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maadorii · 3 years

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you’re gonna wanna be my best friend— y. itadori x gn! reader

max.note’s: this is my child, my baby and i love it. probably my favorite fic i’ve ever wrote uwu i think the ending is bit rushed but that’s i was writing this at 4am (i’m also trying out a new layout-ish so yea)

synopsis—where you and Itadori came up with the greatest, yet stupidest idea in your lives: getting married to lower your tuition cost. what could go wrong? well, there’s getting caught by the government, and then there’s potentially falling in love with your best friend.

warning/tags: best friends to lovers, mutual pining, characters aged up (18+), high school/college au, modern au, fluff & crack, megumi is the only one with a working brain cell

w. count— 3.1k

“yuuji, what’re we gonna do!?” you exclaimed, pacing around the open space of said boy’s bedroom. itadori groaned loudly from his spot on his bed, tugging at the skin underneath his eyes with him.

looking down at the bright, bold red letters of the opened email on your phone screen, you internally cried to yourself, because… fuck. this is what all the hard work all four-years of high school led up to?

25, 580 dollars worth tuition left to pay, out of pocket.

“i don’t fucking know. ...wait, do you think megumi would have an answer?” he perked up at his own, and quite frankly, idiotic idea like an excited puppy. if you squint you can see a tail wagging behind him. turning around to look at the pink headed boy, you practically leaped across the room to slap him repeatedly upside his head.

“ow– hey... ouch! what the fuck?!” itadori whined, lifting his arms up to shield himself way from your merciless assault. “yuuji, are you dumb? we cannot, for the love of god, ask megumi. he’ll probably tell us to apply for a loan or something.” you snapped.

“we’ll do that then, it can’t be that hard.”

“have you seen your credit? there’s no way we're getting approved for a loan.” you exasperated as you folded your arms across your chest, plopping yourself down next to itadori. and the both of you were left to sit in condemning silence that laid itself like a thick, winter blanket over you. itadori could’ve sworn he heard the gears turning in your head because of the stark silence.

you suddenly gasped, jumping to your feet. it was almost like a lightbulb went off on the top of your head. itadori gaped at you as your eyes lit up like stars, turning to him, it was your ‘aha’ moment. the biggest smile he’s ever seen on your face. he couldn’t help the tinge of nervousness settle in the pit of his tummy, probably for good reason.

“here me out– what if we got married?”

you and itadori meet in the lunchroom on the first day of school your freshman year of high school.

to say you meet by pure coincidence is actually a perfect explanation to describe what really went down. you remember how you sat alone at the lunch table, scrolling through your phone on social media when all of a sudden a rather energetic boy with pink hair crashed into your table. face planted in your bowl of greek yogurt. and it was the fancy kind too.

the cafeteria around you erupted in laughter at the... spontaneous display happening before you. and although you wanted to laugh (in all honesty, it was funny), the boy below hasn’t moved an inch. truthfully, you were worried.

“hey, um, are you okay?” you asked, nudging the top of his head. itadori didn’t show any sign of getting up. you nudged him a little harder, shaking his shoulder. with a gurgled grunt, itadori lifted his head from the bowl and the first thing that caught your eye was the crimson colored blood smeared along the stark white of the yogurt. there was a delirious look in his eye as if he wasn’t completely there in the real world. the laughter has long since died down, only a few strangers coming up to the table to record the aftermath.

when itadori came to, he peered up at you through his yogurt clumped eyelashes and he felt his heart tighten considerably in his chest.

“you okay? you’re... bleeding, a lot.” you asked again, gesturing to the entirety of his face. he didn’t say anything as he wiped around his nose, seeing the blood covered dairy. he looked mortified, now catching onto the stares and cameras by nosy teenagers being shoved in his face. reacting quickly, you reached out to one his unoccupied hand, gently guiding him in the direction of the nurses office. your footsteps echoed as you walked down the empty hallway, itadori following close behind you. neither of you said anything during the trip, nor when you entered the nurse’s office. it wasn’t until you had a warm wash rag against itadori’s cheek, wiping away the food and blood mixture, that he finally said something.

“i’m... sorry, for ruining your lunch...” you stopped in your tracks, left to ponder in your thoughts. he’s sitting here with a busted lip and a shattered dignity... and he’s apologizing for face planting in your yogurt?

“hey, you have bigger things to worry about. so, what’s your name?” you continued to wipe at his face, waiting for him to reply.

“yuuji itadori.” and you saw the slightest glimpse of a smile tugging at the corner of his rosy lips. you returned the smile, teeth showing.

from then on, you two were joined at the hip. there wasn’t anything you didn’t do together.

there was something about itadori that brought out the inner child in you. he was sweet, loyal and compassionate. he was a lamp to a moth– hard to resist. hard to ignore. he was your first taste of an easy going life, being able to enjoy being a kid.

on the other hand, you were the foundation he needed. you were open minded, authentic and grounded. you were the first thing in itadori’s life that felt stable. obtainable. your ambition turned into his drive; he wanted to be by your side for as long as possible.

you both were something– somebody, each other needed the most. it’s like what they say: the best people in your life come when you need them the most.

“are you two dumb or something? now, i expect this kinda thing from yuuji, but not you.”megumi quipped, left eyebrow arched in concern as he gestured towards your direction with his pencil. nobara in a similar state next to him, working on the worksheet the teacher handed out earlier. it was currently mid-way through the school day, you, itadori, megumi and nobara sat at your assigned table in statistics. it’s been about a week since your discussion with itadori about your... rather brilliant idea.

“well, that’s harsh.” itadori grumbled, flipping him off. megumi snorted as he returned the gesture. “okay, now listen! they’re explaining the thingy.”

you cleared your throat, sitting up straight to try to make yourself look dignified. “when applying for financial aid, if you’re married, we’ll be considered an independent on the document. meaning? more money!”

“okay, well that’s great and all but, you do know you’ll be responsible for each other legally? as in, medical and money expenses. what would you do if either one of you dies? ” megumi questioned. you chuckled, wrapping your arm around itadori’s neck. “i’ve been legally responsible for him since freshman year, what’ll be the difference?”

megumi rolled his eyes, burying his head in his hands. “god, you’re both so helpless.”

“you know what megumi? i hope both sides of your pillow are warm when you go to sleep tonight.” itadori gasped in shock, hand reaching up to grip the cotton fabric of the shirt he was wearing. nobara snickered behind her hand to which megumi prompted to shift in her direction, whispering something along the lines of “don’t encourage them!”

“(y/n)! you did not just say that!?”

“i sure as hell did. and i’ll say it again!” you snapped your fingers, jutting out your hip. “and they’ll say it again!” itadori said, copying your actions.

megumi and nobara only watched in pity as the two of you continued to embarrass yourself in the middle of the classroom, other classmates turning to catch a peak of the commotion.

“wait, i got one, i got one! ahem, i hope you pour yourself a nice, big bowl of cereal of— what do you eat? apple jacks? only for there to be no milk!”

you sputtered out a laugh, pounding your fist on the table. itadori was loud with laughter as well, body slung over the back of the chair.

megumi sighed, picking up his pencil to erase a mistake he spotted on his paper. he watched as the eraser smudged the lead on the paper instead of actually erasing it. watching the scene unfold before you, wheezing out another laugh, and clutching on to your stomach for relief.

“shut the fuck up, the both of you.”

graduation was only a month away.

teachers were cramming review lessons left and right. completing any last minute work to turn in. senior activities, trips, prom, and getting ready for what was to be the biggest day of your life. where all your hard work and putting up with the shitty ass public school system for 13 years will finally pay off.

at least that’s how they make it seem.

itadori was currently sitting in megumi’s living room, sprawled out on the floor like a starfish. his political science textbook laid open next to him. he’s been unusually quiet this afternoon, megumi noted when he would glance up from his own textbook in his lap.

“hey, yuuji? something the matter?”

itadori didn’t respond right away, instead, he shifted himself closer to megumi to lay his head on the other boy's lap. caught surprised by his actions, megumi tried to shove his head off but itadori being the stubborn man he was wouldn’t take no for an answer.

“god, you’re so annoying—“

“then why are you still friends with me?” his words were quick and sharp like a kitchen knife. and megumi had to take a second to pause. “is this what this is about?” itadori still hasn’t said anything, his body curling in on itself. eventually, he shook his head no.

“alright... then what’s wrong?”

megumi watched as itadori twiddled with fingers, reluctant to share his feelings with the other male. you see, the thing is that although megumi and itadori have been friends since middle school, they found it hard to share each other's feelings. especially megumi. they’ve always been the “i don’t know how to talk about my feelings so let me enjoy your company for a while?” type of friends. except for that one time.

“it’s just... i’m not so sure if i want to marry (y/n) anymore...” megumi could barely hear what itadori said, but he caught it. and color him surprised. “have you finally come to senses that it’s a stupid idea?”

“no, it’s not that–” megumi sighed internally, “–it’s just, what if our relationship changes after it’s finalized? we planned to do it after graduation a-and– it’s just a really scary thing to think about.” itadori’s voice began to warble, and megumi could feel his body tremble as the boy beneath tried to hold in his tears.

in all the years they’ve known each other, itadori has only cried once in front of him. and that was the night of his 16th birthday. because itadori didn’t come from the best home, and at the time, only megumi knew of such disclosed information.

“they said it themselves, you guys have always taken care of each other. so why do you think it’ll change things?” he gently tried to coax itadori into calming down, his hand stroking the soft tufts of his hair. thumb caressing his buzzcut. itadori sniffed, and megumi can hear the disgusting sound of snot being sucked back in his nostrils, but he refrained himself from reacting.

“b-because, i just don’t want my feelings to get in the way, ya’ know? this is simply supposed to be platonic, but it isn’t anymore. at least for me.”

and right then and there, megumi’s suspicions were confirmed. itadori did have feelings for you. more than what a best friend should have. “your feelings? and what might these feelings be, yuuji?”

“that i want to spend a very long time with them, by their side. but not as their best friend. something more than that.” he let out a shuddered exhale, and the room was engulfed with silence. megumi took this time to process what itadori said, the last four words resonating in his mind.

something more than that.

megumi shifted itadori’s body off his, moving to sit up on his own. and that’s when he saw his face for the first time; his red-brimmed eyes and how the tears clumped his willowy eyelashes together. the tremble in his lips because, damn, he’s trying so hard to hold it in.

he didn’t have anything to say– there wasn’t much to say to begin with, but megumi wrapped his arms around itadori in a hug. he felt him relax against his body, taking in the cool scent of his sweater.

“it’s okay to be scared, yuuji, but i believe... you’re smart enough to make the right decision.”

standing underneath the blazing summer heat, you stood in front of the court house waiting for itadori to show up. today was supposed to be the day, where you and itadori were to be married. it’s been thirty minutes and no itadori in sight. which is unlike him considering that he is, surprisingly, very punctual. he hasn’t even responded to any of your texts or calls, which also isn’t very much like him.

but those thirty minutes turned into an hour, that soon turned into two hours.

and to say you were angry, was a complete understatement. you were livid. and that’s how you found yourself banging on itadori’s front door, ignoring the stares of the noisy next door neighbor peeping through their window.

“yuuji! open the fucking door! i know your ass is in there, i can see your minecraft lamp turned on from your window.” you shouted, breathing heavily through your nose. there wasn’t an immediate response, only dead silence, which prompted you to raise your fist to go another round of beating up the door until the faint sound of footsteps reached the door. opening with a creak.

there stood the man of the hour, yuuji ita- fucking- dori.

“there you are! dude, what the hell happened? why didn’t you show up at the courthouse today? did you forget or...” you were quick to jump the gun, bombarding him with questions left and right.

“no... i didn’t forget.” was his reply, eye downcast to look at his sock clad feet. anywhere but your face right now.

“then what yuuji? what could’ve been so important that you decided to just forget?” you flayed your arms around like a mad man, the anger rolling off your body in waves. you knew that you weren’t necessarily being fair to him right now, you can tell by his stand-offish attitude since opening the door. but you couldn’t bring yourself to care at the moment.

itadori was reluctant to answer, his legs wobbly with the anxiety running rampant in his system. he was tempted to say sorry and be done with this, but then he remembered megumi’s words.

...you’re smart enough to make the right decision.

“because... because this isn’t a good idea anymore.” now you’re more confused than angry.

“what do you mean this isn’t a good idea anymore,” you asked, placing your hand on your hip. “that's not what you said 4 months ago.”

itadori sighed, starting to feel the twinge of annoyance in the tips of his fingers. he was starting to regret his choice of words. “i know what i said 4 months ago. but now 4 months later, i’ve changed my mind.”

you wanted to laugh, but you couldn’t muster a bubble of it in your system. was he for real right now?

“oh really? and why do you say that?”

“it’ll change everything.” the reply was short. straight to the point.

“what? no, it won’t! don’t be silly, we’ll still be best friends!” you try to muse, but itadori wasn’t budging. his face was disdained, detached from the world. the answer was sitting on the tip of his tongue, but he wasn’t ready to say it. especially in front of you.

taking in his physique, your mind started to slow. you didn’t want to go there but you couldn’t help it. it was only natural, right?

he’s been off putting since the graduation ceremony two weeks ago. he was so bright and happy that day, shoving his diploma in megumi’s face a numerous number of times. you remember the scream he let out when your name was called to walk across the stage of the arena. how embarrassed you felt as you did so, but a twinge of giddy happiness filled your chest. because he was calling out your name. your heart always did leap with joy when his attention was on you, and only you. the way he had you wrapped around his finger, without him even knowing. it takes you back to when you two first met, how you were so captivated by his amber eyes. the sudden urge to be there. to always be there and to be more.

so... “do you not like me anymore? is this what this is about now?” it came out a whispered, and itadori was shocked nonetheless. now what were you talking about?

“what, no! of course i still like you!” you almost laughed at how quickly he responded.

“then why? why did you–”

“i just didn’t want to make things awkward between us! i didn’t want to ruin our friendship with my... stupid feelings.” glancing up, you can see the slightest tint of pink on the roundness of his cheeks. awkward? ruin?

you took a step forward, your hand reaching to hold his. kindly, thumbing his knuckles with your thumb. the way he always liked it.

“yuuji, your feelings are never stupid. i’m your best friend–” with a frustrated huff, itadori ripped his hand away from yours.

“but that’s the thing though! best friend this and best friend that– what if i don’t want to be your best friend anymore, hm? what if–” make the right decision, “what if i want to be more than that?”

more than that?

“you want to be more than friends? is what you’re saying.” itadori can almost feel himself shit his pants.

that giddy feeling that always erupted whenever you were around him expanded ten fold. you’ll be damned: your best friend of four and a half years, was in love with you. the smile that you struggled to fight bloomed with mirth on your face. and itadori followed suit, reaching out to hold your hand once more.

not much needed to be said, the smile on your face was enough for him to put it all together. for once, he was actually smart enough to make a decision. a good one at that.

#jujutsu kaisen #jujutsu kaisen x reader #itadori x reader #jujutsu kaisen fluff #jujutsu kaisen x gender neutral reader #itadori yuuji #jujutsu kaisen oneshot #jjk x reader #jjk fluff #jjk #itadori fluff #itadori x gn reader #jjk itadori

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lombredanslaeu · 4 years

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sin a little closer [jaehyun] | m

genre: smut

warnings: infidelity, not proofread so there might be some mistakes

donate something on my ko-fi account if you like this! it would really help me with my current studies. <3

“I don’t care about being beyond redemption as long as my hands are around your neck.”

Jaehyun has shouldered a lot of responsibilities ever since he was young. Being the only child in the family, he was raised to prioritize family duties above anything - that includes his personal choices. When he got married to a girl he barely knew at the age of 26, he never expected to be happy. Yet, here he was at the fruitful age of 28, with growing fragments of joy in his heart. Half of the world would guess that he found solace with the bride he married two years ago.

But that would be false. He wasn’t happy because of his wife. He was happy because of you.

You looked at yourself in the rear view mirror of your car, dabbing a finger to your lips to fix the makeup. On your right side was a line of extravagant houses, probably owned by lawyers, doctors, CEOs, and the like. On the other side was still a line of expensive houses, except this side is where your lover resides.

The sound of the radio was faint. Your head was buzzing with excitement as you can finally see Jaehyun again. You can finally hold him and feel him after a long week. Now, you just have to wait for his wife to exit their house so she can go on her way to her family’s trip.

Your eyes followed Jeongyeon as she walked out the front door and into her car. She was the epitome of beauty and grace. You don’t need to know her for you to find out that she came from a family of great wealth & power. Her stature and aura speak for herself. She’s beautiful, that’s a fact you can never deny. Too bad Jaehyun doesn’t love her.

Her car drifted away into the night. You waited a few minutes before stepping out of yours and into Jaehyun’s front door. Your fist was still in the air, about to pound gently on his door, when it opened. You barely caught a glimpse of his face before he pulled you in and kissed you with so much fervent. His hands wasted no time taking off your coat so he can feel you a little better.

“You missed me this much?” You smirked.

“I always miss you so much.” He replied, allowing a tidal wave of heat to rush to your face. You love Jaehyun. It’s been five years since you’ve known him and every time you look at him, it feels like the first time.

It must have been you being drunk from his kisses but you never noticed that you’ve arrived at his bedroom until your back hit the soft mattress. The sounds of lip locking and fabric rustling filled the atmosphere. Jaehyun’s hand travelled from your knee to under your skirt. You knew he loves it when you were skirts and dresses, it gives him more access to his most favorite parts of you. You clutched on the fabric of his shirt as he moves his lips from your lips to your neck. You slipped your hand under his shirt and grazed your nails softly against the smooth skin of his back. Your action earned a groan from him. You move your hand further up his back, lifting his shirt along the way. He removed the garment off his body before taking your top off as well. In a matter of seconds, your clothing is scattered all over the floor.

Jaehyun moved south. You knew what he’s about to do next and yet, you still felt giddy. His hot breath raised goosebumps on your skin.

“You’re always so glorious, baby.” He whispered, kissing the top of your mound. His hands squeezed your thighs, missing the way they felt.

“Please, Jaehyun.” You whispered to the sky. He hasn’t done anything yet but you were already gripping the bed sheets.

Jaehyun licked a long stripe up your folds. This was his most favorite meal of the day. And he was deprived of that for a full on week. He knew better than to not devour you like a man scared of never tasting something so delicious ever again. You writhe, squirmed, and begged. Each heavenly sounds that came from your mouth was a gift for Jaehyun. He almost felt unworthy of having to hear such divine music. It wasn’t long before your orgasm hit you. But that didn’t stop Jaehyun from tasting you.

Once he decided that he couldn’t wait any longer, he climbed up to press his lips against yours. Aligning his cock to your entrance, he whispered unholy things to your ear. The fact that you are naked, skin to skin with a married man in the same bed he sleeps with his wife made you clench around the tip of his cock that was already inside you.

“You want me so bad, baby? You pussy is sucking me in.” He whispered against the skin of your cheek. Pushing a sharp thrust, he filled your aching hole. The overwhelming pleasure made it hard for you to breathe.

“Holy fuck, Jaehyun.” You moaned. Your fingers gripped the wrist of the hand that was wrapped around your throat as Jaehyun did things that holy creatures would turn their heads away on.

Jaehyun loves you so much and he was never afraid of letting you know that. He pounded deep inside you, letting you know that his dick is the only thing allowed inside your pussy. You belong to him but he sadly does not belong to you. You didn’t care though. You accepted every spark, every toe-curling sensation that Jaehyun gave you. He lifted your knees up and folded them against your chest, making you unable to do anything but clench around his angry cock.

“You’re so dirty. Allowing me to fuck you like this.” He groaned, his tone almost animalistic. ‘Don’t come before I tell you so.”

“But I want to come now.” You whined at his order. Your hands tightened its grip on the bed sheets as you hold yourself back from tasting heaven.

“Don’t come yet or I will come on your stomach.” He warned, smirking as you shook your head from his ultimatum.

Jaehyun continued to fuck you harder each time until he couldn’t hold himself back.

“You’re so good for me, angel.” He cooed, holding your cheek with his palm. “Come for me now.”

And you did. You threw your head back from the intense pleasure. You clench around him tighter than how you did before. Jaehyun loved that so much, how your already tight pussy becomes even more tighter when you came.

“You’re really desperate for my cum inside you.” He whispered, earning a soft, tired moan from you. You nodded your head vigorously. After a few thrusts, you felt him paint your walls with his hot cum.

“You want the world to wonder who made your belly swollen, huh?” Jaehyun thrusted small strokes after he filled you with his cum. When he finally pulled out, he plunged two fingers inside your pussy to push back as much cum as he could. “If that’s what you want then take every drop.”

After the sexual energy has died down, you found yourself entangled with Jaehyun. His sleeping figure beside you gave you the greatest sense of comfort. Your eyes travelled to the bedside table on your left. It holds all of Jeongyeon’s belongings. It was until tonight that you realized.

You realized that Jaehyun has been married for two years now. And sooner or later, you knew that you would have to stop seeing him. He has told you countless of times that he loves you so. You believed him. After all, he kept on seeing you even after his marriage. He flew you to Bali just so he can see you during their honeymoon. But it’s been two years. If he loves you so much, wouldn’t he do everything just to be with you?

Here you are, fucking a married man in the same bed his wife sleeps in. It was wrong and it was a sin. But mostly, it was unfair.

You knew Jaehyun first, you loved him first. And yet, you still weren’t the one he married in front of the altar. It was unfair.

You carefully slipped your body away from Jaehyun’s grasp. He was a heavy sleeper so he barely noticed. Once you put on all of your clothes again, you looked back at the only man you’ve ever loved. A small tear slipped from the corner of your eyes as you silently bid goodbye to the man you so badly want to be yours but could never have.

You left his house with the intention of never coming back again.

Unbeknownst to you, Jaehyun had plans of breaking off his marriage with Jeongyeon the first thing tomorrow.

But you didn’t know that and you probably never will.

#jung jaehyun #jaehyun angst #jaehyun smut #jaehyun fluff #jaehyun imagines #nct smut #nct scenarios #nct jaehyun #nct jaehyun x reader #jaehyun x reader #nct jaehyun imagines #nct imagines #nct 127 #nct 127 imagines #ytdrabs

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gangstertogangster · 6 years

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ShadyMariah fan fic about them breaking it to Tilda that they are getting married. It takes place a while after the events of episode ten of season 2, which I changed the ending of to imagine that Shades and Mariah are still together.

Hernan, Mariah, and Mariah’s daughter Matilda all sat at a table for a brunch in a crowded and expensive Manhattan restaurant. They awkwardly sipped on bloody marys and made even more awkward small talk.

“How’s the holistic healing business?” Hernan smarmily asked Tilda. Tilda took a deep breath and exhaled, then downed the rest of her drink.

“It’s going well” Tilda said curtly. Mariah beamed at her daughter.

“Sweetie that’s wonderful! If you still want to be part of Family First, you know...”

“I know, mommy” Tilda sighed. Hernan called the waiter over for more drinks. Tilda shook her head no but Hernan held his hand up as if to say “I got this.”

Tilda didn’t know what to do. Hernan Alvarez was a convicted felon, he helped unwittingly create Luke Cage by almost killing him. Hernan Alvarez was her mother’s business partner, almost certainly in crime, no matter how many times they said they were legit and the Stokes family name was being redeemed. Hernan Alvarez was also her mother’s boyfriend. He was 40 years old. Mariah was 60. Tilda was 44.

Tilda didn’t think of her mom was the cougar type, though she long knew Mariah to be an opportunistic, calculating politician and an even colder mother. Even after she’d learned the truth about her parentage, she still could not feel much in care for her mom. Hernan stinks of crime and deceit and in that way, my mother and he were made for each other, Tildas mused.

Mariah gave Shades a little nudge. Hernan shot her an annoyed glance. Hernan was annoyed because he knew what she was getting at. He had a lump in his throat, however. He and Tilda weren’t on the best terms. But he knew they had to tell Tilda, and a public place with a crowd was the best place to do it.

Mariah softened by kissing his neck when she thought Tilda wasn’t looking. Tilda saw and tried not to vomit up her fruit salad and bloody marys. Mariah rested her hand on Hernan’s thigh, and he put a hand over it, his fingers looking to join hers. She obliged and they held hands. Hernan smiled and laughed softly and felt stupid. Mariah batted her eyelashes and smiled calmly at her lover next to her and her daughter across from them.

Tilda just poked at her cantaloupe and grapes, staring intently down at the remaining fruit. She grabbed her water glass and gulped it down, beckoning the waiter over for a refill of both her beverages.

Mariah inhaled deeply after a long awkward silence between the three amid all the endless chatter from every other table. She cleared her throat.

“Tilda, baby, I wanted to tell you something.” Mariah’s eyes widened, and she scanned Tilda’s face for a reaction. Tilda stared coldly at her.

“Whatever it is, please just tell me. Rip the band aid off.” Tilda exhaled and glared at Hernan.

“I wanted to give this a mother’s touch” Mariah cooed. Tilda rolled her eyes.

Hernan felt sweaty. He did not want this whole announcement to go awry. Usually he was good about not sweating, not letting it get seen, anyway, but this was larger than any of the usual song and dance with the law or rival gangsters. He thought of Comanche and how he might have felt, had he been here with them at this restaurant. He lowered his gaze into his lap. He fumbled for Mariah’s hand again.

Tilda felt her heart pounding. She didn’t know what could be going on, it had to be some new business arrangement. But why was Hernan there? She really did not want to think about the unthinkable.

“Hernan and I are getting married.” Mariah smiled, her lips tight. Hernan gulped and nodded slightly, smiling too.

Boom. There it was. The unthinkable. Forty year old baby faced Hernan, marrying her old mother. Forty year old, four years younger than Tilda, Hernan. Hernan the lowlife. Hernan her future stepdad. Tilda gaped at them, her face losing color. She felt truly nauseous. All she could muster was a squeaky “What?”

Hernan furrowed his brow. “Look, Tilda. You ain’t gotta like me. I respect you. I have given and will continue to give you your space. But I love your mother and I want to make her my wife.” Mariah stared at the ceiling and folded her arms, embarrassed.

Hernan’s hand was free and he folded both his hands together on the table.

“What about Alex? Is the marriage going to be open to him?”

“Stop it” Hernan said.

“Isn’t he already part of the relationship? Side booty for mother?” Tilda kept her face tight, unrelenting even as she mouthed off.

“Stop it right now, Matilda” Mariah snarled.

“I get it. If Darius was side piece for Hernan here, then Alex can be for you.”

Hernan balled his hands into fists. He grimaced. It was taking everything he had not to lose control. He was trying, he really was.

“Keep Comanche’s name out your mouth, got it? Alex’s too. You shut up and you...”

“Hernan! God damn it will you keep it together?” Mariah snapped. Hernan just cast a dark glare upon Tilda, staring daggers at her. She returned the expression.

“Both of you, get a grip!” Mariah growled. “Tilda, I am marrying Hernan. You don’t think Dillard is honest. You don’t care for the Stokes name. Alvarez is neither. I want this for my future. My legacy. Our legacy.”

“I know you’re not changing your name to Alvarez. Unless you really want the latino vote.” Tilda smiled coldly at the pair opposite her.

Hernan scoffed.

“This is a political ploy, mother. I know you.” Tilda snapped.

“You don’t know shit.” Mariah chuckled.

Tilda turned back to Hernan, who was trying to get back to his omlette. “You know she can’t have kids at her age, right? You just want to make off with the club and the money and get fat off the Stokes’ blood profits.”

Mariah groaned, sucking her teeth.

Hernan couldn’t stop himself. “Maybe at Mother’s Touch you can make a fertility potion for your mother and I.” Hernan snickered. What was he doing? He had lost all patience. Mariah would kill him...

Mariah slapped him upside the head, then resting her face in her hands. Tilda jolted up and speedily left the restaurant. Mariah stormed out, leaving Hernan alone at the table with the check.

He slapped money down, tip and all, and went after his fiancee. Mariah had driven off in the car. No matter. Hernan flagged down a taxi and headed over to Mariah’s apartment.

He rang the buzzer. Nothing. He rang it again. Nothing. He missed the brownstone where he didn’t have to buzz anything.

He called Mariah on her phone. Voicemail. “Mariah, let me up. I’m sorry I said what I did, OK? If you don’t let me up I’ll meet you outside. Just let me see you.”

He rang the buzzer again. She buzzed him in. He took the elevator up to her place. She groggily opened the door. Her face was stained with tears. She raised her hand to him again but he caught it, like he did the first time over a year ago. They stood like that for a few moments. Then she backed up, he let go, and he walked in.

She glared at him menacingly.

“I’m sorry, baby. I’m sorry. I made a mistake. I lost my cool. I would never hurt your daughter.”

Mariah laughed. “She ran her mouth too.” A couple tears streamed down her cheeks. She ran her fingers through her hair, turning her back to him. He spun her around to face him. She froze and looked as if she was going to strangle him. She did grab his neck, but kissed him hard instead. He held her and they stayed in that embrace until the both of them felt like they weren’t going to lose it.

“You still wanna marry me?” Hernan asked softly.

“Shut up” Mariah murmured, caressing his cheek.

“That a yes?”

Mariah rolled her eyes. “Really, Hernan? You want me to say it? Yes.”

Hernan kissed her. She kissed back, their mouths opening for one another. Was he in the family? He really didn’t know. But he was getting there. Or somewhere close to it.

#shadymariah #my fics #really bad but i want to share #long post

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garrisonsnug · 7 years

Text

all are there forever falling // shelby sister

one hundred pounds.

not a lot. well under the daily turnover. little enough that it could be shrugged off as a night on the turps, arthur’s expensive women. you would even take some of the blame - nick some jewels or something. you’d get a clip over the ear, but it would be worth it when the deal played out and you could proudly take responsibility as the one behind it. to be pulled into polly’s arms as she shakes her head fondly, to have arthur laugh and pour you a drink. to have tommy smile at you again, the way he did before the fighting.

well worth a hundred pounds.

you tuck the wad of cash into your bag and close the safe quietly, locking it shut and letting out a long breath you hadn’t realised you’d been holding. closing your eyes, you walk the path to the trades council in your memory. a relatively short one, though there would be coppers aplenty. safer to go earlier rather than later, before the unionists all began to show up for their meetings.

when you turn, john is standing in the door, glowering.

the silence between the two of you is thick. you open your mouth, and close it again, wondering how much he’s seen. maybe you can convince him you never opened the safe in the first place.

‘why on earth,’ he says slowly, ‘do you need a hundred bloody pounds?’

you square your jaw at him. ‘hardly your business.’

‘i think a hundred fucking pounds out of the family safe is my fucking business, thank you very much,’ he seethes, slamming a hand against the doorframe.

‘polly’s the family accountant, not you, and we’ve already settled the matter,’ you lie. ‘so if you’d let me get on my way, it’d keep you in her good stead as well as mine.’

he crosses the distance between you and wrests your bag out of your hands, taking out the money.

‘if polly’s so clued in, then maybe she has some answers,’ he says, holding the money aloft. he turns on his heel, and you realise with a pang of fear that he’s heading to the betting shop.

‘john,’ you plead, hating how much you sound every inch like a baby sister. ‘don’t tell polly just yet, please. it’ll pay off, i promise, and i’ll let you share the credit. for the plan, y’know.’

he glances over his shoulder, barking a laugh. ‘you’re nineteen. what do you know about plans?’

you remember when you were small, how you and john would play at wrestling in the alleys. ada watching, anxious to get home but more anxious to ensure that neither of you were too badly injured. occasionally, john would twist your arm too hard, or lay a particularly thick one into your ribs, and you wouldn’t be able to stop the tears or the burn in your throat.

‘come on,’ john would whisper, panicked, already rolling up a shirtsleeve. ‘stop crying - they’ll be able to tell. i’ll let you pinch me - look.’

you wonder, almost with a bittersweet smile, when his allegiances shifted.

that smile is replaced entirely with nausea when you reach the betting shop, where polly and arthur are sitting and smoking while scudboat scratches figures in a corner.

polly smiles at first. ‘what were you two doing in my office? nothing conspiratorial, i hope.’

john only looks at you, and she follows his gaze. sees the hot flush of shame in your cheeks. the hundred pounds in john’s fist. rises from her chair. arthur leans forward, stern but also vaguely curious.

‘scudboat. give us a minute, if you will.’

he leaves obediently, and once the doors are shut, polly turns squarely to you. john may be holding the money, but it’s clear who the culprit is. her eyes blaze.

‘right. you’ve got thirty seconds to explain what you planned to do with that money, and by god i’ll know if you’re not telling the truth.’

you stare at the floorboards, because it’s easier than meeting her gaze. ‘the railway union,’ you say, firmly. arthur swears under his breath, and polly holds out a finger to quiet him. ‘they need the police to start turning a blind eye. they’re losing too many men when they strike. in return for the protection, we would have a detailed account of every single person and object that enters or leaves this city by rail. not to mention virtual invisibility in every train station surrounding, for us and any cargo.’

polly is quiet for such a long moment that you have to look up at her again. when you meet her eye, she snaps, as if she was only waiting for your gaze.

‘you fucking idiot. do you think the communists have ever broken a straightforward deal in their lives? do you think they have the power to follow through on those terms? they might have the membership to protect us here, but in manchester? in liverpool? fucking london? and on top of that, you have the gall to exploit my trust, show me exactly how much you value the opportunity to help with the company’s finances -’

arthur clears his throat pointedly, and polly quiets, though she doesn’t look happy about it.

‘i’m guessing you were about to walk that money over to the trades council,’ he says.

‘yes.’

‘do you have any idea how many coppers line the route from here to there? a whole fucking brigade waiting for this exact fucking day - when the blinders and the bolsheviks broker a deal and they can crack down on both. imagine their luck when the one to get caught with the cash is a pretty little thing, not even twenty -’

‘will you stop treating me like a child -’

‘you are a fucking child!’ arthur bellows, his chair clattering as he stands. ‘you’ve got a fucking nerve if you think any of us are going to let you walk into a fucking copper’s hands -’

the doors of the betting shop swing open, and standing there is perhaps the last person in the world you’d like to see.

tommy glances around the room, cigarette burning. cocks an eyebrow. ‘what’s all this, then?’

you go to speak, but john beats you to it. ‘she thought that she’d make a little delivery to the bolsheviks,’ he says, gesturing at you with the cash.

‘christ,’ he says simply. you can tell he’s considering his words carefully as he strolls over to the table and takes a seat at the head of it. ‘did ada have anything to do with this?’

‘no,’ you say. ‘friend of a friend’s one of the young delegates at the railway station. he offered -’

‘let me guess. total intelligence from the transit lines, and protection in surrounding stations, in return for a little police bribe?’

you stare at him. ‘yes. how did you - ?’

‘it’s a fucking scam,’ he says, with something that sounds like a laugh. ‘they’re trying it out in most every city with a big enough bolshevik concentration. not just businesses like us, either,’ he muses, blowing out a stream of smoke. ‘rich families. sometimes the police themselves. all sorts.’

you feel embarrassment crawling hot and red up your neck, into your cheeks. ‘i didn’t know -’

‘of course you fucking didn’t,’ he says, glancing over at polly before turning his eyes to you. ‘so we have two main concerns here. one, that you felt entitled to a hundred pounds of company money for your own selfish endeavours. and two, that you felt secure in your decision to offer yourself up to the police with absolutely no protection -’

‘don’t start on that, tommy, arthur’s already been there, and i’m sick of being talked to like i’m either a child or a whore. offer myself up, please. when you decide things on a whim, the entire company’s at your mercy. but when i see a good opportunity, i’m put through the fucking passion of the christ just because i’m a woman -’

‘you’re not just a woman. you’re a shelby,’ tommy says. ‘look me in the eye. you’re a shelby. your allegiance is to this family first. always. do you know what that means?’

‘things like this get run through the family meetings. i know. i made a mistake, tommy. just - dock my pay or something, and get it over with.’

‘it means something else, as well. it means that if there’s ever a situation where you might be in danger, we will fucking know about it. to put yourself in harm’s way without one of us knowing is the biggest betrayal you could make to this family, and that applies to all of us. do you understand?’

not you, you think sullenly. but you nod.

he ashes his cigarette and gives a sharp nod. ‘good,’ he says. ‘that’s that, then. polly, you’re the one i came here to see. a word, please.’

the two of them head to tommy’s office, and john waves the cash at you again. ‘this is going back in the safe,’ he announces, and you just roll your eyes at him as he leaves the room. which leaves arthur.

‘you never got to finish your dressing down,’ you say dryly, steeling yourself. ‘if you’d like to continue, be my guest.’

he silently reaches across the table, takes the bottle of whiskey sitting there, and pours two glasses. surprised, but thankful, you sit down next to him and take a sip.

‘you know why i shouted at you?’

‘because i’m an idiot,’ you say, smiling ruefully.

he finishes his glass in one swill, looking suddenly as serious as tommy.

‘sometimes, i remember, when mum found something funny - i mean, really fucking funny - she’d laugh, right, she’d tip her head right back and giggle like a schoolgirl. do you remember? you were probably too small. i’d stand on my fucking head trying to get her to laugh like that. get stuck up trees and kicked by horses and all sorts just trying to make her laugh that laugh. and sometimes, you find something really fucking funny, and you tip your head right back and you laugh. just like her.’

you stare at him, stunned, waiting for him to keep speaking - but he’s finished, looking the other way at the midday sun slanting in through the doors.

‘scudboat,’ he calls. ‘you’re right to keep working, mate.’

scud returns in the doorway, smiling. ‘family business, eh? ten times as complicated as ordinary business.’

you nod, faintly, and stand to leave.

#peaky blinders imagine #peaky blinders fanfic #peaky blinders fic #shelby sister fic #the title is from such a good nick cave song pls listen #as i sat sadly by her side!!

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