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thisblogisaboutabook · 9 months ago

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Bad Idea, Right? - Part 6

Eris x Reader/Azriel’s Daughter

Eris and Y/N seem to have a knack for putting themselves in unsavory situations. Bonus: Eris has a flashback to the night they met.

Part 4 Part 5 Part 7

Warnings: Alcohol, Language, Attempted SA

Oh gods. I rolled over slowly only to be met with a wave of nausea and a killer headache. I blinked several times, enough to bring the bedside table into view where a glass of water and a hangover tonic awaited me - at least I had the foresight to brace myself for the impending hell that awaited me after such an intoxicating night out.

It was an effort to pull my arm out from beneath the covers of my bed - which felt so much softer and warmer than usual. I drank a few sips of water and the tonic quickly cured the unease in my stomach but the remnants of the headache still remained. My impetuous little shadows tugged at me to get out of bed but it was just so comfortable - tuning them out I yanked my comforter over my head and drifted back asleep.

——————

Eris

Eris started awake as Y/N roused slightly from her sleep, just enough to find the tonic he’d left on his bedside table for her. Several hours ago, he’d settled in a lounge chair on the opposite side of the bed after she’d spent an hour with her head in the commode, alternating between heaving and berating him for being a “shady motherfucker” all while he held her silken hair back and rubbed soothing circles on her back.

Once she’d completely emptied herself of both the contents of her stomach and insults, she insisted she needed to bathe herself - managing to stumble into the bath tub with her clothes still on and demand “something fried and something bubbly, good sir.”

She refused to undress so he could fill the tub, so he left her there to her own devices while he torched some breaded chicken tenderloins in the kitchen - his fire power really came in handy in times like this - where a five foot whatever heathen was demanding sustenance ASAP. “High Lord my ass.” He mumbled to himself as he carried a tray of seltzer water and her fried chicken into the bathroom… where she was sound asleep in the tub.

Good lord, what had he gotten himself into with this beautiful mess. The mother only knew.

So he’d carried her to the bed, feeling a bit sleazy for changing her out of her dress while asleep but it was either let her rest in a liquor and vomit splattered dress that did everything for her curves and absolutely nothing for comfort… or change her out of it and into one of his cotton tees. Perhaps his male ego beamed slightly at the thought of her sleeping in his shirt but he assured himself that her comfort was his top priority.

He warmed the sheets using his fire magic and tucked her in before setting out the tonic and settling in on the lounge.

————————-

Y/N

When I reawoke, it must have been hours later. Whoever came in and opened the curtains could go to hell as the sunlight filtering in assaulted my eyes.

“Mother’s tits.” I groaned out as I stretched, careful not to turn my head too quickly in an effort of staving any sudden returns of nausea or shooting pains from the headache.

As my eyes slowly began adjusting to the damned sunlight, three things stood out. One: my shadows were swirling in front of me and intertwining with my fingers excitedly. Two: Someone was….cooking? In my bedroom. And as my vision fully cleared, three: This wasn’t my room, it was a fucking studio apartment.

“Owww.” I whined as I turned my head toward the direction of whatever greasy delight was cooking only to see red hair pulled up into a bun, a glorious muscular bare back hindered only by the tie of an apron, and delicious toned legs exposed by cloth shorts hemmed at the mid-thigh.

Mother’s tits indeed. Just when I thought the bastard couldn’t get any hotter.

An opportunist, traitor of a shadow shot away from me, caressing his arm as it handled a pan on the stove.

“Morning sunshine.” Eris purred, not even turning to look at me.

I scrunched my nose, lowering my tone into that of disgust - a futile effort to appear unphased by the sight before me “Why are you here? And where the fuck are we?”

“Always a pleasure to see you too, little one. Breakfast first?”

I desperately wanted to object but the bacon he was cooking smelled delicious and fuck if he didn’t look delicious too.

“Whatever.” I muttered, rolling my eyes at either his ability to tolerate whatever I threw at him or myself for being so internally captivated by the half-naked high lord cooking breakfast for me.

He didn’t need to turn around for me to feel the smirk forming on his lips as he began plating our food.

Breakfast was….. silent. Eris sat in a chair watching me with mischief in his eyes and I did my best to focus on the borderline ecstasy inducing combination of grease and whatever smokey, apple seasoning he’d flavored the bacon with.

After a long ‘bout of silence I finally gave in to his game. “Alright Eris,” His name rolled off my tongue like more honey and less venom than intended. “I’ll bite. Where are we anyway? And how?”

“I told you last night, little love. We’re at my apartment.”

Hazy memories rolled back just a bit. A blur of red, a steadying arm, and-

“In Velaris?”

“Is it so shocking that I invest my funds into properties. How many palacial homes do Rhysand and Feyre have now? More than three, yes?”

I crossed my arms. A bit like a petulant child, yes, but it did the trick as it shelved my breasts perfectly enough that Eris was caught off guard. Good.

I leaned forward, the gap in the neck of my - his shirt allowing a glimpse of the unclothed breasts beneath.

“Quit deflecting.” biting my lip, I leaned in a bit closer tracing a finger along his jaw, over the stubble shadowing the sharp angles of it, my palm then meeting his cheek just lightly enough to make his eyelids flutter as he leaned into it.

A fresh wave of the hangover nausea churned through my stomach causing me to tense, slightly drawing back and breaking the trance I had him in.

Eris tsk’d “Uh uh, clever girl.” His eyes darkened as that stupid, perfect sly smirk of his crossed over his features. “You won’t seduce answers from me, though I do love to see you try.” Letting out a sigh that I could have sworn was a bit condescending he continued, “Had you not ghosted me following our delightful night after Starfall, you’d have known.”

“Perhaps Eris, had you not kept information from me and threatened MY High Lord with violence over whatever you’re keeping from me then I would not have resorted to such measures.”

Eris leaned back in his chair, one leg arrogantly crossed over the other as one elbow rested on an arm of the chair and the other hand’s thumb and pointer finger rubbed curiously at his jaw.

“And how- pray tell, do you know of such violent threats? Nothing came through my end of the bargain tattoo so I know that Rhysand did not inform you.”

“No. You should be smarter, High Lord, about what you say beyond established wards. You never know what little ears may be prying.”

Realization crossed Eris’s features as he pieced together who had heard him.

“I simply stated that there would be retaliation. Your High Lord would reciprocate similarly if there were facets of my end of the bargain being broken.”

I leaned closer, inches away from Eris’ face.

“You can tell me what information is so important that a bargain is required to withhold it from me - or I can leave now.”

I could have sworn pain crossed his face briefly before he cooly said, “I’d hate to see you go, my little shadow but I always enjoy watching you leave.”

“I’m sure you do.” I stood up, swaying my hips as I walked toward the door, powering through the lingering hangover symptoms.

“Taking my shirt with you?”

“Ah, you’re right. Best to leave the dirty laundry here.”

Facing Eris and making a show of so slowly pulling the shirt up over my head, giving a perfect view of the rise and the bounce of my breasts as I tossed his shirt back to him.

“Your dress is covered in vomit and liquor.” Hand gesturing lazily toward the dress hanging over the bathroom door knob.

“Guess you’ll have to stay a while longer.

And damn my stubbornness because this was not a battle I was about to let him win.

“I’m winnowing home, Eris. Fuck the dress.”

“Wards extend to the street, sweetheart.”

I faltered but only for a moment.

I’ve never been ashamed of my body but strutting naked into the streets of Velaris wasn’t ideal.

Eh - C’est la vie

I grinned. A sharp, wicked thing.

“Don’t you fucking dare.” He growled.

Was - was that jealousy? Possessiveness?

And with that, I strutted out of his apartment in only a lace thong.

“Wait!” He called but I didn’t miss a beat.

As I walked into the street, onlookers gawked but I paid no mind. “Y/N! Stop. Come back!” He yelled, grabbing my wrist right as I winnowed to the back door of my home.

“What the fuck was that?” Eris growled, voice low with anger and something else.

I turned to face him as he slung a jacket he’d grabbed on his way out over my shoulders, barely hiding my ass and doing nothing to cover my tits but it’s the thought that counts I suppose.

Had I not still been a bit inebriated from the prior night perhaps I would have remembered I had shadows at my disposal to give at least the illusion of modesty but -

I sobered up quickly as my father stepped out of the door in his leathers - likely headed to meet Uncle Cass before heading to Windhaven - only to be greeted by his mostly naked daughter and half-naked High Lord of the Autumn Court.

Icy rage and total discomfort crossed his features, his shadows shooting out to cover me.

The war of emotions was palpable as he clenched his fists, siphons glowing, eyes shooting daggers straight through Eris.

Eris tensed before dropping his typical arrogant bastard mask into place. “Greetings Spymaster.” An arrogant smirk plastered onto his face.

Father’s jaw clenched and his fists fought a battle of wills as if he’d beat Eris to a pulp right then and there. Finally he managed to ground out, “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”

——————————-

Eris flashback

The prior night

Y/N let out a rather loud snore in her drunken slumber, stirring him from the sleep he’d just begun drifting off to. Her hair had fallen over her face and he couldn’t resist leaning forward and gently tucking it behind her ear.

“Mm, Eris” she whispered in her sleep followed by the slightest upward twitch of her lips.

Fuck - it was so hard sometimes. He wasn’t a perfect male but he did his best to do right by those he cared about.

Sometimes he had to distance himself from her to prevent himself from laying it all bare - tell her everything instead of letting her believe him to be the “sneaky motherfucker”. She was so young, sure in fae society five years, fifty years, five-hundred years age difference, nobody batted an eye but he’d lived so much life compared to her less than thirty.

Amusement and longing rang through him as he took care of her intoxicated ass tonight, reminding him of the night out that brought them together in the first place.

Lucien and Vassa were busy in the Day Court and Adish was going out with a couple of friends - visiting a new tavern in a recently modernized town in the northeastern territory of the Autumn Court. The town itself was safe but there were still the ocasional ruffians passing through. Lucien had requested that Eris send eyes out to ensure their protection. Something urged him to just go himself and damn, he’d never stop being grateful that he did.

The evening itself was boring. Mostly high fae but even lesser fae who had become adjusted to the “new era” ushered in with his reign came out to the tavern. There were harsh punishments for unjust violence within the Autumn Court now. Still, there was so much change needed but it would come in time. His people were rather set in their ways but a new justice system was starting to usher in change.

He nursed a beer in a corner booth, catching the eyes of plenty of fae nearby but managing to avoid the attention of Adish and his crew - which included Nyx Archeron and the little Shadowsinger who he’d heard was quickly rising in their ranks.

Nyx and Adish had both wandered off with a couple of gorgeous females with the classic red hair of his Court along with interestingly enough, Tamlin’s daughter. Layla - if he recalled correctly.

Interesting.

His attention caught as he noticed two brutes who were definitely not from here vying for the little Shadowsinger’s attention. He chuckled to himself as she waived them off, turning back to a group of females she’d stumbled out of the bathroom with. She danced without a care, holding one hand in the air as her shadows steadied her wrist in an effort to prevent spillage.

He’d give it to Rhysand’s Shadowsinger and the Archeron sister who nearly broke his brother’s heart, they passed down all of their best genetics to the stunning female on the dance floor.

The males continued irritating her, going so far as to cut her off from the group by dancing their way between them. She kept dancing but he could have sworn she was letting them cut her off, despite the obvious malicious intentions the males had for her. As they backed her to a quieter portion of the dance floor the larger male grabbed her wrist, tugging her towards the door. She shook her head no but he kept pulling as the other male corralled her from behind. Eventually she waived off the grip on her wrist and walked out with them.

Fuck. He really had no interest in lighting anybody’s asses up tonight but someone had to get the trash out of his court. And despite the fact that he and Azriel were never the best of friends, his daughter deserved more than to be ignored due to their indifferences.

So he sighed, exited out the front door and strode toward the alleyway the other entrance had led to. As he rounded the corner, he came to a halt, lurking in the shadows and taking in a sight that he hadn’t anticipated.

The Shadowsinger sat unbothered on top of a barrel with an elbow on the knee that crossed over her opposite leg. Her face filled with complete and utter boredom as she rolled her eyes at the males bound in shadow before her.

“You couldn’t have just let me be, huh boys? I was having fun with the girls in there too.

I suppose I should thank you though. After all, you won me my next three rounds of drinks. You see, the girls and I had a bet on how quickly you’d give in to your sleazy nature.

One of them bet two hours, another an hour, and me? I know a pig when I see one. Less than thirty minutes from the first time you hit on me and, well, here we are boys.”

The males couldn’t speak through the gags her shadows had placed on their mouths but the rage was apparent in their squeals.

“Anyway, since you were so desperate to find release tonight, I’ve decided to help… remedy the situation.”

With a snap of the wrist and the exception of their underwear, their clothes disappeared while the shadows binds remained in place.

She gave them each a once over and a disapproving laugh, withdrawing the shadows that were gagging them.

“Alright boys, I’ve so generously removed your gags as a thank you for helping me win my bet. You may kiss eachother now.”

The males gaped. The burlier of the two seemed to lack the understanding of the fact that he was at the disadvantage in this situation. “You little whor-“

“Uh uh.” She wagged her finger. Shadows aiming at him like daggers. “That’s no way to speak to a lady. Not that it seems anyone ever taught you manners. Pity.”

The males were visually appalled. Glancing back and forth between her and eachother as if saying “what now?”

Both males fought the restraints to no avail as the little Shadowsinger grinned with amusement at the predicament she’d put them in.

“Honestly, I should just have my shadows castrate you. Would that be more appealing? You two seemed perfectly inclined to share me, what’s a kiss between friends?”

“Please. Sorry - just let us go.” The smaller of the two pleaded.

“Once you kiss - perhaps I’ll consider. Best do it soon though, I’d hate for the little situations beneath your underwear to be revealed to the patrons of this lovely establishment when my friends come looking for me.”

The males glanced once more at eachother, leaning closely in, still hesitating but resigning themselves to their fate.

When their lips were mere centimeters apart, she held up a hand. “Ah- just a moment, boys. We have company.”

Eris started at the comment. Looking down he found a shadow winding around his ankle - was he imagining things or was it almost playful?

“High Lord.” She mused. “How do you dispose of the trash in your court?”

Mask in place, he casually stepped out of the shadows with his hands in his pockets and a devilish grin on his face.

Her gaze fixed on him. Her beauty even more striking up close, and her scent - utterly mouth watering. And when his eyes met hers

Snap.

He knew then and there that he was wholehearted and irrevocably hers for the rest of his days.

He’d wait another 500 for it to snap for her too if he had to.

She was his mate. His.

————————-

A/N: Sorry (kind of) for always leaving you all on chaotic little cliffhangers. I hope the flashback made up for the torture at least a little bit!! 😏

Tags: @b0xerdancer @myheartfollower @ang-taylorsversion @acotarobsessed @uniquecolorwizard @justasillylittlegoofyguy @thelov3lybookworm @starryhiraeth @5moremin

#sarah j maas #acotar #a court of thorns and roses #azriel #a court of silver flames #a court of frost and starlight #a court of mist and fury #a court of wings and ruin #azriel shadowsinger #azriel daughter #eris vanserra #eris x reader #nyx archeron #bad idea right #acotar x olivia rodrigo #inspired by olivia rodrigo #eris x oc

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maddie7writes · 1 year ago

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DONT WORRY, DARLING

summary: harry doesn’t ever want his darling to worry, and she doesn’t

warnings: this fic isn’t for everyone, y/n is a housewife (no i don’t hate women’s rights jack chambers is just really hot) also sorry this is short! mentions of smut

she would be a liar to say she hated it. she could lie and say she wished to work, wished to go outside the town they lived in. truth was, the only part she hated was harry leaving in the morning. she loved doting on him, making him his favorite breakfast in the morning, making sure the house was clean for him when he got home, making sure he had dinner on the table, making sure the mini bar was fully stocked. those were her second favorite moments of the day, the first of course being the moments she gets to spend with harry.

she always woke up first, mainly out of habit. the clock on the nightstand read 6:23, and the tattooed arm around her waist tightened at the different breathing pattern. she let herself close her eyes and breathe in harry’s scent. it was cruel to think that in three hours he’d leave her, and not return for another eight.

“your thinking is waking me up.” harry whined in her ear, she yawned out a laugh and turned in his arms to look up at him, her chin against his chest. “go to bed baby, you don’t want to be exhausted all day.” she tucked a unruly curl of his away from those deep green eyes glancing down at her lovingly. green was her favorite color.

“don’t worry, darling.” he whispered to her, pulling her impossibly closer. “it’s worth it, a little more sleepy, for a little more time with you.” he kissed the top of her head as she snuggled into him.

he would always whisper that phrase to her; don’t worry, darling. she never had to worry, not about him, not about her, not about them. all she had to do was exist and love. then harry would take care of the rest. it was blissful, why would she ever want anything different?

—

8:45 rolled around, all the husbands and wives began to step out of their houses, to either wish them off, or go to work. harry always followed behind her, wanting to bask in the sweet little dresses she would always wear for him. though she didn’t always find that fair, especially when he was wearing her favorite navy suit.

“do you have to go?” she whispered, blocking the handle to the car door, he leaned down and kissed her, her hands finding his jaw. “yes love, but i’ll be back. don’t worry, darling.” he repeated the loving phrase to her again. she sighed and let her forehead rest against his chest, taking in one more breath of his cologne before her senses were filled with the sweet smell of cleaning supplies. he kissed the top of her head before opening the car door, “i love you.” he told her, she kissed him one more time before reciprocating the sentiment and watching him drive off. their goodbye was always the longest in the neighborhood, not that they cared.

she spent the rest of the day cleaning. washing the suit harry wore the day before, cleaning the bathroom, making sure the wood wasn’t scuffed, dusting their photos, organizing harry’s record shelf, all of the daily things that needed to be done. she started on dinner at two, and when harry walked through the door at five, dinner had been set, and she had touched up her hair as she opened the door for him.

“god you look divine.” harry sighed, letting his briefcase drop to the polished floors, and using y/n’s back to close the door as he kissed her into it. her heels shuffling trying to keep herself up, to be met with harry’s hands to support her. she giggled at his enthusiasm, “i made lasagna.” she told him. harry nibbled her lip instead, “i’d much rather have you.” he told her, she felt the breath get knocked out of her at his words.

“you have to eat your dinner first baby.” she laughed, she felt like a mother scolding her child to eat their vegetables before they were allowed ice cream. now she was telling harry he needed real food, before he could have the woman he loved. “i like my idea better.” he picked her up bridal style and began carrying her to their bedroom. she whimpered as he set her down gently, “i worked so hard to cook for you.”

“don’t worry, darling. your food won’t go to waste, but i need to thank you properly for the care you take of me and this home.” his kissed her softly, before kneeling in front of her, and thanking her properly.

#harry styles flufff #harry styles #harry styles x reader #fluff #harry blurb #harry #harry styles fluff #jack chambers #don’t worry darling #housewife!reader #domestic

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gotham-ruaidh · 8 months ago

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Little Bit Better Than I Used To Be

Catch up: Chapter 1 (Starry Eyes) || Chapter 2 (Save Our Souls) || Chapter 3 (Dancing On Glass)|| Chapter 4 (Merry-Go-Round)|| Backstage (1) || Backstage (2) || Chapter 5 (Danger)|| Backstage (3) || Chapter 6A (Love Walked In) || Chapter 6B (Without You) || Backstage (4) || Chapter 7 (Stick To Your Guns) || Chapter 8 (Time For Change) || Backstage (5) || Chapter 9 (Take Me To The Top) || Backstage (6) || Chapter 10 (Home Sweet Home) || Backstage (7) || Chapter 11a (Nightrain) || Chapter 11b (Nothing Else Matters) || Chapter 12a (Handle With Care) || Chapter 12b (I’m So Tired of Being Lonely) || Chapter 13a (Angel) || Chapter 13b (She’s My Addiction) || Chapter 13c (Patience) || Chapter 14a (Where Do We Go Now?) || Chapter 14b (Where Do We Go Now?) || Chapter 14c (Where Do We Go Now?) || Chapter 15a (Dreams) || Chapter 15b (I Sing A Song of Love) || Chapter 15c (You Can Do This If You Try) || Chapter 16 (Let That Feeling Grab You Deep Inside || Chapter 17A: Never Tear Us Apart || Chapter 17B: It’s Tough To Be Somebody, And It’s Hard Not To Fall Apart || Chapter 17C: I'm Wishing, Lord, That I Was Stoned ||| Also posted at AO3

Chapter 18: Turn The Page

New York City || September 1988

So you walk into this restaurant All strung out from the road And you feel the eyes upon you As you're shakin' off the cold You pretend it doesn't bother you But you just want to explode

-- “Turn The Page,” Bob Seger (1971) [click here to listen]

Claire Fraser took a long drink from the glass of water beside the bathroom sink. Closed her eyes. Counted five deep breaths.

Bob Seger’s voice flowed through the tiny portable radio that she and Jamie took everywhere on the road.

Here I am, on the road again There I am, up on the stage There I go playin' the star again There I go, turn the page

She opened her eyes. Listened to the man sing so passionately, so desperately, about his exhaustion and heartbreak from living in the spotlight. Touring relentlessly. Feeling displaced in his own life.

“Claire?”

Jamie poked his head around the door, humming along with the song.

Not for the first time, Claire was grateful that the tour had wildly exceeded all expectations – the private plane instead of tour buses; limos to and from the gig; and hotel suites that were so large they typically had two bathrooms.

Not that they minded sharing, of course – but living on top of each other could be hard sometimes. On nights like these, she needed her own space.

And now, Jamie met her eyes in the mirror.

Enjoyed his surprise.

“What…you…”

She turned to face him. Took a moment to admire him in all black – the dress shirt that she had ironed for him this morning, black jeans, black belt with silver studs, boots. The leather jacket whose inside pocket she tucked a love note into every morning.

She raised her arms. “What do you think?”

The red dress wasn’t something she had intended to buy, that afternoon in Miami when the band needed a few hours with Colum to discuss the European leg of next year’s tour (“the leg owed to the fans, after the shit Jamie pulled last year before he got clean,” he had reminded them). She had kindly suggested to Charlotte and Molly – Angus’ groupie girlfriends – that rather than spend another afternoon inside, they explore the shopping mall attached to the hotel. Jamie had insisted that one of the roadies go with them, to deal with any photographers or aggressive fans – but Claire had only smiled and said that it would be fine.

She had been correct, of course. It was such a breath of fresh air to walk up and down the long corridors, eat Cuban sandwiches in the food court, browse the selections in the department stores and specialty boutiques. Anonymous. To interact with sales clerks not as the wife/girlfriend of the biggest rock musicians in the world – but simply as three women having a nice afternoon out together.

And, truth be told, it was good to get some time with Charlotte and Molly. They asked – respectfully – about her relationship with Jamie, and she in turn asked – respectfully – about their relationship with Angus. Watched them tear up when Charlotte started talking about the uncertainty before them when the tour ended, and when Molly wondered whether they would ever be enough.

Not quite knowing what to say, Claire absently pulled through a clearance rack – and then…

“Ohmygod Claire!” Molly exclaimed. “You have to try that one on!”

Startled, Claire focused on the sleeveless, ankle-length red dress.

“Jamie will freak when he sees that on you!” Charlotte smiled, shifting an armful of lingerie to look closer.

Claire pursed her lips. Thinking.

“Come on, Claire! You need to look like the rockstar wife you are.” Molly grabbed the dress. “Let’s go try it on. Come on!”

Initially she had only wanted to placate Molly. But when she saw herself in the dressing room mirror, she immediately knew how Jamie would react.

Three weeks later, she was correct.

She swirled slightly, enjoying the feel of the fabric swishing around her calves. The bite of cold air on her bare chest and belly. And the incredulous look on Jamie’s face, eyes dark.

“It’s very…red,” he stammered. “Are you wearing a bra?”

She rolled her eyes. “It’s our first event as a couple. And as husband and wife. We need to make a splash.”

He swallowed. Stepped closer to take her elbows, thumbs stroking the soft skin.

“I suppose. Every man will have his eyes on you tonight.”

She shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. I’ll only feel yours.”

His eyes darkened. “I like knowing, that at any time tonight, I can just do this…” One hand trailed across the fabric of the dress, over her breast, until it reached the strip of exposed skin spanning her neck to her navel. “And then this…” His thumb edged under the flap, teasing the underside of her breast, in the way he knew would drive her absolutely crazy.

Her lips parted. His eyes locked on hers – taking in the red tones sweeping her eyes and cheeks, and her scarlet lipstick, and the silver hoops hanging in her ears.

“Can we just stay here tonight?” he asked softly, not exactly joking.

She shook her head. “Jamie, Lou fucking Reed came to the show at Madison Square Garden last night and not only insisted on meeting you and complimenting your music, he invited us to his party tonight. He’s had his own addiction issues, he’s not a dummy. And we’ve talked about this, we can’t avoid parties forever. It will be good for all those people to see you.”

He removed his thumb from her breast, and bridged the gap between them to lean his forehead against hers. Without words, their hands found each other, twining and grasping.

As was their habit now, he pressed their thumbs together. The C she had tattooed at the base of his thumb, mingling with the J he had tattooed at the base of her thumb.

“It’s going to be so hard, Claire. Not that I don’t want to see people, or show you off, or help you get to know them.” He swallowed. “I’ve been to these kinds of parties before. Huge open bar. Waitresses in low cut dresses handing around trays of drugs like it was a tray of snacks. People doing lines on the tables. People…fucking in the bathroom.”

She swallowed. “I’ll stay with you the whole time. You can be my excuse to stop talking to someone if it gets too awkward. Or to say no, if something like that is offered to you. You know I don’t care, right?”

He nodded. Hands shaking.

“Do you want to call Raymond?”

He shook his head. “Not right now. Tomorrow, definitely. Let me see how I get through this. Maybe we agree on a few points for tonight?”

“Anything. I love you.”

He smiled. “OK. I’ve got gum in my pocket – that will keep us from getting too thirsty. And if we need something to drink, we’ll ask for club soda, and we’ll watch the drink poured in front of us. I don’t care if it’s awkward. I can’t trust.”

She released one hand from his grip, and slid it into the back pocket of his jeans. “Got it. And you know it’s easier if we touch, right? Hold my hand. Put your hand on my hip. I don’t care. I’ll be right there with you. And you’ll be right there for me.”

He stepped closer, and she parted her legs, and he stood between them. Pressing her hips against the bathroom counter.

“If we get separated, Jamie, I promise I’ll stay true to my sobriety, and to you.”

“I promise the same. I only want you.”

“I’ll touch my letter on you. Will you?”

“Yes,” he swallowed. Kissing the arch of her eyebrow. “That will help. But let’s also agree on a signal, if one of us feels need for love. And the need to go.”

She rubbed the tip of her nose against his. Breath so warm on his lips. “How about…” She tapped the center of his chest. “Touch here. Close to your heart. That’s where I feel need, when I want to love you. Is that where you feel it, too?”

“Yes,” he breathed. “It pools here. Like fire. God, I need to kiss you, Claire. Please let me kiss you.”

She turned her face away, smiling. “I don’t want you to smudge my lipstick. And I want you to hold that thought all night, Jamie. Hold on to that pool of fire. Can you do that for me?”

She felt his smile against her jaw. “Gonna be so, so good when we get back here,” he growled.

“I know, baby. It will keep us strong and true tonight. I love you.”

He pulled back a bit. Raised her hand to his lips. Kissed her wedding ring.

“I love you, Dr. Mrs. Fraser.”

She smiled. “I love you, you idiot. Come on. The limo should be waiting.”

#outlander #outlander fanfic #little bit better than i used to be #jamie and claire

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hungermakesmonsters · 10 months ago

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Catch Me If You Can

Bonus Christmas Chapter

Plot summary : When your friend interviews for a position at Anvil, you have a chance encounter with Billy Russo. He takes you for coffee and, by the time you’re done, Billy decides he’s anything but done with you.

Pairing : Billy Russo x Reader

Story Rating : R

Chapter Rating : R (p. much just smut)

Warnings : [This is a fic for 18+ only, minors DNI] This chapter contains smut and Billy using sex to get what he wants . Please check the warnings on each chapter if you choose to follow this story.

Word Count : ~2.3k

A/N : This was written as a bonus chapter for Christmas but I couldn't post it because of where the main story was, so I'm posting it now, late AF. It's pretty much just a cutesy smut fest. Nothing that happens in this chapter will effect the rest of the story.

Bonus Christmas Chapter

On Christmas morning, you’d woken to find Billy sprawled beside you, sleeping so peacefully, that you decided to wake him by slipping beneath the covers and wrapping your lips around his cock. He moaned your name in that sleepy, scratchy tone that always had your thighs clenching, and it wasn’t long until you had him falling apart. But you didn’t want to spend the whole day in bed with him so, before he could come to his senses, you were slipping out of bed and heading for the bathroom, instructing him to stay put.

Once you were done in the shower, you slipped into Billy’s Christmas present; a red lace lingerie set that was so sheer it was practically see-through, complete with a strappy garter belt and black stockings. Over the top you wore a dark red dress with a satin sash that you pulled into a bow, almost making you look like a wrapped up present.

He was speechless when you finally left the bathroom, but you didn’t give him a chance to do anything more than look before telling him to get showered so you could have breakfast; French toast, bacon and mimosas.

When you were done eating, he took your hand and led you to the tree you’d helped him set up and decorate. Dread coiled in your stomach when you noticed a pile of presents, and the feeling got worse when Billy handed you one.

Carefully, you tore the wrapping paper, revealing a brand new, top of the range mirrorless camera.

“Billy,” his smile waived as you looked at him and he realised you were upset, “this is too much, I can’t accept this.”

Before he had a chance to argue, you were on your feet, heading for the bedroom, feeling like an idiot - how could you have let yourself think that some lingerie would be worth whatever he could get you?

You should have known that something like this would happen, and you felt like an idiot for not anticipating it but - but, now that it had happened, you felt like you were being ungrateful and that wasn't fair to Billy. But, how could you accept a gift that had cost him thousands when all you'd gotten him was ninety dollars worth of lingerie?

“Hey, don’t walk away from me,” his hand on your wrist, pulling you back to face him. He wasn’t angry, he just seemed confused.

“I just need a minute,” you told him, pulling against his grip, but he didn’t let go.

“Talk to me.”

“You can’t spend over five grand on me and expect me to be happy about it,” you blurted out.

“Why not? You’re overthinking it; it’s Christmas. Why can’t I spoil you for Christmas?”

“Because it’s too much, Billy. I don’t need a sugar daddy.”

“Careful, sweetheart, I could get used to you calling me Daddy,” Billy tried to joke.

“I’m being serious!”

He let out a sigh. “I don’t think it’s too much. Not for you. You deserve it - I want you to have it. You know the money doesn’t matter to me.”

“It matters to me, Billy. Especially when all I got you was some stupid lingerie.”

“You got me lingerie?” He grinned, completely missing the point you were making. You slapped his chest with your free hand. “Okay, okay - if you don’t want the camera, we can take it all back. I’ll do whatever you want.”

It was strange for him to relent so easily, but you hoped he was finally starting to understand why his money sometimes made you uncomfortable, but with it being Christmas you didn’t want to argue anymore, so you let it slide.

“Thank you, Billy,” stepping forwards, your hand slipping around his neck and pulling him down into a tender kiss, happy that he seemed to have seen things your way.

“So, about this lingerie...” he grinned against your lips.

You’d wanted to save the surprise for later but, since the cat was out of the bag, you decided to take a step back, indicating the bow of your dress with a wave of your hand.

“Why don’t you unwrap your present and see for yourself.”

His hands were on you in an instant, starting at your shoulders then slowly tracing the low neckline of the dress down to your cleavage, palming your breasts through the fabric before continuing down to the bow. He licked his lips as he looked at you, taking in the sight of you like you were the most beautiful thing in the world to him as he finally started to undo the bow. Once it was open, he turned you so he could get to the zipper, slowly lowering it and, then, letting the dress drop to the floor.

Fingers ran across your bare stomach, urging you back against him, letting you feel the press of his erection against you. You ground your ass back against him until you heard him take a sharp breath, then you stepped away from him, turning so he could get a proper look at you.

Billy froze, his eyes tracking down your body, taking shallow breaths and looking ready to pounce. You swayed your hips from side to side, watching as he fought against his desires. When he still didn’t move, you reached for him, pulling him towards the bed and sitting him down. Climbing onto his lap, your hips continued to sway as you slowly unbuttoned his shirt and pushed it off his shoulders. His dark eyes continued to glare and you just smiled, wanting him to do his worst.

“Aren’t you going to finish unwrapping me?” You asked as innocently as you could manage, finally snapping him out of it.

His arm moved around you, fingertips pressing into your back, pulling you closer before he deftly unclasped your bra. You slipped it off while his lips trailed down the column of your throat to your collarbone, your back arching without a second thought, knowing exactly where his lips were headed. Fingers ran through his hair as he sucked a nipple between his lips, teasing it to a hardened nub before moving his attention to the other.

While he enjoyed your breasts, his hand slipped between you and into your panties, smirking when he realised how wet you were. Fingers trailed through your wetness, teasing your clit before sinking into you, setting a languid pace; he wasn’t trying to make you come, he was making sure you were ready for him. He pulled back his fingers as you undid his pants and pulled out his erection, slowly running your fingers up and down him, but you stopped the moment you felt him tug on your panties.

“Don’t you dare tear these panties, Billy.” You tried to sound serious despite the laughter in your voice.

He practically growled in response, fingers still tugging, very obviously thinking about doing it anyway before relenting. His hands gripped your hips and he quickly moved you off his lap and onto the bed, pulling your panties down and gazing down at you as he dropped his pants and boxers.

“As much as I want your legs in those stockings wrapped around my head, I don’t think I can wait to fuck you.” He confessed.

You’d come to learn just what that meant; when he was willing to skip foreplay, it meant he needed you, and when he needed you, things got rough. Just the thought made you tremble with anticipation.

“It’s your Christmas present, you can do whatever you want with it.”

“You’re my Christmas present.” He corrected you, crawling onto the bed beside you. You. Not the sex on offer or the lingerie, you were his present. You were his. “And I’m gonna do whatever I want with you, sweetheart.”

He manoeuvred you onto your side and laid behind you, his hand slowly trailing down your body, leaving goosebumps in its wake. But, despite his tender touches, his ragged breathing told you that this was going to be anything but gentle. Finally, his arm hooked around your thigh, lifting it until it was almost perpendicular to your other leg, leaving you spread wide for him.

You looked down as he curled around you, realising you could see his cock between your thighs.

“That’s right, sweetheart, watch,” he muttered, slowly moving his hips, letting you watch his cock running through your folds. He watched too, slowly building up your arousal until he was coated in it and his tip was starting to leak. Eagerly, you reached down, thumb swiping a bead of pre-cum and bringing it to your lips, earning a growl from Billy, reminding you that he was in charge right now, not you.

To punish you, he started to tease you, pressing the crown of his cock against your slit, letting you feel the slow stretch before pulling back again. He did it over and over, leaving you feeling desperate and needy, moaning his name every time his shaft rubbed against your clit.

“Billy, please -” you finally broke, unable to take any more.

“Say it,” he demanded quietly, his lips brushing against your ear.

“I need you inside me,” you begged.

Finally, he relented, slowly pushing past the threshold of your wet slit. A cry spilled from you, the angle of his cock stretching you, filling you in a way you hadn’t felt before. Billy, likewise, let out a groan, easing you open with inch after inch, holding you close as he sank deeper and deeper.

You whimpered as he bottomed out, but he didn’t give you time to adjust before he started to fuck you with hard, brazen thrusts of his hips. Trembling every time he filled you, his grip on your thigh left you completely at his mercy to take whatever he gave. And Billy gave you everything, swearing and groaning your name as you clenched around him, as you drenched his cock with your arousal.

“Is this what you needed?” He grunted in your ear.

“More,” you moaned, toying with him. “Everything.”

He fucked you harder, faster, filling the deepest parts of you, and by the time you felt his fingers on your swollen clit each breath you took was punctuated with a moan.

“Like this, sweetheart?” he mocked, knowing you couldn’t answer. All you could do was moan. “Always so fucking needy for me, aren’t you?”

(You both already knew the answer to that one.)

Glancing down, just the sight of his fingers working your clit was enough to make you come.

His cock slipped from you without warning, still in the throes of your orgasm, still moaning and writhing beneath him. Getting to his knees, he straddled one thigh while pulling the other around his waist, keeping you on your side as he slipped back between your walls. The new angle had your eyes rolling back in your head every time he filled you.

Noticing your breasts bouncing with each thrust only inspired him to fuck you harder, his hand soon slipping up you body, fingers pinching and tugging at your nipple, the sharp sting bringing an overwhelming mixture of pleasure and pain.

“Mine,” he growled, demanding you admit it; that you were his, that you’d never want anyone else again. But you weren’t there yet, and your denial had him pounding his cock into you even harder, making you come again.

Rolling you onto your back, he pulled up both of your legs as he sank back inside you, lowering his body over yours, letting you feel his weight on top of you. His lips ghosted yours but, when you tried to kiss him, he pulled away, smirking. His movements turned slower, more purposeful, letting you really feel him. It was almost too much after everything you’d already been through, but you soon realised that was the point.

“See how easy it is to empty that head and stop overthinking when you give in to me?” His hand cupped your cheek and he smiled down at you. “This is why you’re mine, sweetheart. No one else will ever make you feel this good.”

As your back arched off the bed, Billy lowered his head, capturing a nipple between his lips, sucking and nipping, while his fingers found the other, tugging and twisting until it ached. It wasn’t long before you started to tremble beneath him, moans stacking and getting louder, nails tearing into his back as you tried to hold on.

You clenched around his cock, so close to coming, when he took hold of your wrists, pinning them above your head.

Then he pulled out.

“Billy -” you practically sobbed, desperate to come, not understanding why he'd stopped.

“Say thank you for the camera, Billy,” he instructed.

You stayed quiet, defiant, realising what he was doing. He wanted to make you change your mind.

Squirming beneath him, you tried in vain to pull from his grasp. His cock filled you again, giving two deep thrusts, almost enough to push you over the edge before pulling out again.

“All you have to say is thank you,” he told you again.

With the way you were bent beneath him, you couldn’t move, couldn’t free yourself. You hated how much you were loving being restrained by him, hated the thrill that ran up your spine as he kept edging you, knowing you well enough to pull out each time you got close. Minutes passed, the demand made over and over, keeping you on the precipice until your eyes were watering and your body was shaking.

But you didn’t ask him to stop. You didn’t want it to end; naively, you thought you could beat him. You couldn’t.

“Thank you!” You finally cried out, broken by him.

“For?” He prompted.

“Thank you for the camera, Billy.” You whined desperately.

“You’re going to keep it, aren’t you?”

Fuck, he’d managed to trap you.

“Yes!”

He grinned, pitching his cock inside you again, fucking you fast and hard enough to finish both of you, his thrusts finally turning languid and lazy as he emptied himself of every last drop inside you, and you clenched around him, unable to stay annoyed as you fought to catch your breath.

“I’m really glad you decided to keep the camera, sweetheart.” Finally letting you lower your legs back to the mattress. And, before you could answer back, his tongue was in your mouth and you were surrendering to him all over again.

END NOTES : I know it's late to be posting a Christmas chapter but I had it written and I thought it was pretty cute (albeit in a smutty fucked up way) and I enjoyed writing it so, here we are. Normal posting schedule will start again on Friday!

Thanks for reading and sticking with all the ups, downs, and dirty parts of this fic!

If you want adding/removing from the tag list let me know (I know some people are having issues with the tags? think you might need to enable tagging on your end of things? IDK tumblr is weird)

TAG LIST

@lincerad @sweetserendipity65 @rafaelakelley @slayerofthevampire @rensolodriver @lovelydoveval @doloreschanal @damagelove @danzer8705 @unlikelystarlightcowboy @schlotzshewrote @bisexualbith @uncontainedsmiles @fireeyes-on-teller-dixon-grimes @lilliesofmay @billyrussoslut @readingabouthim

#billy russo #billy russo x female reader #billy russo x reader #billy russo fanfic #cmiyc ff #the punisher #billy russo imagine

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fanficshiddles · 8 months ago

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The Redbridge Hunts, Chapter 35

Loki was sleeping soundly… was being the imperative word. He was rudely awoken when a suitcase was thrown on top of him.

‘Ooooft... What the hell?’ He shot up and squinted when Claire turned on the big light.

He let out a hiss and covered his eyes.

‘Come on, Loki! Time to get up, dressed and get packed.’

Loki blinked hard and glanced at the bedside table. He groaned when the clock showed it was just after six. He pushed the suitcase off of him and looked over at Claire.

‘Claire… My darling, my beloved… I love you, and I am very excited for our trip… but it’s only bloody six o clock. We have all day to get there, it’s far too early.’

‘Exactly, all day. It will take most of the day to get there, it’s like a five-hour drive away. Plus, we need to go via my place to get my things packed, then drop Bat off with Matt.’ Claire said as she dashed about the bedroom, not exactly doing anything proactive, apart from tossing some of her clothes into a pile that she kept at Loki’s.

‘Love… just how many cups of coffee have you had already?’ Loki asked. He noticed that her favourite mug was sitting on the dressing table.

Claire looked at him and shrugged. ‘I’ve been wide awake for an hour or two… I’m just so excited. Come onnnnnn vampy!’ She said as she shoved at his leg.

Loki fell back down on his pillow and pinched the bridge of his nose.

‘Let’s shower together, to save time.’ Claire said as suddenly Loki was covered by her nightgown. He tugged it off his head and then was instantly covered again when she tossed her knickers at him too.

Since when did she get such a good aim? Loki thought as he leapt out of bed and ran after her into the bathroom. A naked Claire with the promise of a shower together was more than enough to get him out of bed at any time of the morning.

‘You better be on your best behaviour, Bat.’ Loki said as he gave her another cuddle, then Claire took her for one last cuddle too.

She handed him over to Matt, who smiled as Bat clambered onto his shoulder straight away and purred against the side of his face.

‘I’m sure she will be.’ Matt chuckled.

‘I really appreciate it.’ Loki said as he patted Matt’s free shoulder.

‘No problem at all. I’m just glad I managed to beat Jessica and David for her.’ Matt grinned widely.

Loki had mentioned on the last school day before the Easter holidays about going away for five nights with Claire. Jessica, Matt and David all instantly asked who was looking after Bat. Initially, Loki was going to ask his dad to have her. Though the three teachers began offering, then argued over who got her.

So after a lot of bickering, in the end, Claire had them do rock, paper, scissors to find a winner. Loki found it hilarious, but he was very honoured that people were fighting over who got to look after his cat.

Matt was very pleased when he beat Jessica first, then won against David.

‘See you next week. Thanks again.’ Loki called to him as he and Claire went back to Loki’s car.

‘I’m gonna miss Bat.’ Claire said when she buckled in.

‘Me too. I always do when I go away, even for a night. I know she’ll have a great time with Matt.’ Loki said as he started up the car.

‘Yeah, she will. I’m so excited about this trip.’ Claire said with a big smile as Loki pulled out onto the road.

‘Me too, love. Just the two of us for five whole nights. What on earth will we do with ourselves?’ Loki smirked and reached over to squeeze her knee.

‘Hmm, I do wonder.’ Claire pondered and tapped her lip.

‘There’s a supermarket not far from the cabin, so we can stock up on food on the way there. Means we shouldn’t need to go into civilisation for the whole trip.’ Loki said.

‘Sounds perfect to me. A human, in a secluded cabin in the woods, with a vampire. All alone. Shit phone signal. Sounds ideal for a horror movie.’ Claire teased.

Loki laughed and squeezed her knee again. ‘It does indeed.’ He purred, winking at her.

They’d booked the cabin a month ago, it had a hot tub on the patio. Even though it was only Spring and not overly warm, it wouldn’t matter once they were in the water. There were no other houses around for miles, as it was quite literally in the middle of the woods. It had a log fire, with plenty of logs already seasoned and stacked, ready to use. Some walks were marked out with signs around the woods and up into the hills, so if they did get bored of chilling around the cabin they could go and explore without the worry of getting lost.

The only downside was it said on the website that there was no phone signal, unless you walked down the track a good bit. Though Loki and Claire decided that it wouldn’t be such a bad thing, it would let them switch off better and just be together. He did give Lucius the address, so if there was an emergency Lucius could fly there to alert them of anything.

They playfully bickered over control of the music on the way, then ended up compromising and having half an hour each at a time. They stopped for lunch on the way too, and just enjoyed the car ride as part of the holiday.

When they finally arrived at the cabin, after stocking up on so much food from the supermarket, Claire was practically vibrating with excitement.

‘This is so freaking amazing! Look at it! It’s like something out of a fairytale.’ She said delightfully as she sprinted from the car to the cabin.

Loki laughed as he opened the boot of the car. ‘I’ll bring in all the luggage, shall I?’ He called to her.

‘Of course, you’re the strong one after all.’ Claire called back at him as she opened the lockbox to get the key.

Claire rushed inside and had a good look around. It was mainly one big room, with comfy sofas on front of a large fireplace. Had a small TV, a snooker table at the back next to a dining table. There was a small kitchen area in the corner. A staircase led up to a bedroom that was open and overlooked the main living area. The only room that was separate was the bathroom.

‘This is so cosy! I love it!’ Claire said when Loki entered, juggling their suitcases and some of the shopping bags.

‘Wow, that fireplace is huge.’ Loki commented when he placed everything down.

‘Check out the bed! It’s even bigger than yours.’ Claire ran and jumped onto the bed, star-fishing as she landed on it. ‘IT’S LIKE A MARSHMALLOW!’

Loki couldn’t help but laugh, he absolutely adored her excitement. How easily pleased she was. It made his heart soar so much.

‘Just going to get the last of the shopping bags, love.’ Loki ducked back outside.

He looked around their surroundings and smiled as he sighed in contentment. It was so peaceful, just the birds tweeting. The only bad thing was he had a feeling at the end of the holiday, it would be difficult to leave. Though he tried not to think about that, since they’d only just arrived.

When he returned inside, he frowned as Claire had vanished.

‘Claire?’ He called out, but there was no response.

He checked the bathroom after knocking, but it was empty.

‘Where has that little minx gone?’ He muttered to himself.

As he walked by the kitchen area, he looked out the window and saw on the porch out the back was the hot tub. The owners had turned it on earlier so it was ready for them arriving. Claire was already stripping off next to it.

Loki laughed and by the time he got to the back door, Claire was sinking into the water.

‘Aaaah. This is freaking awesome.’ She groaned and let her head fall back. ‘Come and join me, Vampy.’

‘I’ll get the wine first.’ Loki chuckled and ducked back inside to grab said wine, then he went back outside and stripped down too, and climbed in next to her. ‘Ohh this is nice.’

Claire shimmied along the seat so she was pressed against Loki’s side. He handed her a glass of wine and they toasted.

‘To our little getaway holiday.’ Loki hummed as he slid his arm around her waist.

‘And to peace and quiet for the week.’ Claire added as they clinked glasses.

#tom hiddleston #loki #loki x ofc #fluffy loki #loki fic #vampire Loki #the redbridge hunts

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sith-qween · 1 year ago

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Come, Let Us Teach You

Fandom: DBZ

Pairings: Reader x Vegeta, Reader x Nappa, Reader x Raditz

Words: 3.2K

Rating: M

Warnings: Sayian Reader, Mating Cycles/Heats, Ginyu Force, Dark Frieza, No protection, probably more, I will update as we go lol

He wasn’t exactly one for pillow talk and cuddles, much like you would have assumed in the first place. In fact it might have shocked you more if he had been. Instead he cleaned himself up when you turned your back to him and left without much more than a couple words. You were given one more painful reminder that you needed to toughen up and he was gone.

Did you expect anything to come from what had just happened, no. Hell you already knew you’d probably never hear the end of it and that alone was enough to make your blood boil. Even if he had been amazing and satisfied everything you needed him to in the moment - you would rather drop dead than ever give him the satisfaction of knowing that. He was an arrogant prince and you didn’t need to give him any more of an ego boost on top of everything else.

Laying there in the pit of confusion over how you felt now, you finally decided enough was enough. There was still enough time to get some training in and you would rather not lose any more time, lest they try to hold it against you for slacking. Dragging yourself from the inner war in your head, you stood, not without a pleasant reminder that was ghosted throughout your skin, and headed into the bathroom.

The shower was hot and quick, scrubbing your skin rougher than normal, trying to erase it from your thoughts. Granted there was no way to forget his lips on your skin or just how right it had felt. Honesty you chalked it up to being that time and probably something to do with him being a Saiyan. After all you’d dealt with your time before but it had never felt quiet as right as that had. Needless to say you weren’t exactly in the biggest hurry to find out about it either.

Everything was routine from there. Dressed. Stretched. Straight to the training rooms. You were pretty sure it would be safe to avoid Vegeta there, he was probably busy reporting the mission and trying to brown nose Frieza or Ginyu. He was very proud, but he also bowed his head when he wanted to keep his life. After all you probably made his life a little bit more difficult when you had lipped off about Frieza.

With a hiss the door pulled open and you stepped in. The dull roar that was humming in your muscles was enough to remind you how badly you needed to let off some more steam. While you had been hopeful that you would be able to steal the training room to yourself, your tail lashed with annoyance as you spotted a certain hulking Saiyan in one of the corners of the room. Great. Just one of the people you wanted to see the most at that moment. It wasn’t like dealing with any of them was an easy task, let alone when you were all wound up.

Deciding it would be in your best interest to ignore him, as you headed over towards your own section of the room. It was nothing special, and it wasn’t like any of the higher ups were in a hurry to use any of their budget on your group. The stuff was older and worn, but you figured it gave it some character; after all so far there had been a great deal of memories made in this room, and you weren’t sure if you would really change that if you could. Even if some were unpleasant, and others were just plain embarrassing. Over the dulled smack against the leather of the punching bag you hadn’t noticed a loud voice trying to get your attention. Well that being until suddenly he was in your vision.

“Just because you can get some doesn’t make you that much better than the rest of us you know?” the voice jabbed, the loud sound breaking from the haze that had been fogging everything else was the least recommended at the moment. Stopping you lifted your eyes to meet the others, narrowed in displeasure of being interrupted.

“And what makes you think that? Besides, I know I’m better either way, keep that in mind.” you pointed out, voice level not wanting to really give anything away. Knowing their history it would be something quickly turned against you, and the questions of who would be quick to follow. After being so against any of them, you weren’t exactly ready to admit they weren’t that bad. Especially when you knew they all had one goal in mind, and it was the one thing you were most against.

He could see the calculating look behind those [e/c] eyes, and he wanted to know what you were holding back, but he was also wise enough not to pry at the wrong times. His face was lit with his grin as he watched you with a curious gleam, “Now now, I know a glow when I see one, but clearly you don’t want to brag.. I mean, I wouldn’t mind if you wanted to demonstrate, wouldn’t feel nearly as jealous..” he hinted, amusement lighting his eyes as his words managed to get a reaction. Honestly, you swore there was a guide on how to push your buttons, were you just that easy to read?

“I think you need to wake up from whatever disillusioned dreamland you’re floating in, you might just walk into something and hurt yourself” you practically snarled at him, the bite in your words was back and as strong as ever. Hell you could have even fooled yourself into thinking absolutely nothing happened in this very room only a few days ago.

“So cold, I don’t know what I did to deserve such treatment…” his laugh came, making it plainly obvious that he knew why, and that he liked the reaction. A small twitch reached your eye as you tried not to let him get under your skin, this wasn’t the time to start anything else. You just wanted to train, and hopefully clear your mind from earlier. That wasn’t something you really wanted to have lingering around in the back of your mind for long. Not only would it be a pain if anyone else found out, but it was always not something you wanted to have haunting you either. The sooner it was gone from your mind, the better off you would be, mentally and physically.

“You know full well what you did, now do you plan on bugging me further or may I get back to warming up?” you managed to get out, the sharpness edging into your voice. Your eyes flicked to the side to where he stood, just within your peripheral vision. You could hardly make out the smug expression he wore, but then again you knew better by now - it was more surprising for him not to be so smug.

“Warming up? [Y/N], what would you do after that? Not like you can make as much progress alone, as you could if you had a partner. After all, it has been a while since we spared last - wouldn’t that be more worthwhile?” he suggested, but it was much more like a nudge. This was enough to get you to turn slightly to face him, the hints of challenge already budding,

“If I am not mistaken, last time we spared someone got upset when I landed a hit on him. I believe they were even considered ‘rusty’ by a lower class saiyan. Or am I mistaken, Nappa?” you responded. The venom lacing your tone was as clear as day, and you could visibly see his muscles tighten at the taunt. Sure he wasn’t the best person to rile up, but it was only fair he knew that two could play at that game.

“And didn’t someone else get their feathers in a bunch when someone hit them back? I recall a scrawny little thing huffing off with anger because they weren’t ready to block.”

There was a silence in the room, his words seeping into your veins and causing anger to fuel you. Of course, on again about how much smaller you were from the others. It wasn’t even like you hadn’t been exposed to the life of a saiyan, or that you were a female. No, that had nothing to do with it, clearly not. Sure, you weren’t as skilled or built as them, but your spirit burned stronger than theirs, and you would be damned if you let the massive man just walk all over you with his words.

“So long as you don’t hold back for the sake of pity.. I think maybe I will take you up on this offer this time. I would much rather smack you around than a bag of sand.” your eyes were narrowed, watching him carefully. Turning to face him fully, you could see the sheer size difference. Hell Nappa made Vegeta and Raditz look small in comparison, you could only imagine how small you must look next to him.

“Hold back? Now why would I do that? You’ve proven you need some sense knocked into that thick skull of yours, and after all what go would me holding back do? It wouldn’t do either one of us much good, now would it?” his face was making a change from smug brat, to an over confident fighter. Now most would feel intimidated by all that, but for once you felt like one with your roots, a deep burning to rise above this obstacle and beat down a strong opponent? Oh you could feel the phantom itching in the tips of your fingers. Curling your hands into fists, a grin of your own started to grow. No matter what, you refused to end up in the medical bays again.

If you were to admit that Nappa was right, it might be time to try fighting more seriously. After all, everything up until this point was all reckless and foolish fighting. No plan, no real power, just anger and rage. You would have to take it a step up if you wanted to avoid anything fatal this time around, and clearly the other was on the same page as you. The air started to grow heavy, and it took a couple of quick back steps before you felt at a safe distance. The ground under him had started to dent slightly and a deep chuckle emanated from him as he watched you blink in surprise. Well, guess there was no use avoiding it, you had to admit he was right this time around.

Meeting his eyes in a challenge, you took on a defensive stance, focusing on building up your own power. Honestly, this was never your strong point seeing as your old base never pushed you nearly as hard as this one already had. After all you were in a no name base, the expendable ones who were the lambs to the slaughter. Here the stronger warriors, not to mention a handful of Frieza’s strongest men, were often seen patrolling the halls and hanging around. The jump was huge, and now was as good a time as any to start working on improving your power levels.

Unlike the brutish force that the other was giving off as he powered up, yours was more elegant in a way. Much more liquid compared to his explosive burst. The equipment near you started to crack and break down, hitting the ground in a sharp clutter. The feelings of energy rushing through you could be akin to that of a warm drink on a cold day. The distinct contrast as it rushed through you. This was much better, so much better. Not like it would’ve helped with Frieza, but now you were on a closer playing field with the other, closing some of the power gap.

Neither one of you was ready to move, and neither one of you was willing to let the other out of their sights. Everything paused for a moment before you saw him rush towards you. It was a quick movement and you managed to block, your size giving you the advantage with speed as you shift and land a kick to his legs. However your strength was only so much against his muscles. Grabbing the leg that connected he was quick in pulling you off and hurling you into the wall across the room.

Stunned for a brief moment you saw him rushing you again and you were quick to duck out of the way, making sure to leave a well timed ki blast in order to blind him and gain some distance. Yeah, okay right. Now wasn’t the time to get careless. You could hear him growl at the little stunt and you were on the clock. Taking your turn in rushing him you unleashed a series of blows, catching him off guard as he turned around. He had to take a moment to worry about blocking your attacks before he finally resumed his own attacks.

Well that alone was progress. He had to actually block and worry about your attacks now, better than his good old, fuxe worries. You weren’t just trying to find a chance to hit him, you were hitting him, and making him react in earnest now. Only, you would have to take time to be proud of that later, right now you were more worried about not getting to comfy with the floor like you had in previous fights.

The fight continued on for a while, each of you holding your own against the other. Hits are getting harder and faster, and focus getting sharper and more dangerous. Parting for a moment, you both needed to catch your breath, hovering in the air. You were sore, but it felt so good. In fact it was only serving to boost the adrenaline you were already feeling. Noticing a shift in his stance as he readjusted you didn’t give it to him, rushing in you went right for him.

With a grunt he just managed to catch your fist before it landed between his eyes. The curl of his lips causes you to practically snarl in response. Damn, you were so close to getting that one in, but he had experience on his side, otherwise the match probably would’ve been yours.

“Playing dirty, I gotta say it makes me proud to see you can fight now. Then again maybe something has you riled up.. You aren’t normally so serious in a fight.” he started, the grip on your fist tight, making sure you didn’t just wiggle out. One thing was for sure, you didn’t miss the darkening gleam in his eyes as he continued, “besides it seems I wasn’t too far off with my observation earlier. Can’t say that you don’t smell amazing right now. You smelled good earlier on that mission too. You know you don’t have to fight against it right?” he growled, the hunger in his eyes sending shivers along your spine.

And like that you could vividly feel strong hands on your waist, the heavy heat in your mouth and how primal it had all felt. You needed only to not fight it and you were sure the man before you could dish it out just as well as the prince, maybe even better. However reason was setting in and you had already given into it once, you weren’t planning on making it a habit either. In quick succession you managed to free your fist from his hand before a heavy leg came down on his head, taking the hulking man spiralling to the ground below.

“Don’t go pressing your luck, Nappa. If it got so bad that I needed the help, I would rather find just about anyone else on the ship than one of your three.” you growled. Honestly the sooner they moved past that the better it would be for you all. However instead of the explosive anger you were half expecting, you got a heavy laugh from below as the other started to sit up from where he landed.

“Well now, guess you can dish out more than I gave you credit for.” he admitted as you jumped down to meet him on the ground. Extending a hand to help him up, he took it with a grin and he got to his feet. However before you could retract your hand, he pulled your body in close, enclosing you in his arms. The action throws you off guard for a moment, but recovering quickly you go to move back before he speaks, “don’t worry, I just want to hold you. May tease you a lot, but I’m not interested in anything if it’s forced.”

“Well, guess even you can be full of surprises..” you muttered, not sure how to react in such a situation. Raised as a fighter and warrior, this wasn’t really something you were exactly used to. Hell even earlier with Vegeta, there wasn’t anything like that, and that was closer to what you were used to. In the midst of your thoughts you could feel the older man’s chuckle in his chest before he pulled away to look down at you, his hands resting on your waist. Unsure how much you trusted him, you tensed as one hand moved to the tail wrapped around your waist.

“Last time we were alone I gave you some advice, and I never saw you use it..” he started as he unravelled your trail, watching your reactions. What he wasn’t expecting was the grin that grew upon your features, “however, I guess I was mistaken.”

“I guess you were, after all - seeing how much you all liked to use that as leverage, even block heads like you guys should have known I would work on remedying that.” you smirked. While you didn’t feel sharp, paralysing pain anymore, your tail was still sensitive and it was harder than you thought to keep a straight face. However it was clear that the other knew what he was doing, then again he was born and raised with other Saiyans, he probably wasn’t inexperienced either.

His touch was soft and careful as the calloused hand moved along the soft fur. Naturally you were still not completely satisfied after Vegeta, but at least it was a duller roar now. However you weren’t going to let him distract you like this either. In his arms you used your tiptoes to close the distance as you pulled him down by the neck to connect your lips, using his moment of distraction to pull your tail free from his grasp. The smirk on his lips was all the warning you needed to cut it off.

“Geez, make a man jealous why don’t ya? C’mon who was it? I need to know their secrets,” he smirked before you pushed him off and put some distance between the two of you. And just like that he managed to ruin the otherwise fine mood. You swore the three of them had this hidden ability to ruin anything good they started. Expressioned hardening once again you shook your head in disappointment,

“Jealous or not, it’s not your business. Now can we get back to training? I enjoyed kicking your butt.” And like that he was focused on the fight once again. For once you felt confident with your skills, and you had a good sparring partner, and you were liking the results that were showing.

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leclerced · 1 year ago

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Adding onto the Lance not liking to eat bunny out and a growing hate of Lance for Lando.

Bunny comes stomping back into their hotel room after a night with Lance and finds Lando on the bed and when he puts his phone down to address her standing frame in front of him he’s immediately thrown off because instead of looking fucked out and satisfied she looks frustrated and annoyed.

And without any hesitation bunny just goes “can u please eat me out?”

And while Lando is a bit taken back who is he to deny his girl? But of course he needs to make sure Lance even made her come at all, because this is about her pleasure as well. And Bunny says that he did make her come on his cock but all she wanted was his mouth on her and he simply said “I don’t eat girls out” and continued to finger her before moving on to fucking her.

Lando is pissed and he and oscar will definitely be taking a trip to Lances room once he takes care of bunny and Oscar finishes his shower.

Fast forward Oscar comes out of the bathroom to find Bunny crying and sobbing over Lando’s face, her fingers are holding onto the headboard for dear life as Lando makes her come for the third time.

He just sits back and enjoys the show but once his lovers part he smirks at the look on bunnies face and so does Lando, knowing that’s the kind of look she should have anytime she comes back from one of the other drivers.

With a glistening mouth Lando tells Oscar to get dressed because they have to pay Lance a visit. After getting bunny tucked in they head to Lance and give him a nice talking to about how he needs to put bunny first and not himself and then queue the group chat drama :)

lance not eating pussy is my fav blindfold universe headcanon it just makes sense and is so funny 😭

she comes back in tears which like they’re used to her coming back w tear stained cheeks when max is done w her but she’s always got a blissed out smile on her face and is giggling as she crawls into bed between lando and oscar. but this time she looks in pain and lando’s immediately concerned and is ab to get up and make oscar get out of the shower so they can beat lance’s ass but then she asks him to go down on her, practically begging for it as she crawls onto his lap and hes like ok. lance can wait. oscar can shower. i have to take care of my girl.

and oscar watching afterwards like he would want to be involved, he sees her on top of lando and is immediately wanting to get his hands and mouth on her too but he’d wait patiently. as soon as lando is sliding out from under her oscar’s ready to take his place, but before he can even touch her lando’s shaking his head and telling him to get dressed and he starts to complain and then lando’s like “you can have your turn when we get back. lance apparently doesn’t eat pussy.” and oscars shell shocked bc ?? what

lance is alr asleep when they arrive and they’d be banging on the door as loud and hard as possible, not a simple two or three knock, both their fists are slamming into the door until it finally opens and lance is standing there rubbing his eyes confused as hell. the commotion would wake the drivers around them and they peek out of their rooms just in time to catch lando and oscar both berating lance, talking over each other, asking what the fuck is wrong w him?? lance can’t even get a word in and it’s probably five minutes of them bickering and no one knows why until oscar says “i mean literally who doesn’t eat pussy?” and suddenly everyone who was eavesdropping is stepping out in the hallway like hang on lance. it was ur night with bunny wasn’t it? wdym you don’t eat pussy wtf else are u doing to her? then someone is texting the gc and saying “just found out lance doesn’t eat pussy” and then ppl not on their floor are making their way down and giving lance a piece of his mind. most humiliating would be lewis coming down to give him an earful and seb calling him while someone else is chiding him and being like listen i know we aren’t teammates anymore and i didn’t even like u when we were. what the HELL is wrong with you that ur not eating her pussy? u better be glad im not there.

lando and oscar go back to bunny after they realize all the guys in the gc are out in the hall waiting to get a piece of lance 😭

#ask #anon #blindfold universe #canon friendly blindfold universe

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hannahssimblr · 1 year ago

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Chapter Three

A wall of heat hits our faces as Marnie and I shuffle into a cocktail bar that evening. It’s a hopping, trendy place right in the centre of town, and even though it’s Tuesday night it’s full. It’s one of those places that will set you back nearly fifteen euro for some obscure, designer cocktail called Foxy Kitten Vodka Tonic, and other such names that are so humiliating to say out loud that you end up getting flustered and ordering rum and coke instead.

We leave our jackets in the cloak room, and I strip down to my skimpy dress, worn with no tights in icy cold weather like true red blooded Irish girls do. Marnie didn’t dress up though, she’s too cool. She’s wearing the same mesh top and black runners she was in earlier, but I could never go to a bar casually. It’s just not what small town girls do, and Claire would have never allowed me to leave our apartment in any other state. My feet already hurt in my five inch heels after walking the ten minutes from the bus stop, but I don’t dare complain. I just slide into a booth and start looking at the drinks menu, slipping out of them and uncurling my cramped feet on the cool tile floor underneath the table while trying not to outwardly shudder with relief.

“Wine as usual, is it, Evie, or will we try to seize the spirit of the night and be adventurous?” Marnie’s got her nose in the menu, and I can barely hear what she’s saying over the thumping remix of some Katy Perry song.

“I think it will have to be the wine.” I reply, my head spinning at the prices. You know you’re in the wrong bar when a cocktail costs half of your weekly food budget.

“Oh boring. Have a Sloe Comfortable Screw Up Against a Wall or something. Come on, you and I are out on the pull, let’s get ourselves loosened up a bit.”

“I’m not ordering a cocktail called that.”

“I’ll order it for you if you don’t want to say it.” She points out the ingredients to me. “It looks so yum.” She flips through the menu with a concentrated face. “What do you reckon has the most possible alcohol in it? I feel like I need to get absolutely plastered so I can get through an evening in this bar. The vibes are absolutely rancid.”

“We can go if you want.” I say hopefully, picturing an evening curled up in my bed with a hot water bottle.

“Stop. We’re not leaving. Now which cocktail will it be?”

I’m still insisting on the Pinot Grigio when a group of NCAD students join us and start sliding into our booth with us. Marnie wanted us to have a group night, because apparently just having two of us alone would have been sad, and because she’s an extrovert she’s not very good at coping unless she’s surrounded by as many different people as possible.

“Oh, sorry.” One girl says as she clambers over me, her elbow colliding with my forehead, and I smile and pretend that it’s fine. They’re all talking now, the cacophonous sound of at least twelve art students with interesting haircuts filling up my stratosphere. I reach underneath the table to put my shoes back on again, and when I glance down at my little satin dress and strappy heels, I’m struck by how completely out of place I look among everyone else. Apparently I should have worn jeans, flat shoes, edgier makeup, but this is just another case of me missing out on the memo. No matter what I do, no matter where I am I can never seem to get things right. At school I was never dressed up enough, my attempts were always misguided and awkward, and now that I’ve figured that out, I’ve found dresses that hug my body in the right places, shoes that make my legs look impossibly long, the rules have changed again. I excuse myself and wriggle out of the booth. I don’t need to use the bathroom but I want to go and stare at myself agitatedly in the mirror. Maybe I can run a little more kohl around my eyes, smudge it out, muss up my hair a bit so that I look a little more Alexa Chung.

I shove through the doors and plant myself in front of the sinks, then pull my blunt eyeliner pencil from my little handbag and start raking it along my waterline. With my little finger I rub it in, making sure to get it onto the bottom lids so that it looks like I literally woke up like this. I was partying so hard, I just passed out somewhere and now I’m here again, in another bar. I’m just beginning to back comb the sleek, straightness out of my hair with my fingers when someone comes out of one of the cubicles. I don’t pay her any attention until she’s washing her hands next to me, and that’s when I recognise her. Kind of. From somewhere, only I can’t place her small, delicate features. She sniffs gently and rubs her hand under her nose, and then briefly meets my eyes in the mirror. She doesn’t recognise me either, her gaze just slides away.

I’m just about to let it go when someone speaks from behind me.

“Evie?”

I whirl around, and it’s Jen. I look at her, then look at the other girl, flooded with recognition. I do know her from somewhere. Michelle. The famous Michelle who I agonised over for weeks, zooming in on photographs of her pretty face, letting her tear down and completely destroy all semblances of my self-esteem without needing to ever say a word to each other. How could I forget?

“Oh my God. Hi Jen.” I say with surprise. She looks different now. Gone is the bright red cropped hair that she had before, now it’s chin length and straight, jet black with her roots and ends dyed bright, lurid magenta. She comes up to me for a hug, and I notice that she looks a little ashen faced, hands trembling slightly, but her hug is warm and familiar and somehow manages to transport me to a different time and place for a fleeting moment.

“You got extremely hot.” She comments and she stands back. “Wow, look at you.”

“Oh, stop.” I say shyly. “I feel so overdone.”

“That’s just what first years do.” She reassures me. “Spend enough nights out on the streets at two in the morning trying to flag down a taxi, and you’ll change your tune pretty quickly.” She peers down at my shoes. “I personally wouldn’t have fun trying to hike home in those.”

“They’re painful.” I admit, and I lean back against the sink unit to take the weight off them.

“So what’s your story now? It’s been absolute ages since I’ve seen you. Where are you living?”

“Fitzwilliam Square.” I say, and then cringe in anticipation of her reaction. She boggles her eyes and makes an astonished face, just like everybody else who hears.

“That’s so fancy, oh my god. What’s the rent on that?”

“Three hundred.” I say, hoping the conversation will move on quickly so I don’t have to get into the whole thing about it. It’s Claire’s dad’s property, and it’s not the whole building, it’s just the top two floors. There was a couple living there before we moved in, and when he evicted them for vague reasons both he and Claire acted like that was a totally normal thing to do, so I went along with it. I usually like to leave all that out now that I’ve learned that unlawful eviction is not okay, actually, and that for most people in this city, the term “Landlord” is synonymous with the words “Filthy, Diseased Bin Rat.” Happily though, Jen just muses about how cheap that sounds, and then moves on.

“And did you get into art college in the end?”

“I did! I’m in NCAD.”

“Oh, sick. Same as Michelle.”

I turn to the other girl, who’s waiting patiently for Jen to wrap up, smiling blandly at me while she dries her hands with toilet roll, since none of the hand dryers are ever working in these places.

“Shell.” Jen prompts. “Do you remember Evie?”

“I don’t.” She says in her soft, feminine voice. “Sorry, have we met before?”

“Kind of.” I shrug, wishing to avoid getting into the where and whens of our last encounter. “It was ages ago though, don’t worry.”

“She was at Jude’s going away party.” Jen informs her, and I have to turn away from her, his name like a blade in my gut. I have to resist the urge to wince. I start messing with my hair in the mirror again.

“That was literal years ago.” I say tightly. “No worries if you can’t remember me. I can’t really remember you either.”

“I’m sorry, I actually don’t.” Michelle says. “That’s probably really bad, but thinking back, like, there were loads of people there, and like you said it was ages ago.”

“No worries.” I repeat.

“So you’re a friend of his?”

“Not really.”

“You were.” Jen says defensively, then to Michelle: “She was. They were close that summer.”

“I knew him for a few months, and now I don’t know him anymore.” I say brusquely. For some reason my hands are shaking as I try to stuff my makeup back into my bag, and my spine feels like it’s made from steel cable.

“I didn’t know you fell out.” Jen says with a frown. “Did something happen?”

“Nothing happened, he just obviously wasn’t bothered about me, so…”

“He never mentioned that to me.”

I sigh loudly. Of course he didn’t. I’m sure he never talked about me at all, not even once. ‘Well,” I say shakily. “It’s better that we don’t talk anymore, I’ve been too busy, and like I said, we hardly knew each other, so actually, it’d be weird if we stayed in touch. We both have other priorities.”

“You know he used to be my boyfriend.” Michelle tells me, I don’t look at her, but I can see her leaning into the sink in my periphery, watching me as I drop my eyeliner pencil and let it roll into the basin. “I know how he is. Or was. He was so immature, and I don’t think he really cared about anybody but himself, so like, if he was a dickhead to you or hurt your feelings-”

“Nah we weren’t that close.” I insist. “We just hung out sometimes and then he moved away, it was nothing.”

“Oh.” She watches me attempt to zip up my bag with increasing frenzy, and I know that she doesn’t believe me.

“Anyway.” I say, flinging it over my shoulder. “So nice to see you both again, but I’m going to go back to my friends.” I flounce out of the bathroom, but instead of turning right and going back to the bar, I swing left and head out to the smoking area, pushing through the doors into the freezing air, which flings shards of ice at my face and my bare arms and legs. I want some air, but actually, the air out there is the furthest thing from fresh. I stand there shivering, looking into the faces of all of the people out there with me, trying to deduct which one has the least threatening aura, and would be most likely to let me bum a cigarette just so I can do something with my trembling hands.

Prev // Next

#sims #sims 4 #ts4 #simlit #sims 4 story #sims story #writing #fiction #romance #sims 4 storytelling #sims4 storytelling #sims storytelling #lucky girl part 2

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hufflepuffronstan · 2 years ago

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#9 Bounce and #10 Scream @hinnymicrofic ❤

Harry ran his hands through his hair for the millionth time. It was not an easy task.

To be fair, it was not his fault!

Ginny had asked him if he could manage by himself for a couple of hours since she had a couple of errands to run for her former teammate’s wedding.

He had shrugged and said yes. It might have been his whole demeanor, she had pressed on, her eyebrows raised in apprehension, saying that she could ask Molly to drop by.

Now, Harry did not have a fragile ego. He did not. But Ginny doubting his ability to take care of his own kids had bruised it a little. He was an auror, he had been through a war. He did not need anyone's help to look after three little kids, thank you.

How hard could it be, he had naively thought.

And that's how he came into this predicament which, you could say, was essentially Ginny's fault.

If she hadn't come up with the suggestion of involving his mother-in-law, he would have been fine.

The kids were well behaved, and they were all having fun for half an hour after Ginny left.

Then things took a quick downturn when Harry left them alone (for less than five minutes) for a quick trip to the bathroom.

First thing he saw was James and Al fighting over a toy car. James was screaming on top of his lungs and Al was howling and crying.

In hindsight, he should have known this would happen because Al was having fun abandoning the toys in his hand in favor of the ones in his brother's. James, being the older brother, would give in and start playing with something else. Then it would happen again and again and again and there was only so much an eight-year-old James' patience could handle.

He broke them apart and asked them to stay in two different corners of the room, giving them a stern piece of his mind.

Once that was settled, he went looking for Lily.

He was sure he lost at least a year of his life when he saw four-year-old Lily resting on top of the bookshelf in the living room. How she got there, he had no idea.

He should have known better than to take her "Yes daddy, you can go. I'll stay here with the Miss Bella" seriously. But he fell for her word when she blinked her wide eyes at him.

"Lily, dear, can you jump into my arms? Daddy will catch you; I promise."

Harry was sweating, his heart was beating fast.

"Nope." She replied cheerfully.

He shouldn't have been surprised by that too because, for some reason, she had a proclivity for climbing -whether it was stairs or furniture or people, it didn't matter. She climbed anything and everything and dangled upside-down from them, like a jungle-monkey.

"Don't you want to come down? You, Bella and Daddy can have a tea party."

"Tea parties are boring." She replied, dryly.

Merlin! He used to love her little stubborn streak but now he couldn't remember why.

"Please, Lily, darling just jump. I will catch you and-” he was not proud that he was resorting to bribery, but situation demanded “-I promise I will give you anything you want."

Lily seemed to contemplate for a second.

"Okay. But.... You have to let me put makeup on you."

“Um-yes”

“And you’ll have to wear a dress.”

“Oh-kay”

“And the bouncy, blonde, barbie wig!” She finished enthusiastically.

“Noo.”

“But Daddy, you promised.”

“Fine!” He rolled his eyes.

“Yaayy!!” Lily shouted enthusiastically and jumped without another thought.

Harry, thanks to his reflexes, caught her. He peppered kisses on her face in relief as she giggled.

He turned around to see Al and James looking at him.

“You’ll understand when you get old.” He grumbled.

Ginny came home after a few hours.

“How was your day, guys? Had fun?”

“We had so much fun, didn’t we guys?” Harry asked overenthusiastically, looking at the boys.

Al nodded while James replied, “Dad was so entertaining.” with a smirk on his face.

“Daddy is going to be a Princess!” Lily chimed in.

Ginny looked at Harry squirming and seemed thrilled.

“Oh is that so, sweetheart?” She asked Lily.

Lily nodded, “Yeah and he’s going to be so pretty.”

“I’m sure he is, Lily-lu!“ She bopped her daughter’s nose.

Ginny walked to Harry with a twinkle in her eyes, “Seems like you had an exciting day, husband. Tell me, how did our daughter convince you to become a Princess?”

“Oh, it is nothing.” He tried to shrug it off but Ginny seemed to have caught him.

“Ooh, it’s getting even more interesting.” She slid a finger up his arm and he struggled to stay still. “Now I have to know.”

Harry groaned, resting his head on her shoulder, “It’s a long story and your daughter is evil.”

Ginny chuckled, “Well, what can I say? She learnt from the best.”

#hinny microfic #hinny #harry x ginny #harry potter #ginny weasley #ginny x harry #james sirius potter #albus severus potter #lily luna potter

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stardustshelb · 1 year ago

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"Strawberry" Part Five

TW: Language

Word count: 7,999

Chapter Thirteen

I finished applying my lipstick in the bathroom mirror when I heard my phone vibrate on the counter. My heart fluttered when I thought it’d be Josh telling me they were on their way, but instead it was Kenneth’s name on the screen. My heart sank.

Kenneth: “Are you alive? I haven’t heard from you in a while.”

Me: “All good here! How is everything with you?”

Kenneth: “Good. I’m ready for you to come home.” I hesitated on what to reply back to his message. I was so not ready to come home, but I knew my return was inevitable.

Me: “Only two more days.” I replied with a sad face emoji. Of course, I was sad because I only had two days left of freedom, fun, and Joshua. I wasn’t ready to return back to the same loneliness I feel in Oklahoma. Just then, I got a notification of a text from Plagiarism.

Plagiarism: “We are heading your way now.” I smiled and held the message down to “love” it before taking one final look in the mirror. I was so nervous to meet his friends, well–brothers–but I was even more nervous about how the girls were going to behave tonight. I turned the bathroom light off, stuck my phone in my jean backpocket, and made my way into the living room where the girls were all hanging out. Despite the fact that we were literally staying home for the evening, that didn’t stop Abby from wearing a multi-color sequin mini dress that was so tight I wondered how she was able to sit down, let alone breathe. I opted for a more comfortable approach in my ripped jeans and cropped t-shirt. Brooke was in a casual maxi dress; Maddie was in jean shorts and a Nashville t-shirt that she must have picked up on this trip. Riley was back in her “BRIDE” white velour tracksuit from her travel day. When she put it on, she exclaimed, “Even though we’re staying in, it’s still my bachelorette party. I have to dress the part!” We definitely didn’t look like we were all dressed for the same occasion.

“What time will the pizzas be here?” Madie asked.

“In about an hour,” Abby replied. Of course she volunteered to buy all of the pizzas and refused to accept Venmo from us. She had an unlimited budget and I wasn’t going to argue because it kept me from spending the last of my money. I guess she wanted to be Saint Domino’s for the night.

I did one last walk through the Airbnb to make sure everything was perfect for the boys’ arrival. There wasn’t going to be enough room at the dining room table for all of us, so we took the pillows and blankets from our bedrooms to make the living room floor more comfortable as a hangout spot. The deck of cards for our drinking games and coasters for our glasses were neatly displayed on top of the living room table. I still couldn’t fight the anxious feeling building inside of me. My mind was racing with hypothetical, worst case scenarios. I definitely was going to need to take a shot or something as soon as the boys got here with the booze. I just needed to relax.

“Welcome, come in!” I said nervously as I opened the door for our secretly famous guests. Once I saw Josh’s smile, a calmness washed over me. The effect he has on me can only be credited to magic. He walked past me and gently rubbed his hand on my shoulder as a subtle greeting. Even with just his light touch, electricity surged through my veins. I got a whiff of his cologne and almost floated through the air like you see in the cartoons. In his arms were brown paper sacks no doubt full of bottles of the poison he picked for tonight. Behind him followed the three best looking guys I have ever seen. Seriously, why was every member in this band so damn good looking? Were they even real? I tried not to appear star-struck as Jake, Danny, and Sam entered the Airbnb–each of them also held brown paper sacks. It looked like there was enough alcohol between them to host a big frat party.

Josh pulled my arm close to him and said, “Guys, this is Strawberry.” I immediately felt my face get hot. It just hit me that we’d been playing the no-name-game and now I was going to have to continue it with an audience of people who weren’t in on the joke.

“Who the hell is Strawberry?” I heard Abby’s voice ask. Shit.

“It’s a nickname,” I said, trying to think of what to say.

“Well, obviously because your name is—” Abby was saying.

“I call her Strawberry,” Josh interrupted.

“Nice to meet you, Strawberry. I’m Sam,” he said as he pulled me into a hug. I wrapped my arms around him and felt him squeeze me tight. I liked him.

“I’m Danny,” he said, giving a nervous wave to the group accompanied by a soft smile.

“Jake,” he said with no smile. I remembered his serious disposition when he was the assistant on the plane. I got the vibe that he didn’t want to be here, but maybe he was just hard to read.

I took a turn introducing all of the girls one-by-one to the guys. Oddly enough, even when I said each of their names, Josh never looked at anyone but me. I tried to act like I didn’t notice his stare, but I could feel my knees getting weaker by the second.

“I want to take a shot with the bride!” Sammy yelled as he made his way to the kitchen with his arms full of bags. I grabbed Riley’s hand and pulled her along behind him. The guys followed suit and started unpacking their purchases. Bottles of beer, wine, and liquor started to plague the countertop space.

“We brought a little of everything because we weren’t sure what you guys would like,” Danny said with an adorable smile.

“I like it all,” Abby said as she scooted closer to him. I watched Danny’s nervous eyes flash to the counter as he slowly shifted his body away from hers. Yep, I liked him too.

“And for a little taste of home,” Josh said as he started to pull out a bottle with a label that I knew all too well. My eyes got wide as I recognized the bottle of bourbon in his hands. Riley immediately turned her neck to look at me; her shocked expression matched mine.

“Uh, not big bourbon fans?” Josh asked nervously when he noticed our reactions.

“How did you find Oklahoma bourbon in Tennessee?” I asked.

“This is the reason why we were in Oklahoma,” Josh said, tilting the bottle in the air.

“I’m not following,” I said.

“The business meeting in OKC was with this brand. We are partnering with them,” Jake interrupted.

“What do you guys do?” Maddie asked. I couldn’t focus on the elaborate lies that the boys were now feeding the girls about their made-up professions because I could only focus on the bottle of bourbon in Josh’s hands. The same brand of bourbon that sits on my shelves back home. The same brand of bourbon that Kenneth drinks. The same brand of bourbon that pays my bills. The same brand of bourbon that shares what is supposed to be my future last name. The same brand of bourbon that Kenneth’s family business makes. What the actual fuck was going on?

“Can I see you for a minute?” I heard as I felt Riley squeeze on my arm which pulled me from my thoughts. I followed her out of the kitchen and into the empty dining room.

“Does he know that’s Kenneth’s bourbon?” Riley asked in a whisper.

“Of course not!” I said in almost a yell. I couldn’t whisper even if I had wanted to. I couldn’t believe what was happening.

“How? Why? What?” Riley asked, throwing her hands up frantically.

“I can’t tell him he’s about to do business with my–!” I hissed.

“Is everything ok?” I heard Josh’s voice suddenly ring through my ears.

“Yes,” I heard Riley say as she turned me around to face him. “We just weren’t sure how our local brand of bourbon would make its way to you,” she added.

“We wanted to partner with a US-based distillery and this is our favorite brand of bourbon. We tried it once on tour and it changed our lives. We are in the works of collaborating with the company to become ambassadors for their brand,” he said.

“So this means you’ll be in Oklahoma again?” I asked.

“Yes, it means we’ll make a couple more trips,” he said with a smirk. I felt Riley squeeze my arm again.

“Well, I don’t know about Strawberry here, but I am not a bourbon fan. I’m going to find Sam who owes me that shot,” Riley said as she made her way out of the room to leave us alone. She turned around to look at me over Josh’s shoulder to mouth “Oh my God” before exiting the room.

“When will you be back in Oklahoma?” I asked. Josh pulled out his phone to check his calendar. I studied his face as his eyes moved through the many dates on his app. No doubt that he was always busy.

“We are set to come back at the end of next month,” he said, double-checking his dates.

“Were you going to tell me?” I said.

“I wasn’t sure,” Josh admitted. My heart sank.

“You were going to fly back to Oklahoma City, be less than two hours from me, and keep that a secret?” I asked, trying to mask the hurt in my voice.

“I don’t want to mess up anything in your personal life. It’s different being here,” he said.

“So you planned to cut ties with me the second I flew home,” I said.

“That’s not fair,” Josh said. Before I could respond, I jumped at the sound of glass shattering from the kitchen.

“Shit, I’m so sorry!” Maddie yelled. I pushed my way past Josh and headed into the kitchen to find a busted bottle of what smelled like tequila all over the kitchen floor. Pieces of glass and liquid were everywhere.

“Nobody move!” I commanded as I made my way to the storage closet in the hallway to grab towels and a broom. The last thing I wanted was to make an ER trip because someone had cut their foot open. When I returned back to the scene of the accident, Josh was kneeling on the ground and had already started picking up the large pieces of glass.

“Good thing we brought another bottle of tequila,” Sam said, lightening the mood.

“I’m so sorry,” Maddie said again.

“It’s really ok,” Sam said as he stuck a lime wedge in his mouth to give her a fruit-filled smile. I liked how he was able to dust things off as no big deal. I wished I could be more like that.

“Fuck,” I heard Josh say. I looked down to see he had accidentally cut the palm of his hand while collecting the glass.

“Let me clean this up,” Riley said as she grabbed the towels and broom from me. “There’s a first aid kit under the sink in the guest bathroom. Go make sure Josh is ok,” she said.

“I’m a nurse!” Brooke chimed in. “I can doctor him up,” she said.

“Just rub some tequila on it. You’ll be fine,” Jake said with a laugh. It was the first time I had seen him smile. Like his brother, he had a radiant smile.

“I’m fine,” Josh added as he stood up and made his way to the sink. I watched him wash the blood from his palm and it made me feel nauseated. Even though I was a teacher who had witnessed many nosebleeds in my classroom, dealing with blood was not in my wheelhouse. I left the room to grab the first aid kit for Brooke to mend Josh’s hand. Or, maybe I left the room to get away from the sight of blood. Both were true in this case.

“Party foul!” Abby yelled from the living room. I rolled my eyes as I walked past her and made my way into the bathroom. I got on my knees and opened the cabinet under the sink to look for the kit that Riley claimed was there. I saw fresh linen towels, bathroom cleaning supplies, but no first aid kit. I kept looking when I jumped at the sound of his voice.

“I really am fine,” he said. I stopped my search and looked up to see him standing in the doorway. He had a wad of paper towels clenched in a tight fist.

“Riley said it was in here,” I said, turning my attention back to the cabinet. Josh stepped more into the bathroom and shut the door, closing the two of us inside. I tried to ignore his presence and focus on the task of finding the kit. Alas, I spotted a small white container with a red cross on the lid.

“Voila!” I said holding it up. I opened the plastic box to sift through gauze, bandages, and medical tape. “Let me get Brooke,” I said as I started to stand up.

“I don’t need a nurse to put on a bandaid,” he said laughing.

“Well, I don’t do blood, so she’s your only hope,” I said, shoving the box to him.

“I feel like you’re lying just because you don’t want to talk to me,” he said, blocking the doorway.

“Well, I don’t particularly feel like talking to you at the moment, but no, I will truly get sick if I see your blood,” I said. He kept the paper towel clenched in his fist and put his wounded hand behind his back away from my line of vision.

“I don’t understand why you’re mad at me,” he said. I honestly didn’t understand either but I couldn’t let him know that. He had made it clear to me already that this was nothing serious. I was the one floundering about in a dream world that was only going to end in heartbreak for me. I understood that; I just didn’t want to accept it.

“I’m not mad. I guess I was just hurt that you didn’t want to see me again,” I said, shifting my feet.

“Oh, believe me. I do want to see you, but I don’t want to cause a disturbance in your personal life. You have a fiancé, a job, a family, really just a whole other life in Oklahoma. I don’t fit in that puzzle,” he said. I wished he wanted to. I’d create a whole new puzzle to make his piece fit with mine.

“You’re right,” I said with a sigh.

“Let’s just enjoy the time we have left, ok?” He said as he closed the space between us. I couldn’t bring myself to look him in the eyes because I didn’t want my sadness to show.

“I better get back out there,” I said.

“What’s the rush?” He asked, moving closer to me so that our bodies were mere centimeters apart. His enticing scent consumed me.

“I’m not hooking up with you in the bathroom while your hand is bleeding,” I said with a laugh.

“Can you at least kiss me in the bathroom while my hand is bleeding?” He asked. I finally met his eyes. He was smiling and I wanted nothing more than to kiss him. But I wasn’t sure what I wanted from him now. I felt the need to protect my feelings.

“We’ll see,” I said as I moved around him, ignoring his advances. I put my hand on the doorknob when I felt his arm wrap around my waist.

“Come here,” he said, pulling me to him. I tried to stand firm but my subconscious craved his touch. As if I had no control over my body, I allowed him to hold me close. I took a deep breath and felt myself melt into him. This intimacy, this closeness, this connection… How could he not feel it too?

“I have to pee!” Abby’s voice rang from the other side of the bathroom door. I let go of Josh and looked up into his eyes. They appeared darker than normal. Like he felt conflicted by something but wouldn’t dare to admit.

“Coming!” I said, pulling myself away from his hold. At that moment, it was as if I pulled a part of him away with me. I watched his adam's apple move as he swallowed his unspoken sadness.

Chapter Fourteen

“Never have I ever been arrested,” Danny said with a smirk. We all looked around the circle to see Sam was the only one to put a finger down.

“Oh shit!” Riley yelled out. “Take a drink!” Sam flipped Danny off as he took a sip from his bottle of tequila. I was enjoying my second glass of wine while sitting between my best friend and my lover. We had polished off the pizza that Abby ordered and now we were playing our first round of drinking games. Life was good on the living room floor.

“Never have I ever had a sibling,” Riley voiced when it was her turn.

“Nice,” I said as we touched our glasses like we were making a toast. Being only children was something we had in common and was one of the reasons we got along so well. We were each other’s chosen sisters. Everyone else in the room put a finger down. I had the most fingers still up which was only an embarrassing indicator that everyone else had lived more fulfilling lives than me. It was now my turn and I was trying to think of something that would wipe people out.

“Never have I ever been pulled over,” I said. Fingers went down across the room except for Danny and Maddie. “Drink up!” I said as I raised my glass to everyone else.

“Never have I ever gone to college,” Josh said with a shrug. Every girl in the room put a finger down and the guys cheered as we all had to take a drink.

“Never have I ever been engaged,” Abby said with a tone that I could have slapped her for. It was obviously directed at Riley and me as everyone else in the room was obviously unmarried. Did she pick up on the vibes between Josh and me? What was she trying to prove? Riley and I both put a finger down and in that moment, I realized I wasn’t even wearing my ring.

“Ok, that was targeted,” Riley said. “Helloooo? It’s my fucking bachelorette weekend!” Everyone laughed but I noticed a rigid shift in Jake’s body language when I put my finger down. He was staring at Josh with a look I couldn’t quite place, but he looked pissed. Sam had one finger left and the look on Jake’s face showed he was done playing the game.

“Never have I ever eaten tofu,” Jake said with a raise of his glass in Sam’s direction.

“Ah, man, come on!” Sam said as he put his last finger down.

“Loserrrrrrr!” Abby drunkenly yelled out. “Chug! Chug! Chug!” She began to chant. While everyone in the room watched Sam take a shot straight from the bottle, I saw Jake get up from the circle and make his way into the kitchen. Josh gave me a wink before he jumped up to follow his brother. I wondered what discussion was about to take place; what I would have given to be a fly on the wall to have heard it.

When they made their way back into the room to join the party, I could sense something was off with Josh. They hadn’t been gone very long, and I’m sure nobody even noticed their absence because Sam was now shuffling the cards for a new game. Josh noticed my empty wine glass and grabbed it without saying a word. He returned back to the kitchen and I hesitated on whether I should have followed him or not. But the stern look on Jake’s face was almost like a warning to stay away from Josh, so I stayed put.

“Everyone needs six cards,” Sam stated as he started to deal out the deck of cards. Josh returned with a now full glass of wine for me and I accepted it. I tried to read his face but it was impossible. He took his seat next to me and I reached out to touch his hand, but he pulled it away before I had the opportunity. He reached out for his cards from Sam and then I did the same.

I couldn’t focus on the rules of the game that Sam was half-ass explaining. I was too fixated on the sudden change in Josh’s mood after his talk with Jake. Something was clearly off about him and I wanted to know what was going on.

“Did you get that?” Riley leaned over and asked me.

“Huh?” I said.

“Were you listening to the rules?” She asked.

“Oh, yeah,” I said. That wasn’t even close to being true. I had no idea what game we were playing because I wasn’t paying any attention.

“Ok… Then why are you still holding all six of your cards?” Riley asked with a puzzled expression. I looked around to see everyone had laid one of their cards face down in front of them. I had no idea what the point of the game was, so I just pulled one from my pile and placed it in front of me.

“Ok, one… two… flip!” Sam yelled. All at once, everyone turned their chosen card over. I followed suit even though I didn’t have a clue as to what game we were playing.

“Strawberry, why the hell did you play two of hearts?” Danny asked while laughing.

“I–I don’t know,” I said, visibly confused

“Ok, you obviously lost. Drink!” Abby yelled. I still had no idea what the fuck I was supposed to be doing, so I just drank my wine.

Josh leaned over to whisper in my ear, “You were supposed to play your highest card that round.” Wonderful. I probably looked dumb as hell.

All of a sudden, Sam jumped up and started singing, “Two of hearts, two hearts that beat as one. Two of hearts…” into his bottle of tequila now disguised as a makeshift microphone. And like two peas in a pod, Danny jumped up to dance with him singing background vocals: “I need you, I need you.” The two of them definitely stole everyone’s attention as they performed the 80’s hit in the living room. It was nice to see both Josh and Jake smiling again. I wished Danny and Sam knew how grateful I was for them at this moment. They brought a kind of energy that I wished I could bottle up and harvest as my own.

The boys’ performance distracted everyone from the card game that I never actually learned the rules to, so I could tell the night was winding down. I was actually feeling a little tired and I just wanted to be alone with Josh. I could tell he was still a little off compared to his normal self, but I decided to wait until we were alone to talk to him about it.

I finished my glass of wine and then started cleaning up the Airbnb while everyone was hanging out in the living room. Everybody seemed to have a good buzz; I was thankful nobody got absolutely shitfaced. Nothing ruins a party quicker than someone who needs a babysitter, bodyguard, or both. I made my way into the kitchen to start throwing away empty pizza boxes and putting dirty dishes in the dishwasher. We didn’t even touch half of the alcohol that the boys brought. The bottle of the Oklahoma bourbon sat half empty on the counter. I stared at it wondering if or how I could tell Josh that they were about to do business with my fiancé, or maybe soon-to-be ex-fiancé. I knew my third glass of wine had me feeling bold when the possibility of me leaving Kenneth crossed my mind.

“Need a hand?” I heard a somewhat unfamiliar voice ask. I turned to see Jake standing in the entryway of the kitchen.

“Sure, thank you,” I said, trying not to look too surprised to see him. I continued to load the dishwasher with dirty plates and glasses. He walked into the kitchen and stood next to me.

“Here,” he said as he handed me his empty glass. I recognized the smell of the bourbon immediately.

“Thanks,” I said as I grabbed it. I could tell he was wanting to talk to me because he wasn’t actually doing any cleaning. I held my breath until he finally had the courage to speak.

“I know you don’t know me, but I know my brother. He’s the most important person in my life. So what I’m about to say to you, I ask that you keep that in mind,” he started. I continued holding my breath because I didn’t like the sound of where this was going. “I think you two don’t need to spend the night together.”

I didn’t have any more dirty dishes left in the sink to place in the dishwasher, but I felt like I needed something to occupy myself while I tried to process Jake’s words. I started twisting all of the caps on the bottles of liquor and placing them back in the brown paper bags. He continued to speak, “It’s not a good idea for either of you, especially given your situation. I know Josh’s views on marriage, and while I don’t share those same views, I think he should respect other people’s commitments.”

“I’m not married,” I finally spoke.

“No, but you are engaged to be,” he added. “And I am not judging you at all. I don’t know you or your situation, but I do know my brother. I’m just afraid he’s going to get hurt.” I was shocked at this admission. Jake thought Josh was the one going to be hurt? He had no clue. Josh was the one keeping his guard up and setting clear boundaries with me. It was me who was practically sick over the idea of never seeing him again in a mere couple of days.

“I really appreciate you talking to me about this. I can see how much you care about him,” I began. “Your brother has taught me more about myself in these past few days than I would have ever learned on my own. And while I dread going back home and saying goodbye to him, I am thankful for the time that we have had together. I value your opinion, but I’m not ready to cut that time short.”

“And you don’t have to,” Josh’s voice interrupted. I quickly turned around to find that he had been eavesdropping on my conversation with Jake. I wondered how much he had heard.

“I was just relaying to Strawberry what I had already talked with you about,” Jake said while holding his arms up like he had been caught doing something illegal.

“We are both consenting adults capable of making our own decisions,” Josh said.

“I understand that. I just wanted you both to hear where I’m coming from,” Jake added. He started collecting the unopened beer bottles from the fridge and placing them back in the empty cardboard drink carriers. I dried my hands and left the two of them alone to finish their conversation, even though it seemed like Josh didn’t want to be there. I walked back into the living room to find Abby on her phone, Maddie and Danny were deep into a conversation about music, Riley was braiding Brooke’s hair, and Sam was picking up the playing cards off the floor.

“I think Jake packed up all of the booze, so I guess the party's over,” I said with a nervous laugh.

“Are y’all good to drive?” Riley asked.

“Y’all,” Sam imitated her southern accent with a laugh. “Sorry,” he shyly added when he realized what he had just done.

“Yes, I am good to drive,” Danny added, giving a somewhat stern look to Sam.

“Josh is staying here, right?” Sam asked.

“Why would Josh stay here?” Abby asked. I immediately looked at Sam to communicate that he had just fucked up.

“I joke, I joke,” Sam added with a wild laugh. I glanced at Riley who shot me a confused look. I could tell she was trying to think of a way to cover for Sam’s blunder but was drawing a blank.

“Do you need us to take the trash out?” Danny asked while standing up.

“No, I think we’re good. We appreciate it though,” Maddie said. I could see she was blushing. It was easy to see why. Danny was one of the most handsome men I had ever laid eyes on. He could have been a Greek God in a past life. I felt my phone vibrate in my back pocket. I grabbed it to read a text from Plagiarism: “I’m going to help load the car up and I’ll come back inside when everyone is gone.”

“You guys ready?” Jake said as he entered the living room. Josh was standing behind him carrying two sacks of alcohol. I subtly waved my phone at him to indicate that I had seen his text. Now we just had to play the waiting game until the girls went to bed which hopefully would be soon. I was sick of playing games–figuratively and literally.

Chapter Fifteen

After what felt like waiting for an eternity but was probably closer to 30 minutes, I texted Josh to let him know it was time for him to come back. I sent “The coast is clear” as I waited for him by the front door. I had to chuckle thinking of his “we are two consenting adults” comment from earlier because we’ve been acting like two teeangers sneaking around every night. It was fun and thrilling in the most ridiculous way possible. Even though we had spent all evening in each other’s presence, I didn’t feel like we had any alone time. I was looking forward to spending the night together with nobody around to interfere. I locked the front door and I reached for his hand.

“This one is wounded, remember?” Josh said while switching hands so I was now holding the unbandaged one. “I could have bled to death and you wouldn’t have lifted a finger,” he said dramatically as he held up his free hand.

“You literally refused help from a medical professional, so your blood is on your hands…Literally,” I said with a laugh. We quietly walked down the hallway until we got to my bedroom. I made sure to be the one to shut the door and lock it so we wouldn’t have any surprise guests again in the morning.

“Are you and Jake good?” I asked as we sat on the edge of my bed.

“Yes, of course,” he said as he turned his body to face mine.

“I can tell you mean a lot to him. I couldn’t imagine having a twin. Hell, I don’t even know what it’s like to have a sibling!” I said with a shrug. Growing up as an only child wasn’t the worst thing to happen to me, but not having a sibling definitely contributed to the loneliness in which I feel now.

“Jake knows me better than anyone, so I will always listen to his guidance. But I also needed him to realize that I am free to make my own choices,” he said as the corners of his mouth turned to smile. I got a flashback to my conversation with Riley from earlier today when we made up. I knew exactly what he meant.

“Did you guys have a good time tonight? It went better than I expected, honestly,” I said.

“Oh yeah, I think so. I mean, I was secretly wishing we would have called it a night hours ago,” he said with a smirk. “I would have rather been with you right here the whole night.” I bit my lip trying to hide my smile. I wanted nothing more than to kiss him, but our conversation from earlier still lingered in the back of my mind.

“So,” I paused. “This bourbon partnership…”

“Yes?” Josh asked, waiting for me to continue. I wanted to be honest with him but I also didn’t want to interfere with his life more than I already had. He planned never to see me again after I left, so would it even matter to him?

“I’m very familiar with that brand,” I said while nervously smoothing my hands across the bed.

“Oh? I thought you weren’t much of a bourbon fan?” He said laughing. “You really should give it a try. It’s the best, smoothest one I’ve ever had. It’s why we’re so passionate about collaborating with them.”

“Yeah, I actually–” I began when Josh’s phone started to ring.

“Who the hell is calling me at one a.m.?” He asked as he reached over to grab his phone off the nightstand. He checked the screen and then whispered, “Sorry, I need to take this.” He jumped up off the bed and made his way to the corner of the room. He was still in earshot, but I didn’t see who had called him.

“What are you talking about?” Josh asked the mystery caller. I panicked watching him pace back and forth across the front of the room. I could sense something was wrong.

“What TikTok?” He questioned. TikTok? I continued to watch him pace until he stopped and rubbed his hand over his face.

“I mean, we partied with some friends tonight but nobody did anything worth getting upset over,” he said into the phone. I wished I knew what was going on. I was trying to put pieces together but it was difficult with only hearing one part of the conversation. I had the idea to do some investigating myself. I grabbed my phone off the nightstand and I opened TikTok. I searched for Greta Van Fleet and scrolled until I could find anything remotely getting upset about at one in the morning.

“It’s not a big deal,” Josh said with a sigh. “Maybe we can have her take it down.” I watched him as he rubbed the back of his neck. My heart started to race. What was he talking about? Who was he talking about?

“Yeah, it’s always all over Twitter,” Josh said with another deep sigh. I immediately closed out of my TikTok app and opened Twitter to see if I could find what he was talking about. I searched for Greta Van Fleet and my eyes couldn’t believe what they were seeing. There was a video of Sam and Danny singing “Two of Hearts” clearly taken in our Airbnb living room from earlier. To make matters worse, you could see me sitting between Riley and Josh in the background for a brief moment. Bewildered, I read several hundred tweets that posted the video or screenshots from it. No, no, no, no, this cannot be happening. I skimmed through tweets as I felt my blood getting cold. People had screenshotted the glimpse of Riley and me from the video and posted our picture with comments such as, “Who are these bitches?!” and “Anyone know who these girls are?” I started to feel ill as I realized my face was circulating around different forms of social media.

I racked my brain trying to figure out who posted it because I couldn’t remember anyone being on their phone. I studied the angle and background of the video until it hit me: Abby must have recorded this and posted it. I noticed a TikTok username in the video, so I went back to my TikTok app to search for her account directly. Once I found her profile, I could see this latest video had over 10,000 views yet it hadn’t even been up for two hours. The caption read “Wild night in Nashville with Danny and Sam” and the comments were full of Greta Van Fleet fans clearly losing their shit. There was no way Abby knew who they were, right?

I wanted to bust up into Abby’s room to kill her, but I figured that would just make things worse being charged with murder and all. I was going to demand that she delete the video, but I knew I would need Riley’s assistance because I doubted Abby would do anything I asked. I jumped up from the bed to go wake Riley up. When I started to make my way out of the room, Josh reached out and grabbed my arm.

“Hey, I gotta go,” he said into the phone. “Yeah, yeah, it will be alright,” he said again before hanging up. I stayed there in his grasp but as soon as he put his phone in his pocket, I started to move again.

“Slow down, where are you going?” Josh asked.

“I’m going to get Riley so she can kick Abby’s ass!” I practically yelled.

“Nobody needs their ass kicked,” Josh said, pulling me close to him.

“Actually, Abby could use a good one,” I said while my face was buried into his chest. “We literally talked about how nobody needed to post on social media before you guys got here.”

“Our management team is mad, but nobody in the band is. Not even Jake, surprisingly,” Josh said with a light laugh. I pulled away from him so I could study his face.

“What does your team say?” I asked.

“Well, besides the fact that we were clearly hanging out in a living room with random girls, they are most concerned about the bottle of tequila in Sam’s hand,” he said with a shrug.

“What? You guys aren’t allowed to drink on camera or something?” I asked as my eyebrows furrowed.

“No, I believe that ship has sailed,” he said with a laugh. “It’s just we are in the works to launch that bourbon collaboration so now my team is worried about Sam holding a bottle of another brand of alcohol. I think they’re reading too much into it,” Josh said as he rubbed my forearms. Shit, I didn’t even think about that. I wasn’t sure how much detective work their fans would do analyzing the video, but I’m sure the fiancée of the bourbon company’s owner being in the video would be the icing on the cake. If the company even sees the video, I just hope it doesn’t make its way up the chain of command because Kenneth will recognize Riley and me instantly.

“I need to go talk to Riley,” I said as I started to pull away.

“Wait,” Josh said, not letting me go.

“Josh, Riley and I are in the background of the video. We need it to be taken down before someone identifies us,” I said.

“I hate to tell you this, Strawberry, but I’m sure some of our fans already found out your family tree, place of employment, and blood type,” he said with a laugh. “Even if Abby deletes it, the video is online forever.” I wasn’t laughing. Instead, I felt like I was going to puke. With all of my might, I pulled away from Josh’s embrace and marched out the bedroom door to find Riley’s room.

“I’m gonna kill Abby!” I yelled as I entered her bedroom and turned on the lights.

“What the fuck?” Riley yelled as she pulled the covers over her eyes.

“Get the bail money ready because I’m going to jail tonight for kicking Abby’s ass!” I said as I made my way over to her bed with my phone in my hand. I pulled Riley’s covers off of her and shoved my phone in her face.

“Look at this shit!” I yelled again. I watched Riley’s expression go from confused to enraged as she watched the “Two of Hearts” performance on TikTok.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Abby said through gritted teeth.

“Josh’s management team called him about it. It’s all over TikTok, Twitter, probably more. I’ve already seen several tweets with screenshots of our faces wanting to know who these bitches are!” I exclaimed.

“Who are these bitches calling a bitch?” Riley asked as she started to get out of bed. I bit my tongue because I was too mad to laugh at her right now.

“I need you to take care of this with Abby because I will kill her,” I said.

“I can’t believe she would do this,” Riley said, making her way to leave the room.

“I can,” I said under my breath. I left Riley’s bedroom to return back to Josh who was waiting in mine. I left the bedroom door open so we could hopefully hear Riley confront Abby.

“I promise it’s not a big deal,” Josh said while sitting on the bed.

“It is to me,” I said as I got closer to the doorway to try to hear their conversation better. I was a little annoyed that Josh wasn’t as concerned about the video like I was, but I guess he’s used to his every move being watched and scrutinized by strangers. Surely he remembered what it was like before he was famous. Then again, from the limited research I did on the band, it seemed like this is the life he’s had ever since he was a teenager. I continued to eavesdrop even though it was hard to make out what the girls were saying. Suddenly, I heard the voices getting louder and before I knew it, Abby and Riley were in my doorway.

“What the hell is he still doing here?” Abby asked when she noticed Josh.

“Let’s start with why you posted that TikTok after we talked about not posting on social media tonight,” I responded. I would be damned if I became the one on trial.

“I didn’t think it would turn into what it did. Why didn’t anyone say these guys were–oh, I don’t know–famous?” Abby asked with a mocking tone.

“There are people online trying to figure out Riley’s and my identity right now because of this, Abby!” I exclaimed.

“I didn’t think it would get more than my usual 100 views. I didn’t know they were famous! How is that my fault?” Abby asked, still refusing to take a sliver of responsibility. I imagined myself punching her in the face. I could feel my nails digging into my palms, so I knew I needed to relax before I did something I would regret.

“It’s your fault because you posted after we asked you not to,” Riley interjected.

“Or is this really because you don’t want people to know about what’s going on here between you two?” Abby asked while waving her finger at Josh and me.

“Can I speak?” Josh voiced from behind me. I had almost forgotten he was there because I was consumed with my thoughts of strangling Abby.

“Of course,” Riley said.

“I think everyone needs to take a breath for a moment. Abby, I’m sorry we kept our band a secret. We just wanted to hangout and feel like normal people tonight. It’s not your fault that your video somehow was discovered by our fans and got shared all over the internet. Riley and Strawberry, I’m sorry your picture is now on public display. Our band will post something outrageous tomorrow and it will all be forgotten within 48 hours. You should see some of the shit Sam has saved in the drafts. I promise it will blow over in a day or two,” he said so quietly I could barely hear him. I wanted to kiss him right then and there.

“I did delete the video from TikTok,” Abby said.

“Thank you,” Josh said with a sigh of relief.

“So you’re not sorry for—” I began to say.

“Let’s all just go to bed and worry about this tomorrow,” Riley said.

“Yeah, I better get going,” Josh said as he stood up. I instantly felt my heart shatter into a million pieces.

“Are you good to walk him out and lock the front door?” Riley asked me. I was trying everything in my power not to burst into tears.

“Yes,” I said while swallowing the lump in my throat. I watched Abby and Riley leave my bedroom. I stayed turned around with my back to Josh because I didn’t want him to see me cry. Suddenly, I felt his arms wrap around my waist and his chest was against my back. He buried his face into my neck and I lost the battle of holding back my tears. I felt the warm drops of liquid make their way down my cheeks.

“Why are you leaving?” I asked while my bottom lip quivered. I still had my back to him but I knew that he knew I was crying.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to stay the night now. Tensions are high. We don’t need Abby getting the wrong idea, and–”

“Fuck Abby!” I said as I released a sob.Yep, he definitely knew I was crying now.

“I also need to make a couple phone calls to make sure this will all be smoothed over tomorrow–well, today, technically–it’s already after two,” Josh said while his forehead rested on my shoulder. I couldn’t believe our second to last night together was now ruined. I continued to cry as he held me. I felt his lips kiss my neck as he made his way up to my ear.

“Tomorrow night, I am all yours. I promise,” he said in a whisper. I lifted my hands to my face to wipe the tears away. I moved his arms from my waist and headed toward the exit of the bedroom.

“Come on, I’ll walk you out,” I said, never turning around to see his face.

I laid in bed scrolling through Twitter reading the hundreds of tweets talking about Abby’s video. Even though I felt immense amounts of sadness while I laid in bed alone, I did have to admit that some tweets made me smile. The ones about Sam and Danny especially made me laugh. Some of their fans have quite a sense of humor while some sounded like they needed to talk to a mental health professional. I kept scrolling hoping that my eyelids would get heavy and I could sleep, but I was too stressed out. I got up to get into my medicine bag to take some melatonin. It was nearly three in the morning and I wanted nothing more than to sleep this entire day off. From fighting with Riley, to fighting with Abby, and now Josh changing his mind about staying over, I was so mentally drained. I closed out all of the apps on my phone, put it on DND mode, and flipped it face down on the nightstand.

I held my pillow tight wishing it were Josh that I was holding right now. I was so tired of crying, but I felt the pillow getting soaked with my tears. I inhaled deep breaths trying to think of anything other than the fact that I would soon be losing him for good. I reminded myself that we still had one more night together, so I tried to cling to that glimmer of hope as I allowed myself to rest.

#josh kiszka #joshua michael kiszka #josh kiskza fanfic #greta van fic #greta van fleet

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alphashley14 · 1 year ago

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One of Us

A Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated/Mystery Skulls Crossover

Chapter 20

God

“Daphne? Daph, wake up.”

“Mmh? Freddy? What?” Daphne grumbled as she awoke.

“Sorry, Daph. Vivi just poked her head in and asked us to come downstairs.”

Vivi. Right. We’re at the Mystery Skulls’ mansion. Daphne sat up and yawned, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

“What time is it?” She yawned.

“A little after seven,” he replied.

Daphne groaned and plopped her head back onto the pillows. So cozy… she didn’t want to get up. Not to mention… she’d never gotten to share a bed with Fred before. The cuddling had been pretty great. If they didn’t have people expecting them and potentially life-or-death things to do, she’d happily lie in bed for another hour in his arms. But alas, life had other plans. And Fred was already stepping behind the spooky yet classy victorian dressing screen to change.

Daphne reluctantly arose and went into the bathroom to get dressed and make sure she didn’t look like hot trash. Then she and Fred met the rest of Mystery Inc. at the mouth of the East Wing, where Shaggy (still in Arthur’s body, and apparently Vivi had helped him put Arthur’s metal arm back on when she’d woken them up) was just coming out of Ricky’s room.

“Like man, he is out,” Shaggy laughed. “I like, totally couldn’t wake him up.”

“Mystery gave him something to help him sleep, so I’m not surprised,” Velma said.

“Still,” Fred said, “whatever Vivi woke us up for, it sounded important. Guess I should go in and try again.”

“Actually- no,” Velma said, looking guilty. “Let him sleep in. If it turns out to be important we can come back for him.”

“Why?” Scooby asked.

“We were both up late last night and crossed paths. He asked me-” Velma glanced at the door and finished her sentence much more quietly. “He asked me how Cassidy died.”

Daphne’s heart constricted in her chest. “Awwwww…”

“Hoh boy. And like, did you tell him?” Shaggy asked.

“Of course I did,” Velma sighed. “He didn’t say much afterward but I could tell he was really upset, and it was almost four o’clock in the morning when he finally went back to his room. So…”

“Yeah,” Fred agreed with her. “Let him sleep.”

“Let him sleep,” the others agreed unanimously.

Though it came from a place of good intentions, that was a decision that all five of them would regret very soon.

The Mystery Skulls were waiting for them in one of the lounges connected directly to the foyer, and all five of them knew at once by Vivi and Lewis’ anxious squirming that whatever they needed to be told must be very important indeed.

Mystery, the only non-fidgeting one of the three, greeted them with a nod when they entered. “Good morning, children.”

“Morning,” they all said back.

“So like… what’s going on?” Shaggy asked nervously.

“Everyone sit down first,” Lewis said, rising and briskly crossing the room to look out the window. By now, everyone was extremely concerned and rushed to do so.

“As you all know,” Vivi began, anxiously twisting her scarf, “There’s a lot we’ve been keeping from you. So much that we didn’t have time to tell you everything yesterday.”

“-Hold on,” Mystery said, straightening and looking around, mentally counting heads. “Where’s Ricky?”

“Still sleeping,” Velma said. “He was out cold from whatever you gave him and I knew he had a rough night, so I figured we’d let him sleep in.”

They realized immediately from the panicked look the Mystery Skulls shot each other that they’d made a mistake.

“Oh dear,” Mystery gulped. “Were it any other day I’d agree. But right at this moment, I really wish you hadn’t.”

“Why?” Fred asked with a hint of accusation.

“The identity of our informant,” Lewis said. “We held off on telling you with good reason.”

“There were more important things we needed to focus on yesterday and we knew that on top of everything else it would have been too much for you. Especially for Ricky,” Vivi sighed.

“So we reached the decision that we would tell you the morning of her arrival in order to lessen the shock.”

“The shock? Who is it?” Daphne asked.

They didn’t get to answer.

Because that was when the ring of the doorbell echoed throughout the house.

༻˚⁺･⚉｡○✼༓☾⦾♫෴♡💛♡෴♫⦾☽༓✼○｡⚉･⁺˚༺

Aside from its location, the Mystery Skulls’ mansion was exactly as Cassidy remembered it. Lewis really had found the perfect spot to put it. The mist and dark, twisted trees suited the gothic mansion much better than the reclusive desert canyon it had been set up in when Cassidy first met them.

They sure know how to pick spooky spots for a spooky mansion, Cassidy thought to herself. But still, she didn’t feel nearly the same level of unease now as opposed to the first time she’d approached this place. It was as if the house itself had eyes and could see her coming from a mile away. But this time it wasn’t wary of her as a stranger, it was welcoming her back as a friend.

Speaking of friends… Cassidy immediately noticed the Mystery Machine as she came out of the mist, parked right by the Mystery Skulls’ van. The last time she’d seen the kids’ van, she was getting out of it before they met Tom and Tub at the pier. That seemed like so long ago, now.

Mystery Incorporated…

She had been thinking very hard about what she was going to say to them when she saw them again. Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, and Scooby. She’d promised that she wouldn’t lie to them anymore. And then she’d gone and died on them. Sort of. Was “staying dead” considered lying? Would they understand why she’d done it? If she’d stayed, the kriegstaffebot attacks wouldn’t have stopped until they got her, but she wouldn’t have been in great condition to defend herself this time.

She would have just been a burden.

And that would have put them in danger.

So no, she didn’t regret staying away. And she hadn’t sent word to them of her survival out of fear of Pericles intercepting it. Or Ricky.

Ricky.

He’s in there.

He’s with them.

Something had driven him away from Pericles. Cassidy hadn’t thought anything could. So in what other ways had she been wrong about Ricky?

If she’d gone to him back then, would he have been on her side?

Did he miss her?

How strange it was, as Cassidy approached the haunted house, that she found herself more terrified of her ex and a bunch of kids than the actual monsters who lived there.

She parked her motorcycle behind the Mystery Machine and got off, smiling fondly at the blue, green, and orange paint. She still remembered the day Fred designed it. The van was plain white when Fred got it - a gift from Fred Jones Sr. after he passed Driver’s Ed when he was sixteen. And Fred fell in love with it instantly. After all, it was absolutely perfect for storing trap gear and driving around solving Mysteries with his friends. But Fred had never been a plain white kind of kid. On Fred, white was but a backdrop for orange and blue. And he filled the world with light and color everywhere he went. He’d sat sketching at the coffee table at K-Ghoul for hours before he finally found a design he was happy with. When he showed Cassidy, aside from being strongly reminded of the Enigma Machine, her first thoughts about Fred’s final design for the van’s new paint job and name was: It’s absurd. But it’s them. I love it.

And that’s exactly what Fred had to say about it when she asked. “I wanted to have a bit of all of my buddies on the Mystery Machine!” Fred had said with the biggest grin, so proud no matter what his Dad thought about it. “Scooby and I both wear blue, and Shaggy and Daphne both wear green. Velma always wears orange, and Daphne’s hair is orange. But I didn’t think purple looked very good in any of my designs, so the flowers are for Daphne, too. So now all of us are on the van!”

That earnest passion and that damn sunshine smile had made Cassidy love that adorable, weird kid that much more.

And now, here she was. Gathering the courage to ring the doorbell of a haunted house. Terrified of what face that boy and his friends, hardly kids anymore, would make when they realized that she’d lied to them yet again.

And Ricky…

Then before she knew it, she was ringing the doorbell.

Cassidy took a deep breath and still jumped when the door opened by itself. Because of course. It did that. How could she forget? Hands in her pockets, Cassidy strolled into the foyer, the warm pink glow of the candles contrasting with the misty light of dawn shining through the windows.

It was a little foreboding walking into the house, but now that she was here Cassidy couldn’t help but smile fondly at the memories this place evoked. It had been scary at first, but she could not have asked for kinder hosts.

At a familiar sound near the ceiling, Cassidy looked up. And no sooner than she did, she was being mobbed by half a dozen friendly pink ghosts, cheering with delight at seeing their friend again and rubbing against her for pets. Cassidy laughed and obliged them. “Hey, hey. It’s good to see you too.”

“They missed you terribly,” a familiar voice chuckled.

Cassidy turned, but by now she’d learned not to jump at this one. Mystery was standing before her in his full seven-tailed glory, so close to her that when she looked up she could feel his breath on her face as he looked down at her.

“Nice to see you too. ‘Dog, wolf, fox, whatever-you-are’,” Cassidy said.

Mystery barked a laugh at their inside joke. “Hello, Cassidy. I must say, your arrival is earlier than we anticipated.”

“You said you needed me, and the kids are involved. Which means they must need me too.” Cassidy deliberately didn’t mention Ricky. She had not come running at the news that he might be in danger. She had not.

“And the fact that Ricky has come to his senses and may be in some distress had nothing to do with it?” The kitsune implored with a raised eyebrow and a knowing smirk, as if he could read her mind. (And from what Cassidy knew about him, she wouldn’t be surprised if he could.)

Cassidy tried to maintain a poker face, but based on his fox-like laugh she knew at once that she had failed miserably at it.

“You’re a bastard, you know that?” She scowled.

“Oh don’t be like that,” Mystery chuckled. “I meant no offense. We’ve been anxious for your return.”

“Right. Because you needed me back. Not that you’d tell me why unless it’s on your terms.”

“We do need you. But we also missed you. I know I certainly did. And the Dead Beats pouted like children when we left you behind. Any music lover is welcome in this house. Lance was good to you in our absence, was he not?”

“He was,” Cassidy nodded. “I’d say I owe him big, but he doesn’t seem like the sort to accept repayment for his kindness. If we all survive this, that is.”

“The future is never certain, but I believe in our chances. Now, as for the present… the children are waiting.” Mystery motioned for a door off of the foyer, and Cassidy steeled herself and started to move forward, but Mystery blocked her path with his tails.

“There is something you must know,” the kitsune said hesitantly. “The kids- they don’t know.”

It took Cassidy a couple seconds to compute what he’d just said. When it clicked, she blew up. “YOU DIDN’T TELL THEM-” But Mystery quickly shushed her before the sound of her voice gave her away.

“-Yes, yes. We didn’t tell them. I know. I would have liked to, as well. But… something happened the night before last. Something that we are still formulating an explanation for. Even a supernatural one. And that on top of learning about us and everything else- there wasn’t enough time in a day to tell them everything and by the end of it they were exhausted. They needed to rest. And we doubted they’d be able to if they knew about you. Especially Ricky.”

“Ricky? Why?”

What Mystery said next filled Cassidy with such relief and joy that she could have cried. “He didn’t know what had happened to you.”

A silence passed between the two of them. “... What?” Cassidy asked oh so quietly, wanting it so badly to be true that-

“He wasn’t involved in the attempts on your life,” Mystery confirmed. “The bird kept it all from him. He didn’t find out until the day before last, and he took it hard. Yesterday he was still coming to terms with your death while also processing what had happened to him, his evolving relationship with the kids, us- if we’d told him about you on top of everything else- maybe you’re right and we should have told him. Goodness knows it could have spared him a lot of pain. But we feared it could also have caused a lot more. It would have been too much, Cassidy.”

Ricky wasn’t involved. He didn’t do it. He hadn’t even known.

And when he’d finally learned of it he’d been… sad.

Cassidy looked up at the ceiling and took a deep breath to keep her emotions in check. “Is he in there, too?” She finally asked.

“It would seem he overslept,” Mystery sighed. “But it won’t be long.”

“Let’s just- I need to see the kids. Then… hopefully that’ll give me time to figure out what to say to him.”

“You might not have to,” Mystery said. “I think you’ll find that he has a lot to say to you.”

Cassidy stayed in the foyer and Mystery went into the room to call the kids out. Cassidy took a deep breath and smoothed out her clothes. Here goes nothing.

She didn’t hear exactly what was said, but she heard her name. And a moment later four kids and a dog came running out of the room. Their faces went white when they saw her, but Cassidy was so damn happy to see them that she couldn’t keep the smile off her face. “Hey, babies.”

“A-Angel?”

“You’re…”

“There’s no way… It- it can’t be!”

“She’s- she’s a ghost!”

“Not too far a stretch, all things considered,” Cassidy laughed in spite of herself. “But… not a ghost. Not dead.”

“B-but how?”

“I wish I could tell you,” Cassidy said. “I’m really still not quite sure how, but I made it out. I know I promised I wouldn’t lie to you anymore. And I’m so, so sorry that I couldn’t keep that promise. I wanted to call you. But-”

Cassidy didn’t finish her sentence. Because that was when all five of them at once all but clobbered her into a group hug.

“We- hic- we can talk about it later,” Velma croaked.

“We’re just so glad you’re okay,” Fred said.

“It really is you!” Daphne sobbed.

Her face wet with tears, Cassidy hugged them back. Ruffled their hair. Daphne, Velma, Fred, Scooby, and-

Arthur?

Wait a damn second.

But that was when from all corners of the mansion, a song began to play.

Oh heeeeell no.

Cassidy gently stepped out of the group hug. “What song is that?” She asked. Maybe if she knew what song it was, she could be ready for what was coming.

“An appropriate one, I think,” Mystery replied. “He’s almost here.”

Mystery Incorporated looked at each other with looks of realization and alarm.

“Ricky.”

“Oh no.”

“Cassidy, listen. There’s something you need to-”

But Velma didn’t get to finish her warning. There came the sound of running footsteps, and Shaggy burst out of one of the doorways above and- wait.

What is he wearing?

He ran down one flight of stairs, but at the top of the central flight, his eyes fell on her.

He froze. He gasped.

And he looked at her like he’d seen a ghost.

༻˚⁺･⚉｡○✼༓☾⦾♫෴♡💛♡෴♫⦾☽༓✼○｡⚉･⁺˚༺

In the spirit of fairness, two attempts were made to wake Ricky up prior to the gang’s decision to just let him sleep, not that he remembered either of them.

When Vivi popped into Ricky’s room to rouse him, he sat up, eyes barely open, about 75% asleep, and grumbled at whatever she said. Then as soon as the door closed he plopped back onto the pillows and instantly passed out again.

When Shaggy went to wake Ricky up, he actually walked in and tried to shake him awake, but Ricky was so out that he once again went right back to snoring.

But a few minutes after the kids left, the Dead Beats happened upon him still sleeping. And knowing the importance of what was going on downstairs, they weren’t quite so privy to let him snooze. They tried to be nice at first. Really, they did! Gently shaking and making noises escalated into pulling the covers off, shouting, messing with the radio at full volume, even levitating him off the bed. But still, Mystery’s potion hadn’t finished running its course yet. Finally, one of them resorted to absorbing a bunch of water in the bathroom sink and drenching his face with it.

And that’s finally how Ricky woke up, sputtering and cursing.

“Guys- shit! What the fuck?” He demanded. But the Dead Beats were already pushing him up, thrusting his jacket into his hands, dropping his socks into his lap, and pushing his shoes across the floor towards him.

They were gesticulating wildly, making noises at him that he couldn’t understand. Okay, okay, Ricky realized, calming down as he pulled his socks on. They hadn’t pulled a joke. They were trying to tell him something. Was he missing something? Dammit, if only he could speak Dead Beat like Lewis!

He quickly put his jacket on and slid on his shoes, then followed the pink wisps out of the room and down the hall. They’d left the East Wing and were approaching the stairs leading down to the foyer when all of a sudden, a voice echoed in Ricky’s ears.

“Ricky.”

Ricky nearly jumped out of his skin, looking around frantically for the source. Then he realized it sounded familiar. “Mystery?”

“Good morning. I hear that my potion may have worked a little too well.”

“Yeah, thanks. Where… are you?”

“Downstairs. I’m using telepathy to speak to you, because I realized I wouldn’t be able to intercept you before you reached the foyer.”

“Uhh… why? What’s happening?”

“Our informant has arrived.”

“Oh? And… this is bad?”

“No. In fact I’d say it’s just the opposite. However, I’m afraid you’re in for a shock.”

“What makes you say that-” Mentally going over everyone that Ricky wouldn’t get along with, he suddenly had a horrifying thought. “Please tell me it’s not Fred Jones Senior!”

“Absolutely not. Believe you me, if it was him, I’d have to restrain myself from killing him.”

“Say what now?”

“Nothing. The point is Ricky, I need you to understand. Everything we have held off on telling you, we have done so with everyone’s best interest at heart. The plan had been to tell you all gently this morning, but our informant arrived sooner than expected and you slept in. The point is, I will not ask you to not be angry with us for keeping this from you. But you deserve to understand why we did.”

“Why were you so worried about my reaction?”

“If we’d told you, you would have been able to think of nothing else.”

“Mystery. Your crypticness is not comforting me. Not even a little.”

Ricky couldn’t quite put how into words, but he could sense… some hesitation on the other side of the connection. Then suddenly it just went dead, and instead a pathway of red lights appeared in front of him, in the direction of the foyer. Baseball-sized balls of crimson flame turned the pink halls red, swaying to and fro where they hovered in the air.

Like lanterns, Ricky thought. From a distance anyone would think they were a search party. No wonder the fae use lights like these to lure men to their deaths. As to where they were leading Ricky… he’d trusted Mystery for this long, so at this point what the hell? He was… probably not being lured to his death.

Probably.

Then just when it couldn’t get any more damn ominous, music began to play. And given that the little pink spirits had vanished, Ricky knew the Dead Beats were behind it.

From prior experience… that can’t be a good sign.

Ricky followed the foxfire until he saw light ahead from that big chandelier above the foyer. That was when the song’s lyrics began.

“I said God if you can hear me… I need your help right god-damn now. I’m right here and I need you. Need your fuckin’ help Right god-damn now.”

And then above the music he heard the kids… really excited about something. Crying? That sounds like Fred, Daphne and Velma! Oh fuck, what happened?

Ricky sped up from a walk to a run and burst into the open. He looked down, and everyone sort of jumped when he entered, like they’d been caught. He opened his mouth to ask what the hell was going on-

But then his eyes landed on the new face in the crowd. And the words shriveled and died on his tongue.

“I’ve been tryna’ to change my life this time! I’ve been re-a-rangin’ love in my mind! I’ve been tryna’ be a be-tter man~... for you… For you…”

You…

STUPIDSTUPIDSTUPID!

I would know you anywhere…

YOUKILLEDHERYOUKILLEDHERYOUKILLEDHER!

But it can’t be.

Was this what it meant to have tunnel vision? The kids and the Mystery Skulls- were they saying something? Their mouths were moving, but Ricky couldn’t hear the words. But even over the thundering of his heart, Ricky heard her voice as clear as a bell.

“There you are!” Cassidy Williams cried, with a smile that was oh so her. Everything about her was- things about her in his memory that had faded sharpened anew. And she was beautiful. Fuck, fuck, fuck, she was so beautiful. The most gorgeous thing Ricky had ever seen. And on the inside Ricky was screaming a million and one conflicting things at once but his stupid body was too frozen to say them. She must have seen the look on his face because she looked so confused, her brows furrowed in her own special way. But then she looked around him, past him, so hopefully at the doorway from whence he’d come, and what she said next broke whatever spell she had him under.

“Uh… Where’s Ricky?”

Daphne tried to interject, “Cassidy-”

But before she could explain, Ricky grit his teeth, clenched his fists, and gritted with a growl that came out just as much a whimper, “No…”

She looked even more confused at his tone, her head tilted just so-

“Don’t give me hope,” he begged. “It can’t be…” He was shaking his head in denial and fuck, his voice was cracking and his vision was blurring with heartbroken, frustrated, angry tears. “She’s gone.”

Vivi tried to intervene. “Ricky-”

“SHE’S GONE!”

The dam broken, Ricky’s pain exploded out of him in thundering roars as he marched down the stairs at whatever- illusion dared pretend to be her!

“I said God if you can hear me-

“SHE’S GONE AND IT’S MY FAULT!”

“I’m right here in your TV-

“SHE IS NEVER COMING BACK!!!”

“I promise it’s the real me!

“I KILLED HER!!!”

“I got somethin’ to say…

“I’D DO ANYTHING! ANYTHING! TO TRADE PLACES WITH HER!”

“Now…”

“BUT SHE’S-”

Ricky went absolutely rigid with shock mid-sentence. He’d reached the bottom of the stairs. Marched forward. And grabbed the apparition by the arm.

-But his hand didn’t go through her. What he touched was solid and warm, just as terrified and confused as he was.

Youkilledheryoukilledheryoukilledheryoukilledher-

She’s alive.

“I’ve been tryna’ change my life this time-

Ricky’s trembling hand cupped the side of her face.

“I’ve been re-a-rangin’ love in my mind,

His fingers slid down her cheek to where her jaw met her throat and pressed down. Tears flew into his eyes when he felt the fast thrum of her pulse- her life!

She’s alive.

“I’ve been tryna’ be a be-tter man~... for you…

It was getting very hard to breathe. His throat was closing and his breaths were coming out in quick, deep gasps.

“For you~!”

Then right as she opened her mouth to say something, he lunged and all but tackled her into a hug. His face in the crook of her neck, sobs spilling out of him, holding her so tight, as tight as he could, afraid she’d fall straight through the Earth if he dared let go. Or maybe he was afraid he would. It occurred to him that he might be hurting her, but he couldn’t loosen his grip no matter how loud he screamed at himself to let go.

Stop it, you piece of shit! You’ve hurt her enough! She’d be disgusted to be touched by the likes of you!

But fuck, he couldn’t. Especially because she was hugging him back.

“I’m happy to see you too sweetheart,” she laughed, “but you’re going to need to tell me what’s-”

But that was when with a shudder, Ricky managed to gasp out her name.

“... Cassidy?”

Her body tensed in his arms, and he realized at once: she knows.

༻˚⁺･⚉｡○✼༓☾⦾♫෴♡💛♡෴♫⦾☽༓✼○｡⚉･⁺˚༺

He looked like Shaggy. He sounded like Shaggy. But-

Angel knew Shaggy.

This isn’t Shaggy.

He said her name. Something about the way he said it-

You…

“I’m- I’m sorry- Oh Angel I’m so sorry… I didn’t- I n-never- never would’ve- you were right- What I said- I didn’t mean it- Don’t deserve- How could you ever forgive me…”

I would know you anywhere.

In an instant, Cassidy wretched him off of her, held his face in her hands, and stared deep into his eyes. His hands immediately went to the skin at her wrists, desperate for any form of contact. He looked like Shaggy, and he looked terrible. But those eyes- the soul behind those eyes- begging, pleading without words, ‘See me, know me, forgive me…’

It can’t be.

“RICKY?!”

He couldn’t get the words out between his gasps, but he managed to nod. Cassidy didn’t give a shit how angry she was. If this was really Ricky, then something was very wrong. Ricky Owens. The almighty Mr. E, builder and ruler of his own house of cards. Always with a plan, always managing to keep it together.

And he was falling the fuck apart right in front of her.

Cassidy pulled him tight against her again, and he threw his arms back around her, sputtering his regrets as Cassidy held the back of his head, fingers nestled into his hair in an attempt to calm him down.

Off to the side, Mystery rounded on Vivi, Lewis, and Mystery Incorporated. “Get out.”

“What- We deserve an explanation!”

“Like you knew she was alive and you didn’t tell us-”

“-All will be explained in due time but I swear to the gods, if you have a single drop of empathy, you’ll give them a moment,” The kitsune snarled, all but chasing everyone into the next room.

“This was a mistake,” Cassidy heard Vivi say as they left. “I’m not sure we made the right call, Mystery.”

“I think you’re right,” he agreed quietly. And he spared them a single apologetic glance as the door closed behind him.

Ricky was in such a state that he was barely functioning, his words coming out as barely legible word salad. And Cassidy was so stunned and overwhelmed that she couldn’t speak either. But she could listen.

“M’ sorry- hic. I didn’t mean- i’ was my fault. But I didn’t know- hic- I swear I didn’t know! He hurt you- I never would’ve let im’- You- hic- you were right. You were right about everything. I was wrong- fuckin’- stupid. I was so fucking stupid!”

… Did it make Cassidy a bad person for the warm feeling she got at some of the things he said? “I’m glad to hear you admit it,” she laughed, partly out of incredulity and partly in an attempt to lighten the mood. “But… I’m even more glad that you figured that out. Welcome back, you damn fool.”

A damn fool, he was indeed. But he was her damn fool. Cassidy had zero doubts about that, now. He might not look like himself, but this was Ricky. At least this explained what Vivi meant by “you’ll have to see it to believe it.” Because Cassidy was certainly seeing it. And even with it right in front of her she could hardly believe it.

But that wasn’t Cassidy’s most pressing concern right now.

Oh Ricky, what happened to you? She asked herself. The picture he was painting with his ramblings wasn’t a pretty one.

“Hic- I looked for you. I looked for you but you were- hic- you were gone. I stood up to im’- tried to fix things but- it hurt. It hurt so much and I missed you. I never stopped looking for you and then he told me- he-”

“Hey- hey.” Cassidy gently tugged him away from her and wiped some of the tears off his face with her sleeve. “You need to calm down, Ricky. Deep breaths. Look at me. You just need to breathe. Deep breath in… deep breath out… deep breath in-”

He never once let go of her, but he was listening. And soon she got his breathing to slow, and the frantic panic in his eyes faded into anxiety, fear, and- guilt. Such overwhelming guilt that it had to be crushing him on the inside.

It almost made Angel feel horrible for ever thinking he could have tried to kill her.

As Ricky calmed down, he got quiet. Really quiet. His shoulders were tight with tension, he didn’t move, and he didn’t say a word.

If Cassidy had to guess why, it seemed like he was scared. Of what happened next. Of what he needed to say to her, maybe of what he’d already said, and especially of what she was going to say. They both knew it was inevitable, but neither of them were too eager to pop the bubble they’d created.

The silence left Cassidy time to think. Because something he’d said was weighing heavily on her mind.

“It hurt.”

What hurt?

Cassidy had already realized that it would have taken something big to snap Ricky out of his codependency. And clearly, something big had happened.

“It.”

Ricky looked like Shaggy. Was Pericles to blame?

Oh, Ricky what did he do to you?

That was when Ricky let her go. More like snatched himself away, really. As if he’d needed to force himself to. Because she could tell he didn’t want to let go. And his eyes were somehow both vulnerable and guarded, yet also so tired. One of Angel's first observations when she’d first met Ricky again as Mr. E five years ago, was how old he looked. He was only 37 - at the time he’d been 32 - but his life had aged him. Even now, Cassidy knew damn well that Shaggy was 17. She’d celebrated his last birthday with him. But with that soul inside him he looked so much older. Those were an adult’s eyes. Tired eyes.

Ricky’s eyes.

“I-I,” he stuttered, searching for words. “Sorry… Cassidy. I shouldn’t’ve - um-”

“Hey,” Cassidy interrupted him with a hand on his shoulder before he could apologize for something that he didn’t need to apologize for. “It’s okay. I’m okay, and you’re okay.”

Ricky swallowed and nodded, wiping snot and tears off his face with his sleeve. “We should um- probably sit down? If you want to?”

They did. Right there on the stairs in the foyer.

Nothing was said for a couple of long moments. Ricky nervously tapping his heel and blatantly avoiding looking at her, though he kept stealing glances. Cassidy supposed that just like her, he had no idea what to say next even though they each had a million things to say to each other. Finally, Cassidy took a deep breath.

“Ricky.”

His eyes flashed over to her, but he looked away just as quickly.

“Ricky baby, look at me.” And this time she reached for his hand, and he looked so… startled. Surprised. A bit confused. So, so lost. And- that look. It had been so, so long since the last time he’d looked at her like that. Like a miracle - like a gift from God. It made her dare to hope, could he really…? He nervously swallowed, and his face seemed to ask her, “Why, after everything?” But he didn’t pull away. Instead, tentatively, his fingers closed around hers.

Someone hurt you, a suspicion once again made itself known, and a question followed close behind: Who?

“Ricky,” Cassidy asked, and her tone betrayed her anger, simmering just beneath the surface. “What. Happened?”

I'll have you all know that you have this chapter to thank for the fact that this fic even exists, because imagining the part where Ricky runs into Cassidy's arms and falls apart - to the beat of this song by the way (yes it's been planned for that long) seized control of my entire being and made me absolutely determined to tell this story. HNNNNG I love this chapter! I loooove this chapter! I've been stoked to write it for almost a year and it was both gratifying and terrifying to finally get here. Because I've been so excited for this chapter for so long. It. Had to be. Perfect. Soooo it took exactly one month to write. (Chapter 19 was posted on June 13, and now here I am posting Chapter 20 on July 13. Lol) It turned out to be a comparatively short chapter - but that was the plan. And it actually turned out longer than I had thought because I was overexcited about the Rickidy reunion and it occurred to me that Angel also has an important relationship with Mystery Inc, and they of course would also have a reaction to Cassidy being alive (duh), so I couldn't forget about them. Also - despite the obvious religious themes of this week's song, that wasn't the meaning I put into it for the sake of this chapter, and I will be making an entire post at some point behind my reasons for picking it. Chapter 20 should be posted to ao3 sometime between tonight and Saturday (depends on whether I'm feeling impatient or not), unless something related to the ddos attack prevents me from doing so. My Ao3 has been working fine for the past day or so, but idk if that's still going on or not. (Thanks be for the brave, beautiful people who have worked to resolve this issue, and may the meanies responsible stub their toe hard on the pointy end of a rusty fork.) And please feel free to leave comments, whether that be on ao3 or in the reblogs/tags here on tumblr. Like you do not even understand how one compliment or thought puts me on cloud nine for the entire day.

Chapters 1-19 of 'One of Us' are presently posted on Archive of Our Own.

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tarrenterror25 · 2 years ago

Text

Ulysses Klaue x F!Reader Title: I Always Find My Way Back To You Chapter: 3 of 9 Rating: Explicit 18+ Word Count: 6.8K

Summary: You can always count on Ulysses to return to you, but lately you find yourself wanting more. The new dangers in the world don't make the life of an arms dealer any easier and any day could be his last. Running away and living off the grid with the man you love is the dream. Does he share your feelings and can he be convinced to live a life with you?

Tags: MxF, heavily implied sugar daddy/sugar baby relationship, dom/sub vibes, mention of daddy kink, rough unprotected PiV, oral f/m receiving, spanking, hair pulling, mention of alcohol, age-gap, mention of unwanted touching from a stranger, angst, brief violence/fighting/blood

Playlist here (May contain explicit material)

The music that is playing in the ✨nightclub scene✨ can be found here! (May contain explicit material)

Notes: Age of the reader is your preference as it is not specifically stated, but is written with 25+ in mind. It is being used to portray a barrier/insecurity for reader.

Song referenced is “Die For You” by The Weeknd.

I was WAY too anxious/excited to get this out there so if there are any mistakes or weirdness, I apologize! I’m also the most nervous about posting this one! This is a long one so the pacing might be weird, but I hope you guys enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Chapter Three: Lust For Life

According to the clock on your nightstand, you’ve slept in a bit. You’re still in your shoes and dress from last night. You roll over and stifle a gasp at seeing Klaue’s also still in your bed and also still dressed in his suit minus the shoes.

He stirs awake and you can’t help, but smile.

“Morning, sleeping beauty,” you say cheerfully.

He throws an arm over his eyes to shield them from the light coming into the room and takes the pillow from beneath his head to toss it on top of you.

“Uri!,” you shout shoving the pillow aside. “Seriously?”

“Five more hours,” he grumbles.

You get up and straddle him then kiss his cheek. Before you can sit back up, he pulls you back to him to kiss you properly. It’s gentle and slow, a change of pace from how the two of you have been at each other in only a couple of days.

You let out a playful squeak as Klaue rolls over so that he’s on top of you now. Your hand finds his face and your thumb runs across his cheek as if to be sure you aren’t dreaming again. His blue eyes look straight into yours and there’s a calm that settles over you.

It’s at this moment you realize, the bliss that is the pining soul looking up to see themselves reflected in their lovers’ eyes.

“I’m all yours today. Scout’s honor,” Klaue says kissing the inside of your hand before rolling back onto his back. “Didn’t mean to leave you yesterday. Just got,” a heavy sigh escapes him, “busy is all.”

You curl up beside him and wrap your arm around his midsection. “Everything okay?” you ask.

“Nothing you need to worry about.”

You sit up and look down at him. “I do worry, though, Ulysses,” you say sternly.

His brow furrows, offended at the harsh use of his full name. He props himself up on his elbows. “Thought we handled this yesterday,” he says. “Or do you need a reminder?” He wiggles his eyebrows and grins.

Curse him for being so...oblivious. And curse you for being a coward.

You can’t help but roll your eyes and toss a pillow in his face knocking him back. You rise up from the bed and start heading towards the bathroom.

The water from the shower is warm and soothing. You focus on the feeling of it running down your back and watch the drops trail over your breasts and stomach to patter on the tile where you curl your toes.

Klaue enters the bathroom and leans against the doorway. “Care for some company?” he asks.

A motion of your head with a smile has him joining you under the spray of the warm water. Not one to waste an opportunity to get close to him, you nuzzle against his chest and he puts his arms around you. He kisses the top of your head and releases you while saying, “Turn around.”

Following his command, you turn around so that your back is to him. He grabs a bottle of body wash and lathers some up on a sponge and begins washing your body. It’s a calculated and sensual process, the way he caresses and massages your flesh in between the sponge and his hand, like he’s sculpting you. He kneels down behind you and trails up your legs, hands coming up to massage your ass and to graze your arousal making you gasp softly.

“You’re so beautiful,” he says hardly louder than a whisper.

With his hands on you like he’s worshipping you, a heat begins to build between your legs.

He turns you in his hands so that you’re facing him and starts to stand up slowly, trailing his hands and the sponge up the sides of your body until he’s standing up straight. He massages the sponge over your stomach and chest, his fingers flicking over your nipples making them harden. He kisses your shoulder where the water has washed off the soap and holds out the sponge for you to take. “All done,” he says.

Fuck.

You take the sponge, acutely aware of how intensely he’s watching you.

Being under his gaze, you’re nervous and aroused, but you start to run the sponge over his body. You study the suds being washed off by the water to reveal his tattoos. His eyes are on you still and you’re almost afraid to look at him because you know if you do, it’s over and you’ll want him to do all kinds of filthy things to you right here in the shower.

Klaue holds your chin in between his fingers and tips your face up. He kisses you, a soft and chaste kiss. Your eyes close, relishing in the sweet affectionate contact. When you no longer feel his lips on yours, you open your eyes to be met with his striking blue ones staring right at you.

Your heart drums loudly in your ears as you anticipate his next move.

With that smug smirk you love so much he says, “I’m wondering if I should take you right here.”

“You could,” you respond trying to steady your voice.

“I could,” he says nodding.

His hand finds itself in your hair and tugs it to tilt your head back.

“Could turn you around, press you against the wall.” His face is close to yours now, his breath right on your lips. “And take you right here. Would you like that?”

“Yes,” you squeak out.

He’s holding you like he knows how helpless you are with him.

“Yes, what?”

“Yes, Daddy,” you pant.

His head dips into the crook of your neck and there’s a hitch in your breath when you feels his lips graze the skin right where your pulse is. You anticipate him kissing you.

But nothing happens.

He chuckles and puts his lips right next to your ear.

“You’re so eager for me, baby,” he teases and you can hear the grin he must have plastered on his face.

The hand in your hair tugs a little harder to pull your head back and his other hand trails down your body, his thumb flicking your nipple on the way down to your thigh. His hand explores the space where your thigh meets your arousal and touches everywhere except where you ache the most for him. His fingers skim over your clit and you gasp when he makes the slightest contact.

“Do you want Daddy to touch you?” he says darkly.

“Yes, baby,” you whine, shamelessly trying to thrust your hips into his hand. Every time you do, he pulls his hand away. It’s just enough that you can still feel it’s there, but not enough for any friction.

You release a loud groan of frustration. “Uri, stop fucking around!” you shout harshly, making him laugh. “You’re such an ass!”

“Yeah, but you like it,” he chuckles.

He releases you and only grins at your sour expression. Klaue playfully kisses your nose. You can’t help but crack a smile when you tug on his beard and he winces though his own laughter.

The two of you are situated on the oversized pillow by the window again. There’s snacks on an end table and the light of the afternoon sun keeping you both warm. You sit upright with a book in hand, reading aloud, and Klaue lays down with his head in your lap. One arm rests lazily over his face and the other hand rests on his belly right where his shirt rides up a bit giving you a peek at the tattoo that dips along his hip.

The book in your hand is a worn hardcover copy of 20,000 Leagues Under the Seas by Jules Verne, Klaue’s own copy that he gave to you. It’s one of his favorites and you’ve read it to him many times, just like you are now.

You turn the page and are reminded of when you first discovered he enjoyed the occasional book.

You had just come back from some shopping. Klaue was nursing an injury so he didn’t feel much like going out and opted to hold down the fort at your apartment.

You entered your home and set down your spoils, courtesy of Klaue, and found him lounging on the couch reading a book.

You plopped down beside him. “What’s that?” you asked.

“Jules Verne,” he said closing the book. “My old man used to read it to me.”

“Was that his?” you nodded to the book.

“This? No,” Klaue said sitting up straight. “Bought this off a fellow in England, first edition. Probably cost me about a quarter of a thousand, but I wasn’t looking at the price too much.”

When Klaue wanted something, he got it.

“What’s it about?” you asked cozying up to him.

He shook his head. “Nothing you’d care about,” he said setting the book on the coffee table.

You frowned, a little hurt that he assumed you’d want nothing to do with it. “It’s something that interests you, I want to know about it,” you explain.

Klaue questioningly raised a brow at you, but motioned for him to begin speaking.

You listened to him talk about the story; an expedition into the deep to discover a mysterious monster that turns out to be a submarine that roams the sea in a sort of self made exile. You took in everything he said, your heart warmed by how passionately he talked about the story, his hands expressing his words as he spoke.

You inquired as to what other literature he enjoyed and was surprised that he had a few to name: Around the World in 80 Days, The Count of Monte Cristo, and even The Odyssey. You definitely identified a trend in themes of adventure which made perfect sense.

“I’d like to read it,” you said nodding to the book on the coffee table.

“You’re serious?” he asked in surprise. “You’ll find it boring, really. It’s not-”

“Just hand me the damn book, Uri,” you said holding out your hand.

Klaue rolled his eyes and handed you the book.

“Read it with me,” you said. “I’ll have questions and you’ll know this book better than me.”

“I don’t read out loud, but,” Klaue said getting comfortable with his head in your lap. “I’ll be more than happy to listen to you.”

You had taken to reading other stories to him as well. Sharing in his interests like this was your favorite part of Klaue’s visits. You’ve never felt as connected to someone as you do in moments like these. You had to contain your joy when after the first read, Klaue gave you his book to hold onto for him.

You read and run your fingers through Klaue’s hair. You’re certain he’s fallen asleep. He hasn’t stirred in awhile.

There must be some place for you in his heart.

You know what kind of man he is and damn you for loving him for it because it’s what’s killing you inside.

““No, sir,” he replied”“, you read.”“But we will discover it together.””

“”Where others have failed, I will not fail.””

You place a bookmark in between the pages of the book and set it aside. You lean down to kiss Klaue’s forehead, smiling as you hear his soft snores.

After a joint nap on the pillow, bathing in the dying light of the sun, you order food for the two of you. Where you live there’s an eclectic selection of restaurants that deliver. You order a grab bag of items from different places; you’ve known Klaue to have a healthy appetite.

A ping lets you know your order has been confirmed.

You smile and set your phone down on the kitchen counter. The roses Klaue gifted to you catch your eye, the bundles of petals that were once buds starting to slowly blossom.

Klaue walks up behind you, his arms rest on the counter on either side of you. “I’m starving,” he says, playfully gnawing your shoulder.

You giggle and turn to face him. “Food’s on the way,” you reply.

Without warning, Klaue lifts you up and sets you on the counter. You shriek and grab onto his shoulders for balance. He settles into the space between your legs and begins placing kisses along your neck and collarbone. You moan as his hands come up to knead your breasts and he says, “I can think of something I could go for right now.”

Grabbing a fistful of his curls, you pull his head back. “I don’t think so, not after what you pulled in the shower.”

He laughs and God, it’s heavenly every time you hear it.

“You’re no fun,” Klaue says lifting you off the counter.

You scramble to wrap your arms and legs around him as he carries you to the bedroom. Once there, he sets you down on the bed and climbs on top of you. He sits up to remove his shirt, but he barely has it off before you drag him back down to you and kiss him deeply, pulling his body close for you to grind against.

“Fuck, baby,” he moans against your mouth in between your desperate kisses.

“Uri, please,” you beg taking his hand and guiding it to cup your arousal. “No more teasing. I need you.”

He curses and makes quick work of removing your clothes. His mouth is on your sex, licking and sucking relentlessly. You’re still pent up from earlier, so when his tongue hits your clit just right, you don’t last long.

You entire body quivers as he continues to lick and suck while you ride out your orgasm. He doesn’t stop and you start to feel another pressure growing in your core. You’re already sensitive after coming and the way his nose is rubbing into your clit as he tongue fucks you sends you over the edge again.

Between your legs, Klaue is sucking on your cunt, literally drinking in his fill of you as you ride out your orgasm.

The rest of his clothes come off and Klaue doesn’t waste another second before burying his cock completely into you. Clinging onto him, you cry out his name as he stretches you open.

“Fuck, yes, baby,” he says thrusting deep into you. “Let me hear you.”

If your neighbors were unsure of who you had over at your apartment, well they certainly knew now with how you’re screaming Klaue’s name and begging him for more. With his forehead pressed against yours, you hold his face between your hands, urging him to look at you.

It’s not enough that the sweat off his body mingles with yours or that you’re so close to each you’re sharing the same breath. You need Ulysses somewhere deeper inside of you. You can feel the words you want to say weighing on the tip of your tongue, but nothing comes out of your mouth except breathless pants.

“I’m close, baby,” he groans. “Shit.”

He gives one last hard thrust and comes inside of you. You sigh softly as you feel his warmth from his release deep inside your belly. He removes himself from you right as the doorbell rings.

“Food’s here,” you chuckle.

He laughs, too and kisses you one last time before letting you up.

The two of you get cleaned up and you answer the door.

Klaue sits at the table as you dole out the variety of food. You grab some plates and drinks before joining him at the table.

There’s food from all kinds of nationalities, but you notice Klaue gravitate to the heartier foods: kielbasa, birria tacos, and of course the Belgian waffles.

“Do you feel like going out tonight?” you ask.

“Where?” he replies around a mouthful of food. He’s hardly finished his previous bite before he’s already taking another and there’s something comical about it.

“Dancing,” you say. “Some of my friends invited me out.”

He nods. “I’ve got to head out earlier than I’ve expected. In a few days,” he adds

Heart sinking a little, you hide your disappointment behind a bite of food. You would have to make the best of the time you had left with him.

Klaue takes you out shopping to pick out something to wear for tonight.

You end up picking a two-piece outfit. While at the boutique, you give a playful model spin for Klaue who just smirks as he watches you.

“What do you think?” you ask him.

“Looks good on you,” he says. “‘Course I’m thinking how good it looks off you as well.”

Both of you turn to see a couple of people turn bright red at overhearing his comment. They put back the items they were browsing through and walk off. Klaue laughs and you smack his arm before returning back to the dressing room.

Despite your arguments, Klaue also insists you pick out anything else you want. He kisses you and says, “Let me spoil you for cutting our time short.”

“Uri, really,” you say, “I’m happy with just the clothes for tonight.”

When Ulysses Klaue wanted something, he got it.

So now you had shoes and a new purse to go with your outfit. Klaue even treated you to getting your nails done. He handed you a few hundred dollar bills and kissed you before heading off to get his hair trimmed.

“Can hardly see my tattoos,” he said running a hand through his slightly grown out fade. “I’ll be quick.”

Now you were inside a jewelry store. Klaue’s eyeing the glass case and examining the glittering wares while you sit at a small desk. “That one,” he says to the man behind the counter. “And those.”

The man from behind the counter sits across from you with a tray holding the jewels Klaue has picked out. While Klaue is still looking, the man helps put an intricate diamond choker onto your neck and he hands you a mirror to look yourself over. There’s no denying the necklace is stunning and probably worth more than what you’re already thinking.

This relationship of yours with Klaue has been starting to overwhelm you. There was a time when you loved things like these, but Ulysses changed that.

“And the earrings, miss?” the man says breaking you from your thoughts.

You nod and hold up the earrings to your ears as the man holds up the mirror for you. Past your reflection, you see a woman eyeing you, disdain evident in her eyes. The woman glances over to where Klaue is examining rings at the counter and then back to you.

She continues to stare at you so you set down the earrings and turn in the chair to face her. “Is there something you’d like to say?” you ask sternly.

“Oh,” the woman says, “I was just thinking that it certainly can’t be riveting conversation that gets you those diamonds.”

“Excuse me? You don’t know-”

She takes on a haughty posture and interrupts. “You can pretend as long as you like, but if I were you, I’d have a little more dignity and save myself some embarrassment.”

Before you can snap back, the woman leaves. You sink in your chair, stunned at the confrontation that just took place.

You take the mirror from the man, who was still holding it, and look at yourself. Your face is youthful and pretty, but you can’t find any indicators of wisdom. It just leaves people, as you’ve noticed, reading you as naive. This is not the first time you have felt that you might not be enough for Ulysses. Often it does cross your mind what someone your age has to offer him other than the pleasure of your company. He knows so many things and has seen so much more of the world than you...

He’s much older than you and it does make you insecure when you see women older than you glaring daggers your way or eyeing Klaue like they could take him so easily from you.

Not like he’s mine to begin with anyway...

Klaue returns to your side and sits by you. “What do you think?” he asks nodding to the necklace still on you.

You nod. “It’s nice,” you say removing it.

Klaue gestures for the man to box everything up.

When the two of you are back in the car, you decide to confront Klaue about what’s on your mind.

You turn in your seat towards Klaue. “I’m going to ask you something, Ulysses, and I need you to be honest,” you say.

He’s taken aback, but nods for you to continue.

“Do you ever think...I’m too young for you? Like...I don’t know enough...about things?”

He raises his brow and chuckles. “Not sure I follow.”

“Well, do you think I’m good conversation? Or is it just,” you hesitate a bit, “is it just the sex?”

He laughs. “Where the hell is this coming from?”

“Ulysses,” you say more seriously trying to reel him in with you, “do you like spending time with me or just your money? Is there...is there anything else I have to offer you?”

Klaue sighs and is silent for awhile as he drives. “I should be the one worried about me being older, but to answer your question, yes, there is.”

You wait for an answer. “Well what is it?” you ask.

He looks annoyed, like this is not the time or place he wants to have this conversation, but you need to know. You put your hand on his arm and let out a soft ‘please’.

His jaw clenches as he stops at a red light. Annoyed, he flicks on the blinker, the clicking filling in the silence for awhile before he speaks.. “I always come back to you.”

You watch him, silent so he may continue.

“You’re a constant,” he goes on, “in a life like mine where a lot of things aren’t certain. What I do, everything’s always moving and changing and you,” he strokes his beard thoughtfully, “are what I always find myself coming back to when I want things to be...still.”

You’re always there for him, that’s what he’s saying.

The light turns green and he keeps driving.

There is a place for you.

Night has fallen and you step out of the vehicle taking Klaue’s hand, dressed in the outfit and accessories you picked earlier. He pulls you to him as he tosses the keys to the valet.

There’s a swarm of people hanging around the strip outside a small doorway outlined with white neon. The bouncers don’t hesitate to let you and Klaue in; you are a regular here with your friends and as it turns out, some of Klaue’s associates hang out here as well.

Past the doorway, a long hallway lit by neon guides the way towards the main room. There’s a catwalk all the way around the room and sets of stairs that descend to the dance floor and bar area. Music pulses loudly throughout the room lights flash in an array of colors onto the dancers below. Klaue nods towards the bar indicating that’s where he’ll be.

“I’ll find you,” he says and walks off.

You head down one of the set of stairs and there’s a table tucked away in a corner where you see your friends. They shriek and giggle as they wave you over.

“So glad you came!” a girl, Demi, shouts over the music and pulls you in for a hug. “Come, sit!”

You sit down at the table next to your friend and the two of you chat, catching up as best as you can with the music playing in the background. Your attention drifts every so often, glancing around for Klaue who is nowhere to be seen.

“Everything alright?” Demi asks.

You nod. “I came with someone,” you say. “I should probably go find him.”

Demi nods in understanding and you excuse yourself from the table.

You scan the room for Klaue, but see nothing.

Maybe this was a horrible idea. What if he found some of his business friends here and was distracted with them. Maybe you two should have stayed home...

“One for you.”

The familiar tattooed arm extends in front of you with a shot glass. You turn to face Klaue and let out a sigh of relief as you take the glass.

“One for me,” he says clinking his glass against yours and downing it.

You smile and follow suite.

The two of you join your companions back at their table where conversation and drinks flow. You chat with your friends and there’s a few guys there that Klaue plays nice with.

He pulls you playfully onto his lap and possessively places a hand prominently on your thigh where no one can miss it, and his other hand snakes around your waist.

To be held this way, gives you the butterflies in your stomach again.

“You are what I always find myself coming back to when I want things to be...still.”

Your friends pull you away from your seat to lead you with them to the dance floor. Klaue gives your backside a playful smack as you follow them.

The music guides you with its pulsing rhythms. From above, fog descends making everything hazy. You’re swaying your hips and trailing your hands on your body to the beat of the song and do a spin.

I'm findin' ways to articulate the feelin' I'm goin' through I just can't say I don't love you 'Cause I love you, yeah

Lovers surround you, holding each other close as they dance and you’re just another lonely heart in their midst.

It's hard for me to communicate the thoughts that I hold But tonight, I'm gon' let you know Let me tell the truth

You wonder if he thinks about you the way you think about him... Loving him hurts, God it hurts, but it’s the bottle of liquor you can’t put down despite the sting in your throat.

I don’t want this feeling, I can’t afford love I try to find a reason to pull us apart It ain't workin', 'cause you're perfect, and I know that you're worth it

Two familiar arms wrap around you.

Even though we're goin' through it And it makes you feel alone Just know that I would die for you

There’s no need to turn around to know it’s Klaue holding you close to his chest. Your arms come up to wrap around his neck as the two of you sway to the music.

The distance and the time between us It'll never change my mind 'Cause baby, I would die for you

Klaue’s runs his hands up the sides of your body and up your arms until he takes your hands in his. He gives you a slow spin to face him and holds you close. The two of you move in unison now, speaking to the other without any words. Your bodies move rhythmically with each other to the music. You arch into him and roll your hips against his.

I'm findin' ways to manipulate the feelin' you're goin' through But, baby girl, I'm not blamin' you Just don't blame me, too

You lean your head back as he slowly dips you. His hand softly rests on your throat, his thumb brushing along your jawline then ghosting down the side of your body.

'Cause I can't take this pain forever And you won't find no one that's better 'Cause I'm right for you, babe I think I'm right for you, babe

You straighten back up and your hand comes up to the side of his face. His forehead rests against yours as the two of you continue moving to the music.

The song comes to an end and the two of you are separated when your friends pull you away again. Klaue just gives you a small smile and walks off.

Demi and your friends dance with you. Demi takes your hand and gives you a spin. She looks like she knows what’s on your mind. The smile on your face doesn’t fool her.

She says, “I see how you look at him.”

You frown slightly. “Demi, I-”

“What’s stopping you?”

You open your mouth to answer, but end up just shrugging.

“Stop being scared,” Demi shouts over the music.

“He doesn’t want me, Demi,” you say. “Not like I want him.”

“How do you know?”

Exasperated you give her a spin. “I just do!” Another sigh. “Look, it’s complicated.”

She just rolls her eyes. “You’re making it complicated.”

Demi leads you over to the bar where it’s quieter. “You love him, don’t you?” she asks bluntly.

You just nod. Demi smiles and nudges you. “Sucks doesn’t it?” she teases.

“Yeah,” you reply with a chuckle.

“Like I said,” Demi says, “Stop being scared. Just tell him. I guarantee that it’ll hurt more holding it in.”

With that, she gives you a stern pointed look and walks off.

You continue dancing to the music unsure of where your other friends have dispersed to, but you now had settled on your decision to tell Klaue about how you felt. Before he leaves, you’ll tell him. That would give you enough time to muster up the courage to do it.

There’s this feeling that settles on you, like you’re being watched. You glance over your shoulder. Sure enough, through the crowd of people dancing you see Klaue is seated on the velvet couch at the table. His arm is outstretched along the back of the couch and the other arm hanging down between his spread legs. There’s the smallest smirk on his face when your eyes meet.

You let your hips sway slowly to the music. Your hands ghost seductively along your chest, your bare midriff, and your legs as you move. Another glance in his direction and you see him lean forward with his elbows on his knees.

You bite your lip in satisfaction at having caught his attention and continue with your movements.

Suddenly, a man steps in front of you, blocking your view. He leers at you and moves in close. You politely try to ignore him, but he’s not going away. “Wanna dance?” he asks leaning uncomfortably close to you

“No thanks!” you say backing away. There is no way he didn’t hear you and you hope it gets him to leave you alone.

But still he stays and he’s moving closer despite you taking steps away from him. Now you’re in the center of the dance floor and there’s a huge crowd of people surrounding you making it difficult to get away. You’re looking for an opening in the crowd to run through and you freeze when the stranger’s hands brush against your bare waist.

“Get off!” you shout shoving his hands away.

A large hand plants firmly on the offender’s shoulder and yanks him away from you. Twisting the man’s shirt in his fist with a scowl, Klaue brings the man close to his face. “You’ve got ten seconds to fuck off,” he threatens before shoving the man aside. He barrels into a few people who look at Klaue with annoyance, but Klaue shoots them a glare that makes them turn away.

Ulysses takes your hand and pulls you close to him.

The man who tried to touch you composes himself. “Hey, asshole!” He grabs Klaue by his shoulders and pulls him back.

Oh, shit.

You take a step back. Klaue looks pissed as he straightens out his shirt where the man grabbed him, acting like he doesn’t notice the man there. The man, who is of a slimmer build, takes on a fighting stance. The crowd of club goers disperses a bit, but most of the people still go about their business.

You watch Klaue slowly approach the smaller man. The offending stranger watches Klaue, his fists raised ready for a fight, but Klaue is just casually adjusting his watch and the rings on his fingers.

Finally, he looks the smaller man in the eyes and then grins deviously before clocking him in the face.

Your hand flies to cover your mouth in shock, but you also can’t say you didn’t see this coming.

Another punch to the stomach and the man doubles over. Klaue grabs the man’s hair and pulls his head up, blood coming from his nose. “I gave you a head start,” he says mockingly. “Would have been wise to take it.”

He tosses the man aside, puts his arm around you, and leads you away.

You go ahead and say goodbye to your friends and the two of you leave the club.

The car ride home is mostly silent. Klaue looks like he’s still in the mindset of a fight. On the steering wheel he flexes his fist where some blood is spattered on his knuckles.

The scene of Klaue defending you plays in your mind again. The way the muscles in his arms flexed and the protective way he held you to him. There is no stopping the arousal building between your legs. You can’t help but shift in the passenger seat, your cunt begging for some kind of attention.

Thankfully Klaue doesn’t notice, but boy do you need to get home before you end up doing something to him while he’s driving.

The two of you stumble tiredly into your apartment, a fit of giggles and roaming hands. You don’t even make it to the bedroom before half of your clothes are off. Your hands hold his face as you kiss him, your body pressing into him, begging for his touch.

The rest of your clothes end up on the floor of your room with his and he’s got you underneath him on the bed, your arms holding you up as he fucks you from behind.

He tightly grips your waist and pulls you back against him as he thrusts his cock into you. A hand smooths over your ass where it stings from where he’s spanked you.

“Such a good girl,” he says. “Taking all of me on your hands and knees.”

You can hardly respond, your senses fogged by the sensation of him filling your cunt entirely.

“Lie down for me, baby,” he instructs.

Klaue slows his thrusts enough to allow you to rest your head on the pillow so that your back is completely arched with your ass sticking up. “That’s it, sweetheart,” Klaue groans as he resumes his pace, his cock driving deeper into you at this angle.

You grip the pillow and use it to stifle your cries of pleasure. “No, no,” he says. You feel his hand tangle into your hair and he grips it to pull your head up from the pillow. “Let me hear you.”

“Yes! Yes, Daddy! Ah!”

“Good girl!”

He releases your hair and he grabs a hold of the flesh at your waist for leverage with such force that you know you’re bound to have some marks. Klaue comes inside you, his warm release coating your walls and you nearly orgasm yourself at the feeling of him marking you from within. He removes himself from you and lies back on the bed gesturing for you to climb on top of him. There’s no hesitation from you. You straddle him and impale yourself on his still hard erection. “Ride me, baby,” he says encouragingly.

You grind yourself against him mercilessly, loving that he’s still holding on to make sure you get yours.Your head lolls to the side when his hand begins to tease your clit. Bracing yourself on his chest, you watch his expressions as his gaze takes you in. He’s eyeing your body with that same look he gets when he wants something. You want to be what he wants. You want to be the treasure he covets, the riches he bathes in. Higher on the rungs of passion you climb, and when your eyes meet his, you let go.

You come hard around his cock with a high pitched moan, your walls clenching tightly then relaxing. You’re squirting more than you ever have.

“Oh, shit,” Klaue hisses as he feels you gush around him.

There’s so much of it coming out of you even with his cock still buried in your cunt. By the end of it, you’re trembling and can hardly hold yourself up. Klaue helps you off of him and sits up. He holds you against him and you nuzzle into his chest. A dull pulse throbs throughout your swollen sex making you shove your hand between your thighs to press against it to quell the feeling.

Klaue instructs you to go get cleaned up in the bathroom. On wobbly legs you do so and change into some sleep clothes. He takes it upon himself to change out the covers and sheets on your bed. You’re a little embarrassed by the mess you’ve made, but he just smirks, kisses your forehead and assures you that it was indeed ‘very hot’.

You’re under the fresh set of covers when Klaue exits the bathroom, also dressed in sleep clothes. You smile thinking about how on board he was with the suggestion of leaving some of his belongings here for his visits. All you had to say was that it saved on traveling expenses and he left you with some money to stock up your apartment with his things.

He did comment how no other belongings resided in your apartment except yours and his, but you managed to play it off.

Klaue slips into bed beside you and pulls you close to him.

Morning light coming through the window bathes you in an orange glow. You wake in a blissful state and give your arms and legs a good stretch before you get up. Klaue is not in bed so you assume he’s in the living room and judging from hearing his muffled voice through the door, you are correct.

You head out to the living room and find Klaue talking on his phone pacing around the room.

“Well, that’s unacceptable, now is it?” he shouts. “Listen, if I don’t get what was promised then it’s not gonna be pretty!”

You frown slightly at hearing that it’s of course a business call. You sit on the couch and rest your head in your hands, your elbows on the back of the couch watching him pace. He’s only wearing the lounge pants leaving his torso completely exposed for you to feast your eyes on.

Klaue’s very expressive with his hands so you get to watch the muscles in his arms and shoulders flex as he speaks. Your eyes venture down where tufts of hair decorate his chest. Further down still is his belly where the hair trails down past the hem of his pants.

He says something in Dutch, something you don’t hear him speak often. “Well he’s gonna be rather sorry, isn’t he?”

Klaue’s figure isn’t all muscle, but that’s part of the appeal to you. There are shallow grooves along his form that define his robust build.

He turns on his heel and you get a full view of the tattoos that decorate his head, chest, shoulders, and arms. There’s a few on his back and one on the dip of his hip where the pants are hanging on desperately to the soft contours of his Adonis belt.

You bite your lip; the idea of doing something scandalous while he’s on the phone crossing your mind.

“Pray then, that it arrives on time or it’s gonna be you that they can’t find.”

He hangs up.

“Work?” you ask looking up at him.

“Yeah,” he says walking over to stand right in front of your face.

The pants do nothing to hide his length and it’s eye level with you now. Klaue chuckles and tucks his finger under your chin to lift your head up to him. “I know what you’re thinking,” he says.

Playfully, you scoff and rise from the couch. “No you don’t,” you tease heading to the kitchen.

Klaue follows and sets his phone down on the counter. As you get the coffee pot going you see him rub the back of his neck before crossing his arms and leaning against the counter.

Coffee drips into the pot at a painstakingly slow pace and you know he’s going to say something you don’t want to hear.

“I have to leave day after tomorrow. First thing,” he states.

“What?” you say facing him, unable to hide the disappointment in your voice. “So soon??”

“I’ll have been here for about three days, sweetheart,” he explains nonchalantly. “I told you I would have to cut our time short.”

“You said a few days and now it’s the day after tomorrow!”

There’s no hiding the frustration in your voice.

Klaue furrows his brow in confusion at your outburst of emotion. Mildly annoyed, he steps around you to get to the coffee pot and grabs a mug.

“You’ve never left so soon before!” you say.

Panic is settling into you when he doesn’t respond. He just pours the coffee into his cup and goes back to where he was leaning on the counter.

“Say something!” you shout.

“What do you want me to say, hm?” He takes a drink from his cup.

“Uri,” you say softly moving to stand beside him. “Ulysses...”

He's silent and just watching you, waiting for what you’ll say.

There’s no stopping the words now. You’re not ready for this, but the air feels thinner now. The words boil over in your throat and burn your tongue like fire. You can’t bite them back and they pour out.

“I don’t want you to go.”

#ulysses klaue x reader #ulysses klaue #klaue x reader #IAFMWBTY #klaue

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darsynia · 1 year ago

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Present Imperfect | Ch. 2: Day Two

TONY STARK MASTERLIST | STORY MASTERLIST | PREV | NEXT

Summary: After losing Pepper to Extremis, Tony decides to get the shrapnel (and thus his arc reactor) removed-- but he wakes up as President of the United States.

Tony's heart surgery is the last thing he remembers, a worst-case amnesia scenario that leaves the country with a leader who doesn't remember the last year of office, the election, or his marriage to the First Lady, Natasha Romanoff Stark. Length/Warnings: 3,195 words // None this chapter

Tags: @sobeautifullyobsessed @chickensarentcheap (whoops I did say I'd tag you sorry to forget!)

Excerpt:

“What’s up, Buttercups?” Tony asks the three men. He leans back in his chair, wishing the chair-desk configuration allowed for his feet up on the top of it. Anything to add to the list of aberrant behaviors on both sides.

“More condolence calls tomorrow,” Tweedle-Dour announces as he hands over a folder.

“Bummer.”

Tweedle-Glum’s suit looks like it could have been mass-produced at the same place as his buddy’s, and so does his expression. Crucially, though, he doesn’t do more than glower at Tony’s inappropriate attitude.

Mentally, he puts a giant red X over the ‘is this real’ board, Family Feud style. He’d never run for President, but even if he did, Tony wouldn’t hire these jackalopes.

Day Two

Tony’s internal clock wakes him up at 5:55. Other than the red of the digital clock, there’s no light in the room at all, not even the glow of his arc reactor. He runs his fingers over its slightly-raised cover and tries to make out Natasha’s sleeping figure beside him. Both seem like enigmas he’ll need to decipher in order to feel comfortable in this strange existence, but the arc is more pressing; the insert must be replaced at some point. Even though he hasn’t been using its power for anything more than magnetic resistance, Tony doesn’t know how long it’s been since the last change. He’s spent time during every bathroom break seeking a quick release or access panel to no avail.

As he’d hoped, his eyes adjust to the dim shadows of the room, and Tony can see that Nat is on her side facing him, one hand up by her face, the other thrown up over her head, buried in the space between the mattress and the headboard. It occurs to him that she doesn’t look that much different in the darkness from Pepper, but he doesn’t feel the frantic clench of grief he’d fought so hard in the months leading up to his surgery.

Does that mean that five years have really passed?

“Hate to break it to you, sweetheart, but I was brute force eye candy that day. Even if I'd been right next to Cap, I'm not sure I’d have been able to secure the thing if the other option was watching Rogers fight a Loki-ganger of himself,” Tony says breezily. It’s mostly true; he was in on the decisions of where to keep the scepter, even helped design the security measures to keep it out of nefarious hands, but he doesn’t know exactly where it is.

That thought stays with him over the course of getting dressed (in clothes she hands over yet again. Tony doesn’t complain because the dress shirt is actually his favorite), while he eats breakfast in a small ante-room with a complete stranger who claims he’s Tony’s National Security Advisor, and even at the beginning of the meeting directly after breakfast.

What finally distracts him from thoughts of Natasha is the focus of that meeting-- defense and deterrence.

“Sir, I fear it may be time to draw on your former SHIELD contacts. We may no longer have the Tesseract, but with access to your improved arc technology, we may be able to take another look at the weaponry Director Fury placed on hold after the--”

“No!” The outburst comes from one of the men farther down the table, someone Tony’s not even sure was introduced to him. “We should skip ahead, ask for the scepter!”

“Darby, I’m still not certain the ‘secure location’ you claim to be keeping that thing isn’t actually ‘wherever the fuck Loki is!’” the National Security Advisor scoffs.

“I wouldn’t know.” Darby levels a scornful look across the stretch of table at Tony. “He probably would.”

“Hate to break it to you, sweetheart, but I was brute force eye candy that day. Not sure I would have been able to secure it if the other option was watching Rogers fight a Loki-ganger of himself, even if I was up there,” Tony says breezily. It’s mostly true; he was in on the decisions of where to keep the scepter, even helped design the security measures to keep it out of nefarious hands, but he doesn’t know exactly where it is.

“Straight out of the ‘don’t give away state secrets’ handbook,” the guy mutters under his breath as the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff weighs in.

Tony’s glad he’s staying calm, but he marks another chalk line on his mental tally board on the side of ‘not real.’ He knows this is a meeting of insiders, but would someone at Darby’s level really treat the President of the United States with such disrespect?

Someone speaks up to question the concept of using the scepter at all, but the attitude of the others at the table has grown chilly. He sees one of the note-takers seated against the wall tap his watch, and seconds later, a bigwig's phone lights up. That man (he’s wearing a uniform, but Tony can’t remember what his official role is) stands and apologizes before stating that they’ll need to gather more information before they reconvene.

Tony makes another mental tally mark.

For the rest of the day, he makes it a point to seem antsy, to need something in his hands to settle himself. He walks around the room in each meeting, opens drawers, pokes around on shelves, steals pens from desks, all sorts of stuff. By dinner, he asks to change his sweaty socks and nips into the bedroom to unload the booty from his pockets into his pillowcase.

Tony figures if there are cameras in the bedroom it’ll prompt a conversation about why he’s stockpiling, so it’s a win/win. Just in case, he baits Cora right before he sits down to eat by telling her he doesn’t want anyone to touch his bed.

“It doesn’t feel like the world can fall apart around my ears if my bed is made, you know? You know.”

Natasha isn’t at dinner, but the SHIELD guy Randall Darby is, ostensibly as the guest of another ‘senior advisor’ who seems to consider this a work dinner. The two of them sound jovial, but in reality, they’re laser-focused on the scepter, to the point where Tony really wants to just ask them why they think he’ll have any idea about it, if he’s got a five year gap in his memory!

The memory thing is still a secret between himself and few others, so he employs his very best distraction techniques, the stuff he’d had to use on Stane when his former mentor-turned-enemy had wanted to misuse one of Tony’s inventions.

“The truth is, we’ll be at these bastards’ mercy if we don’t respond decisively and soon.”

This is the fourth time he’s heard the same sentiment, and it’s taking real effort not to roll his eyes. “And I’ve said I hear you on that. I don’t know what you propose we do when the intelligence we’re getting about this is that they were coordinated by a group with a lot of funding and an intricate, practically untraceable network!”

Not for the first time since he’s found himself in this hellscape, Tony thinks that JARVIS would probably be able to trace the terrorists. The code he’d come up with to snoop at SHIELD used the kind of random-seeming data points that has had great success in flushing out insidious trends and dangerous weaknesses. It’s another hash mark in the column for ‘not real’ that there’s no JARVIS here, not even a carefully compartmentalized version with quarantined net access.

He’s startled out of his distracted thoughts when Darby slams his hand on the table.

“Goddamnit, sir, we need to move on this!”

Tony shoots him a withering look, but Darby’s expression doesn’t change. In fact, he looks more upset than he did before, as though he expects a conciliatory answer from the President of the United States. The other man at the table moves his hand to rest it on Darby’s arm, prompting him to say, “I apologize, sir. Some of the people we lost were personal friends. It’s hard to stand by and seem to do nothing.”

“I can’t make such a decision unilaterally. If you truly think that’s our best option, I’d like a proposal with conclusions and a concrete plan by this time tomorrow.” Tony stands up. He’s used to managing Obie, who was managing him in return. At least in the beginning, it had been with the kind of begrudging, sometimes annoyed respect that recognized how much they needed each other. Darby’s parting handshake leaves no such impression.

Noting the difference gives Tony an idea, however.

“Cora, I want to see all the news articles about SHIELD operations, including those we know are related, even if the journalists didn’t know it at the time. Just send them along as soon as you get access-- we still printing out everything?” he says as he walks with his Secret Service detail through the ante-room outside the Fauxval Office, as he’s started to call it. He’s not unused to having bodyguards, but he is used to those guards being people he knows and trusts. These are neither. “And where is my wife?”

He shuts the door shortly after giving the order, but opens it again seconds later.

“Another thing: I want to talk to my doctor as soon as possible,” he says, shutting the door again. It occurs to him after he sits down at the desk that Presidents don’t tend to tell people what to do by opening the door, yelling orders through the gap, and shutting it again. Then again, Presidential staff doesn’t act the way these people have for the past two days, either. Something is wrong, but he can’t decide whether his dedicated team is trying to limit his exposure to people who can tell he’s having memory issues (a long-shot option that isn’t any more unrealistic than a coordinated bio attack across the nation’s capital), or because this is all a farce and he’s just finished going through a mock shrapnel-removing surgery.

How much easier would it be to believe the former if he hadn’t found the makeup covering the IV bruising in his arm?

Tony sets his elbows down on the desk and rubs his eyes with his palms, just for a few seconds. He’s confused, frustrated, and anxious, exactly the mood you want the subject of a psy-op to be in.

Well, if this is an op, they’re going to have to work for it.

Instead of looking at the documents he’s meant to be reading during this twenty minute section of time before a final wrap-up with the senior staff, Tony slides his chair back and starts opening drawers. The next time he sees Nat, he intends to ask her about the IV and watch her reaction closely.

When Cora and the three goobers he supposedly trusts above everyone else come by for the ‘senior staff meeting,’ Tony doesn’t even hide the shit he’d dug out of the desk: two different kinds of small screwdrivers, an earpiece reminiscent of the stuff they wear for Avenging, a handful of bolts, and a truly odd number of mechanical pencils. These things can be explained.

The number of important-looking folders filled with blank paper cannot. He’ll confront Natasha with his evidence tonight, after they’re left alone; he’s already pocketed a couple of the pencils and two miniature notebooks from a recognizable D.C. stationery company.

“More condolence calls tomorrow,” Tweedle-Dour announces as he hands over a folder.

“Bummer.”

Mentally, he puts a giant red X over the ‘is this real’ board, Family Feud style. He’d never run for President, but even if he did, Tony wouldn’t hire these jackalopes.

“All right, well, it seems that the President’s stress might be finally getting to him,” Cora says with a strained smile.

Whoever she is, she’s got real power, Tony notes to himself, seeing the men arrayed in front of him stiffen minutely before collectively agreeing to leave the room.

“Anything else on my itinerary, Boss?” he asks Cora when they’re gone.

“Might get to bed early for once, Sir.” Her expression is impassive. Tony interprets that as concern.

He gets up and does a sequence of snap claps with his hands, meaning to signal that he's relaxed. “Bed, but not sleep, if I’m lucky!” he jokes. “Speaking of which…”

“The First Lady is already in the Presidential, Sir, reading a briefing book for the Summit for Child Mental Health tomorrow.”

“She planning to zoom in? On a computer, not Marine One,” he teases. Cora’s demeanor, which had been warm on day one, is decidedly frigid in response to this. Tony wonders if that has anything to do with the way he’d scooped up every single random piece of crap on his desk and shoved them ostentatiously into his pocket. Does she know he’s planning to fuck with the cover on his arc with those screwdrivers? Can she risk giving the game away by trying to stop him?

He’s not even sure if he hopes so. It depends on where Natasha falls.

Unlike the day before, Cora doesn’t accompany him to the bedroom. He imagines she has some notes to make about his obvious rebellion against whatever the fuck is going on.

Natasha is sitting up in bed with a binder when he walks in. Her hair is down, and he notes that the curls that brush her shoulders are only a little longer than they were the last time he’d seen her. Tony can tell she’s aware of his presence in the room, but she’s still focused on the pages in front of her.

He slides his hands into the pockets of his slacks and just stands there looking at her for a while. It’s not a hardship. Natasha Romanoff is one of the most stunning women he’s ever met, even with the access that his money brings him in places like Hollywood and New York. She’s also the most poised. He’s deliberately trying to unnerve her, but whether she seems to notice will depend on where her allegiances lie. That doesn’t mean it won’t work. Either she’s on his side, or she isn’t.

“A picture would last longer,” she finally says, two and a half minutes into his perusal.

“I figured the wedding ring superceded that.”

Nat looks up and favors him with a wry smile. “Sure it does, but unless you pull over a chair, you’re going to get tired eventually.”

“I never get tired of how beautiful you are,” Tony says honestly.

They’re looking directly at each other, so he catches the effect his words have on her. Natasha’s expression flickers just slightly, eyes widening, lips parting, head moving back in surprise despite years of discipline. A second later, there’s a snapping sound, and she swears under her breath, shaking out her hand.

“You ok?”

“Yeah, these pencils are shit,” she says, swinging her legs over the side of the bed to get up and holding out one hand to show him the shattered remains. Tony ducks into the bathroom and meets her halfway with the small garbage can. After a smile of appreciation, Nat says, “You should change, the itinerary has you up at six again tomorrow.”

He nods, planning to be acquiescent right up until he’s not. Tony takes his time changing, standing beside the bed, but he does turn his back to swap from dress pants to pajama pants. She doesn’t need the information that his body isn’t completely disinterested.

Because his pants pockets are yet again filled with contraband, he’d set them down gently on the bed. Now that he’s done the Mr. Rogers thing and put on more innocuous clothing, it’s time to turn the tables. He starts taking each object out to set it down in front of his pillow. One screwdriver. Two flimsy mechanical pencils. Four bolts. Another screwdriver. A metal cylinder he’s unsure the purpos-- ah! A flashlight.

Tony tucks that into the pocket of his pajama top, glancing over at Nat as he does so. She’s studiously reading the binder, meaning she’s completely focused on him. Good.

After he removes the rest of the items from his pants pockets, he tosses the garment over his shoulder with no regard of where it’ll land. Natasha doesn’t react. His lips twitching with the need to smile, smirk, frown, something, Tony pulls out the flashlight, grabs the smallest of the screwdrivers, and starts unbuttoning his shirt.

“Tony?”

“Yes dear?”

“Are those sterilized?”

She’s still not looking over. For the first time since all of this started, he feels normal again, if only for those few seconds before he looks down at the screwdriver. Ridiculously, it’s got a sticker on it, ‘Property of the White House.’

He bursts out laughing. Tossing the damned thing on the bed again, Tony buttons back up and tucks the flashlight into his breast pocket. Balancing his contraband in one hand, he tugs at the pillow with the other, listening intently.

It jingles.

Natasha’s shoulders start to shake, and he can’t resist his own grin. Whatever is going on, she doesn’t have all of her barriers up. Instead of revealing his stash, Tony drops his treasure on the bedside table, letting it fall from far enough up that it makes noise.

“Hope they don’t have a mic hidden in the clock. That would be unfortunate.”

Her expression remains neutral. “Mmmhmm.”

“You have much more of that to read?”

“Hht mm.”

“Good.”

He watches her, and this time she breaks after thirty or so seconds.

“Something you need?”

“Yeah,” Tony says softly, crossing his arms. He knows she’ll notice the body language/tone of voice dichotomy. “When’s the last time we had sex?”

Natasha lifts her head, lips twisting in a movement he’d be hard-pressed to describe with words, but which absolutely means she’s girding herself for battle. After letting out a little breath, she closes the binder and looks over at him.

“You don’t remember?”

He angles his head sternly. “You know I don’t. Everything’s going to fall down around our ears if you try to tell me no one made provisions for privacy in here.”

Fluidly, Nat gets up, the sheet falling away from her oversized, fluffy robe, which sways open in turn, giving him the smallest glimpse of crimson silk. It only takes her a few steps to set down her binder on the chest of drawers, but Tony’s still processing what he’d seen when she turns around. With an impudent look, Natasha crosses her arms too, as though daring him to admire the way the stress on her clothing accentuates her now-visible cleavage.

With a pang, Tony understands she’s made a mistake: Nat’s allowed herself to feel comfortable enough to tease him-- except, this wouldn’t be a tease if they really are who she’s claiming they are. Not in the way that challenging stance of hers is framing it.

If she were really Mrs. Natasha Romanoff Stark, she’d be far more brazen, because she’d trust him. She’d dare him to undress her. Hell, she’d be doing it herself. For a split second, he lets himself picture that, a world where they really are the leaders of the free world, with money, power, and sex appeal enough to scandalize the world.

He… doesn’t hate it.Tony hopes he doesn’t hate what they really are, instead.

Next Chapter...

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