#I brought my little brother to a coffee shop with me in between appointments

[and-learn-to-let-go]

what’s the tumblr quote that goes “everything is about ghosts, except ghosts, which are about love”?

#AHHH EMOTIONS LEAVE ME ITS A TUESFAY #I brought my little brother to a coffee shop with me in between appointments #and i’m quickly realizing that in a year I may never have these interactions again #or that they may be few and far between #I don’t want to grow up #idk

[mochegato]

Well, Well, Well, If It Isn’t the Consequences of My Actions

Continuation of Truth Be Told

Marinette was still trying to parse through the events of the previous night.  Time, advice from Tikki, sleep, hysterical laughter, and the alcohol she’d drunk as soon as she’d gotten home hadn’t really helped.  To make it worse, Adrien had noticed something was up with her and had followed her to her studio so he could make sure she was okay, so she hadn’t been able to continue her breakdown in peace, because that would mean explaining the previous night to him.  And although Red H… Jason may have issues with secret identities, she did not.

She looked at her notice-free phone again with a sigh.  Maybe she should restart it.  Maybe he had tried calling or texting, but her phone wasn’t working correctly.  That had happened before, right?  That would explain why he hadn’t tried to contact her yet. Or, maybe with a more sober mind, he had decided he really wasn’t that interested.  Or!  Or he didn’t remember her.  Maybe he didn’t remember anything about her and was staring at his own phone right now in utter confusion about why her number was in it.

She was brought out of her spiral by the sound of the bell over the door.  “Sorry we’re…” she started until she saw who it was, “…closed.”  Her breath caught for a second when Jason smiled charmingly at her. “Oh no, no, no, no,” she muttered to herself, glancing over at Adrien nervously.  This could not be happening right now.  He was supposed to call or text.  Not… how did he even know where she would be?  Damned bats.

Adrien perked up from his spot grading students’ papers, an incredulous grin on his lips.  “Oh my God, please tell me that’s Rose’s boy that you told to fuck off. Can I get rid of him, please?  I haven’t gotten to be destructive in a while.”

Marinette wrinkled her face in disgust at the idea of seeing that guy again.  “No! He happened after,” she said getting up to meet Jason.

“You ran into him after your date?  How dare you not tell me about him!” Adrien hissed at her as she walked away.

She turned around to face him as she walked away. “Oh, I dare,” she hissed back.

“Is he why you’ve been so off today?” he whisper yelled.

“Weren’t you going to go get some coffee?  Now?” She called back.

Adrien looked between the two of them and raised an eyebrow at Marinette making sure she really wanted to be left alone with this guy who was easily as big as her dad.  “Yeah.  I need… caffeine apparently.  Something for you too?”  She nodded at him, but kept her eyes on Jason.  “Hey guy I’m suspiciously not allowed to talk to, you want anything from the coffee shop?”

Jason’s eyes flicked over to him for a few seconds to shake his head.  “No, thank you.  I’m fine.”

“Yeah, you are,” Marinette whispered to herself, not anticipating Adrien passing by just then on his way out the door.  

“Heard that,” he grinned before leaving.  

Marinette glared at him but quickly returned her gaze to Jason.  Once she was sure Adrien had gone and couldn’t hear them, Marinette finally broke the silence.  “I was expecting a call or a text,” she said carefully.  “Not that I mind the in-person appearance,” she added quickly.  “It was just… unexpected,” she finished awkwardly.

“I could have sworn you said to meet you at your work,” Jason said a little more innocently than was natural.  Marinette smiled, but quickly schooled her expression and shook her head.  Jason smiled back and shrugged.  “Huh, must be the memory lapses.  Kind of hazy.  Things come in and out.”  He knocked his knuckles against his head lightly.

Marinette raised an eyebrow.  “Is that so?”

“Yep,” he nodded popping the P.  His smile morphed into a smirk.

“Poor you,” she pouted in mock sympathy.  “Then I don't suppose you remember the proposal.”

Jason's smirk dropped. This time his wide eyes looked completely natural and believable. “Proposal?” he asked apprehensively.

“Yeah, the proposal,” she prompted him.  “Don't tell me you forgot about it,” she continued, her own eyes going wide to match his and her voice turning timid.  “You said you didn't have a ring on you, but you couldn't imagine living another day without me.  You wanted to get married as soon as possible.  Oh no.”  She gasped quietly for effect.  “You have forgotten.”

Jason blinked a few times.  He was doing a masterful job of containing any outward signs of his panic.  Marinette could just barely see a few flickers in his eyes that he quickly tamped out.  “What? No!  No, no, no.  That’s just… No, no, not at all,” he stammered.  “It's just, that's so…” he chuckled nervously, “so not like me.  I'm just... impressed how, uh… how bold I was,” he offered.

Marinette watched him closely for a few seconds before she burst out laughing.  Jason's jaw dropped to the floor.  “You were joking,” he observed in awe.  Marinette couldn't answer.  She was gasping too hard for breath, doubled over and grasping her sides.  “Oh thank God.  I want to be mad but I'm just too grateful. Shit, you almost gave me a heart attack.”

Marinette grinned at him when her laughs finally edged down to chuckles.  “Well, that seems fair.  You almost gave me quite a few last night.  And your brother, I think.”

Jason grimaced.  “Was I that bad?”

Marinette quirked her head to the side in thought. “No, not bad.  Just… like when you just kind of stared at me for a few minutes, without saying anything, which apparently was because you were impressed but I thought it was because you were a serial killer.”  Jason chuckled lightly and bobbed his head in apology.  “Or when you revealed your face, no mask.  Or, when you told me your full name and your brother’s first name, and that he was your brother.”  

Jason winced at that revelation.  That would explain the dagger he was almost too sluggish to dodge this morning.  And the glares and lecture on the importance of security and identities.  “Maybe not my finest moment,” he conceded as he rubbed the back of his neck.

Marinette giggled at that.  “Maybe not, but you were extremely drugged and extremely endearing.”  She looked down, a light blush settling on her cheeks.  “And very complimentary.”  

“Well, that’s good at least.  I don’t really remember anything I said.”  He rubbed the back of his neck and shuffled his feet, looking around the store instead of at her.  “So, did you want to talk about last night?” he offered a bit more casually than was natural.

Marinette could see the discomfort in his eyes even if they weren’t pointed at her.  She smiled kindly at him, hoping it would put him at ease.  “Why?  You worried that you said something embarrassing?” she teased lightly.  “You didn’t.”

“Not really,” he shrugged and looked back at her and relaxed into a charming smile.  “I don't embarrass that easily.  And if I said anything I should be embarrassed about, you wouldn't have given me your number.”

Marinette scoffed at him and leaned against the table they were next to.  “I gave you my number, so you’d stop giving me clues to your identity… and your brother’s.  Didn’t work. You were quite determined.”

“I must have thought you were worth it,” Jason smiled. “High me is a very astute me.”  Marinette blushed at the sincerity in his eyes. How was he still this charming even when he wasn’t blitzed out of his mind?  “But,” he continued with renewed vigor, “if I’d done anything too bad, you would have told me already, or kicked me out.”

Marinette laughed lightly.  “Well, you’re not wrong.”  She looked back up after a beat with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.  “So, the background check on me is complete then? You’re allowed to interact with me now.”

Jason rolled his eyes and leaned closer to her over the table.  “I mean, the blood sample results were good.  Your cholesterol is a little high, by the way,” he started thoughtfully.  “It was kind of you to donate though.  Very conscientious.  And you really should call your parents.  It’s been a few days.”  Marinette paled significantly as he continued to speak.  Jason grinned.  “And we have an appointment to talk to your first boyfriend.”

Marinette rolled her eyes and let out a relieved laugh. “You reached for the sun with that one and your wings melted.”  He looked at her questioningly.  “He would have told me if he had an interview with anyone.  We talk a lot.  Not to mention why do that when you could just interview him in person.  He’ll be in town for his tour next week anyway.”

“Wait… really?”

“You didn’t even know who it was?” Marinette laughed.

“I’m sure my family have been doing extensive research on you and they probably know, but I didn’t have anything to do with it. If there was anything bad, they would tell me, otherwise I want to find out from you,” he answered sincerely and taking her hand.  “The only thing I know about you is your name and that’s only because you put it in my phone. I had a vague recollection of what you looked like and being incredibly impressed with you, but that’s pretty much it. That’s one of the reasons I wanted to come down in person, to see if…” he searched for the best way to finish the thought.

Marinette nodded.  “To see if the chemistry was as good as you remember?  To see if it was still good when you weren’t drugged?” she offered nervously.

“Yeah,” Jason agreed.  “You too?”

Marinette took a breath and looked back up at him through her lashes, giving his hand a squeeze.  “Yeah.  I was nervous it was all because of the drugs.”

Jason gave her a relieved smile.  At least he wasn’t the only one nervous about it.  He wasn’t alone in this.  She was navigating it with him.  He squeezed her hand back.  “So,” he started, leaning back to give her a roguish grin, but keeping a grip on her hand, “who is the ex-boyfriend on tour?”

“Luka Couffaine.”

“Guitarist for Jagged Stone!” he exclaimed loudly, his eyes wide in surprise.

“Yeah.  I mean he wasn’t at the time.  But now, yes.”  Her eyes shone with mirth at his awed expression.  “Did you want to meet him?”

“What?  No! That’s… that would be weird, wanting to meet your girlfriend’s ex and his dad.  That’s just…”

“I didn’t mention his dad,” she cut him off knowingly.  “And… girlfriend?”  He gave her a sheepish look and looked down.  He opened his mouth to say something in response but she cut him off with laughter.  “So, that’s a yes then?”

“I mean… if you’re offering,” he tried to say casually.

“I see.  This whole thing was just an elaborate scam so you could meet Jagged Stone,” she pouted in mock offense.  She looked past him and smiled.

Jason rolled his eyes and he leaned onto the counter so he was just a few inches from her.  “You caught me.  I exposed my secret identity just so I could meet a rock star.”  Marinette’s eyes instantly widened and her body went rigid.

“Secret identity?” Adrien asked as he set down her coffee cup next to Marinette.

Jason froze.  “I… didn’t realize he was back.”

“You are shit at secret identities,” Marinette hissed to him.  “Even when you aren’t high you can’t keep one.”

“I…’m still under the effects?” he offered with a wince.  

“And you couldn’t have waited to come see me until it has dissipated?” she groaned.

“No, I couldn’t wait to see you,” he said instantly, looking deeply in her eyes.

“Oh… um… okay,” she stuttered.  Her cheeks flushed deeply.  “I… would have thought it would be gone by now,” she finished quietly.

“Nope.  Still lingering.”  He made a vague motion toward his body.

“Yeah, go with that when your brothers find out.” Marinette sighed.  “Why do they let you go undercover if you’re so bad at hiding your identity?” she asked a bit louder.

Jason’s eyes scrunched in confusion.

“Isn’t that like first day at the academy?” She continued.  She made a subtle rolling motion with her hands so only he could see it.

His eyes widened in realization.  “I think I missed that day.  Police training is pretty boring… and corrupt.”

Adrien scoffed and threw his arm over her shoulder. “Bullshit.  You just don’t want to lose the bet.  Also, backdoor, no bell.”

“Fucking backdoor,” Jason grumbled looking down and shaking his head.  He looked back up at Marinette with a raised eyebrow that she didn’t see because she was glaring at Adrien.  “Bet?”

“There is no bet,” Marinette rushed to assure him.

“That she’d date another hero,” Adrien explained, pointedly ignoring her glare.  “I’m Adrien by the way.  I’m her…” he stopped to think about his next words.  “We really need to come up with a term for it.  I’m her in no way sexual or romantic life partner?”

Marinette rolled her eyes.  “I thought we agreed on pseudo brother.”

“Right, right,” Adrien nodded.  “That puts me above Alya, so I like it.  But I still like mine better.”

“If I can interrupt,” Jason cut in, “Jason, nice to meet you.  And, another?”

“Also, he’s not a hero!” Marinette objected at the same time.

“How many heroes have you dated?  And she’s not wrong, I’m not a hero,” Jason added.

“Ooh, vigilante then.” Adrien nodded.  He started mentally running through all the vigilantes in Gotham.  “I think that counts, but you can always try that.”

“Let’s get back to the dating heroes thing,” Jason tried.

“But it won’t matter anyway, because nobody is going to find out about this,” her voice lowered and became very pointed.  “Right, Adrien?  Because we’re talking about someone else’s identity.  And it doesn’t matter because he isn’t a hero and the terms of the bet, which I didn’t agree to, I might add, were very specific: hero.”

“So how many heroes do you have to date for it to become a bet?” Jason asked.

“It’s more about how many heroes have had a crush on her,” Adrien answered with a smirk.  

Jason raised an eyebrow.  “How many have developed a crush on her?”

“Every hero that’s met her,” Adrien answered with a resolute nod.

“That’s not true!” Marinette exclaimed.

Jason nodded his head as he thought about that. “How many heroes is that? Approximately?” he asked Adrien, ignoring Marinette’s interruption.

“She’s met at least twenty-five.”  Marinette groaned at the glee in Adrien’s voice.

Jason’s eyes widened and turned to her. “Twenty-five?”  He turned back to Adrien.  “And they all liked her?”  

Adrien nodded with a smug smile.  “All of them.”

“No, they don’t,” Marinette insisted.

He blinked a few times.  “My brother met her.”

Marinette stared at him slack jawed until she collapsed her head onto the table.  “You SUCK at secret identities,” she mumbled into the table.  “Okay,” she announced loud enough to stop Jason and Adrien from continuing to talk.  “First,” she turned to Adrien, “that is categorically untrue.”

“You haven’t met twenty-five heroes?” Jason asked.

“Oh no, that’s a low estimate on how many I’ve met. But only like,” she narrowed her eyes and quirked her lips in thought, “three have liked me.”  

Adrien snickered.  “That’s not even close.  There was…”

“Second,” she said cutting him off, “your brother isn’t a hero,” she said pointedly.  “Third, he was a dick.”

“Literally,” Jason snickered.

Marinette smacked his shoulder and looked over at Adrien. “He was overly friendly, but not in a Rose way; in a smarmy, I’m going to manipulate you with my charm way.”

“That’s your opinion of him,” Jason pointed out. “Adrien said heroes get a crush on you so it sounds like I need to watch him around you.”

“Fourth,” she leaned closer to Jason with a hiss, “maybe you just shouldn’t talk.”

“I think we need to up the count too,” Adrien eyed Jason critically.  “Seems like we need to add a few new heroes to the total.”

Marinette stepped in between the two.  “And you won’t try to figure out any more about his identity, because that would be a violation, right Adrien?” she continued even sharper.

Adrien rolled his eyes but nodded.  “Yeah, yeah.  Whatever.  I’ll try but there’s only so many people in the hero adjacent community that fit his dimensions.”  

Marinette slapped him upside the head and he scowled back at her.  “Stop thinking,” she hissed.  “You’re a model it shouldn’t be that hard for you to do.”  Her smirk widened at his exaggerated offended gasp.

Adrien leaned back stared at her eyes slightly narrowed.  “Ex-model, thank you very much.  Which means I've been given a permit to think again.  And just for that, I'm going to.  Day and night.  I'm going to get out charts and diagrams, create association maps, cyberstalk people, all just because I can.”

Marinette groaned and dropped her head in her hands.  “I hate you. You can’t punish him as payback toward me.”

“You’re right,” Adrien nodded thoughtfully.  “I should make it up to Jason.  Say Jason, how many stories has she told you about our teenage years?  Has she told you about the first time we saw a movie together?  How about the first time we were at a sleepover together?”

Marinette’s eyes widened.   “Alright!” Marinette exclaimed loudly.  “I believe it’s time to get you out of here… before… uh… you say anything else embarrassing, Jason,” she insisted.  “Let’s go. Now.”  She pulled Jason out of the room by the elbow.  “You get to lock up Adrien.”

“Your coffee!” he called after her.  But she and Jason were already gone.  Adrien chuckled.  “Like I need to think to know who that is,” he scoffed taking a sip of his coffee and return to grading homework.

Jason waited a block before he spoke up.  “So… you want to tell me about the sleepover or do you want to let blondie tell me later?”

Marinette mock glared at him.  “Look, if we’re going to go over all of my embarrassing moments, we’ll never talk about anything else… ever… There’s a lot,” she stressed.

Jason chuckled and pulled her to a stop.  He picked up her hand and laced their fingers together.  He gently tucked some loose hair behind her ear, letting his fingers linger along her jaw. “Is this okay?”

Marinette looked up at him wide eyed, but nodded, a deep blush gracing her cheeks again.  “Ye... um, yeah.  That’s… um, yeah, that’s okay.”

“So… history of dating heroes, huh?  Guess you weren’t that impressed with my skills last night then.”

Marinette groaned playfully.  “Okay, seriously, it was only the one and yes, you were very impressive.  The way you… were able to stand for a prolonged period of time after the amount of drugs that got pumped into your system… very impressive.”

Jason barked out a laugh.  “Why thank you.  I have lots of other impressive qualities I can astound you with.  How would you feel about a date so I can show them to you?”

“Yeah, I like the sound of that,” she grinned up at him swinging their arms between them.

“You know, I might not remember anything else about last night, but there was one thing I thought I remembered and I was definitely right about,” he took a step closer to her until their chests were almost touching and leaned down to gaze adoringly into her eyes, “you’re fucking hot.”

She let out a surprised snort, her face turning bright red and Jason smirked at her.  She buried her face in his chest to hide her blush.  Jason chuckled as he wound his arms around her waist and hugged her close. “Come on,” he whispered into her ear.  “I know a good place to get food right around the corner.”  She looked up at him and nodded, letting him pull her toward the restaurant.

Continued in Night of the Consequences

Tags:

@jasonette-july-event @maribatserver @ashbrea381writings

#maribat #jasonette #Jasonette July #Jasonette July 2021 #prompt - dare #it's there I swear #Truth and Consequences

[imagines4thefandoms]

F*K idk what to name this (Leroy Jethro Gibbs x reader

Word count:4k+ um by bad

summery: Y/n come back from vaca looking different. will it change Y/n and Gibb’s relationship?

requested: no

"So how was your vacation," Ziva asked.

"Great, i saw my family and i only wanted to shoot myself once," you replied.

The elevator doors opened and y’all walked to y’all’s desk. Tony and McGee looked up from their desk and welcomed you back. You walked to your desk behind McGee and put your stuff down. You grabbed your bag of souvenirs and walked over to Tony.

"Welcome back (Y/n)," Tony said. "What did you get me.”

"Tony my nephew is more mature than you and he is five," you said throwing a tie and a baseball to him.

You walked over to Ziva and gave her a purple scarf and match hat. McGee caught the new computer game you got him.

"How this game isn't out yet," ha asked.

"My brother in law works for the company and he owed me a favor.”

"Thanks (y/n)," Tim replied.

You walked over to your desk, grabbed the coffee cup you got Gibbs and filled it at his coffee shop for him and placed it on his desk.  

"Welcome back (l/n)," Gibbs said walking into the bullpen and sitting at his desk.

He threw away his empty coffee cup and looked at the one on his desk. It suddenly got a little too hot so you took of your NCIS hat letting your hair fall from under the hat. You looked around the bullpen and noticed everyone was staring at you.

"What is something on my face," you asked.

"Your hair," Tony stated.

"Oh right. My baby sister is in cosmetology school,” you explained running your hands through your now red hair. “She needed to practice for her test and I drew the short straw. It was supposed to wash out by now but she mixed up her temporary and permanent hair dyes,”

Everyone kept staring at you even Gibbs which was weird but they stopped when Gibbs’s phone rang. Tony and Ziva were looking at Gibbs while Tim and you were grabbing y’all’s bags but when you turned around Gibbs was still looking at you. He grabbed his gun and shook his head as he hung up the phone.

“Lets go. We have a dead marine in a park,” Gibbs said leaving the bull pen.

We all followed Gibbs to the elevator. There was this tension in the air once the elevator doors closed. Gibbs usually was so comfortable around you. The two of you were the closest out of the team; but now he was avoiding you. When the elevator doors opened he couldn’t wait to get out; of course he could just want to hurry up and solve the murder of the marine. Tony and Tim raced to the car to get shotgun but when they opened the door Ziva sat in the seat.

“To slow boys,” she said buckling her seat belt.

Gibbs as always drove while you were sandwiched between DiNozzo and McGee. The drive consisted of  Tony playing with your hair, Tim messing with some gadget, Ziva was asking you questions about your vacation. Gibbs was silent the entire drive but he kept looking at you in the rear view mirror; but every time you locked eyes he quickly looked back on the road. Once you got to the crime scene everyone got out and you put your hair up in a pony tail.

The park contained a large grassy plain, a decent sized play ground for kids, and two acres of trees. The marine was one the bench in his civilian clothes. The marine was Sargent James Brian McMatthews. Aside from the fact that he was dead, he looked heathy. Sargent McMatthew didn’t have any obvious wounds explaining how he died. Ducky pointed out the same thing.

“Jethro I can’t tell you how this poor man died til I get him on my table. You know that,” Ducky said.

“Thanks Duck,” Gibbs said.

Before Gibbs even had to tell you, you decided to look around the area for clues. As you were looking you noticed Ducky call for you. Ducky gave you a hug once you got to him. Jimmy was bringing McMatthews into the back of the Medical Examiners van when he stopped and looked at you.

“Your hair (y/n),” Jimmy pointed out.

“My little sister did this,” you replied twirling your hair around your finger.

“It suits you my dear. I’m curious has Jethro seen your new hair do,” Ducky asked.

“Yes but he has been acting a bit weird this morning,” you informed Duck.  

“Well it’s nice to have you back my dear, but I must go I have an appointment with Sargent McMatthews,” Ducky said giving you another hug.

You went back to looking around the crime scene to look for evidence. While looking around the trees your saw a foot print. You measured the show print and took pictures but before you could look around more Gibbs called you.

“Did you find anything,” he asked.

“Just a foot print about 2 klicks west of where the Sargent was found,” you informed your boss.

He gave you nod and walked away. After about twenty minutes you and everyone else collected all the evidence you could and headed back to the office. This time on the car ride you got shotgun while the three musketeers sat in the back. Tony as usual was speculating on how Sargent McMatthews was killed, while Ziva slapped him because he was insensitive.

“Hopefully since we collected a bunch of clues at the crime scene we can solve this crime fast,” you said to no one in particular.

“Clues,” Gibbs asked looking at you sideways.

“Sorry evidence. I have spent a whole week watching nothing but Scooby Doo,” you said holding your head in your hands.

“Zoinks,”Tony said laughing.

Ziva slapping Tony while Tim was hiding his laugh hoping that Ziva didn’t slap him too. Gibbs looked over at you and gave you a small smile. You could just tell that you were not going to live  this Scooby Doo thing down. At the office, Ziva and I brought the evidence down to Abby while Gibbs when to see Ducky and Tony and Tim were gathering information on the victim.

“(y/n) you're back,” Abby yelled as she ran over to you. “And your hair. It’s hot.”

“I missed you too abs,” you replied hugging her.

“So besides the hair. What’s new Scooby Doo,” abby asked laughing.

“Seriously. Was it Tony or McGee.”

“I can’t reveal my source.”

“My guess is Tony,” Ziva said placing the evidence on the table in the lab.

“Just let us know when you have something Abby,” you asked as you left the lab.

“I always do,” she called.

Once the elevator doors closed Ziva asked you what Scooby Doo was. After explaining that it is a kids show about solving mysteries she let out a small laugh. You laughed along with her. Ziva and Abby have become like your sisters and no mater what happens you can’t stay mad at them.

The two of you joined DiNozzo and McGee in the bull pen. They found out that the sergeant worked at the Pentagon.

“Looks like it’s gonna be a difficult case, RUH ROH” Tony said mockingly.

Gibbs walked into the bull pen with his cup of coffee and slapped the back of Tony’s head. Gibbs told him to stop messing around. Tony then shared all the information that him and Tim found out. James B McMatthews was married with three kids and was a part of something very top secret with the Pentagon. McMatthews has no record, no affair, not even a speeding ticket.

Gibbs’ phone rang and it was ducky telling him that he had some information for him. Gibbs looked at you and motioned for you to follow him to Ducky. As y’all got into the elevator, Gibbs yell ‘Someone tell me what the hell he did for the Pentagon.’ The tension in the air formed again when the elevator doors closed. You glanced at Gibbs from the corner of your eye. You always noticed how attracted you were to your boss but when you joined his team you swore to push that thought out of your head. It helped that he had those Gibbs rules. Rule 12: Never date a co-worker. As the doors opened on the floor the morgue is on you instantly hear Ducky call Gibbs name.

“Hello again miss (y/n). How was your vacation,” Ducky asked now that the two of you were not   at an active crime scene.

“Duck, the body,” Gibbs said before you could answer.

“Right. Well this young man had no visible injuries. No cuts or bruises or even a broken bone,” Ducky said walking over to the body.

“So how did he die,” Gibbs asked monotoned.

“At first glance I couldn’t find any reason for this poor man to end up dead at a park. Upon my second look over the body I noticed this little puncture along his hairline. It seems to be from a needle. Besides that, there is nothing wrong with this man. It’s like his heart just stopped.’ Ducky said covering McMatthews back up.

Before Gibbs could ask ducky if he knew what was in the needle, I got a text from abby saying, ‘I know what was in the needle 😱🎉.’ I showed the text to Gibbs. He thanked Ducky and we headed up to Abby’s lab. When the doors opened on abby’s floor, she was standing right there and grabbed both of our hands and pulled us into the lab.

“First, Gibbs don’t you think that (y/n)’s new hair makes her look hot,” abby asked.

“Abs,” was all Gibbs replied with.

“Fine, later. Well this footprint found at the scene did not belong to our poor sergeant. It’s from a side 13 shoe.”

“The indent looks weird. The pressure of the foot print is lighter at the tip of the shoe then the rest of the print. Who ever was here was wearing shoes that were way to big for them,” you pointed.

“Correct, you get a Scooby snack,” Abby said handing you a cookie.

“You bet I do,” you said taking the cookie and taking bite of it.  

“Can you tell us the actual shoe size of the person who was standing in those bushes,” Gibbs asked.

“how dare you doubt me. No Scooby snack for you. It’s a size 9. Oh and after Ducky found that puncture wound and swabbed the area. The swab didn’t give me anything but I got to thinking of what could have been in that needle so I ran his blood again.”

“And you found a match.”

“Yes I did Gibbs. Batrachotoxin. From this cute little guy,” abby said making a picture of a cute yellow frog pop up on her computer screen.

Gibbs kissed Abby’s cheek thanking her and he stole a cookie before we walked out of the lab. After another slightly awkward elevator ride, we walked into the bull pen and Tony had just hung up his phone.

“Boss, I call about his file but they said they have to personally read us in.”

“Okay. Ziva you look up where a person could get their hands on Batrachotoxin while DiNozzo and I will go to the Pentagon while McGee and (l/n) will to talk to the wife,” Gibbs ordered as he grabbed his gun and jacket.

“I guess the gang is splitting up,” McGee joked.

Before Tony could make another Scooby Doo joke, Gibbs was already in the elevator and Tony had to hurry up because Gibbs wasn’t going to hold the doors for him. McGee and you left after y’all got McMatthew’s home address. When we got in the elevator, you looked at McGee and took a coin out of your pocket.

“Head you drive, Tails I drive,” You said before flipping the coin in the air.

You caught the coin and flipped it on the back of your hand. After looking at the coin it showed that Tim was gonna drive to the Vics house. Of course since Tim was driving it also meant he had control of the radio; which wasn’t awful but after having to only listen to Disney for a week you needed to hear your own music.

It took a while to get to the McMatthews’ house. There were three kids playing in a gated front yard with the front door open. Once Tim pulled up to the house the kids stopped playing and ran inside. One minute later a woman came out trying to find out why her kids ran in scared.

“Can I help you,” she asked walked towards us.

McGee and I held up our badges announcing that we were NCIS. She opened the gate and lead y'all inside her house. The kids stayed inside so Mrs. McMatthews closed her front door. She lead y’all to the liver room and when into the kitchen and brought back two cups of coffee. Before we started talking, one of McMatthews’ daughters came up to you.

“Are you Ariel,” she asked me.

I looked over at McGee and gave him look to let him know that I was gonna keep the kids occupied while he talked with Mrs. McMatthews.

“Yes I am,” I replied to the little girl.

She grabbed my hand a pulled me away. We walked out of the living room and up the stairs to a door with the name Sarah on the door. She pulled me into her room and went to her closet to grab something.

“You’re my favorite princess,” she said holding out a little mermaid costume.

“Why thank you, Sarah.”

“Where is Eric?”

“Oh um he is back at the castle working.”

She nodded her head like she totally understood and then asked you to play with her for a bit. After about fifteen minutes, McGee came into Sarah’s room looking for you. You turned to Sarah and told her that you had to leave. She walked with the two of you downstairs and before you walked out of the door she called out “tell flounder I said hi.”

McGee told you about his conversation with Mrs. McMatthews and how James and some guy named Andrew Ferguson had gotten into a fight two days ago about something at work. On the ride back to the office you and McGee were messing around and speculating what the vic could have been doing for the pentagon. McGee thought it had to do with some secret weapon while you suggested something more plausible (aliens).

“Aliens really, you spend too much time with Tony,” McGee laughed.

Back at the office, you and McGee decide to split up the work. While he looks into Ferguson’s military life, looked at his personal life and tried to figure out what they were arguing about. Gibbs and Tony returned from the pentagon as you were combing through Ferguson’s financial records.

“What did the wife say (l/n)?” Gibbs asked standing in front of the tv.

“She told McGee about a fight the vic got in with a guy names Andrew Ferguson,” you responded pulling up a picture of A. Ferguson.

“We pulled his military records but there is nothing on his record,” McGee added pulling up his military files.

“He doesn’t even have a parking ticket. But I was going though his financials when you got back,” you informed Gibbs.

You were combing though his financials when Tony and Gibbs pulled up the files they got from the pentagon. Apparently Sargent James was on a classified team of people teaming up with the NSA and CSA to monitor a major rebel group in the middle east that has ties to ISIS. Ziva came into the office and let Gibbs and the rest of the team know what she found on the toxin. The name Jonathan Whitlock was mentioned.

You were half paying attention when a weird charge appeared on his account. There were multiple weird changes from a offshore bank accounts. You sent the charges to the tv and walked over to where Gibbs was standing and took the remote from his hands.

“There are some weird charges in Ferguson’s bank account. They started about 18 months ago and if my math is correct it adds up to 150,000 dollars,” you reported clicking though the evidence.

Gibbs grabbed his coat and pointed to Ziva and they left, you guessed, to pick up Ferguson. While Gibbs was out, you went down to see Abby. As soon as you got off the elevator, abby pulled you into her lab and she sat you down in a chair.

“So, how was your vacation and why is your hair red,” abby asked sitting in a chair in front go you.

“It was fun. It was nice spending time with my family. And my little sister in in beauty school and she needed practice,” you explained to abby.

The two of you caught up, and abby told you about what happened while you were away. Which wasn’t much just normal stuff like Tony being stupid and teasing McGee and flirting with Ziva, and Gibbs started another boat. The two of you just sat in the lab eating “Scooby snacks” til you got a text from Gibbs telling you to meet him in interrogation.

You left abby and went to go meet Gibbs. Once you got to the observation room you saw that Gibbs was in there with Ferguson but they weren’t talking. Gibbs looked at the glass and you just knew that he was telling you to go in there with him. You exited the observation room and went next door. After walking into the interrogation room, you took a seat next to Gibbs.

“So why were you and Sargent McMatthews fighting two nights before he was murdered,” Gibbs asked.

“We weren’t fighting. It was just a heated argument. Coworkers do it all the time,” Ferguson defended.

“(Y/n) do you get in heated arguments at work,” Gibbs asked looking at you.

“No I mean unless my coworker does something incredibly stupid,” you replied ignoring Ferguson. “So what incredibly stupid thing did you do,” you asked looking at Ferguson

“I didn’t. I didn’t, ” he responded dragging if hand across his mouth.

Gibbs looked over at you then opened the file in front of him and pushed the file in front of Ferguson. He looked at the papers then looked up a Gibbs. He closed the file and pushed it back.

“I don’t know what that is,” he said tapping away at the table.

“You should. Its your banking records. It shows that there are multiple charges added to your account adding up to 150,000 dollars over the past 18 months,” you said opening the file back up and pointing out the charges.

“My guess is that those are payments from you selling military locations and secrets to enemies in the middle east,” Gibbs said leaning back in his chair.

“And your pal Sargent McMatthews found out. That’s why you two had a ‘heated argument’ two days ago. He found out that your were selling out fellow soldiers and threatened to report you,” you interrogated as your leaned closer to Ferguson.

Ferguson started sweating. Gibbs noticed it too.

“But you couldn’t have that happen so you went to your cousin Johnathan who so happen own a golden poison frog. You extracted the toxins from the frog then injected Sargent McMatthews so he wouldn’t tell your CO,” Gibbs informed.  

“Because of you fellow marines died,” Gibbs spoke angrily almost yelled.

“No one was supposed to die. The information I gave was just supposed to help them transport drugs nothing more,” Ferguson exclaimed. “They promised that no one was going to die. James was gonna tell and if anyone found out I would be labeled a traitor. I didn’t want to kill James he is my friend…was my friend. Everything just got out of hand.”

Gibbs looked over at you and then slid a legal pad across the table. Ferguson started writing his confession. You and Gibbs got up and walked out of the room. The two of you walked back to the bullpen and Gibbs sat at his desk to work on the paperwork and you did the same.

“(Y/n) its nice to have you back,” Gibbs said not even looking up from his computer.

By the time you were done with the paperwork, Tony, Ziva, and Tim has left. You looked out the skylight and noticed that it was already dark. Gibbs got up from his desk and walked over to yours.

“It’s late (y/n) go home,” he instructed putting on his coat.

“I love my family and all but there were moments where I wanted to be here working. Plus I have paperwork I still need to finish,” you responded to him.

“It can wait til tomorrow,” he replied grabbing your coat and holding it out for you.

“I really should finish.”

“Ill buy dinner.”

“Sold,” you claimed grabbing the coat from Gibbs.

A smile grew on his face and he shook his head at your antics. He waited for you to grab your things and then the two of you went to the elevator. When the elevators closed that awkward tension filled the enclosed room again.

“Gibbs are you ok. You have been acting strange all day.”

“Your hair,” he whispered.

“Right I going to make an appointment to fix it.”

“No, I like it. It suits you,” he said standing directly in front of you.

The tension increased ten folds and the desire to kiss him was strong. You cleared your throat and took a step back from Gibbs. He walked you to your car but as you were starting it something happened and the car just stopped working. You turned off the car and just slapped the steering wheel.

“Ill drive,” Gibbs said opening your door.

You got out of your car and the two of you walked over to Gibbs’ truck. The ride to Gibbs’ house was quiet a bit awkward like the elevator but it was the nice kind of awkward quiet. Once you got to Gibbs house he got on his phone and ordered takeout from (favorite restaurant) and ordered you some (favorite meal).

“Abby said your building another mysterious boat,” you inquired as you took off your coat and placed it on the couch.

“Mysterious,” he questioned.

“Come on Gibbs you constantly build giant boats in your basement and you magically get them out. Ergo Mysterious.”

He opened the fridge and handed out a beer and headed down to his basement. You followed him  down the familiar stairs. In his basement stood another damn boat. Gibbs placed his beer on his work bench and proceeded to sand down the boat.

“Ok Gibbs how many does this make 27,” you asked him jokingly.

“I think its actually 28,” he jokingly responds.

“Funny man.”

You walk over to him and just watch him sand the boat. He looks over at you and holds out the sandpaper in his hands. Switching between looking at him, the boat, and the sandpaper in his hand you shake your head.

“Oh no. I don’t want to mess up the boat.”

He grabs the beer from your hands and place it next to his. Gibbs grabs your elbow and pulls you to where he was standing. Standing behind you, he places the sandpaper in you hand and guides it along the boat.

“With the grain,” he whispers in your ear.

You were stick between a rock and a hard place or in this case wood and your boss. Being this close to him made your face turn as red as your hair. His lips stayed within centimeters of your ear as he kept whispering “with the grain”. You couldn’t help it, so you turned your head towards his and you could feel his hot breath on your face.

His lips, in this moment, just looked so kissable but you knew it couldn’t happen. Not with Rule #12. His blue eyes starred into your (e/c) eye. You unconsciously liked your lip then held your lower lip between your teeth. Seeing you biting your lip drove Gibbs crazy. In that moment he couldn’t stop himself. He closed the little space there was between the to of you and pressing his lips roughly against yours.

You could taste the beer off his lips and his scent of sawdust and bourbon filled your nose. He pressed your up against the boat to deepen the kiss while your hands found their way to his hair. This was better than your ever dreamed and you dreamed of this moment a lot. Your hands wondered from his hair down his back then to the button of his polo. He took his shirt of once he felt your cold hands on his lower stomach. After his shirt was off his lips attacked your neck sucking and biting it.

A moan escaped your lips which brought a smile to Gibbs’ face. His hands moved from the boat to the buttons on your shirt. The paste at which he was unbuttoning your shirt was agonizingly slow. But once it was done you quickly took it off. You hands went back to his hair this time you pulled him so close to you, it was like his entire weight was one you; that didn’t matter you liked feeling this close to Leroy Jethro Gibbs. His hands went down your sides to your hips and stopped on your ass. He gave it a light squeeze then grabbed your left leg and wrapped it around his hips. On instinct you did the same with your other leg, leaving the only thing from making you fall on the floor to be the force of Gibbs’s body pressing you against his unfinished boat.

Once again your hands roamed this gorgeous man’s body til it reached his belt. Your took it off and started to unbutton his pants but had to stop when his doorbell rang. He let you down and just stared at you.

“Thats the food,” he said grabbing his shirt and putting it back on.

“Im not hungry anymore,” you replied fixing your messy hair.

“You should eat anyway. Your gonna need your strength,” he said as he went up stairs leaving you gasping at the thought of what’s for dessert.

#leroy jethro gibbs imagine #gibbs imagine #gibbs x reader #ncis imagine #ncis

[menofchaos]

8. “Sorry, did that hurt?” “No, I’m just a little sore from last night.”

For Angel and Violet please ☺️

Note/Warning: Here is the 2nd story. Its long, its smutty and I hope you guys like it! I also wanna shout out @angelreyesgirl and @blessedboo for being so wonderful and helping me come up with this idea!

Gif credit to sethkate!

Angel and Violet “Sorry, did that hurt?” “No, I’m just a little sore from last night.”

Angel pulled up to Violet’s shop and got off his bike. He took his helmet off, grabbed the bag of food he brought for her and walked in. Nobody was in the front so he walked down the hallway to her room. He frowned when he saw another man sitting across from her, his hand on her knee. Violet looked up and smiled.

“Hey baby,” she stood up, “Come in.”

Angel walked in as the other man stood too. After a quick assessment, Angel decided he could take him, “Hey, I brought you dinner.”

“Thank you,” she kissed him, “Angel, this is Shawn. Shawn, this is my boyfriend Angel.”

Shawn smiled and held a hand out for Angel to shake, “Nice to meet you, man. Violet told me all about you.”

Angel arched an eyebrow at Violet as he shook Shawn’s hand, “Oh yeah?”

“Yeah, she said you’re a good dude,” Shawn nodded, “I gotta head out but I’ll see you tomorrow?” he looked at Violet.

“Definitely,” she smiled and hugged Shawn. Angel’s eyes narrowed when he let out a soft sigh, rubbing her sides.

“Nice to meet you, man,” Shawn nodded at him before walking out.

Violet covered her mouth and looked up at Angel, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

“What’s going on?” he asked, sitting in the tattoo chair, “Isn’t that the dude from the Inked magazine on your coffee table?”

“Yes,” she moved between his legs, “He mentioned me as one of his favorite artists in that one. He came by today and told me he wants me to tattoo him and do a whole feature on me!”

Angel’s eyes widened, “Holy shit, baby. That’s sick,” he smiled and touched her hips, pulling her into a slow kiss. Her back arched as she pressed closer to him, “Talented little baby,” he whispered against her lips.

She smiled, “Thank you,” she murmured.

“Wait,” he frowned, “Your ex’s name is Shawn.”

“So? I’m with you. I don’t want him,” she ran her nails through his beard gently, “And if he tries to touch me, I’ll stab him.”

“With the tattoo needle?” he joked.

“Nah, I got a knife,” she grinned.

Angel nodded, “Good girl,” he kissed her softly, “I gotta head back. See you later?”

Violet pecked his lips and stepped back, “Yes, come to my place. Thank you for dinner,” she smiled and watched as he stood up, straightening his kutte.

He winked, “I got you,” he smiled before walking out.

~

Angel knew it was a mistake to mention Shawn to his brothers but he couldn’t help it when they asked how Violet was. They riled him right back up.

“He fuckin moaned when he hugged her? Nah, you shoulda knocked him out,” Coco shook his head, smoke clouding his face.

“You can’t let her do it, bro,” Gilly agreed. 

“It’s for her career,” EZ tried to reason.

Coco and Gilly immediately disagreed, “She can’t be alone with that bitch, hermano. I’m telling you.”

By the time Angel got to her place, he was all hyped up. He found Violet curled around her sketchbook, eyebrows furrowed in concentration. A candle was lit on the coffee table in front of her and soothing music played from the stereo.

“You can’t tattoo him,” Angel internally winced as he blurted out the words.

Violet frowned, “Excuse me?”

“Shawn,” he explained, “You can’t tattoo him.”

“No, no, I heard you,” Violet sat up, “I just wanna know who you think you are to tell me what to do.”

Angel glared, “Watch how you talk to me.”

She stood, not even clearing his shoulder, “The boys talk you up? Tell you not to trust me? I’m not a weak little bitch, Angel,” she hissed.

“He fucking moaned when he hugged you, Violet,” he arched an eyebrow, “It’s creepy as fuck and I don’t trust it.”

“Trust me!” she snapped, “I’m not gonna give into him if he even makes a move. I don’t want him.”

“You’re gonna be alone with him, Vi,” Angel crossed his arms over his chest, “You’re not doing it.”

She scoffed, “You’re not my father. Do you understand what a huge move this would be for my career? The amount of traction this magazine gets?”

“Then I’m coming to the appointment,” he shrugged.

“You better not,” she shook her head, “I swear to god, Angel, I’ll have you thrown out.”

“Yeah? You’d have me kicked out? Doesn’t sound like you,” he shook his head.

Violet pushed at his stomach, “You keep threatening me like I can’t handle myself! I literally told you I would stab him if he made a move on me and you’re acting like some fucking Neanderthal!”

Angel’s eyes flashed darker, “Don’t put your hands on me, Violet.”

“I know you didn’t just threaten me again,” she glared and went to push him again. Angel covered her throat with his large hand and pressed her against the wall, his body covering hers. 

“I told you not to push me,” his voice rumbled in his chest, “I do trust you. But I don’t trust that motherfucker. You’re mine.”

She licked her lips, “Prove it.”

Angel kissed her hard, Violet’s tongue almost immediately meeting his. She unbuckled his belt and tugged his jeans down, rubbing over his boxers.

His hips twitched and he tugged her shorts down, licking and sucking the skin of her neck. She shivered and pushed his boxers down past his ass, using both hands to get him hard. He growled and grabbed her thighs, picking her up. She gasped when he rubbed his tip along her folds.

Angel looked down to watch his tip push into her, splitting her in half. Violet tilted his head up to kiss him, moaning against his mouth as he started fucking her hard. She gripped his hair, trying to hold onto something as he kept fucking her roughly. He locked eyes with her, watching the pleasure clear on her face.

“You’re mine,” he growled, pounding into her.

“Fuck,” she cried, “I’m yours! Angel!”

“That’s right,” he smirked, “Scream my name, baby.”

It was only a few minutes later that Violet came, her nails digging into his shoulders. He pushed them off the wall and bent her over the kitchen table, holding her hips and fucking her with the same brutal pace.

“Who can give it to you like this?” he panted, his hair falling in his eyes.

Her back arched, “Only you, baby. He could never, oh my god,” she gasped, “Angel, please!”

After each orgasm, he moved her to a different surface. The stool at the breakfast bar, the counter, the couch, the hallway. He eventually tossed her onto the bed, sliding back into her quivering pussy with her legs over his shoulders.

“I’m close,” he groaned, “Fuck, come with me.”

“I can’t,” she cried, “Angel!”

“One more, baby, you can do it,” he smirked when she nodded and rubbed her clit, unable to keep his eyes off her as she fell apart again, sobbing his name with tears running down her cheeks. He pushed deep inside her as he came, grunting. He collapsed next to her and by the time he caught his breath, he looked over at Violet to find her asleep.

~

Angel was sitting at the table the next morning, drinking coffee and texting EZ when Violet came out of the shower. 

“Good morning, baby,” he greeted her.

She smiled and walked over to him, kissing him gently. He reached across the table for the mug he prepared for her. She sat in his lap, wincing as he rested a hand on her thigh.

“Sorry, did that hurt?” he frowned.

“No, I’m just a little sore from last night,” she murmured before taking a sip of her coffee.

Angel smirked, “Let’s see homie try to make a move now.”

She shook her head and kissed him, “You’re crazy. How could I leave after you fucked me within an inch of my life?”

“That was my plan,” he joked, bringing her back in for another kiss.

Angel ended up giving her a hickey on her neck before she left, smirking when she didn’t cover it with make up.

#angel reyes imagine #angel x violet #mayans imagine #prompt list

[wandsandwheezes]

Till You Make It | F.W | CH5

Fake It | The Masterlist

Warnings // SMUT 18+, Hufflepuff!Reader, implied sex, teasing, lingerie, relationship, consent, sexting??

a/n // So im posting this one a day early as there is a chapter 5.5 coming out tomorrow which is pretty much just pure smut <3 once again i have to thank @starlightweasley​ my partner in crime for being my muse while writing this!!

When Fred left that evening after dinner, the under-the-table events still plagued your mind as you threw your head back against your pillow out of desperation. Fred made it very hard for you to concentrate on anything other than him or the feel of his fingers. Substituting his hands for your own didn’t help either, you fell asleep with your lips parted in half pleasure and half agony from missing the man who had been plaguing your thoughts. Chest heaving, shivers running down your spine and fingertips moving only left you breathless for him. You thought that maybe that desperate feeling would leave you when you woke the next morning, to be left in the night but as you walked to a day of appointments, your mind was truly somewhere else, somewhere with him. Each fleeting thought as you hem a skirt or completed your seams only brought you to feel his hot breath fanning against your skin or his stupidly delicate touch, having to take a deep breath just to pull you back to the reality that he wasn’t right there, he was across the street no doubt laughing and joking away like the memory of last night wasn’t plaguing his every thought. 

You were far from the truth. He wanted to storm into your shop like the first time he kissed you, hearing only your choked back moans like a sweet symphony in his brain. George tried to get his attention, only holding it for a few moments before he was distracted again. Fred was meant to be stacking shelves, but the sight of a current Gryffindor quidditch player donning their sweater made all of his thoughts of you race back. 

<< Morning, doll x

>> Fred Weasley I hate you.

<< No kisses? What have i done :(( x 

>> You left me frustrated you absolute git

<< There’s no reason to call me that, petal x

<< I could’ve left you much worse off x

He watched as the typing bubble flashed up on the screen before disappearing a few times. Smirking to himself as he locked his phone, pushing it into his pocket knowing full well what he’d done. You were sighing to yourself as you sipped on the now lukewarm coffee, tapping out the perfect message to retort back at him, but nothing seemed to fit, no matter what you say he would have the perfect witty response to chime back. It hit you, if he wanted to play games you would play along.

>> Wanna see the set I’m working on Freddie? x 

He felt his phone vibrate in his pocket, as he pushed a box of spare products onto the shelf in the stockroom. He checked the message only to feel his heartbeat about to burst out of his chest as it raced that bit quicker. He was alone but the thought of anyone just walking in or catching a glimpse of the picture on his phone drove his feet to his office as he tapped out his message to you. 

<< I’d love that xx

You smiled to yourself as you laid out the garment on the table for him, making sure that it was smoothed out to perfection before snapping the perfectly innocent picture to send to him. You knew that he was expecting more skin, a lot more skin in fact. In his head he was about to receive a tempting photo of his girl, for his eyes only. 

>> (1)  Attachment.

He tapped open the picture with shaky fingers, unaware of what to expect when the image flashed up on his screen, eyes gazing over the lacy fabric not on your body but on the worktop. Tease. He quickly realised what you were doing, huffing to himself as he let his head fall back against the headrest of his arm chair. If you kept up this teasing to and fro you’d drive each other mad by the end of the night.

<< Why don’t you put it on for me, petal? xx

Two hours had ticked by since his last text to you. He found himself checking every notification, praying it was you, even considering sending another message but he stopped himself. He tried as best he could to focus on his work; taking stock, doing orders and serving customers.  Another hour had passed and still no response. He couldn’t ignore the friction in his boxers at the mere thought of you, mind running wild once again, his thoughts alone pulled him through to lunchtime when he could finally see you. 

The way he stormed into the shop, seeking you out in the back room, eyes dark with hunger as he stared you down made your heart flutter. His brow was furrowed and he looked like a man who was starved. You liked the effect that your little charade seemed to have on him, biting the inside of your lip to stop you from smiling. 

“I don't find your little game funny, love." You simply cocked an eyebrow up at him before continuing with your sewing, the whirring of your machine filling the thick sexual tension in the air. There was an undeniable chemistry between you both, that was visible from the way you latched onto each other so quickly. You loved to see this side of him, less dominant but yet so desperate and needy.

“Uh huh,” you hummed nonchalantly as you pulled the material in the right direction, sending the machine whirring once more. Giving him the silent treatment was enough to send him wild. The sound of your machine muffled his steps as he drew closer to you, gentle touches over your exposed shoulder sending shivers along your skin. Your body wanted to give into him, let him have you right across your desk right here and now but the game was all too fun. 

“The silent treatment, really doll?” You looked up at him with a smile as he uttered those words, your hand moving to hold his, pulling yourself up from the chair to fall into his hold, staring up at him with a mischievous glint in your eye. You pushed yourself up onto your toes to press a kiss to the tip of his nose, breathing in the calming scent of his cologne and you did so. 

“Didn’t you like the lingerie, Freddie?” you asked him innocently as you bat your eyelashes, he leaned in to try and kiss you properly but you quickly pressed a finger to his lips, pushing him away cheekily as you giggled.  

“Buy me dinner first at least.” 

And he did, he bought you several dinners in fact. You made sure to dress up nice for him, let him get hot and needy before making him wait. It had now been a month of torture for the poor boy, letting him get by on no more than kisses and a few lingering touches. You wanted him to feel that same way you felt after the night at Lee’s. You swore he would’ve stopped you by now, out of pure frustration but he continued enduring his own torture just as much as you continued dishing it out.

Being invited to watch the Star Seeker’s last game of the season and coincidentally the last game before her wedding, filled you with pure joy. You invited Fred, not that he needed inviting telling him that it would be a nice date, to which the smitten boy agreed. You held hands in the stands as you both cheered alongside George, who was beaming with pride, listening to Lee commentating the game over the arena speakers.

“You know Freddie, this reminds me a lot of our Hogwarts days... I miss being up in the commentators box, it had a much better view, though for what I was looking at, I think I’m in the best seats now.” You leaned up to press a kiss to his ear as you spoke, causing him to chuckle as you moved to press your lips to his, only to be met by his finger against your lips as he mimicked how you had treated him in your shop all those weeks ago.  

“Just one kiss?” You pouted at him as he pulled you into a kiss, your heart leaping. Here Fred was, kissing you in front of everyone; his friends, family, press and every soul in the stadium but he didn’t care. The whole world could watch but he could only ever focus on you. 

It had been a week now since that event, Fred was still on edge with all of the teasing, he had grown to expect It now, waking up to a cheeky message or a voicemail, That was if he wasn’t waking up to your arms wrapped around him. He was smitten by this point, absolutely enamoured by your very presence, he would do anything to make you smile.

“Joining Lee and I tonight, Freddie?” George asked with a small knock to his brother’s office door. He pondered on it before it struck him. If Lee was out, you were all alone, the thought made his heart skip a beat. The days you’d both stopped yourselves, making out like teenagers on the bed before realising your best friend was only in the other room always seemed to kill the mood. 

“You know what, I don’t think I should be mixing with alcohol… A month sober and all.” Fred pled a fair case to his brother, a feasible enough excuse over the want to have a night with his girl. Even that sounded nice in his head, you being his girl. George nodded, suggesting a dinner instead, to which Fred shook his head again with a small laugh. 

“For the love of god, go out, get smashed and please get Lee laid… he’s driving me mental.” George nodded, laugh falling from his lips as his hand reached out to pull the door closed behind him as he went to leave, mumbling a small ‘noted’ and gesturing a salute from behind the glass.

As the evening fell, the rain came with it - a light dreary drizzle and not heavy downpours but still rain nevertheless. You managed to beat the raindrops before they fell, returning to what you called home to strip off the day’s work clothes. Between appointments you’d finally managed to finish and perfect the gorgeous red set that you had started working on all those months ago, discarded on your dressing table as you pulled on a fresh pair of joggers and Fred’s sweater which he had let you keep in all this time, grateful for the company of his scent as you realised this may be the first time you had been alone in the night since you’d left Joe. 

A knock at the front door made your heart pound out of your chest. Half of you wanted to ignore it but the curious half wanted to see who it was. Peeping through the looking glass to be met with the messy ginger locks you loved so much prompted you to pretty much swing the door open and jump into the unsuspecting boy’s arms, your legs wrapping around his torso. 

"Hi handsome, thought you were going out with George and Lee?" You peppered kisses all over his face as you held his face in your hands, fingers splayed against his cold skin yet his actions were more than inviting. You soon found your back pressed against the wall, soft quick kisses soon replaced with deep, passionate ones, lips locked together as if your lives depended on it. His foot kicked the door closed his hands keeping your thighs in place as he asserted his dominance over you. 

"I wanted you. Fuck, I've wanted you for weeks now, doll." You moaned and hummed against his lips with every kiss. It was electric the way his fingers touched you, everything from the cool sensation of the wall against your back to the heat of his shallow breaths fanning against your neck. You were nervous, wanting nothing but absolute perfection with the angel you cared so deeply about. 

Fred really was an angel to you, he helped you feel like a person again. 

“Please say something,” Fred whispered, forehead now pressed against your own. You hadn’t realised just how deep in thought you were until he spoke again, you could have swore you heard his voice crack ever so slightly as he uttered those words of vulnerability. You nudge your nose against his with a smile that leaves a reassured sigh escaping his lips just before you move once more, pulling him into another kiss, immediately feeling him relax as he closes the space between the both of you, effectively trapping you against the wall. 

“Isn’t it obvious that I want you too, Fred?” He chuckled, holding your weight in his arms as he carried you through the halls to your bedroom. He pretended to drop you twice, both times you hit him on his chest, laughing together in the most gorgeous way, creating a harmony of giggles. Each time he feigned your fall from his arms, droplets of rain fell from his soaking hair onto your face. 

“Oh yeah? Obvious is it?” His large hands gave your ass a playful squeeze before placing you on the bed. You leaned up to press a kiss to his cheek, pushing his wet hair back and out of his face. You caught how his eyes stared so lovingly at you, feeling butterflies in your stomach as he gave you his signature toothy grin. You stand from the bed, grabbing a towel that was hooked over the door to dry his gorgeous ginger locks. 

"Sit down, let's get you dried." He blushed as he sat down on your mattress, tilting his head up towards you ever so slightly as you find your place between his legs while his hands rested gently on the backs of your thighs and you swore to yourself that you had never felt such fireworks linger upon your skin as they did with Fred Weasley. Those hands you had admired for so long, those hands that gripped onto his bat tightly during your school years and hit away bludgers and all had you swooning as you gripped the towel. You draped the towel over his head, giving his hair a rough towel dry and letting your fingertips press against his scalp gently through the soft fabric. When you left him to go and hang the slightly damp towel up once more, his gaze caught a glimpse of something bright in the corner of his eye. Upon further inspection from afar, that something bright was a beautiful red lace that had been thrown on your dressing table in a moment of relief after you had finished it. He stood, making his way to them out of curiosity, his fingers taking hold of the soft lace, immediately recognising the feel and the pattern. His breath hitched, gazing upon the sensual piece that had nonchalantly been draped upon your dresser, his gaze hadn’t left the fabric and he hadn’t even noticed you were staring at him with a lingering look in your eye, your heart beat beginning to pick up once more and this time it wasn’t because he was pretending to drop you.

"It's the material you first kissed me on." You pointed out, holding your hands together in front of your stomach that was now experiencing somersaults and that familiar feeling between your thighs welcomed itself once more as you swallowed thickly. 

"I know… Is this for m–" 

"Yes." 

"Put it on then, petal. Do it for me." You could have sworn your cheeks were as red as the lace he was handing you, gripping onto the soft fabric with shaky hands. This was far from how you could have ever imagined your first time with Fred to have come about, a rain-soaked boy showing up at your door and taking your breath away with his kiss. The months of teasing were finally catching up and you had to take a moment to process it all as you retreated to your bathroom. Part of you wanted to change in front of him but more of you wanted it to be a surprise and if you were honest to yourself, part of you needed a moment before you faced him. To look at the reflection of a woman you hadn’t recognised in a long time and say ‘it’s okay’ because it was okay. This was Fred… it was Fred and you, no one else. 

There was something different about the way you pulled the straps onto your bare shoulders, the way your hair frames your face as you dressed. A smile spread across your lips and you blushed to yourself, how long had it been since you had felt like this? Something like this was truly paradise felt on earth amidst the darkness you had long been suffering within. Joe wasn’t here, you reminded yourself as you exhaled and glanced towards the door and you felt reassured by your inner thoughts. 

He had begun to pace about your room as he waited for you to return, feeling an unfamiliar wave in his stomach. Never in his life had he been nervous about intimacy with a woman, but when it came to you he couldn’t help the fluttery feeling that consumed him with every step. Fred had to remind himself that it was you, not anyone else, not Cherry, his exes or one of his lame one night stands. Lastly, it wasn’t the woman he had been pining for ever since he could remember… the one who chose his brother instead of him. It was a woman who he truly felt something for, a something that he didn’t want to ruin. He hadn’t even noticed your return, staring out of the window as he was consumed by his own thoughts. Your arms snaking around his waist as you pressed yourself into his back, snapped him away from his feelings of nerves and self doubt because he had you there. 

“We still don’t have to do this, you know.” You whispered softly as your cheek pressed against his damp t-shirt, his hands coming to cover yours, giving them a reassuring squeeze as he let out a deep exhale. He didn’t have to worry around you, he didn’t have to fear that it was Cherry’s touch masked as yours. He knew that it was you in the way he could have sworn your hearts beat together. There were no words that could have ever described the way you made him feel. 

“I want this.” he mumbled, as he shook his head, mostly at the way a leech like Cherry still was able to plague his thoughts in his most vulnerable moments. Turning in your arms, your eyes meet his face which is plastered with a deep smile, biting the inside of your cheek when you realise that you are stood half-naked but pressed against the fully clothed man. Against the man who had plagued your daydreams years ago and now your thoughts at night. He took your hand in his, stepping away for a moment before lifting your arm over your head to make you twirl in front of him. The sight of you took his breath away, solidifying the thought in his brain that you truly were a goddess. Fathoming that you were his to kiss and hold made his heart race out of his chest.

“You’re beautiful.” He managed to only just choke out the compliment as his other hand found your jaw to pull you into a kiss. Nothing had ever felt so right to him than the crave of intimacy with you right now, you let him guide your bodies, your skin now flush against the cool sheets while he leant over you. Standing up briefly he pulled his shirt over his head, exposing his toned torso that made you feel weak, counting yourself lucky that you were laying down otherwise you would have surely buckled at the knees. 

Fred knew that the minute he had the opportunity to, he would take his time in worshiping every dip and curve of your body, no matter how long or tedious the process was. His hot open mouthed kisses started at your jaw, it was intoxicating to feel him mumble praise between each kiss, telling you about just how breath-taking you were to him and how much influence you had on him. His kisses along your neck left marks not to claim you but to show you just how much he cared without having to say the words. His lips travelled down to pepper kisses down the valley of your breasts, his slow pace made you grab his face with both hands.

“Don’t be a tease, Freddie.” He chuckled, his hands wrapping around your wrists, pulling them away from his face so that he could press a sweet kiss to the insides of your palms, the hint of a smirk hanging off his lips as he did so. His fingertips grazed over your skin as they ran down your arms, sending goosebumps firing over your skin. His laugh sent every good feeling of pleasure through your veins. His hands went to his belt, immediately he thought of all the ways that this could go wrong, the image of your pained expression and the way you cried into his chest sinking his heart once more. He pondered for a moment before he asked, hardly above a whisper, ‘do you want to?’ before gesturing to the belt buckle. 

You felt your heart stop, remembering how you had stopped yourself going this far before, feeling a sense of calm fall over you as you reached to undo the belt buckle. You knew that this gesture alone was enough for you to realise that Fred really did care about your comfort, he wanted you to feel as if you were in control of the situation, not forced or pressured but completely at your own free will to pull away or stop but you didn’t. You slowly unbuckled his belt and pulled it from the loops before setting it down on the bed, smiling up at him. 

“No more teasing, yeah?” You nodded, pressing your lips to his again as your hands found the back of his head, giving the now damp hair a gentle tug. 

No more teasing. 

taglist //  @starlightweasley @slytherinsunrise @gcdric @theweasleysredhair @pansydaisy @vogueweasley @vivianweasley @feetoffthetablee @darthwheezely @thisismynerdyself @witch-and-a-half @loony-loopy-lupinn @rip-us @hopemalfoyweasley @pigwidgexn-deactivated20210125 @softlyqoos @colorfulprofessornickelangel @fandomscombine @satellitespidey @txtdreamss @aaannabbanana  @starkidpotty @mollydarling-hphm @amwithers2001 @asthmax @sarcasticallywitty15 @whizboingies  @rosietoesy

#Fake It Fic #Till You Make It Fic #Fake It Till You Make It #george weasley x reader #george weasley #harry potter #fred and george #george weasley fic #harry potter fic #fred weasley x reader #fred weasley #weasley twins #fred weasley x y/n #george and fred weasley #fred weasley imagines #fred weasley smut #fred weasley fic #harry potter writing

[inawickedlittletown]

Baked With Love (Destiel fic) - 1/5

Summary: Dean never met Lisa's neighbor, but he knew one thing: whoever it was, they could bake. After breaking up with Lisa, the one thing Dean misses is her neighbor's pie. After finally meeting him, Cas' pie is not the only thing Dean likes.

On Ao3 

------

The weird thing about the end of a relationship was all the little things that suddenly just came to an end. Things like Sunday brunch and dinner dates at restaurants that Dean would have never stepped foot in before. The best things to end were the arguments when Lisa would get mad every single week about Dean’s standing bar night with Sam. Or how often Lisa had expected Dean to get her flowers. In some ways, it was strange to re-calibrate to having free time again, but in the best way. 

Dean found himself at The Roadhouse on a Wednesday night — something that would have never occurred while he was dating Lisa. Wednesday was not his and Sam’s usual night, but his brother met him there anyway. 

“How are you holding up?” Sam asked after they were already a few beers in. 

“What do you mean?” 

“The break up, dude,” Sam said. “It’s been what? Two weeks?” 

The thing that really cemented for him that he’d done the right thing breaking up with Lisa was that he didn’t even miss her. Dean had expected to, but the loss of the relationship didn’t really hurt. It was nothing like his last serious relationship with Cassie and maybe that was why Sam was so concerned. Cassie had broken him. It had been a long time after Cassie before Dean felt like he could do more than a one night stand. It was why Lisa had felt different, Dean had wanted more from her and yet somehow things just hadn’t worked. If he really had to think about it, he couldn’t even say that he missed the sex and considering how bendy Lisa was, that was saying something. 

“I’m alright, Sammy,” Dean said. “I don’t think I actually let myself get attached, if I’m honest.” 

Sam nodded. 

“But, I do miss one thing,” Dean said. He took a gulp of his beer. 

Sam made a face. “Ew, Dean!”

“What? No….I mean, she did yoga. But, no, I miss the pie.” 

“Lisa baked?” Sam asked, his eyebrow raised.

Dean couldn’t help but laugh. “No. Definitely not. But she had this neighbor. I never met them, but every Friday they brought Lisa some sort of baked good. Sam, it was the best pie that I have ever tasted. Better than mom’s even. And now, no more pie.”

“Wow,” Sam said. 

The crust had been flaky and sweet. The apples had had a crunch to them and there had been so much care put to the spices and the flavor. Dean had never believed in a higher power and yet eating that pie had felt like a religious experience. 

—

A month after the break up, Dean ran into Lisa. He really should have known better than to stop at the cafe near the yoga studio, but Dean had been desperate for caffeine and it was a better option than Starbucks. While he was there, he couldn’t help but notice the pies on display and so he indulged in a slice of cherry pie. It left Dean on his own at a round table waiting for the coffee to kick in and savoring his pie. It wasn’t an amazing pie, but it was still pie. He was so single-focused on the pie that he almost didn’t see her at first, but then he looked up and spotted her. 

She wore yoga leggings and a sports bra. Her hair was tied back into a neat ponytail and she was laughing with a gaggle of her yoga friends. Dean had met a few of them and he wasn’t ever going to be able to tell them apart. 

As she turned to get into the line, her eyes swept right over Dean and then came back to him. Dean lifted his hand in an awkward wave. He didn’t expect Lisa to do more than similarly acknowledge him, but instead she headed his way. 

“Dean,” she said. 

“Hi,” Dean said back. “How, um, how have you been?”

Lisa actually smiled at him. “I’m alright. We had fun there for a while. And I just wanted to say, no hard feelings.” 

“Good. Yeah. Uh, you too.” 

Lisa pointed at the last few bites of Dean’s pie. “My neighbor came by last night and left me a loaf of banana bread. I had to bring it into yoga class because you weren’t around to eat it all.” 

Dean chuckled. “Your neighbor should open up their own bakery. I would be their number one customer.” 

“I don’t doubt that,” Lisa said. 

“And, uh, you know, since no hard feelings and all, if your neighbor bakes a pie any time soon I am definitely available to take it off your hands. If that isn’t, you know, weird.” 

Lisa actually threw her head back and laughed. “Do you want my neighbor’s number? Get you right to the source?” 

He should have felt weird about it, especially because in the entire time that Dean had dated Lisa, he’d never actually seen Lisa’s neighbor. He’d always pictured the neighbor as a nice older woman who lived alone and didn’t have anyone to share her baking with. 

“Look, Cas is a sweetheart and it won’t be weird or anything.” 

Maybe, it would be less weird than using Lisa as some sort of go between. No matter how amicable their break up had been, Dean figured they probably shouldn’t see much of each other. 

“Alright, then,” Dean said.

Lisa nodded. She grabbed her phone out and a moment later Dean had a text with Cas’ phone number.

—

It was almost a month later when Dean saw Lisa again. This time, it was because she was having car trouble and didn’t know where else to go but to the only mechanic that Lisa knew: Dean. 

Dean co-owned Singer Auto. It had once belonged to his uncle, Bobby Singer. Bobby wasn’t even really his uncle by blood, but he’d been a family friend for so long that everyone considered Bobby family. When Bobby decided to retire a few years earlier, he’d offered Dean the shop. It was Dean that insisted on buying it from him. Bobby had eventually been worn down to selling half the business to Dean. 

Dean ran the day to day, but Bobby stopped in every once in a while — when he got bored mostly — and did a bit here and there. Business was going well. 

Lisa’s car had been in good shape when Dean was dating her, but when she called him up, it was because her car wasn’t starting. Dean talked her through tightening up the battery terminals but the car still didn’t start. 

“You might need a new battery,” Dean said. 

Before Dean could offer to head to her place to jump the battery and get the car over to the shop, Lisa told her her neighbor had just come out and offered to do it. 

“And I’ll just drive it straight over to you.” 

Lisa arrived not long after and with her came a tupperware container of chocolate chip cookies. 

“From my neighbor,” Lisa said. “I asked and Cas said you never called.” 

It wasn’t that Dean had forgotten as much as that he’d felt awkward calling someone he didn’t really know just to ask them if he could buy some pie from them. He was sort of rethinking Cas being an older grandma type, though, what with the whole giving Lisa’s car a jump thing. Maybe Cas was younger than Dean expected, or a woman that knew how to bake and their way around a car. 

“Call Cas, Dean,” Lisa said. “It would be rude not to. Cas is expecting a call.” 

Replacing her battery didn’t take long and Lisa reminded him to call her neighbor again before she left. The taste of Cas’ cookies after they were all gone later that day made him decide that he would call Lisa’s neighbor. 

—

He sent a text instead of calling. He did it early, right between breakfast and leaving for work. A kind of rip the band-aid off type of thing. 

Hi. This is Dean.

And then because that felt like not enough at all. He sent a second: 

Lisa gave me your number because of how much I gush about your pie. 

Hope this isn’t weird. 

And when that didn’t seem like enough either.

Feel free to ignore me if this is too strange to you, but I am very willing to pay you to bake me a pie. 

He read them all over a couple of times before sending one last text. 

Thank you. And promise, I’m just very enthusiastic about pie. 

After that, he just dropped his phone on the couch next to him and groaned. He wanted to take back all the texts. Lisa’s neighbor was going to think he was crazy.

By the time Dean set off to work, he had no response which was probably for the better. 

Work was busy that day. It was a constant. They had a bunch of appointments lined up. Some easy jobs like doing an oil change, but others were more complicated — the type of thing that would take days to finish. Then, there were the people that just stopped by on the chance that Dean or one of his mechanics were free. So, Dean didn’t get to glance at his phone once the whole morning. And because Sam showed up during his lunch, he didn’t look at it then either. 

It wasn’t until he got home, after a long shower to get rid of all the grime and the smell of motor oil that clung to him, that Dean even glanced at his phone. 

Hello, Dean. 

Lisa mentioned I might get a call from you. Your texts were a humorous way to start my morning. It is not weird to be complimented on something I love to do. Baking is a passion of mine. I would love to bake you a pie. Lisa mentioned my apple double crust was your favorite. 

Payment is not necessary. Friday is the earliest I will have time, if that works for you. I’ll have it ready for you to pick up by six. 

-Cas

Cas sounded formal. It was hard to infer age or gender, but Dean supposed none of that mattered when it came to it, not when this Cas person could bake a pie that was rivaled by no other. 

I would feel weird not paying you for all that hard work. Friday is great. Thanks again. 

Dean was going to make sure he gave Cas something for the pie. The whole thing already felt a little strange, but for Dean it would feel even stranger to take the pie for free. 

When he and Sam met up that night, Dean didn’t bring up the whole weirdness with Lisa’s neighbor, but when Sam asked if Dean wanted to do something on Friday night he turned him down. 

“What, you have a date or something?” Sam asked. 

Dean denied it, but his brother didn’t seem to actually believe him. 

—

On Friday, it was Cas that texted Dean first, with an address to the house on the right of Lisa’s, as well as confirmation for pick up any time after six. Dean read the text over his lunch and he texted an affirmative before he got back to work. 

The shop closed at five. Dean went home and got showered and cleaned up. And because it felt like he’d come off as too eager to show up at six on the dot, he busied himself cleaning his kitchen and getting his laundry sorted so he could put it in the wash later. After that, he went through the pile of mail that he hadn’t looked at all week. It was almost seven when he texted Cas to let him know he was on his way. 

Cas’ house looked almost identical to Lisa’s and all the other houses on that street. A neat lawn in the front, a Victorian style with a large porch, a detached garage in front of which sat an electric blue Jeep. Not the type of car that should have belonged to the middle aged woman that Dean had been expecting. He parked his car on the street, feeling just a little strange that he wasn’t pulling into Lisa’s driveway. A glance over there told Dean that Lisa wasn’t home. 

As he walked up, the first thing that Dean noticed was that Cas’ mailbox was shaped like a bee. It was really well made and adorable to boot. 

He gave the doorbell a ring and didn’t wait long for someone to come to the door. As the door pulled open, Dean was startled by a car screeching by. He turned away, looking out as a Honda Civic narrowly missed Dean’s Impala as it drove off. For a moment, Dean had almost stopped breathing. 

“I don’t know how that kid managed to get his license,” a voice from behind him said. A deep, masculine voice. 

Dean turned, slowly. Cas had stepped out and Dean’s breath caught. 

Cas was a man that stood almost at Dean’s height. His dark hair was tousled, his eyes were the bluest eyes that Dean had ever seen, and over a lean and muscular frame, he wore an apron that in cursive letters said “Save The Bees”. 

“Hello, Dean,” Cas said and his chapped lips broke into a smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes. “I’m actually a little behind, so your pie just made it into the oven. But, come on in.”

“Uh,” Dean couldn’t find words. How had Lisa not told him that her neighbor was a guy. A very attractive guy. 

-

Part Two

#destiel #destiel fic #deancas fic #supernatural fic #deancas #supernatural #fanfic #my fic #this fic is all fluff

[blackmissfrizzle]

Surprise

Characters: Miguel Galindo x black!reader

Summary: Miguel gives his wife a day of surprise. Based on this video and tweet.

Warnings: Smut

A/N: Sorry if the smut sucks, I rushed through it lol.

Miguel leaned against the entryway of the bathroom, watching you carefully apply your mascara. His eyes roamed down to the swell of your breasts. You hadn’t put on your blouse yet because of you not wanting to get makeup on it.

“You’re staring,” you called out your husband when you finally became aware of his heated gaze. “What? Is it a crime to look at my wife?”

“Noooo, but it is a bad idea when both you and I have work to go to.” You took a break from doing your makeup and that’s when you realized that Miguel wasn’t dressed in his usual garb. He had on a simple black tee and jeans, an understated look but he still oozed power. “Why aren’t you dressed?”

Miguel ignored your question and leaned his hip against the counter. “Let’s go shopping, mi amor.”

“Shopping? We can’t go shopping. We both have to work.” What the hell was Miguel thinking? You two did not have the time for that. “What if I told you I cancelled all my meetings today and told your boss you couldn’t come in today?”

That sounded too good to be true. “You’re lying,” you accused in disbelief.  “Nope, we’re gonna go to Home Goods. Then we’re gonna go to Target. Sounds good so far?” The mention of Target made you stop what you’re doing and turn to your husband.

“Then we’re gonna get pedicures after.”

“What?” You gasped in shock. It’s been forever since you and Miguel got pedicures together. “Yeah, let’s go get pedicures. Yeah?” After that you closed your mascara, Miguel had your full attention now. “Oh! Mascara shut.” Miguel joked. “And then we’ll go to brunch. You want brunch?”

“Mimosas?” You whispered, already dreaming of the citrusy bubbles on your tongue. “Mmhmm. Order from the whole menu. Chocolate chip pancakes with a river of syrup. Bacon, hash browns.”

“Chicken tendies?” Miguel laughed at your name for chicken strips, you refused to call them by their proper name. “Yes, and chicken tendies.” As Miguel continued to name various foods, your breath got heavier in anticipation.

“And then?” You asked. “Whatever you want to do. Wanna go to Chick-Fil-A? Cookies and cream milkshake?”

“COOKIES AND CREAM MILKSHAKE!?”

“Yeah!” Miguel couldn’t keep the smile off his face. He loved how excited you were and that he was the one making it happen. “So, you wanna go?” It really wasn’t a question, but he just knew your answer would radiate with enthusiasm. “For real? Miguel, you’re not playing?”

Miguel grabbed you by the hips and pulled you towards him. “No, I’m not.” You squealed and jumped in his arms before running to change. “But there is one condition.” He stopped you in your tracks. “What?”

“You have to wear this.” Miguel pulled out a maxi sundress of your favorite color. This man certainly had style. Running you snatched the dress out his hands and began changing. You were too enamored with the dress that you barely heard Miguel tell you to meet him in the driveway when you were done.

As soon as he saw you, Miguel thought a day in the house didn’t sound bad at all, but he had to shove those thoughts away. He had plans for his queen.

“Where’s Nestor?” You looked around for him, Marcus, and some of the others, but none were to be found. “Gave them the day off. It’ll just be you and me.”

It wasn’t Christmas. Both of yours and Miguel’s birthdays had already passed. Your anniversary wasn’t until a couple of more months. “What are you up to?” You eyed Miguel suspiciously. “Nothing. Now get in the car.”

Multiple times during the car ride Miguel thought of pulling over. In the corner of his eye, he would catch you rubbing your thighs together to alleviate some pressure. He listened to how you thought it was so sexy to see a man maneuver a car, but he didn’t think you would get this turned on. Now he would have to make more of an effort to drive around.

His day with you was a blast. At Home Goods he watched your head switch from Pinterest to the different aisles, trying to find the perfect items to complete your diy projects. Target was a bit more dangerous. You went down every aisle and almost bought out the whole store. “We don’t even need this!” Miguel would say whenever you would add whatever unnecessary item to the cart. It didn’t matter though, he still let you get it.

The nail salon was a ball. The nail technicians thought it was so cute that you and Miguel were getting pedicures together. Along with the pedicure you got a manicure. Miguel even picked the shape and color.  “I can’t wait to see those wrapped around my dick,” he whispered, enjoying you squirm as the nail tech painted your nails.

Brunch a whole new you came out. This specific restaurant was your favorite because they played the music you loved and had bottomless mimosas. Those two were a bad combination for Miguel’s hard dick, because those lustful glances from you were no accident. And the moans you made when you ate those damn chicken tendies mixed with a little bit of syrup had him sitting uncomfortably for the longest. But then every so often, in between bites you would look to Miguel, smile brightly, and tell him thank you. And just like that he was gushing all over you, ready to give you the moon and the stars.

Miguel opted to get the milkshakes at the drive-thru, but you didn’t mind, you had other plans in mind. However, Miguel surprised you when he went in the other direction of home. “Babe, where are we going?” Miguel grabbed your hand and rested his lips on it. “To your last surprise.” He said, not offering any more information.

About 45 minutes outside of town, an oddly familiar lake house came into view. “Miguel, what is this?” Your husband parked the car and ran to let you out. “This is your house by the lake, not too far from the city because you’ be damned if some Jason Vorhees comes out to kill you and you couldn’t get immediate help. There’s the front porch where you can sit and drink your morning coffee while you watch the sunrise. In the back, you have the deck complete with picnic tables and a master grill, where you can use and abuse your brother’s grilling skills while everyone else is talking, playing games, and dancing. Back here you can have your glass of wine and watch the sunset.” He wrapped his arms around you and jutted his chin to the second story of the home. “In the master bedroom is a window seat where you can get scared from the new horror book you’re reading while drinking your second cup of coffee. And most importantly there’s the dock by the lake, so you can go fishing because you refuse to get on a boat and become a Lake Placid victim.”

Verbatim. Word for word, Miguel described the perfect dream lake house you told him about years ago. It was dream that your dad had at first. He wanted to give his family a getaway spot that was yours to call your own. As your father daughter bonding time, you would search for the perfect candidate but could never find one. Then unfortunately, he passed before he could make that dream come true. In the little spare time you had, you resumed your search in honor of your father, but it was nothing but dead ends.

Tears were running down your face. You couldn’t stop them if you wanted to. “Mi amor, you don’t like it?” Miguel’s concern was growing. He couldn’t decipher if those were happy tears or sad tears. “No, Miguel I love it! I just don’t know what I did to deserve you.”

Miguel pulled you into a tighter hug. “Oh honey, I’m the one who doesn’t know how I managed to get and keep you.” He grabbed ahold of your chin, tilting it up so you couldn’t avoid his eyes. “I haven’t been the best husband.”

“Miguel no.” How in the world could he think that? He pressed a finger against your lips. “Shh, let me finish. You barely see me anymore. We literally only say good morning and good night to each other. I’ve been too busy with the rebels and Potter. Plus, there’s the original work I already have. You taken over the development project when you have your own work to do. And you take time out of your day to take my mother to and from her appointments.” You tried to interrupt him, to tell him that it was no big deal, but he stopped you. “Ahh, I’m not finished. You do all this, go through all this trouble and not once have I heard you complain. This isn’t even half of what you deserve. So, no more talk about how you don’t deserve any of this. Entiendes?”

It was a troubling time. Half of the time you didn’t know where you found the energy to get out of bed, but you did. You had to. This was how you keep your family together. “Si.” You brought Miguel’s face closer to yours. There was the faint taste of mimosas still on his tongue. Reluctantly, Miguel pulled away, holding onto your bottom lip til the last possible second. “There are other husbandly duties that I have been neglecting.”

“Is there now?” A crooked smile graced your face. “Mmhmm,” Miguel scooped you up bridal style. “Yeah. I think we should christen the house.” He whispered conspiratorially like you weren’t alone. “I say hell yeah!”

Miguel ran into the house, running up the stairs, leaving a trail of your giggles. Tomorrow you would get the chance to explore more.

Once in the room, Miguel dropped you on the bed, causing you to bounce a little. He shed yours and his clothes in a hurry. To his surprise you weren’t any underwear. “Someone was eager, huh?”

“I had plans to screw you in the back of the car after mimosas.” Miguel took off your bra and tugged a nipple into his mouth. “Good girl.”

While Miguel’s attention was on your nipples yours were on getting his boxers off.  His dick sprang free and you wrapped your hand around it. Miguel relished in the feeling of your soft hand around him while he left kisses from your shoulder to your ear. “What are you doing?” He groaned into your ear, slipping in between the two of you, grabbing your wrist to stop your movement. “I thought you wanted to see my nails around your dick?” You whimpered, squirming against him.

“I do, but right now is about you. Do me a favor and suck on my fingers and get them nice and wet for me.” He tapped your fingers against your lips, and you slipped them in, mimicking the motions you wanted to desperately do to his dick. Satisfied with how wet they were, Miguel stuck his fingers in your welcoming hole. “Its so wet and warm, preciosa. I think I can fit another finger in there, don’t you?”

“Mmhmm, daddy.” Miguel added a third finger, bringing a delicious sting. “God, you’re so tight. I bet you taste even better.” Taking his fingers out despite your reluctance, he sucked on them, making you jealous that it wasn’t your mouth on them.

“Tell me what you want, baby. You want me eat that fat ass pussy or you want this cock?”

“Gimme your cock please.” It was no competition. You needed to feel complete and only Miguel’s dick could do that.

He scooted back some to line himself up. You caught a glimpse of his dick and badly wanted to suck it. It should be a crime that all that dick belongs to you.

Miguel slid his cock along your slit, gathering up some wetness. “Baby stop teasing please!” You whined, scratching against his forearms.

He lifted up your left leg to his hip and slid in, giving you those deep lovemaking strokes. “You take me so well, mi amor. Can you handle more?”

“Yes Miguel. Please give me more!” His slow strokes would leave you right on the verge of coming, but never actually getting you there and at this moment you needed to cum more than anything. “More, daddy! Please!” Tears were prickling your eyes.

With his free hand, Miguel swiped away your tears and began to pound into you. “Pretty girl,” he smoothed back some of your hair, his soft words contrasting his rough fucking. “You look like an angel taking my cock so well. You’re gonna be a good girl and cum over daddy’s cock, hmm?”

You nodded your head when you failed to form any words. “Nah, baby girl I need words. Tell me what you want.”

“I WANT TO CUM ALL OVER YOUR COCK!” Miguel was hitting your spot repeatedly. “Okay, pretty baby, then do it,” he whispered, rubbing your clit.

Your body exploded with your orgasm. You were a quivering mess, but Miguel wasn’t through with you, he kept fucking you.

“Where do you want it?” Miguel asked through clenched teeth. “In my mouth, daddy. I wanna taste you.”

Miguel jumped off of you. “On your knees, baby.” Eagerly you got on the ground with your tongue out, enjoying Miguel stroke his glistening cock. “Oh fuck!” He cried out, throwing his head back in ecstasy as his cum filled your mouth.

When he finished, you jumped at the opportunity to clean his cock. “Shitttt! Just like that baby.”

He pulled your head back and laughed at your amused smile. “With skills like that, I’ll give you anything. What else do you want?” He carried you to the bathroom, filling the tub for a nice bath.

“Just you.” You sighed, leaning back on his chest.

“I can definitely do that and more.” Miguel promised to you and himself.

If you like what you read here’s my taglist and masterlist.

Tags: @starrynite7114​ @lilsmilez​ @blessedboo​ @marvelmaree​ @sambucky8​ @ljstraightnochaser​ @my-rosegold-soul​ @angrythingstarlight​ @richonne4life​ @brattyfics​ @lovebennycolon​ @thesandbeneathmytoes​ @woahitslucyylu​ @sadeyesgf​ @strawberrywritings​ @angelreyesgirl​ @tomhardydallasstarsgirl​ @spookys-girl​ @imanerdychubbyqueen​ @brownsugarcoffy​ @ifoundmyhappythought​ @thickemadame​

#black!reader #miguel galindo #miguel galindo x reader #miguel galindo x black!reader #miguel galindo fanfic #mayans mc #mayans mc fanfic #mayans #mayans fanfic #frizzlefic #frizzlesfic #danny pino

[fallenfurther]

Homecoming - A social call

Chapter 3 - Jeff and Colonel Casey

Continuing with Jeff's recovery and relationships with the main characters in TAG. Sorry this one is a little later out than I planned. A flat move and no internet means I had to wait until I had time to sit in a coffee shop.

Chapters 1 and 2.

Enjoy!

***********

Colonel Casey signed herself into the rehabilitation centre for her first personal visit. She'd seen Jeff for official business, the GDF helping to re-establish the astronaut's living status as well as for the obligatory debriefs. The interviews had happened in one of the rehabilitation rooms here. The debrief of his eight years in space had taken a couple of days to complete as they had been required to work around his routine and energy levels. It had been a shock to see the astronaut so tired and struggling, but it was to be expected. She knew Jeff was on a strict routine and diet plan to help him with his nutritional deficiencies and regain lost muscle, though what it entailed she wasn't privy to. She'd wanted to visit earlier, but her position in the GDF meant she had been tied down with paperwork. Now she could finally sit down with her old friend and catch up properly. Heading down the corridor, she found his room and knocked. A short sharp military rap.

"Come in."

The voice was faint, but oh so familiar. She opened the door and peered in, excitement building inside her chest.

"I thought it was about time I paid the great space survivalist a visit."

A grin spread across Jeff's face as he pushed himself out of his chair. She crossed the room in a few strides and hugged the man. He embraced her back, though she didn't fail to notice how weak his arms were compared to the bear hugs she remembered. Her own arms had been reserved so as not to crush his delicate body. The positive was that he seemed stronger than he was when they'd first met which was pleasing, and she hadn't missed how her friend was much steadier on his feet. The need to pinch herself was still present. Seeing that footage and message had been hard, having already accepted the man's fate and moved on. The world would just have to adjust to having Jeff Tracy back.

"It's been too long." The man whispered in her ear, his deep baritones warming her soul in a way only a long lost friend could.

"It's only been two months."

"That was official business. Your lack of uniform tells me this is the social visit I've been waiting for."

Jeff was right and the smile on his face said he knew it. He'd always been this way, so sure of himself. It was what had gotten him so far, and probably why he was still here now. The confident stubborn man. Memories of days gone by, from when Jeff had first started putting International Rescue into motion, flooded her mind. She'd been present at that first meeting when Jeff had asked for clearance for his new venture. Valerie had been a newly appointed Captain, and it was one of her first major meetings. That was the day she'd heard about International Rescue and it had been incredible to see the legendary astronaut stand up and ask for permission to start the organisation. She'd hid her unease and suspicions and had viewed the plans he'd presented in the meeting. The secrecy aspect of the organisation had worried her most, not knowing exactly what was going to be flying around, not knowing who was involved or the training they would be put through. The committee had debated it thoroughly. Five weeks of research, consultations and consideration and International Rescue was given a three month trial, to be extended upon review.

"You won't regret this."

Jeff had promised Colonel Henson when he had been told the news. She'd been present to see the historic moment. The firm handshake that had happened at the end of the meeting as if to solidify and seal the deal. He'd been right. International Rescue had not disappointed and had gone beyond anyone's expectations. They were granted permission to operate. There were still some in the GDF that disagreed with the amount of secrecy surrounding International Rescue and the lack of regulation and control the GDF had over the organisation. Some of that had eased slightly now the location of Tracy Island was now known to the higher-ups, but there were still those that were suspicious. Rumours still passed around, claiming the GDF had a dummy location, that it was all a ruse to make everyone feel comfortable with the situation and they were keeping the Thunderbirds and their secrets elsewhere. There were just some things she couldn't stop. She had been put in charge of monitoring International Rescue. Once introduced, Jeff had maintained contact with her allowing them to develop a strong working relationship, which ultimately led to a close friendship. Though he had always visited her, she'd gotten to know some of the boys before the accident, though now she knew them all extremely well. The boys had allowed more information about International Rescue to be made public, and shared further information still with the GDF, allowing for better communication between the organisations. It felt much better knowing exactly where they were, even if she had no idea what secrets they hid on the island. Scott had blessed her with a tour, allowing her to see what they were happy to share. Seeing it all in-situ had been a sight to behold and something she'd never forget.

"Sorry it's been that way, but you know how it is at the top. There is always a new situation that needs your urgent attention."

Jeff chuckled, a sound that Valerie had forgotten and almost brought a tear to her eye. It pained her how small things about a person could slip from your mind over the years. The man before her really was legendary. He was an astronaut people would talk about for years to come. He was also a great friend, who had always supported her journey through the GDF ranks.

"I used to know. I'm a little rusty and many things have changed. I've got a lot of catching up to do. I thought some of the technology Brains used to think up was way out there, but some of the new gadgets I'm seeing and hearing about are beyond that. I'm feeling old. Old and left behind."

Valerie noticed the change in his face and the slight dimming of the shine in those blue eyes. Jeff was old, but there was more to this than that. Placing a hand on the man's shoulder she guided him back into his chair and knelt beside him.

"I'm feeling old at the moment." Jeff continued with a sigh. "I'm all creaky, tired and struggling to keep up. They say I should get better, that my body has adjusted to the Oort cloud and that it'll take a while to shift back."

"You were never the most patient man."

That brought a smile to his face, but his head fell into his hand.

"I've spent so much time alone that I can't stand being cooped up in here anymore! The boys and Mum visit but I have less freedom than I did out there. I want to go home. Even if it means subjecting myself to both my mother's constant doctoring, and her terrible cooking."

"Maybe the staff are trying to make sure you're strong enough to stomach your mother's food?"

"Ha! I wish! Nothing on Earth could prepare me for Mum's cooking. I am handling food well though and if I'm honest, Mum won't mess up my diet plan. She knows how much it could set me back."

Valerie moved her hand in slow steady motions over Jeff's back. There was nothing she could do to change the situation, but she knew Jeff needed to let it out. She knew he was putting on a brave face for his family, that only the staff and therapists would know of the real internal struggle happening in the man. Jeff had told her enough about his life and the boys to know he'd do anything to protect his family. Maybe, eventually, he let them be the ones to protect him.

"You'll get there, Jeff. You just need time."

The man sighed, his whole body deflating. He'd had plenty of time in the Oort cloud, far away from everything he cared about. Now he was home, he was still being kept away. She knew the boys were visiting Jeff but it wasn't the same as being home with them. Especially with International Rescue taking them away so frequently. Valerie still got a weekly update on International Rescue’s activity, and although she doesn't read the full reports anymore, she still understood the operation enough to know the toll that it takes on the operatives.

"How has it been, the last eight years, for International Rescue? What's it been like from an outside perspective? Has it worked? Have there been problems? Have you any suggestions?"

Valerie sat back and surveyed her friend. Talk about going straight for the tough topics. She knew he'd ask about her later, but right now his boys were at the front of his mind. She also knew she had to be honest. There was so much Valerie wanted to tell the man, yet today wasn't the right day. Today would just lead the man to worry unnecessarily about his boys. When he was stronger and could enforce change himself, she might raise the latest annual International Rescue report with him. The GDF were concerned, but now was not the time to go down the official route.

"It was tough at first, not everyone liked Scott taking over everything at once, especially as he took on Tracy Industries too. But they rose to the challenge and got the job done, they've made improvements and they communicate more with the GDF now. We still don't know everything about your technology but that was always the arrangement from the get go."

Jeff sighed. "I never expected them to be needed as much as they are. Have you noticed how exhausted they are? Do you know when they last went on holiday? I think it's too much for them."

Valerie steeled herself, knowing exactly how she felt and how much the Tracy brothers would disagree. Everyone knew those boys worked too hard, but they were smart and never broke the flight hour rules, often maxing it out but never going over. The GDF couldn't ground them, even if it was for their own good, especially as there was often no-one else to do the job. Lives were at stake and no-one wanted to be the one to make that call.

"I have noticed the dark circles under Scott's eyes and the way he seems to carry the world on his shoulders. I don't often see the rest of them but the past few years have been pretty intense. I would say they were due a break, if only the world would give them one."

The small smile on Jeff's face showed her she had said the right thing. The concern was still there but the steel in his eyes said he had a plan formulating. She wouldn't pry. Not yet. She was sure she would find out in due course.

"So, you're a Colonel now, and Commander of the GDF. Can't say I didn't see that coming, but there must be a story behind it."

Valerie grinned at her friend, finally on a safer topic. This was what she'd come here for.

"Well, there is, but it's not quite as interesting as yours."

#thunderbirds are go #thunderbirds fanfiction #jeff tracy #colonel casey #homecoming #gdf #social visit #post debrief catch up

[jalapeno-princess]

Love story

Mark Tuan x Reader

Word count: 7.1k

Genre: Fluff, forbidden love, descriptions of sex

Summary: You’re in a relationship with the son of your father’s rival. Your cousin Jackson brings up the fact that your father would be furious if he found out about your so called love affair but gives you his blessing to continue your relationship. When you tell Mark that are willing to sacrifice your entire life if it means spending the rest of your days with him, you aren’t shocked to hear that he would do the same. Unfortunately, Mark’s dad tries to set him up with the daughter of one of his company partners and that’s when Mark gives you the ultimatum of running away.

A/N: Based on Romeo and Juliet (some what lol). Idk but after NBTM and seeing him in that outfit giving me Romeo vibes I decided to write a story about forbidden love. Hope you enjoy!

“And where do you think you’re going? Don’t think I don’t know about you and that Tuan fellow y/n. You can lie to your parents, but you can’t lie to me. So what, are you off to your dick appointment?” 

You playfully shoved the older boy before making your way to the fridge to find something to eat. Your cousin Jackson had moved to New York City from Los Angeles just a few weeks ago and you offered to let him live with you in your condo while he looked for a place of his own. However, you were now regretting your decision seeing as how nosy he could be when it came to your private life and how he eats anything in the fridge even if it’s obviously not his. 

“Oh God, please don’t say fellow, it makes you sound like an old man.” As you took out your left over pizza from the night before and made your way over to the counter where he was sitting, you threw a piece of crust at him when you noticed the knowing look he was giving you. 

“You didn’t answer my question y/n.” 

One thing you both loved and hated about the older boy, was how dedicated he was no matter the situation. He was one of the most successful businessmen there were at his age, but a lot of it had to do with who your family was. Jackson’s father and your father were brothers. They were also the founders of one of the biggest technology companies in the world. It started off as a dream your father had. He worked extremely hard in high school and got accepted to Harvard university where he got his masters in business. 

Since he was a few years older than your uncle, he waited until his younger brother graduated and got his degree before starting his business. From that day on, the two of them did whatever they had to do to make their way to the top of the industry. In the twenty seven years since they started the company, the two brothers experienced much success as well as they did loss and failure.But it didn’t stop them from continuing their life long dream. 

Learning from both your father and his, Jackson found himself working in the realty business. From the time he was little, he always loved watching anything on HGTV. His favorite show was property brothers and with some help from his parents, he became a very successful and well known realtor. Although he was making quite the name for himself in Los Angeles, he found out he could be making more sales in New York and properties were worth more in the Big Apple. You however, decided to steer clear  from anything that had to do with business and marketing. 

If you were being honest, business was boring. There was nothing interesting with what your father did and although you were very grateful that his company brought your family a lot of wealth, that career path just wasn’t for you. When you were only seven years old, you had gotten the stomach flu and it was so bad that you were rushed to the hospital. As scary as the whole situation was, the nurses who were in charge of you took such good care of you and took your mind off of the negative circumstance you were in. It was in that moment that you realized you wanted to help save lives and be able to give back to your community. 

Against your fathers wishes, you went straight in to nursing school right after graduating high school and it was the best decision you’ve made. Not only did you get to help thousands of people so far, witnessed many miracles and got to travel all around the world, it’s also where you met the man in question. Mark Tuan. 

“What is there to say if you already know the answer? Yes, I’m going to meet Mark. My personal life is nobody’s business but my own. How did you even find out about us?” 

Jackson looked at you with a sad smile before releasing a frustrated sigh. The reason why he was so bothered about you seeing Mark was because your fathers were practically enemies. 

In order to get to where they were today, your father and your uncle built relationships with other businesses and companies in order to get more connections. Mark’s dad owned another technology company that was just as successful as your father’s. Many years ago, your father, Jackson’s father and Mark’s father Raymond were really good friends. 

Your father met Raymond back in college while he was working on his undergraduate degree and they found themselves bonding over sports and video games. They even talked about starting a business together, however, they both had different plans in mind. Although, they never got to work and build their empire together, the two men stayed friends even after starting their companies. Unfortunately, as your family’s business began to grow, Mark’s father got extremely jealous and did whatever he could to sabotage your father’s company. 

When rumors went around about how Jackson’s father was having an affair with his secretary and that your father would mistreat his employees, many investors dropped out of supporting the company, causing them to suffer a massive loss. This also increased business sales for the Tuan’s company, earning Raymond the top spot of most successful CEO in the state. 

From that day on, they became rivals and were constantly coming up with what they thought were the best technology products in order to grab the public’s attention. With the release of the new smartphone that came with wireless earphones, your family’s company was now at the top of the chain. However, you knew it wouldn’t last for long. When one company released an item, the other company would come back with something better just a few weeks later. 

“You’re not as discreet as you probably think you are. Well, when I first moved in, I noticed there were some things around the apartment that were meant for men, so I assumed you were seeing someone, but I wasn’t going to ask unless you told me. Then I noticed how secretive you were when it came to your phone and how you would always be on the phone with someone right as you came home. Don’t think I didn’t notice how excited you got after you hung up with who I’m assuming was Mark. My assumptions were proven true when I saw the two of you at the coffee shop the other day. Y/n—“ 

You frowned before worriedly biting your lip. As much as you loved Jackson and trusted him more than anyone else in your family, you couldn’t stop him from saying anything to your parents about your love interest. 

“I know what you’re going to say Jack and I don’t want to hear it. It’s bad enough that I’m dating the son of our father’s so called enemy, I don’t need to be reminded of it. Please, promise me you won’t say anything.” 

Jackson brought his fingers up to the bridge of his nose and lightly pinched it out of frustration. “You’re dating him? Shit. I thought you were only fucking around with him. But he’s your boyfriend? Y/n, you know I’m only acting like this because I care about you and I support your decisions no matter what, but you’re making a huge mistake. Our fathers hated each other even before we were born. This war between our family and his family has been going on for twenty four years. I don’t care how good the dick is y/n, there are many more men out there whose fathers don’t have a rivalry with ours. Someone with less baggage. How do you not know Mark is just using you in order to take down our company? I’ve seen the guy and I’m not going to lie, he’s pretty good looking and I’m sure he’s said some things to sweet talk his way in to your heart. However, I can’t help but think that he has some tricks up his sleeve and I—“ 

When he saw a tear fall from your eyes, he was quick to stop his sentence altogether. Jackson had the biggest soft spot for you and did whatever he could in order to make you happy. You were like the younger sister he’s never had but always wanted. With that being said, he got up from his seat and pulled you in to his arms. 

“Please don’t say things like that about him. He’s nothing like his father. He isn’t even in the business; he wants nothing to do with it. Like me. I love him Jackson. More than anyone or anything on this hell forsaken earth. I’d do anything for him, be anyone he wants me to be. I’d give up anything in order to spend the rest of my life with him. Even if it meant cutting off ties with our family. I know he loves me Jackson, I can feel it. Although he tells me multiple times on a daily basis, he never fails to show it in his actions. I see it in the way he smiles when I catch him looking at me, I feel it when he holds me, touches me, kisses me. He makes me feel things, no one ever has before.” 

You released an exhausted breath before continuing. “I’m happiest when I’m with him. I feel the safest in his arms and when I’m without him, I feel incomplete. For years, I did whatever my parents told me to. I dressed the way my mother wanted me to and joined all these after school activities in order to make my father proud. However, when I made the decision to go in to nursing, that was when I decided to put myself, my desires and my needs first. I am a twenty three year old woman. I am old enough and wise enough to make decisions for myself. I don’t see Mark as the son of my father’s nemesis, I see him as my safe haven. My best friend. My soulmate. The love of my life. The man I want to settle down and spend the rest of my life with. I don’t care if I end up losing everyone around me, he’s all I ever need. Oh, well, and you of course. But if you decide that you no longer want anything to do with me, then I just have to accept your decision. No matter how much I don’t want to.” 

When you were six years old and Jackson was nine, you saw him playing halo on his Xbox and begged him to let you join him. However, he always told you no, saying that video games were for boys. Right after he said that, you ran to your father and begged him to buy you an even better version of the Xbox with every single game it had to offer. You would stay up playing, learning every trick of the trade and made it your mission to beat your older cousin. 

One day, he came over and saw your high score, causing his jaw to drop and he was sure you cheated. There was no way you, a six year old girl could accomplish that of someone whose been gaming for years. Jackson knew from that day on, when you set your heart to something, you meant it. He was there for it all; nursing school, when you joined the volleyball team even though your parents preferred you learn an instrument, when you quit ballet to join hip hop. He knew Mark meant everything to you and that you meant every single word about risking it all for him. 

“I—I don’t know what to say. You know I love you, and that I’d do anything for you. Which is why I’m going to keep this love affair a secret between you and I, no matter how much this would probably upset our fathers. Damnit y/n, you owe me big time. That man better treat you right or I will personally make sure pretty boy regrets the day he was born. You know, come to think of it, your love story is kind of like Romeo and Juliet’s and I’m the handsome cousin that has to be stuck between a rock and a hard place choosing what’s wrong over what’s right. Although, as cheesy as it sounds, love is never wrong y/n. If you know, deep down in your heart that you’re in love with him and that he feels the same way about you, there’s nothing I or anyone else for that matter can do about it. Your secret is safe with me. I better be the best man at your wedding, even if I am the only man at your wedding. I love you. Don’t ever forget that. You’re never going to lose me, I’ve been here for you from day one and I’m always going to be here. Now go, Romeo is waiting.” 

You pulled him in for a tight hug and placed a soft kiss on his forehead before quickly wrapping up your food and throwing it in the freezer. “Wait, you’re not wearing that are you?” 

As you took a look at what you were wearing, you furrowed your brows. You didn’t see anything wrong with your sweats, camisole and one of Mark’s flannels. Since you were planning on staying the night, you wanted to be comfortable. “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”

Jackson looked at you in shock, as if he couldn’t believe the fact that you thought your outfit was okay to meet your boyfriend with. Weren’t girls the one who were obsessed with looking good for their man? Not that you didn’t look nice, you were extremely beautiful; especially without make up. But some beat up sweats and an oversized flannel did not exactly scream “sex appeal” not that your plans with Mark were Jackson’s business. 

“You’re lucky you’re really pretty. I’m sure your fashion sense isn’t what got the guy to fall in love with you. Go change in to something cuter, something that screams “I’m giving my life up for you, you better dick me down like you mean it—ow! I’m only trying to help—when did you become this abusive? Hurry up and leave, I’m getting bruises.” 

As much as you wanted to ignore him, you took Jackson’s words in to consideration and put more effort in to your look. Mark liked whatever you wore. He never failed to compliment you whether you were makeup less in your scrubs, or all dolled up in a dress in high heels. No matter what you wore, all items of clothing would end up on his floor any way. After putting on some lingerie Mark bought for you when the two of you went on a secret getaway to Greece a few months ago, you threw on one of his jackets and a pair of shorts and let him know you were on your way. 

Once you grabbed your bags and said your goodbyes to Jackson, you headed over to Mark’s apartment. Just the mere thought of Mark sent chills down your spine and butterflies to your tummy. He never failed to make you smile and laugh with his corny pick up lines and dad jokes. He made you feel like you were the most beautiful and ethereal creature to walk this earth. He worshipped the ground you walked on and made sure you knew just how grateful he was to be the lucky man who got to love you. 

When the two of you first met almost a year ago in the emergency wing of the hospital you worked at, you didn’t think he would mean this much to you. He was just a patient who was suffering with a kidney stone and you were one of the three nurses that were assigned to him. Although you weren’t wearing make up and you were fully suited up in your scrubs, gloves and cap, Mark thought you were a sight for sore eyes. He was in excruciating pain, but that didn’t stop him from stealing glances of you every chance he got. 

As you explained to him what he had to do in order for him to get rid of the stone, it’s as if everything you told him went through one ear and out the other. He couldn’t stop staring at your pretty, pink lips or your cute little button nose. He also thought you had some of the prettiest eyes he’s ever seen and even if he hasn’t known you for all too long, he found himself falling for your kind, patient and generous personality. 

Over the course of Mark’s stay in the hospital, you grew fond of the shy young man with the corny hospital jokes. Every time you went in to go check up on him, you found yourself staying just a little too long, talking about anything and everything your hearts desired. You didn’t realize just how much time you were spending with him until you would get paged on your work phone to go check up on other patients. Something about the way Mark gave you his undivided attention whenever you’d talk with him and the way he always seemed so interested in what you had to say made you feel important. It made you feel warm and giddy on the inside. 

You’ve never got to experience a real relationship since you were always so busy with work and school and you would always decline your parents offer of setting you up with sons of the companies partners. You wanted to enjoy your life while you were still young. There were no plans for you to settle down just yet. That was until Mark came in to your life. When he was finally discharged from the hospital, to say you were upset was an understatement. You really enjoyed his presence and for the first time, you didn’t feel like you were working whenever you had to tend to him. 

Going to work knowing you were going to see him was like a breath of fresh air and you knew you were going to miss him. But all you were ever going to be to him was a nurse who took care of him during a negative situation. A few days later, you were working the night shift when you got paged by one of your coworkers that you were needed in the lobby. Since it was a slow night, you didn’t think anything of it until your eyes landed on the tall figure standing at the reception desk. 

“Y/n, sorry to bother you, but this young man was looking for you. You weren’t busy were you?” 

You shook your head as a smile quickly rose on your face as you motioned for Mark to follow you. “Hey! I’m glad to see you no longer in pain and moving around freely. You look nice! Not that you didn’t look good in the hospital gown because, you did. Oh God, what am I saying? Please feel free to stop me anytime before I say something even more embarrassing.” 

The giggle that left his lips sent warmth to your cheeks and before you knew it, he was handing you a beautiful bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates. “I’d like to thank you for all of your help over the last past week. To be honest with you, I hate hospitals. I find them so eerie and depressing. But you made my stay very relaxing and enjoyable. You radiate such a positive energy that is extremely contagious and I’d be lying if I said I only came here to thank you. I couldn’t keep you off my mind from the time I was first administered in to the emergency room and you were in charge of me. With that being said, do you think you’d like to—maybe we could—I could take you out—we could go—hmph. Sorry, I’m really bad at stuff like this and it’s probably because I find myself getting nervous around you. I’m pretty sure you were aware of it when you’d ask me questions about how I was doing. I just really want to impress you for some reason. I like you a lot y/n, will you go on a date with me?” 

You were sure your cheeks were probably red as a tomato, but you didn’t care. A part of you wanted him to see the kind of effect he had on you. Seeing him get all flustered just trying to ask you out made your cheeks hurt from the wide grin you couldn’t seem to get off of your face. With the confidence you didn’t think you were capable of, you found yourself reaching up to playfully pinch his cheek before leaving a kiss there. 

“I’d love to go on a date with you Mark.” He scratched the back of his neck bashfully before taking a look around the hospital to make sure none of your colleagues were around in order to place a chaste kiss on your forehead.

“Sounds great. Is Saturday okay?” You nodded in agreement. “What time are you finished tonight? I can take you home if you’d like?” 

You gave him a soft smile before shaking your head. “I don’t finish for another three hours and I wouldn’t want you to have to wait for me. It’s okay, I actually drove here so I’m all good. But thank you for the offer. Trying to win brownie points huh? You’re cute. I should start heading back to work. Thank you for the gifts. I’ll see you Saturday night.” 

When you finally pulled up to Mark’s apartment structure, you quickly made your way up to his unit, eager to finally spend time with your boyfriend after almost a week of not getting to see him. Your schedule at the hospital and his at the firehouse seemed to collide in the last week and you weren’t able to see each other for the time being. It was also harder for you now that Jackson was living with you. There was no way you were able to leave your place without many questions being thrown your way but now that he was aware of your relationship, you were sure things were going to go back to how they used to be. 

You missed him and as often as he tried to call you, it wasn’t the same as physically being with him. He opened the door just a few seconds after you knocked and you didn’t give him any time to prepare before jumping on him. 

“Hey baby. How’s my favorite girl been? Mmmm, I’ve missed you too my love.” 

You began leaving sloppy kisses all around his face as he began to carry you over to his room. “Oooh, were going straight to the bedroom huh? Kinky.” He rolled his eyes before playfully slapping your ass. 

“It’s been a week since I’ve gotten to touch you. We have a lot to make up for and I plan on having you in many ways, in multiple places tonight my love. So I hope you’re ready.” 

Mark wasn’t lying when he told you he planned on rearranging your guts and blowing your back out. You didn’t need him to verbally tell you that he missed you. He made it known that he hated not being able to see his favorite person with the way he was drilling himself in to you like his life depended on it. The two of you went at it for almost four hours. Neither of you could get enough of each other. When one of you tapped out, the other one would begin to tease until another round was started. 

Although only a week had gone by since you’ve last seen each other, it felt like years. Which is why you both experimented in many different positions in different locations around his apartment. You didn’t think you’d be able to eat at his table without picturing yourself getting eaten out on top of it. You loved the way Mark felt inside of you. His cock would stretch you out in the most amazing ways and even if he could be dominant and animalistic, he was also very gentle and made sure you were having just as much of a good time as he was. He also made sure to show each and every body part of yours some love, especially your breasts, thighs and your pussy. 

Once the two of you were finally done and called it a night, he made his way to the bathroom and came back to pick you up and carried you bridal style towards the bathtub. He stepped in and carefully sat down before pulling you down with him and pressed you close against his chest. You leaned closer in to his embrace if it was even possible and hid your face in to the crook of his neck. 

“I’ve missed you so much. I almost tried to break a leg at the firehouse so I could get registered in to the ER and have you nurse me back to health—in more ways than one. You look exhausted baby—well, I mean other than the fact that I practically fucked you in to oblivion just a few minutes ago. But I mean from work. There’s wrinkles and dark circles on your pretty little face. I told you to take care of yourself since I wasn’t able to. Have you been getting enough rest and eating your meals on time?” 

You giggled softly in to his neck before hesitantly shaking your head in disagreement. “I’ve been so busy these days. That’s kind of the reason why I haven’t been able to come over on the days that you weren’t scheduled to stay at the firehouse. A lot of the nurses have been calling in sick lately so we’re low on staff and I’ve practically been working back to back shifts. It doesn’t matter though. I’m home now. I’m happy. I’m happiest when I’m in your arms.” 

When you didn’t hear him respond you frowned and turned around to see if something was wrong. Your heart fluttered when you noticed the way he was looking at you with so much love and admiration and before you knew it, his lips were on yours.

“I love you so much y/n. You don’t understand. God, I’m so fucking in love with you baby.” You grinned widely at him before stealing a chaste kiss from the corner of his mouth. 

“I love you too Mark. Why don’t you update me on everything that I’ve missed so far?” He began to tell you about the countless fires he had to tend to and you couldn’t help but laugh when he told you about how he had to rescue a cat from a tree. Unfortunately, Jackson’s words came back to haunt you and you found yourself releasing a frustrated groan.

“Hey baby, everything okay?” You turned to face him and cupped his cheek with your hand.

“How about we get out of here and I’ll explain everything?” He nodded in agreement before motioning for you to get off of him so that he could help you wipe yourself down and get you ready for bed. Once you both finished your nightly routine, he helped you put on one of his shirts and a pair of his boxers.

“You looked extremely sexy earlier in that black lace piece we got back in Greece by the way baby. Maybe we should go on another trip and I can buy you more?” You gave him a knowing look as he playfully squeezed your butt and reached for your hand to guide you back to his room. As the two of you got in bed, before you could get comfortable, you were being pulled on top of his chest. 

“What’s on your mind my love?” You sat up just a little bit so you could see him as you gave him the news. 

“My cousin Jackson—he um—he found out about us.” Mark’s brows furrowed worriedly and he was about to speak up but you continued. “He won’t say anything to my father. Our secrets safe with him. I know it is. I trust Jackson with my life.” 

He began running his hands along your hips as a way to encourage you to continue. Mark’s gentle touches always got you to calm down. Whenever you had a stressful day at work, he never failed to make you feel better by caressing your cheek or gliding his thumb against your wrist. His mere presence could calm you down from a panic attack or mental breakdown. You always felt so safe with him; like you could do anything as long as you had him by your side.

“Then what’s the matter baby?” 

You shrugged. “He brought up a good point. If my father or even your father were to find out about us, then they’ll probably force us to break up. Or worse, they’ll try to set us up with other people. So I told him, I’m willing to cut ties with my entire family if it meant spending the rest of my life with you. I don’t need anybody but you Mark Tuan. You are all the family I could ever want and need. Sure, we’ve only been together for over a year now, but it has been the best year of my life and I know you’re the one I want to spend the rest of my life with. I don’t know how you feel and I understand if you don’t feel the same, but I just had to say it.” 

The tear that fell from his handsome face made you giggle and he was quick to pull you down in order to connect your lips together. This kiss was rough, his lips were gnawing and sucking harshly on yours but that’s because your words sent his body in flames. He needed you to know the effect you had on him.

When he felt like it was getting too hot and heavy between the both of you, he pulled away and placed his forehead against yours to catch his breath. “You’re all I could ever want and need too baby. You’re my person y/n. My best friend, my soulmate. Time doesn’t determine how strong the love is between two people. Hell, I fell in love with you the day I laid eyes on you.  I’m a grown ass man, I’m not going to allow my parents to tell me how to live my life. There’s no point of living life if you’re not in it. I didn’t realize how shitty my life was before until you entered it and made it amazing. You’ve brought so much love and happiness in to this pathetic heart of mine and I don’t know what I would do without you. If loving you and being with you is wrong, then fuck, I love being wrong. I don’t want to be right. You’re the only thing that is right in my life. When I think about my future, I can only see you in it. I only want you in it. Well, until we start having kids and a dog or two—but you’re all I want for the rest of my life too y/n. When I don’t get to see you, I feel so empty. You take a piece of me with you every time you leave. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. I genuinely think that you and I were made to love one another. You are the best thing that’s ever happened to me y/n. I love you with every fiber of my being. I didn’t even know it was possible to love someone that much—come here my cry baby.” 

You didn’t even notice you were crying but you couldn’t help it. Every word that fell from his lips was genuine and you knew he meant everything he said. Hearing that he was already planning his future with you made butterflies swarm around your tummy. The idea of settling down and raising a family with Mark brought a warm sensation to your chest. His words woke something inside of you and you realized you were no longer tired. If anything, you were now wide awake and wanted to show Mark the effect he had on you. 

“Mark.” He looked up at you and hummed in curiosity. “Are you tired?” He gave you a knowing smirk before running his hands along your thighs. 

“Never too tired to make love to my princess. Round eight here we come.” 

The next morning, you woke up to an empty and cold bed. You frowned when you came to the realization and saw that his closet was wide open. He probably had to go to work and although you were upset, you were very understanding. There were times where the two of you would be hanging out and you’d get called in to the hospital. 

Both of you were very understanding when it came the other one’s job, but you’d be lying if you said it didn’t bother you whenever your time together was cut short because either one of you were called to go in to work. You attempted to get up, but the pleasurable soreness in between your thighs prevented you from doing so. Once you initiated another round of sex last night after hearing your boyfriend’s heart felt love confession, that led to two more rounds up against his fridge and in the shower. Before you could continue your self pity party, the man in question entered the room with his hair wet and only a towel wrapped around his waist. 

“Good morning beautiful. How was your sleep?”

“Amazing. I always sleep so much better when I’m with you. You showered without me?” You gave him an adorable pout and his laughter engulfed throughout his room. 

“I didn’t want to wake you. My boss called me an hour ago and asked me to come in for a briefing. I’m sorry, I didn’t want to leave you but I won’t be long. I made you some breakfast, it’s in the microwave so just heat it up when you’re ready. I promise when I come home you and I can have a relaxing day in. Then we can take another shower together. Let me finish getting ready and then I can hold you for a couple of minutes.” 

You couldn’t help the blush that was probably on your cheeks at how soft Mark was whenever it came to you. Also because of how good he looked in nothing but a towel. You were secretly hoping that it would fall down since he was practically running all over the place. No matter how many times you’ve seen Mark naked, you would get flustered every single time. Although he had a skinny frame, he was very broad and well built. It was obvious that he probably works out at the firehouse because his biceps have gotten bigger since the last time you’ve seen him. 

You felt your mouth beginning to water at the sight and you tried your best to push away the sinful thoughts that were now clouding your mind. Once he finished changing in to his uniform, he had you make some room for him before rejoining you in bed. 

“Have I ever told you how sexy you look in my clothes?” You looked up at him and playfully rolled your eyes.

“Yes. Many times. But I don’t necessarily mind hearing it. Have I ever told you how sexy you look in your uniform?” He bit his lip before nodding his head in agreement. 

“Yeah. I don’t particularly look as sexy when I return from putting out a fire looking all dirty and sweaty though.”

“Speak for yourself. I think that’s when you look the hottest, no pun intended.” This earned you a sarcastic groan from your boyfriend. “Why don’t you get going? As much as I love cuddling with you, I don’t want you getting in trouble with the chief. Go, so you can come back sooner. I miss you already.” He placed a soft kiss on your forehead and stole one more from your lips before running out the door. 

For the entirety of the day while you were waiting for his return, you decided to watch some tv and made some lunch for the both of you. When he said that he wasn’t going to be long, you thought he would be back in an hour or two. But now it was nearing six o’clock and you were starting to get worried. You sent him a couple of texts but got nothing back. In attempts to take your mind off of what might be going on, you started to look through his cabinets for some cake mix. Just as you were about to put the cake in the oven, you heard keys unlocking the door and you couldn’t help but run towards him once he entered and jumped up on him as if it’s been years since you’ve seen him. 

You knew something must’ve been clouding his thoughts when he didn’t react to your sudden clinginess but you didn’t let it bother you. He hid his face in your neck and placed a soft kiss there before placing you back on to the ground.

“Hey, everything okay?” He gave you a sad smile before leading you towards the couch. 

“Let’s talk.” Those words never led to anything good and you had a fear what he wanted to talk about had to do with what the two of you were talking about the night before.

“I was supposed to come home hours ago. The meeting wasn’t even an hour long. My dad—he uh—he asked me to meet him at the company right after I was done. He said he wanted to have lunch with me, but when I entered his office, there was an older man; maybe around his age and a lady probably my age or a few years younger. It doesn’t take a genius to know what they were there for. I wanted to walk out as soon as I walked in and put two and two together, but you know how I am. I can’t be rude to someone no matter how much I want to. I decided to listen to what my father had to say and that’s when he introduced the two of us. Her father owns a construction company and my dad felt that we would be a good match. Such fucking bullshit. He knows nothing about me. I politely excused myself and asked to meet my dad outside. That’s when I told him that I was already in a relationship and guess what that fucker told me to do? To break up with you. Ha! Over my dead body. The audacity. I stormed out of that building so quick and decided to blow off some steam by driving around for a while and I worked out at the firehouse before coming back here. I didn’t want to take my anger out on you.” 

You brought your fingers up to his face and gently caressed his cheek. “Mark—“ He placed his forehead against your chest and left a few wet kisses against your collarbone. 

“You said you’re willing to give up everything for me right? That you’re willing to cut all ties with your family if it means we can be together right?” 

You nodded without hesitation. You’d do anything for the beautiful man standing in front of you. He ran his fingers through your hair and smiled widely at you. 

“Let’s runaway then baby. I don’t know where we’ll go, where we’ll live or what we’re going to do once we leave but I don’t care about that. You. All I ever care about and will care about is you. As long as we’re together, I don’t care where we’ll end up. I’m sure any hospital would be happy to hire you and I can always transfer to another fire station. I don’t care if we end up in a crummy ass apartment or a six bedroom house—well, a six bedroom house does sound nice. But I don’t care about what the future holds as long as you’re in it. I refuse to picture life without you y/n. I’m sorry if that’s not what you want and don’t feel like you have to do this for my sake. I know you said you would give up your relationship with your family to be with me last night but you could end up changing your mind if you feel that you had a brief lapse of judgement and said it in the heat of the moment. I’ll do whatever you want to do baby. Just say the word.” 

You took a good look at your boyfriend and you could feel your heartbeat increase with the way he was looking at you as if you were one of the seven wonders of the world. Sure, you’d miss your family and you hated the thought of them cutting ties with you completely if they were to find out why you were running away, but sometimes you have to make sacrifices for the ones that you love. Mark was definitely worth sacrificing your entire life for. 

“I meant everything I said last night. I’d go anywhere for you, do anything to make you happy, be anyone you want me to be. I just need you. I’m yours. Forever. It’s you and me forever baby.”

#got7 imagines #got7 #mark tuan #got7 mark #got7 fluff #mark tuan got7 #got7 preferences #got7 drabbles #my kpop therapy boy

[afni-fics]

Tim arrives in Paris and reunites with old friends.

(a pre-New52 DCU/Miraculous Ladybug crossover fusion)

First Chapter | Previous Chapter | Next Chapter | Chapter Index

It was a typical morning at the Dupain-Cheng home above the Tom & Sabine Boulangerie Patisserie. Thirteen year old Marinette Dupain-Cheng had overslept (again) and was scrambling to get ready for school on time.

“No time for breakfast, Maman!” the petite teenager said as she was dashing down the stairs while tying her shoulder-length black hair into twin pigtails. As she snagged her lunch bag from the counter and was preparing to leave their apartment, she noticed that she was alone in the kitchen. “Maman?” she called out as her blue eyes scanned the empty room.

That was odd. Usually her mother, Sabine Cheng, waited until her daughter had left for school before going to help her father, Tom Dupain, in the bakery.

“Are you down here Maman?” Marinette called as she walked into the kitchen of the bakery, slowing to avoid causing any accidental disasters before entering the main storefront. She paused in the doorway as she noticed her parents talking to a man she’d never seen before.

The stranger appeared to be in his mid-30s and was dressed in a pair of nice looking dark slacks with a stylish leather jacket. He was of average height with slim athletic build, despite being absolutely dwarfed by the presence of Tom Dupain, Marinette’s gentle giant of a father. His skin was pale and some of his short black hair fell slightly into his face. He also wore a pair of dark sunglasses that completely masked his eyes. Overall, the stranger looked like a fairly well-off gentleman, and it appeared her parents both knew him. Her petite mother’s eyes were glistening with unshed tears, though Sabine Cheng also had a warm fond smile on her face as she spoke with the man, who seemed a bit embarrassed by all the attention.

“Papa? Maman?” Marinette asked cautiously as she stepped fully into the shop.

All three adults froze, obviously startled by the girl’s appearance. “Oh Marinette!” Tom was the first to respond. “We thought you’d left for school already.”

“Almost,” she said as she stepped a bit closer, curiosity winning over caution. “I’m on my way out now. Who’s this?“

Marinette’s mother found her voice. When Sabine spoke it was with a great deal of affection as she watched the stranger out of the corner of her eyes, as if she was afraid he was going to disappear when she wasn’t looking. “This is Timothy Drake. He’s a very dear old friend of ours from the United States that we haven’t seen in… goodness… over a decade now.” The tiny woman reached out and placed a hand on the stranger’s arm. “And Tim, this is–”

The stranger slowly pulled off his sunglasses, and Marinette could see for the first time that this man had kind blue eyes. “Marinette,” he said with a small smile. Though he had a slight American accent, his French was flawless. “You probably don’t remember me. The last time I saw you, you were just a baby. God, look at how much you’ve grown.” He glanced back at Tom and Sabine and the smile he gave them seemed a bit sad at his eyes. “Really sinks in how long it’s been, seeing her all grown up.” Tim turned back at the girl. “You look so much like your mother.”

Marinette felt her cheeks grow warm at the stranger’s fond words. “Oh, I’m not all that grown up or nearly as pretty as Maman.” she said dismissively with a small smile. “I’m still really klutzy and childish sometimes and…”

“–and late for school?” Her father interjected with a knowing grin.

…and late for school!“ Marinette echoed without thinking. Then she thought about it. "OH MY GOSH! I’M LATE FOR SCHOOL!” She dashed to her parents and gave them quick kisses on their cheeks. “See you later!” She said before pausing at the door. “Oh! And nice to meet you M. Drake!” Marinette smiled brightly at him before rushing out the door as quickly as she could.

Once she was gone, the smile faded from Tim’s face and his expression became more guarded.

Before he was able to address Tom and Sabine again, the petite woman raised her hand to pause him. Then she moved to the front door of the bakery and flipped the sign to “Closed” and set a time for the “Back at…" clock. Then she beckoned the two men to follow her upstairs.

“There,” Sabine said once the door was closed behind the three of them and she motioned towards the living room. “That’s better.” She looked at Tim with tender concern in her expression. “Sorry about that. I thought she’d already left for school. Are you alright?”

Tim nodded. “Yeah. I’m fine,“ he said as he took a seat on the sofa.

Sabine gave Tim a skeptical look, but didn’t press him further as she day inn a nearby chair.

Her husband went to the kitchen and began pouring out several mugs of coffee. “I almost didn’t believe my eyes this morning when you came into the bakery.” Tom said as he set the mugs on a tray. “Last time we saw you, it felt like we were never going to see you again.” Tom had a sad expression on his face as he said this before offering the first of the mugs to his guest.

Tim sighed as he took a mug and stared into it. “I never thought I’d ever set foot in Paris again either,” he admitted.

“Is it because of Le Papillon?” Sabine asked after a small sip of her coffee. “Is he why you’re here?”

Tim nodded. “At first I was just going to slip into Paris undercover, figure out who this terrorist was, and deliver all the information to the authorities before slipping out again back to Gotham. No one was supposed to know I was here.”

“What changed?” Tom asked?

“The League got involved,” Tim answered. “And Bruce asked me to investigate personally. Now I’m on their radar.”

At the mention of the League and Bruce, both Tom and Sabine frowned. Tom looked mostly concerned while Sabine looked irritated. For a moment it looked like she wanted to say something, but instead chose to focus on drinking her coffee, swallowing her words along with the dark bitter liquid.

“You should have said no.” Sabine finally muttered under her breath. Then she shook her head. “No. They should’ve never asked you in the first place.” She looked at Tim with an expression that warred between frustration and worry. “Not after what they did.”

“If I hadn’t accepted, then they would’ve sent a team of my brothers and sisters from Gotham, and we would’ve ended up tripping over each other.” Tim set down his empty mug. “Or worse, Bruce might’ve decided to come himself to investigate.”

“So what brought you to the bakery?” Tom asked. “You could’ve still investigated for the League and we wouldn’t have even known you were here in Paris.“

“The League has evidence that Le Papillon may be directly targeting the children at College Francoise Dupont.”

Tom and Sabine gasped in alarm. “Is Marinette in danger?” Sabine asked immediately.

“I’m not sure.” Tim admitted with a frown. “We aren’t certain how Le Papillon is choosing his victims though there are some solid theories. However, the majority of his targets recently are either students from the school or adults with direct ties to them. Once I leave here I’m going to begin my investigation. I’ve got a few leads to chase down. Not sure how long this is going to take though.”

“Are you going to be undercover?” Tom asked.

“I’m actually going undercover as myself.”

Tom regarded him with a quizzical look. “How does that work?”

Tim smiled a little. “You’ll see in a day or two.” He revealed. “It’ll be fairly obvious.”

Then Tim reached into an interior pocket of his leather jacket. He pulled out a small package. “I really need to head out to the school myself to get things started. I’ve got an appointment with Principal Damocles today. However, I wanted to give you both this before I left.”

Sabine took the package from Tim and opened it. Inside was a pair of cell phones in two different styles and colors. One was silver. The other was red.

“The silver phone is a direct secured line to me,” Tim explained. “If Le Papillon puts either of you or Marinette in danger when I’m not nearby, call or text me. I’ll come immediately. I’m staying at Le Grande Paris for the week at least, and if it takes longer to hunt down Le Papillon I’ll be setting up in an apartment not too far from here. I don’t plan on leaving the immediate area until this investigation is complete. So I’ll be here if any of you need me.”

Tom nodded. Then Sabine picked up the red phone. “What about this one?”

Tim’s expression became more serious. “That is an emergency line straight to Oracle, my point of contact to the League. If something happens to me… if I get badly hurt or akumatized… I need you to send a message to Oracle. I need you two to let her know that ‘Mockingbird’ has been compromised.”

At that, both Sabine and Tom stared at Tim with open concern. “Then, I pray we never have to use this.” Tom said quietly.

“You and me both,” Tim agreed as he prepared to leave.

“It’s not fair.” Sabine’s sad voice caused Tim to pause at the door. “We’ve missed you so much, and we’ve wished for so long that you would come back to Paris one day, back into our lives, but not like this.”

Tim kept his gaze focused on the door, his brows furrowed before closing his eyes and bowing his head. “I know. But you both know why I couldn’t.“

"You know, you don’t have to pretend to be a stranger while you’re in Paris now, Tim.” Tom said hopefully. “Sure the reason you’re here is not ideal, and while you never intended to return you are here now.” He drew his wife into a sideways one-armed hug and smiled reassuringly at Tim. “Marinette knows you’re our friend, and if you’re here for awhile, it would be odd or even suspicious for you to not visit from time to time.”

Tim sighed. When he turned to the couple it was clear from his initial expression he intended to give a reluctant denial. “I can’t–” But the words got stuck in his throat as he looked at both Tom and Sabine, with their dual hopeful expressions. He drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I'll… think about it,” he finally relented.  

Sabine smiled and gave Tim a hug while Tom smiled and nodded. Then the pair of them saw him out of the bakery as he started out towards College Francoise Dupont.

—–

Meanwhile, a small purple and black butterfly was flitting towards that exact same school, pulsing with dark energies.

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#afewnovelideas #miraculous DC #a mockingbird in paris #mdc:amip #miraculous ladybug fanfiction #ml fanfic #batman fanfiction #batman fanfic #tim drake #marinette dupain cheng #Sabine cheng #tom dupain #red robin fanfiction #red robin fanfic #ml fanfiction

[thecleverdame]

Control and Release - 20

Series Masterlist

TEDTalk!Sam x Reader

Summary: With the rest of the staff caught in a snowstorm, you find yourself acting as a personal assistant to the notorious Sam Winchester.

Warnings: Dom/Sub, humiliation, embarrassment, sexual objectification, mutual masturbation, spanking, cum play, fingering, anal play, orgasm control, nipple clamps, dub-con, breath play.

Beta: @ilikaicalie

Words: 4k

Parts 21, 22, 23 & 24 are currently available on Patreon for a monthly pledge of $2.50. This includes early access to all my stories, including the ABO series Gods of Twilight and Patreon exclusive content.  >> CLICK HERE <<

-

“Holy shit,” you mutter, staring at your black and blue ass in the mirror. These marks aren’t faint or small. Your backside is covered with thick, deep blue welts from his belt. You woke up on your stomach, only to wince in pain once you rolled over. Then you sat up and nearly yelped at the ache. But now as you stand naked in the bathroom you can’t help but smile, twisting around to get a better look. While you’re going to have a hard time sitting down, it’s a thrilling reminder of last night. A reminder of something new and this connection that’s growing between you and Sam.

Your phone rings and you glance at the number, sighing before answering.

“Hey, mom-”

“Don’t you ‘hey mom’ me. You said you’d call me back and I haven’t heard a peep in forty-eight hours. I’ve been calling and calling.”

“The FBI took my phone. This one came by courier this morning, honestly, I just turned it on like ten minutes ago.”

“Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”

“Of course not,” you roll your eyes, glancing at your butt one last time. “A lot’s happened in the last twenty-four hours.”

“Do you want to come home? You can move home with your dad and I. We haven't touched your room.”

“I’m not moving back to Albuquerque. I’m okay, really.”

“And what? You’re headed to Chicago all by your lonesome after what happened? That’s not a good idea.”  

“No, I’m staying here in Boston. Things have changed.”

“I’ll come there, then. I was looking at flights this morning. Your father and I can be there by this afternoon.”

“Mom, seriously, I’m fine,” you suppress the urge to get riled up. She loves you, but sometimes it’s too much. Slipping into the closet you find your tiny section of clothes amid Sam’s vast wardrobe.  

“Don’t be ridiculous, of course you’re not fine,” she fires back. “Who would be alright after something like that? I’m coming there to take care of you.”

“No, mom, just stop and listen to me. I’m a little shook but honestly, I’m doing good. I’m seeing a therapist. I’m going to be late for my appointment if I don’t hurry up and get dressed.”  

“No one should have to go through this alone, sweetheart.”

“I told you, I’m not alone.” You stop to look at the empty bed, Sam was up and out the door before the sun came up. “I’ve got people here. Just please, stop worrying about me so much. I’ll call every day, I promise.”

“I don’t like this. You said you were moving because there was nothing left for you in that God awful city and now you’re staying?”

“Things just...changed. I’ve got positive things here, but it’s hard to talk about it. I feel like shit for talking about anything good that’s in my life when people were just killed. I need time to process everything.”

“Who’s going to make sure you eat? Your appetite is always the first thing to go when you’re stressed. Are you in a hotel? Where are you staying?”

“I’m with a friend until I get my living situation figured out.”

“Thank God, hotels are so impersonal. With those tiny soaps and the coffee is never good. You need a home.”

“Look, I have to go. I’m going to call you later, okay?”

“Alright, I love you so much.”

“I love you too.”

As you hang up you walk to the small dresser at the back of the closet and open the top drawer. The two photos that used to be on display are now tucked out of sight You take out the one of him in college. He’s so happy and in love, it’s hard to imagine your Sam is this same person.

If nothing else it’s a reminder of the fact that people are capable of great change.

-

Walking down the hallways of the hospital you glance down at the paper in your hand with a room number written on it. Pausing at room 7059 you confirm the name scribbled on the dry erase board and knock.

“Come in,” calls out a male voice.

“Hi.” You shuffle inside, leaning around the curtains pulled in a half-circle around his bed. “I’m sorry if I’m bothering you.”

“You’re the last face I expected to see,” Tim laughs and then coughs, grimacing in pain. “But you’re not bothering me. I’m bored out of my mind.”

“Are you sure? I can come back later…” you’re already backing out of the room as he leans forward, wincing in pain.

“Please, just sit down. I’d like the company.”

You step around his bed, sitting in the plastic chair pulled up beside it. Your eyes flutter closed as your ass throbs.

“Oh, I brought you something,” you remember, reaching into your bag and pulling out a copy of The Reckoning by John Grisham. “It was this or Danielle Steel. The gift shop didn’t have a lot of options. I don’t even know if you like to read.” It’s at that moment you spot a Kindle lying beside him on the bed. “Or if you already have an e-reader with access to any book you want.”

“This thing is my mom’s, it’s full of Agatha Christie novels and I don’t have her password to buy anything else.” He holds up the Kindle. “I do like to read and I prefer books. Thank you for bringing me something other than flowers.”

He gestures around the room.

“Wow,” you look at the dozen or so bouquets and potted plants. “I guess people go with what they know.”

“I guess,” he nods, smiling at you. “I’m glad you’re alright,”

“Thanks. I’m glad you’re alright too.” You shift in the chair. “That’s why I’m here. I don’t think I would be alive if it weren’t for you.”

“Eh,” he grumbles, looking away. “I’m not the hero in this story. Winchester is the one who took him out.”

“True, but you distracted him. People were running and you stepped forward, put your arms out in front of us.”

“That was nothing. Just instincts.”

You shrug. “Instincts that bought the rest of us a few seconds. Sam got there just in time, but if you hadn’t tried to help us, I don’t think it would have ended the same way for me. Thank you.”

“You’re very welcome.” He nods, clearing his throat. “I heard Callie, the redhead who did the corporate travel arrangements...she died this morning in surgery.”

“Yeah,” you confirm, feeling the sadness swell into your throat. “Max died last night. They thought he might make it, but he didn’t.”

The death toll kept rising. It turns out Brent used a particularly nasty bullet designed to do the maximum amount of damage.  A lot of the people who survived the initial attack are struggling with serious complications.

“Shit.” Tim sits back against the pillow. You’re both silent as the murmur of the TV rambles in the background. “I’m starting to think I must be lucky. This is actually the third time I’ve taken a bullet. I’m three for three.”

“I heard that. You never know what’s rumor and what’s not but people said that’s why you left the service.”

“That was the second time. But the better story is the first time. I was just a kid. My brother accidentally shot me with my dad’s .22. He was grounded for a year and I got all the chocolate ice cream I could eat. Hell, I still do. My mom brought me some this morning.”

“Maybe you are lucky,” you laugh, checking your cell phone.  

Two messages are scrawled across the screen.

Sam: Meet me for lunch.

Sam: Parish Cafe at 1:30

“Someone important?” Tim grins.

“Important and demanding,” you chuckle, responding see you there and put the phone away. “Look I know I don’t know you and I don’t want to make this weird, but if you’re feeling up to it do you think we could get together next week?”

His eyebrows shoot up and you backtrack, shaking your head in embarrassment.

“I didn’t mean...I...God, I’m bad at this. I’m seeing a therapist, and yesterday she suggested that I reach out and try to connect with some of the people who were there when it happened. I was kinda hoping Millie would join us, maybe Lexi - God bless her.”

Tim laughs out loud at that, nodding in agreement.

“Sure, I didn’t have much of a social life before all this and I’m guessing I’ll be a captive audience for some time.”  

“Awesome.”

“I thought you were moving? Seems like this would be the perfect opportunity to get the fuck out of dodge.”

You stare at him, a million thoughts merging all at once.

“Things changed.”

“Important and demanding things?” he questions and you can’t help the blush that creeps into your cheeks.

“Yes,” you whisper, getting up. “So, I guess I’ll see you next week then.”

“Just let me know.” He gives you a little salute.

-

Sam’s seated in the back of the dark little restaurant, reading on his iPad when you join him.

“Sorry I’m late,” you slip into the chair across from him, biting your lip as the sting of the bruises take your breath away. “I don’t think my Uber driver has lived here very long.”

“I could have sent a car for you.” He finishes what he’s reading before looking up. A flicker moves from his eyes to his mouth, just a ghost of a smile. “I like that dress.”

You look down at the black and white gingham summer dress you bought yesterday. “Thanks, it’s new.”

“I don’t normally see you this casual.”

“I guess that’s true,” you grin at him. He looks handsome today. Sam always looks good, but there’s something about when he doesn’t wear a tie and lets the top buttons of his shirt lay open that you just love. “You like it huh?”

“Very much,” he confirms. He carefully places his tablet and his phone screen down on the table. It’s something new he’s started doing when he intends on giving you his full attention.

“So,” you take the cloth napkin, folding it over your lap. “This was unexpected. I thought you’d be too busy.”

“Not for you,” he responds succinctly and you feel your heart speed up.

This is Sam trying.

“You keep saying things like that and we might need to get a room after lunch,” you laugh, then realize how much easier this feels, more natural than before. You worried it would be hard to relax around him, but that’s not the case.

“That could be an interesting prospect,” he trails his finger around the edge of his water glass, lost somewhere between amusement and arousal. “Not today, but another time.”

“I’ll look forward to it then. You know, I haven’t officially asked yet, can I have my job back?”

“Of course,” he scoffs, “In fact, I’m thinking of placing you as a sort of mentor to a new guy I have coming in.”

“A mentor? I’m barely a secretary.”

“I meant more of a mentor for navigating the people, the office politics. What happened with Brent can’t happen again. I need someone down in the trenches watching the junior associates. After what happened with you and Max, and now Brent it’s clear it’s the wild west and I intend to reign it in. I should have seen it before.”

“What exactly happened...with Brent?”

“It’s not clear yet. I think Brent took the fall for a couple of other guys, they set him up to be a scapegoat. I suspected it at the time but I also have to walk a fine line. I can’t accuse senior staff of lying unless I have something to back it up. It undermines their authority. I’m bringing in several people from the outside for oversight, we need a fresh start.”

“What are you going to do about the building?”

“Have it demolished. I can’t expect anyone to work there. I was focused on expanding the campus, but now that’s futile. There are two buildings downtown, big enough for everyone but I have to ensure it’s the right fit. I’m headed there this afternoon if you’d like to join me.”

“I’d like that,” you watch him pick up the menu.

You could get used to this.

Two Weeks Later

“You found a place?” Sam inquires, looking through the stack of mail.

“Yup, it’s a loft. It’s small but there are tall ceilings so it doesn’t feel claustrophobic. Lots of windows. It’s exactly what I need right now.” You grin, plopping down on his couch. “They said I can move in next Monday.”

“Are you ready for that?” he inquires nonchalantly, skimming over a letter. “You said your therapist suggested you shouldn’t be alone, not for a while.”

“I’m not gonna be alone. We start working at the office on Wednesday, I always spend weekends with you and I’m hoping maybe I could see you during the week sometimes...it’s been nice spending time together, you know, other than sex.”

You watch him absorb this confession, a thoughtful expression crossing his face as he sets the remaining mail aside and looks at you.

“It’s been different than I thought. I haven’t shared personal space like this in a very long time. I assumed I would feel suffocated, but I haven’t. You’re easy to be around.” He delivers this information deadpan and your entire face goes hot. “It’s been nice.”

“Maybe you could come to my place sometime? I can try to cook something, and I’ll probably have a futon by then. Maybe even a loveseat if my boss gives me a raise with this fancy new position. You can see how the other half lives.”

“That sounds...terrible,” he grins, watching you carefully.

“Yeah, it does,” you laugh out loud, genuinely happy for the first time in a long time. “But I am getting a new bed, I ordered it this morning. We could break it in…”

“You let me know once the futon arrives and I’ll drop by.” He gives in, checking his watch. “There is one thing we need to talk about.”

“That sounds vaguely ominous,” you chatter, giving him your full attention.

“You asked me to void our contract. I had it taken care of this morning.” He gives a curt little nod.

“I wanted to talk about that...about us and how this works now. I’d still prefer if our relationship remained private. For the time being at least.” You’ve been thinking about it more and more over the last few days.

“I understand,” Sam agrees easily.

“It’s just, people will assume a lot of things. And they’re nosey. I like this being just ours.”

“You don’t have to explain, I understand. My life entails more than you realize. No one pays attention to me because I don’t date actresses or get DUIs, but once you’re in the mix, eventually someone will take an interest.”

“We’re not very scandalous,” you snort, “Well, I guess kind of, but not in a ‘Page Six’ way.”

“True.” Sam looks relaxed, more at ease than you’ve seen him since this thing between you started. “You’re always welcome here,” he adds, before shifting his attention back to his work.

-

“You start work tomorrow?” Carol, your psychiatrist, is always examining you. But that’s why you come here, to be an open book. You’ve always been open to the idea of therapy and after everything that’s happened this can’t hurt.

“Yeah, going in on a Wednesday. We’re starting back up with a three day week.” It’s been a month since the shooting and life has inevitably moved despite the many changes. “I’m kinda nervous. I keep having this thought that I shouldn’t feel so normal. Like I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop and have some kind of a breakdown or something.”

“Are you still experiencing triggers?”

“Yeah,” you admit. This is the most frustrating part for you. Ninety-nine percent of the time you’re fine but out of the blue you find yourself spiraling down this dark hole. The panic attacks hit you out of nowhere and disappear just as quickly. It’s normal, that’s what everyone keeps telling you, but the unpredictability of it is infuriating. “I went three days with nothing and then last night we were eating dinner and bam. I almost passed out. Five minutes later I was fine.”

“Was there anything that stood out about that moment? A loud noise? Someone yelling?”

“No,” you shrug. “I was in the kitchen. I don’t even turn the TV on anymore. I never noticed before how many guns there are. Someone’s always shooting or talking about it. The first couple of times it happened I thought that was it. CNN was on the background, maybe I heard something I didn’t realize. But I’ve officially marked that off as a possibility. The trigger must be something else.”

“Well, just keep an eye on it. Next time it happens try to make a note of the details. Write it down right away, or take a video with your cell phone. We’ll figure it out. And if it gets bad, you call me and we can talk about medication again.”

“Honestly, I feel fine most of the time. I was thinking this morning I must be a psychopath. You know I didn’t even cry at Max’s funeral?”

“We’ve talked about survivor's guilt. Everyone’s experience is different. That’s just one facet of it. Take things slow and if you start to experience any emotional discomfort, take a step back.” She suggests, supportive as ever.

“I will. I’m ready to just dive in. I’ve got this new position and a new apartment.” You smile, thinking about all the emerging possibilities.

“New relationship,” she adds, as if you’ve purposely avoided mentioning it. And maybe you have. It’s not that she doesn’t approve, but she’s cautious.

“I know you don’t think it’s a good idea, but we’re actually in a good place.”

“I never said that I thought it was a bad idea. I simply pointed out that you hold things back when it comes to him. You stop yourself from spilling too many details. Sometimes that can be a warning sign. And your work situation is less than ideal. You said he’s your boss?”

“More like...my boss’s boss’s boss. He’s at the top of the food chain.”

“Well, it’s probably better he’s that far removed.” She makes a note on her pad. “And your sex life remains one hundred percent consensual?”

“Yeah, God, you make it sound like there’s something wrong with it.”

“Again, that’s you projecting what you assume my opinions are. But I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t ask. You’re certainly not the first woman in the world who enjoyed being tied up. There’s nothing wrong with it as long as it’s not having a negative impact on your self-worth or emotional health.”

“No, things are really good, all around. It sounds so fucked up to say that, but I feel like my life has a future. Is that weird? It’s not that I was sad or depressed before, but I was treading water. Now I’m going somewhere.”

“Sometimes terrible things bring necessary change. You didn’t know how to move forward here, and now you do.”

-

The new offices are two high rise buildings connected by a walkway. It’s just temporary until Sam decides on where to build the new campus but for the next couple years, this is the home of W & S.

Glancing at the post-it in your hand you look again at the number in front of you.

Workspace 2852

The office team had decided everything is now labeled as a workspace. There are no more offices and cubicles. Only workspaces - that look exactly like traditional offices and cubicles. You trail down the aisle, cubicles flanking the left and offices against the right-hand wall. Coming to the end of the cubicles you check the paper again. You must have missed it.

“You alright, sweetheart?” Gloria from the travel team asks.

“I can’t find my desk. Maybe I’m on the wrong floor,” you explain.

She takes the paper from you, looking at the number and pointing to a small office tucked into the corner. “2852, right there.”

“No way,” you grin, getting closer only to find your last name scrawled across a piece of masking tape in the center of the door.

“Sorry about the tape. The nameplates are coming, that’ll have to do for now.”

“No, it’s fine.” You’re beaming like an idiot, opening the door and stepping inside. It’s small, but the ceilings are vaulted and it’s literally in the corner of the building. Two walls are floor to ceiling windows that overlook the city below. “Shit,” you mumble to yourself, scarcely able to believe this is your little corner of the world.

The office is naked, just a desk, computer and filing cabinet. But it’s yours.

There’s a single, white envelope on the desk and you have a feeling who’s left it for you. Inside is a note written on the back of a business card.

Enjoy. You deserve it.

“Sam,” you whisper, clutching the little card like it’s a bouquet of flowers. Turning the card over you’re met with another shock. The card is yours. Your name with the title of Department Liaison underneath.

“Sorry to bother you.” A new voice and two knocks come from behind you. You turn to find an unassuming man standing in the doorway.  “I know you're probably busy. I just wanted to drop in and introduce myself. I’m Cole Trenton.”

Cole Trenton, your new boss.

“Hi,” you beam back. He looks...nice. There’s a big smile plastered across his face as he extends his hand. His handshake is firm but not too hard, some men feel the need to crush you to prove a point but not him. “Y/N. I just got here. I’m not normally late but I couldn’t find my des- office.”

“Don’t worry about it.” He waves his hand dismissing any concern. Shoving both hands in his pockets he wanders inside, looking at your view. Whistling, he looks back at you. “Someone must like you. I’m right next door, mine is bigger, but nothing like this.”

“To be honest I thought I’d be stuck out there in cubicle land.”

“Not anymore.” He taps your desk with the back of his knuckles. “I’m not sure what your schedule looks like today, but I was hoping we could sit down and I could pick your brain. You’re my eyes and ears right?”

“Absolutely,” you affirm. “Welcome, by the way. We’ve needed someone like you for a long time.”

“I’m lucky to be here. Working for Sam Winchester was pipe dream up until two weeks ago. I just don’t wanna screw this up. I’ve heard he’s a bastard but he can make or break you.”

“He’s not so bad,” you feel the business card burning a hole in your hand. “He just has high expectations.”

“I’m alright with that,” he chuckles lifting his hands palms forward in a sign of submission. “Let me know once you’re settled in. Whadda you say we order a pizza and go over employee files. It’ll be the first act of official business in your new workspace.”

“That sounds great. It looks like you’ll have to bring your own chair.” You’re on cloud nine. You’ve got a boss that doesn’t hate you with his very marrow. “It’s nice to meet you, Cole.”

“You too.” He pats the door frame on the way out, leaving you truly immersed in this new beginning.  

#sam winchester fanfiction #sam winchester x reader #sam winchester smut

[kenzieam]

Beauty and the Blackheart - Chapter Two

@jewels2876​​​  @moonbeambucky​​  @jeremyrennerfanxxxx123​​​  @iammarylastar​​​@captstefanbrandt​​​  @badassbaker​​​  @pinknerdpanda​​​  

I know I’m forgetting people, sorry. If you want in, hit me.

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Rating: M

Warnings: Language, general nuttiness, smut

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Okay, so......

Lev, the serious one, is visiting her wild-child twin brother, Clint. There she meets Bucky, a tall, dark, brooding mystery who’s her total opposite in every way. Of course, she’s intrigued even as her mind screams to run for safety, but what could go wrong, right??

***********************************************************************

Lev glanced up from the elevated counter in front of her and grinned as a familiar face pushed open the door and entered.

“Hey Spider,” she called, genuinely happy to see the man.

“Hey, little lady. How are you?” The biker called back, chains rattling as he moved.

“Getting by.”

“I see that, looking fine this morning, honey.”

Lev smirked mildly at him. A shameless flirt, Spider was harmless, totally devoted to his ol’ lady, Sparkle, but guaranteed to throw out little tidbits like this on the regular just to make the recipient red.

“Your head’s looking mighty shiny this morning, handsome.” Lev lobbed back, enjoying the now familiar game between her and the shop’s frequent flyer. He belonged to a genuine motorcycle club, yet still found time to pop into Blackheart every few days for something. Lev figured he liked the conversation, he and Clint got on like a house afire.

He tipped a salute then glanced over the front of the shop. “Buck around?”

“Haven’t seen him yet.” Lev had sort of fallen into the role of temporary front-end manager and had spent the last two weeks managing appointments, payments and supply ordering for Blackheart Ink.

Only a few days after Lev's arrival, Nat’s father, according to Nat a batshit old man who had no goddamn common sense, had fallen off a ladder while attempting to install a birdhouse on a towering pole in his backyard for her mother and broken a decent amount of bones. Also, according to Nat, her daddy, while having no sense of self-preservation, fortunately healed rather quickly from his varied injuries and boo-boos over the years. Regardless, Nat had been torn, with Lev offering to fill in at the shop so Nat could go home and help until her father was back on his feet.

After a few trying days, Lev found she liked helping, greeting and laughing with regulars, fielding phone calls, bantering with the boys.

Steve was hilarious, and an unapologetic big brother, displaying a heart-warming amount of concern and affection for Lev right from the start, like she was just another little sister, even defending her from her own twin sometimes, letting her hide behind him as Clint spazzed randomly, suddenly convinced that Lev needed a Sonic the Hedgehog tattooed on her wrist, or that she would look great with that new sparkly pink tongue post they’d just brought in and he’d chased her around the shop waving a clamp.

It was fun to add the big guy in on their games and life at the shop was never boring, Lev even found herself relaxing her stringent boundaries, the rules she usually lived by. She still was a long way off from her fun and free-spirited brother however, and never did that seem more obvious than the rare times Bucky interacted with her.

He remained a lurking shadow most of the time, loosening up around his friends and regular customers, but he seemed to have taken Lev stepping in to help as a personal attack, alternating between glowering at her and outright ignoring her.

In truth, Lev preferred being ignored, for when he did turn those intense eyes on her, Lev felt out of control, little sparks racing under her skin, a set of butterflies suddenly alive in her belly.

And wasn’t that just a big old hot mess.

They were polar opposites. Bucky seemed to live on coffee, while Lev limited herself severely. He smoked like a chimney, both tobacco and pot, while Lev had seen too many blackened lungs in Anatomy class to ever partake. The only green thing she’d seen near his mouth was the lettuce of the fast-food burgers he wolfed down, and he’d never even heard of edamame, staring at Lev’s lunch bento one day like it was toxic waste. In addition, he had a filthy mouth, peppering all conversations with liberal f-bombs, squinting in confusion at Lev when she grumbled something along the lines of ‘for Pete’s sake’ after spilling her water, not able to comprehend an exclamation that didn’t rhyme with ‘duck’.

He’d never outright said it to her, but the thought radiated from him like body heat, ‘what a fucking princess’.

And the girls! It seemed every night there was some new one strutting into the shop near closing, cooing his name, ready to head over to the bar down the street, then no doubt back to his house for wild sex.

They were all tall, hot and polished, wearing dresses wrapped tighter than ace bandages around their pert little asses and surgically enhanced breasts, eyeing Lev derisively as they passed her desk. Dismissing her with a sniff, already looking past her for the object of their attention.

Lev tried not to look, but Jesus, it seemed whenever Bucky would emerge from the back, having heard his newest siren’s call, that the woman would launch herself at him, start devouring his face and he just went with it. Catching them and slamming them against a wall, grabbing their faces to angle their mouths for a deeper kiss, making them moan and whimper his name.

Lev wondered idly if this was done for her benefit, if Bucky hated her so much that he was trying to make her uncomfortable enough to leave except for, beyond a derisive snort or slap on his shoulder, Steve and Clint seemed to be used to and tolerate his manwhore ways, or had at least learned to ignore them.

“You alright?” Steve had asked a few days ago, as Tiffany or Amber or who-the-fuck-ever swallowed Bucky’s tongue in full view of the desk, for the door to the supply room had swung back open after Bucky had slammed it shut while lurching inside with his newest spider monkey. His eyes trekked warily from the display back to Lev, forehead furrowed in concern as he studied her face. “I can tell him to fuck off, you know. He doesn’t need to be-”

“It’s fine.” Lev replied breezily, although she felt anything but. This wasn’t her permanent job, and Bucky was nothing and nobody to her. “It’s his shop.”

Steve studied her quietly, seemed about to say more. Sure, it was his shop and he’d been pulling this shit for years and Steve and Clint had learned to ignore it, but that didn’t make it right, especially with someone so… pure as Lev nearby.

“He’s-” Steve broke off, rubbing his chin. “Buck’s complicated-”

“He’s a whore.” Lev startled slightly, surprised at the venom behind her words. Again, WHY THE FUCK did it matter to her?

Steve shrugged, a hint of sadness curving his lips downward. He didn’t elaborate and Lev sensed there was a story there but it hardly mattered. Nat would be back soon, and Lev would go home and start practicing medicine for real and eventually she’d meet her own Prince Charming and Bucky could stay here, his cock rotting off from whatever STD he’d finally caught.

“Hey Spider.” A deep voice suddenly called, startling Lev out of her thoughts. Bucky lumbered into her peripheral, a genuine smile on his face as he greeted the other man. “Head on back, I’m all set up.” He gestured for Spider to pass then turned to face Lev. Any geniality in his voice died, all light left his eyes.

“You’re fucking up my appointments.”

Lev stared wordlessly, trying to think back on what she could have possibly messed up. Exasperated, Bucky strode to the elevated counter and reached over, his height making it easy and all but ripped the appointment book out from under her hands. He stabbed a thick finger at tomorrow’s first appointment.

“A memorial tat first thing in the goddamn morning?” He hissed.

Lev was thoroughly confused. ‘First thing’ at Blackheart was 11 am, how the hell was that the ass-crack of dawn?

“And a goddamn ‘memorial’ tattoo? What, some crying housewife wailing about her daddy dying? Wanting a set of angel wings and ‘always in my heart’ floating above it?”

Now Lev saw red. As a trauma resident, she dealt with death on the regular, grief was not something she took lightly.

“Fuck you.” She hissed, too angry to realize what she’d just said, for one of the first times in her buttoned-up life. “A memorial tattoo isn’t hardcore enough for you? You’re too fucking hungover from the night before to make it in that early, when the rest of the civilized world has been up and contributing to society for hours already? Or are you just too sore from fucking whatever whore you dragged home? These are important to people, Bucky. It’s family that they don’t have anymore and they’re trusting you to immortalize what they’ve lost! In my opinion there’s no greater honor to imbed something like that permanently into someone’s skin! You don’t want any bullshit angel wings any more then fucking tell me like a decent fucking person, you fucking dickhead!” She slammed her hand down on the book to illustrate, the sound sharp like a slap in the silent room.

Lev broke off, breathing hard, her pulse racing. She’d never, never lost control like that before and she’d just sworn more in the last two minutes than she had her whole adult life.

Bucky eyed her appraisingly, he didn’t look mad per se, but she’d definitely surprised him, and he looked torn between snarling back and just ignoring her again.

His lip twitched and Lev expected him to open his mouth and start bellowing but he grinned. It was fast, gone in a flash as though it had escaped in a moment of weakness but, for a heartbeat, he’d done something other than glower at her.

“Duly noted, princess.” He drawled, then the curtain seemed to fall over his eyes and Lev became the invisible girl again, staring after him in shock as he turned and strode away, slamming the door of his room behind him.

****************************************************************************

The next morning Lev shifted her weight nervously, fingers curling as she studied the appointment book. The memorial client Bucky had chewed her out for yesterday was due any minute and Lev didn’t know what to do. Bucky hadn’t expressly told her he wouldn’t do the tat, so she couldn’t move the woman to another artist, but she was awfully tempted to head off the lady the moment she walked in with some excuse about Bucky needing to cancel last minute and saving her from dealing with him and his shitty attitude.

While she regretted her loss of temper and foul language, Lev didn’t regret tearing a strip off the man yesterday. Bucky had needed a wake-up call but the way he’d reacted still made her shiver and she wasn’t sure if it was a good or bad thing. The door chimed as it opened and Lev inhaled sharply, trying to decide what to do. The woman was older middle-aged, soft and wholesome looking, greying hair in a low bun, the very last person you’d expect to get inked.

Great, not only was this woman here for a memorial tattoo, but it was most likely her first one. What an introduction, being shepherded into the world of body art by King Asshole himself.

This wasn’t her business, this wasn’t even her real job, she had no right or power to do anything about it but she couldn’t let this woman walk into her appointment thinking Bucky was going to give her his best when he’d already shown he wouldn’t.

“Hello, I know you’re here for-”

“Good Morning.” A honeyed voice overrode hers and Lev startled, snapping her head sideways. Bucky appeared in her peripheral vision, smiling charmingly.

“You must be my eleven o’clock.”

The woman actually giggled, already enchanted and Lev gaped, stunned by the turn of events. Where the hell was the growling, miserable bastard she’d dealt with yesterday? Who’d ignored her all day after their angry encounter?

Had he trimmed his beard?

Lev didn’t even realize he owned a pair of jeans that didn’t have holes in them, yet this pair looked…. Good. Shit, she hadn’t really paid attention before, put off by his general aura, but Bucky had an amazing pair of thighs, muscular and straining his jeans in the best way. And don’t even get her started on the way his plain black t-shirt stretched over his chest, back and shoulders.

Jesus.

Lev winced, shocked by her internal monologue as Bucky gestured the woman past him, flicking an indecipherable glance at Lev before following her to his room, the door closing quietly behind him. Within moments, one of Bucky’s more mild playlists began to play lowly, filling the air with the mellow first notes of ‘Crying Shame’ by The Teskey Brothers.

The phone rang then, jarring Lev from any more speculation and she nearly dropped the receiver before answering, cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

“Blackheart Ink and Body Mod, this is Lev, how can I help you?”

***************************************************************************

The surrealness continued, with none of Bucky’s usual hard rock/metal music, instead James Blunt’s ‘Bonfire Heart’ following ‘Crying Shame’ and Lev wondered what the hell was going on. Clint, who unlike his friend, had no trouble working early, had been in his room since 9:30, working on a special client currently on leave who wanted an intricate sleeve done before he was deployed again, merely grabbing a second can of Monster from the back fridge this morning to tide him over and Lev didn’t expect to see him for another few hours still. Steve wasn’t due in until 2 or 3 o’clock, having taken the morning off and there were no walk-ins yet to worry about.

She busied herself for a bit cleaning the display case for body jewelry and a tiny little voice in the back of her mind began to muse about what it would be like to maybe, just maybe, pop her cherry and get a piercing. Lev literally had none to speak of, not even her ears were pierced, and she had found herself wondering more and more in the last week what it would be like to sit for the needle, feel Bucky’s breath on her face as he leaned close to mark the place on her skin, the quiet concentration setting his jaw just so; for while Bucky was a bastard, he took body piercing seriously and never seemed to show attitude, even for basic ones, the giggling girls queuing up for naval studs, or nose rings.

Bucky’s new playlist continued, and Lev was pleasantly surprised by the contents. Was this a hidden side she hadn’t seen yet, or was he in some way taking the piss?

Her thoughts were so jumbled around this man and she hated feeling confused. But either way, regardless of what she thought and felt, it didn’t matter. She was leaving soon, going back to her real life and, even if she wasn’t, they were too different.

He was fire, she was ice.

What business did a doctor have with a tattoo artist, and she didn’t mean any kind of bullshit class structure. They were literally opposite ends of the spectrum, a deductive job of reasoning and knowledge versus one of artistic talent and freedom.

And, even if their careers were somehow compatible, their personalities definitely were not. Lev felt vaguely inferior around Bucky, as if by foregoing fun for structure made her less than him somehow. He looked down on her, dismissed her as a princess, and while she wasn’t free from guilt, believing him to be mannerless prick, she couldn’t shake the disappointment of somehow having failed with Bucky.

The door to Bucky’s room opened suddenly, and Lev startled, looking up to see that an hour had already passed, before realizing that the woman was in tears.

Oh shit.

Lev felt a bolt of panic, eyes wide, as her mind raced. What had he said to her?

The woman headed her way, with Bucky trailing slowly behind and Lev braced herself, words of apology jumbling in her mind. But, as she approached, Lev saw that the woman was smiling through her tears, it was a joyful crying, not a sorrowful one.

“Look,” the woman called. Reaching for Lev she turned to expose the back of her shoulder, pointing excitedly. “Isn’t it beautiful?”

Lev looked down, down to the woman’s pale, soft skin. Although covered by a clear bandage, Lev could see that, indeed, the tattoo was beautiful. A trio of African Violets, so realistic and lifelike, with the simple word, ‘Forever’ underneath. While not a huge tattoo, it looked like a goddamn picture, three-dimensional and perfect; easily the most beautiful ink Lev had ever seen.

“My husband loved violets; I grew them for him. Our house and garden were full.” The woman sniffled, pulling a tissue from her pocket. Bucky had stepped to within a few feet of the women and, if Lev had looked up, she would have noticed that he was locked on her, watching her every reaction to this woman and her story. “After he died…. I couldn’t grow them anymore. Not that I didn’t want to, but I literally couldn’t. They wouldn’t grow for me anymore, its like he took them with him when he left.” She sniffled, hard, and Lev felt like crying herself. “These are my violets now; I get to keep them with me forever.”

Lev swallowed her tears, knowing that if she started, she’d never be able to finish for, even though she was serious and disciplined, in her heart of hearts, she secretly wanted a love like what this woman had had too, a connection that transcended death. A tear escaped anyway, trailing down her cheek and she wiped at it before it started a tsunami.

“That’s wonderful.”

The woman smiled, looking suddenly lighter, a glow about her. “I have to go; I must show my daughter!” She whirled and, before anyone could react, grabbed Bucky in a tight hug. If he was surprised, he hid it well, hugging her back and whispering something to her, then pulling away almost brusquely. He held up two fingers to Lev, indicating his fee then whirled, disappearing back into his room.

“What a lovely man.” The woman gushed, following a stunned Lev as she returned to the counter. “So gentle and polite! He listened to me ramble and gave me exactly what I wanted. My daughter will be in next, just you watch, wanting the same thing!” She added on a huge tip, and all but floated out of the shop, leaving a gobsmacked Lev in her wake.

Lev stared at the money for a beat, then carefully divided it, adding to the till the shop’s cut before stacking the rest in the little pirate’s treasure chest marked ‘Barnes’ hidden under the edge of the counter. Taking a pencil, she crossed out the appointment in the book then just stood there for a moment, unsure what to do next.

But before she could figure out her next move, Lev felt heat at her back, a body move close. She froze, realizing Bucky stood directly behind her, his chest inches from her back and her heart started galloping. His spicy masculine musk surrounded her as he lowered his head over her shoulder, some of the hair that escaped his man bun brushing her cheek.

She held her breath, feeling a crazed mix of fear and exhilaration. Was he going to yell at her, kiss her?

He paused, as if savouring the moment, or maybe the scent of Lev’s fear and breathed out. His exhale was slightly unsteady, as if it pained him then he spoke, his voice so low that she wouldn’t have been able to hear him if he weren’t mere inches away.

“You were right.”

#au bucky #bucky #bucky barnes #bucky barnes fanfic #bucky barnes fanfiction #au bucky barnes #au bucky barnes fanfic #au bucky barnes fanfiction #au bucky angst #au bucky drama #bucky x lev #bucky and lev

[fairymadnessyeah]

Birthday Boys

Chapter 3: Sibbling

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Shouto Todoroki liked to think he took good decisions. At first, it might not seem like it, but he swears that they were. Telling Midoriya about his home situation was a good decision. Becoming Bakugou’s friend was a good decision. Ish. They all sounded like terrible ideas that could end horribly wrong. But they didn’t. So he was pretty much sure that going to his brother’s work place after being rejected by said brother was one of those ideas of him. It sounded stupid and dangerous but he knew it was a good one.

He stepped out of the bus and walked for fifteen minutes to Inferno. When he entered an electric guitar echoed instead of a bell and he heard someone telling him to wait for a moment from another room.

The place was dark, with giant murals in each wall, lighted by ulta-violet light above them that made some parts of them shine. At the front of the store, with their backs to the window, was a couch and a couple of chairs with a coffee table that had different portfolios on it. At the back, there was a gateway with a courtain on the right corner, a door on the left and in between them a counter with a cash register on it that displayed a thousand different piercings. A constant buzzing mixed in the background with some rock music he couldn't place, bringing the whole place together.

As soon as Shouto sat down on the worn out couch, Touya stepped through the courtain and locked eyes on him.

“What are you doing here?” He asked angry.

“I want a tattoo” Shouto told him as he grabbed a portfolio filled with tattoo designs.

“You are only sixteen, you need your tutors consent, which you don’t have” He explained to the younger guy “Leave.”

“Then I want a piercing” Shouto told him, leaving the portfolio and getting a closer look on the display, ignoring his brother’s stare.

As he was looking, a woman with purple and black hair came out of the room with her forearm wrapped in film paper. She had an intricate design of vines and flowers that wrapped around a skull with red seeds in its mouth. The lady paid and left.

Shouto kept on looking at the piercings display feeling his brother’s glare on his back. Touya would have to deal with it, because Shouto had a plan and if he had to take his damn time looking at piercings, he will.

Yesterday, on Sunday, after seeing his sister so broken over Touya and what happened at the grill, Shouto decided that he was not going to let his brother walk out of their life again.

Not without doing something about it. Not this time.

The guitar door riff sounded again and both brothers turned to look at the newcomer. It was a red haired guy with a white uniform. “Hey Dabi, got your hair dye right here” She said and waved a box that she left in the counter.

“Who’s this little fella?” She asked as she pulled the sunglasses she was wearing to look at him better.

“I’m Shouto” He told her.

“Well, I’m Magne, I work at the salon next door.” She took out a flyer and have it to him. She looked towards Dabi to say something to him but came to the receiving end of the ’icy glare’ “Au revoir” She waved and blew them a kiss as she left the store.

“She seems nice” Shouto told his brother as he folded the paper and put it in his pocket.

“Are you done yet? Or are you going to keep wasting my time?” Touya asked him glaring at him.

Shouto pointed to two pendants, one with a flame and other with a snowflake. Dabi rolled his eyes with a sight and took them out of the display. He placed them on the counter and crossed his arms.

“Which ones you want?” Dabi asked him as he let him take a closer look at the pendants.

“A two and a six”

“Same ear?” Dabi asked as he walked to the doorway with the curtain.

“No. The snowflake on the right and the flame on the left” He followed his brother behind the curtain with the two pendants.

The room was like the rest of the place with murals decorating every wall, though this ones were more muted and less dark. There was a seat, like one would find in a dentist office but black and leathery. And next to it a machine Shouto had never seen. He guessed it was the tattoo gun.

Dabi rolled the machine to a wall next to a full length mirror and exchanged it for a rolling table with a piercing gun. He took out a bottle of alcohol as Shouto sat on the chair. He gave his eldest brother the two pendants as he started to disinfect his ear.

He took the gun and pierced one ear and then put the pendant in. He repeated the action on the other ear and when he was done, Shouto went to the mirror to look at it. It looked great. Would Midoriya like It? Would Yaoyorozu like it? He though as he stared at them. The two brothers heard the guitar/bell go off and Dabi left without a word. Shouto took a picture with his phone and as he was sending it to his friends, he heard his brother speak.

“Look Mist-man, I get it that you want to take care of the guy, but I need you to stay out of our problems.” Shouto stepped through the doorway and saw that his brother was talking to a guy in a suit with purple blackish hair, that stood up as if it was floating. “Whatever happens between Mophead and I, is our business and our business only.” The other man sighted.

“You’re still mad at Shigaraki?” Shouto asked and both men turned to look at him. He stared at the new guy and streched his hand for him to shake. “I’m Dabi’s younger brother, Todoroki Shouto”

“Kurogiri” The man said surprised as he shook his hand “It’s a plasure to meet you”

“Dabi and Shigaraki are fighting because of me and my other siblings. Shiagaraki contacted us and tried to surprise him but Dabi didn’t take it very well and left.” Shouto explained to him and recieved a flick to his recently pierced ear. “OW”

“Shut up, Shouto” His brother hissed at him.

“I see” Kurogiri said as Shouto held his ear, feeling as if it was going to come out. “Very well, Dabi, I will stay out of it, but I do believe you should talk with Tenko. Young Todoroki” He bowed his head to Shouto as then left the shop.

“Pay for the piercings and leave” Dabi told him.

Just as Shouto was taking out his wallet, the guitar riff went off and a blonde guy came throught. He said he had an appointment and Shouto told his brother to go ahead and that he could wait. He sat on the couch and started looking at the portfolios. Dabi sighted and asked the guy for his ID before leading him to the back room.

Three hours later, the guy left with a pegasus on the back of his left shoulder. Shouto spent the last hour answering his phone since his friends had seen the picture he sent of his new piercings. The coments varied from surprise to joy.

During those hours, he could only hear the buzzing sound of the machine and some punk song that he didn’t recognise. He liked it here, it was soothing.  

When the guy left the shop, he paid Dabi and left with a ‘See you tomorrow’. He walked to the bus and after an hour, made it to the dorms on curfew.

The next day, after school, he went back to the tattoo place. He took his books and schoolbag with him this time. When he entered, Dabi was talking to a girl with messy buns that was sitting on the counter. When she saw him, she jumped out the display and went to his side asking him a million questions at a time. Aperently Kurogiri had told all of Dabi's friends about Shouto.

“Hi, I’m Toga, Are you Dabi’s brother? How many does he have? Ooohhh was he prick when he was younger? And when did his emo phase start? Was he a good brother? I love your hair, where do you dye it?” The girl spoke fast and only breathed again when she finished asking.

“Umm…” Shouto blinked confused, not accustumed to the girls mannerisms. “Yes. Two more, a brother and sister. He was. When he was 10. He was. I don’t dye my hair” Shouto answered all her questions in order.

“You don’t?” She asked cofused and started to mess with his hair.

“I have vertiligo in the right side of my body and it mutated with my mother’s albino genes that she passed me. So… Half white, half red” He explained to her.

“Cool” She complimented him. “Can I take a closer look?”

“Sure” He shruged and Toga pulled him to the couch were she started to take a closer inspection at his hair.

Meanwhile, Dabi was confused and pissed off. This was not starting to be a good year for him. First, his boyfriend, the guy he thought would understand his decision to leave his family out of his life, went against his back and brought them himself to him. Second, all of their friends, who he thought would tell Tomura how wrong his accions were, took his side and told Dabi he was being ‘paranoid’ and ‘stupid’. And third, his stupid baby brother, who was only 16 at the time, was staying at his shop for the second time, and something deep inside him told him it would not be the last.

Both brothers, without noticing, took out their notebooks at the same time. One started sketching while the other writing. Toga chuckled at it and watched as the two got lost in the pages.

“What are you writing?” She asked the younger brother.

“I have homework. I need to write an essay for my English class.” He told her and showed her the paper he started. “It’s about the moon landing”

Toga snorted at that. “You are so much like Dabi. Everytime he gets drunk he starts telling us all his theories of how the goverment fakes everything and how they are going to implant devices in our heads to control us.” She told him, giggling. “One time he got so drunk, he left to prove that he was right and came back with twelve books about politics.”

Shouto laughed at the memory with Toga until Dabi closed his notebook loudly, making them stop. Toga kept on chuckling and stood up to puch Dabi in his arm. She left telling Shouto to come visit her at Killer Queen for a makeover and waving like crazy. Shouto waved back confused at the strange yet nice girl.

The two brothers spent the rest of the day in silence. A couple of costumers made an appearance, but nothing too time-consuming. Just some piercings and a wrist tattoo of the word ‘Ohana’. As the hours went by, he could see his brothers patience running out.

Dabi sighted and massaged his temples. “Kid what are you doing?” He asked him. “I know Tomura told you about One for all and the gang. Do I have to explain to you in how much danger you could be for just being here?”

“No” Shouto told him. “But you are being stupid. Isn't the guy in jail?" Touya didn't respond to that and the two spent the rest of the evening in silence. When Shouto's alarm went off,he packedhis things and left, telling his brother he would come by tomorrow too.

Days passed, and by the second week, Dabi and Shouto had unintentionaly created a rutine of their own. Every evening, except on weekend or if he had too much homework, Shouto would stop by Inferno and spend the entire evening with his brother and, sometimes, his gang. He would stay behind the register helping his brother with costumers or making small talk with Dabi's friends. His brother for the most part ignored him or asked him to leave, but Shouto stayed. He liked the Tattoo parlour.

He also liked Dabi's friends. After Toga meet him, everybody else wanted to too. And they all gave him insight of who his brother was now and who he hanged out with.

There was Magne, that got kicked out of her home when she came out; Toga, that also run away from her home; Spinner; that worked with Dabi one day of the week; Twice, that had a personality disorder; Kurogiri, that was hired as Shigaraki's caretaker. He knew there was some things they weren't telling him, but he understood why. The past hurt.

Besides, they kept each other safe, and he was kinda glad that his brother was able to find a place where he could belong.

Maybe he should've felt more jealouse about it. Hell, this people were more like Dabi's family than his blood family had ever been. But he knew feeling like that wouldn't help at all. He can share his brother. It was only a matter of time before he broke him and Dabi accepted his love.

It worked on Bakugou, so it should work on him. Spend as much time as he could with him to create a bond and before he realises it...BAM, family.

He missed going out with his friends a little, but he was nothing if not determined. He was not going to let him run away this time. He wanted his brother back, he needed him. The whole family needed him.

After what happened at the grill, things changed. Natsuo and Fuyumi had fell back into their coping mechanism, yet agreed to leave Mom blissfully unaware of the situation with Touya. Fuyumi was represing every bad emotion, faking her smile till it became real. While Natsuo became angry. But now that their father was gone, he got no one to redirect that anger to. And he didn't want to redirected to his sibblings, so he was stopping by less.

But Shouto was going to fix it. Everything. They were never going to be the perfect little family, he wasn't that unrealistic. But they were going to be a family. He didn't know how, but the least he could do is try.

The only thing that he didn't know what he was going to do about was Dabi's and Shigaraki's relationship. The two had not made amends since Touya's birthday, even after all the presure his friends put on Dabi. The last time Shouto had asked, Dabi threatened him to kick him out of the shop. He hasn't brought it up ever since. He hopes that after the problem with his sibblings end, both men will get back together naturally.

When Shouto first started visiting Dabi's Tattoo parlour, he figured if he ignored him, he would leave on his own. When he didn't, he simply gave him a job to do, so that he wouldn't want to be here. Now he had been coming and spending time with him for three weeks, so it was time to take extreme measures. Was he going to hurt Shouto? That was the idea. He didn't want to do it, but it was better than the alternative.

When Shouto came into the shop, at the same time he had everyday for the past weeks, with his school things, Dabi fired.

"Why do you care so much about someone who doesn't give a shit about you?"

Shouto paused at that. He was in the middle of sitting on a old stool Kurogiri had given him when he started working at Inferno. He blinked three times at Dabi before answering. "That's not true. You do care. You just like to pretend you don't to push me away."

Dabi stared at him with a stupefied look, he was not expecting his brother to read him so well. "If you didn't care about me you would have kicked me out of the shop a long time ago. Or listen every time I talk about Fuyumi and Natsou. Or mom" The young man continue.

"Shouto, I ran away without any of you for a reason..." Dabi tried to reason with his baby brother.

"Maybe, but you still thought about us." The dual haired boy told him.

"And what makes you say that?" Dabi asked, trying to hide the fact that he was somewhat right.

"Because when I tried, I thought about them too" At that, Dabi shut up. He was really not expecting that. "It was before UA. One day, after a bad section with dad, I just started packing and thinking how everybody's life would be better without me. Fuyumi could move out, Natsuo wouldn't have to stop by anymore and mom... didn't have see me anymore. Everybody would be okay..." Shouto explained, his voice breaking at the thought of his mom.

"What happened?..." Dabi asked scarred of the responce.

"I was too scarred. I almost never went out of the house, Dad had me home schooled when you left. I didn't know how the world worked, so... well..." Shouto didn't continue, the memory still fresh in his mind.

Dabi opened and closed his mouth, looking for the right responce. But what do you say to that.

The guitar-bell went off and a girl came in throught the door. Dabi welcomed her into the store and asked her what she wanted. Shouto, while Dabi talked to the girl, took out his phone and started chatting with his friends. The girl got a phrase from a book and an infinity tattoo. Dabi drew on her on automatic, they weren't so difficult. He was in the tattoing room for half an hour.

When he came back out, the girl was already paying Shouto. The guitar-bell sounded of again, this time with the costumers departure. A tencion filled with anxious energy covered the whole place. It felt like if he did a wrong move, everything would implode. The two brothers didn't like it. Dabi knew he had to say something, but he didn't know what he wanted anymore. If he said something encouraging, Shouto would stay and probably bing Fuyumi and Natsuo with him next (Which was bad all on it's own). But if he said something bad, Shouto would probably never return (but did he wanted that anymore? Three weeks and he was already looking forward to Shouto coming to the store and telling him how his day went). So, instead, Dabi decided to explain things to his baby brother.

"You're right,..." Shouto looked up at him when he started untangle his thought to him "I do care about you and Fuyumi and Natsuo and.... But... I don't ... I changed, okay? The Touya you remember,... I'm not him anymore. I'm not the same kid that run away years ago. I'm Dabi now. And I don't... I don't think it's someone you would like..."

"But I do" Shouto declared. "I spent all this time getting to know the real you, and I..."

"And Fuyumi would like Dabi? And Natsuo? Or... Mom?" He interrupted. "Can you really look them in the eyes and tell them that ...this....is allthat remains of Touya? And that they would be alright with them?" He voice cracked at the end and his eyes were rapidly filling with tears, that he stopped with sheer willpower.

"I...I do't know..." The teen said as he looked down. "But you're not gonna find out like this..." The two brothers shared a longing look, realising they had finally come to an understanding. They stopped when another costumer came in, the guitar distracting them when it went off.

Dabi took care of the guy, while Shouto half listened and half played with his phone. This guy was a booked appointment, one from his friday parties at the Black Mist Bar. He checked ID and lead him to the Tattooing room. Soon, the only sound was the soothing buxxing of the tattoo gun and the background punk-rock playlist that Dabi had put on today.

Three hours later, the guy left with his collar tangled in vines and wires that looked as if they were holding his torso to his head and neck. The rest of the day went by in confortable silence, neither brother felt the need to talk. They had already said what needed to be said between the two. An hour before Shouto's dorm curfew, his phone's alarm went off, signaling the start of his return. The teenager picked up his things and wentfor the door.

As the guitar riff went off, he noticed Dabi was following him. He didn't comment on it and let his brother walk him to the bus stop. They only had to wait for the bus for a couple of minutes. Before it did, Dabi told his brother that he would think about what they talked before and parted with a pat on the back. Shouto went in to the bus smiling. Today he had made progress. Today he was one step closer to getting back his brother.

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Dabi, once he left Shouto and returned to the shop, decided to close early. He didn't have any other booked appointments for the day and his head was not in it after today. After locking up, he went directly into Kurogiri's bar. Once inside, he plop down by the bar on a stool and banged his head against it. Compress, that was the only one inside, made him his usual drink (Fireball Whiskey on the Rocks), and he grunted as a thanks.

This was too complicated for him to process. He didn't realize how easy everything was when his family was only a background thought in his head. And now he had to what? Decide if his psyche could handle his family rejecting him? Because that was going to happen. Shouto may be okay with him now, but the guy was a stupid, hormornal teenager. All teens thought piercings, tattoos and anarchy was cool at this age. But when he grew up? When he became an adult? All that fascination he had with him now was going to fly off a widow.

And Natsuo and Fuyumi? They were already adults. Fuyumi was a kindergarden teacher. What was she going to do? Bring him at 'show and tell'. "Look kids, this is a erfect example of a disappointment" . What a sick joke. Fuyumi was the one that remembered Touya the most. Was he really believed she was going to be okay with him now? And Natsuo... His brother, first partner in crime, playmate. Was he going to be okay with Dabi? He was going to be a doctor... And Mom... He was going to make her go crazy again.

How was he supposed to mix into their lives now? Go to Shouto's graduation?(Bet the school would call the cops when they see him), Be there when Natsuo received his P.H.D.? (Sure, bet all the resently degreed shrinks would love to make a book about all his issues) Attend Fuyumi's wedding? (Right, he was never going to get invited to it anyway) Visit mom in the hospital? (Of course. He could even see it now. Appearing through the door to see how his mother cowering in fear at the meer sight of him as she pleaded for mercy and tried to stay as far away as she could). Dabi let out another groan in frustation. He needed to smoke.

As he placed the cigarette in his mouth and took his lighter from his pocket, Compress took the glorified death stick from his lips. "You know the rules Dabi" The masked bartender started telling him as he twirled his smoke addiction in between his fingers and made it disappear. "If you want to smoke do it outside" The older man pointed with his fake arm at the door. Dabi grunted again as he let his head fall to the bar again. "I'll refill"

Dabi barely heard him, too busy arguing with himself in his head. He knew reuniting again with his family was going to hurt him. Last time he was the one that walk out of it. He knew if he didn't, then they would walk out on him. And if he learned anything from his shitty life was that good things didn't last. Washe really going to put himself out there for his family, just so that he had to deal with the truth that he had always avoided? They were better without him.

He had kept tabs on them, so he knew they didn't need him.

Yet, he couldn't stop thinking about these last weeks. With Shouto's constant pokerface and how he acted like a little child without noticing. How he would pout everytime he lost at his phone's game, how his eyes got a tiny bit bigger as they filled with amazement after listening about something he did, how his eyebrows would knit in confusion everytime he was too naive to understand something. It was endearingly adorable. And it made him feel this stupid warmth, he hadn't have felt in years.

He wanted more of that feeling. He wanted to see if Fuyumi scolded the same way, and if Natsuo still woke up at the middle of the night to grab all the left overs from the fridge, and if mom still gave the same hugs. He wanted all of that and more.

He was about to ask for another refill when the door of the bar opened to reveal a skinny, malnurished-looking creep that Dabi had been avoiding since his birthday. Tomura and him locked eyes for a moment, stopping his inner mental fight and Tomura from his scratch-fest. The two hadn't seen each other, which was a life achievement when you lived together and shared the same group of less than ten people as friends. Tomura sighted before walking to where he was and sitting in the stool next to his.

Dabi did't look away from Tomura. And when sat next to him, he saw how rought his boyfrieds neck looked and how big his eyebags were. Tomura's anxiety had not taken their fight well and had made his boyfriends life very painfull. Dabi raised his hand slowly and carefully reached to the graynettes neck, grazing his fingers against the scratched up skin soothingly. Tomura hissed in annoyance but leaned into his touch anyway. The two locked sight again.

"I'm sorry..." Dabi mummbled as he petted the others neck more confidently.

"And?" Tomura asked to continue.

"I'm a jerk..."

"And?"

"...and an idiot"

"And?"

"I love you"

"...and?"

"We both know I'm not going to say that" Dabi told him with a blanck face.

"Forget about me sucking your dick anytime soon, then" Tomura huffed as he leaned his back into his chest, bringing their stool right next to each other.

"Please," Dabi chuckled as he placed his hand on Tomura's hip, "You love kissing my prince adam and climbing my jacob ladder with your tongue" Tomura grunted and took a sip out of Dabi's glass.

Both adults stayed like that for a while, with only the music of the bar surrounding them. Their minds had finally shut up and the couple could be at peace in each other arms. But that peace didn't last long. Ten minutes later, their friends came into the bar making a ruckus as usual and when they saw them together, Toga yelled 'THEY MADE UP', causing a bigger uproar, that included clapping, wooing, and chanting 'Make-up sex'.

The couple didn't stay for long, at some point, Dabi pulled Tomura out of the bar, that abruptly started the 'make-up sex' cheer again. The two walked hand in hand to their shared appartment, going in through the back. Only when they reached their shared bedroom, that Tomura had been banned from, did Dabi stop. Tomura looked up at him puzzled.

“Why did you look for them, mophead?” Dabi asked out of the blue.

Tomura looked bewildered, as he raised his hands to start assaulting his neck once more. "I... I thought we were alright...?"

Dabi, catching on what he was about to do, grabbed his hands and lowered them as he reassured him. "We are, we are..." He sat both of them on the bed and stroke his thumb on the other's palm. "I need your help figuring out something"

Tomura took a deep breath. “I knew it would make you happy and you are very bad at hidding how much you miss them.” He said as he looked at Dabi dead in the eyes. “I know you check on their school pages. That is how I found them” The two remained silent after that, Dabi trapped in his own head and Tomura trying to guess what was going on in his head. “You told me that if I testified against him, I would finally be free to do what I wanted, to choose for myself how my life should be… You changed my life and... I wanted to make you as happy as you make me... ” Tomura finished, as he got flustered.

Dabi let out a low chuckle and laid his head in Tomura’s shoulder. "You already do" He mummbled into his shoulder. The two started to slowly lay down on the bed, Dabi on top of Tomura, while the greynette massaged the raven’s scalp. They stayed like that for a while until Tomura cut the silence to ask: “We are gonna have sex tonight, right?”

Touya laughted a little and moved to kiss him. “Of course” The two shared a tender kissed as they started to get lost on each other.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The next day as Shouto went in Inferno again, he didn’t see his brother behind the register, but Spinner with his tattoos that looked like his skin had been ripped off and he had a scales under it. His hair was liliac and styled upwards and he was playing on a switch. When he heard the door bell go off, he looked up from his video game and with a smirked greeted Shouto into the store.

"Hey Spinner" Shouto said as he went to his stool "Where's Dabi?"

"Upstairs" The lizard man told him as he went back to his switch. "Don't count on him going down, tho. Yesterday, him and Tomura made up and they plan on having a day in..."

"Ew" Shouto commented as he texted his brother that he was at the Tattoo parlour. "Have they eatten anything at all today?"

"Yeah, they got burgers delivered to the store and bought me one so I would get it up to the appartment" Spinner told him

The two heard steps coming down the stairs from the door, and Dabi came out with of it holding two helmets, one black with blue flames and the other silver with cat ears and whiskers near the visor. He looked at Shouto before thowing him the cat helmet. Shouto caught it with ease and looked dazed at his brother. Dabi just walked past him, took some cash of the register and gave it to him.

"You've worked here for two weeks, that's your payment." Dabi explained to him walked to the door. "Now, c'mon, I'm spending the day with Tomura. I gotta leave you at your school"

"Wait, you're letting him ride on High End. Unfair." Spinner complained. Dabi merely shrugged and looked expectantly at his brother.

Shouto followed him, starring at the helmet, out of the store and into the alley next to it. Dabi oppened a wire door fence and took a motorcycle out. The bike was a cruiser type, black with a leather seat and blue flames at the sides. The words High End in the back. It was the same bike that he took to the grill on his birthday. Shouto glanced between the helmet and the bike in badly-conceiled excitment as Dabi shut the fence door and moved the bike out of the alley and into the street.

"Hey, Shou" Dabi called him to get his attention. Shouto looked so excited, like a kid about to open a giant christmas present, he was almost bouncing on his heels. "About yesterday,... I'll call Fuyumi and Natsuo and... well... I don't know, we'll figure it out." Dabi patted his head, messing with his hair. Suddenly, the older sibbling almost got tackled into the ground by his younger sibbling. Shouto was hugging him. Dabi returned the hug, for a couple of seconds before he separed them. " Alright, that's enough. Remember, I got a reputation to maintain"

Both brothers put on their helmets and got in the bike

#bnha fanfiction #bnha #mha #dabi bnha #dabi is a todoroki #shigadabi #todoroki shouto #shigaraki tomura #todoroki touya #Birthday Boys #chapter 3

[pynkhues]

If you are still taking prompts could you do one where Beth is shopping buying clothes for the kids and Rio?

Haha, gosh, anon, this is like, 8,000 words (literally) and is 90% Beth being a disaster, so I hope you enjoy it. ;-)

Set in The Centre and Circumference / Domestic Fic universe

-

Beth’s still pinning up the hem of Emma’s old dress on Jane when Rio steps in through the front door, Marcus’s travel bag slung over one shoulder, and Marcus himself over the other, red cheeked and giggling.

“Hi, honey,” Beth calls out behind her, struggling to keep hold of both her handful of pins and Jane, who’s suddenly squirming with excitement at Marcus’ arrival. “How was your mom’s?”

“It was good, Miss Elizabeth! She said to say thank you for the brownies. We ate them all in five seconds.”

“Five seconds? Damn, no wonder you gettin’ heavy,” Rio says, slinging Marcus off his shoulder and dropping him bodily to the couch. They’ve been out for most of the day, although Beth’s not entirely sure what the plan was beyond the pick-up, lunch to catch-up on the fortnight Marcus has been at Laura’s, then a trip to the batting cages. Beth generally tries not to pry – she likes the fact that Rio treats the days he picks Marcus up from Laura’s as sacred, a time just for them. Likes how seriously he takes his time with him (although Rio does complain it’s more for him these days, with the way Marcus barely says hi before barraging Rio with questions about Jane.

“Half the shit he only tells me coz he’s tellin’ me how hyped he is to tell her,” Rio had said last night, loading the dishwasher while Beth wiped down the kitchen bench. “Askin’ me what I think she’s gonna say. Like he’s testin’ the stories out on me for the real audience.”

“It’s cute,” Beth had cooed in reply, and Rio had levelled her with an unamused stare.

“It’s annoyin’.”)

“Do me!” Jane demands now, watching as Marcus rolls off the couch, straight into one of the piles of clothes on the floor, still giggling. She thrusts her arms up in the air towards Rio, bouncing on her toes, and Beth sighs, gesturing for her to put them back down.

“Let me finish this first, sweetie.”

“Nooo, I want to play rocket lady!”

“Listen to your mama, Jane,” Rio replies easily, and Jane pouts dramatically, watching as Marcus tumbles off the pile of clothes, and practically skips over to Beth and Jane.

“Can we please play, Miss Elizabeth?” Marcus says, adopting his most angelic voice, and Beth internally rolls her eyes, knows that voice well enough these days to know it’s a lie.

“In a minute, okay?” she replies, finishing the last couple of pins on the hem, and gestures for Jane to hold her hands up again, tugging it off over her head. She reaches back to grab the one she was wearing before only to have Jane leap off the coffee table and tear down the hall in her underwear, Marcus giggling on her heels the whole while.

With a groan, Beth sags forwards, folding Jane’s old dress and dropping it back to the floor before grabbing the new, pinned one, and making quick work of making sure the hem is even.

“Everything go okay today?” she asks behind her, and Rio makes a noise of affirmation, before saying, “Want me to get rid of these, mama?”

Twisting on the spot, Beth glances back at where Rio gently kicks at the lined-up row of battered children’s shoes by the door, before dropping Marcus’ bag and starting to reach down to gather up the shoes. Beth frantically shakes her head, waving an arm out at him.

“No, leave them. I’m taking them to the mall to get them re-soled.”

It earns her a disbelieving look from Rio, his eyebrows halfway up his forehead, his mouth open, before he looks back down at the shoes.

“Yeah, these ain’t worth savin’.”

As if to punctuate his point, he grabs a particularly ratty one, letting its sole hang down like a heavy lower lip. He waves it at her.

“It kind of looks like a puppet when you hold it like that,” Beth says, bemused, as she climbs to her feet.

“Kinda looks like trash too.”

“Everything that doesn’t cost a vital organ looks like trash to you,” Beth counters. “You know thrifting is very trendy these days. There are like, these groups on Facebook and everything. It’s very social and it’s like this rejection of fast fashion. You know clothes are becoming one of the biggest waste contributions to landfills?”

Rio’s eyebrow pops up at that, and she knows he’s about to make a joke about her contribution to clothes in landfill – namely the bodies wearing those clothes, before he even makes it.

“Don’t say it,” she tells him, and Rio sucks in his lips, but complies.

“That what you doin’?” he says instead. “Thriftin’?”

“Well, no,” she admits. “These are hand-me-downs. But it’s still keeping it out of landfill.”

She points over to the two piles in the furthest corner by the window.

“Annie and Ruby brought those over the other day. That’s Sara’s and that’s Sadie’s,” she points to the next pile down the line. “Sadie’s stuff goes to Kenny,” then the next pile, “Who’s things go to Danny, who goes to Marcus, who’s things I’ll bundle up for Harry – he really hasn’t hit his growth spurt like Marcus has yet – and your sister’s boys, and anything that they’ve all outgrown can go to Sadie’s brother, Dakota. The girls are a bit easier,” she adds, pointing. “Sara, Emma, Jane.”

By the time she looks back at Rio, he’s just staring at her, a look on his face somewhere between amused and a little horrified, and - - figures, she thinks, rolling her eyes. She’s had to stop Rio throwing out too many shirts since they moved in together – after all, a little bit of blood isn’t that hard to get out. Still, Rio strides over to the pile of clothes beside the couch, crouching down to pull up one of Jane’s old t-shirts from the top of the pile and promptly shoving his hand through the frayed hole separating the collar of it from the rest of it.

“And this?”

Beth just shrugs.  

“I wash them and I shred them, and then they’re perfect for stuffing cushions and teddy bears for Christmas. There’s a lot of it this year, so hope your boys are ready for some throw pillows from the boss.”

It’s enough to make Rio laugh, even if his face is twisted into a bit of a cringe, his eyes drifting back to the pile she’s made of Sadie, Kenny and Danny’s old things for Marcus. He rocks his jaw in a way that Beth briefly thinks is unhappy, but she puts the thought out of her head.

It’s just stress, she thinks. After all, the school holidays are over in just two weeks, and this year, it feels big, with all the kids starting at Glenvale Elementary. They all seem to be excited at least – Marcus and Jane in particular at the prospect of being in the same class since they’d basically become joined at the hip over the summer break. No, although they haven’t really talked about it, she knows that all anxiety over the shift are hers and Rio’s. She just worries they’ve made the wrong choice, even though Glenvale had felt so right, and she thinks maybe Rio feels it too.

It’s why it had felt so good to latch onto this tradition. The annual wardrobe cleanout. She’d started it back when she was in school – back after their dad had left and their mom was ill, and she’d needed to make sure she and Annie would have enough clothes that fit for the year, enough in their wardrobes that it wouldn’t raise red flags with teachers or leave them on the backfoot – needed to make sure they had clothes for gym and swim and picture day, and whatever they didn’t have she’d make or borrow or Ruby would help her wrangle from whatever family pass downs she could.

And it had just made sense to keep doing it with her own kids, particularly when Dean had first gotten Boland Motors into trouble. When they’d had to tighten the purse strings the first time. Beth frowns, swallows thickly, the memory coming too quickly of being pregnant with Danny and frantically worrying about just how they were going to pay for their next appointment at the sonographer.  

“Kinda figured you the type of mama who thinks clothes are the kids’ creative expression or somethin’.”

The words cut through Beth’s thoughts, her memories, and she blinks up to see Rio looking back at her, and any needling in his voice seems to soften when he sees something on her face, and - - right, Beth thinks. She paints on the best smile she can manage, jokingly rolling her eyes.

“Sure. For Halloween or fancy dress, but their day-to-day clothes should be practical. Functional. I mean, they’re children! I really don’t get this whole thing about fashion for kids.”

Rio just laughs at that, folding Jane’s torn shirt and dropping it back on the pile.

“Don’t worry, baby, no one would mistake you for someone who believed in any type o’ fashion.”

And Beth blinks at that, her mouth ajar. Before she can help herself, she glances down at her grey leggings and her loose floral smock top, and okay, maybe it’s not the picture of fashion, but she’s at home. She bites the inside of her cheek, looking away from him, suddenly annoyed.

“You’re not exactly runway ready yourself,” she bites back, spinning around on the spot. She marches over to Danny’s pile, grabbing one of Kenny’s old shirts, and checks it over. She thinks this one is missing a button, and she’s sure she has one that matches in her spare button jar.  

“No? Damn, and here I thought you liked how I dressed.”

The heat finds her cheeks too quickly, and Beth focuses harder on the shirt, running her fingers down the starched fabric.

“It’d be nice if you wore a colour that didn’t make you look like you’d walked out of The Vampire Diaries,” she sniffs, and Rio laughs, because he must get her intent, even though she knows he doesn’t have a clue what that show is (she watched it pretty religiously while she was pregnant with Emma). She fidgets a little on the spot, glances up at him, but he’s crouching down, seemingly re-sorting her piles of clothes, starting with the one for Marcus, and before she can help herself, she asks:

“You really don’t like my clothes?”

“Like gettin’ you out of ‘em,” he replies easily, pulling a face at a checked shirt of Danny’s Beth always liked. When she doesn’t reply, he glances over at her, clocking her expression, and he just sighs. “I don’t care what you wear, you know that, mami.”

She nods, because she does know that, just - -

She shakes her head, tossing Danny’s shirt over her shoulder, and wandering over to the pile from Sara. Most of it she thinks is still a couple of years away from fitting Emma, but she pulls one off the top anyway, shaking it out, and it really is sweet, but - - no. Still another year away at least – Emma really doesn’t have Sara’s height. She folds it up again to put back into the box for next year.

And the thing is, she expects Rio just to leave. To go chase after Marcus, get him upstairs and unpacked like he usually would, only Rio doesn’t. He stays, making careful work of going through first Marcus’ piles, and then the rest of them, refolding them, seeing the adjustments that Beth has already made, the mark-ups and pins, the notes she’s made on post-its about buttons and tailoring, and Beth’s just - - she’s not really sure what to make of that at all.

*

“I give Marcus a budget.”

The words are sudden, stark through the post-dinner-post-kids-to-bed fog of Beth’s head, and she blinks over at where Rio has suddenly materialised in the doorway between their en suite and bedroom, his naked torso shimmering with the remnants of his shower, white towel low on his waist, steam billowing out behind him, and it just - - well. Beth flushes before she can help herself, pulling a set of clean pyjamas for herself out of the bottom drawer of their tallboy.

“You give a seven-year-old a budget?” she asks, latching onto the point more than anything, amusement heavy in her tone, and Rio makes a noise of affirmation, striding over to stand beside her and unfolding the knot on his towel.

“Two-fifty,” Rio says, slinging the towel over his shoulder and grabbing clean underwear from one of the top drawers. “Start of the school year. Tell him it’s gotta go across all o’ it – pyjamas, bathin’ suit, socks, jocks, clothes for school. Let him pick what he wants. Think it helps him know what money means, what it’s worth, how he’s gotta spend it, that he can’t get everythin’ he wants. All that shit.”

It’s enough to make Beth reel back a bit, to stare at Rio, naked beside her as he shakes out a pair of grey boxer briefs. He’s casual as he talks about it – easy in that way he can manage, but there’s something a little different underneath it too. Something that, if she didn’t know any better, she’d almost say was cautious, but Beth has no idea what to do with that.

“Seven,” she reiterates instead, and Rio turns suddenly to face her, stepping into his underwear, and she has to look away because - - god, the sight of him naked still makes her blush.

“Never too early to start learnin’ about money.”

He says it like it’s easy, like it’s that simple, like he’s not talking about a child, and before she can help herself, Beth is laughing, stepping away from their tallboy, away from him. She shoves her pyjamas beneath her arm and grabs a hair tie off her bedside table, tossing her hair up, just starting to make tracks to shower herself.  

“Please,” she says rolling her eyes, but before she can add anything to it, Rio interrupts.

“I’m thinkin’ we go to the mall when you takin’ in the shoes, we give all the kids the same rules. They get two-fifty each and a list o’ what they gotta get and we let them decide. You still got your hand-me-downs, still keepin’ shit outta landfill, but they got a few things they picked for themselves too.”

And just - - what? Beth blinks back at him, her forehead furrowing, and she’s laughing before she can help herself, her voice heavy with disbelief.

“Rio, they’re children, what are they going to do with $250? Probably buy like, a game thing or a Spiderman costume.”

It’s sudden then, the sharpness of his exhale, him lurching, half naked towards his side of the bed. He tosses back the sheets, rocks his jaw, and it’s strange because she feels it – the fact that she might’ve done something to really offend him, when he suddenly just laughs, eyes darting up to her, something acidic in his gaze.

“Don’t you wish you’d learnt anythin’ about handlin’ money before you had to rob a grocery store?”

It hits like a poison dart – the words themselves sharp, but the deeper they settle in her, the worse they feel, and Beth’s reeling backwards, her eyes unblinking, her lips parted.

“Excuse me?”

And she knows he regrets it, can hear it in the change in his breath and the way he looks away from her, the way he sucks in his lips, but she can also tell that he meant it, and that only pushes the words deeper.

“Come on, mami,” he says, tone quietening, like this is meant to soften the blow. “You know it ain’t the area you smartest in.”

“Says the guy who wants to spend more than $1,200 at the mall this weekend on clothes they’re going to - - to grow out of or ruin or - - ”

“Nuh, it’s about teachin’ em about money, and lettin’ ‘em pick who they wanna be. What they wanna project out in the world instead o’ - - shit - - bein’ Jane and walkin’ around in clothes her cousin picked out ten years ago. Clothes that all her fuckin’ siblings have worn before her.”

And she just - - stares at him, stares at his broad shoulders and his sharp features and his young, one child, perfect family face and suddenly feels breathless with anger. She scrambles to pick her pyjamas off the floor – hadn’t even realised she’d dropped them – before waving a hand at him across the bed.

“How dare you,” she hisses. “You can play at authority in a lot of areas, but not in this. I’ve been raising children a lot longer than you have and you can’t just waltz in here and - - ”  

“Oh, okay,” Rio interjects, laughing, but it’s not amused, the sound tight in his throat. “So you can decide my kid’s gonna spend the school year in your kids’ hand-me-downs, but I don’t get to even suggest nothin’ for yours? Okay.”

But that’s not - - Beth’s shaking her head, still furious, but also - -

“No,” she says. “That’s not what I - - “

But Rio just yanks back the sheets harder, his face set firm in anger.

“Yeah, no, I heard you, baby. Don’t worry. Loud and clear.”

Beth exhales, chest suddenly raw, watching as Rio clambers heavily into bed, then immediately gets out of it again, bristling with energy. He strides back over to their tallboy, yanks open a drawer, like he’s going to get changed, when he suddenly thinks better of it. He slams it shut, says:

“Elizabeth, I’m a fuckin’ good fa– ”

At the same time that she says:

“I’m not bad with money, I just - - ”  

They both stop, staring at each other across the bedroom, and it’s Rio who breaks the quiet.

“Just what?” he asks her, and Beth meets his gaze, and she wants to say it. Wants to tell him.

I just never had any of my own before now.

But just - - god. Her chest flushes with shame, and it’s too pathetic, she thinks, to even think it opposite him like this. This guy. This man. Who had to be talked into a budget for the house they bought together, who can drop thousands of dollars on paintings with a flick of his hand, and even more on business investments and now apparently gives a small child a cheque to shop with and just - -

Beth’s still learning how to buy the premium brand of washing powder without feeling guilty at the grocery store.  

“I’m going to have a shower,” she says, looking away from him. She hears him exhale, something between pissed off and resigned, and she adds, “Don’t wait up,” before she closes the en suite door behind her.

She strips quickly, flicking the shower on, and leaving it a second, maybe two, before pushing herself beneath the stream of water and letting it engulf her. She’s being unfair, her head tells her, and Beth grabs her bodywash, squirting a generous helping into her hand. He could never understand, her heart tells her, and Beth reaches for the bath lily, rubbing it into the body wash and furiously massaging it into her body.

It’s not like he’s wrong exactly. She knows the kids don’t love the hand-me-downs, just like she knows that they’re different – that Jane hates Emma’s frilly dresses, and how much Danny’s colouring differs from Kenny’s, but they have their entire lives to explore that, and right now it’s having enough to wear that keeps you warm and safe and happy and - - sure, okay. It’s not like Beth can’t afford clothes for them now, but maybe - - maybe it’s surprised her.

The way Rio had had an opinion on this.

Dean had always let her raise the kids how she wanted, had never argued with it, because she was the one with both the experience (Annie) and the means (the uterus and the patience), but that doesn’t mean that Rio was ever going to do that – in fact, it would be weirder if he did just let her carry on as normal, because he was right. He is a good father, she knows that, she loves that, and she just - -

She shifts beneath the stream of water, closes her eyes, lifts her chin.

She tries to clear her winding mind.

*

She hasn’t slept.

Not at all, she doesn’t think, although maybe she has. She thinks maybe getting out of the shower hours ago to Rio asleep in their bed had given her enough spite to furiously fall asleep herself. Burning with the desire to be able to give him a clear faced, refreshed, lock-jawed grin in the morning, only it hadn’t worked out that way. She thinks she’s maybe had an hour’s sleep at most.

She rolls over again, huffs a little into the pillow, and she feels him shift too beside her, and just - - before she can help herself, she says:

“Maybe a hundred, not two-fifty.”

The words hang heavy in the night, and right - - he’s asleep, Beth thinks, but still. She feels a weight off her chest at the potential to compromise, to get this thing working for them, and - -

“Two hundred.”

The voice is gravelly, hoarse, but she recognises it too well – the lack of sleep in it, and has he been faking being asleep? She blinks over at him, but he doesn’t roll over to meet her, so she quickly rolls away again too, biting her cheek, facing the far wall of their bedroom.

“One-fifty,” she counters with, and before he can say anything else, she adds: “I’m not - - that’s it, okay? Final offer.”

He grunts at that, the bed shifting beneath them, and she knows he’s turned around to face her, can feel the heat of his gaze on her, can always feel that, but she refuses to turn around, refuses to give him anything but her back right now, because she’s not sure what she’ll feel if she looks at him, but it’s relief that uncurls in her chest when he agrees.

*

“We really don’t like to re-sole a shoe more than twice, Ms. Boland. Maybe three times if it’s a good quality shoe, but these are - -”

The cobbler rolls out his hand, and Beth flushes, pushing her handbag strap up her arm, trying to ignore the bustle of the mall behind her. Trying to focus instead on the multitude of children’s shoes she’s laid out on the counter between them, finding herself unreasonably glad that Rio had agreed to take the kids to the first stores of the day while she did this.

“Right, okay,” she says, grabbing a particularly battered pair from him, and looking out over the rest. “Are there any you can do?”

He agrees to four or five pairs at least, enough that she can justify the trip, and she offers a quick thanks, pushing the rest back down into the tote bag she’d brought them in and shuffling out of the repairs store, back out into the belly of the mall. She checks her phone for any messages, but there’s only one from Ruby, asking about coffee in the morning, which Beth replies to, before checking the time.

It’s barely past 11, and her and Rio had agreed to meet up in the food court at noon unless she found them earlier, but screw it, she thinks petulantly, lugging the bag of children’s shoes over her shoulder. Let him struggle with the kids and their budgets a little longer.

She finds herself wandering in and out of a few different stores instead, earmarking things in her head for Christmas – a new kettle and toaster set for Annie in a bright metallic blue,  Egyptian Cotton bed sheets for Ruby and Stan, even finds a table cloth set which really would look lovely with Rio’s mom’s flatware, and she’s making a list on her phone when she wanders past a store entrance and stops.

On the table out front is a row of folded sweaters – all rich, midnight blues and slate greys and heavy blacks, with a subtle V-neckline, and on their own, they’re nice, but they’re not on their own. Beside them are matching ones in children’s sizes, and she can’t help it. How quickly she imagines Rio and Marcus in them. Imagines them together – Marcus sitting on the step below his father like in the photograph she knows is Rio’s favourite, sees Marcus slung over Rio’s shoulder, sees Marcus asleep against Rio’s side in the backseat of her minivan, sees the photo already that she’d keep on her phone, just - - sees them.

She blinks, mouth dry, looking back down at the display. The slate grey would be the one he’d get, she knows that already, but she finds her hands drifting to a softer colour, something a little cooler – a grey-teal that would look so sweet on Marcus, and handsome on Rio, and just - -

Is this even something they do? Buy clothes for each other?

What if she buys it and he doesn’t like it? What if he makes it a joke – her buying clothes after being so insistent on hand-me-downs? What if - -

She bites the inside of her cheek, dropping her hand awkwardly. She can see a sales assistant inside the store clock her, start to make their way over, and it’s enough for Beth to wave a hand out at her, dismissing her, but when that doesn’t work, she quickly steps back out into the mall, away from it.  

It’s almost noon anyway.

*

The plastic bag crinkles loudly as Emma pulls out the dress in the middle of the food court, her eyes big as she shows it off – and it really is beautiful. A soft cream tulle speckled with gold sequins, the Zara label hanging off the back of it. Pressing it to herself, Emma gives the biggest twirl she can manage, almost taking out a poor kid at the next table in the process, and Beth laughs, shooting the other family an apologetic look before beckoning Emma closer to the table.

“Careful, sweetie.”

Giggling, Emma nods, giving Beth the dress before rummaging in another bag for a shoebox.

“And I got boots just like you too, mommy!”

With that, she yanks out a tiny pair of black ankle boots with a low heel and a bow. They really are sweet too, Beth thinks, slipping on a look of dutiful awe as Emma preens, delighted whether at her purchase of Beth’s approval, it’s hard to say.

“They’re beautiful,” Beth enthuses, glancing sideways at Rio who’s mostly distracted trying to get ketchup off Jane’s forehead and god, how’d she even get it there? “Did you get a new bathing suit too?”

Like you actually needed, Beth thinks, and Emma shakes her head.

“Not yet, but I’ve still got - - hmm,” Emma frowns, putting the shoes back in the box and pushing them into her bag. She slides back onto the bench and grabs her notebook out of her fluffy Barbie handbag, flipping to a marked page. She frowns, before looking over at Rio. “Mr. Rio, can you help?”

And it’s almost too easy, the way Rio drags Jane into his lap to keep mopping her up as he slides them both across the bench to sit beside Emma. He looks over her shoulder, down at her notebook.

“Right, see so that dress was $36 and those boots were $40, so - - what’s six plus zero?”

“Six!” Emma says easily, smiling, and Rio nods, gaze dropping down to Jane’s hands, he gestures at Beth for a fresh wet wipe, which she pulls from the packet in her purse, passing it over.

“That’s good. And what’s three plus four?”

“Seven!”

“Right again, darlin’. So that means you’ve spent $76, which is almost exactly half your budget,” he tells her, wiping Jane’s hands as she wriggles back against his chest. “Now you got that other half to get your swimsuit and some pyjamas and some socks. Think we can swing it?”

“Yup!” Emma says happily, and Rio grins down at her.

“Me too.”

The bustle of the food court feels dense around them, a cacophony of sound, the overwhelming smell of burgers, hot dogs, tacos filling her nose. And it’s strange, how unaffected Rio seems by it, because he makes no secret of hating this sort of thing when it’s just the two of them, but with the kids here, it’s different. He’s different, and Beth knew that, knew he became the picture of patience with them, but - - she bites the inside of her cheek, glancing down, which was the wrong choice, because suddenly all she can see is all the bags of stuff around them – the sneakers that Kenny’s bought and the three animal onesies that Jane’s bought (and at least those are pyjamas). Before she can help herself, she exhales sharply, a strange feeling unfurling in her chest at the prospect, her fingers clenching, only they’re clenching in this sparkling dress of Emma’s and Beth makes a noise in the back of her throat. The sound is enough to make Rio glance over at her, his eyes flicking across her face, before he scoots away from Emma, dropping Jane into the space between them.

“Why don’t you guys figure out what’s takin’ the boys so long,” he says, gesturing with a flick of his chin over to the ice cream stand where Kenny and Marcus are still deciding on flavours. The girls hum happily, sliding off the bench and darting across the food court towards them. Rio turns better towards her, opens his mouth to say something, but before he can, Beth’s interrupting.

“When on earth is she going to wear this?” she asks, shaking out the dress before folding it again and slipping it back into the bag, and Rio just looks at her, jaw rocking briefly, before he says:

“Whenever she wants. It’s her budget. We talked it out. She knows it means she can’t get nothin’ else fancy. The rest of its gonna be basics.”

Shaking her head, Beth lurches up off the bench, starting to pack up the mess from the burgers they’d had for lunch.

“It’s a waste of money.”

“Not to her.”

He offers it simply, calmly, and Beth hates the way her hands clench around the burger wrappers, the way her chest seizes, her stomach flutters, and she just - - looks at him across the table. Looks at where he stares right back at her, his eyes open, blinking almost lazily, and he doesn’t even look defensive, or annoyed, just - -

She doesn’t really know what he’s looking like.

Suddenly though he looks away, and Beth’s glad for it. Feels almost released from it, only the feeling doesn’t last long, not when he looks beneath the table at their piles of bags and sees the tote full of shoes.

“Thought you were takin’ those to get fixed?” he says, and Beth blinks back at him, mouth open for a second, feeling the heat rise up her chest, before she puts on a self-deprecating laughs, waves one hand at him while she refocuses on packing up lunch.

“Oh! Yeah, I got distracted, haven’t taken them yet.”

“Distracted by what?”

Beth just gestures vaguely around before grabbing the napkin full of Danny’s uneaten pickles (he really does hate them) and bundling that up for the bin too.

“We’re in a mall. There’s a lot to be distracted by.”

With that, she walks all the rubbish over to the bin, shoving it through the flap, briefly glad for the reprieve of that too. She glances up over the fray of the crowd getting lunch, out to where the kids are finally starting to settle on flavours under Emma’s bossy instruction, the line lengthening behind them, and she really should go over, should round them up, but - -

She looks back at where Rio’s starting to get the bags together again, watches him peer into the tote, looking at the shoes, and she’s striding back before she can help herself, weirdly tense at the thought of him realising some of them aren’t there, like he’d find out that way that the cobbler couldn’t even mend them. She snatches the bag out of his grip, and Rio stares at her, eyebrows high on his forehead before they furrow.

“We still fightin’?”

And just - -

What?

She blinks hard at him.

“What?”

“We still fightin’? Or what are we doin’?” he asks, waving a hand out at her, voice low and hoarse. “Kinda figured we were good last night, compromisin’ and what not, but you actin’ all sore.”

“I’m not acting sore.”

Rio grunts, rocks his jaw, looking back at where the kids are starting back towards them, ice cream cones in hand, and god, Jane’s is already dripping down her fingers, and then she thinks of Rio, minutes ago, patiently cleaning her up without complaint, Jane not fighting it like she always does with Beth, and Beth just - -

How does this get to be easy for him too?  

“C’mon,” he says beside her, and Beth blinks, jerked from her thoughts.

“No, I’ve got to - - ”

“We can take the shoes at the end,” he tells her, tilting his head over to the children. “Shop with your kids, Elizabeth.”

Beth closes her mouth and nods.

*

Danny’s forehead furrows, glancing between the three pyjama sets Beth’s holding up for him, tapping his chin.

“I really want the Minecraft ones,” he decides, and Beth exhales in relief, tossing them easily over her shoulder.

“Okay,” she says, readjusting her grip on the other two sets, holding them down so that they’re practically eye level with him. “Then you’ve got to pick between the Star Wars ones and the Pikachu ones. That’s all the money you’ve got left.”

Nodding, Danny’s little face scrunches up in seriousness, the weight of the consideration heavy there, and if Beth were any less exhausted, it really would be pretty cute.

“Star Wars,” he decides. “Mr Rio said they’ve gotta last the whole year, and Kenny says Pikachu’s only for babies.”

“I don’t think that’s true,” Beth replies, making a mental note to talk to Kenny later. “I think Pikachu can be for anybody.”

But Danny’s made up his mind, so Beth throws the Finn pyjamas over her shoulder with the Minecraft ones and hooks the Pikachu ones back on the rack.

“I wish I had more money,” Danny says with a pout, eyeing off the bright yellow pyjamas on the rack, and Beth hums, double checking the price tags on the two sets Danny’s picked, making sure it really will fit into his budget.

“Well, you can always save up your allowance and get them.”

“Mr Rio said if I do more chores I’ll get more money too,” Danny says happily. “And then I can buy everything I want.”

The thought sits strangely in Beth’s ears, almost like an insect, legs sticking out at angles, and it takes her a moment to process it, to look back down at Danny’s freckled face and frown.

“Not everything can be bought, honey,” she says, and Danny shrugs, only half paying attention, eyes already on the lookout for his siblings, and Beth’s feels irritation spark in her belly. “Danny!”

He does look up at her then, eyes wide at the sharpness in her tone, and it’s enough to make her instantly regret it. She tries for a smile, tries to smooth out her features, to soften her look.

“You’re very lucky, to be able to do this,” she tries. “Me and your father have always worked very hard, and we couldn’t always afford to give you this, and there might be times in your life again where we can’t. Sometimes hard work gives you money, yes, but sometimes it pays you in other ways – like with experience and - - ”

She fumbles briefly for the words, and Danny just stares up at her, looking chastised, and god, this isn’t what she wanted. She closes her eyes briefly.

“Money isn’t everything, that’s all I’m saying,” she says after a second, and Danny frowns softly up at her.

“I know, mom. And I like some of the hand-me-downs too. Like Sadie’s brown coat!”

And she almost hates it, the relief that the words give her, the way they settle warm in her chest like a gift. Her smile loosens up, becomes something real, something easy. She loosens her grip on Danny’s pyjamas and, god, she hadn’t realised she was holding onto them that tight.

“That one is pretty cool, huh?”

Danny hums in agreement.

“Even Marcus thinks it’s cool. I told him he can have it after me.”

Beth’s smile widens even more at that, her heart lightening as she glances over at where Marcus is chattering to Jane in the aisle, comparing their bags of clothes, and Beth bites her lip, looking over at where Rio’s on his cell, talking to somebody in code, bags of kids clothes slung over his shoulder, and just - - she bites her lip harder. Passing the pyjamas to Danny, she says:

“Want to go show these to Emma and Kenny?”

Danny hums happily, trotting off down the aisle towards his brother and sister, and Beth sucks in a breath, looking over at Rio, who’s just finished his call, and right, she thinks, collecting herself, hand tightening on the straps of her handbag and her tote. She wanders over to him, something like an apology sweetening on her tongue when she hears a rip, feels a weight release, and before she can stop it, the strap on the tote has snapped.

Torn shoes spill out across the store floor, almost in slow motion, and she quickly drops low, scrambling to pick them up, shoving them back into the tote. It feels like everyone’s looking at her, even though she’s sure they’re not, mortification flushing across her chest, and god, she didn’t even want to be here, she just wanted to go to the shoe repair place and then she wanted to go home and spend the weekend at her sewing machine, and - -

And suddenly Rio’s big, steady hands are there too, making quick work of picking up the rest of the shoes, and Beth’s snatching them from his grip before he can give them to her, shoving them into the bag, her chest flushed, and she can just feel him looking at her, and she hates it.

“Guess you won, huh?” she hisses at him before she can stop herself. “Congratulations. That’s what you wanted, right? God forbid everything don’t work out exactly how you want it.”

Thing is, Rio does look briefly smug at that, like he can’t quite help himself either, having taken no offense apparently at her snatching the shoes away from him, and that just serves to fan the flames of her embarrassment which stokes the embers of her fury, and she’s just talking before she can stop herself, a rambling mess as she keeps pushing wrecked shoes into her broken bag.

“Even the kids can learn to budget money and I’m just the idiot who waited until I was forty to do it, and you get to teach me and them at the same time, because I’m the one who brought a bag full of shoes to the mall the cobbler won’t even fix, and I’m the one sending our kids to school in - - rags, and - -”

She inhales, breathless suddenly, and she has to look away from him, blood thundering in her ears, hands shaking, and then Rio’s big, steady hands are on her arms, yanking her up so quickly she drops the bag of shoes all over again, but he doesn’t let her stop to pick it up. His hand moves promptly to her wrist, tugging her behind him, out into the aisle, pausing only briefly to tell Marcus and Jane to go to Kenny, and then they’re moving again, and Beth’s throat feels tight, because she knows exactly what he’s doing. Has seen him do this with the kids – seen him haul them off when they’re throwing tantrums, and that’s not what she’s doing, that’s not what this is, but - - okay, maybe it is too, she thinks, letting Rio walk them over to the fitting rooms, ignoring the shop assistant, and shove Beth into the first empty one he can find. She almost stumbles head first into the mirrored wall, spinning around to see Rio slip in behind her, lock the door, clench his eyes shut and pinch the bridge of his nose with his fingers.

And then they just - - stand there.

Staring at each other, stuck in this tiny fitting room, and Beth’s chest is flushed and heaving, even beneath the neck of her sweater, and Rio’s still not looking at her, not doing anything except rubbing furiously at his face, eyes shut, and Beth refuses to be the one to break the quiet, not when he was the one who dragged her in here.

“Okay,” he says after another minute. He drops his hand, stares at her. “You know I love playin’ with you, darlin’, but we ain’t playin’ like this with the kids. We gotta be a team.”

“I know that,” Beth says sharply, and he shakes his head, his own voice raising.

“Nah, you don’t. You actin’ like coz you got the majority – those four kids you been tellin’ me about as long as I known you – that you call all the shots here.”

And just - - that’s not fair, she thinks, her arms flailing out either side of her.

“I let you try this budget thing, didn’t I?”

“Yeah, but you ain’t on board. I know it, and the kids know it, and shit, Elizabeth, that ain’t how I’m doin’ this.”

“I have a system that works!”

“Yeah, me too!”

He sucks in a breath, blinks hard all of a sudden, like he’s just realised how loud his voice had gotten, or maybe like he remembers the last time they said those words to each other, only then it was about counterfeit money, and not their children and it’s enough to make him push his hands on his hips. He stares angrily at the floor for a minute, and she remembers him last night, the way she’d thought she’s offended him, the sentence he hadn’t finished – I’m a fuckin’ good fa-

Guilt spikes in her gut, and Beth looks away, curling her arms around her waist. Outside she can hear customers quietly leaving their own change rooms, whispering to one another, and god, heat finds her cheeks, because there’s no way they’re not whispering about them, and Beth briefly clenches her eyes shut, shifting her weight.

“You spend too much money,” Beth tells him softly, or not him, tells the change room wall, and Rio exhales harshly.

“I ever done anythin’ to make you think I ain’t in control of my spendin’?”

“You spend too much money on us,” Beth corrects, her eyes flicking up to him, and Rio’s jaw rocks as he looks back at her.

“It’s our money,” he tells her. “We earn it together, don’t we? Partners and whatnot. Figure we got enough to spend some on us and ours too.”

And she knows he’s right – knows that she needs to get better at this, but money has always been something elusive to her, too difficultly earned, too easily lost, whether through Dean or through her own mistakes and - - sure, it’s not like she’s burying her money in her backyard anymore, but still. She can’t help but feel like this level of stability is temporary, but then - - she looks up at Rio. She thinks about his steady hands, on her hips, on her wrist, gentle against her cheek.

She thinks about them cleaning Jane’s ketchup-covered fingers, thinks about them helping with the buckles on Emma’s shoes or plucking the pencil out of Danny’s fingers to help him with homework, and just - -

“The kids are really happy,” she says. “I think the budget thing makes them feel really grown up.”

Rio looks a little smug at that, but he swallows the grin before it can settle, nods, says:

“Mmm. Marcus won’t stop yappin’ about some coat of your nephew’s too. Danny’s gonna need to watch his back, kid might not wait for him to outgrow it.”

Beth barks on a laugh, surprised, and the look of it all makes Rio grin for real, and just - - god, she loves his smile. Not the smug one, but this one, the one that splits his face into perfect fractions, that gives him crows feet, that shows off his perfect teeth, that somehow just makes him impossibly handsome and never doesn’t leave her breathless, and she thinks of telling him that, but instead she says:

“The cobbler would only re-sole like, four pairs of shoes,” because he’d find out sooner or later, and really she does want to moan about it and she isn’t sure she can wait until coffee with Ruby tomorrow. Rio exhales something that could almost be a laugh.

“So you sayin’ I was right about them?”

Beth rolls her eyes, rolls out a hand too, conceding, but doesn’t say it, and a slight spark of annoyance moves into Rio’s look which makes her feel weirdly vindicated in a way she can’t really help. It’s not like he hasn’t annoyed her for most of the day, but then that thought alone makes her bite the inside of her cheek. She looks back up at him.  

“Are we bad at this?”

“How many times I gotta tell you, darlin’? I ain’t bad at nothin’.”

“Please,” she says with a snort. “I’ve seen you burn a pan before you even put anything in it.”

It’s enough to make him make a noise of mock outrage, which gets a giggle out of Beth, and just - - god, how does he do that? How does he infuriate and diffuse and comfort and just - - fix it like that? How does he look at her and figure out exactly what it is that’s ticking inside of her?

She swallows thickly, looking away, but before she can think much more of it, Rio’s speaking again.

“Saw somethin’ I almost bought you,” he tells her, and Beth looks back at him again, gaze flicking across her face, tracing the too-innocent set to his expression, the wetness of his lips, like he’s just licked them, and she arches an eyebrow.

“Let me guess, lingerie?”

Rio’s look of faux outrage returns in force, head shaking, eyes wide in make believe horror.

“Where you think I’ve been takin’ the kids?”

And - - right, Beth thinks, flushing right up to the shells of her ears, which only makes Rio grin. He promptly shrugs.

“Just pyjamas,” he tells her. “Know how much you like ‘em. Don’t think you got any new ones since we moved in together.”

She looks at him, trying to read into his expression, and it is a little too innocent, but it’s also - - innocent, she thinks. Not salacious, and it’s not like he would’ve detoured the kids to anywhere racy, and just - - then she thinks of that sweater she’d seen for him, and the matching one for Marcus, and just - -

“Buy it,” she says, ignoring the little voice in her head that tells her it’ll be too much. “And I’ll buy something for you. It can - - be a new tradition. I mean, it’s the start of the school year for us too.”

And Rio just grins wide at her.

*

And okay, maybe he doesn’t love the sweater, but Marcus does, practically glowing at the prospect of matching his dad, and she was right about it looking sweet on Marcus and handsome on Rio, the smoky teal somehow making him look all the sharper, the pointed V bringing out the lines of the hawk on his neck.

And he wears it in the afternoon, wears it to bed, pulling out the pyjamas he got her, which are less pyjamas and more nightie which is long, at least, she thinks, giving him an unamused look at the plunging neckline and relatively modest lace bust, but maybe the navy of it brings out her eyes, and the softness of her skin, and maybe it feels good too, the way Rio looks at her in it.

Maybe it feels even better to know it’s the same way he looks at her in her floral blouses and jeans. Maybe it keeps feeling good when Rio’s between her legs, the nightie up around her hips, her knees over his shoulders, ankles scrambling at his back. Maybe it even feels good when Rio sinks his teeth into the inside of her thigh just to make her gasp, and says:

“Gonna need to hear you say it.”

“Say what?” she asks breathlessly, back arching off the bed as he teases her entrance with the rough pad of his finger.

“That I was right about the shoes.”

And well, Beth thinks, glancing down at him, letting the challenge rest heavy in her eyes.

“Make me.”

And he does.

A few times.

#beth x rio #beth boland #rio #kenny boland #danny boland #marcus #emma boland #jane boland #my fic #the center and circumference #prompt fills

[stereksecretsanta]

Merry Christmas, @hotaruyuki!

I hope you, and everybody else will enjoy this little thing.

Read on AO3

*****

Two Potted Pines and a Hole in the Wall

It’s movie worthy, definitely not something that should happen on an ordinary Tuesday shortly before December. And yet it happens at precisely seven minutes to ten on that very Tuesday morning, while Derek’s in the middle of decorating the two small trees his sister had brought from the nursery, the smell of baking bread and cooling cookies hanging mouth watering in the air.

For a few weeks workers had been in and out of the space next door, bringing with them the ruckus of power tools and people yelling to be heard above said tools. The noise had been annoying, grating on his nerves, but he’d taken comfort from the fact they usually didn’t start before seven or later and that they’d eventually be done, not to mention they’d been good for business. Soon they’d packed up their things and left at the end of one day not being there the next.

It hadn’t been deserted though; Derek had seen the back of someone going through the door, had heard what could be furniture being dragged across the floor and various other noises indicating there would probably be a shop next to Derek’s soon. But today’s been quiet, and like he’s done every year since Laura conned him into opening his little bakery, Derek - after the morning rush was over and Isaac had left for class - turned the sign on the door to ‘closed’ and got lost in the task of decorating.

A pounding sound pulls Derek from his thoughts, and once he’s focused on it he can’t ignore it. Lifting his head he is met by the expected sight of the beverage making machinery and the stacks of to-go-cups, the open floor space between that and the counter, the old fashioned looking till at one end and the pick-up station closest to where he currently is, with various syrups, stirrers, packaged sugar, sweetener and creamer and a million other things he doesn’t care about and the existence of which he’s outsourced to his manager, Erica, who knows about these things. (Derek bakes, everything else is Laura’s fault. Thankfully she also hired Erica without whom he’d be lost).

The sound is familiar but before Derek can make out what it might be it suddenly grows louder, morphs into something akin to smashing porcelain (not a single plate, but the entire cabinet) followed by a bemused “eum… oops,” raising questioningly at the end. Turning, the pretzel shaped ornament he was about to hang on the tree still dangling from between his fingers, Derek finally locates the source of the noise. In the wall Derek’s shop shares with the one next door - the wall Derek had thought was a solid concrete common wall - is a hole that might be big enough for him to wiggle through with a man standing on the other side, a hammer clutched in his still raised hand, a few nails sticking out between plush lips, eyes wide with surprised shock.

Everything is still and quiet, the two of them locked in a disbelieving staring contest - seems Derek wasn’t the only one thinking that had been solid wall - and then, like the snap of fingers, the world starts moving once more, the man wobbling, leaning a little too far forward and realizing he’s falling Derek’s knees straighten and his feet take him across the room just in time to put his hands on the man to keep him from toppling over and fall through the hole and injure himself, not caring for the faint sound of shattering glass.

This close Derek can see the faintest hint of stubble, a smattering of moles on pale skin and lang, dark eyelashes framing a pair of amber brown eyes. Beneath the palms of his hands the man’s stomach muscles twitch with his movement as he steadies himself, Derek only reluctantly loosening his grip when he’s certain the danger has passed.

“This was not how I imagined meeting my new neighbour,” the man’s voice is warm and deep, laced with the grin clear on his face; for some reason he doesn’t seem the least bit worried he nearly fell to his death moments ago (Derek might be a bit dramatic, it probably wouldn’t have been more than a few bruises and maybe a bend rib, which - while painful and not something to joke about - not immediately life threatening).

Taking a step down from where he’d apparently been standing on a footstool, he reaches out his hand. “I’m Stiles, thank you for saving me from myself.”

“Anytime,” he says, distracted by the fact that despite being an inch or two shorter, Stiles’ hand is quite a bit larger than his own and there are a few moles on the back of it matching the ones Derek has already noticed on his face.

Stiles laughs, genuine and delighted. “I’m gonna hold you to that, dude. I might’ve grown into my limbs but I still trip over thin air from time to time.”

“Don’t call me dude,” Derek says, extracting his hand from Stiles’ because he realizes they’ve been shaking for at least thirty seconds more than is usual. He also immediately has to suppress the urge to face palm as he remembers never actually introducing himself.

“Derek. My name’s Derek.” He sweeps out his hand, encompassing the room, “and this is ‘Hale’s Sweets’, finest bakery in the street.”

Stiles leans closer and sticks his head through the hole in the wall, takes his time looking around the shop. “Pleasure to meet you, Derek.” He hesitates for a moment, looks down to take in the damage before him. “Maybe I could buy you a cup of coffee as a thank you for saving me, and figure out what to do with this?”

That’s how Erica finds them when she gets back a little before three to get ready for the afternoon reopening. Stiles is telling a story about the shenanigans he and his best friend, Scott, had gotten into in high school, whole body moving and arms flinging this way and that, Derek with his head thrown back in laughter; there are no decorations hanging from the ceiling or in the window, one tree is half way decorated while the other isn’t. She grins and backs up without making a sound, quickly scribbling a note and then sneaks out the back door. As soon as it closes behind her she shoots off a two word text; It worked

Laura had taken one look at the young man before handing him the contract for the other half of the building housing ‘Hale’s Sweets’. Letting him read through it she went and told her secretary to cancel the rest of her appointments before calling Erica, asking her to get there as fast as she could.

Getting back to her office the young man had looked up and asked for a few days to have someone look it over. Laura had happily agreed and waved him of in time for Erica to catch a glimpse of him.

It had taken them less than an hour to come up with a plan and only a little while longer to set it in motion. Erica being married to a bricklayer sped up that part of the plan involving renovating the space.

He’d been back two days later with a feisty red head who’d made demands Laura was willing to meet and soon the contract was signed, Stiles - as he’d told her to call him - leaving with a copy while Laura’s secretary had filed away the original and Laura had congratulated herself with her own brilliance.

Laura had known from the second she saw him, that Stiles would be perfect for her brother. Sure, she could’ve done what normal people do and introduced the two to each other, but seeing as she didn’t know Stiles and Derek didn’t like meeting new people that wasn’t really an option. And as she’d said to Eric, where was the fun in that, anyway? Besides, it wasn’t some nefarious plan to gain world domination, more a ploy to create the best circumstances for her brother to meet someone interesting that she thought he would hit it off with.

The renovations got done in record time. Luckily the door that had originally been between the two parts of the building was still there, had only been walled on either side; getting it free on Derek’s side had been a matter of waiting for her brother’s day off and then have the crew work as fast as possible. Luckily Derek wasn’t in the habit of staring at the walls which meant he probably wouldn’t notice anything amiss. They’d uncovered and cleared the door opening and then made it look like a solid concrete wall, figuring that at some point someone was going to hang something there.

The text from Erica confirmed that Laura made the best plans.

For some reason they never get around to fix the hole in the wall.

Derek watches the space take form, sees how differently Stiles shapes it compared to his own. Shelves filled with books hang among different movie posters and paintings by local artists - little, discreet plaques informing the viewer of their names and in some cases the price of the pieces - potted plants hang in the windows and are placed on a few tables at the armchairs.

When neither’s busy they often find themselves in deep conversation through the wall, Stiles talking with his whole body and Derek listening intently, often laughing at something the other say to Erica’s wordless amusement and wonder. She’s worked for him since he opened ‘Hale’s Sweets’ and has never heard him laugh neither as frequent nor as loud.

Months passes and Derek and Stiles’ friendship grows with each passing day. They graduate from only talking through the hole in the wall during the day to the exchange of numbers and subsequent texting to doing things together outside of business. The first time Derek meets Stiles’ friends is a Friday night at a nearby bar. When he arrives they’re all half way towards drunk but they’re nice and welcoming; not necessarily people Derek would’ve chosen for himself but being thrown in among them he finds that he likes them, think they could his friends, too.

It’s a while later Stiles finds out his landlady is actually Derek’s sister. He’d fallen asleep in his tiny office and wakes to raised voices from Derek’s side of the building. Blinking owlishly at his watch he groans when he manages to make sense of the blinking numbers and, hoping Derek has some coffee he might be willing to part with, he gets up and makes his way to the wall.

Despite the early hour he recognizes Laura Hale instantly where she’s jabbing a finger at Derek’s chest, the man grimaces and catches her hand on its next inward jab. Stiles clears his throat, catching their attention; seeing him she smiles brightly while Derek looks like he’d just bitten into the world’s sourest lemon. Still, he reaches for a steaming cup on the counter and a package of sugar with his other hand, expertly rips it open and dumps the contents into the cup, then he stirs while stepping closer to the hole in the wall, handing the cup to Stiles who eagerly grabs it and takes a careful sip.

”Stiles, my sister Laura. Laura please leave,” Derek says just as Laura happily exclaims; “Stiles!” and runs up to awkwardly hug him through the wall. Derek rolls his eyes and takes the cup from Stiles almost as if he’d expected this to happen.

”In a minute, brother dear,” Laura says, her attention focused solely on Stiles.

”Ms Hale,” Stiles starts only to be cut of by a “call me Laura. After all you’re my favorite tenant. Not to mention everything I’ve heard about you and your shop; quite impressive. But have you ever considered getting a partner? Expanding your product range?”

Stiles stares at her, then at Derek who looks like the proverbial deer caught in headlights; he can’t believe he didn’t think of that. How many times has he watched potential customers walk in from Derek’s shop with a freshly baked bun or a slice of pie and a cup of coffee only to sit down at the tables in Stiles’ shop to eat and drink before browsing his wares. Not to mention every time someone comments of the heavenly scents drifting through the wall, and when leaving his shop turn left towards ‘Hale’s Sweets’ (Stiles having a ‘duh’ moment when he realizes he should’ve known Laura Hale and Derek were related long before today) to sate their sweet tooth.

”That’s,” he hesitantly begins, catching Derek’s eyes and whatever the man sees in his gaze has him relaxing, giving Stiles the confidence to finish his sentence, “actually a great idea. Derek?” The man nods in response, Laura beaming at the two of them.

”Now that’s cause for celebration. Stiles, are you busy tonight?” he shakes his head and Laura continues, “awesome. Then maybe you and that red headed friend of yours would like to come to dinner tonight. We could talk business and get to know each other.” Behind her Derek was shaking his head but Stiles grinned and said he’d call Lydia right away, see if she was free.

Enough days had passed for the last Tuesday of November to roll around once more. Cora had delivered two new pines the day before - last year’s back outside where they belonged - and Derek had gotten the decorations out of storage. The morning rush was over, the sign flipped to ‘closed’ and both Erica and Isaac had the rest of the day off. Music was playing quietly over the speakers, the smell of freshly baked goods hanging heavy in the air.

Stepping from the kitchen into the shop itself Derek couldn’t help ponder the difference from last year. He and Stiles had decided to merge their shops and the easiest way to do so was getting rid of the common wall (after making sure it wasn’t load bearing); they’d then had the workmen make another wall at waist height with a wide opening to keep the spaces apart while still a unit. The café style tables and potted plants spilled into Derek’s space, the coffee brewing migrated to Stiles’ and books were everywhere and at some point all of it became their space.

Now, with no customers in sight, Stiles was dancing to and singing along with the music. Derek sat the chest on the counter smiling at the sight; Stiles had no rhythm whatsoever and his singing wasn’t ever going to win him any awards, but he was enjoying himself, his joy infectious and Derek took a step closer, then one more and when Stiles turned in his direction put his arms around him, slowly swaying them around the room. Stiles trips and steps on his foot, Derek bumps into a chair knocking it over and still they keep moving, smiling at each other as one song ends and the next begins.

It’s dark outside when they open the box, on top of all the decorations two small, black boxes containing the jeweled promise of forever.

End

#hotaruyuki #stereksanta15 #*fics19 #*gifts19

[imagine-avengers]

Biker Part Five-Clint Barton Series

This is Part Five of my Biker Clint Series, all previous parts are listed on my masterlist. As I stated in part one, this series hasn’t been finished as of August 10th, 2020 but I am working on finishing it. It’s taking me a lot longer than previously thought seeing as I’m getting ready to head back to Uni. But I am trying my lovelies. As always, thank you for reading and I always appreciate feedback!

-

“Barton’s Mechanic’s this is Olivia speaking.” Olivia spoke a few weeks later as she was standing at the front desk of the shop.

“Hi, I’m looking to book an appointment to bring my car in for an oil change and I need new breaks.” The woman spoke as Olivia opened the calendar on the computer.

“I have an opening tomorrow at noon.”

“Is it with Clint? I only let Clint work on my car.” Olivia chuckled.

“Unfortunately, Clint isn’t working tomorrow. Luke is on the schedule.”

“When is he next in?”

“I’m sorry, Clint won’t be back for about a week,”

“Is it club business?” The woman spoke as Olivia paused.

“Club business? Ma’am, even if it was I wouldn’t be able to tell you that, but no, it isn’t, he’s getting ready for his wedding.”

“His wedding? Okay, well I’ll take the slot tomorrow.” Olivia stayed on the phone for another few minutes, taking down the woman’s information.

 -

The next day Olivia was back behind the counter of the shop, Clint had been off with Natasha and Bucky, the three planning the wedding, Clint refusing to let Olivia help as she planned their first herself. It was almost noon, Peter and Harley had come in not long before and had dropped off lunch for her.

“Hi, you must be Anne.” Olivia spoke as a woman came in after parking her car in the lot. “Luke is finishing up right now and he’ll be right out with you.” Olivia stated as she went back to some of the photos she was going through for one of her clients.

“That’s okay. Can I ask you something?” Olivia nodded as she looked up. “I’ve been coming here for four years, and I’ve never seen Clint with anyone, how come I didn’t know he was seeing someone, it’s a small town after all.” Olivia look sized the woman up.

“When did you move to town?”

“A little over four years ago, moved in with my sister, June after her husband passed.”

“Well, Clint’s been with the same woman since he was seventeen. Been in love with her longer than that. The two already have been married once, they took a break, never divorced, and she’s back and they figured after four and a half years away, it was time to renew their vows.” Olivia shrugged. Anne and Olivia chatted a while longer before Luke brought her car in. Anne stayed and waited. Luke was almost done changing the breaks when Clint came in carrying a cup of coffee for each of them.

-

“Hey.” Clint set the cup on the counter.

“You’re a saint.” She said as Clint laughed before he leaned over and kissed her.

“You say that now. Just you wait until you see what me and Buck have planned for the wedding.”

“Oh no, you’re letting Bucky help. Clint you know how he gets with that ego,”

“Excuse me.” Bucky stated having heard his sister. “My ego is not big.”

“Really Buck? I remember when Sophia Harnes called you hot sophomore year, you gloated about it for weeks until Natasha broke your nose.”

“Okay, I get it.” Bucky held his hands up. “Nat said you’re meeting tomorrow to go dress shopping.”

“Of course she does.” Olivia rolled her eyes.

“We’ll be in my office, we have some things to work on for the club.” Olivia nodded as she kissed Clint again.

“Alright baby, I’m out of here in twenty, I’m supposed to be meeting my dad for lunch.”

“Your dad? Have fun with that.” Clint chuckled as Bucky smirked.

“You do know he’s going to give you hell for agreeing to marry that jackass again.” Bucky spoke once Clint was in his office.

“Heard you asshole!” Clint called before Bucky followed him.

“You didn’t say you were marrying Clint.” Anne spoke from her spot on the bench.

“You didn’t ask whom he was marrying.” Olivia shrugged. “And technically, I’m already married to him.” Olivia got back her photographs. Fifteen minutes passed and Olivia had submitted the photos through email to her client before heading back to Clint’s office. “Hey baby.” Olivia spoke knocking before opening the door.

“Yeah?” Clint and Bucky both looked up from the paperwork that sat between them.

“I’m heading out, someone needs to man the desk.” Olivia leaned against the doorframe as Clint shoved the papers over to her brother.

“I’ll have Peter come in.” Clint said moving towards her. “I’ll walk you out.” Resting a hand on Olivia’s back he began leading her out of the room.

“See you later Buck-a-roo.” Olivia smirked at her brother before Clint pushed her out and towards her car. ��I’ll meet you at bar after lunch with my dad.”

“Shut up.” Clint spoke as Olivia turned towards him

“Excuse me?” She spoke but noticed the look on Clint’s face. “What?” She asked softly before Clint pressed her against the door of her car and kissed her. Olivia grinned kissing him back for a moment before pushing him away from her. “What are you doing?” She laughed.

“I’ve wanted to do that all afternoon but your brother won’t leave.” Clint spoke, resting his hands on her hips.

“I so want to take you home right now, but I need to go meet my dad, I will gladly resume this tonight though.” Olivia grinned at him before pulling him back to her and kissing him.

“Go meet your dad.” Olivia grinned as she pushed Clint away from her and began opening the door to her car.

“I’ll see you at the bar.” Olivia smiled before she drove off.

-

“Hey hot stuff.” Natasha spoke upon Olivia entering the tattoo shop in which the club owned. Olivia had had lunch with her father and then decided she wanted a new tattoo.

“Well hello my dear sister-in-law.” Olivia grinned. “I could use some new ink.” Olivia said leaning against the counter.

“New ink for the wedding? Is it something that Sam should be looking at? Or should we call Clint or Steve?” Natasha asked flipping through the book of appointments.

“You may be right. Give me ten, I’m going to call Bucky, he’d kill me if I let Steve or Sam tattoo my chest.” Olivia spoke.

“Actually, hold on, Buck!” Natasha screamed and Bucky came walking out of one of the back rooms. “Babe, your sister wants some ink.”

“Really?” Bucky asked raising a brow at her.

“Yes, figured something permanent to show my husband I’m not running off anytime soon.” Olivia shifted on her feet. “We figured you wouldn’t want Sam or Steve tattooing certain areas of me.” Olivia spoke as Bucky motioned her to the back.

“Come on short stuff, we’ll talk about tattoo ideas.” Olivia followed her brother into the back. “What are you thinking Liv?” Bucky sat on a seat as Olivia dropped onto the other. Olivia told her brother her idea and he did a drawing before tattooing her.

-

“There you are.” Bucky stated wiping off the excess ink off from under Olivia’s breast where she had him put a small arrow.

“Thanks Buck, you’re the best brother I have,”

“I’m the only brother you have,”

“Details, details.” Olivia waved him off with a grin as he began wrapping her ribs.

“You and Nat are dress shopping tomorrow, right?” Bucky asked as Olivia nodded.

“Apparently.” She spoke pulling her shirt back over her head. Olivia hung out at the shop for a little while longer before heading back to her and Clint’s house.

#Biker Clint Barton Series #clint barton x oc #clint barton imagine #clint barton au #clint barton series #avenger imagines