#Maria is a sweetheart and it's been a delight to work with her!

[cupidssorbett]

"What a cowboy.”

Cowboy/Vaquero Miguel x Ranch-Hand? Reader.(Beautiful art above is by Katromz on tiktok and insta!)

Summary: Miguel ends up trying to befriend his longtime friend and employers niece however maybe befriend isn't quite the word.

Includes: AFAB reader but no specified pronouns/race/looks nothing, flirting/teasing, Nicerish AU Miguel, caught masturbating, Oral M & F, recieving praise, mentions of the word 'cunt/pussy', P in V, as well as not much use of name more nicknames.

P.S Vaquero and Cowboy are the same words for those who don't know, a friend requested this so I delivered! Please pardon any terribly translated Spanish I am still learning and had only few help from a friend of mine! This was a request so thank you to my friend!

Word count: 7766.(it's a long one babes.)

By cupid.

Begin.

You’d been sent out for the summer to help your uncle at his ranch, you didn’t mind too much it’d be giving you more to do than usual. He was happy to have you since most his ranch-hands called out or would be busy trying to fill in the empty spots left by others. So when he heard his favorite niece would be dropping in to help out he was more than delighted.

It was a long, long car ride to his ranch and by the time you had arrived the sun was high in the sky and it was sweltering. You hopped out of your dad’s truck with a smile on your face, your cousin’s Poppy & Nana coming to greet you with enthusiasm, quickly taking your bags. “Look at you two, it feels like it’s been forever since we’ve hung out together!” You say as you nudge Nana’s arm, she laughs a bit as the three of you trudge up the dirt driveway up to the main house.

Poppy opens the door for you as soon as you head inside you hear a squeal from your Aunt Maria, who immediately runs over to scoop you up into a hug. “Sweetheart it has been too long!” She says excitedly as she practically squeezes the air outta you. “I missed ya too aunty but please..please let me go I can’t breathe-!” You manage out as she lets you go, “Oh my! Sorry ‘bout that sugar! It’s just been so long!” She says pinching your cheek a little. “Now, Girls go show her to her room alright? Get all cozy, Jack said he wasn’t gonna have you start work till tomorrow when he can give you the lowdown of everythin’ new.” She said shooing you three up the stairs.

You followed the girls up the stairs as they talked away, you weren’t really invested in the conversation as you looked at all the old pictures that were hung up on the walls. All those old memories made you smile, you were out of it until Poppy pulled you back into reality with a tug on the arm, albeit a hard tug, “You alright there?” She asked, raising a brow at you as nana opened the door to the room, you blinked and flashed her a smile. “Yeah just got a little out of it, this heat whew it is-” “Why don’t we head to the lake!” Nana says with a bright smile as she sets your bags on your bed, cutting you off.

“Oh I don’t know what if your dad needs me here or help with anything I’m not just here to leisure about.” You say as they both sigh dramatically, “C’mon you heard mama, papa’s not gonna need you till tomorrow!” Poppy says crossing her arms, eventually you sigh giving into them and their antics. Excitedly they leave you to get ready telling you to meet them downstairs when done. Once you are ready to go with a little bag that has sunscreen and such inside you hurry downstairs the two girls waiting for you.

You can’t help but grin with their contagious smiles, “Ma! We’re heading to the lake!” Nana calls out to her, “Be safe girls! Be back by sundown too ya hear?” She calls from the kitchen and you all respond with unanimous ‘Yes ma’am!’ before hurrying out the door giggling like a bunch of school girls as you anticipate the cool water of the lake.

It was a bit of a trek until you reached it, shoving branches aside and walking through bushes hoping none of them were poison ivy or poison at all. Once nana pushed a thick willow branch aside you sighed happily, the blue water shining under the high sun. The three of you quickly hurried to the shore finding a nice spot to lay your things.

As you and nana carefully laid things out poppy quickly ditched her shorts she wore over her swimsuit bottoms and ran into the cool water with a loud cheer. She then decided to splash the two of you, causing you to get a cheeky grin. “Oh that’s how it’s gonna be huh?” You asked playfully as you ditched your own shoes and bottoms before running into the water yourself.

The cool embrace of the lake on your warm skin made you feel completely relaxed, until you remembered your motive to run in here in the first place. The time at the lake started with games and running off the rock ledge that overlooked the lake to jump in. Splashing one another or Watching as someone did something dumb for what felt like the 100th time in those hours.

By the time the sun started to settle down in the sky you were resting on your towel as the girls continued to play in the waters. Drifting off into your own daydreams, sunglasses shielding your eyes from the fleeting rays, until you were startled awake by squeal. You assumed something had happened, so you quickly sat up pushing your sunglasses to sit on your head. “What? What happened?” you asked worried, until you saw them giggling over something or more rather..someone.

You let a slight huff at the fact they had you all worried for nothing, you however curiously followed their eyes. Wondering what could’ve caused them to squeal to begin with. Down a good way from your spots on the bank was a man, a rather handsome man you had to admit. Poppy however caught your staring and with a cheeky smile sat beside you, “Ooo! Do I sense a crush perhaps?” She said with a shit eating grin.

Waving her off you stopped staring at the mystery man, “Oh please, You think everything is a crush or love related.” you said, trying to dismiss her packing your stuff away as the sun started to set. Nana was quick to hurry outta the water spotting you and your packing, quickly just tossing her stuff in her bag as you & poppy shook your heads at her mess of a bag now.

All of you hurried back dodging branches and plants until you were on an open stretch the house coming into view, “So..” you started, earning their attention again. “Who was that guy?” you asked, keeping your gaze ahead. You heard the stifled giggles and such from them before nana caught up to you, “He is papa’s right hand man, quite the looker isn’t he?” she teased with a smile. “I suppose,” you said as you walked up the porch steps hearing their squeals and giggles. “But don’t go tellin’ anyone, I barely know that man.” you said sternly pointing at the two of them and they quickly stopped their giggling nodding as you headed inside.

Heading inside your aunt had prepared some dinner for when everyone got back, and as hungry as you were you decided to go and get a shower. Not before your uncle was quick to scoop you up in a hug much to your protest before you fake made a disgusted face before he ruffled up your hair as you headed up the stairs getting a warm shower and some dryer clothes.

After dinner and what not you were sitting upstairs with Poppy & Nana and one or two of the herding dogs, flicking through movies trying to find something to watch. Seeing as none of you could agree on anything it eventually came down to just getting some sleep, the hours at the lake tiring you out and your aunt & uncle calling out a goodnight to you three had reminded you that you’d be out helping in the morning so sleep was a good option.

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The birds started chirping and the sun began to peek through the blinds, once it hit your eyes you groaned and began to open your eyes with a squint bringing a hand up to block the bright rays from practically blinding you. Sitting up blinking the sleep from your eyes you took note that it was just you and nana in the room, nana being fast asleep still.

You decided it’d be a good time to wake up and get ready so you could start helping your uncle out, you quickly brushed your hair to look less like you just got up and then you grabbed an outfit from your suitcase that would best suit the chores you’d be doing and the hot summer heat. You quickly made your way downstairs some of the dogs following you, “Mornin’ Sugar!” Aunt Maria called to her as she flipped some pancakes. “Morning Aunt Maria, Where’d poppy run off to?” you asked, snatching up a piece of bacon from the plate on the counter sharing some with the dogs.

“Oh she ran into town to fetch some more seeds for the garden, Jack told me we had extras but I know we didn’t, speakin’ of which since your most likely heading out that way mind giving those breakfast burritos on the counter the boys.” She asked using her spatula to motion to the cloth covered basket. You nodded, finishing the bacon off and grabbing the basket heading out the back door and off the porch to the main farm area and barn.

It wasn’t a long walk by any means, just one that felt long with how the sun sat so high and beating down on you, you spotted your uncle's truck out front of the barn. All the workers either sitting in the bed of the truck or leaning against it, you hurried over with a smile on your face as your uncle spotted you tipping his hat back slightly, a smile coming to his face.

“Hey there sweetheart, whatcha got?” he asked as he got up off the side of the truck walking over. “Aunty asked me to bring these breakfast burritos for you boys.” you said and they all hooted and hollered hurrying off the truck to grab one for themselves making you just laugh and shake your head. “Thank you for that darlin’ , right you all know my niece don’t you?” He asked, raising a brow as a few murmured yes’s and no’s were heard.

“Well you do now,” he said as he motioned to you, moving aside as you gave them all a wave of ‘hello’ then you spotted him, the man from the lake the other day. You didn’t realize you were staring until he made eye contact with you. A rather cheeky smile gracing his lips.

Once they were all done with their burritos the real work began. “Alright, Think you can work on feedin’ all the animals first then we can start on herdin’ the pasture ones back alright?” Your uncle asked and you nodded, “I’m on it!” you said with a smile. “How bout I send someone with ya, we’ve got a few new ones that might need some introduction, How about..Miguel!” your uncle said, clapping his hands together.

You were picking up one of the feed bags off the truck bed when a rather tall and muscular man walked up with a slight smile on his face, “Looks like I’m helpin’ you today sweetheart.” Miguel said, and oh god Miguel was the man from the lake. This realization almost had you dropping the feed bag before you quickly readjusted your hold on the bag. He only chuckled, slightly tilting his head and the brim of his hat up, giving you an even better look at his face, “Come on don’t go fallin’ for me already.' ' he teased at you.

Huffing you adjusted your grip on the bag turning on your heel with a little scoff, “You wish, I would never I barely know you.” You said as you began walking, utter bullshit, you couldn’t lie that his face, his eyes, his damn voice had you enthralled. He only let out a hearty chuckle following you carrying a bag or two of his own, “Then why not get to know me?” He suggested, shaking his head as you sped up your walking speed.

When you finally reached the animals you breathed a sigh of relief, quickly hurrying over to say ‘hello’ to all of them forgetting about Miguel following after you, he stood off to the side as he opened some of the bags watching as you excitedly said ‘hello’ to the ones you knew, all calling them by name then excitedly gasping at the ones you didn't know.

He had to admit he found it amusing, cute even at the way you greeted them all. He had to, he just had to, he cleared his throat which brought you back to your little situation causing you to huff almost and it only made him chuckle as he pushed a feed bag, ready and open your way. You grabbed the bag, opened the pen door and made your way inside without him, starting to fill up all the feeding spots walking about.

Miguel thought this would be a good time to start a conversation, “So, Why do ya keep ignoring me?” he asked and you just hummed in response, “I’m not.” You denied, “Ah-Ah just now you almost did.” He said looking at you, that stupid look on his face had you smiling slightly and rolling your eyes. Trying to look away before he caught it, but oh he caught it. “Hey! I saw that, I made a breakthrough!” He says motioning around to a nonexistent crowd almost proud of himself causing you to shake your head with a slight smile.

You two finished up the feeding chores with relative ease, the tension simply melting away as you two actually got to talking with one another actually getting to know more like he suggested, then you started saddling up some of the horses so they could head out to check for any lost or still loose cattle or sheep. You finished tightening one of the straps, patting the nose of the horse, a smile on your face when it responded with a big sloppy lick to your hand. “Alright, Are we ready to get a move on?” he asked as he took the reins from your hand. “Yep, All saddled up.” you said with a little salute.

“Thank you sugar, how bout you go feed the calves while we’re gone if you're up for it?” your uncle asked, hoping on the horse. “I can’t say no to feeding the calves,” you said with a smile. With a few waves and goodbyes you went off in search of the bottles that had the formula for the calves that were rescued and didn’t exactly take to any cow the ranch had. You grabbed the bucket of bottles and took a seat in the stable stall with one of the babies. Taking the bottle out, the little thing came running and it made you laugh.

You held the bottle up for it and at first it went well until it didn’t somehow, something had gotten on the shirt underneath your overalls and that was not sitting well on your skin with heat in the air. So you thought, hey they wouldn’t be back for maybe an hour or two at most so you unclipped the clips of your overalls and took the shirt off letting it rest on the table that had all the tools and such then you clipped your overalls back up and when right back to taking care of the calves.

To you only 30 maybe 40 minutes had gone by so you still weren’t too worried about putting that shirt back on or heading back to the house as you happily wandered the stable saying ‘hello’ to the horses that stayed behind. Blissfully unaware that Miguel had headed back to grab the hat he had forgotten, quickly making his way inside of the stable. Stopping his tracks quietly when he spotted you petting one of the horses and it seemed innocent enough until his eyes seemed to wander lower..to the point where he noticed you were not wearing a shirt under your overalls. And not wanting to make you uncomfortable or wanting to make anything else happen he just gave up grabbing his hat and left as quietly as possible.

When you had assumed they’d be coming back you went and got the shirt off the workbench and put it back on quickly as the cowboys came into view. You put on a smile and looked ahead as they made their way over and started hopping their horses all saying their ‘hellos’ and such but Miguel just completely ignored you, was he not going on about you ignoring despite barely knowing him earlier? What a hypocrite.

You just shrugged it off, what would it matter really, you said a quick ‘hello’ to your uncle as you checked the time, you had promised you’d spend the last few hours before the sun actually set at the lake with the girls and you had to depart to get ready. Simply brushing off Miguel ignoring you, you went back to the main house to change and once you were done you headed off however little did you know you’d spend your time alone at the lake..well for a little bit at least.

You relaxed on the bank for a little bit taking in the sun's rays after applying sunscreen of course, waiting thinking maybe they’d got busy or something. So you went from enjoying the water to resting on the shore to reading the book you brought until you exhaled a bit annoyed. You got up, gathered your things, slipped your shorts back on and made your way back to the main house in a slight huff.

When you opened the door your aunt seemed to pick up on your bad mood, “What’s the matter pumpkin?” she asked as she dried her hands with the towel. “The girls told me to meet them at the lake and then they just didn’t come!” you said with arm motions. She seemed to shake her head and sigh, “Well if your looking to pick a bone with them they might’ve gone down to the guest house to deliver the fruit like I asked, the one where the cowboys are stayin’.” She said, giving you a little nod. You thanked her begrudgingly before starting your way to the guest house, saying hello to the cowboys you saw as you headed by whether they were lugging hay or simply just passing by.

You got to the guest house and opened the front door, it was rather empty, and you didn’t hear any giggling, not even a hint of your cousin’s voices, you raised your brow carefully making your way down the hallway. You continued until you saw a door slightly creaked open, you neared it hoping maybe your cousin’s were just fooling around here and that you could drag them back. But that idea quickly evaporated as you neared closer you heard..grunts? At first you thought it was one of pain but when you got a view of what was behind the just barely opened door you quickly realized it was not one of pain rather of pleasure.

There Miguel laid on presumably his bed, legs spread slightly, cowboy hat resting lazily over his head, pants just barely down his thighs as his head moved up his hard erection..precum leaking from the red angry tip. You couldn’t help but stare, biting back the gasps with a hand over your mouth. His teeth sucking his bottom lip back slightly exposing his sharp canines that had you feeling some kind of way, but oh boy it just got better as soon as you mindlessly dropped your hand from your mouth he muttered out your name, “Dios... Ni siquiera sé cómo me hiciste esto..(God... I don't even know how you did this to me.)” He murmured out in Spanish as he hissed when he glided his thumb over the leaking slit.

Miguel was lost in his own thoughts, his mind flitting back to when he saw you in the stable in nothing but your shoes and overalls. He groaned out as he moved his hand up, he knew it was wrong and dirty not just for the fact that he was just getting to know you but the fact he wished it was your hands and not his then he was snapped back to reality by a noise..

You gasped and your gasp got his attention causing you to quickly hide behind the wall before he could spot you, when you heard him moving off the bed you were quick to run as quietly down the hallway. Your feet carried you quickly as you hurried out of the guest house not wanting to get caught in the slightest.

Your heart felt like it was in your ears, your cheeks felt hot, hell your whole body felt hot. You hurried quick and fast to the main house, your feet just carrying you inside as you gave a quick ‘hello’ to your Aunt before going to your room flopping onto your bed. Burying your head into your pillow and just screaming muffling it.

God..he was thinking about YOU? That had your heart feeling like it was going to burst out of your chest, you rolled onto your back as you stared at the ceiling that moment replaying in your head causing you to subconsciously rub your thighs together before you brought your hands up to smack your cheeks, mentally cursing yourself for feeling this way.

Huffing you sat up on the bed grabbing your journal you brought with you, “God..Was he really thinking about me? But why,” you murmured as you flipped out the journal trying to write it out of your mind at least so you could push it off and act as if normal. By the time you finished you were called down for dinner and you just inhaled and exhaled pushing it to the back of your mind shoving the Journal under your pillow and heading down.

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By the time dinner was done you and poppy were helping with the dishes as a few of the cowboys stopped by to drop off some stuff and there he was again, you quickly looked away as he spotted you offering you a sweet smile and tilt of his hat. You only just ignored him continuing your conversation with poppy and working on the dishes.

When you finished you quickly dried your hands not wanting to stick around for very long you couldn’t even fathom why seeing him again got you so much more worked up than it should. “I’m headin’ to bed really tired, Night everyone!” you called quickly as you hurried up the stairs to your bedroom causing Miguel and a few others to raise a brow before just brushing it off to turn to their own things.

You inhaled sharply and exhaled laying onto your bed, your hands traveling gingerly down your stomach to the hem of your pj shorts. Your fingers slipping past the hem of the shorts to your panty clad cunt, exhaling slightly as your fingers brushed over your cunt that slight pressure you added caused your body to melt slightly into your pillows. Your mind clouding with thoughts of him, before the sound of someone coming upstairs snapped you back to reality.

You quickly pulled away from your shorts and grabbed a random book from the nightstand to act as if you were reading. Poppy and Nana came bursting in with a movie for the three of you to watch and you all but sighed happily as it was something to completely take your mind off it.

The movie was put in and the lights were turned off getting all cozy in your beds and watching the movie until you all but fell asleep..

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For the next few days you did your best to keep your distance from Miguel but your hard-headedness to stay away from him only had him more intrigued and always earned a laugh from him because you always denied his questions whenever he asked one and you denied his help just to make it easier, but it seemed to fail every now and again considering your help to your uncle’s work and with him always having the cowboys with him you only ever saw him everyday..

The next morning came and you decided you’d just avoid Miguel completely and only interact if you just HAD to interact with him thinking that it would be best especially because of the way you made him feel and with the way he had you feeling even if you were just getting to know him better.

Today you dawned a nice summer dress as you were going to help your Aunt in the garden to keep a distance between you and him. You put on a sun hat and followed your Aunt out to the garden to work on the precious marigolds she had planted that were getting swallowed by the pesky weeds.

Dropping down onto your knees and getting to work right away you heard a clatter of tools causing your head to whip around to where it came from, and god fucking dammit you swore nothing was on your side this week, it was miguel, tool belt beside him and a few fence posts as he shot you an apologetic smile. “Sorry bout’ that didn’t mean to startle you act like I’m not here.” you only hummed in response, turning your attention back to the flowers.

Digging into the dirt yanking weed after weed out as the sun began to rise high into the sky above, causing you to start to sweat under the hot rays. You huffed sitting back on your heels as you dusted your hands off of dirt with the exception of some stuck under your nails. Miguel heard your little huff and his eyes happened to wander your way, gazing unapologetically up your figure, your flushed face and slightly pouted lips catching his attention.

He cleared his throat slightly, turning his attention back to the fence, “You doin’ alright Miss?” he asked, tipping his hat back slightly. You just hummed in response earning a small frown from him, “What?” you asked, raising a brow. “How come you keep ignorin’ me, I thought we were making progress?” he said as he looked at you.

“Well, You started it when you came back from the stable that day and completely ignored me.” you shot back as you crossed your arms, “I did not I was just busy,” he said more matter of factly. The way he seemed so hurt by your antics had you feeling bad almost, you eventually sighed dropping your arms to your side. “Alright fine I have been but I ain’t telling you why, BUT I will make a better effort to stop ignoring you I suppose.” You said and you watched as his face brightened slightly.

“Well I think I’d be the happiest cowboy around,” He said with that stupid smile, “You're so weird.” You stated, shaking your head and turning your attention back to the weeds. He only laughed and went right back to his job, that’s what sparked the two of you talking again, you knew deep down you weren’t gonna be able to ignore him even if you tried because that really only made things awkward so you decided it would be best to try and be his friend.

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That is how you spent some of your days, getting to know him and then spilling your feelings to your little diary and then going right back at being friendly, well one fateful day you made the mistake of leaving your diary not entirely under your pillow.

You were helping Miguel lug some hay to the truck and you exhaled, noticing the way your skin was getting a little red, “Damn, Hey Miguel could you go to my room and grab my sunscreen for me? I’ll finish loading up the hay if you do.” You said giving him a little smile and he sighed with a laugh. “Alright alright I’ll go fetch it, Where would I find it?” He asked stopping in his tracks.

“On the nightstand!” You called back as you grabbed another bale, he nodded giving you a little salute before setting off. He headed inside offering a polite ‘hello’ to your aunt before going upstairs finding your room and heading inside. Originally he was just here to grab the sunscreen and go but a little book peeking out from behind your pillow had him curious.

He stopped for a moment before he eventually caved and carefully picked it up in his hands, just a peek, it wouldn’t hurt really. Just a peek turned into reading some pages and skipping others, that was until he stumbled upon some of the more..explicit pages and they seemed to be about him. God he felt his pride swell, the way you thought about him and looked at him.

“Well damn little lady..” Miguel murmured with a slight smile on his face before he shut the journal, having now learned about your developing crush on him and the way you thought about him. He grabbed the sunscreen and headed back down and out with a curt tip of his hat.

You noticed when he was walking back he had a little beat to his steps causing you to smile and raise a brow as you took the sunscreen from him. “What’s got you so happy go lucky?” you asked as you applied some on your face and arms and he just hummed in response. “Eh no particular thing, can’t a man just be happy hm?” He teased you and you playfully swatted at his arm. Once you were all good with the sunscreen you two got back to work, all the moving and feeding and more moving of stuff had you both out till the sun was settling near the mountain tops.

“Hm, Looks like we should start headin’ back Miguel.” You said looking at the way the sun was settling, “Ah right, can’t believe the day slipped away from us that damn quick.” He said as he adjusted his hat to sit back on his head slightly, you couldn’t help but admire his features slightly before snapping yourself out of it. “Miguel, I was wondering if you, I mean if you and any of the cowboys would like to come down to the main house for a lunch of sorts,” Miguel smiled coyly at your little invitation, “Oh? You're inviting little ol’ me huh?” he said his smile went from coy to smug and you rolled your eyes playfully.

“You wish, I’m doing it as a request from my aunt.” You said lying through your teeth, no you were wholeheartedly inviting Miguel, using your aunt as an excuse so he didn’t see right through you. However that was long gone really, he already saw right through you, you and your dirty little thoughts with the way you looked at him and what he learned from your diary. He dramatically put a hand over his heart, “I am truly honored sugar,” he joked causing you to roll your eyes again starting your way back to the main house.

His smile never leaving his face,”See ya tomorrow sweetheart,” he laughed as you turned away from him quickly heading back to the main house to wash up for dinner, he knew damn well what he was going to do tomorrow to get you alone and he couldn’t wait.

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He spent his day counting down the minutes till he could meet you for lunch well you and your family really, when he saw how the time neared closer he had gone back to the guest house to freshen up opting for a nicely pressed shirt, one of his nice belts, and some jeans that he knew you thought looked damn good on him. Grabbing his hat swiftly and the sunflowers he got just for today.

Making sure he didn’t look too eager he toned down his steps and his excitement, knocking on the front door adjusting his grip on the flowers. He heard you call out ‘I got it!’ before your footsteps followed, opening the door you were the picture of summer. Wearing a nice little sundress, hair more loose and free, and a smile creeping its way onto your face. “Howdy little miss.” He said his southern drawl coming out more has he held the flowers out to you.

You accepted them gratefully, “Miguel you really didn’t have to-” “I wanted to sugar, there’s a difference.” He hummed as he walked inside with you greeting your aunt and uncle with his usual polite demeanor and then greeting your cousins with that smile of his. You couldn’t help but grin, going and finding a vase for the flowers. “He’s a real nice boy ain’t he?” your aunt asked, having noticed your grin.

Still subconsciously smiling as you filled the vase with water you shrugged, “Yeah I suppose he is.” She just laughed a bit as she brought the food and drinks to the table with you following behind her setting the beautiful sunflowers as the centerpiece. Calling everyone to the table for lunch, you settled into your seat, Miguel sitting in the seat beside you which was across from your uncle so they could continue whatever conversation they were having.

You all served yourselves and then conversations began, it felt like most lunches with the addition of Miguel, little did you know what he was planning. He knew how the herding dogs were so when your aunt went to grab the pitcher of juice he sneakily tossed a piece of food underneath the table causing all of them to make a run for the food bumping your aunt’s chair, the pitcher of juice ended up splashing all over your sundress causing you to squeal and jump up.

You quickly excused yourself to hurry up stairs to remove the splotches of color that had begun to seep into the fabric more and more. Miguel excused himself as well, saying he had a call to take and it was rather important. Your family thought nothing of it, just hoping you’d be alright. He headed up the stairs with ease as he heard the sink start to run. Inside you had grabbed a cloth and began to rub at the stains without much thought.

Then a knock sounded and you sighed thinking it was your Aunt or cousins you opened it, it was Miguel. “Ah- I’m sorry I’m tryin’ to-” Miguel cut you off, “Don’t worry sweetheart, I know how to get pesky stains out especially ones that ruin such a nice dress.” You blinked the nickname felt less innocent for some reason especially with the way he was looking at you.

You cleared your throat allowing him to come in and shut the door as he kneeled down digging through the cabinets, “Ah here we are,” He said holding some bleach, “This oughta help somewhat.” He hummed as he dabbed a cloth with some leaning forward looking at you for your permission. You nodded slowly and he brought the cloth to one of the stains, wiping gently. His touch so gentle and soft had your stomach erupting in butterflies.

You felt your arousal grow slightly from his little touches and ministrations and the way he always looked to you with those eyes as a way of asking. You couldn’t help but stare at him, analyzing his features and then a chuckle erupted from his chest causing you to snap back to the situation. “Darlin’ If you keep staring at me that way I might just have to do what your little diary says.” the mention of your diary as your cheeks flushing red and your heart speeding up more than it was before. “I beg your pardon?” was all you could manage out.

He chuckled, setting the cloth aside and moving closer, “I didn’t wanna tell you this sugar but I’ve read your little journal and all the thoughts you think bout me.” He whispered softly against your ear causing you to shudder slightly. “Miguel I can explain-” You started, “Shh, Shh no need sweetheart, I know exactly what you need.” He said softly as he leaned closer, his lips hovering just away from yours. “Question is, do you really want this?” He asked wanting to really make sure this wasn’t some wet dream or that it wasn’t you who felt this way. You swallowed hard as you exhaled shakily, nodding, “Words sugar.” He said softly against your lips. “Yes Miguel, Please.” You pleaded slightly and he chuckled, shaking his head. “Goodness little miss your going to be the death of me.” He teased before your lips met.

It started out soft and sweet then grew into something more passionate and rough as his hands rested on your hips, his thumbs tracing patterns on the cloth that covered them. You pulled away for air, your breathing coming out in small pants and huffs. “Look at you..Kiss bitten lips all needy for me.” Miguel said with a slight smug smirk, “I’m not needy.” You shot back at him with a small huff.

His hand went from your hips to your thigh working up to your panty covered clit, a gasp eliciting from your throat. “Not so needy huh?” he teases as he rubs a thumb over your covered clit groaning at the way your arousal has made your panties wet. “Not-Not needy at all,” You managed out as a whine followed your words when his hand moved away.

“Then maybe I shouldn’t,” He started before you sighed, “Please Miguel..” You murmured, earning a smile from him, “Please what?” he said, pushing you on. “I need you.” you whined out earning a satisfactory chuckle, his hands found your waist and he hoisted you up to sit on the counters of the bathroom. His lips immediately find your inner thigh, sucking marks into the soft skin.

His hands wander as you let out small gasps and cries trying to be quiet, as you beg for him, as you beg TO him. God he never really thought his little idea would work but here he was buried in between your thighs, what a dream. His lips inched closer and closer to where you wanted him, he gently pulled your panties down and off. Then he licked a slow stripe up your folds eliciting a moan from you causing you to cover your mouth.

You could practically feel the smile he had on his face, he began eating you out like you were the last meal he’d ever eat. His tongue working your leaking hole then focusing directly on your clit. Humming gently when his lips wrapped around the sensitive bud causing a guttural noise to slip past your hand. His pace is unforgivable with the way he’s eating you.

He acts like he's a starved man eating the most delicious food alive and he just can’t stop, one hand keeping your thighs apart and the other massaging the soft supple skin. The way he alternates between tongue fucking you then sucking at your clit has your head in the cloud feeling like your on cloud nine.

Without warning he shoves two fingers in causing you to gasp at the surprise feeling, his fingers working slowly but surely in a soft pace to give you time until you're practically begging for more and he gives you more. His fingers curl in the right spots as he pumps his fingers in and out of you sloppily kissing and licking at your clit.

All the stimulation has your head reeling as a knot forms in your stomach, he doesn’t stop, he makes direct eye contact with you with that smug smile on his face as the knot snaps. Your velvety walls spasming around his fingers as you orgasm, your eyes shut tight as he laps up all of it slowly letting you down from your high as you exhale sharply when he removes his fingers.

His hands come to make quick work of his belt and jeans bringing his boxers and jeans just low enough for his painfully hard cock to spring out. You can’t help but stare as he works it slightly, your mouth practically hanging open at the sight of it, precum beading at the tip as he works it slightly lining his head up with your entrance.

He looks to you for another affirmation and you nod looking up at him with those pleading eyes again and he can’t say no to you. He nudges his head in before plunging in full force eliciting a loud moan from your lips and groans from his with how tight you are around him. “God..So tight, such a good girl I swear.” he murmurs as he begins thrusting into your cunt, the praise causing your pussy to flutter around him. He acknowledged this with a little smirk.

“You like that huh? You like being my good girl,” He huffs out earning a whine from you, he lands a small slap to your ass causing a yelp to fall from your lips. “I asked you a question.” He said gruffly his change in attitude had your stomach feeling butterflies. “Yes, Yes s’good Miguel!” You cried out as his pace became relentless. His smirk remained at the way you reacted to all of this. His hands have a grip on your hips that’ll most definitely bruise without a doubt.

His face finds itself in the crevice of your neck placing soft kisses and words of praise into your ear, your mind practically melts from all of this as he fucks you with such a pace, the sound of skin slapping and your muffled whines and cries becoming evident as he continues on. Your legs come to wrap around his back slightly as he pulls his face away to watch where you two connect. “Tan condenadamente apretada, tan buena para mí.(So damn tight, so good for me.)” He managed out as your walls fluttered around him, having a vice on his cock.

“That feel good? Hm?” he asked knowing damn well your practically fucked dumb at this point, nodding your eyes fluttering open as he comes to rhythmic pace that’s hitting all the right spots for you. He continues to praise you and kiss up your neck leaving marks occasionally just because he can. With the way your walls clench around him he can tell your close, his free hand comes down to rub circles on your clit making you gasp and your head loll back onto the mirror behind you.”So damn needy for me..Taking all you can get.” he chuckled out.

“I’m not needy,” you managed out best you could as you took his hat from him, He shook his head at your hard-headedness “Eres tan terco…(You are so stubborn..)” He huffed out with a chuckle, quickly taking his hat back from you as you shot him a mischievous smile even in your mind melted state. Rolling your hips eliciting a groan from the cowboy who tossed his head back, his hat covering his face.

He hums slightly, leaning down to plant kisses on your collarbone and shoulder, “That’s how you wanna play huh?” he murmurs into your skin, his pace picking up almost knocking the air out of you, the lewd noises that spill from your lips spur him on, and that familiar knot tightens in your stomach, then the coil snaps and your cunts warm walls restrict around him and he can’t help but groan before he quickly pulls out before he can cum. Causing a small whine from you at the loss of feeling full.

“You wanna play games then we can play games sugar.” He says as he brings you off the counter onto your knees, you swallow thickly as you gently kitten lick the tip of his cock, soft and slowly. Teasing him with it, earning low groans and even slight whines from him. You don’t get very far with your tricky endeavors before he bucks his hips slightly causing you to gag around it. “Sorry bout that darlin’ just can’t help myself.” he says with a slight smile.

You start a steady pace, your hands resting on his thighs as you bob your head back and forth, your nose touching the tip of his pelvis before you pull off of him just to tease him again. He groans out before laughing slightly, his hand coming to find itself behind your head. “God you are just a little tease ain’tcha.” he says before thrusting into your mouth, causing you to gag slightly and pat his thighs. Tears welling in your eyes.

“Shh shh, it’s alright just relax.” He says softly and you try to, finding a steady breathing pace through your nose and relaxing your throat slightly. He begins face fucking your practically, drool coming to spill from the side of your mouth and nose tickling his pelvis as the hums you produced in response to his praises elicited groans and huffs from him.

His pace was rhythmic until it became erratic, his breathing becoming more uneven, “Don’t think I’m gonna last any longer.” Miguel huffs out as his pace becomes more needy. You hum around him and he groans, begging you to do that again and you oblige, humming around his length gagging slightly. The sensations send him over the edge after a few more thrusts his cum spurts down your throat causing you to swallow out of reflex, he slowly pulls out a string of spit connecting him to your kiss bitten drool covered lips. God the sight of alone could have had him going again he leaned forward wiping a thumb over your lip to wipe the drool away as you swallowed.

He planted a small kiss on your temple, “You're just perfect darlin’.” He praises making you smile slightly as he helped you stand up, a hand resting on your hips. “Maybe we should head back down, Wouldn’t want your family to worry too much.” you hummed in response, “I’m gonna change first, you go on down.” you said softly planting a kiss to his cheek as you carefully exited the bathroom to go back to the room.

Could this be the start of something real with this cowboy?

Fin.

#miguel o'hara #miguel o’hara x reader #miguel o’hara smut #atsv miguel #cupidssorbettlibrary #miguel ohara #miguel spiderverse #cowboymiguel #cowboy

[queen-haq]

Fic: Alive - Part 16 + 17

Summary: Aidan traced the thin chain around his neck, rubbing the infinity pendant between his fingers. No longer a symbol of their everlasting love, it was something he touched in anger when he thought of Sage. It was the only thing of hers that still remained with him after eight years, the last possession which still connected them together. When he 4did find Sage again, and he would no matter how long it took, he planned to destroy the pendant - and her.

Taking place across two timelines, Alive tells the story of Aidan and Sage, high school sweethearts driven apart by who they are and where they come from. Once enemies then lovers, their relationship runs full circle when they meet again in the present, now prepared to destroy each other.

My Masterlist (contains links to previous parts)

Part 16

Then...

Sage entered the kitchen to find Maria in there, stiffening instinctively when the older woman shot her a cold glance. Although the housekeeper was always civil, her short answers made it obvious she had no interest in exchanging pleasantries let alone forging a friendship, and after months of constantly being rebuffed by the woman, Sage no longer bothered to try.

Per their usual routine, they nodded at each other and both went about their own business.

Shortly after Sage was almost done making a sandwich when Aidan waltzed in, whistling, grinning like a fool. He'd been playing basketball with Theo in the back, and from the smirk on his face, she gathered he won the game. Although they didn't speak, he winked at her before swaggering over to Maria and wrapping his arm around her.

"Maria, how do you do it? How do you get hotter every day?"

Sage rolled her eyes, smiling to herself at the giddy expression on Maria's face. The housekeeper may not have been fond of Sage but she held Aidan in high regard and it showed in the gentle way they constantly teased each other.

"Don't you have any thing better to do than flirt with an old woman?" Maria retorted.

"I have a thing for cougars. I can't help it."

"Boy, don't you be sassing me."

"What should I do instead, babe?" he asked suggestively.

Sage chuckled before she could stop herself which elicited a curious glance from Maria. After the many arguments she and Aidan had exchanged in this very kitchen, usually in front of Maria herself, Sage wasn't surprised by the woman's reaction.

Aidan jumped up to sit on the counter, grabbing a freshly peeled carrot from Maria's hand. "You shouldn't be eavesdropping in private conversations, orphan Annie."

He cocked his eyebrow, encouraging her to continue the charade. Well, she certainly didn't want to disappoint him. "Orphan Annie, huh? Did you use up all your brain cells to come up with that one? No wonder your head looks a little small today."

"Worried about me?"

"Couldn't care less actually."

"Liar." He munched on the carrot. "Shouldn't you be out casting spells or whatever it is losers like you do with your free time?"

"Shouldn't you be at home? Oh wait, your parents probably kicked you out again."

"Aidan is always welcome here," Maria replied.

"Thank you, Maria," Aidan said before turning his attention back on Sage. "There's a rumor going around you keep a shrine of me in your room." His eyes gleamed with wicked delight; a sly smile curved his lips. "Do you get down on your knees and worship at my altar?"

"No, but I do keep a Ken doll handy when I'm in the mood."

"Ooh, kinky."

"I know." She smirked. "It's vapid and soulless, like you."

"Now you're just making me blush" He grinned. "Been getting freaky with doll me?"

"Oh so freaky. I snapped the legs off yesterday." She held up her hand, crossed her fingers. "Here's hoping voodoo works!"

"That is not something to joke about, young lady!" Maria scolded, her face red with anger. "You need to learn some respect-"

"But Aidan doesn't? I don't see you chastising him when he insults me," Sage pointed out, annoyed by the woman's blatant hypocrisy. "Maybe you're the one who needs lessons in respect."

"I don't need to be lectured by a child."

"Apparently you do," Sage fired back. Maria didn't respond, instead storming out of the kitchen in a huff. Sage shot an irritated glance at Aidan who stared back at her with an amused expression. "What are you smiling about?" she snapped.

"You look so hot when you're pissed off."

She knew exactly what he was doing: flirting with her, distracting her, anything to calm her down. It was the same tactic she employed when he was upset; unfortunately for him, she wasn't in the mood to be placated. Turning around, she grabbed the loaf of bread from the counter and threw it back in the fridge. Suddenly Aidan's hands encircled her waist, hugging her from behind. Being comforted by the gentle warmth of his touch was enough to simmer her down until, finally, she felt in control again. Closing her eyes, she leaned back on him.

"Maria's known me since I was a kid. That's the only reason she lets me get away with shit," Aidan cajoled. "It has nothing to do with you."

"That's not true. Even if I hadn't said anything she would still blame me. She has this family's mentality down perfect."

He circled her around to face him, his fingers tucking in a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. "Hey, I'm sorry. If I hadn't started this-"

"Don't be," she interjected, brushing her lips against his. "I was having fun telling you off."

"I bet." He nuzzled her forehead. "Do you really have a voodoo doll of me?"

A small chuckle escaped her lips. "Maybe. Why, you scared?"

"No, I just want doll me to have as much fun as I do. Maybe I should give him a Barbie so he doesn't get lonely." He wiggled his eyebrows. "And we can use them to re-enact-"

She placed her palm over his mouth. "No, we are not going to do doll porn. So you can just forget that idea."

He sighed melodramatically. "Why must you always rain on my parade?"

"Because it's so much fun when I do." Theo's voice drifted into the kitchen, yelling for Aidan to join him in the other room. Sage eased her grip on him. "Your boyfriend's missing you. You should go."

"Jealous?" He smirked, playing along. "Don't be. I love you both. Maybe you a little bit more."

She froze.

It was the first time he'd admitted to loving her, it was a strange sensation. A part of her couldn't help wondering if he really meant it or was she reading too much into a light-hearted moment. It's not like he confessed to being in love with her or anything, which meant he was probably just teasing her, right?

Her gaze pierced into him in an attempt to gauge his thoughts, but as hard as she tried to read past the blank expression that now masked his face, she couldn't.

"I should go. Your bro hates it when I keep him waiting."

She stepped back, nodding her head. "Okay."

His hands gripped the sides of her waist all of a sudden, pulling her against him, his lips covering her own. Frantic, desperate, he kissed her with a raw urgency that left her trembling against him. Just as quickly as he'd swooped in for a kiss, he pulled away, leaving her on edge.

"I'll sneak into your room after everyone's gone to bed," he said breathlessly, planting a quick peck on her forehead before leaving her alone in the kitchen.

She stared after him, heart pounding in her chest, trying to wrap her mind around what just happened. When she'd first told him she loved him and he hadn't returned the sentiment, she'd wondered about the sincerity of his feelings. Eventually she came to the realisation he simply wasn't used to expressing emotions. He didn't grow up hearing he was loved – another reason she despised his parents – and because of that he had a difficult time vocalising sentiments. She didn't like it, but she'd learned to accept it. Except now he'd just blurted it out, maybe as a joke, and she didn't know how to deal with it.

Her thoughts were interrupted when Cat rushed into the kitchen a minute later, sending her the obligatory irritated glance that seemed to be part of Cat's daily routine. She looked through the cupboards, throwing things on the floor as she searched for something.

"What are you looking for?"

"Mind your own business," Cat sniped.

"No need to be a bitch about it. Just wanted to help you."

"Yeah, right." Finding the snack item she was searching for, Cat turned around with a scornful smile on her face, voice laden with sheer vitriol. "I don't need your help. You're the charity case, not me."

"I'm also your sister." Sage flashed a smug smile at Cat. "Don't forget that."

"As if I could when I have to see your goddamn face every time I turn around."

"Like dealing with you is such a fun time for me?"

"Why don't you fucking leave then? Dad will give you money to take off. Just leave us alone. Let us be." Cat marched towards her, blue eyes brimming with frustration. "If you weren't here, everything could go back to normal. We'd all be happy again!"

Anger, hostility, perpetual disdain were emotions she was used to from Cat, but not hurt, never hurt, and certainly not the level of pain that was displayed across her sister's face right now. Unsettled by the onslaught of guilt that flooded over her, Sage found herself at a loss for words. Not that it mattered as Cat was already on her way out of the kitchen.

*****

Sage woke up later that night, turned to glance at the clock on the nightstand table. It was almost three in the morning. She was still alone in her room; Aidan hadn't joined her as promised. She slid out of bed, put on her slippers and headed out of the pool-house. Sounds from the TV reached her ears upon entering the main house and she followed the noise into the family room, stopping in her tracks at the sight that greeted her. All three were fast asleep with Theo sprawled along the love seat while Aidan and Cat were nestled in each other's arms on the adjoining couch.

It wasn't just jealousy that surged through her, sharp and acute, but also sheer envy. Aidan and Cat looked like they belonged with each other, the cherished All-American couple that everyone rooted for. They didn't have to hide their relationship, not when the world expected them to be together.

Sage realised how much of an intruder she really was as she regarded the warm, cozy intimate picture her siblings and Aidan presented. The three of them had grown up together, they had history, and despite the fact Cat treated them like shit most of the time or that Theo and Aidan were rivals in most things, they shared a deep connection that could never be broken. She ached to fit in with them, to form her own place within their little group, but it was impossible. She was the family's dirty little secret, a source of conflict and unhappiness as Cat had reminded her earlier tonight, and she would always remain an outsider, a stranger who'd never be allowed in.

It hurt, it hurt far worse than she could have imagined.

*****

Now...

The phone vibrated loudly. It shook atop the nightstand table, waking Aidan up. The woman beside him stirred as he reached to grab the phone. It was a text message from a number he didn't recognize, piquing his curiosity as to who it could be. Theo wasn't speaking to him, neither was Cat, and his mother was off to some retreat in the middle of nowhere.

He checked his phone to read the message.

"Found Sage. Will email you deets shortly."

Suddenly, he couldn't breathe.

***

Part 17

Then...

After tossing and turning all night Sage slid out of bed, determined to leave before Aidan could sneak into her room. She got ready in a hurry, grabbed her textbooks, and drove away from the house as quietly as possible. Avoiding him for the time being was probably the coward's way out but she didn't care; she wasn't ready to talk to him yet. Frankly, she didn't even know how to broach the topic without sounding completely selfish.

When she was alone with Aidan, it was easy to pretend rest of the universe didn't exist. They were in a cocoon, safe from the terrible realities of the world. They protected and cared for one another because they only had each other to rely upon – or so she thought. Last night had truly revealed that he wasn't alone, like her. Aidan didn't need her. He didn't feel the desperate craving for a connection the way she did, because there were people in his life he was already close to. Theo and Cat were his family, the people who mattered the most to him. Maybe if there was a chance they would accept her one day and allow her into their little fold, she wouldn't feel bitter and angry about it – but she was an outsider, forever relegated to remain on the outskirts.

The image of Aidan cuddling her sister taunted her again. It was burned into her brain, not ready to be forgotten no matter how much Sage wished it away.

Although she was secure in the knowledge he cared for her, maybe even loved her, she was no longer sure if his feelings were unique towards her. Loving him was like riding a terrifying, gut-wrenching rollercoaster that filled her with dread one second and made her come alive the next. It was the most incredible rush of euphoria unlike anything she'd experienced before. He was the only guy she had ever loved but it wasn't the same for him – he had been in love before, with Cat, which meant he must have experienced the same kind of emotions for her too. How did he get over that? Had he, even? She didn't think it was possible to ever not want Aidan. Did that mean he still wanted Cat? Remembering them holding each other, it was obvious there were still lingering feelings there – the thought of which made her want to retch.

Busy with her thoughts, Sage didn't realise she had already arrived at the beach. Considering it was a Sunday and the weather was comfortably warm, she expected the place to fill up quickly. Gathering her things together, she started walking towards her preferred spot: a hidden area near the rocks where not a lot of people visited.

*****

"Wanna tell me what the fuck is up with you?" Aidan asked.

He'd already left by the time she returned home late last night and she'd ignored his calls since then. However, it was only a matter of time before he confronted her. Of course she hadn't expected that to happen in school, in the hallway, in front of other people. She pursed her lips and took a deep breath before turning around to face him. "Can we not do this here?"

"Why are you avoiding me?"

"I'm not. I've just been busy."

He scrutinised her for a few seconds. Feeling uncomfortable, she averted her gaze from him.

His demeanor was visibly softer when he spoke next. Her eyes automatically scanned the hallway to see if anyone was watching them. With the sudden curious glances being thrown at them, they were the center of attention. "People are looking at us," she said softly.

"Good."

Aidan leaned in closer. Resting his hand over her head, trapping her against the locker, he tilted his head to the side, a flirtatious smile playing across his face. She hated that smile, hated it, because it made her knees weak and set her heart racing. There was absolutely no way she could remain strong in her resolve when he looked at her like that.

"You have a tell. Did you know that?"

She glared at him. "What are you talking about?"

"I always know when you're bullshitting. You have this thing you do."

"Yeah, right," she scoffed. "Now who's the bullshitter?"

"Okay. Let's test it."

"I don't think so."

"Scared?"

"Whatever." She sent him a haughty glance. "Tell me what it is."

He smirked. "Why would I do that?"

"Because you're a nice guy."

"Really? Am I?" His golden gaze pierced into her, taking on a somber glint. "Then why are you pissed at me? What did I do wrong?"

"You didn't do anything."

"You're lying again."

"It's me, okay? I'm just freaking out over... nothing."

"Hey," he murmured, cupping her face with his other hand. His thumb caressed her skin with a touch so gentle it turned her insides into liquid. "It's not nothing if it's keeping you away from me."

"Can we please not do this in front of people? I'm really not in the mood to be gossiped about today."

"Who cares about them? They say shit about you all the time anyway."

"Yeah well, maybe I'm tired of that. Maybe I don't want to give your friends any more reasons to come after me."

Irritation flared in his eyes, he was running out of patience. "Fine." Aidan stepped back. "Find me whenever you're ready to talk. Maybe I'll still care."

She watched him storm away, guilt flooding over her.

*****

Sage wanted to be alone, and that meant having lunch in the back field far away from prying eyes. Unfortunately Marcus was already sitting at that spot and drinking from a flask when she approached him. He moved aside, giving her space to sit back against the giant tree. Since he was unpopular as her, she had invited him to join her and her friends for lunch several times, but he always just said 'no', not even bothering to make any excuses for turning down her invitation.

"What's wrong?" Marcus asked.

She could smell the heavy stench of liquor on his breath. "Maybe I should ask you that question."

"Meaning?"

"Do you get wasted every day?"

"Are you always such a nosy bitch?"

She was taken aback at the harshness of his words. What the hell?

"Sorry," he said a second later, giving her an apologetic smile. "I just don't like it when people butt into my business."

"Okay. Sorry. I was just being polite, I guess."

"Yeah, sure." He swayed closer, making her feel uneasy at his close proximity. "Anyway, you were going to tell me what was wrong."

"What makes you think something is?"

"Because you don't usually come out to the back field."

"I didn't realise you knew so much about me. Very stalkerish of you, Marcus."

"I only noticed because you're alone today. Most of the time you're hanging out with that fag."

"Hey!"

"What?"

"Don't call David names."

"Why not? He is a fag."

"If you don't stop, I will smack you across the face."

"I'd like to see you try."

How had she not realised how much of an asshole Marcus was before today? No wonder he never wanted to sit with her and David. A part of her had assumed Marcus was better than the other ignorant idiots that roamed Belleville, that maybe because he was constantly gossiped about he would be more tolerant towards others who experienced the same thing. Clearly she was wrong.

"Tell him to stop checking me out. It's gross. I feel like taking a shower when he looks at me."

One more word from him, and she really didn't think she could hold herself back any longer. Maybe the smart thing to do was to walk away. She attempted to sidestep around him but he blocked her path.

"I would beat his ass but that bitch would probably like it."

Her patience had reached its limits. This fucking loser thought he could insult her best friend repeatedly and she wouldn't do anything about it? Enough was enough. She was done. Using all her strength, she slapped him across the face.

At first he just stood there, shocked, and she felt a huge bout of satisfaction at the stunned look on his face. Good. Maybe now he'd think twice about calling people names.

He rubbed the spot she struck. "Guess everyone was right. You are a cunt."

"Fuck you!"

He grabbed her wrist, his fingers digging into her skin, and pulled her against him so violently she went hurling against his chest. Struggling, she tried to knee him in the balls but he was quicker and stronger.

"You're gonna regret that, you fucking cunt!"

Suddenly Marcus was thrown to the ground and Aidan was standing behind him, his face red with anger.

Before she could wrap her mind around what was happening, Aidan knelt down next to Marcus and started punching him with brutal force.

She froze momentarily, shocked, incapable of any kind of response, until the violent fight finally snapped her out of her stupor. She screamed at Aidan to stop but her pleas fell on deaf ears. The sheer madness on his face was indicative of how out of control he really was and it frightened her. His viciousness came out in full force when anyone harmed him or those he loved – which meant Marcus was in deep trouble. While Marcus could jump off a bridge for all she cared, she didn't want Aidan to end up doing something horrible.

Marcus took a swing at Aidan, fist landing against Aidan's jaw. It must have been painful and would've given anyone else pause but Aidan seemed to be in a trance, oblivious to the wound, and simply continued to fight. He returned the punch with equal ferocity, slamming Marcus back to the ground.

Desperate, she threw herself on Aidan's back, clinging to him, clutching his clothes to pull him back. "Stop, Aidan. Please stop!" He stepped backwards unexpectedly; in turn, she lost her balance and her knees gave way. She fell to the ground, groaning in pain – and it was that which finally captured his attention. He was panting for air when he leaned down next to her.

"Are you okay?"

Cupping his face, she used her thumbs to swipe the blood from his bleeding lips. "Don't do this. Let him go."

The deep pools of his eyes were a vivid green, roaring with turbulent anger. "He hurt you!"

"But I'm fine now. I'm fine. See?"

His gaze pierced through her, studying her intently. Soon, she sensed a shift in him. The calm returned to his face as he held her gently when, once again, Marcus sucked-punched him from behind. She shrieked, watching Aidan fall down next to her. Hot rage coursed through her veins. Grabbing Marcus's leg, she bit into his skin as hard as she could. He screamed in pain, striking her face with extreme force. Instantly, everything went dark.

*****

Now...

Aidan sifted through all the photos of Sage in front of him, studying every detailed image until it was etched into his brain. Her hair no longer reached her waist; it was much shorter now, resting just below her shoulders. She was wearing business suits in most of the pictures, appearing professional and sophisticated – a far cry from the casual girl he remembered.

Most importantly, she was happy. And not alone.

In the pictures the investigator had sent him she was with a little girl. There were shots of them playing at the park, Sage walking her to school, one with her tying the kid's shoelaces and another where she was swiping the tears from her daughter's face.

He fixed his gaze on the little girl. Although the detective had yet to send him a birth certificate, he already knew the truth. Apparently she was in first grade, which made her about seven. He'd done the math and realised the kid had to be his. He studied her tiny face, hoping to spot some kind of resemblance to him – there was none. Then again, she didn't look like Sage either. If anything, her features were similar to Layal, Sage's mother.

Anger washed over him, red, hot, intense. He'd spent all these years imagining how he would make Sage regret leaving him, the many ways he would hurt her, but now there was nothing he could do. His hands were tied. She had his kid, and even he wasn't that much of a bastard that he'd do something to Sage which would inadvertently hurt the kid. To do so meant he was turning into his father.

For one moment he considered letting it all go and just moving on with his life. The kid looked alright, happy, maybe the best thing for everyone involved was to leave her with Sage – but a part of him yearned for answers. He needed to know why, he needed the truth.

At the very least, Sage owed him that much.

To be continued...

A/N - Thoughts? 

#original fiction #romance novels #enemies to lovers #alive #my fics

[yazthebookish]

Gwyn and Azriel by @mistilteinnart 🤍

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#acosf #acotar #gwynriel #azriel #gwyneth berdara #I WAITED TWO MONTHS FOR THIS😭🤍 #MARIA DID SUCH A FANTASTIC JOB IM SO IN LOVE WITH IT #HERE IT IS FINALLY!🤍 #Maria is a sweetheart and it's been a delight to work with her!

[unhinged-summer-fun]

Congrats on 300! You are such an amazing writer, I’ve loved everything you shared with us! ❤️

For the prompt could you write a first kiss with Dave York or Frank Castle please? Thank you so much!

omg bb thank you so much!! I pushed myself to try and get out of Frank's head for this one LOL he's a funny monkey. I hope you enjoy!! (700 words)

Prompt 6/30 finished! Keep sending me prompts!

Sometimes you forget his past. Sometimes you think he forgets his past. It’s… well, comforting isn’t really the word for it, but it’s something like it. If there was a sad kind of comfort, an antithesis to nostalgia, a positive heartache. That’s what happens sometimes.

When he looks at you across the room, communicating a million things wordlessly, it’s like he’s swept you into a corny movie, everyone else falling away to nothing, leaving you, the four walls, and him.

But he probably doesn’t feel the same way. He has so many things in his head, memories and blood and literal bullets and regrets and unspoken love, that you never quite know how to talk to him about anything.

He doesn’t seem to want to talk about any of that, though. He wants to talk about you, wants to fill his fucked-up head with your sweetness and that happy numbness that soothes the raw nerves of his heart.

Which is why he asked you in simple words, “Would you go out with me on a date?”

And you responded, in simple words, “I would love to, Frank.”

He picks you up promptly at 6 for dinner at 6:15. He hadn’t gone on a real date in over a decade. Even his hookups were unconventional at best over the years. Here at your doorway, he feels like a ringbearer at his older cousin’s wedding, like he was 5 years old and his hair was too gelled for comfort and he needed to look and act on his best behavior or Aunt Margaret would gut him in the church.

He holds a simple small vase of flowers for you, already unwrapped and cut and watered. He heard Maria’s voice from the past echoing in his present. You’re not giving me a gift, you’re giving me a task. If I can’t enjoy these flowers the way they are when I get them, all I’ll think about is the fifteen minutes of work I put in to enjoy the fifteen seconds of work you put in to buying them.

He’d bought her one of those cheesy bacon bouquets the next year, and she’d given him a sage nod that said good job, husband.

But now he holds a gift (a true gift) in his hands and it feels like he’s holding his beating heart. Why aren’t you answering the door? Oh, right. He hasn’t knocked. You appear almost as soon as his knuckles meet the veneer, glowing and grinning up at him. Your face transforms into a delighted expression when you see the flowers.

“You didn’t have to!”

“Wouldn’t be a gift if I had to get it for you, sweetheart.”

You’re taken aback by his smooth reply, and for a moment, so is he. He chuckles good-naturedly and shakes his head before handing you the vase. You invite him in, nowhere he hasn’t been before. It’s a little different from the last time he saw the place. Your purse sits on the counter, ready for your date. All the shoes you usually wear are in the boot tray, you’re wearing pink high heels of all things. The curve of your calves blending into your knees makes his vision go cross a little, that unshakeable desire he’s always felt for you now allowed to manifest on his face.

You return to him, nothing special, you’re talking about something with hand gestures he never speaks with. You’re even looking at, talking to, his shoulder and picking off a stray hair you’ve found, before smoothing down the fabric on his jacket. Your monologue never misses a beat, until he leans down and catches your lips with his.

He’s doing this all backwards, he knows. Kisses are for the end of a date. Love and affection are for years down the line. Learning from marital bumps in the road shouldn’t be something he knows, not with something new and fragile and precariously full of potential. Maybe he just fucked it all up by kissing you here in your hallway. Maybe it’s another case of his mouth running before his mind. Maybe…

You’re kissing him back.

Maybe he doesn’t have to worry about all that right now.

#unhingery #30 for 300 #frank castle x reader #f!reader

[stargazedmoony]

Excerpt from a story I’ll never write: Wedding preparations.

“Why don’t you tell me something about the groom?”

Lily, caught by surprise, turned red on her cheeks. Through the mirror in front of her, she looked at the faces of her three best friends, who were now starting to giggle. “Oh, shut it,” she said as she turned around on the platform she was standing on, showing off a lovely, plain and white wedding dress.

She turned to the saleswoman. “Excuse me my very childish friends,” she laughed. “They’re still not over the shock of me being the first one to get married.”

“That’s not true!” Marlene objected. “Mary was the only one who thought that. And you—” She turned to Mary. “—still owe me three Sickles for it.”

Mary shook her head and grunted. “I can’t believe I made that bet with you. But I really thought you were going to get married first!”

“How can we?” Dorcas sighed next to Marlene. “Lesbian marriage is not even legal.”

“Yet.” Mary shot her a strict look, but then she quickly looked up, looking quite bewildered. “Oh!” she gasped with her eyes on the saleswoman who was eyeing the conversation with great interest. The woman friendly shook her head and said: “No need to worry. I don’t judge.” She gave them a small smile. “I’ll search for a few more dresses, alright, ladies?”

The four of them nodded and the woman left. Mary snorted. “I didn’t even mean the gay marriage thing when I looked at her,” she said. “I’m ready to fight anyone who disagrees on that. I was really just thinking about how she has no idea what a Sickle is.”

Marlene laughed and then looked up to Lily. “Yeah, how are you going to pay exactly?”

“Don’t be silly, Marls,” Dorcas said, shoving her girlfriend gently by the shoulder. “Lily’s still got Muggle money.”

“Yeah, I do,” Lily stepped in. It had been her idea to buy her wedding dress in a regular Muggle-shop. It made her feel close to her family and her origin. “Mum insists on paying for half of the dress,” she continued. “Euphemia and her keep fighting over it.” She was looking carefully at the dress on her body as she was talking, letting the fabric slip through her fingers and stepping right and left on the small platform to look at it from every perspective. It was really just a plain, white dress — very casual and quite traditional. It was also the third dress she was trying on and just like the other two, this one didn’t suit her either. She pursed her lips. “This is not it, right?” she asked the girls behind her, eyeing them in the mirror. Dorcas frowned. Mary shook her head at once. Straight up as she was, she said: “It makes you look very short,” and Lily laughed at her directness.

“It’s a nice dress—” Marlene started politely, but Dorcas cut her off. “Oh, shut it, McKinnon. It’s quite a boring dress.” Dorcas laughed at Marlene’s face and quickly grabbed her girlfriend’s hand to kiss the palm of it. Marlene’s face softened. Mary grunted.

“I can’t believe I’m the only one not in a relationship,” she said.

“You’re welcome to join us,” Dorcas winked playfully.

“No, she’s not!” Marlene gasped loudly. Dorcas’s roaring laughter filled the room with such delight that the rest of the girls couldn’t help but laugh along with her.

“I might have to pair up with Peter after all,” Mary said, still smiling but looking rather weirded out by the idea of settling with Peter Pettigrew. “Oh, come on,” Dorcas said. “Peter’s fun, he’s just—”

“A bit of an idiot? Short? Always eating?” Mary filled her in.

“I was going to say “quiet”, but damn, he does seem to be eating all the time, doesn’t he?” Dorcas chuckled while Marlene shrugged her shoulders. “He’s just stressed. And can you blame him? With everything that’s going on?”

“What? Lily marrying Potter?”

“No, I mean with the war.”

The room fell quiet. Lily looked at the ground. She hadn’t thought about the war all day, being too caught up with wedding preparations and looking at gorgeous wedding dresses. Suddenly, she felt very guilty that she was feeling happy and loved when there was a world out there being wrecked and destroyed. “Oh, Lily, I’m sorry,” Marlene said, noticing Lily’s uncertain look. “I didn’t mean to—”

“It’s okay,” Lily said, smiling softly. “I’m going to find the saleswoman. To tell her this is not the dress.” She stepped off of the platform as she said this, leaving Marlene looking guilty and Dorcas comforting her by wrapping an arm around her shoulders. Lily didn’t blame Marlene for talking about the war. It was all everyone could talk about. But Lily really needed something good in her life. The danger that she was in, being a Mudblood, and not to mention her family being in grave danger as long as she was connected to the wizarding world; it was sometimes too much to bear. There were nights when she couldn’t sleep at all, because images of her friends’ dead bodies were whirling like insects in her head. This wedding was all the light she had right now.

In the back of the store, Lily found the saleswoman. “Ma’am?” she said quietly. The woman looked up. “Oh, hi darling!” she said friendly. “Call me Maria, please. How can I help you?”

Lily smiled. “Well, I just don’t think this dress is going to be it,” she said. Maria nodded. “That’s OK!” she said enthusiastically. “Come with me! I’ve put a few more in your dressing room in case you wanted to try on a different one.”

Lily followed the woman to the dressing room to, indeed, see a few more dresses hanging on hangers and filling the empty space of the disappointing dresses she had tried on earlier. Lily waited for Maria to zip down the back of the current dress as she looked at a beautiful mild golden-white coloured dress that was hanging right in front of her. “Wow,” she breathed under her breath. Maria helped her out of her dress and put it back on a hanger. Lily, fully aware that she was almost entirely naked, pointed at the dress. “Can I— May I try that one?” Maria looked up, a smile creeping on her face. “Of course! I thought you might like that one.”

It took a while to get into the dress, but once it was on, Lily gasped for air. She could simply not believe she was looking at herself in the mirror. On her skin, the dress seemed to be a fine lined-colour between golden and off-white. It made her hair flair up, looking redder than it had ever done before, and it made the freckles on her shoulders stand out, like Autumn leaves on bare ground. She laughed, stunned by her own beauty. Surprisingly shocked by how comfortable she was, Lily kept on staring, knowing that Maria was watching her with curiosity and delight. “I— I look beautiful,” she stammered eventually.

Maria chuckled. “You do, sweetheart,” she said kindly. “Shall I dress you up a little more? Put your hair up, maybe? I brought a few veils that might go well with this dress.” Lily nodded, not entirely hearing what the woman was saying.

It was an A-lined long dress, embracing her belly around her waist and showing off her figure in a way she was sure would make James’s his jaw drop. The golden glow of the satin in combination with her red locks reminded her of the Gryffindor colours back in the old common room at Hogwarts. The body of it came with lace off-the-shoulder long sleeves, leaving her freckled arms in a glamorous pattern of flowers. She stared in disbelief at the dress and then at Maria. The woman was eyeing her with a small smile on her lips. “Tell me something about the groom,” she said, repeating the question she had asked earlier that afternoon.

Lily bit down her lip. She couldn’t believe the buzzing of butterflies awakening in her stomach by only hearing James’s name. “His name’s James,” she said, quite shyly and stroking the lightly sparkling dress on her body. “He’s very sportive, I guess. And he loves the Beatles.” Lily laughed as a memory came flying into her thoughts— James hearing “Come Together” on the ‘magical music box’, as he liked to call the regular radio, for the first time two summers ago at her parents’ house. “Who is this?” he had asked, eagerly. “Are they in the music box? Can you summon them out?”

“Oh, he’s just lovely,” Lily smiled, caressing the memory in her head. “He’s a real knob head sometimes, but he’s the most loyal friend and boyfriend you could ask for. He’s charming and… and endearing and he’s caring and he always makes sure that I eat or that I’m warm enough, and every night before bed he gives me this little kiss on my forehead. “For sweet dreams,” he then says to me. I don’t think he could possibly imagine how loved that makes me feel. And sometimes he—” Lily stopped talking, noticing the bright smile on Maria’s face. “Oh, I’m sorry! I bet you didn’t mean those kind of things, right?”

Maria chuckled. “Oh no, dear, please,” she said, carefully placing a veil on top of Lily’s hair that Maria had apparently decided should just fall onto her shoulders. “I was adoring the way you talk about him. I treasure these kind of moments with every bride I talk to, you know that? It causes magic to appear in between these walls.” Lily smiled at the choice of words, but let the woman continue: “Men don’t care for that kind of talk, so when women come here, they tend to really get lost in their feelings. It’s the look in their eyes that sparks my happiness. I just saw it in yours. It’s why I come to work every day.”

Lily smiled. “I think you’re a wonderful person. Thank you for your kind words,” she said. She could’ve sworn Maria reddened on the cheeks as she laughed. Lily leaned in, a bit to Maria’s surprise, and hugged her, and Maria hugged her back. “I think I’m ready to see my friends now.” Maria nodded, took the lower part of the dress in her hands to prevent it from catching dust or dirt, and guided Lily back to the platform. There, Lily was welcomed back by gasps of surprise and shock and small screeches of happiness. It was a noise that made Lily’s insides fill with her very own kind of magic. It was love.

by: @stargazedmoony :)❥

#the marauders era #the marauders #marauders #marauder #the marauders fanfiction #marauders fanfiction #jily #jily fanfiction #jily fic #harry potter #hp #harry potter textpost #harry potter fanfiction #harry potter fanfic #moony wormtail padfoot and prongs #moony #wormtail #padfoot #prongs #remus lupin #peter pettigrew #sirius black #james potter #hogwarts #james potter fanfiction #lily evans #lily potter #lily and james #fanfiction

[astralaffairs]

so hear me out- mafia!thom where mc is a spy! working with the rival group or the government (probably run by hamilton) and gets caught? I’m just a simp for e2l~

ok but this prompt is FUN !!!!! ugh the tension

in which thom is a meanie >:( and james isn’t a softie

-------

“...one of Hamilton’s soldiers. Yeah, we found her down by the docks with a couple others; looked like they were trying to make a hit where we planned our drop.”

“Really? What happened to the others?”

“Got away. She was stationed closest to us, but by the time we got our hands on her, everyone else was starting to split.”

“Some loyalty.”

When Y/N found herself gradually beginning to drift into consciousness, disembodied voices polluting the dank, cold air around her, she found a splitting pain in her head and a dull ache in her shoulders. Cautiously, she cracked an eye open, squinting in the low light as she found herself in some clichéd, nondescript warehouse. Figures.

Her ass was getting sore from the metal folding chair she’d woken up tied to (seriously, they couldn’t have sprung for anything more luxurious?), and the harsh metal of the handcuffs around her wrists was digging into her skin. As her eyes adjusted, she could make out, if only vaguely, two — likely male — figures standing leaned against the wall, chatting about her circumstance as casually as if it were the weather. She sniffled, her nose running in the cold, and she itched to wipe at it. She sniffled harder.

“...She awake?”

“It sounds to me like she is.”

Y/N’s pulse began to accelerate as she heard footsteps echoing across the concrete floor, headed in her direction. She didn’t dare lift her gaze. She searched for any way out of the bind she was in — even if she could pick off the handcuffs, her ankles were tied to each of the chairs’ legs.

“Glad to see you conscious.” The voice was flat, cold as he finally addressed her, and Y/N swallowed hard. “What’s your name?”

She didn’t answer, head still bowed, instead responding with, “Where am I?”

Her tone was gruff, as menacing as she could manage with as small, weak as she felt, but the man who’d addressed her laughed. “Answer my question, and I’ll answer yours. Surely, you understand the concept of a quid-pro-quo?”

“You first.” Her glare was burning as she forced herself to look him in the eye, and while the man next to him looked annoyed, he remained entirely undeterred.

“I’m rather surprised that you think yourself in a position to be making demands.”

She scowled. “C’mon, what d’you have left to lose, telling me where we are while I’m your captive? God knows you’re just going to end up moving me, assuming I live that long.”

“A bold assumption,” one of the men said, tone dry and irked, but the man directly in front of Y/N gave him a tired look.

“Aaron,” he warned. “I’ll handle this.”

“Then handle it”

He visibly rolled his eyes as he turned back to Y/N, and the other man (Aaron, apparently), retreated to the outskirts of the expansive room, pulling out a pack of cigarettes.

“Anyway,” he went on, and Y/N huffed, yanking at the rope binding her arms to the chair. She knew it was futile, but it was more for her discomfort than any genuine attempt to escape. “It seems to me you have even less left to lose than we do. And you must know that we have other, less pleasant means of getting what we want, so it is in your own interest to comply.”

Y/N hesitated a moment — surely, once they’d taken her captive, they’d rooted through her belongings, opened her wallet, screened her for weapons, and checked her ID. Was this just some kind of intimidation technique? A power play? He was unfortunately correct; she didn’t have much to lose.

“My name’s Y/N,” she grumbled, finally. “As though you haven’t already torn through all my documentation.”

“How perceptive of you. Most try a few pseudonyms first.” His smile was serene. “This just might be fun.”

“What might be fun? Torturing and killing me? Throwing my body out to sea?” she bit back, the fury in her gaze never wavering, but he raised an eyebrow.

“What would make you think such a thing?” Mocking offense saturated his voice.

“I know you’re part of Jefferson’s fucking mob.” She yanked at her handcuffs; they clanked loudly against the chair. “I’ve heard about what you do to people.”

“Oh, have you? Thomas will be pleased with our notoriety.” As if on cue, three pairs of footsteps echoed behind Y/N — one of them must have been Aaron’s, as he was suddenly nowhere to be found, but the satisfied smile the man in front of her wore told her that she wasn’t going to like whatever came next. “Well, speak of the devil.”

Her eyes widened. Surely, they didn’t bring Jefferson himself to come see her, right? Dealing with captives was grunt work, not the responsibility of a mafia boss. She tugged and picked aggressively at her handcuffs, desperate to find a lock she’d be able to release.

“James.” The voice came from just behind her, a sadistic mirth in the man’s tone as he addressed the man who stood before her (James, apparently). The footsteps stalled at the exact moment Y/N grunted, throwing her shoulders forward with the link of the handcuffs caught on the chair’s edge. To think that she might actually be able to break her hands free was a desperate hope, but the man behind her laughed — not a taunting, mocking laugh, but one that made it clear how genuinely entertaining he was finding her pathetic struggle.

“I gotta say, when you told me you got one of Hamilton’s crew, I didn’t believe you at first.” A chill ran down Y/N’s spine when he circled her, and though she didn’t have any desire to look him in the eye, her curiosity overwhelmed her. When he reached her front, Thomas Jefferson, in the flesh, blood, and magenta business attire, crouched before her, and she swallowed roughly. He still managed to dwarf the chair to which she was tied. “But that mark is unmistakable, huh?”

Her skin burned as his gaze fixed on her neck, where she’d been branded just above her collarbone upon being sworn in as a member of Alexander’s mob. She turned her head away from him.

“She isn’t just any of his soldiers, either.” While James’s voice came from her left, Jefferson didn’t move, watching her with pleased intrigue. “She’s a Hamilton by blood.”

His eyes flashed with delight; his grin widened. “Oh, is she, now?”

With her head turned, Y/N inadvertently met James’s content stare, and though she didn’t waste a moment in tearing her gaze away, Jefferson occupied the remainder of her line of vision. She couldn’t help it when he caught her eye, and she couldn’t seem to look away. The way he watched her was predatory.

James hummed in confirmation. “His sister.”

“No.” His surprise was unmistakable, as was his perverse triumph. When she sneered back at him, he finally drew himself up to his full height, giving a satisfied chuckle. He turned to James. “Where would I be without you?”

“Same place, worse administration.”

“You got that right,” Jefferson said. “Just think about everything we’re gonna be able to do with her. She’s just the leverage we’ve been lookin’ for.”

“We searched her when she arrived, but nothing she had on her person gave us any new information. Her phone was a burner.”

“Normally, I’d call that disappointin’, but,” —Jefferson glanced back at her with a smug smile, if only for a fleeting moment— “we don’t needa dig up any of their communications when we’ve got the primary source all to ourselves.”

“If she’s really a Hamilton, I doubt she’s just going to talk that easily.” A feminine voice came from behind Y/N; she’d assumed Jefferson had entered flanked only by men. “Don’t get overconfident.”

“‘Course not, Maria. I know the limits of my own strength.” Y/N resisted rolling her eyes. “But I can tell she’s gonna be fun to break.”

She shuddered, squeezing her eyes shut; she wasn’t sure if she was more disgusted by the words they were saying or by how they were talking about her as though she wasn’t even there to listen. Maria scoffed. “Be careful. We need her responsive if we’re going to use her as bait.”

“Please. Bait’s thinkin’ too short-term. We can do a whole lot more with her than that.”

“Seriously? But if we keep her around—”

“I’m sitting right here, you know.” Y/N cut them off forcefully, looking up unabashedly with rage in her gaze. No one seemed so much as taken aback by it, hardly reacting to her outburst, and Jefferson met her eyes with an entertained smile, taking a step toward her.

“Oh, believe me, sweetheart, we know.” As he leaned down, Y/N could feel him looming over her, and any of her confidence in her actions was leveled. He hooked his fingers under her chin, forcing her to look up at him, and she grit her teeth.

“No one’s forgettin’ about you, here. After all, you’re the guest of honor,” he cooed, and his soft, condescending tone made her skin crawl. When she tried to jerk away from his touch, he gripped her chin. “And such a pretty little thing, too. ‘S a shame you’re a Hamilton, ‘cause I wouldn’t mind havin’ you all to myself.”

“Get your hands off me,” she snarled, and he laughed.

“You’re adorable, actin’ as though I’m gonna listen to a word you say.” He plastered on a pout, and she was shaking when he reached up to cup her cheek, run his thumb across her bottom lip. “Y’know, it’d do you well to learn who’s in charge here. As of today, I own you, and you’re lucky I like a challenge.”

“You don’t own shit,” she spat, but her voice trembled, and he raised an eyebrow. She could feel her eyes welling up. “My family’s coming for me. And when they do, you’re gonna be sorry.”

“Now, don’t tell me you really think that?” Mocking pity saturated his voice, and when Y/N only stared back at him blankly, he went on, “Nobody’s comin’ for you. If they really cared about you, they wouldn’t have fled so easy at the docks at the first sign of trouble. They wouldn’t have abandoned you there.”

“Excuse me?” was all she managed to say in a shaky, breathy whisper. He nodded sympathetically.

“That’s right. I know all about how your family left you for dead.” Her eyes stung when the first tear rolled down her cheek, and Jefferson brushed it away. Despite his contrived pout, satisfaction shone in his eyes. “Aw, no need to cry. ‘M sure all that hurts to hear, but you’re with us now. Your family’s the least of your worries.”

“I fucking swear,” she said, and despite the determined look she wore, her tears were now falling freely, “I swear, no matter what you do to me in here, I’m not going to break. I’m not going to let you break me.”

“Oh, sweetheart, no need to be scared. I have every confidence in you,” he assured her, “but I don’t intend to try and break you.”

“I’m not scared,” she hissed, and he smiled.

“I’m sure you aren’t.” He leaned in closer to her, and as he eyed her expression, he smoothed a piece of her hair back, wiped the tears from under her eyes. “And you don’t have to be. If you can be a good, obedient little girl and behave yourself, I think you’ll be surprised at just how gentle we can be.”

“And if I don’t?”

"You will.” The words were spoken with a degree of authority that sent chills down her spine; he spoke as though this were an inexorable truth. “I’m not gonna have to break you, and I won’t bother to try. You’re gonna give in to me all on your own, and it’s gonna be so much sweeter that way.”

“You’re delusional,” she seethed, and the smile that split his expression was wide, confident, but above all, unsettling.

“We’ll see about that.”

With that, he finally pulled back from her, looking beyond smug as he redirected his focus to the group, but he quickly adopted a harsh tone. “James, Aaron,” he barked, nodding toward the chair she was bound to. He caught her eye one final time, and while panic flashed in her gaze, he was beyond satisfied. “Set up a room for our guest. Looks like she’s here to stay.”

#hzl talks #send me asks! #mafia!thom #mafia au #thomas jefferson fic #thomas jefferson fanfiction #thomas jefferson imagines #thomas jefferson fanfic #thomas jefferson #thomas jefferson x reader imagines #thomas jefferson x reader smut #thomas jefferson x reader drabble #thomas jefferson x reader #thomas jefferson scenario #thomas jefferson scenarios #thomas jefferson smut #thomas jefferson imagine #thomas jefferson preferences #hamilton x reader #hamilton #hamilton fanfic #hamilton fic #hamilton fanfiction #lafayette #lafayette x reader #daveed diggs fanfic #daveed diggs x reader #daveed diggs #daveed x reader

[superheroesofbothuniverses]

“There’s nothing cheesier than being the only single bridesmaid at a Wedding taking place on Valentine’s Day!” Darcy grumbled under her breath as the bridal party lined up for the processional.

“Just wait until after the ceremony. I’m going to hand you the bouquet!” Maria said with a gleam in her eyes.

“You wouldn’t dare. I’ll just drop it on the floor!” Darcy replied, eyes narrowing at the scheming look on her friend’s face. They’d been trying to set her up non stop during the various pre wedding festivities and she was beyond aggravated with them.

Natasha turned around and grinned at them.

“And disappoint both current and former Captains America? Wow, Darcy. That takes guts.”

“I hate all of you,” she grumbled, ignoring the snickers coming from Nat and Pepper.

Darcy was deeply regretting the secret nature of her actual relationship. She would have to ask him if they could go public soon, so her so called friends would leave her alone.

It was so hard not to stop and stare at him as he stood in the row of exceedingly handsome and heroic groomsmen, but Darcy managed to keep herself in line, hoping she’d managed to avoid blushing when he’d subtly winked at her.

Bucky with Maria Hill was not a match that anyone, even including Natasha, saw coming, but they were quite an awesome, badass, snark personified duo and Darcy was thrilled for them.

She only cried a couple times during the ceremony and was quite proud of herself for such an accomplishment.

Afterwards, there were pictures taken and then off to the reception, which was a fairly chill, low key event and Darcy appreciated Maria’s sensible tastes.

As Maria had promised, she didn’t do a bouquet toss, but headed straight for Darcy, who felt like a deer in the headlights. At the last second, though, she changed course and handed her red roses to a very astonished Sam Wilson.

“What?” Sam spluttered.

Bucky laughed so hard he turned red and Steve’s face wore a huge smirk as they watched their friend flounder.

“Yes, Wilson. This is for you,” Maria told him. “We know you’re in love with someone and it’s only a matter of time before you put a ring on it. You can pass these along to your sweetheart.”

She threw a glance over her shoulder at Darcy, who gaped like a fish, knowing they’d been found out and quickly reaching the conclusion that if she made any reaction, she’d give the whole thing away.

She looked over at Sam, heart pounding while she waited for him to do something. Talk about a rock and a hard place!

He looked back at her, a question in his eyes and she nodded.

Smiling from ear to ear, Sam walked over to Darcy and held out the bouquet.

“You ready to go public?”

“Very ready,” she said. “We work with too many spies to keep this secret anymore.”

“Thank goodness,” he murmured. “It was killing me to stay away from you, looking all gorgeous like this.”

“Same, to be honest,” she whispered back and they grabbed each other in a passionate kiss.

Exclamations, Whoops, and cheers came from their friends, some of joy, some of shock and some of “finally.”

“That was absolute genius, forcing their hand like that,” Bucky told Maria as they slow danced. “You’re a master.”

She smiled in satisfaction, glancing briefly over to where Sam and Darcy were still wrapped up in one another .

“It was only making them miserable to keep hiding like this,” Maria told him. “I understand them wanting to keep it out of public knowledge, but they’re among friends here. They’ve clearly been wanting to jump each other all day long.”

Bucky snorted with laughter and skillfully dipped her. Maria gasped in delight and began telling him in great detail just how much she appreciated his dancing skills.

“How much money did you win?” Steve asked Natasha as they watched the happy couple dancing.

“What makes you think I would be so crass as to bet on our friends?” She asked, affecting wide-eyed innocence.

Steve wasn’t fooled.

“Uh…….only about seventeen different times,” he said, giving her a “not impressed” face.

Natasha shrugged.

“Two hundred dollars. Tony and Clint are absolute suckers.”

“You’re evil, but I love you,” Steve said affectionately. “We can go out to that expensive Italian place and send them pictures of our amazing meal, rub it in a bit.”

“And you’re a giant troll, but I love you,” she laughed, leaning in for a kiss.

“Now the people who didn’t already know about us will quit trying to set me up with other guys!” Darcy said thankfully, wrinkling her nose at the thought. “There were only so many lies and excuses I could come up with!”

Sam chuckled as she clutched the bouquet close, breathing in the faint lovely scents.

“You’re right. It was becoming nothing but a pain. I’m still nervous about what will happen when the public gets wind of this, though.”

“We can deal with it,” Darcy said confidently. “We have very protective friends and Pepper is a fountain of wisdom on the topic of dating a superhero. What we have is worth fighting for.”

Sam expressed his agreement in another sweet kiss, which had Clint rolling his eyes and Tony muttering to “get a room, already.”

Darcy just raised a certain finger at him and kept on kissing her not so secret boyfriend.

#taserwings #writing prompts #Darcy Lewis #Sam Wilson #rare pairs unite! #Bucky x Maria #romanogers

[not-close-to-straight]

Falling (Three)

TW for Character Death but like... not really cos we know where Tony is. Also Tissues because I cried outlining Rhodey’s speech, and then again rough drafting it, and then again editing it...good times. 

Also I already have so many ideas for expansions of this verse ughhhh

MASTERLIST HERE

***********

MCU-verse

“A few days ago, the world as I knew it changed forever.” 

The cathedral went quiet as Colonel James Rhodes took to the podium, serious and somber in his dress uniform, eyes red and hands shaking as he looked down at his notes. 

“I don’t mean because of the wormhole over New York, though that certainly changed my mind about a lot of things I’d never thought to consider true.” the Colonel cleared his throat once, twice, darted a glance first towards Pepper sat off to the side and then to the casket sat closed and heavy on the platform below. 

“One week ago, my entire world changed when my best friend re routed a bomb out of Manhattan and took it straight into the sky. Through the damn wormhole and into the other side without even hesitating cos he knew it would save us.” James had to stop again, let his voice crack and he heard Pepper start quietly crying. “Tony um-- Tony was Iron Man. He was a hero from the minute he put on that suit to the minute he--” 

The podium shook when James gripped at it hard, counted to ten once and then again to give himself time to breathe and to keep reading the speech he’d prepared only last night. 

“Tony was a hero from the minute he put on the suit to the minute he-- oh hell, I can’t read this.” Rhodey put the cards away and scrubbed at his eyes until they stung. “Can’t read a speech about Iron Man when it’s my best friend-- my best friend laying over there, I can’t--” 

Another deep breath, another quiet cough to clear the tears from his throat and James began again, stronger this time. 

“Tony Stark was my best friend. We met at MIT, he was basically five and a half feet of pure disaster and I knew I was in trouble the minute he showed up and tried to claim top bunk. Tony fell right the hell off the ladder and I had to carry his dramatic ass to Health Services because he was sure he broke his ankle.” 

A few chuckles broke out and Rhodey managed a small smile. “He was a disaster that day, and every after that but he was my disaster and my best friend and that’s all that ever mattered.” 

“My favorite memory--” the Colonel closed his eyes again and forced out a breath. “My favorite memory of Tony is actually from a few weeks after we met for the first time. It’s obvious these days how mechanically inclined Tony was but what no one else really knows is that Tony’s first robot was one I built.” 

He tapped at his chest and tried not to sob when his fingers hit his half of a best friends necklace Tony had bought for them one drunk spring break a long long time ago. “I built Tony’s very first robot and the brat actually stole it from me.” 

A few more laughs and Rhodey continued, “I drank all the coffee one day and Tony barged into the robotics class a few hours later screeching about how badly he needed caffeine and I needed to fix it now and then he stopped and stared at just-- just the saddest looking robot you've ever seen. It was basically a box on wheels with one arm and it never did anything I programmed in so when Tony asked what it was, I said 'it's a damn dummy is what it is, doesn't do anything right'." 

The Colonel pulled an old picture out of his pocket, one of a very young Tony next to that same robot. "Tony was so offended I'd call a robot dummy that he told me I didn't deserve to have cool toys and that it was his now, I could have it back when I was worthy. Believe me, I didn’t take kindly to having my project stolen and for the rest of college-- and honestly the next thirty years-- I tried damn hard to get that robot back. It was like a heist movie, me making plans and Tony thwarting them at every turn, me roping people into the conspiracy and Tony shrieking that I wasn't worthy and that's why my plans never worked." 

"...Dum-E is still down there in Tony's workshop." he finished softly. "He wears a dunce cap and carries a fire extinguisher and he's Tony's favorite thing in the world. See that's what no one knew about Tony. Everyone knows Tony was Iron Man and-- and a goddamn hero, but he was also sentimental and sort of embarrassingly sappy and when he decided he loved something it was forever and nothing could ever change it.” 

“Dum-E was lucky enough to be something Tony loved. I was lucky enough to be someone Tony loved and it changed my life. Tony changed my life." 

Rhodey put the picture away and looked towards the casket, tears blurring his eyes as he finished,  "I uh-- I miss you, Tpnes. Miss you, bud. And I want to keep thinking this is some sort of trick, some sort of prank but I know in my heart--” 

He held tight to his half of the best friends necklace. “--I know in my heart that it-- it’s not. And that makes me real sad.” 

Pepper dropped her face into her hands, thin shoulders shaking and James tried hard to smile, to get through these last few words. “So uh-- right now I'm gonna go get my robot back. I fully expect JARVIS to have some anti heist protocol that ends with my hair on fire but you know what? I’m gonna try anyway. Rest well, Tony. We miss you.” 

There was polite laughs, some tears dabbed from eyes, a smattering of clapping and James stepped back from the podium to sit by Pepper. "How was that?" 

"It's exactly what he would have wanted you to say." she whispered through her hankie, and he wound an arm around her shoulders to hold her tight. “I miss him so much, Rhodey.” 

"I miss him too, Pep.” 

“It’s so stupid.” Pepper blew her nose daintily. “Wishful thinking. But you know, I get the feeling that he’s okay. I don’t know how to explain it, but I feel like he’s okay. Resting.” 

“Yeah, I know, I keep thinking the same thing.” Rhodey touched the necklace again. “But resting or not, when I get to heaven, I’m kicking his ass for leaving me too soon.” 

“Oh definitely.” 

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

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

Bucky and Steve’s Apartment

“Billionaire socialite Maria Carbonell shown here with her husband Howard Stark…” Tony mumbled to himself as he read through yet another article about his mom-- or rather, this universe’s version of his mom. “--donated millions to her husbands research to cure leukemia.”  

“Philanthropist Maria Carbonell opens a school of music for inner city kids.” He kept scrolling, smiling, as he read about Maria changing the world with her money-- and it was certainly Maria’s money this time around. Apparently this Howard Stark was an attractive scientist with a sugar mama and in each of the pictures Howard looked absolutely delighted to be accompanying Maria down red carpets, up stairs to national monuments, through the door of yet another awards ceremony for Humanitarian and conservation efforts ranging from restoring museum pieces clear through establishing brand new schools in sorely lacking communities.

“Howard Stark, husband to Italy’s sweetheart Maria Carbonell passed this morning --” Tony swallowed, pausing in his scrolling. “--at home with his wife. The cause of death is noted as a heart attack, though Mrs. Carbonell is comforted knowing he passed quickly and peacefully into the afterlife. The scientist is lauded for his contributions and research into childhood illnesses and since they had no children of their own, Howard’s personal funds will be diverted into a scholarship fund for MIT. “They are the future, not me.” he is quoted as saying often, “They will turn my first steps into a journey that will change the world.” 

“...bye Dad.” Tony whispered, though the article was dated three years past, though this Howard wasn’t his dad and had led a much different life than the Howard Stark that built Project Manhattan. “I um-- I love you.” 

“Maria Carbonell retires to Italy after husband’s passing, ‘I’m content to live out my life with my grand piano and library and wine!’” 

“Maria Carbonell breaks her silence on ex-family friend and advisor Obadiah Stane-- “he can rot in prison for all I care, and yes you can quote me on that, I said it, didn’t I?” 

Obadiah… Tony hesitated just a moment before searching for the name, his hand automatically over his heart and his breath coming faster as picture after picture of the man that had been Uncle and then had turned to nightmares filled the computer screen. 

‘Obadiah Stane accused of embezzling millions from Carbonell Foundation’

‘Obadiah Stane accused of funneling money meant for prosthetic limb research into smart bombs’

‘Former Carbonell advisor Obadiah Stane egged as he walks to the courthouse, Maria Carbonell shown handing out eggs to crowd’

‘Obadiah Stane found guilty of embezzlement and intent to fund terrorists, sentenced to thirty five years in prison’ 

‘Maria Carbonell laughs in reporters face when asked how she feels about Obadiah Stane’

“Oh.” Tony sat back in his chair and scrubbed his hands over his face. “Jesus Christ.”

His mom and dad were okay, Howard passed peacefully and Maria sure seemed to be living her best life in her seaside villa in Italy. Obadiah had been caught before he could hurt anyone and was rotting away in a prison cell. 

Last night Tony had got to have dinner with his friends, with his family Pepper and Rhodey and this morning he’d woken up to forehead kisses from both his Doms before Bucky had rolled out of bed for a shower and Steve had gone to start breakfast. 

Captain America was making him breakfast and Bucky had walked past in a towel and his mom and dad were okay. 

 This was-- everything was--

“Beauty?” Steve threaded his fingers into Tony’s hair and smiled affectionately when Tony automatically tipped his head back. “What are you doing, you okay?” 

“I’m fine.” Tony pushed the laptop away and let himself sink into the feeling of security, the weight of Steve’s palm on his scalp, the way the blond always smelled like ocean body wash. There was definitely an inside joke there about his Steve being in the water for seventy years and this Steve using ocean mist soap, but Tony kept that to himself and settled a little firmer into Steve’s hold. 

The Dom’s breath caught when Tony opened his neck further, and Steve brushed carefully over Tony’s pulse point, over the curve of his neck where a collar would lay. “Tell me the truth.” he said quietly. “Are you okay?” 

“I’m fine.” Tony said again, and he meant it. “I’m fine and I’m-- I’m happy--” 

He hadn’t heard Bucky come in, but the Dom was at his side in an instant, bending low to dot a kiss at Tony’s collarbone and to spread his fingers wide over the patch of scars on his chest. “Sure do love hearing you say that, baby doll. You happy with us?” 

“Mmm…” the lure of falling tingled at the base of Tony’s neck, the urge to slide off the chair and let the Doms catch him on his knees. He was so safe right here, safe and caught in this place beyond-- beyond his own world. 

And things were different, sure. Thor was a model which was equal parts hilarious and alarmingly arousing. Clint was tall as hell and Natasha laughed so easily here. Bruce was a professional wrestler and in his free time worked with the Ph.d candidates at the university, Steve was an artist and Bucky was alive…

...and oh Pepper was so beautiful and so at peace and Rhodey was a stunt pilot in that ridiculous get up and…

“Sweetheart.” Bucky's voice was nearly a growl in response to the soft whine Tony gave. “You need us to take care of you? Bring you under real easy? It's been a few days since your drop, are you ready for more?” 

“We’d take care of you, Tony.” Steve now, whispering the words into Tony’s ear and right into his heart. “Baby I promise. If you’re gonna gift us with your trust and submission we are gonna do everything to keep it. Everything.” 

“Anything, sugar.” Bucky’s big hand closed just lightly over Tony’s throat and he gasped out loud before going loose and pliant, practically whimpering as blue fuzzed at the edges of consciousness, called him in and under. “Don’t need a collar for us to be yours, Tony. If that’s what you want.” 

Oh oh oh--- 

"Tony!" A new voice, breaking into their moment as James Rhodes pushed open the door of Steve and Bucky's apartment and called out for the sub. "Tony! You home? Where are you?" 

Tony snapped out of the near-scene whiplash fast, jolting up in the seat as everything in his body tuned to his best friend’s voice. 

“I’m sorry.” he said quickly, reached to press at both Steve and Bucky’s hands. “I’m sorry, I want--” this. you. falling. “I do, I just-- I have to talk to him.” I miss him. “Please?” 

“You don’t need our permission to talk to a friend, Tony.” Steve was quick to reassure him, but the Dom’s blue eyes softened at the request anyway. “We will pick this up after though.” 

Not a question, and not a seconds hesitation when Tony nodded in confirmation. 

“Yes sir. Thank you.” 

Bucky caught him as he left, snagged his wrist and pulled him back for a slow kiss that had Tony seeing stars by the time they parted. 

“Hurry.” 

“Yes sir.” 

James looked thoroughly unimpressed when Tony basically staggered from the bedroom and he looked somehow even less impressed when Bucky and Steve posted up in the doorway to watch. 

“Settle down, boys.” he scoffed. “I’m not gonna steal your sub or snatch him away somewhere wicked when it’s pretty damn obvious he’s halfway to down. Not gonna mess with him, I just need a minute. Quit snarling at me and go have a soda or something.” 

“Rhodey!” Tony laughed out loud and James pulled a face to complain, “You weren’t kidding about calling me Rhodey huh?” 

“Oh no. Not in the least.” 

“I guess I’ll learn to deal.” the other Dom said blandly. “Now come on, I’ve got something to show you down in the truck, I think you’ll like it.” 

"...okay?" Tony grabbed his jacket and followed Rhodey down the stairs. “What um--” 

“Are those two assholes treating you right?” Suddenly Rhodey was all Dom, straightening his shoulders and lowering his voice and part of Tony wanted to laugh out loud over Rhodey being threatening, but the other part missed having his best friend be protective to the point of moving him to tears. 

“They um--” he coughed lightly. “They’re being great to me.” 

“They’re good guys.” James continued. “Steve’s a little cheesy for my tastes and Bucky always smirks like he’s one breath away from a stupid come-on, but they’re good men and good Dominants but none of that matters if you came outta a shitty situation and can’t handle them.” 

“Well I--” 

“You’re welcome to move in with me.” The elevator doors opened and Tony gaped up at his friend in surprise. “Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want a sub and certainly not one that looks like as much trouble as you do, but you can stay with me and know you’re safe if you don’t want to stay with those goons.” 

“I’d like to stay with the goons.” Tony said faux seriously, and Rhodey finally cracked a grin and winked down at him. 

“I knew you’d say that, but felt like I needed to speak up anyway. Should I give them a shovel talk so you can see how your Doms look quaking in their boots?�� 

“Are they scared of you?” 

“Damn straight.” James pushed Tony through the outside doors and down towards the parking lot. “So last night at dinner Steve mentioned you’re into robotics and stuff? Might even try to improve on Buck’s arm?” 

“You could say I’m into robotics.” Tony eyed the tarp covered lump in the back of the truck curiously. “Really got into it in my college days. Why?” 

“Cos I thought you’d get a kick out of this.” Rhodey undid the latch of his truck and pushed away the tarp, lifted down a clunky looking robot that was nothing more than a box on wheels with an arm attached. "I built this thing back a few years ago when I tried to impress some hot scientist who loved the Terminator movies. What do you think?" 

"I um--" Tony stared at the robot, at the paper dunce cap on it's head and the familiar treads on its wheels. "I--I--” he put a hand over his mouth and tried not to cry. “I um-- Well, why-- why is it wearing a dunce cap?" 

"Cos it's a dummy." Rhodey scowled at the contraption. "Never does anything I tell it to. It wasn’t even cool enough to get me laid. I’m a fighter pilot, a stunt pilot and I build robots and she wasn’t impressed.” 

“She was missing out.” Tony tried to laugh but it came out as a half sob. “You can’t call a robot a dummy, though. That’s just mean.” 

“The hell it is!” 

“Just for that, I’m keeping him.” Tony reached out and straightened the dunce cap tenderly, rubbed at a little bit of grease buildup at the arm hinge. “I’m keeping your robot, Rhodey. He’s mine now. He’s going to live with me.”  

“THE HELL HE IS!” The Dominant gaped down at him. “You can’t take my robot! You can look at it maybe, but you aren’t about to just walk away with--” 

"You can have it back when you're worthy of such a cool toy." the sub stuck his nose in the air and snapped his fingers. "Wake up, robot, you're coming with me." 

The robot beeped and whirred to life immediately to follow Tony up the path towards the doors and Rhodey groaned, “Of course the stupid thing listens to him. Of course it does.” 

“You’re welcome to try and take him back!” Tony called over his shoulder. “But be warned my interest in robotics extends to booby traps and anti-heist protocols!” 

"Traitor!” The Dom threw his hands up in exasperation. “Tony! I want that thing back! That is my robot and I’m getting it back!”

“The hell you are!” the sub snapped and if Rhodey wouldn’t have been laughing so hard he might have wondered why he was letting a submissive back talk him so loudly and thoroughly, shouting sass across a parking lot. 

Bucky and Steve were in for a ride with that one. 

He was a fan. 

Tony could hear the Dom laughing clear into the building and into the elevator so he waited until the doors had closed before breaking down, falling to his knees and throwing his arms around the scrappy robot. "I’m real glad to see you, bud.” 

Dum-E only beeped and waved his arm around in excitement, and Tony hugged him tighter. “This feels an awful lot like heaven, Dum-e, don’t you think? Mom and Dad are okay and Pepper’s okay and Rhodey and now-- now I even have you here and that’s pretty damn perfect.” 

A few more beeps and Tony nodded, pushed his hair out of his eyes and stood back up. “Time to find my Doms, huh?” 

The robot rolled quickly after Tony down the hall to Steve and Bucky’s door, clicking and whirring curiously as Tony led it inside the apartment and then went off to explore the new place while Tony went to find his Doms. 

“Bucky?” he called. “Steve? I’m-- I’m home again!” 

“Hey sweetheart.” Bucky looked up and smiled, took his hand off Steve’s thigh to beckon for Tony. “C’mere and see us.” 

“Come here, honey.” Steve tapped his foot a few times and pointed down at the floor and Tony didn’t even hesitate to move, didn’t hesitate to kick his shoes off and stumble towards them on unsteady feet until he could fall to his knees. 

Home and it was so easy and so beautiful, Tony gasped out a word that might have been a prayer and his Doms were right there to catch him when he teetered, Steve meeting him there on the floor to hold him, Bucky protective over them both as Tony slid towards the edge of under and falling. 

...Tony used to love falling. He used to love the exhilaration and anticipation, the way his breath stuttered in that split second of flying before gravity took over. He used to love falling into a new habit, falling into a new love, just falling when he jumped from the diving board or the airplane or the rocks he’d climbed on as a child that he thought were so big.

...Tony used to love falling and when Steve knelt down beside him and pulled him in close, when Bucky lowered his voice to a rumble and ordered his subs to submit, when gravity tugged at Tony’s soul and he let himself slip to the pull of submission and that quiet, secret need to be held...

… then falling was like coming home. 

Like finding himself. 

Like closing his eyes and letting go. 

Heaven. 

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

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#ncts fics #stuckony #tony stark #steve rogers #bucky barnes #alternate universe #dom/sub

[lovelyirony]

No Shelf-Awareness

I’m just trying to work out these cards I’ve been dealt -Rumour, Chloe Howl

Bucky doesn’t necessarily like meetings. He views them as a waste of time, and they could just as easily give him a paper with all the information. Clint says it’s so if they have questions they ask them there instead of making a mistake on the field.

“They allow mistakes?” Bucky asks, as blandly as can be.

“You make me so sad on so many levels,” Clint says, clapping his shoulder. “Yes, you’re allowed to make mistakes. Why the hell do you think Steve is allowed on-field?”

Bucky laughs at that one.

The meeting in question is about Iron Man. The red and gold suit with a man inside of it, apparently. SHIELD wants his identity but more importantly, the technology.

“If you haven’t found anything else like it, what makes you think that he wants to share it?” Bucky asks. “Just let it happen.”

“We can’t just ‘let’ this happen, Barnes,” Fury says, voice steady and eye trained on him.

“Why not?” Bucky asks. “He’s taking care of criminals on a corporate level. We can’t touch that without bringing more attention to agents.”

“Which is why we’re integrating,” Fury says.

“Not fast enough,” Bucky says. “He doesn’t need to gain trust. With integrating, there’s possibility of a double agent. They get paid off and it’s more than what you promise for a salary.”

“I assure you our agents aren’t that low.”

“Oh and you kept them all from Hydra?” Bucky snaps. “Because as I recall, Rumlow was pretty damn happy to be one of Pierce’s lapdogs, so—”

“Enough,” Fury snaps. “Enough from you, Barnes.”

“We could be dealing more directly with the people we have that actually need to be stopped instead of a damned robot who happens to like taking down illegal corporations that were on our to-do list anyway,” Bucky snipes back. “I’m leaving.”

“Don’t bother expecting yourself on the next mission,” Fury calls after him.

He gets a nice and shiny metal finger in response.

Bucky then decides to treat himself to a trip to the bookstore. He’s already read the last book twice, and he needs a new one.

It’s a Friday, and kids are getting out of school. He pays them little mind as he walks with purpose, taking note of possible threats, a new donut shop

The bookstore smells nice, like coffee and sugar. Bucky wanders through it, keeping an eye out for the owner.

He finds him huddled at a table with a group of teenagers, explaining some sort of math problem, laughing at one’s joke. He has glasses perched on the end of his nose, giving him quite an amusing and cute appearance. Bucky smiles to himself a little as he disappears into the stacks, looking through the new arrivals. He finds two particularly interesting ones.

“That one is really good,” comes a voice from behind him. Bucky turns, seeing Tony. He looks nice today. He’s wearing bright yellow shoes. “I like it.”

Bucky takes another look at the cover.

“What else can you recommend? I’m kind of a fast reader.”

(He is not a fast reader. Well, not really. But if you stay up all night only reading because you have too many nightmares, then it counts. Technically.)

Tony puts about four or five books into his arms before he realizes that he hasn’t checked prices or anything.

“Trust me, this is fine,” Bucky says, grinning. “Thanks, Tony.”

“No problem…huh. I just realized I don’t actually know your name.”

Tony does, in fact, know James Buchanan Barnes’ name. Quite well, in fact. He’s the one who Hydra trained to kill people and attempt to kill Howard and Maria Stark, who are still living. They moved to Italy, by the way. No, Tony doesn’t care. Just makes it easier to break into the New York home on occasion, fix up the old workshop.

(He can’t use his own apartment as a base for Iron Man. That would be utterly ridiculous.)

But for this purpose, he does actually need to learn Bucky’s name.

“I’m Bucky,” he says.

“Parents hated you, did they?” Tony teases.

“Only slightly less than my idiot friend who gave it to me,” Bucky says, grinning.

“Idiot friends are like that,” Tony says, smiling. “Well, do you want to sit down and read for a bit? Chairs are open, if you’d like.”

“Sure. Mind if I order a coffee?”

“Of course,” Tony says. “What do you want?”

Bucky did not know that there was more coffee. Well…correction. He knew that there was more to coffee than black. There had to be, obviously. He just wasn’t expecting the menu to be so extensive. He looked at it for a few moments while Tony waited expectantly.

“Um, wow. I don’t drink a lot of coffee, but um, what would you recommend?”

“I personally love the lavender latte we’ve been trying out,” Tony says. “I’ll make you one and if you don’t like it, I’ll replace it free of charge.”

Bucky not drinking a lot of coffee is a lie. Steve joked that he needed a tank of coffee a day to even function. Bucky just usually took it with a bit of sugar and pronounced it good.

Now this was amazing. Bucky loved the drink, loved how different the flavor was. He could drink about twelve more of these if he really wanted to.

“Tony, this is amazing,” Bucky says, expressing pure delight over it. “How do you make coffee this good?”

“You act as if you’ve never had a latte,” Tony says, laughing. (It’s not acting.) “But here, let me explain…”

Bucky could hear Tony Jarvis explain things for ages. He’s really good at it, like he’s used to explaining how things go all the time. Bucky finds it relaxing.

It is at this point that a kid in a t-shirt comes up.

“Hey, Mr. Jarvis—”

“Call me Tony, Pete,” Tony responds. “What’s next on the homework agenda?”

“We have to write a persuasive essay and since you told us you took marketing, we figured you could help.”

“Not sure how much help I’ll be, but sure,” Tony says. “Bucky, I’ll talk to you later. Enjoy the books. If you finish any while you’re here, just put them back on the re-shelving cart by the door, okay?”

“Yes, Sir!” Bucky says, throwing a mock salute. Tony snorts, saluting lazily back.

Bucky gets sucked into the first book. He relates to how out-of-place the main character feels. He doesn’t notice the sky getting dark until he sips his coffee and it’s cold that he looks up.

Tony has been staring at him for the better part of an hour. Not that he knows that. He just knows that Tony has perhaps been gazing for a minute or two.

“Oh god, please tell me I’m not staying past close,” Bucky says.

“You’re not, don’t worry,” Tony says, laughing. “You would’ve known if you were. No, there’s thirty minutes more left, if you want to keep reading. No rush, sweetheart.”

Bucky goes back to his book with a nod, hoping that Tony doesn’t catch his cheeks going bright red. He remembers being called sweetheart before, but this is drastically different from 1934 for all the right and wrong reasons. (Right because finally he can tell a guy he’s cute without getting mauled or having to whisper it near-six-feet-under. Wrong because Tony is running a business and Bucky met him a day ago.)

Tony shifts nervously around the shop. He had planned on closing early, getting into the suit with Rhodey and doing some recon.

Judging from the texts from Rhodey, so was he:

Bitch where tf are you. Stoopid.

Well excuse me honeypie, but I got held up. A customer is still here!

Kick them out tf????? r u on crack?

No you stupid-ass—listen. I just can’t make it

Ohhhh this is your bucky-boy. This is hilarious. Yeah leave the store open until he leaves. Idk why he isn’t on the roster with the rest of the Avengers this week. Should be. Damned good guy. lmk if he’s a booty call 

I won’t talk to you for a week.

Thank god!

Tony huffs, clicking his phone off and returning to wiping down the counters and rearranging the records. Bucky walks up, putting the books at the register.

“I didn’t realize people still played records,” Bucky says, looking at the room adjacent.

“I’ll make sure that you get to play some next time you’re here,” Tony says. “But let me ring you up, okay?”

Bucky hands out the amount owed and sticks three dollars in the tip jar. Tony thanks him and smiles, and Bucky thinks he’ll have to start separating his bills more so that he can see that smile more often.

-

And then, of course, he gets a call from his phone.

“You’re needed,” Natasha says. “Come over. Now.”

“What happened to me being banned?”

“You’re a sharpshooter and a good weapons analyst. Fury would be stupid to reject that. Get here. Now.”

She hangs up. Always keeps it short and sweet, that Romanov. Bucky sighs, figuring out if he has enough time to go to his apartment and stash the books, or if he’ll have to leave them at headquarters.

He has to leave them at headquarters. He gets a look from Steve and Clint.

“Find a new hobby?” Steve asks.

“Of a sort,” Bucky says. “Got interrupted. What’s the plan?”

“Both War Machine and Iron Man are attacking Hammer Industries. Again.” Clint says, rolling his eyes. “You know, just when you thought they would switch it up. This is the third time in a row. Third time’s the charm and all that…”

Bucky doesn’t trust this for a wide variety of reasons. 1.) Iron Man is smarter than all of them, as is War Machine. 2.) Three times? In a row? Something has to be going down.

“What has Hammer Industries been doing?”

“Other than building weapons and government contracts? Nothing out of the ordinary,” Natasha says.

“Government contract is a big deal ever since Stark Industries lost out,” Bruce adds. “CEO—Pepper Potts—decreed no more weapons. Not a very popular move on her part.” Yeah, Bucky could see that. His best is from Stark Industries, but he understands. Iron Man had released evidence about SI’s involvement in shady under-the-table deals, all at the direction of Obadiah Stane.

“So, why go after a government contract?” Bucky muses. “They know something we don’t.”

“That doesn’t matter right now, we’re getting both of them under custody,” Hill says from the cockpit.

It does matter, his conscious whispers, or else you’d still be staring at Tony from the bookstore. His focus returns to the books at his side. He didn’t notice it before, but the bookstore has its own stamp that it gives the inside covers. It’s cute. He must have stared too long, because Steve nudges his arm.

“I’m glad you found a place you like,” he says. “Where is it?”

For some unknown reason, Bucky doesn’t want to tell anybody.

“Just a bookshop,” he says, closing the cover. “Checked it out before coming here. Around the neighborhood.”

That’s all he says before the mission is engaged and he’s strapped with enough gear to kill a pack of bears. He would much rather be reading, but that’s not what he gets.

-

“Took you long enough,” Rhodey says over the mic. “You and Bucky have fun between the stacks?”

“Nothing of the sort,” Tony responds. “I cannot believe you would accuse me of impropriety, honey. Honestly.”

“I have literally seen you strip on a Tuesday morning because you had too many mimosas and Pepper wanted to see if you actually would.”

“Details darling, let’s focus on the now. What has our dear friend Justin been up to?”

“For one, his online security and the regular security absolutely suck. I already am printing out the evidence where I’m at. I think all we need is to destroy some stuff and then—”

Rhodey gets knocked aside by red, white, and blue.

Tony groans. Figures that they would catch onto the pattern. Tony knew he should’ve waited, but he didn’t want to get Hammer spooked and up and running again. They needed him out of the way, maybe introduce a better CEO or hell, a better company—

“Iron Man, stand down,” comes the loudspeaker of the jet.

“Fat chance,” he mutters, zooming away from one of Hawkeye’s projectile arrows. Seriously, they could have so much better range if he built them. Unfortunately for him, SHIELD apparently wants him on a silver platter, so that won’t be a nice future with the company.

War Machine is already leading the heavy hitters away. The hardest one to deal with is usually Thor, who doesn’t always have the most accurate shot but definitely doesn’t entirely miss. Especially with the hammer having some sort of recall, it’s difficult to avoid. Tony’s just happy that Winter Soldier is off the roster and away from—

Son of a bitch, no he’s not. He can see the arm from here, and curses.

“Platypus, we have a gleaming problem.”

“I thought he was off the roster!”

“Apparently Fury signed his permission slip for this field trip,” he replies. “What do we need to destroy? I have an idea.”

“A shipment of guns. I don’t recommend going anywhere near it, but of course you will not heed my advice.”

“Be a dear and lead the Widow in closer? I think I can do something.”

Winter Soldier is having a fun time. Usually the missions are a one-hit-wonder, so to speak. Iron Man and War Machine move and actually anticipate the shots, which is all sorts of fun. He just hopes that Steve can’t see his grin, or he’ll be in hot water for it. (Fun sucker.)

“Barnes do you have the shot!” Nat yells.

“I’ve had the damn shot, what the fuck do you want me to do against iron?” he yells back.

“It’s titanium-alloy, but I understand,” Iron Man says smoothly, touching down as lightly as a ballerina. “SHIELD not do the intelligence testing anymore? I understand. If they knew Hawkeye was on the team without it…”

Bucky wants to laugh. He really, really does. But he doesn’t. “Why are you at Hammer? What’s your game?”

“I’m surprised you ask,” Tony says, blinking. His helmet tilts to one side. Usually, no one at SHIELD asks any sort of question. This is…new. “Hammer’s selling under the table. War Machine and I are handling it.”

“You didn’t tell SHIELD about this, did you?”

“There’s a reason SHIELD wants me in handcuffs but the suit left to their own devices,” he says. “They’re not as trustworthy as you think, hot-shot.”

And then Iron Man dodges a blast, and the debris lands on the containers.

The company’s own fault. Clever. Bucky has to hand it to whoever is behind the mask, he’s smart.

Iron Man does a mock salute.

“Until next time, losers!” War Machine calls out.

“Do you think they know that War Machine has a tracking device?” Natasha asks. Clint shakes his head.

“Not sure. Probably not since we’ve been focusing on Iron Man. We’ll have to wait and see.”

Bucky turns, thinking. Iron Man had said that they’re not as trustworthy as they seem. What did he mean by that? How so?

-

Rhodey isn’t a fucking clown. Of course he knows they put a tracker somewhere on his suit. It’s recording audio, which Jarvis knows. Rhodey puts a finger to his lips as they touch down. Tony gets the hint immediately, taps out a message for Jarvis to scan and debug.

“Pest Control Initiative working now…” comes the smooth, lilting accent of Jarvis.

Once they’re out of harm’s way, Rhodey cracks a grin.

“Think they’ll like that?”

“Should fry the system for them for a little bit,” Tony says. “Which leads into me getting in. Thanks for putting up with that whole mess.”

“You owe me a century-old bottle of whiskey for Black Widow.”

“Get in line behind Pepper,” Tony says. “She’ll be at the cabinet on your left.” Rhodey snorts as they touch down at Stark Industries. Pepper is there with a raised eyebrow.

“Evening gentlemen,” she says. “Drinks are on the counter. Fruit juice, no alcohol. It’s a Thursday.”

“Thursday is Friday is Saturday,” Rhodey snarks, taking the glass anyway. “How was work today, Pep?”

“Horrible,” she groans, leaning back on her barstool. “Asshats keep trying to tell me what to do when it’s my company, technically speaking. Tony, how is your bookshop?”

“We’re getting more and more people in,” Tony says. “Record sales are nice, coffee is good too. I need to come up with a new idea for an iced coffee flavor. I’m coming up with nothing.”

“Hazelnut usually works well if you need something in a pinch,” she returns. “Did you manage to get into their system?”

“Success,” Jarvis cuts in smoothly. “I am well-integrated into their system; they have no idea I am there. Of course.”

Jarvis is a bit proud of that particular thing. Then again, he gets a big head when he’s successful.

“Good for you,” Rhodey says. “What can you tell us?”

“Employees have a shocking amount of free time and have made a donut tower.”

“The business, J,” Tony says.

“I am sorry, I was following your ever-amazing guidance for protocol,” Jarvis remarks. “SHIELD has an unprecedented number of holes in security. Files have gone missing. There are a few members that go on trips and check in at the ill-advised times.”

“What does that mean?” Pepper asks.

“When Peggy was running the show everyone had to check in at her time,” Tony says. “She also talked personally about it with everyone or assigned people to supervise if she couldn’t. It was more reliant on people and what you saw. With Fury, times became more technological. Not a bad thing, but not a fantastic thing either. With technology you could claim there was an issue checking in, or the computer lagged. It happens, and you can say that every once in a while unless if you’re me.”

“Because you built most of the systems,” Rhodey says. “So we know you’re at least decently smart.” Tony pokes his tongue out.

“Point is, a lot of the older members of SHIELD either say they didn’t get it, or get tech support to fix it later. Using their inability as an ability, most likely. Clever. I’m just wondering how far it goes.”

“We’ll find out in time,” Rhodey says. “Maybe when you take Bucky out for drinks, you can seduce him into giving you information.”

Pepper stills.

“Tony, you did what?!”

“Um…” Tony glares at Rhodey. “He kind of lives by my bookstore and doesn’t know I’m there? If that makes it better? I should go, I have inventory—”

“Stay,” Pepper says. “We are working on this and I am making sure that you don’t give away your secret because you fall in love.”

“I won’t fall in love!”

“Tall, dark, mysterious, and reads books? Please, I’m surprised I don’t see drool coming out of your mouth,” Pepper says. “Rhodey, did you know about this?”

“Yes. I didn’t tell you because it was funny.”

Pepper huffs. Tony sinks into a comfy lounge chair. It’s gonna be a long night.

#bookshop verse #bookshop au #bookstore au #winteriron #they're still not there lmfao #YES THE TITLE IS BAD #WHAT ABOUT IT #lovelyirony writes #tony stark #rhodey #bucky barnes #iron man #winter soldier #pepper potts #yes pepper is CEO and is also Highly Gay #anyways bucky is clueless but also not clueless u know #YES bucky's book is Darius the Great Is Not Okay #it's a fantastic read and PLEASE PLEASE read it #it's amazing #the author is also an incredible kinda guy

[enby-hawke]

For I Have Sinned- Chapter 2

Chapter Title: Leandra, Scion of the Amells

Chapter Summary: Leandra can't forget about the kiss even if the name of the even if she can't quite remember the man’s name. Still, as she readies herself for the day of her betrothal ball, doubts about her path start to creep into her mind.

TW: parental abuse, sex in passing (nothing graphic)

Words: 6424

------------------------------------------

“An elf?” Mara’s obnoxious tittering laughter filled Leandra’s bedroom three mornings later, which was when Leandra finally had the courage to tell her. Mara was Leandra’s lady in waiting but more importantly, Leandra’s best friend, yet there were times that she questioned her decision. She was a fair skinned fit woman with short chin length chestnut brown hair. Today, in honor of Leandra, she had on a black and red rose ruffle sticking out of a tiny spike of hair, with dangly red earrings and a chunky red stone necklace, that clattered against her rather plain red and black work dress that Mara somehow made look flattering.

Leandra buried her face in one of her many pillows, face burning as it had been the whole time that she had been describing her handsome dream rescuer, whose name had somehow escaped her. “Leandra Amell, do you have a secret elf kink?”

She threw one of her pillows at Mara, who expertly caught it with both hands. “It wasn’t anything like that,” Leandra jutted out a pouty lip. “He just happened to be an elf.”

Mara laughed and threw her pillow back, which bounced off of Leandra’s chest as she fumbled. “Don’t give me that. He was the literal manifestation of your brain.”

Leandra groaned and threw her head face first into her pillow throne, knowing that she couldn’t rebut that point.

Mara slunk up next to her like a cat waiting to pounce, her cat eye make-up swept over her unhooded eyelids, completing the effect as her lips stretched in a predatory smile. “And what did you say about that kiss?”

“Kill me,” Leandra muffled.

“No,” Mara put a polished pink nail on her chin, “I think it was ‘I didn’t know that I could get so wet so quickly.’”

Leandra flung at Mara with a pillow, which she parried with her own. “I regret telling you.”

Mara bowed her head mockingly. “Pardon, my lady. I’m only repeating what I heard.”

Leandra’s shoulders slumped as she lowered her pillow, all amusement from the earlier moment left as Mara saw the look on her face. “It’s just…I’ve kissed Guillaume about 5 times now and not once did it feel anything like that.”

Mara lowered her gaze sadly. “It was a dream.”

Leandra looked at her best friend, searching her face for honesty. “But will I ever feel like that with Guillaume?”

Mara looked away and Leandra couldn’t tell if she was just choosing her words carefully or if there was something that Mara had been hiding from her. “Maybe. Things can change.” Then she threw on one of her signature devilish grins and said, “But if you want, you can always have some hot elf side piece.”

Leandra nudged her playfully, rolling her eyes. “Mara…”

“I’m just saying. Men never keep it in their pants. Why should you?” Mara threw up her hands in mock innocence as she slid off the bed and to Leandra’s spacious closet, before she looked back and said, “except Gamlen. I told him I’d pickle his pecker if I catch it in another woman’s vagina.”

Leandra shook her head in laughter, when a flash of red caught her eye through the closet. On a mannequin was a red maria clara gown with golden embroidery of the Amell sigil pouring from the bodice and cutting into the gown. The sleeves were huge and puffy with a modest sweetheart neckline, her mother’s specifications. It had all the makings of the perfect Amell betrothal gown and Leandra was not feeling like wearing it. Somehow it felt like everything was too real. In two short months Guillaume would take her name and be Lord Amell, like her father before her. She would become the true heir of House Amell, and though Guillaume himself was a delightful, kind man, she found that she felt nothing for him.

They had been destined to marry since childhood, arranged matches by their parents while they were still playing hide and seek in the maze gardens of the Viscount’s palace. He never raised his voice, was always patient, even when she was stubborn, and was a wonderfully attentive listener. From her friends, to her parents, to the local Chantry mothers, all insisted that Guillaume and Leandra were the perfect match, and yet a small voice, that was steadily getting louder and louder, was telling her that someone out there was waiting for her and she felt like she was waiting for him.

Perhaps the man, whose name was just on the tip of her tongue, was not who she was supposed to be with, but the kiss they shared had awakened a longing in her, that had only gotten more desperate. She had attempted to have the dream again, even going so far as daring to dip her toes into the ocean, as if she could find him somewhere out there in the water, but those beach walks only resulted in the usual strange dreams, which lately have been of hosting tea parties with nugs who are also Guillaume’s and her children.

What her subconsciousness was trying to tell her, she couldn’t say, but she did know that she would be wearing that dress tonight at her betrothal to Guillaume Du Lancet, hotel mogul, heir to billions. Suddenly she wondered if she could milk her mysterious “fever” a little longer and escape tonight.

Read more on A03

#leandra x malcolm #leandra amell #leandra hawke #da fanfic #dragon age #dragon age 2 #my writing

[choco-glow]

Fall Like Rain On Sunday, Pt. 12

The next waffle was perfect, crispy golden and almost a perfect circle, with beautiful melted pools of chocolate dotting the surface, with two almost perfectly in the Eevee pattern’s eyes, and Jason passed it over to Steph’s plate as he chanted a few Latin prayers, grinning as she burst into cackles at his terrible imitation of a priest. He’d utterly butchered the old prayers, but eh, it wasn’t like he was practicing anymore, and it made Steph laugh, so he still felt it was doing right by a God he’d long since stopped believing in.

“Oh god, you’re Catholic, aren’t you?”

“Eh, technically I’m a Resurrectionist—” She snorted at that, loud and adorable and perfect (everyone always looked weirded out, and Jason had, early on, always done his best to snort the same way. Weird dead Robins had to look out for one another.) He snickered in response. “But yes, I’m a former Catholic. Used to go to St. Maria’s as a kid, before Father John cleaned the place up.”

“…And the chanting?”

“Look, we only fucked up one waffle! Gotta bless it before shit goes south again.” She laughed at that, bold and happy and loud, and he planted kisses all over her face before turning back to the waffle maker and getting it going again. Glancing back over his shoulder, Jason grinned to see Steph holding up a fork with a triangle of waffle, topped with whipped cream and one of the raspberries she’d washed up, and he took the offering with a nom, groaning as the concoction melted in his mouth. Chewing, he gave her a thumbs up, already planning on making one for himself, and she chuckled, spraying on whipped cream and tossing on raspberries with abandon, then diving right in.

“Ooohhhhh this is soooooo good.”

“And somewhat healthy, that’s the lowfat whipped cream and everything’s organic.” He grinned after swallowing his mouthful of heaven, mouth watering already as he watched the waffle maker count down with hungry eyes; together, they switched off and a half-dozen waffles for each later, plus bacon and eggs, they were settled on Steph’s tiny couch and snuggled up close, groaning over their shared food babies. Jason had tucked a warm blanket over them both, because the rain coming down outside was just a little chilly for his tastes, and her apartment was…definitely on the list to be reno’d.

“…mmm…”

“Hmm?”

“This is really nice, Jay…”

“Yeah it is…” He murmured, tucking her head into his shoulder and pressing a kiss to her forehead, scarred fingers gently playing with a long curl of her hair before shifting to comb through the rest of her curls, making her purr against his neck.

“Ohhhh yes…please don’t stop…” He chuckled and shifted just a little so that he could bring his other hand up; with both hands, he started working on the knots in her neck and shoulders, on up into her scalp and back down, careful to comb away her soft curls so that they didn’t tangle. Steph melted into his chest, all the tension from the week just falling away as they snuggled to the song of rain and thunder outside, and Jason hummed softly as she whimpered at the release of one particularly bad knot in her right shoulder.

“You okay, sweetheart?”

“Yeah…fuck…been hurting there for a while now…”

“Why didn’t you say something?” She snorted softly, then sighed.

“You know how everyone is…”Do yoga, work it out, or just deal with it.” Jason heaved a heavy sigh himself at that, wincing.

“Touché, not being a part of the daily Batdrama made me forget about Bruce’s general masochism about pain and aches. Well, tell ya what; whenever either of us is hurting, how about we either work on each other, or go see an expert? I’ll foot the bill.”

“Yes, please. I’m…well, I don’t know how to massage someone properly? I’m guessing you learned from Alfred…”

“Talia, actually, and Nyssa while she was part of the League. Ra’s thinks it’s stupid, because it’s a ‘women’s weakness’ or some bullshit, but Talia and Nyssa both used massage as a tool, among their subordinates and with one another. And me, I guess, I was the odd duck out; most of the men were under Ra’s, while Talia’s personal guard was exclusively female.”

“She knew you, though.” Jason smiled at that, sad at the memories, and nodded, kissing her cheek now as Steph shifted up to meet his eyes. He normally didn’t like making a lot of eye contact with people, hence the hood, but Steph…it was different. Like Nyssa, in a way…Talia I never did, because she would take that as a challenge, but Nyssa and I grew to be good friends, and it was…easy with her. B always thought I was interested in her, but no; she’s just a familiar soul, I suppose. Steph, however, was even easier; there was always something in her gaze that reminded him of his own reflection, and he was sure that could be psychoanalyzed into oblivion, but he wasn’t gonna go that deep.

“She did. Damian…probably doesn’t remember all that well, but I was basically his babysitter for Talia for the short time I was there; she trusted a Robin, even one as much a zombie as I was at first, because even with the Pit madness, I was…well. Protective.” She smiled a little, and he smiled back, stroking her cheek now. “I never shoulda left him there, but…well…”

“You did what you could.”

“Yeah…and Talia was fine with me kiting off; taking Damian would have gotten me killed again. I’m just so glad she turned him over to Bruce…”

“Me too. It’s…B’s not the greatest parent, but he’s really working with Damian, which is huge given the crap he’s pulled with all of us.” Jason chuckled at that, nuzzling her cheek, and she kissed him softly, settling against his side. He tucked her close, pulling the blanket up over her shoulders, and rubbed her lower back now, grinning as she melted back into his shoulder.

“I think Damian reminds him of Dick, in a lot of ways, just more aggression, like me. So, instead of Tim, who’s learned, like Bruce, to control all his emotions in one clean, collected package, he has a Robin with attitude and a whole lotta baggage again, and he’s having to jump through hoops that he could largely train out of both Dick and I. Fortunately, Damian’s just as stubborn as B, and it’s kinda great that he’s been able to force some changes of his own.” Steph chuckled at that.

“Like Batcow, Alfred the Cat, Titus…”

“Fuckin’ Goliath, and lemme tell you, Demon Kitty was not on the list of potential pets B was willing to consider.”

“Which was why Damian just brought him home and didn’t care.” Jason snickered, laughter rumbling through his chest, which made Steph snuggle in more, much to his delight.

“Yup, and the look on B’s face is one I’ll treasure forever.” She giggled, and kissed him again, and Jason melted into the kiss, groaning when her hand started rubbing up and down his neck. He rolled a little more onto his side so that her arm didn’t cramp, and let out a full body sigh, snuggling around her. “Ohhhh baby you don’t have to…”

“I want to, Jay…tell me if I do something wrong?”

“I doubt you will, but yes, if it comes up…fuuuuuuuuuuuck oh hell yeah, right there.” He almost whimpered when she started scritching his scalp, nuzzling her hair with a moan of relief. It was better than sex, in a way; this was…grounding, and comforting, and more intimate. “Ffffucksofuckinggood.”

“This is for making me waffles, you amazing, wonderful, glorious man. I’m not sure I’m ready for sex yet, so hairscritches are at least a decent substitute?”

“Sosogoodbetterthansex.” He mumbled out, and she giggled again, shifting him so that he was facedown in the pillows and Steph was straddling his hips, working her hands up and down his back over his teeshirt, and Jason just went limp, eyes rolling with relief as his scarred muscles were carefully worked free of kinks and knots. Steph had said she hadn’t a clue, but she was gentle on his back, not pressing too hard, nor was she too light on the scars; her hands were softer than his, less callused, and so the gnarled skin over each old wound didn’t tense or ache from too much sensation. She mapped out his back with care, and with a sigh, he reached a hand back and patted her thigh.

“Babe, don’t let anyone ever tell you you’re not a genius, because that is amazing.” He could almost feel the brightness of her smile, and he chuckled as she leaned down to kiss his shoulder, purring at the warmth of her body on top of his. “Seriously.”

“I’m so glad…I hope your scars aren’t hurting?”

“Definitely not, not even twinging like usual from the rain…How about you?” She sighed a little, snuggling in closer, and he craned his neck around, worried. “Babe?”

“I’m…a little achy, but it’s in weird spots…I don’t wanna be gross…” She murmured, nuzzling his shoulder, and he gently rubbed his hand up and down her thigh, ignoring the awkward position.

“…It’s not gross if it’s things that hurt.” He murmured, and she shifted back, letting him turn and face her, green eyes earnest. “Cramps? Period? I can run out and get you whatever you need?” She blushed, shaking her head, then nodded, then sighed, and he gently drew her back into his arms, tucking her between his legs and wrapping the blanket around her, snuggling her close. “The scars Sionis gave you too?”

“…Yeah. I…Look, this is gonna be…really fuckin’ gross, but when he tortured me…he…he didn’t just limit himself to my stomach and breasts…” She murmured, gulping a little, and he closed his eyes, swallowing back the sudden rage. “He didn’t put the drill in me, thank fuck for that, but things are…kinda fucked up down there. And yeah, it’s my period going, so it’s just…extra gross…” Steph blushed bright red, and he gently stroked back her curls, eyes soft, patient. “…I have to wear the disposable underwear that old people use…”

“…Oh sweetheart, that’s okay. Does it work?” She glanced up, eyes brimming with tears, and he gently kissed her brow, her cheek, her nose, her lips, brushing soft kisses all over her face, but she nodded, one lone tear overflowing. He gently brushed it away, cupping her cheek. “Then that’s all that matters to me. I won’t be grossed out, I won’t be upset. Hell…when you do see me naked, you might run away. I’m…not exactly in great shape down there, either. Missing one of my balls and my dick ain’t the straightest.” He followed that with a fake grin, still embarrassed, deep down, but she saw right through him; Steph shook her head and wrapped her arms around his neck.

“If Roy and the others didn’t care…I won’t. Besides…” She huffed out a laugh, and he felt a real smile touch his lips again. “It just means we can be fucked up together. But…thank you for not being grossed out anyway. It’s…you’re the first person to know besides B and Leslie…and B only knows because he hacked the hospital records. And you’re the only person who’s…probably ever gonna see them, which…I’m fine with.” He smiled at that, and she smiled back, kissing him softly. “So long as you intend to keep that proposal available.”

“Baby, it’s all yours; hell, we could go out one of these days and get a set of rings.”

“…You really want a set?”

“Fuck yeah I do, I wanna be a kept man.” The snort she gave was absolutely adorable, and Jason grinned wide at that, feeling their previous good mood return finally, and Steph kissed him, full and happy and perfect, before snuggling back into his chest.

“…So, kept man…could you rub my lower back again? Cramps are hitting me hard…” He placed his hands over her hips, gently rubbing and warming the area, and Steph sighed, dropping her head onto his shoulder, the tension bleeding out of her limbs. “Fuck…thank you…”

“So welcome, sugar…Wanna watch something mindless?” She smiled, and as Jason grabbed the remote, she let out a soft sigh, snuggling in closer, and he pressed a soft kiss to her forehead once more, running his hand over her lower back and keeping her safe and warm.

Yeah.

He really loved Sundays.

#JaySteph #Stephanie Brown #Jason Todd #tw: past body mutilation #cuddles and snuggles #fluff and romance #discussion of period #supportive partner #waffles #gothambysunlight #solarpunkgotham #rainy sundays

[notyetneedcoffee]

Rearranging His Plans

Pairing: Steve Rogers x Reader

Warning: NSFW, 18+, Smut

Author’s Note: I was sent several requests to do a follow up to Not What He Had Planned. So, ask and ye shall receive!

ooooo

You woke to the sound of Steve’s voice. Head lifting off the pillow, you quickly realized he was on the phone in the other room. With a sigh, you stretched, feeling every sore muscle and delightful ache. Glancing at the clock confirmed you’d only slept for about an hour. After the intense encounter in the little conference room, Steve spirited you away to his room to thoroughly show you how much he’d been wanting you. After, you couldn’t help drifting off.

The pillow smelled like him. You breathed in deep, smiling. Every muscle felt heavy, relaxed. The man was good, no denying it.

“No, Nick!” Steve’s voice hardened. “I’m not letting it go. Just answer the question.”

What? He was talking to Fury, actually he sounded angry with Fury. You got up and snagged Steve’s pullover from the floor. Slipping it on, you padded closer to the door. Steve was staring out the window in living area of his suite. He wore only sweats that rested low on his hips. His strong bare shoulders bunched with tension.

“Wait.” Steve growled. “Karen Ellison was the investigating agent? Did anyone bother to verify her findings?” He ran his fingers through his hair, listening. “Well, I have reason to doubt the ‘unbiased’ nature of her report.” He sighed. “Let’s just say she’d didn’t like an answer I gave her.”  

You leaned against the doorway, wrapping your arms around yourself. If Steve didn’t want you eavesdropping, he would have closed the door.  

“Well, I’m telling you those people were friends and family. Your report is wrong. Check again.” Steve ordered. He hung up the cell and tossed in on the counter.  

“Thank you for that.” You said quietly.  

Steve turned around, his hand on his hips. A look of frustration marred his face. “I had to try.”

You stepped closer to him, slipping your hands around his trim waist. You rubbed your nose along his collar bone. “At least you know I’m not some tramp running around divulging company secrets.”

“Y/N, I never…” Steve began to protest, but you rose up on your toes and covered his mouth with your own. His hands cupped your face, thumbs brushing over your cheeks. He sighed as his tongue slid over yours, his lips tender.  

His right hand moved down, pulling you against him. Drifting over your hip, you felt his fingers reach the bottom of the shirt. A little moan escaped your throat as his hand gripped your bare ass. The kiss deepened, and he arched you back, curling around you.  

“Damn, you look good in my shirt.” Steve smiled against your lips.  

“Yeah?” You rolled your hips against him. “It was nice to wake up in your bed. Of course, it would have been even better if you’d been there.”  

“I was coming back.” Steve kissed your neck. Leaving a wet trail to you ear. “I didn’t expect you to wake up so soon. I may need to wear you out more.”

You giggled as he turned you around and pushed you by the hips back towards the bedroom. “You’re insatiable.”

“Can’t help it.” His arms wrapped around you. “I’ve been dying to have you for, well, since you got here.”

“Wait.” You wound your fingers with his. “Really?”

“Yeah,” Steve sat back on his bed, back against the headboard. He pulled you down onto his lap, giving you a silly grin. “I remember when I walked into the briefing room and saw you arguing with Tony about baseball. I spent the whole meeting wondering what you looked like in a pony tail and baseball cap.”

“Seriously?” You laughed.  

“Yeah. I about fell over when you showed up at the bar for Maria’s birthday that weekend looking just like I imagined.” He pressed his lips against your shoulder. “You were so damn cute. God, I just wanted to kiss you right there.” Steve’s tongue slid along the sensitive skin just behind and below your ear, making you purr. His voice dropped, thick and rich, as his fingers dug into your backside. “Those jeans made me want to sink my teeth in your ass, too.”  

“And here I thought you were so innocent.” You shifted in his lap so you straddled him.  

“Not so innocent, no.” Steve nipped your lower lip. His hands, strong and hot, moved up your legs. His thumbs rubbed into your inner thighs. You smiled and nuzzled your nose against his temple. He brushed your hair away from your face, pushing your back enough to stare intently in your eyes.  

He grew serious. “I think that I had something to do with the fiasco this morning.”

“You know this Agent Ellison?” You bit your lip.

Steve sighed. “I should have turned her in, or told Maria, or something.” He shrugged. “I guess I didn’t know what to do.”

“What happened?”

“She was assigned to one of my logistics teams for a safehouse setup. I thought I was just being, I don’t know, me? Polite. Nice.” His eyes drifted down to where his fingers played with a loose string on the hem of his shirt that you wore.  

“She thought you were taking an interest in her.” You ran your fingers through his hair. “Having a big strong handsome hero treat you with old fashion manners and sweet charm is pretty irresistible to most women.”  

“You put me off for months,” he pouted.  

“I am not most women.”

A smile spread across his face as he pulled you closer. “No. You definitely are not.”

Even though you kissed him slowly, thoroughly, you weren’t ready to abandon the conversation. “What did she do?”

“It got, um, awkward. She became pushy. I had to have a really awful conversation with her and she was really angry. God, I was so embarrassed. I really didn’t think I did anything, I mean anything, but just be nice to her. No flirting, nothing.” Steve hid his face against your neck.  “It got so uncomfortable. She acted like I jilted her or something. Thankfully the project ended pretty shortly after and she went back to DC.”

Continuing to run your fingers through the short hairs at the base of his neck, you asked. “But what does all that have to do with my background investigation?”

He let out a long groan and pulled you a little tighter against him. “Sam may have been teasing me, telling me to get off my ass and ask you out... going on about what a sap I am for you... and she overheard. It end up being a real scene.”

“When was this?” You were trying to remember if you’d ever met this woman.

“July.”

“Four months ago!” You laughed. “Steve! What the hell? Seriously?”  

He laughed, tightening his arms around your waist even more. “What? You were killing me. Tony threw that birthday party for me, and you showed up in that red dress. You walked in and spilled my drink. Then when you gave me your gift I just melted.”

“I baked you cookies.” You laughed.  

“I know.” He kissed you, humming his satisfaction. “And they were so good.”

His tongue slid along yours. His hands slid across your back, moving down and cupping your ass. Your hands roamed over his warm skin, along strong muscles. You grinned against his kiss. “I need to bake for you more.”

Steve’s hips rolled up into you. You couldn’t help your body’s reaction, being held tight to his bare chest, his soft lips making a wet trail along your neck. The cotton of his sweats failed to hide his reaction as well. You rolled yourself against him, drawing a groan from his chest.

Reaching between you and under the waistband, your fingers stroked his cock firmly. His fingers dug into your hips as his teeth nipped your ear. “Damn, woman.”

You chuckled as you pushed his sweated down just enough. Sliding along his length, slicking him up with your wetness, he moaned against your lips. He kissed you hard, tongue and teeth battling. When you rocked your hips just right and he slipped into you, deep, moans escaped you both.  

“Fuck, yes.” Your head fell back as you rode him, impaling yourself on his cock again and again. He watched you, enraptured. He tore the shirt away, feeling the weight of your breast, sending shocks of pleasure through your body as his thumbs rolled over your nipples.

You pace increased. Steve’s strong hands helped, as he fucked into you with a growing intensity. “Agh. So damn beautiful.” His mouth dropped open. “You feel so fucking good.”  

Heat spread through your core and your thighs began to shake. You held on to Steve’s shoulders. Eyes locking again. He stared at you with such emotion. Hunger, passion, caring, wonder, all roped together and just right there on the surface. It was so much. Everything began crashing together.  

“Ah, Yes!” Steve panted. “That’s it, Sweetheart. Come for me. That’s so good.”  

You shook, clenching and writhing, coming apart on top of him. Nails dug into his shoulder. His hands slammed you against him as his release followed yours with a groan. Collapsing, limp against his chest, you fought to regain your breath.  

His arms wrapped around you. Face nuzzled into your hair. Cock still hot and heavy inside you, Steve whispered words of praise and affection. “You are amazing. I should have told you how I felt soon. But, damn, I’m so thankful you’re here.”

“Mmm, Steve.” You started to move, but his arms tightened.

“No, please. Can we stay like this for just a minute more?”

You relaxed back against his chest. Wrapped in his arms, him buried in you, faces tucked into each other’s necks, felt so right. You didn’t want anything to mess it up. This was perfect.  

“If Fury changes his mind, and offers me the job, I think I’ll have to say no.” You whispered.

“What? Why?” The gentle circling of his fingers stopped.

“If I took a job with the team, we wouldn’t be able to be together. I don’t want to keep this in the closet.”

Steve lifted you off his lap, laying you back on the bed and stretching out beside you. Head propped up on one arm, he ran his other hand over your hip. “That’s not really true. I’ve looked at the bylaws. There’s nothing preventing it.” A rueful smile crossed his face. “Tony being self-serving, probably. We would just have to be certain we could keep things straight between work and personal.”

“I think I can take orders from you without a problem.” You smiled.

He grinned at the mischievousness in your eyes, but he grew serious again. “There will be times when it will be hard. We may have to make hard decisions.”

“I know.” You ran your fingers over his strong jaw. “You’re worth it.”

His soft lips covered yours. “You too.” Steve smiled down at you. “Do we crawl back in bed for a nap or shower and go for dinner?”

“Italian?”

“Anything my dame wants.” His smile widened.

“Shower, then Italian, and then we crawl back in bed.” You bit your lip, with a coy grin.

He hopped off the bed, pulling you with him. Only the audible grumble of Steve’s stomach kept the shower from getting out of hand. Washing down that amazing physique, hands slippery with soap and hot water, was easily something you wanted to become a habit.  

Steve loaned you a sweater that, although oversized, worked well with your pencil skirt. It looked more casual than the blouse. Of course your panties were a ruin, and he groaned as you slipped on your shoes, proclaimed you were ready without them on. One of his hands grabbed a handful of your ass.“That’s just not fair.”

Smiling as innocently as possible, you batted your eyes. “What?”

“Minx.” Steve kissed you one more time before grabbing his wallet.

ooooo

Again, you awoke to the sound of a voice. “Captain. Mr.Stark is attempting to reach you.”

Steve rubbed his cheek against the back of your head as he lifted his face from the pillow. He answered the AI in a gravely morning voice. “I’ll call him in a minute.”

“What time is it?” You scooched your back into his chest. He just radiated heat.

“Too early for a Saturday.” He pulled you tighter against him with a sigh.  

“Sir, Mr. Stark insists you contact him as soon as possible.”

“Fine,” He pushed the covers away. “I’ll call him right now.”

You watched him pad naked into the living area and retrieve his phone from the pile of discarded clothes by the front door. He came back and curled up behind you again before hitting the call button. “Tony.”

“Morning, Cap.”

“It is.”

“Don’t tell me I woke you up!” You could hear Stark’s mocking tone from where you were lying so close to Steve. “It’s after eight. Aren’t you up helping old ladies cross the street or saving kittens or something by dawn.”

“Tony.” Steve growled.

“So what’d you say to Fury to make him back up so fast he practically tripped over his trench coat?”

“What makes you think I-” Steve started.

“Whatever. Just curious.” Tony cut him off. “Roll over and tell our girl she got the gig.”  

Stark hung up.

“What the…?” Steve just looked at his phone. “How did he…?”

You burst out laughing. “Because Tony is a nosy little shit.” You rolled over. “Well, Boss, looks like I’ll be under your command.”

Steve’s eyes grew hungry as pinned you down. “Then I best run you through the paces…” His mouth playfully attacked your neck. You laughed and half-heartedly struggled. This would be the best assignment ever.

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#steve rogers x reader #steve rogers fic #steve rogers fanfiction #steve rogers smut #captain america fic

[nerdy-bookworm-1998]

The Annual Stark Christmas Gala

Pairing: Steve Rogers x Reader Summary: Day 8 of my 25 Days of Christmas Celebration Calendar. It’s time for the annual Stark Christmas Gala, but Y/N isn’t really in the mood. Maybe a new friend can turn that around. Words: 951 Warnings: Fluff A/N: If you liked this please leave feedback/reblogs and consider donating to my Ko-Fi and/or Patreon, links are in my bio. If you would like to be tagged in future works, please send me an ask. Merry Christmas!

The annual Stark Christmas gala was the one party that y/n always looked forward to. This year had been no exception. She had even designed her gown, a floor-length midnight blue silk gown with a sweetheart neckline, black lace on the bodice and three-quarter sleeves, and an intricate silver belt of stars and flowers around her hips, and a dressmaker Pepper had suggested had brought her vision to life. She had paired it with strappy silver stilettos and silver jewelry. Nat had done her make-up; smokey eyes that matched the dress and made her eyes appear larger and doe-like with soft, rosy cheeks and lips, while Wanda had made her hair look soft, shiny and framed her face to perfection.

After all of that preparation, all she wanted to do was go home, slip on one of Steve's flannel shirts and watch Hallmark Christmas movies with a big glass of eggnog. It wasn't that the party wasn't fun, on the contrary, everyone was dancing and laughing. But the one person she wanted to spend the evening with was out on a mission and would only be back in two days.

As she sat at the bar, nursing her candy cane martini, a man with light brown hair and a slightly stocky build approached her. "Is this seat taken?" he asked with a friendly smile. When she waved her hand, signaling for him to go ahead, he sat down beside her and flagged down the bartender to ask for a beer. Once he had his beverage in hand he turned to her, still smiling, "How come you aren't dancing? Is this not your scene?"

"Not exactly, I was looking forward to tonight, but my boyfriend couldn't make it since he has to work," she answers with a wry smile as she sips her drink.

"Aah," he says with an understanding smile, "I wouldn't be here either, but a friend of mine wanted to introduce me to someone she thinks I would hit it off with. Unfortunately, it seems that she hasn't turned up yet so I have been left to my own devices."

"Well, in that case, would you like to join me for a dance? Just because our friends and partners can't be here, doesn't mean that we should mope," she says, hopping off of her seat and holding out her hand to her new friend who takes it and lets her lead him to the dancefloor.

"I'm Derek, by the way," he informs her as he settles his hands on her back.

"Y/N," she grins as she puts her hands on his shoulders and starts leading him around the dancefloor. Six songs later and both of them are exhausted as they make their way back to the bar to order more drinks.

"Oh, Cinderella, your prince has arrived" Nat sing-songs as she slides in next to you, cutting off what you were saying and making your head whip towards the elevator in time to see Steve, Bucky, Sam, Sharon, and Maria exit through the elevator doors and make a beeline for you and Derek. The boys must have just gotten back from their mission as their hair was still damp from their showers. Each of them was looking distinctly dapper in their suits, but y/n's eyes remain fixed on Steve in his midnight blue three-piece suit, crisp white shirt, and silver tie with his hair slicked back.

As the group reaches the bar, Steve pulls his girl into his arms and plants a tender kiss full of promises on her lips before sliding his hand around her waist and flagging down the bartender to order a whiskey on the rocks.

As y/n snuggles into her boyfriend's side she turns her attention back to their friends and Maria who was introducing everyone. "Everyone, this is Derek, he's an old friend of mine. Derek, I see you've already met y/n and Natasha. This is Steve, Bucky, Sharon, and Sam," she says with a mischievous smile.

"Are you the Derek that challenged Maria to a drinking and dancing contest at the bottom of Shield Academy's pool?" Sam asked, already moving closer to the man.

"Yes?" Derek answered, his ears turning red as he laughed at the memory.

"Dude, I have so many questions for you! Let's grab another round then you can tell me and tinman over here about what Maria was like in college," Sam grins widely.

"Only if you and Bucky tell me how you two managed to crash a flight simulator into a wall at NASA," Derek bargains with a grin.

"Deal," Bucky agrees before the three of them head off to one of the couches to swap stories while Maria slips her hand into Sharon's and drags her girlfriend off towards the dancefloor.

"Well, I am going to find Barton, I'm sure he's found something entertaining to do by now," Nat says before flouncing off, leaving the couple alone to enjoy each other's embrace.

"You look gorgeous," Steve smiles lovingly at her before giving her a soft, sweet kiss.

"You don't look too bad yourself, handsome. Now, as much fun as this party has been, why don't we get out of here, go change into something more comfortable and crash in the theatre room with popcorn, a movie, and lots of cuddles?" y/n suggests with a wiggle of her eyebrows.

"I'd love that, I've missed you far too much to want to share you with everyone else tonight, I'll meet you there in five minutes?" Steve agrees, grinning like a schoolboy.

"I'll be waiting," she winks before slipping off of the stool and out of the party with a delighted giggle. The gala had definitely been worth the wait.

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#marvel #avengers #25 days of christmas celebration calendar #christmas #christmas fluff #christmas gala #steve rogers #steve rogers x reader

[bellakitse]

I see the future cradled in your arms

Michael is sitting at the counter of the Crashdown with Liz across the counter and Maria next to him, enjoy the company of his two friends. Sometimes he’s still surprised that he truly considers them that. He and Liz hadn’t had the smoothest start to their friendship, covering her sister’s murder can do that to a friendship and as for Maria and him, they had made a mess of their friendship by trying to turn it into a relationship. A mistake that lasted exactly two months before they both realized that they both loved one Alex Manes too much ever to work. Maria as a brother and Michael as a man that found his soulmate when he was 17.

“How’s it going with Alex?” Maria asks, biting into a fry, startling Michael with mention of the man he’d just been thinking about moments ago. He stares at her for a moment, her gaze knowing and shakes his head — fucking psychics.

He shrugs hoping for casual, but Maria and Liz stare at him, waiting him out. He sighs and shrugs again, this time with uncertainty. Things between Alex and him are…good, better then they have ever been, just, undefined. When he and Maria started their short affair, Alex had been gracious. He told Michael that he understood that he needed distance from the pain that Michael associated with him.

‘I get it, Guerin. I’m not happy about it, and I wish things were different, but I get it. It doesn’t change what I said at the prison, I mean it. You’re my family, and I’m not walking away, so if you need me, I’m around.’

Alex had said his peace, pressed a kiss against Michael’s forehead and left Michael alone in his junkyard, more heartbroken and more in love than ever.

That was six months ago.

What followed was dealing with a resurrected Rosa, a temporarily dead Max, Maria finding out about aliens and her own family’s history with them. Through it all, Alex had been there, in the background lending a helping hand when he was needed — stepping back when Michael tried so hard for normal with Maria.

When they broke up, both in agreement but still a little broken from it, Alex had offered both of them a shoulder to cry on. He still remembers the first conversation, Maria, and he had post-break-up. Drinking at her bar after hours, Maria shaking her head. ‘I hooked up with the man he loves, and he still came and let me cry on his shoulder, I love him, but sometimes I want to shake him and tell him to stop being such a martyr.’

He grimaces the way he always does when he thinks about Maria’s relationship with Alex because even though Alex had been there for her, and they were actively working at repairing their relationship. There is still huge cracks in their relationship, and they had Michael’s name all over them.

“Michael?”

Michael shakes out of his less than pleasant thoughts, thinking about the damage he helped cause in Alex and Maria’s friendship always leaves him feeling like a jackass, especially knowing that neither of them allowed themselves to have many friends in the first place.

He turns his gaze from Maria to Liz, who is looking at him quizzingly.

“Are you going to answer the question or-?” she lets the question hang suspended.

“The answer is I don’t know,” he said after a moment, hating how true it is, he doesn’t know what he and Alex are or aren’t these days. He knows he loves Alex, but he’s always known that. He knows Alex loves him, he doesn’t hide it anymore much to Michael’s delight, but other than that everything else is up in the air.

He and Maria have been over for months; everything around them is finally starting to settle. He’s been working through his issues, and he knows he wants to be with Alex, he thinks Alex wants the same, and yet neither of them have made a move. Whenever they’re together, whether around their friends or alone the air around them crackled with want and need, with ‘I miss you so much and if I don’t touch you soon, I will explode’ tension and still neither move forward.

They’re friends.

They’re family.

They’re cosmic.

They aren’t together.

Liz huffs. “You two need to get your shit together already,” she rolls her eyes as she walks away from them and goes to another customer on the other end of the counter.

“She’s right, you know,” Maria comments, softly, as she reaches for her water.

Michael raises an eyebrow at her.

“I know it’s weird taking love advice from your ex,” she starts shaking her head as she smirks to herself almost amused by the situation. “Trust me, it’s weird for me too, but I love Alex, and I love you, and I can feel how much you guys love each other, we can all see it, but I can feel it, Michael, so why are you wasting time?”

“He hasn’t made a move either, you know,” Michael grumbles feeling defensive, pouting when Maria lets out a laugh.

“You don’t really expect him to, do you, Michael?” she questions, her tone blunt. “Not after you and me? You turned him down and got with his best friend; he’s not going to make the first move.”

Michael opens his mouth and then closes it, sighing again because deep down he knows she’s right. Despite being understanding, he knows how much seeing him with Maria hurt Alex. That it made him uncertain when it comes to them.

He opens his mouth again to ask what he should do about it, but as he does the door to the crashdown opens, and he hears the voice of the man in question.

“Best milkshakes and fries in the state of New Mexico, Colbert,”

“That’s a hell of a review, Manes, it better deliver.”

Michael turns at the voices and finds Alex smiling at a tall, handsome man with olive skin and a boy about a year old in his arms, who is busy drooling on a teething ring.

“I love how you act like you have a distinguishing palate, you actually liked the MRE’s we had in the field.”

The man shrugs raising the kid on his hip a little higher. “They were decent.”

Alex laughs at that, happy and carefree in a way Michael hasn’t heard in a while. “Yeah, nothing says fine dining like something that has a five years shelf-life and tastes like cardboard, give me my godson, I don’t need you corrupting him with your crappy taste in things. That includes food, clothes, and music.”

He hands over his son easily to Alex, Alex placing the child on his own hip. The little boy giving Alex a toothy smile as he pats his tiny hand against Alex’s cheek leaving a wet trail of spit. Alex just grins again and leans in to make a funny face at the child in his arms.

“Hey,” he calls out, his throat suddenly dry, but can anyone blame him? Alex is standing there with a kid in his arms, being absolutely adorable and suddenly Michael aches.

Alex snaps his gaze to him, startled, then he looks from him to Maria. It’s a tiny move, but Michael still spots it as Alex tenses up, and Maria’s words come roaring back into his head. No, Alex is never going to make the first move.

“Hey,” Alex says back after a moment, looking back at his companion, a quick, silent conversation between them that leaves Michael on edge before they start to close the short distance between them until they are standing in front of Michael and Maria.

“Hey,” he repeats before looking at Maria. “Hey, Maria,” he says, greeting her too, the smile on his face polite and unsure.

“Hey, Alex,” Maria greets back powering through the sudden awkwardness. “Who’s your friends?”

Alex turns to the man next to him. “Captain Jeff Colbert, we served together. Jeff, this Michael Guerin and Maria Deluca.”

There’s instant recognition in the man’s eyes at their names, leaving Michael to wonder what he's heard. 

“Retired,” he says as he shakes their hands.

“And this little man,” Alex continues, his smile coming easy again as he tickles the belly of the little boy in his arms, the smiling growing when the boy lets out a happy squeal. “Is Matthew Alexander Colbert, my godson.”

“Hey, Alex!” Liz calls out as she comes back to them.

Alex smiles and does with the introductions again. Liz smiles at the baby, reaching out to play with his hand.

“He’s beautiful,” she comments, and Jeff smiles but it’s Alex who beams at the compliment earning a laughing scoff from his friend.

“It’s not like you had anything to do with it, you know,” Jeff teases. “She complimenting my good looks.”

"I'm literally the reason you and Megan got together,” Alex shots back and it earns him a tired groan that has him laughing. “She was after me that night if you recall."

“You’re never going to let that go are you?”

Alex smirks in return. “You wouldn’t be married if it wasn’t for that so no.”

‘Asshole’ Jeff mouths and Alex laughs. Matthew to let out a baby laugh of his own at the sound. 

“Your wife hit on Alex?” Liz asks, asking what he’s quietly wondering about.

Jeff rolls his eyes but is good-humored as he starts his story. “We were at a bar not too far from base, and in walks the prettiest little redhead I have ever seen, but of course she takes on look at this guy’s cheekbones and makes a straight line for him. Starts talking to him, flirting with him, not that he picks up on it right away but when he finally does he goes ‘sweetheart if I wasn't hopelessly gay I would take you up on your offer, but allow me to introduce you to my friend.’ He introduced me to my future wife and came out to me in one go.”

Alex who has now taken a seat on at the booth across from where they are sitting shrugs, he’s placed Matthew on the table playing with his sock covered feet with one hand, while the other he places on Matthew back to keep him safely sitting up. “I'm a multitasking wing-man, and by then I had gotten enough of a feel of you to know that my chances of you turning into a homophobic prick were pretty low.”

Jeff leans against the booth, still facing them. “Megan and I hit it off, we got married eight months later. Right before Alex, and I deployed for the 3rd time.”

“I was the best man,” Alex chips in.

“And you gave your kid his name,” Michael says, speaking for the first time since the introductions, his eyes straying to where Alex is playing with his godson, not really paying attention to any of them as he leans in to blow raspberries on Matthews soft belly.

“Megan and I agreed that when a man saves your life, the least you can do is to name your kid after him,” Jeff answers easily, turning to look at Alex who looks up from Matthew and shares a look with his friend, it speaks volumes of friendship and brotherhood.

Nobody asks how Alex saved Jeff’s life, but given that Alex’s last tour had been his 3rd and he’d come back with only half a right leg, they can all take an educated guess. Jeff sits across from Alex after that and Liz takes their orders. Maria doesn’t linger long after that; she has to open the bar after all. 

Michael tries to go back to his food, his back to Alex and his company, but every time Alex talks to the baby, or the baby lets out a giggle Michael finds himself turning and finding that Alex is the reason for the kid's current enjoyment.

“We need to get you a baby, man,” Jeff comments as he chews on his burger. His comment hitting Michael square in the chest.

Alex snorts at that. “Sure, let me know if Megan is interested.”

“That’s cold, Manes,” Jeff answers, laughing. “You know I’m insecure that she might love you more than she loves me, she’s always going on about how pretty you are, she thinks you’re better looking than me.”

“That’s not her loving me more than you,” Alex reassures, and Michael turns enough to catch the shit-eating grin on Alex’ face. “That’s just her stating a fact. I am better looking than you.”

“Bitch,” Jeff answers affectionately and Alex scowls at him covering Matthew’s ears.

“Tiny ears, dude!” Alex hisses.  “If Matthew’s first word other than mama or papa, is a curse, Megan is going to come for our balls with our own Ontario knives.”

Jeff laughs loudly. “You know she loves that you fear her, right?”

“I don’t fear your wife,” Alex protests, Matthew who has been playing with his fingers tries to bring them to his mouth, Alex wiggles his fingers in the baby’s face to distract him from his goal. His handling of the baby comfortable. “I happen to have excellent preservation skills. Obviously, you missed that class in basic since you like to poke the bear.”

Jeff chuckles again as his cell rings, pulling it out he checks the caller ID. “It’s work,” he states as he stands. “I have to take it, you okay with him?”

Alex waves him off. “Go, I only put up with you to spend time with Matty,” he answers, looking back at the baby. “Isn’t that right bud?”

Jeff shakes his head as he starts to walk towards the door. “Love you too, brother.”

Micheal watches as the man steps out of the café and then looks back at Alex and Matthew. Helplessly he stares as the love of his life engages with his godson, soft tickles at the baby’s side, softer words as he leans in and places a kiss on the crown of the baby’s head. Alex looks good with him, relaxed in a way Michael doesn’t think he’s seen since Alex came back from war.

“Are you going to keep staring like a creeper or are you going to join us, Guerin,” Alex says, his brown eyes catching Michael’s, he sees the smallest grin playing on his lips, amused that he startled Michael, but then again it’s not like Michael was subtle.

“Sorry,” Michael murmurs, his cheeks going warm and his heart slammed against his ribcage as Alex’s expression softens.

“Come,” Alex asks in a gentle tone. “Meet my favorite person on earth.”

Michael gets up, his plate of food has been finished for a while anyway and takes Jeff vacant seat across Alex, Matthew looks at him from where he sits between them on the table. “I thought I was your favorite person,” he tries to joke, wincing as he catches his neediness.

Alex looks at him for a moment quietly; the only sound between them is Matthew’s baby babble.

“It’s a two-way tie between you two,” His eyes are locked on Michael and Michael can’t do anything else but stare back, trapped under the power of Alex’s gaze. “Sorry,” Alex continues, his lips quirking upward. ‘You’ll have to share.”

 Michael clears his throat, his mouth dry as Alex continues to look at him. “Guess I should get to know him if he’s vying for your attention,” he answers, looking at the little boy. “Hello, Matthew.”

Alex turns him to face Michael more fully, and Michael takes the boy in, he’s fairer than his father, with soft reddish-brown hair. Given that his mother is apparently a redhead, it’s safe to assume he takes after her. Big brown doe eyes that pull you in just like his godfather’s.

Alex leans in close behind the baby, his mouth next to his ear. “Say hi, Matty,” he says softly, opening and closing his hand to show the boy how. Matthew follows the movement with his eyes for a moment before he mimics it. Alex grins and presses a kiss on the baby’s cheek. “Good boy, Matty, so smart.”

“How old is he?”

“He’ll be a year old in a few weeks,” Alex answers before looking back at the baby. “You’ll be a big boy, right, Matty?”

Alex looks back at him, that same easy smile he’s been sporting since he walked in firmly in place and Michael tries to remember when was the last time he’s seen Alex smile so much. Probably senior year.

“He’s growing so fast; it seems like just yesterday I was meeting him for the first time,” Alex comments, continuing without prompting. “Jeff was still enlisted then, about to get out and we were in Texas at the time, Laughlin. I was doing my physical therapy and miserable. Megan was ready to pop. She went into labor, and 17 hours later, Matthew was here.”

Alex laughs softly and runs a hand over Matthew’s hair. “Jeff was a blubbering mess, he puts Matthew in my arms and tells me to say hello to my godson, and then I was blubbering mess right with him. Megan still teases us about being two hard Airmen weeping over a baby.”

“You guys are good friends,” Michael points out getting a nod in return. “I’m glad you had that.”

Alex shrugs, his expression is unsure and complicated. “Not everything about my time in the Air Force sucked.”

Michael nods. “That’s good, I’m glad,” he repeats.

“Yeah,” Alex says softly. They both go quiet again, and Michael thinks back to Maria and Liz’s advice from earlier, he licks his lips, nervous but ready to make a move.

“So, I was thinking,” he starts, clears his throat, lets out an awkward chuckle and cringes internally at his ridiculous behavior, Alex frowns at him concerned.

“Yeah?”

“Maybe would could hang out?” Michael asks, wincing at the doubt he hears in his voice. “You could come over; I could cook, share a beer?”

Alex studies him, Matthew picks that moment to shift, tired of being on the table and tired in general if the way he rubs his eyes are any indication he makes grabby hands for Alex. Without breaking eye contact, Alex picks the baby up and brings him close to his chest, cradling his head against his shoulder.

 “Do you really cook in the Airstream?” Alex questions and Michael shrugs, because well no, he doesn’t do much cooking in his trailer other than eggs and heating soup, but they could order something.

Alex makes a noise, and when Michael looks at him, he finds that Alex is biting back a smile.

“How about the cabin instead?” Alex offers and Michael perks up. “I have a grill; we can put some steaks?”

“Yeah?”

Alex nods. “I have Jeff and Matt at my place for one more night and some things to do the next day, but maybe Friday? If that works for you?”

Michael is nodding before Alex even finishes his question, his face aching from the smile on it. “Yeah yeah, yeah,” he says quickly, sounding like an idiot and giving zero fucks about it. “Yeah, Friday works.”

Alex gives him a pleased smile, his hand running up and down the back of the now sleeping child in his arms. “Friday, then.”

 ***

Friday both takes too long to arrive and sneaks up on him at the same time. He spends the day in the junkyard working on cars with a nervous energy that annoys Sanders until the older man tells him to get out of his sight already and lets him wrap up early.

He showers, finds his best shirt, and pours himself into his tightest pants, cowboy hat firmly on his head. He’s playing a little dirty knowing how much Alex secretly like his cowboy aesthetics, but he’s tired of not being with Alex, and he’s ready to use every advantage he has. Alex had sent him a message to come around six, and that gives him enough time to stop by the store and pick up a sixer. Along the way, he group-messages Max, Isobel, and Liz and tells them that unless there is an actual alien invasion, for no one to bother him or Alex and to pass along the word.

Max doesn’t answer, not surprising, Isobel sends an eye-roll and Liz a winky face with a ‘go get him, Mickey’ attached to it. He rolls his eyes, but a fond smile makes its way to his face. Getting Alex is exactly the plan.

He arrives at Alex’s cabin ten before six, and with a calming breath knocks on his door. He doesn't wait long before Alex greets him in a snug navy tee and slim jeans, that show off how fit he is, Michael swallows hard, his constant need for the man in front of him making itself known by the way his stomach flips at the sight of him. Okay so many, Alex isn’t playing fair either.

“Hey,” Alex breathed, a smiling curving his lips. “Come in,” he says, stepping to the side to let him in. “I have the steak marinating, and I just put the potatoes on the grill, are you hungry? Sorry, I would have started earlier, but Jeff and Matthew video chatted me, and I got distracted.”

“No worries,” Michael answers as he follows Alex through the cabin and out to the patio. “I’m good for now,” he continues, placing the six pack on the outside table. “How are they, did they make it home okay?”

“Yeah,” Alex answers as he gestured for Michael to sit while he starts to place the steaks on the grill along with some veggies in foil. “Yeah Jeff drove here, which is crazy with an 11-month-old in the back seat, but Matthew is a pretty calm baby, so they got back to Texas fine, little over 8 hours, so he made good time.”

“That’s good,” Michael comments as he takes out two beers and passes one over to Alex, his fingers brushing against his, lingering for a moment before he lets go.

“Yeah,” Alex says, distracted, his eyes on the beer in his hand before looking back at Michael as he sits across from him at the small table. “I don’t look forward to that drive next month though; I’m not as calm as Matty.”

“You’re going to Texas?” Michael questions, hearing about it for the first time.

Alex nods. “For a weekend, Matty’s 1st birthday, Megan is going all out doing some kind of planes theme, cause Air Force,” Alex finishes with a laugh.

“That’s nice,” Michael comments, feeling a little lost, realizing that he’s been missing out on a lot of aspects of Alex’s life. Parts and people he had no idea about when before he would have answered with absolute certainty that he knew everything about Alex. He pushes the thought aside because what he doesn’t know, he’s ready to know.

“Yeah,” Alex agrees with a smile. “I can’t wait, he was here two days ago and I already miss him, it will be nice to celebrate his day.”

“You don’t get to see them much do you?” Michael ask.

Alex shakes his head. “Different states, busy with work and well alien stuff,” he says with a wry grin. “I video chat with Jeff and Megan a couple of times a week though, and they always make sure Matthew is on with them so that he gets to know me and can recognize me.”

 “That obviously worked, I watched you with him,” Michael says softly. “He adores you.”

Alex smirks. “I know you watched me with him, Jeff wouldn’t shut about it, said you didn’t take your eyes off me,” he says with a raised eyebrow, cutting through the crap and getting straight to the point in that Alex way of his, fearless.

"I never take my eyes off you,” Michael shoots back, rising to the challenge Alex is throwing down, smiling inwardly when Alex’s eyes widen, his fingers tapping out nervously against his beer bottle.  “That's beside the point."

“What’s the point then?” Alex asks quietly.

“You're good with him,” Micheal answers in a soft voice of his own, his hand reaching out to stop Alex’s tapping. “You'll be an amazing father someday."

Alex shakes his head, but he doesn’t move his hand from under Michael’s. Instead, he turns it and links their fingers. "I don't know about that, not like I had a good role model in fatherhood."

Micheal gets out of his seat and turns Alex’s in his, getting down to his knees he kneels in front of Alex, his hands on his thighs. Alex looks at him with wide eyes and held breath; they’re so closer. Closer than either has allowed in months. Micheal takes a breath and gives voice to what he has thought about none stop since he saw Alex with Matthew in his arms. "You will, you’ll be an amazing dad, and I want to be there next to you when it happens."

Alex lets out a shuttered breath at his proclamation. "Guerin, shouldn't we try dating for once before we jump to babies?" he tries to joke, but it’s ruined by the way his voice cracks and his eyes shine. Still, there is a smile on Alex’s face that gives Michael hope.

“I want to date,” Michael continues, his hand gripping Alex’s thighs as he moves even closer, his body between Alex’s legs. “I want to talk and share and make love and just be together, here and at my airstream. I want lazy mornings and date nights. But when I saw you with Matty, I saw our future cradled in your arms and I’m telling you I want that too. I want a future with you; I want what I have always wanted with you. I want forever.”

Alex stares at him, his eyes wet. “Michaell,” he whispers, and his hands shook as he holds Michael’s face. “Are you sure?”

Michael nods, and Alex lets out a sob before he pulls him into a bruising kiss. They cling to each other as they pour into the kiss. Months, years of longing and love, of hurt feelings, mistakes, and forgiveness in the kiss. There’s a healthy dose of lust there too as Alex opens his mouth and Michael gets to taste that addictive taste that is pure Alex, he chases after it like the addict he is. When they part, there is tear track down both their faces.

“You’re all I want,” Alex whispers, his forehead against Michael. “All I have ever wanted.”

Michael brushes away another tear that slips past Alex’s eyes. “You have me.”

PART 2

#roswell nm #michael x alex #malex #malex fic #my writing