#lucious fox

[nerds-yearbook]

After a decade, Wayne Manor was reopened in batman 319#, cover date January, 1980. ("Never Give Up the Ghost!", Batman 319#, DC Comic Event)

[scifriskyxy]

Siblings

[faramirsonofgondor]

“When are we getting Buddie endgame?”

“When are we getting BuckTommy endgame?”

WHEN ARE WE OLIVER STARKS NATURAL CURLS??? I NEED THEM NOW PLEASE AND THANK YOU.

[paisholotus]

I'm the first one to admit I didn't like Rhonda. But she didn't deserve to die like that.

[yesshewritestoo]

Ungodly Hour, empire

Fallon and Imani Lyon have had everything handed to them as far as the material things go. A new car? Got it. Yves Saint Laurent shoes that haven't even been released yet? Done. The only thing they ever had to work for was music. They knew their father wasn't just gonna make space on the label for them, so they had to prove that they were supposed to be a part of Empire. And they would, once they get their father to listen to at least one of their songs.

Imani was seven when Cookie went to jail. Her mother was her best friend, and she would talk to her anytime she could. She, Jamal, and Cookie's relationship with each other through the seventeen years they'd been apart. She was hanging out at Jamal's, when her best friend showed up outside his apartment, seeing the siblings for the first time in seventeen years.

Fallon doesn't know who Cookie Lyon is. She was only ten months old when Cookie got locked up, and Lucious made it a point to rarely speak to or about her. He was too focused on Empire and Hakeem to bring her up, anyway. The only two people she actually looked to for guidance was Imani and Anika, her father's girlfriend. Anika and Fallon's relationship was that of sister, more so than a maternal relationship. The two would hang out all the time, be each other's shoulder to cry on and everything. So, when a woman finds herself in her father's office, claiming to be her mother, she doesn't know how to respond.

[eddiebuckley-diaz]

I miss seeing Buck’s hair being floofy and curly like in S4

It’s got me feeling some type of way

[hug-kiss-marry-kill]

[apocalypse-shuffle]

Oh, so all of a sudden it’s nepotism instead of a legacy role being passed on in a time of need when it’s Jace Fox instead of Dick Grayson (or any of the other “Bat Boys” who aren’t Duke, let’s be honest) who’s Batman? I got y’all.

[violmusseron]

Empire fandom, rise up.

[prettyshon10]

[riddlebanshee]

I am shaking Bruce Wayne in his jar

[scifriskyxy]

A bunch of doodles I made today

[theblue6ook]

A Quiet Day

Summary: Bruce does not like celebrating his birthday. All of the pomp and circumstance was very “Bruce Wayne Bachelor,” but it wasn’t him. He wants quiet, he wants easy, he wants focus. So Y/N gives him that.

Pairing: Bruce Wayne x fem!reader

a/n: I tried to add everyone who wanted to be on the tag list, but let me know if I missed you! [B (24) & Y/N (22)]

“Happy Birthday, Master Bruce,” he heard Alfred over the speaker system. 

Bruce couldn’t help but gaze at the digital clock built into his car console. Well, maybe a tank console? Lucious Fox said it was called the Tumbler, but the name just didn’t feel right to him. It was a birthday present he had told Bruce, and Bruce would call it what he liked... when he thought of a name. He was patrolling, as he does, except this time, he would take his new Waynetech Tank out for a spin. Nope, that name feels wrong too.

“Thank you, Alfred.” 

“Anything special planned this year, sir.”

“You know there’s not,” he chuckled.

“I wasn’t sure if you were getting bold with birthdays,” he could feel Alfred's grin, “considering what an extravagant time Ms. Y/N had.” 

“Just doing something nice for a friend, Alfred.”

Friend. That was nice to say. It’s easy to make friends when you’re a twenty-three - well, now a twenty-four-year-old billionaire. Bruce had never been low on friendships, but he had been low on real friendships. Of course, he had good friends. Rachel, Alfred, Lucius, and Jack Drake, to name a few, but that was all before The Bat. After he had left Gotham, he’d been through a lot. He’d been alone a lot. None of them would ever understand what he went through, who he was now. When he had trained, you’d be "assigned" friends. People you had to work with, save. He had met people who would and had died for him. How can you come back to trivial friendships after that?

And when you don’t water something, it dies. So, friendships slowly crumbled. Shriveled away. It wasn’t in a huge, dramatic way, but in a lost touch way. People didn’t want to deal with the Bruce Wayne he really was, a workaholic, stressed, easily annoyed, quick, and yet she didn’t care.

Y/N had come along, and he was used to the petty fights, people making up their minds, even leaving. They'd slowly given up on him. But she didn’t. They could fight all day long, and by the end, he’d be frustrated, grabbing his coat and announcing it was the end of the day for him. She’d look up at him and say, "See you tomorrow."

Once, he had questioned her about it, half joking and half not, “You’re not going to walk out and never come back?” 

She had looked at him strangely and scoffed, “Bruce, it’s fine if we argue and argue and move on. That’s friendship. That’s life.”

“That’s life?” he had asked sarcastically.

“Yeah. Now get over it and get out,” she had smirked at him.

So, they fight, and they move on, and they fight, and they move on, and Bruce doesn’t mind at all. At the end of the day, he knows he’ll see her the next, and then he does. It’s consistent, and god knows he could use some consistency. 

“A good friend gives back,” Alfred stated. “Maybe she’ll plan you a party.”

God, he hopes not.

-

Y/N had been conspiring. Bruce had made her birthday like nothing she had ever imagined, and even if her ex-finance had soiled the evening, she was grateful. So she wanted to do something special for him, except… he didn’t really seem like he wanted to do anything. Everyone in the office was talking about The Bruce Wayne’s birthday except for Bruce Wayne himself. 

Y/N knew she never typically saw his party side, aside from him hopping into the fountain at The Ocelot. The Bruce she knew was more reserved, quiet, and calculated. Plus, when it came to the topic of his birthday, it’s like he shut the complete conversation down. So, how do you plan something for the one person who wants nothing?

You don’t.

At least you don’t plan a party; you make the day itself special. Bruce hated meetings, so she moved them. He loved the bagel place she showed him down by Dorthie’s Flowers, so she scheduled a nice lunch. The last time she was in Dorthie’s, John had told her that violets were Bruce’s birth flower, so she put some in the office. Finally, for the last hour of their workday, she had a cake, nothing special, she had made it with Carrie last night, and a few birthday cards. 

She was nervous as hell. Giving something to the man who can afford everything is more nerve-wracking than she thought it would be. 

Bruce had arrived at his typical noon timeline. He stepped into the office with caution, just praying what had happened in the past years wouldn’t happen today. When he did occasionally come into the office years ago, past assistants and coworkers would plan some Bruce Wayne Birthday Happy Hour where everyone would get plastered, and he would sneak off annoyed. He knew Y/N knew him better than that. Or at least he hoped she did.

When he stepped into the office, there were no decorations, no music, and no surprises so far. He let out a breath. There was Y/N battling it out on the phone like she usually is. She waved at him and mouthed to him I can’t do phone calls anymore, rolling her eyes. He chuckled, stepping into his office.

Violets.

It wasn’t abnormal for Y/N to grab flowers for the office. She was dear friends with his florist, but violets made him think of his mother. Every birthday, his mother would go through the grueling tale of his birth just to tease him. 

“Thomas, you don’t get to laugh. You were no help!” she squealed. “Anyways, my dear Brucie. I was in the worst pain of my life bringing you into this world. All I wanted was my ice chips when our doctor started going on about birth flowers to distract me.”

“It annoyed her to no end-”

“Stop interrupting me, Thomas,” she had giggled, and Bruce had done the same. “Anyways, I was trying to bring you into this world, and he tells me, ‘ma’am it sounds like your son’s birth flower will be a violet. I never cared for violets.’ And I thought, what a terrible thing to say to a mother. So I kicked him out, and the nurse and I worked hard for you.” 

“She’s not joking, son.”

“But now, every birthday I just have to douse the house in violets for my sweet Brucie.”

 Bruce stepped closer, touching the edge of the petals with his fingertips. It had been a while since he’d been given any flowers... but violets, he was sure he had only gotten them from Mama.

There was a light cough behind him, and he turned to see a bashful Y/N. “So, no meetings today, but we have some paperwork to go through.”

“No meetings?” he questioned. That would be a first.

“Yeah, this donator work really should take priority,” she tried to act casually. “Oh, and I was going to run to Upper East Bagel later if you want to come.”

“We’re not getting delivery?”

“Well, it’s nice outside,” she started innocently. Bad lie, she thought. It’s February. It’s never nice. “I figured I’d walk, but if you want me to go by myself I can grab something for you.”

Bruce scoffed, “You’re not walking by yourself in Gotham.”

She grinned. Bait taken. 

For the few hours before lunch, they worked on paperwork. The donator paperwork did take up a chunk of time. There were so many details like which benefits he needed to attend, which non-profits were approved for the Wayne Charity donation program, etc. He was whipped, and even worse, he was hungry. Stepping toward the door, he leaned on the frame. Y/N was digging through one of her bags, and he cleared his throat.

“Bageles?”

She grinned, “I’m literally starving.”

Y/N was excited, not just for the bagel, but because as soon as they walked down to get their lunch, Alfred was going to come and help her set up Bruce’s office. Again, nothing crazy, a cake, cards, and maybe a balloon. It was nothing that should take long. She even had everything in a tote bag under her desk. 

The bagel line wasn’t long, and they didn’t have any issues other than a few people recognizing Bruce and wishing him a happy birthday. When they did, he’d look at her curiously. While Y/N had no reaction, Bruce was suspicious. So, she knows it’s my birthday, and she hasn’t said anything. Not that Bruce cared about things like that, but Y/N wasn’t the type to forget or be silent on the subject. She had only glanced at him innocently, batting her lashes, “Should we eat lunch in the park?

Bruce humored her, so they sat in Gotham Park and ate their lunch. While the bagel was great, it was fucking freezing outside. Y/N looked over at Bruce, pleasantly eating his bagel. It didn't look like the cold had bothered him at all. Despite not being cold, the whole ordeal had Bruce's mind moving. God, please no office parties when we get back. 

He was on edge stepping back into the office, waiting for some insane ordeal… but nothing. They took the elevator straight up to his office, and walked in by Y/N’s desk and… nothing. He breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe she forgot and didn’t want to say anything. Y/N walked casually over to her desk and set her purse down while Bruce put the code into his office door and stepped inside. There was a balloon attached to his desk chair, a cake that was clearly not from a bakery, and cards. 

He chuckled, looking through them. One from Rachel and Harvey Dent, one from Alfred, one from Lucious, one from Jack Drake (who he hadn’t spoken to in so long), and one from Y/N. Except it wasn’t just from Y/N; her brothers had signed it with little notes and doodles, and Carrie had signed a nice message as well. 

It was so simple, so homely, and wonderful.

“Happy Birthday,” Y/N appeared behind him with a couple of paper dessert plates.

He looked at her but said nothing. In the best way, he didn’t know what to say, and suddenly she became nervous.

“I know it’s not much, and you probably have friends planning something crazy, but,” she paused, unsure of herself, “it’s just… you didn’t really seem like you wanted a party.” 

Bruce chuckled quietly. “I don’t,” he said honestly. “I’ve had friends plan a few insane things over the years, and I’m grateful, but I never really felt like celebrating my birthday without-” He stopped, a little embarrassed. “I sound like a child.”

“You don’t,” she stepped over to him, bumping his shoulder with her own.

“Yeah, I do,” he mumbled.

“After my mother left, I tried to make birthdays special for my brothers, but my dad didn’t really celebrate, and neither did I,” she wasn’t sure why she was whispering. Maybe it was the close proximity between them, or maybe it was because she had never admitted what she was about to say aloud. “John, Carrie, even Russ, they all tried to make things special for me, but… I didn’t want to celebrate. I’d always leave early or fake a headache.”

“I didn’t know your mom left,” he replied back.

“I don’t really talk about it. It’s not like it’s a secret, but I don’t know. It feels so awkward to mention.”

“It’s awkward to mention your dead parents too,” he looked over at her, grinning. 

“At least you know they loved you,” she cringed like she regretted what she said. “Sorry, that was a lot.”

“I get it,” he said honestly.

“So, cake,” she quickly diverted the topic.

Bruce smiled. A real true smile, “Cake.”

@pank0w @moejoeflow @padsfirewhisky @maxinehufflepuffprincess @pastelsweaters-and-bubble-t @mariadvorak @100520s @st0rmyt

[paisholotus]

Ch.4

A/N: I know these songs are not 90s accurate, but to me, they fit this chapter well. But I hope y'all still enjoy 🤎

Songs Played 

 

Int'l Player's Anthem: UGK, Outcast

 

Let's Get Away: T.I.

 

Soul survivor: Young Jeezy, Akon

 

Say it: Neyo

 

 

Lucious pov 

 

I pulled into my neighborhood, with the music blasting, I turned to look at little Mama bobbing her head. She seemed like the type to listen to R&B—that slow song shit. I reached over to change the song, but she shook her head, reaching over to turn it up.

 

"Don't change it; I like it." She said. She bobbing her head to the lyrics, making a stank face. The lyrics were raw and deep; it was that rough shit that only people in the hood could understand. But she was reacting to the lyrics like she could relate.

 

"You like that?" I asked her. I came up to my house and put the car in the park. I gave her an ear-to-ear smile, watching her let loose into the music. Lil Mama told me the day I walked her home from the basketball court that she loved music. It was also the day she agreed to go on this date with me. I love a woman who appreciates music, and I'm not talking about that lovey-dovey shit. I'm talking about music that's about the struggle of the streets. There are not a lot of girls like that.

 

"Hell yeah, that shit hot." She said, humming with the chorus. Lil Mama got some pipes on her too. When she told me she loved music, I told her to sing sum for me. Of course, I already knew she could sing, considering I was at her birthday. And she sang a couple of songs with her friends. When I asked her to sing for me, I felt something I hadn't felt before. Her voice was smooth but strong, like those older church ladies that would hit those low notes. You wouldn't think a powerful voice came out of a little body like hers.

 

I turned the car off, grabbed her flowers, and got out of the car. I walked over to her side, opening the door for her. "That was me." I said, grinning. Grabbing her hand, I helped her out of the car. She looked at me, surprised, and gave me a big smile.

 

"You for real? She asked me. I nodded as I put my hand on her waist, guiding her up the pathway. I decided to invite her over to have dinner with me and my uncle. But if I'm being completely honest, this was a test to see if my uncle liked her. My uncle is opinionated like fuck and outspoken. If he doesn't like your ass, he'll tell you he doesn't like your ass.

 

My uncle is pretty much like my pops; he took me in after my father was killed and my mom's died. I don't really care that my mama is dead, but for my pops to get taken away from me, I would never forgive the nigga that did it. But I'll get into that another time.

 

I opened the door and motioned for her to walk in. She looked around and smiled softly. "You live here?" She asked, looking at the pictures sitting on the coffee table. I stared at her blankly and nodded. I was looking for a sign of judgment, but I didn't find anything.

 

She just walked around, continuing to smile at pictures. She stopped at a baby picture of me and giggled. "Is this you? You were a fat baby. With a big ass head." She cackled. I sent her a playful glare and walked up to her, getting into her space.

 

She still smiled, showing her pretty white teeth. "Oh, you got jokes, little mama?" She smirked at me. Pulling the collar of my shirt, "Oh, I got plenty. But imma be nice. I don't want to crack on you in your house." She said, backing away a little. But I walked back up to her, grabbing the side of her face and looking down at her lips. But I was interrupted by my uncle clearing his throat.

"Marc, are you going to introduce me to?" Unc said, looking at little Mama. She gave him a big smile, and that's when I noticed she had dimples and thought that was the cutest sh*t ever. "Hi, I'm Nalae. It's nice to meet you." She said, reaching her hand out to shake his hand. He smiled at her and shook her hand.

 

"You don't mind me joining you and Marc for dinner, right?" He asked her, and she shook her head, placing her bag down on the couch and sitting down. I went to sit down beside her and watched her look at the cut-up vegetables. "Whatchu, cooking?" She asked him.

 

"Some fried pork chops, greens, and sweet potatoes." She gave an approved nod, showing all her teeth. Unc looked at her and chuckled. "What are you smiling so big for?" She leaned forward, laying her head on her wrist, and smiled. "I love to cook. You want me to help you?" 

 

I chuckled, walking into the kitchen to have a drink. Me and little Mama made eye contact, and she smiled, sticking her tongue out at me, and looked back at my uncle, who raised his brow at her. "You can cook? Don't bring yo ass over here and fuck shit up!" He said, in all seriousness.

 

She playfully smacked her teeth and walked over into the kitchen to wash her hands. I sat at the kitchen counter, watching Little Mama pick up the meat and begin seasoning it.

 

Unc crossed his arms, watching her with a blank face. She dipped the meat in some flour, lightly shook it, and put it in the hot oil. "Who taught you how to cook?" Unc asked her.

 

She smiled and put the other three into the oil. "My mama. Taught me everything to know about food." She said it proudly. Unc walked over and began cooking the sweet potatoes. "We'll just see how good you do, then." Unc said, side-eyeing little Mama.

 

-Time Skip-

 

"Damn! That was good asf." Unc said, looking at little Mama. She smirked cockily at him and put another piece of pork chop in his mouth. "Damn, you can eat! This is your third plate." He said this, looking at her in disbelief. She playfully rolled her eyes, turning to look at Unc. "I told you I loved food." She said she was drinking her tea. I chuckled, pulling out my toothpick. "Ain't shit wrong with that. I like a girl that can eat." I said, staring into her eyes.

 

She looked down, smiling shyly, finishing her food, and leaning back into the chair. Unc got up, shaking his head, and picked up the plates. I leaned over, resting my arms on the table, and looked at little Mama. "Are you having a good time, mama?" I asked her. She nodded, drinking the last of her tea. "Yeah, your uncle is good people." She said, smiling softly.

 

 

I gave her a genuine smile, walking over to the coffee table and picking up the blunt. I was honestly new to this shit. I've never brought a girl to my house for a date—not even to fuck; I would always take a girl to the motel for that; I ain't trust hoes enough to come into my house. I ain't never had actual genuine feelings for a girl before; I had neither time nor patience to catch feelings for no bitches. But little Mama was different—all the way different. She won't like the other females trying to get at me. I've only known her for a couple of weeks, and in that short amount of time, Shordy was actually trying to get to know me. And didn't judge me or my choice of living. Like now, tonight she was in the kitchen cooking with my uncle, like she belonged here or something.

 

I could tell I had strong feelings for her already; I would miss her presence when I left her. I just wanted to be around her, to talk to her, to listen to her, etc. She was honestly making me go crazy every time I saw her smile. She made me feel nervous. You would think Nalae was the type of girl to go for smart, nerdy niggas. She gets good fucking grades and says she wants to go to college. And that shit makes me nervous because I know I couldn't do none of that shit. I know I'm smart—really fucking smart. Unc tells me all the time to get out of this street life. But the street life is all I fucking know, plus we ain't got the money for college. No matter how much I secretly want to go. 

 

But I ain't gon ever be a doctor, lawyer, shit like that. I want to make music and make my way into owning my own company. I know deep down that she deserves better, but Ion want to let go of her; I want her to be mine.

 

I heard a tap on the table, and she looked at me softly with concern and mumbled, "Are you okay?" She must have noticed me deep in thought. I grinned at her and nodded. "I'm straight, baby." I said, handing her the blunt. She shook her head and mouthed ''another time''.

 

Unc came back to the kitchen with a beer in his hand. "Alright, rich girl. Imma, play my playlist, and I know! You ain't going to know these songs." Little Mama rolled her eyes and smacked her teeth. "I'm not rich. And yeah, whatever, go ahead and play it. I know everything there is about music." She said. 

 

Soul survivor: Young Jeezy, Akon

 

"Konvict

Akon and Young Jeezy

Tryin' to take it easy

The only way to go

And so (Ay, let's get it)"

 

The intro of the song played, and me and Unc watched her to see if she knew it. But she kept a half-smiled face, and then the hook came on.

 

"But if you lookin' for me, I'll be on the block.

With my thang cocked, possibly sittin' on a drop now

Because I'm a rider.

Oh, yes, a soul survivor.

'Cause everybody knows the game; don't stop.

Tryin' to make it to the top 'fore your ass gets popped now.

If you are a rider, yeah.

Oh, yes, a soul survivor."

 

She rapped along with the lyrics, making Unc look at her in surprise. She looked sexy as hell, rapping word for word. She took Unc's brim and placed it on her head, rapping the bridge of the song.

 

''Cause if you lookin' for me, you can find me.

On the block, disobeying' the law

Real G, thoroughbred from the streets

Pants saggin' with my gun in my drawers

Just to keep on moving now

Just to keep on moving now

Just to keep on moving now

Just to keep on moving now, yeah."

 

Lil Mama and Unc sang the last bit of the song before she looked up at him with a cocky smirk. "OK, old timer, next song." She said. Pouring herself another drink of tea. "Betta, watch your mouth, girl; I ain't old! And lucky guess." He said, eyeing her. I chuckled, and she raised her hands up in surrender.

 

 

Let's Get Away, T.I.

Unc placed some playing cards on the table because he bet he could beat her at spades. The intro of the next song came on, and Little Mama's face immediately lit up.

 

"Hey, let's get away and get a room on the other side of town.

Hey shawty, I was feeling' for you.

(Was you thinkin' of me, hey, hey?)

Hey, let's get a room, Shawty. We can freak something out if you're down.

(What would you do?)

Hey daddy, I was feenin' for you."

 

She sang the intro and began rapping the first verse.

 

"I bet they'll be like," I know he is tired of the nightlife.

He wants a wife; he's just looking' for the right type."

Yea, right, I'm bein' through the city lights.

My hat bent, gettin' high behind the 'lac tint.

I'm chillin' with Brazilian women with heavy accents.

They black friends transliterated', got 'em all ass naked, adjacent

Have relations with them in many places.

Leavin' semen on their British faces

Make'em kiss their partners with it in their faces.

Young pimpin' sprung women 'cross the 50 states

I got young ladies requests for What's Your Name on 50 stations."

 

She looked at me, smirking, giving me a little fuck me eyes, then shyly looked back at her cards, rapping the rest of the songs. "Alright, baby girl, whatchu got?" Unc asked her. Lil Mama stood up, slammed her cards on the table, and threw her head back, laughing and sticking her tongue out. I groaned watching her slide my money across the table, looking at Unc glare at Little Mama take his money.

 

A/N: *add cardi b laugh, with tongue out* 😂

She laughed and looked to the side, to Unc, trying not to smile at her. "Nah, you can have your money back. But I'm keeping the hat; they go well with my trainer Circuits." She said, as she handed him back his money. But she looked at me and smirked, putting my money in her back pocket. "But you are not getting this back." She said, winking at me. I clenched the side of my jaw. Little Mama, you better be lucky we are in front of my uncle right now.

 

Int'l Player's Anthem: UGK, Outcast

 

Another song came on, and she sat back in the seat, quietly rapping the lyrics.

 

"So I typed a text to a girl I used to see.

Sayin' that I chose this cutie pie with whom I want to be

And I apologize if this message gets you down.

Then I CC'ed every girl that I'd see-see 'round town.

And I hate to see y'all frown, but I'd rather see her smile.

Wetness all around me is true, but I'm no island."

 

"Your brother Lamar told Marc you didn't grow up here." Unc asked her. She gave him a small smile and looked down at her hands. "I grew up in Washington. We were homeless, living out of our car maybe... until I was 13... yeah, I was 13. That's when my dad got a job opportunity here in Philadelphia to work at a hospital. But even then, we were still living in our car when we moved up here. When we were in Washington, my mom and dad struggled a lot. But the main struggle was who was going to look after me and Lamar. Most of the time, my older sister and brother, Tisha and Ant, watched us while my mom and dad took morning and night classes." She said, looking him in the eyes, then looked back down at her cards.

"Sometimes I wondered where they got the money because, like I said, we were living out of our car." She said, chuckling. But I looked back down, frowning. Unc looked at her sympathetically and said, "You don't have to finish, baby girl." She shook her head and said, "No, it's ok. I want to. My mom tried to feed us every day, but sometimes we did and sometimes we didn't. But we didn't complain because we knew our situation. Well, me and Mar do, to a certain extent. Tisha and Ant still don't tell us what my mom and dad did to make money. I mean, it still boggles my mind that we live in the house we live in now." She frowned, crossing her arms, leaning back into the chair, staring down at the floor.

 

"Everyone has a story, and everyone has done some things we're not proud of." She said, lastly.

 

Damn, little Mama has been through some shit. I looked at her curiously as she turned to look at me with a blank face. She said everyone has done something we're not proud of, and I don't think that necessarily includes me. Because everything I've done I don't regret, does that mean she's done some really bad things? Lil Mama doesn't seem like the type to hurt anybody; she can fight and handle her own. Plus, she has a mouth on her, but I don't think she can do what I do.

 

She looked at the clock, and my eyes followed hers; the clock read 8:45. She stood up and smiled at Unc, sticking out her hand. "Well, it was nice meeting you...?" She trailed off the end sentence because Unc didn't tell her his name. He stood up and gave her a hug, which shocked me because my uncle doesn't hug anyone outside of family. "Rodney, you are welcome to come over anytime." She smiled and tried giving his hat back, but he shook his head and told her to keep it. She invited us over to her house tomorrow for dinner, and Unc said yes before I could say anything. I looked into little Mama's chocolate brown eyes, almost pleading with a small smile on her face.

 

''Ight, I'll be there." She gave me a big smile, kissing my cheek, and walked to the door, waving bye to Unc. Before I got out the door, Unc said, "Aye, I like her. Yo ass betta, keep her." I smirked and walked out the door.

 

Say it, Neyo.

 

I helped her get into the car, walked over to my side, and got in, starting the car. I pulled off, taking her back home. Lil Mama turned on the radio and instantly started singing. "I love this song." She said, smiling at me.

 

"Girl, why don't you

Tell me what you want me to do to you.

Say it, say it, say it.

Girl, why don't you

Tell me what you want from me.

Girl, won't you

Say it, say it, say it."

 

She sang the lyrics so fucking beautifully. This girl had the most perfect smile I've seen. She looked so sexy singing that I looked down at her lips. They were full and two-toned, but I promised myself I would behave and not kiss her.

 

I pulled up to her house and parked on the curb. I looked at the clock, and it said 9:06. The bridge of the song came on, and she looked at me with seductive eyes.

 

"Anything that you want, baby, tell me you want it.

I got it, babe.

(Baby, tell me what you want; I got it.)

No more hoping and wishing.

Name your position.

I got it, babe."

 

She leaned over the console and brushed her lips against mine. I felt my heart rate pick up. A girl ain't never had this effect on me; she had a nigga feeling nervous right now. When the hook came back on, she looked me in the eyes and sang to me.

 

"Boy, why don't you

Tell me what you want me to do to you.

Say it, say it, say it.

Boy, why don't you

Tell me what you want from me.

Girl, won't you

Say it, say it, say it."

 

My eyes bored into hers, but what she said next made me lose every restraint I had.

 

"Come here, Marcus."

 

I grabbed her throat and crashed my lips into hers. I groaned at how soft and juicy they were. She gripped the collar of my shirt and moaned. I unbuckled my seat belt, pulling her into my lap. I gripped her ass, and we moaned into each other's mouths. She tapped my shoulder, letting me know to stop. I pulled away, both of us breathing heavily, and we stared into each other's eyes.

 

"Sorry, I don't mean to do that." She said it quietly. I shook my head and softly gripped her chin. "It's alright, little mama. I liked it." I said, pecking her lips one more time.

 

I let her get off my lap and got out of the car. I opened her side for her. I helped her out and began walking her to her door. We walked up the steps to her door, and she turned around and smiled at me.

 

"Thanks for tonight. I had fun." I nodded and walked forward, closing the space between us. "Glad you enjoyed yourself." I said, cupping her cheeks and leaning down to kiss her one last time. But was stopped when the door opened.

 

It was her sister glaring at me with her arms folded. Lil Mama turned to look at her, only for her to point her finger into the house. She turned to look at me one last time and kissed my cheek again. "I'll see you tomorrow, ok?"

 

I nodded and watched her walk into the house. "Bye, mama." She waved goodbye, walking away, and her sister gave me a head nod and closed the door.

 

I walked down the steps and walked to my car before looking back and thinking, ''damn what you're doing to me, little Mama's"

This Lucious uncle, Rodney

[yesshewritestoo]

Ungodly Hour, ch. 1

Fallon sat in one of the recording studios with her father and Anika, notebook in hand. She wasn't sure why she was there, since she wasn't the one who would be inside the booth. The one inside the booth was V, one of the artists signed to Empire. Fallon rolled her eyes as V started singing. She didn't have anything against her, she just wished Lucious would actually let her sing the song she helped write. He said it would be a duet, and here Fallon was, on the outside of the booth, listening to V sing solo.

I would tell you that I love you tonight, But I know that I've got time on my side, Where you going? Why you leavin' so soon? Is there somewhere else that's better for you?

"That's not balanced," Lucious told the sound guy, adjusting the levels as V kept singing. Fallon sighed, resting her chin on her fist. It wasn't the sound, it was V. The song lacked emotion. Seemed like Lucious felt the same, since he stopped the track in the middle of her singing. "I need you to sing like you are going to die tomorrow. Like this is the last song you will ever sing. You hear me? Show me your soul in this music." He looked at the sound guy. "Hit it again."

He started the track again, and V picked up where she left off.

I would tell you that I love you tonight, But I know that I've got time on my side, Where you going? Why you leaving so soon? Is there somewhere else that's better for you? What is love, If you're not here with me? What is love, If it's not guaranteed? What is love, If it just ups..?

V stopped singing, waiting for a reaction from Lucious. He was quiet, spaced out. Fallon stood up, putting her hand on her father's shoulder. "Dad." He finally came back, noticing the eyes on him.

"You okay, boss man?" the sound guy asked.

"It's not there yet," Lucious said, standing up.

"Still?" Anika asked, watching him walk.

"Bunkie, wake up," Lucious told his cousin, who was currently having a power nap on one of the couches. "Wake your ass up!" He walked into the booth with V.

"Nik," Fallon called, getting her attention. She stood next to her. "Is Dad okay?" This wasn't the first time Lucious has zoned out in the middle of something. In these last few months, it seemed Lucious had been paying no attention to her at all. He didn't do much of that before, but now he didn't even do the bare minimum.

Anika looked down at Fallon, arms folded. "You know how your father is. He's just stressed," she dismissed. Fallon didn't think that was fully true, but didn't say anything.

"Yeah, I heard we were going public."

"How'd you find out about that?" Fallon looked at Anika with a knowing look. "Becky?" Fallon nodded. That girl couldn't keep a secret to save her life. The two chuckled as Lucious walked out of the booth, telling the sound guy to hit it again, for the third time.

And there it was. The emotion that was missing. She finally pulled it together. She sounded good, as much as Fallon hated to admit it. But V was her friend, so she was happy for her.

"Wow," Fallon smiled.

"She is truly magical," Lucious mused. "I mean, her voice, her lyrics–"

Fallon didn't hear the last part of his sentence. Her lyrics. Her lyrics? Most of the lines V was singing were written by Fallon, and he had the nerve to call the lyrics hers?

"Right," Fallon scoffed, leaving the room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I don't like it," Imani put her hands on her hips. She and Jamal were playing around, making a beat for a song Jamal wrote. Empire was throwing a yacht party, and all of the Lyons were there, enjoying themselves. Andre was walking around with his wife, Ronda, Hakeem was preoccupied with women in bikinis, feeding him shrimp, and Fallon was probably somewhere with Anika.

"What?" Jamal asked, letting the headphones rest on his neck. "You think you can do better than me or somethin'?"

Imani nodded, "Absolutely. May I?"

Jamal chuckled. "A'ight," he nodded. "Go for it."

Imani pulled her locs up into a ponytail as Jamal slid over on the seat in front of the piano. "I would do something like this." She played a few notes as Jamal held the headphones in between them so they both could hear the music. She smiled, seeing her brother bopping his head to the new beat.

Jamal nodded his head, smiling. "Okay," he nudged Imani. "I like that."

"You're welcome," Imani stood from the seat, seeing Hakeem coming down the stairs.

"Don't get cocky, now," Jamal chuckled.

"Empire state of mind," Hakeem started, making his way down the stairs. "Let's go!" He danced his way over to the soundboard. Imani laughed as the two shared the soundboard, moving in sync as they made a beat together.

Things are looking up, I'm ready for tonight, I feel good, real good, Can't nobody hold me down, I'm gonna take advantage of, All these flashing lights, Cause it's the best time, the best time for it, We can do it,

Imani laughed, moving away from the soundboard over to Jamal. She pulled her phone up to her lips, using it as a makeshift microphone.

Can't nobody tie me down, If you want I got it, Tomorrow's not promised,

Jamal laughed, looking up at his sister. She just read the lyrics for the song five minutes before they started playing around. And there she was, singing it like she wrote it. Just completely care free. He loved to see it.

So live inside the mo...ment, Tell me, what are we waiting for? Oh, what the hell are we waiting for?

Imani looked up at the balcony, seeing the oldest Lyon, Andre, standing there, looking over them with Ronda. She smiled, throwing them a wave. Andre gave a nod, and Ronda smiled down at her.

Hakeem moved away from the soundboard, adjusting the hat on his head. He stepped around Imani, starting to freestyle.

Yo, Mal, Yo, when I was five years old, I realized there was a road at the end, Pretty girls, cars and bank rolls, Gold and platinum plaques...

Imani danced around, making her way to the front of the piano. She sat down next to Jamal, watching his fingers glide across the keys. Hakeem continued freestyling.

Gotta believe in yourself and gotta know your worth, I did it clean as a whistle, stayed away from dirt, Ah, I told you I'mma get it, Everybody, they talkin' I dreamt about how I'm livin' Reality was written, I put effort in my vision, That's why I hustle so hard, To be the best that ever did it, oh!

Hakeem snatched the sunglasses off of his face, looking at his siblings. Those three were a force to be reckoned with whenever they sang together. If Fallon was with them, she'd add a whole new dimension to the sound with her enchanting, almost siren-like voice. Those four together would send Empire off the charts, if Lucious ever gave Jamal, Imani, and Fallon the time of day.