#lucia stay with me

[loveisjustawaytodieblog]

Lucia

Nun dà retta ‘a furtuna

Si staje sempe ‘ncazzata

e n’saje manco pecché tu te miett’ a’ppaura

Arò vaje?

Stay with me

Tiene ‘a voce ca me fa ‘mpazzì

All alone

Stay with me

Cu ‘sta voce ca me faje murì

[too-young-to-fall-in-love]

Lay it Down

[queersforliberato]

E se Lucia rispondesse a Liberato? Ecco la rivisitazione della sua canzone. Credit per il video a liberatomusic e per la canzone simonst_ su TikTok.

[blackhawkcomics]

M!A: you have the uncontrollable desire to find your soulmate for 12 hours

Pick up pick up pick up, Julie silently pleaded. She didn't have to wait long. The first ring had barely faded before she heard the click and Lucia's voice at the other end.

"Hey, perfect timing; I was about to call you."

Her laugh bubbled across the line to lift some unknowable weight from Julie's chest. For as long as she could remember, Lucia's laughter had always been infectious, but the fluttery feeling it planted inside her... That was new. Since the Blip, that was new.

Juliette Rodriguez, you pull yourself together, she scolded herself.

"I'm already on my way," Lucia said.

"Are you sure you didn't acquire an X-gene while I was gone?" Julie laughed, trying to ignore the rush of warmth to her face and not dwell on the fact that 'gone' meant 'dead for five years.' "Because I'm pretty sure you just read my mind."

"Ha! Yeah, Professor X said it doesn't work that way. See you in a few."

"I still can't get over you knowing half these people from our comic books now."

"I know, right!?"

"See you."

They hung up. Julie flopped backward onto her bed in the two-bedroom apartment she and Lucia shared and just laid there for a moment, grinning.

Oh no, she thought. Oh, I've got it bad.

Adrian rolled onto his side, one arm tracing up the contours of Jackie's hip and over her stomach. Pulling her close, he nuzzled into the crook of her neck.

"Let's stay in today," he whispered. His lips brushed along her jaw, trailing kisses until a smile stirred beneath them.

"Mm. I was hoping to get some editing done, but I like your idea better," she murmured. A happy sigh rumbled in her throat, more felt through her skin than heard. "What's the occasion?"

"I love you. Only occasion I need."

"Perfect."

Was she pathetic or what?

Here she was - at two-thirty on a Wednesday afternoon - downing her umpteenth cheap beer with the despondent understanding, deep down, that it would never make her forget that she was visiting the bar alone.

Whenever the loneliness hit her hard, she always ended up here. Or, not here precisely, but at some sad bar somewhere, identical enough to be interchangeable. Not that it ever did her any good. She would get blind drunk, fumble around in the bar's grimy restroom stalls with a stranger's hand down her pants, and eventually end the night telling herself that was enough, that she didn't need anything more from anyone than a quick fuck or revenge. That she was - if not happy - at least fine like this.

It was an unconvincing lie if ever there was one, but it didn't stop her from catching the eye of the pretty woman across the bar and flashing her a suggestive grin. This could end in sex or a fight, and she'd take either option at the moment.

Maybe she'd go after SHIELD directly after this. Take them down before they could do the same to her. That young agent on her case, Castillo - she seemed interesting enough to be a distraction.

She'd take anything, right about now.

Pathetic.

[woso-dreamzzz]

Hair

Irene Paredes x Child!Reader

Summary: You help your Mami when she gets a red

You’ve travelled with Mami for once.

Mama is at home with your little brother Matteo but you’re not really worried.

You’re a good traveller. Mami says so because you were born when she used to play in France so you’re used to going back and forth between countries. You know how to amuse yourself by playing or doing your homework or your reading.

Mami says you’re very responsible.

Since coming home to Spain and to Barcelona, you’ve not travelled as much. You’ve stayed with Mama at home even though travelling and going on planes is much more interesting.

You don’t know why Mami decided you could come with her this time but you have and you’re happy.

Or you were happy until Mami got her red card.

You’re not quite sure what happened apart from the fact that her leg was too high.

You know all about high legs.

At Taekwondo, your teacher explains all about how head shots are very dangerous because the head is a very important part of your body and that’s why people wear caps to protect them during sparring.

You’re still kind of small (but growing all the time!) so you’re not allowed to do any head shots of your own. But you know they’re dangerous and you know Mami is not going to argue her card even if someone else will.

“Mami?”

“Go back to the bench, squirt,” Irene says as she breezes past you to the locker rooms.

When you were younger, that used to work but you’re nearly eight now and Mama says you’re moving under your own power so you think that means that Mami’s orders don’t work on your anymore.

“No!” You say stamping your foot right in the tunnel.

Irene scrubs a hand over her face as she turns around to face you. “I don’t have the patience to deal with a tantrum right now, squirt. Go back to the bench and finish watching.”

You stamp your foot again. “I’m not having a tantrum, you’re having a tantrum!”

Irene sighs. “If you come with me now, you’re not allowed back out. We stay in the locker room. But you can keep watching the match if you head back outside.”

Your foot goes again. “With you.”

You’d inherited her stubbornness, Irene notes. Her hair. Her eyes. The tight set of her jaw. And her stubbornness.

Irene holds her hand out for you. You take it.

You’re a different beast to your brother.

Matteo is still small, still practically a baby. She and Lucia had been worried about the age gap between you both. At nearly eight, you towered over him with your toys and your rambunctious nature.

You were not unlike Lucy and Keira’s (and increasingly Ona's) Pup but maybe a bit lower energy now that you’re gotten older. More disciplined is what Lucia would say, now that you’ve had your energy redirected into Taekwondo. Disciplined and strangely emotionally intelligent.

Irene supposes she should pat herself on the back with that. She’d never agreed with hitting kids even if it’s a little scuff on the back of the head to redirect them. No whacks, no spanks, no hits.

She talked your through your emotions and now that you were older, you were able to talk her through them too.

You hold her hand now as she walks back to the locker room.

“Mami, are we showering?”

“Aren’t you a bit too old to shower with me, squirt?” She teases, grabbing her toiletries and a towel. “You’re nearly eight now.”

You puff out your chest at the reminder. “I’m not going in with you! Just wanted to know.”

“I’m going to shower. You can take a shower if you want but you have to come into mine if you’re going to be washing your hair.”

You tug at the end of your braid.

Lucia likes your hair long and Irene has to admit that she does too.

You’d come out with a full head of hair, screaming and crying your arrival to the world as Irene panted from all the energy she’d spent pushing you out. Screaming, crying, with thick hair as you were gently rest on her chest.

Your hair had remained just as thick as then, growing quickly to the point that regular trips to get it cut were needed.

But washing it was always a challenge. Lots of shampoo. Lots of conditioner. Lots of time spent in the tub trying to get it all washed.

It’s part of the reason why it’s done in the morning too. You hate the hairdryer but you hate sleeping with wet hair even more so washing it is always done in the morning so it can air dry before bed.

“Wash my hair?” You ask and Irene nods.

“You’ll have to shower with me then if we’re washing your hair. Is that okay?”

You nod. “Uh-huh.”

“Alright, squirt. Let’s go.”

Irene’s original plan was to drown herself in the shower, to stay there until the match was over and she could finally face her teammates again. The red card was justified, she knows that but it doesn’t mean there isn’t still a bit of a sting.

She was happy to leave you on the bench, safe with the others so Irene could wash away her anger and resentment while you were occupied.

But now you’re here with her, asking to have your hair washed and looking up at her like you just know she needs something like this to keep occupied.

It’s an easy routine to get through, to lather her hands with shampoo and massage it into your scalp. To wash it all out before moving onto the conditioner.

Two rounds of conditioner and you look up at her with a smile.

“I can wash your hair now, Mami?” You ask and Irene laughs, pushing away the wet strands from your face.

“I think you’re a little small to be doing that, squirt.”

You puff out your cheeks. “Are you sure? I’ve definitely grown since Mama last measured me!” To demonstrate, you stretch up to your tiptoes and reach as high as you can.

“Maybe when you’re taller,” Irene says placidly,” Come on. Grab your towel and we’ll get out.”

Irene’s just gotten yours and her own clothes on by the time that everyone else has arrived.

“Whoa,” Jenni says as she comes in,” You’re dripping everywhere, squirt!”

Irene sighs as she turns around. “You should have seen just how wet it was earlier. Absolutely everywhere.”

“We can tell,” Codi snickers,” There’s a river to the showers.”

“I’ve braided it back again,” Irene offers up weakly as she watches Alexia crouch in front of you.

“You know you’ll have to sleep with that wet hair,” Alexia reminds you.

You giggle. “No, I won’t. We call Mama and Matteo tonight. Mama will see my hair. She won’t let Mami put me to bed with wet hair. She says it’s naughty.”

“Devious,” Alexia says approvingly.

You high five her and look back at Irene, who shakes her head fondly at you.

“We’ll be having words about your eversion to the hairdryer.” She wiggles her finger teasingly at you and you grin.

You stick your tongue out. “You have to talk to Mama first.”

[yamumsyadadd]

missing sister (2)

Part 1

there will be 1 more in this series, set in the future.

“Nena, wake up. Noah? We need to leave.” Waking up was very disorienting. This was certainly not the bed from Keira’s apartment. It was too comfy, too warm and safe. 

“Alexia?” 

“Yes nena. You slept here last night. You’re coming with me and Olga. She’s going to drop me off at training and then you two are going to hang out.” 

Weird but okay. Begrudgingly, you got up. Taking the clothes handed to me from Olga and letting her guide me through to the bathroom. There were a lot of fancy things in there. Some smelt very nice, others did not. 

The hot shower and fancy products felt good. As soon as you stepped foot in the living area, Olga and Alexia stopped talking. Both turning to smile at me and usher you to the door. The car ride was quiet until we arrived at the training ground. 

“You’ll go with Olga today, I’ll talk to Keira and Lucy. We will see you later okay?” You nodded, not looking at her as she got out of the car. 

“Avísame si pasa algo. Mi amor, por favor, no la dejes fuera de tu vista. Te quiero.” She kissed Olga and walked away. 

Olga patted the front seat she was previously sitting in. “Mi amiga, piano. You like piano yes?” 

“I do yes.” 

“Perfecto! We go.” Her smile was infectious. There was something about Olga, the way she seemed to live so carefree. She was confident, within herself, her relationship with Alexia and her job. 

“Claudia Habla inglés. She good.” She led us up a small alleyway between two house, finally reaching someone’s backyard. There was a fire pit in the middle, couches and chairs surrounded it. Whoever lived here was very popular. 

“¡Hola Olga! ¡Como en!” The cheerful voice belonged to a blonde curly haired woman who has just as many tattoos as María. 

“Hola, Claud. Esta es Noah, la chica de la que te hablé”.

“HI Noah, I’m Claudia. Olga says you like the piano?” You nodded your head, hiding slightly behind Olga, “come this way, I have an old Steinway & Sons.” 

The piano was beautiful, situated in what looked to be a reading room. One wall covered in books, the other covered in paintings and photos, the main wall with big windows. It was like out of a movie. 

You sat down at the piano and started to play. It felt like only a few minutes had passed before Claudia and Olga came in for lunch. 

“What is that?” You pointed towards the weird cake looking thing on the table. 

“Tortilla.” Olga sat down, taking a drink and giving you a look to do the same. 

“It’s basically an omelette. Eggs, potatoes, oil, onion.  I have tomato sauce if you want it?” 

“Sure. Thanks.” It had the same texture as a normal omelette but it tasted better. It was heavier, thanks to the potatoes. Spanish food was mostly better than English, expect for the fish and chips. Nothing topped ours. 

No one spoke during lunch time, or while we cleaned up. 

“Have you heard from Alexia?” You asked Olga quietly. She shook her head, giving your shoulder a squeeze. You went back and sat at the piano, staying there until a very stressed Olga came in. 

The conversation between Alexia, Keira and Lucy was over and we needed to leave.

“After practice we need to talk please Keira. Lucia come too.” Alexia was firm but not unkind with her voice. 

From the moment Keira, Lucy and Alexia sat down, Keira was on edge, ready to defend whatever her little sister did. 

“Noah is with Olga, at Claudia’s house. She has said some things, I’ve noticed some things and no doubt Lucy too.” Alexia started, she didn’t want to come off aggressive or accuse her of anything. 

“What Alexia? What has Noah said?” 

“You know she’s plays piano? Draws very good too. Better than Mapi, better than anyone I’ve seen. She feels as though you, and your parents do not care about her, see her-“

“that’s ridiculous! We all care about her! She’s just a dramatic teenage.” 

“Keira.” Lucy saw it. She’s seen it from the beginning. Birthdays were missed in favour of Keira’s games, every time she spoke to the Walsh parents all they would talk about was Keira, never Noah. If she didn’t know Noah existed, there would be no trace. “She was going to music school in London. She’d catch the train, stay with Leah and come home. Your parents never noticed because they were never around. From an outsider, you wouldn’t know Noah existed to your parents, or really to you.” 

“What the hell are you saying Lucy? I talk about her, I care about her. I took her in didn’t I? She’s here because I took her instead of letting them ship her off to a boarding school!” Keira was defensive, she didn’t want to believe what both Alexia and Lucy were saying. 

“She’s given up a lot for you, because of you.” Alexia said. 

“I never asked her too!” 

“For fuck sake Kei. She’s a child. A child. She didn’t have a choice. You have been so consumed by your own life, your own relationships that you can’t even see it. She’s 16, yet she acts like an adult because that’s the only way people will take notice of her.” 

There was only silence that followed for the next few minutes. 

“I spoke to Leah, which for the record was hard because she speaks so fast and her accent is worse than yours, but I suggest you talk to her, then talk to Noah but don’t get defensive. Listen to what she has to say, really listen. Itll be hard to hear it but I think it’s needed.” Alexia stood up, squeezing Keira’s shoulder then leaving. Sending Olga a text to bring Noah home so Keira or Lucy could pick her up. 

“What the hell do I do Lucy?” 

“Do as capi said, talk to Leah, then listen to Noah.” 

“Have you known the entire time?” 

“No. I told you during the world cup what she told me, but I don’t think that was the full story.” 

“I just thought she didn’t want to be there, that she was missing her friends, her life, I didn’t realise it was something more.” 

Silence took over the trio, their drinks empty, minds full. 

“What do I do?” Keira asked. 

“Listen to her, don’t interrupt her or anything. Let her tell you how she’s been feeling and what’s been happening.” 

“Is she at your apartment?” 

“No she’s with Olga but I’ll message her to bring her back.” 

It didn’t take long for the trio to arrive at Alexia and Olga’s apartment, you were still beaming from happiness until Lucy and Keira walked in. It was a weird feeling, having a happy day seemingly ripped through your fingers when Keira said the simple words of ‘we need to talk.’ 

The drive back to Keira’s was rough. Everyone was anxious, no one said a word. The futile attempt to escape to your room the second you entered was halted by Lucy’s strong arms guiding you to the couch. 

“I want you to tell me everything. I will not talk, I will not make judgment or anything but I need to know Noah.” Keira said, she tried to be firm, but it came out more as a plea. 

“There’s nothing to tell.” 

“Don’t play dumb. You’re a completely different kid with Alexia and Olga, even with Leah. Why?” 

“Why?” You scoffed, “can’t you figure it out yourself?” 

“No because what I thought was that you were just a bad kid. I was told you were skipping school, sneaking out, doing drugs. But here, here you’re different so what gives?” 

“It wasn’t sneaking out or skipping school. Technically.” Keira gave you a look so you continued, “anytime I asked to go out, ma and dad would just say ‘do whatever, we won’t be home later’, blah blah blah. It wasn’t sneaking only ever sneaking out when they had friends over and needed to keep up appearances. As for the skipping school, I was enrolled in special music and art classes at the TAFE, then I’d go to London for classes on Saturday’s.” 

“And the drugs? Vapping?” 

“I tried weed once. That’s all I swear. I didn’t like the feeling so I didn’t do it again. The others did but I didn’t. And yeah I’ve vaped, not since I’ve been here though.” 

“Ma and dad never said anything about your music classes.“ 

“Yeah because they didn’t know, or care. I’m not sure but I didn’t want to find out.” 

“Why didn’t you come to me? You went to Leah, even Lucy but you wouldn’t come to me. Why Noah?” Keira was getting frustrated, she was hurt and confused. 

“how could I? You were here or busy with your life in Manchester. You said it yourself, you believed what they told you. Everything was always about you Keira, not me. I was always told not to both you because you were busy. Every year it got worse, missing birthdays, missing Christmas, missing art shows or recitals.” 

The tears that had formed in both yours and Keira’s eyes were now free flowing. Lucy was sat in the armchair, Narla curled up at her feet. She was there purely to keep the peace, to make sure both sides were heard. 

“My art is good. Really good. Olga paid me to make a drawing for Alexia, Jana has asked me to draw a photo of her and Jill in Amsterdam, so many people have paid me for commission art. I have thousands saved and I was planning on leaving as soon as I turned 18. I taught Leah how to play the piano, I’ve sold music sheets, done a Christmas concert at the London Music Hall. I get good grades, good enough that I can go to college in America if I want, but no one knows because no one cares.”

“I care.” Keira chocked back a sob, feeling a mixture of pride and guilt. Guilt for being so wrapped up in her own world that she forgot to include you in hers. “I care noodle. I’m so proud of you truly. I want to fix this. Fix it all. Please just tell me what I need to do.” 

“Don’t make me go back. Not to Manchester, if I have to go back I’ll stay in London or-“

“You’re not going back, Noah.” Lucy said firmly. Yes you were Keira’s sister, but for the majority of your life, Lucy was around. So to her, you were also her sister and she felt just as bad as Keira. “You’ll either stay here with Keira, or you can stay with me. Alexia and Olga would even take you too. Maybe we need to do a custody agreement between the four of us.” 

Before you had a chance to do anything, Keira launched herself into your body. Hugging you as tight as humanly possible. You’d give her the benefit of doubt, she didn’t know but it didn’t excuse anything. 

The relationship between you and your parents was less than good, but it didn’t really matter to you. You had your art and your music. No one could take that away from you. 

By winter break, things with Keira were better. Not perfect, but you were sisters so that was unlikely. Her plan was to go home to England for Christmas, however you didn’t want to. Alexia and Olga both agreed you’d come with them and with their help, Keira agreed. 

When Olga finally gifted the hand drawn photo to Alexia, there were a lot of tears. Alexia rugby tackled you to the ground, kissing all over your face while crying happy tears. Eli thanked you as well, in a much more gentle way. 

It was the first Christmas that things felt good. You weren’t around purely to keep up appearances, you didn’t have to hide away or force conversation with anyone. 

Maybe Spain was where you’d find a home, and a person to share that home with. 

[macrolit]

The 100 Best Books of the 21st Century.

As voted on by 503 novelists, nonfiction writers, poets, critics and other book lovers — with a little help from the staff of The New York Times Book Review.

NYT Article.

*************

Q: How many of the 100 have you read? Q: Which ones did you love/hate? Q: What's missing?

Here's the full list.

100. Tree of Smoke, Denis Johnson 99. How to Be Both, Ali Smith 98. Bel Canto, Ann Patchett 97. Men We Reaped, Jesmyn Ward 96. Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments, Saidiya Hartman 95. Bring Up the Bodies, Hilary Mantel 94. On Beauty, Zadie Smith 93. Station Eleven, Emily St. John Mandel 92. The Days of Abandonment, Elena Ferrante 91. The Human Stain, Philip Roth 90. The Sympathizer, Viet Thanh Nguyen 89. The Return, Hisham Matar 88. The Collected Stories of Lydia Davis 87. Detransition, Baby, Torrey Peters 86. Frederick Douglass, David W. Blight 85. Pastoralia, George Saunders 84. The Emperor of All Maladies, Siddhartha Mukherjee 83. When We Cease to Understand the World, Benjamin Labutat 82. Hurricane Season, Fernanda Melchor 81. Pulphead, John Jeremiah Sullivan 80. The Story of the Lost Child, Elena Ferrante 79. A Manual for Cleaning Women, Lucia Berlin 78. Septology, Jon Fosse 77. An American Marriage, Tayari Jones 76. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, Gabrielle Zevin 75. Exit West, Mohsin Hamid 74. Olive Kitteridge, Elizabeth Strout 73. The Passage of Power, Robert Caro 72. Secondhand Time, Svetlana Alexievich 71. The Copenhagen Trilogy, Tove Ditlevsen 70. All Aunt Hagar's Children, Edward P. Jones 69. The New Jim Crow, Michelle Alexander 68. The Friend, Sigrid Nunez 67. Far From the Tree, Andrew Solomon 66. We the Animals, Justin Torres 65. The Plot Against America, Philip Roth 64. The Great Believers, Rebecca Makkai 63. Veronica, Mary Gaitskill 62. 10:04, Ben Lerner 61. Demon Copperhead, Barbara Kingsolver 60. Heavy, Kiese Laymon 59. Middlesex, Jeffrey Eugenides 58. Stay True, Hua Hsu 57. Nickel and Dimed, Barbara Ehrenreich 56. The Flamethrowers, Rachel Kushner 55. The Looming Tower, Lawrence Wright 54. Tenth of December, George Saunders 53. Runaway, Alice Munro 52. Train Dreams, Denis Johnson 51. Life After Life, Kate Atkinson 50. Trust, Hernan Diaz 49. The Vegetarian, Han Kang 48. Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi 47. A Mercy, Toni Morrison 46. The Goldfinch, Donna Tartt 45. The Argonauts, Maggie Nelson 44. The Fifth Season, N.K. Jemisin 43. Postwar, Tony Judt 42. A Brief History of Seven Killings, Marlon James 41. Small Things Like These, Claire Keegan 40. H Is for Hawk, Helen Macdonald 39. A Visit from the Goon Squad, Jennifer Egan 38. The Savage Detectives, Roberto Balano 37. The Years, Annie Ernaux 36. Between the World and Me, Ta-Nehisi Coates 35. Fun Home, Alison Bechdel 34. Citizen, Claudia Rankine 33. Salvage the Bones, Jesmyn Ward 32. The Lines of Beauty, Alan Hollinghurst 31. White Teeth, Zadie Smith 30. Sing, Unburied, Sing, Jesmyn Ward 29. The Last Samurai, Helen DeWitt 28. Cloud Atlas, David Mitchell 27. Americanah, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie 26. Atonement, Ian McEwan 25. Random Family, Adrian Nicole LeBlanc 24. The Overstory, Richard Powers 23. Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage, Alice Munro 22. Behind the Beautiful Forevers, Katherine Boo 21. Evicted, Matthew Desmond 20. Erasure, Percival Everett 19. Say Nothing, Patrick Radden Keefe 18. Lincoln in the Bardo, George Saunders 17. The Sellout, Paul Beatty 16. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, Michael Chabon 15. Pachinko, Min Jin Lee 14. Outline, Rachel Cusk 13. The Road, Cormac McCarthy 12. The Year of Magical Thinking, Joan Didion 11. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Junot Diaz 10. Gilead, Marilynne Robinson 9. Never Let Me Go, Kazuo Ishiguro 8. Austerlitz, W.G. Sebald 7. The Underground Railroad, Colson Whitehead 6. 2666, Roberto Bolano 5. The Corrections, Jonathan Franzen 4. The Known World, Edward P. Jones 3. Wolf Hall, Hilary Mantel 2. The Warmth of Other Suns, Isabel Wilkerson 1. My Brilliant Friend, Elena Ferrante

[pitchsidestories]

training season II Lucy Bronze x Reader

masterlist I word count: 1140

summary: Lucy and you're married, but she still wants to impress you especially during gym sessions with the team.

a/n: hi, it's based off this request here, we hope you enjoy it as much as we did while writing the oneshot.

Staying focused.

That was always your priority when you were in the gym with your Barcelona teammates.

Your hands were getting sweaty as you did your last set of leg presses on the machine.

Alexia did the same exercises next to you. You liked being in her presence, she always made sure you pushed yourself.

But today, she seemed distracted, pausing in the middle of her set.

“Y/n, your wife…“, she said into the silence.

“What about her?“, you huffed as you pushed the weight with your legs once again.

Alexia rolled her eyes: “She’s annoying.“

“Annoying, huh?“, you laughed. You set your feet down and turned towards your wife.

“Look.“ Alexia nodded in her direction and resumed her exercises.

Lucy was in the middle of the floor, doing push-ups in rapid succession.

You smirked: “Luce is trying to impress.“

“I wonder who she’s trying to impress here. It’s definitely not us.“, Mapi teased. She was sitting on a gymnastic ball and grinned at you.

You shrugged innocently: “Who knows.“

Still, your gaze subconsciously drifted back to your wifes biceps.

“Pretty obvious.“, Alexia concluded with a raised eyebrow.

On the order side of the gym, Lucy looked over to Mariona who was next to her on the floor, massaging her muscles with a foam roller.

“Mario, is she looking?“

“Yes, and everyone else too.“, the midfielder replied, sounding bored.

Patri joined the conversation, letting herself drop on the mat next to Mariona: “Also you know that this rooms isn’t that huge and everyone can hear you, right, Lucia?“

“Shut up.“, Lucy replied jokingly.

The younger player just shrugged: “Your wife doesn’t look too impressed so far.“

Lucy frowned as she looked over towards you: “It’s because Alexia and Mapi keep distracting her.“

“Or you need to do something more impressive.“, Mariona suggested.

The defender stopped doing push-ups and considered her teammate for a moment: “I think I have an idea for that.“

She got up, moved over towards a pull-up bar and started doing pull-ups. No break between the exercises, just steady and quick movements over and over again. The veins in her forearms started to protrude and her breathing pattern was off,

You could tell when your wife was overdoing it.

“Lucia Roberta Tough Bronze!“, you called her.

She let go of the bar and dropped to her feet: “Yes?“

The smile on her face let you know that she got what she wanted. Your attention.

“Sarina Wiegman would kill you if she saw you doing that!“, you warned her. It was a running gag between the two of you. Her national team coach was always worried about Lucy doing too much at her age.

Your wife shrugged: “She’s not here though!“

“Still, that’s why we won the world cup against your team, you never listen to the advice your coach gives you.”, you remarked with the hands demonstrative on your hips.

“Excuse me what?!”, she replied, in an attempted scandalized tone.

“You heard me.”, you countered smirking.

“You know that’s a lie. You were just lucky.”, Lucy protested, despite her playful annoyance, her green eyes lit up during your banter, there were only a few things she enjoyed more than this.

“Yes, it was. But maybe you should focus more on your running than your arms.”, you continued, the smirk on your lips deepened as you padded her shoulder, feeling the muscles working underneath the skin.

“What’s that supposed to mean, huh?”, the defender pouted. Although she clearly enjoyed that you finally touched her.

“Oh, nothing.”, you answered innocently.

“You couldn’t go a day without touching my biceps.”, your wife responded confidently, flexing said body part to underline what she just said.

“In fact, y/n already touched it.”, Mapi observed with a cheeky smile on her face. Obviously, the heavily tattooed Spaniard was on her side.

“Mapi!”, you scolded only half-heartedly.

“See? Maybe you should work on your arms instead.”, Lucy gave you one of her winning grins.

“Rude. Gym session is over though, so it’s time for training and there I want to see you run.”, you reminded her winking.

“Don’t worry. I’ll try to tackle you not too hard.”, the older woman promised snorting.

Watching you two from the distance Alexia turned curiously to the other English player in the room:” Keira? Were they always like that?”

“Yeah, we’re lucky that we’re in training otherwise they’d start making out.”, Keira made gagging noises.

“That sounds like them.”, the captain admitted.

“It’s weird.”, the red-haired midfielder told her teammate.

“It’s not!”, Lucy  promptly shot back.

“Oh, thought you were too busy flirting with your wife.”, Keira mocked her.

“She’s very sensitive about it.”, you explained quickly.

“Lucia?”, Mapi called your wife.

“Huh?”, she looked up to her.

“Let’s see who’s the first one on the training pitch!”, the Spanish woman proposed to the older player who never said no to a challenge.

“Obviously me!”, Lucy yelled excitedly, before the two of them start running, leaving everyone else behind them, almost crashing into a staff member while doing so.

“I won’t let you win, you impressed your wife enough.”, you could hear Mapi shout at her.

With a loud sigh Ingrid wrapped her arm around your shoulders, while you both walked in a normal pace to the training pitch:” They don’t belong to us, y/n.”

“Of course not.”, you agreed smiling.

“No, we always know they’re your two idiots.”, Alexia shook her head.

Watching your wife and teammate race each other, you sighed: “Yeah okay, they are.“

“See.“ Alexia gave you a told-you-so-look that you chose to ignore.

On the other side of the pitch, Lucy announced proudly: “I was first!“

“No, you weren’t.“, Mapi disagreed, pouting.

Lucy lowered her voice: “Shhh, don’t tell anyone.“

The Spanish defender let out a laugh, her gaze shifting in your direction: “I’m sure your wife still loves you anyway.“

“I do.“, you confirmed, wrapping her arms around your wifes waist as you arrived on the pitch.

She turned towards you, looking directly at you: “Just for the record, we were here at the same time.“

You nodded slowly: “Sure, love.“

Lucy considered you for a moment. With a smile on her face, she pressed a kiss to your temple and whispered: “I can’t wait to go home with you later…“

Keira grimaced in disgust: “Too much information.“

“Sorry.“, you grinned innocently. You took a step back from your wife. There was still a light training session to be done and you needed to focus on that.

But the truth was, you could not wait to go home either.

You would never admit it but yes, it worked. You were, in fact, impressed by her silly antics.

Even after years of marriage, your gaze always found her in every room.

There was no need to impress you, she always had your attention.

[baeksqt]

𝐔𝐍𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐊𝐄𝐍 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐒 — alexia putellas

alexia putellas x barcelona!reader

(a/n: on a roll trying to pump out my drafts cause I can feel the drought coming soon from uni >_< I’ve had this alexia piece gathering dust from last february)

word count: 2234

genre: somewhat fluff with angsty tendencies??

tw: emotional cheating

part two

summary: trying to keep your heart in check, but alexia’s charm keeps slipping through the cracks

You had always dreamed of playing for FC Barcelona. The moment you stepped onto the training grounds for the first time, it felt surreal, like walking through a dream you were afraid to wake up from. The weight of the crest on your chest, the legacy of the club, the camaraderie…it was everything you’d imagined.

What you hadn’t imagined was Alexia Putellas.

Alexia had a presence that couldn’t be ignored. As captain, she carried herself with an effortless confidence, but it wasn’t just her skill that made people gravitate towards her. It was how she made everyone feel like they belonged and were part of something greater. You admired that. Admired her.

But admiration was one thing. Whatever this thing brewing between the two of you? That was something else entirely.

It started subtly.

You noticed the lingering glances during drills, the way Alexia always seemed to pick you as a partner for rondos, and the teasing remarks that hovered just on the edge of something more. At first, you thought it was just the team’s natural warmth, a culture of closeness, of sisterhood. But then came the casual brushes of Alexia’s hand against your arm, the way she’d lean in just a little too close when you were reviewing plays, the way her eyes would linger just a second too long.

You weren’t unaware of the tension that danced just beneath the surface; rather, you were cautious. Caution was necessary because no one on your team was privy to the intricate details of your life back home. It wasn’t a secret in the traditional sense—more of a quiet truth you didn’t feel the need to broadcast. Lucia, your girlfriend, had been your unwavering supporter as you took the leap to move to the vibrant city of Barcelona. She understood the sacrifices involved, even as the miles stretched between you. You had made her a promise, a vow echoing in your mind: you would make it work, that your bond was resilient enough to withstand the distance and that nothing essential between you would change.

But things were changing, weren’t they?

After an intense afternoon training session, most of the team had already headed inside, but you stayed behind to run a few extra drills. You were focused, dribbling through a set of cones, when Alexia appeared at your side, effortlessly matching your pace.

“You know, overachieving isn’t always attractive.” Alexia teased, her voice light, but there was a glint of something more in her eyes.

You smirked, side-stepping around a cone. “Good thing I’m not trying to be attractive.”

“I don’t believe that for a second.” She chuckled, a rich sound that sent warmth prickling down your spine.

You rolled your eyes and tried to focus on the ball at your feet, but it was hard when Alexia was right there, watching you with that signature, half-lidded smirk.

“You always this serious?” Alexia asked, dribbling in sync with you.

“Serious wins games.” You said without missing a beat.

Alexia grinned. “Yeah, but flirting makes them fun.”

You barely managed to avoid tripping over the brightly coloured ball that had rolled onto the path. With a swift recovery, you straightened yourself just in time to see Alexia snatch it up, a playful glimmer dancing in her eyes that made her amusement unmistakable. “You’re unbearable,” you muttered half-heartedly, nudging her lightly with your shoulder in an attempt to redirect the conversation to a more comfortable territory. But Alexia didn’t shift away; instead, she leaned in just a bit closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “You like having me around though.”

You swallowed hard, a knot forming in your throat as you grappled with an unfamiliar warmth creeping over you. The afternoon sun beat down relentlessly, but the flush in your cheeks hinted at something deeper—an awareness that you could not shake. “I like winning. You help with that.” You attempted to keep the atmosphere light, forcing out a nervous chuckle that barely masked your racing heart. Alexia, ever perceptive, tilted her head to the side, a playful spark dancing in her eyes as she regarded you with an amused smirk. “Good answer,” she replied, the corners of her lips curling up in delight. A quiet sigh of relief escaped your lips as Alexia leaned back a fraction, the teasing tension lingering in the air between you, thick and palpable.

In the locker room later, you sat down on the bench, wiping sweat from your brow. Your phone buzzed with a message from Lucia: Miss you. Call me later?

You stared at the screen, feeling the weight of the distance between them more than ever. You were loyal, you loved Lucia. But Alexia had a way of getting under your skin, of making you question things you didn’t want to question.

“You good?” a familiar voice broke through the haze of your thoughts, pulling you back into the bustling hallway. You looked up to find Alexia standing a few feet away, her silhouette framed by the harsh fluorescent lights. She leaned casually against the row of lockers, one leg crossed over the other, a relaxed posture that somehow emanated confidence. The warmth in her gaze was new; it held an unexpected softness that made your chest tighten slightly.

“Yeah,” you replied quickly, a hint of defensiveness creeping into your tone as you shoved your phone deep into the recesses of your bag. “Just tired.”

Alexia studied you for a moment, her brow slightly furrowed in concern, but she didn’t press further. Instead, she offered that signature smile of hers, bright, infectious, and impossibly charming. “Dinner tonight? A few of us are going out.”

You hesitated, feeling a wave of uncertainty wash over you. You were acutely aware of what this invitation could spell out—more time spent close to Alexia, infused with her teasing laughter and those lingering looks that made your heart race. Despite the swirl of apprehension, you found yourself nodding, the corners of your mouth lifting in an awkward smile. “Yeah,” you said, the word escaping as a soft agreement. “Sounds good.” 

As Alexia turned to walk away, her laughter trailing behind her like a melody, you let out a slow, deliberate exhale. You leaned against the cool metal of the locker, the weight of the day and your mixed feelings pressing down on you.

This was fine. This was friendly. This was nothing.

The problem was, Alexia didn’t let up.

On and off the pitch, she found ways to insert herself into your orbit, offering to run extra drills with her, sitting next to her during team meetings, and walking alongside her after training. And every time, there was that look, the one that made you feel like you were standing on the edge of something dangerous.

You regretted saying yes almost immediately.

Dinner with the team was intended to be a simple outing, a chance to unwind and bond over good food and drinks. Yet, the moment Alexia stepped into the bustling Barcelona restaurant, the atmosphere shifted. You should have sensed the impending chaos and politely declined the invitation, preferring the comfort of a quiet evening at home. Instead, here you were, surrounded by a vibrant mix of teammates at a long, rustic wooden table, laughter and lively chatter enveloping you like a warm embrace.

The aroma of grilled seafood and roasted vegetables wafted through the air, mingling with the sounds of clinking glasses and cheerful toasts. But amid the joviality, your thoughts were consumed by the presence of Alexia. She sat so close that every subtle movement caused your arms to graze against each other, sending a jolt of warmth through you. Her laughter rang out, bright and infectious, drawing everyone in, but for you, it was a reminder of the tension layered beneath the surface. You should have called Lucia, sought the solace of familiarity, and anchored your heart where it truly belonged. Instead, you played along, trapped in this delicate balance of camaraderie and unacknowledged longing.

“You don’t drink?” the blonde asked, raising an eyebrow as you stuck with water while the others sipped on glasses of wine. You smiled faintly. “Nah, not really my thing.”

“You’re always so serious, chica,” Alexia leaned in slightly, her voice low enough that only you could hear, “Ever thought about letting loose?”

You met her gaze, trying to ignore the way your heart thumped harder. “I’m plenty of fun,” you arched an eyebrow, “just…in my own way.”

Alexia smirked, eyes twinkling with something you couldn’t quite place. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

The rest of the team was oblivious to the tension simmering between you two, caught up in their own conversations. You did your best to focus on the food, the chatter, anything but the way Alexia kept looking at her as if she was trying to figure her out.

Without any hint of hesitation, Alexia leaned closer, her breath gentle and warm against your ear, sending a shiver down your spine. “You know,” she whispered, her voice low and inviting, “if you ever want to talk about whatever it is you’re keeping locked away, I’m a really good listener.”

You froze in place, your fork paused mid-air, a piece of food forgotten as her words sank in. Alexia pulled back slightly, a playful, innocent smile dancing on her lips, but behind that façade, you sensed a deeper intention. She was observing you keenly, prodding and probing, pushing the boundaries to see what lay beneath your guarded exterior.

And the worst part? It was working.

The night stretched on, and you found yourself relaxing more than you intended. The conversation flowed easily, and you were reminded of how much you truly loved being here. How much you loved the game, the city, the team.

But every now and then, Alexia would say something, touch your arm softly, or glance at you in a way that made your thoughts spiral into dangerous territory. By the time you left the restaurant and the team spilled onto the lively Barcelona streets, you felt like you were walking a tightrope. 

“You heading home?” Alexia asked casually, falling into step beside you as you walked through the city. 

“Yeah, early training tomorrow.” You nodded.

Alexia smiled knowingly. “Always responsible.” 

“Someone has to be.” You shot her a look. 

You walked in silence for a moment, the cool air wrapping around you both like a gentle shroud, before Alexia broke the stillness. With her hands tucked into the back pockets of her jeans, she spoke in a softer tone, almost as if she were sharing a secret. “You know, I get it. Keeping parts of your life to yourself.”

You stiffened slightly at her words, glancing at her with curiosity and caution. “Do you?” you asked, your voice barely above a whisper.

Alexia nodded, her expression thoughtful. “Yeah,” she replied, her gaze drifting to the ground ahead. “People expect things from us. Sometimes it’s just easier to keep certain things private.” She paused, taking a deep breath as if the weight of her confession lingered in the air. “But…it can get lonely too,” she added quietly, her eyes flickering with a hint of vulnerability.

You contemplated her words, the significance hanging between you like unspoken truths, debating in your mind whether to share your own feelings. After a moment's hesitation, you finally responded, “Yeah,” your voice low and reflective. “It can.”

As they approached the intersection where their paths would diverge, Alexia paused for a moment, an indecision flashing across her face. She looked up at you, her eyes glimmering in the soft glow of the streetlights. “Well,” she said, a small, almost hesitant smile forming on her lips. “Goodnight, chica.”

“Night, Alexia,” you replied, your voice slightly strained as you forced a smile back at her, feeling a mix of emotions swirling within you.

With that, you turned away a little too suddenly, your heart pounding in your chest as you walked briskly down the street. Each step felt heavier than the last, the sounds of the evening fading into a dull roar in your ears.

Once you finally arrived at your apartment, you slumped down onto your bed, the familiar comfort of your room juxtaposed against the storm brewing inside you. Your gaze fell on your phone, which lay silently beside you. An unread message from Lucia caught your eye, its simple declaration striking a chord deep within: I love you. Call me when you’re free.

A sigh escaped your lips as you ran a hand through your hair, frustration and longing intertwining in a tangled mess of emotion. You loved Lucia, you truly did, but the weight of unspoken words and unresolved feelings hung in the air around you, suffocating yet inescapable.

You lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, your phone resting on your chest. Lucia’s message glowed softly in the dark, but you couldn’t bring yourself to respond just yet. Your mind was still tangled in the evening, in the way Alexia looked at you, and spoke to you.

This isn’t a problem, you told yourself. I’m just overthinking it.

And yet, you knew better.

You sighed, finally picking up your phone and typing out a quick reply:  I love you too. I’ll call tomorrow, I promise. Training ran late.

A lie. A small one. But it was easier than explaining why she hadn’t called sooner.

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Someone New 1

No tag lists. Do not send asks or DMs about updates. Review my pinned post for guidelines, masterlist, etc.

Warnings: this fic will include angst, pining, romcom tropes, and some darker elements later in the series. Some triggers may not be specifically tagged. My warnings are not exhaustive, enter at your own risk.

This fic will contain explicit content. 18+ only. Your media consumption is your own responsibility. Warnings have been given. DO NOT PROCEED if these matters upset you.

Summary: You've had a crush on your best friend for years, but you're slapped in the face with reality when he takes things to the next level with his girlfriend.

Characters: Steve Rogers, Thor

Note: please enjoy the first chapter!

As per usual, I humbly request your thoughts! Reblogs are always appreciated and welcomed, not only do I see them easier but it lets other people see my work. I will do my best to answer all I can. I’m trying to get better at keeping up so thanks everyone for staying with me.

Your feedback will help in this and future works (and WiPs, I haven’t forgotten those!) Please do not just put ‘more’. I will block you.

I love you all immensely. Take care. 💖

“No, no, not the pink, red,” you cup your hand over your ear pod, “exactly what it says on the order sheet.” 

Were anyone to see you, sitting in the dirt, with a brush in hand, all alone, they might think you’re a bit out there. You, talking to the air, dusting off a clump of soil, orchestrating your own voice with the bristles. You dip your head as you focus on what the voice in your ear is saying. 

“I’m not trying to be difficult,” you argue, “I put in the order weeks ago. A red bow. I have the receipt– I mean sure, pink or red doesn’t matter to me but it’s not my birthday.” 

“We’ll see what we can do,” the woman relents. It’s not exactly a triumph but as close to as you can hope. If it’s pink, you’ll just have to take the fall. The damn fondant will be devoured by the night’s end anyhow. 

You hang up with a double tap on the ear pod and your playlist resumes. You go back to trying to uncover the shape caked in layers of muck, turning the brush to chip away the rougher bits with the pointed tip. The work is tedious but it has to be. You can’t risk damaging the relic nestled inside. 

The abrupt chiming of your ringtone once more sounds through the bluetooth earpiece. You huff and hit the pod with the heel of your hand. You greet the call with only your name. 

“Are you still on site?” Your boss, Arturo asks. 

“Yep, still here,” you still your hand and twist your arm, pulling back the end of your glove to see your watch, “just a bit longer. You know I have that thing tonight.” 

“Uh, yes, I recall,” he says dully as you hear paper shuffling, “you got time to chat?” 

“Sure,” you keep the cluster of dirt and the brush in one hand and use your other to push yourself to your feet, “I just gotta catalogue this before I finish the day.” 

“Well, I have good news and bad news,” he begins as you carefully walk between the cordoned off patches. The whole place is a maze of where and where not to step. You go into the tent and put down the half uncovered idol. It’s brittle, made of hide and yew, with a bit of bone. “Lucia is pregnant.” 

“Oh? That’s great,” you furrow your brow, wondering what that has to do with you. 

“Means she can’t travel for a while. She’s adverse to long term commitments at the moment so…” 

“So…” you trail off as you label the mound of dirt and make notes for the next day. 

“So, you want her assignment?” 

“Which one?” You peel off your gloves and shake off the excess filth. 

“Norway. It can be a bit dingy but the landscape is nice.” 

“Norway? For how long?” You close up the ledger and tuck it away on the shelf. You pass between the tables of artifacts as you pull out your phone. 

“Could be a while but I figured you never get to go very far. You’ve been pent up in-state for so long, you could use the vacation.” 

“Oh? Well, I…” you scroll through your phone and see the notifications. Emails confirming delivery, messages asking if everything is sorted. “I’d have to think about it…” 

It’s evasion more than indecision. You know you don’t want to go. You can’t go. Your whole life is here. You have an apartment and friends and… Steve. Your best friend.  

“Make sure you do think about it. It’s a great opportunity. Especially for a junior anthropologist. Lucia won’t be on leave forever.” 

“I know. I’ll think about it.” 

You hang up and pluck the earbud out. Ugh, you’re covered in dirt and dust. You don’t have time to go home and shower. You knew you wouldn’t. You have to be at the venue before everyone else. You can change there and try to wash up in the sink. Whatever, no one’s going to be looking at you anyway. It’s Peggy’s night. Yay. 

You lock the fence and tug one last time to make sure it’s secure. You drag your boots across the thinning grass to your car parked on a stretch of gravel. You drop inside and hit start. You connect to the bluetooth and get some tunes going. You buckle your seat belt as you check the mirrors. You’re probably going to have to speed there. 

You back out as the music blares from the speakers. It’s not loud enough to drown out your thoughts. Why did you agree to this? Peggy doesn’t even like you. Oh, but she likes Steve. She is his girlfriend and you are only his best friend. You’re supportive. You keep your mouth shut and smile. 

Ugh. You squeeze the wheel until your knuckles hurt. You know why you offered to help plan the surprise. You’re pathetic but you’re not delusional. It meant you got more time with him. There hasn’t been much of that since Peggy came along, not just the two of you. 

Classic, isn’t it? In love with your best friend. Friends since college. Friends forever, you vowed naively, thinking that forever would never come. Nothing lasts that long, you can only hope to outlast Peggy. 

And if you don’t, maybe this crush will finally run its course. 

💟

Red and white streamers decorate a long table set with trays. There’s a banner over it that reads ‘Happy Birthday, Peggy’, and a stack of gifts already forming in the corner. Guests drift in with anticipation as you hurry around to check off all the items on your list. 

You fix a small vase of flowers, trying to hide the droopy one in the back, and tug a wrinkle out of a tablecloth. You smile and wave at those who are early as you weave between them. You pull out your phone and lean it on the clipboard angle in the crook of your elbow. They’re on their way, okay. Keep it cool. 

As you come to the kitchen door, you nearly collide with someone else. Sam touches your arm gently as he keeps you from tripping backward. You gasp and hug the clipboard with a wobbly grin. 

“Hey,” you greet breathily, “you’re here.” 

You look down at the guest list and check him off. 

“Ah, figured I’d make an appearance,” he kids, “Rogers would take it pretty rough if his best pal wasn’t here.” 

“Please, don’t start that with Bucky again,” you warn as you point the pen in his direction, “the two of you, in fact, are seated separately.” 

“No fun!” He whines dramatically. 

You scrunch your lips at him and peer around. Yes, none of this has been fun. Caterers, servers, tables, space, food! Yes, you were going to check on the cake. Your sole squeaks as you twist sharply and go to slam your hand into the door. 

“Hey,” Sam blocks your way with his arm, “before you disappear, you’re still wearing your boots.” He points to your feet, “in case you’re wondering about the snail trail.” 

He sweeps his finger up in a gesture alluding to your previous path. You glance over at the dirt littered in your stead then down at your dusty boots. You sigh and hang your head back. 

“Fuck!” You snarl. 

“Don’t worry, I’ll find a broom,” he assures you, “while you take a breath. You need it.” 

“I can’t, Sam, they’re already on their way. I still have to get everyone in their place and… quiet,” you scowl, “ugh, this is gonna be so bad. I don’t know what I’m doing.” 

“So… why’d you do it?” He asks as he drags his hand away from the doorframe. You look at him and blink slowly. You shrug. 

“I’m a good friend,” you insist. 

He gives a skeptical hum and nods, “sure are,” he grumbles, “too good, if you ask me.” 

You throw up your hand before turning into the kitchen. You don’t have time to worry about him. Is he jealous that you’re helping Steve so much? Or does he know something else? You don’t let the seed sprout as you nearly cry out at the sight of the cake. 

A pink bow. Jeez. Of course. You check the cake off your list, nearly tearing through the paper. It’s better than nothing, even if Peggy never settles for less than the best. 

There’s no time to complain or send it back. Your phone vibrates again. Five minutes. Your heart is racing. Why? This isn’t even your party. You just want it to be perfect for Steve. You hate to disappoint him. Ever. 

You really shouldn’t care that much but you do. Like so many other things in your life. 

💟

The crowd can't keep quiet. There's a low buzz that ripples through the guests. A wave of anticipation that's spread like a deadly virus. 

You feel a nudge in your side and peek over as Bucky sends Sam a sneer and wriggles in place. Those two never let up. You hiss at them to quit and they look as guilty as a pair of unruly children. 

"He keeps tickling me," Bucky whispers. 

"No, I'm tryna fix his hair, look at this mess," Sam flicks a strand away from Bucky's cheek, "this is a nice event, Buck, not your living room." 

"Both of you," you warn.  

"You're bitching at me when Indiana Jones here brought the dig with her," Bucky mutters. 

You look down. Dammit. You still didn't change out of your boots. You roll your eyes. It's not about you. It's Steve's night. Er, Peggy's.  

You shake out your nerves and shake your head, "you two," you step behind Bucky and insert yourself between the men, "behave." 

"Yes, mom," Sam snickers as Bucky groans and tries to smooth the few shanks that have slipped free of his low ponytail. 

You exhale and give an exasperated look to the door. You really can't handle them on top of everything else. You just want this night to end already. All your hard work and you won't even get to enjoy any of it. 

"Everybody," Natasha hisses as she runs away from the doorway, "they're coming." 

The group quiets, as much as they can, a collective bated breath as you wait and listen. The lull is unbearable as the heat of the bodies around you pricks sweat down your neck and across your scalp. The door begins to open, almost as if in slow motion, and as the guest of honour is revealed, you cry out. 

"SURPRISE!" The eruption of the chorus has your head spinning as Peggy gives a melodramatic swoon, grabbing at Steve's arm as she leans on him heavily. 

She parts only to fan her eyes and squeal. "Oh my god, you guys!"  

She teeters on her heels as people holler happy birthday and her group of girlfriends flutter over to wrap her up in a cacophony of giggles and preening. You smile, a bittersweet twitch in your cheek as you watch her spin back to Steve and pull him into a kiss.  

You're happy for them really, proud to see all your effort come to fruition, but you just feel so hollow. For an instant, you think it should be you right there, gushing in glee over the celebration of another year, with Steve beside you.  

You gulp down the jealousy and wiggle your nose to ward away the tears. That's a stupid thought. If it hasn't happened in more than a decade, it's not going to happen now. 

💟

As the guests disperse into their own conversations, you finally manage to wade through to the happy couple. You approach with a small wave at Steve. He doesn't see you, he's watching Peggy as she chats with Natasha. 

"Hi," you call above the din, "so, you like it?" 

Steve turns to you, confusion stitching his forehead before he registers your questions. He nods and gives a smile, "it's amazing, you did so good!" 

The sparkle in his eyes, the perfect line of his jaw, the way he's looking at you, it makes your heart rend. You tilt your head and dig your toe into the floor bashfully, "thanks. I'm so happy to see it come together." 

"Um, the cake," he brings his index finger up, "I was hoping to bring it out soon." 

"Er, yeah, it's back in the kitchen. About that–" 

"Great," he claps your shoulder and brushes by you, "just gonna put the finishing touches on it." 

"Hm, what do you–" 

He's gone before you can finish your question. You deflate just a little, setting your feet flat as you sway aimlessly. The motion hooks Peggy's attention. You give a sheepish smile as you wring your hands. 

"Oh, uh, just came over to wish you a happy birthday," you chirp, "are you enjoying it?" 

"Ah, I didn't see you here, I thought maybe you were busy…" she gives a pointed look to your boots, "working." 

"Um, yeah, no," you fidget, "always happy to come support you two." 

"Where is Steve?" She gazes past you, shouldering by dismissively, "he was just…." 

Right. You nod and flit away in embarrassment. You can't say you ever got along with Peggy. Where you're accommodating, she's a bit too demanding. Different people, but you don't dislike her. You just don't mesh. Or perhaps it's just that you don't get what Steve sees in her. Especially when you're right there. 

Enough. This isn't about you or your stupid dumb heart. Just smile and go with it. 

The kitchen door swings open, a noise barely discernible above the hue, and the rattling wheels of a cart underline the steady drone. A lull washes over the crowd as they part. You move with the tide and face the sudden divide. 

A hush falls over the room as Steve pushes the cake across the floor. He stops before Peggy as she faces him, another feigned pout of surprise. He grins proudly at her as you stare curiously at the top of the cake. 

"Oh, pink?" She comments on the fondant bow as her eyes flick over to you. She quickly corrects herself an admires the double tiered dessert, "Steve, it's so pretty." 

You know she hates the colour. You recall the one time you wore a pink bow in your hair and she made a similar comment. Cute, she remarked in her roundabout way in her oh so sophisticated accent. 

You manufacture a smile and step closer as Steve beckons to the guest. Tension stills the air, almost paralyzing the crowd. You squint at the heart shaped box perched atop the bow. 

"Is this for me?" Peggy asks if it's not obvious. 

Steve nods, his cheeks tinting pink, as you notice how he wipes his palms on his pants. Peggy delicately takes the box from the pedestal of fondant and your ribs ache from the pounding of your heart. You curl your fingers until your nails dig into your skin as you watch him kneel beside her. 

She doesn't notice as she opens the box on its hinges. Her lips part and she stares at the contents. She looks over at Steve to find him on his knee and she claps her hand over her mouth. Her eyes gleam as she whimpers his name through her fingers. 

The scene hazes behind your tears as you stare wide eyed. Your ears ring as Steve's voice is dulled by your shock. 

"Margaret Elizabeth Carter," Steve's timbre warble just a bit, "will you make me the happiest man on earth?" 

You don't wait for her answer. You already know it. It's the very same you give in every outlandish dream you've ever had of your happy ending. You spin and storm through the crowd, blind with horror and self-pity. 

Surprise! Your whole world is crashing into pieces. 

[leah-lover]

Love in Ibiza. Barca x reader. Smut 18+

orgy. Part 1 Part 2

After that Lucy sits closer to you, and moves her head milemeteres away from yours. “ are you sure?” she whispers. You lock your lips with hers as a response. 

As you lean in the kiss you feel Lucy pull away from you. “ no” you whisper for her only to hear. She pulls away still and sits a little far from you. 

“ I am not  sure you know what you are getting yourself into.” she says. 

“ I am sure of my will to have sex with you Lucy and with all of you in fact.” you respond to her. 

“ I told you she liked you luce.” said mapi to lucy. 

“ That's not why I brought her here.” 

“ I know but you owe me now.” 

“ you guys bet on me?” you say in surprise. 

“ Well not bet but you were a topic of a few conversations we had.” said ingrid. 

“ do tell.” you add. “ I find you attractive. Especially when you wear a dress like the one you are wearing right now.” said Lucy looking you up and down. You take off your jacket as a response showcasing your shoulder less black dress. You kept eye contact with Lucy while doing so. 

“ Why don't you come and show me how much you like it then.” you say bravely. You stare into Lucy's eyes for a second before she sits near you. You turn your head to kiss her. Your lips fit perfectly together. Hers were soft and dominating. She quickly took control of you, guided you to straddle her lap; her hands roaming freely on your back. She solicited a few moans from you when she moved on to your neck giving it bruising, mouth full kisses, leaving her mark in each section. Your hands move from her neck to her hair, massaging her scalp as she devours your neck. It was like you two were the only people in the world. She then puts her head on your chest and says “ is  my baby girl enjoying this?” Both you and ona say yes at the same time which makes you  feel a little bit awkward and embarrassed. 

“ It's okay we will make a fun little compaction of who will be my best girl.” She says giving the exposed part of your chest a kiss. 

“ She isn't yours Lucia.” Said Alexia from behind you, her shirt on the ground and her hair was a little bit messy. “ We will see about that “ answered Lucy before kissing you again. She unzips your dress smoothly and helps you take it off. You stay only in a black laced underwear. “ You are so beautiful.” She whispers before going  down on you again. she sucked, kissed, and marked her way down your body leaving red circles all over it.  When she reached  your core she noticed a wet patch on your panties which made her smile. She didn't say a word though. She just tossed them aside, opened your legs and slid between them. Your brain was hazy when she first made contact with your clit. You could even release a full moan with only whimpers and muffled sounds. She put your clit between her teeth sucking at it forcefully, Her hands roamed your stomach. She kept moving until she found the right rhythm that made you arch. Your whimpers were getting louder as she moved up her pace. Her hands continued to touch you all over which made you want to come even more. “ I want to come.” You whisper gently between your heavy breaths. “ Please let me come.” “ Okay be a good girl and come for me.” 

Your eyes were closed when you reached your climax. It was the best orgasm you have ever had. You keep your eyes closed as you ride you high while breathing very loudly.  Lucy gave you in your space to calm down. 

When you opened your eyes you found ona cleaning up your juices from Lucy's mouth. The scene in front of you made your clit pulse again. “ Thank you “ you whisper when she turns to face you. “ Don't know that just yet.” She winks at you and disappears in the hallway opposite you. 

You turn your eyes only to find Ingrid looking at you. You were naked, your legs open, and your juices running down your thighs. However, she didn't make you feel vulnerable. Her eyes made you feel safe. You continue your eye contact for a moment before you extend your arm in her direction inviting her to come next to you. She agrees to your silent request and joins you on your side of the couch. You quickly glance at her girlfriend who was knuckles deep inside Alexia before giving your attention back to Ingrid. 

“Right now Lucy will pride herself in making you look so fucking sexy. You looked amazing. We all stopped and just looked at you “ she said. You get up and sit next to her. “ how long have you been doing this.” You say stroking her arm. “ Well at the beginning it was just me, Maria, Alexia and Jenni . Then Lucy and ona joined. Then aitana. We started about a year ago and we only got together when we wanted to. It was often actually.” She said. “ Are you enjoying yourself so far? '’ ' very much so.” You respond and kiss her. 

This kiss was much softer, and more intimate. Ingrid didn't rush into you she took her time. “ Is your pussy still needy even after what Lucy just did?” She asks. “ I want more.” You respond. You two look at each other before you lay back and invite her over you. Without hesitation she hovers on top of you and quickly slid 2 fingers inside of you. You arch and release a loud moan as a response. Ingrid's thrusts were harder than you thought. She wanted to ruin you and it was obvious. She kept switching up her pace and trying to loosen you up more. “ So fucking tight around my fingers aren't you baby?” She asked l, her voice filled with list. This wasn't a side of Ingrid you have ever seen. She wanted your attention to be on her so when you would turn your head to the side she would turn it back towards her. You were able to notice the scene next to you briefly. Ona was sat on Lucy's lap, her thumb stroking ona’s clit while they were both looking at Ingrid fucking you. The scene turned you on even more but Ingrid's inconsistency didn't allow you to come. She Introduced a third finger which made you scream and arch more but it only made her laugh a little. “Please please please can I come please.” You started begging her, feeling your hole stretched out to what you thought was the max. You continue begging for a while and she speeds up even more. “Please Ingrid.” You beg again. “Okay, you can come now baby “ as soon as you reserved the okay you grabbed a chunk of the couch under you, released the loudest moan of the night and came. Seconds after you you heard ona’s cries as she came too. You in absolute bliss when Ingrid pecked your lips.

“ You may have been the first but I made her come harder.” Said Ingrid to Lucy.

“ Now it's our time to try.” Alexia pointed at herself and at mapi. 

Let me know what you think.

[seleneprince]

Fun idea about my Lucia Wayne-Perez au (aka the Neglected daughter au):

You see, a lifetime of raising Marco has made Lucia's big sister/mother's instincts so ingrained in her mind that sometimes they just come out of her naturally at certain situations, like hearing a kid's cry or knowing they're sick. She has the habit that whenever Marco throws a tantrum or misbehaves, she grabs him from the back of his neck, like a cat, and lifts him to put him in "time out".

Dealing a secret criminal life, along with other complications, takes a toll out of her sometimes. A certain morning, she's just bleary-eyed, running on fumes, and just defaults to her ingrained "big sister mode" when she's triggered, without realizing that she's not dealing with Marco this time...

The morning is quiet—well, as quiet as mornings at Wayne Manor can be. Lucia stumbles into the kitchen, dark circles under her eyes, her hair an unbrushed mess. She's moving on autopilot, grumbling under her breath about the lack of coffee in her life as she pours herself a glass of water instead.

Alfred has had the horrible idea of trying to cut down her caffeine levels for a while, replacing it for water or milk instead. Something about how there can only be two coffee addicts in this house, and she shouldn't be one of them. A bunch of nonsense, if you ask her.

Damian is already there. He’s already had his morning training, his uniform immaculate, and his attitude sharper than usual. He’s standing by the table, critiquing Alfred’s choice of breakfast with his usual snark.

"This oatmeal is too bland," Damian mutters. "I’d sooner eat sawdust."

Lucia doesn’t even register it at first. But as the complaints keep coming, something in her brain clicks. Years of dealing with Marco’s tantrums kick in. She sets down her glass, shuffles over to Damian, and without a word, grabs him by the back of his collar.

"Hey—what are you—" Damian protests, his voice indignant but slightly bewildered.

Lucia, too tired to care, lifts him like he’s no heavier than a loaf of bread. "Time out," she mutters flatly and carries him to the corner of the room.

She plops him down with zero ceremony. "Stay there. Think about your choices," she adds before trudging back to her water.

For a moment, there’s stunned silence.

Alfred, standing by the stove, clears his throat, his lips twitching as he valiantly fights off a smile. "Lucia, dear, I believe Master Damian is—"

"I know who he is, Alfred," she interrupts, waving a hand dismissively. "He’s a kid, and he’s annoying. Let me hydrate in peace."

Damian is too shocked to respond immediately. When he finally recovers, his voice is a mix of outrage and disbelief. "You dare—"

Lucia turns her head, narrowing her bloodshot eyes at him. "Unless you want me to glue you to the corner, I suggest you zip it, gremlin."

"You—!"

"I said Zip it."

And for the first time, Damian...zips it. Just like that.

Later, when she’s more awake and her brain starts functioning again, the realization of what she’s done hits her like a truck. She avoids Damian for the rest of the day, expecting a punishment. Or a murder attempt. This time finishing what he started those years ago.

But instead, he just watches her with narrowed eyes, as if trying to solve a puzzle. And though he’d never admit it, there’s a small part of him that almost...respects her for it. Almost.

Taglist: @yuyuzi-ling @lunayaps (if someone wants to be added, let me know)

[darlingsfandom]

Like John's scenario to keep the peace between the lees and Shelbys . Wonder if the same happened with the changreta's with Luca's sister y/n married off to Tommy and they are alike coming from different backgrounds . At first they dislike eachother while fucking hard

We do enjoy a good hate fuck over here !

TW: cream pie, breeding kink, slapping, spanking, swearing, face fucking, p in v(unprotected)

“let me get this right…” Tommy lit up his cigarette, “you want me to marry her just to keep it peaceful between our families ?”

“Well yes that’s exactly what I said.” Lucia rubbed his brow in frustration before looking at you. You stood there with a displeased look, arms over your chest rolling your eyes at your older brother. Ever since your father died of actual natural causes, he’s been even more of a pain in the ass. He’s always tried to protect you from the world like a good big brother but now he had to give you to the world’s most dangerous animal… man! More specially Thomas Shelby! Who you hated with a passion or so everyone thought .

“Don’t I get a say in this?” You peeped up . Both of them looked at you before bursting into laughter.

“She’s funny.” Tommy pointed his cigarette at you before sitting down in his chair and smoothing his hand over his chin.

“And she listens for the most part, I mean I got her in this meeting.” Lucia repeated the same movement Tommy did. You stood there chewing your cheek in anger while tapping your foot.

“Tell ya what, let her stay here for a week, if she’s good enough to be my wife I’ll take you up on your deal.” Tommy stuck out his hand. Lucia quickly gripped it and shook on the agreement .

“I’m still here ! I should have a say!” You blurted out before your brother stood up, placed his hands on your shoulders and looked into your eyes .

“I just want to keep you safe, this is the best way to do so! Just trust me, you’ve made it this far in life with my help.” He smoothed your hair before standing up and wished Mr. Shelby a pleasant evening. You stood there in disbelief before grabbing the bottom of your dress and ran after your brother .

“Lucia, please!” You chased him as fast as you could but he ignored you. He put his hand up to stop you and you did. He looked back over his shoulder at you while you stood there with tears in your eyes. He got in the carriage and drove off leaving you in the dust.

A soft sigh left your lips as you hung your head low . You turned around to see other members of the Shelby family staring at you. You kept your head low until you were back inside. Thomas stood at the bottom of the stairs with a stern face awaiting you.

“Very well done darling…” he clapped his hands slowly before coming up to you and placed his hands on your love handles.

“You think Lucia bought it?” You asked running your hands over his chest. Tommy chuckled deeply before grabbing your hand and took you back into his office.

“Can’t believe you ‘ate me that much you’d cry…was a nice touch.” Thomas acted offended while you rolled your eyes.

“Of course I hate you, just not as much…”

“Ya don’t ’ate me that much when you’re riding my cock…” Thomas smirked at you when your jaw dropped. He sat in chair while signaling for you to come closer. Tommy sat you on the edge of his desk, his hand ran from your ankle up to your thigh. “You can deny that all you want …” Tommys fingers ran across your clothes cunt making you squeeze your thighs around his hand. “But this little cunt of yers… will always tell the truth!” He pulled his hand away before striking it hard making a moan slip out from your lips.

“Such an easy little toy.” Tommy gave you another spanking on your pussy.

“You’re such an asshole Thomas.” You gripped his wrist.

“Oh fuck you!” He rolled his eyes.

“Fuck me yourself you coward!” Before you could even smirk, Thomas had you turned around, bent over his desk and dress flipped upwards to expose your ass cheeks. His hand took no mercy in spanking you hard! The stinging was more than normal. You might have actually pushed a button with him which made you tingle in a different way. Thomas left your ass glowing red. His fingers hooked into your panties and ripped them apart.

“Who’s a coward now huh?” He grunted into your ear while giving you another hard slap that made you jolt forward. Tears leaked from the corner of your eyes from the pleasurable pain. The cool air soothed your stinging ass cheeks for a minute only for Tommy to grip the back of your head and pull you backwards onto your knees. “Suck my cock! Now!” He had his cock out already from how eager he was to fuck your face. Your eyes flickered up to his to see how dark they’ve turned.

“I said NOW!” His hand gripped your hair and pulled it forward. Your mouth opened quickly so he could shove his cock down your throat. The tip of his cock hit the back of your throat making you gag slightly. “Look at that, for someone who ‘ates me so much… ya look real pretty sucking my cock.” He stroked your hair slowly while thrusting his cock down your throat.

Water built up in your eyes the more he fucked your face. Drool dripped from the corners of your mouth down his cock. Tommy never took mercy on you when he fucked you. He enjoyed how much you’d say you’d hate him or his cock because both of you knew better. Tommy reached down and smirked as he pinched your nose closed making it hard for you to breathe. Your eyes went wide ! You clawed at his thighs as he thrusted his cock faster making the sloppy sounds echo off his office walls. Tommy finally let go so you could breathe and you let out the loudest gasp he’s ever heard.

“And yet you still let me fuck your throat instead of wanting to breathe.” He pulled you up by the arm. Your face was covered in tears, skin flushed, lips slightly swollen and drool hanging off your chin… a beautiful sight for him. He pressed your back against the desk before getting you laid upon the wood. Tommy waisted no time in spreading your legs up and wide . He shoved the fabric up , gripped the head of his cock and tapped it against your folds.

You laid there panting. Tommy pushed the head of his cock into you in one swift motion.

“Fuck!” You held onto your ankles tightly as Tommy pushed all the way in. He loved how you sucked him in , always so warm and soft! If Tommy loved anything about you, it was your pussy. “Just fuck me already!”

“Aww what’s the matter you little whore? Can’t wait a second ? Need my fat cock that bad?” Thomas placed his hands on your hips and slammed you forward and down on it.

“Anyone can fuck me Thomas! Do better!”

“That’s because you’re just a fucking whore! Takes cock all day … if only your precious little family knew the real you! This version of you! Getting fucked raw by the most dangerous man in Birmingham ! They’d kill over!” His words shouldn’t have made you more aroused but they did. He knew it. You moved one hand away to reach up and hit him the best that you could.

“What a stupid girl you are!” He smacked the side of your face with the back of his hand as his cock slid in and out of you at a bruising pace. Thomas gripped your hips tighter as he bent forward until his hot breath was fanning your face. You tried to look away but he cupped your face and made you look at him. “Don’t look away from me!”

“I’ve seen better men in my head!” You grinned before he smacked you again all while slamming his cock deep inside of you making your toes curl!

“Yet all you do is scream MY name!” He was a cocky bastard that everyone thought you hated including yourself but you knew you loved him. He knew it too.

“Then make me scream it! Show me how a real man pleasures a woman!”

Tommy took the challenge. He lifted your hips up off the desk to go in deeper at a different angle. His cock was hitting that spot that not even your fingers could reach. He was panting hard as his own orgasm was on the edge just like yours was. The fire in your tummy was about to combust as Tommy reached down to rub your clit feverishly. Your breath hitched in your throat as you scraped your nails into the desk.

“TOMMY!” You cried out while tossing your head back. He had a grin on his face that quickly turned into an O when his own orgasm busted inside of you, filling you up the brim with his hot sticky cum. The feeling of your juices mixing with his cum made you smile weakly before he slowly fucked the mixture into you.

Both of you stayed still for a minute taking in the moment. Tommy slowly pulled out of you making sure to not let the mixture leek out of you. He helped you onto your wobbly legs and fixed you up.

“I still hate you…” You smiled softly at him.

“If you hate me now imagine how much you’ll hate me when I put my baby inside of you sweetheart.” He gave you a wink followed by a small smile. The reality of the situation hit you as his hand ran over your face, Tommy was the man you loved to hate and if you’re not careful he’d be the father of your kids.

[its-leethee]

Lucia the first elves and archdragons, who designed and built the camp cosmic order, is angry and scared that the spark human's use of primal magic is going to spread through the camp and endanger everyone--

It happened long ago, when humans had only just learned to hold fire in their hands without burning. They nurtured their precious primal flames secretly—in the dark of night, beneath shadows and shrouds—as cultivating its glow drew the eyes and ire of monsters. Eventually, for the audacity of their fire, they were hunted, and—though they looked to the stars for salvation—the stars, too, looked down upon them with disdain. Humanity had been given something it was never meant to have. And so there came a calamity.

--Ripples

I've been thinking about why the stars and the Cosmic Order would turn their backs on and refuse to watch over Xadia. If they could see the future - why is there nothing they're willing or able to do to stop it?

But if the human's unchecked use of magic would attract the attention of a certain type of monsters -

Speculation that Aaravos was hoping to attract a star devourer dragon to destroy Xadia is an idea that's been bouncing around the fandom for a while.

And this would explain why the other Startouch elves on the Cosmic Council would stay out of the way; why they would turn their backs and avert their eyes; why they wouldn't want to look past a certain point via their timeblind powers either.

"...the beginning of the end. The long slow spiral to chaos." They won't look past the cosmic-prophecy-event-horizon because there's a star devourer dragon sitting just beyond.

They're afraid of being driven mad.

"...I can feel my very being shattering from the inside out!"

Aaravos gleefully goading the humans on; taunting the Cosmic Council, "are you watching?"

I have not seen the stars in centuries. But when I see them again—when the stars are forced to look upon me, their dark brother—they will know how I have waited. And when everything they have built lies shattered, I will savor their fall from the sky.

--Patience

In lieu of a conclusion paragraph I'm gonna leave y'all with a piece of my terrible humor:

--2x01 foreshadowing???? i love this show so much

[sunnys-out]

Always better than me | Lucy Bronze x Reader

A/N: Hellooooo, this is a standalone that I did from a request. This is from the prompt list here. Reminder, that submissions are still closed.

WC: 2.1k

Warnings: gaslighting, emotional abuse, cheating, panic attack symptoms, swearing. angst w/no happy ending. slight nsfw

Lucia Roberta Tough Bronze, was my first love and my hardest heartbreak. Truth be told, I hated her so much when we first encountered each other on the international stage. She had admitted that I was as much of a pain in her ass as she was to me. 

I mean defending against a 17 year old Jessie Fleming was already a nightmare so when it was both of us, Lucy made it her personal mission to shut me out. Some tackles led to confrontation, some that had me so close to her face that I could see the dark specks of color in her eyes. 

Her stupid smile when she knew that I was frustrated in a game. I fucking hated it but I realized I loved seeing it all the same. Jessie followed me to Chelsea and she saw everything between me and Lucy from the beginning to the end, and the very bitter epilogue that I still, desperately, wanted to end. 

Lucy and I’s little rivalry continued in the WSL. It became a game at some point of who could make the other the most annoyed by the end of the match. Every other match, Lucy would push herself onto me in confrontations to looking down at me after a tackle…this only happened once, in anger, outside of the pitch. ‘

We were both a couple of shots of tequila in us, Lucy was arguing with me and I felt the wall hit my back. The sounds of the club, both are teammates dragged us to, seemed muffled. My voice, normally as loud as hers, was small and tiny. I was just staring, dumbly, at one little black speck in the blues of her eye. 

“You’re such a fucking brat ya know that?!” Lucy screamed at me.

I finally shifted my gaze to her mouth as it curled at my silence.

“What all talk before and now you’re fucking quiet, wish you’d stay this way”.

My brain finally reconnected to my mouth as I finally push back into her like we would in games.  Jessie, across the way, saw the confrontation wondering 

“Maybe I should intervene?...” 

My voice slurred, “Fuck you, Lucy… our first game against each other you brought me down. I fucking hated you for it and I still do. I still remember your smile, the soft quirk to it when you stood over me..” I poked the side of her mouth with my finger.

“How could I not? It’s ingrained in the back of my mind, Lucy, and I wish it wasn’t” I look at her my hand falling away from her face.

I did not realize that my face was now centimeters from hers. The same smile appeared,

“Maybe I don’t want you to forget it hm?” Her head tilts as she moves my chin slowly as so that I remain looking at her. 

I groaned, “Ugh you’re insufferable” I pushed her shoulder only to be met with her lips, hungrily devouring mine. 

Poor Jessie said she made the quickest u-turn of her life when she saw what happened. 

Lucy pulled back and stopped me with a small laugh when she saw that I tried to close the distance again. The taste of lime, salt and the burn of the tequila only added to the intoxicating taste of Lucia Roberta Tough Bronze. 

“I want you to never forget me” she sealed that statement by bringing me in again her grip rough on my chin…and she was, unfortunately, right about that. 

__________________________________________

We began seeing each other more after we had a long conversation in her Manchester apartment. Well, the long conversation then involved both of us being naked in Lucy’s bed…and well that was never something that we expected…but we both did not stop.

Out times together stopped just being nights tangled in each other after tough matches to days lounging about. Then to waking up to her holding me close like I was the most important thing in our new apartment. 

I loved Lucy so much…she was there for my back injury that took me out of the season for a time. She learned all the little things that made me tick, everything that brought me joy, everything that brought me sadness…and unfortunately, she became one more than the other.

The little moments of love that were peppered throughout our relationship like the stars in the sky slowly faded away as she moved to Barcelona. If I’m going to be honest…it probably started even before that. We had done distance like this before, like when I was at Wolfsburg on loan for a season, Lucy always made sure to call…to talk about my game that she saw, and I would return the favor and offer my insight on her games and how much I missed her.

Even though the cloudy weather of London never bothered me…Lucy being gone really was felt in the weather now. Barcelona definitely had the light of my life and I didn’t realize it would stay there. 

Her distancing took some time to manifest but started when I had to reach out to her. I understood, I mean it took me a bit to adjust to the new culture of Germany, but it took her longer to respond to me and it was a simple “ok”, “goodnight” “good morning”,“love you”. The response just served as a “I read the message”. She never really did read my messages because the responses often didn’t make any sense to what I had sent. I never corrected her and just went along with it thinking it was just a typo…a pretty bad typo.

I remember I alluded to the idea that I should come visit her in Barcelona…and she said “Nah, things are picking up and with the international break coming up it wouldn’t be good for either of us”. It was true that I had the Gold Cup and she had the Euros qualification games but a few days wouldn’t hurt…she traveled to Germany for me once before and then returned immediately to play one of the best games of her life.

The feeling of rejection hurt…it hurt more when I saw the post of Lucy exploring Barcelona with Ona…doing things that I had planned to do with her. Seeing her with the flowers in the elevator…oh the flowers…it broke me. I put it in the back of my brain, Lucy would tell me right? She’d tell me if this wasn’t working anymore, right?

Our relationship was a secret, the fans had alluded to it before and Lucy and I would giggle at the theories and the compilations of proof, but we never announced or made it public per Lucy’s preference. Suddenly, she was comfortable sharing the little, soft appearances of Ona…something I prayed that Lucy would do for our relationship…

I don’t hate Ona…I would never hate her…

I was jealous and angry…Ona was getting what I once had and more but I was afraid she’d have my same experience. Living without a doubt that your partner loved you, cared for you, would hold you like you were the most important thing in the world…until it just stops…until they find someone better. It made me wonder if I made someone else question if I was the “someone better”. 

“Lucy, can you fucking tell me the truth for once?!?” I yell exasperated through the Facetime.

There was another bout of silence…like it always went. 

“It’s nothing, it isn’t like we were dating seriously anyways” she said as if it was something obvious.

I shoot up from my seat, “What the fuck does that mean, Lucy?!?” 

The roll of her eyes did not go unnoticed by me.

“Means we were just having fun, thought that is what we were, don’t know where you got that we were serious. I mean you probably are seeing someone else down there in London, you see me yelling at you and acting like I got a stick up my ass?”. Her words came without care awaiting my response.

Suddenly we were back to being rivals on the field. Calling each other bluff about a foul that occurred. Whether it was a yellow, deserving of a red, or a card at all. Everything was the same even the smirk on Lucy’s face at my frustration.

“You know what Lucy…fuck you…I’ve done nothing but wait for you…I’ve done nothing but continue to support you even though you stopped doing that for me and I… I still love you, even after all of this time and I fucking hate that”. I bite back the tears. I hated being a frustrated crier.

“You told me we’d be honest with each other and that’s not what this is…you can’t decide now when you’re fucking Ona that we were just a casual thing!” 

My chest tightened even further,if it was even possible, when I saw the indifference in Lucy’s face.

I could not tell you what I said afterwards, those words were not my own but I guess whatever I said caused Lucy to unfollow me on all social media and I bet my number is blocked too. Ona, funnily enough, kept following me…either she didn’t care or she didn’t know about what I had with Lucy. I’ve decided to not dwell on that.

_______________________________________________________

Chelsea legend, announces retirement from International/Club Football

I like to think it was a well-thought out decision, leaving the sport that I loved. The numerous phone calls and emails from friends, family and journalists seemed to indicate otherwise. I still had another World cup that I could attend, another Olympics, another Gold cup…another anything really but I just couldn’t. 

This sport gave me everything, it gave me friends, found family, loves and losses…but its one loss that made getting on the pitch difficult. We were rivals, we hated each other, we fell in love with each other…well, I fell in love with Lucy, and now I’m alone with those thoughts of Lucy. I fell in love with the idea of Lucy, the idea of a good relationship and just me looking at her with rose-colored glasses. 

“So, did I miss the meeting where they were going to tell me that my vice-captain for Canada was retiring for good because I just found out through a Tiktok that was posted on Insta reels” Jessie said sternly over the phone.

Jess, being the first one of my teammates to contact me after the announcement.

“Oof, that’s definitely not the way that I wanted you to find out, all things considered,” I say trying to lighten the mood a bit even though the root of my retirement is more tragic than what I let on.

A groan erupts from my phone as Jess continues, “Ugh…ok, so why pray tell, am I without a vice-captain?”  

How do you tell your best friend that you can’t find yourself to love the sport that you’ve done your whole life because of a girl…

“I just feel like I don’t love it as much as I used to and I don’t want to fake the feeling for the sake of it…so I thought it was time”. I say pretty convincingly.

Jessie sighs, “I mean I can’t really say anything, because it is up to you…just wished you could’ve given me at least a heads up…still love you to bits though”.

I laugh as I pick up the phone to check a text that came in, “I’m sorry Jessie, it was a spur of the moment decision and I felt like I would regret it if I didn’t do it now you know?”

I never deleted Lucy’s number…didn’t have the heart to…maybe it was the small piece of hope that held on that she would message me and everything would go back to what it was.

“Was it because it me?” It felt more like a statement than a question…no hellos or good afternoons accompanying it.

I said my goodbyes to Jessie as I looked at the text…did she actually care?

I lied. We were past pleasantries at this point

“Not really. I mean I still can’t get you out of my mind even though I’m probably long gone from yours but no you weren’t the reason”

A few minutes and another text comes through,

“Then what?”

It felt like years were passing as I typed out the text, 

“Well, I did what you did, couldn’t fake “loving” this sport so I dropped it without notice”.

Lucy never responded…and I would be lying if I said I didn’t care if she did.

[pedriache]

About you — Pablo Gavi.

Pairing: Pablo Gavi x Fem!Reader

Summary: It’d been two months since Gavi asked out Lucia, two months since you’d talked to him. Two long, dreadful months. But the no contact hadn’t lasted any longer, because when the clock hit 11:40, Gavi was standing outside your door in the pouring rain, begging to talk.

Word count: 860

Disclaimer/s: this is a part two to Casual ! Angst to a hopeful ending.

A/N: this is sooo long overdue apologies..

Your house was deadly silent as you paced around, the only sound emitting throughout it was the thunder outside. Your deadline for a transfer request was in an hour, and you couldn’t make up your mind. You needed to escape, to get far away from this city. From him. But a small part of you just couldn’t make up your mind.

On one hand, the transfer to Paris gave you tons of new opportunities, but that also meant leaving all your family to live in a country you didn’t know. On the other.. that meant you could start over. Live a life free of Pablo, free of torment, and most of all, it gave you time to yourself.

As if could ever truly be free from him. As if you could ever forget him.

Twenty minutes. You had twenty minutes to accept. Hesitantly walking toward the computer, the screen shining brightly, showing the two emails you’d typed out. One accepting, the other declining.

You lick your lips, reaching toward the send button, when a knock sounds at your door. Jumping slightly, you turn around, facing the wooden door in surprise.

Without thinking, your feet move for you, dragging you toward it. Your hands too move for you, unlocking and opening the door.

In front of you is someone who’d been on your mind nonstop for years, more-so in the last few months. He was drenched from head to toe, his hoodie clinging to him as the light grey had long since turned dark. He looked like a wet puppy. How long had he been standing there?

He says your name, urgent and afraid. “Please don’t go.”

Please don’t go.

Confusion flashes across your face, how did he even find out? “What?” You choke out, heart pounding in your chest. “How—get inside. You’re going to get pneumonia.” You grumble, swinging the door wide open and stepping aside.

Pablo does as told, taking hesitant steps into the warmth of your entry way. The door had only just clicked shut when he begins to speak again, “There is so much I want to say to you, but first, I need to say i’m sorry.” He’s breathing heavily, as if he’d just run a marathon.

Mouth opening to speak, to insist he shut up, you’re the one being shut down. “No! Let me get it out! Lucia and I—we broke up. Well, she broke up with me. Said, ‘I couldn’t love her when I still clearly loved you.’ And I realized then how badly I fucked things over. Because,” he sucks in a deep breath, whispering your name like it was the most delicate thing in the world, “fuck, I love you. I love you, and i’m sorry I couldn’t admit that till I already fucked things up.”

Your mouth opens and closes for what must’ve been a hundred times, stunned by his sudden confession. “Pablo—“

“Please, don’t go to Paris. I can’t let you get away again. I need you here. I need you to stay.” His eyebrows scrunch together as he looks at you, “I need you.” He says it slowly, making sure you latched on to every syllable.

With your chest rising and falling in uneven intervals, your eyes flicker across his face. He’s desperate, like losing you would physically end him. A look only comparable to when he’d torn his ACL.

“Oh, fuck.” You groan, “oh fuck you. Why are you doing this to me? After all this time—why when i’m just about to move on. Why couldn’t you do this before I figured my shit out.”

“Because I was—I am stupid. I’m an idiot, but i’m here now. I’m here, in front of you, begging you to stay.” He pleads with his eyes, with his hands, that were twitching at his sides, trying not to hold you, with his voice.. “I’ll get on my knees, i’ll do anything. Just please, please stay.”

Closing your eyes for a moment, you try to think logically. You try to think about how much you wanted this for so long, but also how badly he’d hurt you.. Do you trust your head or your heart?

But at the end of the day, the heart always won.

“Okay.” You finally say, nodding your head slowly. “I’ll stay.” You glance at the clock on the wall a few feet away, it was 12:01. “Not like I had a choice, the deadline just passed.”

Pablo lets out a sigh of relief, one that had your eyes narrowing. “Don’t sound too upset about it.” You quip, though your voice lacked amusement.

“Sorry.” He mumbles. “So—“

“You make my life so difficult.” Grumbling, you motion for him to follow you, “you need to take a warm shower, i’ll find you something to change into. I do not want to get a cold because of you.”

With a little pep in his step, Pablo trails behind you. “Okay, so what does this mean? Am I forgiven or..”

“Well, no! But you’re getting there.” You reply simply, knowing deep down he’d been forgiven the moment he uttered those five words. ‘I love you, i’m sorry.’

I just tagged everyone who asked for a part two, apologies ^_^

DTS , @halfwayhearted @pabl0andm3 @gadriezmannsgirl @spidybaby @alexis1taylorr @htpssgavi