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#give me a Tommy who is so soft with him so gentle so kind
whatohitsonfirewelp · 23 days
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You know what? I don’t WANT an awkward double date. I don’t WANT buck coming out and people having the ‘I know’ reaction or the ‘is it Eddie’ reaction.
You know what I do want?
I want Buck panicking over what to wear for the date. I want Buck flopping on his bed like very teenager after their first kiss all giggly and happy and touching his lips because he kissed a boy
I want Buck smiling every time he says Tommy’s name because maybe it isn’t forever and maybe he’s not even looking for forever anymore but he’s so happy and he’s so light and being with Tommy feels good
I want Tommy to keep calling him Evan, because before Buck was Buck he was Evan and Evan deserves to be happy to be treated so softly and lovingly and Evan deserves to be free.
I want Buck to be happy. To be happy and free and queer in the way we all deserve.
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auteurdelabre · 24 days
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SOMETHING TO FIGHT FOR - SHORT FIC: Spoiling Joel dad!Joel x f!Reader
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RATING: 18+ tags: Loving Established Relationship, Hand job (M receiving), mentions of pregnancy (teasing), Massage, so much fluff, AU - everyone lives. Summary: Your fiance Joel takes care of everyone - you, Sarah, his brother. . . But who takes care of Joel? a/n: I think we all know that this Joel is the dreamiest (to me) and I think he deserves to be spoiled so . . . I wrote this. From the SOMETHING TO FIGHT FOR universe. But I believe it could be read as a stand-alone as you and Joel in an established relationshi.
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Joel loves taking care of you. 
He's said it from the first admission of affection to you. That he just wanted to take care of you and love you. And you'd reveled in it. So unused to a love that came without strings, uncertain at first but slowly healing with every kept promise and gentle kiss. 
But who takes care of Joel?
It's pathetically late in the game to think of this. Six months of officially dating, an engagement ring on your finger, living together, planning a wedding. 
It hits you late one evening with Joel curled up beside you in bed. His steady breathing makes you feel calm and grounded. His leg is between yours, his arms holding you to his warm chest. You move a curl from his forehead before pressing a soft kiss there.
I love him so much. 
He's exhausted these days, working overtime to save for the wedding. You think of the fatigue in his face over dinner tonight, the saddled brows as he sleeps now. You think of how he whispers promises of how he wants to take care of you, how he always ensures you come before he even thinks about his own pleasure, how his time is spent making sure you and Sarah are provided for. 
How could you not have questioned this? You've been so fixated on your own joy that you never even considered that you should have been thinking about Joel's! 
You feel impossibly guilty about it. Sure, you and Sarah love him endlessly. He's never lacking in that department. In the bedroom you never shy from expressing your desire for him, loving the way his face looks when he empties himself into you. 
But when's the last time Joel was taken care of?
"Seem to remember you takin' good care of me last night," Joel murmurs in bed when you ask him the next evening, his arms around you. "And this mornin'."
"Not that kind of care," you say with an amused roll of your eyes. "I mean like... Feeling spoiled."
"I am spoiled," Joel insists all honesty in his voice and features. 
"No you're not," you pout. "You're always spoiling everyone else. Me, Sarah, your brother, your employees. But no one takes care of you."
"Baby." His finger goes to your chin, tilting your face. "Hey, look at me."
You do and he sees the gloss of your eyes. 
"You lovin' me is all I need," Joel tells you. "I'm serious. Every day you're here in my arms I'm spoiled. Sharing my life with me, loving Sarah. What more do I need?"
Well what the fuck could you say to that?
Annoyingly perfect fucking man. 
///
Despite Joel being an almost annoyingly perfect fiancé, you plan a little something nonetheless. When he comes home that Friday night looking tired from a long day you’re there to greet him with your hair curled and your smile bright.
"Sarah is at Tommy's," you tell him pressing a kiss to his waiting lips. "And dinner will be here in about an hour."
"Mmm," Joel says, brows raised in surprised delight as he places his toolbox down by the front door. "Plannin' a little date night I see."
"Mhmmm," you say with a grin. "And before dinner gets here I ran you a bubble bath."
Joel gives an amused quirk of one brow."Not really a bath gu-"
"And as soon as you get in I'm bringing you up a nice cold beer."
Joel stares at you a lingering moment, his warm eyes searching your face for why all of this is happening. 
"S'not my birthday."
"Nope."
"Not an... Anniversary?"
You smile at his nervous face. "Nope."
"It's not-"
"I just wanted to do something nice for you so go get your ass in the bath, Miller. I'm not telling you twice."
Joel presses a kiss to the end of your nose. "Yes ma'am."
You watch him take off up the stairs quickly, holding in an excited giggle as you watch him go.
You go upstairs a short while later, chilled Lonestar bottle in hand. You peek your head around the door, seeing Joel tilted back, eyes closed. 
You've set the scene perfectly. Candles are lit all around the tub, a soft vanilla cashmere scent. 
His broad shoulders peek up above the bubbles, his handsome face free of concern. And he’s all yours. This gorgeous man is going to be your husband. How did you get so lucky?
"Joel Miller you are one fine lookin' specimen," you say as you enter the bathroom. Joel's eyes crack open, his lips curling into a grin as you saunter over. 
"Damn, what service," Joel rumbles, his beautifully tan body moving under the bubbles to sit up a bit.
"You deserve it," you say grazing a kiss atop his damp lips and handing him the beer by the neck. He takes it, his face mischievous. His free hand slowly drags up the back of your leg.  
"I deserve anything else?"
"Down boy," you say with a smirk, stepping back out of his grip. "Dinner'll be here soon. Drink up, relax and then come down in comfy clothes."
"Alright then."
///
Joel arrives downstairs a half hour later smelling delicious, hair in damp curls. He follows his nose to the dining room where you've laid out a sumptuous feast from his favorite BBQ place in Austin. 
"Hope you're hungry," you say motioning to the chair at the head of the table. There's another cold Lonestar waiting for him there, and a plate that you're now piling high with ribs, beans and potato salad. 
"Wow," Joel says approaching the table with wide eyes. "You order the whole damn restaurant?" 
"Just some of your favorites." 
"I didn't know you liked this place," Joel says curiously as he comes to take his seat. "Thought you said you didn't like ribs?"
"Huh? No, I like 'em," you say passing him the cornbread and sitting in the chair to his left. "Plus they're your favorite, right?"
Joel nods, taking a bite. "Mmm, just as good as I remember."
You try to hold in a grimace as the sticky sweet meat slides down your throat. You take a long gulp from your wine glass. 
"Mmm."
Joel eyes you a bit suspiciously as he eats, but the two of you soon ease into casual conversation about Sarah and work and the sanctuary that is well underway. The dinner is going so well that it shocks you when Joel leans back, fixing you with a serious look. 
"You talk to Paul lately?"
You drop your fork to your plate in surprise. "Paul? As in my ex, Paul?" 
"Yeah."
"Why the fuck would I have spoken to Paul?"
Joel shrugs, shoving a piece of cornbread into his mouth. "Thought I saw him in town today."
"Gross," you frown, the thought of Paul being in Austin makes you want to vomit. You never want to see that asshole for as long as you live. 
Joel notes your response and seems to relax at that. The conversation drifts back to the every day. Like Tommy and the very pregnant Maria who have begun nesting. Every time you go over there she’s added a new throw pillow.
"I guess when Tommy and Maria have the baby we'll be the ones babysittin’."
"Guess so," you say amused at the thought. "You can handle the diapers. You have baby experience."
"Well you might wanna pract-" Joel immediately stops himself and you note the red that has started creeping up the back of his neck. 
It's no secret that Joel wants more kids. Every time you've taken Sarah to the park the last month or so he's made note of the mom's with newborns in strollers.
"I miss that age. Not that I don't love Sarah at every age, but I miss that feeling of rockin' a baby in my arms."
You had just nodded in reply because you're nowhere near ready and Joel knows this. But that doesn't stop him from secretly hoping that you want kids with him one day.  
"I might wanna what, Joel?" You tease.
"Nothin'" he mutters, taking a forkful of beans from his plate. 
You want to tease him more but considering your aim is to spoil him you decide to lay off. 
After dinner you pull him onto the couch, stating that you’ve decided on what to watch. Joel looks at the DVD case on the coffee table before looking at you with the remote in your hand grinning excitedly at him.
"You hate this movie."
"No I don't," you lie. "I love No Country for Old Men."
"Last time we saw it you said Chigurh gave you nightmares."
"I don't remember that," you say, urging him to sit under the blanket next to you. "Shhh, it's starting." 
You sit back with Joel in the couch, snuggling up against him. He wraps an arm around your shoulders, drawing you close. Your head rests gently on his chest, your hand under your chin. 
Your thankful Joel can't see your face (or your eyes when they close during most of the film). You close your eyes so often that soon you drift off. You wake up only as Joel kisses the top of your head.
"Movie's over baby," he murmurs. “Let’s get to bed.”
"Really?" You raise yourself up to sit straight, eyes cracked open to take in your blurry soundings. "Shit."
"S’okay," Joel says with a grin. "I enjoyed watchin’ my favorite movie with my girl in my arms. Let’s get you to bed.”
You feel him start to move off the couch and you give him an almost desperate clutch around the wrist, pulling him back.
“No wait!”
Joel turns in confusion at you, concern in his eyes. He watches as you lean over the sofa, pulling out the massage lotion you’d stored under there. Joel smirks at you wrestling with the plastic tab inside.
“What’s this, honey?”
“I noticed you were rubbing your neck a lot this week,” you mutter as you pull the tab off. “You were saying it was stiff. I wanted to give you a little massage.”
You squirt the lotion into your hand, rubbing them together to warm them and looking at Joel expectantly. “Take off your shirt.”
“Honey you don’t have-“
“Shirt, Miller.”
Joel gives a good-natured grin in your direction before he’s tugging off his t-shirt, tossing it onto the couch on the other side of him. You give an approving nod before shuffling over to him, perched behind him, hands flying to his neck.
“Just relax,” you soothe, sliding your hands over his tired muscles as he groans. You love knowing that you’re making him feel good.
You watch the crease between his brows lessen as your thumb works a particularly sore muscle in his neck. You don’t know how long you’ve been massaging, but Joel looks completely relaxed, his eyes cracking open to look at you over his shoulder.
“You up for massaging any other stiff spots?” Joel rumbles. You smirk, noting the tent in his sweatpants. You go to sit next to him, eyelids lowered.  
“Of course,” you tease. “Just show me the problem area.”
He doesn’t hesitate lowering the band of his sweatpants so that his hardened cock is exposed. Just the sight of it has you feeling weak as you pour more oil into your palm. Joel shudders at the sound of your hands rubbing together. He watches your hand hover over the head, your mouth going to his ear.
“I’ve got you, baby.”
Joel groans, head tilting back as the slick of your oiled palm slides over him, coating his throbbing length. He looks so beautiful leaned back against the couch, mouth parted as he grunts. It takes everything in you not to be selfish and lower yourself onto him.
This is about Joel’s pleasure, not yours.   
"Feels so good," he rumbles and the sound of it makes your stomach clench.
"Good," you soothe, your strokes increasing in speed. 
His hands are in loose fists on either side of him on the couch, his hips thrusting into your hands. He looks so good like this, so needy and yet in control. His hips pump quicker and quicker as your hand slides along him, thumb sliding over the head, the friction everything he wants.
"Baby, I'm not gonna last long," Joel warns and his eyes crack open to see your face there, inches away looking at him with open desire. 
"That's okay," you murmur, pressing a kiss to his temple. "Just want you to come, Joel. Wanna make you feel good."
Joel groans, his hand attempting to slide between your legs. "Lemme get you first."
"No," you say firmly, arching away from him, your hand still stroking rapidly. "I just want you to come."
You yelp when Joel's broad hand comes to land on your wrist, pulling your hand from his throbbing cock abruptly. He tucks himself back in his sweatpants with his free hand.
"Alright," Joel says, his voice tinged with authority. "What the fuck is going on? Did somethin’ happen?"
You stare up at him, confused by the sudden change in demeanor, the sudden cold to his eyes.
"Huh?"
"The bath, ribs that I know you don't like and a movie you can't stand?" Joel says this with a confused draw of his dark brows. "That's not countin’ the massage and what I feel like was rampin’ up to be the best hand job of my fuckin’ life."
"Then why did you stop it?"
"Because it's... I don't ..." Joel sighs, licking his lips nervously. "Why? What're you makin’ up for?"
Making up for? 
"What are you talking about?"
Then you realize.
"Do you think I'm only doing this because I did something wrong?" You ask, eyes searching his. "Is that ... Is that what happened with Michelle?"
You rarely speak to Joel about Michelle because you don't feel like it's your place to. You didn't know him during that time and you didn't know her. But what you do know of Michelle sometimes makes you frustrated. 
Joel shrugs before casting his dark eyes on the ground. Without saying it you realize that this is exactly the case.
"Just she'd be real overly nice if she did somethin' like scratched the truck or she overspent on the credit card," Joel mumbles. "So all this just got me scared. Thought maybe you saw Paul or somethin’ and this was your way of breakin' it to me."
Your heart cracks. “Joel that’s not how I do things. If I fuck up, I’ll tell you. Just like I hope you would tell me.”
“Of course.”
The two of you are quiet in the darkness, your wrist still in his grip, only loosened. His thumb traces the back of your hand.
“I just wanted to spoil you tonight,” you finally explain.
"It's too much. I don't deserve it."
"You're right, you deserve more."
Joel stares at you. 
"Joel you take care of everyone," you say, trying to hold in the tears as Joel struggles to find the right words. "But who takes care of you?"
"I don't need to be taken care of."
"Why not?"
"Cuz I'm a guy-"
"Stop," you say raising your hand in front of his face. "Everyone needs to be taken care of. That's what love is about. I think you spent so long taking care of everyone else that you forgot what it’s like to have someone do it for you."
"But I like doin' it," Joel explains. "I love taking care of my girls. I love cooking for you and helping Sarah with her homework. I don't need more than what you already give, baby. I feel spoiled every fucking day."
"Joel I want our relationship to be to be a partnership."
"It is,” Joel insists. “You do so much for me and Sarah. I know how much you had to do to get here.  I love knowing you're here beside me and that you're gonna be my wife. Don't you know how good you love me?"
"It never feels like enough."
"Baby," Joel murmurs. His fingers trace along your jaw. Now it’s your turn to blink back tears as you go through the ever expanding catalogue of things Joel has done for you before and during your courtship.
"I wanna take care of you, Miller," you tell him resolutely. "I wanna love you as much as I can for as long as I can. I want more of our life to be about you, Joel. Food you like to eat, movies you like to watch. Beers in baths."
"Head massages?" Joel says with a teasing smile.
"Full body if you want," you promise, kissing him firmly. "Not everything has to be about me and the kids."
"Kids?" Joel's brow rises. "Plural?"
"I-I uh I just mean if one day we decide to have a baby or whatever," you stammer with embarrassment. "I just still wanna make sure that-"
"You think about that?" Joel interrupts, his warm eyes searching your face. "Havin' a kid with me?"  
"Of course I do," you say, cheeks flaming. 
Joel grins widely, so widely his cheeks hurt. You know that he wants to tease you right now, to poke you about what you’ve just let slip. But his eyes grow misty and suddenly the smile is softer, his touch gentler.
"Can't believe I'm marrying a woman like you," Joel murmurs as he gazes at you. "Fucking beautiful and smart and kind and you wanna take care of me?"
"Yeah,” you nod, heart overflowing. “I do.”
"What if I wanna take care of you?" Joel murmurs, mouth finding yours. "What if I wanna take care of you right now in our bed?"
“Only if I can take care of you,” you breathe against his lips. “At least twice.”
“Deal.”
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POST-OUTBREAK JOEL MILLER X FEM!READER
Joel feeling insecure about the large age gap you guys have
Warnings:
Large Age gap (reader is 28, Joel is 56), baby Ellie makes an appearance (ugh I love Bella Ramsey), lack of communication, hints to making out+Kissing+Sex, insults, body pain, crying.
• Joel first laid eyes on you when he and Ellie arrived to Jackson to settle down permanently.
• Tommy was giving Joel and Ellie a tour while you were taking a group of kids out of the Jackson daycare for a walk to the small playground.
• When Joel spotted you, he couldn’t help but stare at you and feel content watching how gentle and patient you were to the kids you were leading.
• Your warm smile that you flashed him when you caught him staring had him jump out of his daze and clear his throat, turning his attention back to Tommy’s voice.
• Ellie caught notice and nudged Joel’s shoulder, smirking and whispered, “Were you just staring at that pretty woman, Joel?”
• Joel had rolled his eyes, “I wasn’t”
• Ellie kept teasing him after that, making kissy faces to piss off the old man.
• The second time he saw you was at a Christmas gathering in the bar, strictly held for the adults a day before Christmas Eve.
• Tommy had brought you over to where Joel had been sitting on his own in the corner.
• “Joel, this is Maria and I’s close friend, Y/N. Y/N, this is Joel, my brother. He just arrived to Jackson earlier this week with his girl, Ellie”
• Joel thought you were so much more beautiful up close. You looked so much…younger, up close. Not even a wrinkle in sight.
• You had to only be 27 or 28 years old.
• When you both shook hands and you stared at Joel with so much genuine interest in your eyes, wanting to know about him and asking him questions, his seemingly cold heart had turned so much warmer.
• The conversation between you both flowed so freely and smoothly that you barely even noticed Tommy had removed himself from the conversation to go work the bar.
• After that night at the bar, you edged your way slowly into Joel and Ellie’s life, baking them cookies and lending Ellie your comics, and having them over for dinner alongside Maria and Tommy.
• Skip to four, long months after Christmas Day, you and Joel were an official couple.
• Joel had his doubts about becoming a couple due to how much older he was than you, and also hadn’t felt the touch of a woman since Tess, yet he kept it to himself knowing that if he tried to talk to you about it he’d feel vulnerable and all mushy. Joel didn’t do that kind of stuff.
• So he kept it in, even though it was itching to come out when the judgmental stares from people around town increased whenever you both would show public affection.
• He almost opened up to you about it one night when the Tipsy Bison Bar was gathered with people all around Jackson who had threw an anniversary party for Maria and Tommy.
• Joel was actually enjoying himself, having his beautiful girl on his left arm and a cold beer in his right hand.
• A slow song had came on and Joel brought you to the small dance floor where all the other couple were slow dancing with their loved ones.
• Your arms were wrapped around his broad shoulders and his strong arms wrapped around your waist.
• Joel was so happy and relaxed to have you in his arms and swaying gently to the slow Elvis song in the moment, that he wasn’t even focusing on anybody who was possibly staring at you guys with questionable faces.
• It was when Joel’s cold beer bumped your bare skin where your shirt lifted up, and you squealed, wrapping your arms around him tighter,
“Jeez, Joel! It’s so cold!”
• He did it again out of amusement and was letting out soft laughs,
“Can you get the bartender to refill it for me, baby? Please?” He asked, planting a kiss on your forehead.
• You happily took it from him and he watched you teasingly sway your hips dramatically when walking away from him, knowing that it always made him blush and laugh at your joking attempt at being sexy.
• He watched you from where he was standing, you were waiting for the bartender patiently, occasionally turning around to give him a grin.
• All the alcohol Joel had been drinking that night caught up to his bladder, so he had went to use the bathroom.
• You finally got the bartender to fill Joel’s bottle, and before you could start walking back to where Joel was supposed to be on the wooden dance floor, a man, around your age had tapped your shoulder.
“Uh, Hi? Can I help you?” You looked at the man who had short black hair and a nose ring with a confused look on your face,
“I’m usually not this forward but, you are one of the prettiest women I’ve ever seen here”
•You were used to men complimenting you around Jackson, so you just politely thanked him and looked around for Joel, not seeing him on the dance floor or sitting on any of the bar stools. Hoping he would walk away,
“You work at the Jackson Daycare, right?” You wanted to cringe at his attempts at small talk,
“Uh, yeah! I do” You didn’t ask him a question back, wanting him to get a hint that you weren’t interested in engaging in any broken flirting with him.
• He still wasn’t getting a hint, and Joel still was no where to be found,
“I have to ask pretty girl, are you seeing anyone at the moment?”
•You wanted to cringe again. ‘Pretty girl’ only sounded nice coming out of your boyfriend’s gruff voice.
• Speaking of your boyfriend, where the hell is he?
• There was a small line for the bathroom when Joel went, so it was taking longer than he thought it would.
• You looked at the man and gave him a tight lipped smile,
“I am, actually. I’m with my boyfriend” You responded to him.
• The young man looked around,
“And where is he? I don’t see him” You wanted to punch the cockiness out of him.
• That’s when Joel had came up behind the both of you,
“I’m right here”
• The tension released from your body when you heard your man’s voice,
“Hi” You kissed Joel on the cheek and slightly stood behind him, grabbing his arm to try and lead him to sit down. He wouldn’t budge from where he was now towering over the younger man,
“There a problem, young man?” Joel asked, cocking an eyebrow at him.
• The man had laughed in disbelief,
“This grandpa is your boyfriend? Wow, unbelievable”
• You gave the man a dirty look and continued to tug less gently on his arm,
“Joel, c’mon. He’s not worth it”
• The man scoffed and stared at you,
“I’m pretty sure I’m worth more than this old fuck, bitch”
• That’s when Joel shoved the guy into the wall and clenched his fists,
“Joel, seriously! Let’s just walk away!”
• Tommy and Maria had rushed over to break up the two men, talking to them both, but their voices sounded blurry to Joel’s ears.
• Your face was becoming hot out of embarrassment due to the eyes from everyone in the bar all on you.
• You placed the beer on the bar counter and grabbed you and Joel’s coats from the hanger and walked over to him,
“Let’s go home, okay? It’s getting late, baby”
• Joel didn’t answer you, instead just taking his jacket out of your hands and walking ahead outside,
• Joel was quiet the whole way home. He wasn’t slipping his hand into the pocket of your jeans and giving you drunken kisses like he usually did on these nights.
• When you both got to his and Ellie’s house, he was still quiet.
• Though, he was being loud with his actions. Tossing his jacket to the side, kicking his boots carelessly off the carpet, and stomping up to his bedroom upstairs.
• Ellie, who was sitting on the lazy boy chair reading one of the comics you gave her, looked at you with a confused look,
“What’s up his asshole tonight?” You shook your head and rubbed your forehead,
“He got into a small fight at the bar. Nothing too serious” you said. Flopping down on the couch with a tired sigh,
“If it wasn’t serious, why is he acting like some fucking kid who got told he wasn’t allowed some candy?”
You laughed and shrugged,
“I really don’t know, honey. I wish I did”
• And it’s true, you really don’t know why that situation at the bar made him so angry.
• You knew Joel to be strong and get over his shit easily.
• Joel had been quiet and less affectionate for the next few days after that.
• The comments the much younger man made about Joel’s age really fucking got to him.
• Also the fact that the guy had the audacity to call you a bitch.
• What the guy said was getting to Joel’s head…what if a younger man was more worth your while? A man that didn’t groan and grunt when he sat down or up, a man that didn’t need massages before bed every night because of his constant aching bones, a man who was not old enough to be your dad.
• Joel was feeling insecure.
• Joel had finally opened up to you about it when you guys had the house to yourself.
• He had finished showering, a much needed shower after helping Maria clean the barn all day.
• When he walked into the bedroom, you we’re sitting pretty on the flannel sheets of the bed, a white night gown that Maria gifted you for Christmas draped over your body and a big smile on your face.
• Even though Joel had been in a foggy mindset since that night at Maria and Tommy’s anniversary party, looking at you never failed to make him crack a smile.
• He sat down on the bed, grunting when pain shot up his aching back,
“You okay, baby?” Your warm hand rubbed his shoulder, soothingly.
• Joel just nodded,
“I’m alright. Don’t worry about it”
• You frowned when it seemed like he didn’t want your touch.
• When he laid on his back, you, out of usual routine, straddled his lap, hopefully to have sex.
• It had been coming up on a week that Joel had barely touched you. Always wanting to to just head straight to bed,
“Sorry, sweetheart, not tonight. I can’t” Joel patted your bare thigh, signalling for you to lay down beside him.
• You became embarrassed, biting your lip and awkwardly getting off his lap,
“Oh, okay”
• Joel felt his heart slightly crack at the confusion and hurt in your voice.
• He wanted to so bad tell you how he felt, but he too felt embarrassed to mention how he had been stuck up all week because of the comments that guy made.
• He was hoping the problem would slowly solve itself.
• He looked at you when you sat up on your knees beside him, facing him who was laying down with one of his arms tucked under his neck,
“Joel, why have you been acting so weird with me all week?” You were chewing on your nail, staring at his face trying to study him.
• Joel felt his stomach drop. Oh god, here we go. He cleared his throat,
“What do you mean, baby?” He rubbed your knee with the hand that wasn’t behind his neck,
“You’ve been distant since that night at the bar. You’ve barely touched me or even seen me all week. Your just, distant. Ellie and Tommy see it, too” You placed your hand on top of his that was resting on your leg.
Joel sighed and stared up at the ceiling. He couldn’t hide it anymore,
“I didn’t like what that man said the other night” you remained silent, waiting for him to continue,
“He was right. I’m an old man, and I’m way too old for you. I see the way people stare at us in public, the judgmental looks and shit. They practically tell me that I don’t deserve ya. You deserve a younger man who has energy and active bones. Who can fuck you more than once in one night”
You wanted to cry hearing him degrading himself like that,
“Joel, I didn’t know you felt that way. How long?” Joel looked up at you,
“Before we even dated, sweetheart. It’s embarrassing, I know” You shook your head and straddled him, planting your hands on his chest,
“It’s not embarrassing. I’m sorry you felt that way for a while. I love you so, so much. If I wanted a younger man I would have already been with one of them by now, but I chose you. I chose you because your strong, you care about the people you love, your extremely handsome and make me feel like the only girl in the world” Joel could feel his neck and face getting red at your words,
“Joel, baby, please tell me when you are feeling upset about these kinds of things. I’ll only know how you feel if you talk to me” You combed your hands gently through his grey hair, looking down at him with so much love in your eyes it almost made him tear up,
“I love you” He reached his hand up to your cheek, rubbing it,
“I love you, too” You whispered. You pressed a kiss to the pad of his thumb while staring down at him. He pressed his thumb in between your lips, slowly pushing it in your mouth. You accepted it, and sucked on it slowly. He groaned and closed his eyes,
“Sweetheart, I really wanna make love to ya right now but my back is just so fucking sore” You slowly pulled his thumb out of your mouth,
“Don’t worry about that. Just lay back and let me take care of you, Joel. My Joel” Joel moaned at that, his big hands going to grasp at your hips, slowly pulling your nightgown up.
This was going to be a long night.
-
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stylesispunk · 2 months
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"Where is my love?"
Joel miller x f! reader
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summary: Isn't she coming to me?
w.c: 7k>
warning: angst, mentions of death, and grief.
a/n: this is a sad one and closer to my heart because grieving is the love we can give to people who are gone. The only change of this is that has been ten years since the "end of the world" and is based on the last chapter of the show. reblogs and comments are always appreciated and for the love of god, can you please help me with inspo for writing, I want to write for other characters, so if you have any suggestions are welcome. Have a lovely reading 💌 dividers by @/saradika
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Your paths crossed a long time ago. When the world had descended into madness, the souls met the dead in a now forgotten land. He came across you, and he fell in love with you. The sunlight radiating after the freezing storm was a fire keeping his brittle heart warm.
You had saved him from ending his own life that day, when he had lost faith in a horror movie without an ending or a purpose. He did lose everything he had known—everything he had ever loved and protected—but he had met you.
For him, you were an angel, not delicate nor free from sins, but an angel who appeared after he thought he had met his spirit in heaven.
You have looked after him and Tommy for days, taking care of their well-being and taking care of the reminiscing scar plastered on Joel’s forehead as a reminder of his almost-death encounter with his angel, you.
And you had loved him ever since; you found yourself increasingly drawn to him, not just for his vulnerability under your eyes but because he had brought sense back to life. His presence seemed to chase away the shadows that had been going to hunt you since now.
As the days turned into weeks, months, and then years, the bond between you and Joel only grew stronger. You found yourself drawn to his strength, his resilience in the face of adversity, and the way he faced each day with unwavering determination.
You had loved him after acknowledging every terrible thing he had done, and you loved him anyway. The darkness inside of him, taunted by the loss of the previous time, didn’t prevent you from looking at him as if he hung the stars of the sky. You both looked at night before sleeping, trying to find some reassurance.
Together, you faced the challenges, from the first days of the end of the world to the QZ, to Ellie, to where you were right now, knowing that as long as you had each other, you could overcome anything.
Now, here in Jackson, in the quiet moment before sleep, you and Joel would still gaze up at the stars, finding solace in the vastness of the night sky. And as you held each other close, you found reassurance in the knowledge that no matter what tomorrow brought, you would face it together.
Joel broke the silence, his voice soft yet filled with the weight of years gone by. "You know, I never thought I'd find this kind of peace again. Not after everything that's happened."
You turned to him, your eyes meeting his in the darkness. "We've been through hell and back, Love. But somehow, we made it together."
He reached out to intertwine his fingers with yours, seeking the comfort your touch brought to him. "I don't know what I would do without you," he admitted, his voice breaking a little.
"You don't have to find out," you replied, a gentle smile playing on your lips. "We're in this together, remember? No matter what."
Joel nodded, his gaze returning to the heavens above. "Yeah, together," he echoed, as if trying to convince himself of the truth of those words.
"You will never lose me,” you whispered, leaning in to press a tender kiss to his forehead. "And I'll always be here to guide you home."
He closed his eyes, savoring the warmth of your lips over his skin. "I love you," he murmured, the words carrying the weight of a lifetime of pain and longing.
"I love you too," you replied, your heart overflowing with love for the man beside you.
Being in Jackson brought you back to a civilization, to peace, to a place where you could both sleep next to each other at the same time without fearing other people coming for you.
But as much as you cherished the peace and stability that Jackson provided, you couldn't escape the reality of everyday life. With it came the mundane challenges, the petty conflicts, and the occasional tension that threatened to disrupt the tranquility you had found together. There were disagreements, misunderstandings, and moments of frustration that tested the strength of your relationship.
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You felt a rush of joy as you entered the door of your Jackson home. You couldn't wait to tell Joel about the trade you had made, so you were looking forward to seeing his reaction.
"Joel," you called out, your voice full of anticipation as you approached the living room where he was sitting. "Guess what? "I made a trade today."
Joel looked up from his book, interest in his eyes. "A trade?" "What did you get?"
You smiled, holding out the little camera you'd traded for some extra food supplies. "I exchanged some of our extra coffee for this camera! It's in excellent condition, and I thought we might use it to save some memories."
As you proudly showed the camera, Joel's initial curiosity turned into an unhappy face. He set down his book and looked at you with a mixture of disbelief and stress.
"You traded all of our extra coffee for a camera?" Joel repeated, his voice filled with frustration. "We rely on that coffee, you understand. It's not simply an extravagance; it's a product in high demand here in Jackson."
You faltered, understanding the potential repercussions of your impulsive trade. "I know, Joel, but I thought..."
"You thought what?" Joel interjected, his irritation growing. "That a camera was more important than having enough food to get us through the winter? "What if something happens and we need that coffee?"
You bit your lip, feeling a sense of remorse rush over you. "I didn't think of it that way. I just thought it would be wonderful to have something to save our memories."
Joel sighed and ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. "I understand, but we must prioritize our needs before our wants. You cannot go out there and make bad decisions."
His words hurt, and you felt a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach. You didn't plan to compromise your safety, but in your excitement, you forgot to consider the repercussions of your actions.
"I'm sorry, Joel," you said quietly, feeling a sensation of shame rush over you. "I didn't mean to cause any harm."
Joel's gaze softened slightly as you apologized, but the tension in the air remained. "It's okay," he said softly. "Just stop being this childish," he murmured, strolling past you to the kitchen and leaving you in
Joel's gaze softened slightly as you apologized, but the tension in the air remained. "It's okay," he said softly. "Just stop being so childish," he replied, walking past you to the kitchen and leaving you in the living room with a bitter taste in your mouth.
A wave of guilt swept over you. You didn't mean to act impulsively or selfishly, but you now see that your actions had far-reaching implications.
Feeling the weight of Joel's disappointment, you remained in the living room, staring at the camera in your hands, your heart heavy. You realized he was correct; you needed to be more responsible and more aware of the circumstances and the actions that could affect your survival; being at peace in a place did not imply the risk had passed.
With a heavy sigh, you lay the camera down on the table, the excitement you had felt earlier replaced with a sense of regret. Joel's words lingered in your head, reminding you of the excitement you had felt earlier, replaced by a sense of remorse. Joel's words echoed in your mind, a reminder of the need to grow and learn from your mistakes.
You walked upstairs to your room, and with a heavy heart, you lay in bed, the events of the day on your mind. Despite the comfort of the blankets that surrounded you, you couldn't shake the sense of remorse and sorrow that persisted within you.
You closed your eyes and replayed the conversation with Joel in your head, each word stinging like a sharp reminder of your failure. You knew you'd let him down, and the thought gnawed at you, leaving a bad taste in your mouth.
And as you drifted off to sleep, the weight of Joel's disappointment gradually began to lighten. A few hours later, you awoke to the faint click of a camera shutter. Blinking sleepily, you opened your eyes to see Joel standing by the bedside, a tiny smile on his lips as he held the camera.
"What are you doing?" you said, your voice still laced with sleepiness.
Joel chuckled and lowered his camera as he neared the bed. "Just capturing a moment," he said, his eyes filled with adoration as he glanced down at you. In confusion, you furrowed your brow and sat up slightly in bed. "A moment of me sleeping?" you asked, feeling both amused and fascinated.
Joel nodded, his smile growing wider. "Yes, a second while you sleep. You looked beautiful; I couldn’t resist."
Despite the lingering anger from earlier, Joel's gesture made you feel warm. It was a modest act, but it showed a lot about his remorse and faith in your relationship. Reaching out, you took the camera from Joel's hands, studying the image of yourself sleeping soundly.
"I look horrible," you muttered. Joel softened his smile and leaned in to kiss your forehead. "Liar," he muttered. "Sorry for how I acted earlier." He moved forward, pressing his lips against your cheek this time.
"You're just an old, grumpy man," you remember, with a tiny giggle. His soft kisses eased the tension between you. His amusing response lightened the mood and lifted the sadness that had been in your heart.
"Old grumpy man, huh?" Joel chuckled, shaking his head in mock indignation. “I’ll show you what this old, grumpy man can do,” he said, planting a more urgent kiss on your lips this time.
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You worked hard in the weeks following your fight with Joel to repair the distance that had grown between you. Despite the apparent signs of peacemaking, you still had a persistent sense of insecurity.
Then a new woman arrived in Jackson. She was closer to Joel's age, and you couldn't help but notice the easy connection that had developed between them. They spent a lot of time together, whether on patrol with Tommy or speaking in the common areas of Jackson.
You tried to ignore the jealousy that was bubbling up inside of you. After all, Joel had always been polite and accommodating to strangers, so there was no reason to suspect anything other than friendship between them.
But as the days went on and you saw Joel and the new woman form a stronger bond, your concern grew. You couldn't escape the nagging suspicion that there was something more between them—something that harmed the precious trust you'd worked so hard to build. 
On today's evening, as you watched Joel and the woman laugh from across the room, you felt a pang of jealousy. You excused yourself and withdrew from the privacy of your thoughts since you could no longer contain your feelings.
You were alone in the living room, struggling with opposite emotions. Part of you felt ashamed for doubting Joel and allowing jealousy to cloud your thinking. But another part of you couldn't help but feel sad and insecure as if you weren't enough for him; after all, it wasn't just you, him, and Ellie outdoors any longer, and here in Jackson, you weren't the last woman in the world.
As you sat alone in the living room, buried in your thoughts, the sound of steps broke your state of trance. Looking up, you noticed Ellie enter the home, looking bright and cheerful, until she spotted your teary eyes.
"Hey, I missed you at dinner in the bar," Ellie said, concern etching her features as she approached you. "Is everything okay?"
You tried to brush off her concern with a forced smile, but Ellie wasn't fooled. "Yeah, everything's fine," you replied, your voice betraying the turmoil within you.
But Ellie wasn't about to let it go that easily. She moved closer, her gaze searching yours with intensity. "No, it's not. What happened? Why are you crying?"
Your heart ached at the concern in Ellie's eyes, and despite your best efforts to hold back the tears, they continued to fall. "I...I don't know," you admitted, feeling the weight of your emotions pressing down on you. "I just...I don't know where Joel is."
Ellie's brow furrowed in confusion. "Joel? He's eating with Tommy and the new girl, why?"
You shook your head, unable to articulate the jumble of emotions swirling inside you. "I don't know," you repeated, feeling the tears threaten to overwhelm you once more. "I just...I need to talk to him."
Sensing the urgency in your voice, Ellie nodded in understanding. "Okay, let's go find him," she said, taking your hand and leading you out of the house.
As you followed Ellie towards the bar, your heart raced with fear and anticipation. You knew that whatever awaited you there, you couldn't continue to let your doubts and insecurities consume you.
Once inside the bar, you noticed Joel in the crowd, his gaze settling on yours with a warmth that shot an emotion through your chest. It was as if a magnetic force drew you closer together, despite any remaining doubts.
You moved across the crowded bar, Ellie's hand firmly clutched in yours, Joel's smile widening, and his gaze never leaving yours.
Finally reaching Joel's side, you felt a wave of relief sweep over you as he held you in his arms. The warmth of his hug swept away the residual frost of doubt, leaving you with an eager sense of calm and belonging.
"I missed you," Joel murmured, his voice soft as he pressed a gentle kiss to your forehead.
"I missed you too," you whispered, your voice barely above a breath as you leaned into Joel's embrace, reveling in the familiar scent of his cologne and the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
For a moment, the world around you faded into insignificance, leaving only you and Joel locked in a tender embrace. It was as if time itself had slowed to a halt, allowing you to savor the precious moments you shared together.
As Joel pressed a gentle kiss to your forehead, you felt a rush of emotion swell within you, a profound gratitude for the love and support he had always shown you.
As the tender moment between you and Joel lingered, a voice interrupted, pulling you back to the present. "Hey, Joel!" called out a cheerful voice, and you turned to see a woman approaching, a bright smile on her face.
Joel turned to face the stranger, his arm still wrapped over you protectively. "Oh, hey Rachel," he said, a warm smile on his face. "This is my girlfriend," he added, introducing you. Then he turned his face to introduce the stranger to you. "This is Rachel, and she is new to Jackson."
You smiled politely at Rachel, but a tinge of dread came over you as you watched how she drew in closer to Joel, her hand casually resting on his free arm. You repressed a jealous pang and pushed yourself to keep a friendly demeanor, even though your heart squeezed with uncertainty.
"It's nice to meet you, Rachel," you said, your voice solid despite the tumult inside you.
Rachel returned the welcome with a warm grin, and her eyes flickered with intrigue as she glanced. between you and Joel. "Likewise," she replied, her tone friendly but tinged with a hint of flirtation.
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As the night went on, you couldn't ignore the sense of unease that hung in the air. Despite your best efforts to ignore it, Rachel's lingering touches and seductive glances at Joel gnawed at your insides, stoking the jealousy that threatened to engulf you.
With each passing moment, it became more difficult to ignore Joel and Rachel's growing friendship. Their laughter and friendly banter got on your nerves, reminding you of the bond that they had.
You tried to ignore your misgivings and enjoy the evening with Joel, but insecurity weighed heavily on you. It felt like you were on the outside looking in, watching helplessly as Joel and Rachel got closer with each passing second.
Rachel's flirtations became more daring as the night progressed, her touches lingering a bit too long and her laughter provocative. Despite your best attempts to remain calm, the jealousy simmering beneath the surface threatened to explode.
You stole looks toward Joel, hoping to find reassurance in his eyes, but he seemed unaware of the impact Rachel's actions were having on you. It was as if she had enchanted him, consuming all of his attention.
You excused yourself from the table, unable to take the sight of Joel and Emily's flirtatious behavior any longer. You could understand, after all, that Joel was a handsome man who hadn't received this much attention since the world ended; yet, that didn't make it any less painful.
As you excused yourself from the table, a slew of feelings surged through you—pain, jealousy, and a deep sense of isolation. You longed for Joel's reassurance, his acknowledgment of the hurt that Rachel's behavior was causing you, but as you stole a glance at him, you saw only obliviousness in his gaze.
With a heavy heart, you moved away, your footsteps quietly echoing on the bar's hardwood floor. You felt Joel's stare on your back, but you couldn't force yourself to look into his eyes, scared of what you might find reflected there.
As you approached the edge of the room, you hesitated, your back facing Joel, struggling to find the perfect words. Finally, you spoke, hardly rising above a whisper. "I need some air," you remarked, your voice filled with anguish.
After a period of silence, you felt Joel's hand on your arm, warm and soothing. "Hey," he replied quietly, his voice full of concern. "Are you okay?"
You turned to face him, meeting his gaze with a mixture of longing and frustration. "I just...I need some time," you replied, your voice trembling slightly. "I'll be outside."
Joel's expression softened, and his eyes filled with understanding as he nodded in response. "I'll come find you," he promised, his voice gentle as he squeezed your hand.
But instead, as you walked towards the house, the weight of the evening's events bearing down on you, you felt Joel's presence beside you. His steps were quiet, but his presence was comforting, a silent reassurance that you were not alone in your pain.
"Hey," Joel said softly, his voice breaking the silence between you. "I'm sorry about back there. I didn't realize... I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable."
You glanced sideways at Joel, the warmth of his gaze softening the edges of your frustration. "It's not your fault," you replied, your voice tinged with sadness. "I know you didn't mean to."
Joel fell into a step beside you, his hand reaching out to brush against yours. "I just want you to know that you're the only one for me," he said earnestly, his voice filled with sincerity. "No one else matters, not like you do."
“You could have told her about it,” you said, frustration edging into your tone.
Joel's expression faltered slightly at your words, a hint of defensiveness flickering in his eyes. "I didn't think it was necessary," he replied, his tone tinged with irritation. "I didn't want to embarrass her or make things awkward."
You felt a surge of frustration rising within you, the sting of jealousy and insecurity reigniting in your chest. "But by not saying anything, you made me feel like my feelings didn't matter," you countered, your voice tinged with hurt. "You made me doubt myself; doubt us."
Joel sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice strained. "I didn't mean to make you feel that way. I just didn't know how to handle the situation."
The tension between you hung heavy in the air, the weight of unspoken words and unresolved emotions pressing down on both of you. You wanted to believe Joel's assurances of love and devotion, but the lingering doubts and insecurities threatened to cloud your judgment.
"I need to rest," you said, changing the subject, your voice steady but tinged with sadness. "Tomorrow, we need to get up early for the patrol.”
“Actually, I’m not coming with you,” he said carefully.
“What? Why?”
“I’ll promise Rachel to...“
The air crackled with tension as Joel's words hung between you, his admission weighing heavily on your heart. Anger flared within you, fueled by hurt and betrayal.
"Why?" you demanded, your voice laced with frustration and disappointment. "Why would you choose her over me?
Joel's expression softened, and his eyes filled with regret. "I’m not choosing her over you; I would never do that," he replied, his voice tinged with guilt. "I didn't realize it would upset you."
You shook your head, unable to hide your frustration. "You should have talked to me about it first," you said, your voice trembling with emotion. "You should have considered my feelings."
With a heavy heart, you turned away from Joel, the ache of disappointment echoing within you. As you retreated into the solitude of your thoughts, you couldn't help but wonder if your relationship could withstand this latest test or if it was destined to crumble beneath the weight of unresolved conflicts and broken promises.
“You’re sleeping on the couch tonight!” you exclaimed as you kept walking.
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The next morning dawned with a strong sense of tension in the air, the previous night's events still fresh in your mind. As you awoke from your sleep and began to prepare for the day ahead, the pain of disappointment and deceit chewed at your heart, casting a shadow on the early sun.
With a heavy sigh, you pushed aside any remaining doubts and concerns, determined to focus on the task at hand. As you approached the kitchen, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, a soothing reminder of Joel's presence.
You discovered him standing by the counter, holding a warm mug of coffee, and preparing a second cup for you. His expression was solemn.
His eyes were downcast, as if weighted down by the events of the night before.
"Morning, angel," he said, his voice tinged with regret, as he gave you the mug. "I made some coffee."
“Thank you, but I’m leaving,” you replied, shortly walking towards the door.
"Angel, wait," Joel called out, his voice pleading as he reached out to gently grasp your arm, halting your departure. His touch was warm against your skin, a silent plea for you to stay and hear him out.
You hesitated, torn between the desire to escape the tension that hung between you and the longing to resolve the issues that had driven a wedge between you and Joel. With a heavy sigh, you turned to face him, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on you like a leaden blanket.
“Take care; you know your safety is the most important thing for me,” he reassured, meeting your sad gaze.
"What a shame you're not going to be there to protect me," you replied bitterly, unable to mask the hurt in your voice. The words spilled out before you could stop them, a reflection of the pain and frustration that churned within you.
Joel's expression softened; his eyes filled with remorse as he reached out to gently cup your cheek.
Joel closed the distance between you, his lips meeting yours in a tender kiss filled with longing and remorse. It was a silent reassurance of his love and commitment, a promise to mend the wounds that had been inflicted upon your relationship.
As the kiss lingered, you felt a sense of peace wash over you, the weight of uncertainty lifting ever so slightly from your shoulders. Despite the pain and hurt, you knew that Joel was sincere in his desire to make things right, and you were willing to give him another chance.
Pulling away, Joel met your gaze with a mixture of regret and determination. "We'll talk when you get back," he said softly, his voice filled with resolve. "I'll be here waiting for you, ready to make things right."
With a nod of agreement, you returned Joel's gaze, a silent acknowledgment of your shared commitment to each other.
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As you and Tommy ventured out on patrol, the rhythm of your footsteps echoed against the deserted streets of Jackson. The tension that had weighed heavily on you began to ease slightly, replaced by a sense of purpose as you focused on the task at hand.
"So, what happened between you and Joel?" Tommy asked, breaking the silence that had settled between you. His voice was filled with concern, and his eyes were studying your expression carefully.
You sighed, the events of the previous night still fresh in your mind. "We had an argument," you admitted reluctantly, the words heavy on your tongue. "I just don't know how to trust him again."
Tommy nodded in understanding, his expression sympathetic. "I get it," he said softly. "But you have to remember, Joel cares about you more than anything. He'd do anything to protect you, even if he doesn't always show it the right way."
You mulled over Tommy's words, the weight of his reassurance providing some measure of comfort amidst the uncertainty that plagued you. Despite the doubts that lingered in your mind, you knew that, deep down, Joel's intentions were genuine and his love for you was unwavering.
"I know," you replied, a sense of resolve creeping into your voice. "I just need to figure things out."
Tommy placed a reassuring hand on your shoulder, his gaze filled with empathy. "You will," he said confidently. "And when you do, Joel will be right there waiting for you, ready to make things right."
With a nod of gratitude, you continued on your patrol, the weight of uncertainty still heavy on your shoulders but with a glimmer of hope shining through the darkness. As you walked, you couldn't help but feel grateful for Tommy's support and reassurance, knowing that with his guidance and the strength of your bond with Joel, you would find a way to navigate the challenges that lay ahead.
“Of course, you will say nice things about your stupid brother,” you joked.
Tommy chuckled at your jest, the sound carrying through the quiet streets as you continued on your patrol. "Hey, he may be stubborn and thick-headed sometimes, but Joel's got a good heart," he said with a grin. "And he cares about you more than anything."
You couldn't help but smile at Tommy's words, grateful for his unwavering support and his ability to see the best in Joel, even in the midst of conflict. "Thanks, Tommy," you said sincerely, the weight of uncertainty lifting ever so slightly from your shoulders. "I appreciate it."
Tommy nodded in response, his expression filled with understanding. "Anytime," he replied, his voice laced with warmth. "We're family, after all. And family sticks together, no matter what."
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As you and Tommy continued your patrol around Jackson, everything was eerily quiet, with the only sound being the subtle crunch of gravel beneath your feet. The weight of insecurity lingered in the air, but you pressed on, determined to do your job and safeguard your town.
A group of people appeared from the shadows unexpectedly, their faces hidden by the night's darkness. Your heart jumped into your throat as you understood the danger that was immediately surrounding you.
You weren't a weak person; in fact, people considered you a powerful fighter, always merciless when it was required and determined to save the ones you cared about, so your instincts kicked in and your senses heightened as adrenaline flowed through veins. Despite the suddenness of the attack, you maintained your composure, guided by your training and expertise.
Until one of them grabbed you and pinned you down, your heart raced with a mix of fear and determination. You struggled against their hold, every muscle in your body tensing as you fought to break free. Despite the adrenaline coursing through your veins, the grip of your assailant remained firm, their strength overpowering.
With a surge of desperation, you summoned all your strength and training, channeling it into a fierce struggle to break free. Your mind raced with thoughts of escape, of finding a way to overcome this unexpected obstacle and emerge victorious.
Beside you, Tommy fought valiantly against the other attackers, his determination matching your own as he defended against the onslaught. Though outnumbered and caught off guard, you refused to give in, clinging to the hope that help would soon arrive.
“So, you’re Joel’s Miller girl,” a feminine voice said.
The voice cut through the chaos, freezing you momentarily as you tried to recognize the mocking tone. Despite the tense situation, a surge of anger flared within you at the mention of Joel's name. You refused to let fear or intimidation weaken your resolve.
With renewed determination, you continued to struggle against your assailant's hold, your mind racing with thoughts of escape and survival. Every fiber of your being was focused on breaking free and finding a way to overcome this threat and protect yourself and Tommy.
“Tommy!” you exclaimed, worry creeping up with you.
“I’m fine!” he reassured back.
“What do you want?” You asked the girl, who is now in front of you.
The girl smirked, her eyes filled with venom as she peered down at you, pinned under her. "What do I want?" she said, her voice full of scorn. "I'd like to send a message to your dear Joel. I want him to understand that no one is safe, including his girl."
Her statements enraged your fury, but you kept calm, refusing to show any signs of weakness in the face of her remarks. "And what message would that be?" you asked, your voice steady despite what was occurring.
As she drew in closer, the girl's smirk deepened, and her eyes took on a malicious glitter. "The message is simple," she stated, her voice low and frightening. "I will take away what he loves.
the most from him, as he did with me.”
“What?” but before you could even realize what was happening, you felt a sharp pain through your abdomen.
The sharp pain ripped through your abdomen, stealing the breath from your lungs as you gasped in shock. A guttural cry of agony escaped your lips as you felt blood seeping from the wound, staining your clothes crimson.
The girl's cruel laughter echoed in your ears as she withdrew the weapon, a twisted smirk of satisfaction twisting her features. "That's the message," she said coldly, her voice dripping with malice.
You didn’t want to die here without seeing the smiles of the people you loved.
Your vision blurred as waves of pain washed over you, threatening to drag you into unconsciousness. Through the haze of agony, you fought to stay conscious, your thoughts consumed by a desperate need to survive, to make it back to Joel, to warn him of the danger that now threatened you both.
“Hey, stay with me. I’m taking you to Jackson,” Tommy said desperately, but his voice was just an echo at this time.
The world seemed to spin around you as you fought to hold onto consciousness, Tommy's voice barely registering amidst the haze of pain and confusion. Every fiber of your being screamed in agony, but you refused to succumb to the darkness that threatened to consume you.
With a herculean effort, you summoned whatever strength remained within you, clinging to Tommy's words like a lifeline. Through sheer force of will, you forced your eyes to focus, locking onto Tommy's determined gaze as he lifted you into his arms.
The journey back to Jackson was a blur of agony and desperation, with each step sending waves of pain coursing through your battered body. But with every labored breath, you clung to the hope that burned within you—a determination to survive and protect those you loved.
As the walls of Jackson loomed into view, relief flooded through you, a flicker of hope amidst the darkness. With Tommy's unwavering support, you stumbled towards safety, with the promise of medical aid and the comfort of Joel's embrace urging you forward.
As you were carried through the gates of Jackson, the weight of exhaustion and pain threatened to overwhelm you.
Tommy stepped into Jackson's doors, crying out for help as you lay practically still in his arms. The wound in your stomach was major, and he couldn't shake the thought that you would die as a result of his inability to protect you.
As Tommy stormed through the doors of Jackson, his voice buzzing with desperation, terror spread throughout the neighborhoods. People turned their heads, concerned expressions on their faces, as they saw you almost unresponsive in his arms, crimson blood covering the clothes you were wearing.
A crowd swiftly gathered around Tommy, their alarming murmuring filling the air. Tommy ignored them, focusing entirely on getting you the help you so desperately needed.
As Tommy went towards the improvised infirmary, frantic yells sounded out, requesting the medical attention they had here. His steps were heavy with guilt, and each instant seemed to last forever as he feared the worst.
Finally, the infirmary doors swung open, and a team of medics led by Jackson hurried forward to take you from Tommy's arms. They worked fast and effectively, their expressions serious as they assessed the seriousness of your injury. 
Tommy stood back, his hands quivering with terror and remorse, as he saw the doctor rush into action. He couldn't shake the notion that your condition was a result of his failing to safeguard you from harm.
Joel's heart was tight with fear when he saw a commotion near the infirmary. Without hesitation, he raced towards the crowd, his instincts screaming for him to get to you as soon as possible.
Joel's heart raced in his chest as he pushed his way through the crowd, finally arriving at the infirmary entrance. He saw you, pale and frail, in the arms of the doctors, your life hanging in limbo.
Joel moved forward without hesitation, arms outstretched, reaching for you. "No," he murmured hoarsely, terror and desperation evident in his tone. "Please, don't let her die."
The medics stepped aside, allowing Joel to take you into his arms. As he held you close, he could feel the warmth of your body against his, but it was too still, too fragile. Tears welled in his eyes as he pressed a gentle kiss to your forehead, silently praying for your recovery.
“Hey, angel,” he murmured, finding strength in his voice. “Open those beautiful eyes of yours for me, baby, okay? Please, do it!” He continued sobbing as he caressed your hair. “I can lose everything, but not you... Oh god, not you, please?”
Joel kept holding you in his arms, preventing you from going away from him, and you could feel his touch, his care, and his voice pleading with you to stay with him. You wanted that, you wanted so bad, but the strength was dying inside you, and everything you ever knew went black.
You became a lifeless frame in the arms of your biggest love. When you stopped breathing, Joel’s heart stopped beating because, as if it was glass, it shattered.
The look of the doctor and the face of Tommy told them the truth he didn’t want to acknowledge, confirming the unthinkable: you were gone. In that moment, time seemed to stand still as Joel's world shattered around him. He clung to your lifeless form, his body racked with sobs as he struggled to comprehend the enormity of his loss.
"No, no, please," Joel choked out, his voice breaking with grief as he held you close, unwilling to accept the truth of what had just happened. Tears streamed down his cheeks unchecked, his sobs echoing in the silence of the infirmary.
For a moment, time stood still as Joel clung to you, unwilling to let go and unwilling to accept that you were gone. The world around him blurred, and the pain in his heart was too overwhelming to bear.
But as the reality of your loss settled over him, Joel's grief turned to rage, a primal, consuming fury that burned through him like wildfire. With a guttural cry of anguish, he cradled you in his arms, his body trembling with the force of his emotions.
In that moment, Joel felt as if his world had come crashing down around him, leaving nothing but darkness and despair in its wake. He had lost everything—the love of his life, his reason for living, his angel.
And as he held you close, his heart shattered into a million pieces, each one a painful reminder of the love he had lost and the life that had been snuffed out too soon. For Joel, the world had ceased to exist, consumed by the gaping void left in the wake of your passing.
He was never going to kiss you again; he was never going to hold you close at night or wake up to your smile in the morning. The future he had imagined, filled with laughter and love, now lay shattered at his feet.
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A few hours later, Joel woke up in your shared bed, and you were sleeping next to him.
Joel's hand extended out to touch you, and a sense of warmth and comfort came over him. For a little while, he felt the smoothness of your skin beneath his fingertips and the rise and fall of your chest as you breathed peacefully beside him.
But then reality slammed back in like a tidal wave, yanking him from his comfortable state of sleep. His hand gripped the empty air, his fingers wrapping around nothing but chilly emptiness.
Joel's eyes opened abruptly, and he found himself lying in the dimly lit space, alone in the bed that had previously accommodated both of you. The ache in his chest returned with vengeance, a searing pang of anguish piercing his heart as he realized you were no longer alongside him.
Joel let out a deep sigh as he ran his hand through his hair, the memories of the dream still fresh in his mind. It felt so genuine and so vivid that, for a brief minute, he believed you were still alive and with him.
You were gone, taken from him in a cruel twist of fate, and no amount of dreaming could bring you back to him.
It's been a week, and he didn't attend your funeral because he was unable to accept that you were no longer alive.
Until today, when he stepped out of the house, which was surrounded by the flowers that some members of the community had left for you, and walked to your graveyard.
As Joel approached your graveyard, he felt an enormous burden settle over him—the weight of grief and loss that had been his constant companion in the days since your death. The walk appeared longer than it had ever been, with each step weighed down by the weight of his grief.
As he reached the grave, Joel's heart tightened with agony and need. The sight of the newly turned earth and the plain headstone traced your name as if it were your face. Joel's heart tightened with agony and need. The sight of freshly churned ground, with a simple monument marking your final resting place, acted as a sharp reminder of your absence.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice choked with emotion. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you; I'm sorry I couldn't save you."
Tears welled in Joel's eyes as he laid a bouquet of flowers at the foot of the headstone, each bloom a silent tribute to the love and loss he felt in his heart. The scent of the flowers mingled with the earthy aroma of the graveyard, a poignant reminder of the fleeting beauty of life and the inevitability of death.
Joel's voice quivered as he spoke, every word heavy with the weight of his despair and sorrow. He kneeled near the grave, his hand resting on the cool surface of the headstone, seeking comfort in the memory of your love.
"I want you to know that it was never me who protected you, but you who protected me," Joel said quietly, his words barely audible above the delicate murmur of the wind through the trees. "You were always the one who gave me strength, who showed me what it meant to love and to be loved."
As Joel spoke, tears streamed down his cheeks, revealing his real and unadulterated grief. At that time, surrounded by the serene tranquility of the graveyard, he felt profound loss, a yawning void that could never be filled.
"But now you're gone," Joel added, his voice breaking with sadness. "And I do not know how to go on without you."
Joel rose to his feet after one final long glance at the headstone, a sensation of purpose coming over him. He may have lost you, but he promised to always carry your love with him, to respect your memory in all he did, and to find a way to move forward, even in the face of his greatest pain.
You were always in every star shining above, in the sky.
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He was back in the dimly lit room, with the weight of the grief still over his shoulders, and with trembling hands, he reached for the small camera you had traded, his fingers tracing the familiar contours of the device.
As he turned it on, the screen flickered to life, illuminating the darkness with a soft glow. And there, displayed before him, was the image he had captured of your sleeping, your peaceful expression a bittersweet reminder of how simply you could make him happy.
With a heavy heart, Joel reached out, his fingertips gently tracing the patterns of your face on the screen. It was as if he could feel your presence beside him.
Tears welled in Joel's eyes as he lingered on the image, his heart aching with longing for the touch he could no longer feel. But in that moment, surrounded by memories of you, he found a glimmer of solace, a reminder that though you were gone, your love would always remain.
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ficjoelispunk · 3 months
Text
TIPSY’S GIRL
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"Say yes to heaven,
Say yes to me.
I've got my eye on you."
Summary: Sometimes everything you want is right under your nose. All you need is a little push.
Word count: 7.4k
Warnings: just a love story, happy without anguish, thank God.
Oneshot
A/N: As everyone is already tired of reading in my notes, this is another translated Oneshot. I hope I don’t disappoint so much with English. Please don’t give up on me.🙏
-
"Good night, Joel"
You said as you passed by for the thousandth time, a damp cloth through the counter.
"Good night"
It was visibly noticeable that only his carcass was present there. Deep and tired eyes, hair with curls slightly - perfectly - messy.
"You look tired, a lot of movement outside?" You asked with a gentle smile on your lips.
Joel leaned over the - now, clean - counter.
"Yeah…" he hummed, "with the winter many hordes of them move in search of warmer places"
You were pouring an shot of whiskey into the glass. You didn't need to ask, Joel always came to Tipsy after long patrols, sat in the same place since you remember, and drank exactly the same thing, every time.
"Smart Creatures..."
He smiled with your comment.
"Since I arrived in Jackson, I've never left these walls again" you handed the glass to him "we used to do walks, picnics, hiking, all the fucking weekend..." your eyes were stuck in the wood of the counter, several images taking over your mind, like flashbacks, "I miss nature" you snapped your tongue "well, I'll let you rest" your hands patted the counter "enjoy" you smiled.
Joel raised the glass towards him.
"Thanks"
***
Tiredness took over Joel's old and worn-out body. It had been three long days of patrol. Sleeping outside was becoming a big nightmare for the back. He just wanted to get home, take a long shower and rest.
He just needed a drink first. It was what he repeated to himself, as if, the fact of repeating this to himself sometimes enough, was capable of deceiving his own brain.
The truth is, he started attending Tipsy more for a single reason. You.
A woman with such a beautiful smile, that if the light of the world ran out, your smile could certainly illuminate the planet without a shadow of a doubt. Your lips filled the contour of your smile so perfectly. Your soft skin. The curves of your body. You are so beautiful. Kind. Polite.
Every time he’s close to you, his nerve endings fall asloment. He's afraid to say something wrong. He’s afraid you'll misunderstand him. Whenever he thinks about the possibility of having you, touching your skin, your lips, your body... he drives away the desire. He's not worthy. The things he's already done. It didn't seem right that the same hands that kill could be able to touch you correctly. You deserved more.
Too old for that kind of thing. So, all that was left was for him to observe her. At least from afar he couldn't lose you.
"If you keep looking at her like this, you'll make a hole in her skin," Tommy whispered to his brother, squeezing his shoulders.
"Shut up, Tommy"
"Seriously, you're a man, Joel. Call her out, it's not a big deal"
Joel just stared at his brother.
"C’mon man… She looks at you too... you're a nice guy"
"She's just being polite. Very kind to just kicking me out from this place"
"No other man would be good enough for her here, and you know that, if you continue with this shit, you'll end up having to watch any asshole take her home..."
Tommy shakes his head while waiting for you to come and serve him too.
***
Working at Tipsy was a quiet thing, most of the time. There were few nights that you had to put up with someone who ended up drinking too much, and inflating the courage to say things to you that would be at least impolite. But overall, it was something quiet. Decreased the feeling of loneliness - which you had also been used to dealing with - the end of the world does not provide healthy experiences, and keeping mental health in line is a daily exercise.
You had just left the library, selected another book - which you knew you would read in a maximum of three days - the plan was to sit on your old couch, cover your legs with the wool blanket you had knitted, and keep next to a good herbal tea that you had harvested in your garden in the morning.
The cold this afternoon was more severe, you walked looking for the sun, to warm it up, thinking about removing your heavier coats from the closet.
"Hey!"
The known and panting voice had just rested a soft hand on your shoulder.
"Hey! Maria, how you doing?"
"I’m fine. You? Did I get in the way of your thoughts? You were closed in your private world"
You smiled.
"I'm fine, thank you. I was making a mental note to remove the married people from the closet, it seems that we will have a merciless winter this year"
She nodded.
"Do you work tonight?"
"Not really, today is my day off. Do you need help with anything?"
"Yeah, I do. I was wondering if you could help me with the recipe for that Arabic salad you make, I've tried it a thousand times and I don't get it... Tommy will get sick if he doesn't eat this salad..."
You smiled.
"Yeah, shore. Tonight?"
"If you don't care..."
"No, of course not. At 6 p.m.?"
"Sounds great! I'll wait for you."
You nodded.
“See you there”
Maria has always been an amazing woman since you arrived in Jackson. She and Tommy welcomed you in the best way, with patience and care. As much as your plans were to stretch your legs up, you could never say no to this couple to whom you owe so much. If you were in a safe place today, it was because they had provided you with it. You know that Jackson is the closest to life you once had, and no matter how much it was a long way of pain and suffering, living was still an act of courage, which you were proud of day after day for having the courage to choose to live.
Tommy welcomed you with a smile on his face.
"Maria is making the baby sleep, can I help with anything?" He said as they walked to the kitchen.
You took a look at him, smiling.
“What? I'm a great co-pilot in the kitchen"
You raised your arms.
"I didn't say anything"
You laughed. Tommy taught you how to navigate the kitchen, left the ingredients at your disposal, while killing time talking. He was a very communicative man. It was no wonder that the community respected him, he was able to maintain order and protected about 300 people. Only someone articulate enough was able to keep the nerves of 300 people under control.
You were teaching how he should cut the tomato, when he got distracted looking behind you.
"Look at you man, did you take a shower!? Well, thankfully, because definitely Joel is more skilled than me in the kitchen"
You turned around smiling, Joel was... just Joel, a man whose presence did not have any explanation. He was a little older than you, a crease always demarcating the forehead, fierce eyebrows, outlined face, beard covering the face, perfectly messy hair, demarcated jaw. He had all the characteristics of a man, masculine, strong with a striking presence.
He wasn't a talker, few times you have the pleasure of seeing him smile, always worried, nervous or too tired, you had the feeling that he not had a good night's sleep for decades. The tension he carried on himself was something so poor that sometimes you have already found yourself wondering if you would be able to relieve the lines of insistent expressions that he carried on his face. If you would be able to make him feel relaxed, calm and serene.
But, although you could also swear to see him several times - a considerable amount - looking at you, every time - also a considerable amount - that you tried to pierce his shell, he always pushed you, gently and respectfully, away.
Today, however, you had never seen so many expressions passing through Joel's face at the same time. Surprise, nervousness, hesitation... he seemed paralyzed since he entered the kitchen.
"Hi" you said, your voice seeming to pull you into the world again.
He blinked.
"I'll see if Maria needs help" Tommy walked to her brother "can you help her?"
He stared at his brother, still motionless, but nodded. He slowly approached you.
"Are the tomatoes giving you trouble?" He asked pointing out where Tommy left the job in half.
You smiled.
He reached the cutting board with the knife to continue.
"You don't have to, I can..."
"I'll help you"
He looked at you so deeply, the luminosity of the house was dim, you have never been like this side by side, always separated by a counter, or far enough away to just greet each other with a nod. You had to look away, focusing on the cucumbers you were cutting.
He followed the cutting pattern you set to Tommy, and clearly more skilled, in fact. The big arms holding the small fruit, in such a subtle way, contrasting with the big hands and long fingers. The movements outlining the muscles over the tissue of your flannel. Hypnotizing your eyes with every movement.
"Am I doing something wrong?"
You almost got scared, when you heard him, too concentrated in that man's hands, making it difficult to take care of policing yourself so that he didn't realize that you had your eyes fixed on his movements. It was only then that you realized that you were biting your lips. You cleared your throat.
"No" you shook your head, trying to clear your mind, returning to focus on the cucumbers "no, you’re natural, like a Cheff. I didn't know you were a good cook"
He snapped his lips. A crooked smile crossed his lips.
"I have some skills"
You smiled.
"How does it feel to be on the other side of the counter?"
He shrugged, and looked at you again.
"At this moment, I feel better than ever"
You was fully aware of the heat that invaded your face, and burned in your stomach. You couldn't say many other things.
Joel stayed by the side until the end of the salad preparation, reaching all the materials you needed. Sometimes your arm or hand ended up brushing Joel's skin and body. Your body was so tense that it seemed difficult to breathe. The air was a little thick and the kitchen seemed very small.
Maria and Tommy came back for a while - which seemed very long - later. Maria prepared a meat, removing it from the oven as soon as you had just prepared the salad. You dined to the sound of maternity reports. Raising a baby was not easy, and raising a baby in this world was twice as difficult. Although Maria and Tommy had been blessed with a calm and healthy baby, a child who slept all night, and was quite calm during the day.
Maria served you a wine that someone from the commune had produced, with natural fermentation with grapes produced there inside Jackson itself. Tommy helped Maria organize the dinnerware, while you and Joel were sitting outside the house, in upholstered chairs that Tommy and Joel had made before last winter.
You hugged your knee, holding the glass with the wine, in the hope that the liquid would make its due effect and warm your body.
"Are you cold?" It was the first thing he said after cutting the tomatoes.
It was surprising that, although immersed in a silence, there was nothing uncomfortable to be next to him and to be silent.
You sighed.
"I haven't taken the coats out of the closet yet..."
Joel got up, covering your back with his jacket. You closed your eyes with the feeling of warmth around your body. He was hot. Your hands pulled the fabric to cover more of your body, which made you think how small you were close to him, the jacket could easily become a blanket.
"Better?" He was sitting in front of you.
You nodded.
"Thank you"
Your cheeks pressed your shoulder. The smell of him invading your senses. You were warmed by the heat that radiated from his jacket. And it was numb by the smell that the fabric exhaled. So comfortable. So cozy.
When you had finished the wine. Your eyes blinked lazy, it was time to leave.
You got up, unrolling yourself from your jacket.
"Time to go" you leaned over to deliver the jacket to Joel, but he also raised "Maria, Tommy, always a pleasure to spend time with you guys"
"There is no possibility of eating this salad if it is not made by you," Tommy said, hugging Maria.
You smiled.
"Always available, for you. Maria, give a kiss in that little one for me"
"Of course! Thank you for dinner, it was delicious"
She leaned over to hug you.
You were still holding Joel's jacket. You was going to say goodbye to him, but he was faster than you.
"I'll follow you to your home"
"You don't have to..."
"I make a point, I'll also take advantage of the ride and go home"
You nodded. He said goodbye to his sister-in-law and brother. Walking next to you to the exit of the house. Once they were walking through Jackson's deserted streets, he pulled the jacket from your arms, stretching it on your back again.
"It's cold, you can get pneumonia and die"
You smiled, making a face.
"So dramatic"
He was close enough to bump into your arm, with every step you took, his hands in the front pockets of the jeans. Slow steps. Your house was not far away, but the path seemed to drag under your feet.
"I'll stay here" you stopped in front of the stairs on your balcony.
You was going to start sliding the jacket.
"No, stay with her" Joel said.
"No, I'm going in and I'll be safe and warm. You still have the way home" your hands stretched the jacket for him "I don't want you to get pneumonia and die" you smiled and rolled your eyes.
His big hands held the jacket, brushing your hands. Even with his jacket, your hands were cold, the warmth of his touch could easily melt your skin. He was so warm. You two faced the place where your skins were. His thumb stroked your hand.
Your body was taken by an anticipation, an anxiety was making room in your stomach and it was as if you were getting hollow inside, burning the cells of the body.
Joel took a step towards you, shortening your distance. He was dangerously close to you. Your face were tingling.
His free hand rose slowly towards your face, as if he were giving you time to scold him. But you didn't. He touched your face. You stared at each other painfully, his warm fingers slid down the side of your face, and from your neck, moving your hair away from behind your shoulder.
He took another step, his eyes danced between your mouth and your eyes. He was leaning slowly, in your direction. His eyes holding your gaze. His hand holding your head. His nose touched yours.
"Tell me, if I do something you don't want" he murmured, close to your lips.
You nodded, your noses sliding on each other. Your head tilted to the opposite side of his head. Joel pressed his lips on yours, hesitant, kind. Moving away millimeters, bringing his body closer to yours, and pressing his lips on yours again. Longer.
You felt the softness of his belly, his firm breasts. You slowly opened your mouth to him, his tongue slid down your lip until he found yours. He tasted like the wine you had. You sighed.
Joel threw his jacket on the floor, his hand slipped down your waist and then down your back, pulling your body to him. One of your hands slid down his waist, grabbing his shirt. The other got entangled in his hair, your fingers in the middle of the messy curls.
The kiss became more and more intense, your breaths were heavy, your body was glued to his hot body, his heat taking over all your senses.
His lips separated from yours, his foreheads were united, Joel joined your lips in a long kiss, moving away again, you smiled. Still hugging. He moved far enough to find your eyes, running his fingers through the length of your hair.
"Do you want to come in?" You asked, almost pleading.
Joel brought your head to his lips, placing a kiss on your forehead.
"I should go home, sweetheart" his lips brushed the top of your head.
You were numb, your face practically glued to his chest, his smell, his body. His eyes were closed trying to record the maximum of this sensation.
"Okay..." you murmured.
"But can I see you tomorrow?" He asked, holding you against him.
You got just far enough away to look at him.
He smiled.
"I wanted to take you to a place"
You smiled, unable to prevent your lips from arching in happiness.
"Is it a date, Joel Miller?" You bit your lips.
His hands went up to hold your face.
"Yeah... would you grant me the honor of your company on a tour?" The thumbs of his hands caressed your face.
Your arms were around his waist. You pretended to think, pouting in the corner of your mouth.
"Yes, I would grant..." you ended up finishing.
He pulled you for a hug, caressing your back.
"Good! I was already thinking about how to persuade you"
You laughed, - as if it were necessary - you took advantage of the warmth of his arms for another moment, until you walked away, reluctant - it didn't seem that neither of you were happy to let go - taking a few steps back, until you climb your stairs.
"See you tomorrow morning" Joel said as he took his jacket from the floor, and took slow steps back.
He waited for you to enter the house.
-
It was difficult to contain the outbreak your body exhaled. You were feeling like a fucking teenager. Since the first time you saw Joel, your pupil has dilated. He was a man who drew attention, the kind of guy you wanted to wrap you in his strong arms, the kind of guy who made you fantasize about things. The way he walks. The way he speaks. Always looking so distant and mysterious, but shy and gentleman.
You noticed his looks at you. But he seemed so distant, he seemed to be so involved in this end-of-the-world thing, so hurt by the pain that, obviously, everyone went through that, it didn't make sense for you to fantasize something, it seemed unlikely that he was willing to be distracted to the point of risking having feelings for someone.
People always commented on him. When people can't pierce someone's bubble, when they can't explain their questions, they always end up attacking. There have always been buzz about how cruel and merciless man Joel is. About the things he was able to do, because he had already done.
But with you he has always been kind and respectful, up to this point, this is a matter of education, only. However, you knew hundreds of people who were very good and not even if you wanted education could sustain for a long time, depending on the scenario.
There were, of course, many women who were sentimentally frustrated with him. Joel wasn't really in the mood. Beautiful, strong and intelligent women, fragile and petty women, he was the kind of guy who made any woman's type. That, for sure, also raised a lot of gossip.
Working at Tipsy was something that made you, whether you like it or not, end up listening, seeing and being a victim, of all kinds of things, even more so in a bunch of people, in which everyone knows everyone, and, unfortunately, everyone is busy with everyone's life.
Little by little you learned to filter the things that reached your ears. And, anyway, for you, Joel has always been a respectful man, above all. Your mind was clear and aligned with the possibility that he was someone difficult before Jackson, but who wouldn't be? There are things that could be justifiable, and there are things that perhaps, were not justifiable, maybe not necessary. But the moment wasn't the best either. Extreme moments, sometimes they ask for extreme attitudes. Anyway, it didn't make much difference to you.
What made a difference was that he was a kind man, he was never rude, not even when someone was being inconvenient. It was never disrespectful, not even when he drank too much. He was always willing and available to the people - which he certainly knew - spoke of him behind his back. And, what caught his attention the most, he was always protective, careful and loving with his daughter, Ellie.
It wasn't easy to raise a teenager before, you knew, now it should probably be terrifying. Even so, he kept himself patient, eyes always attentive and full of tenderness, ready for any sign that Ellie could think of giving. Always ready for her. That was one of the things that moved your heart the most. It was visibly noticeable that he would cut without blinking a limb for this girl. This kind of love was something you appreciated.
Joel knocked on your door, shortly after the sun settled in the sky. The morning was cold, there was a considerably dense fog hovering over Jackson's streets. The snow would not take long to start giving its first signs. The thermometers already marked low enough temperatures to roll up scarves and wear three layers of blouse, and maybe a cap, if you wanted to increase the look.
"Hi," you smiled at him.
"Morning, sweetheart" he leaned hesitantly towards you.
Your feet forced themselves to stay at the ends, in an attempt to reach him halfway. Joel pressed his lips on yours, time-consuming, needy. You smiled, he slowly walked away, you climbed up your body to give another quick kiss.
"Ready?"
You nodded.
"I hope so, should I bring something?" Your eyes catch the backpack on his back.
He shakes his head.
"No, don’t worry, I have everything we need"
You nod, closing the door behind you.
***
Anxiety has always been something that tormented Joel's head. Before he thought too much for fear of not being a good father to Sarah. Then he blamed himself for Sarah's mother having left, and how it would affect Sarah's life. And then came the concerns about how he would solve life and be able to provide a good future for Sarah. Oh, how painful it was to think about the future and Sarah.
There was a moment when anxiety and sadness entangled so much in his mind that there was only room for these two feelings. Apart from, of course, the responsibility of keeping Tommy well, alive and safe.
Of course, things got better when Ellie arrived. There was the time when the fear of losing her consumed him. Now she was big enough to push him away, to make the decisions by herself. Even so, she will always be a good child, and he loves her unconditionally, he will always be there for when she needs it. There was the anxiety and the worry of keeping her safe. There would always be. But he knew Jackson was safe. He himself made sure to keep Jackson safe for her.
But now for the first time in a long time, the anxiety he felt was whether he would find you on Tipsy, if he would know how to answer your questions well enough that you didn't think he was an idiot. He felt the anxiety of, needing to contain himself, of needing to control the desire to touch you. Or one day you end up knowing that you finally found someone to be. He needed to control the impulses to drive away the men who flirted with you. To observe the malicious eyes that lingered on you. Joel could read the guys' minds as if their fucking brains were on a big screen. And just that, it was enough for him to long for just an opportunity to punch these men in the face.
He couldn't remember the last time he felt like this, about someone else. He dreamed of you. He was nervous about the idea of meeting you. He liked your voice, your smile, the way you moved, the sweet way you looked at him. Your hair... he knew that if he approached you, he would be at risk of wanting you for him, for the rest of his life.
Tommy invited him to dinner, without telling him that you would be there. He knew the moment he saw you, that Tommy was pushing him. And he can't blame him. Tommy knew him as well as he could know himself. Joel saw you arrive, he saw you settle down, he saw you building friendships, he saw you wisely dealing with people, he saw you being simply you, as if the fucking world was not over, and you had managed to stay perfectly good.
At all times, he can't take his eyes off you. He vividly remembers the day you met him - because, he already knew you - the soft and basically sacred skin of your hands gently shook Joel's hands. Your big Corsican eyes, slightly closed when your lips drawn by God's own hands, opened in the most beautiful smile he had ever seen.
And then he was there, holding your body against his, your mouth merging with his. Your heavy breathing, as inviting as he could imagine, was difficult to hold the impulse of wanting to drag you to his bed, immediately undressing your body, and warm it up with his body on yours. Finally being able to feel the taste and flesh of your lips. Your smell and the small sounds you made when he pulled your body closer to his.
He had found the passage to paradise.
Now he could only be anxious to be good enough for you, good enough to have it, and enough to keep it.
You were beautiful in the morning, properly wrapped up, which was good, you were a little cold person, he had already noticed. Maybe it was because you were a small woman, the wind overtook you easily. He smiled with the thought.
Joel bends his arm next to your body, so that you could hold his arms. You hooked yourself next to him, leaning your cheeks against his arm for a moment. It was deliciously satisfying to feel you snuggling next to his body.
"It's cold today" you speak rubbing a hand on his arm, in an attempt to warm your fingers with the friction.
Joel puts his hand on your own, which firmly hold him, feels you shudder little by little.
"It will snow soon” he watched the sky, and then you.
"What are you taking me to, Joel Miller?"
He smiles.
"You'll like it, trust me"
You two walked towards the stables. Joel had already left Callus prepared for you.
"Are we going to ride a horse?" You ask, your voice seemed curious but hesitant.
"Are you nervous?"
You shook your head. But your eyes said something else.
Joel finishes checking the sadle buckles, and walks up to you. He slides a lock of your hair behind your shoulders.
"Do you trust me?" He asks.
Your deer eyes force him to get a little closer to you.
"Yes, I trust you"
Joel kisses your forehead, holding your hand, to lead you to the horse.
***
How to explain how difficult it was to trust someone these days? You trusted Joel, he was a man to whom you naturally transmitted security. But it was impossible to avoid the butterflies dancing in your stomach.
He helped you get on the horse. Your arms around his waist, as he led you out of the gates.
"Joel?" You couldn't stand it.
"Mhmm?"
"Where are you taking me to?"
"Isn't you a fan of surprises?"
You laughed. Feeling unfair to him, whatever it was, it seemed unfair to steal whatever he took the trouble to plan. So used to always having everything under your control, knowing very well where you are stepping, what to do and when to do it, you was not used to not having control. Trusting without knowing what to expect.
"I'd like to show you a place, just it"
You smiled. It was almost as if you hadn't stopped smiling since the night before.
"All right, sorry”
You two rode for a long time, but it wasn't boring at all. You couldn't remember the last time you left Jackson. It could be a fantasy of your head, but the air looked different outside, everything was so much more alive. Nature was something imperial, only it had a place outside. The burning orange colors of the leaves of the trees with winter coming, the almost dead landscape had a melancholic beauty. The silence, only the horse's paws, you and nature. Joel stopped Callus on the slope of a mountain.
It helped you go down, holding your waist, sticking you to the floor.
"Let's walk a little now, okay?"
"Yeah, sure"
He held your hand.
"You said you liked hiking, that you missed nature..." he looked at you "I thought it would be a walk you would like."
Your heart almost jumped. You said a lot of things to Joel when he passed by Tipsy, but you could swear that he was just nodding out of politeness, it didn't seem like he was absorbing the information, keeping your words to himself. That was very cute.
The trail went up the mountain, and at no time did he let go of your hand. He said that he had already come here with Ellie, - which was very sweet, you understood that it was an important place for him - you talked about trivial things in life before the outbreak. You already knew some things, such as, for example, he and Tommy worked with construction companies, contractors, things like that. It was a surprise for him, when you say that you was a biologist.
"Fancy..."
You shook your head.
"It's not like this profession is very useful now, you know. Builders are much more fancy."
He smiled.
You said that you did a lot of field work, research and always ended up in the middle of the woods, these experiences were what ended up helping you survive in the first years of the outbreak.
Being walking around there, next to Joel, the strongest of him holding yours, surrounded by nature, one of the places where you felt most comfortable, filled your senses with peace and calm.
There was a patrol post in the middle of the way, Joel passed by, he didn't take long, he just removed a guitar from somewhere very well kept there.
"I'll leave it here for when we're going to do longer patrols..." he explained as he slides his hand through the instrument.
"I didn't know you played..."
"You will find out why, of almost no one having the joy of knowing," he said ironically.
You laughed.
When you reached the top, you had to hold back the urge to cry. Joel let go of your hand, watching you take small steps, looking at the view in front of you. You've been to beautiful places before, but being there, with the world in that scenario, next to a man who thought about the fact how much you would like something like that, was simply indescribable. Such an affectionate gesture on his part.
Your hands covered your mouth. You looked at him with teary eyes. The view was stunningly beautiful, exciting. The mountains in the background. The green, the trees. The sky. Him. Everything was perfect.
"Did you like it?" He asked quietly as he approached you.
"Joel..." you looked back at the landscape that looked millimetrically hand-painted "it's perfect... I loved it, this place is amazing"
He smiled, hugged you from behind, resting his chin on your head, his arms around you. You stayed there for a while. The cold wind cut you, a painfully pleasant feeling of knowing that you were closer to the sky.
Joel opened his backpack, extending a blanket on the floor, removing fruit, water, and a bottle of tea. You sat down, Joel leaning against a trunk of a tree, you in the middle of his legs, resting on his breasts, his hands on yours, separating just to reach some drink, or some fruit, your fingers intertwined stroking each other's hand.
He played the guitar for you. This man's voice is a threat to your heart.
"I wanted to be a singer when I was younger"
"You would have been a star. Women would go crazy"
He laughed.
“You are such good lier”
You tried to convince him that he was really good at that. But he was a modest man, and too shy to receive so many compliments.
The silence was comfortable too, you had a book in your hand, feeling the sun on your skin, the birds flying in the sky. Joel was also reading.
"Joel?" You tilted your head back, leaning against his chest, to look at him.
"Mhmm?"
"Did you plan all this?"
He nodded behind you.
"You simply, you just eliminated any kind of competition, you know that, right? After today, it will simply be impossible for anyone to surpass you"
He sighed a smile.
"When you told me you missed nature, this was one of the first places that came to my mind.”
“Thank you, I really liked it”
“Yeah… I just didn't imagine that I would have the opportunity to one day bring you here"
You turned to look at him.
"Why?"
He seemed to be embarrassed.
"I didn't think you would give me a chance"
You settled to face him.
"What do you mean?"
He looked away, looking beyond you, at the landscape. He seemed afraid to say the words. One of his hands that were at your waist, reached a small and thin branch on the floor to distract his attention.
"Did you really think I was going to Tipsy just to drink that damn whiskey that Seth serves?"
You kept analyzing his face. Without answering.
"Tommy and I got better whiskeys when we went on patrol" he threw the branch on the floor, looked at you again "I'm going to Tipsy because I wanted to see you"
It took you a while to process the information.
"Joel..."
"I wanted to spend time with you, but look at you..."
You frowned.
"I never imagined that a woman like you would waste some time with a man like me, and... besides, I didn't want to bother you"
You tilted your head, your hands held his face, affectionately directing his gaze to you.
"Joel, what could a woman like me want, if not a man like you?"
He smiled, embarrassed and tried to divert his face from his touch.
"Look at me," you said, holding his face again, "you are a kind, generous, polite, respectful, honest man, I would waste any time with you"
His eyes seemed painful, as if your words were being stuck in his skin, as if he were being forced to believe your words, as if he himself was not able to recognize the man he was.
You caressed his rebellious hair, approaching him, to kiss him, soft and gentle in the beginning. But this was gradually being replaced by a needy pain, when his hand went up to your neck, the other fixing your legs so that you were on his lap, putting your legs around his hip, your arms leaned on his wide shoulders, he pulled you close, his hand sliding through the hem of your blouses, letting some fingers brush your skin. You moaned in his mouth, your skin shivering, his tongue plunged into you, making you press yourself against him, putting your body stuck to his, his hands went down to your hip, but his fingers squeezed the flesh of your ass. You were about to start moving your hips in search of relief when he walked away from you panting.
His forehead stuck to yours. You smiled.
"Sweetheart” he said “Maybe we should go back..."
"Yeah, it seems like a good idea"
You made a slight cuddle on his hair, he pressed some quick kisses on your lips, before you got up, put things away, and made the trail back.
The way back to Jackson was faster. Joel left Callus in the stables, it was almost incredible that you spent almost the whole day together, it was almost the end of the afternoon when you were making their way back to your house. You still had to work at night. Everyone who passed by you two, delayed their eyes, your eyes caught some women whispering among them. You pretended not to see it.
You were almost in front of your house.
"I hope I didn't make you tired, you still work tonight, right?"
"That’s right, but I'm not tired, it was basically like recharging the energies"
He smiled.
You were about to climb the stairs from your balcony. He held your hand.
"Can I see you tonight?" He looked at you looking for any kind of approval on your face.
"Joel, you can see me whenever you want"
He seemed satisfied.
"But you can come in if you want. I still have some time, until I start my shift"
You held his hand harder. Almost as if he had no choice but to accept. He nodded. You went up the stairs, opening the door, pulling him behind you.
As soon as you were inside your house, he pushed you against the door. Kissing you, slipping his tongue inside your mouth, he put his knee in the middle of your leg, causing a perfect pressure for the friction you needed from the heated kiss you gave on the mountain, you shook your hip, he moaned in your mouth. His cock was already hard and arching.
Going down kisses down your jaw, your fingers pulling his hair.
"I won't be able to wait until after work for this," you murmured.
"I was hope not" he said in his skin.
He could feel your need by rubbing your hip on his leg. Fuck, he wanted to feel you, sink into you, he thought about it so much for so long, that it was the realization of a fucking dream, kiss your beautiful mouth and have your perfect body like that for him.
His hands slid up your ass, pulling your body to him, you moaned. Your hands pushed his coat to the ground, desperately unbuttoning his shirt.
He pulled you up, so that you were on his lap, your legs crossed his waist, his hands on your ass holding you.
"Where is the room, babe?" He asked panting.
"Third door on the left"
He walked with you in his arms, while you kissed messy, you pushed your coat to the floor along the corridor. Cursing the - now - exaggerated amount of clothes. Joel put you on the floor, helping you undo the buttons on his shirt. Pulling his blouses by his arms, you undoed his belt, the button of his pants, he pulled the last shirt he wore by his body.
God! He was beautiful, so hot. You kissed the firm skin of his chest, he pulled your last blouse by your arm, and almost whimpered when he saw your naked breasts for him - you were not a fan of bras - your nipple was hardened, your skin goosebumps.
“Fuck, you're more beautiful than I could imagine," he murmurs, pushing you to bed.
His hands deliciously squeeze the soft skin of your breasts, he goes down a path of kisses through your collarbone, slipping his lips through your skin, until he finds your nipple, he gently passes his tongue through him, while the other hand squeezed your other breast, your silky skin against his big, calloused and warm hands, his mouth closes over your nipple, sucking you there.
You can't contain the moan that rises from the bottom of your chest, arching with the feeling of his mouth on your body. He slides his mouth to the other chest, doing the same to him. Your hands get tangled in his hair.
He slides his lips down your belly, deposits a kiss just below your navel.
"Are you sure of that?" He pauses, looking at you.
“Yes, Joel”
He kisses your belly once again and pulls the jeans by the legs.
Your panties had a shamefully damp spot.
"Fuck, babe" he slid his finger over hot and wet fabric "are you needy for me all day?"
"From the moment you suggested leaving" you were panting. "You are a bad man"
He smiles.
"I'm going to reward you"
You smiled. Breathing stuttering.
Joel hooked his fingers pulling your panties, throwing somewhere lost on the floor, crawling to the middle of your legs. He put a leg on each shoulder, it took him a second to appreciate the image of your pussy in front of him, you felt his warm breath approaching you, until he pressed a kiss on your clit. Your breathing trembles with the sensation.
He ran his tongue painfully from wandering from your hole to your clitoris.
“Tastes so fucking good..."
You moaned and he sank his tongue in your heat, moaning too, without avoiding the good taste you had, his hand passed by you, reaching your clitoris, your back arching for him.
He was literally eating your pussy, devouring you while you moaned arching at his touch, you were dripping, more and more wet while his tongue worked on you in a way you didn't even know was possible. He sank a finger inside you, feeling you contract as he stretched you, your breathing getting more and more panting, your hands ran to his hair. He bent his finger inside you, making you choke on the perfect feeling, pressing your clit more, you arched and undone around it, with a strangled moan, pushing deeper into you. He smiled, as he felt your body collapsing with pleasure for him.
He dragged his lips through your body, the wet and shiny beard, you were out of breath. He separated just enough to look at you, your hands were around his face.
"You're still sure..."
You pulled his face to yourself, kissing him, tasting you on his tongue. Your hands went down to push his jeans. He got up to take off the rest of his pants and underwear.
And, it was almost impossible for your to get better, but you had, he had a gloriously perfect cock, leaking from his swollen, big and thick head.
He knelt in the middle of your legs, taking his hands in your middle gathering your wet, passing over his length. Joel lowered his cock so that his head was in your hot and wet entrance, lay down on you, his body warm and heavy.
"Tell me if it hurts, and we'll stop, ok?"
You nodded.
***
He rested his forehead on yours, closing his eyes trying to focus on something other than your soft and naked body for him, something other than your incredibly hot pussy in which he was about to sink.
You passed your hands through his hair.
He pressed the head of his cock, and only then your pussy already clung to him tight. He pushed slowly inside you, little by little, giving you time to get used to him, desperately trying to focus on anything else, but your hands slid down his back pulling him against you, it was amazing. God! You feel so damn good.
He knew, he imagined it would be amazing, you were equally amazing, your beauty, your skin, your smile, he did not contain the grunt you made when you felt your hips meet and know that it was totally inside you. You clung to it, squeezing it, so hot and soft. The volume of your breasts below it, your body. Your mouth. You licked his lips.
It had been a long time since Joel felt this way, you fell so good, the feeling was painfully too hot, he could never dream of something as good as you taking him totally, deep in your wet heat.
"Fuck" you gasped in his ears “you feel… oh my God”
He felt you, every part of you, every muscle contracting, the weight of your breathing, your arms moving as if you wanted to touch most of it you could.
“I know, sweetheart” he kissed you while he was deep inside you. Starting to move, your hip moved to meet him, you moaned in his mouth “You taking me so well”
Joel was slow, he couldn't press too much, he would cum too fast. He took his time, savoring every part of you, every kiss, and every movement he made, listening to the beautiful sounds you exhaled through him.
When his cock was painfully tight on you, he moved faster, more urgent, your fingers stuck in his skin, your legs intertwined his back, he knew you wouldn't last much longer, your walls squeezing around his cock. Your breathing stuttering.
"I won't last much longer..." he murmured on your shoulders "where...?"
"Inside me..."
He growled. While fucking you harder, faster, sinking deep inside you, your body faltered, with involuntary spasms, Joel held your body against his.
"Fuck, that’s it, cum for me" he said, feeling your walls pulsing around him “c’mon babe, that’s it”
He can't stand it, falling apart inside your heat, pulsing inside you. Your hands pressed his back causing him to somehow sink deeper into you. He moaned on your shoulder, feeling his fucking leaking from you, through his balls, on your leg.
His body collapsed on top of you, you kissed his shoulder, his neck. After his breaths stabilized, he raised his head to kiss you, soft, affectionate. He moved so you could lie down and bring you to lie on his chest.
"You're amazing" he said, moving your hair away from your back.
"And, you wouldn't ask me out, like, never"
He smiled.
"I think you need to reward me for lost time"
He looked at you. Smiling satisfied.
"I can start with today, after your work"
You snapped your eyes, you were going to get up quickly, but he held you.
"You can be a few minutes late"
You snuggled up on his skin.
“Sweetheart?”
“Mhmm?”
“When you said I eliminated all the competition, were you serious?”
You looked at him smiling.
“It’s not like there’s a line of men at the door of my house, but, yeah, I was serious, I mean, I’m not crazy not to take advantage of you”
He kissed the top of your head.
“You are a dangerous woman”
"Yeah?..." you bit your lips.
He pulled his leg to be on top of his.
"Yeah" He said quietly, knitting his eyebrows.
You kissed the skin of his chest, he slid his hands down your spine. Your arm grabbed his waist, his fingers caressed your arms.
“You’d better get ready, because if you’re willing, I intend to be the last man of your life”
Maybe you missed your work on this day.
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estrellami-1 · 6 months
Text
If I Should Stay
Part 1 | . . . | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32
He catches Eddie’s eye. Eddie shakes his head slowly, and Steve understands his meaning: don’t make it obvious.
Steve gives him a short nod, then his attention is arrested by Tommy, who’s storming up to him. “Harrington.”
“Hagan.”
Tommy’s eyes narrow. “He turn you fag or something?”
Steve laughs, loud and bold, and claps Tommy on the shoulder. “You’re funny,” he says, then quieter, “especially for how many times I’ve caught you staring at me.” He steps back and grins at Tommy, who’s white and rapidly turning red. “I never-”
“Oh, that’s right,” Steve says amiably. “It was Nathan, wasn’t it? Who you couldn’t keep your eyes off of. Does Carol know?”
Tommy comes at him swinging, and Steve barely dodges in time. “Yeesh, touchy. Guess it must be true, then. Y’know, you could talk to her about it. She might be down.”
Tommy swings again, and this time his knuckles catch Steve’s bottom lip. “Dammit,” he sighs, wincing when he tastes blood. “I was doing so good, too.” He moves to the side just as Tommy rushes him again, nudging him just the slightest bit to let his momentum carry him forward and onto his knees. He mentally thanks Nancy and physics homework, which isn’t really a sentence he ever thought he’d say.
“Okay, okay, break it up,” the gym teacher says, pulling Tommy up and glaring at both of them. “Do I want to know what’s going on?”
Their gym teacher, Mr. Craigs, is a forty-something-year-old veteran with the look in his eye to prove it. Anyone with a brain was at least a little bit scared of him.
“No, sir,” Steve says politely. “Sorry for causing a disturbance.”
He can feel Tommy seething with anger beside him. Mr. Craigs turns his gaze on Tommy, and Steve’s a little surprised he doesn’t start vibrating. “No. Sorry, sir,” Tommy grits out.
“Lets keep it that way,” Mr. Craigs orders, and both boys nod. “And Harrington, go wash that blood off.”
Steve wipes his lip. “Sorry, sir,” he says, and turns to do just that.
Somehow Eddie’s made it back to the locker rooms already, because he had time to find a rag and wet it before Steve walks in. He hands it over and stares as Steve dabs at his lip. “You’re kind of an idiot,” he says finally.
Steve snorts. “Tell me something I don’t know.”
Eddie sighs. “You’re also really brave. I don’t know that I’d have the guts to drop my friends like that.”
“The difference between us is your friends are good people,” Steve says, moving the rag and staring at himself in the mirror, replacing it when more blood seeps out. “My friends are dicks.”
Eddie just smiles at him. “Not anymore.”
Steve grins back, even though it stings. “Not anymore.”
“Still bleeding?” Eddie asks, inclining his head towards Steve’s lip. “You feeling dizzy at all? Maybe I should escort you to the nurse.”
Steve grins as Eddie does. “I think you might be right,” he says. “How many fingers’re you holding up, six?”
“Doesn’t sound right,” Eddie says seriously. “Might need to get you checked out.”
“Probably so,” Steve agrees. “Might need you to walk me back to class after.”
Eddie put a hand to his chest. “I wouldn’t dream of doing anything differently!”
They collapse in giggles, Steve quickly sobering with a hiss when it re-opens the wound. “Dammit,” he mutters.
Eddie looks around then quietly asks, “Need me to kiss it better?”
Steve inhales sharply, studying Eddie for a second. “I think so,” he whispers. “Might be the only thing that helps it now.”
Eddie smiles nervously and steps forward. “We’ll have to be quick,” he says apologetically. “No one should come in, but…”
“We never know,” Steve agrees. “I know.”
“Okay then,” Eddie says, and steps forward, placing a few soft fingers on Steve’s cheek, tilting his head down just a bit until their lips brush, once, twice, three times until Steve’s had enough and puts a gentle hand on the back of Eddie’s neck, exerting just enough pressure to pull him in the rest of the way.
Immediately his eyes slide shut and he tilts his head to slot their lips together perfectly.
And it really is perfect, he thinks, as he tilts his head the other way, smiling when Eddie moves to follow him.
He pulls back with a gasp and grins when Eddie’s eyes flutter open. “You’re dangerous,” he murmurs, loving the smirk that curves Eddie’s lips up.
“Me?” Eddie asks. “I think you’re describing yourself.”
Steve suddenly giggles. “We’re doing a terrible job of waiting.”
Instead of laughing along, Eddie’s expression shutters. “Sorry,” he murmurs, tilting his head down and taking a step back. “I shouldn’t have asked.”
“Hey, no,” Steve says, reaching out and brushing Eddie’s arm with his fingers. “I wanted that, okay? I could’ve said no and you would’ve respected it. I’m not upset about it at all. I, uh, actually wish we weren’t somewhere as public as we are.” He blushes at the admission and Eddie’s raised brow in response.
“Yeah? You gonna take me home? Show me the full Harrington experience?”
“Shit, man,” Steve laughs, “what experience, I’ve never been with a guy before.”
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wordstome · 5 months
Note
i’m here to encourage you to please elaborate on singledad!könig
also, do any of their kids have any scuffles with each other? how do the parents and children deal with it?
This ask was sent 10 minutes after the dream daddy post went up. Anon, I adore you.
I was going to put single dad König in this same post, but then it started to go on and on, and I want to take my time with the second half of your ask as well, so all my König thoughts will go in a separate post. Thank you for enabling me :3
(also this is the post I lost 3 paragraphs worth of writing on. It was literally all of Price and Ghost's sections, so forgive me if they're not up to par).
Price: With three kids, there are bound to be spats. Brianna taking something of Alice's without asking, Clara ruining one of the older girls' possessions, etc. etc. People see Price with all girls and remark how peaceful his house must be, but Price (and anybody who has a sister) knows that is NOT true. The Price home is chaos interrupted by periods of peace. Luckily, their dad is a literal military captain, so he's able to whip them into shape. All manner of crying, yelling, and shrieking can be silenced with one singular "GIRLS!" from the man himself. Then after that comes the soothing and the stern talking-tos.
Ghost: I think Simon was great with kids pre-Roba, he had Tommy and then his nephew Joseph. But post-Roba and his work in the special forces, he's much more rough around the edges. Like I said in the main post, Caden is a pretty quiet kid, so I can't see him starting or getting into any trouble. But he is still a 10 year old, so I can see him throwing a fit when he's frustrated or uncomfortable. If this happens in public, Simon will pull him aside and talk to him quite sternly, especially if Caden is making a ruckus as an emotional outlet. In private, he gives Caden space to let it all out, and then talks to him afterwards. However, if Caden can articulate what's upsetting him, he's very gentle and understanding. One way or another, I can see Simon getting help with his PTSD, so he uses a lot of techniques that his therapist taught him with Caden.
Soap: I imagine Elodie as about 6-7 years older than Thomas, who is a literal baby, so I can't see that they get into any fights. Mostly Elodie getting cranky about Thomas getting all the attention, at which point Johnny has to reassure his daughter and give her some love as well. When they're older, Elodie is a classic older sister who fucks with her little brother. She's never truly malicious, but there are definitely times when Johnny's standing in front of them sighing and pinching his nose because Elodie's played a nasty prank on her brother. Johnny's a very picks-his-misbehaving-kid-up-like-a-doll-and-gives-them-a-noogie kind of parent. He's never raised his voice at his kids, but instead has an "if what I think is happening is happening, it better not be" tone that instantly strikes fear into his kids' hearts. I can hear it in my head. I know you guys can hear it in your head too. 'Nuff said.
Gaz: It's hard to say what it's like when Kyle's kids fight: I can see Violet being the sort of girl who is quite close with her younger brother, so I can't really imagine a lot of scenarios in which they would fight. But Elliott is a younger brother and Violet is a growing teenage girl, so there have probably been a few times when Violet got mad at Elliott and screamed at him or said something that she regretted. Kyle and Emily will both scold the kids when they step out of line, and they both do their part when it comes to discipline. Kyle in particular is a very "I'm not mad at you, I'm just disappointed" sort of parent. He expects a lot of Violet, but sometimes that pressure can get to her.
König: This man is overwhelmingly soft for his daughter. The calmest, most gentle giant. I think out of all the dads he's most susceptible to spoiling her, which obviously could become a problem. He's incredibly lucky though, because Ava is an angel. She is spoiled, being an only child on her daddy's colonel salary, but she gives more "kind rich girl" vibes than "inconsiderate little brat". I'm going to elaborate more on this in the upcoming König post, but he's got this deep sadness to him because he lost his wife. Ava is a pretty perceptive child, so she doesn't act out unless she's having a really hard time, in which case König is nothing but soothing and reassuring.
Horangi: If Ryujin (Hong-jin's daughter) has beef with you, he's kicking your ass right alongside her. When she was young, she was fully capable of both starting and finishing fights, and Hong-jin was an incorrigible enabler who was more likely to double over laughing than scold his daughter. Her mother usually had to be the disciplinarian. Hong-jin and Ryujin have a complicated relationship, but in adulthood, they're pretty even keel, and have grown even closer since the death of Ryujin's mom.
Keegan: Jason and Cecelia have been through a lot together, so they don't really fight. When they do though, it's nasty, and Keegan serves as more of a go-between than a disciplinarian role. Both of them will seek advice from him, but he understands that they know each other better than he does. Not for lack of trying, of course, but it's inevitable with older adoptions. His role comes from having more life experience, and he's got a kind of impenetrable chill that makes everybody a lot calmer.
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summerslashers · 7 months
Text
Dinner: Thomas Hewitt x Reader
PART ONE | PART TWO
Summary: You have dinner at the Hewitt House. (takes place during tcm the beginning well before the cannibalism)
Warnings: Charlie/Hoyt, Swearing
Author’s Note: This took so long pls forgive me. This is the end of this short series but I will write more small stories that are based off of this series where you live across the street from Tommy :)
You stood on the porch of the Hewitt home with two thick oven mitts protecting your hands and a hot apple pie fresh out of the oven. You just barely had enough time to make a nice dessert without being late, but you didn’t want to show up empty handed after the polite invitation you received. You stood there awkwardly for a moment, trying to figure out how you were going to knock on the door without a free hand to do so. Suddenly, as if someone had read your mind, the door swung open to reveal Thomas.
He was dressed nicely in a button up shirt with a striped tie and a pair of khaki pants. He looked clean, his curly hair soaking wet as if he had just stepped out of a shower. You looked up into his soft blue eyes, a blush warming your cheeks as he gazed at you gently.
“Hi Thomas.” You smiled up at him. “You look really handsome.”
Tommy felt his cheeks grow warm at your sweet compliment, his eyes glancing off to the side and fingers twitching at his sides anxiously. You always made him flustered with your pretty smile and kind words. It was nice.
He stepped aside politely to give you room to come inside, a silent invitation that you gladly accepted. He used a strong arm to hold the door open for you and you joined him in the house, thanking him for the kind gesture.
The inside of Thomas’ home seemed just as big as the outside. It was huge- much bigger than your own small home- with tall ceilings and a large, open foyer. Immediately, there was a delicious, garlicy smell in the air that made your hungry stomach growl, and you could hear the clattering of pots and pans coming from the kitchen in the distance.
“Your house is so nice.” You smiled at Thomas, but before you had the chance to say anything else, an unfamiliar man rounded the corner dressed in a pair of blue jean overalls and a plain baseball cap. He was old- much older than Thomas.
“Well I’ll be fuckin’ damned, Tommy! You didn’t tell me you had a fuckin’ girlfriend!” He grinned, giving Thomas a firm pat on the back. “And she brought dessert too! Shit, I like her already!”
You laughed, and Tommy was sure he had never heard a more beautiful sound in his entire life. Your eyes met his and he swore his heart skipped two beats. It wasn’t a mocking laugh- no. It was a happy, joyful laugh. He couldn’t help but look away again, a cute pink tint to his cheeks that peeked out from behind the black leather mask.
“Oh, mama’s gonna want to meet you.” He smiled, and there was something just a bit off-putting about it. “Mama! Our guest is here!”
“Now I done told you to quit yellin’ in the house, Charlie.” A woman came from what you assumed was the kitchen, scolding the man who simply rolled his eyes in response, muttering a half-hearted apology.
The older woman was dressed modestly, her blonde-gray hair pulled up into a gentle updo and a pair of glasses rested on the bridge of her nose. There were deep wrinkles on her face, her expression stern with furrowed eyebrows and pursed lips. Beads of sweat were forming on her forehead- a result of working in the hot kitchen you were sure. Her expression seemed to soften when she noticed you standing next to Tommy shyly, still holding the hot pie.
“Now aren’t you just the sweetest thing?” She smiled warmly. “You must be y/n.”
“Yes ma’am.” You returned the kind smile. “It’s so nice to meet you.”
“You can call me Luda Mae.” She looked down at the pie in your hands. “Come join me in the kitchen and we can set that down.”
You nodded, smiling back at Thomas before following Luda Mae into the kitchen and setting your apple pie down as instructed. You were relieved to finally take the hot oven mitts off of your hands, and you set them off to the side where they wouldn’t get in the way. It was then that you noticed the small vase with the wildflowers you had gifted earlier that day with a soft smile on your lips.
Luda Mae turned away to stir a pot on the stove, adding what looked to be salt and pepper to whatever it was she was making. It still smelled wonderful.
“Not often we get new folk ‘round here,” she spoke as she made her way around the kitchen, working quickly to finish things up. “Almost didn’t believe it when word got out that someone moved into that house-” She chuckled softly before continuing.
“And you’ve been so kind to my boy, Tommy.”
You smiled brightly. “Thomas is wonderful. I was so nervous to introduce myself earlier, but he was really sweet about everything.”
“He’s a real nice boy,” Luda Mae gushed, happy that someone else could appreciate her son just as much as she did. “Been treated poorly his whole life- nothin’ but cruelty and ridicule from folk that don’t take the time to know or understand him. Never did nothin’ to deserve it either. It’s nice to see someone finally treatin’ him the way he ought to be.”
“I could never be mean to Thomas.” You spoke fondly of the man, your brows furrowed sadly at the thought that he had been mistreated. “He’s too kind.”
Luda Mae smiled softly and hummed in agreement, turning off the stove and setting the pot aside on a cold burner where it could cool down a bit. She turned to face you, her eyes wandering down to the apple pie you made. It turned out just shy of perfect. The crust was golden brown and it had a crunchy cinnamon sugar crumble on the top.
“Thank you for providin’ dessert.” She smiled at you warmly. “Nice of you to go through the trouble of doin’ that.”
“I didn’t want to seem rude,” you smiled shyly. “It wouldn’t feel right showing up with nothing after your nice invitation.”
“Well that’s awful’ polite of you.”
You smiled, looking around the messy kitchen for a moment. “Is there anything I can help with?”
“You really are just the sweetest thing,” she said. “How about you help Tommy set the table while I clean this mess in here.”
You nodded in agreement, glad that you could be of some help.
“Thomas Brown Hewitt, get in here and go help set the table,” she said firmly as she set a stack of wide rim soup bowls, silverware, and napkins down on the countertop beside you.
The man lumbered into the room, his eyes meeting yours. You smiled at him softly as he walked over to you, picking up the bowls and silverware that suddenly seemed a lot smaller in his large hands.
“I’ll get these,” you grabbed napkins before turning to face the large man. “Will you show me where the dining room is?”
He nodded, waiting and making sure you were ready before leading the way. He guided you through the house to a large, open room. In the center was a large dining table with an elegant table cloth and white lace table runner. Above the table were high ceilings and a chandelier style light. There were six chairs around the table, and at each spot at the table there was an empty glass. You silently wondered if there were one or two more people you hadn’t met yet.
You moved to stand next to Thomas as he set the bowls and silverware down on the table. You did the same with the napkins. You both reached for the stack of bowls, your fingertips brushing together for a moment. The two of you looked up at one another and retracted your hands slightly, a small laugh escaping your lips as your cheeks grew warm.
“Sorry,” you smiled and awkwardly gestured for him to go first.
You and Thomas spent the next few minutes working together to set the table in comfortable silence, exchanging glances every so often. Each time your eyes would meet you would smile at him warmly, something that made his heart flutter and cheeks turn pink.
As the two of you finished, Luda Mae called for Charlie and another man named Monty, letting them know that dinner was ready before entering the room. She set the large pot of what you could now see was stew onto the table. Neither Thomas nor Luda Mae had taken their seat yet, and you were still waiting for Charlie and Monty, so you stood politely to the side near Thomas to wait for further instruction.
After a short moment, the unfamiliar man, Monty, entered the room. He looked to be close to Luda Mae’s age with lots of deep wrinkles on his face and gray hair peeking out from beneath his baseball cap. His eyes met yours from behind his glasses and you offered a small wave.
“Y/n, this is my brother Monty.” Luda Mae said, noticing your silent interaction.
“It’s nice to meet you.” You offered a polite smile.
“Somethin’ smells damn good, mama!” Charlie announced loudly as he entered the room, standing above what you assumed to be his chair at the head of the table, resting a hand on the polished wood. “Now everyone take your seats and bow your damn heads so we can say grace.”
Luda Mae shot him a disapproving glance and shook her head, but said nothing as everyone began to take their seats. You ended up sitting between Thomas and the empty chair at the end of the table, silently grateful that Thomas had put himself between you and Charlie.
“Now,” Charlie said, still standing tall and proud at the head of the table. “Let us give thanks for this meal which the Lord has provided us. Bow your heads.”
After the short prayer, everyone passed their bowls to the front where Charlie put a generous helping of stew in each one. Soon, everyone had their food and a tall glass of water in front of them, and it was finally time to eat. You were so hungry after a long day of unpacking at home and the stew looked absolutely delicious. It was steaming hot and contained large chunks of meat, plenty of vegetables, and potatoes all sitting in a thick broth. Everyone began eating and as expected, it was delicious.
“Thank you so much for dinner.” You said to Luda Mae, who was sitting across from you. “It’s very good.”
“Why thank you, dear.” She smiled. “It’s a pleasure havin’ you here with us.”
“Thank you.” You smiled back shyly. “It’s really nice being here.”
The two of you continued to make small talk over dinner, the men at the table remaining mostly quiet as they ate their food. The only exception was the occasional comment or question from Charlie who always seemed to have something unpleasant to say. Even then, you were happy with how well everything was going with your new neighbors.
After everyone had finished their meal, you and Luda Mae went to the kitchen where you brought out dessert and plates to serve it on. You gave each person a large piece of your apple pie and everyone seemed happy to indulge. You were given several compliments. Even Monty told you that it was good and he hadn’t said a word for the entire meal. Thomas, on the other hand, didn't need to say anything. You could always see the gratitude in his eyes when he looked at you. It made you smile.
Soon, everyone was done with dessert, and the table was littered with dirty plates, crumpled up napkins, and empty cups. Charlie excused himself from the table, and Monty did the same, both carrying a stack of dirty dishes to the kitchen. It was just you, Luda Mae, and Thomas.
“Would you like me to help you with the dishes, ma’am?” You asked Luda Mae as you placed your own dishes, silverware, and napkins into a neat stack in front of you.
“Don’t you worry about that, dear.” She said appreciatively. “I’ll take care of it.”
“Are you sure?”
“‘Course I’m sure.” She smiled, standing up from her seat. You and Thomas did the same. “Besides, it’s gettin’ late. Tommy, how’s about you walk with her ‘n make sure she gets home safe.”
Thomas nodded his head with sincerity in his eyes and body language. Of course he would keep you safe. He wanted to be by your side, to protect you and care for you.
You smiled up at him. “Thank you, Thomas. That would be really nice.”
You stood in the foyer at the front door with Thomas at your side, and Luda Mae returned your cookie platter, empty pie plate, and oven mitts.
“Thank you so much for everything,” you smiled at the woman. “It was really nice meeting everyone and the meal was wonderful.”
“Thank you, dear. It’s been a pleasure havin’ you here with us.” She looked at Thomas. “You get her home safe now.”
With that, you and Tommy were on your way, walking side by side down the long driveway towards your house. The sun had just gone down, the orange sunset fading away and darkening into the night sky. It was peaceful, the only sound was the gravel crunching beneath your feet and the insects chirping in the distance. You liked being by Thomas. It was nice.
The two of you walked in comfortable silence until you reached the front door of your small house. You turned to look at Tommy with a content smile on your lips.
“Thank you for walking me home- and for having me over. It was really nice.”
Tommy looked at you fondly, with that usual softness in his eyes that brought warmth to your cheeks and butterflies in your stomach. He didn’t need to speak, because you could always understand what he was trying to tell you simply by the way he would look at you.
“I hope I see you again soon.” You smiled, though you were sad that the night had come to an end. “You’re welcome to come over here any time... I really like spending time with you.”
Tommy felt his cheeks grow warm, his hands fidgeting at his sides and his weight shifting just slightly. You were so kind to him and he was sure that he would never get used to your sweetness. It made him feel so warm, so happy inside. There was a twinkle to his eyes as he looked at you, a joyful expression shown only through his eyes and nothing else. That was all you needed.
You stepped inside of your home, not yet closing the door as you looked so fondly at the man on your porch.
“Goodnight, Thomas.”
Tag List: @ostricx @sagis116 @motomamita @dij-ology
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backhurtyy · 2 years
Text
steve and eddie and touch is just like. steve grew up in a big empty house, alone with no one to ruffle his hair or kiss his cheek goodnight or hug him when he got home from school. even when his parents were home, they were never the very touchy sort. his mother might give him a brief hug, but it was always short, always impersonal, always under the watchful eye of his father.
there were clapped shoulders on the swim team and team huddles on the basketball team, but those were fleeting touches from people who didn’t really care about him. occasionally tommy might sling his arm around steve’s shoulders or give him a high five or shove his shoulder, but those felt more like tommy saying to everyone else ‘look at me, i’m friends with king steve’ rather than being kind or gentle. he had nancy for a while, but touches stopping lingering long before the end of their relationship. there’s the kids, but steve always feels like the parent he never had with them, always ruffling their hair and herding them where they need to go. there’s robin, who touches him most frequently, who will give him hugs or bump shoulders or press their legs together, but she has a hard time sitting still so it’s always over quickly.
and then there’s eddie, who grew up with tight hugs and fond hair ruffles from wayne, but that’s about it. because really, who was lining up to touch the freak of hawkins? sure he shakes hands at the end of a deal and he has hookups in dirty bathrooms and dark parking lots. but those aren’t gentle, or soft, or because a person really wants to— they just serve a purpose, business transactions in one way or another.
so when they find each other, they latch on. finally, they have someone who wants their touch as much as they want to be touched. finally, they have someone who’s gentle and soft. finally, they have soft kisses and legs slung over each other and long hugs in the kitchen at 3 am and someone cuddled up to them during the night. they’re holding hands while driving, sitting on each other at movie nights, hugging from behind while cooking, kissing lazily for long stretches, plying with each other’s fingers when the party is hanging out. they’re just wrapped up in each other constantly, because they waited so long for someone to be gentle with them.
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moonlight-prose · 8 months
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Ahh I am so in love your 𝑰𝒏 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝑾𝒆𝒆𝒌𝒆𝒏𝒅 - what a great idea!! Could I please request Joel Miller + clumsy attempts at flirting? 💕 So excited to see what fics you share!!
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BE STILL MY FOOLISH HEART
a/n: the thought of joel being clumsy with flirting is absolutely how i'd see it going down. he's messy and fucks up sometimes and it's so human it just makes me want to smile stupidly thinking about it. this one in particular has been sitting in my drafts for quite some time, so i am finally happy to finish it. i hope you enjoy it babes!
summary: "yet somehow—despite you never realizing it—joel always ended up with you."
word count: 0.9k+
pairing: joel miller x reader
warnings: not explicit, joel tripping over his words, flirty joel, softness, the beginning of more.
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There was going to be a party. Not a small gathering of older folks that normally happened around the holidays, but an actual party. With alcohol and music and fun. The type of event that you hadn’t been to since well before the outbreak. Sure, you’d been an adult at that time, the years having passed you by long ago, but there was something about the prospect of fun that made you feel your past self peek out.
You weren’t sure exactly how it would happen. What they planned, but you could see yourself enjoying at least some of it. If nothing came of this so-called party, then there was always the bar where you knew many—if not all—the adults would wind up before the night came to an end.
The sun had just begun to stay out a bit longer during the day, giving way to some warmth in the midst of the frozen atmosphere. You wanted to savor it for as long as it was around—knowing just how brutal winter time was. But it still wasn’t warm enough to forgo your favorite denim jacket. It was old, worn in and nearly falling to pieces, but you refused to part with it.
It had seen you through the worst of the outbreak and still continued to last. For some reason it reminded you of yourself.
Entering the stables you headed straight for the little notebook stuck to the wall—your name top of the list to help clean the horses. You didn’t mind the task. Time with the gentle animals gave you an opportunity to think, to find some peace amidst the destruction and decay of the world.
“Busy?”
You paused, glancing over your shoulder at the man who walked in. Joel smiled softly, the same look he always seemed to give you whenever you ran into one another. Apparently you hadn’t checked the name beside yours. He was scheduled to work the same day too. Of course, you didn’t mind. Why would you? He was kind, helped when you needed it, and more often than not was considered a loner in this small town.
At least that’s what Tommy called him jokingly when you spoke. Yet somehow—despite you never realizing it—Joel always ended up with you. Whether that was doing chores around town, or making runs to go hunting. You had half a mind to ask Tommy if it was his doing, but thought against it.
It wasn’t your place to complain.
“Not yet,” you said, grinning when he moved to sign his name. “Did you hear?”
He glanced at you, eyes a little wider than before and mouth slightly parted. You found it was difficult to tear your eyes away from his plush bottom lip. “Hear?”
“The party.”
He chuckled—the sound echoing in your chest until you could feel it in your heart. “Oh that.”
You laughed, grabbing for the supplies needed. “That. You sound like an old man Joel.”
“I am an old man.”
“Well…I’m old too but it still sounds fun.”
He shrugged. “Yeah I suppose.”
“Are you agreeing with me about me being old? Or the fun part?” Biting down on your lower lip when he nearly dropped the brush you handed him, his cheeks flushing a dark crimson.
“No I’m—you’re not—ah shit. Darlin’ I didn’t mean you’re old—”
Laughing, you nudged him in the shoulder and headed into one of the stables, greeting the horse with a soft coo and pat on his side. “Calm down Joel I was kidding.”
“Right,” he huffed, following your lead. A beat of silence passed between you two before he decided to break it—wanting nothing more than to hear the sound of your voice again. “Are you uh…you goin’ to the thing?”
You shrugged, not meeting his eyes entirely. “I was thinking about it.”
His chance was now or never and Joel honestly would have rather taken on several infected than try to come off as some type of suave. He hadn’t dated since before the outbreak. Shit he couldn’t even call what he did dating. It was merely him trying to fill an empty space for Sarah, because he thought she needed it. Yet deep down he realized all she really needed was her dad being there for her.
But now he was alone. Ellie needed him, but not as much as she used to. Which meant he now lived in his big old house all by himself—wondering if maybe…you’d like to live there too. With him.
“Do you got…” He let out a long breath, trying to calm the racing of his heart. He felt like a fucking teenager again and you seemed to be enjoying the nervousness that radiated off him. “Do you want to go with me?”
You tried to stop your smile from growing, but gave in once you saw the sheer panic in his eyes. It suddenly occurred to you why he always ended up paired with you. All his attempts at conversation, his stuttering comments. He was flirting with you. Heat rushed to your cheeks, eyes alight with a wonder that hadn’t existed since you were young.
“Are you asking me on a date, Joel?”
He stuttered, his eyes quickly glancing to the horse that let out a puff of hot air from its nose. “I um…”
To put him out of his misery, you stepped closer, catching him entirely off guard as you lightly gripped the front of his coat. “Pick me up at seven?”
He nodded, mouth parted in awe as you pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. “Sure thing darlin’.”
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blooming-violets · 2 months
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Hii! Can I request a Joel miller x fem!reader where Abby goes to golf town on reader instead of Joel and Joel is in Ellie’s position watching her get killed. Just utter angst💔🥲thank youuu❤️
An Eye For An Eye || Joel Miller x fem!Reader
A/N: I meant to do this from Joel's pov but somehow ended up in Reader's pov. Enjoy some death! (Also threw in a little Glenn from the Walking Dead winkwinknodnod in there, too)
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Fire rained down on the infected as the people surrounding them tossed molotovs over the wrought iron gate. 
The heat of the flames bathed over their skin to push the wintery chill from their bones. 
Joel could feel your arms wrapped tightly around his waist, clinging protectively onto him, as he slowed their horse next to Tommy’s. When your grip didn’t loosen to climb down, he gave your hand a gentle pat of encouragement.
“I don’t like this,” you whispered in his ear. There were too many people. More than you were anticipating. Large groups of strangers were never a good sign. 
His head tilted back towards you, his eyes closing peacefully at the feeling of your cold breath against his cheek, “You worry too much. We saved that woman’s life. It’s fine. We need a place to ride out the storm. Just behave yourself.”
You replied with a quiet laugh. Joel Miller was the king of worrying too much and the master of bad behavior. Who was he to tell you otherwise? 
“You’ve gone soft, grandpa. I blame Ellie,” A kiss was placed to his gray peppered beard before you jumped off the horse. There wasn’t even that big of an age gap between you two but you were still fond of the nickname, simply because it made Joel groan every time he heard it. 
Joel smiled, following you off the horse, “I blame you both. I only have this gray hair because of the shit you two put me through.” 
The moment the garage doors closed to block off the incoming swell of snow flurries, a weight of dread settled in your stomach. You ran a mittened hand over the hind haunches of your horse to wipe away some of the snow in an attempt to help soothe your unease. 
“Hey, I heard you guys saved Abby?” A short haired woman approached you with a warm, but hesitant, smile. “Thanks for bringing her back to us.” 
You looked over and did your best to flash her a smile of your own. Trust had to be built somehow. You might as well try to start here. 
“Oh, yeah. No problem.” You tugged off your mittens, stuffing them in your jacket pocket, and reached out your hand to shake.
“I’m Mel,” she spoke softly. “Nice to meet you.
You returned the greeting. She seemed nice enough. For now. First impressions meant nothing in this world. Everyone could act kind until they weren’t. You’d been fooled one too many times to take that sort of chance again. The moment she let go of the hand shake, she turned to Tommy to repeat her introductions. Your guard was on high alert, trying to take stock of anything you could use as makeshift weapons and plot the best hiding spots. 
Joel slipped his arm around your waist. He could sense your worry and pressed his lips against the side of your head, smelling your hair, as he spoke. 
“Don’t worry,” he mumbled into your hair. “Tommy and I got this covered. We’ll hang out for the night. We can take turns staying awake so someone’s always on watch. Then we’ll be gone in the morning after the storm.”
“That sounds like some famous last words,” you grumbled. 
The three of you were led into the room off of the garage. A large wooden bar sat against the wall and you took note of the half filled bottles of alcohol cluttering the surface. 
“Maybe it won’t be so bad afterall,” you nodded to the drinks, giving Joel a cheeky wink. 
He hid a smile by scratching at his beard and turning to the new people, “What are y’all doing out this way?” 
A man with a baseball cap answered, “Oh, just passing through. You three live nearby?”
Tommy took that as an invitation to invite them back home to restock their gear. As if you wanted these people anywhere near your family. 
It was clear neither party really trusted the other. There was a tension in the air as each individual tried to make sense of the other. Both parties were searching for hidden dangers. Your eyes sought out everyone, studying them, trying to find their strengths and weaknesses. It was Abby quietly conversing with another man in the corner that caused your heart rate to spike. You didn’t like the way they were whispering. From behind, you could tell her body language was tight, nervous. Your stare stayed trained on the pair as they whispered back and forth. Even as they stood quietly in the shadows, trying to appear relaxed, you could tell she was mulling over something in her head. 
Your hand found Joel’s and you gave it a small squeeze. You leaned in closer, standing on your tiptoes to whisper in his ear, “Maybe we’re better off risking it in the snow? We can find some place to stay that’s not here.” 
Before he could reply, Tommy was throwing around more introductions. 
“I’m Tommy,” he announced to the group. He was too calm for your liking. Too friendly. Something was wrong. This wasn’t right. They had to leave. “This is my brother…Joel. And this is his partner-”
You couldn’t hear his introduction of you. You were too busy watching the change in Abby. The entire room fell silent. Her shoulders tensed. Her jaw tightened, flexing subtly as she ground her teeth together. Her back straightened up to attention and she shifted the shotgun in her hands.
You knew it the second Joel did. 
This was bad. 
“Y’all act like you’ve heard of us or somethin’,” he muttered, trying in a last ditch effort to soothe out the peace. His arm instinctively pushed you protectively behind him just as gun shot rang out. 
“That’s because we have,” Abby said as the trigger was pulled. 
You let out a scream of terror, watching Joel yell in pain, his leg shooting out from under him, and tumbling to the ground. 
“Joel!” You collapsed down to his side, throwing your body protectively over his head to block him from any more bullets. 
“No!” Tommy shouted. 
Two men were on him before he could even move. They pinned his arms down, throwing him back against the bar, and struggled to hold him steady while he thrashed wildly against them. You couldn’t help him. You refused to leave Joel. All you could do was watch in horror as Tommy was bashed repeatedly in the top of the head with the grip of a pistol until he went limp. You had no idea if he was dead or knocked out. Thick lines of blood trailed out from under his hairline and waterfalled down his vacant face. 
You reached for the knife hidden in your back pocket. The second someone grabbed your arms, you slashed out, making contact with someone’s cheek. 
But there were too many of them and so little of you. 
The knife was wrestled out of your grasp. You were being dragged away from Joel with two men clamping down tightly to your arms and throwing you up against a window. The back of your head bounded against the glass pane causing a shooting pain to ricochet through your brain. 
“No!” You could hear Joel cry, his voice deep with worry. “Get off her! Don’t fucking touch her!”
He struggled to get up but his leg was useless under him. Blood spurted from his thigh and soaked into his tattered jeans. He tried to take down the person closest to him but all it took was a bullet whizzing by your left ear, instantly deafening that ear, and shattering through the window behind your head for him to stop. 
The howling wind burst through the broken, jagged hole to swirl snow around the room. The cold caught in your lungs, mixing with your panic, to make it difficult to breathe. You gasped for air, eyes watering, as you stared helplessly back at Joel. The look of anguish you found staring back at you was enough to break your heart. He knew you had been right. He knew he should have listened. They couldn’t trust these people. He knew. 
But it was too late. 
It took two men to pin his arms up against the back wall as if they were about to crucify him. His ragged, angry breaths filled the room to meld together with the howling wind. 
“Don’t hurt her,” he panted out with a hiss of pain. “Don’t hurt her. Me. Hurt me. Not her.” 
It was hard to hear him. You reached your hand up to cup over your left ear where the bullet had shot past. You could feel the stickiness of blood leaking from your burst eardrum. Subtly, you tilted your right ear towards him so you could better understand what they were saying. 
Abby had leaned down in front of him. She was breathing nearly as heavily as he was. Fury etched into her every crease and a burning hatred scalded Joel in her sights. 
“Joel Miller,” she whispered. Not asking. Not confirming. A statement.
“Who are you?” He shot back. 
“Guess.” 
Your eyes slipped close with dread. You knew Joel had no idea who this woman was. Joel’s past was filled with all colors of evil. She could have been anyone. It didn’t matter who she was or what Joel had done to her. Everything he’s ever done to survive, every horror, every act of ruthless murder would be flashing before his eyes right this very moment. He could pick any one out at random and it would be enough for someone to want revenge. He didn’t care who she was. She had her reasons and she was probably right for wanting his life. His past was bound to catch up to him eventually. He was just sad you had to be here to bear witness to his end.
The resignation you saw settle slowly onto his face was enough to push the tears stifled in your eyes down your cheeks. 
“Why don’t you say whatever speech you got rehearsed and get this over with,” he spat out at her with a scowl. “I’m the one you want. Neither of them ever did anything to you. They’re innocent and deserve to live. Kill me and be done with it.”
“No!” You cried, begging them for his life. “No! Please. Please. I need him. Please. Don’t do this.” 
Joel turned to your cries and gave you a half hearted smile. If they killed him, the one they were clearly looking for, then there was a chance that you could go free. If there was a chance to save you, he would take it. Always. 
Abby took notice of the look on his face when he stared back at you. She turned between the two of you and a dark smile grew across her face. She stood up, walking from Joel over to you. 
The move was all it took for Joel’s panic to immediately kick in, “Wait, stop! Leave her out of this! I’m the one you want!” 
Abby grabbed a fistful of your hair and jerked your head back to expose your neck. She leered back at Joel, “Do you love her?”
He tried to lunge forward to reach them but was held back by the men. The blood loss from his leg was making him weak. You could see the color paling from his face. His eyes were turning bloodshot. 
“Leave her alone!” He shouted, his voice coming out like a pained roar. “She didn’t do anything to you!”
Abby tossed your head back and walked over to the bag of golf clubs at your side. You watched her browse through each one before pulling out the one she wanted. She held it up to the light from the broken window to admire the view. 
“I said,” she whispered, the sound deadly. “Do you love her?”
A scream of rage ripped out from Joel’s throat, “Yes! Fuckin’ dammit, yes! I love her!”
A look of sorrow flashed across Abby’s face like she wasn’t entirely sure this was the plan she originally wanted to go through with. She down at you with regret, “Then I’m sorry to do this. It’s not your fault. But revenge is revenge. An eye for eye, if you will.” 
You swallowed, eyes widening as you stared at the end of the golf club, realizing exactly what was about to happen but being useless to stop it. 
You were not going to leave this cabin alive. 
“Joel Miller killed someone I loved,” she sighed. “I am going to kill someone he loves.” 
“No!” Joel screamed. From behind Abby, you could see him thrashing violently against the men. He caught one of their hands in his mouth and bit down as hard as he could, mauling his head to the side with a jerk, as the sound of snapping bones echoed through the freezing air. The man shouted in pain as his finger was nearly ripped straight from his hand thanks to the death grip Joel had with his teeth. 
Another gun shot rang out to silence everyone. This time it flew over Joel’s head and the bullet lodged into the back wall. 
“Enough!” Abby shouted. “Hold him down, dammit.”
“Then hurry up and get this over with!” The man standing at your shoulder yelled back. “Before he bites off more of Jordan’s fucking fingers.” 
The sound of your cracking skull was all you could hear as the club came straight down to make perfect contact with the top of your head. You hadn’t even seen her lift it over her to strike. You had been too busy trying to keep Joel in your sights.  
You slumped forward, falling onto your knees and holding yourself up with your arms. 
“Joel,” You mumbled through the delirium setting in. Your brain was rattled. Hot blood washed away your blurring vision until all you could see was red. “Joel…stay…me…with me…stay…”  
Wack. 
Crunch. 
Wack. 
Splash. 
Your breath strained in heaving, gasping wails as your brain function rapidly declined. Blood showered down around you, seemingly falling from the sky like rain drops on a dreary evening. It reminded you of the way rain clings to the leaves to roll down their waxy surface and drip in warm drops down onto your forehead. A pleasant, familiar feeling. If you looked skywards, you wouldn’t see a ceiling, but a forest canopy of wet, green leaves. 
Your arms shook under your weight to hold you up and pushed you back into a kneeling position. Your body swayed on unsteady legs, unable to focus on any one particular part of the room. The socket of your eye had been shattered. Your eye bulged in your head and hung loosely out of your skull. 
You remembered the first time you found Joel. Over a decade ago. Smuggling supplies back and forth into the Boston quarantine zone. He had hated you. Thought you were annoying and never shut up. You’d pester him with a million questions, desperate to learn all his survival techniques. Somehow he never managed to shake you from his gasp. At some point along the way, you had weaseled your way into his hardened exterior and made a home inside his heart. He could complain all he wanted. He enjoyed your company.
Crack.
Your body gave out. You slumped onto your side. 
From this position you could make out the hazy vision of Joel through your one working eye. There were tears streaming down his face. You’d never really seen him cry before. Not like this. His mouth hung open in a scream but you could no longer hear what was being said. You didn’t need to hear to know he was wailing out in agony for you. This was the kind of torture being inflicted on him that was meant to destroy his soul. This was worse than his own death. This was going to break him. 
Oh, Joel. 
He was on his stomach, arm outstretched, desperately trying to reach you. 
You remembered the late nights of sitting around a campfire, with a cup of stale, weak coffee shared between you two, out in the woods. Joel always hated campfires at night. They were dangerous, easy to be seen, but you had convinced him to give it a try just this once. Just long enough to heat up your coffee. The coffee had tasted watery and bitter but his lips tasted sweet and soft. The risk of the fire was worth watching the way the warm orange glow danced across his skin. 
Your fingers twitched out to reach for him. 
If only you could touch him. 
One last time. 
You stretched your arm as far as you could. 
Crack. 
You were reaching blindly. Both your eyes are gone now. No sounds. No sights. No pain. Only Joel.  
In the darkness, you reached for him. 
His calloused tipped fingers brushed across your bloody hand. He was only close enough for your fingertips to reach but they laced together the best you were able. 
A smile flashed onto your dying lips. 
Crack. 
You didn’t need to see him to know him. 
His face exploded behind your blinded vision to greet you in the dark. Always sweaty and covered in dirt. Salt and peppered hair. Eyebrows tugged low in a permanent frown. The slope of his strong nose. Pouted lips peeking out from under his unkempt beard. The frown lines etched into his forehead that would soften whenever he caught sight of you. The warmth of his arms wrapped tightly around your body to keep you safe from the chilly nights. 
His quiet whispers of “I love you” spoke into your ear when he thought you were sleeping. 
He hardly ever said those words out loud to you when you were awake but he never had to. You could see his love through his every action. 
Even now. 
His last act of love he could ever give you was to fight against his restraints and reach far enough for his fingers to graze yours. So you knew you weren’t alone. So he could keep as safe as he was physically able to. 
So he could touch you one last time. 
I love you, Joel Miller. 
Crack.
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This was fun a little side step away from my usual beloved Andrew Garfield muse. I don't think I'll write for Joel much in the future. Not because I don't adore him but because I just write for a different fandom and struggle to do both at the same time. But I enjoyed a little peek into some Joel angst for my Sunday afternoon.
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thehardy-boys · 8 months
Text
The Platform Part 5 (Tommy Shelby x Reader)
Hey there! Thank you guys so so much for all your lovely comments!! I'm SO glad you are enjoying this little story!
Warnings: Lil bit of fluff, sorry it's kind of slow burn
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Part 5
When (y/n) left her house that morning and turned around to walk down the few front steps she didn’t expect to see Thomas Shelby waiting for her, hands in his pockets, cap glinting. She jumped at his presence and clutched her bag.
“Christ!” Thomas smirked at her reaction.
“What are you doing here Mr. Shelby?”  
He huffed a laugh and gestured vaguely towards the car behind him.
“I told you I would take you out to see the horses, didn’t I?”
“Oh, but I have work.”
“I already told Mr. Beavers. Anyways, this is work.” It seemed to be the end of the discussion because he turned around and opened the passenger door for her and waited. (y/n) only debated for a second the value of just ignoring him and walking to work. But he was right, this was work. She sighed and got in, pointedly ignoring the gentle, respectful touch of his hand on her back as she climbed in.
The drive was quiet. She could feel him glance over now and again, but she was busy watching the wretchedness of Small Heath disappear and turn into wild grass, soft country air, and wide-open fields. It was like another world out here. They passed by a few estates that she grew envious of. The privilege of living out here! The beauty of it! It made her shrivel inside when she compared the milk white stone of the large houses to the crumbling rental she had in Small Heath with its dark corners, damp walls, pathetic cutlery that consisted of one fork, knife, and spoon. They must have an army of cutlery in these places. A set for each season, a set for each mood and party.
“Beautiful isn’t?” The rumble of his voice broke her inwards spiral.
“Yeah,” She whispered, “Terribly.”
They pulled off the winding roads onto a dirt path and up to a well-kept stable. She could already smell the hay of the horses. Thomas opened her door for her but this time she pretended not to see the hand he held out for her in favor of taking in the view.
Thomas cleared his throat, “This way.” He led her around the stable to a large enclosure that contained a gorgeous chestnut horse.
“This is Copper.” (y/n) looked over at Thomas who was already removing his jacket leaving him in his vest. And she ignored it, the way the vest emphasized his narrow build. And she ignored it when he rolled up both his sleeves and she glanced his forearms. She was hit with the strong desire to be in his arms. The memory of the platform teased her. The heat he had carried with him as she neared him through the crowd.
But now Thomas climbed over the gate and walked up to the horse, caressing the fur, and taking the reins. He led the horse around the ring a few times. (y/n) could see, even without knowing anything, that the horse was incredibly well-trained. Thomas looked over at her and gestured for her to come over, but she shook her head. She could see him furrow his eyebrows and he walked over, followed obediently by Copper.
“What’s wrong?”
(y/n) glanced at the horse then down at the ground, “I’m scared of horses, a little.”
Thomas was silent so she looked up at him, afraid he would be angry, “I’m sorry. I can still write the article.”
But he didn’t look angry he looked thoughtful. He held out his hand, “Let me show you.”
“Mr. Shelby, you can just tell me about the horse, and I can write it.” She tried again.
But his hand remained outstretched, waiting, like he knew that she would give in and take it. And she hated that she did. His hair tousled by the wind and his cheeks slightly rosy from the brisk morning – she couldn’t argue with that.
Copper was on his left side, and she was on his right his hand still holding her own. He led them into the middle of the enclosure. He let go of her hand and guided her, so she faced the side of Copper. She watched as the creature’s fur rippled under the soft winds. Her heart thundered at the sight of the animal’s muscular shoulders and neck.
“It’s alright.” Thomas’s voice was right next to her ear. He was standing behind her. He took her hand again and with his own he raised it up to stroke the horse. Right before her hand made contact with the rich fur she hesitated, and he could feel it, but he didn’t push or force her.
“Nothing will happen to you. I won’t let it.” She nodded and they continued on. The fur was silky smooth, welcoming, and slightly warm. Copper’s head lifted slightly up at the contact but continued on with his snuffling in the grass. Her frantic heart began to slow, and a smile found its way onto her face but then Copper made a sudden movement, his legs stamping slightly, and letting out a loud noise that startled her, and she stepped back suddenly. Her back met Thomas’s chest and his hand caught her waist.
“He’s just spooked by the crows. That’s all.” Thomas reached up and patted Copper’s long nose and soon he became docile again. With a shaking hand (y/n) held onto Thomas’s hand that was resting on her waist. She clung to it and brought it further around her middle. The weight of it grounded her. It was weak of her to do it but once again the past came in to haunt her like a ghost hovering outside her bedroom door. It hung heavy around them and as Thomas took a tiny step forward to meld his firm chest against her back the bedroom door opened and the ghost swept in, inescapable.
She had pushed through all the men, all the soldiers just to catch a glimpse of her brother. He had sent her the message that he would be traveling back to Small Heath after the war. She knew he was safe, but she needed to see it for herself. The men looked at her and she looked back. No matter how they acted: rambunctious and overly happy or the sullen ones, the quiet, tired ones – they were all empty. She remembered thinking, as she moved between them, dodging their hands and their words, that nobody on this platform made it out of the war. Each one of them was changed, broken, gone.  
Then it was the eyes. He was just standing there, unmoving. And she knew, she just fucking knew it was Thomas Shelby, the boy who she had played with in the fields and who had gently taken her palm to read her fortune. She walked towards him and when she stood in front of him, he had said her name like it was an answer, the end of the road, a life’s ambition fulfilled. She had moved without awareness until her arms were wrapped around his neck and his around her waist. (y/n) remembers how tightly he gripped her as if trying to meld the two of them together. How his face rested in the crook of her neck, and he took a deep breath.
He had leaned back, and they had looked at each other, “Tommy…” She had whispered to him. and she watched as something in him shattered completely, the dam opening, and he leant forward to answer her call.
“There you go. He likes you, he does.” (y/n) rather felt his chuckle through the vibrations of his chest. (y/n) exhaled in relief as she continued to delicately stroke Copper’s mane. As she became more confident, she was aware of how tightly she was holding onto Thomas’s arm.
“Sorry.” And she let go. Thomas hung on for a moment longer before stepping back completely and (y/n) hated that it felt wrong. How she felt like something was missing. The rest of the morning was spent with Thomas telling her about horses, the different breeds, each of their strengths. Then (y/n) spent the afternoon back at her desk writing the article. That morning with Thomas remained in the forefront of her mind. Even her visits to her mother were bearable when she had the feeling of Thomas’s warmth to hide away in. And soon enough the hopelessness that she had condemned herself to was forgotten. It was dangerous but what else did she have? She allowed herself to daydream, to imagine, and create but that was it. She drew the line at the formation of anything real. She would remain as an outsider but with the occasional foray into hope but with no expectation. No expectation.
Winter was here, cruel, unforgiving, and cold. The office was planning on having their annual holiday office party. Last year it was a small affair, a few desserts, and a few drinks. (y/n) dragged herself out to it just in order to not disappoint the boss. However, this year because of the agency’s new attachment to Shelby Limited the party had now been blow out of proportion. The party, usually held at the local ball room was now transferred all the way into London in order to compensate for the large number of London based clients of the Shelby company.
“Are you attending the holiday party, Mr. Shelby?” Evelyn batted her eyelashes as he waited for (y/n) to gather together the newest horse articles she had written. (y/n) couldn’t think of a good reason why Evelyn was over at her desk, but she had found herself there when Thomas had walked through the small halls of the agency.
He blew out some smoke, “Not sure.”
“Are you goin’?” He asked (y/n) as she straightened up from her desk to hand him the packet.
She shrugged, “Not sure yet.”
He raised an eyebrow, “It’s a business party, aren’t you required?”
She shrugged again, “I don’t think Mr. Beavers can force me to go. I might already have plans.”
He continued to stare at her.
“So, are you going Mr. Shelby?” Evelyn voiced up from her corner. Without breaking eye contact with (y/n),  “I’ll go if she does.” He gestured at her with the packet before turning and making his way out into the blistering cold.  
Part 4 --- Part 6
Tags: @black-kitten-imagines, @illuminwtesz, @slutforcoffein
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angsty-twihardxx · 1 year
Note
I’ve seen a lot of dbf!joel and was wondering if you’d write a dbf!tommy as there aren’t any and I absolutely adore your writing style x
RIGHT WHERE I WANT YOU | T. Miller
dbf! Tommy Miller x fem!reader
A/N: THANK YOU I LOVE YOU AND THIS IDEA. I have been tinkering with this idea for a while because there are no dbf! fics for this man and he deserves it, let’s be real he’s a horn bag and a tease i just uh-😩 also I would love to do multiple of these or even a series, plz let me know what y’all think and send ideas.
Feel free to gander at my masterlist if you like x
Warnings: 18+ (minors go away), PnV, age gap (reader is 21) basically porn with little plot. This is NOT edited I very much rushed it no apologies.
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You remembered the first night that you met Tommy, he was leaning against the bar with your Dad who beckoned you over. The dining hall was cramped which wasn’t new on a Saturday night, you had mainly come because your dad mentioned a new member that he found on patrol. Usually you dreaded it, but when you saw him across the room you had a change of heart.
His black curls sat on his shoulders when he turned to face you, his lips curving up to give you a wide smile— which you returned quickly. His smile suited him, making his honey brown eyes squint. “Nice t’meet you, m’Tommy.” He spoke lowly, his Texan drawl catching you by surprise as he extended his hand out for you to shake.
You didn’t expect the accent, at first. It made sense though, the more you thought about it he did seem like the cowboy type. You tried your best not to over think how his hands felt enveloping yours, how much bigger his hands were compared to yours.
But that night was a long time ago. When it was merely just a crush on an older man that was friends with your Dad, which developed the more and more you saw him— which ended up being a lot.
Early in the morning’s were now filled with his presence, always standing with a mug full of coffee as he leaned against the kitchen island talking to your parents. The muscles under his button up sleeves flexed as he moved the mug up to meet his lips.
How was he actually so perfect? It wasn’t fair.
But now your feelings had developed, becoming more filled with desire and need. You were a women now, with womanly needs that weren’t being met with the boys your age. It’s not their fault though, newly developed minds bodies that was being pumped with hormones made them awkward and well— quick.
Its not like there were any classes going around for this kind of stuff in Jackson, but you just knew that you needed more.
Maybe it was some undiagnosed daddy issues that had you interested in the younger Miller brother. You could just tell that Tommy knew what to do when it came to sex, after ‘accidentally’ overhearing him drunkenly spew his past life to your father as the two got into a bottle of whiskey, he seemed to be quite the man-whore back in the day. You imagined what he’d be like fucking you, whether he’d be gentle or if he’d pound into you relentlessly till you were screaming his name.
And he knew it too, the smug bastard.
It made the blood in his body rush to his cock seeing you look so flustered from something as simple as a ‘mornin’ darlin’ when he’d see you first thing in your kitchen. When you’d descend down the stairs in your tiny pyjamas, he had to force his gaze off of you when he realised he was staring. He imagined what the soft flesh of your ass would feel like in between his fingers.
Everything about this was wrong, SO WRONG— but yet, neither of you could stop.
. . .
A cool breeze crept in through the ajar open that you sat beside in your living room, book in your lap. Taking the liberties of enjoying the large empty house on your own, which seemed to be happening more and more often lately. You had finished patrol only a few hours ago, thankfully it had been quiet and you were partnered with Eugene. The older man was well liked by you and your friends, mainly for his secret underground weed bunker.
Which is what led you to this point, leaning against your window as you blew out the smoke from your joint.
“Should you really be doin’ that n’here?” Tommy’s voice ripped your attention from your book, he was leaning against the entrance. His denim coat was covered in a thin layer of sawdust, you remembered him mentioning building a new set of homes over breakfast yesterday. “Well, last I checked the smoke detectors don’t work so—“
Your shoulders fell, a huff of air falling from Tommy’s nostrils in amusement. Dragging his palm along his hand he moved to sit beside you on the sofa, just enough space between you. It wasn’t unusual for Tommy to come check on you when your parents were away, whether it was because he wanted to or because he was asked to by your parents was another thing.
You felt butterflies as you thought about the domesticity of your situation right now, the thought of being the first thing he saw every night after work. Being able to ask him how his day was while the two of you ate dinner together.
“Like you wouldn’t believe.” Tommy sighed, rubbing his fingers through his sweat damp curls. Even after working all day in the heat he still looked fucken amazing—it wasn’t fair. You extended out your arm, holding out the lit joint in front of him to take. An unspoken invitation, which he declined. Muttering something to you about working in the morning.
“C’mon it’s not like you have to worry about a drug test in the morning.” Tommy’s brows burrowed in confusion, before deciding to just take the joint from you. Your breathing hitched as his calloused fingers tangled in yours, taking ahold of the still lit joint in your fingers. “How the hell you even know about that?”
“Eugene was telling me about it today.” You smiled proudly, watching as his lips pursed around the hand rolled paper.
Everything about him just made you want him more, the way his dark curls sat on top of his broad shoulders as he leaned his head back. You wondered what they would feel like with your fingers brushing them back, would it really be so wrong for you to test the waters? You were an adult, and a mature one at that.
. . .
Maybe it was the weed that blurred Tommy’s judgement, the longer the two of you sat together engrossed in casual conversation. He couldn’t keep his eyes off of your exposed thighs, the shorts doing very little to cover you. Giving him the perfect view to admire your soft supple skin.
Stretching his arm out Tommy let it fall down to the back of the chair, his hand now grazing the soft exposed skin on your arm. Goosebumps form on your skin, burning from his grazing fingers.
He loved how you shuddered from his touch, he could only imagine what how wet you were from just one touch. Tommy doubted that anyone your age could please you the way he would. He always noticed how they watched you, none of them new the first thing when it came to pleasing a woman.
“So have you uh-been seein any boys around here?”
“Not at the moment, but I uh— have an eye on someone at the moment.” Your sultry voice only made Tommy’s blood rush to his cock, you had no idea the affect you had on him. “Oh really?”
“Yeah he’s a little bit older than me, but I don’t mind.” You teased, exhaling a breath of smoke that danced in the so between you both. A cheeky smirk plastered on your face, you knew exactly what you were doing. “That right sweetheart?”
Without another second of teasing glances and lingering hands, cupping his stubbled cheeks in your hands you pushed your lips together. A small whine left your mouth as he pressed back, with even more of a fever.
“Tommy—“ You whined against his kiss swollen lips, savouring how his tongue darted to dance with yours. It was everything that you thought it would be, the way soft lips kissed into you roughly it only got you hornier. His facial hair scratched the underside of your palm, his curls were soft as you dragged your hands to the back of his neck. The wetness pooling in your underwear was only growing.
“God, this is wrong.” Tommy groaned in between kisses, he shouldn’t be doing this, with one of his closest friends daughter. Friends were hard to come by these days, especially good ones like your dad. He took him in and gave him a purpose again in Jackson. Yet here he was, his tongue down his daughters throat.
“If it’s so wrong— then stop.”
This emitted a playful growl from Tommy as he moved to nip the soft skin of neck with his teeth. He was already to deep into this, no backing out now. “S’that what you want sweetheart?” Tommy dared to ask, maybe you had changed your mind about the whole thing, but was pleasantly surprised when you shook your head, your lips never leaving his.
“Absolutely not.”
Tommy’s strong hands lifted you up as he held you up around his middle, his fingers kneaded the doughy skin of your ass. Your legs instinctively wrapped wrapped around his waist as he lifted you off the sofa. It felt so surreal to you, Tommy’s hands felt exactly how you imagined them. All those years of working as a contractor meant his palms were rough and calloused, you needed this hands to explore all over your body.
Tommy made quick work of taking long strides to get to your bedroom as quickly as possible, the same bedroom that he would pass every morning to join your family for breakfast.
Never did he think he’d be on the other side of the door, regardless of the many times he thought about it. Fucking you relentlessly in your room, your faced pushed into your pillow while your parents were completely clueless downstairs.
You let out a shocked gasp as your back made contact with the bed, Tommy quickly climbed up on the bed to hover above you. His elbows propped by your head as he leaned down to pant his lips onto you again, all you could think about was his erection pocking against you thigh through his jeans. “Tommy-“ You whined as your hips bucked into him,
“Need you Tommy.”
“Don’t worry baby, ‘gonna take care of you.” Tommy trailed his fingers down till they dug themselves under the waistband of your underwear. Your skin felt like it was on fire, you needed him now. In one swift motion your pants were pulled off of you, Tommy let out a sharp breath of admiration.
You watch as he fumbles with his belt, before once again pulling off his jeans without hesitation. His cock springing to life before you, and fuck was he big.
“Y’alright?” He looked back up at you with all seriousness, to which you nodded quickly.
“Oh fuck!” You gasped out as your eyes squeezed shut, feeling him fill you up was almost overwhelming. You always imagined him having a huge dick, when he would sit with his legs wide open. Now it was actually happening you felt like he was going to tear you in two.
The blissful sting was quickly quickly replaced with pleasure as he slowly eased himself into you, his hips rolling into yours.
“That’s it baby girl, takin’ me so well.” He muttered softly into your ear, his hot breath had the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. His praises had your hips bucking against his, driving his cock into you deeper.
He already had you in a puddle of gasps and moans, your mouth failing you anytime that you tried to speak. Your stomach was in knots, feeling your orgasm beginning to approach you wrapped your arms around Tommy’s neck. Pushing his face down to meet your lips once again. His herbal soap mixed with the salty sweat forming on his back, all your senses were taken up by Tommy.
“S’fucken amazing baby.” He groaned against your lips, his own pace beginning to falter. Your head fell back as the pleasure grew more intense, feeling your stomach tightening as his pace quickened. “Fuck Tommy, I’m gonna come!”
“Come f’me darlin, that’s it.” He whispered softly moving his lips to kiss along the soft skin of your neck, which was enough to send you over the edge. Your body shuddered as your orgasm rolled through you, feeling the jolt of electricity course through you as your vision went white.
“That’s it baby, good girl.”
A animalistic groan erupted from deep inside Tommy’s throat, right before he was about to come he pulled out. His sweat-covered forehead fell to rest on your still heaving chest, the two of you merely laid silent for a moment. You couldn’t form any thoughts besides the fact that Tommy just fucked you—in your bed!
After a few moments Tommy lifted himself off of you, the mattress dipping as he fell beside you. “Y’alright? That wasn’t too much f’you?”
“Are you kidding me? It was amazing.” You exasperated as you rolled onto your side to face him, your flushed cheeks pinched into a smile. “Y’know Tommy, it’s just going to be me on my own in this house.” Your head tilted to fall onto his chest, a playful smirk plastered on your face as you waited for his reaction. “Oh is that right?” Tommy feigned ignorance, a wide smile on his face. “Might need some company, s’that what you mean?”
“Thats exactly what I mean.”
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thyme-in-a-bubble · 1 year
Text
we square?
plum, chapter four
warnings: Joel Miller x reader, MILD SPOILERS for the last of us (both games and the hbo series), slow burn, age gap (20 years), timeline wise this is set in between the first and second game (so when they live in jackson), joel playing the guitar
∼ gentle reminder that feedback, but especially reblogs are the way you support writers on here ∽
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masterlist | join my taglist 
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The dry twig that suddenly snapped underneath your boot caused the soft strumming, that you’d become so captivated by, to stop at once. Holding your breath, Joel’s eyes found yours. 
“I’m sorry,” you rushed out, all of a sudden feeling as if you’d been invading his privacy, “I-… I’m sorry.”
You hadn’t been able to sleep, so instead of just tossing and turning, you’d gone for a little walk around the sleeping town. It had not been your intention to spy on him, but the gentle music reverberating from his guitar had just drawn you in like a siren song, unintentionally making you step closer and closer to where he sat out on his dimly lit porch. 
“It’s fine, you don’t have anything to apologise for,” he swiftly set the instrument aside and averted his gaze, the action giving you a stomach ache. 
“No,” you moved a bit closer, slowly stepping up the short stairs, “I think I do…” and when you only received a furrowed brow in response, you spoke softly, “I wanna apologise for punching you the other day.”
“Why?” he asked, seeming genuinely confused. 
“Because that’s not the kind of first impression that I wanted Tommy’s famed big brother to have of me,” you bit your lip nervously. 
“What, he told you about me?”
“Yeah, honestly wouldn’t shut up about you,” you fiddled with your hands behind your back, “practically idealised you. Hell, I think he still does.”
“Well,” he nodded politely, still not keeping his gaze upon you for too long at a time, “like I said, you have nothing to be sorry for,” then let out a deep sigh, “I, however, would like to apologise to you… I didn’t know who you were, and if I did, then I wouldn’t have just-”
“It’s fine,” you cut in, your face briefly crinkling up in unease, “if the roles were reversed, I’d have done the exact same,” trying and failing to catch his eye, you asked, “we square?”
“Yeah,” he offered a light nod, keeping his vision fixed on his interlocked hands resting in his lap. 
“Okay,” you exhaled, leaning back against the railing, “good.”
“Gotta give it to you though,” he let out just the essence of a chuckle, “you throw a mean punch.”
Biting down on your blooming smile, you confirmed assuredly, “yeah, I know.” 
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© 2023 thyme-in-a-bubble 
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look-at-the-soul · 1 year
Text
Tell me again please
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Holacia note: Mar!!! Congratulations on your follower celebration 🎉 I really wanted to write something sweet for you and I swear this was a cute idea when I first thought of the starting point, but then the characters started arguing with me and it ended this way 😬😭🤦‍♀️
Note from Mar: So my dear Cia (tumblr user holacia) was kind to participate in my followers celebration (including Cyril in this amazing story), and she also allowed me to post and share with you guys!!!! So this is NOT my story, I’m just posting it on her behalf and with her permission, all credits go to the incredible author and I will share your comments with her 💕
Pairing: Tommy Shelby x reader
Wordcount: ~1500
Warnings: fluffy at parts, sad and disappointing at other parts LOL // minimal editing because I wanted to get this out
*********
“Tell me again please! Tell me about my father,” the giggles from your little one making you smile as you walked towards the shops from your quiet home in Small Heath. You look down at the sweet girl holding your hand and roll your eyes dramatically at her as if her request was a burden…but sharing the soft memories of her absent father are the only way she gets to experience him so you start the fairytale once again.
“Well once upon a time, there was a young girl who loved the animals around her,” you give a gentle squeeze on her tiny hand as you nod your face towards a carriage horse with a smile. Your daughter makes a loud gasp, her eyes lighting up as pieces of the story began to come true around her.
“The girl did whatever she could to make the dogs and the cats and the horses in her town happy,” you continue.
“I do that too!” your little one exclaims with pride.
“Yes, I know you do baby,” you reply, your eyes scanning the scene of other families, workers, street cars and carriages. You lead your girl along the side of the road towards a small grassy area with a bench to watch the town’s traffic pass by.
“Anyway, this girl was walking back from school one day when she saw some boys doing something very wrong,'' you pause dramatically as you brush down the skirt of her dress after helping her onto the bench, “these boys were throwing rocks at a little street dog, yelling after this puppy and really scaring the poor creature.”
Your daughter’s eyes go wide with disbelief as if hearing this tale for the first time, the tiniest pout forming on her lips.
“But why would they do that mama?” the worry evident in her shaking voice.
“I don’t think those boys had learned to be kind yet, and so the girl marched right up to them and told them to stop hurting the dog.” You watch her eyebrows pinch together in agreement and nod her chin decisively up and down as you move along the story. “And just when those boys thought about being rude to the little girl, a taller boy from across the street joined her. This new boy told them to listen to her, that they’d be sorry if they kept bothering the street dog.”
You gaze from your place on the wooden bench to watch neighbors and strangers alike hurry along their way, carrying groceries, babies, and lunchpails to their next destination.
“As they checked to see that the pup was going to be alright, the girl and new boy quickly decided to be friends.”
“Mama, you are the little girl? And that boy is my father?” she asks you with a knowing smile.
You playfully scrunch your nose at her before kissing her cheek, “That’s right smart girl, that’s your daddy!” She giggles and claps her hands, delighted at the simple fairytale.
“What is daddy’s name?” she asks you, the way she always asks you after hearing how you and her father met.
You slowly brush a lock of hair behind her ear, your thumb tracing the side of her cheek as you give her the same answer, “I have a name but you call me Mama, right? So your Daddy has a name, but you don’t have to worry about it since you would just call him Daddy. Does that make sense baby?”
She nods her round face, eyes pointed down at her shoes.
Her quiet demeanor breaks your heart, wishing she would throw a tantrum at your vague answer for wanting to know more about her father. Instead, she begins to sing a song softly as memories of your past flood behind your eyes.
Flashes of enjoying meals at each other’s homes, walks around town when school was on break, and sneaking away to ride his family’s horses make you chuckle. Memories of turning to him after a big fight with your family, the day he and his brothers left for the war, the kiss you shared once he came back home make your eyes water.
You pull your daughter against your side and relish in the feeling of her leaning against you, the warmth passing between you both a stark contrast against a final memory you can’t help but torture yourself with once more.
The roaring black rain clouds almost hide the sob that escapes your lips, but you know that he heard you as he looks down on you in silence, your tears joining the raindrops down your face.
“Tell me again please! Tell me why you can’t be with me,” you shout, hands grasping at the front of his coat like a beggar. He whispers your name, the blue of his eyes icy and serious, as he wraps his hands over your wrists to pull you off of him. You stand there mouth agape as he holds your arms between you two, the force of his grasp the only warmth you register in your body as the storm rages on, drowning your clothing and skin in coldness.
You notice him swallow thickly, the walls he placed between you shaking at their false foundation for a brief moment, and you know he is lying to you. “Tommy,” you cry, “Tommy, why are you doing this to us?”
His eyes close as he offers you the closest thing to an apology he has, “Do I look like a man who wants a simple life?” You see the coldness return when he opens his eyes, and you know you’ve lost him.
The pull on your sleeve brings you back to the present, and you find your girl pointing along the path in the park towards a couple of figures - a man wearing a peaky cap walking with a great big dog.
“Mama! Please let me say hello to that dog,” your little one implores, her patience paper-thin as she pulls on your hand. You check your surroundings once more and squint back towards the stranger walking in the direction of you and your daughter.
“We can ask the dog’s owner if it’s alright for you to say hello,” your voice steady as she bounces in place. You take her hand and follow the park’s walkway, waving politely at the man before quickly reminding your girl about her manners.
The stranger’s pace slows for a moment before he marches along as before, his Mastiff matching his steps with a wagging tail at the sight of the small child ahead. You look forward again and see his face clearly for the first time and stop in your tracks, pulling your girl back towards you instinctively.
Tommy and his dog reach you, his eyes memorizing the two of you as you find your voice, “Hello there.”
“Hello to you both,” his voice soaking your ears like warm honey. He catches the smallest of the group staring at the hound intently, so he crouches down to her level and asks her if she would like to give Cyril a pet.
“Yes please!” she whoops, dropping your hand immediately to rush closer to the big dog.
“Tommy!” you cry right away, reaching for your little one.
“It’s alright love, she’s safe. Cyril’s nothing more than a teddy bear,” he says looking up to you, standing to his full height after watching the child and animal make it past their introductions.
You and Tommy stand to the side as the scene unfolds before you - another animal lover creating a new childhood memory with a gentle dog. You both watch for a few moments before you break the silence, your voice calmer than your traitorous heartbeat.
“I haven’t seen you around in a while.” You cross your arms across your chest, keeping your eyes on your daughter.
“Business took me to London for the last few weeks,” he mentions casually, yet you still detect a rare sense of weariness in him.
“We saw Ada the other week at the market,” you share, not knowing why you continued to parade like distant acquaintances with the man who broke your heart. “Little girl almost lost her mind when your sister gave her a flower to bring back home.”
Tommy turns sharply to face you, his feet moving him closer to you than what’s politely acceptable between strangers. Your head swivels towards him in return with a frown, your hands rubbing against your elbows at his proximity.
“Tell me again please,” he starts, “why can’t I be with you and our daughter?”
“Lower your voice Tommy,” you warn, checking back to see your girl still enthralled with her new playmate. Tommy reaches for your arm, the warmth of his hand heating your skin through the fabric of your clothes.
You take a step back and watch his arm hover at the loss of you before letting his arm fall back down to his side. He shakes his head, glancing at his child laugh at Cyril’s tricks before drawing his cigarette case from his pocket.
“I had nearly fucking everything,” he mutters with the cigarette between his lips.
“You did have everything Tommy,” you correct him, “and you threw it all away.”
*******
Cia’s notes: Soooo I apologize 😂 I am trying to think of AUs of this little family where they live happily ever after but part of my evil writer brain has also thought of all the stupid things Tommy has done to throw away his life with reader 😆😈
Mar notes: Cia firstly I want to thank you for participating once more! This was a beautiful road to memory lane and you linked the theme so perfectly with Cyril! It must be so hard for everyone not to be together, but the way you made the story unfold was beautiful!
The memories of how Y/N met Tommy, so gentle so kind… and now seeing their daughter do the same with Cyril oh stop! 🥺😭 I’m a sobbing mess!
I can’t stop but wonder, did Tommy know they would be walking over there? How many times before have they met like that?
“It’s alright love, she’s safe. Cyril’s nothing more than a teddy bear,”- and he is as well!!!! ♥️🥺
He messed up definitely… but he can try to make it better?
Thank you Cia for writing and sharing this beautiful story! And I want to thank you publicly for letting me share this beautiful piece of art with the peaky fam, you are dearly missed around! 🥰✨
Tag list: @lyarr24 @runnning-outof-time @cillmequick @gypsy-girl-08 @datewithgianni @cloudofdisney @gretelshelby @lespendy @onlydeadcells @fastfan @stevie75 @prettylittlehoneyeyesxoxo @esposadomd @strayrockette @forbidden-forest-witch @dandelionprints @elenavampire21 @forgottenpeakywriter @zablife @peakyscillian @moral-terpitude @babaohhhriley @shelbydelrey @shaddixlife @sloanexx @cilliansangel @sydneyyyya
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behold-a-dark-horse · 2 years
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The Impostor Syndrome...
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I think it's pretty clear that Tommy struggled with a form of impostor syndrome, but one thing I've just recently come to observe is how that manifests in his relationships with women.
No matter how much money he made or or power he acquired, he never felt like he fit in with people who had become his peers and even though he rants about how those "bastards" will never accept him or his family because of their humble beginnings, you can clearly see that he feels the same way and I think that bothers him far more than their opinions.
Tommy never has any problem lording himself and his power over people in any kind of relationship, whether it's allies, enemies, the Peaky Blinders or even his own family, that's where he's comfortable. Except with May and Grace. With both of them, his mannerisms change completely. He's gentle, soft and attentive, all about catering to their needs. It’s not about character or personality given just how different May and Grace are (even though there's not a whole lot to go on). It's like he's always trying to prove his worth, but what matters most to him, they've already got and all it could earn him in that situation is a bit of validation. And it's not validating him as a person because he gives so little of himself in their interactions.
Like when Tommy and Grace meet in season, for having supposedly missed and craved her so much, he doesn't want to spend the time alone, he wants to go out into a public and crowded place that allows very little relaxation or intimacy. He starts off with some fake hostility then flips the switch to "look at me! look what I can do!" Yes, it’s cool that she got to meet this super famous movie star and anybody would've appreciated a night out like that, but again (and maybe it's just me reading too much into it), it looked like it was less about Grace getting to meet Chaplin and more about Tommy being able to get her there. She was certainly no stranger to high class crowds like that, but it was just the fact that this time, he was able to get her in. If it had been something special that we knew was specific to Grace and not just the most famous man in the world, it would've been a different story. But we never get to see that, based on what we do see, Tommy probably never asked that.
With Tatiana, you can see that although he does find her class and her power appealing, knowing that her family has lost much of their wealth and status does seem to affect his treatment and perception of her. She could see his impostor syndrome herself, when Tommy thought she was saying that his weakness was women/sex and he told her that he could get a fuck whenever he wanted and she responds to him saying "Yes. But I am a duchess under you like a horse" and talks about how he walks around his house like a boy who'd broken in through the window. And I absolutely love how boldly she confronted him with it.
He does it with his own family. Maybe it's a stretch, but I noticed it in how he reacts to Esme vs Linda challenging his authority even though Linda had far more influence over Arthur than Esme ever had or tried to have over John. [And not exactly the same situation, but worth mentioning here is when Charlie was taken and he thought the painter might've been involved, he basically told Polly she was foolish to believe that (even with all the success they'd had by then) a man like him could've ever been interested in a low born woman like her, and this is all while he involves himself with rich women who are always less likely to date/ marry down than their male counterparts. So, what's the truth there? Does he really think he's special or does he realize and just choose to ignore how shallow his relationships are?]
Tommy and Lizzie’s relationship is far too complex to dive into on this post, but the major difference between her and the other women is that he shows more of himself to Lizzie than he ever does to them. He’s more vulnerable, he shows more of his flaws, because he’s confident that he can trust her and that she won’t leave. And they spend time together not fucking. It’s clear he cares otherwise he could’ve easily left her working the alleys in Small Heath and he definitely wouldn't have opened up to her like he does, but she doesn't have the status that gives him validation or inspires his worship like May and Grace.
Also, it's not just a class thing because he's the opposite with men. I don't wanna get into that too on this long ass post but you can see the difference there.
It's super late and I know this is a rambling mess probably full of typos, but I've just been thinking about the ways some of his issues were presented. There's so much that is said through Tommy's relationships with women, but this is one I just noticed and thought was interesting.
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