#you are in ella’s cool club if she tells you about her leg and you’re someone trusted and special if she shows it to you :)

[starlightwielded]

anyhow more about ella’s legs i think the bits of starlight almost look silver and vine like- twisting up and and around her leg to her knees. they look like they would feel like metal or feel bumpy and though you can feel the various strands of starlight, they almost feel flesh like, just slightly… off. and oh boy does ella get nervous telling and showing people.

[nanoland]

title: Compass Rose 

series: Lucifer (TV) 

pairings: Mazikeen/Eve

summary: In which Mazikeen exercises her renowned patience. 

warnings: Lucifer is kind of a dick in this. Not intentionally; he’s just young and colossally self-centered. 

 Also on Ao3! 

0 

“You. Demon. What’s your name?” asks the Morningstar, looking bored and depressed, as usual.

She straightens up, brimming with nerves and excitement, feeling her acidic blood bubble happily because he’s so handsome! And he’s talking to her! Her siblings will shriek with jealousy when they hear of this. “Mazikeen, my liege.”

“Mazikeen,” he repeats, mispronouncing it. “Great. Maze, do something about… all that, would you? It’s dreadfully grating.”

He gestures to the sea of damned, miserable human souls milling around the base of his throne, calling up to him for help or mercy.

“Yes, my liege,” she says, her bright mind already hard at work planning the next few millennia of punishment.

 0 

“Maze, is there a letter from Amenadiel?”

Mazikeen is now four hundred years old and in all that time, not a single letter has arrived in Hell, from Amenadiel or anyone else. Regardless, her handsome king asks every week.

It’s fine. She’s far too mature and cunning to feel even the slightest scrap of envy towards some pompous old angel she’s never even met, regardless of how obviously Lucifer loves him.

Regardless of how obvious it is that he loves no one in Hell half as much.

“No, my liege.”

“Hmm. Fine. Whatever. Fuck him, then. Brothers – who needs ‘em?”

She nods. She herself has many, many brothers, and sisters, and siblings who are neither or both, and she certainly doesn’t need them.

(Sometimes she longs for them, especially when she’s weary from the years and years dedicated to building and securing Lucifer’s kingdom, but she never needs. Needing is for the weak.)

It occurs to her that that king might be cheered by stories of Tradiusis, her most treasured and most useless brother, who is prone to chatting with the damned and asking them about all the silly human indulgences they enjoyed in life, like movies and theme parks and hot dogs. Fool that he is, the mere thought of him always brings a smile to her face.

But she decides against it, suspecting that if she were to begin telling Lucifer about her family, he’d get that same dull, faintly irritated expression she sees every time she reads him a report about the number of new arrivals and how various parts of Hell will need to be restructured to accommodate them all.

(She wonders what will happen when Hell is full – does he have a plan? Is she expected to have a plan?)

(How long, exactly, are they supposed to keep doing this?)

(Surely this can’t be all they were made for?)  

 0  

“Maze, get me a drink, would you?”

Mazikeen is Lucifer’s right hand, his bodyguard, the highest-ranked demon in Hell, named the Lady of Pain, the Whirlwind, and the Blood Dancer by her peers and underlings.

Pouring drinks is… new to her.

But this is what he wants; this club, this loud music, these inebriated humans constantly demanding attention and entertainment, constantly needing to be managed. And he’s her king.

She pours him his drink and listens to him play the piano, until some wretch attempts to grope her and loses two fingers.

 0 

Running a nightclub is, it turns out, complicated.

There are all sorts of rules and regulations regarding what can and cannot be done inside it.

At one point, Lucifer decides it would be fun to have white tigers roaming the dance floor. After a few days spent looking into that option, she has to explain that they may to have settle for waitresses dressed as tigers. He pouts like it’s her fault and goes back to the piano.

She’s also not allowed to kill anyone, which is, honestly, ridiculous. Mazikeen is an ancient being, a warrior nigh unparalleled, with centuries of experience contending with the worst the human race has to offer, and every single night she endures treatment from at least one of Lucifer’s guests that, even to her vast, reasonable, and patient mind, clearly warrants swift annihilation.

If murder is, indeed, illegal, how do all the mortal women in this city who serve drinks cope?

“You block it out, I guess,” says Suzy, a waitress with thick red hair and tired eyes, after Mazikeen has had to save her yet again from a patron with wandering hands (and now broken hands). “You know, just… don’t let it get to you. Grow a thick skin.”

Mazikeen considers the half of her body that has no skin whatsoever and snickers inappropriately. Then she gifts Suzy one of her knives.

 0 

Chloe gasps. “Maze! No! Absolutely not!”

“Why?” she asks, annoyed but also genuinely curious.

“I can’t just torture a suspect to get information, Maze. It’s wrong.”

Mazikeen considers saying: You already torture people. You lock them up in tiny boxes until their minds break and their lives are utterly ruined. How is that different? I don’t understand.

Mazikeen considers saying: You let Lucifer violate peoples’ innermost selves to obtain information. How is that better? I don’t understand.

Mazikeen considers saying: I don’t want to be good. I don’t care about being good. So why do I seem to put so much more thought into how to be good than you do? I don’t understand, I don’t, I don’t.

Instead, Mazikeen rolls her eyes and says nothing.

 0 

“Maze! No! What were you thinking?” cries Linda, rushing over to the cradle. “You can’t give that to a baby!”

She snatches away Mazikeen’s present; a blade, small and silver, just right for tiny hands, the same blade Mazikeen herself received from her favourite sister on her fourth birthday. It has tasted the blood of over a hundred enemies.

Charlie starts to cry and Linda puts the blade aside so she can pick him up and comfort him.

“Children need to be able to protect themselves,” Mazikeen insists.

“No, Maze. Children need to be protected.”

“No one protected me.”

Linda doesn’t say: Exactly. Why would I want my son to be anything like you?

Because Linda is kind.

But Mazikeen is perceptive and she sees it in her friend’s eyes all the same.

 0 

“So then, then it turns out that Jon Snow is actually Daenarys Targaryen’s cousin, right, which makes him – oh no! – a rival contender for the Iron Throne, and…”

“Ugh,” Mazikeen groans, cutting Ella off. “I thought this was a show about dragons! Why does it waste so much time on people either fucking or killing their relatives?”

She laughs at Mazikeen’s exaggerated annoyance. “It’s not just about dragons. There’s a lot of stuff about politics and war and, yeah, fucked-up family dynamics. Honestly, that’s one of the reasons it grips me so much. My own family’s always got a ton of drama going on, too. I mean – no incest. Not that I’m aware of. But you know all about my brothers.”

Mazikeen is about to ask what the dragons look like – whether the show’s version bears any resemblance to the beasts she’s ridden into battle – when Ella tilts her head sideways and squints at her. “Huh. Now that I think about it… I’ve told you all about my brothers but I’ve never asked anything about your family. That was shitty of me! Can I ask now? Or is it, like, one of those things you don’t talk about? Like where you’re from and how you met Lucifer?”

Fiddling with a lock of her hair – it’s straight and black today – Mazikeen says, “I don’t mind talking about it. Just… most people don’t care.”

Ella frowns, briefly (cutely, curse her). “Well, I wanna know! You got any brothers?”

“Yeah.”

“How many?”

“A lot. I’m not actually sure exactly how many there are now.”

“Oh, right. Gotcha. Are you close to any of them?”

“Not these days. But when we were young, we were pretty tight-knit. Didn’t really have anyone besides each other.”

Ella asks her more questions and though she has to keep her answers extremely vague, Mazikeen finds that she likes talking about her home and her childhood. Prolonged exposure to the human world has begun to make her feel insubstantial; a tool, a disguise, a thing without roots or history. Lucifer’s been no help with that, for he’s only ever known her as his servant (and, sometimes, when he’s in a good mood, his friend, by virtue of the fact that friendship with someone who works for you – who can do nothing but work for you – requires no tedious emotional labour whatsoever).

It’s nice to remember that she has, in fact, been other things. That she could, perhaps, be other things in the future.

 0 

“So,” Dan slurs, hunched over his beer. “You got whores… hordes… horns? Thought demons had horns.”

She’s busy applying a fresh coat of candy-pink lipstick to match her powder-blue bob. “Some do. I don’t.”

“Well, that sucks. That’s not fair! You deserve horns. You’re cool, Maze.”

Because that provokes a twinge of genuine affection, she says, “Wanna see what I have got?”

“Hell, yeah!”

He grins drunkenly.

“You need to promise not to scream.”

“Oh – oh, man, is it scary? Is it gross?”

She shows him her true face.

After a moment of owlish blinking, he shrugs and returns to his beer. “Eh. S’not that gross. Lucifer’s grosser. Wanna play pool?”

 0 

Amenadiel presents her with a beautiful black sheath. “I crafted it from my own feathers. It will keep the blade contained until he’s old enough to wield it safely.”

She slides Charlie’s knife into it. “Someone will need to teach him.”

“Who taught you?”

“Me? No one. They just threw us at one another and clapped for whoever survived. But… well. He’s not like me, is he?”

The angel places the sheathed blade down beside Charlie’s stuffed rabbit and plastic truck. “Maybe not now. With any luck, that will change.”

 0 

“Ma-aaze,” Lucifer groans, flopping back in his armchair with his long legs artfully folded and his hand over his eyes. “I’ve had such a tiresome morning. Pour me a drink, would you?”

“Pour it your damn self,” she suggests, standing on his penthouse’s balcony and admiring the view. His throne in Hell was about as tall as this building. From up here, all the little people down below look exactly the same.

He pouts and fetches a glass – and, to her surprise, one for her as well.

 0 

Mazikeen brings an abrupt, efficient end to the bar fight by slamming her palm into an assailant’s solar plexus.

He drops like a ton of bricks, joining the pile of groaning men, broken furniture, and smashed bottles. (Shit; it’s going to take ages to clean all this up. If Lucifer didn’t have infinite money, Lux would have gone bankrupt eight times by now.)

She turns to see Eve staring at her, beautiful mouth hanging open, and braces herself for the “Maze! No!”.

“That was so cool,” Eve breathes, and rushes over to leap into Mazikeen’s arms, only to draw back at the last second. “Oh no! You’re hurt!”

There is, indeed, a small cut on Mazikeen’s left hand.

“Don’t care, doesn’t matter,” says Mazikeen, reaching for her, wanting badly to be kissed.

But Eve drags her into a quiet back room where she applies disinfectant and bandaids with cartoon cats on them.

“I really wanna learn how you did that thing with your elbow,” she chatters, wiping away a few spots of blood with a white handkerchief. “The way his nose just went crunch! – man, it was fantastic.”

“I can teach you. If you like.”

Eve’s dark eyes are fond. “You’re always offering to do something for me – to teach me how to fight, or to carry something, or to protect me. It’s… like, I love it. But you know you don’t have to, right?”

“Yeah. I do.”

“I wanna do stuff for you sometimes. Oh! That reminds me. Lucifer was going to take Chloe to a wrestling match but then they had another fight and he’s back to being sad, sooo I stole the tickets out of his jacket. Wanna go?”

“I love you,” says Mazikeen, even though she’s said it five times today. She likes the way it sounds in her mouth. She likes the way it makes Eve’s whole face sparkle.

“I love you too, babe.”

[athingthatwantsvirginia]

As in Debbie Harry

PART FOURTEEN OF THE DO YOU SEE HER FACE? SERIES

Pairing: Jess Mariano x Original Character (Ella Stevens)

Warnings: implied sexy times, plentiful pop culture references

Word Count: 4.2K

Summary: Jess and Ella have a frank discussion, then go see a live performance of some angry music.

AUTHOR’S NOTE: Gilmore Girls is often a very sex-negative show. There are many examples of the sex-negative narrative through the series, such as when Lorelai implies Paris is “the bad kid” for losing her virginity, or when Lane gets pregnant with twins the first time she has sex with Zach. In “Keg! Max!” Jess tries to pressure Rory into having sex while in a bedroom upstairs during Kyle’s party. In my opinion, that scene seemed a very clumsy (and, honestly, out of character) attempt to convey Jess’s inward situation outwardly without using words. It is a very difficult scene to watch and it is Jess’s worst moment in the whole series by far. With this chapter of my AU, I am in no way trying to trivialize that scene or be an apologist for that kind of behavior. It’s unacceptable in every way. Consent is extremely important, and should be clearly given by everyone involved each time they have sex.

Instead, I wanted to create a more positive representation of teen sex. Sex is a normal part of life, and people should not be shamed for having it. I wanted the conversation between Jess and Eleanor to be realistic and beneficial. And I wanted the morning after to be positive too. I wanted it to be clear that they both gave consent during the initial conversation and right before they actually had sex (because giving consent once does not mean giving consent forever). I wanted them to be safe and comfortable. I wanted them to make an effort to communicate with each other. Also, I personally think the show has a detrimental attitude towards virginity, especially considering how much slut-shaming there is, the incident with Paris being only one example. Virginity, in my view, is just a social construct, but that’s a conversation for another time.

In my AU, Jess does not pressure anyone into sex, and he never would. It’s monumentally problematic of Gilmore Girls to brush off the incident in “Keg! Max!” the way it does, so I wanted to make sure I addressed it before any sex happened in this story. It’s important to recognize problems in our favorite content and learn from them. So, I hope this chapter sends a better message about teenage sex and consent. And I hope I got my ideas across in this note. Please feel free to message me any time if you are going through something, want to talk, or anything else. I am always here. You can learn more about consent and find resources for sexual assault survivors here.

Legs crossed, warming both her hands with the to-go cup of tea from Luke’s, Ella listened intently as Lane gushed about Dave Rygalski. They sat in the gazebo, school bags forgotten on the old wood below them. Stars Hollow High was finally closed for fall break, a whole week off to celebrate Thanksgiving and prepare for the odd, torturous month until the sweet release of winter break as well. Lane was thinking out loud, trying to formulate a plan to get Dave to her house on Thanksgiving. Schemes involving classical Biblical guitar and stuffy outfits were being discussed when Rory finally arrived from the bus stop, binders in her hand and her Chilton skirt hitting her knees as she walked.

“Ah, if it isn’t my favorite Catholic school girl!” Ella called as Rory ascended the steps.

Rory scoffed. “It wasn’t funny two years ago, and it’s not funny now.”

“Humor is subjective.”

“Not in this case. You’ve reached an objective lack of humor.”

“Hey, not even Rory Gilmore can bend such universal rules,” Ella shrugged, smirking. Rolling her eyes, Rory plopped down between her two friends and blew out a tired breath, a tight squeeze on the small bench.

“Man, that boyfriend of yours is a bad influence. The heightened snark makes the two of you such a sorry lot,” Lane said.

Ella’s wicked grin only widened. “The snark existed well before Jess came along. I think it’s more my old age that’s making me bitter.” She paused, taking another sip. “Really Rory, I could paint your shoes. Your mom could hem your skirt. I think it’s time to make waves in the antiquated dress code community.”

“Expulsion’s just what I need six months before graduation,” Rory grumbled, digging around in her yellow backpack for her pager. There were fourteen messages from Dean. She let out a frustrated growl.

“Dirk Squarejaw again?” Ella asked, sympathetic.

Nodding, Rory sighed and put her head to Ella’s shoulder. “He just won’t shut up about that kiss with Tristan. I swear this all would’ve been easier if he’d ended up actually going to military school.”

“What do you say we throw off our men and just ride off together, Thelma?” Ella said, uttering a dreamy exhale.

“If only, Louise.”

Clearing her throat, Lane nudged Rory with an elbow and raised offended eyebrows.

“And, once you snag Dave, you’ll be part of the feminist killjoy club, too,” Ella said pointedly, smirking.

“You’ve been listening to too much Bikini Kill,” Lane said, cracking a smile.

“No such thing,” Ella retorted. “Revolution girl style now, baby.”

The three of them descended into a sprawling conversation of Thanksgiving plans, along with a rather colorful anecdote involving Rory’s Chilton frenemy Paris. No matter how exuberant she sounded, Ella couldn’t help but think she would get along well with Ms. Geller. A pleasant tingling had spread within Ella since leaving school, the bell finally chiming in seventh period trigonometry. The feeling always came along with breaks, and it was nice to be with Rory and Lane, chatting in their familiar, breezy way. Everyone was growing older, getting busier, getting boyfriends; it was rare the three musketeers got a true moment to themselves. Eventually, Lane had to go to Bible study, eager to get in good graces with her mother, to allow Dave to provide a musical holiday accompaniment.

Autumn brought early nightfall, and the light was just beginning to wane when a decrepit AMC Ambassador screeched to a halt in front of the diner. And Ella found herself not even surprised when Jess stepped out of the driver’s side, the keyring around his finger. A smirk crossed her lips and she scoffed a little, looking over at Rory, who shot her a suspicious glance.

“He’s back behind the wheel, huh?” Rory asked.

Ella’s face fell a little. “Oh, jeez, I’m sorry-”

Waving a dismissive hand, Rory only shrugged. “That accident wasn’t his fault.”

Letting out a breath of relief, Ella gave Rory a side-hug and another grin. “You’re the best, Gilmore.”

“Second only to you, Ella.”

Glancing over at Jess, Ella rolled her eyes. He leaned against the car, gazing at her. His hands shoved in his pockets, hair gelled up, a leather jacket over his Clash t-shirt. A blush almost rose to her face at the sight of him, but she bit the inside of her cheek and smirked wider instead.

“You need something, Mariano?” she called smugly, and Rory chuckled at her side.

Jess shrugged. “Just didn’t want to interrupt.”

“Oh, how polite of you,” she shot back, then looked over at Rory in askance. The brunette nodded and gave her one last hug.

“Lunch tomorrow?”

“Wouldn’t miss it,” Ella replied, gathering up her stuff and shaking her head in disbelief as she approached the car, and the boy next to it. “Where’d you get the rust bucket, Mariano?”

“Whatever, soccer mom,” he retorted.

She narrowed her eyes at the insult to her station wagon. “You’re on thin ice. Where’d you even find this?”

“Gypsy sold it to me. Not so pretty, but I got a good deal.”

She nodded, placing her hands on the back of his neck and lacing her fingers together. His arms came to rest around her waist. Ella glanced back around him to the car. “Ah, I wouldn’t write her off too quick. She’s got good bones.”

“Wait to look on the bright side, blondie,” he said, kissing her cheek.

“As in my hair or as in Debbie Harry?” she asked, expectant. “There is a right answer.”

Jess snorted. “Debbie Harry. How could you even ask?”

“Just checking,” she smiled, pressing her lips to his. For a moment, she was caught up, and the kiss deepened. But then she remembered they were still standing in the center of town, and she pulled away as her cheeks heated up.

Jess chuckled at her blush as she took a step back and cleared her throat, running a hand through her loose hair self-consciously.

“Shut up, James Dean” she warned playfully, narrowing her eyes. “With this car? I think you’ve reached caricature status in public opinion.”

“Don’t type-cast me.”

She continued despite his mock defense, ruffling his gelled mess of waves. “You’ve even got the hair to match.”

Rolling his eyes, he swatted her hand away and pouted, trying to fix his look. “Just for that, I’m not letting you pick the music. And I’m not telling you what we’re doing for our surprise date tomorrow night.”

“What? I wasn’t aware the stakes were so high!”

Jess rolled his eyes again.

Before she could do any more damage to his cool exterior, he retreated back into his driver’s seat. Laughing wickedly, she came around to the passenger side and threw her bag in the back.

“I think it’d be perfectly fine for the date not to be a surprise. Where are we going?” she asked, hoping to lure it out of him.

“Somewhere,” he replied flatly, not phased.

Smiling wider at his secrecy, she threw a glance at the diner over her shoulder as he rolled away from town center. Punk blasted through the radio, and she turned it down just slightly so they could hear each other. Jess shot her a teasing glare, but said nothing about it.

“Y’know,” she said, “I’ve worked at Luke’s for three years and in all that time combined I didn’t make enough money to buy a car.”

“And what are you implying?” he asked, feigning innocence.

Ella only scoffed, taking his free hand in hers. She could feel the scar, where they’d pulled out the stitches.

.   .   .

Nowhere. It had been a long drive to nowhere in his car. But, Ella supposed, nowhere could be a kind of somewhere, anywhere. Eventually, though, they’d made it to Hartford and Jess turned back. The frigid sky was darkening to a deep, late autumn blue, and Luke was adding him to a Saturday night at the diner every time he came home past midnight. Upon arriving back in Stars Hollow, it was around ten, the shops were closed, but Jess didn’t want their time to end. Away from town, he felt lighter, easier. Everyone wasn’t watching him. Ella wasn’t the doe-eyed princess like Rory, and she didn’t have overbearing parents like Lane, but the townspeople still looked at him with plenty suspicious eyes when they walked hand-in-hand out in public.

Instead of Luke’s, where watchful figures persisted, they landed in Ella’s bedroom. He felt his muscles relax at the scent of lavender, sitting on her bed and leaning his back against the muraled wall. She laid next to him, shoes off but still fully clothed, atop the knit blanket. Joni Mitchell played a mournful tune over her turntable. Her candles were alight, and Jess would have felt sleepy if it weren’t for the book in his hands. Jess devoured A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, another gloomy tale (shocking) Ella had given him. She said she always read it around Christmastime, and he was beginning to see at least once reason for her Grinchy tendencies. And Ella held Anna Karenina in front of her. It was not her first foray into the Russians, but she had never been too thrilled with them. Jess seemed to believe this one would win her over. A few chapters in, and she doubted it.

“Jess?” she asked as the clock ticked nearer to eleven.

“Hm?”

“Are we gonna have sex?”

Choking for a second in surprise, Jess cleared his throat. He scoffed out a chuckle. “What, like, now?”

Ella laughed, shoving his arm playfully. She sat up and faced him, flushed and anxious, though her voice was even. “No. For one, my dad’s still awake. But, I just mean...we do pretty much everything up to having sex, but we’ve never had sex. We’ve been together for almost three months. I just figured we should talk about it.”

Shutting his book, Jess crossed his arms over his chest. “Has anyone ever told you that you have a talent for subtlety?”

She rolled her eyes. “My bluntness is at least half my charm.”

“‘Charm’ is a pretty strong word.”

Launching a teasing pillow at his face, Ella giggled. “I’m trying to be serious here, Mariano.”

“Okay, sorry. Go on.”

“Okay. So...sex.”

He bit his lip to fight off a smirk. “Yes?”

“Well, have you had sex?” she asked.

“Yeah. There was one girl back in New York. Tara. She was nice, I guess. But it wasn’t a Nora Ephron type deal or anything.”

“You like Nora Ephron?” she interrupted, brows furrowed. Not incredulous, only perplexed.

He narrowed his eyes momentarily but ignored the interjection. “I dated her when I was a freshman and then she moved to Albany. Then, your best friend Shane-”

“Fuck off.”

“Not a chance. But, the answer is yes.” Then, after a pause, he furrowed his brows. It occurred to him what a gray area that part of her past was to him. “Have you?”

She nodded. “Hm-mm. A couple times.”

“Huh.”

“Yeah,” she said, smiling shyly at the way he tilted his head. There was no judgement in his voice. “Right after my mom died, I went to a couple parties...Well, not parties. They were more like get-togethers. Anyway, I got super stoned. This kid Brian smoked with me and we just sorta…did it. There were a couple more parties that year. Rinse. Repeat. Eventually, I started working more and just stopped going.”

“And you never-”

“No, never got together with him,” she answered before he even had to ask. “I never had a ‘relationship’ with anyone. Never had sex with anyone else. It was a good thing, though, I think. Being with him. At the time, I felt so shitty. For just a little while, it made me feel better. He’s a nice kid. Plays for the marching band. Sometimes sex is just sex, y’know?”

“Yeah, sometimes,” Jess agreed. “But...with us?”

Running a hand through her hair, Ella felt her insides flutter at the look he gave her. It was almost….open? Not quite, but almost. “Well, do you wanna have sex with me?”

Swallowing dryly, Jess nodded and hoped he didn’t appear as flustered as he felt. “Yeah. Yeah, I do...Do you wanna have sex with me?”

“Yeah,” she said, nodding casually. It felt odd, talking so frankly with him. But it wasn’t uncomfortable. In fact, it was exciting. Would it feel different with a boyfriend? She bet it would.

He cleared his throat, doing his best to hold her hazel gaze. “Good, then. That’s good.”

“I think it is, yeah.”

Bringing a hand to his shoulder, she pulled him in for a short, sweet kiss. And Jess’s heart felt light, relieved. Sometimes, Ella was challenging, she was complicated. But, when it was just the two of them, without all the noise which surrounded their daily lives, it was just so easy. And he could remember no other person he’d ever felt so at home with, who understood him so completely. And when she pulled away, he could still feel the ghost of her lips on his own.

“Alright, I’ve got to finish this chapter,” she said, grabbing her book again and shifting next to him, her back against the mural and her head coming to rest on his shoulder. When she cracked open the pages to her marked place, Jess following suit, she sighed. “This book is excruciating. Why would anyone read this recreationally?”

“You really wanna talk excruciating, Stevens?” he wagered, eyebrows raised as he looked down at her. “Need I remind you of Finnegan’s Wake? And don’t even get me started on this so-called Christmas book.”

“It is a Christmas book,” she argued, gesturing down to the Betty Smith novel in his hands.

Jess shook his head. “Just because Christmas happens in a story doesn’t make it a Christmas story. This is the Godfather debate all over again.”

She sighed once more. “You're never gonna convince me The Godfather isn’t a Christmas movie. Give it up, James Dean.”

“Only like fifteen minutes of that movie takes place at Christmas, my god, how many times-”

.   .   .

Just before official closing, Luke came back from Doose’s with supplies for Thanksgiving to stock the back room. The diner was to stay open on Thursday, and Luke would feed traditional turkey dinner to whoever stepped through the door. The past two years, Ella had worked all day, eating with Luke, Lorelai, and Rory during down times. The year before, she’d also gone to her aunt’s house following her shift to see the kids. But, with Fiona moved in and engaged to her father, the obligations had changed drastically. She was still working the morning shift, but was due home no later than two. Her older brother was coming, along with her aunt, her aunt’s husband, and her nieces.

Cleaning the counter with lemony disinfectant, she watched her boss trudge through the diner with heavy bags to the stockroom. Luke declined her offer to help carry things, as she had known he would. Instead, she was to keep closing.  The clock ticked rhythmically on the wall, and the anxiety for the approaching holiday mixed in her stomach with excitement and pleasant nerves for what the evening was to hold. Jess had slipped out the door around lunch time with the blue vest in the pocket of his leather jacket, telling her he’d be back around nine. And he still wouldn’t budge and tell her where they were going for their ‘secret date.’ But it wasn’t as though she didn’t know why. He hadn’t been able to treat her during their first date, and every date since had been more of a casual hang-out, or a mutually-arranged affair. He still wanted to show her what was, in his opinion, the first date she deserved. So, she wouldn’t argue too much. When the bell over the door sounded, Ella smirked before she even looked up to see him.

“Ready to spill your guts, James Dean?” she asked immediately as he came and sat at the counter in front of her.

Jess scoffed. “Eager much?”

“Jackass much?”

He rolled his eyes. “Are you almost done?”

Nodding, Ella threw the rag in her hand into the dirty bin below the counter. She could hear Luke rummaging around in the back still.

“Hey Luke?” she called.

He came out with his hands on his hips, baseball cap in its rightful place as always. “Yeah?”

“I’m finished out here. Alright if I clock out?” she asked.

Luke eyed his nephew suspiciously, who looked back at him with his usual smug smirk. “Only if Walmart’s favorite stock boy doesn’t keep you out too late.”

The expression fell on Jess’s face and was replaced with furrowed brows, mouth set in a thin line. He’d managed quite a many few months keeping the secret from Luke, until he’d got his car. It was only after Luke accused him of prostitution that he finally came clean. And the teasing had been relentless ever since.

“Don’t worry,” Ella said, smiling as she went to the kitchen to clock out and hang her apron.

With Ella out of the room, Luke pointed a finger at his nephew and took on an accusatory stance. “No drinking, no smoking, no-”

“No drugs, no five-dollar street corner sex, I got it,” Jess interrupted begrudgingly.

Luke grunted in annoyance and rolled his eyes, but said nothing more as he went around to the cash register and started to close it out. Emerging from the back, Ella smoothed her hands over her simple black dress, then pulled her sleeves down over her hands nervously. Suddenly, she wondered if she wasn’t dressed for wherever they were going. She wished she had asked earlier.

“Okay, time to spit it out,” she said, rounding the corner of the counter and grabbing his hand to pull him up. They walked towards the door and she donned her peacoat, taking her shoulder bag, emptier than normal without all the school contents.

Jess smirked. “But what if a blindfold is part of the plan?”

“No fucking way.”

“Hey!” Luke piped up from the register at her language. The attempt at scolding was half-hearted, though.

Rolling her eyes with good nature, Ella followed Jess out the door. “Sorry. Night, boss.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Luke said with a small smile, waving a dismissive hand at the two kids.

Once outside, Ella could see her breath in the night and she was glad she’d worn her thick black tights. Her Doc Martens crunched the orangey piles of dry leaves noisily as they descended the front steps and made their way across the street to Jess’s car. Before they could get in, though, Jess stopped in his tracks and turned to her, leaning against the car doors.

“I’m waiting,” she teased, eyebrows raised impatiently.

After reaching in his pocket momentarily, Jess went to tuck a strand of hair which had fallen from her low bun behind her ear. Then, he revealed a set of ear plugs in his hand, and Ella’s brow furrowed though her smile widened in nostalgia.

“What’s up, Houdini?”

“Figured you might need these. Since we’re going to see the Distillers and all.”

“Are we?” she asked, taking the earplugs from him.

Nodding, Jess brought the tickets from his pocket and held them up for her to see. She broke out in a grin.

“Not bad, Mariano.”

“Yeah, I know you’re more into melancholia, but you were listening to my CD the other week. So, when I saw they were coming to Harford, I figured...” he trailed off humbly, shrugging. “And we’ve been together almost three months and I still haven’t seen those famous Eleanor Stevens dance moves.”

She chuckled, flushing slightly. He could smell her rosemary scent as she leaned closer and rested her hands on the back of his neck. “Don’t know if you’re ready for that. They’re deadly.”

“In more ways than one I’ve heard,” he quipped.

“Shut up,” she said. “This is awesome, Jess. Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

And she brought him in for a kiss, smiling into it. Jess could feel his shoulders release their tension. He hadn’t known if she’d be happy. They were one of his favorite bands, and he’d heard rumors of their coming to town when she’d chosen them as her angry music weeks earlier. Though he wasn’t big on signs, he thought maybe the universe was telling him to share the experience with her. Let her in. It didn’t make him any less nervous, though. It was always there in the back of her mind, that worry she would realize what everyone else in the town already had. That he wasn’t good enough for her. But as he felt her hands in his hair, warmed by her touch in the cold November air, he couldn’t help but forget his fears for just a moment.

.   .   .

Mid-morning light streamed through the small window into Ella’s cramped bedroom. Her cacti sat on the dresser, soaking up the sunshine, as Jess and Ella slept soundly on the mattress. Wearing a big KISS t-shirt, Ella turned over in her sleep and faced Jess, his arm draped over her tightening slightly. A shirtless Jess lay beneath the whitish blanket next to her, snoring softly. His jeans and t-shirt were strewn near the bed, along with Ella’s dress. Still pumped full of adrenaline after the concert, Ella had crept through the house the night before to make sure everyone was asleep, then snuck Jess through her window. And their first time together was even better than she’d imagined. Sweet and a little awkward and wonderful, reminding her almost of their first kiss months before. And, afterwards, they’d stayed up talking for hours, with a fair amount of teasing from Jess over the t-shirt she’d decided to wear to bed. KISS was perhaps her biggest guilty pleasure.

Upon a soft knocking on Ella’s creaky white door, Jess began to stir. He cleared his throat and rubbed at his tired eyes before fully waking, becoming aware of his surroundings. Then, a voice came from the hallway outside.

“Ella? Fiona wants to take us to Doose’s to get Thanksgiving stuff!”

Sitting up slightly, Jess saw Ella was still deep asleep.

“Elle? Wake up,” he said, shaking her shoulder gently. It took at least thirty seconds before her eyes finally fluttered open.

“Hm?”

“You gotta wake up. Someone’s at your door,” he said quietly, hastily. Another knock sounded on the wood, and Jess glanced up, biting his lip.

Taking in a sharp breath, Ella nodded and her hazy eyes blinked harshly awake. The knocking on the door was persistent now, and her brother called her name a couple more times. She gestured for Jess to move to the corner near the dresser, out of view of the door, as she rushed over to open it. Poking her head out, she kept the door almost shut so only her face could be seen.

“God, Adam, knock louder, would you?” she snapped tiredly.

Adam took a step back at her irritated tone, squinting behind his glasses at her behavior. “It’s not my fault you’re too lazy to get up on time.”

“Didn’t realize we had an appointment scheduled,” Ella shrugged, trying to make her tone lighter.

Shrugging back, Adam began to walk off. “We’re leaving for Doose’s in fifteen.”

“Fine,” she grumbled, shutting the door loudly as he walked away.

“Wow, you’re not a morning person,” Jess remarked, a sardonic twinkle in his eye as he spoke from behind her. When she looked back, he was almost fully dressed already, buckling up his belt. “I gotta get back. Luke’s gonna be pissed.”

“Oh, fuck, you’re right,” Ella sighed, running a hand through her messy locks. She didn’t know why she hadn’t thought about it sooner. Sometimes Jess seemed so independent, so out on his own, she forgot how much Luke had invested in taking care of him.

Jess only shrugged. “My fault. I didn’t mean to fall asleep. I’ll tell him I was reading at the lake and just dozed off.”

“You don’t have to do that,” she said immediately, shaking her head.

He came over to her and put an arm around her waist, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “It’s fine. He’ll be less mad at both of us. Win-win.”

“You think he’ll buy it?” she asked, raising a skeptical eyebrow.

“I have my ways.”

She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, whatever, James Dean.”

Chuckling, he pecked her lips and took one long look at her. Before he could help it, or worry about feeling stupid, he smiled down at her. Crooked and sincere. And Ella smiled back.

“I had a good time,” she said.

Jess nodded in agreement. “Me too. The best of times.”

Sighing lightly, she rolled her eyes. “How do you always manage to bring up Dickens?”

“It’s a gift and a curse.”

And even after he pressed one final kiss to her lips, disappearing out the window and down the street, she couldn’t seem to wipe the smile off her face.

[particularnervous]

Welcome Home

summary: Shawn and Ella have been dating for a few months and he comes home after being away for a bit 

a/n: This is a continuation of Crowded! To read part one, click here 

----

Ella cursed as she almost dropped the eggs she was carrying, arms full as she tried to open the condo door. She had forgotten a bag when she went to the store, and in an attempt to do the right thing had declined a plastic bag and opted to carry her groceries a block to Shawn’s condo. It didn’t seem that far in distance, but with about a dozen things cradled in her arms, it was definitely an adventure. Ella was aggravated for many reasons though, not just the pile of food she seemed to be dropping. She was attempting to do something nice for her boyfriend who had been out of town on a small two-week promo trip in New York and LA for his newest song. She had Brian expedite ship her his key to the apartment and decided to bake Shawn homemade cookies for when he got back. His mom had been there an hour before to drop off soup and had texted Ella that she had left a cookie sheet and parchment paper. As she made more and more steps in this plan, however, Ella felt extremely stupid. What is Shawn didn’t want to see her right away? He probably just wanted to shower, change, and chill before their plans later in the evening. He was due home at 6:30 and they had planned that he would be over to hers around 9:00.

“I wish I could just fly the plane right to your house. Parachute out of it and be at your front door. I miss you��

That’s the text Ella had received a few days prior, to which she had replied that she’s working on a teleportation device.

Shawn: I’ll be over around 9:00 on Sunday? We can watch a movie or just sleep

Ella: Sleep sounds good, I know you’ll need it. Can’t wait to hear all your travel shenanigans though

Shawn: Can’t wait to tell you them. It’ll be late when I finish the show tonight, will you be up?

Ella: It’s live, I’ll be watching on the corner of my seat silly

Shawn: I’ll call you on my way back to the hotel then. Talk soon, sweetheart.

Now, around 5:00 on Sunday, Ella was second guessing their entire conversation. On the phone that night he had gotten slightly emotional, the lack of sleep and home-sickness catching up with him. Ella had tried her best to console him, her heart aching from not being with him. He had told her probably one million times that night, and since, that he couldn’t wait to see her. But now, as there were only hours until he was home, she wondered if he wasn’t feeling that way anymore. Maybe it would be like when you black out at a club and do some dumb shit and wake up the next morning hungover and guilty wishing you hadn’t done any of it. Not to mention, they had only been dating for close to three months and she had basically broken into his condo without his knowledge.

Ella went about her plans, though, and when the cookies were finished and cooling on a plate she sat back and texted Shawn. She saw she had a few messages from him saying that he had landed and was almost home. She replied, and opened her twitter to look at pictures of Shawn with fans at the airport. Before Shawn, she had followed a few stan accounts, but ever since pictures of them kissing at the club leaked, their entire relationship had been fairly public. It had taken a bit to get used to the hate in the beginning, but she usually stuck to twitter where things were usually nice and mild, and made her Instagram private. She loved interacting with fans now, it made them happy and Shawn loved it. “My favourite people talking”, he would say, “I should bring you on tour with me, they’d want to see you more than me.” She would laugh, but truthfully as much as his fans liked her, she was in awe of the way they cared for her boyfriend. For some, it may be annoying to see girls and guys fawning over your partner, but for Ella it filled her with pride. He was the greatest guy, and she was so happy that everyone saw that. Plus, the stuff that they would say about him physically made her laugh. It wasn’t uncommon for her to reply to a tweet about how hot he was with a witty remark about how she doesn’t know how to control herself around him. Seeing him with fans at his hometown airport, though, brought her another level of happiness. He looked so happy and relieved with his arms around the people in the pictures. She grinned when she saw a tweet with a video of him, the caption ‘oh my god, I love them so much’. She opened it and her heart squeezed listening to him. A fan had asked if he was going home to Ella, and he had replied “I’m seeing her later tonight, I can’t wait to hug her”. Her nerves calmed a bit and she continued to scroll, saving a couple pictures of just him.

Shawn: Just getting home, I’ll text when I’m on my way xo

Ella’s heart started to beat faster as she heard the lock click and the door swing open. Shawn walked in, and it took him a second before he noticed her. He messed with the key, grumbling something about it never cooperating, and put down his guitar, before he turned and finally noticed her standing in the hallway in front of him. The look on his face was priceless as he stared at Ella, mouth wide open.

“I hope this is okay. I wanted to make you cookies because I know you said you were craving the ones I made you that one time, and Brian sent me his key so that’s how I’m here, but I can leave if you want.” Ell rushed out, wringing her hands together in front of her. Finally, Shawn moved, rushing forward and grabbing her into the air. With a shriek, Ella wrapped her legs around his waist, clinging to him. She inhaled his familiar scent, her favourite, and felt tears spring to her eyes. It was only two weeks, but she had missed him so much. Pulling his face out from the space between her neck and shoulder, he grinned at her in awe. “Ella,” he breathed, before kissing her hard. He pulled back quickly, placing jer on his kitchen island and stepping away to admire her. She was wearing leggings and one of his sweaters, her hair braided behind her head, but she looked gorgeous. If he could have framed that view right then and there he would have.

“You’re not mad?” She asked, quietly and he shook his head wildly. How could he be mad? He had wanted nothing more than to take an Uber right to her apartment from the airport but he figured he should bring his stuff home first. He wasn’t expecting this at all, but now that they were here, he realized that it’s exactly what he had wanted. It was something he could get used to, coming home to her.

“Not mad, princess. How could I be? This is the best surprise, you’re the best surprise.” He stepped forward again and wrapped her in his arms, holding her there for a minute.

“Well, in that case, I made you cookies and the soup your mom brought over smells so good.” Shawn laughed, and pulled away, helping Ella down from the island. He went over to the cupboard and grabbed two bowls while Ella took two spoons out of the drawer. Sitting down next to each other, Shawn began telling her about his flight and the airport.

“I saw the video of you saying you were excited to see me, very cute.” Ella teased, and a blush appeared on Shawn’s cheeks.

“Shut up, I wasn’t even that excited.” He muttered and she rolled her eyes.

“Yeah, okay Mendes. You’re the one that said you wish you could parachute to me.”

“I said to your apartment, not you. What if I really missed your roommates?” He said, defensively, and she laughed. He had a great relationship with my roommates, and it was something Ells was thankful for. She wouldn’t be surprised if he missed them.

“I’d say, if you missed them so much go hangout there and I’ll enjoy these cookies myself.” Ella huffed, and Shawn laughed, pulling her stool closer to him so that he could wrap his arms around her.

“I think I’ll stay here with you and the cookies.”

A few hours later, they were quietly getting ready for bed in Shawn’s bathroom. Ella had left a toothbrush here officially a month ago, as well as her face wash and moisturizer. When Connor and Brian saw, they made fun of Shawn for a good ten minutes before Connor cracked and told him honestly that he was happy for Shawn. Brian continued to make fun of him.

“I love doing this with you, babe.” Shawn admitted, watching as she ran his brush through her hair. He had finished his routine before her, as usual, and was sitting on the toilet trying to memorize her routine. Hair up, wash face, brush teeth, moisturize, hair down, brush hair, lip chap. It all seemed so domestic he thought his heart might burst. He loved just watching her live her life and do the normal, small things. He was so enthralled.

“I do too,” she replied softly, knowing exactly what he meant. “Makes me feel safe.” She muttered, voice shy. He stood and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her back into him. Their eyes met through the mirror and Shawn’s heart skipped a beat. “You make me feel the same way.” He told her, kissing her neck softly. Ella closed her eyes and leaned back into him. They stayed like that for a moment before he pulled away and made his way into the bedroom. She joined him a minute later, having changed into a t-shirt of his. She climbed into bed as he stripped down to his boxers and he stopped short when he turned around and saw her in his bed. This wasn’t a new sight, she had spent the night more than once, but after two weeks apart she looked like a new type of gorgeous all wrapped up in him like that. His shirt, his sheets, he thought he could cry. He grabbed his phone off the nightstand and stood at the end of the bed in the middle, snapping a picture of her. He took a moment to admire it, how soft she looked in the light, the way her face lit up in the smile she always has behind the camera, shy but happy.

“You’re so beautiful, Ella, I’m so lucky.” Ella felt like she might pass out, so overwhelmed with the sweetness of their evening. She couldn’t believe she had been so nervous earlier that night, it seemed pointless now. Shawn tapped away on his phone for a minute, and Ella’s own phone buzzed from beside her. ‘Shawn Mendes as made a post’ her Instagram notified her, and then ‘Shawn Mendes tweeted: I’m in Toronto and I’ve got this view’. The picture he had taken moments before was attached. Ella grinned, commending Shawn on his caption skills. In retaliation, she climbed on top of him and snapped a picture of him looking up at him. She posted it to her own social media, captioning it ‘my view’s better’. They giggled over the replies and comments together, liking and replying to a few of them before putting their phones down.

Shawn turned on his side and pulled Ella into him, kissing the back of her head. “Goodnight, honey.” He whispered, and Ella squeezed his hand as her own goodnight. The two of them slept better than they had the past two weeks.

[workitholland]

Cat & Mouse Game | Tom Holland Mob AU | Chapter 1

Everyone in London knew that there were two people who were to be feared by everyone. Tom Holland, and Y/N Y/L/N. Leaders of the East and West side mobs. Two people you wouldn’t want to find yourself involved with. Y/N took pride in her empire, as did Tom. Y/N built the West side up from nothing, and Tom was given everything from his father. They come from two different sides of the spectrum in every way possible, yet they’re both after the same thing. They were both after the money, any bit they could get their hands on, no matter how they had to get it.

Black Louboutin’s clicked on the crumbled pavement as the door to the sleek black Rolls Royce is opened. She exited the car, standing with a confidence to her that could leave any person weak at the knees. Two huge men accompanied her on both sides, both dressed to the nines in all black. She throws a cigarette butt on the ground, stomping out the flame with her designer stilettos. With a small gesture of her hand, she began towards the boarded up brick building in front of her.

The two men walk ahead of her, peeking inside to make sure the coast was clear. Before they could alert her of any danger, she had pushed the door open, two guns held in her hands as she shoots the two guards in the thighs, making them fall to the ground with agonizing yelps of pain. She struts in, making her way to the huge door at the other side of the room. “C’mon boys.” She calls, the men appearing back at her side. As they reach the door, she gently presses her ear against the surface. Muffled voices came from the other side, but there was no way to make out what they were saying.

On a limb, she pushes the door open slowly, peeking in to see him. He stood there at his desk, his fists balled at his side, chocolate curls framing his face perfectly. Beside him stood the blonde, and upon further investigation of the room, she noticed a man cuffed to a metal chair. He was battered and bloody, shifting in and out of consciousness. The two conscious men seemed to be talking about the almost lifeless man in front of them, and she saw no better time than now to make her entrance.

“Thomas Stanley Holland, Leader of the East Side Mob, Billionaire, Playboy.” You stated, gun in hand, pointing at the brunette. A smirk rose to his lips, his arms crossing. “Y/N Y/M/N Y/L/N, Leader of the West Side Mob, Reckless Vixen.” You push your red lips together into a straight line when he pulls a gun and points it at you, mimicking your actions. “Don’t be so hostile, baby.” Tom says, voice dripping in poison. You roll your eyes, pulling your black shades off to reveal your Y/E/C eyes.

“What are you doing here, Y/L/N?” He asks, slowly moving from behind his desk, making his way towards your figure. You met him half way, gun pointing at the underside of his chin. “You know why, Holland. Same reason you are. You just happened to get in my way.” You seethe, grasping the collar of his blood splattered white shirt. The action makes him release a chuckle. “Oh sweetheart, this little act you’ve got going on? It’s real cute.” He pauses, leaning down to your ear. “Knock that shit off, and leave. The money is mine.”

You scoff at his words, lowering your gun. “In your dreams, Holland.” You spit. “The money isn’t here.” Harrison said in a low voice, making your attention turn towards him. You slowly stalk over, placing your hands on his chest, running your hands along the fabric of his shirt until your fingers hook in his belt loops. “Oh, I know it’s not here. I just wanted to meet my competition and make my impression.” You say teasingly in his ear, biting down on the soft skin of his lobe. As quickly as he sucks in a breath, you were gone.

“He’s the strongest out there, Y/N! There’s no way!” Val, your right hand man says, his hands firmly on your desk. “Val, sweetheart,” You start, kicking your heels onto your desk, taking a swig of your drink. “It’s not as complicated as you’re making it out to be.” Val cocks his head to the side, sitting in a chair opposite you. “You’re on his radar now, after that stunt you pulled, it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s already got this place bugged!” You let out a small chuckle. “He’d never be able to find this place.”

You stand up from your place behind your desk, moving towards the window on your left. You close your eyes and take in the sunshine. “I have an advantage, Val. It’s called human instinct. I’m going to do all I can to make this man fall for me. He’s gonna fall so hard, he’ll let his guard down completely, and then his empire is practically in the palm of my hands.” You put your hand against the window pane, looking out at the water of the lake. “And it’ll all start tonight.”

“Y/N, you can’t make a scene tonight! There’s going to be so many potential clients!” Val says, throwing his hands up in defense. You spin on your heels. “Who said anything about making a scene?” You smirk confidently, taking quick strides out of your office towards the master bedroom. You flick the lights on in your walk in closet, rummaging through your dresses that range from mildly expensive to more expensive than a car. You smirk to yourself when your hands feel the fabric of your favorite red dress.

“Val! Is the car out front?” You call, getting a quick ‘yup’ in response. You quickly finish up on your stunning makeup, then slip your heels on and begin your trek towards the car. As soon as you slide in the back next to Val, his eyes nearly pop out of his skull. “This isn’t making a scene?” He questions, referring to your blood red dress that had a slit on the leg that just barely reached your panties, matching red pumps, but most importantly, your painted red lips and dramatic smokey eye. Your curls frame your face so perfectly, you could very easily been mistaken for a goddess.

You shrug your shoulders. “It’s business, darling.” You say reassuringly, crossing your legs with a sly smile. As soon as the car pulls up, you slide out quickly, rushing inside to avoid any bad media coverage. As soon as your eyes scan the room that held an astonishing amount of people, your confident and cocky attitude returned. You stalked over to an unoccupied table, grabbing a flute of champagne on your way. You sip it quietly, watching all the bodies flood the room.

“Excuse me miss.” You hear from your left, making you turn your head. You’re met with the eyes of a waiter. “Would you like another?” He refers to your flute, and you nod gratefully as he hands one to you. “Thank you, sir.” You mentally curse yourself for being so jumpy. “Looks like you were expecting someone, huh?” The velvety voice whispers in your ear. Turning your head towards the source, you’re met with chocolate brown eyes and slicked hair.

“Thomas.” You greet, taking another sip from your flute. You pat the seat next to you, and he takes the invitation, his eyes running up and down your body. You smirk to yourself, moving your leg in just the right way to make the slit of your dress fall open, revealing your leg. “Take a picture, it’ll last longer, baby.” You say, flicking a wink his way. “I’m here strictly for business, Y/N.” He says calmly, straightening his posture. “As am I.” You retort, gulping down your champagne.

“Dance with me.” You blurt out, making him cock his eyebrow. “So we can talk business.” You smirk, grabbing his hand and leading him towards the dance floor. “Now usually my dancing would be more suitable for a club, so you’re gonna have to teach me.” You tease, forcing your body close to his as he wraps his arm around your lower back. He takes your hand in his and begins leading you around the dance floor.

“Now, business.” You say, looking up into his eyes. “I have a proposal.” He says, making you smile. “So soon?” Your response makes him chuckle, shaking his head. “Business proposal, Y/N. The way you ambushed me while I was with a client, if you were anyone else, I wouldn’t have hesitated to kill you. I should’ve killed you.” Your mouth drops open, bringing your hand to your heart. “I’m hurt, Tommy.” He noticeably tenses at your nickname.

“Now, I wanted to try this first before we have to spill blood. Give up the West Side.” You laugh at his lame attempt. “Really? You think just telling me to give it up will have me handing over my empire? That’s cute.” Tom bites his lip and sucks in a breath. “You didn’t let me finish, Give up the West Side, and we won’t touch Ella.” Your motions halt at the mention of your little sister. Your eyes darken, but you continue dancing. “Don’t you fucking dare.” You seethe, nails practically digging holes into his hand.

“She’s okay, for now.” He smirks, and you almost forget your entire plan. “Isn’t there anything else I can do? I’ll do anything..” You let the words slip out in a seductive tone, which catches his attention. “Nothing. G-give up the West Side.” His words falter slightly, making you smirk. “I think there is something I can do..” You let your hand slip down his chest, biting your lip as you feel his toned chest under his button up top.

He pushes your hand off, trying to stay strictly business. “Fine. There is one thing.” He says, getting close to your ear. “Pay up.” He whispers, placing a small kiss onto your neck. “I’m not giving you money, Holland.” You snap, making him elicit a small chuckle. “Y/N, it’s the only way..” He smirks. “How much?” You say faintly, your confidence slowly slipping from you. “Oh, let’s see.. Ten thousand.” “Done.” You say, not wanting to argue with his low price. “It’ll be done by morning.” His eyes soften and you tense as he places a small kiss to your forehead. “Pleasure doing business with you, Y/N.”

He leaves you in the middle of the floor, dazed and confused. There’s no way you could transfer that money.. right? Wrong. Ella’s life is in danger, and you promised your mother to never bring your family into your business. You pull out your phone, texting Val to meet you out front and to call the limo. As you make your way outside, the cool breeze hits you in the face like a ton of bricks. You turn your head and see Val with his arm extended towards you. You take his arm graciously, careful not to trip as you find yourself at the car.

“Ten thousand to Thomas.” You say cooly as you slide in the back seat. “What?” Val cocks his head to the side, taking in your stone cold manner. “You heard me.” You reply, crossing your arms, sitting back in the seat. “Why?” He asks, turning his body towards you. “He threatened my family, okay? I promised not to bring them into this shit, so just transfer the fucking money!” You snap, slamming your hands down onto your thighs.

-

“How the hell did he find out about Ella?” You say to yourself, leaning back in your chair. “Of course, he can know anything he wants, he’s a fucking amazing mob boss!” You groan, letting your hands fall to your sides. Never have you ever been so stumped as to what to do about someone. Of course, you’re both after the money that comes with running both the East and West side. The amount of clients with both sides would bring in enough money to have your future generations set for life, that is if you had anything that even moderately resembled a love life.

Tom though, he probably has a new girl everyday. Girls practically throw themselves at his feet, it’s repulsive. Just then, an idea pops into your head. “Val!” You yell, pulling your phone out of your pocket. He runs in, stopping against the door frame. “Yes, your majesty?” He jokes, and you flip him off. “I need Harrison’s number.” He chuckles at your request, leaving the room. He returns a moment later with a small piece of paper in hand, and upon further investigation of the paper, you notice a phone number scribbled onto it. “This is why you’re my right hand man.” You smile to yourself.

“Hello?” The voice of Tom’s best mate rings in your ear for a moment before you can manage to say something. “Harrison, so nice to talk to you again!” You say, over exaggerating your enthusiasm. “Who’s this?” He asks quizzically. “Forget me so soon? I’m heartbroken!” “Y/N.” You smirk to yourself. “You got it, handsome. Now, do me a favor and give me Tommy boys number.” He lets out a low chuckle, sighing into the phone. “Y/N, I would never give you his number.” “Oh yeah? Not even if I were to send someone after your sister? Maybe I’ll send Val! You remember him, right? Tall, muscular, probably could snap her like a twig?” It was your turn to laugh.

“You’re sick.” He spits. “Oh darling, you don’t mean that. Just give me the number and your sister will be just fine.” Harrison sighs on the other line. “You’re gonna cost me my job.” He reads off the number, and you smile to yourself. “Thanks handsome, you’ll be seeing more of me real soon.” You tease, making a kissy noise through the phone. “Can’t wait.” He replies through gritted teeth before hanging up the phone.

“Tom!” Harrison calls, rushing into Tom’s office. “What’s gotten into you, Haz?” “Y/N.” He replies breathily. “She’s gonna be-“ The sound of Tom’s phone ringing cut him off. “Unknown number..” Tom says to himself, but answers it regardless. “Hello?” He asks, his accent prominent. “Hi Darling..” You coo, and Tom sends a look over towards Harrison, who’s hands were up in defense. “How’d you get my number.” “Why don’t you ask your best mate? But listen. I’ve got my own proposal.” Tom motions for Harrison to leave the room, then let’s out a breath. “I’m listening.”

“We’re at each other’s throats for this money. I know neither of us like to share, but if we put our businesses together, our money would double.” Tom raises an eyebrow, then adjusts his tie. “What are you proposing?” You let out a chuckle. “You can’t be that stupid, Holland. I’m proposing that we work together. Unite the East and West Sides.” Tom scoffs. “Never in a million years would I have you as my partner, you’d just slow me down!” It was your turn to scoff at his words.

“Really? I’m a mob boss, just like you. You don’t think i’m where I am for a reason?” “I do, I just don’t think you’re as powerful as me, don’t get me wrong darling, you’re probably a great fighter, but you’re nothing compared to me. I would just be pulling your weight.” As his words flowed, the anger did as well. You were practically red and steaming. “We’ll see about that.” Slamming the phone down onto your desk, you end the call.

-

“Val, I’ll be okay. I’m just going to get coffee!” You exclaim, putting on your leather jacket and heading out, much to Val’s dismay. London was quite beautiful in the fall, the leaves make everything gorgeous. Oranges, yellows, browns, colors most people have decided to be ugly, but you found them just gorgeous. The sound of leaves crunching under your boots as you walked sent a wave of happiness through your body, making you kick the leaves. You’re quickly filled with nostalgia of your childhood and smile.

You’re met soon with something firm, and almost fall onto the ground, but catch yourself. “Looks like you were having some fun there.” You knew who it was before you even looked up. “Are you stalking me now, Thomas?” You cross your arms, sticking your hip out. “If that’s what you’d like to think.” He smirks. “I thought you were always badass and stone cold?” You shrug your shoulders. “What can I say? I love the fall.” Your words make a genuine smile appear on his face.

“What’s this? Tom Holland smiles?” You tease, making him immediately go straight faced. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” You shake your head, then go back to your poker face. “Change your mind about my proposal?” You ask, your eyes looking everywhere but his. He shakes his head. “And I won’t. You’d just be dead weight.” The words make something inside you click, and suddenly he’s pinned onto the ground underneath your body. You wrap your hand around his throat, bringing your face close to his.

“Looks like id be the one carrying your weight.” You whisper, getting off of him and continuing your trek to the coffee shop. Tom lays there in the grass, eyes trained on your figure. “God damn.. maybe I do need her.” Tom stands up quickly, fixing his appearance and running towards you. “Y/N!” He calls, placing his hand on your shoulder to turn you around. “I change my mind.”

TAGS: @why-am-i-here-again-shitheads

@pieceofshir

@wyyattsoleff

@smexylemony

@starkravingparker

@fxxthlyxx

@kayaaaa

@tinyspiderling

@untainted-memories

@fangirlbitch02

@casualprincess77

@theawkwardbutterfly

@upsidedownparker

@love-bean

@smol-totoro

@inmultiplefandoms

@tmrhollandkay

@sarah-moss2015

@errorloadinghappiness

@spaceodd-ty

@sorceressandy

@amsterdaryl

@ilovestarwholock218

@love-joeyy

@self-polarized

@gracethegeek9902

[whathelluci]

Seven Minutes in Heavenly Morning

Summary: The first time they sleep together, it’s not how they imagined it would be. Post 2x13 AU where they didn’t find out that Chloe is a miracle (for less drama cause apparently i’m still salty about what-might-have-beens)

You can also read it at AO3

Word Count: 3k+

Rating: T for slight smut and language

AN: This took me and my lazy procrastinating ass forever but I did it. My first 1k+ word count and first time writing a bit of smut. Please let me know how I did!

It’s rare for Chloe to sleep in, being a hardworking mother with a job, even on her occasional day offs. And in this quiet morning it feels like she just had the best dreamless sleep she’s had in a long time.

But years of routine woke her into consciousness. Half her brain drowsily reminds her to get ready for work, but Chloe uncharacteristically resists, giving herself a couple more minutes and nestles in deeper in her bed. Her wonderfully warm bed… that is breathing in and out under her…?

Her eyes slowly open, a bit disoriented when she doesn’t sense the familiarity of her bedroom. She’s actually in the living room, lying on the couch, with –

Lucifer.

Her memory fits the puzzles into place of last night. Trixie was at a sleepover with a friend. Maze’s bounty-hunting kept her busy and away. She had the apartment to herself and the elation of solving a case with Lucifer hadn’t subsided so she invited him in.

In all honesty, Chloe had hoped they would end the night in her bedroom. She and Lucifer had been stoking the flames going on between them. She would flirt headfirst, his reaction turning in shocked disbelief then eventually in delight and respond in kind. He quickly caught on to her motives, not having to use his mojo game when she’s practically being so obvious. It didn’t go as she hoped for when he teased with her emotions, leaning into her personal space, lips a breath too far, the lust in his eyes drilling a hole in her head, then backed off leaving her frustrated. She supposed it was a bit of payback for all the times she rejected him.  But Chloe was not having it, not when she finally wants him in return. 

So during a case she raised her chin up, glared at the Devil in the eye and wagered for a kiss if she gets to catch the killer first. Lucifer accepted but he kept looking at her weirdly the whole time, eyes a thousand miles away. He may have been holding back and letting her win but sprang into action at the last minute out of nowhere and caught the suspect by the throat. After that he escorted her home, with them bantering back and forth on who actually won, which didn’t matter in the end when Lucifer still ravaged her mouth that left them both breathless. 

He stopped there despite her whined protest. “Darling, you’re being quite the sore loser. You lost and I still gave you a delectably generous kiss for free. I don’t think I heard you wagering anything more than that.” he teased, eyeing her ruffled hair and swollen lips. 

He didn’t look any better, or, he even looked more ravishing than ever, the smug bastard.

She looks up at the man in question. His unkept hair showing his adorable curls, lips thin and pink. In all there time together, Chloe has seen Lucifer in a whirlwind of emotions: with shameless flirtation, with uncontrollable fury, with exuberant glee in his eyes making him look young and immature for his age, then with haunted sorrow from experiences of the past that makes him look too ancient. And in their moments where he seems to allow himself, accepting to be vulnerable around her, with her, looking at her wonderstruck.

Unfortunately, they never made it even remotely close to the bedroom. Lucifer got distracted peeking around her stuff and found her old movie collection and gleefully insisted they watch it together. And there they were on the couch, snacking on popcorn and Cool Ranch Puffs, Lucifer’s commentaries had her laughing her head off until they both had to lean on each other, sides aching.

Chloe couldn’t remember how they ended up like this: with her practically on top of him, head nestled on his chest. Lucifer’s tall form couldn’t accommodate into the length of the couch so his knees were bent up, their legs tangled. His one arm around her waist holding her close, the other pillowing his head; his body is unnaturally warm keeping her comfortably toasted from the cool room temperature.

And this one she suspects no one has took the time to appreciate, the serenity of sleep in his face, free from the weight of everything, and he’s absolutely breathtaking. Chloe wishes he could be like this more often, no walls or masks, and hopes one day he would finally trust her enough to let her in. 

She commits him to memory and lies back down again to hear his heartbeat in her ear, her growing desire to bask in the morning with him fighting against her practicality to get the day started, but Lucifer is already stirring awake under her, unconsciously rubbing her back up and down and Chloe tries her best not to purr. 

She meets his eyes when they blear open and she is stunned motionless by the unguarded way he’s looking at her. Her heart starts racing violently, this did not go the way she had imagined. Chloe had planned to rip his shirt off and drag him to bed and have raging hot sex with him and instead they’re sleeping intimately on the couch still fully clothed and he’s looking at her the way a serious boyfriend would look at his girlfriend in the morning and she’s still not sure that he would consider having a monogamous relationship with anyone, particularly with her.

Lucifer doesn’t take notice on her internal monologue freak-out and seems to snap out of it. He confusingly looks around the apartment and settles back to her, eyes caught in headlights.

“I, um… good morning?” His voice is rough with sleep, chest rumbling under her.  

“Good morning.”

“Uh, how did we…?” His stuttering grounds her back and makes her grin.

“We fell asleep.”

“Well, that’s evident considering our current… predicament.” 

Chloe hums, she places her palms on his chest to rest her chin on. He’s incredibly flustered and it’s adorable. He still looks uncomfortably confused she thinks there’s more to it than accidentally falling asleep together.

“This doesn’t usually happen…”

“What, waking up with a woman on a couch? I bet you’ve done that loads of times.” She tries to keep her tone light. In another time, she was used to him being intimate with other people, but now it has her stomach growl for territory.

“Yes, but, you know, I slept with them. But I have never… slept with them.” For a suave club owner who could make girls swoons with just the way of his words, he can’t find them right now, but she finally gets it.

“Oh.”

Chloe probably would never solve all the mysteries of Lucifer Morningstar, the details of his past he could never hope to outrun no matter how hard he tries, the secrets he shares with his therapist that he might never tell her, which she tries to convince herself that it’s fine. She’s already accepted all of him. She can relate of not ever wanting to talk about painful histories, but she takes every moment to let him know that she’s there for him. But he avoids them with excessive partying, drinking, sex and women.  

She likes to think that Lucifer working with the LAPD is doing him good, that it’s his way of fighting against the demons in his head, though they’ll never really be gone. And she likes to think, hopes, that with the new friends he made: Linda, Ella, even Dan, her, is helping him find home here in Los Angeles when it seems like he didn’t have it with his family.

And lately, he’s gravitating closer to her. Chloe thinks about her earlier thoughts about him doing monogamy. He’s had sex with a lot of people but never actually had any emotional intimacy with them. Then it’s the complete opposite when it comes with her, ‘Granny Panties Decker’ Maze likes to call her. She and Lucifer had several of their so-called moments, but they haven’t had sex… yet. 

The thing between them, what they have, maybe it’s a first for him. 

As she’s contemplating all of this, he’s still staring at her with uncertainty, in silent desperation to hold on to her, unsteady. He’s completely out of his element. And Chloe gazes back to her partner who has come to be her best friend and knows they’ll make it as long as they have each other’s back. She thinks of comfort and company and silly tunes of Heart and Soul, nostalgic sandwiches and wet tears in expensive shirts from hugs, burgers and fries, calming waves and worthy partners, heart monitors and warm hands and reassurances of you and I, surprise glad-you’re-not-dead dinners and soft brown eyes and I’m-so-glad-you’re-okay kisses.

In some ways, this is a first for her, too.

And she’s looking forward in figuring it out with him.

Chloe consoles him with a smile, she’s kept him waiting long enough. “Well, there’s a first time for everything, right?”

She’s gotten pretty good at reading him now. And ever since there was the mere concept of them his reaction is always the same, with completed disbelief, as if with all his attempts to seduce her he’d gotten used to getting a no from her. And now he stares at her with that look again, like he’s never met a woman like her before, lips widening to a grin and eyes sparkling. And every time the butterflies in her stomach multiplies and makes her want to kiss him.

She’s already leaning towards him, noses touching, but he suddenly tenses up and stops her. “Right, not that I don’t enjoy ‘sleeping’ with you, shouldn’t we get up and get ready for work?”

Chloe blinks. The euphoria in her chest deflates. Right. They have to get to work, and she has to pick Trixie up from school later. They’ve already wasted a bit of time just lying here. And for Lucifer to suggest that instead of they get to a more comfortable sleeping arrangement like in her bed. Really, it’s like he’s avoiding having sex with her.

She huffs getting up, stretching her stiff limbs when Lucifer grunts under her. She’s about to ask when she feels her leg brushes up against his…oh. Oh shit.

Lucifer tightly shuts his eyes as he grips her hips to stop her, either from moving away or getting closer, she can’t tell. 

It’s just one slide away to sitting directly on top of him. Chloe smirks. For once, she has the upper hand, and moves to join them together where they’re both aching, and grinds down. Even still fully clothed, they gasp at the friction.

“Shouldn’t we take care of this first?” she teases, rubbing his chest, his stomach.

“Nope. I’m fine.” he says through gritted teeth.

“Really? Because it feels like you’re having a hard time down there.” Chloe keeps her hips moving, both pulsing against each other.

Lucifer glares up at her, irises darkened with lust. “Ooh, you naughty little minx.” he growls through his teeth.

“What’s the matter? Can’t handle it?” she gloats. She’s loving her control over him. But it’s short-lived when his gaze turns feral.  

Lucifer sits up so fast, gluing their fronts together, he pushes her hips down while raising his, causing harder friction. Chloe moans, clawing his back.

“Is that another wager, darling?” he blows hot breath in her ear. She shudders at the endearment. “I think I have half a mind of taking you right here on this bloody couch for a round or three and then we’ll see who couldn’t handle it.”

He suddenly stops their movements. “But I’m not going to do that.”

Chloe furrows her brows. Is he seriously going to leave her like this? But he keeps going.

Lucifer pulls back to touch their foreheads together, the hunger in his eyes is still there, but there’s a soft brown that shakes her like thunder.

“When I finally get to have you, what I plan to do with you, I want to take my precious time getting to know all of you…” He slips his hands under her shirt.

“I want to have all the time in the world getting to know every freckle, every scar…” 

His voice turns deep and gravelly. Heat radiates from his touch as he reaches up to caress her shoulder where her bullet scar is. She in turn unconsciously places her palms gently on his back, just between his shoulder blades, but neither notices.

“Every sweet spot that makes you sing…”

Each word has her losing oxygen in her lungs. Dropping his head down to her neck, he sinks his teeth in. Chloe gasps.

The Devil whispers temptation and sin in her ear.

“Scream.”

He flips them over so she’s the one resting on the cushions with him directly above her. He then proceeds to kiss the living daylights out of her, and Chloe eagerly returns it. She cups his face in her hands as their lips glide. His kisses are intoxicating. Her body is buzzing with pleasure, she clenches her thighs around his waist to have him closer.

Their tongues slide so deliciously against each other that she doesn’t feel Lucifer popping her pants open. Sliding a hand in, slipping past her underwear, he finally touches her where she’s aching.

Chloe breaks their kiss to cry out. Head tilted back, Lucifer sucks on her exposed neck. She pants at the stimulation, gripping him tight. She grinds on his fingers, needing more.

Lucifer lifts his lips up to whisper more in her ear, asking her how she wants it, but she just moans, his voice melting her. Taking that as an answer, he puts two fingers in.

She muffles her scream in his shoulder, but he softly grips her hair to pull her back and looks her in the eye. “I want to hear you.” he whispers. She can’t help but whimper when his fingers move in and out faster, her legs shaking. He starts grinding himself on her pelvis and his thumb rubs her, hard.

He starts talking again, but she can’t focus on anything else but the pleasure he’s giving her. She’s so close. Then, one word registers to her mind, she hears her name on his lips. 

“Chloe.” 

And that’s it. Her back arches as she screams his name. Explosions bursts behind her eyes. His fingers keep going as he prolongs her climax. She whimpers and grips his shirt and he lets her cover her face in his chest, catching her breath.     

Chloe looks up to see Lucifer raising his palm to his mouth, licking off the wetness while staring at her with the most sexual gaze and she fucking swears she’s already wet again.

“And that was just a little teaser, love. Just wait for the main event when I finally get to have you in so many ways you will scream your throat bloody raw.”

Her body shivers in anticipation. He’s already figured out that whispering dirty promises in her ear and calling her nicknames turns her on.

“And that’s not even the best part. You get to top me anytime you want.”

At that, her mind replays a faded memory, a fantasy of passion on top of a piano, on a different couch, dragging down a devilish man by his horns.

Lucifer grabs her waist and lifts them both up to stand, she holds on to him her legs shaking from her high. They’re both a mess, clothes wrinkled and hair sticking out all over the place, his curls more prominent. He buttons her pants back in place, she flushes when his fingers brush her stomach, and straightens down her shirt. Now that they finally unstuck themselves from the couch, Chloe doesn’t want to let go of him just yet. Mind slightly cleared, she sees the tent in his pants is still there. She was so caught up with him pleasuring her with just his mouth and fingers that he didn’t get to relieve himself.

“Um, shouldn’t we…?” Minutes ago she was teasing him about it, now she’s suddenly shy.

He peers down at her, mischief in his eyes. She had figured a long time ago nothing ever comes good with that look. He holds her chin up and caresses her bottom lip with his thumb. It’s still moist.

“I’m sure we’ll think of something, love.”

Chloe shudders.

Some time later, she’s eating the omelet Lucifer has cooked for her while she took a shower (“It’ll be more fun if we shower together.” “How original, Detective.”), feeling refreshed wearing clean clothes. It doesn’t say the same for her partner. Lucifer had declined using her bathroom (“It’s not like I haven’t done the walk of shame, darling.”), opting to freshen up back at his place after they have breakfast together.

Speaking of, he’s eating across from her and she’s tries to take short peeks at him when she thinks he’s not looking. Lucifer casually cooking and having breakfast with her, that’s what usually couples do. It’s possibly the most normal thing they ever done together.

“You want some orange juice?”

“I think I’ve rejuvenated myself with some intoxicating juice earlier, love.” he says with a wink. He bites down his omelet showcasing his teeth without breaking eye contact. He chuckles when her face burns red.

Chloe’s halfway thinking of getting back at him by trailing her foot up his leg under the table and work him back up again when they hear the door open and close with a slam and Maze walks in.

“Maze!” Lucifer exclaims.

Chloe flops her foot back down, not feeling the same sentiment as she slumps down in her seat. The little bubble of just her and Lucifer popped too early for her before he even left.

“Hey, Maze.” she says feebly.

Maze is wearing her usual suggestive leather get-up when she stops short when she sees them, eyes flicking between them. Her eyebrows furrow and a frown starts to appear on her lips.

Lucifer doesn’t notice her silence and continues on. “So, how was your nightly hunt? I’d love to know how you caught your wretched bounty this time.”

Maze doesn’t answer, still scrutinizing them both. Though Lucifer groomed himself he’s still in his wrinkled suit and Chloe wonders if Maze is already figuring out why he’s here so early in the morning. She finally settles to glare at him.

“You. Out.”

“What?!” Chloe and Lucifer asks.

She doesn’t take her eyes off him. “You heard me.”

Lucifer sputters. “But – but I haven’t finished my omelet -”

“I don’t care. Out. Or I’ll make you.”

But Maze is already gripping his elbow and bodily drags him out of his chair and to the door with unbelievable strength and speed. Lucifer can’t do anything but helplessly look back at Chloe. She rushes to them, but Maze already has him out of the apartment and slams the door on his face.

“Maze.” Chloe chides her. There was a muffled “Mazikeen!” behind the door. Maze just shrugs and leaves them.

Chloe sighs and opens the door. She sees Lucifer fixing himself as best as he can, sighing as well.

“Well, it’s no fun anymore when a demon spoils the morning,” he mutters, but looks up to smile at her anyway. “Raincheck, darling?”

She pouts. “I’ll see you later, then?” she asks hopefully, reaching for his arm and then thinks, of course she will, they work together. She’s just being clingy after being so close to him the whole night.

He grins wider and grasps her back. “Tall non-fat almond milk latte with sugar-free caramel drizzle.”

“And no vodka this time.” she playfully reminds him.

“No promises.” he retorts back.

She giggles. They both lean at the same time for a kiss. Chloe smiles into it, heart fluttering. The last touch between them is the tips of their fingers.

She watches him go until he’s out of sight, the atmosphere suddenly feels empty. Cold. She shakes her head and closes the door and turns back to the kitchen to see Maze in Lucifer’s previous spot eating the rest of his omelet. She’s staring at her.

“How was it?” Maze asks, mouth full.

“How was what?” Chloe asks back. She drinks her coffee, already knowing where this is going.

“I think you know what I mean, Decker.”

“I think I don’t know what you think you mean, Maze.”

“You had sex with him, didn’t you?”

“And what gave you that idea?”

Maze rolls her eyes and scoffs. “Please, I don’t have to be a detective to figure out that Lucifer slept the night here, Decker, he looked like a fucking rat’s nest. I can analyze post-sex better than you do at a crime scene. Not to mention, don’t think I missed you playing footsie when I came in. And it’s not a coincidence that you’re wearing a turtleneck of all days to hide, I don’t know, a hickey, maybe?”  

The more Maze listed off the deeper Chloe lowers her face behind her mug, cheeks burning.

“But that’s not just it, isn’t it?” Maze leaned over the table to squint at her. “You’re still sexually frustrated. Which means he just left you with enough satisfaction but he never did the deed and finally put his dick in your pussy. Or up your ass.”

“Maze!” Chloe says automatically, but there’s no eight-year-old kid around to hear it.

Maze just smirks. “Am I right or am I right?”

How Maze could know all that she doesn’t want to know. Chloe could just deny it more or say it’s none of her business, but she’d been so frustrated the last two weeks of Lucifer leaving her hanging.

She hangs her head and sighs deeply. “Yeah, you’re right.”

“Fingers or tongue?”

“I am not going to answer that, Maze.”

She shrugs and leans back, taking another mouthful. “It’s not like him, though. Seriously, he stopped bringing strippers over to his place. I don’t get why he hasn’t boned you ‘til you can’t walk your way to work.”

Chloe silently agrees and thinks about his promise earlier and wonders when he’ll get to it.

She’s about to leave when her phone buzzes and sees a text from Lucifer.

I had a wonderful time ‘sleeping’ with you, Detective. I have better ‘sleeping’ arrangements at my penthouse the next time you want to get more cuddly with me. I have no qualms of you screaming my roof off. No one to interrupt us this time. It’ll be just you and me. ‘Sleeping’ together.

The text ends with a devil emoji. Chloe can’t help but laugh at his quotations, shaking her head. Her heart jumps in elation.

“I wanna hear all about it!” Maze calls.

Probably not, but Chloe sends her a smile over her shoulder anyway. She closes the door and heads over to her car, debating the whole way whether or not she’ll reply if she and Lucifer could do it on a weekend.  

[islareeveswriting]

Fool’s Gold | Chapter 1 | Harry Styles PT AU

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Listen to Here I am Tom Odell Here I am Running up the seventh floor Knocking the eleventh door I'mma sick of trying

Word Count 6.4k

‘Who’s that?’ Niall asked nonchalantly his eyes still fixed to the screen along with everyone else. Apart from Frankie, the girl Niall had been happily calling his girlfriend for around six months, not a single person looked up to her from the screen. Olivia caught Frankie’s eye as she was giving Niall her ‘are you serious’ look and they shared a knowing smile and eye roll before Olivia walked towards the door. She kicked her jogging bottoms down her ankles, the elastic had ridden up where she’d been sat cross legged and it rested uncomfortably as she walked. She took another bite of the pizza slice in her hand as she pulled the door open, expecting some telesales person that she could fob of with a confused a look and an ‘I don’t understand’ in some undeterminable accent.

‘Harry.’ Olivia spluttered with a mouthful of pizza - ever the lady. She cleared her throat and swallowed the pizza, half chewed and scratching her throat a little as it went down. ‘Thought you weren’t back until tomorrow?’ Olivia grinned widely at his surprise appearance. Harry had been away for three weeks, in America, some convention thing that he went to every year and every year came back with crazy training ideas. He was in typical Harry attire. Too skinny black jeans that didn’t leave anything to the imagination, a white t-shirt, a little see through, and brown scuffed boots. You wouldn’t think he’d recently been on an eleven hour flight or that he was a personal trainer.

Olivia had a Guinness in hand, poured into a pint glass, one from the collection that her and her friends had stolen from various pubs and bars over the years. She couldn’t remember exactly how it had started, but she was fairly certain it had begun about four years ago when Niall and Harry first walked into her life. She was also pretty sure the first one in her cupboard was the one Niall had slipped into her handbag, unbeknown to her, after a sunny Sunday drinking session. The joke had just gone on from there.

‘Oh Liv’s here, make sure you count the glasses back to the bar.’ Someone would joke and she’d laugh sarcastically. It was rarely her that stifled the glass under her jumper or in her bag until they were out of the vicinity, but it was always her cupboards the glasses ended up in. It had slowed now that her glass cupboard was bursting at the seams and she had to tell her friends to stop, but even so, every now and again, when one of them went abroad, or came across a glass they didn’t think she had they’d bring it back to hers to find a home in the collection.

She was sat on the floor of her living room, back against the sofa, Niall’s leg, jean clad, leant against her arm. The sofa had been taken up pretty quickly by Niall, Liam and Louis and as usual, being the least gentlemanly men she knew, the seats weren’t offered out to her and she found herself on the floor. It had been that way for a long time. She’d been in second year when they met, them fresh out of uni, bar Louis who had scored a sweet coaching job at the local football club before he could even apply for uni. Small student living meant minimal seating and it worked on a first come first served basis. Olivia didn’t mind so much though, sitting on the floor meant a higher chance of getting your hair played with and that scored higher than a seat on the sofa.

Sam was the only friend left out of Olivia’s uni friends still hanging around London, mainly because Tom, her boyfriend of four years, wasn’t showing any signs of packing up anytime soon. And, considering Sam was three months pregnant, Olivia felt confident she wasn’t about to lose her best friend to the charms of a calmer city like they had the rest of their uni group. Sam had managed to win a chair, being pregnant and all she had an unfair advantage. Tom was sat on the floor between her legs having his hair played with. Olivia knew it didn’t matter how much she nudged Niall to take the hint he wasn’t going to get it, not when the final of the Six Nations was on the TV and Ireland were playing England. Added to that, it was St Patrick's day, a day Niall celebrated like it was his own birthday. She didn’t stand any chance of attention, she was the last thing on Niall’s list.

They’d ordered pizza just before kick off and fifteen minutes in it had arrived. Olivia getting up to grab it quickly, taking the pool of money they’d all chipped in to pay for it. Some habits die hard, and it appeared chucking a fiver into an old KCL cap of Olivia’s for a takeaway was one of them. Harry had literally grabbed it from her head the first time it happened. She’d just arrived at Niall and Harry’s, at the time, shared apartment. She’d jogged there, but had regretted it pretty quickly, the scorching London summer making her feel like she’d run the Serengeti by the time she got to the flat.

‘We’re getting Indian Liv.’ Harry had announced as she downed a pint of water that wasn’t quite cold - she just needed to quench her thirst, she didn’t want to have to wait for the water to cool. ‘Everyone needs to chip in a fiver, we’ll put it in, this.’ He’d grabbed the hat from her head, taking one too many hairs from her ponytail with it for her liking, and it had her rubbing her head from the sting of it. But, now whenever they were all together, the cap came out, fivers went in, takeaway was ordered.

It was two minutes from halftime when the doorbell rang again. Olivia groaned and rolled her eyes. She had a mouthful of pizza as she pushed herself up from where she was sat. She didn’t put it down as she turned for the door instead holding onto it and taking another mouthful, knowing it would be nabbed by one of the still ravenous boys if she left it unattended.

‘Who’s that?’ Niall asked nonchalantly his eyes still fixed to the screen along with everyone else. Apart from Frankie, the girl Niall had been happily calling his girlfriend for around six months, not a single person looked up to her from the screen. Olivia caught Frankie’s eye as she was giving Niall her ‘are you serious’ look and they shared a knowing smile and eye roll before Olivia walked towards the door. She kicked her jogging bottoms down her ankles, the elastic had ridden up where she’d been sat cross legged and it rested uncomfortably as she walked. She took another bite of the pizza slice in her hand as she pulled the door open, expecting some telesales person that she could fob of with a confused a look and an ‘I don’t understand’ in some undeterminable accent.

‘Harry.’ Olivia spluttered with a mouthful of pizza - ever the lady. She cleared her throat and swallowed the pizza, half chewed and scratching her throat a little as it went down. ‘Thought you weren’t back until tomorrow?’ Olivia grinned widely at his surprise appearance. Harry had been away for three weeks, in America, some convention thing that he went to every year and every year came back with crazy training ideas. He was in typical Harry attire. Too skinny black jeans that didn’t leave anything to the imagination, a white t-shirt, a little see through, and brown scuffed boots. You wouldn’t think he’d recently been on an eleven hour flight or that he was a personal trainer.

‘Came back to surprise Ella.’ His voice was dull. Olivia put it down to the flight but she was a little surprised and confused as to why he was standing at her door with a suitcase and rucksack like he’d come straight from the airport. Olivia stepped aside to let him into the flat but he didn’t make to move past the threshold and inside.

‘Yet you’re here.’ She smirked, shifting her weight to one hip her cropped t-shirt exposing the naturally golden skin underneath. Harry simply nodded a little, barely enough to notice. What she could see though was the way he was biting his lips together the way he did when he had too much on his mind, and the way his knuckles were whitening around the handle of his suitcase. ‘Harry is everything ok?’ Olivia asked with a frown. Harry’s nostrils flared and the next second he was spluttering quietly through tears that seemed to come from nowhere. ‘Whoa Harry what’s wrong? What’s going on?’ His lips had parted but his nostrils were still flared as he took a deep breath in and closed his eyes to try and stop the tears from falling but it made no difference. Olivia put the half eaten slice of pizza on the phone stand by the door that was home to no phone - instead an indoor plant that was in desperate need of water and a bowl of keys.

Olivia wrapped her arms around Harry’s large frame, pulling him into her body and also her flat. His body shook with sobs and they weren’t quiet anymore. It sounded like he was choking as he cried against her. She held him tighter than she’d ever held him. She could feel his heart breaking but she didn’t know why, and she had to bite her lip to keep her own emotions back. She didn't know what it was about seeing Harry that way that tugged at her heart strings, but whatever it was, it made her feel powerless and weak.

‘Harry you need to tell me what’s happened.’ Olivia urged still holding onto Harry, who’s sobs had quietened but were still making his body tremble. She could hear his shaky breath leaving his mouth in uneven intervals accompanied by the occasional hiccup as he tried to regain a normal composure. Olivia was suddenly aware of Niall’s presence behind them, she caught the green of the Ireland rugby shirt he’d changed into out of the corner of her eye. Honestly, it was hard to miss.

‘Harry mate, what the fuck? What’s going on?’ Olivia didn’t need to see Niall’s face to know he looked as confused as she felt. It was all in his voice, but apart from that Olivia could anticipate how Niall might react to most things by that point in their relationship. ‘What’s happened?’ Niall asked looking to Olivia from Harry who's back Niall had rested his hand on in attempt to comfort Harry. Olivia had, had that attempt to comfort hand on her before. It looked like it would do nothing in making someone feel better but there was something about knowing that Niall didn’t offer it out very often that bought on a sense of relaxation. Olivia shrugged to Niall’s question as Harry calmed a little more and cleared his throat releasing himself from Olivia’s arms, thought she hesitated in taking her hands away from him completely, instead holding onto his forearms.

‘Harry, please tell me what’s up, I can’t help you if you won’t tell me.’ Olivia virtually whispered taking moving one hand down his arm gently to take one of Harry’s hands in hers, holding it afloat lightly.

‘She’s kicked me out.’ Harry choked clearly not sure of the best place to look, his glassy eyes flicking between Niall, the floor, Olivia and the ceiling.

‘What?’ Niall spat as soon as the words had left Harry’s mouth.

‘What do you mean she’s kicked you out Harry?’ Olivia asked a little more calmly and a little softer. Though Harry’s words were pretty clear they needed clarification, because what they insinuated was unbelievable to both Olivia and Niall.

‘Ella she’s changed the locks and kicked me out.’ Harry explained dully, his voice still a little uneven, looking down at his hand encased in Olivia’s much smaller one.

‘You’re fucking kidding me.’ Niall’s voice was aggressive and he spat his words like they tasted as foul as they sounded. His accent, that had faded slightly over the years, always got stronger when he was angry and that’s how they knew Niall needed to take a minute.

‘Niall shut up.’ Olivia chastised trying to remind him the state Harry was in. ‘Alright come on, come and sit down.’ Olivia tugged at Harry’s hand but he didn’t move.

‘Is everyone here?’

‘Yeah, it’s fine-’

‘No I don’t want them seeing me like this.’ Harry blubbered wiping his red face free of the damp residue that had been left behind from his crying with the heel of his hand, roughly dragging his skin. His eyes were as red and swollen as his cheeks and his lips pouted as he breathed through his mouth deeply, Olivia assumed in attempt to level out his breath that until that point shuddered and got caught in his throat with little hiccups.

‘Harry don’t be ridiculous, come on, just come in.’ Olivia turned and pulled Harry’s hand. She didn’t look to the group of friends sat in her living room as she walked past it, up the hallway to her bedroom, and she doubted Harry did either. The bed was unmade and there was a pile of dirty clothes on the floor but she sat Harry down on her mattress nonetheless. ‘I’ll just get you some water and I’ll be back.’

Olivia left Harry with Niall, perched on the bed beside each other in silence. She felt certain they wouldn’t say a word to one another until she got back with the promised glass of water, but she also felt certain just knowing Niall was there would be support enough. She took a deep breath once the door was closed behind her and took a moment for herself before wandering back towards the kitchen, back past the group of friends she could hear whispering amongst each other. Of course they’d seen the state of Harry, even if he tried to hide his face as he walked past them they’d have heard his cries at the door. Olivia gave them a passing smile before turning her back to them to reach for a glass from the cupboard - a stolen Fosters glass. Stolen by Harry.

‘What’s going on?’ Sam’s voice was quiet but Olivia didn’t know why. They both knew she’d go and report back to the others. Olivia turned to Sam. Frankie was looking over, chewing on her already bitten down nails and she could tell Louis was only pretending to look at Liam.

‘Apparently Ella’s kicked him out.’ Olivia sighed filling the glass with water from the tap, letting it run for a few seconds to get as cold as it could.

‘What?’ Sam’s voice rose and hissed the same way Niall’s had when Harry had told him the same thing.

‘I dunno Sam.’ She could hear her voice sounded frustrated but she didn’t know why and she felt a little bad for it.

‘Alright I’ll get everyone out.’ Sam suggested biting her lips together and nodding like she was thinking about how to get everyone out of Olivia’s flat without argument.

‘No it’s fine just stay for a minute he might be alright once he’s calmed down a bit.’ Olivia begged turning to Sam. Olivia knew if Harry found out everyone had left on his behalf a wave of guilt would flood in with the heartbreak and Olivia didn’t know for sure, but that certainly seemed like the last thing Harry needed.

‘I doubt it.’ Olivia knew Sam was right but she simply shrugged and pulled her lip to one side unsure what to say. Harry had proposed to Ella six months earlier, a year after they started dating. It seemed a little soon to Olivia and she knew she wasn’t the only one that felt that way but they were happy, or at least Olivia had thought they were. Now she was looking for signs she might have missed that would have told her otherwise.

Niall and Harry were still bathed in silence when she opened the bedroom door again, as she’d predicted. Harry glanced up to her from his praying hands with a sniff that made one side of his face twitch. He looked exhausted and beyond the point where talking was a good idea.

‘Here.’ Olivia handed him the glass and he choked out a gruff thanks, his voice eaten up by emotion. ‘So what happened?’ Olivia pressed with caution sitting on the bed beside Harry. Sitting up straight she looked down at his bowed head and the muscles of his back that she could see tensed through his t-shirt.

‘I got home couldn’t get in, rung the bell like 100 times, eventually she answered she handed me a bag which I assume has got most of my stuff in it, and then gave me the ring and told me to-’ Harry’s voice faded into shallow, hiccupy breaths that sounded like they stung.

‘Alright ok, it’s alright.’ Olivia rested her hand on his back gently. His skin was on fire through his t-shirt, but she saw his body shiver.

‘No it’s not fucking alright Liv.’ Harry snapped and she was a little taken back. Olivia’s breath hitched in her throat with the spite in Harry’s words and she had to bite her tongue not to snap back.

‘Harry don’t talk to her like that.’ Niall chastised but Olivia wished he hadn’t.

‘Sorry, sorry.’ Harry mumbled apologetically dropping his head again, and placing the glass of water on the floor between his feet.

‘It’s ok.’ Olivia sighed beginning to rub over his tense back and shoulders once again. She could feel where each muscle started and began, like tight hills of flesh under his skin, perfectly sculpted from years of hard work.

‘I was meant to marry her next year, she’s the one I know she is.’ Olivia believed him, anyone would if they saw them together. All smiles and hand holding, waist grabbing, single cheek pecks. Olivia tried to pinpoint a moment when it started to look different but she couldn’t find it.

‘Did she say why?’ Niall asked with less sensitivity in his voice than Olivia had. Although Harry didn’t seem to notice, Olivia did and she glared at Niall from behind Harry, though neither of them saw.

‘Just said she realised it wasn’t right and didn’t love me anymore.’ Harry mumbled still looking down at his hands. He’d taken to twisting rings around their respective fingers nonchalantly, like he wasn’t even thinking about what he was doing, like all he could really see was Ella telling him that she didn’t love him anymore over and over again. ‘How can you stop loving someone like that?’

‘I think you need to get some sleep H.’ Olivia suggested rubbing her hand up his back. Harry’s skin tickled with the contact but he prickled at the words and snapped again.

‘No Liv I need my fiance and my fucking home.’ His voice was bitter as he spat his words twisting his head only slightly towards Olivia.

‘Harry if you keep talking to her like that you’re gonna get kicked out all over again.’ Niall warned and Olivia sighed loudly her hand moving from Harry’s back to rub against her own forehead with a tightened jaw and raised eyebrows, her eyes looking down at her lap. ‘She’s tryna help, have a bit of bloody respect.’

‘I’m sorry, just my mind’s all over the place.’ Harry tried to explain. Olivia couldn’t not forgive him. She’d known Harry long enough to know that you really had to push Harry to make him bite and she also knew it wasn’t really her that had pushed him.

‘Look just have a sleep you might feel a bit more rational when you wake up.’ Harry nodded with a heavy blow of wobbly breath. Olivia and Niall stood from the bed nearly at exactly the same time. Olivia let her hand creep up Harry’s back again as she stood, squeezing his shoulder before walking away from him.

‘Liv.’ Harry called after her as Niall opened the bedroom door. Olivia turned back to him. She met his eyes again, heavy and tired. ‘Thank you.’ He practically whispered. She simply gave him a smile that was trying to say there was nothing to say thank you for, although she didn’t know if that conveyed, before she followed Niall out of the bedroom.

‘What the fuck?’ Niall’s question came as he’d closed the door behind them but they obviously had the same idea, both of them lingering outside Olivia’s bedroom. ‘Did you have any idea she wasn’t feeling it?’ Olivia shook her head thinking about the last time she’d been with both Harry and Ella.

‘Not even a little bit.’ She whispered shaking her head and chewing her bottom lip.

‘What are we gonna do? He’s got nowhere to go.’ Niall babbled but it was something that had already been running around Olivia’s mind.

‘Well he’ll have to stay here.’ Niall gave Olivia a look as if she’d just told him she planned on sacrificing her first born. Olivia shrugged before continuing to justify what she was suggesting. ‘Well you haven’t got a spare room, Sam and Tom aren’t gonna want him there with a baby on the way and Casa Tommo and Payno isn’t exactly the place you’d want to be when your fiance has just kicked you out.’

‘Are you sure?’ Niall quizzed with a look that told Olivia he wasn’t.

‘Yeah it’s fine, it’s not like it’ll be forever and it could be worse it could be you.’ Olivia winked.

‘Oi.’ Niall mocked offence and Olivia stuck her tongue between her front teeth like she did when she was teasing. Niall shook his head and let out a sharp single breath of humour.  ‘Come on let’s just finish watching the game.’ Niall’s hand found Olivia’s lower back and he gave her a gentle nudge towards the living room. Eyes found them and left them quickly apart from Frankie’s who’s oceanic orbs followed Niall the whole way to his seat that he took up again, Olivia falling to the floor beside his feet. This time Niall’s hand reached down for Olivia’s long hair, taking it in his fingers and combing them through it and twisting strands around them. He knew it was comforting for Olivia and maybe that’s why he did it, but there was also comfort for him in the familiarity of sitting in front of the TV with her at his feet, playing with her hair nonchalantly.

‘Alright babe?’ Frankie asked lightly with a curious grin her bright blue eyes narrowed. Niall gave her a nod telling her silently that he’d talk about it later. If Harry wanted his dirty laundry aired he’d have to be the one to do it in Niall’s eyes, so Olivia followed suit and kept her lips tightly shut. Even when Louis followed her into the kitchen to refill her glass mid way through the second half and asked her what was going on. Niall’s watchful eyes kept her from telling him what she might otherwise have felt ok to disclose. She wasn’t a gossip, she would never have told anyone that she thought Harry might not tell himself, but Niall knew Harry better than she did. He’d lived with Harry for five years and he seemed to be telling her not to say anything so she didn’t, even though she felt they all may have an idea what was going on from what she’d divulged to Sam. She would feel safe betting money that they’d all theorized reasons why Ella had kicked him out, she wondered if any were close to the truth.

The game ended and slowly the group of friends all began to leave. Normally they might stay on for a few more drinks, maybe even all head down to O’Neills, the pub Olivia had first met Niall and his friends, for a bit of St Paddy’s night karaoke, mainly for old times sake. But there seemed to be an unspoken agreement that this year, they’d all leave before they got drunk enough to think karaoke was a good idea. Niall and Frankie were the last to leave, Frankie helping Olivia round up empty glasses, dispose of pizza crusts and fill the dishwasher with the dirtied plates. At the door Niall told her to call if she needed anything and to let him know how Harry was when he woke up. Olivia told him she would before letting them out of the flat.

The sun was long set once her flat was empty bar one guest. None of them had got up to turn on the living room lights so the bright, clinical glow of the kitchen spotlights illuminated her home. She turned them off, only leaving the light from the extractor hood on before turning on the golden fairy lights that framed the door onto her balcony along with the coffee table lamp in the corner. It felt more like home and less like the spot where a gathering of young people craving the simplicity of university years had just happened. She wanted desperately to take a shower and put her dressing gown on before falling on the sofa with a cup of Yorkshire Tea, and the latest copy of the physiotherapy magazine she’d been subscribed to since before she even started her physiotherapy degree. The shower was off the cards when Harry was still sleeping in her room so instead she opted for the second half of the plan, padding through to the kitchen to fill the kettle.

‘Hey.’ She was flicking through her phone, Ella’s Instagram to be truthful, when Harry made himself known.

‘Oh Harry, how you feeling?’ Olivia’s voice was high pitched and a little too jovial as she closed the app and turned to Harry. She cleared her throat when she took him in. His jeans were still on but he’d taken his t-shirt off. That wasn’t abnormal Harry behaviour he was often running around half clothed, in fact she counted her blessings he’d put his jeans on but she did wonder if he’d slept in them and had to clear her throat again at the thought of his simply boxer clad body in her sheets. That moment wasn’t the time for those thoughts.

‘Bit better.’ He told her with a weak smile.

‘Don’t lie.’ Olivia chided but Harry simply shrugged so she decided to leave it there for now. ‘Are you hungry? Do you want a cuppa?’

‘Just a cuppa would be nice.’ Harry asked with a weak smile.

‘Sure you’re not hungry, you need to eat H.’

‘Don’t mother me Liv.’ Harry cautioned and despite the clipping of her name she knew he was serious.

‘Sorry.’ She breathed taking another mug from the cupboard, not stolen, and dropped a teabag in it. ‘Do you wanna talk?’ She asked still facing away from him, not blaming him if he didn’t want to but not thinking it best to skirt around the subject too much longer.

‘Not sure what there is to say really.’ Harry admitted leaning against the worktop adjacent to where Olivia was stood.

‘Have you thought about what you’re going to do?’ Olivia queried thinking back to the conversation Niall and her had, had outside her bedroom door. She was more than willing to welcome him into her flat but if he had other plans she didn’t want to force the idea on him.

‘Guess I’ll have to go back to mum’s.’ Harry muttered with a shrug. It wasn’t a secret that that was the last thing he wanted to do.

‘What?’ Olivia’s voice had risen and she cleared her throat yet again when Harry furrowed his brow at her.

‘Well I can’t stay in London with nowhere to live.’ He explained to which Olivia shook her head not quite believing he really thought his friends would rather see him move back to Cheshire than have him at their homes for a while, or however long it took for him to find somewhere more appropriate to live.

‘Harry you can stay here.’ Olivia stressed not breaking the eye contact between them.

‘No I can’t that’s not fair on you.’ Harry debated shaking his head and looking down at his feet, leaning further back on his hands that were curled around the edge of the worktop. She watched his triceps twitch as they took the weight of his body from his feet that were up on his heels.

‘I’ve got a spare room it’s fine.’ She urged standing tall as the kettle clicked off the boil, the sound of the water bubbling inside the only noise for a few seconds as she turned to it. ‘I’m not letting you give up everything you’ve worked for down here cause she’s kicked you out, you’re staying here.’

‘Are you sure?’ Olivia could hear the timidness in Harry’s question and she couldn’t help but lift the corners of her mouth a little.

‘One hundred percent sure.’

‘Thanks.’ He sounded relieved and she felt it.

‘No problem.’ She muttered putting the kettle back on its base and moving for the fridge and the pint of milk that was nearly empty. ‘I’ll require that Sea Bass of yours once a week though.’ Olivia declared like the reason he was staying with her was forgotten.‘Oh and marmite chicken.’

‘Right ok.’ Harry chuckled. It was clear that he had relaxed a little more with the ease of their conversation.

‘How you feeling though?’

‘Shit.’ He admitted and any steps they’d taken away from his deflation were retraced even quicker. ‘She won’t even answer my calls.’

‘Do you think it’s definitely over, like there’s no going back?’ Olivia stirred the tea bags in the mugs letting them stew for a few minutes, turning back to Harry as she questioned him.

‘Seemed pretty final, I mean I’ve got the engagement ring in my bag.’ Harry informed her nodding his head towards the bedrooms up the small hallway where his bag was sat on her bedroom floor, at the end of her bed, she assumed still untouched.

‘Did she give you all your stuff?’

‘No.’

‘Well she’ll have to talk to you eventually, you’re gonna have to get your stuff back.’ Olivia instructed him possibly a little too forcefully. Harry looked back at his feet, now flat on the cheap wood effect plastic flooring that really needed replacing. Olivia watched as he pulled his bottom lip into his mouth his hand moving to the nape of his neck and rubbing the skin there.

‘I don’t know if I want to go round there.’ Harry’s voice was quiet, as if it was a secret he needed desperately to keep. He raised his eyes to Olivia his hand still on his neck

‘I’ll come with you if you want? Or we could ask Niall.’ Olivia suggested comfortingly, dropping her head to one side.

‘I’d prefer if you came.’ Harry told her just as quietly as he’d told her he didn’t want to go back to his old home. She could understand why. It was the place he’d proposed, the first house that wasn’t rented with a friend, the first house he’d turned into a home, full of memories of the start of something that seemed like it would never see completion now.

‘Ok, well you just let me know when you’re ready and we’ll go over.’ Olivia told him with a sweet smile. She turned back to the mugs, the tea nearly the colour of tar now. She pulled the teabags out and stirred as she added the milk.

‘Thanks.’ Harry whispered barely audible over the sound of the spoon hitting the mug as she stirred and scraping the bottom of it.

‘No worries.’ Olivia lifted one mug to her mouth and took a sip. ‘I’ll just go make up the spare bed.’ She told him handing him the other mug, a little stronger than her own, just how he liked it.

‘Thanks Liv.’ Harry repeated in less of a hushed tone. Olivia simply shook her head and smiled, like she had when she left him in her bedroom to sleep. It looked like he had slept, he looked less like something from a disaster movie stood in her kitchen, shirtless and bathed in an orangey glow from the extractor hood light. She didn’t need his thanks, didn’t want it really. She was only doing what any decent friend would do, she was certain Harry would do the same if the roles were reversed. Though she couldn’t see that being on the cards anytime soon. She hadn’t had a relationship of any real meaning since long before she met Harry and Niall. She didn’t really think she wanted one though, so she didn’t dwell on it. She’d been seeing someone for about two months but when he’d asked what she wanted for her birthday she knew it was time to call things off. That was feelings territory and she wasn’t in that place. That was vulnerability and she couldn’t see herself ever being in that place.

The small double bed in her spare room, that had been her treatment room until she’d been able to afford a space in a building that she could dedicate entirely to physio and sports therapy, was unmade. It had been that way since her brother’s visit three weeks previous. He was in London for work, normally based in Edinburgh and too tight to book a hotel when his darling little sister had a spare room. It would have been fine if he’d not bought Felicity with him. He did though, and she moaned about the pokey flat and the small bed and the lack of organic milk in Olivia’s fridge. Olivia bit her tongue and flared her nostrils for the whole three days, not biting back, the way her parents had raised her but she knew Ed could see it in her face and he gave Olivia a warning glare every time she tightened her jaw, which was nearly everytime Felicity opened her mouth. She’d washed the sheets when they left, normally she might have left them until she knew she had a visitor coming but she supposed it was lucky she hadn’t now.

Olivia was shaking a little when she shook the folded duvet cover out, her fingers twitching subconsciously and unstoppably. She’d never seen Harry in the state he was in before. She’d seen him cry, he cried at sad movies and at Comic Relief, but she’d never seen him cry like he’d cried in her arms in the doorway of her flat. And more than that she was the one holding him while he did it. It put her on edge and made her feel a little off kilter. She had that feeling in her stomach like she used to get before sitting an exam. The unknown. What if she couldn’t answer the question even if she’d been studying like a woman possessed, or what is she didn’t understand the question or got things muddled? What if she couldn’t really help Harry the way he needed? What if she couldn’t understand, couldn’t even pretend to understand? Because she really couldn’t.

She folded the duvet back so it was like a little pocket of comfort for Harry to sink into. She’d puffed the old, saggy pillows up as best she could and flicked the bedside light on for him for when he decided it was time to call it a night. She wondered how he’d sleep, if he’d sleep. His first night alone, not just alone as in there was no one in his bed, but without the person who had become the other half of him. Not the better half, not to Olivia, but the other half nonetheless.

“All sorted I put your bags in that room.’ Olivia announced her mug of tea, much cooler now, in her hands as she wandered back to the living room where Harry was sat on her sofa. He looked relaxed, at ease which was a reassuring sight. He had his own mug in one hand and she could hear his rings scratching at the china as he moved his fingers.

‘Oh thanks you didn't have to do that.’ Harry returned his eyes following her. Olivia shrugged again, it was another of those things that she didn’t really need thanking for. She fell down onto the sofa next to Harry taking a mouthful of her tea before resting it on her knee. Harry’s eyes were still trained on her and she twisted her head to look at him properly. His hair had got so long since they’d first met but he’d tied the tumbling ringlets, that she envied, up into a knot at the back of his head. It showed off the strong jaw structure that she still couldn’t help swooning over quietly to herself sometimes.

‘What you doing on that?’ Olivia asked nodding to the unlocked phone in his other hand, resting on the arm of the sofa casually.

‘Nothing.’ Harry responded sharply, locking his phone and laying it flat on the arm rest.

‘Not on her social media?’ Olivia asked quietly and she saw Harry swallow his eyes staring into the mug of tea that Olivia could now see was virtually empty. ‘Don't do that you'll only make it harder for yourself.’ She admonished with a sigh. Harry was chewing at his cheeks, at his lip and Olivia knew he was on the verge of breaking down again.

‘Don't think it can get much harder.’ His voice was quiet but higher pitched than it might normally be.  The tears that followed literally fell from his eyes to his knees, his head hung over himself as he started to sob enough to make his body jolt violently. Olivia could feel her heart breaking in two as she watched Harry’s shatter all over again. Olivia put her tea down and moved closer to Harry wrapping her arms around his bare torso, his skin burnt her but she held him tightly to her anyway, tucking his head under her chin like he was a child. He cried like a child who had fallen from his bike and grazed his knees, got gravel stuck in his hands, sobbing from the sting of it. His body rattled and all she could do was smother him with an embrace that she wasn’t even sure helped. She pulled him back onto the couch his weight trapping her there but she didn’t mind, she’d keep him there like that for as long as he needed, for as long as it took. Olivia didn’t say a word, she didn’t even hush him, she just held him, one hand holding onto his head, his hair a little greasy, the other wrapped as far around his broad upper body as she could manage. They didn’t say a word, the only sound echoing around the place was Harry’s cries.

Slowly, they lessened. Slowly he became quiet and the sobs turned to sniffs and little hiccups. Slowly they turned to deep, gentle breaths. Slowly they turned to deep inward breaths and quiet outward wheezes. He was asleep. He was asleep on her and she couldn’t move. She closed her own eyes and let her breathing even out with his. Her mind wandered as she let sleep take over. It wandered to the last time they were tangled up in each others bodies like they were then. On Niall’s couch wrapped in each other, a cloud of bliss over them. It was a little different but entirely the same.

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Hope you all enjoyed the first chapter of this, please let me know what you think. I loved all your messages about the Prologue. I’d love to hear what you think of Harry and Olivia and all the others and where you think it’s going from here?

As per, all the thank you’s and love to @harrysmeadow and @cuddlemusclestyles because they are the bomb! They’ve read these chapters so many times already and continue to double check them before I post them for you. You should deffo check out their pics, Held and Tell Me, because they are incredible writers and what they’re working on at the moment is fantastic stuff. 

If you’re trying to get tickets today or tomorrow I wish you all the luck and if you’re going to London hopefully see you there!

xx

[brothermurhder-blog]

Meeting Murhder

Ella: I arrived at work early parked the car into the parking lot outside work ready for another busy night. Locking up the car and heading into the lockers and placing my stuff into my locker as I went into the changing room to change into my work uniform. I walked passed Amari’s office seeing her at her desk waving to her as I was heading into the main area. I headed towards the bar got my usual drink and then headed into my private room to get ready for my customers. I could see it was already getting busy. I got my room ready and turned on the radio to get my nerves to calm a little, it had been a few days since I spoke to Amari about my dreams. The last few nights.  I slept better thanks for the doc for giving me sleeping pills that seemed to have worked, but for how long, who knows. I called my first customer in and settled down to work.

Murh: Coming up to the club, looking up the sign said 'Zero Sum’ the music was blaring out of speakers above the door. Walking to the front of the queue, humans grumble of me pushing in front, turning to them I gave them my best psycho look. They moved back slowly “go ahead man” my attention is brought to the bouncer, he was big for a human, giving him the suggestion that I had to go in, he stepped to one side letting me pass. Once inside the place was dark, the only light was from laser beams that beamed above the heads of the people who were dancing. On the edges males and females were kissing each other, touching each other and having sex, many were in a drug state. Making my way up to a roped off area, another bouncer stood keeping his eye on those who wanted in what I guessed was the best part of the club. Giving the bouncer a suggestion to let me pass, he unclipped the rope letting me pass. Walking up to the bar I ordered a bourbon, tossing a twenty to the female behind the bar. Picking up the glass, placing it against my lips, I turned around to scan the bodies “They won't want you” “You're too fucked in the head” “You'll be using them like always” The voices were excitable in this environment, more corrosive. Scanning the place watching every move.

Ella: I was finishing up with my customer when I started to feel weird again maybe it was me, something seemed off. When my customer left I peeped my head out of the door, there was this male I have never seen before. It looked like he was casing the joint. Maybe he was a new customer he liked his drink looked like it was a bourbon he ordered. I closed my door again and got ready for my next customer.  I pressed the button for the bar maid to bring me another drink to ease my mind a little. It was already getting busy again outside you could hear the crowd as they carried on with whatever was happening. I opened the door for my next customer, asked him to come inside and shut the door closed.

Murh:  A female poked her head out of a room, she looked radiant from here, but weren't they rooms to have sex in? Was she in that much need of money she had to sell her body? A stirring started in the pit of my stomach, if she was mine I'd kill any male who went near her “Who are you fooling?” “She wouldn't want a psycho like you” “She's too good for you” Slapping the palm of my hand against my forehead. Wish those voices would shut the fuck up. Looking around the area of the club I was standing some were pointing and laughing, others were looking at me as if I'd lost my mind and others thought I was a complete looney “They're right you are” “Let's laugh at the psycho” Those damn fucking voices, wished they'd go away.

Ella: My next customer left and I shut the door closed I got that feeling again as if I was being watched, I really hope it’s not my ex. I carried on as normal and got ready for my next customer tonight was really busy. I had already got a 200 dollar tip. I would soon have enough money for a deposit on a nice place instead of living next to a dump. It was cold and always smelled funny, it wasn’t dirty but I couldn’t stay there much longer than I needed to. I was getting ready for my next customer when I noticed the male still sitting at the bar.  I asked for my next customer to come inside while I looked over at the male again. Loads of thoughts was running through my mind. He looked as if he was just looking over the place as if this was his first time here.

Murh: Lifting my head up after I'd finished hitting my head I looked straight into the female's eyes. Mine. Where the fuck did that come from? The last time I tangled with a female I got my head fucked. Literally. “You know what happened last time” “Yeah got your brain scrambled like eggs” Her next customer came over, I heard a growl coming from near where I was, hang on that was me growling. I was becoming obsessed with her. It took all my strength to stay where I was instead of going over and beating the male to pulp “You want a night in jail?” “What fun can be had with the druggies and jerks” “Let's fry in the sun” That last voice made me come to my senses, I couldn't risk it all to be turned into a pile of ashes.

Ella:  While I was looking over at the male, he looked straight at me, our eyes never moved we was totally looking at each other. I kept on looking he looked as if he was talking to someone but no one else was there. I noticed that my customer that just left had walked passed him. I could see his lips moving as he walked passed. I turned back and headed into my room, waiting for my customer. I couldn’t get the male that was sitting at the bar out of my head.

Murh: I had this compulsion to go to her and make her mine. I wanted my scent on her and in her “She'll won't want you” “She can do better than you” Wish the voices would shut up. But the female, she was better than the one I went up north to pursue. A shudder ran down my spine thinking of that particular female. But this female before me seemed different, I'd have to do things differently this time, not going to be burned a second time. I wanted to protect her, the only thing I could do was after she finished here I'd follow her home. If any male tried to hurt her, I'd rip off their arms and hit them over the head with the soggy end. “Who you kidding?” “History will repeat itself”

Ella: I still couldn’t stop thinking about the male that was sitting at the bar, I couldn’t even see his face close up. I carried on with my 3rd customer trying not to think too much of the male that now was in my head.  He even looked gorgeous from where my room was I wondered what he would look like close up. I carried on with my customer, but I couldn’t focus my mind was on him. I wondered if he is still at the bar when I finish and then grab a break. I could hope. I finished with my customer he thanked me and left my room.

Murh: I waited till the male had finished in the room with her, my leg was jiggling up and down on the bar stool, it was taking all my self control to stay where I was. I hoped she was going to take a break soon, I wanted to talk to her, wanted to smell her scent “She won't have you” “You're crazy” I did my damndest to ignore the voices, I didn't want a repeat performance from earlier. The door opened, the female walked out from the room and headed towards me, my cock stirred, my zipper straining against my hard cock. She was more beautiful the nearer she came to me. I held my breath till she was next to me at the bar, letting out the breath I held.

Ella: I headed out of my room and that was when I noticed him still there. I don’t know why I was feeling the way I was, I couldn’t get to the bar quick enough. I Smiled at the barmaid asking her for my usual. He looked even more handsome close up. I couldn’t take me eyes off him. I sat down on my stool hoping he would speak to me, as I was not a person who would speak first. I took a sip of my drink and waited to what would happen next.

Murh: She was sitting next to me, her scent tickled my nostrils, inhaling deeply. Fuck she smelt good, I wanted to make her MINE. Not with that again, but I couldn't help the way I was feeling. “Hey you come here often?” You stupid fuck! Cause she comes here, she works here. Taking another sip of the bourbon, I didn't want to speak in case nonsense comes spilling out again. No other female, not even her, had me tongue tied like this. I waited for the voices to say something but they never came. Hang on no voices? What spell had she cast on me?

Ella: I just relaxed on the stool, after taking a sip from my drink and I was shocked that the handsome male spoke to me, asking if I work here. “Yes, I work.. here. Do you come here often? Or are you new around here?” It puzzled me as if he were still talking to someone. “What brings you here? I am not noisy I just like to know what made you come here?” Smiling softly, at the handsome male.

Murh: “Yes I'm new here, rolled into town earlier tonight. What brings me here? I have some papers that need to be handed in” I looked at the female, the curves of her face were smooth, I could run my fingers down her face all night long. “You saw me talking earlier” I felt ashamed. How the fuck was I going to tell her I'm insane? “What's your name?” I had a feeling it was going to beautiful as she was.

Ella: “Some papers? Sorry I don’t mean to be noisy. Handed in to where? Oh my name is Gabriella, but most people call me Ella.” Smiling softly  “I prefer Ella though. Do you want another drink? What is your name, what brought you to this club?”

Murh: “Yeah I've inherited a house but not going to have it” She told me her name “Gabriella is a beautiful name, like you and yes I'll have another drink thank you” Another bourbon was placed in front of me “I was curious what it was like in here. You see it's been awhile since I've been in Caldwell. It's changed so much. My name is Murhder” Taking the glass I downed the bourbon in one.

Ella:  “Inherited a house? Why not?” The barmaid passed a drink to the male while I had my usual drink. “So you’ve been here before, cool. I have been living here for only 2 months. Murhder is a nice name, but why Murhder? Wow, you were that thirsty fancy another drink, Murhder?”

Murh: “I've already got a house, don't need another one. Murhder is my birth name” I couldn't tell her my other secret, the vampire secret.” Yes I'd like another drink thank you” The barmaid placed another bourbon in front of me. Ella looked at her watch, she had to get back to work. Nodding politely at her as she left “You're not going to get far with her” “She's thinks your name is funny” Fucking he'll the voices had come back the moment Ella had left. Grabbing the glass I drained the contents down my throat, getting down from the stool, I headed back out the way I came in, heading to an alleyway I waited for Ella to end her shift and see her home safely.

#MeetingMurhder #DarkParables

[workinggirlelladp]

#MeetingMurhder!

Ella: I arrived at work early parked the car into the parking lot outside work ready for another busy night. Locking up the car and heading into the lockers and placing my stuff into my locker as I went into the changing room to change into my work uniform. I walked passed Amari’s office seeing her at her desk waving to her as I was heading into the main area. I headed towards the bar got my usual drink and then headed into my private room to get ready for my customers. I could see it was already getting busy. I got my room ready and turned on the radio to get my nerves to calm a little, it had been a few days since I spoke to Amari about my dreams. The last few nights.  I slept better thanks for the doc for giving me sleeping pills that seemed to have worked, but for how long, who knows. I called my first customer in and settled down to work.

Murh: Coming up to the club, looking up the sign said 'Zero Sum’ the music was blaring out of speakers above the door. Walking to the front of the queue, humans grumble of me pushing in front, turning to them I gave them my best psycho look. They moved back slowly “go ahead man” my attention is brought to the bouncer, he was big for a human, giving him the suggestion that I had to go in, he stepped to one side letting me pass. Once inside the place was dark, the only light was from laser beams that beamed above the heads of the people who were dancing. On the edges males and females were kissing each other, touching each other and having sex, many were in a drug state. Making my way up to a roped off area, another bouncer stood keeping his eye on those who wanted in what I guessed was the best part of the club. Giving the bouncer a suggestion to let me pass, he unclipped the rope letting me pass. Walking up to the bar I ordered a bourbon, tossing a twenty to the female behind the bar. Picking up the glass, placing it against my lips, I turned around to scan the bodies “They won't want you” “You're too fucked in the head” “You'll be using them like always” The voices were excitable in this environment, more corrosive. Scanning the place watching every move.

Ella: I was finishing up with my customer when I started to feel weird again maybe it was me, something seemed off. When my customer left I peeped my head out of the door, there was this male I have never seen before. It looked like he was casing the joint. Maybe he was a new customer he liked his drink looked like it was a bourbon he ordered. I closed my door again and got ready for my next customer.  I pressed the button for the bar maid to bring me another drink to ease my mind a little. It was already getting busy again outside you could hear the crowd as they carried on with whatever was happening. I opened the door for my next customer, asked him to come inside and shut the door closed.

Murh:  A female poked her head out of a room, she looked radiant from here, but weren't they rooms to have sex in? Was she in that much need of money she had to sell her body? A stirring started in the pit of my stomach, if she was mine I'd kill any male who went near her “Who are you fooling?” “She wouldn't want a psycho like you” “She's too good for you” Slapping the palm of my hand against my forehead. Wish those voices would shut the fuck up. Looking around the area of the club I was standing some were pointing and laughing, others were looking at me as if I'd lost my mind and others thought I was a complete looney “They're right you are” “Let's laugh at the psycho” Those damn fucking voices, wished they'd go away.

Ella: My next customer left and I shut the door closed I got that feeling again as if I was being watched, I really hope it’s not my ex. I carried on as normal and got ready for my next customer tonight was really busy. I had already got a 200 dollar tip. I would soon have enough money for a deposit on a nice place instead of living next to a dump. It was cold and always smelled funny, it wasn’t dirty but I couldn’t stay there much longer than I needed to. I was getting ready for my next customer when I noticed the male still sitting at the bar.  I asked for my next customer to come inside while I looked over at the male again. Loads of thoughts was running through my mind. He looked as if he was just looking over the place as if this was his first time here.

Murh: Lifting my head up after I'd finished hitting my head I looked straight into the female's eyes. Mine. Where the fuck did that come from? The last time I tangled with a female I got my head fucked. Literally. “You know what happened last time” “Yeah got your brain scrambled like eggs” Her next customer came over, I heard a growl coming from near where I was, hang on that was me growling. I was becoming obsessed with her. It took all my strength to stay where I was instead of going over and beating the male to pulp “You want a night in jail?” “What fun can be had with the druggies and jerks” “Let's fry in the sun” That last voice made me come to my senses, I couldn't risk it all to be turned into a pile of ashes.

Ella:  While I was looking over at the male, he looked straight at me, our eyes never moved we was totally looking at each other. I kept on looking he looked as if he was talking to someone but no one else was there. I noticed that my customer that just left had walked passed him. I could see his lips moving as he walked passed. I turned back and headed into my room, waiting for my customer. I couldn’t get the male that was sitting at the bar out of my head.

Murh: I had this compulsion to go to her and make her mine. I wanted my scent on her and in her “She'll won't want you” “She can do better than you” Wish the voices would shut up. But the female, she was better than the one I went up north to pursue. A shudder ran down my spine thinking of that particular female. But this female before me seemed different, I'd have to do things differently this time, not going to be burned a second time. I wanted to protect her, the only thing I could do was after she finished here I'd follow her home. If any male tried to hurt her, I'd rip off their arms and hit them over the head with the soggy end. “Who you kidding?” “History will repeat itself”

Ella: I still couldn’t stop thinking about the male that was sitting at the bar, I couldn’t even see his face close up. I carried on with my 3rd customer trying not to think too much of the male that now was in my head.  He even looked gorgeous from where my room was I wondered what he would look like close up. I carried on with my customer, but I couldn’t focus my mind was on him. I wondered if he is still at the bar when I finish and then grab a break. I could hope. I finished with my customer he thanked me and left my room.

Murh: I waited till the male had finished in the room with her, my leg was jiggling up and down on the bar stool, it was taking all my self control to stay where I was. I hoped she was going to take a break soon, I wanted to talk to her, wanted to smell her scent “She won't have you” “You're crazy” I did my damndest to ignore the voices, I didn't want a repeat performance from earlier. The door opened, the female walked out from the room and headed towards me, my cock stirred, my zipper straining against my hard cock. She was more beautiful the nearer she came to me. I held my breath till she was next to me at the bar, letting out the breath I held.

Ella: I headed out of my room and that was when I noticed him still there. I don’t know why I was feeling the way I was, I couldn’t get to the bar quick enough. I Smiled at the barmaid asking her for my usual. He looked even more handsome close up. I couldn’t take me eyes off him. I sat down on my stool hoping he would speak to me, as I was not a person who would speak first. I took a sip of my drink and waited to what would happen next.

Murh: She was sitting next to me, her scent tickled my nostrils, inhaling deeply. Fuck she smelt good, I wanted to make her MINE. Not with that again, but I couldn't help the way I was feeling. “Hey you come here often?” You stupid fuck! Cause she comes here, she works here. Taking another sip of the bourbon, I didn't want to speak in case nonsense comes spilling out again. No other female, not even her, had me tongue tied like this. I waited for the voices to say something but they never came. Hang on no voices? What spell had she cast on me?

Ella: I just relaxed on the stool, after taking a sip from my drink and I was shocked that the handsome male spoke to me, asking if I work here. “Yes, I work.. here. Do you come here often? Or are you new around here?” It puzzled me as if he were still talking to someone. “What brings you here? I am not noisy I just like to know what made you come here?” Smiling softly, at the handsome male.

Murh: “Yes I'm new here, rolled into town earlier tonight. What brings me here? I have some papers that need to be handed in” I looked at the female, the curves of her face were smooth, I could run my fingers down her face all night long. “You saw me talking earlier” I felt ashamed. How the fuck was I going to tell her I'm insane? “What's your name?” I had a feeling it was going to beautiful as she was.

Ella: “Some papers? Sorry I don’t mean to be noisy. Handed in to where? Oh my name is Gabriella, but most people call me Ella.” Smiling softly  “I prefer Ella though. Do you want another drink? What is your name, what brought you to this club?”

Murh: “Yeah I've inherited a house but not going to have it” She told me her name “Gabriella is a beautiful name, like you and yes I'll have another drink thank you” Another bourbon was placed in front of me “I was curious what it was like in here. You see it's been awhile since I've been in Caldwell. It's changed so much. My name is Murhder” Taking the glass I downed the bourbon in one.

Ella:  “Inherited a house? Why not?” The barmaid passed a drink to the male while I had my usual drink. “So you’ve been here before, cool. I have been living here for only 2 months. Murhder is a nice name, but why Murhder? Wow, you were that thirsty fancy another drink, Murhder?”

Murh: “I've already got a house, don't need another one. Murhder is my birth name” I couldn't tell her my other secret, the vampire secret.” Yes I'd like another drink thank you” The barmaid placed another bourbon in front of me. Ella looked at her watch, she had to get back to work. Nodding politely at her as she left “You're not going to get far with her” “She's thinks your name is funny” Fucking he'll the voices had come back the moment Ella had left. Grabbing the glass I drained the contents down my throat, getting down from the stool, I headed back out the way I came in, heading to an alleyway I waited for Ella to end her shift and see her home safely.

#MeetingMurhder #SASBDB

[idornaseminary]

Chapter Eighteen: Beatrice and Mel

As soon as Halina was tucked into bed, or rather secured to her mattress in a burrito wrap, Beatrice let out an exhausted huff, causing her hair to fly up and flop back down in the center of her face. Wrinkling her nose at the light ends of her bob, she whipped out her wand, pointing it at the side of her head. “Finite Incantatem,” she whispered, not wanting to stir her passed out friend, knowing she’d have to spend another hour at least trying to get her settled down again. Turning her attention to the mirror on her dresser, Beatrice smiled as her natural color took over, snaking down to the tips of her thick curls like ink spilled across a paper, the dark pigment leaching into the parchment.

Although it was great to catch up with people she hadn’t seen in months, she had to admit it was an overwhelming evening, to say the least. After all the excitement, Beatrice was in desperate need of some good old peace and quiet, which she wasn’t going to get with Halina snoring louder than an elephant in heat across the room.

Tugging her Greek sandals off, she rubbed her soft, tan hands over the impressions in her calves, while a pair of warm, flannel pajamas floated out from her closet. Beatrice smiled at the penguins in their nightcaps and quickly changed, snatching a book from her desk before heading downstairs to read. Poking her head out from her room, glancing around the otherwise empty common area, her ruby red lips curled into a grin and she quickly scampered across the stone cold floors.

She cleared the couch, imagining herself an Olympian soaring over a hurdle to the finish line and victory beyond, and hopped into a plush, velvet armchair by the fireplace. Once more glancing over her shoulder, she pulled out her wand and brought the embers and ashes to life, cringing slightly as the blaze filled the hearth with stinging heat. Whoops. Oh well. As the flames settled down to a more manageable height, she opened her muggle novel, “War and Peace” by Leo Tolstoy, and started to read when she heard a ruckus arise behind her.

Something miraculous had happened on the carriage ride up to the castle. A single jolt in the otherwise smooth road had roused Mel awake, and she looked over to find that Ella had lost what little energy she’d had left, eyelids dangerously close to drooping shut.

Mel meanwhile was immediately struck with a second wind. The alcohol had mostly worn off, but when she hopped down from the carriage she still found her balance unsteady.

She practically stumbled into the common room. It was mostly empty, save for a single girl sitting by the roaring fireplace. Her dark hair obscured her face as she stared down at her book, but Ella still seemed to recognize her. She mumbled a hello to her before ascending the stairs.

Mel rolled her eyes at Ella’s sleepy rudeness. “Must be quite the book, keeping you up this late, huh?”

Beatrice laughed lightly and shook her head, using her wand to secure her hair in a sloppy bun that a few tendrils annoyingly escaped from, framing her face perfectly in the firelight. “Not really. Must be quite the noisy roommate,” she corrected, gesturing to her door with her head. “Just getting back from the party?”  She and Mel weren’t exactly friends to say they were, nor were they enemies. Living in the same house brought them together quite a bit; they just hadn’t had much opportunity to get to know one another. Mel was pretty and funny and nice, or so Beatrice had heard. Now was the chance to figure it out.

Mel nodded, flopping onto the couch. It was only once she lay there that she realized she had definitely left her shoes at the beach. Now that she’d spoken, Mel recognized Beatrice. She was a year younger, but her Divination interests brought her and Ella together a lot, or so it seemed.

“One for the ages,” said Mel, sarcasm lacing her voice. “Did you make it out? I didn’t see you around, I don’t think.”

“Oh I was there,” Beatrice said, shutting her book with more force than she meant, shooting Mel an apologetic glance. She set the first edition on the table gingerly before turning her attention to the girl in front of her more fully, though she kept her legs hung over the side of the armchair. “I left about halfway through when my roomie accidentally helped me flash most of the crowd outside the Pub,” she explained with a small huff, crossing her arms over her chest again.

Mel laughed, but it sounded loud and grating in the quiet common room. She only partially noticed though, and let it die off into a giggle.

“I’ve definitely done that before,” she said somberly. She threw her arms up, in mock celebration. “It’s an exclusive club! Embrace it.”

She laughed quietly and hung her head over the other side of the chair, letting the sound of joy turn into one of embarrassment as a low groan escaped her lips. “Yeah, but if I was gonna flash a crowd again, I thought it would be less public if that makes sense? Like, if I were at a party and somebody dared me to do it,” she explained, shifting the weight of her head to the back of the seat, blinking slowly.

Mel nodded, slow and sage, like it was a great philosophical debate they were having. “I get that completely. See, part of it all is that’s got to be on your own terms, you know? You can’t be flung into the club. You need to step boldly into it.”

“Exactly!” she agreed with a brilliant smile. “Like, going to a nudist beach of your own accord, totally cool, or flashing a bunch of people at Coachella, also cool. Both of which I’ve done by the way,” Beatrice said with a proud smirk, giggling at the admission. “But your roomie drunkenly tugging on your dress while crying over two hot guys who ditched her, not cool,” she said, weighing the actions with her hands like scales. “Speaking of which,” she added, sitting up straighter in the armchair, “Didn’t you use to date some guy named Enzo or whatever?”

The laughter almost died in Mel’s throat, mostly because she was taken off guard. It wasn’t like Enzo was this mysterious figure from her past. He went to the same school as the rest of them, after all, and it was only so big. She blinked, trying not to make Beatrice feel as though the question may have bothered her at all.

“I...yeah,” she said finally. “Wow, that was a while ago. Back our first year. Why do you ask?”

Beatrice, still a little tipsy from the four shots of fire-whiskey she had back at the pub, smiled and shrugged, a yawn slipping from her lips. “To get my roommate back here, I had to agree to go on a double date with her, Enzo, and his friend, Andre,” she explained, picking the book back up in her hands, running her cold fingers over the gilded leather binding. “I don’t plan on actually doing it because I don’t plan on her remembering the deal, but on the off chance that she does, I didn’t want to step on anybody’s toes.”

Mel nodded, taking the story in. So that was it. “Well, I’ll tell you one thing, you could do a lot worse than Enzo Bellerose. Very nice guy, if a little … uptight. That being said, you’re a cute girl, so you could certainly do a lot better than him too.” She shrugged, choking back a yawn. “Anyway, he and I are ancient history. Go nuts. You have my blessing.” She added this final word in a dramatic flourish, flinging herself off the couch and twirling her arms around. “And with that, this kitten is going to hit the hay. See you around, Bea.”

“Actually…” she started, pouting her lips slightly as Mel started to walk away, offering her a soft smile instead. “I hope you sleep well,” she said instead. I wonder if he’d offer me a blessing to take her out on a date. Chewing on her bottom lip, Beatrice opened her book again, pretending to read as she watched the stunning witch waltz away through her thick lashes, letting out a small huff before turning her attention back to her favorite novel.