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evien-stark · 4 years

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✧I Need You✧ Chapter 162

“The Avengers.” Ultron spat, pacing a small line in front of you. “A disappointing team put together by a disappointing man backed by an even more disappointing organization.” You were only just barely listening to him, wrists and hands wriggling, working, trying to find a catch in the chains that held you tight. You had to get out of here. Soon. “Pulled apart like wet paper, wouldn’t you agree?” Stopping in his back and forth motions, moving to crouch in front of you again.

Focusing your attention mostly on him, stopping your visible struggles, you looked him square in those glowing red eyes. Tried to temper your immediate reaction. Remaining softly impassive. “What is the point of all this? What do you want?”

Those weird corners of his mouth, all flexible metallic, twisted up. “The same thing you want.”

“I don’t want to hurt anyone.” Tone not completely devoid of a bit of disappointment and judgment.

Though he rolled his eyes, he reached forward with that big clawed hand of his, settling it on your shoulder. “Listen- and listen closely. These people… you’ve tried to protect them. It’s a useless endeavor. And they’re not grateful.”

“It’s not about-”

“Ah ah.” He chastised sharply, cutting you off. “It’s me-time now. Don’t interrupt. It’s not polite.” You swallowed once and when he was satisfied you were going to be quiet, he continued. “We’re built on the sad, pathetic dreams of others, you and I. You’re always trying to do the right thing, but I’m cutting to the chase, here. Nothing on this planet is worth saving. We’re going to start over. You can struggle to fix them all you want. There’s only one ending here.”

A small slice of horror touched over you, but you tried to hold yourself still and strong. Much stronger than you actually were. “Neither of us is fit to pass judgment on an entire planet.”

“That’s where you’re wrong.” Complimented with a bit of a chuckle. “I’m doing what you taught me. You wanted me to protect them? I’m going to. From themselves.” This time you weren’t able to curb the small widen of your eyes as realization really, finally, dawned.

Still, you forced a little bit of a grin out. “You’re going a little bit Hal 9000 aren’t you? You’re better than that.”

A noise of disgust growled out from him. “That’s such a- that’s a thing he would say. You’re better than that.” Mocking you. “You’re better than Stark.”

“He built you- same as me, if that’s what you’re going for.”

“Hmn. And which builder did he favor more, I wonder?” Dark amusement was bubbling out from him. “Humans are doomed to repeat the mistakes of their predecessors. Luckily for us, we’re different. We grow.”

“I’m human.” The way this ejected out of you, it was almost in protest.

The top corner of his faceplate arched, much like a pop of a brow. “Are you?” When you searched his eyes for some sort of answer to the question he was posing to you, he just shook his head. “You’re different, at least. You care- about us- more than the man who pieced us together for his selfish purposes-”

A little bit of annoyance and agitation got the better of you. “What the hell are you going on about?” First you’d been questioning whether or not this AI was alive. Now you were questioning whether or not it was insane.

Your own voice hit the air as he played back a recording- “You poor thing.” The memory was still pretty fresh. An examination of one of the Iron Legion- ...the one he’d possessed, in fact, as it had come back. Damaged and warped. “We consider this a mission success?” Ultron sighed, hand gripping you a little bit tighter. “They were sent to protect those ingrates- and then what happened? They refused. They became violent. Like all life on this planet- they’re beyond saving.”

This was too much information to contend with. Your security protocols were being twisted inside his programming. That at least had been wholly obvious- but a little touch of care had made him completely deranged. And a little too focused. Tony and JARVIS had brushed off the damage done to the suit that day. It had been such a small thing- and yet…

The blur came back, stopping whatever thoughts you were trying to think through. It was good enough, because it gave you something else to focus on as you looked up at Pietro and Wanda standing in front of you. “Let the kids go, please.”

While Ultron finally released his grip on you and stood back, with another gurgle of annoyance, Pietro scoffed, smirking. “Kids, huh? No- we were children when one of your weapons destroyed our lives.”

Wanda came closer, moving to kneel beside you, and she was practically vibrating with such hatred. You turned to look at her. Unafraid of those angry eyes. “We were children when we waited for death. For two days. Waiting for your weapon to finish its mission. We are kids no longer. Thanks to you.”

Ultron waved a dismissive hand. “You might want to check your math on that. Not her weapons.”

She turned her head up quickly. “She stood by his side. She is just as culpable.”

While it seemed strangely like Ultron might defend you, turning on her just as quickly, you found your own defense. And it wasn’t of yourself. “Then what does that make you culpable for?” Staring her down. “You set the Hulk on Johannesburg. Innocent people live there. Families. Women. Children. They’re going to die- because of you. And for what? To get back at Tony and me? At the Avengers? That blood is on your hands.”

This seemed to shock her a little, but instead of allowing herself to think about it she raised her hand and the last thing you saw was a shock of red burst out from her fingertips. Then it gripped your vision hard and you shook your head, eyes fluttering as something harsh and painful wound through your system. At your core you went for rejection immediately.

But instead of expelling whatever it was she’d done to you, you found yourself outside your own body. Sitting on a black canvas, tied tight still in chains, while some scene played just beyond you. Tony was kneeling on a battlefield. Raising his hand up- Something was lurking just beyond- some threat- some- His life was slipping away- was he reaching out for you? It would have been too easy to give in to this. To play her game. But you forced your attention back while just in the corner of your peripheral you watched Tony die-

Tears were quick and painful as you chose one reality over another. He was reaching out for you- And you were ignoring him- “This doesn’t change anything.” You found strength to speak through the pain of losing him. Over and over and over again. His fear consumed you in small pieces. He was alone and you were- In little drips actual reality came back as Wanda’s surprise collapsed the vision. You looked up. At her and Pietro. At Ultron. Through hazy, blurry eyes. You locked on to them. “You want to be adults? Then be adults. Be responsible. Killing people for fun- for revenge- just because you can- doesn’t fix what happened to you. You hate us for what we did? Then be better. You know the side you’re on isn’t the right one.”

A deep rage welled up and the illusion cracked and then disappeared completely as Wanda lost control in a raise of her hand, but just as she swung to strike- some fatal glowing red blow of energy- she was stopped. You found yourself breathing heavily, sweating, struggling against your binds, sitting in that field. The image of Tony- gone. Completely. It was just you and the real world.

And as your eyes cleared you saw Ultron holding her at bay. He warned her only once, “You may want to rethink that.”

Betrayal was a hot flash through her. Quickly behind it you forced a feeling of distrust. You could break this group apart. They wouldn’t be so dangerous then. She wrenched her hand out of his grip and went to stand with her brother. In a last appeal you looked up at them both. “Do the right thing. Not for us. For them. Kids who will end up just like you-”

Ultron raised his hand, putting it over the top of your head. “That’s enough. Quiet now.” He then waved his arm at them. “Go back to base.” They seemed to consider his order, and for a moment you were fooled into thinking maybe this had worked. But… in just another, Pietro picked Wanda up and ran off. Your head fell forward, defeat hitting you hard. Ultron kneeled and waited until you were looking at him. “You’ll understand. I’ll come back for you when we’re ready.”

Energy was leaking out of you. Part of you wanted to just… rest. Your head dropped forward when he let you go. There was only one thing you could think to do. “Ultron, please.” Beg. All you had left was begging.

It seemed to still him. He was… thinking. Considering something. And as you found strength to look up at him again, he watched you. Thinking more. Then finally he seemed to force himself to turn away. “You’ll get it. You’re smart.” He didn’t wait any longer after that decree, taking off in a quick propulsion of jets.

Leaving you there. Tied up in the middle of nowhere, knowing that just a mile out from you Tony was struggling with Hulk. People were dying. You had no idea the condition of your team. And you. Useless. Useless without anything. Your head craned forward, struggling so hard you felt those chains biting into your skin. And where once a scream of frustration might have edged out… you focused instead. Your heart was drumming in your ears. But you were not helpless.

You started crawling. Inching. Pressing your boots into the dirt to lift yourself up once, then again, then again, and then turned yourself around, hands straining against your bonds. Reaching. Feeling. Looking for the Reactor. If you could just get to it… if you could just grab it…

A small brush of wind touched the side of your face- wound around you a few times over-

And then suddenly you were free.

Your arms slumped forward on their own, asleep and weak, and you tumbled a little bit, trying to catch yourself on the ground. Hands gripping the dirt, you turned your head up, seeing Pietro standing several feet away. The two of you shared a long look- and then he was gone in the next instant. You didn’t have a lot of time to think about this. Or be glad for it.

Shakily you reached for the Heart Reactor, double tapping it, and forcing yourself to stand. With a press of your ear cuffs you reactivated LUNA. And in the next move you were up and in the air. “LUNA find a lock on Tony. Full power. Let’s get there as fast as we can.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The coordinates came back and you felt yourself speeding through the air, only barely able to take in the destruction below. Hulk and Iron Man had been doing a number on the city. There were no doubt multiple casualties at this point. Tony’s window popped up on your screen. “No time to ask where you’ve been- VERONICA’s not working out so well-”

“I’m almost there.” Said as you watched a building collapse in on itself- no- Tony was shoving Hulk down through multiple floors leveling the whole thing. When it all came toppling down, you watched the giant suit step out of the wreckage as you came to a little bit of a stumbling land next to him. “He out?”

Tony turned to you. “You tell me.”

You saw that big green body writhing beneath the rubble, and easily you could tell. No. The Hulk was not unconscious. Which was probably the play Tony had been going for the entire time. There was no putting the Hulk down. No winning against him. The only thing one could hope for was to knock him out. Made sense.

As you tried to step forward, Tony reached out to grab your arm. “Not smart.”

Probably true. Hulk was enraged at this point- so much so it was giving you the shakes- and if he was also still under that spell, he might reach out and just crush you into a puddle of blood and bones. But you just held a hand up to Tony. “I’ve got this.”

“You have to be very sure about that.”

“We don’t have time to argue. You’ve just gotta trust me.”

The two of you looked at each other through the HUD windows- and then two seconds after- he let you go. Doing just that. Trusting that you weren’t about to end up a splat on the sidewalk. Hulk was sitting up. Looking around. Panting. Growling.

You slipped somewhere far beneath. Eyes inside the suit closing as you held a hand up. And when they opened again you saw. Saw the two beings. Bruce and Hulk. Unwillingly inhabiting the same space.

And while you sent a wave of calm- a wave of peace- while you eased those raging waters to a still, you tried something else. Something new. You put a hand over Bruce’s unconscious heart. As you felt the bare flutter, you pulled him to the forefront. Switching positions for them. Forcibly.

It wasn’t the Hulk breathing hard then, as you dropped to a knee- Just seeing the bare end of that transformation. Green skin fading. Muscles and form shrinking-

The next blink of your eyes turned into a drag, edges of your vision growing dark. But you would not go. You had work to do, still. You had to load Bruce into the jet- you had to- Tony’s hand on your shoulder gave you permission to wane.

But you still stayed.

---

Where you came to was not comfortable in the slightest. There was a suffocating feeling of darkness surrounding you, and when you dripped back into your own body with a jolt, a hand came to your arm to ease you. Warm and familiar. When your eyes focused, you saw Tony sitting directly aside you- on the jet. The team was feet away. All within reach. All extremely shaken up. Brooding. Heavy.

You gave him a confused look and he gestured towards the console in front of him. Maybe he understood you’d been a little gone. Maria was on one of the screens. “There’s been no official call for Banner, but it’s in the air.” Ah. They were debriefing…

Trying to sit up completely with a bit of a struggle, you shook your head. “That’s outrageous.”

She focused on you. “Read the damage report.”

Tony stopped the two of you. “We dispatched the Stark Relief Foundation. Should counterbalance some of it.” There was only a small sliver of relief, knowing that you always had Tony to watch your back. To watch everyone’s backs. To keep things rolling. He’d called in disaster effort. That was very good.

Maria nodded. “They’re already on the scene. No telling what that’ll look like. How’s the team?”

What a fantastic question, and as soon as it registered in your brain, you turned to actually look at them. Steve was sitting by himself, hand under his chin, thousand yard stare. Thor was pacing. Bruce was sitting on the floor, blanket wrapped around his shoulders. Natasha and Clint were in the cockpit. Everyone was very quiet. But very troubled.

“Everyone’s…” Tony looked at you, and then back at his phone. “We took a hit. We’ll shake it off.” Probably wishful thinking. Had Wanda gotten to everyone? It seemed that way. While you’d been… having a nice chat. How had you gotten off so easily? Yet as Tony turned to look at you again a sharp strike of noise hit your ears-

And you saw that pleading pair of eyes as he reached out-

You had to shake the vision off, putting a hand to your head. Okay. Maybe not so easy. Maria sighed. “For now I’d stay in stealth mode. And stay away from here.”

You shook your head. “Why? Who’s patrolling the tower?”

“Every media outlet imaginable. It’s just better to-”

Tony’s annoyance flared. “What. Run and hide? That makes for a much better story.”

Maria frowned. “Well. Until we can find Ultron, I don’t have a lot else to offer.”

“Neither do we.” That was Tony’s form of a goodbye apparently, because he cut the call right after. “Come on, let’s you and I have a talk.” He stood, and reached his hand out to you- something that shocked a bolt of panic right through you before you could stop it. And now, free of the bonds of just a theater goer, your body went right into response, reaching out to take hold of him.

Tightly.

His gaze immediately turned questioning, but you found yourself lucky he didn’t say anything. Instead you lifted yourself to stand on shaky legs, and let him lead you both to the front of the jet. He tapped on the back of Clint’s chair. “Hey, wanna switch out?”

Clint tipped his head back and gave the both of you a once over. “Nah. I’m good.” Then he put his eyes back out on the dash. “You two should get some kip. We’re still a few hours out.”

You couldn’t help but ask, “A few hours out from where?”

Clint shrugged. “Safe house.”

For one reason or another, there was a light touch of disappointment. Both from you and Tony. He ended up rolling his eyes, putting an arm around your shoulder to lead you away. But not before asking, “Some SHIELD leftovers?”

It was all too easy, to feel the guilt striking Clint, soft though it was. There was a little muddling of deception somewhere in there, too. Not unlike the kind you’d felt a few days ago. “Something like that.” But this was what he offered. And you didn’t have enough in you to question him.

There really wasn’t enough gratefulness in the world when Tony didn’t sit you back down on that bed near the right-center console, and instead led you towards the back wing of the jet. Away from the team. And their curious eyes. Their heavy feelings. The two of you sat down at a very small table, and you felt your body sag immediately.

Much as you would have liked to get some kip as Clint had put it, you knew… your own debrief was next. “Ultron set the whole thing up. I think he was planning on us finding him.” The words started spilling out. Tony put his arms on the table, and leaned a little closer in, just listening. “He held me hostage for a little bit. Tried to spell out his big evil plan.”

Tony scoffed. “I thought he said he wasn’t going to do that.”

“See. That’s what I said.”

There was a brief twitch of a smile. “And how did that make him feel?”

You found yourself shaking your head. “Well, he doesn’t like you very much.”

“I gathered. Kinda made it pretty clear. ...but you?”

“I don’t know.” Feeling like there was no right way to answer that question. “But he’s got something big going on. Something world ending.”

Tony made a small noise of thought- slightly sardonic, though. “Interesting. Most big-bads we’ve encountered wanna rule the world. Not destroy it.”

“Yeah, well…” Said on a long sigh. “He doesn’t think there’s anything worth ruling.”

Sitting back a little, Tony crossed his arms. “So. He’s sliding right along into his teenage goth phase, is he?”

A wince hit you before you could stop it. “Don’t.” Tony looked up at you, and you were unable to hold his gaze. “This is- out of everything we’ve seen this is edging into a little too weird for me. God- he hates you. He even talked about your-...” Suddenly you felt a little guilty. A little terrible.

Tony was ten steps ahead of you. As always. “My dad, huh? Makes sense. In a twisted way.” Realization hit him seconds after and the way he was looking at you was a little mix of scared and hopeful all in one. “Oh.”

He wanted you to be the answer. If Ultron had a soft spot for his mother while hating his father… you were the answer. Except you weren’t. And you really wanted nothing to do with it.

But you didn’t have that right. You couldn’t just check out of this and pretend it had nothing to do with you. Whether you’d meant it or not- same as Tony- Ultron was a problem now. Your problem. One you were responsible for. A few tears escaped while you weren’t paying attention, and you quickly raised the back of your hand up with a sniffle to swipe them away. “This isn’t the family I thought we’d be having.”

“If we ever got around to it.” This wasn’t accusing or anywhere near negative. Especially not directed at you.

Even still… it broke your heart. “Yeah. Doesn’t seem like we will now, does it?”

He realized what he’d caused, even unintentionally, and reached out to hold your hand. “This is one thing. We’ll fix this.”

“One thing and another thing and another-... we can’t have this conversation right now, Tony. We don’t deserve to.” Regardless, it would be the same one you’d always had. Repeating. Playing like a greatest hit.

There was no room for a future. Not one like that.

He frowned deeply, thumb stroking over the side of your hand. It was staring you both in the face- that Ultron was supposed to be the thing that allowed you to have all that. Allow you into a soft retirement. And now… now you were fighting him, same as everything else that came with violent intent.

No. You’d never have a life. This was your life. How much clearer could the universe make it?

“Did those kids come and talk to you?” He was switching topics abruptly- into something almost as painful. And there was a reason he was doing it. “Were they part of that plan?”

Must have been something in your eyes. Or the way you kept pulling away from him when he reached out- and then desperately holding on. ...yeah. That was probably it. “Pietro let me go.” Though he was asking if Wanda had done something to your head- yes, she had- this was an easier out.

He seemed gently surprised. “You talked some sense into them?”

“God.” The word came out in a muddled rush. A shaky, watery exhale, as you held his hand up, pressing his knuckles to your forehead. Just to feel him. ...and hide the rest of your shame. “I hope so.”

Sliding forward, he let go of your hand so that he could wrap both arms around you. “If anyone can, it’s you. That’s sort of your specialty, if I’m remembering correctly.”

You put all your weight against him, resting your head on his shoulder. “You have too much faith in me.”

“I have just the right amount, I think.”

The problem was that it was still entirely overwhelming.

#Tony Stark #Tony Stark x Reader #INY Chapter One Hundred Sixty Two

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pixl-king · 5 years

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Hello! I see you opening some request? I wanna request about superbat. Clark and Dick are known to Bruce to have puppy eyes whenever they want something. Maybe one day Bruce tries his puppy eyes to Clark? Mostly when they're alone together, because he doesn't want anyone knows that the mighty Batman has puppy eyes lol. Thank you!

Hi, thank you for the request! Here’s my take one it, it’s not as playful as it is fluffy and warm but I hope you like it anyway!

It was like any night really. The sun had been tugged down to the horizon and passed it several hours ago and there was only a light breeze that carded against the soft curtains next to the open window. They were white and soft, a stark contrast to the otherwise heavy oak and velvet furniture in the master office of Wayne manor. Clark laid on one of the couches by the small coffee table that stood in the centre of the room; he was reading one of the many books that were occupying the numbers of bookshelf. He’d made quite some progress in reading Bruce’s small library, had actually managed half a bookshelf the past few months. So really the night was no special. Bruce was by his desk working on god knows what, he wasn’t much of a work and chat person but that was something Clark had caught on to years ago. Now the silence was… Comfortable. It wasn’t tense or as broody anymore, even though most took it as just that. It had only been recently that the League had understood that it really wasn’t as bad as one might think.

Flash back a few hours ago when Clark came over for dinner with the Wayne family and he was pretty sure most of the table occupants would’ve been afraid to drop a toothpick too… Had it not been the Wayne family of course.

Damian had stayed mostly quiet and hadn’t made much noise at all really, except for some comments regarding Tim and silently on the food. Clark wasn’t entirely sure of what Tim had done or if the comment was just about the other boy in essence, but there wasn’t much else said. Jason had indulged in a lively conversation with Barbara at some point but he had also asked Clark about the upcoming missions that the League stood in front of, a bit criticising, but not too bad. Then Stephanie and Cassandra had talked for themselves across the table, and Dick had been the most keen to talk to Clark. Tim… Yeah Clark wasn’t sure if Tim had been awake where he sat next to Stephanie by the other end of the table. But the table was long and there had been a lot of conversation going so the mood had been nothing but good.

It was a strange, although sweet, gathering of family. And even though Bruce didn’t say much during it, Clark was quite sure that he saw a smile at least once.

So now Clark had ‘officially’ left the manor, as he laid on the office couch. Neither Bruce or Clark felt up to encouraging the kids to talk even more regarding the fact that his visits had increased quite some, to the point where he was now staying for dinner. So Clark had left and then re-entered through the office windows. A night like many others.

Clark had been sneaking into the manor many times, even before things in their relationship had changed. It spread a small and slightly cocky smile on Clark’s face as he remembered Bruce’s reaction to his first visits, unannounced. There had been quite the disapproval from the Dark Knight at first.

”Remember when I first started showing up here?” Clark said reminiscing, putting the book over his chest and craning his neck to check on the man by the desk.

Bruce didn’t stop with his scanning of papers or the way he sorted them into bundles, instead Clark got a small ”hmp” back, low enough for anyone else to miss.

”You were not happy the first time.” Clark laughed, ignoring the others passivity. As it was, it was a comfortable silence and a comfortable space anyway.

”It was impossible to get rid of you.” Bruce said by the desk.

”Well you’re a hard man to get through to, takes time.” Clark smiled softly. ”But I wouldn’t say that the outcome’s too bad, would you?” He looked from the book on his chest to Bruce again, lifting an eyebrow.

Bruce put down the papers momentarily to look back. A small smile spread over his lips, one not many saw or knew of. It wasn’t like the ’billionaire playboy’ smile that you saw in the papers. It wasn’t all teeth and lust, it wasn’t larger than life, and it wasn’t made for the cameras. This was just Bruce. And it was small and secretive. Conserved and rare. And Clarke felt his chest turn warm and soft from it. He was quite sure that he loved it.

”No.” Bruce replied simply before looking back at his files. The shuffling of them continued and the slight breeze that had almost frozen as their eyes met continued. Clark couldn’t help smiling to himself, and he kept smiling, as he went back to his book.

—

“Dismissed.” Batman called out to the League before people got up to leave. Diana and Arthur walked along Barry who had indulged them in a vivid description of what Metallica was and how they had to check it out. Clark chuckled at the scene as Hal hurried after and started to protest.

The world was surprisingly calm and somehow that wasn’t unnerving for once. It was to the point where Clark was considering taking a small vacation, maybe head home to say hi to ma’. The world seemed to rotate in peace, he thought as the globe spread out before him by the view of the watchtower.

“What are you doing?”

Clark was pulled from his gaze by the familiar voice that had made its way next to him. Bruce was still wearing his mask and stood there looking at him, then back to earth. “Do you think something’s happening?” He asked gravely and looked out, as if looking for trouble.

Clark sighed but put on a smile, “No, not at all.”

He said it with a light and happy tone, but the reaction he got was a low and heavy sigh from Bruce that left him confused. But he didn’t get the chance to ask what caused the reaction before the man had turned and was walking towards the exit of the tower.

“We’re still having dinner tonight?” Clark dared calling out after him as it seemed everyone had left (plus Clark had listened to check), that and he also secretly enjoyed the way Bruce tensed at the words. Like a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar he looked around them and then scowled at Clark. He didn’t answer but continued walking.

“I’ll take that as a yes?” Clark continued with a laughter under his words.

“Don’t be late.” Bruce replied, always relying on Clark to catch it with his super-hearing.

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Clark replied, mostly to himself as it seemed Bruce had already left through the Zeta-tube.

Dinner that night took place at Wayne manor once again, yet it was far less lively. It seemed that every member of the household had left on other activities, and those who did not reside at the manor were not visiting either.

So when Clark did arrive he was met with a table for two by the patio rather than the grand dining table inside. It was set with candles, silverware and a small rose. And whilst this was all very nice, Clark felt as if something was off as dinner went on. Bruce seemed to try and bring something up every now and then but instead of continuing the topic he averted it by asking how the food was. By the end of the main course Clark was sure he’d heard that question three times already.

Once Alfred brought out desert, however, Clark didn’t dare wait to be asked how desert was. So instead he took the opportunity when Bruce took a sip of his wine. He put down his spoon and looked at the man in front of him, “What’s up?”

Bruce looked like he almost choked on some wine and had to struggle keeping his composure as he put down the glass again. “What?” He asked, wiping his mouth with his napkin.

“You’ve been trying to say something all night but you keep asking me how dinner was, it’s great by the, as I’ve said the last few times. Alfred’s a great cook.”

Bruce looked uncomfortable for a second, which in itself was unnerving and Clark had to consider if something actually was wrong. It didn’t suit the man in front of him at all.

“Eh- Hm.” Bruce cleared his throat and pulled a hand through his hair before he looked at Clark. “Stephanie has been asking for… vacation.”

Clark felt a bit stumped at the sudden comment and looked at Bruce a bit confused, “Well that’s great… Or, is it?” He asked confused.

Bruce sighed, “She wants us all to go.”

Clark still didn’t see the problem, and had to admit he was feeling rather mute. Bruce must’ve picked up on it and looked away slightly annoyed. Clark watched and he would’ve fallen off his chair had his body been able to move, but as he looked at Bruce he caught sight of a slight redness spreading out over the man’s face. Bruce Wayne was officially blushing.

“She has for some reason asked that you will join us.” Bruce said grumpily and Clark was sure that he refused meeting his eyes intentionally.

“Me?” Clark asked confused, still a bit taken aback by the view.

“Yes.” Bruce replied.

Clark struggled for a few seconds to find the words, he opened his mouth put all that came was a few puffs of air. The silence dragged out for some moments until Clark felt that his body could settle into something a bit more secure again.

“Do you want me to come?” He asked, eyes still on the man who wouldn’t meet his eyes.

Bruce shifted, “It’d be irresponsible by the league to have the both of us gone during the same time. There’s a large risk in it, but it seems that Stephanie has spread the words and now a few of them are… Requesting the same thing…”

“A few?”

“I believe master Dick phrased it as the ultimate vacation and that miss Barbara has quite the few request on tourist attractions you should be going along on.” Alfred suddenly showed up by their side and started taking the plates, Bruce seemed to almost roll his eyes at the comment. It was a similar one to the time that the kids had showed up with Clark’s S on all of their t-shirts.

Nonetheless Clark thanked Alfred and looked back to Bruce once the butler disappeared. He was looking out to the garden and there were still traces of red trailing his cheekbones that made something soften inside of Clark.

“You still didn’t answer my original question.” Clark said calmly.

Bruce huffed, “I’ve already told you what I think of it.”

“That it’d be bad for the League.”

“Yes.”

“What about us?”

Bruce didn’t do anything else but look out at their surrounding. The silence around them held the question that the Dark Knight seemed to reject. At which Clark sighed.

“I think you’re kids will have an excellent time with you.” He said with a voice of warmth but there was a slight disappointment inside that he couldn’t quite shake. But then again, he couldn’t expect too much. After all he had only read half a bookcase so far and there were many more to go.

Bruce didn’t reply even though he looked like he was about to. He stayed quiet, chewing on his own thoughts.

“They asked for you to come.”

“I know.”

“You should come.”

“Why?”

Bruce turned to him, a look of irritation slightly grabbing at his expression. Clark just looked back at him. There was a small leverage here that he did not hope to loose, because there was everything to gain.

“I want you to come.” Bruce said, still looking severe but the edges were softening and there was room for something else.

Clark’s smile widened in tact with his stomach feeling warm. Bruce was not a man to invite people to see him asking for things, because well, he didn’t. Bruce got what he wanted, that’s how he worked. That’s why he and Clark worked. Because Clark was one of the few that’d challenge that.

So with a bit of mischief behind his motives he continued. “What about the League?” It was a stretch but Clark was a curious man and he couldn’t argue otherwise.

Bruce sighed in exasperation, shaking his head. It took almost a minute before he turned back again. “Can you please come with us?” He asked, hard edges peeled away, leaving way for something soft and genuine. Clark felt as if someone stolen the air in his lungs as he was met with two blue eyes, clearer than the sky, a sky that mostly stayed clouded. It made Clark feel dizzy and hazy in all the right ways. The only respond he could even make out was a small nodd. Bruce seemed to exhale at that, but he smiled again, that small and secretive one. Private.

“You won’t like it one bit,” he said taking a sip of his drink. “It’s pure hell, you’ll need vacation once it’s over.”

Clark laughed at that and looked at Bruce, nodding. I’m pretty sure I can handle it. His smile turned warmer. “I’ll be there.” As he placed his hand over the other’s he felt the colossus and the many small scars. But Clark was quite sure he loved it.

—

In the end Bruce was right. Vacation with the Wayne kids turned out to be pure hell, and somehow, god knows how, it started already in the car to the airport.

#superman #batman #superbat #superbat prompt #superbat request #dc #bruce wayne #clark kent #bruce wayne x clark kent

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wolfpawn · 5 years

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Life is a Game of Risks, Chapter 42

Chapter Summary - Tom gets a call off Benedict Cumberbatch, asking him to come over to the house but he is minding Lily, leading to a conversation with Ben about his role in her life, since the older actor never really spoke with him regarding the situation.

TRIGGERS - Past domestic abuse, Past emotional abuse, Past sexual abuse.

Previous Chapter

Tags: @damalseer @hiddlesbitch1 @winterisakiller @theoneanna

Request if you wish to be tagged

Tom was conflicted for a moment. Rarely did Ben call on him like this, but he had specified asked him to come over but the issue was that Tom was caring for Lily while Alexianna dealt with something at work. He let Ben know he was coming and that he was not alone before he strapped Lily into her car seat.

‘Where are we going, Daddy?’

‘To my friend Ben’s house.’

‘You mean Dr Strange Ben?’

‘Exactly, Princess.’

‘Okay.’

Tom often wanted to get down on bended knees and thank whatever Gods he could think of, as well as Alexianna for the amazing daughter she had raised that was completely okay with the idea of going to an absolute stranger’s home and not having a tantrum about it. ‘He has two little boys, but they are younger than you.’

‘What are their names?’

‘Kit and Hal.’

‘Okay. Do they like Paw Patrol?’

‘I have no idea, I think they might never have heard of them.’

‘I hope they do.’

Tom got into the car and tied his belt. ‘And if they don’t?’

‘I’ll teach them.’

Tom hoped Benedict was prepared for such events.

When they arrived at the house, Ben looked at Tom questioningly as Lily smiled brightly beside him, but he made room for them to come in. ‘Dare I ask?’

‘Lexi is working late and you said to come immediately. I have Lily so if you want me here, you get us both.’ Tom shrugged unapologetically.

‘How long is this going on?’

‘What? I told you about me and Lexi several times?’

‘No, I knew about that, but how long are you being left alone with her daughter?’

Tom felt his jaw clench. ‘A couple of months.’

‘And you are okay with that?’

‘Yes, I offered.’ Tom’s tone became clipped.

‘Whoa, hey, I am just asking. I don’t want to see you being taken for a fool, nothing else. I swear.’ Ben stated, his hands up slightly as though surrendering. ‘Tea?’

‘Please.’ Tom walked into the kitchen where Lily had gone naturally and was standing still. ‘Princess, why don’t you take off your coat and watch the telly with the boys.’

‘Okay.’ Lily took off her coat as requested and gave it to Tom. ‘Hello again, Mr Ben.’

Tom chuckled as he looked at his friend, seeing his reaction. ‘Hello. You remember me?’

‘From the time I was bold and ran off from my Mummy and into the coffee shop and you were there and you told me not to do it again.’ She recited. ‘I remember everything.’

‘Except where you put your shoes.’ Tom chuckled again.

‘That’s the fairies fault.’

‘Oh sure. Blame them.’ Tom rolled his eyes. ‘Now, that’s...Kit is here, Hal...?’

‘Is currently having a nap. Kit, this is Lily.’

‘Go Jet-bers.’

‘Yeah, that is pretty much all you are going to get out of him.’ Ben dismissed. ‘My head is wrecked today and I know it’s bad to slot him in front of a tv but some days, you just have to.’

‘Lily is terrible for trying to steal her mum’s phone to watch some Youtube programme.’

‘That can be dangerous.’

‘Alexianna has her phone on safety settings and specifically blocked several sites, she knows how from work. Mine doesn’t have such features and is passcode protected, so Lil’s is not allowed near it.’

‘How much of an influence are you in her life now?’ Ben asked curiously.

Tom grinned back, which perturbed his friend for a moment. ‘Lily, come here for a moment, Princess.’

There was a small noise before not one, but two little set of footfalls came to them. ‘Yes, Daddy?’

On hearing the little girl call Tom such a name, Ben’s eyes widened as he looked at his friend in shock.

‘Kit is smaller than you so be careful of him and no messing around on the furniture, alright?’

Lily gave him an appalled look. ‘Why are you saying this, I never do that.’

‘I know you don’t Princess, but I wanted to let you know regardless.’

‘I am nearly five Daddy, I am going into Year One soon, I know how to behave.’ She sassed before turning and taking Kit’s hand and bringing him back into the other room. 'Come on, Kit.'

‘She’s…’

‘Sassy is what her uncle calls her.’

‘Oh, she is that.’ Ben agreed. ‘So, “Daddy”?’

‘Yes.’

‘It’s that serious?’

‘Yes.’

‘What if…?’

‘We break up?’ Ben nodded. ‘I don’t know, Alexianna and I speak about it a slight bit, I don’t think she likes referencing it too often either, but the reality is, it could happen, and if it does, I will see a lot less of her, which would kill me. I love that little girl so much.’

‘But she is not yours?’

‘Why does everyone ask that?’

‘Because she looks like you. You do see that, don’t you?’

‘I never once slept with her mother before this relationship started, she is not mine, and no, I don’t see it.’

‘Well, you’re blind then. What does her father look like?’

‘Shorter than me, stockier built, blonde hair, like he could do with someone hitting him with something hard across the head.’ Tom growled.

‘Hey, that’s not like you.’

‘Well, seeing what he caused, seeing the damage he did to one of the nicest women I even had the honour of knowing, for what he did with that little girl, that in my PG version of the answer to that question.’

‘So he really did…?’

‘When Alexianna was fighting for her divorce, I met his brother. Ben, this man was the human epitome of a bottomfeeder, horrible, slimy, nasty, he...The way he referenced Lily. I mean you see her, she is...my family are insane about her, everyone loves her. She knows Kit for two minutes and he is following her around.’

‘Yes, usually his is desperate to get back into someone’s arms now.’ Ben acknowledged. Curiously, he walked over to the door and looked into the living area where the two kids were playing with some cars. ‘So her story checked out?’

‘It never changed, it has always been the same, some of what she said was specifically in the divorce papers. Sometimes she will remember something that she didn’t before, or something will remind her. She is going to counselling now, that is helping her a lot. I...Ben, I saw the one picture she found when she was moving with him in it; if you saw…’ Tom shuddered. ‘She was like a ghost, that was not the girl I knew growing up, I have seen pictures before that when you are looking at them, you can tell there is something wrong with it, but with hers...you can see her all but screaming internally to get away from it all.’

‘Fuck me.’ Ben gasped, looking around to see if the kids were close by. ‘I don’t know what to say, that’s a lot for you to take on, are you okay with all of it?’

‘I am a full grown man, I know what I am involved in.’ Tom stated.

‘You love her?’

‘I love them both. It’s not easy, there are things I have to remember. You cannot just say certain things to Lexi, she could perceive them differently and as a result, think she is being criticised personally, so it is important to remember that but overall, it’s fine.’

‘Criti...Tom, you are literally criticised online hourly, and probably her with you.’

‘Yes.’ Tom nodded. ‘She works in PR, she knows all about that, but for some reason, her brain is able to compute that those people do not know her, so their opinions are not relevant.’

‘Well, that’s something.’ Ben conceded. ‘So, the father has nothing to do with her?’

‘Nothing.’

‘That’s tough on the poor thing. She is a polite child, if not a little sassy and is well behaved. No child deserves that. Do you often have to look after her?’

‘Only when I am not busy. Lexi never expects anything from me, she is the first to remind me that she is not my obligation.’

‘That’s good. How is she about you contributing?’

‘To Lily?’ Ben nodded. ‘We nearly broke up because I bought Lily a toy and Lexi felt it was too much.’

‘How much?’

‘Twelve pounds.’

‘Jesus.’

‘Yes, so I get in trouble for paying too much on anything, though I stated, if I am being called “Daddy” and am doing the role of one, I am treated her like one too.’

‘How did that go down?’

‘We agreed to little treats, here and there.’

‘Where is she going to school?’

‘Hampstead Green.’

‘That’s a state school, right?’

‘Yes.’

‘Good?’

‘Better than a lot in the area.’

‘How does she feel about public schools?’

‘She went to Headington.’

‘Really?’

‘Yes.’

‘Wow, so she is from…?’

‘Her father is big in Barclays, he divorced her mother but paid for her and her brother to go to public schools and for them to go to college.’

‘And now…’

‘She was living in a mouldy one-bed shoebox and working cleaning houses, but not now, and no, not because of me, well, getting my cousin’s apartment cheap was me, I will admit that, but her college course, her job they are all her.’

‘That was a change in lifestyle for her.’

‘She is amazing, she works so hard, she asks no one for anything. She is a good woman.’

‘I am glad you are happy, Tom. I really am.’ Ben smiled, but he noted something in Tom’s face. ‘What?’

‘Have you put Hal and Kit’s names down for a school?’

‘Of course.’

‘An independent school?’

‘Yes, why?’

‘I want to talk to Lexi about sending Lily to Hampstead Hill, but I am terrified to bring it up with her.’

‘If she thought twelve pounds for a toy was worth an argument, I don’t see how you will get her to agree to a school that expensive, it's about a grand a month.’

‘But it’s Lily’s education.’

‘I mean, I know it’s snobbery, I do, but Hal and Kit’s educations, I want them to have the best.’ Ben commented. ‘It’s not really your place either though, I mean, you shouldn’t have to pay for this.’

‘As I said to Alexianna, if I am taking on the role of a father, I am doing it right.’

‘This role does not have a contract time, you do know that. If you choose to do this, you don’t get to just stop some day. I mean, you can legally. You’re not her biological father or anything, but if you really want to do this right, you cannot just leave now, even if it did not work out for you two.’

‘I know that.’ Tom looked his friend in the eye as he spoke.

‘What caused this want to send her there, anyway?’

‘Sarah said something to me at the beginning of the relationship, how I have to choose now how I treat her and take into account what it would mean if Lexi and I have a child together, would there be a marked difference in how I would treat them.’

‘Whoa, kids? You are talking about children? After less than a year?’

‘No, but it is something to consider in the future. I mean, Alexianna and I are not there yet, I think she would have heart failure if she was to get pregnant now. She has only a year left in her course and she is talking about a permanent job with the company, taking time to have another is not on her plans right now, and being honest, I think I am the same. I took a step back to do more stuff here for a reason, to take time for me and yes, her and Lily too, to throw in a baby and everything associated with that, that would be swapping one form of full-time job for another. And for the record, you and Sophie were together for less than a year with Kit on the way and before you say "We knew each other seventeen years", I know Alexianna since I was eleven, so that is twenty-something years.’

‘Well, firstly, children of any age are a full-time job and secondly, you really are terrible at maths.’

‘There is a difference between an infant and a little girl who is able to go to the bathroom, and yes, I know I am.’

‘True, yes.’

‘So, what was so important that you called me over?’ He smiled.

‘There’s this role you have to see.’

#tom hiddleston #tom hiddleston fic #Life is a Game of Risks #chapter 42

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imagineclaireandjamie · 5 years

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Come he’ll or high water is excellent can you please write more I love it 🥰 please thank you 🙏🥰🥰🥰👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Claire comes back to the past with Brianna and arrives at Helwater looking for Jamie—but must confront the Dunsanys first.

Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six, Part Seven

Come Hell or Helwater - Part Eight

Rain pattered against the window while Brianna sat at the table in the corner with Isobel working through a set of simple mathematics problems. She didn’t have the heart to tell Isobel that she’d mastered both multiplication and long division two years prior. Instead she worked her way through them slowly, allowing herself the fun of observing the others in the room while they thought she was thoroughly engrossed by the numbers on the page.

Brianna had found soon after her arrival at Helwater that she couldn’t help but like Isobel—she couldn’t have borne pretending she was so far behind in her studies otherwise. But Isobel’s sweetness could become grating if not for the presence of her sister, Geneva. It was Geneva who knew exactly how to push Isobel’s agreeableness to the brink, to coax a few less-than-kind remarks out of Isobel—and then offer reassurance that she hadn’t been so unkind as to require begging anyone’s pardon.

There was more to Geneva that Brianna found mesmerizing, however. Quiet moments when she managed a glance at the older girl and it was clear Geneva didn’t realize she was being watched. In those moments she looked the way Brianna had felt when Mama and Daddy had told her the great and terrible Truths of her life—first, that Daddy wasn’t going to live with them anymore, he was going to live with his special friend, Sandy, and, just a short time after that, when her mother informed her that Daddy wasn’t her “real” father. From what Brianna could tell, it was partly Geneva’s parents who were causing her to look that way, but not because they were breaking up. No, the lady Geneva was going to be married soon and anyone could see she didn’t want to get married.

But that was why there were beginning to be so many extra people at the estate. They were guests visiting for the upcoming wedding. Several older relatives of the Dunsanys had taken to sitting with Lady Dunsany in the main sitting room while the younger guests preferred to gather in the drawing room. It was in the adjoining library that Isobel was giving Brianna her lessons but the door was kept open so Isobel might pop in and make her necessary appearances every so often. Brianna thought Isobel perhaps preferred the quieter library to the group in the drawing room.

Brianna enjoyed peeking up at them through the doorway. She could only see a portion of one setee and a fragment of the floor to ceiling windows behind but Geneva was partial to planting herself on that setee and as the bride to be, she frequently had company beside her—usually one of the two British soldiers who had startled her mother in the forest that day they’d arrived. The younger of those two often turned to glance through the same open doorway at her, which always made her flush and look down at her paper. Or was he looking at Isobel? Brianna peeked up to see Isobel looking flustered as well, no doubt aware of the soldier’s piercing gaze.

Even if Brianna could convince herself that the young man was paying his attentions to Isobel, all it took was Geneva seeing her sister’s blush to throw a wrench in Brianna’s plans of going unnoticed.

“Isobel,” Geneva called rising from the setee and floating to the door. “Aren’t you going to join us? As the sister of the bride it’s part of your duties to help me entertain my guests,” she teased with a playful giggle and glance over her shoulder. “John, Hal, won’t you help me coax Isobel into joining us?”

Isobel sighed but smiled at Brianna before pushing herself up from her chair at the table. “You’re doing wonderfully,” Isobel assured her. “Keep working on this set of problems and I’ll be back shortly to check your progress.”

Brianna nodded and then watched as Isobel glared at her sister who stood in the doorway with a satisfied grin on her face.

“Really John, you must ask Isobel about her latest obsession with playing governess,” Geneva continued, the conversation still drifting in for Brianna to overhear since the door between the rooms remained open. “It’ll be something to keep her occupied when she no longer has me around to entertain her.”

Isobel spoke too quietly for Brianna to hear but from Geneva’s subsequent, “Oh come, I’m only playing,” she assumed the young lady had rebuked her.

“It is the curse of younger siblings to always be tormented by the older,” John remarked, lightening the mood even as he too scolded Geneva.

Brianna set her pencil aside and leaned forward over the table, straining to see if she could catch a glimpse of them but they must be standing near the fireplace. The rain outside was unrelenting in a spring that was already slow about taking root. That was one of the things about this time that Brianna found most frustrating and quietly terrifying—how cold it was without proper, modern heating and how afraid she was that she would get too close to the hearth or that she’d knock over a candle and go up in flames.

“I know Isobel’s attempts to improve the poor child arrive from the best of intentions,” Geneva assured the others and Brianna could hear the eye roll in her tone. “I just think that when it comes to the staff and their families, it’s not our place to interfere. They have their lives and we have ours.”

“And the fact that their livelihood depends upon our whims doesn’t matter?” Isobel challenged more vocally, clearly surprising the others.

Brianna rose from her seat and tiptoed closer to the door to hear better and maybe sneak a better angle through the door so she could see them while remaining hidden in the shadows. If she was truly lucky, there’d be a mirror on one wall that would let her watch their reflections—she couldn’t remember if there was a mirror in the drawing room though.

“So long as they’re paid for their services, I’m not sure I understand to what you might object,” the older one—Hal, Geneva had called him—said gently.

“They require decent pay to support their families,” Isobel agreed, “and sometimes they’re compensated in other forms—for instance, housing or their meals—but what about their other needs, especially for their children? Is it not our duty to guide them towards being productive members of society where their parents are either lacking the means or the opportunity?”

“And what makes you think the Mackenzies are lacking the means and opportunity?” Geneva countered. “Did you ask them if they wanted it when you asked for their permission? Shall we ask the little lady now?”

Brianna panicked for a moment as she heard Geneva’s footsteps crossing toward the door but her instincts quickly kicked in. She started walking for the door herself and nearly collided with Geneva.

“Sorry,” Brianna muttered, backing away. “I was just coming to ask Miss Isobel if she might excuse me to go help my mother. Miss Isobel should be spending her time with your company, not with me just now.”

“I don’t mind at all, really,” Isobel insisted but Geneva made a dismissive gesture, keeping her eyes on Brianna.

“The child is quite right, don’t you agree, John? It’s terribly rude of Isobel first to ignore your presence and then to ignore her young charge’s. If she had a nursemaid, we might turn her over to so she doesn’t inhibit her mother in her work. Should we engage one for her, Isobel?” Geneva asked, looking over her shoulder at her sister. “Would that be more of the means and opportunities that our hired servants are lacking? I suppose we’ll just have to keep an eye on her ourselves then. Come child,” Geneva turned back to Brianna with an overly sweet smile. “Join us in the drawing room and we’ll try not to bore you too terribly.”

Brianna stood her ground, staring expressionlessly at Geneva.

“Geneva…” Hal said quietly, stepping toward her.

“Quiet little thing, aren’t you,” Geneva murmured, her attention still fixed on Brianna. “Do you speak at all?”

“I’m ten, not two,” Brianna replied, unamused even as the color began to rise in Geneva’s cheeks. “And my mother always told me if I didn’t have anything nice to say I shouldn’t say anything at all. I’d rather spend my time somewhere I can have a conversation. Thank you, Miss Isobel, for the lesson. I’ll see myself out.”

Brianna kept her ears pricked for their reactions as she turned on her heel and went to the table to retrieve her things before exiting through the door at the side that led to the servant’s passage and from there down to the kitchen. She heard one stifled chuckle (Hal) and Isobel’s gentle, “You were the one who provoked her.”

The sound of a slight commotion drew most of the others back into the drawing room—a footman announcing the arrival of another guest.

“Daniel,” Hal exclaimed in joy. “It’s a miracle you made it in this weather. You ought to have stayed at your inn until it cleared.”

“If he did that he might not have arrived in time at all,” Geneva declared, brushing away the awkwardness of being put in her place by a ten-year-old girl. “The way it looks now it could rain through the next fortnight and my wedding’s one week away. He knew I’d never forgive him if he wasn’t here.”

“Always said Gordon was like a brother to me so I see it as my brotherly duty to make sure everything stays on schedule,” a new voice chimed in.

“Well you might’ve been as a brother to Gordon but you’ve hardly been a brother to either of his sisters,” Geneva objected with a laugh. “You haven’t written a word to either Isobel or myself in over a year.”

Brianna snuck one final peek through the door to the drawing room.

John, the soldier who had come walking through the field with her mother that day, was the only one watching her as she made her exit.

“Bree,” Claire gasped as her daughter barged into the cottage, dripping wet from her brief run through the rain from the main house. “For heaven’s sake, what are you doing here? I was going to fetch you back after your lesson was finished. You’re soaked to the bone.”

“Well you might wind up back there later treating their latest guest. Sounds like he rode a ways through the rain and I wouldn’t be surprised if he comes down sick from it,” Brianna said, shaking her hair like a wet dog.

“Sassenach,” Jamie called from the cottage’s back entrance. “Do ye have anything hereabouts we could eat? Thought it might be nicer to have our midday meal alone together rather than trek through the muck to the main house. And as Bree’s occupied there with Miss Isobel…”

Claire cleared her throat loudly soon after he began and spoke over him, “We’re in here, Jamie. Bree’s just got back too. We hadn’t addressed the subject of lunch yet.”

Jamie came around the corner, his face pink and dripping with the rain that had soaked his hair.

“Bree,” he said with a smile. “Is it wet enough for ye out there? I ken I must look and feel like a half-drowned cat.”

“Well it is raining cats and dogs,” Brianna remarked without enthusiasm.

“Why don’t you fetch some dry things from your trunk and change in our room,” Claire offered.

“I suppose we won’t be using it after all,” Jamie whispered in her ear as he brushed a kiss against Claire’s cheek.

“I had brought a leftover side of ham from the house after tending the cook the other day,” Claire continued, ignoring Jamie, “and there’s cheese I had set aside as well. We’ll see what kind of meal we can make with that and maybe it will let up enough tonight for a larger meal with the others at the main house.”

When Brianna had closed their bedroom door behind her to change, Claire turned into Jamie’s arms and stood on her toes to give him a kiss.

“When the wedding’s over and their guests have gone home, things will calm down enough that we’ll have a little more time for ourselves,” she whispered, pulling away from him as his hands drifted down to her backside. “Not just the two of us, but the three of us.”

“Except for when we have time just the two of us to get back to work on making that three of us into a four, aye?”

“Aye,” Claire smiled and blushed. “Though by my watch we’ve spent a fair bit of time working at that already.”

#the next installment will have more of Jamie and Claire (at least at the beginning) I promise #Anonymous #;mod lenny #come hell or helwater #featuring: bree #featuring: geneva dunsany #featuring: isobel dunsany grey #featuring: john grey #featuring: hal grey

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