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ray4hotchner · 1 year ago

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Fate's Gentle Nudge

Chapter 2: Breeze

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❀ 𝕡𝕒𝕚𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕘: aaron hotchner x reader

❀ 𝕤𝕦𝕞𝕞𝕒𝕣𝕪: I’m bad at summaries but basically they meet again

❀ 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕕 𝕔𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕥: 3.5k

❀ 𝕒𝕦𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕣’𝕤 𝕟𝕠𝕥𝕖: I’ll be on vacation in a couple days so expect a lot more chapters. As always let me know what you think. And comment if you want to be tagged in the next part🤍

❀ 𝕞𝕒𝕚𝕟 𝕒𝕔𝕔: @iyv-ray24

┌─❀*̥˚──❀*̥˚─┐

On Ao3

└─❀*̥˚───❀*̥˚┘

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Early in the morning, Y/N sat in the teachers' room, meticulously reviewing her notes for the day's classes. Her focus was intent, but it was interrupted when her colleague and close friend, Elizabeth, approached. Elizabeth, a third-year teacher at the school, had played a crucial role in Y/N's journey to this position. It was Elizabeth who had informed Y/N about the school's search for a permanent teacher and had even suggested her to the principal. Their bond went beyond the confines of the workplace, a true friendship that had brought them together in more ways than one.

"Hey, Lizzie."

"Hey, morning! How was the parents' meeting yesterday?"

"It was good. The cupcakes were a hit."

"Told you so. So, nothing interesting happened?" Elizabeth's tone carried a hint of curiosity, almost as if she knew something.

"Nope, all regular parental talks."

"So you didn't leave the building with a handsome man like Hank just told me," she smirked. Of course, Hank, the janitor, was a source of school gossip, and he had shared this tidbit with Elizabeth.

She let out a sigh, rolling her eyes in mock exasperation. "Why do you make it sound weird? I didn't leave with him," she emphasized, using air quotes, "we just walked out together."

Elizabeth's eyebrows shot up in amusement. "So who was it?"

Y/N's lips quirked into a slight grin. "Why does it matter?" she said, her tone sounding casual as she gave a nonchalant shrug, "He was just one of the dads."

"It matters because you're blushing like crazy right now," Elizabeth laughed, her eyes crinkling at the corners.

"You're so annoying, do you know that?" she exclaimed, punctuating her words with a playful eyeroll, "Why am I even friends with you?"

Elizabeth's grin widened mischievously. "Because you love me," she teased, her hands forming a heart shape in the air, "Come on now, spill." She leaned in, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"He was Jack's dad, Jack Hotchner."

Elizabeth's eyes lit up in recognition. "Oh, that cute little blond kid that always comes up to our table on lunch break?"

Y/N nodded with a fond smile. "Yeah, him."

Elizabeth leaned in, her curiosity evident. "Soo… don't make it that exciting, tell me what happened."

Y/N let out a laugh, shaking her head. "Nothing, really. Nothing happened. I just introduced myself, and we talked. That's it," she said, attempting to play down the encounter even though her grin hinted otherwise.

Liz gave her a knowing look, crossing her arms in a playful challenge. Y/N rolled her eyes and finally caved in to her friend's curiosity.

"Fine. We talked. A lot, actually," she admitted, a hint of a smile tugging at her lips. "He has this presence, Liz, I can't even describe it. He just radiates power and authority, and I noticed him right away. But he's also funny, and you have to see how he talks about his son, all soft and gentle. And, well, he's really handsome," she admitted with a slightly embarrassed chuckle.

Elizabeth's eyes lit up, her curiosity fully piqued. "Omg, more! Tell me more!" she practically begged, eager for all the details Y/N was willing to share.

"I just walked up to him and offered him some coffee and a cupcake."

Elizabeth's eyebrows shot up suggestively. "Omg, you were flirting!"

Y/N lets out a laugh. "What? How on earth is that flirting?"

Elizabeth grinned mischievously. "I know you, that's flirting for you."

Y/N laughed, shaking her head. "No, no way!"

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow playfully. "And did you bring anybody else a cupcake?" she asked with a knowing smile. To that, Y/N doesn’t answer, her silence speaking volumes.

"Shut up," Y/N playfully retorted. "I showed him Jack's succulent, that's it."

Elizabeth's smirk only grew wider. "That's definitely not it," she said knowingly, her teasing tone leaving no room for doubt.

"He may or may not have helped me to clean up afterwards."

"Oh, that's so cute. I bet he stayed behind on purpose," Elizabeth commented with a playful wink.

Y/N continued, her voice carrying a sense of fondness. "So we shared the last cupcakes and started talking. I guess time flew by; we didn't even notice. It was so natural talking to him, Liz," she said, a soft smile gracing her lips as she reminisced about the unexpected connection she had formed.

"He was funny and smart, and he really cares about his son. He's a good listener too; he asked so many questions."

Elizabeth's eyes twinkled mischievously. "Someone has a crush," she sang teasingly.

Y/N's cheeks turned a shade pinker as she playfully swatted at her friend. "Stop it!" she hissed, glancing around the room to make sure no one else had heard. The conversation had taken a turn she hadn't expected, but it was hard to deny the truth behind Elizabeth's words.

"He's a parent, and I'm his son's teacher, Liz."

Elizabeth shrugged nonchalantly. "And? Who cares if he's single?"

Y/N sighed, her expression turning more serious. "Widower, actually. And I think the school will care, a lot. I just got this job; I can't risk losing it," she explained, the practical side of her nature overshadowing any romantic notions she might have had.

Liz opened her mouth, ready to voice her disagreement, but the bell abruptly interrupted her as it rang for the start of the first hour. With a resigned smile, Y/N and Liz exchanged a knowing look, their conversation halted as they both made their way to their respective classrooms, leaving the topic of Y/N's encounter with Aaron Hotchner for another time.

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

In the meantime, Aaron entered the BAU, the familiar hustle and bustle of the team's headquarters enveloping him. Penelope, always eager to assist, was immediately at his side, her fingers dancing across her tablet as she informed him about any potential cases that had cropped up. As they made their way to his office, she briefed him on the latest developments, her energy and efficiency a constant presence by his side.

"Enough of horrible things, how was the parent meeting?" she asked, her enthusiasm shining through as always.

"It was fine," he replied with a hint of nonchalance.

"Just fine? How is his teacher? How is he doing in school? Tell me more!" she insisted eagerly. Penelope was the closest thing to a sister Aaron had, and he knew she cared deeply about Jack, just like the rest of the team.

As she was asking, Rossi entered Aaron's office and took a seat, clearly interested in the answer as well.

"So, how is the little guy doing?" he asked, joining Penelope in her curiosity.

"He's doing really well. He's improved a lot in his reading, and his teacher told me he has a lot of friends and gets along with everyone in his class, so that's good," Aaron replied, a touch of pride evident in his tone.

"And how is the new teacher?" Penelope asked, her curiosity undiminished.

Aaron's mind momentarily wandered, thoughts of her smile, her shining eyes, and her pleasant voice distracting him. Shaking himself out of his reverie, he finally answered, "She is nice."

"Nice? Just nice?" Penelope's raised eyebrow showed her disbelief.

"Come on, Penelope. Don't you have work to do?" Aaron deflected, shifting the focus away from his response.

"Of course, boss. I'll be back in my cave if you all need me," she replied playfully before leaving the office.

Rossi remained seated, his gaze fixed on Aaron. "What?" Aaron asked, sensing the unspoken question in his colleague's expression.

"You know I'm a profiler, right?" Rossi said, his arms opening in a gesture of amusement. Aaron sighed inwardly, knowing he couldn't avoid the conversation any longer.

"So, how is she really?" Rossi's voice carried a mix of curiosity and understanding, knowing that Aaron often held back when it came to his personal life. Aaron let out a resigned sigh, realizing he couldn't escape Rossi's persistent curiosity. He leaned back in his chair, his gaze shifting to the ceiling for a brief moment before returning to his colleague.

"I don't know, Dave," he admitted, his voice tinged with a hint of vulnerability. "She's... different. We talked for a while after the parent meeting, and it was... easy. Comfortable." He paused, as if searching for the right words. "She's smart, funny, and there's just something about her that's... intriguing."

Rossi's eyebrows lifted in response to Aaron's unexpectedly open confession. "Intriguing, huh?" he repeated with a knowing smirk.

Aaron's lips curved into a reluctant smile. "Yeah, intriguing."

Rossi chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Well, you know, sometimes life throws these unexpected curveballs at us."

Aaron's smile deepened, a mix of amusement and appreciation for his friend's insight. "Yeah, I guess it does."

The two colleagues shared a moment of camaraderie, an unspoken understanding passing between them. Even the most seasoned profiler couldn't predict matters of the heart, and Aaron found a bit of comfort in that realization.

Rossi's eyes twinkled with mischief as he leaned forward slightly. "So, are you thinking about asking her out?"

Aaron's smile faded a bit, his gaze turning more serious. "I can't, Dave."

"Why not?"

"She's Jack's teacher," Aaron replied, his tone carrying a touch of regret. "It's complicated. I can't risk making things uncomfortable for him at school."

Rossi nodded slowly, understanding the complexity of the situation. "You're a good dad, Aaron. Always thinking about Jack."

Aaron's shoulders relaxed slightly, appreciating the understanding in Rossi's words. "I just want what's best for him."

"Well," Rossi said, clapping a hand on Aaron's shoulder, "life has its own way of surprising us. Just take it one step at a time."

Aaron nodded, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. As his friend's words settled in, he realized that perhaps he didn't need to rush into anything. Maybe, just maybe, the unexpected connection he felt with her would find its own path, one that wouldn't compromise his role as a father.

"Thanks, Dave," he said, offering a genuine smile.

"Anytime, my friend. Now, let's get back to work." As they turned their attention back to their duties, Aaron couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of optimism about the unpredictable turns life might take.

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

The day had been slow, devoid of any new cases, the team found themselves in the briefing room, immersed in the pile of overdue paperwork that had accumulated. The clock was ticking closer to 3 pm, the time when Jack would be getting out of school. Usually, his aunt was the one who picked him up. Since Hailey's passing, she had been a pillar of support for Aaron, always there for both him and Jack. She had selflessly devoted herself to them, sometimes neglecting her own needs just to be there for them. Jack was the most important thing in her world, and Aaron was endlessly grateful to have her in their lives.

As Aaron's thoughts drifted through his mind, his eyes remained fixed on his watch, the passing time seemingly more pronounced. Of course, in a room full of profilers, someone was quick to notice his distraction.

"You need to be somewhere?" Emily asked, her curiosity evident.

"Hmm? What?" Aaron replied, startled by her question.

"Your watch. You've been staring at it," Emily explained, concern touching her features. "You're normally not this distracted. Is something wrong?"

The rest of the team lifted their heads from their work, their attention now focused on Aaron, awaiting his response.

Aaron blinked, realizing that his preoccupation hadn't gone unnoticed. He cleared his throat, a faint smile touching his lips as he addressed his colleagues.

"Oh, no, nothing's wrong," he reassured them, his voice carrying a warm undertone. "Jack's getting out of school shortly, and I guess I just got lost in my thoughts for a moment."

Emily and the rest of the team exchanged understanding glances. Derek leaned back in his chair, a playful grin forming on his face. "You know, Hotch, we're not swamped with cases right now. Why don't you leave a little early and pick up Jack? Spend some quality time together."

Aaron's lips quirked in appreciation of Derek's suggestion, but he shook his head. "Thanks, Morgan, but I can wait. Jack's aunt usually picks him up."

Rossi chimed in, a supportive tone in his voice. "He's right, Aaron. You don't need to stick around if we don't have an active case."

The rest of the team voiced their agreement, encouraging Aaron to take the time for his son. As he looked around at their earnest faces, he found himself giving in, his reluctance giving way to the realization that sometimes work could wait, and moments with Jack were precious.

Aaron's resolve wavered as Rossi encouraged him once more, a knowing smirk on the older profiler's face. "Go on, Aaron," Rossi said, his tone supportive yet laced with a teasing undertone. "We'll hold down the fort here."

Derek chimed in with a chuckle, leaning in. "Yeah, go give that young man of yours a big hug from all of us." The rest of the team nodded in agreement, their smiles warm and genuine. Aaron found himself chuckling, a faint blush creeping up his neck as he registered Rossi's mischievous smirk.

With a nod and a grateful smile, he finally relented. "Alright," he conceded, standing up from his chair. "Thanks, everyone."

He had half an hour left, so he quickly made his way to his car. During the drive to Jack's school, he dialed Jess's number and informed her that he would be picking up Jack and surprising him. At Jack's school, the parents gathered in the school playground, and the teachers accompanied the children as the parents arrived to pick them up. Aaron would be lying if he said he wasn't a little excited to see Ms. Y/L/N again. He knew that Rossi's teasing had played a part in his decision to leave early, hoping for another chance to talk to her. He was well aware that she would likely be busy with the children, but there was a certain anticipation in him, a subtle tingling of interest.

The school bell rang, signaling the end of the classes, and soon the building's doors began to open as class after class emerged into the playground. Aaron's gaze swept over the scene, watching as children's laughter and chatter filled the air. He stood there, his anticipation growing with each passing moment.

And then, like a pleasant surprise, he saw her. Y/N emerged from the building, a warm smile on her face. But what caught Aaron's attention even more was the sight of none other than Jack, holding her hand as they made their way outside. His heart swelled with a mix of pride and fondness as he observed his son, feeling a surge of gratitude towards the woman who had taken the time to ensure Jack's safety.

Behind Y/N, the whole class followed, their energy and excitement evident as they gathered in the playground. Aaron's eyes remained fixed on the scene, taking in the sight of Jack interacting with his classmates. He couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for Y/N, her ability to manage a group of lively kids with such ease.

As the children's laughter filled the air, Aaron couldn't help but acknowledge the subtle tingle of excitement he had felt earlier. He had left work early for this moment, and watching Jack with his classmates, with Y/N guiding them, made it all worth it.

As they walked to their designated spot on the playground, Jack's voice carried with enthusiasm as he animatedly told Y/N a story. Aaron couldn't hear the specifics from his position, but the way Y/N attentively leaned in and responded showed her active engagement in the conversation. It was a heartwarming sight for Aaron to witness his son connecting with his teacher so effortlessly.

As the class began to form their usual positions, Y/N looked up, her gaze scanning the group of parents. It didn't take long for her to spot Aaron amongst them. He met her gaze and offered a small smile, feeling an unexpected flutter in his chest at the sight of her.

Aaron watched as Y/N returned his smile, a hint of recognition in her eyes. The connection between them was brief yet meaningful, a silent acknowledgment that bridged the gap between teacher and parent. He was grateful for the moment, appreciating the way she interacted with Jack and her dedication to her students.

Their gaze held for a moment longer, a silent acknowledgment passing between them. However, their connection was interrupted as Jack suddenly followed Y/N's gaze and spotted his dad amidst the parents.

"Dad!" Jack's eyes lit up with excitement, and he ran towards Aaron with uncontained enthusiasm. Aaron's heart swelled with a mixture of pride and affection as he knelt down to meet his son's eager embrace.

"Hey there, champ," Aaron said, his voice warm as he enveloped Jack in a hug. "How was school today?"

"It was great! I told Miss Y/L/N all about our adventure at the park last weekend!" Jack exclaimed, his words rushing out in his excitement.

Aaron couldn't help but chuckle, glancing up at Y/N with a smile before returning his attention to Jack. "Sounds like you had a lot to share."

Aaron stood up, his hand finding Jack's, and together they walked over to where Y/N stood. As they approached her, he couldn't help but appreciate the way her smile brightened, making her eyes light up.

"Nice to see you again, Mr. Hotchner," Y/N greeted with a warm tone.

"Likewise," Aaron replied, his lips curving into a genuine smile that mirrored the pleasantness of the encounter.

Her hair was pulled up in a high ponytail, a change from the previous day when it had been down. This new style offered him an even clearer view of her beautiful face, highlighting her features in a way that held his attention. He found himself drawn to her eyes, their warmth and curiosity captivating him.

As the early autumn wind gently tousled her hair, it carried the faint scent of her perfume to his nose. It was a scent that was both delicate and alluring, and he had to exercise self-control not to visibly take a deeper breath. Despite his efforts to maintain his composure, he couldn't deny the subtle pull he felt towards her, a pull that seemed to grow stronger with each passing moment they spent together.

Unlike the quiet setting of their previous encounter, the school playground was now bustling with activity. Children were everywhere, their laughter and chatter filling the air as they played and interacted. Every few minutes, parents approached Y/N to greet her, a testament to her warm presence and connection with both the students and their families.

Aaron couldn't help but observe the way she effortlessly interacted with everyone around her. Her genuine smiles and friendly exchanges showed just how much she was respected and appreciated by both the children and their parents. He marveled at her ability to navigate this lively environment with such grace, her attention easily shifting from one person to another while making each feel valued and heard.

"Did you thank Ms. Y/L/N for the cookies, Jack?" Aaron asked, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He remembered the excitement in Jack's eyes that morning when he had seen the cookies and how he had told him that they were a gift from his teacher.

"I did! They were really delicious, Ms. Y/L/N," Jack replied, his face lighting up as he recalled the treat.

"I'm glad you enjoyed them, buddy," Y/N chimed in, her own smile reflecting the genuine pleasure she felt in seeing Jack's enthusiasm.

"We don't want to hold you up any longer," Hotch said, noticing that most of her students had already departed.

Y/N nodded, her attention briefly shifting to the departing students and then back to him. "I'll see you tomorrow, Jack," she said, her gaze softening as she addressed his son.

Jack beamed at her. "Goodbye, Ms. Y/L/N!"

Hotch turned his attention back to Y/N, offering a small nod. "It was nice to see you again," he said, his tone carrying a subtle warmth.

A genuine smile graced her lips. "Likewise. Have a good day, Mr. Hotchner."

As they exchanged these parting words, Hotch couldn't help but feel a curious sense of connection, as if a door had been opened to something unexpected. He watched as Y/N continued to interact with her students, her presence commanding attention and respect in the midst of the lively school environment.

As soon as they started to walk away, Lizzie hurriedly approached Y/N with quick strides.

"Omg, that's the hot dad from yesterday, right?" Lizzie asked in a hushed tone, her excitement evident.

"Psst, Liz? Someone might hear," Y/N playfully chided, though a dreamy smile appeared on her face. "But yeah, he is."

"He really is handsome and tall! You didn't mention tall," Liz commented, her eyes still fixed on the retreating figure.

"Did I also mention that he's an FBI agent and the unit chief of his own department?"

Liz's eyes widened, and she practically whisper-screamed, "Shut the hell up!" She then grabbed Y/N's arm in excitement, and both of them shared a quiet laugh as they watched Aaron Hotchner walk away from the school grounds.

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𝕋𝕒𝕘 𝕝𝕚𝕤𝕥: @mrs-ssa-hotch @aaronhotchswife @aaronhotchner135

#criminal minds #aaron hotchner #aaron hotchner x reader #hotch x reader #aaron hotch hotchner #criminal minds imagine

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heysweetheart-writes · 6 months ago

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Happy Sunday!

Thank you so much @kiwiana-writes @suseagull04 @tailsbeth-writes @myheartalivewrites @thesleepyskipper

@henryspearl (hiiiii!!) & @taste-thewaste for the tags! Some of you have recently started tagging me in these and it makes me so happy when there's new people adding me to their lists!! (equally devastates me when people stop tagging me but that's a problem for my therapist lol)

I'm very excited to share this bit with y'all because I've been wanting to write the pride chapter for so long and I sort of finally got to it! I was so excited that I texted Morgan at 1am to see if she could take a look at it at some point today and she did because she is the best! Anyway, hope you like this! There's a moodboard that goes with this chapter, you can find it here!

“You look, um— you have. Is that—? Are you wearing an earring?” Alex stammers through his words until he can finally ask a full question. Henry is beyond confused. He looks at June and Nora before he answers Alex, touching his earring briefly. “Yes. It’s a bit ridiculous, I know. A silly attempt at rebellion in college. Pez made me wear it today.” “It’s not ridiculous, it's— it’s cool. Looks cool.” In the corner of his eye, Henry can see June and Nora watching them with their heads going from one to the other like it’s a tennis match, but he tries to ignore that and adds, looking Alex up and down. “You look cool as well. Very— interesting outfit.” Henry hates that he knows he is blushing. He hopes to God it passes as just the summer heat and not the real heat he feels burning from the inside out because of the way Alex is dressed. Toned, with tan muscles exposed and shining in a mix of sweat and glitter that the three of them are wearing all over their bodies, he's a vision. Again, it’s obscene. “Are y’all done ogling each other?” Nora asks, June giggling next to her. “I’ll say it for both of you. Henry, you look amazing. Colours look great on you and you should consider wearing that earring permanently. Alex, you look like a slut, affectionately.”

tags under the cut!

I’m tagging both people I want to see what they’re up to and people I’m hoping will see this snip: @read-and-write- @theprinceandagcd @hgejfmw-hgejhsf @cricketnationrise @pridepages

@clottedcreamfudge @anincompletelist @three-drink-amy @lizzie-bennetdarcy @zwiazdziarka

@priincebutt @firenati0n @bigassbowlingballhead @onward--upward @blueeyedgrlwrites

@getmehighonmagic @ninzied @nocoastposts @wordsofhoneydew @14carrotghoul

@eusuntgratie @onthewaytosomewhere @brokenpartsmightfit @cha-melodius @itsmaybitheway

@i-am-freyja as usual, sorry if you posted and I missed it and if you don't want to be tagged, let me know! And of course, open tag! If you choose to take it, tag me so I can see!

#rwrb #rwrb fic #sentences sunday #my fic #neighbours!au #red white & royal blue #red white and royal blue #fanfiction #firstprince #firstprince fic #firstprince fanfiction #rwrb fanfic #alex claremont diaz #henry fox mountchristen windsor #nora holleran #june claremont diaz

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horseshoegirl · 1 year ago

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Damn Those Dog Tags: Part 15 - Have You Ever Seen The Rain

📖I need to make two apologies. First, I am so sorry for the long delay. While work was beating my ass, I actually received a rude comment on my Wattpad account for the last chapter that triggered a horrible writer's block. It was taken care of, and it didn't bother me at the time, but I didn't realize how much it affected me until I started to write. Then I decided to use it for inspiration!

Secondly, I'm so sorry for what is about to unfold. This one was planned from the get-go (which is also probably why I struggled because this is the one chapter I dreaded having to write).

(I'll be running from the pitchforks as they come, Woot Woot!)

❗️+18, strong language, godmother reader/original female character, Mentions of an original child, Shitty family dynamics, Angst, verbal fights, sexist implications, one slap across the face, and Jake being Hangman.

#6k words

Part 14 | Masterlist | Part 16

The story behind how you started ego-checking some of the cocksure pilots at Hard Deck is less interesting than one might think.

It all started with a game.

You weren't kidding when you told Jake you were a library, loving geek who'd rather spend her time deep in the stacks. That was the plot of your entire post-secondary experience. You didn't know how to flirt. You stayed clear of frat parties and cliquey groups. And if a guy tried to flirt with you, you ran for the freaking hills without a backward glance.

You only decided to take that bartending job in building H's damp, dark basement because you were dead-ass broke. But the thing about being a bartender on a University campus, there were moments when you had nothing but time on your hands.

You had to get creative.

Looking back, you would blame the writer-orientated part of your mind that decided to create that little game of making up stories for the people who regularly visited the miserable bar.

The quiet girl, always sitting in the back corner, cramming for a test or writing a paper. Did she like the ambience, or was she avoiding the library? Or was she trying to work up the nerve to ask out one of the bussers, waiting for the perfect meet cute?

Maybe the nerds who gathered every Friday at the arcade-style game consoles playing Pac-Man needed to leave their dorm because Friday nights tended to be the one night everyone liked to party.

Those popular girls sitting around a table with their $5 cocktails, lowcut tanktops, and jean shorts, always on their phones gossiping over the latest social media post from their favourite celebrities. Did they have Regina George in their ranks? Which one was sleeping with the other's boyfriend? How much blackmail did they have on each other?

Which one would murder the other first?

That little game you invented for yourself got you out of your shell. It also made it easier to deal with the persistent football jocks who'd try to flirt with you for a free shot.

Ridley would always get a kick out of it whenever you told her. You'd always imagined her curling up in a ball and kicking her feet back and forth while she squealed in laughter over the phone.

"Be a character in one of your freaking stories. Or better yet, act it out! You're a damn writer, Lizzie."

She was right. So you did.

You'd never forget the laughter of that football jock when your rejection of his flirting attempts to weasel a free drink out of you resulted in his childish reply of, "Well, nobody's perfect, Sweetheart, least of all you."

"I never said I was," you had said with a smile.

You must have said something right because a few minutes later, Penny was introducing herself and chatting you up, asking if you wanted a better job bartending.

You were all too happy to leave. But nothing could have prepared you for the hotshot, ego-driven, and stupidly horny Top Gun pilots who frequented the Hard Deck.

Between remembering their drink order or what side of the room they tended to gravitate towards, you needed more than your little guessing game to figure out their tells. You did pick up little things about them, though.

The WSOs were the kindest; ironically, they stood out in the crowds. Always a kind smile, never a bad thing to say about anyone.

The female pilots were always badass. At least, you thought so. Strong. Always commandeering the room the second they walked in. Always nice, no question about it. But mess with them; you got schooled hard.

They were the literal definition behind the saying, 'Do no harm, but take no shit.'

And with each new group that came in, the male pilots, the single flyers you had called them, paled compared to those jocks. They never changed. A pair constantly vied for first place with each new group that came through the Top Gun program.

Always a pair of males. Women always knew there was more at stake than a freaking trophy.

Those guys talked to you. Well... properly flirted at you.

That's where your little game came in handy. Picking out the little things about them, letting your mind do the creative parts next. It's how you turned Jake down so quickly that first time.

But the guy currently approaching the bar? He did not fit the bill of any regular customer you had seen in a while.

Tourists came and went without question. They stood out like a pack of flies, unsure where to go, with friendly faces and always asking what the best places were. They tipped great, and they never returned.

This guy?

Not a tourist.

He was from out of town. The plaid shirt, jeans and cowboy boots were unusual for a California bar. It was also how he gaped at the walls and ceiling, taking in all the Navy memorabilia Penny had collected over the years. If you hadn't been paying attention, you could have sworn there was a look of distaste on his face with each new item he saw.

But what irked you was the sense of familiarity you couldn't place while looking at him. Blonde hair and a sharp face. Something in how he carried that toothpick between his teeth, not in the way god forbid fucking Tyler had, but as if it was a piece of grass. Also, in the way he walked.

Then he openly leered at a woman's ass as she walked by, and it all made sense.

Ah, a Wham, Bam, Thank You, Mam.

He sat in the empty chair directly in front of you, still watching the women's retreating form. You didn't want to serve him, but a tiny part of you hoped your assumption had been wrong.

It had been a while since you had to rebuff flirty advances; the newer pilots going through the Top Gun Program hardly said anything to you except smile and relay their order.

You suspected Jake was behind it.

"What can I get you?" you smiled at the guy. He slowly pulled his eyes away with a sly grin. The second he caught sight of your face, his mouth stretched even wider as he leaned forward on the bar.

"Your number and the name of a good hotel."

You should have known better.

If it looked like a duck, it quacked like a duck too.

Resisting the urge to roll your eyes, you straightened the line of shot glasses under the bar, not once looking up as you answered him. "Well, I can answer one out of two of those questions, but I'm afraid the only hotels around here are resorts. There is a bed and breakfast about ten minutes down the road that will give you a good deal."

"Will they give me a good deal if I mention your name?"

"Only my friends know my name, and you are simply a customer sitting at my bar wanting a drink?" you raised your eyebrow, tapping your finger against the bar.

He made a show of thinking about it, rocking his shoulders back and forth. He finally nodded, leaning forward to answer you.

"Whiskey. Straight."

You recognized his accent as you reached beneath the bar to grab the bottle. It was more pronounced and slightly more profound, but without a doubt, he sounded like Jake.

Good old southern Texas Charm.

Normally you'd engage in small talk, but you wanted nothing more than to leave this asshole alone. Thinking he'd leave it be after you poured him his drink, you slid the glass forward, then made your way over to the other side of the bar.

The words he called out after you made you stop in your tracks.

"You must get attention all the time. Having your pick of the litter each year."

You whipped around, offended. " Are you calling me easy?!"

He shrugged. "I'm just saying a good-looking woman like yourself, in this place... you clearly aren't sticking around because of the pay."

Oh, you wanted this guy gone. That could have been one of the most double-standard comments you had ever received. Old Liz would have sputtered, maybe run into the back fridge and asked one of the other bartenders to handle it.

You now? No chance in hell. If he were going to give it, you would give it right back. You weren't going to play the boyfriend card. You could fight your own battles, and something told you even if you told him you had a boyfriend, he'd think you were lying. He seemed like the type that wouldn't take no for an answer.

"You've got some nerve." You crossed your arms, matching back to him from the other side of the bar. "Let's get one thing straight. I'm not here because I'm looking for attention or have trouble finding a date. You've spent all of two minutes sitting at this bar, talking shit, while I've been fighting the urge to point out your confusion regarding basic anatomy."

He raised his eyebrows at your reply. "My confusion?"

You leaned forward, resting your arms upon the bar, eyeing him sourly. "Is your mouth your asshole, or are you just one?"

It was one of the more cruder remarks you had ever responded with. But this guy was trying to go for gold. Unphased, he leaned back in his chair, throwing his hands up. "Hey, no need to be aggressive. You should take it as a compliment. I never called you anything derogatory."

You huffed, pushing yourself away from him, rolling your eyes. "Calling me good-looking, then proceeding to say I'm only working here because it's 'easy to access' is still calling a woman a slut. You don't need to say the word to imply the meaning."

You ripped the dishrag from your shoulder, running it under the tap, muttering more to yourself, "There's no way that shit works on women."

"It does on the women back home," he answered you.

"Oh, so are you staying? Don't tell me you're a new pilot at Top Gun."

They'll beat that attitude right out of you.

"Oh, I'm just passing through. I figured I'd scout out the area. I heard this was a Navy bar. Don't understand what all the fuss is about."

You didn't answer him. Opening your mouth only led to him replying, and the quicker he finished his drink, the faster he'd leave. He took your silence as a means to continue.

"Still playing hard to get?"

"You ask me a question. I might choose not to answer."

"Wow. Subtle."

You turned, a hand on your hip. "You can't honestly expect me to speak to you, a complete stranger, after the way you just undermined my job because I'm not giving to your attempts. There is nothing to get."

He smiled, holding out his hand. "George Seresin. There, not a stranger."

Well, shit.

You wanted to hang your mouth open like a fish. You were staring down Jake's brother.

Now you understood Jake's reaction to Janet's warning. His anxious behaviour in the back of his truck. His lost-in-thought stares or the way he couldn't stop looking at you and Sadie when he came home from work this week.

George Seresin was a very unwelcome, uninvited and long-awaited guest.

Something snapped in your stomach, a twinge of weariness that Jake didn't confide in you. Then again, your slight disappointment was overshadowed by something greater.

Clearly, you were fated to ego-check both Seresin brothers while standing behind this bar. Because the idea came without warning, without doubt, or any sense of hesitancy.

George Seresin was at the Hard Deck.

He was right in front of you, trying to flirt with you without any idea who you were.

And he was sitting in the best spot in the entire place.

It was too good of an opportunity to pass up.

You stepped backwards, turning to lean up against the bar. As you did with Jake all those months ago, you took the rag and started to wipe.

"So let me get this straight," you said, dragging the damp cloth around his glass, not once looking up. "I tell you my name in some effort to prove we are not strangers. I'm supposed to forget about your 'comments,' so you can use that good old Texas charm to woo me into your bed with a promise of a good time?"

You finally looked up, George only staring back at you with a heated smoulder.

"Something tells me none of those loose cannons cannot even promise you a good time. A quick roll in the sheets before they let some brass monkey in a fancy suit tell them where to shoot. You look like you could let loose for once in your life."

You froze, losing your grip on the rag and fingers twitching. Scanning Jake’s brother, you leaned against the bar, resting your weight on your elbows, throwing the fabric over your shoulder as you got inside his bubble. You never once broke eye contact as you pinned him down.

George bought it, hook, line and sinker. He was so focused on you and your face that he was oblivious to everything and everyone around him, including how your hand slowly reached up toward the rope hanging from the top of the bar.

The second he looked at your lips, you tugged.

Cheers and music flooded the Hard Deck when everyone heard the distinct ring of the barbell. You guessed the song right away, old habits dying hard. Slow Ride, its distinct beat letting you know Jake was here and he had seen the whole thing.

George reeled back, shocked as a few people came up and slapped him on the back, thanking him. You laughed softly at his reaction, pushing yourself away to help the few customers you knew who would take advantage of the free drink.

You had never rang the bell for someone like him. George Seresin would be the only exception.

"What the hell just happened?" he called after you. You didn't bother turning around, flinging your hand to gesture over your head, "Read the sign!"

George followed the direction of your hand, landing on the piece of wood dangling by the silver chain.

You disrespect a lady, the navy, or you put your cell phone on the bar, you buy a round.

You had already helped a few customers when he managed to tear his eyes away to glare at you heatedly. You turned to face him with a gleeful grin. Instead of asking him which one he thought you rang him out for, you started teasingly singing along to the chorus.

You hadn't done that in a while. It felt good.

"What did he do to warrant that?"

You smiled up at Jake as he approached the bar. He never took his eyes off you as he leaned on his elbow against the top of the bar beside George.

"What do you think?" you laughed at him.

Jake smirked. "I'd say he didn't take no for an answer."

"He did a little more than that. Tell him to put his cell phone on the bar, and he'd get three out of three."

"Ouch," Jake dramatically drawled. He finally turned his head, nodding once in his brother's direction. "Hi, Georgie."

You stiffed a giggle.

George huffed, jutting his chin out in your direction. "This one is trouble."

"Don't I know it," Jake said, looking back at you. "Pulled the same trick on me the first time I met her. Only she didn't ring the bell. Guess I did something right, considering she let me come back."

George glanced between you and Jake several times, and you could see the gears grinding in his head.

"Hi," you beamed at him, walking over and holding out your hand. "Elizabeth Beck. Your brother's girlfriend. I guess we aren't strangers after all."

George stared down at your hand, then gritting his teeth, knocking back another gulp of whiskey. He spat out his following words with the glass still to his lips, "So you are real. Jake, there's no way you're dating her."

You didn't try to hide the snark from your voice as you lowered your hand. "You thought I was imaginary? Sorry to disappoint."

George still chose to ignore you. "What's the matter, little brother? Need your girlfriend to speak for you?"

Jake stiffened, and it took everything in you not to ring the bell once more. Cause you knew if you did, Jake would be the one to help throw George out, and you didn't know what repercussions he could face.

"At least he has a girlfriend," you scoffed. "I can't imagine you've ever had a meaningful relationship with how you treat women."

You spied his empty whiskey glass, grabbing it firmly.

"Wham."

Sliding it across the bar's smooth surface, you caught it in the palm of your other hand.

"Bam."

Reaching into the pocket of your apron with your free hand, you slapped his bill down in front of him, rounds and all, attempting your best version of a Texan accent.

"Thank you, Mam."

Not wanting to waste more time on him, you turned to Jake, slightly worried. Some of you didn't know how to act around Jake when he was like this. When he was so... Hangman.

You gently touched his wrist, murmuring softly, "I'll see you in a half hour?"

He twisted his arm in your grasp, sliding his hand down so he could gently squeeze yours. But his eyes screamed a different, intense, unsettling story. As if he was assessing you for any threat.

"Sure."

You tried not to let it bother you, his non-chalent reply. Trying not to frown, you let go of his wrist to serve another customer, calling out as you walked away, "It was nice meeting you, Georgie!"

Jake watched you go with a slight turn of his head, proud you one-upped his brother but wishing you didn't leave him alone.

He knew why George was here. What he wanted him to do. No amount of smirk, cockiness, or even Hangman, could save Jake from this. George was the grave reminder that no matter where the Navy sent him, whether in California or on the other side of the world, there was no end to the metaphorical leash the 'hell bringer' had on both of his sons.

George scraped his chair back to stand. "Come on, little brother," he gruffed out, tossing his credit card onto the bar. "We need to have a chat."

—-

With Ridley's Jean jacket in hand and your bag, you placed them on the bar as you greeted Jimmy after finishing your shift. "Can you watch these for a second, Jimmy? I'm just going to the bathroom before I find Jake. We're going to pick Sadie up from Penny's and take her out for dinner."

The older man smiled. "She's feeling better?"

You nodded. "Mild concussion. She was okay after a few days and back at school. Bummed about not being able to play in soccer playoffs, though. Hence the trip."

"That girl loves her soccer. What a shame."

"Jake's is making it easier on her. I don't know what I would do without him."

He tilted his head towards the bathroom hall with a knowing grin. "Go get ready for your date."

You blushed, walking away, calling over your shoulder, "It's not a date!"

After freshening yourself up, you took a few moments to stare at yourself in the bathroom mirror. You saw the famous callsign board hanging on the wall behind you. You scanned the names from the mirror, looking for Jake's, doing a double take when you couldn’t find it. You turned, properly facing the wall.

Like the sign in the bar, it was a piece of wood with the words engraved into the top, “Ladies Beware: Navigate the Hard Deck with Care!” and underneath that, “Pilots who fly solo.” Several metal slots were glued to the surface, designed so she could easily slide plastic slate with a pilot’s callsign into place.

You recognized a few, even Rooster's, though his was listed way further down, out of harm’s way. But Jake's was nowhere to be found.

Then you realized - Penny had taken his name off.

She didn't do that for a lot of people. You could only recall one other instance when she removed a pilot's callsign from that board. She prided herself on it, so much so she never removed Maverick's at the top of the list, even after they got back together.

You needed to tell Jake.

With a hint of a smile, you eagerly walked out of the bathroom to find him. He was standing with George at the pool table, the elder Seresin brother lining up a shot as he spoke. As you approached them, you honed in on Jake, realizing he looked uncomfortable. Stiff, shoulders square, and his fists were clenched tight.

The closer you got, the more you heard of their conversation, and when you heard Sadie's name fall from George's mouth, you froze. Hearing him utter her name, especially in that hardened tone, was a punch to the gut. The urge to hide behind one of the support pillars in the middle of the room at the last second was too great to ignore, and you made yourself as small as possible.

You had stumbled upon a conversation you weren’t supposed to hear. George’s voice accompanied the sound of the eight-ball scattering the balls across the table.

"Come on, man," he said, his tone laced with arrogance. "Think about it. She threw her whole life away for her niece. She's tied down now, and you deserve someone who can give you more than that."

Jake remained silent. George continued, encouraged by his lack of protest. "You're a Navy pilot, for crying out loud. You could have anyone you want. Why settle for a girl with so much baggage?"

You weren’t stupid. You knew enough about George to realize he was the golden child, the favourite used to getting his way. George would only see you as Jake’s attempt to one-up him on something.

“You know why I'm here,” you heard him say firmly. “Dad doesn’t approve. He wants you to know if you continue on with her, you will never be welcomed back home.”

You swallowed hard, a knot forming in your stomach. There would never be a time when you asked Jake to choose you over his family, even with what you knew. You wanted to go out there, but this was Jake’s battle. Storming out to threaten anything but a kick to the balls was out of the question.

But when Jake finally spoke, his words were like shards of ice piercing your skin.

"Yeah, you're right."

A strangled noise escaped from you, a sound of raw pain and disbelief. You clapped your hands over your mouth, trying to muffle the sob threatening to escape. George’s reply triggered the blood rushing through your ears, the pain in your forearm from your nails biting hard into the skin.

“You know I am,” he laughed, another clack of the pool balls sounding out. “

There was only one way you saw this - Jake played you like he played those other bartenders.

You couldn’t hide any longer. You pushed yourself away from the pillar, swerving around to confront them.

“So Sadie and I were just a game to you?”

Jake turned sharply, shock in his eyes. “Liz,” he held his hands out in front of him. “It’s not what…”

“Not what?” you said heatedly, tears streaming from your eyes. “I heard plenty!”

He opened his mouth to say something, but the words died in his throat, confronted with your beat red face and tears. You were not supposed to hear all that.

The shock on his face was not enough to erase the sting of his words.

"Come on, Liz. You don't understand... it's..."

"What's there to understand, Jake?" you interjected, your voice seething with a volatile mix of pain and anger. "That I'm just another one of your bartenders?"

“Liz, don’t.”

“Enlighten me, Jake.” You crossed your arms. “Tell me all the reasons why. That bringing me flowers wasn’t a game. That getting close to my niece wasn’t a game. Asking me to give you a chance, taking me out on a date.”

You sobbed. “Taking me up in that damn plane.”

The thought was erupt, tearing itself from the deepest part of your mind. You couldn’t help it, the words spilling out in blinded anger. “Was my grief an opportunity for you to get into my pants? Telling me it would be alright so you could leave me high and dry? Telling me it was going to be okay?”

There was a sudden shift in his expression, his gaze hardening. As if a switch had been flipped, the warm, understanding man you knew disappeared, replaced by a stranger draped in defensiveness and sarcasm.

"Oh, excuse me," he declared. "I didn't realize I was your knight in shining armour, rushing to your rescue the second you need all your problems fixed. The girl who never had a relationship, thinking a man would solve all her issues."

The words hit you like a physical blow, your knees nearly buckling beneath you. Jake's harsh gaze didn't match his usual soft and protective demeanour. It was like looking at a stranger, someone you didn't recognize. The man before you was not the Jake you'd fallen for.

This man reminded you of your father.

Was this his plan all along? You racked your mind, searching for any indication this had been coming. But what only stood out was Rooster's words echoing in your head where you found none.

Did you really only add your name to the list of women Hangman had pursued?

Because here and now, those months of working through the trauma of losing Ridley didn't matter.

Was anything about this past year even worth it? The moments you worked through when you would avoid anyone mentioning her because acknowledging her in the past tense was too much. Avoiding the things that reminded you of her. Till helped you through it.

She would know what to say right now. She would be the one beating his ass with verbiage and scathing remarks. She would nail the moment and get it right.

It hit you, the hidden weight of how desperately you missed her.

Suddenly, you were that girl again, starting her first shift in that basement bar, wondering what to say to the students who saw you as a mere bookworm with no character or class - because you couldn't compare to the girl sitting in the corner writing her paper, actually having the courage to ask that busboy out.

Or the geeks in the corner cheering as hard as they did when they beat their high score on the console, uncaring of strange looks. Or that girl, finally standing up to her 'so-called friends' when one had been spreading rumours and crude remarks about her to the others behind her back.

He really did leave you out to dry.

"Stay the fuck away from my niece," you managed to gasp through your tears. "And stay the fuck away from me."

You wanted to believe your assumption that Jake was merely putting on a front. Hangman, his alternate self, was his attempt at protecting himself.

You had a hard time doing so.

There, plain as day, across his face was the most condensing grin you had ever seen as he dramatically drawled out slowly, "No fucking problem, sweetheart."

You didn't believe in thinking about everything you regretted throughout your life. Ridley was the only exception; if you had done more, moved back home after school, or gone to the police the day you kicked Tyler out, maybe she'd still be here. You couldn't change what had happened in your life, so spending time thinking about it in the present wouldn't do you much good.

So it was no surprise to you when you followed through with your knee-deep reaction, your hand coming up out of nowhere, open and firm, slapping Jake hard enough across the side of his face, his head turning with the force of it.

You knew you shouldn't have. You weren't a violent person by any means. Next to Tyler, you never had raised a hand to anyone. You were too hurt to care you just slapped him.

That should have scared you shitless.

Rather than voice the obvious, you remained silent, allowing every repressed thought, every buried emotion to resurface.

Ridley - dead.

Sadie - hurt.

Tyler - lurking.

Bradley - damaging.

It was all too much.

George's figure stood out from behind Jake amongst your blurry vision, tears creating a vignette in your line of sight. You tore past Jake, sticking your finger out only to push George square in his chest. He stepped back at the force, hand shooting out to balance himself against the pool table.

Jake wouldn't have done that had George not shown up. Had he not played with Jake's emotions.

"You need a fucking ego check and to grow the fuck up," you seethed at him. "I don't know whose got your balls on a very tight leash, but you have no right to go around and fucking up other people's relationships."

George didn't answer you, taking his hand off the table to stand properly. You pressed him again. "Does it give you some sick fucking pleasure to hurt your brother? Dad loves me best, so I'm going to remind everyone just cause I can?"

George was still avoiding your heated glare, fixating on his football ring, twisting the piece of metal back and forth. It only pissed you off further.

"My eyes are over here, Jackass! Have the decency to look me in the fucking eyes when I'm talking to you."

If nobody had been watching when you slapped Jake, you clearly had their attention now. Even with the music blasting from the speakers, every conversation in the Hard deck had gone quiet. You could feel everyone's eyes on you, but you couldn't care less.

You were too far gone.

George slowly cocked his head to face you. Your breath was harsh, your body jolting with each gasp as you gave in to the anger. "My sister died, and I took in my niece. What's so fucking wrong about that? That I threw my life away, that I have no future?"

He shifted on his feet, about to transfer the pool stick into his other hand, when you reached out and snatched it out of his grasp, tossing it behind you with a clack.

"You're damn right I did! That's what you do for people you love. I would sacrifice my entire life so she could have hers. And I would do it again in a fucking heartbeat. I will stay on the other side of that bar for the rest of my so-called miserable life, getting catcalled and dealing with assholes like you if it gives her the best shot with the shitty hand she's dealt. You, George Seresin, have no right to judge the choices I've made in my life."

Your breathing was harsh, ribs aching with effort. Every vein, every pore, was consumed with pure white rage. And yet, you still found yourself growling out, "You have no right judging your brothers either."

Even after breaking your heart, you still stood up for Jake.

"He risks his life every single time he goes up in that jet just so the whole world can fucking survive. So you can go on day in and day out and let your father control what you want to do with your life. So you can gallant around letting someone who has lived their life decide what you do with the rest of yours? So Jake’s here for you to bully and control every time he comes home? What the fuck is wrong with you?”

The burning sensation in your cheeks mirrored the fire in your eyes, unshed tears making them shine brighter. The salty sting of tears blurring your vision did little to diminish the searing gaze you levelled at George.

"My sister believed everyone deserved a chance. That people cared, regardless of what they did or who they were. I had forgotten that until my niece invited Jake to a barbeque, till she invited him on a hike because he was being treated differently. Despite what I heard and everyone telling me otherwise, listing off why I shouldn’t. That he will hurt me and my niece, and I still gave him a chance.”

Squaring your shoulders and balling your hands to fists at your side, you take a step forward, a dangerous glint in your eyes. You lean towards him, your face close enough to feel his breath, your jaw clenched and muscles tight.

"You are the first person ever to prove my sister wrong,” your voice is dangerously low, underlying anger accompanying each word. “You sure as hell don't deserve that sentiment."

As you stepped away, George lifted his head to glance around the room, everyone's eyes pinning him down. The older Top Gun instructors had stood at their tables and chairs, arms crossed. Some of the current students in the program also stood, the others sending him the most scathing glares they could manage. Even some regulars who weren't aviators were casting him a scornful glance.

You spun, ready to leave him in embarrassment and escape this literal fucking mess, when you caught Jake's bewildered gaze, his mouth hanging open in slight shock.

You weren't sure whether it was that look or the dying embers of your outburst that made you spin back around to snarl, "So, leave your brother the fuck alone! Live your own goddamn life without judging others for the choices they make! Cause you sure as hell don't know what it means to sacrifice something for those you love. If you need an example, look around this goddamn room."

Jake reached for your wrist as you charged toward the front door. The second you felt his touch, you shook your hand loose, a wrenching sob tearing through your chest.

"Don't fucking touch me!"

You didn't bother seeing his reaction to your remark, rushing to grab your bag and Ridley's jean jacket off the bar.

The skin around your wrist burned from his touch, the rough callouses once a comfort but now felt like coarse sandpaper. You wanted to get under a shower or jump in the sea, hoping to remove the feeling of every memory, kiss, and word.

God, you let him touch you. Do things with you.

You were going to throw up.

God forbid you didn't want to walk home. But you needed to go, be anywhere but here, and you didn't have your car. Barely keeping it together as you took off toward the door, you had half a mind to look up to watch where you were going, deaf to Jake's shouts of your name.

There was Bradley, sitting in the first booth by the door. His brow furrowed as you made your way over to him, probably having witnessed the ordeal. You were too upset even to question why he wasn't marching across the bar, ready to knock Jake to next Sunday.

It had been weeks since the fight, with no communication in between. But it was a distant memory compared to this.

It didn't matter what he implied. It didn't matter what happened in your hallway.

It didn't matter.

You just needed your friend.

With each step you took toward him, your shame only grew greater. You couldn't even look him in the eye when you stopped, standing next to his side of the booth, hugging yourself tighter.

"Can you take me home, Bradley? I don't want to be here anymore."

Bradley's opportunity to act smug had finally arrived. But he didn't do anything other than frown. Standing up from his booth, he threw a few bills onto the table before blocking everyone's view of you. He placed a comforting hand on your back, gently pressing you forward as he uttered quietly, "Of course I can, Liz."

You kept your head down as you stepped towards the door, but Bradley, so willing to help you without so much of an 'I told you so,' made whatever resolve you had, crumble. Your knees wobbled, and your heart dropped into your stomach. You fell, and Bradley's arm whipped out, gripping your hip and pulling you tight to his side to support your weight.

Burying your head into Bradley's shoulder, you hid your face. You didn't want to see the looks of everyone in the Hard Deck, whether pity, concern, or applause, as another wave of tears wrecked your body.

Closing your eyes seemed better than reliving the truth.

And because you kept them shut, you didn't see George place a hand on Jake's shoulder, preventing him from going after you. Nor did you see the look of devastation wreck his face; the weight of every wrong decision he had ever made coming back to haunt him.

Whether Jake turned on a dime to punch George square in the jaw, you heard none of it. You hadn't even bothered to turn back to look as Bradley carried you out the front door.

.... So... Who is going to pitchfork me first? 👀

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Part 16 - In the Blood coming soon

Wickett ;)

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onthewaytosomewhere · 8 months ago

Text

Sunday - yeah sentences & last line challenge cuz i'm lazy and doing them all in one

so i've been tagged by some lovely peeps @england-would-fall @taste-thewaste @firenati0n @piratefalls

So I need to get this thing done - as it has been lamenting on my drive waiting for me to just finish it already - and stop playing around with all the other fics so I'm posting it in hopes that might encourage me to get it frakkin' done already - and i wasted hours this afternoon tracking down one detail lol - but hey that's what happens i guess lol

So this is what I have lovingly been calling gotta sign 'em all - it's a little thing inspired by TZP and his fascination with signing a little book (and well, with him being so ACD-coded it just fits) it's a lot more than 6 or 7 sentences but i just need to get some of it out in the ether

They are nearing the end, both of Henry’s ability to continue and the line of people with books for him to sign, when the girl whose book Henry just signed peeks behind him at Alex. She turns the book to the dedication page and gestures towards Alex. “Mr. Claremont-Diaz,” and fuck if that doesn’t make him feel old, but the girl can’t be more than 13, so he sucks it up. “Would you be willing to sign the dedication page of my book? Your story helped me come out as bisexual to my parents; they’re from the US, and my father’s Mexican family is very Catholic. Seeing you have family of similar background who support you after everything happened to you made me hope mine could be as well.” Alex feels Henry’s hand grab his and squeeze it. This is one of the things that still amazes him: how in sync they are with each other. How even though Henry is drained from a taxing day, Henry is there to support Alex unequivocally. He nods to her and reaches for her book. He takes a deep, centering breath and squeezes Henry’s hand once quickly before letting it go with a smile so he can sign. Henry hands him the Sharpie he has taken to carrying in his inner jacket pockets, and he grips the pen, looking back to the girl in front of him. “I am just floored that my story—our story,” he says, gesturing between himself and Henry, because his story is and always will be intertwined with Henry’s, ever since they first started this, “gave you the courage to be yourself. I hope it all went well with your family.” The girl nods, and Alex sees the wet sheen to her eyes, the tears she is attempting to hold back, and blinks to keep his own at bay. “Yes, it did, thank you,” her smile wobbles a little as she responds, and Alex moves the conversation on for all of them. “Who am I making this out to?” Alex asks, pen poised above the page, ready to sign. He pauses a moment to read the dedication he has memorized as she gives her name. [insert sappy – probably not good enough – dedication to Alex - probably something about you and me always maybe breaking down walls] He writes her name in the book, adds a few lines about bisexual solidarity, and signs his name with a flourish. He hands the book back to her, and she looks at the page, smiling at his words. Alex is not the most self-aware man, and he’ll admit this, but even he knows that moment has him feeling things he didn’t think it would.

oh i also got a few of last line tags yesterday so here goes for that too

He decides to help her out and says, “Hey, I see you got your copy of Henry’s book; glad ya got one before the vultures at that shelter swooped in.”

so some no-pressure Sunday tags and well if ya already posted let's just assume ya had an open tag that i snagged and i'll find it lol @adreamareads @anincompletelist @bitbybitwrites @dragonflylady77 @duchessdepolignaca03 @firstsprinces @forever-fixating @heybuddy-drabbles @hgejfmw-hgejhsf (hope ya had a good time in austin Val! (at least i assume based on wednesdays post that's wehre ya were)) @inexplicablymine @itsmaybitheway @junebugclaremontdiaz @kiwiana-writes @lizzie-bennetdarcy @magicandarchery @nocoastposts @priincebutt @sophie1973 @stellarm @sunnysideprince @suseagull04 @typicalopposite and an open tag

#sunday sentences #firstprince #rwrb fic #gotta catch 'em all #this fic needs to get done already #oh and i really need to figure out that dedication lol #oh and get the rest of this written lol

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hippolotamus · 11 months ago

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Sunday Sentences

Well, here we are then at the final not even remotely 7SS of 2023. Because I'm great at ignoring rules, I'm offering two POVs of come close (let me be home) from the same section today. Follows this snippet (all prev snippets here)

Buck

Not that Evan was specifically looking for him. He should focus on Maddie, but he’s unable to tear his gaze away from Viscount Diaz and his, frankly, rather clumsy partner. The poor girl seems to be counting her steps under her breath, trying and failing to dance without tripping them both up. She resembles a newborn fawn using her legs for the first time. Evan chuckles to himself, noting the tight, annoyed sort of grimace on the Viscount’s face and the way he occasionally glances skyward as if some heavenly being might suddenly decide to help. His patience is admirable at least. For one startling moment, Viscount Diaz ignores the ceiling and the fumbling girl, locking eyes with Evan across the sea of people. The expression is both spontaneous and intentional, filled with curiosity and an innate recognition. It makes his heart flutter and do something complicated in his chest, daring him to ask if he could cut in and relieve the young hopeful from making a bigger fool of herself. It makes him feel seen. A voice in the back of his mind whispers about etiquette and rules and things that shouldn’t be meddled with. He ignores it in favor of taking a tentative step, feeling drawn toward the center of the room where honey brown irises stay trained on him as much as possible between turns and spins.

Eddie

Agitation builds in his chest with each partner, filling him up until he’s not sure he can breathe properly. One by one Eddie mentally crosses them off, deeming them inadequate. Dull blue eyes, too brunette, can’t waltz properly, reminds him of his mother, stepped on his toes, doesn’t speak latin, prefers having daughters over sons. Some time near the fifth or sixth partner is when he notices. The sensation of being tracked. A familiar prickling that crawls up his spine, making the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Between twirls he attempts to locate the source and finds piercing blue eyes staring at him. Flashes of a mischievous smirk, a strawberry pink mark and cool breeze against his face invade Eddie’s memory. He still doesn’t know the man’s name or what his business is. Maybe tonight he can find out. Eddie’s daydreams are interrupted by stumbling feet and a too small hand grasping his in an attempt to stay upright. “Oh, my! I’m so sorry,” the young woman — Miss Clark or Martin, whatever her name is — apologizes. “No harm done," He lies. "Are you alright?” Other than needing more dance lessons? “Yes, Viscount, thank you.” The song ends and he gratefully takes the opportunity to excuse himself. He needs air. The crowd, and the idea of spinning around one more husband-seeking idiot, is too much for him to bear at the moment.

tagged by the always lovely and talented @your-catfish-friend (go check their update to in my head btw) @thewolvesof1998 @daffi-990 @jamespearce9-1-1 @wikiangela (posted a new Christmas fic today) @spotsandsocks @honestlydarkprincess @buckaroosheart @underwater-ninja-13 thank you loves 😘

no pressure tagging @callmenewbie (who just posted yesterday!) @malewifediaz @steadfastsaturnsrings mi amore @disasterbuckdiaz @stereopticons @shortsighted-owl @eddiebabygirldiaz (who posted a fic earlier today) @hoodie-buck @rmd-writes @apothecarose @welcometololaland @lizzie-bennetdarcy @jesuisici33 @giddyupbuck (who posted this fabulous 12 Days of edging fic) @exhuastedpigeon @lemonzestywrites @weewootruck @thekristen999 @loserdiaz @heartshapedvows @fortheloveofbuddie @messyhairdiaz @eowon @watchyourbuck @monsterrae1 @elvensorceress @spagheddiediaz @chaosandwolves @wildlife4life @buddierights @911onabc @the-likesofus @spaceprincessem @fionaswhvre @barbiediaz @pirrusstuff @theplaceyoustillrememberdreaming @statueinthestone and anyone else who wants to share 💖

#nope these two are not interested in each other *at all*#not one bit #also #there's a section of eddie's pov that i didn't post #but it contains the words 'predatory debutantes'#and i just needed you to be aware of that #because i'm very proud of myself about it #happy 2024 and all that #mwah <3 #seven sentence sunday #but not seven at all #hippo writes #fic: come close (let me be home) bridgerton #buddie wip #bridgerton au

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yadchi-i-guess · 6 months ago

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Deal with the Devil(s)

By Yadchi (I guess)

Electric Shock AU by @leefl00f

So basically Uzi asks Lizzy for a favor, and after some convincing, the queen bee accepts. Anything for her girlfriend, after all...

SFW tickle fic!

Word count: 2,127

Uzi was in a bad mood.

Granted, most days she was in a bad mood, what with getting older and stuff, but today she was particularly sour. And everyone was gonna know about (or be aware of) it, if it's the last thing on Copper-9 she did.

She'd refused to do any of her schoolwork, talked back to the teacher at every turn, and had chucked a dodgeball at Chad in gym class so hard he crashed into the wall. Even his friend Thad was impressed... which might've made Uzi blush a little.

At least now it was lunchtime, and the little rebel could get some real time to herself. She let her feet carry her to a desolate hallway, perfect, wide open space to let her mind wander.

Uzi settled down at the foot of a locker with a small sigh, finally able to just chill. Batteries were on the menu today in her lunchbox, and she was about to toss one in her mouth when something suddenly grazed her neck.

"Eeheheek! Wahahat the heheeck?!" She squeaked, fumbling for the mysterious little tickler as the battery bounced off her face. She pulled it off and was surprised to see Bit hadn't tagged along for the school day. It was PomPom.

"Hehey! What're you doing here, little dude?" Uzi chuckled.

Knowing that his tickles were well received, PomPom scurring around happily in his friend's hand as he was given a battery. He flashed a "TY <3" message at Uzi, whose facescreen glitched and flashed a ">:3" back.

"Having fun with that icky little pet of yours?" Someone standing over Uzi said.

"AGH! Bite me, Lizzy!" Uzi barked as she shot up and clenched her fist around PomPom. She was almost certain sometimes that Doll's girlfriend had the Solver too, with how easily she spooked her from time to time.

"Oh chillllll, you know my locker's right where you're snackin," Lizzy replied nonchalantly. She reached in for something, then looked back at Uzi, who was still eyeing her angrily.

"Not in the mood for your dumb teasing," the little drone pouted. She was just getting to feel a little better... only for Lizzy to screw it all up again.

"Sheesh, sardonic much?" Lizzy asked. "What's with the foul attitude?"

"And why would you care?"

"Dolly's your cousin, and she made it clear I can't treat you like garbage."

Uzi let out a small "hpmh" and sat back down, forcing her attention back on PomPom grooming his front legs in an attempt to ignore Lizzy. "Just bite me. Doll's the reason why I'm so upset," she said acidically.

"Seriously? Doll making you angry? That's far from a first," Lizzy said as she leaned against the locker. "What's so different about this time?"

"The fact she got away with it!" Uzi spat back. "She tickled me and teased me, and it was stupid, and I couldn't tickle her back! And I FRICKING LOST BECAUSE OF IT!"

A couple nights ago, Doll had challenged Uzi to a Mario Kart rematch to make up for Uzi cheating earlier, but the Russian drone had used the cheeky tactic employed on herself before; tickling Uzi to distract her while they were racing. She had then teleported back home right before Uzi tackled her.

Although it was a generalized rule that revenge would always occur between cousins, Uzi hadn't yet been able to get close enough to Doll and get her sweet revenge, making her typically snarky, mischievous attitude rot like an old piece of human food since then.

But that's when a little lightbulb went off in her head. The one that usually meant another one of her devious little ideas was forming, and a smirk would grow on her face.

"Hey, Lizzy," Uzi said with a gloat. "How would you-"

"Nope, this is between you and Doll," Lizzy interrupted bluntly as she turned away. Unfortunately, she didn't get far as Uzi activated [Translate] on the worker to immobilize her.

"Ohhhhh no you don't," Uzi deadpanned. "You're gonna help me get back at Doll because nothing can stop me."

"Oh, for robo-god's sake, Uzi..." Lizzy sighed as she struggled to break free (to no avail).

"Can't you give it a rest and NOT try to get revenge on her? Besides, what's in it for-"

"First of all, we're cousins, it's like siblings fighting, but you live in different houses," Uzi retorted. "Second off... I know how to make your hangout with your girlfriend betterrrrrr!"

Lizzy just blinked. Could she really trust this little weirdo to make her hangout (totally not date) more enjoyable? Frankly, not really, but she didn't have many other options.

"Go on..." she said dryly.

"Tell ya what," Uzi started to explain. "I'm gonna give you PomPom for the night. Cuddle with Doll for a bit, get really into an old human tv show or something... then let him scurry alllllll over Doll."

"And I get in return...?"

"The delightful giggling from your girlfriend."

"..."

"Ugh... and I'll wear one of the spare cheerleader outfits for the rest of the week."

"Hah!" Lizzy chuckled, satisfied. "Consider it done!"

Uzi's face lit up in pure excitement, foreseeing the absolute chaos that would unfold during their date. She released her Solver grip on Lizzy.

"Shake on it?" Uzi asked cheekily, holding out her hand. Lizzy reluctantly took her hand, relieved to see the little rebel didn't try to pull anything.

"Anything to see my girlfriend laugh," Lizzy smirked, but it melted off her face when she saw PomPom crawling on Uzi's shoulder. "But did your friend really have to be a roach...?"

"Yes, bite me," Uzi spat.

---------------

The timing could not be more perfect.

Doll came into Lizzy’s room, looking very down and somewhat filthy. She immediately went in for a hug from her popular girlfriend, something she rarely ever did.

"What's wrong, Dolly?" Lizzy asked calmly, stroking the Russian drone's stiff wig.

["Nothing..."] Doll mumbled. ["Got in a fight. Don't wanna talk about it."]

"Yeaaaah... it's ok, girlfriend," Lizzy replied brightly. "Now you have me, and we can just cuddle and be cute together!"

Doll nodded slowly. Lizzy was so good at comforting her that it was almost ridiculous. Her bright, loving disposition was simply infectious. The solver drone settled on the bed to be as close as possible, a moth drawn to her light. Her low mood was a thing of the past within minutes of turning on some human tv show from the 90s.

["This again?"] Doll muttered. ["We watched this last week..."]"Nah, pretty sure this is a..." Lizzy trailed off as she watched the intro. "Nope, never mind. It's the pilot again."

["I've never understood why they named that character 'remember'..."] Doll commented.

Lizzy hummed in reply, and 10 minutes in, she noticed Doll seemed to be very drawn into the show, to the point where she'd barely respond to a poke on the shoulder.

Operation "Revenge of the Giggles" was a go.

The blonde drone reached under her helmet and pulled out a small, wriggling mass that had been sleeping until now. She let PomPom hop off her hand and onto Doll’s head, doing a rather good job of holding in her mischievous snickering.

["What's so funny...?"] Doll asked after a solid minute.

"Ohhhhh, it's a little secret, Dolly." Lizzy replied. "And secrets are blackmail... well, until they get found out, anyway."

["Implying... Eeheheek! *hic* Whaahaht the hehehck?!"]

Lizzy simply smirked as she watched PomPom crawl around on Doll's stomach in excitement, making the solver drone curl up and cover her belly to lessen the tickles. The way Doll squealed with laughter made a wide grin spread on Lizzy’s face, just as wide as the one her girlfriend couldn't contain. It was that adorable.

"Oop! Looks like my secret's out!" Lizzy remarked mischievously.

["Lizzyyyhyhyhy! *hic* Hehehahaa!"] Doll stammered, her voice broken heavily with giggles. ["Geeheheht hihihm off meehehheee! *hic* Ehehhahaha!"]

"Hm, nah," Lizzy answered, leaning back and going on her phone. "I'm totally enjoying this more than I thought I would."

However, it wasn't long before PomPom hopped off of Doll's belly, seemingly uninterested in tickling her more. Doll rolled away to put some kind of distance between her and the bug, falling on the floor.

["Nehehever... do that to me again..."] Doll huffed, her voice still laced with giggles. ["Heeeehh... what're you looking at...?"]

"Uhm... Is PomPom supposed to be squeaking at a random wall?" Lizzy asked, watching the bug chirping at... nothing in particular.

Doll shrugged, then examined the wall as she stood. Perhaps there was a threat on the other side? PomPom sounded very... in distress, something Uzi mentioned that giggle bugs could practically smell danger throughout the whole bunker.

Then Doll spotted the vent. A small one, but it was big enough to let an infestation of bugs in and out. There were two tiny flickers of pink light. Then two more. And more. Lizzy had noticed it, too.

"Uhmm... Dolly...?" Lizzy spoke up hesitantly. "D-does PomPom have any... friends?"

["Dozens, why?"]

"...why DID UZI LIKE, NOT TELL ME?!"

[Yep, that checks out], Doll thought.

However, she didn't get a response out of her mouth before more giggling came first. She looked down and saw the giggle bugs already crawling up her legs.

["No no no, nohohoho!"] Doll squealed as she curled around her stomach again. ["Hehhahaha! *hic* Nohohot ahahahgain!"]

"Doll!" Lizzy exclaimed as she perched herself on the backboard of her bed. She wasn’t having it any easier. The bugs had never tickled her before, which meant a lovely new friend. She had managed to get away, but not for long. One of the bugs jumped onto her leg and started its ascension.

"ACK! EW!" Lizzy screeched shrilly. "Get off me-eheeheee! Eheheheheee! Stahahahahap!"

Doll had enough strength to pull her head up and saw Lizzy being swarmed. It was somewhat adorable, hearing the queen bee's goofy, bubbly laughter... too bad she didn't seem to be enjoying it.

["Hehehee! *hic* just leheheheet it haaaahahappen!"] Doll advised as best she could. ["They'll stahahahp eventuallyhyhhy!"]

"Whehehehen?!"

["I don't knohoohOHOHOHO! AAAAHAHHAA!"]

The unholy screaming that came from Doll just after she stopped laughing almost made Lizzy assume the devil had paid them a visit. The giggle bugs had started using the fuzzy fluffs on their feet and rubbed them on Doll's skin, unluckily on her death spot.

"Hehehehey!" Lizzy exclaimed at the bugs. "Leheheheve her ribs alohoohohne!"

Unfortunately, she didn't count on the bugs getting to her armpits, and she let out an unholy scream of her own.

"AAAAAAAHHAHAA! NOHOHOHOT THEEHHEEHRE!" Lizzy cackled, throwing her head back as the bugs skittered all over her. She was having such a bad time that digital tears of mirth welled up in her optics.

After what seemed like hours (in reality, it was around 7 minutes of on and off tickling), Lizzy finally got to catch a real breath as the bugs got off her body.

"Heeeeeh... hehehe... ok... that actually felt nice... heheh..." Lizzy panted. "D-doll?" ["Lizzyyyhyhyhy! Heheheheh... heheheehelp!"] Doll giggled weakly. She'd had it way worse and was way over her limit. Unfortunately, PomPom and his buddies hadn't gotten the message.

"Oh! Uh, uh..." Lizzy jumped and attempted to scare the bugs away. Given that she had the height advantage, it worked. "Shoo! Get off her! Leave her alone!"

Little by little, the giggle bugs scurried away from Doll and back into the vent, headed up by PomPom, who the worker drones had no doubt was satisfied in another job well done.

"You good, Dolly?" Lizzy asked as she helped Doll off the floor.

["I-I'll be fine..."] Doll stammered as she tried to regain her breath. ["*hic!* hff... hff...]

"Dear robo-god... I'm so sorry, girl!" Lizzy said as she pulled Doll into a hug. "If I'd known Uzi would sic this on us, I'd have never struck a deal!"

["Is ok... is ok..."] Doll replied quietly, patting her girlfriend's back. The two pulled away from each other, looking at one another up and down. Then Lizzy giggled.

"Wow. OMG," she said. "Those giggle bugs really did a number on ya! And in a good way."

Doll looked down at herself. There was no trace of dirt and filth from earlier anywhere. No wonder the giggle bugs went on her so hard.

["Ah, well..."] Doll trailed off awkwardly as she blushed. ["Heheh... they did."]

"Oh you, always being so modest," Lizzy chuckled. She leaned back on the bed. "C'mon. You need alllllll the r&r after that."

Doll nodded and laid down halfway on Lizzy, clinging softly to her as they resumed their show.

["Hey Lizzy...] Doll mumbled.

"Hm?"

["Wanna help me get revenge on Uzi tomorrow?"]

"Totes."

["Thanks... what'd I do to deserve you as a girlfriend...]

The end :]

Wow, it has been a HOT MINUTE since I published a tickle fic! I really gotta get back into this, it's so fun writing murder drones fluff. <3

#murder drones #murder drones fanfic #murder drones uzi #murder drones lizzy #murder drones doll #murder drones tickles #sfw tk blog #sfw tickle community

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desolationcleo · 1 year ago

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Theory: There Wasn't Supposed To Be An End Portal (Or: Why Jimmy's Curse Broke)

So! I've been turning this around in my head for a bit now but I've now got some level of possible supporting evidence for it and you know what? Why not! I'll post it!

(technically i've already posted it but with somewhat less coherency and no tags)

So. If you, uh, hang on. Lemme just get the timestamp.

1:38:16 Last Life lore stream. Discussed concept that going to the End could/would break the loop, but the Watchers would never give them a piece of land with an end portal in it.

So the theory goes that Grian obtained some info and, upon seeing that local bestie Mumbo was gonna have to go through the game again after what happened last time, went fuck it and threw a stronghold into the place at the very last second before starting the game in an attempt to break the loop. His starting the game somewhat earlier than intended was also part of why Tango wound up needing possession therapy. Adding that one in because I want to use the phrase "possession therapy".

Punishment hard tasks are often given assuming that the player will fail. But Gem and Bdubs actually managed it- and if the loop isn't broken, then it IS seriously destabilized/starting to fall apart.

Jimmy broke his curse (at least partially) when he went to the End.

Lizzie, the only one to die before Jimmy, died in the End before she could really get the revenge arc rolling. That death of hers was straight up not meant to happen- had they not had End access, Jimmy's curse would be intact.

After Lizzie dies, Grian sends this in chat

And of course he apologizes for her death, considers it to be his own fault. If he hadn't thrown in the portal, thus messing with the cycle, she'd have lasted longer.

Of course, we won't know if he actually managed to break the loop until we either do or don't get another season. But either way, nothing is the same anymore.

#trafficblr #secret life smp #secret life spoilers #eyesandears

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thecoolerliauditore · 17 days ago

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Big post for episode 2 alliance by alliance EXCEPT for the evil one (you know) because they're getting their own quarantined post.

Lag's gone yippee!!!!

This mechanic is awesome I loved the initial bout of confusion. Poor Ren lmao

I'm a hypocrite here because I'm usually an RNG hater but this mechanic is so funny I don't actually care. Etho eating redstone real. Insert c(l)ock joke here. Mental imagery of skizz shovelling dirt into his mouth is really awesome.

The BAM Boys (Bamboozlers now but they're BAM Boys in my heart) continue to be a SSS+ tier alliance. I love how quickly they've become Grian/Mumbo/Skizz's shitty horrible upstairs neighbour.

THE PARROTS ARE REALLY CUTE AND REALLY AWESOME. Very very excited to see what the avian headcanon and canary symbolism people are going to do with that.

I can't wait for Jimmy's POV from the looks of it he's. such a little shit this session. Which is good these are signs of a happy Jimmy. The part where they box him in while he's AFK is really cute to me and I know this is probably on the more insane side of the scale for me but I can't help but read it as Jimmy having an episode of some sort and Scar and Lizzie making sure he's okay until he recovers.

And I won't lie watching Scar punch Scott even if it was just for silliness was just the slightest bit satisfying.

Lizzie is a bit. odd to me because she seems to have adapted the same mindset as alot of other people in assuming incompetence on Jimmy and Scar's part.

I ☝️think her saying she's the best survivalist out of the group is more a reflection of her being insecure in her own abilities than her genuinely thinking of them as liabilities. Don't get me wrong she is a crucial member of the Jimmy Ecosystem and thus very much subscribes to that hierarchical set of beliefs But she's been conscious in the past of her own shortcomings and I don't think it's like? Something that necessarily actually bothers her in the way Skizz and Mumbo worry Grian to death.

Plus she spent her episode building parrots (which are awesome) -- she's just overall a much more whimsical personality and I think the "best survivalist" stuff is more another example of her performative nature coming in akin to when she plays sitcom wife or manipulative seductress with Joel. After all the "only brain cell" is a very. The Girl One role that pops up and literally like the first time she implies her teammates are incompetent is her "surrounded by idiots" line that she's saying about a bit SHE LITERALLY STARTED ‼️

So like TLDR I don't think Lizzie is like. genuinely malicious towards her teammates she's just very performative. What she says is still very wrong and might reflect badly on her teammates, though.

(side note I remember at the end of SL there was a bit of discourse surrounding the way people talked about Scar's win and people were especially not accepting of posts that implied Grian's 1v3 or Pearl's previous win had anything to do with him winning because it also implied Scar's win wasn't all due to his skill. and I can't help but wonder how those guys must feel now lmao I'm so sorry)

I really hope the sub ones/floaters/spanners just keep switching team names like every single episode. Would be nuclear for the tagging system but it would be really funny.

Mumbo being self-aware of his own paranoia wasn't something I saw coming and I find it very interesting. I'm not a Mumbo guy he's more or less a silly cartoon animal to me but I'm sure a Mumbohead could have a field day with that one. His reaction to Tango killing Skizz and his pathetically desperate attempts at revenge afterwards are also extremely. Something. (hilarious to watch but. Something)

Grian and Mumbo are both really funny to me when they're in a certain state of emotional distress, specifically Grian when he's annoyed and Mumbo when he's panicking and there is. Alot of that this episode. By far one of the funniest POVs for me.

Skizz oh poor Skizz. If this was 3L he would be OUT. REALLY excited to see where the thing he has going on with Tango will lead (usually I try not to comment on the CC side of things but I must say it is really sweet to me that these two are good enough friends that Tango, socially anxious as he is, can do that).

Nothing much to say about Joel from me this episode I hope his car is okay after that wild animal chewed on its tires.

Gem though is interesting. Not to get to into The Horrors in this post because I want to save most of them for Their Post but her conversation with Pearl is and later Scott is? Fascinating me a bit.

I very much do see the comparison to DL Pearl's naivete regarding past alliances sticking but Gem is? Very abrasive and the wording she uses to Scott is that he needs to "control" Pearl specifically which is!! A very strange thing to say when her whole thing with Pearl was celebrating Scarlet Pearl.

Again not claiming to be a Gem understander so don't look at me but it feels like to me these are the consequences of her idol worship illusion being shattered similar to how she used to treat Etho with the "washed up" stuff. I want to say of course she sides with her previous ally Scott regarding Pearl but she tells Etho to steal from "Pearl and Scott and stuff" near the end of the episode so it seems more like. Her being antagonistic to that alliance as a whole? Honestly not sure what to make of it, will need more episodes but this is intriguing this is fun. This is fun. I'm sorry gempearl girlies.

"Tuff Guys".... Whatever man.

This one is good this one is fascinating. So first off other people have pointed out them lacking a leader and Skizz's absence which is totally cool I'm so not emotion about that.

But we're just? Going full mask off. Bdubs is pulling a Liauditore and questioning the importance of the concept of an alliance itself in these games which I, being Liauditore, can judge as the objectively correct thing to do, based of Bdubs, swear ALL this shit off don't ask me questions.

Usual ethubs shenanigans are ensuing. I don't really know how to put that in a better way but they are full force ethubs rn.

One interaction I found interesting with Bdubs are his conversation with Scar and Tango when Scar asks Bdubs if he should let the name-ever-changing-grian-mumbo-skizz alliance kill Tango and Bdubs is kinda like. Ehhhhhdhkldhhkkkkjj 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️ about it. But when Scar leaves Bdubs he goes straight to Tango and just says the word "VENGEANCE" in his goofy scary voice before Martyn interrupts them.

Like. It feels as though? Now that we're all in the open about Not being loyal or whatever to eachother, the relationship with Tango is? Relatively better. Then again saying you don't expect eachother to be loyal is not the same as actually being emotionally okay with that and it'll be fun to see how much b-dgaf-dubs stays as b-dgaf-dubs. But again I think establishing expectations is good and a lot more healthy than what Some Other Alliances are doing.

For all the Pearl angst we've been bouncing back and forth I've seen nobody bring up his interaction with her this episode where he approaches her to poison her and when she falls for it Bdubs immediately goes "No. I can't." and admits what he was trying to do. It's very cute. (mounders I'll love you forever). Bdubs cares her.

Also I think I might be a level of cooked that Bdubs goofily singing little mermaid made my brain go ding ding. Idk. the gay agenda, I guess.

Tango is fucking insane someone check on him. Why did he eat that tire. Why did he eat Skizzleman.

But real talk that kill was kind of awesome I love non-conventional kills and people finding ways to kill that are more adaptive to their individual strengths than just brute forcing pvp. I love a good pvp fight don't get me wrong but that sort of kill through using his smarts feels so much more. Tango than if he pulled off an insane sword combo out of nowhere or something as awesome as that would be. Reminds me a bit of Lizzie farming her fireworks crossbows in LL but on a way smaller scale.

Also wasn't sure if I should say this here or in the BAM section but Tango floating away into the distance panicked but giggling is so funny when paired with Jimmy's POV where he's going OH NO TANGO TANGO OH HE'S DEAD I'VE KILLED HIM HE'S GONNA HATE ME ETC ETC. Jimmy he.. Jimmy he Does Not care.

Anyway I love this version of Tango I hope he stays. I hope he murders Bdubs.

Etho is Etho. No more gravel pranks thank god. His fearful reaction to Joel's "family" comment is so funny I could see the LimL flashbacks beam out of his skull when he nervously asks about family dinners.

I'm not a gemtho guys by any means but her giving him an allium and him putting it in a pot to "protect" it surely means something. It's very sweet to me.

Bdubs' comment about it smth smth "as soon as you put value in something..." with the other half of that being implied to be something like "other people will try to destroy/steal it" is. quite something as well. really neat lampshading of this group's overall dilemma so far (if you don't value an alliance, you won't lose it, you can't lose out on value that you never place in anything).

Treebark is Treebark. Ren asking Martyn first thing what role he should play is a bit crazy (I love you ever-shifting 3L power dynamics).

This isn't exactly About them but I like the contrast between Ren starving to death in front of Skizz and Grian who barely care and Martyn starving to death in front of Pearl who is so distraught she takes to chat to apologize. Pearl they could never make me hate you Pearl.

Outsourcing this one to the treebarkposters they seem. Fairly chill? To me? Still? But god don't look at me. Ren "I can fix him" Dog is pretty cool. And him kissing Cleo is cool (I'm gnawing my arm off). As is him randomly deciding to crown Bigb a king (I'M GNAWING MY ARM OFF).

ok cool whatever thats all the alliances no more posts about this episode hahahahahahhaha bye!!!!

#random thoughts #wild life spoilers #traffic spoilers

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definitelynotshouting · 1 year ago

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DEAR GODS. GUYS WHEN THEY CANNOT SHUT UP IN THE TAGS AND GET PERCEIVED ABOUT IT 😂😂😂😂

@legallycertifiedmcyttrash space au is a sci-fi scarian au that me and my friend @good-chimes (glossyblue on ao3) have been rotating at max speed and tossing at each other like a bouncy ball for like the past week now. The general premise i came up with is that Grian, the epitome of Just Some Guy (But There's Something Wrong With Him), has (what's on the surface) a meet-cute moment with alien!Scar while trying to find the owner of the very cute and mischievous catlike alien he's befriended while visiting Jupiter-based space station Hermetia.

A few things of note here:

It's been several years since the initial first contact; as there are no universal translators, negotiations on trade and treaties have been slow as each side attempts to learn multiple languages. This is new for EVERYONE, and diplomatic tensions are a bit fragile as a result.

The alien race (which we havent come up with a name for yet) is very felid-esque and has a variety of castes, some of which look a lot like uncanny-valley alien cats. Many of these specific caste-members are high-ranking leaders and diplomats.

The alien cat Grian is currently holding under his arm like a football while he searches for her owner is, in fact, one of these diplomats, and her name is Jellie. Scar is her (absolutely terrible) bodyguard.

Jellie knows just enough English to get by but can't really speak it. Scar knows absolutely zero English. They both, however, are basically fluent in Mandarin.

Grian doesn't speak Mandarin.

This results in a game of frantic pantomimes and charades on both ends until BigB, ambassador-in-training and the entire reason Grian is visiting this space station in the first place, gets called in to translate and smooth over the veritable disaster of a social faux pas that has just taken place. Jellie, who has some very specific ideas about diplomacy, and also thinks Grian fucking RULES, essentially says "yeah it's alright, he just has to join my retinue now." and suddenly Grian has a new job he can't refuse and it involves politics.

There's a lot more im not covering here, like some cultural context for Jellie and Scar's relationship, and the eventual plotline of Jellie's fellow high-ranking leader, Lizzie, having it out for her because of her ideas on diplomacy and trade relations-- and ofc the slowburn scarian that's happening because they've basically had to move in together, plus assorted cultural exchange hijinks-- but it's extremely funny, very heartfelt, and also involves fictional politics which is like catnip to me personally. And that is basically the cliff notes of space au, where we've barely even gotten into the worldbuilding for it but theres already so, so much material to work with WHEEEEEZE

#shouting speaks #scarian #goodtimeswithscar #grian #jellie #we keep yelling at each other in the brainrot channels of my server while everyone else gets popcorn and watches #also it is SO important to me that they are fluent in Not English #THE LANGUAGE BARRIER!!!! ITS ABOUT THE LANGUAGE BARRIER!!!!!!!#this is all of my favorite space tropes shoved in a trench coat tbh #hermitcraft #hermitshipping #might start calling this diplomatic disaster au idk SJDNSJDNS #mcyt #my aus #edit: whoops space au stuck so ig im using that tag #space au #txt

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indestructibleheart · 9 months ago

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Tagged by my beloveds: @kiwiana-writes, @hgejfmw-hgejhsf, @cha-melodius, @vanillahigh00, and @junebugclaremontdiaz.

By this point, MJ (@kiwiana-writes) and I have both casually mentioned a secret project. It's still a secret, but I am a menace and a plague and I'm sharing this with absolutely no context whatsoever:

Henry's gaze flicks across the desk to meet the stoic expression of the President of the United States: a carefully schooled pose he recognizes from the mirror after his father passed. The hard line of her jaw and the bleak look in her eyes betray the attempt at being inscrutable to anyone who knows the signs. Beside her, June is openly somber, tears welling, and her bottom lip is trembling. Nora holds her hand over the table. And Henry should say something supportive. He should nod and say that he understands. He should roll back his shoulders and acknowledge that he, as someone who is not even a legal citizen of this country, is grateful to be included in this conversation at all. Gratefulness, too, is a practiced pose for the spare. Henry is meant to smile and say, "thank you," even in meetings with Parliament. He is a figurehead. A charm. At any rate, the papers have already been drawn for Henry's abdication, which removes even the illusion of Henry's political power. At this moment, he is, for all intents and purposes, just a guest here—someone invited out of the kindness of Ellen Claremont's heart.

[gif of alex running away and flipping peace signs]

Tagging some lovelies under the cut. If you have not been tagged and you want to be, consider this your tag!

@anchoredarchangel, @barbiediaz, @cricketnationrise, @guillermosfamiliar @hippolotamus, @inexplicablymine, @jettestar, @lizzie-bennetdarcy, @missgeevious, @mulderscully, @myheartalivewrites, @ninzied, @nontoxic-writes, @notspecialbabe, @priincebutt, @rmd-writes, @rosedavid, @three-drink-amy, @treluna4, @vanillahigh00, @welcometololaland, @orchidscript, @ships-to-sail, @stereopticons.

#m:wip #wip:snippet #fic: rwylm #kiwiana

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filmtv2022 · 1 year ago

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In the Bleak Midwinter: Chapter 3

Previous Chapter Next Chapter

Series Masterlist

Pairing: Thomas Shelby x Reader

Chapter Synopsis: Grief and addiction push Y/N further away from reality. Relying on a nasty mix of alcohol and opium, Y/N leans into a dangerous way to cope with the hurt while clinging to the past. Seeing her slip, Tommy finds himself pushed to get closer than he'd like in an attempt to protect her from herself.

Warning: drug & alcohol abuse + mentions of suicide + language

Timeframe & Canon Info: This story is taking place in what would be part of season five of Peaky Blinders. With that being said, we are not fully sticking to canon here. For the purpose of this story, Lizzie is not married to Tommy and does not play a significant role in his life. He has not remarried since Grace's death. Additionally, the only child Thomas has is Charlie.

A/N: Okay, so it was really fun exploring the softer side of Tommy Shelby in this chapter. I look forward to doing more of that throughout this story. I hope you all are enjoying this story so far, and I'm beyond grateful to those who are reading. As always, please forgive me for any and all mistakes.

** If you would like to be tagged in future updates, please comment and let me know.

The sun sat low in the sky as Tommy made his way to 725 Watery Lane. This had become his norm over the past few days. Each evening, he’d make his way to you, relieving the men he’d posted outside your door to keep his own watch through the night. Every attempt made by himself and others to see you, to speak with you, had gone unanswered. But he was undeterred, this drive to keep you safe went far beyond some wartime promise he’d made to William Butler. It stirred something deep in his soul, and that terrified him.

But there, despite that fear, he would sit, perched on a rickety wooden chair, clinging to every small sound of life that spilled out into the hall. Only in the dead of night, as exhaustion consumed him would the need for rest pull him under. This night was no different from the rest. Having replaced Johnny Dogs for the midnight shift, he settled in for the long haul.

…

The constant presence of the Peaky Boys went almost entirely unnoticed as the days blurred one into the next. The movement of time was marked only by the changing of light outside the window. Occasional voices could be heard in the hall, but they were garbled in your mind as you coped with the pain in the one way you knew how. Delirium dragged you away leaving the world blurry and out of focus.

With a weak hand, you blindly reached for whatever you could find perched on the nightstand. The whiskey and Laudanum you’d brought was always there in its place when you needed it, but that was about to change. Pulling the cork, you touched the rim to your lips and tipped it back, but nothing came. It was empty. Panic began to rise creating a flush of heat over your skin. Swinging your legs off the side of the bed, you rested in that position for a moment before trying to stand, but there was no strength left in your limbs. Taking a couple of staggering steps, your body crumpled into a heap on the floor. The thump of your frame hitting the wooden boards shook your bones, knocking the wind from your lungs. Rolling onto your back, you stared blankly up at the ceiling. Silent tears flooded down your cheeks as you welcomed the blackness that clouded your vision.

…

Woken suddenly from a dead sleep, Tommy struggled to bring his surroundings into focus. An eerie quiet had settled in the air and it was that hollow void that sent anxiety ripping down his spine. Pushing up from the chair, he swiftly pulled the key from his pocket. The low snick of the lock coming unlatched was drowned out by the heavy pull of his breaths.

Throwing it open, his eyes immediately fell on your slumped figure. Obscenities laced with your names, flowed in rapid succession as quick strides brought him to your side, where he dropped to his knees. His fingers reached for your neck to feel for a pulse. The clock seemed to stop as he waited for any sign of life beneath your tender flesh. After what felt like an eternity, a featherlight thrum beat against his fingertips marking that he hadn’t failed to keep you here, to keep you safe.

Letting go of the air in his lungs, Tommy adjusted his position so that he was leaning on the side of the bed with you in between his strong thighs, your back to his chest. Sweat collected in the delicate cotton of your pajamas, the collar stained dark from the perspiration. With one arm wrapped around your waist, he used the other to brush away the hair stuck to your neck, he watched the rise and fall of your chest. The rhythm was slow giving him something to focus on as he calmed himself. The smell of stale whiskey and sweat mixed with the faint remnants of your sweet perfume.

Resting his head back on the mattress, Tommy’s eyes drifted shut leaving him to concentrate on the feeling of you. Your muscles twitched in small jerks as the dreams returned. Mumbled whispers tumbled from your lips calling out to people who no longer walked this earth. One name, in particular, came to the surface over and over.

“William…” Even in your sleep, fresh tears spilled as the image of your husband alive and well remained to haunt you.

…

The early hours of the morning gave way to a new day. The gray hues of first light forced Tommy to move. Arthur would be by soon to relieve him of his watch, and the last thing he needed was for his brother to see you like this, exposed and broken on the floor.

Using his strength, Thomas scooped you into his arm. You stirred only slightly as he placed you on the bed, and covered you with a rough woolen blanket. Tracing over your features, he watched you for a moment before sweeping his fingertips along the rise of your cheek. An ache, deep and genuine, gripped his heart as he looked at you.

Heavy boot steps echoing down the hall broke the trance. Grabbing the bottle and flask from your nightstand, he forced himself to leave your side, but he didn’t get far. Arthur pressed into the room before his brother had a chance to make his exit.

“Oi, everythin’ all right?” the gravel in Arthur’s voice was heavier than usual, its severity matched the swath of blue under his eyes. Something that Tommy didn’t fail to notice.

“When she wakes up she going to be fuckin’ irate that I’ve taken her whiskey and her drugs. But under no circumstances are you to find her any, and if she tries to leave you stop her, understand?”

“But you’ve been giving-”

“I know, I was, but it's gone too far. I’ll be by later to collect her.”

“Collect? As in-”

“As in she’ll be comin’ to stay with me at Arrow House.”

“Right, so, I know you’re the boss here, Tommy, but is this really a good idea? With everythin’ goin’ on with Michael and Billy Boys?”

“I don’t care if it’s a fuckin’ good idea or not. I said she’s comin’ so she is, you hear me?”

“Loud and clear brother.”

…

Gruff voices at the end of your bed became clearer as the fog of unconsciousness lifted. The pounding of your head left you feeling off-kilter, your stomach rolled viciously forcing you to swallow the bile that rose in the back of your throat. Gingerly, you tried to sit up, but even this small amount of physical exertion drained you of everything you’d recouped during your rest. On instinct, you reached for the nightstand but found nothing. A weak groan fell from your lips, the sound pitiful and desperate. The figures standing nearby dropped their conversation as they saw your movement in their periphery. Arthur stood for a moment like a statue, his eyes focused on Tommy as he came to sit next to you, and gently dabbed away the sweat from your forehead. Mumbling something under his breath about giving the two of you a minute, the eldest Shelby left the room, shutting the door behind himself.

“Where is it? What the fuck did you do with it?” frustration bit at the words as you grappled with the dizziness that impeded your ability to focus.

“It’s gone.”

“Gone, what do you… what… no. No.” reaching for his wrist, you dug your fingernails into his skin as the anxiety came barreling in, “You can’t… I-I need-”

“You don’t fuckin’ need it, Y/N.”

“But I do. I need it to… I need to see…” closing your eyes, you turned your face away, your cheek pressed into the pillow. The back of your throat tightened with the strain of emotion.

“Hey, hey, look at me.” Tommy’s broad palm cupped your face, turning it gently to face him, “Open your eyes, and look at me.” He waited, thumb brushing over your skin.

“You see him, right? When you take it?” he paused just long enough to see the look of recognition, “I know you do, but he isn’t here.”

“He is, he has to be. I can feel him, his hands on me. I can hear them laughing too, in the other room.”

“Y/N, it isn’t real. I know it feels like is, but I promise you it isn’t. The truth is that no matter how much you take nothin’ is bringing them back. It’s dangerous to keep going like this.”

“I don’t care, I have to see them.”

“It’ll kill you, Y/N.”

“Would that be so bad? I’m tired Thomas, so fuckin’ tired.”

“You deserve a life, to be happy again. If not for yourself, for them, for their memory. Let me help you. You delivered the letter as he asked, now let me keep the promise I made… just like you kept yours.”

It was unfathomable that his man who you’d only met a few days ago would be willing to go to this length from someone as unworthy as yourself, but it was the desperation in his eyes that moved your soul.

“Okay. I’ll try… for them.”

With a sharp nod, Tommy removed his hands from your body, and an emptiness settled in your heart at the loss of his touch.

“I need you to get dressed, and pack your things.”

“Why? Where am I going?”

“Home, with me.”

“You don’t have to do that. I’ll be fine right here, I promise. Besides, I’m sure your wife won’t want a random woman flitting around the house.”

“That won’t be a problem.”

“I highly doubt that.”

“Doesn’t matter, I’ve already made up my mind. Now,” standing from the bed he lit himself a cigarette, “get yourself together. I’ll be downstairs with the car. My brother Arthur’s out in the hall. He’ll take your bag when you’re ready.”

…

Collecting your things and getting dressed took longer than usual. The past few days of overconsumption proved to have taken quite a toll on your body, but eventually, you were ready.

With suitcase in hand, you took a deep breath before turning the handle. The metal was cool in your palm as you yanked it open. Hearing the noise, Arthur turned around to face you.

“All set, Mrs. Butler?”

“I am, and you must be Arthur.”

“That’s right.”

“It’s nice to meet you, and please call me Y/N.”

“All right, Y/N. Let’s get goin’ then." He reached for your bag, which you willingly gave.

A clear sky hung above the tops of the buildings with only the smoke from the factories to taint the clarity. Arthur threw your bag in the back of a stunning motorcar parked out front before ushering you inside. Hopping into the passenger seat himself, Tommy was already behind the wheel. No more conversation was to be had as the three of you pulled away from Watery Lane.

Eventually, the bustle of the city gave way to rolling countryside. The air was infinitely cleaner and more palatable than what you’d been used to inhaling both in Birmingham and London. In the distance, a massive mansion came into view. Its scale and grandeur were apparent even from a mile off. The beauty only grew the closer you got.

Parking as near to the front stoop as he could, Tommy was out of the car and to your door before you even had the chance to think. Holding it open for you, he offered you a steadying hand while the other fell to the small of your back for extra support. A wave of warmth flooded across your body at his touch. Satisfied that you were not going to fall, he collected your suitcase and returned to your side, calling to his brother as he ushered you indoors.

“Dinner’s at 7:00, Arthur.”

“Got it, Tommy.” Shifting to the driver’s side, he started the engine and took off back down the drive leaving the two of you alone.

Meeting Thomas’ eyes, a wistful smile turned up the corner of your lips as you scanned over his features, “This doesn’t make any sense, I don’t even know you. Why are you doing this?”

Halting his steps, Tommy turned to face you, his strong hand still resting on the small of your back, the hypnotic blue of his eyes locked with your unyielding gaze “Because…” clearing his throat, “No one deserves to go through this alone.” He continued to speak as he led you into the massive home, “Now, let’s get you settled.”

...

Taglist:

@sadroses98

#thomas shelby x reader #thomas shelby fic #thomas shelby x y/n #thomas shelby #tommy shelby x you #tommy shelby x reader #tommy shelby #peaky blinders #peaky blinders fanfiction

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xwritingdixonx · 1 year ago

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Till Death Do Us Part | Chapter 7 |

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series masterlist

Summary: As a result of Daryl's actions, Eddie comes to your defense. Pete causes the divide of Alexandria.

Warnings: language, use of guns, blood, typical twd things

Word count: aprox. 3K

Tags: @bigbaldheadname @daryldixcnswife @alanamarie @suniloli @fuseburner

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Typically at this hour you would be wrapping up whatever duty it was you were performing for the day. But after today, your only desire was to be home and not have to put on the facade of being a brave leader. And deep down you knew your temper was too on edge right now to face anyone. Besides, you wanted to use up fresh harvest while you could before it was back to cans, jars, and dried things. So, you did what you loved, cooked. But right now even that was proving to send you to your ends.

Daryl still hadn’t shown after your “talk” in the garage, it worried you that he wouldn’t show at all. Especially once he finds out about the words you shared with Rick. Maybe he was too wrapped up with that stupid fucking bike to realize the time. It was an attempt to reassure yourself but it didn’t work.

Stupid fucking bike, stupid fucking Rick Grimes, stupid fuck-, a sharp inhale left your lips as you watched the knife slide through the tip of your finger and not the potato.

Stupid fucking you for keeping the knifes so sharp.

You tossed the knife out of frustration, turning to run your finger under water, washing the blood that was oozing down. You tried to calm yourself, gripping the edge of the sink with your free hand. The pain in your finger grew, now throbbing with sharp stings. The overwhelming frustration you had been bottling all day was spilling over as hot tears blurred your vision.

You just wanted to keep your family safe. You wanted the boys to be safe, you promised Lizzie they would be. You wanted your husband to stand loyally by your side, just like Tommy has done. You just wanted to cook dinner.

“Y/n?”

Celia and Nellie rushed to your aid, both pulling their attention to different things. “Let me see” Celia turned to water off, grabbing a towel to wrap your finger. “What’s wrong?” Nellie asked close by your side. As you were about to speak, Tommy and Henry joined the kitchen, had been coming home from their day. “Rick, he wants to take Alexandria.” A deep breath left your chest, relieving yourself of the stress you’d carried all day. “And two guns are missing from the armory and I-I don’t think Daryl’s siding with us.” A sob almost slipped but you attempted to calm yourself as you didn’t want to be an emotional mess in front of the eyes of this many.

Silence hung over the room for a mere second, the two brothers glanced at each other before Tommy proudly spoke, “We can take care of it.” Just as you knew, undoubtedly loyal. “I already talked to Rick.” Celia walked with you over to the dining table, telling Nellie to go grab her first aid kit. “I don’t want a fight or a-a war. I don't want what we had to do before. I just-“ “It ruins all of our plans Y/n” Henry interrupted, “I know.”

As you conversed and spilled everything you had known to be true of that matter, Nellie ran into her brother, sneaking in through the back door in another attempt to avoid you. “What are you doing?” Nellie asked, startling the man. “What are you doing?” Eddie shot back noticing the first aid kit in her arms, receiving a glare at his childish response. “Y/n” Was all she replied, Eddie could see the stress hinted on her face, “What’s going on?”

Though your last words to your brother had been in anger, that didn’t mean he cared any less for you. “Well,” Nellie waved the first aid kit in her hand, “She cut herself while cooking but," She was hesitant to continue, not knowing if you wanted Eddie informed. But now she felt cornered, knowing there was no way of avoiding it. "She said that Rick wants to take Alexandria, and at the moment, Daryl’s on his side or that's what she thinks.” Unintentionally Eddie’s head drew back, how dare he? was the first thought shooting through his mind.

Daryl and Eddie had gotten into countless fights, verbal and physical, in the time of their lifelong friendship. Whether that was fighting over games as children or whether that involved you and Daryl's relationship in the first place.

"Where are you going!?" Nellie whispered with a harsh voice watching her brother begin to slip his way back out the door. "Imma take care of it." Ignoring Nellie beckoning him to come back, begging him to not make it worse. But he slipped away with every intent to prove to everyone that he was just as loyal and trustworthy as the rest.

"Had a visit from someone earlier." Rick stood where sleeping bags and pillows were once piled in the common area. Carol sat with her hands crossed over her clothed khakied knee, Maggie sat on the couch, and Michonne leaned on the closest wall. Rick's hands rested on his hips, as usual when he stood like this, "Y/n knows bout' Pete, she follows Deanna, won't do anything about it." Michonne rolled her eyes, she had grown tired of Rick constantly nagging about Jessie and Pete. She understood his intentions were good but had noticed a line constantly being crossed.

"Knows bout' everything."

Maggie never agreed with Rick's "plan" in the first place. Over these past two weeks she had grown to genuinely enjoy your company, along with your family. After losing the last of her blood family, she just wanted peace with her husband, as did you.

“We’re not gonna let this stop anything, alright? We’re not gonna let anyone make us weak. We-“

“The hell you doin’ man?”

Daryl’s low and gruff voice disrupted Rick’s brewing speech. Daryl stood not far behind Rick, his hunter abilities giving him a silent entrance. His clothes were dirty from working on his bike, though that was quite typical of him, but his chest was slightly puffed from anger. Daryl allowed, what he felt, enough time to pass for your talk with Rick before he even thought about making his way over. But he didn’t know he’d walk into what he had now.

Daryl thought Rick had stopped, he thought once Rick knew his “brothers” family was here, he wouldn’t want to take Alexandria anymore. He could insult himself for being so blind to what had been going on right in front of him. Perhaps he had gotten weak, gotten just a little bit too comfortable in your embrace.

“Daryl, I was gonna talk to you alone, I-“

“Ain’t nothin’ to talk about.”

If there was one thing Daryl drew a very fine line with, it was you.

Rick’s chest heaved with a sigh, “She threatened to cut my head off.” Rick could almost laugh at the memory, was wasn’t humorous was the seriousness hidden behind your eyes. “Yeah?” Daryl changed his position to stand in front of the man. Maggie and Michonne exchanged a knowing glance, “And I’d let her.”

Though this had been a thought in Rick’s mind, it wasn’t playing out the way he intended. But how could he expect Daryl to react about proclamations being made about his beloved wife?

“I’m doing this for my family. For Judith, Carl. For our group, our family. You said it yourself Daryl, we all deserve a place like this after everything we went through. But we gotta make it stronger.”

Daryl shook his head, “Nah. You got yer family and I got mine.” With that Daryl left with a scoff and a slam of a door, leaving the room silent.

Daryl returned to Aaron’s, going to clean up the mess he’d left behind. As Daryl pulled the garage door closed, he heard heavy footsteps behind him. He turned expecting Rick but was roughly shoved back by his childhood best friend. “The hell you doin’?!” Daryl yelled, returning the harsh shove. “What do you mean the hell?” Eddie shot back, repositioning himself from his slight stumble back. “Why you shovin’ me?”

A couple Alexandrian’s walked by, shooting the men odd glances. By now, most people had learned to shake their heads and keep walking.

“I walked her down the aisle to you and you’re gonna betray her like this? Choosing some fake fucking family over her?” Eddie spat at Daryl who couldn't hide the utter bewilderment on his face.

“You don’t know what the hell yer talkin’ about!”

The two men looked like they did when they were boys, pushing and shoving, calling each other names, and throwing insults. Aaron came out from his home and stepped in, not wanting a brawl in the middle of his driveway. "Alright alright." Aaron coaxed, "Eddie go, please."

After Daryl sat with Aaron and took time to calm down, that's when he returned home to you. A pang of guilt burrowing in his chest.

When he slipped into the shared bedroom, you were lying on his side of the bed with your back to the door. No covers lay on your frame, showing Daryl that you had simply come to lie down but fallen asleep in the process. The length of your hair was in a loose braid, something Nellie must have done.

She had picked up this habit in moments of comfort or silence. She always loved playing with your hair or Cecilia's even when you were children. Her hair never quite reached your lengths and thickness, a constant reminder that she inherited your mother's thinner hair. Opposed to your father's dark rich curls.

Daryl glanced down at his attire, stained with dirt and his hands with grease. He did as he used to, showering before he came to you. When he returned from showering, you were no longer on his side of the bed. You laid on your side, once again with your back to him, now wearing your silky nightgown. It told Daryl exactly what you wanted it to tell him. You were upset and you weren't giving in so easily.

He slowly lay down beside you and wrapped his arm around your abdomen. You could feel the hesitation in his touch. He knew he had to try to talk to you, to explain himself but he didn't quite have the words. "M'sorry. I'm with you." That was all he could say. He didn't expect it to be enough for you, he didn't expect you to roll over and shower him in forgiving kisses.

You remained silent but brought one hand down to hold his hand in yours. It wasn't much but it was enough for him. "I love ya." Daryl planted a soft kiss on your shoulder before making himself comfortable.

The rest that engulfed the two of you wouldn't last very long. It was soon to be interrupted a few hours later when the streets of Alexandria were empty and the only thing lighting them was dying street lights and dimly lit porches.

You were awoken by Cecilia flinging your bedroom door open, herself wearing her own silky robe and pajamas. At first, you were so startled you didn't quite hear what she was saying, too focused on your heart beating rapidly. She repeated her words more urgently and that's when it clicked, "Jace and Luke!" That was all you needed to hear to jump out of bed, following her out of the house and through the streets.

Daryl was farther behind you, shouting something about putting something else on. You didn’t care for anything he had to say, though maybe he was right. Your nightgown was slightly sheer, showing every bit of your tattoos and scars.

A group had formed in front of the Anderson home, “Jace, Luke!” You shouted approaching the scene, Daryl close behind you. You rushed to the boy's aid noticing their once-perfect faces bruised and bloodied. “Oh god” You muttered, Jace’s cheek was swollen, along with his lip that was busted and freshly red with blood. “Show me.” You demanded from Luke, who held a cloth to his nose. His nose was bruised and bleeding, leaving streaks of dried and fresh blood streaming down his lips and chin.

Your eyes met Tommy's, the worry and anger burning into his features. “Who did this?!” You shouted, whipping yourself around to face the crowd. Your hair followed along with you, only the ends now still being held in the braid, long pieces falling along the frame of your face.

Cecilia examined the boys along with you, Cecilia telling Luke that his nose wasn’t broken. Your eyes landed on Carl, who stood to your right with Rick and Michonne. He didn’t have any visible damage besides his hair being tousled and clothes misplaced.

Ron stood with Pete and Jessie, looking as if he had taken a few hits himself.

The thought crossed your mind that the young boys simply had a brawl in the street. For what reason? You didn’t know but it wouldn’t come as a shock.

Henry and Eddie were already there with Tommy. Cecilia had woken them up first and they were out the door in an instant.

“What is going on here?!” Deanna rushed to the scene, Reg tying his robe as he followed behind her. Everyone stood in some sort of sleeping attire, having been woken up in the dead of night for this. Some Alexandrians in the surrounding homes stood on their porches or peered through cracked curtains.

"He hit Luke!" Jace pointed a finger at Pete.

“No I didn’t! That kids a fucking liar!”

“You’re a fucking liar!” Carl yelled back at Pete, defending his friend.

“Carl!” Rick.

“Dad!” Carl again.

Deanna took a step forward, "That's enough. Luke, what happened?" In an instant, all eyes were on him awaiting an explanation. Despite the anger that raged within you, you could see Luke cowering away behind you. You reached back and grasped onto his hand, holding his arm closely by your side. You took a deep breath, taking a moment to regain your composure. You felt Luke's hand shaking in yours, and you gently squeezed it in reassurance.

"Me, Jace, and Carl were walking home, and when we...walked by Pete was sitting on the porch. He started saying things to us and then got in my face so I said something back and then he hit me."

Luke took a pause, "And then Jace started yelling and Ron came outside and he and Jace started fighting and then Carl jumped in."

Luke's words were stuttered and frantic, his eyes darting between you and Tommy. "He was saying things about Y/n and Dad," Jace added, who stood protected behind Tommy. You shifted on your bare feet uncomfortably, your eyes adverting to the ground impulsively as you rubbed your thumb along Luke's hand.

You were unsure now if you were holding his hand to provide comfort for him or yourself.

Deanna let a deep sigh escape her lips and with a shake of her head, she simply said, "Everyone go home. Pete, we'll talk first thing tomorrow." Disbelief and anger could be felt bursting into the air, "W-what? My sons were attacked!" Tommy's voice boomed, "They were forced to defend themselves!"

Deanna stepped forward, her voice quiet but firm. "I understand, but I'm not going to let this escalate any further. We'll talk tomorrow and sort it out then when everyone is cooled off and the boys have been checked." She started to walk away, her steps heavy with weariness. She didn't get very far before an eruption of yells and insults we're being thrown into the air.

"Fucking whore." Pete insulted, intended for you.

"Please I'm sorry. He didn't mean it he's just drunk." Jessie pleaded, tears silently rolling down her cheeks.

"What'd ya say?" Daryl spat.

"Don't Daryl." You extended your free arm out, blocking him from making any advancements. You had heard every single insult and name that could be said about you....but Daryl hadn't. From the corner of your eye, you saw Rick's arm extend to the back of his belt. He felt your eyes on him, stopping his movement and locking eyes with you.

You glanced at the firearm that poked slightly out, then you glanced at Pete, and back to Rick. And you nodded.

The yelling continued, arguments spewing from both sides. No one stopped, not even when Deanna intervened, telling everyone to stop and calm down.

Jessie pleaded with Pete to stop.

Jace and Carl were going back and forth with Ron.

Tommy demanded justice for his sons, as did Rick.

"Enough!" In a second Pete had a gun raised aimlessly, almost out of instinct everyone took a step back. "Pete! Do not" Reg pleaded rushing to the man's side, pulling at his t-shirt. "Get off Reg!" As Pete shoved Reg away from him, the sound of the gun filled your ears. You grasped onto Luke, pushing him back behind you.

Reg fell to the ground in an instant grasping at the wound in his chest which spilled blood. Deanna rushed to his aid, cradling him in her arms and trying to stem the flow of blood. Cecilia dropped down to her knees beside Reg, doing what she could in an attempt to save him. But there was no doubt that nothing could be done. The group stood stunned and wide-eyed, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

Tommy and Daryl had Pete down on the ground in an instant, kicking the gun away from his hands.

"This is how you want it to be, Deanna?"

Deanna's sad eyes looked up at you and then back down to Reg, her small hands cupping his face and holding him close. Pete's outburst was a sign that he was more than a drunk, more than a shitty husband. He was a threat. "Rick." Rick pulled the pistol from his waistband and waited for your command, "Do it."

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