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sgt-seabass · 1 year

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How would Nick react in clockwork au if puppy was blearily saying James’ name in her sleep?

𝒔𝒍𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔

✧˚ · . Nick wants all of you. And he will do whatever it takes to claim your soul.

pairing — mob boss!prime alpha!nick fowler x omega!reader w/c — 1.9k this is a dark fic. 18+ only. AU masterlist. listening to — ♫sleepless warnings —general dark elements (dark AU), a/b/o dynamics, manipulation. a/n — thank you for the ask and interest in the AU! i hope you enjoy. jessica chastain is not a representative of the readers looks i just wanted a gif of nick kissing a forehead lol. not beta read, we die like men.

The first time Nick heard it, he thought it was ghosts whispering that damned name in his ear.

The second time Nick heard it, he realised it was a scarier reality than phantoms.

You were calling for James in your sleep again, an occurrence that happened regularly.

Even after all the work Nick had put into making you his, there was still that subconscious part of you that held onto the past. Even though you smiled at him in your waking hours, someone else had a space in your heart.

It wasn’t like it was unexpected. Nick knew he would be crazy to assume you would have no residual feelings for your lost life. But it still hurt. His omega, calling for someone else.

He wondered what you dreamt. Did you dream of James in a world where he survived? Or were they memories of the past? Did he treat you well? Were you happy?

There was a quirk in your lips, a slight sway of your hips. Were you dancing with him?

Nick considered calling Steve. Doctor Kemp always seemed to have a way of making omegas comply, plus he was one of his greatest allies. But Nick knew that the heavy-handed approach wouldn’t be appropriate here. While Steve’s suggestion of having other alphas use you worked to break you down beautifully, accessing a soul was a task that required a delicate touch.

Slipping from the bed, Nick left you in your peaceful slumber, dreaming of the man you would never have. In nothing more than black sweatpants and a navy sweater, he sat in his chilly office.

For a while, he just kept the lights off and pondered.

If his younger self could see him now, he wondered what he’d think. This was certainly not the life Nick had intended to lead.

But the world was cruel, and so he became crueller. To escape hardship, he became the creator of it. A devil walking the earth.

Around you, though, he wanted to be good to you. He would never forget when he heard you laugh for the first time. Nick had accidentally tickled your sides while brushing past you, and the sound that came from you was glorious.

Nick sighed, pouring himself a scotch from the decanter. He’d burn the world, but keep you safe always.

After he’d finished his glass, the familiar burn of liquor pooling in his belly, Nick turned to the only other person he trusted the opinion of.

Hal Carter. The alpha worked on Ari’s ranch. While Ari bred omegas using alpha studs, Hal trained them and kept them calm. He was gentle. Those girls were taken well cared of, which was to be expected when they needed to produce pups.

It was an art how Hal could smile and exude calming energy to those around him. His words were always smooth like silk, rolling off his tongue so naturally you can’t help but listen. It helped the omegas stay calm, and they all trusted him. He was still one of the bad guys; all the alphas in his circle were. But he was the best of the bad. Scott Huffman, the one who would take Ari’s bred pups in and raise them on his ranch, he was a close second.

Within thirty minutes of texting him, Hal turned up on the mansion’s doorstep. The sun was barely rising, only subtle hues of gold beginning to grow.

“Thanks for coming so early,” Nick ushered Hal inside, bringing him to the office while the rest of the home remained in a dream state.

“I normally get up by dawn to go hunting anyway, s’no trouble.” Nonchalant as ever, Hal sat himself down in one of the office armchairs in his green plaid shirt and blue jeans.

Nick poured himself another scotch, plopping two ice cubes into the crystal glass. “Want a drink?”

Hal raised a brow, scoffing. “Unless it’s orange juice, no. I ‘ain’t drinking.”

“I can do that,” Nick said, disappearing from the room and returning with a tall glass of juice, a slight shudder of nervousness in his hand when he gave it to Hal.

There was a rawness in the air, as if Nick wasn’t playing a game. He was putting his whole deck of cards on the table for Hal to see. It was hard to trust, but Nick didn’t have anywhere else to turn.

Nick sat in the armchair opposite Hal, swirling the liquid in his glass, and Hal quirked his head. “Look, as much as I love catching up with you, why did you ask me here so urgently? Is something wrong?”

Nick went through the long explanation of your past, how you came into his care, and how you were acting now. Hal listened attentively, face staying blank as the horrors were laid bare. After explaining, Nick sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I want her to dream of me. Dream of her alpha.”

“So, what you’re telling me is you’ve killed her alpha, kidnapped her, had her gang fucked, chased her, and choked her until she passed out, yet you expect her to dream of you?”

There was a beat of silence before Hal spoke again. “Do you really act like her alpha? She’s not a toy, Nick. And she’s not just a pet. You have to be gentle.”

“I don’t know how to be gentle,” Nick sneered, crossing his arms defensively.

“Bullshit. Every alpha has a gentle instinct deep down. Be the alpha your sister and mother would have wanted you to become.”

Nick growled and stood, throwing the glass at the wall behind Hal’s head, the crystal shattering into a million shards across the dark hardwoods. It was ballsy bringing up his family. The other alpha flinched slightly, but he wasn’t afraid.

Nick puffed his chest, gritting his teeth so hard they were ready to shatter. “That’s a cruel thing to say. You’re pushing it, Hal.”

“It is cruel. But it’s what ‘ya needed to hear. The world is fucked, but her world doesn’t have to be. You’re the one bringing that upon her. You want her to dream of you? Give her memories good enough to dream about. You’ve broken her down, and done the harsh things you needed to. Now you need to build her back up. Without that affection, she will just continue to crumble time and time again. Don't you want to see her smile?”

“More than anything,” Nick grumbled, sitting back in his chair with a hardened expression. He wanted to feel your happiness through the bond. It was like a drug.

Hal drank the last of his juice, setting the glass down gently on the side table. “Then, there you go. Just work to make her smile for you more. Life is good with a happy omega, Nick.”

“She hates what I do, though. And I can’t - and won’t - change that.”

“Then make her existence with you good enough to outweigh that.” Hal proposed the idea like it was easy. Just treat you right, and it would all fall into place.

But was it really that easy?

The chase had changed you. You were more receptive to Nick and seemed more content overall. But he could still see the flickers of fear that lay dormant, ready to wake at any time. And James— Well. Your subconscious hadn’t let him go yet.

Perhaps Hal was right. Maybe you were broken enough that you’d adapt to this life with some positive reinforcement.

After Hal had left, Nick ordered the staff to make you breakfast before he wandered back up to the bedroom, the morning sun beginning to peek past the blinds. Nick took his jumper off, wanting to feel your skin on his.

You shifted a little in your sleep when the bed dipped from Nick’s weight, his arms looping around you and pulling your naked form close. “...Alpha…?” You asked blearily. It wasn’t often you got morning cuddles like this. Normally, Nick was already working by the time you rose.

“Morning, omega,” Nick kissed your forehead, spooning you so his warm, firm chest was flush with your back. “Nice dreams?”

You stiffened for a moment before nodding, curling into his hold comfortably. “Yeah.”

“Good. I need you full of energy today,” Nick said as he kissed your neck gingerly, a soft contrast to his tight hold on you.

Nick ran his hand up and down your side, fingers running over the bruises he’d left on your skin the day prior when he fucked you rough over his desk.

“Are we playing hunt the whelp?” Your voice wavered nervously. So meek, so small. Nick nearly growled at the thought of hunting you, but he held it back.

Nick cleared his throat, shifting a little, so his hard-on wasn’t too obvious against your ass. He was trying to focus, all his energy going into being nice. But Nick could tell you knew he was turned on, your own arousal signalling through the bond. “No, no. We’re going shopping.”

You perked up at that, turning to look at Nick. Your curious shining eyes had his heart skipping a beat. “Shopping? Like, going outside?”

“Yes. We’re going into town. I’ll buy you whatever you want.”

The excitement that flooded the bond was overwhelming. Nick had never felt anything like it. You were happy. But there was some anxiety there too. “Won’t people recognise you? What if something goes wrong?” You asked with a growing frown.

Nick shhed you, gently running his finger over your frown and pushing your lips up at the edge so you were smiling. “You’re the safest omega in the world. Plus, Beck and Mace will be there too.”

Your expression turned into a genuine smile. And Nick smiled back.

“Sit up. I need to check your head.” Nick turned to the bedside, getting together his dabbing alcohol and bandages. You always seemed to end up with some injury after Nick had a bad day. It wasn’t overly intentional, but his anger often turned into dark arousal that left you sore and battered but pleasured too.

You’d banged your head on the desk yesterday when Nick shoved you down and caught your forehead on one of his fountain pens. It left a cut, but Beck dismissed it as minor, needing to be covered with a plaster.

Nick pulled away the bandage with you sitting cross-legged in front of him. He hummed, content at the sight of the healing cut. “Looks good, pup. My good girl, healing so well.”

Nick could feel the heat radiating from your skin as he gently cleaned the cut before placing a fresh bandage on the wound.

“Ah, just in time.” Nick put his things away as your breakfast was brought in. Pancakes with maple syrup and strawberries.

You seemed like a fish out of water, and Nick understood that. He was flipping his demeanour for you. This was new for him, but not entirely unwelcome, especially when he felt your ease through the bond.

Nick sat with you, cutting up the pancakes and feeding you small bites. Every so often, you would meet his gaze, a little twinkle in your eye that wasn’t there before.

It wouldn’t always be like this, and Nick knew he had a long way to go in putting your pieces back together.

But it was a task he knew he would never fail.

He would have all of you.

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#ambswrites #ambs answers #cherished anons #clockwork au #nick fowler x you #nick fowler x reader #nick fowler #sebastian stan #sebastian stan character #sebastian stan x you #sebastian stan x reader #Hal Carter #dark fic #nick fowler fanfiction #sebastian stan fanfiction

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thezombieprostitute · 4 months

Text

Last Christmas

A/N: Written for Vee's Holly Jolly Challenge. (@sstan-hoe).

Warnings: Attempts at coercion.

Prompts: Nick Fowler - the song Last Christmas. The lyrics included will be written in bold purple font.

Summary: You should've known better. Of course he's still in love with her.

“What the hell is this,” Nick forcefully places the paperwork on your desk.

You look it over quickly and respond, “it’s my request for a transfer.”

“But why,” he seethes. His jaw is tight and his body is tense. He clearly feels betrayed but that just makes your own hurt feel more justified.

“Nick,” you sigh, “you really don’t remember what happened at the Christmas party last week?”

Nick crossed his arms, “I remember you and me doing a lot of kissing in my office. Would’ve taken you home if you didn’t run out on me. I thought we were solid. We’ve only been dating a couple weeks, but we’ve been friends for a lot longer.”

“You really don’t remember,” you shake your head as you fight the urge to cry. “When we were in your office, you called me by her name.” Nick freezes at that and you continue, “I also thought we were solid. Enough so that I gave you my heart. But when you can’t let go of her, I guess I was a shoulder to cry on and nothing more. Even if you don’t want it, I need this transfer for me. To save me from tears if nothing else.”

Nick grabs the paperwork and promises to get your transfer approved as he walks out, leaving your office colder than it was before.

It’s been a few months and you’ve really settled into your work. You can definitely understand why the role of manager for the Research and Development Department has such a high turnover rate. Everyone working here requires a different management style, a different level of understanding and guidance. Most managers stick to one style for everyone, but that’s clearly not what’s needed here and you’ve really gotten the hang of what your researchers need from you.

One thing that everyone could agree on was that they needed more space so you were able to work out a construction contract. The first day you met the foreman, Hal Carter, you were taken aback. You’d bought into the stereotypes of construction guys being on the sexist side (catcalling and whatnot) but he was polite, never talked down to you and always took your concerns seriously. He was quite the flirt, though. Pretty much every woman at the office had been winked at and complemented to no end. But no HR complaints came from it so at your weekly updates you just asked him to be careful with your employees and left it there.

You were doing really well in your job, your new life, when the surprise inspection came. Led by Nick. One look and you knew you weren’t over him but you would keep your distance. Once bitten and twice shy you’d make sure to keep professional. Taking Nick and his team on the rounds, you were grateful for your employees helping you out. A crowded room, friends with tired eyes but they did their best to make sure you (and their funding) would continue.

After the inspection you practically ran to your office to catch your breath. You didn’t notice Nick following you.

“Are you hiding from me,” he asks quietly. His wintry-blue eyes boring into your soul.

“I’m hiding from you and your soul of ice,” you confess. “I ask you to give me distance, to get my heart right again, and then you just waltz right in without warning. I thought you were someone to rely on.”

“During the rounds, I kept my distance, but you still catch my eye.”

“I know what a fool I’ve been, but if you kissed me now, I know you’d fool me again.”

Nick walked towards you, moving in for the kiss that you weren’t sure you really wanted, but he was interrupted by Hal coming into the office with donuts and coffee.

“Oh, sorry,” Hal faltered. He looked at you, “I’d heard you had an inspection of some kind, figured you could use a pick-me-up. Goodness knows your cookies help me and the crew when the building inspectors come around.”

You smile warmly at him, grateful that he broke Nick’s spell over you. “Thank you, Hal! It’s just what I needed. Care to join me? Nick was just on his way out.”

Nick gave you an icy glare before walking out. As soon as you saw him walk out of the building, you allowed yourself to collapse into your office chair. Hal set down the food on your desk and admitted he had been listening to your conversation.

“I was going to wait until you were done with whatever meeting you were in, but I heard a few things that made me worry about you. Given your reaction, I’m guessing I was right about you needing some help?”

You nod appreciatively, sipping at the coffee. “Thank you, Hal. I almost made a serious mistake. Again.”

“I’m happy to help,” he assures. “You’re a good person and I like helping out good people.”

You snort, “given what I’ve seen and heard you just like helping out women.”

He gives you a shy half-smile, “that’s partially true. I like helping people smile, brightening their day. You never know when someone just needs a compliment to help them keep going. Yeah, I’m a huge flirt. Yeah, it’s nice for my own ego. But, for me, it’s just a way of being nice. Oh, and don’t worry about my ego getting too big. My crew helps me with that.” That last note makes you chuckle and you’re genuinely feeling more relaxed than you thought you would.

“Well,” you grinned, “you definitely helped me smile today. Thank you for that.”

Around August the construction project was finally wrapping up. You knew several people who were going to miss Hal and his crew. Especially when they went shirtless for a minute or two in the summer heat. Even you would occasionally indulge, smiling shyly the times Hal caught you looking. Your face would heat up in embarrassment but he never judged you or made fun of you for it. You were really going to miss him and your weekly meetings.

It was at your last meeting with him when you noticed Hal acting fidgety, almost nervous. You ask him if he’s okay and gives you a shy smile you’ve never seen before.

“Um,” he starts, “I…well, with the construction done…I was, um, would…wouldyougooutwithme?”

You blink a few times, not fully sure of what’s going on. “Hal,” you hesitated, “are you asking me out on a date?”

Hal nods, “I didn’t wanna ask while we were kinda working together. You said you’d never date a coworker again and I didn’t want to risk being that. But getting to know you, I…I’d really like to take you out some time.” He still wasn’t able to meet your eyes.

“Why are you acting so shy?”

“Because flirting is one thing. Asking out someone that I genuinely want to be with? That’s…that’s scary stuff.” He looks into your eyes and you’re taken aback. You see the face of a lover with a fire in his heart. You see someone special.

“I’d love to go out with you.”

It’s the company Christmas party and, despite the crowd, Nick has never felt more alone. He knows you’re going to be here and he keeps watching for you. You’re not hiding from him, but he doesn’t seem to see you. You’ve been doing well and coming into your own. You’ve received nothing but love and support from Hal. You’re finally getting the warmth and care you’ve needed and growing.

Nick seems to give up and walks to his office. You follow quietly. As the door clicks shut, his eyes shoot up and you give him a gentle smile.

“Do you recognize me? Well, it’s been a year, it doesn’t surprise me.”

“You look so beautiful,” he whispers. “More beautiful than I ever gave you credit for. Now I know what a fool I’ve been. I got you something. I wrapped it up and sent it with a note saying, “I love you”. Did you receive it?”

“Yes, Nick,” you smile sadly. “I got the necklace.”

“I want you to know, I meant it, when I wrote that.” His frosty blue eyes scan you, looking for the necklace, unsure of why you don’t look happy about the gift.

“You never actually listened to me,” you shake your head. “If you did, you’d know I never liked gold and diamonds. That was her.” You place the gift box on his desk and stand firm, “I need you to stop sending me gifts and notes like this. Now I’ve found a real love, you’ll never fool me again.”

“But-” Nick tries to respond, you see genuine sadness and loneliness but you stop him before he can try to get you to cave.

“Last Christmas I gave you my heart,” you shake your head, putting a hand between the two of you so he can’t get closer. “You tore me apart. But I’ve healed and grown past. Maybe you should try that as well.”

With that, you turned around and left his office. A year ago you fled the room in tears. Now you’re walking out with your head held high. Last year you were left cold and shaken. Now you’re surrounded by warmth and comfort.

#vee's holly jolly challenge #nick fowler x reader #hal carter x reader #ex!nick fowler #nick fowler christmas #hal carter fluff #nick fowler #hal carter

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