#of course vic posts RIGHT as I try to sleep

[rawr-jess]

Yep- very accurate warning 🥵

Hi bestie!

I’ve been dying to read a hotchniss honeymoon fic where they are in Greece or some island and it actually explores them on honeymoon and Hotch maybe simping for Em in her swimsuit or something and just them being all fluffy and totally domestic😫

I feel like you are one of the few writers that can actually do this suggestion justice!!

By the way, I absolutely love your fics. You got me hooked💞💞

Thank you so much bestie <3

This turned smutty....there is plenty of Aaron simping over his wife. But it's their honeymoon and the smut just kind of happened.

I hope you enjoy this!

-x-

Aphrodite

Now he was here, staring out of the large doors that led to one of the many balconies in the villa she’d booked them, he had to agree that she was right - this was the perfect place for them to have their honeymoon.

Words: 4.2k

Warnings: Smut - 18+ (this might actually be be smuttiest thing I have ever written)

Read over on Ao3, or below the cut

Santorini had been her idea. 

Letting Emily choose the honeymoon had been his way of calming her down at the level of her mother’s involvement in their wedding. A balm to soothe her irritation. Something he could whisper in her ear about when he could practically see her considering matricide. It made sense to let her choose for multiple reasons, but mostly because she was significantly more well-travelled than him. He’d never left the USA apart from when he was working in Pakistan, so had very little to go on. 

When she’d first told him about where she wanted to go, a small Greek island she’d never been to before, he’d been up for it. The idea of spending time with just her on a beach somewhere was enough to please him.

Then she’d told him it would be two flights. A ten-hour one to Athens, a four-hour layover, and then another hour's flight to the island. He’d been a little hesitant, not a fan of flying commercially at the best of times, but she’d talked him into it.

She’d always been able to convince him of just about anything when she was naked. 

Now he was here, staring out of the large doors that led to one of the many balconies in the villa she’d booked them, he had to agree that she was right - this was the perfect place for them to have their honeymoon.

A part of him wonders just how much this cost her, but he knew he was better not knowing, well aware that she considered this her gift for them. As if she wasn’t enough of a gift to him herself. 

He vaguely hears as Emily thanks the concierge for bringing their bags to the villa, a peaceful lilt to her voice he so rarely got to hear. Most of his attention is on the view in front of him, on the bright blue seas he’d only ever seen in photographs that clearly had not done it justice. It was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. He hears the door to the villa close and he turns to look at his wife, smiling as she stretches her arms above her head, her linen shirt rising up a little to show a sliver of pale skin above the line of her yoga pants. 

He looks back at the view from the balcony, the sky and the sea almost merging in front of him, only broken up by the town beneath them, and he smiles. 

It was almost the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. 

Emily approaches him from behind, her hand patting his stomach as she stands beside him. He wraps his arm around her and pulls her close, kissing the top of her head as she settles against him.

“Wasn’t this worth the two flights, Mr Grumpy?” She asks, tilting her head to look up at him, a wide smile spreading across her face.

“I wasn’t that bad,” he replies, and she chuckles, hooking her hand around the back of his neck to drag him into a kiss.

“I’m surprised the poor check-in agent in Athens didn’t turn to stone, honey,” she says, kissing him again. She pulls away and rests her head on his shoulder, looking at the view in front of them, “I’m glad we made it.” 

He trails his hand up and down her side, his fingers finding their way under the hem of the linen shirt she’d travelled in, “I made it clear to everyone that unless the FBI is actively collapsing without us there they aren’t to contact us.” 

Emily chuckles and turns her head to press a kiss to his clothed shoulder, “I don’t know what it says about me that I enjoy it when you threaten people for me,” she hears him take a breath, poised to respond with an answer she’s sure would rival some of their best profiles, and she reaches up and covers his mouth, “I don’t an answer thank you very much, let’s not pull at that thread,” she rolls her eyes when he kisses her palm, and she pulls her hand away, “Anyway, that isn’t what I meant,” she smiles shyly at him, biting the inside of her cheek, “I’m glad we made it.” 

Aaron smiles at her as what she means sinks in, washing over him like warm air on a spring day, as if she was the sun shining on his face, the break of dawn after the longest night. They’d been through so much, together and apart, to make it this far. To be together and loved and happy in the way they’d both deserved but been kept from for so long. They’d found each other even hidden in plain sight and he liked to believe everything had led him to this, to her. 

Against all odds, they’d made it. 

“Me too, sweetheart,” he says, turning her in his embrace so they are facing each other, his hands firm on her back as he holds her close. He leans in for a kiss, something she gratefully returns, and he smiles when he eventually pulls back for air, “Come on,” he says, stamping another kiss against her lips and reaching for her hand, tangling their fingers together, “I seem to remember the brochure saying something about a jacuzzi tub.”

___

They spend the first couple of days getting used to the time difference. Hours spent in their own private pool or napping together, wrapped around each other with the windows thrown open as the sea air surrounds them. They video-call Jack to speak to him on the third day, the little boy thrilled to see them both even if it was just on Jessica’s laptop screen. 

“I wish I was there,” Jack says, pouting ever so slightly, and Emily grasps her husband's hand, her thumb rubbing back and forth over the back of it, silently stopping any guilt in its tracks before it can bloom, “I bet the pool is so cool.” 

Emily laughs, “It is very cool, sweetie,” she says, winking at the young boy over the screen, “I can’t stop your dad from dive-bombing into it.” 

Jack joins in on her laughter, the mental image of him jumping into the pool like that as funny as it was ridiculous, and Aaron shakes his head.

“Daddy, you don’t have time to be dive-bomb into the pool,” Jack says, turning serious, a frown on his face that never failed to remind Emily of Aaron. 

Emily and Aaron exchange a curious look before returning their attention to the laptop in front of them, “What do you mean, buddy?”

“Uncle Dave came over and helped me with some of my homework,” he says, speaking with such excitement his words start to trip over each other, “And he said you two will be busy making me a little brother or sister-” Aaron chokes on the sip of his beer that he’d just taken. Emily pats his back, covering her reaction with a cough, but Jack carries on as if he hasn’t noticed, “But I would prefer a sister if thats ok?” 

Emily recovers first, her hand still rubbing circles on her husband's back, “We’ll keep that in mind, honey.” 

Once the call has ended, the laptop shut, Aaron sinks back into the couch, his hand over his eyes as he sighs, “I am going to kill Dave.” 

___

Emily had always been beautiful to him, even back when he was married to Haley. When he looked back on it now, Aaron knew that was likely what caused some of his hostility towards her. Fury that he could, and should, have directed inwards for being so captivated by Emily when his marriage was starting to crumble around her. 

She’d always been beautiful to him, but seeing her here, free of the day-to-day pressures of their life and the awful things they saw in their work, her beauty was somehow enhanced. 

They walk the streets of the local town, their fingers linked together as they wander through the markets and he lets her lead him everywhere. All he can think is how at home she looks. How she looks almost ethereal in her sundress with her hair thrown up in a bun out of the way. Her skin tanned and her freckles spread in places even he didn’t know she had them, a new thing for him to explore at any given hour when it was just the two of them in their clifftop villa.

It almost felt like he was seeing her in her natural habitat as if this was the life she was supposed to live. Unburdened by what life had thrown at her as she smiles at a local vendor and speaks in what Aaron knows she’d call ‘passable’ Greek. 

She turns and smiles at him, her eyes sparkling as she shifts her sunglasses to rest on top of her head, and he knows there and then he’d give everything up just to see her smile like that all of the time. 

___

“I can’t believe we have to go home tomorrow,” she laments, leaning against his chest as she looks out at the sunset from their balcony, the beauty of it all the more spectacular because of the privacy in their villa, making it feel as if the sun was putting on a show just for them. “I wish we could stay.” 

Aaron catches her under her chin with a crooked finger and makes her look up at him, immediately catching her in a kiss, “Would you stay? If we could?” 

She stares at him, smiling fondly as she stamps a kiss against his lips. She takes his glass of champagne from him and places it along with hers on the table next to them. 

“It would be nice in theory,” she says, hooking both of her arms around his neck, trailing her fingers through his hair, “You, me and Jack living our lives somewhere like this every day,” she bites her lower lip, her eyes trailing over his face, mapping out everything she’d memorised so long ago, “But we’d get so bored honey.” 

He laughs, the sound light and loud as it leaves him, her words as unexpected as they were true. He draws his hand down her spine, counting the notches as he goes, and he nods. “You’re right.” 

“So bored,” she repeats, giggling in a way she’d later deny as she presses herself against him “I love our lives,” she looks around her eyes drifting to the sunset, the backdrop of the last week, “We both love our work and let's face it that team needs at least one of us around or they’d flounder.” 

“I think Dave would have something to say about that,” he replies, removing a hand from her back to tuck some of her hair behind her ear, and he idly thinks about how he’ll miss the natural wave to it. The way the heat and the sea air had made her hair look over their time here, something she’d never let it do at home. 

“Let him say it,” she quips, raising her eyebrow at him, “We should do this again though. Not a honeymoon obviously, but a vacation. You, me, Jack,” her cheeks ache as her smile gets impossibly wider, the happiness she felt still surprising to her sometimes, “Anyone else who might come along.” He kisses her because it’s all he can think of doing, his love for her so overwhelming that the mere thought of having a child with her was enough to make him burst. She chases his kiss as he pulls away, “Now, we’ve only got one night left,” she says in between kisses, her hands shifting to wrap around the lapels of his shirt, “We’d best make the most of it.” 

She kisses him fiercely, her tongue swiping across his bottom lip. She tastes his groan as he opens his mouth, deepening their kiss as one of his hands drifts from her lower back to her ass, squeezing it and pushing her impossibly closer towards him, her hips against his. She moans as his fingers drift, dragging the light, billowing material of her dress across her. 

He practically growls as he pulls away from the kiss, his breath ragged as he tries to fill his lungs, as he feels how wet she is even through her dress. 

“No underwear?” He asks, his other hand trailing up to her shoulder, moving one of the thin straps of her dress down her arm, carrying on until he exposes one of her breasts, confirming that she was wearing nothing under her outfit. 

“Didn’t seem necessary,” she huffs out, her breath catching in her throat as he leans in and kisses her collarbone, licking down her skin until he reaches her nipple, pulling it into his mouth and sucking in a way that has her grasping at the back of his head. Her fingers tight in his hair as she battles between holding him close and pulling him away, furious and slightly delirious that he was able to make her feel this way after so few touches. 

“That was a fancy restaurant,” he comments, moving to her other shoulder and repeating the same action, following the soft material of her dress across her skin with his lips and teeth, leaving marks she’s grateful her work clothes will cover in the coming days. She hums in response, rolling her hips against him as he pulls her dress down to her waist, exposing her chest completely. He pulls back and grins at her, mischief and desire sparking in his eyes, “You’re naughty.” 

She pulls him up to kiss her, groaning at the scratch of his shirt against her now sensitive nipples as he heaves her closer, and she bites his lip as she pulls back, “I can be very naughty if you want.”

He chuckles and wraps his hand around the back of her neck, kissing her softly, before he pulls back, “I’m not fucking you on this balcony, Em.” 

She pouts, something she would later deny, but lets him lead her the few feet back towards their bedroom, “Why not,” she asks, leaning her head back against him as he crowds her from behind, his lips trailing down her neck, “If anyone was looking they just saw my boobs anyway-”

He cuts her off, turning her in his arms as soon as they are back in the master bedroom, pulling her tight against him, “Because one day, I’d quite like to bring you back here, and that means not getting banned from this island,” he kisses her in between his words, “And you’ve been sunbathing topless out there all week.” 

She smirks at him, reaching for the zip of her dress and pulling it down, letting the material fall down to her feet, “To avoid tan lines.” 

He looks her up and down, his eyes lingering on the paler patches of skin across her hip bones, before he looks back at her face, “Not all the tan lines.” 

Before she can respond he’s on her, gathering her up against a nearby wall. He lifts her up just high enough that he can put his thigh between hers, her toes skimming the ground as her weight presses her into him, the roughness of his jeans and the tensing of his firm muscle beneath giving her the friction she’d been after. In any other situation, she’s sure she’d be embarrassed at the almost guttural groan that leaves her, but it had been like this all week. They had always been desperate for each other, prone to ripping clothes and fucking before they were fully naked, but their honeymoon seemed to have taken it to new heights.

He smiles at her, pushing his leg further into her, making her gasp out his name, and pride flushes in his chest that this woman, this beautiful woman, was all his. 

“Look at you,” he says, trailing his fingers the valley in between her breasts, and across the scars just beneath her ribcage, “So pretty.” 

“Fuck,” she chokes out, her hands grasping at his shirt as she rolls her hips over his jeans, “Please, Aaron.” 

He smiles once more before he removes his leg from between hers, and her cheeks burn as she sees the wet patch on his jeans, but she has no time to think about it any further because he suddenly has his thumb on her clit, rubbing rough circles as she has no choice but to cling to him, worried she’d fall if she didn’t. He pushes two fingers inside of her, the pace he sets unrelenting as he curls them just right, making her gasp against his skin, her face buried in his neck. 

It’s an assault on her senses, every nerve set on fire as he whispers praise against her temple, tells her how good she feels, how lucky he is to have her. She finally tips over the edge as he palms one of her breasts, rolling her nipple between his fingers in tandem with his other hand on her clit and inside of her. It rocks through her, and she knows she would have lost her footing if he wasn’t holding her up, his hand almost slipping from her waist as he moves it to catch her, his fingers dripping with her. 

She reaches for his face with a shaky hand, pulling him in for a kiss that is somehow both soft and desperate, and she laughs as she comes back down, her body pleasantly buzzing. 

“Are you ok, sweetheart?” He asks as he pulls back, pushing some hair that had fallen into her face out of her vision, and she nods, capturing his lips in another kiss before she looks at him.

“I am more than ok,” she stands up straight and presses her hands onto his shoulders, pushing him towards the bed across the room, “Your turn.” 

He kicks off his shoes as he goes, and is unbuttoning his shirt by the time he sits on the bed, disposing of it next to him as soon as it’s off. Emily follows him, only a few paces behind, and she kneels on the floor in front of him, a familiar glint in her eyes as she leans in to kiss him, only doing so briefly before she kisses down his throat and chest, paying special attention to the thickest of his scars as she goes. When she gets to his belt she winks up at him, undoing it and his jeans in almost record time. He shifts his hips just enough to help her pull his jeans and boxers down, kicking them off when she pulls them down to his ankles. 

Aaron groans as she grasps him, pumping him up and down, and he leans back, his palms against the soft bedspread. He thrusts almost involuntarily as he feels her mouth close around him, his self-control waning as she bobs up and down, taking him deeper into her throat. He grasps at the sheet beneath him, sure he would rip it if he held it any tighter, and he didn’t want to have to explain another ruined bedspread to the housekeeping staff. 

“Fuck, Em, you’re so good at that,” he says, the words almost punched out. 

She looks up at him and she groans at the sight of him, the way she could reduce him to this, and she hears him moan again, the vibration around him only heightening the pleasure. She pulls away to heave in a breath, and is about to carry on when he stops her, a hand on the back of her neck as he encourages her upwards, tugging her to straddle his lap. 

“Aaron-”

“Later,” he promises, kissing her and tasting himself on her tongue, “Later, but right now I want you.” 

He flips them over, pressing her into the mattress as he works his way down her body again, making her shiver as every nerve is pushed to its limit. He presses his lips against her hip bone, tasting the salt on her skin from her sweat. He runs his thumb over the stark line caused by her bikini, stroking her pale skin that hadn’t been touched by the sun, a piece of her that was just for him.

Emily throws her head back, clenching her thighs together for some friction as he continues to tease her, the sensation of his calluses against her skin enough to set her on edge, “Aaron,” she breathes out, grateful when he doesn’t tease any further, a hand on each thigh as he pushes them wide apart. 

His eyes linger on bruises he’d left in the last few days, gently kissing a couple of them before he presses his tongue to her clit, making her entire body jolt.

“Shit,” she exclaims, a light sparking in her belly as she thrusts against his face. He does it a few more times, drawing her nearer and nearer the edge, and then she stops him, her fingers tugging at his hair to draw him upwards, and she smiles at the confused look on his face, “Later,” she says, pulling him in for a kiss, “Right now I want you.” 

He grasps her waist when she uses his own words against him and he smiles, nipping at her neck as he positions himself over her. He links one hand with hers next to her head and uses the other to heave one of her thighs over his hip. Both of them groan as he notches over her and he presses his forehead against hers, murmuring words of nonsense she feels more than hears. 

She reaches between them and guides him into her, gasping at the familiar stretch. She moves her hand to grasp at his back, her nails scratching at his skin. 

He fucks into her slowly at first, taking his time to build her up, giving her no choice but to feel every inch of him. 

“You feel so good, sweetheart,” he rasps out, groaning as she clenches around him, “So fucking good.” 

She wraps her leg tighter around him, her heel digging into his lower back, a wordless attempt to try and make him move faster, deeper. She moans, the breath stolen from her with every thrust. It had always been like this. Overwhelming in the best way, her entire body and mind at his mercy. She knew it was the same for him, that she had complete control over him too. It was give and take, just like every aspect of their relationship had always been. 

“Aaron.” 

He knows what she wants with just the simple use of his name and the way she gets impossibly tighter around him. He increases his pace, setting a punishing rhythm that makes her grasp onto him even tighter, her nails breaking the skin on his back. 

It starts in her belly, a fire that had never entirely gone out spreading from there outwards, every nerve ending in her body tingling. 

“Close,” she gasps, and she knows he is too, his rhythm getting faster. He lets go of her thigh and reaches between them, rubbing at her clit, “Fuck.” 

“Come on, sweetheart,” he grunts, burying his face in her neck, “Come for me.” 

She lets go, taking him over the edge with her, his hips stuttering as he comes deep inside her, his teeth biting into her neck as he does, leaving a mark he knows she’ll tell him off for in the morning. They lay there for a moment, catching their breath before he shifts to look at her, a smile on his face as he leans in for a kiss. She smiles into it, a breathless laugh escaping as she lets her leg fall to the bed. 

“I’ve got to say,” she says, her voice raspy, “I’ll miss the honeymoon sex.” 

He laughs, kissing her nose and then her cheek, “We have amazing sex no matter where we are, sweetheart.” She smiles at him, her eyes full of love as she looks up at him, and a spark in her eyes he can’t quite place. “What?”

“Nothing,” she says, pressing her finger into the bridge of his nose, smiling as she does so, “You have a bit of sunburn, that’s all. At least the others will know we left the room occasionally.”

Aaron smiles and kisses her once more before he rolls off her, taking her with him and gathering her against him, “What time is the flight tomorrow?”

She grumbles as she rests her head on his chest, “10 am,” she mutters looking at the clock on the nightstand, “It’s only just before 10 pm now.” She squeals as he moves them again, sitting up and taking him with her, his arms tight around her back. 

“So, what you’re saying is,” he says, leaning in to kiss her neck, soothing a bite mark he’d left behind, “We have time on our hands.”

She giggles, the sound turning into a groan as his hands start to wander again, smoothing over sensitive skin. She pulls back to look at him and pushes his hair back, her smile brighter than the sunset they’d missed most of. 

“All the time in the world,” she replies, leaning in to kiss him as the rest of the world apart from the two of them disappears. 

-x-

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[teenyweenynightghost]

Maneskin Group Chat - Chapter 8

A/n: so I have some requests left but my brain no worky so why not post part 8 of this absolute chaotic piece of shit. Hope you enjoy <3

Masterlist (for the other chapters)

Warnings: swearing. Like a lot

(Maneskin House 10:35)

D: We should make another music video

E: It is an expensive and difficult decision to make, Damiano, we can’t just decide to do it over text

D: Shut up EDGAR

D: I suggest Mamma Mia

T: Perfect, we’ll kill all our fans

V: YOU GUYS I HAVE AN IDEA

T: WHAT

E: Speak child

V: weird- ANYWAY

V: WHAT IF WE KILLED DAMIANO IN THE VIDEO

T: YES YES YES YES

E: This is the first violent thing you suggest that I agree with

V: Because it’s genius

T: I WANNA SMASH A GUITAR ON HIS FACE

V: I WANNA MAKE OUT WITH A GIRL

E: If I’m tagging along… I suppose drowning Damiano in piss would be nice

D: :0

D: what

V: Awww bambino, WE’RE GONNA HAVE SO MUCH FUN

D: 😦☝️

D: 😑🤌

D: Why

V: Ok let’s all weigh in as to why

V: EHEM number one- you’re a constant pain in our fucking ass

V: You’re a perfectionist asshole

T: You expose me in interviews for stealing ciggarets

E: You keep crowd surfing and I have to deal with you crying later from the injury

D: Y/N CARE TO HELP

E: No chance. She’s sleeping next to me

V: Is that why I heard no movement from your room?

E: What. Did you want me to wake her up?

V: You’re a fool, Ethan.

E: Y’ALL OH MY FUCKING GOD CAZZO VICTORIA DE ANGELIS QUEEN DEL TRASH JUST WROTE AN ACTUAL SENTENCE

V: Do you want us to kill you too?

D: Mr Noodle and the princess killing Ethan and I? With what strength

T: Hey! I’ve started walking!

E: power. Walking. Thomas. Power walking.

T: At least I’m not like Damiano

D: I WORKOUT!

T: Yeah in bed

D: You have terrible comebacks Thomas. You are right. I am a sex god

V: BACK TO THE VIDEO YOU DUMB ASSHOLES

D: I preffered this discussiom

V: Of course you did 🙄

D: Ok, well, Giorgia is home so, excuse me Thommy bambino but I’ll go “workout”

T: THATS EW AND I DID NOT NEED TO KNOW THAT

E: Close your eyes Cobra and pretend you didn’t read that

T: Yeah I’m gonna go do that

***

12:27

Y/n: Well, I missed a bit

V: Morning hottie

Y/n: A good morning to you too, Victoria

V: Did Ethan wake you up properly or did you wake up without a head between your legs?

E: Victoria de Angelis stop flirting with my girlfriend.

V: No grazie, bebeh <3

Y/n: You two are cute

V: Exactly, so you could come to my room

V: You’d have a much better time than with Ethan😉

***

T: Why did I hear a scream

Y/n: I have a guess

T: Nvm I read the previous messages

V: THIS BITCH

Y/n: what happened

V: HE TORE OUT A STRING FROM MY BASS!?? WHO DOES THAT

E: hihi

D: Ethan. She’ll disassemble your drum set

E: she can fucking try

V: oh? Too bad you’re already back in bed with Y/n

E: 😃

E: che

V: CIAO FUCKERS

***

V: so i talked to our manager and she said we can all kill Dami in the new video

D: idk about y’all but im feeling a bit attacked

T: that is because we are attacking you

D: NAH REALLY?

T: you said the dumb thing first

D: you’re lucky you’re such a cutie

T: i want to smash a guitar on his head

D: YEAH YOU MENTIONED THAT BEFORE JACKASS

T: you just called me a cutie im getting whiplash

T: MOMMY

E: i was out running errands what

E: who hurt you

T: the whore

E: damiano

D: now im lowkey insulted

Y/n: oh but you let Gio call you that?

D: the day you’ll fuck me like she does will be the day you get to call me that

Y/n: fair enough. Babe did you get me tampons?

E: we have three packs in the bathroom

Y/n: what type

E: lemon, strawberry and mint, amore

Y/n: tampons, not ice cream

E: oh yeah and we have chocolate ice cream

Y/n: too?

E: wdym too

Y/n: AMORE what do you think the colored packaging on tampons refers to?

E: … Vic said they’re flavours

***

[chat between Y/n and Vic]

V: im begging you go with it

V: its my longest running lie

V: i even convinced his whole family to go with it

Y/n: he will be deeply hurt

Y/n: im in

V: perfection

***

[maneskin house]

Y/n: you’re right, babe

Y/n: but how old are the lemon ones? They stopped making them quite a while ago

D: how? Gio asks me to get them all the time

Y/n: oh… then ig i just didn’t see em

E: maybe

T: uh guys

D: no

T: ok maybe later

V: dami you asshole

D: vic you sea bitch

V: sea??

D: your eyes- they’re like the sea

V: and thats supposed to be an insult?

***

E: I WANT TO KNOW WHO DID NOT ANSWER THOMAS’S PHONE CALL

V: damiano

D: it was victoria del trash

Y/n: what happened?

E: HE CALLED ME CRYING WITH SIRENS IN THE BACKGROUND

V: uh…oh

E: HE SET FIRE TO THE KITCHEN AND YALL WERE LITERALLY NEXT DOOR

E: HOW DID YOU NOT NOTICE??

V: we’re antisocial

Y/n: OMG THE POOR BOY! IS HE OK? WHERE ARE YOU GUYS??

E: we’re… we’re getting ice cream

V: 😑

V: bullshit why does your snap map show you’re the mall

E: he wanted to get a plush

E: to commemorate

E: burning theee strands of hair off

D: and you went with it?

E: WHAT WAS I SUPPOSED TO DO??

V: fair

V: i want to go buy more leather harnesses y/n r u cumming with me?

E: i will kill you

Y/n: sure!

E: 👁👄👁

Y/n: what

Y/n: OH

V: oh shit i made a typo

Y/n: oh okay

Y/n: anyway… see you in 5 min?

Vic: sure 😇

Taglist: @fuckim-so-gay @ginny-lily @messyhairday-me @cheese-toastie-11 @wannabemarlenabutiscoraline e @simp-per-ethan @maneskinrollercoaster @juststalking @superchrystaldrug @immrbrightsideeee @shehaddreamstoo @tiaamberxx @bidet-and-legolas @makapaka11 @electra-phoebe @makeavvish @perfectlyunbiasedobservation @cucciolafaerie @theimpossiblehologramtree @unitersmoonshine @deeavjbes @selenophiliaxx @oro-e-diamanti @l0standn0tf0und @iosonoarina @que--sera--sera @writingmaneskin @rhaellasdaughter

[luci-in-trenchcoats]

By My Side (Part 1)

Summary: While at home one night, the reader, an actress, is almost kidnapped and at her friend’s suggestion she hires Jensen as her bodyguard. While the pair doesn’t get along, an incident at the reader’s new home leads her and Jensen to taking a drastic measure...

Masterlist

Pairing: Bodyguard!Jensen x reader

Word Count: 3,900ish

Warnings: language, minor injury, attempted kidnapping, drugging

A/N: There will be no taglist for this series. Please check out the masterlist for posting dates/times. Enjoy!

_________

“Get the fuck off!” you said, kneeing the man that was halfway through dragging you down your stairs. You threw a punch and a kick, swinging more than a few times before the grip on you fell away and you booked it for the front door. You sprinted outside and down the driveway, dashing across the street and banging on your neighbor’s door. 

A light came on and you glanced over your shoulder, spotting the guy dressed in black and wearing a mask jog to the end of your driveway.

“Shit, shit,” you said, a strong arm grabbing you and yanking you inside before you could even turn back around. The door slammed shut after you and you took a deep breath, your neighbor standing there in his boxers, saying something to his wife in the background. 

“Y/N, are you okay?” said Jared. You straightened up and nodded, his eyes going wide. 

“Gen! Tell them she needs an ambulance too,” he said.

“I’m fine,” you said as he walked you to his kitchen and sat you down at the counter. Gen was in there, on the phone with the police it sounded like, as Jared went to a cupboard. He pulled out a red bag and then was walking back over with a wad of bandages, holding it up to your forehead. “I’m fine.”

“You’re bleeding,” he said. “What happened?”

“I don’t know,” you said, pressing your hand to your head, seeing the half secured zip tie stuck on your other wrist. There were sirens in the distance and you shut your eyes.

“Hey, no sleeping. You might have a concussion,” he said.

“I’m not sleeping,” you said, squeezing your eyes shut. “Fuck.”

“It’s okay,” he said, the sirens getting louder before there were flashing lights in the window. Gen walked over to the front door, letting the police in. About four officers came inside, one of them immediately coming over to you.

“What’d he look like? How many?” he asked.

“Uh, all in black, with a mask. He was white I think from what I could tell. Maybe six foot, average build, strong. It was just the one as far as I know. Last I saw him he was at the end of the driveway before my neighbor let me in his house,” you said.

“You two, call it in for backup and start looking. Jones, get a full statement from these three. Start with the vic. Medics will want to look at that head,” he said. “Which house is yours?”

“Right across the street. Red front door,” you said. He left and the other cop in there pulled out a plastic bag from his back pocket.

“I need to cut that off for evidence,” he said, glancing at your wrist.

“Should we do anything?” asked Jared as the cop made a cut and bagged the plastic tie.

“I would keep pressure on that wound for the moment,” he said, writing on the bag and taking out a notepad and pen. “Alright. Let’s start from the beginning.”

“I was asleep less than ten minutes ago in my bed and I woke up to someone touching my arm and I found that tie thing on me and the guy tried grabbing my other arm but I rolled away. I got caught up in the covers while I was running away so he caught up to me in the hall outside my bedroom and I just started hitting what I could and then he tried to pull me downstairs and I hit him some more and then he let go and I ran over here.”

“How’d you sustain the head injury?” he asked.

“Well he was hitting me too when I started fighting back,” you said. “I was half-awake.”

“Okay. Sir, I’m going to need to ask you a few questions now.”

Three Hours Later

“Hey,” said Jared, setting a cup of tea down at his breakfast table. He rubbed your back and you sighed. “Rough night huh?”

“At least I don’t have a concussion,” you said, touching your butterfly bandages on your head.

“Police said your alarm wasn’t on.”

“So this is my fault?” you asked.

“No, I didn’t say that. I am saying that you and Gen have a very popular show together and if she didn’t have me around, I’d want her to have a bodyguard, maybe even full time,” he said.

“I have had this conversation with my manager multiple times. I’m not getting a bodyguard. For events and conventions, fine, I’ll have one. At work? In my life? No way,” you said.

“Y/N, you know I used to be in the army. Then I was a cop. Then I was on a SWAT team before I retired to become a stay at home dad,” he said.

“Yes. You’re an adorable scary badass. What’s your point?” you asked.

“When I worked SWAT, I worked a a few kidnapping cases. The honest truth is sometimes we don’t find you until it’s too late or we never do. It’s not like a movie. It’s not like your guys show and someone swoops in. No one shows up out of the blue to save you. You save yourself or you don’t get saved. Rarely do we get you out of that situation.”

“Again, what’s your point?”

“My point is whoever that person was, when they come back because they will come back, Y/N, and when they do, they’re not going to be that sloppy. They may drug you. They may knock you out. They could do a number of things but your chances of getting way again would be extraordinary. I love ya and I’ll always protect you. But next time, I might not be able to stop something bad from happening. You alone over there...I wouldn’t know until it’s too late.”

You were quiet, playing with the tea bag in your drink as he drank from his own mug.

“I don’t want a stranger coming into my home,” you said.

“Y/N, Gen and I want you to stay here for as long as you-”

“I meant a bodyguard, Jare. I don’t want somebody I don’t know to start coming into my life and controlling it.”

“I have a friend from my army days who does that kind of work. He’s between jobs at the moment. I’ll vouch for him,” he said.

“You’re not gonna give me a choice on this, are you,” you said.

“Gen and I are moving. A bigger place,” he said. “We think it’s a good idea if you had a change of scenery too.”

“You think she’s in danger too?”

“We don’t know but she’s five months pregnant. We don’t want to risk anything,” he said. “It’s just a thought.”

“Can...can I stay over here a few days? While I figure out what I want to do?” you asked.

“Yeah, of course, Y/N.”

Two Weeks Later

“I like the new place,” said Jared as he helped you carry in the last box. 

“It’s uh, a bit big,” you said. “But the owner wanted to sell fast and I wanted out of the other one fast so it worked out.”

“Seems like a lot of space for one person,” said the man walking in through the open front door. He was in a pair of dark jeans and a blazer, a tee shirt underneath. You stepped behind Jared but he chuckled. “Really Jare? Didn’t mention I’d be stopping by?”

“Y/N, this is my friend Jensen. I told you about him. You said you were interested in meeting him,” said Jared.

“Ms. Y/L/N,” said Jensen, holding out a hand.

“Y/N please,” you said as you shook it.

“I prefer to keep things professional,” said Jensen. “It’s easier that way. So, this is the new place, hm? Which room will be mine?”

“There’s a guest suite over on the first floor you can use,” you said.

“Where’s the master?”

“Upstairs.”

“Preferably I’d like to be in a room closer to yours,” he said.

“Fine. Take the guest room upstairs,” you said. “This is just a test run remember.”

“My contract says this is a six month test run,” he said as he looked around. “I see you’re still moving in so perhaps we can go over some of our new procedures in the morning.”

“Sure,” you said. 

“I’ll move in my belongings then,” he said. “I don’t have much.”

“Mhm,” you said. He nodded and headed back outside, Jared catching the look you gave him.

“What?” he asked.

“He’s gonna be a joy to live with,” you muttered.

“He’s quiet until you get to know him. I wouldn’t have recommended him if I didn’t trust him. He’s saved my life before. I know he’ll have your back,” said Jared.

“Yeah,” you said, his phone going off. “Jared, go. I know you’re already late for the baby checkup.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah. I only have boxes left to unpack anyways. Go on. I’ll talk to you guys later,” you said. He gave you a wave on the way out, leaving you to stare at the pile of boxes sitting on your kitchen floor. You cracked your back and started to work, catching Jensen move in a few duffel bags of his own. He left and wandered around outside eventually, allowing you to try and get the essentials all stored away.

By the time it was seven, you were exhausted but your bedroom, bathroom and kitchen were all set up. You plopped down on the couch, closing your eyes. They blinked open when you felt a presence standing over you.

“I’ve done a review of the property. I’d like to have an upgraded security system installed tomorrow,” he said.

“Whatever. Just put it on the card my manager gave you,” you said.

“I’d also like to consider hiring an additional person to monitor the system at some point. They can be remotely based,” he said.

“Like I said, whatever,” you said, closing your eyes again.

“I assume I have access to use the kitchen as I desire,” he said.

“No smoking. No drugs. No random hookups you bring here and as long as you don’t bug me and stay away from my ice cream, we’ll be fine,” you said.

“I can agree to that. As long as you follow my rules, we’ll also be fine,” he said. You laughed and sat up, walking to the kitchen to find your phone. “Do you think that’s funny?”

“I think the fact you think you’re going to be making rules in my home that I paid for is very funny,” you said. You took the phone to check on the pizza and wings you ordered for yourself, Jensen walking over and stopping in front of you. “Can I help you?”

“You are paying me a very large sum of money to keep you safe. If you don’t listen to what I say then I can’t guarantee your safety,” he said.

“Let me get something clear. I’m doing this to appease my friends and manager. Do whatever you want around here but don’t start telling me how to live my life,” you said.

“I took this job as a favor,” he said, snatching your phone out of your hand and tossing it on the countertop behind him. You scowled and he walked forward, forcing you to back up until your back hit a wall.

“Dude, backoff.”

“Pretend I’m that man that tried to take you before. What do you do? Right here and now. What’s your plan?”

“I’m serious,” you said, trying to brush past him and getting a light shove into the wall for it. You glared at him but he held his ground, pushing you again when you moved.

“I’m serious. Tell me what your plan is. Better yet, show me,” he said. 

“I don’t care if you are Jared’s friend. I am this close to punching you. Move now.”

“I said show me.”

You narrowed your eyes and brought up your knee to hit him in the groin. He pushed it away before it connected though and you were off balance, Jensen grabbing you and yanking you away from the wall, putting you in a headlock and tugging your arms behind your back.

“Don’t go for the most obvious move in the world,” he said. “Now that didn’t go how you wanted it to. What’s the plan now?”

“Get off,” you growled, trying to stomp your foot down on his but he moved it back and kicked out your ankle, making you fall back against him. He picked you up and you started moving your legs, Jensen suddenly dropping you down onto the hardwood floor. You hit your knee and winced, a hand suddenly grabbing the back of your shirt. “Alright! I get the fucking point.”

“Do you?” he said, squatting down beside you. You tried pushing his hand away but it tightened and you tried throwing a punch, his grip almost too hard now and his free hand easily blocking the hit. “You have no plan. You’re too small and too weak to overpower someone. You can’t afford to have no plan. The thing is, when it’s real, you’ll be panicking and you’ll have no time at all to think of one.”

“Stop touching me unless you want me to call the cops on you,” you spat out. He moved his hand away and stood, staring back at you.

“You need to do what I tell you if you want to stay safe. I will teach you what to do if you’re in that situation for whatever reason. But the rules keep that situation from happening in the first place. Understand?” he said.

“Understand that you are fired as of now. Pack up your shit and get out of my house,” you said. You got to your feet and he raised an eyebrow. “I’m your boss and I can fire you whenever I want. Get out.”

“How on earth Jared is friends with a someone like you I will never understand,” he said. He headed upstairs and the doorbell rang. You forced a smile for the delivery guy and took your food back to the kitchen, digging in before Jensen was even tossing his first bag down the stairs. You rolled your eyes and were on your third slice by the time he was walking downstairs.

“Don’t let the door hit you on the way out,” you said. He shot you a dirty look, his head cocking as he set his bag down. “Oh now what?”

“You look really pale,” he said, walking over to you. “Your pupils are huge.”

“You know what else? You are so not as hot as you think you are,” you said, reaching for another piece of chicken before he smacked your hand. “You are this close to me calling...someone.”

Your head got dizzy for a second, Jensen grabbing your arms and setting you down on the ground.

“I feel funny,” you said, tipping over and resting against him. “Really, really funny.”

“You just got drugged,” he said, using his phone to dial a number. “No more takeout. Got it? Obviously this person knows you moved. I want to put someone at the house full time.”

“I’m gonna fall asleep now,” you said, shutting your eyes.

“No, nope, try to stay awake,” he said. You hummed and he grabbed your face. “Y/N. Try.”

“You’re really pretty for a grumpy grump,” you said.

“I thought I wasn’t hot. Just stay awake for me, Y/N,” he said.

Twenty minutes later you were in the ER with an IV in your arm and feeling a whole lot of crappy. Jensen said something to a doctor before he walked over to the stall you were in and stood by the bed.

“Hey. Police are at your house. Neighbor said they saw a silver pickup parked down the street. Seemed shady. It was gone by the time they got there,” he said.

“Course it was,” you mumbled.

“You more with it again?” he asked.

“Yeah. Feel really tired is all,” you said.

“Well I called your manager. He said he’d be here soon so I’m gonna head out,” he said.

“Huh?” you said, sitting up as he started to leave. “Wait.”

“Last I remember, you fired me. Nothing has changed,” he said. “Goodnight.”

“Wait,” you said, grabbing his wrist, the effort taking more energy than you were anticipating. He didn’t shrug you off, instead gently setting your hand back in your lap and pushing you to lay back down.

“You should rest. There’s a cop outside the room,” he said.

“Stop. Just...sit down,” you said. He sighed but sat on the edge of the bed, raising an eyebrow. “How could somebody already know where I moved? Hardly anyone knows.”

“You rent a moving truck?” he asked.

“Yeah. Movers did the furniture,” you said. He shrugged and you shut your eyes. “The movers?”

“No, probably not them. But that truck probably has GPS for mileage tracking and if this person has your credit card info, they could figure it out,” he said. “The food thing probably happened back at the restaurant you ordered from. Somebody slips in the backdoor, puts some stuff on your food and slips back out.”

“What’s your suggestion?”

“I don’t work for you anymore.”

“Let’s pretend earlier didn’t happen. Please,” you said. “I can’t...I can’t be alone right now and something feels really off about this whole thing.”

“This whole thing has felt off the second Jared told me about it. Tonight just further proved that point,” he said.

“You were in the army longer than he was, right?”

“He decided to retire, go be a cop. I stayed in. Worked on a few more specialized skills a bit longer before I left and got in this line of work,” he said.

“I’m going to assume you know what you’re doing then.”

“Yeah. I know what I’m doing. I can’t guarantee anything but I can give you some pretty damn good odds,” he said. He stared at you for a moment and looked you over. “You’re smarter than the stereotypical actress I pegged you for.”

“It had to have been someone on my team or that’s close to me in order to know that I was moving,” you said. “Or else the person never would have known to look today.”

“Someone that knows your go to takeout place too. You need to be extremely careful about who you trust right now,” he said.

“I trust Jared and Gen,” you said.

“I trust the guy with my life. I’d trust him with yours. Gen is fiesty when you piss her off but you’re her best friend. They didn’t do this.”

“Your expert opinion, what’s my next move?” you asked. He rubbed the back of his neck and made a face. “Jensen.”

“Ideally? You go off grid. I mean off grid, off grid. Middle of nowhere, no one knows where exactly. Cut yourself off and it’d give us more time to figure out who this person is and what exactly it is they want with you. If they’re as close as we think they are, they’ll find a way to sneak in again and next time, it might be my food that’s drugged. It’s a big risk to go back to the house.”

“I can’t go be alone though. What if they did find me somehow?” you asked.

“I said off grid. I didn’t say alone,” he said. “It’s an extreme approach, I’ll give you that. But it gives me more time to work on this and it’ll keep you safe.”

“Why not hire a bunch of guys to stay around me all the time?”

“Because you’re still in danger if you stay in LA and I don’t have the ability to check that many guys out. I got guys I know I can trust but they’re all over the country and the only other one here is Jared and Gen needs him. No offense but she’s got a kid with another on the way. More bodies means more priority,” he said.

“No, no. Please keep them safe too. If it’s a fan of the show, they could be in the same situation,” you said.

“I’m not going to try and tell you what to do because obviously, you weren’t a fan of me doing that before. But if you want to be able to sleep safely at night, we need to go, just you and me. Jared and Gen can know but that’s it and I mean that’s it. I can secure a safe place and everything we’ll need. But it’s going to be a drastic lifestyle change.”

“How drastic?”

“Like no internet and our electricity will run off a generator drastic.”

“If I stay here?”

“I give it a week tops before they try something again,” he said.

“We wrapped two weeks back and since Gen’s pregnant, we aren’t slated to start filming for another seven months. I’ll have to cancel some events but if I was ever going to go off grid, now’s the time to do it.”

“I will get it arranged. Do not speak a word of this to anyone,” he said.

“Jensen,” you said as he stood. “What was that back at the house? You acting all aggressive like that?”

“The last client I had, I was lenient, never taught them anything, let them push me around and dictate how I worked. They got put in a bad situation because of that. If you don’t take this seriously, then what’s the point of me being here.”

“Well wherever we go, I’m gonna need a few things. Women stuff,” you said.

“Make a list and tomorrow, pack a bag,” he said. “I want us on the road tomorrow night. I don’t care what you tell your team about why you’ll be MIA. Just tell them something so we don’t get a missing persons report on you.”

“Alright,” you said, Jensen nodding and starting to leave. “Wait. Where are you going?” 

“I need to start preparing. Like I said, there’s a police officer by the door.”

You stared at him and he took a deep breath.

“How about he stays in the room with you until we’re ready to go home and get what we need, okay?” he said.

“Okay,” you said.

“Hang tight. When you’re up for it, we’ll get out of here.”

_____

A/N: Read Part 2 here!

[vicsdeangelis]

Ok but

What i'd love to experience is Victoria, ethan and me dating and something happens while we're out and they become overprotective asf, we stan protective babies

i usually answer these at night but it's 6:30am and i can't go back to sleep so here we fucking go kssbsksns

okay so you know how some fans get nasty on the internet, making mean comments, saying some awful shit about their partners. so imagine some paps take pics of you kissing vic one day when you're out. it's nothing much, just a quick sweet kiss that makes you smile and feel like the luckiest person alive. so, the pictures get published, and at first it's no big deal. vic is dating. alright. there are supportive fans, there are fans that refuse to talk about it so they won't invade her privacy, and there's a very small percentage of fans that Do Not Like It. but life moves on. you're in love, who cares!

but a few days or weeks later paps find you and ethan kissing. his hand is on your cheek and your holding onto his shirt. i wasn't as intense as the pics made it out to be, but you two thought you were on a secluded enough space that no one would see you. oh, big mistake. so those pics get published too, and that's when shit hits the fan. some people call you a whore. some people call you a cheater. some people are accuse you of using them to get famous. some even say you're trying to break up the band and their friendship. and it only gets worse from there. without the context of your relationship, which none of you felt like sharing with the world before because it was nobody's business but yours, it did look like you were cheating on vic with her band mate. and you did notice that everyone was coming for you, but not mentioning ethan at all. in their eyes you were some kind of seductress that managed to make them both fall for your lies and you were now successfully using them for your own evil reasons.

and you knew something like this would happen if you ever got caught with one of them. you expected the small amount of hate you got when your relationship with vic was outed. you could deal with that. but it got too much after the pictures with ethan came out. you were flooded with hate on all your social medias. you couldn't open anything without being bombarded with dms and @s and threads and posts calling you horrible things.

you act like it didn't affect you so you wouldn't worry them, but the amount of negativity was really getting to you. ethan, always so observant, was the first one to notice that something was wrong. he tried to talk to you, ask you if everything was alright, but you just dodged his questions with a sad attempt at a smile that definitely didn't reach your eyes. he noticed, of course, but he decided not to press you because you were clearly not comfortable talking about it. so he plants a kiss to your forehead and reminds you of his love. your smile is real this time.

obviously he tells vic about it, and she waits a few days to talk to you. until then, she does notice how you're more withdrawn, even from them. she notices the sadness you were carrying in every movement you made. so she decides it's time to ask you. and it goes the same way. deflection on your part, acceptance and reassurance on hers.

you just don't want to worry them, but your actions end up doing just that.

but they find you crying some day, and there's no way to pretend nothing's wrong now. they sit by your side, ethan to your left and vic to your right, and they comfort you until you feel well enough to talk. and you do, you finally talk. you try to make it seem like it's not that much of a big deal, but they've witnessed the way you carried yourself for the last couple of weeks, and they don't buy it. they get angry. vic has always been more open with her emotions, so it doesn't surprise you when she gets up and starts walking around the room and swearing. ethan is more discreet in his anger, but the tenseness you feel next to you, his eyes hard and angry, his nostrils flaring, all like he's trying to hold himself back from doing something. you tell them to calm down, please, for you, and it's hard, but they do. you still feel the anger swimming around, but they were trying for you, and you appreciated that.

when it's time to go to sleep, they hold you tight, both whispering sweet nothings to you, to the point where you can't understand what they're saying because their words overlap over each other. you feel their hands softly roaming your body, soothing, loving, reassuring. you feel better, much better, with the two people you love next to you, doing what they could to make you feel loved and protected from the outside world

OR

(tw harassment)

the band is out, surrounded by fans, and you're leaning over the nearest wall, switching between fucking around on your phone and watching them living their dream. you're happy, because seeing them being adored like they should be always makes you happy.

then some guy approeaches you. he gets too close for comfort, and you can smell a bit of alcohol in his breath. he tries to talk to you, convince you to go back to his place with you, makes some unwanted comments about you that he thinks are compliments. and he's too close. way too fucking close. you try to tell him nicely that you're not interested. it doesn't work. you try to getting away from him subtly, but he always follows, wanting so close to you that you can't get rid of him. it's when he tries to touch you that you yell at him. "don't fucking touch me!". everything stops, and everyone is looking at you. the whole band comes closer, and the nice atmosphere from before is gone. damiano is the first one to speak, asking if anything's wrong, his energy bordering on aggressive. the guy is dismissed, too drunk to pick up on it, saying you two were just talking, and it's none of his business. ethan was the first one to act, pushing the guy against the wall, not even trying to hide how furious he was. you and thomas touch his shoulders, trying to stop him from doing something he would regret, but thomas looks just as angry as him. when you get ethan to let him go, vic tells him to fuck off away from you, and there should be nothing intimidating by her, so short compared to the guys, but her icy stare and the steel in her voice is enough to make the guy compose himself and leave, not before calling you a fridged bitch.

they want to stay with you, as the wonde friends and partners they are, but you remind them of the fans there are still there, some with their phones up, recording the whole thing, and you don't want to cause more of a scene for their sake. they're not happy about it, but they go back to them, taking the last selfies and signing the last autographs, apologizing because they have to leave. leo walks you to the car in the meantime, and you wait for them inside. it's not long before they're with you, vic and ethan immediately sitting by your sides. they ask first if they can touch you, knowing that type of experience can be uncomfortable and traumatic. you nod at them, and just like that they're all over you. they ask if you're okay, how you're feeling, if he hurt you, if there's anything they can do to make you feel better, all between quick kisses on your cheeks and forehead. they each hold one of your hands, squeezing them to make sure you know they're there for you, and you tell them you already feel a little better, having them by your side. you thank all of them for intervening and apologize for causing a scene, but they dismiss the apology, telling you the people they love always come first. you sink into the car seat, squished between the loves of your life, and you feel so grateful for them, for all of them. for this little, wonderful family you found. you kiss ethan and vic on their cheeks, and they relax a bit after it, but still fussing over you.

back at the hotel, in vic's room, they both kiss you like you mean the world to them, and you feel every single bad feeling melting away for now. you know they will always have your back, they will always try to protect you as much as they can, they will always love you. you feel light as a feather as you walk towards the bed, them right behind you. you take your position in the middle, and they lie next to you. you talk, not about what happened, because you don't want to do that now. maybe later when everything is a bit clearer and you can put your feelings into words. right now, you just want to feel them next to you, hear their voices, talk about stupid things, listen to them light-headedly argue about something stupid, and it makes you feel at home, because they are your home. you fall asleep before the end of the discussion, your hands being held by each of them, allowing you to let your mind and body relax enough to surrender to the tiredness you were feeling. they were there. they were there. they were there. and they weren't leaving any time soon

[its-me-im-coraline]

Peculiar and Beautiful // Victoria De Angelis

words // 1333

warnings // angsty but also fluffy

pairing // Victoria De Angelis x GN!Reader

author's note // if you want to be on the tag list let me know besties, don't forget the 'sleepover' on sunday (yes i'll be saying it on every fucking post lol) and yeah, that. also, a little complaining moment from me, im currently in sooooo much pain, my tooth hurts, i got neuralgia on a tooth and ljajakjfa so if this seems high to you it means im on meds for that lol unlucky few days anywaaaays enjoy to revive yourselves from the teasers of iwbys video

request // yes, here

summary // Reader finds themself in a emotional rut. A few comments online, the constant youtube recommendations on how to be “perfect” have been making them feel some type of way, hiding away from the one person that can help them; Victoria

It was a consistent thing and that was the issue. The comments about what Victoria did and did not deserve, who she should be with, the constant shipping with Damiano… And then there were the absolutely random videos on youtube, indirectly telling them what and who they should become, at least according to all those people online. It took less than expected to cave into the vicious lies surrounding their daily life. Although they tried to take control over the situation the absence of Victoria did nothing to improve the rut they were in at the moment.

Her presence tends to be a reassuring thing to her lover. Words need not be spoken, all problems can be hidden, but the moment they look each other in the eye everything is resolved. Understandably, Victoria missing from the equation in the moment made matters far worse than Y/N could imagine.

The self depreciation came in waves. At first it was that they looked “off” next to Victoria, as if for some reason they didn’t please the eye aesthetically when together. It was a comment that was shared around a lot. They did not believe it at first until their brain led them into looking through all the couple’s photos… Maybe they are right, they would mumble before closing the phone and continuing their work.

After that stage came the personal attack. Why don’t I look good next to her? Must be my looks. Agh, if I didn’t look like that… Whenever they passed through a mirror or reflective surface they’d stare at themselves to see how they looked, whether they looked bad or decent. Never gave enough credit to themselves, sometimes not even believing Victoria when mentioning the beauty she was lucky enough to hold in her arms. Always something about being independent and not needing anyone to make them feel valuable due to their looks. Simple and plain stubbornness.

Victoria took not too long to notice how something was off with her lover. At first, she gave not too much attention to it, knowing how both missed each other and knowing how tired they were from work. But, as days passed by she could simply not ignore the situation anymore. She first saw something was off when talking to Y/N on the phone, seeing how they did not exactly respond to her jokes and comments as they usually would. Again, she wrote it off as tiredness, missing her, just as she missed them but it was far more than that. After a while they started cancelling some of their facetime call time, saying different things about having bad days at work and, although, she believed them does not mean she was not worried out of her mind. The more that kept happening the more Victoria kept stressing. Not few were the times she’d end up falling onto Damiano’s bed and almost crying with worry.

“Why don’t you tell them to take some time off? Reckon they said their boss owes them some time off work.” And he was right. The answer to the pair’s misery was there all along and she simply had not seen it.

Victoria wasted no time, rushing to get to her phone and arrange everything. Surprisingly enough, dealing with Y/N’s boss turned out to be the easier part of the whole ordeal. The real struggle coming to persuading them about it.

“Oh come one, cucciolo, I know you want to see me-”

“I do want to Victoria, but I can not. I have work.” Lies, lies, lies. They knew they were lying, work wasn’t their trouble in the moment.

“Dealt with! You have a few days of work. Your boss was surprisingly real nice about it.” They could practically hear the smile the beautiful woman wore on her face but they could not keep their response at bay.

“What?! What did you do?!”

“You sound unhappy…”

“I am not, but Victoria why did you do this before talking to me?”

“Because…” she sighed.

“You are tired, I miss you and you are stubborn. Plus, I wanted to surprise you. I thought it’s be a good surprise... Am I wrong?”

“No, no! It’s great. When is the ticket for?” Everyone knows Y/N can never say no to Victoria, even the girl knows of her partner’s weakness, targeting it with her adorableness at times in order to get them to do something like buy her fries or in this case take a break. But Y/N was not worried about Victoria’s influence on them, or rather not that influence. They were out of this world worried about how little time it was going to take Vic to see their insecurities, maybe she’d even agree with them, they thought.

The first night of being by Vic was pretty normal, just as it was back at home, full of cuddles and kisses and all the children shows and movies playing in the background while the bassist recited all her adventures to her lover.

“And Thomas just felt face first onto the pavement! Can you believe it?!” Y/N laughed lightly, eyes fluttering in an attempt to focus on the woman in front of them and head lazily hang on the pillow by the headboard.

“Are you feeling alright, amore?” She asked, voice soft as she caressed the other person’s cheek.

“Yes, love, just a bit tired.”

“It’s alright, let’s sleep. You had a tiring flight, I get it.” Y/N simply mumbled a thank you, kissing the blonde’s forehead before pulling her close in order to sleep.

Unfortunately, the momentary bliss did not last long. After being seen together people started talking and Y/N returned to the previous thought pattern, this time getting deeper into their insecurities. They felt like they were not enough for Victoria so, while trying to not be suspicious they started distancing themselves from her. They would avoid kisses, get away way to soon for both their liking, sleep early, sleep-in… No matter what they stayed away from too much interaction with Victoria, and she was getting sick of it.

Finding them walking down the hallway from the stairs to their hotel room, Victoria rushed to her partner, making sure to get in the room with them quickly, before they had the chance to hide away - again.

“You are ignoring me,” she simply stated, voice stern but never elevated.

“O-of course not, what are you on about?!” Voice was trembling and eyes were looking everywhere but the exasperated blonde.

“Yes -agh- yes you are! You were all over me when you came here, which I’m not complaining about, and then the next day you all but slept in the tab to avoid me! What is going on, Y/N?” The use of their name might have stung just a little bit, enough to make them talk. They always got worried when Victoria went all first name basis rather than cute pet names.

“I-” they hesitated for a second but the strict look on the woman’s face made them continue.

“People talk, Victoria.”

“About what? What does-”

“About us and you and me… It’s always how I am not a good fit and other things like that and maybe they are right.”

“You don’t seriously believe that, do you?”

“Of course I believe that! Look at you, Vic, you are perfect and me? Well, I am me.”

“And that’s exactly why we are together. Because you are you! Y/N, you being who you are is why I fell for you. Your little quirks, those strong characteristics you get insecure about are literally what make you who you are, that individualize you.”

“Really?” They asked with hesitation, fearing the chance of her lying.

“Of course, cucciolo. I love those things that make you different. Reminds me that there is no other one like you and it simply makes me longing for you more,” she praised while leaving kisses all over their neck.

“I simply love you.”

tag list: @bieberhoodforever @tabi-toast @ginny-lily @moriro-da-regina

[thissugarcane]

qaf rewatch, 4x07

I watched 4x 3-6 earlier this week and didn't bother posting my (random, still just about re-outlining the season for fic-writing purposes) scene-by-scene... but this weekend is weird so I'm back to tumblr. (and cutting because no one cares that doesn't want to see how bad I am at outlining for the "swimming with sharks" sequel.)

first scene: actually, no, you know what, the S4 credits: every time I watch these I get sad for two reasons:

brian and justin aren't shown touching except to kiss each other, and

the clearest "scene" we have of them is brian, wiping steam off the mirror as he looks at himself while justin, in the background, is turning away.

the credits tell us they are together physically, but turning away from each other even now. well fuck that.

first scene: at babylon, which is actually brian at the dr's

acid-trippy... oh wait, I bet this is a brian-dream-sequence because it's interspersed with the acid-trippy picture of the MRI results of Brian's testicle; then it cuts to the doctor's office

Dr: "I suspect it's a seminoma. A form of testicular cancer quite common in men your age. However we can't be sure until we perform a biopsy."

Brian: "How do you do that?"

Dr: "Well first we have to remove the testicle."

Brian [not actually meeting the doctor's eyes]: "That's what I was afraid you were gonna say. [pause] And if I don't have cancer, then... you put it back in?"

Dr: "Unfortunately no."

Brian: "I was afraid you were gonna say that too."

Dr: "However, the good news is the procedure is relatively simple and as for the other testes it will be completely functional. [brian looks away again] And neither your sexual performance nor your fertility will be affected."

Brian [looking at his watch?]: "That is good news. I'll be a one-ball wonder."

Dr: "No no no, we'll give you a prosthetic replacement." [goes to get the fake balls] "Here, help yourself."

Brian: "Hmm. Sometimes, you feel like a nut. Sometimes you don't." [won't pick it up.]

Dr: "They all look and feel completely natural. Of course we try to match your original testicle as closely as possible."

Brian: "Not too big, not to small. But just right." [he picks one up] "So what are my chances?"

Dr: "With surgery, and [a] followup procedure, 99%. Not bad."

Brian: "And without surgery?" [as he tosses the fake ball in the air]

Dr: "Cancer will spread through your body. It will invade your vital organs, and you will die."

next scene: ted at group at rehab

someone going on about Blake being such a great sponsor and having such integrity

Blake looks unhappy [because he's sleeping with someone he was sponsoring]

next scene: at the funeral home? at Deb's? it's not gaudy enough to be Deb's place.

emmett, michael, ben and hunter

Hunter here references "long day's journey into night" lolololol is he borrowing shit from Brian's bookshelf?? [ben says it's part of the tenth grade english curriculum]

this scene is before Vic's funeral, Michael is worried about Deb [like everyone]

Deb comes down the stairs acting as if she's fine, "then let's go"

next scene: at vic's gravesite

the coffin is set up

deb at the "head" of the coffin, beside michael [to her left] and rodney [to her right]

beside Michael goes Ben, then Hunter, Emmett, Lindsay and Mel

on the other side of the grave (by rodney) is Ted, then Jennifer, then Brian, then Justin, then some other guy

Michael speaks first: "this is so hard." points out vic's never sentimental, the first one michael came out to, points out vic was cynical and wouldn't like the funeral [brian still won't look at anyone]

[note to self: If this is after Brian's cancer is over, maybe his fight with Deb is about him taking Vic's side in the "boundaries" debate and then after.]

emmett speaks next: "he made a fucking fabulous tarte [farfalle?] with creme fraiche". Mel: "he was the only person I knew who looked good in a hawaiian shirt. Well almost." Some guy: "he once did coke with Liza in Studio 54." Justin: "He was gay before it was fashionable." Rodney: "I never heard him complain. not once. He lived in gratitude."

Michael tries to get Deb's attention, but she just mutters to him, "I think your uncle's heard more than enough of what I have to say."

Minister tells everyone to place the roses, deb, then michael, hunter and everybody -- Brian does this but doesn't say a word.

sort of new scene: them leaving the grave

Michael asks if Deb's holding up and she asks if it looks like she's falling apart. She's focused on "doing"

Emmett and Rodney walk out together

Ted walking alone, Mel and Lindsay walking saying "it's been so long since anyone we know died" and pointing out that the antivirals have lead to complacency (god)

Hunter and Ben together

Then Brian, Jenn and Justin together: Brian: "All I'm saying is thhat it's better to go out when you're young, in a blaze of glory, than to end up some diseased old queen." Justin: "You might feel differently if it were you." Jenn: "Well, at least he didn't get sick linger. That's the worst." Brian: "And in such poor taste. Buy a one-way ticket to Ibiza, party till you drop and then discreetly disappear."

new scene: at Deb's place

Deb focusing on hosting and doing it all, pouring and getting food, being chipper and shit, "it's best to stay busy."

Lindsay offers Deb to join a pottery class (Lindsay, Mel and Jenn are in the kitchen, Ben and Hunter are in the living room with Emmett and Rodney, Michael is following Deb around/ in the living room) (lindsay and Mel go to sit with Ben)

Rodney comes to talk to Deb ("how are you holding up?" rodney: "as good as you.") and give Deb a box of Vic's things including a letter for her.

No sign of Justin and Brian

Deb goes to open the shoebox and read the letter (that he wrote the last time he was sick); Michael approaches trying to convince Deb to accept help; letter says we're gonna have a party

next scene: at ted's condo

blake and ted, guess Ted didn't go to the wake at Deb's

ted being all affectionate and kind of weird, Blake being a bit standoffish (poor blake)

Ted thinking about it could have been his funeral then being all hot

next scene: ben and michael coming home

Ben impressed by Deb not making a scene lol, and figures she's still in shock

hunter is smoking weed at their apartment (he didn't go to the wake)

then michael starts smoking the joint instead

next scene: at the loft, justin and brian

justin feeding brian the shrimp <333

the fortune cookie scene. Brian: "a surprise awaits you"

justin being all flirty

they're still on the floor futons - has brian not bought new furniture yet?

brian starts out making out with justin, like obviously he wants it, then he puts him off with "I'm kinda tired"

next scene: at deb's

wakes emmett up with christmas carols and lol she's spent all night decorating for christmas (in february)

deb holding christmas in feb because of the letter from last time

emmett's like, okay, well, she's not listening, let's just... okay whatever....

next scene: at ted's

ted and blake in bed together

I think this is where Blake breaks up with him :/

blake does look really sad about it :( it's pretty obvious he doesn't want to break up)

Blake: "Look, Ted please, before you start thinking that it's something it's not..." Ted: "that it's me?" Blake: "It's not."

Ted: "of course. never is."

Blake: "I should have known better."

Ted: "Than to get involved?" Blake: "yeah it was a mistake." \Ted: "To fall in love?! To have sex, be close?!" Blake: [shaking his head] "the, the program--" Ted: "Fuck the program, this is my life, I'm allowed to make my own decisions."

Blake: "Yes, and as your counselor it's my responsibility to help you make the right ones." Ted: "You have! You've helped me more than you know. It's like the woman at the meeting said. I don't know what I would have done, how I would have survived without you."

Blake: "Doesn't include sleeping with you." [as he gets out of bed]

Ted: "Then why did you? To make amends?" Blake [turns back around] "The same reason you did. Because I wanted to. But it's hurting you." Ted: "Hurting me? How can it be hurting me?"

Blake: "because you need to focus on yourself right now. Nothing else is important, and that includes me." [gives ted a sad smile, then leaves.]

New scene: hunter after school with Ben

some guy and hunter gets into a fight, hunter is getting into shit at school because he doesn't see a future

ben says he can't self-destruct

new scene: at deb's

christmas music still ongoing?

emmett is like what the actual fuck as deb is setting up reindeer

michael's in the living room and is also like what the fuck

emmett leaves and michael points out to deb pace yourself, and when michael tries to help she gets mad finally, then calms down again goes back to being chipper

next scene: at the loft

lindsay and gus drops by to see brian

gus and brian sit on the floor to watch the movie; brian all morbid about death and how james dean died young

lindsay: "you know in your own, subversive way, you're not a bad father." Brian: "I prefer to see myself as the anti-dad." lindsay: "well, whatever you are, if you want to spend more time with him, all you have to do is ask." brian: "think I'll stick to my uncredited, cameo appearance."

Lindsay: "you know, one day in the not too distant future... [etc about gus's future]

next scene: at michael and ben's

michael's pissed off about hunter's behaviour

ben: "he's the one who's sixteen, who's positive, and who's dealing with an HIV-related death for the first time, try to imagine how terrifying that must be. so if he's acting out right now, it's because he's scared shitless." michael realizes there's shit going on for them

next scene: at babylon

ted shows up, looking (?) for drugs and dr crystal

then justin and emmett :(

Justin: "he's never turned me down before." Emmett: "I have to admit, it doesn't sound like the brian kinney we all know and feel ambivalent about."

ted runs out of the club

Justin: "maybe I'm getting too old for him." Emmett gives him a Look. Justin: "Maybe it's the hair." Emmett: "Honey I loved the hair. and if you're too old, the rest of us should be in assisted care." Justin: "Then what?" Emmett: "Maybe you're in a slump. It happens in the best of non-relationships. Try... spicing it up!"

Justin: "There's nothing and practically no one we haven't done."

Emmett: "all it takes is a couple of new ingredients to perk up an old, familiar dish." [Emmet points out two guys at the bar, Justin picks up his own cosmo and walks over.]

new scene: the loft

brian gets home (from work? from where he's been drinking alone?)

finds justin in the bedroom with the two tricks?

Justin: "Thought you might like a long, hard night after a long, hard day." kisses. Brian: "I, I just remembered I left something at the office." Justin: "Brian?" Brian just walks out on him.

new scene: hunter and michael biking

talking about the party, hunter says he's not going to deb's christmas party

hunter isn't listening

next scene: at ted's

ted holding the crystal vial, emmett comes by

emmett comes by to say he read the amends letter, they start joking about the stationary like old times

then emmett tells ted it was blake who gave it to him. emmett admits there was part of him that wanted ted to be in pain and not recover. ted understands why. emmett says he's lucky to have blake.

next scene: at the loft?

michael and brian; michael says he wants a joint (lol guess ben put his foot down about smoking up at their apartment)

michael being all woe is me, "preponderance of death" and sees absolutely nothing about how brian is struggling too

michael's all worried about Ben and Hunter's HIV, brian tries to be comforting (you can also tell he's struggling about the idea of someone else having to deal with "his stuff" and "turning off [brian's] lights")

brian: "believe what you want [about the illusion of having someone else being there]. the less you have to hold onto, the easier it is to let go." michael: "maybe so. still, I'm glad I have you." Brian: "who said anything about me?" michael: "nice to know that no matter what happens, we'll always have each other, like we always have. right?" and then michael creepily kisses his neck, ew. until that moment this is fine and not weird, but after that...

next scene: outside rehab? [at night]

blake leaving rehab or the hospital? where he works probably

Ted offers Blake a lift, when Blake defers, Ted says "please."

Ted: "[...] After you said you didn't want to see me anymore--" Blake: "I said it wasn't a good idea for us to see each other." Ted: "Right."

Then Ted admits he went to get crystal, but decided not to do it.

Ted: "Look. When we first met, I fell in love because you needed me to take care of you. This time, I fell in love because I needed you to take care of me. And you have. In fact, I wouldn't even be standing here if it wasn't for you. And I am so sorry, if I was too selfish and too horny to see it." Blake: "th-thank you. Ted."

Ted: "So where does that leave us? Aside from stuck with lousy timing once again." Blake: "Yeah, we do seem to have that, don't we? Maybe one day the timing will be right?" Ted: "you think?" Blake: "One can hope." Ted: "Come on. [hand out for the drugs.] In case you get tempted." Ted: [pours out the drugs] "What do you know? It's snowing."

next scene: at kinnetik

Cynthia storms in to chew Brian a new asshole about going away

Cynthia says he "has meetings with Remson, Brown, Eyeconics"

Cynthia knows something is going on but lets it go... Justin is crushed that Brian isn't taking him, and more crushed when Brian's all pissed

on the other hand, Brian shakes his head and denies when Justin's all "we have no obligation to each other", he manages to tell Justin "it's not you"

next scene: at deb's christmas party

shanda lear is performing!

emmett, lindsay, mel, ben and justin are standing there

michael's obviously there with rodney

deb is pretending to be fine and trying to cheer up everyone else

ted is there! not really interacting with people, but he makes up with Emmett

deb makes a scene about the putting the angel on but it falls off, and deb flips out

next scene: the operating room

brian on the surgical table definitely looking freaked out, counting back from ten

[haydensdelvca]

hiiiii can you please write a Tremmett fic of them going camping as like a vacation but it’s anything but that!

Camping - Tremmett

Thanks for the prompt! I'll admit it was a bit challenging at first - it had me looking up everything from camping movies to raccoons. I enjoyed writing it though - I really hope you like it :)

Emmett scrolled through the list '30 Fun Date Ideas during the Pandemic' which he'd found online. Both him and Travis had taken 3 days off to treat themselves to some well needed time together. With the pandemic, and the exhausting shifts they had lately, they needed to get away for a few days.

Ideally, they would've liked to spend their holidays abroad, however the pandemic they were currently in made that a bit difficult.

"What about camping?" Emmett asked casually, eyes still on the screen.

"Um, no."

Emmett, surprised by how quickly Travis had come to that conclusion, looked up at him, "Why not?"

"When I said I wanted a vacation I meant a nice, relaxing resort or hotel near the sea not the woods," Travis complained.

"Well do you have any better ideas? You know, considering the pandemic and all," Emmett replied. They had been sitting there for an hour trying to come up with something and had gotten nowhere, there seemed to be some sort of limitation for every idea.

"Yes!" Travis exclaimed, serious for a few seconds until his face dropped into a pout and said, "No, no I don't."

Emmett laughed, shaking his head at his boyfriend "You know... the last time I went camping two people got attacked by a bear," Travis reminded him.

"Yeah, I'm so glad I wasn't on that trip," Emmett laughed, lucky to have joined the fire station a few weeks later.

"Are we seriously settling on going camping? I mean, no toilets, no electricity, no internet. Not to mention it's uncomfortable sleeping in a tent."

"But you'll be with me."

"Ok fine. On two conditions though, we make smores and cuddle in the tent."

"Deal," Emmett agreed, smiling at his boyfriend's antics.

"Ok I think we're almost there, get the map out so we can find that spot we picked out."

Emmett reached back and rummaged through one of the many bags they had packed full of things they probably wouldn't even touch. "Oh no."

Travis flipped his head around to look at Emmett, saying "Please don't tell me you forgot the map."

Emmett gave him a guilty look, saying "I swear I packed everything. I'll try look it up on my phone."

"We're not gonna have any signal over here." Travis sighed, parking the car. He rested his head on the steering wheel, letting out a fake cry.

"Ok, ok, we'll figure something out. We can just start walking and find a decent spot," Emmett rambled, annoyed their trip already had a rough start.

As they walked along the path, not wanting to deviate too far from their car due to having no map, they looked for a spot to take post.

"Do you recognise any landmarks from the photos we saw of this place?" Travis asked.

"I don't know, all the trees look the same," Emmett shrugged.

Travis turned to look at Emmett, shaking his head at how useless the both of them were at navigating through the woods without a map.

"You know, at least I didn't forget the food or some—" Emmett started until he felt himself falling forward, grasping Travis' arm to stop himself from falling face first.

"What the — are you ok?" Travis asked as he helped him get back to his feet whose boots were now covered in mud.

"I'm ok, I didn't realise the mud was covering up a slope," Emmett replied hastily as he looked down at his legs covered in mud. He looked up at Travis who had gone from being concerned to trying not to laugh. "Oh this is going so well," the blonde said sarcastically.

"Am I allowed to say I told you so?" Travis smirked back at him.

As the sun started to set, Travis and Emmett had set up their tent in a quiet place and arranged all their belongings. They began picking up some wood to set up a campfire near their tent.

Suddenly, they head loud music coming from a few metres away.

"Oh no, not teenagers," Travis grumbled as he caught a glimpse of a few young girls setting up a tent in the distance.

"Looks like they had the same idea as us," Emmett shrugged.

"Did they seriously have to come so close to us? Now we have to listen to this obnoxious music on our trip!"

"I hate this music as much as you do," Emmett replied, wishing they had picked literally any other place to put their tent.

Travis froze, suddenly hearing loud moans coming from one of the tents in the distance, coming to a realisation of what he was hearing.

"You've got to be kidding me."

"If anything is going to make this trip any better it's smores." Travis said as he brought the sticks and marshmallows over to the campfire, sitting next to Emmett on one of their blankets.

Emmett smiled, resting his head on Travis' shoulder. "Hey, at least it's a bit less noisy now," he added, while holding his marshmallow over the fire.

"I have to admit, this definitely tops my last camping trip. We didn't even have marshmallows last time." "What is with your obsession with smores?" Emmett laughed, finding his boyfriend awfully cute when he complained about the smallest things.

"Hey, when we're out in the woods, miles away from our warm, comforting home I like to have something that's warm and comforting ok?" Travis replied playfully, kissing Emmett as they laid down, looking up at the stars.

"Is that a constellation? It looks a bit like a horse." Emmett said, finally feeling more relaxed.

"I'm pretty sure you didn't discover a new constellation babe," Travis looked at Emmett beside him, admiring his beauty under the starry sky.

"True, it might just be my imagination," Emmett chuckled.

"Do you hear that? A rustling noise," Travis said as he sat upright once again, looking around. Upon further inspection, he noticed what seemed to be a small raccoon piercing holes in a familiar set of boxes, rummaging for food.

"Oh my god what do we do? It's taking our food!" Travis shouts as he realises what it was doing.

"What?" Emmett exclaimed as he quickly got up too. "Oh shit, this is bad."

Thankful that they had remembered to pack all their comfortable blankets and pillows to make the sleeping bag in the tent more cosy, they entered the tent at around midnight. Travis cuddled up against Emmett, trying to conserve as much body heat as they could.

Every few minutes or so, Emmett would hear noises from outside, and flinched slightly each time.

Travis, realising that each noise was scaring Emmett, held him more tightly and said, "This was to be expected, considering we are quite literally in nature and all."

"I know, I know, I keep thinking some sort of creature's going to come get us. I probably shouldn't have watched Friday the 13th that night with Vic before we came here."

"You probably shouldn't have," Travis chuckled as he opened his eyes to look at Emmett. "So a raccoon took half of our food, there are a bunch of loud teenagers having sex across from us, and we'll probably get lost finding our way back to our car tomorrow morning."

"Maybe we should cut the trip short and just book an afternoon at a spa resort tomorrow," Emmett admitted that they did indeed encounter some obstacles.

"Good idea," Travis smiled.

"You still had fun though right? We did meet both your conditions - smores and cuddles in the tent," Emmett winked as he ran his fingers through Travis' hair.

"Of course I did - how can I not enjoy myself when I'm with you?" Travis replied, closing his eyes as he rested against the younger man.

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Hot Blood [1]

Warnings: non-consent sex

This is dark! (mob) skinny Steve and explicit. 18+ only.

Synopsis: Steve Rogers is on the rise in the New York underground as you’re trying to keep your own place there.

Note: This will only be two parts because I couldn’t fit it into a oneshot. Yes, I took liberties in terms of not making Steve brittle as a twig so forgive me for that. Also this is back in the 1940s, so keep that in mind. :) Otherwise, I love writing my skinny boy and hope you like it too.

Thanks to everyone for their patience and feedback. :)

I really hope you enjoy. 💋

<3 Let me know what you think with a like or reblog or reply or an ask! Love ya!

You wanna prove you're the better man You wanna reach for the things that nobody can

🌆

You checked your watch as you strode down the sidewalk. You felt the snugness of the bundle just under your jacket as you pulled your hat lower over your eyes. At the right angle, you seemed a man about his business. A closer look and you were nothing but a woman in pinstripe trousers.

Another day, another drop. You were tiring of the tawdry tasks but the reality of your position, of your sex, was inevitable. The men were back from the war and the women were expected to return to their kitchens. Well, most of them.

It was easier in the days before victory. When you were the one sending others on your tasks. But Vic had survived his campaign in Italy and he was back with a vengeance, and few scars. The only thing which kept him from tossing you entirely was that you’d kept his organization afloat in his absence. You’d even thrown the feds off his trail and onto another’s.

Even so, life wasn’t what it was. You had to take orders, had to swallow your pride. Well, it was better than living as some bastard’s wife; better than a secretary in a tight skirt. You checked the time again and looked ahead to the brick building with the rusted horseshoe over its door.

You neared and leaned against the bricks. You turned to face the street and watched pedestrians pass. You knocked with your elbow. Two knocks, a pause, then three more. You waited and listened. The door shifted and you spun quickly as you muttered “iodine” and the code word saw you past the man on the other side.

And yet, another change. The warehouse was empty. You looked to the man who’d answered the door. It wasn’t the usual fellow. You frowned and your hand went to your waist and felt the wooden inlay of your pistol.

“Wouldn’t do that,” The man warned. “Boss is on his way. He doesn’t care for corpses. Too much clean up.”

“Boss?” You kept your hand poised but didn’t draw. “And who exactly is your boss?”

“People fall for that?” He ignored your question as he pointed to your jacket. 

“Fall for what?”

“You don’t exactly fill out a three-piece,” He reached into your pocket and you gripped your gun. He pulled out a silver cigarette case and popped it open. “Well, you know…” He gestured to his shoulder, “In some ways.”

You scoffed and shook your head as he offered you a smoke. He shrugged and put one between his lips.

“You didn’t tell me who your boss was,” You said as he struck a match and lit the cigarette.

“Vic didn’t tell you?” He asked. “Heli don’t run Brooklyn anymore.”

“He mentioned there was trouble but there always is in Brooklyn,” You tilted your head and ran your finger along your pistol handle. 

He chuckled and took a drag.

“Bucky,” He held out his hand. “Boss will be here soon.”

You shook his hand and retreated, pacing two steps back and forth as you waited.

“This isn’t how it goes. I drop the money and go.” You stopped. “Never more than five minutes.”

“You got somewhere to be?” He asked. “You must be popular with the boys. Hell, war was so long, they’d fuck a hole in the wall.”

“I usually tell em to use the wall,” You countered. “You’re boss better show in the next five minutes or--”

The back door of the warehouse opened and shut suddenly. You turned as a shadow fluttered in the small slats of light which peeked in through the high windows.

“Kid took a wrong turn,” The voice sounded as footsteps cut through the silence. “You get the money.”

“Drop’s right here,” Bucky said as he nodded to you.

Your mouth fell open as you saw the man who appeared before you. Short, slender; skinny, actually. Even his tailored suit added little to his figure and his chin seemed even sharper in contrast to the angles of his hat. His blue eyes met yours and he removed the hat.

“Miss,” He seemed as surprised as you felt.

You laughed. You didn’t mean to. You covered your mouth before you could guffaw and looked at Bucky.

“That the new boss man?” You asked.

“Steve Rogers,” The skinny man said tersely. “And yes, I’m the boss man so you talk to me, not him.”

“Course,” You said coolly. “Vic wants a single load through Brooklyn.” You carefully reached into your jacket and dislodged the bundle of money from the waist of your pants. “Tomorrow, clearance till noon.”

He watched you and then his eyes flicked to the money. Usually, they saw the green first.

“Your husband let you run around playing these games?” He asked.

“We know this isn’t a game,” You said. “And, if I did have a husband, he couldn’t keep me from my business.”

He chuckled.

“Sorry, I’m just, a little amused. I expected a man.” He said.

“Me, too,” You tossed the money at his feet. “But I guess they’re all busy doing the real work.”

His smile fell. He toed the money but didn’t take it.

“You gonna wear the pants, you gonna be treated like what you’re pretending to be,” He beckoned Bucky forward. “Cause I don’t see a lady.”

“No, you don’t,” You said defiantly as Bucky came closer. 

Steve nodded and Bucky bent to grab the money. You held Steve’s gaze, the anger obvious in their glint as his narrow jaw ticked.

“Tell Vic he’s got til noon. Sharp.” He said. “Bucky, see her out.”

He put his hat back on and turned away. Bucky waved you away and you followed him back to the door. His hand rested on the metal handle and he paused.

“Put the torch to this place,” He said. “Next drop will be on our ground.”

“Sure,” You said and he pushed down.

“Oh,” Bucky stopped as he opened the door just a sliver. “I’m not much for advice but work on the lip. He won’t put up with that for long.”

“Not my boss,” You uttered. “He got his money.”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He shook his head and opened the door. 

You stepped out into the sunlight and strode away. You’d have a word with Vic. You’d think he’d have enough sense to mention a change in personnel but he hadn’t had much sense since he returned.

🌆

You sat along the bar as voices buzzed in the late morning din. The old pub which had glowed during Prohibition had grown darker over the years. With rationing, it had become lifeless, barely revived in the post-war jubilance. It didn’t matter much; it had never been meant for just booze, merely a cover for more illicit trades.

As usual, Vic was in his office. He wasn’t the same talkative man he had been, though his temper had worsened. When he wanted to be heard, he made sure of it. His propensity for violence had turned to an indifference to violence. There was no barrier left between him and blood. His hair trigger made him vulnerable; it made you all vulnerable.

The bar door shook and you looked over. Several bangs before the latch busted and Donny burst in with Richie hanging from his shoulder. He dragged the bleeding man inside and dropped him onto the floor as he fell to his knees. You rose and quickly shut the door. No one used that door during the day.

“Get rags,” Arnold called and rushed behind the bar.

Donny’s arm was bleeding as Richie gripped his side, his hands red and wet. Arnold tossed you a rag and you bent beside Richie. You took his hand and pressed the rag between it and his side. You applied pressure as Donny tied up his arm with his belt.

“What fuck happened?” You ask as you leaned on Richie and tried to stem the flow.

Arnold ran out calling for Pauly. He’d been a medic during the war but tended to drink away whatever use he had left to the organization. He was likely sleeping off last night in one of the stinky rooms above that were rented out by the hour.

“Where’s the cargo?” Vic asked as he appeared in the broad archway which parted the barroom from the kitchen and his office.

“Christ, he’s bleeding out, Vic,” You hissed as Donny handed you another cloth and grabbed another for his arm.

“We got hit.” Donny leaned heavily on a stool. “It’s gone.”

“What the fuck?” Vic swore. “Who--”

“Rogers,” Richie gasped and you scrambled to keep the crimson from leaking past your fingers. “He said…”

“Take was short.” Donny finished. “Five shy.”

“Five shy. No, I gave him the right drop,” You insisted.

Arnold brushed by Vic and Pauly ambled in beside him. The former dropped the small chest of bandages and the like beside Richie as the latter came around to you and yawned as he knelt. He casually waved you away and took the rags from you. He peeked under them and pressed down.

“Got a lighter?” He asked. “Get me some tweezers.”

You held up your bloody hands and Arnold got down to search through the box ox of odds and ends.

“New boss, new prices,” Donny uttered. “S’what they said before they…” He looked at Richie and blanched.

“God fucking dammit, I new that little rat was up to no good,” Vic punched his palm. “Had the gall to come in here and put an offer down on this shit hole like he can buy what I built for a couple bills.”

“What?” You reeled as you tried to wipe clean your hands. “He made you an offer?”

“He’s a goddamn upstart,” He snarled. “I seen his kind back before the war, when the Depression had us scraping trash cans for dinner. He’d sell his own mother. Probably has.”

“How can he-- Heli didn’t have that much going on.” You argued.

“The twerp spent a couple years up in Chicago before he decided to come home and make his stake,” Vic said. “Too skinny to serve so he ran wild over there. Now he’s got a gun and some money and he thinks he can just take the whole city.”

“Hold him down!” Pauly yelled and you looked over as he was digging the tweezers into Richie’s side. The wail which rose was sickening.

“Vic, you didn’t even tell me he’d taken over,” You snarled. “Now I double counted that take but you’re the one who arranged it. He said fifteen not twenty, right?”

“I told him I wouldn’t give him any more than I did Heli.” He sneered.

“And?” You urged.

“He said we’d see. And I never heard nothing else.” He growled.

“You didn’t hear anything or you just made an assumption?”

“I handled worse over in Italy,” He grumbled. “Little twit doesn’t scare me.”

“It’s not just him,” You huffed. 

It was so much easier when he was gone. You and Arnold had been a great team. He was too old to serve and he was wise; pragmatic. Don’t play big, play smart.

“Another word,” Vic warned. “I’m tired of the fucking mouth on you. Men go away for a couple years and all you bitches learned to bark.”

“If we hadn’t, you’d have nothing to come back to,” You retorted. “And I learned more than how to bark.”

“You think you know it all. You run around in your suits and play gangster, little girl.” He snarled. “I saw men holding their insides; I ran into a haze of bullets and you did what? Gave away your stockings and baked cakes without sugar.”

“You got a man holding his insides right here,” You snapped. “I should’ve let Crane have this place. I drove that snake out on my own. Me. So don’t you call me little girl.”

A knock interrupted him as his face turned red. The front door had fallen open as a figure leaned in the doorway. So slim it could only be one person. You reached for your gun along with Vic and Donny. The other men continued their struggle on the floor.

“What the fuck are you doing here, Rogers?” Vic pulled the hammer back on his gun.

“Wow,” Steve stopped a few feet inside and several men, including Bucky, entered behind him, guns in hand. “I’m not here for a fight, if I can help it. I’m here for the rest of my take.”

“You already shot my men. I don’t owe you shit.” Vic hissed.

Steve chuckled and put his hands on his hips. He looked to the floor, the blood, the whimpers, then to you. He took his hat off and nodded in your direction.

“But I see they’re still alive.” Steve said. “And I got your cargo. More than willing to hand it over so long as I get my dues.”

“Maybe it wasn’t that skinny fucking ass that kept out of the war; maybe it was that peanut brain,” Vic said.

“I’m all for negotiating,” Steve said coolly. “But I’m gonna need you to calm down, Victor.”

“Calm down. I want my goods.” He insisted. “And my money back.”

“I don’t often give warnings,” Steve’s voice was even and quiet. Scarily calm. “But I will allow you one. I will finish what my men started and then I will burn this place with your bodies inside of it. Then I will hunt down every man who ever tied himself to your limping horse and put them next to you in the ashes.”

“Bull,” Vic scoffed.

“Jeffrey, by the bridge,” Steve said. “Friendly guy. Knows a lot about the city. Gave me an interesting little map. Looks like safe houses… in your neighbourhood. I don’t need to barter with you, Victor, but I am, because I can be nice. I prefer it over having to get mean.”

“Jeffrey,” Vic shook his head. “That shit.”

“Oh yes, if it wasn’t for his ties out west, I’d already have done him in myself but… he has his uses.”

Silence but for Richie groans and the squelch of flesh and blood. You glanced between the two men. Vic looked tired. You realised he was halfway drunk.

“How long? For the five I owe you?” He slowly lowered his gun.

“How long?” Steve smirked. “I’m not leaving without it.”

“Don’t keep my safe here. That’d be too obvious.” Vic said.

“No? Or maybe… you don’t got it?” Steve challenged. “Besides, I can’t trust you to send anyone for it because I can’t have them returning with more than the bills, can I?”

Victor was quiet and you glanced back at him. He looked lost. It was a look which had become common for him. As if he was far away.

“But…” Steve said. “There is value beyond paper.”

“Take a cut,” You intoned as Vic remained speechless. “That would more than even the debt.”

“And have to sell it myself? No.” He said. “But I do see something that I want.”

Steve’s heels tapped on the old floorboards and he stopped before you. You stared at him then looked around. You lifted a brow as you looked back to him. He touched your gun and you lowered it. You wanted to raise it again but Richie’s cries tugged at your ears. He took the pistol.

“I’ll take her,” He touched the lapel of your jacket.

“What? No, that’s not--”

“Fine,” Vic agreed a little too quickly. “All yours. But I’ll let you know, she’s a mouthy one.”

“Oh, I know,” Steve winked at you. “But you won’t get anywhere if you’re not bold.”

“You can’t--”

“I can,” Steve leaned in as he lowered his voice. “Because if you leave this bar without me, you won’t get far. I put the word out and you’re dead before nightfall…” He straightened your jacket. “But I prefer you living.”

He drew back and walked back to his men.

“Truck’s out front. All is accounted for. Ledger’s are balanced.” He said. “For now.”

You were jolted forward as Bucky grabbed your arm. You hadn’t seen him approach and he easily dragged you along as Steve left with his men in tow. You were numb but angry. You struggled until Bucky had your arm twisted behind your back.

“I told you,” He said. “He doesn’t like the back talk.”

🌆

You were silent as you peered through the windshield then glanced at the man in the driver’s seat. Bucky had wrestled you into the car himself but it had taken the flash of a muzzle to get you to stay.

Steve sat beside you in the back of the long car. He still had your pistol in hand and you watched as he emptied the bullets and dropped them in his pocket. He turned the gun over in his hand and ran his fingertip along the wood inlay carved with intricate grooves.

“This is a nice piece,” He said. 

He checked the chamber one last time and handed it back to you. You holstered the pistol and leaned into the door as you looked out onto the streets. The buildings were strangely familiar.

“Where are we going?” You asked.

“You talking to me?” Steve countered. You turned to him and arched a brow. “Because when you are talking to me, you need to look at me, doll.”

“My name isn’t doll,” You crossed your arms. “This isn’t Brooklyn.”

“We’ll get to that,” He said. “You should be more than familiar with these slums.”

You squinted and shook your head.

“How did you--”

“I got eyes across the city and a woman like you sticks out,” He said. “Now, I’d like to forget our first meeting and start off on a better note.”

“Yeah? Do you usually buy people like race horses.” You scoffed.

“You’re a fine mare,” He grinned. “But that mouth does you a disservice.”

“So, what exactly do you want? You want me to say you’re a big man? Tell you you’re the boss?” You taunted. “I wonder how that ego fits in that body.”

“One thing at a time, doll,” He said.

“It’s not ‘doll’,” You growled. 

He chuckled and propped his elbow up on the door.

“My eyes have ears. They’ve told me a lot about you.” He said. “Must be hard with all the men back in town. I dare say, you might have been rooting for the other side.”

“Oh?” Your nostrils flared at the implication. “You running with those double-dealing bastards down in Chicago and you’re accusing me of sedition.”

“Chicago was a stepping stone,” He waved you off. “And a valuable ally. This world’s a whole lot bigger than five boroughs.”

The car stopped and you looked past Steve. Your building stood just outside his window and you sighed.

“No doubt bigger than you,” You rolled your eyes. “I’m not dumb enough to think you’re just giving me a ride home…”

“We got ten minutes,” He checked his watch as he opened his door. “Grab what you need. I got a schedule to keep.”

He got out and you pushed open your own door. You rounded the front of the car and peered down the sidewalk. You could run. The thought was tempting, but if Steve could figure out where you lived in less than a day, he could likely suss you out just as easily.

You followed him up the cracked walk of the building and he opened the grated door for you. You shot him a look before you stepped through. You fished around for your keys and unlocked the second metal door. He trailed you up the narrow staircase and you came to your door among the row of cramped apartments.

You entered with him behind you. His footsteps were light and barely disturbed the creaky floorboards. He closed the door swiftly as you glanced around your tiny home. There wasn’t much to it but it was yours. 

He brushed past you and went to the small kitchen which was barely more than a sink and stove. He pulled open the drawers one at a time and shuffled through them.

“What are you doing?” You asked.

He held up a box of bullets and shook them.

“Grab some clothes,” He said as he continued his search. “And anything else you need.”

You let out a breath and rounded the threadbare sofa. You went to the small closet on the other side of the apartment and slid open the accordion door. Inside hung jackets in varying tones of monochrome and pants to match. Dress shirts and vests filled out the rest of the assortment. You sensed movement behind you as you reached for a hanger.

“That’s all you got?” He asked as he came up beside you and tutted. 

You looked over at him as he slid the hangers from side to side and examined your clothes.

“No, no, this won’t do,” He said. 

“What are you--”

“This,” He tugged on your sleeve. “Is doing you no favours. Not to worry, I’ll send for some nice skirts, a couple dresses--”

“No,” You said pointedly. “No, I won’t--”

“You’re not getting this, are you?” He sneered. “I don’t need some pussycat in a suit, I got more men than I can count.” You stared at him as foreboding roiled in your stomach. “What I need is a gal on my arm,” He reached out and touched your cheeks. “With a pretty smile,” His fingers crept down your neck and rested on your shoulders, “In a pretty little number.”

You grabbed his wrists and tried to shove him away. Despite his slim figure, he was stronger than you expected. He twisted his arms around and grabbed your wrists. He drew you close.

“If you were a man, you wouldn’t have left that warehouse,” He growled. “So consider yourself lucky…” His eyes drifted down. “The walk gives you away. Your hips…” He tilted his head from side to side. “The ass…”

“Get off of me,” You hissed and pulled away. He released you and you nearly stumbled.

“Don’t bother with the clothes,” He sighed. “But grab whatever else you need; hairbrush, soap… I guess you wouldn’t have lipstick, would you?”

“You really that hard-up for a girl?” You laughed dryly.

He smiled and licked his lips. “Women aren’t as complicated as they pretend to be. Not if you got your pockets full. So no, not hard-up for a girl… just you, doll.”

“Not doll,” You huffed and spun away from him. His low laughter made your lip curl.

“Five minutes,” He warned.

[imaginesforyourfandom]

It was always you. - Alex Morgan Imagine

(Y/N) POV August 2009

“I don’t know what you see in him…”

“I’m not going to say this again…we aren’t dating. He and I are just friends…” she said as I looked at her.

“He’s in love with you…” I said as she sighed before looking back at Servando.

“We’re just friends…” she said again as I stared at her. “I’m not in love with him…”

“Then, who are you in love with?” I questioned as she stopped and stared at me.

“I’m not…” she said softly as I glanced down at her lips. “…in love with anyone…”

“You should tell him that you’re not dating…I don’t think he knows.” I said as she sighed before looking at him again.

“Wait…guys watch this one.” Serv said as I looked back to where he was. He took a shot that was headed towards the top corner before bouncing off the post. “Shit…”

“Well, you tried…” I said as he turned and glared at me.

“You could do better?” he asked as I nodded my head.

“In my sleep.” I said as he motioned for me to take a shot. I walked up and perfectly curled it into the top corner. He pouted as I grinned at him. “You should know not to challenge me. I win at everything.”

“Not everything.” He said as I stared at him.

“Are you sure about that?” I questioned as he nodded his head.

“Yes, and we need to get back. Mom will kill us if we are late for dinner. Plus, she is super pumped that Alex is staying for dinner.” He said turning and grinning at Alex who smiled.

“Dinner with the parents…you guys must be serious…” I joked as Alex shot me a look. Servando just grinned, throwing an arm around her.

“We are.”

“We aren’t dating…” she said immediately as he frowned a little bit.

“Not yet.” He said winking at her as I smirked at her. She shot me an irritated look before we made our way home.

Dinner seemed to come and go as Serv continued trying to flirt with Alex and she looked like she wanted to die. I tried to hide my amusement, but I know I was failing miserably. It was towards the end of dinner that I was already thinking about just going to bed.

“Alex, will you be staying over?” my mom asked as I looked at Serv who had a hopeful look.

“I can’t…I have a family thing tomorrow.” She said as Serv tried not to look too disappointed.

“I can drive you home.” Serv said as my mom shook her head.

“No, you promised to help your father… (Y/N) can drive her home.” My mom said as I raised a brow, but one scolding look from my mom had me nodding my head.

“But…”

“No buts!” she said again as I looked at Alex.

“I’m ready whenever you are.” I said as she nodded her head before motioning for us to go.

“Thank you so much for having me over!” Alex said as I shook my head in amusement.

“Of course! Please don’t be a stranger.” My mom said sweetly as I grabbed my keys and exited the house getting into the car.

“You know…it’s so rude that you didn’t wait for me.” Alex said getting into the car a few minutes after I exited the house.

“I wanted to give you and Serv privacy….” I said in defense as she scowled at me.

“We aren’t dating…” she whined as I smiled.

“I know.”

“Then, why do you keep saying things like that?”

“You get this really irritated look on your face that makes you look adorable…” I said looking over at her as she turned her head away from me. I could still see the slight burn on her cheeks from the streetlights. She was silent for a few minutes before turning towards me.

“You can’t say things like that…” she mumbled as I frowned.

“Why not?” I asked as she turned towards me.

“You know why…”

“I’m going to need you to elaborate.” I said as she shot me another irritated look. “See…that’s the look.”

“I might not be dating Serv, but I’m not dating you either…”

“Ouch…why do you even assume I want to date you?” I questioned glancing at her as she frowned at me.

“You’re always flirting with me…”

“I flirt with everyone.” I defended as she rolled her eyes at me. “You’re not special.”

“No, you don’t…”

“How would you know?” I asked as a look of doubt crossed her face. “You aren’t my only friend.”

“Now, that’s a lie…” she said as I pulled up outside of her house. I stopped and stared at her as she continued watching me.

“It’s not. If I can give you some advice…” I said leaning in closer to her. “If you want to feel special, date Servando…”

“You’re a real dick…” she said as I nodded my head.

“I’ve been told…” I commented as she got out of the car. She slammed the door as I looked down.

I sat there waiting for her to go inside before making my way home. When I entered the house, I immediately made my way to my room. I groaned when Servando immediately followed me in.

“Did she talk about me at all?” he asked as I stared at him.

“No.” I said as he frowned.

“Well, what did you guys talk about?” I pondered for a moment before shrugging my shoulders.

“The national team…” I said as he nodded his head before exiting the room.

It was a couple of days later when I was sitting in my room. I was on the phone with Christen who was scolding me about my earlier conversation with Alex.

“Are you kidding me?” she scolded through the phone.

“No and stop yelling at me.” I complained as I heard the forward huff through the phone.

“You are so confusing…if you love her, then just tell her that…” she complained as I shook my head.

“You know why I can’t tell her…” I said as I heard a long sigh. “…it doesn’t matter anyway…I don’t have feelings for her.”

“Yes, you do…” Christen said “Look, Alex isn’t Vic-”

“Don’t…” I said as she sighed again. “Do not say that name.”

“(Y/N)…”

“Christen!”

“You should at least tell Servando how you feel…he should know.”

“That’s not happening. There are no feelings involved okay…”

“Keep telling yourself that.” She said as I sighed. “I got to go. I’ll call you later.”

“Okay bye…” I said as I laid there.

It sucks getting your heart torn to shreds by someone you love. It ruins everything for you in the future. I’m not entirely sure if I have feelings for Alex or not…we flirt a lot or at least I do…but I don’t know if it is a serious thing.

A couple weeks after that, I was just arriving home from a training session. I went up to my room and sat my stuff down. I had been thinking a lot about Alex and decided that at the very least…Servando should know that he and I like the same girl. I walked towards his room and opened the door. I felt my heart drop as Servando looked over at me. He scrambled to grab his shirt as Alex looked away in embarrassment.

“I wasn’t aware we had company…” I said as he glared at me.

“Get out!” he complained as I turned and closed the door.

I walked back into my room and closed the door locking it. I leaned against it and closed my eyes as I tried to swallow the pain. I don’t know how long I stood there before there was a soft knock on my door. I bit my lip before unlocking the door and opening it abruptly. Alex shot me a slightly shocked look as her fist remained raised as I gave her an expectant look.

“Can I help you?” I asked as she lowered her fist.

“I wanted to apologize.”

“Why?” I asked as she crossed her arms.

“That was just…embarrassing and not cool…” she said motioning to Servando’s room as I raised a brow.

“What you do with your boyfriend isn’t my business…” I said as she shot me a pained look.

“It’s just...”

“So, what changed your mind?” I asked leaning against the door frame.

“What?”

“It’s just…a few weeks ago you wanted nothing to do with him…” I said as she gave me an unsure look.

“Feelings can change…” she reasoned as I stood there studying her for a moment.

“Yeah…” I said not breaking eye contact. “I guess they can…”

She shot me another pained expression as I closed my door. I stood there for another moment before turning and walking towards my bed. I remained in my room for the rest of the night until I was sure that she had left.

That’s how the next few weeks continued…she would come over and I would avoid her at all costs. It really didn’t matter considering she spent all her time with Servando away…thankfully it was almost time for them to go back to school and I would get a break.

“I mean…I know it sucks, but it is kind of your fault…” Christen said as I stared at her.

“I’m aware.” I said as she gave me a sad look.

“Can I ask you something?” she asked as I nodded my head. “Why are you letting Victoria control your life?”

“I’m not.”

“Well, isn’t she the reason you didn’t tell Alex about your feelings?” I looked down as I thought about it.

“She ripped my heart out…she took it and she mangled it and stomped on it…until there was nothing left.” I said as she gave me a pained look. “I don’t want that to happen again…”

“You don’t know that it will…” she said as I shrugged.

“Well, it doesn’t matter now…Alex is with Serv and I’m still alone so…”

“You’re not alone.” She said as I looked up at her. “You got me.”

“Yeah, but I don’t want to have sex with you…”

“First of all, gross…I could never do that with you and secondly, that’s hurtful….” She said, causing me to laugh.

“Can we talk about something else?” I asked as she nodded.

“Let’s talk about Lyon…” she said as I groaned, throwing myself backwards on my bed.

“No.”

“Yes.” I shook my head as she continued speaking. “Are you going to accept the deal?”

“I don’t know. It’s a great opportunity, but I would leave my entire life here…”

“You could always wait until next year to register for the draft…” she reasoned as I nodded my head.

“…and play in an unstable league?” I questioned as she shook her head at me.

“Not with that attitude.” She sighed after a moment before giving me a soft look. “Maybe a fresh start is what you need…I hate to say it, but there are so many bad memories here for you…”

“Yeah…” I mumbled looking down.

“You still have time to think about it…” she said as I nodded my head.

It took me about another week to come to a decision. Christen was right about me needing a fresh start and what better way to do that than to send myself across the world.

“Absolutely not!” my mom said pacing the kitchen as I sighed.

“Yes.” I said calmly as she stopped and sent me a scathing look.

“You are not moving to France.” She said as I nodded my head.

“I am…” I said slowly as she glared at me before looking at my father.

“Talk some sense into her.” She said as I ran my hand through my hair with a heavy sigh.

“Are you sure about this?” he asked me as I nodded my head.

“I am…this is what I want.”

“I don’t think we can stop you then…” he said as my mother glared at him.

“No…this is not acceptable! You aren’t going. I forbid it!”

“Mom…” I said approaching her as she shook her head. “Trust me…I need to do this.”

She shot me a pained look as her eyes started watering. She shook her head as I pulled her in for a hug. We stood for a few minutes before she pulled back giving me a sad look.

“I will be visiting.” She said as I smiled at her.

“I would love nothing more…” I said as she nodded her head.

“When do you leave?”

“The end of the week.” I said as her eyes widened.

“That’s too soon.” She said as I shook my head.

“It’s not…” I answered as she gave me another pained look.

“I’m helping you pack.” She declared after a moment as I nodded my head. “Have you found a place to stay?”

“The club is providing me one. They already sent all the information, so I have a place to ship stuff if I need to.”

“Well, then we must get started.”

The rest of the week was spent getting stuff prepared for my departure. Having my moms help was actually a blessing as she took care of most of the complicated stuff, like getting my addresses changed and stuff.

It was the night before I was supposed to leave as I sat at the dinner table with my parents and sister. My mom had decided to make my favorite as we sat there laughing. I could tell my parents were trying to hold it together as the topic switched to my departure.

“I will miss you…” my mom said as I smiled at her.

“I’ll be back…I don’t know when…but I will be.” I said as she shook her head.

“I know…but still…you’re my baby…” she said as I nodded my head.

“I will still be your baby…I’ll just be in France.” I said grinning as she frowned. My father laughed as she shook her head in disapproval.

After dinner, I stepped outside and sat down and closed my eyes taking in the moment. I faintly heard the door open and close before I turned my head and sighed.

“So, you were really just going to leave without saying goodbye…” Serv said with a disappointed tone.

“It’s not personal Serv…” I said as he scoffed.

“Not personal? You were going to go to France without telling me…when were you going to tell me? When you landed? When I came to the house and you were gone?”

“I don’t know…” I said looking at him as he shot me a sad expression. “It was easier to not tell you…”

“Easier…” he scoffed again as I sighed.

“How did you even find out?” I questioned as he stared at me.

“Apparently, your departure from Stanford was big news…Alex found out and told me.” He said as I shook my head.

“I don’t know what you want me to say…” I said as he stared at me.

“How about sorry?”

“I’m sorry.” I said with no emotion as he shook his head.

“I don’t know what has been up with you…you’ve been a real dick the last few weeks…I don’t know if it was something I did or if you’re going through something, but you don’t seem like you even want to be around me anymore…”

“Servando…” I sighed as I stood up to look at him. “It’s complicated.”

“What did I do?” he gave me a pleading look as I closed my eyes. “Whatever it is, I’m sorry…”

“You didn’t…” I ran my hands over my face in a frustrated manner as I then stared at him. “It’s not anything you did…I’m just not in a good place right now…and I need a change.”

“What’s going on?” he asked me as I paused. We stood for a moment before I opened my mouth to speak.

“I-” I was cut off by the door opening and Alex poking her head outside. She looked between us before her eyes fell on Servando.

“Your mom needs you.” She said as he nodded his head and moved to go inside. He passed her as she looked at me. I kept my eyes down before she closed the door leaving us outside alone.

“He’s really upset that you didn’t tell him…” she said as I rolled my eyes. “So am I.”

“Why would I need to tell you?” I asked looking at her as she gave me a look.

“Cause we are friends?” she said with a confused expression as I shook my head.

“Are we?”

“What is up with you?” she demanded coming closer as I gave her a glare.

“Nothing that concerns you.” I said moving to brush passed her as she caught my arm. I abruptly turned as we ended up chest to chest as she kept a firm grip on my arm. “Let. Go.”

“Not until you tell me what your problem is…” she said as I stared at her. I searched her eyes for a moment before glancing down at her lips. I leaned in a little as her eyes seemed to close. I was about an inch from her lips before whispering.

“My problem is you.” I said as I pulled away. She let go this time as she gave me a hurt look. “Stay away from me Alex…”

I didn’t wait for a reply before entering my house. I spent the rest of the night getting all my stuff together as I tried to enjoy the rest of the night with my family. Servando and Alex left not long after my confrontation with Alex. The next day, I was off on the first flight to New York and then another long flight to France. Hopefully this wasn’t a mistake…

Three Years Later…

“All I’m saying is that maybe this wouldn’t have taken as long if you hadn’t run off to France…” Kelley said as I turned towards her.

“You do know I helped Lyon win the champions league last year, right?” I asked as she shrugged her shoulders.

“Those are small details.” She said, causing me to laugh.

“Are they?”

“You could’ve played in the WPS…” she said as I gave her a look.

“The league that just folded…?” her jaw dropped causing me to laugh.

“That’s rude.” She said, causing me to smile.

“Well, while you’re looking for a club, I’m going to win another champions league title with Lyon…”

“That sounds horribly cocky…” I turned as Christen stepped into the room.

“I’m sorry…which one of us got knocked out in the quarterfinals and which one of us is in the final?” I questioned as she rolled her eyes.

“Going to France really made you mean…”

“No, I was mean before I left…but now I actually have trophies.” I grinned as they both rolled their eyes.

We continued talking before we had to go down to a team meeting. I walked with them and found some seats with them. Throughout the whole meeting, I felt eyes on me. I wasn’t stupid. I knew who it was, but I was refusing to look in her direction.

“She won’t stop staring at you…” Christen said as I nodded my head.

“I’m aware.” I mumbled as I looked to the forward next to me. She gave me an amused look as I shook my head.

“When was the last time you saw her?”

“Debatable.” I mumbled as she gave me a look. “Just seeing her…the holidays. An actual conversation, the day in my backyard.”

“You haven’t spoken for three years?” she asked with disbelief as I nodded my head.

“I’m stubborn.”

“Clearly.”

After the meeting was over, I went back to my room with Kelley and Christen. I collapsed onto the bed as Christen laughed a little.

“What’s wrong with you?” Kelley asked as I groaned a little bit.

“How long do you think before she comes looking for you?”

“I really hope she doesn’t…”

“Who?” Kelley asked as I glared at Christen.

“Alex.” Christen answered as I let out another groan.

“Isn’t she dating your brother?”

“Yes.” I mumbled before there was knocking on the door. Christen grinned as Kelley moved to open the door. I put my hands over my face as Alex entered the room.

“Come on Kelly…let’s go get some coffee.” She said as Kelley gave her a skeptical look before going with Christen. The door closed as the room went silent. I waited for Alex to say something as I kept my eyes closed.

“Are we going to talk?” she questioned softly as I looked towards her.

“What do we have to talk about?” I shot back as she sighed.

“I don’t know…” she said with a nervous tone as I sat up and looked at her.

“What do you want?”

“You know…I don’t know what it is that I ever did to you for you to hate me the way you do…even when I am at your house with your family…you treat me like shit and refuse to talk to me…”

“It…doesn’t matter.” I said as she gave me a hurt look. “I’m over it.”

“Doesn’t really seem like it…”

“I am!” I said standing up as she gave me a pleading look.

“Then, why do you refuse to talk to me?”

“I…” I cut myself off as I stared at her. “I don’t know…”

“Well, you need to figure it out…we’re both on this team and we have to be professional. So, whatever problem you have with me needs to be resolved.”

“Fine.” I said as she stared at me.

“We used to be good friends you know…” she said as I looked away from her. “I trusted you more than anyone…”

“I…like I said, it doesn’t matter anymore.” I answered as she gave me a sad look. “I’ll be professional.”

“Fine.” She left not long after that as I sighed. I can’t believe after three years of not talking to her…I still am in love with her.

“Fucking Alex Morgan…” I mumbled, throwing myself backwards.

Over the next week, I was completely focused on training. I was trying to prove that I deserved a spot on this team and there was nothing I wouldn’t do. Despite my initial thoughts, I had fallen into sync with the team…more specifically with Alex. She and I seemed to be able to read each other’s moves pretty well.

Pia had mentioned how much of an asset it could be if Alex and I could play that well in a game. Her favored formation had Alex up top with Abby and if I could connect with them in the midfield, then I definitely had a solid starting spot.

“You’re so confusing…” Christen commented as I gave her a look.

“Why?”

“Because you are clearly in love with her…it’s obvious. Yet, you continue to treat her like she means nothing to you…”

“She’s dating my brother.” I said as she gave me a look. “They’re like in love with each other…I’m not going to mess that up for them.”

“I still think she loves you.” I gave her an irritated look as she shrugged.

“Even if she did, she’s with Serv and he loves her.” I said shaking my head. “I could never do that to him.”

The next few months seemed to go by in a blur. I had tried to be more friendly with Alex. It was exhausting being so on edge with her all the time and after I found out I made the Olympic roster…I knew us having a good connection would be extremely important.

“Why aren’t you dating anyone?” Pinoe abruptly asked me as we all sat together for dinner.

“That’s not an invasive question at all…” I said sarcastically as she gave me an expectant look. “I don’t know…”

“You don’t have a secret girlfriend in France?” I laughed a little as I shook my head.

“No. I do not have a secret girlfriend.” I answered giving them an amused smile.

“We should find you one. You seem so lonely.” I gave an offended look as they laughed.

“I’m not lonely!” I defended as Kelley gave me a doubtful look. “I feel attacked.”

“Okay…let’s leave her alone.” Abby said with an amused smile as I pouted at my teammates.

After dinner, I headed to where the pool was. I sat down dipping my feet in as I closed my eyes letting myself relax a little. It was only a few minutes later when I felt another presence. I turned when Alex sat next to me dipping her feet.

“Hi…” she said as I gave her a small smile.

“Hi.”

“Is it okay if I sit here?” she asked after a moment.

“You can do whatever you want…” I answered as she rolled her eyes before giving me a defiant look.

“Then, I am sitting here.”

“Okay.” We sat for another few minutes before she finally spoke again.

“Can I ask you something?” I looked at her as she gave me a cautious look. “Why aren’t you dating anyone?”

“Why does it matter?” I pondered as she shrugged.

“It doesn’t...not really at least…I just feel like you're perfect, and I doubt you have trouble finding people who want to date you…”

“You think I’m perfect?” I questioned as she blushed.

“Perfectly Annoying.” She said quickly as I shook my head.

“No. No. You can’t take it back.” I teased as she rolled her eyes. “Anyway, to answer your question…I just haven’t found anyone that’s worth being with…”

“Don’t you want to be in love though…” I stared at her for a moment as I thought about it.

“I have been in love before…twice.”

“Twice? With whom?” she questioned with confusion.

“The first time was with this girl Victoria…she was my first love and it…didn’t work out.”

“Why not?” I looked down as I thought about my ex. It didn’t hurt as bad anymore, but it was more equivalent to a dull pain.

“We were together for about a year…I spent my junior and senior year of high school being in love with her. She finally gave me a chance and I thought we were so happy until I found out she was cheating on me. When I confronted her about it, she told me that she didn’t love me like she thought she did. That I was just a phase and that it was more fun for her to experiment with me than an actual serious thing.”

“(Y/N)…” she said as I wiped away the tear that had escaped my eye.

“It’s fine.” I said as she gave me a sad look. “It was years ago.”

“What about the second person?” she questioned as I sat there saying nothing.

“That one…doesn’t matter either.” I said, looking at her. “She’s happy with someone else.”

“Does she know?” she asked as I looked her in the eyes.

“No and she can never know…” I said after a moment as she gave me a sad look.

“I’m sorry that you’ve had such bad luck…” she said resting her head on my shoulder.

“Me too.” I mumbled quietly as we sat there for a few minutes. “We should head inside.”

“Yeah…” she said as I stood offering her my hand.

After that, Alex and I seemed to spend a lot more time together. I knew it was probably a bad idea considering my feelings for the forward, but I also knew that she was going to be a part of my life no matter what and it was pointless to avoid her.

It was easier to ignore everything once the Olympics had started. I got to play a little bit and so did Alex. The group stage was a little crazy, but things really took a turn when we got to the knockout stage. We took down New Zealand with a two nil win which was great, but the match against Canada was insane. If not for Alex’s last second goal, I don’t know what would have happened.

“I can’t believe that happened.” Alex said sitting on the balcony of our hotel room as I chuckled next to her.

“Me neither…” I said looking over at her. “I can’t believe you did that…”

“I know!” she said with a bright smile.

“We’re going to the final!” she said as I nodded my head.

“Yeah, it’s all so crazy…” I mumbled as she nodded.

“This whole year has been crazy…” I looked at her as she kept her gaze out onto the sky. “Going to the Olympics…being friends with you again…”

“Crazy indeed…”

“Are you ever going to tell me why we stopped being friends?” she asked softly as I looked at her.

“No.” I answered, causing a brief look of frustration to cross over her face. “I told you…it doesn’t matter. All that matters is that we are friends again…”

“What if it matters to me?”

“I can’t give you the answer you’re looking for…” I said softly standing up and walking into the room.

We didn’t really speak for the rest of the night. The next couple of days was spent trying to subtly avoid the forward. I wasn’t interested in the conversation she was trying to have with me. I felt bad, but I could never mess up her relationship with Servando.

The day of the final against Japan, I knew most of the team was nervous given the way their last major game against them had gone. I had a feeling that things were going to be different this time though…not just because I was there, but the team seemed to be much more cohesive than it did last year.

I was a little nervous when the game started but by the end of the game…we had won two to one. Two amazing goals scored by Carli had won us the gold medal. I was overjoyed as I celebrated with my teammates. Once we had left the stadium, we went out and celebrated with our friends and family.

I got to celebrate with my family minus Servando. He hadn’t been able to get released from the Sounders, so he wasn’t in attendance for the games or the celebrations. I couldn’t tell if Alex was bothered by it or not. There were times that she didn’t seem to care, but there were also times that she did. It was a little confusing.

“What are you doing out here?” I turned to see the forward coming outside giving me a confused look.

“Just getting some air.” I said as she came closer.

“Getting air?” I nodded my head as she gave me an amused look.

“What are you doing?”

“Looking for you.” She answered immediately as I raised my brows at her.

“Here I am.”

“Here you are…” she said as I stared at her. “Can I get your opinion on something?”

“What’s up?”

“Do you remember that thing you told me about the person you were in love with…?”

“Vaguely.”

“You said that it didn’t matter because she was happy with someone else…”

“I did say that.” I said staring at her as she took a shaky breath.

“I was in love with someone too…still sort of am…and I think it’s too late.” She said as I stared at her with wide eyes.

“What? Who?” I questioned as she gave me a nervous look.

“I can’t tell you, but I don’t know what to do.” She said her eyes watering a little bit as I looked away from her. “(Y/N), I’m still in love with them though…”

“Alex…you’re literally with Serv…” I said standing up and putting some distance between us. “You shouldn’t be telling me this.”

“(Y/N) please…”

“No, I don’t want to know…I don’t want to know when or who…” I said, shaking my head as she gave me a desperate look.

“It’s you. It’s always been you.” She said as I stopped and stared at her. “There has never been a time that it wasn’t you, but you always push me away and yet I can’t stop coming back to you. I have tried for years to walk away from you and to not love you, but I can’t, and it is killing me.”

“If it’s me, then why are you with Serv?” I questioned as she stared at me with a pained look.

“Because you don’t want me…” she snapped coming closer to me. “…and I don’t want to be alone.”

“You shouldn’t be with him.” I said firmly as she looked down. “You’re going to break his heart.”

“I know I shouldn’t be with him…it’s why I broke up with him earlier…” she said as my eyes widened. “He told me that he is hurt, but he had a feeling because I was pulling away from him. He said he still wants to be friends…”

“But you just said…”

“You asked me why I was with him…not if I’m still with him…”

“No.” I said shaking my head as she crossed her arms. “I can’t do this to him. He’s my brother. Besides, you should be with him anyways…he cares about you so much and he loves you so much.”

“…and you don’t?” I stopped talking as she gave me a tearful look.

“What?”

“Love me? You don’t love me?”

“Alex…” I looked down as she came closer to me.

“Don’t lie to me.” I looked up at her with a defeated look. She softly grabbed my face so that we were only inches apart. “Just say it. Say the words and I’m yours…”

I leaned my forehead against hers closing my eyes. I felt tears begin to fall as I struggled to keep my composure. We stood in silence for a few moments as I contemplated what to do. Servando was probably never going to forgive me for dating Alex, but I had also waited years to have this moment with her. Was she worth losing my brother? With a deep sigh, I made my decision.

“I love you.” I whispered, opening my eyes as she gave me a small smile in return.

“I love you too.”

Her words of requital was all it took for me to surge forward letting myself melt into her. Our lips came together in what could only be described as an explosion of feeling. Her hands moved to grip the back of my neck as my hands found their way around her waist. There was a sense of both relief and urgency in our kiss. As much as I would have wanted it to last, we eventually had to stop to catch our breaths.

“I’m yours…” she said softly as I stared at her.

“Don’t break my heart…” I mumbled as she gave me a weak smile.

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

I didn’t hesitate to claim her lips for another kiss as she wrapped her arms fully around my neck. After so long of wanting her, I felt so much relief at having her in my arms. I knew there would be consequences to this decision. I knew we would have much to face after everyone found out, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. As long as I had her, that’s all that really mattered to me.  

The End.

[softlass27]

yes, ya girl accidentally turned what was meant to be a short, fluffy prompt into 4000 words and ended up having to post it a day late. what can you do? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

kind of a continuation of my “end of chaddy” ficlet from last week, but you don’t need to have read that to follow this one. as long as you’re aware of the hoped-for chas/al affair :)

Flufftober day 3 – But you said

AO3 link here

“So uh… ” Aaron sidles up to Robert while he’s cooking tea, snaking both arms around his waist. “You remember how you love me?”

Robert drops his knife on the chopping board and twists around to stare down at his husband, suspicions already raised. “Yes… it rings a bell. Why?”

“No reason,” Aaron blinks up at him with a innocent look that’s not dissimilar to the one Seb gives them when he’s been caught eating a biscuit before mealtime. “Just… remember that, okay?”

“What’ve you done?”

“It’s nothin’ bad! Except… I sort of… toldPaddyhecouldstaywithus.”

“Excuse me?” Aaron’s already starting to make his escape, but Robert grabs him by the arm and pulls him back. “Oh no, you don’t. You told Paddy he could what?”

“It won’t be for long.”

“I agree, it won’t be any time at all. Because it’s not happening.”

“Look, he doesn’t have anywhere else to go. Marlon has a full house, there’s no room for him there.”

“Not my problem.” Robert can genuinely, sincerely, think of nothing worse than having Paddy Kirk for a houseguest. He only just got rid of Cain, for Christ’s sake. “Why’s he moved out anyway? Your mum’s the one who slept with someone else, isn’t the cheater the one who’s supposed to get kicked out?”

Aaron raises an eyebrow. “You’d rather live with my mother, then?”

“No thanks, I already did my time.”

“No need to make it sound like it was a prison sentence,” Aaron fires back with a roll of his eyes. There’s no response Robert can offer that won’t end with him sleeping on the sofa, so he keeps his mouth shut. “Mum has to stay in the pub, it’s where she works. And to be honest, I don’t think Paddy ever really liked living there, he didn’t want to stay.”

“And now he’s got his sights set on our place, does he?”

“Only for a few days!” Aaron says quickly. “Just until he gets himself sorted and finds somewhere more permanent. Look, he took me in when no one else would, the least I can do is return the favour for a couple of nights. Please? For me?”

Robert sighs and takes a moment to contemplate the things he does for the sake of his marriage.

“Fine,” he says through gritted teeth. “A few days.”

Aaron’s face lights up and he pecks him on the cheek. “Thank you.”

“When’s he coming, then?”

“In about… ” Aaron glances at the clock. “Five minutes?”

“Wha – five minutes, are you kidding me? Aaron, get back here. Aaron!”

*

Day One. It’s been just over twelve hours and Robert’s at the end of his tether.

The man sitting across from him at the kitchen table slurps his tea disgustingly loudly, chewing with his mouth open and getting toast crumbs all over himself and the table. Robert’s three-year-old has better table manners.

“So, you and me?” He says to Aaron with his mouth full, grinning widely, no sign of his misery from the night before. “Roomies again, eh?”

His high-pitched giggle makes Robert miss Cain. At least he’d had the decency not to talk during breakfast. Or at all, really.

Aaron gives him a fond look from where he’s buttering his own toast (Robert’s fresh sourdough loaf is going to be gone by tomorrow, he just knows it) and nods. “Just like the old days.”

“Until you get your own place sorted, of course,” Robert says loudly from behind his newspaper, an outwardly pleasant smile plastered across his face. “How’s that going, by the way? Making time for flat viewings in between your appointments with pregnant cows?”

The grin drops from Paddy’s face and he fixes Robert with the same scowl he’s been levelling at him for the past six years.

“Haven’t found anywhere yet,” he mutters moodily.

“But there’s no rush,” Aaron’s quick to add, sitting at the table next to him. “You’ve been through a lot these last few days, you can stay as long as you need.”

Paddy nods morosely, face like a wet weekend. “I just… I can’t believe she – that this has happened. I thought – I just didn’t see – see it coming.”

Funny, Robert saw it coming a mile off.

“Me neither,” Aaron pats Paddy’s arm, already shooting Robert a look that clearly says don’t you dare.

And just like that, Paddy’s taking off his glasses and blubbering into his napkin, like he had been for most of last night. Rambling on and on about shock and betrayal and how he just doesn’t know how he’s meant to get through this.

“Well,” Robert closes his newspaper. “How did you get through it the last time she cheated on you?”

Paddy is stunned into silence. He gapes at Robert like a fish, face torn between shock and outrage.

“Don’t you need to be getting to work now, Rob?” Aaron asks, exasperation radiating off him in waves.

“Suppose so.” He leans over to plant a kiss on Aaron’s lips, trying hard to ignore the pitiful sniffling next to him. “Love you.”

“Love you, too. See you in a bit.”

No sooner is Robert in the car, he gets a text from Aaron.

You’re a menace.

He chuckles and set off for work.

*

“Please tell me you’re not here for food,” Victoria begs when Robert turns up at the pub later that day. “Marlon’s decided that since Chas has A – cheated on his best mate, and B – slept with the man who ruined his marriage to Jessie, he doesn’t want to see her right now. Which means he’s not coming into work, which means that muggins here is now stuck holding the fort in the kitchen all day.”

She throws her hands in the air in frustration, face sweaty and chef’s hat askew, and any inclination Robert had had to ask for some chips quickly vanishes.

“No ta, just came for a drink.”

“Oh, thank God. Right, can’t stop, too many pies to make.” Without further ado, she turns on her heel and scurries back towards the kitchen.

“Stellar customer service skill as always, Vic!” Robert calls after her, just as Chas herself appears in her place. “Chastity,” Robert smiles and rests his elbows on the bar.

His mother-in-law watches him warily. People have been sending filthy looks and snide comments her way all week (Priya and the Sharmas have more friends and influence in the village than she could ever dream of), so she’s somewhat on edge.

“What can I get you?”

“Just a pint, please?”

She nods shortly and grabs a glass.

“So… how’s Al?”

Chas stops pulling the pint, tired and baggy eyes narrowing at him. “Excuse me?”

“Just making conversation.”

“Well, I’d rather you didn’t.”

“Understood.”

She huffs and continues filling his glass in silence.

“So should Aaron and I put his name on your Christmas card this year or – ?”

Chas slams the pint down and storms into the back, leaving a smirking Charity to take his money.

“You’re a brave man, Robert Sugden,” Moira grins from where she’s perched further down the bar.

“It’s because of her that I’m stuck with Paddy snoring in my spare room, I’m beyond caring.” He takes a gulp of his pint and heads in her direction. “Besides, I’ve gotta get my kicks from somewhere. Chas Dingle making a mistake like the rest of us mere mortals, I couldn’t resist.”

He can’t pretend he isn’t enjoying everyone getting a stark reminder of just how much of a hypocrite Aaron’s mum can be – he’s had to deal with it since the day he and Aaron got together – longer, even. She may act civil enough for her son’s sake, but Robert knows that Chas has never quite trusted him – not even after they got married properly – and that she was always looking for an excuse to use his past against him. Never mind all the wrong she’d done and the hurt she’d caused people over the years.

“Ah well, can’t say I blame you,” Moira’s smile dims into something more contemplative. “After all the grief she gave me for what happened with Cain last year, I’m tempted to get a small dig in myself.”

Christ, at least Robert's not the only one. How many times has someone in the village had to hear Chas Dingle gleefully whip out her classic mantra from behind the bar? Once a cheat, always a cheat.

Moira shakes her head, face brightening as she holds out her glass. “Well, here’s to us mere mortals, then.”

“I’ll drink to that,” Robert clinks his glass to hers. “Cheers.”

*

“House rules.”

On Day Two, Robert slaps a piece of paper down in front of Paddy, startling him so badly he nearly drops his phone.

“S-sorry what?”

“House rules. For you to follow while you’re staying here.”

Paddy picks it up tentatively. “It’s… laminated.”

“It’s Rob’s latest toy at work, don’t question it,” Aaron scoffs from the sofa. “He laminated our shopping list last week.”

“Take the recycling out on Tuesdays… don’t touch Robert’s coffee pods…no talking to Aaron while Top Gear’s on… only ten minutes in the bathroom?”

“Yeah, what of it?”

“B-but you two have an en-suite! I’m the only one using the bathroom, why does it matter how long I take?”

“The rules are there to be followed, not questioned.”

“But – ”

“Do you want our rent-free spare bedroom or not?”

“…Yes.”

“Well then.”

*

“So then I told the bloke,” Aaron says from his perch on the kitchen counter, banging his feet against the cupboard. “He bloody well take what was agreed in the contract, or I’m gonna tell every scrap contact I know to never work with him again. He changed his tune pretty quickly after that.”

“Absolutely ruthless, I’m so proud,” Robert grins, before whacking Aaron’s leg with the wooden spoon in his hand. “Stop that.”

Aaron rolls his eyes, but brings his swinging feet to a stop. “What’re we havin’ for tea, then?”

“Stir fry do you?”

“Mmm, yeah. With… ” Aaron picks up a packet of quinoa, frowning at the label. “Kwin-oh?”

Robert stares at him. “I think the word you’re looking for is quinoa.”

“Whatever, it’s a daft spelling.”

Robert plucks the packet out of his grasp. “You’re lucky you’re fit.”

“You’re lucky I have a thing for pretentious arseholes.”

“Oh, it’s like that, is it?”

“Mmhm.”

Aaron moves half a second before Robert does, flying off the counter and dashing away just as Robert makes a grab for him. He chases his child of a husband around the kitchen a few times, knocking into the chairs and sending a bag of peppers careering to the floor before he manages to get hold of him.

“Rob, no, don’t!” Aaron cackles as Robert’s fingers dig into his ribs, tickling him mercilessly. “Stop, stop it, I’m sorry, stoooppp!”

They both laughing so loudly, they almost miss the awkward cough that comes from the living room. Robert moves his hands from Aaron’s sides to rest on the small of his back, as they turn their heads to see Paddy watching them uncomfortably from the sofa.

Honestly, Robert had forgotten he was there.

“Alright, Paddy?” Aaron asks breathlessly, hands travelling up Robert’s chest to rest on his shoulders.

“Fine,” Paddy says shortly, still watching them with a mixture of annoyance, discomfort and… something else that Robert can’t quite put his finger on. He’s not sure he likes it. “Just… ” he wafts a hand in the direction of his laptop. “Trying to find a solicitor so I can sort out access to Evie. Could do with a bit of peace and quiet.”

“Well it’s very quiet in the spare room,” Robert offers, wincing when Aaron pinches the side of his neck.

“Ignore him, Paddy. Sorry, we’ll keep the noise down, let you concentrate.”

“No, actually I think I will go up to my room,” Paddy gathers his things and heads for the stairs. “Would rather be on my own anyway.”

As soon as he’s out of sight, Aaron rolls his eyes at Robert.

“I know he’s a bit of a pain, but would it kill you to cut him some slack?”

“Er, we shouldn’t have to ‘keep the noise down’ in our own house. It’s not like you’re still a teenager, Aaron!”

Aaron quirks a half-smile at him. “Dunno, might be sort of fun. Waiting ’til the grownups are gone so we don’t get caught, sneaking out later so we can be alone.”

“Oh yeah?” Robert raises an eyebrow. “The teenage romance thing doing it for you, is it?”

“Well it’s not like I got to do much of it the first time around, what with, y’know, not being out.” Aaron leans in to whisper in Robert’s ear. “Fancy goin’ for a snog at the cricket pavilion after tea?”

Robert shivers and turns to nuzzle at Aaron’s neck. “Make it a hand job and you’re on.”

*

That unreadable look that Paddy had given them, the one that had put Robert on edge, keeps making a reappearance.

It happens when Robert flops down on top of Aaron where he’s stretched out on the sofa, bumping his head against Aaron’s chest until he starts running slow fingers through his hair. They stay curled up together like that for the rest of the night while they watch TV, and more than once, Robert spots Paddy out of the corner of his eye. Just… staring at them with his brow furrowed, mouth twisting with displeasure. He almost looks... angry?

He does it again when Robert presses Aaron’s morning coffee into his hands with a warm kiss, and again when they talk excitedly about all the stuff they’re planning to do with Seb when he next comes to stay, and again basically every time they show the slightest bit of affection to each other.

“Oh, did you manage sort out the electricity bill yesterday?” Robert asks Aaron on the morning of Day Four.

Aaron opens his mouth to answer, but Paddy’s incredulous scoff cuts him off.

Robert blinks at him. “Something funny?”

“No, it’s just… Aaron doing the bills?” That high-pitched laugh of his returns, this time accompanied by a series of snorts. “There’s a sentence I never thought I’d hear.”

“Why not?”

“Well… it’s not really your thing, is it Aaron?”

“Pretty sure dealing with bills is something most adults are capable of dealing with,” Robert says, eyebrows raised.

“What, you think I just make Rob sort out everything for me?” Aaron adds with a slightly bemused laugh.

The mirth in Paddy’s eyes has dimmed rapidly, his giggling taking a more nervous turn. “No, that’s not – I mean – I’ve just never seen it, I suppose. You never had much interest in that side of things when you lived with me.”

“When I was 18?” Aaron’s brow crinkles in confusion. “I think I’ve grown up a bit since then, Paddy.”

“Oh, you definitely have,” Robert murmurs with a wink, snickering when Aaron whacks him on the arm. “So, electricity bill?”

“Yeah, I finally managed to speak to an actual human on the phone, for once. Got ’im to refund all of the money they overcharged us.”

“Brilliant, can finally tick that off the to-do list.” Robert kisses him lightly. “My hero.”

Aaron snorts. “Alright, soft lad.”

There’s that odd look again, Robert can just sense it. He doesn’t know what Paddy’s problem is but he doesn’t care, not really. Not when he’ll be out of their hair sooner rather than later.

*

It all comes to a head on Day Six. Frankly, Robert’s amazed they made it almost a whole week without someone snapping.

It’s early evening, Robert washing the dishes and humming along to the radio while he waits for Aaron to bring a takeaway home. Paddy sits at the kitchen table, sausage-like fingers bashing at the keyboard so slowly it’s making Robert’s eye twitch.

There’s a loud sigh from behind him, shortly followed by some frustrated whispering. Followed by another, louder, sigh.

Robert grits his teeth.“Something wrong?”

“The flat I was meant to be viewing tomorrow, someone’s just flippin’ taken it.”

“Ah. Well, something will turn up soon.” Please let it turn up soon.

“This isn’t fair,” Paddy mutters a moment later, bitterness dripping from every word as he slams the laptop closed. “I’m the injured party here, why should I have to be the one who ends up homeless?”

“Didn’t think you’d want to stay at the pub, Aaron said you were never keen on it.”

“I’m not,” Paddy snaps. “But it’s the principle of it!”

“Ah, the principle. Of course, what was I thinking?” It wasn’t so long ago that Paddy’s principles had very nearly screwed up Johnny’s adoption for Vanessa and Charity. Robert hadn’t forgotten.

“You know what, Sugden?” Robert wipes his hands on a dishcloth and turns to see Paddy looking at him with narrowed eyes. “I have had just about enough of you and your attitude.”

Christ, it’s like living on the farm again.

“Well if you don’t like it, you know where the door is.”

“Oh, I bet you’d just love that. Although if I wasn't forced to be here, then you wouldn’t be able to rub it in my face anymore, would you?”

Robert stares at him, baffled. He turns off the radio. “…You’ve lost me. Rub what in your face?”

“Oh, come on, you think I don’t know what you’re doing?”

“Paddy, I genuinely have no idea what you’re on about.”

“You!” Paddy jerks to his feet, shoving his chair back so hard it almost tips over. “You, showing off all the time, shoving it in my face like you’re trying to prove that you’re this perfect, loved-up couple when I’ve lost – when I’m going through… ”

Robert can honestly say he’s never met a man as pathetic as the one stood on front of him.

“Is that what the funny looks have been about?” His jaw nearly drops when Paddy just glares, confirming his suspicions. “So what, you’re just… I don’t know, jealous that Aaron and I have a good relationship while yours has crashed and burned – ”

“Jealous?!” Paddy splutters, his words angry and halting. “Of you? Don’t you – acting as if you’re better – don’t you dare look down on me and my relationship with Chas.”

“What, like you’ve looked down on me all these years?”

“That’s different, entirely different.”

“Oh yeah?” Robert sneers, Paddy’s sheer audacity ruffling his feathers. “How’s that, then?”

“Because you – you're Mr Shifty. Doesn’t matter how hard you try with the ‘nice guy’ act, you always have been and you always will be,” Paddy snarls, teeth bared. “And fine, maybe you and Aaron are happy now, but relationships are hard work, even strong ones can fall apart just like that. You don’t know anything about my relationship! When you’ve been through something like what Chas and I have, losing a child – you have no idea.”

“No, I don’t. I can’t imagine. But that doesn’t give you the right to have a go at me and accuse me of all sorts in my own house.”

“It does when what I’m saying is true. And I’m not about to sit here and listen to a lecture from another cheater like you.” Paddy smirks nastily, folding his arms triumphant. “If there’s one thing I’ve learnt these last few days, is that those sorts of people don’t change, not really.”

“Is this the moment where I bring up Tess, or…?”

And that, apparently, is the straw that breaks the camel’s back.

“How dare you?” Paddy hisses, apoplectic with rage. “Standing there on your high horse, like you think we’ve all just forgotten what you are. Well, maybe other people have, but I definitely haven’t.”

He jabs a vicious finger in Robert’s direction.

“You’re the same smug, arrogant piece of scum you always were, and eventually Aaron will see that for himself," his voices raises to a shout, spit flying from his mouth. “Maybe things between the two of you are fine now, but they won’t be forever. It’s only a matter of time before you’ll screw up again, just like you always do, and the wool will fall from his eyes. He’ll figure out that he can do better than you.”

“Will I, now?”

There’s a long, ringing silence, and Robert and Paddy both turn to see Aaron standing in the living room, coat and shoes still on and a takeaway bag dangling from his hand. The look in his eyes is as dark as thunder.

“A-aaron I – ” Paddy stammers, face paling. "I wasn’t… ”

“You weren’t what? Havin' a go at my husband and slagging off my marriage behind my back?”

“I – that wasn’t what I was trying to do – ”

“No? Because it definitely sounded like it.” Aaron tosses the takeaway bag on the coffee table. “So what, Paddy, not only do you think I’m rubbing my marriage if your face, you also think I’m trapped in a relationship with some master manipulator and I’m just too thick to notice?”

“No!” Paddy lurches towards him, stopping in his tracks when Aaron takes a swift step back. “No, of c-course not, I meant him, not you. I just – Aaron, he started it! He was winding me up!”

“I’m sure he was,” Aaron looks at Robert and his glare briefly softens into fond irritation, before his gaze snaps back to Paddy. “But that’s no excuse to say any of what you just did. Can you blame Robert for havin’ a go sometimes when you treat him like that?”

“I’m just – I’m just looking out for you.”

“That’s not what that was,” Aaron purses his lips together before sighing, hands on his hips. “You know what, Paddy, I think you’d better find somewhere else to stay from now on. The B&B probably has a room free.”

“What?” Paddy gapes at him, shocked. “Aaron please, I’m sorry, I won’t say anything else, I swear – ”

“No,” Aaron cuts him off. “Seb’s coming tomorrow, and I don’t really want him around this sort of atmosphere. It was gonna be a bit cramped with the four of us anyway.”

“But – but you said I could stay as long as I want.”

“I did, but that was before you threw my hospitality back in my face. Besides, if it’s so hard to watch me and Robert be happy together, then the Mill definitely isn’t the place for you.”

Paddy gawks at him for a moment, before scowling and trying a different tack. “So that’s it, you’re taking his side over mine?”

He gestures to Robert without actually looking at him. Robert would be offended if he wasn’t feeling so smug right now.

“He is my husband, and I'll thank you to remember that,” Aaron all but growls, not giving an inch, and Robert feels something warm swoop through his chest. “Now pack your stuff and get out, before I say something I regret.”

Paddy’s shoulders slump, as it clearly hits him that no amount of begging or guilt-tripping is going to work in his favour. “Fine.”

He lumbers up the stairs, leaving Robert and Aaron alone. They gravitate towards each other, meeting next the sofa.

“I’m sorry he said all that stuff, it wasn’t okay,” Aaron murmurs, thumbs stroking gently over Robert’s forearms.

“S’alright,” Robert dips his head, shooting him a slightly lopsided smile. “It’s not like I haven’t heard worse from him, I’m used to it.”

“You shouldn’t have to be,” Aaron frowns unhappily. “I didn’t think he still felt that way about you – about us. Not anymore.”

There’s nothing Robert can really say to make it better, so he settles for pressing a soft kiss to Aaron’s forehead. Eventually, Aaron tips his head back to look him in the eye.

“Well, all that stops now,” he says firmly, face full of resolve. “I’m not havin’ it.”

They stay pressed together until Paddy reappears with his bags, mouth downturned.

“I’ll be off, then… ” He stares at Aaron, most likely waiting for him to say something, to tell him he’s sorry and he’s changed his mind. “See if I can find somewhere to sleep tonight.”

“Right, good luck with that,” is all Aaron says, jaw set and arms folded. “Can see yourself out, can’t you?”

Paddy blinks, before looking down at the floor and nodding. He trudges out the door, leaving not with a bang, but a whimper.

There’s a brief silence, before Aaron moves to pick up the takeaway bag and gives Robert a small smile. “So… curry?”

*

Later that night, as Robert walks along the landing, he pauses outside the spare bedroom. He pokes his head in and flicks on the light, grinning at the blissfully empty space. Not a single relative in sight.

“Rob!” Aaron calls from their bedroom. “You comin’ to bed anytime soon or do I have to start without you?”

“Coming!”

Robert flicks off the light and closes the door.

[saiilorstars]

Dare To Forget Me

Ch. 30: There For Her 

Previous chapters // Montserrat's masterlist

Fandom: SVU // Pairing:  Rafael Barba x OFC

Warnings: Due to the nature of the series’ plots, I do have to rate this as ‘mature’ for constant mentions of rape.

Taglist: @ocfairygodmother @anotherunreadblog @maaaaarveeeeel​ @stareyedplanet @perfectlystiles @averyhotchner [If you’d like to be added to this specific OC’s stories/edits, send me a message!]

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Chapter Summary: Things couldn't seem to be going worse for Montserrat. At least she has Rafael with her, though he's struggling at the moment too considering he can't shake off the other woman who won't stop calling him.

Montserrat's presence in the bullpen was immediately question when she walked in that morning. "I mean, you could try saying 'good morning'," her sarcasm seemed to be completely intact. She let her things drop on her desk before giving each of her co-workers a look for their bombardment of questions. "That hasn't gone out of style."

"We just figured you wouldn't show up for a few days," Fin said what everyone else was thinking.

"I want to keep my job and besides...these days where I have been gone...have been way too hard," she took a seat and scooted closer to her desk. "I think a little distraction might be good."

"But is your brother okay, then?" Amanda inquired.

"Calhoun is trying to sort things out with the evidence that Damian supplied her with. Maybe by the end of the day...my brother might be out," Montserrat's small smile was still so full of hope the others wished she was right. "But tell me how's Nick?"

"He's been arraigned," Olivia answered and soon the grimness started spreading to the rest of the squad. "1PP won't budge and none of us have $500,000 lying around."

"The judge seriously posted that as his bail?" Montserrat gaped. "That's outrageous! Not to mention, ridiculous?"

"Yeah, well, they're pinning it on the fact this isn't Nick's first offence," Sonny shook his head. "And Murphy isn't trying to do much for him."

"Hm, so now you're not really liking him either," Montserrat found a moment to smirk.

"He's not letting us help by investigating!" Sonny exclaimed in frustration. "We're just supposed to sit here and continue our work as if our friend isn't in trouble."

"Speaking of work…" Montserrat turned her chair to the others, "Not that I'm moving on from Nick, but...I heard we caught a new case? International vic?"

"Yeah, not really going anywhere though," Amanda bitterly remarked as she opened up her laptop. "Our vic was scammed by a girl and her pimp. Hans Erhard was a tourist from Germany and he answered a Craigslist for a New York girlfriend experience."

"We have both the girl and her pimp in custody but none of them are talking," Olivia shook her head.

"Can I take a crack at it?" Montserrat's question was so volunteering that it really sounded as if she was just her regular self. "I mean, maybe a fresh new detective?"

"Well how about you catch up on it first?" Murphy had walked into the bullpen with a coffee in hand. "Welcome back, detective. How's your brother?"

"As well as he could be in jail," Montserrat sighed and pushed herself up from her desk. "But this case...what do you have for me to review?"

Murphy directed her to their pinboard in the conference area. The good thing about Montserrat was that she really did catch on fast. In thirty minutes she knew exactly what they were dealing: two scammers looking for a quick buck in innocent tourists. Ellie Porter, the girl they'd brought in, was still waiting for a legal aid while her pimp - Little Tino - was already talking with his lawyer to get him out.

While the squad discussed their next plans, a tall dark-haired man in a nice suit walked in. By the briefcase he carried, it was presumed that he was a lawyer, later confirmed when he spoke up. "I'm looking for Ellie Porter. Sorry I'm late. I just caught the case."

"I thought you said you were waiting for her public defender?" Montserrat turned to the rest for some answers.

"We were," Fin answered while keeping his eyes keenly on the new man.

Olivia walked over to him, looking pretty comfortable in his presence but not very happy to see him. "Uh, guys,meet Trevor Langan. He's a, uh, high-priced mouthpiece for lowlifes."

Langan didn't seem the least bit offended by the introduction. In fact, he had something to add on. "And you, once. How soon we forget."

His words instigated some confusion amongst Montserrat, Sonny and Amanda but Fin motioned them not to even ask.

"It's nice to see you, detective," Langan offered a genuine smile at Olivia, leading the newer detectives to conclude he wasn't their typical Buchanan or even Calhoun type of lawyer.

"It's actually sergeant now," Olivia corrected. "So what, you caught a pro bono?"

"Yeah. Do a few of them a year. It keeps me an honest lawyer."

"An oxymoron," Murphy walked out of the office to find the new lawyer.

"Uh, this is our new C.O., Lieutenant Murphy," Olivia introduced.

"Wow. A lot of changes around here," Langan eyed the trio of detectives before giving Murphy a side-glance. Ultimately, he returned his gaze to Olivia with a different type of expression. One could say it was more caring than any other lawyer the squad had seen in the precinct. "And, uh...you, are you doing okay with, uh…everything?"

Olivia gave a nod of her head and made to turn. "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks."

Murphy led Langan away so he could speak with Ellie.

"He's tall," Amanda remarked.

"Yeah, like that's a skill set," Olivia returned to her seat at the conference table.

"And good looking," Montserrat had to add which immediately earned her a disapproving look from Olivia. "Sorry, you two have history or what?"

Olivia humorlessly laughed. "I don't date lawyers."

"Since when?" Amanda then asked which silenced Olivia and left quite a few unanswered questions for Montserrat.

A few hours later, they had Ellie and Tino in lineups for Hans to ID.

"You okay?" Olivia asked Rafael when the ADA strode into bullpen. He'd come to oversee the lineups but he didn't appear to be his regular self.

"What? I'm fine," he said dismissively but the more he tried to be casual the less successful he was.

"You look like you've seen a ghost," Montserrat noticed his grim face that also seemed pale for some reason. "I'm the one whose brother's in jail, why are you so upset?"

Rafael wouldn't answer. He looked to the side and all but puffed. It was a strange sight to see him so...shaken, because that's exactly what he looked like right now. His fingers twitched even though they were inside his pockets. His eyes couldn't seem to find a spot to look at for more than a few seconds.

"Get the lineup started," he told (or rather ordered) Olivia after a few pensive seconds.

Olivia blinked and cast a look at the rest of the squad. "Uh, okay…" she rose from her seat and headed for the corridor.

"You sure you good, councilor?" Sonny asked after a few seconds of watching Rafael continue to shift in his spot.

"Yes, now stop pestering me about irrelevant things." Now granted, his snap did sound like himself but his overall appearance was more than enough to think the contrary.

"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed today," Amanda muttered to the others as she got up.

"For that to happen, he'd actually have to sleep…" Montserrat of course expected a snap for her remark, but it never came. She frowned but before she could point out his lack of participation in their usual go, Olivia returned and announced that the lineup ready to go.

"You sure you're good?" Montserrat still managed to ask before Rafael had to follow after Olivia.

"Yes," he answered in a rushed manner, almost as if the faster he answered the quick they would all just move on from it. Well, Montserrat wasn't going to risk getting yelled at for asking again.

Hand Erhard had arrived a few minutes later, with crutches and a bruised face, and headed directly for the lineup. He recognized Ellie straightaway, but when it came to Tino...it was a miss.

"You need to start seeing Ellie as a victim," Langan trailed after Olivia when the lineup had finished, but the sergeant looked close to throwing him out. "She was pimped out at 16-"

"-she tried to pull a gun on Murphy," Olivia reminded him.

"Yeah, coerced by her pimp!"

Before the argument went further, Montserrat distanced herself due to her ringing phone. "It's Calhoun," she told the others before taking the call. Hope immediately filled her face as she answered Calhoun. Her brother could finally leave that hellhole and return to his normal life. "Tell me when I can pick him up."

But just as hope had filled her in seconds, it vanished in the same speed. If Rafael had been pale before, Montserrat beat him no questions asked. She was as white as a sheet. "What-what do you mean…?" her voice had turned frail, even her body looked as if she was swaying.

The others began to assume what Rita was telling the detective on the other line. But just like that, Montserrat bolted into a run, almost shoving Fin to the side in her run.

"Hey!?" the poor detective was left to call as he stumbled to stay on his feet.

"Something's wrong," Sonny assumed and hurried after Montserrat, prompting the others to do the same.

Montserrat had come back to the conference table where their television was on and scrambled to pick up the remote with one hand while still holding onto her phone in her other hand. She'd turned the television on and flipped to the news channel where an ongoing report was airing.

'The Florence Commercial building that collapsed two days ago has now claimed its first deaths,' the reporter was in the middle of saying, 'Two victims have been reported as deceased after being hospitalized for severe injuries…'

Montserrat fervently shook her head as if that would make it all go away. "What does that mean!?" she demanded from Rita on the phone. While the others couldn't hear Rita's words, they could pretty much assume the situation. By the time Montserrat hung up, she was ready to fall back. And seeing that prompted Sonny to pull up a chair right behind her. She fell back on it with ease, making the others wonder what would've happened if there hadn't been a chair there in the first place.

"They're going to treat this as hom...homicide…" she barely got the wretched word out. It was too disgusting.

"But you said Damian had the evidence…" Sonny said, but Montserrat shrugged in the same confusion he had.

"Everything changes when someone dies," Rafael said quietly. He looked at the others and willed them to remember their own cases and what typically happens when they had a homicide-rape on their hands.

"What the hell am I supposed to do? He's being arraigned this afternoon and then there's going to be a trial date? As if he's an actual criminal?" Montserrat frantically started to ramble. "I've got nothing to help him with. That evidence should've been enough, I…" she shook her head and let a hand cover her quiet sobs. "It should've been enough, it should've..."

The others exchanged looks with each other, all deciding they needed to help her stat. She was right in that the evidence should've been enough to get Gael out, but as Rafael pointed out...things got more complicated once there was murder. Still, it didn't mean it was impossible to prove Gael's innocence.

"Montserrat," Rafael was the one to cut the silence as he moved to Montserrat's chair. He bent down in front of her when she refused to look at anyone. "We can't help you if you don't let us," he said harsher than he would've liked, but then again that's really the only way she'd listen right now.

Montserrat only slightly lowered her hand but it was enough to showcase her reddened eyes. It was honestly a whole other side of her that neither Rafael nor the others had ever seen. "I can't do anything, weren't you listening?"

"Yes, and I think that you did the fatal mistake of listening to yourself," Rafael's counter-argument had her frowning in confusion. "You are a detective. Finding evidence is your job. That's all this is right now: you going back and finding evidence."

"Yeah except I'm usually the one who proves they're guilty," Montserrat sighed a shaky sigh.

"It doesn't mean you'd do your job worse. So listen, everyone here-" Rafael made a gesture at the others keenly watching him, "-is willing to help you but it will not make a difference if you've given up already."

"It's not that I've given up it's that…" Montserrat scrunched her face the more she tried to come up with a perfect way of describing how she felt, but all that came out was an exclaim that sounded more like a child's cry. "Dammit, Rafael, my brother's in jail and I feel like my world is crashing down on me!" Her look of anger on him didn't bother him in the least.

"And being hopeless is going to help you how?" his answer seemed to be upsetting her more.

"Councilor-" Sonny tried to intervene but Rafael pointed a finger for him not to even try interrupting. Sonny retracted his step and looked at the others with an 'I tried' expression.

However, his attempt to intervene did make Rafael realize he wasn't getting this whole 'comfort' thing. It was frustrating, honestly, because he wanted to help Montserrat. He wanted to ease her pain as much as he could but every time he opened his mouth he just made it worse. He'd never been good at that stuff. He never knew what to do.

He looked at Montserrat again, this time forcing any snaps at mind to stay away. She was still giving him that angry expression he was all too familiar with. "What time is he being arraigned?"

"Two o'clock," she answered but the mere reminder of what was to come forced most of the anger to fade from her face. New tears were threatening to roll down her face.

There came a relentless urge to hold her. It took everything he had not to do it. "I'll come with you to arraignment. We'll see exactly what Gael is being charged with and then we can work from there, okay?"

Montserrat nodded her head. "Okay. Will you actually come?"

Rafael smiled and gave her a tilted-head look. "When do I ever joke?" Now it was Montserrat's turn to smile, even if it was just for a second he would take it.

The others felt like they were witnessing something private that they needed to walk away from, but Montserrat unknowingly beat them to it. She pushed herself up from her chair and straightened herself up. She rubbed her face clear of any tears and took in a deep breath. "Okay fine. The Manhattan D.A wants a fight, I'll give them one. Hell, they've never had 2 Novaks and Calhoun all going against them, have they?"

"No," answered Rafael as he, too, straightened on his feet. "And I'd honestly wish them luck, but that wouldn't necessarily be true would it?"

"Listen, Montserrat, why don't you go and see Casey?" Fin suggested and looked back into the hallway where Olivia and Langan were still at. "We'll explain to Liv and Murphy. It's not like they'd say no."

"Honestly I'm a little fearful for the future of my job," Montserrat admitted, but even then it was evident that she would be leaving anyways. "I've been away too much…"

"Hey, we got this," Amanda assured her.

Montserrat agreed with a nod of her head and went to collect her things. It felt ridiculous that she'd just came back to work and was already taking off again but at the same time...her brother needed her. She couldn't be too far away.

"For the rest of you," Rafael looked at the remaining group with an expression akin to irritation, "You've got almost next to nothing on the Hans Erhard rape. One I.D. and it's not even the rapist."

"Are you feeling better now?" Amanda's sarcasm, that included a sarcastic smile, earned herself a glare from the ADA.

"Get something more or the case dies," he left it at that and it was only because he felt the buzz of his phone in his pocket. Soon as he took it out and saw the text message on the screen, his face turned pale again and his fingers seemed to start twitching again. He was nervous. "I have to go," he said in a mutter and made a hasty way out.

Can we have lunch today? - Yelina.

As much as he hated to, Rafael responded with a 'yes' because if he continued to say no, and blow her off, she would just come back to her office. Maybe if he had let her talk the night she appeared in his office, he wouldn't be having lunch with her now.

"You look like you've seen a ghost again," Montserrat's voice pulled Rafael's face from his phone. She was waiting for the elevator to arrive. "Which is funny because I've never seen you go that shade of color. Let me in on the secret so I can use it for later." He rolled his eyes but somewhere inside her playfulness alleviated some of his stress.

The elevator dinged and its doors slid open. Montserrat stepped inside first and waited for Rafael to follow before pressing the down button.

"Montserrat, I need to...apologize," Rafael suddenly started. Montserrat's side-glance was one akin to 'the hell are you talking about?' while he went on. "I'm not very good with...comfort words." And even now it was easy to see the struggle for Rafael to even say that. It was amazing yet ridiculous that he wasn't good with words around her, but he could easily have the right words to prosecute low-lives. Montserrat would do that to him a lot, make him question the simplest of actions he would usually take in other situations where she wasn't involved. But for Montserrat right now it was the funniest thing she ever saw on him. "I don't do a lot of comfort. And I know half of what I told you earlier was done in snaps-"

Montserrat had suddenly turned and hugged him. It was a tight hug that she'd been wanting ever since hell started with her brother's arrest, but she hadn't been brave enough to go for it. Right now, she just couldn't be bothered with the process of thinking 'should I or should I not?'. She let her chin rest on his shoulder. "You're doing just fine."

A small smile came to Rafael's face. His arms wrapped around her waist and held her tight. A few seconds later, one of his hands traveled up to her fiery hair and let his fingers stroke through her waves. Her hair was incredibly soft he imagined what it would be like running his hands through the rest of it somewhere else, somewhere nicer and private. You have to stop right there, he berated himself.

If only he knew how much his gentle touch affected her. Montserrat felt a wave of calmness wash over her within seconds of his first stroke. She wanted to him to keep holding her and just hear from him that everything was going to be fine. But she felt the elevator come to a stop, warning the two that the doors would be opening soon.

Montserrat pulled away just enough to where Rafael could still hold onto her. "You'll come to arraignment?" she asked as if she was scared that he had already changed his mind.

Rafael reassured her with a nod. "Of course. I'll be there." He brought a hand to rest on her cheek, and even when the elevator doors, his founds soothed small circles over er skin. "I promise you I'll be there."

A relieved smile spread across Montserrat's face. "Thank you. Really. You really are doing just fine." She turned away and left the elevator first, but the moment she was out her skin where his fingers had been ached for his soft touch.

Okay, maybe she felt a little better…

~0~

Alright. In and out. In and Out. Rafael was as confident as he could be when he took a seat across the woman he'd been avoiding with great difficulty. "Alright, I'm here. Let's get to it."

Yelina was no stranger to dirty looks anymore, not after the scandal that practically tore her family apart. She'd been subjected to doubtful and condescending stares, angry snaps, and the old fashion cold shoulder. But none of that she expected from Rafael. It certainly didn't make her decision to reach out to him seem like the best option, but she had a good motive.

"I'm sorry if I'm bothering you," she finally spoke a few minutes, but she noticed Rafael constantly looking around the restaurant as if they were doing something wrong. "I didn't really know what to do…"

"Really? And of all people to talk to, you chose me?"

Yelina tilted her head at him, genuinely looking upset. "Why are you treating me like this?" The choice of her softened tone almost made Rafael do a double-take at her.

"Are you - are you kidding me!?" he snapped on instinct. Not even her flinch made any effect to stop him. Actually, it might have angered him more seeing her try to be so innocent. "Do you not remember what happened? Because you do remember the part where you warned me to back off when they were investigating Alex? I had Alex on the other side going on about me trying to bring him down out of jealousy. So excuse me if I'm a little upset that now you want to act like nothing happened."

"...fair enough," Yelina released a sigh. "I didn't know that was how I came across…"

"Really?" Rafael nearly laughed. "Don't insult my intelligence, Yelina. Now can we get to the reason why you're here? Why I'm here? I have somewhere else to be."

"Please don't be this curt with me," Yelina's softness had disappeared, replaced with a more serious yet sharp expression. It was more like her, honestly. That look Rafael knew well. Whenever she was pissed off, that's the look you got. "It was hard swallowing my pride to call you and I want to believe that despite what happened...we can still be civilized friends."

"I don't know about that, to be honest." In another time, maybe Rafael would actually think about that idea, but for some reason there was no desire to stay in contact. At all. "You tried to manipulate me the last time we saw each other-"

Offense etched across Yelina's face at the accusation. "-I wasn't-"

"-yes, you were." And the worst part was, it hadn't even been him who saw it. He missed it because he - admittedly - had clung to the last bit of friendship he had with her, the last bit of nostalgia he had. Montserrat saw it, Rafael remembered perfectly the way in which he had snapped at Montserrat after she had made the comment. She'd only been looking out for him, like she always did even when he didn't deserve it. But that was Montserrat. She was always there.

"Rafael?" Yelina had been watching him for the minutes he spent in silence. There was a familiar look on his face but she didn't want to think about it too much, at least not now.

Her call did indeed pull Rafael back to the present. Soon as he was back he set for business, whatever that business might be anyways. "Why are we here?"

Yelina bit her tongue so as to not snap at his flat tone. "My husband is facing trial and God knows how many years."

"And? You're not seriously going to ask me to put in a good word for him, are you?"

"...maybe I just wanted to reach out to the only person who's willing to talk to me right now."

Rafael paused and gave her a strange look. "What?"

"You can imagine with all these accusations-"

"-and evidence," Rafael cut in with the truth, even if it did irritate her.

"Not a lot of people want anything to do with us, with me," the woman lowered her gaze. "I had to pull my daughters from their school. They're... they're the target for bullying, for hatred...I don't know what to do."

Dammit. She was being honest. She looked honest. And that's what made it difficult for Rafael to remain stoic. She could be playing tricks but right now she just looked vulnerable. In another time, that would've reeled him right to her. And the fact it didn't have the same effect right now was startling...in a good way though. It almost made him proud.

He felt the buzz of his phone in his pocket. While he checked who it was, he was aware of Yelina's hawk-stare.

Arraignment is in half an hour. Will you come? - Montserrat.

"Something important?" There was unmistakable sharpness in Yelina's question, or rather demand, and it kind of irritated him. Where did she get off being that demanding when he was doing her a favor by showing up to this awkward lunch.

"Yes, actually," Rafael sent back a quick 'yes' to Montserrat and stuffed his phone back into his pocket. "I need to go."

"We're not done," Yelina shook her head. "You haven't said anything to me except take jabs at my pain. I thought there was at least a shred of kindness you could offer me. Did I dare think too much? Is there nothing you can offer me now?" She reached her hand across the table to touch Rafael's.

The ADA flinched but he didn't pull his hand away. He was, admittedly, taken by surprise.

~0~

Montserrat was biting into her index nail to the point of drawing blood. Twice Casey had yanked Montserrat's hand down and shot her a look not to do it again.

"What are you, 5?" the ADA whisper-hissed. They were waiting in the hallway, just outside the arraignment room.

"I'm 30, stressed, and my brother's going to trial, so I will act anyway I want to!" Montserrat snapped and promptly stuck her nail between her teeth.

Casey groaned and rolled her eyes. She turned away and saw familiar figures coming down the hall towards them. "There's uncle Thomas. Least he's not alone either."

Montserrat followed her direction to see her father and Damian. "Dad," she went to hug him first.

"Hi sweetheart," Thomas hugged her tightly. He couldn't believe they were here. "How are you holding up?"

"Hm, as much as I can be," Montserrat bit her lower lip like it was gum.

"The girls, Juliana and Ivanna-"

"They're at school right now and Kara's picking them up. I'm taking care of them, Dad, I promise."

"I never said you weren't, dear. I just imagine it's difficult with your schedule…"

"I'm taking some time off."

"Again?"

Montserrat felt the underlying insinuation that she'd been missing too much work, but at the same time what was she supposed to do? Work like nothing while her brother faces criminal charges?

"It's fine, uncle Thomas," Casey said as she gave the man a quick hug. "The thing about being a cop and an ADA is that you don't have to explain a lot when you're out. People just think you're doing work."

"Or people think you're recusing yourself," a tall blonde woman appeared behind Thomas and Damian. The two men looked back then retracted the same steps so that the blonde could get through.

Soon as she saw her, Casey glared. "Geraghty," she practically spat the blonde's name out.

"I assume this is the family," Geraghty looked at the rest with icy blue eyes. "Since Casey had to recuse herself from the case due to, um, well…" her thin eyebrows twitched upwards.

"Because we're family," Casey said it just to end the woman's drama.

"Well, I'll be prosecuting the case. ADA Geraghty," she introduced herself but quickly moved into business. "You should know that I am going for reckless endangerment and Manslaughter."

"He's innocent," Montserrat said through gritted teeth, but Geraghty only smiled dismissively.

"I'll see you all in a bit," she moved on from the group and left a terse air behind.

"She seems...lovely…" Damian said quietly but Casey scoffed loudly.

"She's a bitch. And she's been after my job for a while. This is the first time I ever had to recuse myself from a case so of course she nabbed the job the moment she could."

"Casey I'm sorry," Thomas apologized but Casey scoffed again.

"Are you kidding me? Nothing will make me happier than to see her being forced to drop the charges when we prove Gael is innocent."

A short moment later, the doors were open for arraignments. Gael wouldn't be the first one to be brought out, so it left quite some time of waiting. And waiting meant a lot more thinking was done, leading to horrible thoughts.

"Did Calhoun say anything about her strategies?" Montserrat quietly asked Casey during their wait time at the benches. "I haven't been able to get in contact with her today even though I'm pretty sure I bombarded her phone with voicemails."

"Not really, but since we're on her side, it'll be good," Casey said with certainty Montserrat wished she had too.

When Gael's turn was nearing, the group decided to go inside and find a seat. The only reason Montserrat stayed behind was due to Sonny and Liv coming towards her.

"What are you guys doing here?" Montserrat blinked at their presence. "Murphy's going to have a fit when he realizes half of his employees are gone."

"Don't worry, he knows we're just here for the arraignment," Olivia said to ease the woman's concerns.

"And for anything you might need from us," added Sonny.

"Thanks," Montserrat sighed. She looked into the arraignment room with nothing but dread. "I don't know what's going to happen...the ADA is, as Casey put it, a bitch. So good luck to my brother."

"It'll be fine, c'mon," Olivia motioned Montserrat to go in first but Montserrat seemed to want to stay behind a bit longer.

"Do you need a moment?" assumed the Sergeant.

"Yeah, kinda," Montserrat nodded. It was enough to send the two in without more questions. Yes she did need a little break to herself but, if she was being honest, she was also making time.

He's late, she thought after checking the time. But even when she wanted to further fall, she berated herself. He's got things to do. Be glad he even offered to stop by. Montserrat closed her eyes for a moment, at least to calm herself down before she would have to go inside.

"Montserrat?" Rafael called when she turned for the doors. He picked up his pace to get to her on time. "I'm so sorry I'm late. I-I was…" He didn't quite want to finish that sentence for some reason, but thankfully Montserrat was overly relieved with his presence so she didn't question him at all.

"No, no! You're absolutely fine!" she exclaimed.

"We can go in whenever you're ready," Rafael made a gesture for the doors but watched her carefully for her reactions. Who knew, she might go in the opposite direction.

Montserrat took a deep breath and looked at the doors. "I gotta do it. My brother's the one in trouble. I can do this. Course I can. I can…"

When she started rambling on about the same thing, Rafael knew she was in the process of backing out. He couldn't blame her. But he did know that if she actually backed out and missed her brother's arraignment, she would never forgive herself.

"You need to go inside, Montserrat," he said softly. He met her nervous gaze and offered her an encouraging smile, and his hand.

She took his hand in a fast second. Then, with every bit of courage she owned, she led them into the arraignment room. It was just in time because Gael was being led out by one of the officers.

When the hell did Calhoun get in here!? Montserrat wondered, almost mad at herself for missing the woman. That's how absorbed she was in her own problems.

Rafael found them an open seat in the second row when Montserrat paused because her thoughts had gotten to her again. He didn't let her get away, though, and gently ushered her first.

"How does your client plead?" the judge was in the middle of asking when they finally sat down.

"Not guilty, your honor," Calhoun answered before Gael could even open his mouth. He was under strict orders not to talk at all. "The charges are seriously misplaced and when this is all over, Mr. Novak will be filing a lawsuit against 1PP and the DA's office."

"The charges of reckless endangerment and Manslaughter are hardly misplaced," Geraghty shot Calhoun an incredulous glare. But given the line of Calhoun's work, it was nothing more than a petty frown in her opinion.

"Save it for trial," the judge ordered the two women. "How are we on bail, Miss Geraghty?"

Geraghty straightened behind her spot. "Remand, your honor. The defendant has the means to flee what with his outstanding high paying job and double nationality with Slovakia."

"You have double nationality?" Rafael found himself asking Montserrat out of sheer curiosity.

Montserrat shrugged, indicating a 'yes'. "Dad's doing," she whispered. "If you have a parent from Slovakia you're eligible for dual citizenship. You want to go Slovakia some time?"

"Hm, how about we go to Cuba first?" He met her look with a smile and when she realized what they had said, she blushed and looked away.

This is not the time to do this, Montserrat, she berated herself. She forced her attention back on the arraignment and hoped to God Calhoun would come through for them this one time.

Calhoun scoffed at Geraghty's argument. "Oh please. My client is a single father of 2 girls who need him at home, not to mention he has Manhattan's own Homicide ADA Casey Novak and SVU Detective Montserrat Novak vouching for his presence. Believe me, he is not going anywhere."

"They are family," Geraghty shot Casey and Montserrat a specific look, almost accusatory. Montserrat wasn't in any condition to fight back, but Casey glared daggers back at the ADA. "And since they knew how the system works, I think remand is more than appropriate here."

Calhoun almost laughed in the woman's face. She rebutted like she normally would, only this time Montserrat was counting on her to make a damn good rebuttal that would allow her brother to come home today.

Without realizing it, Montserrat gripped Rafael's hand. She was over the top nervous and somewhere along the way, her hand had found his. She wasn't aware of it, but Rafael was. He felt the moment his hand was squeezed - which, honestly, showed she had tremendous strength - and so he did what he felt he should; what he wanted to. When she leaned on him (an attempt to listen better to Geraghty), he was just her rock, her support. He soothingly rubbed his fingers over her hand.

Sonny caught the two's closeness and couldn't help but feel a little proud that some sense had finally been knocked into them. Of course the feeling faltered when he noticed Damian's lingering look on pair. Oh right, it still pained Sonny having to keep that secret all to himself. It felt like a ticking time bomb.

~ 0 ~

"Do you have the money?" Calhoun stood in front of the group after arraignment. It was a win that remand had been discarded, however the bail money was now the issue considering it was a pretty high amount.

"No, but we'll make it work," Thomas looked at his daughter, both knowing they wouldn't have that type of amount between them.

"$50,000 is a pretty insane amount," Montserrat scowled, already mentally going through her back account to see how much she could put up.

"No it isn't," Calhoun gave her a tilted-head look. "You're just on the receiving end this time."

"Hey," Casey warned her not to even go down that road.

Calhoun raised her hands in defence. "I'm going to go find out when the court date but I suggest you don't keep him in there long. If anyone on the inside finds out he's related to an ADA and SVU detective, he's not going to be having fun."

"Maybe go for protective custody, then?" Montserrat's tone went flat, as did her face.

"What else do you think is on my to-do list?" Calhoun rolled her eyes and moved around the trio to leave.

"Are you sure she's going to help us?" Thomas was left asking.

"Don't worry Dad," Montserrat turned to her father with the best warm smile she could put on. "Calhoun is tough. She'll help us."

The trio rejoined the others near the elevator after Calhoun had left them.

"Hey, Calhoun seemed pretty sure of herself," Olivia said. "That's good."

"She's a shark," Rafael chimed in, not really sure if he was giving the woman a compliment or an insult. He wasn't used to having her on their side.

"Which means she'll do the job just fine," went Sonny.

"Now we just gotta focus on the bail money," Montserrat sighed. She dug her hands into her ginger curls, tugging on them. She might lose some hair in these next few weeks.

"Listen," Damian started, "I don't have a lot but I can put up 10 grand for the bail money."

"That's still a lot of money, Damian," Montserrat said. "I don't want you to use it all up on us. I'm sure Gael would agree."

Damien shook his head. "You're taking the money or we're going to argue over it." He gave her a smile that left no room for such arguments.

"Thanks," she hugged him.

"I can put up another 10," Casey said, breaking them apart. "I've not wasted money in a real good time considering I never have time to go out."

"I can put 15k," Thomas added. "Retirement savings. But I can get more, I'm sure. I just have to look more through my finances."

"That's $35,000," Montserrat drew in a deep breath then exhaled. "Maybe I can put up another 10. That'd just leave another 5 grand."

"We can't leave Gael in there for long," Damian said. "Why don't we get together and see if we can come up with the solution today?"

"Sounds good," Thomas agreed then looked at Montserrat.

"Go on, I'll catch up with you guys in a bit," she motioned them to get a head start.

"Thank you for coming," Thomas said to Olivia, Sonny and Rafael before leaving with Casey and Damien.

"He's right, thanks for coming," Montserrat sighed. "I'll report for work tomorrow. I promise."

"That's not necessary. You take your time out until this is solved," Olivia told her. She put a comforting hand on Montserrat's arm, offering one of her momma-bear smile that - admittedly - did make Montserrat feel a bit better. "We've got things at the precinct."

"Thanks," Montserrat said quietly. "Although honestly I don't know how long it'll be."

"Just focus on bail for now," Sonny advised. "Take it one bit at a time."

"I know but I just...I know that Casey, Dad, and Damian are putting up everything they have. Even though I'm going to put up what I have, it's not going to be enough. We're still going to be $5,000 short."

"You heard Carisi, take it one bit at a time," Rafael said. He did what Olivia had earlier and rested a hand on her arm, though Montserrat felt a lot more comfort with his touch than Olivia.

No offence to Olivia…

"Thanks for coming," Montserrat said, though there was a distinct possibility it had been only meant for Rafael this time round.

"Of course," he offered her a small smile, knowing nothing would be alleviating her pain right now. He had to come up with something to help her.

[teenyweenynightghost]

Fortunate Disaster

Warnings: I haven't written it yet but umm, all of the warnings in the world

Request: Not quite but thank you @victoriadeangeliswifey for your lovely comment on @bimbadiethantorchio 's post.

Word Count: 2.4K

Pairing: F!Reader X Vic

Y/n had been walking around in the rain for hours on end. She was tired, sore and irritated at her circumstance. Only a few hours ago, she was happily jogging around town, enjoying the warm, pleasant weather. A sudden burst of energy had hit her, and she ended up crossing the small area of trees between her village and the next, exploring all the new terrain. Unfortunately, as soon as she crossed, a thundering storm took over the sky and the forest became a no-go.

To make her situation better, the battery of her phone had run out and she was now wandering on an empty street, seemingly leading nowhere.

Y/n walked for a while longer, until a large building started shaping into the horizon. Perhaps it must have been her delirious state, or her rain-soaked lashes, but she swore a dark presence flew around her, sending shivers all throughout her spine.

“Is anybody there?” She called out, the only answer Y/n received being her own echo and a deafening thunder.

She flinched at the sound and continued walking. She could swear that every step she took, every breath she inhaled and every shiver was closely observed by someone. She just didn’t know who.

Getting closer to the cloudy structure, she realized that it was in fact a house, but one that looked straight out of a horror movie. It was tall and painted in dark colors, small windows here and there, as a large metal fence surrounded it.

Y/n had seen creepy movies before, and she knew better than to approach such mansions, but she was desperate, cold and hungry. It’s not like she had a better choice.

Finally having reached the entrance, she scanned around for a bell only to be surprised by the door opening on it’s own. She was definitely not getting out of here.

With a deep breath, she did her best to calm down her wrecking nerves and stepped forwards.

The garden of the castle was truly mesmerising, roses and well-kept bushes everywhere, as a stone alley extended into a labyrinth of trees. She was sure this place would look like a dream during a more pleasant day, but for now, she only focused on moving forward, and hopefully getting some shelter.

She was standing in front of the large ebony door, regretting all the choices that led her to this moment. She closed her eyes and sighed in exasperation, as she grabbed the golden handle and knocked three times.

The entryway opened almost instantly, and she was met with a short, petite girl, looking at her with the most captivating, bright blue eyes.

“Hi! I’m Victoria! Please! Come in!” She introduced herself while simultaneously ushering Y/n inside.

“I’m Y/n, umm, thanks for-for letting me in.” She tried to let out, still frightened by the whole situation.

“Of course! We couldn’t let such beautiful people walk around in that terrible weather.” She chuckled, sending Y/n a smirk.

Y/n frowned slightly, before she spoke up again. “Oh, you have roommates?”

“Oh of course! Three others. But only Ethan is at home.” She smiled, handing Y/n a towel.

“Oh, um, thank you.” The shivering girl mumbled, wrapping the cloth around herself tightly.

“My pleasure! What kind of hosts would we be If we didn’t take proper care of you.” She chuckled, placing a hand on the small of Y/n’s back and leading her towards the staircase. “Come upstairs, you might want to take a warm bath.”

Well, the blonde wasn’t wrong about that. Y/n nodded and let Victoria lead her to the bathroom. As they walked down a dimly lit hallway, Y/n noticed several paintings of people from different eras, however she couldn’t help but note that it looked like four faces kept reappearing over and over again.

She brushed the thought away when Victoria opened a door for her, softly pushing her forward into the bathroom.

“Oh, thank you so much! I really don’t know what I would have done If I hadn’t ended up here.”

“Oh no problem, darling. I left some clothes on the table and you can light some candles if you wish to.” She encouraged her, closely examining her face as it lit up at her words.

Y/n had always been fascinated by candles, always wanting to smell every single scent on this earth, and see the wax melt onto paper, tables, and any other surfaces.

As If on cue, Y/n heard Victoria snap her fingers and all of them were now lit. Y/n’s breath caught in her throat as her shoulders lifted up, her eyes widening.

She turned around quickly only to catch a glimpse of Victoria’s rascally smirk, before she shut the door and Y/n was left trembling alone, in a stranger’s bathroom. Perhaps the thought had crossed her mind before, but she had dismissed it until now. There was unquestionably something inhuman about the girl. She didn’t even dare think about her roommates.

A million thoughts ran through her mind as she did her best to deal with each wave of panic. Taking a deeper breath than any before, she imagined all her worries fade away once she exhaled, and continued to blame her creative mind for the thing she’d seen.

She took off all the wet clothes that clung to her body like a newborn to his mother, and got in the hot water.

The warmth enveloped her body at once, and she let out a pleasured sigh as she relaxed further into the bathtub.

She rested there for half an hour, before a loud growl erupted from her stomach. She was starving, there was no denying it, but she was also desperate to cling to the safety she felt in the bathroom. Eventually, deciding that enough was enough, she pushed herself out and grabbed the towel once more, patting herself dry.

Glancing towards the table, she noticed that the only clothes to her disposition were a pair of fuzzy socks, a deep red silk nightgown and a fluffy sweatshirt. Y/n grabbed the clothes and slowly started dressing herself again.

Faced once again with the door, she beat herself up internally and reluctantly opened it, peeking at the hallway to see if anyone was there. Luckily for her, she was all alone. She trailed her steps back to the staircase and descended it timidly, hearing the voice of two people chattering in the living room.

“Ah, there you are!” Victoria’s husky voice filled the room once she noticed Y/n peaking around the corner. “Come here. This is Ethan, my best friend, and Chili, my dog.” She smiled while holding a fuzzy little puppy, who yapped excitedly at Y/n.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Ethan’s modulated voice reached her ears, as he approached her and extended a hand. Y/n brought her own one up to shake his, but instead he brought it to his lips and left a soft kiss on her knuckles.

“The pleasure is all mine.” Y/n smiled, trying to be polite, despite having seen Ethan’s eyes glow red for a split second.

“So, puppy, do you wanna eat something?” Victoria spoke again, an evident smirk on her face as she took in Y/n’s blushed face.

“Yes! I’m starving” The girl chuckled and took a seat across from Victoria, noticing Ethan bringing her a plate of food.

They all stood in relative silence while Y/n ate, too hungry to notice that she was the only one. Having finally finished, she pushed the plate away and wiped her mouth with a napkin, looking up at the people around her.

A wave of embarrassment hit her upon noticing that she was being stared at, practically shrinking into the seat as Victoria got up with a sly grin on her face.

“The rain still hasn’t stopped, and by the looks of it, it could go for hours to come. You wouldn’t mind sleeping here, would you, puppy?” She whispered into her ear, causing Y/n to cross her legs tightly and squeeze her hands in a failed attempt to not shiver.

Victoria only chuckled at her reaction and brushed a wet strand of hair behind her ear, before pressing a soft kiss to her cheek.

“You definitely strike me as a smart girl. You must have guessed we’re not quite human, hm?” The blonde breathed into her ear once more, directing her attention to Ethan, who was biting his lip, a long, white fang pressing into the soft skin.

“Vampires…” Y/n shuddered, recoiling into Vic’s embrace.

“That’s a good girl. So, would you like the guest room or mine. Or perhaps Ethan’s”

At that, a loud laugh erupted from the man in front of us. “Right. I have a book to finish. If you need me, shout out my name.” With those final words, he picked up Chili and left the room.

A deafening silence enveloped the lounge, only broken by the rain drops smashing against the windows.

“You must be tired, princess. How about you answer that question I asked earlier.”

Y/n couldn’t believe that her brain’s instinct was to go with her. The realization that she was in a house with actual vampires perhaps did not yet settle in, because every single nerve of her body was seemingly drawn to the attractive girl who sat right behind her.

“Will you kill me?” Y/n croaked, scratching her own palm so hard she could feel an upcoming bruise forming.

“Of course not. I really hate how the media portrays us these days. We only drink the blood of animals. Humans aren’t nearly as nutritious.” She scoffed, turning Y/n around so they could be face to face.

“Drinking human blood is strictly for pleasurable reasons.” She hummed, looking at Y/n’s lips, while she rested her hands on her legs.

Y/n’s brain completely shut off. All she could focus on was the girl’s cold fingertips touching the insides of her thighs, and her lusty gaze falling right onto her lips.

“I’ll tell you one more thing, though. If you don’t answer my question, again, I’ll have to find other methods to make you speak.” She sneered against Y/n’s neck, her teeth slightly grazing the soft skin.

Y/n shuddered and closed her eyes, turning her face away and enveloping herself with her arms. “Yours.” She mumbled, her jaw being met by Victoria’s lips as soon as the words left her mouth.

Y/n gasped loudly and grabbed Vic’s shoulder, holding onto her as she kept sucking on her skin.

“Good girl.” Victoria croaked, pulling away.

She started walking down the hallway, and Y/n had no better idea than to follow the blonde. Her gaze fell upon her golden hair, illuminated by the chandeliers hung on the ceiling. Two large, golden crosses were hanging on her ears and her slim body was covered with a skimpy, black gown, extending all the way to the velvety floors.

Y/n would be lying if she said Victoria didn’t look celestial. She could stare at her for hours on end if given the chance.

The blonde finally stopped and Y/n bumped into her, lost in her own thoughts. A small chuckle escaped Vic and she turned around, pulling Y/n closer to her.

“You weren’t paying attention, were you?” She quizzed the dumbfounded girl.

“Yes I was.” Y/n responded, averting her gaze to the door in front of them.

“Of course you were…” Vic mumbled, amused, and led Y/n into the room.

It was spacious and dimly lit, a large bed occupying the center of the bedroom, and a million dressers on the sides. Right across from the bed was an even larger mirror, decorated with golden ornaments on the edges.

“Right side or left?” The blonde asked her, turning off the lights in the room.

Before Y/n could answer, she was pushed right on the middle of the bed, Vic standing right on top of her.

“I think this is the middle.” Y/n stammered, inhaling a sharp breath.

“That’s not what I was referring to.” Vic whispered against her skin, lowering her head to be right between her breasts.

Oh. Y/n’s mind was already moving with the speed of light, and perhaps at this point it had completely abandoned her. Unfortunately, Vic was waiting for her response and kept hovering over her skin, no matter how long Y/n waited.

“Right.” The girl finally spoke up, and Vic gave her a satisfied wink.

One of the blonde’s hands slipped off the gown Y/n was wearing, while the other softly cupped her breast. Once the cold air of the room hit Y/n’s bare chest, she shivered and pulled Vic down, so she would be laying on top of her.

It was the last push Vic needed before her mouth was on Y/n, circling her tongue around her nipple. With every sigh and whimper coming from the girl below her, Vic would bite softly into the silky skin, kissing the area afterwards.

“Vic- Fuck!” Y/n moaned when she felt the tip of Vic’s fang pressing into her skin, sending delicious shivers throughout her body.

The blonde continued to explore every inch of her body, pressing sloppy kisses to her skin, soft bites and licks wherever she could, while Y/n grew more and more desperate.

“Please!” She moaned out, spreading her legs, while Victoria grabbed them and held them in place.

Finally descending to her center, Victoria thrusted a finger inside the moaning girl and kept repeating her actions while her tongue circled Y/n’s clit.

“You’re so fucking wet, puppy.” The blonde whispered against her, making Y/n whimper at the vibrations, and added another finger.

It didn’t take long for Y/n to come undone, a soft bite to her thighs being the last push she needed. She came loud and forcefully, her whole body trembling with pleasure, while Victoria stared at her, her dark eyes taking in her delicate features.

“Ethan!” Y/n heard Victoria call out, before the man suddenly appeared in the room, his long hair flying around.

“You think you can take a few more rounds, puppy?” Victoria asked Y/n, caressing her cheek.

The girl did nothing but nod eagerly as her whole body was filled with excitement for what was to come. It’s safe to say, wandering into that house was very far from a bad idea.

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

Taglist: @fuckim-so-gay @ginny-lily @messyhairday-me @cheese-toastie-11 @wannabemarlenabutiscoraline @simp-per-ethan

@maneskinrollercoaster @juststalking @superchrystaldrug @immrbrightsideeee @shehaddreamstoo @tiaamberxx @victoriadeangeliswifey

[anotherobsessedsomething]

~ 30 Questions Tag ~

Got tagged by @illicitfuck thank you Rei for thinking of me <3 you made my day you have no idea how much I love tags and answering questions :D

1) name/nickname: Not sharing my real name on here and I also don’t really have a nickname but I use Persephone for writing and stuff so maybe you could say that that is my nickname. (Feel free to call me Persephone on here if you want to :D)

2) star sign: Taurus

3) height: 5′3 / 160 cm

4) birthday: May 6th

5) favorite bands: Måneskin (thanks Rei for already putting them here :P :D), The Rolling Stones, The Bee Gees, Muddy What?, Santana, Rosenstolz,  Electric Light Orchestra, BAP, Smokie and a lot more that don’t come to my mind right now :D

6) time: 9:30 pm

7) favorite solo artists: Oh god let me think I don’t even listen to that many solo artists on a regular basis (like in more than just a few songs of them)... okay here is what came to my mind: Lucky Dube, Suzi Quatro, Frank Sinatra, Harpo... that’s all I could come up with sorry :D

8) song stuck in your head: Amandoti Cover by Måneskin

9) last movie you watched: Twilight

10) Dream Trip: Right now I just want to be somewhere at the ocean like Italy or Greece (but somewhere not so touristy because I don’t like people :D) and just chill there and relax. My future dream trip I hope I can do after my graduation in 2 years is going to Botswana for 2 Month.

11) Last Show: Young Royals on Netflix

12) When I Created This Blog: When I started writing fanfictions about 3 years ago.

13) What I Post: Whatever I am obsessed with which right now is Måneskin :D and random thoughts or stuff I like or find funny or important :D Idk I just post about whatever I like :D

14) Last thing I googled: “In which direction to turn your key to open the front door ” (The story behind this: I moved into a new apartment two weeks ago and it’s all new and it has super heavy doors that are so fucking hard to open and after desperately trying to unlock the stupid door for five minutes I wasn’t so sure anymore about which way is the right way to turn the key because neither way worked and I was afraid of breaking the key if I accidently turn it to hard in the wrong direction. End of story: I called my bf almost crying asking if he remembered which direction is the right one and he did and then I tried again with full force and the damn thing finally opened)

15) Other Blogs: None

16) Do I get asks? Sometimes but not many but I’d love to get more so if you wanna ask me anything or talk to me please feel free it always makes me so happy if people want to talk to me :)

17) Why I Chose My URL: Because it’s who I am, just another obsessed fangirl :D

18) Following: 167

19) Followers: Tumblr says 1212 but most of these are bots because if I post something there are usually about 10 people who interact with my posts (unless something goes viral in a tag of course) It’s very annoying because I’d actually like to know how many people are really following me and are interested in my stuff but I guess I’ll just never know...

20) Average Hours Of Sleep: I need 7-8 hours minimum and if I get less than 6 hours I feel like shit

21) Lucky Number: 13, 7, 2, 21 (just numbers I like for whatever reason when I was a teenager 13 definitely was my lucky number)

22) Instruments: None because sadly I have no musical talent :/ I tried to teach myself playing guitar when I was 16 but I failed :D But I am actually thinking of trying to learn an instrument again these days just because I find it very cool to make your own music and it’s just such a nice way to express yourself and tbh also because of Vic De Angelis and her bass :D

23) What Am I Wearing: I just took a bath and just put on some comfy clothes after so I am simply wearing sweat pants and one of my bf’s shirts I stole from him because I like oversized shirts :D

24) Dream Job: Being an actress. It simply is my passion. Right now I am studying social work though (which I like too) but I am trying to do some acting on the side because seriously when I am infront of a camera I just feel like that’s where I belong. I just did some filming in May and June and when I was on set I realized that I haven’t been that happy and didn’t feel that much like myself since years and even if it’s just a no budget movie for now it’s like one step closer to my dream. Also I could totally imagine working part time as a social worker but also doing acting jobs because it would certainly put some pressure off if I’d have a steady income and can just choose whatever projects I like without necessarily having to earn a living with it (not that I’d complain lol)  :D

25) Favorite Food: Pasta & Potatoes in any form. :D Oh and Antipasti because I just love having many different dishes to choose from.

26) Tea or Coffee: I drink neither of it regularly.

27) Nationality: German.

28) Favorite Song: Right now Vent’anni by Måneskin (and basically half of their discography)

29) Last Book I Read: The midnight rose by Lucinda Riley

30) Top 3 Fictional Universes I Would Like To Live In:

1. Harry Potter Universe (because we don’t like JKR in this house but we certainly love the Potterverse especially if we can make it so queer that JKR would faint lol)

2. Maybe “Die jungen Ärzte” (= ”The young doctors”) It’s a german medical drama series maybe you could compare it to Grey’s Anatomy just less dramatic and with more happy endings :D anyway I just love that series and the actors and the characters and I’d really like to live in that universe just so I could for once have such caring and nice doctors treating me who’d magically find a solution for my chronic illness just like they always do on TV :D

3. Idk does the kind of fictional Universe where I am friends with Måneskin count? :D

I am tagging: @parva-noctua @ginny-lily @bexfangirlforlife and everyone who wants to do this, no pressure though :)

[doof-doofblog]

"If You Don't Get A Move On You're Going To Miss It!"

Monday 10th May 2021

Hello again folks! I'm back again with another post. I just want to recap on Thursday's and Friday's episode and applaud the phenomenal performance from Lorraine Stanley! Her portrayal of Karen Taylor has been absolutely stunning and powerful over the last few weeks during Bailey's disappearance and during the aftermath of her losing her job at the laundrette. I do also want to mention how the community and neighbours rallied round her to support their friend and neighbour in their time of need. I found completely touching and was overwhelmingly powerful.

But regarding this week, it's the week the majority of us have all been waiting for since Ben and Callum got engaged! This is the week of the highly anticipated Ballum wedding! Now the big question is, will Ben meet Callum at the alter after he's learnt the truth about him being a grass! (From what the new trailer is to go by, Ben does actually decide to marry Callum) - but oh my goodness, it looks like we're in for some super dramatic scenes this week! For those of you who haven't seen the trailer yet, where have you been? Gray is once manipulating Whitney in to believing that the Mitchell's (particularly Ben) are to blame for Kush's death.

But as Whitney’s grief gets the better of her, she takes it into her own hands to deal with the Mitchell's once and for all, taking a pair of keys, getting into a car and heading straight for them. As this is happening, Phil happens to have learnt the truth about Callum grassing up his family and is eager to have a confrontation with Callum himself, but as Kat tries her best to stop Phil from making a huge mistake - Phil, Callum, Ben and Kat all get caught in the headlights of Whitney's car - who will she hit? And will they be okay?! - I know a few are speculating that it could be Callum or Ben who gets hit, or even Whitney herself getting hurt, but honestly - my biggest fear is Phil getting hurt. Don't get me wrong I love all these characters to appear to be in the frame, but I would be immensely heartbroken if it was Phil to get hurt and possibly be killed off? Hopefully none of them will get killed off - but what are your predictions? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this one!

--

So looking at Monday's episode and of course it's all about Ballum!!! But before we focus on the main event I'm going to mention Bailey. Sadly she is still sleeping rough after running away from home. The only company she has is her dog Banjo (who can I just say is the most adorable dog that EastEnders has had for a very long time!) It appears that the only bit of food she has available is a packet of biscuits and of course being a hungry puppo, Banjo longingly stares at Bailey for the biscuit she's about to eat. Bailey willingly gives Banjo the biscuit, but as she begins to gather her things together and move along, a bunch of youths rob her only bag of belongings. Being the hero, Banjo quickly chases after them as Bailey following along behind.

However, meanwhile on the Square as Keegan and Bernie continue to search for Bailey and begin to discuss their concerns about where they're going to find her. Bernie tries to keep positive, informing her brother that Bailey will be found and eventually their luck will change. Of course Keegan is doubtful, but of course we know that Bernadette has offered to be Stuart & Rainie's surrogate, so eventually she will come into some money for the family, but it'll be interesting once her family find out. I'm intrigued on how Keegan is going to react - considering that it was his wife who originally agreed to be their surrogate, now it's his sister!

As Bernie takes her leave, the next thing we see is little Banjo running towards the Square, however the poor little doggo is covered in blood. Keegan understandably relieved to see Banjo, but as soon as he sees the blood coming from the family pet, he begins to question where Bailey is. As Bailey continues her search for her beloved dog, she stumbles across an elderly man named Reg claiming to be a friend of her parents, Mitch and Dinah. Could Bailey perhaps be in danger or is this gentleman genuinely who he says he is?!

--

Elsewhere on the Square, Linda appears to be concerned for Nancy's whereabouts. She reveals that Nancy didn't come the previous evening, even though Mick seems more calmer about the situation, he tries to reassure Linda that Nancy had probably just stayed at a friend's house and would most likely be home by lunchtime, however unbeknown to them, poor Nancy had actually kipped in the gym overnight. It seems that things have gotten that bad between Nancy and her Mum, she could no longer bare to stay in the Vic overnight. As Sharon finds her as she opens up the gym, Nancy promises it's not going to be a long-term thing.

I guess Sharon kind of sympathises with Nancy as she too has felt the raff of Linda, but of course Sharon could be possibly using Nancy to get back into Linda's good books? She offers Nancy to use her shower back at her place and willingly gives her the keys to her apartment. Unfortunately, this is where Nancy once again passes ways with Zack and his awful flirtation. Sorry, but it is a bit cringe-worthy! Zack smooth talks his way with Nancy, claiming that once she's done in the shower he'll treat her to some breakfast!

I have to say I love Nancy's lack of enthusiasm, well I guess you could call it sarcasm also! Honestly though, how would you feel if Zack and Nancy were to become a new couple? I'm not sure how I'd feel about it, as much as I love Nancy, I haven't really made my mind up yet on Zack, I think we need to see a bit of him before I can make a decision. Anyway, they both end up in Ruby's club and Zack is once again flirtatious and eager to get a second date with Nancy, even though she even states that this is anything but a date! As she mentions how she's currently stuck in a ruckus with her Mum, she frets about not even being able to brush her teeth properly as she hasn't got a tooth brush, plus she wants to avoid going home to fetch her one and be confronted by her Mum yet again.

I think in an attempt to win Nancy round he promises that somehow, someway he will make all her problems disappear, but she scoffs at his claim and heads towards to the bar to grab some snacks. But while she's not looking Zack sneaks off and eventually finds himself in the Vic, nosing through all the Carter's belongings, is he simply just trying to find Nancy's toothbrush for her, or perhaps something else? Unfortunately his search doesn't last very long as he's walloped over the head with a frying pan by Linda! Almost like a scene from the Disney movie Tangled!

--

Right focusing on the main story at hand, as Callum and Stuart prepare themselves for the wedding, Callum voices his concern as to whether Ben will truly show up to their wedding. Stuart also voices his concern as to whether his brother should actually go, he can't bare to picture his young brother being left stood up at the alter. But the interesting thing is on the other side of the Square, as Kathy and Phil are discussing the wedding and the fact that Ben would be making a huge mistake if he didn't turn up, Ben is sat on the stairs in the hallway listening to their every word.

Kathy is all dressed up in her wonderful wedding outfit and of course little Lexi looks beautiful in her bridesmaid dress, rehearsing her steps for the wedding ceremony. Phil informs Kathy that Ben is adamant that the wedding is off, but Kathy urges the Father of their son to talk Ben round and make him see sense! Eventually as everyone gathers in the Vic waiting for Ben to show his face, Phil appears all dressed up his suit and breaks the news that Ben has gone missing, he's simply left his suit on his bed and disappeared, much to the family's shock.

While all this chaos appears to be happening in the middle of the Square, poor Callum and Stuart have made it to the register's office and are waiting anxiously for Ben's arrival! As they hear someone bursting through the doors, they look with hope and desperation, but it appears to be Jay. But as much as Callum is happy to see him, Jay gives him the devastating news that Ben has gone AWOL and no one can find him anywhere. Eager to make sure that his brother marries the man he loves, Stuart takes it upon himself to go back to the Square and find Ben and bring him to Callum.

Although it appears that Phil has managed to find Ben before he can. Phil eventually finds his son in the Arches working away on a car, almost as if he's trying to avoid the day itself and carry on as normal. Phil tries once again to reassure his son that marrying Callum would be the best thing he's ever done, even admitting that it took him a long time to come round - this moment really touched me - but also claiming that if Ben was to marry Callum today, it would Phil the proudest he has ever been of his son. I have to say those words really moved me, and to be honest I think it moved Ben - almost to the point where it nearly broke him and he almost revealed what Callum had done.

Ben gets so overcome with emotion, tears are slowly falling from his eyes. He almost breaks as he informs his Dad that Callum had betrayed him, all of them! Phil looks to his son with confusion in his eyes. What does he mean, all of them? But Ben stops in his tracks and makes up the excuse that Callum actually cheated on him. Although it seems as though Phil doesn't believe this explanation, he takes it on the chin and leaves Ben to it. However, once he's back on the Square he comes face-to-face with Stuart ... now this is where everything goes completely wrong! Of course Stuart has no idea what's been happening on the Square, he's just concerned about his little brother waiting at the alter for the man he loves.

As they cross paths, Stuart pleads Phil to inform her where Ben has got to, but Phil seems eager to defend his son after the explanation he's been given, as soon as Phil mentions that he welcomed Callum into the family, Stuart completely gets the wrong end of the stick and reveals everything. Claiming that Callum never wanted to go undercover, claiming that all he did it for was for Ben, putting his career on the line for Ben, even if it meant going behind Phil's back and reporting everything to the police. But you can see from the look in Phil's face that this is all news to him and this is the first he's hearing about Callum's betrayal. Once Stuart realises his mistake he warns that if Phil ever lays a finger on Callum he will come back and kill him!

Returning to the Arches, Ben is once again alone with his thoughts, is he questioning himself whether he should marry Callum? But it seems like another visit from a little lady changes his mind. Lexi finds him in the Arches and comments that it's the same place she finds him every time when Ben decides to take some time on his own. Now this moment I absolutely loved, Lexi questions her Father about love, What does it mean? What's it all about? She claims that she doesn't believe in love, considering that her Mum has had 3 different boyfriends since she's been home and her Grandparents have been married "300 times!". Her exaggerations make Ben giggle, but he tries to reassure his daughter that she should believe in love, because it's the one thing in life that you can't describe the feeling of. It can hurt but it's also wonderful too to be in love. He claims that being with that one person who trusts you and believes in you is the best feeling in the world and with them by your side, you face the world together, forever. As he explains all this to his daughter, she then asks the very important question, "Then why aren't you marrying Callum?"

Listening to his own words and realising that it's been his daughter who's made him see sense, Ben rushes to the wedding reception. As the guests almost sit themselves up and get ready to leave as they believe Ben isn't showing up, Stuart arrives back at the wedding reception eager to inform his brother about what's happened on the Square between him and Phil. But before Stuart can begin to explain himself, both Lexi and Ben burst through the door just in time for the ceremony, to Callum's absolute happiness and relief.  

Only unbeknown to them, back at home, Phil is seen listening to a voice message from Kathy, informing him that the wedding appears to be back on. Ben has arrived at the wedding reception and she urges him to get there before he misses his son getting married. As the voice message ends, Phil notices a picture of Callum on the shelf, all dressed up smartly in his police uniform. Reeling from the news he's learnt from Stuart, he smashes Callum's picture to pieces. What is Phil going to do now?

--

I know there's been a major event happen in this evening's episode of EastEnders, but unfortunately I am one episode behind, so I will review tonight's episode tomorrow instead. I know what's happened but I'm not to comment until tomorrow. Either way, I'm looking forward to witnessing what happens next. Thank you again for reading, I hope you've all enjoyed my post! I'll be back again tomorrow with everything regarding the Ballum wedding and much more! Enjoy the rest of your evening folks! Love you all xXx

[doctorjameswatson]

I was tagged by @corvidden @pers-books and @slightlyintimidating Thanks :)

Rules: answer 20 questions, then tag 20 people you want to get to know better.

1. name: Vicky

2. Nickname: Vickster, Ickle Vickle, Vic

3. zodiac sign: I think it changed recently when they added a couple last year but I was a Scorpio and a Scorpio I shall stay!

4. height: 5′ 9″

5. languages: English. I studied French and Latin at school but only remember a bit of each. Tried to pick up a little bit of German a few years ago but I didn’t do that for very long.

6. nationality: British

7. favourite season: Spring

8. favourite flower: Lavender and Daffodils

9. favourite scent: Not sure if I have a favourite. Maybe citrus, mint, and freshly cut grass (although my sinuses may not agree with that last one).

10. favourite colour: Purple

11. favourite animal: Pig

12. favourite fictional character(s): This list currently includes: Helen Magnus, James Watson, Sam Carter, Serena Campbell, Bernie Wolfe, Robert Bramwell, Eleanor Bramwell (she’s hella frustrating but still on this list), Elly Chandler, and DI Jill Raymond

13. coffee, tea or hot chocolate: tea

14. average sleep hours: I sleep a lot, although right now I’m not sure what quality my sleep is. I usually sleep 8-10 hours. I feel ill on anything less than 6-7.

15. dog or cat person: I’ve never had either, so I’m not sure. Can’t I love both?

16. number of blankets you sleep with: I think right now I have a duvet and 2 blankets. I like being warm in bed, and comfy. All the comfy.

17. dream trip: Well, my dream holiday to Vancouver was supposed to happen last August but of course it did not. Right now my dream trip is to LA to visit @lord-of-killer-indecencies <3 

18. blog established: the blog’s archive says I made this blog in December 2017. Now, I had my first James blog as a side blog to my original main but then decided to make a new blog just for RPing my James muse. But I didn’t use it much until this year. So, while I made it in 2017, most of the posts will be from 2020.

19. followers: 84 (it was 86 earlier but I blocked a couple of suspect blogs that looked like they were either bots or porn blogs)

20. random fact: I am a member of Mensa

Tagging: I know it says 20 people but I’d probably end up tagging a lot of people who have already been tagged in this so, with that in mind, I’ll try and pick a few who I think either won’t mind being tagged again or haven’t been tagged (if I’m wrong I’m so sorry and as usual there is no pressure to do the thing :) )

@lord-of-killer-indecencies @justqueeractually @spoilmesweetie @tea-and-shoelaces @bonnissance @luckybarry21

[susieskinner93]

Robert Sugden Week 2020

Day5 - Reunion

“Oi careful you…” - Aaron couldn’t finish his insult because he saw Marlon’s worried face, as he ran after a clearly upset Victoria.

“Sorry Aaron.”– he waved as he hurried after her leaving Aaron speechless in the middle of the street. He was going back home after a quick shopping from David’s but Marlon almost knocked him over as he passed him. He could see that Vic was upset…. even crying? What happened? Did that Luke do something to make her cry? Even just the thought boiled his blood. He might not agree with her choice of company but it was another matter if she was hurt. He decided to take his bags home, then go over and ask Victoria herself. To his surprise, it was Marlon who opened the door.

“What happened?” – he asked confused.

“It’s not a good time Aaron… you might…” - you might wanna come back later, that’s what Marlon wanted to tell him but Aaron and his patience decided it for him. He pushed past the chef before he could even utter another word.

“Marlon I told ya I’m fine.” – sniffed Vic from the couch, but as she looked up she saw Aaron. – “Oh, Aaron. Hi.” – she said trying to smile.

“What’s going on? Are you alright?” – he asked firmly. – “Did someone hurt you?”

“What? No…” - she said with a fake laugh. – “It’s.. erm…it’s stupid really.”

“Did Luke do this to ya?”

“No, he didn’t do anything. I swear.” – she said because she knew Aaron would easily go after him.

“Then what is it? You were crying.” – said Aron. By this time Marlon stood in the doorway, listening to their conversation.

“It’s… erm… just a stupid work thing. Right, Marlon?” – she said with a pleading look.

“Oh yes. Yes!” – he said maybe a bit too enthusiastic. – “I mean we might have had a little misunderstanding…” - he offered while he looked at Victoria to see if she was fine with this lie. Although Marlon had no clue why would Vic want to keep something like that a secret?

“Yeah, but it’s fine… I… overreacted it a bit. It happens… ever since I’m a mum, sometimes things just… get to me I guess.” – she said still acting.

“Okay…” - said Aaron slowly looking from Vic to Marlon. – “You’re alright then? For sure?”

“Yeah, I’m fine, thanks for checking in on me.” – she said with a way too bright smile on her face. Aaron was thinking for a few seconds because the scene was definitely weird, but he decided to just leave it at that. If Vic had a problem and she wanted his help, she’d tell him. So he shrugged then excused himself before he went home. He didn’t know that drama was coming soon. He didn’t think he would be back here tomorrow demanding answers like a madman.

Next day he walked into the pub and found his mother talking to Diane by the bar. A rare sight he barely saw these days. Not much since…. since Robert really. He smiled at them and as he went closer he heard what they were whispering about.

“Tell her we’re thinking of her.” – offered Chas.

“I will Chas, thank you, it was all very sudden. Even though if she was around that age.” – frowned Diane.

“What’s this about?” – asked Aaron leaning against the bar.

“Oh hiya, Aaron.” – smiled Diane before she elaborated – “Victoria got some upsetting news yesterday.”

“I saw her and she said it was some misunderstanding with work?” – he said but it came out as a question.

“Work? No, you must have got your wires crossed. Annie passed away. They called her yesterday to let her know. Poor girl, she’s crying all day. I’m on me way there to help her with Harry. The state she was in…”

“What?” – that’s all Aaron could say. – “She never said.”

“Marlon said she was really upset when she got the phone call.”

“Marlon knew?” – asked Aaron again.

“He was talking about it all day yesterday.” – said Chas finally speaking up.

“You all knew then?” – he asked.

“Yeah, course we knew.”

“She lied to my face… she didn’t want me to know… why?” – he asked himself more than from anybody else.

“I’m sure she didn’t mean it pet.” – tried Diane.

“Does Robert know?” – asked Aaron suddenly.

“What?” – snorted Chas as she pulled a pint for a customer. – “Why would he?”

“Because it’s about his grandmother?”

“He’s in prison.” – said Chas with a blunt face.

“And? You think he doesn’t deserve to know?” – asked Aaron getting upset.

“Why do you care?”

“Because he’s my husband.” – he shouted.

“EX-HUSBAND Aaron EX!” – told her Chas. Aaron just stood there shaking his head, letting his fingers run through his hair like that could calm him down in a state like this.

“You think the same?” – he asked turning to Diane. She didn’t know what to say at first but then she opened her mouth.

“It’s not like we didn’t try… but he cut us out. He’s made his choice Aaron. It’s about time you accept it as well.”

“You’re unbelievable….” – he scoffed – “Both of ya.” – he said entirely disgusted as he marched out of the pub, and right to Vic’s door.  – “OPEN THE DOOR.” – he shouted while he knocked a few times.  – “OPEN TH…”

“Aaron, what is it? I’m trying to get Harry to sleep, and you banging on the door doesn’t help.”

“Sorry… but you lied to me and I wanna know why.” – he said passing through her to pace around her living room.

“What?” – she asked trying to buy some time. She knew exactly why Aaron was there.

“No, don’t even try, I know… I know about Annie. Honestly Vic… why didn’t you tell me?”

“I… I don’t know.” – she stuttered.

“Everybody knew… me mum was gossiping about it with Diane, and apparently Marlon couldn’t keep his mouth shut about it either. I was here yesterday I asked what was wrong… why didn’t you tell me?”

“I.. I don’t know.” – she repeated. Aaron didn’t believe her, and he had a guess for the reason… so he asked her.

“Did you tell Robert?” – at that Victoria finally looked at him… and she was… angry?

“Why would I? He cut me out of his life… completely. Why should I tell him anything?”

“Oh my god… you can’t be serious.” – he laughed in frustration.

“Of all people you should know what’s it like. When the person you love pushes you away. How can you not understand me, Aaron?” – she asked crying.

“I get it, Vic, I do.” – he started – “I want nothing more than him to reach out, but this… this is about his family. It’s about the person who meant a lot to him, you know that! They were close…”

“He told you that?” – she asked surprised.

“Of course he did, why wouldn’t he?”

“He didn’t like talking about the years he spent with gran.”

“Not because of her, that’s for sure.” – he snorted.

“What? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing, look, you have to tell him.”

“No. I don’t. And quite frankly you have no right to come in here, telling me what I should or shouldn’t do. So get out.”– she said trying to make him leave – “GET OUT!” – she shouted again.

“Aaron!” – called Diane turning up out of the blue, although Aaron had a guess she was following him after the way he practically ran out of the pub. – “You heard her.” - Aaron didn’t wait a second longer, he knew it would be pointless. He stormed out and didn’t stop until he was at home. His phone rang a few times but he ignored it. His mother could wait. He definitely didn’t want to see her now.

“Hey, what’s up with ya?” – asked Liv smiling when she saw her brother coming in like a hurricane.

“Not now Liv.” – he asked nicely. Well, he tried at least.

“Aaron, what’s wrong?”

“Annie Sugden died.” – he said quietly as he sat down on the sofa.

“Annie… as in… Robert’s gran?” – she asked sitting beside him.

“Yeah, and Vic knew and now everybody knows and nobody wants to tell Robert.” – he said. Liv could see that his emotions were all over the place.

“Then tell him yourself.” – she shrugged.

“How? He won’t allow me contact, you remember?”

“Yeah, but.. if you’d write a letter, tell the staff it’s about family… even tell them what it’s about… I bet there would be at least 1 person who’d give it to him regardless.”

“Yeah, we’re not in a stupid movie.” – scoffed Aaron.

“Just… try. At least you’d do something. I know it’s what you wanna do anyway.” – she said before she went upstairs leaving her brother alone. Half an hour later Aaron left the house with a letter to post. He knew he shouldn’t hope… and he tried not to, because chances are Robert will never get that letter, but still… a tiny part of him hoped that he might.

By the second week, he gave up. He posted the letter exactly 14 days ago, it had to reach its destination. The staff should know by now what it’s about, but they didn’t call him, they didn’t send the letter back … there was nothing. He tried to get on with his life, but this news dragged him back into the state he was in right after Robert got sent down. He couldn’t help it, everything came back to him. And he couldn’t help thinking how alone he must be right now, and he doesn’t even know…

God Aaron wished he could talk to him. Just once.

It was barely 8 pm but he felt tired. He didn’t do a lot of work in recent days but emotionally he was drained. He decided that an early night would be best. He didn’t get very far because his phone started ringing. He didn’t even check the number, he just picked it up. He was too tired to even look at the screen.

“Hello.” – he said in an exhausted voice as he closed his eyes, but the other end of the line was silent. – “Hello.” – he said again a bit louder this time, but still….nothing. He took a look at his phone then. The caller ID was a number he’d never seen, but it was still live. Someone had to be there. – “Okay mate, look I’ve had a rough couple of weeks, I don’t really have time for games…”

“Aaron.” – said the voice, and Aaron thought his heart stopped at once.

“Ro…Robert?” – he asked not daring to believe. –“ Is that you?”

“Yeah, it’s me. I … I got your letter.”