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strangerstilinski · 9 months ago

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𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙞𝙣 𝙗𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙡𝙚𝙮

summary: Steve gives his best friend some admittedly questionable dating advice — but it all works out in the end.

fem!reader ~ just a silly and awkward little meetcute. alcohol consumption. lots of pining. far too many mentions of robin's freckles. and i threw in a silly moment with steve because, well, this is me we're talking about and how could i not? fluff [1.9k]

a/n: baby's first robin fic — wow! as always, please leave some love in the form of comments and feedback if you enjoy xx

Steve has practically sworn on his life that the pick-up line will work on you. On the condition, of course, that Robin delivers it with the right amount of cool nonchalance, with just enough flirty undertone to let you know her intentions.

So, naturally, Robin is repeating the phrase over and over again in her head, because the last thing she wants to do is screw up this monumental opportunity her best friend has practically laid out in front of her. Though, now that she's making her way toward you, she's belatedly realizing that Steve's confidence is almost entirely based on the fact that the line had worked on him when a girl used it at a party. Which was... Decidedly not the most reliable focus group, but she's determined to push past her fear regardless. Plus, Steve has technically shared more words with you than Robin ever has — even if that does equate to a single conversation to Robin's zilch.

Was it against her better judgment to willingly accept dating advice from Steve Harrington? Maybe, but she manages to swallow past her anxiety long enough to push the words out anyway.

"Is this seat taken?"

The words pull you out of where you've been lost in your own head. The music coming from the boombox at the corner of the patio, paired with the raucous laughter from the group splashing around in the pool, had lulled you into a trance-like state.

You were third-wheeling beside Nancy and Jonathan, because you work with them and they're really the only people that you really know at this party. So you might kind of be clinging to them a bit.

You've let your mind wander in an effort to remain unbothered by their flirty laughter, especially with the way that light intoxication and the chaos in the Harrington backyard has slowly brought the volume of their conversation from hushed to outright loud beside you.

Before you knew it, you've spent a good fifteen minutes sipping steadily on your drink and watching the ants march in and out of a gaping crack in the cement in a mindless daze. So, when you hear the question, your head snaps up so hard it nearly gives you whiplash as you focus on the girl standing in front of you.

You've seen her before, but that does nothing to lessen the blow of just how pretty she is. So pretty. Her cheeks are still a little pink from the setting sun, freckles marking her skin everywhere your eyes land as your gaze rakes over her. A wonderfully short pair of denim cutoffs cover the tops of her thighs, and you have a hard time forcing your gaze to continue to travel upward. She's picking at the label on one of the bottles of beer in her hands, both of them dripping with ice water from the cooler she must've snatched them from. Her eyes are wide, a panicked little grimace pulling at her lips before she seems to shake herself off and school her expression into something more relaxed.

"Hey, Robin." Nancy acknowledges sweetly, Jonathan nodding in greeting beside her.

The pretty girl, Robin, smiles in response, albeit tightly, before her attention moves determinedly back to you. She blinks once, twice. Shifts on the balls of her feet and repositions her beers, the glass clinking as they knock together between cold fingers. Her gaze flicks just once to something or someone over your shoulder and she seems to nod to herself once before an adorably nervous little smile pulls at her lips.

You've only ever seen fleeting glimpses of her from afar as she re-shelves movie rentals at Family Video. You'd tried to catch her at the check out counter one time, but Steve Harrington had crushed your hopes the moment he had nudged his co-worker away with a not-so-hushed whisper about letting him test the waters that had your shoulders slumping dejectedly.

When he'd spotted the empty plastic case in your hands, he'd squared his shoulders, a poor attempt at nonchalence, "Gremlins, huh? Uh.. Gun to your head! Who's hotter — Phoebe Cates or Zach Gilligan?"

You'd laughed before correcting him, "Galligan. Gilligan is the guy on the deserted island."

He'd only waved you off, taking the crumpled dollar bills you pulled from your pocket with an oddly pointed comment about how pretty Phoebe Cates was though, right? You blame the way his eyes had flashed with something like excitement when you'd agreed as the reason for your next comment-

"But all time celebrity crush? Gotta be Claudia Wells." You'd paused after the admission before continuing somewhat nervously, "Y'know, from uh, Back To The Future?"

"Oh! The guy's hot mom?"

"Oh, no. His, um, Marty's girlfriend. I just think she's a little softer than Cates. Pretty but still approachable, y'know? Girl Next Door. That kinda thing."

He hadn't looked judgmental, but the moment you'd left the store and the adrenaline brought on by the absurd encounter had receded, you'd been mortified with yourself for being so goddamn transparent. You'd almost gone back a week later, hoping to see the cute mystery girl working the counter again — alone, preferably — but in the end you'd chickened out. Had a friend return your rental for you and you hadn't been back since.. Because she really was nerve-wrackingly pretty, and you were a coward.

But right now she's looking at you expectantly. Waiting.

"Hi?" You manage, words soft and unsure.

The playing field doesn't quite feel even with her standing above you. It's a bit unfair, you think as you blink up at her a little dumbly — It's hard to focus when her attention is on you like this. The sky is a backdrop of pink and orange behind her, stunning little shadows collecting beneath the bridge of her nose and the ridge of her brow. Perfect teeth dig in at the corner of her lower lip with her smile. There's a pale stripe of skin at the base of her middle finger, untouched by the sun and only visible because the chunky ring she's wearing has gone slightly askew against one of the beer bottles in her hand.

"Hi," Robin returns, just the single syllable sounding giddy on her tongue. Blue eyes drop to where you sit on the stone bench beside Nancy, gaze lingering on the bare skin of your thighs beneath your shorts before they travel back up to meet your own again. "Is this seat taken?" She repeats, a little more hopeful this time.

"Oh." It only comes out a little dejected. You look toward Nancy and Jonathan in your peripherals, as if willing another space on the stone bench to suddenly appear — When one doesn't, you sigh. The nearly empty plastic cup in your hands crunches when you clutch it a little tighter to your chest. Your jaw tightens, heel scuffing against cement as you kick your foot out in preparation to rise and relinquish your seat. "No, I mean.. Yeah, you can have it." You nudge Nancy with your arm, chin to your shoulder as you speak a little softer, "I'm gonna go grab a drink and, um.. Mingle."

The look on Nancy's face immediately gives away the fact that she knows there's no way in hell that you plan to do anything of the sort. You are not a person who mingles, Nancy and Jonathan both know this. However, before Nancy can say anything, Robin is speaking again.

"No!" She nearly yells, voice cracking. Her eyes have gone a little wide. She takes a small step closer, one of her knees knocking against your own and effectively impeding your ability to stand.

"..No?" You echo in confusion.

"Um," Robin swallows harshly, curling in on herself just a little. Her face scrunches with embarrassment, her teeth scraping along her lip. She blows out a harsh breath before thrusting one of the beers in her hands toward you, "Here! I, uh, I brought this over for you."

You bend to place your plastic cup beneath the bench in a flash, entirely too eager when you reach out to take the offering. You get a little distracted by the way her fingers glisten with condensation, and your stomach outright flips when they brush your own in the transfer.

"Oh. Thank you," You feel a bit like a schoolgirl with the airy cadence that slips into your voice. Her touch lingers for a moment, blue eyes seemingly glued to the place where your index finger covers her pinky around the neck of the bottle. "You can totally still have my seat," You add quickly, "I don't mind! Like I said-"

"Actually-" Robin interrupts, "Well, actually, I thought- If you want, of course- I thought we could maybe, kind of, in a way, share the seat?" It comes out as a question and only serves to make you more confused. "I thought – again, if you want – I thought I could, possibly, sit.. on your lap. Just, because.. You know, that way you could avoid forfeiting your seat and maybe, you and I, we could get to know each other a little better? But we totally don't have to! That's okay too! Absolutely okay, in fact. You can just enjoy that beer and I'll go-"

She's already shuffling a small step back as her words bleed together in her anxious rambling. Your free hand catches her wrist to pull her back before she can get too far, your legs parting to allow her to slip between them. Her knees brush the insides of your thighs and your heart thumps entirely too obnoxiously beneath your ribs in response.

"I don't mind," You say quickly. Your fingers shake with the adrenaline that washes over you suddenly and you give a gentle tug to urge her to sit. "You can sit. You can absolutely sit."

She sits.

She sits and pockets of her denim shorts press into the top of your thigh, her knees knocking together as she tries to settle into a comfortable position. You surprise even yourself with the hand that lands on the small of her back to keep her balanced, and when she presses into your touch minutely you choose to leave it there. Your palm is without a doubt sweating where it settles against the cotton of her shirt, but you don't dare move it now that it's found a place there.

If you thought it was hard to breathe when she was standing in front of you, it's a whole new ballgame to have her face this close to your own. You're still looking up at her, neck craned back just a little to look at the cluster of freckles above her cupid's bow, the dark eyeliner smudged artfully beneath her lashes.

You watch her gaze drag slow over your own face — like you're something to be admired and, God.

You can practically hear your own blood pumping in your ears, and you will your excited nerves to settle, sipping from the chilled beverage in your hand just for something to distract you, even just for a moment. The glass catches the top of Robin's bare thigh when you lower it again and she gasps at the cold, the gasp turning over into a breathless laugh while you curse and stutter out an apology.

You miss the way her gaze flicks over your shoulder to meet Steve's watchful eye where he sends her a whole flurry of excited hand movements ending with an emphatic thumbs up. But, you do notice the way her toe nudges into your shin lightly, the shy smile pulling at her lips as she leans into you a little more comfortably, arm pressing into your shoulder.

"Hi," She starts slowly, "I'm Robin."

lovely dividers by @strangergraphics

#robin buckley #robin buckley stranger things #robin buckley fluff #robin buckley fic #robin buckley x reader #robin buckley x you #robin buckley x female reader #robin buckley x y/n #robin buckley x reader fluff #robin x reader #robin buckley fanfic #*

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virgo-mess · 11 months ago

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The Birds and the Bees

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Chapter List

1.Alexithymia- The Inability to Express your Feelings Parts 1 and 2

2.The Woes of Adolescence/ What the heck Happened that Summer Parts 1 and 2

3.Caught in a Summer Storm/ What the heck Happened that Christmas.

4.Summer Bluffs? Part 1

5.Disco, Strippers, and Margaritassss Part 2

6.Sleepless in a Hotel Suite Part 3

7.Shades of Pink

8.The Things I’ve Dreamed Part 1

9.Renewal Part 2

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TW: None really just two angsty pretty people that can't communicate, flirting, with a little fluff ....ENJOY!

Alexithymia- The Inability to Express Your Feelings Part 1

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“For adults, summer was different- flatter, the way everything became flatter when you grew old, like the hills you once sledded and stood on your pedals to climb, like the Christmases and birthdays you once anticipated, even after you discovered they disappointed, again and again, until you became numb to their disappointment.”- Dana Cann

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Shay’s Pov

Shay hummed softly to the radio while she inhaled the salty scent of the New England coast, she watched the deep blue of Plymouth Harbor flit past her car windows for the first time in two years. The ocean and their pretty beaches were one of the things she missed the most about coming back to her hometown of Plymouth Massachusetts, at least when they weren’t hidden under a thick blanket of winter snow. Winter was usually the only time of year Shay could afford to slip away from her job as Vice President of an investment banking firm on Wall Steet and make the nearly four-hour drive back home. She had moved to New York what felt like a lifetime ago to attend school at NYU but in reality, it was only seven years. She had only intended on majoring in marketing, but the allure of upper-class New York City living was too strong. Shay ended up toughing college life out for one more year to earn an MBA and before she knew it, she was calling NYC home and worked her way up the investment banking chain. The hours of being a VP of investment banking were grueling, but the pay was good with extra perks like end of the year bonuses and paid time off, but Shay had come to find the life of a workaholic was also incredibly lonely. The only reason she was even able to swing this trip home was because her boss, Harold Weber, had suggested she take a sabbatical after having a mild mental breakdown in front of a few clients a couple of weeks ago. A breakdown that landed her in the back of an ambulance. Needless to say, Shay jumped at the opportunity to expand her horizons for a few months and oddly enough home seemed like the best place to do it.

So, here Shay was back in her hometown about to meet up with some of her oldest childhood friends, her breakdown had conveniently lined up well with some major life events. Her best friends Daisy and Pete were getting married in a few weeks, and Shay was sweetly bestowed the title of Maid of Honor. Daisy had gone all out and had showed up at Shay’s New York loft to hand deliver the biggest bouquet of flowers and spa basket Shay had ever seen about three months ago. How could Shay say no after such a grand gesture? Truthfully, she would’ve accepted if Daisy had just shown up with a cupcake and a big hug it had been so long since she had gotten one of those. Shay turned her forest green Audi R8 into the 1620 Wine Bar parking lot at exactly 12 o’clock for her scheduled lunch date with Daisy Martin, soon to be Daisy Foster. They were meeting to not only catch up but to also put together some of the last-minute touches on the wedding Shay had promised she’d help her with as soon as she got the time. Luckily for them both, Shay seemingly had all the time in the world now after this sabbatical she wasn’t sure if she was going to stay in the world of investment banking or New York in general.

Shay sighed stepping out of her car and taking in the warm summer rays as she made her way up to the small wine bar at a leisurely pace. She only made one stop the entire four hour drive up and that was to put actual clothes on, so she didn’t show up to a fancy wine bar in a pair of skimpy pajamas with a set of hair rollers in her hair. Instead, she opted for a simple mint green floral mini sundress and a matching cardigan that matched her misty green eyes. She even took the time to apply some make up and the hair rollers helped her achieve her routine picture perfect 90s blowout in a sketchy gas station bathroom. Shay looked at her reflection in the glass for a moment before pushing the heavy door open and walking into the dim wine bar with an awed expression on her face. Soft jazz music lulled through the overhead speakers as Shay’s green eyes took in the antique furnishings, beautiful stone walls, and gilded ceilings.

“Welcome to Sips at 1620, do you have a reservation?” a girl’s voice came from behind the hostess stand pulling Shay out of her thoughts with a polite smile on her face. She couldn’t help but feel a bit underdressed and fidgeted with the hem of her sundress as she took the last few steps up to the hostess stand.

“Yeah, it should be under Daisy” Shay said feeling a bit out of place in such a pretty place despite how polite the hostess was being to her. She wondered why Daisy picked such a romantic looking establishment, it seemed more suited for a date night than to just be planning parts of your wedding with a childhood friend but perhaps they weren’t going to be alone, and Daisy was looking to make a good impression.

“Looks like you’re the first one here, do you have a seating preference we have our main room off to your left here or our patio overlooking the harbor is just through doors.” The hostess said with a knowing look in her eyes as she watched Shay fidget with the hem of her dress again.

“The patio sounds perfect” Shay admitted letting out a faint sigh of relief. She could push her suspicious train of thought to the back of her mind for a little while and worry about surprise guests later, for now all she really needed was a glass of wine.

“Good choice, I know it can be a little intimidating in here, but I promise we aren’t nearly that fancy you’re not underdressed. You can go out and have a seat wherever you want, I’ll send someone out to bring you refreshments while you wait.” She said with the same knowing look in her eyes and a soft smile. Shay let out a soft, embarrassed sounding giggle and wondered how some people were able to get a read on her so easily.

“Thanks, could you make the first refreshment a glass of sangria please” Shay asked with a sheepish smile on her face, the host chuckled nodding her head as she began to shuffle out from behind the desk.

“Sure, thing hon, I’ll be with you in just one second sir.” The hostess said giving her one last smile before disappearing through a back door. Shay took one last look around the bar to get a closer look at some of the pretty furnishings before heading towards the patio doors and stepping out into the warm late June sunshine. The patio was empty but had a much more relaxed feel to it than the main room. The tables were covered with black and white striped umbrellas and the chairs were a pleasing assortment of cushioned patio loveseats and cute wicker chairs with brightly colored pillows. Shay all but skipped to one of the tables closest to the rippling blue of Plymouth harbor, she sat her purse down and quickly discarded her cardigan before taking a seat on one of the comfortable loveseats. Her green eyes fixate on the crashing waves and a loved-up couple in the distance, the faint lull of soft music could still be heard floating through the balmy air. Only instead of smooth jazz, the soft notes of a dreamy sounding indie pop song graced Shay’s ears. She couldn’t help but get dewy-eyed as a small wistful type of smile made its way across her face because the music and the couple on the beach reminded her of the happy summers of her girlhood. Most of which were spent with the boy next door, her first crush, and also her best friend before she and Daisy got really close.

“Hey gorgeous, what are you doing over here by yourself?” a deep, flirtatious voice asked, Shay jumped slightly in surprise halting her daydreaming to focus on the tall man standing in front of her table with a flirty smile on his face. Shay blushed under his gaze as she let her eyes trail over the man’s tall, muscled body for a bit longer than socially acceptable. He’s dressed in a pair of dark fitted jeans, a white button down that gave her a very teasing display of his muscled chest, and a dark blue blazer. Cropped gray hair sits atop his head and a pair of dark sunglasses shield his eyes from Shay’s view but even with the sunglasses on she can tell he’s incredibly handsome in a mysterious, brooding type of way. Something about the man feels remarkably familiar to her but she can’t quite pinpoint what it is.

“I’m um, waiting for my friend and my glass of sangria” Shay said awkwardly letting her eyes sweep the patio to find it still completely empty save for her and the mysterious man wearing sunglasses in front of her that almost seemed to appear out of thin air. The man let out a soft chuckle under his breath that somehow had Shay’s stomach doing flips and her eyes giving him another quick once over because she swears, she’s heard that chuckle before.

“Sorry I startled you; would you mind if I keep you company while you wait pretty lady?” he asked in the same deep coquettish tone, Shay felt her cheeks flush a darker shade of pink as she gazed up at him for a long time. She couldn’t see his eyes but part of her knew he was gazing right back at her in a way that made her feel like he was undressing her and staring into her soul at the same time in a sensual, tantalizing sort of way.

“You’ve complimented me twice in under a minute that can’t be good, have a seat Casanova” Shay said coyly motioning to the two other chairs around the table. Mystery man let out another soft chuckle before plopping in the empty spot next to Shay on the patio chair close enough for his large thigh to ghost hers in the most teasing way. He flashed her another flirty smile as he propped an arm on the table and rested his chin in the palm of his hand. Shay rolled her eyes and let out a soft giggle of her own as she teasingly mirrored his action, placing her chin in the palm of her hand as she flashed him a coy smile before deciding to break the brief silence the pair of them had seemingly fallen into.

“Have we met before Mr…?” Shay trailed raising an eyebrow at him expectantly as her eyes continued to try and pinpoint why on earth, he felt so familiar yet oh so different at the same time. She watched him bite down on his lip like he was trying to bite back another chuckle. She concluded that the sunglasses were what was throwing off whatever picture she had of him in her head.

“Right or Perfect for you, whichever you prefer darling. You know I think we have met, in my dreams…” his tone had a playful edge to it this time and Shay could see one of his eyebrows peek up at her from behind his glasses, mirroring her expression with a teasing grin. Shay giggled, shaking her head as she felt the familiar fluttering of butterflies in her stomach.

“Yeah, okay Casanova. Let me guess, you’re in town for that big rodeo happening down at the fairgrounds and you need some ‘eye-candy’ in your cheering section…” Shay said with a coy smile on her face at her artfully subtle tack of asking the silver haired mystery what he’d be getting up to while he was in town. It’d been ages since Shay actually let loose and entertained a random guy that had the guts to brazenly flirt with her like this but part of her felt like the guy sitting next to her wasn’t just a random guy and that she’d known him her whole life. There was only one other guy Shay had felt such a thing for, someone she knew a lifetime ago back in those carefree days of her youth…

“I’m no cowboy, doll but you aren’t too far off about me wanting some eye candy and luckily I just happened to stumble upon the prettiest girl in Plymouth.” He all but purred, reaching out to brush his thumb against her flushed cheek affectionately, too affectionately for a supposed stranger… Shay eyed him suspiciously but couldn’t find it in her to pull away from him because everything about him had her utterly transfixed and once again feeling oddly homesick, homesick for a person rather than a place.

“Let me guess, you’re in town for that over-the-top Foster wedding, aren’t you blondie?” he crooned in a teasing tone. His long fingers left Shay’s flushed cheek to toy with a lock of her blonde hair and Shay found herself biting down on her lip to prevent a displeased whine from escaping her throat at the loss of contact. Familiar waves of conflicting feelings coursed through her veins as she gazed over at him with the same coy smile on her face.

“That obvious huh, seems a bit unfair that you know what I’m doing here when you still haven’t told me your name or what you’re doing here. To think I let you sit at my table with me and everything.” Shay said letting out an exaggerated sigh and ditching her coy smile for a playful, mock pout of sadness. He chuckled shaking his head to himself for a moment before settling his shield gaze back on her with a teasing smirk on his face.

“Oh, I’m just here looking for my soulmate maybe you’ve seen her. She’s wearing a cute little green dress that matches her eyes and has an adorable albeit, fake pout on her pretty face right now” he said in a teasing tone, still twirling a lock of her blonde hair on his long finger. Shay rolled her eyes playfully and found herself biting back a giggle.

“Do you use that line on everyone, Casanova?” Shay said nonchalantly, raising an eyebrow at him as she rested her chin back in the palm of her hand, she silently wished she could take his sunglasses off not just because she wanted to see who was behind them but more so to getting a better feel for what he was thinking. Interpreting his thoughts and expressions based on eyebrows alone was getting tedious.

“No, just a cute little blonde with pretty green eyes and an adorable button nose who also happens to be my soulmate. Haven’t you been listening?” he said in a low borderline seductive tone as he bit down on his lip and gave her a teasing bop on the tip of her nose with one of the long fingers that had just been toying with her hair. Shay didn’t resist the urge to giggle this time, finding the action mildly ridiculous but strangely adorable all the same. Her giggles took a second to die down but when they did, she found herself analyzing his face again.

“She’s got a cute laugh too…why are you staring at me like that ch…blondie?” he all but cooed, dragging a finger down her thigh delicately, staring at her in a way that implied he was searching her eyes for something. Shay tensed a bit at both the action and the intensity of his shielded gaze as she felt an unexpected wave of arousal creep up on her.

“You remind me of someone…” Shay breathed out tearing her eyes off the man for the first time since he had magically appeared in front of her table a mere twenty minutes ago because it finally dawned on her to dig through her purse for her cell phone. She doubted it was a coincidence he showed up at the exact time Daisy was supposed to be meeting her here. No, Daisy Martin was playing matchmaker again and she was in for an earful when she finally decided to grace her and mystery man with her presence.

“A good someone I hope, tall, handsome, pretty blue eyes, might be a cop, could’ve got suspended for beating up a dirtbag named Tyler in a hotel lobby in New York…” he trailed nonchalantly.

“Huh” Shay said though she wasn’t really listening to what he was saying as she unlocked her phone to see about ten text messages from Daisy.

“…Nothing, what’s your favorite flower?” he asked in the same nonchalant tone, pointedly running his fingers up Shay’s thigh again in a teasing matter to get her attention. Shay sighed, pausing her skim through Daisy’s messages to arch her brow at him again though this time it was in a snarkier manner than the previous ones she raised at him. He smiled over at her almost seeming sheepish under her gaze for the first time in the last twenty minutes or so.

“Why does that matter, you gonna buy me some Casanova?” Shay sighed, forcing a tight smile on her face before glancing back down at her phone to read the first few messages her meddlesome friend Daisy had sent her. Apparently, Pete had convinced Daisy to go up to Boston with him early this morning to take a look at some incredibly last-minute ideas for their reception décor, they hit a ton of unexpected traffic on their way back down but would be here at 12:40 by the latest.

“I don’t know maybe, women like that stuff you know, and I bet a favorite flower says a lot about a person. Looking at your phone when someone is trying to talk to you is rude blondie…” he said letting out an exasperated sigh before placing a long finger under her chin, urging her to look at him with a teasing grin plastered on his face. Shay scoffed, narrowing her misty green eyes at him.

“Well, if we’re really soulmates shouldn’t you be able to guess what my favorite flower is. Pretty sure I read that in the soulmate handbook, I can fact check that for you on my phone if you want…” Shay said coyly. Looking past him, she finally spotted a glimpse of Daisy’s black curls in the afternoon sun coming out of the patio doors with a disheveled looking Pete Foster in toe. “Sure… stuck in traffic…” Shay said sarcastically under her breath as she watched Daisy try to discreetly readjust her denim skirt.

“You don’t have to do that; I already know the answer is cherry blossoms Shay” he chuckled. Shay sharply settled her green eyes back on the not so mysterious man’s amused-looking smirk at the sound of her name and her childhood nickname coming out of his mouth in the same sentence. There was only one person that ever actually used that nickname for her on a regular basis, he had dark curls and a pair of carefree, captivating blue eyes.

“CASHTON MICHAEL EWING!” Shay all but snarled, reaching up to aggressively tear his obnoxious sunglasses off his face and carelessly tossed them down on the patio harder than necessary. Cash let out a deep annoyed sounding sigh as he watched the glasses clatter and skid against the stained wood with an audible smack.

“I just bought those, that was rude Cherry Blossom, bad girl” Cash chided her though his amused smirk and spread into a full grin as he teasingly bopped her on the tip of her nose with his finger again. Shay scowled at him through her lashes and swatted at his shoulder as hard as she could before finally scooting away from him. Shay crossed her arms over her chest and tried to process everything that happened between them in the last twenty minutes.

“You haven’t seen me in almost seven years, I was hoping to get a warmer greeting especially from you, Cherry Blossom. You’re not being very neighborly, you know.” Cash sighed with an unreadable emotion swirling in his eyes. Shay let out a sigh of her own but refused to meet his gaze even though he was in fact the person she’d been thinking of in the back of her mind this entire time. The someone she had known her whole life, the someone she was feeling homesick for. Cashton Michael “Cash” Ewing was Shay’s neighbor, the first friend she made when her parents moved into the Manomet neighborhood and her first crush though looking back on it now, it was more than just a crush. From the ages of four to fourteen Shay and Cash were basically inseparable, they did everything together back then and Shay had so many happy memories of those years. The innocent years, the ones before the dreads of awkward adolescence crept in on them both and set them down different paths to live separate lives that no longer involved the other.

“Well, we haven’t been neighbors in like eight years Cash… I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you with the hair…it’s looks great though really suits you, brings out your eyes” Shay tacked on awkwardly finally meeting his gaze with a timid look in her eyes. Cash gave her a half smile in response though there seemed to be a million thoughts running through his head as he gazed back at her with almost affectionate eyes. Shay was sure she was misreading the look in his eyes though; she felt the all too familiar bundle of conflicting emotions Cashton Ewing often brought upon her were still coursing through every fiber of her being.

“You don’t have to apologize Cherry Blossom it’s not your fault, I figured Daisy didn’t tell you I was coming when you checked in with the hostess. I’m just surprised and only mildly offended it took you so long to piece it together” he said lightheartedly though his blue eyes were sincere as they stared back into her green ones for what felt like an eternity. Gazes like this always had Shay’s mind flooding with happy memories from those early years of their friendship but then she’d remember all the more dreadful, angst filled memories of her adolescence and somehow some way, Cash Ewing was at the center of them all. She could remember all the summers their families spent together down in Cape Cod and all the days she and Cash spent running up and down the beaches, the day trips up to Boston during Christmas, stargazing in her backyard, eating ice cream every Tuesday at the parlor downtown, and movie nights with pizza in Cash’s basement. The Cash in those memories was like the one sitting beside her, gazing at her with sincere blue eyes yet something about him still felt so foreign. In the early days they told each other everything and sought comfort in each other when one of them was upset or cried. Shay missed the way things used to be between them before she knew the depth of the feelings she had for her then best friend. Shay knew the distance between them was her fault, they say girls mature faster than boys and that was definitely the case for her and Cash. She still remembered the summer, everything changed though sometimes she really wished she could forget it.

“Shay… are you okay?” Cash asked, pulling Shay out of her moment of reminiscing by running his thumb along her still rosy cheek almost tenderly. Shay nodded her head in acknowledgement without even thinking about it, a habit she picked up that summer between middle school and high school. The summer she no longer felt comfortable letting Cash Ewing know every thought and feeling she ever had because the weight of her feelings and the heartbreak that came with having a crush on her best friend were too embarrassing to admit.

“I’m fine” Shay replied softly, not really knowing what else to say to him because she still felt mostly confused by his charade of choice. Shay knew she should be used to Cash giving her a hard time by now but given her still ever-present feelings for the doofus she can’t help but feel hurt by it. Cash and Pete had been routinely teasing her since they were Sophomores in high school. Shay always assumed it was just because she spent most of her time with Daisy after she pointedly distanced herself from Cash that sour summer, but she didn’t know why he bothered to keep it up after all this time.

“Good, I thought I lost you again” Cash said, flashing her an almost sheepish grin as his finger trailed the length of her thigh again. Shay gave him a weary look before gently pushing his hand off her leg and rising to her feet to greet Pete and Daisy, clad in their matching pastel pink polo shirts and denim bottoms like a couple out of a magazine spread.

“Hey guys, you’re a little late don’t you think” Shay said giving Daisy a pointed yet playful look as she pulled her into a hug. Daisy rolled her eyes but hugged her back, nonetheless before pulling away with an unmistakable impish glint in her brown eyes.

“Didn’t you get my text messages, Pete insisted on driving on up to Boston at the crack of dawn like a deranged rooster because we simply have to have this over-the-top archway at the end the isle. Long story short we’re already way over budget so this fanciful archway ain’t happenin’.” Daisy said giving Pete a pointed look of her own, Pete let out an exasperated sigh before pulling Cash into a brief half hug.

“Yeah, I did get your text messages and you failed to tell me Cash was gonna be joining us for lunch in all ten of them Daisy Martin. Also, don’t think I didn’t see you readjusting your skirt on your way out the door over there, stuck in traffic huh.” Shay said in a hushed tone, Daisy blushed giving Shay a sheepish smile.

“I could’ve sworn I told you that, what’s it matter anyway? You two sure looked nice and cozy together from what I saw. Love is definitely in the air” Daisy said wiggling her dark eyebrows suggestively. Shay let out a sad sounding sigh and gave Daisy a weary look.

“What you saw was Cash toying with me like always. Made a whole show of flirting with me because I didn’t recognize him right away. I’m sure it meant nothing…it never does” Shay said quietly, Daisy’s brown eyes softened a bit, and she reached over to place a comforting hand on Shay’s shoulder the same way she’d been doing since they were kids.

“Shay, you don’t know that alright. I think Cash just has a hard time flirting with you as himself, you can come off a little cold towards him sometimes you know. That doesn’t mean he isn’t being genuine, maybe you make him as nervous as he makes you. You two should really talk…” Daisy trailed; her tone implied that she knew something Shay didn’t, but Shay was already feeling too vulnerable for her comfort level.

“Cashton Micheal can’t have an honest conversation to save his life, Daisy even you know that. Let’s just eat alright, I’m starving, and the hostess forgot to bring me a glass of sangria” Shay said in a lighthearted tone, but sadness was swirling in her green eyes even as she glanced over at Cash and Pete who were having a hushed conversation of their own. Shay could still recall the last two serious conversations she and Cash Ewing had on the last Christmas Cash had come home for and the one on Thanskgiving seven years ago. A conversation that landed her in tears on a train to Cleveland, she was headed back to reassemble the shambles of her first traumatic break up with her ex-boyfriend, Tyler. The second break up happened a mere two years ago but Shay knew their relationship was over the first time around. She just didn't want to be alone...

“Okay, are these yours?” Daisy asked, grabbing Shay’s attention she held up Cash’s battered looking sunglasses with a raised eyebrow. Shay bit her lip to stifle a chuckle as Cash grumpily walked over and took the sunglasses out of Daisy’s hand. The annoyed look in his blue eyes as he looked over the scuffed lenses left Shay feeling oddly satisfied.

“No these are mine, Shaylee Rose thought she’d try her hand at being Walter Johnson before you got here. You owe me a new pair, Cherry Blossom, I know you can afford it, I saw you pull up in that fancy green Audi” Cash smirked with an all too familiar mischievous glint in his ocean blue eyes as he glanced at a surely grinning Pete behind her. Shay rolled her eyes and mentally prepared herself for Cash Ewing and Pete Fosters routine teasing session to begin.

“It was awful nice of you to take a break from your upper Manhattan circle and spend some time with us poor people, Shay. After you ditched us these last two Christmases, I was beginning to think you turned into Scrooge on us.” Pete chuckled, reaching over to pinch Shay’s cheek playfully. Shay scowled and let out an annoyed sounding sigh as she plopped down on one of the wicker patio chairs instead of the loveseat Cash weaponized to entice and torment her just for fun as it would seem.

“You didn’t come home for two whole years, and you couldn’t even come see me an hour car ride over in Jersey City, Cherry Blossom. I’m not too sure she hasn’t turned into a Scrooge after all Petey. That’s not your spot, Shaylee.” Cash said pointedly, sitting back down on the loveseat with a raised eyebrow. Shay stared back at Cash blankly watching his large hand patting the spot next to him almost…seductively. Shay felt her cheeks flush despite her growing annoyance towards him and his cocky attitude at the moment. She knew Cash moved a few years back, but she never realized he had only been a half hour drive from her on a good traffic day.

“Doors work both ways Cashy, I didn’t know you moved to Jersey City but if you wanted to visit me all you had to do was show up Daisy does it all the time.” Shay said flatly, pointedly ignoring his adamant ‘pleas’ for her to sit by him even though part of her wanted to more than anything. She was sure his insistence was just part of whatever this playful act of flirting with her was, she wouldn’t allow herself to fall for it this time.

“Well, I figured if you wanted anything to do with me you would’ve at least answered one of the letters I sent you. Now get out of Pete’s seat.” Cash said, matching her flat tone with a serious expression on his face. Shay furrowed her brows at his words, she hadn’t gotten a letter from Cash since her sophomore year at NYU. She’d received it shortly after that sad Thanksgiving at his mom’s house but at the time she’d been trying her hardest to forget about that day all together. So, she just never answered it with the vague after thought she’d just talk to Cash about it at Christmas if he ever brought it up. Of course, that was because Shay didn’t know Cash had no intention of ever coming back home for a holiday again…

“Pete can sit by you, what letters are talking about?” Shay asked in a gentle but serious tone as her green eyes searched his blue ones for an answer. Cash sighed and shifted uncomfortably under her gaze for the first-time since he walked up to her table which took Shay a bit by surprise. She could count the number of times Cashton Ewing had ever looked this vulnerable on one hand and most of those times were back when his abusive, alcoholic father, Huck Ewing was around. Seeing him like this had forgotten memories of a battered Cash crawling through her window with tears streaming down his face and Shay couldn’t help the twinge of guilt that came along with them. Shay wasn’t sure how her brain ever let her forget the way they used to cling and hold each other back then. Or why neither of their parents seemed to care Cash and her slept and cuddled in the same bed every night until they were fourteen, innocently of course, but Shay can’t recall them ever being supervised. Shay glanced over at Daisy and Pete who were looking between her and Cash like they were watching a daytime soap opera.

“Pete doesn’t want to sit by me, do you Pete?” Cash asked him sharply, taking a turn at ignoring part of Shay’s words this time. Shay sighed feeling some of her guilt subside to make way for her growing annoyance towards Cash once again.

“Nope, I’d very much like to sit by my future wife Shay, so, mosey on over there by your silver fox why don’t ya” Pete replied almost instantly, almost as if he and Cash had rehearsed it beforehand. Shay felt another blush sweep across her cheeks as she looked at the two feeling equal amounts annoyed, suspicious, and embarrassed that Cash had told him about her complimenting his hair.

“No can-do Pete, Daisy and I are planning for the wedding and the bachelor parties. I know Cashton is insufferable, annoying, and obnoxious but do you think you can manage sitting next to your best friend just for today?” Shay asked in an overly sweet tone. She stared up at Pete and batted her eyelashes while a trace of a smirk made its way onto her face at the annoyed look, she could see Cash making out of the corner of her eye. Pete looked like a deer in headlights, his brown eyes darted between Shay and Cash before settling on an amused looking Daisy.

“You didn’t find me that insufferable when you thought I was a total stranger Shaylee Rose. In fact, it looked like you were contemplating letting me get you out of that cute little dress before they got here, and all I had to do was touch your thigh.” Cash said with a coquettish smile plastered on his face. He barely even had to move from his planted spot on the loveseat to trail a pointedly teasing finger up Shay’s leg because his arms were just that long. Shay felt her whole face flush a bright shade of red as she swatted Cash’s hand away from her sharply despite the wave of arousal she felt radiate throughout her body.

“Don’t flatter yourself Cashton and mow I know better than to let someone sit at my table so, trust me it won’t happen again” Shay replied with a scowl on her face, Cash’s coquettish smile didn’t falter, and he opened his mouth to say something snarky back to her, but Daisy cut him off.

“Okay let’s pause the bickering like an old married couple just for a second here…” Daisy said clearing her throat awkwardly though her brown eyes looked very much amused as they looked between them. Shay narrowed her eyes at her comparison of choice but managed to not snap back at her even though she could feel Cash tugging on a few of her curls teasingly.

“Actually Shay, I think it would be easier to talk about things if you sat across from me so, you and Pete should switch. Cash will behave himself, won’t you Cash” Daisy said sharply, Shay heard Cash let out an annoyed sigh and his pestering pulls on hair stop immediately.

“Sure, I’ll behave myself but only if you do darling” Cash said, reaching over to bop Shay on the nose with the same coquettish smile on his face. Shay narrowed her eyes and looked between him and Daisy with an obvious pout on her face.

“Daisy, I don’t think that’s necessary…” Shay said through gritted teeth, Daisy batted her eyelashes innocently, but Shay didn’t miss the impish glint swirling in her eyes. Shay had a sinking suspicion her original train of thought had been correct; Daisy Martin was playing matchmaker and for whatever reason she’d decided Shay and Cash were going to be the new couple that emerged from her wedding party.

“Shay it’s just for lunch” Daisy said reassuringly but it did absolutely nothing to soothe the influx of conflicting thoughts and emotions running through Shay right now. Part of her wanted something to happen between her and Cash and yet part of her didn’t. Part of her wanted to believe Cash was being sincere and that his flirting wasn’t just him toying with her but part of her still felt like it was and ultimately, she’d be the one hurt in the end because she always was…

“Daisy…” Shay said looking at her with pathetic and pleading green eyes that seemed to be having Daisy rethinking something at least. Cash let out a dissatisfied sounding grunt and Shay felt him wrap his arm around her waist firmly enough that she couldn’t wiggle free.

“You heard her, Cherry Blossom, come on now, be a good girl and sit with me, please…I won’t bite you without your permission” Cash said, his tone was more playful than anything this time, but Shay couldn’t help but still feel annoyed with him and everyone really. She made sure to shoot every one of her friends with a menacing glare before she begrudgingly let Cash guide her into the spot next to him with one strong arm.

The minutes ticked by with a long-awaited waiter finally coming out to take their order. He returned sometime later with a pitcher full of sangria and a heartfelt apology for Shay never getting her glass. Shay was mildly aware the waiter was flirting with her at some point during said apology, but free wine is free wine, and she wasn’t about to let it go to waste. Cash had mostly stayed true to his promise to behave by the time the appetizers came out and Shay and Daisy had finally got around to discussing plans for the bachelor party. Shay noticed that Cash seemed to become increasingly grumpy every time, said waiter emerged from the wine bar but she chalked it up to him being annoyed he couldn’t pester her the way he really wanted to.

“Instead of doing separate parties for bachelor parties we could do one big, combined party and pick a fun theme” Shay said, trying her best to ignore the way Cash resumed twirling a lock of her hair. She could see him staring at her intently out of the corner of her eye but kept her gaze trained on Daisy. Daisy nodded her head and pondered the idea with a smile on her face.

“That could be fun everyone could dress up, what do you guys think?” Daisy said animatedly, looking over at Pete with hopeful eyes. Pete nodded his head in agreement because his mouth was full of spinach and artichoke dip at the moment.

“Depends what theme Shay thinks up in this pretty head of hers. I for one don’t fancy dressing up and I know a lot of the guys feel the same way” Cash shrugged nonchalantly. Shay rolled her eyes because you could always leave it up to Cashton Ewing to be a party pooper for the sake of being the cool tough guy. Shay hadn’t seen him dress up for anything other than a school dance since they were kids and of course he wasn’t dressing to impress her. Shay took a long swig of her glass of sangria as names of Cash’s past connections flashed in her head in big angry letters.

“Then I guess you won’t be coming to the party, how sad” Shay said dryly though her gaze was still fixated on a now uncomfortable looking Daisy. Cash didn’t reply but his finger halted twirling her strand of hair and his ocean blue eyes bore into the side of her face for a long moment.

“Well, I’m sure it’s okay if not everyone dresses up…it’ll still be fun” Daisy said, Shay shook her head just as their waiter reemerged from the bar with a tray full of their food.

“Nope, I’m putting it on the invite dressing up is required if people don’t want to dress up, they’re welcome not to but then they aren’t coming. They can stay in their suites and pout, I’m sure they’ll find someone to keep them company and warm their bed…” Shay shrugged, she felt Cash’s hand fall from her hair and another dissatisfied grunt escape his lips.

“Or we could just have separate parties like traditional people. The guys can do what they want to do, and you girls can play dress up and throw your party like you want to do. Then everyone wins because like I said a lot of the guys share my stance, right Pete?” Cash said, Pete once again looked like a deer in the headlights and didn’t seem to want to pick a side for once. His brown eyes grew wide as saucers and pleaded with Daisy to rescue him.

“Oh, please believe it or not, not everyone is a party pooper like you. Some people enjoy having fun and even if they don’t the party isn’t about them. I think you can afford to not be selfish for once and go to a party, smile pretty, and dress up for your best friend Cashton Michael. You can take Pete to the strip club on a different night, can’t you?” Shay said coolly, finally turning to meet his gaze with harsh green eyes. Cash’s face hardened into a glare and his blue eyes turned icy as they met hers in a way that oddly enough had her stomach doing flips again.

“Who said anything about a strip club, I just don’t want to dress up in a stupid costume for a party you just started planning five minutes ago and Pete already knows I don’t like dressing up. And why do you keep saying ‘your best friend’ like that when you’re the one who decided you didn’t want that title anymore, I didn’t take it from you. So, I’m really failing to see how you think I’m the one being selfish here Shaylee Rose, what about you” Cash said sharply, Shay stared at him blankly for a minute before rolling her eyes.

“What about me Cashton when have you ever done anything for me or anyone for that matter just to make them happy, huh? Because last I checked I was always the one bending over backwards to make you happy in our friendship and I just couldn’t do it anymore, sorry. I bet if Opal May, Winnifred, or any number of your girlfriends from Boston wanted you to dress up for their party you’d do it in a heartbeat, wouldn’t you” Shay said dryly, gulping the rest of her wine before angrily pouring herself another heaping glass. Cash stared at her with disbelief swirling in his blue eyes, he opened and closed his mouth several times appearing to finally be at a loss for words. “Yeah, that’s what I thought” Shay muttered taking another long swig of her fruity beverage.

“I don’t know what Opal May has to do with any of this…Is that why you planned a whole trip to Cancun for spring break and didn’t invite me because you think I’m selfish and prioritize other people over you…Are you talking about what happened at Thanksgiving with Winnifred because…” Cash asked her in a soft, careful tone with an unreadable expression swirling in his eyes. Shay pursed her lips and took another small sip of wine as she focused her seething gaze on the waves crashing on the shore in the distance.

“I didn’t invite you because I didn’t think you’d detach yourself from dear old Winnie long enough to get on a plane. Besides she shot down the idea about sunny vacation after she whisked you away to help your mom in the kitchen said something about redheads and the sun being mortal enemies or something… Where is Winnie anyway, not enough glory being the plus one to a small-town wedding?” Shay grumbled; she heard Cash let out a frustrated sounding sigh behind her, but she couldn’t bring herself to meet his gaze as unwanted flashbacks from that Thanksgiving trampled her brain. A thick layer of silence fell over their table with a level of awkwardness that matched the one that loomed over them the last holiday the four of them had spent together. That Thanksgiving was the first holiday and last, to Shay’s knowledge, that Cash had brought one of his girlfriends home only he seemed to fail to tell everyone about her including his mother. Everyone was shocked when a redheaded Winnifred Howards popped up out of seemingly nowhere, at least that’s what Daisy told Shay after she’d already gone back to Tyler and New York. Shay wasn’t stupid, she knew when nothing came of her seemingly unrequited crush on him in high school the day would eventually come that Cash showed up with someone better than her in every way on his arm. She had just hoped it would happen at the point in time when she was finally able to put her feelings for Cashton Ewing to rest. All her efforts to do so over the years had failed and Thanksgiving had been Shay’s biggest failure to date.

“Well gee, I guess I see where I fall on your friend roster Shay. You didn’t know I moved less than an hour from you and you apparently didn’t know Winnie and I haven’t seen each other since that Thanksgiving seven years ago either. You can say we broke up I guess but I’d hardly even call her my girlfriend, I just…” Cash trailed, his tone was low and serious but somehow had Shay’s annoyance and anger flaring tenfold. In her eyes Cash put her at the bottom of his friend pool long before she ever put him at hers, sure she distanced herself emotionally that sour summer but after that they still saw each other every day. They still talked regularly, which can only be expected when both of their other friends were dating each other. The emotional distance was more a necessity to protect what was left of her pride because she’d been stupid enough to fall for her best friend, the most desirable boy at their school. She’d also had been stupid enough to let herself believe that there might be something between them on far too many occasions for her liking. The last of which was that heavy conversation on Thanksgiving they had in his bedroom, which seemed more like a confessional more than anything to Shay now. Whatever hope of requited love she had during that conversation walked right out the door when an overtly perky redhead came in and insisted Cash help her and his mom in the kitchen. No amount of Cash pleading with Winnie to give them a few more minutes could ever make that level of heartbreak go away. It was a level that surpassed the angsty melodramatic one she felt most of that lonely summer with her aunt in LA but still it wasn’t quite as gut wrenching as walking into Tyler’s hotel suite in Cleveland later that evening.

Shay felt her green eyes well up with bitter, vulnerable tears before she finally turned her gaze back to Cash. Cash gazed back at her with intense, melancholy looking blue eyes that seemed to be searching hers for something. You could cut through the growing tension between the two with a knife as another awkward type of silence overtook their table.

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“Daisy, she really looks like she might kill him right now maybe this wasn’t a good idea…” Pete said in a hushed voiced, his brown eyes were fixated on the two friends he’d known since his grade school years with a fearful type of fascination. Daisy sighed, still looking at the pair like she was very much watching a soap opera.

“I know, I don’t even know what happened. They looked so cute when we got here, maybe we should just let them have lunch alone. Cash seems to perform better that way, I know he’s nervous but this… this is just sad” Daisy muttered, Pete stifled a chuckle as he finally let his eyes fall on the love his life adoringly.

“We still can you know, lovely. Honestly, they probably won’t even notice at this point. We could go to the beach and sip cocktails, we could even…” Pete trailed, Daisy furrowed her dark brows at him although she was smiling at him as brightly as ever.

“We could even what?” Daisy asked.

“Leave the rest of the planning for the wedding and the parties up to them. The two of them working together might implore them to finally unpack allll of this” Pete said in the same hushed tone as he motioned between their two glowering best friends. Daisy bit her lip, pondering his proposal for a moment. Honestly, nothing could be worse than whatever was going on between the two now.

“I love it when you encourage me to play matchmaker, my lovely but what if Shay actually kills him?” Daisy said in a joking tone as she started jotting a quick letter for their unsuspecting best friends on a piece of paper. Pete stifled another chuckle.

“She loves him too much besides you and Shay weren’t going to get any real planning done with Cash doing… what his doing now?” Pete said letting out an almost disappointed sounding sigh as he took in the sight of Cash gripping Shay’s face in one of his large palms and gently squeezing her cheeks with a serious look in his eyes.

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Shay glowered at Cash for what felt like forever partly because she couldn’t decide if she just wanted to argue with him some more or just cry her eyes out. Those always seemed to be the only options she ever had with him since she was fourteen and she hated it.

“I don’t know how that’s my fault Cash, you bring him flings home and treat them like regular girlfriends and somehow it’s my job to be able to spot the difference?” Shay said in a low bitter tone, Cash sighed and with it his blue eyes softened up a bit.

“No, I’m saying you could’ve just asked me, Cherry Blossom, you used to ask me things you know and now you just shut me out…” Cash said in a careful tone, Shay opened her mouth to argue with him but part of her knew she couldn’t because he was right. She had shut him out and she wished she could tell him why, but her words always seemed to fail her when it came to him, and she could never figure out why. Talking to him used to be so easy and now it just felt like an up-hill battle, an endless trek that seemed to lead her nowhere.

“I don’t know what to ask you anymore, Cash, okay. Everything between us is weird and different and awkward, and I just don’t know how to talk to you anymore, I guess. So…” Shay’s rambling was cut short by Cash reaching over to grip her cheeks in the palm of his hand, gently squeezing them between his thumb and fingers with amusement swirling in his blue eyes though his expression was serious.

“So don’t talk, Cherry Blossom” Cash chuckled softly, Shay felt her cheeks flush at both the action and his words as familiar nervous, smitten butterflies swirled in her stomach. His squeeze loosened the slightest bit as the two of them stared deeply into each other’s eyes for what felt like an eternity. Unlike the previous silence they had fallen into over the twenty or so minute emotional rollercoaster they went on, this one was more comforting, more wholesome, and dare Shay allow herself to think it almost loving in an odd way because she for once felt like Cash heard her loud and clear.

“Your foods getting cold, Cherry Blossom…” Cash said just above a whisper though he made no move to let go of Shay’s face for some time even after the words left his mouth and hung in the air. The faint lull of another dreamy indie pop songs floated between them in a way that seemed oddly fitting for the odd little moment they were sharing.

“Well, I can’t really eat until you give me my face back, Cashy. Unless you want to feed me” Shay said almost timidly, she watched Cash’s lips curl into a genuine smile that reminded her of the ones he used to give her when they were silly kids running up and down the sandy beaches. And she swore she felt her heart flutter when his blue eyes lit up at her before looking over at Pete and Daisy.

“I’ll feed you if you want me to darling and I’ll even drive you home, preferably in that fancy new Audi of yours if you’ll let me but you’re definitely going to need a designated driver after lunch…” Cash chuckled, turning Shay’s head to face their table full of food and cocktails with an amused smirk on his face.

“They ditched us” Shay gasped in disbelief taking in Pete and Daisy’s now vacant chairs with wide, mildly offended eyes. Surely the last twenty minutes of her and Cash’s bickering couldn’t have been that bad, no this was all part of meddlesome Daisy’s plan.

“Oh look, they left us a cute little note, how sweet of them” Cash said finally letting go of Shay’s face to grab the piece of paper neatly tucked under one of the cocktail glasses.

“It says and I quote, Dear Shay and Cash, if you're reading this it means you’ve finally noticed Pete and I ditched you bickering old bats to go to the beach or Cash is dead and the detectives assigned to solve his case are reading this…in which case it definitely was not Shaylee Harris. Cash is pretty and all but he ain’t that smart and I’m sure he just pissed off another blonde and got himself shot in the shoulder nothing to worry about…. Any who, during your insistent bickering Pete and I decided your problems would best be solved by you two spending some quality alone time together 😉. From here on out you two will be tasked with working out our wedding details and planning those parties TOGETHER. We know you can do it just put those pretty heads of yours together and figure it out, talk it out, kiss it out…. DO WHATEVER IT TAKES, just get on with it already. Lunch and cocktails are on us. Have fun, lots of fun, Love Pete and Daisy” Cash finished reading out loud.

“Ugh, they planned this you know” Shay said glancing over at Cash with the fainted pout on her face and rosy cheeks. Cash flashed her yet another uncharacteristically sheepish smile that had Shay narrowing her eyes at him in suspicion because she swore, he was blushing.

“Were you in on this too…Casanova?” Shay asked him pointedly, Cash shook his head and busied himself by twirling her pasta on a fork.

“No, Cherry Blossom, I can honestly say this…was all them but I’d be lying if I said having an excuse to be attached at your hip for the foreseeable future wasn’t making me giddy. Now be a good girl and eat some of this for me, I’d hate to see you hurl all over those nice leather seats of yours, beautiful” Cash said raising the fork to her mouth with a teasing smile on his face.

“This is going to be the longest few weeks of my entire life…” Shay muttered, picking up her wine glass with a soft, defeated sounding sigh despite how many flips her stomach was doing….

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#thomas ian griffith #black friday 2007 #eventual smut #cash ewing #friends to lovers #cash x oc #the kidnapping 2007 #terry silver #summer romance

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sleekervae · 1 year ago

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So Good [0.3]

Masterlist

A/N: we're in spooky month!! the best time of the year! My updates are going to be coming out slower for my stories (I know, such a shock coming from me) but I am back in school and I have a new job so I'm stretched lol. But I'm still lurking here and I'm still working away. Love you lots!

Warnings: none

Purple text is Korean

The girls had seats on the mid mezzanine, not so high up but not so close to the stage. Never the less the view was incredible, the energy buzzing under the stadium roof. There was this simmering fuse that was dialling further and further, everybody seemed to be on edge as they waited for the show to begin. The energy even seemed to affect Kimberly as her knee bounced on the spot. She couldn't help but feel a sense of awe as she gazed at the thousands of fans filling the space, all buzzing with anticipation. The arena was alive with energy, and colorful lights danced across the audience, creating a mesmerizing spectacle. Darius had his hand over her shoulder, rubbing her affectionately to try to ease whatever tension was coursing through her.

"Dude," Chloe nudged her with her elbow, "Why you looking like that?"

"Like what?" Kimberly asked.

"It's the same face you had on when we first performed at the VMAs," she pointed out.

To be honest, she wasn't entirely sure why she as so nervous, so she chalked it down to baser excuses, "Just feels weird being here without Charlotte," she replied.

"Ah, she'll be fine," Chloe replied, "She's probably sucking face with Hemmings as we speak..."

"Are we gonna' be happy or upset if that happens? Maria asked, waving around a sphere on a handle, clicking the button to change the colours. Kimberly glanced at her.

"I... happy, I guess -- Where'd you get that?" she asked.

"Jungkook gave it to me," Maria replied, waving it around, "Everybody's got one!" the other three looked around, it was only then they noticed the sea of bright orbs illuminating through the dark stadium threshold.

As the lights in the arena dimmed, the crowd erupted into deafening screams of excitement. Kimberly's heart pounded in her chest as the LED screen on the massive stage came to life, displaying the opening titles.

"Here we go," Darius awed from beside her. She smiled sweetly at him, her elation fluttering from the top of her head to the tips of her toes.

Behind the curtain the boys were lined up on the mechanized riser, the screams of their fans penetrating through the floor and their in-ear sets. Namjoon was always apprehensive before a show, he always wanted go perform well, give the people a reason to come back -- and considering the stakes they were playing at right now, he knew BTS had to deliver. Tonight however there was an added pressure knowing that Kimberly was somewhere out there, he had to give her reason to remember him and his bandmates.

Kimberly, and her boyfriend...

Get it together!

Suddenly, a pulsating electronic beat filled the air, and the curtain exploded with vibrant visuals of the guys paired with anecdotes from their album, projected above from... somewhere. Every face that appeared on the projection got a hearty round of screams, their personalities varying from soft smoulders to cheeky smirks; the tension was drawn out until the last possible moment.

Chloe nudged Maria, "Hey! Why don't we do visuals like that at our shows?" she asked over the hype.

Maria cocked a brow at her, "Go ask Terryn, and she's gonna huck her budget book at your head," she replied, referring to their stifling manager. Chloe shrugged back.

Kimberly wasn't paying her friends much mind, too caught up in the build up. The crowd began to chant over and over, minutes closing to seconds and seconds zeroing out until finally, finally the curtain was pulled away in a dramatic bang, and all seven members of BTS came into view. The crowd's energy surged to a fever pitch.

Kimberly couldn't hide the excitement off of her face as Not Today began to open, gaze falling over Namjoon with his intro. His confidence was undeniable, far away and still so imposing on the T-stage. He exuded an air of powerfulness that straddled the fence between human and God status; he knew they had the crowd by their throats.

Even as Suga flew into his verse, her eyes always stayed focused on Namjoon, effortlessly following every sharp, coordinated move. He was even more mesmerizing to watch in person than on any screen; and he and the boys were so precise that she too couldn't deny how hard they had worked to pull it off.

What was even more impressive was how the crowd sang along so sharply in English and Korean, matching the boys' infectious energy. Kimberly and her friends were instantly swept up into the hype, the energy taking on a different type that they had never experienced, not even while they were performing.

The entire show was over two hours long, but it felt like it just flew by. Though time wasn't a constant whenever BTS were performing, they were losing themselves in their craft, enamoured with the high they were riding at each dance break, taking time to talk and get to know their crowd. And of course, it wouldn't be a BTS concert if Jimin wasn't slipped around on the floor, or Jungkook and Taehyung were getting into mischief together. Suga was shy as always, muttering some words here or there, and Jin was pouting whenever someone would take the piss out of him, leaving Hobi to release his infectious giggles. It was during these less serious times that Namjoon could relax and take in the moment, marvelling at the scale of what he and his friends had built in the last five years.

His gaze fixated on the middle mezzanine, off to the right he could make out Kimberly and her group. She was close enough to be recognizable in the sea of dark masses and scattering strobe lights, but he could pick her out like he was aiming for the bullseye of a dart board. Now and again he'd watch her dance with her friends, or with Darius, and he'd do his best to keep his composure whenever he saw her in his arms. No one else was privy to the boost of energy he'd taken on during his cues.

He had caught Kimberly's eye somewhere between Danger and Run, decided to test his boundaries -- pretending Darius wasn't there for a moment -- as he winked at her on the fly. Of course Kimberly caught him, but she chose to keep that to herself as neither her friends or her boyfriend seemed to notice amidst the hysteria.

Muscles ached and feet were sore, and as much as the guys loved to perform, coming back into the green room was a great relief for them. Taehyung barely made it onto the couch before he flopped down with a heavy sigh, and Hobi -- in truest fashion -- toppled onto him.

"Ah!" he cried out, part defiant part exhaustive, "You're heavy! Get off!"

"But you're so comfy!" he whined back.

Namjoon took a seat on the opposing couch, his once perfectly tousled hair damp with sweat, pushed back off of his head; he was grateful as one of the crew handed him some cold water to splash across his face.

"That was so good!" Suga cried, the loudest he had been all day, before he took slumped down on Taehyung's legs. The younger boy cried out again.

"Hey! I'm not a love seat!"

"How many seats is Staples centre?" Jungkook asked, puffing from the ground, "Did we sell out?"

"And then some!" Jimin too decided to fall on top of Taehyung and Hobi.

"Ah! Help!" the younger boy squealed, struggling to turn his head to Jin, "Hyung! They're tryna' crush me!"

The eldest member pushed his sweaty-drenched hair out of his eyes, shaking his head at his friends' shenanigans as he waved off Taehyung, "Ah, you'll live,"

"Some help you are," he grumbled, squirming as Suga started to bounce up and down on his spot, "Namjoon!"

Namjoon rolled his eyes, "If you guys crush him, you have to nurse him back to health," he reminded the boys.

Just as Suga hopped off of Taehyung, the door to the green room opened again. One of their roadies had Catch the Caper in tow behind him, all of them ecstatic after the show.

Chloe knocked on the door frame, "Can we come in?"

Jungkook immediately lit up, "Yeah, yeah! Come!" he waved them over.

Kimberly simpered at the mess of boys on the couch, with Maria and Darius trailing behind her. She looked to Namjoon, pointing, "Is he okay?" referring to Taehyung.

Namjoon nodded with a tired smile, "Yeah, he'll be fine," he assured her, "Did you have fun?"

"Did we!?" Chloe nearly hollered, her dimples on full display as she beamed brightly.

Maria nodded, "You guys, that was so good! You were awesome!"

"And you know it's good if Maria's saying it," Chloe added, "She almost didn't come tonight,"

"What're you talking about?" Maria smacked her arm, "I was always gonna come, right Kim?" she turned to her bassist.

"That's right, honey," Kimberly chuckled.

Jimin suddenly exclaimed, "Hey! You bring Charlotte next time, yeah?"

"Why didn't Charlotte come, anyway?" Jin asked.

Suga shrugged back, "I think it's about a boyfriend or something,"

Taehyung finally struggled enough so he could throw Jimin and Hobi off of him, the pair tumbled to the ground. Hobi groaned as he banged his hip.

"Thanks for the help, guys," Taehyung grumbled, sitting up quickly and stretching out his spine.

Kimberly looked to Namjoon again, who simply shook his head in a silent 'don't ask'.

"Anyway, we're gonna let you guys get your rest," Kimberly said, "Just wanted to say thanks again for the tickets. You guys were incredible,"

"Totally," Darius chimed in, "Best show I've seen in a while. And I've worked a few of 'em,"

"Thanks, man," Namjoon bumped his fist, "Are you guys leaving?"

"Yeah. You guys look like you could use a good night sleep, anyway," Maria replied.

"What are they talking about?" Hobi asked.

"I think they're leaving," Taehyung replied with a pout.

"Are you guys in LA for long? Maybe we can drag Lottie out with us before you go?" Chloe asked, teetering on hopeful.

Regretfully, Namjoon shook his head, cautiously making eye contact with their tour manager, "We'd love to, but I'm afraid we're taking off again tomorrow,"

Kimberly couldn't hide the flicker of disappointment in her eyes, nevertheless she understood that they had a tight schedule. Her chest felt heavy as she wondered when again she might be able to see Namjoon.

"Shit," Maria tsked, pulling her out of her headspace, "We get it, though,"

Chloe then piped in, "Hey, but we're supposed to be in Korea next spring! Maybe we can make a weekend out of it?" she looked the girls hopefully.

Jin's face lit up, nodding fervently, "Yeah! Come on! We'll have party!" he started to dance on the spot, much to the other's amusement.

Kimberly smiled, trying to keep her elation in check, "Let's talk to Terryn about it," she said to her bandmates.

Jungkook then cut in, "Okay, but... but before you leave; Maria:" he spoke slowly, pushing himself to stand up from the floor, "One, erm -- an geim deo," he pointed to the foosball table, then looked to Namjoon, "How do I say --"

"Game," he corrected him, "One game,"

"Okay," he nodded, "One game?" he looked to Maria again.

Maria cocked a brow at the younger boy, "You're not tired?" she asked, unsure.

Jungkook shook his head, already bouncing on the spot, "I am okay! One game," he assured her, "This time -- you on mine team,"

Taehyung pouted, "What? Who do I play with, then?"

Darius stepped forward, "I'll take him, if he wants," he offered. Namjoon quickly translated for Taehyung; the younger boy took one glance at Darius before jumping up, suddenly just as reinvigorated as his bandmate.

"Yeah! Le's go!"

Maria looked to Kimberly and Chloe, who gave no objections as she agreed, "Okay, let's do it!" they four of them migrated back to the foosball table.

Chloe and Kimberly just laughed with each other, "We're never gonna leave," Chloe muttered.

"Nope," Kimberly shook her head.

"Hey, hey, come-eu!" Jimin ushered them over, "You come-eu... I don't know how to say it,"

Namjoon simpered, the familiar ache in his chest returning with some faint excitement, getting to spend a little more time with Kimberly, "Make yourselves comfy,"

When exactly Kimberly and Namjoon would get to see each other again would be a mystery -- for now, anyway.

Until then, they had to settle for texting, sometimes chatting on the phone. The boys had returned to Korea, so of course timing was a little difficult to master. However, they soon worked out the kinks. Namjoon would wake up -- sometimes at nine, sometimes later -- and he'd be excited to see another message from Kimberly. Or Kimberly would be up in her LA apartment, either with company or by herself in the evening, and she'd light up when he'd give her a call. On their off days, they could talk for hours; discussing music, different artists and recommendations, books both fiction or not, or they would discuss what was going on in their day-to-day, be it career-wise or personal.

Namjoon knew he was walking a sensitive tight rope, especially as he got to hear her voice more and more. He could picture her lounging around on her sofa, no make up, comfy sweats thrown on while she laughed at one of his stories. He'd pace around the kitchen, trying to cook while he listened to her list off what movies she loved and why Monty Python and the Holy Grail was her favourite.

"I don't think I've watched it," he admitted sheepishly, waiting patiently by the stove for his rice to boil. His smile grew when he heard Kimberly gasp, feigning insult.

"You've never -- Oh my God! You have missed out!" she gaped, simultaneously brewing a pot of tea in her kitchenette.

"Now hold on -- I said I don't 'think' I've watched it. Give me a break," he chuckled back, "I've watched Airplane... I think,"

Kimberly simpered on the other end, "You think, hm? You hear that sound?"

Namjoon moved to check his rice, "-- What sound?"

"Your audacity showing through the phone," she replied, disposing of her teabag. Namjoon laughed, clearly picturing that coy little smile on her face as she teased him.

"I'm sorry. I hope this won't affect our friendship too badly," he said. He was satisfied the rice was finished boiling, so he took it off the burner and started fluffing it up with a fork, just like Jin had shown him.

"I think I can look past it," Kimberly noted. By now she had a steaming mug of chamomile tea in her hand, curling up on her sofa while the book she'd been reading lay open against the cushions.

Namjoon awed at her, "So merciful, thank you," he was none the wiser as Jungkook shuffled into the kitchen, rubbing sleep from his bleary eyes and yet, curios to see Namjoon seemingly talk to himself. He was still too bleary to note the headphones in his ears connected to his phone.

"Who are you talking to?" he asked, his voice groggy and soft.

Namjoon glanced up at him, "Kimberly," he answered simply. A particular thrill raced down Kimberly's spine, hearing him say her name in his dialect.

Jungkook narrowed his eyes, "In America?"

"Yeah,"

"Isn't that crazy expensive?"

"Not with WhatsApp," he shrugged.

"Who's that?" Kimberly asked, the younger boy's voice echoing in the background.

"Jungkook. He's not a morning person," Namjoon replied, smirking at the younger boy as he collapsed into a chair at the table, "Go make some coffee! Or get some fresh air! You look zombified," he told him.

Jungkook groaned, "V is so clingy when he sleeps. It gets too hot in his room, I had to peel him off me all night," he replied.

Namjoon quirked a brow, "Why were you sleeping in V's room?" he asked.

"Because my bed's too crowded" he replied simply.

"... What's on your bed?" Namjoon asked warily.

"Clothes. Some shoes. A hair dryer," he smiled sheepishly.

They'd had this talk before, and if he wasn't taking another phone call, Namjoon might've lectured him on keeping his room tidy. And while he certainly was no cleaning freak himself, he liked having order in his room, and he especially kept his bed clean so he could sleep.

"Oh my... wow," he grumbled.

Kimberly laughed on the other end, sensing his grumbling, "What's wrong?" she asked.

"Don't worry about it," Namjoon replied, "What are you up to tonight?"

Kimberly glanced at her book cover, "Nothing, really. Might try to finish this book I'm reading," she said.

"What're you reading?"

"It's called 'Fierce Femmes and Notorious Liars'," she read aloud, simpering a little, "I picked it up when we were in Montreal,"

"Oh yeah? What's that about?"

"A transgender woman leaves her abusive household behind to run off to the Street of Miracles, where she joins a vigilante gang of glamorous warrior femmes called --" she checked the back of the book's synopsis, smiling to herself, " -- the Lipstick Lacerators,"

Namjoon chuckled with intrigue, "Really?"

"Yeah. They go around avenging murdered trans and BIPOC women, and the heroine goes on a whole self discovery journey while she's at it," she explained, "It's kind of a lot, I know. But the story sounded cool and the cover is really cute,"

"That sounds really interesting, actually. Do you like it?" he said, eyeing the bottom of the pot curiously.

"So far so good, yeah," she replied.

He noting the gummy, glommed on rice stick to the metal. He cursed under his breath, "Ah, fuck,"

"What happened?" she asked.

He sighed heavily, "I over boiled my rice again," he grumbled, "Sorry -- it's not a big deal,"

"Oh, it's okay," she assured him, "Is it sticky or just mushy?"

He poked at the rice grains with his fork, noting the texture, "More sticky,"

"Run the rice under cool water, and you can dislodge it with your fingers," she explained.

Namjoon cocked a brow, "But the bowl's gonna fill up with water," he pointed out.

Kimberly bit at her lip, trying to gauge whether or not he was joking, "Joon... you put the rice in a colander, then you run the water," she had a hard time trying not to smile at his cluelessness. He had told her he wasn't so keen in the kitchen, but she didn't think he was that bad.

"Ah," he nodded sheepishly, "That makes more sense. You're a genius,"

"I wouldn't go that far," she replied, "But I do usually tend to be right,"

Namjoon smirked, rustling through their cupboards for a colander, "Is that so?"

"If you ask Chloe, she'll say otherwise. But I got a pretty good track record," she assured him.

Jungkook couldn't help but watch from the table, curious to see Namjoon appearing so happy -- despite his rice debacle. He knew he had been talking to Kimberly for a while, even before they left the states, he would peek over his shoulder to see he would be texting her. His English wasn't so good that he could understand what they were talking about, but he could tell Namjoon put an effort into talking to her. And while he never said anything, whether he was texting or on the phone with Kimberly, Jungkook found Namjoon's little spark of joy quite endearing.

He was pretty sure he and only a couple of the other guys new about his crush on Kimberly -- he knew Jin certainly had. Jungkook had overheard their hushed conversations, with Namjoon confiding in his hyung and wishing their contracts were a little more lenient with personal relationships. Jungkook wouldn't admit it out loud, but he too wished sometimes that their contracts weren't so strict. He felt for Namjoon; and though he may deny it, it was becoming clear that Namjoon was feeling some type of way for Kimberly that he shouldn't be discussing out loud. But Namjoon knew if the guys or anybody on management had asked him about her, he would swear up and down they were just friends.

They had just renewed their contracts for another seven years. They asked for a little bit more leniency in their day to day lives, their acknowledgements, credits and whatnot; trying to make the dotted lines more empowering to them. At the moment, none of the members of BTS had thought to renegotiate the dating rhetoric, they were so busy and knew that if their American debut took off -- as it had -- their schedules would become twice what they were before. So the no-dating clause had been left out, nobody dreaming -- especially Namjoon -- that they'd meet or like somebody enough to send them into a head spin.

Namjoon wasn't sure why he had taken to Kimberly so much, he'd never had that at-first-sight moment with many girls. Jin told him it was probably because she was American and quote-on-quote "exotic" to him; but they'd met American girls before and he hadn't reacted the same way to them. Her overall personality drew him in like a good book; so many pages to peel back and so much to learn, not to mention her cover was absolutely gorgeous.

"I found it!" he cried triumphantly, holding up the colander like a trophy. Jungkook snickered from the table, still not making any movement to get up and do something productive.

"Amazing!" Kimberly awed, already hearing the rush of water running in the background, "Are you reading any good books?"

He took a moment to think it over, the first big title shifting to the forefront of his brain as he answered, "I am. It's called 'The Vegetarian',"

"The Vegetarian?" she echoed curiously, " -- are you a vegetarian?"

"Definitely not," Namjoon replied with a snicker, "But the book follows this young woman telling her family that she's turning to vegetarianism, and it sets off this whole array of unsettling events between her and her family, and her husband leaves her and... it's insane, but it's a really good read,"

"All that over being a vegetarian?" Kimberly asked, feigning shock, "Holy shit,"

"I mean -- it's not a big deal in Korea. We eat a lot of meat but we also have a lot of veggie dishes -- bibimbap, mandu, mung bean pancakes..." he listed off.

"Japjae?" she asked suddenly.

"Yeah, that's a good one!" he replied, "You gotta' be careful when you order it, if you're a vegan -- sometimes they make it with animal stock,"

"Good to know," she nodded, chuckling, "I'm not a vegetarian anyway, my family might disown me if I was,"

"I have a hard time believing that. You got a favourite food?" he asked.

"Oooh, that depends," she awed, "Are we talking home cooked meals or any type cuisine?"

"How about one and one?" he decided, "I can go first, if you like,"

Kimberly curled up tighter on her sofa, her book long forgotten now, listening to his mellifluous tone, "Sure,"

"My home meal would definitely be kalguksu," he started, "It's kind of like chicken noodle soup, but with fish broth instead. It's pretty good,"

"Kalguksu... did I say it okay?" she laughed sheepishly.

"You said it perfectly," he chuckled, "And my non-Korean cuisine would be a good pizza... or churros,"

"Mmm, you'll love Brooklyn, then," she noted.

"What about you?" he asked.

"... My home meal is a really good grilled cheese. You need the good sourdough and butter on both sides," she said, "And I loooove sushi,"

Namjoon grimaced, "Raw fish?"

"Yeah,"

"I'm not particular on fish raw. Seafood in general, really," he replied.

Kimberly gasped, about to scold him, when she suddenly came upon a daunting realization, "Wait -- but you said your favourite soup comes in a fish broth!"

"Yeah, but there's no fish in it!" he replied matter of factly, "I pick it out,"

"You pick out the -- oh my god," she shook her head, her smile getting bigger as she heard him laugh, "Do you like cheese?" she asked suddenly.

"Of course I do,"

"And peanut butter?"

"Yeah,"

"Okay, you'll be fine, then," she decided.

"Thank God! I can enjoy my day, now," he pulled the rice from under the water and fluffed it with the fork again, impressed as the grains weren't so gummy anymore, "Your rice hack worked, by the way,"

"Oh, good,"

"Speaking of disowning -- my mom's gonna rip me a new one if she finds out I don't know how to cook rice properly," he shook his head.

She tsked, "What? You mean k-pop stars struggle to do simple, mundane things like we peasants do? Unbelievable!"

"I know," he chuckled, "We're just like you, it's incredible,"

Jungkook scoffed, picking up on some key English phrases so he could call him out "Namjoon! Tell her about the time you tried to cut an onion with the cover still on the knife!"

Namjoon glowered at him, "... how about I tell her about the time you fell asleep standing up?" he snapped back.

Kimberly simpered, "What's going on?"

His glare never left the smirking maknae, grumbling into the speaker, "Don't worry about it,"

They continued to chat well into the evening, or in Namjoon's case, in the early afternoon. They could've chatted for hours more, though Kimberly had to go to bed and Namjoon had more work he had to get done.

Exchanging good nights and good mornings was comical to say the least; and when the dial clicked and she was left in silence Kimberly sat on her sofa, her book long forgotten, and she felt this odd pull in her chest. She liked Namjoon, that went without saying, she knew the moment she walked out of that arena that she would be anxiously anticipating when they could see each other again. If she had to settle for phone calls and social media for now, then so be it; she loved learning every little thing about him, tucking away the details like priceless gems in her jewelry box.

Kimberly curled up in her bed, tucking her book in her lap to try and get some reading done. Darius' name flashed across her screen, he was letting her know that he would be working late at the club and he'd be home at some point in the early morning. They didn't live together, Kimberly had decorated the apartment to be a perfect reflection of her, and Darius would come over now and again after his shift and spend the night. She never liked sleeping alone; and she respected Darius' job and she never faulted him for it, but she sometimes wished she didn't have to go to bed alone.

Even if he was on the other side of the world, Namjoon was still there at least, he would pick up and answer if she so dared called him. Over the phone, he instilled the same comfort in her as though he was still in the room with her, and she was excited for the familiarity, the infectious glow that his presence provided her from the first moment she saw him.

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existentialmagazine · 1 year ago

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Review: Ettie’s new alternative single ‘Last Best Lover’ embraces rock-y sounds and a Avril Lavigne-esque attitude while singing of an unshakeable adoration

As an English Literature graduate and connoisseur of mid-20s angst, the emerging artist ettie has found her own niche on the music scene as she plays with words to create a unique brand of storytelling. Writing truthfully on her own experiences, queer love and life ever since her 2021 beginnings, ettie has only grown more confident with time, and this year she’s ready to make that known.

Ettie’s newest anthem ‘Last Best Lover’ is everything she thought she’d never be, always far from the one someone would write love songs about and especially doubtful she’d be the one writing any for anyone in return. But it’s safe to say this three minute burst of pop-punk is proof that time changes everything, finding herself swept off her feet and ready to start telling the world about it. With instruments that dance through steady drums, bright, quickly strummed guitar and a vibrant riff, ‘Last Best Lover’ is a genre-blended mix of pop-punk, punk-rock and some more modern pop flair right from the jump, and as always for ettie very Avril Lavigne-esque. Contrasting the rock-y tones with her cleanly sung lines, ettie soars through the lower-toned instruments with sweetly explored heights that for once are upbeat and charismatic without a hint of snark, showing off the softer side of her personality while the sound still carries with it the staple edge of her angst and jaded attitudes. It’s clear where the shift has derived from once her lyrics start to hit, with ettie clearly melted down by a lover and turned a little bit sappy, getting right in the feels from the opening verse of these paired-back but still distinctly pop-punk ladened instruments.

Flowing into a chorus that’s arena-filling but in a completely different way to usual, the energy is the same but the spirit is a little changed, rocking through gritty electric guitar strums and thunderous drums while ettie’s vocals deliver the hooks you’ll be singing along to in your head for the next few weeks to come: ‘let me be your last best lover.’ From past releases that saw ettie coming to terms with her sexuality and navigating it, to this newfound slice of confidence that’s no longer hiding behind closed doors, ‘Last Best Lover’ really is the perfect tune for not just a feel-good slice of love but for anyone queer also looking for a figure that represents them so wholly. With ettie’s musical journey documenting every snippet of her journey, ‘Last Best Lover’ can’t help but leave you smiling wide for her happily ever after, knowing that love is love and anyone can find the same joy she’s deservingly found. From cliché lines like ‘she’s the funniest girl I know’, it’s right away typical and overly cute, but that’s not a negative by any means. Given the love-song genre is overran by pop tunes and primarily straight relationships, something made for those that don’t fit the mould is always worth embracing, offering representation to those who need it most.

If you’re a fan of the genre, you’ll probably want to hate the love-filled bundle that is ‘Last Best Lover’ simply because it’s far from what you’re used to hearing, but ettie will have you warming up to this sweet narrative so fast you’ll be remembering what had you listening to all those heartbroken pop-punk hits to begin with. Check it out for yourself here to get that boosted reminder that love is destined for everyone, and you’ll find something just like ettie too, even if it takes a few more broken hearted intermissions to get there.

Written by: Tatiana Whybrow

Photo Credits: Unknown

// This coverage was supported and created via Musosoup, #SustainableCurator.

#tatiana

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damiano-mylove · 4 years ago

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How you met them and what dating the members of Måneskin would be like

GN!reader, slight NSFW for Damiano *Masterlist*

Vic

You'd definitely meet Vic at the grocery store

She goes grocery shopping every Saturday at 10 am, and you don't know that because you're creepy, you know that because you do as well (being an adult and such)

Over time, you'd both start to notice seeing each other at the same times and places

Vic would eventually come over, after having traded more than a dozen looks with you

At first, she would give you a random complement (that made your heart soar for reasons unbeknownst to you at the time), and you would immediately compliment her back because there are so many things to complement about the unknown girl at the shops

Those random complements would soon turn into full blown conversations that you both looked forward to, every Saturday at 10 am

Conversations turned into doing your grocery shopping together

Vic would ask you to lunch after one of your grocery shopping adventures, which you gladly accepted given the beautiful woman had stolen your heart at first glance

Lunch would go absolutely swimmingly, and it became the new thing

Your relationship with Vic would evolve from doing your grocery shopping together, then having lunch, to basically spending every Saturday together, then seeing each other other days of the week

One night, having drinks at Vic's place, just the two of you, Vic would join your lips together in a sweet harmony that felt all too right

You brushed off the night as drunken kissing

But she held you hand at lunch that following Saturday, and asked to kiss you before you parted ways

The conversation was bound to happen, and it did. After that, you and Vic were officially an item

She introduced you to her friends, and you did the same - your group loving Vic, and her's loving you

Dating Vic would be full of gentle love bites on your tender neck, fruity red wine, painting your nails matching colours, and late nights

On those late nights, Vic would hold you close, a film playing softly in the back, while her attention laid on you

You, her person, her rock. You made Vic's heart go ablaze and she wouldn't trade you for the world

Nor would you for her

Thomas

Thomas gives off strong Boy-Next-Door vibes

One day, your interest was sparked by moving vans outside your window - someone was moving into the flat above you

It was a very loud day (furniture scraping the floors, heavy boxes being dropped, many feet with much too heavy footsteps) but you were baking

You had a function to attend to the following day, so your day was already planned as a day for baking your famous biscuits that literally everyone loved

Ingredients may have a price tag, but kindness does not. Once all the noise subsided, you brought a plate of cookies up to your new neighbour (hoping to at least buy their friendship so they wouldn't annoy you constantly)

When Thomas opened the door, your stomach immediately turned to static

He looked a little tired, no doubt from freshly moving in, but his beauty was still breathtaking

Thomas smiled at you sweetly and thanked you profusely for the biscuits - he told you about how his grandmother made the same type and he loved them

The next day, right after you'd come back from your function, Thomas brought you back the plate with a bashful smile - 'The biscuits were divine, better than grandmama's'

You giggled at his statement, then invited him in for tea and to finish off the biscuits that were "left over" (you'd actually saved them for yourself, but there was no one else you'd rather share them with)

Happily for the both of you, Thomas accepted the invitation, and he stayed in your flat, drinking tea with you and eating biscuits, till the wee hours of the next day

You and Thomas shared smiles from your balconies and the street below, but when you'd be walking the stairs together, it always turned into an invitation for a drink, or to watch a game, or just a chat

About a month and a half of friendship, Thomas asked you to the cinema

You gladly went with him

In the middle of the film, your hands bumped together, both reaching for the popcorn on your lap - resulting in heated faces and looking away

Thomas walked you back to your flat that night, leaving you with a kiss on the cheek and legs made of jelly

That next day, Thomas asked you to dinner

'Is this a date or just a hang out?'

'It can be whatever you'd like.'

To no one's surprise, you chose the former option

You never officially confirmed your dating status, but you'd figure Thomas introducing you to his family as his partner was confirmation enough

Dating Thomas would include him singing you mellow songs in the evenings, longing glances shared across rooms, lots of tea at all hours of the day, and extremely stupid jokes that turned sickeningly sweet

Those jokes would occupy your mind for days on end, cherishing every single joke shared

Ethan

As cliche as it sounds, you'd meet in a bar

There was a game on between Lazio and Milan - and you both were dragged there by your friends

People clamored around the bar and television screens, screaming and yelling, and everyone decked out in jerseys (the Lazio jerseys outnumbered the Milan jerseys 3:1)

Funnily enough, you met Ethan in the corridor for the toilets

'With a line this long, I might as well piss outside'

For a first impression, Ethan really did make an impression. One that made you laugh and his cheeks tint red at the knowledge that someone heard him say that

It sparked a conversation while you both waited in the long lines

You discovered that neither of you held too much of a love of football, which absolutely tickled you that someone was in the same boat as you

Ethan waited outside the washroom for you, then suggested you both go outside for a smoke

With a drunken smile (the only way to get through a football match is to drink, lets be real), you agreed and told the friends you came with where you'd be disappearing to

Outside, you and Ethan shared three fags each and lots of laughter and conversation

Surprisingly to Ethan's friends, when everyone came pouring out of the bar after the game finished, Ethan had you pressed against the wall in a heated kiss

While being the most shy member of the band, Ethan reacted the most prominently to liquid courage, which you were more than okay with

You traded information, and the next day, you woke up to a sweet text from Ethan, asking you to a cafe to get to know each other in a sober environment

No complaints, you went

Ethan was just as funny as he was last night, and neither of you stopped smiling the entire time you were together

You saw each other quite often after that; sharing the occasional kiss, but full of laughter and stupid faces in silent moments

Eventually, you got brave and asked for Ethan to be your boyfriend

His face and ears went bright red, and he immediately looked to his slender fingers, chuckling nervously - but he happily agreed

Dating Ethan would include a hell of a lot of cuddles, lots of reassurance, few kisses but very meaningful kisses, and more laughter than you've ever shared with anyone else

Ethan will make you one of the happiest people on Earth, and in exchange, he is the happiest, just to have you in his arms in the mornings (even if you drool on him in your sleep)

Damiano

Without a doubt, you'd meet Damiano at a bar

There wouldn't be a game one, it was just a Friday night, and you felt like cutting loose with your idiot friends, whom you very much loved

Damiano would spot you immediately

You, of course, had already spotted him, but your friends were drooling over him, and every single person in the bar was as well, so you just put him out of your mind

That is, until he swaggered right up to you while you were grabbing drinks for your friends who were all on the dance floor

His expensive scent intoxicated you better than any booze behind the bar, making your skin tingle immediately. Damiano radiated heat, but that could've just been how warm it was in the bar from all the people

As the bartender was mixing your drinks, Damiano asked you your name

'A beautiful name for a beautiful person'

You thought he was just looking for a one-night stand, which you were actually quite down for

However, the night was still young, and you still had drinks to deliver to your friends, so you thanked him for the compliment and sauntered off to your friends with the drinks in hand

They called you a myriad of names for you basically turning Damiano down to do what? To dance with people you'd known for years?

Fortunately, walking off hadn't deterred Damiano

His eyes were on you for the entire night, until you built enough nerve to approach him

It didn't take too long for him to offer to bring you back to his place - you didn't need more than a second to accept

That night didn't lead to sex, however. Damiano thought you to be drunk to give him any meaningful consent, so he just left you to sleep in his bed, while he took the couch

When you woke up, you wrote your number with the lipstick in your purse on his bathroom mirror, and you left without a sound to wake him up

He called you that same day and invited you to the bar again

The entire weekend was spent going to the bar, sleeping either with or at Damiano's, which suited you just fine

Unfortunately, you had an actual job that required you to go to work, so when he invited you out on Sunday, you had to decline, then again on Monday

Tuesday, however, you invited him to your place for a couple drinks and you ended up falling asleep on his shoulder on the couch

Damiano woke up with you for your job and stayed with you as you got ready that morning, smiling at you through the mirror of your bathroom

Soon enough, your nightly encounters turned into real dates that changed location and theme constantly

Damiano was spontaneous and you loved it

He'd call you the cutest pet names under the sun, and bring you everywhere you were willing to go with him

Damiano never called you his partner; you were his lover

When you'd be alone, he always referred to you as 'Y/n, the light of my life, the only flower in my field, the cream in my jeans'

Made you blush like mad, but that was Damiano's favourite part

Dating Damiano would include doing each other's eyeliner, lots of PDA, reading side by side on the couch with a record playing softly, never falling asleep alone

Sleeping beside Damiano was like sleeping next to a furnace, so blankets were never needed, but cuddling was required

if it sucks, y’all gotta tell me😩🙏

for @fairyth0rns , i hope you like it

#måneskin #maneskin #damiano david x reader #damiano #damiano maneskin #victoria di angelis x reader #victoria di angelis #victoria maneskin #thomas raggi #thomas raggi x reader #damiano david #thomas maneskin #ethan torchio #ethan torchio x reader #ethan maneskin #x reader #fanfic

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dollslayer · 4 years ago

Text

Champagne Problems

Bartender!Bucky x Reader

Summary: When your ex-boyfriend makes a surprise appearance at your sister's wedding you find help from an unexpected source.

W/C: 4,642

Warnings: NO MINORS, Smut, oral sex (f receiving), unprotected sex, swearing, alcohol consumption

A/N: Hey! I know it's been a minute (sorry), I wrote this for @saiyanprincessswanie's writing challenge using the bartender au! If you like this please reblog and comment and check out my other fics!! Cheers!

Main Masterlist

You sighed internally before slapping on a smile for yet another group picture. Your bridesmaid dress was itchy and you already regretted spending the entire night in it, as the reception was just starting. But it was your sister’s day and you decided that if what she really wanted was for you to wear this itchy monstrosity to honor her wedding then damn it, you’d do it. So you leaned in close with the rest of the wedding party and posed some more.

When the photographer had finished with his photos you were ushered to the family table and wedged between your mother and your aunt. You mentally cursed your sister for seating you with them because they were going to spend the entire night trying to set you up with someone while simultaneously lamenting that you’d dumped your boyfriend of 4 years just a month earlier. Your mother wanted grandchildren so badly, you didn’t know why she couldn’t just settle to get them from your sister.

“Sweetheart, you and Steve were so good together though! Remember when he surprised you at Christmas with that puppy? I don’t know how you let a man like that go…” Your mom chided.

You grabbed the attention of a passing server and grabbed the champagne off their tray. If you were going to have this conversation again you needed liquid courage to do so. You downed it in three sips and your mom scoffed at you.

“Mom, we've been over this. I didn’t ask him to do that, we agreed we weren’t ready for a dog. Ugh, oh my god, anyways, we just didn’t work together. Sometimes things don’t work out, Mom. You’ll still get grandkids, just not from me.” You patted her on the shoulder but she just pursed her lips and looked past you to your aunt.

You wanted nothing more than to get wasted but you couldn’t do that to your sister. You wouldn’t get blackout drunk, but you were definitely getting drunk tonight. The reception was being held in a hotel and the wedding party had a block of rooms reserved so it’s not like you had to drive. You just had one thing to do before you did that.

The moment you’d been dreading had finally arrived, the toast. You held your freshly topped-off glass of champagne and brought your fork to it to get everyone’s attention. Someone handed you the mic and you hesitated before taking it and nervously cleared your throat.

By what you assumed could only be the grace of God you managed to deliver the perfect toast about finding the right person and soulmates and anything else you might find in a hallmark card with only minor stumbles. Everyone clapped and your brother-in-law wiped a stray tear and everyone finally dug into dinner. You just hoped that would mean your mother would be quiet about Steve for the next 20 minutes and then you could escape to the open bar.

____

You almost made it through dinner scott-free and sat back to watch your sister’s first dance. Just when you thought you were in the clear it was your aunt that threw a wrench in your plans. She was three glasses of wine deep and had that glassy look in her eye when she grabbed your elbow and pulled you closer. She spoke to you in a low voice while trying not to fumble her words.

“Listen kiddo, I know your mom is hard on you about Stevie but she just wants what’s best for you. What you two had… it was so good even I liked him! I don’t like anybody y’know that. So.. so why don’t you jus’ give ‘im another chance, make your mom happy? Couldn’t be that bad, could it? Maybe he’ll even… surprise you”

You mentally blocked out her words halfway through her speech, hoping neither of you would remember it by the end of the night. Right now you just had to get her to stop so you could get away from the table. You didn’t think you could take one more second of being shamed for leaving Steve.

You smiled sweetly and nodded in understanding towards her words.

“I know, Aunt Linda. I know. Sometimes things happen, I love mom but I’ll find someone else.”

With that you patted her on the shoulder and took off in search of the bar.

There were two bars and you wanted to go to the less crowded one. Looking around you had spotted it just past the dancefloor and made a beeline. Weaving through the now open dance floor and escaping the invitations to join your family you finally made it and leaned heavily against the countertop with a sigh.

“Rough night?” Your eyes follow the gruff yet amused voice and find that it belongs to a very handsome man with a defined jaw, clear blue eyes, and long hair that was tied back.

You smiled and rolled your eyes.

“You don’t know that half of it. Nothing like a wedding to remind you how single you are” You joked.

“Ah. Yeah, that’ll do it. That’s rough. You look like you need a drink, what can I get you?”

“Dealer’s choice. Just no vodka.” You requested.

He smirked and nodded, perusing the lines of bottles that were in front of him. He bit his lip as he concentrated on what to make and you tried not to stare. You watched him get to work on your drink and couldn’t help but notice the way you could see his muscles move underneath his dress shirt.

He turned back around and proudly presented you with something fizzy in a highball glass.

“My own concoction, I even used the non-watered down liquor. Just for you” He says with a wink.

You try your best to hide your shy smile and accept the drink.

“Thank you, how sweet of you.” You tell him.

“It’s nothin’. So how’s a gal like you single? If you don’t mind my asking. Seems pretty impossible to me.”

You're caught somewhere between flattery and embarrassment and just hope it doesn't show on your face. You take a long sip of your drink and gear up to answer him.

“Well, I just got out of a 4 year relationship, actually. He’s really sweet but he always had a tendency to steamroll my needs and just do whatever he was going to do. Eventually that shit adds up.” You sigh.

“Like for example - last year we had talked about getting a dog and I said I wasn’t ready, we’re just both way too busy and then on Christmas day he shows up with this puppy! And then I’m the villain for telling him no! The puppy ended up going to a good home but he did stuff like that all the time. It just became too much. Anyways now my mom won’t get off my ass about leaving him.” You shook your head.

“A puppy? Wow, that’s… intense. That’s a lot, I’m sorry. You finish that drink and I’ll pour us both a shot” He laughed.

You nodded in agreement and downed the rest of the cocktail. He held up two shot glasses and extended one to you.

“A toast, to… wait. I don’t even know your name!”

His shoulders shook as he laughed and he answered you.

“I’m James but you can call me Bucky” You made a face at that.

“What kinda name is Bucky?” You asked before giving him your own name.

“Whatever, I’ve got two shots of tequila, you want one or not?” How could you say no?

“A toast,” You continued, “To you and your weird name, Bucky.”

He laughed and you clinked your glasses together, then against the counter before downing them in one go. You tried your best not to make a face and looked up at Bucky to find him extending you the lime chaser, which you took gratefully.

“Hoo… I could use like, 3 more of those to get through tonight. So, how’d you get into bartending?”

“I needed somethin’ to put me through school and I figured this beats stripping. Though, with some of the customers we get sometimes I’m not so sure”

You laughed at that and Bucky went on to tell you anecdotes of all the crazy people he’s had to serve, disastrous weddings, and the time he got a lapdance from the bride herself. You hadn’t even realized how much time had passed but you were enjoying talking to him, forgetting your mission to be drunk.

The two of you kept swapping stories and were getting to know each other a bit more. He let you vent about Steve and just listened, it was refreshing to talk to someone and not be told what it is that you should be wanting. When you pictured the night you didn’t picture yourself confiding in the bartender tonight but if you were honest you were enjoying yourself. It beat awkwardly dancing with your family and enduring more disappointed remarks from your family.

You had hoped you could hide out at the bar and spend the entire night unscathed when the double doors to the ballroom opened. Your heartbeat in your ears as time slowed down around you as a blond head of hair made its way through the archway. Your laughter died in your throat when Baby blue eyes found you across the room and you froze like a deer in headlights. No. Nononononono this isn’t happening.

Time has somehow come to a halt while simultaneously hurtling forward since you can’t get yourself unstuck from this moment yet fail to realize that Steve is now standing right in front of you. His hair is swept back perfectly and he flashes you that million dollar smile of his that shows off his dimples perfectly. You scold yourself for checking him out but damn did he always clean up nice.

“Hey, sweetheart” he says shyly, as if he’s not crashing your sister’s wedding to get with you.

“What…? What are you doing… here?” You ask quietly, trying to avoid a scene.

Before he can answer you your mom comes up behind Steve and squeezes his shoulders tight, all with a big, bright smile on her face. Of course. How did I not see this coming?

“You made it!” She exclaimed as she leaned up to kiss his cheek.

“Of course, sorry to have missed the ceremony but there’s still plenty to celebrate, right?” He asked with his signature boyish smirk.

Shock was still in full effect on your features as you stood stock still. But that shock was soon giving way to anger as you slowly pieced together everything that was happening. Your mom had brought back Steve to try and get you back together and Steve was steamrolling you again.

“I… I, can’t. I can’t-” You started

“Sweetheart, how many of those have you had? You need some water.” Steve motions to the drink in your hand and you feel the anger running through your veins about to take over. You have to move this out of the room. Now.

“Why don’t we move this to the hall?” You suggested quietly.

You didn’t give him a chance to respond before you started moving towards the exit but you did spare one last panicked glance towards Bucky. He looked confused and his brows were quirked in a way that made him look upset, almost. You sent him a pleading look before turning back around and preparing yourself to deal with this shitshow that had slowly unfolded before you.

Breathe in. Hold. Breathe out. Hold. You got this. Your hand begins to push the door open when Steve’s much larger one covers yours and gets the job done. An action that you once would’ve thought was sweet, one that you would’ve made you swoon, even, is currently pissing you off.

You two made your way to the hallway and you looked around before you started in on him.

“Okay, what the hell, Rogers? Crashing my sister’s wedding? Really?! I don’t give a shit if my mom put you up to this I-”

“Sweetheart, please. She thought you might be having second thoughts and maybe us seeing each other would… patch things up. We just want what’s best for you, sweetheart” Steve attempted to console you, reaching out to try and rub your arm but you pulled back.

“No! I am so sick of you running me over! You never listened to me or what I had to say and this is exactly why I broke up with you, Steve! You’re being so fucki-”

“Hey, babe, everything okay out here?” Bucky’s voice surprised you but not as much as his lips pressing a kiss into your hair and his arms wrapping around your waist.

You had to crane your neck to look back and up at him. It took all of two seconds for you to piece together what you’d hoped was the truth. Bucky raised his eyebrows at you as if to say “come on” and in all your desperation you went with it. You supposed that his formal uniform made him pass for a regular guest.

“I, ah, yeah, yes. Steve here was just leaving, right?” You asked him.

Steve raised his eyebrows in a stunned expression, mouth slightly open in disbelief. His hand reached out towards your shoulder but Bucky pulled you back gently.

“Doll, are you serious? Who even is this guy? Does your mom know about this?”

“No, she doesn’t. It’s… new…” You told him.

“Right,” Bucky cuts in, “It’s new so we weren’t telling anyone just yet but she figured I should at least be here for the reception”

“Seriously?” Steve scoffs, “Man bun? What does he have that I don’t? C’mon, you know what you and I have is real.”

“What you and I have is over, Steve. You never listened to me, always pushed me further than I was ready for. We’re done, it’s over. I’m sorry for whatever Mom told you”

Steve took a harsh breath inwards and you watched him try to decide whether he should walk away or blow up. Based off of the veins popping in his forehead, he was opting to blow up.

“Listen, I don’t know what you’re up to but-”

“She said it’s over, punk. Move along” Bucky cut in. He took a protective step in front of you and pushed his shoulders back, squaring up to Steve. Steve seethed quietly and you two exchanged very tense glances.

“I’m telling your mother about this. I doubt she’ll be happy to hear you brought some random person to your sister’s wedding.” Steve spat.

He walked past the two of you and bumped shoulders harshly with Bucky. Bucky’s jaw tensed and his grip on your waist tightened but he didn’t retaliate. Instead he took a step back to get a proper look at you.

“You okay?”

“Why did you do that? You didn’t have to.”

“I know, but you looked like you could really use the help.”

“Well… thank you. I appreciate it, more than you know. I don’t know what would’ve happened if you weren’t there.” You laughed to yourself a little and added, “We’re not even together 5 minutes and you already have all my emotional baggage”

Bucky laughed at that and shook his head.

“Don’t worry ‘bout it. I’ve got some crazy exes too. So what now? You going back in?”

You became a little flustered at that but moved past it with a sheepish grin.

“No,” You shook your head, “I think it’s best for everyone if I just go up to my room and avoid a whole scene.”

“Well at least let me walk you up. I wouldn’t put it past that creep to follow you.”

“What about the bar?”

“We’re overstaffed and the party’s winding down anyways. They’ll get on without me”

“Alright then” You accepted and started off towards the elevators.

You two were standing in the elevator waiting for the doors to close when you spotted the doors to the ballroom open. Your mother was looking around, her face a picture of anger. Lucky for you the doors closed before she could look in your direction and you let out a sigh of relief.

“You know as far as fake boyfriends go I’d say you’re pretty good”

“Just good? C’mon I had that guy on the ropes.”

“Yeah alright,” You relented with a grin.

You exited the elevator car and made your way down the hallway until finally you reached your door. You fished your keycard out of your wallet and turned to Bucky.

“Hey… do you wanna… maybe come in? Hang out? I know you’ve got work but if you’re overstaffed maybe…” You trailed off. There was a beat of silence and you felt regret instantly, thinking you’ve asked too much of him. “Y’know what nevermind, you don’t have to, I’m sorry I-”

“I’d love to hang out with you, if you’re okay with that. Plus it’s probably better I wait to get back until the wedding’s over. Can’t really show my face as your boyfriend and then get back behind the bar, can I?” He said with a soft smile.

“Suppose you’re right,” You swiped the card and cracked open the door.

You stepped inside and felt like you could finally breathe again. You kicked off your heels and went to turn on the lights. You reached back to get the zipper of your dress but couldn’t quite get there.

“Will you get my zipper?” You asked Bucky. He nodded and came closer to you.

You could feel his warmth radiating from him when he was this close. Your nostrils filled with the heady scent of his aftershave. He smells so good. He unzipped you halfway and left the rest for you.

You thanked him and grabbed your change of clothes and headed to the bathroom. Relieved to finally be free of the itchy monstrosity of a bridesmaids dress you sighed and put on a tank top and pair of shorts. You realized the tank top showed a little more of your cleavage than intended but you shrugged it off and exited the bathroom.

Bucky’s eyes landed on you and he took a sharp breath in but tried to play it cool. It half worked, you caught him staring a little bit and giggled to yourself. When you looked at him again he was undoing his tie and the first two buttons of his shirt. Wonder what he’d look like if he unbuttoned just a few more… You stopped yourself in that line of thinking and joined him on the couch.

“I think your phone’s gonna zap itself into an early grave with the way it’s been going off” Bucky said as he pointed to your phone on the table.

You picked it up to find you had several missed calls from your mother, one from Steve, and one very long text message from him that was already inducing a headache. You opened it, forgetting you had read receipts on. Oops. You weren’t going to read this now in front of Bucky, so you shut it off and put it aside.

“So how are you feelin’?” He asked.

“Better now that I’m out that damned dress. As for my family, they'll get over themselves. I don’t know why who I’m dating is such a big deal to them anyways.”

“You do look more comfy now that you’ve changed. If you don’t mind me sayin’ you’re just as gorgeous now as you were all dolled up”

You felt heat flood your cheeks instantly and eked out a thank you. You and Bucky talked for an hour more or so and in that time you’d found yourself nodding off with your head on his chest. On instinct he brought your whole body closer to him and put his arm around you. If you were less sleepy you’d be embarrassed but right now you didn’t care.

Bucky had moved slightly and inadvertently jolted you awake. You shot up and realized that you’d cuddled your way into Bucky’s side and now the embarrassment was catching up with you. You instantly scooted back to give him some space.

“Sorry, I uh, didn’t mean to cuddle you” You said while avoiding his gaze.

You felt a hand on your thigh and finally looked up to find him smirking at you.

“I didn’t mind it. It’s getting late though, I should get back.”

You were slightly disappointed but nodded your head. You rose and followed him to the door. He went for the handle but turned around when you grabbed his hand. He stepped away from the door and was in your personal space. You looked up at him with a shaky breath.

“Thank you, again, for what you did. It was really sweet of you.” He smiled down at you and brought one hand to your face. Oh God, I didn’t prepare for this. Your heart was beating just a little harder as you looked into his clear blue eyes.

“For you? Anytime. I had a really fun time with you tonight.”

“Me too.”

With that his other hand came up to cup your face and he kissed you sweetly. It wasn’t until you kissed him back that he pulled away.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to, I don’t wanna make you uncomf-”

You grabbed him by the shirt collar and brought him in for another kiss. This time more demanding but just as sweet. He let out a small moan and you swear you could’ve melted. His tongue explored your mouth while his hands moved their way down your body and brought you even closer to him. You could feel that he was hard and it only made you want him more.

Without breaking the kiss you started to move backwards towards the bed until finally you were just at the edge of it. You broke apart for air and searched his eyes only to find his pupils blown wide in lust. You cupped him through his pants and he groaned. He was big. Maybe even bigger than Steve.

“We don’t have to do anythin’ you don’t want to do,” He breathed out. You shook your head and kissed him again.

“I want you, I’m sure.” You panted out.

“I don’t have a condom”

“Doesn’ matter, I’m on the pill” You told him. With that his hands were up your tank top and you’d helped him to remove it. He worked on his shirt next and while he fumbled with the buttons you took off the rest of your clothing.

Bucky was every bit as devastating as you’d thought he’d be and you let out a genuine sigh. His toned muscles rippled throughout his arms and torso and you watched him remove his boxers and you’re not entirely sure your jaw hadn’t dropped. He noticed you gawking and chuckled as he leaned down to join you on the bed.

“See somethin’ you like?”

He didn’t give you the chance to answer though, he pushed you backwards onto the bed and kissed you again, this time trailing his kisses all the way down your body. He stopped and took his time to admire each of your breasts, licking and biting your nipples. You’d gasped in surprise and pleasure. He moved his way down finally to your pussy and looked up at you.

“Can I? You could only nod and let out a shaky breath as you sat up on your elbows and watched him get to work. He kissed and caressed your thighs until finally his fingers were prodding at your entrance. He groaned at how wet you were and pushed two fingers in. You let out an obscene moan and your hands went into his locks. His tongue lapped at your clit before he sucked on it, all the while pumping his fingers in and out of you in search of your G-spot.

You’d pulled his hair out of his bun and guided his tongue where he needed to be. Finally getting the right angle you were whimpering in pleasure, back arched almost to a point of pain. He’d finally found the spot he’d been looking for and your eyes shut closed in pleasure.

“Please,” you begged, “Please don’t stop I’m so close”

You pushed his head harder against you and his fingers sped up. It was only a matter of moments until your toes were curling in pleasure and you writhed on the bed in the aftershock of your orgasm. Bucky continued to lap away at you until you pushed him off. He came back up to eye level with you and had a wolfish grin.

“Who knew you’d make such noises? God it was so hot”

You pulled him in for another kiss and reached down to grab his cock. You pumped it a few times before you moved down to return the favor when he stopped you. You looked up at him with brows pinched in concern.

“Don’ worry about me, I just wanna feel you”

He moved you beneath him and you spread your legs apart for him. You were still sensitive in your post-high when his tip brushed your clit but you didn’t mind the bolt of pleasure. He aligned himself with your entrance and looked you in the eye as he pushed all the way inside of you slowly. You let out an involuntary moan, trying to accommodate his full length.

“You good?” He asked.

“I’m good, you’re just...big” He smirked at that.

“Can I move or do you need a second?”

“No, you can move, please move.”

One hand on your hip and the other on your breast he started thrusting in and out of you at a steady pace. You swore you could feel every bump and ridge of him with every inch he put into you. His pace picked up and he kissed the column of your neck, finding the one spot that drove you crazy. Your small mewls turned to full moans and he began fucking you harder.

“‘M not gonna last much longer” He told you. You didn’t say anything in response, just brought him in for another kiss and grabbed a handful of his ass to push him further inside you. He chuckled at that and took the hint.

He was going the hardest he had so far and you were holding on for dear life and loving every minute of it. His panting breaths were heavy in your ears and you reached down to toy with your clit so you’d cum together. His thrusts were getting a little sloppier and your hand moved faster, quickly approaching both your peaks. He let out an almost pornographic moan as he came, He fucked you through his orgasm and not a moment later you came for a second time. Your bodies melded together as you rode out the last waves of each other’s orgasms.

Finally Bucky stopped and held himself with one hand, trying to catch his breath. You were slightly dazed, trying to compute how your night had ended up like this. Bucky rolled over onto the bed and you felt the mess between your thighs. You looked over to him with a hazy smile.

“So, I know we’re doin’ things a little backwards here but, maybe I could take you out some time? If you want?”

Your smile grew even wider and your heart felt so light in this moment.

“I’d like that”

You didn’t know what tomorrow would hold or how to even begin cleaning up the mess with your family. You’d deal with it all in the morning, for now you’d just bask in the afterglow with your fake boyfriend and be grateful for chance meetings.

#missys writing challenge #bucky barnes x reader #bartender!bucky #fake dating #marvel fic #marvel au #marvel x reader #smut #bucky barnes fic #fluff #slight angst

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ask-healthy-light · 2 years ago

Text

After reading through the chapter and closing the book, they put it back in their bag, leaned back in their seat, and let out a deep sigh, as many thoughts rushed through their mind; not only they tried to process everything that they had just taken in, but they also had to avoid thinking about the broken blade that had caused them, and by extension, many others, a great deal of pain.

Yet, as they sat quietly, mentally listing the goals that they wished to achieve, wondering about how to get to the Valley, their eyes opened wide when they realised that the dagger that haunted their dreams, the blade that awoke within them memories, hidden for so long, from years ago, was given to them by Boomlord, who had sent a pearl for them to be able to get back to where he was.

In an instant, their eyes darted back to their satchel, in which they had noticed the small bag that held the pearl when they were looking for the book, and they grabbed it, took out the pearl, and prepared to be teleported back to Ponyville, or Canterlot, or wherever Boom could be, though, before they bit into the pearl, as Boom said they should, they stopped themselves.

Disappearing from the Inn without a trace, to wager a chance on finding something, if anything at all, which carried more risk than reward, leaving the others confused and gravely concerned over their safety, would not be wise, and after they put the pearl back in its bag, and into their satchel, they placed the book back, and grabbed a pen to document what they had found.

They wrote down the account of the dagger of old they saw in their dreams, from which a voice echoed, whispering about a Valley, about which, they found a tale in their book, mentioning the Valley of Nameless Things, and the possible treasures that could be found there, as well as the great risk of the horrifying being that dwelled in this area, too horrible to describe.

When they finished writing, they headed back to bed, and, they swiftly drifted off to sleep, fortunately, without being haunted by the accursed visage of an ancient blade, worn and shattered, the likes of which had not been seen or created anew in eons, ominously attempting to guide them to a place fraught with danger, that they hoped they would not have to visit anytime soon…

A few hours later, Light woke up, and found that the sun had risen already, so they got out of their bed, stretched their back, and exited their room, headed down the hall to the lounge, from whence they heard many familiar voices happily chatting with each other, which warmed their heart and made a grand smile grow upon their face, knowing that everycreature was safe and well-rested.

When they walked in, everyone turned to wish them a good morning, to which they replied in kind, after which they took a seat, right beside Nox, who was sitting next to Luna, covered by a blanket, lightly resting her head on her Mother's shoulder, for while she had a good rest, it appeared as though her head still hurt somewhat, so Melon, the angel that she is, had brought her the blanket.

A few minutes after Light walked in, they suggested heading for breakfast in the hall next to the lounge, which the others thought was a nice idea, though as it would be their last breakfast at the Inn, as the train would head out later in the morning, the general mood was bittersweet, saddened by the knowledge they would have to say goodbye to Melon and her lovely Inn.

With a blush on her face, the shade of red that shining through her coat brighter than it ever had before, Melon led the group into the hall, where she had asked the chef to prepare a breakfast fit for the Royals, which they absolutely delivered, as the tables were lined with an even greater variety of bread buns, cakes, specially-made toppings, and more fruit than even Banana Pie could deliver.

With grand smiles upon their faces, Light sweetly asked her why she asked for this, to which she said:

"I wished to repay you for everything that you've done, for me, and my Inn."

(Thanks for reading! And if you enjoyed, please reblog! Thanks in advance!)

Send an ask or request! | Start at the beginning! | Next part!

Featuring: Boomlord from @thedumbguywithaheart43 Nox Lunarwing from @nox-lunarwing Melon Grumps from @ask-a-grumpy-melon

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unhealthyfanobsession · 3 years ago

Note

Do you think you’ll continue with the lawyer Nessian fic. It was so amazingly written I’d love to read more! I love all your writing anyways I’ll be happy with anything❤️

Ok not *technically* a Drabble request BUT I’m not ready to commit to a full lawyer AU that happens in order however I did just drum up a part 2 that we’ll say is several years before the previous lawyer AU. Nessian teasing in a bar and Rhys being a dumbass.

FYI the lawyer Drabble I’m talking about can be found HERE.

“I’m in love,” Rhys slurred. Cassian, a decent bit bigger than his brother and two drinks behind him, had a gentle buzz so he could only surmise that his brother was well passed sober.

“Congratulations,” Cassian grinned, clapping his hand on Rhys’ shoulder. “May I lay eyes upon the future Mrs. Dumbass.”

Rhys stared at him flatly. Blew a laugh out of his nose. “She’s not marrying you, brother.”

Cassian snorted, casting his eyes around the elegantly decorated little lounge they’d stepped into for the night. Lounge, not bar. Because they were mature adults now looking to take the edge off after a long day of work, not college students looking to get fucked up.

It was different.

It was different because the cocktails cost $20 and were served in actual stemware instead of red solo cups. They were evolving. Growing. Cassian was a lawyer now and Rhys was supposed to be doing actual work for his dad’s company so… no more dive bars.

Now they frequented little lounges where accountants and lawyers and bankers sat in tailored suits and discussed… adult things.

It was all very civilized.

And yet here was his brother. Every bit the horny college student they were trying not to be. Oh well, old dogs and all that.

“End of the bar.” Rhys jerked his head to the left and Cassian grinned.

“Might be a little old for you, champ.”

Rhys wrinkled his brow and turned to look at the grandmother doing a crossword puzzle on the far left side of the bar. A martini glass in front of her. Good for grandma.

“Other end of the bar!”

Cassian smirked. He didn’t need to turn his head, since he’s noticed her the second she walked in, but he still did. Just so he could look some more.

“Ah, you mean the deliciously dishevelled leggy brunette with her suit jacket on the chair beside her who just ripped the pins out of her hair like they personally offended her and then laid them in a neat little pile beside her Kobo?

“Mmm,” Rhys grinned, “I’d like her to rip those fingers through my hair.”

Cassian rolled his eyes. “Go for it, brother.”

Rhys grinned wider. “I think I will.” He straightened up, ran a hair through his artfully mussed hair, and pulled on the lapels of his Gucci suit jacket until they were even again.

Cassian snickered into his Old Fashioned. Rhys could straighten his jacket all he wanted. He could pretend he wasn’t drunk all he wanted. It wouldn’t matter one bit.

Not with Nesta Archeron.

Nesta Archeron who hated men that stunk of trust funds and privilege more than anything else in this world.

This would be fun to watch.

Watch her try to ignore him at first. Eyes glued to the page of her book, hand reaching up to wave through the air like Rhys was an annoying fly she could swat away.

Rhys, to his credit, was a clever little bastard. He asked the bartender for a refill of her drink and set it down in front of her then sat himself one stool down from her.

He didn’t move her jacket to sit next to her, which would have had her going feral. He just sat there, waiting.

After a few moments Nesta let out an exacerbated sigh that Cassian could hear from across the room. There was his girl.

Well, not his girl. Not even a little bit his girl, but… someday.

Cassian decided that he was going to Marry Nesta Archeron the first time she kicked his ass up and down a negotiation meeting. It was a couple years ago now. He’d been young and new at his firm. She was young and new too, but the words learning curve were not in Nesta’s vocabulary. Everything she did, she did with perfection.

Including getting rid of men she didn’t want hitting on her.

She said something to his brother that made Rhys’ half drunk, cocky, smile fall halfway down his face.

Cassian would’ve given his left eye to know what she said in that moment. She had a knack for jumping at the jugular and Rhys… oh Rhys. So obvious.

After a few moments and the continual fall of Rhys’ face, Cassian decided it was time to intervene. He knocked his drink back and straightened out his own suit jacket. Armani, still overpriced and designer but not so obvious or try hard as Mr. Up On The Trends with his Gucci. Nesta appreciated classics.

Simple. Clean lines, solid colours, classic. Which was why it was so fun just how attracted she was to his half wild self.

Unlike Rhys, Cassian plucked Nesta’s light grey suit jacket up off the stool beside her and reached over her head to hang it on a coat hook at the end of the bar. Settling himself into the chair beside her like it was exactly where he belonged. Which it was.

She turned around with an indignant shriek and a fire-breathing snarl that narrowed into just a hard glare when she realized it was him. Touching.

“This guy giving you trouble, Nes?”

Rhys choked on his whiskey and Cassian fought his hardest to keep a straight face.

“I so don’t need your saviour complex right now, Cassian.” Nesta scoffed.

“No,” Rhys rolled his eyes. “She was doing perfectly well scaring off everyone in a 10 mile radius all on her own.”

Nesta smiled sweetly, “I was just playing your game.”

Rhys sputtered again. Looked up at his brother. “This devil woman that you apparently already know,” he glared, “is all yours. I’m going home.”

“Be sure to drink plenty of water!” Nesta sing songed after him. Rhys flipped them both off on his way out.

“What’d you say to him?”

Nesta smiled. A pretty, feline little thing. “He said he wanted to chat. Suggested 20 question, which is the lamest, oldest, crustiest line in the book. So I went first. Asked just how small his dick was that he felt the need to overcompensate with the swagger and the gratuitous displays of wealth. He thought he was quite clever to use his question to ask if I wanted to check for myself how not small his dick was and then I asked if his daddy never loved him and that’s where all of that machismo masking painfully obvious and deep seeded feelings of inadequacy and insecurity came from. I was going to offer him my friend’s number before you showed up. She’s an excellent therapist.”

Cassian laughed. Hard. For a very long time. He loved Rhys, but sometimes the kid could use a nice set down. It was always sweeter when delivered by a beautiful woman. Not to mention, Cassian himself had gotten the same ice cold rejection the first time he met Nesta. When he asked if she wanted to get a coffee and she looked at him like something she’d scraped off the bottom of her shoe. That Rhys was chased off so easily just proved he couldn’t take the heat.

“You know the walking trust fund, I presume?” Nesta boredly sipped the drink Rhys had bought her. And even that was somehow amusing.

“Only for the last couple decades or so,” Cassian grinned. “He’s like a brother to me.”

“Explains a lot.”

“Your insults are more impactful when you clarify which person is being insulted.”

“I was going for the two birds one stone method.”

“In that case, consider me wounded, sweetheart.”

Nesta scoffed, “Unfortunately not mortally.”

“Oh Nesta, if I weren’t here you’d die of boredom and you know it. No one else can run you up and down the courtroom like I can.” Now. Cassian grinned as he watched the word flash across her eyes. He’d never live that first blunder down.

Nesta rose an eyebrow. “Bold of you to assume you present any challenge whatsoever.”

Cassian signalled for another drink and leaned forward. “Alright, I’ll bite. Who in this entire city can give you more of a run for your money?”

“Vanserra.” Nesta looked him dead in the eye. And managed to keep a straight face. As if that wasn’t the funniest fucking thing he’d heard all day.

“Oh yes, Nepotism and Nepotism LLP certainly has us all shaking in our boots,” Cassian blew out a breath. “What are you working on now?”

“I’m working on upholding attorney-client privilege.”

“So, the Suncurser merger.”

Nesta looked up. “How did you-”

“Helion and I are old friends. I checked the zoning on the lots he was buying before the merger went ahead to make sure the expansion was even feasible. But, as you know, M&A isn’t my thing. So I may have… given him a referral.”

“Are there any rich playboys in this city that you aren’t friends with?” Nesta finished off her drink and pointedly didn’t signal for another. “And if you think I’m going to be grateful to you for sending this my way you’ve got another thing-“

“Helion is my friend.” Cassian repeated, cutting her off. “He believes in this merger and he wants it done right. You’re the best, Nesta. Why wouldn’t I send him to you?”

“It’s not just to get in my pants?” She narrowed her eyes.

Cassian laughed again. “Oh no, sweetheart. When you invite me into your bed it will have nothing to do with work. It’ll be because you’re tired of denying how much you want me.” Cassian leaned in closer, one hand resting on the back of her chair. “Tired of denying the thrill that shoots through your whole body when we lay into each other. In the court room or out.” His nose brushed against hers, just a little, and Cassian felt Nesta tense up. He smirked, mouth just inches away from hers. “Tired of denying how right this is.”

Nesta’s voice was rough, husky. “So your plan is to wear me down?”

Cassian smirked. “My plan,” his hand came up to stroke the silk covered expanse of her upper arm, “is to marry you, Nesta Archeron. But sure, we can start with wearing you down.”

***Feyre and Nesta look physically similar so you can’t tell me drunk Rhys wouldn’t hit on Nesta in a bar before realizing he’d made a terrible mistake and running away thank you***

Also tags yourself, I’m the grandma doing the crossword puzzle with a martini. She’s an icon and she is the moment.

#nessian #nessian fanfiction #drabbles open #nesta archeron #acosf #cassian #nesta and cassian #a court of thorns and roses #sarah j maas #a court of silver flames #a court of mist and fury #acotar

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angelkurenai · 4 years ago

Text

Wish upon - Bucky Barnes x Reader

Title: Wish upon

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader

Warnings: None

Summary: You were close when Wanda’s grief took over and she inevitably started controling an entire town, including you. Being her closest friend, though, instead of simply playing along, you were given a normal life of your own, with a daughter and husband whom you knew very well but never thought you had feelings for. Months later as you try to figure out your emotions for Bucky, the man seems to be trying to find every reason to stay close to you. Including asking you to join him when he’s ready to follow Sam in his adventures.

“Is that... Is that what I think it is?” you blinked several times, head tilted as you took in the object your husband was, full of pride you could clearly tell, holding and showing off to you.

“You bet it is. Polished, glittered or bedazzled, I can never tell the difference it's equally sparkly anyway, but above all ready to deliver justice. It's finally finished. Right on time at that.” he set the small pink and sparkly shield on the kitchen counter, right next to the baby bottle you'd just filled, because he knew just as well as you did that it was honestly the only way you'd keep looking at the toy and hoped that you'd like it. Which you did, sure, but not in the way Bucky hoped. “Well, what do you say about it?”

“I say that it would certainly deliver justice, no doubt by dazzling the bad guys first and foremost. Besides-” you tore your eyes away from the toy to narrow them at your husband “Just on time for what?”

“Halloween, of course.” he shrugged casually as he slowly made to reach for a piece of the potatoes you'd cooked to have on the side for dinner, but you noticed him and slapped his hand away, earning a not-so-innocent smile in return “I mean... What else is there else to talk about, of significance, in a small town like Westview besides holidays and who the new otherworldly couples in town are. The second having little to no point when one's wife can read minds, amongst so many other things, and said one is a metal-armed 106-year-old.” he sighed, raising his metal arm which he usually kept covered when outside “Honestly, I don't know who're gonna get called out on it first. Wanda and Vision or us.”

“We're handling it great. Besides, oh well a 15 year old gap is so overrated anyway. I tell you, 106 is the new 30, don't you worry a second, dear. You don't look a day over that.” you smiled sweetly, leaning in to peck his lips as he grinned.

“Ah yes, coming from the woman who last time we fought you told me that it's time to stop mourning over my buddy Rexi the dinosaur cause they're all gone now.” he said with a raised eyebrow and you shrugged.

“I don't see what you mean, I was still right.” you brushed him off, checking once more the temperature of the milk “Besides, getting off track here? You still haven't explained to me how that lovely and sparkly shield is of any use to us in Halloween?”

“Well, not us, obviously.” he turned to, according to everyone including him, his little princess “Jean of course!” he picked one of her hands and let her tiny fingers wrap around one of his as she let a giggle when he kissed her belly “It's all you've been talking about with Wanda these days. Her boys have their suits already in mind, it wouldn't be right for Jean to not have hers. It's her first Halloween anyway, even if she can't do any proper trick or treat yet.”

“I'm well aware of that, seeing as I've been planning all of ours suits. And no-” you raised a finger when you saw him raise an interested eyebrow “No, I'm not wearing the skirt version of it. Besides, what we're talking about here is Jean and I still fail to see how a shield will be any part of our little Phoenix's suit.”

“Well, because it's Halloween and she's- Well, she's part of this and she'll- The shield is part of the suit, honey. Obviously. I don't see what confuses you so much as to-”

“And I don't see what confuses you so much that you'd make a shield for her, beautiful as it might be, even though it has no place in all of it. Especially after I made it quiet clear on what costume will be.” you pointed out, baby bottle back on the counter as you crossed your arms over your chest “Honestly, I would rather her have a sparkly version of Sam's redwing before incorporating the shield in her phoenix look.”

He let silence fill the room, save for your daughter's adorable baby noises, before he finally spoke in all seriousness “No, no you wouldn't. You hate that thing too... It was the main reason that made me ask the question, like when you realize you've met your soulmate.”

“I-” only half a pause before you nodded “Yeah, you're right. I hate it... although I can't really remember how it looks like sometimes to be honest. Huh weird.” you let out a breathless laugh, frowning nonetheless.

“Oh how I'd wish for that sort of blessing.” he huffed “Including its owner.”

“Hush you love him!” you hit his shoulder “And, well, that's still all besides the point. Because Jean is not going to have a redwing or shield to her phoenix look in any sort of way. Maybe next Halloween if you wanna choose the costume, fine by me. But this year I am following through with my plans and not changing my mind.”

“Plans of what? Her being a phoenix bird? I get it, it's all magical and what not but-”

“Not just any phoenix bird, geez weez, do you not even listen when I speak, Mr Barnes?” you shook your head with a roll of your eyes.

“Well, sometimes it gets impossibly hard when you look as stunning as today, Mrs Barnes. Sadly all words fade away and as I am captured by your beauty all I can seem to hear is kiss me. How can I not comply?” he said so innocently and with such an adorable smile you couldn't help your fond one in return.

Seeing such adoration and love written all over your face had your heart on overdrive again, as if it was the first time you realized you were in love with him again. It was incredible how you could barely remember that moment whenever you thought about it, however you didn't care. You couldn't find yourself to care when looking at him had your chest fill with warmth, a pleasant buzz all over your body and no weight dragging you down. He made things more simple, having his love and having him by his side made life have meaning and your future full of hope. It hadn't been easy, that much in a way you could remember, but you knew it was worth it because he was worth it. You wanted to give him all your love, wishing that it could live up to the one in his eyes for you in return, so that he could understand what you did from the first moment you met him: he deserved it.

And even if- you couldn't explain why you thought so, but even if there were ever people that would willingly leave him behind, even if you'd never understand that, you were ready to show to him that you could and would be with him till the end of the line. This love you had in you for him had sealed the deal long before you even knew about it.

If anything, you were more than willing to live in this small town, heavens in these four walls of your house, so long as you had him by your side and were able to give him all the love you didn't know you had for him.

You shook your head lightly and gave him “Sweet talking me will get you nowhere, darling. Or rather-” you paused, smirking at him “It might get you in one place. The bedroom.” you grinned when you saw his eyebrows raise in interest “To get Jean's suit. Cause I remember I have some adjustments to make.”

“Bet you do.” he huffed like a little child “Cause she'll be a bird and not a superhero who-”

“Not just a phoenix bird, Buck. The phoenix, that's different.” you pointed out, making him frown.

“How is that different? And what... is the phoenix?”

“Well, it's-” you started but paused abruptly, frowning at your own thoughts “It's actually-” you blinked several time and let out a nervous laugh “Funny thing, I... can't remember. Wow that's... it happens all the more often lately.”

“Can't be important then, right?” he brushed it off casually even though you kept frowning in deep thought which for some reason didn't lead anywhere “Certainly no more than Jean's suit that it... And how we could incorporate a shiel-”

“No.” you cut him off before he could get to complete his sentence “Not gonna happen. I've already got everything planned, you're not going to ruin my plans.”

“Is this how it's gonna go every Halloween now? Us fighting over what Jean's costume will be until she's old enough to choose herself?”

“Oh dear, of course not. It's not fighting when you don't stand a chance against me in the first place.” you shrugged innocently and he tried to look stern by narrowing his eyes at you but you smiled and pecked his lips before speaking “I mean, you could never say no to these pretty eyes, could you?” you batted your eyes at him and he very fast, much faster than last time, sighed in defeat and nodded his head “Besides, you don't have to worry. Next Halloween we'll make her a costume that incorporates the shield too, happy?”

“Always.” he breathed out with such ease that it took a few seconds for you to not openly stare at just how much relaxed he looked, how he truly meant it and how shockingly different he looked while admitting it compared to only a few months ago... months, you weren't sure of the time anymore but truth was that you didn't care, because if there was one thing you could remember was that he had not always been like this and to have him truly happy made everything worth it.

“However-” he cleared his throat, as if noticing how you'd zoned out “That doesn't really solve the problem. Having to compromise, you know. Why should any of us have to? However, if we were to have more than one option...” he trailed off, leaning in closer without any regard for your personal space, not that he needed to, as you narrowed your eyes suspiciously at him “Say... if we were to have more than one options then things wouldn't be this hard, right? Just... to make it easier on ourselves?”

“Make it easier... how exactly?”

His hands found your hips, earning a small giggle from you as he pecked your neck once, twice and three times before he kissed your cheek and the temple, whispering in the end “Let's make more.” it earned a squeal from your as your eyes widened but he grinned even more widely “Come on, think about it. A little boy or maybe another baby girl, Jean would make a great sister. And we wouldn't have to argue about the Halloween costumes. Besides... would be a fun process either way.”

“You have to be kidding me.” you gave him a serious expression but his hopeful smile- no, scratch that. His smile that was bordering that of an idiot, if not lovesick one (but you were on the same boat on that), didn't fade in the least bit “Oh you have to- Alright, Mr Barnes, how about you learn how to feed your daughter without making a mess first and then you can come and talk to me about a second or third one hm? Cause, good as you might be at changing diapers, it ain't just that.”

“She just makes a mess because she enjoys to laugh at my expense, just like you and Sam.” he pointed out and you fought back a smile “And- Hold up a second... did you just say third? You think you're gonna let me ask for a third one too?”

Your eyes widened when you realized that he was really considering the prospect before your lips parted, you being ready to retort-

Only for no words to be uttered after that from your lips. The only sound being a deep intake of air as you were startled awake. Soon followed by a groan as you took in your surroundings and realized you were sadly still in your room. Sadly? Really? You didn't know if that was the case but even if it was, you didn't want to think even more about it. You buried your face in your pillow, not ready to face the day yet because... who were you even kidding? You wanted to go back to it. If not that fake reality, if not the playhouse that Wanda had built out of her grief and had dragged you into it as well - and maybe you hated yourself for how part of you did want that - then at least your dream would be nice.

It's been months and yet it feels as if it's been just yesterday that you were all released from her control. How could you not feel that way after all? When you were awake, the fake reality you'd thought your life was constantly on your mind, and when you were asleep even if you were not thinking of it, you were dreaming about it. It was constantly on your mind. And as if the experience itself, mind-control and all, hadn't left you with a few mental scares to add to your already existing ones to take care of, then the realization of the truth that lay within your own heart, was more than enough to keep the events replaying on your mind day and night.

To put matters simply: when you had followed your best friend, Wanda, after seeing her so distraught, leaving SWORD, you had never thought you'd find yourself playing house with a fake copy of one and only James Bucky Barnes thanks to said best friend. But while there was a chance for that, you never thought there was a chance that you'd realize you had feelings for the man all along.

Your life had been different there. Maybe because you were always close with the other Avenger, who knew. While there were times where you'd experience Wanda's grief, her nightmares from time to time came to haunt you at night just like it did with the rest of the town, your life was mostly... good. No, forget that, your life was nearly perfect. You had everything you wished for and things you didn't even know you had wished for. Maybe deep down you had always wanted it, a normal life, peace and calm, a kid whether it was yours or not... Bucky. You had probably always wanted him but didn't know it yourself, no doubt you were too busy crushing over Steve.

If only your current self could see your past self, or at least self of barely a year ago, you'd have smacked some sense into your stupid self who thought Steve Rogers was the only man you could ever have eyes for. While you had come to be very close with the Captain and ended up doing almost everything together, everyone thought there was much more to the two of you, that it hadn't even occurred to you to think that Steve wasn't really the one you wanted. Maybe you had convinced yourself so, in a way that now that he was no longer there you were more shaken by the fact that you were not shaken by how he had decided to live his life with Peggy in the past than his absence itself.

You had not felt any sort of betrayal, nor that you were suddenly all alone, certainly not as if anything was missing from your life. Granted, you had plenty to think about most of the time, day and night, but that didn't change things. You wished Steve had had a happy ending and you would on the occasion miss him the way you'd miss... a brother. You were always calm, no worries or fears, content with the fact that you knew he had been happy even if it was away from you because, in a way, you wanted it to be that way, it was natural. However, the mere thought of someone else leaving, someone that you thought far too often about, made your heart leap to your throat and your stomach tie in knots. The mere thought that Bucky could leave the way Steve had done made your throat close in a painful way and your eyes burn with tears, making you realize just who mattered the most.

If, again, Wanda plucking the truth about your feelings for the man to give you a life with him wasn't proof enough.

Your phone buzzing made you jump once more, eyes landing on the device on the nightstand. Reaching for it you were not surprised to see the messages that were pilled in your inbox. All from the same specific someone. A specific someone you had found yourself speaking with all the more often lately. Each time successfully managing to make you smile in one way or another, without fail.

Good morning. :)

Did I use that one correctly? I keep forgetting them, no matter how many times you show me.

And show him you had, just like that there was an option for him to choose from different ones instead of having to type them, but that was still work in progress. So even if Bucky learning emojis was a memory that you'd cherish forever, it wasn't the only important one at the moment.

On second thought, it's a bit too early.

You're probably still asleep. Nevermind. Sorry for bothering you.

And then more, shortly afterwards.

I only wanted to know if you're alright, that's all.

Anyway, hope I didn't wake you up.

He, much like everyone else, thought it was hard on you to deal with Steve being gone so he did his best to keep in touch and being as selfish as you were, you didn't bring yourself to tell him the truth that you cared more to know about how he was and wanted the contact for that. Maybe he was also worried about you after Wanda's mind-control too. But if Sam's words were anything to go by, then it was all an excuse for Bucky to stay close with you. You didn't let your hopes get up for that reason though. You could gladly take whatever you got without wondering.

Again it was followed not much later by another message.

I've actually got something to talk to you about. Something happened, though you could already know if you saw the news. Can I come over to talk with you? I need your opinion on the matter.

And shortly afterwards came.

I've already got your favorite breakfast. To make up for, probably, waking you up. :)

The next one had taken longer, he had probably been waiting for an answer all that time. You couldn't help but feel bad about it. That and the fact that the reason behind you not replying earlier was because of how immensed you were in your fantasy life with him that you had not told him a thing about.

(Y/n)... are you sure you're alright? It's getting late even for you.

Truth was you had more trouble waking up after having a dream of that time. But you couldn't tell him that. And then there was the latest one.

Alright, I'm coming over. I really hope you're not dead in there. I'm not going to let you hear the end of it if you are. Oh dear, I sound like Sam right now. Forget I ever said that. Both of it.

Before you even had the time to think about what he could mean, because no you had really not seen the news yet, let alone type back a reply, the door to your bedroom burst open. It earned a squeal from you as you looked with wide eyes at Bucky standing on the doorway. You weren't even surprised how you hadn't heard him, not when he already had keys to your apartment and could easily sneak up on you. Not that him surprising you was what you cared about at the moment. It was, and you could only admit it to yourself, more important how you looked at the moment – and having just woken up you weren't sure just how attractive you looked – than anything else. Especially when Bucky looked better than ever with that new haircut that you were sure he'd gotten on purpose, just to test how much your heart could take.

“I thought doors existed back in your days, Barnes. Maybe knocking was an option too.”

You saw him let out a sigh of relief, shoulders relaxing “What would have been the point if you were dead? You wouldn't have replied anyway.”

“Bold of you to assume I would miss on another chance to lecture you about the proper use of emojis, Mr Barnes. Even death could not stop me.” you broke into a grin and he chuckled.

“What, did I really mess it up?” he asked with a small, far too adorable for your own good, frown.

“Oh no you got it just right.” you said softly, adoring the proud look on his face before you added “However, I've told you, you don't have to type them anymore. There is an option on your keyboard with that kind of stuff for you to-”

“Eh alright, alright I get it. I suck at it. I'm not even gonna try using them anymore.”

“Wha- No!” you whined softly “No, Buck, I didn't mean that. Come on, you're good. You just... have a lot to learn still.” you shrugged “That's all. We didn't do great at first either. Nobody really got emojis a first, but you'll get the hang of it.”

“But you still think I am a grandpa when it comes to technology. And my age doesn't help on that case either.” he shrugged, as if he meant it casually as a joke but you could see a small hint of self-consciousness there as well.

“Nonsense.” you said softly, finally throwing the blankets off you “You're far from a grandpa, Buck. In fact, I strongly believe that 106 is the new 30, and you don't look a day over that.” the words were out of your lips before you could even think about it and when you realized what you'd said, your smile flattered a bit. You were glad his back was turned to on that second that he didn't notice. You cleared your throat, sobering up “Besides, new things are not everyone's cup of tea anyway.”

“Uh yeah...” you notice the relaxed, and almost happy, look fade away from his face as his eyebrows pulled back into a frown. He looked down for a second, leaning against the doorframe with his hands in his pockets “Things do change. Sometimes faster than we can adapt to the new world around us.”

“Alright, unless you're channeling Charles Darwin right now, which I don't think you are, care to explain to me what's wrong? Because... I am guessing something is, judging by your expression.” you got up and approached “Is this... about the shield? I- I don't know if Sam giving it up is that much of a good choice however... he must have his reasons, right?”

“Well, yes, but- this is not just about that.” he sighed, finally looking up to meet your eyes “Something happened and I've been thinking about it, I wanted your opinion on it. You know it matters to me.”

“...And? There is more to that, come on. Tell me.” you knew him too well and you hadn't even realized when that happened too “You know you can... Always.”

“I do.” he paused for a moment, holding your gaze before he let a soft sigh “It's just, I am going to go find Sam and... I want you to come with me. If you're up for it, I would like you to be there with me... maybe?”

“You know... I should punch you just for doubting whether I'd follow you or not. But just because it won't lead anywhere for me-” you smirked at him “Buy me dinner too and consider yourself excused and me up for any challenge. Strongest Avenger at your disposal, Mr Barnes.” you patted his shoulder, enjoying the deep chuckle that came from him. Even if his next words made the air get caught in your throat.

“It's a date then.”

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aus-wnt · 3 years ago

Note

If you have access can you post this?

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2022/05/09/vision-skill-swagger-goal-confirms-sam-kerr-worlds-best-striker/

The goal that confirms Sam Kerr as the world's best female striker

A genius on the pitch, Chelsea's Kerr exudes confidence off it too, taking on a pitch invader and replicating iconic, shirt-off celebration

It takes a special type of striker who predicts what they are going to do to an opposition team before a game and then follows it through to perfection. That, though, is what Sam Kerr is. She is the perfect centre forward, a human cheat code for Chelsea.

Her prophecy to team-mate Erin Cuthbert on Saturday that she would score a wonder goal in Chelsea’s title decider against Manchester United the following day was a bold one, but the Australian has the genius to back it up and duly did.

In fact, she delivered not once but twice. Her first, an equaliser, was a sweetly struck, first time volley from the edge of the area, that swerved and dipped under the crossbar. Most players would not have even attempted the shot, let alone first time with the ball dropping in the air.

But it was the second which really highlighted Kerr’s awareness, intelligence and clinical instincts. When Mary Earp's - the Manchester United goalkeeper - clearance was headed back towards the edge of the area, Kerr already knew what she was going to do. She had seen that Earp had moved out of her six-yard box to kick the ball clear and was slightly to the left of centre 12 yards or so off her line.

In one movement, Kerr took the ball down on her chest, swivelled to get her body position at the right angle and then delicately, not powerfully, lifted a volley over the head of the retreating Earps and into the net. She was 25 yards out when she hit it and the weight on the finish, the arc of the ball, was sublime.

"She is decisive in the main moments," said her manager Emma Hayes. "She knows she can cope with these situations and deliver when it really, really matters. Most importantly, she has joy in what she's doing."

At the age 28, Kerr is, indeed, the ultimate big game hunter. There was the 92nd minute winner against Aston Villa back in March, two equally crucial goals in two London derby wins against Tottenham too when Chelsea had Arsenal breathing down their necks in the title race and now two goals to help deliver the title, just when Chelsea looked like they were wobbling.

This WSL title is Kerr's sixth major trophy in two years in the capital, and now has a remarkable 41 goals in 42 WSL games. They are the sort of figures Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo notched in their prime and which people said nobody would ever repeat. Kerr has done just that in a Chelsea shirt and if anything she is still getting better as an all-round striker, inside and outside of the box. That is why she has won the WSL golden boot.

The most incredible thing is how often she makes chances for herself. She is able to convert opportunities most players would not even recognise as such, as well making the most of the creative players she has around her in the wonderful side put together by manager Emma Hayes.

She is just as devastating in front of goal for Australia and it was Kerr’s goals in the Olympics last summer that knocked Team GB out in the quarter-finals.

But what makes her so good? It is not just her skill and ability, it is also the way she uses her brain. She anticipates things as well as anyone, seeing things happen before other players do. She combines that with the bravery and technique to execute what she wants to try.

As her promise to Cuthbert showed, she does not do self-doubt. In the nicest possible way, the Australian knows precisely how good she is. That is why she scored two wonderful goals, not one.

Australian sports stars have always tended to exude confidence in a way that more reserved and modest Brits have struggled to do. There is nothing polite about Kerr.

You only have to remember the way she dealt with a male pitch invader in Chelsea’s Champions League game against Juventus. When the stewards were slow to deal with the attention seeker, Kerr bided her time and delivered a powerful, and well placed, shoulder barge that sent him tumbling to the floor where he was apprehended.

Not many players would also have the confidence to replicate Brandi Chastain’s iconic, shirt-off goal celebration from the 1999 World Cup final, won by the USA, but Kerr did and has been lauded for it by Chastain herself.

She is a new global superstar for the women’s game, one who "tries things that maybe others wouldn’t,” as she put it on Sunday.

That is because most players know they are not good enough to pull them off. Kerr is and she knows it. And that is the secret to her success.

#Sam Kerr #Chelsea Women #Chelsea WFC #Chelsea FCW #Matildas #AUSWNT

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mydiazboys · 3 years ago

Text

FEBRUARY [TUWYAN]

“Your baby is sitting on my bladder, again!” She yelled out, out of frustration as she once again got the urge to pee. It took everything in Buck and Eddie to not laugh out at her distress, as she waddled away from them.

They were trying to be supportive, but it was hard. They didn’t mean to laugh at her for things like this, but sometimes the way she delivered the lines had them creasing up. It did earn them scolding looks from Bobby and Hen though, and they were quick to clean up their act when Leah returned, heading straight for the kitchen. Eddie clapped Buck on the shoulder as he got up. He made his way over to the woman, chewing on his lip.

“Back hurting again?” He asked her softly, as he watched her massage her lower back, her head nodding sharply. “Can I- uh, can I try something?” He asked, biting at his lip.

“Depends on what it is,” she said, hesitantly as she glanced back at him.

“It’s supposed to feel good, for you, I mean.” Her head was nodding as she watched him.

He stepped up to her, gently pulling her back against his chest. She was confused, but followed what he wanted. He mumbled in her ear, telling her to let him know if this wasn’t making her feel good. She was about to respond, somewhat snarkily when he was carefully cradling her bump and lifting it. And she couldn’t help herself when she involuntarily released a moan of relief, as he was now carrying the weight of their baby.

“Okay, this is better than sex,” she muttered, and he couldn’t help the snort that left him. “Where did- wow, where did you learn this?” She asked, her eyes closed as she dropped her head back on his shoulder.

“I’ve been researching,” he mumbled, his thumb brushing against her stomach as he continued to hold the weight. “Feels good?”

She hummed, nodding her head as she sighed out happily. “You’re gonna have to do this every day, fuck.”

“You can get Buck to do it too,” he reminded her, a smirk on his lips because he knew the other man would never refuse to help her out.

“Hey, Bugsy, you better be taking tips,” she called out, laughing breathlessly because, as she said, this was better than sex.

Leah was seven months into her pregnancy now, and she knew she was on thin ice in terms of maternity leave. She knew she should be ecstatic about getting time off, being able to prepare for her baby and the last couple of months where she should be able to get a full night's sleep. As hard as that was, with Buck still crashing at her place. Let’s just say, he snored pretty loud.

Bobby had already approached her recently, bringing up when she suspected she might go on maternity leave. But she didn't have an answer, so she was vague about it. She knew he also asked Eddie, and even Buck.

Her fingers were blindly tracing the tattoo on Eddie’s arm, and he was humming out in her ear.

“You ready to take on the weight of this baby again?” He mumbled in her ear, and she definitely released a whine, before nodding her head. “Ask me again later,” he pressed a kiss to her cheek sweetly before he was slowly lowering her bump, and he could see the discomfort on her face.

v^√√v^──√v^√v^──√v^√√v^──

Somehow, the female members of their family had managed to plan a baby shower. Except, it was a surprise to only Leah. Mainly because they were certain she would tell them to not bother if she knew beforehand. So when she turned up to the Grant-Nash house, expecting lunch and a good gossip, she was surprised when she was greeted by the 118 family.

“I hate you,” she said, as Buck walked up to her, hugging her tight to his body with a laugh. She knew he was the mastermind behind this.

“I love you too,” he grinned, kissing her head, rubbing her back. Before he released her and she was hugging everyone equally as tight.

Leah rolled her eyes when they had sat her and Eddie down, ready for the gifts. She was fiddling with the ‘Mama to Be’ headband she had been handed by Maddie, adjusting it behind her ear. Buck appeared to have bought a whole baby store with the four gifts he presented them with, handing one off to Eddie specifically.

“Oh, and this one is for- Chris,” he grinned, handing one to Christopher who was sitting nearby.

“For me?” He asked, a little confused. “I’m not the baby, Buck.”

“No, you aren’t. But you’re the awesome big brother, so open up!”

And Christopher didn’t need to be told twice, as he was ripping open the paper, with some assistance from Buck when he realised he had put too much tape on one corner.

“Woah!” Chris exclaimed as he held up a t-shirt, a smaller one falling from his grasp.

“Can you read it?” Eddie asked, leaning in to see the item of clothing.

“Big brother-saurus,” Christopher said, laughing as he pointed at the dinosaur.

“And I got one for your little sister as well, saying Little Sister-saurus,” Buck explained, showing him the smaller outfit.

“I love it!”

“Alright, Eddie, you’re up,” Bobby called out, laughing.

Eddie rolled his eyes dramatically, as he lifted up the gift he had been handed. He was opening it up, and laughing out as he saw what Buck had gifted him.

“What is it?” Harry asked, from where he sat on Athena’s lap.

“A thermal flask,” Eddie laughed, turning it around for the group to see. ‘If empty, please refill. New Dad on Duty’ is what it read, and it had the rest of them laughing out loud.

Leah took the opportunity to open up one of the two gifts, humming out when she saw what was inside. She looked up at her best friend, rolling her eyes fondly at him. Then she was holding up the dinosaur onesie he had gifted her for baby girl.

“I couldn’t resist,” he declared, laughing. “Alright, last one. Let’s go.”

The last gift was significantly larger than the rest, and Eddie had moved it onto his lap so she could access it easier. When the wrapping paper fell off the box, she breathed out, eyes wide. She had put this item on her wishlist, with the intention of her buying it when she got her next paycheck.

“Bugsy…” she breathed out, frowning as she looked up at him. It wasn’t an overpriced item, but it was one that she had found most new mothers recommended. A baby bouncer.

“I know it’s the one you’ve been looking at, and… what are best friends for?”

“I hate you,” she whispered, her face screwing up as she wiped away her tears.

And that wasn’t the last time she had tears leaking out of her face. Bobby and Athena had gotten them a baby bath, one that looked a little fancier than the one of the registry. Hen and Karen had gifted them a selection of dribble bibs and muslins. Apparently you could never have enough. Maddie bought them a baby grooming set, and Chimney had bought the sleeping bag and duckie bath towel. ‘I didn’t know which one to get,’ he had explained sheepishly.

On top of the gifts, they played a few games. The most notable game was trying the baby foods. It had apparently been Maddie’s idea, but she had bought a number of different baby foods and removed the label. Then she had equipped the parents with a baby spoon each, which looked absolutely tiny in Eddie’s hand and had Leah snorting out when she noticed.

“Alright, what’s the verdict?” Maddie asked, watching as the pair were tasting the first flavour.

“I don’t know, but that’s disgusting,” Eddie wrinkled his face, shaking his head.

“I wanna try,” Christopher declared, having them laughing out as Eddie got some more on his spoon, holding it out for Christopher to try, who was then sticking out his tongue and shaking his head. “Broccoli.”

“Broccoli cheese,” Leah gasped, looking up at the brunette.

“Hey, that’s cheating, you used my kid’s answer to help yours.”

“Suck it up, Diaz,” she laughed, and they continued to play the game.

They found that Eddie didn’t like most of the baby food, Christopher was really good at detecting the vegetables (which annoyed Eddie), and Leah was definitely going to be the one encouraging their daughter to eat the baby food as she grew older.

“Oh, my god, is that pineapple?” She asked, looking up at Maddie, her eyes soft.

“Yeah, pear and pineapple,” she laughed.

“Bugsy, you gotta try this, it’s actually so good.”

But Buck had learned his lesson by now, because he had tried a few when Leah said that it tasted so good, but he had found he was also in agreement with Eddie. Baby food tasted disgusting.

It was definitely the best baby shower Leah had ever been to, even if it was her first.

#911 fox #911 #911 fic #eddie diaz #eddie diaz x reader #eddie diaz x ofc #eddie diaz x oc #eddie diaz imagine #eddie diaz fic #evan buckley #tangled up with you all night #bugsy and ladybug

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bowieandqueen11 · 4 years ago

Text

Amore Mio / Ezio Auditore Imagine

Request: heyy could i request a male reader with ezio sneaking in to to see him? what they do is up to you idm:)

Yes you absolutely CAN! Ngl I used to have a massive crush on Ezio so thank you for making some feelings remerge <3

I’m sorry if this is short and awful, I just need to get into writing for AC, so if you like please do comment and request!

The golden glow of the dwindling Florentine sun cast shadows over Ezio Auditore’s grinning face.

Federico had warned him not to come - that his father would be upset if he caused more trouble for himself after the fight with Vieri de’ Pazzi that same afternoon, and yet he could still see him perched on a rooftop out of the corner of his eye. Despite his protests, as Ezio used a crumbling window ledge to pull himself up just that little bit higher, there was a smirk on his face as his brother turned and jumped back down onto the street.

‘Caution to the wind, huh!’, he shouts, turning for one last look at his brother, laughing all the while. He waves once, shaking his head, before mumbling incoherently to himself. Soon, Ezio can barely make out the figure of his receding form as Federico makes his unhurried way down the piazza. Before he knows it, his brother has completely slipped into the ebbing crowd of thronging shadows, unknown to both of them, for the last time.

Ezio had more important things to worry about now, turning his mind away from worrying about what scandals Federico would impart to his mother once he returned home. Ever since he had been old enough to start causing brazen trouble, only one phrase would leave his mother’s mouth that could inflict serious pain to his heart.

‘If you keep getting into fights, no more seeing Y/n, hm? I mean it this time Ezio’, his mother would sigh as she tended to the Wisteria withering by the Spandrel door, ignoring the way Ezio’s mouth would fall open and his shoulders would drop, as if to argue back.

Instead, he chose to turn away. Hiding away all thoughts of you, of his tesoro, deep into his minds where no one else could touch it - where it belonged to him, and him alone. The thought of anything happening, of him harming you, of him being ripped away from you somehow, was the cruellest joke he believed Firenze could wrought upon him. Now that he was a bit older, and as he thought (although his mother would disagree), a bit wiser, he was finally ready.

So, away he snuck with his brother’s help, barely registering the rooftops his feet went flying over until he landed underneath the rich radiance of your latticed window. He fingered the ring he had stuffed into the back pocket of his breeches. The same ring he had brokered off of a merchant only a few weeks after meeting you. After the constant teasing from his brothers and sister about how soft you made him, after the begging of his mother to find an outlet that made him happy, the pleading of his father to find something good and proper to hold onto to deter himself from the fights, he fully intended to finally - officially - make you his tonight.

With a flourish of romance’s delicate hand, the sun began to bloom garnet and amber streams across the sky. With it, came the serenity and secrecy of eventide that Ezio had wished for, the dreams of the night beginning to play sweetly in his imagination as his boot hitched itself off of a stone pillar.

Looking back, he supposed that’s why he didn’t notice the pebble that nearly smashed into the side of his nose.

‘Ezio Auditore!’, you half shout, half whisper down, trying to avoid alerting your more than nosy neighbours. One arm is poised and ready to throw another rock from your windowsill. ‘How many times do I have to tell you, you can’t just keep climbing up into people’s rooms anytime you want!’ Your words were sharp, but your hoarse tone was anything but, teasing the man who was currently left dangling with one hand from the outer wall of your family’s villa.

‘Now now, Y/n, let me explain-’, Ezio starts, hand reconnecting with brick that he uses to pull himself back up until he’s hunched against the wall.

‘I have half a mind to just leave you out here and call the guards. My family has always warned me to keep away from the Auditores you know. I should have listened to them all those years ago, and then I could sleep in peace instead of having a very bloodied looking idiota climbing up my wall!’

‘Now amore mio, where would be the fun in that? If you would like to sleep, just point me in the direction of your bed and I would be more than happy to take you there.’

The two of you broke into laughter at the same time, before you quickly realise yourself and shush Ezio. Checking the coast is clear, and your parents are still asleep down the hallway from your room, you gingerly lean over the edge of your sill and hold one hand out. Your fingers wiggle, beckoning impatiently to the smiling man below, who wastes no time climbing over the remaining sun-scorched bricks. He’s so quick, in fact, that he’s just a blur until his nose bumps against your own, colliding into your chest.

You manage to grab onto him before the two of you go tumbling headfirst, back onto the streets below. Closing your hands around his ever so slightly larger, and indefinitely more calloused ones, you intertwine your fingers with his before pulling him in. You stick your head out into the night air with one final check that no one had spotted him from the street below, before shutting the latch on your window and pulling the heavy drapes across to block out all remaining light.

‘Cuoro mio, it has felt like an eternity since I saw you last.’

Ezio skips the pleasantries this time, instead deciding to kick your wooden door shut with the edge of his boot. When he is satisfied the latch has clicked, he moves so fast across your maroon carpet that you barely have time to register he’s said anything before his lips have attacked your neck.

You moan gently as his arms wrap around your waist, making no effort to push him off. Instead, he jolts against you, frame sinking into your body as the two of you go stumbling backwards into your writing desk. His tongue wetly drifts against your shoulder blades, kisses needy and desperate and oh so sweet as he goes on the attack against every piece of available skin he can find.

‘Ezio, my love, you saw me this morning, when you somehow roped me into delivering those letters for your father. Even you cannot be so, hmph, needy already-’

Despite the way his stubble brushed against his cheek, despite the warmth of his thumbs as they rubbed as gently as Ezio could in his eagerness against the patch of skin at your waistline, despite the way his lips were trailing up your neck until they reached your own line of stubble lining your throat, you still managed to find the strength to push Ezio back a little.

‘Something is on your mind, piccola piuma. Come, tell me.’

Ezio doesn’t pull far away from you. Instead, he seems almost nervous - uncharacteristically scared, even, as he wraps you in the bracket of his arms and presses the two of you against the table’s edge. His lips are slightly swollen already from the onslaught, his eyes desperate and needy as he turns to look up at you, eyes swirling.

‘Y/n- I have to ask you something...I love you.’

‘Yes, I am aware. I love you too, although that is not a question’, you chuckle, nuzzling your forehead against his own. He sighs in relief, searching your eyes for any sign you’re about to withdraw from him, before he finally swallows the fear that has been plaguing his heart and closes his eyes in preparation.

‘Will you- will you-’

‘Yes, I will’, you whisper, lips turned up in a grin.

His eyes open again in shock, mouth opening and closing so quickly you start laughing as he still just gapes down at you like a blubbering fish.

‘But you have no idea what I was about to say!’

‘You really think you, or any of your brothers can keep a secret? All it took was three feathers for me to bribe Petruccio into telling me what you were planning. Almost too easy’, you sigh, mockingly.

‘But you- you’re saying - you’re saying you will?’

Ezio looks almost dumbstruck, frozen in place as he gazes down at you.

‘Of course, idiota. I’m yours.’

It takes Ezio all of two seconds to dive down, before capturing you in the most passionate kiss of your life. You can feel him smile against your skin as he reaches up to cup your cheeks, whispering little sweet nothings against your face as he walked you backwards towards the bed.

The last thing the sun saw of Ezio Auditore that night, were his pursed lips leaning over to blow out the candles illuminating the room, before the two of you were draped in a smoky darkness you wished would never leave.

#ezio auditore #ezio auditore imagine #assassin's creed #assassins creed #assassins creed imagine #ezio #ezio imagine #ezio assassins creed #assassins creed ii #assassins creed 2 #ezio auditore x reader #ezio auditore x male reader #ezio auditore da firenze

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inviouswriting · 4 years ago

Text

We Are Happy For You.

Simeon x Fem!Reader

Continuation to my series.

Smut - with fluff and some world building.

You feel something touch your face, and you tug the blanket that covers you up over your face. There is a shift and the blanket is tugged down and the touch on your face repeats, a feather light touch. One that has you shrugging it off, you bury your face into the chest in front of you.

Instead of Simeon trying to tease your face again, you feel that same feather light touch along an ear. You press your ear to his chest, leaving the other exposed to his teasing. Simeon chuckles light, that usual one he emits when he is mischievous.

“Let me sleep! Simeon...” You weren’t on food duty for the morning, so that meant you could sleep in, till Lucifer called for you to join or miss out on a meal.

“Hmm... but I want to see your face.” You give into his polite demand, you turn your face to look up at him, snuggling closer into his side. Memories of the previous night earn a blush when you feel skin to skin beneath the blankets. You roam hands over his chest, you note he has really soft skin.

“There is my girl. You are stunning this morning.” You bury your face into his neck at his compliments.

“You’re being sweet again...” You mention, and Simeon hums happy at this, moving to tug you on top of him. You pull the blanket with you, leaving only your feet to stick out at the end. Simeon’s arms around your waist resting his hands on your back as you raise up propping your head on your hands to look at your angel.

“Can you blame me? I can do this everyday.” You simply lay on top of Simeon, your legs on either side of his almost straddling him but your waist sits a couple inches higher than his.

“Reminds me... how are you feeling Simeon? You mentioned..” Simeon sees the concern in your eyes.

“It’s a dull ache now, the worse of it has yet to happen.. I can trust you to be at my side when it happens?” You nod and press your forehead to Simeon’s nuzzling him affectionately. He hums when you rub his face and into his hair soaking up the attention you shower on him.

You begin to sit up and jump when you shift to sit on his lap. You eye Simeon, and he is sheepish casting his gaze to the side, his face flushing pink when you realize.

“Sorry, your hands just feel so good.” As you sit up fully, the blanket being shrugged off, you get a good look at your angel underneath you. His face still red from observing your nude form this way. You take mercy on him, your eyes roam over his torso muscular and toned from his arms and chest. You lean over him for your DDD to check the time, and note you still have enough time before anyone nosey would wander by your door.

“It’s okay, I like it that you are showing your desires more. Do you want me to take care of you?” You offer with a subtle push of your hips against his. You had shifted enough so that his erection was centered under your folds. The light grinding you do, he feels good rubbing between them.

“Please... I’ve been... wanting to do this before you were awake.” You press the flat of your hand to his face and let him lean against it. You lift your hips and Simeon reaches between you two to guide himself into you. A satisfied sigh out of the falling angel.

You make quick movements of yourself, raising and lowering to ride him. Simeon’s hands go to your waist guiding you to roll your hips to sink down on him further.

Simeon raises up enough to press kisses along your neck, nipping and moaning into the soft flesh as he wraps his arms around you. You allow him to adjust you both so you can wrap your legs at his waist and he sits in a way that feels so much more intimate. He is deeper, and you bury your face into his shoulder whimpering from how intense it feels.

“Endure me a bit longer my lamb..” You listen to him as he delivers a series of rough thrusts. One hits deep and you see stars.

“Simeon! Again there! Please!” He feels even better, and he notes that this spot he thrusts against has you drenching his cock in juices. You toss your head back at the pleasure washing through your body, Simeon watches you lose yourself to him. If you peeked at his face, his expression is lost in his own pleasure at seeing you so blissful, and him causing that feeling.

Your body feels alight, almost on fire itself. You felt so different in these last few sessions with him, you have been loving him with your entire being. Holding onto him, and he listens to you.

Simeon glides into you alot easier, and realizes you had cum on him. You didn’t even register you had done so, your body wanting more of the angel, even as he leans you down onto your back. He raises your waist and drives himself harder into you.

You grip the blanket beneath you as the angle Simeon has you in lets him hit your g-spot repeatedly. Simeon uses one hand to rub your clit as he moves. The motions he makes rolling his hips up as you meet his rocking yours back to feel his fingers circle and pinch light.

Your mind fuzzy and blank till your hands grip the blankets tighter and fully orgasm. A series of cries mixed with Simeon’s name, and panted moans. The gush of fluid against Simeon’s waist and how you clench around him tight making it hard for him to thrust through as he spends himself next to your cervix pressing as close as he gets.

Simeon sits down, still connected to you, he can’t pull free just yet till you relax. He enjoys the warmth surrounding him, but he enjoys the sight of you blissed out and panting even more.

When your mind comes back you look to your angel who smiles warm. You then feel embarrassed about how soaked your sheets are. You cover your face upon realization Simeon saw you lose absolute control of yourself.

“You are beautiful... you know that right? Don’t hide.” Simeon tugs your hands away from your face, he moves to lie on top of you. You feel his hands gentle as they tug yours, he sees how red your face is, and only kisses you sweetly.

“I... we... you... you saw me make such an embarrassing face..” You reach for the end of the blanket to cover your face creating a barrier between you and Simeon. He laughs at your shyness. You were not this shy the previous night or when you teased him with that apron.

“It is only me that sees you make that face too. Let me see you.” He cups your face, peppering kisses all over. It was your turn to soak up his attention he dotes on you. You adjust your legs a little and realize he is still connected. You feel your face heated up, and Simeon moves to pull out finally after you relaxed enough.

You both bask together a little longer before the time when Lucifer usually wakes up and roams occurs. You and Simeon steal away into a shower together, playfully splashing the other, and sitting together once you washed each other thoroughly.

You strip your bed of its covers and sheets to have them done later. You would ask Asmodeus for spare sheets, being one you trust for the reason “why” yours were soiled.

You get the message from Satan to hurry downstairs for breakfast, you and Simeon take a breath together before joining them.

“Simeon? I didn’t know you dropped by.” Lucifer comments, you sit next to your angel and the open spot where Beelzebub sits. Lucifer is fully aware of your relationship with the angel. He has spent his time warning you of events that can and may happen as a result. Other than that he does not meddle and lets you both experience love for yourselves.

“I came by last night, and stayed over.” He is honest, and Lucifer reads between the lines of what it meant. The few at the table, Satan, Beelzebub and Asmodeus. Mammon and Belphie have yet to arrive being late risers. Leviathan probably not at all, he was doing a raid night for one of his games.

“I could tell you everything you already know, Simeon. Just be careful and take care of her. She chose you, and we’ll do our best to protect you both from repercussions.” Lucifer says, and you both nod.

“Thank you.” You swat Beelzebubs hands away from yours and Simeon’s plates, guarding it with a spoon. Simeon leans against you, he felt warm to you, perhaps a little too warm. You would tug him aside later.

Asmodeus looks at you and Simeon, a knowing grin on his face. For why you both seem so tired this morning. You eye him weary, in warning. You expected more lectures from Lucifer about your relationship with Simeon. Yet he understood the place, he was probably the best one to talk to later about Simeon’s falling. Yet you wonder if he would revert back to being protective over Simeon or you to tell Simeon he is better off stopping to preserve his rank and grace.

Another thought creeps into your mind, what would Luke say to all of this. You were staring at your plate absentminded enough for Beelzebub to steal a few pieces of food before Simeon swats his hand with the back of a spoon.

The falling angel can tell you are thinking about the effects of what is happening, who you might be making angry, or disappointed. Simeon doesn’t chide you this time in front of others. Your feelings are valid in it, you and him both could face persecution, you more than him.

Satan looks between you two, keeping personal comments to himself, this was not the time to be sarcastic with such a serious expression on your normally smiling face.

Asmodeus on the other hand had moved his chair to the other side of you, and took up one of your hands to inspect your hands. Satisfied still with his color of choice. His touch broke you out of your thoughts, and you see him look to your eyes, a quiet hum in question. His eyes drift to your neck and you see the smirk on his face.

“You should come by my room before you head off to RAD. I have something for you.” He notes how many hickies are left, almost hard to believe that Simeon is capable of marking so much skin. Yet these were over the span of a few days when you had your sleepover with the angel.

“Okay, I need a favor anyways.” You smile back as Asmodeus leans on you and rubs his face to your shoulder. Needing the little bit of affection from one of his pact keepers before he sees Solomon to fill more of that need.

Simeon doesn’t mind the affection, specially when Asmodeus moves over to him to seek out head pats. Simeon lets Asmodeus lean on him, if you or him would ever be open to a polyamorous relationship the first that comes to mind is Asmodeus without question. That was a conversation for when you two decide to invite someone else into your intimate space. Right now that was not an option when you and Simeon still needed to explore each other and grow.

You had finally finished your food, letting Beelzebub take the remainder happily rather than keep fighting him off. You could always take a few more snacks from the cafeteria. Or Luke might give you something before class, he usually does knowing Beelzebub.

Soon you were seated on a chair in front of Asmodeus’ vanity with the lust demon tugging the collar down of your top. Simeon sat on the edge of Asmodeus’ bed watching the exchange.

“Simeon really went crazy here. He needs to be mindful not to mark your lovely skin so much.” You tilt your head so Asmodeus can apply a lotion to them to help ease the bruising left, and covers it with make up to avoid questioning stares from people who are not aware of your sexual relationship with Simeon yet. Asmodeus casting a stare over to the angel whose eyes were transfixed on a wall nearby. A dark blush on his face.

“He did, and I’ll make sure to have him leave them where... they’re not easily seen.” Asmodeus gives an amused hum, as he finishes the application.

“There that should do. Now you had a favor for me?” You look at his eyes, seeing the way they gleam.

“Um.. yes. I need some sheets for my bed...” You look away sheepish and Asmodeus catches on.

“Ah, until yours are clean right? I can give you a set I don’t care for anymore.” Asmodeus doesn’t need to ask, or pry further. He also rather just give you a set knowing that the nature of your relationship is much more intimate rather than expecting sheets he knows you and Simeon slept on together.

“Thank you.” You beam at Asmodeus, he goes through his closet and comes back with two sets. A deep blue and a cream colored set.

“I do have a request as a payment though. You must get me some wicked cupcakes from Barbatos. I absolutely love the ones he makes. He manages to make them with this lemon rose buttercream I just can’t get enough of.” Asmodeus clasps his hands together looking at you hopeful.

“I think that can be managed.” You look over at Simeon.

“Easy, I can give him more Celestial Pure Tea.” Barbatos can’t refuse that trade with it being a favorite. Asmodeus smiles warm, and sees you two out of the room after supplying the sheets.

You and Simeon go back into your room to make the bed, in time before you wander out to RAD together. After putting your blankets back on top, you find yourself snared by Simeon, and the falling angel walks you backwards till you fall on top of the bed with him over you.

“Simeon!?” A kiss pressed to your lips, and Simeon hugging you to him as he climbs over the top of you. You realize he is wearing the clothes he wore last night. He feels warm to your touch, and you smooth your hands up into his hair to rub. You feel along the sides of his head, feeling two nubs forming. You wonder when those started.

“Let me kiss you please. My head.. keep rubbing it please?” You let him do as he pleases, your hands massaging his head around the spots you found. Finding him pushing closer, he felt too warm, and you could feel him burying his face into the softness of your cheek.

“Are you hurting?” You check on him, and feel little kisses along your cheek.

“I won’t lie... it hurts alot right now. Your hands though... they feel nice right now... cold to my head.” You brush a hand on his forehead feeling it burning, you want to see his face, but Simeon keeps it buried into your neck not wanting you to see him grimacing or pained.

Your angel does turn his face to press repeated kisses to your lips. You reach a hand down the front of his abdomen, and he stops your hand from slipping below the hem of his pants.

“Later please. We’ll be late or won’t make it out of the room if you touch me now.” You look into his eyes, and see the blue irises taking an almost greener look to them. He nods to your question in your eyes that this is part of his falling. The pain and fever. The knots forming on his head were horns. Still hidden by hair, outward he looks no different. Unless you look closer to his face.

Simeon takes a larger breath of air, and sighs in relief, as the wave subsides. He needed your affection most, you wonder if he was slightly jealous of Asmodeus when he sought your affection. Simeon knows Asmo to be affectionate like that, but you are in a closed relationship with Simeon. You would remember to not do that in front of your angel as he needs you more.

Simeon gets up and helps you up pulling you into a full embrace. It feels different than his usual hugs, like he is afraid to let go, that you’ll slip away from his hands.

“May I be selfish?” You hear his question, you look up as his gloved hand touches the side of your face thumb rubbing your cheek affectionately.

“I think you are allowed to be.” You see him smile.

“Can I stay another night with you? I can’t face Luke tonight, I know... I’ll change tonight. I also need to tell him today. Will you help me break this news to him? Please... be understanding of his feelings, he might say some things that will be hurtful. I was in charge of him, and I let him down in a way.” You can see his eyes downcast at the idea of disappointing Luke this way. Simeon had been thinking about him as much as you have been. How will the cherub take it, with his feelings towards demons, and still growing to learn and accept them. This might undo everything Simeon worked for.

“Of course I will be there and you can stay. We should tell Lucifer first... and Diavolo.” You know you can’t hide the falling from Lucifer, he has already sensed it, he just wants you to tell him and not keep it secret, per your bond with the fallen. He wants you to seek him out when things are hard like this. Diavolo needs to know to be ready to barter with the heavens about Simeon. That Simeon belongs to the Devildom now, and as a resident to be safe from their judgements and possible try for execution. You are willing to give up returning to the human world as an exchange.

“Agreed... Diavolo last though? I need to prepare myself for talking with him.” Simeon lowers his head for more head rubbing. You run your hands through his hair and enjoy the little appreciative sounds out of him.

“You really enjoy this.” You see him light up with a blush.

“Well.. your hands feel so nice. They’re healing to me.” You keep your hands rubbing while Simeon takes repeated kisses, feverish ones, if you two didn’t have to make an appearance at RAD you would stay and be with him. Let him seek the comfort he really needs from you without prying eyes, questions about being late, or missing days because you are helping Simeon through a spell.

The last few kisses Simeon leaves on your lips leaves your head spinning, and you realize you two have been lost in time that you hear footsteps outside the door. The footfalls you know well in Lucifer’s.

“Don’t be late you two. You should get going.” You disentangle from Simeon and poke your head out of the door gazing up at Lucifer, he has his arms folded eying you weary.

“We won’t be late.” His eyes lower then raise to the crack in the door to see Simeon behind you with his ever present smile. Lucifer studying both of you.

“If you need anything let me know.” You look over your shoulder and open the door more for Lucifer, inviting him in. He sees the silent invitation and walks in. He looks Simeon over, the falling angel casts his gaze to the side, avoiding Lucifer’s scrutinizing stare. He was being read in his demeanor.

“It’s begun, hasn’t it?” His voice is not chastising, or sorrowful. Stating a fact, wistful almost.

“You can tell?” You question.

“Of course I can tell. I knew from breakfast.” Simeon raises his gaze.

“I figured you would tell me on your own time. When you could trust me with this information.” Lucifer approaches Simeon and places his hands on either side of his head. He feels the knots for horns, and gives him a head rub of his own.

“What do we do then?” Your question comes out trying to figure out how to help Simeon through the boughs of pain and fevers.

“The only things that can be done is, he repents and seeks out Michael, or he accepts his fall and we’ll just have to make room for him here in House of Lamentations. I want you to talk to Diavolo and Barbatos before you speak to anyone else about it. How many others know about it?” Lucifer asks looking at you.

“Asmodeus knows. I confided in him last night.” Lucifer nods slightly.

“He’ll thankfully keep something like this a secret. Now, go straight to Diavolo after here. He needs to know. The more you keep it a secret the worse it will be.” Lucifer instructs and you snap straight to attention at his words knowing it is an order to do so.

“Right!” Simeon nods, he wanted to tell Luke next, but Lucifer is right, the further he gets, the more it is hard to hide it from anyone. Luke would have to be told after Diavolo and Barbatos. Chances are like Lucifer they already know. Barbatos would without fail. Diavolo, it is hard to keep anything from him for long. He’s more like Lucifer, he wants you to come to him when you have problems and seek his consult out on your own than when things get worse. Such like the events of Belphegore.

You and Simeon leave together out of the room. Lucifer calls out to both of you.

“Whatever happens, know this. We’re happy for you. We’ll do whatever necessary to protect you both.” You give him a soft smile, before Lucifer shoos you off to go talk to Diavolo.

“One more thing.” You look over your shoulder, almost frustrated at being stalled longer.

“Yes?” You ask.

“Please be sure to keep the noise you make down at night. It was hard focusing on paperwork hearing you both.” Lucifer smirks when both of your faces turn bright pink. You were about to say something when Simeon ushers you out pushing you before anything more can be said.

You both prepare yourselves mentally to talk to Diavolo. You hope he will be understanding and helpful of your plights.

#shall we date simeon #simeon fluff #simeon angel #simeon x reader #simeon smut #obey me simeon #simeon x fem!reader #invi's obey me stories #lucifer obey me #om! asmodeus #asmodeus #obey me asmodeus #lucifer

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jojikawa · 3 years ago

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Mrs. Bucciarati | Bruno Bucciarati x Fem! Reader | JoJo's Bizarre Adventure

┊❥ Part 6 - Down Time

MASTERLIST

✧『Fandom』: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure

✧『Character』: Bruno Bucciarati

✧『Word Count』: 3,129 words 16,714 characters

✧『Summary』: The group kills time as they wait for Giorno and Mista to reach their destination.

The group quickly made its way back on the road to Venezia. Mista, Fugo, and Giorno were on the surface, driving the car while everyone else stayed inside to protect Trish as a second line of defense.

Inside the turtle, you had been sitting in between Narancia and Abbacchio. You had sat there first because Narancia wanted to show you something in the magazine he was reading but Abbacchio made it awkward by sitting next to you.

You had taken notice because previously, he was trying to avoid you.

Bruno was sitting on the other side of the table, his head tucked into the laptop that was used for communications. You wanted to talk but you felt like that would be distracting since he wanted to focus.

You didn’t know why but often, you would think of the first time the two of you met and the events that followed. You used to cringe at the memory of it but now that you were sure about your feelings towards him, it was wholesome.

One of your favorite memories with him was during a “charity” event your father held a few years ago. It wasn’t actually for anything charity-related.

Just another excuse to greet Italian capos. You hated it. You hated how corrupt your father was. He had a way of keeping investors while still doing dirty work.

Amongst them was Polpo from Passione in Italy and with him was a young Bruno Bucciarati. He was 17 at the time and you had just turned 16. Polpo agreed to take Bruno with him after much begging on his part. The boy just wanted to see you again.

That night, you were completely upset. Your father wanted you to sing since he and much of the staff agreed you had a nice singing voice. You were too nervous and honestly, you couldn’t even see yourself singing well at all. This upset him and he made you stay by him all night.

The ball was boring until Bruno had arrived. He found you quickly and wanted to talk. He figured that you were being held hostage by your father and wanted to help.

When we walked over, he cleared his throat. “Excuse me.” He said, grabbing your father’s attention. Your father had been speaking to a popular district attorney.

“It’s an honor to have been invited here, Mr. (l/n).” Bruno bowed, trying to seem as gentlemanly as possible.

Your father finished up his conversation before nodding the attorney away and taking a sip of his drink. “Oh, Bruno Bucciarati. I didn’t know Polpo was bringing you. I’m sure I only sent out one invitation.” Your father joked, even laughing when no one found it funny.

You just tried to tune him out, fiddling with your dress that was the same color as your father’s tuxedo.

Bruno humored him, laughing as well. “Well, you see, I couldn’t pass up the chance of hearing (y/n) sing so I had Polpo make room for one more.” His eyes lingered over to you. Bruno seemed so friendly and soft but he was tall for his age and it was almost intimidating…

You looked away, blushing after seeing the innocent twinkle in his eyes when he saw you were all dressed up. Normally, you were wearing loungewear since you were always inside. You looked so stunning!

“That’s too bad because little (y/n) over here decided that she didn’t want to help me pull any investors and she’s not singing at all tonight.” Your father lazily waved his hand in your direction, sipping more of his wine.

“I don’t believe I can sing. I’ve never had any lessons.” You spoke up for the first time. Your father narrowed his eyes at you. “Then after tonight, we’re getting you some.”

You sighed, looking away from your father and off to the side. This was so awkward… you wanted to leave.

Bruno saw what was unfolding and intervened before things could escalate.

“There’s nothing to worry about, Mr. (l/n). I’m sure (y/n) has an amazing voice. She’s just shy and there’s nothing wrong with that. Perhaps, I can help her build her confidence.” He offered his hand to you. You just stared at it.

Your father sighed. “I suppose so. I trust you, Bruno.”

Your father then let you spend the night with him and it was a lot better than just standing around.

All night, Bruno had been such a gentleman and even slow danced with you when no one was watching. You weren't very good and neither was he but you still found it enjoyable.

You had been reminiscing about the past when your thoughts were interrupted by Bruno who had been speaking to Abbacchio.

Bruno had gotten a message on the laptop asking Abbacchio to use his stand to reveal a message that was left behind.

Everyone had gathered around and you got up to look too.

Abbacchio decided to go back 15 hours. The person Moody Blues took the shape off was of the older man you had seen when you all first picked up Trish.

He explained more instructions for the team to follow. You felt so out of place. Everything about this was so bizarre. The moment you get to be with Bruno, you get wrapped up in some elaborate plan. You haven’t sat down with him since you arrived.

When you came to, you saw the image of Mr. Pericolo with a gun to his head. You had only zoned out for a moment! What happened?

Pericolo explained that because of his influence, the enemy knows that he’s helping Bruno deliver Trish. He isn’t a stand user so he doesn’t know how he could defend himself.

His only escape was killing himself before they got to him. It was tragic but these are things you sign up for in Passione.

He pulled the trigger and you saw red before Bruno hugged you to his chest and turned around to block the image of what you almost saw.

You tried to resist but he only held you tighter until the image of it was gone.

“Oh my god!!” You heard Narancia yell.

Trish and Abbacchio were speechless. You had wished that Bruno could’ve used his energy to protect the eyes of one of the children, especially Trish, but it was over now.

You wanted to cry but you were in so much shock. You felt like after everything was over, you would need some kind of therapy. It’s only been a few days and you’ve endured so much trauma. You were just a human.

“Bruno…” you tried to loosen his grip. “…let go.”

He squeezed you again when you had said his name but then without a word, he let go of you. He stood up to talk but his eyes were darkened and he was visibly sweating.

“Mr. Pericolo.”

You were dazed for a moment by his behavior but then you looked over at Trish who must have been traumatized.

You walked over and grabbed her hand. “I’m sorry that you had to see that. Are you okay?” You asked, sweetly. Her eyes darted over to you. She was shaking and sweating as well. It hurt you that she had to deal with all of this at such a young age.

“M-mhm.” She nodded and gave your hand a tight squeeze. “It’s going to be okay.” You told her.

You then realize that you would have to comfort Narancia, Fugo, and Giorno, as well. Being a mother figure wasn’t easy. You felt so obligated to be there for all of them but it was impossible.

You didn’t know how helpful Bruno was towards the younger members but you could only hope he took their mental health into account.

Before you could ask everyone about how they felt, Bruno had sent Mista and Giorno to drive while the rest of you stayed inside the turtle.

You couldn’t figure out why Bruno kept sheltering you. He wanted you by his side or inside the turtle at all times. You wanted to be able to help him protect everyone. You were tired of him acting like he could do everything on his own.

It was hard trying to get a good word in since everyone was in such close proximity. To everyone else, the way you and Bruno interacted was similar to parents. All of the kids had prominent parental issues so the two of you served as a support system when they needed it.

You were sitting next to Trish and you were unsure if you should give her space or make yourself available to speak to. You thought that maybe you should use this time to talk to Bruno but Trish had actually spoken first.

“Mrs. Bucciarati, what was your life like before you came here?” Her voice was pretty monotone as always but you could tell she was sad.

“My life? Well, I was pretty much a homebody. I just tended to my garden and practiced Italian.” You answered.

“Practicing Italian? Why?” She looked at you before realizing you weren’t a native Italian. It’s probably why your dialect sounded a bit different than most. You had a more formal way of speaking compared to the others.

“I’m from America and I know Bruno because I’m the daughter of a boss as well.” You explained with a smile. She didn’t reply to you. She just stared at you with her mouth opened a small bit. Maybe she could finally relate to someone.

You then turned your attention to Bruno who had been using the laptop. You were so worried about the boys. It didn’t feel right for you to send Mista and Giorno out on their own.

“Bruno.” You got up from your spot with Trish and went over to Bruno. You didn’t want to create a scene, so just in case things escalated, you spoke in English.

“I know you have faith in the boys, but is it really wise to send them out on their own? I could’ve gone with them.” You said down next to him, not really interested in what he was doing enough to look.

He just hummed before saying. “I don’t want you to be separated from me anymore. The last two times we got separated, you were hurt and every time we’ve been attacked, you were hurt.”

You huffed. “But you told me you were proud of me. You still don’t believe I can handle myself?”

“Cara mia, I know you can handle yourself but I just can’t have you hurt anymore. You were only taught to fight to a certain extent. If either of us makes a mistake then you could be killed.” His voice was firm. He’s never spoken to you in this tone before and it almost embarrassed you.

“But we have made mistakes. We both have. I’ve done my part in helping. I just still haven’t proven myself to you.” You turned away from him, upset that he was babying you and belittling the training you went through just for him.

Bruno look over at you who had been completely facing the other way. He reached over to your shoulder but you lightly jerked it away.

Why couldn’t you just understand that he was trying to protect you? Was it really wise to promise Giorno this ridiculous plan? Your first impression of Italy has just been filled with bloodshed. Although, if he didn’t then he never would have been Capo.

How long would it have taken him to reach the status of Capo normally?

Bruno pushed those thoughts out of his head. Maybe he was smothering you a little. It was just so hard not seeing you as a delicate flower anymore. He wished that he could’ve seen you more.

As an attempt to show affection, he reached out to your hand that has been free and resting on the sofa. The tips of his fingers brushed yours lightly but you had quickly curled them up, hiding them in a fist.

You didn’t seem to want to hold hands either.

Across the room, Fugo and Narancia were pondering on what you two could’ve been talking about. They didn’t know much English either. It was easy for the others to pay so much attention to you because of how new you were to them.

“Hey, Fugo, you know some English right? What do you think they’re talking about?” Narancia asked. “I’ve never seen Bucciarati so soft!” He hoarsely whispered into his ear.

Fugo, who was trying to rest his eyes, was getting annoyed at the boy. “No, Narancia, I don’t know what they’re saying. I’m not going to violate their privacy either. If it were meant for us to hear, then they wouldn’t have changed languages in the first place.” He explained. This made Narancia frown and retract himself.

You figured that maybe you should talk to Abbacchio for advice. You went over to the purple schemed man and Bruno’s eyes followed you curiously.

He watched as you talked to Leone with confidence and not anything at all like he expected. At first, when you first met them in Naples, he could sense your fear for that man but now you didn’t seem like you were at all.

“Leone,” You sighed and his head snapped over to you. You jumped at his reaction. “A-Abbacchio, I mean, sorry.” You raised your hands in defense and began to sweat. His neutral expression didn’t change. Deep down he didn’t mind your voice saying his name.

“As Bruno always called the shots this way? Sending the children out?” You asked softly.

This annoyed Abbacchio but still, his expression didn’t change. Of course, you would want to talk to him about Bruno of all people. Since you’ve been here, it’s just been about you and him and can’t even last 2 minutes apart when you’re just a foot away from him.

He knew that the only reason he felt this way was that he was jealous. He was probably just jealous of Bucciarati the whole time. What would it take for him to get a woman like you?

“Yeah. Always been that way.” He replied. “They know that they’re doing. Nothing new.”

A small gasp left your mouth. Everyone seemed so uncaring of the safety of the boys. But this didn’t have to mean the end.

You just had to be strong enough to protect them yourself. “I see.” That was all you had said. You didn’t care if it didn't seem like Bruno had faith in you or that there were so many children or how nonchalant Leone was about it. You had a stand too and you knew how to use it.

“Th-That’s all.” You smiled nervously before giving the man his space. You scooted further away, not wanting to move around too much and irritate everyone.

When you looked up, you saw that Bruno was just staring at you, watching. He looked upset but not angry. You wanted to comfort him but you were still upset with him. You’ve worked so hard and it’s like it doesn’t even matter to him.

For some hours, you occupied yourself with a magazine. You tested yourself by reading Italian fashion articles and keeping notes of things you wanted to buy with Bruno’s money. You made sure to bookmark pages with nice shoes and dresses you’d like to try on.

Your actions were interrupted by feeling a portion of the couch next to you sink. You looked to your left to see it was Bruno with the computer resting on his lap. He didn’t say a word and only shifted his weight so that his thigh was touching your exposed one.

This made you blush, so hard that physically acknowledged that he had done this when his goal was to be smooth with it.

“B-Bruno-” You whispered. Bruno ignored you, resting a free hand on the thigh closest to him. He leaned over, so close that the message you got was that he was trying to kiss you.

Really? In front of everyone? What’s gotten into him?

“Are you upset with me?” He whispered into your ear.

Your face heated up. You would feel his breath hitting your ear.

“N-No.” You replied, turning your head to him.

His eyes were narrowed and his face frowned. He leaned in further but he didn’t kiss you. He…licked your face?!

You yelped, breaking contact with him. What the hell was that!?

“To me, it seems like you’re lying.”

“Huh? Is this that lie detection thing you told me about? I thought that was a joke…” You wiped the faint sign of saliva on your face. “Warn me next time, okay?”

He chuckled before kissing you softly. “I thought it would cheer you up.” He said in between breaths.

You kissed back tenderly, your cheeks burning at his actions. Was this a dream?

Your minor make-out session was cut short when Narancia had brought you both back to reality.

Butterflies grew inside of you as you covered your face and turned away. You were always such a shy and delicate flower and now he knew that he could tease you with a public display of affection.

Narancia had been volunteering to be the one to go out to be on the surface so that he could use Aureo Smith to find Mista and Giorno.

You parted from Bruno, enjoying the remaining time just leaning against him. His body was warm and his cologne was faint with a hint of sweat from all the intense fighting.

You were an odd couple but the love was undeniable.

Mista and Giorno were found. Mista had sustained a lot of injuries, which the blonde male healed with his stand.

You played your role and scolded Mista at his lack of awareness to which he replied by calling you “Mom.”

“You should be more careful. You can’t always expect your wounds to be fixed. Giorno can’t help you forever!” You tapped his forehead aggressively.

“Hey, Hey! Yeah, I get it, okay, mom?” He swatted your hand away. This made you giggle.

“Mom? Where’d that come from?” You asked, chuckling to yourself.

“ ‘Cause, you’re annoying like one.” He yelled at you with faint pink dust on his cheeks.

You were the first female figure in his life that worried about him the way you did. It was very easy for them to get attached to you since they were all from broken homes.

It has only been a few days but with Bruno’s tough love and your soft and gentle nature, you two were scaffolding for what having parents was like. Minus the killing of the mafioso members pursuing you, of course.

It was unfortunate that such a cute “family” would come to an end.

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