#maybe Linda escaped it all

[princessuncertain]

why are you being unfriendly 😔💔

/j

Honestly I don't even think you need to add HCs making Wammy's abusive to explain the behaviour of, say, Mello. I feel like the fact that Roger hated children tells you how well watari picked the staff. You can raise children theoretically perfectly, but if they're not loved or wanted, they'll still be fucked up

[kamotecue]

i’m okay when i’m loving you ❖ o. batlle

pairing: ona batlle x reader

another blurb that i saw on tiktok, “it has made me better, loving you.” - grumpy and sunshine.

a soft smile made it’s way to your face as you analyzed the photo album that your girlfriend, ona of two years made. there were several photos of you with a little eye smile, something that only happened when you were extremely happy.

other than that, there were silly photos of you grinning, cheeky smiles, and the grumpy faces you’d make, after a tired or long day.

“¿qué es lo que estás haciendo, amor? [what are you doing, love?]” ona’s voice rang throughout the shared apartment, she settled her training kit near the couch, looking at you with a small smile.

“solo mirando a través de nuestras fotos, amor. [just looking through our photos, love.]” you replied, as ona hummed—sneaking her arms around your waist as her front was closer to you.

“cuando eras mi admirador secreto, ¿verdad? [when you were my secret admirer, right?]” a little chuckle escaped your lips, as ona groaned it was a bit embarrassing as she says—but for you it was so sweet.

you tore your eyes away from the photo album, and turned—so that she could see your eyes. but your lover simply buried her face into the crook of your neck.

“tienes que admitir el amor, esas son fotos lindas. [you have to admit love, those are cute photos.]” you said, slightly teasing her. maybe it’s the way you wanted her to admit it, her secret admirer phase was something you loved.

there was something you loved besides football, and it was none other than—photography. so, when you became closer with ona, you had gifted her one of your favorite cameras.

that’s the one she used to take pictures of you, you didn’t know that she was the secret admirer—because that’s the point for it to be a secret unless she admitted it was her, or—you had found out.

which you did, it was volunteering at a local hospital. you taught them a little bit about football, and while you were in the middle of a story—you looked around to see where your partnered teammate went.

ona was sitting behind the crowd of kids, some were gifted barcelona jersey’s. but you paid attention to how her smile was, how her eyes were set on you. and, you made her a bit flustered when you posed for a picture.

safe to say, she had asked you on a date the day later. that’s were the love story began.

“muy bien, esas son fotos lindas. son los que solo nosotros podemos ver. [alright, those are nice photos. they are the only ones that we can see.]” her implying that it was only for your eyes, and nobody else made you laugh, before giving her a few pecks on the lips.

“me ha hecho mejor, amándote. [it has made me better, loving you.]” a contented smile made it’s way on ona’s face, while you had gotten a bit shy.

after all, you were a troubled girl, with a troubled past. always getting red or yellow cards on the field, similar to a certain irish defender.

but you wouldn’t change a thing.

[eroselless]

PATO - TWO

series masterlist | part 1 | part 3

[charles leclerc x reader, carlos sainz x reader]

warnings: angst, talk of pregnancy, Spanish

note: Part 2! I already feel extremely invested in this and I started new adhd meds so I've been able to rlly hone in and work hard on it :) Let me know how you guys are liking it!

SPAIN, DECEMBER 2022, 3 weeks later

1st trimester/7 weeks/2 months

The kitchen is quiet, filled with the soft, earthy smell of morning. You sit at the kitchen table, hand smoothing out a frayed edge of a doily trapped under a heavy bowl of fruit. Morning sickness has left your face pale and drawn, the quiet offering no relief. 

Despite the warmth of the sun and the stillness of the countryside, you struggle to adjust. The noisy streets of Monaco seemed to bring you comfort, a reminder of Charles and how eventually he’d come home to you. But now here in the Spanish countryside, the hustle and bustle of the city is replaced by the bird's chirping gently, the wind clinks against the windchimes and the loneliness presses in. 

Aunt Ines moves around the kitchen, as if gliding, her movements brisk and efficient as she prepares a brebaje for you, a concoction to soothe your queasy gut. She places the mug in front of you and you recoil slightly at the smell, bitter and uninviting. It wafts up, mingling the scent of coffee and eggs. 

“Tomatelo, que eso ayuda con las náuseas,” she says, her voice gentle, her eyes warm with the kind of understanding that feels like pity. Drink it; it’ll help with the nausea. You take the mug, hands trembling slightly. You take a big gulp, ignoring the slight burn the liquid leaves behind. Your hands tremble slightly as you put the cup back down on the table.

“Gracias, tía,” you murmur, voice barely above a whisper.

Ines watches you, her gaze intent and sorrowful, as if she can see the ghosts that sit at this table with you. She never even had the thought to hesitate to open her home to you, but there was no escaping her soft looks, her constant worrying. 

She learned to recognize the sound of you moving through the house in the dead of night, calling out for Charles in your sleep. That constant look in your eyes whenever you would check your phone for any missed calls, any proof that maybe he hadn’t fully forgotten you. Your belly was growing a little every day, a beautiful sign of love and life but the joy in your eyes seemed to fade as each day passed. 

“Linda, ¿por qué no vas por un pancito a la panaderia?” She gently suggests. Sweetie, why don’t you go get some bread from the bakery? You let out a groan and she can almost see your old self appear briefly as you sag in the chair, arms flopping down at your sides like a child. 

“I don’t feel like going out,” you mutter, half-hearted. She places her hand on your shoulder, squeezing it gently. 

“I know it’s hard,” she says, her voice firm but soft. “But you need to get out a little. Some fresh air will do you good. And besides, you can’t stay cooped up in this house forever.” Her eyes flick down to your hand, to the way it rests over your barely-there bump. 

You sigh, mumbling a quiet bueno, okay as you get up from the table. Ines watches you pull your shoes on with a huff. She twists a rag in her hands, recalling how spirited you used to be. As you bid her a quick goodbye, she can’t help but shake her head as you check your phone one more time before tossing it on the table by the door. You were checking for Charles again. 

You looked for him in the mirror every morning, in your sheets, in your sleep. She could hear you cry in the early hours of the morning when you thought she was asleep. She could hear you talking to the baby, asking it questions, both love and anger pouring out in your words. 

Charles’s silence seemed to weigh heavy on your conscience. Was all the love shared in the two years you spent together just gone? Picked up by the wind and dropped into the ocean, sinking down to its dark depths? 

Ines would try her best to distract you from Charles and focus on the baby, gifting you a hand-knitted blanket and yellow booties. Each item was made with love and care, trying to remind you that you had love at your fingertips, in herself and the little bundle growing within you. 

You make your way to the bakery, the morning air cool against your skin. You can’t help but wonder what Charles might be doing. Were you occupying his thoughts as he was occupying yours? Maybe he was waiting on his phone, waiting for your call as you waited for him every day. You get pulled from your thoughts as a little boy skids in front of you, you let out a yelp as he scurries after a red toy car.

“Disculpa, señora!” He looks up, eyes wide, grinning shyly, and you smile in spite of yourself as he darts off.  Sorry, lady! You watch him as he wanders off, finally catching it. Another boy, older, follows after him. You both watch as the little one, maybe 3 years old, flicks at the tires of the car, laughing as they spin. He beams up at the older boy and they smile at each other, conversing and giggling as they continue their way down the street. There’s a bittersweetness to it, this simple joy, this little fragment of a family you now craved to have.

The streets are lined with charming little buildings, bustling with kids and adults alike. You can soon smell the yeasty scent of bread trailing down the street. You breathe deeply as you reach the doors of the bakery, greeted by warmth and the delicious smell of freshly baked goods. Walking through the threshold of the baker, a kindly old man smiles at you as you enter. 

“Buenos dias, señorita,” he says. “What can I get for you today?” You manage a small smile. “A loaf of your freshest bread please.”

He nods and disappears into the bakery. You pull out some coins, settling in the warmth of the cozy bakery, trying to draw some comfort from the soft glow of warm lighting and the inviting scent of cinnamon and sugar. You close your eyes for a second, hand resting on your tummy. It's grown since the night on the train. If you pulled your shirt tightly against your body, you’d be able to see it starting to poke out. You wonder what the baby will look like. Would she look like you? Or would she inherit the features of her father? Would it even be a she? Or would it be a little boy, the image of his father? 

The baker calls for you, pulling you out of your brief daze and hands you the loaf wrapped in brown paper. You hand him the money and thank him before heading back home. 

Your walk back is easier, your mind occupied with thoughts of the baby. You cradle the warm bread against your chest, eyes flickering to its crispy outside. You’ll carry the baby like this someday. 

Back at the house, Ines is waiting for you. She leans on the doorway, a smile on her face. She takes the bread from you, walking into the kitchen. 

“No tan mal,¿cierto?” She teases lightly. Not that bad, right? You nod, almost smiling. 

Putting the bread down, she pulls you into her arms, holding you close.

She feels her chest fill with relief as you relax into her arms, face tucked into the crook of her neck. You hold onto her, feeling as if she’s trying to transfer some of her strength to you. Her arms feel safe and you lean further into them, letting your walls down, just for a moment.

A WEEK LATER 

There's a gentle hum in the air, laughter echoing in the kitchen as you sit on the kitchen counter, a bag of carrots in your lap. You bite into one, handing another to your aunt as she chops them up and tosses them into a simmering pot full of celery and potatoes. 

“Do you remember when Jorge used to feed the dog his bottle?” Ines says, chuckling, shaking her head. Her children are older than you, occupied with their own families in different corners of the world. “He was so terribly convinced that the dog needed it more than he did.” 

You laugh, remembering your cousin’s antics, and it feels good, genuine, the laughter bubbling up from some forgotten place. “And Mateo used to put his toys in the fridge! Mom would always find action figures next to the milk and cheese.”

Ines laughs again, a bittersweet smile on her lips. “Esos peladitos, always keeping us on our toes.” Those little guys. 

You laugh at her comment, hopping off the counter as you hear your phone buzz on the kitchen table. Ines chastises you as you do so, telling you you shouldn’t be jumping around like that. You brush your hands on your pants, not caring for the slight orange residue they leave behind, and reach for your phone. 

The laughter seems to fade from the room, the joyful noise dying in your chest. You blink a few times, words on the screen not fully registering in your mind. The headline stares back at you, the words blurring as tears fill your eyes. 

You barely register throwing the phone down before bolting out the door, the weight of it crashing over you as you collapse at the edge of the garden, gasping for breath, the betrayal clawing at your chest. Your aunt looks back at you from her spot at the sink. 

“Mi amor,” she calls for you, moving quickly to follow after you. “¿que paso?” What happened? You don’t answer, fingers gripping at the dirt as if digging your hands in deeper will stop the word from spinning around you. Your chest feels tight and the air only seems to get hotter as you stand there. You want to scream. Inside, Ines watches you, wiping her hands on a rag before picking up the phone with the screen still on. Her heart fills with dread as she reads: 

Prince of Ferrari, Charles Leclerc, moves on with a mystery woman after split from elusive girlfriend.

She swipes at the screen, eyes scanning over the pictures attached to the headline. Charles sits at a table, glasses perched on the bridge of his nose. He’s leaning into the woman, noses almost touching as he leans in for a kiss. There’s a smile painted on his face, his arm draped around her shoulders. The pictures show him gradually getting closer until his lips are pressed to hers. 

She presses a hand to her mouth as she puts the phone down, making sure to swipe the page away before making her way out to you. You’re sobbing, with your head in your hands. Your shoulders shake with the force you’re using, so much Ines thinks you could heave. 

“Lo siento mucho, mi amor,” she consoles as she nears you. I'm so sorry, my love. She pulls you into her chest, her own tears dripping down her face as your body wracks against hers. Her hands rub soothing circles on your back. 

The pain feels unbearable, a mix of betrayal and heartbreak.The man you love, the father of your child, moving on without a second thought. You think of the nights you cried for him, the mornings you searched for his presence. It felt like a cruel joke. 

“Casi ni siquiera ha pasado un mes,” you manage to choke out between sobs. “Y asi como nada.” It's barely even been a month, and just like that.

Ines pulls back slightly, looking into your eyes. She brushes away the hair that’s begun to stick to your cheeks. Your eyes look beautiful as they continue to drip. There was so much beauty in your tragedy. 

“We’ll get through this,” she whispers firmly. “One step at a time.”

You nod, taking a small comfort in her words. They don’t do much to ease the crushing weight in your chest. Any hope you had for a future with Charles crumbles before you, replaced with an uncertain reality. You can’t manage anymore, clutching at her as if she was the only solid thing left. She holds you tight, her love wrapping around you like a warm blanket, offering the only solace you can find as the world seems to crash around you.

.˚ ༘ ⋆｡˚ ✧ ˚ ༘ ⋆｡˚.

The weeks pass slowly and you find yourself sitting on the porch day after day. You find yourself on the porch, staring out at the world as the seasons shift around you. There’s something almost surreal about it all, the way life moves forward even as you feel frozen in place. Your morning sickness dwindles, some days better than others. It's yet another crisp morning that you find yourself sitting there, enjoying the sound of the wind chimes and birds once again. Ines pokes her head out the door, peering at you. 

“Linda, te puedo pedir un favorcito?” she asks, her face in a little grimace. Sweetie, can I ask a little favor from you? You look up, nodding your head silently. She lets out a sly smile.

“I’m running low on a few things for dinner tonight and I can’t go to the market with all the chores I need to finish.” she winces. You know what’s coming and you relent, getting up to grab a grocery bag. 

“Thank you, Mija,” she says, pressing a kiss to your head. “I just need some tomatoes and carrots and maybe a loaf of bread.” you nod fervently at her request, not stopping the shadow of a smile that appears on your face as she hobbles away to grab a pen and paper. With a list in hand, you step out into the bright morning light.

The market is just a short walk away, and as you make your way through the quaint streets, you try to focus on the task at hand, pushing thoughts of Charles to the back of your mind.

The market is alive with activity, vendors calling out their wares, and the air filled with the mingling scents of fresh produce and baked goods. You wander from stall to stall, selecting ripe tomatoes, crisp lettuce, and fragrant herbs, your basket slowly filling with the ingredients Ines needs.

As you reach for a bundle of carrots, you hear a voice call from behind you. You turn, eyes widening as you see Carlos approaching you, arms wide and a smile playing on his face. 

“Es tan lindo verte,” he says, eyes crinkling with a warm smile. It's so nice to see you. He pulls you in close arms wrapping around you completely. You relax a little, finding comfort in seeing a familiar face. A mixture of emotions hits you as he holds you. His presence is a reminder of the world you left behind, a reminder of the love you lost. 

“Hola, Carlos,” you reply, managing a soft smile. He lets go, eyes looking over you. 

“You look… different,” he observes. His face is full of concern as he looks you over closely. Your smile fades as he does, the color rises in your cheeks, an unspoken truth hanging between you. Your bump is sticking out a little more as you enter your second trimester. Your shirt is pulled back against your tummy, caught between your side and the bag you’re carrying. The growing babe even causes your belly button to start to poke out. “Yeah,” you murmur, tugging your shirt loose. “I guess I’ve been going through some changes.” 

You feel a blush rise to your cheeks as he reaches for your small belly, stopping abruptly.  “Are you…?” he trails off, his voice filled with surprise. 

You nod, and Carlos can’t tell if your expression is of pride or shame. He nods sympathetically. He’d heard about what happened with Charles, whispers spreading quickly through the paddock as the news broke. But not this, no one had mentioned this. “Charles doesn’t know. He doesn’t need to.” The words fall out, bare and raw, and Carlos nods, understanding without needing further explanation, your eyes plead with him. 

He nods, eyebrows furrowed. “Lo siento mucho,” he says, reaching out and placing a reassuring hand on your shoulder. I'm so sorry. Though Charles didn’t share you much with the world, you did occasion a race every now and then, mostly hidden away from the cameras. When he saw Charles step out on town with someone else, he suspected something had happened. 

You nod, a lump forming in your throat. “Yeah,” you whisper. His hand lingers its spot, sending a strange sense of comfort to wash over you. Despite the pain you’d been carrying with you for the last few weeks, the genuine kindness he was offering you seemed to alleviate it a little.

"Listen," Carlos begins, his voice gentle. "I know things are tough right now, but if you ever need someone to talk to or just a shoulder to lean on, I'm here for you." 

His words catch you off guard, and you find yourself blinking back tears. "Thank you, Carlos," you whisper, feeling a swell of gratitude in your chest.

He offers you a warm smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Anytime," he says softly. "Cuidate, okay?” Take care of yourself, okay?

With a final nod, Carlos bids you farewell, leaving you standing there in the bustling market square.

tags: @kravitzwhore @janeh22 @apollosfavkiddo @leah-also-known-as-creatoronwp @tremendousstarlighttragedy

[lilahisntsadanymore]

Engaged to an Italian man and carrying a secret pregnancy, Y/n must decide when and how to reveal the news to her notorious family.

The reader pronouns: she/her

Pairings: the Shelby family x shelby!reader x OC (faceclaim Lorenzo Zurzolo)

Words count: 2.4k

Tw: mentions of death, pregnancy, italian written by me (but there are english translations)

Additional inf.: Y/n's mother, was made up by me as well

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

A Shelby Surprise

Now that the vendetta with Changrettas was over, everyone could take a breath. Finally all the stress was gone and for once the Shelby family wasn't in trouble. They hoped it would stay this way.

The stress was gone, but not for Y/n, Arthur's daughter. What nobody expected coming, she fell in love. What was so unfortunate about this? The man was Italian.

If it happened a few years earlier or a few years later maybe that would have been alright. But not right now when the memory of vendetta was still crystal clear.

The man Y/n fell in love with wasn't a Changretta, but she supposed it wouldn't matter to her family. As long as the vendetta was still a fresh topic, he would be a bad man in their eyes.

As if the problem wasn't big enough, Y/n got pregnant. The man knew about it and wanted to be present in the kid's life, he even proposed to Y/n. But the challange was to tell Y/n's family about it.

So there she was - calling each family member, inviting them for a little 'party'. Y/n had no experience in this stuff, so she considered it the best way, telling everyone at the same time when they're gathered together.

"It'll be fine," Y/n's fiance said, squeezing her hand lightly. "What's the worst that could happen? Will they murder me?" He laughed.

"You really didn't know what you're signing up for when you fucked a Shelby, did you?"

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

"Non voglio dirgli della gravidanza,"* Y/n paced around the living room, waiting for the guests to arrive. "What if we only tell them about our engagement?"

*I don't want to tell them about the pregnancy

"Non possiamo, cara mia. La noteranno prima o poi."**

**we can't, my dear. They'll notice it sooner or later.

Right after those words, the sound of knocking filled the room.

Y/n took a deep breath. "Hide upstairs, Nicco. I'll call for you when it's the right time."

The man walked in the direction she instructed as she herself went to open the door.

The Shelby clan. In front of Y/n's doors. Waiting to be let inside. Maybe it wasn't the best idea to tell everyone in the same time.

Despite her running heartbeat, Y/n tried to stay calm as she greeted each person that entered her house.

Something was off when Y/n hugged aunt Polly. The woman eyed her up and down. Did she know? Most likely. She sensed it when Lizzie was pregnant, so why wouldn't she now?

"You probably wonder why we've gathered here today." Y/n spoke, her gesturing more intense than ever. She tried to make her voice sound as light and free of stress as possible, but it was a difficult thing to do due to the anxious feeling in her stomach. Either the stress or the baby inside was making Y/n want to puke right there.

"Yes, we'd love to know." Polly said, a faint smile on her face.

Everyone had their eyes glued to Y/n. Ada watched the girl with worry, as well as Linda who treated Y/n as her own, Polly was fighting the smile from completely ruling on her face, Finn looked extremely confused, Tommy lit up a cigarette.

"Are you in trouble?" Arthur asked eventually.

"Yes and no." That answer didn't clear up anything.

"What do you mean?"

A nervous laugh escaped Y/n's mouth. "Do you remember mum? My mum, your wife, who died many years ago?"

Arthur nodded confusedly. How could he not remember her? He would never forget that amazing woman, who gave him love, hope and a beautiful daughter and then passed away too soon.

"I remember Georgia." Arthur didn't want to talk about her. Years passed and now he had Linda, but the wound caused by his first wife's death was still open.

"Dad, her name was Giorgia. She was Italian, don't try to rewrite that story. The reason why I'm reminding you about it is..." Y/n hesitated fr the last time, "I hope you'll understand my situation."

The times were different back when Arthur and Giorgia were together. Back then, she was just a simple girl who moved to England from Italy and fell in love with a man from Birmingham. There wasn't any vendetta, so their relationship wasn't such a sensitive topic, but nevertheless Y/n hoped her father would understand.

"Can you stop the charade?" Tommy chimed in impatiently.

Y/n nodded. "Niccolò, come here!"

The tall, brownhaired man walked down into the living room. He was dressed in a white shirt, black trousers and elegant black shoes.

"Everyone, this is Niccolò. Niccolò, this is my family."

Everyone eyed the man. Tommy and Arthur were especially suspicious about him.

Niccolò shook hands with each Shelby, taking the time to introduce himself better and get to know everyone.

When the man lastly got to Arthur and Tommy, they refused to shake hands with him, their arms remaining crossed on his chest.

Arthur looked at his daughter. "Why are you introducing him to us?"

"Seriously?" Y/n sighed. "Dad, are you this clueless?"

"Yes, Arthur, are you this clueless?" Polly asked with a full smile on her face now.

Arthur wasn't clueless. He suspected, he knew, but he didn't want it to be the truth.

"Niccolò is my fiance."

The room fell almost silent, if it wasn't for Finn's coughing. He choked on the air and smoke, he was lighting up a cigarette when Y/n broke the news. Finn was her uncle, but they were rather like siblings to each other, because Y/n was even a few years older than Finn.

"He's your what?" Arthur asked.

"Fiance. I'm sorry I haven't told you before, but I was afraid of your reaction."

"An Italian, eh?" Tommy interrogated, shifting his gaze to Niccolò. "Who are your parents? What do they do?"

Y/n added, "O digli il tuo cognome e lo scoprirà entro domani."***

***or say your last name and he'll find it all out by tomorrow

Niccolò smirked and the girl's comment, but then turned back to being serious. "They moved to this country before I was born. My father died in the war, but my mother has a flower shop in London."

"A flower shop?" Arthur raised an eyebrow. "That's interesting."

"I see what you're doing," Y/n said, "Nicco has nothing to do with the Changrettas."

"It's just funny how he appears in your life exactly when-"

"Yes, vendetta, I know. Can we talk in private, dad?"

Arthur and his daughter walked out of the room into a small kitchen. Y/n leaned on the kitchen counter.

"Can you stop?"

"Stop what?" Arthur asked. "I'm just trying to get to know my future son-in-law."

"Can you do it without making it seem like you're looking for a correlation between him and the Changrettas?"

"I don't want him to hurt you. Or any of us. Isn't it any suspicious to you?"

"It's a stupid coincidence!"

Arthur sighed, looking at his daughter with a mixture of concern and skepticism. "Y/n, you know how things are around here. We've been through hell with the Changrettas, and now you bring an Italian man into our lives. You can't expect me not to be cautious."

"I understand, but he's not connected to the Changrettas in any way. I wouldn't put our family in danger like that," Y/n pleaded.

Arthur rubbed his forehead, contemplating the situation. "You could have at least given us a heads up. This is a lot to take in all at once."

He was trying his best to remain calm. The old Arthur would've bursted out of the house a long time ago, but now he was in control of his emotions.

A lot to take at once. Prepare for more, then, Y/n thought.

"I know, dad, but I was scared. Exactly because of that. I'm sorry, but we really do love each other."

"Just promise me, if anything feels wrong, you'll let me know. I don't want you keeping secrets."

"I promise, dad. I won't keep secrets. I want us to be a family, including Niccolò."

Arthur forced a smile. "Alright, let's go back out there. I'll try my best to keep an open mind, for your sake."

Poor Niccolò was left alone with the Shelbys. It was a weight off his shoulders when Y/n was back in the room.

Everyone looked at Arthur curiously. He spoke. "We'll give it a chance. But you," he pointed at Niccolò, "hurt her, and there won't be a place on earth you can hide from us."

Niccolò nodded respectfully. "I understand, sir."

"Can we all just enjoy the evening and celebrate this occasion that is our engagement?" Y/n asked cheerfully.

The atmosphere felt lighter, the family peacefully continued the gathering. Most of them wanted to trust Niccolò and give him a chance.

Arthur and Thomas kept a close eye on Niccolò throughout the night. Their suspicions weren't easy to put to rest, but for Y/n's sake they chose to keep their mouths shut this one time.

After dinner Y/n and Niccolò managed to talk to Finn alone. Y/n decided that the pregnancy would be too much for just one evening and all her fiance could do was accept it. However, they trusted Finn with this information.

"Finn, we have to tell you something." Y/n said after she made sure everyone else is busy.

"Oh no, another big news?" Finn whined. "I don't know if this family can handle more tonight."

"That's why we wanted to talk to you alone," Niccolò pointed out, "it's a secret."

Y/n added, "A secret just for you, Finn. The mission is to keep it until we can tell the others. You understand, soldier?"

"Alright, I guess." Finn agreed with a curious expression on his face. "You didn't kill anybody, did you?"

"No, of course we didn't."

"Quite the opposite," Niccolò added with a chuckle. "Y/n is pregnant."

Finn raised his eyebrow and joked. ""Engaged and having a baby... You didn't waste any time, did you?"

"Proposing is the right action to make once you knock somebody up," Nicco chuckled, "but seriously, it was actually planned."

Y/n giggled, "Life comes at you fast, Finn. Engaged and having a baby. We wanted to share the news with you first."

"Besides it'd be a lot to handle in one evening." Niccolò grinned. "We'll make the announcement in the right time."

Finn shook his head in disbelief, "I can't believe you decided to put so much pressure on me!" He laughed. "Am I supposed to lie to Tommy and Arthur?"

"Like you haven't lied to them before." Y/n pointed out sarcastically. "They aren't going to ask you any questions."

As they headed back to join the family, Finn couldn't help but wear a mischievous grin. The rest of the Shelbys continued their celebration oblivious to the news.

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

A few days later, aunt Polly paid a visit to Y/n and Niccolò, surprising the both of them. Despite the surprise, they couldn't not let her inside.

"I need to talk to Y/n," the woman said, "it's a ladies business. Be so kind, Niccolò, and find something to do for the next... half an hour."

Niccolò raised an eyebrow at the request but decided not to push it. "Alright, take your time, ladies." He grabbed his coat, a pack of cigarettes and walked outside.

Polly and Y/n settled into the living room, the air heavy with curiosity. Polly took a moment, eyeing Y/n.

"I know you're hiding something," the woman said, lighting up a cigarette, "and I wanna hear it from you. I'm giving you a chance here."

"Am I hiding anything?" Y/n tried to convinvnce Polly that she was wrong. But she knew the woman has been a little different recently.

Tommy and Michael thought she's starting to go crazy or maybe it's the alcohol that she seemed to be drinking a bit more often, but Polly knew she had been blessed. Blessed with the gift of contacting spirits, predicting certain things.

"Let's start from here. Are you keeping it?"

Y/n's eyes widened. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm not gonna tell your father if you don't want me to. I was in your shoes once. I know a place, we will go there and-"

"Yes, I'm keeping it."

Polly smiled widely. "That's wonderful. Would you like to know if it's a boy or a girl?"

"We want it to be a surprise. Besides I don't think it's safe to do... whatever magic you do on a pregnant woman."

"It's not magic, my dear. You can't read cards or tea leaves for a pregnant woman, but I just sense it's a-"

"A surprise. Please, please, please, I really don't wanna find out yet."

"Alright... and now, why didn't you tell us? Any of us?"

"Wasn't that a little bit too much in too little time?" Y/n scratched the back of her neck nervously. "Didn't wanna add to the chaos."

Y/n decided to not mention the fact that Finn actually knew about it.

Aunt Polly studied Y/n for a moment before nodding approvingly. "Well, love, you've made your bed, now you have to lie in it. But I'm not here to scold you. I just want to make sure you're ready for what's coming."

"I know it won't be easy, but I'm ready. I have a husband, almost. I have a house. We can make it."

"Remember, you also have us. Me and Ada can certainly help you with the baby. I'm sure Linda will also love this new little Shelby."

"The baby isn't going to be a Shelby... I'll go with Nicco's last name."

Polly leaned back, taking a thoughtful drag from her cigarette. "Fair enough. But remember, secrets have a way of coming out, especially in this family. And when they do, it's usually in the most dramatic way possible."

"I'll tell the rest of the family soon... can you come with me to dad and Tommy? I'm a bit scared to tell them..."

"Of course, love. There's nothing you should be afraid of, you're a grown woman. When your mother was your age, you were running barefoot in my backyard."

Y/n smiled at the comment. "Thank you, Aunt Polly. I appreciate your support."

Polly stood up, stubbing out her cigarette. She gave Y/n a hug before heading to the door. "Now, take care of yourself and that little surprise of yours. And let me know when you're ready for me to do whatever 'magic' you think I do."

As Polly left, Y/n couldn't help but be grateful for the unexpected ally in her corner. She suddenly felt much more confident.

[bambi-kinos]

I am not a native English speaker, but I want to express my love for you. I think your understanding of Paul Mccartney is the closest to the truth (at least in my opinion) on this website. Please share your opinions, i'd love to read them!

In addition, I couldn't agree with you more about John and Paul's relationship. I have a very unpopular opinion. I always thought John Lennon was the love of Paul Mccartney's life, paul loved John with a passion that went against his own nature, and has not yet fully reconciled himself with this violent love.

Oh my god I'm gonna cryyyyyyyy holy shit ya'll you're too nice to me

John Lennon was the love of Paul Mccartney's life, paul loved John with a passion that went against his own nature, and has not yet fully reconciled himself with this violent love.

Man I think it goes even further than that. For Paul McCartney John Lennon is simply The Answer. That's the other reason he brings up John so much, everything in Paul's life eventually comes back to him and Paul's great life challenge has been accepting this.

Paul wants to be a fully rounded person like we all do and I think part of his struggle with his Shadow Self (in addition to the absolute multitudes Paul contains) is that wherever Paul goes, John is there. Even Paul's marriage to Linda could not fully escape this, one of his most devoted Linda ballads "My Love" cannot escape the ghost of John and his beautiful hands.

Very astute of you to note that it goes against Paul's own nature; someone I used to know made that observation to me around two years ago now. The thing with Paul is that he is a control freak. One of the reasons that Linda appealed to him is that she was willing to take a backseat for the sake of Paul's public image. Check it out:

With modern eyes we can see that Paul and Linda's relationship was on a much more even footing than Paul wants us to believe, hence all those jokes about Linda pegging him. However that is not necessarily the construct Paul wants The Public(tm) to see. Linda often takes subservient poses in her PR photos with Paul and this combined with Paul's babbling about his trad fetish and that he "likes" the set up of a woman handling all the domestic chores communicates a very clear and intentional message.

These poses and photos are simple and innocent enough but they are a specific genre that communicates the message of 1) Paul's heterosexuality 2) his status as the dominant partner in the Paul&Linda relationship 3) the fact that Linda is supposedly accepting Paul's directives and leadership. The fact that we are having to argue with deniers about Paul's bisexuality is due to Linda Eastman's sacrifice: Paul's public image is Linda's greatest creation, even surpassing the birth of her children. She realized that Paul's preoccupation with what other people think of him is simply a part of himself that cannot be excised or gotten rid of. By being married to Paul she chose to help him achieve his goal of a having an unassailable image as a heterosexual family man that was done with his tomcatting days; an image that I would guess did not match reality in any way but still was essential to Paul's nature. And that nature is indeed a controlling one.

John himself is totally antithetical to that. He does like his measure of control for sure, but John himself lived by the ethos that life is an endless nonsensical carnival and that the universe is too chaotic and unpredictable. I think that's part of why John tended to go along with whatever was happening to him at the time (which makes his rebellion against Mimi an interesting outlier in John's behavior IMO. I'll try to develop that later.) John fully believed in the random chaotica of life and I think his conflict with Paul ultimately boiled down to John not wanting to hand Paul that level of control because John believed it was pointless and insulting. John instead handed it off to Yoko because he would be less curtailed with her whereas maybe being with Paul would have meant giving up a certain amount of freedom to do what John wanted, whatever that may have been. (And really the possibilities are endless on that score, it's almost pointless to speculate.)

Paul enjoys being loved but his specific breed of control freak finds the idea of being in love absolutely terrifying. John in many ways created Paul McCartney; he remade Paul's fashion sense, his haircut, his sensibilities, even successfully made Paul into a sexy little housefrau:

And check out this bit from Phil Norman' George biography:

George and Ringo then took up residence in a second-floor flat at Whaddon House, a modern block in William Mews, Knightsbridge, where Brian himself lived on the top floor. To this point both had been looked after by doting mothers, so they possessed no domestic skills -- another reason why the highly domesticated Paul had jumped ship.

There's only one useless bum Paul will cook and clean for, and it's not George and Ringo. (And keep in mind all of that was happening against the backdrop of Cynthia and the new baby.)

I think the truth of the matter is that Paul is a great deal more submissive and wifeable than he wants to let on, hence that weird comment to the apple scruffs about how he didn't want to be some queer that never got married. Paul is always very concerned about what people think of him and finds it genuinely threatening. It's an open question if he ever has or will open himself to reconciling himself to it as you said; though I'm hoping that he's made some strides in that direction. John Lennon was totally antithetical to that and disrupted Paul's attempts at creating a normal heterosexual life.

And look I'm focusing on the domestic roleplay aspect of McLennon here but I think what it really indicates is that Paul was telling the truth when he described himself as a second in command and that he doesn't like being the leader. Due to the heteronormativity of the time Paul couldn't really conceive of himself as not being insulted by being a man stuffed into a woman's traditional role and he may have even been negatively effected by how much he enjoyed being dominated and lead. As well as how much he enjoyed being overpowered by John in such matters which I'm sure extended to their musical, professional, emotional, and sexual relationship.

That was one of the qualities that John seeded and grew in Paul, unwittingly, which went against everything Paul had been taught to believe and what he was supposed to value. I think that the latter half of the 1960s and then Paul growing into his own talent as a musical leader, also turned over the apple cart because suddenly Paul outgrew the Work Wife role he had with John and was becoming something much bigger. John in the meantime couldn't keep up due to his drug abuse and also due to how stifled he felt by the Beatles machine and that he couldn't record or publish the music that he wanted to, being forced to endlessly compromise with three other guys. One of which was supposed to be more submissive to him but then suddenly stopped being so easy to keep at John's side.

And yes, you're right there is a "violence" to what they felt for each other. John stirred up incredibly powerful feelings in Paul. He did it from the very beginning when Paul saw John on the bus and fell in love with him. Can you imagine being a control freak that's terrified of Being Seen for what you really are by the general public, when all it took for you to fall madly in love with another man...was to look at him during a fucking bus ride?

I would probably freak the fuck out and shack up with a Yankee too.

[tainted-red]

Lingering - Patrick Hockstetter

Summary: Rumours that Patrick is stalking Y/n. Are they true?

TWS: Vouyerism, Masterbation, Stalking.

"Y/n" A short boy shouted at the older girl, Y/n froze in her tracks and turned to face the prepubescent boy. "I heard Hockstetter is stalking you! Be careful?" Eddie told the girl. She chuckled and responded with "Why is everyone so scared of him? I'll call the cops if it's ever concerning- plus I told you not to listen to rumours anymore Eddie" Y/n disclosed.

"I know-" Eddie tried to reason with Y/n. He wanted to warn her how dangerous Patrick could be. That one time he allegedly "took" Liah Carmen's dog for not letting him play under her skirt.

"Then let it go Eddie" Y/n cut off Eddie.

Eddie was about to speak again but his friend whom Y/n didn't like too much came around. "Hey, Bunny" Richie exclaimed, standing beside Eddie. Checking Y/n out.

"Hey Sweet-cheeks" Y/n teased.

Y/n and Eddie had no clue how they became close friends. Maybe it was because Eddie gave Y/n his sweater after Greta had slapped a jam sandwich on her shirt.

"Heard Cocksucker is stalking you... every night" Richie appealed,  Y/n groaned "Seriously? Have you heard that shit as well? How did that dumb rumour even start?" Y/n questioned.

"Well Linda told her mother she saw Patrick lurking around your house, So Linda's mother told your mom, your mom told the neighbours so maybe one of your neighbours has a big mouth" Eddie rambled, Playing with the hem of his shorts.

Y/n rolled her eyes "I don't think he even knows who I am. Anyways kids I got to go. See ya later" Y/n dismissed. Walking off, with an uncomfortable feeling lingering on her.

Were the rumours true or was just another one of Greta's friends being a shit-talker?

1

Y/n arrived home very late, Walking a couple of miles wasn't worth it. Just so she wouldn't get a couple of skepticalal looks.

She definitely felt a bit strange to hear people talking about Patrick like that. Creeping around her house. Apparently having a gun or something like that. It gave Y/n the chills. She thought she was an absolute nobody in this small town, now she plays a big role in a rumour.

Y/n decided a hot shower would relieve her from all this pressure and panic.

Stripping her clothes off her sticky and sweaty body that felt like it was overheating. Once she got her clothes all of she felt like she was freezing.

She grabbed a towel and placed it on her toilet. She then turned on the water for the shower.

2

Patrick was in-fact stalking Y/n, it was what he was doing right now.

Standing outside of her bedroom window. He was lucky she lived in a one-story house that wasn't very tall.

Every day she would take a shower, Walk into her room with only a towel on. Find an outfit then go back to the washroom to change. Patrick felt like it was the universe teasing him, waiting for him to make a move.

Y/n finished getting changed and walked into her room with only panties and a baggy shirt that covered most of her bottom.

Patrick felt his heart pound faster. The way the shirt would show off one of her soft-looking shoulders. She jumped into her bed, She never used the covers. but today she did.

Patrick could see her throw her underwear across the room, It was very dark in her room but Patrick could see her blanket faintly move around. Y/n gripped onto her sheets as she (Patrick assuming) played with herself.

Her mouth fell open. Patrick loved that. Her plump lips have moans and whimpers escape her mouth.

The blanket's movements now fastened. Patrick felt the blood go straight down to his dick. Unbuttoning his pants and pulling them down slightly, pulling his dick out of his pants.

Slowly pumping it, Seeing Y/n bite her bottom lip in pleasure. He stroked faster. He wanted them to climax at the same time. Although Y/n had a head start.

"Fuck Y/n" Patrick groaned, one hand on his shaft and the other attempting to pull his pants lower so it would be easier and quicker.

Y/n was clearly about to climax. One hand was now on her boob, squeezing it for more pleasure than she needed. Gosh Patrick wanted to be in both of her hands right now.

Patrick could picture Y/n underneath of him. Moaning and begging for more, His dick would fit perfectly.

Patrick saw Y/n's legs now shaking the blanket slightly, it was obvious she was about to finish. Patrick gripped onto his dick harder and stroked even faster than before.

The only time he ever felt this amount of excitement is when he was at his fridge in the middle of the woods. With a lifeless animal in his hand. Or when he "innocently" killed his little bother, Avery.

If Y/n could make him feel this excited could she really exist and not be a figment of his imagination?

Patrick felt his balls tighten, His legs and arms shiver and go numb as he came. Directly on Y/n's house, outside of her room.

If this wasn't a giveaway, Patrick didn't know what was.

He felt his crotch and spine tingle then go slightly numb. He loved whenever that happened just from a little bit of release.

Y/n was now sitting up, putting back on the underwear and wandering off to the washroom. She probably to go clean herself up

Patrick smirked. With all the rumours and gossip about Patrick stalking her, wouldn't she at least close the blinds? Yet she still left them wide open.

Even when she decided to have a fun time.

Patrick pulled up his pants and wiped his hand on his thigh. Buttoning his pants and smiling when he saw Y/n come back with a glass of water.

Sweat shimmered on her body. She looks beautiful.

Y/n sipped on the water and placed it on her bed stand. Getting back into bed with a smile. Patrick swore she looked directly at him, but maybe he was just wishing she did.

3

Patrick decided today he was going to ask Y/n out. He built up enough courage and confidence from seeing Y/n do something so secretive.

Patrick saw Y/n exit school and go to her younger friends. They seemed to be the only ones that didn't care that Patrick was stalking her. Patrick hated those fucking kids. But put on a nice act.

Approaching the group like a creep, "Hey Eddie. It's been a while, huh?" Patrick taunted, wrapping an arm around the squirming boy.

"Y-yeah" Was all Eddie let out. The biggest hypochondriac being touched by a guy who was speculated to have more diseases than hairs on his head.

Patrick let go of Eddie and turned his attention to Y/n "Hey Y/n. Heard the rumours." Patrick joked, letting out a deep chuckle.

Y/n blushed and started fidgeting with the hem of her skirt "Yeah, I- I have" Y/n stuttered. Patrick usually had that effect on people. intimidating them so much that the person he was talking to stuttered.

He adored it when Y/n did. Her voice was so soft and airy. She had the voice of a kitten, an angel didn't even speak but if it did it would sound like Y/n.

"Sucks. Hope that didn't scare you away" Patrick asked theoretically. Leaning down on his knees so he could be face-to-face with her.

"N-no of course not"  Y/n giggled. Patrick felt the blood rush down to his dick. He's gonna have to ask quickly or else someone will notice and ruin his chance.

"Good. I was wondering if you wanted to watch a movie or maybe go for a drive with me and my friends" Patrick wondered. Anticipating for a response.

Y/n's eyes opened wide, quickly looking away from Patrick's stare. She felt like she was about to explode in embarrassment for no reason.

"Yeah, sure. A ride sounds fun- not like that- I meant with your friends as well... Like in a car," Y/n stammered on her words, trying to save herself from her dirty-sounding remark.

It got worse each time she added more words to her sentence. Patrick chuckled at this, and so did Richie.

"Great. Sounds like a date? I'll pick you up tonight" Patrick preached, standing back up straight "Do you need my address or my phone number?" Y/n asked softly. Doe eyes batting at him.

He tugged on his bottom lip with his teeth "I think I can manage" Patrick said slyly with a light chuckle.

[wanderingmind867]

I already have my Batman Season Four ideas planned out to an oddly precise degree, right? Well, I still have more ideas that I can't bring myself to get rid of. So I'm going to do a Batman Season Three and a Half. Here I'll adapt some of the few comics I like from the Batman '66 comic book, and maybe i'll add a few minor 50s and 60s villians I wish had been on Batman '66. So without further delay, here's my Batman 1966 Season Three and a Half ideas:

Episodes 1 and 2: A two parter based on the events of the Batman '66 Comic, Issue #1. A story involving The Riddler (Frank Gorshin) and Catwoman (Julie Newmar).

Episodes 3 and 4: An adaptation of the Lead Story in Batman '66 #2. A story featuring The Penguin (Burgess Meredith) and Mister Freeze (either George Sanders or Eli Wallach). They team up, only to get busted by the dynamic duo!

Episodes 5 and 6: Just the first story of Issue #3 of Batman '66 in it's entirety. Joker (Cesar Romero) stars, as does The Red Hood/Professor Overbeck (played by Leonid Kinsky).

Episodes 7 and 8: An adaptation of the second story in Batman '66 #3 (but an adaptation that's longer and more fleshed out). Egghead escapes from jail, and begins plotting to defeat Batman and Robin once again. To do this, he decides to conquer the skies with a gigantic dirigible of his own design! Egghead eventually captures the dynamic duo and drops them from his airship, to face the treacherous earth lying below. But due to sheer arrogance on his part, he'd forgotten to remove their utility belts.

So Batman and Robin successfully use their utility belts to survive the fall. They then fake their deaths, and prepare to snare Egghead and his gang within a trap of their own…

Episode 9: Batman is all alone on this case. He goes to the theater with a new love interest of his (and an old friend, too), one Linda Page. They've gone to see a benefit performance being put on by Chandell and The Siren, two supposedly redeemed ex-cons. But while Chandell really has gone straight, The Siren has done anything but. She uses this performance to hypnotize her audience, and then she tries to steal everything from people.

But Bruce manages to get away during the commotion, and he changes to Batman! But The Siren has learned some new tricks since last we saw her. Namely, she's learned how to summon hallucinations with her singing. So while Batman is immobilized by her strange hallucinations, Linda Page comes to the rescue and saves him from The Siren. Then she's sent back to jail, and Chandell is free to continue his performance.

But watching from the audience was that famous european criminal known as the Sandman, and he's most displeased that his newest assistant (The Siren) failed so utterly. He'd increased her powers by adding his dream sand to her arsenal, but she still failed! In his eyes, truly an unforgivable sin.

Episodes 10 and 11: Batman and Robin learn of how the Queen's Guard in England was robbed of all of their hats, and they realize that the Mad Hatter is clearly up to something. So with Alfred as their guide, Bruce and Dick travel to jolly old london town. While there, they end up having to confront The Mad Hatter, who really was behind all the thefts. He invades the Tower of London and steals the Crown Jewels.

But due to Batman's peerless reputation (even across the pond in the UK), Batman and Robin successfully manage to stop The Mad Hatter from getting away with the Crown Jewels. And then the good people of Scotland Yard haul the Hatter away, to serve out his full term in a London jail cell.

Episode 12: A more elaborate retelling of the second story in Batman '66 #4, Batman and Robin are still in England (being honoured for their victory against The Mad Hatter). But then Batman recalls an odd detail regarding the chiming of clock bells during their fight against The Mad Hatter. Realizing The Hatter may have had an accomplice, him and robin rush back to the tower to investigate this mystery.

And inside the clocktower, Batman finds his suspicions confirmed: The Mad Hatter was being aided by The Clock King, who actually turns out to be his brother! And The Clock King is now proceeding with his own seperate scheme to blow up The Tower of London when Big Ben chimes five. But before he can get around to that, Batman and Robin stop him. Both him, and his army of henchmen and clock themed androids.

From there, Clock King is sent to jail to rejoin his brother. And Batman and Robin return to their feast with Scotland Yard, finally able to celebrate the fruits of a victory well won.

Episode 13: An adaptation of the secondary story in Batman '66 #25, wherein Batgirl encounters Catwoman (played by Eartha Kitt) trying to steal the expensive Tiger Topaz. It turns out that crime never stops in Gotham, even while Batman's away (this story takes place concurrently with the saga over in England). So it's Batgirl to the rescue, on one of her many solo adventures.

Episodes 14 and 15: Batman and Robin have returned from their adventure in London, only to now have to deal with The Sandman, that evil super crook from the european continent. Still angry about the failure of The Siren (back in episode 9), The Sandman has now decided to take matters into his own hands. Him and his gang plunder the city, using a new form of sleep sand that can hypnotize people through dreams.

He successfully manages to ensnare and entrance the entire city (including Batgirl), but never once accounts for Batman's powers of lucid dreaming. Batman successfully manages to resist the strange dreams of the sleep sand, and he wakes up in time to free robin and batgirl and defeat the rest of the sandman's gang.

Episodes 16 and 17: A bit of a more dramatic episode, starring a very old Boris Karloff as Basil Karlo. An old man who's angry about the new remakes of his old horror films, Basil Karlo takes up his old costumed identity as Clayface and begins a series of attacks on the studio. When the film comes to Gotham City's annual film festival, Batman and Robin are called in to investigate.

Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson also deal with Aunt Harriet and Linda Page (who both serve on the gotham film festival board). This would be the last apperance of Linda Page for a while, by the way. She makes the two appearances this season, and maybe we'll bring her back eventually sometime later. But I'm not sure yet.

Episodes 18 and 19: Batman and Robin have to deal with The Bookworm, who's come up with a new and decidedly tricky scheme to figure out Batman's secret identity. Although he still fails, Bookworm ends up coming dangerously close to figuring out Batman's secret identity. So dangerously close that one thing becomes perfectly clear: Bookworm may one day actually find out Batman's secret. Of all the rogues, only him and egghead have gotten close to the truth. If either of them should team up one day…

Episodes 20 and 21: Olga, Queen of the Cossacks has returned to Gotham City. Angry on behalf of her partner egghead's failure (back in episodes 7 and 8), Olga has left him. And now she pursues a better choice of husband: Batman himself. Luring Batman and Robin to a large, snowy mountain in great northern reaches of North America, Olga kidnaps Batman and leaves Robin for dead.

Thankfully, Batgirl had been tailing them. So she manages to save Robin, and then the two of them go after Batman. They manage to trail Olga to her lair inside of a mountain, and then they find Batman struggling in the arena against an army of Olga's best men. Robin and Batgirl jump in to lend him a hand, and then our terrific trio end up saving the day and stopping Olga, but not before she successfully steals a kiss from Batman. Knowing our heroes luck, this probably won't be the last time they'll have to deal with this strong-willed cossack queen. She's still determined to win Batman's hand, after all.

Episode 22: A longer and more in depth version of the second story presented in Batman '66 #7. Here's the synopsis of that story from the DC wiki:

The Joker successfully robs a popular game show's jackpot, but bitterly notes only one of his men had actually helped in the getaway. After an evening watching business news, the Clown Prince of Crime is inspired to fire his whole gang except that one henchman. This "downsizing" not only leaves him a bigger share of loot, but also lets him evade Batman and Robin (who have grown used to picking him out of large retinues) at his next heist.

While troubled by the Joker's new efficiency, Batman correctly judges it unsustainable. Indeed, the Joker quickly overworks his one lackey to the point of exhaustion, and their following heist fails miserably against the Dynamic Duo.

Episodes 23 and 24: Batman, Robin and Batgirl all end up dealing with the evil villian of Spellbinder, a young bohemian/countercultural artist who's learned that his pop-art can cause people to follow his every command. Now causing a real mess with light and spectacle, the terrific trio have to stop him before he can do any more damage with his hypnotic powers.

I would definitely also have Andy Warhol make a cameo during a wall climbing gag during this episode. Because this episode is all about pop art, and he is the king of that stuff.

Episodes 25 and 26: An adaptation of the main story in Batman '66 #7, featuring False Face, a plot where he impersonates Bruce Wayne, and a subsequent showdown at Mount Rushmore between False Face and the dynamic duo!

Episodes 27 and 28: The Penguin is back with another new fiendish crime spree, all themed around rare and exotic birds. A ornithology exhibition has come to Gotham, and this bird of crime can't help but make a spectacle of himself stealing all the objects. Can Batman and Robin stop him? Or is it too late for our heroes to stop this foul bird of prey?

Episode 29: The Riddler is back in town, and he's come to menace Gotham with a scheme involving clues hidden within the daily crossword puzzles at the Gotham Tribunal. Can Batman, Robin and Batgirl successfully solve all of his riddles in time? Or is this curtains for our terrific trio?

Episodes 30 and 31: Catwoman ends up seemingly collaborating with Batman and Robin when another villian frames her for a crime she didn't commit. The villian in question ends up being revealed as a master magician known as The Great Marini. Using his masterful illusions, he manages to frame Batman for all sorts of crimes, and he manages to even successfully convince the GCPD that Batman and Robin are on the outs as useful crime fighters. That's when Batman learns the truth: Catwoman was a double agent all along!

Episode Two of this saga leaves our heroes no better off than they were before, as they're now hunted by the authorities. But they do escape Marini's deathtrap, and they even successfully manage to stop him and Catwoman before they can do too much harm to the city. To be fair: they were already beginning to fight amongst themselves. They were practically sitting ducks for the dynamic duo. But still, this would be the way that season three and a half ends.

[call-sign-shark]

Heaven in Your Eyes || Arthur Shelby x OC!Reader

Summary:  Weeks passed since Arthur's first encounter with the woman of his life. From that day, you meet every night and part only when the morning comes. When Linda starts to suspect it, she decides it's time to remind him who is in charge. The thing is, Arthur cannot take it anymore and just want to be with you.

Words: 4k

TW: Angst, toxic relationship, narcissistic personality disorder, mention of witch hunt and death, implicit divorce, soulmates finding each other for good but hint of dependent relationship

Notes:

✞ Even though Linda tends to be a disliked character, this story does not want to demonize her but rather offers an reading of the character based on my interpretation and research on narcissistic personality disorder.

✞ Heaven is OP's original character but written with the use of « you » (Moodboard here).

PART ONE || NEXT PART

When Arthur came back home at dawn, he could still feel the tingling sensation your gentle and cold fingers had left on his skin. His body collapsed on the sofa, repulsed by the simple idea of sleeping in the marital bed beside his controlling wife, for he was smitten with the divine creature he had met earlier. 

He wanted her. 

Only her.

And he wanted her so bad that it physically hurt.

The way she had touched him — like no other women did — had lit a blazing fire within. 

His whole being was burning with an unquenchable desire he was not really sure how to hold back. But more than a carnal appetite, it was his whole soul that was yearning for her. A feverish sigh escaped from his lips as his mind replayed each of their interactions again and again, like an old broken record: She had washed the blood from his face without the slightest wince nor hint of disgust. As the white cloth she used had turned entirely red, she looked at him with a soft gleam in her eyes, then laid a blessed kiss on his forehead. He remembered grabbing her wrists before she let go of his face and begging her not to leave. The look she had given him, full of divine mercy, almost brought tears back to his eyes. The Angel finally allowed him to rest his head on her lap. 

His memory blurred from this moment. All he could remember was how gently her hand stroke his hair. He had dozed off, lulled by her fresh spring-like perfume and by the way her nails grazed the shaved parts of his head.

Little he knew that what was supposed to be a fortunate and ephemeral miracle soon turned into an addiction — maybe the healthiest addiction he ever had. He eagerly waited for the night to come because he knew that, at the end of the day, she would wrap her arms around his neck and make every one of his problems fade away. This was how they had started to reunite each night, hidden from the world’s sight. 

Moon after moon, he would listen to her sing, her voice echoing through the church’s walls as it did the night fate had led him to her. Sometimes they would stay inside the church, talking until the sun rose and the birds chipped. Some other nights they would go for a walk, holding hands and finding comfort in each other’s presence. But ultimately, they would always end up laying in her bed, their fully-clothed bodies pressed together and their fingers intertwined,  with the firm will of never parting. And it was at the exact moment when the heat pooling under their skin became unbearable that their lips would brush against each other’s, shaky breaths melting together as they fervently waited for the other to break the small but oh-so-excruciating distance that was separating them.

But he never did — for he feared hurting her.

And she never dared — Afraid she would curse him.

“You came home late. Again,” Linda stated. Noticing the calm but devastating anger in her voice, Arthur opened his eyes and focused on the wall that was facing him.

“Told ya. Had to take a walk.” When she remained silent for more than a few terribly long seconds, his gaze shifted from the invisible spot he was staring at to look at her winter iris. Invisible knives stabbed him as she gave him the cold-eyes stare she used to do whenever he didn’t do what she wanted or what she had expected him to do. 

“Arthur. I already told you that working in the dark is —“

“For the Devil,” He finished off her sentence, “working in the dark is for the Devil. I know.”  Arthur growled,  too tired to suffer another Christian lecturing. As he swallowed, his calloused hand rubbed his throat as if it was looking for the invisible leash she had put around his neck. An invisible leash that had started to suffocate him after Tommy’s wedding.

“You know, I am trying to save you. But how come each night you leave the house and manage to sabotage each of my attempts to make God forgive you?” Her voice remained quiet, but each word she spat was coated with venom. Her personal dog was slipping through her fingers, disobeying her orders, and she could not stand it.

“Save me eh. “ Arthur repeated, his lips stretching in a crooked smile tainted with indescribable sorrow. There was a time he truly believed her — a time he thought Linda would see past the beast he was and treat him right, but she only trapped him in a loveless marriage. When she was not boring him with her endless religious sermons and metaphors, she would value herself by demeaning him.

By all means, Linda Shelby was a fierce woman who tended to give herself a superior appearance to others and felt an overwhelming need to be both admired and praised. Especially if it was at someone’s else expense.

He could have ripped her throat with his bare teeth, of course. He, Shelby’s unhinged mad dog.  But Arthur wanted so desperately to be loved that he had never dared to bite.

“Yes, save you. But I’m starting to think all my efforts are useless.  I helped you get off drugs. I brought you to church each Sunday despite ruining my reputation dating a Shelby and this is how you thank me? I am —“ She paused, only to step closer “ Deeply disappointed in you.” The expression on her face would have broken Arthur’s heart if she had not used the same trick countless times before. It was just a part of her strategy.

“Come on, Linda! Say it!” He snapped and jumped from the chair, facing her, “Say I’m not worthy of saving eh. Ye always say that kind of fookin’ things to me. One day I’m a poor misguided sheep, the other I am a shit not even worth stepping on. This ain’t goin’ to save me. Yer messing with me brain!”  He hit the left side of his head with his palm as he said so. 

Linda blinked, surprised by her husband’s audacity to bark at her.

“How… Dare you?” She whispered , feeling her self-control starting to break down. Despite the anger slowly building within, Linda was smart. Far too smart for lashing out on Arthur by yelling at him — For her, relationships were like a chess game. All she had to do was moving the right pawns to get people to do what she wanted, “Don’t you realize that I am the only one who will ever want you?”

Was it the sound of broken glass or a shattering heart? Arthur could not tell, for her murderous words had struck him with the violence of a guillotine’s blade on a prisoner’s neck. He took a few steps back, bewildered by what he had just heard. 

“Yes, you heard me right. When I found you in London you were fucking with these Eden Club’s whores because no one wanted you. You either scared women, or repelled them, and don’t be dumb enough to think it has changed.”

At this point of the conversation, his head started to get so dizzy he had to hold onto the chair’s backrest, “Don’t— Say — that.” He gritted through his teeth, nails digging into the varnished wood.

Closing his eyes, Arthur thought about you in an attempt not to burst into a destructive rage, but his heart only ached more at the possibility of you being afraid of or disgusted by him. What if she was right? What if you, God’s most beautiful Angel, would grow tired of him?  After all, you were a young and pure soul. And he was an old and sick bastard.

What could he give you, except a miserable life  in Small Heath and the negative influence it has upon people?

Linda sneaked behind Arthur with a wild cat’s grace and put one of her delicate hands on his chest. The unwanted physical contact snatched him from his thoughts. He reopened his steel blue eyes, shining with both anger and pain. A part of him — the self-depreciating one —  wanted to fall on his knees and beg her for forgiveness, knowing far too well that placing his hopes in you was a vain thing to do. No one would ever want him, she said.  Let alone you, Heaven, the most beautiful and holy creature he had ever seen.

“So now,” the tone she was using had turned from venom into sugar again “You will first apologize to me and, then, promise me to stop leaving at night no matter the reason behind those nocturnal getaways. I don’t care if it’s for family business or for a young slut. You’ll stay here and be a good husband, will you?”

And that was how she always won arguments without raising her voice once. Pushing the right buttons and using a punishment/reward method with Arthur was efficient enough to keep him under her thumb.  Now, she knew he was going to feel awful for yelling at her and he would seek for her tenderness, afraid she would leave him. Maybe he would cry, maybe not, but as long as he remained obedient it did not really matter. That was what usually happened. Or at least, that was how it would have happened before you and he met, for he could afford to lose Linda but not his angel. In fact, he would rather rot in hell than give up on you. 

“Go choke on yer apologies, Linda. Ya don’t seem to realize that I’m already saved, and ya had nothing to do with it ”  

When, with eyes wide open and trembling hands on her mouth, Linda Shelby realized she had lost for the first time in her life, the door slammed so violently it felt the whole house was shaking, within an inch of collapsing on her head. 

If there was one thing you missed from your home town it certainly was the mountain forests of your childhood. There was a comforting feeling in walking through the green vastness of the woods, birds' whistles and streams’ whispers for only companions. When you first came to Birmingham, you felt like suffocating: the noise, the smell, the swarming people…  You had trouble handling it for weeks. The truth was, you cried yourself to sleep almost every night, wishing to wake up in your beloved French Alps. But, deep inside, you knew that coming back to Haute Falaise would be a death sentence. 

Even though the bedroom you rented from Lucy, the lovely widow who managed the place, was located near a mock forest, it was nothing compared to the mighty splendor of the mountains’ landscape. Still, you understood that crying would not resolve your problems so you did what you did the best: raising your head and taking the blows… And here you still were.

You had just finished brushing the horse’s mane when Lucy came, arms crossed on her generous bosom.

“There’s a man waiting for you at the door.” 

“A man?” Your brows furrowed for you expected no one. Making friends had never been an easy task for you, even more considering they were all scared of you and your white hair.

“Tall, all limbs, cold blue eyes, and a mustache.”  Lucy stared at you, waiting for your answer to know if she should welcome the visitor or if she could chase him with her broom — the landlady was not a very social woman. Even though you remained silent, the surprised and shy expression that appeared on your juvenile face gave her an answer, “ Alright… But if you plan to fuck, I’d ask you to clean the bedsheet yourself.” She added. 

You would have died from shame right on the spot if Arthur’s presence did not occupied your thoughts. Heart racing in your chest, you walked to the door but the tall blonde woman, whose face remained placid as always, grabbed your arm as you went past her. 

“Heaven. He’s a Peaky Blinders.” 

“I know Lucy.” 

“And this one is the most dangerous.”

The frozen blizzard of her eyes warmed when she stared at you, silently begging you to be careful around this kind of men, especially when they bore the name of Arthur Shelby. She, along with all of Birmingham, was aware of his violent nature and did not want him to put you in a vulnerable position.

“Well. My mother used to call me dangerous too.”

“Hm.”

She let go of your arm when her sharp senses noticed love coursing through your veins. Lucy sighed…

It was already too late.

As soon as Arthur saw you running to him, your long ivory mane dancing in the wind and your aquamarine eyes shining with excitement, the weight of his dark thoughts magically lightened. His morose mood vanished, swept by the way your hypnotizing body swung at each step. It was the first time someone looked at him the way you did, genuinely radiating with joy at his simple presence many dreaded. In many ways, he was used to glimmers of fear and hatred or, at best, pity, in the eyes of those staring at him, but not that deep and sincere affection you always blessed him with. His lips stretched in an enamored smirk, his mustache slightly lifting as he did.

“What are you doing here? Are you okay?” You asked.

Words choked in his throat, for the way the pale sunlight reflected on your delicate porcelain skin clouded his mind with confusing and intense urges. His strong, calloused hands grasped your hips with hast, almost bruising you in the process. Yet, you wrapped his neck with your arms far from being repelled by the firmness of his possessive grip. Quite the contrary, his overwhelming need of owning you made you feel safe. 

“Arthur?”  You called him again softly, but he remained silent,  mesmerized by your beauty he never had the chance to observe by day. A light, hoarse chuckle escaped from his mouth. 

“I can’t help but wonder where your wings are each time I see you, love.” His smile widened when he noticed the adorable pink shade that had just appeared on your cheeks. 

“Don’t try to change the conversation, what are you doing here?” Fire burnt within as his hands tightened their grip even more, and his thumb started to caress your hip in circular movements.

“Couldn’t wait for tonight. And to be true, I can’t fookin’ wait at all. My body and heart yearn for ya. It’s like a slow acting poison running through my veins, infecting me brain. And it feels good only when I’m with you.” 

Boom. Boom. Your heartbeat echoed in your whole rib cage, its pace so brutal that you were pretty sure it was about to burst your chest open.  Moisturing your lips with the shy tip of your tongue, you did your best to muzzle your emotions. 

“I missed you too. You know… I feel like I come back to life when the moon rises.” Mission failed, your heart spoke far too quick than your rational mind, even though your voice was merely a whisper —  In spite of all your love, the man was not yours and he will never be. 

At your words, Arthur let out a long relieved exhale and leaned over you, burying his nose in your neck. A shiver ran down your spine at the sensation of his mustache tickling your sensitive skin.  Usually, he would rub it in your neck to make you laugh but today he was not in the mood to torture you. All he wanted was to keep you in his arm and never let you go. His ardent breath, fanning over you, made you realize how close his mouth was, and this sole thought almost drove you crazy.  You ran your small hand through his hair and brought him closer— but it was never enough. No matter how close you were, there was always too much space, too much clothes, too much of everything between you and him.

Arthur closed his eyes and drown in your perfume, whose floral and green fragrances reminded him the smell of Lily-of-the-valley. And even if he had never dare to use his lips on you yet, he started kissing your collar bone for he could not resist anymore.

“Fuck—“ You breathed and bit your lower lip, trapping it between your teeth while you tried not to give in to the fuzzy sensation that was numbing your whole being. 

His mouth kept conquering your skin, tingling kisses trailing up your neck first, then your jaw, and your cheek. With one skilled movement, his hips crashed against yours and hugged your forms with a tailored perfection — He was convinced God created you for him and nothing could change his mind. One of his powerful hands left your hips only to catch your chin and raised your face for you to look at him. You felt overwhelmed and intoxicated, surges of electricity running through your body as the Celeste blue of your eyes dug into the steel blue of his. 

“Arthur— No. You’re married.”  The words that had just escaped your mouth left a bitter taste on your tongue. Your face turned to the side, denying him access to your lips. 

“Is that the problem, love?”  Arthur was still staring at your lips, forehead pressed against your head. Strands of hair were falling in front of his face, now darkened with a shade of anger. He was not mad at you, far from it, but your anxiety about his marriage reminded him of the foul things Linda had said to him a few hours ago. He swallowed, gathering all his strength to keep his calm even though you had already met that monstrous part of him the night you had cleaned the blood off his face. Somehow, Arthur knew you accepted him as he was — contrary to Linda who wanted to change him — but his protective nature told him to spare you from his tantrums.

“It is indeed one of the two problems that keep me from kissing you, Shelby. You know the nature of my feelings for you, dear, but if I resisted the temptation of your lips for months it’s not to give in now. I don’t want to be the other woman.”

Arthur backed off, jaw clenched. Then, he raised his left hand to display the golden ring he had never taken off since his wedding day.  “So it’s that damn thing that bothers ya,” He paused,  only to look at you and your otherworldly beauty. Sometimes he had still trouble realizing you were real,  “lemme tell you something… It ain’t a wedding ring. It’s a fookin’ noose and I don’t want it anymore.” At these words, he took it off and threw it as far as he could with one powerful movement. The ring, whose golden surface reflected the pale sun rays, flew away and ended in the small stream nearby. As soon as it touched the water, the stream's flow carried it away.

You looked at him, speechless and bewildered by what he just did.

“Fook Linda, and fook my vows. I don’t want ya to be the other woman, I want ya to be me woman.”  The gravel in his voice sent a shiver through your spine.  He looked at you, arms open, silently asking what else he had to do for you to belong to him. 

Admittedly, Linda had been one impediment to your relationship with Arthur, but it was out of respect rather than anything else. What really terrified you though, was the consequences of your love upon the man.

“You don’t understand Arthur,” This time tears flooded your vision, for if Linda was a resolvable problem, the other obstacle was engraved in your flesh, “They say I’m cursed.” 

His long arms fell down along his body, not quite comprehending what you meant by "cursed". The tall gangster remained petrified for what seemed to be an eternity, his mind proceeding with this information. You had always been mute about your past — all he knew was that you came from France and people thought you were some kind of witch. But as superstitious as he was, he would not let stupid rumors ruin you. You were everything he needed, everything he prayed for, cursed or not. And at this point, he was just saddened by the distorted image you had of yourself. How he would have loved to lend you his eyes so that you see yourself through his lights.  This is why he broke the distance you had set between you and him and pressed his warm and rough hand gently against your cheek. 

“You ain’t cursed. Who told you that?”

“Father Hughes.”

“He’s a cunt. And even if he’s right, you can be their curse, but it doesn’t mean yer not me blessing eh.” 

“But — “ The sun reflected on your crystal tears, making them shine as if melted diamond streams were overflowing from your heavenly eyes. What people had always said about you was still somewhere behind your brain, hanging onto it with their claws dug deeply into your synapses. They kept you awake at night, along with the villagers’ chants, the menacing pyre, and the stones cast at you.

“You’ll die if you stay by my side.” You muttered between heartbreaking sobs, whose ache would make stones weep.

“You don’t seem to understand, love. I’ll die if I don’t.”  He spoke all the while lovingly pressing his forehead against yours, pulling you into a tender embrace — It was at that very moment you discovered that his tenderness had the power of chasing your sorrows away.

Silence fell down on the two lovebirds, whose silhouettes embellished Lucy’s garden. Arthur’s lips brushed against yours, still unsure if you wanted it or not. Yet, the way your mouth slightly parted left no doubt of your consent. He leaned over you to break the distance but, as he did, you gently backed up but only to tease him this time. He growled, his hoarse voice making your soul vibrate. 

“Kiss me, eh.” He complained, with a low tone.

Your lips still grazed his, gently, ghostly, like an angel’s feather.  Arthur inhaled your breath and the feverish sigh that followed made you flicker like a candle flame. That was only when the wait became unbearable, almost physically painful, that your mouths collapsed, like rogue waves crashing against the shore’s stones.  As you were finally giving in to your desire, a firework of sensations exploded within and eluded everything that surrounded you. 

He smelt like whiskey and musky aftershave, but he tasted like honey and sadness. 

Among all the drugs he had taken, all the alcohol he had consumed, and the women he had known, the sensation of your tongue lightly touching his with an adorable shyness was so ecstatic that it rendered his past vices bland and empty. The world melted under your feet. Arthur embraced you tighter, feeling the need to be pressed against every inch of your body he could rob from you and jail them in this timeless moment. Your lips slightly shifted to the side so you could catch your breath, but he kept kissing the edge of your mouth, hungry for more and more. He did not want to let you go for the life of his. No matter if he had to suffocate in the process.

“I love you, Heaven.” He mumbled between kisses.

It was all it took — along with the pleasant caress of his mustache on your face — to convince you to give up on breathing too and devour his lips a second time, fiercely. As you pulled him in a second kiss, Arthur’s hand left your cheek only for him to run his long fingers through your magnificent hair, whose ivory color suited you so well. To be true, he really fancied that unusual physical trait of yours; given how he always played with some of your long white strands. Your tongues danced one last time together and as they did, his demons found a cure in yours.

Arthur pulled away reluctantly, knowing he had to let you go. He had a meeting at the Garrison with his brothers to talk about the Russians. You laid a soft kiss on his chin, waiting for him to break your embrace.

But he never did — for he feared losing you.

And you never dared — Afraid he would shatter without your touch.

Any comment, review, reblog or constructive criticism is welcome. Also, I'll be more than happy to meet people in the Peaky Blinders fandom. I hope you enjoyed some Arthur and Heaven.

Ask if you wanna be tagged in future Peaky Blinders Works.

Peaky Blinders Requests are open.

Tags: @areyenotfondofmelobster

[seenoversundown]

For Death Or Glory : Chapter Twenty-Four

Jake Kiszka x Charlotte (Fem OC)

Warnings: Wholesome Vibes, Fluff, Happy Tears, Mild Anxious Themes, LINDA AND ELEANOR ARE BACK (our queens), Tension, Mentions of Snow, Parental advice, some pirate/ocean references, and a LOT of hugs. (I think the hugs will really be beneficial for all of us)

Word Count: 5.5k

Summary: It's the bar's anniversary night and there's a slight chill in the air.

Author's Note: Did I cry over this chapter? Possibly ❤️. But for very different reason than last weeks. I really am in disbelief that next week is.. it. Let's all just savor this chapter together and celebrate with our sweet little pirate man 🥂 (I'm ready to scream about it with you guys 🥹)

Caravel - Greta Van Fleet "Sail to the end of the world, For death or glory."

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯

The Anniversary Party  - 7:15 p.m. 

Pull it together, I think to myself, wiping the tears that were trying to make their escape. I decided that spending the drive in my thoughts sounded better than trying to drown them out with music, which is how I spent most of my day fighting the urge to cry and losing. 

If I thought the idea of just having to tell him that I had to go back home was terrible, watching him cry is probably in the top three worst moments of my life. Seeing the way his eyes looked when I told him that his comment was wrong, I could feel that he regretted it. I can’t even be mad at him when I know he didn’t mean it. Listening to him sob and cry to me that he was sorry broke my heart; I just couldn’t bring myself to say anything at the moment.

Once I got home, even though I was emotionally exhausted, I couldn’t sleep. I could just hear him in my head on a loop, practically begging me to stay. I can’t believe I left. I knew I wouldn’t say anything about my work situation if I stayed, so I didn’t. And now, I regret it. I should have stayed and told him everything. 

I spent a lot of the night just wishing I hadn’t given him attitude because it wasn’t fair to him. I had been working most of the day and finally had someone call me back that I’d been waiting on, but they were upset with the message I had for them. So, I was on the receiving end of one of the angry bar owners, unlike Jacob, when I walked into the bar, and I still didn’t know what made me take that out on him. 

I would take it back in a second if I could. 

Now I’m sitting in my car, parked in my usual spot down the street from the bar, debating heavily on what I should do. I never actually packed anything because I would start crying every time I tried. It’s not even been a full day since we saw each other, and I’m terrified to walk in there. 

I don’t want to have that conversation tonight; I can’t ruin the anniversary party more than I possibly already have. Maybe depending on how he acts, I’ll mention something after Thanksgiving. Then it came back to me; I told him I would text him all day tomorrow… oh god– what have I done? 

I look up at the sky; the moon is faint in the distance, but she’s there. 

“Cass, I did this for you,” I whisper. “I wish you could tell me if it was going to work out or if I royally messed up.” Closing my eyes and taking a deep breath, I shut off my car. When I step out, a breeze washes over me, the type of cold where you know snow is coming. Making sure I have all his paperwork and my bag, I start my walk over to the bar. 

I really could just go home. 

I know the address.. I could just mail this.

I don’t think I can do it. 

I don’t know what possessed me to look back up, but I did, and the cloud that had been blocking the moon moved. The light from it felt different this time, and a smirk laced my lips as I looked at it. 

I’m taking that as my sign, Cass. I hear you.

As I get closer, I see the number of cars parked along the street and vaguely see through the bar windows. There’s a lot of people here for it being a Wednesday. Good job, Jacob.  

7:36 p.m. 

The door chime goes off, but enough people are talking, and the music is still loud, so there’s no chance anybody heard it. I scan the bar, looking for him, just hand him the paperwork and then leave. You can try to talk to him over the weekend and maybe work something out or at least make sure he doesn’t hate you. I try to pep talk myself. 

Not seeing him anywhere, I start to wander around, kind of hoping not to run into anybody, which is a bold choice right now. I bump into someone while trying to find him, and she turns around quickly. 

“Oh! I’m sorry, honey, didn’t see you there!” Her voice is loud but sweet. “You look lost– what do you need?” She gently holds my arm as she asks. 

“Uh- I need to find Jake. I don’t see him, though,” I tell her. Why do I feel like I should know who she is?

Her eyes widen at the sound of his name, but her expression softens when she tells me, “He’s in there somewhere! I thought I saw him run outback a minute ago.” 

“Oh, okay. Thank you. I’ll just hang out for a few then,” I shoot her a small smile. 

She smiles back at me; her smile feels familiar. She quietly says, “If I run into him, I can let him know you’re here. What’s your name?” 

I hesitate for a second, “Oh, um, Charlotte.” 

“Pretty,” she lets out. “I’ll try to grab him for ya.” 

Not even a minute passes, and I see him come down the hallway, but he definitely can’t see me. He looks so good, too. I linger behind people to avoid making eye contact as my heart rate starts to pick up. You can do it. I watch him from a distance; he’s behind the bar, handing someone a drink. That smile, but his eyes look tired. The way he moves captivates me; it feels like I’m seeing him for the first time all over again.  

He’s just pouring a beer for someone, but even something so mundane makes the butterflies erupt in my stomach. When he slides it over to the customer, his shirt falls open more and shows off his chest, and his necklace dangles, making my body warm because I’ve felt that necklace graze my skin before. Good god, why does he just look like this? 

All I can see in my mind is how gorgeous he is, especially when we were holed up together. He would put together his cute little outfits when we did things. The way he would walk around in his short and tight little boxers, leaving no room for imagination, was fine with me. 

His smile was still my favorite, whether it was just the little grin as he held back some pirate phrase, knowing I’d laugh at how dumb he was. Or when he fully smiles.. that boy is so beautiful. I could probably write a dissertation on how much I love that smile. I love a lot of things about him. His smile, the way he’s always touching me somehow, that silly English accent..maybe I-

Suddenly, I hear a clinking sound that multiplied rapidly, pulling me from my thoughts. Glancing around, I see everyone sitting in the booth they always choose when they’re all together. They all are holding their glasses up, tapping whatever they can against them to get everyone’s attention. 

Josh holds his glass up behind the bar, pulling Jake into his side. Jake’s face is completely red as he looks down, with a slight smile on his face. 

“I feel like everyone here should already know, but my brother is the owner of this fine establishment,” Josh starts, “And I just want to say how proud I am of him for taking the chance and managing to stay open for the past year,” He leans over, kissing the side of Jake’s head, and I see him mumble something to him while everyone claps for him. 

“Now, I know you really want to hear from the man of the hour, so,” Josh lets out,  and I watch Jake shake his head a few times, but everyone gets real quiet. We all collectively just stared at him, waiting to see what he would say, and all I could think was, ‘I’ll even hold your hand if you get nervous,’ when he actually starts to speak. 

“Um, I wasn’t really prepared to say anything, but,” he starts. “I never thought this would actually happen, um.. especially to me.” I watch as he fidgets with the ring he has on. You can do this, Jake.

 “I don’t know that I could have done it without my family basically throwing me overboard into the idea. It was a for death or glory moment for me, and—“ he pauses, looking up at everyone just admiring him. “I’m truly just so happy to be here now.” 

His eyes scan the room, and my heart drops when he meets my stare; blinking slowly, it feels like time has stopped, and all I can do is smile at him. I watch a slight smirk grow on his face when he says, “I couldn’t have done it without you. I’m endlessly grateful for everyone keeping me afloat. It’s only been a year, so—“ he grabs the glass next to him, holding it up, “Too many more.” 

The way everyone cheered and started clinking glasses had my eyes welled up. His brothers, Danny included, pulled him into hugs, which only naturally meant the girls and Quinn were next. I just watch him as he beams at everyone who walks up to him and gets all the praise he deserves. But his eyes kept wandering back to me. 

I’m so proud of you, baby. 

8:03 p.m.

Those green eyes– are all I can think about as I stand there. 

My heart about stopped when I saw her. I never would have expected her to show up after last night. But the second we locked eyes again, I felt less nervous. Maybe it was just the simple fact she showed up or the way I could see her trying to hide a tear as she smiled back at me. 

Finishing my weird toast while looking at her was the closest I was going to get to her holding my hand tonight, and that’s okay. Immediately, Josh pulled me into a hug after rocking me back and forth. 

“She’s here,” he whispers into my ear, almost like he’s trying to protect me.  

I turn my face to whisper back, “I know.” 

He leans back from the hug, looking at me, “You can do this,” he says, squeezing my shoulders a few times. “I’m so proud of you.” 

“Thank you,” is all I can manage to say back to him. 

Once I walk out from behind the bar, I’m practically mauled by the rest of them. I don’t think I’ve hugged so many people back-to-back like that before. Listening to a slew of ‘Proud of you! and ‘Happy anniversary! as they take their turn pulling me into them. 

Getting to Quinn, who quietly asks, “Are you going to talk to her?” 

“I mean,” I whisper back, “I’ll see what she says first.. I’m not going to push too hard today.” 

They nod, leaning back from the hug, “You’ll get her, I promise.” Offering me a smile, which I quickly return. 

“Love you,” I whisper, pulling them back into the hug for a second. 

They just mumble back, “Love you too.” Giving me an extra tight squeeze before letting go. 

I started to walk towards her, but my dad stepped in front of me first. He holds out his arms, inviting me for a hug, like everyone else has so far. 

“Proud of you, kid,” he mumbles next to my ear. 

I rest my head against him for a second before moving back, looking at him, and quietly letting out, “Thank you.”  

“I think someone is waiting to talk to you,” his voice is low, nodding towards Charlotte. His hand grabs my shoulder, squeezing a few times, and then quietly says, “Go get her.” 

When I go to walk over to her, I finally see her, and even though I’ve seen her in all forms the last couple of weeks, she always leaves me breathless. I could stare at her for the rest of my life and still not understand how she can be so effortlessly beautiful. 

“Hey, you,” I say as I get closer to her. “I didn’t know if you’d still be here tonight.” 

“Well, I do have these for you,” Her voice is soft. She holds out a folder filled with paperwork. “Everything is good to go, and Melody is certified.” 

“Thank you,” I say quietly. 

She meets my stare and quietly lets out, “Of course.” A soft smile laces her lips as we look at each other, which only makes the corners of mine twitch. I stepped a little closer to her, but she didn’t back up. 

“Um, I know it’s already kinda late,” I start, knowing I sound nervous but still asking, “Are you staying for a bit, or do you need to go?” 

She uncomfortably says, “I should probably head out.. I have a lot of driving ahead of me.” 

“No, that makes sense,”  I say, looking around for somewhere to set the folder down. “I’ll um..” Turning around, I see my dad, waving him over subtly. 

I tell him quietly, “Hey, I’m gonna walk her to her car. Can you hold this?” He just nods at me, glancing over to Char. 

“Oh, you don’t have to do that,” she rambles out, her hand landing on my arm, and my heart drops at the contact. Instinctually,  I cover her hand with mine when I turn back to her. 

“I’ve walked you to your car for three weeks; you really think I’m gonna stop now?” I tell her, which makes her laugh. 

“You know what,” she giggles quietly. “You’re right.” I set my drink on a random table, knowing it’ll be lost in the sea of glasses now, but who cares?

Pushing open the door and gesturing for her to go out first, “After you.” 

The walk to her car is quiet, neither of us really knowing what to say until she finally breaks it, “She looks nice tonight.” 

Looking over at her as she looks at the moon, making me smile despite the heartache, “She does.” 

“Your little toast was nice, by the way,” she says quietly, glancing over at me.  

Looking down at the sidewalk for a second, “I wasn’t ready for that, and as you can imagine, I'm not much of a public speaker.” She laughs at me; my heart starts to race. 

“Well,” she starts, as we make it to her car, “I thought you did a great job.” 

I slowly blink at her, “Thank you.” 

We stare at each other silently for a moment. I would give anything to just pretend that nothing happened and that everything is still how it was yesterday morning.  

“I won’t keep you, it’s freezing.” I lean forward, pulling her door open for her like I always do. She looks at me for a second and then steps closer, wrapping her arms around me. I’ve never let go of her car door faster as I pull her in tight; please don’t let this be the last time. My hand runs down the back of her head, just cherishing the hug while it lasts. Breathing her in slowly, trying to engrave the scent of her perfume into my brain. Turning my face and letting my lips rest against the side of her head, unable to resist the urge just to press one small kiss into her hair. One more. 

Once she starts to let go, I loosen my grip, letting her decide when she’s done. My hands run down the back of her arms as she pulls back until her hands land in mine. We just stare at each other for a second when she squeezes so slightly, and I return the gesture before letting go. I open her door again,  and she sits in her driver's seat, looking back up at me.

“Drive safe, Red.” 

She stares at me for a second and then quietly lets out, ”Will do, Captain.”

I swallow hard at the pet name she chose, but I can’t stop the smile from creeping in. Shutting her door gently, I can’t decide if that made me feel better or worse. 

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8:40p.m

 My mom met me at the door, “So, that was her, right?” 

“Mhm,” I quickly respond, not sure of how far she’s going with this. I don’t know how much I can even talk about right now. 

“She’s beautiful,” she tells me, a little inquisitive inflection laced in it. 

I nod quietly, “She’s incredible.”  

“You really love her, don’t you?”

“I feel insane, but I swear I’d do anything to keep her.” 

“Oh, sweetheart,” she says, grabbing my shoulders. “She’ll come back. I saw how she looked at you.” She runs her hand down the back of my head before tucking my hair behind my ear as she looks at me. “Her eyes lit up the moment she saw you. There was no denying it.”

I glance over to the door and then back down, “I just hope you’re right.” 

“Hey,” she practically scolds me, “If she loves you, she’ll come home, alright?” She gently taps my chest a few times. “And if I know anything about you, there’s no reason she wouldn’t come back to you.” Her hand held the side of my face. She brushed her thumbs over my cheekbones a few times, forcing me to look at her. She just quietly coos, “Oh, my sweet little boy.” 

My throat hurts as I choke back the emotions threatening to come up. I’m gonna cry if she keeps talking. My arms instinctually pull her in for a hug, tucking my face into her shoulder and letting out a deep breath. She rubs my back for a second before I finally mumble out, “I love you, mum.” 

“I love you too,” she tells me, pulling back from the hug enough to look at me. “Now, go enjoy your night, babe. You earned it.”

I just smile at her for a second and then mumble, “Thank you.” 

She pulls my face in, kissing my cheek a few times, and then looks at me with watery eyes, whispering, “I’m so proud of you.” 

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Once I went back to talking to everyone, I started to relax a bit. Taking my mind off the inevitable questions that would come up tomorrow. It was nice to have time just to see all the regulars who had been coming in since we opened. 

I find myself sitting with two of my favorite people for a while, Linda and Eleanor. Listening to them tell me about what their Thanksgiving plans are– which is honestly very sweet. 

“Well, we are both single old broads, so I told Miss Ellie just to come join me, and we could watch the parade together and make some food,” Linda tells me. “Figured it’s better than us sitting at home alone!” 

Eleanor giggled before letting out a quiet, “Absolutely is.” 

“I’m glad you two will be spending the day together,” I tell them. “Are you seeing family at all?”

They go on to tell me about how they either just spend Christmas with their families or sometimes people will come to them, but it just depends on the year and how they’re feeling. 

“What are you boys doing for the holiday?” Eleanor asks. 

I sighed, “Well, my parents are up, obviously. So, we’ll all pile into their Airbnb tomorrow morning, and my mom will spend the whole day making food and forcing us to eat until we’re about to throw up.” Laughing a little at the thought because it’s the truth. 

“I’m sure it’s a wonderful time,” Eleanor says. “Your family seems fun to be around.”

I glance around after she makes the comment. Seeing my brothers laughing together in their typical booth. Sam’s arm draped around Willa, keeping her close like he’s worried she’ll try to escape. I love that he’s found someone like her, even if it is weird to see him so protective over someone. 

Moving my eyes over to Danny, shaking his head at whatever nonsense Sam must have spewed. Mel tucked into him like she always has, but fully engulfed in conversation with Quinn. Oh, Quinn.   

The wonderful person who has my best friend and twin brother wrapped around their finger. I knew that when Josh found someone, they would fit him perfectly because he is such a special person, and there was no way that he could just find an ordinary human to be his partner. After spending as much time as I have with Quinn, I couldn’t imagine someone better. 

The way that Mel and Josh take turns lingering near the table so they can all hang out throughout the night because not only are they all best friends, but we’re all practically family at this point. 

I look back to Eleanor with a soft smile, “They really are.” 

I spent a little longer hanging out with them before deciding to take over the bar for a while. Both of them hugged and congratulated me on the anniversary before I walked off to relieve the other two. 

Sometimes, it was nice to be behind the bar alone, just talking with whoever was sitting up there and making drinks. It made the time pass quickly, and I didn’t have time to think about much else, especially on nights like tonight when the bar was full. The only thing missing was her. 

Having her sit at the end of the bar for the last few weeks for hours, just giving me shit about my job or making little comments that would drive me mad until I could finally close the bar and whisk her away to my bedroom. Spending our nights teasing each other while I served people and trained Melody, I always felt like it was torture because I just wanted to clock out so badly. Now, it feels odd that she isn’t here. 

How she looked at me while we stood there, her lightly squeezing my hands like I’ve done to her so many times in the last couple of weeks. Just to let her know I was there. I feel like it should make me feel more confident about her, but I’m afraid to get my hopes too high, even if it’s probably too late for that.  

When Josh and Mel make their way back to the bar, I let  Josh know that I’m going to step out for a minute. I quietly slide into my office, grabbing my lighter and cigarettes from my desk drawer and hiding them in my pocket before wandering out the back door. 

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10:00 p.m.

It smells like snow. The air is a different type of cold; you can smell winter around the corner. I lit my cigarette, took that first drag, and pulled my phone out. 

She should be home by now, looking at the time and then hesitating to say something to her. I stare out at the docks, watching the boats gently rock. Remembering the moment that she leaned in first, how relieved I was that it wasn’t just me wanting that. Her smile when I went back in for another kiss as if she thought I wouldn’t want that. My heart aches at the thought. I should just .. send her something.

We spent almost a month in this weird situation, and it feels wrong to go radio silent. Maybe Mom is right. 

I start typing away, deleting the message, and starting over probably twenty times, not knowing what to say but just wanting to say anything to keep her in my life potentially. Even if she’s not mine. 

I finally hit send when it doesn’t feel too insane, but my body flinches when I feel someone’s hand on my shoulder. 

“I had a feeling I’d find you out here,” my dad quietly tells me. “You okay?”

I nod, “Mhm, I just needed a break from the noise.” 

“Between your mother and both of your brothers, can’t say I blame you,” he laughs. “I know that isn’t the entire reason, and you don’t have to say it.” 

I let out a deep sigh before inhaling more smoke into my lungs to try and stop the sad from coming back. 

“I just texted her. Hoping that she at least will keep talking to me if anything.” I tell him, feeling a bit pathetic. 

He stares at me for a second, “She really got you good, huh?”

“She’s perfect, dad. How was I supposed to not fall for her?” I almost laugh at it, taking one last drag from the cigarette that is threatening to burn me at this point. Squishing the lit end into the railing before turning to walk back to the bar. “Did I make a bad choice doing that or..?” 

“Your mom is much better in these situations, but,” he starts as we slowly walk back. “I think you saw a beautiful girl and took your chance. I’m positive if I were in the same situation with your mom back then, I would have done the same thing.” 

“I knew I was fucked from the day I met her, y’know?” I say. “I couldn’t stop thinking about her after that.” I just watch the ground as we walk, getting closer to the bar. 

His arm wraps around my shoulders, pulling me into his side as I’m about to pull open the back door for the bar. 

“She’ll come back, bud,” he says. “I saw how she looked at you.. I know that look.”  I lean my head against him for a second before he pulls my shoulders away from him and turns me towards him.

 “Please make sure you wash your hands and drink something, and I won’t tell your mother that you still smoke. I’ll never hear the end of it.” We both laugh at the fact she would absolutely make it his problem.  

“Will do,” I laugh out. “Um.. thank you.” I stare at him, fighting the emotions that want to come out, which, after the last twenty-four hours, is getting more difficult. 

He breathes out a typical dad sigh, a slight smile on his face, before he wraps me up in another hug, “Of course. Just wanna see you happy, kid.”

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The bar is closing early tonight because of the holiday, and truthfully, I’m a bit relieved that I don’t have to sit here until two in the morning.  Mostly, everyone had left, and there were just a few stragglers to take care of during the last hour of the night. Just trying to focus on the fact I’ll get to hang out with my family tomorrow and how nice it’ll be to just spend time with them. Even if I want nothing more than to bring her with me. 

11:00 p.m.

Once everything is basically cleaned up, I sneak out front. Something about being outside helped clear my head, even if it was brief. 

How she looked at me before she left makes my heart skip a beat when I think about it. Maybe she isn’t completely done here. It took all my strength not to kiss her again, but I didn’t want to overstep after last night.

If I can at least keep talking to her, maybe we can make things happen because there’s no chance she wasn’t at least kind of interested. Recounting all the times, she would just look at me from a distance, which I’m sure she didn’t think I would notice. But her stare is a hard one to ignore. 

My mind drifts off to all the moments that I should have realized I was falling in love with her. I don’t know who I was kidding thinking I could survive just being friends with benefits.  

Hearing her cry on the other end of the phone the day after I held her in my office, I never walked out of the bar so fast. She sounded so panicked that I would have gone to her if I had known where she was. But the moment I got her to laugh, my heart felt different. 

Walking into my room and seeing her standing there defeated and drunk, fighting with the zipper on her pants, I know I laughed at her, but she was so cute. And then her in my sweatshirt with her bare legs staring back at me once I got the zipper apart for her. Leaving a kiss on my cheek before I left the room, my heart raced for so long after that. 

The night after we kissed, walking her to her car, she was absolutely terrified that she wouldn’t seem into it. Then she looked at me, leaning against my chest, and let out a quiet, “Jacob.” I knew I needed to kiss her again at that moment. The way she grabbed at my shirt when I did tells me that she was craving it, too. 

When she thought I was fully asleep on the couch, she slipped up and called me ‘baby.’ She just wanted to make sure I was comfortable, but if she only knew that having her curled up to me was enough. Feeling her tuck herself back into me, playing with my necklace as I drifted back to sleep, I could have stayed there forever. 

The entire day we spent in Salem. The fact she wanted me to be present with her, calling me ‘babe’ in public, how she kept holding my hand all day. She was always so shy when I would pay for things, but I wanted nothing more than for her to have a good day and try to make up for the fact that her tradition was disrupted. 

Nothing could have prepared me for the way she looked at me when we took pictures. Seeing it after, it’s written all over my face, even if I didn’t realize it in the moment. 

I’ll never know what possessed me to sing to her in that bar, but the smile on her face was worth it. Swaying around with her, her little giggles as I spun her away from me but quickly pulled her back in. All that I could see in my head was me twirling her around in a white dress someday. And god, she looked beautiful. 

The door creaks as it opens, bringing me back to earth. 

“Enjoying the cold?” Josh asks, walking over. 

I breathe out, “I guess.”

“Well, I’m going to head up,” He says, grabbing my shoulder. “It’s going to be a long day tomorrow.” 

“Yeah— I don’t know how ready I am,” I let out before telling him, “You can leave it unlocked. I’ll be up in a few.”

He pulls me into a hug, “Love you, don’t stay out here too long; it’s already getting late.” 

“Love you too.” 

He looks back at me before slipping inside, with a slight grin on his face, and says, “Just let me know if she shows back up.” 

I smile, giving him a slow nod, “Will do.” 

Something about the air tonight and the pep talks from both of my parents convinced me to stay out here for a little bit longer before going upstairs. Doing the mental gymnastics to make sure I don’t get my hopes too high. I slide my phone from my pocket, seeing that it’s only 11:35 p.m. I go to open my texts and it’s still on hers. 

Read at 11:02 p.m. 

Maybe she just got to her parents and that’s why she didn’t reply yet. 

I stare at my lock screen, a photo I snuck of her in Salem. She was so beautiful and happy. It’s mostly the back of her head as we were walking down the street, but she had glanced over as I took it so you can vaguely see her side profile. I don’t think she’s noticed that I did it, but if anything happens this weekend, I’ll change it. But for now, I’ll just keep her there. 

The streets are dimly lit and quiet now that everyone has gone home; I watch as a few snowflakes start to fall. I suck in a deep breath, letting it slowly leave my body, trying to release some of the anxiety, but the only thing I can do is look up at the moon and think, please come home, Charlotte. 

Sliding my phone back into my pocket, I stare down at my shoes for a moment, and then I hear footsteps. I let out a little breath before I looked over, biting the inside of my lip. 

“Hi.”

“Hey, you.” 

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Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Five

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[sl-newsie]

American Woman (Thomas Shelby x American OC) Ch. 52: You Can't Buy Integrity

Masterlist: https://www.tumblr.com/sl-newsie/739551758747090944/american-woman-thomas-shelby-x-american-oc?source=share

When I drive back to Watery Lane I find Finn waving at me from the window. He opens the door just as fat raindrops start splattering the windshield. So much for a pretty winter snowfall.

I sprint through the doorway and shake off the cold water. “Everything alright, Finn?”

“Yeah. Everything’s been quiet. The little tyke’s been asleep for an hour. How was the meeting?” I give him a frustrated, helpless glare and he gets the message. “Well, duty calls. ‘M supposed to keep watch tonight.”

I gawk at Finn as he prepares to depart. “In the rain?”

“Even in the rain,” he jokes lightly and shuts the door.

Same cold, quiet house. Same gripping uncertainty. And then my overthinking mind asks the question: am I really going to stay here once all of this is over? Yes, this is still my house. But is this emptiness what I’m going to be coming back to every day? 

I shake the thought away and creep down the hall to Thomas’ room. Finn’s right. Charlie's asleep.

The thread of light escaping from the cracked door causes Charlie to stir. “Veena?”

“It’s me, Charlie,” I call gently. “Go back to sleep.”

“Okay.”

I close the door and retreat to the kitchen. This is what I need. Something to occupy myself with. Maybe I’ll make soup… The kind John liked. Jesus, I know death is supposed to happen to everyone but does it have to change everything? I can’t even tell if Thomas is grieving. Life feels so different than a whole year ago-

Thud.

My head perks up to see Thomas come through the back door, soaking wet from the rain. He’s calmed down in the past hour but still can’t shake that look of constant worry.

“Just stopping to check on Charlie,” he says, looking between me and the carrots I’m prepping.

“He’s sleeping,” I reply simply and continue chopping as he goes to check on his son. “Where was Arthur?”

“The factory. Two Italians tried to kill him… So he killed them. Now there’s 13 left.”

How unlucky. 

“Arthur’s alright?”

Thomas nods. “They didn’t hurt him.”

I let out a sigh. “That doesn’t mean he has nothing to say. He- Where are you going now?”

He’s already leaving? Is there something so important that Thomas can’t spend a night in? Or was it something I said?

Thomas’ crystal eyes find mine with a look that tells me he’s holding something back. “Union business.”

With that he heads for the front door and I hear it slam. So here I am again. Alone. Expected to wait and believe that everything is under control. Well… I’m getting tired of this. 

Bam!

What in Heaven? Can I have one peaceful morning in Birmingham?! That noise is all too familiar. It’s a gunshot. I look out the window and see Finn and Thomas at Arthur’s door down the street. He must have fired the bullet. The bullet for Changretta. Either Linda was very convincing or God Himself spoke up.

And it woke up Charlie too.

“What happened?” The small boy cries and runs over to wrap his arms around my legs, hiding his face in my skirt.

“Shh. ‘S okay, Charlie,” I murmur and rub his back, looking out the window to see Thomas and Finn walking over. “It’s just Uncle Arthur having a hard time. Here comes your vader.”

“Vader?” Charlie asks, now much calmer.

“It’s Dutch. It means daddy.”

“Oh. Okay.”

The door opens and the two brothers walk in. Thomas sees us waiting and makes a beeline to pick up his son.

“Did you hear the loud bang, Charlie? Sorry about that.”

“That’s okay, vader.”

Oh no.

Thomas immediately whips his head to look at me in disbelief. “What did he just say?”

My jaw drops and I freeze. “I- Um, he just asked about-”

“So you’re picking up Dutch now, eh?” Thomas turns back to Charlie. “Did Verena tell you about her family?”

The innocent boy shakes his head. “No. She said a funny word.”

“Ah.” 

Thomas nods in understanding and sets him down, allowing Charlie to scamper off to play with a toy ball. Finn and I exchange uneasy looks. How does Thomas feel about his son calling him by a term in my dialect?

“I’m sorry, it slipped out and he started asking. I’ll try to remember-”

“What’s the problem?” Thomas asks, confused. “We speak Rukka. Why should you be required to keep your own heritage silenced?”

I- I can’t speak. My, that’s… Actually very sweet. Definitely not the strict rules of speaking English back home. He doesn’t mind that his son is catching on to my culture. 

“As I was saying, Finn, you’re in charge today. Arthur’s taking a day off.”

Finn looks as if Thomas just asked him to jump off a cliff. “Y-You’re sure?”

Thomas merely nods and goes off to his room. This is happening? Wow. Finn’s really rising up through the ranks.

“It is close to your birthday, after all. You’re growing up,” I remark warmly as we start heading to the office.

Finn chuckles and nervously rubs his neck. “I guess so… Oh! By the way, that new guy Bonnie wanted me to tell you there’s no word of your family being harmed.”

So Bonnie kept his word. He’s keeping a watch over my family too.

I close my eyes and let out a deep breath. “Good. Good, good… At least he has the kindness to do that.”

Next to me I hear Finn snicker. “You like him?”

“What are you talking about?”

Suddenly Finn halts and puts an arm across me to keep me from walking further. “Verena, you can’t keep putting yourself off just ‘cause Tommy’s too daft to say he loves you. You are more than capable of finding a man who will treat you right.” He gets a nervous look as if I’m about to punch him. “Maybe get married? I know you don’t want to hear this from your parents but maybe listen to a friend, eh?”

I roll my eyes and stubbornly shove past him. “Thomas does not love me and I am not in the market to get married right now.”

Finn groans. “I don’t mean you marry a bloke after one week! What I mean is that there are other men out there besides my stubborn brother.”

“Yes. And right now there is also a group of men trying to kill me and your family. So let’s focus on the task at hand, hm?”

The young Shelby doesn’t argue. He wants to say more but knows better than to keep poking me. We walk the rest of the way in silence, but my mind is far from quiet. Is he right? How much longer am I supposed to keep up with this? I haven’t even been on a solo assignment for my position as head of foreign relations. Part of me thinks this is all a cruel trick of Thomas’ to see how long I’ll stick around before I realize I’ve wasted my life.

“Here we are. Think I’m ready?” Finn asks nervously as we approach the office.

“Just remember what I’ve taught you and you’ll do fine,” I say encouragingly and pat him on the back.

Finn opens the door for me and we walk in to see that the other women have already begun. Linda’s here too?

“That door’s supposed to be locked until 9 am,” Finn instructs as he inspects the room.

The group of women exchange confused looks. “What are you doing here?”

Finn holds his head proudly. “Thomas says I’m in charge.”

Linda’s eyebrows raise. “You what?”

I smirk. “You heard him.”

“Arthur’s taking the day off, so… Thomas says I’m the boss.”

Um, why are they looking at him like that? Polly looks like a cougar about to pounce on a deer.

“Ladies, let’s give our boss a first day he’ll never forget.”

Finn takes it in stride and rolls his eyes, clearly misjudging her tone. He starts to walk off to the vault but Linda blocks him.

“You’re still a virgin, Finn?” Polly calls nonchalantly. “Don’t be shy about it.”

Finn’s eyes turn wide as moons and I have to keep myself from walking into the wall. Did she just ask-?

“Yes,” Finn mutters, face flushed beet-red.

Linda grins devilishly. “We’ll fix that. Know any good ones, Lizzie?”

Surprisingly, Lizzie is just as against this as I am. “You’re serious? I’m going to see Tommy.”

She grabs her clutch and storms out, leaving me with these scheming women. I really hope she tells Thomas what’s going on!

“There’s one in Aston that’s up for grabs.”

My jaw drops. “Are you hearing yourselves talk? How can you think such things?”

Finn sees Polly reach for the phone, clearly still in the dark. “What’s going on?”

Linda gasps. “Here’s a thought! Why not Verena?”

All the blood drains from my face. “What?!”

She scoffs. “Oh, come on. You’re just as virgin as he is.”

I hold up a warning finger when she tries approaching and try to push Finn away from her. “No. My time will come once I’m married. Finn, please don’t-”

“No no, it’s alright Verena,” he sighs, defeated. “I understand. Guess- Guess this is what a man has to do eventually.”

“But like this? With a woman who is paid to love you? No. I want no part in this. Leave me out of it. Good day.”

I push past Polly and back out into the drenched streets. What kind of demonic pressure is that? Since when is it such a crime to remain a virgin? That certainly is one thing that Thomas will never coax me to believe in. I may stay naïve and alone, but my own statute shall persevere. My soul shall remain untouched.

Later that night my point is proven. Finn stops by to pick up some files and there’s no hiding the distinct look of regret on his face.

“Finn? Do you want to talk about it?” I ask gently and slide him a biscuit.

Finn swallows heavily. “I never want love like that again. It- It was shallow, and meaningless… Why do people do it?”

“Because they think that it might let them find an empty part of themselves,” I sigh and banish my own selfish thoughts. “Making love is God’s gift for marriage, Finn.”

He holds his head in his hands. “She said ‘be a man.’ I am a man.”

“Yes. But you do not need to be hot as a bull to prove it.”

“I’m going to tell Tommy,” Finn decides as he starts walking back to the door.

I can’t stop the pitiful light shining from my eyes. “I’m really sorry, Finn.”

He takes a breath and squinches his eyes shut. “Never change, Verena. Stay exactly as you are.”

One last thought pops up just as he’s about to leave. “Um, has Lizzie- Did she come back to the office?”

Finn thinks for a moment and shakes his head. “Um… No.”

“Oh.”

Don’t overthink, Verena. Don’t worry so much. Thomas knows how much you care through all the work you do. Well, yes, but with him it’s hard to get a read on if any of this will pay off with something other than money. He said to trust him, right? Okay. I can keep trying.

Thankfully Linda is not in attendance today and I’m taking the time to tidy up the office despite some of the secretaries giving me odd glances. I hear the door open and turn around to see a slim, anxious-looking woman wander inside.

I put on a warm smile and walk closer. “Who are you?”

The woman does not smile back. “Mrs. Ross. I’m here to speak to Mr. Shelby.”

There’s something in her eyes. And her hands are shaking. Is that out of sadness, anger, or fear? I’m not sending her in without a subtle warning. 

I motion for one of the Blinders standing guard. “Harry, please show her to his office.”

Hopefully by having a guard escort Mrs. Ross in it will tell Thomas to be cautious. In fact… I know I’ve seen her before. Isn’t that the mother of the son Arthur killed? Why is she here?

Whatever it is, it does not take long. The skittish woman struts back to the door in a matter of minutes. The moment the door closes I head straight for Thomas’ office and find him staring at his desk.

“What’d she want?” I ask bluntly.

“Requested that Arthur shows up to a luncheon to honor her son’s 21st birthday, tomorrow at midday.”

I nod in consideration. “You already know, don’t you?”

Thomas looks up with a look that states bold cleverness. “It’s a trap.”

“It’s a trap,” I repeat with a laid-back tone. “Whatever you’re planning, please tell Arthur to be careful.”

“Finn’s going too.”

Oh. He’s being brought into that part of the gang too? He’s still so young.

“Okay,” I finally answer.

“He’s a man, Verena. ‘S time he got in on the fight too.” Thomas stands up and puts a firm hand over mine. “Whatever you do, stay away from Artillery Square tomorrow. Got that?”

Ask him. Ask him! Ask him how long I’m supposed to wait this out!

“Okay,” I repeat. Damn it!

“Maybe go visit Michael,” he suggests, knowing full well I wouldn’t hesitate to disobey him and run into the fight.

“Yes.” Always another gunfight.

I pull away and walk back into the hallway just as Ada stops over. She drops off the mail and I’m about to follow her to the vault-

“That’s her.”

“Quiet, Cynthia! It’s her.”

The hushed perky voices catch my attention and I discreetly look over to see two of the secretaries whispering, with both of them stopping every few seconds to look up at me.

“Ada, what are they talking about?” I ask openly once we’re out of their sight. Ada starts to say something but then shuts her mouth, rethinking her answer. Her hesitant behavior turns me suspicious and my eyes narrow. “Tell me.”

Ada fidgets with her purse. “There have been rumors.”

I put my hands on my hips. “And?”

“They think you’re with Tommy,” Ada confesses. “Like Lizzie.”

My pulse flares. “I’m…?! Why the Hell would they think that?”

Ada holds up her hands in an attempt to hush me. “He gives you special treatment. Time off, family visits. They’re jealous ‘cause he’s soft on you.”

“And that means I'm a harlot, hm? I do not need to sleep with someone, let alone my boss, to earn something!”

Ada shakes her head. “That’s not good enough for them. They like to gossip.”

I clench my hands and march back the way we just came. “Their tongues will dig their graves. Those who know me best know that I will not stoop so low.”

When I walk back into the lobby the same two secretaries have added a third member to their gossip party, still trying to hide their glances at me.

“That’s her. The American.”

“Is she with Tommy?” 

“Who knows? He doesn’t mind foreign aid. Maybe American sex is what he’s looking for.”

I swear to God I’m about to hurl this typewriter across the floor! All my work, all my integrity, is wasted all because of Lizzie Stark’s incapability to hold any amount of self control!

I stop in front of the group and pound the desk, making them jump in surprise. “If you are going to gossip, it’s usually more effective if the victim is out of earshot. I am not sleeping with Mr. Shelby. Not that I care what you believe. You’re too preoccupied with mind-numbing chatter to actually think. Good day.”

They make no move to contradict me. The three girls are too shocked and embarrassed to speak. I hold my head high as I fetch my tattered coat and stride out with dignity that no one can ever take away from me.

@meadows5

[marvel-starwarsfangirl]

Stranger Things S5 Title Theories

Alright guys, I know that we were all expecting (and hoping for) a teaser. Believe, I wish we got one as well and we've been very patient. That being said, the episode titles do offer us some information about what could happen. Let's break it down (to the best of our abilities)!

The Crawl: Based on the script tease from the Duffers, I imagine we open with Will in the Upside Down and we learn more about how he survived. I can also see the episode focusing on much of the fallout from the ending of S4 and what Hawkins post Vecna looks like. Similar to the final season of the Bad Batch from Star Wars, we could see a time skip half way through this episode, showing just how much as changed since Vecna.

The Vanishing of ******: Holly Wheeler is the top contender for the blurred out name. Whether or not it's her, I have two theories. Theory number 1 is that the missing person is taken by Vecna into the Upside Down. Vecna does tell Nancy that he will kill her family and I can see him kidnapping someone close to her in order to mess with her. My other theory is that maybe they're still testing kids in a place like the lab. This one is more of a stretch. But we don't know what Linda Hamilton's role is yet.

The Turnbow Trap: While I'm not sure about this one, I do think this will be a mostly planning and action heavy episode. The kids do like setting traps and if they can get Vecna (or any other monster) in it, then it could be considered successful. Turnbow does sound like the name of something, family or company, so the trap is definitely connected to it somehow.

Sorcerer: My first thought was a Will-centric episode because Will dressed up as a wizard when he used his DnD alias "Will the Wise." It would be nice to explore his connection to the Upside Down more, especially now that Vecna is involved. Vecna and Will never met, but they do have some similarities with the biggest one being the Mindflayer. The First Shadow reveals that Henry was influenced by the Mindflayer, turning him into the evil man we know today. Will similarly was controlled by the Mindflayer. My other theory is that this episode is about Eleven. El is dubbed at the Party's mage, which is a spellcaster. It's highly possible we could see her try and go up against Vecna again only to disastrous results. What do you guys think?

Shock Jock: A shock jock is "a disc jockey on a talk-radio show who expresses opinions in a deliberately offensive or provocative way." Throughout the photos we'v been given, there's been a recurrent theme of the kids going to a radio building (?). I definitely think that the episode could be centered around the town, similar to what happened with Jason in S4.

Escape from Camazotz: This is the episode I'm probably most excited for. There are two theories I have regarding Camazotz. Camazotz refers to a "death bat" in Maya mythology. It symbolizes sacrifice so we could see someone dying to Vecna or another monster of the upside down. However, I personally think that this is episode where Max comes back. Max is currently in a coma right now and there are speculations that her mind is stuck in Vecna's mind lair. Camazotz is the name of the planet home to the malevolent entity the IT in "A Wrinkle in Time." Now, I've only seen the movie, but from what I remember, Camazotz is a strange place with strange people. It doesn't present as this evil looking place. Throughout the story, Meg and her brother Charles Wallace try to find their lost dad, who was imprisoned on Camazotz by the IT. The IT, an incredibly manipulative being, tries to stop our heroes and make them succumb to its will. Swinging back to Stranger Things, what if we see Max escaping from Vecna's mind lair. Vecna is like the IT and his lair is Camazotz. We could see El trying to go into her mind again and pulling her to safety. Or... it could just be the heroes fighting off some bat creature from the Upside Down, but I prefer the Max theory.

The Bridge: My first thought outside a literal bridge is a bridge between worlds. Maybe the heroes try and close the gap that currently connects the Upside Down to our world. And by doing so, traps Vecna here. If he can't go back and hide in the Upside Down, then maybe the heroes have a chance at beating him.

Rightside Up: The final battle between good and evil for our heroes of Hawkins. Everything is tested and there will be casualties. However, our heroes will come out triumphant in the end, with the threat of the Upside Down being gone permanently.

Anyways, those are my thoughts. What do you think will happen? I'd love to hear your theories and ideas!

[pie-of-flames]

11 for the writing prompt!

Thank you so much for the request! I didn't know if I'd get any! This turned into something longer than a drabble.

11 Warm Soup and Fresh Bread (from January prompts here)

The trees in Central Park were stark black against the snow as Paul, laden with packages, emerged from a taxi on 72nd Street. He pulled his scarf close against the wind gusting down the broad avenue, pelting snow in his face. There was still a Christmas tree in the high arched entryway to John’s building, he noticed, as the doorman tipped his hat toward him. 

“Good afternoon, Mr. McCartney,” the man murmured, unimpressed by a world-famous rock star, probably since John and Yoko owned half the building. “I’ll let them know you’re coming.”

Paul nodded and hurried inside to escape from the blowing snow. In a burst of optimistic nostalgia, Paul had decided to stop in at the Dakota first thing, even before checking into his hotel. Something about the harsh winter weather, maybe a bit of loneliness from leaving Linda and the kids back in the UK, or perhaps the holidays stirring up wistful feelings of missing John. In any case, something had propelled him to the Upper West Side directly from JFK and he’d hurriedly picked up some gifts on the way so he wouldn’t arrive empty-handed. 

Despite his sense of purpose, Paul felt some trepidation and his heart thudded as the elevator carried him up to John’s place. John might not even be here. Might not even want to see Paul, what with his ever-fickle moods. Paul tried to throw off his nervousness. It was just John, wasn’t it? The key was mentally erasing the last few years like they never happened. Good luck with that, he thought.

A lackey opened the door and ushered Paul into the blinding white living room as he took the packages from him. Pulse racing, Paul glanced around, looking for signs of John or Yoko. “Is, uh, John here?”

“I’ll let him know you’re here,” the lackey said, then disappeared into the apartment. 

When he heard a familiar Liverpool voice, Paul was smoking a desperately needed cigarette, checking out the art and wondering whether the lackey’s failure to mention Yoko meant she wasn’t here.

“What’re you doing here?” Feet bare. John was in a tattered T-shirt and pajama pants. “About to watch me favorite game show.” Smoke floated up from a cigarette in his hand and the sweet, acrid scent of weed emanated from him.

Not exactly welcoming. Paul giggled nervously. “I brought gifts,” he said, as if that would explain his presence. “F.A.O. Schwartz. For Sean.” He peered at John’s eyes behind the granny glasses, trying to figure out if John was on anything else. You never knew.

John glanced at the pile of packages. “Oh, so you did.” He gave Paul a watery smile. “Kind of you.”

They eyed each other warily. Applied themselves energetically to the act of smoking. Putting the cigarette between their lips, sucking and blowing out. There was a familiarity to it, smoking with John, the rhythm soothing.

But Paul’s sense of discomfort remained. “Maybe I should go.” He couldn’t read John at all. This was the worst idea ever. He’d made an appearance, gone through the motions, he could leave now, no harm done.

“No, no, no. Come on, sit.” John sat on the white couch, pulled over a glass ashtray sitting on the coffee table and gestured to an armchair opposite him. 

“Okay.” Paul perched on the edge of the chair, still tense. He tapped ash into a green porcelain ashtray on the side table next to him. Looked out the window at the severe black and white landscape of the park, empty in the inhospitable weather. “Yoko and Sean here?”

John shook his head. “Out on the island. Yoko hates the city during the holidays. Too many people.”

“Ah.” Something in Paul softened and let go, knowing Yoko wasn’t here. “Would’ve liked to have seen Sean. How’s he doing?”

John’s face broke out in a bright smile and Paul’s heart melted. “You should see him, man. He’s amazing. The things he says. Could listen to him all day. Sometimes I do.” John chuckled ruefully.

“Smart, eh?” Maybe he’d stay after all, Paul thought.

They shared a grin. All parents think their kids are the best.

“And adorable,” John added. 

“Of course,” Paul said. “He’s got you for a father.” Oops. That was a bit much. 

John rolled his eyes. “Nothing to do with me.”

“You should send me some pictures some time.” 

John’s gaze shifted away. “Yeah, I should.”

Silence rose again. Puff, blow out; puff, blow out. Now the park wasn’t even visible, the snow falling thickly. John crossed his legs and looked out at what was quickly becoming a blizzard, exhaling a slow stream of smoke. 

Paul smashed out his cigarette, then jumped up and headed toward the window, escaping the feeble conversation. He contemplated the flurries, still wondering if this had been a good idea. After a moment, there was a brief touch on his shoulder, then John’s warm presence closed in right behind him. Paul inhaled sharply and tried to relax.

“Getting bad out there,” John said. 

“Yeah. Glad my plane got in before it got worse.” 

“You came from the airport?” John said with a note of incredulity. 

Paul flushed, glad he wasn’t facing John. “Yeah. Spur of the moment.” 

“Linda and the kids?”

“Back home. Linda said she needed a break from traveling and I had to deal with some business here.”

“Huh.” John stepped up next to Paul. Both continued to stare at the swirling whiteness outside. John rocked on his bare feet. “She let you off the leash, then? Trusts you in the big city?” With a smirk, he knocked his shoulder against Paul’s. 

“Could say the same of you.”

“Oh, Yoko definitely doesn’t trust me,” John said. “She has her ways of keeping tabs on me, don’t ask me how.”

“You okay with that?” Paul asked. “I guess so, you’re here.” 

John’s mouth tightened. “We have our arrangements.”

“The inscrutable Ono Lennons.”

“That’s right, got to keep things mysterious. Don’t want the public to get any ideas about what really goes on here, after all.”

“Just the happy house husband, I hear.” Paul looked askance at John.

“Ain’t it the truth.” John snorted.

Paul wasn’t sure what that meant. It was hard to imagine John being happy, well, at all, much less sitting at home taking care of a toddler all day. “Seriously, are you happy?”

Skirting the question, John said, “Actually, I bake a mean loaf of bread these days. Been perfecting my baking skills.”

Paul burst out laughing. “Are you fucking kidding me?” 

“No, I’m not!” John sounded genuinely offended. “What’s so surprising about that?” 

“Uh, because the most complicated thing I’ve ever seen you make is toast.”

“Turns out homemade bread makes the best toast.” He grabbed Paul’s arm and hauled him away from the window. “I’ll show you.”

As he led Paul to the kitchen, John said, “I’ve had some dough rising all afternoon. You’re just in time for the sublime experience of smelling bread baking. And then eating it!” He flashed Paul a big grin and it had the same effect on Paul that it always did: a surge of warmth in his chest, the feeling that despite everything, all the heartache and disappointments, there was only one John and Paul was damn lucky to have met him.

The kitchen felt much more lived-in than the austere living room, mugs of old tea sitting around, green plants at the window, old cat food in a bowl on the floor. As soon as they entered, Paul was hit with the yeasty scent of bread dough. “I can smell it,” he said.

“Fantastic, right?” John rubbed his hands together. “Make you a cuppa while we wait?”

“Ta.” Paul could feel the tension in his body release.

*

Over the next hour, the apartment gradually become suffused with the homey scent of baking bread, something Paul never would’ve associated with John Lennon. They’d had some tea, then wandered back to the living room when John wanted to play some records for Paul. Paul sifted through the stack and found his most recent album. He pulled it out and showed it to John with a raised eyebrow, his pulse surprisingly elevated.

“Yeah, yeah, you found me out, I’ve been listening to it,” John admitted.

“So you don’t hate it?”

John sighed and adopted a put-upon look. “Some of the songs aren’t half bad.”

Internally, Paul yelled, “YES.” Outwardly, he said, “Huh,” in a noncommittal fashion and put the record back in the pile. He’d take what he could get.

As they listened and chatted about the music, their conversation got more animated. It felt like old times as they got excited about certain tracks. “The bass line on that one…did you hear what he did? That little lick at the end of the phrase,” Paul said. “Need to remember that.”

“Yeah, but what about the rhythm in the piano? And when the chorus comes, it’s like POW, hits you right in the chest,” John replied. “That chord change…”

“…on the bridge,” Paul finished.

“Yeah, that one! Love it.”

*

A little while later, John pulled the bread out of the oven and inspected it for doneness. “Perfect,” he pronounced and set it on a rack to cool.

Paul picked up an oven mitt. “World’s Best Dad?” he read out loud. 

John’s pale complexion took on a bit more color. “Birthday gift from Yoko. Kind of a joke.”

“Uh huh.”

“Anyway, moving on…” John rummaged in the refrigerator. “Got something to show you.” He grabbed some ingredients. Paul noticed a block of tofu and a tub of miso.

“Bestill my heart. Are you going to make fucking miso soup? You, John Lennon?” Paul put his hand on his chest as if he were having a heart attack.

“Shut up, you,” John said mildly, as he pulled out a cutting board and started preparing the ingredients. “I’m a proper househusband, I am. Don’t you believe the papers?” He winked at Paul.

“Oh right, of course.” They both knew the papers were rarely accurate when reporting anything about the Beatles. Especially when it was a Beatle himself putting out the BS. John and Yoko had been doing that for years. Which was why Paul never knew what was really going on with him. This was a unicorn moment, getting to spend so much time alone with John. Paul had been a bit down over the holidays, probably drinking too much, but now he could feel the darkness lifting a bit. 

*

“You’re right. Toast from homemade bread is something else,” Paul said when they finally got to eat the bread, slathering a slice with butter and taking a big bite.

“Told you,” John said through a mouthful of toast.

Bowls of steaming, golden miso soup were laid in front of them, garnished with delicate bits of tofu and seaweed that Mr. John Lennon had cut up himself. The fragrant loaf of wholemeal bread was on a board, several slices cut and ready to devour. They’d moved on to beer, their glasses on the table half drunk. 

Paul looked at the spread and said, “You know what? You’re not a half-bad househusband, after all.” He smiled at John, filled with a sense of well-being. “Thanks. Everything’s delicious.”

John beamed at him. Then he wiped a pretend tear from his eye. “Gosh, Mr. McCartney, I never thought I’d hear you say that.” He batted his eyes. “I guess the saying is true, the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.”

Paul threw the World’s Best Dad mitt at him. Then he picked it up from where it had fallen next to John’s chair and as he got up, he whispered into John’s ear, “You always had my heart, silly bugger.” With the mitt, he swept his hand over John’s head as John stared at him, mouth slightly open. Then he ruffled John’s hair like he didn’t mean it, as if he could take back the words, breaking the moment.

Part 2 here

[bloodgulchblog]

Master Chief getting some icecream :]

Linda brings back the order. They didn't have to discuss it amongst themselves; the team’s preferences for ice cream have been a settled matter for years and variation is rare. There has been only one change recently, but she knows that. They all do. Smooth running, no problems, on and off mission.

Except this time, John notices that she has too many cones. She doesn't make eye contact with him, shuffling one off to Fred and another to Kelly. They don't look at John either, but they're both Spartans. They're too alert to fail to notice, and they're not surprised and checking his reaction.

John is being ganged up on.

Linda approaches him, her expression composed and serene, and offers him the chocolate ice cream. Now it's a standoff. She waits while her own order, something she actually (probably?) wants softens in the sun. Linda is their sniper, a consummate ambush hunter without peer, the best there is at waiting. He can keep up this standoff, make her wait while ice cream drips down both her hands and turns this moment into more of a spectacle than it already is. (Spartans in the wild, doing things that people do! Look and see!) It won't matter to her. Linda can wait through any discomfort, any indignity, any condition because the way Linda wins is always by enduring and outlasting when all else is lost.

If John makes her wait, makes a wasteful mess of two ice cream cones and Linda’s hands and the watchful nonwatching Fred and Kelly are staunchly pretending they're not doing, Linda wins in the end.

When John reaches out and takes the cone a chocolate drip finds and traces the creases of his fingers, the wafer is badly softened around the top rim, and Linda also wins.

John chases the escaping melt trails and brings the ice cream back under control, quick and efficient, and accepts. Linda sits in the gap between him and Fred and does the same. She says nothing, needs to say nothing, and remains as placid and cool as if this were true.

But on the other side of her, Fred smiles warily, maybe a little hopefully, behind the strawberry.

“Nobody's talking. Must be good,” says Kelly.

“Mm,” John answers her.

Alright. They made a point. At least if he has to lose, has to admit for a while that the self denial means nothing and fixes none of his problems, this kind of losing does taste pretty good.

[ultralightpoe]

hi ultra:D can I please request a song for an Eddie Munson imagine? I was thinking maybe ‘Time’ by NF? if it’s not a song you are comfortable with or if you don’t write for his character - disregard this with no worries!:) glad to have you back and posting!! I hope you are well darling

Time - Eddie Munson

Authors Note: AN EDDIE REQUEST! YES! I HAVE NEVER HAD AN EDDIE REQUEST

Warnings: Angst, trauma, depression Eddie is a massive dickkkkkkkkkkk

Word Count: 2436

Description: Eddie can't ever seem to open up to you.

Enjoy!

Even if we both break down tonight

And you say you hate me, and we go to bed angry

I know everything will be alright

I'll be here waiting, I promise I'm changing

I just need

Eddie woke up on the rug of the apartment living room floor, eyes stinging from the crying and throat dry from the night of yelling that had taken place. It took him a moment to regain himself, picking himself up to look around the apartment, a hopeful feeling in his chest that you would be in the room and you hadn’t actually left. 

No such luck, you were nowhere in sight. 

A dull ache in his chest to match the one in his head caused by a hangover, the chest was due to heartbreak. He was sure of it. 

Trudging through the hall to get to the kitchen and find the bottle of Advil you always restocked. A harsh curse escaped him when he stepped on a piece of glass, pulling his foot up to hop away from the shattered bottles on the tile of the floor. 

“Jesus fuc-”

“Eddie?” Linda, your neighbor, calls before knocking on the door. 

“Yeah! Just um- one sec!”

A little time to show you I'm worth it

I know that I can be a difficult person

I'm a stress case, drive you up the wall when I'm workin'

Actually, I'm probably worse when I'm not, you don't deserve it

Make you nervous 'cause you know I'ma break soon

Every time I do, I say somethin' that hurts you

Actin' like I'm gone, but we both in the same room

I don't like to be wrong, which I know you relate to

And I know I make you feel like you're at the end of your rope

—-------------------------

He had come home drunk, four hours after telling you he was going out for spaghetti noodles, and you were waiting by the front door with your arms crossed and lips sneered. There were frown lines forming on your face and your hair was all out of place. 

“Please don’t star-” Eddie whines, using the wall to walk to the couch, woozy and halfway gone. “Always with the nagging.”

“Nagging?” You laugh dryly, following him to the living room. Watching as he lays on the couch and you stay standing. “Enough. Enough of this.”

“Enough of what?” He laughs, acting incredulous. 

“Eds, you said you were going out to get spaghetti noodles for our dinner and you stumbled in four hours later drunk as a skunk.” You seethe, reaching a hand to snap at him back awake. “This is a problem-”

“You don’t understand-”

“And here we go with the ‘you don’t understand’ bullshit. ‘Y/n I’ve seen things you wouldn’t believe. I nearly lost my life. I can’t talk about it but it was so traumatic-’ I’m so sic”

“Are you mocking me right now?” He snaps, sitting up on the couch to glare at you. “Fuck you Y/n.”

“No FUCK YOU!” The first yell of the night, and you were expecting it to be the last as you stormed off down the hall. Normally he would give up and stay on the couch, but tonight seemed to be a good night to fight. 

“HEY! GET BACK HERE!” He shouts, following you down the hall just in time to see you snatch a bag from the closet and start filling it with clothes. “What the fuck are you doing?”

“I’m leaving.”

“Leaving?” 

“LEAVING. Packing.” You reiterate, sparing him a side eye right as he lunges forward to try and snatch the bag. You keep a firm grasp on it and for a moment you both are wrestling over the bag. “I am tired. Eddie, I am so tired of this.”

“Tired of what?!” He snaps, finally pulling the bag from your grasp. 

“I am wasting my life on you!” You sob, the tears you had been fighting all night finally releasing. “I get it, you went through something terrible, and I am sorry I mocked it tonight because that is completely fucked up. But Eds you can’t do this. You can’t do this to me.”

“Do what to you?” He sneers. “I’m sorry Y/n, is my pain hurting you?!”

“IT IS! YOU!  THE SECRETS AND THE DRINKING!”

“WHAT FUCKING SECRETS?!”

“EDS I NEVER MEET YOUR FRIENDS! YOU NEVER LET ME MEET THEM AND YOU NEVER SPEAK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED!”

“BECAUSE IT’S NONE. OF. YOUR. FUCKING. BUSINESS!” His face is beet red now, hair swinging wildly as you stare at him in shock. The silence of the room makes his heart start racing rapidly. 

“Then why am I here?” You ask softly, shoulders slumping.  He stares for a moment before walking out of the room, your bag still in hand. 

That's when I look at you and tell you I'd be better alone

Just the pride talkin', isn't it? 'Cause both of us know

I'm the definition of "wreck" if you look into my soul

Comes out the most when I feel I'm in a vulnerable place

Made a lot of mistakes I wish I knew how to erase

When I'm afraid, might get distant and I push you away

But no matter the case, I'ma do whatever it takes even if

The older woman is smiling softly when he opens the door, the overly blushed cheeks round and puffy as her teeth flash. “Oh hello Edward dear.”

“Morning.” He nods, clearing his throat as he tries to stand straighter and seem normal. “What can I do for you?”

“Oh well, I- uhm, well while you usually…..sleep in in the mornings Y/n comes over and makes some breakfast with me and last night I heard some yelling and she didn’t come by this morning-”

“I have no clue where she is.” Eddie interrupts, a harsh wave of panic filling his body as he realizes he had no clue where you were. “But I will send her over when she comes back.”

“Oh….okay.” She nods, walking away before he can say anything else, leaving him standing there, finally coming to terms with it. 

How long had you been going to breakfast with the neighbor when he slept in hungover? How had he not known you were that close with your neighbor? How much was he missing? How much did he not know about you? How much had he hurt you?

Even if we both break down tonight

And you say you hate me, and we go to bed angry

I know everything will be alright

I'll be here waiting, I promise I'm changing

I just need

—-----------

Although everything in you screams to just fall into bed and forget it you follow him down the hall anyways, watching as he throws your bag on the living room floor before marching into the kitchen and swinging the fridge door open. 

Some of the magnets fall, a glass one snapping when it hits the floor, and you watch as Eddie reaches a ringed hand to snatch the pack of beer he had in the fridge. 

“What are you doin-” You’re cut off, a scream tearing through you when he lifts his hand up and slams the bottle into the floor. Glass goes flying and beer spraying everywhere, and you cover your face so you don’t get hit. 

“THIS WHAT YOU WANT? HUH?!” He shouts, snatching another bottle from the pack and repeating the action. This time you were not so lucky and a piece of the glass catches your arm, and then everything breaks. 

Your world shatters to bits when the blood starts leaking from the wound, it wasn’t enough to actually hurt, but the idea of it hurt more. The illusion that broke finally left you broken. 

This was not the Eddie you knew. And this was not the Eddie you would stay with. 

Leaving him to have his fun breaking bottles you go and snatch your bag from where he threw it and watch from a safe distance as he breaks the last bottle. 

When he is done he looks at you and your face is hot from the tears. “I hate you.”

“I hate you too.” He laughs. 

“I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HATE YOU!” You scream, a cracking feeling in your chest as you make your way to the door. “You’re better off alone-”

“I AM BETTER OFF ALONE! WITHOUT YOUR ANNOYING FUCKING SELF ALWAYS NEAR ME!” He screams, and you don’t waste your breath on a reply, slamming the door behind you. 

Yeah, way before I bought you the ring

We were fighting back and forth like you were wearin' the thing

Two passionate people not afraid to say what they think

Lead to passionate conversation when it's hard to agree

You know me well, sittin' on the edge of my seat

Lookin' at life, overanalyzin' everything

Always depressed, tryna find a better version of me

Searching for somethin' I know's prolly right in front of my feet

The sickening feeling was not from the hangover, that he was sure, and throwing up would do nothing to fix it for you would still be gone and he would still be alone on the living room floor. 

He had proposed, almost 4 months ago, and he doesn’t remember the last time you both talked about the wedding. Had you even talked about it at all? Or had you known not to waste time on him? 

The phone rings around noon and Eddie launches up to answer, panting a bit as he puts the receiver against his ears. “Y/n?”

“No, Eddie, it’s Dustin.” The voice on the end answers, disappointment filling him at the sound, though he had never been disappointed by Dustin calling before. “Everything good?”

“Oh yeah….yeah man-”

“Are you sure because last we talked you sounded pretty bad.”

“I…. just need time-”

“You say that a lot Eddie. Look, I know I’m just a freshman at Harvard…..one of the best schools EVER, but I think you really need help. Not that my opinion matters, just a straight A HARVARD student and all……”

“I don’t want to talk about-”

“How about therapy?”

“Dustin I really-”

“Steve is in therapy. And Nancy and robin, max, lucas, will,-”

“Got it. I got it. Thanks.” Before his friend could respond he hung up and lay back down, closing his eyes to stop the tears. Jesus, he had really messed things up. 

Stubborn as me? Maybe not, but you're close to it

Got a lot of issues, I'm tryin' to work through 'em

Going to therapy for you's somethin' that's worth doin'

When I know you been there for me through all of my worst moments

And I know it hurts knowing that I carry this weight on my chest

Making it difficult for me to open up and connect

Lot of regrets, I apologize for all of the stress

That's not what I meant to do, you know I love you to death even if-

You didn’t come back for a few days, but Eddie was hopeful that you would considering you needed the rest of your things. 

So he busied himself, cleaning and cleaning and more cleaning. Anytime he wanted a drink he went and laid down, or stared at the picture of you on his nightstand. 

By the time you did come back he had the place completely spotless, and you stopped short when you saw it, and blinked at him where he sat on the couch. 

He was terrified to move, terrified that if he moved you would leave and he would never see you again. So he sat still, muscles tense, as he blinked at you while you blink at him. “I…….”

Just as he expected, the peace broke. Within moments you were walking away, heading to the room and he was doomed to follow. 

He stands in the doorway of the room, watching as you unpack the bag which he took as a really good sign. “I….. I don’t even know where to start.”

“Neither do I.” You mutter, rubbing your face as you move to sit on the bed. “I was way out of line for mocking you and-”

“You’re not the one that apologizes here. That’s me. You did nothing wrong-”

“I did-”

“No. I…… I have wasted so much of your time and…….I would like to tell you…..about- I want to talk about it.” 

“About what?”

He takes three easy steps across the floor and sits on the bed with you, pulling his sleeve up to show some of the scars. You knew they were worse on his stomach and he seemed just fine with showing you the arm at the moment. “This is gonna sound absolutely insane……”

Even if we both break down tonight

And you say you hate me, and we go to bed angry

I know everything will be alright

I'll be here waiting, I promise I'm changing

I just need

Time (oh)

I, I need time (oh, oh)

I just need time (oh)

I, I need time (oh)

Time (oh), time (oh)

I just need time (oh)

I, I need time (oh, oh)

I just need time (oh)

I, I need time (oh)

Time (oh), time (oh)

You were waiting outside the therapist office, smacking your gum harshly in a slight attempt to amuse yourself as you waited for Eddie in his session. 

You had packed a book and snacks, but the book ended up boring you and the snacks were long gone so you had taken to hanging your feet out the window to catch them in the sunlight as the radio played some crappy tune. 

You hum, terribly since you had never heard the song, and closed your eyes. This was the new normal, once a week you would hang out in Eddie's van as he spent time with a therapist and after that you would go get dinner together. And you loved it. 

A scream rips from you when something touches the bottom of your foot and you sit up quickly to reveal the face of Eddie. He laughs, leaning through the window to kiss you before slapping your calf lightly. 

“Okay, let’s go.” He smiles, rushing around to his side and hopping in. You smile, lifting your head until he is comfortable then laying it on his lap. “Anyone ever told you how gorgeous you are?”

“Be serious.” You blush, reaching a hand up to flick him. 

“I am serious, baby. Dead serious. Dead sober.”

“It just takes time.”

[wanderingmind867]

I already have my Batman Season Four ideas planned out to an oddly precise degree, right? Well, I still have more ideas that I can't bring myself to get rid of. So I'm going to do a Batman Season Three and a Half. Here I'll adapt some of the few comics I like from the Batman '66 comic book, and maybe i'll add a few minor 50s and 60s villians I wish had been on Batman '66. So without further delay, here's my Batman 1966 Season Three and a Half ideas (now revised to include two or three extra stories):

Episodes 1 and 2: A two parter based on the events of the Batman '66 Comic, Issue #1. A story involving The Riddler (Frank Gorshin) and Catwoman (Julie Newmar).

Episodes 3 and 4: An adaptation of the Lead Story in Batman '66 #2. A story featuring The Penguin (Burgess Meredith) and Mister Freeze (either George Sanders or Eli Wallach). They team up, only to get busted by the dynamic duo!

Episodes 5 and 6: Just the first story of Issue #3 of Batman '66 in it's entirety. Joker (Cesar Romero) stars, as does The Red Hood/Professor Overbeck (played by Leonid Kinsky).

Episodes 7 and 8: An adaptation of the second story in Batman '66 #3 (but an adaptation that's longer and more fleshed out). Egghead escapes from jail, and begins plotting to defeat Batman and Robin once again. To do this, he decides to conquer the skies with a gigantic dirigible of his own design! Egghead eventually captures the dynamic duo and drops them from his airship, to face the treacherous earth lying below. But due to sheer arrogance on his part, he'd forgotten to remove their utility belts.

So Batman and Robin successfully use their utility belts to survive the fall. They then fake their deaths, and prepare to snare Egghead and his gang within a trap of their own…

Episode 9: Batman is all alone on this case. He goes to the theater with a new love interest of his (and an old friend, too), one Linda Page. They've gone to see a benefit performance being put on by Chandell and The Siren, two supposedly redeemed ex-cons. But while Chandell really has gone straight, The Siren has done anything but. She uses this performance to hypnotize her audience, and then she tries to steal everything from people.

But Bruce manages to get away during the commotion, and he changes to Batman! But The Siren has learned some new tricks since last we saw her. Namely, she's learned how to summon hallucinations with her singing. So while Batman is immobilized by her strange hallucinations, Linda Page comes to the rescue and saves him from The Siren. Then she's sent back to jail, and Chandell is free to continue his performance.

But watching from the audience was that famous european criminal known as the Sandman, and he's most displeased that his newest assistant (The Siren) failed so utterly. He'd increased her powers by adding his dream sand to her arsenal, but she still failed! In his eyes, truly an unforgivable sin.

Episodes 10 and 11: Batman and Robin learn of how the Queen's Guard in England was robbed of all of their hats, and they realize that the Mad Hatter is clearly up to something. So with Alfred as their guide, Bruce and Dick travel to jolly old london town. While there, they end up having to confront The Mad Hatter, who really was behind all the thefts. He invades the Tower of London and steals the Crown Jewels.

But due to Batman's peerless reputation (even across the pond in the UK), Batman and Robin successfully manage to stop The Mad Hatter from getting away with the Crown Jewels. And then the good people of Scotland Yard haul the Hatter away, to serve out his full term in a London jail cell.

Episode 12: A more elaborate retelling of the second story in Batman '66 #4, Batman and Robin are still in England (being honoured for their victory against The Mad Hatter). But then Batman recalls an odd detail regarding the chiming of clock bells during their fight against The Mad Hatter. Realizing The Hatter may have had an accomplice, him and robin rush back to the tower to investigate this mystery.

And inside the clocktower, Batman finds his suspicions confirmed: The Mad Hatter was being aided by The Clock King, who actually turns out to be his brother! And The Clock King is now proceeding with his own seperate scheme to blow up The Tower of London when Big Ben chimes five. But before he can get around to that, Batman and Robin stop him. Both him, and his army of henchmen and clock themed androids.

From there, Clock King is sent to jail to rejoin his brother. And Batman and Robin return to their feast with Scotland Yard, finally able to celebrate the fruits of a victory well won.

Episode 13: An adaptation of the secondary story in Batman '66 #25, wherein Batgirl encounters Catwoman (played by Eartha Kitt) trying to steal the expensive Tiger Topaz. It turns out that crime never stops in Gotham, even while Batman's away (this story takes place concurrently with the saga over in England). So it's Batgirl to the rescue, on one of her many solo adventures.

Episodes 14 and 15: Batman and Robin have returned from their adventure in London, only to now have to deal with The Sandman, that evil super crook from the european continent. Still angry about the failure of The Siren (back in episode 9), The Sandman has now decided to take matters into his own hands. Him and his gang plunder the city, using a new form of sleep sand that can hypnotize people through dreams.

He successfully manages to ensnare and entrance the entire city (including Batgirl), but never once accounts for Batman's powers of lucid dreaming. Batman successfully manages to resist the strange dreams of the sleep sand, and he wakes up in time to free robin and batgirl and defeat the rest of the sandman's gang.

Episodes 16 and 17: A bit of a more dramatic episode, starring a very old Boris Karloff as Basil Karlo. An old man who's angry about the new remakes of his old horror films, Basil Karlo takes up his old costumed identity as Clayface and begins a series of attacks on the studio. When the film comes to Gotham City's annual film festival, Batman and Robin are called in to investigate.

Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson also deal with Aunt Harriet and Linda Page (who both serve on the gotham film festival board).

Episodes 18 and 19: A story dealing with Catwoman, this comic is an adaptation of a story first seen in Batman #122. To summarize that story (by copying from off of the DC wiki):

Catwoman escapes from prison and then threatens three wealthy men with the old superstition about black cats. When the men won't pay her, she steals from them, after placing a black cat in their way. Batman and Robin try to stop her, but Catwoman gets away, using her new vehicle, the Kitty Car. During a second confrontation between the Dynamic Duo and the Catwoman, Robin is captured and taken to Catwoman's hide-out, where he uses his belt-radio to summon Batman. Batman then rescues his partner, but Catwoman flees and is able to jump across a rising drawbridge in her car, escaping once again.

Episodes 20 and 21: Batman and Robin have to deal with The Bookworm, who's come up with a new and decidedly tricky scheme to figure out Batman's secret identity. Although he still fails, Bookworm ends up coming dangerously close to figuring out Batman's secret identity. So dangerously close that one thing becomes perfectly clear: Bookworm may one day actually find out Batman's secret. Of all the rogues, only him and egghead have gotten close to the truth. If either of them should team up one day…

Episodes 22 and 23: The Joker teams up with Louie the Lilac to cultivate flowers that produce laughing gas. They use this to lead a mad crime spree across Gotham, and only gotham's terrific trio can stop them now!

Episodes 24 and 25: Olga, Queen of the Cossacks has returned to Gotham City. Angry on behalf of her partner egghead's failure (back in episodes 7 and 8), Olga has left him. And now she pursues a better choice of husband: Batman himself. Luring Batman and Robin to a large, snowy mountain in great northern reaches of North America, Olga kidnaps Batman and leaves Robin for dead.

Thankfully, Batgirl had been tailing them. So she manages to save Robin, and then the two of them go after Batman. They manage to trail Olga to her lair inside of a mountain, and then they find Batman struggling in the arena against an army of Olga's best men. Robin and Batgirl jump in to lend him a hand, and then our terrific trio end up saving the day and stopping Olga, but not before she successfully steals a kiss from Batman. Knowing our heroes luck, this probably won't be the last time they'll have to deal with this strong-willed cossack queen. She's still determined to win Batman's hand, after all.

Episodes 26 and 27: The Penguin teams up with The Black Widow (Tallulah Bankhead). This is really just an almost completely faithful adaptation of the story from Batman '66 #15, as that's one of the few stories from Batman '66 (the comic) that sounds perfect to me.

Episode 28: A longer and more in depth version of the second story presented in Batman '66 #7. Here's the synopsis of that story from the DC wiki:

The Joker successfully robs a popular game show's jackpot, but bitterly notes only one of his men had actually helped in the getaway. After an evening watching business news, the Clown Prince of Crime is inspired to fire his whole gang except that one henchman. This "downsizing" not only leaves him a bigger share of loot, but also lets him evade Batman and Robin (who have grown used to picking him out of large retinues) at his next heist.

While troubled by the Joker's new efficiency, Batman correctly judges it unsustainable. Indeed, the Joker quickly overworks his one lackey to the point of exhaustion, and their following heist fails miserably against the Dynamic Duo.

Episodes 29 and 30: Batman and Robin meet The Monkees, in a musical crossover involving The Music Meister (Donald O'Connor) and a crime wave framing The Monkees for thefts of many priceless instruments and music trinkets. I chose to have a Monkees crossover here, because that was legitimately the only way I could it fit to introduce The Music Meister into the world of Batman '66.

Episodes 31 and 32: Batman, Robin and Batgirl all end up dealing with the evil villian of Spellbinder, a young bohemian/countercultural artist who's learned that his pop-art can cause people to follow his every command. Now causing a real mess with light and spectacle, the terrific trio have to stop him before he can do any more damage with his hypnotic powers.

I would definitely also have Andy Warhol make a cameo during a wall climbing gag during this episode. Because this episode is all about pop art, and he is the king of that stuff.

Episodes 33 and 34: Tony Randall guest stars as Mister Camera. Mister Camera, the villian who nobody ever expects. His skill with photography makes him second to none in the world of forgery, and he's now come up with a daring way to trick the GCPD into arresting Batman and Robin, while simultaneously promoting himself.

He dresses like a plainclothes businessman, but he'd do things like doctor photos and manipulate the press via his photography. He might hide out in an old, renovated dark room. And he could have henchmen with names like shutterbug, snapshot, etc. I really don't think they could make the old comic design with a tuxedo and giant camera head mask work, but I know that the gimmick of photography and cameras could work for Batman 1966. So Mister Camera is definitely getting more than one apperance.

Episodes 35 and 36: An adaptation of the main story in Batman '66 #7, featuring False Face, a plot where he impersonates Bruce Wayne, and a subsequent showdown at Mount Rushmore between False Face and the dynamic duo!

Episodes 37 and 38: King Tut falls in love with Linda Page when she's working as a nurse at Gotham's penitentiary. He kidnaps her and tries to force her to become his Queen. Batman and Robin have to stop Tut's new plans for domination of Gotham, but in the end Linda Page is frightened away from Gotham City. She moves back to her father's estate in Texas, traumatized by the three or four major crimes she'd been dragged into while living in Gotham.

This is the last time Linda Page serves as any sort of recurring character. She might make two or three more appearances in future seasons, but she's now definitively off the books as a love interest and recurring character for Batman/Bruce Wayne.

Episodes 39 and 40: The Penguin is back with another new fiendish crime spree, all themed around rare and exotic birds. A ornithology exhibition has come to Gotham, and this bird of crime can't help but make a spectacle of himself stealing all the objects. Can Batman and Robin stop him? Or is it too late for our heroes to stop this foul bird of prey?

Episodes 41 and 42: The Riddler is back in town, and he's come to menace Gotham with a scheme involving clues hidden within the daily crossword puzzles at the Gotham Tribunal. Can Batman, Robin and Batgirl successfully solve all of his riddles in time? Or is this curtains for our terrific trio?

Episodes 43 and 44: Catwoman (Julie Newmar) ends up seemingly collaborating with Batman and Robin when another villian frames her for a crime she didn't commit. The villian in question ends up being revealed as a master magician known as The Great Marini. Using his masterful illusions, he manages to frame Batman for all sorts of crimes, and he manages to even successfully convince the GCPD that Batman and Robin are on the outs as useful crime fighters. That's when Batman learns the truth: Catwoman was a double agent all along!

Episode Two of this saga leaves our heroes no better off than they were before, as they're now hunted by the authorities. But they do escape Marini's deathtrap, and they even successfully manage to stop him and Catwoman before they can do too much harm to the city. To be fair: they were already beginning to fight amongst themselves. They were practically sitting ducks for the dynamic duo. But still, this would be the way that season three and a half ends.

[kalyxvfx]

POLICE OFFICER ELLIE

Ellie x fem!reader

Summary: Ellie doesn’t have much time left over for you so you’re confronting her. 

Content: angsty stuff, sweet story

Note: This is my first story so if there’s something not right with it or it doesn’t really make sense at some points feel free to tell me! I’m open for any criticism. I hope you’ll enjoy reading this!

Word count: 743

Another evening where you come home to an empty apartment with the lights off and just silence. Since Ellie got this job, which she worked very hard for, she always comes home very late in the evening or she doesn’t have much time for you anymore. 

You love her, but you get kinda jealous of all the people that get to see her every day for several hours and you know it is a little pathetic but you couldn’t help yourself.

Throwing your bag in the corner next to the dresser, you take off your jacket and shoes. It’s October so it is really cold and rainy out there so you’re very glad that you finally come home after a stressful day at work.

Today a new trainee came to you in the office and you were the one who had to take care of her. She, Linda, always made mistakes that you had to fix afterwards. You could understand her since it was her first day but it was kind of annoying to you.

It is already 9pm so you start to wonder where your precious girlfriend is right now. After a few minutes you decide to call her, but you just hear the voice of her lovely mailbox. 

“She has never been this late” you mumble to yourself. Maybe the day is as stressful for her as for you, you think.

Walking over to the kitchen you start to cook because waiting on Ellie will just drive you crazy or you’ll get frustrated. “Alexa, play “Blank Space” from Taylor swift on a low volume” you say to this little speaker which is standing on the dining room table.

After a while of cooking and enjoying the music in the background, you finally hear a key on the other side of the door.

“Hey babe, I’m home” Ellie says a little bit tired when the door opens. “Hey, how was your day?” You ask while she closes the door behind her and slips out of her shoes. She looks as if she had been run over, or at least like she needs 10 days of sleep. 

Ellie is coming towards you as she replies “Good I guess.” in an exhausted tone. Good I guess? “An interesting answer when you’re away the whole day” You say with a hint of upsetness while she sights and you continue “and couldn’t even call your girlfriend back.”

You know that she probably has much to do at work and maybe it’s unfair to say it like this but you don’t see her that often anyway, and she can’t even call back?

“Okay babe, hear me out-” she tries to say but you cut her off. “No, no hear me out, I don’t get to see you much anyway and I just wanted to have a calm evening with you, eating your favorite dish, watching a movie together and laugh with you, you’ve been promising this to me since forever now” You explain more upset now than before.

Ellie looks at you a little bit disappointed by herself, “I’m so sorry my love, I didn’t know that this is hurting you so much.” She says while she comes to stand by your side, putting her arms around your back from behind. A faint sob escapes you and Ellie instantly knows that this can’t continue like this

“Hey, don’t you cry, we’ll find a solution okay?” She emphasizes, giving you a kiss on your temple. Just as she does, your head feels as light as a feather. You missed this, all of this. “Okay.” you slowly say, placing your hands at Ellies hands at your lower stomach.

“I’ll speak with my boss tomorrow and try to get better work hours. I don’t want you to be so sad. Why haven’t you said something before?” She asks softly, hugging you a little bit tighter now.

Why haven’t you said something to her before? Why did it bother you so much and you haven’t said something? Was it really so hard to say? Maybe, you think, not really able to get an answer out of your head except that all those worries were just ridiculous now that you think of it.

Her reaction was so lovely and that’s why you love her. “I love you” You say, turning your head to her. “I love you too.” She responds with a slight smile as she kisses your lips.

Communication is key.