#worked on this as well as a bit of the next chapter of Lily Bell in the Thorn Thicket
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ceiling-karasu · 11 months ago
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Squirrel and Hedgehog polls
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Ok!
So, I will be starting on the drafts for the shipping polls. Might take a few days, I will have to look up photos. Four Choices will be:
1.) Yes, I like this ship
2.) No, I do not like this ship
3.) I see them as Platonic
4.) I don't have any feelings for this ship/I have never thought about this/results
Some notes:
I have been watching on the official North Korean Youtube channel. In Operation: White Snow, the hedgehog scout is repeatedly referred to as Number 11, so I am assuming that he is a different character than the regular Scout Goseumdochi.
I am pretty sure we all agree that we do not ship Bamsaegi, Undochi, and S2 Mulori with the older characters (and I am assuming they are young adults in the show so it is ok to ship them together).
I have seen multiple people say that they do not see Flower Hill as monogamous, so liking one ship does not discount liking another. The first option in the poll could also include ideas of feeling like they may have had something in the past, but it is platonic now. I might make a multi ship poll later.
I cannot think of any ships involving Dr Dudeoji.
I also cannot think of any ships involving Uncle Gom, given how he thinks of the residents of Flower Hill as too small and weak.
Here is a rough draft I quickly made of the current list of ships I could think of, that will be in the polls. Please feel free to message me for any others.
•Geumsaegi and Scout Goseumdochi
•Geumsaegi and Aekku
•Geumsaegi and General Commander
•Geumsaegi and Mulmangcho
•Geumsaegi and Juldarami
•Geumsaegi and that one really competent mouse from A Battle at Mt. Rock
•Geumsaegi and Commander Seungnyangi
•Commander Seungnyangi and Assistant Jogjebi
•Assistant Jogjebi and Geumsaegi
•Officer Yeou and Geumsaegi
•Officer Yeou and Commander Seungnyangi
•Geumsaegi and the squirrel that comes to his window in ep 1
•Hedgehog number 11 and rabbit guide/scout
•Hedgehog number 11 and hedgehog waitress
•Hedgehog waitress and mouse waitress
•Juldarami and Akkeu
•Juldarami and Murori
•Mulmangcho and Akkeu
•General commander and Geomeunjogjebi
• General Commander and Akkeu
• General Commander and the mouse pilot from Searching for the Jewel Necklace
•Officer Yeou and Assistant Jogjebi
•S2 Murori and Bamsaegi
•S2 Murori and Undochi
•Bamsaegi and Undochi
•Commander Darami and Commander Goseumdochi
•Commander Goseumdochi and Commander Seungnyangi
•Some variation of the wolf interrogators in the dungeon, assuming they are not brothers
•I’m assuming Thief and Long Legs are related, so they won't be included
•A variation of individuals in the pact I need to look up again because I know some of them are related.
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alanshee-keeper-of-realms · 11 months ago
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The Tale of Captain Michael,
Chapter 1 The Youngest
(Work in Progress)
A/N: This is a completely original story, only using characters which are Trademarked by the Disney Company. Everything falls under Public Domain and Fair Use.
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Our story starts on a night not to abnormal, when one Walter Mouse paced in front of the door of the bedroom of which he and his wife shared, in normal circumstances. But tonight was not normal, for she was in the throes of labor, this was not his Lily Flowers first though, so that helped a bit to ease the tension he felt
He saw a flicker of a head peering around the corner, smiling he motioned for their eldest to come,
"It is alright, Ellie," he comforted as the child darted into his arms. "Momma will be just fine,"
The girl snuggled into him,feeling her nod
"I hate hearing Mommy in pain," he heard her sniffle and the father wrapped his arms around her,
"I know, mouselette, I don't like it either but after your Baby brother or sister is born, she won't be anymore, and remember you will have older sister duties as well"
His daughter looked determined at that,
"Yeah, I'm gonna be the bestest big sister!"
Smiling as he ruffled her hair,
their heads turning as a babies cry was heard loud and clear as a bell, both smiling at each other, the doctor after a moment came out, and Walt moved his daughter towards her room
"The doctor and I need to talk, sweetheart. I will come fetch you in a moment," The small girl nodded as he kissed her forehead,
"Okay Papa"
They watched her go down the steps, Walter trailing behind to make sure she did so, as soon as her rooms door shut, he went back, the Doctor having a solem look, gripping his bag in hand,
"It was touch and go for quite a bit, but they came through." He sighed in relief thank god for that," But she won't be having anymore I'm afraid to say, or else there's a likely chance she'd be lost the next time,"
His heart sunk, it didnt really matter to him, she was more important and they had 2, technically 4 due to his escapades as a teen but that still didn't mean he didn't realize how devastated his wife could be over this, they only had Elaine and now their other pup,
"Thank you, Doctor, may I?" He motioned towards the room and the other nodded, "Of course,"
He practically ran in as the midwife was still bustling around, cleaning things up, he laid eyes upon Lily who reached for him with weariness, but excitement shone bright in her eyes,
"Come Walter," her voice was soft he had barely heard her and concern even despite the doctors words went through him, but those were dispelled as she looked to the bassinet as he stepped close,
Following his wife's gaze a smile crept onto his face as he spotted the baby tucked fast asleep inside,
"Oh Pip, look at them," he murmured, sitting tenderly on the bed beside the cradle,
"Him" She croaked, he turned questioning,
"Him? We have a son?"as she returned the smile,
"Yes, my first and only, and your 3rd. Elaine really was the unique one," that made him snort a bit, face falling at the reminder there would be no others after this little boy, Lilliantaking note of her husbands crestfallen appearance"Hey sweetheart look at me,"
He felt her hand on his cheek turning his head to meet her eyes,
"It's okay that we can not have any more. Oswald and Julius may not be of me, however, that does not mean I do not see them as such. They are just as much my sons as they are yours,"
Walt felt so much love and gratefulness towards her, he leaned over placing a careful kiss to her forehead.
"What did I ever do to deserve you, my patient and loving wife,"
"You were your handsome charming self," She instantly quipped back, making him laugh as they looked back at the baby,
"I've always liked Mortimer as a name," he saw her face twist,
"No, that feels all wrong." He chuckled, thinking rubbing his chin after a moment he heard her murmur
"I've always liked Michael,"
Her husband cocked his head, trying it out
"Michael Elias, to carry on the tradition starting with my grandfather,"
Lillian bobbed her head, looking to the babe who was still fast asleep
"I think we have it, Michael Elias Mouse,"
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alenajg · 2 years ago
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Vampires New Maid /Jimin x Reader
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Chapter 3-Blood Donor? Part Two
Genre:fluff/smut/angst
Summary: After working with him all day and him bringing Y/N downtown to get clothes. He takes Y/N’s blood and wants an answer the next day. Y/n tells Jimin yes, but it gets complicated when she tells him her symptoms.
Warnings: blood, wounds, criticizing Y/N, kinda smut.
Jimin’s Pov
Opening the door for us I hear the bell jingle above, as Y/N stays close behind me to look around her surroundings curious of what is around her. Y/N notices that I'm getting farther away from her, so she rushes to stay next to me. Smiling at her cuteness I walk to the front desk to ask the gentleman to set up the measurements for suits, dresses, and skirts for Y/n. The man himself looks Y/n up and down criticizing her making her cave in herself. I clear my throat to catch the guy's attention and give him a hard stare. “Why are you judging her? I am the one paying and I am the one who owns this boutique. Even if I wasn't here you should treat others with respect. If you do not correct your look and judgment on your face I will put you where you polish shoes all day. Got it, and if I see or here you treat another customer like this you will be fired!.” The man shivers and I smell the bitterness of the fear on him when he quickly apologizes to me. I scoff at him, “Don't apologize to me, apologize to her.” He looks down and stutters, “I am -I’m sorry madam please forgive me for my behavior towards you.” Smelling the saltiness of tears, my neck snaps toward Y/n to see she is holding in her emotions . Before she even starts to speak I pull her outside towards the alleyway before cupping my hands around her cheeks to make her look at me. “Why are you about to cry?” I look away frustrated with myself by scaring her but concerned for her at the same time. In shame but hoping she will forgive me I speak, thinking she is sad because of me, “I have to be harsh sometimes to the people who work for me, or they will soon treat everyone like the way he treated you.” Sighing heavily I look back at her to lock her soft eyes with mine. “ Look I’m-” I get cut off because of her yanking my hands away from her face before she buries her head in my chest by hugging me tightly. Feeling her shoulders shake, she starts to speak but it's muffled, “No, don't be sorry it's not you, it's me. When he looked at me the way he did I felt like I don't deserve you or the clothes you are getting me.”
My chest tightens painfully while I hug her tighter to myself, “No, you deserve these clothes, everyone does. I'm already fond of you Y/N, so please don't say that you don't deserve me as your Boss. When I myself don't deserve you as my maid. A maid that is so willing and precious.” Holding her a little longer and rubbing her back softly, I heard her calm down as she slowly got out of my grasp to speak softly, “I like you as my Boss Jimin. I am lucky to have you too.” Sighing heavily again and ready to let this go I wipe her tears away as, I pull her back into the shop once more.
The guy before has already set everything up and got a woman to do the measurements. Relaxing my shoulders a bit I gently push Y/n into the direction of the lady while whispering quietly to her that I'm here before I sit on the couch facing them. Watching Y/n slowly open up to the woman and trying to not be a hindrance to her, when I notice my breath hitch. I slowly started to realize her beauty not only from the outside; as when I first met her on the balcony, but inside as well. Not many humans are like her, and I wish to have her next to me when I get married and have children in the future. Y/n is like a lily in the middle of a rose bush that rarely sees the light of day.
Getting interrupted from my thoughts by the guy from before; which is very irritating, he asks me what type of cloths and colors that I would like for Y/n. I got mad not fully understanding the whole situation and spoke rudely, “You should be asking her, not me.” The guy looking uncomfortable before speaking again, “ Miss. L/N wants you to pick it out Sir.” Getting quickly embarrassed I look up at Y/n that is already dark beet red from embarrassment herself. Not knowing if it is her asking me that embarrassed her, or from my outburst. I slowly nod taking the cloths from the man, and looking at some different ones I know would look remarkable on her.
“ Y/n what textures do you like?” Y/n speaks to me in a hushed voice, “ I love soft and smooth textures, Jimin.” Smiling because I like the same textures so I nod at her approvingly. After some time of picking out different cloths and colors I got up to take Y/n’s hand. Pulling her to walk out of the boutique I speak to the seamstress; not stopping, “I need one outfit completed by tomorrow noon and delivered. You can make final touches at the mansion. Striding out the door I hear a, “ Yes Mr.Park.”
Side by side with Y/n going down hill towards the limo I notice her looking around enjoying everything around her. My heart is swelling at the site. When I notice that we are getting near, Y/n rushes in front of me to try and open the door before I get there. I smile gratefully at her, “ Y/n you seriously don't have to do that.” What does she do? She just shrugs like it's no big deal and smiles, “ After you Jimin.” Shaking my head in disapproval I get in the car. When she just gigkes away, closing the door behind her. Turning my body towards her I ask her what she would like to eat.
Y/n’s Pov
When Jimin asked me what to eat I got hesitant because I wanted to cook him a meal, but was afraid to tell him, as he seems to have plans to eat out. Although not wanting to hide anything from him I tell him bashfully, “I actually wanted to cook you a meal if that is okay.” Jimin looks at me confused and asks, “Why?” Speaking from my heart I start to speak again, “ I believe home meals taste better because you can taste the effort of the ones who care about you.” Looking up from my lap after speaking I see him staring at me with longing in his eyes and speaking with a quite rough voice, “ Okay…” There was nothing but silence as we stared at one another until he looked where David is supposed to be at, “ Mr. Godfried please take us home.”
Hearing Mr.Godfried reply, “Yes Sir” the vehicle starts rolling by buildings which slowly thin out to the thick forest of different colored and sized trees. Captured by the beauty I avoid Jimin's look as he gives me a desired look that makes my cheeks heat up with redness.
Arriving at the mansion I get ready to cook for the both of us with one of my favorite dishes called chicken tortilla casserole, but I'm intimidated to do so. Why? Jimin here insisted on watching me cook, so dashingly bold he sits on the Island counter. While I'm here hoping not to burn myself, and being so caught up on concentrating I literally jump out of my skin when he asks me where I learn to cook. After my heart stops rapidly beating out of my chest, and stops laughing and apologizes for scaring me I speak, “I learned to cook from my Dad actually. He loved cooking for my Mom and us children, but after finishing a meal he would always say, "here feel my love!” Chuckling after mimicking my Father fondly of old memories, “ He also sounded so aggressive while saying it too.”
Laughing again I glance over my shoulder as I peek at Jimin and notice his smile is mournful before he speaks, “I never knew that families could have so much love. Most of them nowadays are for business only.” I stop mid stir to turn around and look at him full on in concern, “ I hope you won't Jimin. I hope you marry for love. You won't be as happy if you do. You and everyone deserves happiness Jimin, and I hope you remember that when you think about getting married.” The rest of the time cooking and eating was relatively quiet except for him saying how much he loved my cooking and he never had anything that tasted so good before. Sometimes I caught him stare at me and I would smile right back with a flutter of my heart each time.
Once we were finished I took both plates and silverware in order to wash them, as I hear him speak up when I'm about to leave the dining room. “After you're done please get ready for me to have some of your blood.” I turned around and I looked at him confused, “Didn't we just finish eating? Are you still hungry? I have some leftovers if you are.” Jimin nods his head to confirm he is still hungry when I speak stunned, “ Okay just let me get it ready. One second please.” He quickly speaks to stop me in my tracks, “ I'm a vampire Y/n I will always be hungry until I have some blood. Yes, I enjoy the flavor of human food, but it's like eating air because it will do no good to fill me up. Blood is the only thing that can sustain me.”
Jaw dropping I nod in understanding, “ I-oh okay. Um, so uh, just let me wash these and I will get ready.” He steps closer to me, “Wait, first thing is I truly did enjoy the food I promise you that and it is the best I have had. Actually, would you mind making my meals from now on? I mean if only you're okay with doing it. Secondly, do you know how to properly get ready? I mean this being your first time.” I smile genuinely at Jimin because he looks so cute and bashful. Speaking while slightly chuckling at the first, “I don't mind making your meals Jimin, it would be my honor. I'm really happy that you like it. Although, I think I know how to get ready properly, but I'm not a hundred percent sure.”
At my statement he first brightens up like the sun, but then hearing my statement he looks worried so he speaks in a soft deep tone, “Just in case I'll give you directions anyway. On your night stand there should be alcohol wiles and a soapy wet cloth. Which you can find in our bathroom. Next to it should be orange juice and raisins, but in the morning please have protein and spinach to help rebuild your blood. The second to last thing you should do is take a steam hot shower to kill most germs on your body for your safety of not getting an infection. Don't put on moisture because it could disrupt the feeding, so please wait until next morning to do so. Last thing is wearing your night wear because feeding off you shouldn't make you faint, but it should make you very tired. Okay? Can you do this for me?”
Jaw dropping again from being stunned by how many step there are, but still nod in agreement. Looking a bit relieved he talks gently, “Thank you and see you soon. just knock on my bedroom door when you're ready.” Nodding again I answer, “Okay see you soon.”
Putting the dishes away after cleaning them I went upstairs to my bedroom still being in a haze of what's to come. Stripping naked slowly and taking my hair out of the half up do it is in I peer in the mirror with my heart beating out of my chest with, my mind is buzzing with endless questions. “Will I be okay? What if he won't treat me the same after? What will Jimin look like in his vampire form? Will he stop? Can he lose control of his thirst? What will be the effect and how will I react? Will this be my last night living?” Shaking my head to get rid of the negative thoughts by pushing away from the counter to go in the already steamy shower. Washing my hair I breathe in deeply and sigh heavily with weight in my shoulders. Having knots in my stomach I realize I'm using his shampoo instead of mine that's right next to his. The smell is relaxing and intoxicating and I'm thankful for it as my body relaxes to the soothing smell of oranges.
Spinning in the shower being startled as I hear Jimin knock on the bathroom door. His muffled voice across the room behind the door speaks with worry. “ Hey Y/N are you okay? You have been in there for more than an hour. If you're that nervous we don't have to do it tonight and i'll find a blood bag to drink from instead.”
Rushing out of the shower as I put my sweatshirt on and some panties when I quickly opened the door saying, “ I'm sorry I didn't realize how long I was in there for.” Looking at his eyes I notice; he glances at my figure before his eyes change color from a coffee color to ice blue as he speaks. “ Are you sure about this? I can walk away right at this moment because once I drink from you I won’t stop until I have my fill or your pulse slows down.” Jimin still looks at me with his blue eyes as I see his concern, but also seeing his desperation. I can already tell that he needs my confirmation as I speak with steadiness after taking a relieving breath, “Yes, Jimin I am positively sure.”
He nods before gently taking my hand in his, as he stares at our hands intertwined before he gently pulls me to my bedroom. Stopping by my bed Jimin slowly climbs on my bed right next to the headboard as he beckons me to sit next to him. Doing as he says he watches me before he reaches out to me for my hand again as I get settled comfortingly. Taking his hand to feel his slight room temperature skin on my boiling hot skin is comforting. Jimin then uses his other hand to push my hair away from my face and neck as he whispers, “I’m going to start now, okay?” I nod without speaking as he then reaches for the alcohol wipe on my nightstand; where I had put it there before my shower.
Next, he reaches up and gently while my neck down towards where my collarbone is. After he discards the wipe back on the night stand as he looks at me with his brilliant blue eyes for what feels like a minute or two. Leaning down toward my neck I feel his soft lips on my collarbone kissing me up to where both my neck and collarbone connect, as he starts sucking gently. I gasp with a shiver that gives me goosebumps all over and a tingle in my nether regions, so timidly I reach out to grab us one free hand that was rubbing my hip and my other in his hair at the back of his neck.
That’s when I feel the razor sharp canine teeth of his and who’s warm tongue. Tensing while slightly groaning as I feel that he scrapes my neck with his teeth to open a small wound, but it slowly turns into pleasure as he sucks my neck harder. Think that was it he bit down faster than lightning, as I cried out in unbearable pain from the horrible stinging sensation. Then the pain turns into harsh throbs as I start pushing him away crying. When I felt it. The ache in my heart of need and desperation. Like I need him. “Jimin,” I whimpered, wishing that he was a part of me. “Jimin please.” He slowly lays me down on my back and pulls his hand out of mine to put it behind my upper back close to my neck as to push me into him. Jimin making a home in between my legs I moan out intensely as I feel that he is hard. Next, this rush of lust comes crashing down in me so powerful, and out of nowhere.
Being consumed by lust I wrapped my legs around his hips and pushed my hands and arms onto his back to pull him into me to feel him as close as possible. Moaning by the weight of him on top of me I feel Jimin grind on me with harsh and slow thrusts. Hearing Jimin moan into neck makes my clit throb in want, so I push back with my hips helping him give us both pleasure.
Finally, I feel unconditional love from him. Moving my hand away from his back down across his butt and dragging them up under where his stomach is, slowly enjoying his flat stomach before reaching his pecks wishing I was touching his skin instead through his silk button up. Finding his top button I unbutton it and enjoy the little skin that I am allowed to feel, so I move to the second button desperately trying to feel a little bit more of him. When he unexpectedly got off of me and quickly apologized. Looking in pain to be away from me I listen to what he says hoping he’ll come back to me, “ I’m sorry I don’t… I can’t believe it.”
Sitting up I try to touch him, “ It’s okay. It was new for me so I didn’t know what to expect. I couldn’t control myself either. I’m sorry as well.” He chuckles looking away in shame. I was the first to initiate. Look, I got to go.” He gets up off the bed moving toward the door. He speaks one more time before leaving me alone. “ Drink and eat what’s on your nightstand and please clean your wound. I would do it myself but… The wound will be fully healed by the middle of the night…. Thank you… for tonight Y/n and again I’m sorry.”
Still frozen on the bed of trying to reach for him I try to get over the initial shock. I do what he says while my mind goes numb because my brain and emotions can’t handle what just happened yet. I don’t just give someone my body, I have been waiting for my future partner. Being confused I restlessly toss and turn until I sleep into a dreamless empty sleep.
Waking up the next morning I pushed myself out of bed to walk half asleep with my eyes closed. Walking towards the bathroom I slowly leave a trail of clothes; that I have to pick up once I’m more awake, to go back into the shower from last night to wash my body from leftover sweat or blood. When I hear a groggy deep voice, “ Y/n as much as we did last night I would advise you to cover up unless you want me to take you right here in this bathroom and right now.” I jump to the ceiling with fright; for what it seems like the millionth time since I met him, because next thing I know I’m rushing to pick my sweatshirt off the ground and pulling it over my head. Scattering to the door that leads to my bedroom I squeak , “I’m sorry!” Once I reach the door I slam it behind me with my heart suddenly feeling like it’s getting slashed into a million pieces from being away from him. Legs shaking and inner thighs slightly wet from arousal by his deep voice talking dirty to me. His hungry stare that made my pulse sky rocket, as I pushed away from leaning on the door by patting my cheeks with my hands trying to get rid of the inappropriate thoughts flowing through my head like water.
Putting new underwear on as I wait for the bathroom to be open to use I sit on my bed cross legged. Not expecting the door to open to my bedroom where I see Jimin walk out towards where I’m sitting on my bed without a shirt.
Speaking once again in his morning voice I look away from his chest and the lingering tattoo on his rib cage, “ Do you want to tell me how you felt last night? Or do you not want to talk about it today?” I look at him as I nod with embarrassment, as he sits next to me and tenderly puts his hand on my thigh. “I’m actually really confused. The rumors I heard from before are nothing compared to what I felt. I was completely connected to you. I mean at least I thought I was because our feelings were melting together like milk and chocolate. At first I felt like I needed you and my soul needed you. I felt like I would have been completely and utterly broken if you stopped right then and there.”
Looking up at him before putting my hand on his cheek slowly running my fingers through his hair I continued my speech. “Next, was this feeling of lust. I wanted you. No, I was burning deeply inside for you to be in me, or connected to me somehow. There was a necessity to make sure you were pleased as if my life depended on it.”
Removing my hand from his face I dragged it down his neck; as he visibly swallowed thickly, before I stopped my hand right over his heart finishing my address on this subject. “Finally, the most powerful feeling of all was love. I loved that I would be happy with you even if I am gray and old as long as I can be beside you for the rest of your life. I felt so overwhelmed.. I. I,”
I became quiet , but quickly spoke up again about what happened in the bathroom just a minute ago. “ Then when I heard your voice this morning I felt shivers like please shivers, you know? When you spoke at first I was lost in all of you except being whiplashed not knowing you there at first, but when my brain registered what you said my arousal was flowing like a dog in heat. Scared of what I was feeling in the bathroom I ran and slammed the door. My heat was ripping apart and hurting so much I almost couldn’t bear it. I wanted to run back in there, to you Jimin. I needed your touch, but I forced myself to walk away.
I was so confused yesterday. I knew I liked you , but I also knew that I couldn’t have you because you would never like me. I was pushing you into a brother sister relationship to help cope with wanting more than that. Although, after last night I … I ,” He takes both of my cheeks; that makes me stop talking and look into his brown eyes, looking at me deeply, “You what.” I gasp out, “I can’t be without you it’s something deep, so deep in side me like part of the core of my being that need you.”
Next thing I know is he is passionately kissing before he breaks off just as quickly, “What you feel is our mating bond. I felt what you felt too, but a hundred times stronger because I’m a vampire and your a human. Yes, I was attracted to you the whole time. But..”
As I furrow my eyebrows together I get more confused than I was before,” Then why can’t we be together? If you like me and I like you, no love you and we’re mates. Then why? Why did you stop last night? Why do you look ashamed when you were leaving your room last night? Are you ashamed that I’m a human?”
He tears up but shakes his head no, “I could never be ashamed of you my love, but we can’t be together…..
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poedameronwifey · 11 months ago
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A true home (The hobbit Fanfic)
Chapter 6
Kate's Pov
It was absolute chaos. There were dwarves everywhere. They were taking all the food out of the pantry and we just brought that. Not to mention, Ren is going to get hangry soon.
I stood out of the way as Dad tried to stop them. I'm surprised I haven't fallen yet. As I walked to where the girls were, one of the dwarves pushed past me and knocked me over. I closed my eyes and braced myself to meet the floor but strong arms wrapped around my waist. I opened my eyes and looked up to see Fili holding me to his chest.
I blushed like crazy. He helped me stand up straight and I thanked him before turning and walking quickly to my sisters.
"Ooh la la, someone's got a crush on a certain blonde haired dwarf. Do I hear wedding bells? Can we be the bridesmaids?"
Lilith kept smirking at me while Renée hummed the bride's march. I hit them at the back of their heads and told them to shut up. We looked at the dwarves and sighed at the mess they were making. That's gonna be a lot of food to clean up. We just leaned against the wall and watched them act like animals but it was pretty funny.
Renée leaned against me and I knew that she was done with socialising for the next few days. Balin looked at us with a 'why aren't you eating' look and we just mouthed that we didn't want to disturb them. He just chuckled and waved us over, showing the space next to us.
I informed the girls and we manoeuvred our way to where he was and sat next to him. Since Ren and Lilith already ate, I got some meat and salad because I didn't feel like eating too much. I finished my food rather quickly and looked around the table. Balin introduced us to all of them and vice versa. They were very sweet and kind to us.
"So you are Mr Baggins daughter. How did you meet these two?"
Gloin asked, causing everyone to look at us. I looked at Renée because she's the best person to handle this.
Renée's POV
"Well that's a story. Let's hope my brain wont shut down this time. Kat lost her mom when she was two and Bilbo thought she was dead but really she was taken to an orphanage. My family adopted her a year later. But all good things come to an end. My parents died in an accident, causing my older brother, Kate and I to go to the orphanage where we stayed for two years. Lilith's mom then adopted us when Kat, I and my brother, Tommy, were 9 and we lived with her until we were around 20. But then just last year she passed away so yeah that's our story. Been together since we were 6."
I explained as I held Kate and Lilith's hand. Lilith looked down when I spoke of Mama's death. She still hasn't gotten over it.
"And you brother. What happened to him?"
Ori asked. I looked down, letting a single drop before wiping it and looked at them.
"He was killed when we were 18. He was walking home from work when someone threatened him with a knife and tried to mug him but when he refused, the guy stabbed him and ran. He left Tommy bleeding out on the floor in an alleyway. We found out a few hours later."
Kate was trying to keep herself together but I know she was having lots of trouble but that was the last straw for Lilith. She got up and left. It was too much for her.
Lilith and Tommy were very close. Hearing us talk about him hits a nerve because she hasn't gotten over it. She wanted to kill the guy responsible. After we lost Tommy, we all gave up a bit. Lily sorted doing weed and drinking, basically anything you can think of so numb the pain, Kate stopped eating and lost her spark.
Hell, she even stopped drawing and slept until 11 in the morning. I began self harming and staying in my room. My marks slipped and I slept all day. Mama couldn't handle that so she did everything she tried to stop our unhealthy habits.
She managed to help me get help after I was found lying on the floor, bleeding out from cutting my wrists and attempting suicide. It also seemed to make Kate realise the situation so she got back into art but she isn't eating as much as she should have. Lilith was the only one who just ignored mama and kept doing drugs and drinking. She even began sleeping around and having one-night stands which we didn't comment on because we didn't really mind that just as long as she was being careful and safe.
It was only after mama got sick that she stopped. She does smoke but not as much as before and she cooled down on the drinking. After we lost mom, she was tempted to go back to her old habits but we stopped her. Her death is still so painful for us so we aren't really over it. But we're trying and that's what is important.
All of the dwarves just looked at us with sombre looks but we have accepted our reality. Kate and I excused ourselves so we could check on Lilith and we found her sitting in the living room. She looked at us.
"I'm feeling a lot better, you two. I just needed to get out. It was a bit too stuffy. I promise I didn't do anything. I just had a smoke."
She got up and walked to us, pulling us into a hug. We returned it and pulled away before doing a special handshake that we had. We walked back to where Bilbo was and let's just say he was pissed. He was complaining about the dwarves to Gandalf. Ori then came up to me.
"Sorry, I hate to interrupt, but where should I put my plate?"
Fili then came up to him.
"Oh here you go Ori. Here, give it to me."
He then threw it at Kili who caught it while having a pipe in his hand and threw it into the kitchen.
youtube
We looked at the stack of clean dishes and over mouths flew open,
"What the actual fuck? That was so cool. You gotta teach us. Imagine how quickly we'd get the dishes down. Ooh I can see it now."
Lilith was literally fangirling but she's got a point. That was fucking brillant. Gandalf laughed at our childishness. We then heard a knock on the door. The entire room became stiff and serious and we all looked at the door.
"He's here" 
Oh boy. Here we go. Lets just hope Lily doesn't try to kill the guy. Not like the dwarves will allow that. This is gonna be interesting. The last thing I need is having to bury someone's body in the back yard because Lily couldn't control herself. Plus we read the book ad watched the movies so we know what's going to happen but even now its still feels like we never know what's going to happen. I just need to remember that I cant fall in love with Kili. I cant risk ruining the events of the story. Besides we were brought here for a reason and I think I know exactly what it is. I just pray to God or whoever the fuck is up there, that we wont fail because I don't think I can handle anymore death. 
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elwynten · 1 year ago
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Chapter 28
Bell and Welf talk to me about the name of my Team.
I was relaxing in our sitting room when there was a knock on the door. Rosni was already up so she walked over to the door and opened it. Bell and Welf were at the door.
"May we come in?" Bell asked Rosni.
"Sure, you can." Rosni told them and opened the door all the way and let Bell and Welf into our sitting room.
"Hi, guys. What's up?" I ask.
Bell and Welf looked at each other for a moment before Welf spoke up. "We were wondering why you call your battle group, Team STRIG (Starling)." He asked me.
I chuckled. "That's a bit of a story. I'll try to make it short." I started. "Please have a seat." I told them.
"Thank you." Welf said and sat down.
Bell nodded his head and found a chair to sit on. "Thanks."
"A while back Iris, Cindy and I attended an academy that teaches people to hunt and fight monsters. The first day at the school you get a partner and you and your partner get put into a four-person team. Once you are in a team, your team is given a name. The name is made up of one initial from each team member. The initials are put together to make a name that is a color, sounds like a color or makes you think of a color. There was a Team RWBY (RUBY), The 'W' is the 'U' in the name. Team JNPR (Juniper) and Team CFVY (COFFEE). The 'V' having the sound of an 'F'. So, when we formed an adventuring party here in Orario, we came up with a Team name. That name being Team STRIG (STARLING)." I informed them.
"Wow! That's some story. But you have five people on your Team not four." Welf stated.
I shrugged my shoulders. "It doesn't really matter. We come up with S-T-I-G (Starling) before Rosni joined our Team. But when we gave her the opportunity to join the Team her initials "R" fit right in, so the name stayed the same. The funny part is since she's our supporter she stays in the middle of the group to protect her and so she can give support to anyone that needs it. And her incisal is in the middle of the name S-T-R-I-G." I spelled out the letters of our Team name, and chuckled.
"Could we get a Team name even though we didn't go to that academy?" Bell asked.
"You don't have to attend the academy to create your own Team name." I informed them. "Are you wanting to make a Team name?" I asked.
Again, Bell and Welf looked at each other for a moment or two before looking back at me. "We were thinking about it. Do you have any ideas of a name we could use?" Bell asked.
"Well if you include Lili in your Team. We made Rosni an official Team member and she gets an equal share of the loot. You could use… BLWY (Black Willow), which is a tree, or CAYW (Caribou). They work if it's just Bell, Welf and Lili and the names also work if you include Mikoto in your Team. The 'Y' from her last name works as an 'I' in both words. Personally, I like BLWY (Black Willow)." I told them. "I guess you could also use BLWY (Black widow) if you wanted as well. And BLWY works for when each member of the team joined. Bell was the first person. Then Lili joined, next came Welf and last Yamato Mikoto." I added.
"Oh, ya, Mikoto is a member of our Team with or without a Team name." Bell told me.
I nodded my head in understanding. I wrote the letters and names down on a piece of paper and handed it to Bell. "There you go. That way you won't forget what letters go with which name." I explained.
"Thanks, I appreciate it. We'll think about it." Bell told me, then they left. I guess to talk it over.
At supper that evening, Bell informed me that they had chosen the name BLWY (Black Willow) for their Team name.
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just-another-romantic · 3 years ago
Text
Shambles of Memories
Chapter Three : Normality
Soulmate AU : A person’s dreams are actually their soulmate’s memories.
Series Summary : Cold, darkness, and iron doors. All Morana Pierce has known all of her life. Her duty, head nurse of the infamous Winter Soldier, is her only occupation at a compound in the middle of a Siberian tundra. The Asset looks familiar, and feels like home to her. She makes him remember things he’s not supposed to know. And neither of them can figure out why. 
Pairing : Winter Soldier x OC/Reader, Bucky Barnes x Reader
Warnings : angst, descriptions of hospitals and needles, sexual themes (nothing explicit) allusions to smut, hints at non-con (TW!!)
Author’s Note : The story has almost begun!! The past few chapters, as well as the prologue, were written to set the stage for the plot. The beginnings of the unraveling of what happens behind closed doors at the compound - an inside look into Morana’s life. More coming soon :)
**Conversations in Russian are italicised !!
Series Master List // Previous // Next
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Shortly after her eighth birthday, Morana Pierce was gifted something beautiful, albeit a bit peculiar. It was a flower, Lily of the Valley she would later identify it as, with bell shaped white blossoms and elegant long stems. The petals drooped over themselves like rain droplets, spilling over the brim of its vase. Her father had placed it on her windowsill early that morning, so when the sun shone through the window, its shadow cast onto her face. 
During her schooling that day, Morana took a petal to inspect under a microscope with her lesson with Masha, and under the light and lens, she could make out the cells. They looked like tiny chambers, like the bedrooms of the compound, with organelles as beds, dressers, and desks. Unlike animal cells, plant cells have a cell wall on top of the cell membrane, Masha had pointed out. The cell membrane was semi permeable, and acted as a door for animal cells, whereas plant cells didn’t get that luxury. Another similarity, the young girl supposed, there was no way out for either of them. The door to the outside world was just as locked off as the outside world was to the cell wall.
Looking back on it, Morana wondered where on Earth her father managed to bring her such a thing. The flower was life and green and breath in her lungs, while everything outside of the compound, as far as she knew it to be, was a cold tundra. Sometimes she felt just as out of place as that flower, as it bathed in the sunlight on the windowsill, separated from the harsh Siberian cold.
The flower died within a week. 
Presently, the now young woman tied her hair up for a day’s work, she wondered if she would succumb to the same fate... perish at the hands of an unfamiliar environment. Gazing at the wall, she shuddered at the thought of the snow. The outside world could be summed up in two words, dangerous and violent. It caused her parents death. Papa had saved her from the inevitable outcome of the wild world beyond the compound.
A brittle knock on her room’s metal door shook Morana out of her thoughts. Without batting an eye, she called out, “It’s open!”
“Wanted to say bye before I left,” came a masculine, yet familiar voice, “I have orders.”
Morona spun around, smiling. “Brock,” she exclaimed, crossing the room to embrace the man. The smell of tobacco and the closest thing resembling cologne engulfed her, it was a scent she’d known the majority of her life. While in his arms, she prodded his side with her index finger, teasing, “Since when do you knock on my door? You know it’s always open for you.”
Brock pulled away, smirking, “Since there’s eyes and ears everywhere now that your father’s not home. I’m being waited on... I got called in.”
Frowning, Morana stood back, examining him for any tell of a lie; he enjoyed playing tricks on her. He stood solid, hazel eyes firm and prominent brows unwavering. His jaw was clenched, nearly in agony, like he didn’t want to leave. Brock brought a hand to her face, the warm calloused palm rough against her cheek, yet she leaned into it. Finally, she asked, “Where are you going?” 
His reply was quick, and stern. “You know that I can’t tell you that.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You know better than to ask,” he continued. His eyes met hers, eyes flashing.
“I’m sorry, Brock,” she whispered. To calm him, she held the hand against her cheek, interlocking her fingers with his. Morana nuzzled into his palm, the salty smell of sweat stinging her nose, but still she pressed a kiss into it. “Forgive me?” She mumbled
He forced a smile, bright and wide and pulling at his lips - it didn’t reach his eyes. “Of course.” The man pressed a kiss onto Morana’s forehead. Brock took a large breath, bringing Morana’s hands to rest against the curves of his chest. His heartbeat never faltered. “You’re called to Level 7.”
Morana tried to bite back a grin. Brock hated how much she adored her job on Level 7, head nurse to the infamous Soldier, and for why, she didn’t know, but she knew better than to let him see her excitement. “Pre-mission procedure?”
“The usual.” 
The girl stepped away from the man, suddenly drawn into a work mindset, and went to gather her apron and surgical supplied from the brown, leathered pouch from it’s spot on her desk. She double checked the continents of the bag - gauze, syringes, tools - all of her own possessions, knowing that all other necessities were on Level 7 in her office. She turned back to face Brock, who had taken a seat on the trunk by her bed, watching her with fond eyes. She pursed her lips, asking, “If you haven’t left before I’m finished, want to meet for breakfast?”
“Do I get a proper goodbye then?”
Now it was Morana’s turn to force a smile. “Yes,” she said.
Brock smirked again. “Then I’ll be there.”
He left the room before her, and they went their separate ways - his to the briefing room, hers through the various stories of stairs that led to the bottom levels. 
The unit was where the majority of Morana’s family had lived, and where she spent the most of her life. Level 1 was ground level, and through the thick iron doors and walls that protected the inhabitants from the stinging cold, the floor was the used mainly for meeting rooms. At first glance, a newcomer would think that this was the only level of the building. The stairwells and elevators were only accessed by the thumbprint of a Class Omega individual. Level 2 was often referred to as “The Hub”. There, you would find the main room, the mess hall, while the doors to the side led to the officer’s mess hall. The main mess consisted of dozens of metal tables and chairs that make one’s back ache in the center, and up in the front was the cafeteria line. Towards the back were the canteens, with smaller snack bars and vending machines filled with inexpensive chips and flat soda bottles. By the looks of them, they hadn’t been touched since the 80′s. 
Level 3 was the common barracks, where the everyday Joe’s slept. There were typically four men to a room, a community bathroom shared by every block of two rooms. It stunk of testosterone and cheap cigarettes. Morana avoided this floor at all costs. Level 4 was the private barracks, divided into the west and east wing. The west wing was were Morana, along with the officers, resided. Each man or woman was given a private bedroom and connecting bathroom, still only large enough to hold the necessities - a twin sized bed, small desk, and a dresser. The east wing belonged to Papa, as well as his right-hand men. Morana had never been allowed back there, so she stuck towards the west wing rooms.
Level 4 was quiet and the company was quaint and polite, a stark contrast between the loud chaos and intimate relationships between the men in the common barracks. Sometimes at night, when the silence was nearly deafening, Morana would wish to live on the third level, to have those friendships, to see a state of disarray instead of everything neat and pristine. To hear the rare sounds of laughter, and snores. It was a wishful thought.
Level 5 was the science ward. Morana knew these halls well, the majority of her childhood spent within the laboratories and libraries of the floor. Masha and Elizaveta, the girls Morana once called sister’s, worked on this floor. It was them who taught her throughout primary school, who sparked her interest in the science of medicine and mathematics. This level was home, a haven, and held stories that Morana kept sealed in her heart, under lock and key.
The next floor down, Level 6, was the common medical ward. There were hospital rooms for injured officers (as commoners were treated by ER nurses in their rooms on Level 3). Besides the few hospital rooms, there were two surgical rooms, and storage units for medicine and supplies. Not much had happened at the base iin years, the beds in Level 6 collecting dust and the floors empty. 
Then came Level 7. Mainly Class Alpha and Beta clearance, sometimes Class Gamma; Morana was the only Class Delta with access even though it housed her own office.
With a thumbprint and retinal scan, the iron doors opened before her, the squeak of the hinges deafening, ringing throughout the silent floor; the path leading into her med ward. Her operation room was the same as always, smelling of must and disinfectant, the harsh overhead lights casting odd and mix-matched shadows on the ground.
The Soldier was already standing in the middle of the room, by the examination table, watching her steadily as she entered. After working with him for years, Morana had become used to the large man almost hovering in the shadows, his stature intimidating. He was just tall, she knew that. He looked pale with the lighting of the room, with dark circles prominent under his eyes. That was the one thing that got her every time - his eyes. Steel gray, acute, startling against his black tactical gear, and a constant look of something Morana couldn’t quite place. It was haunting, his silent stare. Over the course of her work, going on seven years, it never failed to cause goosebumps to prick up on her skin.
She cleared her throat to find her voice, plastering on a pleasant smile. “At ease Soldier,” she said as she approached him. 
His eyes scanned over her body, seeking threats such as weapons or a hand ready to raise punishment on him at any given notice. The Soldier saw nothing but tired eyes, smile lines at her mouth, and shoulders slouched with something heavy, an invisible force. Despite himself and his trained instincts, his posture relaxed, only minutely, but the nurse smiled at him, noticing. 
“Have a seat on the table, please.” Her voice was soft and steady and almost familiar. She was easy to trust.
Morona hated the formality of it, but it was standard procedure after he first visits her. His memory was patchy, sometimes he remembered her, sometimes he didn’t. She never asked why he couldn’t remember, where he goes, what he does, or why he’s away for so long, she wasn’t supposed to know, and she knew the punishment for asking questions. 
The man took a seat on the table, the paper sheet crunching under his weight. The Soldier eyed her as she went about the room, gathering various materials such as a stethoscope, a bag of saline solution, as well as an IV. Under his mask, it was impossible to tell what he was thinking, his eyes always remained blank. Morana liked to think they held a type of curiosity, but glancing back at him she saw his still taught shoulders and his grip on the table turning his flesh knuckles white. 
“Your mission briefing is in twenty minutes, Soldier,” she said, slipping into her Russian tongue. After knowing him, how he worked and thought, she put together that he felt safer when he talked, if at all, in Russian, she assumed it was his mother language. His grip on the table relaxed a bit. Pulling a wooden stool in front of him, the girl taking a seat between the black leather of his legs, now equal in height with the soldier. “Twenty minutes can be a lifetime.”
“You speak Russian?” It sounded more like a statement than a question.
Morana didn’t meet his eyes, she instead dug around in her leather satchel, looking for a packet of alcohol swabs. “You were the one who taught me.”
When she looked up, his head was cocked in curiosity. She continued, “You and I are the only ones who speak it. My papa wanted me to keep up my mother tongue for uh, cultural purposes I suppose.” Morana began preparing the IV, the Soldier watched as her slender fingers worked swiftly with the various parts. “Everyone else here speaks-”
“German,” he concluded.
The nurse hummed in response. It was silent for a few moments, before she added, almost to herself, “I used to tell you my secrets when I was a child.” Before he could speak, she changed the subject, meeting his gaze with an order. “I’m going to need you to remove your shirt and vest for this, Soldier.” An order, familiar, a truth, a job. The Soldier obliged. 
Morona watched and waited as he undid the various straps and zippers of the upper part of his stealth suit before his chest was bare before her. She quickly stuck a heart monitor to the left of his sternum, the machine nearby beeping to life with the pulse in his veins. He offered his right arm for the IV, not even flinching as the needle pierced his worn skin. 
The procedure continued silently, and like normal. Morana checked his vitals and administered his nutrients before recording it all in the medical log to be turned over to the handlers once they arrived. A bell sounded, signaling five minutes til mission briefing. Morana sighed, running a hand over her hair to smooth it before collecting her bag. And the Soldier watched as she untied her apron and hung it on the rack by the door, leaving the room without another word, seemingly taking all of the light and warmth of the room with her.
✪ ✪ ✪
Morana planned on stopping by her room on Level 4 to drop off her bag and such before heading to the cafeteria, but the sight of Brock sitting on her bed stopped her dead in her tracks. 
“Brock,” she greeted with a smile, “I thought we were meeting in mess?”
He stood and crossed to her, grabbing her waist with hungry hands; Morana’s heart dropped to the bottomless pit in her stomach. “We don’t have much time,” he murmured, his breath hot against her ear, before his tongue began to lap at the crook of her neck. The girl squirmed in Brock’s vice grip.
“What do you mean?” she asked, breathless, trying to change the subject. “Soldat’s mission briefing just started maybe five minutes ago. You shouldn’t be leaving for another hour.”
Brock stopped his pursuits, looking down at the girl. “We’re assigned to different missions, darling.”
Morana blinked. “What?”
Brocks hands traveled down the length of her spine, finger’s skimming under her clothing to access skin, but he explained nonchalantly, “The Soldier and I have two very different jobs. He’s being sent elsewhere in Russia, while I -” his hands left her back, the rough palms coming up to cup her cheeks “- I am being sent overseas.”
Her heart lurched in her chest. With longing? Despair? Relief? She did not know. The next words out of her mouth came out stumbling. “W-Where?” Morana’s own hand came up to cover her mouth - under no circumstances was she supposed to ask about  Class Gamma, Beta, or - God forbid - Class Alpha duties regarding jobs. Before an apology could form in her throat, Brocks hand removed her own on her mouth, the gentle gesture surprising her.
“To America,” he whispered. “I’ll be working alongside your father from now on.”
Her heart just about stopped. It was silent for a moment until she found her voice. “Why did you tell me?”
“Because I will be gone for a while. A long time.” His eyes fixated on something behind her, but she paid no mind. “I’ll be back in a month, to collect supplies I can’t bring this time, after phase one, but there’s no telling how long phase two will last.” He trailed off. It dawned on her why he was here in her room.
When his eyes met Morana’s again, she felt numb. “So this is goodbye?”
“For now,” he concluded.
This time, she let Brock kiss her. She allowed his wandering hands, and the bruising on her neck. She complied when he took her to bed, and didn’t complain when he started to hurt her. She didn’t know any better, Morana only felt a burning paralysis when she was with him. It wasn’t the first time, but she thanked whatever God there was that it was the last, for the time being.
Afterwards, Brock dressed, and left without another word. 
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@igothroughphasesalot @sharin-gone @izhetttttt @yujin-yuki
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ronsonlywhore · 4 years ago
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❛ 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿. ❜ remus lupin x reader
summary: you hate the thunder, so remus makes it go away. (or in which remus doesn’t really make it stop, but he holds you until it does.)
pairing: remus lupin x fem!reader
a/n: a thunderstorm woke me up this morning.. it was like all hell was raining loose, mother nature was not having it today </3 anyways yeah i was scared, that thunder was loud asf
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
the crash of the thunder makes you bolt upright, pulling the sheets toward you frantically and interrupting the peaceful sleep you had managed to fall into. thunder booms again; you dive under the covers, but whether out of annoyance at being woken up or fear of the downpour roaring through the atmosphere, you’d rather not say.
earlier, the thunderstorm currently raging outside had been nothing more than a light drizzle with a few lightning flashes here and there. the thunder had been practically non-existent while you had gotten ready for bed, and it only started until you were half-asleep, too drawn within the tranquil oblivion you had fallen into to notice or care.
there was no way you’d be falling back asleep now, though. the rain hit the windows too heavily, the wind howled like it could knock down hogwarts’ seemingly sturdy walls, and...was it hailing, as well? great, you think, just my luck.
the thunder roars again, loudly resonating throughout the grounds, and you snuggle deeper into the blankets. in a bed a few feet away from you, you hear lily snore, clear as a bell even with the storm crashing through outside. that brings you a shred of comfort; maybe you could sleep away the downpour after all.
that reassurance is quickly snatched away when a particularly big clap of thunder manages to rattle the dormitory window, a feat that is not easily achieved thanks to the ancient magic keeping hogwarts upright.
when you were much smaller, storms like this one would have you bolting to your parents’ room in the middle of the night, your fear of the pitch-black, creaky old house after dark be damned. your mother would say you were getting too old to burrow into their bed but still let you climb onto it, while your father would just peek at you and fall right back to sleep, his snores succeeding in drowning out the horrible thunder.
the summer before your first year at hogwarts, when a particularly scary rainstorm had you running to the comfort of your parents’ room again, your mother blatantly refused to let you dive under her covers. she said you were getting too old, too big, and “whose bed would you dash to at hogwarts?” while your father snored away in sleep, your mother told you to go back to your room and be brave. so, determined to show the thunder who’s boss, you marched back to your own bed with your head held high. your confidence lasted a total of two minutes and thirty-seven seconds, and you didn’t sleep a wink that night. instead, you stayed up, too afraid to sleep, and spent the rest of the early morning thinking about useless things: your dolls and what clothes you would dress them up in, the mudpies you had left to bake in the sun which were surely ruined thanks to the storm, and how you would beat the mean little boy next door to the swingset at the playground the next day.
so that’s what you did now: you thought about futile things while curled up in your dormitory bed, things like lessons and essays you hadn’t started on, chapters you were supposed to have read but could do fine without, parchment and quills and ink you needed to have replenished the next hogsmeade weekend.
in the end, it was pointless; the thunderstorm raged on, and you had never felt more awake in your life. abandoning the hope that you could fall asleep, you quietly pull back the curtains of your four-poster and tiptoe out the dormitory, careful not to wake any of the other sleeping girls in the room. reaching the staircase, you sluggishly walk down to the common room, planning on starting the fire up again and sitting in front of it until the morning, maybe even sneak down to the kitchens for food if you felt up for it.
you stop short when you see a figure sprawled on the stuffy couch, their lanky limbs hanging off of it. as you cautiously step closer, a smile tugs at your face to see it’s remus, transfiguration book abandoned and left open on his steadily rising and falling chest, used parchment strewn all over the floor. you make your way over and sit down on the armrest, contemplating whether you should wake him up or not; he looked happier when he was sleeping, as cliche as that sounded. you wonder what he’s dreaming of.
another roar of thunder; you jump, almost falling off the couch, and decide that waking remus up would only be for the best...after all, you didn’t want him to wake up with a sore neck from having to sleep in that awful position, did you?
you gently shake him, muttering, “remmy...remus.” he doesn’t stir, though, and you take to poking his arm softly, then a bit harder as you start to wonder how heavy of a sleeper he really is. “remus!”
he wakes with a start, the book tumbling down to the floor as he sits up swiftly, calming down only when he sees you standing there expectantly. he rubs his eyes, yawning, and groggily asks, “(y/n)? what are you doing?”
“what are you doing?” you ask in response, looking curiously around at the bundle of parchment and quills scattered around him. the storm is far from your mind even if you can still hear it outside; remus has become the perfect distraction.
he yawns again and looks down at his watch. you notice he’s still in his uniform...has he not gone up to bed at all?
“i was working on the transfiguration essay due tomorrow...must’ve fallen asleep, i suppose,” he answers, and you realize that he hadn’t done it because of last week’s full moon; but remus was never one to make excuses for himself, even if those excuses were credible.
lightning flashes outside bringing with it another clap of thunder; remus’s attention turns to the window. to your surprise, he smiles.
“is it raining outside?” he asks as he moves for a better view. so much for a distraction, you think as remus exclaims excitedly, “oh, it’s more than rain, it’s a storm!”
his face lights up, or maybe it’s just the lightning continuing outside. he proceeds to stare, transfixed, at the downpour. “beautiful, is it not? how the lightning can be sometimes white, or purple, or maybe even both. how the thunder rattles the earth down to its core,” he says after some time.
beautiful? if beautiful meant terrifying and too intense for your liking then, “yes, i suppose it is,” you answer.
another thunder strike, probably the loudest one that night, makes you jump. remus notices, and, with an expression of concern on his face, says more than asks, “you’re afraid of the thunder...that’s why you woke me up.”
how could one person be so intuitive?
you shrug your shoulders and nod, mumbling, “ever since i was a child.” remus smiles, that warm smile that he had when he was sleeping, as he walks over to the couch again, sitting down and getting himself comfortable. moving the quills and his book out of the way, he looks up at you expectantly. “well?” he asks.
“well what?” you inquire back, confused.
he laughs. “my lap is open for the taking,” remus says and pats his legs. realizing what he’s offering, you scramble over to the couch, laying down and resting your head on his lap, finally feeling truly at ease for the first time that night.
remus picks his book back up again, and you ask, “won’t you be sleeping, too?”
he shakes his head and smiles gently. “no, i have to finish this transfiguration essay. but don’t worry; i’ll be here with you until you fall asleep.”
a few minutes pass, and remus starts idly drawing random shapes on your arm, soothing you until you’re in that state between consciousness and sleep. just as you feel yourself slipping away, thunder booms, and you flinch, the sound startling you.
remus is quick to lean down and press gentle kisses to your forehead, murmuring all the while, “‘s alright. go to sleep, my love.” you can hear the fatigue in his voice, and know he won’t last much longer awake.
the thunder goes away for a few minutes but comes back again, although you don’t notice it much with remus’s arms wrapped around you. you glance up at him one last time before closing your eyes, and see remus dozing off again, the small smile he gets in his sleep back.
content, you snuggle in closer; this might’ve been the longest night of your life, but could proudly say the storm didn’t scare you as much anymore, not when remus held you through the crash of the thunder.
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a/n: why does this feel like the longest thing i've ever written LMFAO. anyways i love remus lupin <3
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ambitionzzzz · 4 years ago
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Of Convenience
Chapter 4- The Party
Warnings: Cursing, SMUT, underage drinking, disco??, Remus after a full moon
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It had been a month since you last spoke to Remus, you avoided him like the plague. You spent a week sleeping in Molly’s room before returning to your room. The day you ‘moved back’, you were stopped in the hallway by Sirius.
“Marlene said you haven’t been back to the dorm at all, where have you been sleeping?”
“Oh, all of a sudden Marlene cares?”
“Don’t talk about her like that,” He gritted his teeth. 
“Whatever, Sirius. I’m fine, thanks for asking.”
Another month passed and other than that, no contact from any other Marauder except James. In the time it took for news to spread around that you and Remus hadn’t actually been dating, almost the whole school took sides. Jerkoff boys come to you every now and then asking if you could fake date them too. James, knowing exactly went down that night sided with you. While Peter, Sirius, Marlene, and Lily took Remus’s side. He would never do that. Molly was, of course, with you. Same with Arthur. But there was one student in particular who helped you more than anyone else.
Here you were again, in Slughorn’s potions class. You sat with Molly and another girl she introduced you to. Slughorn looked up from his desk and his eyes found yours.
“Y/l/n? You’re here… Early?”
“Yes sir, I’m trying not to get detention again,” He let out a small laugh and continued grading papers before class began. James came in, followed by Sirius and Peter. James walked up to you and lowered his voice into a whisper.
“Just… Be prepared, alright?”
You were confused… Prepared for what? “...Oh…” Remus came in, bruises littered his arms and in some spots on his neck. He had a cut on his eyebrow and his hand wrapped up in a bandage. “Oh my god…” He must have heard you because he looked right at you for a split second before sitting down with James and them. Your leg bounced the whole class period, waiting for the bell ring. Eventually, Slughorn passed out homework as the bell rang. Molly offered to wait for you but you told her she could go ahead. She nodded, understanding what you had to do. The Marauders waited outside the door for Remus as he packed up. You grabbed your bag and walked to him. You swallowed and took a deep breath. “...Hey.”
He looked up, surprised you were standing there talking to him. “Hi…?”
“Those look bad…”
“Yeah, I- Um- I fell down the stairs.”
You held your next classes’ books in your arms, “Are you okay? I mean, I know you fell down the stairs but-”
“Yeah, I get it, I’m- I’ll be fine.”
“Alright, well-”
“You trying to steal my boyfriend again, Y/l/n?”
You sighed. “Mary… No, I was just asking if he was ok-”
“Oh my god, Remy, are you okay??” She practically jumped on him and he winced. She turned to you, “You can leave,” You nodded and pursed your lips, walking away. “Oh, and Y/n?” You turned around. “Stay away from my boyfriend.”
“I don’t need your boyfriend.”
“Why’s that?”
“I have my own,” You gave her a smile.
“What?” She laughed, “Another phony relationship for you to get your feelings hurt?”
“Ready, babe?”
You grinned. You turned to your boyfriend, who was waiting by the doorway, sporting the black and green robes with pride. “Yeah, I am.” Lucius Malfoy grabbed your books from you and placed them under his arm, holding your hand with the other. “Feel better, Lupin…” You looked at him one last time to find him glaring at your hand, specifically the one holding Malfoy’s. You smiled to yourself and walked out of the classroom.
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February 14th rolled around rather quickly, and apparently the Slytherins were throwing a huge party in the dungeon. You asked Lucius about it and he said it wasn’t for Valentine’s Day, they just wanted an excuse to drink. You half-believed him. The two of you were in your dorm, going over Flitwick’s Charms homework. 
“Where’s your roommate?” Lucius said without looking up.
“Oh, um, I dunno. Probably off snogging Sirius in a dingy corner.”
He let out a small laugh, “We could be off snogging in a dingy corner.”
“Yes, but we have standards.”
He looked at you with a glint in his eye, “Do we?”
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You tilted your head, “Do we?” You repeated.
It was so quick, the way Lucius tossed aside all the books and papers that were on the bed onto the floor and pounced on you. His lips met yours and butterflies erupted in your stomach. This wasn’t the first time you’ve kissed him but this? This was different. He bit your bottom lip and tugged on it lightly, you swallowed a moan.
“Don’t,” He pulled back, staring deep into your eyes. “I want to hear you.”
She clenched.
He leaned back down to kiss you again, this time, a lot slower. His left hand cupped your face while his right explored. “Can I touch you?” You couldn’t trust your voice to not crack if you spoke so you settled with a quick nod. He smiled at your reaction. “Eager, are we?”
You sighed, “Touch me.”
“Where?” He teased.
“Lucius-” He lightly hit your face.
He groped your chest hard. “Where do you want me to touch you?” You moaned at the action. “Use your words, or I stop.”
You shivered, not wanting him to stop. “Touch me… down there.”
He put his ear closer to you, “What was that, love? I couldn’t hear you.”
You groaned, which earned you another light hit. “I said… I want you to touch me down there.”
“Oh,” He smiled and placed his hand on top of your clothed pussy and began lightly rubbing. “Why didn’t you just say so?” The rubbing outside your shorts wasn’t enough. You moaned his name, “Yes, love?” 
“Please.”
“Please, what? I thought I was touching you,” His hands traveled to the drawstring of your shorts. “Oh you mean… touch you…” His voice changed, it sounded deeper, raspier. He undid the knot with one hand, and slowly slithered his hand into your panties. He immediately found your clit, rubbing it in circles agonizingly slow. You groaned in frustration. 
“Lock the door,” You panted. He took his hand out and flicked it at the door, you heard it click shut. He dived back into your shorts and started rubbing again. “Fuck, Lucius,” He switched to circling your clit with his thumb as he slowly placed a single finger inside you. You moaned at the sensation.
“Gotta loosen you up, yeah?” His lips slammed onto yours. You ran your fingers in his wavy blond hair and he moaned into your mouth. 
“Oh,” You smiled, “You like that?”
“Shut up,” He shoved a second finger in and you arched your back at the slight adjustment. He moved his fingers in and out for a while before adding a third. “You’re so…” He took his hand out again, but this time, he brought it to his mouth. One by one, he sucked his fingers all the while he stared into your eyes. “...Tasty,” Your mouth opened and he quickly stuck his fingers in them. “Suck.”
You closed your mouth and did as you were told. You tasted a mix of yourself and his mouth. You hummed and he removed his fingers,
“You want to say some-”
“I want you to-” He wrapped a hand around your throat, lightly squeezing his fingertips.
“That was rude.”
“I’m sorry,” You panted.
“Good girl.”
She clenched again.
“Now,” He went up to your ear, whispering. “What do you want me to do?” He released some of the pressure on your neck.
“Stop teasing, please.”
He hummed. Lucius sat up, and for a split second you thought he was leaving but then he swung his leg over yours and yanked down your shorts and panties simultaneously. You bent your knees so that he could fully remove them. Once he did, he tossed them over his shoulder, it hit the floor softly. “Open.” 
You slowly split open your legs, but apparently you were going too slow because he grabbed your calves and forced them open. The cool air hit your pussy and you shivered. Lucius dipped his head a little, “Up,” He rasped. You lifted the bottom half of your body, but again, Lucius wanted to establish that he was the one in charge. He lifted your legs onto his shoulders. He smirked at you before diving in. The first lick from your hole to your clit was excruciatingly slow. You moaned, loud. He chuckled and the vibrations were sent straight to your core. 
“Oh fuck.”
He licked another stripe. 
“Luciu-”
Another.
“Don’t stop…” You fondled your clothed chest. “Please don’t stop.”
Lucius stuck his tongue into your hole, fucking you with it. He retracted his tongue and inserted two fingers as he suckled on your clit. You used your legs to lift yourself even higher, slowly riding his face. The pit in your stomach started to grow.
“I-I’m gonna cum.”
“Do it,” He licked. “Cum on my face.”
And so you did. You gripped the sheets as you came. Lucius continued lapping at your pussy, wanting all of it. When he was done, he took your legs off his shoulders and placed them on either side of him. He cupped your face again and kissed you. You could taste yourself on his tongue. He sat up once again to unbuckle his pants but you decided to do it for him- you sat up and began working at the belt. 
“Take off your shirt.”
You looked up at him and followed orders. You were about to fiddle with the belt again when he spoke once more.
“Bra too.”
You smiled, reaching behind you to unclip the undergarment. You slipped it off and tossed it aside. Now, completely bare before him, you undid the belt and unbuttoned his jeans. He got off of the bed to take off his pants and drawers. To say he was big was an understatement. Lucius then yanked his shirt off and tossed it on the ground.
“You’re staring,” He smirked at you. You got up and pushed him back onto the bed. He adjusted himself so that his upper body was against the headboard. You laid in between his legs, pumping his thick cock. Precum dripped from the tip and you licked it up. The back of his head hit the headboard. “Don’t play with me, Y/n,” Lucius groaned. 
“Do you not like being teased?”
He glared down at you as you licked from the base to the tip.
“Suck.”
“Suck what?” You jerked him off.
“Y/n. Stop.”
You stopped moving your hand, “Stop?”
“Suck me off,” His chest moved up and down, waiting for you to please him. You licked another stripe before taking the head in your mouth. “Oh, fuck…” Your tongue swirled around it as you sucked him. “Y/-” You took him as deep as you could without gagging, using your hands to twist and jerk off what you couldn’t reach with your throat. “Oh shit, keep going- Just like that,” The tenacity of the grip in which Lucius had on the bed post was enough to make the mahogany wood snap in half. He grabbed the back of your neck, trying to force you down more. You held your breath and took him deeper. You gagged. “Just like that,” He let go of you and you took him out, taking a deep breath. “Choke on my cock.”
You went back down, sucking him hard, hollowing your cheeks. 
“Jesus- fuck-”
It wasn’t until you started fondling his balls did he stop you, “Stop- Stop, I’m gonna cum-”
You kept going.
“Y/n, I said stop,” You looked up at him and took him out of your mouth. “I want you.”
Your heart pounded, you knew this was coming, and you were ready.
“Is that okay with y-”
“Yes.”
He smiled, “You sure?”
“I want you, Lucius.”
He kissed you sloppily, “I want you, too.”
Lucius grinned, “Turn around.”
“Yes sir,” You flipped on your stomach. You waited a few moments before turning your head to see what he was waiting for. His knuckles were white, and his cock stood straight. 
“Say that again.”
You cleared your throat, “Yes sir.”
He groaned. With one hand he held onto your waist while the other lined his cock with your entrance. “Are you ready? I’m gonna go slow, okay? I don’t want to hurt you… Not too much at least,” He playfully bit your shoulder. You were wet enough for the head of his cock to slip into you no problem. It wasn’t until Lucius started pushing the rest in did it start to hurt. You winced and he stopped. “Hey, hey, it’s okay- just tell me when, okay?”
You nodded. It took a minute for the pain to go away, “Okay, keep going.”
“Okay, nice and slow…” He continued to push himself in until the base touched your ass. “Tell me when again, okay?”
“Y-Yeah…” His full length took a little longer to adjust to, but once you did, you wanted more. “Lucius?” You turned your head to see him through your peripheral.
“Yeah?” He lightly panted. 
“Fuck me,” He smiled, putting both his hands on your waist, and began moving in and out. Slowly at first, but soon it became too much for either of you. “Please… Faster.”
“You want me to go faster?”
“Yes sir, please,” He swallowed and completely exited you, “Luci-” He slammed back into you. “Oh fuck!” That’s how it was, slow but hard. Every time he slammed into you, you moaned at the sensation. “Just like that, you’re hitting it, just keep going.”
He smiled and reached for your shoulders, pulling you against his bare chest. One of his hands wrapped around your throat while the other remained on your waist. He fucked you like that and you couldn’t help but feel that pit in your stomach again.
“I’m almost there-” He sucked on your neck.
“So am-”
A knock at the door. Lucius removed his hand from your throat as your heads shot to the door. 
“Y/n, it’s Marlene. Open the door.”
Shit. “C-Comin’!”
“I know you are,” He whispered as he slid out of you.
“Asshole.”
“Y/n!” Marlene knocked again. “Let’s go!”
“I said I’m coming!” You pulled back on your panties and shorts. Lucius threw your bra at you and you caught it. He pulled up his briefs and jeans simultaneously, you tossed him his shirt and he quickly slid under your bed.  
“Alohamora!” The door slammed open.
“Oh my god!” You turned your bare back on her as you clipped back on your bra. “God, Marlene!” You bent down and picked up your shirt and slipped it on. As you popped your head through the neck hole you turned around to see not only Marlene, but Sirius, James, Peter, Lily, and Remus. Peter and Lily had the decency to cover their eyes but no one else did because their jaws were slacked. 
“Were you… Were you naked?” Marlene asked you.
“Yes. I sleep naked.”
“That’s a lie.”
“You go to sleep before me, I simply wait until you’re passed out.”
“I doubt that.”
“You were sleeping? I thought Lucius was here helping you with homework?” She interrogated. 
“He was…” You tried to reason. “He… Left and I got hot so I undressed myself- I don’t need to explain myself to you.”
“He left?”
“Yes.”
“Did the heat also leave a hickey on your neck?” Sirius teased. Lily smacked his arm.
Your hand flew to the bruise, “So, we made out.”
“If he left,” Marlene raised an eyebrow. “Then he’s probably with that girl who’s been ogling him… What’s her name? Oh yeah, Narcissa.”
You heard a loud bang from under your bed, “You fucking bit-” They all looked under the bed, Lucius smiled at them. “Hello there.”
“Oh my god,” Remus ran a hand down his face. “Just say things got heated so we can leave.”
Lucius crawled out from under the bed and put on his infamous leather jacket, “Things got more than heated, mate.”
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“What do you mean?” James asked, looking at him.
“Lucius-” You tried to stop him.
“I mean, we were in the middle-” You slapped a hand over his mouth, promptly shutting him up. 
“He’s kidding. Anyway, I gotta get dressed,” You pulled out your outfit from your dresser and showed it to the group. “Look how cute.”
“Aw! It’s gonna look so good on you!” Lily grinned.
“I’m excited, and Lucius has a matching set!” The smile on your face could light up a room and everyone took notice.
“Yeah, yeah,” Lucius threw his arm around your shoulders. “God, you’re so conceited,” He smiled.
You laughed and playfully smacked his chest, “Whatever. Let’s go,” You grabbed your makeup bag and handed Lucius your outfit. As you left, you turned to face the group inside your shared dorm, “See you there!”
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“You almost done?” Your boyfriend inquired as he buttoned up the last of his shirt.
“Almost…” You applied mascara to your eyelashes and did some last minute touches to your hair. You sat on his bed, bending down to put your white leather boots on, they stopped just under your knees. You stood up and wobbled a bit, trying to get used to the new height.
“You okay?” He chuckled. 
“I’m good, just gotta get used to them.”
“...You look stunning,” You grinned at the compliment. Looking down at your outfit, you liked how it fit you. It was an off the shoulder dress, and the sleeves were fit up until an inch or two past your elbows, which is when they flared out. The length of the dress went till mid-thigh. And the color was gorgeous, it complimented your skin tone perfectly. There were flowers scattered all over the fabric, their color different variations of the original. You did a twirl and the dress fanned out. Lucius smiled and grabbed your waist, pulling you to him. He pressed his lips against yours. Wrapping your arms around his neck, he kissed you deeper and dipped you. You laughed into the kiss and he pulled you back up. 
“You look good,” The pattern of his button down matched the one on your dress. He wore black slacks and equally black loafers. 
“Just good?” He smirked.
“You look… handsome… dapper… smooth…”
“Alright,” He draped an arm around you and led you out of the dorm, grabbing his jacket before leaving. 
“...Clean-cut…. suave…”
“I like suave.”
You laughed, throwing your head back. “You would like ‘suave’.”
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Due to Lucius being a Slytherin, his dorm was already in the dungeon, so it didn’t take long for you to reach the common area. The two of you turned the corner and you could feel the bass of the music in your chest. Lucius continued to lead you through the crowd, holding tightly onto you, until you got to a quieter corner. You had to yell in order to hear one another. 
“When’d you guys have the time to do this?!”
He smiled, “You’d be surprised how many oddly specific spells there are!” You looked towards the ceiling, strobe lights faced a disco ball in the middle of the common room. 
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There was a DJ, one of the students of course, but a DJ nonetheless. He had to at least have taken a class or something because he was playing mostly muggle music. You recognized a majority of the songs that were playing, nodding along as Lucius’s arm was draped against the back of your seat on the couch.
“You know this song!?” Lucius looked at you, the different colored lights shone, making him look ethereal.
“I take a Muggle Studies class, remember? We did a whole semester on muggle music and I fell in love!” He smiled at you. “Oh my Godric,” You gasped, recognizing the song that boomed from the speakers. You stood up and began singing.
Oh, girl, I've known you very well
I've seen you growing every day
I never really looked before
But now you take my breath away
   Lucius watched you lovingly as you belted out the lyrics to a pretend microphone. “I think I love you.”
 Suddenly you're in my life
Part of everything I do
You got me working day and night
Just trying to keep a hold on you
  “Did you say something?!” You bent down to hear him.
“No!” He shook his head. “Nothing at all!”
“Oh… Okay!” You continued singing to him. “More than a woman!... More than a woman to me!” 
Eventually the song faded out and was replaced with another Bee Gees song- “You Should Be Dancing”. 
“Oh, Lucius, you have to dance with me!”
He shook his head, “No, no. I’m still settling in! Go dance without me! I’ll watch and join later!”
“Are you sure!?”
“Yeah- Go! Go have fun!” You nodded and kissed his cheek. When you reached the dancefloor, a crowd surrounded one man, dancing on his own.
“Oh my God.”
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“James?!”  
He must have heard you, though you don’t know how over the roar of the crowd, but he looked right at you and grinned. He danced his way to you and took your hands in his. 
“No, no, no! James!”
He ignored your pleas and dragged you into the center. Everyone watched expectantly. 
“James… I can’t dance!”
“Just follow my lead!” The music transitioned into Boogie Wonderland by Earth, Wind & Fire. James would do a move and you’d follow to the best of your abilities. You both laughed at the other. There was no coordination at all, but you were pretty sure nobody really cared.
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Malfoy’s eyes flickered to the crowd, quickly looking for you, before returning back to his conversation with Severus.
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When he didn’t see you, he stopped talking to the person next to him and focused his attention on the crowd.
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When he still couldn’t find you, his heart rate sped up, fearing the worst. He quickly stood up and maneuvered his way through the mass, yelling for you. He felt a hand on his shoulder and quickly turned around. He had to look down to be eye to eye with the girl.
“Lily, right?”
“Yeah,” She half smiled. “You’re looking for Y/n, right?”
“Yeah, do you know where she is?”
She pointed deeper into the crowd, he followed her gaze to see you dancing in the center... Along with James. 
All the love in the world can't be gone
All the need to be loved can't be wrong
All the records are playing and my heart keeps saying
"Boogie wonderland, wonderland"
Dance, boogie wonderland
Dance, boogie wonderland
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You paid attention only to your dance partner, you’d worry about everything else later. James ended the dance by dipping you. 
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The song finished and the people surrounding you guys started closing in, cheering. You looked at James to find him already staring at you.
“That was amazing!” You yelled.
“I know! Thank you for being my dance partner!”
“Anytime!!” You felt someone grab your wrist, “Oh, hey Lucius!”
“Hey, you were great!” He hid his jealousy. “Want somethin’ to drink?”
“That’d be amazing, actually!”
“C’mon,” He led you to the makeshift bar, getting a butterbeer for you and then himself. The music was a lot quieter where you were at, you didn’t have to scream if you wanted to say something. “D’ you have fun?”
“Oh, loads!” You took a sip from the bottle. “Wish you were dancing with me though,” Another swig. “It was so much fun.”
Lucius felt bad for getting jealous when you were here saying you had wanted him instead. He held his tongue from saying anything snarky. “I don’t dance.”
“Neither can I! Yet, I, so bravely-” Lucius tried to pay attention to you, but he felt uneasy. Like someone was watching the two of you. He nodded his head to your words, making it seem like he was listening. He quickly looked behind him, then the crowd, then behind you… And there he was. It wasn’t subtle the way Remus was glaring at him. That jealousy turned in him again. 
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“-be? Babe!”
His attention was back on you, “I’m sorry, what?”
“I asked if you were okay… But you were looking be-” You started turning your head to see what he was looking at but he stopped you by cupping your face. “What are you-?” He kissed you. Hard. Just as he was about to tilt his head to deepen it, you pulled away. “Shit, if that’s what it takes to shut me up, I’ll gladly keep talking.”
He smiled, ignoring Remus, and took your hand. “C’mon.”
“Where are we going?” You stood up, following him. 
He smirked, “You wanted to dance, didn’t you?”
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118 notes · View notes
coffeestainsandcashmere · 4 years ago
Text
Let No Man Steal Your Thyme - Chapter Eight (sfw)
I hope those few of you who follow this blog even remember this story!! It's being posted on here as a WIP, so technically you're all my beta readers :). Sorry it's taking so long to work through, but I'm really busy with other writing work, plus actual work, and some life stuff, but it's not abandoned!
In this chapter, which is a bit of a filler chapter, Hermione gets a pleasant surprise visit at the Kneazel and Quill, and she learns what Draco is doing with himself all day at the Manor, and why he has the hands of a potion master. Meanwhile Draco is quietly freaking out about what Scorpius will think of his kindling relationship with one third of the legendary Golden Trio...
As always, looking forward to hearing your reactions and thoughts!
Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Part Five | Part Six (nsfw), Part Seven (nsfw)
___
The bell above the door of the Kneazel and Quill jangled, and Hermione looked up to see a very familiar figure wearing practical, Muggle clothes, and a tired but genuine smile.
“Harry!” she shrieked in delight, rising and scuttling around the desk. “When did you get back? I thought you were on assignment in Sweden til —”
He raised his eyebrows. “Wednesday? It’s Wednesday today, Hermione.”
“So it is,” she laughed, and pulled him into a hug. “Cup of tea? You look wiped out.”
“I’m only staying if you’ve got custard creams…”
She snorted. “I must have known I’d need them — I stopped at the Tesco Express on my way in this morning.”
“Maybe Professor Trelawney was wrong about you and ‘the sight’ after all?” Harry grinned and she shook her head, curls bouncing everywhere for want of a hair-tie.
Seated in the cramped back room of her second hand bookshop, Harry looked at her and cocked his head slightly to the side.
“What?” she asked, dunking a biscuit into her tea.
Quietly, Harry said, “There’s something different about you.”
“No there isn’t,” she retorted, scoffing her custard cream down and reaching for another. “I’m the same washed up old hag I’ve always been. Now, tell me about Gothenburg! I’ve wanted to go back ever since we went there for that conference — must be, ooh, what, twelve years ago now? Gods, how time flies.”
“Ok, first of all, you’re nothing like a ‘washed up old hag’, so don’t you dare talk about yourself like that, and secondly, Gothenburg was amazing.”
She smiled, and let him tell her what he could about his assignment.
“Bet Ginny’s glad to have you back,” she said.
Harry’s face shifted into what Hermione called her favourite ‘Harry being soppy for his wife’ expression, and he flushed. “Yeah, probably. Apparently Lily’s been flying around the garden at Grimmauld and it’s giving Ginny kneazles. Lily’s been pretending to be the next seeker for the Harpies or something…” Raking his hand through his messy hair, he sighed. “Who’d have ever thought I’d be sitting in your bookshop, talking about my daughter learning to fly, eh?”
She smiled, but Harry’s expression cracked a little.
“Sorry,” he mumbled.
Hermione scowled fondly and reached across to take his hand in hers. “Harry… we’ve been over this a thousand times.”
“I know. I just…” he drew in a long inhale and then said, “So are you going to tell me what’s changed in your life since I’ve been away? You’re practically glowing. Did you meet someone?”
Hermione bit her lip and drew back, cheeks heating damnably.
“You did? Who is it? Do I know them?”
“Yes,” she said carefully. “You do. But if I tell you who it is, I need you to…” she puffed out her cheeks and finished off in a rush, “I need you to promise not to freak out first of all, and then promise you won’t tell a soul. Not even Ginny just yet, ok? It’s really important.”
Harry looked wary and worried at that.
Taking one more breath for courage, she said quietly, “It’s Draco Malfoy.”
For a moment, Harry fell utterly still, his green eyes wide and disbelieving. He looked like he was expecting Fred and George to pop out of the bookshelves with party streamers and tell him he’d been pranked, but when he saw her anxious expression, his shoulders dropped a fraction and he whispered, “You’re bloody serious.”
“Yes.”
“How?” he blurted. “I mean… the man’s a hermit by all accounts. How did you even meet him, let alone… you know…” he grimaced and she bit back a snicker. It looked like he’d swallowed a toad whole.
A tiny smile crept onto her lips and she relaxed just a little. “It was back on the first of September,” she said. “I went with Ginny to wave James and Albus off, and —”
“— of course, Scorpius started this year too.”
“Exactly. Draco was there to see him off. Ginny was amazed that he’d left the Manor, but he’s… Gods, Harry, he loves that boy so much.” She paused, recalling Draco's stricken expression as the train had pulled away from the platform, and of his fears about losing Scorpius because of their relationship.
Harry watched her with a quiet intensity for a moment and then asked, “So… Uh… how’d it happen?”
She laughed. “I invited him for a drink at the Leaky, fully expecting him to refuse. I think he surprised himself when he accepted. We had lunch together and honestly…? It was really nice. He’s changed, Harry.”
“I know.”
That surprised her, and she sat up a bit and frowned.
Chuckling softly, Harry ran a hand around the two-day stubble on his jaw. “You remember the attack on the Manor?”
“Little Scorpius yowled in my arms for hours while you questioned his father, Harry. I couldn’t forget that.”
Harry acquiesced with a sideways nod of his head. “Well, he wasn’t the same Malfoy from school in that interview room, Hermione. I don’t know what I was expecting, but when I could get him to focus on something that wasn’t the whereabouts of his son, he was articulate and helpful… Still arrogant and snappy, but…” Harry shook his head. “He’s definitely different.”
Hermione bit her lip to try and stop herself from crying, which failed, and when Harry looked up, his face fell.
“Hermione? What’s wrong?” He set his mug down and rose from his battered old armchair, crossing in two strides to kneel beside hers.
“I was so afraid you wouldn’t understand,” she whispered, shaking and overwhelmed.
All the tension left Harry and he hugged her.
It was awkward because of the furniture, but Harry had always given the best hugs no matter the situation. “You deserve to be happy, Hermione. And you’ve always known your mind. If Malfoy can keep up with you, and keep you happy, then…” he shrugged without letting go, “I’ll support you. If he hurts you though, I will use every curse I’ve ever learned as an Auror on him.”
“Thanks, Harry. You promise you won’t tell anyone yet?”
He nodded.
And then someone cleared their throat from the doorway into the main shop, and Hermione jumped. Harry sprang back, hand going instinctively for his wand, but he stopped when he saw who was standing there.
“Theo!” Hermione exclaimed, smearing the last of her tears off her cheeks. “What are you doing here? I didn’t hear you come in.”
“Too busy sobbing onto dear Potter’s shoulder,” he said without barb. “Everything alright?”
She nodded. “Just getting emotional about something as usual. What’s up?”
“Just came to see if you wanted to grab lunch, but I can see that England’s favourite Auror has returned. How was your trip, Potter?”
“Good,” he said, suddenly every bit the awkward boy he’d been at Hogwarts. “I just finished debriefing and thought I’d stop by for a custard cream and a chat with Hermione before I head home. I’m on leave for a week now.”
“Nice,” Theo smiled. “Any plans?”
Harry shrugged. “A few casual rounds of quidditch with Ron and the others,” he said. “Time with Ginny and Lily. Might pop up to Hogsmeade and see if I can visit James and Albus at the weekend.”
Conversation stalled, and Harry rocked back on his heels before putting his mug down and turning to Hermione.
“Look, I’d better get going,” he said. “But… Come over for dinner this week, alright?”
She nodded. “I’d love that. Tomorrow any good?”
“I’ll check with Ginny, but I can’t see why not. I’ll owl you.” He paused and then grinned. “C’mere,” he said, and pulled her into another enormous hug. With a hand briefly on the back of her head, he murmured, “I won’t tell a soul.”
“Thank you,” she said, squeezing him so hard he wheezed.
“See you, Nott,” Harry said with a polite nod as he left.
Once the bell had fallen silent again, Theo turned to her and crossed his arms loosely over his chest. “Everything alright?” he asked again now that they were alone.
“Yeah,” she said and rolled her eyes. “I told him about Draco and bound him to secrecy. I was so relieved when he took it so well that I just burst into tears.”
Theo laughed at that and finally seemed to relax. “I’m honoured to have known before Potter, then,” he said. “And what, pray, are those?” he added when his eyes landed on the custard creams.
“Muggle biscuits,” she said, picking up the plate and holding it out to him. “They’re delicious.”
Theo looked as if she’d offered him a plate of slugs and held up his hand. “Thanks… I’ll, uh, pass.”
“You’re such a snob, Theodore Nott,” she laughed, bustling off to tidy the mugs and plate away. “What did you want, anyway?”
“Lunch,” he said.
“It’s three in the afternoon,” she countered.
“Mmm. I had a deposition that went on forever. I’m starving.”
“Theo, I do actually have a business to run,” she said. “Isn’t today Dan’s day off? Can’t he go instead?”
“He’s already reserved us a table and is probably halfway through his steak and rioja by now,” Theo groused. “I’ll bring you a doggy bag if we have any leftovers,” he added affectionately.
“Thanks?”
Pausing on the threshold to the back room, Theo fixed her with one of his rare, intense and sincere looks. “I’m glad things worked out with you and Draco. Potter was right; you both deserve to be happy.”
She swallowed thickly, feeling tears prickle at her eyes again. “You won’t tell anyone? He wants to tell Scorpius himself. He doesn’t want it coming from someone else first.”
Theo dragged his thumb across his heart in a cross and nodded. “Drinks on Friday? Draco said he might come.”
“I’ll be there anyway,” she promised, and Theo left with a friendly wink that only he could get away with.
She and Draco continued to see each other, mostly using the seclusion of his London apartment, though they did sometimes go back to hers. There they watched the 1946 Great Expectations. To Hermione’s surprise, however, Draco informed her that it wasn’t his first time seeing a muggle film. That, naturally, led down a whole rabbit hole of questions, ending with the discovery that Draco had built Scorpius a warded playroom inside Malfoy Manor that was shielded from the effects of magic and thus allowed Muggle technology to function perfectly.
“But… you need electricity!” she’d blurted.
Laughing and looking far too smug with himself, Draco said, “Indeed.”
“But… wizarding households don’t have electricity!”
“Granger, you’re glorious when you’re baffled. I must make more efforts to confound that brilliant mind of yours more often.”
“Tell me!” she’d shrilled, pinching him in the ribs as they sat on the sofa together with the end credits rolling away in the background. When he’d just sat back with his mouth quirked into an infuriating smirk, she had straddled him and raked her fingers through the slightly shorter hair just above his hears on either side of his head, scrunching the silver-white waves until he’d groaned and bucked upwards slightly into her. “Tell me, Draco Malfoy, or no more kisses.”
“You drive a hard bargain, my beautiful, brilliant witch,” he purred, slightly breathless as she continued to hold him in her grasp, head tilted back a little, throat exposed. His hands landed reverently on her hips and he closed his eyes, clearly enjoying the contact.
Naturally, Hermione kissed him on the lips and he smiled. “Perpetual shock charm,” he said when she drew back. “I made a generator.”
“That’s… That’s so simple it’s genius. But surely you had to look up —?”
“I’m fairly certain I could get a job as a muggle ‘electrician’ now,” he snickered, chasing after more kisses. “But I choose not to.”
“What do you do with yourself all day?” she asked. “Running Malfoy Manor and the estate can’t take up all your time, surely?”
He went a little tense beneath her at that and then chuckled, embarrassed. “I… I’m on the board of a number of charities,” he said, “And I’m currently conducting research into a number areas in the field of Potions. I did a postal course to get my NEWTs in Potions, and shortly after that, attained my masters.”
“Huh,” she said, sitting back a bit. She reached down and brought his hands up in front of her. Pressing a kiss to each of his scar-flecked knuckles, she murmured, “That explains a lot. You’ve got the hands of a potion-master, Draco.”
“Too many spills and accidents,” he snorted. “And not enough dragon hide gloves.”
“What are you researching?”
“A number of projects,” he said evasively.
“Come on,” she laughed, dropping his hands again and beginning to nuzzle at his jawline and neck. He was utterly weak to that, she’d discovered to her absolute delight, and she was not above using it to her advantage. Beneath her, he shivered and went limp, turning his head with a sigh of pleasure as she raked her teeth over his pulse and then kissed him.
“I’m working on… ah… on a recipe that… oh gods, Granger…”
“Go on,” she crooned.
“A recipe to make the wolfsbane potion commercially viable,” he panted.
At that, she did pause, but only for a moment. Next thing Draco knew, Hermione had flung her arms around his neck and was squeezing the life out of him like a boa constrictor.
“Granger?”
She just shook her head, thinking of what Remus Lupin would say if he knew what Draco was working on now on behalf of his kind. “Why?” she eventually croaked without removing her face from the crook of Draco’s neck.
His hands skated gently up and down her back, the heat simmering back down to something calmer; something fond and affectionate. “Because,” he fairly growled, “Fenrir Greyback tormented my mother when he lived with us at the Manor, and I had no idea that werewolves could be functioning members of society with the right help until I met Remus Lupin. It was just another area where if I’d only known more at the time, it would have made so much difference to my perception of things.”
He sighed and kissed the side of her head.
“I can make a difference now. I’ve got a state of the art potions lab in one of the dungeons at the Manor, and Severus left his entire collection of books and notes to me in his will. He must have known I always wanted to be a potions master, even when I didn’t think I’d live beyond the end of that awful year…”
That was probably the longest continuous speech from Draco she’d heard since they’d started seeing each other, and the emotion in his voice, lingering beneath the surface like a hidden current, moved her deeply.
“You’re a wonderful man, Draco,” she whispered as she kissed his temple. “I wish the world could see you for who you are now…”
“You see me,” he said very quietly. “That’s enough.”
___
To be continued! Don’t forget to let me know what you think, and help a relative newbie (at least to contributing anyway) to the fandom out by reblogging!
writing masterlist | Ao3
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achliegh · 3 years ago
Text
Golden
Yeehaw Leo… it's all because this song came on one day (I don’t even really listen to country anymore so it really is fate). Leo is based off that song, each chapter is going to be based off a yeehaw song too.
Characters belong to @lumosinlove
Beta: @the-most-slytherin-hufflepuff & @punkkkkboi
TW/CW: Smut, terrible yeehaw sayings and jokes, injuries, mentions of past death/suicide, minor character death, underage drinking, mentions of past arrests, cringe
Chapter Songs (listening in order is recommended):
Chapter 16:
Hours after Noelle Landed in Montreal, Thomas and Clay landed in New Orleans. A few hours ago Clay’s parents dropped his truck off at the airport so he could take Thomas around the city to see his favorite places. They didn’t bring much just carry on backpacks, so walking out the door and feeling the heat was what they did next.
“It’s Winter!”
“It’s so warm, I missed it.” Clay sighs happily and grabs the little dangly adjustment strap to Thomas’ bag and starts leading him to where his parents said his truck was following the directions on his phone that his mom typed out. It stayed in daily parking so they didn’t have to go inside the parking garage. Thankfully. Thomas was expecting Clay’s truck to be just like his one in Gryffindor, large bright red and loud, but to his surprise they start walking over to a teal blue old truck. It must have been from the 70’s or something. Thomas stopped a couple feet back just taking in the scene.
Clay, glowing under the sun just in a shirt and jeans standing next to a light blue truck making this all seem like a picture on one of those tiny calendars with old cars on them. The concrete around them was a bit off but he didn’t mind.
“What? Something wrong?” Clay looks at him from the other side of the truck after finding his keys in his bag and tossing it into the bed of the truck. “You can toss your bag in the back if you want, there isn’t a ton of room in the front.”
“I was just looking at something pretty is all.” Thomas acts all nonchalant as he tosses his bag in the back next to Clay’s and climbs in the now unlocked vehicle. Clay gets in on the driver's side and gives him a confused look, turning his head in the direction of where Thomas was just looking.
“All I see are cars, was there a cool one I missed?” He looks back at Thomas only to find his boyfriend a good inch from his face. He feels his cheeks heating up and hopes Thomas can’t tell. “What?”
“I was staring at you, Stupid.” Clay feels his cheeks get even more red and glares at Thomas a bit. Thomas has definitely stuck to his words recently in telling Clay he is ‘Pretty’ and ‘Beautiful’ all the time but Clay still doesn’t know how to react. Recently it has been smacking Thomas upside the head… then usually smooching him but that's besides the point. He has grown up his whole life being criticized for how he looks, then suddenly girls were throwing themselves at him and calling him ‘Hot’ and ‘Sexy’ but never the things Thomas or Noelle says.
It makes him feel vulnerable when they say stuff like that.
“Shut up.” Clay gives him a quick kiss and goes to pull away but Thomas holds him by his shirt to deepen the kiss, Clay doesn’t even try to fight against it. He smiles and kisses him more sweetly before they actually pull away. “I’m hungry, let's go eat!” He smiles a bit as Thomas laughs and buckles up, pulling out of the parking lot he starts to drive further into the heart of the city. Thomas watches all the old and new buildings mix together to make a wonderful blend of modern and historical.
It was so amazing, beautiful and fun.
He notices the buildings are getting more off the ground and raises an eyebrow, he goes to ask Clay what the houses are doing on stilts but the NOLA Native beats him to the punch.
“They are for when it floods during storms. Like hurricanes and flash floods, we have a flood wall as well but they don’t always hold up.” Clay has put on his dark wire framed sunglasses, driving with one hand on the wheel and his other elbow resting on the open window seal of the car, wind blowing through his hair. Just looking so in his element. “We are headed towards the harbor because they have the best seafood boil restaurants. My favorite is Mama Junes but Leo’s is Olive and Otto’s. So we tend to fight about where we want to go.” Clay glances over to Thomas who is just soaking everything in. Looking relaxed and calm.
They pull into the small broken concrete parking lot and park right in front. There are old buildings lining the narrow sidewalk just feet away from the docks. The sidewalk was poorly taken care of but it added character. Clay hop out of the truck and wanders over to Thomas side and opens the door bowing to him.
“Your highness.” Then he trips him on the way out making him stumble causing Clay to laugh hard enough he has to lean against the truck so he doesn’t fall over. Thomas rolls his eyes smiling and closes the door. Looking out at the docks he notices all the people doing their jobs and wonders what it would be like to be on a massive ship. He is knocked out of his thoughts by being hit in the side of the head by a pen.
“Where did you even get a pen!?” Thomas picks up the pen from the ground and starts chasing Clay around the truck for a good few minutes before he finally catches him from behind and wraps his arms around his waist picking him up, swinging him around to the other side of him, both laughing uncontrollably. Thomas' stomach lets them know that it senses food is nearby by rumbling loudly.
“That was weird I could feel your stomach growling, we should go eat before the fishermen get off work for the night.” Clay turns around in Thomas arms and just looks over his face for a moment, running his fingertips over the side of his face. He loves Thomas…
He should tell him soon and Noelle, of course Noelle. She is everything, beautiful, smart, sarcastic, and treats him like a real person. Clay didn’t know if he was ever going to date another woman after Ashley, hell, he didn’t even know if he would ever get away from Ashley. But he never expected to get so lucky. He never in a million years ever expected to be loved like two people.
Well, he hopes they love him.
They pull away after just looking at each other for a solid thirty seconds before Clay leads Thomas down the street a bit to a restaurant that looks straight out of the 60’s. Thomas was picking up a theme of stuff Clay likes… the theme is old. Doesn’t help that he and Noelle are older than the southerner either. They get a table, order food, and people just keep coming up to the table to talk to Clay like old friends. Men, women, old and young everyone wanted to talk to him.
When their food does show up it is something called a ‘seafood boil’. Thomas has heard of it before but always thought it was boiled right in front of you, which it is not. It also shows up in a plastic bag for some reason. Clay teaches him how to crack crab properly, only ending in one thumb being cut open by the sharp shell. Whose thumb?
Clayton London Bruss’ and he was annoyed about it.
They finish up eating and paying, Clay gives the young waitress a 50% tip because he can and wants to. They head out the door full and happy, walking past a group of old women who are playing poker at one of the tables out front.
“Well if it isn’t Mr. Bruss himself! Long time no see, Sugar.” The woman the farthest away from Clay smiles at him and Thomas is worried this is going to go bad. “Looking mighty handsome there young man, be careful one of these days I’m gonna leave my husband for you.”
“Mrs. Bell! You can’t say stuff like that!” He laughs and walks over to give her a kiss on the cheek, giving Thomas time to take a good look at her. She was an older looking black woman who has definitely lived a full life, she was wearing a lot of blush and eyeshadow but her ruby red lipstick is what really stood out. Especially when she gave Clay a kiss on the cheek.
“I’m old, I can say what I want, within reason. Now tell me where you have been these last few months! We miss you and Leo on Fridays.”
“You here to stay for a while before you take off and get yourself hurt at those rodeos?” The woman across from Mrs. Bell spoke up, she was a white heavy set woman with a shirt that has two hurricanes on the boobs of her shirt that say ‘Lily’ and ‘Katrina’. He doesn’t know how to respond to that.
“I assure you Miss Lila, I am only here for a day or maybe two.”
“Who is this hunk that with you Clayton, I wouldn’t mind getting my hands on him.” Clay smiles brightly and walks back over to Thomas’ side. Ignoring the hungry stares pointed in Thomas' direction by all four women.
“Sorry but he is off limits.” All the women make a mock sound of disappointment. “He’s my boyfriend.” They are stunned for a moment before they all gasp in delight and congratulate them.
“You always knew how to pick them, I always thought Your friend Leo and you would end up together. But I am so happy for you.” Mrs. Bell smiles at them.
“Everyone always thought Leo and I would get together but honestly, he's not my type.” Clay winks at the ladies who all giggle as they walk past, saying goodbye to one another. The ladies pick up their game from where they left off. Thomas was still in shock. Those elderly ladies.. Congratulated them! He was not expecting that. He was expecting to be chased off with a purse or something. Then again, Clay does seem rather close to them.
“How do you know them?” Thomas looks at Clay who is saying hello to the people he knows that pass them on the way to the restaurant. He apparently knows everyone.
“Well, they have a poker tournament every Friday at Mama June’s so Leo and I would volunteer there for fun. Other people would work to get paid but we never needed the money, instead we were the two who would lose on purpose just to give the people their money. Most people who go to the tournaments are on the poorer side of town and we always tried to give back. So that's what we did. We would bet obscene amounts of money just to make sure people could pay their rent or bills or do whatever they do to relieve stress after a long week of working.” Thomas stopped walking, Clay didn’t notice for a few steps and then turned but to look. The sun was sinking down behind him and it made him glow. Thomas has known he has loved Clay for a while now but Noelle and him had a plan to tell Clay together. But at this very moment in time, his heart was so full of adoration he couldn’t help himself.
“I love you.”
Noelle watched, she watched the entire interaction her father had with Leo. She knew it wasn’t going to be good. She had listened to his insult Leo while she was in the kitchen with her mother and honestly it made her feel sick with anger. Leo was exactly what they wanted for Logan. Yet, they brush him off because of something stupid. She was pissed, helping her mother get ingredients out for dinner but decided she didn’t want to help. She was exhausted mentally and physically. So she decided to go take a nap, walking out of the kitchen and up the stairs to her childhood room.
The biggest bedroom in the house. It was painted seafoam green because that was her favorite color in secondary school, posters of her favorite bands and pictures of her friends all over the walls. Little origami birds made by her best friend hang from fishing line over her king sized bed with pristine crisp white matching bedspread, pillows and sheets. Her full length mirror was next to her large white desk with a lamp that cost forty dollars on it. Her bean bag chairs of varying sizes and colors on the corner next to her TV and PlayStation.
She never noticed how spoiled she was. But being in this room and then thinking about her sisters and Logan’s room, it made her ears ring with guilt. She started going to therapy after she got out of the house because she didn’t understand why she would just be consumed by guilt or sadness whenever she was around Logan. They never had a good relationship when they were younger fighting all the time, Noelle just saying really nasty things that she regrets and now they are pretty much each other's best friends. Her therapist told her that it was because her father was a narcissist and raised her to believe she was better than all her siblings but as she grew older she knew that it was wrong.
After that appointment she called Logan to apologize for everything over the phone, he was confused but still listened and let her get everything off her chest. Then he invited her and their sisters to family skate. There is where she met Thomas, she was uncomfortable around him for a while but she couldn’t understand why. Then it hit her.
Her father would speak poorly of any person of color any chance he got… and she believed him when he said all those terrible things. Things that should never be said. So she erased everything he ever said from her morals and continued to hang out with Thomas, when he asked her out it was a no brainer to say yes.
Her father wasn’t happy but it's not his life to live, she paced up and down her dorm on many nights when she should have been studying worrying about what her dad would say but in the end she understood that none of it mattered… By then she knew she was in love.
Months later she started going to the Godric University in Gryffindor to continue her masters degree she told her parents it was to keep an eye on Logan, she moved in with Thomas but never told her parents. Logan was ecstatic. She hadn’t seen him that happy in… well, when their dad told him he was proud of Logan for getting drafted and “doing something with his life”. It stung but Logan couldn’t stop smiling.
Then there was Clay. Stupid, Charming, Challenging, Beautiful Clay.
He waltzed into their lives like he was meant to. Stumbling once but never stopping. She wasn’t expecting to get a text from a random number saying “Hi, My name is Clayton and I have been talking to Thomas over the phone for a few months. He mentioned he had a girlfriend but I think we have started flirting and I wanted to let you know, because I know Thomas talks about you all the time and is madly in love with you. I just wanted to let you know that… I think I have caught feelings for him and if you would like me to stop talking to him I will.”
It scared her at first not answering the message for days, letting it hang over her like a storm cloud, Thomas had never mentioned an interest in the same sex before and she was worried she would lose him. So they talked about it, Thomas showed her the messages willingly and hadn’t noticed the flirting until she pointed it out. She started messaging Clay. They got on really well and before she knew it, he was all her and Thomas talked about.
They both realized they liked him, together.
Meeting him in person for the first time was intimidating because how do you balance a relationship already formed and stable, to a relationship with a new person at the same time? Would they get jealous? Would they fight? Would they end up splitting up?
But instead, Clay made them stronger, happier. They were happy before but sometimes it felt as though something was missing. Noelle didn’t really know or care about Polyamrous relationships until Logan started talking to her about how it feels to love two people.
“It hurts sometimes but it is also something I can’t live without. One being wild and free and the other grounded and calm, sometimes they switch or we all switch in dynamics but… I wouldn’t trade either of them for the world. It's the most I’ve ever loved and been loved in my life.” and she wanted that as well but never thought she could do it.
Then it happened, she felt like she was on the edge of a cliff ready to dive off at any minute but she was worried she would regret it. She eventually jumped, landing in the water below of safety and love, never looking back. She never would.
Her and Thomas told each other they loved one another on the same day at the same time. A day she would never forget. They were stuck in traffic arguing about something stupid, probably about schedules because that was their main issue always missing each other on the way out the door, they stopped for a moment. Noelle was still fuming but Thomas was calm, he was always calm, he put his hand on her leg and she looked at him. They held eye contact for a few seconds before they said at the same time.
“I love you.”
Clay was stunned. He stared at Thomas letting the words he just spoke sink in. He never expected to be told that by someone other than his parents, Leo, Reg and Eloise. His heart suddenly started aching and his throat became tight as he felt a drop of something on his cheek. Looking up to see if it was raining he only saw a clear blue sky beginning to tint purple. Then he felt a strong arm wrap around his waist and a hand cup his cheek, turning his head to meet those soft dark brown eyes.
“Is it raining?” Thomas smiled a bit at him and wiped his cheek.
“You’re crying. Are you okay?”
“You love me?” Thomas smiles so bright, so calm and so lovingly at him that it makes him feel like he is about to burst with emotions.
“Yes, I do.” Clay puts his hands over his own overworking heart and squeezes.
“Why?” Thomas is a bit taken back by this question, his expression changes a bit to concern for a moment. Wiping away another tear that has fallen.
“Because, you make me happy. You are caring, sweet, kind and…” Clay squeezes his eyes shut listening to Thomas list off things about himself that he couldn’t believe were true. “You are beautiful.” Clay lets out a strangled sound from his throat and turns to bury his face in Thomas’ chest hoping he could hide. “You are so so amazing Clayton, I just wish I could show you what I see, what Noelle sees too.” Oh god, they have talked about being in love with Clay and he didn’t even know! Noelle wasn’t with them but it felt as though she was everywhere. She was in the blue of the ocean, the sound of it hitting the shore. The beauty of the city just so alive yet caring. She was everywhere and not there at the same time.
“Noelle loves me too?”
“Yes, but don’t tell her I confessed for her. She will kill me.” This makes both of them chuckle. Clay pulls away enough to look Thomas in the eyes once more and he says back.
“I love you.”
Judy was waiting by the door, the food for dinner was in the oven staying warm, Garland was outside on the porch smoking a cigarette waiting for the boys to arrive. It would be any minute now. Clay says they just ate but Judy isn’t one to let her guests get hungry. She remembers Thomas from when the team was down at the Knut’s ranch for a week. She remembers him being polite and helping her move the chair around the table to make sure everyone would fit for the meals.
He was also a very good looking man, he was tall, dark and handsome as Clay would say. She never in a million years would have thought that that would be the man Clay ended up with. There was also Noelle who she spoke with when some of the team was at the bar, she was so very sweet and funny as well. But again, never someone she thought Clayton would end up with.
She saw the dust down the driveway and knew the boys were moments away, Clayton knows she doesn’t like him driving at night. She remembers when Clay was just a young little boy, coming home after driving in the dark crying because he almost hit a possum. He was always emotional. She knows people like to take advantage of his kindness and use it against him, his vulnerability showed everyone he has ever met his flaws.
She can only hope that her son is being treated well up north. She prays they aren’t like Ashley.
The truck pulls up, parking in his normal spot across from the door, hopping out of the truck Judy watches as her son and Thomas link hands as they walk towards the door. Garland stands up slowly, his back and hips have been bothering him as he gets older, shaking Thomas hand after stubbing out his cigarette he leads them inside.
“Ma!” Clay runs over to hug her and lifts her off the ground making her laugh, he seems to be in a wonderful mood. “I missed you.” He starts sniffing the air and making his way towards the kitchen knowing his favorite is somewhere to be found. He was always reminding her of her puppy. Judy places her hands on her hips and shakes her head at him. She looks at Thomas and notices the absolutely love sick face he has on as he watches Clayton leave the room. She smiles. That was something she only ever read about in her romance novels, she wonders if Garland ever looks at her that way.
“Hello Thomas, it's good to see you again.” She watches as he smiles at her and extends his hand for her to shake, she playfully swats his hand away and pulls him into a tight hug. It takes him a minute to hug back but when he does it is tight. Clayton was in good hands.
“Long time no see.” He smiles at her as they pull away, a bit pink in the face. “You look stunning as ever, I might add.”
“Stop hitting on my mom! You’re gonna make my dad jealous.” Clay smiles at Thomas from the doorway of the kitchen with an oven mitt on one hand holding a large bowl of what looks like red beans and rice. Something he always tries to replicate at home but can never get it right. A spoon on the other hand and eating straight from the bowl. Judy laughs for a second.
“Clayton, please use a plate. How many times have I told you that you can’t just eat from the bowl.” Judy takes the towel from over her shoulder and takes the bowl from him, walking in the kitchen. A few minutes later they all sat around the table eating and chatting.
“I think I’m going to bring Noelle down for the two weeks we are back here before we leave for rodeo this summer.” Clay talks with his mouth full and Thomas rolls his eyes a bit. Smiling. Sharing a look with Judy.
“Clayton, have I taught you no table manners over the years.” Judy smiles at him and Garland snorts.
“Nope!” He laughs but moves to the side so Judy can’t smack his arm. “Okay, okay. You have but this is who I am mother goose. I can’t change it.”
Garland actually laughs at this. Thomas has noticed that Garland is a rather soft spoken man, old with a round beer gut but still jolly. Kinda like Santa with the beard, but he doesn’t think Santa wears work overalls. Thomas also notices a bisexual flag pin on his old beat up hat. That must be the pin Clay talks about sneaking onto his dad's hat that he ‘never noticed’ Thomas suspects he did notice. But wants to support his son in any way he can. That makes Thomas feel so happy that he can’t explain it.
Later in the evening before the sun has fully set but the stars are out and bright, plus there is a full moon tonight lighting up the area with ease, Clay had excused himself to the restroom to clean the lipstick off his face while Garland and Thomas went outside to chat.
“Has Clayton told you anything about his last relationship?” Thomas shakes his head no watching as Garland sits down in an old rocking chair and lights a cigarette. Offering one to Thomas. He declines. “Well, she got him into a lot of trouble. Being the Sheriff daughter and all. Plus she had a temper and if I’m being honest I don’t think she ever actually liked Clayton.” He takes a drag and Thomas furrows his brow listening intently. “She only dated him for status, he was one other the only people targeted by the sheriff and he is black so she thought of him more as a chess piece to her rebellion than anything. She is pregnant now and I have a terrible feeling that…” Garland shakes his head, deciding not to tell Thomas what his theory is.
Clay walks out the door and finds them chatting.
“Not giving him the shovel talk are ya, Pa?” He smiles at Thomas and puts out his hand for him to take. “I’m gonna take him on a tractor ride because he has never been before.”
“I wasn't giving him no shovel talk but I am telling him he best respect you.” Clay smiles at his dad and nods. “Go on! I’m not keeping you from counting the cattle.”
“Ha Ha.” Clay rolls his eyes and drags Thomas over to the old looking tractor sitting by the entrance to the gate to the pasture. “Come on! There is somewhere I want to show you!” Clay got them settled, the tractor wasn't very large and it was old so he sat on Thomas’ lap as he started driving in the pasture.
“Comfy?”
“You are a very nice cushion.” Clay smiles as Thomas scoffs and wraps his arms around his waist pressing the side of his head to Clay back. He was having a great time but he was getting a bit uncomfortable from the old seat… and Clay’s ass bouncing up and down on his lap. The drive from a bit before his hard on became noticeable.
“Thomas… are you hard?” Clay can feel his cheeks heating up as he feels Thomas dick under him, ever since Thomas told him he loves him he has been wanting so have some passionate lovemaking… not necessarily on a tractor though. “Please don’t tell me tractors are you new kink.”
Thomas laughs into Clay back and smooths his hands down Clay's abdomen to rest on the top of his thighs. “Maybe not tractors but you bouncing in my lap sure does get me going.” He laughs as Clay pulls off into a grove. Trees surrounding a pond or lake, just a body of water. Wildflowers everywhere, not blooming but he could still smell them. Clay turns the tractor off and stands up doing his best to turn around to face Thomas and not trip on the petals.
“Want to do something about it? We are in a place that Leo and I call ‘Secret’ so we might as well.” Clay straddles Thomas, his arms resting on his shoulders as their faces are just inches apart, only the light of the moon is making them visible to each other. Thomas wastes no time gripping Clay ass and pulling him in for a ferocious kiss. They made out for a while, Thomas smirking into the kiss every once in a while from when he grabs Clay’s ass making him gasp a bit. Normally Clay was very pliant when kissing, very submissive and soft, today he was fighting Thomas for dominance over the kiss and it was incredible.
Thomas felt Clay’s hand slowly fall from his shoulder down to his waistband, unbuttoning his pants with one hand and unzipping them. Thomas rarely ever wore jeans but he felt it was appropriate for meeting parents. Clay ran his finger up and down the bit of Thomas’ underwear that was just behind where the zipper was, teasing him. Feeling his breath hitch Clay smirks, pulling away from the kiss.
“You gonna fuck me or do I have to do it myself?” Clay barley finished the sentence before Thomas somehow maneuvered him so he was on his knees on the tractor seat, resting his chest over the backrest making an ‘oof’ when his diaphragm hit the rest. “Hand me my phone.”
“Think you are gonna get bored?” Thomas raises a questioning eyebrow but hands Clay his phone from the cup holder.
“No… just thought Noelle would Like a video of us.” He smiles looking back at Thomas with a mischievous glint in his eyes. Thomas is stunned for a moment, suddenly whipping out his own phone and pulling up snapchat.
“You’re so smart.” Clay’s smile goes from mischievous to soft in a second, just before Thomas yanks down his pants. “Wait… We don’t have any lube.”
“Check my front pocket, I’ve been carrying it around all day.” Clay is poking around on his phone looking rather uninterested but below the surface he was the most excited he has been in a long time, his dream was to have someone love him, fuck him, and want him in Secret. It’s finally happening.
Thomas reaches into Clay's front pocket, placing a couple small kisses on his back as he does, pulling out a packet of lube he is a bit worried. “Is this gonna be enough to prep you and fuck you?” Clay doesn't answer, just whistling as he kicks his feet a bit, then Thomas sees it, a glint in the moonlight. He looks down and notices… Clay was wearing a plug. He loudly groaned and pressed his forehead to Clay's back. “You’re gonna kill me!” Clay laughs a bit.
“I actually would rather keep you alive for now.”
“For now!?” Clay laughs again.
“As long as I’m alive at least.” Thomas smiles and shakes his head, slowly pulling the plug from Clay. He watches the screen of his lover's phone how his face looks tense but relaxed at the same time. Thomas pulls his own pants down his thighs and tears open the packet of lube with his teeth and pours it onto his cock. Clay zooms in on him.
After spreading the lube on himself he wipes the extra off on Clay’s shirt who is about to protest but gasps as Thomas pushes into him in one smooth glide, not moving just waiting for Clay to adjust. Holding his shirt between his teeth Thomas opens his phone and starts recording with the flash as he starts moving in and out of Clay, slow but deep. Clay’s own recording is on his front facing camera on his face with flash, he actually forgets he is holding his phone for a moment and closes his eyes just enjoying the jolts of pleasure through his body. His phone dips a bit so it isn’t on his face anymore and Thomas stops moving altogether.
“Phone Clayton.” Clay swallows because Thomas never calls him by his full name unless he is in trouble, he fixes the angle without complaining and is rewarded with the deepest thrust yet. Moaning loudly he pushes back onto Thomas a bit and feels him start to speed up. Punching sounds out of him as his diaphragm hits the seat and Thomas’ cock knocks the wind out of him. He is making sure to put on a show as he starts sending the videos to the groupchat of him, Thomas and Noelle.
Thomas’ video also start sending, he is making sure the angle in the video is right to see him fucking clay, sometimes pulling out slow and fucking in fast. Sometimes pulling out fast and pushing in slow. He was taking Clay apart in ways he didn’t know possible.
Clay was getting close, after his third video to Noelle he starts getting shaky, he eyes are rolling back and his mouth is constantly slack. He is used to Thomas tossing out degrading shit when they fuck, and he loves it, but tonight Thomas was completely silent and it made Clay realize just how loud he is. Thomas drives a good three more hard thrusts right into Clay's prostate and then on the fourth he says pressing on it and grinds into it causing tears to fall from Clay’s eyes for the second time today. It sends Clay over the edge, cumming harder than he has in a while and that says a lot because he usually cums hard when he is with his partners.
Clay clenches around Thomas as he starts cumming and it sends him over the edge as well, sending the last video he leans forward and grips Clay's hips tightly as his body tenses. Once he is finished he slowly pulls out, neither of them being a fan of over stimulation, they both wince a bit.
“We don’t have anything to clean up with.” Thomas is thinking about using his shirt but that might be obvious to the parents.
“You could.. Put the plug back in, then use the dirty rag in the bottom of the cup holder for the seat.” Clay isn’t looking at Thomas, he probably thinks it's weird that Clay wants the plug back in. “Just… Just til we get back home.” Clay's face is burning with how embarrassed he is. Thomas thinks for a moment feeling his own face heat up, Clay wants everything he just put in him to stay in him… it was extremely hot but he didn’t know if that's how Clay saw it, taking the plug from his hand that was holding his phone, he help it between his ring and middle finger to make sure they didn’t lose it. He gulps down all his excitement that is threatening to make him hard again and watches closely as he uses his free hand to pull Clay open again. He slowly inserts the plug back into his boyfriend and lets out a shaky breath. How is he supposed to talk to Judy if he knows Clay is walking around with his baby juice still in him.
Oh god.
Clay slowly sits up and rolls his shoulders out, they are a bit stiff. Thomas wraps his arms around Clay's middle after they both pull up their pants and wipe off the seat, Clay’s head falls back on his shoulder, smiling sleepily.
“Hey,” Thomas pokes Clay’s cheek with his nose in a way of telling him he wants a kiss, turning his head Clay gives him a sweet chaste kiss smiling when they rub their noses for a moment. “I love you.” Clay turns around in the seat clumsily, just about falling off but thankful Thomas catches him by his belt loops and pulls him back onto the seat both laughing wildly. Smashing their lips together they are still laughing playfully biting each other's lips and noses.
“I love you too.”
Noelle woke up from her nap in one of her bigger fluffier bean bag chairs, it held her and probably would hold Thomas as well. Her phone was going nuts, sixteen snapchat notifications from Clay and Thomas. She sighs happily, still having an hour until dinner she was excited to talk to her boys, opening her app she clicks on that little purple square and it's a video of Clay's face, but then it zooms in on Thomas… lubing himself up. Sitting up a bit too fast and making herself dizzy, thanks anemia, she starts watching closer. Watching all the videos in full she is incredibly hot and uncomfortable, she curses as she tries to take a screenshot of Clay’s face and accidently closes her phone.
She watches closely at all of the videos, Thomas’ of his cock fucking Clay and Clay’s reaction to this on his own videos. She scrambles to her bag to pull out the gift Clay had gotten her from a fucking tiktok video. It was a rose toy, the first time she used it she came in a minute and a half, crying from how good it was at the same time. She decided to take a video of herself getting off to them… they would appreciate that.
Stripping out of everything except for the hoodie Thomas gave her over a year ago she gets to work. Setting the phone up on the fancy footboard of her bed she gets a bit camera shy, sitting there for a moment thinking about how bad she wishes she was with them. She also was nervous to use the rose on her own because it was really powerful and she didn’t know if she could actually keep it on herself long enough to actually finish.
Then she starts thinking about how Clay and Thomas will react to the video, definitely would get them going again and she would love to hear or maybe even see what they did. She is starting to think she is a bit of a voyeur… She take a deep breath and starts the video, She awkwardly waves at the camera, noticing how her hair is poking out of her hood over her head and she laughs, taking a deep breath she holds down the button on the rose for three seconds and she feels it turn on, buzzing in her hand. She spreads her legs and places the rose onto herself, instantly she knocks her head back on her headboard. Putting her free hand over her mouth to keep her from making noise she scrunches her brows and squeezes her eyes shut. Pressing harder she feels her legs start to shake and her abs clenching. Her toes start to curl and her eyes roll back as she already starts to fall off the edge, already being so turned on and the power of the rose being too much she cums taking the rose off her and curling forward as she shakes, shivering violently. She is breathing hard and feels around for her phone. Stopping the video she sends it to them with a little heart emoji. She looks at the time and smiles as she still has twenty minutes till dinner, she cleans up and gets dressed in something a bit nicer. Her face is still red and glowy but she doesn’t mind. She gets a notification and it's from Thomas in the chat, three drooling emojis and
‘I love you’.
Later on in the night after Judy and Garland have gone to bed and Thomas was on his phone just scrolling on tiktok, Clay got him addicted, the man himself walks into the room with arms full of snacks, placing them on the table in his room. His room was the size of the living room in the apartment, it had two red walls and two white. It seems like Clay has never been one for monogamy in any sense of the word. It had a large king size bed, on a fancy mahogany bed frame with fancy sheets and bedspread that don’t match in the slightest. A walk in closet that was full of clothes and trophies along with a gaming system and boxes with names on them full of little trinkets that Clay has found. Leo and Eloise's boxes are the only boxes left in there because Thomas, Noelle and Reg have all taken their boxes with them. Judy and Garland have a room full of things Clay has collected for them over his whole life.
“Did you get cleaned out? I want to make sure we pack the plug for home, I think we could have some good fun with that.” Thomas moves to the edge of the bed to sit with his feet touching the ground, about to get up to get some pretzel sticks. Clay had gone quiet, he was just chatting about how he was upset that his favorite heifer was sold and his parents forgot to tell him.
“Ummm… yeah.” Thomas senses something is off and motions for Clay to come over to him with his finger, Clay shuffles over to him between his legs, Thomas rests his hands on Clay hips and looks up at him. Clay is looking anywhere but him.
“Clay, what's wrong?” Clay sighs and looks down, Thomas ducks his head a bit to look Clay in the eyes, he looks worried. This made Thomas worry as well.
“I just- it's embarrassing.”
“What's embarrassing?” Clay starts to fidget, pressing the tips of his fingers in between his other fingers. Thomas takes his hands and gives them a squeeze.
“I still have the plug in… because I want you in me. Always.” Clay feels his cheeks heat up and he is waiting for Thomas to get grossed out but instead Thomas smiles at him.
“I don’t think that’s embarrassing, I think that's actually pretty hot.” Clay looks deep into Thomas eyes before moving onto the rest of his face just to see if he is lying, he realizes he is being truthful and tackles him back onto the bed. They eventually stop rolling with Clay on top of Thomas, they are both only in their boxers so there wasn’t much between them. Clay grinds down on Thomas as he feels him getting hard. Thomas goes to put his hands on Clay's hips but is stopped short, Clay pins his hands above his head smirking down at him.
“I’m in charge tonight, keep your hands here. I’m gonna undress us.” Clay shimmies down the shocked Thomas’ body, yanking his boxers off and tossing them over his shoulder, doing the same with his own. He lays down and slowly takes the plug out of himself after scurrying over to get the lube causing Thomas to laugh.
“You’re so cute.” Thomas lays there buzzing with excitement, He jumps a bit when the cold lube hits his way to hard cock and makes a sound of offense when Clay snickers at him. Swinging his leg over Thomas and not even pausing as he sinks down on him. Humming happily. Thomas can’t help it when he goes to move his hands again but Clay pins them back to the bed.
“You should learn to- listen” Clay is moving his hips not even stopping to take a breath. Thomas was groaning under him. Clay has not ridden him yet and it is so different, Thomas was definitely not in control and Clay was so hot being so bossy. Noelle is teaching him things. He was the one gasping and begging for more and Clay was the one giving yet receiving at the same time. He was in his own state, yeah Thomas could put him into a submissive mood with just a simple gesture but he was enjoying this. Clay eventually lets go of his hands but Thomas keeps them there as he watches Clay just focus on fucking himself. His arms stretched over his head, one coming down to glide down his chest and to tug his own neglected cock every once in a while but he was dragging this out because he was in control.
Eventually Clay takes one of Thomas' hands and moves it to his dick, Thomas starts to jerk him off causing his rhythm to stutter. He was moaning and his head was falling back, Thomas started meeting his thrusts and he groaned. He was getting close, he was about to tell Thomas this when he suddenly felt a heat filling him up, his eyes snapped open and he saw Thomas’ mouth open and his head tipped back.
He just came… before Clay did! That never happens!
The feeling of Thomas cumming in him, and the thought that Clay made him come first for the first time ever. He spurts onto Thomas’ stomach, flopping forward and putting all his weight onto Thomas.
“We” Clay was still catching his breath as Thomas kissed all over his face, sweaty and breathing hard he smiled. “We can clean up, but I want you in me when we fall asleep.” Thomas’ heart soared at the thought, this new kink of Clay’s was quite nice, not gonna lie. They clean up and snuggle into bed in a spoon position, Thomas hard and in Clay as he falls asleep, driving him mad!
After Thomas is positive Clay is asleep and he has gone soft he pulls out and rolls over so his back to Clay and calls Noelle. A couple of rings and she answers sounding groggy.
“Noelle! So much just happened! Clay has a fucking warming kink! A WARMING KINK!” He whispers yells as she snorts at him but tells him to go on. “He just pinned me to the bed after having a plug in after we fucked on the tractor! He fucked himself on me! I Came BEFORE him!”
“And I missed all this just to see my dad kick Leo out of the house! That’s dumb! You guys better do it again when I’m home because I was to see that! Anyways I need to rest because tomorrow will be long and boring and tense. Goodnight I love you.”
“Good luck and Goodnight Sugar Tits.” Noelle laughs at him.
“I love you too.”
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ghostlywritten · 4 years ago
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If Only I Had Stayed In The Shadows - Chapter Two
James Potter x OC
Words: 2,6k
Prologue Chapter One
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"Get up, it's Hogsmeade time!" Marlene shouted and I felt something soft hit the back of my head.
"Nrnngh," I grumbled, snuggling my face further into my pillow. "Come on, we only have this day and we have to eat breakfast, too!"
"Fine," I sighed, rolling off the bed.
"So, what's the plan for today?" I asked as we trudged down the hill towards the village after we handed in our permission slips to Filch.
"I need to go to the Hairdressing Salon for a new haircut," Marlene announced, tightening the scarf around her neck as a rather cool breeze drifted around us.
Groaning, I held her back by the elbow, "Are we going to spend all day in a salon? That's a total waste!"
"Oi, taking care of my hair is not a waste. And maybe you two should get a haircut, too," Marlene pointed out, causing Lily and I to splutter in protest.
"Excuse me, why do I need a haircut?" Lily asked, reaching up to touch her hair.
"It's way too long and unpractical, you always need hours for a Straightening Charm to work," the dark-haired girl explained matter-of-factly, "And yours, dear Cecily, is way too long and asymmetrical. It's as if you are cutting your hair yourself."
I kept quiet, wondering how she had figured that out as I touched my straight, light-brown hair a bit self-consciously. "Whatever, I don't want to spend all day in a hair salon," I said defiantly, "Besides, I need to get to Honeydukes to get all kinds of candy."
"What for?"
"For myself mostly…and for Madam Pomfrey." My two dear friends both came to an abrupt halt.
"You are trying to bribe her?" Lily laughed and I gave her a shrug, "What else can I do?" They just shook their head, "What do you think would be her taste?"
"Cec, you are going to Honeydukes. You won't find anything that will not be to anyone's taste," Lily stated, and I had to agree.
"The shop is across the hair salon," Marlene informed as we reached the village, "You go to there and I will get my hair done in under an hour. Promise!"
"Fine. And we go to the Three Broomsticks after?"
"Deal."
We parted ways with Marlene, Lily deciding to roam around Honeydukes with me to avoid sitting in the salon and possibly getting a hair cut without wanting to.
The bell jingled as I opened the wooden door and I took in the scent of mixed sweets, "Ah, I'm in heaven."
"Agreed," Lily said with a smile. I looked around the many rows of chocolate, gummies and other kinds of teeth-rotting sweets. "Now that I think about it, a Healer would probably not like unhealthy food like this, would they?"
"Please, she is not a dentist. No one can resist these goodies," Lily said, devouring a toffee with a satisfied hum as she handed me one, "Definitely not."
I resolved to pick up a bit of each sweet, resulting in a steadily growing package. Lily's eyes went wide, "Are you serious?"
"No, I'm Sirius," the black-haired boy popped up from behind us out of nowhere, causing us to shriek.
"Bloody Hell, Black! I almost dropped my bag!" I cursed, adjusting my grip on the sweets. Sirius raised his eyebrow as he took a peek inside, "Is this the aftermath of a break-up?"
'I wish,' I thought, shaking my head wordlessly whilst the other three Marauders came up, each with a smaller bag of their own in their hands.
"Hm? The time of the month then?" Remus blanched upon hearing his words whilst James and Peter laughed quietly. "Sirius!"
"What? I'm just wondering why she is buying so many sweets just for herself."
"It's not for myself. It's to bribe someone," I said deftly before moving further down the lane to inspect the other sweets.
"You need to bribe someone?" James asked, following me – or rather Lily, who had left with an eyeroll and was staying a few feet away.
"Yep, for a favour."
"Excuse me but I think you will have other possibilities to…persuade someone," James said suggestively (and loudly) and I had almost dropped the bag again.
"Um, what?" I muttered, turning around to face him only to lean back in surprise upon seeing how close he was. He smirked and it looked kind of…off. My eyes flickered towards his friends, who were suspiciously occupied with whatever was in front of them. "Well…in this case it's an old lady, who will probably be more responsive to chocolate than whatever you are suggesting."
"You know exactly what I'm suggesting." I tried to ignore how red my face must have been at this point until he chuckled, scratching the back of his head, "I'm just messing with you, Grant."
I breathed out, slapping his arm and turning away, "Good." Too bad.
"Now, who is the old lady and what favour do you need? Are you trying to bribe McG for a better grade?"
"You say that as if that would actually be possible."
"Touché," James mused, watching me pick some Chocolate Cauldrons as he munched on a toffee, "Who is it then?"
"Madam Pomfrey," I said, seeing no harm in telling him, "For an internship at the Hospital Wing." A choking sound made me turn around towards him, "You alright there, James?"
"Y-yeah," he said, hitting his chest with his fist a few times before he managed to swallow the rest of the sweet, "You-you want to work at the Hospital Wing?"
"Yep. I could use the internship for future applications as a Healer," I explained, shifting the bag on my arm as the other ached, figuring it would be enough for now.
"Um, is that possible?" James wondered, his face unusually pale as he looked back towards his friends, "I didn't know that."
"Yeah, it is possible. My parents were interns during their time here. But ever since First Year, Madam Pomfrey hasn't recruited anyone."
"Is that so?"
"It's so weird, really," I said mindlessly, munching on a Chocolate Frog, "But I'm gonna try anyway."
"Well, good luck with that," James replied with a high-pitched laugh and I looked at him with furrowed eyebrows, "You sure you are alright there?"
"Yes!" the messy-haired boy said quickly before clearing his throat, "And if you want to convince her to take you in, you should add another of the Pixie Puffs. Those are her favourites."
"How do you know that?"
"I have my ways," James winked, dropping a puff into my bag before grabbing it from me, "Come on, I will carry it for you."
"Um, thanks?" I asked more than stated, following him towards the cashier.
"You are very welcome. Hello Evans," James greeted Lily politely, who was waiting for me at cash desk with raised eyebrows.
"Hello…Potter," she said slowly, widening her eyes at me when he had his back turned towards us, standing in the line. 'What's going on?' she mouthed.
'No freaking idea,' I mouthed back before neutralising my expression as the boy with round glasses turned back, "Have you been to the Three Broomsticks, yet?"
"Nope. Later, though first I apparently need a haircut," I answered, sharing a look with Lily.
"Why is that? Your hair is pretty the way it is," James commented, leaning close once again.
"I said 'apparently', Potter," I told him, leaning back once again before gesturing him to move as the line cleared and I was up to pay.
"Good, you don't need it."
"My thoughts exactly!"
James laughed and Lily cleared her throat, catching our attention, "I'm gonna head out and see if Marlene is done. Would you reserve a table at the pub?" I nodded in agreement and she left, not without another look at James. I noticed him watch after her as soon as her back was turned at him, wondering about his weird behaviour.
He stayed quiet whilst I paid for the sweets before handing me the bag. "Well, I'm off to the Shrieking Shack. See ya!" And he left with his friends. Well, that was abrupt.
The next week consisted of classes, me begging Madam Pomfrey for an internship with a new bag of sweets everyday and James somehow hanging around me outside of class and Quidditch practice. It started with him joining me on study sessions in the library and sitting next to me during breakfast, lunch and dinner or asking to sit with him at the fireplace in the Common Room like right now.
I was trudging through the portrait hole with yet another miserable pout as James called out to me loudly, "Grant, come over!"
"Hey James," I sighed as I plopped down on an armchair next to the loveseat he was sprawled all over. He pouted playfully, "I wanted you to sit next to me."
"How?" I asked, trying to gulp inconspicuously at the lazy smile on his face, "Your limbs are in the way."
"There is more than enough space all over me," he said, gesturing towards his body.
I blushed deeply, causing his grin to widen, and cleared my throat. "Honestly, James. What's up with you lately?"
"What do you mean?"
"You've been acting weird, lately," I pondered and watched him shift uncomfortably, "Spending a lot of time with me when we have never talked outside of class and Quidditch before."
"What is weird about trying to get closer to a Quidditch member? It raises the team spirit," James retorted.
"Raise the team spirit?" I repeated with a raised eyebrow, "We have more than enough team spirit. And I don't see you spending that much time around the other members."
"I have priorities," James said.
"What priorities?"
"You, for one," he replied with a grin.
"…Me?"
"Yeah, you," James sat up, leaning forward on his knees, "You are close to becoming Chaser No. 1."
"What do you mean?" I wondered.
"Angie is going to quit after winter break."
"What?"
"Yes," the brown-eyed boy sighed, running a hand through his already messy hair, "She wants to concentrate on her N.E.W.T.s, so she is leaving the team."
"Who is going to be her substitute?"
"Archie Stan."
"Oh, hell no."
"Oh, hell yes."
"James, Archie and I don't get along," I hissed quietly, "We can't play together."
"You will have to. We will integrate him into Team A practice from the next session on," James explained and smiled at my frown, "Come on. It's not going to be so bad. You could try to get along with him."
"It's not my fault. He is the one, who has a problem with me," I complained, crossing my arms, "Trust me, I doubt we are going to harmonise."
"You will, don't worry," James reassured me, placing a hand on my knee. I stilled at his touch, feeling the warmth of his palm through the leggings I was wearing, "I'm the Captain. And as a Captain, I'm also the designated mediator of the team."
"We are doomed then," I said dryly and he gave me a look, causing me to giggle.
"You meanie," he flicked my knee before leaning back against the couch. We talked more about Quidditch, the current league and discussing, which team would win this year until it was well past midnight.
I went to bed that night with a giddy feeling in my chest and I went to bed with a giddy feeling for the next few weeks as the evening talks became somewhat a ritual between James and me. We would talk about mindless things such as Quidditch, classes and even the meaning of life.
This night, I was a bit late after another visit at the Hospital Wing. I had received a letter of my parents today, expressing their disappointment in me not having started that internship, yet. And of course, I got rejected again by Pomfrey again.
"Hey, what's with the long face?" James asked as I arrived in the Common Room.
I merely groaned, dropping face first onto the loveseat. "So, Madam Pomfrey has rejected you once more?" James asked and I groaned again. "Thought so," James added and I merely grumbled.
"I just don't get why she won't take any interns in," I moaned, turning on my back, "She is so busy, I always see more than ten students every day, she obviously needs help."
"Well, maybe that's exactly why. She probably doesn't have the time to instruct someone when she has so much to do."
"I don't need much instructing…" I said and he gave me a look, "What, you know it!"
"True," he said with a wide smile, causing me to return it. He took my hand in his, squeezing it slightly, "Don't worry. I'm sure she will come around soon."
"Maybe…"
"Did she take the bag of sweets again?"
"Of course, she did."
"Dang it, I was looking forward to some Chocolate Balls." I laughed before reaching into my pocket and throwing a ball at him. With his Seeker's instincts he was able to catch it on time before it hit his face, shooting me a mock reprimanding look before unwrapping the sweet. "Are you gonna try again tomorrow?"
"Yeah…but I don't even know why I bother," I sighed, "It's not like I even want an internship that much."
"Then why do you?"
"My parents want me to."
James raised an eyebrow. "They are both Healers."
"Ah, and they want you to become one, too."
"Yep."
"…And what do you want?" he asked quietly, leaning on his knees.
Sighing heavily, I said, "I just want to play for the Montrose Magpies."
"Oh, it's good they are trying to force you to become a Healer then."
"Excuse me?"
"I'm just joking," James laughed, standing up to sit on the carpet in front of me, "You should pursue that possibility though."
"Oh please. The Montrose Magpies are one of the biggest teams in English league- no, you can't convince me otherwise!" I said as he opened his mouth to protest, "They would never take someone from a school's team."
"Of course, they wouldn't," he agreed, grinning when I pouted, "But you can start with a smaller team. You know, recruiters always come to watch the second leg of the Quidditch games at spring every year. You might catch someone's eye."
"They only look for Seventh Years," I pointed out.
"Well, obviously they don't want to be responsible for students dropping out of school," James said with a 'duh' tone, "But it's a possibility for next year.
And whilst waiting for that you can continue trying for that internship."
"You mean pursue both careers?"
"Exactly. Why do you make a choice now what to do in the future when you don't have to, yet?" James reasoned, "You should open as many doors for you as you can and then make a choice when you have to." I stared at the boy in front of me, watching the light of the fire flicker over his face. I had never found anyone as attractive as him in that moment.
"James, that's the smartest thing anyone has ever said to me and Professor Dumbledore has taught us for one class when McGonagall was sick for a week." The dark-haired boy threw his head back, laughing and I was almost mesmerised by the twinkle in his chocolate brown eyes. I shook my head slightly, looking away for a second before I gave him a warm smile, "Thank you, James."
He nodded, waving his hand dismissively, "Don't mention it."
"I'm serious- don't go there," I warned him as he tried to jump on the pun, "That was a really good advice. Where did that even come from?"
James shrugged with an almost shy look, "My dad is pretty cool, I guess." I laughed. "He told me somewhat the same when I was telling him that I couldn't choose between Quidditch and Auror training."
"Your dad is a wise man."
"He sure is." I smiled, later wondering how long we had sat that night simply staring at each other.
Chapter Three
95 notes · View notes
j-wont-stop · 3 years ago
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Title - The Scarred (Chapter Two)
Word Count - 1241
Fandom - Batman: The Dark Knight
Pairing - Ledger!Joker x OC
Summary - Penelope Bishop works at a florist shop in Gotham, barely getting by in the corrupted city. Her life is shrouded by therapy and judgment with little light to find her way with. However, when a certain painted face starts making himself known to her, things take a turn.
Warnings - Minor bullying, brief panic attack, flashbacks
Inspiration - Cold - Aqualung & Lucy Schwartz
Masterlist
The days were always slow, agonizing. It was both a curse and a blessing for the two florists. It brought on periods of intense boredom, yet allowed some time for them to bond more, if that was even possible. Penelope had been struggling to find a job which didn’t come as a surprise to her, knowing her condition. When she finally reached Emma after weeks of searching, not only was she hired on the spot, but Emma had welcomed her to the business as if she was family. It had been hard for Penelope to adjust as they had conflicting personalities, but after a few months of endless conversations and working she finally started to open up to the older brunette. It had been one of their great milestones.
Emma was not just a friend to Penelope, but a role model. A mentor when her own mother no longer could be. In fact, she truly did start to view her as a mother figure after a few years. She always treated her with respect and took care of her when she needed it most. It would be a lie, however, if Emma said she never had any motherly instincts when it came to Penelope.
“So,” Emma piped up as they munched on their lunch. Penelope peaked up at her from under her bangs. “I found out my parents are gonna be visiting in a few months.”
“Yeah?” Emma nodded, wiping her mouth off with a napkin. “For how long?”
“I think a week? They’re still figuring out the details.”
“Is there a special occasion or…?” She nodded again.
“My dad’s birthday. He’s turning 70.” Penelope hummed.
“The big 7-0, huh?”
“Yup.” Emma stood up, collecting their trash and throwing it out in a nearby trash can. “Can’t say he’s too happy about it, though.” She giggled, Penelope joining in soon after. Emma suddenly gasped and looked over at her with wide eyes. “You’ve never met them, have you?” She watched as Penelope shook her head. “Well, missy. You’re gonna have to free up one of your nights that week for dinner. My dad makes some mean steaks.” She winked at Penelope who just smiled.
“I’m looking forward to it.” The bell chimed and their heads snapped to the front door, a familiar blond sauntering into the shop, head held high with a pearly white smile. Penelope’s disappeared the second she saw it.
“Hey, sweetheart!” Emma squeezed her in a tight hug as Penelope went back to writing in her journal. “Penny, you remember Alice, right?” The woman in question simply nodded without so much as a glance, the blond’s smile faltering ever so slightly.
“I just wanted to buy some more flowers for the house, and say ‘hi’ of course.” They laughed for a short bit.
“Sure! Anything in particular or do you just wanna look around?”
“I was actually thinking about stargazer lilies?” Emma made a sound with a roll of her eyes, flicking her wrist.
“Oh, of course. I shoulda’ guessed. Let me grab it from the back.” Alice’s eyes followed her mother before turning her attention to Penelope. She took her time walking over to the woman hunched over the counter, pencil fiercely scratching away.
“Hey, Patchy.” The scratching came to a strong halt. Her voice had been soft, sweet, giving anyone a false sense of security. Though Penelope knew it was anything but. Going back to writing after a few seconds, Alice clicked her tongue. “You know, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were a mute.” A few more seconds passed and the blond was slowly losing her composure. “What, are you deaf, too?”
“No point in talking. I ignored you just fine the first time.” Penelope informed her with feigned innocence, a small smile playing on her lips making the other’s twitch into a frown. Alice’s mouth opened to speak, only to close when her mother entered the room once again. She held a glass vase filled with the preferred flowers, setting them on the counter as her daughter pulled out a ten from her wallet and handed it to her.
“Love you, mah!” She called over her shoulder as she left the building. Emma frowned as she looked over at Penelope who now chewed ferociously at her cheek, fingertips white where they gripped the pencil.
———————————————————————
With candlelit faces, the two of them laughed. The younger woman’s eyes were glazed over with joy as her mother presented the cake in the dark room.
The soothing ambience of the soft music and boiling water in the background was a stark contrast compared to her raging thoughts. She made her way to the fridge, opening the freezer to pull out a bag of tortellini.
As thick smoke started to crowd the room, accompanied by distant screams, they stared at each other. Now both of their eyes were glazed, yet it held an entirely different meaning.
After having ripped the bag open with her teeth, Penelope warily poured the frozen pasta into the water, standing as far away as possible to avoid being splashed. As she waited for them to be ready she grabbed a jar of pesto from the fridge, then a larger bowl and olive oil from the cupboard.
“Penny-” She was cut off by her own coughing. “The window - open the window!”
Lightly sucking on the inside of her bleeding cheek, she brought the pot over to the strainer that had been placed in the sink. She leaned away from the steam as she poured in the pasta and water, setting the pot aside when she finished. The bowl was brought over for the pasta to be transferred.
Even through the overwhelming pain, she maintained eye contact with her daughter for reassurance. She noticed the way she apprehensively glanced out of the window. “It’ll be okay, sweetheart.”
The sound of glass shattering filled the still air of the room. Having now sat down on the floor against the counter she let her head fall back with a light ‘thud’, taking shaky breaths as she tried to ground herself. Suddenly, she cried out to the nothingness in front of her, not a yell or a scream. The noise had found the perfect middleground as she trembled.
Penelope wasn’t sure how long it had been. Hours, minutes, maybe even only seconds. Her legs were laid out in front of her now, head hung low with a gentle sniff every now and then. Her dinner had been long forgotten. She had lost her appetite. She looked over to where the small bowl had been thrown, white chunks scattered below where it hit the wall. Thankfully the wall was fine save for some scratched paint.
She begrudgingly pushed herself from the floor to cover the bowl with the pasta and put it in the fridge. She left the glass where it was, deciding to just clean it up after work the next day. With a soft ‘click’ her bedroom glowed with warm light and she trudged over to the small bathroom. Just as she was about to start her normal routine, however, she caught something out of the corner of her eye. It was small, barely noticeable as it blended with the egg-white countertop. The lined paper had some chicken scratch on it and she strained her eye to read it, yet when she could finally make out the words her heart dropped. Always wear a smile.
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stars-a-n-d-scars · 4 years ago
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10 Days of Summer - Chapter 1
Hi so no one was really seeing this over on ao3 and I worked really hard on it, so I decided to give it a shot over here. The next 9 chapters will be coming soon, so follow me or the tag to see them!
- Mia x
*
It was the hottest summer Buckinghamshire had ever seen. The rolling fields were dusted with the final remnants of spring, as the less-resilient plants wilted and those suited to the sweltering conditions flourished. The sun sat high in the sky for so long that one began to wonder if the night would ever come. Of course, it always did, but was rarely accompanied by any sort of liberation from the fervor.
The only relief to be gleaned from the unnerving sensation of being cooked in your own skin could be found in the cool waters of a large, clear lake that sat beside a homely manor, nestled in the hills of the county. Hidden beneath the outstretched branches of various trees, the lake had been subject to many a morning swim or late-night gathering over the years. It was here, in fact, that the four marauders could be found, on the hottest day of August, 1975.
With Euphemia and Fleamont gone to France for the summer, the boys had taken the opportunity to spend their last 2 weeks at the Potter estate. Of course, James’ parents had been reluctant to let the boys stay there without a set of rules, and so they created a long list of guidelines, all of which the marauders had plans to break before their return to Hogwarts on the 1st of September. It had already been four blissful days of this, and they still had 10 to go when we join the group.
Sprawled in their various positions around the lake, James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew were all basking the shade of the trees, simply taking in this pocket of bliss they had found in a world that was becoming increasingly more war-like with each passing second. The sun was shining overhead and they were with each other. And in that moment, that was all they needed.
The silence was broken with a loud splash, followed by an indignant “OI!” Remus clambered out of the water and up the bank, his eyes fixed on is assailant, vengeance in his expression.
“You fucking moron! I was reading! You could have thrown any one of them into the lake! Merlin knows a good dip would’ve done Peter some good, but no! You had to choose me!” His outburst was cut short when he got close enough to take in Sirius’ expression. His face, far from showing any signs of regret, instead bore his signature Sirius Black smirk. One corner of his mouth was upturned, his nose scrunched in a way that suggested both innocence and the opposite. It was an expression that, on anyone else, would have looked out-of-place and frankly stupid, but that befitted Sirius’ features perfectly. Remus had often marveled at how it drew out his devilishly handsome side.
Having lost his train of thought completely, his wand limp in his hand, Remus decided the best thing to do was to go and find a nice warm patch of sun in which to dry off. Sirius, however, had other plans. Remus had barely taken two steps toward his towel before he was grabbed around the waist and thrown, for the second time that day, headfirst into the water.
Sinking was an enjoyable feeling. Down there, in the water, nothing could hurt you. It was all up to you. Sound became nothing but a detached concept, and time joined it in its alienation. You could sink forever, simply being engulfed by the soft waves of the water, and emerge not a second later. Remus did just that. As his head broke the surface, spluttering, he lashed out wildly and managed to grab hold of an ankle. Pulling hard, the owner of said ankle tumbled into the lake next to him, and Remus soon found himself floating, face to face, with Sirius, once again bearing that ridiculous grin.
As both of the boys tried to catch their breath, time stopped. And it was just them. Remus and Sirius, Sirius and Remus. Floating in that never-ending pool of possibilities. Breaths became heavy as an invisible force seemed to draw them closer, closer.
Their noses were nearly touching now Remus could see every detail of Sirius’ eyes from here. He could almost pinpoint the exact place where blue leaked into grey, which leaked into black. It was strange, really, how anyone’s eyes could be so captivating. Almost a point of curiosity. Eyes had a purpose. They captured light, which was then translated into information, which was then processed by the brain to take in the person’s surroundings. So why did all logic defy Sirius’ eyes to be so beautiful? They had no reason to be. It wasn’t to make it easier to see. It wasn’t to draw in a mate (because merlin, he needed no help with that), so why? Their breath mingled in the moist summer air, their lips inches apart. It was taking every ounce of restraint that Remus had in his not to close the gap and snog his best mate senseless, but then again, that was the norm when you were secretly in love with your best friend.
The tensions was shattered by the snap of a book closing.
“Alright, boys, I’m bored”, James announced, stowing Quidditch Through the Ages in the small bag he had brought down from the house. The boys sprung apart, all nervous coughing and straightening of hair. Remus hurriedly turned his back on his – what, crush? It was more than that. But he knew one thing for certain; now was not the time to figure it out. This was what he told himself as he climbed up the bank and rolled out onto the grass.
In an attempt to restore himself to his former state of nonchalance, Remus rolled his eyes sarcastically (quite successfully, given the situation he was actually thinking about).
“You’re reading that book again? You’ve barely taken your hands off of it all summer!”, he said, pulling Sirius up the bank after him (and definitely not thinking about the sensation of his friend’s warm, wet hand in his).
Sirius grinned. “Aw, lay off him Rem. This is the first year Lily had gotten him a birthday present. Honestly, I would be concerned if he read it any less than a thousand times.”
This comment was met with a playful shove from James, but the lovesick boy couldn’t hide his grin at the recollection of Lily’s favor. James shook the memory from his mind (with difficulty, it seemed).
“I’m bored. Let’s go to town, grab a milkshake or something.”
Sirius, always keen for an outing to the muggle town that was located less than a kilometer from the Potters’ house, agreed almost immediately. Peter followed suit at the mention of food, and began rummaging in his pocket for the stash of muggle money his parents had granted him for the holiday. Remus was somewhat more reluctant.
“I don’t know guys. It’ll be dark soon, and I don’t really want to go walking around a strange village in the middle of the night.”
“It’s not a strange village, Rem! Jamie grew up here!” (The use of the less-than-favorable nickname earned Sirius yet another shove). “Plus… there’s an antiques store. And last time I was there the owner said they’d be getting a new stock of books in this summer.”
“You know me too well”, Remus caved, and packed up his stuff. They went and dropped off their things at the main house, got changed into some town-going clothes and headed for the road that led down into the charming muggle settlement of Padbury.
**
It really was a lovely little town. Old cottages with thatched roofs skirted the border, with carefully-trimmed gardens of heather and honeysuckle. A beautiful old church sat in the town center, with a clock tower and a bell that frankly, shouldn’t still be operational, given it’s age. But, as many things in the town of Padbury, it seemed to be denied the effects of the passage of time, and instead chimed beautiful notes out over the countryside every hour.
The main road took the boys right into the middle of the town, where a collection of stores seemed to be waiting for them. The town square had everything, ranging from mechanics to diners, from supermarkets to florists. And, nestled in between a non-descript restaurant and a lavender-adorned wall, was a beautiful little antique store. Remus made a beeline for it, but was stopped in his tracks by James’ hand on his wrist.
“Come on Remus. Let’s go check out that comic-book store first! I love muggle comics, they’re so corny…”
Remus sighed, knowing that very few people could ever change his friend’s mind, and began to follow him across the street. But fortunately, Sirius was one of the people capable of performing that miraculous feat, and, in that moment, happened to be on Remus’ side.
“C’mon James. Remy doesn’t want to spend hours with you oggling at randos in spandex and getting inspiration for your next move at Evans. You take Pete over to the comic-book store, and Remus and I will go to the antiques shop.” Sirius shot a smile Remus’ way, which managed to both make his heart beat a million miles a second and stop it altogether.
James scoffed. “What do you want with an antique shop?”
“I have to get something for Reggie’s birthday, and he loves old dusty books and things. Plus, I have no desire to spend any amount of time dicussing whether or not Lily would think it was funny if you dressed up as Superman for halloween.”
Without giving James a chance to retort, Sirius dragged Remus back across the street and into the antique store before he even had a chance to register what was going on.
The second they entered the store, the rest of the world fell away. Somehow, the noise of the bustling street outside was silenced, and the only sound that could be heard was the ticking of an ancient grandfather clock that stood in the corner. Remus revolved on the spot, taking in every inch of the sequestered nook that they had just stumbled upon. Ornate carvings of all sorts sat in the windows, varying from animals to sprawling, intricate landscapes. Tapestries and paintings hung on the walls, each a moment of time, perfectly captured and eternalised on canvas. Furniture, bits and pieces and other oddments that had washed up in this place over the years were scattered haphazardly around the room, making for a display of authenticity that, although was now mostly gone from the world, seemed to have survived in this tiny corner of the English countryside. And the books. Oh, the books. They lined ever wall, and were stacked 10 high on shelves. Strewn and slid into every nook and cranny where they would fit. Not in any way categorized, but instead exactly where they were always meant to be. Delicate printings of Jules Verne, Ernest Hemmingway and even Shakespeare were mixed in with books as common as The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Remus closed his eyes and breathed. He breathed in the smell of dust and time. He breathed in the taste of the years these books had seen, the years he might catch a glimpse of between their pages. Be breathed because here, he could.
A soft hand rested on his shoulder and an even softer voice pulled him, somewhat reluctantly, from his reverie.
“Rem?”
Remus opened his eyes. It was Sirius. God, it was always Sirius.
“I’m going to look over here for something for Reggie”, he gestured to the carvings in the windows. “You take your time, okay? We have all day. Hell, we have all summer.”
Remus could do no more than nod as the comfortable weight on his shoulder lifted and he found himself alone again.
**
An hour and a half later, the boys exited the store with more books than anyone could possibly read, and two small, hollow carved flowers that Sirius had plans to enchant so that he could send his brother messages by placing a note inside his, and having it be transported to Regulus’.
They met up with James and Peter in the diner, and ordered four caramel milkshakes. When they came, Sirius whipped out his flask and added a little ‘extra flavour’, as he liked to call it. When the boys had finished their concoctions, they started to head home. However, it was quickly discovered that with the combined weight of Remus’ books, Sirius’ wooden flowers and James’ numerous gifts that he had gotten for Lily (“Maybe we should have gone with him, you know, for impulse control…”), it was going to be all but impossible to walk back to the manor. And so was hatched what was simultaneously the best and worst idea any of the marauders ever had. To rent a motorbike.
All they had to do was walk down to the mechanic down the street and rent one of the bikes they had going. They would only need it for a day, and would bring it back tomorrow. And so, the combined riches of James and Sirius making cost something of a trivial topic, the plan was enacted. The books were placed in a basket on the front, which was lowered so that Sirius could see. James’ takings from the trip were strapped (with slightly excessive security methods) to the back, and the flowers were placed in the side bags. After a few failed attempts at getting the bike started and close calls for the wooden ornaments, Sirius managed to be riding along next to the other boys at a steady pace. It took them no more than 20 minutes to get back home, at which point it occurred to them all that they were wizards, and could have easily bewitched all of the objects to float along beside them as they walked.
The boys ended the night collapsed around the living room fire. James charmed it so that it kept them cool, rather than warm, and Sirius entertained himself by making multi-coloured rainbows blossom from his wand. In the firelight, he looked over at Remus and smiled. Not a smirk, not a grin, a smile. And that smile what all it took for Remus to realise that he was totally and completely done-for. He was in love.
As Sirius went back to blowing bubbles, Remus began to drift off to sleep. The last coherent thought that entered his mind that night was this:
Merlin, it’s going to be a long 10 days.
*
I hope you liked it!!!
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unloved-cadillac · 4 years ago
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Mr Ackerman: Chapter Three.
Y/n L/n is a single mother and the new CEO of Sina Enterprises. She and her son JJ had moved to the city after Y/n’s promotion. JJ is enrolled into Sina Elementary School and things start getting interesting after Y/n catches feelings for JJ’s form teacher, Mr Levi Ackerman. How will things play out?
*playboy smirk* haha. This shit is long over due, haha. I’m sorry, haha. But you cute tho.
𝖤𝖽𝗂𝗍𝖾𝖽: 𝗇𝗈.
As the days went by, Y/n started to get piled with work. So many things of the company needed to be addressed and she needed to stay longer than she liked. And JJ hated it. Even though he knew his mom worked like a dog, he tried not to be so angry. But he was a kid who still needed his mom’s kiss goodnight and not a phone call.
It was the day before his field trip to the Overlook Aquarium and Y/n had made sure that she got his forms filled and money paid for it. Sitting at her office desk, she stops writing and looks at the picture to her right. Her little boy with her and his dad. She missed him. She really did. But she knew that Mikoto wouldn’t want her to sulk over him for forever and JJ needed a good father figure in his life. As she looked at the picture she started thinking about all the things JJ had told her about his teacher. Levi Ackerman. JJ seemed to really like how he was such a grump and preferred things a certain way. “He makes us clean our desks as well. Just like how you tell me to clean, Mama.” She remembers JJ tell her. Y/n checks the time and starts to go back home. “If I rush, maybe I’ll make it in time to tuck him in bed.” Y/n mutters to herself and hops into her car and drives home.
When she pulled up into her driveway, Nanaba’s bike was still there. Y/n takes off her heels and unlocks her door. The house was dark as usual but the TV was still on. “Nanaba?” Y/n whisper shouts as she flicks the light switch on. Nanaba doesn’t answer so Y/n goes to the couch to see her sleeping. Gently shaking her shoulder, Nanaba wakes up. “Oh. Ms Y/n. You’re back.” Nanaba says and yawns. “Yeah. I’m home. You should go too. Thank you for coming her on such short notice. I’ll make sure to include it in your paycheck.” Y/n smiles while Nanaba scoffs. “Don’t be ridiculous, boss. I’ll see you tomorrow. Oh no. I’ll see you on Monday. Don’t forget you got to go with JJ on his field trip.” Nanaba says while putting on her shoes. “Thanks, Nana. Goodnight.” “Night, boss.” When she left, Y/n make she ready to JJ’s room.
She opens it and sees him fast asleep, with his back to the door. Y/n quietly walks up to him and leans down to kiss him. “Mama?” JJ mumbles. “Hi, baby. I’m sorry I’ve been working so long.” She says while he turns to face her. “It’s okay. I forgive you.” He yawns out. “Good news, though. I’ll be with you tomorrow for your field trip.” Y/n says and JJ sits up, shocking her. “Really?! You’re gonna be with me?” He asks excitedly. Y/n nods and he wraps his arms around her neck. “I’m so happy.” He says into her neck and Y/n hugs him tighter. “Me too baby. Now get some rest. Don’t want you be tired tomorrow.” Y/n puts JJ down and tucks him in. “I love you, Mama.” “I love you too, baby.” “I can’t wait for you and Mr Ackerman to meet again. He asked about you.” Y/n cocks her eyebrow to the question. “Asked about me? What did he ask?” “Just if you’re okay. And he said that he hopes you aren’t overworking.” JJ says and closes his eyes. Y/n giggles and kisses JJ’s forehead. She exits his bedroom and smiles as she closes the door. Mr Ackerman, huh?
~~~~
“Mom! We’re gonna be late! I wanna see the sharks!” “JJ, we’re not gonna be late.”
JJ puts on his jacket and shoes while Y/n fills two water bottles for them and grabs her bag. “Mama, can we have McDonald’s today?” He asks Y/n while she puts on her jacket and toes JJ’s shoes. “I’m hoping we can. Unless we have to buy from the aquarium. But I’ll make a plan.” She winks at JJ and he smiles. They go outside and JJ stands by the car door while Y/n locks up the house. “Mama!!” JJ says. “Alright, baby. I’m here.” She unlocks the door and he hops into the back seat and puts his seatbelt on. Y/n stands and watches him. “You’re growing up so fast!” Y/n says and kisses his cheek making JJ laugh. “Mama!! Let’s go!!” He laughs out and she smiles. “Yes yes, my king.” She says and shuts the door. She goes into her driver’s seat and goes to the school. From the school, they would be assigned to certain buses and then off to the aquarium. “So, JJ,” Y/n begins and looks at him through the review mirror, “Is Lily coming as well?” JJ nods enthusiastically. “She says that she had been there before and that she will show me the sharks.” Y/n hums and smiles. Few minutes later, they pull up to the school. Y/n parks the G-Wagon and hops out and goes to JJ’s door. She unbuckles him and he jumps down and stands by his mom while she got some stuff. “JJ!” A pretty voice calls out for him and Y/n turns to see the Ackerman girl run up to them. Her hair was in a pathetic excuse for a ponytail which made Y/n look at her. “Hi, Lily.” “Hello, Ms L/n. I like your jacket.” She points to it. “Thank you. Lily, who did your hair?” Y/n asks. “Daddy did. Well, he tried.” Lily giggles making JJ and Y/n giggle. “Come here. Would you like me to put a ponytail for you?” Lily nods. “Yes please!” “Ok. Turn around.” Lily does as she’s told and Y/n carefully takes out the twisted hair tie and combs her hair. Nearly gathering it up in a high pony, Y/n wraps the hair tie around and neatens the back and front. “There. All done. Do you like it?” Y/n asks and Lily faces the van to see her reflection. She gasps and hugs Y/n. “Yes. Thank you so much, Ms L/n.” Y/n pats her back. “Oh, Lily. Call me Y/n.” Lily pulls away and smiles. “Y/n.”
“LILY!” A fierce voice calls her and she turns to her dad who was looking for her. “Daddy! Daddy look. Y/n did my hair!” She runs up to him and shows off her ponytail. Levi looks up and sees Y/n with JJ. She shyly waves and he nods. “Lily, do you want me to have a heart attack? Don’t run away like that.” He says and Lily cuddles into his chest. “Sorry Daddy.” He sighs and Y/n and JJ walk up to them. “Hi, Y/n.” “Hi, Levi. Long time no see.” “Yeah. Long time.” It’s quiet and JJ and Lily share a look but then the bell is sounded followed by an announcement:
All parents, teachers and students going to the Overlook Aquarium please gather by the front gate so you can be assigned to buses. Thank you.
Levi puts down Lily and Lily takes JJ’s hand. “Let’s go, JJ. The sharks are waiting.” JJ smiles and looks at his mom. “Don’t walk too far away from us.” She tells him and Levi nods at Lily. The young pair talk and laugh while the grown-ups walk side by side. Hands brushing against each other sometimes. “So Y/n. How’s work?” Levi asks after a long silence. Y/n exhales and chuckles. “Hectic. I’m hardly at home and it kills me. I’m pretty sure JJ is mad at me because did that too.” Y/n scratches the back of her neck. “Well you do have quite the job so it’s gonna be hard. But don’t worry. JJ isn’t mad.” Levi says and puts his hands in his pockets. Y/n looks at him. “How do you know?” “He’s more...worried. He told me that you might be overworking. So don’t push yourself too much.” Levi says the last bit softly but Y/n caught it. “Thanks for caring, Levi.” Y/n says and Levi steals a look at her. Her hair was awfully pretty today. It framed her face perfectly. Levi clears his throat and looks ahead. “Y-Yeah. Whatever.” They all made their way to the front gate and JJ and Lily looked ahead. “JJ! Lily! Come here!” Y/n shouts and they turn around and run to their respective parents. JJ stood in front of Y/n while holding her hands and Lily carried Lily while she wrapped her tiny arms around his neck while they waited to see who’s where.
Many names were said and many buses assigned. “Ackerman- Bus two. And L/n-Bus two. Go to your buses and be safe everyone. Kids stay with your parents and drink lots of water today.” The administrator says and waves them off. Lily and JJ smile at each other and y/n and Levi walk to the bus. “Daddy, can I sit with JJ?” “Mama, can I sit with Lily?” The parents look at each other and Y/n shrugs her shoulders. “Uhm, if it’s alright with Lily’s dad it’s fine with me.” She looks at Levi and he nods. “We better go first then so we can get a four-seater.” The two pairs rush to the bus and JJ pushes through the tall people and made his way to the back of the bus and finds the perfect seats. So to book it, he laid across it. Waiting for his mom and friends to join him. “JJ!” Y/n chuckles and looks at her boy. “I saved the seats! Can I sit by the window?” “Aww, JJ. I wanted to sit by the window.” Lily says and JJ smiles. “Don’t worry Lily. If you sit next to me, you see too.” So Lily went in to sit next to JJ and Y/n sat next to Levi. This feeling...was weird to Levi. But not in a bad way. It was just something that he hadn’t felt in a long time if not at all. He wanted to reach over and take Y/n’s hand in his but he stopped himself. He didn’t even know her, for gods sake. But when he subtly looked at her hand, the ring was gone. “I see you aren’t using your ring anymore. You okay?” He asks softly so the kids wouldn’t hear. “Hmm? Oh. Yeah. I realized it was time. You know. To let go. Not that it was easy but it had to be done. I can’t keep dwelling on the past.” Y/n says and smiles softly. Levi looks at her and hesitatingly places his hand on hers making her look up at him. “If you ever need someone to talk to. I’m here.” Y/n eyes widen slightly and smiles at him. “Thank you, Levi.” She says and they look at each other. “Mama! Look at this cloud! It looks like a mouse!” JJ’s voice makes Y/n quickly pull her hand away from Levi’s and looks at JJ. “Where baby?” Levi sighs and rest his head on his fist. “It looks like a dolphin, JJ. Daddy! Doesn’t it look like a dolphin?” Lily calls out to him and he leans towards the window, pressing his front to Y/n’s back making her blush a bit. “I don’t know how that’s a mouse or a dolphin. It looks like a shit.” Levi remarks making Y/n chuckle. But her bright blush was clear on her face. “Mama? Are you okay? You’re red.” Y/n looks at JJ and clears her throat. “Y-Yeah. I’m fine.” She sits back into her seat and avoids looking at Levi who hid his smirks behind his hand.
They had finally made their way to the aquarium and having energetic 8 year olds really were a pain. “JJ. Wait!” Y/n shouts while she got her bag. “Come on, Daddy!” “Lily. I swear to God..” Levi mumbles while he waits for Y/n to tie her lace. “You good?” He asks and Y/n shyly smiles. “Yeah. Let’s go before our kids get lost.” She walks ahead of him and Levi chuckles. When they entered the Aquarium, Lily and JJ were so damn excited. JJ was understandable since he has never been here before, but Lily has been more than 7 times. “Mama! Lily says there a corn dog stand here. Can we have some?” He asks Y/n. “Later. Let’s see some fish first.” She tells him and takes his hand. Levi comes and picks up Lily. “Daddy. We’re gonna see the dolphins again.” She says excitedly and Levi kisses her cheek. “Yeah. We will.” The tour guide comes and speaks to everyone and JJ listens to everything he says while subconsciously playing with his mom’s hand. Something he did when he was nervous or excited. Levi looks at Y/n and JJ and then at Lily. He hair was perfect. If only he could do it like that. He really messed up in the morning. He cringes at the thought. As the crowd starts to walk Lily is set down by Levi and she holds his hand while looking around. “Is that.. Lily?!” An excited voice rings through the place and Lily turns around to see her favorite aunt. “Aunty Isabel!!!” Lily runs up to her and Isabel catches her. “Oh I missed you so much, Lilykins. How are you?” The bright woman asks the little girl. “I’m good. We’re here on a school trip.” Lily says and Isabel smiles. “Yeah I heard.” “Isabel.” Levi says and Isabel smiles at her brother-in-law. “Levi! How are you, bro?” “Okay, I guess.” He says as Lily jumps into his arms. He turns around when he heard JJ’s voice. “Mama, look! Sting rays!” “I can see baby. They’re pretty, aren’t they?” Y/n leans down with JJ in between her legs and points to the various sting rays. Levi smiles softly at them and Isabel catches it. “Who are they?” She asks. “The kid is in my class and that woman is his mother.” Levi says while moving the hair out of Lily’s hair. “Must be pretty special since they’re making you smile, grump.” “I’m not smiling.” Levi says. “Yeah he was, Aunty Isabel. Even in the bus. It’s weird.” Lily says confused and Levi pinches her cheek. “Oi, cool it brat. My smile isn’t that bad.” “So you admit it!” Isabel exclaims while Levi continues to pinch Lily’s cheek. “Daddy! That tickles.” Lily laughs and Y/n looks behind her to see. It was cute. Levi caught her eye and she quickly turned around making Levi smirk. “So, I gotta go back to work. The penguins need feeding. Bye Lily.” Isabel kisses Lily’s forehead. “Bye Aunty Isabel. Please tell Uncle Farlan I said hello!” Lily waves and Isabel yells out a “of course!” Then leaves. Levi walks with Lily to Y/n and JJ who were mesmerized by the rays. “Lily! Look!” JJ points to the rays as Levi sets Lily down and Y/n wakes up. She walks to the the benches with Levi and sits down with him. “So you’re friends with the manager here?” Y/n asks and Levi scoffs. “Friends? Try related.”
Y/n looks at him, with a tilt of her head. Cute. Levi continues, “She’s my married to my brother, Farlan. It’s how Lily was able to come here so often. Isabel would bring her here sometimes.” Levi says and looks at Y/n’s smile. “That’s nice. And about your wife? Surely she must want to take her to aquariums too?” Y/n asks. Levi moves hand to ran through his onyx strands. “I’m not married. Lily’s mother walked out on us when she was two. She was too shit to raise her. But I can’t bad-mouth her too much. She gave me the brightest light in my life.” He says as he looks at Lily playing with JJ. Lily looks at her dad and waves. Levi lifts his hand up and returns it. “I’m sorry to hear that. Lily is a good kid.” Y/n assures him and place her hand on his lap. “You doing great in raising her.” She continues and smiles at him. Her hair falls over her face and Levi moves it and tucks it behind her ear. Y/n breath hitches. Mikoto used to do that. But she doesn’t pull away and nor does he. “Y/n.” He quietly says her name. “There’s something I want to ask you. Will-..” “DADDY!” They adults tear away from each other and look at Lily who was running towards them with JJ. “We’re hungry.” JJ says and places his hands on Y/n’s thighs putting on his best puppy face. “Yeah. My tummy is growling.” Lily tells Levi and he kisses her cheek. “Fine. Let’s get something to eat then. There’s this good restaurant here. Come on.” He wakes up and looks at Y/n. “Well? You coming or not?” Y/n snaps out of her thoughts and nods. “Oh yeah. Come on, JJ.” Y/n says and walks with him.
They all entered the food court and go to the restaurant Levi spoke about. JJ eyes widened at the food. They were huge portions and Y/n laughs at his reaction. “You okay, baby?” Y/n asks him and he nods and starts to eat. Levi and Y/n sat next to each other and JJ and Lily sat next to each other. “Mama. After lunch can we go see the sharks?” JJ asks with a bit sauce on his mouth. Y/n gets a napkin and wipes it off. “Sure. But I have no idea where they are.” “I’ll take us there. Do you like sharks, JJ?” Levi asks while sipping his soda. “Yes. They’re my favorite. Did you know that the average shark has about 15 rows of teeth?” JJ’s eyes lighten up while asking. “Whoa. I did not.” Levi replies. “I want to swim with them one day.” JJ whispers and Y/n smiles. “What if they eat you, JJ?” Lily worriedly asks him and he pats her head. “They won’t harm you unless you harm them. It’s like walking past a person. If you don’t pick a fight they have no reason to.” JJ says and Y/n’s breath hitches. Levi looks at her with concern. “You okay?” Levi asks quietly. Y/n nods and sniffs. “Mikoto told him that.” Is all she says and looks back at Levi. He smiles and holds her hand underneath the table.
After lunch, Levi takes all of them to the sharks tanks. There, JJ’s eyes widened and he stood right by the glass. He put a hand on it and a huge shark swam past, making Lily grab onto JJ’s jacket and hid behind him. “Lily. Look. There’s no need to be afraid. I’m here.” He says and takes her hand and places it on the glass. Lily giggles and they children talk and smile while they adults were by the other tank. Not far away from them. Y/n looks at the fish and reads about them with Levi close by. Y/n was fascinated by the variety of fish and it showed on her face. Levi watched her and man, he could feel himself fall for her. He walks to stand next to her while she watches the fish. “What were you gonna ask me, Levi?” Y/n asks then looks at him. The light illuminated the pair of them making each think how beautiful they were. Levi had his black turtle neck on with his ear piercings and Y/n just wore full black. Levi turned and looked ar the kids first, to see that they weren’t listening, and then back to the fish. “I, uhm. Wanted...to go on a date. With you.” Levi says while avoiding her gaze. And because he was blushing like crazy. Y/n’s eyes widened but she kept quiet. Like she was thinking. It was silent for a long time and Levi got a bit anxious. So he quickly looked at her while she was lost in thought. “No. Wait. Y/n. Shit, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked. I didn’t think. Just forget it. I’m sorry.” He rambles on but shuts up when he feels her hand lace with his. He looks at the intertwined hands and then her face.
“I’d love to.”
———————————————————————
“Whew. Long ass chapter. I’ll put the keep reading when my laptop comes back. Comment or message if you want to be part of the tag list.”
🤍🖤 special tags(thanks for being so patient): @cucumberfingers @whore-for-anime @averysinclaire🖤🤍
🖤🤍Thanks for reading🤍🖤
-Caddy.
85 notes · View notes
miamlfy · 4 years ago
Text
Textbooks and James
A/N: Hi guys, been a while since I posted. I hope you all aren't too upset. This took me longer than expected and I’m not a fan of this fic, so I’m sorry if it’s disappointing. To whoever requested this, I hope you still like it. 
Pairing: James Potter x Reader
Summary: Needing to study, you take your only opportunity without James to do so. 
Warnings: Not proofread, sorry for mistakes. Wolfstar is mentioned. 
Word count: 1,7K
Masterlist
Enjoy! 
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(Not my gif, credit to whoever made it.)
Exam taking was always a nightmare for you. Anxiety always ran through you whenever your professors mentioned an upcoming exam. Normally you would study weeks in advanced and ace it with ease, but ever since you started dating the infamous James Potter, it became rather difficult to get things done around him. 
James wanted to be with you at all times, he was a clingy boy. He spent years trying to get you to go on a date with him and now that you’re together, he wasn’t planning on leaving your side. You found his clinginess rather cute but it did become difficult whenever you wanted to get things done, James wanted your undivided attention and every time, you gave in which led you to rarely completing the things you needed done. 
Of course getting your homework done together was a must, along with essays—Remus was always there to help. Reading a book or studying was something you haven’t completed since you started dating James. The only times you were able to read or study for an important exam was at night, which was how you were currently spending the only time you had to rest and get decent sleep. 
Your notes and textbooks were sprawled out onto your twin bed, you were the last one awake in your dorm. Marlene and Dorcas were fast asleep the minute they entered the room and Lily just had gone to bed after finishing the last few chapters of a muggle book she had been reading. 
A dim light was casted, just bright enough for you to read the words on the textbook. Yawns kept escaping your mouth and eyes kept closing every few seconds. You shook yourself to help you stay up, although you’d much rather copy what all the girls were doing right now, you had to study and get it over with. You just hoped you had enough energy to deal with James in the morning. 
You were woken up by Lily shaking you and her screaming, “Y/n, you need to get up! We’re already running late!” She yelled. 
You immediately shot up and got dressed while checking the time, 08:47. You let out a sigh, you had less than 20 minutes to eat breakfast. You grabbed your notes that covered the floor and packed your bag, not bothering with trying to recall when exactly you fell asleep. 
Lily and you sprinted out of the Gryffindor common room and into the Great Hall. The two of your spotted your other two dorm mates and the marauders. You sat yourself on the right seat next to James, the left side belonged to Sirius and Sirius only. 
“Good morning, my love, how’d you sleep?” James asked, placing a kiss on your temple and wrapping his arm around your shoulders. 
You let out a groan and grabbed the nearest muffin, stuffing your mouth with it. 
“Marlene, why didn’t you wake us up?” Lily questioned, Marlene simply shrugged. 
“Y/n and you looked so peaceful and waking the both of you up is a bloody nightmare.” Marlene answered honestly. “Not to mention, last time I tried waking up Y/n, she almost hexed me.” 
You shook your head, swallowing bits of muffin before talking. “Now you’re just being dramatic, Marls. I would never do such a thing.” You said, stifling a laugh. 
The rest of breakfast was kept in silence, with the occasional of Sirius saying something somewhat incorrect and Remus correcting him. James at times also saying something mildly wrong on purpose to annoy Remus further. 
You dragged your feet to your first class of the day, already wishing for the day to be over. While everyone else walked slightly further than you, James stayed behind with you. He wrapped his arm around your shoulder, giving them a squeeze with his hand. 
“Are you alright, darling? You seem a bit off.” He said, worry taking over him. You gave him a reassuring smile. 
“I’m fine, James. I’m just a bit tired, that’s all.” He gave you an unsure look but took your word for it. The two of you walked together, being one of the last few students to enter the potions classroom. 
Sitting next to Lily, you let out a yawn and rubbed your eyes. You prayed today wasn’t a lecture day, you wouldn’t stay awake if it was. Professor Slughorn usually kept his lectures energetic, but you knew note taking would be a nightmare for you considering your tiredness. Thankfully, today was a brewing day. Lily would be brewing a simple potion and you would be taking the notes of what was happening during the process. 
Yawning once again, the two of you began. The potion didn’t take too long to brew, Slughorn giving you a perfection and allowing you to take the rest of the class period to study/work on anything else. You took that opportunity on continuing to study, you focused your eyes on the words written across your textbook. Your handwriting becoming more sloppy, you could care less on how it looked, all what mattered was that you had everything down to help pass your exam. 
As more students finished, the class got more and more loud with conversations. You frustrations began to grow, your mind shifting from conversations near you and your textbooks. You felt a presence next to you, immediately you knew who it was by the smell of his cologne. Your eyes shifted from your textbook to James. 
“Yes James?” You questioned the boy, who was currently smiling at you like a goof. 
He leaned down on the table, prompting his chin on his hand. “My beautiful girlfriend, you should be taking this free time to nap not study.” He said. 
You sighed, “I know but I really need to do this and I can always sleep later.” You stood from your chair and closed your books, packing everything into your bag and slinging it over your shoulder. 
The bell rang, allowing students to leave and go to their next classes. James walked beside you while the rest of your friends talked among each other. 
“Promise me you won’t overwork yourself, the test is still weeks away. You should be spending your time with me.” He whined. You couldn’t help but giggle at his childish behavior. 
“You know how important it is to me and my parents that I pass all my exams.” You said. “And I always spend my times with you, not that I mind.” 
James squeezed your hand, “I just don’t want you overworking yourself, last time your nearly past out.” 
You frowned a bit at that memory, OWL’s were on every fifth year minds. You were so worried over studying, that you forgot to eat and sleep. Thankfully, Remus was there and spotted your fatigue nature. 
“After lunch I’m going to the library for a few hours with Lily and then I’ll meet up with you and the others for dinner.” 
James thought about your words for a bit, then he nodded agreeing with you. “Just promise you won’t overwork yourself?
“I promise.” 
That promise was not long kept, for the most part. You did finish off your school day in the library and then met up with everyone else afterwards. However, the next day was different. Completing your classes went by fast and you were left with enough free time. James, along with Sirius were at their weekly detention, so you took the opportunity to spend some time at the library. 
Remus joined you at hour two, so you took his presence as an opportunity to ask him about DADA. He was always very good at the subject and although you were as well, NEWT level became more of a struggle for you. 
“Rem, just please let me cheat off you.” You said with desperation in your voice. You were so close to giving up and dropping out — of course this was your dramatic side speaking. 
“I love you lots but I cannot allow that,” he said. “Now, let’s go back and review what you need the most help with.” 
You let out a deep sigh, “I need help with everything.” 
Remus was with you for about two hours before he got dragged away by Sirius — who managed to leave his detention earlier than James, somehow. You rubbed your eyes and forced them onto your textbook, you were going to get every bit of information one way or another. 
After what felt like hours of jamming everything into your brain, you felt yourself grow hungry. Looking around the library you noticed you were one of the few people left inside. Everyone else must have already left for dinner, you stretched your arms out letting out a quiet groan. 
“You’re the last one in here, everyone already left.” James’ voice said behind you, his voice making you jump. 
“Merlin you scared me!” You exclaimed, putting a hand over your heart. “Yes I know, but I really need to study.” 
“What you need is a break and food, when was the last time you ate?” He said with worry.
You didn’t need to respond for him to know the answer. James let out a sigh and began closing your textbooks, ignoring your protests. 
“You need to eat and relax, Y/n.” He said sternly. “You can continue tomorrow, tonight you are going to relax.” 
You knew there was a low chance of you winning, so you complied and packed your things away. James extended his hand out to you to hold, you gave it a squeeze and followed him out of the library and into the Great Hall. Everyone else was already enjoying the deliciousness of the food. 
James began making you a plate, you felt like a child at that moment and you couldn’t help but laugh. 
“What?” James asked, who was still plopping food onto your plate and his. 
“It’s nothing.” You giggled out. 
“Open your mouth.” James said, you furrowed your eyebrows with confusion. 
“What?” 
“Open.” You obeyed and opened your mouth, feeling silly. James put a spoonful of food into your mouth. Little less confused on this situation, you began chewing your food. 
Sirius snorted, “James she’s not a child, she can feed herself.” 
James turned his attention to Sirius, “You’re just jealous because it’s not you I’m feeding.” James put another spoonful of food into your mouth. 
“Yeah, yeah whatever. Remus could you feed me?” Sirius asked his boyfriend, giving him a puppy eye stare. 
“Ha! You wish!” 
139 notes · View notes
madsthewordclown · 4 years ago
Text
Fire Lily Pt. 2
warnings: none
Eventual Zuko x Reader, ~1.8k words
summary: Y/N’s new beginning starts with a job at a tea shop in Ba Sing Se. She’s surprised to learn her coworkers are familiar acquaintances. 
Yay for part two, friends! I’m trying to get some later chapters done in advance, but in case you couldn’t tell, I’m kind of improvising? But isn’t that what all writing is? Enjoy!
Pt. 1 | Pt. 2 | Pt. 3 | Pt. 4 | Pt. 5
“Papa, Papa, Papa, look at what I can do!” Y/N ran over to her father as fast as her little legs could carry her. Bihun followed closely behind her, matching her enthusiasm.
“Look at what Y/N can do, Dad!”
Their father chuckled, setting down his ink brush and pulling out his desk chair to let his children sit at his feet. “What do you have to show me, sweetheart?”
Bihun pulled out a candle he had been hiding behind his back, excitement clear on his face, eyes wide in anticipation.
Ba Sing Se was grander than Y/N could have ever imagined. The wall was even more magnificent than the stories made it seem. It stretched on as far as her eyes could see, and it was taller than she had pictured. It was taller than her family home—maybe even taller than the Fire Nation’s watch towers.
Y/N was thankful to have found accommodations in a small room above a tea shop. She didn’t even have to sell her cup for it—the owner of the shop offered to let her stay on the condition she worked in the shop. It seemed that they were pretty short-handed.
Y/N awoke early for her first day on the job, feeling intensely grateful for having a warm bed to sleep in. She hadn’t realized how much she missed having her own bed, her own room. Sure, her new home wasn’t nearly as grand as her old one; the floorboards creaked, and it was just large enough for a bed long enough for her to sprawl, but she had a door with a lock, and a roof over her head, and a window overlooking the streets below. It was the best she could’ve hoped for.
Pao handed her an apron and began explaining her duties. “Here is a list of our menu items,” Pao said. “I advise you to learn it. Take customers’ orders and report them back to me, and then serve them their tea on a saucer. Prices are on the menu. Just try to be pleasant, please?” Y/N got the sense that Pao’s previous employees hadn’t done very well with the latter request.
Y/N heard the bell on the front door jingle. She and Pao both turned their heads. To her surprise, she saw Mushi and Lee. Only one of them was smiling. She had assumed she wouldn’t see them after departing the ferry. They hadn’t sat near her on the train into the city, and it was so large she figured the odds she’d see them again were low. Jet had promised to contact her, though.
“Ah, our two newest employees!” Pao clapped with delight, grinning widely. “This is Y/N. Y/N, this is Mushi and his nephew, Lee.”
“Actually, we have already met.” Mushi smiled at you. Lee’s grimace never left his face, but his did make eye contact with you for a moment. “I’m excited to be working with such a delightful young woman.”
“Thank you, Mushi.” Y/N couldn’t help but to like Mushi. How could she not? “I could say the same about you.”
Pao proceeded to give Mushi and Lee the same speech he had given her as Y/N tied her apron around her waist and looked over the menu Pao had given her. The overload of information made her head spin, but she didn’t have much time to process as the bell chimed once again.
“Our first customer of the day!” Pao announced. “Let’s get to work!”
The day went by faster than you had expected. The work was a little bit exhausting, dealing with entitled customers and being on your feet constantly. But you found that having Lee around to help made it a bit easier.
He wasn’t exactly the greatest server, as he couldn’t seem to stop acting like a grump, but it was fewer customers for you to deal with, and his social blunders provided a few moments of comic relief. You were both still learning the ropes, and he seemed to be as fast of a learner as you are, but he wasn’t exactly as socially inclined, and it seemed like he got irritated with customers fairly quickly. You were sure he was about to pour a steaming hot cup on a poor fellow who couldn’t quite pronounce ‘ginseng’ correctly.
“Great work, team!” Pao closed the door to the tea shop with a smile as the sun sunk lower in the sky. “I’ll see you all again bright and early tomorrow. Feel free to make yourself a cup of tea before you go if you’d like!” With that, Pao walked across the shop and briskly closed himself into the back room.
“It was wonderful to work with you, Y/N,” Mushi said pleasantly.
“Likewise,” Y/N smiled.
“Perhaps you and Lee could go explore the city in your spare time,” Mushi suggested. Y/N didn’t miss the glare that Lee sent his way. “I’m sure there’s plenty for young people to do.”
“Maybe we can sometime,” Y/N agreed. She wouldn’t mind having someone to walk around with, and she couldn’t deny she was curious about the boy. It was clear he had been through a lot. He was a refugee, and someone had to have given him that cold exterior. And that scar.
Lee wasn’t done glaring at his uncle, it seemed. His mouth had formed into a defined scowl. Mushi finally seemed to take the hint.
“Perhaps some other night,” Mushi amended. “I’m sure you are tired from your first day.”
“Have a wonderful evening,” Y/N dismissed them politely, giving a small wave as the pair turned to leave.
“See you tomorrow!” Mushi called as the door shut behind them.
Y/N sighed as she took off her apron and hung it on the hook by the back wall. Despite the ache in her feet, she didn’t feel like going up to bed just yet. The sun had just barely set, and she could feel her little knife tucked securely into the waistband of her green Earth Kingdom dress. If all else failed, she could defend herself.
Y/N checked to make sure she had the spare key Pao had given her. She had tied it into a necklace on the end of piece of string—she had always had trouble keeping track of things. After once again assuring she had her key, and her knife, Y/N opened the door of the tea shop, and stepped out onto the streets of Ba Sing Se.
Ba Sing Se was somehow both more and less intimidating at night, Y/N realized. The city had been practically bursting with activity when she’d arrived, and the sheer number of people was terrifying. The massiveness of the city was enough to turn your stomach.
Ba Sing Se at night was more peaceful. The lanterns illuminated the streets beautifully, but even so, there were plenty of dark alleys and corners, and the faces Y/N could see weren’t exactly pleasant. Even if the city was praised as a haven, Y/N had already seen plenty of people struggling. She noticed a scrappy-looking man standing under a street lantern, his eyes shaded by a wide hat. She kept a hand over where her knife was tucked as she walked by.
“Hey,” a voice called. Y/N jumped, pulling out her knife as she whipped around. She recognized the black eyes and the shaggy brown hair.
“Oh,” Y/N sighed in relief. “Hi, Jet.” Jet raised an eyebrow at her and smirked.
“Is that how you carry a knife?”
Y/N looked down at her hand. The knife was a bit awkward to hold. She adjusted her grip self-consciously.
“I could teach you how to properly use that, if you wanted. Or we could get you something better,” Jet offered, plucking the knife out her hand. “But I don’t have much money,” he admitted, rubbing a hand on the back of his neck.
“I have a job,” Y/N felt herself blushing as Jet carelessly flipped her knife between his hands. She had almost cut herself when she pulled it on him. “But I’m working for a place to stay. The only money I take is from tips from customers.”
“Look at you,” Jet smiled. Y/N wondered if it could be considered a smile; all the boy could seem to do was smirk. “Got everything figured out and it’s only your second day in the city.”
Y/N shifted on her feet. “I would really appreciate it. If you could teach me, I mean.” She thought about the meager pile of bronze pieces she’d received during her shift. “I can’t pay you, though.”
“I’ll come find you tomorrow after work, then,” Jet nodded, finally handing the knife back to her. “See you then, Y/N.”
“I can’t pay you,” Y/N repeated, but Jet was already walking away. He turned his head back to look at her.
“Who said anything about paying me? Anything to help out a friend.”
Y/N made her way back to the tea shop without incident, and the spare key was still secure around her neck when she got to the door. She went through the back room to the little staircase that led up to her room. She nearly tripped as she climbed the stairs. Her feet almost cried in relief as she finally leaned back onto her bed.
Y/N turned over and leaned over the side of the bed to pull her pack out from under it. She set it on the bed next to her and reached her hand in to take inventory of her belongings. She felt the cold metal of the gold cup and lifted it out of the pack.
Bihun held the candle, arms outstretched to keep it far from his face. Y/N’s brow furrowed, her gaze not leaving the candle’s wick. Their father watched on.
Concentrate, Y/N had thought. She took a deep breath—a deep, warm breath, and lifted her hand, pointing her finger at the candle.
The feeling in of the emerald in her hands reassured Y/N that the cup was still intact, but she couldn’t see it in the darkness. It was silly; the cup was fine, and even if it wasn’t, it retained plenty of value without the jewel. But she wanted to read it, the name that was above that jewel.
The letter from the Earth King’s palace sat open on her father’s desk. A partially filled scroll sat beside it. A portrait of their family—her father, her mother, Bihun, and Y/N all smiling widely in their best clothes. Matching eyes. Matching robes.
Concentrate, Y/N thought again. She took a deep warm breath and lifted her hand. The flame she produced was small, but she could still see it. She ran her eyes over the engraving on the cup—her family name, over and over and over.
Y/N breathed out, and the tiniest spark shot from the tip of her finger. The candle held the flame as she jumped up in delight. “Papa, papa, I did it!”
“You did, sweetheart,” her father said, blowing out the candle and pulling his children into his chest, hugging them tightly. “You did.” He wasn’t smiling anymore. The letter he had been writing was tossed into the fireplace.
Pt. 3 | Pt. 4 | Pt. 5
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