#you all aren’t dumbing down tuckers character for shipping purposes right?

[leonardalphachurch]

do people genuinely argue over who to ship tucker with. like i love teasing tuckington shippers but we’re all in understanding that both wash AND church (and kai and caboose and grif and kimball and yes even felix) are all incredibly important relationships to tucker’s character and his journey and denying him this just to ship with someone (often a white man) is a Bad thing to do right? no one… no one’s actually doing this, right?

[bebepac]

With You

This is chapter 29 of the The Life of Riley.  To catch up with what you’ve been missing  please click:  The Life Of Riley Masterlist

This is @wackydrabbles​​ prompt # 83:  That makes my  {body part } tingle. which will appear in bold. 

Jaiden Brooks and Sal are my own characters.  All others belong to Pixelberry. 

The Book:  TRR (Liam’s last night in New York)

Pairing: Liam x Riley

Word count: 1992

Warnings: Sexual Innuendo, profanity. 

Summary:  Riley takes Liam to the Statue of Liberty 

Song Inspiration for this episode: I Like Me Better  by Lauv

I don’t own rights to the music. 

Riley giggled.   He pulled away from her with a sheepish smile.  “What?  What did I do?”

“I’m ticklish there. You were tickling me, the way you were gently touching me there.”  

He wrapped his arms around her hips pulling her closer to him again.  “Not on purpose.”

Liam smiled again. Gently touching her. "Like this?"

"That makes my whole body tingle."

He kissed her cheek, his lips drifting to her neck. He nibbled on her neck. Riley pulled away.

“Do you really have to leave tomorrow? Or is this just a game you and your buddies play and you really live on the upper east side?  It’s clear you’re some rich guy.  And you’re just down here for the night, slummin’ it?”

“Riley don’t do this….”  Jaiden said.  “Don’t push him away because now you are starting to realize what this could mean.”

“I don’t understand?”

“And I’m just another notch you’re trying to get on your belt tonight.”

“I wouldn’t treat you that way Riley.  I don’t know much about you, but I know you are more special than that.”  

His voice softened.

“And if I did have the privilege to be with you for the night, I would treat your body like a sacred temple.”

“So you’re going to take your shoes off and not touch anything?”  

“Annnndddd… Riley just killed the mood with her horrible jokes.”  Jaiden shook his head.

Liam burst out laughing shaking his head at her.  

“Maybe she didn’t… Maybe just maybe he likes that about her.”  He watched the pair.  They were now closer than ever.

“I mean…. It’s where my mind went. Be honest. You’re really from far away aren’t you?”

“That’s it Riley… believe in him…”

“I crossed an ocean to get here. To meet you.”

Riley’s breath hitched.  

There was a beep.

“That must be Sal!”  

The small boat pulled up next to them.  

“Your chariot awaits My fair Riley… plus one.”  

“Why thank you kind Sir Sal!!!”  Riley did a curtsy that surprised Liam.  It was definitely court approved. If he could get her to Cordonia, her transition might go easier than planned.  

Liam hopped down onto the boat first.

He held out his arms to Riley.  

“Jump, I’ll catch you.”  

Jaiden thought he would do just one more thing.   He’d seen that boy Tucker do it to another boy on the playground when Riley was little, that caused him to completely topple over. Just as Riley jumped, Jaiden kicked the back of Liam’s left leg causing his knee to buckle.   He caught Riley but fell on his back, Riley falling on him.

Sal laughed.  “Damn kid.  You’re clumsy. You’re supposed to catch her.  But I guess it worked out for you.”

“We have to stop meeting like this Liam.”  She whispered as she looked down at him from her straddling position.  He gripped her hips.

“I don’t know… I think it’s not so bad.  Getting kind of used to breaking your falls. I think you’re the clumsy one, Riley Brooks.”  

“He’s not wrong Riley. You are clumsy.”  Jaiden smiled.  

She stood helping him up.  

He zipped her jacket.  “I want you to stay warm.”

“So what brought you here to New York?”

“A bachelor party.”  

“Who’s? Don’t tell me that guy Tariq is actually getting married?”

“No actually, for me.”  

“Whoa, so you’ve been playing me this whole time?”  Riley backed away from him.  “I trusted you.”  

“I am getting married… I just don’t know who yet.”  

“How does that happen?”  

“It happens when you’re the crown prince of a country.”

“You’re a crown prince.”  

“Why are you not surprised?”

“I told you, you seemed different from them.”  

“I am different from them.”    

"Of Cordonia?"

"Yes, how did you know that?"

"Your credit card. I have never seen a gold credit card like that before. I always remember the unique ones."

"Good memory."

Liam glanced up. "There she is."

He rushed to the front of the boat.

Liam was in awe.

"She's beautiful."

"Why was the Statue of Liberty on your list of things to see?"

"Because she is a beacon of light for Freedom."

"You said you're a Prince, you can't get freer than that. You can do a royal decree and get whatever you want."

"And I am. Crown Prince, that means…"

"You are taking over the family business….

 I see what you did there now. Witty. Meaning… you'll be King someday."

"Despite popular belief, royalty is the last thing but free. We are the exact opposite.  We are bound by duty.  Every choice I make people are watching. Every move I make must be calculated and thought about carefully.  Not only for myself but my family, my country, and my people.  Riley, when you get married someday, what’s the reason you think you will choose to do so?”  

“For love. Why else?”  

“In my life Riley,  It’s not that simple.  People marry for alliances, for duty, love is very rarely on the list. You learn to love who you’re with. That’s my reality.”

���Then why did you come here?”  

“For more.”  

 She chuckled.  “You know that’s kind of like a movie right?”

Liam looked confused.  

“Coming to America?”

No recognition registered on Liam’s face.  Riley gasped.

“What are you doing after this?”

“Going back to the hotel, going to sleep, why? What do you have planned for me?”

“Come to my place.  And don’t get any ideas, I’m not gonna ride your royal scepter tonight.”

Liam coughed, and laughed at the same time. “Excuse me, my what?”

She glanced at his crotch and back up into his face.  “Don’t play dumb Liam.”

“What I’m hearing you say, is not tonight but sometime soon?”  He inquired, winking at her.

She laughed.   “Do you want to come to my place to watch a movie with me?”

“I’d love to.”

The boat pulled to a stop, idling in the water.  

“This is as close as I can get you two without all of us going to jail tonight. I’ll give you two some privacy.  She’s like a granddaughter to me Liam.”

“Yes sir! I will be on my best behavior."    

Liam slipped his arms around Riley from behind pulling her close to him.  Immediately she felt warmer.  

“I know what you said, about how your life is supposed to go.”  She turned in his arms so she was facing him.

“I’ve never felt this free in my life before Riley, as I have tonight spending this evening with you. I feel like I could be a different person. Thank you.”  

“I really believe you can be different Liam, if you are willing to fight for it.”

“Why do you believe in me like that?”    

“There’s a sparkle in your eyes.  I saw it when I ran into you on the street.”

“Ahhhh so she admits it now, it WAS your fault.”  

“No that is not at all what I said Your … Lord… Ship… Wreck…. Rrrrrrr mateys.. Batten down the hatches.  Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum…. Scallywag… Walk the plank.”

“Okay now you’re just saying random pirate phrases.”

Jaiden smiled.  “He’s already head over heels for her.  You deserve this little sister.  All the hurt was for this, for him.”

Liam had never laughed so much  as he did with Riley.

“So what’s the right term then?”

“To call me?  Or are we going out to the seven seas to pillage and plunder? Avast Ye Hearties!!!!!”

Riley laughed, hitting his chest.

“If you wanted to address me with my proper title, it’s Your Highness.”

“So official.”  

“But that’s not how I want you to see me Riley.”

“You’re ‘Just Liam.’ I get it.  You came here wanting what I take for granted everyday.”

He nodded, resting his forehead on hers.  

“We have to get back.”  

“Thanks Sal for bringing us out here.”  

“You’re very welcome.  I like this one Riley.  I never liked Von much.  Felt like you were settling with him.  You deserve the world.”

When they got back to the dock, Liam helped Riley off the boat.

They walked at a leisurely pace holding hands.  It was a peaceful silence between them.   “We have to cross here.”

Jaiden whispered in Liam’s ear.  “It’s safe to cross.”  

Riley had looked away for a moment to press the button on the crosswalk so the light would change.

Liam was starting to cross the street.

“Liam!!!” she screamed.  Grabbing his arm pulling him back.

“What the hell!?!?!?!”  She screamed at him again.  

“I thought it was safe to cross?”  

“NOOOOOO!!!  Look, we can’t cross until the light changes.”

“I don’t know what happened.”  

“You scared me!!!! Are you alright?”  

“I’m fine.”  

“Just my luck I got a Crown Prince killed on his last night in the United States.  Talk about an international incident.  So what exactly is the jail sentence for that?”  

Liam laughed.  “Probably death.”  

“Greaaaaattt.”  

They were silent for a few moments waiting for the light to change.  

“I love that song.”

Can’t help falling in love, was playing on the radio of the person stopped at the light.  

“May I have this dance?”  Liam asked.  

Liam and Riley slow-danced in the middle of the sidewalk.  

“Last thing sis.”  

Jaiden whispered to the cab driver to turn up the music.  

People watched the pair as they danced.  Both completely enamored with the other.  

“I think you can handle it from here.”  Jaiden faded away.

When traffic started to move again, it broke the trance the song had over them.  

They waited for the light and crossed the street.  

He followed Riley into a small apartment building.  

She stood at the door.   “I have a roommate, so we need to be quiet coming in.” 

 Liam nodded, sticking close to her. She tried being quiet when she opened the door as it was well after 1am when they arrived.

“Well it’s about time your ass decided to show up,” Daniel said when she walked through the door.

“DANIEL!” She glanced at Liam standing right behind her.

“Oh shit, I was only kidding!!!!!!!” Daniel remarked when he realized she wasn’t alone, choking on his beer.  “Riley is not an ass,  it’s how we joke with each other when we're late coming home.”

“Liam this is Daniel, my roommate, and brother from another mother .”  

“Nice to meet you,” Liam chuckled. The look on Riley's face was priceless. She has the best absolutely mortified expressions.

“Daniel, this is  Liam, Bachelor number four.”

“Stop playing, the bachelor party table, this was the one that was late?”

“Liam, what you don't know is, I covered your table tonight because Daniel had somewhere to be."

"And how was it?" She directed her attention back to Daniel.

“Still going baby, just taking a breather.”

“Well if you will excuse us.”  She took Liam’s hand pulling him through the apartment.  

“Sorry it’s not much, but it’s ours.”

"No it's ok. You have a nice place."  It was small and clean, and they were very effective in using the space they had.  He was impressed.

She turned on the TV in her room.   “I’m gonna get comfortable.”  She took a few moments to change and shave her legs.

She put on a tank top and a pair of boy shorts. Liam stared at her body in awe.  Everything was covered, but he couldn’t keep his eyes off her.

“You look like you’re in pajamas.  Am I staying the rest of the night?”

“You should, it’s late, and honestly this is not the best neighborhood.”

“Well I usually just sleep in boxers at home.  But I can keep this on.”

“Please make yourself comfortable.”    

She bit her lip, as he undressed in front of her. He could feel her eyes on him watching.  Then he climbed into bed with her.  They curled up on the bed together and turned on the movie.  He wrapped his arm around her.  She snuggled closer to him.

She was ready for whatever the rest of that night would bring.

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