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luveline · 19 days

Note

That family holiday kbd was soo cute😭

Can we get a blurb about playing at the resort’s pool with Steve and the kids? 🫶🏻

kbd — the harrington’s go poolside !! mom!reader, 1.4k

“Can we hold hands?” Beth asks.

You throw your hand out to her showfully. She giggles as she takes it, rejuvenated after a good night's sleep and a huge breakfast from the buffet. You and Steve are probably happier about her gorging than she is; it’s never a bad day when Bethie eats well.

Steve holds a toddling Dove’s hand, leaning down to accommodate her tiny stature, while Avery walks just ahead. “It’s gonna be fun, bubby,” Steve’s saying, “I promise.”

Dove’s been to the pool a couple of times, but never for long. Last time she’d been in Steve’s arms for the whole session, while you shepherded Beth, and Avery played water games with her Aunt Robin. You’re a little scared to be taking them now with just the two of you, but Steve reassured you that everyone would be perfectly safe in the kids pool under both your supervision and the lifeguards, and you tend to trust his judgement.

You leave the hotel lobby and step out into the resort’s back, white concrete and bright green sections of grass cut by paths that lead down to the pools and water features. Steve shouts for Avery to stay close, your oldest girl gasping with excitement as you draw near the pool and families already swimming in the sun. Her flip-flops slap the ground.

“Mom, it’s too sunny,” Bethie whines.

“This is why we all have hats. Do you want a hat?”

“No.” She frowns. “I can’t see.”

“You can’t see?” you ask. “I might have something that can help. Let’s just get to some seats and I’ll show you.”

There are rows of blue plastic chairs and sun loungers outfitted with tables near the kiddie pool, more further down toward the adult pool. Families have already set up in places, but there’s plenty of room for you, your family, and your huge baby bag.

Steve hoists Dove onto a sun lounger. Avery next, though she stays standing, her excitement catching. A sprinkler shaped like a flower rains generous streams of water down onto a laughing little girl and her mother. Avery watches them over Steve’s shoulder. “Can we swim? Please, dad, I want to go under the sprinkler!”

“Yeah. Let’s take your nice dress off first, sweetheart, put your arms up. Up, up!”

She holds up her arms for Steve to help her out of her dress. You and Beth take the sunlounger opposite, where she’s quick to climb into your lap, hiding her face from the sun.

You knew Beth wouldn’t wear a hat. She hates them, just like she hates flip flops, sandals, and any shoes without socks. Luckily she’s fine to go barefoot from here —you begin to untie her laces. “I have something new for us to try. I think you’re gonna love it, but maybe you won’t, I don’t know.”

“What is it?”

You unzip the bag and pull out a round blue container. It clicks open, unveiling a toddler-sized pair of sunglasses made of a strange soft plastic.

“You can match daddy,” you sing-song, attempting to entice her. “And keep your eyes away from the sun.”

“Will they stay on when I swim?” she asks.

“Maybe not, but I’ve got you goggles for swimming. Are you ready to swim? Or are we gonna sit here for a bit in the sun?”

Avery jumps down off of the sunlounger. The skirt of her swimsuit bounces as she runs to you, hands vying for your bag. “Mom, I want goggles too.”

“I got you some, don’t worry. Let daddy do it. He has to make them smaller on your head.”

Steve outfits Avery in her goggles, and takes Dove’s dress off to leave her in her swimsuit (or scuba suit). Beth doesn’t wanna swim yet, but you take her dress off and begin the long process of covering each child in SPF.

“There,” you say, wiping a smudge of sunscreen from Avery’s arm down into her hand. “Tada! You’re now safe from the sun.”

“I love the sun.”

“I know, but the sun doesn’t love us. It gets too hot.”

“That’s why we have to drink.”

“Exactly, baby, exactly.” You frame her face with your hands. “Hey, you look beautiful today. You do! Look at your lovely smile, so pretty, better let me have a little kiss.”

“Mommy,” she giggles.

“Just a little one, Avey, just one–” You kiss her cheek twice, one near her nose and the other her ear, before pulling her in for a slightly slimy hug. The sun warms the back of your neck, and her shoulders are warm where your arms slide over them.

“That was two,” Steve says.

“You rat,” you say, grinning as he leans down to hug you from behind.

“Better give me one to make it even,” he says in your ear.

“Don’t think that’s how it works.”

He gives you a quick kiss. “Hey, Dove! Babe, where are you going?”

“Swim!”

“Guess we better get in,” he says, thumb in your shoulder and then suddenly gone as he chases your waddling barely-toddler before she can get too far away.

“Ready, Beth?” you ask.

“You’re coming in?” she asks you.

“Yeah, I’m coming in,” you say, forcing a smile.

You've had three babies. You know you don’t look like you did when you and Steve first met, don’t look like somebody you’d see on TV or in the background of a Madonna video. He sees you naked all the time and he’s never had any complaints (the opposite, always), but these people aren’t used to you. You have a doughy stomach and the baby weight sticks to your chest and thighs; you’re so worried you’ll be judged for how you look you start to resent yourself for not trying to fix it.

You pull your dress over your head hesitantly.

An immediate wolf whistle echoes from the poolside.

Steve’s ankle deep in the kids shallows, his fingers still in his mouth, the other arm wrapped around Dove. The sun turns his hair a dirty blonde, his mild tan lightened.

“Steve, don’t,” you scorn, immediately flustered at the attention it draws.

“That’s my wife,” Steve says to Avery, unaffected.

You grab Bethie, kiss her under the chin, and try to act like you aren’t embarrassed as you meet them in the water.

“Well hello, gorgeous,” he says, grabbing for you, not quite reaching.

The water’s cold. “Stop, Steve.”

“You’re so beautiful, come here, I need a kiss.”

“Stop.”

“Seriously?” he asks.

You hug Beth. “Maybe one more.”

“Mom, you’re beautiful!” Avery shouts.

“Yeah, mom, you’re beautiful,” Beth says.

Steve smirks from over Dove’s head. “Took the words right out of my mouth.”

You and Steve kneel in the pool. The water isn’t that deep at its deepest, and the girls can stand without being submerged. Avery and Bethie hold hands under the sprinkler flower to stop from either girl getting lost, while you and Steve watch with Dove held in his arms. “How’s that, Dovey? Are you having fun?” you ask saccharinely.

Steve sighs. “You really are so, so beautiful.”

“Daddy’s feeling silly,” you say to Dove, “he doesn’t get it.”

“I get it.”

“You don’t think people wonder what you’re doing with me?” you ask, mostly joking, ninety percent as you give your stomach a self-deprecating squeeze. “You look like you're still twenty-two.”

“No I don’t. I used to have abs.”

You push through the water to poke his lean stomach. “Feels solid to me,” you say.

He laughs and pulls away from you. His eyes dart between you and the girls, softened with his laughing, “Get off of me, you rascal.”

“Rascal?”

You laugh worse.

Steve’s predictable. He makes sure Dove is alright floating in the water with his one hand on her back before he leans across to kiss you, a wet hand to your collar, his lips persistent as he pecks you twice, three times. “Love you, pretty girl,” he says.

You flush with heat from your face to your fingertips. That’s a rare one. “I love you too.”

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soft-girl-musings · 2 months

Text

Stranger Danger

Steven Grant x Fem!Reader

cross-posted to ao3

MK Spring Bingo entry #5

tags: reader is being stalked & responds in a way the author (a woman) has been taught to, emotional protector steven grant to the rescue, no use of y/n

wc: 1,138

fic summary: There's safety in numbers, do you want mine? (too soon?)

_____________________

“Oops, careful!”

Steven drops the last of his veggie wrap as a pair of kids rush past the bench he’d been hunched over. As he picks up the debris, he sees where one of them dropped their hat. He picks it up and half-jogs after them to return it.

“Gotta stay aware of our surroundings, yeah? Don’t want to lose our valuables.” The kid rolls their eyes but thanks him before running off to catch up with their friend.

“Oh my gosh, hi!”

Steven turns around to find you walking swiftly toward him, your smile too wide and tone too familiar.

He’s never seen you before.

“... hello,” he answers cautiously, taking one step back but failing to put much distance between the two of you. You practically cling to his side when you approach, takeaway cup and phone in hand.

“Sorry I’m late, but you are terrible at giving directions, mister.” Taking his arm, you begin to walk away from where you’d appeared.

This wouldn’t be the first time he’s forgotten conversations or plans. But as he racks his brain for something, anything tied to you in his memory, Steven notices the panic in your eyes and the slight waver in your voice.

Your hands shake a bit as you unlock your phone, passing your cup to him. He takes it, still bewildered but obedient. “I swear, the cafe never spells your name right. Let me make a note for next time.” You type swiftly, showing him the screen.

being followed, please pretend you're my boyfriend

Steven doesn’t know you.

But he nods, grasping your arm closer with his free hand and gives his most convincing grin. “Steven with a ‘V’, love.”

Relief instantly washes over your features and you relax a little. “Right. I’ll remember that… Steven.”

His smile grows before he remembers why you're holding onto him. “Do you want to sit down? Or go somewhere else, maybe I could call someone–”

“N-no, it’s fine. Let’s just sit. In plain sight,” you half-whisper. Steven nods, ushering you back to the bench in the middle of the busy square. When you sit, you don't let go of his arm.

Instead, you type into your phone as you speak. “Lovely weather we’re having, isn’t it?” Steven glaces at your notes app again.

do you see a man in a black jacket?

Steven scans the area, careful not to look too suspicious. Unlike the person he’s sure you’re referring to: a man in dark clothes, hands shoved into his pockets and rigid as he looks around with increasing urgency. His prominent frown grows when he sees Steven next to you.

“Yeah,” Steven says to both your questions. He looks away from the menacing figure, but sets your drink down and wraps his arm around you. He's glad to feel you settle into his side, still shaking but catching your breath.

“I take it you don’t know Mr. Black Jacket?”

“No, I do. Sort of. He’s a regular customer of mine,” you sigh. “One who doesn’t know how to take ‘no’ for an answer.”

“Ah.” Steven keeps the guy in his periphery, splitting his focus between him and you. “Stalker, then?”

You freeze up at the term. “Yeah… he’s been pretty relentless.”

You meet his eyes, which are swiftly filling with concern. “Thanks again for… this. I usually find a mom or another woman to walk with me until he leaves, but I saw you with those kids and just… panicked, I guess.”

“S’not a problem, love.” Steven knocks your foot with his, drawing a small smile from you. “Glad to help you feel safe.”

You laugh a little. You let your gaze drift over to the man in black, an uneasy pit growing in your stomach when you briefly make eye contact.

“He usually goes away after a while. I've told the police, but they can't do anything unless he… you know.” Your brow furrows as your grip loosens. “I don't mean to take over your afternoon, but would you mind waiting with me?”

In that moment, you could have asked Steven for the moon and he'd find a way to lasso it down for you.

He squeezes your hand. “‘Course I can. Lovely day with lovely company, quite the ideal afternoon in my books.”

Steven dives right into talking about anything and everything that comes to mind– which, as you learn, is a lot. Normally he'd hit a wall after a few minutes, either because he'd realized he had talked himself in circles, or his less-than-captive audience was visibly zoned out. But you hang on his every word, grateful to be arm in arm with a stranger describing the supposed viscosity of ancient Egyptian embalming oil. It's a welcome distraction.

So distracting, in fact, that after an hour you realize the crowd has thinned around you. With Mr. Black Jacket nowhere in sight.

“I think he's gone,” you sigh with relief. Steven stands when you do, handing your things back.

“Patience won out in the end,” he beams. You see a brief look of panic cross his features.

“He doesn't know where you live, does he? Do you need an escort?” Steven's already taken a ludicrously long lunch break, but the inevitable lecture from Donna would be worth it if it meant ensuring your safety.

You shake your head. “I've been careful.” Extending your hand, you smile. “It was nice to meet you, Steven with a ‘V’.”

“Likewise, love.” He shakes your hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. Another look crosses his face before he continues.

“Do you want my mobile number?” His words come out too fast; if you hadn't spent the past hour listening to him, you might have missed what he said. “Just in case you need someone to wait with you again, or keep an eye out. Would that be alright?” He shakes his head, stepping back. “'Matter of fact, forget I said anything, don't want you to think you've traded one creep for another–”

“Sure.”

Your simple answer stops him in his tracks. “Oh, you don’t have to–”

“No, it’s fine. Really. When you offered, it felt nice to know someone could be in my corner on this side of town.”

You take out a scrap of paper and a pen from your bag. “How about this: you write it down, and I’ll add your contact if I ever need my knight in shining armor again.”

Steven concedes, pen and paper in hand as he scribbles his number down (then asks for a new paper in case the first was too illegible).

When you leave, he watches until you turn the corner. He goes the opposite direction, back to the museum. Part of him hopes you’ll never have to reach out, for your own sake. The rest of him hopes you do anyway.

_____________________

A/N: oh steven, the man that you are. a couple more bingo prompts will be focused on this dude, which is excellent practice for some exciting projects down the line...

as always, ty for reading <3

event tags: @moonknight-events @spacecowboyhotch @juneknight

addtl tags: @mrs-lockley @lunar-ghoulie @shadystarlightgentlemen @casa-boiardi @nerdieforpedro (lmk if you'd like to be added to/removed from this wee tag list)

#my works #just edited the word count lol #mk spring bingo 2024 #moonknightevents #moon knight #steven grant #steven grant x reader #steven grant/reader #steven grant x fem!reader #steven grant/fem!reader

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princessbrunette · 3 months

Note

i'd just like to say a violent jayj threatening to rip someone's face off or anything of that sort would make me wet. thank u. - 🍓

⊹ . ⁺ 🍦🤍⋅˚₊𐙚

you knew the random ass kook at the beach bar was in trouble the second he’d started talking to you.

jj had stepped away for a moment, just a moment — to take a call from john b, always feeling the need to answer just incase the boy had gotten himself into another inescapable shenanigan that he needed jj to dig him out of. you were leaning your elbows against the bar under the warm outdoor lighting, skin balmy and glowy as you take your time reading the menu stapled to the counter top, wondering what cocktail you’d go for.

“you seem like a cosmo kind of girl.” the kook slides up beside you, blinding white teeth and a polo shirt — the kook side of the islands very own uniform. you chuckle politely, diverting your eyes back to the menu attempting to kindly show your disinterest.

“oh, maybe.” you shrug evasively — hoping he’d get the hint and wander off to bother someone else. he didn’t.

“wait no, let me guess. something stronger? on second glance you kind of strike me as a party girl.” the man grins and you have to hold back a sigh. you were always on the shyer side unlike your boyfriend, never having the nerve to tell people to cut it out or leave you alone the way he would. jj tried to teach you, put his hands on your shoulders, look you in the eyes and say ‘if anyone ever bothers you, you look ‘em in the face and tell them that your boyfriend stays strapped. alright?’ of course, that didn’t seem appropriate. or like a good idea in general.

“nope.” your lips press together with a smile that begged him to leave you be, head even swivelling around theatrically to look for jj who had wandered off to take the call somewhere more quiet, now nowhere to be seen.

“c’mon, you think i don’t know your type? you seem all cold now, but get a couple of drinks in you and you’re ready to go. here, lemme get it for you.” he pulls out his card and nudges right up next to you, a hand sliding over your lower back. you shudder, pulling away— trying hard to be stern despite your shyness.

“really, i’m okay.” you frown, heart thundering when his expression drops, irritation reaching his eyes. he goes to speak, but a familiar voice immediately spawns from behind you.

“yeah i think she said she was okay, so you can walk away now.” jj shrugs, giving this guy a chance. the kooks eyes, narrow in on the blonde and scoffs, unimpressed.

“and who the hell are you? her knight in shining armor?” he glares, the malicious grin on jj’s face not faltering. from knowing jj, you knew this grin in itself was a threat. the calm before the storm. you brace for the chaos, moving back behind your boyfriend.

“try boyfriend, and i’m actually doin’ you a solid here brother. i really suggest you just walk away, right now.”

“or what?” the kook challenges, and jj’s venomous grin melted into merely having his teeth grit, bared like a dog as his patience runs thin.

“or i’ll rip your fuckin’ face off for talking to my girl. walk,” he shoves him back by the chest. “away, dude.” and once again, the man stumbling a little as a few eyes draw to the scene. locking stares with the security guard, the kook decides it’s better off he doesn’t get his ass beat, or get kicked out of the beach bar — so he trips over, walking away.

“you’re a psycho, pogue.” he accuses as he disappears and jj shakes himself off, blowing out an exhale as he turns back to you, fixing his hat.

“thats what i thought.” he rolls his shoulders before attending to you. “hey, i— i know you wanted just a chill night. i probably shouldn’t have caused a scene, just didn’t want him disrespecting my girl, you know?” his face falls, misreading the dazed expression on your face.

you glance around, looking for any remaining eyes on you and you move closer, whispering to him pathetically.

“i’m wet.” it comes out so quiet, he thinks he’s making it up.

“you’re — what now?” his head bobs forward in disbelief, eyes wide.

“i’m wet, jayj. take me home?” you mewl and he blinks a couple of times.

“from… that? me like… defending your honour n’shit?”

“yeah.” you giggle and a slow grin fades onto his once angry expression.

“oh you’re crazy. you’re my kind of crazy though — let’s go.” he grabs your hand, leading you briskly away.

⊹ . ⁺ 🍦🤍⋅˚₊𐙚

#🍓 anon #jj maybank prompt

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hollandorks · 4 months

Text

haven

battinson! bruce wayne x f! reader

chapter fourteen

Summary: After the sudden deaths of her mother and grandmother, y/n is forced to return home to Gotham…and to the man who broke her heart three years ago. Back in Bruce Wayne’s inescapable orbit, she vows to get to the bottom of her former best friend’s new cold personality. But Bruce’s secrets aren’t what she’s expecting.

a/n: I'm back to posting semi-regularly, yay! Not sure when the next chapter will be finished because of the holidays but hopefully it'll be within the next week or so! This one is a little on the shorter side, but the next several will be longer I think! (Since I haven't actually written them--but I have plans and they're lengthy.)

Series Masterlist

word count: 2k

“Oh man,” Martinez groaned as his eyes flicked from Alfred, to her, to the picture, and back again. He gulped audibly. Next to him, Blake the security guard was white as a sheet. “Gordon’s gonna kill me.”

“Gordon’s gonna kill me,” Martinez said for the twentieth time as y/n poured him a cup of coffee to replace the one that was currently still on the foyer floor. “I was supposed to be the one paying attention. I was the one he trusted.” Which, he informed her after maybe the fourth “Gordon’s gonna kill me,” that meant he was Gordon’s most trusted on her security team. He was one who was secretly supposed to make sure no one else was compromised.

“Martinez,” y/n said for the nineteenth time. “No he isn’t. You were doing your job. You already said you didn’t leave, or fall asleep, or take a call. In fact, you did your job so well you ignored my offer of coffee.” She held out the new mug.

Martinez was still nervously mangling the hat of his uniform. He was completely ignoring her reassurances. He went still after a second, then turned eyes that were twice as frightened to her. “Man, Mr. Wayne’s gonna be so mad too, isn’t he? This is his house.”

Y/n narrowed her eyes. “I’ll handle Bruce. And besides–Alfred’s more in charge than he is, and he already agreed it wasn’t your fault.” Alfred had met Gordon downstairs a few minutes earlier. The elevator and entire lobby had been turned into a crime scene. Martinez and y/n were waiting to give their statements.

Easing Martinez’s fears was much easier than facing her own. It was easy to focus on him and nothing else. Because in the short half hour since she’d first found the picture, each bit of new information was worse than the last. No one on the security detail had been harmed, bribed, or had even moved. The security cameras had been turned off for only ten minutes. Which all meant that someone had enough access to Wayne Tower and its security to get past everything extra that had been set up.

They wanted her to know that they could get to her.

And they were drawing it out. Instead of grabbing her, they were making her wait. Making her scared.

Y/n focused again on the nervous cop in front of her, who was still bemoaning the fact that everyone was going to be mad at him.

“If you don’t stop, I’m going to be mad at you,” she snapped. There was a headache blooming between her eyes.

Martinez quieted, looking like a kicked puppy with a mustache. “Jesus, I’m so sorry, y/n. If I can make it up to you at all–”

“Just drink your coffee, okay? No one blames you.” Y/n took a sip of her coffee. Her hands were still shaking, and some of the liquid spilled over as she set the cup back down. Damn, she was wasting a lot of coffee in one night.

She startled when a warm hand landed atop hers. She looked up and met Martinez’s soft gaze. He didn’t say anything else, but his presence was enough to steady her.

“I’m so glad they didn’t shoot you,” she said after a moment.

They shared a grin. “Hell, me too.”

An awareness prickled along y/n’s spine.

She looked up, and there was Bruce.

His hair was stuck to his forehead and his shirt was on inside out. Her stomach swooped. There really only seemed to be one possibility from those two clues, plus the fact that he hadn’t been home.

Jealousy and shame spread like hot oil through her stomach.

Bruce looked…angry. His eyes were twin blue flames where they stayed locked on Martinez’s hand atop hers.

Martinez scrambled to his feet as if the king of fucking England had just walked in. More coffee spilled as he bumped the table. Y/n half expected him to bow for Bruce. She rolled her eyes.

“Mr. Wayne! I’m so sorry, I swear I was paying attention, I–”

Bruce’s eyes went cold. “And you are?”

“Officer Martinez, we actually met back–”

Y/n’s eyes narrowed. It was her turn to jump to her feet. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” she said to Bruce.

Martinez flinched. Bruce calmly glanced her way then went back to glaring at Martinez.

“When the security of my home has been compromised due to incompetence–” Bruce said, still calm despite the obvious fury in his eyes.

Y/n cut him off. “Oh shut up. Stop talking to him like that. It wasn’t his fault!”

Bruce’s eyes flashed. “Well, it was certainly someone’s.”

“Maybe it was yours, then.” The words rose within her on a tide of anger. God, her life had been threatened again, and he had the nerve to come home from fucking his girlfriend and act like a dick to her friend? “I mean, you’ve been letting the rest of the tower go to shit for years, makes sense that maybe security is a little lax. Especially if you don’t even give enough of a shit to ever be here.”

They were almost toe to toe now, both breathing heavily. From the corner of her eye, she saw Martinez freeze in place, mouth open in shock.

“I give too much of a shit, y/n. If your little boyfriend hadn’t been distracted–”

Oh, y/n thought. Bruce thought Martinez was her boyfriend. And okay, maybe it looked like that, but Martinez actually had a great girlfriend who was in a group chat with them where they all sent memes to each other. She and Martinez wanted to set up a double date with her cousin and y/n.

The realization made the anger ebb, but then she was pissed off all over again.

“What gives you the right to act like this?” she spat at Bruce. He was so much taller than her that her neck was starting to ache from glaring up at him. “After what you did, after what you said, you’re acting like you have any right to one, be involved in my personal life at all or two, be jealous!”

Bruce flinched. Just like the first time it had happened two days ago, it didn’t feel as good as she thought it would.

“Um,” Martinez said in the echoing silence. “We’re actually just friends and I–I’m going to go give my statement now?”

Y/n barely noticed him leaving.

She was so sick of being so afraid, so heartbroken, so…everything.

“You’re going to apologize to him whether he’s just my friend or not,” she said, poking Bruce in the chest. He winced and tried to mask it by looking away. “I already told you, Bruce. I lost you three years ago. Stop acting like that didn’t fucking happen, because it did.”

Bruce’s hands were clenched into fists at his sides. Now he wasn’t looking her in the eye at all. “I didn’t mean–”

“Oh, shut the fuck up, yes you did.” But the words were bereft of the anger that had been present only moments before. She took a deep breath and a step backwards. “I’m just–sick of pretending things are the same, okay? I know you want to go all protective-best-friend thinking Martinez is my boyfriend or that he put me in danger but–I can’t just–Things aren’t–” Suddenly words were failing her. “It’s just not the same, okay?”

She watched as Bruce softened, too. “Y/n, I’m sorry, I–”

“Why did Martinez just run out of here like a bomb went off?” Gordon’s voice cut across whatever Bruce had been about to say.

“Mommy and Daddy were fighting,” y/n said drily, her defense mechanism of humor kicking in. Bruce made a choking noise. “Find anything useful? Like maybe Frank Gallo?”

She could almost hear Gordon’s teeth grinding from across the room. “No.”

“Bruce,” Alfred said from behind Gordon. “We have some things to discuss.”

Bruce gave her one last glance before following Alfred out.

Alone with Gordon now, y/n sank into her chair with a long sigh. She stared at the little coffee spills as if they had personally offended her. “If I spill any more coffee tonight I might kill someone.”

“Now that would be a sight. Looked like you were about to do Mr. Wayne in already.” Gordon chuckled and took the seat across from her. He flipped open a small notebook.

“I’m still not opposed to smothering him in his sleep,” she muttered. “Arrest me if you have to.”

“How about I get your statement instead?”

It didn’t take long. She was basically a pro at giving statements to the police at this point. When she was done, she said, “I’m so…tired of giving statements to the police.”

Gordon regarded her with sharp eyes that didn’t miss anything. “We’re doing everything we can, y/n,” he said softly.

“I know, I know. It’s just–getting shot at was scary and all, but this is my home.” Her voice cracked. She ducked her head and fiddled with her coffee mug so Gordon wouldn’t see the tears in her eyes. “They’re telling me they can get to me here, too. Where I’m supposed to be safe.”

“I understand completely. We’ll get him. We’ll get them. I have a feeling he might show up on our doorstep sooner rather than later, with something bat-shaped pinned to him and a couple of black eyes and broken bones.” Gordon smirked. Y/n frowned as she realized she hadn’t seen Batman at all. Had he been downstairs? Maybe Bruce hadn’t wanted him to come upstairs. Her frown deepened. “Now, you’re going to have to help me convince Officer Martinez not to sleep in the elevator tonight. Or right outside your door. He’s pretty upset.”

“I’m surprised he still wants to hang around, considering how much of a dick Bruce was,” y/n said under her breath. “But I’ll do my best.”

Martinez took a lot of convincing, but eventually relented and went home to his girlfriend. He made y/n put a chair under her bedroom door handle first, though.

Bruce hadn’t reappeared by the time y/n went to bed.

She laid down, the words of their argument–or whatever the hell that had been–replaying on a loop. Being around him made her feelings go haywire. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been so angry at him. The heartbreak of three years ago had taken over her life and she had to admit that the anger felt…almost good. Cathartic. But it also made her feel out of control. She didn’t feel like herself. Being mad at Bruce went against years of instincts. She was used to defending him, or him defending her, to being on the same team together.

She was still wide awake as dawn broke over the sky hours later.

Another thought kept turning over and over in her mind. Frank Gallo–or someone he had hired–had gotten into her home. Her very, very secure home.

She had been afraid before, but it was nothing like this. Her safe haven had been…sullied. They knew who she was, where she lived, and had basically said right to her face that not even Bruce Wayne’s money and power could keep her safe.

Added all together, y/n’s mind simply would not shut off in order for her to sleep.

It occurred to her again that she hadn’t seen Batman at all–had Gordon updated him on what happened? Because he had been in that photo, too. He had kept her alive, which she was certain had pissed off the Gallos. Was he a target? Maybe the picture of them together was a threat to both of them, but only given to her since they knew where she lived.

When she rolled over, her eyes caught on all of her research piled on the opposite side of the bed. Her eyes snagged on those three words: white knight syndrome.

She bet she had her answer about any possible feelings he might have. Even if he had shown up, he hadn’t tried to contact her, to see her, nothing. He was probably sick of having to keep her alive. He was probably leaving it up to Gordon and the police department now.

Despite everyone who was trying hard to keep her alive, y/n felt utterly alone.

taglist: IF YOUR USERNAME HAS CHANGED LET ME KNOW!!!!!!

@ktficworld @grunge-n-roses5 @anon-cat-posts @projectdreamwalker @warsaur @lachillona02 @crazyunsexycool @doetic @alexiris @that-girl-named-alex @harry-bowie-mercury @vaniasagitaa @widows-writings @missing-loki @exactlyelegantwizard @miriamnox @mavenmoon @eclipsedplanet @spencerrxids @giulia2372 @katara-is-a-goddess-changemymind @janezat @incorrectmarvelquotesss @spiritdetectivel @i-have-no-life-charlie @ilovemybabes @curseyouperrytheplatypus @lightsinmycity @yondiii @spideybv28 @fictionalmansl4t

#bruce wayne x reader #battinson x reader #the batman 2022 #battinson #the batman #batman x reader #the batman x reader #bruce wayne #robert pattinson

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quibbs126 · 13 days

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So I made more Cookie Run human designs, featuring the Cookies of Darkness

I originally started doing this months ago with White Lily, but I never got around to doing more until this week. I had drawn Pure Vanilla and Golden Cheese, but then I got really worried that my designs were wrong and I had taken too many liberties, so I shelved them for now and did these guys instead. In which I took far less liberties I think

Honestly I feel like Licorice was my best one. He was also the first I did, which might not bode well. I guess I ran out of juice too quickly

I’d argue that Matcha’s my worst, I really didn’t know what to do with her. Tragic since she’s like my favorite of the characters

I also don’t entirely know how her hair works, so I wasn’t sure how to draw it. In my head she has a really loose bun, and the bottom parts are her hair falling out of it. I also wasn’t sure what color to make her hair. Originally it was ginger, but then I considered changing it to dirty blonde, and after asking this was the result I got. Also her horns are supposed to be hair clips, not real

Red Velvet’s weird eye is supposed to be a glass eye. I couldn’t decide between bloodshot or glass eye, and when I asked I was told that the red could still work as a glass eye, so I reworked it to look “glassy”

I feel like I could have given Poison Mushroom at least some sort of hat. And as I’m typing, freckles. Maybe I’ll add those in later

Edit: I added the freckles

Also side note but it was frustrating not giving anyone something on their face, like a mole or beauty mark or just freckles. And it’s more frustrating because most characters don’t have freckles or anything like that. Might be an opportunity for liberties

I also really only wanted to draw the first 5, but I had another row left, so I filled it with Butter Roll, Affogato and Choco Werehound Brute. Dark Enchantress was going to be drawn but I couldn’t figure out her eyes

With Butter Roll I tried to convey that he has darker roots. Don’t know how good it looks though

Affogato’s white streaks are just supposed to be dye. He seems like the type to dye his hair, though I’m not sure if he’d dye it white. Purple maybe

Choco Werehound Brute I feel like I didn’t give enough facial hair. Also I swear I’ve seen a character who looks like him before. Like in some show or just a character someone made, he looks so familiar to me

But yeah, I think that’s about it for them. Don’t know who to draw next, the other Ancients and such are for another time, so just random characters. I actually think before I started drawing these guys I was considering the Juice Bar Regulars? And company, aka Alchemist and Cocoa. Maybe I’ll draw them next, who knows

#cookie run #cookie run kingdom #licorice cookie #poison mushroom cookie #pomegrante cookie #red velvet cookie #matcha cookie #butter roll cookie #affogato cookie #choco werehound brute #cookies of darkness #my art #human cookies

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okanadafreakingfan · 7 months

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Teach me to laugh again

Buggy X reader

Part 1

So this started as me writing out my OCs backstory but I’ve changed the POV so that it can be read as a reader insert. Currently it’s all angst and fluff cause they are children in this, after the flashback I’ll see about more mature themes :)

Let me know if you’d like to see more of this, title help me with inspo <33

Everything was cold. Whether it was the golden collar around your neck, or the chains shacked to your ankles, hidden beneath a long skirt, keeping you from running away, that made you feel this way. Or maybe it’s from the general lack of warmth in your life, since the day you ate that damn devil fruit. You only ate it 3 years ago, the day you turned 7. You were only a child. You still are a child, but it doesn’t feel like it. You feel like you’ve had you childhood stripped from you, had to grow up so fast, to mature in this new, unloving environment.

You ate it by accident, almost dying from hunger on the streets you resorted to stealing. it was the only food in reach, it was a bit odd, blue and swirly, but at the time you just assumed it was from the other side of the grand line, maybe even the red line, as that specific market was full of odd fascinations from many different places. You ate the odd fruit thinking nothing of the distastefulness of it, your mind was solely on survival. However, the person who set up the shop caught you around the corner, dragged you by the elbow and chained you to the shop stall. He said that you will have to earn that fruit with your life, and that he now owned you for your trespasses.

He chained you up and made you perform, after finding out that you had eaten a sing-song devil fruit, allowing you the power of voice, and a beautiful, alluring singing voice that was very profitable for the man that now owns you.

And so now here you are, ten years old, sitting on a wooden plank that substitutes as your bed, staring at the wall. You have no dreams, no aspirations. You barely remember the person you were before everything went downhill. can’t even remember the faces of your family.

Did i even have a family?

Oh well it doesn’t matter now. What good will thinking do me. I’m an object, a simple attraction that people pay to watch perform, a designated child prodigy,but no one knows the reason for your amazing voice is simply the effects of a Devil fruit.

all of a sudden your world crashes around you as the entire building shakes. The place is built near the shore, so it’s very likely to have been a cannon ball, pirates were attacking.

The wealth that has been wracked up by the establishment must have made its way to the pirates ears. Your eyes finally leave the wall as another loud bang goes off and the building shakes, there are no windows in the room your kept in, there’s no way of knowing what’s going on out there. Shouting and the sound of things being broken is all that can be heard. Footsteps coming closer and closer.

Drawing your legs close to your chest, tears start to form at the corners of your eyes. Although this is a horrible life to live, it’s the only life you’ve known, other than starving on the streets that is. You don’t want it to all be stripped from you once again, anything but that. And pirates were sure to be worse than any treatment you have gotten here.

The door to your so-called room suddenly gets bashed in, an older man with a prominent black mustache looks in and seems surprised to see you here. Next to him are two boys around my age, one with red hair and a straw hat, and the other with blue hair and a prominent red nose. You look at them for a moment. The older man (you later find out to be Gol D. Roger) steps forward to see if the key he has on him fits in the keyhole on the gold collar strapped to your neck. It doesn’t and he lets out a slightly annoyed sigh.

“Buggy, try get this lock picked,” he tosses him a thin lock picking tool “I’ll continue to look around, shanks with me” he orders that last part as he turns his heel to leave the room.

Buggy looks annoyed at this and grumbles something you can’t quite make out before sitting beside you to try pry off the collar.

“I’m buggy” he huffs, apparently not liking how silent you were being.

“Y/n” you whisper back, voice slightly horse from un use. You haven’t spoken a word in the past three days.

“Pfft” he chuckles as he continues to work at the lock.

“What?” You tilt your head, confused. He thinks you look sadly adorable with such a blank expression but such inquisitive eyes.

“It’s just the way your looking at me, it’s funny is all… uhh not that It’s a bad thing, or anything,” He curses at himself, he doesn’t want to make her think he’s a mean person, it seems like she’s got enough of that already from the looks of things. She was scarily thin though, and definitely looked too pale for comfort. Finally the clasp to the collar unlocked and the chain fell from it just as the building began to shake again, the walls crumbling slightly from pressure. They needed to get out of here quick.

“Comeone lets go” he says quickly, standing up and yanking you up with him. The chains around your feet clang at the movement. he, only now noticing them, lets put an audible groan as he tries to pry them off.

“Just take the gold collar and go, it’s more valuable than I am” you say, barely above a whisper.

Buggy just stares at you, not believing what just came out of your mouth.

“Do you think we’re just trying to get your gold off you!?” He yells, genuinely worried that that’s actually what you think is happening.

You simply give a small nod, what else would pirates want from you? In your mind You would have no other value to them.

“No! We’re getting you out of here, whether you like it or not, I am gonna save you and your gonna thank me” he shouts this, like a promise. The way you look at him makes something inside him break. The light in your eyes looks like it’s been dimmed a long time ago, and a part of him just wants to make you happy again, to see you laugh. And most of all, to see you away from this hellhole, and safe with him.

#buggy simps #child buggy cause he is lovable soft boi #buggy #buggy the clown #buggy x reader #opla #one piece

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multi-fxndom446 · 1 year

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Past lives

Zoro X reader

Summary: Zoro seems to save you from falling in multiple lives

Warnings: angst with fluff ending, maybe rushed ending idk

This is not completely accurate. I did this to the best of my ability I am only on episode 135 so I’m not even at the Sunny so plz be kind if I missed details.

Also I thought this was cute hope you all enjoy.

Past couldn’t ever hold me down

Lost love is sweeter when it’s finally found

I’ve got the strangest feeling this isn’t our first time around.

Past lives couldn’t ever come between us

Sometimes the dreamers finally wake up

Don’t wake me I’m not dreaming

The moment you met Zoro it was almost like your whole world fell from right under you and you were left grasping for anything to hold onto, desperate to keep him close to you.

The first meeting almost went exactly as you felt, you were falling and he was the only thing you could see in your sights.

You gasped out a sharp breathe, reaching for something to hold onto. You felt your hands flailing around trying to grasp anything when you felt his arm and you clutched onto it for dear life.

His other arm was quick to wrap itself around your waist pulling you closer to him as you death gripped his other. “You okay?” He finally asked when he made sure you were steady on your feet.

With a few more gasps of breathe you swallowed your fear and nodded slightly, whispering out a quiet thank you and he backed away from you after he made sure your grip was loosened on him.

You looked around the ship, taking in the few other crew members that were present. All of them stood in shock at what they had witnessed. “Who the hell pushed you off that boat?” Another guy piped up, with blonde hair you noticed

Your thoughts were all over the place so much was happening way to fast. “What’s your name?” Another man in a straw hat asked as a red head girl brought a blanket over to you and you seemed to notice now how much you were shaking.

“Y/n.” You said softly glancing back at the man who saved you, your head spun with recognition. “I-I was hiding on the ship, they found me.” You motioned behind you as if to say ‘that’s why they pushed me off’

All you could remember was your heart stopping in fear when you realized the captain found you, then you were facing out towards the water close to another boat when you made eye contact with the man and his face held more concern then you would ever understand.

The next moment you felt hands pushing you and his arms saving you.

“I’m Monkey D. Luffy. Captain of this ship.” You nodded slightly, still unsure if they were gonna push you off as well. “This is Nami, Sanji and Ussopp.” Luffy smiled as he introduced his crew.

“I’m Zoro.” The man who saved you said. Your eyes couldn’t seem to leave him. Like something was drawing you to him, it was almost as if you knew this man before.

He seemed just as confused as you, his arms were crossed but his brows were furrowed in concentration trying to remember if he’s ever met you.

“Where are you trying to get to?” Nami piped in and you clutched the blanket tighter around you.

“Anywhere that isn’t this island.” You finally said and Luffy gave you a bright smile as he went over and patted you on the back.

“Well you’re in luck, we just happen to be leaving.” At the same moment the ship started sailing, some of his crew mates slipping away to go make sure everything was good for a long journey. “Though I’m not sure when we will stop next, are you okay with being with us for a while?”

Your eyes found there way back to Zoro who was still standing close by, arms crossed. “Yeah, I’ll help with anything you need.”

You were sat silently next to Zoro on the deck of the Going Merry. The swordsman was laying down, hands behind his head as he snored away.

You looked around at what everyone else was doing. Sanji seemed to be the only one doing anything in the kitchen while the other 3 were huddled around together playing a game of cards.

You lived for these moments with them. The quiet with little bits of laughter and just overall happiness in the air.

When Luffy told you they wouldn’t be stopping for awhile he wasn’t lying. Days had turned into weeks and weeks turned into a few months. But food was running low. You knew they would be stopping at an island shortly, the very same one you would be leaving them.

“You don’t have to leave you know?” You jumped when Zoros voice broke through the silence. “Your thinking to loud I couldn’t sleep.”

You smiled at that. He’d never admit he had woken up awhile ago you were to deep in thought to notice him watching you. “That’s what we agreed on.” You said softly and he sat up, shifting his weapons to move them in front of him.

“That was months ago you can’t actually think we were just gonna let you go?” He unsheathed one and started cleaning them carefully, one by one. “You’re part of the crew.”

“I can’t stay.” You sigh, watching him work. “I don’t think I realized how long Luffy meant when he said it.”

Zoro watched you from the corner of his eye, “why?” You looked up at him in confusion. “Tell me why you have to leave. What’s out there that you think you need to protect us from?”

“I-“ you paused, “just stuff from the past I can’t shake. I don’t want to Involve any of you, I never meant to get close to any of you.”

He scoffed. “You didn’t involve us. I involved myself when I saved your ass from dying, now you owe me.” He sheathed his first sword and pulled out the next. “I saved you. So In return you stay here, with us. With me.”

You watched him silently, eyes widened. He really wanted you to stay. You understood how he was feeling, you both never seemed to want to be to far from the other. But still..

Almost as if sensing your hesitation he stopped cleaning and grabbed your hand. “I promise you I can take care of myself. We all can. So stop worrying for us and promise me you’ll stay.”

You felt your hand tingle where he held onto you, “okay. Okay I promise.” He smiled a smile you would never get tired of seeing and pulled away from you to continue cleaning his swords.

Past lives couldn’t ever hold me down

Lost love is sweeter when it’s finally found

I’ve got the strangest feelin, this isn’t our first time around.

Past lives could never come between us

Sometimes the dreamers finally wake up

Don’t wake me I’m not dreaming

The Sunny rocked gently on the waves. The sun was just starting to rise and you knew everyone else was probably starting to get up.

You knew you should probably get up and start helping around the ship but how could you when Zoro was sleeping so peacefully next to you?

He was facing you, his arm loosely thrown over your waist. You were laid on your side as your eyes scanned over almost every feature he had. Your fingers traced gently across his jawline and over his scar on his eye before they traced along his earrings, admiring the way they just laid gently on his neck.

“What’re you doing?” He grumbled, his arm pulling you tighter against him. Your hand fell just behind his head where you started to play with the ends of his hair. You could feel his goosebumps start running down his arms. “Your being to noisy.”

You laughed, “I haven’t even said anything.” You smiled as he finally opened his eye to look at you. “Goodmorning.”

“It’s to early.” He sighed in annoyance before he tried to turn over and go back to sleep but he couldn’t seem to look away from you, not when you were looking at him with so much love. “What are you even doing?” He asked again

“Just admiring.” You whispered softly. The two of you sat in silence as you continued to play with his hair and he watched you closely. “Hey.”

He hummed

“Do you believe in past lives?” He raised an eyebrow at you and let out a questioning ‘huh?’ You pulled your hand away from his hair with a sigh. “Sorry it’s stupid.”

You went to pull away from him but his arm held you in place. “No keep going I want to hear what you want to say.” You smiled as his determination.

“It’s just when I first met you, there was something about you that felt..familiar.” Your eyebrows scrunched in concentration as you tried to find the right words. “Something about you I just knew immediately I was meant to be with you.”

Zoro stayed silence while he studied you. He could see the look in yours eyes and he knew that look. This was something that must’ve been on your mind for awhile. “I dunno about past lives but I do know we were meant to be together.” He finally said.

“If you did believe in past lives..do you think we were together in those lives?” Your question seemed to take him back. He stared at you for a moment before nodding slightly.

“I’m sure we were. But it doesn’t matter,” he leaned forward to kiss your head before he rolled out of bed. “This is our present and it’s better then any past lives we may have lived together.”

You stared at his back in awe, “come on we better go before Luffy eats all the food.” You slowly smiled at the man before humming in agreement and following after him.

“Alright, everyone meet back here before sundown!” Sanji called out to everyone before they started departing from the Sunny to go into town.

This was the first town you had stopped at in weeks and you were hoping they had some supplies you’ve been looking for, for awhile. “Are you sure you don’t want me to go with you?” Zoro asked you for the third time.

Zoro watched you leave with a frown, he knew you could handle yourself but still, he couldn’t help but worry.

You split off from the rest the moment you entered town. Nami stayed with you for a few moments before she could hear the sounds of Luffy causing trouble and she split off.

You really didn’t mind, you only wanted to go to one shop. You had been looking for this piece to upgrade your weapon for weeks but no one ever seemed to have it.

Right when you were about to turn a corner a body collided with yours making you take a few steps back to balance yourself. “I’m so sor-“ your sentence cut short when your eyes landed on who was in front of you.

“Hm?” The man turned to you, staring you down. “You look familiar.” He had said and you took a step back, laughing awkwardly.

“I get that a lot. Im sorry for running into you!” You went to turn away before you felt him grab onto your wrist tightly.

“I do know you.” He smirked his eyes shinning in excitement. “The captain has been looking for you, I’m sure I’ll get a big reward for turning you over to him.”

He started pulling you with him as he weaved his way around the town. You struggled, pulling, scratching but he didn’t even seem to notice. “Let me go!” You yelled and he just yanked you harder. When you saw the Captain your eyes widened in fear and you became desperate but the grip wouldn’t loosen up.

“Captain!” The man called and your heart fell to the floor when he turned to the voice and your eyes connected.

Zoro sat on the deck of the sunny, taking deep breaths as he furrowed his eyebrows in concentration as if trying to force himself to meditate. It should’ve been easy to do with the waves rocking the ship lightly but with a sigh he finally opened his eye, giving up.

He’d never tell you this but he was no longer able to train peacefully unless you were somewhere he knew you were safe, usually by his side where he could protect you in a moments notice.

He hasn’t been able to be a peace for awhile now not since the day he was separated from his entire crew for too long, now he’s too scared the same will happen and he can’t let it especially when he just got everyone back, when he just got you back.

“Ah might as well go into town.” He sighed out, jumping from the ship but as he was about to start the walk to town his crew started appearing one by one in the distance.

They all started getting closer when he noticed you weren’t with any of them. “Where’s y/n?” He asked his hand already on his swords.

“I’m sure she’s just running behind she should be back in a few minutes.” Nami said while she pointed where Luffy and Ussopp could put down her bags.

So he waited. Everyone was on the ship putting everything away and still there was no sign of you. “She said she would be back before sundown.” Zoro mumbled when the sun finally disappeared out of sit.

“Still no Y/n?” Chopper called, eyebrows furrowed in worry when Zoro shook his head. “Should we look for her-?”

Right as chopper asked a loud explosion went off in the distance near the other side of the town and Zoro wasted no time taking off, letting Chopper call for everyone.

He needed to get to you.

Don’t wake me I’m not dreaming.

Zoro felt like his world was burning down, which it almost was. Everything around him was engulfed in flames practically cutting his crew off of any chance to escape.

Though he wouldn’t be leaving until he had you back in his arms.

He was breathing heavily, sword held firmly between his teeth and the other two gripped in his hands. He was exhausted, this guy was stronger then he looked.

Nami was on her knees behind him, clutching her arm while Sanji was stood protectively in front of her and chopper was next to her tending her wounds.

Luffy was stood next to him with a death glare aimed at the man who had you by the throat. You were scratching at his arm to the point he was bleeding but he didn’t seem to care he only laughed in your face.

“Let her go!” Luffy shouted while Usopp loaded his weapon and Robin got ready. “She didn’t do anything!”

“Didn’t do anything?” The man barked out a harsh laugh, “she sunk a ship filled with men and all of our treasure. She has to pay those berries back with her life, which she’s now worth.”

“She told me that story once.” Nami spoke up, “she sunk your ship after you burned down her village.” She seethed.

“I-I didn’t-“ you choked, Zoros clutch tightening. “I didn’t kill any of your men.” You finally said gulping in breathes when he loosened his hold enough for you to speak.

He nodded, “I killed them.” Luffys eyes widened even more in pure fury. “After you sunk our ship with the treasure you snuck on board the main ship to kill me. My men were foolish and they let you get away so I killed them. So really, it was your fault.”

He tightened his hold on you again and pulled out his sword. “You caused there deaths.” He seethed and everything after seemed like slow motion.

In the next moments the man pulled his sword back and Zoro watched your eyes widen in horror, while Usopp shot an exploding bullet. The explosion went off in the man’s face and his hold loosened as he dropped you to the ground and stumbled back in shock.

Zoro was running after that. Everything hurt but he didn’t care, Luffy and everyone else could take care of this guy but he needed to get to you.

When he got to you he was staring down at you in disbelief. You were on your side with blood pooling under you, the bloody sword still clutched in the mans hand. He fell to his knees and layed a shaky hand on your arm, pulling you to roll over. The moment he did he let out and anguished yell. “Chopper!” He yelled as he gathered you in his arms, rocking you back and forth. “Chopper!!”

Past lives couldn’t ever hold me down

Lost love is sweeter when it’s finally found

I’ve got the strangest feeling

This isn’t our first time around

Past lives couldnt ever come between us

Sometimes the dreamers finally wake up

Don’t wake me I’m not dreaming

Everything felt cold. Cold and dark. You could faintly hear Zoro yelling before everything went completely still. You thought you might be dead but then you saw a faint light ahead of you.

Everything in your body told you not to go towards it, but your feet carried you anyway. When you got to the light a sort of softness engulfed you.

You looked around to see you were in a small house, a very old one. One that didn’t even seem to be from your time. In front of you was a man with his back turned. Something about him seemed so familiar.

Before you could understand who it was your feet were carrying you towards him. When you were right behind him your arms wrapped themselves around his waist. You felt a sense of deja vu.

When you pulled away from him you went to take a step but tripped over whatever tools he had layed out beside him. The man turned quick and grabbed onto you. He mouthed something but you couldn’t hear anything. Even if you wanted to you were to distracted by the familiar face that stared back at you. It was Zoro.

He mouthed something again something that looked like your name. “Y/n!” Finally you could hear him but it wasn’t from the one in front of you. Suddenly you were thrown in darkness again and you could hear your Zoro yelling out to you but your body was already pulling you another direction.

This time it was bright outside in what seemed to be summer time. Everything this time was bleary like it hasn’t actually happened yet. That’s when you see the familiar green hair in the distance, you want to go to him but everything suddenly became so cold again and your body finally succumbed to the darkness.

“Y/n!” Zoro yelled watching hopefully as your eyes flutter open. You’re pale, all life drained from your body as you gaze up at him.

You could see the tears in his eyes when he looked down at you but all you could bring yourself to do was smile softly at him. “We’ll be okay.” You whispered and he narrowed his eyes. “I’ll see you again.”

“What?” He held onto you tighter when your eyes started closing again, chopper sitting next to you helpless. “Hey, don’t close your eyes! Y/n!”

But it was to late. Your eyes closed and your hand fell limp at your side.

Dont wake me I’m not dreaming

There was no sound other then the waves crashing onto the shore. Everything was dull. Luffy and the rest of the crew made a raft while Zoro held onto your body as long as they allowed before Sanji came to take you away from him.

They stood next to the Sunny and watched Zoro. He stood next to the raft and looked out at the never ending sea.

He took a deep breathe and kneeled down next to the raft, his hand coming up to soothe over your hair while he traced every feature you had as if to commit you to every memory he could ever possibly have.

“You were right.” He whispered, “you were the love of my life in every life.” His eye clouded with tears so he layed his head down on his arm to try and stop it.

“If we found each other in all of those lives, I’ll find you in the next one. I swear to you on my life.” He muttered, lifting his head slightly to lean forward and press one final kiss to the side of your head. “I love you.”

Finally, he stood up and nodded at his crew. They all came forward and helped push the raft into the ocean while Zoro lit it one fire and they all watched you leave the world with tears in there eyes.

(In another life)

Zoro was walking next to Luffy as they looked at all the shops. The summer breeze was warm which felt nice to bask in for once.

Luffy was running up to every window in excitement when you came out of one. You both didn’t notice each other at first until you looked towards the green hair, which distracted you.

When you walked past him you tripped. He was quick to turn to you as he grabbed onto you and your grasped his arm tightly. His other arm wrapped around your waist and he pulled you closer to him to secure you. The entire thing felt oddly familiar.

“Are-“ he felt like his heart was going to leap out of his chest when your eyes connected finally and the puzzle pieces clicked in place. He was staring at you with as much intensity as you. “Y/n?” He almost whispered out, scared you were fake.

You took a moment to understand and then smiled, bringing your hand to cup his cheek. “Zoro,” you had tears in your eyes. “You found me.”

He pulled you closer and leaned his forehead against yours. Tears were falling from his eyes but he had the biggest smile on his face.

“Dummy. I promised you I would.”

You choked out a laugh and brought him closer, kissing him with as much love of you could possibly muster.

Luffy was long gone somewhere and at this point, long forgotten.

Hope you enjoyed <3

#zoro x reader #zoro one piece #roronoa zoro #zoro roronoa x reader #one piece x reader #one piece imagine

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fanofstuff02 · 10 days

Text

HERE IS IT!! Here is your request @talesfromawannabejournalist

Alsoo: @woah-why-i-am-here (drawings!) @rius-cave

Adamsapple x Chaggie AU

Lucifer is Charlie

Adam is Vaggie

Charlie is Emily (Emily is fallen)

Eve is Adam

Abel is Lute (You can punch me)

Michael is Lucifer

Also, I swapped the genders of Angel Dust, Husk and Valentino (you can punch me 2x) because there are too much males there. Though I doubt they would ever be used.

I wrote down the ep 6 as them because it has the most Chaggie

Also also, my native language is not English, sorry if there are grammar mistakes. AND, I am not one or was raised in a Christian culture, so I’m sorry if this isn’t pretty accurate.

By the way, I’ll not be writing the same dialogues, I’ll tell you when I skip them

Sorry if this is kinda cheesy

“Okay I have took my hat, and my other hat AND a special rubber duck as a gift. Do you think heaven would still be as bright as it was before? Should I bring sunscreen?” Lucifer fumbled around the room, throwing things in their suitcases.

“You do know it’ll probably be in the fucking inside most of the time right? And babe,” He took his hand in an attempt to calm him down a little. “It’s only a meeting. You don’t need to bring gifts to them.”

“It-it's not for them. It's for… Charlie.” He exhaled, intertwining their fingers together. “I want her to think good of me. Because you know!” He laughed nerveously and looked away. “First impressions matter! Maybe she- I mean heaven would listen to us if they understand that we care about them!” He said the last part mostly to himself as Adam watched him, thinking why was this angel thrown in hell. But then he remembered one thing. And that 'something' linked itself to another 'something’.

“Sooo uhh… About that ‘us’… I don’t think I should… come with you.” He removed his hand from his and ran his fingers through his hair.

“Why? I mean, I can totally understand if you aren’t comfortable being around them, but-”

“It’s not that… Well yeah, I can’t say I’m the biggest fan of that bitch, and I don’t think Abel thinks awesome about me but overall, they aren’t that bad… It’s just.. I don’t think me being there could help. I mean, I fell here right? I rejected them. They probably hate me and would judge you because of-“ He felt his king’s fingers shushing him.

“I don’t care what they think, they are an asshole if they hate you just because you didn’t want to be a part of their genocide, and you do help. With… being there with me.” He looked up, smirking lightly. The sight was enough to make him soften in a lot of places.

“And also,” He took a hold of both his hands. “Do you think they wouldn’t hate and judge me? The Devil himself? Please, you were the first one to be against that, I need you there.”

“Fine, I’ll come…” He gave up, almost fell down when Lucifer hugged him tightly, kissing all over his face. It tickled.

“Thank you!”

-Skipping to the part where they got into heaven-

“Yup, shit’s still fucking bright.” The first man blinked, trying to get used to the new environment.

“Yeah, I know, isn’t it beautiful?” His boyfriend looked around excitedly.

“Sure.”

“Oh, hi there!” A blue-yellow angel waved them but froze when he realized who they were. “Ahem- Are you sure you are in the-“

Here we go.

“Right place? Yes.” The first man said, cold and simple. Lucifer squeezed his hand, giving him a “We're-guests-here” look. He then cleaned his throat.

“Oh, uhm, hi. St Peter right? We are Adam and Lucifer, here for a meeting. I guess you know about us coming here? Archangel Michael arranged it for us?”

“I- guess he did.” St Peter shook his head. “They should-”

“St Peter, mind if we take them from here?” A voice came from the air.

“Sera! Long time no see!” Lucifer tried to keep his cool, failed miserably when he saw who was next to Sera.

Charlie.

“Hello, Lucifer. Adam.” The angels took a more human-like appearance and came closer, the older one greeted them, probably forcing herself to smile. “I’m… Delighted to see you two again.”

I bet you are, Sera.

“You too.”

Charlie run into them excitedly and took the short guy’s hand to shake. The ex angel was probably in the double-heaven by now.

“Hi! I’m Charlie! The helper of the seraphim. Half angel. You probably don’t know about me, but I heard so much about you.” She smiled widely, much more warmer than the Seraphim’s.

“I- ahem, heard about you too.”

-The whole ass song plays-

“Holy fucking shit.” They passed through two angels, Charlie was leading them to a hotel. “Are those..?”

“Why is HE here?! How did they even allow them to come here!” Abel said in rage.

“Who the fuck cares?! I’m going to end this bullshit right now.” Eve started walking angrily but he stopped her.

“Wait, you wouldn’t want to start a fight infront of everyone would you?”

“Do I look like I care?! This can’t wait for exter-“

"SSH!" He shushed her, pulling her by the collar.

“Mom, what was the only rule Sera wanted us to follow?”

“Riighht.. Yeah yeah the no one should know rule bullshit, I know honey.” She drank her coffee deeply.

“Listen to your son, Eve.” Someone spoke behind them, teleporting them in another place.

“Sera! Aren’t you aware that you can’t do that to a girl? Jeez.”

-Sera and Adam scene basically-

“Okay, I MISSED this place!” Lucifer jumped onto the hotel’s bed while Adam carried their stuff there. “Can you believe that Charlie wants to hang out with me?!”

“I guessed that.”

“She’s going to take me to a park, where they have one of the biggest duck ponds! With an actual water pond! You coming?”

“Nah, I’m good, but uhh… Feed them for me I guess.”

“See ya!” He gave him a little wave and walked away, tugging his heart strings for a brief moment.

“Ughh.” He groaned and lied down. “Why did it have to be Sera we’re-“ He was startled when there was a loud knock on his door. Luci didn’t do that.

“Look, I don’t know who the fuck are you but Lucifer isn’t heee-“ His voice got lower and lower when he saw his ex wife and son on the doorstep. “-re. Get the fuck out.” He attempted to close the door, but the bitch kicked it. “Lucifer’s not here, and even if he WAS here, I doubt you two have anything to talk about.”

“Oh no no no, I’m not lookin for the short cunt. I’m here for you, babe” She looked down mockingly to him. When she was firstly created, they had little to no amount of height difference. But now, due to him getting a bit shorter when he fell, she was slightly taller. Yep. Another shitty thing about this body.

“And why is that?” He crossed his arms. Whore.

“I think you know why. You left us for your stupid morality bullshit. You rejected us for a… Royal ass. Or,” She leaned in. “I suppose that cake piece was on your mind the whole time?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about bitch.” He muttered angrily.

“Please. You thought I would forget what heaven told us JUST because you became one of them?” She touched one of his horns as his eyes went wide.

“You wouldn’t,”

“Oh, I would. Heh. I still remember the look on your face when Sera told you what came out of the demon king's hat after your funny night with him. You begged her not to tell anyone about this, Addie.”

“Don’t ever dare to call me that again.”

“Hmmmm… No. Anyway,”

“When we firstly came with a plan to end this for good, your little heart couldn’t handle it, right? No wonder why King Duckdick chose you after Lilith left him.”

“I can’t believe you can fall into that gutter. Your love is just…” Abel looked disgusted.

“Hot?”

“Uhh..”

“What do you want me to do?” The demon tried to calm himself down.

“Simple. You’ll help us in the court, and shut that freaky place down for good.”

“I am not going to betray-”

“Awww how sweet. But, you already did, right?Does he know that YOU are the reason why he was kicked out of heaven? Does he know that you took advantage of him while he was drunk? Does he know that you let Lilith lie to heaven to become the Queen of Hell? Let me guess.” She got closer to her ex-husband who was frozen, a smug on her face “He doesn’t. And if you want to keep it that way, you are going to help us out there. Otherwise, I will tell him that he’d been fucking the true snake this whole time. I’m sure he’d understand! Let’s go hun.” She patted his shoulder, receiving a death glare. Abel returned it and closed the door behind.

Thats the end of the first chapter.

Should I write all of the episodes or should I continue from here?

Have a good day/night!

-Zoe

#hazbin hotel #hazbin adam #hazbin hotel adam #hazbin lucifer #hazbin hotel lucifer #hazbin hotel au #hazbin hotel eve #hazbin eve #hazbin hotel charlie #hazbin charlie

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madhattervanessa · 2 years

Text

Kinktober 2022 - #7

Kinks: Table Sex, Dirty Talk

Words: 1297

Pairing: Francisco “Catfish” Morales x f!Reader

Kinktober Masterlist

“Baby?”

“Uhuh?”, you mindlessly answer, pushing the next dish into the washer before you straighten up again, grabbing the next.

“Bebita.”, he grumbles and you smile as you put the leftover silverware in, too, still not looking.

“What is it?”, you sing-song and push the door of the dishwasher closed. When you look up, he is leaning back in his office chair, his hands holding open one of the flight manuals.

He doesn’t say anything and you make your way over towards him until you can perch on the edge of his work desk.

You tilt your head at him in question and he sighs before pushing his reading glasses off of his nose, neatly placing them to the side before he rolls the chair over to you. You sit back and give him some space to fit in.

He leans on to your thighs and stretches upwards. You meet him in the middle for a short peck on the lips.

“Thanks for dinner.”

“It’s okay. I know you have that test this week.”

He grunts and you draw him into another kiss, your fingers delicately cupping his cheek - you can’t resist brushing your pinky over the bare patch in his beard.

He doesn’t quite part from you this time but instead lingers just inches away from you.

“I’m going to make it up to you.”

You scoff at him, honestly amused that barely a week of taking over a few miniscule household chores has him feeling guilty already.

“Sounds like you have a plan.”

He nods, a slight smile on his lips as you trail your fingers to sit behind his jaw, gently pressing into a spot you know is sore from him clenching the muscles all day while reading.

He groans and his hands come to rest on your thighs, spanning the thick of them with ease.

He closes his eyes and you bite your lip as he opens his mouth to lick over his lips.

“Yeah. Yeah, I have something in mind.”

His thumbs rub over the seam of your pants and you bite your lip at the soothing back and forth motion.

“Tell me about it.”

“I’m going to make you dinner first. Three courses. But I’m going to get that dessert from the place downtown you like. I’ll do the dishes, too. Then…” His hands wander further up, towards the crotch of your pants and you gasp when he pushes the flat of his thumb against where you’re already aching for him.

“I’m going to eat your pussy. On the dinner table. Going to give you at least two with my mouth.” He murmurs and you feel your breath getting heavier. “I want to taste you, want to make you cum and then add my fingers… Maybe we can try making you squirt again. You liked it last time, didn’t you, baby?”

He presses upwards and you whisper a breathless Yes before your lips are engulfed in another kiss. He presses his thumb up with more force and you moan into his mouth. He slowly rubs the pad of his finger over your cunt, the pressure not quite enough but enticing you to roll your hips against it.

“After I’ve made you squirt, I’m going to lay you out on the table and-”

“I think I’m going to need you to help me with a visual, Morales.”

He kisses you again and you smile as you hold on to his shoulders. He is quick to stand and gather your legs around his waist before walking you over to the kitchen table. He drops you on the edge and you knock off his hat before you tug at his shirt. He lets you take it off of him and starts opening your pants.

He meets your eyes again and you smile as you let your hands roam over his broad shoulders. He manages to get your pants off and you arch into him, eager for his hands to return to you.

“I’m going to stretch you open for me. Do you want me to go slow, baby?”

You feel hot all over as you meet his eyes.

“Whatever you want, Frankie, just- just need you inside of me.”

His fingers dip into your slick pussy and you let your head fall back as he repeats the motion of his thumb from earlier, now less strong but with an insistence that makes your head spin.

“You like when I stretch you open for me, baby?”

You smile as he lets his lips trail over your neck and you moan when he changes the pattern up on your clit, making you tether on the edge of too much.

“Yes, yes I do like it when you stretch me open for you big cock, Frankie.”

He drags you towards him and you grasp his jaw as he smashes his lips against yours. You lick over his bottom lip, ready to open him up for you but then he buries a thick finger inside your heat. You gasp and Frankie licks into your mouth at the opportunity before he starts to slowly fuck you open.

“Frankie I want you to fuck me.”

You can see him starting to disagree but you know you have him when you moan his name a second time, batting your lashes at him. “Francisco. Please- I need it. I want it, right now, right here.” You lick your hand and meet his eyes as you reach into his pants.

“Baby-” he groans when you sneak a hand past his underwear and grasp him, smearing your spit along him.

“I’m going to stop asking next, Francisco.”

He grabs your chin for another kiss and you both unbutton his pants, hands knocking into each other as you shove at the thick fabric.

“You want to boss me around, hm?”, he grunts as he tugs you closer, closer until you’re almost not on the table anymore and the head of his thick cock is already starting to split you open.

“Is that what you want from me next week? To lay down and”, he pushes forward,”take it”, he groans. You moan and tangle a hand in his short hair, tugging as he pushes into you. “I think you like it more when I have you like this, bebita. You love it”, he grunts and you tremble when he bottoms out, his thumb pressing into your clit in small, steady circles.

You struggle in his grip as he grinds against you.

“Frankie- don’t stop.”

He doesn’t and you cum in his arms, shaking and clenching around him, your thighs pressing in and against his hips. He doesn’t stop and you grind out his name between clenched teeth, flinching a she keeps pushing, gently tapping against your clit as you whimper. He just shushes you and draws his hips back until only the tip of him rests inside of you before slowly working himself in again.

“You said don’t stop, just doing what you say-”, he mutters, the rasp against the shell of your ear works its way down your spine and he works his hips into a slow roll, his hands pulling you up against him to match his rhythm.

The overstimulation gives way for you to roll from one orgasm into the next and you bite down on your lip hard enough to draw blood this time, feeling like you’re about to catch fire if he keeps this up.

He kisses you again and you sigh as he slows down a bit.

“I love you.”

You hum, already boneless in his arms. He gently makes you lay back against the table and takes your hands, slowly pushing them up over your head before kissing you again.

It was going to be a long night.

#kinktober #kinktober 2022 #kinktober2022 #frankie morales #francisco catfish morales #frankie morales x reader #frankie morales x f!reader #triple frontier #francisco morales x you #francisco catfish morales x reader #francisco morales x reader #francisco morales

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yespolkadotkitty · 2 years

Text

One of These Days - pt 2

Words: 1345 ~ Pairing: Rhett Abbott x female!doctor!reader ~ Content: mentions of injuries

Part 1 here

You see him next at the town bank, a few days later. He almost walks past you as you’re queueing, but then he stops and tips his hat up. “Mornin’ Doc.”

“Good morning. How’s the shoulder?”

“Doin’ better. Thanks.” He rolls it a little. “Should be okay for the rodeo in six days’ time.”

Your mouth falls open and you shut it with a snap. “You’re going?”

“It’s all I’m good at,” he says simply. He doesn’t say it like he’s asking for pity, just like it’s a fact.

“As I said. I doubt that.” You move forward in the queue.

Rhett hesitates, like he’s going to step away and leave you, and for a moment you grasp at something to say to keep him there, because he smells of woodsmoke and some kind of citrussy cologne and it’s addictive, but then he says, “Maybe you’ll come see me ride.”

Your pulse jumps at the thought of all the sweat and noise and sawdust. “I-”

“I don’t mean to pressure you,” he adds, those blue, blue eyes searching your face. His hands are tucked into the back pockets of his jeans, pushing his torso ever so slightly forward, drawing your attention to the open neck of his pale grey henley. Who invented the henley? Was it specifically to draw women’s attention to men’s necks? You think so, sometimes.

“I.. I don’t know what I’m doing yet,” you manage. “My schedule is all over the place.”

“Understood.” He plucks a flyer from one of his pockets and offers it to you. It’s warm from his body and a little crumpled. You take it and your fingers brush his. It’s electric, everything inside you buzzes at the contact. “This is it. Think about it. You can just turn up. No need to book.”

“Okay. I’ll think about it.”

He touches a finger to the brim of his hat, a slight but nonetheless stunning smile briefly touching his lips, and then he’s gone, and you watch the broad line of his shoulders until he leaves the bank with a tinkle of the doorbell.

You reach the front of the queue and the cashier grins at you. “Not bad to look at, is he?”

“I’d have to agree there.”

You make your deposit and go back to work at the clinic. You treat a man who has cut his palm badly mending fences on his land, give a little girl meds for a water infection, and assist an olde gentleman who twisted his ankle on his daily walk.

It’s a good town. Nice. Small, in the way little off-the-track towns are, but that’s OK with you. You’d had enough of the rat race in big cities like Cheyenne and Laramie.

At the end of the work day, you go home to your little rental, exhausted. Medicine might be your calling but it doesn’t mean you aren’t dog-tired by it.

After you eat dinner and video call your mom, you take out the flyer you’d carefully folded into the hip pocket of your jeans. And you think about making the drive.

You must be nuts.

****

As it happens, the choice is made for you.

May calls the day before the rodeo.

“The on call doctor’s sick. Some viral thing. Can you attend the rodeo? It pays time and a half.”

You agree. What else do you have to do? You can’t drive into the city every spare day for entertainment, and you hardly know anyone yet.

When you arrive to the huge, dust-heavy field the rodeo’s set up in, May greets you with an older woman in tow. She’s pretty in a country way, her stetson the same shade as her short, thick hair.

“I’m Cece. Rhett’s mama.”

“Pleased to meet you.”

She smiles easily. “We all think Rhett’s a damned fool to be ridin’ tonight, but my husband, Royal - Rhett’s father - was a star rodeo rider in his youth. It seems to be in the Abbott blood.”

You eye her curiously. “Were you ever a rodeo rider?”

She gives you a brief but charming grin and her face is transformed. “Well. I may have given one bull or two a run for their money.”

May snorts.

You laugh at their obvious close friendship and follow them towards the ring.

The spectators are on the edges of their seats as each rider shoots his shot. It’s clear that everyone taking part today has the support of their loved ones from the huge cheers and cries coming from the bleachers.

You stabilise a broken forearm and wrap a sprained wrist, and then Rhett’s name is called.

You swear you don’t breathe as they settle him on to the bull and wrap his hand on. He looks over and meets your gaze, and you don’t know what comes over you, but you blow him a kiss. What the hell are you doing? You haven’t blown anyone a kiss since you were ten years old.

He catches it with his free hand, tucks it into the front pocket of his shirt.

Your heart bumps as his blue eyes hold yours-

And then he’s poetry in motion on the bucking bronco, one arm in the air, the other holding on for dear life as the animal does its level best to get rid of its burden. The seconds tick by and the crowd as a whole holds its breath. You see the concentration sketched hard across Rhett’s face as he grips the bull with every ounce of strength he possesses.

The huge clock that logs the seconds finally spills over into eight and Rhett wobbles and then topples from the bull. The rodeo hands rush in to distract it before he’s crushed.

The landing doesn’t look too bad. You eye him critically as he stands up and raises his hands to the crowd, and then his azure gaze finds you, and he nods, and smiles. It’s hesitant, like he isn’t sure if you want to be here.

But when he was riding, his body somehow an extension of the bull’s, you wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else.

He comes to find you just as you finish treating a female rider with a cut on her shin. She thanks you and limps away into the arms of a man waiting a few feet away.

“You came,” he says, and the bright overhead lights of the rodeo ring cast shadows on his face of planes and angles, highlight the gold in his hair. He holds his hat to his chest.

“On-call doc couldn’t make it. But I enjoyed it. You’re very good at this.”

If you were expecting a snappy comeback, you’d have been disappointed. He just says, “thanks. I was glad, seein’ you there.”

He looks good. His hair is a little rumpled from his hat, but it suits him. Half a day’s beard growth, the colour of a sandy beach in the sunshine, adorns his jaw. His blue and white striped button down contrasts nicely with his rawhide vest.

“I was glad too,” you say, and you mean it. “You hurt?”

“Got off easy today.” He rolls his good shoulder. “Ain’t always this straightforward.”

You start to pack away your tools and kit. “I can imagine.”

He waits until you’ve zipped your bag. “Have a drink with me?”

“I’m driving back tonight.”

“Just one? I promise not to keep you out past curfew,” he adds, dimple winking in his already too handsome face.

And you know that you’re going to have that drink.

-----

Tagging @airplaneanon @hederasgarden @wildbornsiren @nerdysuperchick @lorecraft @a-reader-and-a-writer @callsign-phoenix @sebsxphia @hoe-on-the-range @green-socks @3tabbiesandalab @thelifeofthelifeofme @straightforwardly @cowboybarbie @therebeccaw @hope-love-equality2 @colereads @iangiemae @blackwidownat2814 @lawfulgranola @marchingicenotes7 @fairyheart

#rhett abbott #lewis pullman #outer range #outer range fic #rhett abbott fanfiction #rhett abbott x you

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romanarose · 2 years

Text

Leather and Lace: Chapter 5

Santiago "Pope" Garcia X Fem!OC

Pervious chapter here : Next chapter

Fic master list

A/N: I'm so sorry this is just long as hell. I couldn't find a natural end and there was so much I wanted to include. Sorry it took so long. Hopefully a new chatper of Sunshine Starlight Sweetheart Brightside will be out this week.

The hat scene is based on a post by @copingchaos and @welcometostayingawake which I will link in at the scene, be sure to give the post a like and reblog!

Final A/N: I want to make a masterlist for this fic but I wanna have some nice art or something for it sooooo if anyone wanna draw something or make a mood board or something for this, I’ll include it in the masterlist and tag/link ur account and any pages you use for your art! Anything sent will be included, even little doodles so don’t be embarrassed!

Chapter Summary: We see Santi and Will's side of the argument when they went inside. Santi and Laci find a special time just for them and have a moment. Laci babysits Rosie will the guys have drinks.

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

“Do you have ANY IDEA how close you came to dying, Pope? It’s a goddamn miracle you didn’t get your head blasted open! You and Ben could’ve died! Then what? Do we spit up the money again and give it to your non-existent family and pretend it’s okay? If Ben died, would you just give me a pat on the back and say ‘Oh, sorry!’ and move on?”

Pope couldn’t sleep. The day had riled him up too much. Him and Will, after Frankie chewed them out, had gone to the kitchen. Santi hated leaving her out on the porch. Hated more how jealous he felt of Benny. But he didn’t want to test Frankie’s patience.

“Is that what this is all about, Will?” Santi crossed him arms at his friend. “Jesus, go to therapy.”

“I don’t need therapy, I need to stop watching my friends get shot!”

“Will you shut up? Frankie is going to fucking kill us as it is.” There was a long, pregnant silence. “Listen, I’m sorry Ben got shot. You know I’m sorry. But Ben agreed with me, he said I should’ve stayed with her… Maybe you should-”

“Don’t tell me to take time out of the field, Pope.”

Santi raised his hands in defense. “Okay, okay. But I think we’re all going to maybe take some time off, Frakie wants to spend time with Rosie, Ben’s got physical therapy-”

“You’ve got the girl. Who you want to spend time with” He crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow.

Pope rolled his eyes. “Can you stop being shitty about Laci? I’m trying to help her”

“Oh please” He countered. “You have way past doing your job. You got a thing for her, even if you won’t admit it.”

“She needs help, Will”

“You saved her life, you were supposed to bring her back to the embassy, and be done. Have you ever stopped to consider you are overstepping? Have you ever considered that maybe there's a reason soldiers aren’t supposed to take back trafficking victims to play house?”

Santi shook his head. He had considered that, of course. “That’s not what's happening here.”

“Are you telling me you wouldn’t fuck her if you had the chance?” Will challenged.

Santi pinched the bridge of his nose. “We’re getting off topic here.” He diverted. “We’re here because you’re being a dick to her”

There was a pause and Santi watched a boatload of emotions dance across Will’s face as he searched for a smart ass answer. When nothing came, he simply agreed. “I know.”

“Then why are you being like this? I know you know damn well this isn’t her fault, and knowing you, you are going to start feeling really shitty about how you treated her.”

Will groaned dramatically. “I don’t know man! I know I can’t blame her for what happened but my subconscious does anyway.”

Santiago’s lips smirked up a bit at that. “Subconscious, huh? You sure you haven't been the therapy?”

Will flicked Santi’s head. “No, I took psych in high school.”

“Nerd.”

The men stood in silence, feeling better but also not feeling like everything had been spoken.

Will broke the silence again. “I’m sorry for how I’ve been. I just… I can’t help it sometimes.”

Santi knew he was sincere, but he also knew he had a duty to her. “Well you’re going to have to help it, man.” Santi crossed his arms. “Because for the time being, she’s going to be here, and if you want to be around me, you’ll have to be around her. And if you’re going to be around us, you’re going to have to be nice, because I’m not putting up with it anymore.”

Will closed his eyes “I know.”

“That girl has been kidnapped, raped, beaten, and god knows what else this last year, I’m not letting her put up with you bullshit too.”

“I know, I’m sorry.” Will opened his eyes to look at Santi. He knew the protectiveness his friend felt over the girl was partially due to the loss of his sister, but he couldn’t help but feel there was another attachment here.

“Don’t say sorry to me, say sorry to her.” He nodded out the door.

Will gave a short laugh. “You gonna leave me alone with her long enough to apologize?”

“If you promise to behave.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah” Will headed for the door.

Laci said things were good, that they’d made it. She didn’t go into details and he didn’t ask. That was their business. But right now, he couldn’t sleep. It wasn’t abnormal, he didn’t sleep a lot. Right now, all he could think of was Tom’s head with blood oozing out. Santi shook his head like an etch-a-scetch, and stood up to get some food. Unsurprisingly, Laci was up watching Friends.

He popped back into his room to pull shorts over his boxers and a white tee shirt, mumbling. “Even’n Lace.” As he rubbed his eyes, walking behind the couch in the living room. Lace turned around, hopping up on her legs, looking over the couch. He sees the movement, and looks over to find her eyes following him. He could swear she was looking at his butt. He smirked at her “Need something?”

Her eyes flicked up to his, embarrassed at having been caught, she turned back to the tv and sat down.

“Ah, c’mon Munacita, I’m only teasing.” He waited until she glanced back at him. “You hungry”

She shrugged and smiled. ‘I could eat’

Santi heated up some pizza rolls, and brought a plate over to her. “Bon appetit, mademuasel.”

She grinned at him as she accepted the plate.

“G’night” Santiago began walking back to his room with his plate.

“Santiago?” She called after him, causing him to turn around.

“Yes?”

She nodded over to the seat next to her on the couch, and raised her eyebrows. ‘Join me?’

Santi knew damn well this was a slippery slope. He knew, really, that he shouldn't be indulging her in her little flirts. But she looked at him with her big hopefully eyes, how could he deny her like that? “Yeah, sure Lace” He sat down at the other end of the couch. “But we aren’t watching Friends.”

Laci grinned at him, bouncing over to sit next to him and handing him the remote. “Well you can’t sleep…” She spoke softly. “What do you watch?”

Santi was thankful for the dim lights, he was sure his embarrassment would show. “I um… it’s kinda silly”

She nudged him, urging him on.

“I like to watch old sitcoms”

Laci laughed at this. She smiled, shaking her head ‘That’s not silly’ She pointed at Friends still on the TV.

“Friends isn’t old!” Santiago insisted, suddenly very aware of their age gap, making him feel even more ashamed of the thoughts that had been creeping into his head.

She gave him a pointed look. “It’s older than me.”

Fuck, that made him feel old. “I meant, really old sitcoms. Dick Van Dyke, I love Lucy.”

She nodded to the TV while nuzzling up next to him. “Relax.” She told him, and he tried.

A few hours later, he wondered how he got there. How had Santi ended up laying down, stretched out on the couch, with Laci asleep in his arms?

That’s how they found themselves more nights than not. Santiago would join Laci on the couch, and slowly their bodies would come together, and she’d fall asleep in his arms in various entanglements. There was something natural in it. There was a bit of desire on Santi’s part, how could he not, with a party blonde girl in his arms?

When she woke up the first morning, Laci smiled at him. She looked at Santi like they were lovers waking up on a lazy Sunday morning. Laci climbed off of him as he stood up. Santi’s thoughts were racing. Why did he do that? Why did he let her lay on him? Why did he wrap his arms around her? Why didn't he get up? But when he looked at her all sleepy and smiling at him, he couldn’t find it to feel as guilty as he should’ve.

She looked at him, touching her back.

“Does your back hurt?” He asked

She shook her head and pointed at him. ‘No, does yours?’

Oh. She had been asking about him. “No, actually I feel great. I haven't slept that well in…” years. He thought. Santi didn’t finish the sentence. He changed the subject as he stood up. “Well, the whole day is free. No doctors, no therapy, nothing. What do you wanna do?”

Laci thought for a moment and shrugged.

“C’mon, we can do anything you want. Whole day, up to you, what grand plans do you have?”

Laci considered his words. After a moment, she made scissors with her fingers and went to her hand.

“A hair cut?!” Santi chuckled. “We can do anything, and you want a hair cut?”

She blushed, but shrugged.

“Okay, Munecita. A haircut it is.”

Santi had her pick wherever she wanted for breakfast. Starbucks, IHOP, some fancy brunch place, it was up to her. He tried to express that money was no issue, but wasn’t sure how to go about that without sounding like he was bragging. The moment he got the money, he was set for life. He could have lived in luxery without working a day in his life. But he did work. He needed something to do. They all did, needed something to take their minds off the horrors. Benny still fought. Fought in matches and in bars. Frankie had his beautiful daughter, Santi’s god daughter. Frankie also had coke, something that no one dared bring up. Will always seemed like he had it together, focusing on field work and making sure Benny didn’t get himself killed. Seemed like he had it together, until he didn’t. Incidents like this last week were reminders that Will had a lot of guilt over Tom’s death that no one addressed. And Santi? Santi had work. Constant work. He always had something going on, something to distract him from everything he had seen and done… and hadn’t done.

He knew that the guys thought, or at least wondered if that's what Laci was. A project. But Santi didn’t think so. There was so much more he wanted to know about her, wanted to do with her, time he wanted to spend…

Santiago went to a barber for his hair, but Benny had a recommendation for a hair stylist. He promised that she wouldn’t make a big deal about Laci not talking.

“You must be Benjamin’s friends! I’m Brit. You can take a seat at the first chair, I’ll be with you in a sec, hon” The stylist called over to Laci, then looked at Santi. “You getting a hair cut too? You look like you could use it.” She teased while washing items in the sink. “Nay has some free time, could squeeze you in?”

“No thanks, I’m-” Santo started, but felt a nudge. Laci was looking up at him, grinning and nodding. She looked so excited, how could he deny her. He sighed with a smile. “Okay, yeah I suppose I could use a trim.”

“Excellant!”

Santi walked over to where Brit was cleaning. “Hey uh, did Ben talk to you about her at all?”

She gave him a sympathetic smile. “Yeah, he told me how y’all found her. Horrible. Don’t worry, her cut is on the house.”

Santiago shook his head. “No, no I’m paying for hers, don’t worry ‘bout that. Thing is, she doesn’t talk much. Sometimes at all, she has pictures for what she wants, but she can’t really reply unless it’s yes or no…”

“Don’t worry hon, I understand, I’ll keep it simple.”

He smiled. “Thank you.” Santi began walking away, but turned around. “Is there any like… hair treatments or something… nice? I asked her what she wanted to do today, all she asked for was a hair cut… Is there anything I can add to make it nicer for her?”

Brit gave him a knowing look. “Yeah, I’ll check out her hair, see what she needs.”

Laci and Santi spent the next few hours in the chairs, it was almost like a spa day. Much of Laci’s hair had been damaged from a year of no care and malnutrition, so she got much of it cut off, holding up a picture for reference on the phone Santi had bought her.. Brit had opted for a keratin treatment to strengthen her hair. Laci had asked (via her notes app) about highlights, but Brit was concerned about the integrity of her hair at the moment, and suggested they come back in a few months and recommended hair skin and nails pills.

Santi got a trim, and Laci gave him pleading eyes to get the keratin treatment. Nay suggested he get a deep conditioning for his curls, and Laci allowed it. Together, they relaxed as the soft music played. Nay and Brit were thankful for not having to make conversation, and Santi secretly enjoyed being pampered.

“Jeez, whatever you and Benny do for work, if you wanna send more coworkers my way, feel free”

Santi had left a generous tip, and he knew Benny would’ve as well. They were very popular wherever they were regulars at.

The next two weeks were something akin to domestic. During the day, they took turns cooking for each other. Well, “cooking” Santi could get by with a few Guatemalan recipes, but he tended to rely on burgers, microwave food, and pastas. He generally was in charge of lunch. Laci took on dinner. She was better at cooking than him. Some recipes, a white girl from St. Louis probably wouldn’t know, and Santi figured she had learned in her year of captivity. It occurred to him that they never really talked about what happened. He supposed that's what her therapists were for. Laci had given him access to all her medical and psych records, something Santi never took advantage of or even asked for. Laci had given permission for her psych to talk to Santi about what they talked about, she signed everything away to Santi. He was all she had. He could, if he wanted, find out everything they had done. But Santiago didn’t want to find out that way. If she wanted him to know, she could tell him. He didn’t want to invade her privacy. She deserved to be allowed secrets, even if she had given up her rights to any.

More nights than not, she fell asleep in his arms. it had become routine. If they couldn’t sleep, they’d meet on the couch and watch old sitcoms. More nights than not, she laid on his chest. And tonight? Tonight he was regretting it. Not regretting it enough to stop, however. Not enough to move, to get up, to get away from her. Not when she was so close to him. Laci had sat up on his chest, her hands tracing over his face. He was tired, too tired, and the soft glow of TV bounced off her face. She was beautiful. Her haircut was chin length, a style that worked well for her straight blonde hair. Despite his best judgment, he reached up to touch her face. Laci’s fingers trailed his hairline, his cheekbones, his jaw, and softly over his bottom lip. He fought her urge to take her fingers in his mouth, but this was more innocent. Something pure, delicate and new. He didn’t want to ruin what was happening, even if he knew he should walk away. Her skin was still pale, but had gained color in its cheek’s, a bit of pink on her face that matched the shade of her lips. A shade that matched the color of pink she generally likes to wear.

Laci leaned into his touch, and before he could stop himself, he lifted his face to hers. For a moment, their lips merely brushed together, an air of hesitancy like a teenage crush, like a first kiss stifled by nervousness and awkward touches. Finally, the hand on her face gently entwined in her thin hair, bringing her to his mouth ever-so carefully. It wasn’t a demand, it wasn’t an insistence, it was a guide. ‘Come here’ it said ‘let me love you, please’. The kiss was a plea. ‘Let me love you, let me love you, let me love you’ from who to whom, Santi didn’t know. Was Santiago asking to let him protect her and love her and help her, or was Laci asking him to open up, to know and be known by him.

There was no tongue, no fever, no wet, hot kisses and lascivious touching. Just his lips on hers, slow and kind, her gentle touch on her face begging him not to pull away. He only did so for moments long enough to check on her, only to see her smiling dreamily at him before one of them went back to the languid affection. There was a tightness in his chest, nervous to be seen so openly. It was a vulnerability he really shared. His job, the way he lived his life, had prevented him from normal relationships. This felt like a new start, a brand new thing not only with them, not only between him and the pretty girl in his arms, but within himself. There was something in him that had been laid to the ground with every military move, everyone had had to kill, everyone he watched be killed. Every kiss he planted on her lips brought new life; the hand in her head secured her to him, begged her to stay, stay, stay with me Laci, please. Something that had been burried deeper with every time he watched his friends get shot, every member of his family who died, all that was being brought to the surface with every faint, soft brush of her lips and the tender touch of her hand on his stubbled face. He didn’t want to stop. He wondered if he could stop time, what he would give to keep them like this, safe in each other’s arms for ever.

But he did stop, he had to. If he didn’t, he’d take things further. He would already regret this in the morning, he didn’t need to give into every carnel desire he had. Laci smiled, giving him one last kiss on the cheek before laying her head down on his chest. Tomorrow was for regret; tomorrow was for feeling shitty. Tonight was for nothing but thoughts of her lips, and the comforting touch of her hand.

The next day

“You two ready yet?” Will called out to Santiago and Laci in the doorway. Will was the DD for tonight.

Ben was already half drunk. “LET’S GOOOOOO”

“Benny, shut the fuck up or I swear to god I’m leaving you here”

“Hey!” Santiago Garcia emerged from his room. “You’re not leaving a drunk Ben alone in my house.”

“He’s gonna get in a fucking fight tonight and I’m too sober to deal with this.”

Santi patted his friend on his back. This was Will’s apology for being a dick at the BBQ.

Laci practically skipped out of her room. She wore white overalls over her pink undershirt, and was beaming. Frankie had asked her to babysit Rosie so the guys could have a few hours out. Santi had he feeling it was primarily for Laci’s benefit, but he was nervous. Him and Laci had been attached at the hip since the moment he found her, hardly being separated. She always had him in the room with her for doctors, and if she was in therapy, he stayed in the waiting room. For any meeting for social workers and things of that sort, he was always in the room, translating or relaying messages, depending on how verbal she was that day. This was the first time they would be separated by anything more than a few yards.

“Frankie is going to fucking kill you” Santi commented when he saw the hat Benny was wearing. It said ‘women want me, fish fear me’ from some tik tok audio.

Benny grinned. “I’m counting on it!”

“You change your goddamn ringtone yet?”

“Absolutely not!” Benny had set his ringtone to “Benny and the Jet’s” months ago, and it was driving the guys insane. Laci seemed to think it was funny. Every time it went off while they watched Always Sunny, Santi groaned, and Laci giggled.

Will started to drag Ben back to the Jeep. “Who still has a ringtone anymore?” He mutters as everyone loads up, heading to Frankies next.

Laci held Santi’s hand as she usually did when they left their house, but as soon as Laci spotted Rosie, his hand and him became irrelevant. She scooped the toddler off the floor, and began whispering praises to the giggling girl. She talked to Rosie more than Santi.

“Two peas in a pod” Frankie commented and he put the food on the high chair. Then he spotted Benny’s hat. “Take that god damn shit off!” He tried to grabbed it off Ben’s head.

Ben yelped but doged Frankies grasp. He ran around the counters, tailed by Fish, mimicking the audio. “Women want me, Fish fears me”

Frankie chased the boy around the living room.“I don’t fear shit, Jackass, fuck off” Frankie grabbed the hat off Ben’s head.

“Hey!” The whole group of men turned to see Laci covering Rosie’s ears. She nodded to the baby. “Language” she scolded.

“Yeah, Fish, l a n g u a g e!” and took his hat back.

Frankie sighed, one battle at a time. He turned to Laci. “This is her dinner, she’ll fight you over it for a while but I promise she’ll eat it, just gotta keep at her. If she gets too messy you can give her a bath, but I think she’ll be okay. Bedtime is 7, but she gets really excited with new people, so if she doesn’t go to sleep, don’t sweat it. Help yourself to anything in the fridge or whatever, remote for the TV is on the coffee table. Don’t worry about dishes or anything. Any questions?”

Laci looked like she was mentally noting everything in her brain. She shook her head.

“Great. Any questions, you have my number, you can text Santi if that’s easier. I’ll set the security before I go, theres camera’s in the living room. Not that I don’t trust you, I don’t trust the outside. Years of military makes me paranoid.”

Laci nodded, smiling and still holding the little girl.

Santi spoke up. “I think I’m gonna sit tonight out guys.”

Everyone, including Laci, turned to him.

“What?” Ben asked.

“I’m kinda tired, I think I’ll just stay in with Lace and Rosie tonight”

“You stay in with Laci EVERY NIGHT, Pope.” The shots Benny had taken had loosened his mouth. “Jesus Christ she’ll be okay for a few hours.”

“No, that's not it-”

Ben scoffed loudly “Oh yes it is! Come one, give her a little freedom”

Santi glared at Ben’s comment. “Freedom? Ben, I’m not keeping her captive.”

Laci handed Rosie to Will, who took her with a smile and a kiss. Laci took Santi’s hand and dragged the irritated man to the hall. “Santi, it’s okay. I can handle a one year old”

He sighed, momentarily distracted by her pink lips, that only last night were on his. “I know you can, I just…”

“I know I havn’t…” Laci shuffled a bit. “I don’t really let you go anywhere, I don’t want to keep you back…” She looked up at him, her thoughtful blue eyes on him.

He softened for her. “Oh Lace, no, you aren’t keeping me back, not at all. I… I enjoy our time… together…” he trialed off, both of them thinking about last night, the kiss… neither had talked about it.

“Santi, I promise it’ll be okay. I’ll text you if anything goes wrong, or if I get anxious or something, okay?”

Santi considered this. It had been a long time since he had a chance to get loose with the guys, and Ben and Frankie promised to provide some entertainment… “Okay, yeah, just… keep me updated, okay?”

She lit up at that. “I promise”

They walked out of the hall, everyone turned to them, Laci smiled “Parties on.”

With a loud bunch of cheers from the guys, everyone got ready to go. Frankie gave Rosie a bunch of kisses and when everyone else had left, Santi kissed Laci on the cheek. “Have fun.” and tickled Rosie before he left. Benny absolutely saw that.

A few hours and a few shots in, Ben brought it up. “So, you two finally kissing” He said out of nowhere.

Everyone turned to Santi, whose cheeks were flushed with a bit of pink. “What are you talking about, jackass.”

“Everyone’s calling me a jackass tonight!” He exclaimed. Benny wiggled his eyebrows. “I saw you kiss her when we left.”

“What?” Will exclaimed. Frankie was not surprised.

“Listen” Santi defended himself. “It was a kiss on the cheek” there was a pause, as no one seemed to beleive him. “There might have been… some kissing last night.” A loud ooooooo from Ben. “No, no, not like that. And I should havn’t done that” Santi shook his head. “That’s not why I took her in.”

“Well…” Will started, but stopped, hesitating.

“Whatever it is, say it.” Santi groaned, finishing his drink and ordering another round for the guys sans Will.

“I just mean, it’s not the only reason. But I think it was somewhere in the back of your mind.”

Santi looked indignant. “I didn’t move her in to coerce her into sex, Will”

“I didn’t say that!” He raised his hands defensively. “I just mean, she’s a pretty girl, you’re a good looking guy who has been very nice to her,” he stifled a smirk “it’s natural that theres gonna be some… attraction.” Will tried to remain polite.

“Listen.” Santi scrubbed his face. “I’m well aware that she might find me…” He tried to find the right words without sounding braggadocious. “Appealing” he said he a smile, earning laughs from the guys. “But” he got more serious. “I don’t want her to feel like she is obligated to do anything.”

“Santi.” It was Fish’s turn. “I don’t think she feels like that. You treat her like a porcelain doll, she feels safe with you.”

Santi wasn’t relenting. “And I plan on keeping it that way. Lace is still in a high emotional state, I don’t know if she’s thinking clearly, and I’m not going to take advantage of that.”

Ben took another shot. “So what you’re saying is, when she gets more settled, you would go for it”

The alcohol flowed through Santi, taking back his usual inhibitions when he spoke. A smile quipped up at his lips. “All I’m saying is… I enjoy spending time with her, and I wouldn’t mind if she wanted toooooo, continue that” Oh yeah. Yeah he was drunk.

This evoked a round of cheers from the guys, and Frankie ordering more drinks.

A ding on Santi’s phone. When he looked at the screen he smiled.

Frankie looked over. “Everything alright with our girls?”

Our girls

“Yeah, they are great.” He show Frankie, then Benny and Will the picture. Rosie was fast asleep in her bed, Laci laying next to her smiling. Yeah, he was saving that picture.

Laci woke up on the couch, Will very softly whispering for her to wake up, careful not to scare her. “Hey”

Laci gave a sleepy little wave, but was concerned there was no Santi.

“Listen, I just got Frankie to bed, Santi is… drunk off his ass.” He chuckled. “Let’s get you guys home so I get throw Ben on his front porch and be done with him.”

Laci’s face falters, and Will assured her he was joking and would get Ben to bed safely. She stood up, glancing over to the room Rosie was in.

“I already checked on her, but you can say goodbye if you want.”

Laci shook her head, she didn’t want to wake her.

When she got in the car, it was clear Santi and Ben were DRUNK drunk. Will had shoved them in the back, opening the passenger door for Laci. The whole ride home, Ben and Santi alternated music. Despite his earlier insistence that he didn’t like Luis Fonsi, he sure sang No me Doy Por Vecino loud as hell. Benny did too, even if he couldn’t pronounce the words. Laci looked over to the older Miller, who was glancing at his brother and his friend in the rearview mirror as they screeched out ‘Una senal del destino’ the top of their lungs, gripping to each other dramatically. Will was not as irritated as he pretended to be. He turned to see Laci catching him smiling.

“They’re funny.” He defended.

Will practically had to carry Santi’s short body to the bed. Laci was grateful for him, there was no way she’d get him there. She took off his shoes as Will practically forced him to drink water.

“STOP WATER BOARDING ME!” Santi half yelled, half laughed.

“I’M NOT WATER BOARDING YOU, I’M TRYING TO HELP YOUR HANGOVER AFTER ALL THOSE SHOTS, DUMBASS”

Laci stood up, gesturing for the cup. She stood over Santiago, who was sitting on the edge of the bed. Will watched as she held the cup to his lips with one hand, and carefully coaxed his head back with the other. The way Santi looked up at her… he was done for. Laci had his wrapped around her finger, and likely had from the moment he saw her. His large brown eyes watched her face as she watched the cup, far more careful with him than Will had been. Santi drank every bit of the water, and Laci patted his head, leaning into whisper “good job, baby“ Suddenly, she looked up, turning around to see Will. She had forgotten he was there. Santi laid down on the bed, mumbling something in Spanish they couldn’t understand.

His face flushed a deep pink as her eyes widened in panic.

“Hey, hey,” Will Miller held up his hands, before pretending to zip his mouth shut. He mimiacked locking his mouth, handing over the key to her. Laci smiled and tentatively took the metaphorical key, tucking it in he roveral pocket.

“You guys gonna be okay here?”

Laci nodded.

“Okay, call me me if he asphyxiates on his vomit or something.” Pope had put all the guys numbers in her phone as soon as he bought it, incase of emergencies.

She looked panicked again.

“Oh! Oh no, I was joking. Sorry, dry humor.”

This didn't comfort her. Now she was worried about him choking.

He sighed, but smiled. “Here” Will moved Santi to his side. “If he’s on his side, he’ll be fine” Will promised.

Feeling better, Laci nodded

“Okay, I’m gonna get going. Leaving a drunk Ben alone is a bad idea, he’s probably fighting a racoon as we speak.

Laci laughed and waved goodbye.

When he was out the door, she locked it behind him and set up Santi’s extensive security system. She went back to check on him, sitting on the edge of the bed. When was sure he was asleep, she played with his beautiful, thick hair. “Thank you for everything. I don’t say it enough, but thank you. I owe you everything. Te amo.” A kiss on his forehead. “Te amo, Santiago” Laci climbed into the other side of the bed, not wanting to leave him alone. Will’s joke had worried her. She was going to watch out for him the way he watched out for her.

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

I hope y'all liked the kiss bc I wanted to write it really fucking sweet. Their first kiss was impulsive, but I wanted this to be slow, deliberate.

I used a piccrew maker to make how I picture Laci when she was found, and then after she had been with Santi and got her hair cut this chapter, which you can find here for reference

Also I'm working on a spotify playlist for this fic, if you have any suggestions go ahead and comment! Its gonna have leather and lace by stevie nicks (duh) some luis fonsi (duh) Selena, etc. if you have any songs you feel fit this fic, comment them here!

Also, writing dialoge that switched between 4/5 people is hard, im sorry if it was confusing.

be sure to follow the leather and lace fic tag, and if you'd like to be added or removed from the tag list let me know!!! smut is coming i swear

relbogs help a lot and comments mean the world! love y'all and thank you so much for the support y'all have given to this story!

@littlenosoul @bensolosbluesaber @milkymoon2483 @gogh-with-the-flow @itspdameronthings @trinkets01 @p0edameronswife

#leather and lace fic #santiago garcia x reader #santiago garcia #santi garcia #santi garcia x oc #santi garcia fluff #santi garcia hurt comfort #santiago garcia fluff #fluff #hurt comfort #oscar isaac fanfiction #benjamin miller #benjamin benny miller #frankie catfish morales #will ironhead miller

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rumble-aint-a-rumble-without-me · 2 years

Text

Believe Me Now?

“There ain’t no way,” Pony said in disbelief, eyes locked on the bull bucking in the center of the arena as the eight-second buzzer blared through the rodeo’s packed crowd. “Ain’t no way they’re yours.”

Two-Bit just laughed and shifted away from Johnny to let his shoulder knock playfully against Ponyboy’s. “Why? Cause they’re a successful rodeo star and I’m just some hood?”

The rider let go of the strap and slid off the back of the bull, landing flat on their butt in the dirt. The animal, now sans rider, continued to buck across the arena until the flank strap fell loose and the ropers got him under control. As the announcer’s voice crackled through the speakers by the judges’ table, the rider started to jog back towards the bucking shoots, pausing to scoop up their hat from where it had fallen during their ride.

“That was Y/N L/N with the first qualifying ride of the night! The score for the ride is a 78, a mighty fine score for a mighty fine ride.”

Y/N lifted their hat in a grateful wave to the cheering crowd, turning to shuffle backward with a broad smile before ducking back into the safety behind the bucking shoots.

“If you’re really goin’ with them, you think they’d let us go back to where they went?” Johnny asked, looking up at Two-Bit as the announcer began to introduce the next rider and bull.

“Aw kid,” Two-Bit chastised, reaching to ruffle Johnny’s dark hair with a grin. “You don’t trust me either, huh? Glory, you two are hard to convince.”

Johnny and Pony smiled at each other, the corners of their mouths quirking up in tandem. Two-Bit was always easy to mess with. His easy, happy-go-lucky nature made it simple to rile him up but he never got upset, just amused.

“C’mon kids,” Two-Bit said. He threw his arms around their shoulders and started to lead them back towards the panels along the side of the bucking shoots. “I’ll introduce you to them, and maybe y’all are finally gonna believe what I’ve been tellin’ y’all this whole time.”

The three of them shuffled through the crowd, Ponyboy and Johnny ducking out from underTwo-Bit’s arms as they weaved through the crowd to get over to the panels.

“Scott!” Two-Bit yelled when they reached the metal fences, cupping his hands around his mouth to draw the attention of one of the cowboys over the din of the hollering bulls and loud announcer. A boy with dirty blonde hair looked up and a wide smile came over his face when his eyes fell on Two-Bit.

“If it ain’t Two-Bit Mathews!” Scott ambled over to the panel, crossing his arms and lifting a foot to rest it on the dusty metal. His smile grew even wider as he saw Ponyboy and Johnny. “These your kids, buddy? Didn’t know you had two of ‘em, there ain’t no way they can be Y/N’s.”

Two-Bit rolled his eyes, laughing as he shook his head. “Can you just get Y/N? The kids don’t believe I’m goin’ with them and I gotta prove them wrong.”

Scott laughed and nodded, stepping back. He readjusted his hat as he walked backwards. “I’ll get Y/N for ya, but I’ve gotta ride soon. I’ll send them your way and I’ll see you around, alright?”

“Yeah, alright,” Two-Bit agreed, smirking at the blonde. “I’ll see you later, not like I don’t have a reason to come back. What would I do without seein’ your face every Friday night?”

Still laughing, Scott walked away, and Two-Bit turned to look at Ponyboy and Johnny with a grin. “You two ready to meet the best person in the world?”

Ponyboy made a noise of disbelief and crossed his arms over his chest. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

Johnny grinned to himself and mimicked Two-Bit’s stance, hooking his fingers into the belt loops of his jeans.

“Y’know,” Two said, crossing his arms over his chest, “for a kid who spends so much time with his head in the clouds, I should’ve known you’d be so skeptical.”

Y/N’s head poked out from behind a few other riders and a smile lit up their face as they made their way over to the panel. “Howdy there, boys,” they said with a warm smile, making quick work of climbing over and dropping to the ground on the other side.

Two-Bit turned at the sound of their voice ,stepping forward and wrapping his arms around Y/N’s waist as he peppered kisses over the side of their face. “There’s my baby!” he murmured, tugging them closer. Y/N laughed as Two-Bit scooped them up into a slow spin, looping their arms around his neck before leaning in for a slow kiss.

“Should’ve known you’d be lookin’ for me after I finished up,” they said, a gentle smirk on their lips as they looked down at him.

Two-Bit just grinned and set them back on the ground, kissing them again. They pulled one hand from his neck to push their hat back, pushing it out of the way as Two gave them another kiss.

“Glory,” Ponyboy complained, drawing the couple’s attention back to the younger boys. He frowned unhappily and shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “We didn’t come to watch you make out with them Two-Bit, c’mon.”

Y/N pulled away first, a sheepish smile on their face as they set their hat back on their head. Two-Bit kept them close to his side by leaving an arm around their waist. “I’m sorry,” they said, looking between the two boys. “I haven’t even introduced myself, I’m Y/N L/N.”

“You had a nice ride,” Johnny said, giving them a shy smile. “You’re real good at what you do.”

Y/N smiled and tipped their hat. “Thank you…,”

“Johnny,” Two-Bit filled in. “That’s Johnnycake and the brat is Ponyboy, his brother Sodapop used to ride broncs here.”

Pony didn’t seem to appreciate the term and sent Two-Bit a icy glare, an expression he picked up from Darry. Two-Bit stuck his tongue out in response.

“Ponyboy and Sodapop, huh?” Y/N asked, an interested look on their face as they looked over at him. Pony shied under their eyes, rubbing the back of his neck as color started to rise to his cheeks.

“Oh no, I don’t mean anything by it,” Y/N corrected, shaking their head quickly. They set their hand over Two-Bit’s and drew it back up to their hip when it started to drift down their thigh. “I used to know a boy named Marlboro. I reckon you two’d get along just fine with your names and all. He rode bulls with me a few years ago.”

Two-Bit smiled fondly, pressing a kiss to Y/N’s cheek and tugging them closer. “You had a good ride, darlin'. You’re the only one qualifyin’ so far.”

“Thank you,” they replied, giving him a small kiss before glancing back at Ponyboy and Johnny. “Y’know it was real nice to meet you boys, but I’m afraid I’ve gotta get back to the bulls. They’re starting the second rides soon.”

“It was nice meetin’ you too,” Ponyboy replied, smiling slightly. Johnny echoed his agreement with a smile just a tad wider than Pony’s.

Y/N tipped their hat once more before pulling away from Two-Bit and climbing back over the panel. Two-Bit didn’t try to stop them. He watched them go with a small smile as he moved back to stand against the panels.

“Are you coming to the rodeo next weekend?” they asked, resting their arms on the metal. Behind them, a rodeo hand was calling for all the riders to return to the bucking shoots for the second ride. Y/N didn’t move and kept their eyes on Two-Bit.

“The one in Muskogee?”

“Yeah, that one.” They looked hopeful, head tilting as they waited patiently for him to answer.

“I don’t know…I’ve gotta check my schedule and everythin’, might have somethin’ to do that day.”

Y/N groaned. “Two-Bit.”

Two-Bit grinned, leaning forward to kiss them through the panels. “I’ll be there. I promise.”

Satisfied, Y/N gave him one more kiss, ignoring the rodeo hand again as he called out once more. “Pick me up after we’re done, we can get dinner or something at the Dingo.”

“Anythin’ you want,” Two-Bit replied. He nodded towards the bucking shoots, shooting them another smile. “Now go ride.”

Y/N nodded, eyes shining as they stepped away from the panels and wiped their hands on the front of their chaps. They waved to Johnny and Ponyboy before turning and jogging back towards the shoots.

Two-Bit watched them until they were out of sight before turning back to Ponyboy and Johnny with a smug smirk. “So. You believe me now or what?”

#the outsiders #the outsiders hcs #the outsiders headcanons #the outsiders x reader #dillo’s writing #two bit mathews #two bit mathews x reader

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