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another-supernova-girl · 1 month ago

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An Exercise in Control - Cooper Adams/Abbott x Fem OC

* Part 3 : Ruiner * (( NSFW ))

Welcome to chapter 3 (of 5) of my Cooper Adams/Abbott fic. Thank you to those who have reblogged and/or commented, and given it a chance so far. This chapter contains 18+ sexual content (smut), NSFW. I'm not one to give out every little detail in the A/N, but be aware that all sexual content related to Cooper is basically dubious consent by its very nature. I don't think any warnings for off-putting kinks apply. As Always, gif is mine.

CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER 2

(( word count ~ 5,300 ))

🔪 🔪 🔪 🔪 🔪 🔪 🔪 🔪 🔪 🔪 🔪 🔪 🔪

Four hours down, two to go, Delilah thought as she glanced up at the clock, checking the time again, as she had done countless times that day. It wasn't typical for her to watch the time so intensely, since she stayed long after closing, nearly every night, but today was different. Just the fact that she would be clocking out long before the sun had a chance to go down was different. After literal months of small talk, flirtations, and admittedly, some rather uncomfortable moments, the night of hers and Cooper's first official date was finally upon her. She'd been distracted all morning, though in a mostly dead store, it made little difference with the customer base. But between the countless instances of her checking the time, Delilah's gaze drifted constantly to the storefront, ever watchful for a glance at a certain security guard who had also walked by far more often that usual that morning. She supposed it was simply more common for the guards to walk the inside of the mall more during the day, with more customers around inside, and less need to keep watch of the parking lot, but it still felt like he was waiting for something to happen, aside from their date. It just so happened that as he finally walked within her view, for the forth time that day, the store phone at the register desk began to ring, catching both Delilah and Cooper's attention as she scampered over to the source of the noise, and his feet came to a gradual stop just outside the threshold of the store. It took all her willpower to look away from him and put on her customer service voice as she picked up the phone, the security guard leaning against the barrier of the store entrance, just below the metal gate, enclosed in the wall above.

“Page Turners Bookstore, this is Delilah. How can I...” The smile that Cooper's mere appearance had left on her face faltered as she listened to the voice on the other side of the line, and she turned her back to him as her expression became serious. “No, you can't...Heather, you can't do this to me...No, that's bullsh-,” the bookseller bit into her lip and shook her head slowly, reminding herself that customers could potentially walk in at any second. It was not a customer, but the security guard that set her even more on edge when she suddenly felt his palm at the small of her back, surprising her even when she was fully aware he was in the vicinity. “You don't seriously expect me to believe all four tires...Well, did you call...well, what about...no, there has to...Heather, there has to be someone else you can call. This isn't...” She suspected she would have seen a sympathetic look on Cooper's face if she'd turned around, but with his hand at her waist, his taller, broader body at her back, she simply closed her eyes, giving his hand a light squeeze when he reached out for her empty one. “Fine. But I wanna see the fucking photos. And you fucking owe me,” she snapped as she dropped the store phone into place, not even bothering to say goodbye, and slumping down, out of Cooper's hands, and into a seated position on the threadbare carpet.

“I'm assuming, bad news?” Cooper's voice reached her ears, and he received little more than a groan in response. He glanced around in all directions for customers as Delilah let gravity claim her further, dropping down on her back on the floor, her knees falling to one side, covering her eyes with her forearms.

“That was my co-worker that I switched shifts with. Apparently, she didn't walk outside until half an hour ago, and all four of her tires are slashed.”

“That's...that's crazy,” Cooper answered, his face awfully stoic for someone in the security field, with a date that night, receiving such information. Fortunately for him, her eyes were still covered by her arms in frustration. It had also been lucky that her co-worker lived in a duplex with no cameras around to see him when he had driven a blade through all four tubes of rubber in the overnight hours before his shift.

“Yeah, I don't know who she pissed off...aside from me, now, of course...but no one else is picking up the phone, and lucky me...I'm already here,” she explained, finally letting her arms fall away, staring up at Cooper's looming figure, watching him squat down at her side. “It must be my punishment for being reliable...I thought I'd left that behind when I quit my office job,” she shrugged her shoulders where they lay flat against the floor, tilting her face into the warmth of the security guard's hand as he brushed loose strands of hair from her face. She'd even taken the time to properly straighten it the night before, curling waves into the ends, trying to look, well...it was all for not, now.

“It's okay,” he assured, tucking more strands of auburn away, his callous-roughened fingertips brushing the sensitive shell of her ear, rewarded with the tiniest sigh. “We can postpone.”

“I know, but...I was really looking forward to tonight,” she answered, a defeated half-smile on her lips that Cooper nearly found himself dipping down to graze with his own, but stilling quickly as he reminded himself where he was.

“Well...how about we get you up off the floor before we both get in trouble-”

“-What are they gonna do? Fire me?” Delilah cut in, but allowed herself to be lifted with the assistance of his large hands anyway, and brought back to her feet.

“Probably not, but...how about this? I'll grab us something at the food court when I clock out, and we can have a little dinner here on your lunch hour, okay? I know it's not exactly what we planned, but-”

“No, that...that sounds good,” she admitted, disappointment still etched all over her face, even through the smile she tried to put on for him.

“I can stick around after, if you want-”

“No, I...” she let out a sigh, allowing herself to be pulled into his embrace, cameras and manager be damned. “One of us should get to enjoy their night off.”

“I'm not going to enjoy it without-”

“No, really. If you hang around, it'll just remind me of that real date we're not having,” she explained, Cooper's hands kneading gently at her shoulder blades through her shirt. “You should go, before I actually get in trouble.”

“You're sure?” Cooper prodded as he put a few inches of distance between them, enough to peer down to her face, still crestfallen but acquiesced to her situation.

“No,” she admitted with a sigh, but a light chuckle proceeded, and she finally placed her palms against the black fabric that clung to his chest. “But you're too distracting, and I suddenly have extra work to do.”

“What do you want for dinner?” he asked as he stepped out from behind the desk, glancing over as a few customers shuffled into the store.

“Surprise me.”

🔪

A few hours had passed since Cooper had departed for the night, his personal sabotage of their plans having backfired slightly when Delilah had insisted he enjoy his evening elsewhere. It wasn't as if he didn't want to spend actual off-the-clock quality time with her, it simply wasn't particularly safe doing so in public areas where he would actually be looked at by strangers – not ignored and turned away from, like when he walked the mall on his patrols. He'd managed to go unnoticed by the population this long, and now that he'd found himself a pleasant distraction in the bookseller, he felt less inclination to take risks outsides the mall property. And so, the Butcher found himself at home, with his thighs fallen lazily in opposite directions on his couch, viewing the CCTV feed of the register-facing camera of the bookstore he'd easily hacked into, several weeks before. Generally, he watched from the diminutive screen of his phone, or a monitor at his security desk, so the comfort of his own furniture was a nice change of pace. Atypically though, he found Delilah not busying herself with shelf stocking, or cleaning, or even assisting customers. Apparently unconcerned with the idea of shoppers walking in, Cooper watched the focus of his non-violent desires lying on her back across the varnished surface of the register desk, a forearm across her brow, the other hand over her stomach. It was the buzzing of her cellphone that brought her out of her half-conscious rest.

Delilah gripped her phone and peered at the screen with squinting eyes. A number she didn't recognize displayed across the digital surface, attached to a text message that simply stated <Pick up the phone>. Plucking her earbuds away, she willed herself into a seated position, and her body froze briefly as the store phone began to ring. Glancing back to her cell, she reached to the business phone and, in her usual customer service voice, announced the store name, and her own name, but was cut off before she could finish the spiel. “Working hard?” the voice on the other end asked.

“Who...Cooper?” she inquired, glancing back at her personal phone again, realizing he'd never actually given her his cell number. They worked together so much, she supposed it had simply never come up, though she didn't recall relaying her personal number to him, either.

“Yeah, it's me,” he confirmed, readjusting on his sofa as he watched her via his television, her whole body seeming to perk up at the sound of his voice. “What are you up to?”

“Just...working,” Delilah answered, sliding carefully off the desk and onto her feet.

“It sure doesn't look like it,” Cooper quipped, and watched the figure on the screen as she looked around.

“What?” she asked simply, almost sure she had heard him wrong.

“I said, it sure doesn't sound like it,” he corrected, his shoulder twitching slightly at he leaned forward atop the pillowy cushions.

Delilah looked around in all directions, even trudging out just beyond the empty store opening, glancing down both sides of the corridor, seeing no one in either direction. “What exactly do I sound like when I'm working?” she questioned into the store phone, walking back inside.

“You just don't sound...busy,” he tried again, annoyed with himself at his own slip-up.

“Well...you're not wrong. I'm so bored,” she confessed.

“More than usual?”

“Well, yeah, I mean...I already did all the stuff I do at night, during the day, since the regular morning crew never manage to do anything but assist customers...and I don't even have a handsome distraction around-”

“I offered to stay-”

“I know,” she cut into his reminding words, and a sigh wasn't far behind. “I just hope your night is going better than mine.”

Cooper thought briefly to the body in his personal basement, chopped into pieces, soaked in bleach, waiting for the burial he would be conducting later that night, several miles from his current home, but that event was still hours away. “It's better now,” he stated simply. “I'm sorry our date didn't go the way we planned.”

“It's okay. It's not your fault,” she answered, incorrectly, her voice noticeable more somber. Returning to the register desk, she placed the phone down a moment to hop back up on the wooden surface, crossing her legs and slumping forward with her elbows on her knees, the phone returning to her ear.

“Well...maybe I can make it up to you, anyway,” Cooper murmured, watching her through the large screen.

“We already agreed to postpone, so-”

“No, tonight,” he answered before she could finish her thought, and her brows quirked at his words. “I, uh...I stowed a little something in the desk this afternoon. I wanted to save it for our date, but that didn't exactly go as planned,” he confessed. It wasn't a complete lie, after all.

“What do you mean, you...” Delilah inquired, confusion all over her features as she slid off again, squatting on the cashier side of the desk, and glancing around the various compartments, finally dragging out a small, square box with a ribbon wrapped around it. “Cooper, what did you do?” she asked, her voice a bit warmer as she tugged at the fastenings and opened the box, staring silently.

“Do you like it,” Cooper asked, as if he could see her, and she glanced around once more before redirecting her gaze to the box.

“Cooper, it's beautiful, but...I can't accept this,” she mumbled, drawing out an ornate silver bracelet, with branch-like pieces forming a cuff, embedded with blue opals of various sizes. Despite her words, she wedged the phone between her ear and shoulder to maneuver the piece of jewelry around her wrist.

“Of course you can,” Cooper answered, finally standing from his seat on his couch, casually crossing the room to watch his screen more closely, and the woman displayed upon it.

“Cooper, we haven't even been on our real first date yet, and this is...it's way too expensive,” she continued, looking at it for a few seconds more, adorning her wrist, before her shoulders slumped noticeably, and she began to take it off again.

“It really wasn't that much. I picked it up at that little jewelry kiosk that moved out, a few weeks ago. There lease was up, and they were having a big sale-”

“I don't remember seeing any jewelry kiosk-”

“They were sort of hidden down one of the lesser-used hallways...they never really stood a chance,” Cooper explained, his gaze drifting to the floor, where several feet below him, the original owner of the bracelet was sorted into garbage bags.

🔪

“...Young woman has disappeared...last seen at...security is being increased to...authorities need your help in discovering...searches have been unsuccessful thus far...”

Delilah had been only half-listening to the report of a recent disappearance, something she didn't often pay attention to, as she waited for an update on the upcoming stormy weather projected for the next few days. She'd likely not have paid any attention at all, save for the fact that the woman in question had last been seen at the mall she worked at, or rather, her last purchase had been at one of the stores there. In such a quiet town, vanishings like this were unusual, so much so that several mall employees – especially the young women – had started traveling in pairs. Delilah, of course, was not so concerned, given the distraction of the romance brewing between herself and a certain security guard, but she certainly didn't decline when he offered to drop her off at her vehicle that night.

🔪

“I really appreciate this,” Delilah announced as she slid into the passenger side of the patrol truck Cooper sat in, her door closing noisily, reaching to buckle her seat belt.

“Hey, you know I don't mind,” Cooper assured, putting on a friendly smile as he tilted his head to look at her, so much smaller than himself, so foolishly at ease in his presence. His smile gradually fell away as he watched her get situated, a memory sparked of a previous victim who had been stupid enough to hitchhike in this day and age.

“-per...Cooper?” her voice crept in, pulling him out of his reminiscence, and his smile re-appeared, shaking his head, and sliding the key into the ignition.

“It's nothing, I'm fine,” he assured, taking a steady breath as he put the vehicle into reverse, and backed out from the security area into the main parking lot, putting the weight of his foot against the break pedal. “Hey, would you, uh...do you mind if I do a quick patrol first? Just around the parking lot? Get it out of the way, and uh...” he reached out with his right hand as his left remained steady on the steering wheel, his digits brushing some loose strands behind her ear, making sure to let his roughened fingertips ghost over the the sensitive skin, “make sure it's safe.” His knuckled grazed the side of her neck, and Cooper watched as Delilah sucked in the middle of her bottom lip, just for a moment, teeth grazing the skin before her lips parted and she took in a shallow breath.

“Of...of course,” she managed, tilting her head to look his way as he returned his right hand back to the wheel. “Yeah, there's not much point in you dropping me off if you haven't looked around first.”

“Exactly,” Cooper agreed, his eyes returning to the empty concrete lot before him as he maneuvered the steering wheel and put the truck into drive.

They traveled slowly along the different levels of the parking garage first, both driver and passenger looking around in all directions for other vehicles and wandering people, finding none. Eventually, they got back down to the ground level again, Delilah giving a tiny squeak that made Cooper's lips curl in the corner slightly when he drove over a speed bump too quickly. Next came the greater parking lot, striped concrete spread out in all directions, every inch of it empty of vehicles and people, save for his and her own, which he drove past without stopping. About five minutes had passed by the time he brought the vehicle to a stop, not in the vicinity of her car, but in an area of the parking lot that went mostly unused, the concrete cracked and warped by the tree roots that had broken through, the foliage creating a thick canopy above.

“Why...are we stopping here?” Delilah spoke up as Cooper shifted the truck into park and turned the key to shut off the engine.

“Honestly?” he asked as he popped the keys into the sunglasses compartment and rolled the manual window down a few inches for fresh air.

“Yeah, of course,” she answered, watching as he unclasped his seat belt and let it slide back home.

“I, uh...I guess I'm just not ready to say goodnight,” he explained, reaching out for her hand and grasping it carefully in his own, much larger one. “I'll turn the truck back on, and drive you back to your car right now, if you want, but...I'd really like you to stay.” When her hand gently slipped out of his after a few seconds of silence, his lip twitched slightly with annoyance, but instead of speaking up immediately, she moved to unbuckle her seat belt as well, dragging it off of her body, looking back up to him as a faint smile returned to his face. “Good.”

Cooper adjusted in his seat, shifting his body so he was at more of an angle, taking her hand again and running his thumb over her knuckles. “Can I be honest?” he asked, running his tongue over his lips as she watched his hand manipulate hers, weaving his large fingers between her slender digits. She nodded, silent, lifting her gaze to his as he placed his free hand against his door and used the leverage to push his body nearer to the center of the upholstered bench seat, Delilah's body remaining still.

“Of course,” she mumbled, and his lips quirked. Of course. That tiny phrase that served as a reminder of her trust. He briefly wondered when and if the day would come when she would tell him no, and truly mean it. If he could dig his claws in deep enough, he believed, it never would. A permanent, little toy to play with and manipulate. Something about the thought made him feel...something akin to comfort. Comfort in control. “You can tell me anything,” she spoke up and his eyes darted back to hers, again. I'm sure you think so.

“I've been...I've wanted to get you all to myself for weeks. I think about you...all the time. You're always with me, even when we're apart,” he explained, his hand leaving hers to brush more hair behind her ear, running his knuckles along the edge of her jaw, carefully grasping her chin and directing her to look at him, and only him. It was easier to tell if his lies were accepted as truth when he could stare directly into a person's eyes, not that what he said was actually untrue, just...not in the way she was meant to believe.

“Did you plan this?” she asked, displaying not an ounce of resistance as she allowed him to manipulate her movements, or lack thereof. He tilted his head slightly to one side, his brows coming together, feigning confusion. “Getting me all alone in your truck, away from prying eyes?”

His lips formed a smile that didn't reach his eyes. “I can't do the things I want to do to you, in public, in front of cameras and customers...and you don't like the basement,” he explained, both his large hands on her face now, a thumb against her lips, manipulating the pillowy flesh.

“Wh-what do you...wanna do to me,” she whimpered, Cooper adjusting his body on the elongated seat and shifting closer, reducing the distance between them.

“Truthfully?” he whispered, closing in as she shifted her own body to slide closer, her hands finding the collar of his button-down shirt. She nodded, silent save for the staggered breaths that escaped her. “I wanna ruin you,” he rasped, and his lips were against hers, for the first time, and her flesh felt just as soft as he'd imagined. His kisses were soft, careful, almost chaste, his fingers weaving into her hair as he encouraged her closer, her body adjusting until she was practically in his lap. Cooper's lips teased, the contact so light that Delilah felt compelled to lean into him, pressing her mouth more fully to his, a hint of a grunt sounding from deep in the Butcher's throat. As careful as he had began, his facade started to slip, and what were initially gentle touches escalated, his mouth quickly manipulating hers open, pressing his tongue inside so deeply, so invasively. His fingers that had glided through her hair began to grip and hold to the point of being painful, as if he were trying to consume her. Hands much smaller than his own began to press against his chest, not to pull him closer as he had expected, and a protesting noise sounded from her throat. Cooper's eyes suddenly opened when he felt her start to smack at his chest, finally releasing her.

His breathing was heavy as he stared at her, his eyes heavy, hers wide and unnerved. “Cooper, what the hell? I...I think you should take me to my car n-”

“No, I...” Cooper immediately pulled an apologetic face, reaching for her hand when she began to put space between their bodies. “Delilah, I'm so sorry, I just...I want you so much. I got carried away,” he explained, watching her eyes unblinkingly, seeking her honest reaction. When her eyes shifted from his to the door handle at her side, he spoke up again. “It's just been so long since I've felt this way, and I...I didn't mean to scare you,” he insisted, reaching for the hand closest to his, drawing it back to his chest where she had pushed him away. Placing his own hand over hers, he reached the other forward to graze her jaw, feather-light. “Please don't go.”

Delilah's gaze rested on the large hand that held her own to Cooper's chest, her fingers curled slightly. The Butcher's own hand carefully gripped the bookseller's wrist as her fingers rose up the side of his neck, grazing his dark hair and circling up to push it out of his face. His hand ghosted over the length of her arm, over her shoulder, her body shifting closer to his again as his fingertips met the nape of her neck. He swallowed noticeably as she edged nearer, his empty eyes focused on hers, and he closed the gap between them when she finally pressed in close enough.

“I'm sorry,” he whispered between his gentler, softer kisses, his digits gliding into her hair again, grasping gently, guiding her closer with control in his movements. Just as their lips began to part, the tips of their tongues grazing one another, Cooper's mouth abandoned hers. Leaving a trail of kisses against her cheek, along her jaw, down her neck when she allowed herself to be pulled into his lap once more, his lips grazed over her clavicle, back up her throat and along the back of her ear, his hands gripping her a little tighter, in her hair and at her waist, when she whimpered at the feel of his damp lips against the the sensitive little hollow, just behind her earlobe. “Here?” he whispered, letting the tip of his tongue dance over the taut skin hiding behind the cartilage, mushing his lips against her there when she let out another pathetic, wordless vocalization. “And here?” he continued, his mouth descending again to the junction of her throat that had made her twitch on his first pass, her hands gripping his shoulder, fisting in his hair, though not as harshly as his had when he'd frightened her. “Should I mark you? Right here?” he breathed, his hand abandoning her hair to scrape a short nail down the side of her neck. His mouth was on her throat before she could manage words, and he began to suck, her body twitching, her free hand finding his chin while the other gripped harder in his hair, pulling his mouth away from her before he could break capillaries.

“Stop,” she managed, her breathing heavy, eyes barely open, her grip lightening when he ceased, leaned slightly away. “They already think we're...” Delilah began, licking her parched lips, and swallowing despite her dry throat.

“They already think we're what?” Cooper murmured as he began to lean in again, seeking out her throat once more, his lips securing over her flesh, practically tasting her pulse. When words failed her, when Delilah found herself unable to do much of anything but sink into him, and tangle her fingers in his soft mane, he pulled away just enough to form words. “They already think we're fucking?” She made a noise, barely an mmph through her pursed lips, fighting her own body's need to vocalize. “Disappearing into my office,” he mumbled as his lips grazed up her throat, to the little hollow behind her ear that he was quickly finding to be a spot that made her squirm. “What do they say? That I fuck you on that ragged carpet? That you sit on your knees at my chair and suck my cock? Do they think I shove the papers off my desk and drop you down on it, just so I can-”

“Cooper...” Delilah whimpered against his jaw as she felt his fingers searching for the zipper of her work pants, practically ripping the button off as he began to spread the fabric. “You have a...a vivid imagination...Cooper, we can't-”

“Can't what?” he rasped, already manipulating her body with his other hand, adjusting her so her ass was against the crotch of his pants, the contents below his own zipper rigid and straining against the layers of fabric. “I just wanna touch...I need to touch you, sweetheart,” he whispered, his whisker-roughened cheek against her temple as his digits slid beneath the elastic lace that served as her only protection from his demanding hand.

“Coop-” Delilah couldn't even manage to get his name out of her mouth before he cut her off with his own, his mouth as confident as his fingers that penetrated her soaked folds, so slick from his physical attention, his evocative words.

“Take them off,” Cooper whispered against her parted lips, and there was no suggestion in his words, no more room for discussion.

Even as the young woman's hands began to work at the fabric that clung to her hips, she still managed a weak, “I don't think this is a good idea.”

“Don't you?” Cooper questioned, watching her struggle to shove the clingy pants down her legs, kicking off her shoes. “Don't you wanna cum? Don't you want to cum for me, in my hand, on these fingers?” He held up his hand to demonstrate just how much larger it was than her own, already sticky from her juices, his clean hand weaving under her work shirt, working its way past the underwire of her bra to grasp at a soft mound of flesh, the peak already at full attention. “You can pretend to be a good girl all you want,” he rasped, his mouth at her throat once more, his slick fingers seeking out her molten heat again, Delilah's own hand not far behind, gripping his and guiding him to fuck her deeper with his wicked digits. “But we both know you're a sl-”

“No,” she mumbled, her unbusied hand in his soft, chestnut strands, “I don't...I'm not-”

“You're just weak for me, aren't you?” he corrected. “These hands...these big, strong, fucking fingers...filling you up...mmm, just like that,” he whispered against her skin as she rocked her hips against his plunging digits, his other hand squeezing her breast tight in his grip, receiving a needy whine in return. When his mouth began to suck at her throat again, his clever fingers curling and stroking at the spongy flesh that made her shudder, she didn't pull him away from her as she had before, only gripped his hair tighter, holding him against her, his scruff scraping her oversensitive skin deliciously. “I thought you didn't want me to,” he murmured, but he was suckling at her skin before she could get her words out.

“I...I don't care...I want you to,” she whimpered, rutting against his fingers.

“Mmm, what else do you want me to do,” he groaned, his lips latching onto her neck again, the flesh beneath already bruising from his persistence.

“Ha...Uh...nothing that I'd-uh...nothing that I'd...let you do to me...in this truck,” she gasped out between breaths, her throat dry from her needy little noises, her pussy so damned wet from his deft fingers.

“Not yet, maybe...I bet you'd let me fuck you right here if I asked real nice...I know you can feel how fucking hard I am,” he rasped, grinding his straining cock against her ass through the frustratingly tight layers of his pants and boxer-briefs. “I bet you'd cum all fucking over me...oh, that's right, baby...are you gonna cum for me?” his words were nearly overshadowed by her whimpers at he drew his hand out from under her bra to join his other, plunging and curling his digits inside, engulfed by her walls, as his fresh hand went to work, sliding low enough to reach her nectar, and gliding back up to stroke at her neglected clit. Her fingers were at the back of his head, guiding him to her throat again, where he began to suck at the already marred flesh once more, his efforts finally reaching fruition as her moans turned into cries, her walls flexing and pulsing around his nimble fingers as she came in his hand. The Butcher's mouth didn't leave her neck until the twitching of her thighs, her aftershocks, finally eased. Delilah's whole body seemed to tremble yet as he finally extracted his fingers, lifted them to her lips where he slipped them inside, just enough for her to taste the effect he had on her, his own mouth overtaking hers as soon as he drew his digits away. This time, there was no protest, no fight, just her overstimulated body caving to his will.

🔪 🔪 🔪 🔪 🔪 🔪 🔪 🔪 🔪 🔪 🔪 🔪 🔪

tagging as requested : @one-of-thewalkingdead , @gissellec1 , @rainingrabbits89-blog , @pinkflowerwombat , @sashimeep , @strangererotica @the-butchers-baby @callsign-fangirl @hibiskooks

If I forgot anyone, I apologize, and please let me know if you want to be tagged in the next one

COMMENTS AND REBLOGS AND TAGS ARE DEEPLY APPRECIATED. 💙

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arielburrow · 10 months ago

Text

So It Goes

part two, part one here

As cliche as it is, the only way to describe this feeling was fireworks. It was every time four years ago, and it still is today. However, no feeling could ever suppress guilt, at least for you it seemed. It only took you a second to push yourself away from him, you watched as his head dropped and eyes shut, reality most likely hitting him too.

“i’m sorry, that was a mistake-,” he says looking at you with saddened eyes. “Joe that wasn’t just your fault, i think we just had one too many drinks, just forget that ever happened,” you tried to nervously laugh it off, but he wasn’t picking up on the joke. Instead, his expression dropped even more as he turned back towards the city. “Your right, that didn’t mean anything let’s just forget about it.” He says sternly as his face hardens. You were slightly confused at his tone, he seemed almost angry. “Joe, are you mad? I mean you know that was wrong, you have a girlfriend-”

“Obviously I know it was wrong y/n, that’s why I said it was a mistake and we should just wipe it from our minds, that shouldn’t be too hard for you right? You had no problem wiping me from your mind once before, what’s the problem with doing it again?” He blankly states rather loudly, whipping his head towards you before brushing past you and making his way inside. You couldn’t help but feel shocked at his words, it’s like a switch flipped in him and you had no clue what to say. It seemed as if he was still grieving the past, but that’s no excuse for reacting in such a way, especially when you only said that for the sake of protecting his relationship.

Entering the venue once again, there was a visibly shrunken crowd as many had started their goodbyes by now. “y/n! There you are! I left you like 30 text messages, where were you?” Rachel comes up to you in curiosity. “Um…I’ll catch you up in the uber,” you reply giving her a look that she instantly picked up on with curious eyes. “Wellll than let’s go say goodbye to our favorite couple because the car should be here in five minutes,”She pulls you over to say goodbye.

“Jesus woman I lose you for like a half hour and you find yourself in some scandal?” Rachel reply’s shocked at your recollection of what happened between you and Joe. “I know I know, it’s so weird how everything happened, but his reaction was even weirder. Obviously i’m just as much at fault as him for the kiss, but cmon you would think he would have been practically begging me to keep quiet, given his girlfriend was literally on the other side of the door!” You try to express your confusion, but deep down you didn’t even know how to feel about the whole thing.

“Listen, I think you need to just cool off a little, give it a night, and revisit this whole thing in the morning,” Rachel suggests as you make your way up her drive way. “Let’s get out of these tight ass dresses and binge watch Grey’s Anatomy for the tenth time. Okay?” She smiles at your happy nod and you both do just as she says.

You’d be lying if you said you got a good night sleep. Your mind kept you up all night racing with the most random thoughts. Staring at the ceiling of Rachel’s guest room all night you questioned yourself. Should you be mad at him or should you have gone after him last night? Should you text him? Should you just go back home and try to pretend like his face isn’t on every billboard you see? You’re drawn out of your thoughts due to a chime from your phone. You turn over and reach for it, noticing it’s still early in the morning. Your heart leaps when you notice the notification.

Joe-Hey y/n, I hope this is still your number, it’s Joe btw. I know it sounds crazy, but i was wondering if you could meet me for coffee today around noon? I know a really discrete spot away from any attention, I just rlly need to talk to you.

You let the message sink in for a moment. God this all felt so awful, you can’t help but feel as if this whole thing was entirely your own fault. You felt as if your presence in Joes life had become a burden once again. Instead of consulting with Rachel, or giving yourself time to think, you quickly responded.

y/n- i’m sorry but i don’t think that’s the best idea. I’m so sorry for causing any confusion or tension yesterday Joe. You’re in a happy relationship and i refuse to come in between that. Thank you for reaching out, but I think it’s best if we both go back to living out separate lives.

Joe knew there was no use in going back and fourth.

Joe- i’ll still be there at noon if you change your mind.

You decided to finally get up and get a head start on breakfast. You got to work in the kitchen and started coffee knowing Rachel would be down any second at the sound of her coffee pot.

“Wow i think im going to have to ask you to move in if I get to wake up to the smell of bacon every morning” She laughs making her way downstairs. “I really don’t think Daniel would be okay with that,” you say making both of your plates as she takes a seat at the barstools. “Please, not like he would even notice anyway, he’s practically gone every weekend now for work,” she rolls her eyes and you can’t help but frown at your friends obviously discontent. “I’m sorry hun, here eat up, i’ll make your coffee,” you push the plate of food towards her. “This is amazing y/n i cant believe you have to go back today” she muffles with a mouth full of food. “I know, I’m going to miss you, but i’m so close now! We can visit so much more often,” you smile as you sit with her over breakfast.

“So, have you given any thought into the whole Joe situation?” she questions. “Yeah actually, he texted this morning and asked that I meet him for coffee and to talk about something,” you respond with a shrug and she gives you a questioning look. You shake your head, “I shut it down, I just cannot get myself involved again you know? Someone’s going to end up hurt and I would rather just avoid that.” Rachel just gives you a look that tells you she silently disagrees but supports your opinion. “Whatever makes you happy y/n, i mean really at this point that’s all that matters, life’s too short to not wake up everyday with a smile on your face.” She says, leaving you puzzled. “Are you stoned right now or something?” You question genuinely concerned with her optimism. You both laugh as the dishes make there way to the sink and you head back upstairs.

You start to pack up all your stuff, hoping to hit the road soon, when your phone begins to ring.

“Hi mom.” you answer, not exactly in the mood for the drama she was most likely about to unleash on you, but still missing her voice. “Hi honey! How are you? How was the wedding?” she says sounding way too happy as usual. “It was beautiful, really nice to see everyone again.”

“Oh I bet, what about ocean eyes, how’s he doing?” your mom giggles at her name for him. “Um, how did you know Joe was there?” she question in a confused tone. “Well i mean I assumed he would be, but I also may have ran into Robin yesterday and had a long long chat with her,” She reply’s. “How in Gods name did you run into Joes mom? You guys live in different cities?” You question her once more. “Oh honey it was completely by chance. She was doing foundation stuff yesterday at my school and came and met with all the little kids, it was adorable! But anyways…that was not the topic of our chat. It was much more interesting I would say.”

“That’s nice you guys got to catch up mom. I talked to Joe a little bit yesterday too, he seemed great, really happy,”you decide to leave out a couple details of your encounter. You mom lets out a laugh that catches you by surprise. “Oh man, he got you to,” she giggles leaving you even more confused. “Mom what are you-”

“just listen. Robin was telling me all about him yesterday and oh honey let me tell you that boy is a wreck. Apparently he has this new girlfriend that he hates but just can’t seem to convey the message to.”

“Mom i’m sure he doesn’t hate her, maybe they just had a rough pat-“

“Oh no honey trust me. Robin says he’s tried breaking up with her TWICE already, but she just doesn’t get the memo. According to Joe she’s only in it for the attention and doesn’t actually show interest in him, just the life surrounding him. Oh! And! Robin says she’s a very disrespectful girl, no manners-”

“Okay okay mom that’s enough,” you finally cut her off. “I didn’t realize they weren’t doing good, that must be hard on him,” you respond genuinely feeling your gut drop at your moms confession. “Sorry y/n that was a lot, butttt I just thought you should know, you know that you live closer to him, you just never know!” she laughs trying to sound convincing. Your mom always rooted for you and Joe to be together, he was your first actually boyfriend and she was just as heartbroken when you told her you had gone separate ways. “Well thank you very much for the scoop mom but I really have to get going, I love you.” You hang up with her and flop back on the bed. I guess when you thought about it, it did make sense, Joe didn’t seem like himself last night even with the awkward situation you guys fell into. Your heart ached and you weren’t sure exactly why.

“Alright, i’m out rach!” You yell from the bottom of the stairs watching her hurry down. She hugs you tightly and smiles, “Promise me we’ll have another slumber party soon, i don’t care if we’re pushing 30!” she exclaims and you both laugh. “I promise”

You say your goodbyes and eventually you make your way to your car. You still had most of the day given it was only 11:30 and your place was only about 30 minutes away. You shuffled your playlist and began to drive. You tried to distract yourself as much as possible, thinking about plans for the week or work calls you had to make, but nothing was working. As you made your way through the city all you could think about was him. You’ve been putting on this front for so long now, trying to convince everyone in your life you were happy and doing okay. But the truth was much different and knowing Joe was in that same boat somehow brought a tear to your eye.

As you approached a light you wiped it away but they kept falling. You weren’t sure exactly why you were in the midst of a breakdown, but you figured it was a little bit of everything. You decided to pull into a parking lot and let yourself regroup. You noticed the time once again 11:45.

I’ll still be there at noon if you change your mind

God you hoped he kept his word because you were in-fact changing your mind.

You quickly reset your maps to the location he had sent you which was about 25 minutes away. Your entire body fell into autopilot on the way there. You forbid yourself to think about what you would say to him, knowing you would probably convince yourself to turn back around. Instead you focused on Rachel’s words this morning. Her unexpected declaration on happiness crept back into your mind, that’s why you were doing this, you had to keep telling yourself that.

Finally you pulled into the parking lot, hoping one of the few cars was his. He was right, this was out of the way from any public eye, it was quiet. Opening the door to the coffee shop you were greeted with a smile which you returned. You looked around with a held breath, releasing it once your eyes landed on him.

He looked up and you watched his face almost light up at the sight of you, you couldn’t help but smile. “Hey..” you say taking a seat in the booth across from him. “I didn’t think you would show up, i mean you said-”

“i know, i know, but i just had a change of mind and felt like it would be best to come talk to you, or at least hear whatever you had to say.” you finish as a woman comes to take both of your orders.

“y/n im sorry for the way i reacted yesterday. It was immature and i was just overthinking things.” he says with sorry eyes. “Joe im not upset over what happened yesterday, just confused, really confused.” you respond as you both fall into silence.

“I broke things off with Stephanie last night.” He quietly says reading you face for an expression. Your eyebrows raised, “why did you do that?” you questioned knowing that he wasn’t happy in their relationship, but wanting to ensure that was the only reason for him doing so. “I just couldn’t take it. I mean after you, i dated around a lot and i always seemed to get myself involved with someone just so i didn’t feel lonely. And you know, the first few months with her were nice, but she fell into this mindset that she was better than everyone else because she was dating me and sometimes it felt like she wasn’t even my girlfriend in private,” he takes a breath and a sip of his coffee after both of yours are set on the table. “I figured I would rather just face my fear of being alone then be with someone who didn’t actually care for me,” he shrugs, taking another sip. You had never seen Joe show so much emotion before, and you couldn’t help that feeling that once again rose within you. “I’m so sorry Joe, that’s terrible, but i’m glad you called it quits,” you smile and reach out to squeeze his hand. Instead of pulling it away, you let it rest on his for just a second, watching as his eyes look up to yours with a smile and a slight blush. You quickly retract your hand, trying but failing once again to hide your rosy cheeks.

“I want to hear more about you,” he says as he rips off the top of his muffin and pushes it towards you, knowing it was your favorite part. You smile at the gesture, “well, i don’t really know, i’m just getting settled here right now and getting used to seeing your face on every building in sight,” you say with a smile causing him to laugh. “Yeah it’s definitely crazy,” he shakes his head. “Oh cmon, just admit you kinda like the attention,” you smirk trying to get something out of him. He just shakes his head, “i promise you i would spend everyday of this off-season on my couch if i could, people are crazy, can’t even get food without being asked for a picture. That’s why I wanted to come here, i know all the staff and it’s just a bunch of oldies,” he says the last part with a whisper laugh. You smile as you lean in for a sip of your coffee. You both fall into a comfortable silence as you try to sneak a few looks at him. He looked well rested, even with his disheveled hair and mismatch sweats. You noticed he still wore all his wristbands, even gaining a few more. It was shocking how much he really hadn’t changed after all these years. “What are you thinking about?” he interrupts your train of thought noticing your observant eyes.

“I don’t know, I just think it’s funny how much your environment has changed, but you stayed the same. I guess I kind of assumed years ago that once you went to the league you would become a different person. But i guess that’s really not the case huh?” he smiles at your confession and to your surprise reaches out for your hand. “I promise i’m still the person you fell in love with years ago y/n,” he says quietly making sure your the only one who could hear. You can’t help but smile at his words. It felt like you were both silently rekindling a flame that never truly went out. “You know what you said about wiping you from my mind isn’t true Joe. If we’re being honest here, you haven’t left my mind at all these past years. I think that’s why dating was so hard in Florida, you set my standards high.” you smile at him and watch his blush deepen. “I didn’t mean to be so snappy with you, I don’t know why i got so heated,” he says making you both laugh.

“I should get going, I was hoping to make it back to Covington before three.” you give him a sad smile, truly wishing you could spend more time with him. “Yeah i’ll walk out with you,” you both make your way to your cars, which you had conveniently parked right next to his. “Listen, y/n..” you both stop behind the cars. “I get it if you’ve moved on, i mean i don’t want to put you in a bad situation. But, it would really mean the world to me if we could get together sometime, i don’t know maybe get dinner?” he scratches the back of his head, clearly nervous at the request.

You think for a moment, letting silence settle between the two of you. These last few days you’ve felt like you were reliving your college years, or at least reviving your college heart. Because in all honesty, no part of you has truly taken any step since you’ve lost Joe. In that moment you knew what was missing and why you’ve been running from the truth for so long.

You placed a hand behind Joes neck and pulled him down to you, mashing your lips into his. You feel his initial shock, but eventual excitement as he wraps his arms around your waist and deepens the kiss. The worry and confusion that had been aching through you all weekend seemingly dissipated as your lips moved together just as they did years ago. You both pull away in smiles and you laugh at Joes face of shock.

“We clearly have a lot of catching up to do Burrow,” you smirk as you look up to him, still within close proximity. “I think dinner would be nice,” you respond pushing off of his chest and making your way to the drivers door. You hear Joes giggles as he makes his way to his car. You smile to yourself, shocked at what just went down, put proud of what you were able to accept.

The ride home to Covington was much happier then the previous attempt. You notice a message from Joe pop up on your screen. Stoping at a light, you smile to yourself as you read his text.

Hope you still like sushi cause i know a great place for takeout. My place Friday at 7?

part 3 here

#joe burrow #joeburrow #cincinnati bengals #joe burrow fic #joe burrow x reader #joe burrow x y/n #joe burrow imagine #joey burrow

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the-girl-wh0-cries-w0lf · 1 year ago

Text

Tiny humans - Dr James Wilson x peds!reader

description: House gets to meet Wilson's new girlfriend for the first time when his case takes him into his worst nightmare...peds. House is in for a shock at the ball of sunshine who has his best friend on a string.

authors note: my first post for this series I want to do of oneshots and my first fanfic post on tumblr ever...enjoy!!! Btw i'm taking a lot of inspo from Arizona Robbins from Greys anatomy

Masterlist

REQUESTS OPEN FOR PEDS!READER - request here

House limped down the hallway followed by an exasperated Wilson who was concerned at his friends eager step, seeing as he was on his way to see a patient. How un-house-like.

"This is peds remember, these aren't normal patients. They don't lie, they don't have ulterior motives, they're just...kids." Wilson halted his friends shoulder and turned him towards his concerned face.

"So, wait until they've had a sip of beer before berating their existence?" House mockingly tilted his head in faux concern. Wilson's mouth opened but all that left was a sigh.

After confirming that his friend was no longer going to halt the inevitable, he continued on with a new fervour in his limp. But Wilson didn't stop there and sped to catch up with the surprising amount of ground his friend had covered.

"You see she loves these kids almost...almost like they're her own. She's smart and is excellent at what she does but she doesn't care about that." Wilson paused and looked back into his mind, picturing the moment he first saw her in a child's room, a plastic tiara on her head and an empty teacup perfectly clasped between her fingers.

"She cares about the kids."

"Wow. I'm touched." House grasps his chest and wipes away a non-existant tear. "Do you know how easy being a paediatrician is. They can't lie until they grow teeth and after that they're stupid enough to reveal to us when their parents lie. There's a reason it's 'daddy touches my special place' and not 'daddy gets aroused by children.'"

"That's it I'm making the rule. No pedaphile jokes."

"But the jokes literally in the name...peds"

"Who lets you around children?"

"Who lets me around people? Haha, I got you there!" He jabs a finger into Wilson's chest. Wilson rolls his eyes and holds out his arm to prevent his morose friend entering the land of happiness. Well as happy as a bunch of sick kids can be.

"Well let me appeal to your true nature." Wilson sighs. "I like this girl and she likes me. Please don't ruin it?"

"How could I say no to those puppy dog eyes. Fine! But only in the name of your libido, at least until I finish my soul-searching and realise my true calling is your bed."

Whilst House finishes his thought, they are spotted by a woman in pink scrubs, absent of any colour of coat. She briskly walks towards the two.

"Dr Wilson, Dr House. My name is..."

"I don't remember nurses names, it's nothing personal, I rarely remember anyones."

Wilson coughs and shoves his friends shoulder to direct him towards your burning gaze.

"As I was saying, my name is DOCTOR y/l/n. Pleasure to meet you."

Despite the gaze, her smile remains cheerful and she extends her hand for House to shake. Reluctantly, he eventually offers it and it is taken in a firm and bouncy handshake.

"James has told me so much about you, to be honest I'm surprised our paths have not crossed sooner. Regardless, today I am so happy to welcome you both to peds. The most magical place on earth."

Whilst listening to her, House took stock of the woman in front of him. Her pink scrubs seemed to be the dullest thing about her. Her hair was collected in a ponytail that swished its way down between her shoulder blades. Her pockets were lined with memories of her past. A pink glitter pen given to her from a girl who was continually brought in for asthma, a ball of yarn from a boy who had loved knitting, a yellow sticker saying great job, a blue glitter one saying 'you go girl'. There was a pencil with a yellow smiley face rubber and another that seemed to contain many colours. I guess that just made it all the more fun. House smirked when he saw a pocket protector. Not too dissimilar to the one that lined the pocket of the smitten brunette next to him.

"Gentlemen, this is peds. This is the place of the tiny humans. They like glitter, they play games, they see us as magicians. They believe we are the magical healers who can cure them. So that's how we present ourselves to them. The tiny humans may be tiny but they are strong. Stronger than most. Their bodies fight because they know they have so much life left to live and we try our hardest to give them as much life left as we possibly can."

As the girl speaks, absolutely in awe of her job and the lives it saves. She fails to notice the adoring gaze of the one she calls hers. The brunette looks to her as if she hung the stars and the moon and even though he could hear House's eyes rolling into the back of his skull, he couldn't bring himself to look or care. Not when she was in his line of sight.

"So you will not be stubborn, you will not be blunt or sarcastic. As far as I'm concerned, today you are the two newest editions to the circus. So play the part and follow my lead."

She picks up her files which were each coordinated by colour and glitter. House smirked at this. She turns to push open the door to the unit but falters.

"Also..."

She turns back to face the two men.

"The owners of the tiny humans can be quite volatile. You've been warned. Enjoy!" Her look of warning is quickly replaced by a mask of pure joy.

House softly giggles.

"I like her. Will we soon be hearing the pitter patter of tiny 'Wilson' humans?"

Wilson didn’t even hear his friends comment and instead chose to follow his beauty, like a moth to a flame.

House shrugs.

"Men, never thinking with the right head." As he eyes the glitter residue that adorns Wilson’s sleeve.

#james wilson x reader #dr james wilson x reader #house md #house x reader #james wilson #dr james wilson #dr house #dr house x reader #james wilson x peds!reader #dr james wilson x peds!reader

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ap41cu5 · 4 months ago

Note

ONE OF US ONE OF US ONE OF US (lars pinfield fan!!!!) if you’re still taking requests, could you possibly do one where lucky teases lars on his obvious crush on the reader/character? and reader/character picks up on his nervousness and awkwardness?? sorry if it’s a bit vague. remember to take care of urself and thank you in advance <3 :)

Stifled

Lars Pinfield x Fem! Reader Rating: Slight NSFW - Suggestive Themes Genre: Fluff Word Count: 2464

A/N: thanks so much for your request anon! i really hope this is what you were looking for. ive noticed im struggling to write him completely in character, but i did my best! i hope you enjoy <3

“Oh, please. You totally do! There’s no point in denying it anymore!” You heard Lucky exclaim from the other room before she was hastily hushed.

“Would you keep your voice down!?” Lars seethed as he attempted to hush Lucky.

You were quite literally just one step away from the door, but clearly you were about to walk in on a conversation you weren’t supposed to be hearing.

At first the plan was to come back later, but the next thing you heard immediately motivated you to stay. While you normally weren’t the type to eavesdrop, maybe just today you’d listen for just a few seconds longer.

“Well, it’s not like it matters anyway! You always get so nervous and uptight around her. If I didn’t know any better, I would’ve thought you hated her,” Lucky commented.

Who are they talking about?

Shooting her a glare, he refused to answer and only turned back toward his desk.

“Don’t you have work to be doing?” He irritatedly asked, his tone making it clear that he wanted her to leave.

Lucky hopped onto one of the tables, “why? You want me to go so that you’ll both get some precious alone time once she gets back?” Lucky teased him, a smug grin plastering across her face.

Lars has a crush. The realization struck you right in the gut, one of your hands clutching the side of your uniform.

You couldn’t help the fact that you liked him. There was something about his high intelligence, his attentiveness to detail, and occasional sass that drew you to him, despite him always acting standoffish whenever you were around.

The possibility of him catching feelings for someone else broke your heart. You couldn’t stand the thought of him being with someone who wasn’t you.

“Alright, fine, I’ll go. But I can already smell the look on your face once she gets back!” Lucky giggled on her way out the door.

You immediately began to panic. You could hear her footsteps rapidly growing closer, and there was nowhere to hide in the sector of the lab you were in. So you took the only choice you had and tried to walk through the door as casually as you could muster.

Taking a quick deep breath in and walking in through the door, you were immediately met with Lucky’s face just inches away from yours.

An awkward split second passed where you both just stared at each other before she finally said, “(First Name)! Funny seeing you here!” She raised her voice, making sure Lars could hear her.

“I work here,” you chuckled, “I just got back from my lunch break.” You held up a paper bag containing your leftovers.

She animatedly nodded, “I see, I see. Well, I’ll catch you later, (First Name)!” She slipped past you, “have fun, Lars!”

She gave Lars a knowing look as she walked off, shooting you a quick wink as well.

Lucky was always energetic and cheerful, but she carried a much more playful attitude than usual. Your interest piqued, especially given the previous conversation they had.

You placed your lunch bag down onto your desk as you turned your head to look at Lars. The moment you looked over, you saw his head shift back down to his desk, as though he was already looking at you. Part of you immediately pondered what that look could have possibly meant, but you tried not to overthink it. He probably wanted to see who was approaching, as if Lucky somehow hadn’t made it obvious enough. But you tried not to overthink it. Last thing you’d want would be to get your hopes up only to get shattered once you found out who it was that Lars truly had feelings for.

Despite all of your jumbled thoughts and feelings, you felt a bit bored. You finished the majority of your experiments earlier. You had astute problem solving abilities, but Lars was the one case you just couldn’t crack.

You just couldn’t understand why he hated being around you so much. You were almost always nice, polite, and sweet. And every morning for the past couple of months, you’d arrive at work with a fresh cup of coffee sitting atop of your desk. He had taken the time to memorize how you liked your coffee, and that had to mean something, didn’t it? He couldn’t hate you that much, could he?

Approaching his desk, wandering eyes took a curious peek at what he was working on.

“How’s your experiment coming along?” You asked from over his shoulder.

He immediately seemed to be startled by your presence. The contraption he had been so carefully inspecting clattered to the ground as he flinched, hastily spinning around to face you.

You couldn’t tell if you were imagining it, or if his eyes seemed to soften just for the ephemeral moment they met yours. His expression quickly went from surprised to a mix of embarrassment and fear. A notably unfamiliar expression from him.

“What do you want?” He awkwardly cleared his throat before quickly turning back around.

Just for a second could you see a soft hint of blush tinting his cheeks as he made a clear effort not to look at you. But what did it mean? Why was he so nervous all of the sudden?

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you,” you meekly apologized. “You seem a bit uptight. Is everything okay?”

He huffed, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, sure,” you replied, sarcasm evident in your voice.

“Maybe you’re just more annoying than usual,” he spat, giving you the cold shoulder.

You sighed at his unsurprisingly cold response.

“Have I done something?” You asked, feeling a bit remorseful.

He seemed to tense up all over again at the question as he fumbled with whatever tool he had in his hand at the moment.

“No, everything’s fine. There’s something I must tend to,” he paused for a half second, presumably to come up with a place. “In the bathroom.”

A few seconds passed where you couldn’t find the words to respond. He’d been acting so awkward lately, more awkward than usual.

“...In the bathroom?” You reiterated, unsure if you really heard him correctly.

“Yes– yes, in the bathroom. Now, if you’ll excuse me,” he hastily set down the tool, the other gadget he was holding fumbling out of his grip and clattering onto the surface of his desk.

His boots squeaked against the tile flooring of the lab as he made a beeline down the hallway to the restroom.

You couldn’t help but feel a bit heartbroken. The way he acted so disgusted with you to the point where he couldn’t even stand being in the same room as you made you sick.

“Gee, what’s his deal, am I right?” You heard a voice emerge from behind you.

“Oh, hey Gary,” you greeted him, unable to hide the pain in your voice.

“Agh, don’t sound so disappointed!” He gave your arm a light pat as he crunched on an apple, “seems like he’s like that with everyone. If you ask me, though, I get the feeling he likes you too.”

You scoffed, almost laughing at his response.

“I highly doubt that, Gary. You saw how he acted around me. It’s like he hates me, or something!” You groaned into the palms of your hands like a petulant teenager.

He leaned closer to your ear, “let’s keep this between us, but for him to get all awkward and riled up like that? That’s gotta mean something. Take it from me, he likes you.”

You sighed. While he did sound convincing, you really didn’t want to get your hopes up.

“Yeah, I guess so. I hope you’re right,” you replied, until it finally dawned on you.

“Wait, how did you know I liked him?” You asked, brows furrowing.

He wheezed in response, nearly choking on a bit of his apple.

“Well, shit, is everyone in this lab oblivious, or what?” He chuckled, “trust me, though! I’m a guy. I know how guys act. I mean, he brings you coffee every morning, for Pete’s sake.”

“That’s exactly what makes him so confusing! He took the time out of his day to memorize how I like my coffee, and yet every time I try to talk to him he acts like– he acts like I’m some sort of pest!” You couldn’t tell if you were angry or sad, probably both.

“That’s what I’m telling you! He just doesn’t know how to act around you.” He took another bite of his apple, “I’ve gotta go help Trevor with something back at the firehouse. I’ll catch you later, (First Name),” Gary took his leave, making his way down the hall.

You sat back down at your desk, sinking into your chair as his words replayed in your head. Was it really true? Could it be possible that the person Lucky was teasing Lars about just before your arrival– was it you?

After what seemed to be a few more minutes, Lars finally returned to the bathroom and began working on his usual projects. You decided to leave him alone, sinking into your own work, or at least trying to. But you couldn’t help the fact that Lars was living rent free in the back of your mind, hindering your focus at every opportunity.

Looking back down at your paper, you finally came to terms with the fact that no matter how hard you tried, you wouldn’t be able to get any work done until you found out the truth. No matter how painful that truth may be.

“Lars?” You called out, turning in your chair.

“What is it this time?”

You huffed, part of you wondering if you should have just taken that response as an answer in itself.

“Why do you hate me so much?” The question came out sounding far more vulnerable than you intended.

He sighed, one of his hands messily making its way through his hair.

“I don’t,” there was a painfully long pause, “hate you.”

That response in itself was enough to surprise you. But you wanted more.

“I don’t understand.” you replied. “You avoid me at almost every chance you get, and you’re always mean to me. You bring me coffee every morning and yet every time I try to get closer to you, you push me away.”

You heard him groan, his head in his hands as he exasperatedly threw his head back.

“You’re intolerable,” he said. “I hate the way that you bite the tip of your pen, I hate how you twirl your hair around your fingers, I hate your stupid sense of humor, I hate–”

You were about to open your mouth and you weren’t sure if you were about to tell him to go fuck himself or that you hated him just as equally. Neither of which you would’ve actually meant, but you could feel yourself grow hurt, angry, and confused all at the same time with every word he said.

He seemed to contemplate whether or not to continue, “I hate how beautiful you are without even trying! Do you know how hard it is to focus whenever you’re near me?”

Oh.

It all made sense now. You felt your fists unclench and timed seem to slow down as your brain needed time to process what he just said.

Your legs seemed to move on their own as you approached Lars’ tense form. His hands clutched either side of his desk as his head hung low.

“Lars–” your voice was low and gentle.

“Please don’t say anything,” he pleaded. “I know you must be repulsed by me and that’s no one’s fault but my own–”

You’re not sure what came over you, but you quickly tilted his head towards you, standing on your tippy toes as you pressed your lips against his. His breath seemed to get caught in the pit of his throat as he stood completely frozen.

You quickly pulled away the moment you didn’t feel him kiss back, “I’m sorry, I should’ve asked–”

Your apology was quickly interrupted by the feeling of his hands tenderly gripping the sides of your face as he pulled you back in for another kiss. One of his arms wrapped around your waist and gently pressed your body up against his, a low grumble escaping his chest.

Your tongue gently grazed his bottom lip, requesting an entrance as you felt him exhale against you. He melted into you as he pressed your back against the front of his desk, one of his legs finding their way in between your thighs. Your hands made their way into his soft blonde curls, gently tugging on them as he let out another groan. Your bodies felt like they were melting into one other, like you belonged with each other.

“Do you have any idea how painfully irresistible you are?” He grumbled into your skin, his lips pressing against the lower part of your jaw.

You sharply inhaled through your teeth. The feeling of him kissing down your neck sending a shiver down your spine.

“I hadn’t realized you were so pent up,” you replied, nails digging into the back of his uniform.

“Spent so many late nights where you were all I could think about. You have no idea how frustrating that was, do you?” his leg pressed against you, making you squirm.

“Why d’you think I kept trying to get closer to you? I love looking at your stupidly handsome face,” you murmured, licking your lips and going in to kiss him again.

“That right?” his head was tilted as his teeth sunk down on your lower lip.

“It is,” you felt yourself growing needy.

“Ahem!”

The sound of someone loudly clearing their throat could be heard throughout the lab as you both quickly pulled away from each other. Eyes darting to the source of the nose, you were both met by sight of Winston standing in the doorway.

“I was about to congratulate the both of you on your latest findings, but it seems like the two of you are.. busy right now.” He bore an awkward expression, “look, I’ll come back another time. But please not in the lab. That’s disgusting.”

You awkwardly chuckled, “yeah, no. Of course. That’s– we’re at work that would be so unsanitary. And gross. We would never–” Lars had to interrupt your awkward rambling by giving you a quick nudge.

Winston gave the both of you an awkward nod as he quickly walked off.

“Would you want to get takeout on the way home? I can drive you,” Lars meekly suggested.

You couldn’t fight the smile that pricked at the sides of your mouth, “that sounds lovely, Lars.”

#lars pinfield x reader #lars pinfield #ghostbusters frozen empire #reader insert #x female reader #female reader #fluff

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writtenbymisunderstoodnerds · 1 year ago

Text

Blind date (Tierna Davidson x Reader)

This is barely edited and I'm not sure if a museum like this even exists, but use your imagination. Hope you enjoy :)

Words: 2.5k

"Oi dumbass, get up," Tobin called from the bathroom before throwing a shoe at me when I didn't respond.

"Fuck off Tobin." I growled trying to go back to my nap.

"No, you have to get up."

"Why? There is literally nothing happening today."

"You have a date in a couple of hours that you need to plan."

I sat up, looking at her like she was crazy. A date was the last thing on my mind at the moment, the last thing I wanted to do, "What? With who?"

"You'll find out later."

Tobin didn't know who I had feelings for, but she knew they existed. Normally I would tell Tobin everything, but seeing as the person was her teammate, I decided against it for the time being, "Tobin what the hell? You know I have feelings for someone, why the hell would you set me up?"

"Because you've been pining after this person for almost a year without any thought of asking her out. Either you ask her out or you go on this date."

"I don't want to do either. One will make things awkward and the other will make me lead a poor girl on."

She rolled her eyes, "Suck it up, it's one date. You'll live."

"How do I even know where to take her? I have no plan, I know nothing about her, not even her name. You could have given me more then a couple hours notice."

"She likes art, museums, photography, music and Italian food. That should help, you have to make a real effort on this. As for more warning, that would have given you more chance to make up an excuse to get out of it."

There was no getting out of this. Tobin was stubborn just like me, there was no way she was going to cancel and this mystery women was going to show up regardless. It wasn't the mystery girls fault, so with that little bit of information I started to make a plan, "Okay fine. Tell her to wear something nice, but casual."

There was only an hour and a half until my date arrived, she was coming here first so Tobin could introduce us. I quickly made a call to one of my friends who happened to work at a nice Italian restaurant, there was a very slim chance of getting a reservation this late. Thankfully, my friend managed to come through and got the last reservation at her place.

After showering I got dressed changed into black skinny jeans, a maroon long sleeve button up, my black leather jacket and Chelsea ankle boots. As much as I didn't want this date I was going to put some effort in, after all it wasn't her idea so why take it out on her. Once dressed I moved onto my hair. My hair was shoulder length, red dyed hair. I was never one to put effort into my hair so I just went with a simple braid. There was a knock on the door as I was half way through the braid. Tobin yelled for me, "Hold your horses, I'll be out in a minute." I quickly finished the braid before heading back into the room. To my utter surprise, Tierna was standing next to Tobin. She was wearing light blue skinny jeans, a relaxed white blouse and a casual black blazer.

Tierna was the girl I had developed feelings for. Being team photographer, I had spent a fair amount of time with her and the team which had led to many friendships formed. Though my feelings had developed fairly quickly which had stopped me from building much of a friendship with Tierna out of fear and awkwardness. I didn't know if Tobin knew about my feelings for Tierna, but it would be one hell of a coincidence if she didn't.

I cleared my throat realising I had been staring for too long, "Uh hey Tierna."

Tierna smiled shyly, "Hi Y/n."

After a minute of slightly awkward silence, Tierna and I left the hotel. The slightly awkward silence continued as we walked down the street. Despite knowing Tierna, I had no idea where to even start a conversation. I struggled when not on a date with her, but I was even more nervous than normal. I had no idea if Tierna even liked me or if Tobin had set her up as well.

"So um how did Tobin get you to agree to this?"

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Tiernas cheeks flush red. She always was adorable when she blushed. "She called me out for liking you which was terrifying because she's your older sister and I was worried about being murdered."

I laughed a bit at that. Tobin was only protective when she needed to be, she never cared about me dating, but as soon as I got hurt, you should be afraid. "Oh no, Tobin doesn't care until someone hurts me. Wait, you like me? How?"

"Uh yeah. You were just so genuine and funny when we first met, it just kind of happened. I thought I was hiding it pretty well by not interacting with you much when we were alone, but apparently she caught be staring and blushing a lot. How did you get roped into this?"

"Well Tobin told me about 2 hours ago about this date and I had no choice. I didn't think she knew about my feelings for you, I'm starting to question that though. Did she say anything about it?"

"She said you liked me. I didn't really believe her, but I figured I would take the chance and come up with something later if it backfired. I'm sorry you were put on the spot."

"It's okay, I'm not mad about it. Well not anymore anyway. Just kinda nervous that this will be a crap date given my time constraints. If I had known it was you, I would have tried harder to make it what you deserve."

Tiernas cheeks flushed once again as she looked anywhere, but at me, "Honestly, I've been wanting this for a while now so I'm sure whatever you planned will be perfect because it's with you. What are we doing anyway?"

My heart fluttered at her confession. I never would have imagined Tierna ever feeling the same way. I wanted it to be a surprise though, "You'll see."

We made small talk while we walked. I was still being slightly awkward, it was to be expected. I hadn't been on a date in over a year, even before that it didn't happen often. My focus was for a long time on getting my career where it is now. "So you own your own photography company right? You're just contracted to us?"

I started out as a low level photographer at some pet photography place, I worked incredibly hard and managed to book a few non pet related shoots. Things just grew from there, soon enough I was opening my own photography business, doing shoots from birthdays to weddings to pretty much anything people wanted. I had grown to have a few people working for me so when I got approached about working with the USWNT I decided to take the position because it meant getting more time with my sister. I was a little bit surprised when they did approach because normally they just hire someone. Tobin had confessed a few months later that she had showed them my work and hyped me up.

"That's amazing, your family must be proud."

"My parents took a while to come to terms with it, I wouldn't say they're proud though. Tobin is proud, but thinks I need to get out more, that there's more to life than a job."

"It's more than just a job for you though, isn't it? You created something from the ground up, the way you talked about it's clear you love what you do."

"For the longest time I had no idea what I wanted to do. I was always envious of Tobin for knowing exactly what she wanted. I studied business because that's what my parents wanted, but I hated it, guess it came in handy though."

Tierna stopped walking to look at me, curiosity covering her face, "Why photography? That's a big jump from business."

I started walking again, we had to get to the museum so we had time to have a proper look around before dinner. Also, spending too much time looking at Tierna made me even more nervous. This was probably the longest we had spent alone or spoken to each other. "I know right. There's not some big story behind it. One of my friends was an arts major and needed help with a photo one day. It was fun and I guess I was hooked. From there I just started doing it. To say the least, my parents didn't necessarily approve at first which in a way drove me to where I am now. Oh we're here."

The museum was a very large glass building, lit up on the outside by white lights. Tiernas expression instantly lit up with excitement as she kind of bounced up and down, "It's beautiful. I love museums. This is the one that just opened right?"

"Yup." I took her hand dragging her inside. What could I say? I was super excited. Once we were inside I became painfully aware that I was still holding her hand. She didn't make any move to pull it away though so I didn't either. Our hands remained joined as we walked around though as we walked we continued to get closer. At one point, Tierna ended up cuddled against my side as I rambled about something random. I don't think I've ever felt so flustered yet excited and comfortable at the same time. All I knew was I wanted that to happen more often.

This museum had a lot of different areas to it. It was pretty much all the different types in one. Science, space, history and art all in one. I'm pretty sure there was also a marine mammal section which for me is a close second to the space section. At heart I was a giant nerd, I loved it all especially space. The look on Tiernas face told me she loved it. It was a relief. This date didn't mean much it the beginning, it was just a forced thing. Now that I knew it was Tierna, I kind of wish I had done more.

"While I could stay here all night, we have to go." Tierna pouted, I knocked her shoulder gently with mine to get her to stop, "Nope, stop that. We have dinner reservations so if you don't want to eat we can stay."

"Hmm fine, I guess I am hungry."

We left the museum, hands still intertwined. Walking down the street I listened to Tierna talk about all her favourite parts of the museum. She was rambling again, I didn't mind though. I liked listening to her talk. Her voice was soft and soothing yet slightly raspy. Yup, I didn't mind at all. We came to a stop outside the restaurant. It was a small family run Italian place, that had amazing food.

"No way, I love this place. Didn't Tobin only tell you about our date like 2 hours before? How did you get a reservation? This place is usually booked out on a Friday."

"My friend works here, she managed to get us in."

The awkwardness had long disappeared and conversation became easier. During dinner I got to know Tierna better. Anyone who knew Tierna knew she was on the more quiet side, but she easily talked about her childhood, likes, dislikes, hobbies and pretty much anything else. Turns out I loved listening to her talk. I was also paying special attention to her likes, dislikes and hobbies for future dates or gifts. I had every intention of spoiling Tierna if we our relationship developed. Tierna deserved the world and I would do my best to give it to her if she let me.

Eventually our reservation time came to an end so we made our way outside. Tierna started shivering instantly so I slipped my jacket off and wrapped it around her shoulders, "Here."

"You're going to be cold," Tierna protested.

"I'm fine, I don't get cold that easily. You need it more than me."

"Thank you. I know you didn't really want this, but I've had an amazing time tonight Y/n/n."

Tierna stepped closer as I retook her hand, lacing our fingers together. She pulled me closer so we were almost touching. "I've wanted this since we met T. This just wasn't how I wanted it to happen, but I'm also glad it did because I don't think I would have told you anytime soon."

I made the last move, pulling her in and connecting our lips in a slow kiss. It was tentative at first, both slightly unsure and nervous. After a few seconds, Tiernas hand cupped the back of my neck, deepening the kiss. My confidence rose with that, my arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her against me. Normally, kissing someone like this on a public sidewalk was not something I would ever do, PDA made me incredibly uncomfortable, but I was finally kissing the girl I've wanted for almost a year. Let's just say it felt incredible. When air became a problem, we slowly pulled away, a smile spread across my face as a giggle slipped out. There wasn't anything else planned for tonight, though I really didn't want the night to end yet.

I racked my mind for anything that we could do when I remembered an ice cream shop that was open late, "Do you want to get ice cream and walk along the pier? I know a place that's still open."

Tierna cuddled against my side as we started walking again, "I would love to."

"Good because I don't want tonight to end yet."

Tobin smirked as I flopped down on my bed with a no doubt dopey smile. It was well after midnight so I was slightly hoping Tobin was asleep. I didn't want to deal with her smugness, not when there was still some resentment there.

"So how was the date?"

"How long have you known about my feelings?"

"A little while now. You're not really shy unless feelings are involved and normally you will talk to anyone, but you always got shy around T, you never really interacted much with her, always looking at her when she wasn't paying attention. Now how was the date?"

"It was really good. Thank you Toby."

"Anytime."

"No, literally never do this again. You have no idea how pissed I was at you, then how nervous I was that my plan wasn't good enough for Tierna. I know she liked it, but if I ever got the chance I wanted to make it really special. Like she deserves."

"I'm sorry, I just didn't think you would believe me if I told you she like you. It went well though? Did you make your move?"

I recounted our night as I got ready for bed, already knowing I would be too excited to sleep. Tierna and I were going out for brunch tomorrow. While I used to try my best to not be alone with her, now I couldn't wait to see her again. I couldn't wait to see how our relationship developed.

#uswnt x reader #uswnt imagine #uswnt imagines #tierna davidson imagine #tierna davidson #woso x reader #woso imagines

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maximoffcarter · 7 months ago

Text

The proposal.

Pairings: Casey Novak x Alex Cabot.

Summary: After seven years of dating, Casey Novak and Alexandra Cabot are ready to propose toe ach other, though it's a bit of an ordeal to get to the proposal.

A/n: Surprise surprise! I decided to post this one today for my bestie. Once again, bestie here giving me the best ideas @saurgaeee. I don't even know if the end is good but I believed the rest of it was pretty cute haha, I hate knowing how the story will go but then at the very end I end up getting stuck. But hope y'all like this! Don't be afraid to send me an ask or message if you got any requests, I'm up for anything for now. Enjoy and leave your comments, reblog, hearts, whatever you'd like, will be very much appreciated🫶🏻

*not my gif*

“I can do this…I’ve got this.” Casey whispered softly as she took a deep breath, shaking her hands as if that would help to shake off her anxiety. “It’s gonna be okay.” She breathed out as she straighten out her posture and knocked softly on the door.

“Come in.”

Casey cleared her throat as she opened the door and offered a small smile. “Hey, Liz.” She closed the door slowly behind her, walking to Elizabeth’s desk.

Elizabeth sighed heavily as she took off her glasses and looked up at Casey. “What did you do?”

Casey frowned as she shook her head. “Literally nothing. Why would you ask that?”

“I can definitely tell you’re nervous. You don’t just come here and say ‘Hey Liz’ if you didn’t do anything. And I’m pretty sure you want to ask me something so.” Elizabeth leaned back in her chair.

Casey raised her brow. “You don’t even say hi to your worker and friend?” She grinned.

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “Hi, Casey. What did you do?” She grinned.

“I didn’t do anything, but…” Casey sat down and sighed. “I do wanna ask you something.”

“Okay, shoot.” Elizabeth stared at her with a raised brow, her curiosity pretty clear.

Casey nibbled on her lip as she stared back at Elizabeth, thinking that it really had looked easier than it actually was. She cleared her throat again and looked down at her hands as she tried to organize her words. “I uh…I wanted to…” She whispered softly.

Elizabeth huffed a chuckle. “You’ve never been so nervous, Case. What has you so nervous that you can’t just ask-“

“I want to ask Alex to marry me.” Casey said rapidly as she looked up at Elizabeth. “And I…wanted your blessing.”

Elizabeth raised her brow as she stared at Casey with a defying stare. “You wanna marry Alex? My Alex?”

Casey nodded. “My Alex but…yes.” Elizabeth stared at her. Casey cleared her throat again. “Your Alex, yes.” She nibbled on her bottom lip as she stared at Elizabeth.

“Have you already talked about it?” Elizabeth simply asked.

“We have…more than once. I uh…I already talked to her father, and he said yes. But…I wanted to ask you.”

Elizabeth nodded. “I see.”

“So…” Casey wetted her lips nervously. “…do I have your blessing?”

Elizabeth kept staring at her, her face not showing any emotion. “You know what would happen if you hurt her, right?”

Casey nodded. “I know. I would never do that.”

Elizabeth nodded back. “You’re good to go.” She said as she put back her glasses and went back to read the files she had in front of her.

Casey frowned and looked at her for a moment before she stood up. “Uh…” she looked back at the door and then at Elizabeth. “Okay, thanks.” She then walked to the door and was stopped before she could leave by Elizabeth’s voice.

“Casey.”

Casey looked back at Elizabeth. “Yes?”

Elizabeth smiled as she looked at Casey. “I’m happy for both of you. You know I also care for you, and yes. You do have my blessing. Thank you for considering me.” She smirked. “I’ll be waiting for the invitation.”

Casey smiled softly as she nodded. “Thank you.” She turned back and left the office.

If anyone would’ve told Casey that she’d be asking her boss for someone’s hand years ago, she’d have laughed in their faces, but here she was; feeling relieved that both Alex’s dad and Elizabeth Donnelly had given her the blessing to ask Alexandra Cabot to marry her. It might’ve been silly, Elizabeth would be probably teasing her about it for a long time, but asking for a hand in marriage was usually what was done in her religion, and even if she knew that Alex was not religious -she herself wasn’t religious anymore-, she still wanted to keep that tradition going. Marriage had just been legalized for same sex couples and after years of being together, Casey thought it would be a good idea to finally ask Alex to marry her.

They had been dating for around almost seven years, and even if they were already acting like a married couple with promises rings, Casey thought it would be cute to officially be able to call Alex her wife. The idea of it brought butterflies to Casey’s stomach. Never in her life did she think that she’d be marrying someone, after being engaged once, and being single for a very long time, she thought that maybe she was destinated to stay that way, but after meeting Alex and falling deeply in love with her, she knew that her story had been rewritten. She was the happiest she has ever been with Alex, and she hoped that things would go as planned.

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

“So, what brings you here, Alexandra? I haven’t see you in a while.” Branch leaned back on his chair as he looked at Alex, who was standing in front of his desk. “You look like someone is going to scold you, and that someone is clearly Elizabeth.” He grinned.

Alex huffed a nervous chuckle as she looked down at her hands. “Right, well…it has nothing to do with work or a case. I wanted to ask you something…about Casey.”

Branch nodded. “Is everything alright?” He raised his brow.

“It is. She is. We are.” Alex cleared her throat as she looked up at him, taking a deep breath. “It’s a…well. I know Casey worked with you for a while, and for what Casey tells me, you’re the reason she started in SVU and also the reason she kept going. You supported her a lot.”

Branch offered a faint smile as he nodded. “I like to think so. But what is your question, Alexandra?”

Alex took a deep breath as she straighten her posture. “I want to for your blessing to marry Casey.” She tried to hold a serious face, but her anxiety was definitely present, and she was ready to walk out of the office before anything else could happen.

Branch frowned as he looked at Alex. “You know that…I’m not her father, right?”

Alex nodded. “I know. But…I know that you care for her, and Casey appreciates you so much, just like I do. But…I thought I’d ask you before I do it.”

Branch nodded as he looked away for a moment. “Alright. Well.” He smiled as he looked back at Alex. “You do have my blessing, Alexandra. Go ask her.”

Alex smiled widely as she nodded. “Thank you, sir.” She huffed a chuckle as she walked to the door.

“You know better than to hurt you, right?” Branch simply asked, raising a brow as he looked at Alex.

Alex stopped in her tracks and turned to look back at Branch, nodding. “I know, sir. I-I wouldn’t dare.”

“Good. Now go get your girl.” Branch grinned.

“I…have someone else to ask.” Alex smiled.

Branch frowned again. “Who else?”

Alex sighed as she smiled. “Mary Clark.”

Branch chuckled. “You two are something else.” He nodded. “Good luck.”

Alex gulped as she heard the ‘good luck’ but simply nodded and offered a smile before she exited the office. It’s been about three weeks since she’s been thinking about doing all this; three weeks of torture in her mind since she hated lying to Casey, and she had been telling Casey that she’s just busy and with a load of work when in reality, she’s been to probably five different jewelry stores trying to find the perfect ring for the redhead. She knew Casey had grown up Catholic, she knew marriage was like a big thing in the religion and even if they wouldn’t be getting married in a church, she wanted to do things right. Casey’s parents were not in the picture anymore, her parents being divorced and creating a distance with Casey since she came out to them, so she knew somehow this was going to be hard for Casey. She wanted everything to be perfect and she realized that asking Branch and Mary Clark was important since they saw Casey grow up, and Casey had always mentioned how she really appreciated what they had done for her and the support she got from them when she was suspended.

Alex had secretly talked to Elizabeth about marrying Casey, Elizabeth had been kidnapped by Alex for a whole afternoon to try to find a ring, Elizabeth letting Alex know how silly she was being because she didn’t think it was a big deal, but in the inside, she was melting at how Alex was a bundle of nervousness as she looked at various rings. So for the last two weeks, Alex has been keeping the box with her at every moment, too afraid that if she left it back home, Casey would easily find it. Alex had only met Mary a few times, after Casey had been working with her again, she had been introduced and she had visited Casey a few times while working with Mary. Mary reminded her a bit of Elizabeth, so she thought maybe it wouldn’t be too bad to ask her, but now standing right outside her house, her anxiety was very present again and she felt like she was about to faint.

“Alex.” Mary smiled. “What a pleasure to have you here. Come on in.” She stepped aside for Alex to come in, closing the door afterwards and then walking to her living room. “Want something to drink?”

Alex shook her head as she cleared her throat. “No, I’m good. Thanks.” She offered a small smile and started looking around to stop her nerves.

Mary sat on the couch and raised her brows in curiosity. “So, is there anything I can help you with? I’m sure that’s why you’re here.” She signaled to Alex to sit down, a smile on her face.

Alex sat down on the couch in front of her to face her, her hands fidgeting with her coat. “Yes. I mean…not work related.”

“Ah.” Mary grinned. “Casey related.”

Alex gulped as she nodded, taking a deep breath. “Yes. I uh…well…” she huffed a chuckle as she looked down at her hands. “I just-“

Mary chuckled softly. “Casey did say you looked cute when you got all nervous.”

Alex looked up at Mary and blushed slightly. “She said that?” She smiled.

Mary nodded. “She always talks about you.” She smiled. “I know why you’re here, Alexandra.”

“Y-You do?”

“The answer is yes.” Mary smiled.

Alex’s breath hitched as she stared at Mary. “How did you-“

“You’re not nervous just for anything, and if it’s Casey related, it’s easy to put the pieces together.” Mary grinned. “You have my blessing. I know Casey grew up in religion, and I’m sure you thought this would mean a lot for Casey.”

“That’s right.” Alex smiled. “And yes, I want to marry Casey.”

Mary’s smile widened. “Have you gotten the ring?”

Alex looked into her pocket and handed it to Mary. “I got it two weeks ago. Have been with me ever since.”

Mary chuckled as she opened the small box. “This is beautiful, and very Casey.”

Alex’s heart warmed at her words, sighing in relief as she smiled. “I’m…so glad to hear that.”

Mary gave back the box and smiled. “You two are very lucky to have each other, and I’m sure Casey is gonna be the happiest. Thank you for considering me for this.”

“Well, I know you’re someone important for Casey, and I know Casey is important to you.” Alex smiled.

“Like a daughter, yes.” Mary smiled. “So, I’ll be here if you guys need anything for preparations and everything, will love to help.”

“Everyone is just…telling me to go ask her and already talking about the wedding as if she already said yes.” Alex shrugged. “Am I missing something here?” She chuckled nervously.

Mary stood up and walked to the other couch, sitting down beside Alex, grabbing her hands, and offering a small smile. “Do you really think Casey is gonna say no?”

Alex shrugged. “I mean-“

“She loves you, Alex. And for the first time in the years I’ve known Casey, I have never seen her happier. So yes, we all agree that Casey will say yes.”

Alex smiled softly as she nodded. “She will.”

“And you already know the terms and conditions, right?” Mary grinned.

Alex nodded. “I could never hurt her.”

Mary nodded. “Very well, so tell me, you have anything planned?” She smirked.

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

Alex groaned loudly as she threw her head back. “Elliot, this is stupid. We should just leave it here.”

Elliot chuckled as he walked to Alex, picking up the ball from the floor and putting it on the glove. “C’mon, Cabot. You got this.”

Alex shrugged. “What is the point anyway? It’s not like I’m gonna play with her or anything.” She raised her brows as she looked at him, putting the bat against her shoulder. “I know Casey will love to know that I’m learning softball for her but…it’s useless. I hate playing sports. I’m better at running.” She offered a small smile.

Elliot sighed as he nodded. “Casey loves you no matter what.” He smiled. “Why did you want to learn then?”

“I want to take her to the batting cages.” Alex shrugged. “Thought if I had a bit of practice, I wouldn’t make a full of myself there.”

“She knows you don’t know how to play.” Elliot grinned.

“And I could’ve impressed her.” Alex grinned. “But I just decided is better if she teaches me.” She handed Elliot the bat and walked back to her bag to grab her bottle of water.

Elliot squinted his eyes as he walked to Alex. “And why would you want to take her there, anyway? You know she goes time to time on her own.”

Alex shrugged as she looked back at him. “Well, we always go out to eat or for a movie, I thought maybe doing a different date wouldn’t hurt.” She tilted her head. “What?”

Elliot smiled as he shook his head. “No, nothing.”

Alex nodded. “Right.”

“Am I gonna be best man?”

Alex sighed as she covered her face with her hands. “Is it that obvious?” She mumbled as she looked back at Elliot.

Elliot chuckled as he placed everything on the bench and then looked back at Alex. “No, Alex. It’s nice.” He smiled. “I’m happy for you, the ice queen finally found her fire.”

Alex rolled her eyes playfully. “That’s stupid.” She grabbed her bag and then started walking with Elliot.

“Makes sense in my head.” Elliot grinned as he grabbed his things and placed his hand on Alex’s back.

All the way back home, Alex kept playing in her mind the last few days. The moment it was legalized, the thought never left her mind. They had mentioned it before, they had talked about it, once the relationship became pretty serious, Alex brought it up once out of nowhere; never in her life did she think that she’d be talking about marriage with someone. All of her past relationships have always ended before they could even drop the L bomb, but Casey had been different. The moment they had met, the very first time they talked, Alex knew she was screwed, and Casey never left her mind. After she had come back from Witness Protection, the first thing she did was try to get in contact with Casey again, and from there, they became inseparable, Alex being Casey’s biggest support after being suspended. Alex couldn’t have been happier once she asked Casey to move in with her, and the very first night after they had moved all of Casey’s stuff to her place, she knew that she wanted forever with Casey. And to her surprise, Casey thought the same thing.

And now, seven years later, here she was. Carrying with her the box that was literally holding her future. She tried to calm herself down with the fact that she has been with Casey for seven years now. Seven. Mary and Elizabeth had made it very clear that it was obvious that Casey was going to say yes, why wouldn’t she? Unless she didn’t want to officially take that step with Alex, then maybe Alex would scare her away and Casey would want to leave her. But that was just Alex’s anxiety playing tricks with her. She took a deep breath as she unlocked the door of their apartment and walked in, finding Casey in the kitchen. Alex closed the door behind her and leaned over it, smiling softly as she looked at her. She was scared, so scared, but she couldn’t wait to pop the question.

Casey looked up at Alex and smiled. “Hey you.”

“Hi.” Alex smiled, dropping her bag by the door, and then walked to the kitchen, wrapping her arms around Casey’s waist, and kissing her shoulder. “Making dinner?”

Casey nodded. “Yep. I came back home early and thought I could do some dinner for us.” She put the knife down and turned in Alex’s arms, smiling as she faced the blonde. “Good run?” She kissed her nose and then wrapped her arms around Alex’s neck.

Alex nodded softly. “Yes.” She smiled as she pecked her lips softly. “So…I was thinking that for our date tomorrow…maybe we could do something different.”

Casey furrowed her brows. “Like what?”

Alex shrugged. “Well, you said you wanted to go out to eat on Friday. We really didn’t see any good movies that we could watch tomorrow, so I thought we could do something fun together.” She smiled. “I was thinking we could go to the batting cages?”

Casey’s eyes lit up as her smile widened. “Wait, really?”

“Why not? I mean, you love it, and I could really use a different way to work out.”

“Well, if you want a different way to work out, I have many ideas in mind.” Casey bit her lip softly as she felt Alex’s hand go up and down her back.

Alex raised her brow. “I wouldn’t say no to those.” She grinned as she leaned in and kissed her lips. “But what do you say?” She whispered against her lips, pecking them softly.

“I’d love that, baby.” Casey smiled. “But are you sure?”

Alex nodded. “Yes, my love.”

“The sounds like a plan.” Casey kissed her lips softly. “Can you help me get the table ready? Just need to fix this for the salad.” She turned again to finish.

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

“So, wanna try?” Casey grinned as she looked back at Alex.

Alex gave her a shy smile. “Uh…I just…I don’t think I can do this, Case.”

Casey chuckled softly. “C’mon, baby. You’ve just been standing there watching me. Looking all cute, of course, but still.” She grinned.

Alex chuckled softly as she sighed. “Will you help me?”

“You know I always will.” Casey went out the cage for a moment and brought a helmet for Alex. She walked to Alex and put it on her head carefully, kissing her nose as she smiled. “Still looking very cute.”

Alex rolled her eyes playfully. “C’mon, let’s get this over with.”

��Okay, so, you gonna stand like this, grab the bat right here. Try to keep steady and just focus on the ball.” Casey showed her first how to stand, positioning herself behind Alex, and then wrapped her arms around Alex, placing her hands on top of Alex’s in the bat. “Just focus on the ball.” Once the ball came their way, Alex jumped slightly as Casey moved their arms to bat. Casey chuckled softly. “That was good.”

“Yeah, cause you have your arms wrapped around me.” Alex smirked as she turned to look at Casey.

Casey smirked as she wetted her lips. “If you wanted my arms around you. You could’ve asked for cuddles, you know?”

“I like to watch you in your element. Plus your arms feel good around me, and you behind me? Even better.” Alex bit her lip as she leaned in to kiss Casey’s lips.

Casey chuckled against her lips. “Wanna try again?”

Alex hummed. “Why don’t I watch you again so I can try it on my own next?” Casey raised her brow. “I promise.” She rolled her eyes playfully.

Casey sighed. “Okay, but next one you do it.”

Alex nodded. “Yes, baby.” She smiled softly as Casey positioned herself again, not noticing that Alex quietly exited the cage and went to their stuff.

“You need to focus on the ball and just swing the bat. With practice, you just know the perfect timing.” Casey said as she showed Alex, smiling as she saw the ball go. “See? You just-“ She turned to look at Alex and gasped softly as she saw Alex kneeling with a small box in her hands, her eyes widening as the bat fell to the floor. “Alex…” she breathed out.

Alex giggled. “I thought of so many ways to do this, but this is something you love, that you’ve done your whole life, and I thought maybe it would be more special than any other thing.” She cleared her throat as she tried to hide her anxiety. “I know we’ve been dating for years now, and we basically live together already, but I wanted to do this. I want forever with you. I want to officially call you my wife. Casey, I love you so much.” She chuckled nervously. “I had this whole thing planned to say but…you already know how much I love you. So…Casey Grace Novak…will you marry me?”

“Yes.” Casey sobbed. “Yes!” She jumped on Alex, wrapping her arms around her neck as she kept saying yes over and over again, falling on top of her.

Alex laughed, wrapping her arms around Casey’s waist. She felt tears in her eyes as she held Casey who still kept repeating yes, she didn’t know if she had tears because she was laughing or because she wanted to cry, and for a moment her mind registered that they were both in the dirty floor, but at this moment, she didn’t care one bit…Casey was now her fiancée. Casey started peppering her face with kisses, chuckling as she was trying to hold back her tears. Alex then moved to sit down, Casey straddling her lap and her face moving to Alex’s face to look at each other.

“Can I put the ring now?” Alex laughed softly.

“Oh, yes! I’m sorry!” Casey laughed, looking down and taking her promise ring off, and putting it on her other hand. Alex placed the ring on her finger, making Casey gasp softly. “Is that…is that your birthstone?” She smiled softly as she felt her heart warm.

Alex chuckled softly. “Yeah, I uh…I thought it would be cute.” She looked back up at Casey and smiled. “Fits your eyes perfectly.”

Casey felt her eyes getting teary again as she placed her hands on Alex’s neck again and pulled her in for a kiss. “I love you. So much.” She whispered against her lips.

“I love you more.” Alex smiled. She cleared her throat as she looked around. “Do you think maybe we could…”

“Right! I got too excited.” Casey chuckled as she stood up, helping Alex stand up afterwards.

“You don’t say baby.” Alex grinned as she stood in front of Casey, kissing her cheek. “You wanna keep going?”

Casey shook her head, pulling Alex to her by her waist. “I want to go home with my fiancée.”

Alex bit her lip as her smile widened. “Let’s go then.”

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

“So, should I still do it?” Casey whispered softly in her phone, her eyes on the bathroom door to make sure Alex was still showering.

“Why wouldn’t you? Just stick to the plan.” Olivia said on the other line.

“What if she thinks it’s stupid?”

Olivia sighed. “Honey, you’re already engaged. Just do it.”

Casey nodded. “Okay. I will.” She heard the water turning off and raised from the bed. ‘Gotta go, thanks Liv!” She hung up the phone just in time, smiling as Alex walked out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her body.

Alex frowned as she looked at Casey. “You haven’t changed, baby.”

Casey looked down at her body, noticing that she was still in her robe. “Oh, uh. I just didn’t know what to wear.” She chuckled.

“Are you okay, Case?” Alex walked to her and placed her hand on Casey’s cheek. “You seem nervous.”

Casey shook her head as she smiled, leaning in to peck her lips. “All good. We better hurry, our reservation is in an hour.” She offered a small smile as she walked to the closet.

As they drove to the restaurant, Casey kept her purse in her lap, fidgeting with it as she tried to focus on the road. She would be lying if she said she wasn’t surprised that Alex had decided to propose first, she had also been the first one to give the promise ring, so it only made sense. She had also been so touched when she learned that she had talked to Branch and Mary, asking for her hand, Casey almost sobbed when Alex was telling her about it and how nervous she had been. They hadn’t really said anything to the squad yet, the only person that knew for now was Olivia -or that’s what she thought- because she had been the one going with her to pick up the ring. She had thought about doing it the moment they came back from the batting cages, but she still wanted it to be special for Alex just like it was for Casey.

Once they got to the restaurant, Casey had asked for a private spot so it would only be a moment for the two of them, Alex blushed once they got to the table and Casey pulled the chair for her to sit. She then sat down in front of Alex and smiled softly as Alex looked at her, grabbing her hand from across the table and stroking the back of it with her thumb. Her eyes then laid on the beautiful ring that Casey proudly wore, making her smile widen as she touched it. Casey’s whole body warmed as she stared at Alex; Casey loved how naturally beautiful she was, her favorite was when Alex had no makeup on, she had no imperfection at all, and the way her hair just fell perfectly in her face, framing it perfectly, Alex had mentioned that she missed her short hair, but she loved how much it had grown and Casey confessed she’d love her anyway, and those beautiful eyes…those blue eyes that made her melt. She smiled softly, thinking that she didn’t want to wait any longer.

“Baby?” Casey smiled softly.

Alex looked back up at Casey and smiled. “Yes?”

“Did I tell you that you look so beautiful tonight?” Casey grinned.

Alex rolled her eyes playfully. “Just like a bunch of times since you saw me back home.” She grinned.

“You’re always beautiful. But tonight…you look stunning.”

“You’re cheesy.” Alex chuckled softly.

Casey looked down at their hands and grabbed Alex’s, her thumb touching Alex’s promise ring. “Are you still gonna wear this?” She smiled softly.

Alex looked down at her ring and smiled. “At least until we get our rings once we’re married.” She looked back at Casey.

Casey smiled softly. “How about changing it now?”

Alex frowned, a grin on her face. “What?”

Casey reached with her other hand on her purse, getting the small box out and standing up to kneel, a small gasp from Alex. She smiled as she opened the box. “I was gonna wait until after dinner. I wanted to order your favorite dessert, which we still can.” She chuckled softly. “But looking at you…I just couldn’t wait any longer. I really thought I’d beat you into proposing but…you made me the happiest woman alive when you did. So.” She took a deep breath. “You’re the love of my life. I was so happy when you came back into my life, and I just couldn’t imagine it without you in it anymore. I love you more than words can describe…and I know we’re engaged already, but I couldn’t not do this. Alexandra Marie Cabot…will you be mine forever?”

Alex sobbed softly as she nodded. “Yes. Oh my god, yes Casey!” She leaned down and grabbed Casey’s face in her hands, kissing her softly but breaking the kiss as she couldn’t stop smiling. “Oh my.” She laughed softly as she saw Casey putting the ring on her. “That’s…that’s your birthstone.” She looked up at her and smiled.

Casey chuckled softly. “Guess we thought the same thing, huh?” She smiled as she kissed Alex’s hand. “It goes with your eyes.” She winked at her as she stood up, leaning down to kiss her lips again.

Alex shook her head. “I love you.” She smiled. “I was ready to jump on you but...maybe it’s not the best idea right now.” She chuckled.

Casey smiled. “You can jump on me when we’re back home.” She smirked as she sat back in her chair. “I really did want to give it to you last night but…I just wanted it to be as special as it was for me.”

“You could’ve asked me in the shower this morning, and the answer would’ve been the same.” Alex grinned as she grabbed Casey’s hand. “So, now it’s double official.”

Casey chuckled. “You can call your dad now.” She grinned.

Alex tilted her head. “You called him?”

Casey shrugged. “I did the same thing that you did. I asked your dad…and Liz.” She chuckled.

“They’ll be on our asses, huh? Making fun of us.” Alex laughed softly.

“Oh, definitely. She saw me yesterday and was asking me if I was still nervous.” Casey chuckled. “But it was worth it.”

Alex smiled. “We’re way too cheesy.”

“And I love us.” Casey laughed.

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

Elizabeth shook her head. “You really did think the same thing. It’s beautiful.” She grinned as she looked up at Alex. “So…have you thought about who’s going to marry you?”

Alex shrugged as she sat back down. “Not sure yet. We were thinking about the civil wedding being the only one, so there’ll be a party after.”

Elizabeth nodded. “Would you like me to marry you?”

Alex smiled. “I…wanted you to uh….be my witness.”

Elizabeth smiled as she nodded. “It’ll be an honor.”

“Thank you.” Alex smiled.

“Who is Casey asking?”

“I think she’s asking Mary.” Alex shrugged. “She’s like a mother to her.”

“Very well. I’ll make sure to find you someone. I’ll be in charge of that.” Elizabeth smiled.

Alex nodded. “Okay. We’ll go today to get the license, so I’ll let you know when we have it.” She stood up and then turned to look at Elizabeth. “Did you intimidate Casey when she talked to you?”

Elizabeth shrugged. “Just enough for her to be a little scared.” She smirked.

Alex rolled her eyes playfully. “Right. See you tomorrow, Liz.” She smiled before she left.

Elizabeth smiled as she shook her head. “Who could possibly be good to marry these two?” She whispered to herself as she looked down at her files. She then heard a knock on her door and looked up. “Lena, what are you doing here?”

Lena smiled as she walked to Elizabeth’s desk. “I heard the news, Cabot and Novak getting married.”

Elizabeth smiled. “The rebels are making it official.”

Lena laughed. “Have you got anyone to marry them or are you doing it?”

“Alex asked me to be her witness. So, yes. I’m looking for someone.” Elizabeth raised her brow. “Got anyone in mind?”

Lena smirked. “I’m in, let me know when it is, and I’ll clear my schedule.” She nodded and then walked out of the office.

Elizabeth just stared at the door and nodded. “I guess I found the right person.” She chuckled.

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

“Okay, I just went to check on Casey, she’s looking beautiful.” Olivia smiled as she closed the door behind her.

Alex groaned. “Why is it a thing to not be able to look at my fiancée? I just want to give her a kiss.”

Olivia chuckled. “Because it’s supposed to be bad luck. And you’ll see her in half an hour.” She smiled.

Alex sighed as she turned to look at herself in the mirror, smiling softly as she looked at her dress. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

“You look beautiful, Alex.” Olivia smiled.

“I can’t wait to marry her.” Alex smiled as she turned to look at Olivia. “Never in my life did I think that I’d be getting married.”

“Fate changes sometimes. And you two got lucky.”

Alex smiled as she nodded, trying to hide her nervousness and anxiety. Half an hour felt like two hours for both women, but finally the moment had arrived. They had opted to get married in Alex’s house in the Hamptons, it had a beautiful backyard, big enough for their friends and for the small party they had decided to have. Alex decided she’d be the one waiting for Casey, but still walked down the aisle in the arm of her father. Alex felt like she was going to faint as she looked at Casey, smiling softly and feeling her eyes getting teary. Elliot had been the chosen one to take Casey down the aisle, telling Casey that it would be an honor to take his ‘sister’ to Alex.

Elliot smiled as he looked at Alex. “Take care of her.” He winked at them and went to sit down in the front.

Alex smiled as she held Casey’s hand. “You look beautiful.”

Casey smiled as she tried to swallow back her tears. “So do you. So beautiful.”

Alex looked back at Elizabeth and frowned. “Who’s going to marry us?” She whispered softly as she noticed no one was there.

“Desperate much, Alexandra?” Lena said as she smiled, standing behind the small table and smiling at both women. “Surprised?”

Casey chuckled softly. “A little?”

Alex nodded. “Yeah.” She chuckled.

Lena smiled. “You two were always a pain in the ass, so I thought it was the right choice for me to be the one to marry you two. And we all agree here that you two are definitely meant to be.” She winked at them. “It’s an honor to marry you two. So, shall we begin?” She grinned.

After the whole ceremony and signing papers, finally Casey and Alex said their ‘I do’ and the ceremony was finalized. The guys helped add some other decorations so the party could start. Alex and Casey never separated from each other, talking, and laughing with the rest of the guests and taking pictures. Both women felt like they were living in a dream, staring at each other every possible chance to make sure they were actually living in this moment. Eventually, the moment of their first official dance arrived, standing in the middle and holding onto each other as they swayed to the music.

Alex rested her forehead against Casey’s and smiled softly. “Not that I don’t love our family and friends but…I cannot wait to get out of here.” She whispered softly.

Casey chuckled. “You and me both, baby.” She smiled. “Can’t wait to get out of here with my wife.”

“You got something planned, Mrs. Cabot?” Alex raised her brow as she grinned.

Casey blushed softly. “You know that if I get Petrovsky in trial, she’ll definitely call me Mrs. Cabot, now?” She chuckled.

Alex shrugged. “I wouldn’t mind that. After all, it is now part of your name.” She grinned.

Casey nibbled on her lip as she smiled. “And to answer your question…yes. I do have something planned.” She leaned in to whisper in her ear. “But that’s for me to know and for you to find out later.” She smirked as she pulled away, enough to kiss Alex’s lips softly.

“Can’t wait.” Alex smiled against her lips, pulling her impossibly closer to kiss her again. “I love you.” She whispered against her lips.

“I love you even more.” Casey smiled, kissing her lips again.

#casey novak x alex cabot #casey novak #alex cabot #alexandra cabot #calex #svu fic #law and order svu #svu

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uceyliyahh · 8 days ago

Text

SOMETHING BOUT’ US

Summary: "I want you more than anything in my life." After being in a difficult relationship with Carmelo Yasmine decided to move on from him and become the next big thing while getting drafted on the smackdown roster she always thought she would never find love again due to her commitment issues until she met him.

This fanfic is 18+! NO MINORS ALLOWED

word count: 3708

smut warning; it’ll come in the story randomly so PLEASE PLEASE look out for it I’m not really good at writing ✍🏽 smuts but I’m improving at the moment.

Jey Uso x Yasmine

AWFUL GRAMMAR IM GETTING BETTER I SWEAR LOL.

comments, likes, repost are appreciated I would love the constructive feedback in what area I need to approve in. 🤍

ALSO! I don’t not want nobody stealing my fanfics or take it as theirs that will be an issue fasho so keep it cute respectfully.

I only own my OC along with the make up scenarios

But I’ll be writing along the way since this story is in my drafts on Wattpad right now so yuh. 💁🏽‍♀️

TAGS ⬇️ lmk if you wanna be tag 🏷️@pinkwithhearts @420days @jstarr86 @empressdede @angiedawn02 @biancasreign

@bebesobrielo @skyesthebomb @aikosilo @papireigns-05 @punksyeet @paigereeder @magnificentbouquetmusic @xbriexx

@hunnidmilly @celesteheartsjey @charmed-dreamssss @fearlesschimera @partypoison00 @mselenalovebug @bloodlinesbabe93 @lov3rla03 @simpin4pixels @nbanenefrmdao

OMNISCIENT

Yasmine had an interview with Bryson regarding her impending debut on the blue brand, so she was at work today for tonight's Smackdown. Following that incident, she and Jey have been growing closer over the past few weeks.

Taking her on these "best friend" dates, Jey has been nothing but kind to her. Late at night, they would stroll and discuss personal matters. Naturally, Montez was aware of it, and since Jey was his dawg, he trusted him. He was aware that Jey would not harm her in any way.

She felt someone put their arms around her shoulders as she sat in the makeup chair applying makeup. She opened her eyes to see Bianca standing behind her.

"Hey, girlfriend! I've missed you, girl. Paul needs to hurry up and make your debut quickly," Bianca said jokingly.

"I know, man, but I'm so nervous about it, too. What if I mess up, B?" Yasmine replied.

Bianca shook her head, "Girl, you're going to do great out there when you debut." That made Yasmine smile, knowing that she had perfect, supportive friends who always reassured her.

"But enough of that. How are you and Jey?" Once she bought up Jey, Yasmine couldn't help but smile whenever she heard his name from anyone else; it just made her heart flutter.

While they were talking on Jey, Bianca could see that Yasmine was cheesing really hard and getting really geeked out. She updated Bianca, stating that Jey has been taking her on "best friend" dates and late-night walks as part of their overall effort to get to know one another better.

"Oh my gosh, girl yall are so cute like literally." She said.

Yes, there is something specific about him. Yasmine looked at herself in the mirror that the makeup artist had given her and said, "He's different, B, but I can't be sure yet." "Yasmine, I know what you mean, but I also told everyone that I was hosting a small gathering at the crib so that we could all enjoy ourselves after work." A gathering? It sounds fine to me. I hope Jey will be present as well. Why wouldn't he?

Bianca hugged her before heading to her locker room, and Yasmine nodded her head. As she made her way to Montez's locker room, she thanked the makeup artist for doing her makeup.

She felt a powerful force tugging at her arm as she was doing that. She turned to see Carmelo snatching her up in this manner. She gave him a severe look as she stood there with her arms folded after yanking her arm away from him.

"Why the fuck am I hearing about you and Jey being all close and shit now when I should be the one staring at you like that?" Carmelo asked her a question. "Because we are, right? Why am I unable to have a male best friend at this time? "Yasmine said."

"All of that is not what I'm saying. I simply want to know what's happening between you two. Bro, this nigga is right here. Why is he asking her questions? They weren't even together once more? As if she were free to do as she pleased. Feeling angry at this man for failing to notice that they were no longer together, Yasmine started massaging her temple.

What Jey and I are doing is none of your business, Melo. "Hell," she said sharply, "we're not even together."

Her response didn't sit well with him, so he took her by the throat, drew her in, and put his lips to her ear. "I'm not sure why you're acting this way toward me, but if it's because of his ass, Minks, I won't think twice about beating his ass." She was slightly alarmed by his threats to harm Jey, but she was aware that Jey could easily beat him up. She rubbed her throat and pushed him away. When he didn't like something that he didn't want to hear, he would grab her up like that, and she got so sick of it.

"Nigga, please stop interfering with my life; you're fucking crazy." His facial expressions were readable by her. Her response made him angry because he felt like he was losing control of her. "It would be best for all of you to break up this friendship." Yasmine cocked her head threateningly.

"The fuck, I'm not doing that? He is unquestionably superior to you. He grabbed her by the hair after she had said that, which made her scream at the pain she was feeling.

She looked into his eyes and raised her head. She wasn't going to break up with Jey because he's been giving her the mental support she needed, which Carmelo was unable to give her, even though this man was being completely serious. She felt her hair behind come loose before he could do anything else, looked up, and saw Jonathan choking him. Yasmine couldn't understand. Where the fuck did he come from?

"Yasmine, are you okay?" "What?" Jonathan inquired.

As she watched Carmelo struggle to escape Jon's chokehold, she nodded her head and said, "Yo' ass want to keep putting hands on her, don't you, Melo? When will you discover that she is protected? She followed Jon's instructions to go to Montez's locker room while he handled Carmelo's ass, and she had planned to do so until this incident. As Yasmine entered his locker room, she noticed Trinity and Bianca seated there, staring at her. In order to check on her and give her a hug, they both approached her.

"Girl, you good?" Trinity asked.

"Yes, I'm alright. I guess Melo learned that Jey and I were best friends and wanted me to cut him off, so I had to deal with him once more." Trinity and Bianca both let out deep sighs as Yasmine explained. "Yasmine, have you been talking to Trick? I'm so sick of his ass." As soon as he believed his own best friend over her and blocked him on everything, Yasmine shook her head, refusing to even consider his ass.

In the locker room, Bianca nodded her head as everyone sat down to watch an Iyo vs. Bayley match on the TV. Yasmine, meanwhile, could feel her phone buzzing. Upon taking it out, she discovered that Jey had sent her a text.

Joshua🤍 sent 2+ messages IMESSAGE 💬 Joshua🤍: hey, I heard what happened you good minks? Joshua🤍: lemme' know okay?

She awe at the messages knowing that Jey cared for her so much she began to text him back.

Yasmine🩵: I'm fine Joshua your brother came in the nick of time before anything could happen. Joshua🤍: that's good minks, where yo' pretty ass at? Yasmine🩵: I'm in my brother's locker room with the girls watching a match between Iyo and Bayley why? Joshua🤍: come holla at me for a second Yasmine🩵: 🤨🤨 boy what'chu tryna do? Joshua🤍: girl bring yo' ass here and stop playing with me Yasmine🩵: you can wait bestie 💁🏼‍♀️ Joshua🤍: bring. yo'. ass. here. now. do I have to repeat myself? Yasmine🩵: 🙄 god you're so annoying worse than Montez ass I'm coming. Joshua🤍: good Yasmine🩵: 🖕🏼🖕🏼

Yasmine promised the girls that she would return, but she quickly informed them that she was going to the restroom. As she walked out of the room, they both nodded. She and Jey have been touchy lately; did she forget to mention that to you? Most likely, it didn't matter. She made her way to Jey's locker room, which he shared with his brother. Standing there like a young child heading over to their friend's house, Yasmine knocked on the door and waited for Jey to come open it.

The door flew open as she heard footsteps approaching. Jey was standing there with his silver chain, grills, and piercings on, all part of his Yeet Gear. He always manages to look good. He gave her a smile while displaying his golden grills, which gleamed in the natural light. After grabbing her by the thighs, he closed the door after them.

As she straddled his lap, her hands held her in place while touching every part of his face and feeling every hair on his beard.

Jey put his powerful arms around her waist and squeezed her ass while rubbing his hands on both of her cheeks.

"Is this what'chu wanted me to come in for?" She said, running her fingers through his mullet.

While she was whining, he made her up by kissing her neck, sending chills down her spine.

"You know I miss yo' fine ass mama." Jey said, placing a kiss on her forehead.

"I missed you too, bestie. Do you have a match tonight?" He shook his head, rubbing all over her warm body, which made her feel wet inside of her panties.

"Joshhhh..."

With that damn smug look on his face as he did what he was doing to her, he arched an eyebrow at her. "What? Girl, I'm not doing anything. Yasmine rolled her eyes and smacked her teeth as she looked down at him.

"Josh, you're being touchy." Gently, she said, and he sat up, taking her chin and bringing her face to his. "Lemme' do that you know you like it." Without hesitation, Yasmine put her lips to his, and he did the same.

Yes, ever since they started hanging out, she and Jey have been touchy, but not to the extent that it made Yasmine feel uneasy. Perhaps Jonathan is the only person close to them who is aware of the small things they do that best friends don't really do. As they made out passionately in his and Jon's locker room, Jey stuck his tongue in her mouth and rubbed all over her ass. Although he was aware that he needed to maintain his composure around Yasmine, he felt himself becoming hard.

As their foreheads touched, she sensed it too and withdrew from the kiss.

"Shit, you me getting all bricked up girl." He said.

"Well, that's what happens when we are doing things like this together, Josh." He chuckled, telling her to sit up real quick so he could fix himself.

His print was visible through his gear, indicating to her that he was large and most likely incapable of enduring all of that if they went far. He noticed her grinning as she gazed at his print.

"You wanna suck it since you keep staring mad hard at it." Yasmine punched him in his chest as her face felt flushed at his bold statement.

"Shut up Joshua like deadass." Yasmine said while straddling back on his lap.

"Don't you need to get back to girls before they start to worry?" As she got up from his lap and fixed herself, she nearly forgot about that, but she missed the hickey he had given her earlier. It wasn't bad, but from a distance it was obvious, so she thought she would cover it up with makeup to hide it from the girls, but Jey stopped her.

"Let people see; don't cover it up." She put her makeup brush back in her bag, and Jey placed a soft kiss on her neck and then on her lips.

But the kiss once again got intense as Yasmine wrapped her arms around his neck while his hands were resting on her ass cheeks. He was yearning more from her as she did the same, but they both knew their limits. Yasmine marked him up just like how he did her, hearing him moaning softly in her ear, causing him to scoop her up by her thighs. Once again, it's like he lost control of his senses.

Unhooking her bra as his breast popped out, he grabbed it in the process, swirling his tongue around her nipple. She threw her head back while moaning his name.

"J-Josh...fuck..." he gazed up at her watching her fold at his touch.

"I can stop...we don't have to continue this...lemme' know mama.." He said softly, reassuring her.

"Let's stop for now before we get caught..." he nodded in agreement as Yasmine got up from his lap fixing herself as he did the same.

Before she could leave, she gave him one last kiss before heading out the door and returning to Montez's locker room. Opening the door, she saw Bianca and Trinity staring at her.

"Damn, girl what took you so long?" Bianca asked.

"My tummy started to hurt and it took me longer than expected." Yasmine lied as she sat down on the couch.

Trinity noticed a mark on her neck. She smirked, shaking her head, and then she knew that Yasmine had been with Jey all that time.

✧˚° After work, Yasmine was upstairs in her room watching her favorite show on Netflix, Bridgerton. She stopped watching it at first because of the sex scenes but went right back to it after hearing that they had a new season out, so she had to catch up on everything.

While she was doing that, she heard her knocking and Bianca coming into her room.

"What's up B?" Yasmine asked.

"Everyone is here and wants to see you, girl. C'mon, " she said as Yasmine nodded her head while getting up from her bed.

In order to have some privacy and change her clothes, Bianca closed the door. During that time, Yasmine dressed comfortably and styled her hair before heading downstairs to greet everyone. She went downstairs, hoping to see someone she knew, but she didn't see them. She sighed, knowing that since his brother and sister-in-law were present, he would most likely arrive on his own schedule.

She approached them, grinning and giving them both hugs. "Jon, is my best friend coming?" Jonathan rolled his eyes amusingly and nodded his head.

"Yes, but he's coming a little later, so be patient. He's not going anywhere, girl." Jonathan said as Yasmine hit him in the chest Him being dramatic, started to winch in pain; meanwhile, Trinity popped him upside the head.

Yasmine laughed, covering her mouth in the process before Trinity pulled her to the side, leaving Jon in actual pain.

"Girl, what's going on between you and Jey?" Trinity asked Yasmine. Knowing that she couldn't hide this from her best friend, she decided to tell her everything.

Trinity covered her mouth shockingly as she hit Yasmine in her arm, hearing all of the tea that she was spilling on her. "Girl! Shut the fuck up, are you serious right now?" Yasmine nodded her head while feeling her face getting flushed.

"I'm not lying. It's been like that for a few weeks now. We don't really go too far with it, but honestly, I'm yearning for more. Trin, is that bad?" Yasmine said, fiddling with her fingers, as Trinity shook her head.

"Nah, girl, it's not bad, but I also want you to take it slow and need to heal, even if it's with Jey and he's helping you. I just don't want you to get hurt; that's all that matters to me."

"Yeah, of course, I know my limit, and so does he." She nodded her head as she and Yasmine went back with everyone else out back while Montez was cooking some BBQ.

Meanwhile, Yasmine was sitting near the pool on her phone, scrolling through her social media, and saw that Carmelo had posted about his story.

When she saw it; it was him and trick out to the club together along with lash having a good time she shrugged her shoulders moving past his story while watching someone else's story.

As she was doing that, she heard the door opening. She didn't pay attention at first since she was on her phone, but she heard a familiar voice coming from the kitchen.

Yasmine turned around and saw Jey dabbing up his brother and Montez before glancing in her direction and grinning while flaunting his grills. Raising herself, she approached him and put her arms around his neck. Everyone, including her brother, watched them as he grabbed her by the thighs.

"Oh my gosh, I thought you weren't going to come." Yasmine said.

"I mean I am a foodie so when I heard yo' brother was making some bbq I had to come." Jey replied as he put Yasmine down on her feet.

"Man, you're here for the food and not to see me rude." She pouted at him while walking away, and he chuckled at her for following her to everyone else out back.

Not even looking at Jey, she sat down by the pool and resumed using her phone. While preparing the food, Montez was conversing with Jey. Wondering what was going on between them, he brought up what he had seen earlier.

"So what's up with'chu and my little sister Josh?" Montez asked Jey, scratching the back of his head.

"Nothing, we are just chilling and vibing together. That's all nothing more." Montez gave him that face knowing that he was lying his ass off, causing Jey to sigh deeply.

"Don't kill Me A'ight? But we've been fucking around for like a couple of weeks but I do respect her wishes." Jey said, throwing his hands up in defense.

The sight of his homeboy raising his hands as if to strike him made Montez laugh at him. "Slow down, Dawg. You won't be killed by me. Regardless, I think you two look good together, and as I've previously stated, I have faith in you around my sister." With a sigh of relief, Jey rubbed his hand over his beard. When he noticed Yasmine sitting by herself in the pool using her phone, his gaze quickly went to her. After removing his shirt, he approached her and dove into the pool. He was swimming in the pool when she looked up, the water splashing in her face.

'This nigga did that shit on purpose oh my gosh so annoying bro.'

"Josh! You fucking dickhead!" Yasmine shouted as she wiped her phone, which had water on the screen, before swimming towards him.

He went under the water as she swam in his direction, making it impossible for her to find him. She looked around like a lost puppy until she felt him grab her by the thighs, frightening her. Giving her a Samoan drop in the water, he placed her on his back. Everyone laughed and gasped. Yasmine, meanwhile, flipped her hair back out of her face and swam back up to the top, rubbing her eyes.

Jey encircled her waist with his arms and pressed his face against her shoulder. She gave him an eye roll.

"C'mon mama you can't be mad at me still look at me." He whispered softly.

She turned her head, realizing their faces were close together, pouting at him. "I am still mad at you nigga; leave me alone." Yasmine tried to get away from his grasp but forgetting the fact that he was stronger than her.

"What can I do to make it up to you? Ion' know why yo' little ass catching attitude with me when I did want to come and see you, but a man's gotta eat girl."

She stuck her tongue out at him, facing the opposite direction, grabbing her chin so that she could face him as they made intense contact.

"Fix it."

"Nigga fix what?" Yasmine questioned him as a smirk appeared on his face.

"Fix that damn attitude, or imma fuck it out of you upstairs in yo' bedroom bent the fuck over on that bed, little girl." She fixed her attitude quickly once he said all of that as he turned her body around, now facing him, keeping their bodies close to each other.

Jey pecked her on the lips, making sure nobody saw them do that. Then, they heard Montez calling everyone to come get their plates as the food was done.

✧˚°

After everyone had finished their meal, they spent the remainder of the evening in the living room watching a movie. On the couch, Jey and Yasmine were snuggling together. His hand was over her waist, her head resting on his chest as she straddled his lap. As he watched her drift in and out of sleep, he told Montez that he was going to take Yasmine upstairs to bed because he could see she was nodding off.

Taking her by the legs, he led her upstairs to her bedroom, opened the door with his free hand, and carried her to her bed. He set her down, moved her hair to the side, sat beside her, and gently covered her body with her blanket. Jey smiled as he observed her sleeping soundly and appreciated her features. He wanted to continue keeping her mentally and physically sane because he knew he was doing a good job of it. He wished for her happiness.

He got up from the bed double, checking to make sure that she was actually sleeping before heading downstairs with everyone else.

As he went back downstairs, he noticed that everyone was knocked out of sleep. He laughed quietly, heading back upstairs towards Yasmine's bedroom.

Opening the door, he could tell that Yasmine had shifted in her sleep from sleeping on her side to her stomach. He quietly took off his shorts before climbing into the bed with her.

Pulling her closer to his body, he heard her groan, sounding annoyed, but he didn't care as he placed a kiss on her forehead before drifting to sleep.

Something Bout' Us.

uceyjucey, tiffanywwe, biancabelairwwe, others liked your post.

minnieminks: he knows I'm his favorite 😩 uceyjucey: damn right minks 🤍 minnieminks: @ uceyjucey my favorite person like ever 🫶🏽 tiffanywwe: girl you're eating that up fr fr ♥️ biancabelairwwe: gurl is there something that ion' know about? minnieminks: @ biancabelairwwe ummm idkkk ask yo' fiancé 😭😭 im playing ill tell you later. MontezFordWWE: yk what...im not going to say anything 😭😭 jonathanfatu: that bathing suit is to much Yasmine minnieminks: @ jonathanfatu dont make me get Trinity leave me alone Jon 😭😭🙄 carmelohayes: @ uceyjucey tf you mean by that? Yasmine what does he mean by that? Are you cheating on me with him? uceyjucey: @ carmelohayes you should know what tf she meant gtfo 🙄

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A/n: Lawd Yasmine and Jey are yearning more for each other right now but again Jey is respecting her but how long can they keep this up before he tear her shit up? 😭😭

Carmelo...ion have anything to say. 🙄

Anyways I hope yall enjoy this chapter lmk in the comments below.

Stay Ucey.

#jey uso #black writers #black fanfic writer #black oc #jey x oc black #wwelove #black reader #jey uso fanfiction #wwe fanfiction #jey uso smut

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the-fiction-witch · 7 months ago

Text

Little Mouse

Media - The Artful Dodger Character - Doctor Jack Dawkins Couple - Jack X Reader Reader - Y/n (Brown Hair) Rating - Sweet / Moments of sad / moments of flirty Word Count - 3359

I took my bag and headed out to the front steps of the Port Victory Royal Hospital, immediately met by the heat that still gives me pause even after all this time here. The sun was beating down without the sweet mercy of a single cloud today so I kept on my hat in an attempt to keep myself from burning. I wandered down the steps and sat my bag beside the tables as Hetty finished setting them up, Sneed was already out here being slimy and smug as usual in his suit. I took my seat at my own table and opened up my book flicking through to the right page taking a moment for my eyes to get the fucking letters in line so I knew where I was and what I was doing. I grabbed my pen and gave it a good shake out of habit before writing in the date. Almost as soon as I did I saw crowds begin to gather, wealthy couples hand in hand to watch and laugh at those who come down, those to the right of our tables from businesses in need of workers, here to collect people up to work them into the ground. And to my left the chain of new convicts fresh off the boat, Captain Gains forcing them to walk in chains to our tables even if we were a good mile from the dock. I felt pity for them, all of them. I know at one time I was them, and I know if ever I came by a man of office or importance I was begging him for mercy.

"Good Morning Doctor Sneed, Doctor Dawkins." Captain Gains smiled he seemed cheery to be sending people to be worked to death, which only made me hate the guy even more. I nodded without a word in reply. "Shall we begin then gentlemen?"

"Yes, let's get through this lot." Doctor Sneed snarled almost viciously, I rolled my eyes at him what would he rather be doing than deciding the literal fate of people's lives, having a nap?

The line moved slowly of course through the various new convicts many of them here for the smallest and pettiest of reasons.

"Barely any labour left in them after these sea voyages," Captain Grains snarked with his men following behind him, "Just sea sores and scurvy," he said as he looked up some older frail men, as he walked he picked out sorry souls for the chain gang. I felt guilty in the pit of my stomach for going so slow I could have been done with those people by now and given them jobs so they wouldn't have to be sent on the chain gang but I know he'd have come and cherry-picked some anyway. I had to take a moment looking away, away from the swirling words on the page, away from the faces of people I was condemning, my elbows on the table as I took a moment to collect my head.

"Cheer up Dawkins, you look as if you've swallowed a lemon," Sneed told me as he hurried through another person simply sending them to the first thing he saw they could be used for.

"Hetty, you mind this... pen's starting to go." I lay sliding the book across a little so she could take it and do the rest of the writing out for me, as the officer unchained the next one and brought them to my table, "Name?"

"Milly Wince." The girl nodded,

"and your crime?"

"I stole clothes for me baby, but... he died on the way over."

I took a second to gather myself after that, it wasn't an uncommon tale to hear on days like this. I know Sneed never listens calls them pity stories, and says the prisoners come up with them to try and milk their way somewhere better. But still, I can't risk the idea of it being true. "What was his name?"

"Benji," She nodded, it was obvious she was close to tears as she said it.

I racked my brain a moment knowing we were getting to the end of the line, most jobs were taken. But I couldn't send her to the chain gang or off down to the docks as a storeroom scrubber. I looked over what jobs were left doing my best to work around the swirling words, "She can help the schoolma'am."

The officer escorting her saluted to me, and began to lead her away,

"But I can't read," She whispered,

"It's alright they'll teach you," I nodded to her,

She smiled and thanked me before she was led away, the day grew later and later various prisoners were sent to various fates before finally we got to the last two, one aged man and one young girl. Hetty left me to do the last one alone as she had other business inside to deal with, but as she was the last one I did my best to really look and really listen to the girl.

She stood in the dusty dirt trembling with fear, she was barefoot, her pale skin burnt from standing in the sun all day, she had a long brown skirt, a brown blouse both dirty and ill-fitting, she was caked with dirt, she looked a little younger than me but not much, Y/e/C eyes filled with silent tears, mousy brown hair matted behind her. I know she was afraid of me or more the fate I could give her, that much was obvious.

"Name?" I asked,

She did speak but it was so quiet I could barely hear much more than a mouse squeak, I suppose that did sort of best describe her, she was rather mousy.

"Could you speak up please?"

She nodded and sniffled, "Y/n,"

"Y/n, alright last name?"

"I... I don't- I don't know sir."

I nodded and just crossed through the box on the form, "You're crimes?"

"T- Theivery sir,"

"What did you steal?" I asked, mostly in curiosity to see how bad her crime really was and also to give me more time to actually write it in,

"Bread sir," she squeaked,

"B-bread?" I asked in disbelief,

"Yes sir,"

"They arrested you, and sent you here," I began, "For stealing bread?"

She nodded,

"Di- did it belong to the queen of England?" I asked, I felt so guilty, I had legit stolen worse than that and I'm the one sitting here deciding her fate!

A small smile cracked across her lips, "No sir, I was... stealing often sir. bread, fruit, veg," she explained, "But I always stole the worst of it sir, the burnt bread, the fruits and Vegies almost on the turn. Just so I didn't bother them as much as I could."

"Why were you stealing?" I asked, even if I could guess why.

"For my little brother, mother passed away, and... I never met our father. I did my best for little Sammy, but... he was left behind."

"How old was your little brother?"

"Just two sir." she sniffled having to wipe her tears,

I knew her story must be true, I knew many people like that in London when I was young, and I felt like a monster. I looked over the list of where I could send her but given she was the last one it was slim pickings, I couldn't send her to any of these I know I can't. They'll eat her alive and work her to death. But I don't have a choice I have to send her somewhere, she just stands there patiently waiting for her fate her eyes on the floor.

Then an idea came to mind, so I quickly put it on the paperwork.

"I require a convict servant, do chores for me, help me out with things, sort of like a maid. you think you could do that?" I asked, I don't NEED one but it'll be nice not to have to cook my breakfast,

She nodded wiping away her tears,

"Good, pick up my bag and follow me," I told her as I finished the paperwork and I got up fixing my coat as I did.

The officer let her out of all her chains and she picked up my bag with two hands struggling a little as it was too heavy for her but she followed me without a word.

I sat in my room trying to decompress after such an emotional day, I for a moment glanced at the small bed I had set up on the floor for when Y/n gets back. I had sent her down to Hetty and the nurses to get her cleaned up after so long at sea. She had been done a decent few hours now I would have been happy with them just giving her a bath and a nurse's dress but I suppose they knew what their doing down there.

My door opens and it's Hetty, she never knocks anymore.

"She's done," She said pushing open the door more and a girl stepped in,

I sat up and was frankly floored.

As in stepped a young lady, in a pair of lace-up boots, a grey nurse dress in the crisp white pinafore apron over it, pale skin that shined like moonlight, sweet little freckles across her nose and cheeks, bright Y/e/C eyes, long beautiful mousy brown hair in two long braids down each shoulder, she looks up at me and immediately I felt my heart jump up into my throat and start berating like a jackrabbit, I could barely even believe this was the same girl.

"N- Y/n?"

"Yes sir," she nodded,

"oh my god-" I gasped, "You- you look beautiful, you uhh do you feel a lot better now?"

she nodded with a gentle smile,

"Good, I- uhh I'm glad," I nodded doing my best not to blush even if I knew I was losing my words, "Hetty, you and the girls all get an extra day off this week, you are... miracle workers,"

Hetty nodded and dropped off some extra bits for her, a washcloth, an extra set of clothes, some clothes for bed and such like and left us alone shutting the door behind her, leaving me and Y/n alone,

"So... you are going to be my servant from now on. I won't work you too hard I promise, if you can handle just meals, laundry, maybe a little cleaning up at first?"

"Yes sir," she sheepishly nodded,

"And you don't have to keep calling me sir, just Jack is fine."

"But Doctor Dawkins I-"

"Just Jack is fine Y/n,"

she nodded,

"Good, I've made you up a little bed it's not much I know but just until we can find you a room of your own," I told her showing her the little bed I made up for her,

"It's all for me?" she asked,

"Yes, all for you." I laughed a little at her idea of 'All' given it was two pillows and two blankets. "Perfect for a little mouse,"

"Mouse?"

"Ohh-" I gulped realizing I had said that out loud, "Yeah you uhh, sorry you just kinda remind me of a little mouse," I shrug, "Do you mind me calling you that?"

"No, it alright,"

"Good, you sure you don't need anything else?"

She shakes her head, "Thank you so very much si- Jack. for everything."

"No need to thank me. Anyone else would have done the same. and It'll be nice having someone else around to help me out," I told her,

I woke as usual with a long yawn and stretch as I sat up in bed, the window already open to let in the fresh air, I looked first to Y/n's little bed on the floor but as usual it was made and empty. So I glanced around the room and couldn't hold back my smile, on the table sat a fresh plate of bacon, eggs and hashbrowns, and a set of clean folded clothes on the chair for me. I got up and started to get dressed as a timid little knock came from the door, quiet enough that if I was still sleeping it wouldn't have woken me and of course, I knew who it was.

"Come in!" I called back,

The door opened and Y/n stepped in, with her sweet little smile as usual, her mousy brown hair in pigtails today, the same boots and dress as the other nurses but she had over her time here been embroidering little flowers on the hems and pockets of her pinafore apron, just to give her something a little different from the nurses, given she is my servant and not actually a nurse. Even if she does assist me most of the time anyway. She had a clipboard in her hand, which when she saw me half-dressed she quickly used to cover her eyes.

I chuckled, she's been here a good six months and for god sake, we share a room, she even runs my baths for me I'm positive she has seen me like this before but still she always covers her eyes, "Nothing you haven't seen before,"

"...Still," she says in her usual quiet little tone a bright mousy brown blush across her shy little cheeks keeping her freckles company,

"Morning little mouse," I chuckled,

"Morning,"

"You are so quiet, I didn't hear a single peep when you were making breakfast," I told her as I finished getting dressed and took a seat to eat breakfast,

"Perhaps you couldn't hear me over your snoring," she giggled as she went over setting the clipboard on the side and starting to make my bed,

"I. do not. snore." I protested,

"You do when you're tired,"

"I'm always tired,"

"So thusly,"

"Sorry,"

"You don't wake me, its no trouble,"

"...nothing really bothers you does it?"

"Why would it? I'm alive, I have a job, a roof over my head, and food in my tummy, why would I complain?" she shrugged as she went to take my empty plate, but I took her arm,

"Even little mice are allowed to ruffle a few cats' whiskers every now and again, you're allowed to complain hell you listen to me complain enough,"

"Just... don't have much to complain about, and even if I did rather be here than somewhere else,"

"Alright," I let her go but I picked up the clipboard and gave it a read-over,

"I've already made all the notes for the ward and filed the paperwork, I've put your list for the rounds in order from the east side round so we aren't doubling back on ourselves,"

I chuckled as I looked over the notes for the rounds, she had taken the time to organise the stack of visits we had to do, into an order where we could do town in a circle and not be hopping around house to house. "Such a clever little mouse," I chuckled,

"Ready to go then?" she asked,

"yeah, let's get started, hopefully we can be back in time for tea,"

"Hopefully, I made some scones in this morning for tea when we get back," she smiled fetching my coat for me and giving it a shake as she did,

"Ooohh now we have to be back in time for tea," I smiled taking my coat from her and slipping it on as she loaded up my bag and grabbed the clipboard following along behind me as we headed out for the rounds.

I lay in bed looking over some diagrams in my book for a new surgery, every so often Y/n caught my eye, as she lay on the floor in her little bed, on her stomach with a book on her pillow and a pencil in her hand often tapping it against her cheek, her mousy brown hair pinned up in a bun to sleep. I smiled a little seeing her mouthing the words but she was so quiet I wasn't actually sure if any words were coming out or not. Slowly she's been learning to read, but honestly, she's already better than me. But she happily sits every night with a candle by her side doing some more reading practice. I couldn't not smile at her,

"Are you comfy down there?" I asked,

"Humm?"

"Down there, on the floor? Are you... comfortable?"

"It's better than outside,"

"I didn't ask if it was better than being outside, I asked if, 'you'... are comfortable little mouse?"

She shrugged, "Why do you ask?"

"Curious,"

"you aren't just avoiding reading your book?"

"Don't get smart with me," I playfully warn her, "You can come share with me... if you want?"

"Humm?"

"You are more than welcome to come share with me," I smiled, "I'm sure a little mouse won't take up too much space,"

She looks at my bed rather excitedly, she obviously wants to. "No thank you, Jack,"

"You sure?"

"... Could I?"

"Come on," I smiled putting my book down and opening the covers for her,

She smiled and got up blowing out her little candle before she came over with her little silent steps adjusting her cotton nightie as she did, she slowly climbed in with me laying herself down beside me and let out a little sigh,

"There, that better than the floor?"

She nodded,

"Good, come on then get cosy little mouse. I'm sure you can kick me in the morning when it's time for breakfast,"

"I will," she nodded as she turned to face away from me,

So I turned to get ready to sleep too, but after a little tossing and turning I moved to face her back and slowly slid my hands around her waist pressing a little kiss to her shoulder, "Goodnight Y/n, sleep well little mouse,"

"Goodnight Jack,"

I woke up with the widest smile I had for god knows how long, I squeezed Y/n and peppered some kisses onto her shoulder. I love sharing my bed with her, she hasn't slept on the floor in almost a month now and I couldn't be happier to have less bed. "Good morning little mouse," I cooed,

"Good Morning Jack," Her voice smiled but it sounded strange, like further away than it should have, it was then I noticed the smell of bacon, so I pealed open my eyes and saw her at the little stove making breakfast in her nightie with her mousy brown hair in a ponytail, I was confused and looked noticing I was merely hugging and kissing her pillow.

"How do you do that?" I complained sitting up and putting the pillow back,"

"do what?" she innocent raised an eyebrow,

"Sneak away from me in the morning without me noticing?" I chuckled, "I swear you really are a little mouse, silent and sneaky."

"I didn't want to wake you," she shrugged,

"You can wake me, it's okay." I chuckled, "Come on, back to bed. I want a few more cuddles before breakfast."

"Jack I-"

"Back. to. Bed." I told her, patting her side of my bed,

She rolls her eyes playfully and climbs back into bed so I can cuddle her again, "Happy?"

"Very happy," I smiled, "you think for a moment I can even dream of getting out of bed to begin the day without cuddling my little mouse?" I told her peppering her cute little face with kisses,

"But we have work to-" she began but I kissed her lips to cut her off,

"Work can wait, I just want to enjoy my time with you for a while," I smiled, "Don't you want to just spend a little time with me?"

"Of course I do Jack," she smiled burrowing herself into my chest,

"Good, come on we can have a few more minutes... or another hour," I smiled kissing her head,

"Another hour," she nods,

"Fine by me," I cooed,

"Maybe two," she shrugs giving my neck little kisses,

"oooh... Yeah? no complaints from me," I smirked a little pulling her lips to my own, we shared a few kisses each getting a little longer and more passionate until it became obvious what we both wanted so I pulled back and rubbed the tip of my nose across the bridge of her own, "humm shall we, my little mouse?"

"Mhm," she nodded with an eager little giggle her hands coming to rest on my bare chest and my own snake around her hips, as we pulled our lips back to meet again in a much hotter and heavier kiss.

#thomas sangster #tbs smut #thomas brodie sangster #tbs imagines #thomas brodie sangster imagine #thomas sangster imagine #thomas brodie sangster smut #tbs imagine #tbs #thomasbrodiesangster #jackdawkins #jack dawkins #jack #dr dawkins #thearttfuldodger #theartfuldogger #the artful dodger #jack imagines #jack dawkins x reader

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sgnjimmy · 2 years ago

Text

𝐼𝑓 𝐼 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝐵𝑜𝑦𝑓𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑑

vinny hong x f!reader

a/n: inspired by this ask. @skboba-stars here u go, sweetie.

warning (s): just some mentions of violence.

“So I'm trying this new one now, is not as good as- Hey, are you fucking listening to me?”

Honestly? No. Vinny couldn't care less for some dumb, expensive shoe, so no, he wasn't listening. He just kept walking, thinking about whatever shit that he could be doing instead of going shopping with Dom.

“Yeah, yeah, some shoe talk.” He replies.

“Is not just any shoe, Vinny.” The redhead couldn't help rolling his eyes at his friend.

“Whatever.”

And just as they were reaching the end of the block he bumps into someone. So hard he's pushed a bit back.

“Oh, fuck.” She says. Raising his head he sees a girl, a fucking tall girl, at that.

When she looks back at him, she seems surprised for a moment, tilting her head slightly but as soon as she does it she stops herself, blinking at the floor for half a second.

“My bad.” She says looking down at him, and already making herself move way out of their way.

When she's out of his sight, Vinny turns to look at Dom on his left, and he meets the boy doing a weird face: mouth full open and eyes wide.

“What?” He asks.

“What do you mean ‘what’?! Don't you know who she is? That's Creation Genius!” The long haired teen seemed pretty amazed, moving his hands around and never resting his eyebrows. “Fucking MMA legend!”

“Okay...?”

“Can't believe you don't know her, she's got this special move, that like-”As Dom goes on and on telling Vinny every thing that he ‘needs’ to know about this ‘legend’ the boy shuts his ears off from his companion annoying voice.

Maybe he should have stayed home with Jack, after all.

He really should have stayed home, the rest of the day was literally some kind of torture. Dom stopped on every damn shop, looking at all the dumb things possible, and to make it even worse he made Vinny look with him for a gift to Yana - their birthday was comin' of somethin' like that, he didn't pay attention.

To try to make the day not entirely suck Vinny when to a convince store on his way home, getting something to eat would make him feel better, to a certain point at least.

When he hits the door open to get out of the store he sees four suspicious guys on the corner of the street - definitely not something he's unfamiliar with -, and given the fame of this neighborhood it couldn't mean no good. On his way passing through them one of the guys grabs his shoulder, he already knows what's going to happen. Today is really not his day, what a pain.

“Hey, man, why don't you lend me, and my friends some money? We kinda short on it.” ... Really? Is this how he's going to play it?

“...”

“... Not gonna answer me? Alright.”

Before he actually trys to hit Vinny he's pulled back, the redhead steps back too from the surprise. Thanks to the poor lighting he don't get to have a good look of his ‘saviour’ kicking the guy to the ground. He manages just to see that they have short hair, and are wearing some hoodie.

The rest of the group fastly runs to back their friend up only to end up on the floor seconds later.

Damn, do they know how to fight, Vinny thinks. But he didn't need no one to save him so he approaches this person to say exactly that.

“I don't need someone to protect me in a fight. And I don't remember anyone asking you to step in.”

The person turns back to look at Vinny and as they step closer to where's a lamppost emitting light, he recognizes them. Or, well, her - from the bump in the afternoon.

“I couldn't help it... Nobody bullies my friend.”

Wait.

You shitting me.

There's no way...

The surprise is visible on Vinny's face as he tries to put his brain back on track. You just stand there, smiling to yourself, his confusion seems pretty amusing to you.

“Y/n?”

“Yeah, Vinny... It's me, i'm here.”

#vinny hong #vinny hong x reader #vinny x reader #vinny fanfiction #vinny hong fanfiction #windbreaker x reader #vinny wind breaker #wind breaker x reader #windbreaker webtoon #x reader #f!reader #✓ sgnjimmy's works

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amberjazmyn · 3 months ago

Text

burning questions🫶

pairing : max verstappen x verstappen fem!reader

summary : times in which max verstappen and girlfriend have done the "burning question" video with gq sports that celebrities do, throughout their relationship from being boyfriend and girlfriend, fiancé and fiancée to husband and wife.

warnings : none, it's a fluffy one-shot for my fave maxie today! except the odd greek and dutch translations

a/n : welcome back to another instalment of amber's recycled works that have already been published before but due to having no original ideas has decided to bring back an older chapter and rewrite it! also, decided that because i have done so many sad one-shots recently, here is a lighthearted one :)

a/n : reader in this is also an olympic gymnast for greece even though she was born in france btw :)

max verstappen and madelena laurent (boyfriend and girlfriend)

madelena giggled the moment the camera turned on and the producer called out "action". max, madelena's boyfriend also chuckled as they then introduced themselves to the viewers who would be watching this video.

"hello gq sports, i'm madelena laurent and i am an olympic gymnast for team greece,"

"hello, i'm max verstappen and i am the current formula one word champion with oracle red bull racing and today my girlfriend, madelena and i will be answering our fans' most burning questions so, let's go!" max finishes the introduction as madelena gets given the small tin bucket that the questions are being held in

"how do you guys feel about answering these questions?" a producer behind the camera quietly asks as the two athletes smile at each other before responding

"umm, i think we feel pretty confident as we have had some very interesting but also boring, very generic questions and moments with fans and the media so i don't think these questions could do too much harm," madelena giggled softly as max nodded his head in agreement as madelena unfolds the first question

and it makes her giggle before speaking up, "how many siblings do you have?" madelena smiles at the question, as does max, it had felt like ages since a normal question like that was asked

"that's a nice, easy question, it's actually really funny though because, like most european families, i have ten and max has--"

"--so, are there eleven siblings in total or are you one of the ten?" a producer cuts in before max could tell his answer as madelena giggles before she clarifies, max also giggling

"there are eleven siblings in total, eight are biological and the other three are by techncial terms, half-siblings. so, me and my four brothers and sisters are all biologically related and then my two older brothers and one younger sister are from my mum and their dad which is different to mine," madelena giggles at the complexity of her greek family, the producers were all shocked as max then spoke up

"and i am the oldest of five kids. i have one biological sister, victoria and then i have three that are half-siblings from my dad's other marriages," max chuckles as the producers looked even more shocked because it seemed as though european families shocked a lot of people

"next question!" max then called out as he picked out the second one

"max, if you could switch bodies with one of your fellow drivers, not just from red bull , who and why and madelena, if you could switch bodies with one of your current or former teammates, who would it be and why?" max reads out, a little laugh leaving his mouth after as madelena immediately lights up at this question, max laughing as he let her lead this question

"ooh, this question is literally my favourite question ever! i have been asked this a couple of times by this same fan account but, it would for sure either be my former teammate aaliyah since she was my first real best friend in the squad or any of my current teammates since new ones come in and the older girls retire so we always get a relatively new stream of girls in our team regularly," madalena pauses as she thinks up of a way to explain why she'd want to switch bodies with either aaliyah or any of her current teammates

"the reason why i'd want to switch with aaliyah is that she's stunning, first thing and, i just wish i had the same confidence and oomph as her! i mean, she is the queen of floor work which is my main event and i wish i just had the same skills as her! she is so humble about her talent as well like, of course she knows how good she is but in the most humble way. so getting to know everything i do know from aaliyah has been truly magnificant and if i could keep on doing that, i'd love it. and the rest of my girls just simply because they are my family and i wouldn't be going to the paris olympics if it wasn't for the rest of my team and just how well we gel as a group!" madelena chuckles as max nods his head as he feels as though he has a solid answer to the question

"i think i'd love to switch bodies with daniel ricciardo. whilst i think i'd love to be all of the other drivers, i think i'd love to switch bodies with daniel the most. whilst i do enjoy having checo as my teammate, i really loved having daniel as my teammate as he really showed me everything i know and i truly do think he shaped me into the person i am now so, i think i'd love to just spend a day being daniel for sure. also because i'd love to be australian for a day *giggles*..."

"...like, just a singular day?" madelena interjects, her giggles matching her boyfriend's as max nods

"yeah, just one day, a whole 24 hours of being australian," max chuckles, his head moving to the side as madelena just shook her head

"madelena, what is it like going into your second-ever olympics in the hopes of defending all of your gold medals you got four years ago at your first games and max, does it ever get tiring winning all the time?"

"ooh, this is a question that we don't get asked a lot believe it or not! but, honestly, it's such an honour to be representing my country once again for a second games. and to be coming in as the reigning champion gold medalist as well for all my events is just so special. and, i hope everything i've done during training and the championships in preperation for these olympics has done enough to get me the gold medals once again so it's a lot less stressful than it was four years ago but, yeah, i'm a lot more calm about it this year for sure," madelena responded, her head nodding as she turned to max so he could say his answer to his specific part of the question

"oh wow, umm, obviously, it's always a joy to win anything but especially in a sport that is so fast-paced and adrenaline-pumping but i think i can get a little bit tiring when the same person keeps on winning because it feels like there's no competition. like, of course i want to win, it's why i'm in the sport, but i love being challenged too. i love seeing other drivers win and put up a fight against me and the others that are the leads in the races. otherwise it doesn't seem fun and it just gets boring. but, saying that, i do love the thrill of winning a race and it's truly something that i'll always love and crave the feeling of for sure!" max's answer was a little longer than madelena's but made sense as the couple moved on to the next question

"what's one thing that max and the rest of the grid do that bothers the crap out of you, madelena. and max, what is one thing that madelena and her gymnastic squad do that annoy you?"

"oh my gosh, second best question ever!" madelena giggles as max shakes his head, suddenly feeling attacked as he jokingly crosses his arms over his chest

"one thing that max does specifically is, he'll just explain things with such intensity it's hard to even get a word in because he gets so excited that he can't stop talking. but in saying that, it's also one of my favourite things about him because he gets so into it and so happy and smiley that i can't actually have it within me to be annoyed about it. and for the rest of the grid, i'm only going to single out a few of the drivers so, lando's most annoying thing that, similar to max in the sense of i can't really have it in my heart to be that annoyed by it, is his laugh is so contagious and finds everything and nothing funny that he'll just randomly start laughing."

"i have a story about lando actually *giggles* and it was when he was visiting me in greece during summer break a couple years ago, may have been just after my first ever olympics. max fewtrell, lando, charles, oscar, carlos and a couple other drivers had flown over to greece alongside maxie and i for the summer. and unfortunately, whilst they were on summer break, i wasn't technically since i still had more competitions and meets to attend to so i was still working and training. but anyway, lando had been begging me to come with me to one of my gymnastic meets and i agreed and whilst he promised me he'd try his absolute best to not be giggly or distracting, he was. but it was my fault that he was giggly and distracting me because i had failed a trick on the uneven bars falling flat on my stomach like a starfish and he had just happened to be filming the trick i had been practising and the second i splattered on the mat below me, all i hear is just this symphony of hysterical laughter. all for me to lift my head up from the mat to see that it was lando. still filming me by the way with tears streaming down his face because he couldn't stop laughing..." madelena trailed off as max's smile and giggles hearing this story again was sweet

"...but, by the end of lando's giggle session, he actually stopped recording and did actually make sure i was okay since my spotter had turned his back for a mere second. and it was in that second that i had slipped and fell stomach first. thankfully i didn't acquire any serious injuries but it did bruise a little bit of my ego cause i remember after the hilarity of the fall had passed, i actually got really embarrassed and started to cry. and lando was a sweetheart and made sure to comfort me because he, just like the rest of the grid, hate seeing me get upset so he was trying so hard to make me smile again. especially since this had happened not long after the major injury of mine i had just finished healing from before the olympics but yeah, lando's most annoying thing that i find more sweet about him at the same time is his ability to have the best laugh in the world that it can be percieved as annoying to some people because of how much he laughs," madelena smiled as max nodded his head in agreement as she then thought up of some of the other drivers in the grid

"an annoying thing about carlos is again, another thing i love about him that i can never actually find annoying but, his big brown eyes *laughter*..." madelena gets cut off by max's hearty laughter as she also started to giggle

"...i know a lot of people have mentioned the same thing about carlos' eyes but they just tell so much with just one look and i think i find it annoying because i wish i had eyes that were that pretty! i mean, mine are also pretty cause they're like an emerald green but, i think i just love the chocolate brown colour as well as the sweet blue colour as well! but an actual thing about carlos that can sometimes be annoying is that he just always looks so confused about everything..." madelena pauses as max laughs wholeheartedly again with a big headnod

"oh my god yes! it's like, what is so confusing every single time someone speaks to you, mate!" max chuckles as he shakes head as madelena nods her head

"literally, when you or anyone speaks to him, he just looks at you like he's in his own little world half the time! but, again, it's another thing about carlos that i find very endearing and a little bit sweet and adorable! and something about charles i find annoying, i think just how he still doesn't understand english *laughter* but yet again it is sweet because he tries so hard with english because it isn't his first language but yeah, sometimes it can get not annoying but like, i just wish he knew what he was trying to say when we speak english. even though we don't usually speak english to one another since i speak french and italian as well but, yeah..." madelena pauses as she tries to think up of something annoying about oscar as she laughs as it was so obvious

"...and the last person on the grid i'll talk about is oscar. and i think it's very obvious but, it's so annoying how calm he is. like, i just don't get it! sure, i've seen people say that it's just an australian thing but like, is it really? or is it just oscar and daniel because i don't think i've ever met any other australian that is as calm as oscar jack piastri! like, there are moments where i just want him to get angry when something goes wrong in a race! like, max will tell you, sometimes i will scream at poor oscar and like act out like i'm grabbing him by his shoulders and shaking him because i just want him to get a little angry or feel any other emotion except for his default emotion which is calm," madelena finished up as max nods his head in a little bit of agreement

"whilst we say these things that are quote 'annoying', just know it's not in a mean way! we genuinely love every single person that is in one another's respected sport and if it was something that was genuinely annoying in a negative way, we wouldn't be airing it out in public but mentioning it to that person in private. but yeah, that's just a quick little preface before i give my answer to the question!" max gives out a quick psa as madelena nods her head in agreement

"for me, the most annoying thing that madelena does is actually not really an annoying thing, similar to what she said about me, whenever she gets really passionate about something, it's like she has to tell me or someone straight away. in the way that if she doesn't tell someone, she'll forget about it or move on from the thing that got her so excited. like, example, one time we were in australia during the grand prix one year and the whole flight on the way to australia, madelena had been telling me how she wanted to learn how to surf but was too scared since straight after the grand prix she had to fly back to greece so she could return to training back at the gym. and because of that, she didn't want to risk hurting herself trying to surf for the first time. so every person we spoke to in australia, she was getting tips on how to learn how to surf in the safest way possible without hurting herself once she had explained to them that she was a world champion gymnast on her way to getting into the olympics. and yeah, whilst it wasn't really annoying per se, it was like i was listening to a broken record a little bit every time she mentioned wanting to surf but was too scared to to someone new that we had come across. but in saying that, it was more so endearing then annoying because i love it when i see her get excited and passionate about something else that isn't gymnastics or formula one," max responded as the two nodded their heads as the next question was read out

"madelena, we've all heard about the awful crash that max had with lewis hamilton in silverstone back in 2021 and how you reacted since you were there and watched it happen live. so we want to know what was your worst injury that you've ever had. whether that's come from gymnastics or a different sport since you've mentioned on previous occasions that you also did other sports growing up alongside gymnastics, so, what was your worst ever injury?"

this question made madelena think back since she's had some pretty awful injuries before remembering her worst. max already on that wavelength as the joy on his face was wiped by the fear that he still felt towards that specfic injury and accident.

"ooh, that's a loaded and tough question! but, honestly, since i've had so many, at first it was hard to pick one but now that i really think about it, i have a top three injury podium in my notes app on my iphone. and the third worst injury was when i did ice skating cause that was one of the first sports alongside gymnastics that i did growing up but this accident happened when i was seven and it was actually the reason i quit ice skating. and i had a tear in my acl which at the time was the most painful injury i had ever received in my sporting career at the time. whilst the acl tear was able to heal over and i had the chance to return to ice skating, i never did professionally because i always had the same fear that i'd make the tear worse over time."

"so that was third place, second place on the injury podium was an injury i got from the cheerleading squad in junior high so i was doing cheerleading and gymnastics at the same time since i was now like fifteen and i was starting to get into the headspace of one of these sports becoming my top sport and to do it professionally. and like ice skating, this cheerleading injury was the one that had me stop being a cheerleader. and it was a dislocated hip. i was a flyer which meant that i was obviously being thrown up and down in the air and being twirled around and doing flips and everything. and one time, it was during a dismount into the air when i was thrown up wrong and then when they tried to correct it on the way down to catch me, i didn't get caught in the proper, safe way and my hip became dislocated and it was painful. even more painful then the acl tear and i was in tears straight away. obviously, it was an accident that was never meant to happen but, it was so bad that i couldn't continue cheering the rest of the season and it was my final year at that school before moving into senior school and i was devastated. thankfully i was able to cheer for half of my senior year but i could no longer be a flyer because of the dislocated hip that i was now the captain that was also a backspotter so they had to train a whole new girl to replace me as the new flyer for that year."

"now, saving the very best for last, my first place on the injury podium was my gymnastics injury that i am so very lucky and blessed didn't end my career as this was only a year before my first-ever olympics. i was horrified thinking this injury would force me into giving up my spot on the olympic squad that year. so being able to recover from it was amazing in the way i did. the reason why it also takes first place was because it happened a week after i had my qualifying event that actually got me into my first olympics and maxie, lando, max, charles, carlos, and so many others on the grid were all there to support me since it was during their break in the season. and it was a shattered bone in my leg that actually had me needing to relearn how to use that leg again."

"it was horrifiying cause at that time, i didn't care about the fact that i had just shattered my leg at all. it was about the fact that my boyfriend and all of our friends and family were there and had to watch it happen. that and them not being able to do anything to help me. they weren't allowed to come out of their seats and onto the gym floor otherwise the routine that i had just gotten a perfect score from would have had me disqualified and taken out my spot in the olympic team. i can remember clearly the look on their faces, especially maxie's. i mean, i had never seen him look so terrified in his entire life. and also it was the first time i had seen a group of f1 drivers not have something be in their control. cause of course, when you're in your designated sport, you control everything and that's how you know you are that little more safer because you are the one that's controlling the ship and the way it goes. however, when they are away from their cars and are watching me and supporting me, they lose that control in the snap of a finger. and in that moment, the moment they heard the loud shatter of the bone that had snapped, they knew they had fully lost control. but not just they had lost control but that i myself had ultimately lost all control..."

"...and yeah, it was just an awful time because the rehab to get back to where i was able to compete in my first ever olympic games and then win all of my events was very special but also excruiciatingly painful and emotionally draining. and i don't think anything could beat that, not even this years that i have coming up. even if i win every single one of my events this year, it won't compare to my first ever olympic games and i think that's why i'm so much more relaxed this year than i was four years ago," madelena finished her response as the producers were horrified as they looked up the images of all the injuries but that last injury was the most horrific

the entire time that madelena was mentioning her 'top three injuries' it was clear that it was affecting max. but most especially that last injury she talked about that he was actually there to witness in real time. it was obvious that hearing the love of his life talk about her injuries made the racer emotional because like she mentioned, he had never been more terrified in his entire life then in that moment he watched the love of his life go down to the floor after her leg snapped. he remembers the way she screamed and how she began to cry immediately. not because of it hurting but because she felt awful that everyone she could ever love in this world had watched it happen and were now just as traumatised by the injury as she was.

thankfully though, those emotions were only brief before the producers realised it was probably best to change the subject so they did. asking a new question, they moved on swiftly and in a new cut scene, both madelena and max were smiling again.

"max, which win was more special, your first world championship win or watching madelena win all of her events at the olympics?"

"oh wow, that is a loaded question! i mean, whilst i will always find my first wdc an emotional and special moment, i can't lie and say that watching my girlfriend win all of her events was any less important than my championship that year. because, watching her win all of her gymnastic events after the leg injury she had the year before and how brutal it was, i'd say what she went through and the way she won was more special than my wdc for sure. i mean, she had to go through so much rehab the year before to be able to use her leg again and as well as that, she had to relearn everything. from walking on that leg in general as well as all of her routines from start to finish and some of them had to even be simplified or changed in some way because whilst she had mostly recovered from her injury, she still wasn't 100% healed. i honestly think it was only recently that she was told by her medical team that her x-rays was finally starting to come back clear of any reoccurences of the injury. so this will be her first olympics without an injury and being fully healed. which just saying that completely blows my mind quite frankly because she is a superstar and i'm honoured that i have the privilege to love her every single day..." max trailed off as madelena's face softened as she cooed at him

"...aw, maxie! that's so sweet of you ayapi mo my love!" madelena cooed as she gave max a kiss to the cheek

"last question guys. do you get along with each others fellow drivers and gymnasts?"

"and, the answer, the very short, simple answer is yes, we all get along!" madelena gives the short answer as max explains it

"we all get along amazingly! we all grew up together since even though we are in different sports and disciplines, we were always travelling for karting races and gymnastics so there would be the odd occasion i'd be seeing this little gymnast turn up to the karting circut and just watching during a break in her training with the rest of what is this year's team greece for the olympics! like, genuinely, we are all the best of friends and i know gymnastics and f1 crossover sounds so strange but it is truly the best thing in the world because we all genuinely love and support one another. like, even though we love it when our significant other wins, if that doesn't happen or there's a disqualification for one of us, we then start cheering on the other girls and guys kind of thing! like, we're family at this point, like, we all are in contact with one another, we all follow one another on social media! it's truly a fun time in the world of team greece gymnasts and f1 grid," max smiles before looking at madelena as they both smile towards the camera

"so, that was the last question! i'm madelena laurent..."

"...and i'm max verstappen and we just finished answering our fans' most burning questions! we hope you enjoyed this video and laughed along with us whilst also finding out an interesting fact about the both of us! bye-bye and thank you so much for having us!" max smiles as he holds his hand out for madelena as they leave the frame of the camera, laughing in the last thing heard before the video eventually ends

max verstappen and madelena laurent (engaged to be married)

"hello gq sports, my name is madelena laurent and i am with my fiancé, max verstappen and we will be answering more of our fans' most burning questions that we may have missed the first time before we got engaged," madelena introduces as everyone cheers at the engagement announcement as the couple giggle

picking up the first question, madelena chuckles, "what are madelena and max's middle names?"

"well, first of all, for those who don't know or weren't aware, the majority of european people, similar to our families, have more than just one middle name..." madelena prefaces with a giggle as max nods his head

"...so, after saying that, my middle names are georgette alaina," madelena answers, turning to her fiancé as he smiles

"and mine is just emilian which people always question and wonder why i just wasn't called 'maximillian' but yeah, my middle name is emilian," max giggles as he then picks up the second question

"where were madelena and max born?" he chuckles and shakes his head as madelena jokingly rolls her eyes as she always answers this question

"i was born in belguim but raised in the netherlands!" max answers with his short and less complicated answer then his girlfriend's

"i was born in france but was out of there before i was even old enough to know i wasn't born in greece and i was raised in greece where i grew up speaking greek as my first language followed by french and then english as well as the odd spanish word and dutch word as well!" madelena smiled with a giggle as she picks up the third question

"which races does madelena attend during the f1 season?"

"the number of times i get this question daily! but, to answer it, out of all twenty-four races i attend about four or five and it's usually one or two during the first half and then the rest in the second half with the odd surprise race attendance every now and then if i can. i always make sure i am available for the first race of the season and the last race of the season to see who wins the championship. but all the other races inbetween i sadly can't be at excluding the planned ones that fall within the four-five races because i still have to train as well. since i am also an althete that's also in an active season as well as training for some major word championships as well since we've just returned from the olympics!" madelena smiled as everyone cheered as that was the next question that max had just picked up as the fourth question

"speaking of the paris olympics, how many event medals did you win madelena at this year's olympics?"

"ooh, great question! and for those wondering, i have just returned back from the paris 2024 olympics which was so much fun and i'm so blessed that max was actually able to be there with me since it was during his summer break. so he was able to fly over to be with me in paris! but, back to the question and my answer out of all four of my women's artistic gymnastics events i got gold in all four of them! and then because i also do rhythmic gymnastics as well, i was also in that team and for my two events i got gold as well! so it was a very successful olympics for me this year which i'm enamoured by still!" madelena smiled as max nodded his head, his smile huge as madelena picked up the fifth question

"there's a new piece of jewellery on madelena's finger, is that an engagement ring and if it is, when did that happened?"

"damn, they've discovered our secret!" max sighed dramatically as madelena giggled as max shook his head and continued

"yes, it is an engagement ring and that happened after madelena won the last of all of her gold medals. i had been planning this for a while now and i had planned on doing it just us two but, because i had the ring with me in my back pocket and we had all of our loved ones there and we had just finished the podium ceremony where madelena had just been given her sixth gold medal, i couldn't wait any longer. i just ran, jumped out of my seat knowing that if i did that, i wouldn't get her in trouble or disqualified and i just cried tears of joy as i asked her to marry me! i didn't say anything else cause i couldn't and, yeah. it was a lovely moment and i'm glad i did it the way i did because it just felt magical and like we were the only ones there even though we weren't and it was being broadcasted live out to the entire world..." max trailed off with a shy smile as madelena smiled brightly as she looked at him like he was the entire world

"...yeah, i have to agree. i mean, of course, i never expected it i mean, who does really think they're going to be proposed to? especially during something as grand as the olympics? but, i mean, i do remember people thinking that if max was to propose to me, he would do it at the very last f1 race of the season but, no. he proposed after i had won my sixth olympic gold medal," madelena giggled as max got shy again but it was really sweet cause it reminded people that not only did max know that his world no longer just revolved around f1 but madelena wasn't just to be shown off at his races but also in her own sport and discipline as well

"was there ever a moment where either of you, madelena or max, wanted to throw the towel down and run back home and just lay low?"

"do you wanna go first maxie, my answers kinda long," madelena whispered as max nodded his head, saying his response first

"umm...in all honesty, i don't think i've had that moment yet, touch wood! i mean, of course, we take scheduled breaks during the season as well as when we were driving through the covid-19 pandemic and had many races cancelled. but, i've filled those up with visiting family or training on the simulator. but, no, i don't think i have actually wanted to give up, leave formula one yet and go back home to madelena, no," max responded as he turned to madelena so she could give her answer

"that's a very good question but, yes, there was a moment in which i wanted to give up doing gymnastics and it was a couple of times actually. the first one was when i was in my in between my high school and college gymnastics career and i was really struggling during that time because that was when we had a huge loss in the family. we actually went through the stillbirth of our youngest sibling and i was travelling around europe at the time so i wasn't back home in greece when it happened. i was actually competing at the time and it wasn't until hours later after the podium ceremony that i was told by my trainer that i was needed urgently and had to fly back home to greece. of course i was confused but i didn't mention it because at that point, i was so desperate to be home that i just didn't question it. it wasn't until i was dropped off at the hospital that i realised what had happened and it was just awful. it was the worst thing my family had gone through and there i was, waltzing into the hospital wearing my team gear with five or six gold and silver medals hanging down from my neck to be told that we had lost our newest sibling all the whilst i was winning and coming second place in my events. i was so depressed that for i think three months, i stopped doing gymnastics and didn't do anything until i was physically forced back into the gym by my parents. they knew i didn't want to stop doing gymnastics entirely but they knew it was hard for me to do it after i had been telling everyone around me how excited i was to get a new sibling..."

"...the second time i wanted to give up was definitely after i had that injury that i acquired just after qualifying for my first olympic games in 2021. i was absolutely distraught and i was in so much pain that i just didn't want to get out of bed. i couldn't get out of bed some days but i was very grateful to have my max with me to take care of me and to keep me going. because i seriously think if it wasn't for him, i wouldn't be sitting here with all of the medals and championships that i have since 2021. because if i had it my way, i would have left that injury pull me into an early retirement. and yeah, those were the two moments that i really wanted to throw the towel in and say i give up," madelena chuckled shyly as she picked up the sixth question

"you both mention having siblings in the first video, madelena with ten and max with six so, what are their names?"

"i have my biological sister victoria, another two little sisters who are half-sisters, blue jaye and mila and then i have a little half-brother jason and i'm the oldest of all of us!" max answers straight away since he could name his siblings from the top of his head whilst madelena had them all written down in her notes app since she had an extra few to remember

"the eldest of my eight biological siblings is my eldest sister cora, then after her is lyra, then athena, iris and penelope are my biological sisters, then we have my four brothers, nikolas, sebastian, phoenix and george. and then, my two older half-brothers are hunter and finn and then my younger half-sister is opehlia. and, for those wondering, in age order, i am younger than lyra but older than athena, iris and penelope *laughter* but, those are all my silblings,"

"max, you mentioned that you proposed to madelena after she was awarded her final and sixth gold medal. was there any doubt beforehand that she'd say yes since you mention it was such a spur of the moment thing because you could no longer wait?"

the couple let out a collective awe at that question, it was the first one that was directed at their new engagement so, it was exciting for them. max had gone to answer first this time as madelena listened.

"aw, that's a sweet question! umm, after the proposal to madelena when the adrenaline of everything really settled down there was no worry because i was just so relieved. however, just before i had the spotaneous idea to do it, i was absolutely terrified because i did think she'd not say anything at all. not necessarily that she'd say 'no' per se but that she'd just clamp up and not say anything which i think would have been worse than her saying no. but another thing i was terrified about was i had realised after promising myself i wouldn't if madelena won any medals was that i wasn't going to cry. but she just had to win all of her events and i was an emotional wreck and now i know how she feels when she watches me race and everything! so yeah, i was just a mess as i went down on one knee to madelena and yeah, it was quite embarrassing on my part because i think that was the most i'd ever cried whilst professing my love for my fiancée so, yeah..." max giggled as madelena nodded her head as she then spoke up

"...however, in saying that, it was clear that as soon as he placed the ring on my finger, i could tell he was relieved and he could finally breathe again because it was obvious that whilst he had planned to propose for a while like he's mentioned, he didn't mean for it to happen that sepcific day during that specific moment. but because of the adrenaline and the emotions of the moment, it just took over and that was when his mind and soul felt as though it was the right time to do it. and, i have to agree and say it was the perfect moment for him to do it," madelena smiled, reaching her hand out for max as he smiled and grabbed it as he picked out the next question

"how was the engagement announced to the public?"

"aw, another sweet question but, do you wanna take this lena?" max responded as she nodded her head

"sure i can, maxie. the way the engagement was announced was that because i still had a lot of media to do similar in any sport that is live to the world or somewhere, i had to do a lot of interviews. mainly on how i felt winning all of my events but the main question was that they all wanted to know my reaction to the new piece of jewellery i had on my finger *giggles*. however, before that, me and max ran back over to the drivers that had attended with him and we had a little group celebration hug that was probably the most emotional and meaningful hug that we've ever had as a group *giggles*. and then we facetimed everyone else who were watching at home and then i went and did all my media interviews and explained it to them. it was so much fun explaining to my siblings for sure, especially my sisters cause they love max so much so they were so excited and overjoyed to be told that they were finally getting max as their older brother for certain and that it was set in stone and they didn't need to worry about losing him,"

"and even though it was broadcast live, we still wanted to post about it to our social media platforms so that's what we did by posting photos and the video taken from the live recording and posted it. so, that is how it was announced to everyone else that me and my fiancé are getting married soon!" madelena giggled as she grabbed the last question which was a question in regards to her career now and max's opinion of it

"the last one and, ooh, it's a question in regards to me but for max to respond!" madelena called out as max's eyes widened

"max, now that madelena has won her second olympic games, how do you think she can improve and do you think she'll stop anytime soon and think about taking a sabbatical for a year or two so you guys can begin to settle down?"

"oh, wow, that's a great final question! umm...madelena, can you answer it?" max chuckled as madelena shook her head no, making max answer it as he groaned but answered it anyway

"quite frankly, it's not up to me with what madelena decides to do after this now that she has accumulated so many wins and trophies. if she does decide to step back for a little bit so we can slowly start the beginnings of settling down then i have no arguments about it in the same way that i wouldn't if she decides to keep on going for however many years she decides to. and it's the same way if she decides whilst in talks with me if we're ready for children and want to start trying for our own little family since we're now planning on getting married and on our wedding. but, it's all in the hands of madelena and it shouldn't be up to me on whether she wants to take that break or if she wants to keep on going for a little bit longer," max smiles as madelena felt her heart do a flip as she smiled proudly at her fiancé for his very intelligent and likeminded response

"so, guys, that was the last question! i'm max verstappen..."

"...and i'm madelena laurent, you guys asked some amazing questions yet again! thank you for being here with us and for watching this video and we will see you next time for more questions when we are mr and mrs verstappen!" madelena ended as everyone cheered as the couple then left the studio after they both made funny faces to the camera as they walked off set

mr and mrs max and madelena verstappen

"we're back gq sports!" max yells triumphantly as madelena chuckles, shaking her head

"hi, i'm madelena verstappen and this is my husband max verstappen and we're back for the third and final instalment of our fans' most burning questions!" madelena chuckled as she picked up the first one, laughing again

"how do you pronounce your wife's name, max and how long did it take you to pronounce it properly?"

"even though it shouldn't be too confusing because it sounds like a relatively normal name, it is when you need to bear in mind that i'm greek, as are my whole family, but i was born in france. so because of that, they decided the best way to commemorate their only child out of all their other ones being born in france was to name me a french name rather than a greek name. and because of that along with the spelling, my name all throughout school in greece was always mispronounced as well as misspelt. however, for those who do get confused, my name is pronounced similar to madeline but it isn't. it's pronounced phonetically as mad-uh-ley-na if that makes sense *giggles*. it's just pronounced like madelene but instead of the letter 'e' at the end, it's replaced with the letter 'a' which is not the letter that is stressed but the 'ley' in the middle of my name. does that make sense? so, the 'ley' of my name is the more aunnciated phrase and it makes saying the 'na' at the end flow off the tongue a lot better and properly," madelena chuckles as she strugged to give a pronunciation lesson for her own name

"for my answer to this question, it honestly never took me that long to learn the pronunciation of madelena's name. i mean, i don't find it that hard except for maybe when we first met because my english wasn't very good since english isn't my first language, dutch is. but the more confident i got in speaking english the easier it was to pick up even with my heavy dutch/belgian accent and pronounce it properly so i wasn't always calling her by a nickname. even though now that we''er older and i can very much pronounce her full name, she perfers being called lena over madelena because she feels like everytime i full name her that she's in trouble *laughter*." max smiled, blushing a tiny bit at the end of his answer as madelena smiled, her eyes widening as she found her husband's response sweet

"aw, that was so sweet but yes, i do prefer it when he calls me lena instead of madelena and i call him maxie but, anyway, the next question though is..." madelena continued as she grabbed the second question

"where was it that you two got married? the netherlands, monaco or greece?"

"ooh, that is a very good question! we got married in greece since that is the home in which we spend the less amount of time at throughout the f1 and gymnastic season. so whilst we're training and doing our respective championships, we're based out of monaco where we spend a good majority of our time since it's our main home base out of the three countries we reside in. and then on the odd occasion if it's been too long, we'll spend two to three weeks each in the netherlands and then greece just to be closer to our families since we don't see them as often as we'd like to anymore. but, yeah, we decided very early on that we were going to get married in greece and then switch it up and have our honeymoon in monaco, the netherlands and italy during the time we'd usually be spending two to three weeks between the netherlands and greece. but after that i think we also visited ibiza for a little bit to a week as well before we had to fly back to monaco so we could get back into training again. but yeah, it was beautiful that's for sure, most magical day of our life!" max smiled as madelena nodded her head in full agreement to her husband's response as max picks up the third question

"what songs on madelena's gymnastics routine playlist are max's favourite?"

this was the question that made the husband and wife giggle, max responding as madelena smiled whilst listening intently

"that's a tough question but i have to say, my favourite songs on her routine playlist that she dances to during routines and competitions are most definitely songs that we can also connect to formula one *giggles*. and one of the first ones that comes to mind is actually a song that reminds everyone of carlos and it's smooth operator. madelena's gold medal winning olympic floor routine from 2021 was done to that song and it's for sure up there as one of my favourites. but another one has to be another floor routine song and it's called volia by emma kok and it was just gorgeous so that was from her championship winning floor routine from this year! but, i have a lot more but volia and smooth operator are just the first two to come to my mind straight away," max smiles as madelena doesn't stop her smile from widening

"who was in your wedding party at the wedding?"

max smiled at this question, letting his wife take over as he sat back this time, relaxing.

"my bridesmaids were five of my sisters and the other f1 wags, luisa, carmen, alexandra, rebecca, heidi and lily zneimer and my maid of honour was shared by athena and alexandra. and the flower girl was my little sister ophelia and the ring bearers were actually one of max's nephews," madelena smiled as she turned to her husband who smiled and said his answer

"my groomsmen were obviously the boyfriend's of madelena's bridesmaids so lando, george, charles, carlos, daniel and oscar as well as three of lena's brothers since i only have a much younger half brother and my best man was nikolas, lena's oldest biological brother," max smiled with a small giggle as the couple nodded thier head as he found the fifth question

"do you two plan on settling down to the point of thinking about wanting kids and if so, how many?"

this question made madelena chuckle whilst max's eyes widened, slightly frightened as he answered the question nevertheless

"i mean, we did just get married basically but, of course i'd love to have kids and, honestly i'd love to have an even amount of kids. i mean, not to the extent that madelena has with her ten siblings*giggles*. but i'd say around four or three? i'd say around three to four because whilst i do love the largness of my wife's family, i do still want a small enough family that they have siblings but not too many that it's crowded. and i have four other siblings of my own so i'd want to have relatively the same amount as well. even though i do love having a lot of people to go to for help as a plus of having a big family but not to the point that we're confusing the names of our kids and which sibling is which," max smiled proudly as madelena smield sweetly as she reciprocated the kiss to the head that max gave her

"as a small continution, i would also love to have around three or four kids but, right now, we are focused on our brand new marriage and our jobs. so, yeah, i think we'll maybe wait a few months to a year before kids are included or even thought about but, i don't know, who really knows what's going to happen until it happens," madelena smiles as she grabs the sixth question

"who cried more at the wedding: madelena or max?"

madelena laughed as she read that question out, her head flying back as max just sighed as he shook his head, a fake angry pout on his face, chuckling as he rolled his eyes

"well, for those curious and wondering, max did have the sweetest reaction but to confirm, he did cry first and the most. it was very sweet though because it's not a side that a lot of us, including me, get to see very often. and, it was just lovely seeing him feel so comfortable to the point he could let his guard down and be that vulnerable even on the day of our wedding. because i honestly thought that because he cried at our engagement that he wouldn't cry at our wedding *giggles*. and it is a video i watch a little too much when i feel the need of missing the wedding and wanting to watch it back," madelena smiles as max also smiles as he says his own response

"honestly, thinking back to that moment, i was a wreck the entire day. my mum has mentioned before that i am an emotional person and it was that day truthfully that mum's statement came true. i had been nervous all day just waiting to see lena and i was feeling worried that she may be panicking and not able to see each other really wasn't something we would do now if we decided to get married again. but, the moment i turned around and saw lena in the full white dress and shoes, i was out for the count *giggles*. i may as well have been on the floor because i was that far gone. thankfully though the first look we had was only between us two with a photographer and videographer with us that captured the entire thing. and it was beautiful and i'm glad we had that private moment together where we also shared our private vows which were also filmed by the videographer as well. and yeah, like lena, it's also something i love to watch as well on the occasion that i feel like i need it. just as a reminder that we actually are married now and that i get to fall further in love with her every day for the rest of my life from here on out," max finished as the whole room fell into awws and coos as madelena felt herself blushing at her husband's words

"one more question!" a producer behind the camera shouts out, rushing over to give it to max as he chuckled before looking at it

"hi lena and max, i'm about to get married and my husband-to-be and i just want to know what's the best thing about being married to the love of your life?"

"awe, this is a nice question! lena, you wanna take over?" max smiled as madelena nodded her head

"of course! well, this was a lovely question so thank you to the upcoming bride who asked this! and for me, the best thing about being married to the love of my life is just knowing that we no longer have to worry about anything anymore. in the sense that we don't have to worry about not being together anymore. for a little while we were long distance, max in monaco and me in greece which is typically a four hour flight depending on where in greece you're going to or from and it was awful having to say goodbye to one another constantly whilst he was leaving for races and other things and i wasl leaving for gymnastics and other things. and it would be so heartbreaking because if something was to happen to one another, like our injuries for example in 2021, the silverstone crash for max and my shattered leg for me. when it came to going to the hospital, we weren't allowed to go in straight away because we weren't family nor were we married. whilst we were acknowledged as one another's partner's, it was because we were married that we weren't allowed entry to see one another before being allowed to alongside everyone else that was there that weren't family. so it just knowing that if one of us was to ever be in a similar situation again, now that we're married, we don't have to worry about getting into fights with hospital staff about wanting to see one another because they'll know and they'll see on record that we're now married! so yeah, that's my best thing other than the obvious things about being married to the love of my life but that's the first one that i think of that isn't really due to the physical things that i love about him like his eyes, hair, looks, humour or anything of the sort..." madelena cut herself off as max smiled as he then said his answer

"...and for me, the best thing about being married to the love of my life is just knowing that we'll be there for one another all the time now. we no longer have to worry about necessarily being apart from one another for too long now. because now that madelena is on her summer break, she's able to travel with me for the next two weeks that she has off before she has to return back to monaco to start training again. and the other thing is seeing that the rings that are on her finger are the ones i gave to her, no one else. i love people knowing that she's my wife and that i'm the one who gets to love her for the rest of time and no one else can," max smiled with a cheeky wink as madelena giggled and shook her head

"so, we've been madelena verstappen..."

"...and max verstappen and those were the questions you guys have asked me and my wife for our third and final instalment of some of our fans' most burning questions on us for gq sports! we hope you guys enjoyed and we thank you guys so much for joining us for the last three videos! if you want to see more of us than you can at the upcoming formula one grand prix in singapore for me and in monaco for the gymnastics world championship meet for madelena and we'll see you soon!" max finishes the video as he chucks the paper to the camera making madelena's laugh the last thing heard before the video cuts to a black screen

fin

such a fun but weird thing to rewrite and i'm sorry that it's a little bad. i should really consider this as a little bit of a crack fic cause wtf is this lol! in saying that though, i really think i could make this into a little series and expand it cause i've seen so many of my fave f1 fic writers write olympic inspired fics and i really would like to flesh out madelena and max a lot more now that i think about it! anyway, i really need to get my flow back on track for my charles request as i feel awful for how long it's taken to start it!

©⠀amberjazmyn's original work. do not translate or steal any of my fics. 2024

#formula one #max verstappen #fluff #burning questions #no trigger warnings #can this be counted as a crack fic?#cause wtf is this?

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xxcatzladyxx · 1 year ago

Text

Hawks x Reader

Hello everyone! ❤️

Pairing: Hawks/ Keigo Takami x Female! Reader

Summary: Like every day, you stand at your Work and think, Like every day, nothing Special Happens. Thought wrong. Until a specific customer enters the store

Will there be a Part two? Yes of course!

Have a good read!

Any requests? Write me! Love you!

Your Wolfi 🐺

~~~

You're standing behind a register at a fast food store. Your forehead is literally dripping with sweat. You go about your work like a robot, cashing in one customer after another. You're mentally counting down the seconds until you can finally finish work and get out of this madhouse. For today at least. People are pouring in en masse, leaving you no time to catch your breath. A slight headache knocks on your forehead and reminds you that you should drink something. A large glass of water. Ice cold. But you can only dream of that at the moment.

Another group of customers enters the store. You roll your eyes in annoyance. Is there anything free in your shop today? Well, you should know that better than anyone. Nothing is free. Humanity is just getting crazier. Even if the customers are paying for your living in some way, you can't understand how people can stuff themselves with this poison that is fast food. Your best friend is a case in point. She sits at a table right next to the counter and stuffs herself with a huge mountain of fries. Like she does every day. She doesn't really work. She helps out her parents, who pay for everything, from time to time. Otherwise she sits with you at work and talks to you about her crush. Day in, day out. You're already sick of it.

She waits every single day for him to show up here. He could never say no to a place like this. Fast food is his favorite. It's stuck in your mind. God knows why. You don't even know him, even though he enjoys great popularity. You only know him from your friend's stories. He's supposed to be an attractive young man with blond hair. Eyes like gold. Large, red wings adorn his back. He is a hero. A pro hero.

You don't understand the fuss about heroes any more than you understand the enthusiasm for fast food. Ironic, given that you work in a fast food store. But you're more concerned with the enthusiasm for heroes. They're just people like you and me, aren't they? Well, they have extraordinary abilities, but they're still just people. So what's so great about heroes? They protect others! Great! You mentally clap your hands. That's what the police do too. Why aren't the police celebrated like the heroes? Because they don't have any special skills? Your head is already starting to spin from all the questions you're asking yourself. That's as far as you can think about it. Your friend brings you back to the here and now.

"Oh, here he comes!", she squeals, dropping her fries and staring at the entrance to the store. You're still busy with customers and can't concentrate on HIM. The others have priority. Whether he's a hero or not. First come, first served. Your friend's squeaking gets louder. However, the squealing isn't just coming from her. Other women also join in. You're just saying goodbye to one customer and getting ready to tackle the next one.

"Hello, what would you like?", you say your routine sentence.

"I'd like your number.", you stare wide-eyed at the customer in front of you. You choke on your own spit.

"Please what?", you ask, completely absent-minded. Out of the corner of your eye, you see your friend's cell phone slam onto the tabletop. Her jaw drops. She stares at the guy in front of you just as dumbfounded as you do. With just one difference. She knows who is standing in front of you. You don't. It's her crush. The pro hero Hawks. Now you notice the big red wings. Before you can say anything, your friend speaks up. She joins you.

"She'd love to give you her number. She's just a bit shy and you took her by surprise. But don't worry! Here's her number.", she takes a napkin and scribbles your name and number on it and holds it out to the hero. He grins to himself and takes the napkin. In the meantime, you stand rooted to the spot and can't move. What's going on in front of you? She didn't just give him your number? Is this the hidden camera? Is someone about to come and tell you that it's all just a prank? Or are you still in bed and dreaming all this?

"Thank you! So, your name is (y/n). A very beautiful name for a beautiful woman.". the hero continues with a grin.

"Awww!", your friend gushes, gazing at the blonde with her eyes.

The world seems to have come to a standstill around the three of you. None of your colleagues care that you're standing around looking stupid and not doing your job. The other customers in the store don't seem to notice you either. Except for a few female ones. They look at you with envy and hatred. But you don't notice that. You don't notice anything at the moment. Your head is completely empty. No voice reaches you.

“Haha, how cute!”, Hawks laughs quietly as your cheeks turn a light pink.

"I'm telling you, she's shy. She can't handle compliments at all. She immediately blushes.", your friend smiles.

"Good to know.", Hawks smiles back.

You're slowly but surely coming back to your senses. You want to jump on your friend's neck and choke her until she runs out of breath. What the hell is she actually doing? And what kind of rubbish does she actually say? You and shy? Those are two worlds. You were just caught off guard. That's all. This is not shyness!

“Is there anything else I can do?”, you find your voice again. Unfortunately, not as confident as you would like.

"No thank you. That's all I wanted. I'll write to you. See you soon, my beautiful!", he waves you goodbye and takes off.

“Yes..”, is all you manage to say.

~*~

You almost wiped the incident at work from your mind as you collapsed onto the couch. Your phone vibrates next to you. You sigh, thinking it's your friend who just wants to talk about her crush again. You reluctantly pick up your phone and look at the screen. You almost drop it when you read a message from an unknown number. You start to sweat and you feel unintentionally warm. You feel like you're in love. You don't even know him. Why do you feel this way? You tap on the message to read it completely. You get even warmer and you curse your friend forever.

#my hero acedamia #mha #x reader #reader #mha hawks #boku no hero academia #bnha #bnha hawks #hawks x reader #hawks

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hb-writes · 1 year ago

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Ch. 3 - According to Me

'According to me' is the only 'according to' that matters.

Charlie flung herself down on the couch in her brother's office and pulled a book from her messenger bag. Now that she had calmed down a bit, Charlie wished that she hadn't been so candid with him. She wished she hadn't given so much away.

Not that it mattered. She was in a no-win situation. Probably.

She didn't know how long Harvey would be gone, but seeing as Donna had made it clear his schedule was booked for the day, Charlie hoped he'd be busy most of the afternoon, too busy to deal with her at least.

She set down her book and pulled out her cell phone. Mike was probably busy, but she figured a request that he stop by if he had a spare moment in his afternoon couldn't hurt. Mike was a smart guy—brilliant, actually, but he was also the type of smart guy who still did dumb stuff that pissed off Harvey from time to time. Mike was almost as used to getting scolded by her brother as she was. Maybe he could help her strategize.

Or at the very least, Mike could empathize.

Mike was very good at that. He hadn't been working for Harvey for very long, but Charlie had liked him from the spot, bonding with the first year associate quickly, finding it much easier to confide certain things to Mike, rather than to either Harvey or Donna. In a short time, she'd discovered that Mike was a good listener. He was an adult—a voice of reason, but cool about it. When compared to Harvey, Mike was just more understanding. And he knew how to keep a secret if Charlie asked him to. If Harvey was just coming around to the idea of Mike Ross being his family, Charlie had already adopted the associate as a brother.

Within five minutes of sending the text, Charlie was scooting over to give Mike a place to sit down. He unbuttoned his suit as he settled beside her, placing his feet up on Harvey's coffee table.

"What are you doing here?" Mike stole away the book she had been reading, glancing at the title before he set it aside.

Charlie gave him a look, rolling her eyes before getting more comfortable on the couch. "Currently I'm not moving from this office until Supreme Master Harvey allows otherwise."

"That's not what I meant," Mike said as he shook out his wrist and checked his watch. It was still early afternoon. He hadn't even thought about taking lunch yet…probably wouldn't even get one today. "Why aren't you at school?"

"Oh, that." Charlie gave him a brief smile and shifted closer, putting her feet up beside his.

"Yeah, that," Mike snorted, nudging his elbow into her side.

She nudged him back, halfheartedly digging her elbow into his arm to push him away, sighing and giving up when Mike didn't budge. "I may have been sent home early on somewhat questionable terms."

"Questionable terms," Mike echoed. "I see. Does Harvey know that yet?"

"He knows something happened," she shrugged. "Haven't disclosed any of the details to him yet. Jessica stole him away before word vomit took over."

Mike chuckled. "Lucky. What was it this time?"

"Well, I was in US Gov and—"

Mike shifted away from Charlie, facing her head-on rather than from the side and Charlie huffed before setting her hand on his arm to still him, to keep him on her side, both literally and figuratively.

"Alright, wait. Mike, please just listen. It was all Heskett's fault. She's such a—" Charlie intended on filling in the space with a curse of some sort, but she thought better of it, and let out a frustrated groan instead. "Just…it wasn't my fault, alright? Not entirely."

Mike rubbed his temples. "He might kill you, Charlie." He looked at her, shaking his head. "Hell, I kind of want to kill you right now."

Charlie wasn't sure why she'd expected any other reaction under the circumstances, considering this whole mess pertained to Isabelle Heskett, Charlie's US Government teacher, who also happened to be the youngest daughter of one of Harvey's more difficult to please clients.

Mike watched Charlie, shaking his head…in frustration…in disbelief. He had spent countless hours working on the Heskett account, but they were still barely making progress. Negotiations on the merger were at a near standstill, yet somehow continuously created a mountain of paperwork. Mike couldn't fully blame Charlie for any of that, but he knew that Mr. Heskett and his people were notoriously petty. It wasn't entirely uncommon for the subject of Charlie and Isabelle's connection to come up either before or directly following a business meeting with Mr. Heskett, and it was rarely a positive discussion.

"You have gotta stop getting in trouble," Mike finally said. "And especially with her."

It wasn't as if Mike had been the type of kid to stay out of trouble. He'd been a handful when he was in high school. He figured Harvey had been as well. But there was just something about Charlie and this teacher in particular. Almost like the kid just couldn't help herself, like it was a sport and she enjoyed it, trying to best the woman.

If she was anything like her father, Mike assumed Heskett was a piece of work, but still…

Charlie let her head fall back against the cushion. She rubbed her face before looking back at Mike. "I know, alright? But please just listen."

Mike sighed but nodded, settling himself in for whatever Charlie had to say. He was always willing to listen. He always was willing to hear her out. And he didn't start it off by giving long-winded lectures about her stories and their assumed deviations from the truth, either.

"Alright, so she was giving us this diatribe during the debate, spouting all this completely false rhetoric so I just offered my opinion to the class, supported entirely by fact by the way. And apparently, that was some 'gross act of disrespect'…her words, not mine. It's just ridiculous. She sends me off to Ollie for just breathing the wrong way. Plus, she's a goddamn imbecile. Harvey pays way too much for some idiot to be up there on her proverbial soapbox spewing that crap. I swear…Isabelle Heskett wouldn't know the law of the United States if it hit her in the head, Mike. It's not right. I'm not meant to be smarter than someone with a goddamn master's degree."

Mike could've sworn he heard Harvey in clips and phrases as he listened to Charlie talk. He could always sense the influence of his boss in Charlie, but especially when she was riled like this. He would never tell either of them, but the two were so alike that it could be almost too much at times.

Encouraged by Mike's sustained reserve, his nodding along as she talked, Charlie delved further, sharing the specifics—her chosen argument, the facts she'd used to back it up…If he hadn't known better than to encourage her too strongly in something like this, Mike might have told the girl that her argument was good. Really good. It was solid, and it contained more depth and insight and evidence to back it all up than he had seen from associates he worked with in the bullpen. But Mike knew Harvey wouldn't appreciate him encouraging Charlie's behavior. Not when it was something like this.

"Charlie, you're right." Mike kept his praise light, but the smile that lit up her face at his words didn't escape him. "I know you know your stuff, but Harvey is still going to kill you."

Charlie rolled her eyes, finishing with a smile. "He won't kill me. I'm his favorite sister."

Mike didn't bother pointing out that Charlie was Harvey's only sister, as far as the two of them were aware, anyway. "Favorite sister or not, you're not making his bad day any better."

"Bad day?" Charlie bit her lip. She was typically good at picking up on these things, especially when it related to her brother, but Harvey had been pretty hard to read. He'd obviously been annoyed to see her in his office, but other than that he'd seemed fine. His usual self. Even if he'd been busy with work, he hadn't seemed particularly bothered.

"He seemed fine," she said. "Annoyed with me obviously, but fine."

"Yeah, well, right before you got here, Heskett sent back the latest contract asking for more revisions before tomorrow's meeting." Mike shook out his watch to check the time. "And I better get back to work on that."

"Seriously?" Charlie asked, shaking her head.

Mike had been avoiding trying to make the same connection in his own mind. He didn't want to blame Charlie for his extra work, or for Harvey's extra sullen mood, or for the botched merger, but the dots were clearly there just waiting to be connected.

"She is such a fucking bitch," Charlie muttered, more to herself than anyone else as Harvey swanned into the room, unnoticed by either Mike or Charlie until it was far too late.

"What was that, Charlotte?"

Charlie met her brother's eye for a moment, finding that she couldn't quite match his gaze or at least, she couldn't hold it. Harvey had caught her off guard coming into the room like that, and she didn't really want to get into it with him over her choice of language so she shook her head, mumbling a quiet "nothing," as she reached across Mike to grab the book she was meant to be reading in Harvey's absence.

"Right." Harvey's eyes lingered on his sister until she opened the book and he shifted his stare to his associate. "And you can get back to work, Mike. I don't pay you to put your feet up and entertain my kid sister. I can hire a hot nanny for that."

Mike excused himself without a witty response and Charlie continued staring at the paperback in her hand. In the blessed silence that remained, Harvey crossed the room and took his time pouring a drink. Charlie shifted on the couch as Harvey slid into the armchair adjacent to her.

Harvey took a sip of his drink, feeling the smoky liquid burn slide down his throat, before he looked to his sister.

"So, I think you were just about to tell me why exactly Pearson-Hardman has been blessed with your presence this afternoon."

Charlie's eyes stayed on her book. "Let's just skip to the part where you tell me I'm grounded."

Harvey set his drink down on the coffee table and focused his undivided attention on his sister. "I'm not playing games, Charlie."

Charlie continued scanning the page of her book, the letters and spaces registering in her eyes though her mind refused to make any decent sense of them.

"It's not a big deal," Charlie offered, lifting the page slightly between her fingertips as she continued to scan the last paragraph, flipping to the next page even though she knew she'd have to read it all again. She hadn't absorbed a single word of it. "I didn't even get in trouble with Ollie. Not really, anyway."

"Charlotte."

Harvey waited for her eyes to meet his, half surprised she did so, though she still held the book open, her gaze ready to slide right back if he allowed her the opportunity, so Harvey continued, his tone deliberately sharp. "I want you to put the goddamn book away and tell me what you did. Right now."

Charlie recognized the tone. Lawyer Harvey. It left little space for her to wiggle so she followed her brother's directive, closing the book and setting it on top of her bag.

"All I did was stand up for what was right, Harvey. I did exactly what I was taught to do, what you have always taught me to do. That's all."

Harvey pinched the bridge of his nose for a moment. "Somehow I doubt that."

Something in Harvey's dismissal struck a chord deep within her and suddenly convincing Harvey of her truth was a challenge Charlie simply had to accomplish—getting out of trouble aside. She was driven by something else completely, and whatever strategy she'd come to in order to minimize that was quickly pushed aside as the words rushed out of her. "She was basically telling us lies, Harvey, just completely making stuff up and when I, very appropriately, pointed it out, that sorry excuse for an educator said that I was wrong. That I was the one making it up. That I hadn't done my research. But I always do my research so I proved that idiot wrong in front of everyone and she just didn't like it. She said I was just being 'disrespectful' and sent me to Ollie's office and—"

''Which class?" Harvey asked, his voice low as it interrupted her rant, Charlie's mouth hanging open for a moment as she digested the question, a question which she should have anticipated. A question she should have been prepared for.

Because Harvey was prepared. He'd only asked because he already knew the answer. He had already known who his sister was in trouble with. It had become a theme of sorts over the course of the school year. He wasn't going to do the work though. He wanted his sister to put the nail in her own coffin.

Charlie met Harvey's eye, already worrying her bottom lip by the time he raised an eyebrow.

"Which teacher are you talking about, Charlotte?" Harvey's question was deliberately slow, each one of the words terrifyingly spoken—deadly. Charlie was fairly certain her brother wouldn't actually kill her, but he still scared the shit out of her sometimes.

She glanced away from him for a moment, reassured by the wall of glass behind them. If Harvey did have the urge to kill her, there would be witnesses. Many of them. Charlie wondered if the panes of glass were sound proof, releasing her lip as she met his eye again. "Just promise you're not going to yell."

Harvey shook his head. "I'm not going to promise you a goddamn thing and I won't ask the question again."

Charlie sunk further into the cushions.

"Miss Heskett," Charlie started, crumbling quickly under Harvey's hardened gaze, a bit of fire flashing in his eyes at her admission. Charlie looked away, needing a moment to regain her composure so she could continue on, explain it all a little better. She started talking before pulling her eyes back to him, hoping the fortitude would come once she got started. "And if you just hear me out, you'll agree with me. And according to Mike—"

"No, I'm not going to hear you out and I don't give a shit what my associate thinks," Harvey cut her off, his voice raising as he went. "According to me is the only 'according to' that matters as far as you're concerned. And according to my memory, you were supposed to be letting this little feud go."

Charlie remembered the conversation well. The conversations, she supposed, because there had been many of them over the last few months. And Harvey had told her to let it go. He'd told her to knock it off and be the bigger person, to suck it up. He'd even had Marcus weigh in on it, had their brother call her up and tell her to cool it. And Charlie had agreed. Agreed to try, but apparently it was harder to implement in practice than in theory. It didn't matter though because Charlie was still focused on something that Harvey had yet to acknowledge, that she wasn't the only one involved in this whole mess.

"But she started it, Harvey! She was just being a bitch because—"

"Enough, Charlotte."

"But—"

"I've heard enough," Harvey shouted as he stood up. "You're grounded. And I don't want to hear that goddamn word out of your mouth again. Get started on your homework."

Charlie's fists clenched at her side, but she didn't say anything as Harvey moved toward his desk. She wanted to shout about the unfairness of it all. That Harvey hadn't even bothered to try to entertain her side of things, to listen to her. He'd barely let her get to the end of her sentences without cutting her off, cutting right through what he deemed as bullshit.

"And when you're finished with that, you can help with organizing the Coleman briefs. We'll talk about this more at home."

Charlie knew she should have stopped then. Harvey was very near his desk, and she should have just let him get there. She should have let him sit down and sip his drink and distract himself with his emails before heading to his next meeting. She should have just got her book back out and started re-reading the page and a half that she'd blurred through just now, but something deep in Charlie's gut compelled her to have the last word, to fight him just for the sake of it.

"You already said I'm grounded," she said as she put her feet up on the coffee table. "I can't imagine there's much else for us to talk about."

"Charlotte, you better drop the goddamn attitude."

Harvey thought he might lose it as he watched his younger sister's eyes roll in her head. The whole gesture screaming 'or what?' even though she hadn't moved her smart ass mouth to ask the question. Sometimes he missed the more easy-going kid Charlie had once been. She had always been a handful, but at least she hadn't talked back to him so much back then. She hadn't put her goddamn shoes up on the coffee table, rolling her eyes and giving him headaches. She hadn't tested him like this.

"And give me your phone," Harvey added, holding out his hand.

Charlie's mouth fell open and Harvey wanted to laugh. He'd surprised her. Good. Harvey thought to himself.

"But—"

"I would prefer not to embarrass you here in front of everyone, Charlotte, so just do as I ask."

Charlie pulled her feet from the coffee table and crossed the room to meet him. She slapped her ever so precious cell phone into Harvey's hand and he nearly sighed in relief that she hadn't fought him on it because even though he would've done it, Harvey's words had been the truth. He had no desire to make a scene here at the office, to embarrass her in public.

But he still had to make a point. He still had to set boundaries. Before Charlie could walk back to the couch, Harvey's free hand clasped around her wrist and she paused, meeting his eye.

"And you leave Mike alone. He's got extra work to do to make up for the fact that you can't keep your mouth shut."

LTLB Masterlist (Everything)

LTLB Masterlist (Chapters)

Chapter 4

#suits tv #suits #suits usa #suits netflix #harvey specter #mike ross #suits fanfic #charlie specter

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late-to-the-magnus-archives · 11 months ago

Text

Arthur Does a Therapie - a Malevolent fic

The Keeper's theory is a painful one.

The Keeper's theory is correct.

The only question now is how Arthur chooses to handle this truth.

Part of the Surrogate series. Written with @sepiabandensis

AO3

-------

CHAPTER ONE

John began pleading before Arthur finished his morning wash.

Arthur, I do not want to go see the Keeper today, he said, voice low and fear-tight. I don’t want to deal with an Outer God. They’re dangerous.

“They are,” Arthur said. “I know they are. Kayne… fuck. I know. All right? But she’s not like them. John, I wouldn’t just put you in danger. I wouldn’t do that.” He pulled on the clothing he’d been given; it felt soft, looser than his usual what-the-fuck uniforms. Hastur wanted to be sure she could unwrap and reach whatever part of him she wished without fuss, apparently.

Well, that thought came out oddly. Arthur’s lips quirked. He blamed the stupid dream. That damned moment in The Woods. John’s tentacles creeping so lightly up his legs—

He shook his head, knocking it out, leaving it behind.

But I’m not like how I was before, John whined. I’m much more… I don’t remember, Arthur. She could take advantage of my memory loss. Do you even have proof she can help?

“She kept you alive.” Arthur’s voice roughened, like he had unpleasant fabric stuffed in there somehow. “Whatever else she is, she did that, and I owe her everything.” He adjusted the comfortable boots. “Do I have to wear the damn cape?”

Hastur had wanted some flair. He claimed it was for warmth.

John huffed. You don’t have to wear any of it. I don’t like this outfit. I can’t see your body. How am I even supposed to talk to an Outer God? They don’t talk. They like to hear screams.

“She doesn’t. I’m telling you, John, she just feels like a person. She’s gentle. She saved your life, and I trust her because of that.” He didn’t mention saving his. “Well. If I don’t wear the cape, he’ll fuss. Besides, John, she’s already seen you and met you. I mean… as you are. We recovered there for days before coming home.” His hands stilled on the cape’s fastening. Home. Carcosa was home. He didn’t want it to be, but it was.

Silently, he cursed the part of his heart that still wanted to go back to Earth, and hoped none of that showed on his face.

It probably did, anyway.

He could feel John settling into a sulk, like a cat hunched in the corner of a room and hissing at anything that came near, but before he could dwell on it further, Hastur arrived.

“My own,” the King in Yellow said, not even complimenting the cape. “Are you ready?”

My own. Arthur still didn’t know how he felt about… that. The title was right. Correct. He felt it, literally in his soul.

He still wasn’t sure what it meant or should mean, so he defaulted to his favorite coping method: he refused to think about it further. “Yes. So’s John.”

Don’t you speak for me!

“Fine. He’s not ready, then.”

Go to hell!

Hastur chuckled, sounding all the more cruel for John’s resistance. “Unfortunate. You had your day to rally yourself, John; I granted it, as I was asked. Now it is time for us to go.”

Fuck you, too, John muttered, but without spice.

John needed help.

Arthur was doing this for him. That meant no holds barred, leaping in, full-bore. “Let’s go.” He knew where Hastur’s outstretched tentacle was, and that also was a sensation he wasn’t sure how to feel about.

For John.

Arthur stepped willingly into that grip. As Hastur lifted him and the crackle of magic seared the air, Arthur tried to settle in, but he couldn’t help drawing the (stupid dream) comparison.

John’s tentacles had been so much more delicate.

Ugh. He wasn’t keen on meeting the Keeper with that dream fresh in his head, but he had to for John.

For John.

The Scriptorium was active on the other side, the scratching pens and flipping pages mingling with the scents of ink and books.

Hastur exhaled, a large sound, a strangely burdens-down sound, and Arthur didn’t know how to feel about that, either.

Arthur, John breathed, clearly in awe. It’s… huge. This library. There are bookcases that look tall as some of the spires of Carcosa.

“You’ve told me it’s incredible. That it even puts Hastur’s library to shame,” said Arthur.

“It does,” said Hastur without bristling.

John faltered for a second, but Arthur could feel his eyes darting back and forth, could feel John clutching at his hand. There’s power here, Arthur. Real, serious power. But there are humans here, too. A lot of them, and some other denizens of the Dreamlands. They’re wearing robes, and look comfortable, and they’re working. It’s like they barely even notice we’re here.

“I was told she has a lot of researchers,” Arthur said quietly. “They seem… good? Booksy. Happy.”

There’s maybe two dozen human researchers, John said, low and awed. Outer Gods don’t deal with humans much, unless to eat them.

“Yeah,” said a dry voice from the ground, “Keeps isn’t exactly your bog-standard Outer God. I guess I’d know, by this point.”

“The Keeper’s chosen,” Hastur said quietly. “Greetings, Archivist Tabby.”

“Nope,” the girl said. “Still just Tabby. How you feeling, Arthur?”

“Hi, Tabby.” Arthur’s smile was tired, but real; she’d witnessed him at his worst, expelling poison in the most disgusting ways, and never made him feel badly for it. He wouldn’t forget that. “Better, thanks. How’s the baking?”

“Good. This week it’s banana bread. It turned out way better than that bread I made when you were here last time.” Her voice sounded pleased. “Partially because it’s breadlike, as opposed to a cracker. And there’s chocolate chips in it, which slaps.”

“Slaps?” said Arthur.

“Rocks? It's very good,” she over-enunciated in the way she did when some slang of hers went over his head.

John sounded baffled. Why do you look like that?

“Oh, boy,” Tabby said.

“John,” said Arthur. “Be polite.”

Hastur did not step in to help. That ass.

You’re human, John said accusingly.

“I’m sorry,” Arthur started.

What did you do to yourself?

“He’s not… really himself right now,” said Arthur.

“Eh, I’ve gotten similar questions from four-year-olds,” Tabby said. “You’re gonna have to be more specific, bud. Do you mean the hair? The lip ring? The lack of light in my eyes? Gimmie something to work with, here.”

Who are you worshiping with all of this? John demanded.

Arthur sighed. “Yeah, we, um. Really need to see the Keeper.”

What are you getting out of it? And John gasped. You’re chosen, but you’re not even marked!

“Keeps is expecting you. She wanted to let John get re-adjusted to the place without her first,” Tabby said, and there was a distinct tone in her voice that signified she was reaching the end of her patience. “Anyway. It’s good to see you too, Hastur. Keeps has been going nuts for the banana bread when it’s toasted, with some melted butter on top, and I know she’s made a pot of that tea Arthur likes. She’s in the office, if y’all are ready.”

“Thank you.” Hastur acted like nothing awkward was going on, and finally—maybe reluctantly—put Arthur down.

“Which way?” said Arthur.

Wait! What powers are you getting from these choices? Should we do… piercings and dyes? John hollered.

John hadn’t answered him, so Arthur just started walking blind—and walked directly into Tabby, who had stopped dead.

“Arthur,” she said, with a grave seriousness tinged with the most excitement Arthur had ever heard her express. “Can I dye your hair?”

“No,” Hastur rumbled from behind them.

“Oh, fuck off,” Tabby said. “Anyway. Dude, I’ll do such a good job.”

Hastur growled.

Hey! He’s mine—and we’re not going to let you deface Arthur to grow your powers! He’s magnificent as-is!

“I’m so sorry. About both of them,” Arthur said.

Tabby made a magnificent scoffing sound. “I don’t have any powers. I just live here, for fuck’s sake. Turn, like, forty degrees to your left Arthur, follow my voice. He’s cranky, huh?”

“Thanks. And he’s just confused.”

I am not confused! A pause. Except about her!

“He’s really confused,” Arthur added conspiratorially.

“You’re the one flipping your gourd about seeing hair dye for the first time, my guy,” Tabby said dryly. “I think ‘confused’ is the charitable descriptor here.”

“Let it go,” Arthur murmured.

But she’s weird! She’s being weird!

Arthur’s heart lurched. It was such a reminder of how young John was, even though he was simultaneously ancient. “You’re such a contradictory being,” he murmured.

Fuck you!

Arthur snorted. “You know what? Fuck you, too.”

John puffed like an angry bull.

Arthur ignored him and walked in the direction indicated. “Ma’am?” he called.

“Jesus fuck, definitely not ‘ma’am’, thanks,” Tabby said. “Over here. Got the door for you and everything.” And then, just as Arthur got ready to pass through the door, Tabby sighed. “John. Look, for what it’s worth, I’m… I’m glad you’re alright. Even if you’re a dick about it.”

I am not a dick!

“He doesn’t have a corporeal form, so there is no dick,” Arthur said primly (privately deeply pleased at John’s inarticulate snarl), and walked through the door.

“Tabby, I asked you to be nice,” the Keeper said, the frown evident in her voice.

“And I said ‘nuh-uh’,” Tabby replied. “I’m bringing y’all the last of the banana bread. I need more bananas, by the way. Everyone’s been eating it like crazy.”

“I’ll ask someone to obtain more for you. Thank you,” the Keeper said warmly. And then there was the soft shift of silk sliding over itself, and Arthur could feel the force of her gaze, like the sun itself turned to look at him. “Arthur, you’re looking better. And John, so are you! How are you feeling?”

John was absolutely quiet and still, as if to remain unseen.

“I’m feeling better, thank you. Able to eat regularly now,” said Arthur.

John stayed absolutely quiet and still.

“John’s doing a lot better,” Arthur said. “There’s a lot for him to overcome.”

“Indeed there is. Many would consider it insurmountable. I think, given the context, it’s quite brave of you to come see me today,” she said.

John trembled. You’re very large, he said (bravely).

“I am,” the Keeper said sweetly. “Please, take a seat. Hastur, you seem to be feeling much better than the last time we spoke as well.”

“All is well,” said Hastur, by which he could mean anything.

Arthur felt his way to a seat. “I was hoping you could help John adjust more. He… there’s a lot, is all.”

“Of course. Hastur paid for my aid in returning both you and John to your full health,” the Keeper said, clearly for John’s sake. “How are you feeling, John?”

John made a soft, frightened sound. Fine. We can go home now.

“Have you recovered any memories?” she asked, even gentler. “Any small bits of knowledge you shouldn’t otherwise know? Feelings towards people that have no basis? Deja vu?”

I… one. Just one.

Arthur knew his face fell. He couldn’t stop it.

Does she know? John whispered.

“I don’t know,” Arthur said. “Probably.”

A bad memory, John said.

“I’m very sorry to hear that,” the Keeper said gently. “Negative memories often leave powerful marks on our psyches; I’m sad to say it won’t be the last. Is this memory one you and Arthur shared?”

Yes. Rough. Though we experienced it in different ways.

“Tell her,” Arthur said. “It’s okay. You can tell her what I did.”

John gasped. But Arthur…

“It’s all right.” It was a whisper, delivered with his face turned down. “She probably knows, anyway. Kayne’s show, remember?”

John took a deep, disembodied breath. When… he had Arthur, John said, gesturing in Hastur’s direction, we were thrown into the prison pits, in the Dreamlands wilderness, and starved.

Arthur said nothing.

Hastur said nothing.

For no reason he knew, that made John angry. Starved. Starved. And then he threw this… man into the pit with us—a cannibal, who planned to kill and eat us, too. But I… It hurt. I… when Arthur touches a dead body, I see how they died, and this cannibal had a braid he’d cut from the woman he’d last killed and eaten, so… I found out what he was planning to do from that.

He hesitated.

No one spoke.

Damn them all. Arthur killed and ate him first.

Arthur said nothing. Did not look up, as if even the thought of the response to what he’d done was too much.

John watched her for signs of violence. He had a left hand. He’d get Arthur out of here if needed, by hook or by crook.

"That… I can certainly see that is the type of memory that would stick, lingering like an old wound," the Keeper said gently. "I'm sorry that was the first memory you recalled, John. And I'm sorry you both went through that. My understanding of the situation was, in the end, it brought the two of you closer; perhaps there's bitter irony in that the memory of it seems to be doing the same." She rose, the rustle of her silk skirts somehow soothing. "Would you like some tea? You don't have to drink, if you don't want to; sometimes, when I recount difficult memories, I find it helpful to hold onto something that I can ground myself with." She paused. "I learned it from Tabby."

John hadn’t expected that.

Arthur had clearly been hoping for it. “Yes, please.”

What, she’s fine with eating people? John hissed.

“I think she knows we had no choice,” Arthur whispered back.

We had no choice. There was no… John‘s voice choke off.

“It’s a complex situation,” the Keeper said gently. “You had to kill and eat to survive, forced by a god who is an expert in the various ways at which one can break the minds of human beings.”

“I am,” said Hastur simply, and John growled.

“If you had refused to eat, more than likely that man’s body would have rotted, providing an even less hygienic environment than you already had, and you would have starved even further to your detriment—plus, if you had elected later to eat in desperation, you were much more likely to have become ill from it. You made the only choice you could, and there is nothing to shame you for. And, not for nothing, I must remind you I am not human.” She let out a small, dry laugh. “Gods have no qualms about eating each other, if the need or opportunity arises. I have no desire to eat my siblings, but if one of them were to attack me with such viciousness that I needed to kill them, I would almost certainly eat them afterward.”

Arthur took John’s hand.

But I saw him die every time we… John said, barely audible.

“Oh,” the Keeper said, very softly. “You poor thing.” She turned to Hastur. “Did you know he could do that?”

“Yes. I took advantage of it in a place called Harper’s Hill to send a monster their way,” said Hastur.

So matter of fact about it. John growled again. Motherfucker.

“He remembered that.” Arthur sounded like he was on the verge of tears. “Of all things…”

“It’s a powerful, painful memory that the both of you share. It’s not surprising.” The Keeper set down a mug of tea in front of Arthur, the ceramic rattling lightly on the marble-topped desk. “Luckily, he had you there to guide him through it, Arthur.”

“I did what I could.” His thumb stroked the back of John’s hand. “But it doesn’t feel like enough.”

Arthur…

“You’re only human, Arthur.” He could feel the weight of her gaze on him, like a thousand-watt spotlight directly on a bare stage. “Suffocating yourself under the weight of your own expectations does no one any good.”

“I’m not… I’m not doing that,” Arthur said. “He’s always been there for me, at my lowest, at my… my heaviest burden. I must do the same for him. I’ll do anything to help him.”

“Are you not already doing that now?”

And maybe Arthur would have snapped at her, bared his teeth, if not for the sweetly innocent tone of her voice, the gentle question in it. “I’m trying!” he said, but it lacked vitriol. “I’m trying,” he said again, almost a whisper. “Can you help me do more?”

Arthur, you don’t need…

Arthur clutched his hand.

The Keeper was quiet for a long moment. “I would like to try something, Arthur, if you are willing.”

“Anything.” He looked up, though he could not see. “Anything you want to try.”

She let out a sound like faraway thunder. “I would like to speak to you privately. One-on-one, so you may speak freely without the fear of input from others.”

Arthur blinked several times, or maybe John did. “I don’t understand.”

John’s hand twitched.

“I would like to speak with you, and you alone, without the fear of being overheard by others,” the Keeper repeated, and there was no malice in her repetition, no harshness in her words. “You have a lot on your shoulders, Arthur, and no privacy in which to examine that which you carry without fear, without regret. Without others. I propose this: Hastur leaves the room, and I deafen John for a short time so you and I can converse in true privacy. John keeps your eyes and your hand so he can see that you remain unharmed; Hastur will be close by, and will respond to your mark, of course. Anything you say to me remains fully and completely confidential, and you and I can discuss strategies to address the issues that are on your mind.”

No!

Arthur hadn’t answered yet.

You can’t have him! John seemed to have gone somewhere nobody had intended with this suggestion.

Arthur still hadn’t answered.

“I am not taking him, John. I cannot take him from you.” The Keeper’s voice was measured and even. “I neither have the power or desire to do that.”

John growled.

“John,” said Arthur quietly. “What would it take for you to feel safe with this?”

You want to hide things from me? John said, his voice somehow child-like in spite of his basso profundo.

“No, no. I’ll tell you everything after. I just want to figure some things out without having to say what might… hurt you because I worded them poorly. I know things you don’t right now, and it’s very messy.”

Part two.

“Yes. All I’m trying to do is figure out how to help you.”

Be mine. That’s how.

Arthur blushed.

“No pressure,” Hastur said, and laughed, low and wicked.

In response to that, Arthur’s jaw set, the visible embodiment of stubbornness. He lifted his face. “I’m willing once John says yes.”

“John,” the Keeper said, her voice warm and gentle and soothing. “I know what it is I’m asking of you. You do not know me, and yet I am asking for you to set Arthur in my hands and trust that I aim to help. I very much do, John; on our first meeting, months ago, Hastur requested I unravel the reasons that Arthur is aging, and paid quite heavily for it. My reigning hypothesis is that Arthur’s own particular brand of power enables him to resist magic, including the magic of the mark which normally would grant him a limited form of immortality.”

John was making very small sounds. He… he paid? What? What did he pay?

“A memory. More, I will not say; confidentiality is important to me, as is keeping my word.”

A memory. Arthur’s eyes moved on their own, taking in the Scriptorium. Something you would treasure.

“Something more valuable than the entire public section of my Scriptorium,” she said. “I am beholden to him, and I will ensure Arthur’s health and safety.”

Arthur’s eyes swiveled to Hastur.

Hastur was unreadable, tentacles undulating, beautiful and horrible and magnificent and nightmarish. John hated him. John envied him. John feared him. But John knew damn well Hastur wouldn’t pay something important if he didn’t mean what he’d said.

John still held off answering for an awkward, silent moment, just to make them wait, just to have some control. Fine. I see everything. And you tell me what was said after.

“That’s a promise,” said Arthur, tension leaving his face.

“Thank you, John.” The Keeper reached out, gently patting the knuckles of John’s hand. “If at any point you do not wish to continue, Arthur, you may say so, and our conversation will end. John’s hearing will be restored, and I will summon Hastur back to attend to you. Is this amenable to you?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

“I will be enjoying your marvelous library.” Hastur bowed (a thing John had definitely never seen before, and he both envied the grace and marveled at impossible humility) before floating away.

John suddenly felt very alone and very exposed. He clutched Arthur’s hand.

“I’m ready.” Arthur swallowed and sat up straight.

CHAPTER TWO

“First,” the Keeper said, and gestured. The door audibly locked. “Privacy is key, of course. And now, John: I will be able to hear you, still, though Arthur will not. Kindly keep that in mind. Alright?”

John audibly (impossibly) swallowed. All right. He had a death-grip on Arthur’s hand.

Arthur didn’t pull away.

There was a subtle shift in the air, and suddenly, John was silent. “John,” the Keeper said. “If you can hear me, please squeeze Arthur’s hand three times.”

John’s grip remained the same.

“Arthur,” the Keeper said gently. “Thank you for agreeing to speak to me. How are you feeling, in this moment?”

Arthur hesitated. “I’m tired.” His eyes filled. “I’m so tired. And I don’t… I can’t trust so much of what he says, and I… I miss him, but that makes no sense because I have him. I don’t know what to do. I don’t think I’m enough.” He wiped his eyes.

“Oh, Arthur,” the Keeper said, her voice tender. “I can hardly blame you. Recovering from the poisoning would be exhausting enough, even without caring for John through this. This is not a situation that can be fixed with a clever application of magic, or even love alone. No manual has been written for this; I would know, after all.” She laughed, soft and gentle like a distant bell. “Do you feel as if you’re grieving?”

“Yes,” softly. “But… he’s here. It isn’t right. It isn’t fair of me, at all.”

“Who says that the only proper reason to grieve is death?” The Keeper shifted in her chair, and Arthur was struck by the sudden idea that she moved to make sure he knew she was still there, still somewhere he could track her. “John appears to be regaining his memories, and this is something good; but you are still allowed to grieve the loss of what the both of you had, however temporary this loss may be. Perhaps it is not fair, but, what part of your situation is at all ‘fair?’”

His face tightened. “No, you’re right. You’re right. It’s fair.”

“Is it? How is it fair, then?”

“I… haven’t exactly laid the brickwork for an easy road for myself.”

“That you certainly have not. If anything, it almost seems as though you make things harder for yourself, even when others try to help clear the way for you,” the Keeper said. “Why do you think that may be?”

He bristled. “I haven’t made them harder for myself. I’m just saying I… choices have consequences, and I’ve made a lot of choices.”

“And I by no means am disagreeing with that statement; I merely am commenting on what appears to be an overarching thread. There have been several instances now in which you have been offered forgiveness, genuine apology, or affection, and it almost appears as though you rejected them, at least to me. Do you feel you don’t deserve these things?”

He couldn’t see her. He still managed a pretty good hardboiled stare. “Why are you asking me that?”

“Because your determination makes things happen, Arthur.” Her voice was calm, gentle. “Your extraordinary will enables you to resist some of the most powerful magics that exist in the known universe; you kept John from succumbing to a poison that was specifically designed to kill Forgotten Ones, a poison that shreds apart mortal souls like paper. And yet, despite the potency of this attack, you survived. You resist the magic of Outer Gods, and you currently resist the magic from two different gods who are trying to keep you from aging. So, I ask again: do you not feel as if you deserve forgiveness, or apology, or affection?”

His brow knit. This was a look Hastur knew well, and she was beginning to: fucking stubborn. “I don’t see the connection. No, in answer to your question. I don't. I know I don’t. I know what I am. Happy now?”

“‘Happy’ is not the word I would use, no. But I appreciate your honesty.” She refilled his tea, judging by the sound of pouring liquid. “I do not ask with the intent to be cruel. I believe that your guilt may be part of the reason that you are resisting the dual marks on your soul, and John’s own guilt may in turn be hampering his recovery, whether he is aware of it or not. That is why I ask: to examine if, perhaps, we can find a way to comfort John, and allow these painful memories to come back without additional damage.”

Arthur went very still. He started to answer; stopped. Shifted. “You… you think I’m… resisting the marks with the power of a guilty conscience?”

She ruminated on that for a moment. “It is a bit more complex than that, but I suppose putting it into the simplest possible terms: yes.”

His mouth fell open. “You’re shitting me.”

“I truly wish I was. I wish I had an easier solution than ‘find a way for Arthur Lester to forgive himself so that he no longer ages, which conveniently models self-compassion for John, who can (probably) stop fighting the recovery of his memories and return to himself more fully.’” She took a sip of tea.

“Wait, no. No, hold on. Hold on.” He stood, sat down, and scowled like a pro. “You’re telling me I have to deceive myself in order to be what John needs?”

“Interesting choice of words,” the Keeper said. “From my perspective, John is afraid. He has been thrust into a situation in which he likely feels like he’s acting in a play without a script, and that everything will fall to pieces if he does not find a way to play his part adequately. His first regained memory was one of mutual horror and pain, tinged with the guilt that his presence was part of the reason you were in the pits to begin with. I imagine he’s in a similar position as you, now: feeling guilt over actions of the past, unable to forgive himself for his part in them, and that makes him afraid of triggering memories going forward.” She paused. “Am I making sense?”

That was an oh, fuck, face. “I… you’re saying I can’t help him work past that unless I… project that, somehow? Show him… I… it’s not the same situation! I can’t just…pretend it’s the same! I… I’m not… he wasn’t the…” He took a deep, stabilizing breath. “I have done things that can’t just be overlooked. But you’re telling me I have to or I can’t help him. You’re sure. You’re sure?”

“So has he, Arthur. So has Hastur.” She let out another low hum. “Do you still hate Hastur, for what he did to you?”

“No,” Arthur said quietly. “I don’t. I honestly never really hated him, anyway. That was more John’s thing.”

“May I ask why?” And there it was again, that innocent curiosity.

Arthur was quiet for a moment, just linking his fingers with John’s. When he spoke, his answer was quiet, face turned down. “How could I hate him for bringing my daughter back and giving her everything I never could?”

“Many would hate someone who tortured them, starved them, forced them to turn to cannibalism, and then weaponized their most painful loss with the intent of permanent harm. Your daughter's return has become a wonderful thing, but I know it wasn't always that way.”

Oh, how he scowled. “It was. It was.”

She folded her hands, demure. “And John has changed, has he not? In part because of you, and in part because of Faroe.”

“She’s worth it.” He said that almost too fast, as if anticipating pushback. “She’s worth it all.”

“Of course she's worth it,” the Keeper said, certain and precise. “What about you, Arthur? Do you feel as though you've changed?”

“I… yes, all right. He’s changed. And I’ve changed.” He swallowed. “I know I’ve changed. Some of it’s for the better.”

“It is not an insignificant thing, change; a god, changing for a mortal. The few times Hastur and I have spoken on Faroe, I can hear it in every syllable, read it on every cell of his body. But is that change enough? Have you forgiven him for what he's done to you?”

Arthur seemed confused. “Of course. I had to. John’s the one who’s getting pissed all over again.” As if John had found peace with it all, though it’s unclear where Arthur found that idea.

“If you can forgive the ancient being who tortured you,” the Keeper said, painfully innocent, "why can't you forgive yourself for not being able to magically fix John?”

Arthur went very, very still. “That’s not what I… that’s not it.”

“Well. What is it, then? It can’t be about the poisoning; that was targeted specifically at John, not at you, and you saved his life. I was there, so I know exactly how that shook out; you can’t argue you somehow made it worse. So what is it?” She let out a very soft, small sigh. “You don’t need to answer right now, of course. I understand that is a difficult question; but it’s a question I think is worth exploring.”

Oh, his expression was miserable. “Do… do you know about Faroe?”

“I do,” she said, and her voice was so gentle. “I know what happened, Arthur. I did research on you; I found her birth certificate. And I found her obituary. I understand the reason why you shattered, Arthur."

His lower lip trembled; then he hardened. “Then you know why I can’t be angry at the one who brought her back. And why I can’t forgive myself for losing her in the first place.” His voice dropped. “And how John’s situation isn’t like mine.”

“I am not asking you to forgive yourself for that, Arthur," she said. “John's situation is different, and yet you're punishing yourself in a similar way for being unable to fix him. He needs you, and though you have done admirably by every measure, you still believe it is not enough. He recounted a traumatic memory, and you kept him safe, and yet you still punish yourself with the same intensity. Why?”

“Because of what I did!” His voice was high and cracking. “Just because the stars fucking aligned and I got her back doesn’t mean I didn’t do it! It doesn’t mean I didn’t… fail her on such a level that I…” He had to stop, breath hitching, fighting wildly with his grief. “I know what I am. And I lose people. I don’t dare try to help him on my own.”

Her gaze was intense. “And what does Faroe think of that, Arthur?”

The way his jaw set was really something—a wildly stubborn look that would strike deities as cute or infuriating, no in-between. “She… forgave me.” His lips twitched, softened. “By royal decree.”

“And how would she feel, to know you're still punishing yourself for it, despite her insistence you're forgiven?”

He turned his face away. “I don’t want her to know. She might blame herself, and it isn’t her fault.” Which wasn’t quite an answer.

“You also kept the truth of her parentage close to your chest, until the end,” the Keeper said, soft. “That little girl needs you, Arthur, especially as she is becoming a young woman. John needs you; not as someone to fix him, but as his friend and companion.” She paused for a long second. “Hastur needs you. And the way things are going…” She let out a soft sigh. “Arthur, I have another question. You do not need to answer if you don’t wish to: but I feel, deeply, it is important.”

He licked his lips before answering. “Okay. Ask it. Whatever it is.”

“Do you want to die, Arthur?”

Arthur went dead white.

The trembling began with his chin, an emotional crumbling, working its way up to his lips, tightening his eyes, until he curled forward, covering his face with his hands, and sobbed just once. “I’m not trying to die,” he said, which was far from a no. “I’m not suicidal. I just… I… thought it would end naturally, and then I learn they’re going to try to keep me forever, and I… it’s like a hallway with no way out. I’m so afraid of what I’m going to do to them all. I’m so tired. And I can’t… I can’t lose anyone else. Not again. But it’s going to happen because people I love die.”

She reached out, her fingertips brushing Arthur’s knuckles—only for John’s hand to swat them away, and she let out a soft noise. “You are one of the reasons, currently, they all thrive the way they do. They need you, Arthur.”

Arthur’s hand shook as he covered his face.

John’s hand flipped her off. Flailed. Gripped Arthur’s wrist and pulled as if to lift him bodily through the air.

“John is… distressed,” she said, voice low and worried. “He’s very distressed. I’m going to bring him back in, Arthur. He needs you.”

Arthur took another sharp breath. “I’m sorry. I… let me talk to him, and we can…” and he pulled it together. “Let me talk to him. It’ll be all right.”

—reach you, we’re leaving, and no one can stop us, and I don’t care what he says!

“You’re back, John. Arthur can hear you again.” The Keeper’s voice was gentle. “Would you two like a moment alone, before I summon Hastur back?”

John’s breath—metaphysical or not—was hard and fast. Arthur!

“I’m here, John.” He couldn’t even try to make his voice cheerful.

Arthur! What’d she say? What’d she do? Damn you and your help!

“Shhh. It’s okay.” Arthur caught his hand, speaking against the back. “It’s okay. I’m okay,” he lied.

Liar!

“John, it’s going to be alright,” the Keeper said, soothing but firm. “Arthur is safe. We had a difficult conversation, but—”

Fuck you!

“I’m sorry,” said Arthur in a horrible, shattered tone. “She didn’t hurt me. It’s my own… what I’ve done that…”

You said you wouldn’t take him away! John cried, and his voice cracked. You—you broke him, too! Just like Hastur did, you fucking monster!

Arthur gasped.

“Did you regain another memory?” The Keeper’s voice was soft, almost awed.

Fuck off!

“John?”

John was puffing. He broke him. Right there, using her. I saw. I saw!

“Oh, gods. John, no—”

John gathered power, beginning to cast.

Arthur gasped again. “Don’t cast magic! I can’t do it right now!”

And John… whimpered.

It wasn’t a sound Arthur had heard from him before. “John?”

Why is all of it… why…

“Why is he only remembering the bad things?” Arthur said.

“Because those are the memories you seek to define yourself by,” the Keeper said, gentle but firm. “He learned from you, Arthur. But we can start to fix it.”

Arthur went pale again.

Don’t you dare put this on—

“She’s right.” A flat tone. “She’s right. I did that to you, John. I taught you that.”

A sputtering. You didn’t teach me anything!

Arthur laughed weakly. “Maybe we can largely agree on that, but… no. No. I taught you that.” He exhaled slowly. “And I have to undo it, somehow.” He rubbed his face. “I’m sorry, John. I didn’t think… I’ll fix it. I promise, I’ll find a way to fix it.”

Fix… you… what are you talking about? This isn’t your fault! Everybody aims for you! Hastur! This Keeper! The Bu… he stopped.

“The Butcher, John?” said Arthur very quietly.

He was going to break your hands!

Arthur shuddered. “We got away, though at a price. Remember?”

A long pause. No!

“That’s all right. It’s all right. We’ll work through it together.”

“The wound has been exposed,” the Keeper said, “And now that we’re aware, treatment can begin for both of you.” She sighed. “For what it’s worth, Arthur… I wish my hypothesis had been wrong. But I hold out hope that maybe, just maybe, I can still be proven incorrect.”

He nodded. “You are.”

What hypothesis?

“A theory,” said Arthur.

The Keeper rustled her way to the door, followed by that piercing, teary golden gaze. “I’m going to give you two a few minutes to collect yourselves before I get Hastur. Will that be alright? Or would you like longer?”

“Thanks. I think that will be fine.”

Maybe keep him away forever.

“I can’t do that, but I’ll give you time to talk.” And she was gone.

A beat of silence.

You swore to me, John hissed.

��I know. I’ll keep my word. Just… give me a minute, okay?” Arthur said, wiping his eyes.

What did she do?

“You remember him breaking me.” He wasn’t a question.

John’s tiny breath was shaky. Yes, but I don’t… I don’t understand. I don’t know how we got there, to that room. I don’t know why the memory feels so… ashamed.

“Ashamed?” Arthur yipped. “Over what?”

I don’t remember! John cried.

Arthur swallowed. “I think we have to talk about part two.”

I’m afraid of part two.

“We’ll get through it.” It was a vow, and as the Keeper came back inside, she saw the entanglement between them tighten, like their hands, like their choices, more bound and binding and clinging by the second.

CHAPTER THREE

Hastur was quiet, taking them home.

John was quiet, clutching Arthur’s hand.

Arthur was quiet, chewing the Keeper’s words.

No. No, he wasn’t… he wasn’t what she said. No.

It didn’t matter, though. Not with what faced him now. He had to tell John part two.

It was… maybe going to require a part three, now that he thought about it. From his time with Yellow on, through the moment when Hastur broke him… that was part two.

Carcosa had its own part. It had to. There was so much…

Arthur.

He would never grow tired of the way John said his name. John put meaning in it. John made his name matter. “Yes?”

I’m not letting go.

“Neither am I.”

Good. Join sounded like he needed it. Good.

“After everything we’ve been through,” Arthur began.

Yes?

Oh, this was so hard. “It’s time for part two.”

Hastur inhaled quietly, but said not a word.

Good. This… needed some privacy.

The garden was warm this evening. Sweat trickled down Arthur’s sides under his shirt and cooled along his hairline. He followed the sound of the fountain, ignoring distant chatter from some strolling beasts, and sat.

So this is just where we do this, huh? said John, sounding amused. The Fountain of Confessions.

Arthur smiled wryly. “Well, it seemed appropriate to continue where we left off.”

John’s hand wandered across his waist, clinging to Arthur’s shirt, as if physically representing their entanglement. He’d been doing that since they left the Scriptorium. Might as well.

Arthur lay his hand over John’s. “Buckle in. A lot happened in a few days. After you came back to me, Larson had me—us—thrown down into his mine.”

It was too much.

Too much horror in a few days, and the parts Arthur did not know threatened like malevolent shades, stalking in the gloom.

John knew there was more. Arthur had nearly (nearly?) died, and didn’t know, and You saved me. You stitched my wound wasn’t enough.

Something more had happened. Something…

Then Arthur got to the train, and that was wild (and so smart!), and John had no room to worry about the rest.

He did it, John kept thinking, growing more amazed at this ridiculous, insane, courageous human by the moment.

Scratch. The widow. Daniel. The Butcher again. Oscar. The horror of reconstituting a god.

The betrayal in Scratch’s face and voice.

The understanding he’d pushed Arthur to finish what they’d started, sealing that betrayal.

Daniel dying, Arthur at his side. Others trying to take John and running into what John now recognized as Arthur’s absurd willpower.

The gate nearly opening. The gate…

You broke your end of the deal. And John remembered the voice, remembered the accusation, remembered…

“John! John, it’s all right! John!” Arthur held John’s hand to his lips, his breath hot, his voice sharp.

I… what did I…

He remembered reneging on a deal with… with…

“I’m here,” John, whispered Arthur, because he was, because he always would be, even though he’d almost been…

What did I do?

“You made a deal,” said Arthur slowly. “You never told me the details. What matters is you didn’t follow through.”

How could he say that? But I…

“It was like in the hotel. In Leerie. You… when the moment came to spend my life and change places…”

To open the gate, John said thickly.

“You pulled back. Because I can trust you, John, no matter what you’ve come from, no matter what you’ve done. You are what you choose to do now, and I trust you.”

But he shouldn’t.

John wept softly. Arthur joined him. It wasn’t the screaming nightmare memory of Faust, of what they’d had to do. This was quiet, a grief, a regret; for releasing her into the world had done great things.

Terrible things.

She was probably, he realized, the reason all those nations were suddenly able and willing to access the occult in their world-wide war, the reason Parker would never go back there by choice, the reason Arthur was safer here because Scratch’s memory of favoritism and betrayal had made her so insanely obsessed with Arthur, torn between keeping and destroying Arthur, but in both cases it only meant torment, nightmare, twisted memories as if to shatter his mortal soul.

And yet she hadn’t. Faroe had done that. And Hastur. All her efforts, over the three years they were on the run, had not broken this incredible man—though John now suspected it might have led to the ease of that shatter.

“I’ve got you. I’ve got you. You… I didn’t die,” Arthur said.

But he had, hadn’t he? Touched by the Dark World, bruised by its fingers gripping and sliding off him like some abusive lover as Arthur escaped out the door.

Arthur had chosen to live. Between that and John fighting the deal he’d made, and Kayne focused on gloating like a monster, and her showing up out of nowhere to take Arthur for herself—

“We got away.”

They had.

“We ran, John. The stone was shattered. They couldn’t use it anymore.”

No… but they could use the pieces they’d likely found.

Arthur kept talking, rocking them back and forth, saying without saying that he forgave this betrayal though he should not have, and as he discussed another train and another spooky town in New England and another attempt to rebuild their life, John only had one thought.

It’s me. I’m the bad person.

He’d betrayed. He should be put to death. Justice delivered. Instead…

Instead, they’d set up as “Peter Saltzman, P.I.,” and survived.

And Arthur never brought it up (but should have). And they both really enjoyed their new life (which John did not deserve). And it hadn’t occurred to them why nobody was able to track them down, especially since Arthur still dreamed.

She should have found them. Why hadn’t she?

It seemed Arthur had ideas on that, too. “It was because of Hastur. I’m sure of it now. He’d begun leaving those… clues that shook me so badly long before he came with Faroe in his arms. Tilling the soil.”

Yes. Yes. John didn’t remember everything, but he remembered the effect.

There was a photo of a murdered little girl with curly dark hair and sweet, round cheeks.

A packet of baby clothes patterns, designed by someone whose sloppily written name looked like B—a Le—er.

A vinyl long-playing record with a piano piece eerily similar to a certain waltz Arthur had written for his daughter, close enough that it sent him into a panic attack.

Small dresses and baby shoes.

A drowned little boy in a bathtub, though that had been on purpose, and that guy who did it got shot in the face and it was good.

The fucking neighbor’s kid being named Darrow, which wasn’t fucking Faroe, but guess what that sounded like, leaking through the walls, as a frustrated parent yelled at a toddler all day?

“I’m sure there were more,” said Arthur, still rocking them both just a little, holding John’s hand between his shoulder and his cheek. “I don’t… remember a lot of them. You said it was endless, and objectively nothing—stuff you’d only connect to my past by assuming. Coincidences. But it was so many coincidences.”

John swallowed. And your dreams?

“All over the place at first. Just dreams. We’d decided if we had any hint at all that she’d found us, we’d run, but it never got like that. And it should have. I think… maybe… Hastur staked some sort of claim.”

John growled.

“It doesn’t matter, John.”

It fucking does.

“I got my daughter back.”

And there was no climbing over that one, was there? No pushing through. No tight hole to wriggle one’s way inside. That was it, the end of the conversation, and John wanted badly to bite something.

Arthur sighed. “I’m tired.”

John was, too, but he really didn’t want to drag this out. You want a… part three?

“Please, John. I… going over this again, remembering… I really thought we’d gotten away. Those three years in Maine.” Tears slid down his cheeks, wetting John’s hand. “I’d begun to believe it. I don’t want to spend too much time in that remembrance. In what we’ve forever lost. Please, John.”

Holy fuck.

Arthur…

Arthur needed help, and John didn’t know how to help him, but they knew someone who did.

This was for Arthur. For Arthur, he could be brave. We’re going back to the Keeper tomorrow.

Arthur hadn’t expected that. “What?”

John almost saw the connection. The way Arthur had resisted the Dark World’s pull, the way he resisted the marks now… Tomorrow.

“All right,” said Arthur, and wiped his face. “We can do that.”

Then part three.

“Did you… remember anything else during this?” said Arthur slowly.

You broke your end of the deal.

No.

Broke your end of the—

“That’s good,” said Arthur, who should know better than to trust John, and stood.

They didn’t say much as they got ready for bed, bathing and climbing onto the huge mattress with a weariness of mind that sapped the body. Arthur hummed, though.

John needed it. That small music. He noted how the whole place seemed to react when Arthur sang, how the shriek-birds went quiet, and sentient plants peeked over the balcony as if they wanted to listen, and—when Arthur did it in public—how passing creatures always stilled to hear.

Arthur didn’t know. He just made music, and when he did, he moved the gods.

Mine, John thought before he could stop himself, though he knew he did not deserve it.

Maybe that didn’t matter. Maybe this surpassed paltry things like morality. Arthur was his, and he’d fight to keep him—and apparently, had before, as well.

Broke your—

He wouldn’t think about it. It had been years. None of that mattered anymore.

This was for Arthur, and for Arthur, he would do whatever it took.

CHAPTER FOUR

“Again?” said Hastur.

Yes. Now.

Faroe eyed them sidelong. Larson spread jam on his flatbread, pretending disinterest.

Hastur’s tentacles curled through the air, enviably graceful (and John wished he could be as beautiful as that). “Very well. After court.”

“You’re different today,” said Faroe. “John, I mean.”

“How is he different?” said Arthur.

She considered. “Like a candle after the draft has been shut off.”

“So he’s… steady?” said Arthur with such hope that John almost groaned.

“Yes,” she said as though passing some royal judgment.

John growled just… well, he didn’t know why, but because.

Nobody took that too seriously, and the conversation moved on.

Hastur must have made one hell of a deal, because he evidently had open access to the Scriptorium any time. Absolutely wild.

The staff scuttered around, all of them wearing that focused, bright look of treasure hunters hot on the trail, and none seemed to even find it remarkable that Hastur and his whatever had come back.

John was still certain that Tabby was worshiping something, but the Keeper seemed unlikely. Not her style.

It could be endangering Arthur. He would find out if it cost his last—

Hastur exhaled again, weighty, slow.

Well, whatever that was about. Keeper!

“Welcome back,” she said, voice bright and warm. “I wasn’t expecting you again so soon; are the both of you feeling a bit better?”

No, said John.

“Yes,” said Arthur.

A beat.

Maybe, said John.

“Somewhat,” said Arthur.

Hastur sounded amused. “Do you have time for them?”

“I can make time,” she said, and opened a door in the wall. “Did you think about what we spoke about, Arthur?”

Arthur drew himself up as tall as he could go, which wasn’t very. “Yes. I have some critique.”

Hastur’s many eyes widened, not that Arthur could see it.

That wasn’t what John expected. Are… you sure?

The Keeper turned, her gaze falling on him like the heat of the summer sun at noon. “Well. I certainly look forward to hearing it, then. I will admit I did not handle our conversation as best I could.”

“No, you were fine.” It was Arthur’s bargaining voice—vaguely, John recalled that Arthur thought he was a hard bargainer. “But we need to talk. You and me.”

“Oh. That sort of talk, and so soon. Very well.”

“Thank you.”

If Hastur was surprised at this, he hid further reactions. “I will wait. Thank you for your time.”

Wait a minute! This meeting was my idea!

“I’m sure Tabby will find you shortly,” the Keeper said to Hastur, her voice fond. “Thank you.”

Hastur bowed out.

“You can talk to her first,” Arthur offered.

Now it was suddenly scary. I… of course I will!

“Alright,” she said, gesturing to the plush armchairs, the couch. “Take a seat, the both of you. May I get you anything? Tea?”

“Yes, please,” Arthur said, still in his hard-bargain voice.

John thought it was adorable. She must, too. He growled preemptively.

“Of course.” She produced the teapot from nowhere (as per usual), a mug and a teacup manifesting themselves on the short coffee table between them. “I apologize for yesterday, John. I didn’t realize that we would end up triggering another distressing memory while we spoke. How are you doing?”

Oh, the pressure. Yes. That was not the right reply. Fine. Can only you hear me now?

“I can make it so Arthur does not hear, yes,” she said. “Is that alright, Arthur? I’ll put on a bit of music for you, in the meantime.”

“I’m fine with that.” He hesitated. “Could we do that musical? The one you had on before.”

“The Sound of Music! You remembered!” she said, sounding delighted. “Yes, absolutely. I’ll start it from the top for you.”

It was strange, seeing her act without the need of performance; she raised a hand and a gramophone twisted into the air from nothing and spun to life, strings swelling, and then John could hear it… dim, just faintly. “It’s just us now, John,” she said gently. “What is it you would like to tell me?”

John missed the mirrors. He couldn’t see Arthur’s expression—but at least he seemed physically relaxed. I figured something out. I think I know what’s happening with Arthur.

“You did? Please, share. I would like to compare theories.” She settled into the chair, lifting her cup of tea and swirling it.

He eyed her. She’d better not be mocking him. I think the problem is he doesn’t want to be owned. And he huffed because really. Absurd.

The Keeper paused, tilted her head, and seemed to ruminate on that for a bit. “That is… unfortunate for him, in quite a lot of aspects,” she said thoughtfully. “How do you figure?”

Wasn’t it obvious? He is fiercely independent. He wants to do things his own way, to the point he resists even sensible suggestions. He’s resisted me. And Hastur. The coup de grâce: And he’s resisted death.

“That he has, multiple times,” she said, pensively. “I believe his uncanny powers of resistance are part of the reason the two of you are still alive and speaking to me now. The other part, of course, was you; your entanglement meant that with you there, he could not be loosed from the body fully, and in turn he would not let you go to the Dark World.”

John’s golden form swelled like a bullfrog. Me? I helped?

“You did,” she said. “You enabled him to hang on long enough for Hastur to call upon my help. Just as you, in the past, have dragged him to safety with one arm, or stitched up his wounds with no help. You can be quite astounding in your own right.”

Oh, it felt so good to be seen!

He’d been trying! He’d tried so hard! He sniffled. He’s mine, you know, he said, because maybe she’d see that, too.

“Yes, he is.” Her voice was tender. “He was yours even before you marked him, John. He loves you, just as much as you love him. Only a fool would seek to separate you two.”

John exhaled. He had no idea it was like Hastur’s, a release of weight. So. I think he’s resisting the marks out of stubbornness because it wasn’t his idea. He told me it wasn’t.

“I certainly think that could be a part of it. There are a lot of threads in the tapestry of Arthur Lester that are tangled up, and I…” She paused. “I think I may have confused my metaphors. But I trust you understand what I mean. There are many layers to this issue, and I believe lingering resentment over the nature of being marked may be part of that, no matter how it has turned out since.” She set down her teacup on the saucer. “Thank you for telling me this. I really, truly appreciate it.”

He could see why they liked her. She understood. So how do we fix him?

It was a “we” now.

“That is what I’m working on currently,” she said, gently. “Arthur… Arthur is stubborn, as you know. He also has a very strong sense of justice, which I’m sure you also know. Where we are coming into conflict is that Arthur’s sense of justice is making it difficult for him to move forward, instead of dwelling on the past.” She folded her hands, pensive. “More than that, I cannot say; that is for Arthur to tell you, not for me. But Arthur’s stubbornness, combined with his lingering feelings, creates a potent cocktail of resistance.”

John pondered this.

He chewed it, testing its taste, its texture.

He came to his own decision. So, he said. I have to help him move on from the past. And he gasped. He’s not giving himself a chance! That hypocrite!

That hypocrite had begun to lightly hum along with Julie Andrews, but anyway.

“In a sense. It’s a bit more complex than that,” the Keeper said. “Arthur has defined himself by his past; it leaks into everything he does. What I am looking to do is help him begin to envision a future; something for him to look forward to. Something to want to strive for. Does that make sense?”

John huffed. I’ll make him strive for his own standards. Yes. It makes sense. Now, I know what to do. And he startled Arthur by reaching up and touching his jaw.

Arthur caught John’s hand and held it to his cheek for a moment.

I won’t let you drown, John whispered, and did not even remember vowing it before.

“I’m glad to have you on the team, John,” the Keeper said, her voice warm. “I know I can count on you. Should I bring Arthur back, or was there anything else you wanted to tell me?”

No, it’s time. He was proud of how strong he sounded. I’m ready.

“Very well. Thank you, John.” The music grew louder in John’s ears, as did Arthur’s humming. “Oh,” the Keeper said wistfully. “You’ve got such a lovely voice, Arthur. We’re back, now, all three of us; did you enjoy the music?”

Arthur blushed. “Thank you. Yes, I really did. This is amazing music.” And pleasantries done—“John. Are you all right?”

Yes. John rested his hand on their leg. She’s wise.

Arthur’s face went long. “Is she, now?”

Yes, she is, said John as though he’d made this groundbreaking discovery.

“I can’t wait to hear how it all went.” Arthur stroked John’s fingers. “But you’re all right.”

Yes. Have your little session and we can go home.

Arthur did laugh this time, gently. “All right. I’m ready, ma’am.”

“Same rules as before: if you no longer wish to continue the conversation, say so, and it ends,” she said, gently—and then John went quiet but for the gentle twitch of his hand beneath Arthur’s. “Now. How are you, Arthur?”

Arthur checked. John squeezed his hand back. Arthur nodded. And he turned to the Outer God, whose presence he could feel like a flame. “I think you’re wrong.”

“Well, how very fascinating,” she said, pleasantly interested. “You understand, I am not often wrong about things. This is a bit of a surprise for me. How do you figure?”

“I don’t want to die. And I have proof.”

“With evidence! Even better.” She adjusted her skirts, picking up her teacup. “Please, elaborate.”

That look could get him killed. That look could get him captured. It was a weirdly defiant look, too personal, impossible not to feel. “When John asked me to get in shape so I could play with Faroe, I did. Would someone who wanted to die do this?” And so help him, he flexed his bicep.

“...Oh!” Her voice was… Bright. Sparkling. And it sounded suspiciously like she was fighting the urge to laugh. “...Well. Motivation to keep up with your daughter certainly made a potent medicine. I don’t know that I would… discount my theory, based upon it. But I think that brings us to a very interesting point: you’ve spent the past six—nearly seven—years finding ways to survive for the sake of your daughter. When you think of her growing up, what do you think of?”

The hardness melted. “That’s… I don’t know anymore. I used to imagine… like her mother. A strong woman, maybe finding… real love. Which I didn’t. But she could. I wanted her to grow up in a world that let her vote. I wanted her to live a full life. Now…” He took a deep breath. “I think she’s going to be a goddess.” So softly. “So far above me. Above anyone I ever knew, and… I want that for her. She deserves the world, and always did, and thanks to Hastur, she’ll have that.”

“Do you envision yourself there, at her side? Supporting her during her coronation?”

He was silent for too long.

He wanted to lie.

He wanted to say what he should say.

The hesitation was oddly tense; maybe it was his weird magic thing, his will, like wind affecting the waves.

John stroked his hand with his thumb.

Arthur made his choice. “I don’t see myself there. It doesn’t mean I want to die.”

“Perhaps.” She made the softest sound, like she was sipping her tea. “What do you think you would be doing instead, Arthur?”

Fuck. He’d trapped himself. “I don’t see myself at all.” And he scowled “I don’t plan to die!”

“Let’s take a step back, then,” she said, frustratingly soothing. “I can agree with you that it doesn’t seem you want to kill yourself, or harm yourself. But Arthur: current difficulties notwithstanding, you’re marked. There’s no reason you shouldn’t be around when Faroe gets older. Have you thought about the future much?”

He licked his lips. “I…” but he didn’t know where that was going. He paused.

The silence got to John, but didn’t upset him like Arthur’s tears. He stroked Arthur’s hand again.

Arthur sighed. “I don’t see anything. Anything.”

“Therein lies the problem, Arthur; you exist, yes. You survive. But not wanting to die is not the same as wanting to live.” She shifted, settling into her chair. “It’s alright for you to want to see your daughter grow up, you know. Just as it’s alright for you to want to see John safe, and cared for. John most certainly wants you to stay by his side forever; you know that, right?”

He shifted. “I…” He swallowed. “I want to stay with John.” And he had no idea the import of those words: something he wanted. “I… I can’t… I don’t… deserve this. I don’t know how to want what you’re saying.”

“What is it that you want, Arthur? Do you know?”

He hung his head.

John didn’t know—couldn’t—but held his hand tightly.

Arthur lifted it to his lips, gently, a soft and intimate movement. “I don’t know.” It’s almost a whisper. “I don’t know. How can I want anything? It’s not… nothing is mine to want. Even John is just… he’s stuck with me. I know that, even if he doesn’t.”

The Keeper let that hang in the air for a moment. “What do you know about magic, Arthur?”

“Not much, if I’m honest.” He shrugged. “John casts it. I just have to be willing.”

“Indeed,” she said. “Magic is defined by will; the will of oneself to change the world around you, to shape it further to your desires. The relative strength of magic often depends on the will of its wielder; for gods, this comes as naturally to us as breathing, and thus magic is part of our innate beings. For mortals like yourself, this can vary; but you have quite the strong will, Arthur. You have survived a great many things that ought to have killed you, even before you and John cast your first spell.”

Arthur’s brow knit. “It almost sounds like you’re saying I somehow have a willpower to match the gods. I don’t. A lot would never have happened to me—to us—if I did.”

“On the contrary, Arthur; I found your medical records.” There was a soft shuffling of papers. “You got pneumonia when you were four months old, did you know that? A death sentence for any other infant; but not for you. And in 1918, while living in Boston, going to school, twenty-eight people in your apartment block came down with influenza, including your next door neighbor; about a quarter of them died. You, evidently, had nary a sniffle.” She let out a soft hum. “And that’s not to mention everything that happened to you after John. Gunshots, stabbings; a month long coma. Is that where he got the name?”

Arthur was quiet. He knew these things. He refused—with an almost poetic insistence—to put them together. “He did. He… a nurse came in and addressed me as John Doe, since no one knew who I was. It was John’s only communication during that time. He chose to build a new identity from it.”

“I can see it touched him deeply. I never got a chance to ask if he had a surname; I had a guess it was Doe, before I got ahold of your records, but I was nearly positive afterward.” She shuffled the papers back and forth. “John helped bring you back from some of the more egregious wounds you suffered, this is true; however, most people would die after being impaled from behind by an eldritch creature, regardless of whether or not their wounds were stitched up, and certainly they would die if they didn’t receive medical attention shortly thereafter. Except for… you.”

Arthur scowled. “He saved my life!”

“He did… though not with the stitching, Arthur.” He could hear her shift, hear the clink of her teacup against the porcelain saucer. “You weren’t going to take him to the Dark World with you, not after finally getting him back. You had a desire to live, Arthur, to protect John; but when Hastur lured you and John into his trap, nearly seven years ago, you lost that desire.”

He bared his teeth, trembling. “You’re saying I saved myself because I was saving him. And when Hastur broke me—“ He had to stop for a moment. “I couldn’t… I almost… but no. No! I waited! I was going to wait until—“ He stopped.

Until Faroe was gone.

Until Faroe was safe.

Then he was going to die.

It had been clear at the time. He hadn’t considered it since, hadn’t analyzed, just drifted in the sea of heavy depression. And he remembered—

“Not in front of her,” he whispered, finally making connections. “I won’t die by choice in front of her, so I haven’t been… I…”

The Keeper was right.

His thoughts fell still. He had no argument. His chest ached in time with the soft, regular ticking of a clock. Arthur hid his face in his hand.

“I’ve set a handkerchief down at about eleven-o-clock to you,” the Keeper said, very gently. “Take all the time you need.”

It felt like ceding something, to pick that up. But if it was going to help John—which was what all of this was about—he had to, hadn’t he?

For John, he could. For John, he would. Arthur took the handkerchief and danced at his eyes.

John wasn’t freaking out yet. They must have had a hell of a discussion.

“It isn’t my place to make demands of you, Arthur,” the Keeper said gently. “And I certainly don’t think it’s possible to force you to do something you don’t want to do. But what I would like you to do, for John, for Faroe, is to find a place for yourself in the futures they have. I know John can’t envision a future without you at his side, even in his current state.” Her long, papery fingers gently patted the back of his hand. “He made that very clear to me in our short conversation. Trust me.”

His expression was almost gaunt. “But if I… how can I… if I forgive what I did, then other people…” Which wasn’t what she’d said, but he clearly understood what was unsaid. “I won’t be a hypocrite.” He quieted. “‘Not on purpose. Do you know what you’re asking me to do?”

“Alas, perfection is unattainable even for the gods,” the Keeper sighed. “You have some time to work out your how, Arthur. You can be quite brilliant if you put your mind to it; think. Talk it out, if it suits you. And, of course, I am always available if you need a private sounding board.” He got the sense that she was smiling.

He wasn’t.

If he was going to save John, to avoid hurting Faroe, he’d have to want to live.

How? How did one do that? He had no idea how to find that again. Not since Hastur had…

His sigh was heavy, like the weight John and Hastur dropped had settled on him. “I’m ready to go back. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, Arthur. I wish I could be of more help.” And with a gentle tap on the back of his hands, she returned John to him.

“John?” Arthur checked.

Good talk? said John smugly.

Which made Arthur bristle. “Yes.”

I knew it.

“Knew… you didn’t know anything! You said she was horrible.”

Before I talked to her, said John loftily.

Arthur rolled his eyes. “Sure.”

Are we ready to go home?

And face it all?

And try to live out this new thing that still felt undeserved and immoral?

And fight his way toward helping them. “Yes,” said Arthur, drying his face, and both internally and externally, he sat up.

#malevolent #malevolent fic #surrogate series #arthur lester #john malevolent #the keeper (surrogate)

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