#ricky starks x ofc

[elitehunter]

Ricky Starks: You can't always get what you want (But if you try sometimes you just might find, you get what you need) - Prologue

Pairing: Ricky Starks x OFC

Summary: March 23, 2022 was supposed to be a great day for Ricky Starks. He ran into his "one-that-got-away" and was filled with hope. His best friend was coming to see him defend his FTW title live in Cedar Park against Swerve Strickland. But after missing his chance to win back the woman he used to love and failing to defend his title he doesn't think anything can get worse…until he wakes up and finds that it's Wednesday morning again. Yes, this is a time loop fic.

Rating: M (later chapters) Word Count: 3,901 Warnings: sexual content (later chapters), language, alcohol consumption, men. Notes: So I started writing this story back in March of 2022, but if you know me, you know I lulls with writer's block and motivation. Since AEW is rolling back into New Orleans tonight and I do deeply miss Team Taz from this time, I thought I would get the prologue posted.

I've written 7 of 10 planned chapters, I'm going to try to update at least once a week.

Feedback is always appreciated.

Read on AO3

(prologue | ch. 1)

[lancearcherinrippedjeans]

Eternity - Chapter 9

*************

Is has been ALMOST A YEAR. WOW. So many of you have been waiting, here it is.

*************

Starring - Sawyer Holden, Veronica Rodriguez, Nova Jay, Kenny Omega, Adam Page, WARHORSE, The Young Bucks and many small appearances

Word Count - 6,076

Category - Angst, violence, small comedy bits, but this is a very "dark" chapter

Chapter 9/?

Summary - Full Gear has arrived. How will this rivalry end between Sawyer and Veronica? Their lives are about to change forever.

Warnings/Comments - There's so much violence and anger and NEGATIVITY in this chapter guys. Follow @adriii-omega

*************

ALLELITEWRESTLING- 

BREAKING NEWS : The finals to see who will be the new number one contender for Hikaru Shida’s women championship will now be decided in a Barbed Wire Death Match! The matchup of Sawyer Holden and Veronica Rodriguez will now be the MAIN EVENT of Full Gear this Sunday! 

Warhorse had been lifting in a gym near his home. Music blasting through his headphones, his mind was only on this last rep. The music quieted, meaning a notification had popped up. He sighed, before bending over to pick up his phone. His eyes largened, “Oh no… no. No!” He rolled his eyes, as he already saw tweets from the other AEW wrestlers picking sides. “I got to do something. They’re gonna to fucking get hurt!” He yelled in the gym, which he thanked God was pretty much empty. 

He clicked on Sawyer’s contact name and typed out a text- “I’m calling you in 30 minutes.” Warhorse saw she read it, and shut the phone off before he could see her response. He was determined to wonder what was going on through his friend’s heads, knowing that neither of them were thinking straight.

Sawyer responded to the text, before throwing her phone back down. She got back to her spot on the mat, near Lance Archer. She shouldn’t have any distractions, especially not the night before this huge match. She kept her eyes on the red spots tapped down on the punching bag. She kept going faster and even harder as Lance Archer shouted things at her, keeping the punching bag in place.

They had been training her for this match since the night after the brawl that she claims Veronica started. 

“Left! Right! Stomach!” Archer watched as Sawyer was definitely hitting the targets, but holding back on her strength. He pulled the punching bag away to where she couldn’t reach. 

“What the hell, Lance?” Lance put his hands on Sawyer’s shoulders, “Sawyer, you’re supposed to be my baby murderhawk. And you won’t murder shit if you don’t get your head in the game.” 

Sawyer opened her mouth to protest before he interrupted, “Close your eyes. I want you to think about the match.” Sawyer huffed, closing her eyes and crossing her arms.

“Now imagine, there’s exploding barbed wire all around you. There’s kendo sticks broken everywhere, thumbtacks all over the ground. And you and Veronica are standing face to face, you’re so close to winning that championship,” Sawyer visibly felt angrier, the thought of Veronica winning consuming her, when Lance slapped Sawyer one good time across the face, “And she once again slaps the taste out your mouth.”

Sawyer opens her mouth to yell at Lance before she realizes how angry Veronica made her, stooping that low, like they weren’t even equal anymore. Sawyer opened her eyes, throwing the boxing gloves off and turning back to the punching bag.

Lance held the bag in place as Sawyer delivered punches, this time not holding back. All Sawyer could see was Veronica’s sinister smirk, wanting to beat it off her face. Sawyer’s knuckles started to throb, ignoring it continuing to attack the bag.

The thought of Veronica standing tall at the end of the match made her lose it, causing the punching bag to rip open, sand falling everywhere. Sawyer didn’t even look surprised. She didn’t know how hard Veronica was training right now, but tomorrow, nothing would matter.

Sawyer didn’t want the championship opportunity. She wanted to humiliate Veronica, teach her a lesson. Hell, Sawyer wanted to end her best friend.

*************

 “To the soon to be champions of All Elite Wrestling!” Brandon Cutler raised his drink in one hand, while holding his camera in the other. “Introducing your soon to be tag team champions… The Young Bucks!” Matt and Nick did their signature pose, making Veronica roll her eyes with a chuckle. 

“Ooo me next!” Kenny rested his hand on Veronica’s waist, and with his free arm, flexed his bicep through his shirt. “Fine.” Brandon huffed. “The man who not only will win tomorrow, but go on to defeat Jon Moxley… the Cleaner… Kenny Omega!” The group applauded, as he made a couple faces at the camera.

“Introduce my girl,” he pointed at Veronica, making her grin. “How could we forget,” Cutler said, putting her in the frame, “The lovely, Veronica!”

Matt whistled, “Sawyer or Shida don’t stand a chance.” He smugged, while Nick draped his arm around her shoulder.

“You damn right they don’t!” Cutler screamed from the other side. She looked around in bliss, spacing out as the group joked around a bit. 

Nick nudged her, “You alright? You sort of zoned out on us.” The group turned their heads looking at her, “Yea. Everything is perfect. Just thinking how good we’re all gonna look with the gold tomorrow.” She raised her glass in the air, causing the rest to clink their root bears. 

Veronica stifled a yawn, and sipped on her drink slowly. She squeezed Kenny’s hand making him turn his attention to her, “I’m glad you’re here.” He whispered. She gave him a toothy grin as her heart began to flutter, “I am too. Tomorrow is our night.” He kissed the inside of her palm before setting it in his lap, and continuing his conversation with Nick about a recent video game he started playing. She only heard bits, as the only thing on her mind was not wanting to let down the people around her.

*************

Sawyer sat her phone up on her bathroom sink, just finishing her shower. Warhorse stared at her in silence, before speaking up, “I should be there.”

“Jake-“

“No! It’s true, I felt like I could have prevented this…COME ON A DEATH MATCH?! Whose brilliant idea was that?”

“Try Kenny Omega. You think I would trust myself with that idea?” Sawyer said, finishing drying her hair. He held his hands in defense, “I’m just saying Sawyer, Veronica has won more of these matches. I just don’t want you guys to actually hurt each other out there.”

“Jake, she’s hurt me more times I could count… but when she went against the script to embarrass me on national television, that’s when I knew she was putting that mop head, a championship, and this company over our friendship... I’ve accepted that I’m not getting my best friend back. And if that’s the case, I want her to be terrified of me.”

“Sawyer you don’t mean that,” Warhorse tried to reason with her, “It’s the heat of the moment. When you win and you’re celebrating, all you’re gonna want is Veronica there with you.”

“You can fly in, right? That’ll be enough.” Sawyer tried to say sarcastically, but Jake wasn’t amused. “I mean it, Sawyer. Be a good sport about it. Even if she won’t. Things may never be the same but that doesn’t mean to make the situation worse.”

Sawyer huffed, “Alright MOM. I’ll be a good sport. I guess you got a point.”

Warhorse smiled, “I know I do. Now! Get some rest, partying is the exact opposite of what you should be doing right now.” Sawyer groaned picking up the phone, “I will…but I would like to note that you said “WHEN” I win.” She cheekily grinned, making him groan.

“Oh my god! Goodnight Sawyer! I Love you.”

“Goodnight, Jake. Love you too.” Sawyer hung up, putting her phone on her nightstand. 

*************

Sawyer set her stuff in her locker room. Sighing to herself. So many interviewers, makeup artists, and stage hands came up to her in the fifteen minutes it took to find her door. She looked in the mirror, questioning herself, “Is this all worth it? For revenge? To prove I’m not below her?”

Looking in the mirror, she began to wonder who she had become. The old Sawyer never let her anger get the best of her, but now, she couldn’t even recognize who the new Sawyer was.  Her negative thoughts were interrupted by a loud knock, and before she could even answer, John Silver and Alex Reynolds walked in.

“There she is! The next number one contender!” Alex said, pulling Sawyer in for a hug. Sawyer clenched her teeth, trying to look as unannoyed as possible. “Hey you two! Silver, are you ready for your match?”

Silver put on a cocky smile, “Oh, you already know. Orange will never know what hit him, he’ll be like,” he cleared his throat, putting on a raspy and lazy voice, “Oh my god I can’t believe Silver beat me, I guess I should’ve gotten my hands out of my pockets.”

Alex laughed at Silver’s impression, while Sawyer cringed. Alex and John quickly noticed Sawyer wasn’t laughing, as they awkwardly quieted down. 

Alex put his hand on Sawyer’s shoulder, “Are you okay? You seem…off.” Sawyer shook her head, “I’m great. Just the fact that my best friend has put me through living hell and tonight I’m finally giving her a taste of her own medicine.”

John cheered, receiving a glare from Alex. John mumbled sorry before Sawyer continued, “I mean, this could’ve all been avoided. If she just didn’t slap me on national television. Like what the hell?”

The two men looked at each other then back at Sawyer, nervous looks forming on their faces. “Yeah…about that.” Alex said, scratching the back of his head, shuffling away from Sawyer. She arched her brow, when Silver blurted out, “We were trying to help you out, but we ended up pissing her off…” John cringed, “And we’re the reason she kinda slapped you.”

Sawyer sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose, “So my life is being risked in a Barbed Wire DEATHMATCH, because you wanted to make her cry?” 

“It was mainly John! He even called her a hoe!” Alex said, pointing at his tag partner. “Alex what the fuck!”

“JUST…get out. Please… before I kill both of you before the Buy-In even starts.” Sawyer said, grabbing her ring gear. 

Alex and John shuffled out the locker room, before Alex peeped in one last time, “You’re gonna do great, Sawyer. The Dark Order is all rooting for you.”

Sawyer smiled, hearing the door shut. Her mood became lighter, as she really did realize that she might have lost a good friend, she was making more along the way.

*************

The preshow had just begun to start. The few fans took their seats around the arena and began to cheer as the countdown to Full Gear was on. Hangman had just come from collecting his new and “improved” gear for tonight when he saw Veronica walking in. 

She looked stressed, her hair was tied up in a messy bun and her sweatpants sagged extra low. She honestly looked like she hadn’t had a good sleep in weeks. Seemingly to be in her own little world, not noticing any of her surroundings. “Thanks for making my gear, I bet it looks awesome!” She thanked the seamstress, before taking her items and beginning to head back. Hangman began to panic, holding his arm out while speaking before he got the chance to think. “I can’t wait to see it!” he shot. 

She jumped in surprise, “Oh…I didn’t know you were here,” she eyed him suspiciously, “Thanks though… and good luck tonight.” She tried to leave again, until he pulled her back. “Wait, no. You’re not just gonna leave me here again. Aren’t we going to talk about-”

“I don’t think there’s anything to discuss. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but we all got shit going on right now. I’m not trying to be a distraction.” She spat at him with a bit of venom. It stung him a bit, making him loosen his grip. “You aren’t a distraction to me V! I just thought I finally had a friend around here.” Her eyes softened, but she shook her head with disbelief. “Why do you keep trying with me… haven’t I given you enough reasons not to trust me Adam? I’m no good for you.”

“You don’t get to decide that for me…” He said to her, “Just like you shouldn’t let Kenny keep making decisions for you.” Veronica looked at him in confusion. He chuckled at her expression, “Sweets, you gotta see what he’s doing to you.” He laughed. 

“You… you don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“This…” he pointed at her, “Has Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks written all over it. You’re their little group project.” He confessed. She clenched her fist to the side, and clicked her tongue. “Whatever helps you sleep at night.” Veronica responded. Hangman squinting at her, then at the bag in her hand, “Let me see your ring gear.”

“I don’t want to show you. You will have to wait like everyone else.” She pinned the bag behind her back, out of his reach. “Fine. You got me… is that free ice cream?” He pointed down the hall, making her whole body turn quicker than she could get the chance to react. He swiftly snatched the bag out of her hand, “Alright, let’s see…” He placed the bag nicely on a nearby table and began to unzip it. 

A smile formed, as he was in awe of the diamonds. He ran his hand down it, “Wow… Sandra really outdid herself with this one.” His hand stopped as his fingers got tangled, he looked over at her before pulling the jacket out. “TASSELS?”

“Would you be quiet!” She grabbed the jacket back from him, and put it nicely back in the bag. “Mind your business.”

“You have never worn tassels before. That’s new… kinda reminds me of a certain tag team, and those shorts are way… different from your usual baggy style.”

“Am I not allowed to try new things? My baggy pants, and hot tops are still there. I just wanted to spice it up for the pay per view tonight.” She smiled, “Plus… the tassels were a recommendation from Matt. It’s a one time thing.”

He scoffed at that, “He’s always recommending tassels to everyone… they couldn’t pay me enough to wear that shit.” She let out a small laugh before leaning in, “I think you could pull it off almost as good as them.” Veronica complimented with a smirk. “No, I’m okay… I’ll stick to my things, and you stick to… whatever that is.”

“I’m going to make you eat your words, Page.” She picked up her belongings, and made her way back to the locker room. He watched her go, and when she was gone he let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. Page let his head fall back on the wall behind him, and ran his fingers through his hair. Even after she put him through hell… she was back where she’s been since he met her. In his head. And with his match coming up in less than half an hour… he knew he was doomed.

*************

Nova waited for her cue to go out, which was a certain signal from Ricky and Brian Cage. Taz had come out, yelling at Cody and Darby on the mic. When Brian attacked Darby from behind, with Ricky following him after, she knew she was coming up soon. She watched as Brian threw Cody right into Ricky for a spear.

Right when they grabbed Darby, she ran out, pretending to get in between the two teams. The audience popped, Taz however, was screaming at the top of his lungs for her to move.

She went up to Ricky, pretending to lecture him.

“It looks like Nova and Ricky are having a bit of a disagreement here, Excalibur.” Tony Schiavone said, watching this all go down on the monitor. 

Nova “gave up”, throwing her hands in the air and turning towards Brian, who was holding up Darby by the back of the neck. They stared each other down, when Nova delivered a clean roundhouse kick, straight to the left side of Darby’s face. The crowd was shocked, but no one showed it more than Taz. 

Nova rolled out the ring, yelling at Brian to push Darby out. She dragged him over to the car, which he had made his entrance on, calling Ricky and Brian over. 

Brian hoisted Darby up, before powerbombing him onto the windshield. Nova and Ricky smirked, making their way up to the stage. Taz looked in disbelief, before holding his hand out to Nova.

She hesitated to put hers out, before she finally shook his hand, “Welcome to Team Taz.” He said, yelling at the camera guy to come closer.

“New Team Taz member! Nova Jay! The Supernova!”

Nova smirked, when Ricky grabbed her by the waist, kissing her passionately. They smiled at the camera before making their way backstage, Nova was finally noticed, and she was going to make sure everyone’s eyes stayed on her.

*************

Sawyer cracked her knuckles. Everything and everyone around her becoming quiet. Her earphones blasting. Her heart pounding. This was it. 

“Sawyer you’re on after this break!” Dustin Rhodes called from his monitor, “Go teach that bitch a lesson.” Sawyer handed her phone to Nova, who looked like she was about to vomit. “I’ll be fine.” Sawyer assured her friend, “This needs to be done.” 

“Why did it have to come to this though. Sure, you and Veronica have fought a hundred times before. But this is …” She stopped as she looked over and saw Veronica coming in. New ring gear on display, as she got rid of the baggy pants and went to new revealing shorts and a gorgeous rhinestone jacket with a picture on the back she couldn’t recognize, along white long tassels… it was hard to miss her. 

The wrestlers began to find any monitor they could, not wanting to miss a second of anything. Talking amongst themselves, placing bets. In awe of the reaction that the two had gotten in such a short amount of time. The crowd was awake, and ready for a fight.

“Knock ‘em dead baby! We’ll be here when you get back!” Chuck Taylor quickly yelled, making Sawyer turn just in time to catch him. She gave him a thumbs up, before she headed through the curtain.

Taylor glanced in Veronica’s direction feeling her stare already on him. He rolled his eyes at her before going to find a seat next to Trent and Orange.

 “Popcorn?” Trent offered as Chuck sat down. Orange lazily stuck some kernels in his mouth.

“I’m not sure what trick she has up her sleeve, but I don’t like it.” Chuck gestures toward Veronica who was beginning to warm up. “Her presence is enough to mess with your mind. Don’t worry about it, Sawyer is gonna WHOOP DAT ASS!” Trent said loudly, on purpose earning a scoff from behind them. The three turned around and were met with Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks. “You sure are biting off more than you can chew, Baretta.” Matt snarled. Orange looked between the two, lowering his glasses.

Trent spoke up again, “Matt, no matter how hard you try. She isn’t going to sleep. with you. You need to realize that. It’s starting to seem desperate at this point-”

“Choose your next words carefully, momma’s boy.” Kenny got in his face. “I wouldn’t let her name leave your mouth again, if I were you.” Trent bit the inside of his mouth, looking back at his friends. “Forget it man, let’s just watch the match.” Chuck patted down the chairs, getting them to cool it. From the back of his head he could feel Matt began to burn holes through the trio making him smirk to himself. He had hit a nerve with Matt Jackson, and nobody knew that but him.

The beat dropped for Sawyer's entrance music, making the crowd more electric than they already were. She couldn’t help the smile break through as she stood on the ramp. The pyro went off, and she posed for the camera. She removed her jacket, revealing a dark gothic attire. The front row of wrestlers applauded, as she walked down to the ring, she got on the apron and began to take it all in, knowing this was the only bit of peace for a long time.

Veronica tilted her head in Nova’s direction as she passed. Not caring about Ricky clutching her to his side, or the glare they both gave her. She shrugged it off and went out as if this was an actual “storyline.” 

She walked out earning a mix of boos and cheers. She closed her eyes and turned her back. Revealing her jacket, to be a picture of a throwback photo of her, Sawyer, and Nova… with a drawn on angel halo hovering over her, and devil horns drawn on Sawyer. She chuckled at her antics, and spreader her arms to let the tassels gracefully fall, “Let’s fucking go!” She yelled, before making her way to the inside of the ring.

Sawyer never took her eyes off Veronica, ever since her music hit. If looks could kill, they’d both be dead. The bell rang, and Sawyer extended her hands outward for a lock up, while Veronica extended a foot— that connected with Sawyer’s nose. She blindly rolled her up, but Sawyer kicked out before three making the crowd gasp. She quickly backed up in the corner, trying to avoid the ropes from blowing up around her.

“WHAT THE HELL V?” She yelled, getting in her face. “YOU REALLY WANNA START LIKE THIS?” She pushed Veronica, making her fall on her backside. She immediately got back up, getting right back in her face. “Hit me.” She repeated, while harshly shoving Sawyer. “I know you want to.” 

Sawyer raised her fist, only to be slapped by Veronica before she could react. The crowd sat on the edge of their seats in anticipation, watching Sawyer blow the hair out her face, and stare down Veronica between her brows. She slightly gulped, not breaking her stare. Sawyer began delivering rapid kicks to her sides, then quickly delivering an arm drag sending Veronica just inches away from ropes. 

Her eyes widened, as she realized how close she was. Turning around she attempted to run away, but was met with a dropkick that sent her flying into the ropes, immediately feeling the electric wire going off around her. She yelped, as she rolled to the outside, not wanting Sawyer to gain an upper hand. Her skin began to burn, and the wind that was knocked out of her was still trying to come back. 

Sawyer’s first thoughts being to go check on her, before remembering the reason they were in this match in the first place. She shook her head, shaking all the sympathy away. As she climbed to the top turnbuckle, she stood along with the crowd. Phones flashing, their voices rising. Screaming, as she attempted a perfect moonsault to the outside. Suddenly, feeling a devastating crack to her ribs, causing the audience to fall in silence. Veronica held the kendo stick in her hand, leaning on the barricade. She watched Sawyer lay on the floor, refs coming to check on her. She pulled Bryce by his T-Shirt, wanting to continue the damage. She swung another good three times, before rolling her back in carefully. She went for the pin, once again.

1…

2…

“This fight will continue,” Tony yells in his headsweat. Sweat beading off his forehead. “We all knew that wasn’t gonna be enough to put down the Angel Slayer.” Jim added. “It’s almost as if…that name couldn’t be any more truer tonight. The white, the diamonds, the entrance…Veronica is the angel that Sawyer is slaying tonight. We’re in for one hell of a ride.”

The two had been going back and forth for about fifteen minutes. Each seeming to have a counter for each other’s move, and when they didn’t…they just started beating the absolute shit out of each other. Blood was pouring from the hairline of Sawyer, who had been curb stomped on a pile of chairs. While Veronica's left eye was beginning to swell up, as well as a huge slash from being sliced by a piece of the broken table.

Luckily, Sawyer had done her best to avoid the electric wire throughout the whole match so far. The two crawled their way back into the middle of the ring, Veronica kicked pieces of broken table out of her way. She gestured her finger at Sawyer telling her to bring it on. She charged, only to be hit with a drop toe hold. She held her mouth, and realized she fell forward on a steel chair. Immediately, tasting blood. Veronica smirked to the hardcam , rolling out the ring and pulling up the ring skirt. She tossed a couple of kendo sticks on the ramp way, for an emergency. She faked a confused face, before innocently pulling out a light tube. She rolled in the ring, swirling it around. Sawyer saw it, and let out a groan. She raised her middle fingers up, spitting blood at her. Veronica laughed, wiping it off and whispered, “You asked for this bitch” before cracking the tube on her head, glass shattering around them. Quickly covering for the pin. 

1..

2..

Sawyer barely kicked out. Making Veronica throw a tantrum, “ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?” She screamed at Bryce, who did his best not to back down. “LEARN TO DO YOUR JOB.” Veronica pointed her finger in his chest. 

“Back off of me. Focus on your match, Rodriguez.” 

“Don’t tell me- AH!”

Veronica was lifted from the ground, and placed on Sawyer’s shoulder, who when no one was looking had wrapped a piece of barbed wire around her kneepad. Veronica tried to scramble, hearing the crowd go crazy as Sawyer signaled for the Go to Sleep with her hands. She successfully hit it, cringing as she stuck to Veronica’s forehead. The crowd gasped, and held their hands over their mouths. She went for the pin.

1…

2…

Aubrey was milliseconds away from her hitting the mat, they could feel it.

“WHAT? VERONICA KICKED OUT. VERONICA KICKED OUT,” Excalibur rose from his seat. “BARBED WIRE IS STICKING TO HER FOREHEAD…WHAT THE HELL?” Jim asked with concern. “What are we witnessing here folks?” 

“This is awesome!” The crowd chanted, if there was a roof on Daily’s Place, it would have been blown straight off.

Sawyer laid in the corner, not knowing what else to do as she stared at her former best friend with widened eyes. Veronica waved towards the entrance ramp, signaling for someone to come out. Sawyer turned her head with confusion, tears forming as she saw Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks dragging a helpless Chuck Taylor and Orange Cassidy.  She stared in horror as she saw Orange and Chuck get hit repeatedly in the torso with kendo sticks. Their cries making Sawyer furious.

“You bitch.” Sawyer huffed, as she began to drag Veronica back by her feet. Veronica kicked, connecting with her busted lip, making her curse. Veronica quickly snapped up, ducking as Sawyer attempted to grab her. Going around her and connecting her arms for a snap dragon suplex. An idea popped in her head, as she looked at her boyfriend who nodded with darkened eyes. She backed up to the ropes, breathing in, and before she breathed out she delivered a devastating snapdragon sending Sawyer through a ton of pain, as her neck was met with electricity. She hid her face, as she repeatedly hit the mat, doing everything to not let her pain be shown.

Sawyer stumbled to stand, as Veronica began to spit more venom at her, “You thought what they did was bad?” She chuckled, as Matt threw a kendo stick in her direction. She picked it up, and placed it under Sawyer’s chin making her look at her. “Watch this-” She swung, only for it to be caught under Sawyer’s arm. She gritted her teeth, not letting her react to the sting. Veronica did her best to pull it back, but she wasn’t budging.

Veronica reached her arm back to attempt to slap Sawyer again, but she grabbed onto her, slowly looking up at Veronica with angry eyes. Sawyer delivered a headbutt to Veronica’s, “That’s for bringing your boyfriend into this!” Left hook, “That’s for hurting my friends!” She kicked her in the stomach so her back hit the turnbuckles, “THAT is for putting a title over our friendship!” Sawyer balanced the kendo stick in her hand, “And THIS is for all the pain and tears you’ve put me through since July!” She went feral, whacking Veronica left and right. Veronica bawled up on the floor, trying her best to avoid her. Only to get hit harder, not being able to move. She whacked Veronica in the back once more long enough to climb to the top rope. Sawyer stood and looked around the crowd of people and wrestlers, who cheered her on as she finally did what she always wanted to do. A swanton bomb, on live pay-per view. The crowd erupted as Sawyer went in for the pin, without her Canadian Destroyer.

1...

2…

3!

The girls laid there, staring at the ceiling. Their breathing rapid, their faces red. Veronica felt the tears start to form, she scooted away to the other side of the ring, hand over mouth holding back sobs. 

“Sawyer.” Chuck shook her, “You did it baby. It’s over.” He groaned, holding his side. Her head snapped towards him, and Cassidy who were both equally hurting. “Me? I won?” She looked with disbelief. Orange gave her a thumbs up, as she pulled them in for a hug. “I’m so sorry you guys got hurt.” 

“Eh.” Cassidy lazily replied, “We lived.” 

Veronica watched the three, not realizing her own group was next to her. “Let’s get out of here.” Nick bent down to help her up, she wrapped an arm around his shoulder looking for Kenny who couldn’t meet her gaze. Instead, he angrily stared at Sawyer, who had the biggest grin on her face as she stared back. 

“Kenny-“ Veronica reached out, his demeanor broken, as he saw her covered in blood. “Jesus Christ…”He commented, pulling her away, flinching when he heard her wince. “Careful with her hip, it’s gushing.” Matt commented. 

Veronica tried to respond, telling them that she was fine until she saw Hikaru Shida walk right past her, with her AEW Women's Championship straight to the ring for Sawyer. 

Jealousy filled up, and she couldn’t help looking away as they stared down at each other. The sounds of her boyfriend’s concern were muffled, as all she could do was focus on them. Sawyer couldn’t help but glare past Shida sometimes. Veronica’s tears staining her brain. Eventually, Tony Khan came out applauding as the crowd gave a standing ovation. 

It was over. It was finally over.

—-------

Sawyer tried her best to get rid of the smile on her face, but she just couldn’t. She was on Cloud 9. Of course, something felt off. She knew what it was, Veronica. But she knew, she couldn’t let this affect her celebration. She turned up the music playing from her speaker, hoping that even Rihanna could distract her from this feeling.

Just as she put on the finishing touches of her outfit, there was a knock on the locker room door. “Come in!” Wardlow walked in, bouquet of flowers in hand, “There’s the next women’s champ! God, you’re amazing.” Sawyer gasped, “Michael! You’re so sweet.” She took the flowers, giving him a kiss.

“So, you really gave Veronica hell out there. How about you and I go to dinner? You’re already dressed, and of course, I have another gift for you back at the hotel.” He smirked, grabbing Sawyer by the waist from behind, hands sliding up and down her body.

“That sounds lovely Michael, but some of my friends set up a party for me at my favorite bar downtown. You wanna come with?” She asked innocently, thinking nothing of it. Wardlow’s energy shifted, he suddenly just seemed furious.

“You’re kidding. You’d rather spend this win with vodka and screaming than wine and classical music?” He asked, acting like there was no discussion. “Uh, yeah. It is my celebration.” Sawyer grabbed her purse, heading for the door.

“And let me guess, Chuck set this celebration up.”

Sawyer stopped in her tracks, her mind was telling her a million things, but only one was the right thing to do. “Well, you caught me. Chuck did set this up. And Isiah. Along with Nova and Ricky. And how could I forget ‘your’ buddy, Max? My friends set this up, Michael. They knew this would make me happy and they were right, I’m going!”

“I knew you were still talking to that weirdo! I knew I couldn’t trust you. If you walk out that door, we’re finished.” He threatened. Sawyer only stared back, frowning, tears forming in her eyes.

“After everything I went through tonight,” Sawyer choked on her words, before cutting the act, “You think I’m scared of a white man breaking up with me? I’ve seen some stupid shit, but this has gotta be the stupidest shit ever. We’re done, the third shot is dedicated to you!”

Sawyer cackled, walking out of the locker room, knowing that Wardlow no longer affected her. 

On the other side of Daily’s Place, the Elite got to the back. Veronica doing her best to not crumble in front of the roster. She felt a hand leave her lower back, causing her to stop them in their tracks. “Kenny, what are you doing?” Matt asked, not sure why he stopped walking. 

“You guys go on without me… I have to catch up with Don.” He looked between them, giving a disappointed look toward Veronica, “Just let me know what the doctor says.” 

Veronica’s face grew with confusion, “You’re not coming with me?” Matt held his grip on her wrist, as she tried to walk away from them. “You’re hurt.” He reminded her, “I’ll make sure she gets back.”

“Thanks man.” Kenny spoke, “I got to go fix this. I’m not letting her screw up ruin my future plans.”

Nick’s eyes widened, as a silence fell between the group. Veronica felt her blood begin to boil, as his words finally hit her. “I can’t believe you. I know I didn’t win, but I tried my best and-“

“Save it. I don’t want to hear any more excuses tonight.” He rolled his eyes, before pulling out his phone typing rapidly. Nick and Matt looked between each other, not sure what to do. Veronica pushed through, wincing at every step she took. “You know what? This loss isn’t on ME. It’s on YOU, and you know that. You told the whole world that I was this Elite superstar, and you never once considered my feelings.” Her voice trembled, “Sawyer and Nova want nothing to do with me, because of you, and now I’m finally understanding why.”

She shoved Nick and Matt’s hands off of her as she walked off in her own direction. 

As Kenny watched Veronica walk away, he groaned, throwing his hands up in the air, “I swear to God, I don’t know what her deal is.” He marched off, mumbling to the Bucks about not following him. “She has to be kidding, none of this is my fault. I got her here at the top. In this company, I gave her everything. It’s all-” His own thoughts were interrupted, almost making him stop in his tracks.

“It’s all her.”

Sawyer and Nova stared back, trying their best to hide their grins. “Looks like someone will be sleeping on the couch tonight.” Nova joked. Kenny shook his head, embarrassment beginning to wash over him. 

“You couldn’t even help your own girlfriend, when she needed it most.” Sawyer spoke up, “What makes you think YOU could defeat me?”

He opened his mouth to argue, being cut off by a car honking grabbing their attention, Nova rushed over to the side door leaving Sawyer. 

“One day, Veronica will realize that you were nothing more than a weight holding her down. It really sucks that you were the reason we had to nearly kill each other tonight, but if you think that I won’t stop trying to get my friend back… you’ve got another thing coming.” She pulled her glasses down on her head, letting herself finally relax. 

“Goodbye, and Goodnight Omega.”

◤━━━━━━━━━━━◥

Feels nice to be back, chapter 10 is coming soon.

[thesupreme316]

aew wrestlers x female readers and their favorite positions in bed?

darius martin, dante martin, daniel garcia, hook, action andretti, ricky starks, eddie kingston, and i know they're not in aew, but could you add drilla moloney & charlie dempsey 🙏

AEW STARS AND: Their Favorite Sex Positions (18+)

Pairings: Darius Martin X Female Reader, Dante Martin X Female Reader, Hook X Female Reader, Ricky Starks X Female Reader, Daniel Garcia X Female Reader, Action Andretti X Female Reader, Eddie Kingston X Female Reader, Swerve Strickland X Female Reader,

Word Count: 1.3K

Supreme Speaks: heyyyy (sorry for being late per usual). thanks to my tumblr bae @hooks-martin for the request (for the last two, I didn't know anything about them but I traded them for swerve). i think this is the most explicit imagine of mine so plz take it easy on me. anyways, please remember that you are loved and appreciated. ALSO HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Warnings: Mature content (if you are a minor, please do not read), explicit content and images, explicit language and indications

Taglist: @hooks-martin @hookerforhook @batzy-watzy @wwenhlimagines @triscillal @cassie0sstuff @sheinthatfandom @eddie-kingstons-wifey

**All the positions and their names be referenced from this website**

Hook: Cowgirl

I can just see it

Him on his back looking up at you and admiring the view; with a smirk

BUT DON’T GET IT TWISTED

He is very much in charge

Will command how fast or slow you go; he doesn’t care about the speed….but will change it if he’s punishing you

“You can ride me a lot faster can’t you baby girl?”

If he sees you getting tired (or he is punishing you), he will just drill up into you with no mercy (you’re riding a jackhammer now)

Frequently brings you down to kiss you (Watering Can position)

Loves it when you scratch his torso; it’s like you're leaving your mark/brand

I CAN SEE HIM REACHING UP AND CHOKING YO-

Just to see you squirm a bit more, he’ll talk in Italian

Tw: google translate

“Prendilo per me tesoro, so che puoi.” (Take it for me baby, I know you can.)

Action Andretti: Bizet

Again like I have said in the past

Man’s a sweetheart but also very shy

This is the perfect position since he probably might clam up if he looks into your eyes

Not in a bad way ofc

From this position, you can’t see him blush

So he wants to be as close to you as possible

And he also wants to be able to slip in at any given chance

I think he prefers slow thrusts so you both can feel everything and take in the moment

Loves to whisper in your ear

“It’s almost like your body was built for mine”

I see him as a tits person, so he squeezes them from behind

…

After careful consideration, yeah my answer is still the same he is a tit person

OVERALL HE IS A SWEETHEART

Dante Martin: Reverse Cowgirl

MMMMM THIS IS MY DREAM SO EXCUSE ME FOR THE PRIVAT-

MANS IS A ASS PERSON

Smacks/gropes your ass whenever

And is a switch too idc what you say; So I think this position gives you both control in a way

If he’s the sub, you’re controlling the pace and more so focused on your pleasure by rubbing yourself

If you’re the sub, MORE ASS SMACKIN not hard or anything (he’s a soft Dom if anything)

I also believe he will pull your hair back to the point your back is on his chest (just walk with me) and he pistons into you

Is a dirty talker too

“Fuck you feel incredible. Come for me”

But tbh I see him more as a sub in bed so…he slightly whimpers and whines in my mind

Will ask you to turn around so he can see your face

Like I said prior, he’s soft so I cannot see him being harsh or rough in bed

Darius Martin: Forbidden Fruit

Teehee

Man is a giver; A GIVER I TELL YOU

Giving you pleasure to the point where all you’re doing is screaming and losing your breath?

Teehee he lives for that

“You taste amazing love”

Loves it when you are on top

Eventually, the position turns into tiramisu or you riding his face

I don’t think he’s a sub all the way but more so a switch who really wants to please you

Tell Darius what to do an he will do it with no hesitation

For an “actual” position, I think he would love the scissor position

It’s very intimate for him and it gives him access to his favorite parts of you

I also think it would be the best position as he can see your facial expressions and give you extra stimulation

Again Darius would be all for your calls and satisfaction

Ricky Starks: Oasis

LITERALLY IT’S UP HIS ALLEY

He can see everything

Tits, Ass, Face, Neck, etc.

He likes to be up close and personal with you so he can kiss you at any point

Also, it’s easy likes to motorboat you

Side note; we all know he likes to be called daddy

So yes he will be referring to himself as Daddy

“Look at you being daddy’s good girl”

Sex-wise, Ricky is a full Dom you cannot make that man into a sub

if you do, he is the brattiest sub ever

Mostly a soft Dom but will turn up the (h)eat when necessary

He just loves being in control (speed, position, etc.)

SUCH A FUCKING TEASE; will intentionally slow down just to see you whine and beg for more

I think he will also convert Oasis into the cowgirl position

Overall, don’t give Ricky too much power

Eddie Kingston: Temptation

Okay let's have a real moment (pulls up chair) This man is so selfless that it’s crazy

For the most part, I can see him as a missionary man, because of the fact that he doesn’t want you to put in work

With temptation, he can see your face and know if he’s truly giving you pleasure

It’s also the perfect position to touch all the parts of you that can give more stimulation

AND YALL CAN DO IT EVERYWHERE

Eddie is a Dom; both a hard and soft Dom

He doesn’t want to go too harsh on you (unless you want it)

Control doesn’t matter to him tbh

Will actually do anything you ask him to because he’s so hung up on pleasing you

LOVES IT WHEN YOU TOUCH HIM OR SCRATCH HIS BACK

“Touch me like that again”

Will ensure that you have more orgasms than him

Eddie is a selfless man and puts your needs over his

Daniel Garcia: Chibi

We all know that DG is a switch (man is a bratty sub let's be honest)

But more important he is an ass man

Chibi stands out the most for me to him

With the position, he can go the pace either you or he wants to go

He can also grab or smack that booty whenever

GOES CRAZY WHEN YOU MAKE EYE CONTACT WITH HIM

I can also see him in the Nirvana position

With Nirvana, he can kiss your legs

I wouldn’t say he has a foot fetish but at the same time yeah he does

WHICH IS THE SEXIEST PART OF YOU IN HIS EYES (besides the ass)

Take the time to appreciate other parts of you

I wouldn’t say he’s a dirty talker but he’s definitely a moaner

….

Even my ass can see that and I need glasses

Swerve Strickland: Doggy Style/Downward Dog

Okay….let me dream real quick

THIS MAN? IS A HARD DOM ALL THE WAY WE ALL KNEW FROM THAT DAMN DEATHMATCH

This man is my baby daddy/sugar daddy and he wishes to be called as such

You? You’re either a slut or a princess in his eyes (I’m bot-)

Loves Doggy Style cause it gives him so much control

Will pull your hair and lean down to whisper in your ear

“You like that, don't you? Lucky for you, I could do this forever.”

Will also pull you up until your back reaches his chest

OR OR

He will put your face down further into the mattress and make you arch your back for him (Downward Dog)

Loves to smack your ass and hear your muffled screams

Will overstimulate you until you tell him to stop

AND HE WILL LOOK OVER AT YOUR PANTING AND SWEATY BODY WITH A SMILE

otay…I’m done

[annachum]

Some ideas for a Magic School Bus Reunion movie

The Carlos x Dorothy Ann ship in Magic School bus is kinda like an AU if Ricky Ricardo and Lucy McGillicuddy first met as elementary school classmates

And they be often bickering over a science project one minute snd take down some thug they don't like the next

And then fast forward at a college they meet again AND THEN Carlos fell for DA at first sight in person in years

But DA doesn't fall for his charms so fast - she did gradually warm up to him

And the rest is history

I have this HC where, after their elementary school years, everybody in that class be going to different ways and such

And then Wanda and Arnold did get together since 11th grade since they end up attending a same secondary school

Phoebe Terese and her family moved to Toronto

Ralph Fenneli is working to be a lawyer like his mama

And then DA aspires to be an astrophysicist while Carlos aspires to be an engineer

And then years after they graduate from elementary school they all got a call from Ms Frizzle ( who becomes old and semi retired ) and wants repairs of her school bus cuz it got malfunctioned

Those college students got an elementary school reunion and they all LAUGHED and high five that Wanda and Arnold did get together, and so did Carlos and DA

They be having an elementary school reunion while helping Ms Frizzle repair her old school bus that summers day

And after that, Ms Frizzle decided to take those college to a special science trip that takes them to some places they may have been to before

Bless

Wanda Li x Arnold is kinda like Bruce Banner x Betty Ross if they hadn't broke up

I imagine in college, DA be sometimes dressing like Gwen Stacy and Hermione Granger, and replaces her pigtails at elementary school with shoulder length wavy golden hair often in headband

And Carlos be sometimes dressing like a college version of Tony Stark and Ricky Ricardo lol

If somebody is gonna make a Magic School Bus reunion movie,

I can totally see it like kinda like around a month long trip to several places via science trip style, and turns out Ms Frizzle can actually tell those college students some college level science things ( similarly with FAR From Home lol )

🤯🤯🤯🥺🥺🥺🥺

Ofc Ms Frizzle contacted the parents about the trip and the parents gave their consent and such

And srsly Carlos, Arnold and Tim in Magic School Bus being friends is kinda like kid Tony Stark, Bruce Banner and Rhodey being friends at an elementary school lol

DA and Wanda Li being friends is kinda like kid Pepper Potts and Betty Ross being friends at an elementary school

[darkesttimelinejeffparker]

What story are you writing?

What story am I not writing might be the easier question. These are the documents currently open:

Cleaning up my MJF/OFC/Wardlow WrestleBang ‘22 fic to post this weekend

My stripper!Jeffelo sequel

David Finlay one-shot

Finishing my multi-chapter Hangman fic so I can resume posting it

A Jay White story that was going to be a one-shot but is already at 18k words so might be a two-shot

Ricky Starks multi-chapter fic

An Orange Cassidy story to finish up the “In the Dark/In the Light” series that was part of my Reader x Redux experiment

A bar fight story with Cash Wheeler

My Leverage inspired AU series where a former iteration of Bullet Club (Jay, ELP, Kenta, Tama, and Tanga) do crime

My action/espionage/mercenary AU series with Tanga, Tama, and Hikuleo

A Jeffelo multichapter story

A Daniel Garcia one-shot

[waywardwrestlewritingwaif]

Touched

Little bit of slightly sexy Eddie fluff.

Pairing: Eddie Kingston x OFC

Word count: 2,071

Content advisory: sexual content

@drewmcintyrekoccsrocbwdgfan

Eddie drops down next to you like he’s just run a marathon. It startles you a little and he laughs when he sees your reaction.

“Tell that boyfriend of yours he needs to help you relax,” he snickers.

“Not my boyfriend,” you correct him. “We’ve just gone on a few dates.”

“Still not saying he’s your boyfriend? How many times have you gone out with him?”

“First of all, lower your voice a little, they can hear you from the road the way you’re talking. Second of all, I believe in taking things slowly. Rushing is how people make mistakes.”

He leans closer and addresses you in a stage whisper. “How many dates has it been?”

You make a face at him. Only from Eddie would you accept this. In a way, he’s an inappropriate friend for you to have but wrestling is an inappropriate business for you to be working in, so you figure it sort of balances out. You’d gotten an administrative job working for Tony Khan before he’d started AEW and it had been a bit of a surprise when he asked if you’d be interested in moving over to his new company. There were a lot of big personalities, he explained. They needed someone with a level head and a good eye for detail. Yes, you knew it was a polite way of saying you were a bit dull but it was nice to feel wanted, so you’d made the jump.

You get along with the talent, although you know that some of them find you too plodding, too worried, too determined to predict every eventuality but, Tony’s assured you, that’s why you’re there. They need you. Some of them just don’t know that they need you yet, so they keep their distance most of the time.

Eddie, however, took it upon himself to be your friend in the locker room. He clearly loves poking fun at you but he’s also smoothed things over when some of the wrestlers felt like you were nagging them. It was him who pushed Ricky Starks to ask you out to begin with, after he noticed the way your gaze kept drifting to him backstage. He’d tried convincing you to make the first move and when you hadn’t, he’d quietly gone to work on Ricky. Before Eddie started nudging him, you’re not sure that Ricky even knew who you were but he’d come around quickly enough and, yes, you’d been on several dates.

“About ten, I think,” you mumble, aware that Eddie isn’t going to stop bothering you until you give him an answer.

“Ten?” His eyes widen. “I’ve been ready to move in with girls in less time than that.”

“Yeah, and that’s why you’re still single.”

“Really? All my exes told me it was because I was an asshole.”

“I’m sure that’s a contributing factor.” You feel him staring at you. “What is it?”

“Is he shit in bed?”

“I have no idea.”

Those eyes of his are drilling right through your skull and into your brain.

“Ten dates,” he repeats laconically. “Ten.”

“There’s no law that says I have to sleep with a guy after a specific number of dates. There’s no law that says I have to sleep with him at all.”

“At all? If I’d known you were planning on torturing this guy, I wouldn’t have encouraged him. Why the hell would you go out with someone if you didn’t want to go to bed with them?”

“I didn’t say I didn’t want to,” you stammer. These conversations are always annoying and that’s with normal people. “I just… I’m not a very sexual person.”

“You don’t like it?”

“Not really. I mean, I’ve barely… Is this really a conversation we should be having? We work together.”

He gives an exaggerated shrug. “I guess not but we’re already having it so… please continue.”

“That’s it,” you respond hurriedly. “I find the whole idea of sex kind of stressful and the times I have had it, I haven’t enjoyed it because I just start worrying about whether I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing, or whether it’s going to make things weird, or I get stressed about what else I’m supposed to be doing that isn’t happening because I’m wasting time in bed.”

“But you still date.”

“Well sure. I want a relationship. I just don’t know how much I want sex to be a part of it.”

“That seems like the sort of thing you should tell people right away.”

“That is absolutely not something you can just share up front. It’s personal.”

You have no idea how you’ve ended up in this conversation because you don’t ever talk about sex, let alone with Eddie. It’s something you’d prefer to avoid either as an act or a subject of conversation. Too complicated.

“Come with me,” Eddie stands and grabs your wrist, although not so roughly as to force you to come against your will.

“Why? Where?” Despite your misgivings, you stand but you lean back a little, waiting for him to set your mind at ease.

“I have an idea.” He winks and tugs at your arm a little. “I’m not going to embarrass you, swear to god.”

You’re not sure why you follow him but you do, letting him lead you through the back of the venue looking in different rooms like you’re on some sort of Easter egg hunt. You start to ask him what this is leading to when he evidently finds what he’s looking for, a small office, and pulls you inside. He closes and locks the door behind you and motions for you to sit on the sofa that sits on the far wall.

“What are we doing here?” Again, you find yourself following his direction but none of this is making you feel any less anxious.

He crouches in front of you and touches your forehead. “Close your eyes.”

You shake your head violently. “Not until you tell me what’s going on.”

“I think the problem might be that you’re too worked up about it.”

“About what?” Then it occurs to you. “Oh no, I am not interested in discussing this anymore. Forget it.”

He grabs hold of your wrists and pushes your hands down onto your lap.

“People like sex, sweetheart. It’s very enjoyable. I think you should give it a chance.”

“I have given it a chance! Jesus, Eddie, I’m not a virgin, I just-”

“Can’t calm down and clear your head and stop worrying. So let me help. Worst case, you might learn something to help unwind a little when you’re stressed about everything else.”

You want to protest but he looks so sincere and so concerned that you oblige and close your eyes.

“If I kicked this sofa out from under you, you’d still be sitting in the exact same position,” he chuckles. “You have got to learn to relax a little.”

“That’s making me more tense.”

You feel his head move to the side of your head. He leaves it there for a moment before you feel his thumb swirl gently around your temple.

“That feel nice?”

“Yes. It tickles a little.”

“Well that’s not so bad, is it? Just let yourself enjoy that.”

You laugh a little but he’s right, it does feel nice, so you let your head lean into it a little.

“Yeah, that’s right,” he hums.

He slowly draws his hand down your face and runs his fingers along the underside of your jaw, lifting your head a little. Instinctively, you open your eyes but he shakes his head.

“No, keep ‘em closed. It’s just me. It feels better when you’re not distracted.”

“Are you some kind of therapist now?”

“Sure. I’m a calming your shit down for a few minutes therapist.”

He brushes his finger along the edge of your lip, so lightly that you’re barely sure it’s happening. This tickles even more than him touching your head but it’s such an interesting sensation, something you don’t recall noticing before, or at least not thinking about if you did. At the same time, he takes your hand and plays with your fingers a little, then turning your hand and rubbing softly at your palm, then up your wrist and the inside of your arm. As his hand moves up, you feel him lean in closer to you, close enough that his breath is hot on the skin of your neck.

“Still feel nice?” he whispers.

You nod.

“But I know you’re not expecting anything. I’m only nervous when-”

“No, no. Enjoy the moment. That’s all it is. It’s only ever about the moment. Don’t think about anything else.”

He’s close enough that his beard scratches against you a little when he talks and that makes you smile a little again.

He strokes lightly at your neck and bows his head, pressing his nose into the hollow of your throat and then kisses it.

“Eddie!” You’re surprised but what he’s doing still feels good, so you sound more playful than annoyed.

“Stay in the moment. Nothing happening here.”

He lets his other hand fall from your arm to your knee, which he squeezes very lightly, his thumb pressing into the inside. Without thinking, you separate your legs a little, to let him move a little closer if he wants. This is making you feel better than any foreplay you can remember, so it’s possible he’s on to something. Might as well see where it goes.

Taking the unspoken invitation, he does lean closer, his chest flat against yours. But that’s all. He stays like that, breathing slow and even, one hand continuing to stroke your neck. You’re almost convinced he’s going to let you go, that his little experiment is over, when he kisses you just below your ear.

“See, you don’t need to get laid, sweetheart. You need to let yourself be touched.”

You’re suddenly not quite sure that he’s right because he kisses you again in the same place and it kind of feels like you do want something more, that you want something more specifically from him, but you tell yourself to heed his words: stay in the moment.

You turn your head a little so that your lips graze his cheekbone because somehow that feels like the right thing to do, and you feel him smile a little. He lowers his head and presses his lips against your collarbone, which should perhaps feel like a step too far but it doesn’t. It’s just a natural extension of everything else.

For the first time, you touch him, running your hand up his arm and over the back of his bicep. The little hum of appreciation this draws makes you smile, your lips still touching his skin.

“See what I mean?” He raises his head so that your foreheads are touching. “You can open your eyes if you want.”

When you do, it’s almost shocking. He’s in your entire field of vision, gemstone eyes locked on yours with an expression that makes you breathe a little faster.

“That’s all there is to it. And if anyone wants to push you faster you tell them to shut the fuck up and enjoy what’s happening.”

“Ok,” you giggle.

“Tell Starks I want a fucking thank you when he’s enjoying the results of my work.”

Your back stiffens. “I don’t know, maybe.”

“I’m joking, I don’t literally expect you to say that to him.”

“No, it’s just…” You can hardly believe what’s about to come out of your mouth. “I don’t know if that’s what I want to happen anymore.”

He arches an eyebrow. “What do you want now?”

You lean forward and push your lips against his, feeling a sweet wave of relief when he responds. It’s a slow kiss that builds steadily, your tongues making their way into each other’s mouths and the sounds of your breathing growing louder until it just feels right to pull away.

“Oh really?” he murmurs.

The two of you exchange quick, light kisses for a couple of minutes before you pull back and look him in the eye again, unable to keep from smirking.

“You did this on purpose!”

He grins and gives a mock bashful expression.

“Hey, I’ve been trying to figure out how to shoot my shot for months.” He takes your face in his hands. “Besides, I was right wasn’t I?”

[domesticblisss]

I Take You Back

Eli Drake/LA Knight x OFC Rating: NC-17 Word Count: 1140 Warnings: Very little fluffy and a lotta angst. Tiny sex mention. Summary: Eli finally meets the love of his life, but is love enought to change a man? Inspired by Wolf Alice’s song, "Lipstick on the Glass" A/N: First time writing LA, hope you guys like it!

It has been a month now. A month since he last saw her, a month since she last sat her empty, lipstick stained wine glass on his counter, a month that it stood there, a month since she left.

Their paths crossed when Eli signed with NWA for his second run with the company. He had been following her work for some time now, always bringing it up in interviews and mentioning how, if he ever got a manager, he would want someone like Ellie Andrews.

Loud mouthed, trash talking just like him, and looks that could kill, Ellie was the perfect person to accompany any wrestler, man or woman, to the ring. Ricky Starks was all praises when it came to her, telling how she had been responsible for all the accolades he had in the indies and how she helped him get his NWA contract.

The day they finally met cemented how Eli felt about her.

It was on an early saturday night where Eli had just gotten his contract signed and stood backstage watching that week’s Powerrr taping. Watching Ellie do her thing in person was even more mesmerising, her mic skills left the world's most renowned panellist eating dirt and every wrestler wished they could control the crowd like her. The segment went on, where she praised Ricky’s ring work, telling everyone how he should be at the top of the company, which ended up earning him a match for the Worlds Heavyweight Championship belt. Eli knew he was in love the moment Ellie walked back into gorilla, the provocative, spell-bounding manager became Elisa, the sweet, shy girl that would stay in the building until the last light was turned off, making sure every worker was alright.

He asked her on a date not even five minutes after being introduced to her, to which she agreed instantly, shocking the both of them.

The date was everything they could ask for and a bit more. The night started underneath the waters of the Georgia Aquarium, the dim lights setting the romantic mood even if they were surrounded by the most dangerous sharks on the planet. Eli was the gentleman she never thought he could be, making sure she was having a great time, listening to her talk about her life, in and outside of the ring, and what she liked the most about him: he made her laugh. The larger than life personality he had in the ring hugged her tightly, and made Ellie feel like she was the most important woman in the world. Almost like Gomez and Morticia.

That first date ended two days later, with her rushing out from beneath the sheets of his hotel bedroom on the next monday morning, fashionably late for flight to Los Angeles.

Eli and Ellie professed their love for each other on that first weekend, after god knows how many rounds of love making. They never understood why and how they moved so fast, as Eli was known as the perfect bachelor and Ellie, known for rarely making herself approachable, the personification of opposites attract.

A night where two old, estranged soulmates finally found each other again.

The relationship was kept secret by the couple for the first three months, finally being put out to the world when Ricky caught them making out in their dressing room.

Ricky did what he had to do: sat Ellie down in her favourite donut shop and had a big brother talk with her, telling her that Eli was a man whore, and to be careful. If anything happened and that if she ever needed, he would be there for her, no matter what. He would constantly check in with her to make sure everything was okay.

The first half year of them as a couple was flooded by comments coming from their closest friends. Eli would always hear about what an amazing woman she is, how great it was that he was finally setting down and that he needed a serious person in his life. On her end, things were a little different. Ellie’s friends would tell her constantly to be careful with him, to not trust him and that they would always be there for her no matter what.

Ellie couldn’t lie, even if she knew her friends’ concerns had a valid reason to exist, and that they only wanted the best for her, their comments still hurt.

Little by little, they changed that. Eli proved what an incredible boyfriend he was, and how he only had eyes for her, to the point of proposing to her in the middle of the ring after the Christmas episode ended.

February 14th, 2021. Valentine’s day, one year and eight months into their relationship. Eli Drake goes away and LA Knight is born.

Ellie was still on her NWA run when Eli had to move to Florida. Everything was fine in the beginning, they would visit each other when they had some free time, FaceTime calls were done daily and their relationship followed as normally as it could.

She could feel Eli distancing himself with time. He would have excuses for her not to come visit, the daily calls now only happened twice a week and he was always evasive.

Fast cars and faster women, praise and recognition, and a shiny title belt, his teenager dreams were finally real.

Night after night, girls after girls, in hotel rooms, on his bed, on their bed.

That tragic night was no different, following the same routine he did almost every day, Eli went bar hopping, found a couple of girls that got easily attracted by his show off attitude and decided to bring them home. It is always a fun night for him, he follows through with his dirty promises, pleases and gets pleased, his stamina always taking him a long way. He always has an excuse to ship the girls off as soon as they finish, making sure to get them an Uber, locking the door behind him right after they leave. Eli went straight to the kitchen, in need of something to recharge him. One lone wine glass sat by the counter. He knew that red lipstick stain better than anyone, marked on his brain after having to visit every makeup store in three different malls during christmas time so she could buy that damned Ruby Woo. Next to the glass stood a piece of paper and the engagement ring he used to propose to Ellie just a few of months before. The handwriting looked nothing like hers normally did, the usually imposing calligraphy was shaky and tear stained.

“I should have listened to the signs, but true love spoke louder. Thank you for the memories.

– El”

A month since she left. A month he wishes he could go back in time.

[hellv1ra]

The Cruelty Of Fate: Chapter One

Word Count: 2955

Pairings: Eventual Bucky x OFC

Warnings: None.

Summary: Picks up right after the battle of Azzano right before Steve’s rescue of the 107th.

A/N: This is kind of an introductory chapter for my OFC and other original characters, and part of the dialogue is taken from Captain America: The First Avenger.

Prologue 

Nov 3rd 1943

   “Colonel Phillips?” She Saluted him.

“Yes” he says glancing up from his task

“I have another stack of letters for you to sign” She could see the sadness in his eyes as he grabbed the file from my hands.

“Lieutenant Jones?” he says turning back to his task at hand.

“Yes Sir” she chewed at the inside of her mouth

“Why is it that you’re delivering these to me and not my secretary?” he didn’t even glance up from his desk, still signing paper after paper.

“Boredom I guess? I’ve got some down time until my next assignment. I know that what you’re doing right now isn’t an easy task. She had a stack that was finished and I was already on my way out here, figured I could cut a little time for the two of you to make this go process go quicker.” She knew that this was one of the shittiest parts of war, informing the families of fallen soldiers that their brothers, sons and husbands weren’t coming home.

“Thank you” He sighed “Have they to-” he was interrupted by a man approaching the tent

“Colonel Phillips” They both glanced over at the large man and Agent Carter standing in front of his desk.

“Well, if it isn’t the Star-spangled Man with a plan, and what is your plan today?” he deadpanned. ‘Ah’ she thought looking at his outfit, this must be Captain America. she’d seen his posters around base. She stepped back from the colonel’s desk giving him and Agent Carter more room.

“I need the casualty list from Azzano sir” The colonel raised an eyebrow in his direction

“You don’t give me orders, son” The insistent look on the large man’s face was saddening.

“I just need one name. Sergeant Barnes from the 107th”

The colonel glanced over at Peggy and pointed his pen at her

“You and I are gonna have a conversation later that you won’t enjoy” Lieutenant Jones shot a sympathetic grimace her friends way.

“Please tell me if he’s alive sir. B-A-R” The increased octave in his voice did little to hide his desperation

“I can spell” The colonel stood and filed the papers away “I have signed more of the condolence letters today than I care to count, but the name does sound familiar. I’m sorry.” For the briefest moment, the look of exhaustion from the day creeps into the colonel’s features. The sadness and grief in the captain’s eyes is heartbreaking.

“What about the others? Are you planning a rescue mission?” The colonel’s stony gaze returns, his features hardening.

“Yeah! It’s called winning the war”

“But if you know where they are, why not at least-” The colonel interrupted the man exasperation evident in his voice

“They’re thirty miles behind enemy lines. Through the most heavily fortified territory in Europe. We’d lose more men than we’d save. But, I don’t expect you to understand that, because you’re a chorus girl” The captain’s eyes hardened

“I think I understand just fine”

“Well understand it somewhere else. If I read the posters correctly you have somewhere to be in 30 minutes” as Colonel Phillips turns his back to the captain, he stared at the map on the wall before turning and leaving the tent.

Colonel Phillips was looking over documents on a table and without breaking conversation he pointed to Agent Carter

“If you have something to say, now id the perfect time to keep it to yourself”

Peggy scurried off after the Captain.

“Sir, I don’t you think you were being a bit harsh? He clearly lost someone close to him” She said approaching him.

“Ma’am, it’s not our job to coddle people, this is war”

“Chester, showing compassion isn’t coddling, it’s called human decency” She put her hands on her hips expressing immense displeasure at the situation.

“Lieutenant, don’t you have a mission to attend to!” he asked her agitatedly at her.

Spying one of her men out of the corner of my eye with a large manila envelope in his hands.

“As a matter of fact, I do. Have a good day sir” he waved her off as she left the tent to meet up with one of my officers.

  “Miller” She nodded at him.

“Ma’am, we got the orders” he handed me the folder.

They walked to the tent of their unit, as they entered the tent she saw her men sitting around and laughing amongst themselves. Sitting in a chair behind the desk that encompassed most of the space she began examining the documents provided to her. Everything seemed standard pictures of their target information on his rank within the Third Reich, coordinates and aerial photos of where they were heading.

I grabbed my bag that contained my gear and uniform, I slung it over my shoulder and headed towards the flap in the wall of the tent that lead to my quarters. I stopped short of entering my room.

“Let’s lock and load ladies, we leave in the hour” Lieutenant jones smiled as she went through the “door” leading to her adjoining tent where she slept, the cheers and jeers of the men fading as she closed the flap.

Changing out of her standard skirted uniform into field clothes. She was dressed no differently than the men of her unit. In the field, they dressed as equals no gender identifying clothing. Sitting on her cot she laced up her boots. Grabbing the tactical belt she’d modified to hold her rifle, ammunition and various knives. She walked over to the mirror above the wash basin in her tent. Taking a wash cloth she removed all traces of makeup from her face. Looking at the dark hair framing her face, Shame I gotta ruin a good hair day she thought tying her hair in a not at the base of her neck.

She grabbed her weapons and strapped them around her body. She nearly forgot the thigh holster she’d recently made to giver greater ease and access to her hand guns, the last item being my bolo knife, it was impractically large but she’d grown attached to it and it had saved her ass on more than one occasion.

 Shoving open the flap of the tent she entered to the murmuring room of her unit dressed and ready for action.

“Alright boys, let’s go kill some Nazis” She smiled, and slapped miller on his shoulder as they all cheered and headed for the jeeps that would be taking them to their next mission.

 November 6th, 1943

 The sun had only just begun rising when they were finally making their way closer to base in the early morning hours. they had received intel that a high-ranking Nazi scientist was hiding out in Croatia. The mission was a success. The target in question a Doctor Johan Wagner was cuffed and gagged in the backseat of the jeep following me, they didn’t want him trying to off himself with some cyanide pill like some of other Nazi cowards they had tried to capture in the past.

The five of them make up a small, lethal team, that officially didn’t exist. Unofficially however, they worked for the Strategic Science Reserve, after being lent to the organization by the US Army. The only people on the ground who know who they are and what they do in an official capacity are Colonel Phillips, Agent Carter and Howard Stark. What the team does is very secret and very off the books. There will be no written history of what they did. Their names will never grace the insides of history books for the work they’ve done. Especially not mine. She mused thoughtfully driving the jeep down the winding path back to base. Hell, even the name that I go by doesn’t even belong to me. It was the name they chose for her so that she wouldn’t arouse suspicion.

  Their objective as a team was a simple but dangerous one, capture their targets, take any data or intel they may have and bring them in for questioning. What happens to them afterwards wasn’t their concern. The current piece of garbage we obtained had been working on weaponizing a new and deadly strain of anthrax. One that is set to be resistant to any of current treatments. Samples of the work were obtained before torching the underground bunker, effectively (they hoped anyway) destroying the work the doctor had made.

 The team made it out mostly unscathed, Second Lieutenant David Miller will have a new scar running over the top of his left eyebrow, thanks to the butt of a Nazi guard’s rifle. Warrant Officer’s John Davis and Tom Andrews have a few bumps and bruises nothing so far too bad has happened that will make their wives hate me. Chief Warrant Officer Richard Taylor however got it the worst, shot twice in the arm because he decided to be a hot shot.

Hitting a bump in the road, Taylor moaned and whined from the back.

“we’re almost there Ricky, you big baby” She called out from the driver’s seat. “You’ve got no one to blame but yourself for your injuries.” He had decided to run into an unsecured room guns blazing and is now paying the price for it. Lieutenant Jones shuddered at the memory. It could have gone much, much worse. He could be dead.

He wasn’t the only on hurting from this mission she had personally taken a bayonet to the side while they had made their way through the facility. The bastard who stabbed her had gotten an up close and personal view with a .45 caliber bullet between the eyes.

“what ever happened to women being maternal and nurturing?” he whined

“Do I look like your mother?” she asked him incredulously.

“You don’t look like anybody’s mother, you Sheba” She could feel the flirtatious waggle of his eyebrows burning in the back of her head.

“Easy there dream boat, save it for the share crops you seem to be so fond of.” She turned her head to glare at him.

“Don’t be such a fuddy-duddy” He teased her “it’s not my fault they can’t keep their paws off me, I have a reputation to uphold”

“A reputation as a skirt chasing Casanova pig” I sneered at him “Keep it up with that bullshit and I’ll make sure that they keep you in the infirmary until you’re fully healed, so you won’t be able to show off to all of the pretty girls when we get base leave”

“You wouldn’t” he sat up wincing at the pain from his arm.

“Oh, you know I would, and I’ll make sure that it’s the ugly nurse too, with the big forehead, and that she’ll be the who gives you long luxurious sponge baths” I laughed.

“You’re a monster” he grumbled at her as he lay back down.

“Damn right I am” she chuckled, they remained silent for the last 20 minutes of the drive back to base. Only stopping as they approached the makeshift gates of the base.

“Good morning Private Smith” she said to the young bright-eyed man who waved them in.

“Good morning Lieutenant Jones” he saluted as I drove through.

They were met by immediately met by Military Police and the medical staff as soon as they were parked. A flurry of busy bodies tending to the prisoner and the wounded Taylor dramatically flung his arm over his eye trying to earn sympathy from the pretty nurses who met us.

“Don’t be gentle with him ladies, he’s just playing it up” Davis laughed as he pulled our prisoner from the jeep and shoved the him into the waiting arms of the MP’s.

As she started making my way towards the tents to change my clothes before meeting to debrief Colonel Phillips on the mission, watching the hustle and bustle of the camp. She stopped dead in her tracks, from the looks of things there were hundreds more men in the camp.

 “What? Where did they all come from?” She said to no one.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Miller said coming up from behind her.

She looked at him like he was crazy “Where do you think? I’m gonna go clean up and head to the Colonel for debriefing”

“Like hell you are” he grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the medical tents “Not before you hit medical to have that wound tended to”

She sighed pulling away “You know I don’t need it.”

He stopped her from leaving again looked her in the eyes “I know you think that you’re invisible and indestructible but making sure that they didn’t pierce any organs with that stab wound won’t kill you. We can’t afford to lose you.”

“Fine.” She agreed glaring at him.

He just smiled and bowed with outstretched arms leading the way to medical. She glowered at him and begrudgingly marched over to the awaiting medical staff. An hour later she was stitched up and cleared of any major damage being done to her body. She and miller were told they were off duty for the next two weeks and Taylor wouldn’t be cleared for at least a month.

She left the medical tent and headed off towards the tent Colonel Phillips was current seated. “Colonel Phillips” She saluted him

“At ease Lieutenant, you here to debrief me on the mission?”

“Yes, sir.” He nodded,

She continued “Mission was a success, the target, his files and his experiments were obtained, we had no casualties on our end and a few of us only have minor injuries.”

“You call that stab wound on your side ‘minor’?” He said eying the bloodied hole in the side of her shirt.

“I’m standing here in in front of you, aren’t I?” he chuckled at my statement, motioning for her to sit. He seemed more relaxed than usual.

“And the bunker?” She gingerly sat down in the seat across from him.

“Annihilated sir” She looked around at all of them men now walking outside. “Chester where did all these men come from?”

“They’re the rescued troops from the 107th.” He stated frankly

“What? But how? I thought you said that there was no rescue mission? If you I recall correctly your exact words were ‘Yeah! It’s called winning the war’ when did that change?” He gave me a pointed look

“You gonna stop asking questions long enough for me to answer?” She looked down at her hands and he continued “I didn’t order the rescue mission, Captain Rogers did it on his own”

“Captain who? I’ve been here for months I’ve never heard of him.” She knows she would have remembered a captain in their ranks.

“Captain Rogers, you might remember him better as Captain America?”

“The chorus line guy?” She asked him incredulously “How?”

“Stark and Agent Carter took it upon themselves to drop him over into enemy lines.”

“But how was he able to manage this?” She asked pointing at the now full and bustling camp. “He did it by himself?”

“Do you remember Dr. Erskine?”

“Of course, I do.”

“Project rebirth ring a bell?” Her eyebrows raised curiously and nodded he reached behind him and pulled out a file and handed it to me. The tab said ‘Rogers, Steven Grant’. As she looked over the file seeing all his 4F rejections from the military. The medical history of this man was terrifying, it truly was a wonder how he even made it through adolescence, let alone to adulthood. She read over Dr. Erskine’s notes on him, the words brave, courageous and selfless were used with frequency. She spied the picture of a very small and thin man, in disbelief she held up the photo.

“This is that guy?” she asked pointing at the USO poster featuring Captain America.

“Yes.” She looked at him in disbelief.

“THAT-” she pointed at the poster again “is THIS guy?” she asked shaking the photo in here hand back and forth.

He gave her a look that would have had a weaker man cowering.

“Holy mackerel!” he rolled his eyes at her exclamation. She can only imagine how proud Dr. Erskine was of this achievement. “I can’t believe it really worked” she whispered under my breath. “why hasn’t he been active duty if the serum was a success?”

“The whole idea of Project Rebirth was to create an army of super soldiers, not just one.” She looked at him like he was crazy

“All this time Chester, what the hell were you guys thinking? Were you even thinking? Do you know how much of a load someone like him could have taken off my shoulders? We could have used him, hell I-”

“It wasn’t just my decision, they told me to scrap it, so I did, and it’s all moot point since he’s active duty now” he interrupted

“Excuse me Sir” A soldier came into the tent, saluted and then handed the Colonel a telegram.

“Thank you” he said dismissing the private “Are your men cleared for travel?”

“Yes, but only Davis and Andrews are clear for any kind of combat. Jones and I are two weeks out minimum and Taylor is at least a month out.”

 “We’re not heading out for any kind of combat just yet, you will however need to pack your things. We’re headed for London.”

“London? I’ll let them know. Anything else sir?” She asked standing up.

“No, just be ready to leave in two days.”

“Yes, sir.” She saluted the Colonel as she left his tent and headed for her own feeling a renewed sense of excitement over finally being able to have some leave from this god forsaken war.

[brucebannerxtonystark]

AO3 - Bruce Banner x Tony Stark

read it on the AO3 at http://ift.tt/2j0HNnZ

by xx_my_veins_are_made_of_icexx

“Who are you, girl?”

“I don’t know, sir.”

“How can you not know who you are, brat?”

“I’m afraid I don’t know that either, sir?”

 Yes, the title is from We Don't Belong Here by Black Veil Brides, the release of The Outsider has me all het up so blame BVB and tumblr and my own desire for a daddy/mommy dom.

Words: 1091, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Avengers (Marvel Movies), Motionless in White (Band)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: F/F, F/M, Multi

Characters: Loki (Marvel), Thor (Marvel), Clint Barton, Natasha Romanov, Bruce Banner, Tony Stark, Jane Foster, Darcy Lewis, James "Bucky" Barnes, Steve Rogers, Wanda Maximoff, Pietro Maximoff, Vision (Marvel), T'Challa (Marvel), Sam Wilson (Marvel), Peter Parker, Wade Wilson, Chris "Motionless" Cerulli, Angelo Parente, Ricky "Horror" Olson, Ryan Sitkowski, Vinny Mauro, Devin "Ghost" Sola, Joshua Balz, Ryan Ashley Malarkey, Toronto and Pia, Phil Coulson, Nick Fury, Thanos (Marvel)

Relationships: Loki/Original Female Character(s), Bruce Banner/Tony Stark, Jane Foster/Thor, James "Bucky" Barnes/Darcy Lewis/Steve Rogers, All of the Avengers/All of the Avengers, Peter Parker/Wade Wilson, T'Challa/Sam Wilson, Wanda Maximoff/Vision, Pietro Maximoff/Everyone, Clint Barton/Natasha Romanov, Chris "Motionless" Cerulli/Angelo Parente, Ricky "Horror" Olson/Ryan Sitkowski, Vinny Mauro/Devin "Ghost" Sola, Joshua Balz/Ryan Ashley Malarkey, Everyone in MIW/Everyone in MIW/Ryan Ashley Malarkey

Additional Tags: Everyone Is Poly Because Avengers, Everyone in MIW is polyamorous, Basically Most People Are Gay, Kinky Loki, Gay Sex, Lesbian Sex, Bisexual Loki, Pansexual OFC, Daddy Kink, Daddy Dom Loki, Howard Stark's A+ Parenting, Odin's A+ Parenting, Little OFC, Magical Tattoos, The fucking tree is a better parent than Howard Stark or Odin, Ombric (the tree) is a good parent, Past Child Abuse, The Avengers Are Good Bros, Hybrid Original Female Character, Ice Powers, Old Magic, Runes, Rune Magic, THE TREE CAN TALK, Tags Are Fun, I Wrote This Instead of Sleeping, Darcy is the fandom bicycle and I love it, BAMF Darcy Lewis, Not Canon Compliant, like at all, I have no idea where this came from, Just Roll With It, Don't say I didn't warn you, Vampire!Chris Motionless, Gargoyle!Angelo Parente, Vampire!Ricky Horror, Neko!Ryan Sitkowski, Fae!Devin "Ghost" Sola, Leshy!Vinny Mauro, Demon!Josh Balz, No one knows what species the OFC is, Mystery Creature

read it on the AO3 at http://ift.tt/2j0HNnZ

[elitehunter]

Ricky Starks: You can't always get what you want (But if you try sometimes you just might find, you get what you need) - Chapter 1

Pairing: Ricky Starks x OFC

Summary: March 23, 2022 was supposed to be a great day for Ricky Starks. He ran into his "one-that-got-away" and was filled with hope. His best friend was coming to see him defend his FTW title live in Cedar Park against Swerve Strickland. But after missing his chance to win back the woman he used to love and failing to defend his title he doesn't think anything can get worse…until he wakes up and finds that it's Wednesday morning again. Yes, this is a time loop fic.

Rating: M (later chapters) Word Count: 4,676 (8,577 and counting) Warnings: sexual content (later chapters), language, alcohol consumption, men. Notes: Happy Groundhog's Day. This seemed like the thing to post today.

Feedback is always appreciated.

Read on AO3

(prologue | ch. 1)

[thesupreme316]

Hello I was wondering if you could do kisses around the body and face for AEW wrestlers like;

Face - Yuta

Forehead - Darby

Lips - Ethan Page

Neck - Ricky

Arms - Kenny

Hands - HOOK

 Torso - Kingston

Legs - Jeff Hardy

It could be to the wrestler or reader

Dear god I hope I did this right

AEW Stars React to: Their Favorite Kisses

Pairings: Darby Allin X Reader, Ethan Page X Reader, Ricky Starks X Reader, Kenny Omega X Reader, Hook X Reader, Eddie Kingston X Reader, Jeff Hardy X Reader

Word Count: 954

Supreme Speaks: hey yall, thanks to the anon who requested, sorry for the delay (as I am). thanks to everyone for their support. hopefully, I did this right. my inbox and requests are open to all. I think (hope) I kept this gender-neutral/applicable to everyone. P.S you are loved and greatly appreciated.

Warnings: GIFS ARE NOT MINE, i repeat GIFS ARE NOT MINE, none i think, slight talk about insecurities in Eddie's part

Taglist: @hooks-martin @hookerforhook @triscillal @sheinthatfandom @wwenhlimagines @eddie-kingstons-wifey

AGAIN I HOPE I DID THIS RIGHT

Wheeler Yuta (Face Kisses-To Him)

WITH HIS SCRUFF THIS IS SO CUTE

With these kisses, I feel like y’all love cheek kisses

He would look so content and fulfilled after the kisses

To Yuta, it’s so intimate and just feels acceptable everywhere to him

Personally, I think he would love it if you squished his cheeks together (with one hand) and then kissed him on both cheeks

Also, this would be a pre-match routine

Would literally refuse to go out there until he gets his kisses (he’s a brat)

“Where are thy kisses?” (With a fake lisp)

Darby Allin (Forehead Kisses-To You and Him)

OKAY OKAY HEAR ME OUT

He likes the forehead kisses on a particular side of his face (don’t fight me)

I feel like he would tell you to kiss him on the side without facepaint on (so it doesn’t get on you or it doesn’t mess up)

“No, no, the right side! Don’t switch up on me!”

He would kiss you on the forehead because it was the closest body part to him

Also, it’s because he can do it anywhere without it being awkward (like Yuta)

I think he would love you giving him forehead kisses cause it’s like comfort to him

As soon as you kiss his forehead (especially after a match), he feels rewarded and that everything is alright

Ethan Page (Lips Kisses-To You)

MAN HAS A NICE SMILE

Will just kiss you out of nowhere

Will kiss you at any place, any time

The type of person who will grab your face and squish your cheeks together

His mustache and facial hair tickle your face

He is not afraid of PDA (in fact, he encourages it)

“I want a kiss right now. And if you don’t give me one, Imma throw a fit like a toddler right now”

Will bend down to tease you and receive his kisses

Ricky Starks (Neck Kisses-To You and Him)

THIS MAN WILL BE THE DEATH OF ME-

He LOVES to give you kisses on the neck cause he thinks it’s sexy

It’s one of those kisses that feels intimate yet playful at the same time

Will leave marks on you so get your makeup/scarf ready

Loves it when you kiss his neck and leave lipstick stains on him (if you wear lipstick, lip stain, or lipgloss)

It makes him feel like “the man” and loved/desired (ESPECIALLY ON THE NAPE OF HIS NECK OR RIGHT UNDER HIS JAW)

Will not wash it off for segments and says “You all wish you had a sexy ass partner like me”

Kenny Omega (Arm Kisses-To You and Him)

THAT MAN HAS SOME NICE ASS ARMS LEMME TELL YOU

He’ll kiss your arms/shoulders cause he thinks it’s cute

ESPECIALLY WHEN HIS HEAD IS LEANING ON YOU OR WHEN YALL ARE CUDDLING

Within that moment, he will tell you “I love you”

And you? You kiss his arms not because you want to be cute…but so you can bite him (lovingly ofc)

He would walk out to the ring with a bite mark on his arm and just say “Y/N wanted a snack. So they bit me.”

But honestly, I think you would kiss his arms cause you were already holding hands and you wanted to show your man more love

And to bite him again…

Hook (Hand Kisses-To You)

I WANT HIS HANDS IN MORE WAYS THAN-

Ahem, anyways; I don’t think Hook like obvious or obnoxious PDA, but more subtle signs of it

So while you guys are holding hands, he will bring your hand up and kiss it

To him, it’s an intimate way of showing how much he loves you

I also think your hands would be his favorite feature on you besides your personality

He likes the size difference between your hands

DEF will kiss all your knuckles when just staring at your hands

“I love your hands, they’re so delicate. Imagine them with a ring on your finger.”

Eddie Kingston (Torso Kisses-To You)

Listen, I will protect Eddie Kingston with my life (sorry for yelling at ya earlier)

Now this man will save all his kisses until you two are completely alone

Loves to lay with you, with his face either near or on your stomach

Will kiss your chest and stomach as he notices that this is a spot that you might be insecure about

He kisses your torso to show that he loves you and your “flaws” (ya’ll aint got none so move right along)

“Doll, you are perfect to me and I dare you to say otherwise”

Does not kiss your ribs as last time, you accidentally elbowed him in the eye

Jeff Hardy (Leg Kisses-To You)

MY DARLING MAKES A RETURN

Man has no problems with PDA (in fact he thrives on it) But he saves his favorite kisses to give behind closed doors (THIS MAN IS A PLEASER)

Loves to give you foot rubs and in the midst will kiss your calves and thighs (AGAIN THIS MAN IS A PLEASER AND YALL CANNOT TELL ME DIFFERENT)

Does not care if you shave/wax your legs or not

Will watch TV in between your legs and kiss them periodically

When you ask him why he kisses your legs, he’ll just say “They’re just so beautiful to me darling”

As long as you got legs, Jeff will kiss them

[elitehunter]

AO3 Wrapped: EliteHunter

Saw this floating around some of the searches I check periodically and thought it would be fun. Credit to @spotsandsocks for the format.

Works published: 76.

Words written: 357,910

Hits: 6,516

Bookmarks: By me? 1. Made by others of my work: 81

Most popular by kudos: I’m On A Blood Buzz (I Never Thought About Love When I Thought About Home) (Nick Jackson x OFC, rated E) but most of this was written and posted before 2022, so technically probably She Said “Tell Me How You Feel.” (Are You Even Real?) (Ricky Starks x OFC, rated E)

Most hits: Unsurprisingly, the same two fics. But my one-shot with the most hits for 2022 is Everyone Has A Secret, But Can They Keep It? (No, They Can't) (MJF x Reader, rated G)

Longest: Going only by words on works published in the calendar year: I'm Trapped By Your Love. And I'm Chained to Your Side (Love is a Battlefield) (MJF x OFC x Wardlow, 47,808, rated E)

Shortest fic: “Why can’t you appreciate my sense of humor?” (Orange Cassidy x Reader drabble, 250 words, rated G)

Most comments: She Said “Tell Me How You Feel.” (Are You Even Real?) (Ricky Starks x OFC, rated E) has the most comment threads (11) though there are some with fewer threads that included some back and forth but I am too lazy to open them all and count.

Fic that made me cry: -To read? The delicious angst of @dancingwithsilhouettes's Orange Cassidy x OFC series this is me trying (rated e, one complete fic and 1 chapter of the sequel posted). -To write: My break-up fics with Matt and Nick, but picking one I'd say And I Know Things Can't Last Forever (Just the Scent of You, It Makes Me Hurt. So How's It You that Makes Me Better?) (Matt Jackson x unnamed OFC, rated E)

Fic that made me smile: All of them! I really like writing. But probably the fic I wrote for Wheeler Yuta for my bar fights series She Knows How To Treat a Fella Right (Wants to Make Love When I Wanna Fight. Now Someone Understands Me) (Wheeler Yuta x OFC, rated T) where I got to pull in Mox, Eddie, and others because of BCC and the Blood and Guts match. I may not be a huge BCC fan, but I had a blast writing all their voices and think there was more plot in those ~4500 words than they managed to move in all their time together.

Gifts: None in either direction.

Collaborations: None.

Events taken part in : Wrestlebang '22. Am actively writing for 12 Days of Christmas and about 30% done with those!

[darkesttimelinejeffparker]

The 2022 To Do list

12 Days of Christmas for AEW

12 Days of Christmas for NJPW

"I’m A Drifter (And I Know That Doesn’t Do Me Any Good)" - Hangman x OFC (5-7 more chapters)*

Cash Wheeler bar fight

Orange Cassidy bar fight

stripper!Jeffelo sequel

David Finlay one-shot

Jay White one-shot (I don't know guys it's already 16k words so could be a two shot if I find a natural break)

Final installment of Orange Cassidy - In the Dark/In The Light series

Final installment of MJF - You Better, You Bet series

Final installment of Ricky Starks - All of Me series

Final installment of Wardlow - I Could See Clearly series

*there's a big chance this might shift to 2023 though.

So I started planning out a posting calendar for my work, but think that I'm going to actually spend the rest of 2022 just writing and posting as much as possible. And then for 2023, I'll try to have a more regular calendar - like WIPs getting updated on a certain cadence, one-shots on a certain day, etc.

Once I have seen how much I can cross off my list, I'll sort that out and probably share it with folks. A lot of my multi-chapter fics, with the exception of my Hangman sequel to my Nick fic will probably take a backseat to things I'm trying to knock off now including the last of my reader-series from when I did those Reader/Redux stories, and finishing off my bar brawl series, and some one shots I am 50-90% of the way done with.

[darkorderaf]

Kiss 98 with Ricky Starks?

Of course!! Here’s some fluffy friends to lovers with Ricky. This was very cute to write, thanks so much for requesting. <3

Pairing: Ricky Starks x OFC. Prompts: “Let’s just kiss to see what it’s like” then pulling away, lingering for a moment, then going in for the second kiss. Rating: T. Warnings/Content: Fluff! Word Count: 1036.

Tag List (asked to be added/removed!): @alyhull @boutmachines @chrisdickinson @lghockey @rubyred1980 @sillynilly27 @simoneinside

(I don’t own gif; all credit to allelitewrestlings!)

There were very few people that she trusted with her life, let alone with one of her most embarrassing secrets. Ricky Starks, the man she was proud to call her best friend, was at the very tip-top of that list. She had managed to avoid sharing it at all but it was the day before a big date, her first in a very long time, and there was no more avoiding it. But if anyone could hype up her confidence and make her feel good before a big moment, it was Ricky.

“Why are you being weird?”

Ricky shifted his eyes away from his phone and looked at her, pressed against the other side of the couch and sitting up ramrod straight. He pocketed his phone and lifted his brows. It took her a minute to register what he said.

“I’m not being weird,” she argued weakly. “I’m just…thinking. That’s all. Actually…”

She turned on the couch and tucked her legs under her. Ricky shifted and faced her, idly played with the thin chain around his neck.

“I have a question.”

“...Okay,” he said slowly. He raised his hand in an open gesture. “What’s going on? You good, weirdo?”

“Would you say that you’re a…good kisser? You’ve kissed a lot, right?”

“Well, I’ve never got a complaint a day in my life, no ma’am,” he said proudly with a smile. Then his face went through a quick shift of emotion. Concern, confusion. Something else. “That’s what you’ve been thinking about? How good of a kiss-”

“No! That’s not–”

Except suddenly it was and her heart raced the longer she looked at him. Stupid stupid stupid. This was a terrible idea and she burned under his gaze.

“I…I have a date tomorrow.”

“Oh. With who?” Ricky seemed startled by how sharply the question came out of his own mouth and then he cleared his throat. Settled back onto the couch, the very image of nonchalance. “I mean that’s, uh, great. I’m excited for you! But what does me being a fantastic kisser have to do with your date?”

She looked at him for a long moment, held his eyes, then glanced away.

“...I’ve never been kissed.”

Ricky did his best impersonation of the blonde guy blinking gif as he looked at her.

“No, that’s not true,” he said with narrowed, suspicious. “You told me that you’d been kissed before. Some guy named Cameron, right?”

“It–That was a kiss on the cheek.”

“Alright…When was that?”

“...Fifth grade.”

“...Baby Jesus.”

She tried to fight back the shame rising up in her but then Ricky’s hand was on her knee, grabbing her attention.

“Hey, there ain’t nothing wrong with that,” he assured her. “I’m just real surprised. I mean, look at you. You’re a dime and some change, baby.”

He winked at her and smiled along with her. She thought of the times when she had entered a room or the ring and from clear across town almost, she could hear Ricky shouting ‘THERE’S MY BEST FRIEND!’

“Oh hush,” she said as she laid her hand on his and took a deep breath. “I know I’m asking a lot and if it’s not weird or anything, could we just…kiss to see what it feels like? I just…I trust you and I don’t want to embarrass myself tomorrow. ”

Ricky bit his bottom lip in thought and searched her face.

“...Alright. You trust me?”

Lips slightly parted, she nodded. Ricky scooted a little closer to her on the couch and his knee knocked against hers. He pulled his hand out from under hers and held her face. Stroked her cheekbone with his thumb. Slowly, as though she were something delicate, Ricky brought his lips to hers. He stayed there at first, waited to see what she did, then smiled as she moved her lips against his experimentally. Her chest felt tight and she took in a stuttered breath against his warm lips. He pulled away from her and watched her closely.

“Breathe, baby,” he whispered to her. “See, nothing to it. That alright?”

He grew worried by the second when she didn’t say anything and just stared at him. Watched his mouth. A startled ‘oomph’ fell out of him when she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him eagerly. It was a little sloppy, a little wet, but he didn’t care as he wrapped an arm around her lower back and kissed her back with an enthusiasm that coaxed a soft moan out of her. He tempered her eagerness and they kissed slowly, deeply. With his lips and his tongue, he guided her through it and she trusted him to do that. Fuck, she trusted him so much. His hand cradled her jawline then slid into her hair as her fingers unlaced from behind his neck and went to his chest.

She pulled away from him and he stole one more quick kiss from her. His eyes slipped shut as he breathed. Although they were no longer kissing, they didn’t move away from each other. Her thumb ran along the collar of his nice shirt as she looked at him, too overwhelmed to say much.

“Ricky…”

“That’s how you kiss,” he said, voice coming from somewhere low in his chest as he dropped his hand from her face. It curled against his thigh as his eyes lowered in thought. “Think you’re ready for your date now?”

A shy little smirk made a home on her face.

“I don’t know,” she said confidently. That was the effect that Ricky, her best friend, her something else, had on her. “I don’t think I’ll make it.”

He quirked a brow as his hand unfolded to settle on her thigh. Lightly, just in case.

“Yeah? Why’s that?”

“For one, I think I could use more lessons,” she said and his dark eyes seemed to warm at that. He smirked at her and she lightly batted at his chest. “And secondly, I…It’s you and–Oh don’t make me say it, just kiss me again.”

“I hear you, I hear you. I know the effect I have,” he laughed as he pulled her back into him. “Get back over here, sugar. Ricky's got more to show you.”

[darkorderaf]

Thank you for your writing about Ricky Starks! There is not enough out there. Love your writing! Can you do 25 from physical affection, playfully biting someone with Ricky Starks? Maybe it was playful at first but it leads to something more. ~🖤

I love the man so ALWAYS happy to write for him. And ohhhh yes, of course! Writing this made me miss New Orleans. ;; I hope you like some spicy Ricky and ty for requesting! <3

Pairing: Ricky Starks x OFC. Prompts: Playfully biting someone. Rating: M. Warnings/Content: Spice/smut! Word Count: 1862.

Tag List (asked to be added/removed): @alyhull @boutmachines @lghockey @rubyred1980 @sillynilly27 @simoneinside

(I don’t own gif; all credit to backfliptopancake!)

From the day that the pair knew that AEW would be taking them to Ricky’s hometown, the man busied himself with an itinerary. It was cute to watch. Ricky, brow furrowed with concentration and bottom lip caught between his teeth as he looked at her. Thought over what all they might get up to in the handful of days they would have. His excitement was infection and as the days drew closer, it was all she could think about.

She only had one request and when she posed the idea, he grinned and shook his head. Wrapped his arms around her from behind and kissed just under her ear. Skimmed the strip of skin between her shirt and leggings with his fingertips.

“A vampire tour? All the things to do in NOLA and you want to do the spooky shit, huh?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Alright,” he said, then his tone lowered to smooth velvet as he nuzzled along her neck. Made like he was going to bite her then paused. “As the lady requests. But I’m gonna have some holy water on me just in case some suave vampire man starts hitting on your fine ass.”

He added it to the list and when the night came, he waited for her in the suite’s living room. Lounged back comfortably on the couch, silk shirt unbuttoned midway and his nicest shoes on. One foot propped on his knee, arms stretched along the back of the couch. Had he meant to sit in the perfect dim lighting? Knowing him, he probably did. She fumbled putting on the back of her earring when he slowly glanced over at her with a wink. He totally did. He took his time getting up from the couch and crossing over to her with an outstretched hand.

“Ready?”

They made it just in time. Walked hand-in-hand and listened to the tour guide as they talked about some of the sets where Interview with a Vampire was filmed. For all that he teased her, Ricky listened just as intently as she did. Even if they lagged a little behind the group and teased each other between shadow and light. As they walked through his city, he was all eyes on her. Every little curious tilt of her head and twitch of her lips.

“Do you think we need to be careful?”

He ducked his head to murmur into her ear as they passed an alley. She raised a brow and looked up at him.

“Oh? About what?”

“Y’know,” he said as he circled behind her and matched his steps with hers. His voice lowered to a conspiratorially, borderline Scooby Doo mystery voice. Ricky’s hands went to her hips as they walked. “In case there are vampires around, lookin’ for a little late night snack. Did I tell you that you look damn good tonight? Because you do, baby.”

He smirked against the curve of her neck and then lightly skimmed his teeth across the skin. The hair on the back of her neck rose and goosebumps spread across her skin where his warm breath touched. Ricky huffed a laugh through his nose then playfully bit down. Not long enough to hurt or even leave that much of a mark but her body reacted instantly. Pressed back against him, lightly gasped his name into the warm night air of New Orleans.

The tour group was ahead of them. Far enough where they might as well have been alone. Ricky seemed to momentarily pause before he groaned low in his throat and pressed back against her, hands a little tighter on her hips.

“Yeah?” He murmured as he took in a slow, grounding breath through his nose. “You like that?”

“Ricky,” she said, the warmth of the night hardly a match for the heat of the man behind her. All night he had been teasing her and the bite was her tipping point. She was enthralled. “As much as I like the tour, I…”

Her hand slid over his, laced her fingers with his. She squeezed and let her head fall back against his chest. Almost bare from how low he had the silk maroon shirt buttoned. Head tilted back to meet his eyes, her lips parted.

“Let’s get out of here. Please?”

His tongue dragged along his lips and he smirked at the way she followed it. Then he smiled at her, teeth and all. A quick word with the tour guide that they would be stepping out of the tour and they were on their way back to the hotel. He stole kisses along her neck, the curve of her ear as they walked. Took the time to spin her around to get some cool breeze on their skin before he pulled her in close and nearly danced with her. Grazed his teeth along her sensitive skin to get that reaction again and when they made it into the hotel elevator, he was hard against her ass.

"Never knew you had a thing for vampires," he teased along the column of her throat as the elevator rose. She huffed and shook her head. "No? That ain't it?"

The elevator door dinged open and they giggled, pulled each other along to their hotel room door. He didn’t waste time and pressed her back against the door once they crossed in. Dropped to his knees to skim his hands up her calves, her thighs. Her dress hit barely mid-thigh and he smiled at how her breath hitched when he slid his tongue along her skin. Stopped just inside her thigh to suck a mark into her skin.

Then he bit down. A little harder than he had before.

“Ricky!”

But she didn’t pull him away. Her nails gently scratched along his head as her fingers found a home in his hair and he grinned at her wickedly. He made no move to get her to the bed as he stayed where he was and teased her, rubbed her through her panties and felt just how wet she was. He guided one leg over his shoulder to keep her balanced and she set one hand against her heaving chest.

“You smell good, baby,” he said into her skin. “You always do. You always taste so damn good too. You’re so worked up right now, aren’t you? Who got you like this?”

Then his fingers were pulling her panties to the side and he was spelling his name against her clit as he teased his fingers along her slick opening. He slid two fingers into her and groaned at how readily her body gripped them. The man groaned against her and palmed himself through his pants. Name finished, he mouthed along the meat of her thigh and bit at a spot so tender that she came with a cry around his fingers. His fingers left her and he slid them into his mouth as he slowly stood up.

“I’m gonna make a mess of you tonight, sugar.”

“Promise?”

She pulled Ricky into a kiss and she tasted herself. Moaned against him as he backtracked them to the bed. Deftly, he undid the zipper of her dress and slid her out of her panties. Undid her bra. His stomach tightened as she undid the buttons of his shirt and dragged her nails along his skin. Heated eyes fell on her and he turned her around, guiding her to lay down on her stomach. She heard him undo the zipper of his pants and wiggled in anticipation.

A slap to her ass pulled a moan out of her and then the heat of him was at her back again as he worked a pillow under her hips. He kissed the top of her spine, along the length of it before he playfully bit the meat of her ass. She squealed and clenched the sheets between her hands as he huffed against the shell of her ear. He adjusted her thighs, her hips and she opened for him eagerly. Just as he started to push into her, his teeth found the junction between her shoulder and neck again. Bit down just as he started to inch into her. The way she clamped down around him must have startled him because his hips jumped and he moaned in her ear.

“Fuck, baby,” Ricky whispered to her as his body curved around her. “Could kill a man doing that, tight as you are. Especially like this.”

His hips fit snugly against her ass and he panted into her ear. Ricky wasn’t the type for quick lovemaking. Not with her. And they had all night. He fucked her with slow, deep thrusts that made her toes curl and her eyes roll. Early on in their relationship, she had learned just how truthful that nickname of his was. She turned her head to the side so she could look at him. His eyes were shut. His brow furrowed in concentration, lips parted around his soft moans and grunts. But he must have felt her eyes on him because he opened his and grinned at her before he dropped his head to catch her lips.

She gripped his bottom lip between her teeth when they parted and Ricky looked at her with heavy eyes. His pace picked up and her head fell forward onto the rocking bed. The push and pull of Ricky, the way his teeth and lips marked up her back, had her close to the edge and all it took was the circling of his finger around her clit to send her over it. He talked her through it with heavy breaths but then he buried himself inside her and dropped his face into her neck as he came with a low groan. Eased himself out a little then back in.

“God, Ricky…”

He lifted his head to kiss her temple, then leaned back to watch as he pull out of her and she heard him make a sound of approval. Always proud of the mess he made.

“Sorry we didn’t make it through the whole tour,” he said in a way that indicated he wasn’t all that sorry about it. Maybe even a little smug too, a slight laugh in his tone. “I know you were excited about looking at scary shit for some reason.”

“Yeah, you sound heartbroken,” she said as she glanced back at him with a laugh of your own. Then she looked him up and down. “I mean, you’re not some suave vampire man but you’re not so bad yourself, Ricky.”

“Wow, the shade,” he said as he stretched out across her back. His fingertips drifted along her marked shoulders and she arched back into him. Hands on her hips, he carefully turned her onto her back. His thumb ran along her jawline down to the pulse in her neck. “You sure about all that?”

His lips fell to her neck again and just as she braced herself for the sharp-sweet feeling by wrapping her arms around him, he blew a loud raspberry into her skin. She halfheartedly tried to shove him away but he wouldn’t budge, his warm laughter breaking through every now and then.

“Ricky!”

[darkorderaf]

Physical affection prompt 23 with Ricky starks where he’s secretly dating taz’s daughter?

Oh boy, absolutely. I have some big ol’ heart eyes for Ricky and I adore this idea. Thanks so much for sending; enjoy!

Pairing: Ricky Starks x OFC. Prompt: A hug that some might consider ~too long~. Rating: T. Warnings/Content: None; just fluff! Word Count: 743.

Tag List (asked to be added/removed): @alyhull @boutmachines @simoneinside @sillynilly27 @vtriggerbucks

(I don’t own gif; all credit to likesummerrainn!)

“Morning, beautiful.”

Ricky’s tired voice hummed across the back of her neck. He kissed the top of her spine and tightened his arms around her. She stretched her legs and savored the ache of them as she flexed her toes. His heart beat against the bare skin of her back and she pressed back against him. He dragged his lips across her neck, up to the curve of her ear.

“How pissed would your dad be right now?

They were getting bold, him staying in her room like this. She hummed and squeezed the arm around her waist. It was better with him there.

“Scale of 1-10? Very,” she answered. “You might be FTW champion but I’m still his daughter. I love him, don’t get me wrong, he’s just…protective, I guess? In that annoying way dads can get.”

Ricky quietly grunted and nodded. He understood the secrecy of it but she could see the frustration in the twitch of his brow when he wanted to take her hand as they walked. Kiss her like he wanted to in front of everyone while post-match adrenaline rushed through the both of them. Maybe one day they would be able to. After a long, long talk with her dad.

She turned in Ricky’s arms and met his eyes. He blinked slow at her then smiled, pressed a full kiss to her lips that motivated her to stay in bed just a little longer.

—

The bell rang and she jumped out of her seat with excitement as Ricky stood triumphant. A little battered but no less radiant with the FTW belt raised overhead. The collective of Team Taz rushed out to meet him in the ring, all congratulations and taunts to the jeering crowd. To keep with the image that they were just friends, he hugged Hobbs and Hook first. Posed for the crowd before he crossed over to her.

“I did the damn thing, baby,” he muttered to her when he wrapped his arms around her. A second, then another and another until it felt like it was just them. His arms circled low around her and he lifted her a little. A flush traveled up her neck, her arms as they pulled away. He turned back to the crowd. “I did the damn thing like I said I would. Where’s the challenge at? Sure as hell ain’t here.”

He went out ahead of the rest of them and she made the mistake of meeting her brother’s eyes. The corner of his mouth twitched up and when they left, he was right beside her. He didn’t say anything until they were inside the tunnel.

“So, you and Ricky, huh?”

Her eyes snapped to her brother and he smirked at her. The look she gave him was all the confirmation he needed. He grinned and lifted his brows. For such a cool and collected guy, he could be a real little shit sometimes.

“Don’t tell dad,” she hissed. “If you even hint at it, I’ll make sure every bag of chips you get for the rest of your life is stale.”

He held his hands up.

“Alright, alright,” he said. “Didn’t have to go that far. I was just curious, honest. Dad might lose it but it’s cool with me.”

Her apprehension softened and she took a deep breath. As worried as she was about her dad, Hook being anything but supportive might have been the real kick in the pants.

“Really?”

“Yeah, Ricky’s cool and you’re alright,” Hook said as they walked to where he kept his backpack. The familiar crinkle of a chip bag and she shook her head. “So, no big deal to me. Unless he fucks up. Then it is.”

He shrugged and popped open the bag. Easy as that.

“Thanks,” she said sincerely. She ruffled his hair and he frowned at her. “Don’t eat too many chips. You have a match tomorrow.”

Ricky waited for her by her dressing room and she went to him with a smile on her face, a lightness to her step. He made a show of glancing this way and that before he took her hand to spin her around in the empty hallway. For now, they would have to dance away from prying eyes and that was fine with them. Their shared laughter was all the music they needed and when the time was right, they would share that tune with the rest of the world.