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ghouljams · 2 months
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Professor!Ghost who is well respected in his field, a little harsh in terms of grading, and not great with keeping office hours, but beloved by his students. I desperately want to stick him I philosophy where he BELONGS, I know he's got all sorts of complicated feelings and thoughts on humanity and it's nature, but he could also be a history professor, specifically teaching the history of combat/war. He doesn't socialize much, doesn't know anyone in his department, doesn't want to. He has his regular drinking group, the 141, and he's happy with that. He just wants to teach his class, write his papers for his special interest, and go home to watch the footie game.
Love walks into his class in the middle of lecture and he gruffly asks her to take her seat. She looks around and plops her butt down in the front row, dutifully listening and making the correct facial expressions the whole rest of class. Ghost tries not to pay too much attention to her, but she's all sweet smiles and a short skirt, biting her finger and crossing/uncrossing her legs one too many times to not be purposeful. She doesn't even have a notebook. It's only once Ghost checks his watch and asks if there's anything else before class is over that she raises her hand, flashing those pretty pink nails for the rest of the class. Ghost begrudgingly calls on her and has to stop himself from flinching when she says,
"I'm teaching history of human sexuality and its been cross listed with philosophy, I was told you were who I should talk to about recommended readings for that?" With the sweetest voice he's ever heard, soft and sultry and terribly distracting the way she leans forward against the lecture hall desk, like she's hoping he'll peak down her shirt.
"I don't have any," he does.
"Sounds like you do," she smiles.
"You're in the department, find them yourself." Ghost grouches, moving on to the next raised hand.
"Anthropology actually," Love corrects him, "or else I would have."
Ghost lets out a frustrated growl, grumbling to himself as he walks to his podium and scribbles down his office hours, stalking back and snapping the paper into her hand. "Ask me when I'm not in class."
"How about over dinner?" He glares and she laughs, "fine, just office hours, I'll see you then."
Ghost does his best to ignore her as she stands to go, eyes darting over his schedule as she walks. God dammit. He would've gone to faculty meetings if he knew something that pretty and dangerous was walking around.
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ficmashup · 2 months
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Gardening
Summary: Ghost is moving into a new apartment and you just so happen to be the building's owner.
A/N: First dip into writing second person (I think that's the right term?) and I'm not sure if I don't like it or if it was just difficult for me. People who've read my Price fic in first person, please weigh in here. I need to know if this sounds weird or if it's just me. I might rewrite the whole thing in first person and see which feels better.
Warnings: Not much here...overworking? Slight fainting. Not edited.
Word Count: 3k+
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The first time he sees you, your hands are elbow-deep in dirt and there’s more smeared over your face. It’s late afternoon and he’s heaving a duffel over his shoulder to head into his new apartment. It’s been a long time since he spent long in an apartment at all and by the time he came back to his old one, the building was being foreclosed. He’d never been one to couch surf and he wasn’t about to start now. Certainly not for a month. Jump to seeing you covered in dirt in front of his new apartment building.
He hesitates on the steps, watching you a moment longer while you grumble to yourself. You’re on your knees digging through a flowerbed as if digging for diamonds. “You alright?” He surprises himself by asking and almost keeps walking with the expectation that you won’t even answer, but you turn your face up to him in an instant. Your arm raises to block out the sun and you don’t even flinch as dirt rains down on you.
“Fine, thanks. Just a few roots being stubborn.” You give him a warm, welcoming smile that keeps him still a few moments longer. Long enough for you to scan the duffel on his back and the few boxes set on the ground by his truck. “Moving in?” He hesitates a moment before answering. He’s not in the habit of giving away information freely, but the conclusion is obvious enough. He nods once.
“Then you’re Simon Riley.” You pull your hands from the dirt as if they’re the ones who have taken root and wipe them off on your jeans while getting onto your feet. Trepidation begins creeping into his chest and he grips the strap of his bag over his shoulder a little tighter. “I’m the building’s owner. Nice to meet you in person.” You offer your dirt-smudged hand as you give him your name and he laxes slightly. He takes your hand, seeing approval flash through your eyes. He wonders briefly if offering your dirty hand was a test that he just passed.
“I’ll walk you to your place and make sure you have your keys. Need help carrying anything?” You offer and it’s clear you mean it.
“I’m fine, thank you.” He replies evenly and you nod before leading the way and expecting him to follow.
“I run a tight ship. Hope you read the rules about staying here because if you break any, I’ll throw you out on your ass.” You move around the entrance easily, clearly knowing where everything is without having to look. A little glance over your shoulder is all you give him to make sure he’s listening and you catch the slight upward tilt of his lips.
“Yes, ma’am. Read over things twice.” He answers honestly and you hum with approval before guiding him up the stairs. Something about the way you hold yourself, the easy confidence, the way you say orders and expect them to be followed, reminds him of Price and puts him a little more at ease.
“You’re on the edge of the building, so only one neighbor on the north side and another across the hall. Delaney is quiet and keeps to herself more often than not, but I let her play music on the roof with friends on Saturdays.” Your voice fills the halls and he notes that the place is very well-kept and clean. Even the windows are clear and gleaming. You go on, “Mr. Cruz across the hall can be a bit miserly, but other than mumbling about the newspaper and the state of the world, he’s harmless. His wife, on the other hand, is a shameless gossip. So I hope you’re not too bothered if you come home and see her peeking at you from her door.”
Simon hums a small laugh. “Don’t mind it. I’m not that interesting.”
“Pity. She’s been dying for a salacious neighbor since Beck moved out because her husband caught her with the nanny.” You quip instantly and amusement flits through Simon as you finally come to a stop in front of a dark green door. It’s quick work to unlock it and you push the door open, but don’t step inside. He likes that. It’s as if the second he signed the lease, this became his space and you won’t enter it until invited. “If you’d like to do me a favor and need some furniture, I have some in the basement from past tenants that I’d be glad to be rid of. Tell me if you’d like to look and I’ll take you. You have my number if you need anything else, but I’m usually around anyway.”
He enters the apartment and looks around at the empty space with a small sigh. It’s a good space with plenty of room and a view of the street below, but being in a new place feels like starting over. It’s a discomforting feeling given that nothing in his life has actually changed except for his address. But he turns towards you all the same and gives you another nod. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”
You nod back and spare another moment to look him over. He’s not the first stray soldier that’s wandered into your building, but each one has been different. This one…this one might take quite a bit of coaxing. You give him another smile and see his body shift towards it just like he did the last time, as if your smile is sunlight he’s basking in. “Welcome home.”
*     *     *
The next time he sees you, you’re crouched on the stairs in front of a kid no more than eight-years-old. “It…hurts…” The little boy says between sobs with red smeared over his right knee. Probably from a nasty fall. Simon pauses on the next flight of stairs, looking down at you through the railing.
“Aw, yeah, I know it does. You’re being brave for me though.” Your voice is soft and gentle as you clean the blood away. “Bet that wimp Eric would be wailing this whole time, huh? Remember when he stubbed his toe and screamed for a minute straight?” There’s a little giggle and his heart squeezes at the sound.
The kid sniffles. “Yeah, I remember. He fell on the ground like he broke it or something.”
“That’s right.” You approve, smiling at him and reaching to the side where a first aid kit sits. “But I saw you play baseball and you didn’t even flinch when that pitcher hit you with the ball.”
“Yeah, that’s true. And that hurt!” The kid leans back a bit, relaxing as you distract him and I idly think about how many medics I’ve seen use the same tactic on wounded soldiers.
You finish cleaning up his knee and press a large band-aid to the ripped skin. “But you were so tough then and you were tough now. All done.” You muss his hair a bit and he giggles, slapping your hand away. “Now, what are we not going to do?”
The kid’s head droops. “Sprint up the stairs.”
“Smart kid. Now, wear that scrape with honor.” You tilt his chin up and he grins, sniffling again before leaning forward and giving you a hug.
“Thanks.” He squeezes tight before getting up and heading down the stairs at a slightly slower pace than running. A wait a moment as you pack up the things from your kit before heading down. Your head lifts and you smile at me, the same as the other day, and it strikes me just like it did then.
I clear my throat and tilt my head to where the kid went. “You seem to know everyone in this place.”
You hum and stand with the first aid kit in hand. “It’s my job to know everything that happens in this building.”
 He quirks a brow at you. “That’s not a position taken by most owners.”
“You should have easily learned by now that I’m not like most owners.” You quip instantly and are rewarded with a little upward twitch of his mouth.
“I was hoping you might have time to show me some of the furniture you mentioned?” He asks, unassuming and polite despite his size and clear musculature. It makes you like him a little more.
You nod and take a breath in the face of another task. “Sure. Let’s go.” You turn on your heel and start moving, Simon trailing behind with surprisingly soft footfalls. You jingle slightly with each step from the keys on your hip and he can’t help but think of a cat with a bell.
The basement is dark until you pull a heavy switch and illuminate a surprisingly large space littered with furniture. “Pick whatever you like and I’ll help you carry it up.”
“You ever stop working?” He asks and you can hear the amusement in his voice. You shrug a shoulder and lean against the wall beside the stairs as he slowly walks through the room.
“There’s always something to be done and no one else is going to do it.”
“You could hire people.”
You immediately roll your eyes. “Then I’d have to fix whatever they screw up. Better to do it myself and get it right the first time.” He exhales softly and you swear that it’s almost a soft laugh.
“You remind me of someone.” He says and pauses next to a little kitchen table with two chairs in pretty good condition.
Your head tilts and you give him a little smile as he glances over. “Is that a compliment or an insult?”
This time, you get an actual chuckle. “From me, it’s a compliment.”
“Hm. Then thank you.” You’re not sure you want to know why it would be an insult coming from someone else. He knocks on the table and the wood makes a dull, solid clunk noise. He nods and apparently that means it’s passed inspection. He lifts it up into his arms with a grunt and surprise widens your eyes as he carries it towards the stairs. You clear the way, grabbing the two chairs and staring at him as he bypasses the elevator in favor of more stairs without making a sound. It’s not exactly professional the way your eyes linger on his muscular arms, the shifting of his back under his t-shirt, and especially not how his thighs fit his jeans oh-so-well.
He grunts again as he sets the table down in his apartment and you sidle in to set the chairs on either side. There’s almost nothing else in the apartment. There are a few blankets and books in the bedroom along with a few cushions on the floor of the living room facing a tv. That’s it. He certainly isn’t one to overdecorate. “Anything else?” You offer with a hand on you hip.
He nods once. “Mind another trip?”
You smile and start walking to the door. “I’d be glad to empty out my entire basement if you like. Seems like you need it anyway.” The corner of his mouth lifts.
“I suppose that’s true. I appreciate the help.” He says and his voice is deep, but gentle. You only grow more curious about him and during the few more trips up and down the stairs, you realize that this guy might need a bit more than a little help with living.
*     *     *
It starts slow.
A few neighbors start bringing him some food throughout the week. Leftovers, baked goods, all under the guise of welcoming him to the building. Then there’s a small flyer set outside his door for an estate sale nearby where he finds a few more things to make his apartment less sparse. It’s a tad overbearing, but in an amusing way and he finds he doesn’t mind. Something about being aggressively looked after reminds him of Soap’s family and any thought of the Scot is a welcome one. He has little doubt that the interference is due to your instruction. You run this building better than most people in charge of the military.
His favorite spot in the apartment becomes the little window seat in the living room. It has a good view of the street and without fail, he gets a glimpse of you working in the flowerbeds in the front of the building. On the nicer days, he’ll even crack the window to hear you cussing at your rosebushes. But you’re a little quiet one day, moving slow, still working amongst the thorns in jean shorts and a tank-top dark with sweat. When you stand and wobble in place, he puts down the book he was pretending to read.
You heave a breath and wipe sweat off your brow before grabbing onto the railing leading into the building. Ugh, it’s hot. The sun is beating down like a physical weight and your sunhat is currently somewhere in Delaney’s apartment after her girlfriend borrowed it. Best to just bear the expense and get another one. “You run yourself ragged.” That deep voice disturbs your thoughts and your head lifts to see Simon standing there with a water bottle held out to you.
A soft laugh leaves your lips as you gratefully accept the water and settle on the steps. “Too much to do to stop. Thank you for this.” The bottle is blissfully cold as you press it to your neck and take a deep breath of relief.
Simon moves across from you and leans on the railing, looking you over. Something you’ve noticed is how careful he is to give you space. He never comes too close. “I’ve seen you running around the building at least three times today. Once unclogging the garbage chute, the second time greasing the hinges of a door down the hall, and the third—” He gestures to rosebushes you were just digging in.
You finish drinking half the water and raise a brow at him with a teasing glint in your eye. “Keeping track of me?”
His lips part, but he’s interrupted before he can say a word. “Sweetie, my air conditioner is on the fritz again.” An older woman peeks out of the front door and Simon recognizes Mrs. Cruz from across the hall. She scrutinizes him through her big glasses before blinking innocently back at you.
You sigh, but nod. “Alright, Mrs. Cruz. I’ll be there right away.” She shuffles back into the building while you heave yourself up onto your feet and your vision immediately goes black. It almost feels like you’re outside your body as you feel it sway backward before a large hand slides onto your lower back and another grips your arm. Your hand tightens on the railing as your eyes snap open, the world swimming in front of you.
“Steady, now.” A pair of concerned eyes are the first thing you see as your vision clears. “Let’s get you inside.” He moves closer and begins to stoop, but you grab his shirt in a fist.
“You are not picking me up.” You grind out, every word a command. Not in front of your building, not by a tenant, not with Mrs. Cruz waiting inside who would assuredly spread every type of rumor she could about the scene. “Just…walk inside with me.” He hesitates a beat before straightening and letting you use his arm and the railing to get back into the building. You shoot a smile towards Mrs. Cruz waiting exactly where you expected her. “I need my tools, but I’ll be along in just a minute.”
Her eyes squint, but she nods a moment later before vanishing into the elevator. “Slowly and steadily, then.” Simon murmurs with his hands gentle and sure as he moves you towards your office in the back. You hold your tongue despite the desire to insist that you do not need help because you very clearly do. Still, you can’t hold back your heavy sigh as you both slowly walk back and he helps you settle into your office chair.
“Thank you.” You murmur, pride a little wounded but ultimately grateful you didn’t have to crawl in here. “I’ll just be a few minutes. Then I’ll head up to help Mrs. Cruz.” Your head shakes as you make yourself drink the rest of your water while taking some steadying breaths.
“Unfortunate we’re not closer to my apartment. I’d give you something one of my neighbors gifted me earlier this week.” Simon comments with amusement lacing his tone. Maybe you weren’t as subtle about filling his pantry as you thought you were.
“I ate today. Just pushed a little too hard in the heat. That’s all.”
“Mm.” He hums, watching you from the doorway with the corner of his mouth twitching upward. “A habit of yours?”
You can’t resist returning his near smile. “Practically my occupation.”
He huffs a small laugh before clearing his throat as if trying to hide it. The fact makes you smile a little wider. “I’ll get you another water, then walk with you up the stairs.”
“Oh, there’s really no need—” But he’s already walked out. You sigh again, relaxing back into the chair and closing your eyes for a few moments. Time passes, a bit too long than it should have taken, but when you open your eyes there’s another water in front of you and no Simon. You feel a bit better and rise from your seat with a groan, grabbing your toolkit and heading up to Mrs. Cruz. But it’s an utter surprise when you get to her apartment to find the usual whir of her air conditioning uninterrupted.
“That handsome man across the hall had it fixed in a few minutes. Didn’t complain or say much other than asking what the problem was.” Mrs. Cruz reports with rare approval in her voice. Mr. Cruz grumbles quietly from his usual seat in his favorite armchair. You sigh and glance out the door towards Simon’s apartment with a hand on your hip and a half-smile. Seems you’re not the only one keen to help. Whether it’s asked for or not.
(Lmk if you want to be tagged in future installments of this!)
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jen-with-a-pen · 1 month
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❀ 𝑯𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒚𝒔𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒍𝒆 – 𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕 ❀
❀ SUMMARY ❀ Ooey-gooey, fluffy snapshots looking into the lives of one Bucky Barnes and Honeysuckle, who have more chemistry than the experiments in Bruce Banner'e lab. Everyone else knows it... except them. It's not without a little help– from Sam 'Certified Wingman' Wilson– do Bucky and Honey begin to realize and figure out their feelings for one another.
❀ PAIRINGS ❀ Bucky Barnes x Female!Reader
❀ WARNINGS ❀ Tooth-rotting fluff, slowburn, friends to lovers, idiots in love, everyone knows they like each other except them, Avengers live in the Tower, Sam Wilson is a good wingman, touching, mutual pining, domestic avengers, maybe like a tad angst but not much, softness, mild to moderate language (includes cursing), lots of feel-good feelings, no use of y/n, no description of y/n besides maybe outfits but it's still vague
Read this fic on AO3!
header + warning banner by me ❤ dividers by @saradika-graphics
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This series is nonlinear and each part can be read separately!
Spam liking will result in an automatic block!
❀ I – The "Not-Date" Date
❀ II – Another Time
❀ III – Sunset Spot
❀ IV – Think Pink
❀ V ❀ VI ❀ VII
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writeforfandoms · 7 months
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Fall Into Me 10
Find the series masterlist
We finally get a Ghost POV chapter! This will certainly help show his viewing of the situation, both with Rose and with the spraypaint incident.
Warnings: Brief mention of violence, Ghost being Ghost, threatening, SoapGhost, implied sex between Soap and Ghost, kissing.
Word count: 1.2k
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Ghost would be the first to admit that he wasn’t as emotionally invested as the others. He didn’t trust easily, and he preferred to know the measure of a person before he made any real decisions. 
This had gotten him closer to knowing her measure, though. Too soft, certainly. Too kind. Too forgiving. 
That’s alright. Ghost didn’t mind stepping up to exact a little vengeance for her. Even if she hadn’t asked for it. 
Even though she hadn’t known to ask for it.
She’d learn. 
Following her home after work was easy. She didn’t look behind her, just walked with purpose and kept her head up. He approved. She looked confident, looked like nothing could touch her. It was a pretty good illusion, fooled most people. Even though Ghost knew she was too damn gentle to do any harm herself. 
He didn’t follow her all the way to her apartment, just to her building. He noted which one it was (with no small amount of amusement) before he continued on his way.
After all, he had other quarry to hunt tonight. 
Barry Russell was a low-grade asshole with one restraining order against him and a couple of minor offenses from when he was a teenager. He was also the idiot who’d decided to spraypaint Rose’s store. Which had just earned him a visit from Ghost. 
He wasn’t hard to find, and he was a creature of habit. Really, this was almost too easy. (Except it wasn’t too easy, it would be too easy to kill him. Ghost had seen Rose when he’d come in, had seen the red eyes and the shaky hands. Someone as gentle as her didn’t deserve that kind of shit.) 
Did he need his full skull balaclava to scare the shit out of this asshole? No, probably not. But it was satisfying to wear it anyway. 
It was less than a full night of hunting, all told. Barry Russell was a coward and a pushover, marked by the sharp stench as he pissed himself in fear. 
Ghost was confident he’d leave Rose alone. And if he didn’t… Well. Barry had been warned.
It was a lot more than many people got, and Ghost wouldn’t have mercy a second time. 
Ghost sauntered his way back to his own apartment, in no hurry. The boots just inside the door were not his, and he huffed softly in amusement. 
“Johnny,” he drawled, unsurprised to see the Scot sprawled across his couch, containers of Thai on the coffee table. 
“Hiya LT.” Soap grinned at him. “Brought dinner.” 
Ghost grunted once, leaving his keys and wallet in their customary place. His jacket was hung up neatly on the hook, boots left beside the door. He looked at Johnny for a moment before he pulled the balaclava off, tossing it onto the coffee table. 
“Good hunting?” Soap asked, taking a moment to look at Simon before he went back to his dinner. 
“Good enough.” Simon shrugged a little, settling onto the couch after shoving Johnny’s leg over out of the way. “Too quiet?”
Johnny shrugged. “Somethin’ like that,” he agreed softly, poking at his food. 
Simon let the silence sit, picking up his own container. At least Johnny knew his tastes, knew what he liked. He also knew Johnny, knew the fidgeting and the playing with his food.
“What’s on your mind?” He didn’t look at Johnny, giving him a little space.
Johnny huffed, shoving one foot against his thigh. Simon didn’t budge, waiting him out. He knew he’d won when Johnny puffed out a loud breath and set his food aside for the moment. 
“Just… Seems unfair, ye ken?” 
Simon made a noncommittal sound, gently encouraging. 
“All the shit we’ve seen, and still enough in the world for some entitled arsewipe to be a right cunt.” 
That got Simon to laugh, just a breathy little thing. “Such a way with words.” 
“Not wrong, am I?” Johnny’s lips quirked before he shrugged, picking up his food again. “You haven’t watched without me, have you?”
“Would I do that?” 
“Aye.”
Simon snickered but grabbed the remote, dropping it on Johnny’s thigh. Clean up was quick after dinner, and Simon settled into his spot again. 
Somehow, he was entirely unsurprised to have a lapful of cuddly Scot approximately a second and a half later. 
“Somethin’ you want, Johnny?” He smirked, leaning back into the couch, one hand curled around a hip. 
“Me? Never.” But Johnny was grinning, bright and easy. 
So it would be one of those nights. That was more than fine with Simon, and he rose to the challenge when Johnny kissed him. This was familiar. Easy.
Well. As easy as anything ever was with Johnny. 
They’d had an understanding for a while now. Things were easy between them - they knew each other well enough, worked well enough together, that they’d fallen into bed together. But they didn’t restrict each other. Sometimes one of them wanted a pretty bird, and that was fine. 
Honestly, Simon wouldn’t be surprised if he and Johnny ended up sharing Rose at some point. Not like they weren’t close enough.
(Not like the whole team wasn’t close enough, when it came down to it.) 
Later, watching Johnny sprawled out and snoring softly, Simon reached a hand down to smooth over his head. This life suited him, not quite as well as being an operator, but not so poorly as being a regular civvie. It suited most of them, really. It was safer (which he didn’t care about, but he did care about his sergeant not acquiring new bullet holes), but still provided enough of a challenge to them (especially given the diversity of swearing that occasionally came from Price’s office). 
It wasn’t a bad move, all told. Though it had taken him a while to accept it. 
He’d only gone along initially because the rest did, and he didn’t want to be without them. 
But it was nice. To see them relax a little. To watch Ale and Rudy adapt and integrate. To see them forming bonds outside of the team. 
Price had always had a sort of moral high ground. They did the shitty job, got dirty, so the world stayed clean. For once, it was nice to see what keeping the world clean looked like from this standpoint. Where he could actually enjoy the view, more or less. 
Simon doubted he’d ever feel fully comfortable with this life, but. Same could be said of him before, too. Even when he’d spent 90% of his time being Ghost, he’d not been fully comfortable.
That just wasn’t a thing he got to experience anymore.
Except, perhaps, in these quiet moments. Johnny muttered something in his sleep, one hand curling around Simon’s ribs. Simon huffed. Johnny always was handsy, even asleep. 
This kind of peaceful sleep was its own balm. One Simon was getting used to. And enjoying. 
His gaze drifted back up to the plain ceiling and he shifted just slightly to adjust for Johnny. This certainly wasn’t where he’d seen himself ending up, but… He couldn’t regret it. 
And he had to admit to a certain level of curiosity as to where this would go. How they’d all end up. 
Not that it would make any difference as to where he’d be. Covering their six. 
The only question that really mattered was who all would comprise “them”.
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silcosentropy · 1 year
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A commission for the wonderful @silcoitus Thank you so much for doing business with me, it has been my pleasure and I hope you like it.
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maybanksbabe · 6 months
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𝐁𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐥 ➢ 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫
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𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑭𝒐𝒖𝒓 - 𝑨 𝑺𝒆𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒕 𝑵𝒐 𝑶𝒏𝒆 𝑲𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒔
𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 | 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭
𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 - After making their getaway, Kodi and JJ regroup with the others at the police station. John B's gut feeling takes them to the cemetery, where even more is revealed for the group and where they must go next.
𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠(𝐬) - canon-typical drama, brief descriptions of anxiety, smoking weed, protective!JJ, mentions of gun shots/guns, threat of violence
"I APPRECIATE THE CIRCUMSTANCES AREN'T GREAT BUT COULD YOU PLEASE BE A LITTLE MORE CAUTIOUS?" Kodi questioned as JJ continued to throw the Twinkie around sharp corners and drive down barely safe roads.
"Not right now, Kodi…" They made it back to the main drag of town and immediately, Kodi began looking for any signs of Kie, Pope or John B. Her heart was in her throat as they made their way closer to the water.
"Wait - Wait, JJ pull up!" she instructed when she spotted the three of them being walked into the police station. Barely able to put one foot in front of the other, Kodi got out of the Twinkie before JJ had even fully parked it. She rushed through the front doors and caught up with them.
"Kie, Pope -" she sighed in relief as they allowed the trio to hug. When they stepped apart, she noticed John B was missing.
"Peterkin's got him for questioning," Kie explained as JJ caught up.
Once everything was wrapped up, Kie's father came to bail her and John B out, understandably pissed. Pope had only been given a caution, to no one's surprise. Kie was marched off without so much as a moment to say goodbye to Kodi and the boys.
"Well… Any more terrible ideas planned for this evening?" Kodi clapped her hands together before making her way over to the Twinkie.
"Not deliberately," Pope replied and JJ shrugged, unbothered.
"I have a pretty strong feeling that my parents are gonna want me at the Surf Shack to lock up soon, so let's go."
They drove down to the waterfront and whilst John B headed off to his job, JJ trailed Kodi to the Surf Shack. When they arrived, her parents had just started bringing in the outdoor displays for the night.
"Oh, so we do have a daughter after all," her mother remarked as they slowed to a stop. Her father appeared shortly afterwards.
"Evenin', JJ." Kodi watched as JJ nodded in response and waved.
"Mister B. Mrs B. Lovely to see y'all again."
"You keeping her out of trouble, Maybank, or luring her right to it?" Kodi made an exasperated noise at her mother's blunt question.
"Mom!" The older woman ignored Kodi's protests as she hefted a box of tourist gifts into the main shop.
"Ignore her, she's just a little sour today," her father stated cooly. Kodi and JJ pitched in and helped bring the last of the gifts, toys and general tourist crap back into the shop. When her mom was in the backroom and JJ was out the front retrieving the last of the boxes, Kodi took the opportunity to approach her dad.
"Dad?"
"Yes, Dakota?" He stopped sweeping the floor briefly to look at her and give her his full attention.
"Can JJ stay over tonight?" The question hung between them for a moment and then he cleared his throat.
"Sure. Just make sure you guys… Uh, keep the door open, y'hear?"
"Yes. Absolutely. Thank you." She stretched up onto her toes and pressed a kiss to his cheek. Outside, a horn honked several times, catching their attention.
"Oh, this is going to be good," she mused sarcastically as she stepped out of the store to see John B behind the wheel of the Twinkie. Kodi and JJ climbed inside without a second thought, promising to be home after dinner.
They managed to convince Pope to join them and then made their way over to The Wreck to see if they could get Kie too. JJ pushed Pope out of the Twinkie to talk to her and they waited for a while.
"She says she's not coming!" Pope informed them as he stepped out onto the front steps.
"Why not?" JJ called back, confused before turning to John B, "What did you do?"
"Shit… Hang on, I'll deal with it." John B got out of the van before either of them could press further.
-/-/-
Somehow, John B convinced Kie to join them and as evening drew in, they were on the road again. JJ and Kodi were sprawled out on the carpeted floor of the Twinkie, whilst Pope was in the passenger seat and Kie sat on the seat near the window.
"You mind if I just relax on this one? It's been a long day and a lot of weird stuff's gone down. I'm just gonna lay low…" JJ informed them and then offered the burning joint to Kodi.
"You wanna hit?"
"Absolutely," she agreed and he handed it over to her. The thick smoke curled out of her lips and disappeared into the air around them. Kodi settled against his side and tried to forget about the trauma of the day as the high kicked in and fogged up her brain just enough.
"Look - look, I know I was wrong about the lighthouse, alright? And wrong about everything else going on. But I was right about one thing; my dad is trying to tell me something," John B declared as the scenery rolled by outside the window.
When they slowed to a stop, Kodi realised they were at a graveyard. Less than eager, she followed along, flashlight in her hand as they made their way through the headstones and memorials.
"John B, what are we doing?" she questioned as she swung her flashlight beam in a wide arc.
"Ssh - shut up a second… You know how you're trying to remember a song and you can't remember who sings it?"
"Yeah?" Kie chimed in, unconvinced.
"So, Redfield. This whole time I thought it was a place, right? But it's not a place. It's a person," he explained and when he stopped, he held his lantern up to the mausoleum they'd come to a stop in front of.
"Wow…" Kodi looked up and took in the name engraved in the stone. Redfield.
"See, my great-grandmother; Olivia Redfield. That was her maiden name." The silence was filled by the sounds of crickets and a slight breeze that whistled through the trees.
"Gimme a hand with the door -" They all stepped forwards to try and open the mausoleum, despite Kodi's conscience telling her it was a bad idea.
As Pope, JJ and John B tried to push the door open, they all were just as quick to retreat when a snake appeared out of the stonework.
"Woah - hey, this is a bad idea. I'm pretty sure those are venomous…" Kodi's comment was overlooked as JJ tried barking at the snake to scare it off, only causing more confusion and a series of attempts to get him to be quiet.
"If there's one, there are probably dozens. All over."
"Stop, you're scaring me," Kie complained and Kodi took her free hand to comfort her. She wasn't exactly skittish but the thought of disturbing a nest of snakes like that didn't exactly fill her with the confidence of Indiana Jones.
"Alright, look, we're not gonna get in there. It's not budging," Pope began and stepped between John B and JJ, "We should probably just go."
"I can get through," Kie stated after a long moment of staring at the door. They all looked at her with expressions of confusion and concern.
"What?"
"No, no, no - you think you're gonna fit through that hole?" John B questioned in response, unbelieving.
"This is about your dad, right? And honestly, I really don't believe in it, but you deserve to know the truth," she explained and let go of Kodi's hand to step closer to the door.
Whilst Pope and John B helped her in through the hole in the door, Kodi kept an eye out for more snakes.
"Remind me what we're looking for?"
"You'll know it when you see it," John B replied and that seemed to be all the prompting Kie needed to hoist herself up and through the hole.
Whilst they waited for her to finish scouring the inside of the crypt, a cool breeze blew through and made Kodi shiver. Goosebumps prickled her exposed thighs and she pulled JJ's hoodie tighter around her.
"Oh, my God…"
--//--//--//--
@voidcameron
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gghalcyon · 6 months
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Halcyon Echoes Vault
I'm Gigi (she/her) and I write fanfiction for various fandoms which you can check out at Ao3. I post and cross-post current obsessions here, along with stories I've written about my favorite characters. Requests are always open.
CALL OF DUTY (COD) STORIES
MULTI-CHAPTER
Textuals: König x F!Reader | Rated: Explicit | Chapters: P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, P7. | When König is away on missions, the only thing that tethers him to you is the text messages you exchange. These are the texts and memories tied to them ranging from romantic sweet nothings to mutual fantasies.
Fierce Hearts: König x F!Original Character | Rated: Explicit | Chapters: C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6. | König returns from the battlefield and back to civilian life, adrift and alone, until he meets Serene and find begin an unexpected romance.
ONE-SHOTS AND DRABBLE
Confession: König x F!Reader | Rated: Explicit | One-shot | König growled against the skin of your neck, and you shivered as he swept his lips from your shoulder to your ear and murmured, "You're perfection. Hot and eager just for me."
Love Me Rough: König x F!Reader | Rated: Explicit | One-shot | König gives you precisely what you want. Rough. Crazed. And everything in between. Until you are screaming his name.
The Floor Can Wait: König x F!Original Character | Rated: Explicit | One-shot | König loves spanking her, followed by a bath where she ends up on top, water splashing all over the bathroom floor as she rides him. The floor can wait.
My Sweet One: König x F!Original Character | Rated: Explicit | One-shot | König doesn't just lean in for a taste. No – he devours her until she sees stars. Then he calls her his Meine Süße (my sweet one).
A Promise Made: König x F!Original Character | Rated: Explicit | One-shot | König doesn't do one-night stands. "You are incredible," he whispered in her ear. "I can't wait to make you feel like this again." That was a promise.
NIGHTSHADE (F!OC) x KÖNIG
Nightshade's Character Profile: Original Female Character | Rated: General | My profile for my original female character named Gia "Nightshade" Matthews.
König Headcanon Character Profile: Headcannon | Rated: General | My head-canon profile of König, including his name, and how he looks underneath the mask.
MISC. FANDOMS STORIES
A Taste So Sweet: Bucky Barnes x Sarah Wilson | Fandom: The Falcon and the Winter Soldier | Rating: Mature | Words: Part 1/1 (2.3K Words) | Synopsis: Bucky Barnes gets a bewitching Halloween treat when Sarah Wilson appears at his doorstep, her face lit up with a brilliant smile. “Trick r’ treat!” she said, as their eyes met in a knowing.
The Sweetest Risk: Bucky Barnes x Sarah Wilson | Fandom: The Falcon and the Winter Soldier | Rating: General | Words: Part 1/1 (1.0K Words) | Synopsis: Bucky Barnes shoots his shot and finally ask Sarah Wilson on a date.
Delicious: Bucky Barnes x Sarah Wilson | Fandom: The Falcon and the Winter Soldier | Rating: General | Words: Part 1/1 (706 Words) | Synopsis: Bucky Barnes and Sarah Wilson go on a coffee date on a rainy day.
The Hit: Harley Quinn x Victor Szasz | Fandom: Gotham (TV) | Rating: Explicit | Words: Part 1/3 (7,757 Words) | AO3 Link | | Synopsis: How would Harley Quinn (Suicide Squad) fall in love with Victor Szasz (Gotham TV)? Here's how.
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marycorleone · 5 months
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Unnamed Road - Chapter III
Face claim: Melanie Laurent as Izzy. Morena Baccarin as Tess.
Tess is a property of @livvy-lov3
Coda to 2.06 "Maximum Deployment"
Officer John Cooper is about to discover feelings that he thought that were impossible to him feel.
Izzy and Tess were both in the borthel, seeing the girls working. 
    "You like it?" The blonde asked. 
    "Here? Yeah, I'm used to it. You should come work here." Tess answered, laughing. 
    "Me? Serious, Tess?" 
    "Yeah. Would you like to try? I am sure you will do well." 
    Izzy thought a little and said yes, affirming that she would return the next day. She bought some new lingeries and a gift for her new friend: a necklace from Tiffany & CO. 
    And the next day, there she was. Ready to start her work. Nervous, because she needed to lie to her parents, Izzy got into the borthel and greeted Tess. 
    "You ready?" The madam asked. 
    "Not sure, but I'll try. Thanks for the opportunity. Oh, I brought something for you. Let's go to the locker room." 
    They both went up the stairs and Izzy took the gift.
    "Remember girl, you deserve it" she said and opened up the box revealing the gem. 
    "Oh!" Tess was shocked. "My God!" 
    “How can I make it?” Izzy asked, while she was coming up on the stage. “You’ll learn with time” Tess replied. “Just spin around the pole and laugh for them. They love it because’ em are all assholes. Just get their money.” 
    They both laughed and Tess went to open the doors up. Izzy tested a spin, checking that it wouldn't make her dizzy. Tess would do the show that night, but Izzy and the other girls also would go on stage. 
    When Izzy was serving the customers, someone got a little slap across her ass. She immediately turned around, just to see Ben Sherman sitting in a chair. 
    “Ben?!” He startled back “Izzy?! Damn! What are you doing here?” 
    “Having fun” 
    “Fun? You are wearing just a panty and a bra!” 
    “Yeah, I'm working here for a few days.” Izzy answered and lowered her voice “don't tell this to anyone!” 
    “Take it easy. I came here to talk to Tess.” He said. “Oh, so you will like it. Tess is the queen of the night. She is the main attraction today.” 
    As Izzy told it, Ben got furious and he passed through the stage, going up the stairs. Tess tried to hold him, but she failed. “Fuck!” She cursed. 
    Izzy went to serve the man, looking for the stairs every ten minutes, but neither Ben nor Tess came down. Suddenly, she realized that someone was watching her. Izzy looked around, but didn't see anyone. 
    “Would you like a beer sir?” she asked a man sitting in the shadow in a corner. The guy came forward and the light illuminated his face. It was John, Ben's TO. 
    He looked at Izzy, from her head to her feet, looking surprised by her clothes. She smirked. 
    “Officer John! What a surprise! First Ben, now you. Beer?” She asked again. “Ben's here too? Where is he?” 
    “He went up the stairs. I guess he went to talk to Tess”. 
    “And you? What are you doing here?” 
    “I'm having some fun.” John got scared “Some fun?” Izzy laughed. “You and Ben are relatives? You both speak the same way. He was also scared by my answer. So, beer? I need to serve other guys.”
    As she said it, a man got another slap across her ass, and Izzy went to ask what he wanted. John was disgusted to see that and now he was no longer just worried about Tess. Breath coming in sharp, rapid jerks. Ben came down from the second floor and passed through the door without seeing him, but John couldn't leave, remembering when Izzy called him “hot fuzz”. 
    When he saw Izzy going to climb the stairs, he was after her. She was into the locker room, and he almost broke down the damned door. 
    “What-” Izzy yelped when the door was opened up. When she saw John standing there, she instinctively covered her breasts. “Now I've to ask: what are you doing here?” 
    Trying to hide how much the girl upset him, John got two steps to her. “You said you were having fun here. You know how long I'm trying to make Tess give up on this kind of life?” He was very furious. More than Ben when he heard of Tess being the main attraction of the night. 
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ghouljams · 4 months
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Idle Hands
Tags: regency au, regency courting, Ghost x f!reader/f!oc, hand holding, minor mentions of sex, reader is Price's kid, asking permission because it's sexy and cool
A/N: Regency!Ghost fic because I cannot get enough of Ghost ever, and I won't apologize. He's a good boy who needs things to work the way they're supposed to.
He knows the rules, knows them well enough to know the consequences of breaking them, and knows that you care about them enough to not look at him twice. You're smart like that. He's a man your father entrusted your safety to and nothing more. Damn if Ghost doesn't want to be more. You're so stubborn, whip smart and viper tongued, you're never afraid to tell him your mind or roll your eyes at him, you put on no airs or pretenses, you're beautiful and he has half a mind every time you take his hand to lead you straight to the chapel.
But there are rules, rules that must be abided by. Ghost touches you only when he leads you in a dance, only when he brings you in to meet the party's host, only when he brushes his arm against yours and feigns realizing he was standing too close. Those spare touches burn him, fuel his every desire.
He imagines the warmth of your skin against his, the short cut of your nails and the flex of your fingers over his back, he imagines kissing your knuckles and feeling the eyes of every jealous man in the room as they seethe. He imagines your fingers around his aching cock as he drags his own up and down the length, and curses himself for it afterwards. He imagines your cheek against his palm and your eyes smiling at him. He imagines you asking him to kiss you, promising you won't tell a soul if he does. He imagines how soft your lips would feel against his own, gentle and entreating before you pull away. He imagines holding himself back from ruining you.
He stands beside you as Price reviews --with a small amount of joy in his eyes-- that you've had no suitable courting requests. Ghost can see the way your jaw clenches, unhappy even when he knows you have no want to be a wife. Rejection is never fun. Your hands twist together behind your back, and Ghost can't help it. He takes a half step closer and drops his hand to take yours, his fingers lacing between yours. If you're surprised you don't show it on your face, only squeeze his fingers and set your shoulders back. Ghost wonders if you take any comfort in his touch. If you do is it because it's him, or could it have been anyone?
"Maybe if my escort wasn't so determined to keep suitors off of me," You shoot Ghost a glare, though it falls flat with your fingers holding his so tightly.
"You scare suitors away just fine on your own," he raises a brow, glancing at you out the corner of his eye, "Don't need my help for it." He rubs his thumb against your wrist, and catches the way you breath hitches in the short rise of your chest. You look away, doing your best to maintain your scowl. Ghost has never wanted to brush his fingers against your cheek more.
Price eyes the both of you for a moment, before shaking his head with a sigh. He leans back against his desk and crosses his arms over his chest with a little push of his hips. "Was hoping you two would get along better." Price says, looking down his nose at bother of you. Ghost hardly squirms under the scrutiny, and you? You hold your father's gaze without flinching, your shoulders back as proudly as any soldier's, but you squeeze his hand like a lifeline.
Your skin is so soft and warm. Ghost doesn't know how he could ever stop touching you now that he's felt it. He doesn't want to. Price studies you for a moment longer before sighing.
"Fine, keep it to yourselves," he waves a hand, "dismissed."
You drop Ghost's hand and he slips it back behind his back. You turn to leave and Ghost clenches his fists tighter. The words spill out of him before he can stop them.
"I'd like to write you," he hears himself say. Price stands up straight, at attention as Ghost feels the air rush out of him. He keeps his eyes focused on the wall behind Price's desk, and does his best to maintain Parade rest when he feels your eyes scrutinizing him.
"I expect you'll be just as palatable in print," your voice is unreadable.
"Less so," Ghost relents, with a tip of his head.
"Then I look forward to hearing from you." There it is, the smile in your voice that makes his heart stutter. He squeezes his hands behind his back, trying to pretend he still holds yours. He can feel the slight tilt of his mouth, the corners attempting to draw themselves up as the door to the study closes behind you.
Price wanders behind the desk and makes a note in one of the open books. He shakes his head. "Owe Garrick some money for that one," he grumbles, he looks up at Ghost and waves his hand again, "I'll let the maids know to accept your correspondence, dismissed."
Ghost tips his head, and turns towards the door. Best not to overstay his welcome with his future father in law.
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ficmashup · 3 months
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A Trip to Scotland
Summary: You join TF141 after something happened on your last deployment. They take you in and while it takes some time, you find yourself warming up to them, and them to you. Perhaps especially to the Captain.
A/N: Sort of sequel to Taken, but this is the trip to Scotland (obviously, given the title) but I'm gonna let it stand along as it's own thing. Nearly panicked this week because my laptop charger died on me and had to immediately order another, but so relieved to have my writing back again. So this is a bit of a celebration. Don't think I'm quite done with G and Price yet, but I might write for someone else soon. Still thinking on it. ;)
Warnings: Hm, language? Fluff. Not many warnings this go round. Not beta'd.
Word Count: 4.5K
Masterlist
“So what exactly should I be preparing myself for?” I ask as I tuck away a few folded clothes into my duffel with a glance to John sitting on the chest at the end of the bed. We’re back home and I’m packing a few last-minute things before heading out for my flight. It took the entire few days to convince Soap that I didn’t need him at my side 24/7 to ferry me home, then to Scotland. So he’s already there eagerly awaiting the time to pick me up from the airport. At least according to the dozen text messages he’s already sent me today.
John smiles and shakes his head. “Soap’s family is alright. A bit much all at once, but they’re good people and I’ve little doubt you’ll get along.” There’s laughter in his voice that makes me raise a brow at him, but I let it slide. I’m sure I’ll find out what he means soon enough. I zip up my bag and he’s instantly on his feet to take it before I even touch the handles. My eyes roll even as I smile and begrudgingly take my crutch to shuffle into the kitchen.
“Three older sisters, right?” I ask as I settle on a stool and John sets my bag by the door.
He nods and moves towards me. “Three older sisters. He’s the baby, which explains a lot.” I smirk as he stops next to me and I reach out, pulling him closer by the hem of his shirt. His smile sweetens and his hand lifts, pushing my hair back as his thumb brushes over my cheek. “I’ll miss this.” He says softly, almost unintentionally, and I smile as I lean into his touch.
“Mm. The feeling is mutual.” This thing between us is still so new and shiny, I’d be happy sitting and staring at him do literally anything. Which is another reason why this little separation is a good idea. If I get any sappier, then I’m going to make myself sick. “I’ll text you updates and call you when I can?” I say the last part a bit hesitantly, not sure if it’s too much too soon.
“Sounds good. Good luck finding a moment alone in that house though.” He says with a smirk and once again I’m struck by the notion that he’s not telling me all that he could. My mouth opens to ask when there’s a knock at the door. My brows furrow and I become even more suspicious when John’s smile widens. “I’ll get it.” He presses a kiss to my lips and lingers a bit as my fingers curl into his shirt. He hums softly against my mouth and the pressure of the kiss increases before he pulls away, his hand kneading my skin lightly before he reluctantly walks to the door. I watch with a smirk before the door opens and surprise makes my expression go blank.
Simon shakes Price’s hand before looking at me with smug humor in his eyes. “Ready for our flight, G?”
I raise a brow as my eyes go wide. “Our flight? You’re shitting me.” I look between both men who simply smirk. My accusing gaze settles heavy on John. “Who was it that decided that I needed babysitting on a fucking hour long flight?” There’s no heat in my tone, but it gives me some pleasure to see Price shift his weight onto his back foot.
“Majority vote, G. Aren’t you glad for my company?” Simon teases flatly and it’s at least a treat to see his eyes sparkling so brightly. Even if it is at my expense.
“Mm. It’s nice having a pack mule, I suppose.” I tease him right back as he grabs my bag and easily heaves it over his shoulder with a roll of his eyes. My gaze goes back to John. “Suppose you can walk us out then, Captain.” I emphasize his title, letting him know that with Simon here, that’s the only goodbye that he’s going to get. He chuckles and ducks out next to Simon while I lock the door behind me.
“Go on, we’ll go slow and meet you outside.” Price pats Simon on the shoulder and he doesn’t pause, happy to keep moving on a mission as he slips down the stairs. My head shakes even as I smile and tuck my keys away as we move slowly down the hall.
“You realize that out of everyone, he probably already knows.” I say quietly and wrap my arm around his, letting him support me more than the crutch as we take our time walking down the hall.
John smiles and half-shrugs a shoulder. “Probably, yes. But he’s the least likely to say something as long as he knows we want things quiet.” He reaches forward and presses the button for the lift, his smile widening when he hears my impatient sigh at having to wait for the tiny box. If I could walk, I’d be headed for the stairs after Simon.
“You’re still happy with that?” I glance up at him as there’s a little ding and we step onto the lift.
He meets my gaze. “I am. But I’m glad to talk it through if you’ve changed your mind.”
My head shakes and I take the time to let my fingers rub over the inside of his arm, taking in the feeling of his skin. “No, I like the way things are. Though we should talk about what we’ll say…eventually.” There’s little doubt in my mind that they’ll figure things out sooner rather than later. Although we might last a little longer if Simon decides to work with us and throw the others off the scent.
“Something to think about while we’re apart.” He sounds a touch disgruntled this time and even though I feel the same, I do get a little thrill at knowing he’ll miss me.
“So…are you going to kiss me before the lift stops?” I relish the surprise that widens his eyes, then the cute crinkling of his eyes as he turns towards me. He reaches out and presses the buttons for the last few floors so we’ll make a stop at each one.
He turns towards me and I can’t help smiling as he tilts my chin up. “Do you want me to?”
“What do you think?” I keep my voice low and cloying, unable to help teasing him as he stoops a bit so his lips are an inch from mine. We take small, slow steps back until I can feel the wall behind me and my hand claims the handrail to keep me steady on one foot.
“Like hearing you tell me yes.” He murmurs and I breathe in that distinct scent of cigars as he practically speaks onto my lips.
“Pretty sure you hear me chirp ‘yes sir’ almost every day at work.” I whisper back, smirking as my other hand rests on his side to pull him closer, feeling his heat searing my hand through his shirt.
His head shakes, his nose almost brushing mine with each movement. “Not the same. Like hearing you ask me for things. Like giving you what you want.” Warmth fills my chest at the simple, sweet sentiment. I know the words will loop in my head later when I’m alone in bed, wandering if he’s the same way in other areas.
“And I like making you wait.” I tease again and my toes curl at the deep, rumbling laugh that makes his chest vibrate.
“You’re about to make both of us wait for two weeks. Can’t take it easy on me this once?” He raises a brow and I grin, pulling him in and pressing my lips to his. As always, his mouth is soft and warm on mine and fills me with slow heat with every touch. It’s easy and slow and I like that he takes his time making me melt into his hands. My head tilts to give him permission to deepen the kiss and he pauses for a moment, making sure I mean it, then pushes in again.
His hands frame my face and my stomach flips when I feel his calluses sliding against my skin. My lips part as I feel nothing but the wall behind me and the intense heat of him in front of me. His tongue tentatively glides over my bottom lip and I melt even further against him, pulling on his shirt as a silent plea for more. I’m only vaguely aware of the first ding of the lift as it stops and the door opens, but John treats this as a warning that our time is becoming shorter. This is new territory for us and it makes me think I may have underestimated how he might feel about being apart for two weeks. “So sweet f’me.” He mumbles into my mouth before giving me another firm kiss.
I huff softly, making a fist in his shirt as the doors close and the lift moves again. “Mean to tease like this before I leave.”
He smiles and I like tasting it. “You asked for it.”
“I asked for a kiss.”
“And I gave you one.”
“That was…more than a kiss.”
“Are you disapproving?”
The doors ding before opening again and I know the next time they open, we’ll have to get off. “No. I am debating on what it might take for Simon to let us do this in the back of the car on the way to the airport.” His eyes widen for a moment, then he’s laughing and I’m soaking in the sound.
“Hm, don’t think he’d put up with that, sugar. Tempting as it is.” His thumbs brush over my cheeks before reluctantly stepping back after making sure I’m steady on my feet.
“Pity.” I sigh and straighten out his shirt with a smirk as we come to the bottom floor and walk out. Simon has already tossed my back in the back and has a hand on the passenger side door. My head shakes, but I walk over and let him open my door, pretending not to notice his hand hovering over the small of my back as I slide in the seat. He and Price shake hands and pat each other’s shoulders before he continues to walk around to the driver’s side. My eyes soften as I look out at Price and give him a playful salute to see him smile before we pull out.
*     *     *
It becomes clear to me almost immediately that Simon isn’t a fan of public flights. It’s not a surprise given the cramped space filled with people, my head is on a swivel too, but we quickly fall into an easy pattern of covering for the other. If one of us needs to talk to someone, then the other moves behind and watches their back. It affords the both of us a little extra comfort and it’s easy letting him carry our bags. I think he likes having the added weight to steady him and it does make it easier for me to walk.
As we settle into our seats and my hand slides over his arm to try and leech out some of the stiffness, I’m not sure whether he was actually sent to help me or for me to help him. I reach into my carry on and immediately perk up when I find a little bag of hard candies inside. John or Kyle slipped them in there no doubt. I take one for myself, then offer the bag to Simon. He laxes a bit and smirks, accepting the offering and popping it into his mouth.
“You’ve been here before, yeah?” I ask softly, incredibly thankful that there’s no one else in our row.
He nods and moves the candy into his cheek. “Scotland or the MacTavish’s?”
My eyes roll. “Pretty sure you’d have to have been to Scotland in order to have been to the MacTavish’s.”
“Mm. There a question in there?” He shifts in his seat, frowning at the lack of space for his broad body.
“What do you think of them?” I fish for a little information, maybe what John didn’t want to tell me, and also just to keep his discomfort level low.
The frown on his face fades as the corner of his mouth twitches and amusement glimmers in his eyes. “They’re good people. A lot like Soap in all the best ways. A bit noisy when you first meet all of them, especially if they bring their families and little ones, but eventually it becomes a pleasant buzz in the background.”
My brows furrow. “How many people are going to be there?”
His smile widens a touch. “The entire family gets together on the weekends, so you’ll meet everyone.” I breathe out, long and slow, promising myself that John will be getting an earful about leaving out that particular detail. Especially since it’s Saturday, so I’m really being shoved into the lion’s den.
*     *     *
Simon knocks on the front door before deftly moving behind me as it swings open to reveal a grinning Soap. “G! Glad you finally—”
“Is that the famous G we’ve heard so much about?” A voice cuts him off and she sounds like an older woman, probably his mother. My eyebrows raise at hearing that I’m apparently famous. I’m not sure whether to be worried or flattered.
“Get her in here! I’ve been dying to meet her!”
“JJ, you’re blocking the entire doorframe with your fat head. Move over!”
I’m assaulted by a chorus of women’s voices before someone slides over and bumps Soap with her hip while holding a baby on the other side. She’s probably in her upper thirties. “Well, let her in! Thought the military was supposed to teach you manners?” Her smile is wide and pretty, like Soap’s, and her dark curly hair is wild even though it’s cut at her jaw. Just out of reach from the baby in her arms. “Come on in, G, we’ve heard so much about you. Glad you made it too, Simon.” She practically shoves Soap out of the way to make room for Simon and I to step in. He keeps to my back and I’m not sure if it’s to make sure that I don’t fall over or to make sure I don’t turn right back around.
“Thanks for havin’ me.” Simon says and the woman shakes her head as if he says this every time and it isn’t necessary. Decorations from the winter holidays are still up and most every other surface is covered with a toy, a child, or another family member. I release a long breath and feel Simon brace a hand high on my back as if reminding me I have back-up.
“I’m Shiloh.” The woman with wild curls introduces herself while easily holding her kid with an arm and offering her free hand to me. I shake it with what I hope is a smile. “It’s so good to finally meet you.”
“Pleasure meeting you all as well.” I manage to respond as another woman pops up from sitting on the floor amongst the kids. She has wild curls too, but her hair has a red tint and she’s a touch shorter. Probably mid-thirties.
“Sorry, we know it’s a lot when you first come in, but we’re so happy you’re here!” She shakes my hand with a bit more vigor, her smile bright and wide with sparkling eyes. “You were all JJ talked about when you joined the team and we’re glad you turned out to have a brain.” She gives Simon a pointed look and I’m pretty sure he smothers a chuckle at the firm look. “I’m Shaye, by the way.”
“Let the woman sit, she shouldn’t be on her leg!” An older woman with greying russet hair and round curves waves everyone away as she walks over to me and my eyes go wide as she frames my face with her hands. She’s short and I have to lean down a bit as she draws me close. “It’s so good to have you here with us, lass. So good.” And I can tell she means the sentiment as her eyes crinkle at the sides as she appraises me. She plants a firm kiss to my cheek before reaching behind me and patting Simon’s cheek, then stepping back. “I’m John’s mother. Call me Grace. His father is out back with the rest of the riff raff, but they’ll be in a little later. Go on, pick a place to settle and we’ll kick out whoever is sitting there.”
“Good luck getting Uncle Mick out of his seat.” Soap mutters to Shaye and she grins while looking over at a man snoring softly in an armchair. I’m only half aware of walking over to what seems like the least obtrusive seat, a stool at the counter overlooking the kitchen, and Simon settles next to me. He immediately pulls my foot into his lap to make sure I keep it elevated while I give him a sharp look that only makes him smirk.
“My youngest girl is out trying to wrangle the men into actually cookin’ things on time, but the meal’ll be done soon enough. Just make yourself at home.” Grace says warmly before flitting around the kitchen once again.
“Smells good as always.” Simon says and earns a wide smile from her and an eyeroll from Soap standing beside him. The room is filled with soft conversation and it’s a relief that no one tries to pull me into any for a while. I’m allowed to sit and survey while my mind sorts through the faces, the sounds, and the comforting mess accompanying a large family. There are two toddlers on the floor and a baby passed between the few milling around the room. Apparently, there are more kids out back with their dads and another baby only a few months old, but I’m content letting them come to me rather than seeking them out.
Eventually everyone filters inside and I get to meet Soap’s youngest sister, Siobhan, whose cheeks are rosy from the chill outside. Her eyes light up the second she sees me and she rushes over, stopping just a second before crashing into me to shake my hand. She’s got to be close to Soap’s age. “You must be G! Thanks for keeping my brother in one piece out there.” She winks at me, her bubbly attitude sobering a touch. “It’s a real comfort for all of us knowing he’s got another person watching his back.” Her hand squeezes my arm before she’s called away and I stare after her, feeling warm and surprised.
I feel Ghost’s eyes on me and glance at him to see his eyes crinkled slightly with a soft smile. He nods once. It was like this for him too, then. “I’m gonna give you all such shit for not warning me about all this sooner.” I mutter under my breath, obviously not meaning a word, and he chuckles softly.
“Looking forward to it.” He returns with a twinkle in his eye.
Soap walks over with a fussing baby swaddled up in his arms, this must be the one that had been outside, and slaps Simon’s shoulder. “Dad wants you for a minute.” Simon nods and gently gets up to his feet as Soap takes his place on the stool holding my ankle. I huff.
“Pretty sure there are plenty of children here for you to babysit. I’m fine here.” They glance at one another before shrugging and doing exactly the same thing that they were doing. My head shakes, but I don’t bother objecting more.
“John, can you grab that for me?” His mother asks from the kitchen and he hesitates, looking at me.
I wave him on with a little roll of my eyes. “Promise I won’t move from this spot.” I swear and he smirks before hopping up and setting my foot slowly on the stool so I’m not jostled. He pauses another second and my stomach swirls at seeing the mischief building in his eyes as he steps close and ever so gently lowers the baby into my stiff arms. My head instantly starts shaking as she squawks and her face pinches at the exchange. “Johnny, don’t you dare—”
“Only for a minute, G. Just don’t stand up because you have poor balance right now. Wouldn’t want to risk the bearn.” He grins at me and slides into the kitchen while I stare down at the tiny human now in my arms. I…I’m actually not sure if I’ve ever held a baby in my life. I shift her a bit and pull her close with my arms firm but not too tight around her. She coos and I instinctively start swaying a little in my seat.
“I know, I’m sorry your mean Uncle Soap gave you to some strange lady. A very not cool uncle thing of him to do.” I whisper softly, feeling her weight and warmth sink into my chest. Her blinks get a little slower and I can’t help smiling down at her. Maybe this isn’t too bad. “Must be pretty nice getting held and rocked all the time. Take advantage of it while you can.” I relax a little more and lean back in my seat while continuing to bounce her a little until her eyes are shut and her little mouth is left open. I wonder briefly if this is how Johnny looked as a baby and my smile widens at the thought.
Soap comes back over, but doesn’t reach for her so I don’t make a move to give her back. “Seems you’ve got the special touch. She usually fights sleep a bit harder.”
“Mm. Bet you weren’t this cute when you were a baby.” I tease and he grins, shaking his head.
“Agreed. Especially with the tiny mohawk. Probably stuck up all over the place.” I laugh softly, careful not to move or make too much noise.
Shiloh comes over and Soap makes space for her as she sighs with relief. “Thank god you got her down. We were a few minutes off from full screamin’.” Still, she smiles softly as she looks down at the little bundle.
“Why don’t you head up early tonight? The bearns’ll be looked after.” Soap encourages softly and the warmth in my chest only spreads when I recognize the same tone he used with me to get me to go to bed after a hard mission.
She smiles and sways into him. “You and my husband, I swear. But I know you’re just trying to get me away from G before I tell her what an idiot you were when you were younger.” Her hand musses his hair and he ducks away with a small groan.
“More of an idiot than now?” I ask with a brow lifting and Soap gives me a disapproving look that I grin at.
Shiloh nods. “Oh yeah. We once convinced him that we could all fly but him and he jumped off the roof to try and prove that he could too. Broke his arm.” She giggles while my eyes go wide and I choke while trying swallow my laughter. Soap sighs and tosses his arms in the air, subtly showing her his middle finger out of sight from his mother as he walks away.
The evening goes on and eventually I’m relieved of my babysitting duties only to find Simon across the room with a plastic screwdriver in his hand being instructed by one of the young boys. He’s utterly patient and seems to be taking his task quite seriously. I might snap a picture or two to show John later and for Simon to keep. I think he’d like having them.
Dinner is as raucous as I expected it to be, but I’m a bit more used to it now. The noise is joyous and the room is filled with loud voices and laughter. This isn’t something I’ve ever had and it helps to have Simon beside me as a steady, familiar anchor. But it’s nice. I like the way they argue with grins on their faces, how they laugh without restraint, how warm and welcoming everyone is.
Afterward, I manage to slip outside and I’m greeted by the cool night air. I hadn’t realized how hot the house had gotten with all the people inside. I pull out my phone as I sit on the front porch and call John, smiling when it only rings once before he picks up. “Hey, sugar. How’s it going?” Just the sound of his voice makes me feel a little fuzzy inside.
“It’s good. They’re a lot like I thought they’d be, but…more.”
He chuckles and I imagine him stretching out on his couch, leaned back against the cushions with his hands resting on his spread thighs. “That describes the MacTavish’s pretty well, I think. Never could do anything half-heartedly.”
“Mm. I haven’t been around a family like this in a long time. Since before I joined the military. It’s a little jarring being around so many kids all at once.” I lean against the step behind me, resting an elbow on the cold wood while staring up at the starry sky. It is beautiful out here.
“Simon said the same thing the first time he went.” He hums with amusement. “A bit less nicely though. Think it went something like ‘so many fuckin’ kids.’” We both chuckle while I nod. Yeah, that sounds about right.
“I like seeing him with them. He could use more playtime in his life.” I grin at the thought of buying him a little plastic toolkit to carry around with him. “I might’ve snuck a few pictures without him seeing.”
“Oh yeah? Don’t think you’re the only one.” There’s a little ding from my phone and I put him on speaker as I look at my messages. There’s a picture waiting there of me holding the baby, a soft smile on my face as I stare down at her. Soap is in the kitchen, so Simon must’ve taken it. Cheeky bastard. “Look pretty comfy in that picture, sugar.”
I smile and shrug as if he can see me. “Not sure if I’ve ever held a baby before. Don’t think I have and Soap was only using her as a reason to keep me sitting. But I liked holding her. I think I like it here, actually. Only thing missing is you.” My cheeks get a little hot when I realize what I said, but I only hear John’s soft hum of approval.
“Wish I was there too, sugar. But I like hearing that you’re enjoying yourself and getting some rest. It’s well-deserved.”
“You deserve rest too. Better not neglect yourself while I’m away.”
He laughs softly and I let the sound fill me with warmth. “Yes, ma’am. Call me again tomorrow?”
“I will. Night.”
“Night, sugar.”
We hang up and I stay outside for a few moments longer, breathing in the crisp air and appreciating the stars. It’s only when Soap comes to get me that I shuffle inside straight into a fire warmed blanket that Simon instantly swaddles me in before sitting me in an armchair close to the flickering fireplace. Yeah, I could really learn to like this place.
Tags (Hello, lovelies. As always, tell me if you'd like to be removed or if anyone else wants to be tagged on G and Price's story!)--
@under-the-dirt @jj-ara33 @sorchateas @cherry-blosom-tree
@thriving-n-jiving @jinxxangel13 @emsstuff1 @missmidnight-writes @thereeallink @younggirlgenius @1wh4re1nova @ghostslillady @honeybeeznutz @00ops1e
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writeforfandoms · 8 months
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Fall Into Me 9
Find the series masterlist
Rose deals with the fallout of the graffiti, and discovers she has more help than she could have guessed.
Warnings: Swearing, Feels, these men are on a mission now, teasing.
Word count: 1.3k
Eventual Rose x 141/Los Vaqueros. Eventual.
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The best thing Rose could really say about that day was that it passed. Far, far too many of her customers commented on the graffiti when they came in, expressing concern and condolences. Her smile was brittle after fifteen minutes, and Gaz quickly but gently exiled her to making drinks and took over talking to people. 
It stung, a little, but she didn’t fight him. She didn’t have the energy to fight him. 
After the morning rush, he pushed a cup of tea at her. Rose briefly made a face but took the tea.
“I don’t need to be coddled.”
“Not coddling you,” he immediately denied. “I’d do this for any friend.”
She swallowed a mouthful of tea to hide the way her heart clenched at that declaration. Friend. She didn’t have a lot of those, even fewer she considered to be truly trustworthy, so to have him say it so easily… Well. She enjoyed that far too much.
“I don’t normally let friends work for me,” she drawled, catching the way his smile brightened. “But I suppose I’ll allow it for today.” 
Gaz chuckled and nudged her. “What else needs doing?” 
Rose thought about it for a moment, her gaze wandering over to the window. She wanted that gone, desperately. But she also wasn’t sure she was brave enough to face it long enough to scrub it off the window.
“Hey, told you we’d take care of that,” Gaz murmured, stepping closer and nudging her to pull her gaze back to him. “Don’t you worry about that.”
Rose raised one eyebrow. “That is literally physically impossible for me,” she drawled. “I’m going to worry about it until it’s gone.”
He huffed. “Trust me, won’t be there much longer.”
She narrowed her eyes a little but didn’t question it. Yet. “I suppose you could make a help wanted sign to stick in the window,” she offered casually. 
“Yeah? Thinking you’re ready to hire someone?” 
“Thinking I need to,” she corrected with a little huff. “Because I can’t work seven days a week.” 
He nodded once, though she could see the wheels turning. “You have any social media for this place?”
“Uh. No.” Rose blinked, caught off guard.
“Shame.” Gaz smirked to himself as he located a pen. 
“What are you planning?”
“Who, me?”
“Yes you, you meddler.” 
“Nothing.” His grin had grown to shit-eating proportions now. “Just a question, love.”
“Uh huh. Sure.” Rose eyed him but decided he wasn’t going to give up the information that easily. She’d just have to play the long game. 
Of course, she immediately got distracted when Price walked in, Soap and Rodolfo waving to her as they walked through the shop and out front, Soap carrying a bucket full of frothy soapy water. 
“What?” She blinked, gaze darting between the men. This was beginning to feel distinctly tactical, the way they were tackling her problems. 
“Security camera outside got a good enough shot of the man responsible,” John told her, leaning against the counter. Gaz slipped unobtrusively over to a table, out of the way. “How d’you want to handle this?”
Rose fidgeted, chewing on her lower lip. A quick glance at John’s eyes showed no judgment, no expectations. Just patience. “I’d rather not, actually.”
“You sure?” 
She nodded once. “I mean, if there’s a way to get him on some kind of watchlist, make sure he doesn’t hurt anyone. But otherwise, keep me out of it.” Her smile was a little bitter. She wasn’t very brave, and she knew it. She liked things quieter. 
John nodded once, and that was that. “You should have a few cameras in here,” he said, clearly moving on to the next item on his mental list. 
“Never had the time to properly research that.” Rose shrugged. She also rarely had the disposable income to put towards something like that. Not that she was going to spell that out for John. 
His lips twitched, and she thought he knew anyway. “One there,” he said, pointing to a spot above the prep area. “And one there.” He pointed again across the store. “Cover basically the whole place. Could do one in the back too, if you wanted.” 
Rose tilted her head slowly, blinking. “Alright,” she agreed slowly. “Is there a certain one you recommend?” 
He nodded, fighting down a smile. “Won’t take long to get them installed.”
“Wait, installed?” Rose blinked at him, feeling like she was missing some vital part of the conversation here. 
“Got a dozen up in my office, darling,” John told her, no longer fighting down the smile. The corners of his eyes crinkled with his amusement, and she tried hard not to be distracted by that. “I’ll have Ghost bring ‘em down and we’ll install them.”
“But–” Rose blinked. Private security. Right. “John, those are for your business.”
John shrugged. “And? Can’t exactly report me to the boss, darling.” 
She frowned at him, struggling for a moment to verbalize the rest of her concern. “I can’t…”
“Love.” John lowered his voice a little, leaning in closer. “Don’t worry about it. Just let us do this, yeah?” His smile softened, something warm and almost teasing. “You can give us free tea if it makes you feel better.” 
Rose chuckled, the tension in her chest releasing. “How about cookies?” 
“Soap will be thrilled,” John drawled. “You want a camera in the back too?”
“Sure. Might as well.” Rose shrugged. The back wasn’t large - her tiny office and a tiny kitchen, just big enough for her to make cookies. The storage area was more of a closet, really, which is why she kept a close eye on supplies. 
John nodded. “Good. Won’t take long.” One of his hands closed over hers, big and warm, his thumb pressing gently to the delicate underside of her wrist. “Worth it to have you safe.” 
Rose swallowed but nodded slowly, heart thundering along in her chest. “Keep being so nice to me and you’ll never get rid of me,” she said, trying for joking but falling a little shy.
The flash of his grin was brief and amused. “Why do you think we keep coming back, darling?” He released her and stepped away, leaving her floundering. 
A quick look showed that Soap and Rodolfo were working on scrubbing off the spraypaint, and Gaz was doing something with his phone, tongue poking out between his lips. 
She had a little time.
Sneaking into the back was easy, and it took very little time to whip up a batch of cookie dough. A quick peek out front showed Gaz behind the counter, no customers in the shop, with John and Ghost working together quietly to install one of the cameras. Good enough.
The timer beeping pulled everyone’s attention briefly to the back, and Rose hummed a bit as she pulled the cookies out of the oven. They needed to cool a little before she took them off the baking sheets, but given five minutes, she’d be able to deliver fresh cookies to the guys. 
To her guys.
The thought gave her pause, both because of how right it felt and how possessive it was. But, well… They were her friends now. And the way at least a couple of them flirted, more was not out of the question. 
But it was a question for later, because she did not have the mental capacity for this right now. 
Using two of the actual plastic plates she had, she carried the cookies out to one of the tables. “Anyone want a snack?” 
Watching Soap try to dive on an entire plate for himself (only to be blocked by Ghost) was enough to have her nearly in stitches. But not enough to distract her from Gaz taking a picture of the plate in front of him before typing rapidly into his phone. She could ask… but she decided not to. 
Especially since the thought of them being her guys circled around and around in her head, refusing to give her any rest. 
She really needed to get herself sorted.
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miradelletarot · 4 months
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NO BETA, WE DIE LIKE ALFIRA!
It's posted, y'all!! We are chugging along in their story, and there's a lot more to come...I am so fucking excited. idk if y'all know how excited I am lol. Anyway, Part 9 is up!! Enjoy! I am not sure I'll have part 10 up before Christmas, but I kinda hope I do. We shall see =p Until then, buckle up and get ready for angst, fluff, more angst, Gale entering his bloodthirsty era /jk, and more. Love y'all!
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maybanksbabe · 1 year
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𝐂𝐑𝐔𝐄𝐋 𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐑 ~ 𝑺𝑻𝑨𝑹𝑹𝑰𝑵𝑮
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐀 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐋
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𝐑𝐀𝐅𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐎𝐍
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𝐑𝐀𝐅𝐄 𝐱 𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐀
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@softcoremaybank @rafesangel @dreamingwithrafe @jjsbank444
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