#one wrong move and I’ll end up in his lane help

[luverleaver]

it’s a josh day for me

[violetrainbow412-blog]

Day 27: afternoon stroll

Masterlist flufftober 🎃

Warnings: moral dilemmas, age gap (r is 25 and Spencer is 40) a cocktail of feelings, relationship between ex-teacher and ex-student, and I think that's it!

Going grocery shopping was one of the most ordinary things you could do. There wasn’t much to it, so it wasn’t exactly an activity that brought you much excitement.

However, that day, it wasn't just a routine. You knew it when, at the end of the line in one of the checkout lanes, you recognized a tall man in a suit. It had been three years since you last saw your professor, and, to be honest, just the sight of him made your heart race just like it used to. I'd dare to say it was even more intense now.

You tried to keep your composure, and for a second, you wondered what you should do. You glanced down at yourself, grateful you’d decided to wear something decent that day: straight-cut black pants, a long-sleeved, lightweight white shirt over a black bra, intentionally chosen to show through a bit.

You hesitated, wondering if you should walk up and get in the same line he was in, or maybe choose the one next to his just to wave hello, or if it would be inappropriate to go up and hug him, or if…

Oh, no. He’d seen you. You couldn’t help feeling a rush of excitement at the way his face lit up when he saw you or at the smile that spread across his lips, but there it was. He was just as handsome as before, maybe even more with the passing years. He looked gorgeous.

"Hey! It’s been so long!"

Your feet practically moved on their own toward him, still reeling from the whirlwind of feelings and passions you’d once harbored for your professor. You knew it was wrong, ethically and morally inappropriate, but you couldn’t help feeling what you felt.

"It really has been, Professor," you managed to respond.

You moved as if to initiate a hug, which he returned without hesitation, holding you around your waist with his free hand and pressing a gentlemanly kiss to your cheek. You felt like you could die from how red your face must’ve been.

"Please, don’t call me 'Professor.' It feels strange now," he smiled, amused. "I’m just Spencer."

"Alright then, Pro– Spencer," you corrected yourself. You savored his name on your lips and realized it felt just right.

"So, what have you been up to? Come, I’ll let you take my place in line," he offered.

“Oh, no, that’s okay. I’ll just get in line behind you.”

“I insist,” he said cordially. You could never say no to him; you never could.

You ended up giving in, feeling oddly cared for when he offered to help with what you were carrying. He was still every bit the gentleman, the kind you rarely encountered anymore.

“I’ve been well,” you replied, remembering he’d asked you a question. You were standing completely in front of him, not wanting to miss a second of looking at him. “I’m working at an accounting firm now. It’s not my dream job, but at least it’s stable and pays the bills. What about you? Are you still teaching, or did you go back to the Behavioral Analysis Unit?”

“I went back to the unit,” he said, in that gentle voice you’d always adored hearing. “But I retired just a month ago.”

“Why?”

“A lot of things happened, and… I don’t know. I just felt it was time to take a break. They said the doors are always open for me, but I’m trying to live as peacefully as I can.”

“Well, that makes sense,” you encouraged him. “I’m glad to hear that; your health is the most important thing.”

There was something in Spencer’s expression you couldn’t quite read. Maybe it was just your love-struck mind imagining that he was looking at you with a mix of nostalgia, affection, and pride. His brown eyes shone in the sunlight, and it was enough to make you feel dizzy.

"Yes, but honestly, I’ve started feeling a bit restless with the inactivity. Next month, I might either pursue another PhD or find a job in my field that’s less demanding."

"Sometimes I forget you’re a genius," you murmured without thinking, your voice laced with pure admiration. "It’s so normal for you to take on a PhD as a hobby."

"Knowledge always opens doors. The more you know, the closer you get to finding the truth of who you are."

For a moment, you felt like you were back in one of his lectures and smiled shyly. He was such a mature man, with such a wealth of wisdom, that you could listen to him talk for hours about anything and never get bored.

Your gaze stayed locked on his for a few seconds, almost hypnotized, until the cashier called your attention to start ringing up your items.

Spencer studied your purchases carefully: a loaf of bread, a pack of cranberries, yogurt, some shampoo, and men’s deodorant. He thought about that last product. He had no doubt a woman could use such things, but it didn’t quite seem like your style. You smelled like something he identified as peonies and roses, so it didn’t make sense for you to choose a pine-scented deodorant.

It must be for a man. A man you were in a relationship with.

You paid. Then it was Spencer’s turn: a bag of coffee, honey, a package of walnuts, almonds, and dried fruit, a few pens, a notebook on sale, a jar of pain relievers, and a bottle of vitamins. Finally, there was a package of diapers for a newborn and a bib with the phrase: Snack now, think later.

Just as he had done with you, you analyzed the items, and, of course, that last one caught your attention.

He wasn’t buying those baby items just for fun, was he?

Your heart sank a bit as you understood what it implied: he’d just become a father.

“Thank you, miss. Have a nice day,” Spencer said, as polite as ever.

You stayed out of courtesy, watching him put his items in a plastic bag. Then he started to walk, and you followed.

"I guess this is where we say goodbye, huh?" you said. You didn’t want to sound hurt, but it came through. “It was nice seeing you, Spencer.”

"Do you want me to walk you home?"

That question left you in a dilemma. You looked at his left hand for a wedding ring, but there wasn’t one. The thought that your professor, whom you admired so much and had fallen in love with, might be the kind of man who took off his wedding ring to seduce young women disgusted you.

The sound of a phone interrupted the moment; it was his ringing.

“Hello?” he murmured. You hadn’t said goodbye, so you stayed in place. “I got Pampers, yes. I read that’s the best brand for newborns; they’re super absorbent and have a wetness indicator. And I found a really cute bib. Uh-huh, I’ll be there soon. Did you invite everyone? Great, I can’t wait to see them. See you, take care.”

Hearing his warm, affectionate tone made you feel envious; you wished you were the woman on the other end of the line.

“Your wife?” you asked.

“Wife? No, not at all,” he shook his head, almost offended. “That was my former unit chief; she just had a baby, and we agreed to meet up today with some friends.”

“Oh! For a… for a moment, I thought that was for your baby.”

“No,” he chuckled softly. “I haven’t had that good fortune yet.”

You’d never really wanted children, but at that moment, your insides turned completely at just the thought of him speaking to you with the same warmth he had with his coworker.

“Do you really need to hurry to that get-together? I mean, if you’re still planning to walk me home?”

“Not at all.”

“I take the metro from Station 17 to get there.”

“That’s funny! I’m going to the same station. We could walk there together and then go our separate ways.”

You eagerly agreed to the idea, and the two of you left the store. In the first block, you talked about general things. He noticed you’d dyed your hair, and you complimented his, which looked really good.

The tension between you two was palpable, and all you wanted to do was let out the feelings you’d kept hidden all this time. At first, you’d thought it was just a silly crush, mere admiration. But as time went on, it became harder to deny the obvious. You wanted to be his favorite; you wanted him to focus on you, so you’d done everything to be his best student.

Five years after meeting him, you knew for sure that what you felt was love. He was a bright light, and you were just a moth, desperate to get closer.

"It feels like it was just yesterday when I was running around campus, worried about exams, essays… but I never forgot your classes. You were always a different kind of professor. You didn’t just care about us understanding the material; you cared about how we thought. I’d never felt so listened to," you whispered, watching the leaves fall from the now-orange trees.

You were walking through an incredibly quiet neighborhood; it was almost just you and him.

"Well, you were a brilliant student. You always asked questions that made me think, and that doesn’t happen often."

Oh, that validation. It felt like an elixir running through your veins.

“Was it just my imagination, or was I your favorite student?”

“It wouldn’t be ethical to say.”

“I’m not your student anymore, so you can be completely honest with me.”

Spencer shifted slightly, as if mulling over your words. You were right; you weren’t his student anymore, and he needed to stop seeing you as such.

“I wouldn’t say there was favoritism, but I particularly enjoyed working with you. You were very dedicated, your work was always flawless, and you always asked how you could improve. I think it was just that you were the kind of student every professor dreams of having.”

“Oh, Doctor Reid, I’m blushing,” you joked, though you couldn’t help the flirty tone that slipped in. “Sometimes I wonder what would’ve happened if we’d met under different circumstances. If I hadn’t been in college, as your student.”

It was a subtle but significant statement.

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know, it’s just… you’re such an interesting person, and sometimes I wish I’d met you in a less formal setting. Maybe we could’ve been friends.”

Spencer looked at you for a moment, as if weighing your words. His lips curved into a faint smile before his gaze turned more serious, as if allowing himself to be vulnerable, if only for a second.

“You know, I’m not sure we could’ve been just friends,” he confessed, his voice soft, almost a whisper that the wind could’ve carried away at any moment. “You were always more than just an outstanding student. You made me question things I thought I had all figured out.”

Your heart skipped a beat at those words. It was like he was finally opening that door both of you had kept closed for so long. The world around you seemed to fall silent, wrapping you in a bubble where only your gazes and the sound of your shallow breaths existed.

"Really?" you smiled, trying not to let on just how deeply his words affected you. “I always thought I was just another student to you, but… you always felt like someone special to me. Like… like everything I did only made sense because you were there, listening.”

Spencer laughed softly, a laugh that almost sounded nervous, as if he himself were processing his feelings.

"Maybe you see me as someone who has all the answers, but if you knew how many times I tried to avoid… what I was feeling."

He looked at you out of the corner of his eye, as if afraid to expose too much. Your heart was about to burst out of your chest, and everything around you spun.

“Sometimes I wondered if I was just imagining it.”

“No, you weren’t imagining it. It wasn’t easy for me. I knew I was crossing an emotional boundary, even though I never let it go further. There was an attraction, of course. But it was my responsibility to stay professional. I couldn’t fail you in that.”

The tension between you grew with every step you took. The street seemed to stretch endlessly as both of you searched for the right words to express what you really felt. Minutes passed, but the silence between you wasn’t uncomfortable. Instead, each second you shared without speaking seemed to fill the air with emotions that didn’t need explaining. And yet, deep down, you knew that time was running out. In the distance, you could already see the entrance to the metro station.

“You know, I never thought seeing you again after so long would affect me this much,” you said finally, not daring to look at him, as if admitting it in a low voice made you feel safer. He watched you with a mixture of tenderness and uncertainty.

“To be honest, I didn’t think I’d feel this way, either. I’d convinced myself that… that what I felt was simply admiration.”

His words made you stop, looking into his eyes with a surprised expression. It was a gesture that denoted an unusual transparency in him, as if he felt more vulnerable than he was willing to admit.

“Admiration?” you smiled, though you felt a pressure in your chest you could hardly bear. “And now? What do you feel now, Spencer?”

Spencer. He was no longer your professor; he was simply Spencer.

He lowered his gaze, searching for words he’d likely been repressing for years. The sound of his unsteady breathing was all you heard before he spoke again, in a voice low but clear.

“What I feel now… I don’t think there’s an easy word for it. But it’s something I thought I’d never have to confront.”

You were taken aback by that confession, but it filled you with such a wave of relief that it almost made you dizzy. You felt vulnerable, exposed, but also free. You decided it was time to stop measuring your words, to stop being afraid.

“Spencer, I… I fell in love with you when I was still in college. I always told myself it was just a crush, that it would pass. But I carried you in my mind, in my memories. I haven’t stopped thinking about you since I graduated. And now I can’t deny that, even after all these years, I still love you.”

He closed his eyes for a moment, as if processing everything you had just said. When he looked at you again, his eyes were like a deep ocean of emotions, and you couldn’t help but feel as if the entire world had stopped around you.

“What about your boyfriend?”

You didn’t want to ask how he’d picked up on that. But in the end, denying it would’ve been useless.

“My life hasn’t turned out the way I expected. I’m in a relationship that doesn’t fulfill me, and when I compare it to what I felt with you, even though nothing happened, I realize how empty it feels now. It’s like… I don’t know, like I’m just settling.”

You were still standing on the sidewalk. The wind brushed softly against your ears.

“It’s hard when you realize what you have isn’t what you thought it would be. Comfort isn’t enough; you want something deeper, something meaningful. And sometimes, I feel just as lost. My career has been my life for so long that, even though I’m successful, there are moments when I wonder if I’ve missed out on something important. Something I may never have. Sometimes, I wonder if it’s too late.”

You felt like you were going to throw up. All you wanted was for it to end, for him to lean in and kiss you.

You took a step forward.

“There’s nothing between us now. I’m no longer your student.”

"I’ve thought about that. But it wasn’t just the fact that you were my student. The age gap also complicated things. I mean, I’m fifteen years older than you. I couldn’t ignore how inappropriate that would’ve been."

“Fifteen years… yeah, that’s quite a bit. But I don’t think that would’ve mattered so much if we hadn’t been in the situation we were in.”

“It’s not just that, sweetheart,” sweetheart. “You’re young, you have your whole life ahead of you, full of possibilities. I couldn’t allow myself… to interfere with that. It wouldn’t be fair to you.”

“You’re talking as if you’re condemning me to a life sentence. And it’s not like that.”

Spencer took a deep breath, holding eye contact for a moment before speaking honestly.

“Still, the age difference will always be there.”

“What are you worried about? What people might think?”

“It’s not just that, but how it would affect you in the long term. A fifteen-year age gap can be a chasm.”

“Maybe. But connections don’t always follow set rules. What I felt then was real. What I feel now is real, too. And I don’t think age changes that.”

Were you seriously confessing your love to this man on that street? After seeing him again for less than an hour? Were you really that desperate for him?

In theory, he had already confessed to you. And that was only proof of how much you both had longed for each other, despite the years that had passed.

In a bold move, you took another step toward him. Your hands reached up to his cheeks, and he felt like he was out of breath.

“You’re an extraordinary man, Spencer. You’re gentle, intelligent, you’re a gentleman, you’re… you’re like a dream. And any woman would be lucky to have you. But if you don’t want me to be that woman, I respect that.”

“Don’t do that,” he groaned. Your fingers felt like fire burning his skin. “Don’t make me say something that isn’t true.”

“Sometimes you meet the right person at the wrong time. You want that family, you want to experience everything you missed out on. I want security, attention… I want you.”

He closed his eyes, defeated. A storm of emotions swirled within him.

“We need to take this slow; it’s… it’s a lot to process.”

You nodded and stepped back. For a moment, he thought he’d made a mistake, especially when he was met with the coldness of his skin now that you weren’t touching him. But a second later, you handed him your phone.

“Give me your number. After we’ve both had time to think about this, you’ll call me, and we’ll go out to dinner. If you’re not sure, we’ll just go our separate ways. If you are… we’ll decide what to do.”

It wasn’t a suggestion; it was a command. There was no room for argument.

He typed in the digits, almost trembling with nerves, and felt ridiculous for showing himself so vulnerable in front of you. But you were breaking down every ethical boundary he believed he had; dating a former student… what kind of person did that make him?

However, as he returned your phone and looked at you, he realized that you were no longer a child. He was not taking advantage of you at all; you were an adult capable of making your own decisions. And you were choosing him. Above everyone else, he was the one you wanted.

You called, and Reid's barely modern phone vibrated in his pocket, signaling that he now had your number too. Spencer watched you with a mix of nostalgia and resolve, as if this were the last second before the world began to spin again and forced them back into their lives.

Finally, he sighed, lowering his gaze slightly, as if he wanted to hide a vulnerability he rarely showed.

"I don’t want to hurt you," he said quietly, with a sincerity that broke your heart. "I don’t know if it’s fair that, after so long, we reopen this door just to risk things not working out."

"We’ll never know if we don’t try," you whispered, trying to stay calm.

He nodded slowly, processing your words, and then, very slowly, took a step toward you, getting close enough for the murmur of his voice to be almost a whisper next to your ear.

"Okay," was all he managed to say. His eyes reflected the same longing and uncertainty that you felt inside.

You walked in silence to the station, and once there, there was no verbal goodbye. You simply moved closer to him, wrapped him in a hug, and he responded with a deep kiss on the cheek.

He went to the right. You went to the left.

Once you were seated on the subway, you felt your phone vibrate with a message.

Hi. I’m Spencer. Please keep in touch. I don’t want to miss you.

And all the way home, you smiled.

[btsugarush]

GANGSTA | myg - 002

summary: rough sex, blood money, drugs, and gang related activity; four things you never predicted to experience in your simple life. not until you opened your mouth and caught his attention

pairings: gang leader!yoongi x f!reader

warnings: smut, gunplay, drugs, drug addiction, dark!yoongi, drug lord!yoongi, strong language, gang violence, blood and gore, murder, manipulation, possessive/obsessive behavior, abuse, cheating, angst, fluff, dubcon, implied noncon (not from yoongi but within his gang with his knowledge), 18+, minors dni

word count: 3K

author’s note: sorry if you asked to be on the taglist and didn’t make it. i’ve reached over 50 and couldn’t add anymore people. i’ll add more of you in the comments.

“I’m glad you’re okay after all of that,” Jungkook says on the other end of your phone; you had just spilled about the chaotic situation at Makoto as it was still weighing heavily on your mind. You couldn’t shake what Jimin had said about that Yoongi guy killing someone, though it could have just been a rumor. If he had actually taken someone’s life there would be no way they would allow him to walk the streets. He’d be too much of a flight risk.

“You should really be careful in the future. I know you like to stand up for people that can’t stand up for themselves, but Yoongi is bad news. There’s no telling what he would’ve done to you on the wrong day.”

“So you know him too?” You quiz. It seemed as though everyone knew who this guy was besides you. Maybe you don’t get out enough. Or maybe you were just good at staying away from trouble– until this afternoon at least. “I know of him, but not personally. He came to the shop once like five months ago with the same tall guy you were talking about. He told my coworker Si-Woo to step outside, and the next thing you know he's pistol-whipping him nearly to death. Rumor around the shop was that Si-Woo sold drugs for Yoongi, and owed him a lot of money.”

“Really?” Your mouth drops in shock. “What did Si-Woo say about it?”

“He never talked about it, ended up quitting the next day, and told us ‘not to get the police involved because it wouldn’t be of any help and it was all just a misunderstanding’.” He quoted. “Well, three days later Si-Woo’s body was found hacked to pieces and stuffed in a suitcase behind an alley on Gongdan lane.”

You heard about that case on the news some time ago, but had no clue that Jungkook knew the victim on an intimate level. It honestly made you shiver a bit. Imagine being the one to discover the body, and how gruesome the sight must have been. Stuff like that was common in slum areas though. Crime was especially high in Gongdan lane of all places, which is why you made sure to never venture in that area. “You think Yoongi had something to do with his murder?”

Jungkook scoffed. “The guy was viciously pistol-whipping him three days before his body was identified. I know he had something to do with it, but none of us were willing to risk going to the cops, so we just moved on like it didn’t happen.” Jungkook pauses for a moment before he speaks again. “You know… sometimes I think that maybe we could’ve saved his life if we did report the incident. Sometimes I still look at his station and feel like he’s there, tattooing.” He sighs heavily, like it was a great weight lifted from his shoulders to even tell you.

“You did what you felt was necessary. As fucked up as it may seem, you had to think about what was best for you.” You try your best to comfort him as he seemed to hold on to a lot of guilt regarding Si-Woo’s death, and reminiscing didn’t help. To have the man who could have potentially murdered your friend roaming free to terrorize all of Daegu couldn’t be a great feeling. You felt for him.

“I know. It’s just fucked to know he went through such a fucked up death. I don’t even want to imagine how scared he must’ve been,” you could hear clanking on the other end, as though he was biting down on his lip piercing. “I don’t even like the thought of knowing you tangled with them. He seems the type to hold grudges, and I don’t want you to get hurt. I’d lose my shit and go after him myself.”

You smile softly. “And I just know you’d kick his ass, my tough Kookie.” You both laugh at the nickname, which is one of many you had with the word ‘cookie’ in it. You could be so cheesy sometimes, but Jungkook loved everything about it. “You don’t have to worry though, apparently he likes me so maybe I’m in the clear?” You say unsuringly, still not understanding what he meant by it. It was very abrupt and cryptic. “Well whatever he meant, he’s out of luck because you’re spoken for.”

“As if he’d ever had a chance to begin with, I don’t think I’d mesh well with a criminal,” You chuckled. “I’m more into sweet, sensitive guys with tattoos and piercings.”

“Yeah? I think I know someone like that.” You could tell that he’s cheesing on the other end, which made you cheese. Everything always felt so natural with Jungkook. Him being your best friend in high school really played hand in hand with that. He was no different from a lover than he was a best friend. You two were absolutely the same and you loved it.

“You should probably get some sleep now, Angel. You don’t want to go to work exhausted, and I don’t wanna be blamed for you oversleeping again.” You simply roll your eyes in a playful manner, but agree nonetheless. You couldn’t chance being up so late, Mr. Kim was very strict about being on time.

“I guess you’re right,” you pout. “Okay, I’ll talk to you tomorrow when I get off work.”

“Okay, Angel. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, Kookie cake.” You pull your phone from your ear, ending the call before you get up from your bed to switch off your bedroom lights. You crawl back onto the mattress, pulling your blanket over your body. Picking your phone back up again, you swipe through your apps until you locate the clock app. You set your alarm to wake you up at 12:00 PM on the dot. Just as you were about to place your phone down on your nightstand, something overcame you and you got the urge to search Yoongi’s name on Google.

When you type in his name, you are shocked to see so many results come up effortlessly. Several different mugshots from several different instances, all dating from when he was a teenager to one that seemed recent. You click on the one that looks most recent, letting it redirect you to the Daegu booking website.

Name: Min Yoongi

Age: 30

BOOKING DETAIL

Status: Released

Building: Public Safety Building

Area: Maledorm

Booking number: 575857

Booking date: 3/26/2023 11:56:00 pm

ARRESTS

Arrest number: 680071205

Arrest date: 3/26/2023 10:06:00 pm

Arresting agency: Daegu Police Department

Agency case number: 25-18056

ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON

ATTEMPTED FIRST-DEGREE MURDER

POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO SELL

You read over the arrests in shock, completely dumbfounded by how a man of his caliber could be released from jail and not behind bars rotting for the rest of his life. He practically lived in jail anyway, why not just keep him there? You eye his mugshot, his intense stare giving you the chills. You didn’t need to wonder how the officer taking the photo must’ve felt considering you too have felt those daggers looking into the depths of your soul.

You pull your sight away from the photo, swiping away the page. You didn’t want to spend any more time on Yoongi. What happened at Makoto is behind you now. You just wanted to forget about the situation, and never run into Yoongi– or Joon for that matter, again. You plug your phone to your charger, sitting the device on your nightstand before you drift off to sleep.

“I was starting to think you weren’t going to show.” Mr. Kim looks surprised as you step into the kitchen, taking an apron from the hook on the wall. “Why wouldn’t I show up?” You quirk a brow, tying the black fabric around your waist. “Because I thought you would’ve been too scared to show your face after going toe to toe with the devil’s minions the other day.”

You click your tongue, your eyes rolling to the back of your head. You couldn’t believe people were still on that. Just as you walked in you overheard a customer whispering ‘she’s still alive?’ to her friend. It’s absurd at this point. “I think everyone is blowing what happened yesterday way out of proportion.” You shake your head, grabbing a notepad and pen from the pencil holder.

“I’d like to say we are, kid, but you got lucky. That Yoongi is no joke to be played with. The guy is a menace. Some people say the only reason he’s not in jail is because he has affiliations within the police unit, and I wouldn’t doubt if it’s true. Our system is corrupt.” The older man sighs. ‘Oh great, here he goes with politics and corruption again…’ you thought. You had better get out on the floor before you’re caught in a whirlwind of it.

You leave him to discuss the topic with himself as you step out onto the floor, and start taking customer orders. “Hey, you’re that crazy girl from yesterday.” A man says as you approach his table. You frown, already knowing what he was referring to, so you avoid it at all cost. “What can I get you?” You redirect the conversation.

“Oh! Uhhh,” he picks up the menu from his table, skimming through it. “I’ll have the Jajangmyeon.” He answers quickly. You scribble down his order. “Anything to drink?” You ask. “Ginseng tea, thank you.” He places the menu back on the table. You nod, taking down his drink. “Okay, I’ll be right back with that tea.” You smile kindly before heading back to the kitchen. You rip the orders from the notepad, clipping them to the ticket holder.

“Hey, kid. We’ve got a delivery order for dumplings.” Mr. Kim informs you as you’re preparing tea for the customer. The older gentleman approaches you, the order already made and secured in a brown bag. You take the bag from him, looking at the order ticket attached to it.

As you read over the address on the ticket, your eyes practically bulge out of your skull. ‘2357 Gongdan Lane’. “Um… Mr. Kim, this location is in the slums of Daegu.” You look at him with concern. “I know.” The man simply nods, taking the tickets you set from the holder. “Yeah, well, I can’t go to Gongdan lane. It’s dangerous, especially for me as a woman.”

“Look kid, I’m sorry. If Jimin was here I’d have him go but he doesn’t work on Saturdays and you’re my only worker.”

“Exactly. I’m the only worker, you need me to be at the shop taking orders.” You knew that wasn’t going to go over as it was a slow day, and there were hardly any customers in the shop to begin with. “I can handle the customers and cook the ramen until you get back.”

You couldn’t believe this. Just as you had prided yourself in never stepping foot in Gongdan, here was this old dirty bastard making you go. On top of that, the restaurant didn’t even own a company car for deliveries so you had to ride a bike. You read over the ticket again, noticing that there wasn’t even a name on the order. “There’s no name on the order, this could be a trick that ends with me getting robbed for free food.”

“All this time wasted on talking about it could be used on getting the delivery done. Stop complaining and do what you’re paid to do. The faster you get it done, the faster you can come back.”

You wanted to stomp your foot like a child and continue to protest, but you couldn’t risk your job by not listening so you did the only sensible thing you could do. Your job. You grab a plastic bag, shoving the brown one inside of it before leaving through the back exit in the kitchen. You spot the red delivery bike lying on the ground, and pick it up, looping the plastic bag around the bike handle.

As you mount the bicycle, you pull out your phone to use your GPS. The ride was about 12 minutes away. If you ride fast you could undoubtedly make it at least an 8 minute ride. You kick back the breaks and set off on your journey. During the ride as you make it into the slum area, you could truly see the separation from Sangsu-dong to Gongdan lane. The sidewalks were cracked and unpaved, the buildings looked more rundown, and homeless people laid out in sleeping bags.

You got an uneasy feeling as you noticed a group of men smoking weed on a corner and intensely watching you go by. You probably stood out like a sore thumb, riding through Daegu’s slummiest on a red bike. You swallowed the lump in your throat, keeping your eyes forward as you paid them no mind. As you continue going, you notice the streets become more isolated. Your GPS directs you to turn, which you follow only to come upon a big warehouse that looked abandoned. ‘You’ve arrived’, your GPS says. You furrow your brows, confusion written over your face.

“Stupid thing must’ve sent me to the wrong location.” You grab the bag of dumplings from the bike handle, circling around the warehouse just in case you were mistaken. You find a door on the other end, cameras surrounding it like it was a government building. You inspect the door, seeing that there was a red button of some sort on it.

You scope the perimeter, making sure no one was trying to sneak attack you. The whole thing seemed completely sketchy. You take a deep breath before pressing down on the button, a loud buzz coming from it. You take a step back, waiting for someone to come open the door. You stood there for about two minutes, not wanting to wait around any longer. You knew this was a scam. You should’ve just gone home and pretended like you delivered the food. It would’ve saved you the trouble. As you turn to walk back to the bike, the door suddenly opens with a loud creaking sound.

You direct your attention back to the door, locking eyes with an individual that you dreaded to ever see again. “Oh my god… i-it’s you…” you stutter in shock, seeing Yoongi stand in the doorway with a smirk plastered on his face. “Wonder Woman, we meet again.”

You’re silent, not really saying a word as you feel too stunned to speak. “You got something for me, sweetheart?” His eyes darted to the bag in your hand. You snap from your fearful trance, remembering why you were there in the first place. “Uh… yeah. Here’s your order.” You stretch out your arm to hand him the bag, not wanting to come any closer. The raven reaches forward, his hand brushing yours as he takes the bag from you. You quickly turn away, rushing back over to your bike.

“Hey, I didn’t get a chance to introduce myself yesterday.” He says, following behind you. “I already know who you are.” You mumble as you mount the red two wheeler. “Really? You didn’t seem to know who I was yesterday. If you did, you wouldn’t have shot your pretty mouth off like that,”

He grabs the handles of your bike, preventing you from leaving. “You look scared. Guess my reputation precedes me.” He says almost too proudly. “Not in a way that a decent human being should want it to, but I guess decency isn’t what you’re aiming for.” you say slickly, which causes the raven to smile. “There goes that smart mouth again,” he ran his tongue over his bottom lip, giving you the same predatory stare from yesterday. “Normally I wouldn’t tolerate anyone getting slick at the mouth with me, but from you it’s kind of a turn on.”

You scowl, ignoring his sexual advance. “Can you let go of my bike? I need to get back to work.”

“How about you let me drive you?” he offers, but you quickly decline. You’d be an idiot to get in the car with a proclaimed murderer. “I’ll take my chances on the bike, thank you.” The raven lets go of the handles, taking a step back to allow you to be on your way. “Be my guest, sweetheart.”

You kick back the break, not wanting to waste any more of your time in Gongdan speaking to this thug. You back away from him, turning the bike to ride down the path you came. “I hope to see you again, Y/N.” He calls out. You come to an abrupt stop, looking back at the raven. How did he know your name? “I don’t remember telling you my name.”

“You didn’t need to. I have my sources and connections, Princess. Whatever I need or want, I get.”

You cringe at the nickname ‘princess’. Jungkook doesn’t even call you that, with all the cheesy nicknames he does use. Him knowing your name suddenly made you question how coincidental this whole encounter was. You were starting to wonder how much about you he knew. As if he read your mind, he starts to read you like an autobiography. “You were born in Busan and raised right here in Daegu, you’re an ex nursing student, an only child, both your parents passed away in a tragic car accident, your best friend is Sang Mina, and your boyfriend is… Jeon Jungkook? Am I right?”

Your heart pounds against your chest as he spoke information that only people close to you would know. You felt sick, creeped out even, but you tried not to display that on your face. “So, I guess you know my work schedule then. You set this little encounter up knowing that I was the only worker today, didn’t you?” the raven simply shrugged like he couldn’t answer whether that was true or not, but you knew that it was. “I don’t know what your deal is, but just stay away from me, okay?”

Yoongi sneered, as he turned on his heels, heading back to the door from once he came. The raven makes sure he gets the last word though.

“I can’t make you any promises, sweetheart. Like I said, whatever I want, I get.”

Taglist

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[raineandsky]

Bite at the Hand That Feeds

(part 1) (part 2) (part 3)

tw: burns, abuse

“Pretty close,” the villain says brightly, “but you’ve done this four times now, and pretty close isn’t close enough. Give me your arm.”

The idea of trying to do anything the villain demands with all of the asshole’s disappointments laid on the hero’s skin is becoming a nightmare. “No.”

“Give me your arm, [Hero], or I’ll take it myself and do it twice.”

Twice the pain. The hero forces his arm out to the villain, his entire body straining to stop him, and with a disinterested hum the villain lays the end of his cigarette on his skin.

“Okay,” the villain says once he lifts the cigarette back to his mouth, relighting its end. “Do it again.”

The hero carefully poises the dagger in his hand, his entire arm screaming with the motion, and brings it down in a carefully practised sweep. The cushion he’s been tragically gutting tears clean open and flicks its fluffy insides all over the floor.

The villain doesn’t say anything for a long moment. The hero risks a glance back at him; the cigarette hangs loosely from his fingers, smoke wafting in front of his face as he stares blankly at his now barely existent cushion.

“Huh,” he says eventually. “You’re finally getting it.”

“If you want me to protect you, why don’t you just let me use something I’m already good at?”

The villain’s gaze slowly tips back up to the hero. “Are you talking back?”

The cigarette moves purposely in the villain’s hand: a promise, a warning. “No, of course not,” the hero says quickly.

“I hope not. I actually want to have a smoke without having to put you in line every five seconds.”

Being out of line is an exaggeration. Sometimes the villain comes home and the hero thinks he might just be looking for an excuse to take his frustration out on his new toy. There’s no rules with the villain—that alone makes it hard to do what he wants.

The villain sighs. “I can’t be bothered with all this. Put that back.”

The hero can feel his stare boring into his back as he carefully lay the dagger on the shelf. This entire room is a death trap; there’s knives and swords and crossbows all over the place. One wrong move and the room would probably kill you. The agency would blanch at a place as unsafe as this.

The villain doesn’t move when the hero stops at his feet. He’s already one stair up, and he’s using the slight height to his advantage. “Do you want to know something, [Hero]?”

There’s a lot of things about this situation the hero would like to know and probably never will. Whatever this is will probably end in one more burn to add to his collection. “Sure.”

“I never asked for this.” The villain’s sigh is punctuated by a stream of smoke from his lips. “I was surprised to find you in my living room because I never wanted you here.”

The idea that the villain is offering a way out is too obviously a trap. “Sorry. I couldn’t help it.”

“I know,” the villain says, and it’s the closest to remorse he’s ever been. “But [Supervillain] gave me a gift I couldn’t turn down and now I have a whole second person living in my house that I’m meant to keep alive. Plants die fast in this place—I’m amazed you’ve outlasted them.”

Being compared to a plant is not the lowest the hero has been since getting here.

“Anyway.” The villain clears his throat awkwardly, like he’s just realised what he’s said. “You’re the bane of my existence and I’m unfortunately stuck with you until [Supervillain] forgets you exist. Stay in your lane until then and pray that I feel merciful once they stop asking about you.”

The supervillain is in the villain’s hair every time they see him, wanting to know how the ‘training’ is going and whether his guard dog is more dog than guard yet.

The hero prays for that every day and still doesn’t get it. He’s stuck here. Probably forever.

He tries his best to accept this as he follows the villain back upstairs.

~~~

Taglist: @epiclamer @nevermore-ramblings

[galway-girlatwork]

Deliver Me

Fandom: Triple Frontier- AU.

Rating: Mature-This is a dark fiction. It took on a mind of its own when I began writing it. There is so much angst. A small amount of fluff and smut. Like teeny, tiny. It was supposed to be Frankie falling in love and he did, it just took a really long time to get there.

TRIGGER WARNING: Domestic Battery. (Please do not read this if it will cause trauma. Explicit scene. Explicit description of abuse.)

Central Characters: Frankie. Trinity. Lily. (Trinity’s daughter) David. (Trinity’s ex-husband)

Central Relationship: Frankie, Trinity, Lily.

Word Count: 4,669

AO3

Please do not copy my work. If you liked it, please re-blog and tag me. Please do not steal my mood board. Stealing is WRONG so just don’t do it. I do not give permission to copy, translate, or post my work to any other platform.

Music inspiration: Bat for Lashes-Let’s Get Lost

Written for @toomanystoriessolittletime writing challenge

SUMMARY:

Running. It was what she knew, her ex-hundreds of miles away. A relationship is not what she needed, not what she wanted. Peace is all she craved after years of living in fear, relying on the flight or fight response. Meeting her daughter’s kindergarten teacher, who was the exact opposite of David, her abusive ex, might change that. But what happens when the past rears its ugly head? Will she fight, flee or finally ask for help?

Deliver Me

The small town of Pinebrook seemed like the perfect place for a fresh start. Trinity had arrived just a few weeks ago, driven by the promise of a peaceful life for her and her five-year-old daughter, Lily. Cozy, tree-lined streets, friendly neighbors, that didn’t ask a lot of questions, gave her hope that Pinebrook could be the safe haven she needed.

David was finally in jail, after the last time he’d hit her. He hadn’t cared that the papers were final, the judge giving her full custody of their daughter. A month later, he’d broken into her apartment. When she came to, he’d fractured four ribs, broken her nose, for the second time, and choked her until she’d passed out. When he was sentenced, he was taken out of the courtroom, screaming that the next time he’d kill her. But now? She felt a sliver of hope that she and Lily could have normal. PTA, bake sales, Girl Scouts, it was a feeling she’d hadn’t been allowed to have in years.

Lily was starting kindergarten today at the elementary school at the edge of town. She was anxious about leaving her all day but Lily’s excitement was contagious. As they stood outside the classroom on the first day of school, she knelt down to straighten Lily’s little backpack.

“Are you ready, sweetie?” she asked, her voice gentle yet tinged with nervousness.

Lily nodded; eyes wide with curiosity. “I’m ready, Momma!”

Just then, the classroom door opened, and a tall, warm-looking man with kind brown eyes and dark curls appeared. He smiled, making Trinity feel an unexpected flutter in her chest. Standing, she took Lily’s hand in hers, not expecting a male teacher, especially for a room of five-year-olds. Lily, hid behind her, tiny hand curling into the sweater she was wearing. “Lily love, it’s okay.”

“You must be Lily,” he said with a grin, kneeling to meet her at eye level. “I’m Mr. Morales, but you can call me Frankie. I’ll be your teacher this year.”

“And you must be Lily’s mom,” Frankie said, standing up and extending his hand to her. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Frankie Morales.”

“Trinity,” she replied, shaking his hand. “Trinity Greyson. It’s nice to meet you, too. Lily, I’ll be here to pick you up at 2:45, okay? Be good and have a great day.” Frankie seemed to have a calming effect on Lily as he gently guided her into the classroom, her own nerves settling slightly for the first time since she moved here.

Sitting in the carpool lane had to be one of the most boring things a mom had to do. It was a hurry up and wait deal where you wanted to be the first one in line but then sit here until school ended. She didn’t realize the line would be halfway down the street. When she pulled up, she smiled, seeing Lily with Frankie, being so animated about whatever they were talking about. When the back door opened, he helped her in the car, letting her know he’d see her in the morning.

From then till bedtime, Lily told her everything about her very first day, showing off her first coloring page, which was promptly put on the fridge with a magnet that had been left by the previous owner. Finally tucked in bed, night light projecting stars on walls and ceiling, she went into her room, tablet in hand and after checking emails, browsed the school website, a small smile graced her face as she found Frankie’s picture. If Lily was this happy on the first day, then that was all that mattered.

Three Months Later

Months flew by, and kids were getting ready for Thanksgiving holiday. She couldn’t believe that Christmas was around the corner and that it would be the first one she’d celebrate without her mom. David had always made a big deal out of the holidays, it was the one time of year where she didn’t have to worry about arguments, because heaven fucking forbid his parents see anything wrong with their marriage. Her Mom wanted to come out but she’d convinced her to stay in Boston with her younger sister but truth be told, she didn’t want anyone knowing where she was, including her mom.

She was a million miles away when her cell phone rang, picking it up, she saw it was the school and panicked. “Is Lily, ok?”

“Hi Mrs. Greyson, this is Mr. Morales. Lily’s fine but I was wondering if you had time to meet today? There was something I wanted to talk to you about.”

“Um sure. After school?”

“Actually no. Can you come at 11:30 while Lily is at lunch?”

“Sure.”

“Great. See you then.”

Well, what the fuck was that all about?

“Come in Mrs. Greyson.” Frankie showed her to a chair in the conference room before sitting across from her, opening the manilla folder, a pen appearing from a shirt pocket. “Lily is doing great in class but when we were talking about Thanksgiving and where everyone was going and their favorite part of dinner, she said something disturbing and I want to get it cleared up. Something about not liking Thanksgiving because of being in the hospital? Does that make sense to you?”

Fuck, she thought. She didn’t think Lily would have remembered last year but apparently that was not the case. Shit. Fuck. Damn. “First it is not Mrs. I’m divorced, Greyson is my maiden name. Second, it was last year. I was um…” Fingers clenched into fists under the table, eyes dropping to the table, noticing the swirl marks in the polished wood. “There was an accident, I fell down the stairs and I was in the hospital for a few days. Lily was with my mother.” It was amazing how easy the lie fell from her lips. It was the same lie she’d told the police, her mother, her boss, basically anyone who asked. The doctors were the only ones who knew the truth and since she’d refused to press charges, there was nothing anyone could do.

“Ahhh, I see. Well thank you for clearing that up for me.” Something was off about the whole conversation, he thought. He noticed the way her head dropped, not looking him in the eye, the stiffness of her body, and he was willing to bet his paycheck that her nails were digging into her palms. It was almost as if she shrank into herself, ready to run given the chance. “Miss Greyson, Trinity, please know that if you or Lily need anything, we’re here for both of you. Lunch will be over soon so I have to get back to class before the kids but…” Taking a sheet of paper from the folder, he scribbled his number across the bottom and slid it towards her. “If you ever need anything, just give me a call.” Standing, he noticed the involuntary flinch when he extended his hand towards her, dropping it instantly.

“Thank you, Mr. Morales.” Holy crap she just wanted out of here right now.

“Please call me Frankie.”  He helplessly watched as she practically ran from the conference room. Later that night, he fought the urge to call her, to check on the both of them, but he didn’t, wanting her to call on her own terms, when she was ready. On a hunch, he went onto his laptop and did some digging, but couldn’t find anything on her or Lily in Washington but then he remembered something in Lily’s file, that she’d been born in Massachusetts. He really shouldn’t be prying like this but he was attracted to her, had been since the minute he saw her. Blonde curly hair, beautiful green eyes, but the biggest attraction had been the way she was with Lily, hands on with everything but not overbearing or intrusive. Nothing was coming up for him in Boston and decided it was best to just leave things be for now.

She was more cautious now, simply out of habit. Her past had left not only emotional scars but physical ones as well, reminded every time she looked in the mirror, her back a crisscross of scars but every day that passed without any word from him or his family, allowed her to believe that she’d finally escaped, that she was safe. It was the last day of school before Christmas break, Frankie putting Lily in the backseat, that he asked her out. Just coffee. No pressure. Looking in the review mirror at Lily, her eyes wide, smile even wider as she nodded, that she said yes. Cue awkward conversation as he stammered for a second, before letting her know he’d call her later.

“Momma, can we have McDonald’s? I want a happy meal. Oh, can I have a playdate with Amy? She gave me her number. It will be fun and I can take my Barbies and LOL dolls and Patch can go.”

“Yes, Lily love. I can call Amy’s mom. Right now, how about we get home, have a snack and you can watch a movie while I finish work.”

Later that night, she was in bed when her phone rang, smiling a little when his number had come up. A nervous exchange of small talk ensued, the hi’s, how are you’s, what are you doing before they actually had real conversation. It was two hours of getting to know the other, the only thing she refused to talk about, dodging the question of where Lily’s dad was by changing the subject. When he asked her out for dinner, she was comfortable enough to say yes. Hanging up, she nestled against the pillows, wondering if this was worth anything, David’s words on repeat in her head.

They dated all through Christmas break but only when Lily was with her friends, Trinity not wanting to confuse anything for her. It was coffee first, a few lunches, dinner one night. She always met him, needing her car in case she had to go get Lily early but he knew there was something more, just beneath the surface, something she wasn’t ready to share. He gave her the space and time, wanting more with her but it needed to be on her terms. New Years came and went, so did the day every person dreaded, Valentines. She asked for nothing but he wanted to do something special, so flowers were delivered to her house but not the stand-by of roses, how cliché was that, remembering her favorites were daisies and snapdragons. Lunchtime had him sitting at his desk, eating a sandwich, scrolling through his phone when the phone vibrated, letting him know that she was calling, smile on his face as he answered.

“Hey, you. Didn’t expect to hear from you during lunch.”

“Well, I just got a surprise delivery so I figured I’d call the guy responsible.”

Leaning back in his chair, suddenly forgetting lunch, head back, staring at the ceiling. “So, you got the flowers?”

“I did. They’re beautiful. You didn’t have to do that.”

“I just wanted to remind you how amazing you are. Not a crime, right?”

“Well, consider me reminded. I was having one of those days, you know. You’ve got pretty good timing.”

“I know nothing with us is official but I just wanted to do something special.”

“You remembered my favorites.”

“I’m glad you like them. That’s all that matters.”

“Thank you, Frankie. Really. See you at school?”

“I’ll see you this afternoon.”

“By the way, Lily is going to Amy’s tomorrow night, dinner at your place?”

“You’re on. 7?”

“It’s a date. Bye Frankie.”

“Bye Trin.”

Setting the phone down, heart still buzzing with the sound of her voice, he glances down at his half-eaten sandwich, grinning to himself.

“Mom, I already told you to meet us in Seattle. Please don’t argue, it’s just…We need to be safe, just a little while longer. Please do this for me.” She was frustrated, angry because her mom wanted to come for spring break to see her and Lily but she didn’t want her mom traveling here. “I promise I am safe right now but Mom if you can’t do this for me then I am not going to let you take Lily for spring break. Boundaries Mom, boundaries.” Her mom finally conceded, agreeing to meet her there, she’d spend the day with them before driving back. When the phone rang, she was still annoyed. “Mom I am not talking about this anymore.”

“Whoa wrong person. You, okay?”

“Frankie…I’m sorry. My mom is just being a little difficult about spring break.”

Again, something was wrong and again she was closing herself off. Every time they would take one step forward, something happened and he was right back at square one with her. It was enough to test the patience of a saint and he was no saint but he’d fallen so hard for her, but there was still that distance and he was trying to close it. She never talked about her life before moving here, always changing the subject when it came up and he always let it go. “Trin, you know you can talk to me, right? I am not asking for much here, just talk.”

“I know. There’s just…So I’m leaving to drive Lily down to Seattle on Friday since it’s early dismissal but I’ll be back Saturday if you want to have dinner?”

“Yea dinner sounds great. Same time?”

“Seven. Bye.”

“Bye.” Fucking hell, what the fuck was he doing? He was fucking pining for a woman that held him back at arm’s length. How much longer did he allow this shit to continue? He knew the answer before the question.

Dinner had gone off without a hitch until he brought up her past, when he could see her mentally and physically shutting down. Sighing he picked up their plates and went into the kitchen, hands grasping the counter, knuckles white, skin stretched tight as he heard her come in behind him.

“I’m sorry.”

“Why are you sorry?”

“There’s just things I can’t…”

“You won’t,” he interrupted, his frustration slipping though despite efforts to remain calm. A hand ran through his hair as he took a deep breath, turning to face her. That’s when it all clicked in his head and he became angry with himself for missing all the signs, things he was trained to look for. “What did he do to you?” The sudden jerk of her head, green hues piercing his and he knew the accusation was true. Her silence was deafening, and he wanted to shake her, to make her see how much she meant to him. But he also knew that pushing her too hard would only drive her further away.

Exhaling slowly, he moved towards her, reaching out, gently cupping her face in his hands. Her skin was cold to the touch, but he didn’t pull away. He couldn’t. “I’m here, Trin. Not going anywhere,” he said softly, brushing his thumb along her cheek. Lips gently brushed against hers, “Let me in baby.”

Closing her eyes, she leaned into his touch, wanting to desperately let go of the past, body shuddering as she whispered, “I don’t want to lose you.” Opening her eyes, gaze filled with longing but something deeper as well. A hand came up, palm resting against the back of the hand that cupped her cheek, amazed at how it felt. To have someone touch her without a hint of violence. Something shifted in her when he called her baby. This was a man who’d been so patient with her, so understanding and she was pushing him away because she was scared when he’d done nothing to earn that fear. Hand moved from his, cupping the back of his neck, she brought him down to her, kissing him, the tip of her tongue running along his bottom lip, hearing a low growl, both arms wrapping around her waist, he held her close as he carried her to his room.

When his knees hit the edge of the mattress, he laid her down, wanting to commit everything to memory as fingers traced along her cheek, moving across her lips, watching her expressions with each touch, kiss, lick of his tongue. Hands grabbed the bottom of her shirt, pushing it up, kissing the contours of her stomach, protruding hip bones, visible stretch marks but when he sat her up to take off her shirt, she scooted away from him, a single finger pressing against his lips, before she presented him her back, lifting the fabric up and off, flesh a myriad of scars. Sitting behind her, he unclasped her bra, pushing the straps down her shoulders, fingers tracing over each one. He didn’t understand how someone could be so brutal to another human. Fingers lightly grabbed her chin, turning her head towards him. “You’re so beautiful.” Standing, he pulled her up, stripping her naked before himself, settling once more on the bed, back against the headboard, he settled her between his legs, kissing the ends of the scars that went across her shoulders. One hand played with her nipples as the other moved up her thigh, finding her clit. He wanted this to be about her, to show her how beautiful he thought she was, despite what she thought about herself.

Legs opened further, erection pressing against her ass, he slid one finger into her, feeling how wet she was for him. He wanted her, more than he wanted anything else in this world. He wanted to see her face when she came, to see how beautiful she was when she was a desperate mess. His name was a murmur from her lips, fingers holding tight the hair at the nape of his neck, as her hips moved against the palm of his hand. Her body exploded, orgasm soaking his hand, as he gently slowed down, hearing her whimper when he pulled his fingers out of her.

She’d never had anyone pay as much attention to her body as he just did. It was like every guy she’d been with, a total of three, almost four, was too busy chasing their own orgasm to worry about her. With David, it had become more of a chore than a want, praying so hard that he would just get it over with so she could shower. This? This was so different. Turning around to face him, legs draped over his thighs, his stare so intense, she could feel it in her soul. She didn’t say a word, as she straddled him, thighs squeezing his, hips moving against him before he slid into her. She could feel a hand at her hip while the other tucked a curl behind her ear, never once did his eyes leave hers. He watched her as they moved together, not one more than the other. She wanted to this to be something she’d never forget, no matter what happened between them. He was letting her know that she was beautiful, wanted, cared for, possibly loved. Did those words mean something? Yes, to anyone who wanted to feel that emotion but all she could focus on right now was him, beneath her. Arms wrapped around each other as he lavished attention to sensitive nipples, suckling at them, it was like a tight rope between them, and she was the first to fall. He came right after her, seed scalding her insides as he whispered that he didn’t want to stop, couldn’t stop. When her head dropped to his shoulder, pressing kisses against the skin, he just held her as she cried. Silent tears of just letting go of all of it. The past, the hurt, the rage…It was cleansing, cathartic, forgiving.

Two days later, pulling into the garage, phone tucked between shoulder and cheek, she hadn’t noticed that the alarm didn’t beep when she opened the door leading inside. Hadn’t noticed anything until she was violently shoved forward, losing balance, falling face first into the hardwood floor. Pain radiated the entire expanse of her chest as foot connected with ribs, body flipped over before he was on top of her, a violent hand expanding over her neck as she clawed at it, before the other backhanded her. Vision blurred as lungs burned. In that second, she thanked God. Thanked him because her child wasn’t here to see blood trickling from lips that kissed her goodnight. Hair wrapped in a fist pulled her from the floor before slamming her into the wall, arms pinned above her head as he screamed in face, all the names that were his favorite. Whore. Slut. Bitch. Cunt. The names weren’t new. She’d heard them all before, but this time, it felt like they were etched into her skin, branded across her soul. He demanded to know where she’d been, who she’d been fucking, where his child was. When she refused to answer, meaty fist went through drywall before body met wood, skin met skin, trying to stay conscious. Just as quickly it started, it had ended. Instinct curled body into a ball, protecting vital organs, hands cupping her head, screams torn from lungs as hands touched her, not registering who they belonged to, her name called over and over. The voice wasn’t filled with hate. It was warm, familiar, calm, soothing, gentle, arms around her in a protective embrace. They didn’t tear at her or bruise her. They weren’t meant to hurt.

He heard it all. The name calling. Cries of pain. Poisonous words of hate spewed out as if they were part of normal conversation. His heart dropped, adrenaline hitting him hard, like ice water in his veins. The panicked cry of her voice, left him only one clear, primal instinct—get to her.

Hands shook with rage and fear as he sped through side streets. "FUCK?!" He barked into the phone, his mind racing through possibilities, but no answer came. "NO!" His voice broke, thoughts a chaotic mess, bouncing between fury and terror. His foot pressed harder on the gas as flashes of her—bruised, terrified—ran through his mind. The rage welled up so fiercely he could barely breathe. Clenching the steering wheel so tight, knuckles turned white, streets flying by in a blur, every second feeling like an eternity. All he could think about was her.

When he finally reached the house, he barely stopped the car before jumping out, sprinting toward the door, trying to open it before he gave up and kicked it in. “Let her go!” Frankie shouted, rushing towards the man that was on top of her, a haze of red clouded his vision as he punched him, over and over until he was unconscious. Moving towards her, heart shattering at what he saw and when he reached for her, the blood curdling screams tore from her body, broke him even more. Picking her up, he moved into the living room, setting her down on his lap as he sat on the couch. Pressing a kiss to her temple, he moved her, anger fresh as he watched her wince. Going back into the kitchen, he picked up her phone, his still in his truck, calling  9-1-1 and while he spoke to dispatch, he began looking for something to bind his hands before he killed the fucker

Her home became a hive of activity, David led away in handcuffs, digging himself a bigger hole as hate fueled threats were thrown at everyone. EMS had her a gurney, trying to ask questions, eyes vacant of any emotion, she said nothing. He’d pieced what he could together for the cops, letting them know he’d take care of the door before he was left alone in the middle of the living room. He wanted to go with her but the medics wouldn’t let him, family only, letting him know where they were taking her. When he was finally allowed to see her, she was sleeping, given pain meds and a sedative. Bruises began to blossom on her cheeks, hands prints could be seen on the slim column of her neck, skin red and angry. No broken or fractured ribs but all of that would heal. It was what it would do to her mentally and emotionally that worried him the most.

It hurt. That was the first thought she had when she woke up. It hurt, everywhere. Her mouth felt like it was full of cotton and grit, throat raw and sore from screaming, pleading. Head was pounding as though a hammer had taken up residence in her skull, the sterile smell of antiseptic burning her nostrils. Blinking a few times, vision blurry, she tried to focus, body heavy, every breath an effort, every movement, reminding her of what happened. That is when eyes fell on Frankie, sitting in the chair next to her bed, elbows on knees, hands clenched together, face looking tired. “Hey.”

He jerked upright, eyes wide with relief. “Trin… you’re awake.” His voice was hoarse, thick with emotion he barely concealed. He shifted closer, the chair scraping the floor slightly as he leaned toward her, his hand tentatively reaching out, gently taking it in his. "How do you feel?"

“I hurt," she managed with a faint, grim smile. The effort hurt, but seeing Frankie there, watching over her, soothed the ache, if only a little. “Where is he?”

“Jail. He violated parole. They are keeping him here. The police want to talk to you about what happened.” For a long moment, neither spoke. The machines continued their rhythmic beeping, but all he could focus on was the warmth of her hand in his. “I called your mom, she wanted to come up here with Lily but I convinced her not to. She said for you to call her when you’re up so you could talk to Lily. Said something about keeping Lily in Seattle until you’re feeling better. Gonna have to think of something to tell her unless…”

“I’m going to tell her the truth. She knows her father is not a nice man, she’s seen more than she should have, I just always figured she’d forgotten but what you said last year, made me realize she hadn’t. I’m not going to lie for him but I have to ask you something. This is more than what you signed up for, are you sure that all of this is something you want?” She needed to give him a way out, an escape. It would hurt more than the bruises and sore muscles but this was so much for someone to want to deal with. She didn’t want to lose him, not when she loved him so very much.

“Yes. I know you think you’re broken but broken is beautiful. You’re beautiful and I want to spend the rest of my life showing you and Lily that.” Whoa. Wait. What? Did he just say the rest of his life? Fuck yes, he did. It didn’t mean they had to get married, that was just paperwork. It was being there for her and her daughter, wanting to be with them, that she was worthy of being loved.

In the weeks that followed, she realized something profound, she wasn’t just safe with Frankie; she was loved. He had seen her at her most vulnerable, and even when she’d given him an out, he didn’t take it. Instead, he had stayed, offering her and Lily the kind of love they had been missing for so long.

Their relationship deepened as they spent more time together, and for the first time in years, she allowed herself to imagine a future. Of peace, calm, where they felt safe. Where someone made her feel like she could finally heal. He wasn’t just a protector, he was her partner, seeing her for who she really was. Strong, independent, a mom, a fiancé, a woman who was delivered from violence.

[softc0reearts]

OC Pride Month 2024 | TWD OC | Daryl x Fem!OC

( Late submission because I was on vacation Teehee )

OC Pride Challenge (Day 4): Trans

Make something for an oc that is trans!

Yvonne Tawnie : The Song

Daryl set down the final scavenged bag from his share by the entrance of the pharmacy. It was a small building with four shelves, a register counter, and a small pharmacy at the back. This was nothing; it should have taken them no more than 30 minutes. In and out. But Yvonne was still in the pharmacy after an hour.

Daryl was more patient than usual, understanding she was looking for something important. He glanced up from the bag and watched her, moving medicines and containers around on the shelves of the pharmacy. It looked like she was reading every word on the bottles, she was in her own world.

Yvonne was complex, and he didn’t know what to think of her, but she was just as determined as he was to find Sophia, so there was a kind of mutual understanding between them. When he first laid eyes on her in Atlanta, he didn’t think much of her. She looked like some college girl who shouldn’t have lasted more than a week. To his surprise, here she was standing metaphorically side-by-side with him.

He continued to watch her. He’d moved closer and was now in the first lane of shelves. Normally, he would have scoffed at her and expected that she’d need to be pampered like some princess, but she spent more time trying to help the group, so much that even he found himself leaning on her from time to time. That was the only reason he was standing there, patiently watching her search.

At the other end of the pharmacy, Yvonne was so focused on finding her HRT meds that Daryl’s gaze had gone unnoticed. She examined every bottle and collected anything that would work, from her own prescription to a common menopause prescription. She divided the general medicine for the group into a plastic bag and her personal medicine went into her backpack. She suspected that at least one person from the group had an idea about her identity, but she wanted to avoid any questions from those who were in the dark.

“If you’re lookin’ for anything stronger than an old person’s pain pill, you’re probably outta luck.” Daryl’s voice caused her to jump; she was far too focused. “Places like this don’t got the good stuff.”

Yvonne turned her head in his direction, realizing he assumed she was looking for prescription drugs to abuse. She was not above using pills to get through the night, but today, her attention was solely on her HRT. She didn’t know what to say; she wanted to keep anything unnecessary to herself. She wasn’t at college with people from all over the East Coast anymore. Daryl was a country boy whose brother was a described bigot.

Could she take him on if he found out what she was looking for and decided to make an example of her?

While things had never been easy for her, the world used to have a glass barrier that prevented most people from attacking her out of disgust, confusion, or ignorance. That was no longer the case, and she was now face-to-face with her own presumptions about how Daryl would respond. She didn’t trust him any more than she trusted her ability to protect herself against him.

“Nah, I’m not looking for anything like that. I’m looking for my prescription from before everything fell.”

But maybe she was wrong?

“I’m transgender.”

The words came out and she immediately wanted to shove them back deep inside herself. She was too comfortable with the group and had started to wonder if maybe she could tell them about herself.

“Meaning if I’m not careful and collect as much of my prescription as I can find, I’ll probably end up as handsome as you. I could probably grow a better beard, too.” Despite the joke, her face showed just how nervous she was about coming out to him.

While she confessed, Daryl walked from the aisle to the doorway and leaned against the frame. His expression didn’t change. He may have been a country boy, but he wasn’t an idiot. He understood what she was saying; he didn’t need any context outside of “I’m transgender.” His brother had quite a few opinions about a person like her. He’d heard his share of rants while the pair watched TV or heard about the very political subject on the radio.

But he had never met someone like that.

“Listen, I get that being on the outskirts of society is fine to some people, but I prefer to be smack dab in the middle of the safe bubble of fitting in.” She expected him to respond right away, and when he didn’t, she started to ramble.

He just watched as she set the bottle in her hand back down on the shelf. The comment about society got an amused sigh out of him.

“I don’t know if you noticed, but there ain’t no society left. You can fit in just by not being one of those biters out there.” Daryl gestured towards the front of the store. “You’re worried about something that don’t matter no more.”

Maybe he was right, but it was her own life she took a chance on, not his. She took a deep breath, turned away from the shelf, and headed for the same doorway Daryl leaned against. She stood against the opposite side of him, so the two were face-to-face. They stood at the same height, so she could look in his eyes easily, even when his eyes darted away from her gaze and then back.

“Right now, we may be a bunch of people camping in the woods trying to survive one more day together, but one day, society is going to come back, rebuild, or whatever happens after something like this.” She said, explaining her mindset a bit more.

Every time he averted his gaze, she moved her head to meet it. It wasn’t successful every time, but finally, he stopped and just looked at her straight on.

“It may not look like it from where you’re standing, but you and I both stood on the outside of society before shit hit the fan. But for you, when shit hit the wall, it just showed how strong and capable you are. When everyone who pushed you on the outside fell, you stayed standing and even offered some of them a hand. You went from lurking on the outside to being a vital part of whatever is going to happen next.” Her words showed just how much she observed him.

For the first time since standing across from him, she averted her eyes. Something Daryl picked up on immediately.

“If every person I met knew about that part of me, it may not matter what I bring to the table. I could end up on the outside watching the world pass me by. They may not know how to react to me, and that confusion could turn into anger and scorn.” She said, the words flowing out like a broken faucet. “Just like before the end of the world.”

With that, she finally looked up and met his gaze. He could see the thin line of moisture hugging her bottom eyelid. He didn’t respond, and just stared into her eyes because there was nothing he could do to change the outcome of what had already happened.

“So, if you happen to see either of these meds or any menopause meds, please keep me in mind and grab them.” She held up two bottles, both required for her transition.

She gave him a few moments to look, which he did. After some time had passed and with nothing left to say, she stepped away from the doorway, going in the opposite direction of the pharmacy. After only a single step, Daryl reached out and grabbed her right wrist. She snapped her head around, looking at him as if afraid of what he was about to do or say.

“I didn’t get a good look at this one.” He raised her arm up just a bit.

He held her wrist as he read the bottle again. Once he was done, he looked up at her face. They stood there in silence, just staring at each other. It was so quiet that she feared he might hear her heart thumping against her chest. She wanted to know what he was thinking, but the words were stuck in her throat.

His grip on her wrist loosened until her hand fell to her side. He didn’t say anything and just walked past her. She didn’t dare watch him as he walked away, instead just stared at the place he had walked away from. She heard the sound of him rustling with the bags, and then the door opening and closing. She finally looked towards the door, seeing Daryl’s frame as a blur beyond the dirty glass.

Outside of the store, Daryl put the bags inside the back seat of the driver’s side. Once the car door was closed, he turned towards the storefront, expecting Yvonne to come out any moment. While he waited, he realized he had been gripping the same hand that he used to grab Yvonne’s wrist so tight it started to hurt. He immediately loosened his grip, which came at the perfect moment because Yvonne came walking out of the front door.

“Ready?” He asked, opening the car door on his side.

“Sure am.” She responded, doing the same.

For a moment before sliding into the car, they looked up at each other. Their mutual eye contact caught them off guard, not expecting the other to be doing the same. Neither said anything and got in the car.

Not even their sharpened knives could cut through the awkward silence in the car during the ride home.

[maraudereestauderelb]

Waiting to be loved

Part XI

A Billy Russo Fanfiction

Taglist: @dyingformyships@jugheadjonss @rockintensse @thesandbeneathmytoes @fav-fan-fic @vcneficae @flcs @lainey-lane

Masterlist

Part I Part II Part III  Part IV  Part V  Part VI Part VII  Part VIII  Part IX Part X

I know, it's been a while...

Y/N was sitting at her desk, going through some paperwork when the phone on her desk rang. She quickly picked up the receiver. 

“Hello, Y/N Y/L/N from Anvil, this is Billy Russo's office, what can I do for you?” 

The voice on the other end was calm, confident. “This is Dinah Medani. I’m with the FBI. I’m calling to discuss a potential business opportunity and would like to speak with Billy Russo personally.” 

Y/N felt a surge of excitement at the mention of the FBI. She quickly typed in a command to transfer the call. 

“Of course, Agent Medani. I’ll connect you right now,” she said, her fingers moving swiftly on the keyboard. 

About fifteen minutes later, she noticed on her screen that the call had ended -Billy must have wrapped up his conversation with Medani- she wasted no time in standing up and walking to his office, her heart racing with anticipation. 

She knocked lightly on the door before entering, her excitement palpable. 

“So?,” she asked, unable to hide the enthusiasm in her voice. 

Billy looked up from his desk, a smirk on his lips: “Agent Medani is with the FBI. They’re interested in working with us.” 

Y/N’s eyes widened. “Really? What’s the deal?” 

Billy’s grin grew wider. “They want to set up some training sessions with us. They’re looking at a potential deal for future collaboration.” He took a moment, letting it sink in: “This could be the breakthrough we’ve been waiting for.” 

Y/N couldn’t help but grin. “This is huge! The FBI... with us? This could change everything.” 

Billy stood up, walking over to the bar cart and pouring two glasses of whiskey from a fancy bottle. He handed one to Y/N and raised his own in a silent toast. 

“To new opportunities,” Billy said, his voice calm but filled with an undeniable excitement. 

“To success,” Y/N responded, clinking her glass against his and taking a sip. She felt the warmth spread through her as the implications of the call sank in. This was a big moment for Anvil, a chance to expand their reach and get the recognition they deserved. 

Billy set his glass down and met her gaze. “We need to play this right. The FBI could be a powerful ally, but we have to be careful with what we offer. One wrong move and it could backfire.” 

Y/N nodded in agreement, the weight of the decision on both of their shoulders. “What’s our next move?” 

“We’ll draft a proposal for their training program. See how much they’re willing to commit, then take it from there. But this is the start of something big.” 

The tension between them shifted, and before Y/N could say anything else, Billy stepped closer. His hand slid around her waist, and he pulled her toward him with a subtle, yet commanding force. Their eyes locked, and Y/N’s pulse quickened in response. 

Billy leaned down, pressing his lips to hers in a kiss that was intense and full of excitment. As they broke apart, his voice was low and teasing, his breath still heavy from the kiss. 

“Let me take you out for dinner to celebrate,” he whispered, his hand lingering on her waist. 

Y/N smiled, her heart racing. “I’d love that.” 

Part XII

[eternal-love]

Austin and Me

“Baby blues.”

“Wife to the ‘king’. Icon to the world. Destined for more.”

Summary: At 18 years old, she fell in love with Austin, at 20 years old, she became his wife, by 22, she was his doll. In which Cynthia’s life changed drastically after falling head over heels with a man that promised her the moon and the stars. She takes us down the memory lane of what could’ve been— the perfect marriage.

Inspired by the book: Elvis and Me by Priscilla Presley.

I do not condemn any of the portrayals I decide to do about certain people, it’s just fanfiction. And it would be divided in parts.

English isn’t my first language so I’m trying my best!

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Being pregnant wasn’t easy, I wish I could go back in time and tell myself that I wasn’t doing anything wrong, that I was doing okay.

Austin and I had bought this house in California, it was a big space, it had a huge backyard and front yard, it even had a long drive in. Kinda like Elvis’ Graceland, just not as glorious, but it was home— our home.

Austin barely let me even help decorate and move everything in the house, he was afraid of me hurting myself but I didn’t want to feel useless so I at least tried to help with the cooking but he didn’t me doing any of that.

“Baby, I’ve told you a thousand times that you don’t need to cook.” Austin was very adamant with his rules but he wasn’t the greatest cook back then.

“I know but— I was hungry.” I said as I didn’t move away from the stove, which seemed to irritate Austin.

“Go back and sit down, I’ll do this.” Austin said, not sternly but on a serious manner.

I listened and sat down at the living room couch, cursing quietly as I crossed my arms in annoyance, he never let me do anything on my own, not even take a shower, he was always there prying like a predator. I got his concerns but I was really fine— it’s not like I was on constant danger.

As I was an actress I knew that I had to take care of my figure, it was a principle so I went on a diet throughout all my pregnancy. I had one meal a day and only snacked on fruit— Austin didn’t get or talk to me about it, like he turned a blind eye into it. The doctors told me that my weight was okay, so I didn’t really bother. And as much as I loved seeing Austin happy, the less people mentioning I looked pregnant, the better. I took pride on myself for not having to buy maternity clothes as my usual clothes still fit me perfectly.

Throughout all my pregnancy I was sad or melancholic— I don’t know why. I dreaded my life as a childless woman but there was not going back now. But during that time, Austin was compassionate, he tried to understand me at least.

“What’s wrong baby? What happened to the twinkle in your eyes?” Austin asked as he cupped my face with his hands, worried about how I felt.

“I’m fine. I promise.” I stuttered, I didn’t want to worry him.

“No, you tell me. I know ya best.” Austin squeezed my cheeks, lovingly.

“I-I-I do want a baby… it’s just so soon.” My eyes began to water as I looked up at him, I heard him humming and he nodded. “What about our plans and trips together?” Austin’s face softened a little.

“Oh baby.” Austin pulled me towards him, embracing me, he tried kissing the top of my head but he ended up kissing my hair-sprayed bouffant, he chuckled. “We’re gonna have a little one.”

I chuckled, he made me feel safe during that moment even if the pregnancy made me feel isolated. I missed acting, my career but I understood I had to take a step back, even if didn’t want to. Austin liked having people over, childhood friends, they’d okay the guitar or cook some barbecues on the backyard besides the pool.

I didn’t enjoy it very much, I didn’t like people seeing me now that I was pregnant. Even though I was always put together, my hair teased and styled, always wearing makeup, my dresses, I still couldn’t feel an ounce of attractiveness whenever I looked in the mirror.

I was decorating the nursery, sitting on the floor all, folding some neutral baby clothes my mom had bought for me, meanwhile I heard the laughter of Austin and his friends. Quite a depressing sight.

Around the 4th month of my pregnancy, I finally felt the baby move and it brought me a shot of joy and happiness, I understood why so many people enjoyed part of their pregnancies, I wanted the baby to move all the time. And it brought me more joy when Austin placed his hand on my swollen stomach, she always smiled and talked softly when he did so.

“I can’t wrap my head around how someone so small can create another small little thing…” Austin would say softly as he chuckled. The pregnancy was bringing us closer.

But his career kept going and I had to understand him leaving, he was filming two movies, one being The Dead Don’t Die and Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. He’d take time off and call me every once in a while, asking how I was and how I felt.

I would lie if I said I wasn’t jealous of Austin working with Tarantino, that was one of my dream directors. He had called me to offer me a role on that very same movie— but I was pregnant so he decided to turn it down before I could even answer it.

————————————

I was sure I could have a normal labour, the doctor told me I was capable of doing so and I believed him. It was December and Austin was already home again, I was getting desperate to get the baby out of me.

On December 26th, 2018, I woke up at about five o’clock in the morning and the bed beneath me was soaking wet as well as my nightgown. Frightened, I called my mother quickly, she told me that I was ready to go to the hospital so I gently woke up Austin, he was straight up confused as he thought he was dreaming but once he felt the bed wet, he shot up and starting putting on his pants.

“You’re having the baby!” He yelled out in desperation as he rant back and forth the room, picking up everything we needed and also trying to get dressed.

Ignoring his desperation, I made my way carefully to the bathroom, I had my hair down and I teased it, which was difficult but I did so, I also did my makeup and added a pair of false lashes. I got a special permit from the hospital to keep them in while I gave birth.

Even with all our rehearsals, he still drove to the wrong hospital, of course he did, he was distracted drinking coffee and munching a muffin while driving. I was trying to control my contractions while I glared at him.

“If we don’t get there I’m having this baby in the car.” I said in annoyance, well I was about to give birth to a whole human being.

“Don’t threaten me— I’m trying.” Austin responded as he took a bite off his muffin.

“It’s not a threat. It’s a promise.” I said before trying to control my breath as the paints were hitting me horribly.

But luckily— we arrived on time.

[countrymusiclover]

59 - The Most Reckless Plan Ever Imagined

Part 60

Family is More than Blood

@melvia-ito @vavafaure1994 @kmc1989 @tallrock35

“I’m surprised you aren’t dying to talk with your daughter or more so yell at her for what she did by not telling her son about you and Klaus.” My brother saw me standing out by the lake view they had outside their cabin.

Keeping my back to him I crossed my arms over my chest with a huff. “I’ll talk with her later. I’m here to talk with you first unless you’d rather go back to magical sparring against one another.”

“It still baffles me that you’ve come to help me after all these years. What on earth could have changed your mind over these five years?” Jacob asked me with anger clear in his tone.

“Maybe it is still true that I care for my twin brother. That I want you in my life, you and your family. The Mikaelson’s and Lane’s together like we used to be when it was all of us against Marcel, or Aurora or even the Hollow.”

My brother sighed in some relief. “I take comfort in knowing there’s no more threats to me and my girls while we live out here in what your husband calls the degrading forest.”

“I know Hayley’s pack is fiercely loyal to you. But we are as well, brother?”

Jacob asked me, leaning his back against a tree nearby. “It doesn’t seem like it sometimes with the Mikaelson’s.”

“If you want a fight I’ll give you a fight!” Spinning around on my feet I clutched my hands into fists at my sides, raising my right hand and launching him into a different tree. “Ascendo phasmatos motus!”

Jacob growled showing me his fangs vamping me down onto my back, choking me by the throat. I gasped underneath his grip until I moved my knee and kicked him in between his legs. “You know that’s wrong -“ He moaned in pain rolling over into a fetal position allowing time to get to my feet.

“You never said the fight had to be fair. Otun adnarvet estnavit atim.” Waving my hand in front of him he vamped up to his feet smacking directly into the barrier spell I’d just done.

He chuckled holding the bridge of his nose snapping his fingers undoing the spell. “Merabas hic libatal. If we’re going to fight for real, stop using the baby spells on me.”

“Why should I? I get entertainment from watching you smack into barrier spells and trees.” I chuckled with my hands on my hips.

Jacob shot his hands up blasting electric blasts at me where I barely barrel rolled under them. “Lecutio maxima.”

“Phasmatos motus incendiamos!” Remaining down on one knee I raised my hands blasting him with a ball of fire into the nearest tree where I heard some of his bones break just a bit.

My twin brother held his head for a minute making me think I had bested him and he was done fighting yet he raised his wrist snapping his fingers a second time. “Crescere arbor.”

“Dissulta!” Closing my eyes the vines that he had wrapped my entire body suddenly busted into a million little pieces. Vamping up to him I lifted him up in the air by his throat, siphoning his power knowing it should knock him out instantly. “Magia tollux de terras.”

He winced underneath the red glow of my right hand where he closed his eyes dropping his hands to his sides but caught me off guard pressing his hand directly against my heart. “Corum spiritus prohibera. Sorry to burst your ego Rae Rae. Like I said, I've been practicing.” I gasped clutching my chest collapsing down onto the dirt ground feeling a burning agony inside of my heart.

“I never thought you’d stoop low enough to try and kill your own sister, Jacob!” Jacob suddenly got thrown against by someone causing the end of the horrible spell he was performing on me.

Coughing out his name I held myself up on my left elbow blinking through some painful tears that had formed in my eyes. “Klaus.”

“Get the hell off me.” My brother raised his hand upward.

My lover grabbed his head in agony releasing my brother until he stopped his spell then he pushed him against another tree with a hand wrapped around his throat. “I can snap your neck like a twig in case you’ve forgotten without blinking and walk away. I’d suggest you be nicer to your sister before I contemplate skinning you alive!”

“Klaus, it’s not worth it. If he wants my help with having another baby he’ll have to be nicer to me otherwise we’ll leave him and Hayley to simply watch Andrea grow up and have no more children.” Pushing myself to my feet I dusted my hands off on my jeans, crossing my arms over my chest.

Jacob gulped after my husband released his death grip off from around his neck allowing him to speak to me. “I thought you said you only are fertile because of some black magic. If that’s the case, how are you going to help me without using it?”

“I’m going to have to use black magic, you’re right. Except what you don’t know is that I have a much better handle on a certain part of myself compared to the last time you saw me.”

Klaus steps towards me whispering in disbelief. “Rae, you can’t mean what I think you mean.”

“I do, Nik. But it wouldn’t be just me, I'd need Dark Josie and the remaining members of our family in the prison world.”

My brother tilted his head to the side. “So you wouldn’t need our children to be involved to do a massive spell like that?”

“Unfortunately I would need our daughters and Lizzie to create a boundary spell just to be on the safe side if our dark sides were to become too powerful and try to escape on Josie and myself. With that in mind are you still sure you want another baby so badly, brother?” Raising a brow at my twin brother I challenged his desires.

My brother stepped around my husband brushing messy hair behind his ear. “I wanna have another baby or at least be able to have the opportunity to try for one.”

“Okay then. Now if you’ll excuse me I’m going to see my daughter and talk about the information she refused to tell me.” I began stomping around him until Nik called my attention.

“What’s happened to Alina?”

Slightly turning my body to face him I sighed heavily, dropping my shoulders. “Nothing bad has happened to our daughter, don't worry. But she didn’t tell Xavier about us at all. Plus she had another baby and didn’t tell us.”

“I’m going to have a chat with our daughter and her werewolf husband!” Klaus revealed his fangs and werewolf golden eyes before vamping off in the distance of the cabin up on the hill.

Jacob nervously asked me. “Raelyn, is he going to kill Jackson?”

“You’re lucky he didn’t kill you.” I vamped away from him and up onto the wooden porch. Leaning my back against the wooden feeling my phone vibrates inside my back pocket. Drawing my phone out it was a text from Missy so I opened the text message reading it out loud to myself. “Hey Mom, can me, Ethan and the gang spend the weekend at the Gilbert house? - Hmm at least the whole merging of humans and the supernatural has been going good for these last five years.”

I certainly had my girls and Lizzie to thank for the success.

[justimajin]

The Profit & Love Statement » Pt. 5

↠ Pairing: Seokjin x Reader

↠ Genre: Fluff, Comedy, Angst

↳ (3.9k), Office AU (lowkey E2L vibes) 

↠ Summary: The workplace isn’t for everyone. It can be mundane and repetitive, with some describing it like a nuisance and others as a blessing. You’re the kind that leans more towards the latter and while it does make you an ideal candidate for many things, nothing could have prepared you for the whirlwind that is the new employee.

GIF credit.

↠ Next Update: Tuesday, August 15 (series masterpost here)

You narrow your eyes at the instant ramen.

The first and last time you attempted cooking the simple packaged noodles, you had accidentally added in oil instead of water and the entire pot erupted into flames, resulting in the bulk of the noodles to come out fried to a crisp instead of boiled. 

What could go wrong a second time?

As you stand there in the aisle contemplating the life and death situation, a cart hits you.

You spin around, the young man profusely apologizing.

“Don’t worry about it.” You say with a smile, and he meekly pushes the cart across from yours, attempting to quickly bypass you in the lane.

You drop the packet of noodles into your cart and push it forward with a sigh. You had come home during the night only to discover that your fridge was nearly empty and as a result, you had ended up busing to the grocery store with Yuna in an attempt to salvage some food.

However, your current circumstance only has you wincing at products the further you dive deeper into the store.

“Y/N!”

Yuna rushes down the lane, pausing at your cart with a collection of snacks in her hands.

“Can we get these?”

“Let’s see…” You dart your eyes, grimacing at not only the abundance in his grasp, but the inflated price each one has. 

Your vision shifts, noticing a pile of chips on sale. “Why don’t we get those ones?”

Yuna scrunches her nose, “But they taste horrible.”

“They’re on sale.” You offer with a soft smile, pushing your cart closer to them. However, Yuna’s expression doesn’t change. 

You sigh, reaching out for one of her snacks, “Alright, how about we just get one of these?”

She beams, “Okay!”

You smile, but then Yuna realizes what’s in your cart.

“You’re going to buy ramen…?”

“Yeah, it’s cheap and I’ll try to make it again.” You suggest.

“Oh, okay….” Yuna says, “That sounds nice…”

You shake your head from her horrible attempt to be optimistic, “Don’t worry, that’s why I’m buying some snacks just in case.”

She laughs at that and you resume roaming around the store for the next hour. You don’t end up buying much, a particular impending notice tending to manifest in your brain every five minutes and the words ‘why is everything here so expensive?’ leaving you more than once.

It’s not long before you’re checking out at the cashier and Yuna helps you carry the groceries out the store. But that’s when her head reels around.

“Can we go there?”

“Hm?” You turn around and notice the posh restaurant on the other side of the street.

A grimace runs through you, “Maybe next time.” You promise right away and it’s hard to ignore the flash of disappointment that crosses Yuna.

As the bus moves through the various stops, the pending notice blocks your thoughts again. You assumed that grabbing extra shifts from your restaurant would be hard enough, but you wonder how it’ll pale in comparison to the mammoth task you’ve taken on. 

Taehyung deeply sighs.

It’s not difficult, nor is it excruciating, but he’s starting to realize both yours and Yoongi’s distress.

There really is only one way to describe it:

Kim Seokjin and the workplace do not mix well. 

“Mr. Soon-To-Be CEO, that is not the way we do that.” He cautiously states. He’s lost track of how many times he’s said that phrase or alterations of it to the intern.

“But this is so boring.” Seokjin scoffs, spinning around in his rolling chair. Taehyung can understand that it’s hard to properly grasp onto Marketing concepts and that the latter doesn’t have much experience with it, but he hasn’t managed to get anywhere as a result.

Seokjin suddenly stops, a bright twinkle residing within his irises, “Hey, hey, want to hear a joke?”

Taehyung inwardly groans.

“Not reall–“ 

“You know how you were telling me about how small businesses can take up loans but big corporations don’t need to?” 

He furrows his brows. That was something he told Seokjin in a casual conversation, and he actually remembered it.

Before he can answer, the Soon-To-Be CEO is already laughing. 

“Is it because they’ve lost interest?”

Immediately the man is doubled over and wheezing with squeaky laughs. Taehyung stands frozen before him like a statue, his confusion morphing into a deadpan expression.

It nearly mimics the one Yoongi usually has, but the lack of reaction is something the man before him isn’t keen on.

Seokjin stops laughing, crossing his arms with a pout, “Laugh.”

It almost sounds like a command and to rebuttal, Taehyung lets out the most hysterical and jovious laugh of his entire life. It lasts for a single minute before it is completely gone, similar to a switch being turned off.

Seokjin frowns at the reaction.

“Geez, Tae.” A new voice beckons him from the door, “You could have at least tried to properly laugh.”

Taehyung whirls around, a bright smile stretching across his features.

“Y/N?”

You return his smile and enter the room, “How’s the shadowing been going?”

Taehyung’s smile drops, and he lets out a deep exhale.

You chuckle, “Sounds about right.”

Seokjin frowns, “What are you doing here?”

“Good question.” You muse, “I’m here to help Taehyung and to oversee your training from now on.”

Seokjin’s eyes widen at that. You reminisce that even though this process is just an uphill battle for a promotion and you weren’t able to secure a Managerial position, your role is somewhat similar to what you were aiming towards.

You take the chair next to Taehyung, “What were you teaching Seokjin before I got here?” 

“Pretty much the basics.” Taehyung begins, “I was trying to explain the different types of media we use in the company for Marketing and how we work with other departments to ensure the right type of advertising.” 

“So you haven’t even progressed to the hand’s on components yet…” You murmur underneath your breath, turning to Seokjin. 

“And how much of that did you grasp?” 

He squints, “Probably like…. 2%.” 

You frown, placing a finger against your chin. If there was anything you knew about Seokjin, it was that the office was brand new for him, and there was no point getting extensive with his training if he wasn’t able to keep up. 

Which means you really need to go back to the basics. 

“Alright then,” You turn to Taehyung, “Do you mind if he works with me for some time? You can resume training him afterwards.” 

Taehyung glances at you in puzzlement, not quite understanding what was churning in your mind. But he solemnly nods, deciding to go with your judgement. 

***

The moment you leave the room, there’s no stone left unturned.

“You still don’t understand how to do basic computations, right?”

Seokjin turns at the sound of your voice, previously occupied with simply following behind you and peering around the place.

“Nope.”

“And you’re still confused around how things work here on a day-to-day basis?”

“Well, yeah.” He plainly states. Turning his attention over to you, he peers over your shoulder.

He raises an eyebrow at the notepad in your hand. “Wait – are you writing all of that down?”

“Yep.” You say, focused on writing the last point. You unclick your pen and drop it into your pocket. “It’s like I said before, I’m overseeing your training now.”

Seokjin follows you to your cubicle, absentmindedly staring around.

You gesture to your desk for him to take a seat. He compiles and a giant stack of papers lands right in front of him.

He furrow his brows, “What’s all this?” 

You gesture to them, “These are some of the training manuals we give to newer employees. It’s usually complemented by a training program, but since you’re an intern already, this will have to do.”

You slip out some papers from the bottom of the stack. “Since you mentioned having problems about making computations, you’re going to need to understand them first.” You slide the paper closer to him, “That means going through past company trends.” 

The paper is then added to the pile, “Additionally, it’s better for you to get more hands-on experience. That’s the best way to learn and many employees only tend to understand after they get the experience. And that’s why‒” 

You point over to the empty cubicle next to you, opposite to the side Yoongi works at, “That’s going to be yours.” 

You pause, focusing on him now, “Make sense?”

He slowly nods, lips pursed and a crease forming between his brows. You take it as an answer and hope that the change of routine would be helpful somehow, but when you move to head over to Hoseok’s office for any more training manuals he has to spare, you don’t notice the speck of fear that’s entered his eyes. 

Rising onto your feet, you swerve, and he’s left alone.

As he stares at all the papers and tasks before him, he can’t help but think there’s something completely different about you from the start of his training. Before you were merely annoyed with his antics and would take any opportunity to quip back something at him.

But now, now it’s like you’ve taken charge of everything and there’s no place he can run.

Raising your hand, a knock resonates against the door.

It comes swinging open in second, a tired yet still cheerful Hoseok emerging out.

At the sight of you, he warmly smiles, “Oh, hi Y/N. Did you need something?”

“Some training manuals.” You reminisce, “I managed to only grab a couple from HR this morning but I wanted to ask if there’s anymore I could just borrow for the time being.”

“Of course.”

Hoseok widens the door to his office and you slip in, watching him look around the room and pull out some drawers. It takes him a couple of minutes before he can locate them, and he hands them over with a smile.

“I’m assuming these are for Seokjin?” 

“Yeah…” You sigh, “I’m sure Taehyung’s already told you the news.”

He frowns, recalling seeing the man working at his cubicle alone, “You mean the good news for him?”

You chuckle at that, “It is what it is. I’m just here hoping I can do a good enough job with this role.”

You wonder if the tension if evident on your feature, because Hoseok replies with‒

“Hey, don’t stress out too much about it.” He says, the corner of his mouth tugging, “I mean, you were right in the way. Even if Seokjin’s supposed to become the new CEO, he’s just another employee like the rest of us.” 

You hum, “Besides, if there’s anyone I can see doing his training, it’s you. You should have seen the state Taehyung was in after a day.” 

A chuckle escapes you from that, and Hoseok warmly smiles. 

Retrieving the manuals, you exit his office and head back to your cubicle.

The first thing that catches your eyes is the way Seokjin is slumped against his desk, his head turned down and brows furrowed as he stares at the stack of papers before him.

“Any luck?”

His eyes snap up in an instant, “Oh, uh, yeah….” An angelic smile forecasts over him, “It’s starting to make more sense now.”

You smile with a knowing look, “You know, you have to work on it seriously.” 

His face pales, but you simply gesture towards the paperwork before turning to your monitor. 

At being caught, Seokjin lets out a deep sigh.

It’s difficult for him to explain. Even though he thankfully isn’t expected to do the same volume of work as before and the work you’ve given him isn’t necessarily the hardest (actually, it looks a lot simpler than before), his focus is fleeting and drifting elsewhere. 

He highly doubts he’s even at the standard compared to all the people in the cubicles surrounding him. 

Lifting his head, he peers up in your direction.

You were in the middle of a conversation with Yoongi now, saying something about statistics that he truthfully can’t understand. Yoongi hums, listening attentively to your words.

He narrows his eyes.

The change in you was something he wasn’t expecting either. He wasn’t worried at first, but you seem to be as strict as some of the Managers here and might possibly get even more so as time passes. 

And the more confined he is, the more it makes him want to get out.

“Is the forecast okay?” You’re leaning against his cubicle, eyes running through the report Yoongi had given you.

He hums, “The totals make sense and your report has the same inputs as mine.”

A lengthy sigh leaves you, “Good to know I managed to get some work done right.”

“The report is good, Y/N.” Yoongi chides and you faintly smile at him.

“Y/N.”

The commanding voice snaps you out of your thoughts, Soyou standing before you with an intent look in her eyes. “Do you have a moment?” 

“Yes, of course.” You quickly state, following her into her office. Glancing warily back, Yoongi sends you a thumbs up and you hold in your breath. 

You know why Soyou wants to speak with you, and you’ll have to give it your all to impress her. 

She gestures for you to sit down, crossing her legs as she sits across from you. 

Soyou cuts to the chase, “How has it been going with Mr. Kim?” 

“He’s been picking up on his training,” You explain, willing your shaky voice, “I’ve assessed that he needs to adapt to the workplace, as well as familiarize himself according to the departments.” 

Soyou hums and you continue, “I believe it would be best for him to understand the company’s inner workings first and foremost, such as getting information from the training manuals first before applying them.” 

“I’ve also ensured that he works alongside me so that I can assist him in any way I can.” 

“What is your opinion on his working capabilities?” She lifts a pen, tapping it against her notebook. 

“There’s potential for his future employment.” You truthfully state, “However, I can observe he will need more time than what is mandated for an intern.” 

“I see…” She leans forward, clasping her hands together, “Can I trust you to complete his entire training, Y/N?” 

“Of course.” You confidently say, “I will see to it that he is integrated into the workplace.” 

“Good.” Soyou stands up, as do you, “There’s a meeting happening in the conference room soon.” 

You nod, understanding she needed to promptly leave. 

Heading back to your cubicle, you notice Hoseok leaning against Yoongi’s cubicle. 

“Everything go smoothly?” Hoseok wonders, and even Yoongi turns away from his monitor, watching your reaction. 

You nod, “It would seem so, she was checking in on Seokjin’s training and by the looks of it, seems happy with what I’m doing.” 

“That sounds good.” You hum at Hoseok’s comment, ready to resume back to your work. 

Unfortunately, your mindset is cut short. 

“Hey….” A deep frown mars your features, the uncertainty drawing Yoongi and Hoseok’s attention, “Has anyone seen Seokjin?” 

“What do you mean?” Hoseok asks, “I thought he was taking a break.” 

“He was just getting started.” You respond, glancing around to see if you could possibly spot the man anywhere. 

It’s when you’re beginning to debate asking the front desk about his whereabouts that Yoongi places a hand against your shoulder. 

“He was wearing a gray suit with a black tie, right?”

Eyes widening, you nod right away.

“Uh, Y/N–” Hoseok’s peering out the window, squinting his eyes. “I think I’ve got some pretty bad news.” 

Before you have a chance to ask, he looks away from the window and then at you. 

“I think Seokjin ran away.”

You appear flabbergasted, tone pitching higher. “What do you mean he ‘ran away’?”

He gestures to the glass, “Take a look for yourself.”

You swiftly walk over, peering through the transparent material. You notice a handful of individuals outside of the building, but your eyes narrow in on how Seokjin is one of them, doing occasional and nervous-filled double takes as he waits for the light across the street to turn red.

You’re at a loss for words.

“Am I…” Your confusion morphs into horror, “Am I supposed to go after him?”

“That’s Seokjin, alright,” Yoongi mutters from behind you. “And I guess so.”

Your eyes flicker between Yoongi and Hoseok, who seems to be both suspended in shock and disbelief as you. 

Taking one quick glance at the promised work you were hoping to complete, you let out a long sigh and rush to grab your coat.

This definitely wasn’t part of your job description. 

***

Deep breaths escape your form.

It wasn’t too long ago that Hoseok and Yoongi had graciously discovered that your intern had run off the one moment you weren’t watching over him and it’s led you on a wild goose hunt just to locate him.

You’ve looked everywhere. Across the street from where you last saw him. Near the building you were and even accompanying shops you suspected he might have slipped into.

Which was perhaps the worst part of it all. Not only can you not comprehend why Seokjin would simply just run off like that, you have no clue where he could have tried to escape to.

Not until you land on a particular café.

Your eyes widen. 

Seokjin sits in one of the booths, engaged in conversation with one of the waiters.

You don’t take a second longer to enter, pushing against the door that jingles on your arrival. Seokjin turns around at the sound with a smile, but the colour completely drains from his features.

He lets out a blood-curdling scream. 

To be fair, you’ve been running around a lot and it’s caused your appearance to be just a bit disheveled. 

Aka you’re hunched over and wheezing, hair falling down like you’ve just walked out of some horror movie. 

“Who are you?!” He asks in defense. 

“Can you stop yelling for a minute?” You look up annoyed, brushing your hair away. 

Seokjin calms down immediately, sheepishly laughing. 

“Oh, hi Y/N….” 

“Hi.” You answer back sarcastically, walking towards him, “You know, I have nothing against physical activity, but no one ever told me that I’d have to hunt down the CEO’s son.” 

He immediately rises from his seat, but you raise your hand in an attempt to stop him. 

“Don’t.”

He knows, he knows you’re here to haul him back into that boring office, chide him for running away in the place and potentially, even tell one of higher ups of the situation he’s caused. However, all thoughts go completely out the window when you choose to sit opposite from him in the booth instead.

You ask him a question that has his eyes rounding.

“What did you order?”

It’s almost like he’s lost the will to speak in the moment until reality finally snaps him back in. “Uh, just their famous latte….”

You nod, gesturing the waitress over and requesting for another latte. Settling into your seat, you take your coat off and peer around the café.

At your silence, Seokjin curiously pipes up.

“So I’m taking that I can stay…?”

You cross your arms, “We’ll leave after the drinks get here.” 

“But it’s really nice here.” He persuades, “And besides, when do you get the chance to be at such a nice café with such a dashing young ma–“

You're glaring at him and he quickly clears his throat, “I mean, technically, this is a break…”

You scoff, “Are you really trying to justify running away?”

“Yes.” He answers right away.

You’re extremely reluctant at the moment. You’ve had to run around for a while and search for him like your life depended on it, oddly wondering why on earth you went from being promoted from a part-time mentor to a full-time one.

But it’s clear to you that Seokjin truly dislikes being in the office, so you’re wondering if maybe being outside from it might be useful.

“Five minutes.”

“What?”

“You get five minutes.” You state, “Then we have to go back.”

He sighs in relief and finally relaxes. It’s not long before your drinks arrive and you take the steaming mug right away.

“I’m curious.” You say after a moment of silence, sipping down on your cup.

He glances up intrigued, “Do you have a business degree?”

The cup in his hand nearly falls.

He loudly scoffs, as if offended, “Of course I have a business degree!”

“Hm. Impressive.”

For some reason, he finds that the sarcastic tone you use means quite the opposite.

“Seriously, what kind of opinion do you have of me?” 

“Well, you did make quite the impression when I met you at the office.” You point out. "And you just ran away from the office too." You want to mentally add, but hold back in case he tries again. 

Seokjin leans back, “That wasn’t even the first time you met me.”

“The first time I met you, you were a completely different person.”

“What do you mean?”

You shrug, “I don’t know, you seemed a lot shyer back then.” Your head shakes, “Definitely the complete opposite of now–“

“I think the words you’re looking for are irresistibly confident.”

“ –almost like the person I met in the past was like a twin or something–“

“Unfortunately, the world’s been blessed with only one of me.”

You pause, a deadpan expression crossing you as you move on, “Anyways, I would have never guessed you were the CEO’s son.”

You’re prepared for Seokjin to rebuttal with a lengthy exposition of some proud characteristic of his in response, but the conversation dips into an abrupt silence.

You frown and though he smiles, it doesn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Well, you’re not the first person to say that.”

For a moment, the silence takes over and you’re almost tempted to change the topic or bring light to something else, but then he continues.

“And you’re right, by the way. I’ve changed a lot.” There’s a giant mischievous grin on his features, “Improved on my already amazing qualities, if I do may say.”

You have the urge to eye roll at that, “But being the CEO’s son...that’s something I never got a choice in.”

You stare at him wide-eyed.

“I see….”

His voice increases in volume, “Besides, even if I wasn’t the CEO’s son, I still think you would be pretty lucky to be here sitting across from me.”

You don’t even hesitate to let the sarcasm leak in with a smile, “Sure…”

A loud alarm blares through the air and Seokjin jolts back from the sound. You take out your phone and swipe at the screen, instantly rising onto your feet.

“Alright, break time’s over.” You clap your hands, “Back to work.”

His jaw drops, “You set a timer?!”

“I said ten minutes, right?” You grin, “Now come on, I’m not in the mood to chase you down a second time.”

Seokjin playfully rolls his eyes, but nonetheless follows after you.

[hannahssimblr]

Epilogue (Part 2)

I wake at six with some noises and banging in the hallway. Groggily I climb to my feet and hobble to the door to see what all the fuss is about. It’s the makeup girl. The wheels of her cart of palettes seem to have gotten stuck on the high pile carpet and she’s careened the whole thing into the wall. “Sorry! I’m so sorry,” she whispers as I emerge, “I was looking for the bride’s room.” 

Another door in the hallway opens and Shane pokes his head out. He’s fully dressed already in his suit, meaning that sleep didn’t come in the end. “You’re at the wrong end,” he hisses, “Bridal suite is down in room six, Evie, would you help her?”

She looks at me pleadingly, “Oh, would you mind? I’m doing a bad job of pushing this yoke in a straight line.” 

I do, I go with her to the room, and when I knock Claire throws the door open looking perfectly serene in a silk dressing gown and matching slippers. “Evie!” 

“And the makeup girl!” I say, “I was helping her with her stuff.”

She throws her arms around me and kisses both my cheeks, “I’m so happy to see you! I can’t believe you made it.”

“Oh God, come on, I’d hardly miss it.”

“Come in, come in, both of you, it’s so early.” 

Inside the room her bridesmaids have already gathered and are lolling around a little fireplace, half asleep in their satin robes. The only one I know is Jaz from college. The others are close cousins from Tullamore who I’ve never met before. 

“Everyone, this is Evie,” she says to them, “My should-have-been-bridesmaid.”

“Who has been a terrible friend,” I add, “I’ve just been working too much to commit to this, I’m so sorry.”

“No!” She says as she cups my face, “You’ve been doing amazingly, Shane and I followed the articles about you all across the world for the last six months, you’ve been a busy lady.” 

“A tired lady.”

“Oh well maybe you can relax this weekend, do you think?” She climbs into a seat as the makeup artist begins to prep her face.

“You look amazing,” I tell her, “Your skin- What is that? What’ve you been using?”

“I’ll tell you a secret if you swear not to tell anyone else,” her lips curl into a smile, “it’s botox.”

I gasp and come closer to inspect her skin. I want to reach out and touch it but it’s already being wiped with a cotton round, “that’s amazing, you look twenty.”

“I wish, look,” she raises her eyebrows and her forehead is completely frozen, “No lines, isn’t that really weird?”

“Wow, keep doing that and you’ll make me want it too.”

And she rolls her eyes, “Oh come on, no, you don’t need to. You have those amazing genetics from your mam. How is it that she’s sixty four and doesn’t have a single wrinkle while my mam started getting lines at forty? Botox is something the O’Gorman women will have to invest in, the Kilbrides do not need botox.”

“News to me that your mam gets botox.”

“Oh Lord, yes, of course she does. It’s a lot of pressure to be the most glamorous woman in Tullamore, don’t you know? Now that it’s going to be me I need to step up my game,” She fists her hands with determination, “No slacking.”

In the three years since she and Shane have come back from Sydney, Claire has been busy too. She works at her dad’s office during the day – doing what I’m not exactly sure – and at night she takes classes in the local college so that she can get her degree in childcare, which might be useful seeing as she’s planning on having four of her own. Shane works in the lab at the pharmaceuticals company, his chemistry knowledge being put to good use, and he swears he really doesn’t mind it. It pays well, it doesn’t require him to travel and he leaves at five on the dot every evening to make his way over to the site of their new house across the lane from his childhood home and supervise the work. They should be moved in by Christmas, all going well. He hasn’t hung up his football boots yet, even since being dropped by the Swans. He coaches the girls’ under 10s and 12s football team two evenings a week at the local club. 

I hang out with Claire and the sleepy bridesmaids for a while before deciding that I should probably get myself ready, or eat something, so I do. I throw on something to cover up my pyjamas and go down for breakfast on my own. 

The snow is deep now, completely covering the landscape in a thick blanket and as I gaze out at it and eat my eggs and toast I wonder what would happen if it all got so bad that the roads closed down. What if it stopped us all from leaving? Maybe then, I think, I won’t have to think about work for a while, and I can take a holiday away from it all. “Sincerest apologies” I’ll write to my agent, “I’m trapped in a snowstorm away from my computer at the moment and there’s nothing I can do. I’ll send on the illustrations as soon as I can but really, I can’t make any estimation as to when that might be,” I smirk with delight and take a sip of my tea, thrilled by the idea of getting to do nothing. 

The hotel is quiet now but I know that frantic preparation is happening behind closed doors, and within an hour it spills out into the hallway. I can hear it as I do my makeup at the dressing table; the disorder of that crucial hour before Claire walks down the aisle and it all suddenly comes together. Caroline’s voice, directing someone somewhere, she’s straightening Shane’s jacket and ordering him downstairs. There is someone else, Will O’Connor, pacing back and forth rehearsing the lines of his best man speech. A woman is talking about the temperature of the room, the tuning of her violin, or something like that, and I swear that somewhere among the chaos of it all I hear a voice, deep, smooth, American, and as he passes by my door I freeze, knowing I should open it, stop him and say hello but I can’t because I’ve smudged my lipstick now. I grab a tissue and wipe it away, and then it’s too late.

I head down to the reception room just a few minutes before the ceremony begins, feeling nervous, though I know I shouldn’t because it’s not my wedding day. Shane is at the altar already, fidgeting, and Will is beside him looking spaced out, hands in his pockets and looking at the Christmas tree at the back of the room. I smile at Shane, and he smiles at me. Ivy is there too, with her violin playing friend from the music academy, they’re playing a gentle tune as the guests come in. And there’s Kelly and her parents, and Claire’s mother… and there’s Jude, and it’s like he can recognize my footsteps because he turns around to look at me the moment my feet hit the floorboards, and just like that we’ve just made eye contact for the first time in nine years. And I haven’t died because of it. I breathe. I’m fine.

Choosing a seat somewhere near the front seems like a wise idea. That way I can’t stare at the back of his head and that cute, short haircut for any length of time and I can think about other things, like how Claire’s mothers dress is just a little bit too close to white, but really, I don’t have much of a chance to think about it anyway, because the musicians begin to play Pachibel’s Canon and the door opens and we all turn around as Kelly’s daughter comes bounding down the aisle chucking fistfuls of white petals onto the ground. Everyone coos at her and whispers about how cute she is, and then the moment that she throws the basket onto the floor and sends it rolling under somebody’s seat I spy Caroline pursing her lips. 

“Fiadh,” she hisses, “Pick that up!”

Fiadh does not pick it up. She runs back down the aisle again and then Kelly is scrambling from her seat trying to grab her, now shrieking and weaving in and out of the seats. Someone captures her and holds her up, her fat little limbs squirming in mid air. I don’t know why I have an urge to look at Jude at this moment, as though I know him at all well enough to make a face and laugh privately about what’s just happened, so I try very hard not to, and anyway, I can’t. The bridesmaids are coming next. 

Beginning // Prev // Next

[puppetoffthehook]

Respect and Responsibility

DO NOT REBLOG

Trigger warnings: child abuse, beatings, mentions of past drug addiction, unsafe situations for a minor, use of f slur

—————

Billy felt hands on him, lifting him from the floor where the drugs had made him pass out and carrying him outside. He can tell by the coolness of the air as the wind blows through the surrounding trees. He hears a car door open and then he’s roughly shoved into the seat. Whatever that shit was that Max got him with was good because he couldn’t stop his head colliding with the window once the door was slammed shut.

The driver’s side door opened and he could hear talking , kind of. Mostly just pieces of conversation.

“Don’t… you driving.”

“… have to… Neil..”

“I’ll tail.. make.. you’re safe.”

Fuck. The blonde might barely be conscious but his father’s name reminds him through the sluggishness that he doesn’t know what time it is and he still hasn’t gotten Max home. His dad and Susan are probably sitting at the table with coffee waiting for them. Susan with that annoying look like somehow she’s fucking worried about him but once the beating starts she’ll just drag Max to her room and pretend she’s blissfully ignorant to the abuse. And his dad.. Fuck.

The car is moving turtle slow and Billy’s finally able to get his eyes open after what feels like an hour but was probably twenty minutes. Max is driving his car. If his dad sees her behind the wheel he’ll be even more pissed.

“Over.” The redhead looks at him in confusion so he repeats, slower so he can get the words out. “Pull.. over.. Max.”

He’d be pissed about her shaking her head and ignoring him if he wasn’t still so sluggish. “No can do, Billy. We have to get home, right? That’s why you came in and threatened my friends, wasn’t if?” Oh fuck her for being mad. She’s not the one who’s gonna get it when they show up to the house and he’s still like this.

“Dad’s.. gonna freak.. you driving.” That’s the least of his problems but it’s definitely a problem. No matter if Neil sees her driving the car or not it’s gonna be bad for him this time. Maybe not to the same level as that night his dad found him kissing his boyfriend at the boardwalk but it’s gonna be bad. And he wont be able to keep Max from witnessing it.

She ignores Billy entirely while he rolls the window down stiffly until he can feel the cold fall air whipping his curls around his face. It helps shock him a bit more awake but he’s still going to be noticeably fucked up when they get home. “Max.. When we get home, go.. to your room. You don’t.. need to see.”

He doesn’t look at her so he doesn’t see the confused look on her face directed toward him between glances at the empty small town road. A few more streets and they’ll be on Cherry Lane. Despite the tranquilizer in his system, Billy can feel that familiar buzzing in his chest. Like a hornet’s nest gearing up for a strike. Sometimes the anticipation of it is worse than the beating itself.

“.. I’ll do what I want. I thought you understood our little agreement.” Oh fuck this kid. If she wants to see the consequences of her actions then so fucking be it. He’s the one who’ll be bloody in the end, not her. Not precious little Maxine who can do so much wrong but never has to suffer for it. Not like him.

“Stick around then. Pop some.. fucking popcorn while you’re at it.. Little bitch.”

Neil is outside when they arrive and it’s then that Billy realizes Steve Harrington was pulling up behind them. Oh this night could only be worse if a cop showed up. Max nearly forgot to put the car in park so Billy flung the gear shift into the right position and climbed out of the passenger seat. He can already feel those cold eyes on him and knows it looks bad.

“Boy, what’s wrong with you? On damn drugs again already?” There’s that quiet fury Neil puts on for guests. “Young man, what exactly is going on? Did my son show up like that to find Maxine?”

Steve, for whatever it’s fucking good for, doesn’t lie. “No, Mr. Hargrove, sir. He came looking for Max and he got in the face of one of the other kids I was watching. I kind of started a fight and-“

“After you lied to my fucking face about her being there.” Billy growled, trying to push through the fading effects of the drug. “You lied about Max being with you, there were drugs in reach of a bunch of twelve and thirteen year olds, and the little bitch dosed me!”

“You were going to kill Steve!”

“He would’ve deserved it for being a fucking p-”Billy didn’t expect his dad to come close and grab him by the collar. He never does anything in front of outsiders.

“I’ve heard enough. Maxine, go to your room. Your mother and I will be discussing a punishment for your little runaway act.” He waited for Max to go inside before turning to Steve. “I apologize for my son. Boy has quite the temper on him; can’t help himself it seems. That being said, I hope there’s a way we can get past this without pressing charges.”

Steve looked like he was trying to piece things together and decided better of it. Good. “Don’t worry, sir. So long as he stays away from me where it’s possible I won’t press charges. I did lie about Max being there and I know Billy was just worried about his sister.”

Billy glared at Steve from behind his father. “As any half-decent brother should be. Have a good night, son.” They watch as Steve turns his car back to the way they came and once the taillights were out of sight Neil dragged his son back into the house. The blonde gasped in pain as his head collided with the wall behind him.

“You are running out of chances, William.” Dread sank in Billy’s stomach like a lead cannon ball. His dad only used his name like that when it was going to be really bad. “All you had to do was watch her for the day and you couldn’t do that. Then I ask you to go find your sister and instead you get in a fight with some other little faggot and you dared to call your sister a bitch.”

His heart was racing now, the drug wearing off and leaving a splitting migraine in its wake. Heart racing, head throbbing, stomach sinking. Suddenly he’s getting thrown into the living room, right into his weight bench and Billy cries out without meaning to when one of the weights hits him hard. His hand is quickly added to the growing list of pain. “Dad, I-”

Neil grabs him by his curls and bashes his son’s head against the metal bars of the weight bench. It feels like his head is splitting and he can feel the wet trail of blood dripping from a new cut on the back of his head. He knows it’s just a flesh wound but the migraine he was already gaining was made worse by the head injury.

“One day this lesson will be taught and you’ll actually learn it. Respect and responsibility are what make a man, William. Until you learn that you’ll always be a useless faggot of a boy.” The belt is already in his hand before he tosses Billy on the floor so he’s on his knees. Funny how it always makes Billy think about Sunday mass when his dad used to force them to go to church. Sermons full of hate claiming to be love. Pain replacing prayer to a God who never cared about Billy Hargrove.

The first strike of the belt is deafening in the stillness of the house and Billy has to bite his lip to avoid crying out again. His pain only makes his father all the more angry and hateful. Strike after strike, the crack of the belt is like a gunshot. When the teen looks toward the hall his stomach sinks impossibly further. Max is standing there with a horrified look on her face. She must’ve wondered what the sounds were and chose to investigate. She never has before so why now?

Billy tries to plead with her by glancing in the direction of her bedroom. He doesn’t want Neil to catch her. Luckily the kid gets it and goes back to her room silently. Neil was too busy beating his back raw to notice his stepdaughter, thankfully. The belt comes down hard over and over until Billy’s back feels like one big open wound and the pain makes his vision swim. Only then does Neil grab the back of his shirt and pull him up off the ground.

His bedroom door is right by the front door so it takes only about ten steps before the man throws him right at his bed. The barely worn off sedative and the pain have made it harder for Billy to coordinate and the teen trips over his own feet and hits his head on the shitty nightstand by his bed. There’s definitely a cut in his eyebrow that’s gonna scar.

“You will stay in this room until I decide otherwise, boy. You will only leave to use the bathroom, eat, or go to school. You are still expected to take Maxine places she wants to go once she’s no longer grounded but you are to come right back here. Is that clear?”

The blonde lifts himself up to lean against his bed, biting down a cry of pain. “Yes, sir.” Once he gets his way Neil leaves and Billy can breathe again. It’s painful and it doesn’t take long before he’s crying, quiet sobs wracking his form until he has no tears left. It takes longer for him to stand and remove his clothes. His favorite shirt has blood on the back which lets him know he’s going to have a few more unnoticed scars. The teen curls up into a ball on his bed and sleeps fitfully for a few hours.

The next day he wakes up feeling awful, his whole body feels like a bruise. He gets up slowly so as to not open any wounds that have started to crust over with blood and goes to take a shower. Except… he can’t open the door. No matter how he tries it stays shut. Panic builds in his chest as Billy beats on the door and calls out for someone to help. The only thing that stops him from trying again is the sound of his father’s work boots approaching. There’s a sound like a gate hook and the teen has to back up to not get hit with the door. To his horror he checks the door and there’s a latch installed on it.

“You’ll be doing exactly as I say from now on, boy.”

[neondiamond]

As the year is coming to an end very soon, I thought I’d put together a little masterpost of all of the fics and drabbles I posted over the past year. The total comes down to 26 fics, which I will say even I am impressed by! This list is in order from most to least recent and will be under the cut because otherwise this post would get really long! ✨

📚 One for the Books (25k, M, Christmas, bookshop AU, OT5 friendship) fic post

When Harry decides to move to London a few weeks before Christmas to pursue his dream and become the new owner of a bookshop after seeing an ad online, everyone he knows tells him he must be out of his mind. As he gets acquainted with his new life and meets a handful of incredible individuals—one of which he happens to grow particularly fond of—he slowly comes to the realisation that it may just be the best decision he's ever made.

Or the one where there’s a bookshop, a cat, OT5 friendship, a budding romance, and all the festive vibes.

🏠 Two Days and I’ll Be Home (781, G, canon compliant, fluff) fic post

Harry comes home to Louis for the holidays.

🎄 Worries, Kisses and Surprises (3k, G, Christmas, established relationship, mpreg) fic post

Harry and Louis are hosting Christmas dinner with both of their families for the very first time. Harry is a little stressed out about it, but for a good reason.

🦷 So Wise (1k, G, pure fluff) fic post

Harry’s a little out of it after having his wisdom teeth removed. Louis is there to take care of him.

📖 Foreshadowing (666, NR, spooky drabble) fic post

Alone at home on a rainy Friday night, Harry reads a story that resembles his own life a bit too closely…

❣️ How Long Will I Love You (4.5k, T, 5 times fic, canon compliant) fic post

Five times Louis thinks Harry is the love of his life, and the one time he says it out loud.

💗 Rain Check? (2.6k, G, dating) fic post

After a great first date with Louis, Harry is really looking forward to going on a second date. Things go wrong a few times before they go right.

🏒 On Thin Ice (16k, E, hockey AU, hidden relationship) fic post

As the goaltender for one of the best hockey teams in the world, Harry never expected participating in his second winter Olympics would be so eventful. His hidden long-term relationship with the captain of their biggest rival team may have something to do with it.

☁️ Head in the Clouds (1k, G, pure fluff, canon compliant) fic post

Harry needs a distraction, and Louis is always a big softie for his baby.

🛞 Waiting by the Tire Swing (1.1k, G, established relationship, bittersweet) fic post

For as long as Louis can remember, there has always been a tire swing hung up in the backyard.

🐕 Puppy Love (5.1k, G, lilo, flirting) fic post

Louis is a dog trainer and Liam just got a puppy for the first time. Dogs are sometimes smarter than one might think.

👨‍❤️‍👨 Just Enough (721, G, canon compliant, fluff) fic post

Harry and Louis meet up in Venice.

🥣 With A Little Help (3.4k, G, kid fic, established relationship) fic post

With his husband Harry away for work for the week, Louis finds himself going a little bit crazy over their five year old son’s numerous, very particular quirks.

📦 Sidetracked (2.3k, G, OT5 friendship) fic post

While scrambling to get his whole life packed up the night before moving in with Harry, Louis and the boys get distracted and take a trip down memory lane.

🧁 Sugary Sweet (1.2k, G, mpreg Harry, kid fic) fic post

Sometimes, all you need is a little sugar to get the day started.

Or Harry and Louis’ daughter knows exactly how to get what she wants, Harry is pregnant, and Louis is the best husband ever.

🍑 Here You Come Again (22k, E, farm AU, exes to lovers, fluff & angst) fic post

A year after taking over his family’s peach orchard, Louis thinks he has it all figured out. His routine on the farm is mundane, yet familiar, and his dog Clifford is more than enough to keep him company. It isn’t until Harry, his ex-boyfriend who broke his heart and left their small town a decade ago to pursue a bigger, brighter future in the city, comes to stay on the farm that he realises just how badly he was lying to himself.

🌙 Good Night (1.3k, M, kid fic) fic post

Harry and Louis’ three year old daughter is afraid of the monster she claims lives under her bed. When she comes into their bedroom and interrupts their alone time for what feels like the hundredth time, Louis finally takes matters into his own hands.

👨‍🍳 Find Me in the Kitchen (9.2k, E, cooking, A/B/O, flirting) fic post

When Harry sees Louis step in his beginners cooking class for the first time, he’s surprised to say the least. Not only is Louis an Alpha, he’s probably the most attractive Alpha Harry has ever come across. The next five weeks are sure to be interesting.

🚒 I’d Walk Through Fire For You (Just Let Me Adore You) (8.3k, E, A/B/O, hurt/comfort) fic post

Firefighter Louis is having an uneventful shift at the station when a call comes in about a devastating fire in a nearby apartment complex. All of his worst nightmares become reality when he realises it’s where Harry, his best friend who he’s had a relentless crush on for years, lives, and that said best friend is stuck inside among the flames.

🍲 Better With You (922, G, sick fic, fluff) fic post

Louis is sick. Harry knows exactly what to do to make him feel better.

💜 Baby, Don’t Apologize (1.8k, T, asexual Harry, A/B/O, established relationship) fic post

Harry being an asexual Omega means his Alpha Louis has had to spend his ruts alone for the past decade despite being mated. He’s not sure who feels most hurt by it.

🕯 Cherished (1k, G, mpreg Harry, pure fluff) fic post

When Harry’s very pregnant and uncomfortable, Louis finds a way to make him feel loved and cherished.

🏕 Naturally (5.6k, E, teachers AU, camping, bed sharing) fic post

When PE teacher Louis first gets assigned to be a chaperone on a weekend long camping trip with a bunch of high school seniors, he’s not too excited about it. That changes when he finds out his fellow Music teacher Harry, who Louis happens to have a massive crush on, is also coming.

❤️ Where Love Grows (6.5k, T, single parents, kid fic, momrry) fic post

When his husband leaves without warning only weeks after the birth of their first child, a struggling Harry is forced to move in with a work colleague and raise his newborn in the desolate, dreary outskirts of London. There, within the walls of a shitty apartment complex, he meets Louis Tomlinson, fellow struggling parent and hopeless romantic.

⚡️ Thunder and Rain (628, G, A/B/O, kid fic) fic post

There’s a storm outside and Louis can’t find the puppies. Luckily, Harry’s there.

💌 Love Mail (5k, G, neighbours AU) fic post

A week after moving into a new apartment complex, Harry discovers the mailman doesn’t seem to know the difference between numbers 23 and 28. He’s not too mad about it when he finds out just how handsome his neighbour from apartment 28 really is.

Or the one where Harry and Louis keep mistakingly receiving each other’s mail (and also fall in love).

[seungly]

hiii so I was just wondering if u could maybe wrote a really REALLY angsty drabble where felix and the reader break up bc felix fell out of love but later realizes he still loves her and they get back together?

Pairing: Lee Felix x reader

genre: angst with a happy ending

wc: 0.9k

warning/s: Felix crying, falling out of love, unrequited love (kinda), kinda toxic (mb guys 🕺)

note: low-key had the urge to end this badly hahaha, made me tear up lmfao but I hope you like it!! <33

♫ ‘Turning Page’ by Sleeping At Last 

: ̗̀➛ © seungly 2022

proofread

-

The night was always chilly but his distant presence makes it a lot cooler. He was there, he was beside you but why does it feel like he’s so far. That no matter how much you hold your hand out to reach him, you could never get a hold. 

Your back facing him as you clutch the blanket over you. You wondered if maybe he’ll hold you tonight, maybe you’ll be able to feel the warmth of being in his arms again.

“Y/N?”

His whisper sent shivers down your spine. It sounded so...sad. You feel him move behind you, his hand closing contact with your arm, “are you still awake?”

You wish you weren’t.

You wipe your tears, taking a deep breath before facing him, “Hey...” your forced smile fades at the sight of his red, swollen eyes. His tears fell as he stared at you, finally letting his sobs come out, “Lix?” you reach to hold his face.

“I’m sorry, Y/N.” his voice cracked, hand shaking as it held yours, “Please forgive me.” he brings your hand to his shivering lips, “please...”

You stared at him as the tears resurfaced, “What’s wrong, angel?” you force a smile, “tell me.”

Felix sobbed, pressing kisses on your hand as he held it tightly as if not wanting to let go, “I can’t do this anymore.”

You sit up as you took your hand from him, letting it fall on your lap. “Y/N, please talk to me.” Felix pleaded, moving to hug your waist, “Please.” his voice muffled by your shirt.

“You can’t do what anymore?” you sob, wiping your tears away, “Lee Felix, you answer me right now!” you push him away from you.

Felix whimpers, kneeling in front of you, “I don’t think I want to be with you anymore, Y/N.” 

Your name sounded like poison coming from him. You wanted to scream and slap him across his face but he was crying in front of you, in pain. “I’m sorry.” he holds your hand.

“but why?” you scoff, “what did I do?!” you shut your eyes, sobbing into your other hand. You couldn’t bear to look at him anymore as he hugs your hand to his chest, occasionally feeling his lips on your knuckles.

“It’s not your fault. I- I just don’t feel the same anymore.” he sobbed.

“Please don’t leave me.” you whimpered, looking into his eyes, “I need you, Felix.” your voice cracked. Your eyes mirrored his as he held them captive in his gaze. 

“I’m sorry.” Felix lets your hand go, getting off the bed, “I’m really sorry.” he takes one more look at you, “I’ll get my things tomorrow.”

You watch as he leaves the room. You wanted to move and run after him but your body wouldn’t. When you got off the bed only then did you hear the front door close, the car engine starting not long afterward leaving you to scream in your empty room, hugging his pillow as you cry yourself to sleep.

-

2 days. 

He hasn’t been back for 2 days despite saying he’ll grab his things the next morning after the sudden...break-up.

You sat on the bedroom floor, folding his clothes. Maybe it would hurt less if you just handed his things. Your heart shattered for each clothing of his you folded. You eyed his favorite sweater on the bed, wondering if you should wear it. You left it out in case he’d want to use it, especially when you knew how cold he gets. 

You drop the shirt you held, crawling closer to the sweater. You sat down, holding it in your hands. You missed him, so so much. You hug the sweater close to you, the smell of his cologne sending you to memory lane of all the times you spent together. 

Your tears couldn’t help but run down your cheek once again, the grip on the fabric tighter as if it were him, “Don’t go...” you whisper his name, “Please don’t.” 

Your surroundings were drowned out by the voices that screamed in your head. It all felt too much. The room was filled with your loud sobs, the never-ending whisper of his name, for him not to leave. The fabric in your hands, wet with your tears, never letting go. 

“Y/N?”

The all too familiar voice of his. You wondered maybe you were hearing things but at the turn of your head, you saw him. Felix stood by the doorway, his eyes held regret when he saw you. He wasted no time, quickly holding you in his arms.

You didn’t know what to do. This feeling. You calmed down, drained from all the crying. You melted in his hold, wanting nothing more than to stay in it for a lifetime. “Felix...” you smile sadly on his shoulder, your voice barely there.

“Hm, it’s me.” he buries his head in your hair, missing the feeling of holding you in his arms, “It’s me. I’m here...” 

You nodded weakly, tears staining his shirt, “Don’t go, please.” you sob, “I’m sorry for whatever I did, please come back.” you grip on his shirt.

Felix cried at the thought of you blaming yourself for his dumb decision. The night he left his home, you. He had nothing else in mind but you. Those nights he spent alone on his empty bed slapped him back to reality. 

He couldn’t lose you.

You mean too much to him. Those nights he spent alone, he looked for you, he looked for your sweet words and your small giggles. He missed your hand in his, your fingers through his hair. He missed the feel of your lips on his, your cute attempts of a joke. He missed you. 

“I’m not going anywhere, I promise.” he cups your face, smiling sadly, “I promise, I promise, I promise, okay?” he wipes your tears away, pressing a kiss on your lips, “I love you.” 

-

note: did I do okay? haha, feedback is greatly appreciated!!

[theshelbyclan]

Castle in the Sky

Summary: You’re the daydreaming sibling of the Shelby’s, but when the adventure spills over into real life, it’s not as great as you’d imagined

(Gif by @nofckingfighting​) A/N: A sweet anon requested: can I have request please Something like this Tommy was very protective over y/n and she gets hurt by one of the bad guys and sees blood on her face now all bruised but Tommy wants revenge Omg if you do so thank you so much for my request! ❤️ Huge fan of your works!This is set around season 1, back in the good old days when the only real enemy was Billy Kimber, remember those days? So easy… anyways, hope you like it J Words: 2933 ***

You were only nine when you started as a bookie’s runner for the Peaky Blinders. Nothing about this was special, half the kids of Small Heath worked for them, but there was just one difference: the Shelby’s were your brothers. It was a good job in many ways, because it meant not only being able to help your brothers, but people were inclined to give you a bit extra, just for being a Shelby. You imagined they thought it good luck.

“Y/N, take this to the other side of town, will you?” Tommy requested as he sat hunched over a newspaper. You protested a little, “Why me? I’ve done all of mine for today…” “This one’s extra, alright?” “Who is it?” you could never hide your inquisitive nature. But you only showed it around your brothers; to the rest of the world you were just quiet and practically invisible. He smirked slightly, “Someone who’ll pay up big. That’s why I need you to do it. Can’t trust any of the other kids not to steal…” “I have some homework to do, Tommy.” At thirteen, you were still at school, which was a minor miracle in Birmingham. “Tell you what: if you just do this one job, I’ll get you magazine you’ve been talking about, eh?” now he looked up and met your eyes. “Book, Tommy,” you smiled, “You might have heard of the concept? It’s a little like a magazine, a little like that newspaper, but with more pages? Some find it challenging, but once you get used to it…” “Alright, little miss know-it-all,” he grumbled without malice, “Go on, take the slip, make sure he bets all. Off with you. Stop outsmarting your old brother, eh?” He winked to make sure you were comfortable and you returned it with a big grin. “Where?” “Digbeth,” Tommy’s nose was back in the newspaper, “behind the Golden Dragon.” ***

As you were walking through the streets of Small Heath on your way to Digbeth, you were daydreaming. In a way it was strange just how different you were from your brothers, because the entire Shelby clan was very realistic, trying to make their way in this hard world, where you would rather pretend all day you were the main character in some story. The books you read, it was all an escape to you. So while you were walking, the people and factories disappeared. In your head, you were walking through the woods, on a secret mission that your king gave you. With the top-priority letter in your pocket, you remembered what he’d told you before you left: “If you get caught, eat the letter. If they capture you, make sure to be brave and never divulge its contents to anyone. And if all else fails, you must make the ultimate sacrifice. But remember, you have to memorize the contents of the letter first…” Wouldn’t it just be easier to memorize it now and destroy the letter immediately? You pondered on the matter… In the distance, you could see the mountains and the towers of another kingdom, and you knew your enemies were near. Without anyone noticing, you put a hand to your pocket and could feel the reassuring rustling of paper underneath your fingers: the letter was still there. If it would come to a fight, how would you go about it? If there were just one man, the small dagger in your boots would suffice. If it were two, you’d distract one, maybe by throwing the veil you were wearing, quickly turning around to kill the other and then back to the first one before he had time to recover. If there were more than three, you’d run, because you were the fastest after all. You’d get to higher ground and attack them from there, like a deadly shadow they could never see coming. As you smiled to yourself, you left the daydream for a short moment. You looked down and saw the muddy shoes you were wearing, marching through Birmingham mud. In the distance, all you saw was smoke and factory pipes. But it was honestly all you needed: your imagination did the rest. The real world barged in when you delivered the slip in Digbeth. Everything went smoothly at first. Your big brown eyes persuaded him to indeed bet big, and you were quite satisfied with yourself, knowing Tommy would be too. But you still had to walk back with a lot of money now in your pocket.

*** Almost home, there were only a few streets to go. Your head was back in the clouds and this time you were imagining you were a spy during the war. Silently, you moved through the streets, making yourself invisible and pretending every man wearing a hat was the enemy. So each time you saw one, you changed directions or hid for a second. It was a fun game, until you realised the enemy wasn’t wearing a hat. “Now, what’s a pretty girl like you doing on the streets, all by herself?” A man with a heavy Cockney accent popped up next to you and your heart nearly jumped out of your chest. You opened your mouth to reply, but no words came out. In your dreams, you always knew what to say, but in reality it wasn’t so easy. The man approached you and you noticed he’d cut you off from your one exit out of the alley, “It’s Y/N Shelby, isn’t it,” he grinned. “No,” you managed to say, “you got the wrong girl.” He grinned again, “Nice try, sweetheart. We’ve seen you at the Garrison. They don’t allow little girls at the pub, unless they’re a Shelby.” This was all true. You felt your hands getting clammy. “Tommy sent you, didn’t he?” Again, you tried to remember what the hero in your stories would do. She’d run, climb the building and then throw a knife right between the eyes of the man. Or she’d say something clever, just to distract him, and then turn around and escape when he least expected it. He took another few steps forward and you could smell him now, a smell of strange smoke and the river, “Do you know who I am?” Nailed to the ground, you shook your head. “I work for Mr. Billy Kimber. Ever heard of him?” You turned to see if you could escape, but then realised the other side of the alley was blocked by two more men. Neither of them were wearing hats. Cold sweat of fear ran down your back. The man in front of you started laughing, “There’s no running, sweetheart. Just give it to me.” At once you realised he was referring to the money in your pocket, but for Tommy’s sake, you wanted at least to try to be brave, “I don’t have anything.” He sighed, “Don’t play with me. I’m not the kind of man to play with, and neither is Mr. Kimber,” his voice was suddenly low and menacing, “Your brother thought he could, thought he would get away with fixing a race, he did, and now he’s going to be put against the post and shot. Don’t think I won’t do the same to you.” You gulped, but still thought of Tommy’s disappointment in you when he would find out you’d been a coward. So you took a deep breath and said softly, “It’s not yours. This money is ours. You can tell Mr. Kimber to go fuck himself!” It didn’t come out as strongly as you’d hoped. Like a crack of thunder, he swiftly slapped you across the face with the back of his hand. All the air was knocked out of your lungs in a second and you stood gasping for air, as you felt some blood trickling down your chin. “Give me the money,” he demanded again. And then, like your heroes, you pretended to reach for it in your pocket. Suddenly, you turned around and started running into the other direction, hoping to slip past the two men before they could stop you. But it didn’t work. One grabbed your arm and when you tried to push him away, he punched you hard. All strength left you in an instant. The second one started fumbling in your pockets and instinctively you kicked him, which earned you another blow to the head. More punches followed and your head was spinning. As you looked up to the sky, you remembered wanting to get back home, to your castle, where all was well and safe.  In the end, they left you on the ground and the money was gone. Your last thought was: Tommy is going to be so embarrassed. 

*** “Y/N?” You opened your eyes, but couldn’t see for a moment. “Y/N,” the familiar voice repeated, “Come on, yes, let’s get you home. Polly, Polly will know what to do, yes…” Strong arms lifted you up and rocking with his familiar limp, Curly carried you back to Watery Lane. When he’d taken you into the kitchen, Aunt Polly flew to your side in seconds, asking, “What’s happened?” Uncertainly, Curly explained and as he did, he started to become upset over your state. That’s when Tommy came in and started to calm him, while keeping an eye on you all the time. “Sweetheart,” Aunt Polly had taken a cold cloth to the cut in your lip, “Wake up… Come back to us…” Again you tried opening you eyes and you finally managed this time. But all your concern was with Curly, who was still anxiously fidgeting with his cap in hand. “Don’t worry, Curly,” you croaked, “I’m alright now. You did good, carrying me here.” “Polly will know what to do…” he kept on repeating. Tommy put a hand on his shoulder and it had an immediate calming effect, “It’s alright, Curly, go back to Charlie, eh? We’ll take care of her now.” Before he left, you said to him, “Curly? I’ll stop by tomorrow, see about that beautiful horse of yours, alright?” That put an immediate smile on his face, “Yes, she’s a beauty, alright… And she needs her princess to ride her! Back to that castle in the sky…yes…” When he’d gone, you lowered your head again and sighed deeply. Carefully, you felt your face and only then realised how awful you must look. “Who did this,” Tommy demanded at once. Polly glared daggers at him, “You did, I presume?” “Me?” “I told you again and again not to use the little ones to run errands. Sending them across half of Birmingham with money in their pockets, and look what happens!” For a moment, Tommy seemed to be speechless. Then he protested, “They’re invisible, Pol. Nobody knows they’re carrying anything.” “This one did,” you interjected, “because he knew who I was.” “How?” “Said he was with Kimber,” you whispered as the memories came back to you, “said he’d put me up against a post and he’d shoot me, like he’d do with you…” In a sudden fit of rage, Tommy grabbed a chair and flung it across the room. Polly snarled at the gesture and then turned to you, “Stay here. This cloth is cold, keep it against your eye, or it’ll turn black in half an hour, and I can’t take you to church looking like that. I just need to have a word with your brother.” You took the cloth and didn’t dare to look at Tommy, who was now being taken away by his aunt like he was ten years old again and in trouble. Aunt Polly closed the door behind her, but you still tried to hear as much as you could. Most of it was lost, but when they started shouting you heard bits like “putting your little sister in danger!” and “this is Billy fucking Kimber, Thomas” and “family first”. At first Tommy protested with “I didn’t know they knew her” and “Kimber is getting weak”, but eventually he shouted out in defeat, “I fucked up, alright? I’ll fix it. I promise.” When they came back, Tommy looked like a dog that’d just been kicked. So he retreated into a corner and started smoking, still sulking a little. Aunt Polly lifted your head up by placing a finger under your chin, “You won’t look pretty for a week, but it’ll heal.” You shrugged, not caring about being pretty at all, and muttered, “I feel like an idiot…” “Why?” your aunt demanded, “because big men decided to go after a small girl?” Tears started forming in the corners of your eyes, as you admitted, “Because I wanted to be brave! In my stories I’m pretty and strong and the hero, but in reality I’m just like a mouse. No one notices me and I’m useless…” “Sweetheart,” Polly softened her voice and crouched down next to you, “Just because you can’t fight like Arthur or John can, doesn’t make you useless. We’re all stuck here, in Small Heath, and there’s nothing pretty about that. But you reading all those books? That’s what’s going to make this easier. You can pretend, and that’s worth more than you’ll ever realise.” You smiled back at your aunt, who always knew what to say to make you feel better. “I’m off to the chemist to get you some powder against the pain,” she kissed the top of your head, “I’ll be right back, love.” After she’d gone as well, you sighed again and dropped the cloth. Her words mattered, of course they did, but it didn’t change the fact that you weren’t happy with yourself at all. For starters, you still couldn’t bear looking at Tommy. “Y/N,” he grumbled, which convinced you even more he was angry and disappointed, “Tell me what they looked like.” “They didn’t wear hats…” Impatiently he waved a hand, “Apart from that. What else?” “I don’t know,” you shrugged, “it all happened fast, Tommy. They had that accent that Kimber has as well.” “Fucking Cockneys…” your brother breathed. “Tommy?” you tried carefully, “I’m so sorry, but I lost the money. I tried to keep it. When they asked I told them to fuck off and then I tried to run and even fight, but they still took it. I’m so sorry…” He held up a hand to silence you and locked eyes with you, “You told them to fuck off?” “Yes, but it didn’t help…” “You actually told them to fuck off?” he frowned, “Usually you’re too shy to even say anything to strangers…” “I was angry,” you explained, “and I didn’t want to disappoint you.”

Tommy walked over to you and much to your surprise, he was smirking, “So you told them to go fuck themselves, and then you fought them?” “Yes?” “Did you hit any of them?” You thought about it for a second, “I think I kicked one in the balls and hit the other in the face.” His grin grew even wider and he mumbled to himself, “Wait ‘till I tell Arthur about this…” “Why?” you protested, “So he can laugh at me as well?” “No, sweetheart, he’ll be the proudest brother ever. His little sister, who everyone thinks is a little mouse too scared to do anything? She fucking hit a grown man and told them to go fuck themselves. Now that’s a hero in my book!” His laugh was contagious and you had to join in. But soon you became uncertain again and asked, “Are you not upset I lost the money?” “The money’s not important,” his face grew serious again in an instant, “but you are.” “Really?” you whispered. “Yes,” he took your face in his hands, “Listen, Y/N, this is what’s going to happen: Billy Kimber threatened my little sister, so I’m going to put himup against the post, and shoot him.” “And then what?” “Well, what usually happens in your books? Maybe I could learn something from them, eh?” A warm feeling of being appreciated for who you were came over you, “You’d take his kingdom and his skull would be put up on the gates, as a warning for all future enemies.” “That’s fucking dark,” Tommy raised one eyebrow, “But I like it.” “Me too…” you smiled at your brother. “I mean it though, Y/N. Kimber touched you, so I’m going to shoot the bastard. I won’t let anyone fucking go near you again.” And just like that, you felt safe enough again to continue dreaming. *** A few weeks later, everything had turned to chaos, both in the Shelby household as in the whole of Birmingham. Tommy didn’t speak to anyone of what happened to you, he hadn’t even apologized, but he wasn’t like that. He told you he’d fix it, promised you revenge, and that was even better. When the men were counting minutes in front of the Garrison and Billy Kimber’s army arrived, you were sitting at home with a book. You couldn’t really concentrate, because you knew there were too many of them. You pretended some angel would appear to save them all. There’d have to be no bloodshed, because this angel would be on your brothers’ side. That angel came in the form of your older sister Ada. She’d always had flair. In the end, only two bullets were fired. You listened to them both. One killed Danny Whizz-bang. The other killed Billy Kimber. Nobody knew, but as Tommy fired, he didn’t have business on his mind.

As he aimed, he saw his little sister’s face, all bruised and battered.

He whispered, “for Y/N,” and shot.

Bang.

***

Masterlist

[leonklove]

catching them cheating ` ੈ˚ ★🎐

xiao and reader r in a relationship / kazuha x reader at the end /

angst to fluff ੈ˚ ★🫶🏻

OH MY GD??! thank u sm for all the hearts on the ei one !!

my god I’m actually blushing n smiling from all the interactions [cry]

don’t forget to take a look on my xiao fluff !! ` ੈ˚ ★

`` ੈ˚ ★

(very ooc but just for fun😭💌)

you and xiao were walking around liyue harbor at night,

he accompanied you to shop for groceries but, he was on the phone the whole time.

when you called him or ask him something, he would get irritated and ignore you.

and then he walked to the bathroom without saying a word, but he left his phone

on the bench next to you. you opened his phone and saw a suspicious message reading ;

“I love you” with a long paragraph of a confession.

and you saw him reply with ; I love you too.

next thing you know was.. you were crying.

when you both arrived home, you were going to talk to him about this and end the

relationship

he was on his phone again, walking to his bedroom but you were following him,

just as you were about to say something, he slammed the door on your face.

you had an upset look, but what made it even worse were the words you heard

behind the door, a voice of a young woman giggling and saying “you’re so handsome,

i love you darling.”

you ran to your room, crying loudly.

you dialed kazuha, he picked up the phone call.

“hello? y/n?” he asked but the only sounds he can pick up from the phone was

you crying. “what happened? are you okay?” his worried tone made you

panic and cry even more.

“that’s it, I’m coming over to pick you up. I can’t stand you crying like this.”

he said, you tried to stop him but he hung up the call.

his voice made you more calm, you were waiting patiently for him to come

save you.

you saw kazuha waiting for you outside, from the window, xiao saw him

but he didn’t care, still talking to the woman on the phone.

you ran out to hug him, it was raining outside heavily and he was holding an umbrella..

blushing when your arms went around his shoulders,

you two happily walking together, having a conversation

walking to the park, the rain had finally stopped when you were with kazuha,

sitting on a wooden bench under a tree.

resting your head on kazuhas shoulder, closing your eyes as he smiled softly with a blush on his face.

xiao was walking to the park with the woman, spotting you and kazuha.

he couldn’t help but feel jealous, but he just stood there and looked at you from the other side of the road

kazuha chuckled and then saying ; “I’m going to get some ice cream for us. I’ll be back.”

meanwhile with xiao..

“xiao, are we gonna move or are you gonna stare at that

random person instead of walking?!”

xiao did not reply but instead he kept staring at you as you cluelessly waited for kazuha

with a smile, not knowing xiao was looking at you from afar.

the woman stormed off, xiao walked to you.

but kazuha came back with two cones of ice cream.

kazuha has a surprised look when he saw xiao.

you were asking him what’s wrong but he did not reply, still in shock

that he was here.

“[name] let’s go you might find out he-“ kazuha was interrupted by xiao.

“[name] , what are you doing with him? why didn’t you tell me about this?”

kazuha let out a worried face expression as he said

“well, I’ll understand if you want to go back with him.” he said with a smile.

but instead, you walked to kazuha and held his hand, walking away from xiao.

ੈ˚ ★🎐

“[name]! why did you-“ you silenced kazuha by pulling him in for a kiss, closing your eyes.

there was no one around but a lane of yellow and green trees.

his lips tasted like strawberries,you threw your arms over his shoulder, deepening the kiss.

he closed his eyes too.

then you felt someone staring at you two.

xiaos biggest regret was cheating on you with another woman.

he would never be able to see anyone as his lover ever again.

ੈ˚ 🎐 ੈ˚ 🎐 ੈ˚ 🎐 ੈ˚ 🎐 ੈ˚ 🎐

(sticky note : my god this was so out of character but

i wanted to try some angst + I GOT A SHIT TON OF INSPO FROM ALEXS WORK !! this

was so rushed kazuha fuckers come get ur ass here

anyways stan kazuha xiao sucks 🫶🏻🫶🏻 /hj)

again if this flops imma delete it 😭😭🫶🏻🫶🏻