#marcus pike x original female character

[for-a-longlongtime]

I loved the first part of Nothing That I Didn't Know, but wondered who your ideal sandwich pairing is? 🥪

Santi x Frankie x Reader

Javi x Tim x Reader

Or maybe something else?

Or is there another one lurking in there?

I've been saving this one for a rainy day, @linzels-blog <3

SUCH DIFFICULT CHOICES.

Okay let me start by saying that, unfortunately for her, Javi x Tim x reader isn't even my ideal sandwich for that WIP. (That's not to say I don't love those three together though!) To me, this is the real MVP sandwich of that fic:

Tim Rockford x Javier Peña x Marcus Pike. I mean, I hope you're ready...

Then sometime in May next year, there's a Frankie Morales x Benny Miller x reader sandwich coming up for @rhoorl (which I think I mentioned here the other day? but my memory is shit so maybe I only mentioned it in a spiral squad evening on Discord, haha).

At some point I'll also get to writing a Javier Peña x Judy Moncada x reader sandwich one shot (first FFM fic, yay!). I'm looking forward to that one because that should be a trip - and yes, it's definitely going to be part hate fucking. (And lucky for me, I know that this one is definitely NOT gonna be more than just a one shot - unlike several WIPs that totally escalated) Thanks for the hyping on this one @legendary-pink-dot <3

I haven't taken any official notes for this yet, but I am planning a Dieter Bravo x Javier Gutierrez fic which I suspect may end up becoming more than just a one shot (hopefully it'll stay contained as a very short series, we'll see what happens). In that case, I'm pretty sure that there will also be a Dieter x Javi G x male original character or male!reader chapter (👀 @sin-djarin I know I haven't said anything about this yet because it was just a passing thought, but the vague idea for it *exists*)

But honestly?

Yeah, Santi x Frankie x reader is hands down my absolute favorite sandwich. For SO many reasons. It's how they actually pushed Tim x Javi aside, because they wanted to be the first fic I posted. What can I say - I have a really big soft spot for all three of them. Plus, y'know - Santi and Frankie, that's pretty much canon IMO, just look at Triple Frontier. <3

Thank you for asking and letting me yap about my sandwich love! Honestly, it's not like I only like threesome fics, or even that I intend to only write those (for example, there definitely is an Ezra x Marcus Pike WIP outline! And there's not going to be a sandwich pairing in there) - but, you know. There are so many fucking fantastic writers out there who write all kinds of pairings so beautifully, and I totally love that. I want to add something of myself and the things I care about to that.

Personally I'm a sucker for representation because I think it's super important for everybody to be able to see themselves reflected in fic, and even to just see the diversity of gender, sexuality, intimacy and all kinds of relationships. So bi, gay, lesbian and queer characters, as well as polyamorous relationships, really have been part of my fic ideas from the beginning - particularly because there are a lot fewer of those than straight male x female couple fics in the Pedro verse. I’m glad that you and others are here for that sandwich love ❤️🥪

#bi representation #Javier Peña #marcus pike #tim rockford #pedro pascal characters #frankie morales #santiago garcia #benny miller #judy moncada #narcos #triple frontier #where is my sandwich #nothing that i didn't know

[deadhumourist]

Fandom Finds - last week of Dec

Hello! I finally got to catch up on some much-needed reading, and I'm in absolute awe of how incredibly talented people on here are. So I'm going to do a weekly round-up of things I loved in the Pedro Pascal fandom- art, fics, you name it. Here's what I loved in Dec (and a little before then, as it's the intro post!)

A gentle reminder to please support and reblog from your favourite creators to ensure more people see their amazing work!

Here we go, under the cut:

Starman (series) - @imtryingmybeskar (Ezra x F!Reader)

You know when you read something so good, you close your laptop because no words you can put on paper is going to come close to what you just read? That was me last week. This series is incredible - sensitive, insightful, a transportive glimpse into something very different. Ezra drops into his soulmate's lap, but it's not as simple as that. Clear your schedule. Read it.

Driving Mr Tovar (series) - @sirowsky (Pero Tovar x F!Reader)

When I read the original series, I turned into that crazed fan that sent the author songs that reminded me of her fic. Luckily the lovely author humoured me and we are still friends today. She's currently updating the series and the updated version is EVEN better than the original (I'm halfway through the reread of Chapter 1). Pero Tovar doesn't let anyone into his life, least of all his new driver. But he has no idea who he's up against and how his life will change. Perfect holiday escapism right here.

Queen of Poisons (series) - @artemiseamoon (Ezra x F!OFC)

Arte's Ezra and fantastic OFC Nyx has been living completely rent-free in my brain since I first inhaled the series months ago. The push and pull between these two is delicious and her heroine is a deeply nuanced badass who doesn't stand back when faced with danger. If you like supernatural worlds and strong female protagonists, you will love this.

Flowers for Ishtar (series) - Beskarberry (Din Djarin x F!Reader)

I already screamed at the author like an unhinged banshee, but this was one of the most fantastical, wild series I have ever read. Non-human!Mando and F!Reader have a solid partnership until he starts acting very weird. Please, for the love of the reptilian spacepope, read the extensive and detailed warnings, because this won't be for everyone. But if you do proceed - it's funny, magical, soft, sexy, unhinged and brilliant science-fiction fantasy with our favourite buckethead.

My only wish (series) - @foli-vora (Jack Daniels x F!Reader)

Come get your fluffy, sweet Christmas goodness here! Jack Daniels grinches his way into a a situation he never thought he's find himself in. Special appearance by a hilarious little menace who forces Jack and Reader's hand as subtly as a sledgehammer. Treat yo'self.

Unnamed (one-shot) - @juletheghoul (Frankie Morales x F!Reader Siren)

Jules' short and utterly *beautifully* devastating story about Frankie and a Siren will haunt you in more ways than one. It's the kind of story that you think about at 2am when you can't sleep.

The Fox, the Mage and the Cupboard (series) - @littlemisspascal (Multiple characters x F!Reader)

Make a cup of tea, settle under a fleece blanket and let Rae transport you to a magical world where you can forget about all the madness and real world problems. It features Javi G, Din and Pero and she makes them all very special, very distinct from each other. This series feels like a soft hug with some yearning for good measure.

An Evening with Monsters (series)- @clydesducktape (Triple Frontier boys in individual stores x F!Reader)

Kinktober hit different this year with this delicious line-up of monsters - the Triple Frontier boys are an absolute feast in this series. Thia is an incredibly talented writer, it might not be Halloween anymore, but you'll be yearning for these boys anyway.

All about the Bass - @katareyoudrilling (Marcus Pike x F!Reader)

Listen. This author has created a musical universe with the most perfect Marcus Pike (a musician) and I refuse to leave. I refuse. Get your bag, we're going to Yearnsville and staying there - this is romantic and soft and amazing. Marcus and you join an orchestra and it's not just musical notes flying. *chef's kiss*

#fic recs #pedro pascal fanfiction #pedro pascal fanfic

[prolix-yuy]

LJ's 500 Follower Requests!

This celebration is complete, enjoy all the stories!

The Debt: Pero Tovar x F!Reader

@fuckyeahdindjarin: Pero Tovar (continued from this drabble), Companionship as Salvation

Home: Dieter Bravo x OC F!Reader

@hnt-escape: Dieter Bravo (from Below the Line), Wild Card

Negotiations: Max Phillips x F!Reader

@browneyes-issac: Max Phillips, Immortality

Phantom: Ezra x Original Female Character

@the-blind-assassin-12: Ezra, Emptiness of Attaining a False Dream

Flight Plan: Frankie Morales x F!Reader (from Sex Worker!Frankie AU)

@lowlights: Wild Card, Fear of Failure

The First Ever Touch: Din Djarin x F!Reader (from the I Think of You Series)

@pedrito-friskito, Din Djarin, Companionship as Salvation

In Print: Ezra & F!Reader

@littleferal, Ezra, Immortality

Coming Due: Pero Tovar x F!Reader

@blackirisesinthesunlight, Pero, Everlasting Love

The Road Behind: Eventual Javier Peña x F!Reader

@beecastle, Javier Peña, Heroism (Real and Perceived)

The Road Ahead: Javier Peña x F!Reader

@iamskyereads, Javier Peña, Reunion and The Power of Words

My Bluebell Song: Jack "Whiskey" Daniels x F!Reader

@marvelouslyme96, Jack Daniels, Reunion

Legacy: Din Djarin x Original F!Character

@chaoticgeminate, Din Djarin, Identity Crisis

Two Truths and a Lie: Jack "Whiskey" Daniels x F!Reader x Marcus Pike

@aynsleywalker, Jack and/or Marcus, Chaos and Order

Burn in My Bloodstream: Din Djarin x Xi'an

@amban-rifle, Heartbreak of Betrayal

#lj's 500 follower celebration #pero tovar fanfiction #pero tovar x f!reader #dieter bravo fanfiction #dieter bravo x f!reader #bloodsucking bastards fanfiction #max phillips x f!reader #prospect fanfiction #ezra prospect x f!reader #din djarin fanfiction

[youvebeenlivingfictional]

current wips & potential wips

Imma post this and then go hide my face with my hands, thanks @brandyllyn my love 💕

The order I used is just the actual posted in-progress WIPs and then whoever the hell things are thrown around in my WIP Google Folder

- Relative Dating - Indiana Jones x Reader fic; In Progress Here

- Long Shot - Stewy Hosseini x Reader; In Progress Here

- Bateman Begins - Nathan Bateman x Reader; In Progress Here

- Homestead - Benoit Blanc x Reader; In Progress Here

- I Don’t Mind the Company - Josh Lyman x Reader; In Progress Here

- Chapter and ‘Verse - Christopher Pike x Reader; In Progress Here

- Enemy at the Gates - James Bond x Reader

- Lulu Gal - George Russell x Original Female Character (Gilded Age, not the F1 Driver)

- Ken-Doll and the Ugly Fuckling - Kendall Roy x Reader

- Charming - George Russell x Reader (Gilded Age, not the F1 Driver)

- Stress Relief - Marcus Pike x Reader

- Pinned - Marcus Pike x Reader

- That Yeehaw Motherfucker - Jack “Whiskey” Daniels x Reader

- Hollow - Oberyn Martell x Reader x Ellaria Sand

- Look On and Cry - Ralyan Givens x Original Female Character

- Friendly Rivaly - Benny Borracho Magalon x Reader

- Down a Peg or Two - Nathan Bateman x Reader

- Nathan Bateman Wife Me Up Challenge - Nathan Bateman x Reader (Sequel  to Nathan Bateman Buy Me This Challenge)

- Impressions - Will Miller x Reader

- Ma’am - Josh Lyman x Reader

- Doorstep - Josh Lyman x Reader

- Voracious - Diego Jimenez x Reader

- Birds and the Bees - Benedict Bridgerton x Reader

- Untitled William Tell Oneshot

- And 3 works of original fiction (books) that I won’t be posting here.

No pressure tags: @massivecolorspygiant @foxilayde @littleferal @cowboystokes @wasicskosgirl @elen-aranel @iamskyereads @charnelhouse and anyone else that would like to join!

#Tag meme #Well this has been mortifying #long post

[albertasunrise]

Marcus Pike - Masterlist

Masterlist, Fic Requests - Masterlist, Taglist form

Ada Series:

Coffee and Crisis - Chapter 1, Chapter 2*(Complete)

Marcus has been pretty unlucky in love. With a failed Marriage and engagement under his belt, will his luck finally change when he meets a pretty, young English girl in his favourite cafe?

Crisis Calls for Coffee* (One Shot)

Ada and Marcus have been dating a few months when someone pops up to throw a spanner in the works for their relationship. Will their relationship survive the latest crisis life throws at it?

General:

These Violent Delights - Chapter 1*,  Chapter 2*, Chapter 3*, Chapter 4 (Complete)

You notice that a mysterious, handsome man has moved into the apartment across from you. You can’t help but introduce yourself but how will your boyfriend react to your new-found friend?

Amateur Heist - Chapter 1, Chapter 2

You know his name is Marcus Pike. You know he works for the FBI. You’ve seen him around the gallery the past week, or so. Thrown him longing looks when his back’s turned but he’s here for a reason, a tip that the gallery was going to be a robbed. What you don’t know is that you are about to get a lot more acquainted with him as his life will literally be in your hands.

Turn of Events - Part 1*, Part 2*, Part 3* (Complete)

Marcus had been unlucky in love. A failed marriage and failed engagement under his belt already. So what if a one night stand leads to everything he’s ever wanted?

Just Friends - Part 1 , Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5 (Complete)

You and Marcus shared something in common. You were unlucky in love. You’re the office manager for his department and he's your boss but after one fateful evening, your lives are to be entwined forever.

Plain as Day

You wished Marcus would see what was right in front of him. Wished he would see that you loved him unconditionally but instead you had to watch as he fell for the wrong girl over and over again. When he finally see it. It's too late.

A Problem Shared - Masterlist

When Marcus is struck down with a sudden but serious illness, you both bond over shared ills.

#marcus pike x you #marcus pike x reader #marcus pike fanfiction #marcus pike mentalist #marcus pike gif #mentalist fantiction #mentalist #pedro pascal character fanfiction #pedro pascal fanfiction #pedro pascal characters #pedro pascal #Pedro Pascal gif #masterlist #Marcus Pike x original female character

[wyn-n-tonic]

So The Hope of it All has gotten some attention today that has set my little heart on fire. For those of you who do not know, I'm actually working on rewrites of it right now and they're giving me a goddamn headache. That being said, this is one of my favorite things I've ever written and I felt a nice little masterlist for it was in order.

Summary: Marcus Pike is back in his hometown assisting on a case when he runs into the familiar face of Ava Thomas who takes him on a walk down memory lane. Pairing: Marcus Pike x OFC Ava

Part One Part Two Part Three

Thank you so much for reading and all the nice comments, I really appreciate it!

#marcus pike #marcus pike fanfiction #marcus pike x ofc #marcus pike x original female character #the mentalist #the mentalist fanfiction

[crystxlclear]

sudden desire

chapter eighteen: lights will guide you home

part nineteen of sudden desire

pairing: marcus pike x original female character (coraline meyer)

word count: 1.7k

warnings: angst? pining? brief mentions of alcohol, pregnancy, infertility, the usual for this fic!

author’s notes: y’all i’m sorry 😶

She should be happy. She really should be. 

But she’s not.

People move around her, drinks in hand, smiling and laughing and dancing to the music that rings through the space. But she’s sitting in the corner, pretending she’s just tired. Bea is curled up on her knee, her cheek pressed against her chest, half-asleep and exhausted at the late hour. 

An engagement party had seemed like a good idea at the time. Everyone had been so enthusiastic about it, especially James’ sister. They’d planned this beautiful party for her and for James, and she’s grateful — really, she is — but she’d spent most of the night sitting in the corner cradling Bea as the excitement of the day caught up with her. 

Fairy lights blink overhead — stars in a still, empty ink sky — the trees, tall and willowy, green and full, sway in the gentle breeze. The air smells like blossoms and grass, the comforting honeysuckle of a midsummer’s night. Roses dot the courtyard and ivy climbs up stone walls and across a stone arch, from which pictures of James and Coraline hang on fine string. It’s beautiful, all that she could ever wish for, but something seems wrong, and she can’t quite place it. 

James had been rushing around trying to catch up with all his family from out of town. He comes from a big family: more cousins than he could count, at least five aunts and uncles on each side. It had been hopelessly overwhelming by the fifth relative, and Coraline had forgotten half their names in her panic. She came from a small family — her mom was an only child, and her dad had only one brother and a sister — and barely any faces to recognise at Christmas parties. 

“Corrie.” Her father’s voice is fond when it calls over the music floating on the breeze. His hand brushes over her bare shoulder, familiar and comforting. The stiffness in her shoulders — a tensing of her muscles she hadn’t even realised had been there — melts away at the sound of his voice. 

Her father settles in a chair beside her. He sits there for a moment, both of them in silence, and taps his foot along to the gentle melody of a song she doesn’t recognise. It sings of happiness and love, but it seems too distant. 

“Where’s Marcus?” He asks, after a moment. 

Marcus. 

His name sends an ache through her heart. 

She takes a sharp breath in through her nose. 

“He had to work.”

It’s not a lie, on her part. That’s what he’d told her when she’d invited him; maybe he was lying, but he’d never really lied to her before. Not intentionally, not about anything like this. 

They’ve barely seen each other lately, and when they do it’s almost not the same. Not at first. Eventually, they melt into that familiar ease they’ve had since the day they met. She doesn’t know what’s changed between them — there’s nothing, not on the surface, and he swears she’s not done anything to upset him — but the air isn’t the same. They’re not the same. But at least they talk; those few weeks when he’d neglected her phone calls had been dreadful. 

Her father hums and taps his fingers against his knee. The courtyard is dappled with white roses; Coraline slips the petals of one between her fingers, letting the silk brush over her fingers. “How are you doing, Corrie?” 

Cora hums. How is she doing? She realises she has no idea. 

And, even if she did, she’s not sure she’d know how to put it into words. 

“I’m fine,” slips out instead. 

She can’t tell if her father scoffs or if he laughs. Maybe it’s both. 

His eyes are fixed on Kimmy and Daniel, who twirl around the makeshift dance floor, grinning wildly. It’s more of an uncoordinated swaying than a dance. Her mother cuts an elegant figure across the floor, the blue satin of her dress flowing behind her like a gentle wave on the ocean, with Elliot in her arms. His head rests against her shoulder, his weary eyes drooping. Everyone looks so happy. So content. 

“Mind if I see the ring?” Her father asks. It almost comes out of the blue.

Coraline smiles. She uncurls her left hand from around Bea and holds it out for her father to inspect the engagement ring that sparkles on her ring finger. 

It’s beautiful. It really is. Thin, silver, studded with so many diamonds. It must have cost James a fortune. She’d gasped when she’d seen it, nestled into a small velvet box, prominent against the deep fabric. Her father hums, lifting his chin in approval, as he brushes his thumb over her ring. “He did good,” he notes.

She lets out a little half-sigh and smiles the best she can. She’s still not sure why she’s not happy. She’s still not sure why she can’t bring herself to smile. She doesn’t mean to sigh as she watches James dancing with his mom in the far corner of the courtyard. He’s grinning - delirious with happiness, almost - and, every so often, he looks over to check on her and Bea. Sometimes, he sweeps by, brushes hair back from both their faces and offers her a glass of champagne or a slice of cake. He’s lovely he really is.

“It’s a shame Marcus couldn’t be here,” her father insists. His voice sounds far off. A smile plays on his lips.

Oh.

“How long have you known?”

Her father brushes his thumb over her ring, once again. He doesn’t answer. “It really is a beautiful ring.”

“Dad,” she whispers. Her words exhale in a breath, floating on the breeze. Her dad drops her hand and pulls his gaze back forward towards the crowd. He stares out, longingly. Like he’s searching for someone or something, or the right words, or whatever it is that’s stuck in his throat. He looks so much like Coraline, sometimes she sees far too much of herself in him. 

“About five minutes after I met him.” He watches her. “How long have you known?”

Coraline almost has to stifle a laugh. She chews at her lip and shivers in the cool night air. “I love James.”

“I know.” Another silence stretches on and on and on. Her heart beats out of her chest. So hard against her ribcage that it almost hurts.

She loves James. She does. Really, truly, she does. And she loves Bea - this little girl who trusts her so much that she’ll curl up in her lap and sleep, even in the middle of a party - loves her like she’s her own. And she could be; at least, that’s what James had suggested, now her mom can’t be around so much. It breaks her heart, that she’d leave such a sweet girl, pretend she doesn’t matter even though she has her hair and her eyes and her smile. 

Coraline can’t imagine ever abandoning something so precious.

“James’ sister did a great job,” her father insists.

“Yeah.” Her voice is airy, light, a dandelion seed on the breeze, as she watches the twirling figures - dancing in silk, gossamer and petals - move to the music. It’s like something out of a daydream, a novel filled with faeries and magic, romance and wonder. 

It all feels so heavy, inside her.

“I’m surprised Loren had no hand in this.”

“She did,” she whispers, “The flowers, all of the flowers.”

But Maisie has been sick lately and Loren’s been worried, terrified, even. She’s been stuck at home with a sick toddler who cries more than she sleeps and refuses her medicine. She’d tried to help and welcomed the distraction, but the toll of it all broke her before she could finish her work. Maisie is better now - finally taking the medicine she needs - but Loren still looks wistful and far away as she and her boyfriend, Ward, dance to Fix You by Coldplay, her cheek resting against his broad shoulder. 

He works long days and, sometimes, nights. A doctor in the ER, and damn good at it too. She sees the toll it takes on them both; Loren, alone, all day with a baby and Ward at the hospital, alone, all day, without them. He’d quit if he didn’t love it. She’d ask him to quit if she didn’t love him.

The weight on Coraline’s chest presses harder. Her breath shakes.

It’s all so stupid. Ridiculous. Pathetic. That she has everything, all she could ever want; a love, a fiancé who would give her the moon, a girl who might one day think of her as her mother. A career, a life, great friends, amazing family. Everything, everything, everything. And so many have nothing. 

But all she wants and all she can’t have eats her alive. Night after night, keeps her away. Lurks in the shadows, presses up at her windows. Haggard faces and mournful ghosts, suffering and crying and endless. She’s so cold when she should be hot and it’s not right.

She doesn’t want the moon.

Maybe she wants the sun, instead.

 “Want anything to eat, sweetheart?” He asks and ducks to kiss the top of her head. She’s so far away, she almost doesn’t hear him. He sees her face, the melancholy. Knows her too well for her to hide it. He watches as Bea shuffles in her lap and tucks her head further into the crook of Coraline’s arms. She hums and mutters softly in her sleep. So carefree, so peaceful.

“Dad-” She whispers.

“I’ll grab you some pizza. Veggie?” He chuckles to himself. “Of course, veggie. Stupid question.”

“Dad-” 

“Do whatever feels right for you, Corrie.” He lifts his drink to her. A silent toast. The amber of his whiskey glitters in the moonlight. “Whatever you choose, it’ll be the right thing.”

taglist: @wheresthewater @its--fandom--darling @alberta-sunrise @sara-alonso @freeshavacadooooo @giselatropicana @thorins-queen-of-erebor

#marcus pike x coraline meyer #marcus pike x original character #marcus pike x oc #marcus pike x original female character #marcus pike x reader #marcus pike x female character #marcus pike x female reader #sudden desire

[katareyoudrilling]

And the Walls Came Tumbling Down

Series: Movies with Marcus (Part 1)

Pairing: Marcus Pike x Female Reader

Summary: There was only one bed

Word count: 1.5k

Rating: Mature (18+ only. NO MINORS)

Content Warnings: none

A/N:  Remember when I said I only wrote original characters? Ha! Silly me, when am I going to learn to stop putting myself in boxes?  This idea popped in my head last night and wouldn’t go away.  I have only watched Pedro’s scenes from The Mentalist, so I apologize for inaccuracies.  I hesitate to even try to add my voice to the many, many incredible writers on here with their varied and wonderful takes on Marcus Pike.  I love them all.  But I’ve decided to lean into the more-is-more mentality of the fandom and just go for it.  I’m tagging some people I think might enjoy this, I hope that’s ok!  Thank you so much for reading!  Be gentle!

Update: I decided to make this a series!  This is Part 1.  Here is Part 2!

Series Masterlist

Masterlist

Part 1 || Part 2 || Part 3 || Part 4

Great.  Just great.  Not only were you forced to share a room at this crappy airport hotel, there is only one bed.  One fucking bed.

You move farther inside the room and drop your carry-on luggage on the dresser with a groan.

You hear Marcus swear under his breath behind you as he realizes the extent of the predicament you were in.

You and Marcus didn’t usually work together.  Definitely not alone together.  He arrived at the DC office 3 months ago and had quickly gained a reputation among your co-workers for being friendly and kind, in addition to being devastatingly handsome.  But not to you.  To you he was cold and distant.  You were never on the receiving end of one of his megawatt smiles.  Not that you cared.  You definitely didn’t.

The two of you being assigned to this case was a weird fluke – your respective partners out of commission for different reasons.  You were headed to investigate a theft in Sacramento, CA.  Rumor had it, Marcus had some connections there.  You were fuzzy on the details.

You were supposed to catch a connecting flight out of O’Hare tonight, but icy conditions forced your flight from Dulles to reroute to Moline, Illinois.  Wherever the hell that was.  Of course your luggage was trapped on the plane.

You thank your lucky stars that you bought a t-shirt from a shop at the airport while Marcus arranged for the hotel and for the fact that you always kept a spare pair of underwear in your carry-on.

Marcus is still frowning at the bed.

“I suppose we could hang up a sheet, like in It Happened One Night,” you offer.

His head snaps up in surprise, “You know that movie?” he asks.

“1934, Claudette Colbert, Clark Gable, possibly the best movie ever made?  Of course I know that movie,” you reply, annoyed.

“Right, of course, sorry,” he stammers.  “Well, I don’t know about hanging a sheet, but how about a wall of pillows?  Our own wall of Jericho?” he suggests with a shrug.  You definitely don’t notice how his suit jacket stretches across his shoulders.

“Works for me,” you reply, voice tight.  You grab the toiletry kit generously supplied by the hotel front desk, your newly acquired John Deere t-shirt, and head for the bathroom.

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

Marcus stares at himself in the bathroom mirror, fists clenched against the countertop.  This is bad.  So bad.

One hotel room.  One fucking bed.

He had begged at the airport for them to find him another room.  He had failed.  And now he had to somehow get through the night – beside you.  You and your plush lips.  You and your soft curves.

He had been drawn to you instantly the first time he met you.  It had been a month after his move to DC.  You had been on assignment when he first arrived, so missed those first few weeks post-Teresa.

You were so smart and witty.  Your smile lit up the room.  Your laugh haunted his dreams.  Also, you were fucking gorgeous.  He felt himself falling.  He had to put a stop to it.

So, he decided to keep his distance. He only interacted with you when he had to.  He returned your friendly smiles with a stiff nod.  Eventually, you stopped giving them to him.  Apparently, the plan was working.

The sting of Teresa’s rejection has faded now.  Looking back, he can’t even believe it happened in the first place.  She was so wrong for him and there were so many red flags.  But it did happen and could happen again… if he wasn’t careful.

He was never supposed to be on this assignment, but it seems someone wants to torture him.  Not only is he going to have to spend a lot of time with you, the case is back in Sacramento.  Which means he is going to run in to Teresa at some point.

Marcus strips down to his boxers and splashes some cold water on his face.  He had built a pillow wall down the middle of the bed while you were in the bathroom.  He tried very hard not to look when you came out in that awful green t-shirt that barely covered your ass.  He really tried, but he couldn’t help but catch a glance of your bare legs as you scurried to the bed and got under the covers.  The sight made his mouth water and his cock twitch.

He is in so much trouble and he can’t hide in here much longer.

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

Marcus finally emerges from the bathroom and climbs onto the other side of the bed.  The mattress sinks with his weight.  You’ve kept your eyes screwed shut so you don’t accidentally catch of glimpse of him undressed. You don’t need to torture yourself with that image.

“Uh, I think I should warn you…” Marcus’s deep voice interrupts your thoughts.  “I’m… umm… a snuggly sleeper.”

“What?” you laugh, and turn your head towards him.  That was unexpected.  His profile is barely visible in the darkened room.  But the thin band of light coming through the gap in the curtains is enough to highlight the curve of his nose and mouth.  You do not notice how striking and gorgeous he is.  Definitely not.

“What do you mean you’re a snuggly sleeper?  Is this pillow wall not enough to keep you away from me?” you tease.

“I… uh… I mean, it should be?  But I wanted to warn you.  I want you to know I would never try to take advantage of this situation.  While awake anyway… and I hope not while asleep either,” he explains, urgently.  He exhales and rubs a hand down his face.

“Consider me warned.  I don’t know why you would even want to… with me… when you clearly hate me,” you murmur into the dark.  It’s easier to talk when he can’t see you.

He barks out a laugh.  “Hate you?  Hardly.”

You turn toward him again and find he’s looking back at you.  The light glances off his bare chest.

“Sure you don’t,” you retort.

Marcus takes a deep breath.  “Did you know that I was engaged when I transferred to the DC office?”

“I heard something about it.”

“Did you hear that she broke it off the day after I got there?” he continues.

“Ouch, I’m sorry, that must have been rough,” you apologize, mentally kicking yourself for being so hard on him.

“Ha, yeah, rough doesn’t begin to describe it,” he laughs ruefully.  “She works in the Sacramento office.”

“You’re kidding? Where we’re going for this case? Fuck.”  You stare at the ceiling in shock.

“My sentiments exactly,” he sighs, exhausted.  No wonder he has been so tense since getting this assignment.

“I didn’t know.  How long were you together?”

“Less than two months,” he admits.

“Two months?!” you exclaim.  You roll so you’re fully facing him now.  “That’s rather quick…”

“I can be a bit… impulsive.  I might have skipped a few steps.”

“Might have?  I’d say so,” you chuckle.  “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t laugh.”

“No, it’s ok.  I can laugh about it now too.”  You can hear the smile in his voice.  “I just don’t want to make the same mistake again… and when I met you, I was afraid I might,” he confesses softly.

“What are you talking about?”  You can’t believe what you’re hearing.

He rolls to face you.  You can barely make out his features in the dark, but you can feel his intense gaze on you.  The thin strip of light from the window highlights the curve of his broad shoulders.

“You’re funny and beautiful and smart…  I didn’t stand a chance.  Now I find out you know old movies?” he groans.  The sound of it goes straight to your core.

“I had no idea,” you whisper.

“I shouldn’t have said anything.  I’m sorry.  I’ve made it weird,” he berates himself.

“No, it’s ok.  It’s good even.  I uh… I feel the same way,” you admit, heart pounding in the quiet room.

The space between you suddenly crackles with electricity.  Your eyes lock across the pillows between you. Your eyes have adjusted and it doesn’t seem nearly so dark anymore.

“I don’t want to skip steps again.  I don’t want to mess anything up.  But I think maybe we could have something,” he pleads with you.

“I think you might be right,” you swallow thickly, arousal coursing through your veins.  “There’s just one problem.”

“There’s this wall,” he laments, his voice deep and seductive.  He runs his large hand down the length of the pillows.

“Yeah…” you breathe, watching him, “and you don’t have a trumpet.”

“I don’t have a trumpet,” he concedes with a dramatic sigh, “but, I am pretty good with my hands.”

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

Part 2

A/N: I love It Happened One Night!  If you haven’t seen it, you really should!  I think there could be more of this if I get inspired.  How to Steal a Million, anyone?  We’ll see…

Masterlist

Taglist:

@whataperfectwasteoftime  @oonajaeadira  @grogusmum  @thirsty-flygirl  @radiowallet  @jazzelsaur  @ensonando​ @neddrollsdice​ @littlemisspascal

#marcus pike #marcus pike fanfic #marcus pike x reader #pedro pascal #pedro pascal characters

[writings-of-a-hufflepuff]

Masterlists 2020 - Current

All these master lists are new, up to date, and have the most recent work on them. All links will be fine. As of 01/01/2020 I have begun doing character masterlists rather than general masterlists.

Character Masterlists

Stranger things

Steve Harrington Masterlist

Eddie Munson Masterlist

Spider-Man

TASM! Peter Parker Masterlist

Daredevil

Matt Murdock Masterlist

Star Wars

Din Djarin Masterlist

Poe Dameron Masterlist

Cal Kestis Masterlist

The Mentalist

Marcus Pike Masterlist

Red Dead Redemption

Arthur Morgan Masterlist

Chronicles of Riddick

Riddick Masterlist

Indiana Jones

Indiana Jones Masterlist

Harry Potter

Charlie Weasley Masterlist

Series, ship and original character masterlists

Ship Fics Part I

Call it Fate or Call it Chance - Arthur Morgan x OC

Summer Nights Masterlist - Charlie Weasley x Plus Size Female Reader  

Made Not Born Masterlist - Jaskier x Plus Size Goddess Reader

Gotta Show a Little Backbone ~ Gibert Alejandro Wood

And Bluebells Gleamed on Mountain Wild ~ James Tobias Moore  

222nd Squadron Boys (Clone Trooper OCs)

#streamlining my PSA pinned post by having links to separate posts sooo #you can ignore these i'm just doing some house keeping

[littleferal]

Lissie! I love you so much for spreading this end of year love! You are truly one of the gems of this hellsite (affectionate)!

A few shout outs for some of my favorite fics over the year:

@honestly-shite Notes on Tutoring is a masterclass in tension and illicit affairs. I yearn constantly for their Dave York and it’s just plain rude the state they’ve put me in.

@asta-lily Prince of Dorne and Absence of Judgement are two of my favorites from this year. Lils is brilliant and has been responsible for me staring into the void for hours on end.

@the-ginger-hedge-witch Read You Like a Book! Better than a majority of the crime novels I’ve read! Ren is a true talent and I know one day I will own her books and place them proudly on my bookshelf.

@yespolkadotkitty Fighting Blind! Made me fall in love with that grumpy Spaniard! Seriously! I think about this story once a week! It’s so beautiful!

@mandocrasis Bonded! Birdie made me fall in love with Max Phillips and now I don’t know what to do with myself! Now all I do is think about that snarky vampire and I’m just flabbergasted!

@blueeyesatnight Amazing story Strongest Member of the Team (and her whole master list)! Blue is constantly giving out quality content that always has me laughing and smiling!

@wyn-n-tonic Frizzy verse! Seriously amazing storytelling for Frankie and her ofc Lizzy Miller! No one can take on emotionally honest source material like O.

@disgruntledspacedad Better Love series was my first Javier Peña fic and one of the first authors who encouraged me to post my writing! Jay’s talent is awe-inspiring and earth shattering.

And finally-

@jazzelsaur Between the Raindrops. A story I was woefully late to but now am completely obsessed with. Catch me outside with my banner and my bullhorn screaming about Jess’s brilliant writing and her amazing way to communicate emotions. Everything about this story is evocative and gut-wrenching and I will never stop shrieking about it.

wow! lots of love from Cat!! Thank you dear 🥰🥰🥰

@honestly-shite for Notes on Tutoring (Dave York x f!reader)

Mr York becomes your new classical guitar tutor in your final year at music college. A dark, mysterious man, you struggle to get a read on him but that doesn’t stop you from finding many ways to push his buttons. You manage to infuriate him with your stubbornness and forced complacency but there is definitely something else too. There’s a pull that you feel whenever he is near. You wonder if he feels it too.

@asta-lily for The Prince of Dorne (Modern!Casino owner Oberyn x reader)

Dorne was his kingdom, one he ruled over with reverence to those who played, and drank, and laughed; and mysterious accidents met those who dared disturb his peace - ruling his playground with the wisdom of a king yet the temper of a boy. Thus, they dubbed him - ‘The Prince’.

AND for Absence of Judgement (Marcus Moreno x f!reader)

You travel in search of inspiration; fate seems to hand it to you in the most backhanded of ways as you lock eyes with a mysterious stranger from across the bar.

@the-ginger-hedge-witch for Read You Like a Book (Marcus Pike x f!reader)

When Marcus Pike is called to Chicago for a short-term assignment, he never expects to meet someone who makes him want to stay forever. Is this Marcus’s chance at home?

@yespolkadotkitty for Fighting Blind (Pero Tovar x original female character)

Curator Jade is hurtled back in time by a mysterious axe.

@mandocrasis for Bonded (Max Phillips x original female character)

Prudence travels the country investigating paranormal claims and reports. When you get a call about a possible vampire you don’t hesitate to check it out. What you don’t anticipate are things going sideways and getting yourself bound to the vampire for the foreseeable future. If you’re lucky, you’ll make it out of this ordeal alive.

@blueeyesatnight for Strongest Member of the Team (Marcus Moreno x reader (eventual wife))

@wyn-n-tonic for The Fizzy Universe (Frankie Morales x original female character)

A snapshot series in to the lives and relationship of Francisco Morales and Elizabeth Miller, Benny’s and Will’s sister.

@disgruntledspacedad for the Better Love series (Javier Peña x original female character/named reader)

He’s a DEA Agent. You work for the CIA. You’re an unstoppable force. He’s an immovable object. A collision between you is inevitable. The fallout will be monumental. Slices of life from your adventures with Peña in Colombia.

@jazzelsaur for Between the Raindrops (Frankie Morales x original female character/named reader)

Frankie’s life is coming apart at the seams, when Ellie, a widow facing her own share of struggles, moves in next door. Together they find friendship, healing, and something more.

send some love to your favourite fic writers for new year ✨

#pedro pascal character x reader #frankie morales x reader #marcus moreno x reader #javier peña x reader #pero tovar x reader #marcus pike x reader #dave york x reader #oberyn martell x reader #author fic appreciation 2021

[madslorian]

April Fanfic Recommendations

I'm back! I have unfortunately written 3 papers in the last 2 weeks and honestly even though I had time to read at night and come reblog stuff during the day, I could not compile this list for you in my spare time.

This is a collection of I believe 3 weeks, so I left out some stories that I will include in another post instead! This week we're trying something different where I include the author's tags or warnings. That makes me feel hella vulnerable fully exposing what I read, but it's okay! I want to be more open in what is intended for those 18+.

** means NSFW and not intended for those under 18, and please pay attention to warnings!

Authors mentioned this week:

@frannyzooey

@mylifeisactuallyamess

@starryeyedstories

@tintinwrites

@dameronology

@autumnleaves1991-blog

@ithinkhesgaybutwesavedmufasa

@absurdthirst

@bison-writes

@221bshrlocked

@heatherbel

@slater-baby

⊱{Frankie Morales}⊰

**RUNTIME BY FRANNYZOOEY

↳ Smut!!, cockwarming, PIV, and filthy dirty talk.

**TITLE MENU BY FRANNYZOOEY

↳ Smut!!, oral sex (female receiving), mutual masturbation, and another round of dirty talk making me blush.

**POST CREDITS SCENE BY FRANNYZOOEY

↳ Smut!!, PIV, and you guessed it, dirty talk.

⊱{Poe Dameron}⊰

**YAVIN HIGH REUNION BY MYLIFEISACTUALLYAMESS

↳ Smut!!, mentions of divorce, mention of a child, angst, fluff, alcohol, swearing.

IT'S TIME BY STARRYEYEDSTORIES

↳ Childbirth, swearing, emotions, but overall just a happy little Dameron family.

SOFT (MINI-SERIES) PART 1 / PART 2 BY TINTINWRITES

↳ Naughty words, sexual references, enjoy part 2...

THE LIGHT SIDE (MINI-SERIES) PART 1 / PART 2 / PART 3 BY TINTINWRITES

↳ Implications of sex, pregnant reader, fainting, naughty words, angry Poe, this one made my heart go soft.

**PROVOCATIVE (MINI-SERIES) PART 1 / PART 2 BY TINTINWRITES

↳ Smut!!, College Professor!Poe x Student!Reader, kinky, spanking, and then freaking out when emotions are mentioned.

INSOMNIA (MINI-SERIES) BY DAMERONOLOGY

↳ 5 chapters, swearing, fluff, angst, mentions of injury.

POE DAMERON'S WIFE (MINI-SERIES) (AO3) BY ZIVABALLERINA

↳ 5 chapters, Poe Dameron x OFC, implied death, fluff, mentions of injury, swearing, fluff again, Poe being fricken adorable with a baby for a second on chapter 3, loss of friends. (There's also a part 2 to this story listed on AO3, however, it hasn't been updated in almost a year.)

⊱{Cassian Andor}⊰

**THE SUN ON BOTH SIDES BY NO-DROIDS

↳ Smut!!, PIV, sex pollen, dub-con, drug use, best friends to lovers, mutual pining, dirty talk, oral sex (male and female receiving).

⊱{King Arthur}⊰

**LITTLE ONE (MINI-SERIES?) PART 1 / PART 2 BY AUTUMNLEAVES1991-BLOG

↳ Smut!!, PIV, really rough sex, restraint, sir/majesty kink (daddy equivalent), language, torture, spanking, nipple clamps, blindfolds, choking, unprotected sex, squirting, gagging, and a bit of fluff, so basically any filthy thing I've ever thought of was in these pieces.

⊱{Max Phillips}⊰

**WITH CHERRIES ON TOP (SERIES) BY ITHINKHESGAYBUTWESAVEDMUFASA

↳ Smut!!, language, adult themes, sexual innuendos, workplace harassment, family issues, angst, hurt/comfort, manipulation. I've already recommended this (when I was on chapter 1) but I have since finished this story and loved it!

**UNHOLY SACRIFICE BY ABSURDTHIRST

↳ Smut!!, PIV, religion kink, virginity kink, religious guilt, severe blasphemy, lewd acts in a church, desecration of holy grounds, oral sex (female receiving), loss of virginity, unprotected sex, blood, blood-drinking, creampie, death, so much filthy shit I don't even think I could explain how hot it was.

yeah I had to use that gif, he looks like a wooly mammoth and I laughed when I saw this scene

⊱{Pero Tovar}⊰

SWEEP ME OFF MY FEET BY BISON-WRITES

↳ Modern!Pero, mentions a car accident, mentions of injury, fluff.

**EL BAŃO BY ABSURDTHIRST

↳ Smut!!, PIV, handjob, derogatory language, loss of virginity, oral sex (female receiving), unprotected sex, creampie.

**AS SWEET AS HONEY, AS TEMPTING AS DEATH BY 221BSHRLOCKED

↳ Smut!!, PIV, angst, blasphemy once again, dub-con, sex pollen, mutual pining, voyeurism to some degree, unprotected sex, hot dirty talk, spanking, hair pulling, oral sex (female and male receiving), creampie, slight choking, fluid exchange, overstimulation, squirting, I come back to this one often.

⊱{Javier Peña}⊰

USED TEA BAGS BY AUTUMNLEAVES1991-BLOG

↳ 18+, language, implied sexual situations.

⊱{Dave York}⊰

BLANK PAGE BY HEATHERBEL

↳ Smut!!, murder, violence, blood, death, reader in danger, slight dub-con, oral sex (both male and female receiving), unprotected sex.

GRAY AREA BY SLATER-BABY

↳ Canon-divergence, sharing clothes, age gap, the realization of feelings, falling in love, getting asked out, fluff, character exploration, mentioned divorce, mentioned former Dave York x Carol York, non-explicit murder/violence/injury.

⊱{Marcus Moreno}⊰

WE ARE FAMILY BY STARRYEYEDSTORIES

↳ Themes of pregnancy, babies, and childbirth (no birth scene).

THE PAST, PRESENT, & FUTURE (MINI-SERIES) PART 1 / PART 2 / **PART 3 BY BISON-WRITES

↳ **for smut!! (I'm doing all these tags on my own so bear with me) Original character, mention of injury, running away from home, friends/coworkers to lovers, mentions of Marcus losing his wife, slight steam in part 1, making out like teenagers hehe, meddling kids, kids forcing the adults into a date, drinking, and more making out in part 2, Miracle Guy interrupting stuff, kids using their powers to manipulate Marcus and OC, angry and yelling at the kids, injury.

Smut tags - oral sex (female receiving), PIV, protected sex

⊱{Marcus Pike}⊰

FAMILY MAN BY STARRYEYEDSTORIES

↳ Headcanon, parenthood, and children.

#madslorian recommendations #frankie morales #poe dameron #cassian andor #king arthur #dave york #max phillips #pero tovar #javier peña #marcus moreno #marcus pike #frankie morales x reader #frankie morales x you #poe dameron x reader #cassian andor x reader #cassian andor x you #king arthur x reader #king arthur x you #dave york x reader #dave york x you #max phillips x reader #max phillips x you #pero tovar x reader #pero tovar x you #javier peña x reader #javier peña x you #marcus moreno x reader #marcus moreno x you #marcus moreno x oc #marcus pike x reader

[prolix-yuy]

Want to join the fun? Head to @writersironchef for details, prompts and to find other writers entries!

Slow Dancing: Jack “Whiskey” Daniels x F!Reader

The Bridge: Jack "Whiskey" Daniels x F!Reader (continued from Slow Dancing)

Forbidden Kiss: Ezra x GN!Reader

Stop That, Right Now: Pero Tovar x F!Reader

Teamwork: Pero Tovar x F!Reader (continued from Stop That, Right Now)

Taking a Bath Together: Marcus Pike x F!Reader

The Devil You Know: The Thief "Casillero del Diablo" x Original Female Character

Falling Asleep: Francisco "Catfish" Morales x GN!Reader

Staying the Night: Jack Russell (Werewolf by Night) x F!Reader

Mistake: Jack Russell (Werewolf by Night) x F!Reader (continued from Staying the Night)

The List: Marcus Pike x F!Reader

My Everything and Beyond: Marcus Pike x F!Reader

Anywhere but Here: Joel Miller x Tess Servopoulos

Lovesick: Joel Miller x GN!Reader

#lissie's writers' iron chef #writers' iron chef #pedro pascal fanfiction #werewolf by night fanfiction

[youvebeenlivingfictional]

Words please!

Likely

Blink

Tear

Hold

Sure thing buddy :D

Likely

This is from part two of That Yeehaw Motherfucker, a Jack "Whiskey" Daniels fic

Were you tipsy, or were you actually having a good time? Well the most likely (and most shocking) answer was that it was a little bit of both. After you’d agreed to stick around for one drink, Jack had returned to the table with his own drink - and shots for all three of you.

Blink

This is from In Black and White, a George Russell x Original Female Character fic

“I’m so sorry!” It was a softer voice than he expected. George finally turned to face the person properly. As he did, his breath caught in his throat. 

He recognized her eyes, first. They had so often been bright with mischief, or a taunt, though now the gold-flecked hazel was shaded with nerves. In just a blink, they were bright again, and George’s lips pulled into an unwitting smile. 

“Mr. Russell!” She laughed with an open ease and joy. “I’m terribly sorry—I was distracted.” 

“That does not surprise me one bit, Miss Flannery.” 

Tear

This is from the Autumn Flush chapter of Cold Snap (which I swear I'm still working on)

The celebration is a small one, but you’re certain it couldn’t be lovelier. The town’s judge officiates; half of the town turns up to see the two of you married. You can’t shield or mask your joy, and you don’t want to. Tears spring up in your eyes as you exchange vows; you have to stop yourself from leaning into his chest and clinging to him in front of the others. 

Hold

This is from Sleeper, a Marcus Pike x Reader fic

“And your connection to this painting?” You hold the remaining pictures in your hand up, waving them a little. Pike’s expression flashes with embarrassment of his own, a bashful smile taking over his lips.

“I’m uh…I’m also something of a collector.”



“…Uh huh,” You nod, “So this isn’t Mish’s. This is yours.” 



“It is.” 



“You think you have a sleeper.” 

“I think it’s a possibility.”

#asks #replies #ask meme

[albertasunrise]

Sooooo a few of y’all asked to be added to my tag list, which I did, but for whatever reason your usernames didn’t save and I’ve lost em now 😭… So if you wanna be added, please can you let me know via this link again ♥️

Taglist form

#pedro pascal character fanfiction #pedro pascal #pedro pascal fanfiction #pedro pascal characters #narcos fanfiction #narcos #pedro pascal characters #pedro pascal fanfiction #narcos fanfic #narcos fanfiction x reader #javier pena x you #javier pena x reader #javier peña fanfic #marcus pike x original female character #marcus pike fanfiction #marcus pike x you #marcus pike x reader #frankier morales x reader #frankie morales x you #francisco morales x you #francisco morales x reader #din djarin & reader #din djarin x reader #din djarin x you #mandalorian x you #mandalorian fanfiction

[aion-rsa]

Wheel of Time Amazon TV Series: Everything You Need to Know

https://ift.tt/30p6YSh

The Wheel of Time, the sprawling fantasy novel mythology by Robert Jordan, is heading to Amazon Prime as a series.

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One of the most popular fantasy franchises of the literary world, The Wheel of Time, is getting a live-action television adaptation. Originally authored by Robert Jordan, the 80 million-selling 1990-2013 book series depicts a sprawling mythology, amalgamating feudal and magical tropes with elements of Eastern mysticism. Indeed, the books bear philosophical influences from European and Asian culture, notably Buddhism and Hinduism, centered on the idea of time being cyclical in nature.

Amazon gave a series order to The Wheel of Time back in October 2018, setting the project as an hour-long series that will stream on Amazon Prime Video, as reported by Deadline and confirmed by an APV retweet. The move was the culmination of what had been a year-and-a-half process, going back to April 2017, when it was first reported that Sony Pictures Television was moving forward with the TV project.

The Wheel of Time Cast

Amazon continues to fill out the cast of its upcoming Wheel of Time series. This round of casting features four relatively new faces (at least to American audiences). Veteran Spanish actor Alvaro Morte will play Logain Ablar of the Black Tower. Hammed Animashaun (Black Mirror) will play Loial, an Ogier from Shangtai. Alexandre Willaume will be Thom Merrilin, a former bard. Johann Myers will portray the darkfiend Padan Fain.

Amazon recently released this footage featuring The Wheel of Time cast in a table read of the script, which also reveals the presence of Naana Agyei-Ampadu (GameFace), whose role is unknown at this time.

On September 10th, the cast and crew of #WOTonPrime got together to read the first episode of The Wheel Of Time. Production is now on its way and we are VERY excited to see this show come to life! #TwitterOfTime, this is for you. pic.twitter.com/FmWA4zeh2r

— The Wheel of Time on Prime (@WoTonPrime) October 2, 2019

As for the rest of the cast...

Daniel Henney was recently added to The Wheel of Time cast. He will play al’Lan Mandragoran, a.k.a. Lan, the stoic warder (essentially a protector,) of Moraine (Rosamund Pike). However, Lan happens to be the lone survivor of a royal bloodline, and is the uncrowned king of Malkier, a province that was overrun by forces of the Shadow. Henney's announced casting as Lan was accompanied by the following quote: "I swear to stand against the Shadow so long as iron is hard and stone abides - to defend the Malkieri while one drop of blood remains. I swear to avenge what cannot be defended."

Henney, an American actor, can be currently seen on CBS’s Criminal Minds, which he joined in 2015’s Season 10, and is also known as the voice of Tadashi in 2014 feature Big Hero 6 and its current animated series. Besides TV runs on Revolution, Hawaii Five-0 and Three Rivers, he appeared in the 2009 Fox-Marvel solo spinoff movie, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, as Agent Zero, the character known in the comic book mythology as assassin Maverick.

The series recently revealed a quintet of main cast members. The show’s official social media also provides pertinent quoted descriptions for each of the characters, culminating with the message, "It was about them all." The cast members consist of the following (pictured directly below from the left):

Madeleine Madden (Picnic at Hanging Rock, Tidelands) as Egwene Al’Vere. – “It was about a woman who would not bend her back while she was beaten, and who shown with a light for all who watched.”

Josha Stradowski (Instinct, Spangas) as Rand Al’Thor. – “It was not about me. It’s never been about me.”

Marcus Rutherford (Obey, Shakespeare & Hathaway) as Perrin Aybara. – “It was about a man whose family was taken from him, but who stood tall in his sorrow and protected those he could.”

Zoë Robins (Power Rangers Ninja Steel, The Shannara Chronicles) as Nynaeve. – “It was about a woman who refused to believe that she could not help, could not heal those who had been harmed.”

Barney Harris (Clique, Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk) as Mat Cauthon. – “It was about a hero who insisted with every breath that he was anything but a hero.”

They will, of course, join the show’s June-announced headliner...

Rosamund Pike officially landed the lead role in The Wheel of Time as Moiraine. A member of an all-female secret society of magic users, called the Blue Ajah of the Aes Sedai, Moiraine embarks on a dangerous journey with five young people she comes to mentor, one of whom she believes could be the reincarnation of someone prophesized to either save or destroy humanity.

Pike, an Oscar-nominated actress for her role as Amy Dunne in 2014’s Gone Girl, is also known from 2005’s Pride & Prejudice and as a Bond villainess in 2002’s Die Another Day. She recently fielded a small screen starring run on SundanceTV comedy State of the Union, and appeared in films such as A Private War, 7 Days in Entebbe, Beirut, Hostiles and The Man with the Iron Heart. She’ll next be seen in the August-scheduled crime drama, The Informer, and, amongst other projects, will co-star as Marie Curie in the fact-based 2020 romance drama, Radioactive.

The Wheel of Time Director

Uta Briesewitz is set to direct the first two episodes of The Wheel of Time, reports Deadline. This should be great news for genre fans, seeing as the German director and cinematographer, Brieswitz, brings small screen experience from directorial runs on shows like Netflix’s Stranger Things (in the recent Season 3), HBO’s The Deuce and Westworld, AMC’s Fear the Walking Dead, Starz’s Black Sails and Netflix-Marvel shows such as (the just cancelled) Jessica Jones, Iron Fist and The Defenders, as well as streaming giant offerings Orange is the New Black and the returning Altered Carbon. Plus, she’s fielded runs on Fox’s Lethal Weapon and The CW shows The 100 and Jane the Virgin. Indeed, with a peak television CV like that, The Wheel of Time should be in good hands for its launch.

The Wheel of Time series buck stops with Rafe Judkins, who assumes duties as writer, executive producer and showrunner. Judkins is no stranger to genre television, serving as a producer and writer on ABC’s Marvel series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Netflix horror series, Hemlock Grove. He was also a story editor for NBC’s beloved geek-wish-fulfillment spy series, Chuck. Judkins will be joined by executive producers Rick Selvage and Larry Mondragon of Red Eagle and producers Ted Field and Mike Weber of Radar Pictures. Additionally, the property’s authorial legacy is in place with Jordan’s widow, Harriet McDougal, onboard as a consulting producer.

As Sharon Tal Yguado, Head of Event Series, Amazon Originals states:

“Developing and producing Robert Jordan’s beloved fourteen-books-series for TV is a big undertaking, and we don’t take it lightly. We believe that Rafe’s personal connection to the material and soulful writing will resonate with the book’s passionate fans.”

The Wheel of Time Release Date

The Wheel of Time has yet to announce a release date. However, a production timeframe was recently spotted in trade magazine Production Weekly, via fan site The Daily Trolloc. The excerpt claims that the series is set to begin rolling cameras in Prague, Czech Republic sometime in September 2019.

The Wheel of Time Details

The Wheel of Time TV series is moving along swiftly, with production having started on September 16, a bittersweet date, since it also marked the 12-year anniversary of author Robert Jordan's passing.

#ThankYouRobertJordan pic.twitter.com/B5MF5LO5aU

— The Wheel of Time on Prime (@WoTonPrime) September 16, 2019

Of course, The Wheel of Time is a large-scale endeavor, since the novels of Robert Jordan (nom de plume of James O. Rigney Jr.), three of which were completed by Brandon Sanderson after Jordan passed away in 2007, build an intricate mythology governed by the titular seven-spoke Wheel of Time powered by an incorporeal celestial source of power. Like the Force in Star Wars, it is a binary power utilized by gifted people, here called “channelers.” The story is spread across epochs in the continuing battle against Shai’tan (or, the Dark One,) who, upon breaking free of imprisonment from the Creator, exerts influence on the malleable to lead the source toward evil.

Amazon's series order for The Wheel of Time arrives after several years of starts and stops, going back to 2000 when author Jordan was still alive. A pilot called Winter Dragon, starring Billy Zane and Max Ryan, aired on FXX on February 8, 2015 (at 1:30 a.m.) to no fanfare or fruition (it was essentially a move by Red Eagle to prevent the rights from expiring). However, McDougal herself made media ripples in April 2016 when she announced “exciting news” about the property; something that required the clearing of some legal issues before moving forward. After the resolution of said legal issues, McDougal speculated that The Wheel of Time would become a “cutting edge TV series.”

We’ll keep you updated on Amazon’s The Wheel of Time as things develop.

Read and download the Den of Geek NYCC 2019 Special Edition Magazine right here!

Joseph Baxter is a contributor for Den of Geek and Syfy Wire. You can find his work here. Follow him on Twitter @josbaxter.

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Joseph Baxter

Dec 4, 2019

Wheel of Time

Sony Pictures TV

Amazon Prime Video

from Books https://ift.tt/2Is5rVJ

#aion-rsa #Books

[crystxlclear]

sudden desire

chapter nine: how to run from the mess you’ve made!

part ten of sudden desire

synopsis: marcus meets the parents.

word count: you’re crying. this is long. this is so damn long. this is 12.2k words and you’re crying.

warnings: mentions of pregnancy, mentions of periods, alcohol consumption, strong language, angst, the briefest and barely noticeable references to sexy times

author’s note: i have nothing to say except jesus christ it’s so long (also i got hit with that text block limit, so couldn’t even add a gif???? don’t think anything got deleted but i can’t be sure! hopefully we’re okay!) also not beta’d because it’s so long and i’m lazy

“My parents are in town and they want to meet you.”

She breaks it to him over coffee in the early morning. It’s become practice for him to wake before her - her apartment or his, any day, any time - and have a mug of coffee waiting for her whenever she drags herself from the bed, seemingly too sprightly for 7:30, to greet him. It’s become their ritual, over the weeks, stealing moments over sunrise and coffee. Quiet mornings where caffeine and the quiet hum of the city lull them away from the precipice of dreamy delirium. Coraline hides herself behind the familiar mug like he hasn’t seen every part of her soul stripped bare. 

Judging by the look on Marcus’ face, it would have seemed as if Coraline had just told him one of them was dying. The colour has drained from his cheeks, pale, ghost-white and wide-eyed. He coughs, trying to play off his shock and utter bewilderment, and hide the way his jaw drops a little at the notion. “Erm... what?” His eyebrows raise in that almost playful, questioning way, like, reclining back on the sofa and trying to seem nonchalant about the entire situation, attempting to pull at some of his usually-cool demeanour to cover his worry. 

He knows Coraline can read him far too well to fall for it.

“I said-” There’s a small smirk that curves the corner of her lips. She can’t help it. “-my parents are in town-” Coraline leans forward and places her half-drunk mug of coffee on the cluttered coffee table. “-and they want to meet you.”

“They want to meet me? Why not Loren? You’ve known her longer.”

“They’ve known Loren for years and she dated my brother. You, on the other hand, they’ve never met.” Coraline chuckles and cocks her head to the side. She raises an eyebrow at him when his expression remains dumbfounded; or shocked or bewildered. Whatever it is, he looks like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming truck. It’s unusual seeing him like this, without his usual air of confidence and poise. “Besides, you’re my best friend, dumbass.”

“I am?” There’s a swell of pride in his expression, now; it flickers there for a moment, before the uncertainty creeps back in. 

“Of course you are!” She tilts her head. Her hair falls over her shoulder, brushing against her collarbone and the skin of her shoulder where her sleep shirt has slipped down. “You already know that.”

He watches her for a moment. Warm eyes capture her gaze and she can’t tear herself away from him as he searches for something behind her eyes; she’s not sure what he’s looking for, and she’s not sure if she even offers up the answers. “Do they know about-” He motions between the two of them. He can’t find the right words to describe whatever it is between them. He’s not even sure there is a word to describe it. “-the agreement?”

“The baby stuff?” She questions, though she already knows what he means. Sometimes she has to remind herself, out loud, to assure herself that it’s not some kind of strange dream. “No, no. I don’t even know where to start with that.”

“What happens when you do get pregnant?”

“If I get pregnant-” she insists. She’s learnt not to get her hopes up; she’s part of a fickle industry, inevitable disappointment is familiar enough to her, now. “As far as they’re concerned, it was an accident. A very happy, not-entirely-accidental-or-unwelcome accident. That’s all they need to know.”

He exhales sharply and runs his hand over the stubble that covers his jaw. “And if they hate me?”

Coraline has to stifle a laugh against her coffee mug. Her lipstick leaves a half-moon of red against the ceramic. She’s sure she looks ridiculous; half dressed up, makeup done in only half an hour, in the dim morning light of her bedroom, hair still a tangled, pillow-tousled mess and in her pyjamas - or solely Marcus’ shirt and her underwear - from the night before. Still, when she’d entered the kitchen in search of caffeine, he’d looked at her like she was the most beautiful sight he’d ever laid eyes on. Sometimes, he makes her believe that she is. “Are you scared?” She smirks, wiggling her eyebrows. His expression is wavering and it just makes her grin even wider. “Like they could ever hate you.” She thinks that might be the most ridiculous thing he’s ever said. Besides, she’s pretty sure her father would like anyone who made Coraline happy. And, God knows, Marcus makes her the happiest she’s ever been. “You’re pretty damn great, aren’t you?”

He hums out a laugh at her reply. “I try.”

“Look, if they don’t like you- but they will, I guarantee they will- then that’s their loss, and it won’t change my mind about how much I adore you.” She almost cringes at her choice of words; perhaps saying that you adored your best friend - your best friend who you were committed to having a child with, wasn’t the most articulate of choices. Adore was spared for lovers, which they definitely were not. “But, if you really don’t want to meet them, that’s fine. I’m not going to force you. But I just think that- maybe- it would be nice if they knew you before- well, y’know-”

“And you would introduce me as…?”

“Marcus, stop deflecting.” She prods him in the side and his face breaks out into a great beaming smile. “My best friend, hopeful future father of my child, Agent Marcus James Pike.” She clarifies, half-jokingly, with amusement in her voice.

“I’m not sure how well that would go over, Cora.”

She raises her eyebrows quickly then drops them with a resigned sigh. “Best to leave out the baby stuff for now, huh?” 

Her father is her oldest friend. They’ve always been close, a true daddy’s girl since she was two-years-old. He was so damn supportive of her dreams, the one who believed in her all those years ago when it seemed like no one else did. He’s part of the industry; behind the scenes, more into the music that soundtracked her performances than being in front of the camera, and preferring to stick around in not-so-sunny Michigan than move his entire family to California, where the highest demand was. Rather than persuading her against acting, pushing her away from the fickle world that was Hollywood, he wanted her to succeed. He never gave her a leg up or helped, just watched in adoration as she carved her own path.

But this, this was one thing she wasn’t entirely sure he would support. Maybe, if they were lucky, they’d catch him in a good mood. Maybe they’d be able to bring him around to the idea. 

She figured, however, that it was better just to call it all an accident and pretend that a pregnancy wasn’t meant to happen.

“Can you help me with the food? I can’t cook.”

“You can’t cook?” 

Coraline hits him on the arm with the back of her hand, lightly, pouting at him as he chuckles at her half-hearted fake offence. “Shut up, Pike.” Her hand clasps over her heart. “Oh, I’m wounded, I’m wounded.”

He leans forward and drops a quick, fleeting kiss to her cheekbone. His plush lips barely brush gently over the bone yet it still sends coils of searing heat through her chest. A smile blooms across her lips like a flower unfurling its petals. “Sorry, Sunshine.” He grins again as he stands and maneuvers over towards the kitchen. “As much as I would love to watch your attempts at achieving culinary excellence, I’ve got to work all week,” he tells her as he drops his half-empty coffee mug into the sink. He checks the time on his watch - 8:35, just enough time to pull himself together and make it into work - and rolls down his pushed-up sleeves. 

“Take the day off today. Call in sick or something.” She pouts, peeking out over the sofa as he fixes his tie and tugs on his suit jacket. “Help me shop and then prep things and cook and-”

Marcus stops dead as he moves to pull on his suit jacket. “They’re coming today?”

“Did I not mention that?” She squeaks.

“It slipped your mind, Sunshine.”

Coraline sighs and slides back into the thick sofa cushions, letting them swallow her whole. “They’ll be here at six.”

He leans against the wooden kitchen counter, crossing his arms over his chest, and smiles at her with that soft smile that inspires so much comfort within her. “I’ll be here at five.”

“You will?” Her face lights up and she practically leaps from the couch. In Marcus’ eyes, she radiates sunshine. “I’m so, so sorry about this, it was all so last minute because my dad’s been ill, and they were meant to go to Daniel’s instead, but he has to work late and-”

“It’s no problem, Cora.”

She pauses, measuring his expression. “That’s a lie, but I appreciate the support and optimism.”

“Well, there has to be one optimist in this relationship.”

Relationship. Only a friendship.

“Thank you, again,” she exhales tightly, watching as he scoops up his briefcase and keys. After the first month, they’d had the foresight to leave their stuff at each other’s houses; there are three of Marcus’ shirts hung at the edge of her closet and a couple of Coraline’s dresses tucked inside his; spare toothbrushes by the bathroom sink, deodorant on the dresser, shampoo by the shower. There’s no need for a mad, early-morning dash across town, now. Just relaxed mornings with coffee that slowly lure them awake. Marcus is dressed and ready to go, looking as handsome as ever as he checks he’s ready, before he steps out for the day.

“Don’t worry about it,” he insists, flashing her a dazzling, heartstopping smile. He drops a second fleeting and breathless kiss to her cheekbone before sweeping out of the front door.

Thank God for Marcus Pike.

...

He’s far more relaxed than he’d expected when he steps into Coraline’s apartment. His feet are aching and his back is rigid and tight with the weight of the day’s workload, but the comfort of her apartment is indescribable. The air in D.C. had been uncharacteristically hot; the city was thick with the cloying humidity of late-spring, the kind that sticks your clothes to your skin with an uncomfortable insistency. But Coraline’s apartment is a breath of fresh air; the AC is cranked up to ten and he sinks into comfort the moment he steps over the threshold. Perhaps it’s the low hum of music, whispering and slow and crackling gently as the vinyl spins in it’s customary circles, or the homely smell of the citrus and cotton candles she burns. Or, perhaps, it’s just her and the way she hums along to the crooning melody of Jeff Buckley. He wouldn’t mind returning home to this every day. The sight of her, living her life enraptured in bliss, carefree and happy, for the eyes of everyone else.

He knows this record is her favourite - a mismatch of songs that seem to have no reason to be on the same record, but somehow seem so utterly Coraline that he can’t help but think of her any time one graces the radio - but that she only plays it when she’s anxious. It’s one of her tells. And he wonders how long it’s taken for her to relax, how long it’s been since the tense set of her shoulders had finally relaxed and she’d melted into the mindless swaying of her body.

“Welcome home, honey,” her lilting voice calls over the music, in a mock sultry voice. It’s tipped with a carefree giggle and, though he can’t see his face, he knows she’s struggling to smother a wide smile. “Have a good day at work?” She asks without turning to look at him. She’s paying far more attention to what’s in front of her, meticulously chopping vegetables like doing it wrong would spell the end of the world.

“It was fine. Lot of paperwork.” Marcus shrugs off his suit jacket, rolls up his sleeves to his elbows and meanders through towards the kitchen where Coraline is. “What are we making?”

“Erm- well- chicken, I guess?” She can feel the weight of his amused gaze upon her face. “Don’t look at me like that. I bought chicken, I just don’t know what to make with it.”

“One of these days, I’m going to teach you how to cook. Save you from living on takeout and cold food.”

“At least I eat vegetables. Things could be a lot worse.”

He glances over at her, skeptical, as he takes over, surveying the groceries Coraline has lined up along the countertop. She’d bought stuff blindly at the store; stuff she knew Marcus liked, knew her parents liked, knew her nephews would actually eat, and had somehow ended up with two full bags of groceries, half of which she has no idea how to cook. The other half, she has no clue whether Marcus has any use for. Hindsight was a wonderful thing and she’d wished she’d called him at the office to ask what the hell she needed to buy at the store. It’s useful, she assumed, because at least she’s prepared. But there’s definitely such a thing as being over prepared, and it’s almost embarrassing to see the result of her panic buying.

“Cooking’s pretty easy,” he explains, cherry-picking ingredients from the far-too-neatly and meticulously stacked pile and examining them. “Just try not to burn anything.” 

“Okay, okay, Gordon Ramsay. What are we eating for dinner?”

...

Coraline has no idea what he’s made. She knows what’s in it, but what they make, what they taste like together, she’s hopelessly clueless. She’d helped out as much as she could, chopping vegetables, tucking away the things he didn’t need, but he moved around the kitchen with practiced ease. He’s always proclaimed he isn’t a cook - at least, he’s never claimed to be a bad one, or, at least, not as terrible as Coraline seems to be - and they always tend to settle on takeout and quick breakfasts, whenever they’re together, but the way he’d navigated things seems second nature to him. Still, whatever he’s made, it smells good - amazing, in fact - as it cooks slowly in the oven beside them.

Coraline sits atop the counter, legs swinging idly in front of her. She sips at her glass of merlot, restraining herself, wishing she could just down the damn thing and pour another, and another, and another. “Hmm, liquid courage,” she hums as she takes a sip of the crimson liquid. It’s more to herself than to Marcus, though he seems to hear and chuckle to himself, rolling his pushed-up shirt sleeves back down over his wrists and retying his tie that had been neatly folded over the back of a barstool since he came in. 

She feels a little guilty for drinking, though she’d just finished her period, their efforts of trying for a baby seemingly unsuccessful. But the cramps in her stomach are still overwhelming and her eyelids still feel endlessly heavy. Wine seems to be the best - and the only - solution to her situation. Wine and ice cream. Lots and lots of ice cream. “Want some?” She offers out the half-empty bottle for him when he notices her watching her, settling his tie against the hollow of his throat, neat and proper. 

“I’m good for now.” He refuses, crossing his arms over his chest. His shirt pulls over his back and shoulders when he moves and the curve of his muscles are visible beneath the white cotton of his shirt. “I’d rather be sober when I meet your parents.” 

He’d laughed earlier, laughed at him being so strung up over meeting them. That it wasn’t as if they were getting married, and they were his soon-to-be-in-laws. They weren’t the bearers of brutal bad news or the rulers of Coraline’s life, either. And he knows her well enough that she’s sure she’ll never forget him because her parents don’t like him. And that, if they don’t like him, it isn’t entirely the end of the world. At least, that’s what he’d told her. But it would be the end of the world, to him; she means the world to him, more than she even realises, and they would be the grandparents of their child, after all. They’d be important to them and to Coraline and, if they were anything like Marcus’ parents, they’d love that baby more than the air that they breathed, more than anything else in the world, and more than they ever thought possible. He’s an only child and the bearer of all that love and adoration they had to offer for so long. And he has no doubt that Coraline’s parents feel the same way about her.

“They’ll love you, Marcus,” she insists. Coraline sets her wineglass down beside her on the countertop and leans forward, hands braced either side of her thighs as she glares at him over the rim of her glasses. She wears them whenever she’s stressed; she rubs her eyes a lot - something about fidgeting and idle hands, an unconscious distraction - and contact lenses don’t tend to fare too well when the days drag on and the night arrives. She’s had sore eyes by 6pm far too many times. “You don’t have to worry about it. Just be the same brilliant man you always are and I’m sure you’ll all be best friends in no time.”

He snorts out a breathy laugh through his nose. “Maybe you’ll be bumped down to second place.”

“Hey!” She jabs a finger in his direction playfully and tilts her head, cocking an eyebrow as he smirks at her. “Don’t even joke about that.”

“No one could ever replace you, Sunshine.” His smirk melts into a fond smile, the kind that practically melts her whenever she sees the way his warm eyes revere her, as if she’s a long-thought-lost painting he’s laying eyes on for the first time. She’s quite fond of the way he makes her feel as if she actually means something in the world.

“They better not.” She fakes a pointed glare in his direction. “Good luck getting rid of me now.” She grins, beaming.

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” he insists, pushing off the counter opposite her to check the time on the oven. He settles back against the counter again, beside her this time. An embarrassing groan almost slips from her lips, involuntarily and likely painfully loud, when she smells his cologne. It blooms out in front of him when he moves, that gentle and familiar scent that she could recognise a mile away. It’s warm spice mixes with the soft scent of his shampoo and Coraline feels the last trickles of anxiety bleed from her as she takes it in. It relieves the terrible tension that holds stoic and unwavering in her shoulders.

“Used to play this song with my band.” He snaps her from her reverie with another revelation, the warmth of his voice only serving to help the winding down of the tension within her. At least with him here, things feel fine again. She’s sure that things will be fine. But she isn’t entirely sure her parents liked Scott too much - not right for her, too unenthusiastic and seemingly full of himself - but Marcus? Marcus is the opposite. There’s no reason why they won’t like him; he’s sweet and kind and considerate and wonderful, cares about her and everything that she does, cares about her happiness and sits to listen without complaint to all her problems and fears. He asks her how her day has been, unprompted. Her dad has only ever wanted that for her, even if this was only in the form of a friend, not in a lover.

“You did?” She raises an eyebrow. Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears plays quietly over the speakers. She doesn’t know what kind of music she’d expected Marcus to make in college, but somehow this isn’t it. When he’d told her about the short-lived tongue piercing and his self-proclaimed ‘punk’ phase, she’d pictured the Sex Pistols and the Ramones, not this soft pop rock that soundtracked her teenage years. It’s a sight she longs to see. now; she can’t imagine anything but sweet, gentlemanly Marcus and his suits, when the edgiest she’d seen him dress being a leather jacket and jeans on his days off.

Marcus has never been one to shy away from that part of his life - he jokes about it all more than she does, the edgy phase of college rebellion, those first years away from home - but she’s yet to see photographic evidence of such escapades. Every time she asks, pleads, eve, batting her eyelashes and smiling as sweetly as she can muster, his cheeks flush and he ducks his head, and brushes off her request with a joke or a second, more appealing suggestion. He has no reason to be embarrassed, though; he’s seen the worst of her, even her ‘goth’ phase in high school, which was really nothing more than her wearing black lipstick everyday for a couple of months. There’s a playful glint in her eyes as she reminds him of the lack of proof. “I’m still waiting on those videos, y’know.”

“I have to prepare before I show you them.”

“Oh, please. You have nothing to be embarrassed about. You’ve seen that old horror movie I was in,” she reminds him. The horror movie in question, which ended in her soaked in blood and limping around with an axe trailing behind her, was not the cinematic masterpiece the director hoped it would be. It’s a shame, really, because Coraline watches far too many horror films in her spare time, even the cheesy ones that it’s fun to poke fun at. She’d at least like to be in a good one.

She reaches down to pour herself a second, probably unwise and ill-thought-out glass of wine. Some nights, it only takes a couple of glasses before she’s tipsy and talking shit she can’t seem to control. Marcus sideeyes her, cocking an eyebrow in silent question, but he doesn’t seem to stop her. He doesn’t blame her, and he’ll steal away the wine the second he notices the tell-tale blush of intoxication that blooms across her cheeks.

“I’m not worried about being embarrassed,” he remarks, “I’m worried about you having your mind blown. Have to think of a way to lessen the blow.”

“Oh, is that so?” She chuckles, tipping her head back against the kitchen cupboard behind her head. “Well, I look forward to having my mind blown.” Her face lights up in realisation; her head snaps towards Marcus and she grins. “Can you still play?”

“Oh, yeah. Maybe I’ll show you sometime.” He hums. “

“I’m not worried about being embarrassed. I’m worried about you having your mind blown. Have to think of a way to lessen the blow.”

“Is that so?” She chuckles, tipping her head back against the kitchen cupboard behind her head. “Well, I look forward to it.” Her face lights up in realisation; her head snaps towards Marcus and she grins. “Can you still play?”

“Oh, yeah. Maybe I’ll show you sometime.” He hums. 

There’s a moment of pleasant silence when the music fills the sweet air. The song lulls to a close and the next begins, slow and melodic and easy. It’s one of Coraline’s favourites - Songbird by Fleetwood Mac - and her eyes pull closed as she listens to the mellow chorus of the piano. It tangles with the silence, dancing between the quiet, empty moments. “I love this song.” She sighs, eyes slipping closed.

“Dance with me.”

Coraline snorts out a jolt of laughter. “What?”

“Dance with me, Sunshine,” he repeats.

“Why?” She giggles. Her eyes are still closed as she hums along quietly to the lyrics.

“Because-” She feels him push away from the counter and settle in front of her. One hand curves around her knee, his thumb brushing short, small circles to the inside. “-it’ll take your mind off things,” he insists. 

Coraline cracks an eye open. He’s inches from her, brown eyes almost irresistible, so difficult to refuse when he looks at her like this. The candlelight flickers and turns his irises to pools of amber and gold. “I can’t dance.”

“I’ll teach you.” He states simply. 

She searches his expression for an ulterior motive. Not that she expects there to be one; there never is with Marcus. He never expects anything back in return for favours or good deeds, is just content with his acts of kindness as long as they make someone smile. He holds his hand out for her in expectation.

She takes it.

“Fine. But only one song.”

His face lights up. Like sunshine. “That’s all I want.”

His hands are gentle when they curve around her waist. He holds her close so gently, fingers pressing soft into the plush flesh of her hips, feather-light. Her heart almost stops when she feels his breath against her neck and she can’t help the sharp inhale that rips through her chest. She hopes he doesn’t hear, but she doesn’t think she’ll be that lucky. Her arms slip around his neck; she wants to hold him close, impossibly close, until the cold that always seems to plague her and all of her fear floats away, until they simply don’t exist anymore. 

“What do I do?” She whispers.

“You’ve never been slow dancing before?” He raises his eyebrows in surprise. 

“I did at my wedding but-” She chews on her lip as she ducks her head. His hands hold her hips a little tighter. “-I don’t think his heart was really in it.

Marcus watches her until she finally lifts her head again. Deft fingers the brush the brunette stands of her hair back from her forehead, tucking a loose curl behind her ear. The intoxicating scent of his cologne consumes her again; it’s rich and brilliant and she really isn’t sure why today, of all days, it’s inspiring some kind of wonderful delirium inside her. She figures it’s the alcohol, already too much before her parents arrived, just like she’d feared.

“Well, that’s his loss, Sunshine. Everyone should slow dance at least once in their life.”

He starts to sway along to the music, steady, in time to the dreamlike rhythm of Fleetwood Mac. She tries her best to follow his movements but she still feels like, somehow, she’s doing it wrong. She’s never been a good dancer, even despite the ballet lessons her mom had signed her up for when she was young, but it turns out she’s even worse than she’d thought. She’s not sure how she’s possibly able to get something as simple as slow dancing wrong. Her feet just don’t work in time with the rest of her body.

“Like this?” Her voice is small, almost a squeak.

Marcus’ hand slides into the small of her back, gently pushing her hips closer into him. It’s easier like this, with him closer, to keep in time with his movements. “Just like that.” He whispers against her ear. “You’ve got it.”

She can feel her heart beating at a mile a minute. It’s hammering right behind her ribcage and she’s sure that Marcus is close enough to feel its rapid thumping against his own chest. Still, she melts into his embrace and their movements become second nature. It’s lovely and it’s comfortable and, he’s right, it does take her mind off of her anxious jitters. The sporadic flickers of the candlelight illuminate the contours of his face when she finally drags her eyes up from their feet - she’d been watching their measured movements so she doesn’t put a foot wrong - and they highlight the fondness in his expression. 

“What?” She murmurs quietly, through the melodic silence. He doesn’t answer; his gaze maps out every curve of her face.

The intoxicating scent of his cologne consumes her; it’s rich and brilliant and she isn’t sure why today, of all days, it’s inspiring some kind of wonderful delirium inside her. She figures it’s the alcohol, already too much before her parents have even arrived, just like she’d feared. She fights against the fluttering of her own eyelids. 

“I like this dress,” he whispers, running his fingers over the soft silk material of her summer dress. He holds the strap between his thumb and forefinger and smiles. She’s pretty sure that this is his veiled attempt at trying to distract them both away from their fixed stares. “Is it new?” The soft pad of his thumb brushes against her collarbone; she has half the mind to pull away, step back from where he’s pressed flush against her, but every single shred of rational thought leaves her whenever he gets close enough. Coraline has to keep reminding herself that this isn’t how you’re meant to feel about your best friend, and she can usually manage to push those thoughts aside and remind herself how he feels about her; that he sees her as a friend. Nothing more, nothing less.

She can only nod, words catching in her throat. It feels as if every inch of her body is closing in on itself, wrapping itself in thick tension that claws relentlessly from inside her chest. “Bought it last week.” She shakes her head clear the best that she can. Goddamn alcohol. Her throat is screaming out for water. Marcus continues running the thin strap of her dress though his fingers, digits unintentionally brushing against her skin. It’s entirely innocent, and he means nothing by it. She isn’t even sure he realises what he’s doing; his gaze is firmly set on her again, brown eyes almost transfixed by her bottle green stare. 

Coraline swallows through the thick lump that labours her breathing. “I-”

She has to admit that she’s more than a little relieved when there’s an insistent knock on the door. Half an hour earlier than there’s meant to be.

Coraline takes advantage of the distraction and untagles herself from Marcus’ featherlight grip, right as the song ends and bleeds into the next, feeling utterly pathetic for the feeling that has poured over her. “Buckle up!” She tries to sound enthusiastic, clapping her hands together, but it almost certainly falls flat. Marcus watches her as she drifts towards the door, like she’s floating on air, despite the awkward shuffling of her feet against the hardwood floors. She turns to flash him a sunshine smile as she reaches for the doorknob - a smile that calms his endlessly restless soul - before she pulls open her front door with an exaggerated grin to let her parents in.

“Dad!” Her sweet voice rings out in joy at the sight of her father, looking surprisingly healthy now and, finally, back on his feet. She’s been calling him everyday, since he’d first been in hospital, months and months of phone calls just to check that he was still okay. She’s immeasurably relieved to see him okay, and smiling back at her.

“Corrie.” He returns her grin - their resemblance is startling when they smile, Marcus notes - and they’re hugging each other tightly. They haven’t seen each other in six months, her parents too busy to visit her and Daniel in D.C. Marcus knows it’s difficult for Coraline, given how close she is to her dad - and her mom, too - and how long she’d battled with herself all those years ago before she’d even moved to California. “Oh, I missed you.”

“I missed you too,” she insists as he releases her from his embrace, and she moves to greet her mom with an equally bright smile. “I missed you both, so much.”

The whole time Marcus is standing there, unsure what to do with his hands. He feels like a teenager again. With that near-debilitating awkwardness that came with meeting his first girlfriend’s parents all those years ago, it’s not too different, now. Sure, he’s much more confident than he was then and he’d grown into himself, much more practiced in meeting new people, talking to people. Hell, part of his job even included intimidating suspects, on occasion. But he feels as if he’d been reduced to the same love-sick, acne-ridden teen, sure that the girl he’d been dating for a week was the one for him. 

(They’d broken up two weeks later). 

“Marcus-” Her voice calling him - always like a song when she calls his name - lures him back to reality. “-this is my dad, Robert, and my mom, Celine. But- but you already know that.” She tells him so much about her childhood, high school, growing up, everything, that she’s sure it seems like he already knows them. He can tell she’s flustered and hiding it behind a vibrant smile. “-mom, dad, this is Marcus.”

“Marcus!” Robert grins at him and his resemblance to his daughter is even more apparent, beyond their smile; the same eyes, the same little creases at the corners when their faces light up, even down to the way their noses jut out a little at the ends, curving upwards, ever-so-slightly. “Glad to see Corrie hasn’t scared you away, yet.” He jibes lightheartedly. 

“Hey!” Coraline calls out in protest as she hugs her mom, swaying side-to-side a little as they greet each other for the first time in months. 

“My darling,” she coos as she holds Coraline close. “I missed you more than you know.”

“I missed you too, mom.”

Robert reaches out to shake Marcus’ hand, with a glint in his eyes at his playful jab at Coraline, and he gratefully accepts. “Glad you could come tonight, I know it was very last minute.”

“It’s not a problem at all, Sir,” he insists. He turns to Coraline’s mom as she approaches with an outstretched hand. She’s never been one for the ‘one-kiss-on-each-cheek’ kind of greeting with anyone but her kids. “Ma’am.” He nods her head a little in both of their directions. His Texan accent comes out far stronger than usual when he greets them. She wonders if it’s a nervous tick he has; she’s never seen him nervous before, he’s never had a reason to be nervous around her, not really. 

“Call me Robert,” he insists. 

Coraline watches on fondly as the three of them — Marcus, and her mother and father —melt into conversation. It comes so easy to him, conversation. He’s a natural with people. She doesn’t know why either of them were ever worried about their meeting; Marcus is great, as always, but sometimes her parents seem to come on a little too strong after a while (she knows Kimmy had been more than a little intimidated by them when she’d first met them). 

They’re already laughing and joking, her father’s hand on his shoulder fondly, like they’ve known each other for longer than a couple of minutes. Maybe it seems like they have; Cora is always annoyingly aware of how much time she spends talking about each of them, especially Marcus, to the other that it wouldn’t be surprising if they could each fill a book with stories she’s recounted to them with delight and fondness. 

“So, Corrie-“ Her father claps her hands together and it almost startles her. She’s been gazing at the three of them chatting for so long that it almost seems weird. She’s glad that it draws her out of it and back to reality. “-what delights are you serving us tonight?” Amusement glints in his eyes. 

“Oh, I see how it is.” She quirks an eyebrow, tilts her head and grins. Her hair falls over her shoulder, a waterfall of waves that brush soft against the curve of her neck. “Tell me, dad, whenever will the wonders of 2001’s Christmas casserole grace our tables again?”

“She’s feisty tonight.” He chuckles, stepping forward to kiss his daughter on the head.

“Actually-” Coraline glances fondly over at Marcus. He and her mom are half in conversation, half watching Cora and her dad’s playful little jabs towards each other. “-Marcus cooked.”

“Oh, thank God. Celine, we don’t have to order in at the hotel tonight,” he calls back over her shoulder and his wife grins at him in amusement, then over at her daughter with such a palpable fondness that it practically radiates from her.

Coraline pokes her dad sharply in the arm with the tip of her nail. “Hey!” She protests, shuffling off into the kitchen, but she can never bring herself to be mad at him. And she can quip back just as easy. “Don’t be rude, we have guests.” 

Marcus’ heart almost stops when she throws a bright smile over her shoulder, curls bouncing against her shoulders and down her back. It lights up the room in its sunshine glory. Though her smile mirrors that of her mother and father, there’s something about hers that reaches her eyes and is utterly brilliant.

He’s sure that it’s the favourite of all the smiles he’s ever seen.

Coraline reaches up to draw the plates from the cabinets. She knows that they have more than enough time to spare before the food is ready, but if she doesn’t keep her hands busy, she worries that she’ll end up panicking again. She’s only just shaken the worries, she’d hate for them to return and for her thoughts to carry on their racing, at a mile a minute.

“How are you doing, kiddo?” Her father’s voice is low though it’s not like Marcus and her mom are listening; they’re laughing, the corners of his eyes wrinkled in that way that Coraline loves. She wouldn’t mind if either of them heard, though. She has nothing to hide.

“Better.” She sighs, a gentle blissful smile. She tries to stop herself from looking too manic, but she can feel a grin threatening to pull at her cheeks. “Much better, now.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” There’s relief in his eyes. It’s soft and endearing, and it seems as if a weight has been lifted from his shoulders when he sees her smile so dazzling, so genuine. His voice drops a little, almost to a whisper. “Marcus seems nice.” 

“He’s great, isn’t he?” She sighs. “He’s really great.”

...

Daniel, Kimmy and the kids arrive right on time. 

Not that they needed them there. 

Marcus Pike is a natural. If even half of him was even the slightest bit nervous when he’d stepped into her apartment that evening, she can’t tell.  

He’d eased his way into conversation with everyone around him, like he’d known them all for years. He’d answered all their questions without issue, made them laugh with his stories and laughed at their jokes, even those of her father’s that made Daniel and Coraline roll their eyes. 

Cora’s apartment isn’t small, but it’s barely big enough to hold all of them, and chaos reigns as Elliot and Finley race around the apartment, tailed closely by their Grandfather. It’s great to see how close they are, close for two boys who see their grandparents over FaceTime more than they do in person. Celine keeps telling him to slow down as she sits with a sleeping and incredibly content Piper in her arms - he’s just got out of hospital, and his lungs weren’t exactly up to scratch before then - but even she can’t help but smile as the boys giggle gleefully when he grabs them and hauls them into his arms.

They’re all still smiling when they sit down to eat, the boys bouncing in their seats just being around their grandparents for the first time in months. Coraline thinks their delight sets Marcus at ease more than he already is; it dissolves any awkward tension, the kind that comes as custom with any first meeting, that may be lingering in the air, and it’s as if everyone around the table are family or old friends, not unfamiliar with the man sat next to her, and, If it weren’t for the worry stirring in the pit of her stomach, making her feel so sick that she feels like she might just throw up all over the floor of her dining room, she’d be smiling just as wide, too. 

But every time her father sees Marcus smile at her or brush past her with the smallest of whispered and sincere apologies, and a large hand splayed gentle across her small of her back, she knows he’s just itching to ask her for every single little detail about their relationship; if they’re more than friends, if they’re together, if anything ever could come of their friendship beyond that. He means well and he just wants her to be happy. But she’s been warning him off asking with his eyes - even insisted in between one quiet moment when Marcus was using the bathroom that they were just that, very close friends and nothing more - but the notion of their agreement has been hanging heavy within her chest. It’s been weighing her down and anxiety has been churning wild inside her stomach. Even the wine isn’t helping; that age-old idiom of ‘liquid courage’ turning out to be a fallacy. If anything, it was only stirring the worry up into a veritable cyclone of terror.

Attention turns back to Coraline, eventually. They’ve drawn all they can from Marcus - what he does for work, where he lives and where he grew up - and Daniel and Kimmy - how the art gallery is going, how the kids are finding their new school (both far too distracted to answer for themselves), how they’re finding their new home now they have Piper - so that left Coraline and the extremely tender and previously untouched topic of her personal life. She knows there’s certain questions that they won’t ask out loud, at least, not with Marcus and the kids around, but she can feel the terrible urge to spill all her secrets growing stronger with each well-meaning but incredibly loaded question that they ask. She smiles through it, answers casually, but eventually the tether snaps and her words come tumbling out before she has a chance to stop them.

“We’re having a baby,” Coraline blurts out. “Me and Marcus,” she adds, like it isn’t obvious who she means. Her words are quick and jumbled but obvious enough that the room falls into a stunned, stifling silence. Everyone seems to drop their cutlery, a chorus of metal against porcelain, to stare at her. “Well- I mean- not yet, we’re- I’m not pregnant, yet- but, I-” She rambles. She’s well aware that her face is burning the brightest red, raspberry flushed across her cheekbones.

Marcus can tell that she’s been practically bursting at the seams since they’d sat down. She’d been shifting uncomfortably, feet bushing along the old rug beneath their feet, bumping haphazardly into his, and he could hear her hands brushing over the soft material of her dress awkwardly. She’s been smiling the entire time, laughing at every joke and embarrassing story her mom tells, though he can tell that smile was beginning to wear thin after a while. When attention turned to her and away from him and Daniel, Kimmy and the kids. The revelation had finally burst out but - despite the momentary look of relief that had flashed upon her expression - she looks even more tense at the reaction of her parents.

“You’re what?” Her father questions, eyebrows raising, words coming out in some sort of awkward splutter. His green eyes dart between the pair of them, sitting across from him, side-by-side and frozen like deers in headlights, Coraline can’t help but notice the way his smile had dropped, immediately, the moment the words had left her lips. His indecisive scowl was stark, in comparison to how he’d seemed before.

“I just-” Coraline takes in a sharp breath. The force of it almost hurts her lungs. “-we’re having a baby together and I don’t know when but we are and I just want you to love Marcus like I do because he’s my best friend and he actually wanted to do this for me- for us- and how often would you find someone who would agree to this kind of thing-”

“Cora, you’re rambling,” Daniel cuts in, voice soothing and low, willing to help her as she panics and panics and panics.

Marcus’ hand finds her underneath the table. She grasps his tight in both hands, tugging it into her lap and clinging to his digits for dear life. His thumb runs those slow, reassuring circles across her skin - the ones that are so gentle they’re but a tickle against the back of her hand - and she finds herself easing into his touch. “Breathe.” His voice is just as comforting as the circles he brushes into her skin.

Neither of her parents talk, just stare, stunned, and the entire table falls back into that awkward, thickened and suffocating silence. Elliot and Finley blink around at them all, confused and not entirely registering what Coraline had said, now what any of this meant. For two boys usually so rambunctious, loud and exuberant, their silence has come at the most uncomfortable of times. Daniel seems to be searching for the right words to say but nothing seems to come close to being the right thing to say in this situation. 

She’s not sure what anyone can say in this situation.

She should have stuck to the whole ‘accidental pregnancy’ excuse, instead.

“It’s just-” Coraline looks over at Marcus for reassurance, though even his warm eyes don’t seem to offer much in the way of comfort. “I want a baby. I really want a baby. Even before the divorce,” she continues, “I just- I want to be a mom and I want a family of my own, so bad. So, me and Marcus are trying.”

“But you’re not together?” Robert Meyer’s finger draws an invisible string between the pair of them. 

“I- no?” Her voice rises high and she sounds ridiculous. She knows that isn’t what he wants to hear. “He’s my best friend-” She clarifies, “-but we’re not together, not like that.”

Marcus has no clue what to say, every word dies heavy on his tongue and nothing seems right. Everything he can think to say would surely only serve to make this a thousand times worse than they already are. The exchange is happening so fast, too, that he wouldn’t even be able to get a word in, otherwise.

“Well, that sounds… lovely,” Celine proclaims and claps her hands together. Coraline is sure that she doesn’t mean to sound insincere, but it still comes out sounding that way. A little sarcastic, almost. If she didn’t know her mother, she would surely be offended, but at least she understands that it was never intended that way. 

But Marcus doesn’t know her well enough to know that.

“And what do you think about this?” Robert’s questioning turns to Daniel. His eyebrows raise and he glowers at him expectantly.

He takes a deep breath, takes in a sharp breath through his nose and leans back in his seat. He manages a smile despite the tension that has settled thick throughout the room. Coraline’s hand tightens around Marcus’ - almost enough to be painful, but he doesn’t care, at this point - when Daniel smiles at his father. “I think it’s a great idea.”

“You do?” 

Marcus hears Coraline sigh at the sound of her father’s incredulity. It’s a resigned sigh, one of those truly gut wrenching and downtrodden sighs that breaks his heart. “I should go,” Marcus leans into her to whisper. “I think I might be making things worse-”

“No, please,” Coraline insists, tugging her hand into her lap so that he can’t leave. He knows, maybe, he should, because her father probably hates him by now. But he’s not sure he could leave her. That, if he were to leave, he’d just end up coming straight back, staying by her side for as long as she needs, until she’s smiling again. 

He loves to see her smile.

“She’s great with kids, why is it an issue?” Daniel questions. 

“And she won’t be doing this alone, I’m in this for the long haul,” Marcus insists. He notices Celine smile at her out of the corner of his eye. Coraline’s hand squeezes his and her breathing levels out, just ever so slightly.

“I have thought about this, dad. I haven’t just rushed into it-”

“We should go.” 

“No, dad, wait, please-“

“I’m not sitting around listening to you try and justify your ridiculous decisions, Cora,” he snaps and she flinches. She’s not sure she’s ever heard him angry before; she’s always been one of those stereotypical ‘daddy’s girls’, could never do anything wrong in her life in his eyes, but now he’s looking at her with so much disappointment and dismay that she just wants to curl up into herself and cry until she’s so exhausted she falls asleep. She hates it, she hates this.

Though she can’t bring herself to regret the decision she’s made with Marcus.

“I could talk to him.” Marcus proposes. It’s quiet in her ear so that only she can here, but no one else is paying attention; Robert is talking to Celine, trying to keep his voice level as she reprimands him for raising his voice in front of ‘a guest’, and Daniel is talking to Kimmy, though he can’t hear what they’re talking about. Coraline leans back into him a little, feeling comfortable with the weight of his shoulder pressed against hers, sturdy and steady and present, but shakes her head in refusal.

He doesn’t want to put his foot in it. He wants them to like him. He wants Coraline to like him.

“I-”

“Dad, come on,” Daniel insists, “Let’s talk about this.”

“Did you know about this? Before tonight?” 

“Robert.”

“Yes, I knew. And I’ll support her. I don’t see what the big deal is-”

“Wow, it’s 8pm already?” He glances up at the clock that ticks monotonous and regular on the wall. He formulates his excuse to leave; Coraline can see it click, it’s obvious in his eyes. “Celine, we have to go,” Robert grumbles as he stands. “Thank you for the meal, Marcus. It was nice to meet you.” Her father may not sound overly sincere - his voice is stiff and his face is unreadable - but at least she knows that he’s polite enough not to take his frustrations out on Marcus. Cora knows, in his eyes, he’s done nothing wrong, and that Coraline is surely the only one he’s mad at because he cares about her and the decisions that she makes that might be terrible for her.

“Boys-” Kimmy turns to her sons. “-why don’t we go and watch some TV, huh?”

They both spring from their seats immediately, charging towards Coraline’s couch, so fast that it’s as if they’re running for their lives. She doesn’t think they were even paying attention to the conversation; when Coraline was younger, she’d never paid much attention to what her parents and family and their friends were saying around the dinner table, more interested in her brothers than their conversations. Finley and Elliot always seemed to be in their own little worlds, too, unless they had questions for someone. In which case, there was no way to get a word in without them shouting their enquiries over you. Thankfully for them all, they’d seemed more interested in whatever they’d been ferociously giggling about than Coraline and Marcus’ agreement, and their grandfather’s sudden and stoic disapproval. They’re probably too young to understand, anyway, beyond the notion of what a baby is. 

“Come on, dad. Don’t be ridiculous,” Daniel speaks up.

“Dad, please.” Coraline stands to face her father but her hands shake and she shuffles uncomfortably. She’s not sure what to say or how to say it, or how the hell to make him stop hating her. 

“I should probably be the one to leave.” Marcus pushes his chair back, gently, in resignation. “You can talk, then-” 

“Oh, don’t leave on my behalf, Marcus.” Robert claps his hand on Marcus’ shoulder like he’s an old friend. “It’s getting late. It’s time for us to leave, anyway.” He turns and smiles at his wife. He holds out his hand to help her up; she takes his hand but drops his hand to cross her arms and quirk an eyebrow at him sceptically. 

“Robert, I think that we should stay and talk about this, rather than running away.” 

He gives a long, sharp exhale of breath. “I can’t. Not tonight. I just- I need to think about this.”

“Dad- I’m sorry.”

“Goodnight, Dan-” He nods at his eldest son. “Goodnight, Coraline, Marcus.”

No Corrie. No nickname. Just Coraline. He hasn’t called her that in a long time. Her full name, when it comes from him, always spells trouble. She’s heard so many jokes about how she can do no wrong in her father’s eyes - it was the same case with her mother and her brothers - but she’d never really believed anyone when they’d said that. Until now. It’s glaringly obvious when he calls out her full name, without the bright smile and sparkle in his eyes. 

Her heart sinks to her stomach and she’s not sure that she’ll ever be able to pick it back up again. 

He’s gone in a hurry. He ruffles his grandson’s hair and bids farewell to Kimmy, all the usual smiles he hadn’t wasted on Coraline and Daniel aimed at them, instead, and heads for his shoes and jacket, and then the door, with such haste it’s as if there’s a fire in the building and he needs to find his way out. The smile he turns to give them all before he opens the front door is barely a whisper of his usual and there’s an ice cold bolt of terrifying lightning that shoots through her, only alleviated by Marcus’ hand on her back. 

“Are you okay?” His lips drop close to her ear. His breath stirs the hair by her neck and cheek, and she can feel the brush of his stubble against her neck and behind her ear. She’s so close that it feels strange when there are so many people around, even if it feels so normal for him to be beside her, like this. She shudders a little at the tickle. She can’t help it. It’s like she’s intoxicated, lost in that haze of worry and fear and the comfort of Marcus as he stands so close behind her.

“I don’t know,” Cora admits. Her voice trembles, even as she tries to keep it steady. Marcus wants to take her into his arms and hold her tight until she’s okay again. He knows he can’t do anything to fix this, but he’d be damned if he didn’t want to at least try. 

“My darling, Coraline.” Her mother’s voice comes soft and soothing and, as she hurries towards her daughter, Coraline has to step away from Marcus. It comes reluctantly, and the cold flash of worry that had spilt over her - like being doused in a bucket of ice - finds its way back to her skin. “He will be okay, I promise you. You will be okay,” she insists. Her delicate hand cups her jaw, thumb brushing over her face reassuringly. “Think this through, talk it over with Marcus, and I will talk to your father tonight. Do not worry, darling, we will sort this out.”

Coraline sniffles, wrinkles her nose and brushes the freshly-fallen tears away from her damp cheeks. She hadn’t even realised she was crying until her mom brushed them away. “Thanks, mom.” She smiles the best she can but it’s weak and pathetic. At least she knows that her mom won’t judge her for her shaky half-smile and watery eyes. She’d been there for all her high school heartbreaks and then her divorce over FaceTime, but she’d also seen her cry over Hot Cheetos and mud on her shirt. Her mom could never make her feel embarrassed for crying over anything.

“Now, come here.” Celine holds her daughter close, brushes her fingers through her hair as it drops over her forehead and kisses her temple, delicate. “You’ll always be my little girl, you know that?” She taps her nose, inspiring a smile. “Think this through, really think all of this through, okay? I will call you tomorrow. Take care of yourself, please.” 

Celine turns to Marcus and smiles a bright smile. “Thank you, Marcus. It was so lovely to meet you.”

“It was lovely to meet you, too, ma’am. It’s nice to finally put a face to the name in Cora’s stories.”

She smiles and squeezes his arm gently. “Please, call me Celine. I’m sorry for tonight, things aren’t usually so tense.”

“Don’t apologise,” he insists. “I’ll look out for her tonight.”

“I know you will.” Her smile is so genuine and sympathetic, thankful and relieved. “Goodnight, my darling.” She hums as she kisses Coraline’s forehead, with the intention of comfort. It seems to work; the rigid set of her shoulders gives way for just a moment, until she watches her leave with about as enthusiastic goodbye as she can muster for her grandkids; even Piper, who’d managed to sleep in her travel seat almost the entire time. Coraline sinks back into him the moment her mom’s figure disappears behind the front door.

She turns to him the moment the door clicks closed. She can’t seem to face looking him in the eyes. Her cheeks feel hot, bright red, and her eyes burn with a thousand unshed tears that she’d stoically been holding in until her mom had taken her in her arms and brushed a hand over her cheek. “I- I- fuck, Marcus- I’m so sorry. This is not how I wanted things to work out-”

“Hey, hey, hey-” She settles into his arms like she belongs there. His arms pull around her tight, keeping her close to his chest. Something about the measured, rhythmic set of his breathing helps to settle her running mind. “-you have nothing to apologise for, Sunshine.” 

She practically crumbles when he holds her. Her hands clutch at him tightly and she tries to stop her shoulders from shuddering. His hand runs up and down her back, fingers brushing delicate against the silk fabric of her dress, soothing the terrible cold that shoots through her at her father’s hostility and the aching weakness that tugs at her chest. He almost kisses the shell of her ear as he whispers his comforting words, but stops himself once he remembers they have an audience. 

Anyone else might misinterpret their actions as more than they are. As more than purely platonic. 

“You’re trembling,” Marcus whispers. He can feel her shoulders shaking against him. It comes and goes, as if she’s trying to hold it in. 

“I am?” She whispers but it’s muffled by his shirt. 

She can only tell that he nods when his chin brushes against the top of head a couple of times. 

“‘m sorry.”

Truth is, she’s freezing cold again. Has been since her father’s disapproval. She hasn’t felt a cold like it since her divorce, the night she and Scott had said their goodbyes for good, and she’d known that it was well and truly over. It had lingered upon her, like a taunting spectre. And it’s a chill that clings to her, holding on for dear life, with the ferocity of a blizzard, and just as unforgiving. His arms hold her close and inspire warmth within her, even for the few moments that he keeps her close. 

...

The night seemed to stretch on for longer than it surely was. Minutes turned into hours, darkness had consumed the streets and everyone had left Coraline’s apartment, save for Marcus and Daniel. 

Celine had texted Daniel to ask if everyone was okay once she and her husband had reached their hotel and delivered the reassuring news that Robert wasn’t really angry, just wasn’t sure where to place his emotions, in response to hearing his daughter was having a child with a man he’d only just met. He didn’t entirely blame him. He’s not sure he would be best pleased, either. Kimmy had left with the boys and Piper a little while later; the kids had somehow worn themselves out watching the TV, so they’d bundled them all down the stairs and into the car as best they could, as they grumbled and groaned out tired protests.

Daniel had stayed behind a little while to make sure that his sister was okay.

Marcus was an only child; he’d always wanted siblings growing up, but his parents never wanted more kids. He’d never felt lonely, when he was a kid - he had great friends, and his mom and dad were his heroes; he owed a lot to them for making him the man he was today - though he’d always wished he had someone to chase around the garden, to complain about the petty things his parents did that no one else would understand. To have someone to look out for, someone to look out for him. He wonders what it would feel like to have someone like that, someone always on his side. He’s always wanted a big family because he never wants his kids to miss out on something that they might want.

He thinks it gives her comfort to know that someone close to her actually supports her, rather than thinking it’s wrong that she’s even considering it. Even as she shuffles, trembling, into her bathroom, to try and wash away the chill, there’s no longer a ten tonne weight on her shoulders, bearing down angry on top of her. 

It won’t help, the hot water. Not in the long run, at least. A temporary solution to a persistent problem. 

She’s not sure she’ll ever be able to shake it.

“You think she’ll be okay?” Daniel questions as he leans back against the sofa, arms crossed tight over his chest, brows furrowed.

Marcus hums. There’s a wistful smile on his face. “I hope so.” He sighs and runs a hand over his jaw, shuffling awkwardly on his feet. “This is my fault.”

“It’s no one’s fault, Marcus. My dad just worries, but he’ll calm down sooner or later.” Daniel tells him. “Did she ever tell you about her first boyfriend?” Marcus vaguely remembers her mentioning him over takeout one night; Kevin or Kyle, some name like that. That they’d dated for barely two months and that he was an asshole, and she’d never really found him attractive. She’d never really given him a reason as to why she’d even dated him in the first place, though. Daniel continues at the sight of Marcus’ acknowledgement. “Our dad hated him. Wouldn’t even let him in the house, said he was trouble and would lead her astray. She was in her rebellious phase so, of course, stubborn as she is, she didn’t listen.”

“Huh, sounds like Cora.” It made a lot of sense. He’s surprised he never even put two and two together when she’d told him the first time.

“He was right though- guy was a total asshole.” He chuckles, short and indistinct. It still doesn’t seem like the time to be laughing, not with the weight of Coraline’s sorrow looming over them. “My dad got over it the next day. But Cora? Found her crying in her bedroom at 3am, worried he’d hate her for the rest of her life. But this- this seems bigger.” It’s like he’s struck down with the realisation. “Maybe she should sleep at ours tonight.” He wonders out loud.

“I’ll stay on the couch tonight, make sure she’s okay,” Marcus insists.

“Are you sure?” Daniel raises his eyebrows, surprised. And it almost surprises Marcus just how ready he is to sleep on the sofa, for Coraline’s sake - albeit, a very plush and snug sofa that he’d napped on before (and, ultimately, faced the butt of Coraline’s ‘old man’ jokes when he woke) - but then, when he really thinks about it, it’s not entirely a shock to anyone that he would be willing to do this. He’s done far more for her in the past. He’s not even sure just how far he’ll go just to make sure that Coraline is okay. Daniel glances back at the sofa he’s leant against and offers Marcus an out. “She can take the guest room at our place, it’s no problem.” 

Marcus shakes his head and smiles. He’s never been so sure of himself. “It’s fine, I’m here for her.”

Daniel tilts his head the same way Coraline does when she’s thinking. The corners of his mouth pick up. “I’m glad she has you.” He sighs and pushes himself up from the sofa. “Thank you for this, Marcus. I’m sorry you got caught up in all of this. We’re not usually so… argumentative.” He huffs out a laugh and holds his hand out for Marcus to shake.

He shakes his head. Families are hard, sometimes. He’s witnessed that himself, first hand. “It’s no problem,” he insists. Marcus reaches for the blanket Coraline keeps folded over the back of the couch, ready to tuck himself under when she’s okay, again. “She needs someone tonight.”

He smiles gratefully. “Well, I best get going. Kim won’t forgive me if she has to do bedtime alone.” He chuckles and reaches out to shake Marcus’ hand again. “Nice to see you again, Marcus. Sorry about all of this.”

He bids Daniel farewell and locks the door. He finishes the last of the washing up, tucking each plate and piece of cutlery away into their designated place, so familiar with Coraline’s kitchen that he doesn’t even need to ask anymore. 

He hears the shower shut off and, a little while later, the shuffling of slippered feet against the tiled floor. Coraline emerges from the bathroom with a towel wrapped tight around her frame, catching the drips of water that cascade down her back and shoulders, far too exhausted to care about him seeing her half-naked, wet-haired and fresh out of the shower. It makes her head spin to realise that he’s already seen more than that, anyway. The blush that creeps up at the thought almost burns her cheeks. She ducks into her bedroom and emerges a few seconds later in her stripey sleep shorts and a well-worn t-shirt with ‘Radiohead’ emblazoned across the chest. “You should get going,” she reminds him. Even her voice is exhausted and he wouldn’t be surprised if the second she tucked herself up in bed, she’d be asleep and dead to the world until morning.. “It’s getting late and I’m sure you have work early tomorrow.”

“I’m staying right here tonight.” He tells her. “If that’s okay?”

“You don’t have to,” she urges. “Not for me. I’m fine.”

“You shouldn’t have to be alone when you’re upset. I’m half of this, too”

There’s a beat of silence. It’s a lot heavier when it isn’t filled with quiet music. “I’m so sorry.” Her voice breaks when she speaks and he can tell that she’s close to tears again.

“Hey, hey-” He takes the few steps closer over to Coraline and takes her face in his hands. He tilts her head back a little, ever so gentle, and smiles at her. “-stop apologising. Not your fault.”

“I- fuck-” She tips her cheek into one of his hands and sinks into his embrace. She closes her eyes and the breath she takes is deep and rattling. “Dinner was great,” she whispers and they’re both grinning at the sudden burst of compliment she utters. 

“My mom’s recipe.”

“Yeah? I’ll have to thank her someday.”

His smile is blissful. “You want to meet her?”

Her head tilts back as she laughs, like it’s the most ridiculous thing in the world. “I need to meet the woman who raised such a wonderful human being. She must be pretty great.” She can’t help the yawn that crawls out of her mouth; she tries to smother it with her hands.

“You need to sleep.”

“Oh, pfft, I’m fine.” She brushes off his concern.

He raises his eyebrows and smirks. “Don’t make me call your mom.”

“Is that a threat?”

“As an FBI agent, I’m required to say no because threatening civilians is frowned upon.”

Coraline scoffs and rolls her eyes, and finally surrenders to Marcus’ suggestion. “Fine.”

Marcus trails her when she wanders into her bedroom. She sets herself down on the edge of her comforter and her shoulders slump again, sinking into herself. He can see that she’s exhausted, tears tearing away at the last saps of her energy, and the shower she’d had does nothing to lessen the puffiness that has settled beneath her eyes. The flush that decorates her cheeks whenever she’s embarrassed paints her eyes, now. 

“I’m sorry again,” she whispers, quiet. 

“Goodnight, Sunshine.” He turns to leave, feet stuttering across the floor and he pauses the moment she calls out for him again. It’s quiet, but in the silence of her apartment, he can’t help but hear her welcoming voice. 

“Marcus-” Her voice is thick in her throat and she struggles to find her words. They seem to die in her throat. “-will you stay?” She manages to ask, finally.

He nods, smooths back her dishevelled hair from her face and leans down to kiss her forehead, a sweet and simple gesture that she appreciates beyond belief. “I am. I’ll be on the couch if you need me.”

“No. Marcus.” She reaches for him. His arms, his wrist, his fingers. She finds purchase at his fingers and entwines the digits together. She’s peering up at him through her lashes, looking at him with expectation. “I mean- will you stay, please? Here- I need you here-” Coraline’s voice is small and quiet, timid and unsure. It’s a request that seems to terrify her, but all she wants is him to be here and to hold her, and to make her feel like things might actually be okay, even if right now she’s struggling to see how anything positive could come out of her dad - the first person to ever make her believe she could do anything she set her heart on - likely hating her, right now.

“Please don’t leave me,” she whispers as she presses her and Marcus’ clasped hands against her cheek. He feels the gentle curve of her nose brush against the inside of his wrist when she nuzzles herself closer into his touch. “Please.”

He moves to unlace their fingers and her hand drops into her lap. She’s about ready to cry, convinced that - after hearing her father’s reaction to their agreement - he’d been scared away, well and truly. She can feel the tears burning behind her eyes, threatening to spill over her lashes and down her face, and she’s sure she’d look utterly pathetic, with hot tears carving a scorching path down her cheeks. But his hand finds her cheek again, soft and tender and without the obstruction of her hand, this time. Brown eyes gaze down at her and warm her soul. His thumb brushes delicate over her cheekbone; she only realises she’s crying, then, when the rough pad of his thumb swipes wet across her skin. 

“I could never leave you.” His voice is low, smooth like honey. He leans down again, to press the most fleeting of kisses to her forehead, before he’s holding her close. Marcus lays her down beside him, chests pressed firm together. He can feel each shaky breath she exhales as her hands bunch into his shirt. She tugs him closer, somehow.

Coraline tilts her head up towards him. “Thank you,” she whispers, unbunching one fist from his shirt to reach up for this cheek, thumb brushing over his cheekbone. They spend a moment gazing at each other; merely a heartbeat that seems to stretch on for a lifetime. But, in reality, it doesn’t last long before she ducks her head again, presses her cheek against the soft cotton of his shirt - surely terribly uncomfortable to sleep in, though, at least he doesn’t have his tie on - and thanks God that he’s here, holding her so close and so gently. She’s not sure she could deal with this alone, without him here to hold her. She feels the lingering couple of kisses that he leaves against the top of her head.

Her breathing evens out and she settles comfortable against him, and her dreams have taken over before she can hear the ‘I love you’ that he can’t contain any longer. He’s never said that out loud, never even admitted to himself that maybe that’s how he feels. And he knows he’s in too deep, deeper than he ever thought he would be again, deeper than he ever thought he’d let himself get again, and he reconciles his feelings as he lets sleep and the gentle tangle of her limbs around his consume him.

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