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Z please? Congratulations! đ
tysm for participating, @emilyhotchner! â¨
OTHER 1K DRABBLES | Read on AO3 Join the celebration by requesting a letter!
letter: Z | prompt: ZZZs | wc: 0.5k cw: 18+, sexual content a/n: there's no excuse for how dirty this is oops
Please do not repost (reblogs welcome) or otherwise claim as your own.
--
Not for the first time, Hotch watches as she sleeps.
In her slumber, Emily stirs and murmurs his name, the lusty sound sending heat through his body to settle at the base of his spine. Hotch wraps his arm around her and presses his lips to her shoulder in instinct, ink black hair tickling his face as he breathes her in deeply.
Her eyes slowly flutter open at the contact. âHi,â she whispers.
âHi, sweetheart.â
âWhat are you still doing up?â
Hotch rubs lazy circles on the smooth skin of her stomach with his thumb, the thin streaks of moonlight trickling into the room enough for him to see her muscles quiver and flex at his touch. âWatching you.â
Emily lets her eyes fall closed again, then sighs contentedly when she burrows deeper into his embrace and feels him half-hard against her lower back. âFeels like you want to do more than just watch.â
He chuckles. âNo, I want to let you sleep,â he returns, though his twitch at the thought of being buried inside her again gives him away.Â
âMmm. Iâd believe you if it werenât for your track record,â she teases. âYouâve always liked waking me up for sex.â
âYouâre just so pliable when youâre sleepy.â He canât help it: he relishes the way her body moves when they are together, how relaxed she is with him in the dead of night. Hotch trails his fingers up her thighs and groans at his discovery. âJesus, Em, youâre soaked. Having a good dream?â
Emily rewards him with a pleased shudder, instinctively rocking against his fingers. âVery much so.â
With a murmured is this okay and her resulting eager nod, he presses into her from behind, grinning against the nape of her neck as she chokes out a little gasp in response. âTell me about it?âÂ
âYou were fucking me after some Bureau event,â she manages eventually, his slow rocking rhythm already taking her apart. âHiked my dress up over my knees and got me off with that brilliant mouth of yours. You were still fully dressed in your suit when I came.âÂ
Hotch replies with a rumble of approval, running his fingers through her hair. âDid you take it off of me?âÂ
âNo.â Her hand finds his between her legs, a wordless request for more pressure that he readily obeys.
âNo?â he whispers, his breath hot against her ear.
âYou wanted to fuck me with it on. So that every time I saw you in it, Iâd remember.â His rhythm stutters at her words and her back bows, hips bucking as his thrusts begin to deepen. âGod, don't stopââ
âYou were right. That was a very good dream.â Hotch crooks his fingers just so then, and buries his face in the juncture of her shoulder as she flies apart. He follows shortly afterward, spilling into her with a groan of her name drawn out like a prayer.
Theyâve cleaned up and resettled when Emily lets out a pleased hum, sated and sleepy.
âThis was even better, though.â
#what tf else was I supposed to do with Z lmao#hotchniss#hotchniss fanfiction#hotchniss fic#hotchniss smut#aaron hotchner#aaron hotchner fanfiction#emily prentiss#emily prentiss fanfiction#criminal minds#criminal minds fanfiction#criminal minds fic#cm#cm fanfiction#aaron hotchner smut#emily prentiss smut#aaron hotchner x emily prentiss#1k celebration#mine*fic
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a look at eddie and chrissy 15 years after high school.
lead with the heart, ainât that the only way?
chapter 1/1
#hellcheer#eddissy#edissy#munningham#eddie x chrissy#chrissy x eddie#eddie munson#chrissy cunningham#mine*fic#happy two years of hellcheer đ
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shades of being lovable
[read on AO3]
T | 5.2k | Chapter 1/3 | Mal/Evie | angst, AU - they donât leave the Isle, introspection, aged-up characters
Content warning for implied/reference child abuse, off-screen animal death
Summary: Itâs the most open secret on the Isle: Evil Queenâs brat is in love with Maleficentâs spawn.
It is whispered behind her back when Grimhilde leaves the salon, it is laughed about roaringly in pubs, and it is scribbled on the desks in the back of Dragon Hall classrooms. Grimhilde loves to pretend that the whole Isle doesnât know because Genevieveâs ⌠thing is more humiliating than any of her other failures. More humiliating than being caught, more humiliating than failing to kill Snow White, more humiliating even than not being as beautiful anymore. But everyone knows it, everyone knows Genevieve is in this gooey, soft, crippling kind of love.
Including Mal.
Mal swears that knowing doesnât affect her. She is still the leader of the most powerful gang on the whole Isle. She takes what she wants and breaks what she canât take. She knows how to keep distance between herself and her underlings. Mal is civil and talks to Evie with enough courtesy that makes it clear that they are not friends and that Malâs words are orders to be followed, not friendly suggestions.
Sometimes, when Mal barks a command with too much force, too much venom, she notices that Jay and Carlos share a glance. Itâs probably worry, it may even be sadness, Mal can never truly tell. The glances weigh on her, make her feel something a villain never should because guilt has never gotten anyone far. She shakes these emotions out of her head, what kind of poisoner wouldnât be able to take some venom?
(She lies. It affects her. Some days she can not bear to look at Evie. She tells herself itâs disgust. In more vulnerable moments, she tells herself itâs not knowing what to do with these misplaced feelings Evie has.
In the past, whenever some poor unfortunate soul would try to make things romantic between them, it was either a weak attempt at manipulation or inappropriate worship. First never worked because Mal doesnât need love, never has and never will, so the promise of it was unappealing. The second was more pitiful. These people had an image of Maleficent the Second, the new Mistress of Darkness in their heads that would shatter if they got too close. She knows that once they discover who she really is, once they look into her heart, they would find nothing to love there. By her motherâs design, Mal is impossible to love.)
Feelings arenât a thing they talk about on the Isle. Any feelings, but especially those. There are few moments for tender-heartedness, deep under the velvet cover of night, where no one can overhear, but Mal is above that. She is the destruction of the free world, there are more important things she can focus on.
So, Mal knows, but she never does anything about it. She doesnât say anything and neither does Evie and it allows things to feel almost normal. Up until Evie gets too flustered or too greedy or tries to be too close to her and Mal gets images of blood-red smiles and yearning eyes burned into her eyelids.
***
Now that her gang is indisputably on top, Mal has a lot of free time. Itâs confusing. She has spent her entire life fighting, nineteen long years a constant battle. It would be a disgusting lie to say that her life is peaceful now (Mal will never know peace, itâs preordained, she is revenge personified) but she finds herself with nothing to do for a few hours every two weeks or so.
âFight or dieâ is the law of the Isle but what is she to do when there is no fight?
All the borders are checked, pirates are staying within their own territory for once, even the Huns are pacified under a new agreement, her own are fed and fine. Mal gets too wired to sleep and too burnt out to draw, so she turns her eyes up.
She likes getting as close to the barrier as she can, without being stuck wrestling the crowd near the bridge. Or trying the sharp teeth of the sea. She scales the side of the only church on the Isle (itâs always empty, save for the old priest and his quiet daughter) and climbs to the very top of the central spire. Perched there, she can reach up and touch the shimmering air of the barrier. Being this close to active magic is calming in a way she canât describe.
Sometimes, Mal notices the priestâs daughter peeking up through an open window. Sheâs tempted, then, to wave at her, to invite someone else to bathe in the warmth of magic. But every time sheâs about to open her mouth, a gravelly voice yells to do some chore or the other and the girl disappears inside with a squeak.
***
Evie fell in love hard and fast.
Her very first day out of banishment, the day after her sixteenth birthday, she caught Malâs attention. She didnât know yet that it was a bad thing, fascinated still with life in relative freedom.
Mal had been cruel then, she knows. Sheâd never hide it, there was nothing to be ashamed of. Fight or die is the only law of the Isle. Genevieve was highly possible competition, bright and dazzling, so Mal did the pragmatic thing and enacted a scheme.
The plan was simple, sheâd even thought it elegant at the time: play nice with Evie, invite her to the full moon howler at de Vilâs place and when Blueberry makes herself the centre of attention, as she certainly will, drop a bucket of animal blood on her. She toyed with the idea of locking her in that bear trap of a closet Cruella has, but it would be too quiet, too easy to miss over the chaos of the howler. She needed a signal, something that let not only Evie but the rest of them remember who the top dog around here was.
Something to knock her down before she could attempt to stand up.
At least thatâs what it was supposed to go like. In no world did Mal imagine that instead of running out covered in tears and blood, Evie would activate her magic. The shield was weak and peppered with holes, but still, the majority of the blood ended up on the floor around Blueberry.
Mal grabbed her arm then and dragged her outside past the crowd. People made way for the pair, sure that she was going to beat Evie up. Hell, even Mal was sure of it.
Yet, when they got to the rickety porch and Mal finally turned face to face with Evie, for some reason, she couldnât find it in herself to scream and call her names. Looking at her bright eyes, the colour of them indescribably red in the fiery light of Hell Hall, at the drops of blood dotting her face and hair, slowly running down, at the hopeful smile stretching her violet lips, Mal could not bring herself to say what she intended to.
Magic, or the sad grains of it that could be accessed under the barrier, was for the strong. Like Mal herself with her fire.
So instead, she found herself asking how reliable Evieâs hold on magic was. She told Mal about how this was the first time her magic got a physical form, about how she brews potions and poisons, about how even the most potent ones never made her sick.
Mal ordered her to join her gang. Evieâs eyes snapped up then, trembling and wet, so full of unfiltered hope and affection and stared at her. Her whole body leaned in and slackened when she accepted. Something about the brightness of her eyes or the happiness of her voice in that moment terrified Mal into almost taking a step back.
***
It is baffling, sometimes, how much love Genevieve has in her heart.
The fountain of it seems endless, she doesnât need to ration it into little portions to be consumed. Evie loves sewing and designing, she loves the kids under their protection, and especially that giggly Tremaine girl, she loves how giddy with fear everyone gets when she brings her apple pie (that she made because she loves their crew). She loves and loves and loves.
She even loves this stupid little rabbit.
Mal and she were in the Dark Forest, foraging for ingredients and Evie kneeled by a big oak tree to cut off some mushrooms when she found it. Itâs a pitiful thing, small and weak, two more from its litter lying on either side of it with their throats ripped out.
âItâs going to die.â Malâs voice is cold and too loud in the darkness of the forest. Evieâs eyes are still on the carcasses and all she does is give a tiny nod.
In retrospect, it was probably a twitch at Malâs tone.
When Mal unsheathes her dagger light must catch on it because, in a second, Evie turns around to face her.
âWhat are you doing?â
âIâm going to kill it.â Like itâs the most obvious thing in the world. Because it is the most obvious thing in the world. The weak can not fight. They do not survive.
Immediately, Evie scoops up the tiny thing and brings it close to her chest. Sheâs shielding it.
âWhat? No!â
âItâs going to die anyways!â Mal angles her dagger toward where the rabbit must be. âGive it to me!â
It makes Evie turn her body away from her, shielding the animal even more.
âNo!â Her eyes are scorching when they meet Malâs.
This defiance makes her recoil physically. How dare she? Over some stupid animal? Malâs free hand shoots out to grab Evieâs shoulder and shake her. âLet me kill it!â
âNo! You canât!â Her eyes stay as steely as before, even as they begin to water. âYou can't!â Even as her voice begins to shake.
Mal brings her dagger even closer. So close, that she can see her own reflection in the cold metal of the blade.
âWhy the hell not, Blueberry?â
âI love it, you canât kill it! You canât! Itâs alive! I love it!â
***
Usually, Mal bites her tongue when Maleficent pushes lessons on her, letting her mother rant, and itâs no different today, even though she is so frustrated, so tired. She doesnât even know what set her mother off this time, but she doesnât bother to speak up. Mal can feel her inner temperature go underworld low and dragon fire high, back and forth, all day, she can feel her skull splitting where her horns should be, she can feel her back muscles moving to accommodate for wings that canât be sprouted, magic produced in her body without an exit, stuck inside her. She feels like half a corpse and half a god.
âFurthermore, Mal, you must not dismiss my advice. I am not saying this out of ill will, I only do this due to your promising nature. I see you have the capability to own this world, to lead the conquering, and to take over after I rule. You are Maleficent Morgana the Second, do you understand?â
Itâs funny. She doesn't even have her own name, her mother never gave her one. She made her fight for each letter tooth and nail but the prize is becoming her mother. All she sees when she looks at her daughter is a twisted reflection of herself, a second chance at achieving promised greatness.
Maleficent takes a sip of her coffee, and though Mal knows it is horribly bitter, she does it calmly. A mirthless smile stretches her thin lips.
âI was like you when I was your age. Ignored my motherâs wisdom, thinking I was oh so mature. But the world is cruel and we must be too. We fight or we die. It forced me to cast my heart aside, practically ripped it out of me, and when I started using my head, I finally started yielding results. I only wish to protect you, like I now realise my mother was trying to protect me way back then. You are my daughter, be better than me, cast emotions aside now, and donât let them cloud your judgement. I truly believe you will be the deliverance of our preordained fate.â
She takes another sip of her coffee and lowers it on the table in a harsh movement. Ceramic hits wood with a boom.
Itâs only the training that stops Mal from flinching at the resonance. Her hearing fluctuates between true faery abilities and the constricting human level, and all the sounds are grating her ears. Not that she hasnât heard this speech many times before. Mal has been a promising child since she was born. She didnât do anything to deserve it, she didnât make any vows, her lips did not form words binding her to divine wickedness. No, her mother, and her mother, and hers, they gave the old prophecy of owning the world to her like an inheritance.
âYes, yes, you will be our deliverance.â
With a content sigh, Maleficent nods once more and leans back into her armchair.
It is as clear a dismissal as she will get, so Mal pulls herself up, feels her bones ready to snap under the weight, and with a small bow turns away from the coffee table. It takes all her willpower to keep her composure. Near the doors, she chances a pause to gather herself once again, and glances at her mother.
She looks frightening. Not like when she would stand over Malâs barely conscious body after leaving a pattern of black and blue all over, no. Not like when she would suggest plans that would put Jay in grave danger just to watch Malâs reaction either. No, this is an ultimately frightening sight.
She looks pathetic. Imprisonment has not been kind to any of them but the inaccessibility of magic has hit the inherently magical beings the harshest. To Mal, her mother looks like she might collapse, fade out on here, never get out of that armchair.
That is the fundamental reason she lets her mother lecture her. She fears her, of course, but she patronises her more now. Mal is already a shining example of never letting her emotions cloud her judgement in battle. She stopped herself before she could grow attached. Built walls even between herself and her General, retreated away from his warmth when he got too close.
So she shrinks, hides more and more of herself in order to not appear threatening to Maleficent. It only makes Mal despise her more and in turn, despise herself.
One day, she promises herself as the flash of pain fades and she closes the doors behind herself. One day she will take a butcherâs knife and cut this umbilical cord.
***
Next Thursday, Mal finds Evie crying in one of the smaller rooms of their lair.
Itâs obvious sheâs crying, even if sheâs turned away from the door, cooped up in a dark corner. Her whole body is shaking silently, tiny little movements arrhythmic, like sheâs fighting the tears.
Mal turns away. She will ignore this moment of foolish vulnerability, maybe send Carlos or Dizzy this way instead. They can be gentle. Mal appreciates kindness only because it shows that their evil has intent, that they inflict hurt on purpose. Gentleness is inside their bones. Hers are hollow.
It is at that moment, when Mal has made up her mind, that Evie notices her.
She always seems to notice Mal.
Their eyes lock. Mal feels glued to the spot. Evieâs eyes sparkle softly in the dim light, her mascara is running down her face in black and blue streaks, and her lipstick is smudged and half bitten off in the middle. She looks magnetic. Evie is beautiful, not despite her harried state, not because of it, just beautiful. Always so beautiful.
âIâm sorry, I-â Evieâs breath stutters as she gulps more air in, âI thought no one would be here.â She looks somewhere behind Mal, not like sheâs trying to gauge if there are people behind her, but like she canât bear to look at her any longer. âYou ca- should go. Iâm- Iâll be fine.â
âDonât say sorry.â Mal comes in and closes the door behind her. It plunges the tiny room into more solid darkness. âItâs weak.â She steps a little closer to Evie.
Evie hastily wipes her face and shakes her head a little. âYes, of course.â She sniffles. It is such a pitiful sound, brittle and barely controlled, Mal wants it to stop. âReally, Mal, you, you donât need to stay, can, you can go.â
It is the most erratic Evieâs speech has ever been. Usually, her words are so measured, itâs weird to hear her stutter. Mal kneels beside her on the dusty floor. There is not much space in the room, it feels stifling, being so close to Evie. She wants to move back, to come closer, to storm out, to crush her in a hug. She settles for leaning back on the balls of her feet and digging her nails into the palms of her hands.
âWell, Iâm here.â What would Carlos do? Shit, what would one of those soft as shit Auradon kids say? Because even though Genevieve is one of the most feared people on the Isle, even though she can dig her nails in wounds just to listen to the screams, she requires this tenderness.
âSo tell me what bullshit made you⌠uh-â
âCry like a baby?â Evie says with a bitter smile.
Mal just hums. That is exactly what she was thinking but it seemed too harsh to say right then. Mal wouldnât kick one of her own while they are lying down.
Another stuttering breath. Genevieve keeps shaking, all those emotions too much for her tiny body. She is taller than Mal, but like this, she looks so small and bursting at the seams with everything.
âRemember last week? We found that baby rabbit?â Her voice is still so soft. âI had to kill it.â More tears gather in the corners of her eyes. They twinkle in the darkness like stars in the sky. âI- My mother, she, ah- I guess she wanted a new fur collar.â With a put upon shrug, she continues: âItâs not even the worst part.â Mal watches her swallow heavily, like it pains her to do so, like she is swallowing glass. âWe, ah, we canât afford to be wasteful here. And, you know, thatâs fine... Well, itâs not fine, Auradon makes us do this and we havenât even done anything but be born! And they can definitely afford to get normal food and clothing and water for us. I mean, have you seen the new castle the Beastâs family is building? ��Secondary summer palaceâ, what bullshit!â
âPrincess, I appreciate anger for those Auradon fuckers as much as the next person but get to the fucking point.â Her tone is always too cold, fuck. Now Evie will think sheâs angry at her. Maybe she is, a little. For making her feel so responsible for her sadness.
âSorry,â she catches herself too late, âMother made me cook him.â
Mal is silent at that, and Evie tries to fill the silence.
âAnd, I knew he was going to die. You were right. He was too weak to survive, he couldnât fight, but, gods above, I never- I didnât think sheâd make me butcher him.â Her voice dissolves into nothingness at the end.
âYou really were in love with that thing, huh?â
Evie freezes up at that, so still, she might be made of marble. She shakes her head after a moment. âI loved it, I was not- I was not in love with it.â Her gaze is trained on the toes of her boots, on the tiny stubborn dot of blood that hasn't washed out. âThatâs different.â
And that, that is the final nail in her coffin. Fuck! Mal already doesnât know what to say, what do you say to a person who is crying? There are no memories in her head to use as an example. The last time she cried, her mother had dangled her light body out of a balcony, telling her not to shame the legacy with something as weak and as human as tears. That did make her stop crying but that is not what Mal is going for with Evie. And she was so stupid to bring up love.
âYou shouldâve let me kill it that day.â
âMaybe.â She doesnât mean it. Evie would not have let her do it.
âYou shouldnât cry so much over it.â
âIâll be fine. You- you donât need to worry about me so much.â She smiles a little, the waterworks finally coming to a stop. It makes Mal feel disgustingly soft, like a rotten apple.
âI wasnât worried. But youâre on my team so itâs my responsibility or whatever.â
âStill.â Thereâs a tiny smile on Evieâs ruined face.
And in that darkness, surrounded by specks of dust and looking at black and blue tear tracks and smudged lipstick, Mal thinks that maybe itâs not such a horrible thing to be loved by Evie. She loves so much so easily, it canât be a terribly huge deal to be a part of the long list.
***
No matter how much her mother snarls in distaste, Mal prefers that her gang is less rigid and the atmosphere is more companionable when they are together. Sometimes, though, when they are being particularly annoying, Mal wonders if her mother is right.
Diego de Vil and his band of musical misfits really donât work hard enough to afford all the distraction and halfway-manic laughter they cause. Fucking freeloaders. Honestly, and she has told them this more than once, they are only here as Carlosâs kin and because their music sets really bring the howlers to the next level.
Theyâre always jamming or giggling in âtheirâ nook of the lair. That, or harassing the other occupiers of the loft.
They make fun of Dizzy for following Evie around everywhere, like a loyal duckling. When Evie furrows her brows and tells them to cut it out, they snicker behind their hands and Ivy starts singing the silly song they wrote just for Dizzy. They âare just kidding, really, Dizzy, you are our dark magician girlâ, after all.
They make fun of Freddie, whenever she decides to come around. Yell something about how matted her hair is, and the twins pop out their perfect clouds of signature de Vil ashen hair to mock her. She just flips them off because they all know that right after she finishes her dealings with Mal, sheâs going to be slithering in the nook and plopping herself on a pillow between Maria de Vilâs feet, letting her work her own kind of magic.
Even Mal is not immune. They make fun of her âbrooding faceâ. They make fun of her short stature. They find a lot to laugh about, but they never push too much, and Mal canât help but think that itâs nice. To be in on a joke.
(She remembers running with Maddy. Itâs silly now but then it felt like a sign that they both had purple hair. It seemed so concrete when she was ten-eleven. And Maddy would run around to make fun of her behind her back, would sabotage Mal on purpose, feed her wrong information just to watch her trip up. Sheâd punch her in the shoulder and say: âCome on, it was just a joke!â and cackle mean-spiritedly.
Maddy never knew the limit. Maddy bleaches her hair obsessively.)
The band joke about a lot of things, and notice every embarrassing reaction, which is why Mal half-expects howling laughter when Evie turns beet red after Mal off-handedly says âAttagirlâ during a sparring session. They donât laugh when Evie rushes to bring Mal some kind of special electro-something water after training. They donât laugh when Evie asks if she can âmove up from her regular loft room? Somewhere closer to you? Not- not in that way, just that rooms get bigger closer to the top and I need space for my brewing!â
They donât laugh when Evie blanches at the sight of Malâs mangled fingers after a nasty fight. They donât laugh when she pulls out some salve and bandages from her thigh holster when she tapes them together ever so carefully and something close to tears shines in her eyes.
They never laugh at her. Mal wishes she didn't know why.
***
Malâs gang may be far less rigid than Maleficentâs armies used to be but if anyone dared to think that Mal was not a demanding leader or, gods forbid, that Mal was soft, they would be proven wrong fairly quickly.
Perfection is expected, achieving more than asked for is expected, and falling short is punished. The closer you are to Mal, the harsher you get burned by her hellfire rage.
Sheâs yelling about the botched chloroform, asking Evie how she can be so stupid and incompetent, how dare she not perform her role in the gang, and give her one valid reason she shouldnât send Evie back into banishment right this moment! And maybe Mal is being harsher than usual but then Evieâs lip stops trembling and her poisonous blood is boiling with anger and she is screaming right back at Mal. Saying that she is âcold-blooded, cruel, a fucking tyrant!â
Mal doesnât stop herself when she swings a punch.
It doesnât land properly. Evie moves away and Mal ends up hitting her shoulder, Evieâs hands on her wrist and elbow, and a moment later Mal is on the cement floor, her breath knocked out, with Evie hovering over her. Sheâs crying. Her mascara is running and her eyes shine brightly and Malâs heart stops.
Itâs like a dam has been broken. Evie tries to calm herself but all her inhales are shaky and all her exhales are ragged, she canât stop the hot tears from rolling down her cheeks and landing on Malâs face and neck. Sheâs still uselessly pounding her fists on Malâs chest, so she catches the witchâs wrists and brings them down.
Mal doesnât want to dislodge her even if her instincts tell her that this is how you get your throat slit. Evie is still shaking on top of her. Mal doesnât know what to say and she canât bear to look at her. She turns her head to the side. Evieâs wrists are burning against her underworld cold hands.
They stay like that for however long it takes for Evie to calm herself. Far too fast for how hard she was sobbing earlier, probably.
âWhy do you do that?â Evieâs voice is hoarse and small but still full of fury.
She feels like sheâs about to fall through the floor.
But Mal is still on the floor and she looks at the place where the wall meets the floor and she realises it wasnât painted very well. âI-â her throat is swollen, âI have to. I need perfection.â
âDonât be so cruel to me,â Evie exhales unsteadily, âyou know, you know that I, you know I-â
âYeah, I know.â
âI wish it counted for something.â
Mal finally turns to look at her. The blue mascara stains on her face look like bruises.
***
Mal climbs the church tower that night.
Her bones creak, weary and tired on the ascent. For a few seconds, she hears the way storm clouds gather under the barrier. The stone is warm under her infernally cold hands.
There are kids on the streets nearby but none of them are hers so she doesnât care. If they are staying the night at the church square, neither do their parents.
The dim lights of the Isle donât reach her here, she is illuminated only by the shimmering of the barrier. If she tries, she can probably even find a star or two through the gaps between the stormy clouds that are anchored on top of the barrier.
She wonders, can he see the barrier down there? Is her father reaching out to touch it too? Is he digging through the dirt, like she is? Does he think of her?
Mal does not think of her father often. Sometimes, she forgets she has a father at all. She is her motherâs daughter so thoroughly, she wouldnât be surprised to find out if even her very bones had âProperty of Maleficentâ carved into them.
But tonight, she wonders about Hades. She knows so little of the man, of the god. She knows that he sits in his catacombs, that he makes that little Facilier runt run his errands, that heâs merciful with her. Mal has only one memory, though it is spotty like the radio transmissions they get on the Isle, inviting imagination to fill in the blanks.
And, like everything about her, Malâs imagination is cruel.
She remembers the day her father left. The cold grey light, the dust particles that floated in the air, the back and forth screaming, and the smell of sulphur that filled their house. She was hiding under the staircase, ready to dart into the closet if her mother decided to take out her frustrations on her.
Then, a vase⌠or a sugar bowl? Something porcelain, anyway, was thrown down and broke into a million tiny sharp pieces at the bottom of the stairs. She remembers having to clean it up later and getting cuts on her chubby fingers.
Her mother screamed something along the lines of âYou are not a god anymore! Go back to hell!â and slammed their bedroom door shut. Mal peeked out from under the staircase, just as the thunderous steps made more dust fall out and float in the air.
This is where it gets fuzzy.
Sometimes, she can only remember him opening the front door, daylight outside too bright for Malâs eyes that were used to the semi-darkness of their house. Hades turned to look at her for a moment, face unreadable, and walked out with a resounding slam of the door.
Sometimes, she remembers more. She remembers that her father noticed her peeking out from under the stairs. He walked up to her, and he doesnât have a face in these memories but she knows he was looking her in the eyes. He asked her if she wanted to come with him, but before she could answer, he sighed and said: âNo, that wonât work. Iâd be tired of you. Iâd be able to bear that if I loved you but you are too much like your mother already. Itâs too late, she taught you well.â And then he turned around and left her life forever.
Sometimes, she entertains the idea of finding him. Marching into the catacombs where he has made a home, holding a knife to his throat, seeing if he bleeds red or golden. The problem is, she will never be able to make him feel her own pain.
And what would that accomplish? He was right.
Mal was an unlovable child and she is an unlovable adult. At least she is rational enough to know it.
Here, in this dark place where no one can hear her, she tips her face to the sky. There is no hope to find the stars but the rain finds her somehow. The droplets are sweet on her lips.
No one sees her cry.
#descendants#descendants fic#mal#evie#malvie#mal x evie#mal daughter of maleficent#evie daughter of the evil queen#mine*#mine*fic
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ok didn't have time to post abt this earlier, but! A lil' Jack scored (Twice!); Wrote fic! for the folk interested <3
#quinnterka#mine*fic#hockey rpf#it's just established relationship and soft PG things in a three by three foot square space but if that's your cuppa then hurrah !
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Stumbled upon this random ship (in a fandom im not active in myself) that has like 150 works on ao3 which are all from just two people gifting each other fics about this pairing back and forth and theyve been doing it for 3 years... i think thats true love probably
#theyre also pretty well written but a bit repetitive i found#good stuff tho#i just think its super cute that these two have been doing this for so long and built up such a collection of fics on their own#very impressive#mine
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Far worse, in my opinion, than the famous âhe wouldnât fucking say thatâ is âhe WOULD fucking say that, as part of his facade, but you seem to think he would mean it genuinelyâ
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Dick (Nightwing) and Jason (Robin) stare at Bruce. One sports pleading eyes, the other a shit eating grin. Thereâs a child between them with black hair and blue eyes.
Bruce, he doesnât know whatâs happening but he doesnât like it: No.
Dick, grinning: Heâs our younger brother now.
Jason, nodding seriously: Youâre not gonna take him from us.
Tim, got kidnapped while taking photos of patrol, just happy to be there: Whereâs the Batcave?
Bruce: what.
Dick, grinning wider: Heâs ours now.
#batman#dc comics#kid!tim#I love those fics#they need to make Nightwing a little more unhinged tho#like I would expect both Jason and Dick to hate each other until they find a common enemy (Bruce)#and annoy the shit out of him#or until they find stalker Timothy Drake following them are met with a bought of brotherly concern so strong they donât even blink an ey#they donât even care when tim accidentally calls them by their civilian name#they just look at each other and kidnap him#Timâs just along for the ride#he gets to swing with them through Gotham (so cool!!) and ride nightwings motorbike!!! and see the batcave!!!#little eight year old Timâs dream come true#tim Drake#Jason Todd#dick Grayson#Robin#Nightwing#bruce wayne#batfamily#batfam#mine
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Teacher: Class, we have a new student joining us today. Danny, could you tell us a little about yourself? Danny, standing up: Ugh, okay. My name is Danny Fenton. I'm from Amity Park, Illinois. I moved to Gotham with my siblings. Teacher: That's lovely, Danny. Do you have any hobbies? Danny: I like to stargaze, but it's tricky here in Gotham to see them. Teacher waiting for more: *Stare* Classroom: *stare* Danny panics as the class stares at him. I also really liked helping Dan with his experiments. Teacher: Who's Dan? Danny: He's my eldest brother. He got a job at Wayne Labs three months ago, so we moved. Classmate: What kind of experiments do you guys do? Danny: Dan's a chemist. He likes to create antidotes to various poisons or toxic substances. Last month, he made the new Anti-Fear Gass Antidote! Classmate: *scoff* Yeah, right, and I'm the tooth fairy Classroom: *laughs* Teacher: Alright, everyone, settle down. Danny, welcome to Gotham, but you should be careful with your fibs. They can be dangerous in this city. Danny: I'm not lying. Teacher: Of course not. Everyone turn to pages three and twelve in your math textbooks- Danny, please sit down. Danny: *sits* It wasn't a lie Damian: I believe you. Danny: Really? Damian: Yes, my Father signs Dan Fenton's paychecks. Danny: Oh, does he work at Wayne Labs, too? Damian: .....In a way. Would you happen to know who I am? Danny: Damian Al Ghul. I heard you tell the teacher you prefer that name. Damian: .....Yes. Your pronunciation of my last is perfect. Most people claim it's too hard. Danny shrugs: If I can learn to pronounce Obi-Wan Kenobi, I can learn how to say your last name. Most people are just rude. Damian, under his breath: Is this the rush Mother felt when she found her Beloved? Danny: What? I'm sorry I didn't catch that Damian: Do not worry about it. Merely know that you belong to me now Danny: Like a friend? Damian:.....In a way. Danny: Cool :D
#dcxdpdabbles#dcxdp crossover#from a fic i never wrote#The Fenton sibling move to gotham#Or more like got flung from their home dimension#Dan is twenty five and became thier legal guardian#Danny is fourteen#Jazz is sixteen#Dani is tweleve#Dead Serious#He does not know Damian is a Wayne#Damian went âYou amuse me. I will make you mineâ#And Danny went âLike a boyfrend or like a slave?ââ
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champagne coast // ln4
pairing:Â lando norris X reader
word count:Â 19k
warnings:Â cursing and alcohol use
includes:Â friends to lovers, summer!lando, clueless reader and lando, pining, fluff, and a little angst
summary:Â when lando and you spend summer break together you don't expect italy to eventually hold such a special place in your heart... or lando and you go on vacation and everyone keeps thinking you're a couple.
playlist for the fic: spotify | apple music
masterlist
âââ ŕźşâŕźť âââ
It was the Monday before the Belgium Grand Prix when Lando asked â what are you doing for summer break?
The sun had started to set over the coast, its golden reflection rippling across the water and onto the balcony of Landoâs Monaco apartment. The same balcony that the two of you currently resided on, choosing to share the wicker couch instead of one of you sitting in one of the empty chairs.
You were sat sideways on the couch with your legs crossed, your view consisting more of Lando than the picturesque sunset over the sea. A cheap bottle of pink moscato, which was your favorite, was sitting on the table where Lando had his feet propped up.
Heâd always complain about how sweet it was, but then drink more of it than you. In all reality, heâd actually grown to love it because of you, but heâd never tell you that. Heâd only been able to find it at one place in Monaco, so when he knew you were coming to visit he always made sure to have a couple bottles on hand and maybe a bottle for himself when he was missing you.
Your eyes met his as you processed his question. This right now was your summer vacation. He surely knew that, right? âSummer break? I donât have a summer break like you do, Lando.â It was true, you had barely managed to get this week off from work to be able to go to Belgium, let alone have a month off. âI figured me being here for a couple days then going to Belgium would be my vacation.â
A disapproving sigh escapes past his lips as he speaks. âThat is not a vacation.â
âWell it sure as hell beats being stuck at an office in London.â
He downed the remainder of the wine in his glass and fully turned his body towards you. His arm resting across the back of the couch, his fingers nearly touching you. âI think you should come with me on vacation.â
You stifle a groan by taking a drink of your wine. âLando, you know I donât do Ibiza. It's not my kind of place, especially this time of year.â It was a beautiful place no doubt, but the big party scene was not your favorite. And the couple times you had gone with Lando and your shared friend group it was so chaotic and you had a hangover that lasted for what seemed like a week. So noâ Ibiza and you werenât the best of friends.
âWho said anything about Ibiza?â Heâs got a smirk toying at the corners of his lips, you can tell by the way his upper lip twitches slightly. Not that you stare at his lips that much to be able to notice that kind of thing.
âLando Norris not going to Ibiza during his summer break? Should I alert the press? Did you hit your head? Are you running a fever?â You lean forward to check his temperature, but he playfully swatted away your hand with a giggle before you could get close enough. âHave you broken the news to Fewt-â
That smirk had fully developed across his face as he cut you off. âWho said anything about Max?â
Now you really thought that heâd bumped his head or was slightly tipsy already. You cocked an eyebrow at him in question. âWhere are you going then? Especially without Max?â
Lando leaned back, the wicker creaking beneath him, but his eyes were still trained on you. Golden hour had made them even more blue, resembling the crystal blue water that was just a short walk away. âIâm going wherever you want to go.â
âLando.â
âY/N.â Heâs the one to cock an eyebrow now.
âI canât go with you.â
His smirk had turned into a pout and he knew how to work those big blue eyes, especially on you. âWhy not? Wherever you want to goâ we will go. Not many people get that opportunity Y/N.â
You go to take another drink and realize your glass is empty, but before you can reach for the bottle Landoâs already got it in his hands, reaching over slightly to pour you another glass. âWho all is going then if Max isnât going?â
He sets the bottle back down on the table, hesitating for a moment before speaking. You two are close, probably the closest friend he has compared to Max, but he worries that you wonât be up for what heâs about to suggest. âIt would just be me and you.â
You feel your cheeks get hot at his proposal, but you shake it off, blaming it on the wine.
As much as the idea of Lando and you going on a trip together sounds amazing, you just donât think you can make it work. You live a normal life and being able to just go on lavish trips at the drop of a hat is not something you get to experience, no matter how much Lando wants you to or you would like to.
âI would love to Lan, but I don't think I could get the time off again.â Your finger nervously circles the rim of the wine glass as you contemplate even bringing your other reason up. Mainly because you know what his answer will be, but against your better judgment you take another swig of the wine as liquid courage before telling him the embarrassing truth. âI also just canât afford it.â
And without skipping a beat he blurts out. âIâll pay.â Youâre immediately shaking your head no, but before you can verbally deny his offer heâs speaking again âSeriously Y/N. I will pay. Itâs not a big deal.â
Except him paying your way for this trip is a big deal. Just how itâs a big deal everytime you come and visit him in Monaco and he insists that you donât spend a dime while youâre here. Itâs bad enough that you stay at his place, let alone have him pay for your dinner every night. Or how he is always offering to fly you out to races on your free weekends. Or insisting that the random gifts he gives you donât cost that much, like you canât read the designer labels on the boxes or labels.
It makes you feel bad that you canât offer the same back to him. The constant worry that he might think you are using him for his money makes your stomach hurt because itâs the last thing youâd ever do. Heâs one of the most giving and kindest people you know and to be able to call him your best friend is something you treasure. And you truly hope he knows how much you appreciate everything he does for you, but how could he not when you tell him every chance you get.
âLando, really I cannot let you pay for me to go on vacation. Itâs one thing to let me crash at your apartment and for you to get me passes to races, which I appreciate more than you will ever know. But I draw the line at a whole vacation. I donât want to seem like a freeloader who is using you, thatâs honestly the la-â
âOh my god will you just let me spoil you!â Lando had enough of your endless rambling. Your need to always try and decline his gifts or offerings until he convinces you that you are worthy of them drives him crazy. To Lando there isnât a person on Earth who deserves everything and more than you. And the fact that he can afford to give you anything youâd ever want tickles him pink. Hell if it was possible, heâd buy you the whole damn universe, even if you hadnât asked for it.
âI hate that you thinkâ that I would think youâre using me. Never in a million years would I think that. You mean a lot to me Y/N, truly. Youâre one the most important people in my life and you deserve everything and more that I give you. If I thought you were using me, I would not be asking you to go on vacation with me, believe me. I love having you around and with us not seeing each other like we used to, I figured a trip with just the two of us would be nice.â
He pauses for a moment as he scoots a little closer to you on the couch, your legs touching as the glow from the sun envelopes around you two. âNow please donât try and worm your way out of this trip. Iâve missed you so much and if you donât end up going I think youâre just gonna have to move in with me.â
You roll your eyes at his dramatics, but try not to let his heartfelt words get to your head. âHow would I even get the time off work again? Tell them âOh my famous F1 driver best friend wants to take me on a trip. Can I please have some more time off?â I donât think that would work.â
âWell I think it would work. Especially if you add in that Iâm super hot.â
The giggles that come from you lets you know that youâve drank your fair share of wine for the evening. âOh I donât think they would ever tell me no If I added that in.â
âIf they do say no then just quit and Iâll get you a job somehow with McLaren or Quadrant or something. I just really want to go on this trip with you.â
You arenât sure if it's the wine in your system or the fact that you want nothing more right now than to spend a week with Lando in some beautiful country, without a care in the world. But you ignore every responsible and logical part of you and tell him what he wants to hear.
âAlright. So where are we going then?â
His eyes light up and the smile that spreads across his face is comparable to that first win smile. âThatâs all up to you baby.â
Both of your hearts skip a beat at the term of endearment that came from him. His because he canât believe he let it slip and yours because you canât believe he called you that so easily. But you both ignore it and you focus on the one place youâd had on your mind since he mentioned taking a trip.
âItaly?â You suggest with a hopeful smile on your face.
He fills up his glass with the last of the fruit juice like wine and holds it up towards you, your glasses clinking together in a toast. âItaly it is then.â
âââ ŕźşâŕźť âââ
Six days later an email notification pops up on your phone as youâre sitting in McLarenâs hospitality, talking with Landoâs Mom. You glance at who itâs from, not wanting to be rude and get on your phone mid conversation, but when you see your bossâs contact you canât help but open it. âIâm sorry, itâs from work.â Cisca waved you off, the conversation had only consisted of why they couldnât stock better snacks in hospitality, and she knew if work was emailing you on a Sunday it had to be important.
You had emailed them Monday night requesting the time off and when they hadnât responded by Friday you figured they were denying it. Or firing you for requesting more time off while currently being on a vacation. So to be getting this email on a Sunday had you worried, but as your eyes scanned the email you couldnât hold back the excitement. By some higher power unbestowed to you, they had granted you the time off.
âNever seen someone so excited over an email from work.â Cisca teased.
âYeah. Honestly thought I was getting fired, but they approved my time off for the Italy trip Lando and I are taking.â You leaned back in the chair, relief finally washing over you.
âJust the two of you?â Cisca had her suspicions about her sonâs feelings towards you and your feelings towards him. Sheâd secretly hoped the two of you would end up together the first time she met you years ago. She honestly thought you were his girlfriend that day and was surprised when he introduced you as his friend. Then she thought maybe he was hiding your relationship because she had never known her son to bring around a female friend like he had you.
You had attended family dinners, a couple holidays, races, and so many other things that just didnât seem normal to bring a friend to. They had become so accustomed to you being around that when he finally said that he was bringing home his girlfriend for everyone to meet and you didnât walk through the doorâ everyone was a little shell shocked. The relationship didnât last long and she had her theories as to why. To Cisca there was just no way the two of you didnât have feelings for eachother, she could see it plain as day, and it drove her crazy that the two of you didnât see it.
âYeah. At first I thought he was asking me to go to Ibiza again with everyone and you know me, itâs not my thing. But then he said we could go anywhere I wanted and that it was just me and him, so I chose Italy.â You gathered your things, eager to tell Lando the good news before race time. âYou raised a good man, Cisca. I couldnât ask for a better person in my life than him.â
Thereâs a smile on her face as she watches you talk about Lando, how your smile never falters and how that twinkle in your eye seems to get brighter the more you talk about him. âThank you honey. You had better go tell him, hadnât you?â
âIâll be back!â
Thankfully Landoâs not that hard to find, heâs in the garage looking over some data on the monitors with Will when you spot him. You stand back out of the way, waiting until heâs done, but as soon as he turns to walk away youâre racing towards him. Your arms flinging around him from behind and you can feel him tense under you, but when he hears your laughter his muscles relax.
âWhatâs got you in such a good mood?â Lando asks as he turns around to face you, his hands lingering on your hips.
âHmmm. It may have something to do with work approving my time off.â
That same smile from the other night finds its way onto his face and heâs pulling you into his arms, the two of you swaying back and forth as he nuzzles his head into your neck. âI knew they would approve it, it was meant to be.â His voice tickles your neck as he speaks causing a giggle to escape past your lips.
âCanât believe we get to spend a week together in Italy.â You state as he releases you from his grip.
âWouldnât have it any other way.â
You furrow your eyebrows at him, still not sure that he wouldnât rather be going to Ibiza with his friends.âYouâre sure youâre not gonna miss Ibiza?â
His fingers toy with the hem of your shirt as he speaksâ his blue eyes boring into yours. âIâd miss you more if I went.â And there isnât a single ounce of doubt in his words. If he ended up going to Ibiza without you, heâd be at a club wondering what you were doing. Eventually downing one too many shots to try and numb that annoying ache in his chest that forms when you arenât around. The one that even with you around this week, he had felt occasionally at the idea of you not being able to go to Italy.
The idea of him spending his summer break back in England had crossed his mind a couple times, especially if that meant he got to spend time with you. Luckily though fate was on his side today and he wouldnât have to deal with that ache for the foreseeable future.
You can feel the slight blush on your cheeks as you process what Lando had said to you and you pray he doesnât notice it. Just him simply saying heâd miss you if he went to Ibiza should not have you blushing, but here recently it seemed like that was all he could do was make you blush.
A familiar Australian accent hits your ears and around the corner comes Oscar, his hand clamping down on Landoâs shoulder as he comes up behind him. âY/N. Havenât seen you in awhile.â His bunny teeth showing as he flashes you a smile.
Your mouth barely opens to speak before Landoâs speaking for you. âI know. Sheâs been too busy working back in London to come see her favorite person.â
âIâm really such a horrible friend. Iâm so sorry Oscar, I really should make more time to see you. In fact, howâs Australia this time of year? I think I might come visit you.â The playful smirk on your face and Oscarâs laugh does nothing to tell Lando that youâre just joking and like a little kid heâs got his arms crossed across his chest with a slight pout on his face.
âUm. I think Iâm your favorite person Y/N. Plus you canât even go to Australia because we are going to Italy.â
Oscar and you canât help but laugh at Landoâs dramatics, but Oscar wants to tease Lando even further. He knows how his older teammate feels about you, even if Lando wonât give the idea any time of day when Oscar brings it up. Lando had confided in Oscar about his idea to take you on a trip, but Oscar didnât think heâd actually go through with it. âItaly? Whoâs all going? Maybe Lily and I could tag along?â
Landoâs eyes widen at Oscarâs suggestion, mainly because he knows youâd jump at any opportunity to spend time with Lily and this trip was meant to be just for the two of you. âItâs just gonna be me and Y/NâŚâ He trials off, trying to figure out how to nicely tell Oscar that he canât come.
âThere's a month between Singapore and Austin. We should all plan something for then.â You chime in. As much as you would love to spend time with Oscar and Lily, you really want to have this trip just be Lando and you.
Landoâs surprised at you turning down Oscarâs suggestion, but smiles and nods towards Oscar, agreeing with your idea. âYeah that sounds like a good idea.â Oscar states, a small smirk on his face as he eyes the two of you, fully knowing that youâll come back from Italy together. And if you donât Oscar thinks he may have to knock some sense into his teammate.
The driverâs parade was set to start soon, so you tell Oscar youâll see him around and give Lando a hug, knowing you wonât see him again until after the race. âIâll see you later, yeah? Be safe and good luck.â
Landoâs grip on you lingers, not wanting to fully let you go just yet, but when they get the final warning that itâs time to go he reluctantly frees you. A small frown on his face as he heads towards the track and you go back to hospitality.
The two McLaren drivers stood side by side on the flatbed of the moving truck, smiles on their faces as they waved at the fans in the grandstands. âNever seen two friends like you and Y/N go on a trip togetherâ alone.â Oscarâs voice is low, thereâs an interview going on to his left, but heâs loud enough that Lando can hear him.
Lando keeps looking straight forward as he speaks. âDonât know what you mean by that.â
âI think you fully know what I mean.â
Max, who was on the other side of Lando, had been eavesdropping the whole time, and couldnât help but put his two cents in. âIf youâre talking about what I think youâre talking about. I just want to say, do us all a favor and finally tell her how you feel.â
Lando shook his head at the two drivers. You two were just very close best friends, there wasnât anything he needed to admit to you. It was just a trip that two best friends were going on and there was nothing more to itâ right?
âââ ŕźşâŕźť âââ
A week and a half later your plane touches down in Naples and even though the flight from London is only around three hours you want nothing more than to just get to the hotel and relax.
The Uber ride from the airport to the hotel thankfully doesnât take long and you have no issue with sitting down in the lobby of the hotel with all the luggage while Lando checks you two in. You do notice that itâs taking quite a long time for Lando to check in and as you glance up from your phone towards the reception desk you see him talking with the worker and showing her something on his phone. Then with a sigh and a shake of his head he turns on his heel back towards you.
âEverything alright?â You ask.
He slips his phone back into his pocket and grabs his suitcase. âI booked us a two bedroom suite and they told me that all they have available is a one bedroom. Even though I showed them the booking on my phone, someone is already in it. So, Iâll just take the couch and you can have the bed.â
This place was fancy, and Lando had undoubtedly paid a pretty penny for the two nights that you were staying here. You would have thought they would have comped the room or something for their mistake. But by the displeased look on his face it didnât seem they offered him anything but a sorry for the inconvenience.
Even with the hotel screwing up the room, the one you end up with is amazing and as you enter the room your jaw drops slightly at it. You set your bags down and explore the room further, taking in all the beautiful artwork on the walls and the natural light streaming in through the floor to ceiling windows. You enter a door to your left and itâs the bedroom, which is even better than the main room, mainly because of the huge balcony that overlooks the sea.
Thereâs a gentle breeze in the air as you lean against the railing, taking in the view and the hustle and bustle from the surrounding area.
âBeautiful isnât it?â Landoâs voice makes you jump, you were so lost in your own little world you didnât even hear him come out onto the balcony. You nod your head in agreement as he slots himself beside you, mimicking your actions of leaning on the railing. âAnd itâs not even the best part of our trip.â
âYou know you didnât have to get such a nice room, we are only in Naples for two days.â As much as you try not to feel guilty about him paying for all of this, you do.
âAnd what did I say a couple weeks ago?â
A groan emits from you as you remember his words to you in Monaco. âYou said to let you spoil me.â
âExactly. I just want you to enjoy yourself and stop worrying about how much everything costs. We are here to relax and have fun, which means figuring out what we want to do tonight.â
You ponder your endless options and all you really want to do is sit on this balcony and enjoy the view, but your stomach growling tells you maybe dinner would be a good idea first. âWe are in Italyâ how about getting some pizza and then just come back here and relax?â Lando agrees and while youâre freshening up he looks up good pizza places within walking distance.
You two are just about ready to leave when there's a knock on the door, followed by room service!
A confused look is shared between you two, but when Lando looks through the peephole there stands a worker with a room service cart. He opens the door and is greeted with a smile from the employee.
âFrom the hotel as an apology about the room.â The employee hands Lando an ice bucket with a bottle of champagne nestled in it. âHave a nice rest of your stay.â
Lando looks back at you with an amused look on his face as the guy quickly leaves, the wheels of the cart squeaking as he hurries down the hall. âWell, we have something to drink on the balcony later.â Lando states as he sets the bucket down on the coffee table.
âChampagne and pizza? No thanks.â You see thereâs a card attached to the bottle and as you open the envelope and read the words written, your cheeks turn scarlet.
âWhat does it say?â Lando questions, moving to stand behind you so he can read it too. His eyes scan the letter and he soon finds himself in the same state as you. He clears his throat as he steps back, suddenly feeling too close to you at the moment.
to the happy couple,
we are so deeply sorry about the mix up with rooms and we hope you can accept our apologies. weâve sent a bottle of the finest champagne that you can get in naples and have comped any room service you may order during your stay. as always if you need anything please donât hesitate to call the front desk and once again we sincerely apologize for our mistake. we hope you enjoy your stay here and the city of naples.
The letter isnât spoken about, actually what you two were addressed as isnât spoken about, but you both agree that their actions were nice. The walk to the pizza place is quiet, the both of you occasionally pointing out things that you think are interesting or pretty, but both of your minds are preoccupied with being mistaken for a couple. Anyone else would have laughed it off, but clearly not the two of you.
By the time youâre back at the hotel and sat on the balcony with the pizza and champagne your conversation had returned to normal. You teasing Lando about not even drinking the glass he had poured for himself and him complaining about you insisting that you get a pizza that has peppers on it.
âYou know what would make this evening even better?â The pizza is long gone and the two of you are sat admiring the painting in the sky left behind from the sun.
âSome pink moscato?â Thereâs a grin on his face as he says it. If thereâs one thing he knows you love, itâs a glass of pink moscato on a balcony with a view.
You try to hide the smile on your face as you glance over at him, but heâs caught you. âYou know me too well Norris.â
âShouldâve told that employee that we wanted a ten dollar bottle of wine instead of that champagne.â Lando jokes.
âThought you didnât like it? That it was too sweet?â
He shuffles slightly in his seat, fully knowing that youâd caught on to his facade. âI may have grown to love it.â He admits quietly.
Youâd known for a while, but hearing him say it was much more satisfying. âYeah. Kinda figured it out last year when you started drinking more of it than me.â
Nighttime draws near and once you start yawning, so does Lando, and after the fourth round of yawning Lando states that itâs time for bed. The subject the two of you hadnât discussed any further than what was said in the lobby earlier. The guilt started to eat at you as you brushed your teeth, heâd invited you and is paying for everything and he doesnât even get to sleep in a bed? What kind of friend were you?
Lando was making the couch up as you walked out of the bathroom and for this being a luxury hotel that couch looked stiff and seemed to be more for show than actual comfort. He already had a bad back and it looked like sleeping on that couch was going to have him trying to find a chiropractor tomorrow instead of sightseeing. âLan. You take the bed and Iâll sleep on the couch.â
He doesnât even look back at you, still occupied with trying to make the couch somewhat comfortable. âNo. Iâll be fine. You take the bed.â
âLando.â
âY/N.â
âLando, look at me.â You knew he wasnât going to budge with the whole couch thing, so you thought of the next best thing. The two of you sharing the bed. It was plenty big and truly it shouldnât be that big of a deal if you two shared it. You were grown adults and bestfriends, no one should have to sleep on the couch.
His focus tears away from the couch and over to you, whoâs already in bed and under the covers. âLook at how big this bed is.â Your body extends over to the other side trying to show him just how big the bed is. âJust sleep in the bed with me, there is plenty of room.â
Your offer takes him by surprise and he stills for a moment, heâd love nothing more than to climb into that bed right now, but a part of his brain is telling him not to. And heâs about ready to tell you no once again until he makes eye contact with you. Those damn eyes of yours could be used in interrogation rooms across the world, one look into them and heâs crumbling like a poorly built sandcastle. The gentle pat on the empty side of the bed is what flattens the sandcastle and heâs mumbling out an okay before sliding under the sheets next to you.
The two of you donât know what to do for a moment, both still and flat on your backs under the sheets, like if you moved an inch the gremlin under the bed was going to get you. But eventually Lando turns on his side, mumbling out a goodnight as he pulls the comforter closer to him. You take his actions as a sign for you to roll over too and you figured that falling asleep wouldnât be an issue after all the yawning earlier, but you were wrong. You tried counting sheep, tried laying on your back, tried anything you could think of to fall asleep and nothing worked. It wasnât like there was a major time difference between here and London, it was literally only an hour, so unfortunately jet lag could not be to blame.
Lando hadnât moved the whole time and you figured he fell asleep as soon as he turned over, but you were bored and going a little crazy because even though you were tired, you couldnât fall asleep. âLando.â You whispered, but got no response. âLando. Are you awake?â You whisper a little louder this time, but still no response. So with a defeated sigh you roll back over and shut your eyes, praying that this time you can go to sleep. But within a matter of seconds you feel the bed shift and Landoâs voice echoing through the room.
âIâm awake.â
You roll back overâ the two of you now facing each other. âWhy didnât you answer me a minute ago?â
âI was trying to go to sleep myself.â
âOh sorry. Iâll go out to the other room and watch some TV or something.â You barely move an inch before Landoâs got his fingers wrapped around your forearm, gently pulling you back towards him.
âNo, don't leave.â
You can feel your heartbeat quickening as you realize just how close the two of you are. The glow from the moon cascades through the balcony doors allowing you to make out the moles on his face and those pretty long eyelashes of his that make his already breathtaking eyes seem even more beautiful. Sometimes you think he has stars in his eyes from the way that they sparkle. And as the two of you lay here right now, you realize the only reason that the moonlight is flooding into the room is because sheâs looking for her lost stars that have found a home in Landoâs eyes.
âYou got any ideas on how to fall asleep? Iâve tried just about everything in the book.â For some reason you're whispering and you wonder if itâs from how close you are to Landoâs face or how suddenly nervous you are to be this close to Lando.
Heâs silent for a moment, the logical and sane part of him screaming at him to not even suggest what heâs been thinking about ever since climbing under these sheets. The mere idea of it being the thing that had prevented him from being fast asleep by now. But heâs got you at literal fingertips length and he thinks there may not be another opportunity like this again. Soâ he acts with his heart and not his brain.
âCome here.â Heâs moved onto his back with his arm outstretched towards you.
âHuh?â You know exactly what heâs insinuating, but you canât actually believe that he is.
âYou wanted an idea on how to fall asleep and this is my idea. Iâll get you to fall asleep in no time.
âYou think us cuddling is gonna get me to fall asleep?â You definitely hadnât wondered what it would be like to be wrapped up in Landoâs arms before. How it would feel to have his fingertips trance mindless patterns across your skin or have your head on his chest. He was your best friend, which meant those thoughts had never crossed your mindâ right?
He shrugs, trying to hide the nervousness in his demeanor, the mere thought of you denying him right now was enough to have him on the next flight back to Monaco in the morning. He should have never put himself in this situation, but god as soon as he climbed into this bed all he wanted to do was have you wrapped up in his arms.
It had consumed his brain, and then consumed it even more because why was he having this desire to have such a tender moment with his best friend? Though his brain stops spiraling when he feels the bed shift and youâre suddenly tucking yourself into his side, arm slung over his torso, and your head laying on his chest. The same chest that his heart is about ready to beat out of and he prays you canât hear how hard itâs working.
But as you both get settled and Landoâs heartbeat finally mellows out he realizes just how right this feels, like the two of you were matching puzzle pieces. Any other girl he had cuddled with before now seemed to feel wrong because as far as he was concerned, nothing felt better than this. It felt natural and easy and he found himself drawing absent minded patterns on your side where your shirt had bunched up.
Heâd spend the rest of his life here in this moment with you if he could. And when he hears your slight snores something short circuits in his brain and heâs pressing a kiss to the top of your head mumbling out goodnight before heâs out like a light too. The moonlight blanketing over the two of you, who right now look more like lovers than best friends.
âââ ŕźşâŕźť âââ
The next morning youâre already up and ready for the day by the time Lando wakes up and he tries to hide the disappointment of not waking up next to you, already missing the feeling of having you so close. A feeling though nice, he knew it was one that he probably shouldnât be feeling. He asks you if you slept well while heâs getting ready and you tell him yes, not going into very much detail, for your own sake and his.
The day is full of sightseeing and lots of walking, which is something that Lando likes to complain about. You visit Pompeii and a handful of other places for you and Lando to nerd out about and truly be tourists. You eat amazing food that Lando says his trainer will hate him for, but he justifies it with the excuse of being on vacation. Hundreds of pictures were taken, your phones already begging for more storage and it was only the first day of the trip. Lando even went as far as bringing an actual camera, stating that lando.jpg would be revived soon.
But in between the sightseeing, eating, and everything elseâ both of your brains immediately go back to the sleeping arrangements from last night. You both canât stop thinking about it, but no one brings it up, almost like itâs something you should be ashamed of. No one wants to admit how right it felt to be in eachothers arms last night or how both of you probably had the best sleep of your lives.
You didnât want to admit that when you woke up this morning to Lando spooning you, your stomach was doing flips over the realization that you had moved in the middle of the night and he had found his way back to you. So many thoughts and emotions running through your brains, yet you both think itâs better to just act like it's not a big deal.
Night falls once again and Lando crawls into bed next to you. Youâre both absolutely spent after the eventful day youâve had and Lando worries that you wonât need him to fall asleep, but his worries soon dissipate because youâre tucking yourself into his side as soon as heâs gotten himself comfortable. Youâre like a moth to a flameâ the consequences of these actions never even enter your mind as slowly feel yourself drifting off to sleep.
And when morning comes you donât run away when you feel Landoâs arms around you, even with the butterflies making an appearance again. You enjoy your moment alone, the sun shining in through the windows, the sound of the city already alive, and the way Lando looks as he sleeps. It's truly a beautiful morning.
He wakes up not too long after you and thereâs a funny feeling in his chest when he realizes that heâs gotten to wake up with you still in his arms. That you were the first thing he saw when he opened his eyes. It all just feels so natural and right, that once again no words are spoken about this very non-platonic thing that is happening between you two.
âââ ŕźşâŕźť âââ
âWeâve got a little bit a drive ahead of us today.â Lando states as he comes out of the bathroom in nothing but a towel. Water droplets are scattered across his tan skin, his damp curls falling slightly onto his forehead. Youâre trying not to stare, but good lord how could anyone not.
âItâs only like an hour.â You're still sitting in bed, propped up against the headboard as you now watch him rummage through his suitcase.
He holds up a shirt and shorts, silently asking for your opinion. You give him a nod of approval and he heads back to the bathroom to get dressed, but he leaves the door slightly cracked so he can still talk to you. âYeah it was an hour. Iâve canceled the driver and made some new plans for today.â
âNew plans?â You raise your voice slightly so he can hear you.
âItâs a surprise.â He peeks his head around the slightly open doorâ a mischievous smile painted across his face, before disappearing behind it once more. âSo you had better start getting ready.â He commands as the door fully opens, revealing a fully dressed Lando.
A few short moments later a domestic scene plays out in the bathroom mirror. The double sinks both occupied, various hair products, makeup, and other random items are scattered across the counter. Youâre watching Lando through the mirror as he tries to wrangle the mop of curls on his head, but everytime you look away heâs watching you brush your teeth or do your skincare. And the occasional times your eyes do meet in the mirror youâre both like little kids, eyes immediately darting away with smiles on your faces and little giggles echoing through the bathroom.
âYou gonna tell me what the surprise is?â Patience had never been your strong suit and thus knowing about surprises was like a form of torture to you.
âIf I told you it wouldnât be a surprise now would it?â Heâs still screwing with his hair, but heâs looking at you through the mirror.
âOh come on, just tell me. Pretty pretty please?â Youâve come up behind him, your chin resting on his shoulder as you flash your best puppy dog eyes at him through the mirror. And for a split second Lando almost cracksâ those puppy dog eyes working on him better than you would have ever thought.
âThe faster we pack everything up, the faster you get the surprise.â Heâs shocked his words come out smoothly, his brain still foggy from your pretty eyes and close contact.
Ten minutes later youâre walking out of the elevator and into the hotel lobby, where Lando tells you to wait while he goes outside for a moment. You assume the surprise is outside and so you try to peek and see whatâs out there, but heâs coming back in before you can get a good look.
âAlright letâs go.â
You donât see anything that you would consider surprise worthy as you walk out the doors, but then Lando leads you towards the cars parked outside the hotel and stops in front of a vintage yellow Ferrari. Your eyes dart back and forth between Lando and the car, unsure if he was just stopping to admire it or if you were going to be riding in it. He answers your unasked question by opening the passenger side door, motioning for you to get in.
âIs this the surprise? Where did you even get this car from?â Your eyes widening over the car itself and the fact that heâd gone through the trouble of even finding the car.
âItâs part of the surprise-â Heâs got a smirk on his face as he speaks âand I have my connections.â He motions once again for you to get into the car and this time you donât oblige. The leather seat soft under your legs as you sit down, the car was surely close to 60 years old, yet still looked brand new.
Lando puts the luggage in the trunk while you're examining all of the carâs little quirks and details while you wait.
âOk, you ready?â Lando asks as he gets in the driver's seat.
âGonna tell me the other part of the surprise?â
He sighs, he wanted you to figure it out on your own, but you were so persistent sometimes. âYou know how youâve always talked about wanting to drive along the coast of Italy?â You nod, a smile already forming on your face as you realize what heâs planned for you. âWell, instead of just taking the straight shot over, weâre gonna take the long way all along the Amalfi coast. And I figured it was only fitting that we do it in a Ferrari, considering we are in Italy after all.â
You canât wipe the smile off your face as you stare at Lando from the passenger seat. Sometimes you wondered if he was even listening to you when you spoke, but then he pulls stuff like this and you know that heâs always listeningâ remembering things that you care about or like. âGod, I donât deserve you.â
Thankfully the car is still parked because youâre pulling Lando into a bone crushing hug, your cheek smushed up against the side of his head, a giggle emitting from him as he tries to hug you back.
âWhen you told me your work approved the time off, I knew for sure that this was one thing that I wanted to make happen. That same night I was online trying to find a car to rent for the day, but then I saw this one for saleâŚâ His words trail off and your jaw drops at the realization, but in all reality you know itâs a very Lando thing to do.
âAnd now weâre sitting in your newest baby?â
Heâs got a sheepish look on his face as he speaks. âAs soon as I saw it I knew it was the perfect car for this. Plus itâs the ultimate vacation souvenir!â
âYouâre crazy.â He actually couldnât be more perfect.
âYeah, but you love me.â He teases as he starts the engine.
âUnfortunately.â
âââ ŕźşâŕźť âââ
The long winding road along the coast provided scenery that was beyond your wildest dreams. It was serene and picturesqueâ like something straight out of a movie. The bright blue water on one side of the road and the white stone mountains on the other. The various tunnels that somehow had even more breathtaking views on the other side of them. The handful of towns that you had to drive through, each of them more charming than the last, you only wished you had enough time to stay a week in all of them.
As simple as this was, you would have been more than content with this trip if you went home tomorrow, not that you wanted to, it was just that sometimes the simple things in life meant more than anything lavish to you. You werenât hard to please, all you needed was Lando singing along to some song on the radio, beautiful scenery, and the wind blowing in your hair for you to be the happiest girl in the world right now.
The whole trip your attention was divided between the coastal beauty and the beauty in the driver's seat. You couldnât help but glance over ever so often at Lando, especially when youâd hear him start to sing along to a song. He just looked so ethereal sitting next to you, one hand on the steering wheelâ the other resting between you two.
There was a moment where you felt the sudden urge to reach out and intertwine your fingers with his, a moment of insanity youâd thought. It surely had nothing to do with how sunkissed he looked from only being in the sun one day, or how the wind had made his curls the perfect amount of messy, or how youâd catch him looking over at you with a smile on his face.
If only you knew that Lando had been fighting the urge to reach out and grab your hand too. Heâd never seen you so ecstatic over something as simple as going for a drive, but heâd drive this car till he ran out of road or gas, whichever came first, just to see that smile of yours. The way your eyes sparkled in the sunlight and how you giggled at his singing was just an added bonus, but all of them made his chest feel funny. Heâd been around the world more times than he could count, seen so many breathtaking places, but right now none of those places compared to the beauty that was sitting next to him in this car.
Youâre in your own little world so much that you donât even realize youâve made it to your destination until Landoâs putting the car in park in front of a very luxurious looking villa. âWeâve arrived.â Lando states in a sing-song voice.
âIs this when you tell me Max and everyone else are actually coming too?â You question, flabbergasted over the size of the house. And you can tell what heâs thinking just by his facial expression. âLando this place is huge just for the two of us.â
He rolls his eyes before getting out of the car to get luggage. âItâs actually a lot smaller than you think.â
When you step foot into the two story villa it immediately has that Mediterranean coast charm with intricate tile floors, artwork that adorns the walls, and windows with the most gorgeous viewsâ needles to say youâre in love.
Then you take in just how big the place is with itâs one too many bedrooms and bathrooms and various other rooms that you probably wonât even use. Landoâs words echo in your head as you explore the house some more, and thereâs nothing small about this place at all. âYouâre such a liar Lan.â Your words are playful as you walk through one of the many french doors in the house that leads out to the back.
âLie? I would nev-â
âOh my god!â Heâs cut off by you realizing that the backyard of this villa is nothing shy of paradise. A massive pergola covered part of the back of the house with vibrant bougainvillea lining the top and hanging down the sides. Various other flowers and plants are scattered strategically around the area. Under the pergola there's an outdoor kitchen and a large glass dining table, clearly meant to host a group of people, not two. Further out thereâs a pool with sunbeds lined down one side of itâ a poolside bar on the other.
All of these things are great, but the real show stopper is the view that this place has. From the front of the house you canât really tell just how close you are to the water, but from out back itâs a completely different view. Thereâs a separate sitting area slightly further out from the pool. Itâs got a little pergola of its own with couches and chairs and one of those fancy rock fire pits and that is where you get the best view.
Itâs like something out of a nature documentaryâ itâs so perfect that it almost seems fake. The sea is so close that you can hear the waves crashing against the rocks and itâs just endless bright blue water for days. You thought the view in Naples was pretty, but this was breathtaking.
âKnew youâd love this place.â Lando states as he comes up beside you, acting like he hadnât been lingering behind you the whole time, admiring the view (you) from afar.
It was true though, Lando knew as soon as he saw this place online that it was the one. It didnât matter that he paid an astronomical amount for it or that the house was way too big for just the two of you. All it took was for him to see the view to know youâd be the happiest girl in the world here.
He could picture you two sitting out here in the evening, watching the sun set over the coast, undoubtedly with a bottle of pink moscato. Youâd end up drinking one too many glasses and your cheeks would get red and youâd get the giggles.
As Lando stood hereâ eyes never leaving the beautiful scene in front of him. He canât help but feel that funny feeling in his chest over how radiant and happy you look. And he thinks that if this house was for sale heâd buy it in a heartbeat, if that meant he got to see you like this all the time.
A smile finds its way onto your face as you glance over at the guy you call your best friend. âYou werenât lying when you said you were gonna spoil me, huh?â You gently nudge him with your elbow, your smile growing even bigger at his response.
âOnly the best for my favorite person.â His smile is equally as big as you lean your head on his shoulder and in that moment he thinks that maybe the reserve driver could just finish out the season and he could just stay here with you.
That night as you both head to your rooms thereâs an obvious tension in the air. Youâre both slowly making your ascent up the stairs and lingering in the hall, trying to milk every last second until you inevitably have to go into your separate rooms.
After so long though, youâre the first to cave as your hand reaches for the doorknob. Your door creaks open and youâre mumbling out goodnight lan, iâll see you in the morning before entering the room. Although you donât close the door behind you and Lando takes that as an invitation to linger in your doorway. He doesnât need to speak for you to know heâs there, you can feel his presence, and subconsciously youâve left that door open for him.
âGoodnight Y/N.â Youâve got your back turned to him as you're digging through your suitcase for pajamas, but you can hear the slight grin he has on his face as he speaks.
The sight of Lando as you turn around has butterflies erupting in your stomach and it makes you feel weird to be feeling those things about your best friend. Heâs leaned up against the door frame with his arms crossed over his chest and that grin that youâd sensed him having was still on his face as he looked at you. Your eyes scanned over him, focusing on little details like his hair still being wind tousled and how the tops of his cheeks were slightly burnt from the car ride today.
And for someone who claimed to not need a ton of sleepâ he looked so sleepy as the two of you locked eyes. Those big blue eyes slowly blinking and drooping ever so slightly as his head now too rested against the door frame. He still donned the hoodie that you teased him about putting on earlier after his claims of it being chilly once the sun set, only adding to the sleepy look he had going on right now.
Someone had never looked so cozy and you wanted nothing more than to be wrapped up in his arms, but that wasnât going to happen tonight. You will tell him goodnight again and heâll close the door behind him before shuffling over to his room. Your mind will be preoccupied with him as you get ready for bed, the image of him in your doorway forever burned into your mind as you brush your teeth. As you crawl into bed you wonât think about how cold the sheets feel or how you want to be cuddled up to your best friend. You wonât think about how itâs been two hours that youâve laid here and sleep has yet to greet you. And you certainly wonât think about how youâd be fast asleep right now if Lando was beside you.
But unfortunately you do think about all those things and youâve exhausted every resource to try and distract you from it. It was different at the hotel when there was only one bed, but now with multiple bedrooms to choose from there was no reason for the two of you to sleep in the same bed. Lines were already blurring between you two without either of you knowing it and if you chose to go seek solace with Lando then those lines would blur even more.
But you didnât know that your actions would eventually have consequences and seconds later youâre throwing the covers off of you with only one destination in mindâ Landoâs room. The journey though, is short lived because as soon as you open your door youâre met with a wide eyed Lando, his fist frozen in the air like he was getting ready to knock on your door.
The frozen fist moves to rubbing the back of his neck as he speaks to you. âSorry, was coming to see if you were still awake.â
âI was coming to see if you were up too.â Heâs still got that hoodie on from earlier, but you noticed heâd changed out his shorts for boxers. His hair was even more messy and youâd wondered if he had even fallen asleep yet. âCouldnât sleep either?â
Lando shrugs. âNot reallyâ kept tossing and turning.â He acts like the reason he canât go to sleep isnât right in front of him as he rests his head on the familiar door frame.
âYeah I can tell by your hair.â You tease. He just gives you a half assed smile and when he doesnât tease you back thatâs when you realize just how tired he is. âYou want to watch some TV or something? â
He shakes his head no. The only thing he wants to do is go to sleep, but how can he when youâre not next to him? It was embarrassing to admit that only after two nights of sharing the same bed that he couldnât sleep on his own, but here he was. His big bed felt too empty and he realized that even if he slept in a twin sized bed it would still feel empty without you next to him.
Not to mention heâd found comfort in you being his personal heater at night. It was no secret that Lando ran cold, often seen sporting a jacket during race weekends while his teammate was in shorts. So with his personal heater gone, heâd resorted to wearing a hoodie to bed, which didnât come close to holding a candle to you.
When he finally worked up the courage to get up and go to your room he was pleasantly surprised to find you up too and facing the same problem as him. A little sliver of him hoping that it was the exact same problem and that you couldnât sleep without him.
For a split second you caught his eyes looking past you and towards your bed. He couldnât have made it any more obvious, but if was actually hinting at what you thought he was hinting at, then you werenât going to pass up on the opportunity. It wasnât a coincidence that he had come to your door and that you both had trouble sleeping in separate beds. So, you act on impulse and tell him come on just sleep in here tonight and like a little kid whoâs gotten scared of the thunder at night heâs crawling into your bed in an instant.
Itâs like you two are magnetsâ immediately finding your way to each other under the sheets and it doesnât take long for the both of you to finally fall asleep. And some time in the middle of the night Lando had shed his hoodie, no longer needing it with you pressed against him. When you two wake in the morning with the sun streaming through the windows and sleepy smiles plastered on your faces, thereâs an unspoken agreement that even with the plethora of beds in this house, you two would be sleeping in the same one every night.
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Lando and you were best friends, nothing more. Nevermind the sharing a bed every night or the longing glances or the sometimes suggestive thoughts you had about him. So maybe your friendship wasnât practical or normal, but there was nothing romantic going on between you two. It was something you had drilled into your head for some time now. Youâd try to ignore the way your heart would speed up when youâd catch him looking at you or the way he always has to have physical contact with you. And any other crazy thoughts that youâd speculated about had always been pushed aside rather quickly. He was your best friend after all and once again nothing more.
Though over the course of the week youâd found yourself having a hard time in pushing aside those non platonic thoughts about Lando. There were instances you two had found yourselves in that you just couldnât ignore.
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âWhatâs the plan for today?â You ask as the two of you are sitting outside the cutest little restaurant, enjoying brunch.
Lando finishes the last little bit of his eggs before answering you. âWell nothing that involves you getting behind a motor vehicle with the way youâve been downing those bellinis.â You roll your eyes at his dramatics. Yes, youâd had your fair share of bellinis, but they were so damn good and there really wasnât that much alcohol in them for it to be an issue. âHow about we just see where the day takes us?â
âWell I already had the idea of renting jet skis in my head, but I guess weâll do what you suggested.â You joke.
Now Landoâs the one to roll his eyes at you as he flags down the waiter for the check. He doesnât even look at it when itâs brought over, he just hands his card over like itâs nothing. Itâs something that you still arenât used to him doing even after knowing him for so long and youâre sure heâs gotten ripped off more times than he could imagine.
He quickly signs for it once the waiter comes back and with his card back in his wallet youâre free to go. Except when you stand up all those bellinis hit you and youâre a little unsteady on your feet, something that Lando clocks immediately. You arenât drunk, just buzzed, but Lando isnât going to let you live this down. âYou wanted to rent jet skis huh?â He teases as he wraps an arm around your waist to steady you.
âThink we still could to be honest.â Youâre confident in your ability to walk on your own, but Lando insists on keeping his hold on you.
âWell I donât want to waste a day at the hospital, so letâs just look around at the shops.â
Youâd passed them on your way to brunch and Lando had promised youâd come back to them. They were cute little stores, each one specializing in certain things. You took your time in each one, feeling the silky material of some of the dresses, admiring the leather detailing on the handbags, and gawking at the dazzling jewelry in the displays. Everything was quite luxurious and your eyes couldnât help but linger on a certain bag and bracelet, but the price tags were all you had to see to know they werenât coming home with you.
Lando had been watching you the whole time, fully prepared to be your bag boy and was ready to pull out his wallet whenever heâd see you pick something up. But much to his disappointment, all you did was look and after going through all the stores you left empty handed. âYou didnât see anything you wanted?â Lando asks as you continue down the street.
You simply shrug your shoulders at him. âNothing that I couldnât live without.â He doesnât press the matter anymore, fully knowing that heâd be coming back sometime this week to get you that bag and bracelet that you kept circling back to.
The streets are charming and bright. Itâs a place that you canât help but feel alive in, especially as the summer sun beats down on you, but the light breeze coming in off the sea makes it bearable. Your buzz was long gone, but Lando still insisted that you link your arm with his as you stroll down the streetsâ just in case. You donât oblige to his request, enjoying the feeling of holding onto his solid bicep as the sound of him slightly humming the song that was playing at brunch fills your ears.
A sense of peacefulness washes over you and itâs at this moment that you donât feel like youâre on the arm of the famous Formula 1 driver Lando Norris. He doesnât have a million cameras on him or people flocking to him for an autograph. Itâs just you and your best friend Landoâ the boy who was gagging when you teased the idea of ordering fish at dinner last night or who you laid in bed with this morning, watching dumb Tiktoks until you were both in tears laughing. It was nice for once, to just have Lando.
Youâre just about ready to circle back to the villa when you hear a woman shouting in Italian from down the street. Youâre not anywhere near fluent, but you recognize some basic words and what youâve heard has you pulling Lando towards the voice.
Fior! Bei Fiori!
At the end of the street there stood the lady, who had a cart of the most vibrant fresh flowers. When she spotted the two of you approaching, a smile painted itself across her face. âI think your pretty girl deserves some flowers, donât you?â
The corners of your mouth turn upwards and a smile is painted across your face. You can feel your cheeks getting warm at her statement, at the implication that you were Landoâs, but itâs his response that makes them comparable to the roses found on the cart.
Lando feels his chest get tight over the lady assuming the two of you were together. Itâs nothing new, for people to assume that heâs with a girl just because heâs seen with one. Though for some reason when someone says it about you, it gets a reaction out of him. Heâs grinning as he looks at you and then back to the sweet old lady. âYouâre right, my pretty girl does deserve some flowers.â
The butterflies that erupted in your stomach at his words were embarrassing and not the appropriate reaction to be having over your best friend, but his comment wasnât very platonic either. Youâre blushing and grinning, probably very easily comparable to a school girl at the moment. Heâs got a smug look on his face as he hands you of course the biggest bouquet the lady had. Itâs truly a beautiful bouquet and it smells divine, it had anything you could have gotten at the shops beaten by a mile.
As you head back towards the villa you canât wipe the smile off your face and you canât stop thinking about my pretty girl. The words shamelessly repeating over and over again in your head. âSo you think Iâm pretty huh?â You tease.
Now Landoâs the one to blush and he hopes you just think itâs just from the heat and sun as you look at him. âOf course I do. Iâd have to be blind to not think so.â Heâs sincere with his words, he truly thinks youâre one of the most breathtaking women heâs ever metâ intellectually and physically.
You lean your head on his arm, the same one youâve still wrapped yourself around. âYou sure know how to swoon 'em.â
âYouâre my best friend. I wouldnât lie to you.â
And for the first time, for both of you, it feels weird and almost stings to hear the word best friend said out loud. Because deep down you know youâre way more than that.
âââ ŕźşâŕźť âââ
Although you werenât that much of a party girl you didnât mind going out every once in a while. So when Lando suggested going out to one of the bars tonight it didnât seem like a bad idea. Youâd done your fair share of relaxing and to you that meant a night out deserved to be had.
With a final spritz of your perfume youâre ready to go and as you looked in the mirror one last time you couldnât help but think damn, I look good. You found Lando waiting for you in the foyer, his head lifting up from his phone at the sound of your heels clicking down the stairs. âMight want to close your mouth before you attract flies Lan.â He hadnât even realized he was in that much of a trance until you said something, he could feel his cheeks getting warm at getting caught.
You hook your arm with his as he leads you out the front door. âSorry, you just look unreal tonight.â
âWell you donât look too bad yourself.â Heâd chosen his tried and true white button up, leaving the first few buttons undone, which revealed even more of his gorgeous tanned skin. How someone could make something as simple as a white button up shirt look so good was beyond you, but it was clearly something he was skilled at.
The bar you end up at is relatively small and you realize it must be the most popular one with how packed it is. Itâs on the coast and thereâs a gorgeous outdoor area that you are immediately drawn to, mainly because thereâs slightly less people out here. Itâs still a good time though and the people are somehow even more rowdy out here and you wonder if itâs the fresh air.
Youâve danced, drank, laughed, talked, everything you could think of on a night out. It's been nice, especially doing it all with Lando, who somehow through the course of the night has undone more buttons on his shirt and you think he might as well just undo them all. Itâs clearly getting late from how the crowd is slowly starting to thin out, but you two are still having a ball, and you figure youâll stay till they kick you out.
Landoâs gone inside to get you both another drink, which he easily could have gotten from the bartender out here, but he claimed that the guy didnât know what he was doing. While you wait you venture off to a far corner of the patio thatâs somewhat empty. Thereâs a couple people sitting in chairs sharing a cigarette, but other than that youâre alone. Even in the dark the view is amazing and as you lean on the railing a nice breeze comes in off the water. Itâs relaxing and nice, especially when youâre that sticky kind of sweaty and a little more drunk than you realize.
âAbsolutely beautiful.â You jump at the unfamiliar, yet familiar voice. It had been a minute since youâd heard another British accent besides Landoâs. When you turn around to put a face to the voice you arenât expecting to see such a gorgeous man standing there. Heâs really the whole packageâ stunning blue eyes, pretty smile, fluffy light brown hair, nice facial hair.
âUh- yeah it is.â You assumed he was talking about the view.
âCan I join you?â
Heâs cute and you wouldnât mind some company, so you tell him yes.
âWhereâd your boyfriend run off to?â He asks as he nurses his Corona.
âHeâs not my boyfriend, but Iâm not wrong in assuming you know who he is, right?â This guy is in his twenties and British, if he didnât know who Lando was then he had to be living under a rock.
He takes a swig of his beer before responding. âI know who he is.â
You scoff, there was a big possibility that he was using you to get to meet Lando, it was something youâd dealt with many times before. Guys showing interest in you only in hopes of becoming Landoâs friend or even worse girls who would befriend you only to try and get with Lando. You werenât some step on the ladder that led to Lando, you were your own person with feelings and a life, who deserved to have people like you for you, not who you knew.
Maybe itâs the alcohol or maybe itâs the fact that youâre done being led on by people, but either way you confront the guy about it. âAre you using me to get to him?â
You hear him laugh a little and it lights a fire in you, but his words extinguish it before it gets out of control. âI was brave enough to come over here and willingly flirt with you before I even knew if he was your boyfriend or not. If I was trying to use you to get to him, I donât think that would be a good plan. Which now that I know youâre not his girlfriend, kinda makes me think heâs an idiot. How could he have a girl like you in his life and not be madly in love with you?â
Your brain is fuzzy as youâre trying to process what heâs said. âSorry wait- you were flirting with me?â
Heâs got a cheeky grin on his face and he lets out a chuckle at your cluelessness. âWhen I said âabsolutely beautifulâ I wasnât talking about the view.â
âOh.â Youâd thought it was kind of weird for him to just randomly say that about the view, but for it to be aimed towards you was the last thing you had thought of. âWell, flirt all you want then.â
Not only did this place have one bartender that was incompetent, it seemed like all of them were. Lando had waited for what seemed like ages for a beer and a vodka cranberry. It wasnât even that busy at the bar for it to be taking so long and at one point he contemplated just going behind the bar and doing it himself. By the time he finally got them he was surprised you hadnât come looking for him, but when he made his way out onto the patio he saw exactly why you hadnât.
Over in the corner Lando sees you doubled over laughing with some guy as he watches from afar. His grip on the glasses gets tighter as he sees you place your hand on the guy's arm. The tightness in his chest increases the longer he stands here and watches. It bothers him more than he cares to admitâ to see you with some random guy. To hear that laugh of yours and him not being the source of it is driving him crazy. But what really sends him over the edge is when the guy tucks a stray strand of hair behind your ear and without a second thought heâs storming over there.
Lando tries to play it cool as he approaches and heâs glad heâs got these drinks to use as an excuse. Your mid conversation when Lando interrupts, but he doesnât care one bit. âHereâs your drink.â He says as he pushes the slightly watered down glass towards you.
âOh thanks Lan.â You flash him a smile, but his face is emotionless and the fun light hearted atmosphere has suddenly turned awkward. For some reason you feel like youâve been caught doing something you shouldnât have. âUm, Lando this is-â You remember at that moment that you hadnât even asked the guy his name, which to you makes this even more awkward.
âHarry.â
âRight. Lando, this is Harry.â You motion between the two men. âHarry, this is Lando.â
Harry extends a hand out to Lando and they very awkwardly shake hands. âNice to meet you mate.â
Lando only nods his head at him before turning his focus back to you. âI think we should get going, they are gonna close soon.â
You think heâs joking, considering heâd waited all that time to get these drinks, and now he suddenly wants to leave. âI just got my drink, can we at least stay until I finish it?â It also feels rude to just abruptly leave in the middle of the conversation that you were enjoying with Harry. But Lando doesnât know how to hide his emotions very well and by the look on his face you know heâs being serious.
âWell you can stay, but Iâm leaving.â He knows he shouldnât leave you alone with some guy you just met, but god he doesnât think he can stand here and watch you flirt with him anymore than he already has. So, without hearing your response he starts making his way towards the exit.
A regretful look washes across your face as you look at Harry. âThat was so rude of him, Iâm so sorry. I donât know whatâs up with him, he never acts like that.â You take a big swig of your drink, fully knowing dealing with Lando is gonna be a pain. âIt was really nice talking to you, but I better go hunt him down.â
He shrugs, clearly not as upset over this whole situation as Lando or you are. âNo biggie, Iâm sure weâll see each other around. Itâs a small place.â You bid him goodbye, but you donât get very far before heâs hollering. âCan I at least get your Instagram?â Which has you coming back and quickly exchanging usernames before you're off again to find Lando.
You run into him in the bar and it looks like he was coming back out towards the patio. A look of relief washes over him when he sees you and heâs leading you away from the loud music and out the front exit before either of you can say anything. Only once the bass of the music is a faint sound in the distance does Lando speak up. âIâm sorry. I shouldnât have left you alone with that guy. I was coming back in when you found me.â
âI appreciate you looking out for me, but you were kinda rude to him for no reason.â
Guess you were diving in head first with this.
Lando stops walking and turns to face you, a confused look on his face. âI wasnât being rude.â
âYes you were. We were having a conversation and you just butted in and demanded we leave. Not to mention you wouldnât even speak to him. He was nice, you would have liked him if you gave him the time of day.â
âYou barely know the guy, you talked to him for what ten-fifteen minutes? I just didnât have a good feeling about him.â
You couldnât help but roll your eyes at his dumb excuse. He shook the guy's hand and didnât get a good feeling about him? Bullshit. âWell if you didnât have a good feeling about him then whyâd you leave me with him?â Heâd started to walk again, but stopped dead in his tracks at your words, spinning on his heel to face you once again.
âI already told you I regretted leaving you. I just had to get out of there for a second.â
âWhy?â You were being adamant, your arms crossed across your chest as you waited for his answer.
He knew exactly why, but he couldnât tell you that, he hadnât even fully accepted it himself. âI donât know Y/N.â
Youâre getting frustrated with him and these damn heels that you chose to wear are not making your mood any better. âThereâs a reason for everything, Lando. How would you like it if I acted like you did tonight with a girl you were talking to? Youâd be livid.â
He completely ignores your accusation and turns the conversation in another direction. It had been itching at him to know if you were just being nice or if you were actually interested in the guy, so he plucked up the courage to ask. âSo you were flirting with him?â
The look on your face is one of pure confusion, but your tone is nothing but shitty. âIâm not sure how you jumped to that conclusion from what I said or why itâs really any of your concern, but yeah it was just some harmless flirting. Iâm sorry for having a little fun!â You were thankful that it was late enough for the street to be relatively empty, the last thing that needed to happen was pictures or a video getting out of you two arguing. You were sure there were already rumors about you two being on vacation together, you could only imagine how this would be misconstrued.
Hearing that his best friend was potentially interested in someone else had his head spinning and he could no longer blame his reactions on the alcohol. He couldnât lie to himself anymore, ignore the way his heart raced when he looked at you. Or how he loved hearing that old lady call you his girl the other day.
It had been building upâ festering almost this whole week and maybe subconsciously he wanted to go on this trip with you to see if there was some truth to what everyone had teased him about. He just didnât think it would actually be true. Or that at two in the morning on a dimly lit street in Italy, during an argument, he would finally accept that he was in love with you.
But even with him realizing heâs in love with you, that doesnât stop him from being an absolute idiot. âHe was probably just using you to get to me.â Lando immediately regrets what he said as soon as it comes out of his mouth. He knows that's a sore subject for you and the look of hurt on your face makes his stomach churn.
âNow youâre just being mean.â Youâre sure itâs a mixture of things that are contributing to the salty tears welling up in your eyes at the moment, but itâs Landoâs comment that actually makes them fall. Youâre storming off before he can say anything, wishing you would have just stayed at the bar with Harry.
Lando knows heâs an idiot, but he also knows heâs the one who lit the match, which means heâs gotta be the one to put it out. âY/N come on. Iâm sorry. I know I shouldnât have said that.â He catches up with you rather quickly, your heels slowing you down.
âJust leave me be Lando.â
âY/N. Stop walking for just a minute.â Heâs grabbing at your arm, trying to halt your movement.
You stop and face him and for what itâs worth he does look sorry, but that doesnât change how you feel. âWhat? You want to poke fun at me some more?â
âNo I-â
âYou know I was just having a little harmless fun with that guy, like you said I talked to him for what? Fifteen minutes? Nothing was going to come out of it. But is it really that far-fetched of an idea for a guy to actually be interested in me just for me? Am I that undesirable and unlovable for it to seem like a reality? Or was he like everyone else whoâs used me and threw me away as soon as they got their five minutes of the almighty Lando Norris experience?â
The tears that slide down your cheeks are a mixture of anger and embarrassment and maybe you were being a little dramatic. Perhaps the multiple drinks youâd consumed werenât helping either, but when the person you care about the most says something like that, something youâd confided in him about, it hurts.
Lando feels his heart break to hear you talk about yourself like that. All he wants to do is to scream out that youâre not undesirable or unlovable. Heâs wanted you and loved you for some time now, the moment it started heâs not sure, but he knows it didnât happen overnight. Itâs always been thereâ he was just too blind to see it.
Heâs not entirely sure on how to make this right, he knows he was an ass, but he also knows he canât take back whatâs been said. The worst part is that he knows exactly how you feel and somehow he still thought that was a good thing to throw in your faceâ all because he was jealous. He could deal with people trying to use him, heâd developed a sixth sense for them and never let it get too far, but you were too kind. Your big heart and trusting of others had gotten you burned one too many times and it hurt Lando even more to know that all that had happened because of him.
âI should have never said that to you. I know first hand how it feels to have people use me and the only reason youâve had to deal with that is because of me. Iâm so fucking sorry.â
Your sniffles fill the night air as you try to calm yourself down. While people used you to get to Lando, at least they didnât want to be your friend to leech off your fame. Use you for your money and generosity, expecting paddock passes and some lavish lifestyle. People saw Lando as an object rather than a person more times than not. While your feelings were valid and Lando was still an ass for saying that, you realized to be in his shoes was worse. So, you wipe away your tears and accept his apology indirectly. âThink weâve only got each other at this point.â
His voice is soft as he approaches you, his hand reaching up to brush a stray piece of hair out of your face. âDonât think I need anyone else but you.â
The tender moment has you turning to putty in his handsâ the argument pushed to the back of your mind. His hand moves to cup your face and his tumb brushes gently across your cheek. You feel like time has frozen in this moment and for a split second you swear he looks at your lips, like heâs going to kiss you. The fact that this is your best friend is no concern to you at the moment. Then the moment between you two is ruined just as fast as it began, the sound of a very loud and drunk group of people leaving the bar up the street brings you both back to reality.
You back away from each other slowly, like you werenât sure exactly what had just almost happened. Youâd already resorted to blaming it on both of your emotions still running wild and the alcohol still coursing through your veins. The group of people are getting closer, their obnoxious singing getting louder as each second passes. They might not even know who Lando is, but you arenât in the mood to wait around and find out, the last thing you want to deal with right now is drunk fans. âWeâve had too much to drink, my head and feet hurt. Letâs go home.â You grumble as you begin the trek home once again, your feet aching more and more with each step.
Lando stops for a moment and kicks off his shoes, he couldnât let you walk in pain the whole way home. Especially after the pain he had caused moments ago. âHere put these on, your feet are killing you.â He hands you the white sneakers before squatting down in front of you to help you get your heels off.
Your feet already thank you as you slip on the oversized shoes that clomp on the stone street. And like a magnet you find yourself wrapping your arm around his as you walk down the street. Youâre sure you two are a sightâyou in shoes that are way too big and Lando only in socks as he holds your heels for you.
âYou know youâre still an ass.â You tell him as you lean your head on his shoulder.
âI know.â
âYou know you arenât unloveable.â He hopes you know heâs being sincere, your words still replaying in his mind as you walk.
âI know.â
By the time you make it back to the villa youâre both exhausted. The alcohol, the argument, that moment between you two, the walk homeâ you were sure tomorrow morning would be a rough one. There arenât many words spoken as you get ready for bed and as you slide under the covers next to Lando you canât shake something from your mind from tonight, and it wasnât the argument.
It was the fact that during the whole time you were chatting with Harry, you couldnât help but compare him to Lando. There wasnât the same sparkle in his eye like Lando, his smile wasnât the same, his laugh. It seemed like everything that you noticed about this guy came second best to Lando. Sure you were having fun and he was nice, but not once had the thought of Lando slipped your mind. And even right now, with Lando next to you, youâre still somehow thinking about him.
It didnât take long for Lando to fall asleep and you were on the verge of it when your phone went off on the nightstand. Usually, you would just ignore it, but something in you told you to see what it was.
harryinsta is now following you
You then see that he had sent you a DM and youâre expecting it to be about meeting up some time, which you were going to politely decline, but itâs quite the opposite.
harryintsa: i must have been mistaken earlier. lando's not an idiot.
yourinsta: huh?
harryinsta: heâs in love with you lol
Your heart nearly beats out of your chest as you read the message over and over again. Lando wasnât in love with you, was he? Sure youâd heard it from just about everyone in your life that you two were in love with each other, but you always thought it was silly. You guys were just best friends is what you would always say, but to hear it come from a literal stranger was different.
You couldnât lie that you hadnât recently had your moments of perhaps thinking that he did, though youâd always talk yourself out of the idea. Although, if he was in love with you that may explain his behavior tonight. Or maybe it was just the alcohol like youâd originally thought. Then the tender moment you two shared entered your mind and suddenly the gears in your head are working overtime.
You locked your phone and sat it back down on the nightstand. Just from a simple DM youâd gone from being dead tired to now being wide awakeâ staring at the ceiling. Youâre not sure how much time had passed as you laid there over analyzing every interaction with Lando. You were struggling enough trying to figure out the things you had recently felt about Lando, let alone the possibility that he was in love with you. All you knew for sure was that things werenât the same between you two, youâd felt a shift when you were with him in Monaco before the Belgium GP. It had only amplified during this trip and you had a feeling that by the end of it things would be different.
âââ ŕźşâŕźť âââ
Two days later youâre sunbathing on a comfy lounger on the beach, while Landoâs out in the water doing god knows what. Youâd given up on watching him a while ago, deciding instead to be productive and try to catch up to Landoâs tan level. Which, after laying here for some time now, it seemed impossible. That boy could be in the sun for a day and have a glowing tanâ you not so much.
Moments later you think a cloud has passed in front of the sun, but when you feel cool water droplets on your hot skin you peek open one eye to find a wet and grinning Lando standing over you. âHi.â
âHi.â You greet him back as you sit up, your smile matching his. âDid you have fun out there?â
âI had a lot of fun and the water felt amazing. You should have got in.â
âI will later.â You notice heâs got one of his hands behind his back like heâs hiding something. âLan, what have you got?â He tries to play dumb for a moment, trying to wind you up, but he eventually caves and pulls a plastic pail from behind his back. âPlease donât tell me you stole that from a kid.â Your half joking and half being serious, because where the hell did he get that from?
âI did not steal it from a kidâ I borrowed it.â The smile on his face never falls as he continues to speak. âThey had a bunch of them. I don't think theyâll miss it. Plus I needed something to put your present in.â
You cock an eyebrow at him, curiosity written all over your face. âMy present?â
Heâs smiling so hard as he sits down at the end of the lounger that you think this must be the best present in the world. Seconds later the pail is turned upside down and out falls the prettiest seashells. Your heart swells when you realize all that time he had spent out in the water he was looking for shellsâ for you. Thereâs a light pink one that catches your eye and Lando notices when you reach for it.
âKnew youâd like that one.â
Of course he knew that, sometimes you think he knows you better than you know yourself. âCanât believe you spent all that time finding them.â
He shrugs like itâs an everyday thing. âI knew it would make you happy, which meant I enjoyed doing it. Really only took me so long because I wanted them all to be perfect for you.â
The sun beating down on you feels cold with how hard youâre blushing. âYouâre my favorite person, you know that?â
Lando starts to get shy when you get sappy, like he hadnât just said the sweetest thing a second ago. Heâs smiling, but focuses on carefully putting the shells back into the pail. âYouâre my favorite person too.â
A while later you decide to open up the umbrella between the two loungers. You had chosen to give up on the tanning lifestyle and instead dive into a new book. While Lando was fast asleep on the lounger next to you, apparently all that hunting for shells had worn him out.
Youâd noticed out of the corner of your eye awhile ago that a little boy kept glancing over in your direction, specifically at Lando. You knew he had to have been a fan or he was the kid Lando stole the pail from. The nervous glances back and forth tell you that thankfully heâs a fan and you think itâs the cutest thing. Youâre in the middle of considering waking Lando up so the boy could come over when you hear a groan that is undoubtedly Lando awaking from his slumber.
âWhat are you looking at?â He asks as he rubs his eyes.
You nod your head in the direction of the boy whoâs just seen that Lando is awake and is practically bouncing with glee. âThink you may have a fan.â
A big grin spreads across Landoâs face as he sees the little boy. Lando loved meeting all his fans, but meeting the kids was his favorite. He thinks a big part of the reason he always makes sure to find time for the younger fans was because he was that kid once. Before he was ever F1 driver Lando Norris, he was just a kid who finally got the chance to meet their idol and he knows that picture or an autograph means the world to them
Lando motions for the boy to come over and heâs instantly tugging on his Momâs shirt to get her to come with him. She gives you guys a questioning look and when Lando motions again they both come over.
The little boyâs Italian accent is the cutest thing ever as he greets you two and you can tell just how much it means to him to be talking to Lando.
âWhatâs your name?â Lando asks as he signs a beach towel of all things.
âLuca and Iâm seven!â
âSeven is a great age. You know I started karting when I was seven!â
Lucaâs eyes get as wide as saucers as he glances back at his Mom, who is already shutting down any talk of Luca karting. âI told you possibly next year. Youâre still my little baby. I don't want you getting hurt!â
Lando gives the Mom an apologetic look. âHow about a picture?â Which easily takes Lucaâs attention away from karting, as heâs already at Landoâs side with a big smile on his face before his Mom has her phone out.
They take a couple pictures and high fives are exchanged throughout their interaction. The whole thing is very sweet and you canât help but look on in adoration, fully knowing that Lando would make a great Father one day.
You see that Luca keeps looking over at you and then back to Lando, but you donât pay that much mind to it. You figured he was just nervous or something, but what comes out of his mouth next takes you by surprise.
âYour girlfriend is very pretty.â
You feel your heart skip a beat and you glance over at Lando to see what his reaction is. You prepare yourself for the worst, but in true Lando fashion heâs all smiles. In fact heâs sporting that full face smile of his and it makes you feel funny.
âThank you buddy, I think so too.â He looks over at you with nothing but love in his eyes and youâre immediately looking away like some shy school girl.
Thankfully, the Mom comes to your aid and quickly changes the subject. âOk Luca, youâve bothered them enough. We should get back to our spot. Thank them for their time.â
His cute little voice mutters out grazie as he gives you a small wave goodbye.
âIt was very nice to meet you, Luca.â Lando bids him farewell and you both wave back at the little boy.
As soon as theyâre gone youâre immediately shoving your face back into your book, you donât even want to talk about what had just happened. It was nothing really to be so worked up over, it was just a little kid who saw two people together and assumed they were together. It happens all the time. But it is a big deal when you find yourself liking being referred to as Landoâs girlfriend. It doesnât help when neither of you deny it and correct the person. Lando likes to play into it and you love it too much to say anything.
Ever since getting that DM the other night your mind had been in a whirlwind over how Lando felt about you and how you felt about him. Hell you canât even look at him right now, youâre so in your head that youâve been staring at the same page for the last five minutes. You just wished the book you were reading could tell you how to come to terms with the fact that youâre in love with your best friend.
It was something youâd realized the other night while you were awake overthinking everything. Those feelings had always been there, but you had just pushed them aside, ignoring every little butterfly or rapid heartbeat. When they actually turned into romantic feelings you have no clue because as far as you knew, you and Lando had always been like this.
You two just dove in head first into the co-dependent friendship that was more like a relationship lifestyle. All those times youâd gone to his parents house for family dinners and holidays, both of you attached at the hip. How he wanted to ask you to move to Monaco with him and then almost didnât even move because he said heâd miss you too much. The group vacations that always ended up with you two going off and doing your own thing. The texts from him every Wednesday before a race asking if he needed to get you a paddock pass and a flight. This trip in particularâ sleeping in the same bed when you donât have to, the cuddling, the getting mistaken for a couple three times so far, the fact that it was just you two alone on the trip.
It was all there the whole time and you wondered how you could have been so blind to not realize it sooner. You were in love with him. You loved his pretty eyes and curls and the way his real laugh only seemed to come out around you. You loved his big heart and his caring nature and sometimes you thought he was too nice to be a Formula 1 driver.
You loved everything about him and truth be told it made your stomach hurt from how much you loved him. You wanted to actually be his and be able to kiss those pink lips that you sometimes found yourself staring at. When people said you were his girlfriend you wanted it to actually be true and not have it be Lando just playing along. You were so down bad that you prayed that Harry was right and that Lando was actually in love with you too.
While you were freaking out, so was Lando. When you immediately went back to reading your book and not speaking a word, he figured he had weirded you out by basically implying that you were his girlfriend. He just figured it was easier to go along with what the kid thought than explain that you werenât his girlfriend, but god does he wish you were. He didnât know what to say to try and test the waters because he knew whatever he would say would come out awkward and he didnât want to make things worse. So, once again itâs not talked about and you two pretend that it didnât happen when you finally speak again.
âââ ŕźşâŕźť âââ
Itâs the last day of the trip and youâre dreading going back to reality and away from this little slice of heaven. The only thing you have to look forward to is the supposed fancy dinner that Lando had planned for tonight, which was what you were currently getting ready for. Music plays through your phone and you softly sing along as you do your makeup. When you look up after digging in your makeup bag you spot Lando in the mirror, leaning against the door frame behind you. Your eyes lower and you see that heâs holding two gift bags.
"Those better be for your Mom.â You state as you put the finishing touches on your makeup.
âI think we both know they arenât.â He sees you roll your eyes in the mirror and it only makes him want to spoil you more. âItâs our last day, I think you deserve a parting gift.â
You turn to face him as he makes his way over to you. âI havenât gotten you a single thing this whole time. It makes me feel bad.â
Lando only shakes his head at you. âYou being here with me is the best gift you could have ever gotten me. I truly donât need anything else.â He hands you the bags. âNow open them please.â
A small smile finds its way onto your face as you take the bags from him. You decide to open the bigger bag first and once you pull out the tissue paper you know exactly what it is. Itâs still in its dust bag, but you see the branding and your jaw is dropping before you even see the actual thing. âYou did not get me this bag Lando!â You exclaim as you remove the dust bag and see that itâs the same bag you were eyeing at the store the other day.
He shrugs like itâs no big deal. âSaw you eyeing it and knew I had to get it for you and before you say anything else open the other present.â
You set the handbag down and grab the smaller gift trying to figure out what else he could have possibly gotten you. When you open it and see the bracelet you were also looking at the other day youâre at a loss for words. âLando Norris!â You could slap him, hug him, kiss him, and yell at him all at once. Heâd dropped probably close to six grand on these two gifts and your head is spinning at the thought of it.
âDonât even say anything about the price. I know youâre thinking it, but I wouldnât have bought you them if I couldnât afford it. I wanted you to have them, you deserve nice things.â You deserved a lot more than a handbag and a bracelet, but what he thought you deserved money couldnât buy.
You know there's no use in fighting him on it, but you still feel bad that he just spends all this money on you. He takes the bracelet from the box and fastens it around your wrist, the diamonds glittering in the light as you move it around. Itâs truly stunning and the handbag will go great with your outfit tonight. As soon as you two make eye contact again youâre pulling him into a bone crushing hug and you two stay like that for probably longer than necessary. âThank you a million times Lan. I love them both so much.â
Itâs time to leave for dinner shortly after that and when you arrive at the restaurant the host guides you back to a secluded corner. Itâs a very romantic ambiance and you canât help but feel like youâre on a date, which wouldnât be a horrible thing. Moments later a waiter comes over with a bottle of champagne and two glasses. âItâs on the houseâ for the special couple.â
There it is again and it seems like with each time it happens it makes your heart race even more. Lando shifts in his seat and you focus on the rising bubbles in the glasses as the waiter pours the champagne. Lando tells him thank you and your attention moves to the menu.
âWhat are you thinking about getting?â You ask, ignoring the obvious.
âProbably the steak.â He grabs the flute of champagne and takes a drink. âWhat was that? The fourth time now?â
You know exactly what heâs talking about, but youâre surprised heâs decided to talk about it. âYeah it was.â You set the menu down and grab the other flute. âThink Iâll get the steak too.â
Dinner actually turns out to be an amazing time. The food is decadent and Lando and you have good conversations that donât revolve around you two being mistaken for a couple or being in love with each other. When the waiter brings the bill youâre quite sad because that just means this trip is that much closer to being over.
You take your time heading back to the villa, trying to savor every last moment youâve got here. The sun was low in the sky by the time you get back and you tell Lando just how you want to spend your final evening in Italy. You hurry and change into comfier clothes and take off all your makeup before heading to the spot with the best view out back. Lando makes his way out there not too long after you, but heâs got one more surprise for you.
âDonât think the evening or this trip would be complete without this now would it?â He pulls a bottle of pink moscato from behind his back along with two wine glasses.
He knew you too well, but it was something you loved dearly about him. âYouâre a man after my heart Norris.â
He hands you a glass as he sits down next to you, the sun just beginning to set on the horizon. âI try.â
Thereâs a comfortable silence between you two for a while and the only sound to be heard is from the waves below. It feels like paradise sitting here with this amazing view and the guy you love next to you. Itâs probably boring to the majority of people, but this was everything you could ask for and more and the perfect way to end this amazing trip. You lean in closer to Lando, your head resting on his shoulder as he wraps his arm around you. A content sigh escapes past your lips as his thumb starts to draw mindless circles on your arm.
âThank you again for everything. This trip was amazing and Iâm glad we got to go togetherâ just you and me.â
âIâm glad too. It was probably the best summer break trip Iâve had. Donât think Ibiza will be seeing me for a while.â
Youâre not even looking at him, but you can sense the smile on his face and you canât help but laugh at his lie. âYeah, and I donât like pink moscato.â
âAlright so Ibiza will inevitably see me, but not as much as Italy.â He pauses for a moment, glancing down at you still resting on his shoulder, his heart swelling just by looking at you. âI think this may be our place now, just for the two of us.â His voice is soft when he says it, like heâs not sure if he wanted to say it outloud.
You lift your head up and are met with his piercing blue eyes staring back at you. He looked radiant as golden hour cascades over him and itâs like youâre in a trance as you look at him. You take in every last bit of him, all the little details about him that youâve memorized over the years. The slight stubble on his face from not shaving for a couple days, the little moles, his long and somehow always curled eyelashes, those pink lips of his. Heâs everything you could have ever dreamed of and more. Youâve had him at fingertip length for so long now and all you want to do is reach out for him, take what you want and never let go.
Lando feels his breath catch in his throat as you two make eye contact. Youâd never looked more beautiful than in this moment and he doesnât know how much longer he can take without you actually being his. You were the love of his life, his best friend, and everything heâs ever wanted. It may have taken him a long time to realize it, but heâs never felt like this about anyone before. You know each other like the back of your hands and it only makes sense that youâd be the one for him.
And itâs in this moment that it clicks for you two that itâs now or never. Youâre never going to have a perfect moment like this again. It feels right, like the universe wants this moment to happen and if you let it go to waste you may never get the chance again. Lando takes his free hand and gently cups your face, his thumb ever so softly rubbing across your cheek. Youâre practically putty in his hands and you feel like your heart is gonna beat out of your chest. You want to scream out to him that you love him, that you want to be his, but you can barely get your brain to communicate with your mouth.
âLan-â
Thatâs all you can get out before Landoâs leaning in and his lips are on yours. He tastes like the sugary sweet wine and his lips are soft as they move in sync with yours. Kissing him is even better than youâd imagined and as your hand reaches up to his neck you deepen the kiss. It feels like you two had kissed a thousand times before and as he pulls away youâre already left wanting more.
Your foreheads rest against each other, both of you breathless and a little light headed from that singular kiss. When you both actually internalize whatâs just happened youâre both grinning, that then turns into laughing and itâs like music to both of your ears to hear each other laugh.
âI think that was a long time coming.â You state as you finally lean back onto the couch.
Lando reaches out for your hand, intertwining his with yours. âWhen did you realize?â
âThat night when we got into that argument, which looking back now, you were totally jealous.â
âI was not jealous!â He tries to be serious, but the knowing look on your face has him cracking. âOk I was jealous.â
âWhen did you realize?â You question.
âThat same night. I couldnât understand why you flirting with that guy bothered me so much. Well I guess now we know.â
âYeah cause youâre in loooveee with me.â Youâre laughing as you speak, but he shuts you up with another kiss and leaves you pouting when he pulls away.
âOnly kissed you twice and youâre already pouting when I pull away? I think youâre in loooveee with me.â
You lean back in, capturing his lips in yet another kiss and youâre like teenagers whoâve gotten into their first relationship.
Lando sighs when you stop kissing him, he canât believe he could have had this sooner if he would have just opened his eyes. âYou think you could get another week off from work?â
Youâd do anything to get another week in a paradise with him, but you know itâs not possible. âHmm, why donât you just spend a week in London with me?â
âWell you havenât even told them that you now have a famous F1 driver boyfriend. Who if they didnât know already is very needy and needs to see his girlfriend.â He teases.
âWell you forgot to add that youâre my hot and famous F1 driver boyfriend.â You counter back.
Youâre both grinning like fools at each other and as you curl up into his side and take in the last sunset youâll see in the place that now holds such a special place in both of your hearts, youâre glad you let him convince you to come on this trip.
As the sun finally sets over the water you actually say those three little words.
âI love you.â
âI love you too.â
#lando norris#lando norris x reader#lando norris fic#lando norris imagine#lando norris fanfic#formula 1 x reader#formula 1 imagine#formula 1 fic#lando norris fluff#mine#writing
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Thinking about a Reader who ends up having Scary Dog Privileges with Ghost without meaning to. It just happened.
Then they have to deal with the fact that this comes with duties too.
Tags: civilian!reader, gn!reader, mostly fluff, a bit suggestive, smug!Ghost, smooth!Ghost. 800 words.
Part 2. Part 3.
When Ghost is reluctant to getting sutured in Medical after accidentally opening his stitches, grumbling he can do it himself, who does the nurse call for? Yeah, you.
She could stand her ground, after all she's used to dealing with big, whiny men, but it's much more fun to knock on your door and smile at your bewildered gaze and gaping mouth when she explains the situation in two sentences.
"Ghost's being difficult, mind taking over?" "I'm sorry, what the hell does this have to do with me?" "C'm'on, everyone on base knows he's got a soft spot for you. Don't you want to make my job easier?"
You roll your eyes and slam your hands on your desk as you get up. Groaning as you walk past herâ "I'm doing this for you, nothing else, got it?"
Mumbling to yourself "you've got to be kidding me" as you barge into the sick bay. Ghost is coolly seated at the end of a bed, large as life, casual clothes as black as his mask andâ oh. You weren't told the wound was on his thighâ you weren't warned that he didnât have pants on. You canât help it, your eyes go down, down, your lingering gaze and your flustered silence forming a confession louder than words.
A noise â a scoff or a grunt, youâre not sure â emanates from him, breaks your trance, makes you look up. The amusement in his gaze tells you he noticed your ogglingâ of course he did. Nothing gets past the Ghost, and you've been remarkably unsubtle. Despite the mask, you swear you can make out the smug smirk on his lips. His cockiness reignites your irritation. Annoyance making you bolder than you really are, you charge at him, crossing the distance between you two in a stride, stopping closeâ too close. He doesn't back off.
"What's wrong with you?" you snarl. "Nothin'," he retorts, imperturbable.
It's actually the first time youâre overlooking him. You may be enjoying it a bit too much. Nevermind the fact that you've had to wedge yourself between his parted legs to get there.
You frown, unconvinced by his answer.
âDid Soap contaminate you?â
Bargaining to be cleared out earlier was the Scotsman's trademark.
âJohnny throws a fit cos he hates feeling useless. That's not what I'm doing.â
A smirk stretches your lips.
âOh, no? I'm sure your reasons are much more noble.â
âDoesn't matter. Got what I wanted anyway.â
He's way too self-satisfied for a man in his underwear.
You throw an unequivocal look in the direction of his injury.
âWhat you wanted? A still open wound?â
âYou.â
He replied without missing a beat, as confident as usual. It is both alluring and aggravating.
âAnd your idea of wooing me is making me upset?â
You don't add âbecause if it is, that's really fucking stupidâ out loud, but youâre sure he got the message through your tone.
âNah. But you're more honest when youâre angry. Gutsier.â
You only realize he slipped his index and middle fingers in your trouser loops when he sharply tugs at them. Off balance, you steady yourself by catching his shoulders.
Taking advantage of the strip of bare skin between your shirt and bottoms, the pads of his thumbs idly stroke your hip bones. The contact sends electricity through you, shivers of pleasure running down your sides.
âGhost,â you start, severe, trying not to let the effect his touch has on you show in your voice.
âSimon,â he counters, surly. âTold ya it's Simon when we're alone, didn't I?â
He did, but you didnât think he was serious. If that's what it takes to get him to listen⌠youâll play by his rules.
âSimon. What's the rest of your brilliant plan? I'm here, but I canât stitch you up.â
âHow âbout a deal. I'll stop resisting⌠for a price.â
You raise an amused eyebrow.
âWhat kind of price?â
âA kiss.â
You snort. You didnât believe him capable of something so⌠puerile.
âWith the mask on?â
He doesn't move a muscle to get rid of it.
âTake it off.â
You usually wouldnât obey what sounds like an order so easily, but it's the first time you get to touch the skull. Slipping two fingers between skin and cloth, you slowly roll up the mask all the way under his nose.
You gently trace the scars surrounding his lips. Then, the second you feel him relax, grip on your hips slackening and intensity of his gaze waning, you grab the bottom of his mask and drag it back down vigorously, making the holes for the eyes land way too low for him to see anything.
âIf you thought you'd get a reward for acting out, you've got another think coming.â
#mine#ghost x reader#simon ghost riley x reader#simon ghost riley#cod#cod fanfic#cod x reader#writings#writers on tumblr#playing around with the format ~ :)#cos the post is prettier this way lol#cod fluff#cod mw2#cod mwii#call of duty x reader#cod modern warfare#cod mw3#fluff#ghost x you#ghost x y/n#simon ghost riley x you#simon riley x reader#cod ghost#ghost cod#ghost fluff#ficlet#cod fic#1k#!!!#2k
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in most fics i've read robin is grossed out when steve talks about his sex life, which is probably far more in character for her, but hear me out
imagine them discussing literally everything. like having no boundaries whatsoever.
one day robin mentions she's never seen a dick and she's curious what all the fuss is about.
robin: you have one
steve: yeah...?
robin: so show me
steve: ??
steve: sure, why not
when steve pulls down his pants, robin just stares at him with a blank face
robin: that's... it?
steve: what do you mean that's it??
robin: it looks sad
steve: ??? well, it's not hard rn, obviously???
robin: ugh, boring
steve: you want me to show you my hard dick?? is that what's happening rn?
robin: i mean yeah?
steve: your judgemental face is forever burned into my mind. i don't think i'll ever be able to get hard again.
then robin bursts into his room like a week later
robin: steve, you're a slut-
steve: hey!
robin: so you know your way around a vagina, right?? i need you to tell me if i have a rash or not
steve: do you not own a handheld mirror?
robin: i'm freaking out so much, i can't make a sound observation rn
steve: *sigh* alright
turns out robin does indeed have a rash and steve takes her to the doctor
at one point they lose all shame. steve regularly air dries while robin hangs out in his room. robin makes steve do her monthly breast self-exam. they check each other for ticks.
when steve and eddie start dating steve tells robin literally everything. robin knows way too much about eddie and she loves it.
robin comes over for movie night, eddie is already there
robin: how was your day?
steve: we slept in, then eddie fucked me, it was great-
eddie: *chokes*
steve: then we cooked lunch, there are some leftovers in the fridge, go ahead and eat. yours?
eddie: ???
robin: ugh, don't get me started-
eddie: wait wait wait, how did you just say that so casually?
stobin: ???
eddie: that i fucked you??
steve: i tell robin everything. i told you that. you said that's fine.
eddie: i didn't know that included our sex life?
steve: why wouldn't it? ... wait, oh no, are you not okay with that?? i'm sorry, i thought you knew??
eddie: oh no, it's fine! it just surprised me is all. y'all are real freaks, carry on
stobin: okay then
robin freaks out before her first date with a girl
robin: what if my vagina looks weird???
steve: are you planning to fuck her on the first date, buckley? and how many times do i have to tell you your vagina looks absolutely normal??
robin: no, i'm not, but it's still a valid concern!!! what if my vagina looks hideous to girls??
eddie, the silent observer: lol
steve: what are you even talking about... a vagina is a vagina, vagina lovers love all vaginas
robin: stop saying vagina
steve: vagina vagina vagina-
robin tackles him and they end up wrestling until steve yields
steve: okay okay,, as someone who's seen his fair share of coochies
robin: that's even worse
steve: yours looks perfectly fine.
eddie: wait, you've seen it?
stobin, staring at him: ...
eddie: right, dumb question
#stobin merging into one entity is my favorite thing ever#stobin#steddie#fic#ficlet#mine#stranger things#steve harrington#robin buckley#eddie munson#stobinie
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new fic: kiss the cook
Read on AO3 here!
1998 & 2006 | With his brother Sean as his matchmaker, Aaron Hotchner has given up all hope on finding the woman of his dreamsâuntil he meets a gifted chef and aspiring profiler named Emily Prentiss. Previously posted to FFN, where it won the 2012 Profiler's Choice Awards Winner for Best Hotch/Emily.
ââher name is Emily. Sheâs twenty-seven, I think? Supermodel gorgeous. Sheâs got a great sense of humor, albeit a dry one, like yours. And sheâs sweet. And gorgeous,â Sean said again. âHell, Iâd date herââ âWhy arenât you?â Hotch countered. Sean glanced behind him as he heard the telltale sound of quiet giggling. âShe turned me down because Iâm quote unquote âa caricatureâ,â he groused. Hotch couldnât suppress his bark of surprised laughter. âI like her already.â
#hotchniss#hotchniss fanfiction#hotchniss fic#aaron hotchner#aaron hotchner fanfiction#emily prentiss#emily prentiss fanfiction#aaron hotchner x emily prentiss#criminal minds#criminal minds fanfiction#criminal minds fic#cm fanfiction#hotch x prentiss#hotch x emily#mine*fic#cm#ktc
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chrissy inevitably gains weight when she starts recovering from her ed, and eddie just canât get over how fucking soft sheâs become. he always loved her body, but now he feels actually insane with how much he wants to be touching her at all times.
her cheeks are softer (which he says are perfect for kisses), her jaw more rounded, her breasts fuller (they were eddieâs preferred pillow from the start, and that feeling has only intensified. sometimes it's not even sexual. he just reaches under her shirt to rest his hand on her breast as they're on the couch watching tv, mindlessly caressing it), her stomach supple, her thighs cushiony, and itâs like heâs found his newest favorite thing to fidget with.
the thing he loves the most is when theyâre in bed, and chrissy pulls him to lie down on her chest, and he can wrap his arms around her torso and entangle his legs with hers. any stress heâs feeling, whether from work or writerâs block when a song just wonât come out the way he wants to, completely melts away as he sinks into the delicate warmth of her body. âĄ
#hellcheer#eddissy#edissy#munningham#eddie x chrissy#chrissy x eddie#mine*fic#what is writing if not self-indulgent
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my urban fantasy au that i never finished:
stained with blood and faery dust
2.2k | no warnings
He loves Evie, he really does. She turned him into a vampire, held his hand through his oh-my-god-my-best-friend-is-a-vampire freakout, saved him from his crazy mom and was the smartest person in his engineering class at college. Not in that order but whatever. The point is: he loves Evie, who is the leader of their clan and who made him her right hand.
But she is so dramatic.
Itâs not really surprising, the girl came to 8 pm classes looking like a model. Flared pants, thick heels, glittery eyeshadow like full on disco queen.
And Evie is similar to the vampires in those new, 21st century movies, which Carlos finds hilarious. She keeps to a strict colour palette (he canât really talk tho) of deep blues, blood reds and platinum. She broods, she smirks, her voice is a little breathy. She loves holding things like a 19th century dagger and staring intently at Carlos for minutes before saying something like âThis is what my mother used when she tried to kill my sister,â and then never bringing that up again. Even her eyes have a reddish hue, though she swears that they were always like that.
She really turns the dramatics up when she has company.
Like tonight, thereâs a faery who just wants to announce that she took over the neighbouring territory and that she doesnât want any trouble with vampires. They all know it. It was written in the agenda. It should all take like 10 minutes maximum, for them to introduce themselves and for the faery to tell how she got the Fae Guardian of LA title. But does Evie let her do that? No! She greets the faery and her guard and starts preparing her meal.
As if just drinking blood wouldnât intimidate the young (is she? Carlos is so bad at telling ages) fae and her guard enough. Evie has to do it the dramatic way. Thereâs a routine to it that he memorised ages ago:
She pours the blood from this beautiful crystal bottle into a matching glass that are probably older than Carlos.
The set itself is impressive. Itâs tall and thin and has this intricate designs etched into it. The bottle always stands on Evieâs desk, half full. She doesnât let them fill it for...reasons? Heâs not sure.
But the important thing is, she does it in complete silence and maintaining eye contact with her guest. She makes a show of letting her fangs out when she opens the bottle. Then thereâs only the sound of blood pouring and her intense maroon eyes. It usually pins whoever is visiting in their place.
The fae tonight are not an exception. The girl doesnât look as scared as she looks intrigued, or enthralled. The boy (man?) though is a true professional, stoic in face, his eyes looking around for a possible threat. They just happen to flick to Evie every few seconds.
Carlos hears the slow pouring stop and the bottle being set down. Which means itâs time for the next step:
Evie drinks.
Itâs slow and deliberate at first but when it becomes impossible to keep eye contact, she gulps it down and sometimes even sends a drop rolling from the corner of her mouth.
He is somewhat grateful that she is taking so long, because it gives him a chance to stare at the fae pair some more. They are beautiful in a slightly otherworldly way.
The girlâs hair is a shock of deep purple and it lays in soft loose curls to her shoulders. Her outfit is dark, not what he expected from fae, which might be biased on his side but he never handled fae relations before. A green tank, studded black leather jacket, black jeans, black combat boots. If he looks carefully, Carlos can see the edges of something dark, like a tattoo, near the topâs neckline. Her most decidedly non-human feature visible are her eyes. Green and cold, like winter grass, they are set just a touch wide, with outer ends pointing up, giving her a slightly predatory look.
On her right side stands her guard. Tall and lithe. He probably has the most natural looking hair colour in the room - a warm dark brown. Itâs up in a bun with a few wavy strands framing the face, leaving his pointed ears on display. He has small round scarlet earrings in, which is probably the most colourful part of his outfit. The rest of it is black, as far as Carlos can see: the leather vest, the tank underneath, the jeans, the sneakers. The vest shows his arms and wow what great arms, thanks for wearing a vest, mysterious bodyguard. Aside from looking like he could knock someone out with one punch, the bare arms show multiple markings, several times darker than his skin but not quite black. Thorny vines enlace him up to shoulders, some creeping on his neck. And on his right bicep a blood orange snake that looked like it was moving but that was probably just the flexing muscles underneath. Carlos noticed that he was repeatedly making a fist and relaxing it.
He sees from his periphery that Evie finished drinking (and she did let a drop on blood out, the dramatic little shit), which means itâs time for:
Evie checks how uncomfortable she can make her guest.
Well, this whole thing is her checking how uncomfortable she can make her guest, but Carlos isnât sure what else he can call it.
You see, she lowers the glass, now stained red from the inside, blood still rolling down her chin, and licks her lips in the most sexual way possible. Then, as if itâs not enough, she wipes the remaining blood away with her thumb and licks it. By that point everyone in the room usually reaches âscared but hornyâ maximum.
Looking at the fae tonight, Carlos sees that the guard stopped even pretending to be on high alert, and now is just staring at Evie. The leaderâs cheeks are turning blue and for a second Carlos is worried, before he remembers that faeâs blood is blue. Sheâs blushing.
And here comes the kill shot:
Evie makes an âI just had sexâ face.
Not that he knows that this is her after-sex face, but heâs not some blushing virgin, so he recognises it. She sighs with her eyes closed, smile tugging on her lips. On days sheâs feeling particularly mischievous (thank gâ- itâs not today), she makes it sound almost like a moan.
After the sigh comes the smile. It starts as somewhat content, almost happy and morphs into what he calls âI know more than you and I am more powerful, so it would do you well to remember itâ smile. Itâs a mouthful but it perfectly describes her face right now.
At this point, even people who initially came with requests are offering something to the clan, to Evie. (Once, a werewolf who wanted to call for a duel because Dizzie crossed into their territory, surrendered said territory.)
The fae stay silent, if a little blue. Finally, Evie breaks the silence:
âWell? Who are you and what is your business with vampires of Los Angeles?â She hasnât even retracted her fangs back! Itâs not comfortable to speak with them, Carlos knows but Evie manages to make it look effortless. Sure, her âwâs are bordering on a âvâ sound, but other than that, she talks like usual.
The fae both straighten up a little and the girl clears her throat to speak.
What the fuck? Mal has already talked to witches and werewolves and, sure, their leaders were eccentric but vampires are next level.
First of all, their headquarters is an âonline security office buildingâ called B-te. (Thatâs too on the nose if you ask her.) It stands out from other skyscrapers, with itâs toned to almost black windows, shining white light down the facade and overall looks very modern.
When she and Jay arrived they were greeted by a young man (though you never know, he could be in his 300s), very polite, didnât ask for their names, didnât offer his. Just said that they can call him Red. THis outfit is...interesting. Above the waist it is classic, a white shirt, a black suit jacket lined with red thread and a red tie. Below that, he is wearing knee length shorts, matching to the jacket and very tall black boots. Like, you can only see a sliver of skin between the shorts and boots. Somehow, he makes it work and doesnât look foolish.
The white-haired boy, Red, took them up to the 22nd floor, where they are now. No windows but it doesnât look cramped, though itâs probably the size of this place. It looks like the whole floor is something of an office/meeting room. Along the right wall is a dark blue oval table with leather chairs around it and a huge screen on the wall. If Mal concentrates she can see red stitching on the chairs. Everything about the set up screams that itâs is custom made. There are lavish couches, loveseats, armchairs and small tables in the corner. They are sitting in the opposite corner, in front of a big desk made of mahogany, etched to look like a forest and dyed blue. The walls on this side are holding shelves full of old looking books.
And sitting behind the incredibly gothic desk, on a plush velvet throne, is one of the most beautiful women Mal has ever seen. She is pale, like Mal expected. Her hair is inky, almost black in shadows, but blue in the light. She is wearing a topaz blue silk dress with long sleeves, which reminds Mal of the nineties (what a decade! Mal has some really good memories that may or may not involve starting a fight in a concert pit). Her whole show with blood would have made Mal question her sexuality if she hadnât already gone through the whole âoh fuck, Iâm biâ ordeal. Though the silence and the feeling of two people watching her makes it hard to stop blushing.
When the clan leader finally speaks (in a breathy voice that Mal canât determine is a part of the show or real), Mal has to clear her throat to speak.
âYou may call me Violet. I have recently gotten the title of the Fae Guardian of Los Angeles. I have come to you to say that I will uphold and honour the agreement you have made with the previous Guardian. Neither me, nor any of my loyal subjects wish you and your clan harm.â She recites the speech she wrote with Jane, one she can say without lying about or promising anything. Redâs eyes are narrowed as if he caught on but decided against speaking up.
âI accept your proclamation, Guardian. But,â Mal can feel Jay stiffening up behind her at that, âI was wondering if you could answer a question?â
âThat depends on the question.â
âTo my knowledge there is a number of ways that one can get the title you currently wear. And as far as I know, in all the history of Los Angeles since the founding of this city, you are itâs third Guardian, Violet. The first one only lasted 24 human years before being overthrown. Her successor was thought to be permanent.â Mal doesnât see where itâs going and it agitates her. âIt is an incredible feat, taking a place of someone who was at this position for more than two centuries. How did you do it?â
Mal straightens her back. It is an unexpected question, she is surprised at the attention to fae history and politics from an outsider. She can feel her always simmering rage start to boil, remembering how she got her title, and contrasting it, her body feels cold with sadness and grief. Now is not the time to think about that.
âMy title is twice bestowed. Once by blood and once by conquest.â She can see the moment the vampires understand what it means. Their eyes widen and the leader even loses hold of her transformation, fangs clicking back to the roof of her mouth. They both compose themselves a moment later, the leader smirking a bit and looking at her with something new shining in her eyes. Red just studies Mal with more curiosity.
Mal feels like she needs to say something. Parry a personal question with a personal question, or explain that she had to do it, for all the fae, that it was the only way to make her mother proud, that she isnât a power-hungry leader. Then she remembers that she owes them nothing. Who are these vampires to question her, to stare with such dissecting looks?
âI think we are finished here, Princess,â even as she says it, she knows that it was too harsh, that this might transform vampires from neutral neighbors to enemies for fae.
The vampire just smiles. âPrincess? Havenât heard that one it ages, huh, Red?â Itâs such a drastic change in tone, but it doesnât feel forced, it just lightens you the atmosphere, lets tension diphuse.
Chuckling, she continues: âAnyway, I think I kept you here long enough, sun is about to rise.â Even with no windows or a clock, Mal can tell that itâs true, knows it like she knows it like she knows that itâs going to rain next Thursday. âIt was a pleasure to meet you Guardian. I hope we can be not only good neighbours but also friends.â
#laila.txt#descendants#maleficent morgana#evie#jahid ibn jafar#carlos#mine*#evieâs the oldest one. turned in 1860s when she was 23. then itâs jay who was born in like 1900s and Mal in 1920s. Carlos was turned at 21#in 1972. fae age very slow once they reach adulthood so mal and jay are like 22ish physically and mentally#genevieve grimhilde#carlos oscar de vil#mal#jay#mine*fic
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one of my favorite things about unmasked spy is that he has such a peculiar hair pattern with his little gray wings. like if he grew a white streak he could be the next administrator.
also engie is here đ
#tf2#team fortress 2#tf2 spy#spy tf2#napoleon complex#engiespy#practical espionage#digital art#artists on tumblr#illustration#mine#my art#the HARD HAT STAYS ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!#also the last doodle is somewhat of a sneak peak of . you guessed it. yet another tf2 fic im working on huhuhuhu#i suppose this outfit is just his normal jacket with a skirt n turtleneck added#something something spy gets to wear both team colors something#i want him DEAD#IN A DITCH
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beanstalk.
aaron hotchner x fem!bau!reader
summary: a loser at the local pub thinks spencer is your boyfriend. Aaron drags him. tags: fluff. creepy men being creepy. body shaming (of spencer I'm so sorry). spencer just catching strays in general. word count: ~1.7k a/n: based on an ask. I was gonna just write my thoughts or a short 500 word drabble or something but then ended up writing this until the point I forced myself to just end it lmao. I think it gets a bit convoluted and cringe at the end but ÂŻ\_(ă)_/ÂŻ it was fun! not proofread. divider cred @/cafekitsune
The pub was going to the rue the day they made half-off appetizers their weekly special.
The team squeezed in two pushed-together tables and binged on the greasy delights. you and Spencer had gotten into sharp back and forth about the apocalypse on the way there, which earned the both of you a quick banishing to a corner of the table where the rest of the team wouldnât be subject to your bickering.
You rest your head against the cool concrete pillar you were sandwiched against. A table pressed against a half-wall facing outdoors was a hard sell to a bunch of field agents. However, Penelopeâs animated declaration for the team to âlive a littleâ âspecifically, to do so before Rossi got any greyerâ landed you a wonderful view of the outdoors. You could watch all the homey, drunken people sway to the music flowing from the patio. The crisp night air flushes the overwhelming smell of burnt grease away from your nose. Maybe you could convince Hotch to grab a window seat for some date nights, you have to admit, the vibes were growing on you. While you enjoy poking the brain of your younger genius friend, you miss the solid warmth of Aaron beside you. Thankfully, he opted to sit in front of you instead.Â
You took the opportunity to tease him. You kick him playfully under the table, stealing his attention away from the conversation he is having with Derek. He turns to squint at you for a moment, only to grab your food to sandwich it between the wall and his thigh in retaliation. His fingers drum a steady rhythm against your ankle, the ticklish tap tap tap making you squirm. You motion to ensnare his ankle with your other leg when Spencer turns to point his flimsy white plastic fork at you.Â
âIf emergency services were still in full effect during the zombie apocalypse, there would be a drastic increase in the number of people infected and a significant loss inââ
âA significant loss in medical supplies. Spoken like a true prepper Reid. What's next, gonna tell me about the importance of learning how to pickle your own food for rationing?â
âActually, during the Great Depression housewives pickles things that lasted their families almostââ
His impending rant is cut short by the return of your server. Anticipating the bill, Rossi reached for his wallet before the woman shakes her head at him. Instead, sliding a drink and a folded up napkin on the table and nodding her head at you.Â
âFor the lovely young miss by the window.â She flashes a smile at you, âOne of our lovely patons seems to fancy you.â
All eyes snap to you, all the color draining from your face as you stare down at the offending item. The drink was almost glowing at you, bright pink glitter swirling in the liquid with pink gummy hearts floating at the top and crystal sugar bedazzling the rim. There was no way this was actually something for the human body to consume. Even Penelopeâs brows raised in shock at its extreme display.Â
You glance at Hotch, his leg picking up a steady bounce next to yours after the waitresses revelation. His face is hardened, jaw rocking back and forth as he glares at the folded paper next to the drink. You clear your throat and face the woman again.
âCan you tell me who sent this?â
She juts her sharp chin over your head towards one of the outdoor tables. Hotchâs neck cranes around before your own, and you lock eyes with an older man sitting a few tables down. His face was unpleasantly square, the outdated sandy mullet crowning his head doing him no favors either. He raises his beer bottle towards you with a wink. You shiver, scooting closer to Spencer when the admirer hauls himself out of his stool to stride towards you. Aaron has turned almost fully towards outside now, his brow raised.
âOhh this is gonna be good,â JJ whispers from the other side of Reid. The comment earns her a sharp glare from Hotch, a blush burning in her cheeks as she goes back to nursing her cheeto-crusted mozzarella sticks.
âI just donât understand,â Spencer starts, âThere are seven other people at this table including men at this table why would he be bold enough to-â
A sharp knock sounder off the ledge of the short wall.Â
âWell, hello darlinâ. I donât mean to interrupt the dinner with your friends here, Hello friends, mâ names Miles!â He flashed his eyes around the table with a toothy, mustached smile.Â
âBut i couldnât help but see your pretty little face in this window âere and I had to buy yaâ a drink!âÂ
âAh⌠Thank you but um-â
âDonât even sweat it beautiful!â Small specs of saliva fly from his mouth, causing even Spencer to jump back pulling on the hem of your shirt. As if to use you as a human shield from the germs the man was spewing in his general direction. Hooray. Your hero.Â
âI even wrote my number on that there lilâ napkin for yaâ. My momma raised a gentleman, so I gotta buy you more than a lil liquor before I take you down.â His beady eyes shoot down to your cleavage before snapping back to your face, licking his lip.Â
The fingers on your ankles pause at this. Aaron stares down the side of the mans face, lips pressd into a fine line spread across his face. You decide to jump in before your boyfriend takes it upon himself to tear the mystery man a new one.
âListen, I appreciate the sentiment but, Iâm here to have dinner with my friends and my boyfriend so⌠I could pay you back for the drink? No harm done-â
âBoyfriend!?â He steps back, eyes scanning the table once more before landing on Spencer and snorting.Â
âThis lilâ stringbean? You canât possibly be seriousâ He smiles at Spencer before he continues âJack and the beanstalk here could barely muscle steel so yaâll stuck him with plastic,â He waves a crooked finger aimlessly around the table, âAnd you expect me to believe heâs wrangling a fine figure like yourself down every night?â
That seems to hit a sore spot for Reid, who finally peeps his head from around you. He takes the moment to ramble about the millions of germs and pathogens that could be found on community utensils even after a full wash cycle. Much to the dismay of the creep and team alike, so much so that Derek had to nudge him with his foot. With the conclusion of Spencerâs monologue the man continues
âAnyways, darlinâ for one night let me take you for a spin. Lil' boy like that won't do ya' any good. I promise you only a bigger, older man knows how to really take care of someone crafted as fine as you.â His eyes lower to your chest again and stay there.Â
âI assure you she already knows that,â Aaron spits.Â
Your eyes snap to his face. He seemd deceptively calm now, his expression almost bored.Â
âPardon?â Miles asks, half-heartedly turning his body towards him.Â
âIâll put it like this for you Miles. Stringbean over here isnât her boyfriend,â Spencer begins to squeak out in opposition to his new pet name, but Hotchâs voice bellows out above his own, âI know youâre pathetic, that was apparent from the moment you walked up here puffing your chest after buying the cheapest drink on the menu as a gift. But Iâm almost surprised you made your impotence so obvious too, considering you made eye contact with everyone you view as non threatening, the women, the man in his late years, the kid.â
Aaron lazily cocks his head towards Morgan, âBut not me and my friend here in the corner. But Iâm sure you thought you got away with that. Now, Iâd suggest you move. The cologne you sprayed to mask the smell of Motel 8 is starting to wear off.â
Your ears warm at his words. Every sharp word honeyed by his calm, almost sweet tone. He spoke as if he was reading the well thought out profile of an elusive crimminal instead of just some ass in a sit down. God you wanted to kiss him. Heâd have to let team politics go just this once right? Just a thank you peck.Â
Before you can move to move ask him for one, Miles sputters out, âTalkinâ to me like Iâm some dumbassâ Who the hell dâya think you are man!?â
Each syllable causes a spray of spit to launch out his mouth, forcing you to scoot even closer to spencer to evade the line of fire. His face shines with sweat and grease, red rising from his shirt collar as he barks at Hotchâs words.Â
âIâm her man. Her bigger, older man. But Iâm sure you already knew that, since you still refuse to look at me.â Aaron reaches down into his pockets, flipping out his credentials with deft fingers, âAnd Iâm also an agent. As is everyone at the table including the woman youâve spent the past several minutes sexually harassing.â He scowls, âNow, go sit down and shut the hell up.â
Miles' eyes finally rip away from you to meet his now. The angered flush erupts across his whole body now. He opens his mouth several times before closing it again, iced out by the cold stare Hotch gives him. He turns on his heel and marches back to his table without a fight. He sniffs his collar before jumping back in clear disgust.
A beat passes and the whole table erupts into laughter at the absurd happenings. Aaronâs face softens, still frowning in the general direction of the slimy man. Jolting when Derek claps him on the back and shakes him in praise.Â
âAlright Hotch! Racing to defend your girl, I didnât know you had it like that!â
âWell, Iâm not surprised,â You stretch across the table to grasp his hand, kissing his knuckles before he could protest. He envelopes your hand in both of his and gives you a warm smile, âmy man is my hero in and out of the field.â He breathes out a laugh, knocking his knee against yours for your teasing.Â
âNext time, you and String Bean get into it, weâre doing a different seating arrangement.â
#aaron hotchner x reader#aaron hotchner fic#aaron hotchner#aaron hotchner imagine#hotch#criminal minds#aaron hotch x reader#mine
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