#who lost his home and half his family and his HAND but who ushered in a new golden age.

[lilaccatholic]

I am once again thinking about the reluctant ruler whose arc justly and correctly includes assuming the throne and taking responsibility for the people set before them

[strayrockette]

My Sunshine Girl: The Celebration

Next Chapter

Note: I’m finally giving in and writing this Benny fic my brain won’t stop rehashing. Enjoy 😊

Super Note: Listen, guys, gals, peeps...I really really really tried to keep this short but it ended up a lot longer than I intended. I even split it into two separate parts and it's STILL SOOO LONG IM SORRY! Also please excuse incorrect grammar. I tried to edit as much as I could but I'm sure I still missed something. My Masterlist

Summary: The birthday girl doesn’t want the night to end and a handsome stranger gives her an invitation.

Inspired by: (Today I Met) The Boy I’m Gonna Marry by Darlene Love, He’s Mine by the Platters, and @storiesfromafan.

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Harold’s Diner was one of many to be open late at night. Where the others were dim and had few occupants, Harold’s Diner was packed with more than usual.

Half were regulars all grouped together on the far left. They held familiarity as they conversed and joked around. Laughter and chatter were loud and hard to escape in the mom-and-pop diner.

You fluttered from table to table, smiling wide, excitement and happiness oozing from your body. It had been a pleasant surprise to walk into your uncle's diner and find a couple of friends and family waiting for you.

Your best friend Nat had organized a small get-together for your birthday. Your Uncle Harold had allowed her to use his diner for the event, "it'll be good for business and it'll make her happy" He had shrugged his shoulders as if saying yes was the only answer. With his answer, Nat had taken it upon herself to decorate the diner in anticipation of the night.

While the diner was technically open to other customers, you didn't mind one bit. The small community you lived in was tight-knit and most customers were from nearby. Few and far between were out-of-towners who were just making a pitstop. But that didn't disturb you one bit.

Customers came and went as the night went on. Many wished you a happy birthday as you and your friends idled joyfully in the corner of the diner. You beamed with each happy birthday.

By the time your friends were ready to leave and retire for the night you pouted, the night was only beginning and you were too excited to see what the cool air and starry sky had to offer.

You’d tried to convince Nat to stay out later but her boyfriend wouldn’t budge. She grasped your shoulders softly, “We can hang out some other time hun, Mikey doesn’t like it when I stay out late”

You’d rolled your eyes and mumbled a passive goodnight. Waving her off with a small and placid smile. Uncle Harold had practically shooed you out of the diner so he could clean in peace. He’d ushered out a goodnight and a see you at home, before closing the diner doors to prevent another customer from coming in.

All too suddenly you were left alone staring up at the sky and wondering exactly what you would do next. Your feet ached in the black wedges Nat had bought you. And you really wished you could sit down somewhere.

You walked along the sidewalk, taking in the dimly lit path, you wondered if you should have taken Nat's offer to drop you off at home. But you didn't like Mikey, so you politely declined.

You continued to wander, your feet aching as you tried to think of where else you could go. Who else could you visit before retiring to your cold empty bed. Lost in thought you barely noticed soft hands moving to grasp your wrists “Y/N?”

You blinked, your eyes focusing on the person in front of you. Short hair and wide eyes, “Kathy?”

A smile broke out, “Oh my gosh! How are you?”

Kathy’s brown eyes twinkled, “Been better. Since when were you back?”

“About a month ago” you responded happily. “I didn’t think I’d run into you”

She fixed her purse over her shoulder, “Talk about perfect timing. Do you remember Alice? Well, she asked me to come to spot her at this bar, but I don’t want to go in alone.”

Her question was unsaid but you were too excited to keep the night going to even think about saying no. You hooked an arm around hers and practically dragged her into the bar. You weren’t prepared for what kind of club you were walking into. But if you learned anything from living in New York City for the last 4 years, it was always best to walk as if you belonged and barrel through bodies who got in your way.

You did just that, Kathy squeezing herself closer to you, your skirt rode up with each stride, the lime green plaid skirt catching more than a few eyes. But you were always prepared for a night of fun, dolling yourself up in the cutest skirts or dresses.

Your legs were covered in nude stockings a pair of dark shorts over ‘em, like hell I’d make it easier for scummy eyes and hands to slip into my “honey pot” the thought almost made you sneer outwardly but you attempted to keep the joyful smile on your face.

You pushed through, shouldering men bigger than you, slapping hands that tried to grab your waist and smiling sweetly when they insisted, “Not for you sweetheart”

Your confidence and boldness had men parting a path for you as you tugged Kathy behind you. Your eyes searching for a familiar blonde, green eyed girl you used to tease for the gap in her teeth.

Alice’s head popped up over the crowd, her hands waving enthusiastically in the air as she caught sight of your dark brown hair and smiling face, “Y/N??OH MY GOD YOU’RE BACK”

She screeched over the loud music and voices, completely comfortable in the bar filled with greasy old and young men alike.

You rushed through the last stretch of the crowd, breaking through to rush around her table, gathering Alice into a hug you giggled and swayed together, “I missed you, you chatterbox”

You teased her as you pulled away. Your eyes roamed her face. “Well, someone’s changed”

Her green eyes looked you over a smirk on her lips, “I could say the same for you, little miss, barreling through those men like you own the place,” she leaned forward whispering in your ear, “Good job”

You laughed, patting her shoulder you pulled a seat out and sat down. Kathy was already seated, her fingers digging into the purse she clutched to her chest. Pulling money from the bottom of her purse she slid it over to Alice, “Here take it”

Alice grinned, “Awe, thanks hun, you’re the best”

Kathy looked around her gaze warily taking in the rowdy men, their greasy appearance, and tattooed bodies, “Uh huh, I gotta go”

Alice frowned, “Awe come on, you just got here and Y/N here, the fun’s just got started”

Kathy shook her head, her discomfort growing, “No way, we can get together another day”

She stressed over the word day. You bumped her shoulder, “Oh come on Pumpkin, I could use a dance with you”

She turned her head to you, her discomfort and excitement warring with each other, “No can do sweets, I hate it here”

Alice snorted, “You hate anywhere that isn’t your home, anyways��� She motions to the other end of the table, “over here is cockroach”

You followed, Alice’s gesture, noticing his rough appearance-much like many of the men here, but his eyes were gentle and warm, he’s a harmless bug you thought.

You gave him a nod of acknowledgment and a hello around the same time Kathy paused her jittery movements to say “What?”

She gave him a confused and disbelieving look. He nodded, seemingly used to the confused and odd looks, “They call me cockroach,“ he repeated.

Kathy scoffed her eyes once again looking around cautiously, “And why they call you a stupid name like that?” She asked.

You leaned forward, your elbows resting on the table, “Is it cuz cockroaches are indestructible?”

You were curious about his name and what meaning it had to him. Based on the group of men he hung with you assumed there would be plenty of weird names to learn. He grinned at you, “cuz I like to eat bugs, you know, like a gag but also cuz I just like to eat em”

You laughed amused by his statement. Kathy looked disgusted and she voiced as much, “That’s disgusting. Look, I gotta go, you comin’ with me?”

She turned to you at the end of her sentence. Her eyes pleading with you to leave the bar with her. You pouted, “Sorry, pumpkin, I think I’m gonna stick around a lil longer”

Alice sighed, “Ay, they’re not that bad,” she reached across the table, patted Kathy's hand, and smiled reassuringly, “Just sit here for a bit, okay?”

Kathy huffed as Alice slipped from her seat to go to the bar, her eyes glancing around nervously. You leaned in, whispering in her ear, “It’s best to pretend you belong than to act like you don’t, pumpkin.”

She turned once more her jitteriness increasing the longer she stayed, “And why in the hell would I do that?”

You sighed and shook your head, “to lessen the stares you’re gettin, duh”

She rolled her eyes, “they’d stare no matter what.” She concluded irately.

Alice slips back into her seat, handing you and Kathy a pop to drink.

Before you could respond to reassure Kathy, two men walked up to your table, one is shorter than the other, neither are bad looking but the grease on their skin and the scent of cigarette smoke hanging around them makes them undesirable to most women. At least, the women living the prim and proper lifestyle.

Kathy avoids making eye contact but you do it freely, unbothered and curious at what they’ve got to say.

The shorter one of the two leans forward his dark eyes roaming from Kathy to you, “Hey there.” His voice is raspy and not too deep nor high. It’s rather pleasant, you think passively. “Either of you wanna come live with me?”

It’s almost a tease and a genuine question, the other jumps in eagerly, he’s tall and bare-chested, and he’s wearing a jean vest that all the men in this bar are wearing, “What about me? Wanna go out with me” his eyes look to you, they’re a soft brown and you can tell he’s a sweetheart deep down. But with all the men gathered at this bar, kindness, and sweetness are buried beneath their manly-esque appearance.

Kathy utters, “No, thank you” with a shake of her head and her eyes downcast. But you stare up at them and simply say, “No”

You’re leaning back in your chair, hands calmly placed over your thigh, your legs crossed. You have no worries or cares and you’re not at all intimidated by these men. Kathy goes on to make excuses for why she said no. She looks around the table “Oh, I have a date”

The tall one hums, “A date huh?” He nods his head at you, “What about you?”

You tease them, "If I did have a date, it isn't either of you."

The tall one laughs hollering over his shoulder, "We've got a sassy one over here."

The short on places a hand on his heart, "I'm hurt sunshine"

You laugh enjoying the light banter and tease.

Kathy nudges you, her eyes wide and warning. You stick your tongue out a silent message for her to loosen up.

She pinches your side and then says unconvincingly, “Well, I’ve got a date. 12 o’clock," She nods to herself, " I-I have to get home. She's coming with me.”

Kathy insists on whisking you away from here, she's seen the looks these men give you and bless your heart. Kathy isn't sure if you're unaware or unbothered, she refuses to leave you behind. You were the one good girlfriend she had ever had, even if you had disappeared for 4 years.

The shorter one lifts his cigarette to his mouth and inhales, “You hear that cockroach”

He points his cigarette in Kathy’s direction, “Cinderella’s got a date" He points to you, "And Sunshine waitin' for her man”

Kathy sinks into her seat and you wonder if she would bolt for the door. But with the two men blocking their path, she remains rooted in her seat.

The tall one echos, “Yeah, Cinderelli’s got a date, and Sunshine’s waitin' for her man to find her”

Cockroach chuckles and shakes his head. The two men slip away from the table, the shorter one going on to say, “Cinderella’s gonna turn into a pumpkin or somethin’”

Another man hollers, "Wonder who the lucky man is, Sunshine"

You giggle to yourself, the men reminded you of another group you'd known in New York. It wasn't too bad once you found your bearings amongst them.

You glanced at Kathy, seeing her eying someone with suspicious eyes.

You followed her gaze, seeing an older man calmly sitting with his back to the wall and his legs propped up on a chair. He was eyeing you gals with soft eyes, he gave you two a nod as another man leaned down to whisper in his ear.

Your eyes lingered for a few moments trying to grasp what exactly was being said, with no luck you looked over to the group of men, two of them being the ones who had attempted to pick you and Kathy up, stood near the Jukebox. They lazed around, heads bent speaking to each other, one of them glanced up to look over at the table you sat in.

Kathy shook her head, her voice wavering, “Look at them whisperin and plannin’ somethin, oh I gotta go”

Kathy had reached for your hand, already pulling you up from the seat. Your feet nearly stumbling as you righted yourself to walk behind her. You tugged lightly, turning her around, “If you’re gonna drag me around like ole times, Pumpkin, give me a sec to get my bearings.”

She sighed and nodded. Her right hand clutching her purse tighter as she stood and waited.

You fixed your skirt and bent down to grab your purse that hung loosely over your chair, swinging it over your shoulder, you stood and got ready to leave.

You gave the bar one last sweep with your eyes, stopping when you saw him. Blonde windswept hair and baby blue eyes. Toned arms littered with tattoos, and grease sticking to his skin, you assumed it was motor oil and some other form of grease from tinkering away at bikes.

Your head tilted and a growing feeling of intrigue and curiosity overwhelmed you. Forgetting about Kathy, you plopped onto the chair and clumsily tapped Alice’s arm to get her attention. Your bag knocked against the table nearly falling off your shoulder and hitting the ground but you tucked it on your lap and leaned closer to Alice, “Hey Alice, who is that looker over by the pool table”

Alice looked to where your eyes hovered, catching on to whom you were asking about, “No, girl just no”

You turned, giving her a frown, “What?”

“Thats Benny, you don’t want to go there” She insisted.

Kathy slid into the seat next to you, her shoulder brushing yours, “Don’t tell me you’re eyeing one of these greasy fuckers”

You jabbed her with your elbow, “Be nice,”

Passing her a pleading look. Kathy sighed and leaned onto the table, her escape plan on hold.

You pleaded with Alice to tell you more, “Come on, spill! You never hold back, what’s the deal?”

Alice gave you an unimpressed look and shook her head.

"Just fill my curiosity meter, sweets," You shook her arm as if it would help make her spill.

Alice snorted, “You’re never just curious, Sunny”

Kathy hummed, “Agreed. You rarely give anyone the time of day, why are you askin' about this one”

That's a story that would be too long to spill, you sigh, "I'll tell yah later"

“Look, no one wants to date Benny, he’s trouble. Every time he gets on his bike he gets into an accident” she looked around conspiratorially, “and he’s got a temper on him, he won’t hurt no lady but put a man in front of him and he’ll swing any which way he pleases”

She tried to stress his flaws but you couldn’t quite let go of the curiosity in you. You didn’t have his name before, you’d wondered where he slipped off to after your uncle's diner. He’d shown up out of the blue in the early afternoon. His hair freshly ruffled from the wind, a cigarette hanging from his lips, his long fingers fixing his jacket, and his long jean-clad legs striving through the diner doors with grace and confidence. For a rebel against society's norms, he was handsome. Too handsome. You couldn’t believe he didn’t have a line of girls wanting to get with him.

But then again, most of them probably steered clear to avoid angering their families. Lucky for you, you had no such concerns.

You remembered how your uncle was about to throw him out of your diner, refusing to serve “vandal scum” in his family friendly diner. But you had swooped in, bouncing over before any hands could fly and faces bruised. You’d smiled blithely, gently reminding your uncle it was your birthday and you had no need or want for a fight to break out and break the mood that had settled into the diner’s atmosphere.

People were coming in and out, most were family and friends visiting to say hi and spend time with you for your birthday. Some were customers but even they stopped for a few to talk to you. Reminiscing over younger you who had greeted each of them one time or another at the diner.

You’d turned to the handsome stranger, your hair swirling around you in waves, a playful finger wagging in his direction, “This is a family friendly diner, handsome, I’m afraid you can’t smoke in here”

You had expected him to argue but he merely put out his cigarette, handing it to your outstretched palm. You discarded it in the trash behind the hostess stand and grabbed a menu for him. You glanced to your uncle and then to the stranger, “You can eat here as long as you behave. and you will, right?” You asked sweetly.

The handsome stranger merely nodded, giving you a half smile. His blue eyes staring intently into your own dark brown that glittered with a hint of gold and red in the setting sun that glowed through the windows.

You had waved your hands in the air, “See didi, there’s no trouble here. Just a handsome man wanting to eat your delicious food”

You had defused the situation so quickly it nearly gave everyone a whiplash but that was something everyone had missed. Your ability to lighten an atmosphere.

After getting the stranger seated you went back to your previous activities nearly forgetting the blue eyes that lingered on you throughout his stay.

You had almost forgotten, until now.

Alice shook her head, grasping your hand, “Don’t say I didn’t warn yah”

She glanced at Kathy, “If you wanna leave that bad, let’s get you to a phone to call for a ride mkay”

Kathy sighed in relief, “thank you, you’re the best”

They left you to your thoughts. You pulled your bottom lip between your teeth, thinking over what Alice said and remembering the brief meeting from earlier in the day. You contemplated going up to him, just to ask if had enjoyed the food. He had wiped his plate clean so you know he did. But perhaps you could also ask him why your uncle couldn’t stand the sight of him. Maybe that’s too personal you thought idly.

You would have sunk deeper and deeper into your thoughts if it weren’t for a figure slipping into a chair next to you. His arms hugging the back of the chair, his body leaning over to stare at you.

You almost choked on air realizing who was seated next to you. His eyes peered into yours, soft and gentle. His beard was a golden blonde like his hair, it framed his face nicely, his cheekbones and jaw were sculpted to perfection and you wondered if you ever laid eyes on someone who was casually perfect. “Hey”

Your eyes traced his face, “Hello handsome, I didn't think I'd see yah again"

He nodded giving you a half smile, so similar to the one you had received when you had helped him get a table at your uncles diner, “I’m Benny”

You noticed his voice was a deep honeyed rasp. Somehow smooth and bumpy. You wanted to listen to him talk all night, but based on your previous and current encounters; you didn’t think he’d do much talking.

You tilted your head to the side humming in reply, “I’m Y/N”

Silence fell, a bubbly giddy feeling in your chest almost had you giggling nervously. You’d never had a man stare at you so intensely without a crude or rude comment hanging from their lips. But Benny simply watched. His eyes trailing over your face, mapping out the curve of your nose and lips, the laugh lines in your face, the dimples resting at the top of your cheeks and the way your honey brown eyes watched him in return.

He wanted to reach out to touch your cheek wondering if they felt as warm as the redness in them implied.

You swallowed the giggle by biting your bottom lip, you seemed to be doing that a lot tonight. You hoped you wouldn’t bruise it with how much you had repeated this action. “You gonna stare at me all night, Benny”

You whispered his name and it felt scandalous. As if it was the most intimate pet name you had ever come up with prior to knowing his true name.

He smiled, rubbing a hand over his chin then through his hair, he adjusted his position, “Yeah, I guess”

He made no other comment. Not once bothering to fill the growing silence between you. Perhaps there wasn’t much to be said because his eyes said it all. He was interested, you gathered.

His eyes inviting, patiently waiting on you to confirm…something. You weren’t sure.

And as much as you wanted to do or say anything you simply went with, “I-Uh-I’m with my girls”

You stuttered, what a terrible flirt. You wanted to slam your head into the table, to sink into the floor and disappear. That wasn’t what you wanted to say but it was the only thing you could think of.

“Oh” he looked down at his arms then slowly looked back up to you, “okay”

His eyes were softer and a little sad. More silence. Your heart was beating so fast with adrenaline. You swore you would never forgive yourself for being an idiot. You hoped he would say something, ask you anything. Maybe give you something other than his contemplative silence. But no, he only lifted his hands up, “You’re with your girls”

He had shrugged as he said it, gracefully getting up to leave you alone. You could feel his eyes leaving you and he left you to a different kind of silence. You couldn’t believe how idiotic you had been. As if the invitation wasn’t clear enough you had shut him down. Leave it to you to blow off the only man who had ever made you feel anything other than disgust under their gaze.

Kathy slid into the chair to your right, her mouth parting ready to ask you if you would be leaving with her, but another figure slipped into a seat at the other side of the table.

You recognized him from earlier, the man who watched you and Kathy from his corner of the bar. He gave you girls a quirk of his lip and a nod, “What are your names, girls”

Kathy leaned back and sighed, “What is this? A rotary buffet?”

You could tell she was getting tired of all the men who were coming up to you gals. “I’m Kathy, this is Y/N”

The man nodded once more, “I’m uh Johnny, I’m the president of this club.”

You hummed, “Nice to meet yah”

Kathy rolled her eyes but gave him a nod of acknowledgement. He continued to speak, “Just want the two of yous to know that..you don’t have to worry”

Your brow raised surprised by his statement but knowing where he was going.

“Worry about what?” Kathy questioned with rising suspicion.

Johnny shook his head, “Nothin, that’s all. The guys just wanna have some fun…”

He nodded his eyes trailing to the group of men by the Jukebox, “I won’t let nothin happen to yah”

His grey eyes scanned the two of you.

Kathy quirked a challenging eye brow, “Oh yeah? And what’s gonna happen to us?”

You placed a hand on her arm, trying to calm her growing agitation, “Nothin” Johnny responded.

This didn’t appease Kathy at all, she rolled her eyes and sarcastically laughed, “haha, thanks for that, we gots to go now. Nice to meet yah. Adios. Bye”

You gripped your bag over your shoulder allowing her to drag you out of the bar. When you noticed the men leering and getting closer to her, you tugged her back and took the lead, shoving them aside with strength that once again surprised them. You got out relatively untouched. But you knew that there would be some grease stains on your skirt and stockings. Kathy didn’t seem too happy about the prints on her ass though.

You would have laughed if it weren’t for the enraged look on her face. “What animals”

She hissed. Trying to swipe away the grease but the damage was done.

“Alright, sunny, I called a cab and it should be here any minute. You gonna hop in?”

You sighed and hummed, after blowing off the Benny guy you wanted nothin but to go home and wallow in your failure.

Her lips smirked, “Gonna wallow in self pity for rejectin’ that biker guy?”

Her comment released a wave of groans from your lips, “My gosh Kathy! I blew it!”

You hooked your right arm though her left and followed her across the street, “I was THIS close” you lifted your thumb and pointer finger and squeezed them together, “to maybe going on a date or somethin’”

She laughed, “Oh honey, you’ve never even bothered to flirt nor talk to a man that wasn’t family or close friends. Of course you’d blow it”

Her tease left you pouting, throwing your head back you groaned and stomped your feet playfully, “If I had a second chance I think I could get it right”

Your eyes traced the Big Dipper, wishing for another chance. But for what? You didn’t even think you had it in you. Sure you could be confident and happy. Bulldozing your way through life. Making others smile and laugh. Getting others to feel comfortable and welcoming.

But flirting? Dating? Talking to an insanely handsome man?

An impossible task you really wanted to try.

A few minutes went by before Kathy started to nudge your side. You turned your head to stare at her, one brow raised in question. Her eyes flitted across the street and you followed.

He was walking across the street, cigarette on his lips and a lighter hovering in front of him as he lit it. His hand shoved the lighter back into his pocket and he nonchalantly walked up to his sleek black bike. Swinging his long legs over the bike, he jumped to start it, his bike roaring to life.

He sat down, fixed his jacket, and gave you a look over his shoulder. His eyes were obscured by shadows but with the slight incline of his head, you figured he was silently telling you to get on.

Kathy pushed you towards him, your feet stumbling over the pavement. You righted yourself and shot her a glare. She wiggled her fingers at you, shooing you in response.

You slowly took a step forward. Then two. Then three. And before you could turn around and run away you were standing next to him.

He plucked his cigarette from his lips and gave you a look. His eyes scanned you from head to toe. Amused to see you standing near him. Your fingers fidgeted with the hem of your skirt.

You were just about to ask him if you could get on. But rowdy men spilled out of the bar. Hooting loudly at seeing you next to Benny. Urging you to get on. Some commenting about your pretty skirt riding up your thigh. And some praising Benny for reining you in.

“Get on girl, it’s gonna be a fun ride” one of them laughed out.

Benny gave no indication he was listening to them. And he gave no indication of what he wanted you to do. You suppose he had already given you a hint earlier. You sighed and got on.

Once seated you tried to tug your skirt down the best you could. Silently thankful that you had prepared for the worst-case scenario. Your black shorts peeked from beneath your skirt. Your thighs resting comfortably over the bike.

More of the men hollered, “We’ve got a smart one”

“Ay suppose only Benny can take a peek underneath her skirt”

You blushed at the comment. You would like to deny it but saying anything would only fuel their provocative statements.

You turned to take a quick peek at Kathy, finding her getting on one of the men’s bikes. Having been herded by the others to take a ride. She had obviously given in to get them to leave her alone. She shot you a look. Her eyes flickered between you and Benny. She gave you a wry smile. She was excited for you. But not that pleased with her own situation. However, she’d pull through if you were experiencing it with her.

Your hands were loosely gripping onto Benny’s side, unsure of where to place them.

One of Benny’s hands reached around, grabbing yours to tightly wrap it around his midsection. You laced your fingers together and held on tightly. Trying to ignore the way your body pressed into his.

Someone shouted for him to take off and let him know that they would meet up with him on the expressway. With a jolt of the bike, you lurched forward. Your thighs squeezing Benny's legs and your grip getting tighter.

After that, you were a goner. The night sped past you in a blaze of light. The stars glittering and the town lights fading into the darkness. The wind swept your hair, tossing your neatly primed waves into a knotted mess.

You squealed, pressing your face into his back. Your eyes followed the passing scenery falling in love with the speed and the freedom that swelled up inside you.

You felt him chuckle at your reaction, you tore your gaze away and leaned at an angle to see the side of his face, you could tell he was smiling.

You were in trouble. All the warnings Alice had given you had been discarded. Your heart was a fool and your mind had been made. And you wondered where exactly this night would lead.

A/N: If you made it this far down, I applaud you 👏part 2 is already written and is currently being edited. If you want quick updates, comment for a tag! Thank you so much for sticking around to read this long fic!

[scarofthewind]

Teach Me || Princess!Reader x Prince!Brahms

A/N: Finally got to sit down and write and this is the mess I came up with! This is part of my Princess!Reader series and for this, Brahms is a prince that is hanging out around the brothel and comes across his betrothed reader (who doesn't know him) and the rest is smut. Hope you enjoy!

Warnings: SMUT, Brahms being a crazy stalker man who teacher reader how to please her new husband (it's him).

Word count: 3.2K

The Scarred Prince is what they called him. Known for being cruel and cold, killing anything that crossed him. His face adorned with a mask that covered his gruesome face, burned from a terrible fire that took half his castle and family with it. His father was a kinder man, only needing this marriage due to his home and people dying out; the funding and bringing together two families would put life into everything.

That's what your father told you as he shattered your world. Sure, you knew you had to marry, you were a beautiful Princess. However, your future husband you were unsure of. Your mother begged your father to not accept the offer, you were too important to the kingdom to be married off to such a barbarian. His decision was final.

You were to be wed to a man who you only heard horror stories about and there was nothing you could do about it.

Well, you could prepare. You assumed that with him being a foul man, he would be a rough lover and if there was one thing a marriage led to, it was consummation. Your mother and maids had given you brief information about how to please a man, always saying that it was more pleasurable for them than you. You needed to learn how to please such a man; if he thought you couldn't do it, he might kill you.

With your mind made up, you slipped on your coat, pulling the hood up to cover your face. You managed to slip out of castle by creeping through the shadows and soon you were stepping out onto the street. The night life was bright as those who favored darkness moved about; your eyes scanning building as you passed them. The place you seeked was in a secluded area a few streets away from the castle gates, curtains for an entrance and candles for light. Hesitantly, you reached out to push open the silk curtains but they opened for you, a beuatiful women greeting you with a smile.

"Princess, are you lost?" Her red lips smiled and you noticed how low cut her dress was, breasts spilling out over the top.

"Actually, I am here for help." You whispered, letting her usher you inside. Immediately, you grew hot. The smell of sex and smoke in the air along with perfume, men and women frolicked around naked and carefree. Some were fucking and some were more passionate and it was all beautiful and new. "I am to be wed and I don't know what I am doing. How do I please him?"

The woman nodded with a smile, "I understand, I was new to this once. Must be a bit shocking for you." You nodded and reached into your coat pocket, pulling out a small pouch of coins.

"I appreciate your secrecy. No one can know I was here." You handed the woman the pouch and she took it gently, stuffing it beside her breast.

"Of course, Princess. Right this way." She took one of your hands and led you carefully through the building. Private rooms were all around you but you could hear everything. Moans and grunts, skin slapping against skin, laughing and even yelling. Your body felt hot, arousal pooling in your stomach just from what you could sense around you; you could understand why people came to places like this.

"Here, there is someone I think could help you with your problem right behind these curtains." The woman stopped in front of a private area and you felt your heart race. You froze for a second, not sure if you should continue. The woman noticed and gave your shoulder a pat. "You'll be okay. He is new as well. He can not hurt you, it's against the rules and if he breaks those, I'll have him thrown out." With a large breath, you nodded and reached for the curtains, pushing them open and stepping inside the small space.

Your heart stopped as the curtains fell closed behind you.

"Well this is interesting," The man's voice was deeper than you expected as he leaned forward in his spot on the cushion pile. "Does daddy know his princess is out this late, and at a place such as this?" His tone made your eye twitch and you removed your hood, stepping further into the room.

"I need to learn how to please a man. Thought I would come to the best teachers." You unsnapped your coat button and shrugged the wool off, tossing it to the side and sitting down across from the man. Your eyes met his and you sucked in a breath. "Why the mask?"

Curly hair poked out around the porcelain mask strapped to his face as bright, predatory eyes stared you down. "Maybe you aren't the only one hiding something, Princess."

You hummed in response. "Fine. So, can you teach me or not?"

The man moved closer to you and reached out, pushing a strand of hair behind your ear. "I wonder how much you can truly handle." You shivered and jerked back, a chuckle leaving his lips. "First things first, depending on your betrothed, he will either want you to be naked before he comes knocking on your door, or" he paused, tracing a finger down your neck. "He'll strip you himself."

"What would you do?" You asked, his eyes snapping back to yours. He felt himself smile at your words, playing right into his hands.

Brahms, a prince known to be cruel and hideous, hid behind his mask as he planned all the ways he could ruin his future wife. The minute he found out you were to be his, he snuck into your town and began watching you. Beautiful and eager to live your life to the fullest. He was entertained by you; so, when he was you slip out into the night with one destination in mind, he followed.

He had slipped into the back while you mingled with the owner, disposed of the man who usually ran the room you were in now and acted in his stead. Brahms would be damned if someone else got to fuck you before him. His fingertips moved along the neckline of your dress as he replied, "I'd peel these clothes off you with my fucking teeth." Your goosebumps and the way you sucked in a breath made his cock twitch against his pants.

"The lace on the back is easily undone." You pushed him with your words, your eyes drifting down his bare torso litered with dark brown hair and muscle. “Undress me, Sir.”

“Brahms,” he growled, reaching behind your back to yank you closer to him. His fingers worked on the ties to your dress, loosening it and slowly pushing it off you. “When you come later, you will call me Brahms, understand, Princess?”

You nodded quickly, chest heaving as he exposed your top half to the warm air, your nipples pebbling in the process. “Lie back.” He commanded and you obeyed, your back meeting soft pillows as he moved the dress down your body, throwing it across the room when he got it off. Brahms crawled over you, stopping as he met your eyes. “Some men don’t take care of their lady wives. Using them as things that make their heirs and that’s all. I don’t believe in that.”

“What do you believe in?”

“Passion.” He answered quickly, running his hands down your sides. “Both parties need to be satisfied or it is a failed fuck. A woman has so much to offer other than a child.” His eyes scanned over your body, thumbs gently tracing your nipples. “You came here to learn how to please your husband. Have you ever considered that he needs to be the one pleasing you?”

“You speak of things that aren’t likely. My betrothed is known for being evil.” Your words made Brahms sit back, placing his hands on your knees and spreading your legs to slot himself between.

“You don’t know him, only of him. He’d be lucky to touch your beautiful body.” He said as he reached to remove your panties. His mind pushed back the negative thoughts that whirled around as he saw just how aroused you were.

“After undressing, I like to touch here. It eases the pain for when my cock enters.” Brahms spoke gently as his fingertips traced along your pussy. His eyes never left your face, taking in your unsure expressions as his fingers entered you carefully. He watched as your mouth opened with a breathy gasp; a mouth so perfect he'd nearly come thinking about how it would feel around his cock.

"Are all men this experienced?" You asked innocently and when Brahms chuckled you felt a heat of embarrassment wash over you. His fingers slowly moving inside your cunt made you clench your thighs, only for him to shove them back open.

"No," was all he said in response, this thumb flicking over your clit and making you jump at the sensation. "How does it feel Princess?" His words made you moan as he angled his fingers towards a spot inside you that had you trembling.

"It feels fine, but I've done this myself," pushing back you sit up slightly, watching Brahms tilt his head in confusion. "I came here looking for something I cannot do on my own." Once you clarify your words, you hear a snort from the man before you.

"I was trying to be a gentleman and treat you softly," he sighed, reaching to unlace his bottoms, pushing them down to let his cock free. Your eyes followed as he pumped his length a few times before leaning back on the pillows; an invitation. "You want to please your husband? Suck his cock."

If you weren't hot already, you were now as you moved towards him. His cold eyes followed your every move, and you found yourself entranced by the pure power he held within them. A hand came up to your face, brushing your hair away and using a thumb to trace your bottom lip. With trembling fingers, you placed your hands on his chest, feeling the solid muscle and hair there, running them up and down. "Are you afraid, Princess?" He asks suddenly, your eyes snapping back to his.

"No. Just unsure." At your words, Brahms takes one of your hands and guides it to his cock, hard and soft under your palm. You swear you can hear a soft breath come from under his mask, but you push the thought aside as you wrap your fingers around his base. Sliding down to become more comfortable, you look closely at how perfect his cock was. Pale and long with a soft pink tip that you found yourself leaning towards to kiss. Your lips found his cock to be soft and when you wrapped them around his cockhead, a subtle salty flavor welcomed your tastebuds.

"Gods Princess, I think you were made to do this." Brahms groaned, running his hands through your hair and nudging you down to take more of his cock. He watched intensely as you sucked more of him down, his cock disappearing into the warm walls of your mouth. Brahms could only keep his composure for so much longer; he ached to fuck you and at this point, he was trying his hardest not to snap.

His mask was getting hot against his face as he groaned and breathed warm air out of his lungs. It itched to be ripped off, but he couldn't remove it; not yet.

Your jaw began to ache as minutes went by with you taking his cock and you felt your cunt grow wetter by the second. Your clit swollen with need and your walls clenching around nothing. Swatting his hand from your hair, you removed your mouth from around his member and sat up. No smart remarks were said, both of you feeling beyond aroused and needy in this moment. Brahms grabbed your hips and tugged you against him, your hands bracing on his chest as you straddled his lap.

You found yourself wrapping your arms around his neck but the minute you tried touching the ties to the mask on the back of his head, you were shoved down on your back, Brahms following on top of you. Rough hands pinned your wrists to the ground as he nuzzled his cock against your pussy. "Not yet." He said deeply, letting you go once you nodded in understanding.

When he gently pushed into you, you felt yourself go absolutely still. Nothing could have prepared you for the warmth or the fullness you felt as he sunk into you. Your fingers gripped the pillows under you tightly and Brahms paused, noticing this. He rubbed your hips and legs, pulling them around his waist. "The pressure goes away quickly, just breathe, (Y/N)." Your eyes locked on his and for the first time in your life, you felt sure of something. This stranger before you didn't baby you or belittle you like the others at the castle or the friends you grew up around. He treated you like a normal person, not royalty.

"I hope by husband is kind to me during this moment," your eyes watered slightly, and Brahms felt himself swell with pride knowing you felt comfortable around him throughout this.

"He will be." He assured you, pressing his hips against you and groaning at the feeling of your pussy taking his cock fully. Brahms waited for a moment to let you adjust before rocking his hips. The sounds that immediately came from your mouth were music to his ears. "Fuck, your beautiful." He moaned, watching the way your breasts bounced with each thrust. His mouth needed to be on you, he was going to lose his mind if he couldn't.

"Close your eyes." He grunted, not pausing his movements.

"Why-"

"Just do it," he snapped, and you did, your senses heightening as you welcomed the darkness behind your eyelids. It was quiet for a second and a small thud had you opening your mouth to ask a question but before you could, a mouth crashed onto yours.

With the porcelain wall gone, his lips were rough on yours and the beard he had scratched along your face, but it felt wonderful. His soft lips molding with yours, his tongue moving in your mouth and his cock ruining you for anyone else had you melting against him. Wrapping your arms around his neck, you pulled him flush against you, his thrusts picking up in strength and your moans and gasps being swallowed by his mouth. "Brahms," you moaned, your voice making his cock twitch.

"Not yet," he growled, moving off of you and rolling you on your stomach, his cock re-entering you faster than you could comprehend what was happening. His breath was hot on your neck as his teeth marked you, his fingers moving down to your breasts, pinching and rolling your nipples between them.

"I need to cum," you panted, wanting to feel the wave of euphorira you longed for this while evening. You felt your cunt clenche around his length as it pumped into you harshly, lewd sounds of skin on skin and the melody of voices experiencing pleasure made your head dizzy. "Brahms please," you begged, taking one of his hands from your breast and pushing it to your clit.

Unsure of why he wasn't responding, you felt yourself look back and you immediately froze. You weren't sure if it was fear or excitement or confusion but the man fucking you was the man you had thought to fear. The bright color of his eyes was intense, almost scary, as he looked down on you. There was no mistaking the scar on his face and who he was. "You."

Your voice was so soft, he could barely hear you. Brahms watched as you stared at him, not moving a muscle, but you didn't run. Slowing down his thrusts, he sighed and pushed his hair from his face. "I couldn't let your first time be with a random man whore. You're my wife-"

"Soon to be, not yet." You pointed out, your eyebrows furrowed in confusion. You felt Brahms' fingers tighten on your hips in reaction to your words.

"You are mine either way. Today or next week, you are mine and will be until you die. You wanted to learn, and I was just lucky to be in the neighborhood. What if you had gotten a disease or pregnant from a commoner? I saved you from those vile things, Princess." He spoke with a sharp tongue and you felt yourself tingle with uncertainty.

He had his points but that didn't stop a dark and strange feeling from creeping up your spine. A soft hand on your cheek made you look at him. "I will never hurt you. I didn't do this to hurt you, only to protect you." You didn't believe him fully, but you moved to where you were on your back again, pulling him against your front. If he was barbaric, it was best to play along rather than fight.

"Thank you, my Prince." Your words sent Brahms' head spinning and he leaned down to kiss you, hips moving again to chase the high you both needed.

While he kissed along the column of your neck and down to your nipples, sucking on them tenderly, you thought of all the things that this man had probably done with the same hands he was using to bring you closer to your climax. You were just a Princess, you couldn't do anything to object this marriage and with how he felt while fucking you, you weren't sure if you wanted to fight. If he really was the Scarred Prince everyone said he was, he didn't show you, at least not tonight.

"Brahms," you whined as his fingers rubbed against your clit, building the pressure in your stomach until you were pulsing around his as you came. Your body twitched against his and he didn't stop his motions until he had you coming again, this time while he followed. Neither of you moved for a while afterwards, his cock softening inside you and your heart racing in your chest.

Brahms spoke first, "I might need to get you back to the castle, Princess. I'm sure a search party would be sent out soon." As he moved away from you, he felt your hands reach out and cup his face.

"Not yet. I still have to learn a few things." You said with laugh, gently tracing the edge of his scarred face.

Brahms chuckled, shaking his head and kissing your palm. "We have our whole life together. I will teach you more when we are married." Pulling you against him, he pressed his lips to yours again, kissing you as if you gave him life.

A sudden scream had you pulling away from one another and Brahms felt himself smile and he yanked you both to your feet. They must've found the poor bastard's body, he thought. "We need to get you home now, (Y/N)."

"What's happening?" You asked worried as he helped you slip your dress back on, stuffing your panties in his pocket.

"Probably a fight. Let's go out the back." He said, quickly getting dressed and pulling you with him into the night.

[blueseachelle]

Home

Ominis Gaunt x MC! Reader

MINORS DO NOT INTERACT

Warnings: Smut

Summary: Ominis and Y/n have been through everything together. They slowly fell in love and as time went on, they started to date. Now, they are ending their 6th year and starting the 7th year. Ominis decided that he would spend the Christmas holiday with his beloved with her family in London. Ominis is finally ready to tell her something.

Ominis met Y/n outside of the castle.

"I almost thought you got lost for a minute, Omi."

She kissed the male's cheek and intertwined hands with him. The blonde blushed and chuckled,

"Yeah. I'm just a little nervous to meet your family for the first time. Then, Sebastian stopped me and... yeah..."

The (H/c) colored girl just giggled,

"It's okay, Ominis. My family already knows a lot about you. You are family in their eyes and they know that you need your wand to guide you. There are wizards as well, remember? Purebloods who decided to spend their off time in the Muggle world. You're going to fit right in and sense new things. Don't be nervous, okay?"

Ominis nodded and kissed her the back of her hand,

"Okay. I'm ready to go."

With that, they apparated right outside of the grand doors of the L/n manor. Y/n opened the doors and led Ominis inside.

"Mom! Dad! I'm home!"

Ominis stood in slight shock. She addressed them so... so informally. What shocked him more was the response.

The fast clicking of heels rushed towards them,

"Y/n! Ominis! Welcome home!"

Y/n's mother hugged Y/n first and kissed the top of her head. The younger lady chuckled and gestured to Ominis,

"Ominis, this is my mother, Alice."

Ominis did his standard bow to her mother,

"It's a pleasure, Mrs. L/n."

The lady let out a laugh,

"No need for formalities, Ominis. Call me mom!"

Alice pulled the blind boy into a warm embrace while looking to Y/n and saying,

"It seems your going to be ushered into our family at the rate I see it."

Y/n blushed along with Ominis,

"M-mom!"

The older lady giggled and released Ominis,

"Come along, you two. Alex is this way!"

The red-haired lady led them into the den. A man sat in a lounge chair reading a newspaper. He looked up as his wife entered the room. His face then turned into a smile as he spotted his beloved daughter,

"My little Viper!"

Y/n smiled back and made her way over to her father.

"Hi, Dad."

The older man pulled her into an embrace and kissed her cheek,

"How has been Hogwarts been treating you?"

The girl hugged him back,

"It's been wonderful. I brought Ominis with me."

Said blind boy stood rigidly, unsure what to really do in this situation. Alice gently guided him closer to Alex,

"He is a sweet boy. Be nice, Alex."

Alex chuckled and released Y/n, who stood next to the blond.

"Well, son. I'm Alex, Y/n's father. I heard a lot about you and... I already like you. So, just treat my daughter right and we'll be alright, Okay?"

Ominis nodded and stuttered out a 'yes sir'. The brunette man stood and clasped his shoulder with a chuckle,

"We're gonna get along swimmingly. Y/n, something new is going to happen this year. The whole family will be gathered to feast on Christmas Eve and open presents on Christmas Day! So, to accommodate everyone I hope you don't mind sharing a room."

"Who will I share it with?"

Alice smiled at her daughter's innocence before continuing for her husband,

"Why Ominis, of course. We know he won't be comfortable with the rambunctious boy cousins so, we decided that would be the most comfortable for all of us."

Y/n's eyes widened and she looked to her mother, who winked back in response. Ominis heard her father chuckle again and squeeze his shoulder,

"Go ahead and show Ominis to your room. Dinner should be ready in an hour and a half, Okay?"

Y/n nodded and gently grasped Ominis's hand with a gentle tug, she led him up the stair case to her room.

She opened the door to her room. Home. Her room wasn't as large as her parents but it was the next largest one. She had a king sized bed and light blue bedding. To the left of the entrance, was a private bathroom with a shower and separate bath.

Y/n closed the door behind Ominis once they entered, she led him to the bed and they sat together.

"Are you okay with this, Omi? I can convince them to give you a room if you are uncomfortable."

Ominis shook his head quickly,

"No no no. I'm okay with this arrangement as long as you are. I can trust you and you can trust me. I love you, My Dearest."

Y/n smiled and kissed his cheek,

"I'm okay with this. Now, I'm going to get changed into some more... Familiar clothing."

She walked to the closet and opened it to reveal new clothes for her and... clothes for Ominis? The closet was halved. On the left side was Y/n's dresses and on the right side was male clothing. She shook her head with a smile,

"Omi."

"Yes?"

"My parents have clothing for you as well. The put them in my closet. Would you like to change as well?"

Ominis felt a warm feeling come from his chest. What was this? Familial love? He felt cared for, other that Y/n's care. This was something he never had. He actually... enjoys this.

"Yes. I would. You can pick out my outfit, of course."

She giggled and pulled an outfit from the closet,

"I'll describe the outfit and you say yes or no."

Ominis nodded.

"So, the outfit I picked are black slacks, a white button down and dark blue vest. There is a dark green vest as well. Which one?"

Ominis smiled in the girl's directions,

"Which ever one you would like me to wear, Love."

"Hmmmm. Okay, you are going to where the green vest because I want to where my green dress and then, we'll match! Sound good?"

Ominis nodded with a smile,

"It will be an honor to match you, Y/n."

Y/n walked over to him and set the outfit next to him on the best. She gave him a kiss. Small, sweet, and passionate. She broke the kiss and walked back over to her closet,

"Okay, Darling. I'm going to change in the bathroom. You change in here. I'll knock before I come out, Okay? Call for me if you need me."

With that, the door shut, leaving Ominis alone with his thoughts. He slowly started to remove his Slytherin robe and moved to the buttons on his shirt.

He thought about how his family welcomed him with such open arms, much like how Y/n welcomed him into his feelings for her. He loved her dearly. After the whole Sebastian incident and so forth, she was so strong in the face of it all. He was there to comfort her in her dark times and she did for him as well. They have been together for about two years and only started kissing 4 months ago. She was so patient with him. Whatever boundary he set, she respected it no matter what.

She deserved more. He wanted to give everything to her to prove to himself he was one hundred percent in this relationship like she was. He decided he will do it when the time was right.

->->->->->->

It's Christmas Eve.

The first night Y/n and Ominis slept in the same bed together was slightly awkward at first but, when Y/n cuddled into his chest when she was sleeping, he was comfortable. He held her close every night from then one. He loved her presence so close to him. He couldn't help but think about how much closer they could be by the end of Winter break. The thought excited him.

Y/n scrambled about the house in her Christmas Eve attire. A dark red adored her frame. The gold accents only seems to make her more beautiful from what Ominis could detect with his wand. He wore a matching vest to compliment her outfit and to show that they were together. Ominis took pride in that fact that she always chose to match. It made his heart swoon.

Her H/c locks were curled and styled to taste. She looked ethereal to him. She helped her mother decorate the house and helped the house elves and maids with preparing the meal along with her mother. They always treated there helpers as equals. Ominis admired that fact.

"Ominis. Come, join me in the den. It's better than accidently getting tackled by the perfectionist."

Ominis chuckled along with the older man and followed him into the den. He took a seat in the arm chair across from Alex.

"So, Ominis. I know it's a sensitive topic for you but, I have a couple questions for you. Is that okay?"

The blind boy nodded,

"Yes. I'll try to answer them to the best of my ability, Alex."

The older male chuckled,

"Just call me Dad. I already see you as my Son-In-Law. You won it over in my eyes."

Ominis could only nod and let out,

"Of course, Dad."

Alex cleared his throat,

"I know how the Gaunt family is. I know how purity oriented they are. I had a family the same way. They only wanted me to marry a pureblood Slytherin girl but, I chose to be with Alice. It was by luck she was a Pureblood Gryffindor girl. I truly didn't care if she was a 'mudblood' or not. I loved her. Now, with that said, my concern is that your parents won't accept Y/n for who she is. Yes, a pureblood but, we both know she doesn't act they way they want her to be. Are you ready to be disowned if, and when, this happens?"

Ominis sat a slight shock. He related to his family problems? He looked up at Alex,

"I don't know if Y/n told you this but, when she was dealing with the discovery of her magic abilities, we were there for each other every step of the way. Through thick and thin, we survived Ranrok and Dark Magic. I am prepared to sacrifice myself for her if be needed. I love Y/n. So, to answer the question directly, Yes, Dad, I'm ready for that day to happen. I know what my family do and I hate the Gaunt name that I'm stuck with. I want nothing more than for it to be nothing. Y/n means the world to me. I will do anything for her if need be."

Alex nodded, leaned forward, and rested a hand on the younger boy's shoulder,

"My feeling was right about you. You will treat Y/n perfectly. One more thing, Son. I would be more than happy if you take the L/n name. It's there when you are ready for it."

Before Ominis could say anything, Y/n walked in,

"Boys! Time to greet the family! They should be here any moment."

Ominis felt Y/n gently take his hand to lead him and the hand on his shoulder give him a reassuring squeeze as it departed. The four stood by the door as it opened. They greeted the extended family with warm smiles. Y/n made sure to introduce Ominis to everyone. Soon enough, voices filled the large house. All warm and friendly. Ominis felt happy as he wrapped his arms around Y/n's waist as the stood by the door, watching the rest of the family chatter and the kids play.

Y/n rested her head on his chest. He looked down and kissed the top of her head. For once, he felt accepted. He felt at home.

->->->->->->->

After dinner ended, the younger children surrounded Ominis on one of the many Living Room couches. Y/n was helping her mother clean up so, she wasn't there to save him from the barrage of questions of the rambunctious children.

"How do you see your outfits?"

"Well-"

"How do you know if your hair is bushed correctly?!"

"I Usually-"

"How do you not trip up the stairs all the time?"

"How do you know who is who?"

The questions kept coming. He didn't have a chance to answer because they just flew by too fast. He felt his cheeks warm up. He was almost at his breaking point until,

"Hey! Ya'll stop bothering my Boyfriend! How about this? Take some cloth and tie it around your head and try to navigate the world, hm? Put yourself in his shoes."

The children scrambled and went to bother their parents for cloth for there new game. Y/n gently sat next to Ominis and rubbed his back. She kissed his cheek gingerly,

"I'm sorry I wasn't quicker. They can be a little much at times."

Ominis rested his hand on her covered thigh,

"It's okay. Curiosity of children are overwhelming at time. I'm just happy to rescued me before I exploded."

Y/n giggled and rubbed the back of his hand that rested on her lap. He sighed, "I'm feeling a little drained. This is the most interaction I had in a long time."

Y/n nodded,

"Same here. You can retire for the night. I'll join you shortly after I make sure no one needs anything else."

Ominis smiled and kiss her gently. She kissed him back as she slowly stood up in front of him. They locked eyes for a few seconds until they heard a thump and a child cry out with an 'Owwwwww'.

They both let out a laugh as Ominis stood up. He hugged her and kissed the top of her head,

"I'll see you when you retire, My Dearest."

He then departed to their shared room. His mind racing with thoughts of how he was going to approach Y/n when she comes to him in a few.

->->->->->

Y/n finally caught a break to excuse herself to her room. She walked in with a sigh of relief. She looked so see Ominis leaning against the bedframe with his wand over a book. His eyes flicked over to her at the sound of her entrance. He wasn't wearing his normal night attire. He wasn't wearing his night shirt. Here he was, waiting for her shirtless in her bed. She blushed at the sight.

"O-omi? Did I keep you waiting long?"

The blond shook his head, closed his book, and set it aside,

"No. Not at all, My Love."

She let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding and moved toward her closet, trying to undo her corset in the process. She muttered angerly to herself as she accidently tightened it,

"This damned thing."

Ominis chuckled, his keen hearing hearing her struggle,

"If you don't mind, I could do it for you if you like."

Y/n's face heated up. She stuttered out a quick 'yes please' and moved over to the side of the bed he was sat. His hands gently felt along her shoulders down to the corset. With skilled fingers, he undid her corset. The girl pulled if off of her body. The top of her dress fell forward, exposing her breast to the cool air.

Ominis's hands met with the bare skin of her back. He felt a shiver run through her. He moved his hands to her waist and gripped gently. He felt her look over at him. He smiled,

"I've been doing some thinking, Y/n. I... I think I'm ready to take things farther with us. You have always been so patient and respected my boundaries. I think I'm ready to take this new step. I love you. So so much, My Love."

Y/n's eyes widened and her jaw slacked. This was sudden for Ominis. Usually they have a thought out conversation about the topic and take it from there. Now, here he is, telling her he is ready for her. She instantly let her dress drop, pooling around her feet. She stood in nothing but her lace panties. She turned her body towards him, his hands still holding her naked waist.

Her hand caressed his cheek,

"Darling, I love you so so much. If it gets too much, tell me, okay? We'll go at your pace, Darling."

Ominis couldn't help but smile. He loved how kind she is. It only fueled the fire in his chest for her. He moved his hands to her hips and pulled her close and kissed her. She let out a little noise of surprise before melting into him. Her hands moved to his bare shoulders.

As the kiss intensified, Ominis threw off the blanket from covering him from the waist down, revealing him in his boxers. Y/n took the hint and moved to straddle his hips. After parting the kiss, she moved and kissed down his neck. His breath quickened and his heartrate as well. Losing himself in the feeling, he titled his head back as he let out a groan.

Y/n smiled against his neck and moved her hands to his. She moved them from her hips to her breast,

"You can touch as much as you would like. I'm yours, Ominis."

His hands squeezed her breasts, playing with her nipples as she kissed along his shoulder. His mind went blank. He couldn't think, only feel. When he pinched her perky tips, she let out a moan into his skin and grinded her hips against his hard on. He gasped at the friction, his hands gripped her lace covered hips and panted out,

"A-again. Please."

Y/n did it again. Ominis let himself fall back against the bed. His beloved perched atop of him. She connected the dots quickly. This was his first time. She wasn't a virgin, much to her dismay. Firewhiskey and being alone with Sebastian don't mix. It never happened again, much to the brunette's dismay, and she regretted that it ever happened.

She smiled and ground against him, resting her hand on his chest for leverage. His hands gripped her hips tightly. She knew it was going to leave bruises by morning. Y/n kissed his neck and continued to kiss down his body.

Ominis drowned in the pleasure he was receiving. He felt his abdomen twist and tightened. He wasn't oblivious to sexual activities. He heard other males in his dorm brag about there experience. He did jerk off once in a while and have dirty thoughts. He didn't have these thoughts until Y/n came around. Once she showed up, his brain decided to start thinking about her in those manners. He gripped her hips and stopped her movements. He panted out,

"I don't want to cum without you, My Love."

Y/n giggled and slipped off her panties as she spoke,

"You are sweet, Omi. This night is all about you. So, I'll lead you though the actual event as his is your first time."

Ominis face heated up and flushed into a bright red. Her hands tugged his boxers off. He shuttered as the cool air hit his heavy cock.

Y/n watched as precum beaded up on his tip and dribbled down his cock. She gently took it into her grasp. He gasped at the touch. She stroked him a couple times before positioning herself over his. She rubbed her dripping slit along his cock and teased his tip.

Ominis's body started to shake with anticipation. His hands gripped the sheets below him as he let out a shuddering breath. Y/n looked down at him,

"Ready, Ominis?"

The boy could only nod. His breath caught in his throat.

Y/n gentle lowered herself onto him. His cock stretched her perfectly. The (H/c) colored girl let out a moan and moved her hand to his chest after fulling taking him. Ominis groaned at the new sensation. She was hot, wet, and tight. His mind went blank as his hips subconsciously thrusted up into her. She took this as a sign to start moving.

She lifted herself up to his tip and came back down. Ominis groaned again with a whimper. He shut his eyes tightly as she started to move. He wasn't gonna last long. She felt to good.

Y/n closed her eyes as she chased her high. She leaned forward and kiss the pleasure bound male beneath her and whispered,

"I love you, Ominis."

Ominis's hands instantly moved to grip her waist. He desperately thrusted up into her chanting 'I'm gonna cum' over and over. Since Y/n hasn't done anything in a while so, she was close as well. She rested her forehead to his,

"I'm close. Cum with me, please."

The desperate tone in her voice pushed him over the edge. His grip moved to her bare hips and sheathed her fully on his cock as he came. His head threw back into the pillows and hers threw back into the air. Her hands gripped his forearms like a vice. As they came down from their high, their foreheads came together again. Ominis kissed her gingerly,

"I love you, Y/n. I want to be with you for as long as I am able. I have a gift for you."

He pulled a box from the nightstand drawer next to them. He held up the box gentle towards her,

"You know how my Aunt Nautica raised me until her passing. Well, she gave me this before she left. She said to give it to the person I want to spend the rest of my life with."

Ominis flipped the box open, revealing a diamond set in a white gold ring with a vintage vine design. Y/n gasped. He continued,

"This was her engagement ring that her muggle lover gave her before my family disowned her and... well... killed her love. With this ring, I want to ask you, Y/n L/n, will you marry me?"

Tears poured down Y/n's face as she accepted. Ominis slipped the ring onto her ring finger and kissed her. She held him close as they kissed. The ring fit perfectly. Ominis made sure that it would before revealing it.

The rest of the night was spent holding each other and exchanging 'I love you's' back and forth. Ominis felt his heart swell. He felt at piece for once. Everything was going to be alright in the end. No matter what he has Y/n and her family to support them. He finally found something he searched for in her.... home.

BONUS:

The family gathered in the living room. Presents stacked under the tree. Everyone looked around and made sure if everyone was here.

Alice looked around,

"Where's Y/n and Ominis?"

They then appeared in the doorway, hand in hand. Y/n smiled a bright smile at her family. Everyone could see the happiness radiating off of them. Before anyone could ask, Y/n cleared her throat,

"I have an announcement to make about a new development. As a gift to everyone, Ominis and I would like to announce that.."

Y/n held out her left hand adored by her engagement ring and continued,

"We are engaged!"

Her mother instantly rushed to the duo and hugged them close with tears of happiness pouring down her face. The room buzzed with congratulations and cheers. Ominis smiled and felt Y/n look over at him. He knew he made the right choice. This is home and this is his new family now. He loved every minute of it.

[artficlly]

lady of the ghosts [chapter 6]

After a great plague ravages your city, you are looking to marry to secure safety for your people. With a war finally ending, the nearby kingdoms are looking to celebrate. King James "Bucky" Barnes decides to continue his family's tradition of hosting a courting season. A medieval courting marvel AU.

Pairing: king!bucky x lady!reader

Warnings: death, mention of dead body, anxiety, doubt, discussion of funerals, mentions of sexism, angst, tension, FLUFF, lovebites, steve is cocky, lmk if i've missed anything

Word Count: 3.4k

A/N: heres a short n sweet one for ya <3 the funeral is coming up next chapter, are you ready??? i think if i start writing smaller chapters i might be able to get them out more frequently instead of the 10k+ monster this chapter was supposed to be. also i've put this fic onto ao3 (same name and username - pls leave some kudos to help boost) please enjoy and let me know what you think, reblogs and likes appreciated! as always, not proof read - sorry for any typos

chapter masterlist | main masterlist

Before the Stormfall Mountain’s Pass had been created, Faliene had been impenetrable. The city was only accessible by the frigid Northern Ocean, and few dared to challenge her depths. All those years ago, men feared the gods and what may have lurked under the surface. The children of Neume harnessed the wind and waves, so her inky depths spared them. The same could not be said for the others. The pass had been a success, but it was also the beginning of the end. Her secrets and spirit were lost to the passage of time, devoured by Haiford the moment her underbelly was revealed. The fall was inevitable.

The pass had fallen into disrepair since you last traveled it, with entire sections of the path swallowed by snow and ice. You had been a child back then, ushered from inn to carriage day after day as you and your mother had escaped the plague-ridden city. You wondered if the mountains remembered you as you remembered them. Did your footprints remain buried deep under layers of snow? Or had they been washed away in the thaw as quickly as a wave over sand? 

You had never thought you would see those thick blankets of snow again, your breath was constant and loud as the thin air burned your lungs. How many years have you dreamed of this pass? Your fingers and toes numb as you barreled through the blizzard, reaching and screaming for that distant city. How many years has it been since you last saw Faliene in all her glory? As excited as you were to be reunited with your home, apprehension clawed at your gut. 

Would your people remember you? Would they accept you – their lady, who had spent half her childhood coddled away in Haiford Capital while they starved? Would they hate you or forgive you? You had spent so long fighting and trying to return; would you even recognize Faliene anymore? You had been stripped of so many things – a mother, a home, a culture – did you even know how to be a part of your own heritage, your legacy? So many questions clawed at your mind that your stomach would ache at night as you lay awake contemplating the vastness of it all. 

With stiff hands, you wrapped your fur cloak closer around your body, your eyes straining against the bitter wind that blew polar air straight to your core. Around you, thick flakes of snow floated, a layer of ice clinging to your eyelashes and exposed hair. In the distance, you could make out the warm orange candlelight of the inn; in the time you had been gone, the sky had darkened dramatically. You were not afraid of the cold or the dark, and you relished the opportunity to breathe in the frosty night sky. 

So many years you had spent cooped up. What would be a nightmare for most would be freedom for you. 

Due to King Harrison not having the foresight to hire a Falienean guide, it fell to you to scout the barely-used path. Although inexperienced, you had not failed so far. Following your intuition and fuzzy memories, you were able to locate the paths long buried under months of snow. In the evenings, while the others sheltered in the inns and boardhouses throughout the pass, you would scout ahead to ensure the path was safe to follow.

Thankfully, due to the many families that still braved living in the mountains, most of the main path remained relatively intact. The families were mainly farmers raising mountain goats and sheep, offering board for travelers and traders for extra income. And much to your rising concern, many of the families didn’t recognize you as their lady until you introduced yourself. 

Once dismounted, you quickly settled your horse in the small stable attached to the inn. Due to navigational convenience and your growing resentment of being cooped up in a carriage, you had mostly traveled on horseback. The first days between Haiford Capital and the mountains, you would have nightmares of being trapped inside a coffin – like your mothers – clawing your nails bloody on the wood. When you would finally rip off the lid of the coffin, you would find yourself in a carriage, the horses charging at a neck-breaking speed. 

As you passed the carriages tucked away beside the stables, you frowned. One for King Harrison, Peggy, and Michael. The other for your mother in her coffin. Although you were nearly two weeks into your journey, her body would show no signs of decomposition. The mountains would have frozen her solid, her body like a porcelain doll. 

Once inside the inn, you quickly ascended the stairs to the upper level. Although you were freezing and craving a warm drink, the idea of fighting past the Haifordian guard that crowded the kitchen stove sounded exhausting. Shrugging off your cloak, jacket, and hat, you reached the room you shared with Peggy. With such a small inn and a large traveling party, it was easier for certain groups to sleep in the same room. Both you and Peggy being unmarried women meant you were paired together, while some of the Haifordian guards were cramming more than six men into a room. 

Your hand paused over the doorknob, a sound from the other side catching you off guard. You were so busy contemplating how best to dry your damp clothing that you nearly missed it. Leaning your ear closer to the door, you roll your eyes in irritation. The sound of Peggy giggling carried through the wood, a familiar male voice spoke low words you couldn’t quite make out. 

Steve. With a huff, you step away from the door. Both of them had been playing a risky game the entire trip, regularly visiting each other's rooms. The wrong person would eventually learn about them, it was only a matter of time. 

You hesitate in the hallway. They had never visited so late into the evening before; normally Peggy was preparing for or already in bed by the time you came back from your scouting missions. Traveling through thick snow was as hard as expected, exhausting even for those tucked into the carriages. It wasn’t unusual for the party to be in bed straight after an early supper. 

You were half tempted to barge in and interrupt them; you were tired from a long day on horseback. You still didn’t feel like braving the kitchen and sitting outside and waiting would be highly suspicious. Lingering in the hallway for a few more minutes, you grumble a few unsavory words under your breath before trying to find your next best options. James. 

To the surprise of everyone but you, James had canceled the season. He had also insisted on traveling with the first party – your party – to Faliene. Another party was a few days behind yours, made up of Galantian and Asgardian guards, a group of the Galantian court, and Asgardian royalty. You had a sneaking suspicion that while half of them were there to show their respect, the others were there to see a Falienean funeral firsthand. Due to the rituals and traditions involved, Falienean funerals were frequently regarded as barbaric spectacles. 

You waver outside James’ room. Despite him traveling with your party, the two of you had barely spoken since the library. You suspected he was trying to draw attention away from the both of you, but his presence mustered up enough rumors with the Haifordian guard. Most of your conversations were spent with Steve. When he wasn’t bluntly flirting with Peggy, he would be complaining about the growing cold, much to your mockery and amusement. You were unsure of how he would cope with the chill of Faliene; the Stormfall Mountains were cold, but nothing in comparison to the chill that blew in off the northern sea. 

Chewing your lip, you finally gave in and rapped your knuckles lightly against the door. With your breath held, you wait, wondering if he even heard the knock at all. You might have missed him downstairs, or maybe he had already fallen asleep–

The door suddenly swung open, startling you as you took a step back. James stood in the doorway, an equally surprised expression flashing across his features momentarily. It wasn’t just the expression that hinted at his shock at your presence, but also the fact that he was shirtless. You hug your discarded clothing closer to your chest. You tried to keep your eyes anywhere but his bare skin, your mouth growing dry as you struggled to find words to explain your sudden presence at his door. 

Now no longer covered, you could get a better look at his tattooed arm, with swirling blue ink patterning his entire left arm and shoulder. A large, raised scar ran across his shoulder joint, nearly entirely encircling the flesh. The scar was ghostly white and gnarled like the roots of a tree. It looked impossible – the type of scar someone shouldn’t have survived. But the ink decorating his skin told a story you already knew. Magic. Magic had saved his arm and, most likely, his life. So many denied its existence when it stood so blatantly in front of them. 

Swallowing hard, you glance upward to meet his gaze. You couldn’t ignore the smirk that tugged at his lips, his right side now leaning against the doorframe as he eyed you with a silent satisfaction. 

“Can I come in?” You abruptly say, suddenly remembering how to speak. James’ chuckles lowly at you before motioning you inside. 

Still flustered, you quickly duck past his muscled form, peeling off your gloves as you stand in the center of the room with a quiet huff. James’ still snickers at you as he closes the door. 

“You knocked so quietly, I thought I was hearing things.” He says this while you continue to refuse to look at him. Instead, your gaze falls on the room around you; it is nearly identical to yours. Two beds are layered with furs and blankets, one for him and one for Steve. A sheepskin rug thrown over the wooden floors. On the other side of the room is a roaring fireplace, with two seats positioned in front of it. 

“Sorry, I didn’t know where else to go.” You mutter, squeezing your hand into a fist as you try to regain feeling in your numb fingers. 

“Peggy and Steve?” He asks, the floorboards creaking softly under his weight as he inches closer to where you stand. 

“They’re going to get caught–” You begin to grumble but cut yourself off as you realize how close James has grown. Your breath catches in your throat as he reaches out, a single tattooed finger twirling around a damp strand of your hair. 

“You’re soaking.” His voice cuts into the abrupt silence, but your focus is on the closeness of his body rather than the state of your clothes and hair. “Come, sit by the fire.”

You wordlessly oblige, allowing him to lead you to one of the seats. In the low light, James’ muscles and veins are illuminated by the orange glow of the fire. Peeling off another damp layer, James takes your previously discarded clothing and lines it in front of the fireplace to dry. 

“The snow must have melted.” You mutter, remembering the snowflakes and ice that had clung to your clothes and hair before you came inside. James hums in reply, running a hand through his hair as he looks down at you, ensuring you are settled before finally pulling on a shirt. You sigh through your nose, half in relief and half in disappointment. 

A comfortable silence falls as he takes a seat across from you. You could feel his gaze watching as you quietly unlaced your seal-leather snow boots. The leather was more successful at keeping out the creeping wetness and dampness of the snow. Without the blubber to insulate the cold, your toes felt frozen beneath your thick, woolen socks.

During the weeks of travel, you had found yourself hoping for a moment alone like this to talk after so much silence had passed between the both of you. Nearly daily, when you weren’t consumed by anxieties for the quickly approaching future, you would think back to that moment in the library and what you would say once you were alone. 

Now that you were here, you were near speechless. 

As you twisted the rings on your fingers, you recounted all of the questions and thoughts that had lingered in your mind for so long – so many conversations you wished to have with the King in front of you. You were unsure where to start. 

“Why does Steve call you Bucky?” You ask, breaking the stillness. You mentally curse yourself at the bluntness of the question. You couldn’t bring yourself to ask the heavy questions: ‘Why did you come?’ or ‘What will become of us once this funeral is over?’. To your surprise, a gentle look crosses his face, and you lean back into your seat. 

“It’s just a nickname I had as a child, I suppose there's some familiarity to it.” He replies with a light chuckle, running his hand up through his hair again as if in thought. You keep an intense gaze on him, distracted by the movement.

“I thought there was going to be a dramatic story.” You admit lightheartedly, finally breaking your stare. Maybe something soft and lighthearted was the way to start, to ease yourself back into the familiarity of conversation. You had spent so long silent; your jaw clenched as you rode through the snow each day. It was a wonder you even remembered how to form words and that your mouth hadn’t become frozen shut. 

“No. I was always Bucky or Buck, and Steve was Stevie sometimes.” 

“Stevie? That’s too cute for that brute.” You mutter, and James’ gives you a lopsided grin.

“I think it was because of Becca. She would call me Jamie sometimes, so naturally Steve was Stevie.” He explains, though there is a twinge of sadness in his tone. Your gut squeezes, an anxious reminder of the past and the grief attached to it.

“I wish I had been able to meet her.” Your words are gentle and slow, almost hesitant. 

James stared long and hard into the fire for a time. “Becca? Well…she could be a mean, spoiled brat sometimes.” 

You could sense the deflection in his words and tone. You had noticed that he rarely spoke of Rebecca, and when he did, it pained him. He rarely went beyond the surface, never talking of their relationship beyond the fact that they were siblings. You could understand not wanting to revisit such memories. You often treated the memories of your father in similar ways, holding them close to your chest as secrets only you could know. 

“I think that is just the way with siblings. At least, that is what Peggy has told me.” You offer, lightheartedly. 

“I think she’s right. As much of a brat as Becca could be, I still loved her.” A dark look comes over his face, and you watch as he clenches and unclenches his fist before speaking once more. “What were your nicknames?”

You don’t push the subject of Rebecca further, instead latching onto his latter question. “I never had any.”

“None? Really?” He asked in surprise. 

You take a moment to think back and remember the warm, fuzzy memories of your childhood. You could remember running rampant through the halls of Fort Faliene, peeling off your stockings to wade in the waters near the dock. You could remember sitting on your father's desk, legs swinging through the air as you watched him organize his bookshelf, a half-played chess game abandoned nearby. 

“My father used to call me a wild cat, or his little wild cat, like the snow leopards that live deeper in the mountains. It’s ironic to think back on now, considering the leopards are called Ghosts of the Mountain.” You hum in thought, that warm, fuzzy feeling replaced with something bitter in your chest as your mind moves closer to recent history. Your nails tap against the wooden arm of the chair. 

“And then the endearing names turned to cruel ones, words to belittle me because of my gender and my culture. They called my mother the Lady of the Ghosts before me. She always shouldered it so easily, she would call me her Little Ghost.”

“Little Ghost?” James questioned you, his voice low as if he did not wish to interrupt your sudden openness. 

“It was because the Haifordian’s said I was like a little ghost when we first left Faliene.” A sad smile plays across your lips as you recount the memory. “I was barely fourteen, my father was dead, and my home was ripped from me. When I couldn’t sleep in that terrible castle, I would wander the halls and gardens. The maids would go to my mother in the morning and say, ‘Your little ghost was wandering the halls again’, expecting her to reprimand me. My mother would just laugh at them and say, ‘She is a ghost, what do you expect?’–

“Sometimes she would join me at night. We would look at the moon and the stars in the garden. When the moon was visible, she would say, ‘Tonight is a high tide, the men will be bringing in the hauls’, as if we were still there, walking along the docks. That was before she got sick, of course… By the time I was sixteen, she was bedridden and had entirely forgotten who I was. That’s when I became the Lady of the Ghosts, not just the little ghost that haunted the halls of the Haifordian court.” 

The silence that follows your words is deafening, with James watching you with a soft expression as you sigh sharply and lean back further into your seat. 

“You carry a piece of her with you everywhere, then.” James speaks, his voice gentle. Your eyes flutter upward, surprised. “Every time your enemies mock you with those names, they are breathing life into her legacy. Your legacy.” 

The wave of emotion that rolled over your body at his words was indescribable. You had felt fondness toward others before, but never to this degree. Your heart thumped in your chest as you swallowed hard, leaning forward in your seat. How could he take such a melancholic, painful memory and turn it into something of beauty? How could he take the anxiety clawing at your chest and simply replace it with calm?

Your hand reached out to grasp his, causing a fuzzy feeling in your gut and skull as you tried to figure out the words to say. Nothing came, nothing you could quite describe or express. Desire tingled across your skin as you contemplated clambering into his lap, allowing him to embrace you like he had in the library. Just you and him, his arms sheltering you from reality. 

“James I–” You start, and his gaze is intense as he watches you creep closer. But as quickly as the moment began, it abruptly stopped. Your body jolted back involuntarily in fright as the door to the room slammed open. 

You gaped as Steve walked in with a shit-eating grin, the exposed skin of his neck and collarbones dotted with quickly bruising love bites. James visibly deflates beside you, a tense breath leaving his nose sharply as he avoids eye contact with you. You try to ignore the hurt that squeezes your chest at that sight, instead turning your attention to a smug Steve.

“Steve!” You scold, clambering to your feet. “You are so lucky we have to dress heavy with the snow! If King Harrison caught you, he would have you head–” 

“Y/N, relax. It’s fine, no one saw us.” Steve reassures you, almost immediately stealing your seat in front of the fire. You roll your eyes, slapping him on the shoulder as you shimmy past to pick up your clothing from in front of the fire. 

James remains silent, locked in an intense stare with Steve as you hand your still damp clothing over your arm. Steve glances between the two of you with a quizzical yet knowing stare. You watch on in confusion as the two men seem to have a silent conversation with their eyes, James shaking his head at the blond. You reach down and collect your boots with a huff, deciding to exit the room before the sting of James’ sudden snub sets in. 

“I am going to bed.” You say, noting James’ reluctance to catch your eye.

“Sweet dreams.” Steve hums, an even wider smile spreading across his face, watching as if he knew something you didn’t. All you can muster is a scoff, closing the door behind you without looking back. 

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[aissa-snapped]

Rescuing A Friend

Summary:After Eloise meets notorious Sirius Black at a ball, she thinks they will become friends at school, but that wish comes to an end the moment he sees her sitting with Regulus Black, thinking she is just like the rest of them.

Word count: 6k+ 

Pairings: Sirius Black x OC

'' Don`t know mate. All I know is that I don`t want to go to that stupid ball my parents are throwing.'' Sirius huffed angrily, placing his chin in the palm of his hand, resting it on the table, unavoidably pushing his plate filled with scrambled eggs and sausages to the side.

'' Well you don`t have much of a choice now, do you?'' Remarked Remus as a matter-of-fact. He took a sip of his pumpkin juice, followed by a bite of toast.

The dark haired boy glared at him, huffing at his comment.

'' A little support from my friends would be much appreciated Moony!''

'' Ok, ok. I am sure it will all go well and you`ll have fun.'' James reassured his grumpy friend, patting him on the back.

'' More like it will go by fast, hopefully.'' Grumbled Sirius, aware that this was their last day of school and tomorrow he will be heading back home for the summer, where his oh-so-lovely mother decided to host yet another fancy ball for the pureblood families across all Europe.

'' Bye Prongs. I'll miss ya. Write to me.'' Sirius hugged his bespectacled friend, pulling away sadly. ''You two as well.'' He glanced at Remus and Peter, who were waiting on the Potter boy to accompany them.

'' Of course we will Pads, but I can`t say the same about you.'' James raised his brows, acting all serious for a few moments before laughing and hugging his brother from another mother a second round. '' Oi I told ya my mum grounded me last summer. There was no way for me to contact you.'' He reasoned.

'' Well then behave this summer lad. Be good and we might see each other sooner.''

'' Ye ye all right. Bye.''

'' Oh I`m so happy for this event. I even dare say I`ve outdone myself!'' Walburga exclaimed enthusiasticaly, clasping her hands together, and taking a step back to admire her work. She gazed around the room, where the ball was being held, to take a look at the fine decor that complimented the walls and ceiling.

'' You mean to say the house elves have outdone themselves.'' Corrected his mother smirking, whilst leaning half his body on the entrance into the room.

Scoffing at her rebel son, she rolled her eyes turning to look at him. '' I was the one who coordinated the whole planning of this. Therefore, it was all my efforts that are now paying off!'' Argued back the annoyed mother.

'' Yes yes but technically it was their physical effort that made it-'' '' WHAT are you still doing here? The guests will be arriving shortly. I do Not have time to waste my energy on such matters. Go get dressed.'' She waved a dismissive hand at Sirius, ushering him back to his chamber.

Defeteadly, Sirius huffed, making a piece of curly hair that was hanging around his face fly away in the process, turning smoothly towards the stairs.

Hours later, the ball was in full motion. Various families were dancing, drinking and conversing delightfully, overall creating a pleasant atmosphere.

At such times you were able to tell the heavy contrasts between the two Black brothers. Whereas Regulus was already blending in and courting several young women, Sirius begrudgingly sitting in a corner of the room, itching to go light up a cigarette but thinking of the consequences, knew better than to do it.

Hovering his eyes over the room looking for a potential person to chat with, his looks rested upon an unfamiliar face. The young girl seemed to be just as out of place as him, so with a grin, he strode over to her.

'' I don`t think I`ve ever met you before. You seem... Lost.'' He remarked, beaming his charming smile at her. The stranger blinked up at him, moving her shoulder length hair our of the way.

'' Yes well, that would probably be because I have never been here before. Hi I am Eloise Montalli.'' She offered her hand for a shake, and Sirius took if gleefully, feeling her soft skin against his own.

'' Sirius. Pleasure.'' He bowed lightly, making her giggle at his courtesy. '' Montalli... Mon-ta-lli. I don`t seem to be familiar with your family. Half-bloods?''

She frowned her brows, shaking her head almost as if insulted. ''Purebloods. We are from Italy.''

''  That explains the slight accent I sensed.At what school do you go to?'' Truthfully, Sirius thought her accent was rather cute and quirky. He liked it.

'' I-... I was home schooled. Our whole family was. We always believed that we can get the most education if we had the teacher`s full attention on just a few of us, rather than a full class.'' She shrugged neutrally, reaching next to the table to grab a snack. '' Oh yes, I understand. And what year are you going into?'' '' 6th. Though, my parents have been asked to move their work specifically here, by personal request of the minister.''

At this, Sirius widened his eyes, piecing all the newfound information in his head.

'' Wait.. so.. does that mean... you're transferring to Hogwarts?'' He asked hopefully, feeling a sudden warmth taking over his insides.

'' Oh.. I- I don`t know yet. Perhaps. ''

They conversed for the rest of the night, Eloise laughing once in a while at a corny joke Sirius cracked from time to time. Usually, the dark haired boy hated these sorts of gatherings. It was no secret he was against everything the pureblood high society stood for. But for once, he seemed quite pleased with this night and he seemed to enjoy every second of it.

Regulus eyed his brother once in a while, noticing his joyful state and getting a slight wave of jealousy seeing him flirt with a pretty girl.

The night eventually came to an end. With sad looks and sighs, the two parted ways, but not before Sirius took the initiative and hugged the Italian girl. Getting a whiff of a sweet flowery scent, he inhaled it deep in his lungs, hoping he could hold onto her smell a little longer and wouldn`t forget her so easily.

Before he even blinked, summer was over and he was returning back to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Seeing his friends for the first time in a few months was always a go-to. Reuniting with them felt like his heart was full again.  He could go back to pulling pranks and having a hearty laughter.

But at the back of his head, there was that lingering scent of the stranger girl he met at the ball, wondering if she will show up at Hogwarts. Not knowing if she did, he thought it unimportant to tell his friends about her YET.

The celebration was as boring as ever. Being a first year and getting placed into your house for the next seven years surely was a nerve wracking experience. But as one of the older students, you couldn`t care less about the youngest ones being placed in their respective houses, unless it was a know relative of course.

Sirius couldn`t catch a glimpse of the girl amongst the first years, so he sadlt dropped his gaze on his lap, ignoring his friends talking around him.

'' You all right Pads?'' The scarred boy checked on him, seeing he kept glancing at the first years. '' You looking for someone familiar?'' James asked curiously, forming a grin in a teasing manner.

'' OH no no. I was... just observing the children. They are so tiny, can`t believe we were like them just a few years ago.'' He sighed sadly, trying to convince his friends this was what was keeping him so lost in their conversation.

'' Yeah.. right.'' Peter agreed, looking at him weirdly and then going back to conversing with James.

Unbeknownst to Sirius, the said girl had been sorted into her house previous to the arrival of the rest of the students. She found herself sitting with none other than Regulus Arcturus Black, who was more than happy to welcome her to her new temporary family.

First day of classes was the hardest. Reprogramming your mind to waking up early in the morning, adjusting to both classes during the day, as well as during the night for Astronomy and finding the time to study or do your homework in your free time. Not that these were all things Sirius truly cared about. He was lucky having grown up in a pureblood lineage. They had access to education and all sorts of knowledge that was introduced to them very early on in their lives. So naturally, he was a fast learner and unlike his friends, he spent the least amount of time dedicated to school, since he only needed a few repetitions to fully understand something.

'' C`mon hurry up. I am hungry.'' Peter whined, waiting impatiently by the door, already dressed up and ready for the first day of classes.

'' You don`t have to wait for us. Just go and stuff your face with food.'' Remarked Sirius grumpily, who was putting on his white shirt as slowly as ever.

'' Ugh. You lads always make me miss the first round of sausages. '' And with that. Peter left their shared dorm and with heavy thumping sounds, he rushed towards the Great Hall.

James laughed, glancing at Remus and Sirius, and finished knotting his tie, ruffling his hair a bit followed by placing his glasses on.

'' Don`t worry mate. No matter how hard you try, Evans won`t agree on going out with you today either.'' Reassured Remus, before checking his school bag to check if everything was in order.

With a gasp, James stood agape for a few moments, before he started reasoning with Remus as to how he has been developing some sort of strategy that will DEFINITELY make Lily go out with him.

'' - and when she`ll hear it, she will come to ME to cry to-who you laughing at Pad? Put some bloody pants on and fast cuz we want to go down to breakfast.'' Sirius begrudgingly obliged, and with rushed steps they all headed towards the Great Hall.

They were scanning the Gryffindor table in search for their friend, when Sirius glanced by the Slytherin table by mistake and spotted his brother. However it was not his brother that made him pause his movements, but rather the person sitting next to him. It was HER. How come she never told him she was here? And how come he didn`t see her yesterday during the sorting ceremony?

Feeling a pair of powerful eyes on her, Eloise turned to look around for whoever was studying her. When she noticed Sirius, she happily waved at him, showing him a beautiful genuine smile. However, her beam faltered when she noticed he was not reciprocating her actions, but worse, he was glaring at her and quickly turned his back to her.

With a sad gaze, she turned back to her breakfast, only she was no longer hungry and slightly pushed her plate away. Regulus, who was smirking from the previous interaction between the two, altered his emotions, looking at her with pityful eyes, rubbing her back.

'' I told you. That`s how they act. They have no respect for us and turn against you once you join this house.'' '' But- we talked. At the ball... We had a great time..'' With a roll of his eyes, ensuring she wasn`t looking at him, he placed an arm around her shoulders and brought her closer to him, feeling her weight slightly shift into his side.

'' Who was that mate?'' James asked the instant they were all seated. '' Hello?!'' He repeated, seeing as Sirius completely ignored the question. Finally acknowledging his question, he raised his eyebrows at his friend, as if asking silently if the question was directed at him.

'' You were asking me?'' '' No, he was asking your mom.'' Remus remarked, huffing at the marauder.

'' Don`t know. I don`t think I`ve seen her around here before though.''

'' That`s because she is new. Transferred here this summer.'' Chipped in Lily, who just happened to be passing the boys before going to sit down next to her friends.

'' Then how come we didn`t see her at the cer-'' Sirius couldn`t finish his question because Lily was already heading towards her group and James in a rushing tone yelled after her if she wanted to study with him after class.

'' I`ve already promised someone I`d study with them.'' She said cheekily, winking at James and sitting down a few seats away from them.

''Bloody buggers. I hope it`s not that mop of greasy hair.'' He grumbled under his breath, biting down his toast with anger, which caused the other marauders to chuckle at his flustered state.

'' Potions as first class in the morning should be illegal. I can`t brew anything this early in the morning.'' Complained Sirius to James, who was nodding along and taking steps towards the classroom. They were usually partners in Potions whilst Remus and Peter would pair up together, or in this case, they had different classes than the two pureblood marauders.

Taking a seat in the very back of the class, they pulled out their textbooks, and kept themselves busy chatting with one another, planning future pranks and such. That only lasted until one certain student took a seat in front of Sirius, gesturing with his hands for another one to come take the available seat next to him.

Sirius turned towards James with a grimace on his hands, mouthing the word 'Snivellus' and both of them sniggering at the whole new pranking possibilities to make this class more entertaining, for them two at least.

Sirius` snorting stopped, once he recognized Snape`s Potions partner. The girl lightly twisted her body towards the marauders to collect the textbook from her bag, and attempted another smile at the Curly haired boy.

James returned her gesture, already being a gentleman by introducing himself. '' Glad to meet you. I see you have already been corrupted with sitting with the snakes. But I guarantee you, should you change your mind, our table is more fun and friendlier.'' He flirted, taking her hand and kissing the top of it. Not knowing how to respond, she giggled, trying to ignore the rush of heat that was making her way towards her cheeks.

Snape glared at James, and placed a firm hand on the girl`s shoulder, forcefully turning her around towards the front and with her back towards the boys. James frowned at that gesture and Sirius, who had been sitting quietly near his extroverted friend, furrowed his eyebrows at the action, but remained quiet.

A few weeks into the new school routine, Sirius found himself telling the marauders about his encounter with the girl during the ball in summer, followed by his revolted opinions surrounding her sitting with the snakes.

'' Not once did she seem like the rest of `em. I s`pose it was all in there hidden. All that time.'' He commented distastefully. As much as he pretented to now despise the new-come girl, his friends could see how affected he was by her being a Slytherin. It was as if, that small feeble stream of hope that she could`ve been friends with him, all dispersed once he saw her with that grotesque emerald green colored robe.

Eloise would try to greet Sirius every Potions class and sometimes in the hallways, but in vain, as he blatantly ignored her. His friends however often times would say a 'hello' back to her to save her the embarrassment of her being completely ignored.

Weeks later, she came to realize that her greeting attempts were not being reciprocated and so she eventually gave up on him. She strenuously let herself be taken under the wing of the Slytherins. After all, it was them she shared a common room with right?

That, however did not mean she could finally say she had found her people. With each passing day, she would be reminded time after time the reason why this house was so hated. Most Slytherins were too stuck up to even glance at muggleborns, or to ever apologize for something they did wrong. No wonder they all had such a bad reputation. She experienced this on her own skin when she was once being interrogated by her so called friends for reasons she was hanging out with 'mud-bloods'.

'' We were just studying. I was helping Lily with her birthchart, plus she's super nice. That doen`t mean we`re friends.'' She tried defending herself in front of half of the Slytherin students. Even though she started to consider Lily her friend, she wouldn`t dare say it out loud under these circumstances.

That night, remained forever scarred inher brain, as well as her body. The Slytherins saw fit to 'punish' her 'traitorous' actions and, just as taught from their parents, used some sort of stinging spell on the girl, that left her with a fresh wound on her arm.

It was a few months well into school, and the girl had no choice but to comply to the bullying of her own housemates. Not that it happened so often, however, she felt like a prisoner, always being watched by them, abused verbally and reminded not to associate herself with 'mutts'. Though she grew up in a pureblood family herself, she never experienced real school life until now. Her parents never forbade her from talking to muggles, moreover, encouraged her to learn their way of living, to see how they exist without magic. She had a balance around the area. Not obsessed with them but not hateful of them either.

Everytime Lily came up to greet her or ask her about her day, she had to sadly ignore her or keep the conversation as short as possible, seeing as her housemates would have a go at her again. And she was right. She even sensed a joy in all of them whenever she was inflicted in pain, and her cries were not helping her, but rather fueling their resentment towards her.

She had been desperately searching for a safe space for her to hide into, where she could let her tears and sadness out. And that happened to be the bathroom on the second floor, which was already with its own resident, a ghost who seemed to be weeping just as much as her nowadays.

She found the presence of the little girl quite comforting, since she was also sharing her sentiments. Though sometimes she did wish she could be fully alone, she learned to accept the phantomatic presence.

Her crying sessions would usually last hours after dark, with her only returning back to her dorm when most of the students were already fast asleep.

While she was making her way to the dungeons quietly, she heard footsteps behind her. Checking for any signs of a teacher of prefect, she simply couldn`t see anyone. With a new sense of fear, she was hurrying towards the common room, when all of a sudden she felt a hand grabbing at her forearm, stopping her from going anywhere.

Instinctively, she let out a scream out of shock, her heart beating faster than it ever has in her life.

'' Shh... You`re gonna wake the whole castle up.'' And as if out of thin air, none other than Sirius Black appeared before her. More confused than ever, she tried grasping her head, not knowing what just happened.

'' You- out of nowhere-h-how?!'' She breathed out words between each exhale.

'' I`ll explain it later. But more importantly, what are YOU doing here at this hour, and almost every night?'' Eloise was trying to come up with an excuse but then frowned at the words spoken by the boy. '' How do you know I come out here almost every night?'' The Slytherin interrogated smartly.

Sirius, seemingly speechless, gulped as quietly as possible, forming a believable answer to the girl, without giving away their beloved bewitched map.

'' I`ve-... Seen you other times as well. Just didn`t want to come and bother you.''

''Oh.'' That`s all she could say, hoping she was now free to go, seeing as she was becoming tired and needed as much sleep as she could get.

'' Well? What are you up to!?'' He pressed impatiently.

Scoffing, she crossed her arms and scowled at him, something she picked on from her housemates. '' Why should I explain myself to you?'' Acting all tough and mighty, she forgot one minor detail. Her eyes gave away everything.

Sirius was scanning her face, not even flinching at her cold stares.

'' Have you been crying?'' '' WHAT?! You`re honestly so ridiculous. You ignore me all these months, giving me the cold shoulder as if we`ve never met. And I-'' her voice cracked, which took both students by surprise. If she was able to conceal her sadness before, right now a new wave of tears were coming in strong, as she was no longer able to control them.

So she simply allowed each tear to flow down her soft skin, and blinking madly trying to clear up her vision, she proceeded to continue. '' You have NO idea what I`ve been through. And-'' Another voice crack paused her speech. ''- to think I was so happy to come here knowing I`ll have you as a friend...'' She shook her head, simply letting her angry tears take over her as she was starting to shake.

Sirius was speechless. He had no idea what to do at this moment. He was never the right type of person to comfort another, and in this exact moment he was reminded yet again of his incapability of it. So instead of sitting there like an idiot, he decided on a few pats on the shoulder, along with a bit of caressing them.

Eloise was bawling her eyes out in front of Sirius Black, and she was fighting against her own emotions, attempting at caging them inside her. Minutes later, she was finally able to calm down, with only a few sobs here and there. Her breathing was also slowing down, leaving space for her to blink any last tears away from her vision.

Sniffling, she shrugged Sirius` hand off her and dusted away at her clothes.

'' Goodnight.''  Not leaving any room for Sirius to speak, she swiftly turned back around and jogged down dungeons, the Gryffindor being left there in complete shock.

The morning news was the first priority of the day for the marauders, and for Sirius, it was the moment he told me what had happened the night prior.

'' What do you reckon happens to her?'' Asked James, who seemed to be quite involved in this new matter of business that revolved around the Slytherin girl.

'' Couldn`t exactly find out. She was almost choking on her tears so she didn`t have any room for an explanation.'' Half joked Sirius, which caused the werewolf sitting next to him to hit him in the stomach with his elbow.

'' OW. MOONY. IT WAS A JOKE ALL RIGHT? Ugh you and your bony arms'' He grumbled in pain, rubbing at his stomach.

'' I say we go and ask her.'' Shrugged Remus simply, sipping on his pumpkin juice and reading the Daily Prophet.

'' Yeah, that is a good idea.'' Chimed in Peter, who out of all, he seemed the least interested in the matters that involved the girl, but for the sake of his friends, tried to appear useful.

James, who was sitting in front of Sirius, had a clear view of the girl, who was squished between some Slytherin boys, and seemed to be feeling uncomfortable. Sirius followed his gaze, also observing the little hints that might be an indicator as to what happens to her when she enters the coomon room.

The marauders were all revising for a Transfiguration in the warm common room, when Lily and her pals entered all chatting worriedly, instantly getting the attention of the nosy teen boys.

''Lily, my angel. What is the matter?'' James found himself gazing up at the redhead, grinning her way. Her face scrunched up at the nickname, but approached the boys anyway.

'' Eloise, she was crying in the bathroom again. Said she had stinging pain all over her arms. Those heartless idiots..''

'' What are you ever talking about?'' Sirius asked more confused than ever. ''Listen. I shouldn`t be telling you this since it is not my business. But I am worried about her and I trust that in your most absurd and stupid ways possible, you could help her.'' She started, getting their full attention, even Remuses, who until now was still reading from his textbook, but now it sat closely in his lap.

'' She said the other Slytherins used a stinging jinx on her whenever she was seen talking to me or other... Muggleborns. Said they were giving her proper 'education' and she told me we can no longer be friends because she feared going back to her dorm.'' She finished sadly.

'' What the bloody...-'' '' Godric`s knickers I-'' '' We have to help her!'' Exclaimed Sirius, ignoring the weird stares from his friends for his choice of exclamation words. '' Yes but how exactly? We can`t exactly fight off the entire Slytherin house!'' Exclaimed Peter in fear of what his brave friends might be thinking as a solution.

'' Oh but Pete... Can`t we?'' Smirked James, who placed an arm around his chubby friend`s shoulder. '' We are the MARAUDERS. We love a challenge. And this certainly is a big one. We will prank them ALL.'' He concluded the leader,  winking at Lily who rolled her eyes and called on her friends to go up the dorms.

Sirius was satisfied with his friend`s response, nodding eagerly and ruffling Remus` hair in happiness and excitement.

'' Calm yourself Pads before I plant my elbow up your-'' '' OK GOT IT.'' They all laughed at their antics, and began planning their newest and probably biggest project, with homeworks and textbooks seemingly forgotten on the side. Eloise tried to spend as much time away from the dungeons as possible. So she found the library to be one of the best spots for finishing up her homeworks, doing her lectures and being left alone. There was also the fact that she was able to talk to other students from different houses without fearing that a Slytherin might spot her and report it back.

She was returning to her common one afternoon when she came across 4 figures standing ahead of her, at the end of the hallway. Her heart jumped a little, scared they might`ve been the Slytherins but to her relief, she was a reflection of gold and instantly knew those were just Gryffindors. Inhaling deeply, she worked herself up to get the courage to pass through the group since they were in the way. However, as she aproached, she noticed who the group actually was.  

'' Good afternoon, Montalli.'' Greeted James politely. '' Uh, hello.'' She waved shyly, splitting the 4 and trying to find her way out of the hallway but a hand caught her in the same style it did that night.

'' Why the rushing? Running away from someone perhaps?'' Sirius asked intrigued.

'' No-no. I have to get back to my dorm. That`s all.''

'' We wanted to ask you something.'' Imposed James, in a serious tone, unlike him.

Eloise was dragged, almost unwillingly, into an empty classroom where she was interrogated by the 4 teen boys, each taking their turn to question her. She even shed a few tears towards the end of the discussion, yet again unable to control them. What warmed her heart and gave her some sort of comfort was when they told her she was going to be sitting with them during meal times.

She couldn`t really understand why they asked her all this, though they did say if anything were to happen to come and find one of them and the rest would follow. Whilst she was pouring her heart out, she often times felt Sirius inching closer towards her, placing a reassuring hand on her knee or shoulder, which in return made the girl a bit flustered.

After the confessions were made, she solemnly told them she really had to get back to her dorm, so they all offered to escort her there. Positioned in the center of the group, with Sirius and James on both her sides, she felt happy and safe for the first time here at Hogwarts.

Sirius took the indicators that she was feeling better as a sign to confidently grab her hand in his, holding her palm and giving their now locked hands a natural swing whilst they were making their way to the 'snake`s pit'.

What made them pause their walk was a group of Slytherins,  with an ugly sneer on their face. '' What do you think you`re doing down here? You blood traitors?'' Spat Mulciber, one of the students to blame for Eloise`s new forming scars.

'' Escorting a young beautiful lady to her dorms to ensure she arrives safely, something YOU couldn`t be bothered with it seems.'' Snapped Sirius, scanning the venomous students and noticing Snape was amongst them. He got excited silently at this opportunity to bully him.

'' What`s wrong Snivellus? Got jealous Eloise was spending more time with Evans than you?'' He teased, knowing damn well this was a tender subject.

'' Shut your mouth, Black. Leave, all of you before we decide to curse ya.'' He threatened, gripping his now pulled out wand, initiating the same action from the other Slytherins.

Eloise was grateful for what they have done, but she knew that this was not going to end well, and since it was because of her they all came down here, she took a few steps towards her fellow housemates, which in return shocked them at her unexpected actions, but quickly recomposed, wands at the ready to attack the Gryffindors. Sirius and James both frowned at her, motioning for her to go back to their side, but she simply shook her head.

'' Thank you boys, really. But let`s not cause a big fight alright? Have a good evening.'' She said her goodbyes, in hopes of dispersing the tension, but the moment she turned her back, she heard a spell being cast, and fortunately, or not, it was not casted towards her.

Avery, the third Slytherin that was present, directed a jinx towards one of the marauders, which was the trigger for a duel to break loose. Eloise was behind all the comotion, sitting there mouth agape and her heart pumping blood faster. She didn`t know what to do, should she join and protect her friends? Or just sit there awkwardly and try to stop them, fully knowing she wouldn`t be able to do that.

Attempting to shout a 'stop' once in a while, but in vain, she only hoped this would stop soon enough. A few jinxes later, some extra hands and antlers growing uncontrollably out of Mulciber`s head, the marauders all snickered at their results. She took one glance at them to make sure they were all right, and it was safe to say they seemed to have experience in duels, seeming as they all looked fine, with the exception of Sirius who seemed to be annoyed at his now 'ruined hair' and was trying to fix it. She smiled at that, which caused Sirius to look at her and wink.

The Slytherins had to rush to the infirmary to get their abnormalities off them, which meant Eloise saw a perfect escape for her to run up her dorm and lock herself in the safety of it.

The next morning, she remembered how the marauders Insisted for her to join them for breakfast, knowing full well it would cause an ugly reaction from the serpents. She timidly entered the Great Hall, in hopes that she might be able to go unnoticed by the loud group of mischivieous boys, but no luck, as she was spotted moments after she entered.

'' Oi, Montalli, here, here.'' Shouted Sirius, waving his hand and indicating to an open seat between him and that tall boy, Remus. Eloise looked to her left, noticing the Slytherins already whispering to each other as if planning something, but she jogged towards the marauders, making herself as comfortable as one could be around those loud baboons.

'' How did you sleep? Did they bother you?'' Sirius asked concerned, but for odd reasons not touching her as he used to do other times.

'' No, I was in my dorm the whole night. They can`t come up there,y`know. But I wanted to thank you guys for what you did. You truly are brave as they say.'' She complimented, making Sirius look down at his food to try to hide what looked like a blush.

'' Why thank you. But that was nothing. Can`t wait for you and others to see what we`ve planned.'' James informed excitedly, rubbing his hands in anticipation.

Eloise, confused, raised a questioning brow at him, silently asking for a further explanation, but none came as he dove in his breakfast leaving there dumbfounded.

But her wish was about to come true as Mulciber and Snape were fastly approaching the Gryffindors table, specifically for the girl, and when Sirius noticed her heart beating faster, he smirked the Slytherin`s way, whispering a ' relax' to the girl, which wasn`t the most reassuring at the moment.

'' So now you`re ditching your OWN HOUSE, to sit with with these?!'' Mulciber argued angrily, throwing the girl and the boys one of the most venomous looks she had ever seen.

'' What`s it to ya mate? She can sit with whomever she likes yeah, now c`mon leave us, you sort of interrupted our morning chat.'' James waved dismissively, only angering the two boys.

'' Move. Come on get UP.'' Mulciber persisted, directing his full attention on the girl who was shrinking in attempt at becoming invisible. She couldn`t understand how the rest of the marauders were so calm, and even more, smiling. They seemed to have everything under control, which further confused the spooked girl. Feeling a new wave of courage wash over her, she made direct eye contact with the aggressive Slytherin, and squinting her eyes, she said lowly: '' No...''

Mulciber and Snape, shocked at this newfound rebellion, decided to act physically. So then Mulciber went for it and to grab her firmly by her forearms, dragging her towards the green table.

'' You... You.. Associating with such beings. You`re insulting our HOUSE. Ruining our reputation... Can`t believe you dared do that aware of the consequences that lay ahead...'' He started spitting, but towards the end trailed his words, noticing almost all of the Great Hall was staring at him, laughing and pointing his way. This only railed him more as he continued to drag her towards the final destination, but something felt weird. He glanced down, maybe he had some stains on his white shirt, however something even worse was going on.

His pants were laying on the ground, exposing his boxers and his pale scrawny legs. The marauders let out the loudest barks of laughs, pointing at him shamelessly and therefore redirecting the attention of even more students on the hot-headed Slytherin, who had let go of the girl in an attempt to pull his pants up, but due to the anger blinding him and the attention of the laughing students, couldn`t successfully do so, without almost tripping and falling face first on the ground.

Eloise let out a laugh as well, deciding he was too busy trying to scurry away from the shame and went back to sit with the Marauders, who laughed and explained to her how they came up with a charm that whenever someone were to touch her, their pants would fall off.

Over the next few days, life was good for the girl. She was no longer afraid to speak to Lily, or even the marauders, knowing that she was protected by this charm of the boys.

Other instances happened when Snape was the one trying to lead her back to their shared common room whilst she was in the middle of the hallway with Sirius, but the same thing happened to him, causing Sirius to have a go at him in the midst of all the laughter.  

'' Oi Snivellus. I think you dropped something. Oh by the way nice knickers you`ve got there. You shopping from the ladies section?''

It only took this much for the former bullies to drop their interest in the girl and to avoid her at all costs like she was the walking plague. She couldn`t be more grateful for it, so she wished to thank them.

She was walking outside, on a sunny warm day, searching for the boisterous teens, but she could only find the black haired boy, so, with a grin, she approached the peaceful Gryffindor, who was lying on the grass, seemingly taking a nap.

'' Hey.'' She greeted softly, not wishing to disturb the peaceful state he was in. She crouched down next to him, so she was at the same level. Opening one eye only, searching for the intruder, he found the girl that had been making his heart rate go faster each time he was around her, so with a soft grunt, he opened both eyes and propped himself up, resting his upper body in his elbows.

'' Hello there sweet pumpkin.''

Eloise scrunched her nose at the nickname, snickering at it before reminding herself why she came up to him in the first place.

'' So... You see, I wanted to thank you for everything you`ve done for me. I have no idea how one manages such a charm but, I appreciate it and I am glad you`ve helped me.'' She confessed shyly, feeling the grass between her fingers.

'' You want to thank us... or me personally?'' He flirted cheekily, wiggling his eyebrows, causing the girl to blush at his inuendos and scoff playfully.

'' Well obviously all of you. You all had your part in it.'' She decided to continue timidly. '' But... I suppose you more. You seemed to be by my side more often than not.'' Rubbing her neck Ina nervous manner, she looked around her, to avoid staring into Sirius` eyes, who were burning on the side of her face.

Sirius Black seizing the opportunity, smirked and moved his hair out of his face.

'' Yeah, well. I know one way you can repay me for what I`ve done.'' He suggested cockily.

'' Oh yeah, and how might that be?'' She caught on, flirting back slightly, which was something unusual for her. Sirius inched closer to her, Eloise following his lead and eventually being only a few inches away from eachother, to the point the girl was able to feel his soft breath hitting her skin.

'' Move a little closer...'' He whispered, closing his eyes in the process, causing her to do the same thing. Eventually, they locked their lips in a sweet, short kiss, Sirius having placed his palm on the side of her face.

Pulling away shortly after, they both smiled at each other, and just when they were about to go in for a second time, Eloise started giggling uncontrollably at Sirius, which made him furrow his eyebrows questioningly. But when she pointed down at his pants, which left his legs bare and briefs in plain view.

'' Oh nice knickers you`ve got there.'' She imitated his voice mockingly, the same tone he used on Severus a few days prior. Sirius rolled his eyes, but nonetheless grabbed the girl`s face again, bringing it closer to his. '' Oh shut up.'' He grunted before smashing his lips on hers a second round.

[waltwhitmansbeard]

go on, claim my heart: chapter thirty-four

see my masterpost for what came before this.

Tiny pebbles dig into Keyleth's palms as she holds herself up. She'd been thrown to the side as Percy, in the fastest movement Keyleth has ever witnessed, snatched his gun up from the cavern floor to finish Delilah Briarwood once and for all. Her ears still ring with the sound of the weapon's firing, but as her hearing slowly starts to come back to her, she hears a sound sweeter and more beautiful than the most dulcet tunes: her baby's cries.

She shoves herself off of the ground, launching herself at Vax. "Oh gods, oh gods, let me see her." Vax quickly shuffles Vilya into her arms, and for the first time in a week, Keyleth is holding her daughter. She is crying and laughing and hyperventilating all at once, eyes roaming over each inch of the squalling baby in her arms to verify, yes, two hands, two feet, all the fingers and toes, nose and ears and dusting of strawberry blonde on her head, just like Keyleth had when she was a child. She is curled over Vilya, making half-hearted attempts to calm her—a tall order when she can hardly calm herself—and she feels a pair of arms circle around her. She sinks into Vax's chest, Vilya nestled between them, and finally, finally, her little family is together again.

As she holds her daughter, she can feel that she is lighter than she'd been before she was taken. Worry twists her stomach into knots. "Vax," she murmurs, and he pulls back to look at her. "I think she's lost weight. I don't know if they've been feeding her."

Vax nods, face drawn. "Right." To Pike, he says, "Heal Percy as best you can. We'll be back." Then he ushers Keyleth to the shadowed edges of the cavern, where they are out of sight from the others.

Keyleth immediately settles herself on the floor, back resting against a stony wall, and begins to feed Vilya. It takes a minute or two for Vilya to remember how to feed, and in that time panic spreads like hoarfrost across Keyleth's skin, worry that she will struggle to eat when she is so clearly underfed, but then the baby latches, and Keyleth has long given up hope of stemming the tide of tears streaming down her face. Vax slides down to sit next to her, kissing her cheek and playing with Vilya's tiny foot.

"We did it, Kiki," he whispers, pressing a kiss to each of Vilya's toes. "We found her."

Keyleth's finger is trapped in Vilya's impossibly small fist, the baby's own fingers curled tightly around it as if she is terrified to let go. "I will not breathe easy until she is home in Zephrah, until Pike and Nel both confirm that she will be alright." She tips her head onto Vax's shoulder and lets her eyes slide shut. This has been the longest week of her life, and she is so very tired.

They let Vilya eat as long as they dare, but Keyleth knows they need to move before any new threat comes their way. Vilya gurgles, disgruntled, when she is moved back into her father's arms so that Keyleth can right herself, and then the family returns to the others, who have been joined by the three women Vax freed from the cage. The eldest of the trio looks a bit worse for wear, with a massive bruise along one side of her jaw and scorch marks in her clothes, but they are all alive. The teenage girl is helping Vex pull Percy to his feet; he, too, has clearly seen better days, but Keyleth can see the evidence of Pike's magic at work in the closed hole in his jaw and lightened bruising around his neck, though drying blood still cakes his face and hair. Keyleth immediately wraps her arms around him, whispering into his ear, "I'm sorry. Thank you, and I'm so, so sorry."

Percy squeezes her tightly. "I told you, there was nothing I wouldn't do to bring Vilya home. I was not joking."

"We ought to move," Vex says, gripping her bow tightly. "I don't know what other cronies the Briarwoods might have had in their employ, and I would very much like to get the hell out of this city."

Keyleth is not going to argue that point. The group begins its trek out of the tunnels, emerging onto the edge of the Parchwood after navigating through the underground unimpeded. Vex starts to lead the way toward where Scanlan and Grog were told to go with Cassandra, but the three freed women pull in the opposite direction.

"We'll head back into town," the eldest one says, now being supported on either side by the other two. "We'll spread the word of the Briarwoods' demise, and of your return, Lord de Rolo."

Percy stiffens, pale in the white light of the moon. "I...would ask that you not make any promises in that regard. My situation is...complicated, and I don't wish to let the people of Whitestone down any more than I already have. Please, go to the abandoned tea shop in the Northern Ward. Chancellor Desnay is hiding there. He will lead until..." He sighs. "Until more permanent arrangements can be made."

The three nod, and then Keyleth has an idea. "I think I can help you spread the word." She stretches her hands up toward the night sky, an inky blue blotted with wispy gray winter clouds, and begins to twist and curl her fingers. She can feel the moisturize in the air, though it's dry this time of year, and pulls on it as one might threads of a tapestry. She weaves the invisible strands around and around, pushing and pulling until the clouds have coalesced into a shape she remembers from the buttons of the tattered coat Percy arrived in all those years ago: a broad tree surrounded by a half-circle of stars. The de Rolo crest.

A hand grips onto Keyleth's shoulder, and she turns to see Percy gazing up at the symbol with tears in his eyes. "I...Keyleth..."

Her arms drop. "Whether or not you return to Whitestone to lead your people, they should know that the de Rolos have not been vanquished by the Briarwoods—and that Whitestone itself hasn't, either."

Percy pulls her into a hug. It is such a relief to hold him, to feel his chest rise and fall, the steady rhythm of his heart. She is glad that she will not have to tell her daughter stories of the man who died to save her life, that she will grow up knowing that man herself.

The Zephrans bid farewell to the three women, and then Vex leads them through the woods, having little trouble tracking Grog's large footsteps even in such low light. As they walk, Keyleth leans heavily into Vax's side, his arm around her shoulders. Vilya has been returned to her arms, and Keyleth barely watches where they walk. She can't take her eyes off of her baby, the miracle nestled into the crook of her elbow. Now that she holds her, that she knows by her gentle wriggling and curious coos up at the world around her that she is very much alive, Keyleth can release the levee that had been holding at bay a tidal wave of doubt and fear. She can admit to herself all the skepticism she'd been harboring since she left Zephrah, how sure she'd been that they would be too late, that they would not be enough, she would not be enough to save her daughter's life. The force of it nearly sends her to her knees, but she keeps walking, knowing each step brings her closer to proving herself wrong once and for all.

It is not hard to miss the mountain that is Grog when they come upon him. Once the two groups are in sight of each other, Cassandra darts forward from behind the goliath, calling, "Percy?" Percy takes a few long, lanky steps forward, and Cassandra gasps. "What happened?"

Percy merely gathers her into a hug. "I'm alright, I promise. We're going to get out of here."

"But what of the Briarwoods? Of Whitestone? Are we safe to—"

"Cass." He puts his hands on either side of her face. "There are a great many things to discuss, to figure out. And I promise you we will have those discussions, but not here. I must get you and the princesses to safety in Zephrah."

"But that's days away."

"It's not." Keyleth carefully shuffles Vilya back to Vax—both of them are so reluctant to give her up, so eager to have her back again—and steps forward to the mighty pine tree that Scanlan and Grog have selected. It's perfect for the job. "I can get us there tonight." She hopes; she's expended so much energy this night, and this task will cost her more yet. She settles her palms against the tree. "We will have very little time, so please, hurry through."

Vax kisses Vilya's forehead before passing her over to Vex, who nods and moves to the front of the queue gathering before the tree trunk. Cassandra begins to speak—likely to ask what in the hells is going on—but Percy merely steers her behind Vex, murmuring instructions for her to run forward when Vex does. Grog takes a gnome in each arm and lines up behind Percy, and Vax comes to stand just beside Keyleth, the last one through before her.

Keyleth bows her head and focuses on the cherry tree beside the cottage back in Zephrah. This time of year, the leaves are long gone, the branches bare and reaching, fingers clawing up toward the heavens. Her mother is buried there, her memory enriching the soil for the tree and the grass and the little girl who will someday climb those branches, just as Keyleth did, once upon a time. She wants nothing more than to be on that rolling hill, to see the home she has built with her husband, the castle from which she will someday rule hazy in the moonlit distance. She concentrates on the want, and the bark beneath her hands begins to hum. She does not need to open her eyes to see when, a moment later, the trunk has twisted and cracked open into a doorway.

The Zephrans know what to do, spilling one after the other through the portal. Keyleth can feel the energy being sapped from her body. Her limbs shake with the force of keeping the gate open. Vax's hand leaves its spot on her back, and a heartbeat later, he calls, "Come through!"

Her eyes snap open. She releases the tree and bolts through the hole in the trunk just as it seals shut behind her. She tumbles into Vax's arms, and she has to blink to realize that the party, now on the mercifully familiar grounds of the Zephran castle, is surrounded on all sides by the points of swords. There is shouting and chaos, the Royal Guard clearly spooked by the sudden appearance of so many in the middle of the night, but then Vex barks, "Lower your weapons, you fools! You threaten the princesses!"

One by one, the swords fall, and then the door to the cottage opens. Illuminated by a single candle, Lady Allura appears, relief coloring her face. "Oh thank the gods!" She scurries up to the tree, gives a half-bow, and says quickly, "We weren't sure if you'd be returning to the castle or to here, so we've been watching both places. Is—have you—?"

It's clear that Allura doesn't know how to ask the question, but Vax gives her the answer anyway. "Vilya is with us." He nods to his sister, who is still holding her. "We found her."

Allura clutches her chest. "Thank the gods."

Keyleth is so exhausted she can barely stand. "Lady Allura, please, go wake my father. He will want to know that we have returned."

A strange look crosses Allura's face. "I...Your Majesty..."

"I know he can be cross when woken, believe me, but this is clearly a special circumstance. I promise, he will be overjoyed to know that Vilya is home safe."

"I...we should...gods above..."

Annoyance prickles along Keyleth's skin. "I'm serious, Lady Allura. Please, I can hardly keep my eyes open, but I must see my father before—"

"Keyleth." Vax's arm is tight around her now, and there's a note of something dangerous in his voice. Keyleth looks to him, and his eyes are wide, staring at Allura in disbelief. Something passes between him and Allura, and Keyleth's annoyance melts into confusion.

"What's going on?"

Vax swallows. "I...we ought to go inside. Please, let's just get inside the house."

Keyleth wrenches herself from his grasp. "What is going on?"

Just then, it hits her, a realization as sharp and quick as a viper's strike. Your Majesty. No one has ever called Keyleth that, and no one will, not until—

"Where is he?" Keyleth doesn't recognize her own voice, twisted and haunted. She watches the circle of guards turn their faces away from her. Bile rises in her throat. "Where is he? Where is my father?"

Tears drip down Lady's Allura's cheeks, glittering like diamonds in the candlelight. "Your Majesty...he is gone."

The sorrow on Allura's face is the last thing Keyleth sees before her eyes roll back in her head and she swoons back, collapsing into total darkness.

[sammy-a-87]

Real Family

The train finally came to a halt. Thick smoke engulfed the tiny station and Gellert stumbled onto the cobblestone. He forgot just how small everything was there. Godric’s Hallow, the home of his aunt, was so incredibly tiny, the kind of village where everyone knew each other's business and life like their own.

He made sure to not use magic to carry his bags, no matter how tempting it was- the village was shared by muggles and wizards alike if he remembered right and he wasn't yet old enough physically to use magic outside of school. The weather was torrid, a heat so unbearable he cursed under his breath for wearing all black. Where's that damn house again?!

Trudging through the empty street- no one was as stupid as him to go out in this heat- he racked his brain for any useful memory; red hair and toothy grins were all that filled his vision. Finally, as if sent by the gods themselves, Gellert noticed a young woman walking in his direction. She carried two gigantic baskets filled with what he assumed were groceries.

“Excuse me, ma'am?” He flashed a sweet smile. She stopped in her tracks and smiled in turn.

“Could you perhaps help me find Mrs. Bagshot's house?” His accent scratched his ears- he had lost it sometime in his thirties, but now it was back with full force and he hated it. Not because it reminded him of home, he was proud of German heritage, but it made him sound so out of place….

The woman eyed him curiously for a moment before speaking up, her own English accent flowing as sweetly as a melody.

“Of course, of course. Are you family of her's? Her house is the yellow one right after the graveyard, on the right. You can't miss it.”

Gellert bowed gallantly and thanked her, however, without elaborating on his relationship with Bagshot- news traveled here too fast and he didn't like that. They parted ways and after a hellish half an hour of walking in the blazing sun- how the fuck is this place so small yet has everything so far from each other?!- he arrived in front of the two story cottage of his dear aunt. The flowers in the front were in full bloom and he could only imagine that the backyard was just as vibrant and full of life, the mix of magical and non magical plants creating a colorful little paradise. He had spent quite a few nights there with him, at the tiny garden table under the thin willow, and his heart ached at the memory.

Mustering up his courage, why was he feeling nervous?, he knocked on the door. Loudly. More times than needed.

“Yeah, yeah I'm coming!” ,came a muffled voice from inside, obviously annoyed.

“What do you- Gellert!” The surprise on his aunt's face spoke volumes: his father hadn't owled her regarding his arrival, typical.

The thin, elderly woman opened the door fully, smiling at her nephew after the shock subsided.

“Hallo, Tante. Sorry for dropping by unannounced…” he shuffled quietly in place, for some reason unable to look at her. Seeing her again, after so long, filled him with emotions he couldn't quite explain. His heart was torn between hugging her and begging for forgiveness. Forgiveness for what? I haven't done anything at this time….

The woman seemed to take notice of the boy's strange attitude and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Don't apologize, my dear. It's always good to see you, no matter how scarcely.” With a flick of her wand, how didn't he notice it in her hand? He had lost his touch, she levitated his luggage inside the house. Then she ushered him in as well.

“Have a seat, have a seat! I'll get some tea brewing in no time. Why don't you tell your aunt how you've been in the meantime? What brings you here?” She was as joyous as he remembered her and this only served as more salt on his already bleeding heart.

He sat down on the couch and looked around the room: he didn't remember much from it, he noticed with startling guilt. He had never stopped before to see just who his aunt was, not as a relative, but as a person. Books upon books lined the walls on beautiful, wooden shelves; the fireplace was adorned with portraits of herself and friends, strangely none with a family- he knew she and his father didn't stand each other but didn't she have a family of her own? No one? A quiet gasp escaped him as he noticed a photograph, right in the front and unmissable, a photograph of him as a child, possibly taken the last time he had been there- he must've been 5 or 6 years old…. And she kept it in the very front.

His chain of thought was interrupted by her clearing her throat. Ah, yes, she asked me why I'm here-

“Um…you see…,” he cringed, when did he start stumbling over his words?! “I've been expelled.” He muttered quickly.

She raised a still blonde eyebrow. “Care to repeat? I think my hearing’s failing me.” Her tone, however, suggested she heard it all perfectly.

Gellert took a deep breath. “I…got expelled. My parents sent me.”

“Ah, so I'm a form of punishment now? I see, I see…” her tone was equally bitter and hurt. He wanted to reach out to her, do something, anything, but he couldn't move, guilt paralyzing him.

“N-no!” He hastily said. “I mean, yes, to them- but, um, ah, not to me…. I've missed you, Tante.” It was true, out of anyone in his family, she was the only one he had thought about all those miserable years locked up. Her smiling face and calming voice and wise words, her tooth rotting sweet tea and gentle nature- oh, how many times he had wept at those memories whenever she'd write to him.

But that was adult Gellert, teenage Gellert hated her, saw her as a nuisance just as his father did, and this sudden change of heart took her by surprise.

“You? Missed me? Why, Lerty, are you feeling alright, dear?” She found it within herself to chuckle, chuckle! Bathilda sat down next to him, two cups of tea floating in the air before them and a big tea pot filled them up to the brim. She took his hands into hers, a bit wrinkled with age and garden work, but nonetheless gentle, and she smiled at him.

“I'm glad…. I missed you too, my little boy. How'd you get expelled? I thought Markus was bribing them? Unless you did something so bad not even gold could cover it up?” her voice held no judgment, only a strange tinge of amusement- it helped ease Gellert's nerves.

“Ich- I- kind of, maybe, aus Versehen- accidentally-” he always mixed his languages when nervous. Luckily Bathilda was just as a German as him and understood his botched speech perfectly.

“I killed the headmaster's daughter.” He finally managed to get out in one breath. His eyes fell to the ground, yet he couldn't understand exactly why he felt so ashamed of it- he never felt bad for these things, besides for Ari-

Bathilda laughed, the sweet sound resonating so out of place right after the boy's confession. How can she find this amusing? I killed someone! Gellert watched her bewildered.

“That's it? That's what got the old Narr to give up on you? Not that I don't understand- I can't imagine the loss of one's child…. And Markus decided to send you here because what? He thinks I'd knock some sense into you? Something he clearly didn't manage to?” She laughed again.

“Oh, my sweet boy…no matter what you do in this life I'll never hate you. I will always be here for you.” She squeezed his hands reassuringly. “Ich werde dich nie aufgeben.”

That was it. All it took was a few kind words for Gellert's lip to tremble, then his body to shake, his hands to grasp her tightly and his breath to hitch in his throat. She cared for him, she always did and proved it time and time again- back then, through her heartfelt letters, and now through her words. He couldn't understand where all that love was coming from, how she could accept him despite everything he was and did. Hot, thick tears streamed down his face, salting his trembling lips- slowly at first but quickly they overflooded him, cascading down his chin and neck, wetting the collar of his shirt. He rarely cried in his youth, but when he did it was always dramatically messy without even meaning to. Bathilda held him gingerly as he cried himself dry, one of her hands gently caressing his tearstreaked cheek.

Her gaze was loving and she fished a handkerchief out of her dress pocket. With the gentlest of touches, she wiped him clean before kissing his forehead with motherly kindness.

“Du bist so geliebt, mein kleiner Lerty….”

Tante-aunt

Narr-idiot

Ich werde dich nie aufgeben- i'll never give up on you

Du bist so geliebt- you're so loved

[abdanisnotonfire]

CHAPTER SIX

The lunch was...fine. Perfect! Amber and Brook's lunch had gone perfect, or at least, that's what she had thought.

She got Amber out of the orphanage for awhile, and the two got to catch up. She had seemed really happy, and Brook was able to account for the time that Amber was out so she hadn't gotten in trouble.

And yet, Amber still hadn't messaged Brook back since they had last hung out, and Brook was concerned. It wasn't like her friend to just ignore her like this.

At least, not without an explanation; without talking to her about it.

She would at least talk to Brook.

Brook had a doctors appointment coming up that she really didn't want to go to. It was a follow up, just to see how she was healing.

But Brook just wanted to be left alone.

The girl ran her hands over her sides, providing some comfort in a place she hadn't known ached. Every thing felt different, and she wasn't used to it. She didn't like it.

A small knock was placed on the bedroom door, sending a jolt up her spine and down her ribs. It wasn't that she didn't trust Dan and Phil, but she still didn't know them. She was still a stranger in their home.

In her home.

As the door opened, Brook was met with one of the most pleasant scents she had ever encountered.

"We made you breakfast!" Dan spoke, beaming over Phil's shoulder through the doorway

She always felt lost-- until she actually spoke to them.

"Oh! You aren't uh-- allergic to anything, are you? I probably should have asked.." Phil added, the two of them ushering into the room with a proud stride.

"We didn't burn the house down" Dan finished, before handing Brooklyn the plate of omelettes and ham.

"Oh-- That's probably for the best--" Brook replied, a wry smile creeping onto her face

"Okay, but more importantly, you aren't allergic to anything, right? We just got back from A&E and I don't know what kind of parents they would think we are!" Phil said, a hint of anxiety seeping through his words.

"Stop it, you're going to make her think she cant ask for help if she ever gets injured-- you can go to the A&E for anything you need!" Dan butted in, nudging Phil back with his shoulder as he spoke "But uh.. you aren't allergic to eggs, are you?"

A giggle escaped her lips as she picked up the fork, shaking her head. "No, I'm not allergic to anything yet." The girl began to eat, the silky egg causing her to cringe.

"Yet?" Dan pipped up, before Phil pushed his way through.

"Hey! If you aren't allergic to eggs, why don't you want your omelette?!" He joked, handing her a a salt shaker. Dan shot Phil a glare, mouthing the word 'heathen' to him.

"I don't know my family history, my medical history-- you two know more than I do, I think. I don't know what my forms said, but I was never told anything." Brook finally answered, while salting her plate. A sense of woe filled the room, causing her to look up.

"Oh.."

"It's fine, really." The girl stated, before setting her half eaten plate down and standing up, stretching.

"You know, you really have to stop doing that. The whole Sad Girl thing? It doesn't work for me" Brooklyn finished, before walking past the two, and out of the room.

Dan let out a soft sigh, as Phil quietly closed the door behind him. "I think..- I think we might have to get her a therapist, or psychologist, or..- or.. I don't know. But she won't eat, and I don't know if she's coping.." Dan rambled, taking a seat on Brooks un-made bed. "You know what they said, Dan.."

"What, the people who let kids attack each other without supervision?"

"You want them to fight with supervision?" Phil joked, nudging his partner. "You know we can't expect these institutes to have the funding to help every child, and we of all people know how dangerous that can be. but its better than-- what? Where would she have been? A family friend of hers? The streets? We have to give her some time to settle in. It's only been a week"

Dan sighed, resting his head against Phil's shoulder; a silent sign of agreement between the two.

Down the hall, Brook was sat in the living room, staring at one of the boys plates of food on the coffee table. A feeling of stress welled up inside her.

She had been thinking. A lot.

The thought of wasting the time of her new family-- it frightened her. She had never been in this position before, she hadn't had to question the consequences of her actions. It wasn't that she wasn't trying; really.

Nobody had taught her.

She still wasn't sure if she kept saying that because it was the truth, or if she kept saying that to convince herself.

Brooklyn stood up, anxiety welling up to a pit in her stomach. She brushing past the door frame and quickly bustled down the stairs. Brooklyn felt the cool doorknob beneath her hands as she twisted it, before glancing to her left.

She was met to a hanging coat rack with a few pieces of clothing on it. She slinked on a dark coat, and walked out the front door. She just needed some fresh air, and to get away from her thoughts.

The brunette girl seemed to be in autopilot mode, walking to a place she wasn't quite sure existed.

She didn't focus on any of the sights, or the people; or the cars. It was like something inside of her had taken over, and was walking for her. She passed tall buildings, and multiple streets, the busy sounds of the vibrant city ringing in her ears.

She turned down a side street, and was met with a park. It was full of green grass and trees everywhere. There was a walkway down the middle and a playground in the center. There was a lake farther down the side of the playground, following a hill, with a picnic table.

She walked towards the playground, finding a seat on the swings.

She pulled her phone out of her pocket, opening up Ambers messages. She started intently at the multitude of blue messages, all sent; never responded to. All the times Brook begged for a response. She felt the tears forming in her eyes, threatening to cloud her vision.

She typed out another message, the words reading "Did I do something wrong?" and stared at the message, her tears finally falling as she hit send.

She felt her sadness turn to pain as her message sent as green.

She was blocked.

Brooklyn burst out sobbing, tossing her phone away in anger. She didn't understand why this was happening to her. She felt alone, and suddenly, the world felt very big. 

[7central]

I just love the different ways that aloto approaches queerness and parenthood.

Toni recognizes Max’s queerness and fears it, but mostly she fears her daughter being hurt in the way that she’s undoubtedly seen happen to Bertie.  The core of their conflict being that she wants to provide for Max, since she’s a pillar in her community and she provides for everyone, at the salon, ushering at church, being motherly towards people like Clance who need it.  She does like Max as well as love her, but she can’t see Max living a future with the way she is, so she wants her to change all the same.  It’s such a realistic conflict with so much urgency in the time (and now too).  Edgar is much more accepting of Max’s reality because he didn’t experience losing Bertie the way that Toni did, and his family has been settled in Rockford for much longer, so he’s farther removed from the immediate need to establish himself in the community the way that Toni has.  Toni, on the other hand, knows how hard it is for Black women, and she knows how much more dangerous it is for people who are gender non-conforming and queer.  On the flip side of the coin, there’s Bertie and Gracie, who are pillars in their own community, who bring Max in and encourage her to learn of the world beyond Toni’s sphere.  All of them love Max, but none of them can tell her who she is.

For Lupe, motherhood is a complicated obligation.  We see her sending money home, so there’s someone she’s providing for, but we never find out who exactly that is to her.  From what she tells Esti, her family intervened and took her daughter from her because they thought she would be a bad influence in some way.  Bad influence in that she was a young, single mother?  That she was queer?  Something else entirely?  It’s not clear.  But whatever it was, Lupe recognizes, and regrets to an extent, that she has benefitted from being relieved of the responsibility of motherhood.  So when she’s forced back into a caretaker position, expected to meet all of Esti’s needs because she is the only one who can communicate with her, she resists.  It’s cruel, yes, to contribute more directly in Esti’s exclusion, while the others do it carelessly, out of ignorance and lack of effort.  But it’s an understandable response to the unfair expectations placed on her, especially given that she’s harshly scrutinized by her teammates and subjected to casual racism on a daily basis.  That’s not even getting into the ways that Esti reminds her of her daughter, and of the youth that she herself was denied, having a child at that age.  It’s all been denied to her, because, in letting go of her daughter, she lost all claim to those feelings.  In deciding to go find Esti, deciding to open up to her about it, she gets just a little bit of that back.  Her motherhood is inextricable to who she is, and so is her queerness, and so is baseball.  She’s never been allowed to have all three.  And opening up about it doesn’t fix that, but it’s something.  Esti’s forgiveness is something that Lupe rarely receives, but constantly gives.  And forgiveness is something we constantly deny mothers who give up their children.

Carson’s sister immediately mentions the absence of their mother on the phone and half-accuses her of leaving Charlie.  It’s not until later that we find out that Carson’s mother left when she was young, probably forcing her sister into that motherly role.  Carson clearly misses her mom, maybe idealizes her more than you’d expect from a kid who was abandoned.  I don’t know if Carson ever realizes it fully, but I think she takes comfort in knowing that, even if her sister and husband are disappointed about her running off to play pro ball, putting off having children for it, her mother would probably be proud of her decision.  Charlie’s accusation that “whatever made your mother leave is in you,” is heavy with the implication that her mother was queer.  That it was selfish to choose that over her family.  And it was.  But Carson decides to do it, too, because the newfound sense of self she has is more than any of the stability or love that her husband could give her.  In a way, it’s just the same as Greta confiding that she’d like to have children but could never put herself through commitment to a man.  I think a part of Carson knew that about her mother all along, which is why she shows such an unexpected amount of grace about being left behind.

It’s just so intense to see these different ways that queerness intersects with and complicates parenthood, especially in this time period, when the expectation of women to become mothers was even more prevalent than it is now.  The strangeness of having so many men off at war is enough to shift the perception just slightly enough for something like the League to exist, but it’s all about to snap back like a rubber band during the baby boom to come.

[lawrites]

Chrome & Chemises Part II

Din Djarin x Gender Neutral Plus Size Reader

You find yourself invited to Bingley’s mansion through a strange set of circumstances. With Mando’s impertinence and Caroline’s insistence upon his attention, you fear that you may end up in worse health than Jane.

Part 1

This chapter got away from me, sorry! I cannot take credit for much of the dialogue or story, as it comes from Jane Austen and the writers of P&P 2005. I just add descriptions and the space bits :) I realize that this will be a slow burn but that is pride and prejudice babey

This chapter is safe for all ages. CW: mentions of fatphobic internal thoughts, some self-deprecation, Mando being very blunt, sickness

---------------------------------------------

The last few stragglers, including your family and surprisingly the entire party of one Mr. Bingley, were ushered out of the Lucas residence thankfully before 1 AM. Bigger celebrations, while exciting, can also sometimes go into the early dawn.

While you all load into your landspeeders, you and Jane use the opportunity to lean against each other. You close your eyes and she does as well, comfortable and ready to nap a bit on the way back. It paints a picture of the trust the two of you share as siblings.

This fact isn't lost on Caroline, who is situated next to Mando in their own speeder. She scoffs and gestures towards the two of you. "Well, that is just so indicative of this little port, is it not? Unable to keep propriety. I cannot believe that the two of them cannot keep their posture for the short ride back to their residence." Bingley looks behind him at the two of you and his eyes soften as he sees Jane again. "I think sh-they both look lovely." Caroline rolls her eyes and looks to Mando, "And with how this ball went, I bet I can guess what you are thinking right now, Mandalorian." Her eyes glimmer with what she most likely intends to be mirth, but instead appears more to be desperation.

Bingley tries to insert himself into the conversation again, no doubt ready to defend the ball, but Mando holds up one gloved hand instead. "What am I thinking?"

Caroline smirks. "You must be thinking how terrible it might be to spend even one more evening with such tedious company."

Mando answers her own expression with a smirk of his own, hidden under his helmet. "Oh, you are incorrect. My mind was more agreeably engaged." Mando turns from Caroline and looks directly at you across from him, safe and comfortable in your family's landspeeder. "I've been meditating on the great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes on the face of a pretty person can bestow."

Caroline scoffs, rolling her eyes at what she assumes MUST be a joke, though the worry in her eyes is palpable. Mando stares straight ahead, his helmet betraying nothing to Caroline to further affirm her thoughts as your landspeeder sets out towards home.

----------------------

The ball seemed to leave you energized and exhausted all at once. You feel entirely ready to collapse as soon as your landspeeder brings you back to Longbourn, but after you fall prone across your carefully made bed and position yourself, you find that your mind will not stop thinking.

A gentle knock at the door has you sit up slightly, and you hear the door click open and closed. Jane's hushed voice spears through the darkness, "May I join you? I'm all nerves tonight." You pat the bed next to you, realize she can't see, and respond, "Of course."

Only a few minutes later, a small nightlight has been turned on and adjusted to its dimmest setting, casting a slight glow over you and Jane under the covers. Though you are grown beyond childhood at this point, you feel young again as you both giggle and kick your feet, reminiscing on the night.

"Mr. Bingley is just what a man ought to be." Jane's eyes sparkle even in the low light. "Sensible, good-natured..."

You cut in, "...charming, conveniently rich..."

Jane gives you not even a half-hearted push, "You know perfectly well that I don't think considerations in marriage should be focused only on money."

You nod, you mouth set in a straight line to show your seriousness even as your eyes continue to hold a glint of humor, "Oh I agree entirely. Only the deepest love could persuade me to matrimony, and with my body and the way society is...I will end an old maid." You make sure to insert a laugh at the end of your sentence that was less than convincing to anyone who knows you well, and Jane knows you better than anyone.

You disguise your own insecurities with humor, as usual. You may be comfortable in your own body, but you've built armor against the worst voices in the world. If you acknowledge what they say about you first, it takes the moment away from them. Your self-confidence is usually great, but since you have to see yourself at your worst to predict what others will say, you can never forget what you consider to be flaws.

Jane bristles, as she usually does at your worst comments about yourself, and gently grips your arm, "Y/N, do not say that about yourself. While I agree that you need not settle for anything besides the deepest love, I want you to consider that there is someone out there who will love you for your heart, mind, and body."

You scoff and roll your eyes. "Well that is much easier for you to say, dear sister. Every person who looks at you falls in love with you."

Jane grips harder, and you can almost feel her impatience at you. "Y/N. Do not patronize me, I see the world for what it is just as you do. But I've also grown up with you as a wonderful sibling for all these years. Do you think that I do not see the best in you as you do in me?"

You try to search for an answer, and finding none, you instead make an attempt to change the subject. "Well, I certainly know who sees the best in you..."

Jane rolls her eyes, but sensing your discomfort, she continues along your train of thought. Thoughts of Bingley cause her eyes and grip to soften as she sighs. "Do you really think he liked me?"

"Jane, he danced with you at every opportunity propriety could give."

Jane releases your arm entirely, her hands occupied with curling a strand of her hair repeatedly. "I cannot say I expected such a compliment."

You try to break the awkward moment from before entirely by using your humor once more. Teasingly, you remark, "Well, Mr. Bingley certainly IS very amiable, so I give you leave to like him. You've liked many a stupider person."

Jane pushes you once more. "Y/N!"

You laugh quietly and continue. "You're a great deal too apt to like people in general, you know. All-" you pause and think on her previous statements, "-most of the world is good and agreeable in your eyes."

Jane turns to you, "Not his friend! Oh! I can't even believe what he said about you!"

You are reminded, painfully, of what Mando had said about you earlier. You take a deep breath and smile, "Oh? Mando? Well...I could more easily forgive his vanity had he not wounded mine, of course." You look to the nightlight and feel a tiredness fall over you all of a sudden. As you reach for it, you continue. "It's no matter, I doubt we shall even speak again." And with a click, you are plunged into darkness, the both of you finally ready to sleep.

----------------------

At breakfast the next morning, you are blearily trying to butter some toast while your mother prattles on and on about the ball.

"...and then he could not dance the second with Jane and had to find another, but then the third dance was with Jane. Then a fourth with Miss King of little standing, returning again to Jane for the fifth."

Your mother appears ready to continue until your father interjects, "If he had any compassion for me he would have sprained his ankle on the first."

Your mother's eyes become hard, meeting your father's across the table. "Oh Mr. Bennet, the way you go on it seems like you expect our children to have a grand inheritance."

Your father ignores her and asks you to pass the butter, but she continues anyway. "As you very well know, Mr. Bennet. When you die, which could be any day, our children will be left without a roof overhead or a penny to their name. You know that you do not make enough to keep us all in this house, and it will pass to whoever along the line DOES at the first sign of our misfortune."

You roll your eyes and step in, "Mama, my goodness, it's ten in the morning!"

Your mother turns to you, appearing ready to continue her lecture, whether it would be focused on your duties as heirs to Longbourn or your own insolence, you cannot predict. Luckily you are saved from a lecture about insolence from your mother by an entrance from Mrs. Hill. "A message, Ma'am, on the communicator. Addressed to Miss Jane Bennet from Netherfield Hall."

Your mother and Jane both light up, and Jane reaches for the communicating tablet as your Mother squeals. "Oh thank the Lord, we are saved!"

Your sister hurries to click through the screen and open the message, the entire room falling in a hush as her eyes quickly scan over it. "It is from Miss Bingley, Caroline." She pauses as she reads more. "She has invited me to dine with her!" Her smile drops a bit as she scrolls and sees the rest. "Oh, her brother will be dining out."

Your mother retreats into herself, her face appearing introspective as she thinks. "Well...that certainly won't do..."

Lydia chimes in. "I didn't think he was that handsome anyway."

You elbow her sharply, making her cry out and glare at you as she rubs her arm.

Jane speaks up, "May I take the landspeeder? To Netherfield?"

Your mother continues to mumble to herself, looking up at the sky.

You interrupt her thoughts. "Mama! The landspeeder! For Jane??"

Your mother looks lost in thought. "Oh...certainly not. She will go on our Kybuck."

You and Jane both yell "Kybuck??" in sync, in disbelief at your mother's decision. She just smiles slightly as she hears slight thunder from outside.

----------------------

You are trying to help Mrs. Hill bring in the clothes that were set to dry as a downpour is starting around you. As you run in, your mother is staring at the window, pleased.

"Just as I predicted. She will have to stay the night now."

You are at this point amused by your mother's actions. "I don't know if you can take credit for making it rain, Mama. Let us hope that Jane is safe."

-----------------------

A knock on Netherfield's door causes a servant to leave the lunch set up and open it. Outside, dressed in blue and looking beautiful, if not soaked due to the thunderstorm, is Jane. She smiles at the servant and starts a greeting, but instead she turns a bit to sneeze. The servant looks worried and gestures for her to come in, the door sliding shut automatically behind her.

------------------------

You are clutching a communication from Jane in your hands, the family tablet seeming to give far too little information for your tastes. "...and my kind friends will not hear of me returning until I am better. But do not be alarmed. Excepting a sore throat, fever, and headache, I am fine."

As you finish reading it aloud you glare at your mother. "This is ridiculous."

Your father agrees. "Well, my dear, if your daughter dies let it be a comfort that it was in the house of Mr. Bingley."

You mother brushes off his comment easily. "People do not die of colds."

You roll your eyes. "But she might well perish from the shame of having such a mother." You try to reason with her. "We are isolated! What if it worsens? We would have to wait days to receive the shipment of medication we might need from other ports!" You stop, considering your options. "I must go see her."

You mother turns to you suddenly. "You cannot! The Kybuck is with Jane and I cannot spare the landspeeder." You look outside, "No matter, the rain has stopped and I can walk now."

She strictly replies, almost yelling now "You will be covered in mud from your walk! You won't be fit to see anyone!"

You respond as you leave the room to prepare, "I will be fit enough to see Jane, which is all that matters."

------------------

You've always enjoyed a nice brisk walk. Mr. Bingley's estate is further out of your settlement than seems reasonable, but the slight breeze causing the leaves on the trees to rustle makes you smile. At the insistence of your mother, you did end up wearing a dress, though you covered it with an old, heavier cloak of your father's that would keep you warm. You feel a blaster in the pocket hitting your hip every once in a while, his own insistence that you protect yourself in the country fresh in your mind.

A smile covers your face as you continue to march, needing this quiet moment of solitude before you enter the lion's den. Just at the moment when you consider the true ramifications of showing up as you are, a step leads you directly into a puddle of soft mud. You see your shoe almost entirely covered and the hem of your dress sinking into it as well.

Shrugging, you pull your foot and dress out and laugh as the breeze picks up again. The only thing now on your mind is Jane, even though you do dread the reactions of the Bingley's and Mando when they see your haggard appearance.

You initially walk up the steps to Bingley's Manor in confidence. Knocking soundly, you take the time to do a last minute check. Dress? Dirty. Hair? Frazzled. Shoes? Covered entirely in mud. You try to run your hands over your garments but the door opens. You tell yourself it would have been useless anyway as you inform the doorman about your purpose.

Hoping that you are just brought up to see Jane, you instead have the displeasure of being told to wait outside a room until you are announced. You hear your title and step into the room with as much grace as you can manage given your appearance.

You see Mando and Caroline sitting down for what is most likely their lunch, looking as pretty as a painting. Caroline is in a silky, stylish dress with her hair perfectly managed, and her eyes widen at the vision of you against the white stone of their home. Yes, you feel quite out of place in a home that was lavish enough to be carved out of stone instead of assembled by metal.

You hear a scraping sound and look over to see Mando has stood up straight, presumably in welcome, his posture seeming very awkward and stiff. He bows to you slightly, and you return that with a slight curtsey.

The tense silence is broken by Caroline's voice, "Good lord, did you really walk all the way here?"

You nod tersely, your mind now primarily focused on getting out of this room and to Jane. "I'm so sorry, but how is my sister?"

Mando, surprisingly, is the one to interject. It is difficult to tell with his vocal modulation, but you believe he sounds a bit softer, "She is upstairs."

To the point as usual, then. You nod in thanks and turn to the steward, who brings you out of the room.

As soon as you are out of earshot, Caroline sputters as Mando carefully sits down again. "Goodness! Did you see their petticoat? Six inches deep in mud. Dreadfully incapable of..."

She is cut off by Mando. "I thought their concern for their sister does them credit."

Caroline blinks, but recovers quickly. "Well, their hair certainly does not. I wonder if their appearance after this has..." She glances pointedly at Mando, "...possibly lessened your enjoyment of their 'fine eyes?"

Mando casually responds as he continues reading the paper in front of him, "Not at all, they were brightened by the exercise." He tries to read the words in front of him, but only can truly focus on the fact that his helmet informed him of the presence of your blaster. Could you truly use it?

---------------------

You first know that you are approaching Jane's room by the vision of Mr. Bingley sitting in a chair outside of a set of doors, looking worried. He brightens when he sees you.

"Mx. Bennet! Oh I am so glad to see you. The doctor is tending to your sister now."

Your heart melts a bit. "It is nice to see you as well Mr. Bingley. Thank you for fetching a doctor for my sister."

The doctor exits the room just a few moments later, and during your discussion she mentions that your sister has a nasty cold, but should recover nicely in a few days. With the news that she will be okay, you rush into the room to see your sister.

You almost feel like rolling your eyes upon seeing her. While you are worried about her looking feverish, languid, and exhausted, of course her complexion and hair is still perfect. In fact, her rosy cheeks and the slight glow of sweat make her glow. It honestly just makes you smile as you see her, your beautiful sister cannot be taken down even by this.

"Jane!"

She turns to you, "Oh! Y/N!" You approach and give her forehead a kiss, trying to tell her temperature with your lips. It is still slightly high, as the doctor said. "Oh, your face is cold!" She laughs a bit and then leans away from you to cough, her face hidden in the crook of her arm.

She collapses a bit after, looking slightly past you to the hallway where Mr. Bingley is discussing something with the doctor. "Oh I just feel awful. They are being so kind to me and I feel like such a terrible imposition."

You shake your head and smile, wanting to give her some better news. "Oh do not worry. I don't know who is more pleased at you being here, Mama or Mr. Bingley."

Jane chuckles and coughs a bit more as Mr. Bingley finishes up his conversation with the doctor. You turn to him, "I cannot thank you enough for taking such diligent care of Jane. I am ashamed to say she may actually be more comfortable here than in our own home."

Bingley smiles and his eyes look to Jane, not even slightly fazed by her appearance. In fact, his eyes shine as they take her in. "It is a pleasure to have her here." He pauses. "Well...not a pleasure to see her so ill...rather it is a pleasure that she is here...being ill." He trails off slightly awkwardly, unable to express that he is glad to see Jane in his house no matter the circumstances. He straightens up a bit and continues, "But you must join us as a guest, at least until your sister recovers."

You try to argue but he won't hear it. "We shall send a speeder for some things for you, it is no worry. I wouldn't have you separated from her during this time."

As he leaves, you are nervous at the thought of staying, but relieved that Bingley is truly one of the kindest suitors your sister has had. Truly, he is well suited to her. You smile at Jane and wiggle your eyebrows a bit, and though her slight push has less force behind it, you cannot help but see the absolute joy in her eyes as well.

--------------------------------------

Jane has made wonderful progress on her recovery. You have spent nearly every second you can in this unfamiliar house with her, your discomfort only second to your devotion to your sister. But, as she is getting better she is able to rest without as many coughing fits as before, and has asked you to leave her be for the time being.

Therefore, you find yourself in a sprawling room in Bingley's home. There are rows upon rows of shelves lined with actual books, desks and chairs, and a lounge area that sits in front of a chrome fireplace. More than often you find yourself settling on a comfortable couch to read, trying not to think about how much everything in the room costs as the fire crackles in front of you. You cannot keep yourself from bringing the books up and sniffing them every few minutes, the smell of old pages mixed with the burning fire making you feel content.

You are so absorbed in your current book outlining a few lesser known stories about the Jedi that you almost fail to hear the voices and footsteps approaching the room. Having only a few moments, you sit up straight, brush your outfit a bit, and place your book in your lap, leaning over it and appearing to be lost in thought.

The doors slide open, causing you to look up in their direction and see Caroline, Bingley, and Mando. Bingley smiles upon seeing you, exclaiming that it is so good to see you out of your sister's room. He approaches and you stand up to greet him as he further mentions that he is impressed at your fortitude and love for your sister. You smile and thank him, seeing that Mando has settled at a desk near you and Caroline has decided to sit in a chair between. She is purposefully not glancing in your way at all, a fact that you are glad to allow.

Mando touches the glass top of the desk and it lights up, surprising you. He pulls up something and begins to type. The low sounding keystrokes aren't enough to keep you from reading, and so you return to your stories. Unfortunately, Caroline, who had been looking casually at her own personal communicator, decides that the sounds are enough to distract her. "You type so quickly, Mandalorian."

Mando responds, rather bluntly, "You are mistaken, I type rather slowly."

Caroline, determined as ever, decides to lean over and spy on what the Mandalorian is writing. "Oh, I cannot imagine how many terrible communications your people must need to send." You look up in shock at her tone. "To talk of violence so often...it makes me ill."

You cannot possibly consider what angle she was using to gain Mando's interest, but it seems that there was no matter. She fails as Mando soon replies, "It is fortunate that they fall to my lot instead of yours, then." His final tone makes you assume that she would end their conversation there, so you return once more to the pages in front of you.

"Oh! You must be writing to your ward or his keeper. Tell him that he is just...the most talented little thing." Caroline tries to take on a jovial tone, but the slight desperation once again seeps through. Ward? The Mandalorian has a ward?

The Mandalorian makes the tab he was working on disappear and turns to Caroline. "He is to be protected and kept a secret as a foundling, Miss Bingley." His tone sends ice into your veins. But your are surprised to learn of his foundling. They are usually children taken into Mandalorian protection...so Mando has enough of a heart to care about a child? He honestly could have made you into a fool for thinking the opposite.

He turns to you. "I trust you can keep him a secret, Mx. Bennet." You nod. "Of course. I have read of foundlings before. They are to be protected as you have said." You smile softly in reassurance. "I would never put a child at risk, you have my word."

The Mandalorian seems to loosen a bit, "You have my gratitude." He moves to turn back to his communicator desk once more, but instead brings the T of his visor back to face you. "You have read of Mandalorian culture? Our foundlings?"

You force yourself not to shrink under his gaze and nod. "Only a little, admittedly." You glance to the shelves of books off to your right, trying to escape his focus. "My father has many books in our communicator, and a few in print. But as the communicator is shared...I have not had as much of an opportunity to research more."

You turn back to see that he is still staring straight at you. Or at least you think he is. Trying to appease him and find some middle ground with which you might start a friendship, you continue. "Though I would of course be happy to learn of anything through your own stories, if you would be willing to speak of them."

Mando pauses for a moment, but instead of telling a story he instead asks, "So, you and your siblings...you are not as accomplished due to your lack of resources?" It is difficult to interpret his tone due to his modulator, but you insist that you can tell his intent from his words alone. You have to keep your mouth from dropping open.

You decided to extend an olive branch and he decides to rudely comment on your family's lack of resources. It may have been true but it was certainly not polite to say. Mr. Bingley seems to sense this, and he cuts in quickly. "I would not say that Mando."

He smiles at you agreeably. "I would say from what we have seen of Mx. Bennet and their sister that both are accomplished in my book." His face scrunches a bit in confusion. "Though...the word accomplished does confuse me a bit. I have heard of many of marriageable age being touted as accomplished with little understanding of the word."

Caroline snorts, surprising herself, but seems to recover quickly. Mando turns to Bingley. "The word is applied too liberally, I agree. I only know around a dozen whom I would say are accomplished."

Caroline adds little, agreeing with Mando as usual. "Yes, I agree as well."

You must look astonished as you respond. "Goodness. You must comprehend a great deal in the idea."

Mando turns back to you. "I do."

Caroline cuts in, "Absolutely. One must have knowledge of planetary music, multiple languages, dances, and art, along with that same knowledge of the major planetary systems beyond" She gets up and walks, trying her best to glide. "And something needs to be present in the way they present themselves."

Mando adds, "My own requirements are the ability to shoot well and..." His visor looks to the book in your lap, "...read on Mandalorian culture."

You snap the book shut and look directly at him. "I am no longer surprised at you knowing only a dozen who are accomplished. I know none who hold all of the qualities you both require."

Mando meets your gaze. "Are you so severe on those who you consider competition?"

You roll your eyes, "I have never met a person who knows everything you have described. Even off-world visitors do not hold such knowledge. That person would be fearsome to behold."

Mando nods after a tense moment, almost in agreement, as Bingley chuckles a bit. He gazes at you with eyes full of mirth. You smile back at him before returning to your own stories once more.

--------------

Some time passes, and Caroline approaches you. “Let us take a turn about the room.” You are not fond of her after your interactions, but you agree that walking after sitting for so long might do you some good. As you stand, Caroline forces your arm to link with hers, and starts to guide you about. “It is refreshing, after sitting so long in one place, is it not?”

You hesitantly reply, “It is a small kind of accomplishment I suppose.” Mando looks up from his typing, and the T of his visor looks squarely at you for a brief moment before focusing once more on his communication. Caronline interupts his focus by interjecting, “Oh Mando, won’t you join us?”

Mando shakes his head and responds, “You can have only two motives for arranging this, and I will not interfere with either.”

Caroline arranges her face to appear confused, looking to you. “Now what can he mean?”

You want to roll your eyes but refrain. “Our best way of disappointing him would be to ask nothing about it.”

Caroline leans towards Mando, ignoring you. “Please, tell us!”

Mando forgoes typing entirely and sighs a bit before looking up. “Either you are in each other’s confidence and have secret plots to discuss, or you are aware that your figures appear to the best advantage by walking.” Caroline giggles and you, again, refrain from rolling your eyes. He continues, “If the first, I would get in your way. If the second...I can admire you both much better from here.”

You pause. Both? Mando would admire your figure? No. It must be a jest, one of his more cruel taunts once more. Caroline almost poses as she stops directly in front of Mando. “Oh, shocking! How shall we punish him for such a speech?”

Looking at the serious Mandalorian, his T looking directly back at you, you bring one hand under your chin in feigned concentration. The best way to get back at a man like him would be to undermime his pride. “We could always tease him, of course.” You smile widely and slightly mockingly.

Caroline opposes, “Oh no! Mando is not to be laughed at.”

You snort, almost feeling sorry for Caroline as she took you so seriously. “Oh! Are you too proud, Mandalorian? I wonder if you consider that to be a fault or a virtue.”

Mando looks back down at his work. “That I could not say.”

You do your best to smile sweetly, making sure your words appear as a jest, “Well, we are trying to find a fault in you.”

The Mandalorian looks up suddenly, his visage directed towards you once more, and he says in a rather serious manner, “Maybe it is that I find it hard to forgive those that have done me and the ones that I love wrong. My good opinion, once lost, is lost forever.”

You hold his gaze, your smile never waning. “Oh...dear. Well, I cannot tease you for that reasonable answer. What a shame...for I do dearly love to laugh.”

Caroline’s eyes shine as she cuts in, “Silliness does seem to be a family trait.”

Continuing to smile sweetly to show Caroline that she cannot get to you, you nod to the Mandalorian and return to your couch. Picking up the book, you curtsy slightly to the room. “If you do not mind, I would like to check on my sister and spend some time with her.”

As you leave, you of course cannot see that the Mandalorian has not resumed his work. In fact, his helmet seems to follow your retreating form and then stay glued to the door from which you left. Eventually, with a small sigh, he looks down to the datapad and keystrokes can be heard as he sends out another communication.

------------------------------------------

Once more, I apologize for the length and possibly dry-ness of this chapter. I just love the dialogue in these scenes and didn’t find a good cut-off point. I hope to get the next part out sooner! :)

[r3inventedd]

How to Master a Champion (Ch. 3)

Lewis Hamilton x Original Female Character

Summary: Coming out of the 2021 season Lewis Hamilton has lost all faith in Formula 1 and its rules. He needs a reset, something or someone to make him trust again. Andy Masters has something to prove. She moved halfway around the world for a man only for it to fall apart within months. When an opportunity presents itself to get her life back on track, she takes it without question. But the job is nothing like imagined.

Warnings: Lewis uses his size to intimidate Andy / nothing too graphic but if intimidation is a no for you I might skip this one / Lewis is clearly is peak douche mode in this chapter

Author Note: This is also on AO3 but I figured I would put it here too. Thank you to all of you who read, you make my day x

Ch. 1 Ch. 2

When Andy finally walked through the door of the hotel she’d been staying at for the past two weeks, she nearly collapsed then and there. By some miracle, she was able to wash her face and brush her teeth before passing out on the bed still fully clothed.

It felt like only minutes when her alarm began to sound, letting her know it was 5:00am and time to start her day. That is going to take some getting used to , Andy thought as she rolled over in bed staring up at the white ceiling. She knew she should have jumped right out of bed, but she needed a moment to gather her thoughts.

Today was her first official day as Lewis Hamilton’s assistant. Just the thought of it still made her head spin. It would be one thing if he was a willing boss, but she would have to spend her time proving to him that she was necessary. She felt like she had lost the battle before it began. For  a moment she thought about catching the next flight home to her mom, staying in bed and hiding under the covers for the next year. And she almost did just that, before a little voice deep in her consciousness said, Don’t you always have to prove yourself to your boss?

In that moment, Andy decided she would treat this opportunity like any other so that in a month's time she would be looking at spending the rest of the season at Hamilton’s side, win or lose.

You better get out of bed then, the little voice advised, making her hop right out of bed and into the shower.

Half an hour later, she was dressed in her new Mercedes polo and comfortable black trousers. She was a big believer in looking the part to fit the part. After a quick check to make sure she had her phone, Andy was out the door.

In her afternoon meeting with Toto and Marilynn, she learned that Lewis adhered to a strict plant-based diet with food prepared for him by a personal chef. Must be nice . Andy on the other hand was a big fan of meat and dairy, so she asked the driver sent to her by Mercedes to stop by a small cafe on the way to work to pick up a breakfast sandwich and two coffees, one with milk and one without. She’d found that a coffee in the morning did wonders to smooth over any tension from the day before.

She managed to finish the sandwich on the drive to the office, splitting half of the sandwich with the driver for the favor. He’d protested at first but she insisted saying that she was not going to be able to finish and it would go to waste. She’d learned that the driver’s name was Edward, but most called him Ed. He had lived in Brackley his whole life and made pretty good money to support his family ushering around the rich and powerful of F1 while they were in town.

“Say Ed,” Andy started, “Have you ever driven Lewis Hamilton around?”

She could see him smirk in the rear view mirror, “Big fan, aye?”

“Something like that,” she answered.

“It would be a lot easier to dislike the guy after winning seven world championships if he weren’t such a kind chap. He always makes sure to ask how the little ones are doing and genuinely listens when I blabber about. Fine fellow, he is.” Ed chanced a quick look in the rear mirror to see Andy looking perplexed. “What? Not the answer you were expecting?”  

“Not exactly,” she muttered, wondering if they were talking about the same people.

“If by chance you see ‘im, tell him old Ed says hi,” he said with a proud smile. She liked Ed quite a bit but she had serious doubts about his judgment of character.

It was not long before they pulled up to the front of the building, “Thanks for the lift Ed. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Looking forward to it, Ms. Andy.” She gave him one last smile before exiting the car and walking towards the entrance of the building. The building still sent a chill down her spine when she took it in, she wondered to herself if that would ever change. Walking to the elevator, she flashed her badge to the front desk and offered a “Good morning” to her new co-workers. She found that she wasn’t the only one waiting for the elevator as she approached.

The young man next to her wore a baseball cap that shielded much of his features, but she could see brown hair peeking out from under. She also extended a morning greeting to him, but he was too engrossed in his phone to offer her more than a muffled hello. Andy didn’t mind, she was busy visualizing the office floor plan to avoid getting lost. Soon enough the doors opened up and the young man ushered for her to go first. Andy muttered a thanks as she reached for her buzzing phone. “ Mom” flashed across the screen and it occurred to her she never gave her mother an update of her previous day. She debated answering before deciding on a quick text with an apology and promise to call her later.

“My mom calls me everyday too,” Mr. Ballcap said, startling Andy slightly.

Never one to miss a chance for conversation, Andy smiled. “Yeah, at twenty-five you would think I would be annoyed by now but I like hearing her voice.”

Mr. Ballcap returned the smile, “Yeah me too. Although I haven’t quite mastered the art of getting her off the phone quickly.”

Andy laughed in agreement. “Same here. I forgot to fill her in on the events of my day yesterday and I’m sure I will get an ear full about it before I can even tell her about it.”

Again, the doors opened and she was happy to see they were headed in the same direction. “Oh I’m sure,” Ballcap answered, “I know I’m new here but I haven’t seen you around before.”

It was a question within a statement, “That’s because this is my official first day. I’m Andy, nice to meet you, fellow new person.” Andy used to cringe at her awkward phrasing of words, but she had gotten used to her own quirks. She hoped most people considered it endearing.

“Likewise, Andy. I’m George,” the man previously known as Mr. Ballcap extended a hand towards Andy as they continued to walk together.

“Oh my god I’m an idiot.” This whole time she had been talking to George Russell, the new member for the Mercedes team without a clue. “Of course I know who you are.”

George chuckled at Andy’s honesty. “It’s okay. I once had an entire conversation with Michael Shumacher before learning who he was hours later.”

Andy sighed in relief, “Well, regardless, it’s very nice to meet you… Again.”

“Likewise…Again,” George mimicked.

It seemed they had both found their destination in the room Andy had fallen asleep in the previous day. She was somewhat relieved to not see Lewis, meaning she had made it to the office before him. Alas, they were not the first to arrive. The two men she met in the hall the day before, Peter and Niko seemingly warming up for training.

“Hey! Masters, right?” Niko said when he noticed them walk in.

“Very good memory, Niko,” Andy replied with a cheeky smile, “Good morning to you too, Peter.”

“‘Morning Masters. Happy to see you again. For a second there I thought you were going to run for the hills,” Peter replied in between stretches.

If only you knew , she thought. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”

“We’ll see about that,” any levity in the room was completely drowned out as Lewis and a blonde woman Andy recognized Angela Cullen entered the space.

It wasn’t the greeting she’d hoped for but it was the one she expected. “Good morning, Mr. Hamilton! Care for a coffee?” She extended the cup of coffee to him but he ignored her entirely, heading straight to the same compartment as yesterday.

“He’s already had some,” Angela said, clearly trying to make up for the driver’s rudeness, “But I on the other hand have not, so if it’s up for grabs…?”

“Of course! All yours,” Andy handed her the coffee with a grateful smile. “I’m Andrea Masters by the way, but most people call me Andy.”

“I call ‘er Masters,” Niko chimed in with a wink.

Both women rolled their eyes, “Angela Cullen. Some of us can be a bit too friendly around here,” with a raised eyebrow she gave Niko a pointed look, “and some of us have forgotten our manners.” She didn’t look at Lewis but there was no need to. They all knew what she meant.

Lewis stayed quiet, popping in some wireless headphones. He made his way to the door and muttered something to Angela before continuing on his path. From his schedule, Andy knew that the next two hours would be for training. Hence why his physiotherapist was with him.

George, followed by Peter and Niko, exited the room to begin training as well. On his way out, George gave Andy a small smile that was full of sympathy. At least she could confirm that she wasn’t the problem.

“I’ve got to get out there too,” Angela said after taking a sip of her coffee, “It really is nice to meet you. I’m honestly happy as anyone that you’re here. Over the past few years my job has shifted from trainer, to assistant, to being his brain all at the same time. Don’t get me wrong, I love doing it, but I want to get into other things of my own. To be able to give up some responsibility, especially in the areas that don’t come naturally is a huge weight off my shoulders.”

Andy sighed as she leaned against the coffee counter, “Hopefully I last long enough to make a real difference for you.”

“Yeah Lew told me about that,” Angela suddenly found the top of her coffee cup very interesting, “I know this is the last thing you want to hear right now, but he really is not normally like this. He’s kind, humble, wicked brilliant, and incredibly driven. He is going through a really hard time right now. If you can stick it out through this tough time, I promise you will never regret working for him again.” She gave Andy a quick pat on the arm before she left the room as well, leaving Andy by herself.

She knew that Angela knew Lewis better than anyone apart from his family so there had to be some truth to it. You don’t start a foundation for marginalized kids that is making real change if you’re a complete asshole. She didn’t let herself dwell on the interaction for long. She had things to do and a point to prove.

…

“Five more Hamilton. Make ‘em count,” Angela urged Lewis from a spotting position as he completed his last round of bench presses. His brows were furrowed in intense concentration, inhaling and exhaling as his muscles strained. “That’s it,” she continued, “Three… two… one.”

With one last thrust, he returned the bar to its home with Angela’s help. He took a moment to catch his breath, sweat dripping from every pore before rising to a sitting position.

Angela handed him his water bottle and took a seat beside him on a neighboring bench. “Good work today,” she told him. He didn’t acknowledge the praise, still focusing on regulating his breathing. “It seemed like you needed to get out a little aggression,” again he ignored her, “is there something on your mind?”

A grunt was his only response as he stood up, walking to his gym bag. He pulled out a small towel to wipe the sweat off of his forehead and pat down the light braids adorning his head.

His silence only made Angela grow more frustrated. “Okay this diva-routine needs to stop. I know you’re upset about this new PA but it doesn’t give you a right to mope around like the sullen teenager. What’s so bad about this girl anyway? She seems eager to impress you.”

“Well her career here depends on it,” they were the first words he’d spoken since they began training.  

Angela rolled her eyes, “So you’ve got her professional future in your hands and you refuse to give the time of day?”

“I really don’t feel like talking about this,” Lewis said, frustration clear from the tension visibly written all over his body.

“That’s what you’ve said to me about every subject that isn’t the weather, training, or Roscoe your fucking dog since you came back from holiday. Eventually you are going to have to talk to me or Toto or literally anyone about what is going on in your head. Hell, you could even try talking to Masters. At least she’s a clean slate.” As soon as the suggestion slipped out, she regretted it. She’d had enough tantrums from her three kids the night before. It was not on her list to deal with another one from a grown man.

“You want me to talk to some girl I don’t know at all about the lowest point in my life?” He was fighting to keep his voice at a normal volume, “A girl whom from what I’ve seen is not even remotely qualified for the position? A bird who I know literally nothing about that was brought in some 11th hour shit to ‘fix me’? No, I think I’ll skip that heart to heart.” The vigorous training had been ineffective at setting his mind at ease.

Angela was beyond exasperated, “How can you be so sure about her if you know ‘literally nothing about her’?” She threw up air quotes to mock him in hopes of making him see how childish he was acting. Much to her shock, her words seemed to resonate with him.

“You know what Angie,” He said as his eyes lit up with determination, “You are so very right. I’ve got something I’ve gotta do. I’ll catch you this afternoon for simulation training.” With reflexes quicker than most he gathered his things and headed for the door, phone already in hand and leaving Angela to wonder what the hell happened.

He opened the contacts in his phone searching for a number he had not used in many years. His eyes zeroed in on the name David Logger and immediately hit the dial button hoping that the number hadn’t been changed.

His pace and heart rate quickened, as the phone continued to ring. Thoughts of how to find an alternative form of contact were already racing through his brain when he heard an odd beep followed by a deep voice, “Been a long time, Hamilton.”

“It has,” Lewis agreed, “You still working?”

“Til I die,” Logger said, always a ray of sunshine. “I need you to find out all you can on an Andrea Masters,” Lewis took a breath to clear the tightness in his chest, a warning that he was going about to enter a place he was not meant to.

“Send me the info and I’ll have everything by the end of the week.”

Let’s see who you really are, Andy Masters .

…

“Good afternoon. This is Andy Masters from Mercedes Formula One. I wanted to call to introduce myself as I will be taking over all correspondence with Monster Energy on behalf of Lewis Hamilton.” This was the fifth conversation she’d had that day. They had been full of pleasantries and wishes of an equally beneficial partnership for the time to come. With each call, her calendar looked more and more like a Jackson Pollock painting as she synced calendars with each representative from Lewis’s sponsors.

There were a few events, but if there was one thing Andy could thank COVID-19 for, it was less in-person appearances to keep track of. Primarily, they were full of contractually obligated tasks, mostly various forms of social media posts. These were not inherently troublesome since most of the posts were created by marketing agencies within the various companies. Despite the ease, they were not being done. Andy learned that Lewis had taken a social media hiatus since turning into a jaded rain cloud of despair and had made no attempts of smoothing over his relationships with the people that pay him for his exposure.

Underneath the professional niceties there was a clear undercurrent through each conversation. If Lewis did not get back on track with his commitments, there could be monetary and legal repercussions. The harsh reality was that Lewis Hamilton was no longer the reigning world champion. That alone may not have affected much considering his diverse portfolio, but combined with failing to deliver on this side of the bargain could be deadly for his contracts.

Not for the first time that week, Andy really wondered if this was all a cruel joke, televised for the world to relish in her ultimate demise. She brushed the thought away as quickly as it came. She was tired of feeling sorry for herself. She had been given the opportunity of a lifetime without having to do so much as make a phone call. She did not intend on wasting it on a pity party for herself. At least that was how her mom told her to look at the situation and she was giving it her best shot.

She’d had enough conversations for the day to know that she had to come up with some sort of plan with Lewis to get his brand back on track. If he did not want to work with Andy out of the kindness of his heart, maybe he would for the sake of his bank account…s.

Andy quickly left a note at her desk for anyone who might need her to shoot her a text, and went to catch Lewis as he was finishing sim training.

She walked through the halls with a notepad in hand and determination in her eyes. Smiles and greetings were exchanged with everyone she passed. Regardless of whether or not she continued with the company past her first month it was important to her to make a good impression with her peers. If there wasn’t a future for her in Mercedes, there would be one somewhere else and a reputation for being a team player would do her well.

After a quick ride in the elevator to the lower level, she located Lewis and Angela as they were exiting the simulator. “Just the people I was looking for,” she greeted, “How was training?”

Angela answered right away in an attempt to prevent another uncivil remark from Lewis, “I really kicked his ass in the morning with weight lifting, but he really brought it with the sim.” The man in question kept his face impassive, looking only at his trainer. “The rest of the week will be focused on endurance training and cardio. Getting through a race is much more physical than many realize.”

Andy nodded in understanding, “For the health and safety of myself and those around me, I’ve never actually driven an F1 car, but they let me try the simulator when I worked at Haas. It took me about ten tries before I was able to make it through the first turn without crashing. I think I’ll stick to Mario Kart.”

Angela smiled, seeing an opportunity to point out a common interest between the assistant and athlete, “Lewis is a big Mario Kart fan. He’ll play with my kids when he comes over for dinner. Julien always beats him.” She sent a sideways smirk to Lewis who just looked away.

Andy laughed at the thought, “Well I don’t want to brag, but I did beat a dorm full of guys in college at a Mario Kart tournament back in college. My prize was a 6-pack of Bud Light and a bag of Cheetos.”

“Healthy,” Lewis scoffed.

“That’s the breakfast of Champions in the US,” Andy returned.

Angela cracked a smile, “Perhaps that’s why there aren’t any American drivers in F1.”

“That,” Andy said, a mischievous smile forming, “Or y’all are too afraid that you’ll be whooped by us.”

It was Angela’s turn to scoff, “I do love that baseless American confidence.”

“That’s what we eat for lunch,” The two women shared a laugh while Lewis shifted impatiently. Noticing this, Angela said her goodbyes and left the two alone. Both Andy and Lewis wished she would have stayed.

“You were looking for me…” Lewis ended the stretch of silence that began when Angela left.

“Right,” Andy held her notebook in front of her face as if she had her reasonings written there, attempting to cover the blush that crept up over her cheeks. She cursed her pale skin for more reasons than one, but her biggest qualm was with how impossible it was to hide her embarrassment. “I spent the morning introducing myself to the reps from your brand partnerships. They all had good things to say about your relationships in the past but they did bring up some concerns.”

Andy noticed Lewis’s body tense, but his face held no emotion, “Concerns?”

“Well they each send over a monthly schedule for social media posts and any events. However, since the media hiatus, we haven’t been holding up our end of the bargain.” Her strategy was to word everything so that fault did not fall entirely on Lewis’s shoulder. The last thing she wanted was to make him defensive of his privacy. Using “we” rather than you, distributed the blame to anyone that did not try to keep him in good standing with his sponsors.

“My number one priority is respecting your privacy, but my other priority is making sure you don’t lose money. I was thinking that we could take a little time to brainstorm very minimally invasive posts or even some old pictures you never shared to appease the companies until you’re ready to put yourself out there again.” Andy hoped that her pitch would be well received.

“No.”

Andy considered never hoping for anything again. “No?”

“No.” “Why no?”

“I don’t owe you an explanation. If I say no, that means no,” Lewis brushed past her, hitting her arm with his shoulder in the process. Admittedly it was an accident. Andy tried to stop him from walking away by moving in front of him and the Mercedes cap on his head blocked his peripheral view. He fought the urge to reach out and apologize, after all she did try to block him with her body. He did not want to give her the satisfaction of an apology, so he kept walking.

“You don’t need to give me a lecture on the meaning of no, Mr. Hamilton,” Andy’s voice was cold. Shock burned into anger as she decided not to follow behind him. “But you do need to tell me if you’re planning to flush your career down the toilet tell me now because I’m not going down with you.”

Lewis pivoted immediately, rounding back to his personal assistant from hell, “You see? That - that is the precise reason I don’t want you on my team.” Andy backed up carefully towards the simulator room, suddenly very aware that they were the only people nearby and Lewis was getting dangerously close, “You don’t care about me or my goals or my privacy . All you care about is using me to boost your own career in the process - just like everyone else in this sick fucking industry.”

“Mr Hamilton, I-”

“Don’t!” She was almost inside the room with a hand on the door, ready to slam it in his face if she had to, when he stopped advancing toward her. He braced himself on either side of the doorway.  “Don’t stand there and try to apologize once you’ve been caught. At least you showed your true colors. And don’t worry about having to follow my career into the rubbish bin. You won’t be here long enough to see it.”

Without another glance, Lewis pushed himself off the door frame and stalked back down the hallway. Leaving Andy feeling that if the job itself did not end her, he might.

[ptergwen]

smoke and mirrors

⇢ richkid!tom x richkid!reader ⇠

w/c: 4.1k

warnings: swearing, drinking, light angst, and implied smut

summary: because of your mother’s insistence on a pristine family image and tom’s messy one, you deny your true feelings for him

a/n: ok ok ok the pics of tom in monaco really made me think and i had to get everything out of my system so here we are! thank you and enjoy x

-

your living room is engulfed by a hushed chatter that comes from far too many guests. half the people, you hardly know. it’s overcrowded, superficial, and the last place you want to be. it’s one of your mother’s get-togethers, as she likes to call them. these things are always far from the casual affairs they sound like.

weeks go into planning, caterers and decorators making themselves at home in yours. the family’s image is everything to your mom, so being a good hostess is her top priority. ironically, she’s more concerned with throwing her gatherings than raising you. so much for family, huh?

the only reason you agreed to make an appearance tonight is that tom might do the same. he’s a really good friend, someone you’ve been able to count on through all the mess that is your lives. you met in high school, when he moved from london to the states. his dad was offered a job promotion he couldn’t pass up. plus, tom and his brothers would be receiving a stellar private education here in america.

it was a win for everyone, especially you. the freckle faced boy who got lost on his way to english class became your closest confidant. tom’s company is such a sweet escape. he’s not interested in opera or the stock market like most people you meet are. he sneaks you out to go on walks at dawn and does shots with you until you can’t stand straight.

as you two continue to grow together, revelations about yourselves have come to light. what you want beyond your inheritances, who you want beyond friendship. you figured out the second part on a faithful night recently. tom showed up to your place with a bottle of tequila. after you drank it down through lots of lime chasers and giggles, he kissed you. you didn’t kiss back.

your heart said to go for it, but your mind pulled you back in. you were so shocked and overcome with new feelings, you froze up. that, and you’d infuriate your mother. although she cares about tom a great deal, she loathes his public figure. he’s always getting papped in places and with people he shouldn’t be. the two of you together would just destroy her.

you still want to please your mom at the end of the day, no matter how deep under your skin she gets.

tom immediately apologized and tried play it off as him being drunk. you grew up with him, became part of each other’s families, which means you know him well enough to know he was lying. he meant every second his lips were on yours.

what you need to do now is something you’ve meant to for a while. the only problem is that you’re stuck at your mother’s party, and tom hasn’t shown up yet.

“y/n, darling,” your mom calls for your attention. she’s dragged you into a conversation with some bloggers, but you haven’t spoken a word. “why don’t you tell us about your trip to spain last summer?” she plasters on her award winning grin and squeezes your shoulder. it’s time to play along.

“oh, it was beautiful,” you halfheartedly reply, more to the bloggers than her. they nod in clear interest. one jots down notes. “we went for a few weeks and visited a bunch of different cities. i’d love to go back sometime.” the typical press formatted answer earns your mom’s approval. you’re off the hook. your eyes start to wander around the room, hoping to set on tom.

“we?” the woman taking notes asks. must everyone pry? “my friend and i,” you shortly reply. you’re standing up on your tiptoes to see over the crowd. you’d think six inch heels would do the trick. “i’m actually looking for him right now, so if you’ll excuse me,” you offer a polite smile and silently pray they won’t ask who. unfortunately, your wishes don’t come true.

the other blogger, a short and stubborn man, speaks up. “just a friend you say? come on, tell us. who’s the lucky fella?” he inquires. your mother raises a firm eyebrow, signaling for you not to.

tom has a reputation for his reckless behavior. it’s your mom’s worst nightmare when the media associates your names under most circumstances. you’re representing her, so she does whatever she can to control how you’re seen. you’re constantly in the papers, being a young socialite and all. it sucks.

“he’d like to stay out of the tabloids, sorry,” you cover for tom, on your mom’s behalf. “i should really go. it was nice meeting you.” the bloggers don’t bother to hide their disappointment as you shake their hands. your mother rubs your back in approval. “thank you for doing that. we’ll talk later,” she speaks lowly. “bye, mom!” you practically make a run for it. 

weaving through the sea of people, you end up by the main entrance. it’s hard not to get lost even though it’s your house. the place is packed with girls just a couple years older than you, wearing pearls around their necks. men’s strong colognes flow through the air. you’re in a form fitting red slip dress and louboutins yourself.

smoke and mirrors is what they call it. you show the pretty parts to distract from your ugly ones.

harrison suddenly comes waltzing in with a lady on either of his arms. you’d expect nothing less. he’s tom’s best friend besides you, considering the failed kiss attempt didn’t change that. their parents worked at the london branch of the same company. they each came to the states and met you. you happily introduced them to your world, helping to make it theirs as well.

“haz!” you meet him at the front door. he’s smirking while he leads the women inside. “fancy seeing you here, isn’t it?” he jokes. “very funny. i died laughing,” you deadpan, curiously eyeing harrison’s plus two. they merely giggle. “listen, have you seen tom anywhere? if he’s coming.” you’re fighting back a frown. “why wouldn’t he be?” harrison questions in a more serious tone this time.

“long story. you have guests to entertain, so i won’t get into it now,” you decide and manage a small smile instead. he perks up. “right. i’ll let you know if i see him?” nodding, you give him a wave goodbye. “enjoy yourself.” “you too, love. cheers!” the girls lean into him, harrison wiggling his eyebrows at you. he’s ridiculous.

hours pass by without word of tom. it isn’t like him to miss an event, especially if you’re in attendance. you despise these exhausting nights, and he’s supposed to be your rock during them. he should have his arm draped around your shoulders, whispering silly remarks to you while you hide out somewhere. you miss him more than you thought possible.

you’re just about to give up when you spot nikki ushering her husband inside. behind them follows tom, clad in a grey checkered suit with his locks perfectly tousled. he’s here. you waited the whole night, and he finally came.

tom kisses his mom on the cheek before strutting over to the drink table, not without a few reporters hassling him. they’re probably looking for another holland scandal to break. he declines their requests for comments on this and opinions on that, instead pulling up a chair next to harrison. the two exchange hugs and fix themselves glasses of champagne, you watching their encounter.

harrison fills tom in on the drama he’s missed tonight while they sip their drinks. tom keeps forcing smiles that don’t reach his eyes. he’s fiddling with his fingers, leg bouncing up and down steadily. those are the telltale signs he needs saving. however awkward it may be, you’re going to have to break your silence. it was bound to happen eventually.

“mate, i’m telling you. she fit her entire first right up her-“ “boys,” you cut into harrison’s story, greeting him and tom. his face tints deep pink upon your arrival. “don’t let me stop you. finish your charming anecdote,” you encourage him and subtly glance over at tom. he’s biting back a grin as he sets his elbows on the table.

“not with a lady present. let’s just… pretend you didn’t hear that,” harrison chuckles nervously and hops to his feet. “i’m gonna leave you two to chat.” humming, you move to take his chair. tom sucks in a breath. “what happened to the girls you brought?” you wonder. “they left. said they got bored,” harrison admits, tom stifling laughter. he elbows his friend for that.

“oh, fuck off. i’ll see you later,” he mopes, flicking your arm for good measure. tom salutes him and grabs his nearly empty champagne. “so long, bruv.”

it’s just you and tom now, seated side by side, silently so. he has no intentions of speaking first. he’s too embarrassed, and you don’t blame him. this is on you. you clear your throat before starting the conversation.

“can i top you off?” you tap the bottom of his glass with a tiny smile. tom shakes his head. “i’m alright, thanks.” he finishes the last sip and sets it down, turning to face you. your smile has vanished. “wasn’t sure you were gonna make it. i’m glad you did,” you change the subject. as if he’s considering the sincerity behind your words, tom furrows his eyebrows.

“mum wanted us to. she dragged me and dad straight off the golf course,” he explains and clasps his hands in his lap. his fingers interlock with each other. you fight off the urge to replace them with yours. “we would’ve been here sooner, but the paps are camped outside.” the hint of a smile forms on his lips, at last. “guess it’s not often you get the town’s finest under one roof.”

“you think i’m one of the town’s finest?” you tease, resting your chin in your palm. something flashes behind tom’s eyes. he looks right into yours, scooting closer. “absolutely. you’re the most eligible bachelorette in this whole building.” you allow a toothy grin to spread across your face. “tommy, stop it. you’re too nice to me.”

the nickname is music to his ears. tom looks you up and down, licking his lips simultaneously. “no, seriously. you look gorgeous,” he muses, you pushing at his chest. he exhales a breathy laugh, and you giggle yourself. “red’s definitely your color.” “reverse card. you wear it way better than i do,” you insist. your fingers tug at the collar of his suit. “too bad you didn’t match me.”

you’re relieved you two can talk like you usually do, light flirting and good vibes. it might not be so hard to put the kiss behind you. well, you can’t go on pretending it didn’t happen. you have to at least discuss the fiasco. tom should know why you didn’t reciprocate, then you can take it from there. whether he still has feelings for you, assuming he ever did, will depend on how that turns out.

“not to ruin the fun, but we still have to talk,” you murmur, tom’s body stiffening across from yours. he’s not sure he’s ready to discuss that. “can it wait? we’re at a party,” tom reminds you, running a hand through his styled locks. “yeah, my mother’s. don’t tell me you’re having a good time,” you playfully chastise him. he simply shrugs. “hardly. you’re the best part.”

you ignore the butterflies roaming about your body.

“you won’t mind a quick convo, then. it is with me,” you attempt to persuade him and place a hand on his knee. tom coughs a bit too loudly, the contact surprising him. “you know what? i think i’ll take you up on that drink first,” he decides with a mustered up smile. “coming right up.” you pat his leg before taking his glass. he chews on his lower lip while you poor the bubbling liquid. that was certainly… odd.

you slide tom his champagne back with an exaggerated wink. tom scoffs at this. “mm, thanks. care to join me?” he brings the alcohol to his lips, eyes never leaving yours. your mother specifically said no drinking tonight, since the press would be here. screw your mother, though. “please. could you hand me a glass?” you eagerly grab the champagne bottle. tom searches for an empty cup next to him.

you two are unspoken drinking buddies at this point.

“here you are, darling,” tom drawls, holding out the glass for you. every time he calls you that, you completely melt. “thanks, tommy,” you purr in response. you’re finally pouring your own drink when someone taps you on the shoulder, and hard. you look behind you to find your mother standing with her hands on her hips, less than thrilled. speak of the devil.

“hello, mother. can i help you?” you make sure to ask rudely. she responds with a smile that’s obviously fake. if tom weren’t here, you’d be getting scolded. “yes, my darling. those bloggers from earlier were hoping you’d finish your interview.” your mom shakes your shoulder in a motherly way. you squint up at her. “didn’t they leave hours ago-“ “they’re back,” she sharply informs you.

she’s lying, and you have a hunch as to why.

frowning, you hold tom’s hand in both of yours. “sorry, this won’t take long. why don’t you go find tuwaine?” you suggest instead. “he’s around here somewhere.” tom gives you an understanding nod and laces your fingers together, even if it’s only for a moment. “must be chatting up some producers or whatnot. i’ll see if i can help.” he’s such an incredible friend to everyone. he deserves the same from you.

“thomas, so lovely to see you,” your mom interrupts. tom stands up, kissing both her cheeks out of courtesy. “you, too. what a wonderful party. thank you for having us.” despite what the rest of the world believes, his manners are impeccable. “of course. give nikki my best, will you?” your mom puts her hands on his shoulders. he grins at her. “definitely. take care, mrs. y/l/n.” “always a pleasure,” she states, nudging you to come along with her.

you shoot tom one last apologetic look as your mother pulls you along and towards the crowd.

tom is no idiot. he’s well aware how she really feels about him.

when a swarm of guests is surrounding you, your mom lets go. you scowl, crossing your arms over your chest. “why would you do that? i haven’t seen tom in days.” she sighs without a care. “isn’t it time you branch out? expand your social circle?” her manicured fingers ruffle your hair. you push away her touch. “i’m social enough. we were in the middle of something really important.”

you begin to walk away, but your mother takes your arm. “whatever you’re about to do, it’s a mistake. he’ll make a fool of you,” she practically spits. yanking your arm from her grasp, you laugh bitterly. “of me, or of the family name? look around, mom.” you gesture to the spot beside her where your dad should be. “as far as i’m concerned, i have no family except tom. i’m gonna go check on him.”

you’re gone before your mom can stop you. she simply stands there, utterly mortified by what you said.

you run around the house to find tom, stumbling in your heels and not giving a fuck. you’d truly meant the part about him being your family. all the holland’s, honestly. they’re the most genuine and caring souls, and you don’t want to lose the one you’re closest to because of your mother’s delusions. 

tom is in a circle with harrison and tuwaine, the three of them chuckling amongst themselves. you’d hate to bug him, but this can’t wait anymore.

“uh, tom?” you mumble his name, appearing behind him. he steps away with another quiet laugh. “hey, y/n/n. that was quick, hm?” your face gives away your distress. his whole demeanor shifting, tom reaches for your hands. “what is it, love? is something the matter?” “just… come with me,” you croak out.

you manage to smile at harrison and tuwaine, dropping one of tom’s hands so you can lead him upstairs. they each return the smile and share curious looks.

following behind you, tom keeps your hand tight in his own. he’d thought you were going to grill him about the kiss that barely happened. it seems like this is a much more pressing matter. his outburst of emotions can be discussed another time. now, it’s time to deal with yours.

you drag tom into the first room on the second floor, which is your dad’s study. he’s away on business this weekend, so he luckily couldn’t make the party. tom sits down in the office chair. you sit up on the desk, in front of him. your lip quivers the second his worried features come into view.

“y/n/n, what’s going on? why are we in here?” tom wonders, his tone soft. your heart clenches. “i- i wanted us to have some privacy when i told you this,” you sniffle out and blink back the tears forming. you’re sort of shaken from the conversation with your mother, and mostly because you have no idea how tom will react to your confession.

his hands come to stay on your thighs, right below your dress. they feel warm against your bare skin.

“tell me what? i’m listening, yeah?” tom gazes up at you with so much love. “lay it all out for me.” god, he’s fucking amazing. if only you knew where to start. “do you, um…” you trail off, letting your tears subside and words settle. “do you remember when your family made your big debut in town?”

a grin replaces tom’s frown, painting his beautiful face. “how could i forget? you made it quite memorable.” he traces circles on your thigh and elicits a giggle from you. “i spilled a whole thing of soda on your white fucking button down,” you recount with a lighthearted sigh. “right before your dad was supposed to introduce you to everyone, too.”

tom presses his tongue into his cheek to hold back another grin. “took ages to get it out. dad went mad when i didn’t show.” he cocks his head to the side, you leaning back on your hands. “you held me hostage in the laundry room so you could do that bloody stain stick.” your mouth drops open in mock offense. “i had to clean up my mess! i wasn’t gonna let the world meet you covered in pepsi.”

that was one of your earliest memories together. the holland’s threw a party and invited everyone who was willing to attend. they had been hoping to properly introduce themselves to the town, and this was their way of doing so. although yours and tom’s friendship was fairly new, you spent all night together because you had experience with such events.

tom’s dad was making a speech to thank the guests for coming. you and him listened from the snack table, until his name was called. he rushed to go up there while you were pouring yourself a drink. he’d bumped into you, and the bottle ended up all over him. you snuck tom right off to his laundry room.

you’d felt terrible as he stood there shirtless and blushing, you aggressively swiping his button down with a stain stick.

“why do you bring that up?” tom questions and continues circling your skin. you purse your lips. “i dunno. it was the last party i actually enjoyed,” you admit, putting your hand over his that rests on your thigh. “like to reminisce when i’m suffering through one of my mother’s.” his eyes shift to where your hands are laced. “i see,” he affirms. “so, is that… all you wanted to talk about?” “not even close,” you laugh out.

a burst of courage coursing through your body, you say it. “when you kissed me the other night-“ “i won’t do it again,” tom cuts in, trying to avoid the rejection he thinks you’ll give him. “it was a mistake, and i’m so sorry. our friendship is more important than my feelings.” you seem excited to hear that, though it’s not for the reason tom expects. “you do have feelings for me?”

he’d forgotten about his i was drunk excuse.

“um, yeah. i do,” he admits, cheeks rosy and lip caught in his teeth. “but, i’ll learn to put them aside, if that’s what’s best.” “no, no. it isn’t,” you dismiss him and put your free hand on his chest. “i love you, tom. that’s what i was really trying to tell you.” your words bring an instant grin to his face. he chuckles in disbelief, standing from the chair.

“fuck, thank god. that’s all i’ve ever wanted to hear.” he’s between your legs now, his hands moving up to your hips. you’re beaming at him as your arms snake around his neck. a burning question comes to tom’s mind. “hang on. why didn’t you kiss me back, then?” he almost whispers, thumb brushing over your hipbone. “this is gonna sound weird, but… my mom,” you reluctantly let out.

“you’re gonna have to elaborate,” tom prompts you and raises an eyebrow. you can’t hold back your eye roll. “she’s never been a fan of the person you are in the media.” his lips form a line. “i gathered.” your fingers tangle in his curls at the nape of his neck reassuringly. “i was subconsciously scared i would be letting her down in some way, if we were together.”

tom allows your hands to work their way up to his scalp. he exhales contentedly as you play with his ever so soft hair. “i understand, she’s intimidating. what’s changed that brilliant mind of yours about coming clean?” your nose scrunches up when he pokes one of your temples. “oh, yeah. i yelled at her earlier ‘cuz she stole me away from you.” his face lights up. “sexy.” “shut up,” you groan. “someone had to tell her off.”

“good thing it got to be you,” tom agrees with a squeeze at your hip. “‘m proud of you, y/n/n. it’s not easy, standing up to mummy dearest.” you tug on his hair. “like you’d know. nikki is a saint.” “that’s what she’ll have you believe,” he says under his breath, you gasping. his lips turn up in a smirk. “on that note… i love you, too.”

“would’ve been embarrassing if you didn’t say it back,” you acknowledge with a cheesy smile. tom dips his head down to rest his forehead against yours. “yeah, yeah. save the attitude for your mum.” your legs easily wrap around his waist, tom’s breath hot as it hits your face. “let’s give that kiss another go,” you mewl. he doesn’t hesitate to reply. “with pleasure.”

tom’s lips land on yours, you kissing back right away. he smiles into it as your lips gently move together. “about fucking time,” he grumbles, your hands situating in his chocolate curls once again. he’s savoring every second you touch him, kiss him, love him. the taste of your mouth is one he’s craved for longer than you could imagine.

it doesn’t take long for things to heat up, you messing with tom’s hair and tom rubbing your hips. you lay back on the desk as his tongue enters your mouth. holding you by your waist, tom hovers over you. his tongue tangles with yours in a deep kiss. between that and his fingers beginning to massage your thigh, you’re done for. you’re ready to take this a step further by the time he’s kissing down your neck.

“tommy?” you grab onto his shoulders, your head back. his lips detach from your skin with a grin. “yeah, love? ‘s everything okay?” he coos, pressing a final kiss to your collarbone. “more than.” you tilt his chin up to peck his lips. “you wouldn’t happen to have a condom, would you? just thinking ahead.” he laughs breathlessly, reaching into his suit pocket.

“conveniently enough, i do. not sure your dad would like me fucking you on his desk, though.” tom sets his hand on your leg that’s still hooked around his waist. “my room’s always available. carry me?” you make grabby hands and bat your lashes. he hoists you up by your waist, not lifting you just yet. “that would break the news of us, no? your mum’s gonna go apeshit.” he keeps his arms around you, chuckling.

“let her. besides, i know a couple of bloggers that would love to announce our status update.” you peck tom’s lips, grinning as you do. you’re suddenly in the air and being picked up by tom. the surprise of it makes you squeal, clutching onto his broad shoulders instinctively. he gives you the look of adoration that’s reserved for you only.

“we’ll go pop a few bottles with everyone, then we’re celebrating on our own.”

[dawndelion-winery]

Until We Meet Again

Childe × GN!reader

Warnings: historical au, right person wrong time, Childe dies, blood, reincarnation au where you meet Childe again at the end

You'd entered his life so easily, he wasn't ready for you to go just yet. Yet, you weren't the one leaving...as he choked out a final farewell, the last sensation he recalled was the feeling of your hot tears spilling over him.

~

Ajax could barely be considered a knight in your opinion. While qualified, you'd never seen him with the same discipline as your other knights, what with the man always seeking you out like a friend.

And it wasn't long before he became a friend. There was little to dislike about someone as charismatic as Ajax, your loyal knight charming you in ways you'd never expect. You'd lost count of the number of times you'd had to physically restrain yourself from cackling at the whispered comments he made about your less desirable suitors, always teasingly remarking how he'd be a much better candidate. He was absolutely serious, of course, despite his teasing facade - he completely believed he'd adore you more than any of them ever would, and he most likely did.

Enough that when it came down to it, he'd die in your place.

A scorned feudal lord who couldn't take no for an answer had ordered an ambush on your wing of the castle under the petty excuse of you tarnishing his honour. You'd only stepped out onto the balcony when flaming arrows rained upon you. You'd braced yourself for the searing pain only to have warm hands pull you back indoors with enough force to leave you winded.

Those same hands hastily draped a hooded cloak over you, grabbing your hand and ushering you down the stairs.

"Ajax? What's all this?" You tried to keep your voice steady, but the fear lacing your words was evident. Your faithful knight pulled you into a brief but firm embrace, assuring you he'd get you out of whatever mad situation you'd fallen in, promising he'd stake his life on it.

"We need to run away," he said with a strained smile. "It's no big deal, I'll take you to my family, you can lay low, meet my siblings I talk about so much - you remember Teucer, right? They're all dying to meet you." The half-hearted chuckle at the end told you all you needed to know, but still, you nodded and smiled back, squeezing his hand for comfort.

Ajax took you to the back gardens, where his brother Anton was waiting at the gates, shrouded by shrubbery. Turning to you, he held both your shoulders.

"Y/n. I'll leave you with Anton for now, alright? He'll take you somewhere safe, I have to go back and help the other knights."

He left the faintest of kisses on your forehead before dashing off, and you hadn't even the time to process it when Anton was already leading you away. "I have to go back," you insisted when you snapped out of it. However, Anton held your wrist firmly, leading you further and further away from the palace.

"Big brother said to lead you away no matter what. No turning back."

An explosion was heard as he finished speaking. It was so loud, but the ringing in your ears canceled everything else out. Only one thought flashed through your mind, and it was Ajax's beaming smile when he'd first pledged himself to you. You were terrified you'd never see that smile again.

~

You'd waited patiently at Ajax's home, playing with his siblings, chatting with his parents. You'd refused to return even when your father sent other knights to bring you home. You wouldn't go back; not until Ajax came to fetch you like he'd promised. He's never broken a promise before...

You knew. Deep down, you understood that he would've returned by then if he could.

"One butterscotch frappucino with whipped cream and extra marshmallows~"

You looked up from your book to see a cheery ginger with ocean blue eyes.

"I didn't- I didn't order this."

"And I don't work here. Did your favourite character die in there? I thought a sweet drink might cheer you up."

Taglist[send an ask to be added]: @myluvkeiji @pluvioseprince @altair-ation @teyvattherapist @euphoric-author @paradise-creator @favonius-captain @tiredsleep @raincxtter @serenenation @datu-tadhana @teahouserei

[ethan-torchio-angelo]

Oh, love

Summary: It takes a year of trial and error, of love and heartbreak, for the two to finally realize there's no one else they'd rather be with. Or in which she becomes they're photographer for a summer tour and falls in love with the dark haired drummer.

Word Count: 10.3k

Warnings: swearing, angst, sexual content

A/N: I just want to say a huge thank you to @ethanesimp for proofreading and hyping this fic up, thank you so much amore! This is the first piece I've written for any of the members of maneskin, and also the longest thing I've ever written! Feedback is greatly appreciated!

January

It’s a call in the middle of the day that begins it all. She’s been in a shoot all morning, running around snapping photos of a wanna-be teen idol. She’s been here many times, being hired to do promo shots for someone who never makes it farther than this. But this call, she knows it’s different. She’s heard the name, seen some videos, she knows this won’t be like the rest. She’s instructed to clear her schedule for the week and to be in Rome by the end of the day.

The cold air hits her as she leaves the building, suitcase and camera bag in hand. This is the moment she’s been waiting for since joining the company, the chance to become a permanent fixture instead of hopping from gig to gig. She’s told that they requested her specifically, that one of the band members saw her collection from a festival last summer and was dead set on booking her for their summer tour. It’s all new to her, the feeling of being the first choice and not second best. She barely hears anything that’s said on the plane by their manager, too busy trying not to freak out.

It’s only a few hours plane ride, but it feels like a lifetime. Thoughts run wild in her head as the seconds tick by, she can’t remember the last time she’d been this excited, or nervous, for something. She’s greeted by more people from their team as she steps off the plane, and is quickly ushered to the villa they’ve been staying in. She barely has time to process the beautiful new city she’s in before she’s hidden by walls of an even more beautiful place.

They give her time to relax and unpack, but clear instructions to not leave the property without security. Things have been crazy, she’s told, since their winning last year fans have become more clever with their tactics. She laughs at some of the stories, but heeds the warning all the same. She’s seen quite a few things that have shaken her to her core, so she knows to be careful and wary.

Music floats through the halls and into her room, the band practicing on the other side of the villa. The music fills her veins with a feeling she can’t quite place, but it’s a welcome humming that gets her blood pumping. She grabs her camera and follows the melodies, laughing at the jokes thrown around in english whenever someone messes up. She angles herself behind a corner just right where she can take pictures while still being hidden from the band.

Her heart races at the scene in front of her. It’s a family like she’s never seen. They all seem to orbit around each other, pushing and pulling each other into their atmospheres. She watches Victoria dance around the room, bass in hand, strumming the lines to an old song. Thomas lays on the floor with a notebook reading off words, Damiano repeating them as he draws on eyeliner. And Ethan, who sits at his drum set, twirling the drumsticks in his hand as he observes the scene before him.

She captures picture after picture of their dynamic, taking the most of Ethan, who seems to have a magnetic pull to him. She only pulls herself from the moment when she’s spotted. “Sai, qualcuno chiamerebbe questo strano comportamento.”

The words are warm against her ear, and she jumps at the unexpected presence. She turns around, laughing to hide her embarrassment, trying to translate the words in her head. She freezes when she sees it’s Ethan, trying to figure out when he slipped away from the rest of the group.

“Ah, niente italiano. Er, it’s unusual, what you are doing.”

Another nervous laugh leaves her lips, “Sorry. I didn’t mean to be creepy. There’s something about the way the group is when no one is watching, it’s hard to ignore, it needed to be captured.”

He smiles at that. It’s soft and warm and she feels as if the world has stopped spinning. A song plays between their hearts as a silence falls over them. There’s a beauty about him that makes it hard to focus on anything but him.

A series of crashes followed by loud curses in Italian breaks the spell that they were under and Ethan pulls himself away from her to go and manage his friends. She uses this moment as an excuse to slip away and tour the rest of the house, ending in the kitchen where dinner is being prepared. She snaps a few photos of the chefs cooking, already envisioning the blog post they’ll go along with.

When everyone has made their way to the dining room a toast is made; to new adventures, to new friends, and to family. Sweet wine and light rain makes the time pass faster and the evening flows into night easily. The group parts only moments after midnight, long days ahead calling them to catch up on sleep now.

The month flows by with days and nights blurring together. It seems the studio is really the only place they call home, spending every waking moment in the room that houses their instruments. She stays with them through the long hours, snapping photos of the weird things they get themselves up to. Her hard drive slowly fills with collections of each band member, ones for the public eye and ones she sends to them to make them laugh.

The end of the month brings a party, something small to celebrate sold out tour dates. A night out to a local bar and far too many drinks. She dances with Victoria, who has become her best friend in the few weeks she’s been with them. Damiano and his girlfriend are not far away, but much more caught up in their own world. Thomas has disappeared somewhere, no doubt warming someone's bed for the night. But through all the commotion, she can’t stop watching Ethan.

He’s sitting at a table nursing the only drink he’s had that night, planning to take on the role of babysitter at the end of the night once everyones had too much to drink. He drums his fingers on the table, following the beat of each song that plays. He seems lost in his own world, content with being by himself. She moves away from Victoria, who easily finds another partner, and makes her way to the table.

“Sembri solo,” the words fall from her lips quietly as she takes a seat beside him.

He smiles at her, “Seems your little lessons are paying off.”

She blushes at that, not realizing he’d picked up on her daily lessons with their English tutor. “Only enough to not seem like a tourist.”

A small chuckle escapes his lips, and she wishes she could bottle the sound.

“But don’t change the subject. Tonight was about having fun, celebrating a big accomplishment. Yet you’re sitting here alone.”

He sighs at her insistence, “Sometimes we don’t need to celebrate everything so publicly.”

Something pulls at her heart. She can’t imagine having such a public life, but she understands how it must feel to never have anything to yourself. Before she knows what she’s doing, she places a hand on his arm and gives it a reassuring squeeze, a light tingle shooting between the two of them.

She pulls her hand away quickly, a small blush forming on both their cheeks. He offers her a small smile to make the moment less awkward, and she returns it.

The night ends not too much later, the rest of the crew having decided that warm beds would be much more comfortable than the crowded bar. She helps Ethan herd their friends home, laughing along with him at their drunken antics. Victoria jokingly calls them mom and dad as they help her to bed, and the blush that was plastered on her face earlier that night makes a second appearance.

It’s almost morning by the time she makes it to her own room. Ethan isn’t far behind her, realizing for the first time tonight that they share the same hallway. “Buona notte,” comes his voice from down the hall.

She turns to face him, catching herself stuck in his stare. She can’t quite place the look in his eyes, but it gives her butterflies all the same.

“Buona notte.”

February

February brings more time in the studio and less time outside the walls of the Villa. While winter in Rome is not like the ones you’d experience in colder places, it still brings a chill to her bones. She steals one of Victoria's sweaters after a night spent lounging under the stars, a small break from a busy schedule.

A fire had been lit and a bottle of sweet wine was making its way around the group. She’d set her camera aside for the evening, planning on enjoying a night without the calls of work. She doesn’t know when it happens, but suddenly she’s swaying to a drunken beat in the arms of Damiano who can’t stop giggling at her two left feet. The man had not believed her when she said she couldn’t dance, but was now biting his tongue as they moved around the courtyard.

As the night seemed to come to a lull, a game of truth or dare was proposed and all were in agreement. She finds herself sitting beside Thomas on the floor as Victoria begins the game, a stupid dare aimed towards Damiano that earns him a new haircut. The night drags on in a flurry of laughter and silly dares. By midnight half the group is wearing someone else’s clothes, and the others have barely any on.

She’s moved to be sitting by Ethan, who has an arm casually draped across her shoulder. It shouldn’t feel so electric, his skin touching hers, but it does and it’s the only thing she can focus on. Her heart feels like it’s almost beating out of her chest and the blush on her face isn’t caused by the alcohol in her system.

Damiano is the first to notice her situation, and starts poking fun at her whenever it was his turn to ask her something. It started off innocent enough, small questions aimed towards her love life, but it soon caught the attention of Thomas who was the first one to issue a dare towards the girl. This was how she’d ended up sitting beside Ethan, cuddled into his side. Ethan was oblivious to the things going on around them, until Victoria dared her to kiss him.

It seems as though time stops, the laughter fades and the silence becomes deafening. She turns towards Ethan, a mixture of panic and excitement painted on her face. He smiles at her, “We don’t have to, amore.”

“A dares a dare.” She shrugs at him.

A round of cheers raises up around them as the two lean in. It’s meant to be only a small peck, something good enough to count in the eyes of those around them. But as she goes to pull away his hand reaches up to tangle in her hair and he pulls her closer. Their lips meet again without any hesitation and it’s like the world lights up around them. Blame it on the alcohol, but if she were to die right now she’d be happy.

They pull away a second later, a small laugh leaving both of them, chests rising at an unsteady rhythm.

“Awe, they’re blushing! How cute!” Comes the voice of Damiano, further pulling a blush from the girl.

She grabs one of the pillows beside her and aims it at his head, laughing when she misses terribly.

The night fades into morning and they all climb to the roof to watch the sunrise. It’s a moment she wants tattooed in her memories forever. She’s got her arms wrapped around Victoria and the three boys huddle around them, alcohol still flows through their veins and they’re all singing different versions of the same song.

March

The beginning of spring in Rome is magical. Flowers start to bloom, mornings are coated in a light dusting of rain, and clothing starts to become less of a necessity. She takes photos of the band trapezing the streets. The Villa studio has become too familiar, moving instead to a studio in the city.

By now, a routine has been put in place. Mornings sipping coffee and eating fresh pastries while she laughs at the varying states of wake the band is in. Afternoons in the studio, recording their new album while she collects photos and videos for their ‘making of’. Evenings spent in restaurants and bars, eating some of the best food she’s ever had, and she swears she’ll never eat anything better.

She’s never fallen in love with a city like this before. Maybe it’s the city, or maybe it’s the people she’s with, but she swears she never wants to leave. It suffocates her in the best way possible, the feeling of being home. She hopes that when the tours over and her contracts up, that she’ll move here, maybe even keep these people she’s grown so close to in the past few months.

She’s thrown out of the daydream by Thomas yelling at her in a mix of italian and english for not paying attention. It’s the middle of the afternoon, they’ve taken a lunch break at a restaurant down the block, and Thomas is expressively telling a story. His hands are in the air and he’s almost knocked his wine glass over too many times to count.

Damiano sits across from her, fiddling with her camera, snapping his own photos that he presents to her proudly. She laughs at every one, but never discourages his actions. Victoria is on her left, Ethan on her right, both vying for her approval as they argue over something. She’s overwhelmed by the different directions her brain is being tugged, but the hand that snakes its way into hers calms her.

She looks down to see Ethan rubbing his thumb along the back of her hand, a soft smile grazing his lips as they make eye contact. She returns it, whispering a small thank you to the boy.

That night, she lays in bed, in the room she’s begun to finally call hers, thinking of the boy with stars in his eyes. She doesn’t know if it’s feeling like she finally belongs somewhere, or the wine that still coats her veins, but there’s something about him that she wishes she could become a part of. She wants to wrap herself in it and never leave. She’s falling for him, hard. Vaffanculo.

April

It is Victoria's birthday and everyone has decided that she must be princess for the day. Ethan and Damiano have been up since dawn making an extravagant breakfast, something that should be put in a five star restaurant. Her and Thomas had disappeared shortly after waking, returning with a stack of presents that was almost as tall as him, and the best bouquet of flowers she could find.

After decorating the patio with anything and everything they could find, it was a mad dash to Victoria's room to wake her up. She protested, claiming that sleep was more important than being awake, but at the mention of presents she was the first one out of the room.

It was a morning of happiness, and a much needed break from their hectic schedule. She recorded the entire day, from the dramatic wake up call to the celebratory sparklers that were set off that night, it was all captured.

After breakfast the princess requested a trip to the beach, and no one would dare refuse her. They found something private, a little hidden oasis an hour's drive from the villa. They spend hours there, switching between swimming and laying in the sun. She finds herself alone on the sand with Ethan at one point, watching the others like proud parents.

She tries not to think about how close his body feels to her, how she can feel the heat his body is radiating seeping into her, the smell of his body wash. He’s invading all of her senses and she’s trying so hard to focus on anything but him. “Let’s go on a walk?”

His voice is warm as the question escapes his lips. She turns to look at him and she’s thankful to be able to blame the sun for the blush on her cheeks. She nods and gets up to follow him, brushing off the sand that’s clinging to her bathing suit and wrapping a towel around her shoulders.

They disappear down the beach, walking side by side, a comfortable silence enveloping them. It’s not till they’re halfway down the beach that either of them speaks. “Are you enjoying your time?”

She doesn’t miss the hint of worry that laces his voice, and she’s quick to reassure him that she is. “Yes, very much. This is probably the best job I’ve had in years.”

He softly chuckles at her words, “Good. Good. We’re trying to make you feel like one of us, don’t want you running away.”

She’s grateful for the confession, glad that they don’t see her as just another person that works for them. “Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere anytime soon.”

He bumps her shoulder with his, a small smile forming on his face, “Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

They head back to the group soon after, realizing they’ve let the day slip away and need to leave soon if they want to make their dinner reservations.

A small vineyard hidden in the valley, they’ve booked the place so it’s just them, and ordered every bottle of wine on the menu to taste. They laugh away the night, enjoying plates of delicious food and letting their minds wander. A gorgeous cake is brought out at the end, half of which ends up destroyed thanks to an impromptu food fight. More presents are opened and Victoria starts tearing up, blubbering about how much she loves the idiots she’s surrounded with.

They walk through the dark streets of Rome, singing happy birthday loudly in every language they know. It’s unusually cold, but she’s somehow been wrapped in Ethan’s jacket, his arm slung over her shoulder. She’s holding Vic’s hand, Damiano and Thomas taking turns with her camera.

The air surrounding them is electrified, she looks up into the sky and thanks the stars for the life she’s living.

May

The summer tour is fast approaching, and nerves are starting to set in. The already high energy group somehow is bouncing off the walls even more, making for an interesting collection of photos. Nerves are starting to get the better of them, and she often finds one of them wandering around the Villa at odd hours of the night. She’s good at being able to channel her nerves into something else, focusing all of the energy on a new project.

One night though, it gets the better of her. She tosses and turns in her bed for hours before she decides that sleep isn’t coming. Instead of lying in bed willing her brain to shut off, she throws on a pair of shoes and heads for the front door, thinking a walk in the warm spring air will do her some good. What she doesn’t expect to find is Ethan sitting out on the terrace, cigarette in one hand and a book in the other, lost in his own world.

She doesn’t mean to catch his attention, hoping to allow him this little bit of uninterrupted peace, but he spots her anyway. “Buona serata,” He rasps, voice laced with the quietness of the night.

“Buona serata, Ethan.” She returns the greeting.

He motions for her to sit down in the chair beside him, closing the book and placing it on the table. “What’s troubling your mind tonight?”

She’s not used to the way someone can read her so well, but there’s something about Ethan that brings her comfort in the fact that he can. “Nerves, I guess. I’ve never done a gig this big, never spent so much time with one group. I’m used to being moved around a lot, still getting used to being a permanent fixture I guess.”

The words are heavy on her tongue, never having voiced her worries out loud before. He takes a long drag of the cigarette hanging from his lips, “La vita ci dà solo ciò che sa che possiamo gestire.”

“Some would think you were a poet in a past life.”

A small laugh escapes his lips, and he shakes his head. A comfortable silence falls over them and she wishes she could bottle this feeling to keep with her forever. He turns to look at her, and it’s hard to put into words the feeling that washes over him. He’s not sure where it comes from, the urge to kiss her, but it sends him spiralling.

He reaches his hand up to brush a few strands of hair out of her face, “Le stelle brillano più luminose nei tuoi occhi, amore.”

The words and his actions cause her heart to raise and her breath to hitch. They’re close now, the closest they’ve been since that night in February, and all she can think about is that kiss that they shared.

Neither knows who leaned in first, but suddenly their lips are touching and it is everything and nothing like they remembered. While the other kiss had been hesitant and brief, this one was full of purpose. Their noses brush and their breaths tangle together, he bits her lip for a moment and a small moan escapes her. He swears it’s the best sound he’s ever heard.

He grabs at her hips, lifting her from the chair and placing her so she’s straddling his lap. She tangles her fingers in his hair and tugs softly, earning a groan from the man. The sound sends shockwaves through her and she rocks her hips against his almost involuntarily. His lips move from hers to the side of her neck, pulling small whimpers from her as he nips and sucks at the skin. It’s everything she’s ever imagined and more. The feeling of his body pressed to hers, the pleasure he can so easily give to her.

She moves her hands down to fumble with the hem of his shirt and that’s when he pulls away. “While I would normally love to do that here, how about we continue this somewhere more private?”

She nods eagerly and removes herself from his lap. He all but drags her inside the villa and towards his room. She trips over her own feet and they both laugh at her clumsiness, falling into each other as he tries to catch her but trips over his own feet in turn. He leans in to kiss her again as their bodies collide, this one sweeter and softer than the previous one.

The moment passes quickly and soon she’s being dragged through the halls again, only to be met with a half asleep Damiano standing in the doorway of his room. They stop in their tracks, jumping apart, trying to act like nothing was happening. “It’s rude to have a party and not invite everyone, you know.”

She lets out a breath she didn’t know she was holding, glad that he didn’t know what had been happening moments prior. Ethan is quick to explain that they were just having a cup of tea on the terrace and were now heading to bed, and thankfully the lie is believed. Damiano wishes them a goodnight, heading back into his room, and the two are left in silence in the hallway.

“Maybe we should go to bed,” he whispers to her.

Her heart sinks, but she nods her head in agreement and turns to walk back down the hall to her room. She’s not really sure how the night was going to end, but this was definitely not how she wanted it to; walking in silence next to someone her heart aches for, pretending that nothing had happened between them.

He walks her up to her door, still ever the gentleman, and places a gentle kiss on her cheek. “Buona notte, amore.”

The words should not sound as sad as they do, and she tries her hardest to keep the tears welling up in her eyes at bay as she watches him turn and walk away.

June

How do you go back to being just friends after making out with someone? Well, you don’t. At least, not fully. They dance around each other without knowing it, avoiding any contact that could lead to something more or allude to something else, but there are still moments where the world seems to slip away and it’s just the two of them.

The tour kicks off at a festival in Amsterdam. Blue skies and sunny days greet them as they get off the plane. They have a day to explore before their first show, and no one can decide how to spend it. In the end, Victoria drags Thomas off to do some shopping, Damiano plans a trip to a few museums with his girlfriend, and she is left with Ethan.

She’s not truly stuck with him, but she doesn’t feel like wandering a forgein city all by herself. Since the night in the Villa, they haven’t spent longer than a few minutes alone together, both refusing to acknowledge what had happened.

A trip to the beach seems like the best place to be, and within the hour she’s lounging in the sun listening to Ethan read a book. It’s peaceful, the sound of the waves and his voice lulling her into a half sleep. She’s got a drink in her hands, something sweet and fruity, and she’s sharing a cigarette with Ethan. It’s a scene she thinks one would find in a movie.

She rolls herself over so she’s laying on her back, staring up at Ethan who sits beside her. She places her hand on his leg and traces random shapes into his skin. Goosebumps rise in the wake of her fingertips, and he tries to stay focused on the book in his hands but finds it hard to do so. “You are very distracting, amore.”

She looks up at him innocently and she can’t help but admire him. His hair is tucked away in a bun, but a few pieces have fallen out and are flying in the gentle breeze. He’s only wearing a pair of swim trunks, broad chest on full display. He catches her roaming eyes as they make their way back to his face, a smirk slowly forming on his face. “Or maybe I’m the one distracting you, no?”

She smiles shyly and looks away from him, because yes, he is distracting her, and she’s finding it very hard to not kiss him right now. He chuckles at her, reaching his hand towards her face and turning it back towards him. He leans down towards her, “I’m going to kiss you now, okay?”

All she can do is nod, and a second later his lips are on hers. It’s sweet and slow, she can taste the tobacco on his lips and it’s intoxicating. She moves so she’s sitting up, leaning into him more, the world around them fading out until all that is left is them.

A few days later they find themselves in a hotel room in Munich. There’s music playing and everyone’s laughing. Her camera hasn’t left her hands all night, every moment needing to be captured as they ride the after show high.

She’s in the middle of recording Thomas’ one man act when a pair of arms wrap themselves around her waist. She knows exactly who it is by the scent that invades her nostrils and sends her brain into overdrive. She lets out a sudden, loud laugh, as his fingers trace themselves up and down her sides, collapsing into his chest as she struggles to breath.

He picks her up and spins her around, letting out an equally loud laugh at her protests. He’s happy, and it’s something that looks better on him than any designer outfit he could ever buy.

He falls onto one of the beds, pulling her down with him. She lands beside him tangled in his arms, he’s looking at her with a goofy grin on his face. The world seems to silence around them as their eyes lock. Her smile softens and she reaches her hand over to brush an eyelash off his cheek, he catches her hand before she can pull it away and brings it to his lips, kissing it gently.

He looks ethereal in this moment, hair strewn all over the place, a wild look in his eyes. She reaches for her camera and brings it up to capture him, never wanting to forget this moment.

The streets of Prague are empty, save for the two of them walking hand in hand down them. It’s early, almost too early to be considered an acceptable time to be awake, but they continue on nonetheless. A wild craving for something sweet had brought upon their adventure, and with the look she was giving him, he couldn’t say no to accompanying her.

They had been sitting on the balcony of her hotel room, watching the sun starting to peak out over the horizon and sharing a cigarette when she had turned to him with a mischievous look in her eyes. “I want something sweet.”

The comment had earned her an offer to order room service, but she shakes her head at the idea, standing up and walking back into the room. “No. Something real, maybe a coffee too.”

He follows her in, watching her pull on a shirt to cover the bralette she had been sitting in. “È presto, amore. Let’s go to bed. We can order something when the sun is awake also.”

She smiles at his words, but makes no move to stop dressing. She grabs her wallet and room key before heading to the door, stopping to turn and look at him, a question in her eyes.

“Fine, I’ll come with you.” He says after a moment, throwing on his jacket and walking over to her.

It’s 7:30 in the morning, the sun is starting to make it’s daily appearance, and they are happy. The small bakery they stumble into is just opening for the day and they’re greeted by the owner, an older lady with the sweetest smile. She speaks in broken English, an obvious language barrier between the group of them, but no one seems to mind.

She orders herself a poppy strudel and a coffee, Ethan ordering a croissant and an espresso, before sitting down at one of the small tables. He sits beside her, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her into his side. He presses a soft kiss into the crown of her head and she sighs in content.

Moments like this are what she lives for. She might only be here because she works for them, but somewhere along the way she’s become part of their little family. She looks over to Ethan who’s lost in conversation with the owner, and she whispers to herself, “Penso di essermi innamorato di te.”

She doesn’t know that he hears her, his smile spreading wider across his face.

July

The turnover from June to July happens mid concert in Stockholm. She swears she can feel it, the sudden shift, a slight change in the air. She’s running around in front of the stage capturing pictures of the band in what she’s come to call their ‘natural habitat’. There’s an indescribable buzz in the air as they perform, the crowd becoming louder and louder with each song.

She keeps catching Ethans eye and there’s something primal in the way he looks at her. During a song switch, while Damiano rambles to the crowd, he motions her on stage. He tells her to get closer to everyone, promising that they won’t bite, and she giggles at him. She does what he says nonetheless, capturing some up close photos of the band and a few great shots of the crowd.

All too soon the show is ending and everyone’s piling into the car, a small party taking place in the backseat. Damiano has music blasting from his phone, Victoria and Thomas are dancing along to the beat, and Ethan is belting out the lyrics. She watches the group of them, laughing so hard her sides hurt, and she’s never felt more at home.

When they get to the hotel he’s quick to pull her towards his room, thankfully void of a roommate for the night. The second they get into the room, his lips are on hers. He pulls her close to his body and her hands tangle themselves in his hair. It’s nothing like any of their previous kisses, it’s heated and fast, every thought trying to be conveyed by the fever of it. She pulls back slightly to catch her breath and he leans in to whisper in her ear, “Join me in the shower?”

It’s not so much a question as a statement, but she nods her head eagerly, quick to follow him into the bathroom. He strips himself of the few clothes he’s wearing (most having been thrown off during the show), before turning to her. He reaches his arms out towards her, pulling her close to him and tugging on her shirt. She barely registers him pulling off her clothes, too focused on his body in front of her.

She’s never seen him so bare, and she’s having a hard time focussing on anything else. It’s not until her body hits the warm water that she snaps back to reality. He looks wild, eyes blown with lust, a wicked smile on his face. She firmly plants her lips on his, moaning into the kiss as he grabs at her. His hands are skilled and know every way to pull those delicious sounds from her lips.

It’s quick and dirty, and it is everything she has ever imagined it would be.

An hour later, she’s tangled up in the sheets of his bed, his entire being engulfing her as they watch the stars outside the window. She wonders if they are watching them too.

Paris is the city of lights, a statement she’s never been more sure of. The streets are lit with every light, shining brighter than the stars. She’s in a permanent state of bliss, after the night she shared with Ethan. Their relationship is hidden from the public, living in stolen moments and nights in hotel rooms, but she’s never been happier to be someone's dirty secret.

The band is electric on stage, something about the city they’re in taking their performance to a whole new level. The show goes on longer than it should have, but none of them even care when their manager comes over to reprimand them. They hang around to greet fans and take photos with anyone and everyone, and it’s not until security has to kick them out that they finally leave.

They find themselves in a bar, not sure what part of the city they’re in, but no one cares when the night feels like this. They drink expensive drinks that they can’t pronounce the name of, dance to songs they don’t know the words to, and feel more alive than they’ve ever felt. It’s like the world turned itself up to 11 just for them.

She dances with Ethan, not caring who sees because the night is theirs and no one cares. She kisses him in the middle of the dance floor and he pulls her into a vacant bathroom. It’s hot and heavy and the smell of alcohol envelopes them, but they couldn’t care less. Is this love? They don’t care. They’re young and dumb, and well, you only live once.

Back at the hotel they spend the night wrapped in bedsheets on the balcony, a bottle of champagne and a pack of cigarettes shared between the two of them. He points to the stars, a stupid grin on his face, “Le stelle brillano solo per noi.”

She snorts, throwing an abandoned pillow at him. He grabs her arm and pulls her into him, tickling her sides until she’s begging him to stop, tears staining her cheeks but a laugh like no other leaving her lips.

As the night bleeds into morning, and both are hazy with sleep, he whispers to her, “Sei il mio universo.”

They walk down the streets of London, his arm slung over her shoulders as she rambles away, both blissfully unaware of the few fans snapping photos down the street. They don’t notice the group of girls following them, cameras and phones in hand, capturing picture after picture of the couple.

By the time they reach the shop, the photos are already out into the world.

As they order, reposts and comments start flowing, and their phones start lighting up with notifications.

Before they can pay, she’s crying.

Rule number one of being in the public eye; never look at the comments, distance yourself from social media as much as possible, it will never end well.

The final stop in Rome was supposed to be a welcome home. A big celebration was to occur after their last concert, but now, it’s nothing more than finding the quickest way back home. She sits in one of the dressing rooms the entire show, waiting for it to end, scrolling through her social media.

She knows she shouldn’t be, that’ll all it’s doing is hurting her, making her feel worse. But she can’t stop. The comments aimed towards her and the drummer are terrible, and she wishes she could just delete herself from existence. They aren’t even dating, at least not officially, but she’s been deemed the girlfriend from hell. She’s unknowingly stolen something that never belonged to anyone to begin with.

Damianos girlfriend is in the room with her, telling her of her own horror stories dealing with fans, and she knows she’s just trying to help, but she really wishes she would just shut up. She loves the girl to death, she’s been a blessing this entire time, but she feels her mind is too far gone to be saved from the madness.

It’s only a few minutes later that the band wanders in, the usual after show high replaced with a sudden heaviness. Ethan comes to stand by her after putting his things away and pulls her into a tight hug. “Amore mio.”

He’s sweaty and could definitely use a shower, but the hug is comforting. She rubs his back soothingly, knowing this is just as hard on him as it is on her. Their management team has told everyone to remain quiet about it, disappearing from the internet until further notice while they figure out how to manage the situation. It’s maddening, the inability to speak out and protect her. He wishes he could snap his fingers and everything would be fixed, but he knows nothing is ever that easy.

They make their way back to the villa in silence, the car filled with a strangeness. She’s sandwiched between Victoria and Ethan, leaning on the bassist's shoulder, watching her play a game on her phone. It’s not how anyone wanted to end the tour, but the world is a strange and cruel place. Everything good always comes burning down.

August

There’s a party at the villa one night. Things have calmed down enough that she doesn’t spiral every time she looks at her phone, but there’s something in the way Ethan acts around her that makes her uneasy. She’s standing out on the patio, trying to avoid the questioning eyes from everyone in the house. She hasn’t spoken to Ethan all day, and the alcohol coursing through her veins makes her even angrier than she knows she should be.

Out of the corner of her eye she sees him walk out the door beside her, a small scoff leaving her lips as he tries to speak to her.

“Couldn’t be bothered to talk to me all day, what’s changed that you’ve decided to grace me with your presence?”

He looks at her, stunned. “I don’t get what you mean.”

She scoffs again, placing her glass on the table across from her. “Since London you’ve done nothing but ignore me. I get that this wasn’t easy for you, but it wasn’t exactly a cake walk for me. I needed you, Ethan, and you left me.” Her voice is raw and scratchy, the feeling of wanting to cry tickling the back of her throat.

“I don’t know how to do this. I don’t know how Dami does it, how he can deal with the comments and messages. My brain won’t shut off, I can’t stop thinking about how if I had been more careful, I could’ve protected you and none of this would’ve happened. I feel stupid for thinking I could have. I hate seeing you like this, I wish I could take you away from all of this.” His voice slowly lowers, till it’s nothing more than a whisper, words meant only for her.

“I was never what you wanted, was I? This was just all some stupid game to you. I was just someone you could use to get off.” Her voice is laced with pain, a small crack coming out as she speaks.

He shakes his head, laughing slightly, and turns to look away from her. He walks a few steps before turning to face her again, “No. No, you were exactly what I wanted. You were everything to me. We were the same type of crazy.”

“I don’t understand Ethan, then what was the problem? This feels like a confession and a break up all in one.” She crosses her arms and leans against the wall, watching as he pulls a cigarette out from his pocket and lights it.

The familiar sight creates something warm in her chest, memories of summer nights like this flash through her mind. Spending the evening sitting on the balcony of different hotel rooms, sharing a cigarette between the two of them while they let the events of the day soak in. She’d give anything to go back to one of those moments. He blows a breath of smoke out and starts to speak again, “I don’t know, amore. I don’t. I want to tell you I love you, to hold you and call you mine. But I can’t.”

“Can’t, or won’t.” It’s not a question, but a statement.

“No, don’t do that. Don’t turn this into something it’s not. I want to, believe me, I do.” He steps towards her and reaches out his arms, “But we both know we can’t.”

She doesn’t know where the tears come from, but they’re there, pooling in her eyes. It’s only been a few months since they’ve met, there were no promises to be anything more than a summer adventure, but this doesn’t feel right. Her heart should not be breaking at the thought of losing someone she barely even knows.

He stops when he notices her state, reaching out to wipe the tears falling down her cheeks. “Merda. Merda! This wasn’t how this was supposed to go.”

She looks up at him through clouded eyes, “Then how was this supposed to go, Ethan? Breaking my heart wasn’t supposed to hurt me this bad? I was supposed to smile and tell you that I'm not madly in love with you and these past few months meant nothing to me?”

His heart breaks slowly at her words. He never meant for the night to go this way, and he wishes he could just pull her into his arms and tell her he loved her, that everything could be okay. But he can’t, so he pulls away from her, “I’m sorry, I’m so fucking sorry.”

They’re the only words he can manage to get out without breaking down. He takes a second to watch her, memorize all the features of her face, before turning around and walking away. It’s a sight that rips her heart out, watching his form disappear back into the house. She knows this is it, the goodbye she’d been preparing for these past few weeks, but it doesn’t hurt any less.

Before she can help herself, she’s calling after him. “Being in love isn’t a weakness, you know!” But the words fall upon deaf ears.

Vic finds her standing in the same spot an hour later. She’s got a smoke lit in her hand, the third one from the pack. She hasn’t touched her lips to any of them, but the smell and the feeling of holding it brings her comfort. She was never really one to smoke, but she found it entrancing to watch Ethan do it, and right now, it’s the only thing keeping her grounded. It’s silly, how something so small can mean so much.

Her heart aches in the most unbearable way, but she can’t bring herself to do anything about it. Vic doesn’t speak, just stands beside her. She doesn’t need to ask to know that she is well aware of the events that have just unfolded, she’s just grateful for the company.

September

It’s stupidly hot in London for the time of year, but mother nature loves her unexpected heat waves. She’s home now, having left Rome shortly after the fight with Ethan, assuring their manager that she would be able to edit and upload all of the photos and videos from the comfort of her own flat.

Vic and Thomas had driven her to the airport, had walked her all the way to security and hugged her tightly before letting her go. She’d promised to keep in touch and Victoria had made her pinky swear that if she was ever in Rome again, she’d come visit. The flight was short, and she was glad the time difference was only an hour.

Her sister had picked her up and dropped her off at her flat, and she’d immediately collapsed into bed. That was three days ago, she’d barely moved since. Someone had caught her at the airport and the photos were everywhere, articles upon articles had been released, she’d had non stop messages from everyone, but all she could bring herself to do was turn her phone off.

Her photos make it to the front of magazines, her articles getting featured all over the globe, she’s made a name for herself. She gets emails from prospective clients wanting to book her in at shows, her boss sending her information for more high end gigs, but all she can think about is her drummer boy.

Her phone still sits turned off on her desk, she refuses to turn it on for anything, resorting to using only her email, but she knows everything that’s going on with the band. She’d been asked to join them again in a few months, to become a permanent part of their team. She hasn’t been able to reply.

She gets panicky thinking about seeing him again, about the things people will say if she’s caught in the same country as him. She’s stopped receiving death threats, but there’s still comments that creep in, fans thanking whatever gods made them seperate.

Victoria tries to reach out every few days, worried about the state of person she’s become, but she can’t even manage to type out an I’m okay. The world seems to be too fast and too slow, too bright and too dark, too much and not enough. Her heart aches and it’s a pain so deep she thinks she’ll never be okay again. Love is a cruel, cruel creature.

October

She finally brings herself to go back to work at the beginning of the month. She books herself in for a small band, someone no one really knows but she hopes they will one day. She’s in Amsterdam now, trying hard not to think of the memories the place brings. The band is good, the music heavy and the beat strong. They find a way to tell a story that leaves everyone with a soul searching question by the end of the night. Do you know who you are?

She’s only with them for a few nights, a short gig, but something she needed to get the ball rolling, to remember why she was doing this in the first place. After submitting the photos and writing an article that sends another wave of offers her way, she takes a few days to explore the city. It was wonderful before, when the air was warm and it felt like there was magic enveloping the city. But now, with the change of seasons, it’s even more beautiful than she remembers.

She walks the empty streets one night, huddled in the safety of her hoodie, camera in hand, and captures moments. A couple standing under a street light, a cafe closing for the night, kids running. It’s not until she hears a laugh she’s all too familiar with that her heart stops and her blood turns cold. She turns, ever so carefully, hidden behind the side of a building, and sees him.

He’s beautiful, even more than she remembers, and he looks happy. He’s walking with two girls, the resemblance making her sure it’s his sisters, but in this light she can’t be sure. She’s never met them, but he talked about them often, and she felt a pang in her chest for the homesickness he must have felt.

She tries to run, tries her hardest to get away, but she’s in an alley that leads nowhere and he’ll for sure be able to see her no matter what. The voices of the three get closer and she starts to panic, but there’s nowhere to go and she knows she’ll have to pull on her big girl pants and face him. But her heart won’t stop beating so loudly and she’s afraid she’ll break if he looks at her.

She pretends to be busy with her camera, focusing all of her attention on settings she knows are perfect, but a voice carries it’s way to her ears. “Hey stranger.”

It’s soft and it makes her knees weak and she hates herself for it. She looks up at him and his expecting eyes and her heart breaks all over again. She can’t help it, but suddenly there are tears running down her face and she can’t breathe. “Hey, hey. It’s okay.”

He places a hand on her shoulder but she pushes it away, “No it’s not.” She says between breaths.

“I shouldn’t be here, I should not be here. I have to go.”

She turns to leave, but one of his sisters stops her, “Let us walk you home, please. My brother may be a dumbass, but we have good genes. Let us make sure you get back safe.”

She doesn’t know why the words calm her, but she nods her head and lets the girls lead her in the direction of her hotel. The twins, Eleanora and Lucrezia, talk to her in fits of italian and english, trying to keep her brain occupied. But her whole body is on high alert, too aware of the man trailing behind them and how much of a fool she must look like. She feels like a mess, like someone drowning in a foot of water, but she can’t help it.

They walk her into the lobby of her hotel, the girls wish her a goodnight before shoving Ethan towards her. She doesn’t want to talk to him, and he must see it in her eyes because he tries to leave. But his sisters won’t let him, they stand tall and he looks like a child being scolded by his parents.

“Can we sit?” He asks, pointing to a couch.

She doesn’t want to, she wants to run up to her room and cry, but she nods. They sit and it is silent. Her stomach is in her throat, her eyes hurt from trying not to cry, but she sits and she waits. She studies his face, the crease in between his eyebrows that only forms when he’s confused or thinking, she wants to reach over and smooth it out. He turns towards her and catches her staring, a small smile forming on his lips.

He takes her in, allowing himself to really look at her for the first time in months, and something in his heart breaks. How did he ever let her go? Why was he so stupid to ruin something so beautiful?

“I’m sorry.” He blurts out before he can stop himself. “I’m so sorry, amore. I know I can’t say it enough, I know it’s not as easy as that, but I’m sorry and I love you. So much it hurts.”

The words hit her like a truck, they knock the air out of her lungs and the tears she was trying so hard to keep at bay start falling down her cheeks. She stands up so fast she gets light headed, “I can’t do this. I thought I could, but I can’t.”

She turns and starts walking towards the elevators. He calls after her, but she’s determined to leave, to get away. He runs after her, catching her right before the doors of the elevator close, and he wishes she didn’t look so broken. The doors slip close and she is gone and he feels like he could break something.

Her room is cold and she wishes she was home in her flat. She throws herself into the shower, the water burning her skin, and she sobs. She sobs so hard her body shakes, she screams and hopes no one can hear her.

He’s still standing by the elevator, crying now, too. His body aches in a way he’s never felt before and he hates that he isn’t holding her right now. He knows he messed up, he beats himself up for it everyday, but he doesn’t know how to fix it. He can’t just say sorry and expect everything to be okay, but he has to do something.

November

The ground is covered in snow. It is peaceful and quiet. He’s not used to this, the cold and the snow, but he understands the appeal. He’s standing outside her flat, or at least what he hopes is her flat, Victoria wasn’t exactly sure which one was hers. He’s bought her favourite flowers and he’s prepared to pour his soul out to her.

He paces outside her door for what feels like hours, trying to get himself to knock, but before he can, she opens the door. “Ethan?”

Her voice is soft, his heart sings at the sound of it. He turns to face her and the sight before him takes his breath away. She’s wearing a dress that shows off everything he loved about her, a coat thrown over her arm, she looks like an angel on earth. “Do you have a moment?”

She’s running late for dinner with her sister, but she’s afraid if she says no to him, she’ll never see him again. She hasn’t forgotten that night in Amsterdam, wishes she would have been brave enough to stay and talk, but she can’t change the past. “Yes, yes. Come in.”

She lets him into her flat, taking the flowers he hands her, and brings him over to her couch. “So.”

The script he’d had prepared in his head is suddenly gone from his memories. “I’ve thought this through a thousand times, planned this out a million different ways, but I can’t figure out the right words to say. I’m sorry, amore mio. I can’t say that enough. I never should have left you, shouldn’t have let things happen the way they did. Loving you was easy, and I think that scared me.”

She takes a deep breath, not sure what to say. She feels tears bubbling in the back of her throat and she hates that this is her response to everything revolving around him. He notices the shift in her, can tell she’s about to cry, “Amore mio, please don’t cry. I’ll start and then neither of us will be able to do anything else.”

She laughs quietly at his words, “I don’t think there are any tears left inside of me. I cried them all for you.”

His heart breaks at her confession. He moves closer to her and wraps himself around her. She hates how easy it is for her to melt into his touch, but she enjoys the comfort of it. “Tell me how to fix this. Tell me to stay and I will be here for as long as you’ll have me. I’m yours amore.”

“Please, don’t leave me again.” The words are barely more than a whisper, but he hears them.

He pulls her tight to his chest and holds her. She doesn’t care about anything else but this moment and him.

She wakes up the next morning in her bed. The sun is streaming in through the windows and she can smell Ethans body wash laced in the fibres of her bed sheets. She rolls over, expecting to see him beside her, but is met with an empty bed. Her heart sinks, afraid that everything he’d said was too good to be true, that he’d left her, again. But the sounds coming from her kitchen prove her wrong.

She gets up, quickly changing out of the dress she was wearing the night before, and follows the sound of clinking dishes. She’s greeted by the sight of a shirtless Ethan, back turned to her, hunched over her stove. There’s the smell of coffee brewing and something soft playing from the radio. If she doesn’t think too hard, she can almost imagine this being a daily occurrence.

He turns around when he hears the floorboards creak, a smile on his face, “Buongiorno amore mio.”

“Buongiorno.”

He hands her a cup of coffee and plates the pancakes he’s made. She smiles at the domesticality of it all. He sits down beside her on the couch and they eat in silence, leaning against one another. Afterwards, she washes the dishes and he dries them. Neither one of them says anything until the sun is high in the sky and they are laying in bed together. “I love you.”

It is the first time she’s said it in such a permanent way, she recites it like it is a fact written in history books. He looks down at her, she’s curled up on his chest, a hazy look on her face. He reaches down to tuck her hair behind her ear and leans his head towards her, “Ti voglio bene.” He seals the statement with a soft kiss.

It’s light and barley there, she chases after his lips as he pulls away, and he chuckles in a way that sends butterflies into her stomach. She places herself on his lap, weaving her fingers into his hair as his tether to her waist. “Hi.”

“Hi.”

He stares at her, memorizing all of the features of her face. He loses himself in thoughts of days spent exactly like this, of a life he hopes isn’t just a dream. He flips them over carefully, laying her down on the bed. He hovers over her, arms on either side of her head, “I’m going to show you how much I love you.”

December

“Move in with me.”

It’s early in the morning and they’re sitting in bed sharing a pot of coffee and a pack of cigarettes. His arm is wrapped around her shoulders, she’s leaned into his side, and he whispers those words.

She hasn’t yet told him about the offer from the band's manager, to become their permanent photographer, but it seems like the perfect moment to. “Yes.”

“Really?”

She laughs at his shock, “I was offered to come and work for the band full time, I haven’t replied yet. But I want to take the job.”

A goofy grin makes its way onto his face, “Do it! Right now. Tell them yes, come and stay with us. Be my girlfriend?”

He’s rambling and he doesn’t care. She smiles at him, her heart bursting with love for the man. “Okay, yes! Absolutely!”

Christmas is celebrated in their apartment in Rome. The band is there, her sister flies out and his family comes too. It is a day filled with love and laughter. They eat a grand lunch that they spent the previous day cooking, his mom brings a homemade panettone. They exchange gifts in the evening, and it is everything she’d dreamed of.

On New Year's Eve they make a trip to the villa. They sing songs and drink expensive wine. Fireworks light up the sky brighter than the stars. They sit out on the porch and tell stories of things that seem so far away. He’s sitting beside her, hands intertwined. He tells her about all of the things he wants to do in the new year and she is mesmerized by the way he talks.

There will be a moment in time when the world stops spinning and everything goes quiet, and she thinks that if that were to happen now, it would be the perfect way to go. Surrounded by the people she now calls family and the person she loves most in the world.

Fireworks go off in the distance, someone shouts out a drunken happy new year! and as time flows from one year to the next, she realizes that this is all that will ever matter.

[separatist-apologist]

Honestly whatever works best for you ^^ I just like seeing jealous Lucien

This ask was for jealous Lucien. It's sort of a remix of Elain riling Lucien up, wherein they actually DO stuff. it is NSFW, 18+, and "edited".

Also I like my little Feyre/Lucien moment. I HC them as pranksters

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Lucien was later than he’d meant to be, walking into Solstice. He was still reeling from his day with Elain, stunned that Nuan had been right, and her plan had worked.

She wants you, Nuan had murmured halfway through the larger meeting Lucien had glanced over at Elain, carefully arranging stems across the hall on a glass table.

He’d rolled his eyes, but Nuan insisted.

Let me help you make her jealous.

He’d kissed her hand and now he wanted to kiss every other part of her. He’d settle for polite conversation and maybe a little hand holding. He was nervous, like a young male about to touch his first female. Elain had never given him the time of day before and Lucien wanted to get things right.

He ran his hands down his sage green jacket for the millionth time, his boots echoing off the marble in Feyre’s home. He followed the sound of chatter to a drawing room and paused in the doorway. His eyes immediately found Elain standing beside Azriel, gazing up at him with sweet, doe eyes…her hand on his forearm.

He was so fucking tired of seeing the pair of them. Jealousy burned in his gut and he almost turned around and left. Feyre caught him, perhaps reading his thoughts, and looped her arm through his.

“Will you help me with something?” She asked conspiratorially, walking him out of the cozy drawing room.

“How could I say no?” He replied easily, his mind still back with Elain and Azriel.

“I want to put snow in Rhys’ side of the bed,” she confessed, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “He’s been shoving it down the back of my clothes for days now and I haven’t been able to repay him.”

“Because he’s so tall, or you love him so much?” Lucien asked dryly

“Don’t be gross, of course it’s because he’s tall,” Feyre shot back quickly. “I tried his pants but he’s just a little too fast—”

“That’s quite enough. Of course I’ll help you prank your mate. Let’s go to the kitchen for some bowls, though.”

“Smart, I didn’t think of that,” Feyre said with a happy smile.

For the next hour, he and Feyre giggled quietly as they scooped up frozen snow in metal bowls and snuck through the River House. They put the snow on Feyre’s side of the bed, creating a snow person shaped like her body they hoped a very naked Rhys would attempt to cuddle up next to. Lucien didn’t want to think about what Feyre and her mate did in their alone time but he had to admit, it was fun conspiring with Feyre again.

By the time she walked him back to the drawing room, they were pink cheeked from the cold and still quietly chuckling to themselves. Rhys was instantly curious, not that it mattered. Lucien was almost relieved to see Elain had left though Azriel remained behind, standing with Cassian and Mor discussing who knew what. Lucien went to a little loveseat, still amused when he froze.

Elain was there, looking up at him with those same wide eyes. Ah, fuck, he thought, about to turn and find another place to warm up. She scooted, patting the cushion beside her and Lucien couldn’t resist.

She was so gorgeous, her hair curled gently down her back and spilling over her shoulders in a long-sleeved, off shoulder gown of lilac. He wanted to feel hopeful, but her eyes slid past him towards Azriel and Lucien wasn’t stupid. He recognized when he was being used as bait. He nearly rose, nearly left entirely but she set her small hand on his knee and Lucien quickly changed tracks.

She might want to make another male jealous but there was something between them. He could smell her anticipation. He didn’t know what had transpired between the pair of them, if anything had, for that matter given how determined Azriel seemed to be at not looking at her. It didn’t matter. If she wanted to play games, Lucien was leave knowing she was utterly covered in his scent. There would be no mistaking who she belonged with…who she was mated to.

“Are you having a good evening?” He asked, unable to take his eyes off her hand sliding slowly up his thigh. He was so, so hard just from one little touch.

“I am,” she agreed, looking up at him again. Good. He wanted her to keep her eyes on him. “And you, Lord?”

“It’s certainly looking up,” he replied truthfully. Feyre glanced at Lucien and he heard her in his mind.

You two look cozy. Want us to leave for a bit?

He hated when she did that, when she spoke to him mind to mind, worried that she knew every little thing he’d ever thought. This time, though, he was a little grateful for it.

If no one minds.

He heard Feyre chuckle in his head. I promise you, no one minds. I don’t think she’d notice if we left at all…

Feyre withdrew and Lucien looked fully back at Elain, her eyes wholly focused on his face, pink lips parted, her hand so close to his aching cock he felt half insane. He reached for her neck, his hands twining in her hair as he tilted her head towards him. Lucien glanced up when Elain’s eyes fluttered shut, watching as Feyre silently ushered people from the room. His lips curved into a smile and he nodded his thanks to Feyre once before she left, too, closing the door quietly behind her.

Elain sucked in a soft breath, angling her head. He couldn’t resist. He didn’t care if she had started all this to make Azriel jealous. She’d failed on that account though she’d very much succeeded in making Lucien jealous. He ghosted his lips over her own, delighted when she gasped a little, her fingernails digging into his thighs.

“It looks like everyone left us,” he told her, his mouth pressed against her jaw. Her eyes flew open and Lucien, still holding her head, let her turn just long enough to look at the now empty room. The only sound besides their breathing was the cheerful crackling of the fire and the soft hum of the wind tapping on the glass.

“I didn’t notice,” she admitted, proving her younger sister right. Lucien’s heart picked up at the admission, hope re-blooming in his chest. He smiled at her, rubbing his nose against her own. She reached up, cupping his cheek and Lucien was half-lost. He brought his mouth back to hers, kissing her for the first time. It was nothing like he’d imagined, and he had spent years wondering what she might feel like, how she’d taste.

She was better in real life he thought with a soft sigh. Like lavender and honey and warm, sunlit air all combined and mixed with something personal, something uniquely Elain that was sweet and inviting. She opened her mouth for him, surprising him again when her tongue very hesitantly licked against his own.

She moaned and Lucien was fully gone, utterly done. He was going to have her on this too small couch. He couldn’t walk, not with the erection he was currently sporting and especially not with the way her arousal was slowly curling through the air around them. He couldn’t think straight anymore, kissing her with more intensity than he might have. He leaned her back, one hand on the column of her pretty throat as he shoved his knee between her legs, parting them both.

“What do you want, Elain?” He asked before licking up the smooth, soft skin of her throat, his other hand holding her by the hip. Her eyes flashed open, dark with desire.

“You,” she breathed, dragging him back down to kiss her again. Did she knew the affect she had on him, he wondered idly a moment before her hips rubbed against his thigh? She moaned softly against his lips, her eyes closed again.

Would Feyre forgive him for fucking her sister in the drawing room? He hoped so, he thought to himself, devouring her mouth with a hunger that surprised even him. His fantasies could not compete with the real thing.

He ran a hand over her breast, hidden beneath glittery fabric. Elain arched into his hand, moaning softly again. He’d kill to hear her make that notice again, he thought desperately. More, more, more, the bond between them crooned, demanding satisfaction. Elain, too, seemed to be demanding it, given how her hips rolled against his thigh. There was not enough space to spread her out the way he wanted to. They’d have to move.

Lucien withdrew, pleased at the disappointed mewl that escaped her throat.

“Not for long, sweet dove,” he promised, pulling her easily into his arms. Her dress covered his tented trousers and her weight helped ground him back to reality, to slow him down just a bit. Her mouth on his neck, nipping the skin, didn’t make walking any easier, and leaving the drawing room for the bedroom Feyre had offered was difficult, given how badly instinct made him want to slam her against a wall and bury himself within her.

They passed her family, not that she noticed. Feyre pressed a hand over her mouth and Rhys actually winked, which made Lucien almost laugh. The jealous monster that still roared in his chest settled when Azriel, too, glanced their way, catching sight of Elain utterly lost, one hand in his hair, her mouth still licking his skin. What had he been so worried about, he wondered, half jogging up the steps that led to the hall he slept in?

He placed on her his bed with as much reverence as he felt in that moment and Elain sat up quickly, eyes wide. He froze, expecting her to tell him no, that they’d taken this too far and she wanted to leave.

Her fingers found the buttons of his jacket and with a nimble quickness, managed to undo them before he could inhale and exhale. She shoved them down his arms and without any hesitation, pulled his shirt out of his pants and attempted to yank it over his head. Lucien helped, utterly stunned with the image of his mate undressing him with hurried determination. He didn’t stop her when her fingers, trembling now, reached for the laces of his pants though he did gently pull them away when, having gotten them undone, she attempted to yank them off his hips. She was still fully clothed and the part of him that was still a gentleman knew he might be tempted to just flip her skirts up and have her without any other care of consideration.

He heard her swallow when, having divested himself of his boots, he climbed up the bed. He reached behind her for the little pearl buttons on her dress and undid them much slower than she had, reveling in each new inch of skin he revealed. Lucien dragged his hands down her shoulders when he finished, taking the dress with him until she her underthings were exposed, her dress pooled at her waist. He watched as she shimmied out of it, tossing it to his floor. It took her merely a moment to remove her under things as well, leaving her utterly exposed.

“Elain,” he breathed, gently guiding her back to the bed, unable to take his eyes off the peaks and curves of her beautiful, soft body. He almost asked if she’d done this before but the memory of snide, stupid Graysen strutting about flashed through his memory and he knew he might become overwhelmingly possessive if she admitted he’d ever touched her.

Some questions were better left unknown. He simply did not care how many lovers she had or if she’d had none at all. He’d pretend she hadn’t and let her set the pace.

“Now will you remove your pants?” She asked him, her voice catching in her throat. They were hanging embarrassingly low on his hips as it was, hardly keeping him modest and the fabric was beginning to chafe the crown of his cock. Lucien sighed, disappointed to climb off her and slid them down his body, well aware of how her eyes zoomed to the appendage bobbing between his legs. He wished he knew what she thought in that moment, if she found him lacking or not.

She gestured for him to come back, and Lucien obliged, hardly able to keep himself away. This was happening, he thought dazedly, his mouth covering her own again. Elain’s hands slipped up his chest and over his shoulders, her nails dragging down his back. He groaned even as he palmed at her now naked breast, desperate to feel her naked body arch against his own.

She gasped when he rolled her nipple between his fingers, her hips lifting off the bed. He was slowly being driven mad by every little noise that left her lips.

Taste, taste, taste his instincts chanted. She didn’t pull away when his head dipped to her chest so he could take that same delicate, pebbled nipple and roll it along his tongue. She squirmed, her nails digging into his flesh in the most deliciously painful way. More of that, his thoughts begged. The idea that his mate might instinctively know what he liked and how he wanted to be fucked was exciting to him.

She writhed against him when he took the other breast into his mouth, lavishing attention even as she ground against the bare thigh he had pressed against the heat of her cunt. His eyes rolled into the back of his head at the slickness she left on his skin, growling softly in appreciation.

“Please,” she begged, lifting her hips again and fuck did he want to take her up on the offer. His hand was gliding down her body and when he dipped one finger into the source of her wet he half died right then and there. She clenched hard around him, the sensation shooting straight into his cock.

“Taste you,” he said desperately, trying to position himself between her hips but Elain screamed with frustration and yanked him by his hair, pulling him back up.

“Later,” she bossed, her kiss a demand. He wanted to taste her so bad it was almost painful.

“Please,” it was his turn to beg.

“Fuck me, Lucien,” she ordered and Lucien’s eyes rolled straight into his skull. Later implied they would do this again, slower, perhaps all night even. He notched himself against her slick opening, groaning at the silky, hot feel of her.

It had been his intention to go slow. He slid in an inch and Elain offered him another soft scream, stopping him dead. She hooked her legs around his waist, dug her heels into his ass, and pushed, slamming him to the hilt within her.

Holy fuck, he thought, dazed. His Lady was practically wanton, he thought with pleasure, watching as her hips arched to meet his next thrust, her eyes half-wild with lust.

“Been thinking of me, have you?” He grunted out, his thrusts almost punishing in their intensity.

“Mm hmm,” she wined, her breath coming in short, shallow pants.

“Tell me,” he demanded, trying to fight back the urge to spill himself inside her like an untested youth. His hand slid between them, his thumb rubbing careful, precise circles over her clit.

“At night,” she gasped. “In bed.”

“Touching yourself?” He asked, needing to know.

“Mm hmm,” she keened, her voice rising an octave. He sped up, both his hips and his hand, dragging her to the edge.

“What do you want?” He demanded again.

“You,” she begged. “Lucien, you, you—” Her words were lost to a scream, so loud he was sure the whole house heard. Lucien snarled with pleasure, still rubbing as he fucked her, driving himself deeper still, desperate to be as close as he could.

“Lucien,” she half sobbed, her body trembling around him, her nails digging so hard into his skin he could scent blood in the air.

“Again,” he told her, his voice rich with authority. She tossed her head side to side. When she came again, the walls of her cunt slick with fluid as the fluttered tightly around him, Lucien couldn’t hold back any longer. His own pleasure burned beneath his skin, coiled tightly in his gut desperate for release. Every part of him tingled wildly. He thrust hard, deep, and pumped his release into her, snarling loudly with satisfaction. This was home, his mind screamed. She was home.

When his body relaxed, Lucien carefully lowered his body to hers. She pressed a lazy kiss to his mouth.

“Again,” he murmured against her lips. She giggled in response.

“Let me breathe, first,” she asked, her chest still rising and falling rapidly. Lucien couldn’t bring himself to pull out of her, to leave her.

So he stayed, nuzzling his head into her shoulder while Elain worked to catch her breath. Minutes passed, timed only by the synced beats of their heart.

“Okay,” she whispered after who knew how long. “Again.”