#she left me roses by the stairs surprises let me know she cares

[yourlavendermenace]

Got home from work today & @deesarrachi had bought me flowers for no reason because she is the best spouse and I am the luckiest boy in all the lands

[oiblackestsheep]

Work Sucks, I Know

ENFJ: I hate being the new person at work. My last job, everyone knew me, and asked me for help because I was the most competent person there. I practically ran the whole place. I used to be a badass.

INTP: After 6 months at MY new job, I am somehow the most competent person there, and I hate it. I don’t mind answering questions now and then, but it is CONSTANT and very annoying because they distract me from my own work. I CAN be a leader, if I have to, but I’d rather not.

ENFJ: That’s what is confusing about you. You don’t want to be a leader, but you also don’t like being told what to do.

INTP: Yes. I realize this makes me a frustrating person.

[coolberry-black]

Let me hold you (Worst Wolverine x Bartender Reader) Pt.1

Heyy, so this is my first post. Just a heads up, English is not my first language so let me know if you see any mistakes.

I plan on having 2 or 3 parts of this, and I hope you enjoy!!

word count: 3.3k

Warnings: age-gap, reader is 26, slight daddy issues, height and size difference

Reader is a bartender, and Wade's neighbor. Logan had wanted to meet her for a long time, but thinks he's too old for a 20-something year old like her. Little does he know, she's had a crush on him for a long time...

Logan, after moving in with Wade, kinda got used to his new life. The comments from the annoying asshole never stopped, as well as the grunty responds from the other. He didn’t want to make friends - he’s gonna lose them anyway.

But as soon as he laid eyes on you in the hallway of their flat, he couldn’t help but let them linger for a moment.

It was bad, sinful, even. You were a much too young, pretty thing for an old, grumpy man like him. Every afternoon, when you got ready for work, he heard you. He heard your lock close as you hurried down the stairs. He didn’t know what your job was exactly - he only knew that you came back home when the sun was already caressing the horizon. And when he went out for a smoke, he could still smell your delicious perfume in the staircase.

He felt like a pervert for enjoying the sight of your swaying hips, for wanting to talk to you, get to know you - what would a young girl like you do with him?

After another tiring morning with Wade fucking Wilson, he decided it’s time to clear his head. But the smoke wasn’t enough, he needed something to drink.

He quickly escaped the apartment, locking the door behind him. He breathed in deeply, closing his eyes as he could still smell you. You left thirty minutes ago - just enough time for your scent to leave the hallways, but it still lingered there, not just near your apartment, but in his mind as well.

“For fuck’s sake” he whispered, putting his hands in the pockets of his jacket, hurrying down the stairs. He walked and walked in frustration, but finally found a bar a bit further from the flat, and as he could tell from outside, a quiet little pub with few people, just what he needed.

Not expecting much to happen, he, without looking around much, stepped into the place, the door closing behind him with a loud thud. He sat down on one of the bar stools, ran a hand through his messy hair, and rubbed his tired eyes.

“Rough day?” a familiar voice asked, and Logan raised his head in an instant. Then, the scent hit him - a hint of rose and something sweet, youthful. It was you. His eyes looked surprised, really not expecting to see you, especially you here.

“Had a few, yeah.” he replied in a nonchalant voice after a few passing seconds, looking in your eyes, hoping you hadn’t noticed him looking up and down your body. You wore some dark blue jeans and a black tank top - not much, but the way it hugged your curves made him feel things that he thought were long gone.

“What can I get you?” you turned to Logan with a small, soft smile, with a kind glint in your eyes. The man was taken aback by the sweet and lovely look in them, as well as your angelic voice, speaking to him in a soft tone he wasn’t used to. From the way you were looking at him, he thought you probably didn’t realize you were his next door neighbor. Which he didn’t mind, but felt an unfamiliar, sharp sting in his chest as he pondered if you would even care.

“Just a glass of whiskey.” he replied, his voice low, but much more soft than the voice he ever used with anyone. You nodded, and turned around to make his drink. His mind wandered; what would you do if he said something flirty? Would those adorable cheeks blush with embarrassment, or would you be completely disgusted by him? Or maybe… would you flirt back? He moved around in his seat, trying to get his mind off the thought.

“Here you go.” you slid him the drink on the cold, dark countertop, and then look around to see if you needed to do more around the pub. You quickly grabbed a napkin, and started cleaning up - but couldn’t help staring at the man in front of you.

He was just looking at the glass in his hand, not yet taking a sip. His features looked angry, tired - not physically, but mentally. Like he’s had enough of everything life had to offer.

“You okay?” you ask, finally giving in to the urge to talk to the mysterious man. He looked up, but avoided your gaze as he downed the amber colored beverage in one go.

“I don’t remember asking for a therapy session with my drink” his voice sounded throaty and rejecting, pushing away the thought of you.

“It’s on the house.” you grinned, and then looked around, supporting yourself on the countertop “Everyone’s had a rough couple of years, and sometimes all you need is a stranger to talk to.” he looked at you with a strange, ‘are-you-kidding-me’ look on his face, then put the glass down, curiosity plaguing his mind.

“Why do you care? Don’t you have your own shit to take care of?”

You shot him a knowing look, not seeming offended by his rude words. You lean closer, and point at a man in the corner. The guy with grayish, short hair and a bulky body looked at only one point, his mind clearly elsewhere.

“That guy” you started “lost his daughter after the Blip. One moment, everything was fine - living a family life with a beautiful wife and a kid. The next thing he knows, five years passed, and the wife married someone else. He tried to find his daughter, only to realize that she got sick and died three years ago.” you stopped for a moment, feeling sad at the thought of someone losing their life like that. If a child lost their parents, they became an orphan - but there was no word, no explanation for the pain of losing your own child “When the dad wasn’t here, they didn’t have money for the cancer treatment. Since then, he sat in the same spot, every night.”

Logan thought to himself for a few moments. Now, knowing his story, he saw the sadness, the loss in the man’s eyes, he saw the way his eyebags ran deep under his eyes, he saw him absentmindedly tapping the glass in front of him, the cigarette in his other hand long burning to ash.

“That still doesn’t answer my question.”

“Look, I just want to be nice. Sometimes, you can get things off your chest and a stranger, like me, won’t judge you for it.” you turned around to help another customer sitting in a box, leaving him with his thoughts. Even though he still felt weird about telling someone his story, maybe you were right. Maybe it would take a big weight off his chest. And you looked like you would be easy to talk to.

When you came back to take a sip of your water, he stared at you for a few moments. Now, he felt a bit guilty for being such a prick.

“Hey” he called to you, and waited till you reached the counter “Can I…?”

“Have another one? “ you finished his sentence, and he nodded, shooting you an appreciated look. You smiled back softly, and got some ice out of it’s container “Is Wade tiring you out too much?“ you ask, your voice cheeky and a half smile playing at your lips as you looked at him.

He gazed at you surprised, and then sighing as he looked at the counter. So you did recognize him. “More than you can imagine. That fucker talks all day.”

“Went down once to the laundromat. He started talking about a movie and didn’t stop until I slammed the door in his face. But, he’s a good guy.” You said, giggling to yourself, and Logan couldn’t help but find that sound adorable. You suddenly stretched your hand out in front of him, waiting for a handshake “I’m Y/N, by the way”

He tried to hide the grin at the corner of his mouth as he grabbed your hand gently and gave it a small shake. He was still very much aware of how much stronger he was than an average human, his mutant genes giving him superhuman strength “Logan”

“Well, it’s nice meeting you Logan” your smile grew bigger, and his heart almost clenched at the sound of his name from your mouth. He tried to brush away the thought of you, saying his name quite differently, in the dark of the night, gasping and closing your eyes in pleasure… No.

“Yeah, you too. How long have you been working here?” he asks, surprised himself that he somehow cares.

“Since the Blip. Lost the job I had before, and this was available. The pay isn’t too bad, especially ‘cause rent is a lot less” you answer while cleaning a glass, wiping the water away with a towel. “What do you do for work, cowboy?” you ask playfully, looking at his straight cut jeans and the leather belt, the point of his cowboy-like boot just showing. He adjusted his flannel shirt, smiling at the nickname for a moment.

“I… I do construction work. It’s better than nothin’, I guess.”

“Hm, that’s cool. Sorry, I have to ask. Are you Canadian?” you ask, getting relaxed in the conversation. He looks at you, the corners of his eyes smiling at you.

“Is my accent that noticeable?”

“Maybe, but it’s nice. It’s a change for once, I like it.” you say, almost in a flirtatious tone. You couldn’t help but stare at his broad shoulders, his trained arms and the way his chest fell and rose with each breath. His tall frame would have intimidated you if he was standing in front of you, but it was also hella attractive. Before he came into the pub, before your first words to each other, you only met in the hallways of your flat. Even there, when you caught a glimpse of him arriving- or leaving from home, you watched him, afraid to start a conversation, but wondering what his voice sounded like, what color his eyes were.

“Looks like to me this world changed a lot since that… that Blip.” he said, trying to find the words. His voice quickly woke you from your staring, making you blush as you realized that maybe ogling at him was too much.

You talked almost all night, you sometimes going back to your work when someone needed a drink, but soon, as the day came to an end, it was only the two of you left in the pub. You laughed, talked, and felt amazing. Somehow, it was so easy to talk to him, and he relaxed too. Hell, even you drank a few shots after you cleaned up.

And he had a nice time, too. You listened, and he finally felt heard. You laughed at his jokes, and the thought that his flirting skills were rusty and needed some polishing were long out of his mind.

“You know, it’s been a really long time since I could talk to someone like this.” you stated, looking into his eyes deeply. Now, that you two were alone, you paid all your attention to him. You saw that his green eyes had some brown in the middle of them, and the dim lighting of the bar made it look like they were darker, much more mysterious.

“You’re not alone. I don’t think I had this much fun with someone in a while” he smiled back, his features looking much less tired than before. He saw the blush creeping up your cheeks, and he found it adorable. He wondered if you always blushed like this, and if your eyes always had that lovely glint in them.

You stared at each other for a while, the tension rising between the two of you. The air got thick, and both of you felt that something changed. It wasn’t just fun anymore, you felt your skin getting hot under his experienced gaze. You knew he was much older than you, and even if it was wrong, you’d be lying if you said it it didn’t make your stomach tingle with excitement. You supported your head on the countertop, leaning it to the side. Your neck exposed in front of him, Logan cleared his throat, his gaze catching a glimpse of the delicious curve of your jaw, your shoulders, your collarbone. He wasn’t used to this. You looked so… soft, unlike him. You looked like you would break if he touched you, and that made him want you even more. Was it wrong that he thought about you this way? Your eyes said the same thing he felt, and it made him crazy. Your lustful gaze piercing through him made his pants tighter.

“Logan?” you called out to him, finally breaking the silence. A shiver went through him at the sound if his name from your mouth, but he looked at you with a serious expression.

“Yes, sweetheart?” the nickname fell naturally from his lips, and thankfully he didn’t seem to notice the stunned reaction from you, as you looked away in embarrassment.

“I need to close soon, so… I think we have to call it a night.” you say, your tone almost sad. He looks at the door, and then back at you.

“I’ll wait for you outside. Girls like you shouldn’t walk alone in the middle of the night” He says, a small grin in the corner of his mouth. You blush at his words, you have to give him that he knows how to take a girl off her feet.

After everything is cleaned up, the lights are off, and you make your way to the door to close it with your key. The chilly night air hit your face as you breathed in deeply, looking at Logan from the corner of your eyes. In the street lights, you could see a few gray hairs shine in his hair, you could see th way he was so much taller than you… You swore you’ve never seen a more attractive man before. His eyes finally met yours, and smiled at you. The nighttime fit him perfectly - the moon shone bright above you, and he looked at you more softly than ever.

“By the way… I… don’t wanna pry, but… Wade told me a few things about you. I couldn’t get much out of his rambling, but… you’re like him, aren’t you?” you ask, and he turns to you, waiting for the disgusted look on your face. The word mutant echoed through his head, the hatred and fear his kind had to endure from humans making his heart heavy. He nods with a bitter look on his face. He knows that you are gonna hate him, and he doesn’t even want to look in your eyes, but he turns to you anyway…

And as he looks at you, he can’t see anything else, but curiosity and care. He’s almost stunned. You don’t hate him? You don’t want to push him away? Your fingers brush against his, and he initially wants to pull away, but doesn’t move his hand. Your gentle, small touch seems to ignite something in him, even if it’s not much: hope.

Your eyes told him everything he needs to know, but if it wasn’t enough, you quietly say “Logan… It doesn’t matter if you are. I just want to know you, and nothing can make me think differently about you, alright?”

“Yeah, I… Thank you.” he says, his own words surprising him, but he doesn’t correct himself. You walk silently next to each other, and you wonder if it’s too much if you ask more about it. He somehow sees that your silence has nothing to do with the fact that he is a mutant, but it is much more about wanting to know more but being afraid to ask. “You wanna see?” he asks in a low tone, looking at you from the side, and seeing your eyes light up. Somehow, he felt safe enough with you. He wanted you to know him. To really know him, every wicked and rough part of him that he hid from the world. It already felt like you’ve known him for months.

He stopped on the sidewalk, looking around to see if anyone was roaming the streets this late. When he saw that there was no danger near you, he looks at you with a serious expression, and then after a few moments of silence, still asks “Are you sure? I don’t want you to get scared, bub.”

“I’m sure. I want to see you.” you reply, and after a moment or two, three shiny, nine-inch razor sharp claws spring from his right hand in between his knuckles. You gasp and take a small step back, but then curiously stretch your hand towards it. You caress the flat side of it, feeling the cold, smooth surface under your fingers. You have so many questions, so many things you want to know about him. “Does it…hurt?” You ask, concern noticeable in your voice as you take his hand in yours. He wants to pull away, afraid that the smallest cut of those weapons could hurt you.

“I’m used to it by now.” he says, and even though the word ‘yes’ never left his mouth, the positive answer to the question still lingers in the air. You turn his hand around, your finger lightly caressing the middle of his palm. His nerves stand on end, and he quickly retracts his claws to not cause any harm. The gentle touch of your hand almost makes him shiver, and you didn’t even realize the effect you have on him.

As soon as he pulls his claws back, you turn his hand to see the wounds, but you stand there, stunned. There is nothing, his hand is… as smooth as if nothing had pierced it just now. A moment later you realize, you’ve seen Wade regenerate limbs a thousand times, it must be much easier with a scar.

“Logan…” you begin, and even though he’s starting to trust you, he’s still waiting for you to be scared, to be taken aback by something like *him “*This is… I’ve never seen anything like this… it’s so cool!” you say excitedly, almost like a kid. The glint in your eyes almost melts his heart away, he finds you adorable as you talk on and on about how you feel about him and how you always liked superheros. He can’t help but listen, and just smile at how cute you sound.

The rest of the way, you talked, and you got to know even more about each other. As if not just a day had passed, it felt like you understood everything about him now. And he didn’t say much about his past, just that he’s from somewhere else, far away… From the pain in his voice, you realized that it was enough about personal questions from your side today.

When you reached your door, you turned to him, and looked up into his eyes “I’ve had… a lot of fun tonight. Thank you.”

He stared at you with a half-smile, his eyes piercing right through you “Me too, sweetheart. We could… repeat it sometime, if you’d like.”

You blushed at his words, and reached for his hand, gently holding his index finger in your much smaller hand “I’d love that, yeah…Goodnight, Logan” you, without a second thought, stood on your tip-toes to reach him, and pressed a kiss on his cheek, and he stood there, stunned, as you opened your door, and with a soft look and a wave of your hand, disappeared behind it.

He touched his cheek, confused, and an unfamiliar, but very pleasant feeling spread in his chest. He stayed there for a few moments, still repeating everything that happened that night. And his grumpy heart may have been a bit lighter to carry.

As you close your door, you almost jump with happiness. You take your coat off and hop on your bed excitedly as you replay everything that happened, your heart floating and your mind foggy with pink clouds. And, maybe it was too soon to say, but you really, really fell in love.

I hope you guys enjoyed it, thanks for reading, byeeee!!!

[lavender-bun]

Bonding

SUMMARY | You and Rafe have more in common than you both thought.

-requested by anon

PAIRING | rafe cameron x adopted!teen!reader

WARNINGS | drug consumption, yelling, arguing, hurt/comfort, soft!Rafe, fluff at the end

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You have been living with the Camerons for a few weeks now, still getting used to yet another family who grantly took you in. You're related to them, but not by blood. Your so-called mother met your stepfather when you were just a toddler, both quickly bonded over the fact that they're drug addicts.

You were only 6 when you got ripped out of your home and thrown into the system, going to family after family, everyone claiming you were too much to handle.

Now you were a teen and the system surprised you one day when they told you they found some of your relatives.

"They live in the Outer Banks. Ward and Rose Cameron already await you with open arms." The social worker told you with a smile while you only sighed, slumping in your seat before her desk. Great, another family who are 'oh so happy' to get to know you.

Now here you were, sitting in your room at Tannyhill and it was just how you expected. Ward did seem like a nice guy all until the papers were signed and the social worker left. He showed you your room and since then you were just air to him. A charity case to show off at events or the country club, to let everyone know what a good guy he is and how generous for finally getting you out of the system.

You hated it. After all these years of being thrown back and forth from family to family, you were now stuck here, adopted by someone who doesn't even acknowledge your presence when entering a room.

At least his kids, or your new siblings you suppose, talked with you and showed you around the Outer Banks.

Wheezie is funny and very smart. You both had a movie night once every week or sometimes you would go shopping with her, loving to just listen to her rambling or gossiping about school, sometimes she even asked you for advice.

Sarah took you several times to the Chateau where you got to know the pogues, they're a chaotic group of friends but it's nice feeling included in something.

And then there was Rafe. You don't really talk much, just the usual small talk when you would go to the kitchen to get water or when he passed your room, peaking inside to ask if you want to join him by the pool.

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One evening you got home late, stumbling through the door, high as a kite, and didn't notice Ward standing there with his arms crossed until you kicked your shoes off jumping in surprise when you turned to face him, placing a hand on your chest.

"Where were you?" he asked, his tone laced with anger.

"Out." you simply shrugged, about to walk up the stairs when Ward turned you around, grabbing your chin in one hand and examining your face.

He scoffed with a smile, letting you go harshly, making you stumble a little before he snapped at you. "You're grounded!"

"What?!"

"You heard me. For the next two weeks you won't leave the house except for school," he said crossing his arms.

"But I bet I still have to go to that stupid midsummer event, right? Have to keep up your reputation?" you laughed mockingly.

"What are you on about?"

"As if you don't know! I'm nothing but a charity case to you, a trophy you can show around and live on your act as the generous Ward Cameron, so no one knows what an actual asshole you are!" you screamed in his face, pointing a finger at him.

"You better watch who you're talking to you brat!" he shouted back.

"You're pathetic. Doing everything for another dollar in your pocket as if you don't have enough already!" you waved your arm in the air.

"Alright, you just earned yourself a month of being grounded! There are rules and as long you're under my roof and care you're going to follow them. Unless you want to end up like your mother, pregnant and as an addict."

"Fuck you!" You flipped him off, stomping up the stairs and to your room, slamming the door shut before throwing yourself on your bed burying your face in a pillow.

You never wanted to be here in the first place. You screamed into your pillow in frustration before the tears started to fall, sobbing quietly.

When you heard someone knocking on your door you ignored it at first, groaning when the knocking continued and shouted. "Leave me alone!"

It didn't stop and you sighed, wiping your face before going to answer the door. "I said leave- oh, it's you."

Rafe stood before you, hands in his pockets and lips pressed in a thin line. "Hey, I- uhh, heard what happened downstairs." he coughed awkwardly. "I just wanted to see if you're okay."

"Perfectly fine." you said with a sarcastic smile, about to close the door again.

"You want some company?" he asked, rubbing the back of his neck.

You were about to turn it down but decided against it, nodding your head you stepped to the side, a silent invitation for him to enter.

You walked back over to your bed, sitting on the edge of it, and patted the place next to you. He sat down next to you, rubbing his hands over his knees.

"So, what happened?"

"I thought you heard it?" you raised an eyebrow with a small smile on your face.

"Yeah, okay, you got me." he chuckled. "You know, Dad gets angry fast, you shouldn't take it seriously."

"Don't worry, he's nothing but a clown to me." you both laughed.

There was silence for a moment before you sighed, looking down at your hands, fidgeting with them.

"I just feel so out of place, not only here. I feel like this everywhere. I know it sounds stupid...but...I just want to feel loved and appreciated. There wasn't a single family where I felt at home." You told him, tears already forming in your eyes again. "I know I can be a lot to handle, at least, that's what I've been told my whole life..."

The tears you tried to hold back started to flow down your cheeks. Rafe straightened, slightly panicking at seeing you cry. He reaches behind you, soothingly rubbing your back.

"Shh, it's okay. C'mere." he pulls you more into his side.

He continued to hold you while you soaked his shirt in your tears, but he couldn't care less right now.

"It'll be okay, and hey, don't you know how much Wheezie and Sarah love you?" he asked and you pulled back to look at him, wiping your tears away, sniffling.

He wanted you to know that there are people who love and care for you, himself being one of them. He related to you more than you'll ever know. Being the oldest he tried to be a role model for his sisters, failing miserably, but he still did so much to get his father's attention, receiving nothing in return, not even a pat on the back.

"Really?" you asked, eyes big and filled with hope.

He nodded. "Really, trust me. You're not out of place, you just need time and that's totally valid after all you've been through." he noticed the confusion on your face since you never really talked with anyone about your past. "I've done some research," he admitted and you nodded.

"Thank you, Rafe." You smiled, still sniffling a little.

"Don't mention it, kid." he smiled, reaching a hand up to ruffle your hair. "Now, how about we go and watch a movie? Wheezie had been nagging my ear off about some new horror movie."

"Sounds perfect. I'm grounded anyways, so I don't have any plans." You shrugged making him laugh again.

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Taglist

For everything:

@lokigirlszendaya @buckymydarlingangel @superlegend216

[babygorewhore]

You are the only Exception

Blurb.

Eddie is your brother’s best friend. Who often reminds you Eddie would never go for you. But one night on a last minute change, Eddie takes you to a concert. Where he finally confesses what he’s always wanted to.

Warnings. None! Less than 1k. (Who am I?) thank you to my love @take-everything-you-can for giving me so many adorable thots for this one!!!

Your brother's best friend was Eddie Munson, someone you’ve had a crush on for years but your brother wouldn’t ever let you be alone with him for more than five minutes.

“Dude, you’re a princess and he’s just not into that.” He would say, but you didn’t care. You still admired and obsessed over him.

Tonight was the night of the paramore concert, something your brother promised to take you for your birthday. You half hoped Eddie would have joined but you didn’t voice it. You looked at your outfit in the mirror, the cropped black paramore shirt and plaid pants. Your boots gave you a few inches and your hair was styled out of your face from anticipating sweat.

Your makeup was perfect for the hot lighting and you took a million selfies and posted them all.

But a knock at your door caught your attention.

“Hey um im really sorry but I won’t be able to take you tonight.”

You spun around, prepared to scream at him when your brother held his hands up.

“But before you freak out, Eddie said he would take you. He’s downstairs. And don’t be weird. I know you have some stupid crush on him.”

You threw a shoe at him which hit him on the arm as he rolled his eyes and left. You smooth your outfit repeatedly out of nerves. Oh god. Eddie was taking you to a childhood dream concert?

As you came down the stairs, you saw Eddie talking and laughing with your brother and his smile briefly dropped and turned into something softer before he snapped into place.

“Hey, rocker girl.” He greeted you as you came closer. He reached to play with your hair and your brother smacked his hand.

“Man, come on. She’ll throw a fit if you mess up all that hairspray. She’s living her emo kid fantasy right now.”

Although he didn’t mention that it also included kissing Eddie Munson, your eyes flickered to his full lips that were casually upturned. Eddie was wearing all black with an oversized jean jacket. To your surprise, he held up two wristbands. They both said paramore.

“Kinda hard to get ahold of these but I got them. Here,” he reached to slip it on your hand and you swallowed as his ringed fingers touched your skin.

“Shall we?” Eddie held out his elbow and you curtsied.

“Lead the way, sir.” Your brother turned up his lip and you gave him an innocent look as you both walked out of the door.

Your heart thudded the entire drive and as you both situated in the growing crowd near the stage. You rose to your tip toes and back down to ease some of the anxiety when you felt Eddie’s hand go to your lower back. “It’s okay. They’ll be out soon.” He said to your ear and you felt goosebumps.

“Trust me,” he pulled back, speaking louder. “I’m an expert.” You raised your eyebrows as he started grinning.

“Oh? I didn’t realize you were such a superstar, Edward.” He put a hand over his heart.

“You wound me, princess. Playing for five drunks has made me way better than some punk pop band.” He playfully rolled his eyes.

You smacked his shoulder lightly as you heard the crowd roar. Spinning, you saw the band walk out center stage. You met their screaming and started jumping as the guitars played with their opening song.

“Are we ready??” Hayley called out and you started clapping.

As the show continued, you shed tears and your favorite songs from your teen years were played. Finally, your favorite song. The Only exception began. You raised your arms and then felt another pair wrap around your waist. You felt his jacket on your bare flesh and you turned your head. Eddie was smiling at you, his lips turned up in the lights. The shadows across his face did nothing to conceal the yearning in his brown eyes.

You leaned into him, enjoying every second as the years of pining came to mind. His hands gently traced your ribs. His cool rings pricking your skin that was hot.

“You are the only exception.” You all sang out and you instinctively pulled out of Eddie’s hold but his hand slid into your pocket. And then he started aggressively head banging.

You gasped and then cackled. But then Eddie leaned in and pressed his lips to yours. You turned and cupped his face. Meeting his kiss with parted lips as you briefly forgot about the crowd.

He pulled back and pecked your lips a few more times. “Let’s keep watching, sweetheart. Gotta face your brother when we get back.” He smirked.

“He can get over it.” You giggled and faced the stage again.

“Oh and by the way,” Eddie said against your ear again. “You’re not too much of a princess for me, sweetheart. You’re the only exception.”

Tagging @xxhellfirebunnyxx @lesservillain @emsgoodthinkin @reidsbtch @slvt4jamesmarch @marchsfreakshow

[artbyfuji]

She left me roses by the stairs,Surprises let me know she cares.

[ladylaviniya]

The Negatives of Shooting People

Chapter 3 || MasterList || Chapter 5

Chapter Summary: The ten year anniversary soiree is here for August's Lion Lounge club. And he's awfully surprised to see you, an uninvited guest...careful now....

Chapter Warnings: 18+ Dead Dove Do Not Eat, Gambling, Non-Con, Piss, Manipulation, Threats, Sexual Assualt, Bondage, Murder, Violence, Strangulation, Public Execution, Kidnapping, Bondage, Slight Daddy Kink, Slight Puppy Play Kink, Petnames.

Pairing: Kingpin!August Walker X F!reader

Word Count: 8k

Author Notes: I honestly don't know how to gamble or how it works. I read a quick wiki instruction and played a game. If anyone actually knows how to play, let me know and I'll change the writing.

Inspiring Song: "Poker Face." By Lady Gaga.

07:00pm Friday 16th August 2024, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane.

When Lloyd met you in the foyer and escorted you to the car, you noticed how his neck was tight against his bow tie. His bruised face and knuckles had lightened. He had waxed his moustache and curled the tips upward.

He whistled low and gawked at you all over. Your foot rubbed the back of your calf shyly. You were decadent in pearls and metallic shimmering from your dress.

He reminded you that your role was too find August and do whatever you could to distract him from figuring out that Lloyd, a police officer undercover had infiltrated his event.

Lloyd gave you another hundred dollars and said it was for gambling and pleasure purposes only. If August could be distracted by a drink, a game of poker, a jukebox dance even a pokie machine, that should give Lloyd plenty of time to look around for an illegal weapons auction.

You both got out of the car and found yourself escorted on his arm passed the body guard checking the invites.

You clenched a small purse under your arm tighter as you entered the massive club. It left you briefly speechless.

The floor was covered in black and gold mixed marble. The club was an old building. Probably over a century or two old. It had a huge bar and multiple show rooms. On one stage was a burlesque dancer shaking her covered nipples. In another part was a casino theme of tables and machines. And to the sides were seats, tables and booths.

Lloyd got you both to sit down and he ordered a drink. He sipped his whiskey and glanced at the stairs that spiralled up to more private rooms.

“There he is, balcony, beside the blonde.”

You tried to not be obvious when you looked over your shoulder. August was smirking with a drink in his hand, shaking hands with an old bald gentleman with beady eyes and a brief case.

As that older fellow walked away Lloyd murmured, “And that’s our cue.”

He moved out of his seat and left the whiskey behind.

You waited a few minutes. You stared at the reflection of August in the whiskey glass and bit your lip. That man was a monster. He had raped you, humiliated you and made you scared…except now you had teeth and claws to flex.

You shut your eyes and prayed to get out alive. Picking up the glass you tossed your head back and finished what Lloyd had left. Your lipstick smudged the beautiful glasswork.

You abandoned the booth and deposited the glass.

You turned back and started to glide up those stairs in your small heeled feet. You felt immaculate, confident. And you were sure…he had seen you as you ran your hand up the banister.

You slowly moved around him. He hadn’t turned to look at you yet. A blonde woman was on his other side, whispering in his ear with her seductive rose lips. She was gorgeous, legs long and slender waist. Her dress was a deep burgundy red and her gloves black. She made you look like the frumpiest woman in the club.

You leant against the railing beside them at a respectful distance. You looked over the dance floor. You recognised local representative politicians mingling, kissing, all salacious actions that the average public would be shocked to witness. A Greenie with her tongue down a Nationalists throat.

From your side you could feel his eyes. You couldn't tell if August was glaring daggers, but you knew he had seen you.

Your fingers squeezed the railing tight.

You took a deep breath in and focused not to stutter, “Fancy seeing you here.”

You managed to angle your face his way. You prayed he wouldn't look at your hands, trembling on top of the metal bar.

He looked down at his glass cup. He turned away from his golden haired friend and smirked at you. The woman attached to his side flashed you a sickly fake smile. Her eyes were full of scornful judgement.

He chuckled lightly, eyes raking up and down your body in a way to made you feel like meat in the deli section.

“Well, I do own the club Miss Y/L/N or did you not read my name on the invitation?”

You curled your toes and strained a brave smile, “Oh of course, but business is always busy with men like you…”

You looked away from him briefly, trying to compose yourself. Your hands were starting to shake while your knees felt light. You swallowed hard and returned to face his predator eyes.

“Men like me?” He purred and turned his body to lean on the railing.

You nodded slowly, trying to find a way to answer him and continue the conversation.

“Men like you,” was all you could repeat back firmly. You could feel a line of sweat crawl down the back of your neck.

He chuckled and held his empty cup to his feminine companion.

“Natalie, be a dear and fetch me some Guinness and whatever you’d like.”

Natalie winked at him and gave a girlish laugh when he smacked her backside. You wanted to scoff but at the same time you pitied her. You were scared she would be his next sexual victim. She toddled down the stairs and August slid himself closer to you on the railing. His fingers fluttered and circled around your neck. It was too public a place for him to squeeze any tighter. He couldn’t kill you out here, it was too public. His fingers softly moved over the spot where your pulse sat.

“Why are you here?” He raised his brow to you as he purred, “How did you even get in, huh? I know you didn’t get the invitation…so…have you come to take some more photos? We could have a quick interview in my office if you’d like.”

His lips were amused, but his eyes were dark and annoyed. Annoyed with you.

You shuddered, you weren’t too interested in his offering, but you had to consider how much time Lloyd needed to gain incriminating information. Lloyd didn’t know you had your phone down the front of your dress. It was risky but you wanted to catch anything if the occasion arose.

Your glanced at him, your bottom lip trembled slightly, you nuzzled his hand that started to cup your cheek.

Lightly shaking your head you said calmly, “I got your photos…the envelope…so no photos tonight…”

He chuckled and leered down your chest before leaning in closer to your face moaning, “So…what have you come for?”

You were frustrated that Lloyd really thought you’d be able to do this….this improvisation was nearly impossible when you had to face a man with a mean face. It was the tension of your chest snapping, the breath you were holding broke in a breathy sigh which was close to a gasp.

“The party,” you lied, you leant closer and let your noses touch, “Just to party.”

You laid your hand on his chest and rubbed it in large low circles. The whiskey was warm in your cheeks. You felt daring. Your heart beating strong in your ears. Do it now or you might as well drown. You squeezed your eyes shut and tightened your insides as you pushed up and kissed his mouth. His moustache scratched your top lip as you forced yourself onto him. It was a hard lip pressing peck, you felt his hot breath fan your face. The smell of his malted breath mad a hot light sing in between your legs. Your heart was thundering in your chest,

His wide cold eyes bore into your soul and he chuckled, “You make such a fucking terrible liar.”

It was like he had punched you in the gut the way the air had left your body.

“August dear, I have your drink!” the ringing of Natalie’s voice had his head turned away and letting you go. You couldn’t think, you just stood there absolutely frozen.

August collected his new refreshment, taking an impressive gulp, and you watched him lean closer to the blonde, “The accounts are settled, you can piss off now Nat.”

Her false smile faltered into a malicious smirk. She winked at you before she fled back down the stairs and greeted another gentleman in a tuxedo. You felt sick.

August leant back and cupped your waist in his awfully huge hand, “Let’s take a walk.”

He smirked feeling the shiver roll down your back. His hand squeezed your fingers as he led you down the staircase. You frantically looked out to the room and dance floor. You hoped you might see Lloyd, you might call out for him to save you.

“Ever played Roulette?” he asked setting his empty Guinness on a passing waitress tray.

You shook your head and heard him chuckle, “Of course you haven’t, good girl like you hasn’t done many things at all.”

You were slightly offended by his wording no matter how much it might’ve been true deep down.

He put his hand back to your lower back and led you to the casino rooms. There were multiple tables with different games involving cards and chips. But there was a long table surrounded by at least twenty or thirty well dressed men with their arm candy super model women. At the end was a dealer with a long metal pole. He wore a golden coloured suit. He looked serious and when his eyes caught the sight of August that cold aura disappeared. A giant smile graced his cranky appearance.

“Want to join the game sir?” he asked, “We just finished a game.”

August smiled and said, “Yes, give me ten black chips, six purple and…” he sucked his teeth, “Six yellow.”

The dealer smiled and nodded, he handed his boss, your rapist, the eftpos machine before pushing some chips towards the edge of the table you both next to.

Your eyes widened. The black chips had the number of one hundred, the purple was five hundred and the pretty yellow chips were decorate with a one and three zeros. You had a wild guess that those digits were the amount of money he was putting on the table.

To August it was nothing.

The dealer was selling other chips to the players that were from the old game wanting to buy more while August groped your hip and pressed his nose to your ear, “Lets start off easy, pick, red or black.”

You looked at the table, there were numbers between zero and thirty six. Half the numbers were covered in red, the other half in black. Your mouth felt dry. You really didn’t know what you were doing.

“Bl-“ you cleared your throat as his hand cupped your backside under the table, “Black.”

He smiled, “Now pick, do you prefer even numbers or odd?”

You looked over the red squares and noticed how half looked odd and the other half was even, you weren’t sure if this would help or set you back.

“Odd numbers,” you whispered.

His breath was hot and his eyes were trapping you where you stood. You felt embarrassed to meet his looks.

“Dealer, One hundred on Black and one hundred on Odds.”

The dealer smirked, you knew that dealer knew this wasn’t really Augusts choice.

He spun the wheel that had a metal ball tapping along inside. Round and round the crimson and black. The ball landed onto black thirty five. You held your breath.

“And now,” August purred, “You’ve just won an extra two hundred dollars pup.”

The light in your chest bloomed with excitement, the butterflies rained like a storm in your belly. You were amazed at how it was to win so quickly…but then what if it was red even that won? Or just black and even? Would you have lost it all? Half? You were tickled with curiosity to learnt this grown up game. Two new black chips along with the original were pushed back to you. August thick fingers stacked them on top of each other in a bundle.

“Lets play again, now…see those top numbers, one to twelve, thirteen to twenty four, twenty five to thirty six?” he said, gesturing to the top of the red and black chart against the green fuzzy felt of the table.

“Pick one of those three groups.”

You sucked in a breath and tried to strategize….you had more numbers in the two boxes. You didn’t want to risk less numbers more chance of losing…

“One to twelve?” you said, his large hand rubbed on your ass pressing you closer to the table edge.

“Dealer, a purple chip on the one twelve,” he said cooly not even looking at the dealer this time as he said it. You wanted to know what he was thinking as he stared right down into your skull.

“Yes sir,” said the dealer pushing the five hundred chip over the dozen number group,

“Spin hockey,” August barked and clapped his hands.

And the bowl with a ball spun. it settled on number five. The table players groaned as their games were losing. Luck of the gods must’ve been over you tonight…

“And now you’ve won an extra thousand dollars,” he hummed.

The damn game made no sense except you were happy to be winning. You didn’t expect the fear you got from being in Augusts palm mixed with the joy of winning at gambling would make you aroused and wanting.

The yellow chip was pushed to you and you daringly picked it up. It was pretty, the emboss was August Lion symbol.

“Now…see those three columns that say two to one? There’s a right, middle and left. Pick one,” he plucked the chip from your curious fingers.

“Right,” you bravely exclaim. August laughed and turned to the dealer who had gotten back to your turn, “You heard the lady, yellow on right column.”

The chip was planted and the wheel spun once more…landing on black eleven…a middle column. And just like that, a thousand dollars gone…All the warmth left your body. Now you understood a gambling drop felt worse than the gambling high. His hand snuck it’s way across your lower belly. He moved you closer into his side. His hot breath fanned over you neck.

He tutted at you, “See the risk? Got all the blood rushing, didn’t it and now you’re feeling that punch of loss?”

You slowly shook your head, agreeing. Thank fuck it wasn’t your money or the money Lloyds' had given you. So far you’d at least made August a two hundred dollars profit from the original ten thousand he bought out.

August held your hips and pressed you back into his crotch. He wasn’t hard but you could feel his warm body heat and the shape of his soft cock in his pants.

His mouth purred along the shell of your ear, “Now, Puppy, choose one number.”

He was standing behind you, trapping you against the table flushed. None of the other players took notice and if they did they didn’t care. Because maybe they didn’t know what type of monster this monster could be.

“N-nineteen,” you stuttered, choosing your age might be a safer option.

“Tell the dealer,” he whispered.

You swallowed. You felt hot and a foul arousal between your thighs. You thought about the time you played Pool with August. Your first kiss...

“Nineteen please sir,” you said to the gold suited man.

“Chip type?”

August whispered like he was telling you the dirtiest secret, “Tell him you’re all in.”

You repeat the term and made it sound like a question. You had a feeling you knew what it meant after watch movies ‘Bounty Hunter’ with Jennifer ashton and Gerald Butler. The dealer glanced at August and smirked, “All in number nineteen.”

The long metal pole came out and scooped up all your chips to the nineteen box.

When the ball began to spin inside the wheel your belly twisted and your hands desperately squeezed Augusts. You remembered there was at least ten thousand two hundred dollars on the number and you were truly risking losing all his money. You damn well knew that Lloyd didn’t give you that much and there’s be no way to pay August back.

Your eyes ran round and round the wheel, you held your breath as the metal ball landed and bounced between the numbers. You felt weak in the knees. The wheel slowed and you nearly vomited from anticipation alone managing to force your arse harshly back into August you sound and desperately buried your face into his expensive cologne soaked shirt. You worried and bit your lip hard as the clattering silver ball stopped and the wheel paused.

You could imagine the dealers face peering down into the black and red bowl of fortunes and curses, debts and dreams.

“Congratulations little lady in front row, number Nineteen, you have won three million five hundred and seven thousand dollars,” said the dealer over an excited cheering crowd.

You swore you misheard, your knees wobbled as you dared to look up at Augusts grinning face. You looked over your shoulder and true to the dealers word, that silver ball sat in the groove of red painted with the number nineteen.  All the air was drained from your lips. You could’ve fainted. You couldn’t believe it. Out of all the bad luck in your life, this felt truly unbelievable. You wished your father was here to see this. You started to smile...and then the squealing crawled out of your throat. You jumped up and down on your feet, your fingers squeezed Augusts arm tightly. The buzz inside you was wild. Your adrenaline was jumping out of adrenaline was jumping out of our throat. You knew the money wasn’t yours. It was Augusts but knowing that you’d managed to win that much by chance sent the greatest wave of euphoria.

“I won! I won! I won!” tears prickles your eyes and you cupped your mouth.

 August smiled into your cheek and chuckled softly, “Yes, you did.” His moustache scratched against your cheek, he smelt like Guinness and felt like total warmth on a cold night. His thumb rubbed beneath your arm near the space of your ribs and breast.

The dealer couldn’t give you that many chips but digitally sent a code with the prize to August as owner of the card that bought the chips in the first place.

August laughed and spun you around on your feet, he tugged you away from the roulette table towards the dance floor where a slow dance was taking place to the sombrous tones of Frank Sinatra.

“Oh my god, I did that, I can’t believe I just did that,” you muttered happily in a daze, a high. You suddenly forgot entirely everything that August had done to you in the past few weeks. You forgot your entire purpose of why you were even there. His charming face was beaming in pride.

His warm lips pecked your forehead and cheek, he repeated, “Yes, you did.”

“I mean I know it’s your money but just the thrill of just- my god,” you sucked in a new breath of air and sighed, “Thankyou for letting me experience that.”

He hummed and swayed your bodies together slowly. He could’ve picked you up and carried you away and you weren’t sure if you would’ve protested.

“My money?” he chuckled, “I can right you a cheque if you’d really like. Bank it tomorrow.”

You scoffed in disbelief, you shook your head at him, “Don’t be mean August, like you’d just give me three million dollars, be fucking for real.”

He pinched your bottom making you hiss lightly as you danced in his arms and he scolded teasingly, “Language.”

You threw your head back and giggled. You were still riding the drunk high of life.

“Welcome to bloody Australia Mister Walker,” you tapped a finger on his chest, his suit felt so smooth and expensive like silk instead of basic cotton, “Where we say all kinds of things casually; Ass, cunt, fuck, bitch, bastard and so on.”

He bent you backwards and cradled your spine as his lips pressed up into your jaw and neck, “Oh fret not, I’ll discipline it out of you. I’d rather have you speaking like a true lady who cares about her appearance.”

You scoffed again and rolled your eyes. You didn’t give a flying care in the world what he thought about a true lady. He wasn’t a true gentleman. You pushed a little away from him.

The high of life became dangerous impulsive boldness, “Why? So I can teach you that true gentleman don’t drug and rape women?”

A few heads turned at your words out of the thousands dancing and gambling around you. His jolly gaze turned black and ice. His frown was deep and displeasure greatly obvious. He looked ready to kill you...

The shudder in your chest returned. It was like a bucket of icy water dunking over your head. That glare made you sober and sheepish. You pushed away gently and smoothed your dress out.

“I...I need to pee.”

You didn’t actually, yet the fear consumed you enough, blanketing over you and you needed an escape from the danger you had willingly nosed dived into. It was the only explanation for you to flee briefly and compose yourself for more of his aggression.

His hands were tight on your wrists.

“August, I’m sorry...please let me go to the loo.”

He let you go, and muttered, “It’s upstairs, be quick, we need to talk.”

You hissed when the blood pumped back into your flesh, you felt your wrists throb in rings. Stepping backwards shakily you almost fell back into a passing waiter. It felt impossible to remove your eyes from him, to make sure he wasn’t following you.

You could feel him watching you as you kept walking to those stairs. Up the grand stairs you scurried away from him for the seconds he was distracted looking away from you, grabbing a new drink.

Just find the ladies toilet and he can’t come in right?

Your head was pounding. Breathless and flushed you didn’t look at the signs on doors. You didn’t even need the bathroom, honestly, you just needed to sit down.

Relief filled you as you looked behind. You couldn’t see August and knew he still wasn’t following you. You leant against a door and turned the handle hoping out of all these doors, this would be a toilet.

When you fell inside. You noted the room was empty…but there was also no toilet…instead there was a couch to your left and to your right a massive wall with a control panel and TVs lining the wall…on the televisions were colourful pictures moving, replaying the events of the party…they were the viewpoints of cameras…security.

You were in the security room!

With widened eyes you closed the door behind you entirely and awed at the stuff you were watching…

There wasn’t just one party going on tonight.

The screen showed the rest of the club you hadn’t had the pleasure of observing. The back stages dancers change room, the full game slot casino, a smokers room where a stripper was sucking some random man off. Your stomach twisted.

There were men sniffing coke off a woman’s thigh. Other people in another room were injecting each other with heroin.

There was a room auctioning paintings and appeared to be a business meeting. Multiple men were sitting on couches and bar stools watching while a stunning woman in the middle waving at expensive items…. Katarina Vikander. She wore a stunning green gown that hugged her body, around her neck was a thick row of diamonds, she looked like an old Hollywood actress.

You stepped closer to the screen and traced the figures of people and faces you recognised. There were even famous local politicians. Your mouth felt dry. You knew it was a simple auction but the items were familiar, they were museum pieces. There were items that morally speaking belonged to the indigenous Meanjin people. It was a inexplicable scandal.

Then there was Lloyd! He was sitting beside an older man with the bald head and beady eyes. In that man’s lap was a young woman with dark flowing hair in a very short dress, definitely young enough to be his granddaughter. yuck!

It was a room of gentlemen and their own weapons to show off. Guns and blades you were confident weren’t even allowed to be sold in Australia after the Port Arthur Massacre. There were tommy guns and automatic rifles. There were trench knives and a urban skinner daggers. Things you’d only seen in movies.

You pulled out your phone and started taking photos of the screens. They would be bad quality photos, not well enough to publish to the press but it didn’t matter, evidence was still important. August was willingly allowing this in his club and on the unlikely chance he wasn’t, it was still occurring in his club, he’d be responsible.

You thought about the amount of people these guns and knives could or had already killed. You clicked some more and quickly sat in the empty chair. There was a couch behind you, you noted the strange red splatter stains over the cushions. You took another picture. You didn’t want to consider if it was blood because that lead to the question of whose blood it was...you shuddered.

No wonder he didn’t appear as excited as you when you won the three million dollars…he probably made that in a week from profits out of these illegal auctions.

You held your breath and watched the screens further.

Soon Lloyd would bust the club. He’d call back up and the floor would go wild. Now it was a matter of waiting. Any minute now, you bet.

You took photos of the men doing drugs with the strippers and the gambling and finally the bar. You wondered how much of the alcohol would’ve been watered down to save money. It even clicked to wonder if the club even had a license to sell alcohol while the casino was open.

You were checking the photos and perched yourself on the couch when the door opened. You gasped and dropped your phone on the ground with a loud clatter.

The looming shadow entered the dark room. It was him…August…he stood inside and closed the door, away from the party, silencing the booming hustle and bustle.

“No photos tonight?” his brows lifted and a smile spread while he tutted, “Oh my sweet girl, you’re breaking daddy’s heart.”

You leant down and grabbed the phone again and shoved it into your clutch purse.

“I-I wasn’t using my c-camera…” you poorly lied.

You stood up spritely and tried to find away around him. He leant against the door, blocking your escaped. His eyes rolled from the screens back to you.

He flashed a sinister fanged smile and shook his head, “Oh no, no, I think it’s about time we chat little Miss Y/N…don’t you?”

You pouted and snarled, “Get out of my way August.”

He shook his head again and sucked his teeth, “Tell me why you really came tonight, and I will.”

You gulped. You clenched your first and said louder, “Get out of my way August or I’ll fucking scream and I’ll make a damn scene.”

He stood in silence for three solid seconds before nodding.

He moved away from the door but as you tried to pass him reaching for the doorhandle, he grabbed your waist and hauled you back. You were launched back across the floor and landed hard and sharp on the carpet. The air was knocked from your lungs and your hands lost grip of your clutch.

Gaining your bearings quickly, you shrieked and cowered. You raised your hands and shuddered. You were so sure he was going to punch and kick you, instead a soft strong hand curled over your wrist and tugged you to your knees.

“Come here,” he softly murmured, while he gently made you crawl over to the couch. On the cushions he sat before he pulled you into his thick lap. Your legs were trapped between his, while you were held on his lap.

You felt so small, so weak. His hands were warm, and strong, you were growing sore as your body overcame the shock of him throwing you back into the room. It made you feel terrified at how simply he was able to manhandle you. All those weeks without his presence had somehow made you forget how deadly and scary he could be. And despite being in his club, in a public place, he still had the upperhand and power to take what he wanted.

Your body shook as his hands touched you. He was so calm…it was unsettling and struck icily in your blood. This was the August you met that afternoon two weeks ago. This is the August that duct taped you and forced you to cum in your fathers recliner chair.

“You wearing any wires baby?” He cooed as his hand stuck down your dress top and another slipped up your thighs. You didn’t fight, but your fingers pleadingly hooked into his shirt sleeve while his hand dug around and slid around your breasts, groping your soft flesh.

His hand the groped around your thighs and lingered when cupping near your underwear. A stream of sweat trailed your face, what if he felt how wet you were in your underwear?

You shook your head and pitifully whimpered, “N-no, just the ph-phone in my bag.”

His lips pressed against your shoulder and neck before finally going to your ear, “This is what’s going to happen…” he purred, “You’re going to be my good girl and do everything I tell you, or else I’m going kill your piggy friend.”

You gasped as his fingers rubbed at your underwear covered clit.

“Wh-what?!”

“Yes poppet, I know about him,” he chuckled and sucked on your earlobe loudly, “He’s not very smart, coming here…his wire, he’s wearing…it’s not going to pick up anything.”

Your eyes dared to glance at the cameras, Lloyd was still on the screen, still watching the auction.

August moved his mouth to your other ear and moved your underwear aside, his finger easily slipped inside of you, tearing a whine from your lips at how wet you were.

“Has he fucked you yet?” He mocked, “Has the piggy touched what’s mine? Stuffed that dirty cock in this pretty puppy pussy?”

You choked on a rising sob, “No, now please st-stop.”

Tears streamed down your cheeks, tears August kissed away softly. You were watching the screens, Lloyd was looking around the room from the chair he was sitting in. Someone handed him a drink. You didn’t know what he was saying as he laughed at someone. You just wanted him to call back up, before you potentially were raped again.

August paused and slipped in another thick finger, “So…you thought you’d help him? Think I’d be so blind? It breaks my heart that either of you thought I was that dumb. This whole time I’ve been telling myself you weren’t a threat, just a dumb little girl…but that’s not entirely true huh? Miss picture perfect, taking photos she fucking well shouldn’t be.”

Your whimpered and wept with salty tears that stung hard. You heard him shuffle as he propped you onto one knee. A moment later, something hard and cold touched your cheek. You were certain this was your fault. You didn’t distract him enough, instead you ran off like a cowered. You sobbed and found it difficult to breathe seeing what that hard object in the corner of your eye was. If you weren’t so scared you might’ve screamed…

“Did you wear this for me baby?” He asked, rubbing your cheek with the warm tip of the gun, “Awfully pretty, awfully expensive for someone like you.”

Your eyes fell down at the dress you’d bought earlier that day. God you regretted it all now, all the excitement you felt buying it for tonight, it was all backfiring. You bought it knowing this was something he might want, it made you feel rich and sensual. It was your shield of confidence, ironic how a shield means nothing compared to a gun pressed to your head.

“Yes,” you wailed, “Please just let us go.”

“Us?” He scoffed scornfully, “And you’re telling me, you’re not fucking him.”

His fingers curled harshly and pinched your inner walls, cupping and shaking your entire cunt in his hand roughly. 

You whined and choked, “it’s- n-not his faul- fault…I’m…I’m-”

Your eyes widened and your mouth fell silent…Jesus fucking Christ. August was covered in a hot wet warmth. He grunted, slowly, he removed his two thick fingers out of your pussy and shook his hand of the wet liquid pouring out with three large wrist flicks.

Mortified, a blubbering fest left you mouth. A line of ‘’please” and “sorry” poured desperately out of you.

Your piss puddled the floor down to his shoes.

You had half expected him to throw you off or kill you in disgust. Instead, August hissed a little as the warm liquid soaked over his trousers. You flinched away. He put his gun back in his pocket.

He laughed darkly, “You are so silly huh? So goddamn innocent,” his wet head cupped your neck and clenched your jaw, “I think I’ve amused you long enough baby, I think it’s time I show you why you were put in my care.”

You fluttered your wet eyes at him, “Please just let Lloyd go,” you swallowed a gulp of air, “I’ll do whatever you want.”

You gagged at the acidic smell of your own urine on his hand burning into your nose. His tongue clicked and he wagged his other finger at you.

“You’re about to see what happens to shits who think to try and bring me and my friends down, go on sunshine, look at the TV’s.”

His hand jerked your head forward. You were forced to watch everything happening in the room where Lloyd was. Within seconds, there were two security guards dragging in a limping man over a giant square of tarp.

“This dumb piece of shit decided to double dip my profits in a club I own down in Sydney…dickhead thought to embezzle me…I don’t like when men take what’s mine…”

The struggling man had a black pillow case shoved over his head. He was pushed to his knees in front of Brandon Sullivan who held a gun he took out from the briefcase. Katarina stood away from the centre of the room and watch him with the brightest smile.

The gun from the suitcase wasn’t particularly impressive. It was a hand gun with an ivory hilt. American.

The barrel was pressed to the pillow case. Your eyes widened.

Your bottom lip fell, “Wait please no, he can’t, stop-”

It was two little light flickers from the tip of the weapon, the bag flutter backwards as the man’s brains were blown through. It wasn’t like the movies. His body just flopped and slammed down on the floor and in seconds the blue tarp was rolled up and dragged away, no time for the blood to soak into the auction room carpet.. Brandon put the gun down and clapped his hands.

Lloyd didn’t flinch…his eyes hid inside his cup.

You gagged and bent your head opening your mouth above Augusts spread knees, the floor not only covered in your urine was also granted a haul of your bile. The whiskey you finished from Lloyds cup came back up hard burning your throat.

Why wasn’t Lloyd arresting them there and then? Why didn’t he leave to call back up?

You trembled watching the detective standup and walk over to order a drink at a private bar. He was so vulnerable standing in the den. And he was wearing a wire that wasn’t even working and you couldn’t tell him. You were helpless, Lloyd was helpless.

“I could kill him right now if I wanted to…” August cooed as you sobbed with the shock of seeing a real person killed in front of your eyes on screen.

You wailed and turned your body away. Buring your face into his shoulder and begged, “Please don’t hurt him, please, dear god. I’ll do whatever you want!”

“Anything?” He sarcastically gasped.

Your whimpered, “Yes!”

He was laughing and humming while he was toying with what he’d do to you. He bounced his knee you were on forcing you to land hard on your crotch and gasping everytime your clit made contact with his thigh and knee.

When he stopped, he pinched your wet inner thigh, “Call me Daddy you piss soaked slut.”

You nodded and tried to slow your meltdown, “O-okay d-daddy, I will.”

“Are you sorry for trying to trick me, whore?” He said harshly.

Your chin shook as you choked out, “S-so sorry daddy. Please forgive me.”

He liked that with how he grunted and moaned.

“I guess I should huh? You come in here, looking for dirt, but you win me gold.”

He pushed you off his lap. You were scared and embarrassment. The feeling of the wet that ran down your legs was drying up, yet the puddle that was drying up was huge. The scent was pungent. Your legs were weak and wobbly. You stumbled and grabbed your clutch with your phone inside.

You heard him clear his throat and flinched when he stated, “We are going back to my office. I have wipes, and spare clothes.”

That would’ve sounded nice except you knew better, you knew he’d just rape you in there…and with these sketchy men in the auction room you could only imagine what else August had business in. Human trafficking on top of all these other crimes wouldn’t have entirely surprised you.

You needed to find a way to get away. Since Lloyd still hadn’t gotten the back up he promised, you knew you would need to abandon him too. Guilt filled your belly, you worried for the cop’s safety, but it came to the dilemma…would you risk this for the chance to save his life, or save yourself and pack up and run for it with the cash he had given you. The amount of money in your clutch could buy you a ticket up north all the way to Townsville. You hardly could imagine a British man like August in the sweltering heat of northern Queensland…only issue? It was a perfect place to hide a body. Sugar cane fields were burned daily up there. If you wanted to dump a body, it would be perfect and convenient…you thought about moving in the opposite direction to New South Wales. The Blue Mountains had a cult you had heard of, maybe they could hide you from him.

“Y/N,” August broke you from your thoughts, he touched your chin and matched your gaze, “Did you hear me? I’m going to clean you up, sort you out.”

You took a ragged breath in and nodded, “Y-yes da-dad-" you gulped loudly, "daddy.”

He smirked and pressed his mouth to yours, pulling back with a sigh, he murmured, “That’s a good girl.”

He placed his hand on your back and moved you forward to the entrance door.

Your fingers reached out and touched the handle. Your other hand was clenching your bag tightly. It was only a door…But the knob turned, and you were faster than him. You slammed it shut behind you when you rushed out the door. You raced and shoved people aside. You heard him rip and bang the door open. You felt his heavy feet chasing behind you.

You felt so fucked! Your heart was palpating, and your thighs were chaffing with that sour smell of your pee dress soaked. You almost slipped down the stairs but managed to get to the bottom before seeing him starting to run down from the top.

Guests were staring but who cared? The party was wild and many just giggled thinking it was a big game.

It wasn’t a game though, truly you believed now he was going to kill you and Lloyd if you didn’t get out now. You had no idea where that auction room was hidden. You could grab him and bolt. These seconds were precious, and you just needed to get out onto the street.

You got to the bar and as you ran forward, you saw the fire alarm off the side. You slammed a fist down hard and bolted for the exit. Sprinklers went off wild, the rain made the party wet and all the main lights activate blinding half of the club. The other guests became frantic hearing the chance of a fire happening. Everyone was starting to rush out of the club with you. You swore and hoped that Lloyd was going to be able to get out safely too.

There was no way you’d be able to go home tonight. You were a dead woman walking with the content of your phone and the murder you witnessed. You tried to find an uber driving past but the fear that August was behind you made you keep moving.

You kept running even as you got outside in the cold air. The sound of car horns and lights of the streets were chaotically plaguing your mind. You didn’t have a clue where you were running. You just kept going. There were roads totally dead and quiet, you ran across without pressing any walking buzzers. You needed to find safety. Your feet raced down pavement paths until they hit the soft dewy grass of the park. The parkour park was near the train lines, you could hear the rattling wheels and noisy horn of a passenger train go through, leaving it impossible to tell if someone was following you… But you heard could him, you swore you could hear his catching breath and hear those leather shoes sprinting behind you.

You squealed in the dark as your ran past an empty children’s playground. He was big and he was fast. You felt his hand in the air trying to grab you and successfully you dodged him. You rushed down a street of abandoned shops and tripped over a groove in the ground that you missed in the ground.

And that’s how this all started don’t you see? Don’t you remember?...

A rush of air sucked out from your lungs as your hands and knees collided with the gravel pavement. Your stupid kitten heel snapped and your handbag had flown a couple metres in front of you.

Your heart thudded against your ribs as you poorly attempted to catch your anxious breath.

“Dumb. Very stupid. I perceived you to be smarter than this…” his voice dripped into your burning hot ears.

He was behind you, you knew that…with his hands in his suit pockets. His expensive leather shoes crunched on the rocky path the closer he neared you.

You hissed when the chilly night air whistled against your cut up palms. Blood rose up from your skin, shining in the light of the city lamp. You flinched as his two fingers traced along your spine and pressed harshly down on the back of your neck.

With watery eyes, you watched him walk pass and collect your handbag. His lithe fingers dove inside and pulled out the phone. His lips pursed as he let it fall from his hand before crushing it under his foot.

The salty tears raced down your cheeks, gliding into your trembling mouth.

If only you could’ve screamed for help. If only there was someone in the park to see what had unfolded.

A hiccup escaped you and he softly cooed, “It’s alright now, I think it’s about time you received an education, my darling.”

You shook your head and felt the rise of bile in your throat.

“Please,” you begged with a rasp voice, “I won’t tell anyone. Let me go. I swear I won’t go to the police, just let me go!”

He tutted his tongue and wagged his finger. He crouched down, his soft hand combed into your sweat soaked hair and tugged your head up. Your eyes met his icy gaze.

Hopelessness filled you. Begging had fallen on deaf ears.

“That’s right, you won’t tell anyone…but I’m not finished with you yet.”

As a gasp lifted from your lips he chuckled, “You’re precious if you think I’m letting you go after seeing that.”

His cold palm grabbed the sides of your throat and began to choke you. As the oxygen was restricted, your little hands clawed desperately at his callous hand. Your feet flailed against the gravel. Tears raced down your face. It was impossible to scream out without any air to cry with. With every passing second, a dizzy blanket was clouding your mind and filling your eyes with black spots. His glare made your knees buckle. Exhaustion from fighting was taking over, your nails left his hands, your eyes were finding it difficult to stay open. Eventually your lashes shut, and you let your mind drown in the airless space of time....

Unknown...Unknown...August 2024, Brisbane.

You thought he had killed you. You genuinely believed as the blood pulverised your skull, he had choked you to death.

You felt cold and hungry…the smell of hot Chinese food woke you up.

You curled up in a tight ball, hugging your naked body. Your couldn’t see anything. Your face had been blind folded. Your mouth was chewing on something long, some type of rubbery gag. And around your neck you felt a tight squeeze and the bite of a chain…a collar? Your fingers tried to pull them off but they were tied around your head and you felt the cold shape of padlock..

The carpet scuffed.

Someone was in the room, getting up from a chair. You heard a masculine breath and you trembled covering your chest and cupping your last as your curled back up in a ball.

You were laying on a soft blanket and mattress.

You whined as a warm human finger raced down your arm and the hand splayed out over your skin.

“Good morning, pet…I’m glad I was here to see you wake up,” you heard August moan.

You felt his fuzzy moustache tough the corner of your gaged lips.

You flinched and rubbed your face into the pillows above you.

The chain moved and taunted you backwards until you sat up so you could breathe.

His hand touched your inner thigh, you felt the bed tilt to his weight.

“I bet you’re hungry, I could hear your tummy growl for quite some time before you woke up.”

You felt his fingers unlock the gag and pull it down your chin.

You gasped and enjoyed the ability to breathe properly again. You were still stuck in total darkness however.

You heard a fork clinking with a bowl. You could hear August blow on the hot food and were told to open up.

Your lips parted and your tongue was touched by the greasy goodness of Chinese honey chicken.

You chewed and tore off the meat from his fork.

“Another,” he said as he fed you some more.

Your hands reached out to hold the fork yourself before you heard him casual say, “Keep those paws down, I haven’t given you permission to use them.”

Your might’ve been blindfolded but you knew he was looking at your body. You lifted your knees up to your chin and tapped your arms around your legs.

A cold bottle of water was pushed to your lips and your mouth greedily suckled it down. You knew it could be laces with drugs but your mouth was dry and you knew you were dehydrated.

You gaspingly asked as the bottle was pulled away, “Are you going to kill me?”

You didn’t want to die but it wasnt your choice. You knew this process would be quicker and easier if you allowed death to come…you would rather die than have to succumb to rape.

“No puppy…not today.”

You didn’t feel relief. Actually you felt your chest shake as you tried to hold back your crying.

Your heard him out the fork down and felt him come onto the bed. He pulled you into his arms and let you sob. He rubbed your back and hushed you gently.

It took everything in you to not fight him…you sagged into his touch and let him hold and rock you until you composed your tears.

You should fight him…if he’s going to kill you…go out with a fight.

“Would you like some more food?” He asked and you meekly nodded, “Yes please.”

He tutted and softly scolded, “That’s not how we ask now is it?”

You couldn’t see him but your fist flew up and caught him in his shoulder, “If you th-think I’m going to call you ‘daddy’…you’re fucking nuts!”

And you truly readied yourself for the beating of a lifetime…rather…his fingers moved up and unlocked your blindfold, pulling it off your head.

You winced as the bright light of day pelted your eyes…

He was sitting on the bed. A long button up shirt with rolled up sleeves and dress pants still wearing his leather shoes. His fingers pinched your chin.

“Still want to be a bad girl?”

You realised he expected an answer. And bravely your jerked your chin away.

“You can rape me, cut me, kill me...I’m not calling you fucking ‘daddy’!” You slapped his hand away and crawled to the other side of the bed feebly. You shrieked as he slapped your naked ass hard and laughed.

“That’s alright… I’ll talk to you again in a few more hours.”

He pushed you down and slapped your hands. He put the blind fold and the gag back on. He took the cup and Chinese food away….he left you…vulnerable and nude on the bed. Alone with your thoughts for the next few hours.

 Unknown...Unknown...August 2024, Brisbane

He left you blind folded for hours right? Or was it just thirty minutes? You couldn’t tell…blind folded and gagged. You could move your arms and blindly crawl around the bed but the chain would grow taunt if you tried to climb off the mattress. You considered hanging yourself…would it have been easier to just let him find your corpse then wait to be raped?

You rolled around and felt around the covers. You were helpless and scared. For all you knew he could’ve been watching you quietly.

Your crying was muffled with the gag between your teeth. Drool dropped down your chin and dribbled to your chest. You kept wiping it up feeling revolted with yourself.

You tugged and pulled the chain, yet no freedom was granted in your attempts. You grew tired, the panic in your chest exhausted you.

Hesitantly you pulled the duvet back and wiggled yourself in between the massive pillows, you fell asleep…and it was daunting.

It didn’t help that you couldn’t tell when you drifted off to sleep and the first thing you saw was dad. He was coming home from work and you were in the lounge room flicking through the tv channels. When you saw him come through the door your were scared it was August, but seeing your dad made your heart burst with joy. Relief and peace clouded your mind.

“it was all a bad dream!” You said as you got off the couch and raced to hug your father. He was never much of a hugger, that was okay…

His hand pat your back and you sobbed, “It was so awful dad! I thought you had died, everyone said you were dead but I knew there was no way. Thank god it was just a bad drea-”

He was skinny …you hugged him tight …why did he feel so hard and sharp around his body?

“Dad, I missed you,” you licked your lips, “come on I’ll make you something to eat, why are you so thin?” You moved your head back and screamed. His work shirt was stained in blood and his skin and muscle were rotting off his body. His cheeks were hallow and the tip of his nose was gone. His eyes totally white. A slice settle on his face. He opened his mouth slowly to speak and a rotting tongue rolled out over his chin.

You kept screaming and saying “No!” Over and over again. You moved backwards and fell over on a bowl of porridge. His body fell forward on top of yours.

You couldn’t breathe from the fear. The dream went dark in shadows and it clicked that perhaps you’d woken up. But you weren’t entirely sure. You kicked your legs and curled up in a ball. You wailed and hiccupped. The gag in your mouth brought your mind back to where you were. Where you’d been trapped. You hit the mattress over and over in frustration and anger.

“Lmph ma gaoh!” let me go, you howled.

Your knees trembled and you felt nauseas. You shook your head, trying to fight the vomit that could be rising to your chest. You knew if you vomited it would go everywhere and some might stay inside your mouth or throat or up into your nose.

 You whimpered, “Peaff!” Please!

Your body tightened…you felt your bowels grow sore and your bladder tight.

Dread filled your mind with the harsh reality that if you don’t get off the bed you were going to be sitting in your own fluids. It cracked your mind….it broke your own heart…you started to scream knowing what your kidnapper wanted to hear..

“Daffy! Peaf half mah!” Daddy please help me, you bawled over and over while your legs crossed tightly and you tried to hold in your bowels. Your toes curled and your acrylic nails dug deep into the skin of your palm. You scolded yourself for letting at service woman Drew to convince getting your nails done.

It was agony, holding in for so long. Your hands cupped yourself in hopes to stop any form of self leaking.

But after the fifth or sixth begging sob…you felt his presence return. It was like he never left, you didn’t hear his feet walk over to you, you only felt his hands…he unlocked you from the chain and guided you to the guest toilet. He took off your gag and your mouth slackened. The drool that hit your feet and floor with a splat made your shoulders curl in humiliating embarrassment.

You were sat on the toilet seat. You knew he stood waiting. It made you feel worthless and disrespected, the lack of privacy as he watched you push your bladder and bowels.

And that wasnt even the worst of it.

Reaching for toilet paper to the side of you, your hands were slapped away. You heard the roll move and a quick tear. You held out your hand to take it but his hand touched your thick and you twisted away, choking on a sob….the sick fucker wouldn’t let you wipe your own body... As he wiped the piss, you grabbed his wrist and tried to tug him away from your intimates.

“I’m not a baby,” you croaked quietly. You heard him hum, “I can do it myself”

“I know you’re not a baby…I just want to remind you this body belongs to me,” he murmured as he flushed the toilet paper away and you heard his hands wash under the running water of the sink.

Your knees bounced with anxious impatience. What was he planning to do to you?

He got you to your feet and guided you back. When the tiles became carpet you guessed you were being put back onto the bed.

He locked the chain back to the collar and whispered into your temple, “Just a moment.” You felt him move away and heard him drag something heavy from under the bed. Your stomach dropped and thought the worst.

He’s grabbing power tools…he’s going to chop and stab and beat me up and then dice me up into tiny pieces, you but your lips and let your tears flow.

“Wh-what’ are you going to do to m-me?” You dared to ask the maniac millionaire.

You flinched at his echoing chuckle, “Just tie you up for now, but let’s see where that takes us? You were talking in your sleep, did you know you do that?”

Your shoulders shook and you curled. You moved back to the head of the bad and clenched the fabric tightly. You felt him dropping things on the bed. His torture tools….

“Please don’t do this,” you tried to beg, “I haven’t done anything wrong. I just want to go h-home please.”

You hated the weakness in your voice. A part of you was angry and demanding you to claw his eyes out and fight to the death. You just weren’t sure what was the right thing to do anymore. What was the least painful.

Warm fingers brushed along your shoulder, and you gasped a little too loudly, he laughed.

“Easy now, I’m just taking off the blindfold, or would you prefer I leave it on?”

Your eyes watered under the fabric, your voice broke out into a whimper, "Off please..."

HELPLINES:

If you are a victim of sexual abuse, assault or domestic violence or know someone who is please reach out to these links that share helpline services, phone numbers or emails. Consent and respect is important in every relationship whether between friends, family or even strangers. .

Australian Helpline Services

UK Helpline Services

American Helpline Services

India Helpline Services.

[cypheroo]

The Rose on The Sill | Zane Ro’meave ~ ♧

“Idk if your requests are open but…I wanted to ask for a Mcd Zane x gender-neutral reader You know when aphmau first meets him? And he kissed her hand? Yeah that, Charismatic Zane I need more of that. Like I've been reluctantly charmed by this strange off-putting priest and I need more… (if you write this my life yours/j)”

Tw : Slight off putting behavior? I dunno? Also not fully cannon as you could imagine!

Word Count : 1,467

AN: This one had me going actually insane, like i loved writing this, his lightly odd and off putting behavior mixed with his really appealing character was just aksneneksidid

His gaze was strong, the only eye you could visibly see being cold and half open. He carried himself strongly through the streets you haven't seen him walk through once.

You had lived in phoenix drop since birth. Now that you were old enough to carry your own you lived alone. Since the new lord aphmau had shown up and begun fixing the town up showing it proper leadership, it has been amazing! You had a new market place, proper homes, all the stuff your town was left with after your last lord had…gone. You were more than thankful for the now blossoming community that phoenix drop was becoming.

You weren't super surprised to see new faces show up. But you WERE surprised that a few of those faces were clearly okasis guards. On this specific day you were simply walking through the market when a man with pitch black hair and a piercing eye walked up to you, although he wasn't alone you could care less about the two guards that followed behind him. Something about this man immediately captivated you.

His words came out smooth and clear, “I do Apologize, could I bother you for a moment?” was all he asked as he slightly bowed to you, it had taken you aback as this man, who was clearly of a higher status then you, was lowering his head to you, a mere villager. You answered him with a nod, “what do you need?” you asked, your voice was wary yet intrigued of what he could need.

“I wanted to see if it was possible to meet with your Lord, or your head guard here. Either would suffice” His tone was leading, as if he was waiting for you to accept and rush away to get either or immediately. To which you nodded and looked around a bit, biting your bottom lip in thought, “I believe I Know where our lord is, if you could just wait here a second” you said back to him as you took a step to the direction of lord aphmau's home. The only thing still stopping you was waiting for a response from the man.

“Of course, I do appreciate it” he nodded as if giving you permission to rush away to where you were meant to. And you did. Quickly walking to your current lord's home, but as if he saw your starstruck appearance, Garroth had stopped you, quickly putting a hand on your shoulder. “Are you alright?” His voice has the same gruff yet comforting tone as ever. When you turned back you didn't hesitate to tell him about the okasis guards and the black haired man who by the looks of it was a priest. Although you couldn't tell the head guards expression you could sense his eyes bore a hole into yours, his usually calm demeanor became slightly frantic as he asked what the man had asked of you, when you answered with, “He wanted to see you, or lord aphmau, i was actually heading to her house before you stopped me” and that answer seemed to please garroth. He sighed as he let you go, “Retrieve Lord Aphmau. I apologize for stopping you” he stated as he turned on his heel, walking away with a bit more hurry to his step then you've seen before.

You continued up the stairs and knocked on the door to Aphmau's purple abode.when none other than Aphmau herself answered with a confused look on her face, you hurried to explain everything that was happening as of currently, and how she was wanted down in the marketplace. Aphmau seemed just as confused as you were, she stated she would head down to meet with the man as soon as possible, and with that you found yourself walking back to catch another glimpse of the odd man.

You peered over the corner and stared at him, he seemed unbelievably comfortable were he was, looking around the place as if he had been here for years. But as you zoned out thinking of how this man seemed to work, he made eye contact with you, he had caught you being a little more than odd, just staring at him. He lifted his hand and simply beckoned you over, clearly wanting a conversation with you. You jumped a bit at the sudden eye contact and swallowed hard as you wiped your shirt a bit walking over to him.

And as you stepped closer you found yourself smiling a little awkwardly, bowing your head at him and before he could even speak you assured that your lord would be here shortly, you tried to come off as assured and as if you hadn't just been watching him from a corner.

A low chuckle sounded from under his lightly colored mask, “I do appreciate it, thank you” he nodded as he then cleared his mind, “are you a local around here? Or are you only here for supplies and will get to travel again?” he asked, his voice once again leading you into answering, his demeanor was forceful, it was something that made you wanna continue a conversation.

You answered with a simple, “lived here since birth! This is my home” he seemed intrigued with the simple conversion and leaned forward a light bit, “ah, this is such a nice home, it seems so free of trouble…and problems, im sure thats a big reason you like it here, correct?” his eyes narrowed a bit as he tilted his head to the side, careful not to show his other eye. As you nodded you found yourself looking closer at the small amount of the face he was visibly showing, were those freckles? Before you could dwell too long he continued the conversation, “I must ask, considering you're here with me instead of doing anything else. Is there someone you go home to every night?” he asked simply, as if it wasn't anywhere near as personal as it really was. You blinked a few times, visibly taken aback by the forward question. He saw your hesitance to answer and followed the question with an explanation, “you're rather attractive, i'm simply asking if i'd be overstepping if i were to note how your eyes are breathtaking” he said it clearly with a smirk under that mask of his.

You quickly shook your head and smiled warmly attempting to ignore the growing redness in your cheeks, “Nope, no one waiting at home for me, i do appreciate the compliment!” you quickly brushed it off and before either of you could continue you could see lord Aphmau walking over, her eyes reading confusion and worry. Before you could back away you felt the man take your hand in his, placing it to his mask, you could feel the lips behind it form a kiss on your hand, his eyes looked to you, “My name is Zane, Zane Ro'meave, I hope we can talk more soon” he bowed once more to you. You introduced yourself and bowed back. He seemed pleased with the ending of the conversation, now turning his attention to Lord Aphmau.

Now it was later in the evening, you were home in your kitchen, drinking water, getting ready for bed but here you were. Still thinking of that man, you had heard that he had taken up space in the house not far from your home. You didn't know why his words got to you. You were almost sure that he had used those remarks on many other people to get on their good sides. Yet it still caused the butterflies inside you to flap their wings crazily at the thought of it. You sighed and took another sip of your water, but before you could finish you heard a knock at your door. You sighed softly as you set the cup down, walking to the door and opening it, jumping lightly when you were met with an okasis guard, holding out nothing but a rose to you.

Before you could decline the gift the guard cleared his throat, “Priest Zane wanted to give you this. I'd be grateful he spared a mere thought for you, let alone the idea for a gift.” the guard was pushy, dropping it in your hand and turning it away. You let out a groan as you looked down at the rose, you stepped back inside, you couldn't break your gaze from the rose. You slowly walked to the kitchen, setting the rose into the cup you had only previously drank from and set it on the window sill. You didn't know why you were still on that man's mind, but a part of you didn't hate it. But more importantly how did he know where to have the flower dropped off?

[lil-ms-darkness]

Strawberry Syrup - Bigby Wolf x Goldilocks Reader [Part Four]

A/N: Hi everyone, I am so so so sorry it took so long to get this chapter out. I got sick right after Halloween and things got super crazy. My cousin brought home a stray kitten that I've been taking care of, had to get some kitten formula and slowly get her to eat hard food.

I hope you enjoy this chapter, though, you get some soft Bigby, grumpy Bigby, and protective Bigby all in one!

See you in part five,

𝕷𝖎𝖑 𝕸𝖘 𝕯𝖆𝖗𝖐𝖓𝖊𝖘𝖘 🥀

Snow White’s gaze lifts quickly as Bigby barrels through the door to the Witching Well chamber, nostrils flaring. She shoots to her feet, but before she can utter a single sound, he’s out of the Business Office and sprinting down the hallway.

Bigby dives down the stairs, five at a time and shoves the front door open, nearly slamming the door into Trusty John. He skids to a stop just outside the gate, looking left, then right, a couple continue their way away from the apartment complex, umbrella hovering over them both to keep them dry from the New York rain. But there is no sign of [Y/N]. 

He takes a deep breath, inhaling through his nose, but it’s hard to smell anything through the damp. He closes his eyes and focuses in on his nose, blocking out the drips of the rain until they become a dull thrum in the distance. He takes another deep breath- Petrichor, wet garbage, coffee from the coffee shop on the corner, mud. The wrinkles between Bigby’s thick brows deepen in frustration.

Where the hell are you?

He clenches his knuckles and takes one more, deep breath, and then, there in the distance, a brief waft of cookies and unscented lotion. His eyes snap open and he hurries down the street, following the scent. Her scent wasn’t getting farther away, she was staying still, but she still had one hell of a head start on him. If he weren’t so focused on getting to her before anyone else did, he’d enjoy the excuse to go for a run. 

When he finally rounds the corner, 45 blocks away from the Woodland Apartments, he spots her standing under a canopy, clutching her arms around herself to keep warm. A sense of relief washes over him when he spots her, his chest heaving against his white button up, skin clinging to the now damp fabric. He catches his breath as he steps closer, her head turned as she looks down the street. As if she can feel his approach, she turns her head quickly with nervous eyes, but she relaxes when she sees it’s him. 

“Oh, Sheriff, you startled me. What are you doing here?” 

“I need you to come back to the Business Office with me for further questioning.” he answers.

Her brows raise in surprise, “Again? I just left.”

“I know, but I found something. I’ll explain more when we get back.”

She reaches out from under the canopy, palm turned up as she feels for raindrops. It has stopped for the time being, 

“Let’s go before the rain starts up again, we have a ways to go.” he looks over at her and she nods, once.

As they step through the door into the Business Office, again, Snow White makes her way to Bigby, quickly. 

“Bigby,” concern is veiled enough for [Y/N] not to notice, but Bigby is well aware of it after the years they’ve worked together, “what happened? Why did you run out of here without an explanation?” Now she sounds irritated. Classic Snow.

“The body that was glamoured to look like [Y/N] was a Mundie.” Snow’s eyes widen and her hand moves to cover her mouth as Bigby continues speaking, “I have a suspect, though.” 

Hope and fire fills Snow’s gaze again, while [Y/N]’s is more silent curiosity.

"Who do you think did this?" Snow asks

"Red."

"My sister? There's no way Rose Red did this." Her eyes widen, but Bigby shakes his head. 

"No, Red Riding Hood. There was a note on the body. It was signed by Riding Hood. Or, at least, the killer wants us to think it's Riding." He heads back towards the Witching Well chamber, flanked by the two women. 

“With all due respect, Sheriff, I know Red. She’d never do something like this.” [Y/N] says, tentatively.

Bigby steps into the chamber and makes his way towards the body, plucking the small note off the ground. He holds it out to the blonde woman, and she hesitates for a moment, eyes lingering on the paper. She takes it and reads it silently, over and over again.

“Are you certain it’s her?” Snow asks, trying to gauge his expression, hoping for a moment of explanation in his eyes.

“It’s hard to say, the paper has no scent to it. And [Y/N] hasn’t seen her since we left the homelands.”

[Y/N]’s eyes finally lift from the paper, “What does that have to do with anything?”

“Time changes everyone, the Riding that exists now may not be the same one you knew.”

“No, I know Red. I know her better than anyone.” 

“Then why haven’t you visited her since she took residence in Fabletown and escaped the Homelands?” He asks, voice monotone, unphased by the narrowing of the blondes eyes and Snow’s frustrated bunched brows.

“I’m not sure how that’s any of your business, or any relevance to your job, Mr. Wolf.” she says, glaring at him. 

“It’s relevant, because you’re going to be seeing her shortly.”

The blonde’s eyes widen before understanding settles in, “You want me to take you to her so you can question her?” Despite the blank stare he gave her, she knew she was correct. Even so, it doesn’t change anything, “I don’t know where she lives.”

Snow puts a comforting hand on [Y/N]’s shoulder, “It’s alright, I’ll have Bufkin grab the book we need.” she turns and walks out of the chamber. 

[Y/N] holds onto the paper and past one of Bigby’s broad shoulders, she can see brown tufts of hair, lustreless. She walks past the Sheriff, the hand holding the note falling to her side. She examines the woman’s face, somberly, before gently brushing her hair out of her face. She cups her cheek, acutely aware of Bigby’s gaze watching her like a hawk- or, wolf, rather. 

“We should inform her family.”

“You know that would jeopardize Fabletown.” Bigby’s tone is harsher than he meant it to be and she turns, looking at him.

“Her family will be wondering where she went, what happened to her, and will die without closure. The least we can do is tell them she’s passed.” she insists

“And we’d tell them, what? That the police are investigating, that we’ll keep in touch, that there will be a Mundie trial when there won’t be? Think for a minute. How much would you be putting in jeopardy?”

“But she deserves a burial.”

“If you want to bury her, go ahead, but it’s better if the family doesn’t know. At least, not yet.” 

[Y/N] clenches her fists, looking down before she heads for the main office. 

He groans and listens to the quiet for a long moment, looking at the Mundie’s face, again, before he turns and follows.

[Y/N] stops at Snow’s desk, examining the leatherbound book opened up. Snow flips through pages as Bufkin sits perched on the far end of the thick wood desk. He casts [Y/N] a friendly, drunken smile as she approaches. She flips a couple more pages before stopping. While the other residents of Fabletown were written in clean calligraphic print via magic, Red Riding Hood’s address was hand written in pen. Snow scribbles the address down on a scrap piece of paper, handing it to Bigby as he stops in front of her desk. 

Bigby takes it, and grabs the small note from earlier that [Y/N] set down on the table. “Let’s get going.” [Y/N] nods, and takes a deep breath, silently wishing she had something sweet or fresh baked to ease her anxiety. Something like…fresh waffles with blueberries and strawberry syrup.

The pair approach a lovely farmhouse and quietly walk up the steps to the porch. [Y/N] notices the vines wrapped around the white painted wood fence around the porch, then looks at the heavy brown door. She can hear her heart in her ears, and is certain her hands are shaking. She chews her lip nervously, and glances at the Sheriff. Did she hope he’d comfort her? She isn’t sure, but he only looks at her, before motioning to the door. 

At least now she’s less nervous and more irritated with him. She steps forward and gently pushes the doorbell. And then they wait. Her hands fumble with her clothing, fold against her chest, unfold and hang, then clasp behind her back. She taps her toes, awkwardly until there is a click at the door and the knob turns, opening in front of her. 

A young woman with short chocolate brown hair and matching eyes opens the door, dressed in a pair of fitted light blue jeans rolled up at the ankle and a simple red blouse. When the women lock eyes, all nervousness seems to fade from [Y/N] as Riding’s eyes light up in surprise and delight.

“Goldy!” The brunette lunges forward and throws her arms around her friend, and [Y/N] returns the embrace, tightly. 

“Red! I’ve missed you!” The blonde laughs, hollowly, misty eyed already. 

Red pulls away slightly, hands on her friends shoulders, 

“How have you been? Oh, we have so much we need to catch up on, come inside-” her eyes look over, having seen a silhouette in her peripheral vision. Her expression turns mildly sour and uncomfortable. “You brought the Sheriff to my doorstep?” Her voice is wounded, and now she steps back fully, an invisible wall rising between the friends. [Y/N]’s heart tightens, despite having expected such a reaction. 

“Red, I understand how it looks, but it’s serious, I promise.”

Red looks between them, and Bigby finally speaks up, “I need to ask you some questions.” 

“About?” 

“Two nights ago, where were you between midnight through five a.m.?” 

She examines him, eyes narrowing slightly, “Why am I being questioned?”

“Just answer-”

“A Mundie woman was murdered and glamoured to look like me.” [Y/N] interrupts and Bigby looks over at her quickly, frustration evident in his face. “I don’t believe it was you, but the Sheriff needs proof to rule you out.” 

Red looks over at Bigby, folded arms tightening against her middle, “I’m suspected of murder and *you* need proof that I didn’t do it? The irony.” she looks between the two of them before she lets out a weak sigh, turning just enough to grab the doorknob and push it open for them. Bigby doesn’t miss her avoiding turning her back on them - on him- and follows [Y/N] inside before Red follows, closing and locking the door behind her. “Take a seat on the couch.” [Y/N] carefully sits on the couch, tucking her ankles together to take up as little space as possible. Bigby remains standing and Red walks into the living room, sitting in a chair, “Where was I two nights ago after midnight? I was home in bed, on my phone, ordering some things.” 

“What things?” Bigby asks

Red lets out an annoyed hum, “Personal things.”

“Do you have proof?” Bigby presses and [Y/N] looks at him, concerned and upset at how he’s treating her friend. 

Red sighs, pulling out her phone and opening it up to a new internet tab, typing in a website and clicking on a few icons on the screen before turning the phone to show him. Lilypad centerpieces with flowers and lights, an archway made of flowers, and a red hair clip. “If you look right here, that’s the date I ordered it.”

“Hmm…there’s no time stamp, is there anyone who can confirm you were here when you ordered these?”

Red’s face pinkens a bit and she brings her phone back to herself, “Flycatcher was with me.” 

“Flycatcher?” [Y/N] asks, curiously. 

“Yeah….” Red smiles a bit to herself, but [Y/N] knows that smile. She smiles knowingly, but keeps it to herself. 

Bigby notices the notepad on the table and picks it up, examining it. It looks like a grocery list. “Going shopping?” 

“Sometime this afternoon, yes. Why?” 

“Nice handwriting.” he sets it down and walks for the door, “Time to pay Flycatcher a visit.”

“Wait,” [Y/N] says, standing from the couch, “why don’t you just call him? It might be easier than just going all over the place like this. And then…I’ll have some time to spend with Red? If she’ll have me?” she looks at her long time friend, hope glinting in her eyes. 

Before Red can respond, Bigby shakes his head, “I don’t have a phone I can use, and it’s easier to recognize a liar if I can see them. Let’s go.” he walks out. 

[Y/N] frowns and looks at Red, “Is it okay if I write my phone number on your notepad, so you have it for later?” 

Red examines her for a moment, glances towards the front door that Bigby had disappeared through, and for a moment, it looks as if she is going to refuse. [Y/N] braces herself for disappointment, but instead, Red nods, “Write it down, but I’ve been busy, so I won’t be available for calls very often.”

[Y/N]’s eyes widen and she nods, “Of course, I understand.” she quickly scribbles her phone number down on the page behind Red’s shopping list. 

“Oh, and Goldy?” 

[Y/N] looks up at her, heart racing, “Yes?”

“Don’t bring him here ever again.”

[Y/N] frowns, “I can’t promise that, I’m sorry.” she walks out, not looking at her friend, lest she see the betrayal in those muffin brown eyes and cry. 

“Is this what you do everyday?” [Y/N] asks, nestling in  the back seat of the taxi.

“Depends on what kind of case it is. Normally, I’m in my office sifting through files. Keeping everyone from killing each other does require some running around.”

“Evidently.” She stifles a yawn before she looks out the window, it has started raining again and the sky darkened into a macabre looming mass of dark gray on the trip back to the Woodland Apartments. The quick rhythm of droplets on the window soothes her as the weight in her eyelids begin to give way. She gives in and allows herself to fall asleep, safe in the Sheriff's company. 

Bigby feels a weight on his shoulder and glances over, his nose plunging into a soft sea of golden curls that smell like sunlight, gingerbread, and petrichor. He cranes his neck a bit to look down, finding [Y/N] in an uncomfortable position with her cheek squished between his shoulder and the seat. Her hair has fallen into her face, and he sighs inwardly, looking up at the driver before he carefully grabs the woman’s shoulder. He carefully rotates her body and looks at the seat. If he leans her head back, she’ll get a crick in her neck. He looks down at her again and lets out a huff through his nose, leaning her head onto his shoulder again, awkwardly. Her hair tickles his nose and he wrinkles it, fighting back a sneeze. He looks at her and tentatively hooks her hair with the back of his fingertips, tucking it behind her ear. Her lips are slightly parted and he can see a little bit of drool peaking out and dark circles under her eyes. He looks out the window again with a quiet sigh. 

“[Y/N].” 

She feels a hand on her shoulder, shaking her. Bark, grass, soil, cigarettes- She’s warm and comfortable, she curls in further. 

“[Y/N], wake up.” A heavy hand on her arm, and she opens her eyes, begrudgingly. She can see a white long sleeve, black slacks and the back of a seat. She blinks the sleep away and sits upright, realizing with a start who she’s laying on.

“I’m up, I’m up.” he rubs her eyes, trying to hide her embarrassment and follows Bigby out of the taxi. He pays the driver, but [Y/N] is already heading for the doors. She hears him catch up before Trusty John even has the chance to greet her or open the doors. She covers her mouth to hide another yawn and stops, waiting for the Sheriff to take the lead. 

He stops by the desk and asks Grimble about Flycatcher, but she’s still a thrall of sleep-wake limbo. She can hear the two men speak to each other, but it sounds more like the adults in that cartoon with the boy, the dog, and the girl with the football. She follows quietly behind the Sheriff as he makes his way through the halls. He catches Flycatcher in a hallway, finishing up his mopping job. 

She yawns again to herself and tries to pay attention to the conversation, but it doesn’t seem to be doing much good. She leans against the wall, hearing the low hum of their voices and slowly allows herself to slide down the wall until her butt hits the floor. Her chin finds her knees with swift ease and her eyes droop closed in moments. 

“We were both in bed, and she was asking my opinion on table settings. I’m not a fancy guy, but Riding is just considerate like that. I got home around nine.” Flycatcher says, his hair almost obscuring his green eyes, but he can see enough to tell he’s honest.Thinking back, he recalls Flycatcher leaving early enough that it would put him arriving at their home around 8:45 - 9. He sighs and nods, the only thanks Flycatcher can expect before he turns. 

[Y/N] sits, her back against the wall with her face in her knees and her hands tucked between the back of her thighs and her heels. Her hair hangs in coiled curtains. Bigby glances over at Flycatcher, “Any chance you got the time?”

The ginger glances down at his wrist watch, “Uh, around 10 pm.” 

Bigby scratches the back of his head, looking at [Y/N], “Right. Thanks.” He walks over and kneels beside her. He reaches out to shake her awake, but hesitates. Flycatchers footsteps disappear down the hall and Bigby looks over his shoulder. The hall is quiet, still, empty save for them. He turns his gaze to the sleeping woman again, really not wanting to wake her, again. 

He slides one arm between her lower back and the wall, using the other to pull her arms out of their alcove. She stirs and lifts her head, blinking dreamily at him. 

“Mmmm? Are you done?” 

“For now.” 

She nods and lifts her arms to rub her eyes. 

“Just…gimme a…moment…I’ll…” she falls asleep again with her eye and cheekbone in her palm. He sighs in quiet exasperation, slipping his other arm under her knees. He lifts her, quickly and easily. She’s lighter than he expected, and he carefully adjusts her, walking out of the hallway. He doesn’t bother with the elevator, scaling the stairs with ease, even with the woman asleep in his arms. He can feel her breath on his chest, her curls against his chin through his stubble, the warmth of her skin, and of course smell her scent. Her scent has become a welcome comfort, albeit a secret one. The strange familiarity and serenity makes him both uneasy and relieved. It’s a delicious, dangerous game that he’ll have to end after the murderer is captured. He has to keep up appearances. Whether she sees him as dangerous, vicious, and cruel is irrelevant. His reputation has both been a benefit and a pain, but around [Y/N], it’s as if none of his past existed. He isn’t so sure that’s a good thing. He thinks back to the scoldings, and the challenges she posed against him in her apartment. But then he remembers the muffins, the easy smiles, and the laughs. 

He makes it to his apartment door, awkwardly opens his door, carrying her through the door and quietly closes the door with his foot. He makes his way to his recliner and gently sets her down. She sinks into the worn leather, and he runs a hand through his hair, looking around as he tries to think of where he might have a spare blanket. He searches around his apartment until he finally finds a small brown throw blanket and he walks over to his recliner, gently covering her with the blanket. She inhales deeply and adjusts, her forearm moving under her neck. He rubs his eyes with one hand, walking over and sitting at the table. 

It isn’t the first all-nighter he’s pulled, it won't be the last. 

[jd-vance-official]

I don’t even want to talk about the DNC in Chicago. Too much pandering, not enough energy, it’s all fake anyway, late night come home, work sucks I know, she left me roses by the stairs, surprises let me know she cares.

[danielfuckingricciardo]

oh fun! 27 & fernando alonso?

Hi Anon! Thank you for the request!!

This is the last of the OG requests, from now all the rest will be from today! I’m sorry for the wait!

This one is very much inspired by the lyrics I’ve quoted, and also by my recent trip to London and how much I hate being so close to random strangers on the tube! I hope you enjoy it!

(Translations from Spanish to English can be found at the bottom of the fic!)

Song 27 - All The Small Things // Blink-182

Pairing - Fernando Alonso x Reader

Word Count - 1.6k

Content Warnings - Swearing, blood mention, injury mention (very minor)

Late night, come home Work sucks, I know She left me roses by the stairs Surprises let me know she cares

You knew from the start that being in a long distance relationship would never be easy, but somehow, you and Fernando managed to make it work despite all of the hardships that came with it. It wasn’t the fear of infidelity that made it hard for you, you trusted him completely, and for you, there could be no one else but him, but instead just being apart made your heart hurt.

The sun had long since set, and as you descended into the tube station you found your breathing becoming shaky as you struggled to hold back the tears that had been brewing since you had left your office.

Your day had been hell. From 8am you had found yourself inundated with emails from snarky clients, impatient supervisors and lazy co-workers. When the brief respite that is your lunch hour rolled around, you found that someone else in the office had eaten your lunch, causing you to go hungry for the rest of the day as you were far too busy to go and pick something up. And to top it all off, your boss had called you into his office before your shift had ended to let you know that you had to participate in ‘company-wide downsizing’ and lay off two of your staff.

Right now, you wanted nothing more than to collapse into the strong arms of your boyfriend, to bury your head in his neck and sob into the soft material of his shirt. But you couldn’t. He wasn’t there.

Your train arrives and you cram yourself into the tightly packed carriage, just barely finding the time to grab the handrail before it begins to move. You stumble forward and your phone slips from your hands, hitting the ground with a crack.

‘Please don’t be broken! Please don’t be broken!’ You repeat to yourself in your head as you reach down to retrieve it.

You flip your phone over to reveal a small crack in the corner of the screen. Luckily, it still works, and you unlock it and immediately search for Fernando’s contact, typing him a quick message before hitting send;

Work was fucking awful. I wish I was with you right now <3

You lock your phone and stash it away in your pocket, hoping to avoid any other possible mishaps on a day that, frankly, seemed to have been cursed by satan himself.

As the train arrives at your station, you push through the horde of commuters and jump onto the platform. You sigh deeply in relief, thankful that your head is no longer in proximity to a stranger’s sweaty armpit, and retrieve your headphones from your pocket. You jam them in your ears and grab your phone to shuffle your favourite playlist.

You press play, and the perfect song begins to blast in your ears, grounding you as you begin your walk home into the night.

Your phone buzzes in your pocket and you hurriedly retrieve it, hoping it was Fernando replying to your earlier message. You weren’t sure what time it was wherever he was in the world, it could be the middle of the night right now and you weren’t to receive a text until the next morning, but part of you hoped and prayed that it was him and not some stupid spam email or your shitty boss not understanding the concept of a healthy work/life balance.

A pain shoots through your thumb where you had grabbed the screen of your phone, and you notice a small splinter of glass from your broken screen buried in the sensitive skin.

“Fuck!” You say to no one in particular as you remove the splinter and bring your thumb up to your mouth to clean away the blood.

Annoyed but not deterred, you unlock your phone and see the first good thing to happen to you that day - Fernando had replied.

Oh no hermosa! I wish I was with you too. Te amo mi corazón <3 We will be together soon

You can’t help but grin like an idiot at your phone screen as you make the final turn onto your street. The only thing getting you through the long, dull days at work was the promise that the two of you would be reunited the following week. You’d actually have the chance to be a real couple, to do normal things that you rarely had the chance to do. You could vent to him about the stresses of work as you lay your head in his lap, and he’d run his fingers through your hair the way you always liked, allowing the stresses of the day to just melt away.

As you put your key in the front door, you hear Tina, the old woman who lives next door, tap on the window beside you. You jump, and she chuckles at you behind the glass.

She disappears for a moment, before emerging from her own front door, a smile playing on her lips.

“Looks like you have a secret admirer, dear. The postie brought these for you this morning, but since you weren’t in I had to sign for them.” She says, and she retrieves an ornate bouquet of deep red roses from behind the door.

You take them in your arms and open the attached note.

A rose for every day we have been apart, mi corazón. Te amo.

You fold the note in half and take a deep breath, before promptly bursting into tears.

“Are you okay, love?” Tina asks, and you nod your head.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. I just had a really bad day at work and I’ve been feeling terrible, but I have the best boyfriend in the world. I honestly don’t know what I did to deserve him. He’s away working and yet he still thinks about all these little things.” You say between sobs, and your neighbour wraps her arm around your shoulders.

“Is he gorgeous as well as kind? A stunner like you must have a hunky boyfriend.” She says, and you chuckle, wiping away your tears with your free hand.

“This was us on holiday in Cancun back in December, does he pass the Tina test?” You ask, showing her the photo of the two of you on the beach you had set as your Lock Screen following the trip.

“Crikey! He’s gorgeous. A bit older, I didn’t expect that, but good on you. Does he live with you? I haven’t seen him about.” Tina asks.

“No, no he doesn’t. He travels a lot, for work, so I only get to see him when our schedules align. I hate it, I wish I could be with him all the time but… it’s hard.” You say, and Tina gives you a sympathetic smile.

“He travels a lot, you say, does this job pay a lot?” She asks, and you chuckle. Oh, if only she knew.

“You could say that, yeah.” You say, and Tina gives you a confused look.

“Then why haven’t you given up your terrible job that makes you miserable to travel with him?” She asks, and you pause for a moment.

“I guess, when we first got together, I didn’t want him to think that I was just in it for the money. I wanted to keep my own life too, I didn’t just want to be his accessory.” You say, and Tina shakes her head.

“But if work makes you miserable, and being with him makes you happy, then I see only one option, love. Life’s too short to waste it doing things that make you sad.” She says, and you nod, feeling the final piece of the jigsaw puzzle fall into place.

“By the way, he doesn’t happen to have an older brother… or a single father maybe?” Tina asks, and you laugh.

“Tina! I know for a fact your husband of fifty years is sat watching TV in the front room right now!” You say, and Tina chuckles.

“It’s always good to have a back-up plan.” She says, and you shake your head at her while laughing.

“Well, you and Fernando have certainly cheered me up this evening. Thanks for signing for the flowers.” You say, and Tina steps back behind the door.

“Any time, dear.” She responds, before closing the door.

You make your way over your own front door where your key still sat in the lock, the cogs of your brain turning at a record pace as Tina’s words play over and over again in your mind.

Dumping your work things in a pile on the kitchen counter, you immediately open your email app and add your boss’ address to the top;

You wanted the downsize, then allow me to make things easier for you.

This email is my official resignation from the company, and, as per my contract, comes into place with immediate effect.

Thanks, (Y/n) (Y/l/n)

You press send and the whoosh of the notification instantly lifts a weight off of your shoulders that you were completely unaware you were carrying. You were free. After this weekend there would be no horrible boss, no crappy coworkers who steal your lunch, no germ-ridden commutes and no more emails. It would just be you, and Fernando, and the world.

Translations:

Hermosa - Beautiful

Te amo - I love you

Mi corazón- My heart (like my love or my dear)

[scottishaccentsareawesome]

(at the Hard Deck)

Iceman(sighs as he sits down next to Mav):...Work sucks.

Maverick: I know.

Rooster: *Looks at Hangman*

Hangman: *Looks at Rooster*

Hangman and Rooster: She left me roses by the stairs - SURPRISES LET ME KNOW SHE CARES!

Everybody in the bar: SAY IT AIN'T SO! I WILL NOT GO! TURN THE LIGHTS OFF! CARRY ME HOME!

(Maverick and Ice just look at each other like "WTF?")

[kathysturniolo]

Understand you.

description: a teenage girl, February Martin, struggling with mental health and addiction who hates talking about her feelings. she likes the fact that nobody notices. however, her best friend, Matt, starts to realize more and more that she's losing herself.

✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧

"Feb.."

"Feb, wake up."

"February.."

"Feb! "

   My eyes flickered open. I heard Sarah's voice. I looked at her. The light burned into my pupils.

"Ms. Tilson just asked you a question."

"I-I'm sorr- what? " I lifted myself up. My arms were numb.

"I asked you to identify this triangle. February. "

My eyes fixated on the board. It was blurry. I looked around and everyone's eyes were plastered to me.

"I- um- I don't know." My nails dug into my arm. I heard whispers and people were giving me looks, almost like they wanted to yell 'boo' at me.

"Miss Martin, you've been sleeping in my class almost this entire semester. "She sighed.

I didn't say anything. I wanted to. I just stared at my legs. She pinched the bridge of her nose and picked up a marker.

"Does anybody else want to try to identify the triangle? "

Hands rose like fucking springs. You idiot.

After that class, I left early. Like, 'asking to go to bathroom and then walking out of the door' early. I'm surprised I've never been caught before, after doing it at least 20 times this year. I found a gas station and sat outside on a piece of side walk and pulled out my my phone.

feb:

heyy

matt:

dude did u leave class again?

feb:

yeah lol sorry

matt:

yk your gonna get caught one day for just leaving.

feb:

it hasn't happened yet so 🤷‍♀️

matt:

ok lol. where are you?

feb:

Dan's gas station

matt:

come by my house after i get out, k?

I sighed and sat down my phone. i was going to go to a bar tonight. Get 'today' off my mind.

feb:

alright

I headed home after sitting down for about 15 minutes. If I was being honest, I didn't want to explain to my dad why I was home early, but I just wanted to go home for a little bit.

I opened the door. The creak made my body twitch. I hated this damn door.

"Dad, " I shook him.

Yep, he was knocked out.

Thank God.

His beer can spilled a little on the floor, leading me to accidently stepping in the puddle of liquid.

"Shit."

Well, that was another reason why my day sucked. I took off my now soaked converses and threw them over in the living room, rushing to my room.

My room was a mess. I didn't remember leaving it like this. I just threw myself on my bed, opening the sandwhich bag of meth I had in the corner of my bed, hidden under some covers. When Matt finds out I didn't stop using he'll be so pissed at me. His voice rang inside my head.

6:51

matt:

u still coming over?

My phone buzzes beside me. I woke up as my body was leaned off the bed.

I was definitely high. .

feb:

ya

I cut my phone off and tried to get up. My head got dizzy and my vision went black.

It's okay, maybe he won't notice.

I put on a dark blue sweatshirt, put on a pair of sneakers, and walked out of my room, down the stairs.

Dad was still fast asleep. Part of me didn't really care and wanted to let him sleep but the other part of me wanted to wake him up and make sure he didn't die in his sleep. I was almost out the door when I sighed and turned back around and made my way to my dad and put my finger under his nose to make sure he was breathing.

He was, thank God.

I walked back to the door and walked out. I forgot to lock it but, it's a small neighborhood, I think it'll be okay.

I must've not been too high, I could still function. I was kinda dizzy still. Hopefully, I don't get hit by a car as I'm walking to Matt's.

feb:

im on my way

I slid my phone in the pocket of my sweats. and speed-walked down the street and curved a couple corners until I made it to his house. He had a better house then me, it was bigger and cleaner. He loves to clean, so that makes sense.

feb:

here

A couple seconds later, Matt's blue eye met mine. He greets me with a big smile.

"Hey, kid," He said, poking out his hand, gesturing to do our handshake.

I smiled and grabbed his hand, "Bro I said stop calling me kid, you're literally younger then me," I laughed.

"By what? 4 months?" He said furrowing his eyebrows and smiling.

We both laughed and I walked into his house fully.

"Parents are at work, so we're definitely using the kitchen." He said, chuckling.

"Aww, mann, but Marylou and Jimmy are the only reason I even come here," I teased.

He laughed and we walked up the stairs to him room. He had an awesome room. His LED lights were always on green, he had a huge bed, and a big blue bean bag chair. He had a huge gaming set up, and a walk in closet with band posters stuck to it from top to bottom.

I plopped on his bed and kicked off my shoes. He climbed beside me.

"Dude, I saw this movie on TikTok, it's about some psyco killer clown. It seems pretty badass. "

I was zoned out, my head in the clouds, I almost didn't hear what Matt said.

"Alright, " I said with an unconvincing laugh.

I could tell he was confused on my lack of excitement because I saw him look at me from the corner of my eye.

He cut of the tv, and put it to the movie. My head was killing me. I clenched my eyes shut and winced a little. He tapped on my shoulder.

"Are you good bro?' He said, with a little bit of a laugh.

"Yeah, duh" I said sarcastically.

The movie played for at least 10 minutes before my vision went black again and I got dizzy. I started to lean back a little bit.

"Feb." He said, seriously. So seriously, it kind of scared me.

"What?" I said innocently, as I looked him.

He looked at me, squinting his eyes a bit. He parted his lips and frowned at me.

'You're using again. " he sighed.

"What? Matt. I'm not. I'm no- not."

I looked at him. I could see his eyes start to water.

"Feb, you promised me you'd stop. You promised me." He looked at me, with glossy eyes.

"Matt, I- I'm n-" My voice cracked. My eyes swelled with tears. "I can't, Matt."

Matt wiped his hand over his mouth. I could see a tear, screaming to come out of his eye.

I covered my mouth with my hand. I tried not to cry. I closed my eyes to try to keep the tears in.

He leaned over me, putting his hands on my arms. He looked at me, he didn't say anything. It was almost like he was waiting for the whole world to disappear and it just be us.

"February," He spoke, "It's okay."

He took his thumb and wiped his thumb across my face.

"You're my best friend Feb. You told me you were getting better. You told me that you stopped."

"Matt, I- I'm sorry." I sighed.

"What's going on? You first started using when your grandma died. That was your worst breaking point. That was 3 years ago. What's going on now? " He whispered.

"Nothing, Matt. Nothing, I promise."

"February, talk to me."

"You won't understand."

"You're my best friend, I understand you, Kid"

"My dad." I whispered.

"Your dad? What's wrong with your dad?" Matt asked concerned.

"He misses Mom, Matt. Last month was her birthday. He's been isolating since." My voice cracked.

Fuck, don't cry again February.

Matt pulled me into a hug. I put my face into the crook of his neck, trying not to cry.

"I'm so sorry. " He whispered as he rested his chin on my head. "Can you stay tonight? I just want to make sure you're okay."

I breathed out and wiped the tears off my eyes and nodded."

"I'm here for you, February. For fucking ever."

I chuckled, and we laid back and continued watching the movie.

[sikudastoner]

Darren’s Love Confession mini playlist

I was gonna make a better playlist cover but @rainwingmarvel7 is waaaaay better at making moodboards than me

Mascara by The Deftones

“Well it’s too bad you’re married to me.”

Tears Don’t Fall by Bullet For My Valentine

“Would she hear me if I called her name? Would she hold me if she knew my shame?”

I Don’t Love You by MCR

“So fix your eyes and get up, you better get up while you can. When you go and would you even turn to say “I don’t love you like I did yesterday?””

About a Girl by Nirvana

“I need an easy friend. I do, with an ear to lend. I do, think you fit this shoe. I do, but you have a clue.”

oh Nadine Nadya (you were in my dream) by Michael Cera

“Oh Nadya, woke up from a dream last night where all the skies were green. You were the sun, down on the wave came your daylight.”

I Swear This Time I Mean It by Mayday Parade

“If luck is on my side tonight, my clumsy tongue will make it right. And wrists that touch. It isn’t much, but it’s enough.”

Always by blink-182

“I’m sick of fights, I hate them. Let’s start this again, for real. So here I am, I’m trying. So here I am, are you ready?”

I Don’t Wanna Be An Asshole Anymore by The Menzingers

“And I’ve been wandering and I live through the garden of your heart ache. Always making a mess, always stumbling out the door. But I don’t wanna be an asshole anymore.”

Look After You by The Fray

“When I’m losing my control, the city spins around. You’re the only one who knows how to slow it down.”

I Love You So by The Walters

“You’re everything I want but I can’t deal with all your lovers. You’re saying I’m the one, but it’s your actions that speak louder.”

The Only Exception by Paramore

“And I’ve always lived like this: keeping a comfortable distance. And up until now I had sworn to myself that I’m content with loneliness because none of it was ever worth the risk. But you are the only exception.”

All The Small Things by blink-182

“She left me roses by the stairs, surprises let me know she cares. Say it ain’t so, I will not go. Turn the lights off, carry me home.”

[ash5monster01]

Lessons of You Part 3

Pairing: Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw x FemReader

Warnings: fluff, mentions of depression, future smut, broken reader, 18+

Summary: Blake Parker was used to running. When life got hard, she’d run. The idea of sticking around to end up broken was scarier then she’d like to admit. So she hid away, cut all ties, and lived contently on her own. She was done running because no one could find her there. That is until a Navy Pilot runs into her life, and she learns allowing yourself to love can be scary, but hiding from it can be even worse.

word count: 1,913

Intro, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Final

Masterlist

Blake was panicking. She didn’t hang out with people, let alone have people over at her house. Once upon a time she was the girl that would host everything, but now it was scary to think that she had been so out of practice. Both times she saw Bradley it was on a whim. Now knowing she would be spending time with him she couldn’t help the nerves that bubbled in her stomach. Suddenly the house wasn’t clean enough, her clothes too bland, and she had no idea what to do for dinner. Then she realized she should treat this as if it wasn’t a date. It was the furthest thing from it, and she wasn’t looking to date.

So she settled for sweats and a crop top, she left the living room looking like it was lived in, and she ordered a pizza without bothering to ask what toppings he liked. Then she focused on finishing her work, no use thinking about how her afternoon would pan out. She’d just have to wait and see. Bradley on the other hand allowed his night with her to be a great distraction for the day. He actually didn’t even care he had to do 100 push-ups after he got shot down, because he hoped she’d notice he did.

“Someone looks happy?” Hangman teased as Bradley emerged from the showers.

“I am, got a date tonight” Hangman’s eyebrows rose as they boy said this. Rooster wasn’t one to normally leave base for plans with locals. Most of them weren’t considering they only spent time with each other at the Hard Deck, hoping a local would somehow stumble their way in there and present them the opportunity.

“Bob finally say yes?” the quiet boys head popped up at the mention of his name and Bradley rolled his eyes as he looked back at the mirror.

“No, that girl from the bar the other night” he grinned, surprised he went from Blake being so stand offish to allowing him to come over. Baby steps if you will.

“Seriously, she was hot. No way she said yes” Hangman shook his head, rubbing the towel through his wet hair, looking into his own mirror,

“Yeah well, she actually offered to have me come over” Bradley wore a proud smirk, never getting tired of the fact that she was the one who suggested it. He would also happily rub it in Hangman’s face as much as he wanted because he landed the date with her, not him.

“Wow, well I’ll give it to you Bradshaw. That was unexpected” Bradley grinned at the response, happy he left Hangman in a position he couldn’t dig into him about his date.

Bradley wore that smile as he returned to his room where he changed into some jeans and a new Hawaiian shirt. It never left his face as he drove in his Bronco, windows down, the whole way to her house. Excitement flowed through him as he made his way up the stairs and went to knock on the screen door. He enjoyed the fact she seemed to leave the door open to allow the sea breeze and him inside. Yet before he could knock on the side of the screen, the sound of her voice drifting through the air stopped him.

“Did they actually ask about me? Or did you bring me up?” Bradley peered in, spotting the girl pacing with her phone pressed to her ear. She was quiet as she waited for the person on the other end to respond.

“It matters because they should miss me Mom, they should want to know how I’m doing?” Blake’s voice was high, clearly on edge. Bradley was shocked to hear it was her Mom on the phone as well, considering she seemed so standoffish about the topic before.

“If they really are asking you, then why aren’t they trying harder to reach out to me?” Bradley wished he could hear the other side of the conversation, who the girl might’ve been talking about.

“Look Mom, I’ve got to go. Just because I deleted all social media doesn’t mean they still can’t reach out. I’ll talk to you later” Bradley stepped back as she started to turn so he wouldn’t be caught eavesdropping. Slowly he calmed his heart rate as he re-approached the door.

“Knock knock” he grinned, banging his knuckles against the door frame. Blake moved over, a soft smile on her face. He adored the fact she didn’t dress up for him, her soft brown curls falling beside her face.

“Someone looks like they had a good day?” She quipped as she allowed him back into her home. Never would she have expected the running boy to be in her home twice now.

“Just excited about tonight, that’s all” Blake shook her head, shutting the door behind him.

“The pizza guy will be here soon, I didn’t feel like cooking” Bradley grinned at her, knowing she was doing everything in her power to not care about the fact he was here tonight.

“Pizza is my favorite food, perfect” Blake looked at him intently, watching as he kept a smirk on his face. If he wasn’t so close and didn’t smell so good she probably wouldn’t care as much. Once Bradley knew her mind was swarming with thoughts he sauntered over to the couch, flopping onto it comfortably. Blake followed cautiously before sitting as far away from him as possible.

“There’s a spot open right next to me you know?” Bradley gestured a hand to the open cushion beside him, wishing she wouldn’t be so closed off.

“I’m good here” Blake spoke carefully, a bit nervous considering it had been a long time she had been alone with a boy, especially one who had intentions with her. Bradley crossed his arms as he looked at her, letting thoughts swarm his head.

“Can I ask why you close everyone out, push them away?”Blakes head snapped towards the boy, shocked he asked something so rude. Yet when she saw his eyes she realized he was only being sincere, curious why she was making it so hard. “It’s just clearly there is a connection here, unless I’m crazy, and I heard you on the phone with your Mom. I just don’t understand why someone would choose to be this lonely”

“You were listening to my phone call?” Blake asked, ignoring the main question.

“Not on purpose, you left the door open and I’m in the Navy. I’m always on time” Blake sighed, turning her head away from the boy. She didn’t realize she had been so translucent, that he was able to figure her out so quickly.

“When you get hurt, it’s usually the people closest to you that hurt you. So if you keep no one close, there’s no chance of getting hurt” Bradley looked over to see Blake’s eyes had welled with tears, but she was doing everything in her power to make sure they didn’t fall.

“But if you keep nobody close you lose every chance of being loved” Blake let out a chuckle, wiping at her eyes because she had never really thought of it that way. Loneliness had consumed her, she was numb to it at this point.

“I guess I’m still trying to figure it out” she offered and Bradley smiled. He wanted to discuss it more but he knew she needed some time to sit with the thought he offered her. Bradley was lonely, but not by choice. He lost both his parents tragically and if he ever had to chance to be with them again he would take it. Seeing someone purposely choose to stay away, when she had those people who loved her, he could never understand it.

“Care to join me now?” Blake thought for a moment, looking at the all too inviting open space next to him. She knew that if she allowed herself she could curl up into the warmth of another person, wrap the blanket around them both, and actually feel human connection for once. Touch deprivation was real.

“No funny business” Blake finally said, pointing a finger at him as she got up to move. Bradley grinned, admiring all of her as she stood and moved swiftly to plop into the spot next to him.

“I’m not promising anything” he told her and she chuckled and shook her head as she slowly nudged into his side. He noticed the content hum she let out, allowing herself to be so close to him. Then the doorbell went off.

“Pizzas here” Bradley groaned, his head falling back now that she had to get up after she already got so close to him. “Sorry, I have to pay the man”

“Do not move from the spot” he told her as he stood up first. Blake immediately went to protest but he stopped her. “It’s my treat, now stay put”

Blake listened as he walked to the door, pulling his wallet out of the back pocket of his jeans. She realized she could really fall for this guy if she wasn’t careful. The soft brown locks, perfectly trimmed mustache, broad shoulders, Hawaiian shirt, tight jeans. She was in trouble. Bradley came back with pizza in hand, wearing a large grin.

“Pizza guy looked surprised to see me” Bradley teased and Blake chuckled.

“Me and him are homies, sometimes when I don’t feel like making dinner he’ll bring me a pizza. He’s a great kid, he definitely didn’t expect another person to be here with me” she explained and Bradley chuckled as he left the pizza box on the table and plopped back down next to her.

“I would say he was jealous, thought he was going to cut my head off with the look he was giving me. I tipped him ten extra dollars to guarantee my safety” Blake laughed loudly and Bradley smiled, glad he was able to move them past that awkward conversation. His heart lurched at how beautiful she was, wishing he could keep her with him forever.

“Is there something on my face?” Blake asked once she had calmed down and saw how hard Bradley was staring at her. He shook his head slowly, still trying to memorize all of her features. Blake’s breath hitched in her throat as she realized how closely he was staring at her, lust filled eyes tracing over every single one of her features.

“I’m going to kiss you now, I can’t wait any longer” before Blake could even respond Bradley’s large hand grasped the back of her head and pulled her mouth flush against his. Eyes wide she was shocked he had done that but then the feeling off his soft lips took over and completely out of her control she wrapped her arms around his neck. It had been so long since she had kissed someone, the feeling was euphoric, it had her on a cloud 9. Bradley’s warm mouth melded perfectly against her own, tongue swirling around hers. The moan she let out into his mouth was against her will as he kissed her like his entire life depended on it. His mustache scratched at her lip slightly but she didn’t mind in the slightest as he pulled her into his lap.

As Blake continued to kiss Bradley she realized for the first time in a long time that it just might be okay to start letting people back in.

[redprotons]

First Aid - DoctorRose Bingo

Summary:

Rose ends up hurt on the estate at a time where the Doctor is avoiding her at all costs.

Notes:

warnings: minor description of injury, hint of past turbulent relationship, emotional angst, swearing.

Embarrassed, really. She was embarrassed more than anything. She’d lost count how many planets and people she helped save – not that she ever counted, but still, she knew it was a LOT. She’d faced death hundreds of times, outsmarted aliens; Ice Warriors, Slitheen, the flood. She’d done all that and come out with barely a scratch, and she trips down the stairs… just off of the estate… stairs she’d walked up and down her whole life, and, she was pretty sure,  broken her arm.

God, what a bloody plonker she was, the throbbing pain was well deserved.

For a while she just sat on the steps, staring into space. Part of her thought she was in shock, but shock that she’d been hurt like this, this after everything else that had tried to kill her in the last week alone.

It was her own fault, though.

She’d spotted Jimmy’s mother in Tesco. A wretched woman who she once tried so hard to please, but no matter what she did there was always something wrong. She’d go to sleep crying some nights over dishes stacked the wrong way. And the worst thing was, because Jimmy was Jimmy, she truly believed it was her who was in the wrong – that she was being too sensitive, too much of a bitch, too whiny. Well, she wasn’t such an idiot these days - ha. She strode right up to the hag and gave her a piece of her mind, and maybe, just a little, looking to reassure herself. She launched into how her son was a horrible piece of shit who manipulated women – because she knew she was not the first,  she was just convinced into believing otherwise back then – and bled them dry, and it was no surprise because she was a horrible mother in which her perfect little angel could do no wrong,  and thank God her family got her out before he dragged her down with him.

She was expecting a fight – screams of ‘how dare you talk to me like that!'.

Instead, Laura Stone burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably.

Jimmy was dead, killed way back in the Auton invasion.

Utterly mortified, she fumbled out an apology and left, her cheeks burning, fully accepting, that from now on until she perished,  she’d have to walk a mile out of her way to the Sainsbury's local further down the road.

It felt weird. She wasn’t sad he was dead… or maybe she was. It was all sort of muddled. She was absolutely in love with him at one point in her life after all – would do anything for him. But the fact it was Jimmy was almost insignificant. No, it was more because someone from her past had died. Someone she knew from school had lost their life to the adventures she lived every day. It made it real; the danger. The fact that she could die, that her mum, that this world's Jackie Tyler, could really die. That Mickey might be dead, but now she would never know.

It was more difficult to convince herself it would never happen to the people she cared about, when it already, in a way, had. And she'd not had a clue.

Maybe Jack had died after all, and the Doctor decided to let her live in ignorance.

It scared her, and that horrid niggle in her stomach lingering from Pete's Jackie's death intensified.

Taking a deep breath in, and an even longer breath out, Rose pushed it all down. Scared or not, it didn’t change the fact that her arm hurt… a lot. She would need to see someone about it and, as much as she had figured out, she had three options.

One, find the Doctor. She didn’t have anyway to contact him, but the Tardis wasn’t parked far away. She could call her mum to let her know something came up, and wait in the console room. He'd eventually come back from wherever he’d actually gone to hide from her. With all the advanced medical equipment on the Tardis, a broken bone would basically be first aid. She’d probably be able to go home for dinner, her mum none the wiser.

Two, call her mum to come and get her. They’d go to A&E, and she’d get patched up the old-fashioned way. And it takes so long to be seen, the Doctor would eventually worry something was wrong… she hoped, and call her. She’d lie, she’d stay a few days with her mum, and, with how he was acting at the moment, she doubted he'd notice.

And three, tell neither of them, and go to the Tardis and see if she could work out how to heal her arm herself.

At this present moment in time, she was leaning more towards three. The Doctor was being weird with her lately. Whether it was because of Mickey and Pete world’s Pete, or the whole France incident, she didn’t know, but he'd avoid her one adventure, then not leave her side the next. There was a dread in her gut that told her it was because he was getting ready to give her the chuck. Which she didn’t really want at the moment, and especially now. The Doctor made her feel safe, despite how much of an arse he could be, and with this sudden reality check, she wanted to be somewhere safe right now. But if he saw her hurt, and from such a stupid accident, it might speed up the process. And also, he was so annoyingly curious and bloody nosy, that he’d know the whole Jimmy story by the end of it, and she was, admittedly, ashamed of that chapter in her life… and sometimes,  with this new-new doctor, she wondered if the same thing was happening all over again.

So, then there was her mum. With Mickey, and now Jimmy, she was extra sensitive. She missed home and missed her family and friends. She’d even made a plan to see Shareen while they were here. But her mum was also nosy, and she would question why she didn’t want to go to the Doctor to get sorted, and then she’d have to say, and then her mum would slap the Doctor into a new face,  shout bloody murder at him, and threaten to cut off his crown jewels if he didn’t clean up his act.

Rose smiled despite herself.

The Doctor would never admit it, but he feared Jackie. Yet, more than Jackie, he feared any sort of social uncomfortableness. In his current body especially. He’d run to the Tardis and never come back. She’d have to get a job, and go back to the Rose she was before him. Which, she now realised, wasn’t that far below the surface as she initially thought.

Grimacing, she heaved herself off the step, walking in the direction of the Tardis.

So… three it was.

“Rose?” the Doctor asked, popping his head up through the grating just as she reached the corridor.

Her shoulders slumped, of course he was there – typical.

She plastered on a smile before she turned around. “Yeah?” she asked cheerfully.

His face dropped instantly. “What happened!” he asked, springing out of the gap in the grating and rushing over to her. His eyes were fixed on one side of her cheek, and she realised she must’ve hit her face as she tumbled. With the pain from her arm, she hadn’t noticed.

“It’s nothing.” she said.

 “It doesn’t look like nothing.” he accused.

  Yeah, well, he hadn’t noticed her arm yet. She didn’t say anything.

The Doctor pressed his lips together. There was an argument there, a demand, but he didn’t voice it. “Come on.” he said instead. “Let’s get that healed up.”

Then he took her hand, the broken one. The pain had already been getting worse the closer she got to the Tardis. She guessed it was the shock wearing off. His grip was sharp, and it really, really hurt. She couldn’t hold back the sob.

The Doctor let go instantly. “Rose?” he asked, the concern, and absolute horror that he’d hurt her, clear in his voice.

But the pain was too much. She’d been trying to be brave – be strong with everything she was feeling, but this was her limit. She started crying. He quickly scanned her with the screwdriver. God, she was so embarrassed.

“Okay, Rose, listen to me you’ll be fine. Rose? I’ll fix this, I promise.” She nodded through her tears. “Just stay here, don’t move. I’ll be right back.” he said, before rushing off into the depths of the Tardis.

When he returned, there was a ratty old gym bag slung over his shoulder. He must’ve sprinted the whole way, because he was out of breath, which he rarely was - all the running he did coupled with his ‘superior biology’ he loved to mention… all the time.

He was really worried.

“Okay, this -” he began jovially, unzipping the bag and pulling out a clunky metal tube cast that looked akin to a torture device crossed with a rusty cyberman arm. “- is the best bone healer of the 97th century, will fix you up in a jiffy.” he explained. “Just need to tune it up a bit and run a scan so it heals you nice and proper.” He beamed at her, an invitation – or maybe a plea – for any sort of positive response.

She felt too awful to muster the effort. She just wanted him to heal her up. She nodded.

The smile slid off his face, and he got to work. He was gentle, oh so very gentle, despite the clear tenseness in his shoulders as he worked – the way his jaw was set.

The machine made an ungodly rattling sound when he switched it on. A wave of tiredness crashed over her, while, at the same time, the pain dissipated and lifted her mood.

“Better?” he asked cheerfully.

She yawned and forced out a smile. “Yeah, thanks.” she said, and saw a little of that tension leave him. She knew he was going to ask, so she spoke before he had the chance. “I better get back to mum’s then.” she said. “She’ll be wanting the milk for her tea.”

“Did someone attack you.” he asked darkly, all preambles gone from his voice.

 Her face fell. She hadn’t thought he’d drop the façade so quickly. Unable to meet his eye, she fiddled with her sleeve. “It’s so stupid.” she said. “I tripped down the steps at the back of Spring.”

The Doctor’s eyebrows shot up his forehead. “Spring?”

“The block with that little post office.” she clarified.

“Ah.” He studied her for a long moment. “And you tripped?”

“Yeah.” She didn’t look up.

“Rose.” From the tone of his voice it was obvious he didn’t believe her.

“It’s true!” she protested. “That’s why I didn’t say because it’s so bloody embarrassing – alright!” she snapped back at him.

He gaped stupidly for the second it took him to work everything out. Why was he so smart?

“It was that loose pave-stone, wasn’t it? That one you yourself warned me about. You’re always careful on those steps since you cut your knee open when you were a child – that’s what you said.” He was mad now. “Something happened. What was it? And more importantly, why’d you try and sneak off by yourself and not tell me.”

“I don’t have to tell you everything.” she bit back on the defensive. “You never do.”

He gaped at her, thrown that she’d brought such a topic up. Admittedly, she was a little startled herself. The conversation stopped and the hum of the Tardis filled the space. But the Doctor had to know. “Did someone push you? And you might as well tell me now, because you’ll know I’ll find out.”

Her fury bubbled over. He was threatening her like she was a Dalek, or a Cybermen or something. “Oh so you care again now? Make up your mind!”

The Doctor’s brows furrowed, then morphed into outrage. “Of course I care! Why would you ever think otherwise!”

She was the one baffled now – surely he couldn’t be that unaware of himself. “Oh, wow." she scoffed, remembering who she was talking to. "Okay, what about Sarah-Jane, you said you wouldn’t leave me, and then we end up on a spaceship where you leave me and Mickey to go… ‘dance’ with some French queen, without having anyway to get back? What about that time in after Rome – I mean we actually kissed, and then on Plass-6 you put me on a different team to you for a whole week, and worse with that arsehole robot Mars-65? And what about now!? You spent the whole time we were on Pete’s world with me, and now were here you’ve been hiding away on the Tardis for days… or wherever you’re lying about being!” she yelled.

 Her breaths came out harsh while he just stood. She hadn’t planned on it all coming out, but it’d been building for so long, and she was so angry at him, it’d just sort of happened. Part of her wanted to apologise, but the other part of her thought, fuck it. All of it was how she really felt, and she shouldn't back down this time. “You know what? I’m going back to mum's for a few nights, so if you want to leave me behind, here’s your chance.”

Shereen took one look at her and hugged her tight. Honestly, it was what she needed. They ordered take-out and stuffed their faces with chocolates watching scary films. It was like she was a kid again. Yet, her mind kept wondering to the Doctor and his stupid puppy-dog eyes. She’d left before he healed the bruise on her face, so every time she laughed, he was there with her.

Oh, please, please, let the Tardis still be there when she got home.

She stayed another two nights at Shereen’s. They had a lot to catch up on, but really, the longer she stayed the more she could avoid the absolution of seeing the empty space where the Tardis was last parked.

As she rounded the corner, she held her breath, trying to prepare herself. The Doctor out of her life for good... oh, what had she done? She should’ve just shut up and said nothing… but it was too late now. She was brave, and she would face this.

The Tardis was still there.

Rose’s whole body unwound right to the core – the soul. He was still here. A smile lit up her face. Her walk turned into a jog towards the most brilliant blue box in the universe. She turned the key, stopping just as she opened the doors. She had to remember how she left things, she needed to brace herself.

He wasn’t there. She tried the usual places, the library, his workshop, the kitchen. Nothing.

“Mum have you seen –“

The Doctor poked his head cautiously around the hallway from the living room, like he’d taken a biscuit from the tin, and she knew he was the guilty party.

All the tension left. She smiled at him. “You’re here.”

Believing it safe, he stepped fully into the corridor. “Well I didn’t have a choice, she’s keeping me hostage.” he said, pointing to Jackie.

“Oh, give over. What are you like, honestly.” her mum complained, thwacking him on the arm as she walked over to Rose and gave her a big hug. “Have a nice time? Feeling better?”

She smiled. “Yeah, I did, yeah. Like we were kids again.”

The Doctor smiled at that.

“Right, there’s dinner in the oven if you want. I’m off to see Bev – she’s down for the week, over in Eltham, that guy she used to date Martin, he’s got a flat down there now, said he’d put her up, and you know what Bev’s like. She’s been asking for you, be nice for her to see you before you run off. Mind you, you know she’ll bring up that year bad-driver here brought you back – twelve hours my arse.” She gave Rose a kiss on the cheek, and reached behind her for the house keys.

The Doctor rubbed the back of his neck. “Sorry.” he added flatly.

She gave her mum another hug, grateful that she was making herself scarce so they could talk. “I will, promise.”

Rose could hear the hoover in the flat above, banging against the walls. For a while the two of them just stood watching each other, the Doctor rocking on his heals, his hands deep in his pockets.

“You said a few days. But then when you didn’t come back, I worried something else happened, so I asked Jackie. She told me you were at Shereen’s… been a prisoner ever since.” He gave a half-smirk, an invitation to joke.

She couldn’t help it. She smirked back, just for a moment. “What else did she say?”

His expression turned serious. “That you ran into an ex-boyfriend’s mother in the shops, and she upset you.” He paused, reconsidering whether or not to push on. “She didn’t tell me why.”

Thank you, mum, Rose thought. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

He studied her up and down. “Fair enough.” he said, dropping it, even though he hated not knowing things, especially about her. “It’s not because I care one second and not the next.” he said, throwing Rose off balance. She was sure they'd fall back into the same old routine, where they ran off to the next adventure and pretended stuff like this never happened. “It’s because I care too much, it terrifies me so I run, but I can never stay away for long.”

Rose’s jaw dropped. Her mind whirled so much it became a thick dough of goop. She tried to clear it, snap back. “Why are you telling me this?” she wondered out loud. “I mean we never talk about this stuff.”

The Doctor scoffed. “Why? Because you asked me to leave, Rose, and that’s only one step away from you leaving on your own, and I – I don’t want you to go.”

Okay now her head was really properly spinning.

He nodded to her arm. “I’m sorry I hurt you.” and she heard what he really meant.

She was taking it all in, but apparently, he wanted her to say something. “Am I?” he prodded fearfully.

Her brows furrowed, not putting it together. “Are you, what?”

“Going to lose you.” he said, the slightest crack in his voice, so quiet Rose convinced herself she was imagining it.

She straightened, standing tall. “Depends, if you keep messing me about.” she stated. “We act like we’re together; it feels like we’re together, but then you run off, or avoid me, and leave me wondering what I’ve done, or if I’ve read things wrong. So.” She stared him down. “Are we? No... wait.. do you want to be?”

The Doctor balked, his eyes wide. He shuttered his expression.

“And don’t lie.” she added. “Or say what you think you want me to hear.”

She waited, watching him in apprehension. He didn’t look at her, keeping his gaze on the carpet.

“Yes.” he said at last.

Oh.

She fumbled with her hands, not quite sure what to do next. She hadn’t expected this to happen quite so easily. “Right. Well. Okay then, will you stop running away from me now?”

He nodded weakly. “Yeah.”

Again she waited, but he didn’t look up. “Right, so… do you want to go down the chippy, then we can half what mum made for us?”

He glanced up at her, befuddled, his brow furrowed. “That’s it?” he asked disbelievingly.

She shrugged. “Well… yeah. Unless you have anything to add?”

He shook his head, unable to hide his utter relief. “No... nothing from me.”

“Right, good…. so… chips?”

He beamed. “Chips! Oh, yes!”

Walking through the estate, she felt his hand gingerly brush against hers before he took it. She linked arms instead, so she could snuggle into him. He let out a breath, and she felt the tension leave his body.

“Are you sure you’re alright?” he asked. “You don’t have to tell me what happened, but I need to know when you’re hurt.”

She pondered for a moment, then smirked at him. “Well, my face still hurts a little.” she admitted. “Don’t suppose you’ve got anything for it?”

He smiled at her, true gratefulness in his eyes. “Oh, Rose Tyler, I have just the thing.”