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yearningagain · 3 months ago

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it's enough (to make a girl blush): chapter two

HELLO!!! welcome to chapter two! i'm amazed at the traction that this has gained with just the first chapter, and it's giving me so much motivation to continue this!

i've also decided to open up my ask box for suggestions for rambles and ficlets, so please shoot me a message if you feel so inclined!

and of course a huge thank you to @kayleeofcamelot for betaing and helping me so much!! without further ado!

also on ao3!

part one | part three

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Steve loved Robin more than he thought he could love anyone. She was the peanut butter to his jelly, the rock to his roll, the yin to his yang. He doesn't know how he managed as long as he did before meeting her, and he frankly doesn't know what he would do without her now.

That being said, sometimes she does make Steve want to give himself another concussion.

Lunch at the deli had been uneventful. They had eaten their sandwiches while nestled in the window booth in the back corner, turned to look out onto the streets of Chicago. Most of their conversation was driven by judgmental comments about passerby’s, ranging from jabs about interesting color choices on someone's tracksuit to monologues about wearing a faux fur coat with cheetah print leggings (“It’s the principle, Rob! You wouldn’t get it”).

After finishing their meals, the pair made their way across the street to the record store. Upon entry, Steve was surrounded by deep earthy scents, old vinyl and incense mingled with the fresh flowers growing in pots littered about. And that brought them to their current situation.

Robin was making a complete and utter fool out of herself. She was bright red in the face, and Steve couldn’t tell if it was from pure mortification or her complete lack of breathing for the past five minutes. As soon as a little blonde omega, introduced as Chrissy, emerged from the shelves to greet them and show them around, the alpha had not been able to stop her mouth from running and running. Now, normally in these situations, Steve would insert himself into Robin's one sided conversation and slow her down, purely to rescue the other person from being roped into a woven tale of at least six subjects at once. But after one look at Chrissy, and the adoration and attentiveness in her expression, he decided to leave it be.

At the back corner of the shop was a small gathering of armchairs, a loveseat, and a small wooden coffee table. Plopping down into the comfiest looking chair, leaving the girls to their own devices, Steve pulled out his phone to start tackling the sea of messages he had received during the night.

Dusty

12:58 AM: STEVE

STEVEN

12:59 AM: STEVEN HARRINGTON

STEVEN LOUISE HARRINGTON

1:01 AM: do you even love me anymore

1:08 AM: if i were dying i'd be dead by now

1:14 AM: ☠️☠️🩸🩸

1:27 AM: okay whatever goodnight steven text me when you’re alive again ig 🙄

11:39 AM: Jesus Christ kid

That’s not even my name

11:40 AM: Did you die?

11:41 AM: no

11:41 AM: So what was so important?

11:43 AM: before i say anything i want to remind you that i know all of your secrets and also you love me sooo much and you’re the best babysitter ever and you owe me for letting my mom hire you at the shop

11:44 AM: Dustin. What did you do.

11:44 AM: nothing!

i didn’t do anything i swear on my mother

11:45 AM: Okay…

So…?

11:46 AM: my favorite band is playing here next month but its an 18+ show

mom would never come with me, she’d have a heart attack i think

so i need you to take me

11:48 AM: i can pay for your ticket if you want!

11:50 AM: steve?

A loud crash echoed from within the shop, followed by an extremely disheveled Robin popping her head into the nook. "I need your help."

—

Leaving the girls was both the best and worst decision Steve could have made.

In the ten minutes of inattentiveness, the alpha had managed to talk for seven of them consecutively. After realizing she had been talking herself in circles, she tried to reign it in, which ultimately ended in her accidental confession of attraction towards Chrissy. That then led to a kiss-turned-make-out, in which Robin had tried to push the shorter girl against a wall for more leverage. However, blinded by her circumstances, she pushed the omega into one of the shelves, effectively knocking it and its contents to the ground. They were old antique shelves that had been modified with basket-drawers to store records and other miscellaneous objects, they were heavy .

Steve would be upset, but the dark blush and lovesick smile never quite left Robin's face.

With that mess dealt with, he was finally able to respond to Dustin. He shot a quick 'Sure. Just LMK the deets ' text and slid his phone back into his pocket. Chrissy led them both back to the nook, bustling about and making sure they were comfortable.

"Steve, I am so incredibly sorry about that! Please sit here, let me go grab something and I'll be right back!" She dashed off down a small hallway towards the back of the building.

Steve shook his head at Robin, sighing loudly. "Couldn't keep it in your pants?"

The alpha huffed and looked away. She huffed again, this time more of a sniff. And then again.

"Steve, are you fucking with me or something?"

Furrowing his eyebrows, he followed suit in her actions by taking his own sniff of the air. "What? What's going on?"

She continues sniffing, seemingly following the scent. Standing from her spot on the loveseat, laser focused on tracking, she walks right over to Steve.

"Your scent, it's changing. I knew it was different this morning! I know what you smell like, dingus. And you don't smell like you anymore. Well, okay, you still smell like you! But it's like you're roasting apples in the woods on a camping trip. And you've always smelled like apples, so I'm glad that's the same, but now it's different. Has anything weird happened lately? Have you felt different at all? Do you have a fever?" Her curiosity morphs into concern and she starts placing her hands over the omegas face, seeing if she can tell the temperature. "I've never been good at this. Should we go to the doctor? Do we need an ambulance? Shit, did you get poisoned?"

Steve grabbed her hands firmly, guiding them to his chest and taking a deep breath. "Breathe. I'm not dying, Robs. I think I'd know if I was." He takes a few more measured breaths, pulling her down into his lap for a hug.

After he was sure she was calm, he relaxed his grip, but didn't let go. "I was actually meaning to ask you about something. Nothing bad, I promise! I just... I had this really weird dream last night and I woke up convinced it had actually happened. I was so convinced there would be physical proof, but there wasn't any. But I could smell the alpha in my dream. Have you ever had a dream where you could smell the other people?"

Robin looked at him calculatingly, a crease forming in her brow at the thought. "No, never. I didn't think it was a thing that happened."

"Exactly. I could smell him, birdie. I could feel him. It was real . Until it wasn't. I woke up heartbroken. For no real reason." He sighed once more, lowering his gaze to his fingers rested in his lap.

"Okay, I am so sorry once again, and I had no intention to eavesdrop whatsoever, but I want to help." Chrissy emerged from the hallway with a plate of mini cupcakes, a sheepish expression.

Steve waved her off. "It's all good. If you don't think I'm crazy, I don't mind suggestions."

She set the plate of cupcakes onto the coffee table and sat down on the loveseat. Robin quickly scrambled off of Steve to sit next to the other omega, shooting him an apologetic glance.

"So, basically, I read this book once, out of pure curiosity, that was about fate and the universe and all that. It had a whole section about how, years and years ago, alphas and omegas were randomly going through what seemed to be second presentations. It started with scent changes, and apparently a lot of people experienced some sort of initial mental connection. These changes were way less severe, and oftentimes not noticeable until a random heat or rut was triggered. When that would happen, it was always a pair at a time, one alpha and one omega. The moment they would smell the other for the first time is the moment their respective presentations would complete. They'd come out the other side bonded and, most often, pupped. Their bodies were preparing."

Steve stared at Chrissy, mouth agape. "Preparing for what, exactly?"

"Their soulmate!"

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beautification-tales · 4 months ago

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The Hard Hat

A Caption Tale

Kara entered the construction zone in her gray kitten heels. The cacophony of metal clanging against metal and the growling engines of machinery filled the air. She squinted against the dust that danced in the beams of the setting sun, feeling out of place amidst the hard hats and heavy boots. "Excuse me, can I help you?”

Kara turned to see a burly man in a yellow vest, a hard hat perched on top of his sweaty forehead. "I'm looking for the foreman," she called over the din. "I have an appointment."

The worker nodded, wiping his dirty hand on his even dirtier jeans before extending it to her. "That'd be me," he said with a smile that was surprisingly gentle amidst the chaos. "Jackson."

Kara took his hand firmly, feeling the calloused skin against her own. "Kara," she replied, raising her voice to be heard. "I'm here about the new office development."

“Of course ma’am. We just need you to put a hard hat on.” He grabbed one from the side of his toolbox and handed it to her. Kara smiled as she looked around the site and took notes. The air was thick with the scent of fresh concrete and diesel fumes, but she felt oddly alive amidst the chaos. She slipped the hat over her perfectly styled hair.

“Whoa looking good mama!” A whistle pierced the air, and Kara’s cheeks flushed as she spun around to face the culprit. A young worker in a tight-fitting T-shirt had stopped his hammering to leer at her. She rolled her eyes and followed Jackson’s lead as he marched over, his boots echoing with authority.

“Back to work, Tom,” Jackson bellowed, his gentle smile replaced by a stern look. The young man’s grin disappeared, and he hastily turned back to his task, mumbling an apology. Kara felt a strange mix of gratitude and annoyance—gratitude for the protection but annoyed that she had to be protected in the first place.

“Damn who’s this fine piece of ass?” Another whistle, this one closer, made Kara’s grip tighten around her notepad. She ignored it, focusing on the blueprints spread out before her on the makeshift table, her eyes scanning the lines and numbers as if they could shield her from the leers.

“You’re going to need some safety googles in this section ma’am. Can’t have you getting dust in those pretty eyes,” Jackson said, handing her a pair. Kara took them with a smile of thanks, slipping them over her face. Jackson smiled as he noticed her lips had a fuller look with wet lip gloss applied. Kara licked her lips with a confused face. “Why am I wearing lip gloss?” She thought as she followed Jackson.

“Oh mama, I’ve been a bad boy!” The lewd remark was accompanied by a wink from a worker as he strutted past. Kara’s jaw clenched, and she felt a flash of anger. She decided she would say something about it. “You are definitely deserving of a good spanking then naughty boy.” She replied her voice dripping with sensuality. The worker froze in his tracks, his eyes wide as he processed the unexpected response. A chuckle rumbled from Jackson’s chest, and the tension around them lightened.

Kara looked down in embarrassment, confused on what possessed her to talk like that. Kara felt warm as her scalp began to itch under her hard hat. Jackson grinned as he watched her scratch her head. “Are you feeling ok ma’am? Apologies about my workers, they tend to get raunchy around the fairer sex.”

Kara nodded, swallowing hard. “Yeah they probably need to release all that pent up energy with a real good time.” Jackson raised an eyebrow at her statement. “What do you mean ma’am?” Kara placed her hands on her hips and swayed to one side. “I’m talking about giving them something to enjoy.” Kara didn’t understand why she was acting so differently but she also couldn’t stop herself.

She pulled out her cell phone and played “Deli” by Ice Spice. Kara felt her body move on its own. Her hips swayed to the beat as she began to dance in the dusty construction zone. The workers stopped what they were doing, their eyes glued to her as she strutted closer to the group of men. They stared in a mix of shock and awe as she dropped her notepad and began to twerk, her pants shaking with her legs and ass. The music blared through the speakers of her phone.

Jackson put his hand in his pocket to adjust himself as he watched her dance. Kara put a hand on her hard hat as her pants morphed into fishnet stockings. They were loose as her heels grew taller and black. The blue shirt melted down her body resting on her hips and exposed her chest and bra. She smiled as she noticed more eyes were upon her. She felt so wet as she let go letting the music guide her.

Kara’s eyes rolled back as her yellow vest shrunk but her body grew. Her flat ass billowed out and began to clap as she twerked more proficiently with the music. The workers whistled and applauded as her curves increased with her skill. Jackson motioned one of the workers to hand him a chair as he sat down.

Kara slowly walked up to him and sat and grinded on him. She could feel her breasts expanding as her thighs got thicker stretching her stockings. She turned her head and could see Jackson’s face contort in approval. She turned her head forward as she felt his bulge get bigger and bigger. Kara bucked her hips wildly as Jackson grunted in glee.

Suddenly the music stopped, and Kara’s head snapped up. The workers had formed a circle around her, their expressions a mix of shock and lust. The foreman looked at her with newfound respect and desire. She felt a thrill run through her body as she realized she had the power to control the room. She slid off the chair and sauntered over to the group of men, her newly enhanced body moving with a confidence she had never felt before.

She went over to her phone and played Latto.

“Who’s Next?”

#beautification #transformation #f2f transformation #breast expansion #bimboification #ass expansion #beauty is power #slutification

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gentlebeardsbarngrill · 5 months ago

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06/06-07/2024 Daily OFMD Recap

TLDR; Rhys Darby; Taika Waititi; Samba Schutte; Guz Khan; Vico Ortiz; Gerard Butler; SaveOFMDCrew #NeverLeft; AdoptOurCrew #SpeakUpMax; Voting: Tell Tale Awards; Voting; British Podcast Awards; Articles; FYC Emmy Nominations; In Person Meeting: Midwest Retreat for Wayward Pirates; Vianton Week; Jeopardy; Fan Spotlight; LoveNotes; Daily Darby/Tonight's Taika;

== Rhys Darby ==

Rhys is out at To 29 and Beyond!

Source: Outpost 29 Palms Instagram

== Taika Waititi ==

Just a Taika, wearing a Taika (the drink company) Hat. Not gonna lie, I kinda want one now that we are all Taika.

Source: Taika (the company) Instagram

And then there was the BTS for Rita's new music video. You can see the video here:

youtube

Some screen grabs from it:

== Guz Khan ==

Guz was out doing a live podcast with Adan Buxton tonight!

Source: Guz Khan's Instagram

== Vico Ortiz ==

Vico got a hair cut and wanted to share with us the before and afters <3

Source: Vico's Instagram

== Samba Schutte ==

So Samba did some hand modeling! But was a bit surprised it was for a leprosy commercial. Very good cause though <3 Thanks Samba

Source: Samba Schutte's Instagram

And Samba sending some love to Soprano's Deli out in LA!

Source: Samba's Instagram

== Damien Gerard ==

Our Father Teach sending more baby cat pics.

Source: Damien Gerard's Instagram

== SOFMD Crew #NeverLeft Video ==

Our crewmates over at @saveofmdcrewmates put together an informational video about the #NeverLeft campaign going on! It highlights the hypocrisy of Max and corporate pride. Please give it a watch! To learn more, visit their tumblr.

youtube

Source: SaveOFMD Crew Youtube

== AdoptOurCrew - Speak Up Max ==

Our crewmates over at @adoptourcrew are sticking it to Max! Their new hashtag is #SpeakUpMax-- Please visit their Tumblr to learn more and learn facts about how Max has been reducing "the amount of diverse and inclusive media and entertainment content available it [their] customers." SpeakUpMax /SpeakUpMax Facts

Source: AdoptOurCrew's Tumblr

== Voting Reminders ==

= Tell Tale TV Awards =

Reminder! The second round of voting for the Tell-Tale TV Awards is open until June 9, 9pm EST! Please be sure to get your votes in every day! Vote here.

Source: @saveofmdcrewmates Tumblr

= British Podcast Awards =

Hey! More voting opportunities for our dear captain Rhys Darby! If you feel inclined, we'd love it if you'd vote for The Cryptid Factor on the British Podcast Awards to help out Rhys, Dan, and Buttons!

Source: @ ShellOFMD on Twitter

= More Under the Cut: Long Post is Long =

== Articles ==

The first article tonight has an amazing quote, I highly recommend reading it "Either way, it won't make up for David Zaslav not being hugged enough as a child".

== FYC Emmy Considerations ==

Wondering if your efforts are being noticed? Well so far I've seen Samba, and Con both sharing the Emmy4 graphics everyone's been sharing! Great job everyone! Our friends over at Our Flag Means Fanfiction have this handy calendar on how to keep pushing! Thank you so much crew for continuing to support our cast!

Source: Our Flag Means Death Instagram

== In Person Meet Ups ==

= Midwest Retreat for Wayward Pirates! =

Are you in the Midwest area of the US? Are you a fan of OFMD? Well good news! August 8th-11th at Camp Dewan in Burlington, WI will be hosting a Gay Pirate Summer Camp! Wanna learn more? Visit their website!

Source: @ lyndzi's Twitter / @lcwebsxoxo's Twitter

== Vianton Week ==

Hey! Did you know it was Vianton week from June 6th - June 13th? Sure it's not OFMD but as we all know it's a sister-fandom to OFMD so it's getting a highlight! Graphic and info provided by @ viantonweek on Twitter. PS: Happy belated Unholy Masquerade! (06/06)

Source: ViantonWeek Twitter

== Jeopardy ==

Hey! I bet we could answer this one! Thank you @ Stedecoded_ on twitter for the screencap! They were also kind enough to include the clip here: https://x.com/stedecoded_/status/1799249795816829319

Source: @ stedecoded_

== Fan Spotlight ==

= Cast Cards=

More cast cards from @melvisik! The first, Jono Capel-Baker was the unfortunate groom who's wedding was interrupted by "The Devil and the Kids". Tonight's cast card is Amber Templemore one of the many directors on Our Flag Means Death! <3

Source: @melvisik's Twitter

== OFMPride Colouring Pages! ==

More Colouring pages by the very kind @patchworkpiratebear being shared by @adoptourcrew!

Source: AdoptOurCrew Tumblr

== Love Notes ==

Happy Frenchie Friday Lovelies! It's finally here! The weekend is here, and if you have the time off, please use it to have some fun and get some rest-- and if you don't, I'm sending so many hugs your way to get through the weekend work week. One of the things that I love so much about this community is seeing so many of you showing yourselves bit by bit over the past many months. Some of you are brand new to the fandom, and some of you have been here for so much longer than many of us have. No matter when you started though, I've seen folks who we don't hear often start to speak up more. I see more and more people who stopped doing gifs/art/fics, or didn't do gifs/art/fics before suddenly sharing their stuff with the community. It's so wonderful to see you bloom in and out of season, did you know that? Some of you don't feel comfortable putting yourself out there that much, but I see you like or reblog on various peoples blogs, or leave a comment here or there. Some of you have started really putting yourself out there bit by bit, in tags, in comments, posting meta, gifs, or fics, or artwork, or sometimes just sending lovely letters through @ofmdlovelyletters (which btw I love yall who run that so much you're such a stellar group and you drive kindness in this fandom to new heights). Some of you are unapologetically loud and yourselves and I love that too. I love every beautiful level of the fans we have here coming in and out and participating and making this fandom such a wonderful place to be in. Every day I continue to marvel at the kindness, and supportiveness, and creativity of this crew... of all the wonderful things your minds come up with, and all the goodness you put into this world. You all have really made my life so much better, and I can't thank you enough for that. I feel richer in mind and spirit because of you all and I'm so happy to get to share this time with you. Thank you to every one of you who makes each day worth coming back for, even if we've never spoken, I hope you know you make all the difference. Love you crew, I hope you have the best of weekends and things are looking up, and if they're not, that they do soon.

== Daily Darby / Tonight's Taika ==

Tonight's gifs are themed only in that I too want to look a bit more closely at Rhys' outfit. Rhys gif by the glorious @ratchet and Taika Gif by the absolutely amazing @meluli!

Taika Gif Source: @meluli

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jerzwriter · 5 months ago

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Thank you to @alj4890 for this ask from this list! I have two down, and one to go! lol

Story: Open Heart (About a year after Book 3) Category: AU - One Off Trope: There's only one bed... Characters: Tobias Carrick x Casey MacTavish (F!MC) Rating: Teen Words: 2,500 Summary: It's de ja vu all over again for Casey when she and Tobias check into a beachside resort for a medical conference, only to find the reservation was for one room only. They decide it's not that bad until they open the door to the room, and yep... there is only one bed. Tobias comes up with a solution, but will it work?

A/N: This is not part of my Tobias x Casey HC - in this story, they're merely colleagues attending a conference together in Santa Barbara.

Participating in @choicesjunechallenge2024 Hotel - “It’s quite the conundrum, isn’t it?”

The ascent to the 40th floor of the seafront hotel was unusually tense. Standing side by side, the silence between Tobias and Casey grew increasingly uncomfortable with each passing floor. Casey's gaze remained fixed on the elevator doors, recalling the events that brought them to this moment.

“It looks like your room was upgraded!” The desk clerk beamed. “You’re going to love it! The views from our top floor are breathtaking!”

“That’s wonderful,” Casey smiled. “But there should be an s at the end of room. The reservation was made for two rooms."

A crease formed between the young man’s eyes as he tapped away on his keyboard and Casey grew more concerned the longer he remained silent. “Dr. MacTavish, correct?”

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry,” He apologized, turning his computer screen toward her. “But your reservation states one room only.”

Casey exhaled deeply. She had certainly been in this predicament before and had no desire to endure it again.

“That’s fine. Mistakes happen. Now, if you could just get us another room....”

“I’d love to, but we are fully booked this week. With two conventions in town, pretty much every hotel in the area is booked solid.”

“You have to be kidding me,” she groaned.

“I wish I were. I could make some calls? Perhaps one of our sister properties a few towns away has something? We could arrange to have them shuttle you....”

“No, no,” Casey grumbled. “My colleague and I are presenting at the conference. We can't risk being delayed. We'll have to make do."

She spotted Tobias as soon as she turned from the front desk. It wasn’t difficult; the man had already amassed a small audience who watched the handsome doctor tell his tales with rapt attention. Casey rolled her eyes, she knew this story, and it was full of hyperbole, but who was she to deny him his moment. She noted how captivated some of those listening were and considered asking any if they'd switch rooms with her. She was sure there would be takers, but somehow, the idea left her queasy, and she had no idea why.

Tobias turned toward her with his alluring smile that turned most to mush. She never denied that the man was extremely handsome, not from the first time they met at that deli years ago. But she never fell for his charm. Mere mortals were putty in Dr. Carrick’s hands, but Casey was no mere mortal. Just not happening, she muttered to herself as she approached.

“There she is,” he beamed as she neared him. “It’s the woman of the hour!”

“The woman of the hour?” She asked with a raised brow. “Hardly.”

“You’re right,” he winked. “She’s the woman of the whole damn week. Allow me to introduce Dr. MacTavish.”

Casey nodded politely, shook the required hands, and, after some small talk, announced she was off to find her room. She studied her colleague suspiciously as his fan club dissipated, and he caught her red-handed.

“Watcha looking at MacTavish?” he teased.

“You. I’m trying to figure out why you were building me up. We’re one of six panelists here to speak about a joint discovery that doesn’t exactly make me the woman of the week.”

“Depends on who you ask,” he said with more sincerity than she had anticipated. “I think you’re woman of the week material every week. Besides, everyone already knows I’m amazing. I’m not about to have them think my cohort is anything less than stellar as well.”

“Mmmhh. You’re a real gentleman,” she groaned as his eyes fell to the keycard in her hand.

“So, did you get our rooms squared away?”

“About that,” she sighed, explaining the situation. “But on an up note, they say we have an incredible view.”

Tobias rocked back and forth on his feet, a shit-eating grin on his face.

“What?” She snapped.

“If you wanted to get me alone in a bedroom, Case, all you had to do was ask.”

His smile drifted when she punched his shoulder. She packed quite a punch! And while Tobias wasn’t about to admit it, that made her even more enticing in his book.

“Stop before I have to fill out an HR report. Remember, this is a business trip. You still have to adhere to all those rules you learned in sexual harassment training!”

“Aw, come on,” he snickered, picking up one of Casey’s bags. “You never held me to those rules back in Boston, you're going to do it here in beautiful Santa Barbara?”

He wasn’t exactly wrong; the two of them struck up a quick rapport when he joined the diagnostic team. And anyone who had seen them together at Donahue’s would tell you that flirtatious banter was certainly their thing.

“Yeah, but I don’t have to share a room with you back in Boston.”

“You could,” he winked as they stepped onto the elevator.

“You’re incorrigible!”

But as the elevator climbed and the weight of the situation sank in, even Tobias turned somber. With just ten floors remaining, they had gone silent. Words weren't uttered as they walked down the plush, carpeted hall either. But as Casey reached for the key card, Tobias's hand closed around her wrist.

“Look,” he stated. “I know we were joking, but is this all right with you? If sharing a room makes you uncomfortable, I’ll look for a room elsewhere.”

“We don’t have a choice. Every room within a fifteen-mile radius is booked.”

“There’s always a way, and if you’re uncomfortable.... what?” he asked, noticing Casey's smirk.

“Dr. Carrick, have you already spotted someone you’d like to shack up with for the week? Because it would leave me with the room all to myself."

“No!” he shot back, taking offense. “You know, I’m not as bad as people say. I mean, I’m bad... just not... that bad.”

“It was a joke,” she giggled, slipping the key in the slot. “And it's fine. We’re grown-ups, we’re colleagues, and we’re friends. We can make this work.”

Confidence overtook them as Casey swung the door to the posh room open, but a single glance around shattered that instantly. The room was absolutely beautiful, but one issue loomed large: one bed.

“Uhh, you sure about that, kid?”

“You’ve got to be kidding me?” Casey snapped.

“Yeah. This totally doesn’t feel like the movies.” He grumbled.

“No, it doesn't! This is quite the conundrum, isn't it?” Casey sighed, “We cannot share a bed for a freaking week!”

“It’s OK,” he said, phoning the front desk. “I’ll ask for a foldaway bed. The hotel screwed this up; it's the least they can do.”

“And who gets to sleep on a crappy foldaway bed for a week?”

“You,” he grinned. “You’re not going to make an old man sleep on that thing, are you? You’re young; you can bounce back. I can’t.”

“Tobias!”

“I’m joking! How about we alternate nights?”

“Fine,” Casey replied. “You take care of that, I’m going to the bathroom.”

When she returned, Tobias was standing by the window, mesmerized by the sun setting over the Pacific Ocean. Shades of purple and pink painted the sky, and palm trees swayed gently in the breeze, creating a scene straight out of a postcard.

“Wow,” she said, now standing at Tobias’s side. “Do we really have to present at this thing? Because I’d be happy to stay here and stare at this all week.”

“Me too,” he smiled. “It is quite a sight, and that’s the good news.”

“And the bad?” She cringed.

“They’re out of folding beds.”

“Jesus!”

“It’s all right. I’ve already taken care of it.”

“How?”

He pulled his phone from his pocket, waving it excitedly in front of her. “Amazon, baby! I ordered a deluxe air mattress; it’ll be here in the morning. We just have to get through one night. Think you can handle it?”

“We'll survive one night,” Casey agreed. “After all, some people can sleep in the same bed as you and resist you!”

He had a hundred lines ready to go. Normally, this would be the moment for a joke or a touch of flirtation. But Casey was his friend and colleague, someone he respected deeply. The last thing he wanted to do was add to her discomfort.

“I’m sure there are extra pillows in the closet. We can put them down in the center of the bed.”

“The bed isn’t that big. If we do that, one of us will end up on the floor for sure. We can make do, but....”

“But?”

“If you tell anyone about this, I swear to God, I’ll start the most vicious rumors about you!”

“Oh yeah?” he challenged, a twinkle in his eyes. “Like what?”

“Like you wear pink bunny slippers!”

He grabbed his chest and let out an exaggerated gasp. “You’ve gone through my luggage!

“Fine! I’ll tell them you sleep in nightgowns that are straight out of the Golden Girls.”

“Kinky!” He growled to Casey’s chagrin.

“Oh, forget it,” she laughed. “There is no embarrassing you!”

“Sure there is; you just have to try harder!”

~~~~~

Several hours later, Casey left dinner early, figuring it would be less awkward to shower while Tobias was still mingling with other conference attendees downstairs. She was right; by the time he returned to the room, she was clean and comfortably reading in bed, dressed in her old sweats. The pajamas could wait until tomorrow when they had separate places to sleep.

Tobias stood at the door, almost sheepish. “You heading to bed soon?”

She looked up from the book in her hands. “After I read a bit.”

“All right,” he kicked off his shoes. “I’ll take a quick shower and stay out of your hair.”

Fifteen minutes later, he stepped back into their room. Although he promised to stay out of her hair, he clearly had no problem occupying her thoughts. Did he really need to be shirtless? As much as Casey wanted to scold him, doing so would have forced him to put on a shirt—and she didn't want that. Mesmerized by his pecs and arms, everything was going fine until he caught her in the act.

Shit! She said to herself. Boosting Tobias’s already exorbitant ego had not been on her bingo card, but it was too late to change that now.

“Something wrong?” he smirked as Casey desperately looked for an off-ramp.

“Uh, you, uh, don’t sleep like that, do you?”

“Usually,” he shrugged. “So I didn’t bring any shirts suitable for sleeping in. I’d ask you for one of yours, but I’m sure it wouldn’t fit!”

Casey snapped her fingers and jumped out of bed with a relieved smile. “You’re in luck! She insisted, rifling through her luggage. “Here!”

She extended her hand, holding out a rumpled pink T-shirt adorned with fluffy white sheep and silver sparkles. It would have looked commonplace in a five-year-old's room, but here?

“What is that?”

“It’s a T-shirt, dummy. It’s a 2X, so I use it as a nightshirt, but it will more than fit you.”

Tobias looked at her disdain as Casey beamed with satisfaction. He took the offensive article of clothing and slipped it over his head.

“You tell anyone about this, and I’ll never speak to you again!”

“No one hears about any of this,” she laughed, hopping back into bed to continue her reading.

Tobias grabbed his book and slipped into bed beside her, sure to keep a respectable space between them. After some time, the silence became too loud, and he asked what she was reading.

“Private Guns, Public Health," she replied, holding the book in his direction.

The little crinkle between his eyes indicated he needed more information.

“It’s about gun violence in the United States and how treating it as a public health issue would be invaluable in protecting lives.”

Tobias raised a brow.

“What?” Casey demanded. “We’re doctors. Saving lives is what we do; it makes sense to be knowledgeable about these issues.”

“I completely agree, but... before bed.”

Casey slammed her book shut. “So, what are you reading?”

He lifted his book with a very large peach emoji against a yellow background on its cover. “Butts: A Backstory.”

“What?” He grinned as Casey broke out laughing.

“Oh, nothing. I guess you're taking light reading to new levels.”

“It’s not what it appears to be... yeah, it’s a look at the history of... butts... but it’s bigger than that.”

Casey roared with laughter once again as Tobias dragged a hand down his face.

“Poor choice of words. It delves into deeper issues like race, control, liberation, and how they impact our feelings and perceptions about ourselves and others.”

“Oh, but you mock me for reading something heavy before bed?” she teased.

“Listen, you,” he said, flipping to his side. “Be nice to me; you’re supposed to respect your elders.”

“Oh, shut up,” she said, rolling onto her side to face him. “You act like you’re old enough to be my father, and that’s far from the truth.”

“Hey! I could have been a very active ten-year-old,” he chuckled.

They broke into a fit of giggles. When their laughter stopped, they found themselves gazing into each other's eyes.

“You know, I’ve never thanked you," he smiled.

“Thanked me? For what?”

“For believing in me... for not taking the negative shit people said about me as gospel, and taking the time to get to know me for yourself. For being a friend when I joined the team because, in the beginning, you were my only friend there.”

“You don’t have to thank me," she blushed. "I mean, you did sort of save my life; I’m kind of indebted to you, you know?”

“Nah,” he smiled. "It's more than that, and you know it”

Noticing their proximity, a blush spread across Casey's cheeks, and she nervously pulled back.

“Time for bed,” she announced.

Uncertain about the emotions coursing through him, Tobias quickly agreed.

“Yeah, good idea," he mumbled as they both rolled over close to the edge of the bed, their eyes wide open. Sleep would eventually come, but not without much effort.

When the alarm went off the following morning, both let out a groan. Neither of them were morning people, and the idea of waking was less than appealing. But when they opened their eyes, Tobias's arm was wrapped around Casey, who was happily nestled as the big spoon to his little spoon. Both lay frozen, petrified over what they should do next when Tobias jerked his arm back apologetically.

“I’m... I’m so sorry, Casey,” he stuttered. "I absolutely did that in my sleep. It wasn’t intentional at all. I....”

"Stop," she ordered as she grabbed his hand and placed it back where she found it upon waking. "It's OK," she whispered. "I... I kind of like it."

“You do?" He asked, more than a little stunned. He was quick to hold her closer when she replied with a nod and a smile.

“Good," he said with a smile. "Because I like it too.”

Casey rolled over, remaining in his embrace. They gazed at each other intently, uncertain of who initiated their first kiss. It was tender, tentative... each ensuring it was welcomed by the other. When it became clear that it was, they kissed again, this time unleashing the passion they had both denied for far too long.

"Can I tell you a secret?" Tobias grinned as he pulled away.

"Of course," Casey beamed.

"I've been wanting to do that for a long, long time."

Casey reached up and placed a peck on his lips with a smile.

"I'll let you in on a secret, too. So have I."

"So... what do we do with this?" Tobias asked.

"I don't know," she replied, running a finger across his chest. "Why don't we kiss again and see where it goes from there."

"I like that," he growled as their lips came crashing together.

An hour later, they stepped out of the room, not a hair out of place and the picture of professionalism. They nearly tripped over the box that had been placed in front of their door.

"The air mattress!" Casey laughed.

Tobias nudged it into the room with his foot, his gaze warming as he looked at her. "Will we be needing that?"

Casey adjusted his tie, leaning up to kiss him as his arms wrapped around her.

"I think we can return it," she replied with a smile.

"Good answer," he grinned, taking her hand and leading her towards the elevator. "Good answer."

The air mattress did not return to Boston with them, but as they stepped off their plane in Boston, it was evident they had returned with something new.

@choicesficwriterscreations @openheartfanfics

Tagging others separately.

#open heart #open heart fanfic #open heart choices #choices open heart #tobias carrick #tobias carrick x mc #tobias x casey #choices fanfic #playchoices #playchoices fanfic #chocies stories you play

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jtargaryen18 · 1 year ago

Text

One Night With You ~ Pt 2

One Night With You ~ A Halloween Tale in 3 Parts

Masterlist

Read Part 1

Words: 3.1k

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Neighbor reader

Warnings: A little language, references to the sound of people having sex, masturbation.

Disclaimer: The author of this work claims no ownership of characters aside from the reader, and any original secondary characters mentioned. This work is not intended for those under the age of 18 due to explicit sexual content in the third act. By reading this work or any works on my blog (jtargaryen18), you agree that you are at least 18 years of age. I don’t consent to having my work reposted or translated.

Summary: For @iheartsebstan who was my very first follower here on Tumblr and one I adore. 💕 It’s all about a chance encounter and how it can make everything in your life so much better.

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

October 30th

You’d left work and darted into the market on the way home. Tomorrow was Halloween and you needed candy for that because they did trick-or-treat in your building each year. You also wanted to grab something for your dinner since you were on your own tonight. You grabbed a sub from the deli, a pint of ice cream. You were all set.

“Hey, there,” a familiar voice came from behind you.

You froze. Bucky.

“Hi,” you said turning around. Your heart sped up. “How are you?”

“Good,” he said, unleashing a smile on you. “How are you?”

You nodded, next in line for the cashier. Bucky followed the line of your gaze to the items on the counter next to you.

“Candy,” he said. “That’s a good idea. I remember getting a text about the trick-or-treat tomorrow night. Hang on.”

Bucky darted back into the store, way too quickly for your liking because the man’s ass and thighs were exquisite. He was back in a flash, carrying a huge bag of mixed candy and getting in line directly behind you. It had you grinning.

“What? Is it too much?” he asked, nodding to the candy, those stormy eyes warm.

“Better safe than sorry,” you told him. “I know what to do if I run out of candy.”

Why was he looking at you like that? Did he do this a lot? It was hard to put words together to form a sentence with him smiling at you.

Bucky nodded to your wrapped sub. “Is that dinner?”

You nodded.

“Invitation is still open,” he said. “I could make you dinner.”

Your heart fluttered at that and no way you were making the same mistake twice. Taking a deep breath, you said, “Okay.”

His brows shot up, those stormy blue eyes widened. “Yes?”

“Yes,” you said.

“To dinner? Tonight?”

Did he have to be gorgeous and adorable?

“Yes,” you told him.

“Okay.” He looked like his mind was going a mile a minute. “Hold on.”

He grabbed a shopping basket and darted back into the store while the cashier checked you out. You’d just finishing paying for your groceries when he re-emerged, carrying the candy and a basket full of items.

You shook your head. “Don’t go to all this trouble for me, Bucky” you told him.

“It’s no trouble.” The cashier checked him out. She was really checking him out. Again, he carried a paper sack of groceries with his left arm and oddly, he wore a black glove on that hand. His other hand was bare.

The two of you were off, heading back to your apartment building. You went into your apartment to drop off your things and freshen up. You were just about to knock on his door when he pulled it open.

That smile. It froze you for a moment.

You followed him into his apartment to the kitchen table where he had a small metal device, a bottle of olive oil, and a shiny ball of yellow dough. He laughed at what must have been a look of confusion on your face.

“I’m making pasta,” he told you, grinning. “It’s not really something I make for myself.”

Crossing your arms over your chest, you shook your head. “That’s why you asked me over, huh? To make pasta?” you teased.

“It goes better with someone to help,” Bucky explained. “You’ll see why.”

A few minutes later, you did see why. You were standing there while Bucky ran the dough through the pasta maker over and over again, making it thinner and longer. It had to be ten feet long now and you stood on the other side of the table, holding the slack up as he worked.

You loved watching him work. He’d removed his jacket and the dark flannel shirt he wore stretched across the muscled wall of his chest in a way that made it hard not to stare. The glossy locks of his dark hair just reached his shoulder. His right hand was bare. He wore a medical glove over the other one. You stopped yourself before you said anything. He probably lost his hand or arm in an accident and the last thing you wanted to do was make it awkward.

Once the pasta was to his liking, he collected it from you, motioning to a bottle of wine on the counter behind you. You opened it and poured each of you a glass while he proceeded to assemble mushroom ravioli like a Michelin-starred chef.

“Do you cook?” he finally asked as he worked at the stove on the filling.

“Not much,” you told him. “I can make a few simple things. I’ve never really tried going beyond that.”

“Your boyfriend doesn’t cook for you?” Bucky asked as he continued. He wasn’t making eye contact as he finished the raviolis, so it was less intimidating.

“To be fair, I’ve never really had any guy cook me dinner,” you said. “Until now… And I don’t know that I’d call Denny a boyfriend. It’s more of a casual thing.”

Bucky did stop there to meet your gaze. “Are you happy?”

Don’t ask me that. Don’t look at me like that with those smoky blue eyes.

Taking a drink of your wine, you shrugged. “It is what it is.”

“You know I would have gotten you flowers,” he said with his back turned to you. “But you work at the flower shop so…”

You had to laugh at that. “You’re here making me dinner. And you thought about flowers?”

“That’s the way you should be treated,” he mused.

“Denny missed that memo.” The wine you drank on an empty stomach went to your head. “Maybe I should get an official boyfriend.”

“Do you want one?” He gazed at you over his shoulder, a slight grin there. His eyes were soft, sincere.

“Let me see how good the ravioli is first,” you told him with a smile.

Bucky had a light-hearted laugh that had your heart clenching in your chest.

You cleared the small kitchen table and set it for dinner, asking him where things were. His apartment wasn’t any nicer than yours. But it was warm, welcoming. Or maybe it was just him.

He peeled off the medical glove before putting the final touches on the dinner he made. You saw the dark metal hand under it, precise threads of gold adorned it.

“It doesn’t bother you, does it?” Bucky held up the hand.

You shook your head. “Of course not. What happened? If you don’t mind my asking.”

Surprise lit up those blue eyes. Were people normally rude to him about it?

“I was in the army,” he explained. “Lost it in an accident.”

You nodded. “Thank you for your service.”

Now that you were watching, you saw that hand wasn’t just a prosthetic. It seemed to function just like a regular hand. It had you wondering if he’d been a war hero to have something like that, so technologically advanced.

As he served you both and you took your seat, met his gaze squarely. “It doesn’t bother me.” You nodded to his hand.

The meal was delicious, and it had been fun helping him put it together. Unlike what you normally did with Denny, there was no TV on. Looking around, you didn’t see one. The two of you talked over dinner. Good conversation, good food. You talked about the flower shop and working there. He asked where you were from, about your family.

Bucky honestly made you feel seen, valued. It was different. The saying “if it seems too good to be true…” floated through your head a couple of times. What if he was too good? What if he was a serial killer or…

After dinner, you helped clear the table. You intended to do dishes; it was only fair. He cut you off, telling you to bring the wine to the living room. You took a seat on the couch, enjoying your second –third? —glass of wine. He joined you on the couch. You’d poured another glass for him, but his focus was on you.

“Was dinner okay?” he asked, grinning. He’d angled himself so he was facing you on the couch, his good arm draped over the back of the couch. After a moment, you realized he was carefully playing with the hoop earring you wore. His touch was delicate, nice.

“It was delicious,” you told him. And that was true. “I wish I could cook like that.”

“You can,” he said. “I could teach you a few things.”

The wine and your frustrated libido had your body taking the comment an entirely different way. Down, girl. He’s offering to teach you to cook.

But that would mean more time together, right?

Your phone hummed in your pocket, and you pulled it out to see a text from Denny. It was terse for him. He just cryptically said he was on his way to your place and that the two of you “needed to talk.”

What was this about?

“Everything okay?” Bucky asked, drawing your attention back to him.

“Yes,” you told him, shoving your phone back in your pocket and rising from the couch.

“It’s him.” It wasn’t a question.

“It is.” And the evening had gone so well. Did Denny really need to fuck it up? I could just text back and tell him to fuck off. That’s what your head told you to do. Your heart was drumming out a guilty tune. “I’m so sorry to be leaving so quickly. I really am. He’s just on his way to my place and apparently, we need to talk. I have no idea what’s going on.”

Bucky rose from the couch, towering over you and only a few inches away. You could read the disappointment on his face. But he was still smiling, his good hand smoothed over your hair as you stood in the peaceful quiet of his living room.

You really wanted to stay.

“I’ve really enjoyed this evening,” he told you. “I’d love to do it again sometime.”

You’d been holding your breath, fully expecting to say something like “call me when you break up with your boyfriend.” But he didn’t.

“I would too,” you assured him. “Let me go deal with this.”

“So trick-or treat tomorrow?” Bucky offered, gaze down at you.

You nodded. You liked that idea.

“Thank you,” you told him, pressing a kiss to his cheek. “Goodnight.”

The line had been meant to mark your exit. He didn’t say anything until you got to the door.

“I’m here if you need anything,” he told you. “Okay?”

That had you smiling. “Okay.”

You’d just made it into your apartment when someone pounded on it, had you jumping where you stood. You were frustrated because you were having such a good evening and here was Denny all upset. Why? You had no idea.

When you opened the door, you found Denny there. If he hadn’t texted you with “we need to talk” you might have thought he had another fight with his sister. But this time, his source of tension appeared to be you.

“One of my friends saw you walking up the street with another guy.” He just got straight to the point.

“I was,” you admitted. “He’s my neighbor.”

Anger flashed in his dark eyes. “That’s it? That’s all you’ve got to say?”

“Denny, I should be allowed to talk to my neighbor,” you pointed out. “And it was your idea for us to be non-committal.” You put air quotes on non-committal. “I don’t understand why you’re upset.”

His ire seemed to fade at that, and he scrubbed a hand over his mouth and chin. “You didn’t tell me your fucking neighbor was the Winter Soldier.”

Wait. What?

Denny rolled his eyes at you. “Bucky Barnes, Captain America’s best friend, world famous assassin. Ring any bells?”

You just stared at him as you considered what he was saying. You’d never heard the term “Winter Soldier” before. But Bucky Barnes? His metal hand. Now it all made sense.

I had dinner with Bucky Barnes? And he’s interested in me?

Denny knew you well enough to realize correctly that you didn’t know. Slowly, the tension in his face eased. Shaking his head, he smiled.

“You didn’t know,” he said. “Okay, because Derek said you walked in here together.” Denny looked around. “And he’s not here so…”

Yeah, he’d wanted a no-strings relationship but the minute he thought you were trading up for Bucky Barnes, he’s upset?

“No, he’s not here,” you told him. Angry.

You were pissed that Denny ruined what had possibly been the best date you’d ever had. And come to find out your neighbor was an Avenger with a past shrouded in mystery…

Blowing out an exhale, Denny smiled, moving closer. “Sorry, I lost my cool,” he said. “I just… never mind.”

When he started kissing you, you played along. He corralled you toward your bedroom. You went along but with the realization it was the very last time.

Tonight showed you two important things. One, after having dinner with Bucky next door, you realized you wanted a different type of relationship. You wanted to have dinners like you’d had this evening and to have the other person in the relationship actually talk to you like Bucky did, to want to know who you are.

And two, Denny was going to be so upset when you ended things in the morning. He’d accuse you of ending things to pursue Bucky Barnes. And you were.

If you ended things now, you’d be in for hours of fighting, and you had work the next morning. If you ended things on the way out, you had a good reason that you couldn’t stay and say more.

As Denny undressed you and urged you toward your bed, you weren��t thinking about sex with him. You were thinking about Bucky and hoping that you hadn’t allowed Denny to totally ruin your chances with him.

***

Bucky sat on his couch, his head in hands. He didn’t understand. He didn’t understand at all.

Yeah, okay, he’d followed you from the flower shop and “accidentally” ran into you. Sam suggested it as a way to talk to you again without seeming too eager.

Honestly, Bucky didn’t care if he seemed eager. He was. He’d been on a few dates since he slowly got back into the world. None of them had been like you. It had been so easy with you.

Denny had texted you and ended the evening way sooner than he wanted. Bucky would have happily talked to you for hours. Instead, you got that text and went running back to your apartment. Back to him. He thought your cryptic mentions of Denny were a sign that you weren’t happy in that relationship. That maybe he had a chance.

Maybe you’d just been playing him.

Still, Bucky had been trained to read people. You were interested in him. It wasn’t artifice. He would have picked up on it. Something else was going on here.

Denny arrived and started shouting at you about walking with the “Winter Soldier,” the persona he was working so hard to bury. It hadn’t taken him long to figure out that you hadn’t recognized him during dinner. Bucky was surprised but pleased. You didn’t have preconceived notions. He could tell you at the right time about who he was and who he had been.

But no. Denny ruined that. He ruined dinner. And now, the final insult, they were in there having sex and he got to listen to it fucking again. Had dinner with him been that bad? He thought he made a good impression, that you were as interested in him as he was you.

It was times like this when he wished he could drink to take the edge off.

While he wasn’t trying to listen, he did notice one thing. This time, he could hear your breathing, but you made no other sounds. No moans, no gasps of pleasure. Once again, no release.

What did you get out of that relationship?

Bucky went to bed early, hoping to escape into sleep. They were done by then and he was grateful. Still, he couldn’t fall asleep. His mind was going 70 miles an hour.

A few minutes later, he heard moving around. Your tread. You couldn’t sleep either. You went into the bathroom, running a bath for yourself. The sounds of water were soothing. Bucky loved long baths in the tub. What he wouldn’t give to be in the tub with you right now.

The vision in his mind of you in your tub, buried under piles of scented bubbles helped him relax. The sounds of water sloshing with your movements were pleasant.

Until he heard the water perpetually moving, a cadence that was increasing in speed.

Bucky huffed in frustration, dragging a hand through his hair.

You’ve got to be kidding.

You were pleasuring yourself in the tub, trying to find the release that the selfish bastard in your bed couldn’t be bothered to give you. Instantly, Bucky was hard as a rock. He slept naked so it was easy to slide his good hand under the covers to wrap around his aching cock.

Matching his rhythm to yours, he worked himself, picturing your small hand wrapped around him, your mouth, your pussy. Your pussy. Bucky gasped for breath. What would working himself into that be like? You were petite. How long would it take him to reach the end of you? Could you even take all of him?

The thought drove him insane as his movements sped up to match yours. You had to be getting close. Were you picturing him as you fought for release? Bucky hoped so.

It was that tiny moan you allowed to escape, it was a raw, authentic sound that had him shooting off, gasping as the white stream of his come spurted over his abs, his thighs. Bucky lost himself to it because it was good, coming with you…

Grabbing his discarded boxers from the floor, he cleaned himself, savoring the rare moment of pleasure, peace. It pushed his longing higher, his desire for you. You would be that good for him, he just knew it. And he could treat you right, the way a gorgeous young dame like you should be treated.

Bucky just hoped he still had a shot somehow.

It was quiet in your bathroom as he settled down, thinking he could sleep now. And he did. He fell into a deep enough sleep that he didn’t hear you crying in your bath.

@valsworldofcreativity @21stcenturywitchcraft @coconutqueen21 @bval-1 @caffiend-queen @sadlittlecountess @candy-and-writing @capsicle-shield @chaoticfiretaconerd @chrisevansgirl @chris-evans-indian-fanfic @coldmuffinbanditshoe @daughterofthenight117 @hv-chw3 @iheartsebstan @imanuglywombat @just-one-ordinary-fangirl @justrae9903 @lokislastlove @mariaenchanted @maxwelllee2020 @nekoannie-chan @nerdwholikesword @notyourtypicalrose @optimistic-dinosaur-nacho @peaceinourtime82 @rainbowkisses31 @rayofdawnworld @richonne4life @rissysthoughts-blog @saiyanprincessswanie @scarletsoldier21-blog @shygirl-00 @supernaturaldean67 @sweater-daddiesdumbdork @team-iron-wannabe-man @titty-teetee @tonib666 @villanellev @vitamingummies @what-is-your-plan-today @what-is-your-wish @xoxabs88xox @rosalynshields @naturalthrone22 @marvelovernfan @gotnofucks @eralen @kawairinrin @bluemusickid @geminievans1 @daughterofthenight117 @sunmoonandbuckyrecs @jesevans @kandis-mom @salvatoreitmeanssaviour @kmc1989 @curiousandjoyous @marvelouslyme96

#One Night With You #Bucky Barnes #Winter Soldier #Bucky Barnes x reader #Bucky x reader #Bucky Barnes x you #neighbor!Bucky #Halloween story

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jacquesthepigeon · 6 months ago

Note

Adrien's held back by the premise. 'Reverse fairy tale' he's the 'princess' perfect in his castle meant to be saved by Marinette the 'knight'.

This isn't me speculating, this is in the show bible. They honestly sat down and said 'hey if we change their crotch accessories it'll be so progressive. That's all gender roles and toxic patriarchy boil down to right? The configuration of your nether deli.'

So you have your useless emotional little princess Adrien who is both perfect and perfectly useless and the strong put upon Marinette who must protect him from the mean world amd his own sense of agency (he's just too emotional to be trusted with the truth!). She plows through the world and it hends to her will because knight etc etc.

This isn't Marinette salt, this is salting the people who say down and said 'Yeah this is totally a good story to tell.'

See, while I can see how that’s a factor, I don’t think that’s the Big problem. There have been plenty of princesses that still have agency and an active role in their stories despite their “damsel in distress” status. The issue with Adrien is that he’s Perfect and Must Be Protected At All Costs and It’s The Rest Of The World That Is Wrong. By this I mean that when they came up with these core characteristics, they doomed him to stagnation. He can’t face any challenges without risking alterations to his worldview and by extension his Perfect Cinnamon Roll status. From the moment they decided to make his dad the villain, he was guaranteed to never get a completely happy ending but because he is So Good and Can’t Handle That, they decided to ignore the most logical plot to follow with him and made him nothing more than a space filler in his own story.

It doesn’t matter if maribug is his knight in shining armor, he can’t even acknowledge the evil dragon exists.

#generalluxun #ask

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lazywitchling · 2 years ago

Text

So.

I think…

I think I’m just gonna.

Not go back to work.

Just… not go. Anymore.

#lazy witchblogging #tales from the deli

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ronearoundblindly · 1 year ago

Text

Sneak Peek!!!

excerpt from Part II: Reasons (see previous or series) a Steve Rogers x villain!Reader tale

Summary: Steve's convinced your first (and only) move will be ordering Bucky to kill your enemy. He has no clue...

Warnings for mentions of injury (minor) and brainwashing/manipulation (technically). WC ~400

Steve rests his head on the chilly glass and pinches his eyes shut. He’ll take a minute, review the money trail, and then interview the doctor. It seems a miracle that man was able to go home to his wife and sleep, even with security inside the room, down every hall, surrounding the house…Steve wouldn’t do it; he can’t even keep his eyes closed long enough for the dry sting to subside.

How could he be so stupid?

You weren’t staring at him from across the room; you were watching your mark, waiting for an opening. Sadly, it occurs to Steve that if he’d just let you inject Avani, his friend would be fine, here by his side, and safe.

You are the threat, not Bucky, but that’s a hard distinction. If anyone else sees James Barnes—who is the stealth assassin Winter Soldier, as far as they know—they’ll shoot. No questions. Steve has to find him first. He has to get to you first.

Bucky is compromised, but Steve won’t let it come to that. He can’t let Buck kill for you.

“Feel better?” You twirl in the chair as soon as the motel bathroom door opens, steam billowing out.

Winter’s face is shadowed, pointed to the floor.

“Or…at least, okay? Here—“ you offer the seat next to you at the tiny table “—sit. Eat. Let me—I’ve got bandages for your knuckles.”

“Will heal,” he grunts, sitting easily but with stiff posture, “fast.”

You let out a heavy breath, muttering, “makes one of us.”

The soldier reaches out for the file in front of you, but your hand pins it down.

“No. Food first, and palm up here.” You wait for him to flip open the takeout container then blot antiseptic on the split skin. “Does that hurt?”

He shakes his head, focus on the meal before him. His mission is very simple, but he’s thorough. You knew he would be.

Several months ago, an article was published about Bucky Barnes’ affinity for this one particular deli in Brooklyn, a third-generation shop. It listed his usual order.

You’ve made sure the bread isn’t soggy. You kept the spicy mustard on the side.

He makes a strange face, looking around for your portion.

“Not hungry,” you assure him, “I’m rarely hungry.” You secure the bandage like boxing wraps and spin the file around.

“Eat your food—” The command is soft, encouraging “—while I tell you about your mission.”

a/n: Hope you guys still give a hoot about this tale, but I'm determined to complete in-progress fics probably for the rest of the calendar year... Sooooooooo much has to fit into this chapter that it's taking me forever to work it all out. I don't want it to be a play-by-play and boring explanation of her plan, but it can't be confusing either. The balance is getting there though. Thank you for your patience!

@supraveng @1950schick @patzammit @whiskeytangofoxtrot555 @yiiiikesmish @ashesofblackroses @bucky-fricking-barnes-reads @fallinallinmendes @deandreamernp @marvelmenwhore @happinessinthebeing @before-we-get-started @sjsmith56 @esposadomd

#sneak peek #steve rogers fanfiction #steve rogers x reader #steve rogers fanfic #steve rogers fic #steve rogers angst #villain!reader #bucky barnes winter soldier #time and tines

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heyidkyay · 2 years ago

Text

Who can say no to bridezilla? |

Part Three

Just gonna say this now, this story actually has a mind of its own. I started part three and got carried away with the ending so expect a fourth, maybe even fifth part😬

So beyond grateful to everyone who showed the last two parts any love, it means a lot!! Hope you enjoy this next bit too:)

Summary: With no date to your sister's wedding, what are you to do? No worries though, she's already got it covered, well, sort of...

Masterlist

^found this picture and couldn't not use it

The party was now practically in full swing, but all I could really do was watch on from the sidelines. That guilt from earlier was still very much eating away at me, only now it had been accompanied by the sudden stress of my extremely complicated feelings towards Matty.

My sister had somehow managed to successfully avoid me since our previous conversation, dipping and diving amongst the throng of guests to evade my piercing stare. And I’d tried to keep my mind off of it all, really I had, but it was only proving to grow harder as the night went on.

“Here you are, my lady.” Came Matty’s sarky voice from over my shoulder as he handed me another tall glass. “Vodka coke, as promised.”

I smiled in appreciation as he dropped into the seat beside me, “Thank you. Was there much of a queue?”

Matty wrinkled his nose and shook his head. “Nah, just got caught up chatting with your nana. Has plenty of stories to tell, that one.”

I choked a little on the sip I’d just taken and immediately snapped my head back towards the bar, where, sure enough, my nana was still sat. She gave a knowing little wave and wink when she spotted me and I raised an eyebrow in turn.

“Everything she’s ever told you is a lie.” I declared wholeheartedly, knowing first hand just how little filter the woman held.

I’d grown up having to bare witness to it, after all. At family get-togethers, during every Christmas party, at the plethora of weddings… And now that I was older, I’d come to quickly realise that it wasn’t the fact that she was oblivious to what she was doing or saying really, she simply just did not give a single fuck. She said what came to mind, and no one could tell her differently.

Headstrong was a word often used to describe her, a big gossip too- but to me, she honestly was the definition of stubborn to a fault. I loved that about her though. Albeit having said that, I also tended to get the brunt of it whenever she’d decide to spin a tale or two about my spotted past.

Nana really was the best of the best, and I’d defend her to the grave, but she was also the biggest shit-stirrer I’d ever met. Knew it too.

Matty snorted, his eyebrows raised in delight. “Well, that was a reaction and a half.”

I narrowed my eyes at him, “What did she tell you?”

He hummed, deciding to drag it out as he necked a fair bit of his wine.

“Healy.” I demanded, giving him an unimpressed stare.

Matty laughed and rolled his eyes, but he was wearing a shit-eating grin when he tugged his chair in closer to mine. God, he smelt good.

I had to refocus my attention though when his eyes met mine, shimmering with mirth.

“Might’ve mentioned the time you shit yourself stood in the deli queue at Asda’s.”

My eyes widened on their own accord, and I had to place my drink down to make sure that I didn’t down it then and there. That woman.

He’d said it with so much confidence too, and used this little shrug that told me he was far too thrilled with the newfound information he'd been gifted.

“I was four!”

Matty scoffed at my argument, apparently pleased with the fact that he could get me all wound up so quickly.

“Also told me about that time you showed up to your cousin’s birthday party completely plastered, thinking no one would be none the wiser. Think she mentioned that he’d just turned four that day, too.”

I groaned, recalling that very day clearly in the forefront of my mind and slapped a hand over my face to hide my sudden humiliation. I swivelled round in my chair to send the woman in question a well deserved glare, which she paid no mind to. Of course.

“I can’t believe her. The smarmy cow.”

I turned back upon hearing Matty’s heightened laughter and pouted.

“Don’t laugh, you dickhead! I was mortified afterwards. I thought I’d played it off so well! Proper chuffed with myself that next morning. Only to then get a few choice words off my uncle that same afternoon.” I pursed my lips at the reminder. “Turns out tricking a bunch of kids into swearing like a couple of sailors is only funny when you’re hammered or have an actual sense of humour. Mum wasn’t too impressed either.”

“Nana was though.” Matty countered with a delighted little chuckle. I rolled my eyes.

“Nana’s a gossip.” I responded in kind. “Who should know by now that what goes around comes around!”

I yelled that last part over my shoulder, and chose to ignore the strange looks I garnered in favour of throwing a knowing look at the woman in question.

“I’m near seventy-four, dollface! No hide nor hair off of my back what you tell people as long as you let ‘em know I was havin’ a good time!” Nana called back in that strong Yorkshire accent of hers. She raised her glass in cheers.

I couldn’t help my breathy chuckle, and neither could Matty as it would seem, who was still laughing happily away beside me.

“Should’ve known she’d’ve put her hearing aids in.” I shook my head in complete levity, toying with a small smile, “Doesn’t want to miss a single thing said in a place like this, but ask her where she put the tele remote during a run of Corrie, well…”

“Fucking love your family.” Matty grinned at me, and I watched with baited breath as he just continued to glance around the rest of the venue as though he’d said nothing of the sort at all.

I inhaled quietly once his attention was then captured by someone he knew in passing, and shook off the strange feeling I’d felt as I finally downed the rest of that drink.

—

“Hann! Hann, mate!” Matty called over the shitty dubstep remix that was currently playing. I was just behind him, giggling at the sight he made. He’d no care in the world for anyone who was currently stood in his way as he waved haphazardly, wanting to garner the attention of his best mate.

We’d actually spent the better part of our time stood waiting in line for the buffet just shitting all over the DJ’s set, both claiming that we could’ve done a much fucking better job with just a Spotify playlist on hand.

But you win some, you lose some, I supposed. Though, I’d still be lording it over Adam’s head for the rest of forever- he was meant to be some sort of hotshot musician from what little I knew of his job, and he’d actually paid for this knobhead to spin a couple of early 2000’s records at his reception party and call it a day.

I was still chuckling away at the thought when I noticed the man in question wandering over to us with a big, fuck-off grin on his face.

“Mate!” Adam greeted cheerily as he tugged Matty into a one armed hug, pulling me along with the pair of them too, seeing as I was still holding onto Matty’s hand.

Matty had only taken it as we were parting our way through the crowds, but I realised now, that neither one of us had yet to let go.

Adam seemed to realise it then too, if the way his eyes travelled between our intertwined hands and my surprised face was anything to go by. Though, I noted that Matty stayed blissfully unaware in his slight tipsy state.

Thankfully Adam was mature enough to leave it be. For now, I could only suppose. Knowing that my sister would probably be the first one he’d let know. Oh, how I was looking forward to that conversation.

“Both having a good time?” Adam asked us as I let myself be roped into a hug from him as well.

“Been great, man.” Matty answered with a grin, pulling my hand with his again as he further exaggerated his point. “Can’t believe you’ve actually gone and done it! Locked that shit down, Hann. Don’t know whether to congratulate or console you.”

Adam’s mouth quirked to the left as he watched his mate with an indulgent expression. “Don’t be a wanker. Just let me enjoy this one night before you start getting all jealous on me.”

“Jealous? Ha, funny one, mate.” Matty retorted in good jest.

I rolled my eyes at the pair of them before I looked towards my new brother-in-law. “I’m gonna choose to offer my congrats here, but remember that if you upset my sister, I’ll do more than just hurt you.”

“Ooh, tell me more.” Matty said in a teasing tone, whilst Adam opted to ignore my date, simply raising his hands up at me to feign surrender.

“Wouldn’t dare.” He assured with a fond smile.

“Holding you to it.”

It was then that two more grown men came barrelling over- I say grown, but in reality it was like watching a bunch of ginormous kids kicking and scuffling with each other to get the first turn on the swing-set as they all embraced one another. I couldn’t hide my amusement.

“And who’s this beauty?” The one with the buzzcut encouraged, only noticing me when he’d slung an arm around Matty’s neck.

I looked him over then as I smiled at his compliment, I could see why he felt so confident in his approach, he was a right stunner. From the rolled up sleeves of his shirt which exposed the many tattoos that dotted his arms, to the slight smirk his pouty lips held as he watched me.

“This is y/n, y/s/n’s older sister.” Adam introduced us with a tilt of his chin, “And y/n, that idiot over there with the big gob is George, the bearded one's Ross.”

“I like it. Very manly.” I said, gesturing to Ross’s beard. Matty’s face twisted slightly when Ross smiled back at me with an appreciative nod, but before he could get a word in edge ways, George was speaking again, half-dangling over Matty to get a better look at me.

“We’ve met the once before, haven’t we? ‘Round Hann’s that one New Years, no?”

My face brightened at the sudden realisation, “Ah, yeah! You’re the weirdo who pulled out every pot in y/s/n’s kitchen to recreate that old Beach Boys song.”

Matty snorted beside me, whilst Adam laughed at the vivid memory.

“And if I recall, you also got so shitfaced that night that you actually ended up putting yourself to bed before the clock’s even struck twelve.”

My date and his friends all cackled at that, but George made a slight hissing sound as he inhaled sharply, holding a hand over his heart.

“Way to humiliate me there, cupcake, could’ve just left them with the knowledge of my sick rendition of I Get Around, but you had to go and start a war.”

I grinned in retort as I shrugged, “Learn to hold your drink better and I wouldn’t have to show you up, babe.”

George smirked, eyeing me closer now.

“Oi, no, no, no. You can fuck right off! She’s my date tonight, G.” Matty informed the drummer, elbowing the giant to shrug him off his shoulder.

George relented with a soft chuckle and sly smile. “Is that so? Reckon you’d have a ton more fun with me though.”

Adam shook his head, chuckling, whilst Matty and George started to scuffle.

My eyes widened briefly when they nearly went headfirst into the dessert table, but luckily they were quickly saved by Ross who redirected them onto the dance floor.

“Are they always like this?” I found myself asking Adam, watching as the trio interrupted a group of younger girls with all their pissing about. It was like looking at the live adaptation of a human bowling ball.

“Yeah.” Was all he offered, which made me laugh, and we both continued to watch the free show from the sidelines.

“Go on, Matty. Defend my honour!” I hollered over towards them, unable to help myself, and was rewarded with the sight of my date popping back up out of the brawl he’d created like a meerkat, wearing a comical grin.

I winced slightly when a strong arm tugged him right back down though.

“Someone should film this.” I overheard someone murmur somewhere off to my right, and I was quick to agree before the voice continued, “Imagine how much The Sun would give for an all inclusive on this.”

I frowned, confused, but continued to listen as best I could whilst I watched.

“Oh yeah, I can already see the headlines.” Came another excited voice, this one chuckling as they prattled off, “Matty Healy ruins guitarist’s wedding! Jealousy or just another downward drug spiral?”

Anger blew through me at that, and although I was bewildered by what they were saying, I couldn’t stop myself from immediately jumping to Matty's defence.

“What did you just say?”

The person in question was some guy I didn’t recognise, but he looked rather surprised by my sudden appearance. He fish mouthed for a moment before he just scoffed out a small laugh.

“No, go on.” I goaded with a narrow eyed stare, “I’m sure everyone here's desperate to hear what you have to say now.”

He rolled his eyes at me which only proved to aggravate me further. I was about to take another step forwards when a gentle hand took my shoulder.

“What’s happening here?” Came Adam’s familiar voice and I watched in satisfaction as the idiot before me stuttered slightly.

“Just making a joke, man.”

“Is that what you call it then?” I spat back, feeling Adam’s grip falter a little. “‘Cause it didn’t sound too funny to me.”

“What'd he say?” Adam attempted to intervene.

“Something about an article, or whatever. Wanting to make some money off of the lads just messing about.” I told Adam, still staring the twat down. “Made it out like Matty was off his head on something.”

Adam looked almost as pissed as I was in that moment, but then the man himself arrived, with George, Ross, and my sister trailing just behind. Matty seemed to have sobered up a bit at the sudden seriousness that must’ve overcome the rest of the party, as he came to a standstill by me, using his body to shield me somewhat from the opposing man.

“What’s gone on?” He demanded, eyes hard.

“Nothing.” The guy claimed, shrugging the whole thing off, but Matty was having none of it.

“Come off it, mate. You look stupid enough to start on my girl, but don’t lie straight to my face when I can see you’ve upset her.” Matty derided, then he turned to me, voice strikingly much softer. “Tell me what’s been said please, darling.”

I swallowed, surprised by the subdued attention Matty was now giving me, as well as how he’d chosen to handle the idiot.

I quickly recovered though, my anger still simmering beneath the surface. “I didn’t understand much of it, but he was spouting some nasty shit about you.”

Matty’s brow furrowed but he looked to Adam when the groom leant in nearer. “Tabloids and crap, claiming he could make a quick quid.”

“Shit stirring, you mean.” I said, scowling at the guy who’d drawn up quite the crowd. “Tried to make it seem like you were ruining Adam’s big day, spouting shit about how you were jealous, high or whatever.”

Matty merely chuckled, amused by it all, and I really should’ve known he’d react like that.

“Ad?” My sister called out then, pushing through the sea of onlookers to understand just what was going on. I instantly felt bad for having made a scene.

“I’m so sorry, y/s/n.”

She shook her head at me, waving my worries away as she took her husband’s hand. She looked back to him again.

“Just someone being an arse, babe.” Adam spoke and pulled her into his side to comfort her before he nodded over towards Ross. “Mate, grab that security guard for us.”

Ross did so, whilst George and, surprisingly, Jamie had the same idea to usher the fucker out.

“Take Thing Two with you whilst you’re at it, Jim.” I added, jerking my head over to where the lad’s friend had shied away from the commotion. He winced at the sudden attention I’d attracted.

My cousin dipped his head once at me and squeezed my shoulder in passing as he hauled the guy and his mate outside the venue with George.

Matty drew me in near, his careful hand in mine. “You alright? Got pretty wound up there, sweetheart.”

I exhaled and tried let go of whatever anger I had left, but my body was still trembling slightly with adrenaline as I nodded at him. Matty soothed that thought with a gentle caress up my arms, ducking his head to catch my eye.

He raised a brow.

I gifted him a small smile as I softly shook my head, biting the inside of my cheek when he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “Yeah, yeah, I'm sorry. He just really pissed me off.”

“Don’t have to get all riled up on my account, darling. Had a lot worse said, trust me.”

I frowned, “I couldn’t not say anything, Matty, he was being a right prick towards you.”

My chest tightened at the fond, albeit exasperated, smile Matty gave me then. “I appreciate it, but I’d rather have you enjoying yourself than occupying your time with twats like that, yeah? Ain’t worth it.”

I knew he was right, but it still didn’t sit right with me. “You don’t deserve that though, not with how hard you’ve worked, with how hard you’re still trying.”

Because he was. Recovery was a fucking hard road. And I only knew about it due to the fact that he'd been pretty open about it all with me- proud of the fact too, of how far he’d come since then. To hear someone just slag him off like that, it irritated me beyond belief, especially when it was said as some sort of sick joke, without him around to even defend himself.

“You’re lovely, you know that?” Matty commented then with an endeared little grin that threw me so off guard I felt like I’d been pulled through a blackhole. But before I could do or say anything, Matty was wrapping up the scene. “Alright, you fuckers! Party’s over- or well, party’s back on, I guess. So you can all sod off and stick your noses elsewhere now.”

I snorted out an ugly sort of laugh that had my sister’s brows raising before she merely chuckled. “Should’ve known that something like this was bound to happen. Surprised it held off as long as it did actually, especially with you around.”

I narrowed my eyes at her but did end up giving her a sheepish sort of smile. “I said I was sorry.”

She laughed again, rolling her eyes. “Yeah, and you can make it up to me by getting your arse out on that dance floor, alright? Don’t think that I haven’t noticed you avoiding it.”

“Avoiding it?” Matty asked, glancing between the two of us, “What do you mean?”

“She means to say that I’m shit at dancing. Like, beyond bad." I tell him myself, wanting to just quickly sweep it under the rug. "It’s why I’ve not gotten up yet.”

Matty, being his dramatic self, let his mouth drop wide open. I rolled my eyes at the theatrics before I pressed my knuckle under his chin to shut it back up again.

“I don’t believe you.” He said.

I furrowed my brow with a faint chuckle. “What is there to not believe? Don’t for one second think that you can get me to prove that I’m a shitty dancer, Matty.”

The man simply smiled at me, and he looked so smug when he clasped my wrists and begun to lead me towards the dance floor.

“No, Matty.” I deadpanned. “There's no way I’m dancing.”

“We’ll see.”

I gave him a humourless look. “No, we won’t. There's not a chance in hell.”

By that point we’d already made it onto the borders of the dance floor, where everyone else had seemingly wandered back towards after the argument had been doused out. Matty was still grinning as he bopped his head up and down, taking turns to move my stiff arms back and forth. It only brightened when the DJ finally put on a decent tune, increasing his enthusiasm by a tenfold.

“Come on, don’t be that person.” He drawled, taking the piss now. “You know you want to.”

I attempted to send him another dirty look, but it was overshadowed by the tiny lilt my mouth made, giving me away.

“Ah, see! Knew you loved it.”

I threw my head back lightly and groaned, unable to hide my smile now as I laughed more freely, letting him move us in whatever way he pleased. And it wasn’t half bad once I let myself get pretty into it, deciding to just say ‘fuck it’ and enjoy a dance for once.

Matty wasn’t too shabby a dancer either. In all honesty, he really did look so effortless dancing across from me, the way he pranced about, hips moving madly, as though his soul purpose was to simply perform. I loved watching him.

That reminded me— but as I went to ask my unanticipated question, the song changed. Or slowed, rather.

I was a little surprised at first when Matty’s arms encircled me to wind themselves around my waist, but I just followed his lead, lifting my hands to rest on his shoulders.

Everyone else around us seemed to be doing the same thing, or something of the sort, and I watched as a few more couples got up to join us.

I smiled past Matty’s ear at the sight of my sister and Adam, who, in that moment, couldn’t have looked more in love. And then at my pops who was twirling my nana about without a care in the world, his smile making him look twenty years younger.

I let myself rest my cheek against the jut of Matty’s shoulder to simply take in the entire day. A gentle smile limned my lips.

“Thank you for today.” I muttered softly as the chorus started, “I’ve had the best time.”

I felt Matty’s hold tighten around me slightly as he pulled us closer during a turn.

“What, even with that arsehole from earlier?” He joked quietly into my ear and I chuckled.

“What was up with that anyway?” I couldn't help but ask him, pulling away to look at his face. I watched as he blinked, wearing a significant look on his face that I couldn’t quite place.

“You really don’t know?” Matty said, though he’d phrased it less like a question and more like a revelation. More to himself, than me. He shook his head faintly as surprise worked its way across his features. “Honestly thought you’d clocked on when I first turned up.”

“Clocked onto what?” I questioned, more confused now than I was before. Mostly by his reaction.

“Just my job, really.” He replied, and for the first time he looked a little abashed. It threw me a bit. “I’m in a band.”

Ah, well that made a bit more sense. The lingering looks. The pointed lenses. The whispers and pointing. The obvious gawking I’d tried not to ponder too much on. And then what the lad from earlier had said about The Sun Newspaper. Realising that now made the situation all the more worse in my head.

I questioned, internally, whether it changed anything.

I mean, it was like Matty had said, it was just his job. But whilst most worked the usual nine to five, he had this big, interesting job that probably took him all over the globe.

It was a little daunting, in truth. And I couldn’t help but wonder why he’d agreed to this whole facade in the first place, knowing he definitely had his pick of the lot. Whether that was generally speaking, because everyone could easily see that he was a charmer, but also from the dozens of girls he probably had dying for his attention.

“A band…” I prolonged.

He hummed, eyes picking apart my reaction.

I quirked my lip, brightening slightly, “Is it a big one?”

He wore a wry smile then, and his squinted brown eyes flickered between both of mine.

“Massive.”

I just had to laugh then, and so as I shook my head, I pulled him in closer, fingertips finding the hair at the nape of his neck.

“Don’t think you can be that famous- I’ve never even heard of you.” I commented playfully, though it was mostly the truth. I say mostly because if they were as big as those boys had made them out to be, then I figured I’d had to have heard a song or two of theirs in passing.

Matty heightened his reaction- like always, as I’d come to quickly realise- and gasped, not loud enough to be overheard, just so that it would make me laugh and roll my eyes. He smiled when I did.

“I’m hurt. Well, and truly, hurt.”

“Reckon you’ll get over it, rockstar.”

“And if I don’t?” He quipped, an eyebrow raised in retaliation.

I pretended to mull it over. “Then you’d best find some groupie to boost that ego of yours.”

“Why are you so nasty to me?”

I laughed loudly at that, too loudly actually, and had to quickly duck my head to hide my face in Matty’s chest when people’s heads darted towards the sudden noise.

“Are they still looking?” I questioned after a moment passed, my voice muffled by the man’s tailored suit jacket.

“Yeah, they’re all pointing and laughing too.”

I shook my head at him and felt the soft rumble of his chuckle from where my forehead was now pressed to his chest.

When I poked my head back out, I flashed him a bashful smile and had to actually make the effort not to let my gaze linger too long on his mouth or his eyes. Instead, I let myself survey the surrounding crowd.

My mum was on the dance floor now, I found, scolding and rolling her eyes at Jamie, who seemed to have two left feet and was galloping them around the dance floor.

George wasn’t too far away either, dancing the night away with Gracie, my overly-enthusiastic six year old niece. He winked when he caught me looking and mouthed the words, ‘You’ve pulled, cupcake!’.

I bit my lip to conceal my sudden amusement then mouthed back, ‘Fuck off!’.

He just cackled and little Gracie started rattling away again, regaining his focus.

Adam, it appeared, had whisked my sister off somewhere, because they were no longer anywhere in sight. I only hoped that they’d found a decent place to shag because porcelain did your arse no favours when you were getting railed against the nearest bathroom sink.

“What’re you thinking about?” Matty asked, drawing me back to the present by pinching my hip. I tugged on the ends of his hair in retort. He just smirked, “Careful, sweetheart, I quite like that.”

“You’re insufferable.” I snickered, but answered his question when I looked back at him. “Honestly?”

He nodded.

“Was just thinking about the last time I had sex in a bathroom.”

Matty visibly fought down a giant grin at that.

“That bad of a date, am I? Or are you just hoping I’ll offer up the chance to improve?”

I gaped a bit, not having expected him to be so forward, but then again, I couldn’t really blame him when I’d started it.

“Keep on wishing there, Healy. You’d be so lucky.” I scoffed with a sarky sort of smile.

He looked me up and down slowly as he hummed his appraisal. “Doubt I'd say no.”

I rolled my eyes at him and tugged again at the ends of his hair. Harder this time.

“Ow. Kinky.”

I had to swat him then, because even as I laughed I couldn’t let him get away with it.

When I’d calmed somewhat and found Matty to still be staring at me with that humoured grin of his, I gently shook my head.

“I just meant that-”, then I exhaled a small chuckle, “I merely noticed that the newly weds had disappeared and took a wild guess on what their current whereabouts might be.”

“Ah, I see.” I watched as Matty’s eyes trailed the rest of the room. “Reckon they’re going at it 'round the back.”

With a snort, I couldn't help but ask, “Why’d you say that?”

He shrugged, “Fire exit door over there by the DJ booth leads out there- be my first choice after seeing the queue to the toilets.”

I glanced back and found that he was correct, a line of seven or so people were all waiting to use the bathroom and the slit in the tent was discreet enough to slip out of unseen. It was also close enough to where the couple had just been seen dancing.

“Hm, and if I were to drop a certain kind of hint? Where would you head to next.” What could I say? I was intrigued.

“Chapel.” He said without a second thought.

I raised my brows at him. “Really?”

He hummed, linking his hands behind my back to bring us that much closer. And grinned, “Reckon it could be sexy- could play at being a nun... Or I could be your choir boy-”

I cut him off right there with a hand to his mouth.

I rebuked him with a small shake of my head but couldn’t hold back my amusement. “You’re actually so bad, you know that? Almost as bad as nana.”

Matty unwound his hands so that he could pull mine away from his lips, but he didn’t let go afterwards, simply held them together against his chest. And if I concentrated hard enough, I could just about feel the rhythm of his heartbeat.

“No one outranks your nana.” Matty assured me, “That woman’s got a hell of a vocabulary on her.”

Lightly laughing, I looked down at our paired hands, at how Matty’s thumb kept running over the back of my own and I wondered whether he felt it too.

“Oi, Healy!” Someone called out, breaking the moment, “I thought that was you!”

And just like that, as I looked up and caught sight of the goddess of a girl headed straight towards us, I knew that I’d just let myself get far too caught up in the moment.

Part Four>

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