#regs say its on right shoulder and sits on left hip

[musingsofahistorymajor]

We finally have some set photos for Tyler Perry's movie "Six Triple Eight" which is about the all African American WAC unit, the 6888th Postal Battalion during World War II!!! And as a WAC reenactor and historian who has extensively studied both the WAC and the 6888th, THIS IS GONNA BE SO GOOD!! They all look amazing and perfect and it's incredible to see them all in uniform. I'M VERY EXCITED

(Photo source)

[loveelle]

Keep it On

Reggie Peters x Reader Smut

Request from Anon: Can I request a Reggie x reader smut, while reader is wearing Reggie’s flannel?

A/N: Reblogs help inspire me to write more because then more people see!

Warnings: smut (18+)

WC: 2.4K

MASTER

---

5 minutes was all you needed alone with Reggie which, unfortunately, was more time than you’ve had alone all week. You loved the band, but god, you would trade the three of them- Alex, Luke, and Julie- in for just 5 minutes with your boyfriend. Okay, maybe that’s not true, but that doesn’t mean you’re no longer eager for alone time with Reggie.

You were sitting on the couch in the studio, eyes scanning over your boy with his bass hugged right to his chest as the band finishes the last of their song. His hair was glistening with sweat as he pushes it out of his face, focused entirely on Julie singing in hopes he can get his playing on time. You know he does by the small smile he gives himself to celebrate and his eyes flicker up to you briefly.

The look Reggie sends you cause your heart to race as you wink at him, making his eyes widen when you follow the wink with a smirk. He knows that look you’re giving him and he knows exactly what you want, something he’s been aching for lately as well.

“I need a break.” Luke huffs as he falls into the chair next to him, his guitar slumped on top his chest before he picks his head up. “10-minutes?”

You almost cry out in joy.

“Sounds great. I’m starving!” Julie groans loudly when she puts her mic back in its stand and clutch her stomach. Luke follows after her, despite not being able to eat, he won’t leave the young girl’s side. Alex takes one look at Reggie and you who was almost squirming in anticipation before he makes the decision to follow Luke and Julie. As soon as the three of them leave the room, you pounce off the couch and into Reggie’s already awaiting arms.

“I actually thought they’d never leave.” Reggie mumbles as his hands grip the back of your shirt to bring you closer against him and his lips meet yours.

You hum into his touch, your fingers trailing lightly on his chest until they were brushing Reggie’s jaw before you pull from the kiss slightly, just enough to talk. “I was about to ask them to join us.”

You go back in, wanting more than anything to finish the kiss and other things, but Reggie’s gasp and surprised look stops you. “R-Really? I mean, r-really?”

“Me, Reggie.” You mumble, squeezing his cheeks. “Focus on me.” You giggle and Reggie’s eyes widen before he snaps them close, crinkling his face. You giggle more at the sight before kissing his nose, getting him to open his eyes. When they meet yours, paired with Reggie’s smile stretched wide, you were glad he was holding you because your knees became weak.

Reggie’s mouth dips in the kiss from your mouth to your neck, his fingers slowly but surely find the bottom of your shirt and before you could think, it was over your head and thrown somewhere in the studio. As his hands travel your now bare back, you moan softly and cup Reggie’s face so you could kiss him again, pulling the flannel off of him in the process. You smirk at the feeling of Reggie’s biceps, giving them a squeeze before you tug on his tank top and it’s over his head. You pull back, letting your eyes move down Reggie’s bare chest and Reggie looks down your bra clad one, adjusting the growing bulge in his pants and you decide to help out, reaching behind your back and undoing your bra, tossing it into the abyss along with your shirt.

Reggie’s breath hitches as his eyes fall on your chest, your nipples already hardening against the cool air in the studio. “You are…” Reggie’s voice trails off before he looks up into your eyes, “Did you know you are gorgeous? Because you absolutely are.”

You don’t know how he does it, but when he compliments you like this, you can do nothing but believe him as your cheeks flair and your heart races. “Well, come over here and remind me.”

Reggie was in front of you in a second, one hand slips behind your back while the other slowly trails up your front, cupping your left boob and rolling your nipple between his fingers. You moan into his mouth, Reggie’s tongue slipping in you kiss him hard, savoring the minutes you have with him alone. You start on the buckle of his belt, barely getting it undone before someone knocks at the door.

You pull back from a frozen Reggie with wide eyes. “Where’s my bra?” you whisper sharply to him as you look around the room, not seeing your clothes anywhere. “Where’s my shirt!?”

“Here, just take this!” Reggie’s whisper was louder as he shoves something into your hands and it takes you only a moment to realize it’s his flannel. Reggie watches you throw the piece of clothing on quickly and button it up, the view he had of your boobs slowly disappearing, but then something else strikes him quickly.

It was really hot seeing you in his flannel and knowing you had nothing on underneath.

He gulps and the thoughts disperse as the door opens and Julie steps inside, her hands covers her eyes and you stifle a laugh. “We’re decent.” You yell to Julie and she hesitates before letting her hands fall.

“Sorry, just didn’t want to walk in on anything because I forgot my water bottle.” She grabs her bottle, shaking it in the air before her eyes flicker down to Reggie’s flannel on you and realizes just how much she was interrupting. “Okay, have fun.” She rushes to the door before stopping and her eyes narrow at the two of you. “But wipe down anywhere that you um,” she trails off, her eyes widening as she implies ‘anywhere you fuck’ and you quickly stifle your laugh at her before nodding. “I don’t really know how doing it as ghosts work, but I don’t think it’s sanitary.”

Before you can say anything, Julie is out the door and Reggie’s mouth is attached to your neck again, your eyes rolling back immediately along with a moan you don’t even have time to try and hold back. “I see you’re as excited as I am.” You whisper to him, pushing your fingers through his hair and letting your nails scrape lightly against his scalp.

“Oh, you have no idea.” He mumbles and his smirk presses against your skin. You lick your lips, dragging your teeth across your bottom one.

“Believe me, I have an idea.” You reach your hand down Reggie’s chest to the front of his washed-out jeans, palming his hardened erection and causing Reggie to moan in your ear, the sound shooting right to your core. “Take your pants off, Reg.” you whisper and push away from him enough to undress yourself again, pulling the top few buttons undone on the flannel before Reggie stops you, his hands gripping your wrists as his eyes dart between your eyes and your great display of cleavage.

“Keep it on.” He mumbles and you hear him, but the surprise causes you to inhale sharply.

“W-what?”

Reggie drops your wrists, continuing to undo his pants as he talks. “K-Keep it on. I wanna-“ He pauses only briefly, cheeks starting to redden. “I wanna fuck you in my flannel.”

His confidence as he tells you what he wants makes your knees weak and you nod quickly, gulping back how turned on you were. “That sounds… I mean, yeah. We can do… That’s hot.” Reggie drops his pants to the ground, leaving himself only in his boxers as he stands in front of you. You smirk. “And that’s hotter.”

Your pants hit the floor right after and Reggie groans at your black panties peaking out from under his black and red flannel, making his cock twitch inside his boxers. You jump forward, latching lips again tongues clashing together in the kiss. “The bed?” Reggie mumbles amongst the heavy and you nod, only breaking the kiss as both of you teleport to the bed up in the loft.

You fall back on the bed, head thrown back in pleasure as Reggie’s mouth moves down your front, pressing kisses along your neck to your chest, slowly unbuttoning the flannel as it goes. “Fuck, Reg!” you moan out as Reggie takes your nipple between his teeth, cupping and squeezing your other boob in his hand.

Reggie basks in the sounds he’s pulled from your lips, from your gasps and pants to your whines and moans as he slips a hand under the band of your underwear, grazing his fingers over your lips and teasing your clit. He battles between smirking and smiling at you as he pulls the last piece of your own clothing off you, leaving you only in his flannel and he slips his own boxers off.

“How much time do we have?” Reggie asks as he strokes his hardening member, your eyes drawing to the action and a rush ending to your core.

You shake your head. “Not long enough.” You mumble and Reggie grins at you, surprising you with a peck on your lips before he was putting a condom on and slipping into you. You gasp as he fills you, his slow movements causing the gasp to turn into a low moan from the both of you. His head dips onto your shoulder and after a few seconds he starts thrusting, bucking his hips against yours at increasing speed. “God, Reggie you feel so good, oh my-“ Your mouth hangs open as Reggie pulls his head back to look at you with his crooked smile, your eyes catching a beautiful glimpse of him before they roll back gently and Reggie reach your highs within moments of each other. Reggie was mesmerized with the sight below him, your chest was heaving and springing free from the flannel when your back arches off the bed.

Your moans turn to heavy pants as Reggie softens inside you and relaxes on top of you. He pulls out with a groan from him and a breathy moan from you as you kiss his cheek and he collapses on the bed next to you, taking care of the condom into the trash.

“Do we have time for another round?” Reggie asks quickly, his eyes battling to stay focused on yours when your boobs are still teasing him with peaks from his shirts.

You giggle, rolling a button between your fingers as you shake your head. “I don’t think so, baby.” He frowns and decides to leave his eyes on your chest, something that makes you giggle harder. “Why are you-“

“Because they’re going away when the band gets back and I’m gonna miss them!” He argues with a pout but it’s enough for you to cover your mouth as you laugh. Reggie sighs dramatically and pulls the flannel open before pressing a kiss to the middle of your boobs with a sigh. “I’ll miss you.” He whispers to them and you roll your eyes.

“Should I give you three some privacy?” You joke and run a hand through his hair gently. Reggie shakes his head before buttoning the button between your boobs, covering them but also giving Reggie the sexiest look he’d ever seen. You snort. “Why did I even bother with trying to look sexy when we were alive when I could’ve just thrown on a flannel and called it a night?”

Reggie’s eyes flicker up to you. “You could breathe and it would be sexy but there’s just something about you wearing my flannel that’s just hot.” He shrugs, moving his body up to reach to reach your lips. You cup his face you kiss him, only to hear the door open and your friends. Reggie’s eyes widen. “There’s no way that was 10 minutes.” He whispers and you shake your head.

“Reggie? Y/N? Break’s over!” Luke’s voice calls out and you face palm as Reggie scrambles after you, shrugging on his boxers and you slip your panties back on before grabbing his arm. He whips his head around.

“All our clothes are downstairs!” You whisper sharply to him and Reggie glances over the railing to see Luke and Alex chilling downstairs.

“Uh, guys?” He calls out as you button the flannel. He tells them to leave and the duo grows confused before Luke slaps a hand against Alex’s chest and focuses on a small pile of what appeared to be clothes laying by the loft’s ladder. Alex looks and sighs before catching onto why Reggie and you wanted them to leave. No one needed to tell him twice as he disappears to inform Julie not to head inside, however the younger girl was far more perceptive than the ghost boys.

Luke’s face scrunches in disgust as he looks up at Reggie hiding you behind him on the loft. “Really? In the studio?” He asks exasperated as you giggle against Reggie’s back and peak over his shoulder.

“In your old bed.” You tell him with a smirk and Luke fakes a gag, disappearing right in the middle of it. You shake your head and Reggie grabs your hand before you both teleport off the loft and downstairs, separating after a quick kiss to throw your clothes back on.

Reggie watches as you shrug off his flannel and put your bra back on, throwing your shirt back on. “I need a day off from the band.” Reggie sighs out of nowhere as you glance up at him, with a small smile.

“You need a week off.” You joke to him, raising a brow and grabbing his flannel again to hand to him.

Reggie gulps, glancing between you and the clothing article. “And- and with a whole week off, what would we uh…” he stutters and you wait patiently as he tries again. “What would we do?” He rushed out and you furrow your brows in minor confusion before You realize what he was getting at, what he wanted to do all week and you smirk. “Sex?” He blurts out, clocking the teasing smirk on your face. “We’re gonna- gonna have sex all week?” You smirk deeper and shrug, watching Reggie’s cheeks darken when all your friends walk back into the studio. You say nothing as you fall on the couch behind you, Reggie’s eyes don’t leave you as he clutches the flannel in his hand. Finally, he turns to the rest of the band. “I’m gonna need the next week off.”

.

.

.

.

[sunsetcurvecuddles]

Hello you told me not to hold back so I’m gonna be ANNOYING feel free to ignore indefinitely until you’re feeling it but I’m gonna send you like a bunch of prompts cause I can’t sleep and am stalling finishing my own fic.

First one: Bobby (obviously), Reggie or Luke or friends I don’t even care, tea and blankets

lol hi have a rebuke cuddle-puddle disaster, also available on ao3 here. warning for swearing and very vague allusions to physical child abuse.

i guess we belong to each other | reggielukebobby | 1.8k words

--

Luke has his guitar in his lap and his writing notebook by his side even though it's late at night. He's playing his acoustic, so that he has no chance of stirring Bobby's parents from where he's sat in their studio, and though he'd never admit it to anyone, it's cold enough that he's found one of Alex's hoodies in the back of the studio, a black one Alex never wears any more, and he's bundled up in it to try to fight off the chills. He regrets storming out earlier this evening — not because his parents might be worried, he's still too mad at them for that, but because he misses his own warm bed in a house with central heating.

But it's late, and he doesn't want to bother Bobby, who's already been generous enough as it is (and is exceptionally grumpy when he's woken in the middle of the night). So Alex's old hoodie, smelling vaguely of the dusty studio and distantly of Alex, will have to do.

A noise distracts Luke from his writing. Something outside the studio, maybe an animal, but it sounded like footsteps. Cautiously, he draws his guitar closer, running through what he could say if it's Bobby's parents, his heart suddenly rabbit-fast in his chest.

A head pokes through the door.

Luke's shoulders drop with relief.

It's Reggie.

He looks a little scruffy, not like himself, because usually Reggie pays such close attention to his appearance, fusses over his hair and colour-codes his outfits and shaves with the precision of a professional painter. But he kinda looks messy, which makes Luke's stomach feel even colder than the air around him.

“Oh! Hey, man,” Reggie laughs, putting on a big smile, and it'd fool anyone else — Reggie's too experienced at this for his own good. “I didn't know you'd be here!”

“Hi, Reg,” says Luke, sounding a little distracted even to his own ears as he carefully looks Reggie over. He's not walking like he's been hurt, and there are no visible injuries. So that's something. Jesus, Luke wouldn't know what to do if Reggie turned up here with a fresh version of the bruises Luke sometimes catches him trying to hide. “You, uh — you good?”

“Yeah, for sure,” Reggie agrees easily, saunters into the studio and slumps down on the couch next to Luke. The relaxed way he moves soothes Luke's worry somewhat. “The house was just — ugh. You know how they can be.” Looking over at Luke, Reggie adds, “Hey, isn't that Alex's hoodie? I was wondering what had happened to that.”

“Hey!” Luke sputters, a little defensive. “He didn't, like, loan it to me or anything, it was just here! I found it.”

“It is cold,” Reggie concedes, pulling his flannel a little tighter around him. “Wish I'd brought my jacket, but it was in the kitchen and I didn't wanna. I dunno. Didn't wanna get in the way.”

Luke nods, puts his guitar to the side so he can press up against Reggie's side. Hip to hip, his cheek on Reggie's shoulder, links their ankles together and puts an arm over Reggie's stomach. Almost automatically, Reggie links his arms around Luke in turn.

Honestly, Luke was intending to steal some of Reggie's body heat, but after Reggie's walk outside and in such a thin layer, he thinks Reggie's probably leeching his own. Luke lets him go ahead; Reggie seems to need it more than he does.

They sit for a moment, both unusually quiet, huddling and not talking. Not so much for a lack of things to talk about, but more because any topic that comes to Luke's mind feels insurmountably complex and emotional. There’s so much stuff he can't tell Reggie — so much stuff Reggie isn't telling him. So they sit together and try to create some warmth without the need for disclosure.

Until there's another set of scuffled footsteps outside.

“Not Alex too,” Reggie sighs, at a whispered volume so that the newcomer can't hear him, “he squirms so much in his sleep, man, I can't share this pull-out with him again.”

Luke muffles a laugh with the back of his hand, but he can't help worry it's Alex, too. Things have been... okay, he thinks, with Alex's folks since he came out, but he also knows Alex hoped for better. Suspects there are things Alex isn't telling them (so they all have that in common).

But it's not Alex. Preceded by an armful of blankets that he's almost tripping on, Bobby staggers in, still in his pajamas and with his eyes almost all the way closed. “Luke? It's fucking freezing, I thought I'd—” He stops when he gets far enough in to see Reggie on the couch too. “Oh, shit.”

“Hey, Bobby,” says Reggie, voice a little nervous. “I hope it's okay that I—”

“Shut up,” Bobby grumbles, and dumps the whole pile of blankets on top of Reggie. “You guys are stupid. You're both out here, in the freezing cold, and neither of you come wake me up?”

“We didn't want—” Luke starts, at the same time as Reggie insists, “You were sleeping—!”

“Idiots,” Bobby growls, rubbing his eye with his sweater paw and yawning. He looks stupidly cute, like a little kid. “You're idiots, and I hate dealing with you. I'll be back.” Turning to leave the studio again, he turns back and adds, “Hurry up and burrito yourselves in those blankets, I swear to god. And Luke, isn’t that Alex’s hoodie?”

“He left it—!” Luke starts, but Bobby’s already gone, leaving Luke with Reggie, cackling at him.

—

By the time Bobby returns, Luke and Reggie have folded the couch out into its bed form, and are snuggling under the several blankets, giggling together as they talk about how grumpy Bobby had been.

“We should have woken him up,” Reggie snorts, “I think then he would have been less pissed.”

“I would have,” Bobby agrees, sounding somewhere between menacing and amused, as he reappears over them. His hair is all shaggy in his face. He's carrying a teapot. And cups. “Sit up.”

Luke does right away, Reggie pulling himself up a little slower. Bobby sits cross-legged at the foot of the couch-bed, tucking his socked toes under his own legs to keep warm, and pours them each a mug of what smells like peppermint tea. Suddenly, Luke can't imagine anything better in the world. When Bobby offers him a cup, he takes it eagerly, wrapping his cold hands around it and enjoying the steam wafting up to his face.

“Wow,” says Reggie softly, eyes wide, “thanks, Bobby.”

“Yeah, thanks,” Luke echoes, letting out a sigh as he takes his first sip.

“Forget it,” Bobby says, a little bitey. Luke knows it's because Bobby hates being seen as nice, so he doesn't take it personally, and he knows Reggie won't either. He has his own cup, which he drinks as though it's done something to offend him, scowling off into the corner of the studio. Reggie nudges Bobby with his foot from under the layers of blankets, and a tiny smile tugs at Bobby's mouth as he nudges Reggie back with his elbow.

After the cup of tea, Luke feels better. He feels warmer on the inside, now, and sleepy too. Reggie is starting to get that dopey, slow blink that shows he's on the verge of sleep as well. Bobby clears his throat and holds out a hand, beckoning for their empty cups. Luke and Reggie hand them over.

“Okay,” says Bobby, after a pause. “G'night, guys.” He goes to stand, but Reggie leans forward and catches Bobby's sleeve.

“Would you stay?” he asks, as if he can't help himself, as if on sheer impulse, but he doesn’t look embarrassed afterwards.

“Reg!” Luke says, a little startled. “It's cold out here, he won't want—”

But he sees Bobby's face, and he stops himself. Because he can see it in Bobby's eyes. That he does want. He’s Bobby, so he won't say it, his mouth pressed into a thin line, his gaze fixed on some point behind Luke and Reggie's heads, but Luke has known Bobby for too long to miss something this obvious, no matter what else Bobby can hide from him.

“That being said,” Luke backtracks hurriedly, “it would be warmer with you here, Wilson. I'm happy to be a leech.”

“That's all I'm good for, huh?” Bobby snorts, but he's already setting the mugs down on the floor near the side of the bed, already shuffling the teapot down there too. He hops up for a moment, and Luke wonders where he’s going, before he realises Bobby is just switching off the light. When Bobby comes back, he pauses, like he's not sure where he fits, and Luke and Reggie make eye contact for only a second before they move apart, leaving a space in the middle.

Bobby looks even less sure of himself, eyebrows knitted, jaw tight. His hands flex and one of them twists in the hem of his sweater. Luke gets it. It looks too much like it's on Bobby's behalf, like they’re doing it to make space for Bobby. Bobby’s always had trouble accepting anything that seems like it’s for his own benefit.

“I already sucked all Reggie's warmth up,” Luke explains.

“Yeah,” Reggie agrees immediately, and Luke loves him, “and you're warmer than Luke anyway, man. I wanna huddle with you. As a penguin, you would be my first-choice huddle-buddy.”

Bobby barks a laugh. “The fuck? What does that even mean?” Finally, he wriggles his way under the blankets in between them, and rolls his eyes when they both throw limbs over him right away, twining legs and arms together and resting cheeks on his chest.

“Like, if we were penguins. You know? In the winter?” Reggie says, like this is totally obvious and self-explanatory. “If I was a penguin, I'd be looking for the Bobby-penguin in the winter huddle to stick close to.”

“Aaand I'm at my capacity for dumb shit,” Bobby says, closing his eyes pointedly, but it's a scam, because his hands come to run through Luke and Reggie's hair. “Goodnight, morons.”

“Goodnight, Bobby,” they chorus. This close, Luke could almost brush noses with Reggie, has to try to focus his eyes to keep Reggie from getting blurry. Reggie sticks his tongue out at Luke just a little, and Luke grins back, links his fingers with Reggie’s over Bobby’s stomach, rubbing over Reggie’s knuckles until Reggie’s fingers don’t feel so much like icicles. When Luke uses his free hand to tug the neckline of Alex’s hoodie up over his nose, the familiar smell of the third piece of his heart soothes him right down.

The feel of Bobby’s fingernails on his scalp makes Luke’s eyelids flutter, and before he knows it he’s dopey, the world feeling blurrier and safer and cozier. Honestly, more like home than his own house would have. He no longer daydreams of returning to his own warm bed. Instead, he feels the way Bobby’s chest rises and falls with his breaths, pushing his and Reggie’s joined hands up and down. If he listens closely, Luke can hear Bobby’s heartbeat, familiar and steady.

Maybe the cold isn't all bad.

--

other prompt fills here :)

jatp taglist (lmk if you want to be added/removed!): @queenmolina @nickalicious @bi-reginald @malecacidd @burntchromas @jughead-is-canonically-aroace @cinnamonstickrayofsunlight @chickwiththepurpleguitar @fairylightsandrainydays @joyandthephantoms @fighttoshine @michelangelinda @queenofthequillandink 

[chickwiththepurpleguitar]

Hey! I don't know what kind of prompts you write but as I'm now officially a grumpy old woman, please could you write something about a grumpy Bobby? Thank you! x

Happy birthday friend!!! Have some grumpy Bobby, featuring Luke is an Insensitive Dumbass Sometimes, @latinposeidon ‘s JatP timeline that makes Luke a Pisces, and some angst you didn’t necessarily ask for. I hope you like it! This technically takes place in my All Too Well verse cause it vaguely references my Bobby tragic backstory, but you don’t have to have read that to understand this.

--

It takes Luke longer than he’s proud of to realize something’s up with Bobby.

In his defense, Luke’s been a little distracted lately. Tomorrow’s his seventeenth birthday—his first birthday since he left home—and it’s all he’s been able to talk about for weeks now: what he’s gonna do and what he’s gonna eat and (perhaps most importantly) what he’s gonna play (because Bobby is actually the coolest friend and rhythm guitarist ever and somehow managed to get Sunset Curve a gig at this awesome club down by the beach on Luke’s birthday and Luke almost kissed him he was so excited).

Luke’s pretty sure his friends are a little sick of him by now, or at the very least sick of how much he’s been talking about his birthday, but he just can’t stop, for all the same reasons why none of his bandmates verbally call him out on it: it’s his first birthday since he left home, his first birthday without his mom to make his favorite chocolate cake or his dad to gift him cassette tapes he thought Luke might like (meaning they’re terribly out of style), and if Luke doesn’t force himself to be excited about it every minute of every day until it’s over, he’s going to have a complete and total breakdown, so yeah, he’s not gonna shut up until the day after tomorrow, but he’s also not gonna cry, so his friends are just gonna have to deal with it.

(And actually, now that Luke thinks about it, that might be why Bobby got them this gig in the first place. Nothing can distract Luke from his problems like music can. So, yeah, reiterating: best friend and bandmate ever.)

But for now, Luke’s birthday and their next epic gig are still a day away, and Sunset Curve is supposed to be rehearsing, but mostly they’ve just been playing the same song on repeat for an hour because something isn’t working, and it takes Luke way too long to realize it’s Bobby.

“Bro, are you sure you’re tuned right? Something’s off.”

Bobby takes a little too long to react to Luke’s words, his fingers continuing to fumble on his guitar strings after the rest of them have all stopped playing. Finally, he looks up, and Luke is taken aback by how lifeless Bobby’s eyes look, bereft of any of their usual spark.

“Bobby?” Luke prompts when all Bobby does is blink at him. “Focus, dude. Rehearsal? Gig tomorrow? Any of this ringing a bell?”

Bobby scowls—that’s more like it—and tugs forcibly at the tuning pegs of his guitar, grumbling under his breath.

“Thank you,” Luke sighs, shooting Reggie and Alex an exasperated look. Neither of them return it, too busy frowning worriedly at Bobby, but Luke ignores that in favor of lifting his guitar again. “Come on, guys, once more from the top. Count us in, Alex.”

They barely make it through half the song, though, before Luke’s stopping them again, waving a hand and huffing in frustration.

“It’s not the music,” Reggie pipes up before Luke can say anything. “It’s the energy.”

Luke snaps his fingers. “Yes, thank you, Reg. That’s exactly what it is. Bobby! Where’s the energy, man? Wake up! What, do you need some coffee or something?”

“Yeah, or some new friends,” Bobby snaps, and before Luke has been sufficiently slapped in the face by that, Bobby’s got his guitar off and in its stand and he stomps out of the studio, slamming the door behind him with a resounding thud.

Luke, Alex, and Reggie all collectively flinch.

There are a few moments of awkward silence, and then Luke says, “I realize I may have been a bit mean there…”

“Yeah, man, you think?” Reggie says.

“Okay,” Alex sighs. “Go talk to him!”

“Yep, right, on it.” Luke abandons his own guitar and hurries out of the studio.

He doesn’t have to go far. Bobby’s sitting on the little rocky wall next to the driveway, legs hanging down, head in his hands. Luke thinks he might be crying. Or shaking. Luke pauses a few feet away, trying not to show how uncomfortable he feels, and says gently, “Bobby?”

Bobby slowly raises his head, regarding Luke with a dark but hard to read expression. Not crying, Luke’s relieved to see, but the hand that reaches up to shove Bobby’s hair out of his eyes is trembling just enough to be noticeable. Luke frowns, his stomach twisting in concern. He slowly approaches and hops up to sit on the wall next to him.

“Hey, Luke,” Bobby grunts, looking down at his shoes. “Sorry—for sucking today, and for snapping at you. I didn’t—” He shakes his head, frustrated. “I’m just having a weird day, man, I’m—”

“Grumpy?” Luke supplies.

Bobby glares at him, but there’s no heat to it, and a hint of a smirk tugs at his lips. “Tired,” he corrects, rubbing at his forehead with that same shaky hand.

Luke’s concern only grows. He scoots a little closer so that his hip just presses against Bobby’s. “Are you okay? Did you not sleep well last night?”

Bobby lets out a bitter chuckle. “Last night, the night before, have I ever slept well? All good questions. Answer’s always no.”

“Bobby,” Luke murmurs sympathetically. “I’m sorry, man.” He doesn’t know how he’s never noticed, in all his days spent hanging off of Bobby like an extra limb, or all his nights spent climbing through Bobby’s window when he can’t sleep (and really, how did Luke never wonder why Bobby always seemed so ready to meet him at the window, no matter what time it was, always looked so tired and yet wide awake whenever Luke needed him?). Luke feels stupid all of a sudden—stupid and selfish. He nudges his shoulder against Bobby’s, says, “And, hey, man, I’m sorry for being an asshole in there, I was just excited. But it was selfish, and I shouldn’t have been so hard on you.”

Bobby shakes his head, won’t look at him. “Not your fault. Gig tomorrow’s important, I know that.”

“Yeah, but it’s just a gig. There’ll be others. And I know we’re gonna rock it no matter what, so I really need to chill out. I just—you know how it is, man. Tomorrow’s my birthday and—”

“And today’s mine.”

Luke freezes, choking on whatever he’d been about to say next. He stares at Bobby, thinking maybe he misheard him, but Bobby’s got his head ducked toward his lap, and the tips of his ears are turning pink, and he doesn’t correct himself, just lets the words hang there in the air between them until Luke catches up enough to process them.

“Today is your—?” Luke finally sputters, but even just that one question he can’t complete.

“Yeah,” Bobby rasps. “I was held back a year? In middle school. So I’m eighteen. My eighteenth birthday… First one without—”

“Right,” Luke huffs, so that Bobby doesn’t have to say it. “Man, why didn’t you say anything? We could’ve—”

“What?” Bobby cuts him off, finally meeting Luke’s gaze. “We could’ve what, Luke? Celebrated? My parents aren’t even here to celebrate, man. They went to Maui for the weekend. On my eighteenth birthday. Without me.”

Luke winces. “Bobby, I’m—”

“Don’t apologize.” Bobby shakes his head, looks up at the sky for a moment and then back at Luke. “I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to take the attention off of you when you so clearly needed it.”

It takes Luke a second to realize Bobby’s messing with him. When it hits, he laughs, and bumps his shoulder against Bobby’s again, and then hops off the wall. “Come on, birthday boy! Let’s play through the song one more time, and then the guys and I will let you take a nap while we go pick up some cake!”

Bobby’s smile is fondly exasperated, and barely there, as he rolls his eyes and takes Luke’s proffered hand to help him off the wall, but at least it stays painted lightly on his face the whole rest of the day.

--

Taglist: @whenweremarried @sunsethimb0s @pink-flame @penguin0613 @fighttoshine @sunsetcurvecuddles @nickalicious @reggiescrookedteeth @brightattheorpheum @queenmolina @spidergirl0325 @jandthephantoms @lexilucacia @sapphossidechick @acnhaddict @cest-la-vie-de-la-lee @sunset-bobby @lenacarstairspotterstewart @moreflowersthanweeds @conversationaltreestump @burntchromas @shellydominique 

[achliegh]

Golden

Yeehaw Leo… it's all because this song came on one day (I don’t even really listen to country anymore so it really is fate). Leo is based off that song, each chapter is going to be based off a yeehaw song too.

Characters belong to @lumosinlove

Beta: @punkkkboi

TW/CW: Smut, terrible yeehaw sayings and jokes, injuries, mentions of past death/suicide, minor character death, underage drinking, mentions of past arrests, cringe

Chapter Songs (listening in order is recommended):

Chapter 8:

18

Boat Playlist: Youtube, Spotify

“Noelle… Why did I run!? That was a terrible decision!” Thomas has been pacing around the room at the foot of their bed for the past hour, butt ass naked. He came to find Noelle at Judy's, obviously something was wrong, when Thomas starts to worry he starts sweating which means he takes off his clothes.

“I don’t know babe, but we need to talk to him…. Also,” She smacks his ass with a pillow as hard as she can and lets out a frustrated sigh. “WE HAD A PLAN!” She sits back on her heels and puts her face in her hands. Taking a deep breath she looks up at him. “Tomorrow is a new day, we can hopefully get Clay alone to talk to him. Did you even stay to see how he reacted?” Thomas shakes his head and flops down on his side of the bed, limbs resembling a starfish. She looks down at him and smiles a little. This beautiful, yet stupid, man makes her heart beat so fast she doesn’t know how to react.

Clay another beautiful, yet stupid, man was someone who makes her feel the same. Hopefully they can show him how they feel in a less chaotic way.

Hopefully.

The next morning the sun woke Logan up by blinding him through the small opening in the curtains around the bed. They left it slightly open so Leo would know they were there and waiting for him… but he didn’t come to bed last night. Logan rolls over just to make sure Leo didn’t sneak in on the other side of the bed.

Nope.

Logan gets this odd sinking feeling in his chest and wakes Finn by shaking him. Finn rolls over and wraps his arms around Logan just shushing him.

“It’s too early.” Logan rolls his eyes and pinches Finn’s side making him scoot away from Logan. Whining a little he opens one eye and looks at Logan, pushing himself up on his elbow to look over him to see if Leo is in bed, he frowns. “Did he come back?”

“I don’t think so, and I don’t know where he went so we can’t go find him.” Logan sits up and sighs, he yawns and stretches, rolling his shoulders out. Flopping his arms down he turns to look at Finn and notices he has already fallen back asleep, he was up a while after Logan had fallen asleep waiting for Leo so Logan just kissed his forehead. Rolling to the edge of the bed he sits up and puts his feet on the ground. Cracking his toes and ankles he sighs in relief, standing up and walking to the closet to get some clothes for the day. As he is digging through his bag looking for a pair of socks he hears the door slide open and close. Then there were warm arms around his shoulders and a chin resting on top of his head.

“Leo?”

“Logan.” That familiar drawl sunk its way into his heart and gut, he turns around in Leo’s arms and cups his face. He looked exhausted, there were a couple of leaves in his hair, the bags under his eyes were purple against his golden tan skin. He notices a few freckles on his nose that are just barely there. Running a thumb over his chapped lips Logan looks him in the eyes. That dark blue has gotten duller and he frowns. “Logan.” Leo closes his eyes and brushes his nose against Logan's.

Suddenly Leo stands back up straight, towering above Logan and starts to sink down to his knees, running his hands down from Logan’s shoulders to his sides and landing on his hips. Looking up at Logan with these half open eyes that causes a spike of arousal throughout his entire body. Leo grabs his hand and puts it into his hair as he starts to press soft kisses into Logan’s hip bones.

Logan knows what Leo wants him to do, and he wants to do it. He feels himself getting hard and takes a shaky breath, he was only in his boxers from sleeping last night so there wasn’t much for Leo to pull away. Tipping his head back and gasping as Leo swallows him down he grips his hair tightly. What takes Logan by surprise is Leo doesn’t move, it's like he was waiting for something, and he was. Logan moves his hips on reflex and Leo moans to let him know what he wants. Logan looks down at him surprised, Leo pulls off for a moment to tell him the words that would ring in his ears for a long time after.

“Use me, please.” and he did as Leo wished. He started slowly to push in and out of Leo’s mouth, groaning at the feeling because Leo knew what he was doing. Gripping Leo’s hair tighter and moving faster he sees Leo completely relaxed and almost peaceful. He curses under his breath and moans when Leo moves his tongue just right.

Hearing the closet door open again he looks up to see Finn walk in, stumbling and still half asleep. His socks match his underwear like the ‘loser’ he is, according to himself. Logan goes to say something but Leo gives him a nice long suck that draws out an incredibly pornographic moan from him.

Finn startles a little and looks up to see Logan fucking into Leo’s mouth, it was beautiful… and got him extremely hard, blood rushing down. Leo gestures him over with his hand and Finn moves on autopilot. Leo grabs him by the back of his thigh when he gets close enough and pulls off of Logan, yanking Finn’s underwear down and taking over the situations he swirls his tongue over the head of Finn’s cock while running his thumb over Logan’s. Smiling a little as he hears them groan in pleasure and grab his shoulder and hair.

As time passed Logan and Finn were kissing and just breathing each other in as Leo would switch between who he was jerking and who he was swallowing. Panting his name Leo kept a steady pace until he felt they were getting close. He pulls off Logan one last time and takes them one in each hand, he starts pumping them in a quick pace, twisting at the head. Logan throws his head back with his eyes closed as he holds on to both Finn and Leo. Finn closes his eyes and presses his chin to his chest as his hips stutter.

“Leo!” They both say as they finally break and cum off over Leo’s face. Finn opens his eyes after a few moments and looks down at Leo, his dick twitching from the sight he sees. Leo being flushed red, his pupils blow wide, and the cum slowly drips down his face. He wishes he could take a picture and keep it forever.

Logan kneels down next to Leo and smiles. Picking up a white shirt off the ground and starts to wipe Leo’s face. “Do you want us to get you off?” Leo shakes his head and smiles lovingly at Logan and gives him a peck when he is finished wiping Leo off. He stands up and kisses Finn as well before walking out and whistling to a random tune. Looking at each other confused, Finn helps Logan up.

They just get ready for the day with an ominous cloud over their heads.

A half an hour later, Leo was pulling on his jeans and about to button them when the bathroom door burst open. Reg comes stomping in with a fury behind his eyes, grabbing Leo by his arm he marches him back into the room and to the door of his bedroom. Past Finn and Logan who were pulling on a shirt and fixing their hat. They ended up following behind the two younger guys and stumbling down the stairs.

“Clayton London Bruss!” his mom could be heard yelling from the kitchen as he exited the entrance hall. Pausing Clay takes a step back but hears his mother call again and he sighs, walking into the kitchen he sees the whole team getting breakfast. Mom looks like she is fuming, Leo is half naked and being pulled behind Reg who looks like a twin demon to his mother. He makes eye contact with Leo and sees the same fire light in him.

Fuck, he really messed up.

“Good morning! How was everyone's night.” Clay put on his most charming smile and waltzed over to his mothers side and gave her a kiss on the cheek. He goes to grab a piece of toast when a hand grabs his wrist and yanks him to look at them. Leo was furious.

“What so you are going to walk in to MY house and act like you didn’t almost destroy my fucking trust in you!?” Leo let go of his wrist and cupped his neck, getting close enough that only Clay could hear him. “Are you okay? What did she do to you? I can tell something is bothering you.” Before Clay could answer he felt a sharp slap on his ass with the bottom of what he knows is his mom's house slipper. Jumping away from Leo he whips around and looks at her offended while rubbing where she just smacked him.

“Ow!”

“Why would you go somewhere with that- that bitch!” Judy is not one to curse so wildly, so Clay knows she is upset. He smiles shyly at her and shrugs his shoulders. She starts hitting him with her shoe, not trying to cause any harm or anything, but she suddenly lands a hit in a place he was going to try and hide. His side, where lovely Ashley gave him a giant fucking bruise last night after finishing… the deed. She kicked him out of the bed physically and decided to land a couple more to make sure he stayed off the bed.

He gasps and clutches his side when she hits him and everyone freezes, his mom, Leo, Reg, and the entire team who was just trying to mind their own business. Reg doesn’t waste a second, he lifts ups Clays shirt and whispers a ‘holy fuck’ when he sees the bruise that covers the side of his friend. Judy tells him to take his shirt off and like the good son he is, he does. She starts examining him in the way the retired nurse was trained to do.

“Leo, does your mom have any Tylenol?”

“Let me go check.” Leo turns and walks down a hall to a linen closet where they keep all their medicine and injury stuff. They can hear him rummaging around. Judy continues to poke and prod at his side and he flinches sometimes and just sucks in a breath at the others. He tries to keep his eyes down to the ground but he knows there are two particular sets of eyes on him.

“We only have Ibuprofen, it looks like she took the other first aid case when she left for France a few weeks ago.” Leo walks back over and stands next to Reg who is just boiling over with anger. “Reg and I can go to the pharmacy in the mall and pick some up while you keep him here.”

“Actually I think it would be best if he goes with you. She hands Clay his shirt and gives all three of them a look that says ‘work this out.’ They all nod and head to Leo’s car because the truck was still packed full of junk from the summer.

They drive in silence.

Pulling into the mall Reg points out that maybe they need to stop at the pet store they always stop at when they come to this mall. They all agree and walk in, the familiar bell ringing above them. Clay had worked here for a short time a couple of years ago and is still friends with the owner. The teenage music playing over the speakers as one of the employees feeds the little parakeets in the corner, they give the guys a wave and go back to their job.

A song Leo has never heard before was playing, but the words stuck with him… it's an insecurity he has actually had for a while in his relationship.

“So if you wanna piss off your parents. Date me to scare them. Show them you're all grown up. If long hair and tattoos are what attract you. Baby, then you're in luck, and I know it's just a phase. You're not in love with me. You wanna piss off your parents, baby. Piss off your parents. That's alright with me.”

“What if we casually sneak a fish?” Clay is looking at the beta fish in small square tubs just waiting to be snatched. Knocking Leo out of his slowly spiraling thoughts from the music and bringing his attention to something else.

“Out of us three you would never be able to do it.” Leo has a challenge to his voice as he joins Clay in looking at the fish. He has his eyes on an orange one, it reminds him of Finn. It also has the attitude of Logan by trying to attack the fish in the next tub.

“Oh god…” Reg sighs and watches them share a look and smirk, they were going to try and steal the fucking fish. He watched them go up to the counter with their fish just out of sight of the cashier while buying some fish food and small square travel bowls… but not the fish. Reg rolls his eyes and gets his own fish, bowl and food. Walking up to the counter after those two idiots scurried out of the shop as quickly as they could.

Reg got rang up with all of his items. He thought for a moment and decided that he wasn’t going to tell Leo and Clay that he paid for their fish.

“Add two more fish to my price, the yahoo’s that just left happened to steal one for each of them.” The cashier laughs a little and has a polite conversation with him about his friends. Once he is done paying he finds them both in the car with the air conditioner blasting onto the fish to keep them cool as they go into the pharmacy.

Judy was not impressed when they came back with fish, but they got what she asked for. She hands Clay a bag of ice and tells him to go relax. He rolls his eyes and earns himself another smack on the butt from her house slipper. He runs away into the main floor bathroom before she can get him again.

He doesn’t realize he didn’t lock the door until two familiar faces walk in. One standing in front of the door and the other coming over to examine his side. Noelle and Thomas.

“Noelle, I’m sorry. I promise I wasn’t thinking and I know Thomas loves you with everything and I’m not trying to get in the way of tha- OW!” She had taken the ice from him and pressed it on his side just a little too hard, the Tylenol hasn’t quite kicked in yet.

“Sorry, sorry! Also, you know how you are going to get in the middle of Thomas and I.” She looks at him straight in the eye, he swallows. He hasn’t been able to get close enough to her to see the warmth of the brown around her pupil and the green surrounding it yet. He couldn’t stop staring. Sometime when he was looking at her eyes she moved to be between his legs and is now resting the hand that isn’t holding the ice pack to his side, on his thigh. His eyes flick down to her hand and then over to Thomas who is just giving off these vibes that Finn gets when Leo and Logan are flirting. “Like this.” She takes the hand from his thigh and turns his chin to face her.

She kisses him, and it doesn’t have the same fire in his veins like his kiss with Thomas did. But it made him feel like he was floating in one of those sensory deprivation tanks. Nothing else was being focused on but Noelle and Thomas. Clay felt a hand rest on his lower back, pulling away to look he was pulled into another kiss by those lips that set him alight the night before. His hands move to grip a shoulder from both of them.

After a few moments Thomas pulls away, Clay keeps his eyes closed for a moment to calm his spinning thoughts. When he opens his eyes he sees the most beautiful sight. Thomas and Noelle were kissing right in front of him, smiling into the kiss Noelle nips at Thomas’ lip as they pull away. Both turning to look at Clay. With the same look they give each other.

This could work.

Leo is watching his new fish swim around in its new travel tank when he gets a sloppy kiss on each cheek.

“One of you needs to shave, you’re prickly.” He looks at Finn who is rubbing his cheek and shrugs. Smiling he turns back to his fish and watches it just… exist.

“So, is this what you’re replacing us with?” Logan puts his face near and glass and swatches the flurry of orange and red swim around the tank.

“I got it because it reminds me of y’all. It’s red just like Finn.” He sweetly pinches Finn’s cheek, getting his hand swatted away by a snorting Finn. “And aggressive like Logan.” He pinches Logan's ass and gets slapped on the arm.

“How can a fish be aggressive?” Leo blinks at them a couple of times, he gently moves the fish’s tank a little closer to Reg’s fish’s tank and they watch as the fish tries to attack the other. Leo raises both his eyebrows and purses his lips in a sassy way. “Huh… that fish really is Lo.”

“Okay, instead of comparing me to a fish, can we talk about where you slept last night Leo.” Leo pauses and moves the tank back away from the other, deciding on whether to tell the truth or not… he decides to show them. Standing up from his stool he nods toward the back patio door and walks towards it. As they follow him he takes them down a path towards a pond where the mama and papa duck are feeding.

He walks over to the large willow tree and leans against it facing out to the pond. Logan and Finn are still taking in their surroundings, the leaves dangling off the drooping branches, it was serene and calm. The light breeze moved those same leaves like wind chimes. The sun rising through the gaps in the tree lights up the ground like a spotlight on the few wildflowers that have been able to thrive in the small spot of sun. Marigolds were planted around the trunk besides a spot that was the perfect size for someone to sit against.

“It’s very calming out here, I see why you’d fall asleep out here.” Logan was braiding a few of the smaller branches together. Smiling when they unraveled themselves.

“It’s my dad's tree. When he passed, he didn’t want to be buried in a casket that would keep him from giving back to the earth… So we cremated him and buried him with this willow sapling.” Leo was leaning against the tree in the trunk of the tree right in the spot where the marigolds weren’t blooming. He looked like he belonged there.

“I’m sorry about your dad.” Finn looks at him sadly and then back at the ground where a squirrel ran past like they weren’t even there.

“It wasn’t your fault, don’t apologize. It wasn’t my dad’s fault either… the police report and his death certificate say he committed suicide but, its not what happened. When I was 16 Ma and I were at one of my baseball games, we came home to find our entire property was covered by police. Obviously something wasn’t right. Know that about a month before I came out as gay and my dad came out as bi, we came out together and Ma was so proud of us.” Smiling a little at the memory. “I remember she made a cake that said “I love my gays” dad found it hilarious, I was just still processing that everyone knew about me so I cried.” Leo laughs a little and sniffles, getting a little teary from the last happy memory of his dad. “ My dad had told me he was bi by telling me about a guy he would mess around with in highschool… I found out who that guy was after his death. Basically what happened was dad was found in the middle of one of the pens with a bullet to his temple. It was in the right side of his head and the gun, which was the only gun on the whole property by the way, was in his right hand… Daddy was left handed.” Leo shoved his hands in his pockets to keep from cracking his knuckles, a habit he picked up because his mother hates it when he does it.

Finn and Logan were keeping themselves busy by watching the ducks and the ripple of the water but listening intently to the story.

“Yeah, the guy my dad was messing around with in highschool… he was the first person on the scene. It was the sheriff. He has always made Ma’s and my life a living hell so I guess it makes sense. You know the funny thing, random flowers will show up at this tree sometimes. I know it's him who is sneaking in and putting them there. He’s such a piece of shit.” Leaning his head back on the tree Leo takes a deep breath to calm down. Something is poking at his leg, making him look down.

It was Daisy, the mother duck of all the ducklings every year. Also, Eloise’s best friend. Leo smiles and gives her a couple of pets and pats and she waddles away back to the pond.

Hours pass, Leo is still distant when speaking but he is always touching them in some way. Whether it's a pinky linked with Logan’s or resting his head on Finn’s shoulders randomly. It was cute but they also know he is letting himself process his emotions. Once, he was back to wanting to interact with people. He mentions how Clay and he own a small pontoon on a lake about 15 minutes away. Everyone was up for it so they packed coolers and got into their swimsuits. Judy made sure they had bug spray, sunscreen, food, and water. Remus was in charge of bringing that because literally anyone else would have forgotten it.

Everyone piled onto this, obviously not old, pontoon and got comfy in the pleather seats. There was even a top deck with a slide that Kuny was dying to try out. As Leo was pulling off the dock some people went up to the top deck to sunbathe and feel the wind as they drove. Clay was hooking up his phone to put on the only radio he cares about, the pontoon radio. (Youtube, Spotify)

No one was surprised when some country music about a pontoon actually started playing over the rather impressive speaker system on the boat. Leo drove past a small, large, corner that was much less well kept than the rest of the lake. Clay, Reg and Leo all waved over to the corner smiling like idiots.

“What's over there?” Sirius is looking over and trying to see a person but no one is there. The rest of the team is also trying to see literally anything.

“Our favorite gator! His name is Scar because he, like Clay over here, has a fat scar across his face.” Leo smiles and pats Clay’s shoulder who slaps his back and runs away to hide behind Thomas before Leo can grab him.

Leo gets them into the middle of the lake, the deepest part, and hears a bit of a scuffle. Looking over to see Clay trying to push Thomas off the boat and failing, smiling at them he watches as Thomas picks clay up over his shoulder and jumps into the water with him. It causes a chain reaction of everyone else jumping in.

Minus Finn and Lily who were still applying sunscreen.

Everything was great, they were all relaxed and drinking. Clayton got to show off his super power of a human bottle opener by literally opening a bottle with his fucking buttcheeks. Kuny asked for a bottle opener and Clay just used the crook of his elbow.

When something other than country music came over the speakers the team was fucking shook, especially when Clay, Reg and Leo all started doing a fucking line dance to the song Working Bitch by Ashniko and singing it word for word. The only response they got was .

“We may be cowboys but we are still gay.”

When Up by Cardi B came on they went fucking nuts, changing specific words to fit Leo and Reg’s pasty ass skin, Clay took on the first verse, Reg the second and Leo the third.

It causes four people in particular to have mini heart attacks when their boys would rap all this raunchy stuff. They know these two are slutty but when the actual song S.L.U.T came on they didn’t expect them to sing it from their heart. Nat and Lily also joined in on singing some of these. Sometimes Remus and Finn would join in too but more lowkey than the others. All around it was a good time.

“Leo… Look.” Reg was next to him as he was holding Finn from behind as they watched Logan and Sirius arm wrestle for one of the last cigarettes. Reg points out the left side of the boat, looking where he is pointing Leo notices a small fishing boat that he’s never given permission to be out here. Sharing a look with Reg, he has a sinking feeling he knows exactly who it is, binoculars and all.

Calling everyone onto the boat so they can go and confront this person, Leo takes a lap around the lake to collect himself first. Slowing down as He pulls up next to the fishing boat at an appropriate distance not to knock him over.

“Howdy Sheriff.” Leo leans over the side of the boat, resting his forearms crossed on the railing. “Snooping?” He smiles at him.

“Let me on the boat son, I need to check you’re not drinking.” Leo rolls his eyes and opens the side door so he can climb on but doesn’t move closer. He sticks his hand out behind him so Reg can put a couple of pennies on his hand, Reg also gives some to Clay and takes two himself and puts them under his tongue. The sheriff checks everyone's IDs that he doesn’t know and walks over to the youngest ones. Taking out a breathalyzer from his jean pocket, because he is off duty and still policing for some reason. “Blow.”

“I thought you were trying to prove you’re not gay?” Clay smirks at the sour look he gets and blows into the breathalyzer and blows a 0, smiling and blowing a kiss to the annoyed 40 year old he walks back over to everyone else. Spitting his pennies into a cup.

“Blow.” Reg rolls his eyes and blows a 0 same as Clay walking over and spitting his pennies into the same cup. The sheriff doesn’t even tell Leo what to do, but he also blows a 0. Smiling a tight smile he crosses his arms.

“Happy? I’m just providing a boat for my friends to hang out on.”

“Having a gay orgy?” Leo smirks and looks down at him.

“Nope, but I know you’d want to join in.”

“You know this is private property and I know the owner and-and can get y’all kicked out!” He was turning red with embarrassment and anger, it was entertaining.

“Oh yeah? Call them then.” Leo picks at his nails as the sheriff calls the number posted on the sign out by the gate of the lake.

After a few moments, Leo’s phone rings.

He picks it up and says ‘hello’ It echoes through the sheriff's phone who is standing there stunned.

“Get the fuck off my property.” With that the sheriff gets back on his boat and drives off to the boat dock. Rubbing his temples he looks up to see Reg who gave him a thumbs up as he ended the video he was recording of the idiot, just in case anything else happened.

“Man, that guy is way worse than dad.” Noelle sips her beer as Logan nods in agreement. “Dad at least doesn’t patrol off duty… I don’t think.”

“Your dad is a sheriff?” Leo looks at them shocked because he doesn’t get along with any law enforcement besides Derek the keeper of the jail cells. The stab of worry that goes through his chest makes him have to take a breath. He tells them he is going up for a smoke and goes to the top deck.

Lighting up he listens to the music start again to keep everyone down stairs. Someone, who he is guessing is Clay, drives them back to the center to keep swimming.

Leo can’t help but think maybe… just maybe Finn and Logan are actually with him because they want him and not because they want to spice up their relationship, or to piss off their families.

He knew he was reaching though.

[dizzydancingdreamer]

The Friday Night Fight | Reggie Mantle

Hey Lovelies, here’s the first fic I’m moving from my Wattpad! I went through an entire Reggie Mantle phase and this is one of my favourite imagines! I hope you all enjoy!

Description: Y/n and Reggie are best friends and they get into a fight after she falls asleep and forgets they have plans.

Pairing: Reggie Mantle x Not-Quite-Platonic!Female!Reader

Warnings: Angst (not really)

Word count: 1.7k

Tags: angst, FLUFF, just overall an easy read

(not my gif! Also hello I want to do this)

You and Reggie have been best friends since you were born, always next to one another whether that be when causing trouble in Riverdale or taking the accompanying punishment. Partners in crime, that's what the two of you are. It really is the strongest kind of bond. They say there's no honour among thieves but you think it's the exact opposite. There is way more honour among trouble makers than rule followers.

Well, there’s more honour when both trouble makers remember to tell each other when they cancel plans, that is.

So you've been a little busy these days, big deal, right? Pop's has you working overtime for the upcoming town jubilee and your parents are on your heels to keep you grades maintained. You're an excellent student for someone who goes mailbox smashing on occasion! That mixed with the constant hounding from your other friends to loosen up and to hang out with them more almost always leaves you swamped.

All in all, you were tired and honestly forgot to tell Reggie that you wouldn't be able to join him at the drive-in tonight. It’s not that you didn’t want to go, you just fell asleep as soon as your head had hit your pillow, your phone discarded on your dresser. Now look where that landed you.

                                         *     *     *     *     *

"Dude, where are you? I've been waiting for you for like an hour and a half!" 

This is the first thing you hear when you stumble to your phone and pick it up. You aren't even fully awake and someone's already yelling at you.

"What?" Is your only audible response, besides a few swear words that tumble from your tired lips.

You hear an angry sigh from the other end of the phone, "Y/n, we were supposed to go to the drive-in tonight, remember? It's me, Reggie. You know, your best friend? We've been planning this for months, it was the James Bond marathon! I can't believe you forgot. You always do this!"

Now it's your turn to get angry. Where the hell did all of that come from, you always bailing on him? As if! He's the one who's never around because of football! You never complain when he hangs with the guys after promising to go to Pop's or Sweetwater River with you. Where does he come off thinking he's entitled to your time but you aren't entitled to his?

"What the hell, Mantle? As if you never fucking leave me hanging! At least I have a good reason unlike you. 'Sorry, Archie wants to play video games' yeah whatever! So yeah, best friend, I forgot. At least I didn't fucking cancel on you for nothing!" 

You'll regret these words eventually but, thankfully, that time is not now. However, the angry tears pooling in your eyes tell you other wise. You can't believe he would accuse you of ditching him, you've never ditched Reggie! You've been attached at the hip since birth and then later, when he grew taller than you, attached at the hip and stomach.

"So, Reggie, I should go seeing as you obviously don't want to see me because I bail on all our plans." You spit the words into the phone, dragging a hand through your hair and tugging hard.

"Wait, y/n, I didn't mean-"

"Bye."

With that you collapse back onto your bed and quite plainly just cry. Your best friend, the boy you've spent your entire life with and then some, has officially crossed a line. He doesn't do that often. In fact, before this moment, he hasn't done it at all. The two of you rarely fight and when you do it's about nothing. You could almost scream right now!

Tears stream down your face, reddening your nose and staining your cheeks. You miss him, that's the problem with having a best friend whom sneaks into your room every night. You probably won't be able to fall asleep without Reggie's body next to yours. You don't feel weak for missing him minutes after a bad phone call, you crossed that bridge when you got the flu the entire summer and he didn't leave your side once.

You hear a rumble outside your window and roll over, trying to get a better look from your bed. Headlights shine through the glass, bathing your bedroom in an eerie glow. You hear a vehicle door slam and the lights die, leaving you in darkness to watch a sturdy, shadowy figure make its way towards you. You don't need to look at said figure for more than two seconds before you make out Reggie storming towards your window.

Now, you could say that this is all unexpected. That you had absolutely no idea that Reggie would come over in a heated fury. But that would be lying. Reggie and you have never been the type of people to sit on raw emotion and not do anything about it. If you have a problem, you deal with it. You knew as soon as you had hung up that it would only be a matter of time before you saw him. You're just surprised he only took half an hour.

You hear a tap on the glass, "Y/n, let me in."

He wears a leather jacket, the one you got him for his birthday last year. From a distance it looks black but, when you look closer, it's actually a midnight blue. It's fitting now, to wear such a manipulative piece of clothing in the dead of night.

"Why should I, asshole?"

You play with the worn bracelet on your arm; the friendship bracelet he made you five years ago. It's sun faded, your favourite colours having been dulled from years of running all over Riverdale with him. You would bet all the money in your wallet that Reggie has his on right now too. On his left hand, yours on the right, so that when you hold hands the bracelets touch.

"Because we have to talk, sleeping beauty," he puts his left hand against the glass, the equally faded blue and yellow strings peeking out from his cuff. 

You kind of wish you had bet on it now, you would have twenty extra dollars right now.

You grumble at his logic and slide the window open for him to step in through, turning on your bedside lamp to lighten the room up. When you turn back to him you stare at his chest instead of his chocolate eyes. You're not ready for that yet.

"Well talk then, Reg."

"I'm sorry, okay," he reaches a calloused hand out to tilt your head, "I'm sorry for being jerky. I know you don't bail on me dude, I was just jealous. I thought you bailed on me for Archie."

Archie? As in Archie Andrews? You can't stand the red head, especially since he's become the renowned guitar-hero of Riverdale! As if he wasn't bad enough before as the next Jason Blossom, now he carries a song book wherever he goes and sometimes even asks you to listen to one of them. No, Archibald Andrews, you don't want to listen to your newest sappy song. Besides, he isn't exactly a commendable comrade after the whole Betty and Veronica incident.

You sigh quietly, "Reggie, I very strongly dislike Archie. You know that. What's really wrong?"

You finally peer up into his eyes, staring straight into bloodshot pools of regret. Fuck.

"Oh, Reg, what's the matter? If this is because of me yelling at you, you know I can never stay mad at you," you throw your arms around his shoulders which, for the record, isn't easy and he scoops you into him. 

You've always hugged like this, it's comfortable and personal. You wrap your legs around his waist, leaning your head on his shoulder and playing with his hair. Warmth spreads through with ease and you close your eyes.

He started picking you up like this when he was eleven. Other kids were teasing him, calling him weak or something. You can’t quite remember. You knew it was a lie, though, so you told him to pick you up. It was odd timing, especially in the middle of science class, but he did it nonetheless. The two of you played it off like you needed reach something on a tall shelf but Reggie didn't even question you when you asked so it worked out pretty well. As a bonus the other kids in the class were jealous that Reggie Mantle was picking you up.

"Yeah, well, same, but that's not it. I guess I'm just worried that you're gonna find a new me and then I'll just be here and you'll be with the new me. You do realise that I would probably die without you, right?"

You giggle, the events from earlier slowly fading away because of the truth to his statement. Without you he would have gotten in too many accidents to count. That includes that one time in seventh grade when you talked him out of going down the twisty slide on a lunch tray. You had probably spared him a broken leg.

"Yeah but you've saved me from some pretty stupid things as well so don't mention it," namely the tree house incident, the Sweetwater River incident, and that day at Pop's where you almost choked from stuffing too many French fries in your mouth. 

Thank god Reggie's mother made him take CPR courses.

"Still, I'm sorry Y/n."

You squeeze your arms tighter around his football sculpted shoulders, "I forgive you, Reginald."

And with that, the two of you are back to normal. He scoffs and sets you back on your feet, pushing you jokingly and falling onto your bed. You’re heart stutters for just a second as you watch him examine a stuffed bear on your bed. You shake your head quickly. 

"Say, Reg," an idea pops into you head as fast as lightning, "I bet all the money in my wallet Jughead will replay the Bond movies for us!"

[detroitbydark]

Crossed Connections: Part VI

Pairing: Tech x Togruta!Reader, Wrecker/OC

Characters: Echo, Ik'aad, Tech

Warnings: None

Summary: Sometimes awkward is cute and sometimes it's just not

Previous Parts and Extended Universe can be found here

------

Y/N glances over at the ARC Trooper perched carefully at the edge of the examination table. He sits stock still, skin as pale as Durosian marble. It is only the near silent whir of the drives in his right arm that let her know he’s more than a statue. Even then, the Techno Union’s wizardry with his prosthetic is so good that she doubts a human ear would pick it up. 

She wants to spit every time someone mentions Wat Tambor’s name.  The socket arm and it’s connections are a marvel of Techno Union know how but it rips at her heart. They’d created such a device, a prosthetic that could offer quality of life to those in need,  only to use it to further progress the Separatist agenda. 

“You’re quiet today” she notes leaning her hip against the counter behind her as she takes him in. Echo is pale still, unnaturally so, but his cheeks aren’t nearly as sallow or as sunken as when he’d first arrived on base. His eyes are brighter, if not guarded. He’s stopped twitching when she touches him.  

Being away from Skako Minor was doing well for him but he needed time and that wasn’t something the GAR was likely to allow. She’d heard whispers of him joining a mission with Clone Force 99 very soon.

 On Coruscant she’d not been immune to talk of clone rights and she was quick to agree with those who spoke out for them. It made her uncomfortable that all her work was only to prepare a newly liberated prisoner of war to be forced right back into the field. Wrecker had tried to explain that this was the life they were, quite literally,  made for. The life they trained for from creation. It didn’t sit right still.

“They refer to you as Ik’aad.”

She cocks her head at the question.  It’s the first thing Echo has said since arriving in her part of the bay for his daily once over.  They’ve been doing this song and dance for nearly a week now. Like any good clone, the healing process was progressing remarkably quick and his injuries were already fading.  Granted those were ones Y/N could see. 

He was sober, quiet, speaking little most days and then without end on others, as if the words had built up during his time in stasis and they had to spill out or risk causing him to implode with the weight of them. 

While he hadn’t offered her many smiles he also didn’t seem to dislike her company. She could work with that. 

His observation though is curious. Of course, she knew who they were. For better or worse she’d earned more than a few looks as information about the Bad Batch had trickled through the base's ranks, and with it her name attached to the unit.

She spent more than enough time with Wrecker for a very specific set of rumors to begin circulating. The thought of the whispers she’d heard the other day in the mess made her cheeks burn. It hadn’t done much for her socially. Her new roommate seemed immune to them though and that was a comfort she was glad to take. The ARC trooper didn’t seem to mind much either, though he had his own bits of gossip that followed him. 

“I suppose they do”

Y/N glances at the bleak reminders of his time under corporate control. The cold, alloy of Techno Union metal sticking out starkly against Echo’s skin.

The neural access ports, unfortunately, had been woven so tightly into the neural pathways of the Arc Troopers brain that there was no way to seperate the two. The ones that had connected his lungs and diaphragm while in stasis were no better. They were to be permanent fixtures. While Echo had joked just the day before that some of his vode would be jealous of the look she had a feeling he was not fond of the modifications.

Rex had been a frequent visitor during his first few days in the medbay, almost constant in his devotion to his vod. Surprisingly, so had some of her other charges. Hunter had stopped by a handful of times and both Wrecker and Crosshair had frequently sat with him to distract while she worked. Today was actually the first day he’d shown up for his treatment and not had an escort. The ARC Trooper had left an impression amongst the Bad Batch and only time would tell if that was a good thing or not. 

Y/N moves slowly to start his vitals. 2-1B, the medical droid was kept on standby when Echo was under her care. She’d discovered early on that too much time under the droids watchful eye and its inability to take things at the troopers pace had a tendency to exacerbate the former POWs anxiety. Y/N was ok working without Too-bee’s assistance and taking a more languid pace if it made her patient comfortable.

“Do you know what it means?”

Y/N glances up at the trooper. “I’ve never thought about it really” she says, turning to gather supplies to clean and redress the few deeper lacerations the ARC trooper still had, places where there had not been enough skin to pull together to suture. 

She makes a small gesture with her fingers and Echo begins peeling his shirt off. It gets hung on the edge of his prosthetic and he struggles for a moment, frustration evident before he takes a deep breath and slowly uncouples it from the alloy. He folds the black shirt neatly and places it atop his armor as Y/N finishes laying out supplies on her work table and rolls it next to his perch. Slipping on gloves, she begins peeling spent bacta patches off, holding the skin taught as she does to ease the tug on his skin. “So, are you going to leave me in suspense or are you going to tell me?”

Echo likes the way she smiles at him. It makes what she does easier. He tries not to flinch as she removes the last patch. 

The engineers, the doctors, Tambor those who’d performed his modifications had looked at him like anything other than a science experiment, a tool, a profit margin. Y/N sees him as a person. She accommodates him. She’s learned quickly his ins and outs and she doesn’t push. She treats him like an individual. And she smiles. She smiles so bright and full that she lights the room, like star shine on a dark night. Her presence soothed him. She made him feel like he had choices and the power to make them.

“Baby. They call you Baby” the first time he’d heard the words slip from Wrecker’s mouth he’d done a double take.  Then he’d heard it from Hunter, and finally, Crosshair. It was a term of endearment he hadn’t heard from a clone before. The way they treated her was soft, even Crosshair who was rough and callous to the other troopers, the Regs, seemed to thaw, if only slightly,  for the little Togruta.

Y/N shrugs, “Hmm?” She hums plopping onto a stool and spinning around a few times before she rolls in front of him and offers him a shining smile, pearly incisiors peeking out. “That’s cute. You gonna call me baby too?” She teases.

Echo feels his cheeks heating. “Could I? Would that be... strange?”

Y/N shrugs again, “I don’t think so” she says motioning toward his bare chest. She takes a piece of bacta soaked gauze and waits for his nod before she begins cleansing the minor lacs and scrapes. Her touch is light as she moves. Echo’s eyes drift shut. Touch was still… touch was something novel and when he was given a bit of softness he was going to soak up every bit he could.

“Ik’aad” he tests the name out. He’s spoken so little Mando’a since his capture that it feels foreign on his tongue, not unpleasant, more like a long forgotten friend he needed to become reacquainted with.

When his eyes open back he’s greeted by an impish grin. “See that’s not so bad.”

He’s not sure if she is talking about the wound care or the nickname. He nods anyway as she pats the areas dry and applies fresh bacta patches, fewer than the day before.

“You know what I’ve got to do now?” She questions softly. 

This he did know and he feels his shoulders tense at the thought. The metal ports implanted along his skull and back had been placed prior to going into stasis. They allowed the Techno Union access to his memory’s as well as a means to keep his respiratory system functional. The skin surrounding the ports had healed but had never had a chance to callous or grow accustomed to the push and pull that movement caused. His freedom and sudden increase in activity had caused sores to develop around the ports themselves, the skin raw and chaffing. The doctors had all been in agreement that with time the skin would toughen and the sores would heal but in the interim it left him uncomfortable and required daily tending.

Y/N- Ik’aad, he corrects mentally, rolls her stool slowly around the exam table, letting her feet flop in front of her and pull herself around. He’s tense but he can’t help the weak tug at the corner of his mouth at her antics, she looks up and catches his eye with a knowing grin.

She stands, forgetting the stool in lieu of a more upright position. “Why do you think they call me Ik’aad?” She asks conversationally, trying out the word for herself,  as one hand falls to his shoulder Her movements allow him to telegraph where here next touch would land.  She did it the same way each time. Top to bottom. Left to right. It bred a sense of familiarity and, on the worst days, gave him points of reference for how long it would take. In the beginning she’d talked him through each step of the process until he’d asked her to stop. Since then she’d tried to distract him. They both knew what she was doing but neither found fault in it so she continued her chit chat and he continued to listen. 

Y/N begins moving a fresh piece of bacta moistened gauze around one port, cleaning the crust and debris that clung to the wound away. Echo tries to focus on her question and not the sting of the antiseptic as the gauze washes away the dried flakes of drainage.

“You’re small” he starts “like, you-could-fit-in-my-pocket-and-go-on-missions tiny”

Y/N giggles as she continues to work, “is that so?”

Echo shrugs, “you’re  kind of adorable too-“

“Not you too! You sound like Wrecker.” she growls playfully, “If you start telling me you want to pinch my cheeks I swear, Echo...” she threatens without any real threat.

“Nothing like that. You’re like- like- “ he looks for a word. He knows there’s one that fits but it eludes him. “I think you just have a way about you that makes them feel...” he shrugs.

“Well if you don’t know what they’re thinking what do you think? How do I make you feel?” It’s an honest question, born of genuine curiosity. Like the clones in the Bad Batch, he kept coming back to see her when any medic, clone or civvie, could do what she was doing.

“You make me feel warm.” He says without hesitation. “For so long everything was so cold, distant and you’re-“ he snaps his fingers and Y/N startles fingers pressing into the flesh where she was beginning to work at the next row of ports. “Vod’ika” he says firmly flinching at the press.

“Translation Echo?”

“Uhh, little sibling. Sister or brother. It’s interchangeable.” He explains. A smile splits his face knowing he’s finally placed the feeling she drew out of him and what he assumed the other as well-

“Y/N?” The question is followed by a sharp knock to the wall nearest the thick curtain that separates the room from the rest of the med bay. 

Echo and Y/N turn toward the familiar voice. Y/N gives him a questioning look and he nods.

“Come on in Tech? Is everything ok?” Y/N places a hand to Echo’s bare shoulder as she tosses the used gauze in a nearby bin. The clone watches curiously as Tech’s helmet, visor flipped up,  flicks ever so slightly from Y/N to where her hand rested than back again.

“I- I didn’t know you were busy. Everything’s fine.” He clarifies quickly. Even modulated, his voice is just a touch higher than Echo is used to. “I just wanted to see- I just thought I’d swing by”

“We were just finishing up” she turns back to Echo and motions to his shirt. “You good to gear back up”. He pulls the blacks on silently as he watches the two.

Tech doesn’t call the medic Ik’aad. It’s the first time Echo’s noticed. He also realizes Tech is rarely around when she is. Echo watches the engineer take a step into the room and again his narrowed eyes flick back to where Echo is seated.

“What can I do for you?” She questions peeling away gloves and turning toward the sink to wash her hands.   Echo notices for the first time something different in the tone of her voice, almost shy.

“Wrecker said” he hesitates “you were getting ready for your FAS cert test?  I came across a study guide that might help, if you want to use it that is?” He asks holding a pocket drive between gloved fingers.

Though he’s the one supposed to be here, Echo suddenly feels as if he’s intruding on something. It’s like watching one of the shinies back in the day at 79’s approach a woman for the first time. It’s a dance with no music and Tech has two left feet. 

Y/N reaches up and toys with the end of a lek as she turns around. “That’s really thoughtful of you.”

Y/N is more quiet, far less verbose than Echo has become accustomed to.

“It really would be helpful. Maybe-“ she pauses. Glancing down, she seems to steal herself before her eyes travel back back up to the other clone “maybe you could help me study?”

The ARC trooper finds himself silently rooting for the other clone. She’d baited the hook and thrown it out there.  The way Tech’s eyes widen behind his goggles and the near panic that flares up is not lost on Echo.

“I’m- I’m really busy actually” Tech spits out quickly. 

Echo cringes as they both seem to deflate. He wonders how neither sees it in the other.

“Oh, ok. That’s- that’s really thoughtful of you.” Color flares in the togrutas cheeks “Again. I already said that didn’t I?” Her hip bumps against her tray table as she moves and she makes a small disgruntled noise as bacta splashes across her tac pants. “Kriff” she curses silently as she looks down and wipes uselessly at the spreading patch of wetness.

There’s towels on a rack along the wall and Echo watches Tech look at them but when he doesn’t move Echo does.

“Here, Ik’aad.” He grabs two and hands her one. Her face is flushed when she looks up. Embarrassed. She gives him a weak smile.

She presses the towel against the wetness soaking into her pants. “Have I told you you’re my favorite patient?”

“No. But I’m glad to hear it” 

Behind him he can hear Tech shift from foot to foot. Echo had given him a chance to come to her aide and he’d dropped the ball. When he glances back he catches Tech’s narrowed eyes. Was that…? No, it couldn’t be-. 

Echo can see the look in the other clones eyes and it isn’t particularly generous. He arches a brow back as Tech drops his visor.

“I’m going to leave this here for you, Y/N” Tech announces looking past Echo and setting the pocket drive down. 

Y/N waves him off. Avoiding eye contact as she balls the towel up and throws it in the hamper.

“Thanks. I’m sure it’ll come in handy.” She says puffing out a frustrated breath through pursed lips. Her attention goes back to Echo. 

“So now that my uniform is soaked, do you have plans for lunch?”

The ARC trooper shrugs, “I hadn’t planned anything. I’ve got to get some range time scheduled in later but I’m free for a bit.”

“Good. I’ve just gotta run by my room and change and then you can take me to the mess. You can keep telling me about how amazing I am.” She teases weakly. Her eyes widen as she looks past him and notices Tech still standing in the doorway.

“You can come too if you want but I understand if you’re busy”

He hesitates for half a second and Echo is sure he’s going to take her up on the offer. He can see it in the way he leans forward, the way his left hand clenches and unclenches that he wants to. 

“Maybe another time?”

Y/N barely manages a halfhearted “yeah, sounds good” before the engineer is turning on his heels and making his escape.

“I don’t think he likes me much,” she notes quietly after he’s gone.

Taglist: @skdubbs @pastelbunny1501 @my-own-oracle @underworldqueen13​ @obiorbenkenobi​ @adritozier @dafodddil @daniellajocelyn

[hardyimagines]

Big Mouth

Hiya! First of all, I love your writing, you're without a doubt one of the best Tom Hardy writers out there imo!! I've been having some really big Ron Kray feels lately so I wanted to send you a quick request (: I know it's pretty out of character but I really would love a fic of Ron with a really shy/quiet gf who gets threatened by their enemies or smth and he just gets really protective (I'm a sucker for protective fics) and comforts her. Thank you! (X

———————————————————————

The club was empty. The silence almost deafening as you sat in one of the stools that bordered the bar. The countertop was sticky beneath your forearms, clinging to your bare skin each time you’d accidentally fold your arms and make the mistake of pressing them against the counter. Your lips twitched south into a frown, eyes lifting to the other side of the counter to inspect the length of it. There was a tub of ice. A sink, crammed pack with empty glass dishes. You pondered briefly lifting yourself up and off of the stool so you could move around the counter and wash off your sticky skin, but you didn’t think it polite to go somewhere you didn’t normally. This wasn’t your club, it was your boyfriend’s and his brother’s.

The door in the corner opened and the handsome man, you were lucky to call your’s, emerged. He was dressed down in a pair of dark trousers with a white button-down and a pair of suspenders. His coat was discarded on a table in the middle of the room, wrinkled and draped partially over one chair. His hands were folded over his chest, pinning the black tie he wore to the front of his chest as he sent a glare toward the room. You couldn’t see the remainder of those inside, but you could see Ron clearly and he didn’t look happy. His hand lifted to his glasses, adjusting the thick edge of the frame before he nudged it up and into its rightful place on his nose. You looked toward him, studying his features. His plump lips were always eye-catching, so pink and full. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up to the space below his forearms, leaving you with a beautiful view of the visible veins that lined his soft skin. He wore a silver bracelet on one wrist and a black watch on the other, a ring circling each of his pointer fingers and one silver ring on his pinky. You lifted your gaze back to his face and shyly straightened because now he was looking at you.

“Alright?” He spoke up huskily, lowly, as if he didn’t want to be heard speaking too loud. You nodded your head once before leaning toward him, small hands fisting in your lap against the navy blue skirt you wore.

“My arms got a little.. sticky.. because of the counter.” Your innocent expression and soft voice made the tough exterior he had on display drop away in the slightest. With the tip of his boot, he knocked the door shut and made his way toward you to further inspect what you were on about. His warm hands lifted to your arms, pads of his thick fingers gliding along your dirty skin.

“Leaned in all the fucking mess, didn’t you?” He shook his head before slowly drawing you off of the stool. The height difference between the pair of you always stunned him. There was a strain forming in his neck muscles because of how often he had his head tipped south to view you. “Let’s get you cleaned up, yeah?” His hand slid around to the back of the light-colored blouse you wore. Guiding you around the bar counter and toward the sink, he turned the handle so warm water spewed from the faucet. He stuck his fingers beneath the liquid, ensuring it wouldn’t burn you before he kissed the top of your head and moved away from you so he could rummage through the cupboards in search of a bar of soap. You watched him momentarily before slowly sticking your arms beneath the water. Using your fingers to scrub at the liquor on your flesh, you let out a quiet hum and then a light sound of frustration. Ron curled his fingers around the bottle of liquid soap before moving back up behind you and reaching around your form. “Here, love.” You rotated your arms, forearms up, so he could apply some soap to your skin. He set the soap down, hands lifting to your small shoulders before he let his fingers glide down and along your arms, all the way down to wear you hadn’t begun scrubbing just yet. He took over. His thumbs brushed along the soap, repeatedly working into your flesh so he could remove the alcohol that stained your skin. You tipped your head back, ogling him with a slow, appreciative smile. You didn’t need him to help you wash up, but the fact that he’d done so without a care in the world, made you feel all warm and giddy.

The door in the corner opened and Albie poked his head out. His fingers lifted to his face, brushing along his chin before he ushered over his shoulder. “Reg wants you back in here, Ron.” His eyes flickered to you, smiling apologetically. “Won’t be much longer, I don’t think, Richardson’s boys are gettin’ a bit antsy.”

Ron let out a low grumble before moving his hands under the water so he could wash off the soap. Drawing back, he leaned over and pressed his lips against your cheek, lingering before he moved his lips to the corner of your own. You turned your head, lips parting so you could usher him along, but he pressed his mouth against yours and you were left to whimper, turning completely toward his body so you could kiss him thoroughly.

Ron let the kiss linger for as long as you wanted. He set his damp hands on your curvy hips, slowly beginning to draw you into his chest. The kiss deepened the longer that your lips stayed connected and because you felt too shy to pull away first, you wrapped your arms very slowly around his middle and relished in the feeling of his mouth moving against yours.

Albie let out a quiet sigh before looking back into the room. His eyes locked on to Reggie’s, ushering him over. Reggie didn’t hesitate. He brushed his fingers along the length of his jaw before moving toward the doorway.

“Ron?” He growled, the second that his eyes latched on to the pair of you. “Mate, I need you in here.” Ron lifted his finger, telling his brother to just wait for a second. His hand then lifted to the back of your thick locks, stroking them lazily before he brought the kiss to a close. Adjusting his glasses because they’d once again fallen down the bridge of his nose, he motioned for you to carry on with washing your arms before he twisted around and headed for the room. Reggie sighed quietly before looking toward you with a reassuring smile. He didn’t mean to snatch his brother away for meetings like the one taking place, but he was needed — especially when important things were being said.

Albie closed the door quietly, leaving you alone on your own once again. Twisting the little silver handle to turn off the water once you’d finished cleaning up, you grasped some napkins from the corner and dried off the length of your wet skin. The paper towel in your hand shriveled the further that you wet it so when it was no longer useable, you tossed it into the black bin in the corner. The lid was propped open so the napkin fell inside willingly.

Moving out from behind the bar, you dropped down on the cushion you’d been perched on before and let your eyes roam the interior of the club. It was filthy, in desperate need of a thorough scrub. The floors were gross, covered in spilled drinks just like the counter and the tables had so many bottles and glasses on the surfaces, you had an urge to help clean. Why not help take some of the stress off of your boyfriend’s shoulders?

The little voices in your head told you to just sit still. Stay in place. Ron was a big boy and he could handle cleaning up. You were positive that they had someone come in in the mornings to clean up the mess from the previous night anyway. Lifting your hand to your neck, you scratched it lazily before heaving a quiet sigh. Rotating around on the stool, you hunched over the bar and lifted another napkin. Balancing on the rail of the stool, you turned on the sink and wet the napkin just enough so that you could wipe down the counter in the spot where you were sat. You didn’t want to end up with sticky forearms again.

The door in the corner opened and who was the first to pile out?

A small man with a big head emerged from the room first. He had a sickening smile and a head full of blonde hair, greasy and in desperate need of a wash. His blue eyes fell to your bum, evident and on display as you leaned over the bar to continue to wet the towel — clearly oblivious to his sudden appearance.

“Fuckin’ hell.” The accent was thick. You felt uncomfortable because of his words and even more uncomfortable when you rotated around to inspect him. His eyes hadn’t lifted from your rear. Dropping back down in the chair, you let a little frown slide across your lips. Ron was nowhere in sight. Neither was Reggie. Nor Albie. Your eyes moved from his face to the next man’s and then the next.. they were all Richardson’s men.

Ron was sat at the table in the corner, fingers pinched around the cigar in his hand as he listened intently to what Reggie had to say. His brother was sat with his legs spread wide and his hands banging lightly against the table to mark each and ever one of his points. Albie was stood by the table, hands in his pockets as he listened in. He was oblivious to the fact that Jack was ushering the men out of the back and directly through the room you were sat in — all on your own. Ron sighed heavily, hand pressing against his forehead before he pushed his chair back. “Alright, mate, as fun as it is, yeah, sitting here and talking about all the stressful shit that we’ve got to worry about. I am in need of some food, right, and a hot shower. Gonna get going, take the girl on home.” He murmured before laying his hand on his brother’s shoulder, patting it.

You shuffled your weight on the stool before sliding off of the seat. Making movement to get behind the bar, you stiffened when a man at the front with gray hair and a snaggle tooth lunged toward you. He locked your wrist in his tight grip and held you in place.

“What’s a pretty little thing like you doing in a place like this, all on your own?” You lowered your hand to gently push his away. You didn’t want to be rude. You didn’t want to upset the blokes. You didn’t even know them. But you didn’t want to just stand as stiff as a board.

“Look at her, she’s shaking.” Another piped up with a snarl and then a husky laugh. Your body felt hot and your lower lip was beginning to tremble unnoticeably. You clamped your teeth down on the pink flesh, gnawing on it to try and hide how uncomfortable you were beginning to feel.

“She has to be Reggie’s little playmate. After what happened to Frances, he’s bound to be looking for someone to distract him.” Your eyes darted from man to man, heart aching at the words they said. But you didn’t have the bravery to confront them. You didn’t have the bravery to defend your boyfriend’s brother. You felt like you were suffocating in the small space. You wanted to spit in the man’s face, tell him that you were actually dating Ron.

“She ain’t Ron’s, he’s a fucking poof.” The grey-haired man sneered. Your hand stung at the thought. You wanted to slap the man so hard your hand would burn. You shut your eyes and clenched your jaw when the bloke stood directly against you placed his hand on your stomach. “Wonder if Reggie don’t mind sharing?” He whispered before leaning in and placing his lips against your ear. His breath made you want to gag. You hardly turned your head to the side before he grasped ahold of your face and yanked it back toward his own. Your eyes were watery, glistening with fear, but deep down you knew the man wouldn’t do much else than this. The Kray’s were in the room right there, they’d kill him if he dared move that hand any higher.

Or maybe they’d kill him for even daring to approach you.

The look on Ron’s face when he emerged was enough to make you cower in place for the rest of the men in the room. Nobody warned the bloke with his hands on you, for there wasn’t really any time. Ron had a quick stride, breathing like an angry bull as he stomped up behind the bloke and wrapped his hands in the collar of his shirt. He hauled him back and threw him against the floor, hands curling eagerly into tight fists.

Reggie stepped up though, hand pressing against Ron’s chest. “Easy,” He growled out. “Hang on, yeah, calm down.” Patting his brother’s shoulder, he attempted to try and make Ron see the bigger picture — and that was that they really didn’t need any violence to arise right now. Not after what they’d just been discussing in the room about truces and common ground. The look in Ron’s eye, though, told his brother that he didn’t care about anything that had just been said or agreed on.. he wanted the bloke on the floor to suffer for placing his hand on you. He hadn’t heard much of what had been said — but maybe that was a good thing. You shivered by the bar before slowly inching away from the group of men and toward the farthest side of the counter. Ron was oblivious. All he saw was red. Everything sounded garbled and distorted. He could only focus on what he wanted right now — and with that in mind, he pushed past his brother and toward the man on the floor. Dragging him up just enough, he sent his fist into the side of the man’s face, ring indenting in his flesh before he repeated the motion. Reggie licked his lips, unsurprised in the slightest that Ron hadn’t listened. He set his hands on his hips before looking toward Big Pat who was stood with his arms folded over his chest, waiting to be instructed in escorting everyone out. The second he was summoned, he set his hand on the pocket of his jacket, ready to withdraw his revolver if need be.

“Alright, fucking bastards, you know where the exit is.” His words were whispered under his breath, hand ushering and urging each of them toward the door in the corner, everyone apart from the man at Ron’s mercy. Ron had his teeth bared and his eyes were so angry. He looked like a completely different person. Reggie exhaled quietly before looking toward you. He didn’t understand how a relationship had formed between you and his brother. You were the complete opposite of the man.

Ron was angry, mean, big, hateful. He didn’t care about anyone or anything — apart from his family, and you. He held no pity for anyone else in the world. No sympathy. He was off his fucking rocker, as Reggie had once been told. A crazy man, capable of doing so much damage.

You were sweet. Innocent. Pure. Small. Too good for the world you lived in. You cared about too many people, your heart surely didn’t have room for anyone else. You held so much sympathy for the silliest things, Reggie was astounded you’d ever even bothered to talk to Ron. How could someone so good love someone so bad?

—

Months and months ago...

The rain fell heavily, soaking whoever dared venture out in it and whoever had already been out, daring to walk beneath the dark clouds which were bound to open at any second. You’d dipped into the first building you’d come across, wet from head to toe. Your clothing was stuck to your body, glued to you. Your hair was wet, flat, and you should’ve been frustratingly uncomfortable. But you’d entered the shop with a wide grin, a very soft, sweet expression that had lured Ron in from the second you’d said hello.

“I’m so sorry to barge in.. are you open?” The room was empty. Nobody inside apart from the twins. Ron was at a table, sorting through the money and Reggie was at the bar, inspecting the inventory of alcohol. The men were speechless. The door should’ve been locked.

Reggie opened his mouth to say no, but Ron beat him to it. He was at least going to offer you the shelter despite the fact that their club was, in fact, closed, but Ron didn’t seem, at first, like he was going to offer the same thing. The rain was falling so heavily, Reggie didn’t think you’d even be able to see where you were going. And nobody else would be open at this hour. The Kray’s had just closed.

“No. You’d best be on your way out.” Ron uttered, voice muffled by the cigar he held between his lips. He looked over his shoulder, inspecting you as you pried at a little twig stuck in your hair. You sent him a very kind smile, an apologetic one that told him you understood. No fighting, no questions, no pleading to wait out the storm. You merely tipped your head and tried to apologize again for intruding. Ron hated the little pricks of guilt that stung his heart. He rarely ever felt them. But when you opened the door and he was forced to listen to the heavy pelts of rain beating against the pavement, he halted you. “You know,” He called out. “you’d be a bit foolish if you actually left. You’ll catch your death out there.” He uttered nonchalantly before looking back toward the money. Reggie didn’t say a word. He was stunned his brother had told you to get out, basically, and then had invited you to stick around all because you weren’t fussing. He shook his head before moving out from behind the counter.

“Sit down if you’d like, yeah, can I get you anything to drink or...?” Your head shook softly. You didn’t want to be difficult and you certainly hadn’t selected their establishment in hopes of getting any sort of beverage out of it. You adjusted your wet blouse before looking toward your hands. You approached the chairs in the corner, shyly lowering yourself down into one. Ron kept a close eye on you from his peripheral, noting the way you sat down, stayed quiet and didn’t dare do or say anything impolite. He tongued his cheek. A lot of women who wound up here talked the Kray’s ears off or babbled about the changes they could make to the club. He found himself growing to be just a little interested in you, but not enough to strike up a conversation, just enough to ogle you discreetly.

He had no idea that the quiet gal sat to his left, at a table all on her own, would soon become someone that he wouldn’t be able to get off of his mind — and would make a permanent place in his heart.

—

Ron was stood behind the bar, washing the blood off of his knuckles. You were pretty sure his pointer finger was broken, for it was crooked and the ring he wore didn’t look straight. Your touch was gentle as you brushed your fingers along his wrist, doing your best to help clean him up, like he’d done for you earlier.

Reggie was outside, tending to the bleeding body which had been left behind. He wrote a note and shoved it into the bloke’s pocket, reminding Charlie that if he didn’t want his men to be returned to him damaged, they should really watch their mouths and really watch they put their hands.

“Does that hurt?” You asked very softly. He almost hadn’t heard you. His knuckle was purple and already bruising. Drawing his hand toward you, you did your best to wipe off all the blood without causing him any pain. Ron’s eyes were glued to you, heart skipping a beat each time you glanced up at him.

“M’sorry I left you on your own.” He grumbled out before moving his hand to rest on your arm. “Didn’t even know the blokes had left the room, until I glanced over my shoulder and they’d all piled out.” He let out a quiet sigh before pulling you toward him so he could wrap his arm around your shoulders. “He didn’t.. hurt you?”

Your head shook lightly. “He just said things.” You told him quietly. Your jaw was actually a little sore from the grip that the man had had, but you didn’t want to be too whiny.

“Things worth repeating?” Ron inquired. His hand moved from your shoulders, down and around to your waist. He pulled you in until your chest bumped his own, blue eyes unmoving from your own.

“No..” You whispered softly.

He could see you were still shaken up. Whether it was from what was said or how you were touched, he didn’t know. But he did know that you weren’t good with words, he had to read you in order to understand you — and lucky for him, you tended to wear your heart in the watery pools on your face. Leaning forward, he stole a very delicate kiss from you.

“Let’s get you home, mh?” He knew you felt just a little safer when you were in a space that you felt comfortable in. His hand fell to your own, locking around it tenderly.

“Could I.. um..” It took you a moment to speak, but he didn’t rush you. Leading you out from behind the bar, he grasped his coat off of the table and drew it on to his body. Retrieving yours from the rack in the corner, he drew it on to your shoulders and fastened the front closed. “stay around yours tonight?”

It was very rare for you to spend the night with Ron. He was hardly ever home to sleep, but when he was, he made sure to tell you. Tonight, there was no indication that he’d even be there, but because of how shaken you were, he’d make sure he was by your side for as long as you wanted him to be. Everything between the pair of you was actually quite innocent, he was never rough or harsh with you. Even sex. He was a lot more gentle with you than he’d ever been with another human being in all his life. He didn’t ever want to cause you any harm.

“You don’t have to ask me.” He whispered before guiding you out of the club. His hand was secure around your own, gentle as he held you close.

“I know.. I just..” You looked up at the man. Smiling shyly because you knew that you didn’t have to voice your thoughts any further, you pulled your bottom lip in and stared down at the rocky pavement.

Ron was entirely too good to you. He was always so patient, understanding.. he was a meanie to most, but he was so sweet to you. Your heart hurt a lot of the time because you didn’t actually understand how it was possible to love someone so much.

The walk to his home was quiet. Reggie had stayed back behind at the club with Albie and he’d probably be there for another few hours, tending to what still needed to be finished. Your arms swung between the pair of you, voices soft when you’d talk, but for the most part you didn’t say too much. He wasn’t much of a talker unless he was mad and you weren’t much of a talker in general.

Ron slipped the key to the door in the slot before twisting it and unlocking the small house. Nudging the door open, he waited for you to step inside before he followed along behind. Shutting the door quietly, he locked it back before setting his keys on the little table in the corner. Drawing off his jacket, he hung it on the hooks that were nailed in the wall before he did the same to yours once you’d rolled it off your shoulders. Following you toward the flight of stairs, he let out a heavy grunt now and then, hands locked around the rails at he ascended the flight behind you.

The house was always warm. Cozy. And it smelled like honey and maple. You brushed your fingertips along the wallpaper, stroking the length of it with a lazy smile before you turned the handle and opened Ron’s door. Moving into the room, you brushed your hands off on your blouse before dropping down on the edge of his bed. He moved in directly behind you, closing the door the second he was inside. A little yawn left his lips, a sound that made you feel all gooey because he managed to make something so simple, so cute. The man pulled off his glasses and set them on the vanity in the corner before beginning to unbutton the front of his shirt. The material was stained with blood, splatters of it marking the fabric. He needed to put it in the wash as soon as possible because he didn’t have many white shirts. He let the fabric hang open, completely unbuttoned, leaving the front of his chest on display as he moved around the room. You bit your cheek softly, attempting to keep your eyes anywhere apart from the soft, muscular skin usually tucked away behind the thin material.

The bed was comfy as you adjusted yourself on the edge of it. It creaked beneath the shift in weight, drawing Ron’s attention to you. “Feeling alright, yeah, not too shaken up?” The man paused beside the vanity and used the two of one shoe to press against the heel of the other. Drawing off each of them, he kicked them into the corner before moving toward you. The space between your knees was barely visible, but Ron took it upon himself to kneel down in front of you and rest directly in front of your legs. “You know that I’d never let anybody hurt you?” He whispered. The words were comforting, they left you feeling giddy and warm. You nodded simply to his words before lifting your hands to his strong shoulders. Stroking them slowly, you studied your handsome boyfriend before leaning in and pressing a very light kiss to the tip of his nose.

“I know..” your voice was hardly audible.

“S’a bit weird. Going from a life where I didn’t really give anybody the time of day, yeah.. and now you’re here and I can’t seem to think about anything apart from you.” He murmured. Laying his hands on your sides, he used his broad body to wiggle himself forward and between your knees. You inhaled breathily, taking your time to open your legs and allow him to get as close as he possibly could. He locked you in a secure embrace, pink lips brushing along your chin. “I love you, you know, I’m.. I can’t think of what life would be like if I didn’t have you.”

“Quieter.” You joked with a giggle. Cupping his cheeks, you traced the underside of his eyes with your thumbs, admiring him and the little smile that tickled his lips. Ron let out a soft snort before pushing himself in even closer. Laying his head against your chest, he shut his eyes. “I love you too.” You responded after a few moments. Laying your hand on the back of his head, you brushed through his strands, caressing them before you shut your eyes and savored the moment.

“The Richardson’s, right, they think you’re just some.. toy that they can play with. I don’t want you ever letting any of them get too close. You call for me. Always. Alright? I’ll come running.” He frowned before drawing back so he could stare up at you. He wasn’t sure why you hadn’t shouted for him earlier, at the club, but he was sure it had something to do with a block being in your throat and your anxiety preventing you from calling out to him. He didn’t blame you. He just wanted to remind you. He was just a shout away. He stole a very gentle kiss before lifting himself up and off of the ground. “I need a shower, love, so you can stay here, mh? Or you can join me.” His eyes were honest, shimmering with his feelings as you scanned his gaze. He truthfully didn’t mind if you just wanted to lay down and get some rest, but he wasn’t surprised when you stood from the bed and locked your tiny form around his own, a sign that you were indeed joining him for a shower.

Ron couldn’t help the smile that agitatingly tugged at his lips. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t prevent the stupid twitch of his lips from happening. He led you out of the bedroom and into the door across the hall. The bathroom was so bright, but it was because everything inside was such a clean-colored white. Pristine. Ron leaned into the shower, twisting the nozzle so that the hot water fell from the showerhead. He drew off his shirt, tossing it into the dirty cloths basket in the corner before he got to work on his trousers. You were unmoving, fingers nervously fisting in the front of your blouse before you swallowed down the nerves and did your best to undress... but at a very very slow pace. Ron was in his boxers before you’d even wiggled out of your shirt. It was no secret that you liked for him to do the undressing because it somehow took the pressure off of you, so when you shrunk toward him, he asked no questions. His fingers curled in your blouse, rolling the material up and along your tummy before he drew it off of you completely and tossed it in the same bin. Beneath his stare of approval, you couldn’t help but grow just a little more confident. He leaned down, catching your lips in the middle for a slow kiss, as his hands fell to the zip on your skirt, pulling it down so you could shrug the material down and off of your hips and thighs. The pair of you were locked around each other before you could get out of your underwear, so Ron didn’t hesitate at all before scooping you up and into his arms as if you were nothing but a toddler. He cradled you with so much easy, strong hips steadying you as you wrapped your arms and legs around him like a monkey. He stepped under the hot water, allowing it to soak your underwear along with his own. He didn’t care. The fabric was getting washed anyway.

You fisted your hands in the back of his hair and pressed your lips, wet from the pouring water, against his own. Smiling into his gentle pecks, you let out a breathy hum before moving your face to the side so you could bury it into his neck. Throughout the course of the shower, he knew things would grow to be heated and the clothing that was still stuck to your bodies would eventually been discarded on the tile. Right now, he knew you just wanted to be held. Loved on. Protected. And he didn’t blame you in the slightest. He’d never let anyone or anything hurt you in anyway.. things had only happened earlier because Jack, of all people, had let the fucking men out and into the main portion of the club where they were not meant to be. Ron was going to be extra alert from now on. His hands brushed along your back, stroking it lazily as he stained the memory of your little form locked around his own in his brain. He never wanted to forget times like this.. they were so simple. So boring, probably. But they meant everything to him. It was such a private moment, one that he cherished. He’d never be able to voice how much he truly loved you because the words to describe something so indescribable just didn’t exist. But he loved you. That was the most he could say. He loved you. And he’d protect you forever.

———————————————————————

Tagged: @peakblogbecauseimweak @mollybegger-blog @morphoportis @ghost-of-student-sufferings @drippydownes2002 @ellar21 @sovereigngoth @willowick13 @pansexualginger @marvelgirl7 @heyitscam99 @wow-he-cute @haroldpain @justrepostandlove @emerald-bijou @multireality @innerpaperexpertcloud @goodiesintheclosetlove @giftofdreams @ihclipse @inkedfandom @thatsamegirl @doct0rstrange @jakechillenhaal @shanty-lol @centerhabit @clevertheoristpainter @jamierdr @favouritereadings @badmaax @thephuonganh @wewillfindourwaythere @uhhhemilyrose @scarrasco1325 @matoki-darkpanda @bignastyfan-nz @hot-and-spiceyyy @azayamari @shane-isa-shame @chimthighz @baliadelcuore @lonewolf471 @crldrr @keeleyella @overitall2018 @lovebitesimagines @eddieisasnack

[noonawriter]

Delicious Rendezvous

WORD COUNT: 4638

WARNINGS: flashbacks to torture, shameless flirting, over-worked and stressed main character

DELICIOUS RENDEZVOUS

Chapter 4

“Bad news,” Siwon said as soon as he was in earshot of Heechul. “Our contact in 223 has been transferred and is locked out of the local system here.” He bit his lip, a rare slip of control. “As I’m sure you know, we’re cutting it too close to develop a new one just yet.” His first creation walked up to him with a look of hesitation on his face.

No mystery as to why.

Back when the terror of it was fresh, Siwon informed Heechul of a raid that had occurred a decade ago and how badly it had ended. The whole thing played like a movie reel of memories and fears. It wasn’t the sex work that sank them that time - no one runs that kind of operation without a contingency plan. No, it was who was doing it that led to tragedy.

Several of the employees ended up in a specialized prison only to be slowly tortured to death because supernatural creatures weren’t known then... And groups of humans have the capacity to do terrible things when they’re afraid of the unknown. Ingenuity, put to exactly the wrong purpose. What little inside data could be gleaned was... It was... Unspeakable, to this day.

Heechul considered giving him a moment of comforting touch, but it would be crass to make it so very evident that his right-hand man’s thoughts were left entirely unlocked. They sure as hell didn’t have time for a fight, either.

Not a creature anywhere didn’t hear about that disaster. The Council exploited those fears, the prejudices borne of it, but for the rest of the community, lacking that level of power... Whatever there was where Heechul’s stomach used to be turned just the same way at being bombarded with it all over again, shrunk into a few nauseating seconds. If his hair could still stand on end, it would. Even the humans that supported that establishment had been fined so heavily that they were out on the streets, and then... disappeared. Maybe to the same place. Who knows? Siwon visibly winced at that last thought, but forced that idea to the side. There were days that his confidence that his master would never let anyone harm him or their brethren was all that allowed the leader to make it happen.

Yet, sometimes, Heechul really wished Siwon had more magic potential. This was one of the rare moments where he’d very much like to be able to not hear these thoughts. Keeping his hands from ripping his own hair out was as much as he could manage here, arms stiff at his sides. Was he even capable of crying anymore? Did he have what it would take to stop a repeat of such horrors between his very own walls?

It was all too much. Too much. Heechul had to set it all aside too. Rather than comfort, he ended up having to tap Siwon’s cheek just to bring him back to the present.

“Sorry,” he mumbled with a shake of his head. ”I remembered it again.” That raid was the last time Siwon tried working for anyone else, is the only other thing he would say about it out loud. He broadcast the rest louder than an echo in a cave, though, he just didn’t know he was - right to Heechul like an open book, at least. Not a hint of a side gig since.

The grass only looks greener, as it were.

Finally, that portion of mental agony was over, tucked away back in its box. Upon realizing the massive amount of work that their contact being pulled out from under them meant, Heechul’s shoulders slumped. There was too much weight upon them.

However, he only allowed himself those two seconds of self-pity before squaring them back up. “Shit. That means there’ll still be a raid tomorrow night.” He checked, unwittingly holding his breath, but couldn’t get much detail. “That only gives us about a day and a half.” He counted off on his fingers as he called out instructions. “We need to put up glamour and force barriers on the rooms, make excuses, reschedule appointments, make sure all my kids have somewhere to stay for the night..."

A groan slipped out. But only one. How he dreaded this last part. “I’ll have to handle the backstage regulars. They would feel slighted if informed through an intermediary.”

While he was appreciative of his higher-paying customers in that they kept the show running, literally and otherwise, they always looked down their noses at him when complications came up. Fuck, he felt a headache coming on already. He pinched the spot just above the bridge of his nose. He’d have to add on the promises of a free service to make sure they kept silent about where they went and who ran the show - and he hated burdening his kids like that.

Hated it with everything in him, but the alternative was worse. He’s not risking any kind of prison cell for anyone.

“Of course, Master. I’ll initiate the protocol and distribute the workload immediately.” A floating schedule appeared next to Siwon, its constituent lines made of light if light could be smoke.

“Thank you. Time for me to get to my part of the work as well.” Heechul watches as Siwon carefully inspects the list and moves to assign each task. He stretches his arms out wide, a satisfying crack sounding in response, as he rotates his neck and searches his mind for where Alyssa is and what she’s doing. He needs her now more than ever. 

While her training had, of course, been intended to prepare her for bigger and better things, he needed that untapped power she was sitting on to pull this off on such short notice. It felt as though he had more to hide this time, more at stake, when in reality, the only new addition to the club was his little witch. A flush took over his cheeks quickly. He’d not felt the need to protect anyone quite so strongly since he’d made Siwon. “Stupid sex magic. Everything is amplified.”

He tried to sound mad about it, but inside, even if only to himself, he had to admit that he was more amazed at just how much change the ritual had wrought in the first place. He also decided then and there that he would not perform any sex magic with another person, ever.

Definitely not if it turned out like this. He didn’t want this with anyone else.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

No better way to learn, Heechul had insisted, than throwing you in to help with glamouring the back rooms to look like cramped offices and storage space. Everything was tightly coordinated - regimented, even, which was surprising to see in a place usually so loosely and chaotically run. Time constraints would do that, you supposed.

He rattled off instructions and even showed you exactly what you needed to do and say, but your brain was foggy with all the veins of magic flowing through the club. There was an anxiety running through the employees that you couldn’t help but soak up to some extent. “Let’s add empath to the list of things to deal with. That’ll be fun,” you said under your breath, none too pleased with the discovery. Your eyes rolled, but you continued with the task, pride not allowing you to step back and admit defeat.

Maybe even that little voice inside that was happy that Heechul was the one who needed you, for once, instead of the other way around. Just the thought made your ears burn.

Putting up the glamours was the easy part, though. Imbuing them with enough power to stay up for two entire days left you sweating and ravenous. You huffed, taking a second to wipe the sweat off your forehead and sip from the water bottle Mi had brought you hours ago, tossing it on his way past with a small smile and a congenial nod.

When all this work was done, you for sure had to get him to show you that one shade of purple again so you could try to find a matching dye. His hair had only held it for a second earlier.

You were getting distracted again. And you finally noticed that your hands were shaking, too. The strain was getting to you.

“Fucking hell. This shit is for the birds.” Your voice was tired and wavering. Hands on your hips, you stood there admiring the iridescent sheen from the last barrier you put into place. “God damn, I should have eaten first.”

“Such dirty words coming from such a pretty little mouth.” Of course, when you’re a sweaty mess, that’s when Heechul shows up to inspect your work. On his face blooms his signature smirk; after holding your attention on it for a second, he adds, “I like it,” with a ridiculous waggle of his eyebrows.

Damned if it didn’t make you want to kiss him again. You whimpered at the thought and immediately flushed, thinking that while he was still there.

As usual, though, he was gone before you could give the thought any weight.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You were carefully not thinking about the absurdity of taking a coffee break in a... house of pleasure where your magic training is happening, the legitimate front half of the building notwithstanding. Even after all the upheaval, there was something sort of amazing about creatures of all sorts here milling about, living their ordinary lives and being themselves. The comfortable atmosphere in this room left you feeling bold enough to lean back against the counter near where the siren was, the dull gray microwave buzzing on the other side of him. You were protected now, right? And his boyfriend was really friendly with you, so that’s gotta count for something.

"Hey," you said, wiggling your fingers in a sheepish wave. He acknowledged you with a sideways glance, but nothing more. After hours working quietly side by side, following his occasional directions about images and dimensions, that didn’t seem odd anymore. "Look, you can tell me if this is out of line, but I'm really curious about something."

"Hmm?" Ryeowook answered absentmindedly, watching Henry and Donghae play-fighting across the room with a fond half-smile. You may have even heard a faint, tuneless humming; couldn’t be sure, but you felt a little bolder, a little more free either way.

"Does the, uh, backstage work affect you at home?" This was so embarrassing to ask about, but you'd been dying of curiosity and this seemed like your best bet to get some answers. Usually, it was your training regimen that left you too drained to make conversation. To be honest, you were still kinda drained; it was hard to tell whether your thoughts made sense, your brain-to-mouth filter just about gone.

When Ryeowook turned to you, though, his brow was furrowed in confusion. "Why would I do work at home? Heechul’s wards and security are far better than anywhere else, even clubs supposedly owned by the very wealthy,” he pointed out, crossing his arms. “I only do work here."

"No, I mean, um," you blushed as your composure slipped further, not wanting to have to spell it out, "you know, you do-" You waved towards the hallway of back rooms. "You do this for work, so does it, uh, when you're at home, does it get in the way of, wait, no, does that cause any problems for you with," you were definitely red as a tomato now, your entire face aflame, "making love?"

But Ryeowook only blinked twice. "If he wanted to, we could."

"Oh! Oh, sorry, I didn't think- Sorry. I shouldn't have assumed. You probably think I'm a jerk now, huh," you admitted clumsily, pursing your lips. I sound like an idiot! This was such a bad idea.

But he only hummed nonchalantly, turning away once more. "Hmm. Well, you wouldn't be the first to assume, only the first to apologize for it," he said offhandedly, taking a sip from his mug. "But it doesn’t matter to me. I suppose I take after my mother that way," he continued in a wistful voice, a touch of sorrow coloring his features. "Keeping my mate safe and happy is my heart's greatest desire."

"That's so sweet!" You cooed, genuinely touched by the sentiment, only to be met with an icy stare as he whirled around to face you.

"Don't know why I'm telling you all this," Ryeowook said while he pushed off from the counter, his tone acrid and sharp as though the words were meant to cut to the bone, his eyebrows drawing together in anger, startling you when he slammed his mug down on the hard surface. "I don’t care if you’re Heechul’s newest, shiniest project. If that's your power,” one peak of his upper lip curled up towards his nose in contempt, “let's not do this again. I need to get back to work."

"But wait, I didn't-" He'd crossed the short distance to the doorway in three quick strides and left before you could finish your sentence. "-do anything," you finished dejectedly, dropping your raised hand. Not that you knew what you were going to do with it anyway. You muttered under to yourself, “‘Make friends,’ he said. Do this, do that, blah blah blah.” Wait a second. Newest project?

What happened to the others?

“Don’t take it too personally,” a genial voice said next to you, cutting off your train of thought. Guess your muttering was louder than you’d realized. “He takes a while to warm up to most people.”

You turned to- not the butler. Mi. Seriously, still not a butler, you hastily reminded yourself. More of a jack of all trades? Maybe it was better not to call a shapeshifter that, so you went with, “You really think it’ll be okay? I feel like I screwed up pretty bad.”

“Welllll, maybe warm up isn’t the right word. But he’ll probably stop being an ass.”

“Probably?” Despite yourself, you laughed, smiling back at Mi’s toothy grin. He patted your shoulder in a friendly way before saying, “Excuse me, I need some tea,” his hair color and the shape of his arms changing three or four times between the microwave and what you’d come to call caffeine central more towards the back of the room.

Still, after the- intimacy you and Heechul had shared so far, the idea that you were one in a long line of projects, to be set aside whenever he decided he’d had his fun, rubbed you the wrong way.

Which not only lingered through your meal, but grew. And grew. And grew bigger still.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You stomped down the extravagantly decorated hall, footsteps echoing off the marble tiles that probably set him back more than you cared to think about. A red haze settled in your mind as you mulled over the words Ryeowook spat to you. Hands curled into tight fists, you didn’t bother knocking before making entrance into his office. Hopefully, whatever sights awaited you wouldn’t be something you’d regret seeing, because you were way past caring now.

"So I'm your latest project, am I?" You flung the words at Heechul the very second you walked into the room.

"Feisty today, aren't you."

You wanted to slap him. Something. Anything. Instead you settled on a seethed, "What happened to the others?!"

Heechul laughed. "What happened?" He asked condescendingly, moving his upturned palm in a horizontal arc, his eyes following before landing back on you. "Look around you, darling."

"Argh!" You clenched your fists. Eyes rolling as you wanted to tear your hair out.  "Can't you just say what you goddamn mean for once?!"

But Heechul only sighed. "Really, you could stand to learn to read between the lines. Can't always rely on your power, you know." But as you glared, he seemed to relent a bit, his smile turning amused, his eyes a touch fond. "Haven't you noticed? Those who sincerely come to me for aid... I don't take that lightly. Why, I develop them to the fullest of their talents. How else could I build all this?"

Silence enveloped the room as you looked deep into his unwavering sight. Dammit, you sighed under your breath. He was being honest - well, his version of it anyway. Relenting yourself, you breathed out a long exhale. "...That's it?"

"Yes, that's 'it'. It's a mutually beneficial arrangement. My favorite kind," he finished with a smirk, alluding to extremely pleasant memories of the 'arrangement' already between the two of you.

You took a moment to gather what you wanted to say. His aura gave you a reason to pause. Your words needed to be chosen carefully. You gestured your hands between the two of you. “This? Us? Just me scratching your back and you scratching mine, I’ll assume?”

“We both know what assume means, sweetheart. Let’s not do that.” He turned to walk out, but before he made it through the doorway, he called out over his shoulder, “Good job out there. You’re doing better than I expected.”

Might’ve been better that he looked away before you could flip him off. You tried sending it mentally anyway, pleased to faintly hear his distinctive laugh. At that point, you didn’t know if the warmth in your heart that you felt a moment later was his or your own.

He kept getting you all mixed up like that.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Donghae was speaking in hushed tones with Heechul when you rounded the corner. He noticed you coming in and moved to intercept you as the man you wanted made his smooth escape, right back into the office you’d just vacated. Damnit. “Come on, Alyssa, follow me. You need to let off some steam.” Objecting, you pointed towards the doorway where you were trying to go, because Heechul kept escaping conversation like some sort of extremely beautiful eel, but Donghae wrapped his hand firmly around your wrist, steering you in a completely different direction. “Your work is done for now. The boss has some things to tend to. He asked me to help you get some frustration out.”

Before he crossed the threshold to a room new to you, he looked at you, waggling his eyebrows. “I’m more than happy to help, Lys.” He giggled at your huffed response as he pulled you out a side door and a few buildings over into what looked like a gym at a country club, just on a smaller scale. Taking in the sights before you, your brain reeled at the possibilities of what Heechul was going to have you working on now.

“It’s not like I’m not appreciative for a break, but is physical fitness really important to my training? I’m fit enough, but…” Donghae shushed you with a finger to your lips.

Eyebrow raised, he explained. “This isn’t just gym class. Boss asked me to evaluate your skills. See where you are so we’ll know where to start.” You wondered what he was talking about. Surely you wouldn’t be stranded without your powers? He grinned as though he knew exactly what you were thinking. “Come on, just think of it as a bit of stress relief. Let me show you what I want you to be able to do.” He proceeded to throw a few punches, one sequence after another. A minute became more as he got more focused. 

You allowed your eyes to roam his form as he continued his session. The thick, corded muscles from his biceps down his back, his ass just as shapely as his chest was, even to his hips as they tightened and flexed as he danced around the hanging heavy bag. A small sheen of sweat coated his forehead as he threw hit after hit. You even noticed how his tongue was situated between his teeth at the corner of his mouth. It was cute, but then, you took his figure in again in its very nice entirety.

If anything, you were getting more frustrated, though certainly not the way he’d intended.

You weren’t blind. Donghae was fit. That was the simplest way to put it. But the way he moved around the bag gracefully almost had you forgetting he was a supernatural creature. His eyes had a dangerous focus blazing in them, and you shuddered to think of those who would be on the receiving end of an angry version of this barrage. You couldn’t help but find it attractive, mentally thanking Heechul for suggesting this break; truth be told, you didn’t even try to stop your gaze from going wherever it was drawn to. Oh, the things you could imagine...

He stopped at hearing a whine from you, his eyebrow raised high. For a second, you were irrationally terrified that he could read your thoughts too. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were staring, hard.” He looked none too surprised by that - amused, if anything.

Fuck. At least he couldn’t see what I was thinking. You stuttered out some nonsense, words failing you at the fact that he’d caught you drooling over him.

Eyes shut in embarrassment, you didn’t notice him move, which is why you ended up jumping in surprise when you heard his voice in your ear. “This is delicious. Thanks for the free meal.”

“I...” Damn this anxiety. “Hey wait, I didn’t tell you that you could do that!” He rolled his eyes, and, really, you could tell you needed to concentrate so you could get done and leave. For your sanity’s sake. You stepped to the bag and looked at him, wide-eyed and ready for his instruction without any further distractions. Hopefully.

He chuckled. “Let’s see what you got. Give me a few good sequences and we’ll call it a day. And I promise I won’t tell Heechul that you were eyeing me like a piece of meat. Besides, it’s my job to do the ogling around here.” He winked, making you feel a bit weak in the knees.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“As I mentioned, we unfortunately have a highly contagious bout of illness, and thus, those facilities are unavailable for a couple of nights. We can reschedule your appointment if you would just come this way.”

“You’re a goddamned liar! Lemme back there!” Regular though this man may be, at the moment, he seemed to be doing his best to make the saying that hell is other people a reality. Heechul’s temper reached its last frayed thread.

“You, sir, need to calm the hell down. You’re at a fifteen and I need you at, like, a seven,” Heechul snidely commented as the regular patron threw every excuse in the book at him as to why he should be allowed inside even if no one else is there. The growl that rumbled at the back of his throat was deep and raspy, full of rage as the patron tried to push his way from the front waiting room onto the main floor. Heechul called out in a dead language - and suddenly, the snarling long-time customer was frozen on the spot.

The thread snapped.

No longer willing to hold back, Heechul took a deep sigh of relief as he got right in front of the now confused man. “I told you, countless times,” he emphasized as he bared his teeth, “we are closed for the next couple of nights. I can see that you refuse to take my words seriously, not even attempting to cooperate.” His hand glided up to the patron’s face as his nail traced his red, splotchy cheek. “What you fail to realize is just who,” Heechul took that same nail and raked it from the patron’s temple to his lips, leaving a deep, seeping wound behind, “I am.” Taking the customer’s chin in his other hand, he jerks the man’s head in the direction of the floor.

Seconds later, Heechul had drawn a crude symbol on the marble. “You will never step foot in this establishment again. Should you even try, I will know. I will hunt you down and tear you limb from limb. And I will enjoy every single second of it,” he hissed, face contorting in unbridled rage. Then he stood, straightening to his full height as the doors flew open.

As Heechul walked towards the doors, the man who was still immobile was moved to the opening. His body seemed to fly as he let out a terrified scream. 

“I don’t ever want to see you here again.” Heechul turned on his heel to walk away. He tilted his head a few degrees towards the sound when he heard Mi’s firm “Sir”, but didn’t falter in his step, as he had more important things to deal with. His favorite shapeshifter could handle the situation however he saw fit. Trash disposed of, Heechul added the area to be monitored more closely in addition to his typical security alert set, along with making a mental note to check his crew for potential teleporting capability or an ability to learn quickly so he could evaluate offering security training and shifts. There were plenty enough to rotate at the front and connecting doors, but in the back rooms...

That’s where danger turned on a dime.

Breathing slowly, Heechul ran his hand over the back of his neck. Problem after problem continued to appear. If he couldn’t entice some of the other customers to fill in those appointments, cover the disruption, it’d be two months at most before he had to evaluate dipping into the stash. The guilt of it ate at him whenever he couldn’t keep it entirely at bay. The ex-noble’s possessions were Heechul’s by right, but he hated exercising that option; Siwon was loyal, and good at his job, and would never turn down the request.

That it benefitted his safety as well as everyone in his employ was not as comforting as it should have been. Taking from it, even with permission, still felt like stealing. I need a drink.

No time. Back to work.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The static took over your vision as you saw bits and pieces of something happening. Grainy images and darkened tones did not help. Even as your eyes closed, you squeezed them tighter and found you could see through someone else at the moment, someone tall and weighed down by something. Equipment? What could- You could hear a sinister cackle to your right but the current head you were occupying wouldn’t turn so you could see who it was. Though, if your memory served you well enough, it sounded like Claude and he was headed somewhere with a mission.

You studied the surroundings of the overly dressed-up group of men you were envisioning. Sidewalks, street lamps, old brick. “Shit!” You yelled out, gasping for breath as your feet began to move without you willing them to. You couldn’t be bothered to apologize for knocking into the others as you dashed to where Heechul’s magic was emanating strongest.

The doorway to his office was shut with a supernatural energy, but somehow, your inner self anticipated it. Without breaking stride, your palm came up and a small glow emanated from it. Light enveloped the door, causing its edges to hum, opening to you silently but swiftly.

“They’re coming.” Your eyes darted around the room, taking in the sights of Heechul’s closest and most trusted. Gulping, feeling like you couldn’t get enough oxygen, you panted, “It’s happening early. The...” A boom against the barred doors down at the end of the hallway sounded throughout the club. “The raid. Claude got- someone to bump up the time frame.” Heechul was by your side in an instant as the rest of the crew flew out of the room, knowing exactly what they needed to do.

Author’s note: mad props to @thesirenandtheking​. An amazing sounding board, wonderful aesthetic maker when it comes to setting, and SUJU knowledge!!! Couldn’t do this without you.

[wayward-river]

My Bulldog

Reggie x Sweet Pea Sister!Reader 

AN: This is my first attempt at writing for Reggie so I hope y’all like it! All mistakes are my own and I do not own the gif. As always shout out to @xserpentlife for being my beta on this! Enjoy this 3284 Reggie fic!

AN 2: This was requested! My requests are open still so if you have one don’t be shy to send it in! Hope the nonny who requested likes this! 

AN 3 : I am also trying out something new with a separator to make it look better since tumblr doesn’t like my spacing and pretty much deletes it so let me know if y’all want it to continue that way or if you absolutely hate it and its confusing! Just trying out different things. 

Warnings: Violence, Abuse, Talk of past abuse, If that is triggering in any way please do not read. 

You walked out of your last class your eyes searching a smile lighting up your face as you locked eyes with Reggie leaning against your locker.

“I can’t believe you and Mantle of all people.” Sweet Pea scoffed.

You smacked his shoulder

“He’s cute and he didn’t give up I mean he tried for two months.”

Sweet Pea rolled his eyes. “Yeah but remember when he hated us. If I remember right he called you a Serpent -”

“It’s in the past Pea, just drop it and be nice if he shows up to the Wyrm. People can change.” You scolded him as you walked away towards your locker.

“I still don’t get it” Sweet Pea muttered.

“Yeah well she didn’t get the whole Josie thing either” Fangs quipped.

Sweet Pea rolled his eyes. “Yeah well I thought my sister would have learned her lesson through my mistakes.”

“Hey handsome” You smiled standing up on your tiptoes as you pressed a light kiss to his cheek.

“Hi beautiful” Reggie smiled as his hands went to your waist bringing you into him. “Your brother seems to love me extra today.”

You rolled your eyes. “I wish you two could just get along for at least like an hour. I mean you could try at the Wyrm tonight?”

“I don’t know Y/N I don’t think I’m exactly welcome there. Plus I have a game tonight remember? I thought you were coming?”

“I am Reg. I just thought you know after we could meet up with everyone. I really want you to get to know them.” You pleaded.

“I know baby, but I get it. I wasn’t really the best to begin with I mean I’m really lucky to have gotten a chance with you after some of my comments” Reggie looked down at you his grip tighter on your hips.

“Yeah well, I am a forgiving person plus you were raised to hate anyone that wasn’t a northsider, I get it but I’m glad we got past it and I’m glad you changed.”

Reggie chuckled. “Yeah we are a modern day Romeo and Juliet.”

You leaned up pressing your lips against Reggies.

“I’ll see you at the game?” Reggie asked.

“I wouldn’t miss it for anything.” You grabbed Reggies hand as he led you to your bike.

You walked out the doors praying that your brother and Fangs would be gone. To your luck they were standing there messing around.

“Oh boy. Please just don’t take anything he says seriously.”

Reggie hummed, his arm still around you.

Sweet Pea and Fangs looked up to the sound of footsteps nearing them. “Mantle.” Sweet Pea glared.

“Sweet Pea.” Reggie answered. “I was uh just walking Y/N to her bike” Reggie turned to you pressing a kiss to your cheek. “I’ll see you at the game later”

“I wouldn’t miss it.” You smiled as you watched him walk away.

“You are going to a bulldog game? I never thought I’d see the day.” Sweet Pea laughed.

You glared at your brother. “When your boyfriend is the quarterback you go to the games.”

Sweet Pea sighed. “Just be careful okay? You coming to the Wyrm after?”

You shook your head no. “I think I’m going over to Reggie’s after. He doesn’t exactly feel welcome at the Wyrm.”

Sweet Pea put his hands up in surrender. “Hey not my fault.”

You scoffed. “Kind of is. You know the younger ones wouldn’t give him shit if you were just nice.”

“I’m sorry if I’m trying to protect my baby sister from being heart broken.”

“Reggie would never.” You straddled your bike. “I’m going home, I won’t be home until late, so don’t wait up.” You smirked as you started up your bike.

“Gross Y/N/N. I don’t need to know your sex life.” Sweet Pea groaned.

“Yeah well at least you don’t have to hear the girls. “Oh Sweet Pea right there, Oh Sweet Pea you are so good.” and that one weird “I’ve been a bad girl daddy.” Cause that is so much fun to hear that about your older brother.”

Sweet Pea went silent. “Valid point I’ll try to tone down the babes.”

You rolled your eyes. “Yeah...sure.” You flipped him off as you headed home.

You sat in the stands your black serpent jacket clashing against the blue and gold shirts and jackets. Some would make comments at the beginning until they found out you were Reggies girl and began to leave you alone.

You hollered as you watched Reggie throw to Archie running it in tieing up the score.

You watched Reggie run off the field, waiting for the defense to hopefully make a stop so he can get back on the field. You may be Reggie's girlfriend but this was his first love.

You cheered as Reggie ran back on.

Wincing as you watched him get tackled to the ground, laying there not jumping back up like usual.

“REGGIE!” You screamed out jumping up from your seat.

You bit your nails as you sat back down, praying to anyone who would listen.

“Please get up baby, please, please.” You murmured as you held your breath.

The crowd was silent and the next three minutes felt like an eternity as you watched Archie help Reggie up as he walked it off giving a thumbs up to the crowd as they cheered.

You released the breath you were holding, but your mind still wandered to him being hurt.

“Please don’t go back on the field Reg. Stay on the sidelines.” You muttered to yourself, sighing when you saw him running back on.

The first play throwing an interception allowing the other team to run it in taking the lead.

You watched the clock run out, your shoulders slumping. Reggie was always down after a loss, and tonight he was going to end up blaming himself.

You waited in the parking lot by Reggie’s truck waiting to see him, to see with your own eyes that he was okay. Finally you saw him walk out with Archie your eyes scanning him. You could tell he was leaning more on his left side, favoring his right and that was what made your mind up. You sprinted towards him.

Archie patted Reggie’s you watched his face contorted with pain, before he walked towards you.

Reggie gave you a smile. “Hey beautiful”

Your face didn’t change from the worry that had been plastered on since you watched Reggie hit the ground.

“Baby, I’m okay.” Reggie began.

You scoffed. “I saw that hit Reg. I saw you unable to get up, and I saw you favor your right on your way to me, don’t bullshit a bullshitter Reggie Mantle. I get that enough from Pea.”

Reggie got closer to you pulling you into his chest. “I’m sorry baby, I’m a little sore...but we can go to my place and you can play nurse if you really want to make sure I’m okay.”

You nodded against his chest.

“Lets go, I’m driving though no need for you to injure yourself more.” You scolded.

You pulled up to the Mantle residence. “You sure your parents aren’t home? I mean I can walk to the trailer…I know they aren’t southsides biggest fans”

“Y/N I told you before I don’t care if they see me with you but no they are not home”

“I know you want to tell them but I can’t put you in that position.”

Reggie reached out his hand on your thigh. “I wish you would let me. I could take it. I just want to be able to show you off, bring you around for holidays, just I don’t get it Y/N/N.”

You placed your hand on his. “I mean you see how Pea acts, your parents will probably be a million times worse. Sweet Pea can get over his differences especially after dating Josie, but I don’t know about yours Reg and I can’t put you in harms way or you choosing me over family, and I can’t lose you.”

Reggie nodded squeezing your leg. “Alright baby, let’s go inside.”

You handed the keys over to Reggie, as you followed him inside. “Alright, I’ll grab some ice packs and you head up to my room okay?”

You nodded climbing up the stairs and heading into his room. You looked around before heading into his bathroom grabbing some of his wraps you had bought him after the first football injury you had witnessed.

“Babe?” Reggie called out as he walked into his room.

You walked out of the bathroom holding up the wrap. “Just grabbing some things….can you take your shirt off”

Reggie wiggled his eyebrows at you. “Don’t have to tell me twice to get out of my clothes.”

You let out a laugh as you watched Reggie set the ice packs down and pulling off his shirt.

“Okay Reg, sit on the bed. Let’s look at you.” Your eyes took in the dark purple forming on his ribs and the ones that littered his back. You gently traced the one on his ribs. “I wish you didn’t put yourself in harms way.” You mumbled.

“Oh what like I ask you not to, I guess we're both a little stubborn huh”

You grabbed the ice pack and gently placing it onto him.

Reggie let out a pained hiss. You grabbed the wrap. “Okay I have to do this tightly otherwise that bruise is only going to get uglier.” You informed him.

He gave a nod. You paused before you started. “Talk to me, it will take your mind off of the pain.”

Reggie chuckled. “How’d you get so good at this?”

“Well Sweet Pea has been apart of the Serpents now for since, well I was eight and a half, and he was ten. He came home from a job pretty beat up and I decided to learn how to take care of him. So I grabbed as many books as I could from the library and taught myself. I’m now the go to person for patching people up for the Serpents. I can’t tell you how much trouble Fangs and Pea have gotten into.” You slightly laughed. “Okay babe, I have to pull tight.” You informed him.

“Okay, do it.”

You pulled the wrap tightly tying the ends together so it would stay. Reggie hissed again but you were done. You stepped away picking up his shirt and handing it to him. Reggie threw it back onto the floor before grabbing you pulling you in between his legs.

“Cuddle with me?” He asked as his hands travelled up and down your sides.

You gave a nod going to move next to Reggie before he stilled as the sound of a door slamming travelled throughout the house.

Reggie got up his hands now gripping your waist tightly. “Get in the closet.”

You folded your arms across your chest. “I can protect myself Reggie. I am not hiding in a closet.”

“Baby I know you can protect yourself but right now I need you to get in the closet for me.” Your arms stayed folded as you glared. Reggies eyes darting between you and the door.

“I don’t have time for your stubborn ass and I know you are going to yell at me for this but fuck it” Reggie rushed out before his grip turned into picking you up and putting you over his shoulder. He sucked in a breath as he opened the closet door.

“Stay here. Please.” He pleaded in a tone you never heard before as he sat you in the closet and pushed the door closed, not realizing he left it open slightly.

You crouched down in his closet furious that he wouldn’t let you help him but breathing as soft as you could, your eyes closed as you heard the shouting begin to get closer and closer to Reggie’s room. Shouting was never good for you as it always took you back to the trailer. You remember your parents shouting and even Sweet Pea shouting at your mother as she walked out on the two of you after a year of your father being gone. Another face lost to the war. Sweet Pea always wore the dog tags but you would steal them from time to time. You could make out Reggie and his father through the crack that was left open.

“I went to your game Reginald” Reggies father explained.

Reggie stilled.

“Want to explain what a serpent girl is doing there cheering and worrying about you when you take a hit?”

“Dad I can expl-” Reggie began.

Reggies father held his hand up. “No need to. You got involved with a Serpent Slut, I get it temptations and all that but it needs to end and it needs to end now.”

Reggie was furious. “SHE IS NOT A SERPENT SLUT. I LOVE HER. I will not be ending anything with her. I don’t care if you like it or not.”

You tensed in the closet as the yelling got more aggressive sucking in a breath at Reggies confession. You heard a commotion and a grunt come from Reggie. You knew what happened and it killed you inside.

“You will Reginald. Don’t test me.”

You heard the door slam shut. You gave a few minutes before you pushed the closet door open. Your eyes landing on Reggie sitting on his bed. His head down.

“Reg.” You whispered out rushing to him. “I can’t believe you just told your dad about me, tell me you are okay please.”

Reggie looked up at you. Your eyes shut a few tears slipping out. You felt Reggies hands wipe them away. “I’m fine.”

You scoffed. “Your dad just hit you Reg. You are not fine.”

“It’s not the first time. I’ll heal.” Reggie said softly.

Your eyes snapped to his. The unshed tears still in your y/e/c eyes.

“What do you mean Reggie Mantle.”

“I’m fine Y/N just don’t worry about me.”

“Let me help you Reg. Please.”

Reggie shook his head no.

“Why don’t you protect yourself? Hit him back.” You whispered.

“It wouldn’t be right. I can’t do that. It would kill my mom” He answered honestly.

You nodded. “I get it. Can you let me help you please? Come stay with me for a few days.”

Reggie was silent.

“Please Reggie.” You pleaded.

“What about Sweet Pea?”

“I don’t give a fuck what he thinks. It’s my trailer too.” You responded quickly.

Reggie gave a small nod.

“Okay but we go through the window.”

“Wouldn’t be my first time” You sassed bringing a smirk to Reggies face. You smiled seeing him coming back into himself a bit.

You walked into the trailer first, Reggie following you in. Hoping Sweet Pea was still at the Wyrm.

“What the fuck is he doing here?” Sweet Pea’s voice boomed from the kitchen.

You jumped tensing. Yelling at Reggies was one thing, but yelling in the trailer always put you on edge.

“I’m helping him” You replied trying to make your voice as steady as possible.

“What would a northsider need help with? Too much money problems? I don’t like him here Y/N”

You took a deep breath.

“I’m helping him with the same shit I went through Sweet Pea.” Your voice was laced with hurt.

Sweet Pea stilled. Reggies eyes went wide as they darted to you quickly.

“So if you could stop yelling that would be fucking great.” You glared at your older brother.

Sweet Peas shoulders dropped. He had tried to protect you but it only made things worse for you, before your mom walked out.

“Y/N/N, I-I’m sorry, I didn’t know, I just-” Sweet Pea started.

“I didn’t either, but he is staying with me whether you like it or not Pea.”

Sweet Pea nodded as he watched you take Reggies hand leading him to your bedroom.

Reggie walked in first and you followed shutting the door and leaning against it. Reggie took in your room. Your walls littered with pictures of you and Sweet Pea as well as Jughead, Toni and Fangs. A framed picture of the two of you sat on your nightstand with a heart drawn into the white frame, my bulldog, my heart scrawled out in your handwriting.

Reggie turned to you. Your eyes closed. “Y/N, why did you never tell me?”

You opened your eyes using the back of your hand to wipe the tears. “I don’t know it happened a long time ago and well you didn’t exactly tell me either Reg.”

Reggie nodded. Getting on your bed leaning up against the wall as he patted the side next to him.

You sniffled as you walked over laying down next to him your head laying on his chest.

You sniffled quietly before you spoke. “Just please don’t go back. Stay here with me. You’ll be protected, you don’t even have to be a serpent. A serpents person is protected, even Sweet Pea would protect you feelings set aside, a-and you are my person Reggie. I- well, I love you too.”

Reggie brought his arm around you pulling you to him tightly.

“I wanted to tell you in a more romantic way” He confessed placing a kiss on the top of your head.

Your arm moved placing it across him as gently as you could. “We will have to replace that ice pack soon.” You mumbled into his chest.

“Y/N, I’m serious I had it all planned out for our date next week, and I’m sorry, so fucking sorry that I ever called you that, and I will hurt anyone that even dares to utter those words to you and to any serpent.”

You smiled against his chest. “I forgave you a long time ago for that Reg. It’s okay really, and I know it’s not how you wanted to tell me but it’s okay really Reggie.”

Reggie lifted your chin so you were looking into each others eyes. “I love you so fucking much”

You smiled as Reggie leaned down capturing your lips with his. You stayed like that eventually drifting off to sleep in Reggies arms.

Reggies POV

A soft knock came from Y/N’s door. “Come in.” I tried to speak as softly as I could.

I looked up locking eyes with Sweet Pea. He looked from Y/N to me.

“I-I uh I’m sorry for being such a dick lately. She’s just my little sister and I haven’t always been able to protect her but I’ll be damned if I don’t try.”

I nodded.

“Just don’t hurt her Mantle, and stay here as long as you need. I won’t give you any shit.” Sweet Pea rubbed the back of his neck. “And maybe join us at the Wyrm sometime? I know Fangs and Toni have missed that little shit.”

I looked down at Y/N sleeping in my arms. “I don’t plan on ever hurting her or letting her go, she’s the best thing to happen to me. I love your sister Sweet Pea and I’ll do everything in my power to protect her too, and yeah she’s been begging me to go I just didn’t want to step on your toes man.”

Sweet Pea nodded. “Well you are family now so you are welcome even if I was to not like it. I’ve been a real asshole so yeah I’ll let you two be.”

I nodded as Sweet Pea as he shut the door. Placing a kiss on the top of Y/N’s head again before drifting off to sleep myself.

[writing-in-riverdale]

twin andrews part 5 | jughead x reader

part one:https://writing-in-riverdale.tumblr.com/post/158708863703/twin-andrews-juggie-x-reader-an-im-hoping

part two:https://writing-in-riverdale.tumblr.com/post/158896154168/twin-andrews-part-2-jughead-x-reader

part three:https://writing-in-riverdale.tumblr.com/post/158929430293/twin-andrews-part-three-jughead-x-reader

part four:https://writing-in-riverdale.tumblr.com/post/159002098033/twin-andrews-part-4-jughead-x-reader

part 6: https://writing-in-riverdale.tumblr.com/post/159528549924/twin-andrews-part-6-jughead-x-reader

a/n: i can’t believe you all want part 5!!!!! I’m so stoked that i have such a loving following and i just want to thank you guys for everything. this ones for my day one nuggets! 

i wonder aimlessly through the school looking for my friends when i hear a familiar voice call my name.

“(y/n)?!” i turn and look int what used to be the blue and gold office  “B?” i question stepping into the dusty room “whats with the drop sheets?”i ask grabbing one of the sheets and pulling it back to reveal a few computers.

“what are you doing in here? I’m pretty sure we can die from smoke inhalation-” i complain coughing, “that doesn’t really make sense-” i roll my eyes at the girl.

“okay anyway i was thinking about starting up the blue and gold, it kinda died after you left-” i walk around the room the feeling of familiarity washing over me.

Betty and I used to run the blue and gold with a few others in freshman year, she reported i photographed and occasionally wrote but we had a few other kids that often did the writing portion of the work load.

“B id love to but I’m writing is extremely rusty, i think we need someone who’s confident in their writing, I’m happy to take pictures like last time” she jumps up and hugs me.

“thank you!” she squeals and i roll my eyes “okay well this place needs some seriously work” she nods “and the writer-?”

and was if on cue theres a beanie wearing brunette leaning against the door frame “andrews” he greets looking over to betty “betts” 

“jones” i stand crossing my arms over my chest as i lean against the desk behind me “so is this our writer?” i ask my blonde friend.

“juggie!” betty pulls him into the room, he widens his eyes before walking and sitting next to me our arms brushing against one and another.

“whats up?” i loose focus of the conversation glancing down at our almost touching hands.

he nudges my arm and i shoot up my attention being brought back, “huh?”

the both laugh and i feel embarrassment wash over me “jugs agreed to help us!” she cheers her blonde pony tail swishing.

the bell rings and i grab my bag off the floor, “I’ve got chem, ill see you later?” she nods and i leave the pair not long after jughead comes rushing out touching my shoulder to grab my attention.

“mmh” i murmur turning to the brunette boy “you okay?” i ask weaving my way through the mass.

“yeah i just thought we could walk together, yano since we have chem together-” i nod “its fine, you don’t need an excuse to walk with me jug” i chuckle.

“oh miss andrews” i roll my eyes at the sound, jughead turns around but i grab his arm “don’t even bother glancing at him” i tell the boy as he nods in confusion.

and soon enough the raven haired boy is bouncing in front of me “miss me?” he smirks and i groan “reg your going to make us all late” i complain seeing the class within our reach our teacher already standing inside.

“move reggie!” i complain, i turn to the boy next to me “jug just go ill catch up with you-” he shakes his head “I’m not leaving you alone with him” he glares at the taller boy.

“is that so jones? you yano this is my river vixen, how about you get your own? maybe like betty cooper. maybe she’s freaky in bed like her sister” i can see the anger burning up in his eyes.

“jeez can i just not be such an asshole for once” i grab jugheads hand and push through reggie and head for the classroom door letting jughead walk in first then i follow after him but not before reggie slides in behind me.

his hands find there way down to my skirt giving my ass a squeeze lifting the fabric up slightly

i turn and slap the boy hard across the face “don’t touch me reggie i mean it” i warn stepping close to him poking his chest.

i feel a warm hand on my shoulder pulling me away from the raven headed boy “leave it his just being a blow head” i turn and smile softly to the blonde “tell me bout it”

i glance to see jughead glaring at the boy anger coursing through him, reggie smirks at the beanie clad boy walking past our shared desk

“what’s up Wednesday Addams? you jealous? i get to touch her sweet ass and you don’t?” he chuckles and i catch jugheads shoulder pushing him back down in his chair.

“not. worth. it.” i day through gritted teeth plastering a smile on my face as the raven haired boy smirks walking past and settling in the desk behind us

i can see the anger boiling up inside the boy and i chew on the end of my pen before nudging him with my elbow “he’s just trying to get to you jug just forget it”

“yeah well it’s working” he replies annoyed trying his hardest to focus on his work and not reggie’s constant snickers and the replay of him griping your ass

a mixture of jealous and disgust swirling around in his stomach but feels your warm hand slide over top of his giving it a small squeeze as you pay attention to the front of the class.

“sorry” he mumbles removing his hand from mine and clearing his throat, i swallow feeling a little embarrassed that he pulled away from my touch “don’t worry about it”

✿

the bell rings and i rush out like im on fire, spotting my three friends over by the lockers. i speed walk over rushing over to Kevin giving him a half hug

he chuckles and throws an arm around me “you okay?” he asks and i sigh “just a crap day thats all- what’s that?” he glances down at his phone and i gasp

“oh my god” we say in unison glancing to our new raven haired friend “what?” she closes the locker and gives us a puzzled look. kevin glances at betty before handing his phone over to veronica

allowing her to look at the picture that chuck had uploaded of the two after their date last night, except chuck had got a little carried away with photoshop and added a riverdale ‘sticky maple’ to her face

“what the hell is a sticky maple?!” kevin shrugs nervous “it’s kinda what it sounds like it’s a riverdale thing” he tries to explain and she shakes her head “no it’s a slur shaming thing”

“and im neither a slut nor am i going to be shamed by someone named excuse me chuck clayton”

people take their times to stop in the hall snickering at our new raven haired friend their phones buzzing in their hands as they whisper and point

“move along” i yell annoyed at the crowd that scramble at the sound rushing to get away from us

“does he really think he can get away with this?!” she rambles furious “does he not know who I am?!”

she glances between the three of us “i will cut the breaks in his supped up phallic symbol!”

betty interjects “or we could go to principle weatherbee!”

veronica snaps back “about the coaches son?! who’s captain of the football team and riverdale highs resident golden boy?!”

“and or we-” she pauses nudging me “can expose him in the pages of the blue and gold!! yeah i can do that! she nods frantically placing her hand on kevins shoulder

“spoken like a true good girl who always follows the rules”

i finally speak up “she’s right-” anger bubbles up inside of me “no way-he can’t- not again”

veronica nods at me before shoving Kevin’s phone back into his chest “well i don’t follow rules!”

i agree turning and storming off in the direction of the boyslocker room

it’s not long till veronica is at my side along with betty trailing along “i make them” she seethes “and when necessary i break them”

she turns to the blonde struggling to keep up with the pair of us “you want to help us get revenge on chuck Betty? that’s awesome! but you better be ready to go full dark no stars”

we almost reach the boys locker room and veronica pause turning to face the worried blonde “so what do you say betts in or out”

“im totally in” i leave the two girls not waiting to listen to Betty’s response. we pass jughead who looks worried at my anger he calls my name but i ignore him approaching the doors to the boys locker room

i push through the doors first glancing around to try and spot the culprit but the sea of half naked boys itnwas proving difficult “damn it” i mutter

veronica takes the lead grabbing Betty’s hand and she uses the other to shield her face rushing into the crowd and bumping into the one and only archie andrews

“ronnie, betty, (y/n)? what are you guys doing in here” he quickly rewraps his towel around his torso not wanting to expose himself to the three girls.

“don’t worry about it” ronnie tells my brother attempting to move past him, “no-” he starts blocking our path

“i mean it andrews hit the showers and get out of my way” she shoves past my brother and makes her way deeper into the change rooms

my brother reaches for my shoulder “arch don’t” i move past him and see that veronica and betty have encountered chuck

“b and v- ladies” he licks his lips still wet from the showers, his towel hanging low from his hips his body on full show

veronica steps forward extending her phone toward chuck “this is disgusting, take it down” the boys chuckle

“oh woho why you so wound up? it’s a badge of honour- and well your not exactly virgin territory after your closet date with andrews”

i get ready to interject but betty beats me to it

“okay that’s beyond irrelevant chuck” she pauses “your not allowed to go around humiliating girls for any reason under any circumstances! you-you-jerk!”

her smirks at the blonde addressing her"look i get your not a closet kinda girl but hey, if you want to ride the chuck wagon that can be arranged”

the locker room erupts in snickers the boys rielling each other up

veronica’s quick to defend her best friend “let’s keep this simple so your preppy half murder brain can grasp it

she walks closer to him narrowing the gap between them “take this. the hell. down”

he glances to his boys before leaning down to Veronica’s eye line “see that high, bitch tone attitude might have worked on the betas you dated in new york but-” he pauses “your in bull dog territory now”

the boys back him up by snarling and barking like dogs, how darling of them

“but please fight back” she smirks giddy “your only making it harder for yourself”

betty grabs the raven haired girl but he shoulder and guides her out of the crowed locker room, clearly furious and somewhat embarrassed

as the girls moved im revealed to the jock “oh! is that miss andrews?!” he yells allowing all the boys to turn and gather around me

“you disgust me” i seethe digging my nails into my palms so o don’t lash out at the boy.

“what did you think that you were my last?” he chuckles and i instantly feel sick at the memory “don’t flatter yourself” he smirks

“take it down chuck, now” he rolls his eyes at my persistence “everyone’s already seen it now” he attempts to sass me.

“so you wouldn’t have any problem with deleting it then right?” a bunch of ‘ooohs’ floated around the room making chuck angry

he slams his fist against the locker beside me “did you forget where you are andrews?” the boys start barking again and i roll my eyes at their childishness

“you may be a bulldog chuck but just remember im a vixen and ill bring you down when you least expect it”

i go to punch him and he flinches then continue to try and play it off “well well well, if it isn’t the better half of the andrews” i turn and move past the raven haired jock

“not in the mood reg” i make my way out of the locker room and into the hall when i spot my two friends im presuming making a game plan

“hey wait-” i turn and sigh frustrated “god reggie what now?!” i respond my voice grower louder

he lifts he’s hands up in surrender “is everything okay?” he swallows glancing at me, i hesitate before shaking my head “no but it will be soon enough-” he nods placing a hand on my shoulder

“would you maybe want to come with me to pops tonight? talk about whatever the hell happened in there?” i glance over to my friends then back to reggie

“reggie-” he cuts me off “please (y/n) we haven’t spoken since you moved? i promise it’s just a milkshake and a bite to eat nothing more” i roll my eyes fine 8"

i move away and head over frantically to my friends “ronnie you okay?” she nods offering a small smile

“he took it down- chuck. i made him take it down” she looks up at me and hugs me tight “thank you” i squeeze her back rubbing her back soothingly “its okay” i whisper back

✖

“dad?” i call out closing the front door as i trudge through the house looking for my father.

the sound of drills coming from our backyard was enough to get me curious “dad?” i ask walking out the door and down into our backyard

the shed door was open, my father inside sound proofing our garage. the noise stops as my dad notices my presence “hey kiddo” i smile up at my dad

“what’s all this?”

“just fixing up the shed for your brother, he need somewhere to practice”

i furrow my brows “archies into music? when did that happen?” i chuckle flopping down on one of the couches

“over the summer, there’s a new teacher at the school- miss grundy, she’s been helping archie alot with it” i nod taking in all the new information

“archie never told me about her” i say confused “oh im sure he would’ve wanted to- he probably forget to mention it at some point”

i sit for a few trying to figure out why archie hadn’t told me about his new venture and his closeness to our music teacher

i stand up brushing off my jeans “im going to go to pops” my dad nods “oh pop actually run, wanted to know if you wanted your old job back?”

i widen my eyes surprised “really?!” he nods “you should go see him” i nod giving him a kiss on the cheek before rushing off to the diner

the bell chimes as the door to pops swings open, the older man smiles at me as i walk over the threshold “hey pop!”

“miss andrews just the lady i wanted to see” i smile leaving against the front counter “dad told me the news, id love to come back if you’d like me back” i smile at the man

i worked at pops for about 4 months before i moved, i waitressed and every so often i was allowed into the kitchen to make a few off the menu items

he bends down behind the counter and places my old uniform on the bench in front of me, a cheer to myself running me finger over my badge “thank you!!” i squeal giving him a small hug

“when do you want me to start?” he glances around the semi busy diner “how about now, im expecting hermione to come in soon so you two can keep it down till dinner rush right?” i nod

i grab my uniform and head toward the restroom pausing and turning first “wait who’s hermonie?” he chuckles “it’s fine never mind” i push open the door and change from my school clothes to uniform

when i return to the front desk pop has disappeared and is replaced by a beautiful raven haired older lady, i plaster on a smile and walk toward her

“you must be hermione?” the lady looks up smiling softly at me and dismissing whatever she was doing to walk over to me

“thats me, may i ask who you are?” i mentally face palm “(y/n), andrews- i worked her last year- pop just gave me my job back” she nods

“so your Fred’s daughter?” she questions and i nod “guilty” she giggles at me placing a hand on my shoulder “you look just like your mother- you know your father and i dated in high school”

my jaw drops “no way!! my dad with a woman like you- jeezz i didn’t know he had that much game” the lodge woman smiled at me giving me a nudge on my hip

“your father was devilishly handsome in high school-” i squeeze my eyes shut “oh god- ew” we both share a laugh before I turn and scan the diner spotting a familiar beanie in one of our booths

“friend of yours?” i smile at the thought “yeah something like that- ill be back” i walk over from my fellow co-worker and toward jughead sliding into the booth

“oh im good for a refill- oh (y/n) hey” i smile at the brunette “hey juggie” i play with the ends of my hair as he examines me “cute dress”

i blush and scuff my converse against the diner floor brushing jugheads leg by accident causing me to blush further “its a look isn’t it” i tease and he nods laughing as he continues to type

“i didn’t know you got your job back” he questions eyes moving from me then back to his laptop

“i only just got it back, he called dad and said he’d consider having me back- it’ll be good anyways to get that extra bit of money” he nods silence filling the booth

“can i get you anything? another milkshake?” he closes his laptop and stares into my eyes before dropping to my lips.

i feel something twitch in my stomach that causing me to bite my lip “juggie?” he snapped out of his gaze “hm what?”

i laugh moving myself from my side of the booth to his “do you want me to get you anything?” i say glancing at the empty fries bowls and milkshake glasses.

i knew when he wrote he always ordered a burger and fries to keep him going, sometimes he’d be too wrapped up to even touch the food placed infront of him

he swallows at our closeness eyes darting all over the place “i need to tell you something” he’s arms extends over the back of the booth

“your starting to worry me, what is it? is it important i do have tables to wait” he looks down at my hands placed on his thighs “it’s about your brother, he’s in trouble"

TAG LIST AS PROMISED: @smadrat @natalieroseg @isak-lovelies @lena-lightwood @xbobaaa @savygabby @shadowycomputerrecluse