

Nine more hours until Stark’s fireworks display, and nine more hours until the Avengers would be screaming until their throats burn out. Sam thinks. Shame on Carol Danvers for suggesting that. He likes the idea though, creating noise. It’s music for him.

Everyone was preparing for Tony Stark’s get-together at his Lakehouse, exclusive only for the Avengers and friends. Sam Wilson was assigned for drinks, and he’s brought as much alcohol as his car can take ( some six cases in the trunk and Natasha Romanoff assures him that she can arrange ten more cases into his car and carry five bottles of aged wine on her lap in the passenger seat ). When everyone heard that Natasha was helping him, they’ve placed bets on how much they’re bringing; the highest bet was twenty cases or so; the two swore to beat that.

Natasha had attached a wagon at the back of his car and at least ten cases sat there ( even then, Sam had told Thor to bring his Asgardian mead and was more than happy to oblige ). The four had also decided to play a scam; Barnes would come early with Steve Rogers ( who were assigned with pool stuff, especially Steve’s vast water guns; where he got them, no one knows ) and then placed a late bet of three hundred euros that at least thirty cases or so would arrive; Sam and Natasha would have sixteen cases plus ten which would be twenty-six, and Barnes would bring four cases of vodka which Natasha would sneak in with to claim it as hers. Steve wouldn’t know, and if he did, “Sam told Buck to hold it for him during the drive since the car was too full.” Fuck yeah, it’s foolproof! and if Tony doesn’t want to lose thirty grand, Thor wouldn’t give his mead to anyone but the super-soldiers, i.e. Steve, Natasha, and Barnes.

“You wearing that?” Natasha asked Sam as he entered the driver’s seat. Her eyebrows were raised as her lips twitched into a comfortable smile. “Looks good on you. Never saw a man pull off that look like you do. Only, like—several.”

Sam raised an eyebrow. “Have you looked at a mirror recently? ‘Cause you look great. Seen it on a mannequin before, but it looks great.”

Sam wore the same suit he wore in one of his interviews as Captain America, the velvet three-piece tuxedo, wherein ( in favor of Bucky’s suggestion right after wearing it for the first time ) he got rid of the maroon tie and unbuttoned the first two buttons, got rid of the silk jacket in favor of some random latte coffee-colored coat that seemed too big for him but looked too good on him to take off, leaving the white button-up and rolled it to his elbows, he also left the velvet pantsuit, he exchanged his loafers for his brown boots, and he seemed all set for the party. He wasn’t exactly the fashion kind, but he had the sense to pull off the attire to the best of his abilities.

Natasha wore a white off-shoulder top and a maroon skirt that reached past her knees. It was a new look Sam saw her wear, more her. Her heeled boots matched his, and she had a velvet plaid scarf around her neck in some intricate braid as well as yellow-tinted sunglasses. Her fiery hair with platinum blonde highlights was pulled into a braid that wrapped around her head that fell into a low bun. She had her dark brown coat wrapped around several bottles of wine—at least seven. She, on the other hand, had a sense of style among them, and she never failed once ( unless her cover called for bad outfits ).

They looked like they were planning on matching, and at that, they laughed heartily until they were gasping.

“Here—little something to pop that color on you.” Natasha removed her scarf around her neck and placed it lazily around Sam’s neck. It did bring out the purple on his suit, and Sam shook his head in amusement at that.

That was some time then. It’s six-hour hours until New Year’s Eve when they arrived.

They were greeted by the Stark family, little Morgan more than enthusiastic as she blew on her colorful horn in greeting on the doorstep. They were then helped by Happy Hogan in placing the cases inside that joined Barnes’s contribution, and they’ve reached thirty or so cases of alcohol ( Steve collected the betting money from everyone and was happy that he was entering the New Year with something in his pocket ). The cases were cracked opened almost immediately once the Asgardians came ( even Bruce had his early share, surprisingly) and three cases were already used. By then when the Guardians came, the party was in full swing.

Sam had a glass in his hand as he walked down the hallway leading to the backyard with Maria Rambeau on his left and Pepper Potts on his right. Rambeau had been talking enthusiastically about some mission she recently has done with Fury while Pepper shared her ridiculous shenanigans with the Avengers just as enthusiastically. Sam would converse about the ridiculous things he’s done for Steve but — he was distracted.

Before they both separated at the doorway, she whispered something to Sam, and Natasha was right: “Bucky was serving looks Tony couldn’t whip out.”

Bucky stood in front of the crowd on a table with Natasha on his arm, laughing and hollering about some story Sam couldn’t bear to hear over the loud drumming music that Peter Quill burdened to play. Something that definitely should’ve buried itself in the sixties. Bucky wore a mustard v-neck sweater and black jeans that clung onto him—fucking cuffed too. He wore his favorite brown boots, caked with mud he couldn’t wash off. He wore a mocha-colored velvet jacket folded to his elbows in which showed the latte color inside of the jacket. He had on those ridiculous gloves Sam dared him to wear as a joke, and the fact Bucky went through it made him laugh.

Bucky saw him and showed him his best attempt at jazz hands, cutting himself off to show the black motorcycle gloves with the stupid Captain America logos on them, turning to the crowd as Natasha continued the lively conversation for him.

“I didn’t know Bucky knew to dress,” Rambeau said.

Pepper sighed. “Tony begged me to let him approach Barnes to ask.“

Sam raised an eyebrow. “You still told him to keep his distance?"

Pepper shrugged, a glint in her eye as they stood on the porch. "No. But he has promised to keep his hands to himself about the arm."

Sam hummed as his eyes settled back on Bucky, and it almost seemed ephemeral. Sam almost felt overdressed—Tony had a full-fledged suit, but that didn’t matter. Bucky looks like himself, with his cut hair and beard; sporting clothes Sam knew to be the real him, Bucky was enthusiastic and at the same time was his quiet self.

After a few drinks and more chattering, the party was ready to hit the New Year: everyone had a drink in their hand, some even had grabbed a bottle for themselves ( the vodka was that good ); there had almost been a fight ( Clint Barton couldn’t bear seeing the thirty or so cases, and even argued that Bucky shouldn’t even have bet at the last minute ); Tony had generously awarded several people as Best Dressed, Sam included with five other people ( Natasha, Bucky, Pepper, Rhodey, and Hope Van Dyne took the cake ); and the crowd dissipated into several places—the car park where there was a movie going on, near the lake where most of the girls were sharing two cases of beer on the grass, the gazebo swarming with people around a pool table, some guys on the deck seeing who can throw the farthest rock, and some went inside to listen to the early century music playing ( more of jumping between Bach and Louis Armstrong while Natasha shows people how to drink like a Russian ).

Sam wanted quiet. That’s what he was searching for.

Sam placed his glass on the edge of the pool table and let Rhodey take over him. Wiping the corner of his lips as he took off his coat, Sam greeted some more people as he made his way inside.

Inside, he fixed his collar as he heard some quiet laughter by Maria Hill, Natasha, and Rambeau. Natasha motioned for the stairs, and what overcome Sam to follow her instructions baffled him and scrutinized him. He went up the stairs, and it was almost empty except for the lounge area where all of the teenagers were playing their music from the small speaker Harley Keener brought.

Michelle "MJ” Jones thumbed towards down the hallway, towards where the driveway situated and spoke no further. Sam followed—Why he was following subtle blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moments from these people, he did not know.

Sam rubbed the back of his neck as he ended up at the end of the hallway; he tried every door he passed him but they were locked. At the end of the hallway was a window doorway hidden by a curtain, and Sam pushed the door and was immediately greeted by Fly Me to the Moon by Frank Sinatra faintly played in the background. He closed the doorway and saw Bucky in the far corner on the armrest of the love seat there reading a book, biting on his flesh thumb as his legs splayed out beneath him. The moonlight and lamp beside Bucky served as his light, and the sudden chill of the night breeze urged Sam to rest his coat on his shoulders.

Bucky didn’t notice Sam, being too indulged in his book to bother to look up—but Bucky knew someone was with him; he heard the creak of the doorway and the footsteps that lingered on the other side.

Sam leaned against the railing as he looked out on the dirt path that faded into the front yard of the house where five cars parked, and if Sam turned to the extension of the balcony on the other side of the building, he would be able to see from above the current drive-in-movie happening.

“You got a nice birds-eye-view there?” Bucky calls out, not looking up from his page.

Sam turns around and grins at the joke, sauntering over to him and sitting at the far end of the red loveseat, throwing the throw pillow at Bucky who caught it. “There’s the light of the party. What? Are the War Machine stories not good enough? Said you’d love it,” Sam said. Bucky sat on the seat now, his feet against the wall as his legs rested on Sam’s lap; with a growing grin he suppressed with his teeth, he continued to read his book, his face suddenly lighting up with The Look.

“No, I love them…” Bucky turns to the next page; he held a paperback novel in his hands, too invested in the middle of the thick story to keep up with the conversation. His eyes were digesting vivid construction, all playing well into his imagination. “He’s funny, really is. I can see them… so vividly.”

“Are we talking about Rhodey or your book? What’s the title?”

Bucky stopped and his eyes peeled out from the book, and Sam could see his blue eyes glint with amusement and thrill. Bucky resigned to show the cover of the book as he draped an arm over his forehead theatrically, Sam smirking as he read The Da Vinci Code and Dan Brown on the worn-out cover covered with plastic.

“Have you read such a masterpiece?” Bucky said, his eyes closing as his companion laughed as he took the book away from him. Sam read the page he was on, and saw the familiar scenes, ingesting them as if he was in the book too.

“I’ve watched it, barely remembering it used to be a book,” Sam saw the exaggerated look of betrayal on Bucky’s face as the man took back the book, burying it even more to his face, mostly to avoid attention to his expressions. Bucky was growing into showing more unwanted emotions and was aware of the fact.

“We gotta watch it together,” Bucky whined, his voice muffled. “Langdon’s amazing. So is Sophie. So is fucking Dan Brown.”

Sam shook his head as he fell into a burst of easy laughter. “Sure. Whatever you say.”

The air settled down into a comfortable silence, with Frank Sinatra playing in the background, and Sam was still trying to figure out where it was. Some pop music was playing behind the wall, and the faint Jazz piano played from below, but Frank Sinatra was a stubborn bitch and ended up taking over Sam’s ears.

After long deliberation, Sam asked: “Where the fuck is that coming from?"

Bucky said, "What?”

“Frank Sinatra. Where is it?”

Bucky, without looking up from his book, raised the red speaker from the floor and onto his stomach, the faraway voice of Frank Sinatra played at a low volume with a few pitter-patter of rain in the background. Bucky raised the volume from his phone and continued to read, his eyebrows knitted in commitment.

Sam chuckled. “That’s cute.” He mumbles.

“Hmm… cuter,” Bucky murmured, covering his face with the book as he slides downwards into the love seat, half his body on Sam as the other man set his arm across the couch and the other arm on Bucky’s leg.

“What was that?”

“Hmm… seen cuter,” Bucky grumbled.

Sam shakes his head, closing his eyes as he leaned his head back, listening intently to the rain background on the song edit. He knew better than to realize it was an edited loop, at least an hour.

Bucky turned his body away from Sam as he rested his chin on the railing, sitting upright; Bucky had his eyes widened as he read the next few lines, but not only that, his chest tightened and he felt his blood rise to his cheeks. Did he call me cute? Fuck, did he? He couldn’t seem to turn the page, and however many times he read the page over and over again, he couldn’t understand it; all he could read was Sam Wilson.

Bucky knew that Sam still had his head leaned back and that only made Bucky tenser than before.

“What,” Bucky heard Sam say. “Getting into it?”

Bucky saw Sam enter the party and knew he was doomed from the start. Bucky started drinking so much, and he had drunk five bottles of beer within the first hour with Valkyrie, or Brunnhilde as he was allowed to call her, grateful that no one had the right mind or acknowledgment that he was a super-soldier, so everyone ultimately never knew that he couldn’t get drunk. Bucky then excused his blushing over his supposed drunkenness instead of seeing Sam in his ( Bucky’s ) coat and the collarbone he showed off. And was that the scarf that he gifted Natasha with? That bitch.

Bucky hummed. “Pretty fucking intense.”

“Tell me about it."

Bucky could feel his heart in his throat, almost choking him as all the heat gathered on his face, and he knew he didn’t need a mirror to know he was red.

Bucky grabbed his beer bottle and sipped at it, and not wanting to turn, Sam had brought the cushioned chair from below the table and brought it across Bucky, sitting on it; Sam propped up an elbow and rested his cheek against his palm, raising an eyebrow as he gave Bucky a patient look.

Bucky hid behind his book, quietly whining to himself.

Sam lowered down the book with his finger, revealing the blue eyes that lingered onto the words inked into a page, and the flustered skin of Bucky Barnes; as far as Sam was concerned, there was no part in the book that could make Bucky this embarrassed. Maybe me, Sam thinks, but that seems too farfetched to consider.

"I love it so much, you don’t understand,” Bucky murmurs, his eyes still on the book as it rests too near his lips. Sam hasn’t lifted his hand off of the book, and he doesn’t plan for it so soon. “The pacing and clues and everything. His cleverness—” Bucky’s eyes met brown ones. “—it’s something.”

Sam tilts his head, smiling. Damn that smile. “That character really is something.”

Bucky hums, not leaving his eyes. “He is, ain’t he…"

"Who are we talking about…”

“Take a wild guess—it’s not the professor anymore…”

Sam chuckles, still not looking away. “So, edited songs? Never should surprise me, but… it did.”

Bucky snorted, looks away only to meet eye contact again. “Why would it surprise you so much? You’ve known me so well I wouldn’t be surprised if you knew."

Sam’s lips parted. "Knew what?"

Bucky dog eared his page and placed it on the flat surface of the railing, burying his lips into his wrist as he looked away for a complete moment; for a moment, Sam saw his cheeks flare. "That…” Bucky scratched his head, avoiding eye contact. “I… can’t get… drunk?” Bucky raises a hand and an eyebrow; the two sharing a short laugh. “No—that, I, too, am a super-soldier."

"I knew that.”

Bucky stops himself, burying his lips into his fist as he closed his eyes. “Fuck, What don’t you know about me?”

Sam sighed, leaning back, looking out toward the horizon. “Well, shit, I don’t know, Your New Year’s resolution?” He said, looking back at him coolly. “Tell me all about it.”

Bucky stares at him, looking something past Sam’s irises in search of something malleable, something tangible. “I want to stay like this,” he tells Sam, and he’s so sure of it. “I want this to be… anything stable… and agreeable."

Sam searches for the same thing Bucky searched in his eyes— something agreeable, something that says, Here. This. This is where we are, where we agree, where we stay. And so Sam says: "No one’s calling for us. What else do you want?”

“Hmm…"

Frank Sinatra plays in the background, and Bucky replays the one hour loop as they stayed still, afraid to ruin the constant they wanted to bring to the next year; they both feared the worst, but who was able to take this away from them? A villain? Another Avengers Fallout? The other? No. Sam and Bucky were so good for each other that they’d have to be joking to leave the other behind.

"Go with me,” Sam says as he searches for some sort of resistance from the other man.

Bucky laughs at some distant memory. “I’ve got you,” he whispers. “in exchange for everything you’ve done for me, I got your six, your twelve, your nine, your everything."

"You have nothing to exchange.”

“Don’t think of it as a favor. Think of it—Think of it as my…"

Sam said, "What?”

Bucky shrugged. “Partnership. Compassion. Love?” His face contorts into something that was convincing itself that he did hear what he did say.

Sam chuckles as he breathes in, hearing the faint bellowing countdown of the people in the far distance, but Frank Sinatra is a stubborn bitch and he’s all Sam and Bucky could hear as the mimicked sounds of gunfire echoed in the inky atmosphere, and in the far distance, if they craned their necks at the right angle, they could see the winking flames of different colored fireworks in the distance over at the other side of the lake. The sounds of fireworks sound too much like bullets firing, but they were too deep into this to be afraid anymore.

Sam sighs. “I like the sound of that."

They don’t share a kiss, although they both knew what the other wanted to bring onto the table as they entered the new year: Music, one that consisted of both of their drumming hearts as they beat against their ribs, aching for release. Music, one they shared, one that their voices will drum together to say, I love you, as always.

#sbbingo1 #sambucky #winterfalcon #sam wilson #bucky barnes #mcu #marvel #happy new year guys #france: works #france: writing

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